Honouring a legacy: Dr Seshni Moodliar-Rensburg's memoir of her indentured great-grandmother

TO PRESERVE the legacy of her great-grandmother, an indentured Indian, Dr Seshni Moodliar-Rensburg recently penned a memoir, Annamma Vather (Moodley): A Matriarch – Gratitude, Love, and Honour.

“It is a heartfelt memoir, a blend of biography, family history, and cultural legacy. It chronicles the remarkable life of Annamma Vather and her enduring intergenerational impact,” she said. 

Moodliar-Rensburg, 48, who is originally from Overport in Durban, said the seed for the 244-page book was planted during her childhood. 

“I was inspired by stories my mother told us, the time I spent with extended family in Pietermaritzburg and visiting the Vather's Lodge and temple my great-grandmother built. I initially wanted to write about the lodge and family. However, over the years the idea matured. I later read an article by my uncle, Dr TR Krish Moodley, which was published in a newspaper in 2010. It became clear that the book should be the story of my great-grandmother.

“The book honours my great-grandmother, who was a formidable woman. Her courage, love, and resilience deserves to be remembered. During the indentured period, she defied the odds to become Pietermaritzburg’s second-highest ratepayer, a successful entrepreneur, temple builder, and mother of 10,” she said. 

Moodliar-Rensburg, who lives in Milton Keynes in the United Kingdom, said her research involved speaking to relatives and visits to India. 

“I consulted relatives on both the Moodley and Vather sides, accessed original ship records through the Durban archives, and visited ancestral villages and temples in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. These experiences gave depth and authenticity to the narrative.

“I began working with my publisher, Anivesh Singh of Made in Durban, in March. I am deeply grateful to Anivesh. Our conversations around the 1860 heritage theme of unsung heroines laid the foundation for this book. His support, encouragement, and belief brought it to life.

“In April, my husband helped gather key documents from the Durban archives. With the research complete, I wrote the book between March and July. Writing my great-grandmother’s story was a completely unique experience. It was deeply emotional, personal, and transformative,” she said.

 Moodliar-Rensburg, a medical doctor specialising in psychiatry and mental health, said the book told the story of her great-grandmother’s journey from Madras to Pietermaritzburg. 

“It tells of her links with Gujarat to her resilience as an indentured Indian woman, and her transformation into a respected community matriarch. Readers will find rich family stories, cultural insights, reflections on legacy and belonging, and heartfelt tributes.”

She said the book included photographs of her great-grandmother and her two families. 

“One of my favourite photographs is of her and her children.”

Moodliar-Rensburg, a mother of three, said the book preserved her great-grandmother’s legacy for future generations and united her family in one powerful narrative. 

“My great-grandmother loved her family deeply, and this work immortalises her children from the Moodley and the Vather line. This story is not only for her but for our entire family. It is also a tribute to my late parents, Premla Vather and Deena Moodliar; my late grandparents, Rajerathenam and Kannakamal Vather; and our Grimitya ancestors. It is a work of ancestral healing, and an offering of gratitude, honour, and love.

“Through the book, I also hope to inspire others, especially among the 152 184 Grimitya descendants, to share their family stories through books, blogs, or oral history. Our ancestors deserve remembrance. I encourage others to begin these conversations, to let their ancestors’ voices be heard and honoured. As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, ‘remembering them is our collective responsibility. I ask: If not now, then when? If not you, then who?’.”

She added that the response from family and friends to her writing had been overwhelming. 

“People from South Africa, the United Kingdom, India, Trinidad, France, and Australia are eagerly awaiting the book. The Pietermaritzburg community, in particular, remembers the Vather family fondly through shared schooling, local businesses, medical practices, and temple life. I am profoundly grateful for every message of support and encouragement.” 

Moodliar-Rensburg added that she intended on writing a sequel. 

“I want to expand on our family history, and include more photographs. I also hope to document my father and his family’s story in a vibrant, Madras-style narrative.”

The book will be launched at the Eduvos Durban International Book Fair at the Eduvos Campus in uMhlanga from August 14 to 18.

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