Cundasamy Kuppusami, an Indian-origin Tamil scholar and author, who was instrumental in persuading the South African government to introduce Tamil as a language at secondary schools, passed away at the age of 103 in Johannesburg.
He began his career as a teacher and went on to become the first inspector of schools in the Department of Indian Education when the system was still segregated by race in the apartheid era.
He was also a prolific author on education in the Indian community and Tamil culture among the Indians in South Africa.
Among his most popular books which are still sought after are 'A Short History of Indian Education', 'Religions, Customs and Practices of South African-Indians' and 'The Three Pillars of Tamil'.
Kuppusami was a founder member and the longest serving member of the South African-Tamil Federation (SATF).
He was responsible for the drafting and the layout of the first Tamil alphabet card that the SATF printed and distributed freely to all Tamil organisations in the country to utilise at their schools. The late Mr Kuppusami was also responsible for spearheading the numerous Tamil teacher programmes that the SATF held in the past.
Kuppusami's funeral will take place tomorrow at his hometown Durban.