Dr Rajie Tudge launches 'The Goodwill Girl: The Story of Daya Pillay'

Dr Rajie Tudge, of Musgrave, launched her second book, The Goodwill Girl: The story of Daya Pillay, on Saturday at the Glenwood Book Fair. Her first book was a biographical fiction titled Teaching the Canna Bush: My journey through apartheid and beyond (2020). The story followed her experiences after she left school in Standard 9, worked in a furniture shop, and taught in Cape Town where she met Alan Tudge, an Englishman to whom she was married for 35 years under apartheid. Tudge has a Master's in linguistics from Stellenbosch University and a doctorate in gender policy from the UKZN. She lectured at the University of Durban-Westville (now UKZN)  and retired as the director of strategic planning in 2007. She spoke to Candice Soobramoney about her new release. 

Q: Who was Daya Pillay and how did the idea of the book come about? 

A: Daya Pillay was the daughter of Velayuda and Janaki Govender of the iconic Goodwill Supply Stores in Clairwood. She married Subri Pillay from Cato Manor and was a respected leader in the Tamil cultural community. 

Q: What prompted you to accept and write her story and why do you think Daya Pillay's story should be told?

A: I was approached by my friend, Professor Kanthan Pillay, to document his mother's story because at 79 years of age, her memory might be fading. Daya's story is not a grand narrative of heroic achievements; instead, it is the story of every woman, the ordinary woman who nevertheless has a story to tell which will resonate with every mother and every son.

Q: When did you start interviewing her, how often, and where would you meet? What was the interview process like? 

A: I started interviewing Daya in April 2024 at her son's flat on North Beach once a week. We would sit over a cup of tea and her famous idli and chat casually. Sometimes she would sing to me in her melodious voice as she recalled the event when she sang that song. The interviews were not structured and were more akin to visits with a good friend.

Q: How did she feel about you telling her life's story? 

A: Daya was a great conversationalist and would regale her visitors with her stories. So, she didn't need much prompting to walk down memory lane and talk about her life. 

Q: In the book, you refer to Daya Pillay as "the power behind the man", her husband Subri? 

A: Daya was a natural leader and given her business acumen and her budgeting skills, she managed the household finances. In the chapter titled The CFO in the book are examples of how she became the chief financial officer of the Pillay household, how she was the initiator of their move to a life in Mobeni Heights in Chatsworth and to owning a thriving tea-room business.

Q: Her 80th birthday turned out to be prophetic. Please elaborate. 

A: On her 80th birthday on May 6, 2024, when I interviewed her, Kanthan believed that it would be his mother’s last birthday. It turned out to be prophetic. It is only later that Kanthan explained his prediction - a prognosis from Dr JP Singh in 2023 that his mother’s condition was terminal. She celebrated her 80th birthday with over 250 guests, family and friends paying their respects. The tributes to her turned it into a living funeral. And Daya, while she was alive, got to celebrate her life with friends and family and hear their accolades. The people around her were, in turn, given the opportunity to acknowledge Daya’s impact on their lives and to create beautiful last memories with the woman who had had such a profound impact on their lives. 

Q: When did she pass away? 

A: Daya died on March 11, 2025. 

Q: Does her legacy live on through the book? 

A: Yes, this book celebrates her life and is a legacy not only for her grandchildren but for friends and family. The manuscript was completed in her lifetime and chapters were read to her before she passed on. She was excited about the upcoming launch on her 81st birthday.  There is a chapter in the book where friends and family were invited to write their tributes. Those who have read the book have lauded me for keeping Daya's voice resonant in the story. 

Q: Why do you think the book will resonate with readers?

A: The story resonates because Daya's story will mirror the readers' own experiences. It will document the history of a particular period that prevailed during the life of this woman. This story gives a voice to every woman. It tells the story of the ordinary women who do not make it into the footnotes of history. It will resonate with those who want their mother's life to be validated and celebrated. To know that she did not just pass through this life but made an impact in the lives of others and will be fondly remembered.

The book was published by Hashtag Books. 

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