South African student-leader and exile academic Chengiah ‘Rogers’ Ragavan, once vice-president of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS), has died, leaving behind a legacy of anti-apartheid activism, student mobilisation and international solidarity work.
Tributes have poured in for the anti-apartheid activist and student leader.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of Rogers Ragavan…In 1977, Ragavan was in exile in the United Kingdom when he learned of Steve Biko’s murder in police custody. He was shocked by the news and immediately started reaching out to other activists,” said the 1860 Heritage Centre.
Early years and student politics
Born in Durban in the 1930s, Ragavan rose to prominence while studying at the University of Natal’s ‘Non-European’ section. He was elected president of the university’s first black Student Representative Council (SRC) and served as vice-president at NUSAS.
In December 1967 he was served with a five-year banning order under the apartheid regime: placed under house-arrest, banned from attending tertiary institutions and from teaching, effectively halting his full-time studies.
Rogers Ragavan remembered: Banned, exiled, and unbroken in the fight against apartheid.
Activism and exile
Ragavan’s leadership among student activists coincided with the era of the Steve Biko-led Black Consciousness Movement. He became a close friend of Biko during their student days.
After the banning order, Ragavan went into exile. In Canada (Montreal) he campaigned for the African National Congress (ANC) and helped mobilise international support for South African liberation.
During this time, he also pursued academic work, earning multiple degrees and holding teaching posts overseas.
Legacy and critique
Ragavan’s contributions spanned student activism, international solidarity networks and academic scholarship. He documented his experiences in the book Apartheid Studies: Memories of a Political Prisoner, in which he recalls receiving the banning order and being forced into exile.
His funeral has been arranged at the Clare Estate Crematorium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal between 11am-2pm on Saturday, November 1.
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