Tharadevi MAHARAJ

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing-away of Tharadevi Maharaj. Thara, as she was known, was born in Glencoe, Northern Natal (Kwa-Zulu), Republic of South Africa, on October 24, 1919. However, due to the demand of a Colonial Head Tax placed on Indian children over the age of 12-years at the time, her birthdate was registered as February 3, 1924.

Thara made numerous attempts to correct this birthdate discrepancy, which had a significant impact on her pension as a teacher and otherwise, but the government of South Africa was not interested and the correction was never made.

In South Africa, Thara passed the Grade-8 Provincial Exams and through self-study completed the Junior Certificate (Grade-10) and became a School-Teacher, which was an exceptional accomplishment at that time. Subsequently, Thara wrote and passed the Departmental Teachers’ Exam (another significant accomplishment).

Thara taught for 5-years in South Africa and then married Pradhuman Maharaj and resided in Cato Manor, an Indian suburb of Durban, Natal.  They had two children, Subhas Chandra and Sarat Chandra. Due to illness her husband passed-away 3-years after marriage on March 30, 1947. Thara raised her 2-children as a single parent and instilled and supported their pursuit of education.

After the passing of her husband, Thara returned to teaching and obtained a post at a girls college in Baroda, India in 1949, but returned to South Africa after a short stay due to political uncertainties and the partition of India. She continued her teaching career and thereafter, became the Vice Principal of an Elementary School.

Both of her children had to leave South Africa due to the apartheid system and as a result in 1974 Thara immigrated to Canada and resided in Moose Jaw.

Her teaching qualifications, obtained in South Africa, were not recognized in Saskatchewan; however, with her determination and her love for teaching and helping others, she enrolled and completed a business course and a general education diploma in Moose Jaw. This was followed by the completion, at the University of Regina, of a Bachelor of Education degree in 1995.

Thara was the founding director of a centre for Special Needs Children in Moose Jaw and maintained the position for 8-years until the centre was amalgamated with the school system. Thara then taught in Oxbow for a short period of time and subsequently retired.  She remained in Moose Jaw until she moved to the Lions’ Manor in Rosetown in June 2019.

After her retirement from teaching, Thara continue to teach and assist others in various ways. She helped immigrant women learn English and assisted them with other daily activities including accompanying them to medical appointments. She also assisted children of immigrant families with their homework in the afternoons and evenings at her home. She read regularly at the Moose Jaw library and was active in the Immigrant Women’s Organization and attended the 2001 World Conference Against Racism Conference in her home town, Durban, South Africa.  Thara’s love for teaching and helping others never stopped throughout her life. 

Thara will be deeply missed by Sarat & Peter who live in London, England, and Mona &  Subhas; by her grandchildren and their partners / spouses – Subhas (Bash) & Tara; Sarat & Naomi; Jay & Tammi & Narish & Nicole; her great grandchildren – Brett & Mercedes; Aiden & Kiefer; Jack & Nixon; Ava, Adelyn & Kingston; and the many friends and relatives whose lives she has touched over so many years.

You are invited to the “Celebration of Tharadevi’s Life” which will be held at the Senior Citizen Activity Centre in Rosetown on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM and at the Cosmo Centre in Moose Jaw on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM. 

“Tharadevi” means “Star Goddess” and now she rests with the Stars.