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Daredevil awarded by Revolution Bikers

RACHEL VADI rachel.vadi@inl.co.za

AMARANEE Naidoo has been described as an amazing woman who was decades ahead of her time.

On Sunday, the Revolution Motorcycle Club recognised the 89-year-old for her courage and daredevil ways by presenting her with the Revolution Award.

Naidoo was part of the star acts performed at the legendary Tommy Chetty’s Funfair for more than a decade.

At 17, Naidoo worked after school at a local supermarket, Noels. She said there were few opportunities for young Indian women then, but she was determined to do something with her life.

Her chance came through their family friend, Tommy Chetty, the owner of Tommy Chetty’s Funfair.

“When Mr Chetty approached my parents for permission to allow me to ride a bike, my mother did not agree, and she remained against it until the day she died. My father, however, knew I was ambitious. We didn’t have a car in those days, and I’d prepare his bike for him everyday when he went to work. So he knew I wanted to do this.”

Naidoo said there were more than a few challenges for a young female in the 1950s and 1960s.

“Girls were not allowed to wear pants and breeches. I had to have special costumes made so I could ride the bike. I also found the Harley Davidson too heavy to ride on The Wall. So I had to change to Royal Enfield.”

Naidoo joined Chetty in the Wall of Death Act. Along with other performers, they rode on wooden planks, performing what were billed as death-defying acts.

“My favourite was the Cross Riding Act. Mr Chetty and I would cross tracks while riding our bikes on the wall. When he came down, I’d go up. We got to a stage where we’d pass a handkerchief between us. It was all very exciting.”

When she was on her bike, Naidoo said there was no time to daydream and think of other things.

“Speed and balance were the most important things to learn. If you lose concentration, even for a moment, it could mean the end of us.”

While she may not have broken any bones, Naidoo had 25 injuries ranging from deep cuts to bruises.

“It was all very sore. I thank God I did not have any major injuries, but I have some deep scars from cuts and bruises all over my body. This mostly happened if the planks were wet, so we slipped, or if the lights went off while we were performing.”

Chetty’s Funfair travelled throughout South Africa during the Group Areas Act which segregated people into racially designated areas.

“We would go wherever the Indian people lived, performing at all the sugar mills or open vacant spaces. Travelling and meeting people who loved us was my favourite thing. I loved meeting all the good people and they eventually became friends and family to us.”

Fifty-four years ago, Naidoo’s daredevil career came to an abrupt halt when Chetty died. But her fan base came out in their numbers to show their support for her at the presentation.

Gerald Vedan, a human rights lawyer who was present at the weekend awards, recalled watching Naidoo at the Isipingo Festival.

“It was a death-defying thing. I don’t think I’ve heard of any Indian woman in South Africa doing this before. It brings back many happy memories for me.”

Guru Kistensamy, a Chatsworth resident, was also at the event.

“I was the DJ that played the music at the time. One time I was so fascinated by the goings-on that I forgot to move the vinyl needle of the record player. If you did not move the needle, the same track would play over and over again.

“Tommy Chetty then came to me and said ‘move that arm’, referring to the vinyl needle, and I moved it.

“Amaranee was the darling of the community. As Princess Diana was adulated throughout the world, our community adulated Amaranee.”

In accepting her award, Naidoo said: “I want to tell all the young people, especially the girls, all these modern bikes are so easy to ride, you just press the buttons and they go. If you want to do what I did, go for it.”

News

en-za

2022-12-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepostza.pressreader.com/article/281732683517490

African News Agency