One of the greatest leaders of the people in South Africa, respected not only by the Indians but by people of all racial origins.
Known affectionately as "Monty".
He was born in Durban on 30 September 1910. His grandfather had come to South Africa. Some biographical notes say he was an indentured labourers; others that he was a "passenger Indian".. His father, P.S. Naicker became a prosperous trader - a banana exporter.
He studied in Durban at Marine College and then proceeded in 1927 - at the age of 17 - to Britain to complete secondary school and then study medicine at Edinburgh University. (Apparently he also studied in Dublin).
At the Edinburgh University, he was elected to the Students` Representative Council. He became a member of Edinburgh Indian Association and was editor of the Association's handbook from 1932 to 1934.
He returned to South Africa in 1934 after qualifying as a doctor and set up practice. (Dr. Dadoo and Dr. Goonam returned in 1936). In a speech at a welcome meeting on arrival in South Africa, he said he had been warned to keep away from politics, and that he would do his best in his profession to serve his people.
He gained much first-hand knowledge of the living conditions of the Indian people through his medical practice. He identified himself with Indian social welfare organizations, and was elected President of the Hindu Youth Club in Durban in 1935.
In the Indian Congress, he championed the cause of progressives. When the Nationalist Bloc was formed, he was one of its members.
Since the old guard in NIC continued with the policy of compromise, the Natal Anti-Segregation Council was formed with Dr. Naicker as President.
Dr. Naicker became President of NIC in October 1945 when the former leaders - A.I. Kajee and P.R. Pather - were compelled to hold elections. More than ten thousand people attended the meeting where he was elected.
He was jailed for six months in the passive resistance campaign in 1946 against new legislation restricting land tenure rights of Indians.
In 1947, he was a signatory of the Xuma-Naicker-Dadoo pact for cooperation between the ANC and the Indian Congresses. Soon after, he toured India with Dr. Dadoo, and met Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah and others.
He was again sentenced to six months` imprisonment with hard labour on February 26, 1948, during the second phase of the passive resistance campaign.
He was jailed for a month in the Defiance Campaign of 1952: he led the first batch of Natal resisters in the campaign.
He was twice President of the South African Indian Congress.
He was a key figure in the "Congress Alliance."
He was an accused in the Treason Trial of 1956-61.
He was acquitted and then spent five months underground during the State of Emergency of 1960, disguised as a Moslem priest.
He was served with banning orders around 1954, prohibiting him from attending meetings, but he remained President of NIC until more stringent bans were imposed. He was served stringent five-year banning orders in 1963 and 1968.
When the banning orders expired in 1973, he began addressing meetings and became head of the anti-SAIC Committee set up in 1977 to boycott elections to the South African Indian Council.
He believed in non-violence and was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi right to the end.
He was a close personal friend of Chief Albert Lutuli.
His life was dedicated to service and he was greatly respected for his sacrifice and integrity.
He died on 12 January 1978, at the age of 67, after a short illness.
People of all racial origins attended his funeral.
His wife - Marie Apavoo- also led demonstrators in the Defiance Campaign. He has two children. The daughter's name is Vasugee: she studied in Britain.
He loved life. At his funeral, Alan Paton described him as "jollity personified."
He was jailed eight times, and banned for a total of 14 years, and spent several years as an accused in the Treason Trial.
Dr. Naicker called for a "Unites Democratic Front" as early as 1948, soon after the apartheid regime came to power. Speaking at a mass meeting to welcome him on his release from prison, He declared:
Those who thought he was a figure-head as President of NIC, chosen by young militants, were mistaken.