Honoring a Legacy: South African Family Remembers WWII Hero in India

A South African family of Indian descent pays tribute to their ancestor, Pilot Officer Dharamraj Aheer Goordeen, a WWII hero, at the Delhi 1939-1945 War Memorial. Facilitated by military diplomatic channels, this marks the family's first step towards tracing their ancestry in India.

An Indian-origin South African family recently honored their ancestor, Pilot Officer Dharamraj Aheer Goordeen, by placing a wreath at the Delhi/Karachi 1939-1945 War Memorial in New Delhi, eight decades after his death during World War II.

Goordeen, who hailed from Natal, South Africa, was a Royal Indian Air Force officer. He joined the Allied Forces against the Axis Powers and tragically died in service in 1942 at the age of 25. His descendants, Jay and Sham Muckerdhooj, undertook this mission to connect with their roots.

With the support of Brigadier General Kevin Moonsamy, the South African Defence Advisor in New Delhi, the family received special permission for the weekend visit to the normally closed memorial site. The event highlights the efforts of the South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans to recognize the contributions of Indian-origin soldiers in the country.

(With inputs from agencies.)