Bridglal Pachai
Bridglal Pachai | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 30, 1927 Umbulwana, Natal province, Union of South Africa |
| Died | November 27, 2019 (aged 91) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Occupation | Educator, Historian, Writer |
| Nationality | Canadian and South African (dual citizenship) |
| Education | University of South Africa |
| Genre | Nova Scotia History, Autobiography |
| Notable works |
|
| Spouse | Leela Pachai |
Bridglal Pachai ONS CM (30 November 1927 – 27 November 2019) was a South African-born Canadian educator, historian and author. Born in Umbulwana, Natal, he went to school in nearby Ladysmith, and later graduated with a doctorate from the University of South Africa in 1963.
Career
He taught at universities in Ghana and Malawi. In 1975, he moved to Canada with his family and taught history as a Senior Killam Fellow at Nova Scotia's Dalhousie University. From 1977 to 1979 he served as Director of Saint Mary’s University’s International Education Centre and in 1979 he returned to Africa,[1] becoming the inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sokoto, Nigeria (1979-1985).[2] Many years later, he would spend a year teaching in The Gambia (1998)
Having returned permanently to Nova Scotia in 1985, he became the executive director of the Black Cultural Centre (1985 to 1989) and, subsequently, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (1989 to 1994).[3]
Author and historian
He became an authority on African Nova Scotian history, penning several books on the subject, including Beneath the Clouds of the Promised Land (Volumes 1 and 2, 1987 and 1991), Peoples of the Maritimes: Blacks (1987, 1993), and Historic Black Nova Scotia (2006).[4] He wrote about his life in two autobiographies, My Africa, My Canada (1989) and Accidental Opportunities (2007). In all, he published some 20 books.[5]
Personal life
Pachai and his wife Leela had six children; four sons and two daughters.[1]
Death and legacy
He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2002 and in 2006 was a recipient of the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award (Morehouse College).[6]
He died in Halifax on 27 November 2019 at age 91.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Dr. Bridglal Pachai, B.A., M.A., Ph.D." Saint Mary’s University. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Bridglal Pachai fonds - biography". MemoryNS. Nova Scotia Archives. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Dr. Bridgal Pachai". Black in Canada. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Bridglal Pachai". Nimbus Publishing. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Obituary - Bridglal Pachai". JA Snow Funeral Home. SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ NS Archives: Bridglal Pachai Fonds
- Usmanu Danfodiyo University faculty
- Members of the Order of Nova Scotia
- Members of the Order of Canada
- Dalhousie University faculty
- Naturalized citizens of Canada
- South African emigrants to Canada
- South African expatriates in the Gambia
- South African expatriates in Ghana
- South African expatriates in Malawi
- South African expatriates in Nigeria
- People from KwaZulu-Natal
- 1927 births
- 2019 deaths