Acclaimed academic, award-winning writer, theatre performer, poet and spiritualist, Professor Kriben Pillay, has passed away.
The 62-year-old died on Sunday morning after a brief illness.
Tributes on social media have described Professor Pillay as an exceptional scholar, outstanding storyteller and a man with a razor-sharp mind.
Professor #Kriben Pillay was a legendary academic, author, storyteller and touched many of us as a big Brother and a confidant. #UKZN was his stage and memories we created will be cherished. Your passing away was unexpected. Go well my Brother.
— Dante Tebogo Mashile (@tebmohau) December 13, 2020
Huge loss and sad news about the death of Prof Kriben Pillay, a stalwart @UKZN. He had an ability to entertain & educate with such wit and wisdom. An intellectual, writer, poet, playwright & leader with a deep appreciation for innovation.
Deepest condolences.#RIPKribenPillay
— Suntosh Pillay (@suntoshpillay) December 13, 2020
RIP Prof Kriben Pillay. We will always remember you as a warm intellect with a beautiful soul.
— Prof Colin Thakur (@thakur_colin) December 13, 2020
Dr Satchu Annamalai, who shared a 40-year friendship with Pillay, says his death is a huge loss to the world of theatre and academia.
“I think we have lost an amazing academic, somebody who has given so much and still had so much more to give and a lot of people in the academic world will speak to him about various topics and all of them would testify that they were greatly inspired by this person and also I learnt a lot from him.”
In the audio below, Dr Satchu Annamalai pays tribute to Professor Pillay:
