FRANKIE Naicker, who celebrates his 101st birthday today, shares his secrets to longevity, love for family, and passion for reading.
Registered as Subrayen Lutchmanna Perumal Naicker, on March 12, 1924, he told the POST that reaching this milestone age was a “blessing and gift from God”.
“My birthday wish is for God to spare my life. I want to live as long as God wills me to. Ageing has been good. I keep fit and I try to eat healthy. I have never smoked or drank alcohol in my life and always try to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle,” said Naicker.
“Since I was a teenager, I did karate and Judo. I enjoyed exercising in my youth and continue until today. But I have to do lighter exercises now. I also enjoy gardening. Growing up, I helped my parents plant sugar cane, betel leaves and vegetables in our home garden.”
Naicker said he loved reading and was thankful for his 100% vision.
“Reading is my passion. I read anything I can get my hands on. Since the POST newspaper was first published, I have been buying it every week. I also love to read books related to karate and to Sri Sathya Sai Baba, as I am an ardent devotee."
Naicker, who is fondly known as Frankie, worked as a bartender, host and chauffeur at Perthshire Hotel in central Durban from the age of 28, and remained in the hotel industry until his retirement.
He married his “soulmate” Rathamani Naicker in 1950 and they had four children. They moved from Verulam to Merebank in 1959.
The couple have nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
“My eldest child Sivalingum, 74, lives in Toronto, Canada. Selvie, 73, is in Pietermaritzburg. She visits every two weeks to ensure the house and yard are clean and neat. My third child, Gonaseelan, passed away in an accident in 1992, and my youngest, Nimi, 68, lives in Isipingo.
“I enjoy spending time with my children. I have travelled to Canada a few times to visit my son. I have also been to India, Singapore and Mauritius. I love travelling. My last trip was 10 years ago to India. At the time, I could not get medical insurance because of my age. I went without it. I went to Sai Baba’s ashram, Prasanthi Nilayam, in Bangalore.
“I do not think I will be able to travel abroad again because of issues with the medical insurance. I also miss driving. I drove until I was 81 years old. Sadly, my car was stolen from the Merebank Clinic,” said Naicker.
“I feel fit but I am just slower than usual. I advise people to keep fit and live a healthy lifestyle for a long life,” Naicker added.
He reminisced about how he enjoyed learning and reading as a young boy, and encouraged parents to urge their children to read.
“I could read and write English very well. I then learnt to read and write Tamil, as it is my mother tongue. When I started work, I bought books to learn how to speak and write Afrikaans, so that I could better communicate with patrons at the hotel. I believe there is no end to learning."
Naicker maintained a positive attitude throughout his life and embraced the challenges and the triumphs.
“I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 30 years ago. The doctors said I should undergo an operation and have chemotherapy, which I refused. I have had excellent care at Wentworth, King Edward and Addington hospitals over the years. I made a decision to take minimal treatment and 30 years down the line, I am still here. It is all thanks to God."
Although he is no longer able to cook, Naicker said he enjoyed stirring the food in the pot when his daughters were cooking.
“They will ask me, ‘dad what are you doing at the pots?’ I replied that I was just checking the curry. I enjoy stirring the curry when it is braising. My favourite foods are trotters and beans, crab curry and fish and chips. I don’t have many teeth left, but I can still bite the crab. I also love bananas and fruit. Fruit is my go-to snack,” he said.
Naicker will celebrate his special day with his family at home.