Author Reshma Subramoney turns childhood tragedy into story of hope in new memoir
She lost everything as a child, but she found her inner light. One Midrand woman shows how to find light again when you feel completely lost.
Midrand resident Reshma Subramoney has published a memoir detailing her journey through childhood trauma, loss and inner healing.
Her book, titled The Lighthouse in Me, offers readers facing personal grief a gentle reminder that recovery and hope remain possible.
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In 1986, at eight years old, Subramoney survived a tragedy in Chatsworth, Durban, that claimed five family members — including her mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and the family helper — after a concentrated vitamin D preparation was mistakenly used as cooking oil.
Her subsequent years were marked by severe adversity, including homelessness, abandonment, depression and the tragic loss of her infant son. Drawing on newspaper archives from four decades ago, Subramoney writes about reclaiming her past and discovering her inner strength.
“The inspiration to write my book came after the death of my uncle, Krish Raghubar, my mother’s brother, who had an instrumental influence on my life,” she explained. “After the loss of my family, he and his wife, Jane, opened their home to me, took me in and helped raise me in the aftermath of the tragedy. Their care gave me a place to belong when my world had been torn apart.”
Subramoney settled in Midrand in 2008, where she rebuilt her life and began sharing her story.
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“I feel I owe an important part of that journey to being here in Midrand. It became the home where I built a new chapter. In this place, I have grown enough to give it a voice,” she said.
Her journey has gained international recognition, including the Hera honour at the Olympus International Awards and inclusion among the Top 100 Influential Women for South Africa 2026.
“This shows where I come from — a little girl fighting to survive to a woman using her voice to offer others hope. It strengthens my commitment to raising awareness about mental health, grief and healing,” Subramoney said.
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