Ratna Venkat
Auckland, December 2, 2024
A Tribute to South Africa as Indians mark 164 years of domicile
“He would sometimes put a rope around my neck and send me to the Police. He often beat me with a sjambok, tying my hands and pouring saltwater on my back if cattle strayed into the coffee (plantation).’
This may sound like an excerpt from a novel but these are actual words by Moonesawmy Chinyamma, one of the many indentured labourers (No. 841) who was sent to South Africa to work on the sugarcane and coffee plantations under British Colonial rule.
The story of an indentured labourer can at first appear fascinating to a layman where migration and the hope of a better life conjure up thoughts of positivity and fulfilment.
However, a trip to the ‘1860 Heritage Centre,’ a well-known Museum located in Durban, South Africa quickly exposes many hidden truths and layers to the indentured labourer’s story, where gruesome labour and discrimination were instead part of everyday life.
International Convention
A visit to the Museum, among other attractions, formed part of an international convention I had the opportunity to attend from November 15 to 20, 2024, thanks to the recommendation by Suman Kapoor from Hamilton, New Zealand.
Organised by the Global Indian Organisation (GIO), the convention was held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and commemorated 164 years of Indian indentured arrival in South Africa, as well as the official launch of the GIO South African Chapter by its President, Claudette Sigamoney.
Welcome Dinner
Attended by delegates from various countries such as the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Mauritius, Guadeloupe, Reunion Island, Saudi Arabia, Australia and New Zealand, the Convention offered a fantastic opportunity to showcase the beauty of South Africa, educate ourselves, as well as to connect with our new international friends, the latter marked with a special Welcome Dinner at Zuma Restaurant in Umhlanga on November 15.
Commemoration Day
Our convention officially began the following day (November 16), a historical and important date in the South African calendar.
We visited a poignant ceremony organised by GIO at Durban’s Point Water Front, where a plaque was unveiled to honour and pay tribute to the first Indian indentured workers who arrived on this day and location in 1860 aboard the SS Truro ship.
The ceremony was also graced by distinguished guests such as the KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi.
Premier Ntuli spoke at the Ceremony and reflected on the immense struggle faced by the Indian community under colonial rule and apartheid.
“To remember this day is to honour their sacrifices and recognise their unwavering contributions to the economic, cultural and social development of KwaZulu-Natal. Their story reminds us of the strength found in unity and the power of diversity in building a better future for all,” he said.
The commemoration continued into the evening with the ‘Indian Arrival Celebration and Peace Awards,’ an event held at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga, Durban, where Indian cultural heritage and racial harmony were promoted and celebrated. A cake-cutting ceremony marking 164 years of Indian arrival was the ‘icing on the cake’ at this event!
The Gandhi-Mandela Link
It is said that South Africa gave Mahatma Gandhi to India, while India gave Nelson Mandela to South Africa, and it is this significant connection between the two nations that highlighted the next leg of our journey.
We visited the Pietermaritzburg Railway Station where a young Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was thrown out of a moving train on June 7, 1893, because he was in a ‘Whites only’ carriage while on a trip to Pretoria. This incident encouraged him to fight against injustice and racial oppression in South Africa and later in India, where his profound resistance method of Satyagraha or ‘Truth Force,’ eventually led to India’s independence from British rule.
Mahatma Gandhi’s method of Satyagraha later inspired Nelson Mandela to follow suit and fight for freedom in South Africa.
A visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Visitor Centre, located approximately five kilometres outside Howick, KwaZulu-Natal is a landmark that showcases one of history’s most important moments in the struggle against apartheid.
On August 5, 1962, armed Apartheid police flagged down a car in which Nelson Mandela pretended to be a chauffeur. Having succeeded in evading capture for 17 months, Mandela had just paid a clandestine visit to the home of ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli to report back on his African odyssey, and to request support in calling for an armed struggle.
It was in this dramatic way, at this unassuming spot that Mandela was finally captured and then imprisoned for 27 years.
The Visitor Centre is complemented with a ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ through a landscaped garden where an iconic sculpture featuring 50 steel columns gradually comes into focus as Mandela’s face is viewed from a particular vantage point.
The sculpture titled ‘Release’ acknowledges the 50th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s capture and can be seen from the road as a forest of steel poles, the largest artwork of its kind in South Africa.
Immersive Discussion
The third day of our trip was now turned into an immersive Discussion Panel and Conference held at the Coastlands Hotel.
Some delegates who were experts in their respective fields, were invited to share their views and global experience on the panel stage where topics ranged from ‘Mental Health’, and ‘Gender Equality’ to ‘Health & Wellness,’ among other social issues.
Dr Ezhil Anand, a psychiatrist based in the United Kingdom, said that talking about depression or anxiety disorder to a doctor should be on the same level as talking about a physical ailment or an infectious disease.
“Hopefully with the advancement of neuroscience and neuroimaging, we would be able to make it much more accessible scientifically which would help reduce the stigma,” he said.
The experts in the Mental Health panel also emphasised the importance of regular physical exercise for at least half an hour each day which is the key to keeping one’s mental health in check.
Dr Keshika Singh from South Africa added that mindful space practices such as yoga and meditation should be introduced from a young age so that as children progress to youth and later on to become adults, such practices will form part of a life-coping mechanism.
On the next panel discussion of gender equality, all of the panellists agreed that education begins at home, where both a mother and father can take on roles that defy gender stereotypes which can therefore teach children equality.
Kris Bharathi Harikrishnan from Singapore stated that education is not just about getting a job, it is about leading a better life, and this is what needs to be taught to children both at home and in schools.
International Men’s Day
Later in the evening, the Third Annual International Men’s Day Awards, organised by GIO was held at the same venue to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of extraordinary men worldwide.
Among the recipients were Harikrishnan Muthusamy (Singapore), Dr Ezhil Anand (United Kingdom), Surish Sabnani (France), Seevan Arasen (Mauritius), Veeranjaneyulu Sivaratri (Northern Ireland) and Venkat Raman (New Zealand).
Wilderness Wonder
A trip to any part of Africa would be incomplete without a Safari expedition, and this was the ‘Crown Jewel’ towards the end of our Convention.
Our overnight stay at Hilltop Resort, a three-hour drive north from Durban situated on the edge of a forested hill, offers spectacular views of its vast countryside and glimpses of wildlife such as impala, wildebeest and wild boar, a stark contrast to the urban jungle we were used to during our stay in Durban.
We went on two game drives to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, one in the late evening and the other early morning, where we were treated to all kinds of animals in their natural habitat, the way nature is supposed to be.
Although we were eager to take as many photos and videos of elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and monkeys, nothing beats seeing them with with our naked eye and letting our minds soak up the natural environment we were in, instead of watching them on television.
We were successful in spotting three of ‘Africa’s Big Five,’ but unfortunately not the lion and leopard this time, as luck would have it!
The Hluhluwe and iMfolozi game Reserves comprise 96,000 hectares and lie in the heart of ‘old Zululand,’ with its history dating back to the early Iron Age and the heyday of the Zulu Kingdom of King Shaka.
All good things must come to an end, and so our convention had its end.
Our stay in South Africa exposed us to many historic and modern sites, a variety of animals and people from all walks of life.
It is truly a ‘Rainbow Nation,’ comprising African, European and Asian communities yet it is hard to believe that apartheid once existed not too long ago.
However, the two great leaders, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, who were of course instrumental in changing the course of history forever, emerged from South Africa, and that is something all South Africans are proud to highlight.
Expression of Gratitude
I was fortunate to attend the International Convention organised by the GIO in Durban, South Africa, thanks to the kind recommendation by Hamilton-based (New Zealand) Suman Kapoor.
However, my travel and participation in the Convention came to fruition thanks to the generosity bestowed by my well-wishers and sponsors including Link 2 Services, The Ranchhod Foundation, ManageMyHealth, Greenlane Chartered Accountants, TAS NZ Limited, Orb 360, Vasu Kunapuli and four other benefactors who wished to remain anonymous.
I also extend my gratitude to GIO President Claudette Sigamoney and GIO Global Ambassador Rita Abraham who welcomed us warmly and showcased true South African hospitality.
I cannot wait to return and explore the rest of this beautiful nation.
Ratna Venkat is a Registered (Licenced) Electrician employed at a large company in Auckland. She was earlier Assistant Editor of Indian Newsink. She is a qualified, professional dancer adept in various formats of Indian Classical Dances including Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak.
