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The Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association and Natal Indian Politics 1933-1939

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The Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association and Natal Indian Politics 1933-1939 THE COLONIAL-BORN AND SETTLERS' INDIAN ASSOCIATION AND NATAL INDIAN POLITICS 1933-1939 by ANAND CHEDDIE Sub.ltted In partial tultll.ent of the require.ents tor the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Depart.ent of HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NATAL SUPERVISOR: Professor P. R. Warhurst DECEMBER 1992, DURBAN ABSTRACT This thesis seeks to examine Indian political development in South Africa during the period 1933-1939, with specific reference to the emergence of the Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association and its influence on the course of Natal Indian politics. The primary aim of the thesis is to examine the role played by this Association in obstructing the Union government's assisted emigration plans and colonisation scheme. To achieve this aim it was necessary to examine the establishment of the Association and to determine whether the Association fulfilled its main objective. After a brief exposition of early Indian immigration, the activities of the successive Agent-Generals are examined in the context of their relationship with the Natal Indi~n Congress (NIC) and the Association and how these diplomats articulated the aspirations of their government. The Agency at­ tempted to secure improvements in the socio-economic position of the South African Indian community. In terms of various directives from the Indian government it was clear that they emphasised the value of negotiations and compromise and aggressively suppressed the strategies of those who opposed this approach. This attitude surfaced particularly in its relationship with the Association relative to the Association's stance on the colonisation issue. Notwitstanding the disabilities experienced by the Association in its fight for the equal status of its supporters and for the right to remain in South Africa, the Association is seen to have succeeded in the realisation of its fundamental objective. The thesis also seeks to establish that there was a need for the creation of the Association and later after it had served its function the need for its dissolution. In this process the author also deals with the general activities of the Association and the crucial negotiations conducted with the Congress to the point of amalgamation in 1939 when the Association and the NIC amalgamated to form the Natal Indian Association. The significant influence of the Agency in the process of negotiations is emphasised. There are three main themes in this study. The first reflects the manner In which the moderate leadership articulated the aspirations of their supporters. Secondly, it demonstrates the internal differences, sectionalism and the class struggles within the Indian organisations., The third theme seeks to reveal the often devious roles played by the respective governments, their intransigence, connivance and particularly the apathy of the government of India. i CONTENTS Abstract i List of Abbreviations 11i Dedication iv Acknowledgements v Introduction vi CHAPTER ONE Events Prior to the Formation of the Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association 1 CHAPTER TWO The Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association and the Colonisation Scheme 44 CHAPTER THREE The Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association and its General Activities 67 CHAPTER FOUR Hoves Towards Unity Between the Natal Indian Congress and the Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association 1933 to 1935 105 CHAPTER FIVE Conflict and Compromise 129 CONCLUSION 158 .'.PPENDICES: A Constitution of the South African Indian Congress 169 B Constitution of the Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association 175 BIBLIOGRAPHY 178 ii ABBREVIATIONS BNS Department of Interior CAD Central Archives Depot CBIA Colonial-Born Indian Association CB8!SIA Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association CIC Cape Indian Congress DAL Don Africana Library GG Governor-General GN Government Notice HEN Department of Commerce and Industry KCL Killie Campbell Library Collection LA Legislative Assembly NAD Natal Archives Depot NIA Natal Indian Association NIC Natal Indian Congress SAIC South African Indian Congress SAIF South African Indian Federation SD Selected Documents TBIA Transvaal British Indian Association TIC Transvaal Indian Congress TICA Transvaal Indian Commercial Association UN University of Natal URU Executive Council VME Department of Transport iii This thesis is dedicated to my wife, Rameka and my sons, Nishaan and Shalen. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply indebted to numerous individuals who assisted me in the completion of the research for this thesis. Although it would be impossible to mention the names of everyone personally must however, mention those who were more closely associated. I would like to express appreciation to the following individuals who were a constant source of inspiration and encouragement: Graham Stewart for having edited the thesis and eliminated the many literary inaccuracies, Professor Ramanlal Soni for his support; Professor Anthony Arkin for his constant guidance and critical perceptions, Dr. Ravi Nayagar for being especially supportive during the final stages of the thesis, Brij Maharaj for providing valuable research material and academic guidance; Kay Chetty of the Documentation Centre, University of Durban-Westville, for the invaluable input in the formulation of the title of this thesis and continued assistance, I.C.Meer for making himself available to offer clarity on certain important issues; Anitha Shah of the University of Natal's E.G. Malherbe Library, Renu Rabillal of the Don Africana Library and Mary-Lynn Suttie of the University of South Africa's Sanlam Library, who willingly provided professional assistance and guidance. In addition, I would like to thank the staff of the following archives and libraries that I visited: the Central Archives Depot (Pretoria); the Natal Ar­ chives Depot (Pietermaritzburg); the University of South Africa's Sanlam Library (Pretoria); the University of Durban-Westville's Documentation Centre and Library; the University of Natal's E G Malherbe Library; the Killie Campbell Library; the Don Africana Library and the Natal Society Library (Pietermaritzburg). I benefited in particular from the insights of Professor Philip Warhurst and I would like to thank him for agreeing to supervise this thesis. To Mrs. Bar­ bara Warhurst a special word of thanks for her hospitality. v INTRODUCTION This study has been undertaken to try to fill the gap which exists because of the lack of published material on the organisation known as the Colonial-Born and Settlers' Indian Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association). The purpose of the thesis is to describe and analyse the reasons for the founding of the Association and to follow and analyse in a structural­ functional way the development of the organisation from its inception in 1933 until the end of 1939 when it amalgamated with the Natal Indian Congress to form the Natal Indian Association. The objectives of the study were hampered by the lack of primary material. The newspapers of the period provided the necessary chronology of events and served to highlight the controversies that divided the Indians in South Africa. The reports of the numerous commissions l and a select committee2 concerned with aspects of Indian life have been published, including in many cases the evidence submitted. These reports proved to be very useful in evaluating the general reaction of the government to the grievances of the Indian community. In addition, various studies on Indians in South Africa assisted in filling the gap between newspaper reports and the limited relevant archival resources. 1. Union of South Africa, UG4, Report of the Asiatic Inquiry Commission,1921; Union of South Africa, UG46, Report of the Provincial Finance Commission, 1934; Union of South Africa, UG37, Report of the Industrial Legislation Commission, 1935; Province of Natal-Report of the Education Commission, 1937; Union of South Africa, UG7, Report of the Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure Act Commission, 1934; Union of South Africa, UG23, Report of the Indian Colonisa­ tion Inquiry Committee, 1934. 2. Union of South Africa, SC 11-37, Select Committee on the subject of the Provincial Legislation Powers Extension Bill and the Transvaal Asiatic Land Bi 1 l, 1937. vi These include research by Pahad 3 Thompson4 Choonoo' Pachai' and Mesthrie.' The thesis presented by Pahad' was extremely valuable in that it was based primarily on the vast archival resources available in India. Pahad's study of the development of Indian political movements in South Africa does point to the relevance of the Association as a counter movement to Congress and the im­ portance and influence of the Agency in the political history of the Indians in South Africa. The author had been influenced by Pahad's work in selecting the Association for this study. Pahad expressed the hope that his thesis would encourage other South Africans of Indian origin to pursue the research. Pahad claimed that "The field is wide open, especially relating to analytical studies ... "' Mesthrie's thesis was also valuable in that it was also based primarily on the vast archival resources available in India. Hesthrie's study'O of the role of the Agency establishes the reasons why the government of India 3. E.Pahad, 'The Development of Indian Political Movements in South Africa, 1924-1946' (Unpublished Ph.D., University of Sussex, 1972) 4. L.M.Thompson, 'Indian Immigration into Natal, (1860-1872)' Archive Year Book for South African History, 1952, Vol. 11. 5. A.G.Choonoo, 'Indentured Indian Immigration into Natal, 1860-1911, with Particular Reference to its Role in the Development of the Natal Sugar In­ dustry' (M.A., University of Natal, Durban, 1967) 6. B.Pachai, The Emergence of the Question of the South African Indian as an International Issue, 1860-1961 (Cape Town, 1971). 7. U.S.Mesthrie, 'From Sastri to Deshmukh: A Study of the Role of the Govern­ ment of India's Representatives in South Africa, 1927 to 1946' (Ph.D., Univer­ sity of Natal, Durban, 1987) 8. Pahad, 'Indian Political Movements'. 9. Ibid., p.6. 10. Mesthrie, 'From Sastri to Desmukh'. vii made representations on behalf of the South African Indians.
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