Learning to Become a Political Activist

18 hindustantimes YEARS ON 1869 - 2019 PERSPECTIVE UMA DHUPELIA-MESTHRIE PERSPECTIVE ERIC ITZKIN LEARNING TO BECOME Gandhi on trial in South Africa, again n a test of Mohandas Karamchand Gan- in Gandhi’s outlook, and a growth in his A POLITICAL ACTIVIST dhi’s reputation and approval rating in understanding. The place now known as I South Africa, a motion to remove the Gandhi Square was the site of the law courts, name and statue of the Indian leader where Gandhi practised as an attorney in the from the city centre was debated in recent early 1900s. Much of his professional and weeks by the Johannesburg City Council, the political activity revolved around the law country’s largest municipality. courts, where he appeared first as an attor- The motion called for the removal of the ney and then as an accused in political trials. bronze statue at Gandhi Square — sculpted Gandhi lived in Johannesburg from 1903 to by Tinka Christopher, it depicts Gandhi as a 1913, and this was a formative period during young activist lawyer in his legal gown — and which time he developed the philosophy the renaming of the site after Sophie de of satyagraha. Bruyn, a well-known anti-apartheid activist. In his landmark speech to the Young Previously called Van der Bijl Square, the Mens’ Christian Association, delivered in site was officially named Gandhi Square in Johannesburg on May 18, 1908, Gandhi spoke 1999; the statue was added by the city authori- of his vision of an inclusive, multiracial soci- ties in 2003. ety in South Africa: “If we look into the The motion was tabled by the Economic future, is it not a heritage that we leave to pos- Freedom Fighters (EFF), the third-largest terity that all the different races commingle political party in South Africa, which is often and produce a civilisation that perhaps the known for highly charged populist rhetoric, world has not yet seen?” and fierce denunciations of political oppo- After the EFF’s motion, the stage was set nents. The motion cited “racist utterances” for a debate between the two main parties in made about African people by the young the Johannesburg City Council: the Demo- Gandhi during his stay in South Africa, with- cratic Alliance (DA), which leads a coalition out doing justice to the context of the time. administration, and the opposition African Nonetheless, in framing the anti-Gandhi National Congress (ANC). However, the two motion, the EFF sounded a softer note, and parties set aside their differences and gave some credit to the Indian leader. “The opposed the motion. EFF also notes the role played by the globally Belinda Echeozonjoku, a DA councillor, recognised peace icon, Mahatma Ghandi [sic] gave a stirring speech, highlighting the pro- who lived in South Africa for 21 years, and found contribution made by Gandhi to fight- how central he was in fighting for the rights ing for the rights of the marginalised and of the oppressed and marginalised Indian oppressed, and how he prepared the way for people,” said the statement. many other activists of all races in the libera- “We have also taken into account the jour- tion struggle against apartheid. “Removing ney he travelled into understanding himself the statue is not only about Mahatma Gan- and that of the local people,” EFF Councillor, dhi,” argued Clr. Echeozonjoku, “but it is n Gandhi Silumko Mabona, wrote: “We also acknowl- also denying the rights and dignity of all recovering edge that he was a reformed racist who races, including Indians like Ahmed Kath- after being changed his view based on the fact that he rada and Ahmed Timol to be honoured for the beaten up by a had insufficient knowledge of life that our role they played in the struggle against apart- fellow Indian people were subjected to.” heid.” who felt that In this view, Gandhi is branded as a Councillor Geoff Makhubo, leader of the Gandhi had “reformed racist”, who — despite having pos- ANC in the council said that the history of made a wrong itively transformed and shed his early preju- Gandhi is intertwined with the history of compromise dice against Africans — does not deserve to South Africa, and of the national liberations with South be forgiven. struggle. We must “avoid divisive motions,” African Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893 at he said, adding that veteran womens’ leader officials, 1908. the age of 24, as an inexperienced Indian colo- and ANC stalwart, Sophie de Bruyn, “had not COURTESY NATIONAL GANDHI nial lawyer who shared many of the preju- been consulted about the motion”, and she MUSEUM diced views of Africans which were then cur- did not support the renaming of Gandhi rent. Speaking at a public meeting in what Square. courage and he tackled that important was then called Bombay after three years in On August 23, the motion was put to vote CONFRONTING THE PAST MK Gandhi was 24 when he human tendency for fear — from authorities South Africa, his words were harsh and con- and roundly defeated 226 to 20, with no began to fight for the rights of Indians living in South Africa. or of loss of possession. In these years, he temptuous towards Africans: “Ours is one abstentions. became a prisoner, a journalist, a farmer, a continuous struggle against a degradation Anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela, was He exhibited the prejudices of his time. He then embarked teacher, a food reformer, a healer of the body sought to be inflicted upon us by the Europe- aware of the racist statements made by Gan- and he gave up a legal career which had ans who desire to degrade us to the level of dhi when he was young. He wrote in an article upon a remarkable journey to overcome his biases and brought him wealth. We should not forget he the raw Kaffir whose occupation is hunting, titled Gandhi the Prisoner: a Comparison, was also a husband and father of four sons, and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain published in the Africa Quarterly in 1999: “All develop a philosophy — satyagraha — to tackle them and far from neglecting his sons, he sought to number of cattle to buy a wife and, then, pass in all, Gandhi must be forgiven those preju- mould them according to his ideals. his life in indolence and nakedness.” dices and judged in the context of the time and In his days as a novice petitioner in Natal, Later, there was a definite widening circumstances. We are looking here at the Gandhi brought abundant energy to tackle young Gandhi, still to become the Mahatma, white dominance. No prior Indian political when he was without any human prejudice activity in the colony would have pulled off Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893 as an inexperi- save that in favour of truth and justice.” the monster petition (against the disenfran- enced Indian colonial lawyer who shared many of the chisement of Indians) of 8,889 signatures in prejudiced views of Africans which were then current. Eric Itzkin is the author of ‘Gandhi’s Johannesburg: 1894. As a petition writer, Gandhi drew on lit- (...) Later, there was a definite widening in Gandhi’s Birthplace of Satyagraha’, and the Deputy Director: K Gandhi’s 100th birth anni- of populists, moved a motion in the Johan- erature, read official reports, commissions outlook, and a growth in his understanding Immovable Heritage for the City of Johannesburg. He versary in 1969 was cele- nesburg City Council for the removal of Gan- and statements made by members of the leg- writes in his personal capacity brated in South Africa at a dhi’s statue at a city square where a young islature in order to challenge restrictions on time when the apartheid Gandhi once had his law office. While the trade licences, closing off immigration, and M state ruled strong: signifi- EFF lost this motion by 20 votes to 226, that even the removal of political rights. Never cant black political organi- the debate took place at all is significant. had there been so much campaigning in India sations in the country were banned or forced Much of the conversation that takes place as there was in 1896 to alert the Indian public into inactivity and individuals were placed in social media about Gandhi centres around about daily life in racist Natal. under house arrest orders.The celebration his attitude towards black South Africans, Though Gandhi lost many of these battles, was organised by the Phoenix Settlement his use of pejorative terms and his claim for he continued to believe in the idea of an impe- Trust and included the opening of a Gandhi better treatment for what he regarded as the rial brotherhood and that there was a such a Museum and Library at the settlement, as more civilised Indians. thing called British justice. In his last decade well a Mahatma Gandhi Clinic. The last Gandhi, who was 24 years old when he in South Africa between 1903 to 1914, Gandhi opened in the printing press building that began to make his mark in politics in Natal, began a campaign of satyagraha that saw once housed Indian Opinion, a newspaper should have known better for he detested the brilliant acts of defiance such as the burning that Gandhi had founded in 1903, and which term “coolie” when it was applied to him. In of passes in a bonfire, cross border immigra- had ceased publication in 1962. Leading fig- defending Indians’ right to the franchise in tion violations and a march comprising thou- ures gave speeches at Phoenix and in major Natal, he fell into the trap of engaging the sands of striking coal mine workers.

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