Saturday, September 17, 2011

Mahatma Gandhi visit to South Africa for a useful purpose

Gandhi South Africa  visit for a useful purpose

The practice of law in Rajkot cost charm it may  have had for Gandhi. Gandhi feeling thoroughly depressed and exasperated when a letter arrived from Dada Abdullah  & Co a firm of Me man  Muslims in Porbandar, addressing to Lakmidas  the letter asked whether his brother would be willing to go to South Africa, where firm had large business and assist with law suit for a claim of 40,000 pounds.

Discussing the proposal with Abdul Jhaveri, a partner in Dada Abdullah company Mohandas Gandhi learn t that he was envisaged as link between firm and European lawyers. The firm head in South Africa Jhaveri brother Abdullah Sheth was proficient in English and his lawyers knew no Guadalajara . Gandhi help would enable Abdullah to instruct and understand his lawyers. The offer for Gandhi was first class return  fare and a sum of 105 pounds with all facilities. Gandhi promptly closed with the offer though fully realizing that he was asked to go not as a barrister but as a servant of firm and he wanted some how to leave India. There was a fascination with new country. Mohandas seemed to think- or hope and he wished to take a closer look at racial arrogance. 

The lands and resources of Africa of 1893 had been possessed by Europe powers and following Berlin congress of 1885, parceled out among them. South Africa was not yet a single political entity.  Natal on east coast was a crown colony the Cape, in south  west, self governing colony of British, while interior territories  Boer or Afrikaner republics their culture influenced by Dutch and France Hague notes . Paul Kruger  was president in Transvaal .

After the varied blacks ( Zulus , Xhosa and other ) and white, South  Africa third largest group ( living mostly in cape ) were  co lour  mixed  descendants of Indonesians , Malays, whites blacks and ingenious  khoum and Sam. The Indians were next in number.

Gandhi boarded the safari ( ship)  in Bombay on 19th April 1893 and reached Durban on 23rd May.

A shrewd  if practically unlettered man from Porbander  owing ships and running several businesses in Natal as well as  Transvaal Abdullah amassed wealth to late 1880 by newly discovered gold sale to India. He wondering ( Gandhi taught) how Anglicized  barrister would help him and how much his up keep would cost and feared that his brother in Porbandar had sent him white elephant. However after few days of scrutiny  and all discussions, Abdullah  felt reassured.

Gandhi was met on ship by Abdullah Sheth. Glancing around him with eyes sharpened Gandhi noticed that whites boarding the admiral to welcome passengers seemed scornful towards Indians . Many of them greeted Abdullah Sheth, to whom seemed to know in snobbish manner, Gandhi taught. Gandhi also noticed that he himself looked with curiosity . Durban whites had not seen an Indian dressed like him.. Muslim  merchants, including Abdullah wore lose clothes large turbans  with thick beards. They called themselves and were  often called Arabs . Paresis who had come from India traders or clerk were  referred to Persians .
Hindus and Christians were called  “ Sami “ from suffix of many south Indian name in Natal , derived from Sanskrit word Swami ( master).

Gandhi had met some Durban’  leading Indians ( Muslims, Hindus , Christians and Paresis ) learn t racial prejudice  they daily faced. Taking  him on second or third day his arrival to Durban court Abdullah had asked Gandhi to sit next to Abdullah white attorney . After staring at Gandhi  few times the magistrate asked Gandhi to remove his turban . Men like Abdullah could keep turbans  as they were Arabs but Indians like were expected to remove his head gear in the court. Refusing to remove his head gear  Gandhi showing dissatisfaction about the order.  An  unwelcome visitor , cruising Gandhi for not removing his turban a article appeared in the press. Gandhi reply appeared in the “Advertiser”  on May  giving young barrister an unexpected advertisement in South  Africa . 

Gandhi had gone into the details of case for which he had come, the claim of Abdullah and his forum for 40,000 pounds against relative Tyeb Sheth  who lived in Pretoria  the capital of the Transvaal. That was there case being fought where Gandhi has to go.
Gandhi expressed to Abdullah a wish to try if possible to settle the case out of court, since Tyeb was a relative to him and also due to cumbersome legal battle may take long time and both parties loose financially.

Gandhi on his way to Transvaal while traveling in train, he was asked to sit out of  first class compartment even though he was having first class ticket.  Gandhi informed them that he got ticket travel in first class compartment and refused to move out of compartment. However Gandhi was forced down  from  the train. With incident Gandhi shocked and thought of returning India , but was rejected by himself as cowardly option.

Gandhi thought that all human beings creation of same god, have equal value and rights . As Gandhi physically shaken but mentally and morally form as he has reacted to ejection assault and rejection -needle of South Africa racism with dignified defiance and prudence, and also by recording the wrongs in letters and telegrams.

Abdullah has a hint of new comer quickly becoming known and noticed among fellow Indians and also among whites of South Africa. Gandhi met Rev. Andrew Murray one of biggest names in South Africa  Dutch reformed church , and discussed about Christianity . But he saw no reason to change his religion and said so to his Christian friends.  They were disappointed  and some were shocked. But Gandhi could not help. That by his death  and blood Jesus had  redeemed the sins of world was some thing that Gandhi was ready to accept metaphorically but not literally.

Gandhi in his autobiography says  Tolstoy  book whose “ the king of gods is within you “ Gandhi said the book him independent thinking, profound morality, and truthfulness. Elsewhere Gandhi said reading Tolstoy book saved him from violence.  I had faith in it and more in non-violence . There was a  clash in his mind between violence and forgiveness and Tolstoy resolved it against violence.

Abdullah Sheth meanwhile was speaking to Gandhi the beauty of Islam  and suggesting to join in that religion. Gandhi read Sale’s  translation of Koran and gone through Islamic books. Un convinced that he should embrace Christianity or Islam and not certain either that Hinduism with its untouchable and a multitude of sects and castes was perfect religion, Gandhi remembered the Jain  thought that doubt should every certainty.

As regarding the case against Tyeb was his primary commitment in Pretoria. Gandhi conclusion was that facts made Abdullah case strong in deed and also that Abdullah case was  strong in deed and also that Abdullah and as well as Tyeb may be ruined if they fought in courts to bitter and distant end. The two parties two realized this Gandhi has strain every nerve before two signed to arbitration. The Abdullah was awarded 37000 pounds plus costs. Tyeb meant to pay pie less than the amount but was impossible for pay down the whole sum. Gandhi persuaded Abdullah to accept the payment in installments, . Finally both side happy over the decision.

Gandhi was planning to move back India . “ you should all detain Gandhi to fight against racism and untouchable against Indians by south African whites “ Abdullah told his guests. Gandhi clarified he asked to pay for campaign for telegrams, priority some law books ( as he ignorant of their laws) and traveling costs. Gandhi agreed ti fight towards welfare of Indian community in south Africa . In fact  it helped redefine the community for Gandhi  secured participation of all sections traders and clerks Muslims, Hindus, Paresis and Christian the small the greatest.

On public front there were  gains & losses.  Thanking Gandhi lobbying London ( British ruled agreed and instructed that Natal could not discriminate against Indian on the ground of race. After success of his trip,`
On October 1901, Gandhi and his family left for Mumbai.     

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