A Page from History : Indians in South Africa

By Bishwa Nath Chatterko
Indians in south Africa have suffered so much  humiliation at the hands of the rulers of  that land that words can not express in adequately. To the ever increasing burden of insult  has recently been added another. The history text-book for the children in South Africa contains  such   derogatory remarks as should invite condemnation from every lover of humanity. “Coolies constitute a serous menace to the prosperity of Natal “” The presence of coolies constitutes one of the darker clouds which threaten the future of South Africa” are some instances in point. ‘Coolies’ is the term for the Indians in South Africa! The evils of racialism have now  penetrated in the minds of educationists and now they are engaged in a propaganda which is just inhuman in character.
The Problem of Indians in South Africa first came into limelight when Mahatma Gandhi about half a century back started non-violent non-co-operation movement in Pretoria, south Africa. The White government of south Africa treated the Indian and indigenous population worse than dogs. Indians were imported from India with a view to man the gold refineries and factories in South Africa. And the Immigration Act made provisions for Indians to have settlement rights after the the term of 20 years at their  discretion. But after the term was finished, the government flouted the obligations binding them and neither gave the Indians settlement rights nor gave them facilities for adequate representation in the national executive. Indians could not own a piece of land in South Africa and even now they cannot move about in the country as they please. Certain roads are out of bounds for the Indians. Indians cannot enter the area meant and reserved for Whites. In railways Whites and non-Whites travel separately. Parks, restaurants and public places are also provided with separate sitting arrangements for Whites. If any Indian violates these regulations he is maltreated and kicked in the public and is sent to the jail. The Indians constitute a fair number  in South Africa. In Natal only there are  183,000 Indians to 1,90,000 Whites.

With the advent of India[‘s independence, India represented the cause of Indians in South Africa to the UNO. The verdict given was in favour of the Indian residents there but South Africa cooly violated the dictates of the UNO by taking cover under the cloak of ‘domestic affairs’. The Black Act’ and the Ghetto Act’ are only a few of the black deeds of the south African Whites which will remain in the annals of history as inhuman injustice done by colour-crazy maniacs to helpless human beings.
It is surprising to not that no appreciable amount of agitation has been created in  the democratic world for the cause of Indians in South Africa the verdicts of UNO ought to have opened the eyes of the world towards this ghastly crime perpetuated on helpless Indians in South Africa. Indians have no representation in the South African parliament and they suffered too much not to draw the sympathy of the  world.
Should it be construed then that the world has become the place for power-politicians only who do not care to safeguard humanity from the clutches of barbarians?
Have the protagonists of racial colour-bar for gotten the lessons of history? Has colonialism ever lasted? The signal is in the air. The slumber of  the oppressed Indians in South African has broken. The people are rising. They will have their vengeance on their oppressors some near day. It would be indeed wise for the South African Whites if they desist from their callous attitude towards Indians residing there before the present civil disobedience movement breaks into a bloody revolution.                           n