A DAY TO REMEMBER: It’s 162 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa
People of Indian origin have played a role in just about every part of the fabric of South African society.
Today, November 16, 2022 is an auspicious day on the calendar of all South Africans of Indian heritage. It marks 162 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa.
Many of the Indian people were brought as indentured labourers and worked as modern day slaves on sugarcane farms and estates.
Various books and documents highlight their sad and difficult journey coupled with harsh treatment by sugar barons and their companies. Sometimes the treatment was so cruel and degrading that many committed suicide, while others organised themselves to resist.
Local activist and member of the Port Shepstone and District Tamil Association, Selvan Chetty said being people of the Hindu faith, it is believed that their strong belief in their religion helped keep the indentured workers united in prayer and culture.
“It helped them overcome the daily stresses, but more importantly gave rise to a determination to overcome the challenges faced at the time.
“As we look back over the years, we must collectively be proud of our achievements and celebrate our success as a community in South Africa.
“People of Indian origin have played a role in just about every part of the fabric of South African society. We have achieved heights never before thought possible, and we have excelled.
“Today as we look back, we offer prayers to the almighty and to our ancestors for the moral, ethical and spiritual guidance that formed the basic unit of the Indian family in the community and in turn the society we are part of,” said Chetty.
He added that as South African Indians we should strengthen our relationship with family, our community and South African society so that in decades to come, our great grandchildren will look back and be proud of us maintaining our excellent record of promoting our culture, religion and importantly too our proud and outstanding record of service to humanity or seva as some would like to say.
“Today, wherever we may be, let’s take a few minutes to reflect on our collective history and offer a simple prayer to the almighty in thanks and appreciation,” said Selvan.
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