Celebration to embrace South African roots and Indian heritage

TO commemorate the arrival of the 1860 Indian settlers in South Africa, the Merebank Alliance Forum will host a peace walk and float procession as a part of this year’s celebrations.

To portray the significance of the commemoration, the event, which will be held at Dubri Road Grounds in Merebank on November 12, will commence with a prayer and include entertainment, a sari queen contest, an art competition, a flea market and classic car show.
Merebank Alliance Forum’s Paul Naidoo said almost 2 centuries later, South African Indians choose to celebrate their culture by merging Indian heritage with their South African roots.

“During this time, we remember the hardship experienced by their ancestors and their sacrifices which led us to be here today. We invite all residents to join us to celebrate with a day of fun and revelry as we remember and celebrate who we are in this multicultural society of South Africa. We are a part of history and we must join to commemorate our forefathers and their achievements,” Naidoo said.
Naidoo said it was easy to forget the stories of the past as the years go by, and encouraged parents to teach their children about how Indians arrived in South Africa.
“In 1860, in many villages in India, groups of people decided to leave their poverty-stricken rural villages and transverse the globe to another colonial state, South Africa, ruled by Britain at the time. They were called indentured labourers by their (then) English masters, when in fact, this was a term coined to hide the truth of a form of slavery. Hundreds of Indians arrived on a few ships, including the SS Truro, in Durban in 1860.

“The conditions of this movement of people between India and South Africa was severely inhumane and treacherous at times, resulting in many deaths and much suffering. However, the Indian people endured and many arrived safely on the shores of Kwa Zulu Natal in the port of Durban, on November 16, 1860.

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“They were promptly dispensed to the sugar cane farms of Kwa Zulu Natal for a period of indenture. Throughout the north and south coast of Natal, they worked tirelessly and produced much wealth that was dispersed to other parts of the world.
“In South Africa, they met the local inhabitants and began a life in a foreign land with South Africans, seeing the beauty, opportunity and joy in this tropical part of the world. At the end of their indenture contracts, many Indians remained here in South Africa instead of returning to India. This journey and decision to remain in South Africa has led to one of the largest settlements of Indians outside of India,” Naidoo said.

The Merebank Alliance Forum, established in 2020 with the objective to connect charitable, civic and religious bodies and as a collective, uplift the community of Merebank, welcomes assistance in the form of sponsorships, donations and prizes towards the celebration. For more information or to assist, call 073 510 0011 or 083 289 2297.