Indian struggles in the rainbow nation
By Ethirajan Anbarasan
BBC Tamil service


Pratap Singh is a proud man today. Not because he owns a 300-acre
sugarcane plantation just outside the city of Durban but because of
the way his family has progressed in the past 130 years in South
Africa.
Like thousands of Indians, his grandfather, Boda Singh, arrived in
1872 as a plantation indentured labourer - working in exchange for
accommodation, food or other essentials.

"Without proper shelter, food or water the labourers went through
torrid times. But my grandfather was lucky enough to establish
himself after his indenture period," says Pratap Singh, standing in
his vast sugarcane estate.

He is one of the 1.2m strong Indian community, most of whom are
descendants of indentured labourers, living mainly in South Africa's
Kwazulu-Natal province.


Politics

But not all are as fortunate. Thousands live in poverty in townships
around Durban.



There is a jostle in South Africa between identities - a fighting, a
pulling back and coming together
Ashwin Desai, sociologist

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, nearly a million Indians were
transported to British colonial outposts like Fiji, Mauritius, South
Africa, Malaysia and the West Indies to work on sugarcane
plantations.

Against the odds many South African Indians have now established
themselves as successful businessmen, traders and professionals.

Some have even entered politics, occupying ministerial posts in the
African National Congress (ANC)-led government.

But it is not a simple rags-to-riches story. Today in the new
multicultural South Africa the Indian community is trying hard to
strike a balance between being South African and maintaining an
Indian cultural identity.


TIMELINE SOUTH AFRICA
1893: Gandhi arrives in South Africa
1894: Natal Indian Congress established
1911: Indentured labour abolished
1914: Gandhi leaves for India
1949: Interracial riots in Durban
1950: Group Areas Act introduced
1990: Nelson Mandela released


Their economic success, advancements in education and strong cultural
beliefs at times bring them into conflict with the majority black
Africans, some of whom believe the Indian progress happened at the
expense of natives.

"Africans find Indians very exclusive, inward looking people. There
is a general sense that Indians benefited from apartheid. So, the
tensions, wounds and divisions run deep even 10 years after the
demise of apartheid," says Durban-based sociologist, Ashwin Desai.

This aloofness at times triggered tension, as in 2002 when South
African playwright and composer Mbongeni Ngema wrote a song called
Amandiya, which asked Africans to rise against the Indian community.

Tensions ran high and for some it rekindled the memories of
interracial riots of 1949.

Mbongeni Ngema says his purpose was to remind the government and the
Indians about bridging the gap between the two communities.


Democracy arrives

However, there are historians who point to the contribution of the
Indian community in the anti-apartheid struggle.

Even before the ANC was formed, Mahatma Gandhi was in the forefront
opposing the unjust laws of the white regime between 1893 and 1914.

After Gandhi, the Indian Congress parties formed an alliance with the
African parties in fighting apartheid.



In the past 10 years thousands of Indians have lost their jobs and
had to spend more on education
Devishankaree Govender,
broadcaster

Many individuals from the Indian community, like Ahmed Kathrada,
spent years in prison with Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu fighting
apartheid.

Though not all Indians are economically well off, there is a general
feeling that Indians are still driving the economy in Durban and they
have to collaborate with fledgling African businessmen.

"If you are not going to come into partnership with the Africans you
are still going to be perceived as people who control us," says
Professor Pitika Ntuli, of the University of Kwazulu Natal in Durban.

Indians have complaints too. Many feel they had better opportunities
before 1994.

The advent of democracy, followed by a policy of affirmative action
for black Africans, had its impact on those of Indian origin.


"In the past 10 years thousands of Indians have lost their jobs and
had to spend more on education. So the Indians, especially the middle
class, feel they were not doing too good in the new South Africa,"
says broadcaster, Devishankaree Govender.


Indians under apartheid were "not white enough" now they are "not
black enough", she says.

Unlike other Indian communities in Africa, most South African Indians
do not have strong family ties in India, as apartheid prevented it.

So, community leaders say, the future for the Indians is in South
Africa and not elsewhere.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/3986885.stm

Published: 2004/11/08 10:16:57 GMT

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