GANDHI AND THE AFRICANS

■ The African races, Gandhi told a meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association in Johannesburg on May 18, 1908,

• "are entitled to justice, a fair field and no favour. Immediately you give that to them, you will find no difficulty." (CW, Vol 8, p. 245). `

South Africa, he declared,

• "would probably be a howling wilderness without the Africans" (Ibid., p. 242).

He continued, expressly using the term "Coloured People"

so as

• " to include the Coloured people proper - the Africans and the Asiatics",

to declare that:

• "The majority of people in South Africa, the majority of people in most of the Colonies, have become impatient of colour, and it behoves every right-minded man and woman to think twice before he or she jumps to the conclusion that the Coloured people are a menace and that, therefore, they ought to be got rid of with the greatest possible despatch." (Ibid., pp 242-243).

And further:

• "We hear nowadays a great deal of the segregation policy, as if it were possible to put people in water-tight compartments." (Ibid. p. 243).

It is in this memorable speech that Gandhi puts forth his vision for the future South Africa:

• "If we look into the future, is it not a heritage we have to leave to posterity, that all the different races commingle and produce a civilisation that perhaps the world has not yet seen?" (CW, Vol 8, p. 246).

SEE :

• The African Element in Gandhi by ANIL NAURIYA
• Indian Slaves in south Africa