The “Triumph of the Human Spirit” monument, honouring the resilience and contributions of Indian indentured labourers in the KZN Midlands, and reflecting on their enduring legacy in South Africa, was unveiled in Howick on Saturday.
Located in the garden of the Howick Museum, the construction of the monument was spearheaded by the 1860 Legacy Foundation, chaired by Dr Isri Bedassi.
Special guests at the unveiling included religious leaders - Pundit Oushnee Hanuman, Swami Maitreyi, and Swami Vedanand Saraswati, the Mayor of the uMngeni Local Municipality, Christopher Pappas, deputy speaker of the KZN Legislature, Mmabatho Tembe, and the Consulate General of India in Durban, Dr Thelma John David.
Bedassi, who is from Howick, said the Indian community in South Africa had travelled a long way from their humble beginnings as indentured labourers in the sugar cane fields and the coal mines of northern Natal, the railway lines, hospitals, dockyards, hotels, municipal services and in domestic services.
“They came by sea on long voyages, clutching bundles of their hopes and belongings. Sons and daughters of another soil, India. They travelled for months on rough seas to toil on a strange, unknown land full of promises and deceit, raised crops and hoped to become prosperous.
“The untold hardships, racism and cruelty that the pioneering Indian indentured labourers suffered in their early history cannot be easily forgotten. They have, over a century and a half, made tremendous progress with their readiness to pick themselves up, work hard and sincerely get on with their lives.
“Their self-help and initiatives have seen the building of countless schools, places of worship, business centres and much needed amenities to improve their quality of life. The Indian people are one of the greatest examples of self-help, sacrifice, courage and survival, history has shown. They have also contributed in no small measure to the struggle for freedom from the shackles of oppression and apartheid under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders of the generations that followed,” he added.
Bedassi said the unveiling of the monument was a symbolic gesture, celebrating the heritage of the pioneers, the courage and commitment and the wisdom, passion and determination of the Indian indentured labourers.
“During the colonial era, 165 years ago, the colonial government recruited Indian labourers to work in the sugar cane plantations of Natal. A life of terrible pain and extreme hardship followed as they experienced a new life in this part of the world and in Africa. History recalls a life of arduous sacrifice, selfless service and a determination to succeed despite the Odds. Hence, the monument symbolises “The Triumph of the Human Spirit”
“The Midlands of Natal was occupied by settlers of English descent who actively farmed. Many of these farmers also worked as transport riders to augment their income from farming since for many years their lack of expertise of working these unknown lands meant that farming did not pay. Their life was one of constant work in order to survive and make a livelihood,” he said.
“Approximately 2 234 Indian indentured labourers were employed by an estimated 167 settler farmers in the Midlands of the fledgling Midlands of Natal. Others worked at the Creamery, Hospital, Railway Station, Railway Hotel and at Fort Nottingham.
“Although Indian labour played an important part in the development of the sugar industry, this has been somewhat over-emphasised while their contribution to the overall economy has not received the attention it merits. The part played by the ‘special servants’ brought from India, particularly from Madras, in the growth of the hotel industry in Durban deserves special mention. They provided the waiters, dhobies, doormen, carriage drivers and chefs, attired in crisp white uniforms, turbans and coloured sashes, who were a distinguishing feature of high-class establishments.
“The Indians have throughout the past century and beyond, toiled not only to make Natal, but South Africa what it is today. They have also preserved their culture, customs and traditions which they have brought with them from India,” Bedassi added.
“The monument and others elsewhere, exemplifies a continuity, an idea, a memory that can never be erased, that is worth fighting for and preserving. It reminds us of a people who have been dead for hundreds of years, but we can still feel their pain, their suffering, their destruction that has transcended the limits of body and time. I see this monument as an outlet of emotion, as a deliverance of justice to my ancestors, to our ancestors who were wronged. This monument is erected for the souls of those who have died in grace in-spite of their hardships,” he added.
Bedassi said seeing the fruition of his envisaged monument to honour the Indian indentured men and women who laid the foundation for our future and that of the generations to come had been very fulfilling and gratifying.
“I thank the sponsors and donors for being one of the many passengers on my train of life. They have made my journey fruitful and enriching,” he said.
Dr Thelma John David, the Consul General of India in Durban, said: “The monument serves as a powerful reminder of the contributions of Indians to the KZN Midlands community. It ensures their stories are not forgotten, allowing future generations to understand the profound impact they had in shaping South Africa. It symbolises not only the blood, sweat and toil endured by indentured Indians then, but also their unwavering quest for human dignity and freedom. It is a tribute to their courage, their hope, and their contributions to a South Africa that they can continue to build up.”
The KZN Legislature deputy speaker, Mmabatho Tembe, said he was honoured and privileged to be part of the occasion.
“This as we pay our utmost respect to the hard work, sacrifice and resilience of those great Indian forebearers and ancestors who arrived in the South African shores 165 years ago drawn by hopes, dreams and wishes of a better life and abundant economic opportunities,” Tembe said.
“We are mindful of the painful struggles which they faced as they were forcefully sent to work under horrible conditions, subjected to all forms of discrimination.
“It is their footsteps that went on to change the course of history by shaping our country’s rich cultural, economic and social fabric. Their steps left a remarkable and indelible footprint in the sands of time that can never be erased for many generations to come.”