The Impact Of Gandhi's Satyagraha And An Indian Victory In Racist South Africa

Mahatma Gandhi's patient battle with General JC Smuts, the colonial secretary of Transvaal in 1907, helped pass the Indians' Relief Bill in 1914. This was a major triumph for Indians living in a land full of racial overtones

Updated on: 7 February 2024 5:07 pm

Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893 to fight a case for an Indian merchant, but stayed on when his services as a London-educated barrister were required by the fast-growing Indian community to combat the Natal legislature바카라�s Franchise Amendment Bill바카라�a racist law that aimed to withdraw voting rights from Indians바카라�fearful that a fast proliferating people would soon outvote the ruling Whites.

In this Natal was united with the racist Boers in inland Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Gen J.C. Smuts was appointed colonial secretary of the Transvaal in 1907, as post Boer War reconciliation between the British and 바카라�natives바카라� of Dutch ancestry thickened.

Well-educated and cosmopolitan, he was, however, as racist as others on the grant of equal franchise to 바카라�coolies바카라�, the entry of Asians into the Transvaal and the steep £3-tax that indentured Indians had to pay when their contract expired. Gandhi first met Smuts in April 1907 to appeal against the compulsory registration of Asians, involving fingerprinting, under the Asiatic Act.

Gandhi offered a compromise in lieu of withdrawing the Act. He was rebuffed. A policy of passive resistance was fashioned. In December 1907, he and 22 others were arrested for resisting registration. It was now that this was called 바카라�Satyagraha바카라�. A compromise was sought, and Gandhi and Smuts met again in January 1908. Smuts promised to repeal the law.

Yet it was apparent that he had gone back on his word, even as hundreds registered. Gandhi felt betrayed. The two men met thrice in three weeks in June 1908, where Smuts denied making any promise. Satyagraha resumed바카라�scores courted arrest by plying their trades without permits, many burned their registration certificates.

In Gandhi바카라�s next meeting with the general, the government backtracked, allowing 바카라�pre-war residents바카라� to return and register, exempting those below 16, though blocking 바카라�educated Indians바카라�바카라�a perceived threat to Boers. The Asiatic Act won바카라�t be repealed; nor would it be activated. Soon after, Smuts expressed helplessness in the teeth of non-violent Satyagraha.

The Asiatic Registration Amendment Bill, too, did not placate Indians, who resorted to mass agitation. In January 1911, a new Immigration Bill was vague on the status of the wives and children of Indians (later it was clearer바카라�non-Christian marriages were invalid). Now, the Orange Free State objected to Indians바카라� entry. Gandhi met Smuts in March and April 1911, with the latter asking for time.

But the draft Immigration Bill passed in May did nothing to alleviate the principal sore points바카라�the £3 tax, the racial bar in Free State and the marriage question. Gandhi called for Satyagraha again바카라�his single largest action, presaging his great movements in the 바카라�20s and 바카라�30s. In addition, hundreds of miners struck work, including 15,000 sugar workers; thousands went on strike.

In November 1913, Gandhi led a march to the Transvaal. He was arrested thrice in four days. Gandhi again met Smuts, promises were extracted, new work on the Bill started. Finally, Indians바카라� Relief Bill was passed in June 1914. It accepted the main demands of Indians.

Victory won, Gandhi left South Africa. Smuts was glad to see his back. Gandhi sent him a pair of sandals he had made in prison as a farewell gift. Years later, Smuts wrote to him: 바카라�I have worn these for many a summer, even though I may feel that I am not worthy to stand in the shoes of so great a man.바카라�