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MrunalSummaryNote:GandhiinSouthAfrica,TransvaalMarch

Mrunalhttp://mrunal.org

[WorldHistory]GandhiinSouthAfrica,TransvaalMarch,
ZuluWar,BoerWar,civilrightsmovement
PostedByMrunalOn01/04/2014@10:00amInIndianHistory|2Comments
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GandhiinSouthAfrica
Gandhi:1890still1900s
GandhiinBoerWar(1899)
GandhiinZuluWars(1906)
191314:ThePeakofprotests
TransvaalMarch1913
SugarcaneProtests
DecemberEnquiry
EvaluationofGandhiinS.Africa
1. #1:GandhiasanIntegrationist
2. #2:Gandhi,theFeminist
3. #3:GandhitheMahatma
4. #4:GandhivshisCritiques
5. #5:Gandhi,theBritishPatriot
6. #6:GandhisKesareHind

GandhiinSouthAfrica
TopicinnewsbecauseRamachandraGuhareleasedanewbookGandhiBeforeIndia.
LaterEPWputareviewarticleaboutthisbook.
AndpreviouslyevenPIBrananarticleonTransvaalMarch(wesawthatalready)
ButSinceUPSCincludedworldhistoryinGeneralstudiesMainspaperIhencetopic
becomesimportantwhatdidGandhidobeforecomingtoIndia?Howdidhefightthe
imperialistpowersinSouthAfrica?

Gandhi:1890still1900s

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1893:GandhiArrivesinSouthAfrica,tofightDadabhaiAbdullascase.
IndianbusinessmenadmiredhimforhisfluencyinEnglish,legalmattersandGujarati
background.
ButGandhididnotserveonlythoserichbusinessmen.Healsofoughtcasesfor
indenturedlaborersmainlypermitrenewaltypelitigations.
Interestingly,hewastheonlyIndianbarristerpracticinginNatal.Henceverybusywith
work.
thrownoutofatrainfromDurbantoPretoria,despitehavingavalidtickettotravelin
thefirstclass.
1894 foundedNatalIndiaCongressandbecameitsfirstSecretary.
1899 anotherIndianbarristerRahimKarimKhanarrived.
1893

Gandhisworkloaddecreased,hestartsspendingmoretimereadingaboutreligion,politics.
authors
Henry
David
Thoreau
John
Ruskin
RalfWaldo

HowdidtheyinfluenceGandhi?
conceptofCivilDisobedience
Untohislastideasofsimpleliving,communityliving.Workbyhands
betterthanbymachines.(samereflectinhisHindSwarajlateron).

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MrunalSummaryNote:GandhiinSouthAfrica,TransvaalMarch

Emerson

conceptofIndividualism

Tolstoy

ThekingdomofGodiswithinyou.

GandhiinBoerWar(1899)
Transvaalwasrichingold,soBritishplottedtooverthrowBoergovernment.
ThisledtotheBoerWar(1899)=>Boersweredefeatedbuttheycontinuedtolivehere.
DuringBoerwar,GandhiservedfromBritishside,asanassistantsuperintendentofthe
Indianvolunteerstretcherbearercorps.
GandhiearnedBoerwarmedalforhisservices.
Hewroteintheautobiography:
Whenthewarwasdeclared,mypersonalsympathieswereallwiththeBoers,butmyloyaltyto
theBritishruledrovemetoparticipationwiththeBritishinthatwar.Ifeltthat,ifIdemanded
rightsasaBritishcitizen,itwasalsomyduty,assuchtoparticipateinthedefenceoftheBritish
Empire.soIcollectedtogetherasmanycomradesaspossible,andwithverygreatdifficultygot
theirservicesacceptedasanambulancecorps.
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MrunalSummaryNote:GandhiinSouthAfrica,TransvaalMarch

PhoenixFarm
1904:InspiredbyTolstoy,GandhisetupsPhoenixfarm.Therehebeginstreatingall
ailmentsandpreachingandwritingabouthygiene,sanitation,gooddiet,naturalcures,and
sexualabstinence.ThisshedsanimportantlightontheoriginofGandhiAshramsinIndia.
1904:startsprintingnewspaperIndianOpinionfromhisfarm.

GandhiinZuluWars(1906)
BritishattackedZulupopulationandmadethemserveaslabourinthediamondmines
acrossSouthernAfrica.
In1906,theZuluRebellionbrokeoutinNatalprovinceofSouthAfrica
Zulusdemandedlandrightsandabolitionofheavytaxes.
However,thewhitesdeclaredwaragainsttheZulus.
InthisZuluwar/rebellion,Gandhi(Again)servedfromBritishside,astheofficerin
chargeoftheIndianvolunteerambulancecorpsandearnedZuluWarMedalforhis
services.

FightagainstRegistrationAct
AnewlawrequiredIndianstocarryregistrationcertificatesallthetime.Gandhi
1906
beginsfirstpassiveresistancecampaign/Satyagraha.Heaskspeopletoburntheir
07
certificates.
1908 Gandhiarrestedforthiscampaignagainstregistrationact
1909 GandhitravelstoLondon,finallyTransvaalregistrationactrepealed.

191314:ThePeakofprotests

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March
1913

April
1913
May
1913
June
1913
Sep
1913
Oct
1913

SupremeCourtinCapeTownnullifiedallnonChristianmarriages,and
declaredallIndianwivesasmistressandtheirkidsasbastards.
Gandhiimmediatelydemandedachangeinthelaw,declaringthatdeclaring
thatAnynationthatfailstoprotectthehonourofitswomen,anyindividual
whofailstoprotectthehonourofhiswifeisconsideredlowerinlevelthana
brute.
Kasturbaspearheadedapassiveresistance.Womenvolunteeredtogotojailon
theirowninitiative.
SouthAfricanUnionsPMGeneralSmutsintroducedevenharsherimmigrationbill.
Thebillincludedanongoingprovisionforthe3polltax
Gandhidemandspolltaxandmarriageissuesbesettledtogether.AllIndiansand
TransvaalandNatalrallyupbehindhim.Buttheimmigrationbillsoonpassed.
KinggivesassenttobillanditbecameanAct.
Gandhilaunchesthepassiveresistancecourtsarrestalongwithhisfollowers
includingwomen.
5000IndiancoalminersofnorthernNatalgoonstrike.Gandhiandhiscoworkers
wereinstrumentalinencouragingthestrike.

ThecoalminersstrikeprovidedthecommittedmassofsupporterstoGandhi.
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HismovementgainsattentionofIndianpress,Gandhistartsreceivingfundsfrom
Gokhale,AurobindoGhoshandWealthyIndians,evenfromprincelystatesofIndia.
ThismoneyhelpedhimtolaunchalongTransaavalmarcharrangingfoodandsupplies
forthoseprotestorsandtheirfamilies.

TransvaalMarch1913
Alongwith2000Natalcoalminers,GandhibeganMarchtowardsTransvaal.Atthattime,
crossingborderfromNataltoTransvaalrequiredPermitButtheycrossedborderwithout
permit.
Gen.Smutsdownplayedthismarchthinkingitdsooncollapse.(JustlikehowLordIrwin
thoughtDandiSaltMarchwouldbean#EPICFAIL).
Butsincetheprotestdidnotcollapse,GeneralSmutsorderedpolicetoarrestcoalminers.
Minersweresenttohardlabourcamps.GandhiwasthrownintoJailagain.

SA2:TransvaalMarch
Q.DiscusstheeventsleadingtoTransvaalMarchandhowtheyhelpedtransforming
Gandhiasamassleader?(10marks|200words)
Topicimportantbecausecompleted100yearsin2013.
Firstbrainstormforideas
1. WhatwastheproblemofIndiansinS.Africa?
a. registration
b. migrationdifficult
c. marriageinvalid
2. Gen.Smutwasntlistening.Transvalmarch=>Gen.SmutListened.
3. IfhetransformedasmassleadertheninwhatwisdomdidhegainduringTransval
March?
Nowletsframetheanswer
EventsLeadingTransvaalMarch:
SincetheearlyyearsofhisstayinS.Africa,GandhihadtriedModeratemethodsof
prayersandpetitiontoopposethediscriminatinglawsagainstIndians,butoftenhefailed.
1906:AlegislationinTransvaal,requiredtheIndianstoregisterthemselvesandcarry
registrationcertificatesatalltimes.
GandhiinitiatedpassiveresistanceorsatyagrahaandcalledtheIndianstoburntheir
certificatesinpublic.
Later,theauthoritiesevenimposedrestrictionontheinterprovincialmovementof
Indians,anddeclaredtheirHindumarriageslegallyinvalid.
Finallyin1913,GandhilaunchedaMarchfromNataltoTransvaal,crossingtheborder
illegally.TheseMarchersweresenttojailandtreatedbrutally.Butthestrugglepaidoff,
andunderGen.SmutGandhiagreement,mostoftheirdemandswereaccepted.

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Gandhistransformation
TolstoyfarmandPhoenixfarmwereprecursortoGandhisashramsinIndia.
Helearnedthatcivildisobedienceandpassiveresistanceweremoreeffectivethan
traditionalmoderatemethodsofprayersandpetition.
Gainedexperiencedofleadingpeoplefrombothgenders,differentreligions,casteand
socialclasseswhilefacingresistancefrombothenemyandfollowers.
Thisexperiencemadehimboldenoughtotakeharddecisionsevenatthepeakofthe
enthusiasmofthefollowerse.gCallingofftheNCMduetochaurichauraincident.
~209words.Anyways,backtothetopic:

SugarcaneProtests
Time:midNovember1913,afterArrestofGandhi.
Place:CoastalareasofNatal,Sugarplantations.
Nowherealso,Indianlaborerswentonstrikeandbeganmarchingtowardstowns.This
protestwaswhollyselforganised,theywereinspiredfromthenewsofTransvaalMarch
andGandhisarrest.
AlthoughtheycalledGandhitheirRaja(king!)butmethodswerenotalways
Gandhian.
Oftentheseangrystrikerswouldburntplantations,attackpolicemenwithknives,sticks
andstones.Manyinjuredanddied.
TheIndianlaborersinDurbanalsobegansimilarprotests.
Overall,theirdemandswere:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Abolishpolltax
Righttofreetravelwithoutpermit.
Votingrights.
ReleaseGandhifromjail

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AsthecommonsensesuggestsGeneralSmutsrefusedandcalledinthearmytoteachthema
lesson.

DecemberInquiry
Protestgainsmomentum.LargeamountofdonationsfromIndia.
EvenViceroyHardinge(India)criticizedtheSouthAfricangovernment.
December Underpressure,GeneralSmutsordersanenquirycommission.Himselfwrote
1913
YoucantputtwentythousandIndiansintojail.
March
Commissionreportsaysfollowing:
1914
1.
2.
3.
4.

IndianlaborersareimportantforSouthAfricaneconomy
Givethempermitforthreeyears(insteadofaskingthemtorenewiteveryyear.)
AllIndianmarriagebelegallyrecognized.
Abolish3polltax

June1914 Governmentenactedthelawtoimplementthisreport.
July1914 GandhileavesforEngland.andfromthere,toIndia.
GeneralSmutquotes
Gandhiapproachedmeonanumberofsmalladministrativepoints,someofwhichIcould
meethimon,andasaresult,thesainthasleftourshoresIsincerelyhopeforever.

EvaluationofGandhiinS.Africa
#1:GandhiasanIntegrationist
DuringSouthAfricanstruggle,GandhitookhelpofHindus,Muslims,Christian,Jews,
Tamils,ParsiandevenChineseimmigrants.
Hesoughtthebestinall,believedpeopleofdifferentbackgroundscanlivingtogetherina
unitedspirit.
Thisexperiencemadehimbelievethatallfaithscanleadtosalvation.
Gandhiwasthusdifferentthanhiscontemporaries.
IndianCongressembracedalldifferentracesandreligionsbutinthebeginningCongress
wasveryelitistuppercastemaledominatedbody.
AlthoughGokhaleandDadabhaiNaorojiwerefreeofsectarianandcastebias,butthey
livedveryprivilegedlife.
Contrarytothem,Gandhiembracedawiderangeofcastes,races,religionsbothmaleand
female,andintegratedthemintothestruggleinSouthAfricaheunitedallAsiansand
Africans,andnotjusttheIndians.

#2:Gandhi,theFeminist
Theideaofawomangoingtojailhadbeenunthinkableformale,uppercasteIndian
nationalists.
ButwithGandhispassiveresistanceinS.Africa,thisbecameacommonphenomenon,he
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askedwomentojointheprotestsandcourtarrests.[wasinfluencedbyfeministMillie
Polak]
Thus,GandhiplayedacatalystintheentryofIndianwomeninpoliticalprotestsand
freedomstruggle.

#3:GandhitheMahatma
GandhislongtimefriendPranjivanMehtausedthistitle,inalettertoGKGokhale
(1912)
Hewrote,MahatmaGandhiwasoneofthoseraremenwhoareoccasionallybornto
elevatehumanityinthelandoftheirbirth
GuhacomparestheGandhiMehtarelationshiptothatofMarxandEngels.

#4:GandhivshisCritiques
DuringtheIndianfreedomstruggle,weknowthatmanyrevolutionariesandeven
CongressleadersdidnotfullyapproveGandhianmethods.
SimilarlyeveninS.Africa,GandhifacedcritiquesmainamongthemwasaTamil
JournalistPSAiyar.
Gandhi
PSAiyar
Indianshouldbegivenrighttofree
notjustTransvaal,Indianshouldgetrightto
movementwithinTransvaalregionwithout
freemovementthroughoutSouthAfrica.
requiringanypermits.
wasagainstthe3polltaxonIndian
laborers.Buthewantedtoprotestin
GradualStages:
No,weshouldimmediatelylaunchamass
FirstwesendpetitiontoGovernment,
movementtopressurizethegovernment
thenmassmeeting,
intoabolishingthetax.
thenpetitiontoBritishparliament
lesstalkingandmoredoing
ifstillnosolutionthenwerefuseto
paythistax.
thusinthelaterphaseofthemovement,thebadrelationbetweenGandhiandAiyerradicalized
themovementwithpoorsonAiyarssideandwhite/bluecollarIndiansonGandhisside.

#5:Gandhi,theBritishPatriot
1. Untilthe1920s,GandhiwasanardentBritishpatriot
2. HefelttheBritishEmpireembodiedtheprinciplesofequalityandlibertythathebelieved
in.
3. HeconsideredGeneralSmutsracistpoliciesinSouthAfricaasanaberration,ratherthan
adefiningtraitoftheBritishEmpire.
4. GandhisawBritishRajasbenevolentratherthantyrannicaldespiteitsflaws,BritishRaj
hadbeengoodforIndia(comparedtotherulebynativeprinces),andthattheidealsofthe
BritishconstitutionmeritedtheloyaltyofallBritishsubjectsacrosstheglobe,white,
blackandIndianalike.
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5. GandhievendeclaredthatheandhisfellowIndianswereproudtobeundertheBritish
Crown,andEnglandwillproveIndiasdeliverer.
6. GandhiparticipatedinBoerandZuluwarshopingitdearnthetrustofBritishauthorities
thatIndiansandAsianswereindeedloyalsubjectsofhismajesty,andtheyllbetreated
equallyinSouthAfrica.
7. Somehistoriansevenargue,Gandhiparticipatedinthesewarswithhopethatitdendthe
struggleinSouthAfricaandhelphimreturnIndia.

#6:GandhisKesareHind
1915:GandhireturnedtoIndia,LordHardingeawardedKesareHindmedalforhisservicesin
ambulancecorpsduringSouthAfrica.
1920:DuringKhilafatmovement,GandhireturnedthesemedalstoViceroyChelmsfordand
wrote,
ItisnotwithoutapangthatIreturntheKaisariHindgoldmedalgrantedtomebyyour
predecessor(LordHardinge)formyhumanitarianworkinSouthAfrica,theZuluWar
medalgrantedinSouthAfricaformyservicesasofficerinchargeoftheIndianvolunteer
ambulancecorpsin1906andtheBoerWarmedalformyservicesasassistant
superintendentoftheIndianvolunteerstretcherbearercorpsduringtheBoerWarof
18991900.
Iventuretoreturnthesemedalsinpursuanceoftheschemeofnoncooperation
inauguratedtodayinconnectionwiththeKhilafatmovement.Valuableasthesehonours
havebeentome,IcannotwearthemwithaneasyconsciencesolongasmyMussalman
countrymenhavetolabourunderawrongdonetotheirreligioussentiment.
Eventsthathavehappenedduringthepastonemonthhaveconfirmedmeintheopinion
thattheImperialGovernmenthaveactedintheKhilafatmatterinanunscrupulous,
immoralandunjustmannerandhavebeenmovingfromwrongtowronginorderto
defendtheirimmorality.IcanretainneitherrespectnoraffectionforsuchaGovernment.
Mrunalcomments:ForMCQs,keepinmindGandhiearnedthesemedalsforworkinZuluand
Boerwars(andnotWW1),andreturnedthesemedalsforNCMinconnectionwithKhilafat
movementspecifically.(Asevidentfromhisownletterabove.)Becauseatsomepagesin
WikipediaandotherbookstheyclaimGandhigotthismedalforserviceinWW1andreturned
themforJaliawalanmassacre=thatsincorrect.

Overall:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

InclusionofWomen,allracesandreligions=mustforsuccessinapoliticalstruggle.
HisAshramsasameetingandtraininggroundforallofthem.
Passiveresistance,civildisobedience=moresuccessfulthanviolentmethods.
Therewillbecritiquesandsetbacksbutperseverancewillleadtosuccess.
MadeGeneralSmutstoabolishpolltax,legallyrecognizeIndianmarriage,andgive
lengthierpermits.
6. BecauseofhisachievementsinSouthAfrica,GandhicouldreturntoIndiaasanIndian
nationalherowithanestablishedreputationelicitsupportfromCongress,otherleaders
andIndianpeople.
7. Until1920s,aBritishpatriot,asseenfromhisparticipationinZuluwarsandBoerWars.
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ButlaterdisillusionedbytheBritishrajinIndia.
NowRamchandraGuhaisplanningtowritenextbookaboutGandhisworkinIndiafrom
191548.

MockQuestions(200wordseach)
1. InSouthAfrica,GandhifoughtagainstpoliciesofGeneralSmutsandnotagainstthe
Britishempire.comment.
2. DiscussinbriefSouthAfricaastheexperimentlabofGandhianmethods.
3. WriteanoteonhowSouthAfricaturnedMohandasintoMahatma.
4. WhydidGandhifoughtagainstthecolonialpowersinSouthAfrica?Evaluatehis
achievementsandfailurestherein.
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