NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Sunday received historical artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi from the Phoenix Settlement Trust-Gandhi Development Trust (PST-GDT) in South Africa.
The materials will now be housed at the National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi.
Mahatma Gandhi founded the Phoenix Settlement in 1904 near Durban, South Africa, as his first ashram-like community. It became a crucial site in the development of his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance), which later shaped India’s independence movement.
Jaishankar, in a post on X, expressed gratitude, writing, “Privileged to witness the handing over of artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi by @PST_GDT (Phoenix Settlement Trust-Gandhi Development Trust), South Africa to National Gandhi Museum, New Delhi.”
He further said that “Bapu’s life and message continue to inspire generations to come”.
Gandhi’s South African legacy
Between 1893 and 1914, Gandhi lived in South Africa, where he first experienced racial discrimination and developed his resistance philosophy.
A pivotal moment came in 1893 when he was thrown off a train at Pietermaritzburg station for refusing to move from a first-class compartment despite holding a valid ticket. This incident led him to launch his fight against racial injustice, culminating in his leadership of the Indian community in South Africa against discriminatory laws.
During his time there, Gandhi initiated his first major non-violent protest campaign against the Transvaal government’s law requiring Indians to carry registration certificates.
His method of Satyagraha became a powerful tool against colonial rule, inspiring freedom movements worldwide. The Phoenix Settlement, which Gandhi established, became a hub for his activism, promoting self-sufficiency and community living.
The National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi will now serve as their custodian, ensuring that future generations have access to these historical records.
Gandhi’s influence extended beyond India’s borders, inspiring figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela in their struggles for justice.
