HERITAGE Day in South Africa provides a profound opportunity to reflect on our shared histories, celebrate our diverse cultures, and chart a path towards a future defined by unity — an ideal contained in the principle of "Oneness."
This day invites every South African to embrace both individual and collective legacies, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual respect. For the Indian community in South Africa, this reflection is both a celebration and a call to action, a chance to highlight contributions, acknowledge ongoing struggles, and build bridges within the broader communities of South Africa.
The legacy of our forefathers:
The Indian community in South Africa boasts a rich heritage that traces back to the days of indentured labour. Their journey is embedded in resilience and transformation, from modest beginnings to establishing a strong cultural and economic presence. Radical shifts, from subservient roles in the apartheid era to becoming a confident and vibrant diaspora, characterise the legacy of the Indian forefathers. Their story is one of perseverance against oppressive systems, with a focus on education and family values — key elements that helped uplift the community into middle and business classes.
Yet, despite these advancements, many challenges persist, notably poverty. While upward mobility has been a striking feature of the Indian community's story, the broader picture is complicated by economic disparity and social fragmentation. This underscores the need for renewed commitment to the communal values—those of responsibility and collective upliftment—that were pivotal in earlier eras.
From collective identity to individualism:
South African Indians, like many communities worldwide, have witnessed a shift from a collective mindset to one focused on individualism. This transition is not inherently flawed; indeed, personal development and success are crucial for community progress. However, there must be a balance, where individual success does not overshadow the collective welfare. The vibrancy of South Africa’s rainbow nation calls for each group to fortify communal bonds, while pursuing personal endeavours.
The notion of “Oneness” implies reconnecting with the values that previously unified families and communities. It challenges us to remember that our forefathers did not conceive success in isolation but as a shared journey, a philosophy that bolstered them against systemic oppression.
A heritage of resistance and unity:
Indians in South Africa played an integral role in the resistance movements against apartheid, with their contributions to organisations like the Natal Indian Congress, African National Congress and the United Democratic Front being well-documented and celebrated. Figures such as Monty Naicker, Yusuf Dadoo, Billy Nair, Ahmed Kathrada, Fatima Meer, Ela Ghandi and countless others exemplify the courage and dedication that contributed significantly to the freedom struggle.
Historically, Indians led the resistance movement in South Africa. The Natal Indian Congress was a signatory to the Freedom Charter. While Indians were never a mass based liberation grouping, its leaders were well respected and this role is well documented in formation of the UDF the ANC and indeed the liberation history of South Africa.
The heritage of co-option:
Apartheid was designed with a race hierarchy within the privileged class. Whites were the top of the model followed by Indians and the coloureds. Africans were excluded from the apartheid model.
However, apartheid leaders were ingenious. At some point of the apartheid trajectory they co-opted the Indian and coloured communities. They built houses, community resources and offered quality education and other race based services, which excluded the African majority.
The “new” South Africa ushered in widescale integration of services. Minority groups had to share services with the African majority where the apartheid infrastructure and resources were built to serve minorities and could not accommodate all citizens. Obviously many minority groups were understandably overwhelmed when they had to share resources.
Minority groups still fail to understand that the African communities were historically excluded and that the fault line in how we view each other through our skewed interactions remains a creation of apartheid. Many ride the wave of constitutional rights to articulate a lack of service delivery narrative that often ignores the exclusion of the mass African communities for centuries. Our future heritage must manifest in holding government to account and building national unity as our revolutionary duty.
Current challenges and the heritage of the future:
Despite this proud lineage, the post-apartheid era introduced complexities. The majority discourse occasionally suggest a perception of undue self-interest and a lack of solidarity with impoverished African communities by minority communities.
Constitutional rights were won at a great cost, but they come paired with the responsibility of equitable community upliftment.
With a world class Constitution that currently defines South Africa, most affluent communities are defined by "rights" of the individual and not by responsibilities for the collective. This is not entirely sustainable.
Our heritage must not be taken for granted. Each generation writes its own history and presents a new legacy. In a fluid world change is both certain and necessary. It is sad that the Indian community like most communities are increasingly abandoning the legacy of an active citizenry that embraces collective responsibility of tackling poverty, inequality and tribalism.
Traditions rooted in spiritual philosophies, such as those found in Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and the wider Indian ethos, offer a guiding light.
Heritage Day calls us to tap into these philosophies that emphasise “Oneness” and a pervasive sense of Ubuntu that is echoed across African cultures.
Spirituality calls for us not only to appreciate this diversity but to recognise the ultimate unity that underlies all existence. Community initiatives, like ISKCON's Food for Life programme, the Divine Life Society's incredible community projects, Gift of the Givers international acclaim, and the wonderful work of the churches throughout South Africa continues to symbolise how selfless service can act as a concrete expression of these spiritual values, fostering community cohesion and support across tribal and racial divides.
As we stand at the crossroads of our heritage, we are presented with the opportunity to redefine it for future generations. This "third era" beckons us to prioritise spiritual Oneness, community responsibility, and mutual respect. Equally, it calls on our loyalty to truth and values. It is about harnessing the strengths of our spiritual and communal traditions to propel national growth and harmony. Perhaps the recently formed Government of National Unity (GNU) can propel us towards the formation of a Community of National Unity (CNU)
Heritage Day should thus not only be a day of remembrance but a day for envisioning the future—a future where the Indian community embraces a single identity as South African. By doing so, we can contribute to a society that values 'Oneness' while maintaining our cultural identity.
Heritage Day 2024 is a timely reminder and call to action — a chance to honour not just ancestry but also the potential to carve out new legacies of unity and social justice. While embracing our contradictory roles in resistance and co-option, Indians must write its next chapter where generosity of spirit and the principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “The world is one family” are truly embraced.
Siva Naidoo is an activist formerly from Tongaat. He is a ubuntu in human values trainer and lives in Johannesburg. Email: [email protected]