Forthcoming

India and Indians in the Anti-Apartheid Struggle of South Africa: A Diplomat’s Account

Anju Ranjan

South Africa was crippled by the apartheid regime for more than 200 years. The struggle against apartheid was real and fought together by South African and Indians under the leadership of legendary leader Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela held India in high regard, viewing it as a pivotal ally in the anti-apartheid struggle and closely linked to Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy. He described India as a source of moral inspiration, praising its consistent, principled support for freedom and democracy in South Africa.

“We cannot, for instance, forget the consistent and principled role India played, before and after independence, to focus world public opinion on the evils of the apartheid system”.

Mandela often highlighted the deep emotional and political bonds between South Africa and India, acknowledging that India’s early, unilateral sanctions against the apartheid regime were crucial to the liberation movement.

Nelson Mandela deeply valued the contribution of South Africans of Indian origin, acknowledging their role in the anti-apartheid struggle and recognizing India’s support. He honored the “golden thread” of shared injustice and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, viewing the Indian community as integral to building a non-racial, democratic “rainbow nation”.

However with the passage of time the memory of apartheid movement is fading away from the present generation both in India and South Africa.

This book is an attempt to record those memories and bring it into light of present and future Indian and South African generations.

The book is based on the primary sources like interviews of Indian veterans and their families.

Due to COVID-19, these interviews were conducted mostly in the online mode. Also many apartheid activists and veterans are dead or in their last stage so it was a timely decision of ICWA to publish such valuable records.

I hope the book will help Indian people and researchers to understand the important role of India and Indian into the making of South Africa.

Anju Ranjan

Mrs. Anju Ranjan is an Indian Foreign Service Officer of 2002 batch. Previously, she has served in the Indian Missions in Jakarta and Kathmandu in various capacities and as Consul General of India in Birgunj (Nepal), Edinburgh (United Kingdom) and Johannesburg, South Africa. Upon return from Johannesburg, Anju Ranjan was posted as Deputy Director General in the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) which is an autonomous body promoting culture and soft diplomacy of India under Ministry of External Affairs.

At Present, she is posted as Jojnt Secretary (RBB, I&T) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Mrs. Ranjan is a Gold Medallist in Masters in Chemistry (Inorganic and Complex Formation). She also studied at IIT, Delhi for her M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering. Mrs. Ranjan also holds an MBA (Finance) degree from IGNOU, Delhi.

Apart from being a distinguished Foreign Service Officer, Anju Ranjan is also a prolific writer. So far she has written many books ranging from poems in Hindi and English to memoirs to stories collections to diary and historical books.

Contents

Introduction

1. The South African Indian
2. The African Identity
3. The Triumph of Apartheid
4. A Place for Indianness
5. Gandhi’s South Africa, South Africa’s Gandhi
6. The Heroes of Robben Island
7. The Big Five
8. The Heroines of the Apartheid Struggle
9. Unsung Heroes of the Anti-apartheid Struggle
10. India’s Leading Role in South Africa’s Freedom Struggle
11. Cultural Preservation in the South African Indian Community
12. Struggle Dynasties in South Africa–The Gandhi and Naidoo Families
13. Epilogue: The Road Ahead

Index