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Remembering the first Indian labourers in South Africa

Syed Muthahar Saqaf

It has been almost 150 years since the pioneering group landed in Natal

First Indian labourers arrived in the British colony on November 16, 1860
Organisations in both countries planning commemorative celebrations next year

DURBAN: When a group of Indian labourers disembarked from ‘S.S. Truro,’ a paddle steamer from Madras (now Chennai), in the British colony of Natal in South Africa on November 16, 1860, it never thought it would become part of history.

The small group pioneered a path that was to be followed by over 1.5 lakh hapless workers from India over the next half of a century. This was the first batch of ‘indentured’ servants from India to work on sugarcane fields in and around Durban.

‘S.S. Belvedere’ was the second ship to bring Indian workers, this time from Calcutta (Kolkata). Later, thousands landed at Port Natal. The British were forced to import workers from India as locals refused to work on fields. Recruiting Indian workers was not difficult; they needed no passport as they hailed from British India.

The indentured Indians arrived in Natal in 384 vessels — 262 from Madras and 122 from Calcutta. The last one, ‘Umlazi 43,’ arrived on July 21, 1911.

The journey meant a lot of hardship. Conditions on board the ships were awful; 29 workers died aboard ‘Belvedere’ and 10 others on shore before being assigned to an employer. Once they landed in South Africa, the workers were confronted with the severity of the labour system.

The immigrants did try to protest against inhuman treatment, and even threatened suicide to escape the clutches of their British landlords. However, as they were far away from their communities and were still trying to find terms to settle down, the protests were not organised.

Initially, Indians were recruited to work on farms and estates. Later, there was demand for workers to extend the rail line to the interior parts. By the 1890s, coalmines and sugar estates were also recruiting hands. A small group, known as ‘special servants,’ arrived from Madras to work in hotels and clubs and as housemaids in private residences.

In the early 1870s, the first ‘passenger’ Indians — who were not ‘indentured’ and were free to engage in business — came to Natal on their own to make money.

When Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Natal in 1893, the Indian immigrants were divided into three groups — ‘indentured’ immigrants who were on contract; ‘free’ Indians who had completed indentureship and decided stay back in Natal instead of returning to India; and ‘passenger’ Indians.

It has almost been a century and a half since the first Indian immigrant workers arrived at Durban. The Government of India, the High Commission of India in South Africa and various organisations in both countries are planning celebrations next year to mark the 150th year of arrival of Indians. The High Commission of India, through the Consulate-General of India in Durban, has established the ‘1860 Legacy Foundation’ to represent different community associations in tandem with this celebration. The South African government will also be involved at the national, provincial and local levels in the funding and coordination of the event.

According to Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Consul-General in Durban, a number of proposals have been mooted: a monument in Durban where the first Indian immigrant workers arrived in 1860; minting special coins; issuing a postal stamp in both India and South Africa; and organising a visit of cultural troupes from India.

The eighth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), which provides an opportunity for overseas Indians to meet and exchange their views on matters of common interest, will be held in Chennai in January 2010. A special session on the 150th anniversary of Indians in South Africa will be part of the PBD.

A mini-PBD to coincide with the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Conference in Durban was also planned, along with an India-centric trade fair there and a visit of South African senior citizens to India, Mr. Shringla said.

The Gandhi Memorial Committees at Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg and Durban have jointly planned various activities, according to David D. Gengan, public relations officer of the Pietermaritzburg Gandhi Memorial Committee.

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