A hundred and fifty years ago, our ancestors came by ship to work as indentured labourers on the land ruled by the British. Today, that very land has come to be their very own. What we witness today, is the coming together of South African Indians to celebrate as well as to digest the fact that we have our very own “India” in the heart of Africa. Yes, India exists in South Africa. Why would anyone say that? Well, firstly South Africa has the largest Indian population outside of India and that’s just not hearsay; it’s statistically proven.
Traditions and customs have been passed down from our ancestors through a long line of generations for the past hundred and fifty years. We can only rejoice at our cultural heritage being preserved in such a special way. Our forefathers had toiled hard for future generations to know what it is to pray and to attend the temple or mosque prayers. We know what temples and prayer places look like only because they have made it such; that we do not forget the rich traditions and culture that we have. We can only be in awe of how obedient our children are; what excitement festivals like `Eid and Diwali bring the kind of cultural outfits worn over the years because of the legacy of our forefathers. The very language and traditions that bind us into such cultural associations and affiliations; we should embrace and be proud of. The generation of today is thus charged with the onerous duty of continuing the work that our ancestors and leaders have started. We need to pay tribute to our forefathers for their immense sacrifice and effort in preserving the Indian culture and traditions embedded in the soil of South Africa.
We should come together and celebrate the fact that we have a heritage; that we have culture and that we have roots that still connect us to India to this very day. There are always times to celebrate different events in our lives; but how delightful indeed to be alive in 2010 - the year which celebrates 150 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa. So let us come together; let us be proud of what we have and who we are. For in a land of diverse cultures, there is one that has come from a land that considers heaven to be at the feet of every mother, and wisdom to be the trait of every father.
Indians in South Africa, this is your time to shine. Rejoice not only in a momentous hundred and fifty years on this beautiful land, but also in the sheer ‘sweat and blood’ that was the result of the hard work of our forefathers in honoring and preserving Indian culture. That sheer ‘sweat and blood’ is what has resulted in you being not only Indian, but South African as well. The celebrations have begun and in what way is the average Indian celebrating their South African Indian heritage? A start would be by coming together, celebrating, and most importantly, appreciating the sacrifices made by our forefathers, so that we may enjoy a more prosperous life. Here’s to cherishing a hundred and fifty years of dedication to Indian culture and origin.
