It was Gandhi who first broke the yoke of colonialism

I am truly disappointed to note the complaints and criticisms expressed by some individuals opposing the proposed renaming of Middle Street to honour Mahatma Gandhi. One may also ask: how is it that none of us, whose ancestors came from India and made such significant contributions to the formation of our beloved country, Guyana, has never complained about Nelson Mandela Avenue? This writer firmly believes that in the same way Gandhi had a profound influence on Nelson Mandela, there should not be much objection if a street or location is named after him or any other icon, past or present.

It must also be noted that it was Gandhi who broke the yoke of colonialism through his non-violent campaign to bring liberation to the ancient historic land of India. Gandhi’s sacrifice sparked a nonviolent revolution, and India became the first country in the British Empire to gain freedom, followed by hundreds of other nations across the world, including Guyana, seeking independence. Gandhi’s legacy lives on in the minds of our own leaders: late Presidents Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham who fought for the cause of our own independence, as well as in the minds and hearts of other leaders in Trinidad and Tobago, the Pacific Islands, Africa, just to name a few.

We know that even the great Nelson Mandela was also inspired by Gandhi’s Satyagraha (non-violent) struggles and revolutions and kept a portrait of India’s infamous half-naked fakir (beggar) in his house. He was also an inspiration and mentor to the late great American non-violent freedom fighter, Dr. Martin Luther King, who stated that Gandhi had influenced him in his non-violent revolution, which eventually delivered tremendous rights to African Americans who had suffered for hundreds of years.

Sincerely,

Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.