Gandhi’s historic train journey of 1893 retraced
MORE than 250 guests gathered on the platform of the Pietermaritzburg railway station to watch a theatrical reenactment of a series of events that led to the birth of Satyagraha – Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings of non-violence and equality.
Yesterday marked 125 years since Gandhi was thrown off the train for riding in the firstclass compartment travelling from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
Indian and South African dignitaries, scholars of Gandhi’s teachings, members of Parliament, senior citizens and pupils boarded the same train that Gandhi travelled on from the Pentrich station to Pieter- maritzburg to have a glimpse of his journey.
At Pietermaritzburg station, Nirvikar Bhundoo, who played a young Gandhi, was thrown off the train with his luggage while cameras followed his slow walk to the waiting room where Gandhi spent the night in 1893.
The waiting room has now been transformed into one of seven interactive Gandhi museums.
It was in that waiting room that Gandhi decided to stay in South Africa to fight the injustices in this country.
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan narrated the story of Gandhi while the re-enactment played out and in the end Visharad Bhundoo, who played an older Gandhi, walked out on to the platform dressed in Gandhi’s signature khadi or handspun white clothing, carrying a walking stick.
The event, hosted by the High Commission of India, the Indian Ministries of External Affairs and Culture, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Pietermaritzburg Gandhi Memorial Committee was broadcast live to more than two million viewers in India.
The guest of honour, Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, unveiled a golden two-sided bust of Gandhi.
Swaraj also inaugurated the digital museum on Mahatma Gandhi and released commemorative stamps on Indian and ANC stalwarts, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and OR Tambo, as well as commemorative coins of Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking at the event during a live broadcast from India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the key incident at the Pietermaritzburg station was “just a moment in time”, but it led to the transformation of an ordinary man into a Mahatma, the prime minister said.
“In doing so, it sowed the seeds for the global movement of unity, equality and justice. (Gandhi’s) ending of his railway journey in Pietermaritzburg was the beginning of the journey of political equality,” he said.
Modi said Gandhi not only liberated India, but also gave hope to millions of others under “colonial doom” around the world.
“What went through Mahatma’s mind as he spent the night in the waiting room is not really known to us, but we do know that it led to the evolution of a force not seen before in any political movement,” Modi said.
Gandhi’s granddaughter, Ela, said people should learn from Gandhi that as much as the experiences in life were important, how one reacts was of more importance.
“Imagine if Gandhiji on that day harboured anger and hatred, would he have been the Mahatma we celebrate today? Gandhiji didn’t just impart knowledge, he applied it to his life. He made it into action and that is important,” Ela Gandhi pointed out.