Gandhi train ticket furore explained
IS THE Mahatma Gandhi statue at Pietermaritzburg station based on lies?
The truth is that Indians and whites travelled in the same first-class compartment between Durban and Charlestown in 1893. The purchase of an overnight bedding ticket in first class was compulsory. Gandhi bought a firstclass ticket, but he twice flatly refused to buy a bedding ticket.
He writes in Hindi: “Abdulla Sheth insisted that I should book one bedding ticket but, out of obstinacy and pride and with a view of saving five shillings, I declined. Abdulla warned me.”
When challenged at Pietermaritzburg station, Gandhi lied. He claimed he had a bedding ticket: “A passenger complained. He saw that I was a coloured man.”
Later, an official requested Gandhi to move to the van compartment. Gandhi refused.
“A constable came. He took me by the hand and pushed me out and the train steamed away.”
Gandhi spent the night in the waiting room and the next day he sent a telegram of complaint to the railways:
“The general manager justified the conduct of the railway authorities.
“I now purchased at Maritzburg the bedding ticket I refused to book in Durban. The evening train arrived. There was a reserved berth for me.
“The hardship I was subjected to was superficial.”
JC VAN DER WALT Richards Bay Customs, rituals vary in practice
WITH all due respect to Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza, chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders, customs are not written in stone (“Man marries dead fiancée, and buries her”, June 10).
While customs practised in Kwazulu-natal (and the Eastern Cape) have a great deal in common, I have a large body of research material showing there are regional variations, such as those found between areas north and south of the uthukela River. Many customs are essentially clanbased, and they vary accordingly.
Like any aspect of human life, the way customs are practised also change to incorporate new ideas (and technology) and new ones are invented. For example, current practices relating to virginity testing are very different from those of the past.
MARY DE HAAS Durban Buthelezi a giant of a man, politician
I REFER TO Yusuf Randeree’s letter “Zuma’s kingdom of Zulus” in the Sunday Tribune, June 10.
Further to his blatant remarks against Baba Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, his political wisdom is gutter level.
For the record, Zulu customs and traditions are rich. King Goodwill Zwelithini and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to date have honoured and ruled Kwazulu by the act of the Union of 1910.
Buthelezi will go down in history among the giants of men and women, with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Chief Albert Luthuli, for his political acumen and wisdom.
He ruled as president of this country on several occasions.
Randeree, your political views are distorted and in need of constructive correction.
A person should be hailed for their noble deeds when alive rather than acknowledged afterwards.
When people live together without understanding others’ values, the survival instinct turns everything into violence.
LALLO M HARIRAM umhlanga Ridge