Gandhi’s SA home declared a heritage site
Portion of Phoenix Settlement recognised
THE South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) has declared a portion of the Phoenix Settlement a national heritage site.
The information was gazetted ahead of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 to commemorate the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Phoenix Settlement was established by Gandhi in 1904.
According to Sahra, the portions of the settlement deemed a heritage site are Sarvodaya House, Kastur Bhuvan House, the printing press building and the museum.
The gazette said this portion of the settlement was closely associated with Gandhi’s last decade in South Africa, his personal transformation (including race), his formulation of Satyagraha (truth force) and his connection and understanding of liberation Struggles in South Africa.
“… During the last decade of his stay in South Africa, Gandhi went through a personal transformation in his thinking regarding the colonial orientation of his youth. He posed many questions to himself as he experienced increased victimisation by South African authorities.
“He tended to the wounded Zulu, while he served in the ambulance corps, and became interested in learning more about the racial discrimination endured by Africans and other people of colour. His early remarks about Africans were replaced by comments of admiration, support and a clearly expressed vision of a future South Africa that would be free of race.”
The gazette further said the settlement, where Gandhi’s philosophy of Sarvodaya (the welfare of all) and the principles of Satyagraha were recognised, played an important spiritual and political role throughout its long history by promoting social justice, peace and equality.
“Gandhi established the settlement as an experimental communal farm, one guided by respect for all people, and as a challenge to colonial norms of segregation, languages and religions. He used a printing press and newspaper as a means to mobilise resistance and promote ethical and moral human development.
“He believed that communities like Phoenix advocating communal living would form a sound basis for decolonisation and the struggle against social injustice. These principles continue to be honoured through the work that the Phoenix Settlement does both within the surrounding community and abroad.
“Gandhi’s own transformation, search for truth and enlightenment, principles of fairness, justice, non-violence and peace towards all people continues to be a beacon of inspiration today and into the future.”
Ela Gandhi, his granddaughter, said the site was recognised worldwide and she was glad that the South African government would look after the settlement.
“More people will begin to visit the site and learn about my grandfather and his teachings,” she said.
“We have been calling for this place to be made a heritage site for years. Finally, our calls have been answered. This site is important because it shows where my grandfather did away with material things and started his own spiritual journey.
“Initially, he lived in a beautiful house in the Durban CBD but he chose to move to the settlement to experience what it was like to live like the indentured Indians.
“He lived next to the Mount Edgecombe sugar cane estate and did not have proper water and sanitary conditions but he chose it and he lived there until he returned to India.”