India has significant ancestral links
THE opinion piece by Edwin Naidu, “Let national interests supplant parochial ones" (the POST, February 10-14), has so many conflicting issues.
It is designed to display his underlying dislike for India and its contribution to becoming the low-cost pharmacy of the world. This while the Western big pharma companies exploit poor nations with vaccine hoarding and exorbitant prices through their patents and cartels.
We understand that you (Naidu) have always been a sports commentator and will approach the reply accordingly. There are thousands of Indians who support Manchester United and Liverpool yet they ignore local sides. Does that make them any less as South African?
In England, Australia and New Zealand thousands of expats support South Africa during the rugby and cricket matches. They still maintain their sports loyalty to the Springboks or the Proteas. There are many Indian supporters that either support India or Pakistan when cricket matches are held in South Africa. How does that affect their patriotism to their country of birth?
Indians in South Africa are also tied up with the diaspora of India. No one can remove that as we were at one-time migrants from India. India has a special place for all its diaspora communities, who make up close to 31million people. The government of India engages with the diaspora on cultural and economic programmes as well as their concerns. This is a relationship that we refer to as Mother India, who cares for all her children.
Our citizenship is still South African of Indian origin. India is no longer the place of our birth but it has significant ancestral links that are like an invisible umbilical cord. No one sings the national anthem of India unless there is a joint event between both countries. The South African Indian has contributed to nation-building without any expectation.
One needs to look at the example of the contribution by the Divine Life Society, only to realise that the funds did not come from India but from local Indians. But we show our respect and gratitude to our spiritual masters from India who inspired us to move abroad.
Our Sanatan culture is unique and it is not mirrored according to your understanding. Similarly, many world leaders expressed their gratitude to the government of India for the provision of vaccines in terms of vaccine diplomacy. More than 30 countries were
provided with vaccines to fight one of the world’s worst pandemics and they showed their appreciation and gratitude.
Neeshan Balton, of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, rejecting the need to say thank you was shortlived as President Cyril Ramaphosa applauded India for its contribution in science and the provision of vaccines, while it has its own people to take care of. India supplied vaccines to all the neighbouring countries first. This is called Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the world is one family, and we should take care of all.
Nobody is questioning the cost of the vaccine as we all know that India is the lowest-cost producer of medicines in the world.
Access to vaccines could not have been achieved without strong bilateral relationships, which is part of diplomacy and friendship. Vaccines are the only option to save lives. Incidentally, ivermectin is also manufactured in India and costs only a few rupees. It was available to some communities free and some were sold at black market prices.
The vaccine strategy ad roll-out has come under criticism because of factions within the Medical Advisory Committee. It is known that professors Glenda Gray and Shabir Madhi have held different views and have criticised the Department of Health. In the early stage, when the variant become known, Professor Salim Abdool Karim said he saw no reason why the vaccine would not be effective – even for the variant.
Madhi has done limited research and was allowed to present findings of the vaccine on the new South African variant. Understandably, at the time, the vaccine was approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. The results of the study on 2000 people were not known.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunisation said that the sample size was too small and the experimental methods used were wrong. The vaccine was still recommended for severe cases of Covid-19 and those above 65 years. This was endorsed by WHO. Why is South Africa allowing the vaccine debate to go on while people are dying and even resorting to ivermectin?
South Africa has received millions of dollars to carry out research and develop a vaccine for HIV. How much influence big pharma has on the current flip-flop decisions is questionable. It has nothing to show but flashy cars and opulent lifestyles for some researchers.
Naidu must investigate the patriotism of the researchers who hold dual citizenship (US and SA) and why they have invested in the US and their children stay in the US.
Who is patriotic to South Africa? Admittedly, the co-chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee in SA said he had failed South Africa by not developing its own vaccines as a strategy.
KANGANA RAMLAGAN
uMhlanga