Monument must convey a meaningful message

THE decision of the 1860 Commemoration Monument Committee – to defer plans to avert a monumental disaster and to call for public participation to express concepts and ideas for a commemorative monument – is refreshing.

More recently, monuments throughout the world have been scrutinised.

Here, at home, there were calls for the removal of statues that symbolised colonialism. In Bristol, a statue honouring Edward Colston, a slave trader, ended up in the Avon River. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi, labelled as racist, was pulled down at the University of Ghana and Winston Churchill’s statue was barricaded for protection from vandalism.

For decades in the US, there were demands for Franklin Roosevelt’s statue to come down as it was considered a monument to racial supremacy. Saddam Hussein’s statue was also ignominiously pulled down.

A significant lesson is evident, that over time a generation finds a different meaning and new interpretations to the statues of yesteryear. In this exercise to commemorate the indentured Indians, as a starting point, it is essential to disengage and liberate our minds from the indenture mentality and slavery concept.

We must not be trapped in history but seek the impact of that group on the evolution of society and on the economic and political landscape.

That group did not arrive in South Africa as migrants seeking work. In fact, they came to rescue the floundering economy in the colony of Natal. They were successful in their efforts through commitment and they honoured their contract in spite of the hardships.

The harsh and inhumane conditions under which they lived, the cruelty, violation of rights, the abuse of women and children, and the breach of the contract are well documented in various forms and are an exercise in progress.

In an attempt to honour their contribution and impact in South Africa, one must look beyond the narrow historical confines. A monument is a symbol for public viewing with a meaning embodied in its work.

The indentured community hailed from centuries of civilisation and learning. They embodied the concept of one humanity and one brotherhood and that no one is high and no one is low. All are equal and members of one human family.

The descendants of the indentured fought political battles in this spirit at the cost of their lives. The memorialisation of indenture must reflect the commitment to the causes of freedom and justice that inspired generations that followed. It must carry this spirit that, ultimately, secured the right to life and liberty for all people.

Our Constitution bears testament to the concept of equality and unity of existence. The values, the indomitable spirit, courage and conviction, the organisation and leadership skills of those pioneers paid for with sacrifice and blood, are the legacy we celebrate.

Any symbolism must reflect that crucial contribution of the indentured and their descendants to building a new South Africa that bears no reference to time, race or religion.

Such a monument must not only reflect the past but also the future, as the expression of these beliefs is the foundation for the next generation. Create a monument that is not temporal but stands the test of our common humanity. That is the legacy of those who came to this country under conditions of indenture.

The design of the monument must speak and convey a message and the story intended. It must have an impact on those who visit the monument and stand any critical appraisal over time.

It must be noted that the proposed site is unsuitable. A mere signpost to mark the spot of their arrival would suffice for that purpose. The exercise needs review. DS RAJAH Musgrave