This year marks the 130th anniversary of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC).
Founded in 1894 by Mahatma Gandhi, the NIC has been at the forefront of numerous significant campaigns advocating for equality, justice, and non-racialism.
An event on Sunday September 8 at the Sastri College Hall in Durban, at 1.30pm, will pay tribute to the NIC’s enduring legacy and the principles it has championed: ethical leadership, non-racialism, equality, selfless service, and economic justice.
Former president Kgalema Motlanthe will deliver the keynote address, reflecting on the NIC’s impact on South Africa’s history and its relevance today.
Struggle veteran Mac Maharaj, who was actively involved in the anti-Apartheid movement, will also speak at the event, sharing insights from his experiences and paying homage to the NIC’s contribution to the liberation struggle.
Among the notable campaigns led by the NIC were the Satyagraha campaign, inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent resistance; the Passive Resistance campaign, which opposed discriminatory laws; and the Defiance campaign, a large-scale civil disobedience movement. The NIC was also instrumental in the formation of the Dadoo-Xuma-Naicker Pact, which united Indian, African, and Coloured communities in the struggle against Apartheid, and in the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which became the foundation for South Africa’s democratic constitution.
Throughout its history, the NIC has been led by prominent figures who have left an indelible mark on the country’s fight for freedom. Leaders such as Dr Monty Naicker, Mewa Ramgobin, George Sewpersad, Farouk Meer, and Paul David played significant roles in guiding the organisation through some of its most challenging times. Many of these leaders faced banning orders, imprisonment, and harassment by the Apartheid regime, yet they remained steadfast in their commitment to the cause of justice.
