Monument to honour Indian indentured labourers gets green light

The long-awaited construction of the 1860 Indian Monument in Durban is set to begin next week, following the resolution of a community dispute over its design. 

KwaZulu-Natal Sports, Arts, and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula will lead the sod-turning ceremony, in this commemorative measure to honour the arrival of indentured Indian labourers in the province.

Initially, the construction was delayed due to disagreements among community members regarding the monument’s design. The original proposal included a slave bell, symbolising the harsh treatment endured by indentured Indian labourers under sugarcane farm owners.

However, some community members found the inclusion of the bell demeaning, leading to prolonged discussions and delays.

A breakthrough was reached last month during a consultative meeting convened by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture. Stakeholders unanimously agreed on a revised design that “respectfully honours the history of Indian indentured labourers”.

The final design will feature a male sugarcane cutter, a female sugarcane cutter carrying a child on her back, and a bale of sugarcane.

Department spokesperson Ntando Mnyandu confirmed that all matters related to the design and site access had been resolved.

“To this end, all interested parties representing the Indian community unanimously agreed on a historic design for the monument that will, in a dignified manner, depict the moment when Indians arrived in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, aboard a ship,” said Mr Mnyandu.

Prominent community members welcomed the resolution. Ishwar Ramlutchman, a founding member of the 1860 Indian Indentured Labourers Monument Planning Committee, described the consultative meeting as a “major success.”

“After years of advocating for the dignified recognition of Indian indentured labourers, we are proud to have finally achieved our goal. We are happy that there is now consensus on the design,” he said.

Selvan Naidoo, director of the 1860 Heritage Centre, said they were content that the consultations were thorough and inclusive.

“The meeting was chaired by Dr Thobile Sifunda, head of the KZN Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, and was attended by various stakeholders, including civic and religious organisations, political parties, and community activists. After a heated debate, a vote by show of hands determined that the bell would not be included in the design,” Mr Naidoo said.

The monument will commemorate the arrival of Indian indentured labourers aboard the SS Truro in 1860 from Madras (now Chennai), India. These workers were brought by the then-government of the Natal colony to work on sugarcane plantations.