Passive Resistance Campaign 1946-48

The passive resistance campaign was a response to laws, the Asiatic Land Tenure and Indian Representation Act, 1946 (or "Ghetto Act,") which restricted the rights of Indian South Africans to own or occupy land and offered limited, segregated political representation.

Since 1890, anti-Indian sentiment in South Africa had been expressed via legislation.[1] The Asiatic Land Tenure and Indian Representation Act (No. 28 of 1946), confirmed long held fears among many within the South African Indian Community, that their opportunities would be restricted [2] The state's ongoing attempt to "peg" the ownership of land (called the Indian Question)[3] had caused much distrust and this "ghetto act" would affect Indian economic and commercial interests with its formally established segregation laws.[4] The act also offered a limited franchise to men with educational and property qualifications[5]

The act came into being on 6 June 1946 and Natal Indian Congress declared June 13 - "Resistance Day".[6] On 13 June, 1946, about 25 000 protesters marched from “Red Square” to what is now the site of the Passive Resistance Park in defiance of the legislation. Led by Dr Monty Naicker and M.D. Naidoo, Protesters "occupied" a piece of land in their tents and defied the Ghetto Act.[6] Multiple arrests, assaults, provocations and injustices followed.[6] With resisters meeting frequently at Red Square and continuing to occupy the Resistance Plot or Resistance Camp. [6] Both Naicker and Gandhi espoused a philosophy of non-violent resistance.

In memorium

The Passive Resistance activities were commemorated (separately) by Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Manmoham Singh at Resistance Park.[7]

References

  1. ^ India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division (1950) Apartheid: Strategy of Race Discrimination. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 1950
  2. ^ Hoyer, Cacee (23 May 2019). "Contested allegiances: Indian South Africans, passive resistance, and the 1947 royal visitto South Africa". Historia. 64 (1): 91–110. doi:10.17159/2309-8392/2019/v64n1a5 – via SciELO.
  3. ^ "The Indian Question in South Africa", H. G. L. Bulletin of International News, Vol. 20, No. 12 (12 June 1943), pp. 515–523 (9 pages)
  4. ^ "1946. Ghetto Act - The O'Malley Archives". omalley.nelsonmandela.org.
  5. ^ Lloyd, Lorna (September 1991). "'A Family Quarrel'. The Development of the Dispute over Indians in South Africa". The Historical Journal. 34 (3). Cambridge University Press: 703–725.
  6. ^ a b c d "Indian Passive Resistance in South Africa: 1946 - 1948 | South African History Online". sahistory.org.za.
  7. ^ https://kznpr.co.za/durban-umbilo-resistance-park/


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