Pietermaritzburg (South Africa): Legislative Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the historic Pietermaritzburg Railway Station in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, on Sunday, recalling the incident that became a turning point in Gandhi’s journey towards Satyagraha and the struggle for civil rights.
The Speaker, accompanied by Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara, Secretary-General to the Legislature, visited the Gandhi Memorial and the railway platform, where on June 7, 1893 Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was forcibly removed from a first-class train compartment because of racial discrimination.
Ayyannapatrudu also visited the waiting room where Gandhi spent a bitterly cold night following the incident.
Reflecting on the historical episode, the Speaker said the experience had helped shape Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha and his lifelong commitment to truth, equality and non-violent resistance. “Pietermaritzburg is sacred ground in the annals of world history.
It was here that an individual’s refusal to surrender his dignity sparked a global awakening against racial prejudice and colonial subjugation,” Ayyannapatrudu said.
He said Gandhi’s moral courage transformed personal adversity into a timeless movement for truth, equality and human rights.
As custodians of parliamentary democracy, legislators could draw enduring inspiration from Gandhi’s ideals to uphold justice, constitutional values and the voice of every citizen, he added.
The Speaker also toured the archival photo gallery documenting Gandhi’s 21-year journey in South Africa and his role in establishing the Natal Indian Congress.
The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on Gandhi’s contribution to civil liberties and the principles of non-violence that later influenced democratic and social movements across the world.
Local trust representatives and community leaders briefed Ayyannapatrudu on ongoing efforts to preserve and maintain the historic memorial site.
The Speaker appreciated the efforts to protect the heritage associated with Gandhi and his formative years in South Africa.
