SJS 2 - The Indian Passive Resistance Movement

SJS 2- Indian Passive Resistance in South Africa, 1946-1948

Citation- Reddy, Enuga Sreenivasulu "Indian Passive Resistance in South Africa, 1946-1948." South African History Online. South African History Online, n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.

Link- <http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/
     indian-passive-resistance-south-africa-1946-1948>

Author credentials/ author bias- E. S. Reddy was the secretary of the Special Committe Against Apartheid, held positions in the United Nations, was the director of the Centre Against Apartheid, the UN trust fund of South Africa, and Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa. He was awarded the Padma Shri, and the World Peace Council Prize. This author firmly stands against Apartheid, which is present in his work.

Summary- The Indian Passive Resistance proceeds the black apartheid resistance in South Africa. In this resistance, many Indian people began by pitching tents on municipal land. They were brutally attacked by civillians, but remained nonviolent. As protests grew larger, the government began to take responsibility for the attacks. Then, the original protestors were charged twice with trespassing and arrested for being a riotous assembly. In June 1948 the resistance was suspended, but the "Ghetto Act" was left unsupported and unenforceable. This resistance movement was closely tied with the African Apartheid resistance because leaders of each supported both causes. Towards the end of this resistance, leaders began to demand of the South African Government the abolition of the Ghetto Act, the abolition of all color legislation, and the attainment of democracy within the state.

Analysis- While this resistance was small, the South African Government was able to ignore the protests and violence. This is why it was critical for these Indians to support other causes, gaining equal support from other groups. Because as more people joined, the movement posed a threat, forcing the government to acknowledge it. However when they attempted to suppress the resistance, more attention was brought to the issue. In addition, the actions of the white hooligans, such as the assault and murder of a plainclothes policeman, show that their extreme racism hurts those around them because of their blinding rage. This article, although against apartheid and the Ghetto Act, appears to be very neutral and factual. It reads as unbiased and similar to a textbook. It gives an informative background of this movement and its roots and is easy enough that someone with no prior knowledge if this issue can understand.