ATLANTA: International Dalit Support group succeeded in shooting down an India-inspired proposal to rename the city of Atlanta’s Hogue Street as Mahatma Gandhi Place. The Dalit group strongly opposed the idea at a public hearing organized by the city council. The Dalit group came out with a document circulated in the town to show that the so-called father of Indian nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was a practicing racist both in India and South Africa. The document quoted profusely the so-called Indian mahatma on his views on casteism and racism,
Indian upper caste Hindus advocated that the street be named after Gandhi but their views were turned down after hearing the Dalit group which had a strong backing of American African black community. The Indian group was led by Subhash Razdan, a Kashmiri Brahman, which was dumfounded by the unexpected opposition to the idea. Through sheer propaganda the Indian upper caste Brahamanic lobby had sought to give an impression that Mahatma Gandhi was as much anti-racist and pro-equality-of-races as Martin Luther King who was bor in a house in Vogue Street. According to the pamphlet, “India is organized in a caste system under the Hindu religion. In this System a small upper caste is considered by birth, superior to the majority of Indians. The Dalits (also known as Harijans, outcaste and untouchable) suffer oppression and discrimination in every area of life. They are relegated to worse jobs, Gandhi supported this system,”
He then quoted Mahatma Gandhi at the London Round Table Conference, 1981,as stating, “I would resist with my life the separation of the untouchables from the caste Hindus. The problem of the untouchable community was of comparatively little importance.
The pamphlet once again quoted Gandhi to say “The caste system cannot be said to be bad because it does not allow inter-dining and inter-marriage between different castes.”
According to the group, “Gandhi fasted 21 times for several causes, but not once for the abolition of untouchability.” Even more vocal was the group’s protest over Gandhi’s role in Anizia, South Africa, which they said was “one of violence and racism.” According to them, Gandhi said on Sept.26,1896, “Ours is one continued struggle sought to be inflicted upon us by the Europeans, who desire to degrade us to the level of the raw Kaffir (African) whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness.” Other quotes of Mahatma Gandhi used by the group in backing up their objections were:
Clause 200 makes provision for registration of persons belonging to uncivilized races (meaning Africans).,..one can understand the necessity of registration of Kaffirs who will not work, but why should registration be required for indentured Indians,” (Editorial Indian Opinion, March 18,1905).
About the mixing of the Kaffirs (Africans) with the Indians I must confess! feel most strongly. I think it is very unfair to the Indian population, and it is an undue tax on even the proverbial patience of my countrymen.” (Editorial Indian Opinion, Sept.4,1904).The International Dalit Support Group maintained that “Gandhi was a man of violence.” According to them, Gandhi supported the British troops during the Anglo Boer War of 1899, and also during the ‘Kaffir wars’ in South Africa.
It said Gandhi was decorated for “values under fire” as he volunteered to organize a brigade of Indians to put down the Zulu uprising.
Do we want a street named after a violent racist?” the group asked in conclusion and added that the African community had several hero’s that should be honored if the street was to be renamed, particularly since it was located in a predominantly Black neighborhood, It suggested the names of Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey or Kwame Nkrumah.
The Indian upper caste community, which is planning a big convention to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, is still hoping that another street may be chosen and renamed by that date.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 18, 1992
