S African trust hands over to India rare artefacts, documents linked with Mahatma Gandhi
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI): A set of clothing items hand-spun by Mahatma Gandhi and other key artefacts linked with him and historic documents related to his stay at the Phoenix Settlement in South Africa have been handed over by a trust to India's National Gandhi Museum.
Gandhi, then a young barrister, had arrived in South Africa in 1893 and departed in 1915. In the intervening period, he stayed for a long duration in Durban and had established the Phoenix Settlement in 1904.
"Privileged to witness the handing over of artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi, by @PST_GDT, South Africa to National Gandhi Museum, New Delhi. Bapu's life and message continue to inspire generations to come," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote in a post on X on Sunday.
These artefacts and documents have been handed over by Phoenix Settlement Trust-Gandhi Development Trust (PST-GDT).
The Phoenix Settlement and its programme is conducted through the Gandhi Development Trust and the Phoenix Settlement Trust, which are registered non-profit organisations in South Africa.
The family of Mahatma Gandhi, particularly his son Manilal Gandhi, resided in the settlement and continued to work in the printing press after his father's departure and produced the Indian Opinion newspaper and other publications for the Natal Indian Congress, officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a landmark visit to South Africa in 2016 during which he retraced Gandhi's historic train journey from Pentrich to Pietermaritzburg.
Prime Minister Modi had also visited Mahatma Gandhi's home 'Sarvodaya' at Phoenix Settlement, accompanied by Ela Gandhi, and saw various artefacts associated with the formative years of Bapu's political life.
Ela Gandhi is the youngest child of Manilal Gandhi and Sushila Gandhi. Kidar Ramgobin is the son of Ela Gandhi and late Mawalal Ramgobin.
During the visit, Modi had stated that it was in South Africa that Mahatma Gandhi found his true calling.
In light of the historic and enduring legacy of Bapu's life and connect with both India and South Africa, the Gandhi Development Trust and the Phoenix Settlement Trust decided to donate some items, which belonged to Mahatma Gandhi's family back to India's National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi, the officials said.
On March 21, Kidar Ramgobin donated few artefacts associated with the life of Mahatma Gandhi to A Annamalai, Director, National Gandhi Museum, in New Delhi, they said.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had witnessed the handing over of the artefacts.
The list of items that were donated include clothing items, all hand-spun by Mahatma Gandhi such as Kasturba's saree with red border and her blouse and underskirt, a piece of cloth and Gandhi's lungi, according to officials.
Besides, another item is a portion of a garland made of cotton spun by Bapu and worn by Sushilaben during her marriage to Manilal Gandhi, together with a letter in which she explained the origin of the garland and that she asked for it to be given to Kidar, her grandson, at his marriage. Kidar would now like it to be kept at the Gandhi Museum, the officials said.
The documents, which were handed over include deed of transfer document of transfer of Phoenix Settlement, Phoenix Settlement balance sheet, passive resistance fund balance sheet, Indian Opinion trading account, profit and loss account, balance sheet, licence for publishers of Indian Opinion, licence for stationers at Phoenix, according to officials.
The other documents include telegrams received in 1913 from Charlestown, letters written to Devdas Gandhi by Manilal Gandhi and letters written to Sushila Gandhi.
Privileged to witness the handing over of artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi, by @PST_GDT, South Africa to National Gandhi Museum, New Delhi.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 23, 2025
Bapu’s life and message continue to inspire generations to come. pic.twitter.com/K4eTPpgj97
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Bengal: On way to PM's rally, 3 mowed down by train amid dense fog
Kolkata (PTI): Three persons died and three others were injured after being hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday, while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Taherpur in West Bengal's Nadia district, a senior official said.
The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said.
Modi, whose helicopter could not land at Taherpur due to dense fog and low visibility, condoled the death of the “BJP workers” in his virtual address from Kolkata airport.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to the rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi said.
The Eastern Railway official told PTI that the incident occurred in the morning when these people, who were travelling by a bus, had stopped the vehicle and walked to the railway tracks to answer nature's call.
"While three persons died on the spot, two others with injuries were admitted to a local hospital," he said.
Another person with minor injuries was released after having been administered first aid, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (74), Shaktipada Sutradhar (55) and Gopinath Das (38).
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, alleged that the BJP ignored the incident and went ahead with the rally.
"Terrible tragedy hushed up at altar of @narendramodi ego. @BJP4India supporters brought from far Murshidabad for PM rally in Ranaghat today," she said in a post on X.
"4 went to answer nature's call and were killed by 31814 down local train near Taherpur. BJP ignored, blacked out & went ahead with rally," Moitra claimed.
Reacting to her remarks, the West Bengal BJP, in a post on X, asserted that the TMC "has always been adept at milking tragedies", and was being "disrespectful to the unfortunate victims of this tragedy".
The TMC alleged that BJP leaders have not shown "neither concern nor compassion" over the mishap.
"The loss of three lives in Taherpur should have united everyone in grief. But @BJP4India leaders showed neither concern nor compassion," it said in another post on X.
"At this painful moment, Smt @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc put humanity above party lines and stood beside the families of the deceased," the party said.
TMC’s on-ground leaders promptly reached out to the grieving family members, ensuring them of help and assistance, it said.
"While Delhi’s rulers chase Bengal with arrogance, our leadership chose empathy. This is the difference between politics of power and politics of people!" the TMC added.
