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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“Full prepared..going to win,” Congress MP KC Venugopal ahead of Kerala polls
EC not functioning as a neutral institution: Venugopal
Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
