Unisa Press
Sisters in the struggle Vol 3
Women of Indian Origin in South Africa's Liberation Struggle 1900–1994 VOLUME 3: 1970s–1990s
| Author: | Kalpana Hiralal |
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| Published: | March 21, 2023 |
| ISBN: | 9781776150786 |
| Number of pages: | 135 |
| This book is not available in electronic format |
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About the book
Women of all races, including those of Indian descent, had been victims of patriarchy, chauvinism and misogyny since time immemorial. Traditional and religious beliefs perpetrated these injustices. Some men also believed that women were not eligible to participate in the resistance against apartheid nor be members of political parties, and this perception only changed in the 1940s. The involvement of Indian women in the liberation struggle has scant representation in literature.
‘Sisters in the struggle’: Women of Indian Origin in South Africa’s Liberation Struggle 1900–1994 unveils an unchartered historical terrain, highlighting the contributions of Indian women towards nonracialism and equality and their experiences within diverse political parties; therefore, shifting the post-apartheid liberation stories which have been dominated by the journey of the ANC to other political organisations who collectively played a significant role in South Africa’s road to democracy.
Indians are perceived by some as oppressors and exploiters of black labour than as active participants in the struggle against apartheid. In this book, Hiralal presents a refreshing perspective of Indians, particularly women, as contributors and activists in the struggle. The book elucidates that the struggle against apartheid was a collective endeavour among the oppressed races and not a one-sided endeavour by the ANC. Therefore, this book presents a fresh perspective to the history of South Africa in which the participation of Indian women against apartheid and colonialism are examined within a gender and political framework.
Table of content
Foreword vii
‘I am Woman: Poem on “The South African Indian Woman” ix
Acknowledgements xiii
Figures xiv
Abbreviations and Acronyms xvii
PART 4:
The 1970s - 1990s Black Consciousness, Youth Activism and the Fall of Apartheid 1
46 Julie Paramosothie Vedan 22
47 Sumboornam (Sam) Moodley 25
48 Kogila Perumal Cooper 33
49 Alison Mary Lucille Lazarus 37
50 Pregaluxmi (Pregs) Govender 40
51 Dhayanithie (Dhaya) Pillay 47
52 Rowayda Halim 54
53 Yashica Padia 58
54 Hersheela Narsee 62
55 Asha Rambally Moodley 71
PART 5:
‘Pillars of Strength’: ‘Political Widows’ and Mothers in the Liberation Struggle 81
56 Mariemoothammal (Marie) Naicker 89
57 Rabia ‘Choti’ Motala 94
58 Sarasvathie (Saras) Chetty 98
59 Devikie (Terese) Venkatruthnam 103
60 Sarogoonam (Saro) Naicker 109
61 Neela Salamma Naidu 115
Conclusion 118
Bibliography 129
Index 135