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Woman Power Conference

Woman Power Conference

Author: Mr J S Singh
Date: 2017-11-16

The 1860 Indentured Labourers Foundation, Verulam was established with the aims and objectives, amongst others, of preserving the heritage and culture of the indentured labourers and to ensure that our present day society and the future generation constantly reminded of and remember their history and draw inspiration from the sacrifices made by these pioneers. Theme this year was : "Women Power" Inspiration from Indenture.

"I Lament that very little is written and very few records preserved about the role that women played in indenture.

As our Foundation has stated publicly in the media, the purpose of this conference is to provoke debate and ignite discussion on this subject, more so in the light of the present resurgence of efforts by women to claim their rightful role and place in history and assert their well-deserved rights and recognition.

The Indenture Woman

The Indentured Women who laboured in the sugar cane fields came from the remote villages of India, for the first time in their lives they became wage earners and could even demand to be recognised in the social order. I repeat that we hope to provoke and ignite discussion on this theme, lest we forget the Indentured Women from whose womas were written our destinies ie Velima just a foot note in the story of Mahatma Gandhi.

Whilst we tell the story of the Indentured Woman, my personal request is that we should also tell the story of Woman Power: Verulam

In as much as the 1860 Indentured Labourers Foundation , Verulam is involved , the preservation and commemoration of the history and heritage of the Indentured Labourers, the organisation and its members collectively pledge loyalty to South African as the land of their birth right

The present day descendants of the indentured labourers may look to India as the source of cultural and religious inspiration and take immense pride in the historical heritage bequeathed to them by their ancestors, but as South Africans they owe national allegiance first and foremost to South Africa.

Even though it has been 157 years since their arrival here, there remains a traditional , cultural and religious connection or possibly even an attachment to India. Overtime, South Africans of Indian origin have become significant trailblazers in the melting pot of a multicultural and non-racial society. They played an important role in the struggle against the old order. With the unfolding and development of the new political dispensation, they now play significant roles in the economic growth and governance.

Twenty three years into democracy they have strengthened and heightened their loyalty to South Africa. The community of Verulam exemplifies the ideology and has fond fostered creativity in encouraging that ethos.

History teaches us to learn from our past, assess our present and chart our future in such a manner that we avoid making mistakes of the past. Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika

"BLESSED AM I THAT I AM BORN TO THIS LAND" - Rabindranath Tagore