Mandela: Message to India
South African History Online 
Mandela: Message to India
18 June 1994
[On the occasion of an India-South Africa Solidarity Meet to discuss the
post-apartheid South African scene, organised by the Indian National Social
Action Forum (New Delhi, June 11, 1994), Nelson Mandela sent a message in his
capacity as the President of South Africa and another in his capacity as the
President of the African National Congress. Here the excerpts from Mandela's
messages which bring out the bonds of solidarity that bind our two
countries. Editor]
There has been a golden thread that has bound our peoples together for many,
many decades - a thread woven during the long, arduous and bitter years of
struggle against common enemies: racism, imperialism and colonialism.
South Africa's relations with India date back centuries, starting in the
seventeenth century when Indians formed part of the first batch of slaves who
were brought from the East. They came in larger numbers from 1860 onwards as
indentured labourers and so-called "passenger Indians."
Today, the South African Indian community is a million-strong, and it forms a
full part of South African society. Hand-in-hand with other peace-loving South
Africans, they have played an outstanding role in the struggle for a non-racial,
non-sexist and democratic South Africa.
The noble and epic Indian struggle for freedom served as an inspiration to
millions the world over to fight for their own emancipation and human dignity.
Forty-seven years after your great achievement we too have overthrown the
yoke of racial oppression and tyranny. We rejoiced with you on that splendid
occasion when the British standard was lowered on August 15, 1947, from the
ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. We held our breath and celebrated the
hoisting of the Indian tri-colour to signify the beginning of the new era in
Indian history - and the beginning of the end of colonialism and imperialism on
a world scale.
We have no doubts too, that you celebrated with millions of our people the
moment of our own liberation and the birth of a new South Africa free from the
scourge of racial tyranny and oppression.
Today, as we savour the moment of victory and begin the daunting task of
building a new life for our people we recall with pride and gratitude the
sterling contribution India and its people made towards the attainment of that
objective. We cannot, for instance, forget the consistent and principled role
India played, before and after independence, to focus world public opinion on
the evils of the apartheid system. India's unilateral decision to sever all
links - economic, political, diplomatic, etc. - with the apartheid state in the
forties as an expression of her abhorrence to racism served as a spur to our
freedom movement.
Your championing of our cause at the United Nations and other world fora
further helped to galvanise the international community on to the side of the
oppressed, exploited, voiceless and voteless South Africans. India thus was, in
many respects, a pioneer in the international anti-apartheid struggle.
May we take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation and thanks to
the people, government and leaders of India for their contribution made to the
cause of freedom and human dignity in South Africa?
We are certain that the bonds of friendship and solidarity forged over the
years will continue to grow. And may the golden thread woven in the common
struggles against injustice and oppression never be broken.
