To nurture the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa, where he first began his Satyagraha, the Madhya Pradesh government will donate Rs. 1 crore for the restoration of his Tolstoy Farm.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced this during a visit to the now derelict area, south of Johannesburg, owned by a neighbouring brick manufacturing company.
Paying his tributes, Mr. Chouhan touched the ground and recalled the ideals of compassion, non-violence and the force of truth that Gandhi stood for.
“This contribution is symbolic of the commitment of the people and Government of Madhya Pradesh to uphold and preserve the universal values that Gandhiji stood for,” he said.
“Gandhian values are more relevant than ever today in our common pursuit to foster a peace loving and harmonious global society,” the Chief Minister added as he stressed the ancient Indian value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is but one family).
Mr. Chouhan is leading a delegation from the State to promote investment and joint ventures between South African public and state enterprises.
Indian High Commissioner Virendra Gupta initiated a project to establish a “Garden of Remembrance” at the Farm, to be developed and managed by a group of local community organisations.
“To commemorate 100 years of Gandhiji’s return to India from South Africa in 1914, a function is being organised by the High Commission of India in collaboration with the local Indian community and the Government of South Africa on 20 July 2014 at the Tolstoy Farm,” Mr. Gupta said.
A trust to take forward the project will be formally launched on the day, he added.
Established by Gandhi in 1910, the Tolstoy Farm drew its name from Leo Tolstoy, whose writings had influenced the Mahatma. It spreads over an area of 1,100 acres donated by his architect friend Herman Kallenbach.
People from diverse backgrounds, race and religion stayed together here to form a community of Passive Resisters. They adopted Gandhi’s principles of Satyagraha to fight the unjust and racist regime of the then South Africa.
Tolstoy Farm was then a thriving self-sufficient commune for scores of people led by Gandhi, who had a law office in the city.
After the last family moved out in the 1970s, the remaining buildings and huge fruit orchards were destroyed by vandals and all that remains is the foundation of the house occupied by Gandhi.
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