South Africa Donates Mahatma Gandhi’s Hand-Spun Clothes, Historic Documents To National Gandhi Museum
South Africa has donated artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi to the National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi. These includes clothing worn by MK Gandhi and his wife, Kasturba Gandhi.
In a significant gesture of historical and cultural ties, South Africa has donated artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi to the National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar witnessed the handing-over ceremony and stated, “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.”
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
The donation was facilitated by the Gandhi Development Trust and the Phoenix Settlement Trust, both registered non-profit organisations in South Africa. The artefacts were handed over by Kidar Ramgobin to A. Annamalai, Director of the National Gandhi Museum, on Friday.
Mahatma Gandhi had a profound connection with South Africa, where he arrived in 1893 and stayed until 1915. During his time there, he established the Phoenix Settlement in 1904, which became a hub for his socio-political activism. His son, Manilal Gandhi, continued to reside at the settlement, running the printing press that produced Indian Opinion, a newspaper central to Gandhi’s political movement.
The legacy of Gandhi’s family in South Africa continues through Ela Gandhi, daughter of Manilal and Sushila Gandhi, and her son Kidar Ramgobin, who played a key role in this donation.
In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi retraced Mahatma Gandhi’s historic train journey from Pentrich to Pietermaritzburg during his visit to South Africa. He also visited Gandhi’s former home, ‘Sarvodaya’, at the Phoenix Settlement, accompanied by Ela Gandhi, where he observed various artefacts associated with Gandhi’s formative years. At the time, PM Modi had remarked that South Africa was the place where Mahatma Gandhi found his true calling.
Artefacts, Historical Documents Donated To Delhi’s National Gandhi Museum
The artefacts donated to the National Gandhi Museum include clothing pieces hand-spun by Mahatma Gandhi. Among them are a saree with a red border, a blouse, and an underskirt that belonged to Kasturba Gandhi. Additionally, the donation includes a piece of khadi cloth and a lungi that belonged to Mahatma Gandhi himself. Another significant item is a portion of a garland made from cotton spun by Gandhi, which was worn by Sushila Gandhi during her wedding to Manilal Gandhi. A letter accompanying the garland explains that it was meant to be passed on to Kidar Ramgobin at his wedding, and he has now chosen to donate it to the museum.
Alongside these artefacts, several historical documents were handed over. These include the deed of transfer for the Phoenix Settlement, the balance sheet of the Phoenix Settlement, and the balance sheet of the Passive Resistance Fund. Financial records related to Indian Opinion, including its trading account, profit and loss account, and balance sheet, were also part of the donation. Additionally, licences for the publication of Indian Opinion and for stationers at Phoenix were included, as well as a declaration under the 1858 law for the newspaper Indian Opinion.
Among the historical documents are telegrams from Charlestown dated 1913 and letters from Manilal Gandhi to Devadas Gandhi. Letters addressed to Sushila Gandhi, wife of Manilal Gandhi, were also part of the collection.
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