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 120 THE SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QUESTION

'Mass meeting fifth strongly protested section nineteen, railway regulations. Resolved oable aupporfcers India. Regulations impose statutory oolor-bar in regard to issue of tickets, placing in and removing from oompartraeutp, occupation of places on station platforms, empowers minor officials remove without assigning reason, Please make suitable representations appropriate quarters. Community unanimous assert rights unless relief sought granted.'

Mr, Caohalia was one of the staunohesb workers during the Passive Resistance campaign that raged for eigbs years in South Afriaa. Daring thab campaign he reduced himself to poverty and accepted imprisonment) for the sake of India's honour. One can, therefore, easily understand what is meant by the words ' community unanimous assert right uules-i relief Bought granted.'

It is nob a ihreaG. Ib is the burning cry of distress felt by a community whose self-respect has been injured.

It is evident? thab iha whibe people of South Africa have not been visibly impressed by the war which ia claimed to be waged for the protection of the rights of weaker or minor nationalities. Their prejudice against colour is not restrained even by the fact) that local Indians have raised a volunteer bearer corps which is gallantly serving in East Africa with the column that was taken 00 Eisb Africa by General Smuts.

The problem is difficult, i& is complex- Prejudices cannot be removed by legislation, Tdey will yield only to patient toil and education, But what of the Union Government? I& is now feeding the prejudice by legalising it/. Indians would have been content, if the popular prejudice hvi been lefc to work itself out, oare being taken to guard agaiust violence on either side. Indians of South Africa could nob complain even against a boycott on the part of the whites. It is there already. In social life they are completely ostracised. They feel the ostracism, but they silently bear it, But the situa-

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