In commemoration of the 130th anniversary of an incident involving Mahatma Gandhi at South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg railway station, the Indian Navy warship INS Trishul arrived in South Africa on Wednesday.

This visit to Durban is part of the Indian Navy’s celebration of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav” which honours significant moments that shaped India’s struggle for independence, according to a statement released by the Navy.

The Navy announced its participation in a commemorative event marking the start of the struggle against apartheid, which took place 130 years ago at the Pietermaritzburg railway station near Durban.

INS Trishul will be in Durban from June 6 to 9 to observe the 130th anniversary of the 1893 incident at Pietermaritzburg and also to recognise the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa, as stated in the press release.

In 1893, Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Durban to serve as legal counsel to merchant Dada Abdulla. On June 7 of that year, while traveling to Pretoria in the Transvaal, Gandhi boarded a first-class compartment with a valid ticket but was later forced to leave by a European passenger who believed that “coolies” and non-whites were not allowed in first-class compartments.

This incident is regarded as the catalyst for Gandhi’s fight against racial oppression and the birth of Satyagraha, a nonviolent resistance movement.

On April 25, 1997, in a poignant ceremony at Pietermaritzburg railway station, Nelson Mandela, the then South African President, posthumously conferred the “Freedom of Pietermaritzburg” on Gandhi. During the ceremony, President Mandela spoke of Gandhi’s remarkable example of personal sacrifice and dedication in the face of oppression.

During the visit, INS Trishul will participate in a commemorative event at the Pietermaritzburg railway station, which includes paying floral tributes at the Gandhi Plinth and a performance by the Indian Navy band. The ship will also engage in other professional and social activities while in Durban.

Consul General for India in Durban, Thelma David, mentioned that the ship’s band would play some of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite bhajans during the commemorative event. Floral tributes will be offered at the plinth where Gandhi was expelled.

Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, an Indian sociologist and social entrepreneur, will also be present to discuss implementing Gandhian principles through the Swacch Bharat campaign, which draws inspiration from Gandhi’s movement.

As part of the ship’s friendly visit, the crew will engage in donation and community activities at the Phoenix Youth Centre in Durban, where the band will perform for approximately 150 youth. Additionally, the ship’s personnel will participate in a morning yoga session on June 9.

The visit aims to foster understanding among schoolchildren and college students about the Indian Navy’s capacity to maintain peace at sea. They will also be briefed on the Navy’s operational capabilities and its role in maritime security, highlighting the friendly relations between the two countries and the significance of the Indian Navy in bilateral ties, explained Thelma David.

In collaboration with the Pietermaritzburg Gandhi Foundation and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a round table discussion titled the Gandhi-Mandela-King Conference will be hosted on Wednesday. The conference, named after three globally renowned leaders of the last century, will focus on peace and justice for all. Joint Secretary Puneet Kundal and Deputy High Commissioner Banu Prakash will be among the speakers.

During the visit, the frigate will have professional interactions with the South African Navy, further enhancing the close cooperation between the two navies.

India and South Africa share the Indian Ocean as maritime neighbours with cordial defence and warm political relations. The two Navies regularly interact and operate together with Brazil during Exercise IBSAMAR, which is held every alternate year, the last edition of which was conducted in 2022. The Indian Navy also hosts a number of trainees from the South African Navy in various professional schools.