Why Gandhi sets up the Natal Indian Congress??

August 22, 1894: Gandhi sets up the Natal Indian Congress

Today, in 1894, the Natal Indian Congress was established in South Africa to raise voice against discrimination against the people of India. Mahatma Gandhi was made the secretary of this organization and Haji Adam Jhaveri as the president. In the early years, NIC introduced several petitions for changes in discriminatory legislation. The organization became defunct in the 1960s due to increasing repression and restrictions by its leaders.

Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our country, has drawn many fronts against the British in his life and he has been arrested many times,

You all know that Mohandas Karma Chand Gandhi (Bapu) started the caravan to raise his voice against the British from South Africa itself. Gandhi came to South Africa in 1893 and raised his voice against the color discrimination policy here. In 1984, he founded the Natal Indian Congress (NIC). Due to this effort, Gandhi soon became his leader who raised the voice for the rights of millions of Indians living there.

During the British rule in 1913, a tax was imposed on all former Garamitiya laborers under the name of Indian Relief Bill. Against which Mahatma Gandhi launched a movement. This movement of Gandhi got the support of thousands of laborers. On 6 November 1913, Gandhi, who was leading a protest rally, was arrested. 127 women, 57 children and about 2037 people participated in this rally. The Indian Relief Bill was abolished by the government due to the overwhelming support of the people.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was later to play a leading and decisive role in the struggle for independence in India, arrived in South Africa as a fledgling lawyer in May 1893. Having completed his legal assignment, he made preparations to return home. But this was not to be. At a farewell dinner in his honor in 1894, Gandhi read about the intentions of the Natal Legislative Assembly to disenfranchise the Indians, and immediately suggested to the Indians present that they should resist this attack on their rights. The Indians concurred and prevailed upon him to postpone his departure in order to spearhead the struggle. On the night of the farewell party he drew up a petition and set up a temporary committee. Within a month, a monster petition bearing 10,000 signatures was presented to Lord Ripon, Colonial Secretary, and the agitation compelled the British Government to disallow the Bill. However, in 1896 the Bill finally became law. To overcome the objections of the Imperial Government, the Act did not mention the Indians but merely disqualified those who were not of European origin and the indigenous population who had not previously enjoyed the vote. This was the first time that the Indian people had not only participated in, but also organized an agitational campaign. The enthusiasm and determination of the Indians is vividly described by Gandhi: