From indenture to influence: youth honour their heritage

YOUNG South African Indians reflect on how the sacrifices and resilience of their indentured ancestors created opportunities for future generations, while acknowledging both progress made and challenges that remain in post-apartheid South Africa.

- NADIA KHAN [e-mail]

· Tashmica Sharma, 32, of Westville, said she came from a proud and enduring heritage.

"It is one rooted in the pioneering spirit of our Indian forebears, who since the late 19th century, laid the foundations for socio-cultural, religious, economic and educational advancements in South Africa.

"Through their commitment to education as both a moral obligation and social imperative, our forefathers ensured that successive generations would have access to the intellectual tools necessary for leadership, self-determination, and to break the cycle of poverty.

"The remarkable achievements of the second and third generations of South Africans of Indian descent serve as a testament to this legacy - demonstrating how education, deeply valued and institutionally cultivated by our forefathers, became the principal vehicle for resilience, adaptation and success in a complex and evolving national landscape," she said.

Sharma, an environmental scientist and community activist, said while South African Indians held prominent roles across multiple spheres, this progress should be critically viewed within the broader context of South Africa's persistent inequalities.

"While many have achieved socioeconomic success, structural challenges remain for many communities still affected by the spatial and economic legacies of colonialism and apartheid.

"I believe there is a need for more opportunities in education, skills development, public participation in policy discourse, social and economic entrepreneurship, and the incorporation of indigenous knowledge systems. In addition, youth need to be given a seat at every table."

· Tashmeer Chetty, 19, of Phoenix, said: "Our forefathers played a huge role in shaping the opportunities we enjoy today. They laid the groundwork through their sacrifices, perseverance and unyielding faith in a better tomorrow."

He said many arrived on these shores with nothing, but the will to survive.