India's role in finding the unmarked grave of Gandhian-era teenage freedom fighter Valliamma Munusamy Moodliar was recalled as a new bust
of her was unveiled in a public park in the mainly Indian township of Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, on Saturday.
The bust, funded by community contributions, was the fourth installed in as many years after repeated vandalism at the park.
Moodliar, a South African Tamil girl, was 10 years of age when she joined Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi.
She died at the age of 16 in 1914 after being released from prison.
She was jailed by the Britishers for her fight against apartheid.
During an event held here, several people brought into limelight the contributions made by Moodaliar towards the freedom struggle.
As we all know Valliamma Moodliar lived and died for justice and freedom for all in our country, giving her life at just 16 as she marched alongside Gandhi in protest at discriminatory laws, succumbing to illness while imprisoned, but refusing early release because of this," Nadas Pillay from the Valliamma Social Justice Interim Committee (VSJIC) said.
Internationally renowned legal expert Yasmin Sooka, who was the chief guest, recalled how Gandhi had written about meeting Moodliar when she was seriously ill and told him that she did not mind dying in prison for the cause.
We know from the stories of our grandmothers that Indian women, barring a few, have largely been written out of the early struggle in South Africa for dignity and justice in the 20th century, Sooka said.
She said that the Indian community in South Africa has much to thank their womenfolk for for the valuable and crucial role that they played towards the liberation of their people.
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