“Wish to make ties more visible”

October 2024 \ Diaspora News \ INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

“Wish to make ties more visible”

Ambassador Anil Sooklal is the South African High Commissioner designate to India. A descendant of Indian indentured workers from Uttar Pradesh, he is a double PhD, including a doctorate in Hindu Studies, the first South African to receive one. He wishes to expand extensively on commercial ties between the two nations for which the India-South Africa Chamber of Commerce has been established. He firmly believes that the level of bilateral trade and investment should double swiftly. He says that a lot is happening between India and South Africa but mostly people are unaware of it. He wishes to bring in much more visibility into the relationship. He spoke to Bula Devi, Consulting Editor (International Affairs), on a range of subjects before his arrival in India.

When it comes to culture, how do you see our cultural ties getting deepened?

We have an unbroken history of culture, it’s our legacy. In South Africa we have a very strong and large Indian community. So we need to strengthen cultural exchanges between the Indian community and the African community, Africa as a whole, to understand and appreciate India as a whole because it is only then people will understand the mindset, the history of the people, the kind of life the other leads. It is not just between governments. Like India initiated Yoga Day, which is followed across the world now. So there is an understanding of India. India and South Africa are rivals on the cricket field, there is a large number of Africans in the IPL but the vibrant and rich Indian culture is also found in South African society. Perhaps that is why Nelson Mandela referred to South Africa as a rainbow nation. It’s a country of a tapestry of different cultures, the fusion of Indian and African religions, music, dance and not to forget the Bollywood film industry, which is so popular in South Africa. There is a lot happening between the people of India, South Africa and Africa, but people don’t know about it and that is why I want to focus on visibility of the relationship.

How will you describe the role being played by the Indian diaspora in South Africa which is presently in very significant numbers?

The Indian diaspora has been a very significant community in South Africa’s history. The first political organisation formed was the Natal Indian Congress, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894, which later became a powerful force called the African National Congress and it worked towards Africa’s freedom and liberation, and they had many prominent leaders. A large number of Indians, some very well-known names, were imprisoned in Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. The number of Indians imprisoned without trial were proportionately much higher than other communities, in their agitation for South Africa’s liberation and freedom. And, Indians continue to be a force in South Africa’s economy and in all other fields, including in the private sector. They are a very positive lot in terms of nation building and strengthening it.