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Gandhi bust unveiled in South African museum
The War Museum also launched a new book and documentary on Indian contributions to the South African war.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 17, Apr 2025
- 15:11 EDT
- 133
The bust was a gift from the Government of India / X
A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled on April 15 at the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The bust, a gift from the Government of India, was unveiled in the presence of India’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, War Museum director Tokkie Pretorius, and Free State MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Moses Ketsu Mokame during a commemorative event celebrating India and South Africa’s shared history.
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The war museum was commemorating the launch of a new book and documentary titled ‘Caught in the Crossfire’ a first project of its kind to document overlooked contributions of Indian communities during the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). The documentary is now available for public viewing on YouTube.
The Indian Government also gifted the War Museum a special bust of M Gandhi which was unveiled by the Director of the War Museum, Tokkie Pretorius and the High Commissioner, His Excellency Shri Prabhat Kumar. @CGIDurban pic.twitter.com/BbxTbq2BG0
— AngloBoerWarMuseum (@ABWMuseum) April 17, 2025
Speaking at the event, High Commissioner Kumar said India’s historic ties to South Africa’s freedom struggle date back to Gandhi’s early years in the country. “India's links with the struggle of freedom and justice in South Africa date back to the period during which Mahatma Gandhi started his Satyagraha movement in South Africa over a century ago. As it is said, while India gave Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to South Africa, South Africa gave Mahatma in return to India,” he noted.
history during the South African War was explored by @ABWMuseum by that culminated in a book & documentary launched along with unveiling of bust of Gandhi during visit of High Commissioner to Bloemfontein @hci_pretoria @MEAIndia@IndianDiplomacy@iccr_hq pic.twitter.com/JGruIKhDc9
— India in Durban (@CGIDurban) April 15, 2025
He also recalled Gandhi’s role in the war as the leader of the Indian Ambulance Corps, underscoring his humanitarian commitment to saving lives during conflict.
The Anglo-Boer War Museum, which has worked since 2009 to present a more inclusive account of the war, said the exhibition and commemorative events are part of its broader effort to recognize the experiences of all racial groups—white, black, coloured, and Indian—affected by the conflict.
The evening concluded with a cultural programme featuring a classical Mohinyattam performance by Elina Komarova and a musical set by Shadow and Light, a contemporary-classical duo comprising Pavithra Chari and Anindo Bose.
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