New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) Artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi while he was in Durban, South Africa, including clothing items hand spun by him like Kasturba Gandhi’s saree with a red border, her blouse, and some khadi cloth, were today handed over by the Gandhi Development Trust and Phoenix Settlement Trust to the National Gandhi Museum in Delhi.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar witnessed the handing over of the artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi. The handing over was done by Kidar Ramgobin, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, to A. Annamalai, Director, National Gandhi Museum.
In a post on X, he said:
“Privileged to witness the handing over of artefacts and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi, by @PST_GDT, South Africa to National Gandhi Museum, New Delhi.
“Bapu’s life and message continue to inspire generations to come.”
Mahatma Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893 and departed in 1915. In the intervening period, he stayed for a long duration in Durban and had established the Phoenix Settlement in 1904.
The Phoenix Settlement and its programme is conducted through the Gandhi Development Trust and the Phoenix Settlement Trust, which are registered Non–Profit Organisations in South Africa.
The family of Mahatma Gandhi, particularly Manilal Gandhi (son), resided in the settlement and continued to work the printing press after the departure of Mahatma Gandhi, and produced the Indian Opinion newspaper and other publications for the Natal Indian Congress.
Ela Gandhi is the youngest child of Manilal Gandhi and Sushila Gandhi. Kidar Ramgobin is the second son of Ela Gandhi and late Mawalal Ramgobin.
In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a landmark visit to South Africa, during which he retraced Mahatma Gandhi’s historic train journey from Pentrich to Pietermaritzburg. PM Modi also visited Mahatma Gandhi’s home ‘Sarvodaya’ at Phoenix Settlement, accompanied by Ela Gandhi, and saw various artefacts associated with the formative years of Bapu’s political life. During the visit, PM Modi stated that it was in South Africa that Mahatma Gandhi found his true calling.
In light of the historic and enduring legacy of Bapu’s life and connect with both India and South Africa, the Gandhi Development Trust and the Phoenix Settlement Trust (GDT/PDT) has decided to donate some items which belonged to the family of Mahatma Gandhi back to India, to the National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi.
On March 21, 2025, Kidar Ramgobin donated few artefacts associated with the life of Mahatma Gandhi to A Annamalai, Director, National Gandhi Museum, in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar witnessed the handing over of the artefacts.
The list of items that were donated include -
Clothing Items All Hand-spun by Gandhi
1. Kasturba’s Saree with Red Border
2. Kasturba’s Blouse
3. Kasturba’s Underskirt
4. Kadhi Cloth
5. Gandhi’s Lungi
6. A portion of a garland made of cotton spun by Bapu and worn by Sushilaben during her marriage to Manilal Gandhi together with a letter in which she explains the origin of the garland and that she asked for it to be given to Kidar, her grandson at his marriage. Kidar would now like it to be kept at the Gandhi Museum.
Documents
1. Deed of transfer document of transfer of Phoenix Settlement
2. Phoenix Settlement Balance Sheet
3. Passive resistance Fund Balance sheet
4. Indian opinion trading account, Profit and loss account, Balance Sheet
5. Licence for publishers of Indian Opinion
6. Licence for Stationers at Phoenix.
7. Declaration under law of 1858 of newspaper Indian Opinion
8. Telegrams received in 1913 from Charlestown
9. Letters written to Devadas Gandhi by Manilal Gandhi
10. Letters written to Sushila Gandhi, Manilal Gandhi’s wife
UNI RN