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GHANA – A statue of Mahatma Gandhi was removed from the campus of the University of Ghana in Accra, capital of Africa, after students claimed that the leader of Indian independence was racist. The monument, inaugurated two years ago by former Ghanaian President Pranab Mukherjee, was withdrawn Tuesday night by the institution.
In the twentieth century, Gandhi was the central figure in the struggle against British imperialism in India. With the theory of peaceful civil resistance, he has inspired generations of activists, including Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States and Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
But according to a book published in 2015, Gandhi reportedly said that the Indian people were superior to Africans. In a 1904 letter, the Chief of Independence stated that he felt uncomfortable facing the Indians forced to use the same entrances as the Africans, which he did not feel comfortable with. he described as "a threat to their civilized habits by the habits of native aboriginals". Gandhi reportedly also wrote that he felt stronger with the mix of Kaffirs, a Sri Lankan ethnic group of Portuguese origin with Indians.
The students of Gandhi's life justify the fact that these controversial statements in his pacifist position were the consequences of his time. They also argued that the leader's campaigns contributed – and much – to civil rights activism in Africa.
At the University of Ghana, most students approved the decision to remove the statue. Since 2016, students have already collected signatures during a petition demanding the withdrawal of the Indian representation.
"It's a problem when we show no respect for ourselves and we despise our own heroes for them to value those who have no respect for people," he said. said Obadele Kambon, a student of literature and the arts. "If we do not respect our heroes, how will the world respect us? It's a victory for black dignity and self-respect."
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