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local history museums

paul tichmann

gandhi sitesin durban

gandhi sites in durban gandhi sites in durban8 9

TheyoungLondon-trainedbarrister,MohandasKaramchandGandhiset sail for Durban from Bombay on 19 April 1893 and arrived inDurbanonTuesday23May1893. Gandhispentsometwentyyearsin South Africa, returning to India in 1914. The period he spent inSouth Africa has often been described as his political and spiritualapprenticeship. Indeed, itwaswithin thecontextofSouthAfrica’spoliticalandsocialmilieuthatGandhidevelopedhisphilosophyandpracticeofSatyagraha.Between1893and1903GandhispentperiodsoftimestayingandworkinginDurban.EvenafterhehadmovedtotheTransvaal,hekeptcontactwithfriends inDurbanandwiththeIndiancommunityoftheCityingeneral.HealsooftenreturnedtospendtimeatPhoenixSettlement,thecommunitariansettlementheestablishedinInanda,justoutsideDurban.Gandhi’slifeandworkshave been the focus of a vast number of publications and severalfilms.Sadly,however,thesitesassociatedwithGandhi’ssojourninSouthAfricahavesufferedneglectandworse. InDurban,PhoenixSettlementfellvictimtothepoliticalunrestthatengulfedInandain1985andstillstandsinruinstoday.MostoftheothersitesassociatedwithGandhihavehadtogivewaytomoderndevelopment.

A studyof the sitesassociatedwithGandhi’s years inDurbanthrowinterestinglightonGandhi’slifeandworksandonthehistoryoftheCity.

Background

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 inPorbandar,aprincelystateonthenorthwestcoastofIndia.Hisfatherwasahighlyplacedstateofficial.Attheageofthirteenyears,whilesillathighschool,GandhimarriedKasturbaMakanji,in1882.Inthesameyearthathiseldestson,Harilal,wasborn,in1888,GandhileftIndiatostudylawinLondon.GandhiwascalledtotheBarin1891andenrolledintheHighCourtofLondon.HereturnedtoIndiainJuly1891andwasadmittedasanadvocateofBombayandRajkot,buthislegalpracticewasunsuccessful.

introduction

1. Dada Abdullah and Company (427DrPixleykaSemeStreet)

ShethAbdulKarimAdamJhaveri,apartnerofDadaAbdullahandCo.,afirminPorbandar,wrotetoGandhi’sbrother,informinghimthatabranchof thefirminSouthAfricawas involved inacourtcasewithaclaim for40000pounds. Hesuggested thatGandhibe sent there toassist in thecase. Gandhi’sbrother introducedhim toShethAbdulKarim Jhaveri,whoassuredhim that the jobwould not be a difficult one, that he would not be required formore than a year and that the company would pay “a first classreturnfareandasumof105pounds,allfound”.GandhihadtriedunsuccessfullytosetupalegalpracticeinRajkotandBombay.HewasthereforewillingtotakeontheofferandcontractedforayearwithDadaAbdullahandCo. toassist in theactionagainstT.H.K.MohamedandCo.andMoosaAmodandCo.,whichwastobeheardinPretoria.Hisfunctionwastoinstructcounsel,disposeofEnglishcorrespondenceandtranslateGujeratidocuments.

Gandhi as a young barrister in South Africa circa 1900

gandhi sites in durban


GandhisetsailfromBombayon19April1893.OnhisarrivalinDurbanon24May1893hewasmetatthequaysideoftheDurbandocksbyDadaAbdullah(AbdullahHajeeAdamJhaveri),oneofthemain directors of the firm Dada Abdullah and Company. DadaAbdullahtookGandhitothepremisesofthefirm,DadaAbdullahandCo.,at427WestStreet(renamedDrPixleykaSemeStreet,andin thevicinityof thepresentdayGreenacre’sPassage),next toMessrs.HarveyGreenacreandCo.Thebusinesspremiseswereonthegroundfloorandtheupperstoreywasusedforresidentialpurposes.GandhistayedwithDadaAbdullahwhilefamiliarisinghimselfwiththefactsofthecourtcasehewastoassistin.

[TheGeneralBoroughRatefortheperiodAugust1894toJuly1895indicatesthatthepropertyat427WestStreetwasownedbyW.G.BakerandoccupiedbyDadaAbdullahandCo.]

2. Durban Magistrate’s Courts (OldCourtHouseMuseum-SamoraMachelStreet)

On 25 May 1893, Gandhi’s third day in Durban, Dada AbdullahtookhimtotheDurbanMagistratesCourtssothatGandhicouldbeacquaintedwithlegalprocedures.Gandhienteredthecourtwearing a turban and sat beside Dada Abdullah’s attorney,without removing his turban. This displeased the magistratewhoorderedhimtoremovetheturban,whichherefusedtodo.Gandhithenleftthecourt.

TheNatalMercuryof26May1893reportedtheincidentasfollows:

“AnIndianenteredthecourthouseyesterdayafternoonandtookaseatatthehorseshoe.HewaswelldressedanditwasunderstoodthathewasanEnglishbarrister,onhiswaytoPretoria,whereheisreportedtobeengaged

West Street in 1895. Dada Abdullah and Co. was situated at 427 West Street, between Harvey Greenacre and Co. (417) and Rogerson (445)

West Street south side, Gardner and Mercury Lane circa 1900


inanIndiancase.Heenteredthecourtwithoutremovinghisheadcoveringorsalaaming,andtheMagistratelookedathimwithdisapproval.ThenewarrivalwascourteouslyaskedhisbusinessandherepliedthathewasanEnglishbarrister.Hedidnotattempttoproducehiscredentialsand,onreturningtothehorseshoe,wasquietlytoldthatthepropercourseforhimtopursue,beforetakinguphispositionattheBar,wastogainadmissiontotheSupremeCourt”.

TheincidentwasalsoreportedintheNatalAdvertiserundertheheading“AnUnwelcomeVisitor”.GandhiwrotetotheNatalAdvertiseron29May1893inresponsetothearticle.Heexplainedthat,whileitwastruethathehadnotremovedhishead-dressnorbowed,hedidnotmeananydisrespecttotheCourt,hefurtherexplainedthat“JustasitismarkofrespectamongsttheEuropeanstotakeofftheirhats,inlikemanneritisinIndianstoretainone’shead-dress.Toappearuncoveredbeforeagentlemanisnottorespecthim”.

Gandhi explained that he was taken by the chief clerk to theinterpreter’sroomandaskednottotakehisseatatthehorseshoethenexttimehecameunlessheproducedhiscredentials.Heaskedthechiefclerkwhetherhecouldretainhisseatforthedayandthiswasassentedto.However,onreturningtohisseathewastoldinopencourtthat,inordertobeentitledtothatseathehadtoproducehiscredentials.AfterthisincidentGandhiconsideredreplacinghisturbanwithahat soas toavoid further insults. However,DadaAbdullaharguedthattheturbansatwellonhimandthatahatwouldmakehimlooklikeawaiter.

GandhiislistedintheNatalCivilServiceListof1908asacourtinterpreter and translator (Gujerati) from 1896, which implies that,apart fromappearing incourt inconnectionwiththecasesthathehadtakenon,hewouldalsohaveappearedintheroleofinterpreteror translator. The Durban Magistrate’s Court building now servesas a museum, the Old Court House Museum. The museum has aninterestingcollectionofartifacts,photographsanddocumentsrelatingtoGandhi’syearsinSouthAfrica.

The Durban Magistrate’s Court circa 1900. The Court was officially opened on 24 May 1866. On 8 April 1891 the north wing (towards Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (West St) was added to the building providing new offices. Another court room was added to the south wing and opened on 16 November 1897. The building served as a Court House until 1912. Thereafter the Durban Municipality acquired the building. The Court House became home to the Local History Museum in 1965, and the building was declared a National Monument in 1975

Durban Railway Station circa 1890s. It was from here that Gandhi departed on his journey to Pretoria on 7 June 1893


3. Durban Station (TouristJunction-MontyNaickerRoad)

ItwasfromDurbanStationthatGandhiembarkedonthefatefultrainjourneythat,inlateryears,heregardedashavingchangedthecourseofhislife.HeboardedatrainattheDurbanStationon7June1893inordertotraveltoPretoria,wherehewasduetomeetwithDadaAbdullah’slegaladvisers.Afirstclassseatwasbookedforhim.ThetrainreachedPietermaritzburgStationatabout9pm.Awhitepassengerenteringthecompartmentwasdisturbedtoseeitoccupiedbya‘personofcolour’andreturnedwithtwoofficialswhoorderedGandhitomovetothevancompartment.Gandhiprotestedthathehadafirstclassticketandwasthereforeentitledtobeinthatcompartment.Awhiteconstablewascalled,whotookGandhibythehandandpushedhimoutofthetrain.Hisluggagewasalsotakenoutandthetraincontinuedwithouthim.Gandhispentthenightinthewaitingroom.Whilehehadhishand-bagwithhim the railwayauthoritieshad takenchargeof the

restofhisluggage.Itwaswinterandtheweatherwasbitterlycoldand,althoughhisovercoatwasinhisluggageGandhididnotaskforit,fearingfurtherinsults.GandhicontemplatedreturningtoIndiabutdecidedthatsuchacoursewouldbecowardice.Hevowedtostayandfightthediseaseofracialprejudice.InlateryearsGandhiclaimedthatthat incidenthadchangedthecourseofhis life,stating: “Myactivenon-violencebeganfromthatdate”.

InthemorningGandhisentatelegramofprotesttottheRailwayAuthorities and also informed Dada Abdullah of what had takenplace.DadaAbdullahmetwiththegeneralmanageroftheRailway,who justified the conduct of the railway authorities but informedAbdullah that he had instructed the Station Master to ensure thatGandhireachedhisdestinationsafely.DadaAbdullahhadalsosentatelegramtosomeIndianmerchantsinPietermaritzburg,whocameto thestation tomeetwithGandhiandsharedwithhimtheirownexperiencesofracialprejudice.AberthwasreservedforGandhionthe evening train and he resumed his journey which encounteredfurtherinsultingimpedimentsbeforeendinginPretoria.

[TwofurtherfloorswereaddedtotheDurbanRailwayStationin1904.WiththeconstructionofanewrailwaystationinUmgeniRoadpartoftheoldDurbanStationbuildingwasretainedandconvertedintoanofficecomplex.ItisoneoftheCity’slandmarks.]

The old Durban Railway Station on the corner of Monty Naicker Road and Soldiers Way as it stands today. Two floors were added to the building in 1904. When the station moved to a new location in Umgeni Road, the building was retained and converted to offices

A bust of Gandhi in the foyer of the Old Durban Railway Station building. The plaque reads: “My Life is my message” Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 1869 - 1948. The bust was presented by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and was sculptured by R V Sutar


4. Sites related to Gandhi’s membership of the Natal Indian Congress

OntheconclusionofDadaAbdullahandCo.’scaseinPretoria,GandhireturnedtoDurbaninMay1894andmadepreparationstoreturntoIndia.DadaAbdullahgaveafarewellpartyathishomeinClareRoad,Sydenham,inGandhi’shonour,onTuesdayMay22,1894.Gandhiwasshown, while attending this party, an article in the Natal Mercury,entitled“IndianFranchise”,whichdealtwithaBillseekingtoremovetherightofIndianstoelectmemberstotheNatalLegislativeAssembly.DuringdiscussionsontheimplicationsoftheBilloneofthemerchantspresentproposedtoGandhithathecancelhisreturnpassageandstayonamonthlongertohelpthemfighttheBill.ThemerchantsexpressedawillingnesstopayGandhibarristerfeesifhewerepreparedtoassisttheminopposingtheBill.Gandhiprotestedthathecouldnotacceptafeeforpublicwork.Hepointedouthowever,thatfundswouldbeneeded for the sending of telegrams, printing of literature, travel,consultingofattorneysandthepurchaseoflaw-books.

TheIndianmerchantsinDurbanhadorganisedthemselvesintotheDurbanIndianCommitteefromaround1891andmetonanadhocbasistodiscussimportantpoliticalandothermatters.Thecommitteewas headed by Haji Mohamed Haji Dada and Dada Abdullah. ThecommitteehadbegunthefirstSouthAfricanIndianpoliticalcampaigninJanuary1891whenitsentalistofgrievancestoFajalbhaiVisram,afellowmerchantinBombay.OnbehalfofthemerchantsVisramandtheothermerchantspreparedamemorialwhicheventuallypassedthroughtheGovernmentofBombay,theIndiaOffice,theColonialOffice,theNatalColonialSecretary’sOfficeandtheofficeoftheNatalProtectorof immigrants. Attheendof1892themerchantshadalsopreparedthefirstpamphletonIndiangrievancesinNatal,theTransvaalandtheOrangeFreeState. Theyhadalsosentpetitionstovariouspersons,including Lord Ripon, Secretary of State for the Colonies; DadabhaiNaoroji,a leadingmemberoftheIndianNationalCongressandfirstIndian member of the British parliament; Queen Victoria and LordGladstone,whowasPrimeMinisterofEnglandatthetime.

Ameetingwasheldon25June1894atDadaAbdullah’shouseatwhichthemerchantsresolvedtofighttheFranchiseBill.VolunteerswereenrolledamongwhomweremanythelocalmerchantssuchasHaji Mohamed Haji Dada, Mohamed Cassim Camroodeen, AdamjiMiankhan,A.KolandevelluPillay,C.Lachchiram,RangasamiPadiachi,Amod Jiva and Parsee Rustomjee (Jivani Gorcoodoo Rustomji). ANumber of Natal-born, mostly Christian youth, such as Mr Paul,DurbanCourtinterpreter,SubhanGodfrey,headmasterofamissionschool,alsoparticipated.ThefirstundertakingofthemeetingwastosendatelegramtotheSpeakeroftheAssembly,requestinghimtopostponefurtherdiscussionoftheBill.Gandhidrewupapetitionto present to the Legislative Assembly and volunteers obtainedsignatures.However,theBillwaspassed.Afurthermeetingdecidedon sending a monster petition to Lord Ripon, Secretary of Statefor the Colonies. A number of volunteers travelled around Natalobtainingsignaturesandwithinafortnighttenthousandsignatureswereobtained.Thepetitionwassubmittedandtenthousandcopieswereprintedforcirculationanddistribution.Gandhisentcopiestoallthenewspapersandpublicistsheknew.DuringthepreparationofthepetitionDadaAbdullah’shouseservedas“acaravanseraiandpublicoffice”.

Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street (Grey St) circa 1890s


The merchants and educated elite who had participated inthe meetings now pleaded with Gandhi to remain in South Africapermanently.Gandhiarguedthathecouldstayonlyifthemembersofthecommunitycouldguaranteelegalworktotheextentofaminimumof300poundsperyear.AbouttwentymerchantsgaveGandhiretainersfortheyearfortheirlegalwork.DadaAbdullahalsopurchasedthenecessaryfurniture,forGandhitosetuphouseinDurban,inlieuofmonieshehadintendedtogiveGandhionhisdeparture.GandhinowappliedforadmissionasanadvocateoftheSupremeCourt.InspiteofobjectionsfromtheLawSociety,hewasenrolledasanadvocate.

DadaAbdullah,Gandhiandothersdecidedthatitwasnecessaryto formapermanentorganisation. Gandhi recommended that theorganisation be called the Natal Indians Congress (NIC). The NICwas formed on 22 August 1894 on the premises of Dada Abdullahand Company. Seventy-six members joined the NIC on the day ofits inauguration. Dada Abdullah was the first president of the NICandGandhiwaselectedthefirsthonorarysecretary.(ManywritersmentionGandhiasthefounderoftheNIC.However,GandhipointedoutinalettertotheNatalMercury,on25September1895,that“theCongresswasformedchieflybytheeffortsofAbdullahHajiAdam”). TheNICsetupitsofficesonthepremisesofMoosaHajeeAdam,payingarentalofthreepoundspermonth.

[TheGeneralBoroughRatefortheperiodAugust1894toJuly1895indicates thatMoosaHajeeAdamoccupiedpremisesownedbyRamsammyNaidooat113GreySt].

In “TheSecondReportof theNatal IndianCongress”,drawnupbyGandhion11October1899,hereportedasfollows:

“In April of 1896, as the funds of the Congress seemed tobe in prosperous condition and as it became necessary toremovefromMrMoosaHajeeAdam’splace,itwasfeltthattheCongressmightwelltakeastepforwardandbebetterhoused.Accordingly, the spacioushallnowoccupiedby theCongress

wasrentedatamonthlyrenalof5pounds,beinganincreaseof3poundspermonthovertherentpreviouslypaid”

Thishall,inwhatwasthenGreyStreetcametobeknownasCongressHall(AjmeriArcade,141DrYusufDadooStreet).InthereportGandhimentioned a number of community functions that were held atCongressHall,includingaceremonytocommemorate“thebirthofasontoMrAbdulKadir”,theopeningoftheNatalIndianEducationAssociation’s Diamond Jubilee Library, a dinner held for CaptainFrancisL.Younghusband,specialcorrespondentoftheLondonTimes.

In the NIC report of October 1899 Gandhi also mentions thepurchaseofapropertybytheNIC.Thereportdescribestheincidentasfollows:

“AboutMay1896,afterinspectionofmanypropertiesandaftermuchconsultationanddeliberation,thepropertyregisteredinthenameNiddha,afreeIndianwoman,withabrickhouseandstore,wasboughtbytheCongressfor1080pounds”.

The building at the corner of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street (Grey St) and Dr A B Xuma Street (Commercial Rd) is where the Congress Hall was located. It was here that the Natal Indian Congress held its meetings and other events


Gandhifurtherreportedthatmostofthetenantsonthepropertywere“Tamilpeople”andthattheNICreceivedabout10poundspermonth.ThepropertywasinUmgeniRoad.

[TheGeneralBoroughRate(August1895toJuly1895)indicatesapropertyinBlockAKUmgeniRoad–nopostalnumberindicated–belongingtoNiddhaatNo.1411.TheRateforthefollowingyear,August 1896 to July 1897, reflects theNatal IndianCongressasproprietorofthesameproperty].

Gandhiwasalsoresponsibleforpurchasingapropertyat95DrGoonamStreet(PrinceEdwardStreet),onbehalfoftheNatalIndianCongress.

[TheBoroughRatefortheperiodAugust1897toJuly1898showsthatthepropertywasownedbyFareedShaikatthattime.TheBoroughRateforAugustforAugust1897toJuly1898confirmsthattheNatalIndiansCongresshadsincepurchasedtheproperty].

95 Dr Goonam Street is where the building purchased by Gandhi on behalf of the Natal Indian Congress around 1897 was demolished. The site is administered by the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Trust, created by the NIC in 1953. The site has recently been developed by the Trust as the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial for use by all as a public space

5. Beach Grove Villa (BeachGrove)

AnentryinGandhi’sdiaryfor17July1894makesreferencetoahouseinBeachGrovehavingbeenfoundfor8pounds.GandhimovedtothehouseinBeachGroveon7August1894.InhisautobiographyGandhirecordsthathethoughtitnecessarytohaveahouseholdinkeepingwithhispositionasanIndianbarrister inNatalandso“hadanicehouseinaprominentlocation”.

Beach Grove Villa has been described as “an unpretentious semi-detached, double-storey building with an iron front gate, a sideentrancewithapassage,andaverandahunder thebalcony facingtheDurbanBay”.TheAttorney-General,HarryEscombelivedclosetoGandhi. Gandhi’schildhoodfriend,SheikMahtabtravelledfromIndiatolivewithhimatBeachGroveVillaandGandhialsoemployedaGujerati-speakingcook.

[TheBoroughRates from 1894up to 1902confirm thatGandhioccupiedapropertyinBeachGrove–nopostalnumbergiven–ownedbytheEstateofC.G.Bales].

BeachGroveVillahaslongbeendemolishedandthesitenowservesasaparkinglotasindicatedbyamosaicplaqueattheBeachGrovesite.

Beach Grove Villa, Harry Escombe’s house in Beach Grove where Gandhi resided for a time


6. Wesleyan Church (DrPixleykaSemeStreet)

AnentryinGandhi’sdiaryfor26August1894reads:

“PassedthewholedaywithAskew.Iwasintroducedtohisfather-in-lawMrWatsonwhoisaverykindgentleman.AttendedtheWesleyanChurchwithhim. MrsAskew isanextremelykindlady.Hadalongchatonvegetarianism.IntheeveningAskewpreachedinoneoftheWesleyanchapelsinWestSt.”

O.J. Askew was an attorney and Wesleyan preacher whobecamefriendswithGandhi.OutofagroupofsympatheticwhiteswhohadbeeninvitedtoattendoneoftheearlymeetingsontheNIC,Askewwastheonlyonetotakeuptheinvitation.OnSundayGandhiwouldoftenattendtheWesleyanChurchwiththeAskewfamily.HealsooftenhaddinnerattheAskewhouseonSundays.AnentryinGandhi’sdiaryfor16September1894revealsthathehadseentheAskewsattheirhouseandMrsAskewhadobjected

tohimspeakingtoherchildrenaboutvegetarianismorBuddhism.ThisincidentbroughtanendtoGandhi’svisitstotheAskewhouse.TheAskewslivedinChelmsfordRoad(renamedJBMarksRoad).AtthistimeO.J.Askew’slegalofficewasatnumber14MercuryLane.

OneofthecentralWesleyanChurchesinDurbanatthistimewasinWestStreet(renamedDrPixleykaSemeStreet),lyingbetweenMercuryLane and Gardiner Street (renamed Dorothy Nyembe Street), next totheStandardBankBuilding.Thischurch,wasbuiltin1878andhadbeenregardedasthemotherchurchofMethodisminDurban.ItwasprobablytothischurchthatGandhiaccompaniedtheAskewsonSundays.

[TheMethodistChurchwasdemolishedin1968andanewcentralMethodist church built in Aliwal Street, since renamed SamoraMachelStreet.Shoppingandofficecomplexeshavebeendevelopedonthesiteoftheoldchurch.]

[TheGeneralBoroughRate(August1894–July1895)fortheperiodindicates that O.J. Askew occupied a house in J B Marks Road,formerly Chelmsford Road, and that his legal office was at 14MercuryLane].

The Wesleyan Church in Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (West St) between Dorothy Nyembe Street (Gardener St) and Mercury Lane was demolished in 1968 and a new Central Methodist Church erected in Samora Machel Street (Aliwal St)

The site of the Wesleyan Church in Dr Pixley kaSeme Street today, looking east towards Dorothy Nyembe Street with Mercury Lane to the right


Anton Lembede Street (Smith St) looking west circa 1890s

7. South African General Mission Headquarters (AshLane)

WhileinPretoriaGandhihadmetAlbert.W.Baker,anattorneyanddirectorofSouthAfricanGeneralMission,whobefriendedhimandhopedtoconverthimtoChristianity.Gandhiadmittedthat,althoughbornHindu,hewasinastateofreligiousconfusionatthatperiodofhislife.HebegantomakeastudyofChristianityaswellasotherreligions.OnGandhi’sreturntoDurban,W.SpencerWalton,headoftheSouthAfricanGeneralMission,calledonhimandtookakeeninterestinhim.HeofteninvitedGandhitoattendprayermeetingsathisheadquartersinAshLane,offPointRoad,sincerenamedMahatmaGandhiRoad.GandhihadarrangedforVincentLawrence,hisclerktoteachTamiltotwomissionaryworkersattachedtotheSouthAfricanGeneralMission,MissM.DayandMissElsieHargreaves. ThetwomissionaryworkersstartededucationalworkamongtheIndiansata location in Verulam, near the Phoenix Railway Station. Gandhiattended a meeting there in the second week of December 1897,wherehepromised,onbehalfofParseeRustomjee,tobuildoneofthetanksneededfortheworkofthemissionaries.

8. Gandhi’s Legal Offices

i) 326-328 Anton Lembede Street (SmithSt)

An entry in Gandhi’s diary on 2 August 1894 reads: “Saw Coakes,gavehimachequefor30poundsforfeesforadvocateslicenceandinterpreter’s”. Gandhi signed an agreement of partnership withattorneyCoakes,on4August1894.Theirpracticewasbasedat326-328AntonLembedeStreet,formerlySmithStreet.GandhiwasadmittedasanadvocateoftheNatalSupremeCourton3September1894.

[Borough Rate, August 1894 – July 1895, confirms that Coakes’practicewasat326SmithStreetatthattime.]

ii) Ferguson’s Corner, 374 Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (WestSt)

Coakeshadmovedhispracticeto388DrPixleykaSemeStreet(WestStreet)byAugust1985.BythistimeGandhihadinallprobabilitysetuphisownpractice,asheoccupiedanofficeat374DrPixleykaSemeStreet.ThebuildinginwhichhisofficewassituatedbelongedtoTuckerandButtonbutwaspurchasedbyJ.F.Fergusonin1896andcametobeknownas‘Ferguson’sCorner’.

[Ferguson’s Corner has long been replaced by a more modernbuildingwhichhousesretailandcommercialcompanies].

Ferguson’s Corner circa 1899/ Gandhi’slaw office was located in this building between 1895 and 1896


iii) 53a Joe Slovo Street (FieldSt)

By August 1897 Gandhi had moved his practice to an office at 53aJoe Slovo Street, formerly Field Street, a property owned by J.J.Beningfield.Several letterswrittenbyGandhi, includingone to theColonialSecretary,dated21July1898,bearthisaddress.

[GeneralBoroughRate,August1897–July1898].

iv) 14 Mercury Lane

ByJanuary1899Gandhihadmovedhislegalpracticeto14MercuryLane,oppositetheNatalMercuryOfficeandprintingworks.HewaslaterjoinedtherebyR.K.KhanwhoenrolledasanadvocateoftheSupremeCourtofNatalinJuly1899.

[MercuryLanehasundergonemanychanges, theoldbuildingshavebeendemolishedtomakewayfornewcomplexes.]

[GeneralBoroughRate,August1899–July1900]

Mercury Lane off Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (West St). The Natal Mercury publishing offices were on the left and Gandhi’s legal office on the right

9. Saint Aidan’s Mission Hospital

DrLancelotParkerBoothwhowasresponsiblefortheestablishmentofSaintAidan’sMissionlivedatnumber49CrossStreet ina large, iron-roofedbungalowwhichhadoutbuildingsandwassurroundedbyarustycorrugatedironwall. ThehousewasattheintersectionwithLeopoldStreet(renamedDavidWebsterStreet),neartheoldbridgethatconnectedAliceStreet(renamedJohannesNkosiStreet),withCrossStreet.

DrBoothranaclinicfromhishomeandhadalsosetupseveralmake-shift wards, as there was no hospital in Durban catering fortheIndiancommunities.TheNICraisedasubscriptioninaidofthehospitalandGandhi’sfriend,ParseeRustomjeealsogavehisfinancialbackingtoit.TheSaintAidan’sMissionHospitalwasformallyopenedon14September1897.GandhiwasonfriendlytermswithDr.BoothandspentonehourormoreofhistimeeachdayadministeringtothesickatSaintAidan’s.

[SaintAidan’shospitalmovedtoitspresentlocationinM.L.SultanRoad,formerlyCentenaryRoadin1935.Theoldmissionhospitalbuildinghasbeendemolished,onlythefoundationremainingandthesiteisusedasaparkingarea.]

Saint Aidan’s Mission Hospital at the corner of Cross Street and David Webster Street (Leopold St) was the first hospital in Durban for the health and needs of Indian people. The hospital was founded by Dr Booth whom Gandhi visited regularly to assist in caring for the sick


The site of Saint Aidan’s Mission Hospital. All that remains are the foundations of the building which today serves as a car park. Saint Aidan’s Hospital was moved the present location in M L Sultan Road in 1935

10. Sites Associated with the anti-Indian Demonstration and attack on Gandhi in January 1897

In1896GandhireturnedtoIndiatocollectKasturbaandtheirchildren.WhileinIndiaGandhisoughtsupportforthegrievancesofIndiansinNatal.TheEnglishpressputoutanexaggeratedreportonGandhi’sposition,whichwasalsopublishedinNatal.WhenGandhireturnedwithhiswifeKasturba,hissonsHarilalandManilalandhisnephewGokuldas(theonlysonofhiswidowedsister),theytravelledonDadaAbdullah’s ship theCourland, and were accompanied by a secondship,theNaderi.WhenthetwoshipsreachedDurbanonDecember18,1896,theywerebothplacedunderquarantine,lastingfor24days.Thetwoshipscrossedthebaron13January1897.Acrowdof3300,madeupmainlyofwhiteartisans,congregatedatAlexandraSquare(nearwheretheAlexandraHoteloncestood,attheharbourendofMahatmaGandhiRoad,formerlyPointRoad)topreventpassengersfromcomingashore.Gandhiwasadvisedtolandseparately.

Kasturba Gandhi and children 1898. From left: Gokuldas (Gandhi’s sister’s son), Manilal (seated), Mrs Gandhi, Ramdas and Harilal

MrF.A.Laughton,legaladvisortoDadaAbdullahandCompanyboardedtheCourlandand,aftersomediscussionitwasdecidedthatGandhishouldnot“sneakintoDurbanlikeathiefinthenight”butthathewouldlandwithMrLaughton.GandhiandLaughtonthenboardedaboatandtravelledalongCato’sCreek.(TheUmgeniRiverhadcomedowninfloodin1848,leavingadeepcreekacrosslandownedbyMrCato,leadingintotheBay.ThiswaterwaywasappropriatedbytheportandnamedCato’sCreek.Itwasinthevicinityofthepresentday


CatoSquare).Inalettertotheeditor,publishedintheNatalMercuryof16January1897,F.A.Laughton,indescribingtheeventsofthatdaywrites:

“He[Gandhi]mighthavekepttotheboatatCato’sCreek,whenhesawthecrowdcollectingtoreceivehim;hemighthavetaken

Anti-Indian demonstration being addressed by Harry Escombe at Alexandra Square on 13 Januray 1897

The site today of the anti-Indian demonstration of 13 January 1897 located at the Point on the corner of Signal Road off Mahatma Gandhi Road (Point Rd)

The Alexandra Hotel circa 1890s, at the Bay end of Mahatma Gandhi Road (Point Rd), marks a nearby site where a crowd of white artisans gathered in January 1897 to prevent the Indian passengers of the Courland and Naderi from disembarking

Cato Square, the vicinity where Cato’s Creek ran down to the Bay


refugeinthepolicestation;hesaidhewasquitereadytofacethemenofDurbanandtotrustthemasEnglishmen”.

Assoonas they landedsomeof theyouth recognisedGandhiformthedistinctiveturbanheworeandacrowd,comprisingwhiteyouthsandsomeelders,begantoassemble.MrLaughtonattemptedtogetGandhitoarickshawbuttherickshawpullerwasthreatenedthatifheallowedGandhitositinhisrickshawtheywouldbeathimandsmashhisrickshawtopieces.TherickshawpullerthendeclinedtotakeGandhiandmovedaway.AsGandhiandMrLaughtonproceededthecrowdgrewlargerandsoonstoppedtheirprogress.Gandhihas,inhisSatyagrahainSouthAfrica,describedthesubsequentassaultonhimasfollows:

“AmanofpowerfulbuildtookholdofLaughtonandtorehimawayfromme.Hewasnotthereforeinapositiontocomeupwithme.Thecrowdbegantoabusemeandshoweruponmestonesandwhateverelsetheycouldlaytheirhandson.Theythrewdownmyturban.Meanwhileaburlyfellowcameuptome,slappedmeinthefaceandthenkickedme.IwasabouttofalldownunconsciouswhenIheldontotherailingsofahousenearby.Itookabreathforawhileandwhenthefaintingwasover,proceededonmyway.Ihadalmostgivenupthehopeofreachinghomealive.ButIrememberwellthateventhenmyheartdidnotarraignmyassailants.”

TheassaultonGandhitookplaceinWestStreet,inthevicinityoftheShipHotel(wheretheTudorHouseHotelpresentlystands,at197DrPixleykaSemeStreet).

Sarah Jane Alexander, the wife of Police SuperintendentAlexanderhappenedtobepassingbyatthetimethatthemobwereassaulting Gandhi. She came to Gandhi’s rescue by opening herparasolandstandingbetweenhimandthecrowd.Inthemeantimean Indianboy, fearing thatGandhiwouldbekilled,hadrun to thepolicestationtoreporttheincident.SomepoliceconstablesarrivedandescortedGandhidownDrPixleykaSemeStreet.Superintendent

The Tudor Hotel in Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (West St) now stands in the vicinity of The Ship Hotel where Gandhi was assaulted by a white mob on 13 January 1897

Medwood Gardens in Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (West St) now marks the location of the old Borough Police Station where Gandhi was given asylum in the upstairs Officers’ quarters following his assault


Alexander offered Gandhi asylum in the nearby Borough PoliceStation in Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (where Medwood Gardenspresentlystands). Gandhiwasanxious tore-joinhis familywhohadproceededtoParseeRustomjee’shouseat84FieldStreet(now110JoeSlovoStreet).However,anunrulymobgatheredoutsidethehouse,demandingthatGandhibehandedovertothem.

FearingthatGandhi’sfamilywouldbeattackedandRustomjee’shouse damaged, Superintendent Alexander arranged for Gandhi toescapedisguisedasapoliceman.GandhithenproceededtotheBoroughPoliceStationaccompaniedbytwodetectives.HereSuperintendentAlexander provided him asylum at the officers’ quarters upstairs.Gandhirefusedtopresschargesagainstthepeoplewhoassaultedhim.

[TheBoroughRatesfortheperiodAugust1896toJuly1898indicatethatParseeRustomjeeoccupiedpremisesat84FieldStreet.Theproperty was owned by the Estate of Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri.SeveraladvertsappearedintheIndianOpinionNewspaperupto6May1905,for‘JalbhoySorabjeeBros’indicating84FieldStreetastheaddress.From13May1905,however,the‘JalbhoySorabjeeBros’advertisementsinIndianOpinionlistedtheaddressas110FieldStreet.TheBoroughRatesforAugust1905toJuly1906indicatethattheRustomjeesoccupiedpremisesat110FieldStreetownedbytheEstateofAboobakerAmodJhaveri.ItishighlyprobablethenthatstreetnumbersinFieldStreetunderwentsomechangesduringthisperiod].

11. Phoenix Settlement

Phoenix settlement was established in December 1904 on a farmapproximately26kilometresfromDurban,closetotheNorthCoastrailway line. PhoenixhadbeenownedbyThomasWatkins,whosefirstcropofsugarcanewasdestroyedbyfire.Watkinshadsugarcane

replantedintheashesoftheburnedcrop,inspiringhimtonamethefarmPhoenix.Gandhipurchasedthe100acres,withaspringandfeworangeandmangotrees,for1000pounds.

In his autobiography Gandhi recalls that as he was about toleaveforDurbanfromJohannesburg,H.S.L.PolakhadloanedhimacopyofRuskin’s“UntoThisLast”.GandhireadthebookonhistrainjourneytoDurbanandresolvedtochangehislifeinaccordancewiththeprinciplessetoutinthebook.GandhiwasparticularlyinfluencedbyRuskin’sassertionthat

“thegoodoftheindividualiscontainedinthegoodofall,thatallworkisequalandthatthelifeoflabourofthetillerofthesoilandhandicraftsmenisthelifeworthliving”.

ThewritingsandexampleofTolstoy,whogaveuphiswealthandtooktoalifeofpovertyandlabouralsohadanimportantinfluenceonGandhi.AvisittotheMariannhillTrappistMonasteryin1894hadalsoleftadeepimpressiononGandhi.Hedescribedthemonasteryasfollows:

“Theshelterisaquietlittlemodelvillage,ownedonthetruestrepublican principles. The principle of liberty, equality andfraternityiscarriedoutinitsentirety.Everymanisabrother,everywomanasister....Theydiscardeveneggs....Theytakenointoxicatingliquors....Nonemaykeepmoneyforprivateuse. Allareequally richorpoor. Theybelieve innocolourdiscrimination.TheNativesareaccordedthesametreatmentaswhites...”

TheweekbeforeGandhi’straintriponwhichhereadRuskinhehadmadeavisittoTongaattoseehiscousin,AbhayachandGandhi,whowasastorekeeper.DuringthisvisitGandhiwasstruckbytheironyofhiscousin’sconfinedlifeasastorekeeperamidsttheabundanceoffruitsthatgrewfreelyoutsidehisshop.Gandhihadsomefamiliaritywiththenorthcoastarea.HehadalsoattendedtheopeningoftheHopeMissionStationinthevicinityofPhoenixin1897.Hisfamiliarity


withthenorthcoastregionprobablyinfluencedhischoiceofPhoenixSettlementforthesiteofhiscommunitariansettlement.

SituatedclosetoPhoenixSettlementwasthesuccessfulruralcommune, Ohlange Institute, set up by the editor of Ilanga laseNatal,theReverendDrJohnLangalibaleleDube.Dube’ssettlementincludedaschooland training facilities forvarious trades. GandhiandtheReverendDrJohnLangalibaleleDubedevelopedafriendshipandmutualrespect.Theywerebothsimilarinmanyaspectsoftheirlives. Theywere both involved in publicwork for their respectivecommunities.WhileGandhihelpedtofoundtheNatalIndianCongressin1894,DubehelpedtofoundtheNatalNativeCongressin1900.In1903DubelaunchedIllangalaseNatal,anAfricanweeklyinEnglishandZulu,andinJuneofthesameyearGandhibeganpublishingIndianOpinion,aweeklyinEnglish,Gujerati,HindiandTamil.GandhialsofollowedDube’sexampleofsettingupaschoolandtrainingfacilitiesforvarious tradesathis settlement. It isnotknownwhenGandhiandDubefirstbecameacquainted,butinAugust1905theymetattheresidenceofMarshallCampbellatMountEdgecombe,atareceptionheldfordelegatesoftheBritishAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience. GandhiwasimpressedbyDube’sspeechatthatoccasion.Gandhi reported on the meeting in Indian Opinion, writing thatDubewasanAfrican“ofwhomoneshouldknow”,therewasfrequentsocialcontactbetweenresidentsofPhoenixSettlementandOhlangeInstitute.

Ohlange Institute in Inanda, established by Dr John Langalibalele Dube in 1901

GandhialsosawPhoenixSettlementasasolutiontothefinancialproblems facing Indian Opinion. The decision to start an Indiannewspaperhadbeenmadeasearlyas1896duringtheearlystagesoforganisedIndianpolitics.However,itwasonlyin1898that,atthesuggestionofGandhi,MadanhitVyavaharik,anactivememberoftheNatal Indian Congress, opened the International Printing Press inDurban.In1903,withGandhi’sadviceandencouragement,MadanjitbeganprintingandpublishingIndianOpinion.HiseditorwasM.H.Nazar,theNICjointsecretary.InitiallyIndianOpinionservedmainlyas a mouthpiece for Indian merchants in Natal and the Transvaal.Before moving to Phoenix Settlement in 1904 Indian Opinion wasbasedat141DrYusufDadooStreet(GreyStreet).Thepremiseswererented from Abdul Kadir. From the outset, the journal sufferedfinancialproblems,inspiteofthefactthatmostoftheworkersonthepaperweunpaidvolunteersandthatitwasrunonanon-profitbasis.Advertisingspacewasboughtbymerchantswhowerealsoexpectedtosubscribetothepaperaswellastrysellnewsubscriptions.Bytheend of 1904 advertising revenues had fallen drastically, there wereonly887payingsubscribersandthepaper’sfinanceswereinachaoticstate.Onlyonememberofthepressstaff,Govindsamy,waspreparedtomovetoPhoenixSettlementandbecameasettler.Govindsamy,alsoknownasSam,was themachine foremanat the InternationalPrintingPressatPhoenixSettlement.

Gandhiplaceanadvertforatractoflandneararailwaystationand close to Durban. Describing how he came to purchase thesettlementlandGandhisaid:

“AnoffercameinrespectofPhoenix.MrWestandIwenttoinspecttheestate.Withinaweekwepurchasedtwentyacresofland.Ithadanicelittlespringandafeworangetrees.Adjoiningitwasapieceof80acreswhichhadmanymorefruittreesandadilapidatedcottage.Wepurchasedthistoo,thetotalcostbeingonethousandpounds”.

Mr Rustomjee provided Gandhi with second-hand corrugatedironsheetsandotherbuildingmaterialandwiththehelpofIndian


carpentersandmasonswhohadworkedwithGandhi intheIndianStretcher Bearer Corps during the South African War, a shed waserectedforthepress.Theshedwasreadyinlessthanamonth.Atfirstthesettlers livedundercanvaswhileerectingdwellingsontheproperty. Gandhidescribedtheplaceasbeinguninhabited,thicklyovergrownwithgrass,infestedwithsnakesanddangeroustolivein.Howeverthesettlerswereundaunted.

Indian Volunteer Ambulance corps Stretcher Bearers, South African War, Gandhi seated centre in the second row

InanIndianOpinioneditorialinDecember1904,Gandhireportingon the decision to move the paper to Phoenix Settlement, arguedthathere“theworkerscouldliveamoresimpleandnaturallife,andthe ideas of Ruskin and Tolstoy be combined with strict businessprinciples”.

Thefarmwasfoundedonideasofsimplicityandequalityoflabour.GandhitriedtopersuaderelativeswhohadcomewithhimfromIndiatojointhesettlement.Ofthosewhoagreedtojointhesettlementonlyhisnephews,MaganlalandChhaganlalGandhi(whowerebrothers)stayedon,whiletheothersreturnedtotheirbusinessventures.ThePhoenixcommunitywasclassifiedintodailyworkerspaidanoutrightwage and the “schemers” who were given an acre of land each, ahouse,amonthlyallowanceof3poundspermonthforworkinginthepressandashareoftheprofits,ifany.IndianOpinionwaspublished

The roadway into Phoenix Settlement in the 1930s

Sarvodaya (Welfare of All), Gandhi’s cottage at Phoenix Settlement. Ela Gandhi seated with her mother

onaweeklybasis.Anoilenginewasinstalledforworkingthepressaswellasahand-drivenwheel.Theengineprovedtroublesomeandforsometimethepaperhadtobeworkedwithhandpoweronly.Inearlystagesallthesettlershadtoworklateintothenightbeforethedayofpublication.Everymemberofthesettlementalsohadtolearnthe tediousworkof type-settingandallhad tohelp in foldingandwrappingthepagesheets.


TheplotsatPhoenixSettlementwerenotfencedinand,instead,narrowpathsandroadsdividedonebuildingfromanother.Settlersconstructedhousesofcorrugatediron.Withintwoorthreemonthsthesettlershadbuilteighthousesofcorrugatedironwithroughwoodensupports.Gandhi’shouse,Sarvodaya,consistedofonebigroomwhichservedasslivinganddiningroom,twosmallbedrooms,asmallkitchenandaroughbathroom.Aholewascutintheironroofofthebathroomandashowersetupbybalancingagardenwateringcanonapieceofwood;attachedtothecanwasapieceofcordwhichwasusedtotipthewateroutofthecan.Eachhousehaditsownlittletoiletwhereabucketsystemwas installedandeachhouseholderwas responsible for theemptyingofthebuckeratasitesetasideforthatpurpose.Apartfromprintingandagriculture,educationbecameavitalserviceatPhoenixSettlementandaboardingschoolwaslaterestablishedwiththehelpofDrPranjivanMehta,Gandhi’sfriendfromhisstudentdaysinLondon.

Gandhiwrote ina letter toMaganlalGandhi,on24November 1909aboutthename:

“Phoenix is a very good word which has come to us withoutanyeffortonourpart.BeinganEnglishword,itservestopayhomagetothelandinwhichwelive.Moreoner,itisneutral.Its

Phoenix Settlement printing works where members hand printed the Indian Opinion

Sarvodaya, Gandhi’s corrugated iron cottage at Phoenix Settlement

Sarvodaya in the 1930s. The corrugated iron sheets were later replaced by asbestos sheeting

significance,asthelegendgoes,isthatthebirdphoenixcomesbacktolifeagainandagainfromitsownashes,i.e.itneverdies.ThenamePhoenix,forthepresentservesthepurposequitewell,forwebelievetheaimsofPhoenixwillnotvanishevenwhenweareturnedtodust.”


When Gandhi moved to Johannesburg he left his nephew,ChhaganlalGandhiandhisfriend,AlbertWest, inchargeoftheSettlement and the press. The Phoenix Settlement played animportantroleasspiritualcentreandsupportbaseforthepassiveresistancecampaignsledbyGandhiin1907andin1913.

In1913,GandhimadeatrustofthePhoenixproperty.Whenhe left South Africa in 1914 Maganlal Gandhi and most of theothersettlersalsoleftforIndia.MrandMrsWestandMrWest’ssister, Ada West and Mr R. Govindoo and his family stayed onand contributed to run settlement and Indian Opinion. TheyfounditdifficulttocopewiththetasksdemandedbytherunningofthenewspaperandwrotetoGandhirequestingassistance.Inresponse, Gandhi sent his second and third sons, Manilal andRamdasGandhifromIndia. AfterafewyearsRamdasreturnedto India while Manilal stayed on. In 1918 Mr West’s and MrGovindoo’s families moves to town where their children couldhave access to higher education and Manilal Gandhi was leftwith the responsibility of running Indian Opinion and PhoenixSettlement.

Hermann Kallenbach, Gandhi’s architect friend, was oneof the Phoenix Settlement trustees and visited the settlementfrom time to time. He designed a house, Kasturbhavan, madeof cement blocks, for Manilal Gandhi’s family. Manilal Gandicontinued to run Indian Opinion and Phoenix Settlement untilhisdeathin1956.Manilal’swife,Sushila,ranthesettlementandIndianOpinionafterhisdeath.Shedecidedin1961toclosethenewspaper,partlybecauseoffundingproblemsandapartlyoutof concern that it would not be possible to continue to run itaccordingtotheprincipleslaiddownbyGandhi.

ThearchitectureofPhoenixSettlementunderwentanumberofchangesinlateryears,forexample,theironsheetsforGandhi’shouse, Sarvodaya, were replaced with asbestos sheets. In 1952theKasturbaGandhiStateAided IndianSchoolwasestablishedin memory of Kasturba Gandhi. In 1962 the Mahatma Gandhi in 1895, during unrest in the Inanda area Phoenix Settlement was looted and torched

Manilal Gandhi in the Press Room at Phoenix Settlement circa 1930s


ClinicwassetuptoservetheInandaareawhichlackedmedicalfacilities.Between1962and1969theGandhiLibraryandGandhiMuseumwerebuilt.Kasturbhavanwasconvertedforthepurposeofsettingupahostelformedicalstudentsattachedtotheclinic.Duringthe1985unrestintheInandaareaPhoenixSettlementwaslootedand torched. Mostof thebuildingsweredestroyedandSarvodayawasstrippedbylooters.

Gandhi ephemera in the library and museum at Phoenix Settlement

12. Gandhi’s Farewell in 1914

GandhileftSouthAfricainJuly1914,havingdecidedthathisserviceswere required in India. Farewellmeetingswereheld inDurban,inothercentresINatalandelsewhere, inhishonour. On8July1914a large farewellmeetingwasheldat theDurbanCityhall tobid farewell to Gandhi and Kasturba. The Mayor of Durban, MrW.HolmespresidedandGandiandKasturbaweregarlandedandpresentedwithbouquets.AtelegramsentbyKallenbach,whowasunabletoattendthefarewell,wasreadout.Gandhi,inpresentingaspeech,beganbyexplainingwhyhewasdressed in traditionalIndiandress. Heexplainedthathehadadoptedthecostumeondischarge from prison as a symbol of mourning for the passiveresisterswhohadbeenkilledbypoliceduringthe1913strikeand,althoughtheperiodofmourningwasover,hehaddecidedtoretainthecostume.

On9July1914GandhiattendedafarewellfunctionorganisedbytheGujeratiSabhaattheSuratHinduAssociationDharmashalainVictoriaStreet,sincerenamedBerthaMkhizeStreet.Onthesamedayhealsospokeatachildren’ssportsfunctionorganisedbytheFarewellCommitteeinAlbertPark.ApublicdinnerheldinhonourofGandhi inDurban,on 11 July 1914,wasattendedby theMayorandotherprominentwhitesandabout30Indians.Addresseswere


Gandhi addressing a farewell meeting in Durban in 1914

presented to Gandhi and to Sonjia Schlesin, Gandhi’s Secretary,onbehalfoftheFarewellCommittee.AfarewellmeetingwasalsoheldinVerulam,on12July1914,whereGandhiaddressedacrowdofabout5000indenturedlabourersfromtheVerulamandTongaatarea,whohadturneduptobidhimfarewell.Onthesamedayheaddressed a meeting of indentured labourers and other Indians,atthe ‘IndianFootballGround’ inDurban.GandhithendepartedbytrainforJohannesburgenroutetoCapeTown,fromwhereheembarkedforEuropeandultimatelyIndia.

Mohandas and Kasturba Gandhi shortly before their departure from South Africa for India in 1914

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427 Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (West Street), in close proximityto Greenacre’s Passage, is the site where the firm of DadaAbdullah and Co. was located in 1893

The Durban Magistrate’s Court was located in SamoraMachel Street (Aliwal Street) from 1866 to 1912. The buildingwas conserved and serves as the Old Court House Museum

The old Durban Railway Station building on the corner ofMonty Naicker Road (Pine Street) and Soldiers Way. It wasfrom here that Gandhi embarked, on 7 June 1893, on thefateful train journey that, in later years, he regarded ashaving changed the course of his life

Congress Hall, where the Natal Indian Congress held itsmeetings, was located at the corner of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street(Grey Street) and Dr A B Xuma Street (Commercial Road)

95 Dr Goonam Street (Prince Edward Street), the site whereGandhi purchased a property on behalf of the Natal IndianCongress

Beach Grove where Gandhi rented a large cottage, BeachGrove Villa

The site of the Central Methodist Church, built in 1878 anddemolished in 1968

The site of Ferguson’s Corner at 374 Dr Pixley kaSeme Street(West Street), where Gandhi’s legal practice was basedbetween 1895 and 1896

14 Mercury Lane is the site where Gandhi had his legalpractice in 1899

Saint Aidan’s Mission Hospital, which was opened on 14September 1897, was located at the corner of Cross Streetand David Webster Street (Leopold Street)

Alexandra Square at the Bay end of Mahatma Gandhi Road(Point Road) marks the site where a crowd of white artisansgathered in January 1897 to prevent Indian passengers ofthe Courland and Naderi from disembarking

Cato Square, the vicinity through which flowed Cato’s Creek,a narrow channel leading to the Bay, a site of the anti-Indian demonstration and attack on Gandhi In January 1897

The Tudor House Hotel at 197 Dr Pixley kaSeme Street (WestStreet) was the site of the Ship Hotel, the area where Gandhiwas assaulted by a white mob on 13 January 1897

110 Joe Slovo Street (Field Street) is the site where Gandhi’sfriend and benefactor Parsee Rustomjee, had his residenceand business in 1897

Medwood gardens marks the site of the Borough PoliceStation where Gandhi was given asylum in January 1897

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