Chapter 47 Chapter 20 Balasundharang

The sincere and pure desire of the heart can often be realized.In my own experience, I have often seen this pattern confirmed.It has always been my heart's desire to serve the poor, and this desire has often placed me among the poor and brought me into harmony with them. Although the membership of the Natal Indian Congress included expatriate Indians and the clerical class, unskilled workers and contract workers were not within its scope.The conference is not theirs.It is impossible for them to pay dues to become members: the General Assembly can only obtain their attachment by serving them.There was an opportunity to provide this facility, though neither the Assembly nor I could say at the time that it was ready.When I had practiced as a lawyer for only three or four months, and the conference was still in its infancy, a tamil man in ragged clothes, holding a headscarf, two front teeth knocked out, and bleeding from his mouth stood tremblingly in front of me. Weeping, it turned out that he had been severely beaten by his master.I have a clerk who is also Tamil and I got all the information through him.Balasundarang—that was the name of the visitor—was working under contract in the home of a well-known European in Durban.The owner lost his temper with him and couldn't control himself, so he beat Bala Somdarang so badly that he knocked out two of his front teeth.I sent him to a doctor—only white doctors were available back then.I want a certificate from the doctor stating the nature of Balasundharang's injuries.After I got the certificate, I took the injured person directly to the county magistrate and submitted his indictment.After reading the indictment, the county magistrate was extremely indignant and immediately issued a subpoena to summon the employer.Far from wanting my employer to be punished, I just wanted him to release Balasundharang.

I read about the laws on indentured labor.If an ordinary servant deserted without saying a word, his master could sue him in civil court. For indentured workers, the situation is quite different.Had the same thing happened, he would have been brought before a criminal court and sentenced to serve time.That is why Sir William Huntel called indentured labor almost as bad as slavery.Like slaves, indentured workers are the property of their masters. At that time, there were only two ways to rescue Balasundharang: ask the protector of the indentured worker to cancel the contract and transfer him to someone else, or ask the employer of Balasundarang to release him.I visited his employer and said to him, "I don't want to sue you and pay you. You beat that man, and I think you understand that. If you agree to assign the contract to someone else, I will be satisfied." This At one point he accepted it immediately.Then I went to my protector again, and he agreed, on the condition that I find a new employer.

So I looked everywhere for employers.He must be a European because Indians cannot hire indentured workers.I knew very few Europeans at the time, and I went to one of them.He generously agreed to take Balasundharang in.I thanked him for his kindness.The county magistrate sentenced Bala Somdarang's employer and ordered him to transfer the contract to someone else. The Balasundharang case reached the ears of every indentured worker, and I was considered their friend.I am very happy with this relationship.The indentured workers began to flock to my office regularly, and I had the wonderful opportunity to read their joys and sorrows.

The reaction to Balasundharang's case was heard as far away as Madras.Workers who came to Natal from various parts of the province to do indentured labor heard the case from their indentured brethren. There was nothing new in the case itself, but the fact that there were people in Natal who looked after their interests and worked openly for them surprised and delighted the indentured workers and filled them with encouragement and hope. As I have said, Balasundharang first entered my office with a turban in his hand.There is a peculiar pathos to that sight, and it shows the humiliation we suffer.I have already described the situation when I was asked to remove the hijab.Every indentured laborer and Indian stranger, when he visits the Europeans, is compelled by an enforced custom to remove his head-dress, whether it be a cap, a turban, or a shawl round the head.Saluting with both hands is not enough.Balasundharang thought that this should be done for me as well.This is the first experience in my life.I felt humiliated and asked him to wrap up his turban.He did as I told him, although he hesitated a little, but I could see the joy in his face.

It has always been incomprehensible to me that any man should be proud of himself when his fellow-citizens are insulted.