Indians in Africa : a socio-economic study

An Indian scholar from South Africa did some work on Indians in South Africa in the history department of the University of Calcutta some years ago. But he had to go back before his study could take any shape. Here in Calcutta no person appeared to be interested in this subject. After about a year I asked Dr. H. P. Chattopadhyaya, who had already published his book The Sepoy Mutiny, a Social Study and Analysis and was free to select some other subject of research, whether he would be interested in the history of Africa south of Sahara. His response was immediate. After several months of extensive reading of the history of Africa he chose this subject of research-a socio-economic study of Indians in South Africa and East Africa.

Dr. Chattopadhyaya has delved deep. From the Puranas he adduces evidence of India's contact with East Africa in the remote past. He also reviews in outlines the history of Africans in India in different periods of India's history-a subject which still awaits detailed investigation. The burden of history which Indians in Africa are carrying has been described fully in these pages. This work has matured after long years of intensive study. His bibliography gives some idea of his long quest for materials. Occasionally Dr. Chattopadhyaya spoke to me about the difficulty of securing papers he wanted. Research work is expensive. But alone and unaided he continued his quest. He used to come to me for advice and encouragement, I have no special knowledge of African history or its sources. Perhaps my long experience of research in the field of modern Indian history was of some use to him. But I am not so sure. This "African laboratory of human relationship" and recent deve lopments elsewhere in racial relationships create a feeling of despair. But Dr. Chattopadhyaya, inspired by the words and achievements of Mahatma Gandhi, retains his faith in rational ethical forces in history.