Quest for equality: Asian politics in East Africa, 1900 -1967.

The role of immigrants from the Indian
sub-continent in the development of political
consciousness in Kenya, Tanganyika,
Uganda and Zanzibar is far more important
than most scholars have realised. Professor
Gregory stresses that with their
industriousness, considerable economic
strength and their ability to articulate, the
Asians played a pivotal role in the transition
of these countries from colonies of the
British Crown to independent states.
While the survey of Asian political activity
begins with the turn of the century, the study
concentrates on the period from 1939 and,
more so, after the second World War which
saw the rapid dismantling of the British
Empire and the end of old-world colonialism
and imperialism. The author describes in
detail the signal contribution of Asians to the
growth and development of trade unionism
and journalism, both of which were primarily
political in objective and character.
Meticulously researched from all available
archival material-government records
through all levels of the British
administration; the political and economic
records of Asians; Asian and European
newspapers; rare books; and additional
administrative records consulted in
Tanzania and Britain-the study is enriched
by oral interviews with about two hundred
Asians, including a large number of political
leaders