Tamil South Africans
Encyclopedia
Tamil South Africans are South Africans of Tamil
descent. Amongst the language groups represented among the Indian immigrants who came from India
to Natal, South Africa
, from 1860 onwards, are Tamil
, Telugu
, Hindi
, and Gujarati
, with Tamil people forming the majority. After the expiry of their indentures most of these Indians moved to the cities, becoming established as a thoroughly urban population.
in particular was perceived by many whites as antithetical to Christianity
. The imposition of apartheid system also curtailed the opportunities for improvement including forced removals program which caused great disruption and social hardship.
The present UNHCR chief, Navanethem Pillay is a South African Tamil.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
descent. Amongst the language groups represented among the Indian immigrants who came from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Natal, South Africa
Natal, South Africa
Natal is a region in South Africa. It stretches between the Indian Ocean in the south and east, the Drakensberg in the west, and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The main cities are Pietermaritzburg and Durban...
, from 1860 onwards, are Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, and Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
, with Tamil people forming the majority. After the expiry of their indentures most of these Indians moved to the cities, becoming established as a thoroughly urban population.
Arrival in South Africa
In 1833, the British Parliament passed the Act of Abolition which banned slavery throughout the British Empire.The consequence of this was that many African slaves in the Colony of Natal decided to desert their former masters.The former masters having no sufficient labour force, persuaded the sceptic British authorities in India to implement the system indentured labour in Natal.On the 16 of November 1860,342 men ,women and children arrived aboard the S.S. Truro in city of Durban.Apartheid
Apartheid alienated all Indians as disenfranchised non-whites, and HinduismHinduism in South Africa
Hinduism in South Africa has a following primarily in KwaZulu-Natal, due to historical patterns of migration to the region from India. But now a significant population exists also in Gauteng, especially around Lenasia...
in particular was perceived by many whites as antithetical to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. The imposition of apartheid system also curtailed the opportunities for improvement including forced removals program which caused great disruption and social hardship.
Recovery
However, numerous Tamil cultural organizations are presently helping people to recover knowledge of the vernacular, and to take pride in their ancient and rich tradition. For many individual Hindus, a new awareness of their Tamil heritage could be powerfully inspirational and healing.The present UNHCR chief, Navanethem Pillay is a South African Tamil.
Integration
Over the 150 years of residence in South Africa, participation in religion and its many festivals has brought devotees a valuable sense of identity and solidarity, especially in the light of their marginalization and the discrimination experienced under the apartheid system. A recent resurgence of interest in indigenous Tamil festivals seems to reflect a variety of religious, social and political concerns.See also
- Tamil Sri Lankans
- Tamil MalaysiansTamil MalaysiansTamil Malaysian or Malaysian Tamil refer to the Malaysians of Tamil ethnic origin from India and Sri Lanka in Malaysia. They make up over 70% of the Indian Malaysian population group in Malaysia...
- Tamil Canadians
- Thai poosam kavady festival in South Africa
- Thai Pongal
- Tamil peopleTamil peopleTamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
- Tamil diasporaTamil diasporaThe Tamil diaspora is a demographic group of Tamil people of Indian or Sri Lankan origin who have settled in other parts of the world. Significant Tamil diaspora populations can be found in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Middle East, Réunion, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Fiji, Guyana,...
- Indians in Singapore
- Indian South AfricansIndian South AfricansIndian South Africans are people of Indian descent living in South Africa and mostly live in and around the city of Durban, making it 'the largest 'Indian' city outside India'. Most Indians in South Africa are descendents of migrants from colonial India during late 19th-century through early...