As the world commemorates the 120th anniversary of the Phoenix Settlement and Mahatma Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary, the settlement and his legacy remain powerful symbols of non-violent resistance and social justice. A new book and a special event mark this occasion.



The Phoenix Settlement, established in 1904 by Mahatma Gandhi in the lush hills of Inanda, in South Africa’s coastal KwaZulu-Natal province, was much more than a communal living space; it was the birthplace of Gandhi’s revolutionary philosophy of Satyagraha. His aim was to create a self-sustaining community built on principles of non-violence, truth, and self-reliance. Phoenix would go on to play a crucial role in shaping his ideas on justice and equality, principles that would later drive India’s independence movement.



“The Phoenix Settlement embodies Gandhi’s African legacy not only for South Africa but for the world,” says Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie in an interview with FORBES AFRICA. Her book, Gandhi’s African Legacy: Phoenix Settlement 1904 to 2024. A History Through Letters, which will be launched at a special event on October 5, provides a unique window into the settlement’s history, traced not just through Gandhi’s letters, but through the correspondence of his family, particularly Manilal Gandhi, his wife Sushila, and their children Sita, Arun and Ela Gandhi. These letters reveal the immense struggles faced in preserving Gandhi’s legacy while resisting the social injustices of the time.



At Phoenix, Gandhi set up a printing press for his newspaper, Indian Opinion, which was printed in multiple languages — Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati, and English. The newspaper became a vital tool in Gandhi’s fight against injustice, giving a voice to both Indian and African communities in South Africa. Through its pages, Gandhi articulated the principles of Satyagraha — a strategy of civil disobedience rooted in non-violence that would later inspire global movements for justice.



The years Gandhi spent in South Africa were pivotal in shaping his world-renowned philosophy of non-violent resistance. The Phoenix Settlement was a microcosm of the principles Gandhi would later apply to India’s struggle for independence.



It was here that he, his family, and other settlers practised communal farming and manual labor, embodying his ideals of simplicity, self-sufficiency, and equality.



According to Dhupelia-Mesthrie, Gandhi’s vision for Phoenix was inspired by his desire to “experiment with a different form of living that challenged settler society’s segregationist ideals”. He aimed to create a community that embodied inter-faith harmony, upliftment of women, and an equitable labor system where workers earned equal wages regardless of skill. Phoenix became known as a ‘Satyagraha Farm’, a place where young people could be educated in non-violent resistance and prepared to challenge injustices. “Gandhi always believed that the power to transform society lay in the hands of ordinary people,” Dhupelia-Mesthrie explains.



He described Satyagraha as “the force which is born of truth and love or non-violence”.



The settlement became a living example of how collective wellbeing could take precedence over individual gain.



When Gandhi left South Africa in 1914 to return to India, his son Manilal Gandhi took up the mantle, leading the settlement and continuing the publication of Indian Opinion. Under Manilal’s leadership, the newspaper advocated for non-racialism, and he himself became deeply involved in South Africa’s broader fight against apartheid. His wife, Sushila, would later assume leadership of the settlement, ensuring it remained a hub for activism and education until her death.



The Inanda Riots of 1985 severely damaged the settlement, but it has since been restored thanks to efforts by the Phoenix Settlement Trust and the Gandhi family. Today, the settlement houses a museum, a clinic, and Gandhi’s original home, continuing its legacy as a place of learning and inspiration.



The Phoenix Settlement offers enduring leadership lessons that resonate today. Gandhi’s approach to truth, integrity, and ethical leadership is particularly relevant in a world grappling with complex social and economic challenges. His model of leadership, rooted in non-violent resistance and communal good, provides a framework for ethical governance and inclusive decision-making. For modern business leaders, these lessons are just as powerful.



The 120th-anniversary celebration of Phoenix Settlement will culminate in the launch of Dhupelia-Mesthrie’s book. According to her, Gandhi’s African legacy speaks directly to today’s most pressing challenges: how to live harmoniously in the face of differences, how to conduct oneself ethically, and how to resist injustices non-violently. As the world grapples with issues like climate change, inequality, and social unrest, Gandhi’s time at Phoenix serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of non-violent resistance, ethical governance, and the pursuit of justice for all.

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FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

‘Legacy Not Only For South Africa But For The World’: 120 Years Of Gandhi’s Phoenix