Ismail Ahmed Cachalia
Ismail Ahmed Cachalia | |
---|---|
Born | Transvaal, South Africa | 5 December 1908
Died | 8 August 2003 Bethal, Mpumalanga, South Africa | (aged 94)
Resting place | Bethal, Mpumalanga, South Africa |
Other names | Moulvi |
Occupation | Political activist |
Years active | 1931-1972 |
Known for | Anti apartheid activism |
Spouse | Rabia |
Children | 5 children |
Parent(s) | Sheth Ahmad Mohammad Cachalia Khatija |
Awards | Padma Shri World Peace Council Prize |
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Ismail Ahmed Cachalia (1908-2003), popularly known as Moulvi, was a South African political activist and a leader of Transvaal Indian Congress and the African National Congress.[1] He was one of the leaders of the Indian Passive Resistance Campaign of 1946 and the Defiance Campaign in 1952.[2] The Government of India awarded the fourth highest Indian civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1977.[3]
Biography
Moulvi Ismail Ahmed Cachalia, who stepped beyond the verge on August 8 at the age of 95, straddled two centuries and two continents. What was remarkable was his bearing the legacy of two cultures — African and Asian, said Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the former Indian ambassador to Norway, on hearing the news of Cachalia's death.[1]
Ismail Ahmed Cachalia was born in the South African province of
During the next six years, Cachalia worked with other leaders of the
By 1972, Cachalia retired from active politics due to ill health and shifted his residence to Kala Kacha, Navsari in the Indian state of Gujarat where his ancestors came from,[5] but divided his time between the two countries.[1][2] After the dismantling of apartheid regime, ANC requested him to take part in their campaign in the first general election with universal suffrage in 1994 which he could not.[2] He was present at the function of the dedication of the memorials of Thillaiaadi Valliammai and Swami Nagappen Padayachee[12] to the nation at the Braamfontein cemetery on 15 July 1994 along with Walter Sisulu and also during Jyoti Basu's visit to Johannesburg in 1997.[1] He died on 8 August 2003 at the age of 94.[2] Cachalia was married three times. His first wife died, as well as his first child shortly after her. Maryam Bhana was his second wife with whom he had one son, Yahya, and four daughters, Hafsa, Saeedah, Rashida and Khaleeda. [4] After Maryam died he married a Rabia in India. Khaleeda preceded him in death by one year.[9] His mortal remains were buried at Bethal, a town known for potato farming in Mpumalanga, South Africa.[9]
Cachalia received the World Peace Council Prize in 1955.[2][5] The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1977.[3] Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Conversations With Myself, carries a short biography of Ismail Cachalia.[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Gopalkrishna Gandhi (19 October 2003). "Legacy of struggle". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 June 2015.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Cachalia, Ismail". South African History Online. 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ a b "My Heritage". My Heritage. 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary for Ismail Ahmed Maulvi Cachalia (1908 - 2003)". Remembered. 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Ahmed M. Kathrada". South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid, Building Democracy. 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "A Brief Overview of Apartheid in South Africa". Aconerly Coleman. 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ISBN 9788171886487.
- ^ a b c d "Bandung spirit remains relevant, says family of anti-apartheid hero". Jakarta Post. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Indian South Africans in struggle for national liberation". Sanchar Publishing House. 1993. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Who's Who SA". Who's Who SA. 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Padayachee". SAHO. 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ISBN 9780230761438.
Further reading
- P. Joyce, ed. (1999). A Concise Dictionary of South African Biography (Francolin Reference). Francolin Publishers. p. 288. ISBN 978-1868590377.
- ISBN 9780230761438.