The township of Laudium in Pretoria, may be known for its vast mansions and elegant cars, but for three days this month, the residents, mostly South African Indians, would be challenged to reflect and look at their own history.
When the cultural exchange programme between the cities of Hyderbad, India and Pretoria gathers steam it will stop in Laudium for a community level connection.
The township nearing its own 50th anniversary, is eagerly preparing to host cultural activities to commemorate the 150 years of Indian presence in South Africa.
It is not a surprise that the elders of the community are the ones at the forefront of bringing the exhibition ‘A Cultural Bridge” to Laudium in the hope that it will help bridge the cultural divide of Indians from the Diaspora and those from India.
Jeram Bhana, a Laudium based artist speaks passionately about how his community would benefit from cultural exchanges, especially those involving high-profile artists from India.
‘We really need this. It’s a very spiritual experience, an inspiration for all who will view this exhibition, because Indians have been cut off from personal and cultural expression owning to apartheid. We’ve been limited to certain professions. The arts are the last of Indian pre-occupation,” says Bhana.
The 1860 Legacy Foundation chairperson of the Pretoria chapter, Amartal Soma concurs that South African Indians have been pre-occupied with the material accumulation and wealth creation, and that the commemorations should provide an opportunity to balance the chase for material riches with building and preserving of cultural and heritage treasure-troves.
‘As the foundation we have created our cultural programme, but we are happy to add a cultural dialogue dimension, because the more we share our culture the greater we contribute to the unity of different people.”
Bhana sees the benefits beyond the immediate fulfilment of the community, but for the future generation of young South African artists of Indian descent in Laudium that are slowly beginning to mushroom.
‘Who knows? This might change how art is perceived within the Indian community. It is a tremendous boost for our young artists. That incentive has never been there. We need Indians from India and those from here to contribute to the betterment of society.”
Laudium councillor Mohamed Essop, is fully behind the cultural bridges programme as he sees it as an opportunity for the community to engage with quality art, while giving young artists a chance to meet world renowned artists and share experiences.
‘Indian thoughts and expressions link us to our rich heritage. It transcends religious and language barriers. I believe this exercise will serve as a vehicle to showcase our history by way of the stories embodied in the artworks; and perhaps more important it will depict the part played by the Indian community in the text of South African history,” says Essop.
Veteran Indian artist Devulapalli Hanumantha Rao who is in the country as part of the ‘a cultural bridge” programme is excited about showing his work to an Indian Diaspora dominated audience. ‘We have so much in common; I hope through this exhibition we will have a better understanding of South Africa.”
As for the South African Indian artists, it is indeed their moment to shine and highlight the contributions of South Africa to the world.