A History of the Present: A Biography of Indian South Africans, 1990-2019

Through the long 20th century, Indian South Africans lived under the whip of settler colonialism and white minority rule, which saw the passing of a slew of legislation that circumscribed their freedom of movement, threatened repatriation, and denied them citizenship, all the while herding them into racially segregated townships. This volume chronicles the broad outlines of this history. Taking the story into the present, it provides an analysis of how Indian South Africans have responded to changes wrought by the remarkable collapse of apartheid and the holding of the first democratic elections in 1994. Drawing upon archival records, in-depth interviews, and ethnography, this study examines the ways in which Indian South Africans define themselves and the world around them, and how they are defined by others. It tells of the incredible journey of Indian South Africans, many of whom are fourth and fifth generation, towards being recognized as citizens in the land of their birth and how, while often attracted by and seeking to explore their roots in India, they continue to dig deeper roots in African soil.

About the Author

Ashwin Desai, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg ,Goolam Vahed, Professor, Department of History, University of KwaZulu Natal Ashwin Desai is Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg. Goolam Vahed is Professor, Department of History, University of KwaZulu Natal.