The South African Gandhi: Stretcher-Bearer of Empire

In the pantheon of global liberation heroes, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has pride of place. Leaders like man de LA have lauded him as being part of the epic battle to defeat the White regime and prepare the way for a non-racial country. Against this background, the South African Gandhi unravels the complex story of a man who, throughout his stay on African soil (1893–1914), remained true to empire while expressing disdain for Africans. For Gandhi, whites and Indians were bound by an Aryan bloodline that had no place for the African. His racism was matched by his Class (and caste) prejudice towards the Indian indentured. Desai and vahed show that Gandhi never missed an opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to empire, with a particular penchant for war.