1860 Heritage Centre

South Africa is a beautiful country with a mix of cultures and races and yet whilst each grouping retain their identity their histories are unique but intertwined with that of others in the country because they do not live in isolation and have always interacted with each other in many different ways ranging from religion to the struggle for democracy.

I had the great pleasure of being present last week at the official launch of the 1860 Heritage Centre, the old Durban Cultural and Documentation Centre. I have always read and known a bit of our history but I was totally blown away by this magnificent exhibition and heart-warming recollection of our celebrated past.

With great vision, the 1860 Heritage Centre strives to document, preserve and record aspects of the heritage of SA's Indian Community as part of the National Heritage. It seeks to do so using those devices and methodologies best suited for the achievement of the same, as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Our Honourable MEC, Mrs Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, officially opened the Centre and commended the Board of Directors of the centre for the direction it has taken in leading the way for other museums to follow in telling history accurately and also actively working towards social cohesion. I remember her powerful words that she shared; 'Prosperity will not develop if we are divided' and experiencing the exhibition we need to believe these words.

Mr Satish Dhupelia the Communications Liaison of the1860 Heritage Centre shared some valuable information with us, ' The Heritage centre showcases the arrival of the indentured labourers but also goes further and shows the commitment of the subsequent generations to helping build this country and free it from the shackles of apartheid.The Doctors pact where Dr A b Xuma (ANC) joined forces with Dr Yusuf Dadoo (TIC) and Dr Monty Naicker (NIC) is a beautiful example of how histories merge. Another example is the Treason trial and the Rivonia Trial where the accused were White, African, Indian and Coloured people.

The 1860 Heritage centre tells these stories and more. It has an artifacts room where items dating back to the early days are displayed and explanations are given of each item.

It also focuses on items like Tumeric Powder, which is now being hailed by the west as a miracle powder but was used by the Indian community for those same uses many years ago.'

The displays are creatively put together and a visit to this centre is a must for all desiring an educational experience. A young visitor exclaimed after touring the centre "I have learnt so much about my culture and our past generations and I am proud to be a South African Indian."