Hundreds of people watched and listened to the different addresses at the commemoration of the 100th birth anniversary and legacy of Swami Nischalananda held at Kendra Hall in Durban on Sunday.
Born Dhanagopal Naidoo in 1925 in Newcastle, Swami Nischalananda was a South African spiritual pioneer and Vedantic visionary who founded the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa in Avoca in Glen Anil.
High Commissioner of South Africa to India, Professor Anil Sooklal, said there have been towering individuals who sometimes go unrecognised and uncelebrated, and Swami Nischalananda is one of those.
Sooklal said that often, when you speak of the Indian community of South Africa, it is unfortunately overshadowed by Mahatma Gandhi. Of course, Gandhi was a larger-than-life person. But without the Girmitiya community being in South Africa, there would be no Gandhi today.
“I think it’s important for us to distinguish between the journey of Gandhi in South Africa and the journey of the Girmitiya community, which is the journey of Swami Nischalananda as well,” Sooklal said. “Without minimising one or the other, they are both equally important.”
Sooklal said the religious text, faith and Gods and Goddesses brought by indentured labourers (Girmitiya) sustained Hindus when they were treated like slaves.
He said 95% of the Indians who came to South Africa were Hindu, but today they are about 40%.
“If Swami Nischalananda were living today, do you think he’d be happy? And we are partly to blame for that because we became ashamed of our own identity,” Sooklal said.
He said that in light of Hindus being denied having priests nurturing society, Swami Nischalananda rose, and he was fired with a deep passion for wanting to do something for his community.
Sooklal repeated, had Swami Nischalananda been living today, what would be his assessment of the Hindu community in South Africa?
“And I can tell you, he will not be happy. And you know the reasons why. You know the reasons why,” Sooklal said.
“We are a powerful community, our great, great, grandparents came here, penniless, and they laid a solid foundation. They brought the culture, they brought the tradition, they brought the religion and built hundreds of temples with the few pennies that they earned,” Sooklal said.
He said their sacrifice forms an integral fabric of this multicultural, fantastic society that embodies the make up of South Africans.
“Swami Nischalananda sacrificed so that we can enjoy today.”
Swami Swatmaramanandaji Maharaj said Swami Nischalananda did not live for himself but for others.
Maharaj said he observed the running of the Ramakrishna Centre and can see the work and the foundation laid by Swami Nischalananda.
He said the name Nischalananda in Sanskrit means still, unwavering, serene, and Swami Nischalananda embodied this.
Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa chairperson Jugdeesh Gungadeen said Swami Nischalananda’s mission was to serve selflessly, spiritually uplift and guide the Hindu community in South Africa.
“At a time when the community faced discrimination, marginalisation and the erosion of identity, Swami Nischalananda gave South African Hindus a spiritual anchor.
“In today’s world of distraction, anxiety and infodemia, his teachings remind us to live with focus, fearlessness and faith. He taught that true power lies not in external success but in inner clarity and service. His life shows that spirituality is not outdated; it is the foundation of resilience and fulfilment.”
Attendee Steven Surujballie said they hail from Newcastle, like Swami Nischalananda and left at 5am to attend the event.
On attending the event, Surujballie said: “It’s very important because the founder was born in Newcastle.”
He said they will have a function in Newcastle in October, the closing celebrations of Swami Nischalananda.
