Hut Tax and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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Hut Tax and Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “In the year 1895, there was a very small Indian population in East London. The Municipality of that port, therefore, thought that it had a good opportunity of legislating against Indians. So it approached the Cape Legislature for the necessary powers, not for legislation against Indians only. The Asiatics for that is the term used find mention only in two or three places in an Act which covers over ten closely printed pages. The Act gives the usual powers for making bye-laws, and by a section which deals with regulation of traffic, sewerage, etc., the liberties of His Majesty’s Indian subjects have been lightly given away. For, in sub-section 24 of Section 5 of the Act, we read that the Municipality shall have the power to frame bye-laws “for allotting and setting apart, and from time to time changing portions of the Municipality as locations for the residence of natives and Asiatics, and for abolishing such locations”. Again, sub-section 25 of the same Section gives similar powers “for regulating the conditions upon which the natives and Asiatics may reside in such locations, and the fees, rents, and hut tax to be paid by them in respect of such residence, etc”. The Act also gives powers to frame bye-laws “for fixing such parts of streets or open spaces, or pavements of the same on which natives or Asiatics may not walk or be”. The Act does not apply to such Natives or Asiatics as are owners or occupiers of landed property in the borough of the rateable value of £75, and who take out certificates to that effect from the Town Clerk, and to exempt Natives.” 1

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Allotting and setting apart, and from time to time changing, portions of the municipality as Locations for the residence of Natives and Asiatics, and for abolishing such Locations. For regulating the conditions upon which Natives and Asiatics may reside in such Locations and the fees, rents and hut tax to be paid by them in respect of such residence, and for the providing for the registration of such residence and any horses, cattle, oxen, sheep, or goods belonging to them; and for regulating or prohibiting the use of the commonage by the same For providing for the appointment of Superintendents and Headmen of such Locations and regulating their duties and authority, and preventing obstruction of such officers in charge of their duties. For regulating, permitting, or prohibiting of shops, trading stations, and trading within such Locations for the issuing or refusing of permits to Natives and Asiatics to reside in such Locations and for regulating the manner in which persons no longer entitled to reside there may be removed. For fixing, and from time to time altering, the limits within which it shall not be lawful for Natives and Asiatics to reside, and be in the street, public places or thoroughfares within such limits without a written pass or certificate from their employer, or the inspector or superintendent of police, or a superintendent of a Location; and for fixing such parts of streets or open spaces, or pavements of the same on which Natives and Asiatics may not walk or be For regulating and setting apart portions of the rivers and sea where Natives and Asiatics may not bathe.” 2

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Civilization’ is gradually making headway among the Negroes. Pious missionaries deliver to them the message of Christ as they have understood it, open schools for them, and teach them how to read and write but many whom, being illiterate and therefore strangers to civilization, were so far free from many vices, have now become corrupt. Hardly any Negro who has come in contact with civilization has escaped the evil of drink. And when his powerful physique is under the influence of liquor, he becomes perfectly insane and commits all manner of crimes. That civilization must lead to the multiplication of wants is as certain as that two and two make four. In order to increase the Negro’s wants or to teach him the value of labour, a poll-tax and a hut tax have been imposed upon him. If these imposts were not levied, this race of agriculturists living on their farms would not enter mines hundreds of feet deep in order to extract gold or diamonds, and if their labour were not available for the mines, gold as well as diamonds would remain in the bowels of the earth.

Likewise, the Europeans would find it difficult to get any servant, if no such tax was imposed. The result has been that thousands of Negro miners suffer, along with other diseases, from a kind of phthisis called “miners’ phthisis”. This is a fatal disease. Hardly any of those who fall into its clutches recover. The reader can easily imagine what self-restraint thousands of men living in mines away from their families can possibly exercise. They consequently fall easy victims to venereal disease Not that thoughtful Europeans of South Africa are not alive to this serious question. Some of them definitely hold it can hardly be claimed that civilization has, all things considered, exercised a wholesome influence on this race. As for the evil effects, he who runs may read them.” 3

 

References:

 

1. Indian Opinion, 23-7-1903
2. Indian Opinion, 7-5-1904
3. VOL. 34: 11 FEBRUARY, 1926 - 1 APRIL, 1926 15