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The Rediff Special/ M D Riti

'The Indian value system has much to offer'

After a hectic morning spent getting married again in a temple to his wife Lucie, South African Telecom Minister Jayasheelan Naidoo sat back in a plush sofa at his suite in West End Hotel in Bangalore, waiting for a car to take him to the airport. Dressed in slacks and shirt, he looked quite different from the dhoti -clad man whose offbeat wedding caused quite a few ripples in sedate Malleswaram a few hours earlier. As Lucie grabbed their youngest daughter Shanthi and quickly braided her unruly hair, Naidoo talked about being an Indian in South Africa and yet having a strong African identity....

On the insecurities of Indians in SA:

The problem with minorities everywhere is that they always perceive themselves as victims. They are governed by a variety of fears, particularly when they have been under an apartheid regime. A classic tactic of rulers has always been to divide and rule, and SA is no exception. We are now working hard to allay those fears and insecurities of the Indians in SA. Indian marriages performed traditionally are now legal. It is also all right now to promote Indian languages at school level. Out of 26 ministers in SA now, five including me are of Indian origin.

On why Indians in SA still prefer to identify with the whites and not the blacks:

Colonialism had a devastating effect on our self-confidence. It sometimes made us ashamed of our own culture. The white culture seemed superior and so Indians in SA chose it over the blacks'. This attitude is changing rapidly now. We are trying to tackle the problem of their low self-esteem.

On the future of Indian business in SA:

India has produced thousands of entrepreneurs who have done much for the economy of SA. I see this increasing in the coming years, especially in technology-related areas. However, I hope the quality of life of the people of both countries improves simultaneously.

On SA entering the 21st century:

The greatest human development challenge of the 21st century is plugging Africa into that information revolution. One must ensure that this transition is accomplished without isolating and marginalising a lot of people. We must ensure that the content of the Internet, for example, does not just reflect the values of the developed north but also reflects the richness of our traditions, languages and views of life. Our future generations seek the hope of a better world. We need to restore the balance in our lives as we harness the power of the most modern technology to catapult all the citizens of the world into the 21st century.

On the usefulness of having Indian roots:

At a time when the world is so torn with strife, the Indian value system has much to offer. Having Indian roots exposes you to the deeply philosophical yet simple culture of India, and this certainly makes you a better person. I am not an Indian. I am cent per cent South African. But yet, I am very proud of my Indian roots and what they have helped me become.

The Rediff Specials

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