hardship is encouragement in disguise

HARDSHIP IS ENCOURAGEMENT IN DISGUISE

As a young boy, I experienced a lot of hardships as I was living in South Africa and in those days apartheid was a rule. My parents were in the Indian congress, which gave me the encouragement to take up upon politics.

I remember the experience which I encountered, which was known as the Sharpeville Massacre. It occurred on the 21st March 1960. The African men marched against the “doing pass low.” The objective of the March was that African men leave their passes at home and present themselves for arrest. We marched to the local police station. Three hundred other policemen came to the local police station to assist them. While the Africans continued to march, the police opened fire against us. A total of 69 were shot dead and 180 were severely injured. I was lucky to come out scratch less.

I am glad I took part in such an event which taught me a lot of lessons. It gave a short period to feel how the black South Africans felt and lived through apartheid times. They wanted to be heard but were rather treated with violence; as a result these feelings of hatred build up within them. Having this experience made me feel like one of them. My heart cried with pity ness, but yet I was in the same shoes as them, just a wee bit better, because I was an Indian. I did not have to carry a pass. The fact that I could have been one of the 69 that was killed gave me shivers and made me feel the sadness of those who lost their beloved one’s, innocent, young and old were heartlessly killed, but the attitude I required and had was if I died for my country. It was worth it. The fact that I saw people killed in front of me for justice made me stronger and encouraged me to fight against the government for what was right. After this event, my views towards the white people in general have changed. I found them to be heartless and unjustful being to react in that way.

This experience gave me a total different outlook on life but when I thought of my family, friends and community as a whole, this gave me strength to a different to South Africa. I felt that what I was doing for my country was correct, because when looking at the lives of the sahaba and prophet (S.A.W), they were brave men who fought for their believes and what was right. Therefore knowing that one day I would be rewarded by Allah (god) for fighting for justice gave me even more strength.

Today when I sit back, relax and look at the new South Africa and ponder about my life, I feel grate honor knowing I played a role in the difference of South Africa. I also feel great honor when I think of the way I spent my youth, rather then regretting like most people today and how also when Allah questions me of my youth, I will have a answer. May Allah always keep South Africa non-sexiest and non-racist democratic South Africa.