I’ll never forget the day I became a part of history.
My grandchildren have probably heard the story a thousand times, but I can still feel my heart beating faster every time I tell it. I heard about the march they were planning. It was one of the first times Indians and Blacks marched together in unity – standing as one against injustice. There were only a few nervous looking policemen there, and we easily outnumbered them.
You could tell they expected us to be violent, but we had already decided to also follow the protest style which was to become known as ‘passive resistance’. We showed our anger by doing nothing. And although we were assaulted and arrested, we were not defeated.
A month later, when we were released, we found out that people around the country had heard about us and protested in sympathy. We had inspired people without even knowing it. All from a simple gathering of peaceful protesters one fateful day in 1952.
I AM
MOHAMED KHAN
