Pietermaritzburg transformed Mohandas to 'Mahatma': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Pietermaritzburg is the place where the transformation of Mohandas to 'Mahatma' took place.

Prime Minister Modi, who inaugurated an exhibition 'The Birthplace of Satyagraha' at the waiting hall of Pietermaritzburg railway station, looked ecstatic as he described his 15-minute long journey from Pentrich Railway Station to Pietermaritzburg as a pilgrimage.

"I am talking to you all from the place where an advocate named Mohandas was travelling on this railway in 1893 when he was off loaded from the train. In 1893, the journey of advocate Mohandas came to an end and the same day the journey of Mahatma began. This is the place that planted the seed of journey of transformation to make Mohandas to Mahatma," Prime Minister Modi said.

"Mahatma Gandhi lived on this soil for 21 years and kept struggling for the common people, was subjected to torture and a new force was born inside him. It was a spiritual force transformed into a political one," he added.

Prime Minister Modi said that South Africa has fought a long battle and India has always been a part of that struggle, adding both nations are today ready to forge new ties for development and are jointly moving forward.

He further said the memories of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela will always keep inspiring the future generations.

While filling the visitor's book, the Prime Minister wrote, "An event at Pietermaritzburg altered the course of India's history."

The Prime Minister Modi on the second day of his engagement here will also visit the Phoenix Settlement. Later in the evening, he will join a Civic Reception at Durban City Hall hosted by the High Commissioner and the Mayor of Durban.