Kumudiben’s letter in Asian Voice dated 23-7-2016 quoting Late Nelson Mandela, “You gave us Mohandas; we returned him to you as Mahatma Gandhi” brings about fond memories of Kenya and Indian word “harambe” used by all and sundry. The word was introduced by Indian labourers, who built railways from Mombasa to Kisumu. The word is made up of Deity “Har” and goddess “Ambe”. It was used by labourers to exert collective effort e.g. lifting or moving heavy loads, etc. The word is still used for a collective effort.
Times have changed and progeny of labourers has prospered. But the word is indigenized as Swahili one. Many politicians objected to “harambe” as it denoted Hindu religious figures. But they failed to oust it from national vocabulary and usage. There are also number of Indian words adopted by Kenyans e.g. kalamu meaning kalam (pen), kitabu meaning kitab (book), baba meaning father, baniyani (merchant), mahindi (Indian), etc. This also reminds me of visits by Sri Appa Saheb Pant and later Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, advocate Chamanlal Bajaj (who defended Late Jomo Kenyatta), and Sri Indulal Yagnik who stayed in Kenya to raise funds for the Mahatma Gandhi wing of Royal Technical College in Nairobi.
Ramesh Jhalla
By email
