The Other Mohan: A Journey Through History's Untold Stories

The book 'The Other Mohan' by Amrita Shah offers a fresh perspective on Gandhi's Satyagraha in South Africa by recounting her great-grandfather Mohanlal's participation in the protest against the Black Law. Through extensive research, the book delves into the Indian Ocean diaspora's history in the early 20th century.

Published by HarperCollins' Fourth Estate paperback, 'The Other Mohan' by Amrita Shah unearths fresh revelations about the celebrated pass burning incident in Gandhi's South African Satyagraha. Set to release on November 5, 2024, the book takes a deep dive into a pivotal moment in history.

Depicted famously in Richard Attenborough's 'Gandhi', the protest saw Indians burning their identity documents in opposition to the British-imposed Black Law in Johannesburg in 1908. Required to register with fingerprints, Indian migrants, including Shah's great-grandfather Mohanlal, resisted through Gandhi's campaign, revealing stories of opportunism and enterprise in the Indian Ocean diaspora.

Through extensive research in multiple countries, Shah weaves a narrative that spans locales from Surat to Port Louis and Durban, blending travelogue, memoir, and family history to uncover the enterprise and opportunities pursued by ordinary migrants at the turn of the 20th century.

(With inputs from agencies.)