words of the rt hon. marcus garvey

"When we speak of 400,000,000 Negroes we mean to include several of the millions of India who are direct offsprings of that ancient African stock that once invaded Asia. The 400,000,000 Negroes of the world have a beautiful history of their own, and no one of any other race can truly write it but themselves. Until it is completely and carefully written, for the guidance of our children and ourselves, let us think it."

blessed love mi bredrin kamau and iani Ras Tafari idren.

yes the man idi is dead. ourstory will detail his brutality to the people of uganda.

in reference to adissa,
it is sad that ones slander the rt hon. marcus garvey's legacy by comparing him to amin.

as far as field marshall's in africa driving out oppressors, it would be benficial to give praise to leaders that drove colonialists out of the country, without sheeding the blood of their own people. iani can detail many leaders who are worthy of the title field marshall-which marcus so eloquently spoke of:

sam njoma-leader of SWAPO, president of Namibia (current) who literrlay drove the boers out of this southwestern african country.

nelson mandela-who fought tirelessly for the liberation of Azania with the ANC, while preserving the rights and liberties of his people.

jomo kenyatta-who truly liberated kenya,
and the list can go on.

if ones would read marcus garveys words, below you will clearly see that marcus garvey saw indians as part of iani.

furthermore-india the home of ayurveda, currently has low cost treatment for hiv/aids through natural ayurdic medicine. currently there are dozens of ayurvedic hospitals in africa now serving the needs of hiv infected africans. so before you speak of how idi amin kicked out asians-you should recognize that he expelled indians, fellow 'black/brown' people.

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"To read the histories of the world, peoples and races, written by white men, would make the Negro feel and believe that he never amounted to anything in creation.

History is written with prejudices, likes and dislikes; and there has never been a white historian who ever wrote with any true love or feeling for the Negro.

The Negro should expect but very little by way of compliment from the pen of other races. We are satisfied to know, however, that our race gave the first great civilization to the world; and, for centuries Africa, our ancestral home, was the great seat of learning; and when black men, who were only fit then for the company of the gods, were philosophers, artists, scientists and men of vision and leadership, the people of other races were groping in savagery, darkness and continental barbarism.

White historians and writers have tried to rob the black man of his proud past in history, and when anything new is discovered to support the race's claim and attest the truthfulness of our greatness in other ages, then it is skillfully rearranged and credited to some other unknown race or people.

Negroes, teach your children that they are direct descendants of the greatest and proudest race who ever peopled the earth; and it is because of the fear of our return to power, in a civilization of our own, that may outshine others, why we are hated and kept down by a jealous and prejudiced contemporary world.

The very fact that the other races will not give the Negro a fair chance is indisputable evidence and proof positive that they are afraid of our civilized progression.

Every falsehood that is told by the historian should be unearthed, and the Negro should not fail to take credit for the glorious and wonderful achievements of his fathers in Africa, Europe and Asia.

Black men were so powerful in the earlier days of history that they were able to impress their civilizations, culture and racial characteristics and features upon the people of Asia and Southern Europe. The dark Spaniards, Italians and Asiatics are the colored offsprings of a powerful black African civilization and nationalism. Any other statement by historians to the contrary is "bunk" and should not be swallowed by the enlightened Negro.

When we speak of 400,000,000 Negroes we mean to include several of the millions of India who are direct offsprings of that ancient African stock that once invaded Asia. The 400,000,000 Negroes of the world have a beautiful history of their own, and no one of any other race can truly write it but themselves. Until it is completely and carefully written, for the guidance of our children and ourselves, let us think it.

The white man's history is his inspiration, and he should be untrue to himself and negligent of the rights of his posterity to subordinate it to others, and so also of the Negro. Our history is as good as that of any other race of people, and nothing on this side of Heaven or Hell will make us deny it, the false treaties, essays, speculations and philosophies of others notwithstanding."

-marcus garvey
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Ayurveda could be just what the doctor ordered

Alternative Medicine

Ancient Indian therapy may be included in Nelson Mandela School of Medicine curriculum

MARJORIE COPELAND

Ayurvedic medi-cine and therapy is a worldwide phenomenon, but it took some time to take off in South Africa, despite the size of the country's Indian population

One of only three qualified ayurvedic doctors in the country, Dr Thiru Govender opened South Africa's first ayurvedic hospital in Overport in June this year.

The medical facility offers 24 different procedures, has private rooms for in-patients, an emergency medical centre, an outpatients' clinic, treatment rooms, a dispensary and even a swimming pool.

"Ayurveda has not caught on among South African Indians. There are many misconceptions about ayurveda and many people see it as a last resort to recovery," says Govender, 43. He sees it as his life's work to change negative perceptions about ayurveda as an alternative therapy.

Govender was recently appointed academic co-ordinator for the inclusion of ayurveda in the curriculum at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine at the University of Natal.

"We are looking at the possibility of developing a faculty for ayurvedic science and are busy negotiating with an Indian university to use their original syallabus and curriculum. A one-year part-time certificate course has already started, but we are also proposing a physiotherapy course and a diploma course for existing doctors by 2003. Plans are also afoot to offer such a degree by 2004."

Govender was born in Clare Estate, Durban, where, as a young boy, he learnt about ayurvedic medication and treatment from members of his family.

"I was keen to learn more about it. The only place that I could really go to was India. In the early seventies I packed my bags and headed for Patna University in northern India where I studied towards a bachelor of ayurvedic medicine degree. After I qualified, I worked in Poddar Hospital in Bombay to gain practical experience. In the late eighties I came back home, only to discover that I couldn't practise because my degree was not recognised."

Taking up the challenge, he began lobbying for ayurveda's acceptance by the medical fraternity. All the while, he dispensed ayurvedic medicines, which was allowed, at his pharmacy in Albert Street, Durban.

When ayurveda gained the official seal of approval in 1998, he began working for its inclusion in academic institutions, particularly since many doctors incorporated its basic principles in their own practices and wanted to know more.

"Believe it or not, ayurveda has had a 5 000-year head start in dealing with HIV/Aids. The Indian Pharmacopoeia of Ayurveda Formulations, which was published in 1937, fully documented the destruction of the immune system (or the sukra, which is the seventh tissue level in terms of ayurveda) through 'over-indulgence in sex'.

"Ayurveda also recognised tubercolosis as a major secondary condition and treated it by building up the body's immunity and the rejuvenation cells. This means that it is particularly effective for long-term degenerative disorders, such as muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis."

Govender says ayurveda also developed detoxification therapy centuries ago.

"Anti-oxidants are regularly in the news today, but ayurveda documented detoxification therapy centuries ago. There are also several ayurvedic cosmetics that have been around for ages. These oxidise and cleanse cells, tighten tissues and takes off the dead surface of the skin."

Ayurveda also offers its own version of chemotherapy, both as an effective treatment on its own or as a supplement to conventional chemotherapy or radium treatment.

"Though most of them were developed 5 000 years ago, they were formally registered in the pharmacopoeia to ensure standard formulations and quality control. We also have many years of case histories proving they are effective."

Today, some 30 000 ayurvedic products come from India, of which 485 of the most important are freely available in South Africa.

Ayurveda in a nutshell

It is a cost-effective option for many illnesses because it bypasses many expensive tests by using the pulse for simple diagnosis of the three basic differences defining a person's biological constitution

Its basic principle is to ensure that the body works in harmony. The pulse indicates imbalances in bodily functions, which are then corrected

Medicines are effective on their own or as supplements to allopathic (regular over-the-counter) medicines

It makes use of X-rays, scans, ultrasound and all the tools of modern medicine, if and when when necessary. One is then treated the ayurvedic way

Ayurveda involves lifestyle management and diet and has proven particularly effective if the spiritual side, regardless of the religion of the patient, is combined