18

Jan

Peter Magubane whose  camera was his gun

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Today’s Edition

New Delhi, 18 January 2024

 K.Vikram Rao

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With the recent demise of African freedom- fighter and indomitable photojournalist Peter Magubane, a chapter in the global struggle has come to an end. This personal photographer of Nelson Mandela unwittingly reminds us of the lines of the English poet William Black: “I am black, but my soul is white.” This was the call of a black child. Peter, who was 91 years old, endured the atrocities of the white colonialists throughout his life. This also included imprisonment in a solitary cell for 586 days.
We remember Peter, the hard-working journalist, because he used his camera like a gun. Shot by click, not bullet. We believe that a photo is many times more effective than a thousand words. Makes the news important.
Peter saw the oppressive period of South Africa which Mahatma Gandhi had exposed at the beginning of the last century. They fought for freedom. These photo-journalists were a dimension of the same Gandhian movement. Peter used his intelligence in taking photographs of the atrocities of the white rulers on the blacks. Sometimes he used to take pictures by pressing the camera in his hollow bread. Once a camera was hidden inside the cover of a Bible book. Also did other experiments. Sometimes hidden in a milk carton. Kept taking wonderful poignant photos every time.
Peter's famous photo is of Sharpville Police Station on March 21, 1960. In this, there was indiscriminate firing on seven thousand protesters. About 70 dead bodies were scattered. His amazing photos were taken when Nelson Mandela was tried by the white rulers in the city of Rivonia. It is about 1963-64. The African National Congress was accused of conspiracy and rebellion. Mandela was the main accused. Mandela was imprisoned for a total of 27 years. Peter had taken a memorable photo of him.
But Peter had an amazing photo when he took a white girl sitting on a park bench in a Johannesburg suburb and her black nanny standing behind. Its title was: “For Whites Only.” This was an award winning picture.
Peter's own statement about what he faced as a photographer. He once said: “I was arrested several times and the police beat me a lot. Those people broke my nose once. I had refused to release one of my films and tarnish its image. They arrested me in 1974 and kept me in solitary confinement for 586 days. I was not told that I was being held in solitary confinement in apartheid South Africa. Only found out when I was thrown into my cell. No visitors found. The only person I saw was the guard, who said: "Don't talk to me." But I knew there were people out there worse off than me. In the cells below, Namibians were beaten every day, every night. Luckily I wasn't beaten, because they knew my newspaper was looking for me. They could have just locked me up. A bird would come and sit on the window. When I stood up it would fly away. All I could think about was how much I wanted to be that bird.”
Peter was released in late 1975. But he was banned from taking photographs for five years. They could not leave their house without informing the police. Peter said: “When they released me, I said to myself: “I will not follow these people's rules. I'm taking pictures, not committing any crime. So in 1976, when the Soweto uprising happened, I went to get my camera and vengeance. “Because of my photographs the whole world saw what was happening.”
The South African Government Department of Sports, Arts and Culture recently recognized Dr. Magubane. Ranked among the luminaries of South Africa's creative and cultural sector. Dr Magubane was also awarded the National Order of Luthuli in Silver in 2017. He received many more honors both locally and internationally.
The Government of Independent Africa said: "Dr. Peter Magubane was an outstanding photojournalist and freedom fighter who fearlessly documented the injustices of apartheid. Dr. Magubane pioneered a form of protest, never backing down against oppressive white rule. This year the people of South Africa are celebrating 30 years of independence. It is important to remember and celebrate the role of Dr. Magubane in this independence. Played by Dr. Magubane It is because of his role that South Africa is a free and democratic country today. This legacy must live on."(Words 745)

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