New Delhi: Refuting the views of Nobel laureate V S Naipaul on Mahatma Gandhi, African National Congress leader Fatima Meer on January 11 said the 'Father of the Nation' was a "phenomenal success" in South Africa where he laid the basis of his political struggle against colonial governments.

Fatima, who was among the 10 persons of Indian origin (PIOs) honoured by the Indian government on the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' and has written the script for "The Making of the Mahatma", disagreed with Naipaul, who said Gandhi "was a failure in South Africa and did nothing there for 20 years".

"He (Gandhi) was a phenomenal success. He understood the true nature of colonialism and it was in South Africa that he learnt about the atrocities of British Raj... and taught the concept of Satyagraha," she told reporters.

Fatima, who raised funds for the film based on her book "The Apprenticeship of a Mahatma", said South Africa was the base of his political struggle and he mobilised people to take on colonial governments.

With her origins in Surat in the land of Gandhi, she said people of Indian origin in South Africa are "heartbroken" because of the Gujarat riots, "which were not in keeping with Indian values".

She said if she met the Gujarat Chief Minister she would tell him "we look at him for guidance to see that Hindus and Muslims live in peace and harmony and he should exert his powers to ensure this".

PTI