The Making of a Social Reformer
[ Gandhi In South Africa, 1893-1914 ]

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  • The Making of a Social Reformer: Glossary of Terms

THE MAKING OF A SOCIAL REFORMER:
Gandhi In South Africa, 1893-1914

By :
Surendra Bhana & Goolam H. Vadeh

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Gandhi, Africans and Indians in Colonial Natal
  3. Traditional Hindu Temples, Religious and Cultural Practices
  4. Muslims, Mosques and Madressas
  5. Gandhi and Community Resources, 1906- 1912
  6. The Satyagraha Campaign, 1913-1914
  7. Conclusion
  8. Appendix 1: Organizations
  9. Appendix 2: Mehfil Saiful Islam Annual Report
  10. Appendix 3: Trust Deed of Mehafil Eslam Mota-Varachha

Glossary of Terms

  • agnihotra: rituals of sacrifice with the use of fire
  • alim (plural ulama): learned men in Islamic religious sciences
  • anjuman: a Muslim association
  • arthi: waving of lamps before the alter
  • bhajan: religious hymn
  • cha-pani: refreshments
  • darshana: visual feasting of the gods
  • Dassera: Hindu festival commemorating Rama’s victory over Ravana
  • Diwali (Dipavali): the Hindu festival of lights
  • Eid-ul-fitr  : festival marking the end of fast observed during month Ramadan
  • Eid-ul-Zuha(Bakri-id) : festival to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim
  • ghazal : genre of lyric poems originating in Arabia in the late seventh century
  • haj: pilgrimage to Mecca
  • homa: rituals of sacrifice
  • ilm: Islamic knowledge
  • imam: Muslim priest who leads the prayers in mosque
  • jamat: Muslim congregation 
  • kavady: religious festival honoring Muruga, son of Lord Shiva
  • khalifa: a successor of the Prophet Mahomed as head of the Muslim community
  • kirtan: religious hymn
  • kom: community
  • Krishna Jayanti (Krishnajanmastmi): celebration of Krishna’s birthday
  • madressa: school teaching the Koran in Arabic
  • majlis : an assembly commemorating the sufferings of the House of Hussain
  • mandal: association/club
  • mantra: sacred chants
  • masjid: mosque
  • maulana: an Islamic religious scholar
  • maulvi: a religious leader 
  • mehfil (mehafil): a committee or an organization
  • Milad-ul-Nabi: festival to honor Prophet Mahomed’s birthday
  • Mohurram (Muhharum): festival commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mahomed in 680 ACE
  • mosque (masjid): a place of worship for Muslims
  • murthi: icons representing gods and deities
  • namaz: prescribed prayer in Islam
  • nyati : caste/community
  • ooros (urs): festival commemorating death of a saint; also term for wedding or fare
  • panchamrita: liquid confection
  • pir: spiritual guide in the Sufi tradition
  • puja: prayers
  • praja: nation.
  • prasada: food representing the deity’s power and grace  
  • Ramadan (Ramzan): fast observed during the holy month of the Muslim calendar
  • Ramnavami: celebration of Lord Rama’s birthday
  • sabha: association
  • sharia: Islamic law
  • sandhya: rituals of prayer
  • Shia: follower of Ali, the first cousin of Prophet Mahomed
  • Shravan: a Holy month for Hindus dedicated to Lord Shiva
  • Sunni: Muslim who acknowledges first four Khalifas as successors of Prophet Mahomed
  • swadeshi: self-reliance through support of indigenous institutions; patriotism
  • tajjia: decorated miniature mausoleums carried during mohharum  
  • qawwali: devotional songs in the Sufi tradition
  • yagna: sacrifice