South Africa hosts international conference to mark anniversaries of Leo Tolstoy and Mohandas Gandhi

The University of South Africa (UNISA) hosted an international academic conference titled “Tolstoy, Gandhi and South Africa: Sowing the Seeds of Liberation”, bringing together scholars and diplomats from Russia, India, and South Africa to reflect on the intertwined intellectual and cultural legacies of two thinkers.

Organised by the Russian Embassy in South Africa and the High Commission of India in South Africa, the event was dedicated to the anniversaries of Mohandas Gandhi (2 October) and Leo Tolstoy (9 September).

The programme featured contributions from leading scholars and cultural figures representing academic and museum institutions in Russia, South Africa, and India.

Ilya Baranov, the Counsellor of the Russian Embassy, presented a speech delivered by Roman Ambarov, Ambassador of Russia to South Africa. In his speech, the Ambassador noted that the conference brought together scholars from BRICS countries to reflect on shared cultural legacies and prospects for future cooperation.

“Today, we are commemorating the life and legacy of Count Leo Tolstoy, one of Russia’s most renowned novelists and thinkers, by exploring his unique intellectual engagement with Mohandas Gandhi,” he said.

The Ambassador highlighted in his speech the remarkable historical connection between Russian and Indian writers, noting Gandhi’s own admission that his religious and philosophical ideas had been shaped by Tolstoy’s influence.

Discussions highlighted how the philosophies of Tolstoy and Gandhi continue to inspire the 21st century, guiding efforts to promote social justice and uphold human dignity. The event concluded with a call to expand collaborative research on the legacies of both figures as a contribution to global understanding.

As Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948), the Indian political and spiritual leader, admits in his personal letters, he was inspired by the books of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910). Gandhi began a correspondence with Tolstoy in 1909, exchanging letters about the importance of love and truth. Inspired by Tolstoy’s teachings, Gandhi founded "Tolstoy Farm", a community run in a suburb of Johannesburg, where families lived, worked together, and practised the principles of self-sufficiency. According to the Indian thinker's own admission, Tolstoy's philosophy influenced Gandhi's approach to social and political activity, forming the basis of his ideas of ethical leadership. 

Photo: Embassy of the Russian Federation in South Africa