Portrait of Indian South Africans by Fatima Meer

Born to a newspaper editor in 1928, Fatima Meer quickly became involved in politics. She vehemently opposed segregation that became a reality via the South African Group Areas Act. Meer was among the first women to join the executive panel of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC), where she lead marches against the apartheid government. The struggle stalwart died in 2010, aged 81.

Meer published her book Portrait of Indian South Africans in 1969 and donated all revenue from the sale of the book to the Gandhi Settlement for needs and to build Gandhi Museum and Clinic. She helped an operation to rescue 10 000 Indian flood victims at Tin Town which was located on the banks of the Umgeni River.