Malagasy politician of the 20th century, Gisèle Rabesahala (1929-2011) was committed to the independence of her country, campaigned for human rights and the freedom of peoples and fought to defend culture and heritage from Madagascar. She is the first Malagasy woman to have obtained the post of minister.
"A lawyer must devote himself to the defense of the innocent"
Gisèle Rabesahala was born on May 7, 1929 in Madagascar, to a family from the district of Antananarivo Avaradrano. The island is then a French colony, since 1896 and the arrest of the last queen Ranavalona III. Daughter of a non-commissioned officer in the French army, Gisèle shared her childhood between France, Tunisia and what is now Mali. When his father died in 1942, his family settled again in Madagascar. Gisèle first plans to become a nun, then a lawyer:"I dreamed of being a lawyer, because I thought that a lawyer should devote himself to the defense of the innocent" , she later testified in her autobiography Let Liberty Come .
Aware of the importance of education and to pursue her dreams, Gisèle is seriously involved in her studies. She obtained her elementary school certificate at the current J.J Rabearivelo, and continued with a professional training as a shorthand typist. Patriot and aware of the suffering caused by colonial domination, with forced labor and the mobilization of soldiers during the two world wars, Gisèle joined at the age of 17 as secretary of the Democratic Movement for Malagasy Renovation (MDRM), who militates for the liberation of the country. That same year, 1946, several Malagasy intellectuals were elected in the French legislative elections. At the National Assembly, they transmit the desire for independence of the Malagasy people.
The Malagasy insurrection
The requisitions and abuses of the Second World War, in particular, raised a wind of revolt on the island. On March 29, 1947, thousands of insurgents took up arms and attacked at night the houses of French settlers but also Malagasy people working for the administration. Thousands of people are captured and massacred. The repression carried out by the French army was terrible, affecting both civilians and insurgents until 1948. The figures are widely discussed, but the repression of the Malagasy insurrection claimed tens of thousands of lives. The colonial authorities officially set the death toll at 11,342 dead in 1950, when Malagasy and foreign analysts speak of 100,000 to 200,000 dead. The MDRM, which nevertheless quickly repudiated the insurrection and condemned the murders, was dissolved and its leaders were arrested.
In 1950, Gisèle Rabesahala created the Madagascar Solidarity Committee or Fifanampiana Malagasy, to support victims of repression and political prisoners and their families. Campaigning for the acquittal of the condemned through press articles in particular, she attracted the attention and surveillance of the colonial authorities but continued to fight. Her actions and positions made her known as an important politician, despite her youth. In 1953, at the age of 33, she was the first woman to be elected municipal councilor. In 1955, Gisèle co-founded the opinion journal Imongo Vaovao, a militant communist-leaning newspaper; she will be part of its editorial board until her death.
Defending Malagasy culture
In 1958, Gisèle Rabesahala became secretary general of the newly created Congress Party for the Independence of Madagascar (AKFM), thereby also becoming the first female leader of a political party. Two years later, Madagascar gained independence. The first Malagasy republic, however, remains closely linked to France through cooperation agreements and President Tsiranana is strongly criticized for his support of French interests; the French army is still present on the spot. Member of the opposition, Gisèle continues to campaign for true independence and for the end of social inequalities. In 1976, the French army was finally expelled from the island, the embassies and consulates were closed. Gisèle was appointed Minister of Culture and Revolutionary Art in 1977 and worked for 14 years to promote Malagasy identity, language, culture and heritage. It creates a national library, restores historical sites, supports Malagasy artists and intangible heritage. She also held the positions of Member of Parliament (elected in 1977) and Senator (2001).
Gisèle Rabesahala died in 2011. During a speech to parliamentarians in Madagascar, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon paid tribute to her:
“The late Gisèle Rabesahala was a great daughter of Madagascar and an example to the world. She went into politics when she was just 17. She struggled against colonialism and advocated for the poor. She became the first woman Minister in Madagascar. She once said, “If we don’t know where we come from, we don’t know where we are going.” I encourage you to heed these words, learn from your history and build a better future for all”…
[“The late Gisèle Rabesahala was a great lady of Madagascar and an example to the whole world. She entered politics when she was only 17 years old. She fought against colonialism and defended the poor. She became Madagascar's first female minister. One day she said; "If we don't know where we come from, we don't know where we are going." I encourage you to listen to these words, learn from your history, and build a better future for all.’…”