Indo-Fijians of Hindu, Sikh and Islamic faiths have traditionally marked Easter as a sporting and social occasion with the Diaspora descending on Fiji to showcase their family, religious and ethnic unity.
Last Easterweekend, such gatherings took place throughout Fiji. The whole country swarmed with Non-Resident Indo-Fijians (NRIF).
Consequently, no rental cars were available, most hotels were fully booked and former residents with stronger dollars from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and US boosted Fiji’s tourism and economy.
While all the ethnic organisations are unique and full of fun, joy and networking, the most significant was the Convention of the ‘Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam’ (TISIS), representing the descendants of Girmityas (Indentured Labourers) from South India.
The Sangam has been facing criticism over its male-oriented (some called it chauvinistic) Conventions where one is considered a South Indian only through paternal links. This brought accusations of discrimination.
Glorious history
From a historic perspective, the Sangam developed through the hardship faced by South Indian indentured labourers. TISIS expanded to protect the heritage of the South Indian community and has done more with other Girmit communities.
Even today, they stand tall with ownership of schools, temples and a nursing school, with their ability to organise the Convention in international style. Women’s groups and youth groups are facets of an ethnic organisation.
I pay tribute to the people involved, including my dear friend and classmate, Sada Sivan Naicker (originally from Ba but now) of Nasinu for his selfless services to the community through TISIS.
The advancement of Indo Fijians in general and South Indians in particular has now made the original purpose of the birth Sangam somewhat obsolete.
Things have to change to attract the younger generation, who should not be put off by too much complicated and unexplained rituals and restrictions placed by a past generation. Sangam is not a religious grouping as most are Sanatanis or Hindus. It is an ethnic group, which is why we have many South Indians playing in Sanatan Soccer teams.
Wrong eligibility criteria
Naicker is married to his high school sweetheart, Sarita, a North Indian. Their son Nitesh can play in Sangam tournament and is eligible for Sangam membership, as he is considered a ‘Madrasi’ (a term incorrectly but popularly referred to a South Indian), because his father, is a South Indian.
My nephew Melvin Singh, who lives in Calgary, Canada, is married to Shristi Rayan, a South Indian. His son is not eligible to be a member of the Sangam according to Fiji rules and hence will not be able to play in Sangam soccer, because his father is a North Indian.
Such gender discrimination goes against the spirit of human rights laws of most progressive democracies where our Diaspora has settled.
The advent of modern education, westernisation and more liberal thinking has led to many intermarriages and this will cause problems for the Organisation worldwide.
Hence, the Sangam should change this law before they are classified as hypocrites who adopt the good western ways, opportunities and wealth of the First World while embracing the third world gender and ethnic discrimination.
TISIS has to come to terms with this and embrace international laws, as I am aware of the displeasure and heartaches such draconian provisions are causing in Fiji. NRIF, with greater exposure to developed world, may find such restrictions abhorrent.
Perhaps it is time TISIS heeded the message that retired International Judge and Fiji’s statesman Justice Jai Ram Reddy delivered at the Sangam Convention 2003:
“Sangam was conceived in benevolence. The name itself stands for coming together of people and the participatory process that it entails. It was born out of adversity that in times that were equally dark. I urge you to work for the good of all the people of this country. Take it from strength to strength so that we can all be proud to belong to the Sangam family.”
Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s vision for Fiji is a country and its politics devoid of racism. It is ironical that Indo-Fijians continue to discriminate their own people based on gender and ethnicity.
Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator, a community worker, a Trustee of Sanatan NZ and Sanatan Media Watch Head in New Zealand
Email: thakurji@xtra.co.nz
