Venkat Raman
Auckland, May 23, 2023
Updated on May 25, 2023
The bitterness of the past, the anguish of neglect of the present and the hope for a better morrow were all in the mix at the massive Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day held in Auckland over the weekend.
More than 1500 men and women, across the socio-economic spectrum of New Zealand, including Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, Parliamentarians, hopefuls and bureaucrats were present at the celebrations that included honours, medals, entertainment, food and some hard talk.
Organisers of the event- The Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand, led by its President Krish Naidu, deserve credit for restricting the number of speakers, despite a politically heavy gathering at the Malaeola Community Centre in the South Auckland suburb of Mangere on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni, a Pacific Islander by origin and a daughter-in-law of Fiji and Leader of the Opposition Christopher Luxon paid the usual tributes to the indentured labourers who were taken from India to Fiji between 1879 and 1920 and made to live and work under humiliating conditions but the real meat came from three speakers- Rajendra Prasad, a former Indian Newslink Columnist and author of ‘Tears in Paradise,’ Fiji’s Minster for Sugar and Multiethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh and Fiji Girmit Foundation President Krish Naidu.
The spirit of Girmityas
While Mr Prasad spoke from his personal, family experience of the sufferings of his forefathers, well documented in his book and grieved that despite repeated requests neither the infamous Colonial Sugar Refining (CSR) Company nor the British government tendered an apology, Mr Singh scored a few (current) political points.
“Girmit history is deeply embedded in all of us. It binds us and weaves us through a multi-layered tapestry of unbreakable connections and relationships, shared identity, heritage and history. Nobody can deny the immense sacrifices, struggles and contributions of our ancestors in the development and progress of our Fijian nation during the last 144 years,” he said.
Describing the spirit of Girmit as universal and organic, evolutionary and progressive, he said that Fiji Indians have stamped an indelible footprint of peace, tolerance and progress in every country of settlement.
“Modern Fiji is a proud product of that inherent spirit of our Girmityas, their children and grandchildren. It is an outstanding testament to the character, culture and sense of enterprise of our people. Our ancestors have shown the world our transformative spirit. We have weaved an enduring partnership of genuine engagement, respect and peaceful coexistence with our indigenous community,” he said.
Indian High Commission support
The Fiji Indian community was pleased that the Wellington-based Indian High Commission had extended its support to the Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand and the Fiji Indian Association in Wellington in conducting the Girmit Remembrance Day in Auckland and Wellington. Durga Dass, Second Secretary (Culture, Information and Media) was at both events supporting Fiji Indians as they paid tributes to the Girmityas.
In Auckland, Mr Dass presented trophies, medals and certificates to the elderly.
Rebuilding Fiji
Mr Singh did not lose the opportunity to have a dig at the former government led by Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama.
He spoke of the $10 billion debt that Fiji is currently facing as a Nation and the need to rebuild ‘almost from the ground.’
“We must reinstate all the vital infrastructure that our pioneers had built – the roads, water, bridges, hospitals, schools and rail networks. Successive governments have destroyed these valuable assets and none more spectacularly than the last administration. And let me assure you that this is not politics, but blinding facts. Your country Fiji is crying for your leadership, skills, capital, technology and strategic vision,” he said.
Stating that economic progress can be achieved only with the proper combination of land, labour and capital, he said that the contributions of Girmityas have been historical and that their skill, enterprise, industry and work ethics have been crucial to the development of Fiji.
“The current architecture of peaceful multiracial coexistence is a testament to our fundamental loyalty to our country and the respect we have for our indigenous ITaukei community. We are not and never have been a community of grabbers and usurpers. We are all proud Fijians and the deep blood of patriotism runs as deep in our DNA as in our iTaukei brethren. The bitterness of the past should not be the beacon for the future and nation-building requires reconciliation at all levels and our new government is promoting it with new vigour and sincerity,” Mr Singh said.
Aspirations as Pacific People
Mr Naidu’s address as the President of Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand was one of disappointment over the continued neglect of his community in New Zealand.
He said that while Fiji Indians should remember and honour their Indian roots, their identity as Pacifica people should neither be denied nor ignored.
“Our people continue to miss out on official frameworks of the Pacific People around policy, research, design and delivery of services. Whether it is the profession of nurses, recognised seasonal employment workers or bus drivers, our people contribute economically, socially, and culturally to New Zealand. But our young people continue to be denied Pacific Scholarships in some areas,” he said.
Mr Naidu was saddened that the Pacific Language Week celebrated by the New Zealand government does not include the Fiji Hindi language and as such does not celebrate the diversity of languages.
He urged Fiji Indians to take greater pride and responsibility when filling out forms. “While identity is an individual thing, we also have a collective responsibility to make our people count. We need to assert our cultural identity in these forms and continue to educate and create awareness to government agencies and service providers,” he said.
Fiji Indians honoured
Earlier, the Foundation honoured 20 octogenarian Fiji Indians with medals, trophies and certificates. As well as a play depicting the plight of Girmityas during the 41 years of indentured, the programme included cultural performances presented by the Fiji Indian and Indian communities.
Among the special guests were Ministers Michael Wood (Transport, Workplace Relations and Safety, Immigration and Auckland Issues), Priyanca Radhakrishnan (Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, Community and Voluntary Sector and Youth), Dr Deborah Russell (Statistics and Earthquake Enquiry Commission), Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, Members of Parliament (Labour, National, ACT) and business and community leaders.
The Girmit period which saw the first settlers set their feet on a strange land called Fiji on May 14, 1879, has entered its 145th year. In writing this report, we salute those settlers and their successive generations that suffered the worst insinuation that they endured; and their sons and daughters and the generations that followed- we salute them for their spirit of sacrifice.
We also hope that as we mark 144 years of Girmit, there will never again be a repetition of history.
Fiji Indians have suffered too long to allow a parade of avoidable events. It is time they too reaped the harvest of their hard labour.
We offer our sincere felicitations to the members of the larger Fiji Indian family for their achievements thus far and hope that they will continue to prosper and give us opportunities to rejoice with them.
