When a teacher asked a group of Indo-Fijian students the meaning of ‘Girmit,’ they laughed insolently as if it was the funniest word that they had heard.
Yet, Indo-Fijian history is inseparably anchored to this enigmatic word and the community is disconnected, allowing successive generations to grow away from their foundational history.
Girmit represents one of the greatest sacrifices made in the history of humanity. Yet, it is not viewed in such light, but dismissed largely due to ignorance.
How the indenture system in Fiji came to be known as ‘Girmit’ has an interesting connotation. The recruits were illiterate and they were told that they had to sign an ‘Agreement’. Unable to pronounce the word, they called it ‘Girmit’ and the signatories were called ‘Girmitiyas’.
Unique name
This name is unique to Fiji. Interestingly, use of the words ‘Girmit’ and ‘Girmitiyas’ was forbidden in day-to-day usage until the 1970s. It hurt the feelings of the Girmitiyas, as it brought to memory the images of a painful period in their lives.
Interestingly, two other words from the Girmit era, ‘Kulambar’ (white overseer) and ‘Sardar’ (Indian supervisor) continued in usage in the sugar growing districts. Rightly, the use of these two words should have been banned but ignorance has made it common parlance even today.
The Kulambar used whips and naked violence on the Girmitiyas for higher productivity and the Sardar was the agent of the Kulambar with authority to use violence against their own people. Both words represent violence, cruelty and exploitation.
However, the words Girmit and Girmitiyas became common usage since the 1970s when a majority of Girmityas passed on.
Contemporary writers
Indo-Fijian writers like Dr Brij Lal, Dr Ahemad Ali, Dr Satendra Nandan, Dr Vijay Naidu and others began to probe this period. In their writings, they used the words Girmit and Girmitiyas freely and the use of the words is now normal when referring to the early Indo-Fijian history.
It has led to gradual reconnection of Indo-Fijians to their early history but requires greater focus to ensure that the community embraces and remains connected to it.
Getting to roots
Observance of May 14, every year as ‘Girmit Remembrance Day’ is one way to reconnect our people with the past and pass on the legacy to successive generations. History is to a community what root is to a tree. It cannot be separated and no one can run away from it. Even the descendants of the slaves acknowledge their past and it has helped them to shape their lives from the mire of human misery.
Early Indo-Fijian history is a jewel that must be viewed in true light. It represents struggle, suffering and sacrifice. These elements remain the core values of our community.
The first ship
This year, we mark the 134th anniversary of Girmit in Fiji. On May 14, 1879, the first sail ship, Leonidas, arrived in Fiji with a cargo of 479 Girmitiyas. Eighty-six other ships followed and landed 60,553 recruits in Fiji.
Girmit succeeded the system of slavery, which was abolished in 1834. The British colonies suffered acute shortage of labour and began recruiting Indians under the indenture system to replace the slaves.
Under the indenture system, the recruits had to enter a contractual agreement, which required them to work in the colonies for five years. The daily wages for a man was one shilling (12 cents) and for a woman nine pence (about nine cents).
They worked for 12 hours per day under slave-like conditions.
Hugh Tinker, a writer, claimed that the indenture system was slavery by another name. The living and working conditions were horrific and their white masters were ruthless in exacting productivity. Both men and women suffered the whips and other forms of gruesome violence from the white planters.
Lost lives
Many lives were lost through suicide, sickness and suffering but the tenacity of the warriors of toil ensured the emergence of a distinct Indo-Fijian community with its own language, culture and customs. Indo-Fijians have made their mark on the world stage as a community that is hardworking, law-abiding and progressive. No matter where they live, their spirit to strive for success is inherent in their constitution – a constitution that is built on the solid foundations of Girmit.
It is impossible for our community to grow away from its Girmit roots. Besides, there is no reason for us to be detached.
Protecting identity
Detachment means surrendering our identity.
Girmit gave us a distinct identity and a culture that was tempered and refined in an iniquitous environment. Despite the iniquities, successive generations retained the robustness of the Girmitiyas, whose indomitable spirit to strive, achieve and succeed also nourishes the lives of successive generations.
May 14, is a day of commemoration when the Indo-Fijian community comes together to pay their respects to the pioneer generation. Our history was deliberately erased by those who exploited and violated our community. It is time for us to reclaim our history, restore it to our children, and ensure that they embrace their history and retain their sense of gratitude to those who gave birth to our unique community.
Rajendra Prasad is a thinker, writer and author of ‘Tears in Paradise,’ a book that describes Girmit and Girmitiyas in detail. Email: raj.prasad@xtra.co.nz
Additional Reading: Mark May 14 with reverence (this Section) and Homage to a forgotten generation
