DEDICATING 14 MAY AS GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY

DEDICATING 14 MAY AS GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY
By
GUEST WRITER: RAJENDRA PRASAD

[Former Town Clerk of Ba Town Council, Ba Fiji, and Author Tears in Paradise – Suffering and Struggles of Indians in Fiji 1879-2004.]


On Thanksgiving Day, Americans think of and honour those who sacrificed for America in creating a new homeland. On ANZAC Day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps), respective nationals think of their soldiers who fought for their countries and gave their lives. On Waitangi Day, New Zealanders mark that as a nation-building day. Then why cannot we, Girmitiya descendant Indo-Fijians, set aside at least one day in a year to think and honour those who sacrificed their lives and gave us this better life than they ever dreamed of?

                                                                  

Girmit Remembrance Day – May 14: An appeal to religious, social and cultural organizations of Indo-Fijians worldwide.

G I R M I T I Y A S - They laid their lives for us…we say “thanks” and remember their sacrifices annually on – GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY.

May 14 is a significant day in the calendar of Indo-Fijian history. It can be variously recognized but its foremost significance is the arrival of first ship Leonidas, with 479 Indian indentured immigrants (Girmitiyas) to Fiji on May 14, 1879. They were recruited to work largely in the sugarcane plantations.

THE FIRST INDENTURE SHIP, LEONIDAS. It brought 479 indentured labourers to Levuka, Fiji on 14 MAY, 1879. That is why 14 May is dedicated internationally as GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY -14 MAY of every year henceforth.

This followed 82 other ships that transported over 60,000 Girmitiyas to Fiji. Indenture system (Girmit) came to an end on December 31, 1919 after a bitter struggle against the recruitment of Indian indentured labourers that saw the might of Mahatma Gandhi ultimately triumph over that of the British Government.

 

The author of this article, Rajendra Prasad's historic book on Girmit History which has been stolen from History books:" TEARS IN PARADISE - Suffering and Sacrifices of Indians in Fiji - 1879-2004"

I implore, Indo-Fijians across the world and their descendants to commemorate the sacrifices of the pioneer generation with solemnity and sobriety on May 14, paying homage to those who laid their lives on the altar of sacrifice. I urge religious, social and cultural organizations to undertake this mission at the community level annually and also appeal to individual families to offer prayers and recitals in their homes in memory of those whose lives were tragically lost. 

Girmit was a period of great pain and suffering. How the Girmitiyas bore it and why they bore it is a story of one of the greatest sacrifices made in the history of humanity. They were illiterate, innocent and ignorant and believed in the dictum of “karma” and believed that if they bore their pain and suffering, their children will escape the tragedy that consumed their lives.

RAJENDRA PRASAD, former Town Clerk of Ba Town Council and author of this plea to Indo Fijians to have pride and honour towards the memory and sacrifices of their Girmitiya forbears. It is hoped Indo -Fijian Diaspora can heed this call, so that coming generations gain some knowledge of history of their ancestors and their heritage. The theme of GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY is to reclaim the history of Girmit.

They played their role and made the sacrifices, leaving a debt of gratitude upon us which we have failed to honour. Let us now join hands together with humility and respect to honour their sacrifices and pay our tribute to our Girmitiya forebears, a generation that must remain exalted above every other generation.

Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) commemorated this day in Auckland, New Zealand on 20 May, 2012. It was a moving occasion, as the audience sat wiping their tears when speakers recounted the pain and suffering of the forgotten Girmitiyas.

 

The first generation of Girmitiyas -these were the people over 80 years who attended Girmit Remembrance Day in Auckland on 20 May, 2012.

Standing- L-R Ramaiya Rao, Govind Prasad (Deceased), Ram Shankar Sharma (Deceased), Babru Bahan Singh, Pundit Sharda Nand Maharaj, Kapil Deo Singh and Mrs Babru Bahan Singh.

Sitting: L-R Shiu Mati Prasad (Deceased), Lila Wati Dutt, Audh Raji Vishwanath, Subhag Wati, Jasoda Sumer, Niyaz Begum Shariff, Shiu Bharos,(Deceased) Narain Prasad (Deceased), R. B Sharma and Rai Mati Singh (Deceased)

Girmit Remembrance Day on 20 May 2012 in Auckland was not a fundraising event, it was neither a Bollywood entertainment nor a day devoted to singing and dancing, nor was it a day for politicians and big shots. It was a day devoted to our elderly people. It was a day when the Elderlies were honoured, treated as chief guests, heard, forgotten history was told, old Girmit songs were revived and perceptions of the new generation were heard. It was an occasion where adults and children of Girmit took an opportunity to serve the first generation of Girmitiyas with food, savories and most importantly, love and honour which their Girmitiya parents were denied in Girmit.

It is hoped other Indo Fijians around the world will mark this day in this theme. A register of people over eighty (80) has been established and these people are going to be honoured with especially inscribed medals. 

A resolution was passed in public discussion that May 14 would be Girmit Remembrance Day, marked every year and it was agreed to liaise with like-minded organisations in Indo-Fijian Diaspora in Canada, USA, Australia to commemorate Girmit Remembrance Day internationally and promote knowledge and history of indenture. It is also a time and occasion to reclaim our culture and restore our unity.

Those present in Auckland also resolved that the tales and music of Girmit should resound everywhere descendant of Girmitiyas are settled as 14th May every year would be GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY.

 

Indentured Indian Labourers to FIJI -forbears of Indo Fijians worldwide. This is a challenge to Indo Fijians to have some pride, honour and memory towards the sufferings and sacrifices of their Girmitiya forebears. History has to be reclaimed for the benefit of coming Indo-Fijian generation, so that they can have pride in their heritage.

 (Photo from 

www.girmit.org)

Let us commemorate and celebrate their legacy and humanity. We are what they wanted us to be. In   commemorating their memories, let us ignite that undying flame of desire and gratitude in our community, particularly in our children, that they are able to consciously and appreciatively inherit the legacy of the Girmitiyas – a legacy of struggle, endurance, resilience and achievement.

LET US ALL- CHILDREN OF GIRMIT RISE ON 14 MAY TO REMEMBER AND APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICES OF OUR GIRMITIYAS, AND RECLAIM OUR HERITAGE AND HISTORY.

E-Mail: raj.prasad@xtra.co.nz

Additional reading on Girmit: www.girmit.org)



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