PUNDIT TOTARAM SANADHYA: THE MAHATMA GANDHI OF FIJI GIRMIT, BUT IGNORED AND UNACKNOWLEDGED

PUNDIT TOTARAM SANADHYA: THE MAHATMA GANDHI OF FIJI GIRMIT - BUT IGNORED AND UNKNOWN

Guest Writer, Rajendra Prasad

[This is an excerpt of an address given by Rajendra Prasad, who was Keynote Speaker in Wellington, New Zealand during 140th Anniversary to mark Girmit on 18 May, 2019]

Tonight, I have the honour to disclose the name of the greatest Girmitiya in the history of Girmit, which includes 1.2 million Girmitiyas who went to the different colonies, including Fiji.
 

Totaram Sanadya:The Mahatma Gandhi of Fiji Girmit. He authored the book "Fiji Mein Mere Ikkees Varsh-My 21 Years in the Fiji Islands

In disclosing this name, I proudly claim that he was from Fiji and his name was Totaram who later famously became known as Pundit Totaram Sanadhya. In making this disclosure, I am also saddened that it took 140 years to recognize this distinguished Girmitiya from Fiji and I have little doubt, noting his attributes and achievements, in claiming that he was the Mahatma Gandhi of Fiji. 

It is not commonly recognized that it was Pundit Totaram and not Mahatma Gandhi who initiated the greatest resistance movement against the indenture system in India through his articles, published in India and letters of appeal to the Indian leaders since 1911. Mahatma Gandhi only joined the resistance movement upon his return from South Africa in January 1915.

But, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to recount Pundit Totaram’s historical journey. 

• Pundit Totaram reached Fiji in May 1893, served his Girmit in Nausori, and lived there until 1914 with his wife Gangadevi. 

• During this period, he consistently traveled all over Fiji to see his people, their struggles and sufferings and regularly wrote articles about them in the newspapers in India and through his letters, he urged the Indian leaders to stop recruitment of Indians and seek the abolition of indenture system. 

Rajendra Prasad, Founding Trustee, and Secretary to Trustees of Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand. He is also author of two outstanding eye-opener books on Girmit and some of more-recent untold and unspoken Fiji History-written with a heart and human emotions.  He is Author of Tears in Paradise and Enslaved in Paradise-two extremely excellent reading. He is seen here delivering this historical keynote deliberation, speaking about the greatest Fiji Girmitiya who, shamefully us Fiji Indians, seem to have forgotten or ignored-PUNDIT TOTARAM SANADHYA

• In 1902, Pundit Totaram organized the first Ram Lila in Navua, which became the pattern for organizing such events in other districts in later years.

• In 1910, Pundit Totaram organized a petition signed by over 200 people, urging the government to make provision for schools for the children of Girmitiyas and sought Indian representation in Fiji’s Legislative Council. 

• In 1912, through the efforts of Pundit Totaram and with assistance from Mahatma Gandhi, barrister Manilal Maganlal Doctor went to Fiji from Mauritius to assist and represent Indian interests with the government and in courts.

• In 1912, Pundit Totaram stirred the greatest revolution against the indenture system in India when he published his article on the plight of Girmitiya woman Kunti who jumped in the river to protect herself from rape by the Overseer. 

• This news spread like wildfire in India and set the stage for a massive resistance movement against the indenture system. 

• In 1913, Pundit Totaram decided to return to India to see his aged mother and work towards the abolition of the indenture system with the Indian leaders. 

His departure from Fiji on 27 March 1914 was the saddest day for the Girmitiyas and they honoured their hero in a joint statement, acknowledging his selfless deeds while in Fiji. 

Pundit Totaram Sanadhya, who deserves to be remembered by Fiji Indians through some memorial or monument that is befitting for the the greatest of Fiji Girmitiyas.

Sadly, we, as a community failed to recognize the shining jewel of our community, which took 140 years for us to realize, acknowledge and re-write the slogan of praise for Pundit Totaram. And tonight, I do so with my head lowered in sadness, as we, as a community, failed to recognize Pundit Totaram and did not give him an eternal place of eminence in our history. 
Such neglect is a direct result of us being estranged from knowing or learning our history. We grew in ignorance – not by choice but by the deliberate design by those who ruled over our lives. 

However, it is sufficient to say that a community without its history is like a tree without its roots. In this regard, allow me to pause and pose a question – did we root in Fiji? I think not! If so, will our people ever root in Fiji? I consider it a moot question, which could yet be another subject for another night!

Due to deliberate design and neglect, we have lost the nuggets of gold that comprised our tragic but a remarkable history. This year, the Prime Minister of Fiji has assured that teaching of Girmit history will be included in the curriculum of schools. Sadly, following the end of indenture system in 1920 not one Fiji Indian leader until today raised this issue in the Parliament or anywhere on the importance of our history being taught in Fiji’s schools. Such was the measure of failure of Fiji Indian leadership in Fiji. 

Cover of Totaram Sanadhya's book that created a storm in India and ultimately resulted in end of exploitation of Girmit.

 Since the 1970s, several Indo-Fijian writers’ and authors have made their mark and earned their place of prominence but we have not acknowledged, leave alone honoured the pioneer among writers and authors – a Girmitiya Pundit Totaram. His writings stirred a revolution and his book, ‘Fiji Desh Mein Mere Ikkees Varsh’(My Twenty-One Years in the Fiji Islands’) written  on his return to India in 1915, became the source that enabled subsequent writers to research and write, filling the blank pages of our Girmit history.

On his return from Fiji, Pundit Totaram worked with Mahatma Gandhi, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and other Indian freedom fighters in the abolition of the indenture system. 

These giants of Indian independence movement recognized the greatness of this greatest Girmitiya from Fiji but we did not. They bestowed on him one of the highest honours, asking him in 1914, to address the annual meeting of the Indian National Congress in Madras. 

Pundit Totaram took the opportunity to reveal the injustices, atrocities and horrors of Girmit in Fiji, which contributed to the resolve among the Indian freedom fighters that abolition of the indenture system, should precede their struggle for India’s independence, as it entailed Indian honour and dignity.

Totaram Sanadhya with his wife, Gangadevi, who died in 1932. Totaram Sanadya passed away in January, 1947. They did not have any children. 

And I would quickly conclude by saying that Pundit Totaram later became the farm manager at Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram where both he and his wife lived and died. His wife Gangadevi died in 1932 and Pundit Totaram in January 1947. They had no children of their own.

I claim that Pundit Totaram was the greatest political leader in the history of Fiji Indians but not known, recognized or acknowledged as such. If subsequent leaders belonging to our community had followed his example in dispensing their political duties and obligations, Fiji would have evolved as a great multiracial country. 

Pundit Totaram was the only leader, in the history of Fiji Indians, who spoke Fijian language fluently, intimately knew indigenous Fijian culture, customs and traditions and had earned a place of honour and respect with them. Subsequently, not one Fiji Indian leader knew the Fijian language or indigenous Fijian customs and traditions and they maintained a distant relationship with them. 

He sacrificed his life for others but today, Pundit Totaram Sanadhya, the greatest Girmitiya in the history of Girmit lies in an unmarked grave, even forgotten by those for whom he sacrificed his life but Mahatma Gandhi’s place of cremation is a national shrine, where people ritually go to pay their homage.

From one proud author son of Girmit to the other: Professor Brij Vilas Lal (right) gifting his excellent book"Chalo Jahaji" to Rajendra Prasad in 2014. Professor Lal was the Chief Guest for Girmit Events in Auckland during his visit from Canberra. Now he resides in Brisbane.

In Fiji, schools are established, honouring Sadhu Bashist Muni and Rev C. F. Andrews both linked to the Girmit era but there is no such recognition for Pundit Totaram Sanadhya. The most painful truth is that 95 percent of our people do not even know his name, battles he fought and sacrifices he made for the liberation of his people. 

I have paid my tribute to him, writing a full chapter on his life in my recent book, Enslaved in Paradise, hoping that he would be held in esteem and given the place of honour in our history. 

 [About the Author - Rajendra Prasad is a Founding Trustee and Secretary to Trustees of Fiji Girmit Foundation of NZ. He is also the author of two books on Fiji’s early Girmit history and years after that -Tears in Paradise and Enslaved in Paradise]