FIJI HINDI:A JEWEL IN THE CROWN THAT CANNOT, AND SHOULD NOT BE THE CROWN

Fiji Hindi: A Jewel in the Crown That Cannot, and should not be the Crown

Guest Writer - Rajendra Prasad

[First published in Fiji Sun in January, 2011]

Eminent educationist, author and poet, Jogindar Singh Kanwal of Ba gave his well-considered expose on Fiji Hindi debate on 16 December, 2010 in Fiji Sun. He emphatically maintained that Fiji Hindi is a jewel that can beautify the crown, but it in itself can never be the crown.

What he meant was that while it has its place in our everyday life, it has no place in formal occasion, or being formalized or taught. We are fortunate to have the good fortune of sharing the wisdom, knowledge and experience of a person of such repute and to make an informed decision on this sensitive issue. I share his sentiments.

JOGINDAR SINGH KANWAL- an author, educationist, philanthropist and supporter of both Fiji Hindi and Standard Hindi. He published an article a decade ago, and gave respect for the place of Fiji Hindi in our society. But unlike the action of Fiji Government, he believed that Fiji Hindi should never be formalized, and is not proper to be taught or replace Hindi. The decision by Radio Fiji to have Fiji Hindi in one of its stations would have really hurt him. He maintained, while Fiji Hindi is a jewel in the crown which adds value and beauty to  it, this jewel cannot itself replace the crown, Hindi, as Mirchi FM have implemented.

Indeed, Fiji Hindi is strongly rooted within Indo-Fijians and it is a robust language spoken across the world wherever Indo-Fijians live. They relish their language and they speak Fiji Hindi gleefully among themselves, particularly those who now live abroad because it evokes nostalgic memories and longing for the land of their birth. While it may lack dignity of Hindi and may be labelled as crude, however it is a treasure to our community that has given identity and dignity to our distinct Indo-Fijian culture.

Indeed, Fiji Hindi is embedded in our culture and is its official voice. What others say, how they perceive and react has really not bothered us because Fiji Hindi is a creation of our forebears that germinated in the turbulence of history, nurtured in poverty and today resonates as the badge of our identity. 

Historically, Fiji Hindi evolved in an environment that was both traumatic and chaotic. It was the hostile environment of Girmit where people from different parts of India, speaking different dialects and with different customs and traditions were herded together for a common purpose. For their masters, the British and the CSR Company, the Girmitiyas were nothing but units of labour that had to be exploited in the sugarcane fields of Fiji. It increased the profits of the CSR Company and maintained the economic viability of the colony. In this concept, the Girmitiyas were treated like the drought animals of the CSR Company and as serfs to the colonial Government. The atrocious conditions brought pressure on them to seek a middle ground to communicate with each other. 

In Fiji, the victims of pain and suffering united, as they leaned on each other for comfort, care and support. The only jewel in their possession was their culture and language of communication and when they could not understand each others dialect, they began sharing it.

Those that spoke Bhojpuri and Awadhi dialects comprised the majority and these dialects underwent a process of fusion, giving birth to Fiji Hindi. Essentially, it became a ‘kaam chalaao’ (make do) language through use and abuse but found refinement, as Hindi began to be taught in schools. However, it is not structured and will crumble when scrutinized for grammar and syntax.

RAJENDRA PRASAD is the Guest Writer for FIJI PUNDIT. This article was first published a decade ago, and he supports J.S Kanwal that this jewel, Fiji Hindi, cannot and should not be the Crown, which is Hindi. Rajendra is author of two books on Fiji's history.  tells the history from a non-academic angle, and hence told history without fear or favor, as his work did not depend on lucrative funding for politically correct history. His work, apart from numerous articles, includes TEARS IN PARADISE,  and ENSLAVED IN PARADISE

Interestingly, during the indenture period and up to the 1960s, people who originated from South India spoke their own dialects, namely Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam. It was even taught in schools established under the Sangam umbrella but the power of Hindi films, songs and dominance of North Indian dialects in Fiji gradually saw these dialects dissipate, as Fiji Hindi comprised of Bhojpuri, Awadhi and original Hindi consolidated. 

Historically, Fiji Hindi has considerably refined but is inextricably linked to the Hindi language. It cannot and must not be separated because Fiji Hindi is like a stream that will eventually end up in the river of Hindi language. It will be a natural consequence, as it grew out of it. But Fiji Hindi, within the foreseeable future, will retain its distinctiveness and remain part of our community. 

I agree that Fiji Hindi cannot and should not be taught in schools, as it also lacks the basics to capture emotions effectively. Items in English or any other language cannot be translated to give its emotional effect in Fiji Hindi. However, same can be most effectively translated in the Hindi language, echoing the heart-touching emotions.

Also, eulogies delivered at funerals are always delivered in proper Hindi and never in Fiji Hindi because Fiji Hindi lacks the essential texture to capture the dignity or solemnity of the occasion. Indeed, no one would have the courage to use Fiji Hindi on such occasions for fear of being reviled or ridiculed. 

Even on religious occasions or marriages the Pundits use proper Hindi and Fiji Hindi is never used and cannot be used because it is extremely shallow on impact. Indeed, any Pundit using  Fiji Hindi in conducting poojas is more likely to lose his punditry and would generally be regarded as shallow, illiterate and become object of ridicule.

Politicians too use proper Hindi when addressing public gatherings and any politician addressing such gatherings in Fiji Hindi would be assured to spend time outside and not inside the Parliament!

Further, few writers have tried to write in Fiji Hindi and the most notable work has been done by Professor Subramani who wrote ‘Dauka Puraan’. It is an outstanding attempt by a person whose proficiency in both Hindi and English is respected. However, most people found Dauka Puraan a difficult read and it did not ignite a desire in Indo-Fijians to take Fiji Hindi to the next level. The version of Fiji Hindi used in Dauka Puraan in Vanua Levu remarkably differed from that used in Viti Levu

DAUKA PURAAN was a mammoth effort by Professor Subramani of USP to write this 520-page novel in Fiji Hindi. As it was mostly in Vanua Levu version of Fiji Hindi, I, with others found difficulty in getting used to his version. While it was very commendable, no other huge work has been taken to write another novel in Fiji Hindi.

Other attempts by various writers, outside our community, have also failed to see Fiji Hindi established as a written language.

I strongly share the views of Mr. J.S. Kanwal and would like to see Fiji Hindi retain its place, as a ‘conversational language’ within our community. It is our heritage and a legacy to be left for successive generations. It is a beautiful language that is Fiji made and has served our community through every season and situation. We have an emotional attachment to it but this is not a reason for it to be de-linked from its origins. Hindi language will remain its solid anchor. 
Even many of our Fijian brothers and sisters have learnt it and it is a pleasure to hear them speak because they add a distinct flavor to it! Indeed, Fiji Hindi will not dissipate or diminish because it is firmly rooted in the fertile roots of our community. 

It is a treasure that needs to be promoted among the future generations so that we can retain our cultural distinctiveness. 

It is a historical treasure that must not be squandered. 

[Rajendra Prasad is the author of book, Tears in Paradise – Suffering and Struggles of Indians in Fiji 1879-2004. Subsequently he authored Enslaved in Paradise - A history of Mammoth Betrayals of Fijians by the British, Chiefs and Leaders of Fiji 1876-2006. This is an edited version of Fiji Sun article of January, 2011]