SHRADHAANJALI KE DOH PHOOL: A TRIBUTE TO GIYANNEDRA PRASAD

SHRADHAANJALI KE DOH PHOOL: A TRIBUTE TO GIYANNEDRA PRASAD

Thakur Ranjit Singh

My salutations to GIYANNENDRA PRASAD, Vakil (lawyer) Saab, a student-leader, a community leader, a lawyer, a politician and a model compassionate human being. 

He was born in Daku Labasa in rural Vanua Levu, Fiji through cane-farmer parents on 1 October, 1959. 

And he passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in Auckland, New Zealand on 1 June, 2020 at age of just over 59 years, after a twenty-year gallant battle with cancer.

He was cremated at Anns Funeral Home and Onsite Cremations at 11 Bolderwood Place, Wiri, Manukau, Auckland on 3 June, 2020 during Covid 19 lockdown period, with restrictions of only 100 attendees in funerals.

We have been deeply honoured to have him amongst us as an exemplary person and an inspiration for all those who are going through adversity and difficulties in life.

Indeed, it was some 20 years ago that you were diagnosed with cancer; doctors had given up on you and predicted death so many times, but as a fighter, and with that Girmit spirit of perseverance, you fought on. And stared the death angel in the eyes, challenged it and beat it for so long. At last you succumbed to sickness - and called it a day, surrounded by loved ones. Indeed, an extremely valiant fighter.

In a message to family and friends, he paid gratitude to all for their support and messages of hope. He is satisfied he lived a full life, helped the family, and the needy. He departs happily and grateful that he fulfilled all his obligations to his loved ones. 

GIYANNEDRA PRASAD, with Fiji statesman and former World Court Judge HONORABLE JAI RAM REDDY, at Shri Ram Mandir during Mandir inauguration in May, 2015.

His biggest ambition was to see his daughter get educated and be able to step into his shoes. He has very admirably achieved that. His only daughter, Smita Prasad has graduated with BCom LLB (Hons) and as a father he is proud that he was able to make application to the High Court of New Zealand for her admission as a Barrister and Solicitor. Mission accomplished, with his beloved Smita now walking in the footsteps of her lawyer father.

Apart from his duties and obligations to his immediate and extended families, he also believed in the boon of parr-hitt, service to humanity. Giyannendra had been a pillar of strength to Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson, Auckland as one of its very distinguished Founding Trustees and steered and supported it during its formative years through his community experience and legal expertise. Its completion and continued success is a credit to him and other Trustees.

We are honoured to have a lawyer with a heart, as that is a rare attribute in that profession. You provided free services to the community and always helped out the vulnerable amongst us.

Like father, like daughter. A proud father GIYANNEDRA PRASAD (rightt), with lawyer daughter SMITA PRASAD, after admission as Barrister and Solicitor to High Court of New Zealand.

As a former Secretary of Waitakere Indian Association (WIA), I can vouch the services you provided this organisation some 15 years ago with your learned advice, guiding principles and legal acumen. You were instrumental in formation of Waitakere Hindi School as a separate entity, and its success now is another feather in you cap.

Giyannedra Prasad, (4th from right) when Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust, was a regular attendee most Mandir events. Here he is seen, with his family and other fellow Trustees, offering  purnahuti to a Hawan at the Mandir in 2015

The inspiration we get from you is your Zinda-dil attitude, lion-heartedness and the fighter spirit to face adversity, challenge it, and fight it. These are the qualities the Girmitiya descendants got handed over the generations from those persevering people.

Yaar, Dost, Friend, you have made us stronger and more resolved to fight the adversities that destiny throws on our path - and fight it, and stand up to fight again…and again…and again….

When old friends meet. GIYANNEDRA PRASAD (centre) with his friend DR GUNASEGARAN (left), flanked by yours truly, THAKUR RANJIT SINGH. Dr Gunasegran was supposed to be a speaker at the funeral but could not attend because of closed borders.

Indeed, it is an honour to know you. Some time ago, I was fortunate to have linked up with you and your good and equally philanthropist friend and Parliamentary Colleague from Fiji, Dr Gunasegaran at your good friend, Mahendra Sharma’s place. With Dacter Saab, you share some fond and not so fond memories.

The not-so-fond memories were when both of you were George Speight’s hostages in Fiji Parliament with other People’s Coalition (Labour Party) Members of Parliament from 19 May, 2000 for 56 days. Dr Gunasegaran was supposed to be one of the four speakers during your funeral, but could not come because of Covid 19 closed borders.

His another Labour Parliamentary Colleague, Krishna Datt paid tribute to his “younger brother” and hailed him as a very rare person who would so welcome death. In a Facebook message, he added:” Giyannendra will never die. He will live on with our memories, teaching us meaning in life and how to face adversity with audacity and courage.” Krishna Datt was supposed to be second speaker at his funeral and lawyer friend, Subhash Parshottam was supposed to be the third speaker. Unfortunately, none of the three Fiji-based speakers could attend because of Covid 19 closed borders. The fourth speaker, Master Shiu Charan spoke about life, history and attributes of his former fellow Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir.

GIYANNENDRA PRASAD (right) with MASTER SHIU CHARAN (centre) and PRATAP CHAND during launch of Chand's book " A Fijian Memoir" in Auckland, New Zealand in September, 2013. Chand is also a Parliamentary collegue of Prasad.

Another Parliamentary Colleague and University mate, Dr Ganesh Chand recalls you as an energetic and effective student leader in your younger days at USP. Dr Chand remembers working with you together in Students Council. He fondly remembers you as a man of peace, fighter for justice, and a humble fellow Labasan.

Another friend and former academic of USP, Dr Vijay Naidu also paid tribute and passed his condolences to Veena and Smita and the family.

Giyannedra continued with community service after becoming a lawyer. In Fiji Parliament, you were the Deputy Speaker, and served your people well, especially in the forgotten Northern (Labasa) part of Fiji. For somebody who had risen so high, you were still well grounded firmly with your roots and aam aadmi - the common people.

THE PRASAD FAMILY: L-R: GIYANNENDRA, daughter SMITA and wife VEENA PRASAD during Smita's graduation.

Now, to the two women in your life. Wife Veena Prasad has been a pillar of strength, inspiration, hope and support for you - both in personal life as a wife and professional life as an assistant and a paralegal officer. She is an epitome of an exemplary Hindu wife who stood steadfastly beside her husband in his battles with cancer for two decades-in good times, and in bad times. 

Her devotion and selflessness may not have been recognised by other speakers and writers. I wish to take this opportunity to salute her for inspiring other wives supporting a husband through difficult and trying times. Veena will always be remembered for her faith, devotion and duties to her husband whenever people will remember Giyannedra. Aayushmaan Bhava, Devi.

VEENA PRASAD (Right) - the light in the life of her husband GIYANNEDRA PRASAD. We salute her for being a devoted wife and mother, who steadfastly stood beside her husband in all those trying times of sickness.

And of course your proud daughter, Smita Prasad who gave you the strength to fight with death for so long. She may perhaps be likened to a talisman, a jewel for which you struggled with Yam Doot, the angel of death, until she entered the bar and started walking in your footsteps. Now, lawyer Smita Prasad, BCom LLB (Hons), is ably following in your footsteps. In fact your passing away appears to be an iccha mrityu - as you have now realised your dreams and was ready for the final journey.

And as you said in your parting message, you have no regrets, fulfilled all you wishes and achieved the dream of passing your heritage to your daughter, Smita. 

You have now handed the baton over to her.

Lawyer Smita Prasad is a proud legacy you leave behind.

And for us all, a very inspirational memories of a fighter, where we may say…Tiger Abhi Jinda Hai…the fighter is still amongst us. Thanks for encouraging us to be fighters in life.

So long, friend.

Shat Shat Naman Vakil Babu.

Om Satgati.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist , media commentator and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. He covers news and information about his community not normally covered by other media]

HAS NIKKI KAYE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF 2014 GOT BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS?

Has Nikki Kaye and National Government of 2014 got blood on their hands?

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Todd Muller has been in the news after rolling Simon Bridges as National leader in a bruising leadership battle. But he was not very impressive and convincing as he failed to back his allegations on weaknesses of Labour and what he would do better.

Despite being critical of the government about economic recovery, he failed to give even one credible “light bulb” moment of his brilliance. He made himself out as a better salesman for National’s fortune. But the lament was that he turned up with absolutely nothing to sell. 

On that “Make America Great “souvenir cap, he came our as a spineless leader who buckled down to insignificant, unwarranted and unsubstantiated criticism from those who themselves have questionable and apparently oppressive headgear. 

And despite his claim of not opposing for the sake of opposing, he did exactly that. He failed to give that breath of fresh air to grasp opportunity of a visionary leader to work in collaboration with the government for the best of the country in this crisis. He is no different to Bridges in this respect. But they are issues for another day.

Because, this article is about Muller’s “Maori Hunter” Deputy Leader, Nikki Kaye, who revels in saying she defeated Jacinda Ardern twice. She gleefully adds that Jacinda lacks business background to resurrect New Zealand. But Nikki fails to say what she has achieved after beating Jacinda.

SANIL KUMAR, Fiji Indian, who was "sentenced to death" by being given 24 hours to clear -off from New Zealand by NZ Immigration under brief of Associate Minister, Nikki Kaye in 2014. The question that needs to be asked is would he have been "sentenced to death" if Jacinda Ardern was in leadership?  Nikki Kay's action was deemed heartless , lacking conscience and human values.

Nikki Kaye seems to have a short memory, and so do many of our readers. They say, in politics, the good or bad you do comes to haunt you. Nikki Kaye’s chooks have now come home to roost. She was accused of having blood on her hand and being a heartless National’s Associate Minister of Immigration in 2014.
Sanil Kumar from my hometown of Ba, Fiji was in New Zealand on a work permit. Unfortunately he suffered from a kidney infection which resulted in kidney failure, needing dialysis and transplant.

Despite assurance that the family had sufficient funds, he would not be a burden on state and assurance that Fiji did not have facilities for his health and wellbeing, he was kicked out of New Zealand to die, despite many pleas. It was akin to passing death sentence on Sanil Kumar.

Dr Rajen Prasad, Fiji Indian former Labour List MP also came on board to plead for mercy. Dr Prasad was fighting for Sanil to stay in NZ. A donor had been located, and there was no costs to taxpayers. Dr Prasad questioned why Sanil was sent to a death sentence and what was the need to have him sent to Fiji when funds had been collected and a donor finalized? 

The Associate Immigration Minister, Nikki Kaye was accused of being less than honest, passing the buck and using the privacy provision to escape her incompetency and lackadaisical attitude in handling this case. She blamed bureaucracy and others for her apparent dereliction of Ministerial duties.

Under her watch, Sanil Prasad had to leave NZ after he was given 24 hours to leave in May, 2014. He had been having dialysis in Fiji but unfortunately died on May 26, 2014 in Fiji. 

That death could have been avoided if the Minister had a heart and had compassionately allowed him to stay.

Salim Ashwin Singh, President of Wellington Indian Association, Wellington in 2014. He condemned in the strongest terms the government's decision to send Sanil Kumar to "death sentence" in Fiji, and"Mr Kumar’s demise should be on the collective conscience of the current Government."

The Fiji Indian Association Wellington Inc then was very critical of the Minister in particular and National Government in general. The then President, Salim A Singh had described as “heartless” the decision of the New Zealand Government to send the late Mr Sanil Kumar back to Fiji, despite his proven need for a kidney transplant. He said:

By refusing to allow him to remain in New Zealand, the Associate Minister of Immigration, Nikki Kaye actually imposed a death sentence on this young man. New Zealand Government decision was heartless and Mr Kumar’s demise should be on the collective conscience of current Government.

He added that he was confident such a decision would not have been taken by Governments led by compassionate leaders like the late David Lange, Helen Clark and Jim Bolger. Singh observed that the manner in which that matter had been handled by the Government showed a clear departure from normal New Zealand humanitarian values. 

Singh said the Minister’s refusal to intervene clearly displayed lack of compassion and human values of the then National Government. He added that the decision to send Sanil Kumar back to Fiji was condemned in the strongest terms possible.

Apart from this particular criticism, people of Ethnic and Pacific Island migrants were called on to elect a Labour Government to ensure they have somebody who do not kill their people. In addition, a government which is more humane and sympathetic to common poor, non-white migrants who feel closer to a Labour Government. 

Yours truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh, through media releases had passed a clear message to the then Labour leader David Cunliffe and his team to have a policy in place whereby they would not pass a death sentence on an ethnic migrant like the National Government had done.

Thakur, in a social media message, had accused National Government of having blood on its hands, and he hoped Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, African and collectively all migrants would elect a more humane government. 
They needed a government which treated its neighbours, visitors and people on work-permit with more dignity, compassion, and humanity, especially where it was NOT going to cost them any money.

Nikki Kaye's photo of 2014 when she was Associate Minister of Immigration in National Government. Now she is Deputy Leader of Opposition under leadership of Todd Muller in National Party.

Sanil was a useful migrant on work permit who added value while he was here. But upon his sickness, he was treated like an empty bottle and empty box, to be confined to a trash-bin.

Are we migrants still being used as scaffoldings, to be abandoned once the building is complete? Migrants were advised to have this in mind when voting in the next election, and elect a migrant - friendly government.

And that is exactly what happened three years later in 2017 when Labour Government came on board, and became a government with a heart and compassion, not only for migrants and ethnic people, but ALL people of New Zealand.

One thing is for sure- a compassionate and humane Jacinda Ardern would not and could never pass death sentence on any other vulnerable Sanil Kumar. Labour Government under her could never be that heartless.

Nikki Kaye need to come down to earth, and tell what she really accomplished after defeating Jacinda twice. Winning an election is one thing, but winning heart of common people is quite the other. She needs to learn from the person she defeated.

Nikki Kaye has blood on her hands for death of this young man, SANIL KUMAR, for the way he was treated by Immigration NZ. 

At least we are sure of one thing - Jacinda Ardern is too tall to pass death sentence on a vulnerable migrant as Nikki Kaye did in 2014. 
Hence, she could never beat Jacinda Ardern – and she needs to wipe that blood off her hands now, as she is supposed to be the deputy to Todd Muller.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. Extracts from this article are taken from his initial publication in his blog during Sanil’s death in May, 2014]