FIJI INDIANS IN NZ SEEK THEIR PACIFICA IDENTITY

 

FIJI INDIANS IN NZ REACH APEX OF THEIR ADVOCACY FOR SEARCH OF THEIR IDENTILY

                 Thakur Ranjit Singh

 

The zenith of Fiji Indians’ organisational leadership in general and their advocacy for identity in particular was reached in an overflowing Malaeola Community Centre on 7 May 2021, with over 1,600 people. This Mangere, South Auckland venue was the celebration of 142^nd Anniversary of FIJI GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY. And that is the number of years Fiji Indians have been part of the Pacific – and some six generations on.

 

FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ Trustees (L-R) Sardar Harnam Singh Golian, Sam Achary and Krishal Naidu with the Girmit Remembrance Day cake

After normal salutations and acknowledgements, that is exactly what Krish Naidu, a youthful President of the organisers, FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, advocated.

 

He very judiciously and expediently chose the right place and time. This was on the stage overflowing with Community leaders, diplomats, Government Ministers, Academics, and a potential National PM, among other politicians in the  welcome Presidential speech. His advocacy was emphatic - and he sounded like a confident sure leader . And this could be summed as the punchlines of the evening:

 

We are Pacific people. We are not asking for a favour - we just wish to be recognised for what we are.

Fiji Indians needs to be acknowledged as part of an inclusive Pacific community where diversity within the Pacific community is embraced and celebrated. An official recognition is needed from the government beyond the role of Stats NZ.

In his emphatic and forceful welcome presentation with a very attentive audience, Krish Naidu reminded  that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples role is to improve outcomes for ALL Pacific Peoples by bringing ALL Pacific voices, perspectives and understanding into policy. He questioned why Fiji Indian voice was silenced and ignored. 

He emphasised that to be effective, this Ministry must also hear voices of ALL Pacific peoples. He championed the view that Fiji Indians should not be treated as a ceremonial piece. They needed to be part of official policy framework of Pacific people always, and not merely when it suits them. He continued:

The taxpayer funded - ministry of Pacific People is for ALL Pacific People. It is not a ministry for Indigenous Pacific People alone. This bias -  this institutional  and structural discrimination - must stop. And for that, we need real political leadership.

And at that instance, the stage full of dignitaries and politicians erupted in spontaneous applause at mention of “need for real political leadership.” And leading them was the potential National Party Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon.

The stage with some of the dignitaries present on the day: Diplomats, Community Leaders  and Politicians listening attentively to the Presidential speech

Perhaps in body language, the current, potential, and past National opposition politicians on the stage were taunting the Labour Party politicians. This is because Labour Party, from the days of David Lange, were always seen to be close and sympathetic to Fiji  in general and Fiji Indians in particular. 

And appeals from Fiji Girmit Foundation implied that there appeared to be hints of dereliction of duties from some sections of the Labour Government, the Ministry of Pacific Peoples and some sections of the bureaucracy who were collectively or individually not listening or paying attention to their calls and concerns.

Krish Naidu also reminded that  Fiji Indians also featured negatively with issues like diabetes, heart disease, mental health, with certain diseases linked to Fiji and their Pacific lifestyle back in Fiji. He repeated that real gains for the overall New Zealand health system could only be made if diversity of all Pacific people were captured, as this was not currently done by the concerned Ministry.

Human Rights Commissioner, MENG FOON agrees with the advocacy of Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ for Fiji Indians in NZ to be accepted and recognised as Pacifica People, and be entitled to resources allocated to them as Pacifica People.

Human Rights Commissioner, Meng Foon, who was a keynote speaker at the function, concurred with stance of Fiji Indian advocacy. He was hopeful some solution to the issue could be found soon as far as human rights was concerned:

The commission is here to support anyone in New Zealand who feel they have been aggrieved or discriminated against. We also support the fair treatment of all, and this includes in the collection of data which could impact the fair distribution of resources.

He said  Fiji Indian community in New Zealand have recently expressed its concerns - and this was a valid one. The Foundation hopes to find a solution within the framework of human rights and would be approaching them for assistance if no other solutions are found. 

Apart from this crucial issue for Fiji Indians, the evening was a fitting tribute to memory of legacies and heritage of Fiji Indians. A miracle was that it was a free event that was fully funded by the community, with no external support, overflowing with snacks, refreshments, kava and of course very sumptuous dinner and desserts..  This was through enlightened generosity from businesses and individuals in their community which collaborated to salute  Girmitiyas and consequently provided thousands of dollars’ worth of services in kind.

 

Medal presentation for recognising Fiji Indians over 80 years old for carrying the banner and legacies of Girmit. Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ Trustee, Sam Achary, presenting the recognition medal to one of the ladies. Another lady, Martha Vir, aged 101 was the oldest person to receive Girmit medal. She is originally from Suva and her maternal grandfather was a Girmitiya in Veisaru, Ba,

The theme of the evening was aimed at remembrance and recognition of Girmitiya descendants. Consequently, some 50 Fiji Indians aged over 80 were honoured with  commemorative medals as an appreciation for carrying the flame of the rich Girmit legacy. In addition, the foundation  expanded its vision to celebrate and recognize people and  institutions for their noteworthy contributions, achievements, and services to the community. The category of awards and recipients for the Girmit Legacy Awards included:

 

Dr. Farzana Goundar, (left) receiving Fiji Girmit Legacy Award in literature and research about Girmit history. Mandvi Singh, a Lawyer and an inspiring entrepreneur presenting Dr. Goundar  the Girmit Literature Award.

Excellence in Community Services and Leadership (Supreme Award) - Sam Achary (Read a separate FIJI PUNDIT article)

Excellence in Grassroots Volunteer Award -  Dinesh Chand (Read a separate FIJI PUNDIT article)

Contribution to Girmit Literature – Dr. Farzana Gounder

Contribution to Arts and Culture - Pooja Cultural Trust

Special Appreciation Award – Kashmir Kaur

Kashmir Kaur (right) was recognised  for leading Girmit partnership with her team in Wellington in their project ‘Fiji Girmit Exhibition - 100 years of reflections’. This successful event engaged youths and spread awareness of Girmit and raised the issue of our identity. Anji-Naidu Khan, (left), Treasurer of the Foundation presenting Kashmir Kaur special Girmit Recognition Award.  

 

The Foundation wished to promote the importance of 14 May for Fiji Indian Community because it marks the day first Indians arrived in Fiji, which importantly marks the birth of Fiji Indian identity. And Girmit marked their foundational history and they do not wish the new generation to be denied the opportunity to know about their history - and their rich legacy.

Indian High Commissioner of India in NZ, His Excellency Muktesh Pardeshi (Right) presenting Special Girmit Legacy Award for Contribution to Arts and Culture to POOJA CULTURAL TRUST. Receiving on behalf of Trust is Swatna Lal.

Before 2012, Fiji Indians had been living in larger numbers in Auckland for over 30 years, but no such event or organisation were commenced until some visionary unsung heroes initiated this 9 years ago, and now that seed has grown into a fruit-bearing tree. Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ, apart from marking the remembrance has grown into an advocacy body for Fiji Indians and have plans of expansion into  other cities and towns of New Zealand. Christchurch already has a chapter while Palmerston North, Wellington, Dunedin and even Queenstown are expected to have theirs within this year with support of the Foundation in Auckland.

 

Fiji Indians now stand united and are enlightened about their stolen history and feel proud of their history, rich legacies, and heritage. And this, among others is the reason why they do so well as migrants and rarely, if ever make it into negative statistics.

 

The overflowing response and audience at Malaeola Community Hall during Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day on 7 May 2021 in Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand.

Over the years, FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ has grown from strength to strength, and culminated in the crowning glory in this memorable event on 7 May 2021 in Auckland. The crowning glory of the Foundation was realized by the vision of current trustees, very unlike in many other organizations when the baton was passed to the new generation led by the current youthful Trustee, Krish Naidu to manage and organise future Girmit events - and they rocked.

 

We salute the Trustees, the Executives, and the organising committee of nine-year-old FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ for bringing such a huge, memorable, and noteworthy Remembrance Day in New Zealand.

 

Our only hope remains for a similar event to be emulated by almost forty-year-old Fiji Girmit Council on the soils where Girmit began - Fiji. And hoping following in the footsteps of elder Trustees of Foundation in NZ, the ageing Trustees of Fiji Girmit Council can pass the baton to the new generation to see Girmit Legacy continued on Fijian soils.

 

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a founding Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation, a journalist, a media commentator and blogger at FIJI PUNDIT. He has a passion for his forebears and Girmit Legacy and has written many articles on them. This is not a press release of the Foundation but an independent journalistic observation. E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]