PK: When a drunk makes you sober and challenges religious bigots

PK: When a drunk makes you sober and challenges religious bigots

 Thakur Ranjit Singh

PK movie seems to have ruffled quite a few dhotis and beards of religious some fraud Godmen who have been thriving on ignorance and religion of fear in their subjects and devotees. Despite all protests and objections saying that this movie degrades Hinduism, nobody could produce a coherent argument in defense of that. Even the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition seeking a ban on it, through lack of evidence. There have been no facts to defend this claim.  As a Hindu, I do not find anything offensive, and similar view comes from educated and religiously-enlightened Hindus in my Indo-Fijian Diaspora.

 

PK-the Alien who, through his questions is considered a drunk (pee kay) who makes us sober, and make us look at some of our religious rituals with another perspective. He exposed religious Godmen who thrive of human nature of fear of the unknown.

When I started watching this movie, I was reminded of my visit with my father to a so-called Mandir of Pujari Ram Sewak in Balevuto, Ba, Fiji, some 10km in interior of Ba town. That was some 45 years ago and I was a DAV, Ba, form 3 student, with an eye- strain or pain in the eye. My father, being a religious and righteous person, was also a believer in Mandir and the ability of pujaris and so-called priests to solve human problems. Priest, ojha or pujari are modern day witch doctors or Godmen, who pretend they have shadow of Gods /Goddesses and possess extraordinary powers to heal. When my turn came, the “possessed” Pujari told me that I had received a love-letter from a girl in my class, and that letter has “karal” or spell-binding bhabhut or ashes that was causing me the pain.  (I wondered if she loved me, why she would cause me pain.) Seeing my father having so much faith, I found myself in a dilemma, hence lied for his faith, that what was said by the pujari was the truth. I never then had any girlfriend or received any letters, and when I did she was from a different class and religion. And I was given some rituals which had no bearing to my eye-pain, same sort of fraud that the movie PK has been trying to portray to people. Hence I got enlightened over four decades ago and have since been fighting against these sort of fraud and religious bigotry depicted in PK.

What riled many Hindus is when PK questions why so much milk is wasted when so many of God's subjects are going hungry. He questions why cannot that milk be used to feed the hungry. Isn't that what the right God would want?

The synopsis of Raj Kumar Hirani’s and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s PK is that an alien research team lands on a Rajasthan desert to study humans. (I named the producers to show the decision-makers of the film are non-Muslims.).  Amir Khan lands stark naked, as those aliens remain unclothed. His tracking remote, that helps him send signals back to his spaceship, gets stolen, and that kicks off the rough trip of this alien. He has to find the remote to contact his spaceship and till then survive on earth on his own. He is unaware of our ways, manners or language, and meets with Sanjay Dutt who becomes his dear friend and assists him with life here. He learns the language and manners from a prostitute, whose hand he holds for some six hours to transfer and “copy” all human knowledge to him. Thus he learns Bhojpuri language and steals from “rocking cars” in remote places where couple are having sex. He comes to Delhi in search of the remote, and then begins the tumultuous and lightening pace of the story in an unknown city. Like a baby child, this alien (named PK, which means a drunk in Hindi “Pee Key aya hai”) asks questions that despite their innocence hold a valuable and deep meaning. He teams up with beautiful Jagat “Jaggu”Janani (Anushka Sharma) on this journey and PK challenges some of the oldest rituals of religion that are ruling life of people on earth. In search of his remote, PK stumbles on to the hypocrisy and deceit in organised religion. He then sets about exposing a Hindu “Godman”, a term for a particularly charismatic guru who may claim to have paranormal powers, and ability to speak to God (We have Indian palm readers and astrologers, promoted by Indian media in Auckland. In Fiji this is an old joke where some witchdoctors speak to God, using shank or conch-shell.)

The good side of human being is shown through Sanjay Dutt who becomes PK's friend and assists him to settle on earth, and helps him search for his missing remote control.

The underlying theme is that there are two types of Gods: one that created all of us, and the other that we have created individually that creates so much confusion for this being from one outer planet. PK is told that a Hindu woman wearing white is a widow while he gets ear-bashing for passing condolences to a white-dressed Christian bride, for the death of her husband. He is told Christian widows wear black, and hence expressing sorrow to Muslim ladies in black burka, gets almost bashed by the husband(Lucky 4 wives, and how many children?) He is chucked out of Church for taking coconut, essence and prasad and breaking it on the altar. He is told Christian God loves wine, and gets abused for taking wine to a Mosque.  This confusion reigns in PKs mind when he meets a person dressed as Lord Shiv in a toilet and confronts him to seek for his remote, he chases him through town to the ashram of the Godman where he sees his remote, which the Godman uses to fool people to speak to God. He claims it is from Kailash but in fact had been sold to him by the thief for 40,000 rupees. PK uses his skills to expose the fraud and dishonesty of the Godman, reveals that he is ringing the “wrong number”, and not getting to the proper God, and helps Jaggu find her Pakistani lover, who she had lost through misinformation from the Godman.

Protests from Hindu fundamentalists groups like Bajrang Dal are unfounded and insults a hitherto peaceful religion. This is especially when there is no shred of evidence or fact to show that the movie PK degrades Hinduism or defames Hindu culture and religious practices in any way. Even Delhi High Court found no case to ban the movie or any other reason to censure it.

Religion of fear is well depicted when, outside an exam hall PK picks up a stone, puts a sindoor (vermillion) tikka on it and throws some coins in front. You have long queue of people coming to worship and donate. This is equivalent to what my school head teacher, Master Dharam Dutt Sharma, a liberated and educated Brahmin, told the class half a century ago: if a dog shits and it is in form of a snake or when a mushroom germinates from under a floor in shape of a snake, people will run with milk, flowers and prasad to pray to it. We have had cases in Fiji, with one Hanuman with a tail, a cow with three eyes and unusual phenomenon of nature which is used as religious rituals and money, offering of prasad and flowers come into the play. Somebody makes money in this madness.

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A naked alien tasted the first experience of India by being looted: that is the impression many visitors get, especially Indo-Fijians visiting temples, where the commercialization of religion becomes evident.

There is nothing in the movie that degrades Hinduism or any other religion. Some object to Shankar in a toilet. So, if any actor dresses like Shankar (as we used to do in Ram Lila), where would you expect him to piss and go for a smoke break? In a kitchen or a toilet, or does he need to go to Kailash for that? And how about putting milk on stone while so many are starving? What is wrong with that reasoning? That has been previously debated on social media and seen as ungodly by educated people. People have started making comparison to Islam and why it has been spared. Amir Khan is the worker, the actor in the film, the decision-makers on the story or scene are not his –they are non-Muslims. And anyway, the producers and directors may have been expedient to avoid death and danger, as there is no other religion as democratic, accepting and accommodating as Hinduism, where unlike other religions, we are told that change is inevitable. Gita had warned Hindus about bad and unholy practices becoming part of religious rituals. My final answer to that is the not-so-famous dialogue of film “Deewaar”: Doosro ke jurm ginaane se apne kum nahin hote – by talking about crimes, bad deeds and sins of others, yours do not become any lesser.

PK spends nights in jails by deliberately breaching laws. His friend , Jaggu, who gets  knowledge of his powers, helps PK, who returns the favor by getting her lost love, an understanding of her father, and exposure of the fraud Godman..

Despite all protests and objections saying that this movie degrades Hinduism, nobody could produce a coherent argument in defence of that. Even the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition seeking a ban on it on the ground that it defames Hindu culture and religious practices. There have been generalised talk and a great deal of hot air, but no facts. As a Hindu, I do not find anything offensive, and similar view comes from educated and religiously-enlightened Hindus in Indo-Fijian Diaspora.  If anything, the movie PK, after OMG and Singham Returns, warns us against being gullible and teaches to reason out things without blindly committing stupidity by being with the crowd of sheep. We should stop nonsensical practices under the guise of being culturally-correct, conforming and unquestionably following action of forbears who were themselves in darkness, influenced by religious bigots who thrived without the type of boldness coming out of PK.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is an Auckland-based Indo-Fijian, tracing his roots to Karouli, Rajasthan, India. He runs FIJI PUNDIT blog site which says things that other media tend to shove under the carpet. It has been a front-runner in raising social, religious, cultural and political issues in Fiji and India that affect our people. He may be unpopular with orthodox religious persons and organisations, which find his views outrageous, as they have found PK]

Shri Ram-a-Thon: A charity walk to become a trend-setter.

  Shri Ram-a-Thon: A charity walk to become a trend-setter.

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust (SRMCT), led by its Managing Trustee Pravin Kumar, launched an innovative idea about charity walk with a difference. The difference was that it was not merely to raise funds, but to amplify well-being of community, importance of keeping fit, networking, service to community and enhancing diversity and multiculturalism. The most important message was to religious organisations to extend their radar of focus from spiritual to the needs and aspirations of and service to the community. Thus the concept of Shri Ram-a –thon took root that will now be emulated by people in the Hindu Diaspora

Shri Ram Mandir - the Community Centre and Temple project under construction at 11 Brick Street, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand

At the crack of morning on the last day of spring 2014, some committed and enthusiastic community workers sprung out to create history. They congregated before 7 am on 30 November, 2014 at partly-completed Shri Ram Mandir at 11 Brick Street, Henderson to catch Ritchies bus to Papatoetoe for a marathon charity walk of 35 km.

When they arrived at Ram Krishna Mandir at 25 Onslow Avenue at Papatoetoe after some an half-hour’s drive, a large number of walkers and volunteers, with the Mandir Trustee and executive Vijendra Prasad, were already at work to welcome the delegation and serve them healthy and delicious breakfast. After initial prayers, blessings and formalities and donation presentations, final preparations were in place for the start of the Marathon Charity Walk. National list MP, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Mrs Bakshi had arrived early at the Mandir to address the walkers, cheer them along, wish them well and even join them at the starter’s line.

On your marks, get set..START: The commencement of Shri Ram-a-thon at  at Ram Krishna Mandir at Onslow Avenue, Papatoetoe. In the start-up line in front, second from left is Vijay Varma of Humm FM, Pravin Kumar, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Vijendra Prasad of Ram Krishna Mandir and Kashmin Kaur, among others.

First Phase12.5km-3 hours

The Marathon Charity walk commenced from Onslow Avenue just before 9am through Clendon Avenue, Old Papatoetoe, Portage Road, Buckland Road, Robertson Rd, Walmsley Rd, Mahunga Drive, Miro Road, through old Mangere Bridge to Onehunga Mall and through to Princess Rd break. The first “pilgrimage” and stop was the Shiridi Sai Temple. After a long walk, a delegation with drums and cymbals has gathered at the temple, to welcome them, including officials and Trustees of the Mandir and community leader Harnam Singh Golian. This was a long 12.5 km and just over 3hour’s walk. After prayers and visit to the Mandir, the devotees were treated to delicious refreshments and welcome address by a Trustee of the Mandir, Bhaskara Reddy and NZ First’s List M, Mahesh Bindra, who thanked the walkers for their courage, pledged his support and urged them along.

The charity walkers taking a breather outside Shri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir at Onehunga, the first stop

Second Phase: 6.9km, 1.5 hours

The next phase of the walk, though shorter, was a challenge as the walkers took the uphill track on to Hill St, through to Manukau Rd from Royal Oak and further 3km on Green Lane West Road brought them to the second “pilgrimage”, Bhartiya Mandir at 252 Balmoral Road. This was after some 7km and one an half hours of walk. On hand to welcome the devotees with Dholak and music was the reception committee headed by the Mandir executive and a generous donor, Roshan Nauharia. After visit to the Mandir, prayers and Aarti, devotees were treated to another round of tasty and healthy refreshments. On hand to cheer the walkers and encourage them was former Radio Tarana talk-back and current affairs announcer, and now National List MP Paramjeet Parmar. She said she was encouraged by the resolve of walkers, and wished them well.

The second stop at Bhartiya Mandir at Balmoral. Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust's  Trustee, Gyanendra Prasad addressing the audience, while Roshan Nauhuria and Paramjeet Parmar  look, on before addressing the audience.

Third Phase: 6.9km, 1.5 hours

The third phase commenced with the walk through the construction site on Balmoral Road, through Sandringham, Stoddart, Mairo, New Windsor, Tiverton, Wolverton, Clark and Ward Street to the third pit stop, Food For Less Supermarket, where food and refreshments were in abundance for the walkers. This was after some 6.8km and one and half hours walk. The Director of Food For Less, and a generous donor and community conscious Romit Prakash and Labour MP for Te Atatu, Phil Twyford, with other community workers, formed the reception committee to welcome the team. After another healthy refreshment break, Te Atau Labour MP Phil Twyford and Whau Local Board member Ami Chand addressed the walkers, encouraged and urged them create an-all-time record for the longest walkathon in Auckland. To walk his talk, Phil Twyford joined in the last phase of the walk.

The third stop at Food For Less Supermarket. Dignitaries are being welcomed. From left, Managing Trustee, Pravin Kumar, Trustee Master Shiu Charan, Labour MP for Te Atatu, Phil Twyford, Whau Local Board Member, Ami Chand and Food For Less Director,  Romit Prakash (being garlanded). On the right, in blue with yellow garland is support team leader, Umas Chand, waiting attentively with a garland for next garlanding.

Fourth Phase: 9.3 km, 2 Hrs- Final destination-Shri Ram Mandir

The final and fourth phase began with blessing from the Gods with showers through New Lynn and Great North Road for some 9 km walk. On the way in Glendene, there was a pit stop and refreshments at Shiu Prasad and Sons shop, organised by Chandrika Prasad and family. After a short break the walk commenced on great North Road, through Swanson Rd and stopped at the entrance of the destination: Brick Street.

The refreshment break at Kelston at Shiu Prasad and Sons, courtesy of Chandrika Prasad, Tag 98 in centre.

The reception team, with drums, cymbals and the dance squad joined in and the whole delegation of walkers led the procession to Shri Ram Mandir and Community Centre. A reception was held for the walkers and certificates were presented to them and generous donor. Present to cheer the devotees were Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Paramjeet Parmar, National Party List MP Alfred Ngaro and Auckland City Councillor Linda Cooper, joined by Phil Twyford. The evening ended with networking and a very sumptuous and delicious vegetarian meal cooked under the guidance of Shri Ram Mandir Chef, Hardip Singh.

Walk through Henderson town, West Auckland.

The finish of the walk was a painfully pleasant moment, as it was a long walk, with aching muscles, but a history has been created, and an example had been set. In addition, as the intent of this event was, it was to pass a message to people the importance of keeping fit and looking after health. Thanks to the medical team led by Dr Ajay Kumar, who kept a close watch on the walkers throughout the walk, and travelled with the team to provide any assistance and guidance, supported by very able nurses. Other support vehicles and the logistic team performed admirably. There was a support bus all the way to provide relief for tired walkers and two other support vehicles with constant watch, supply of water, food, plaster for blisters and glucose tablets, among others.

The final walk at Brick Street, Henderson, leading to Shri Ram Mandir. In the lead is Apna TV anchorman Richard who had accompanied the walkers whole day starting 35 km away in Papatoetoe.

Another encouraging aspect was the tangible and visible support from media. Humm 106.2 FM’s Vijay Varma, joined in the walk from the start to end, and also provided publicity on Humm. In addition, the help and support of Apna TV was very commendable, with their cameraman and anchor-man Richard filmed and recorded the whole even for the whole day, and their staff joining in the charity walk. It is encouraging to see Indian Radio stations working together for the good of community.

Richard (centre) Apna TV anchorman, interviewing the Managing Trustee, Pravin Kumar (right). Looking on is Vijendra Prasad from Ram Krishna Mandir, on extreme left.

The chief organiser and Managing Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir, Pravin Kumar was very happy with the outcome of the charity walk. “The teamwork, awareness, community-spirit and partnership built on the way is priceless. Visit to three other temple sites at Ram Krishna Mandir in Papatoetoe, Shirdi Sai Temple at Onehunga and Bhartiya Mandir at Balmoral would forge a very beneficial like-mindedness with our temple and community centre. We wish to pass the message to the community that temples, apart from a place of worship need to branch out into service and well-being of the wider community,“ Kumar said.

The first question people tend to ask after a charity walk is: how much was collected? Pravin Kumar said as had been advised from the outset, the priority of this charity walk was NOT fundraising. While that was one of the aims, it was one on low priority. The multi-objectives of this walk were:

·        To engage with the wider community, including children, youths, elders, women and people from all walks to life – enhancing diversity, teamwork, networking and multiculturalism.

·        To create awareness of well-being, healthy living, walking, exercising and keeping fit.

·        To help raise funds for the Community Centre and temple project for West Auckland.

Presentation at the end of Charity Walk. From left, Pravin Kumar, Managing Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust, Kanwaljit Singh Baksh, List National MP, Phil Twyford, Labour Member of Parliament for Te Atatu, , Alfred Ngaro, National List MP,  Paramjeet Parmar, National List MPand Auckland Councillor, Linda Cooper.

“We are pleased that we are able to pass the wider message to the community for its well-being through the temple project,” Kumar said. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi reiterated that this was a historical event. “Such a long walk had never been undertaken before, and the organisers have proved that whatever the size of challenge is, the human determination to overcome that has always won. It has now led the way, the path, the determination and route for others to follow and say that nothing is impossible,” Bakshi said in the closing remarks.

The Managing Trustee, Pravin Kumar added that the multi-pronged objectives behind the project had been met. “We are very pleased with the initial response and enthusiasm temples spread in different corners of Auckland. They have been brought together by the resolve and determination of the team of walkers to meet the challenge. And we hope to make this into an annual pilgrimage,” Kumar said.

So will this concept grow and take root among community workers to work for the wellbeing of all. May the blessing of Ram reach all those who participated or helped in any manner.

Blowing own trumpet, your truly, author of this article and blogger at FIJI PUNDIT, the walker tag number 007, Thakur Ranjit Singh, receiving Certificate of Appreciation from Auckland Councillor, Lind Cooper. Note the 'Cowboy" hat and Ram Mandir flag on the hat. Looking on are Bakshi and Twyford.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is volunteer media and communications advisor of the Community Centre and Temple project. He runs his blog sites, FIJI PUNDIT and KIWI PUNDIT. ]

SHRI RAM-A-THON: A Unique Charity walk for the community

SHRI RAM-A-THON: A Unique Charity walk for the community

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Waitakere Community Centre and Temple project, organised by SHRI RAM MANDIR CHARITABLE TRUST (SRMCT)  is hosting a Marathon Charity walk with multiple objectives, uniqueness and enlightenment. YOU ARE INVITED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY EVENT

Auckland is going to witness the spring of a new phenomenon on the last day of spring on Sunday 30^th November, 2014 at 8 am, commencing at Ram Krishna Mandir, Papatoetoe.  

The dream: An artist's impression of the completed Waitakere Community Centre and the temple project, for which this Charity marathon walk is organised

Sri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust (SRMCT) has ventured on a project of erecting Waitakere Community Centre and a temple, named Shri Ram (Hindu deity) Mandir at 11 Brick Street, Henderson. The project has achieved the major portion of building structure, but the finishing and completion requires further work and funding. In an effort and new innovation of achieving multi-objectives, the Trust is organising a walkathon with a difference and uniqueness.

Firstly, since this walk-a-thon relates to Ram Mandir, it is called Shri (equivalent to salutation “Mr”) Ram-A-Thon. Hence the name, Shri Ram-a-thon, has been adapted to suit the occasion. This is the first such adaptation of name.

Secondly, this event is unique, because its priority does not lie in raising funds only. As indicated earlier, this event has multiple objectives, trying to enhance the wellbeing of community. The objectives are:

·        To engage with the wider community, including children, youths, elders, women and people from all walks to life – enhancing diversity and multiculturalism.

·        To create awareness of well-being, healthy living, walking and exercising.

·        To help raise funds for The Community Centre and temple project for West Auckland.

Finally, the uniqueness of this event relates to its marathon total distance of 35 Km and time of 8 hours stretching from South Auckland, through to former Auckland City area and ending in West Auckland or Waitakere City. While people will can join and leave at any of the stops, there is a group of die-hard supporters, urged by media sponsors on Humm FM and Apna 990 and TV, who aim to walk the 35 km marathon. 

While this is a project undertaken by Indians in general and Hindus in particular, the final outcome of Waitakere Community Centre will aim to be the hub of general diverse community activities in Henderson. The Trust hopes to inculcate better ethics, teaching through religious scriptures, have a place for betterment of youth, ladies and senior citizens, among others and also become a centre to enhance well-being of community through healthy habits and better, longer living. 

The broad outline, and route of Shri Ram-A-Thon is as follows:

·        8am start from Ram Krishn Mandir 25 Onslow Avenue, Papatoetoe

·        First Stop : Shirdi Sai Mandir, 12 Princess Street, Onehunga

Distance to cover is 12 KM and estimated time is 3 hours.

·        2nd Stop will be : Bhartiya Mandir, 252 Balmoral Road, Sandringham

Distance to cover is 6.9KM and estimated time is 1.30 minutes.

3rd Stop: Food for Less New Lynn

Distance to cover is 6.8 KM Estimated Time is 1.30 minutes.

·        Final Destination : Shri Ram Mandir 11 Brick Street Henderson

Distance to Cover is 9.3KM and estimated time is 2 hours.

·        Expected number of participants: Approximately 50 at the start and estimated 200 towards finishing.

·        Expected total distance is 35 km and total estimated time is 8 hours.

The Project in progress to date: it needs your help

The community event will finish at the site of Waitakere Community Centre and temple at 11 Brick Street with grand reception of walkers at the site, followed by presentation, declaration of funds raised, followed by musical entertainment and dinner.

In this festive season and in the spirit of celebration, wider Auckland community is invited to join in this healthy event and also help in raising funds for a beneficial outcome. People on the route are urged to join in or come to support the event and cheer on the walkers.

COME AND JOIN US, CHEER US OR LEND YOUR SUPPORT TO THIS COMMUNITY EVENT AND PROJECT

SHRI RAM-A THON- SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER, 2014 FROM PAPATOETOE TO  - BE PART OF THIS MARATHON CHARITY WALK

The Community Centre and temple needs your support to come to reality from a dreamAdd caption

FIJI'S DARK HISTORY - FAILED MILITARY MUTINY : THE DAY FRANK BAINIMARAMA WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE

A Dark History of Modern Fiji: When the failed military mutiny changed Fiji’s fate

Thakur Ranjit Singh

This is a reprint of article first published in 2014

Second November 2000 was the day when Frank Bainimarama was supposed to have died, and Fiji taken over by ethno-nationalists through a military mutiny instigated by some Chiefs and greedy individuals. Thank God it did not eventuate.

Can you for a moment imagine what Fiji would be like now,  had the devils, supported by some chiefs, succeeded in assassinating Frank Bainimarama on that fateful day? 

What would have been the fate of Fiji-Indians? Another Girmit or slavery, or massacre, something like Luanda or Syria?

Thank God for the 2 November, 2000, which gave back a stronger Bainimarama and a new pleasant history to Fiji. We are so thankful to the failed mutiny on this fateful day when victory, light and life respectively defeated loss, darkness and death.

Indeed, 2nd of November should be declared local Diwali for Fiji – when life won over death, and that dash through a cassava patch saved the life of an army commander who changed the fate of Fiji.

The mirage of people on different sides, but they were the birds of the same feather: Tarakinikini and Speight. Tarakinikini was also implicated in the mutiny and was saved because he had absconded to USA and was not extradited to stand trial. Speight is serving his time in jail. Fiji is so thankful for the failed coup and the failed mutiny.

Thursday 2 November 2000 started as an uneventful day, for me, a normal clear day in Suva, nothing untoward. I was at Vatuwaqa Cemetery at around 1pm to attend a friend’s funeral from Carpenters Shipping.

I had planned to travel to Ba later that afternoon to attend the funeral my cousin, Jai Karan Singh (Prem) who had suddenly passed away the previous morning at Rarawai, Ba, Fiji.

As we were completing viewing, after 1pm, we heard what sounded like cracking of gunfire. It was echoing from Nabua Military barracks which is some 2-3km away from Vatuwaqa Cemetery. We immediately sensed something was wrong, and news filtered through that something unpleasant was happening at RFMF Barracks. 

After the funeral, I quickly rushed home in Raiwai, and shot–off to Ba via Queens Road with my family to attend the funeral. Later we heard in the news that there was mayhem at Nabua Barracks where attempts were made to assassinate Commodore Frank Bainimarama. He was able to escape with help of some soldiers through cassava fields.

This was the second mutiny at a military camp. On 7 July 2000, rebel soldiers supporting George Speight overran the Sukunaivalu Barracks in Labasa, the largest town on the northern island of Vanua Levu. Besides seizing the barracks, these soldiers harassed ordinary citizens of Labasa, kidnapping bus commuters, ransacking homes, and seizing crops, and bullying, assaulting, and harassing mostly Fiji Indians.

The police was powerless and humiliated, and yours truly, Thakur made a mockery of the police force to a "badhia bail"-a castrated bullock. I coined the caption of a cartoon which read, where one farmer in Labasa is telling another farmer, pointing to a bull: “My castrated bullock has more balls than the police force.” 

The police was really impotent under the then Commissioner Isikia Savua, who was having a jaunt in Vanuatu when anarchy was taking place in Labasa. [Read full four-part account of Savua Enquiry in my FIJI PUNDIT blogsite]

Commodore Frank Bainimarama (now Fiji's Prime Minister) with his officers, when he was leading the Army. After attempts on his life by his own people, he had been very cautious of whom to trust. Hence, he removed all thorns and disloyal  soldiers from the ranks and had loyal people who could be trusted.

Reports later emerged that the situation at Nabua Barracks on this fateful day was bloody and unheard of where Fijians were prepared to shoot their fellow soldiers in cold blood, while the milk of human kindness in some rebels stopped them from killing in cold blood. 

Fijian army officers were executed in cold blood by the rebel soldiers from Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW, which was equivalent to elite force of SAS) during this rebel uprising, with one soldier shot at point blank range while he was asleep.

Reports in local newspapers gave graphic details of how renegade Special Forces soldiers killed three loyal officers during the failed military mutiny at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva on this fateful day of 2 November, 2000. One was shot while seated at his computer. His blood was cleaned from the keyboard, according to the Fiji Sun.

One rebel from the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) Unit refused to execute two officers at the height of the gun battle. Major Niko Bukarau, who escaped execution, told Fiji's Daily Post: "I should be in the mortuary if everything went as planned." 

While the CRW rebels had taken over the Nabua Barracks, it was perhaps their bad luck, as little did they realize that the most powerful and feared unit of RFMF, the Third Infantry Regiment was at Sigatoka Sand dunes, undertaking military exercises. 

As I passed Sigatoka on my way to Ba on the day, I passed these soldiers waiting just below Matanipusi Hills, some 100km away from Suva, in Dee Cee Buses, as if readying themselves to pounce on the enemy. Somehow, I had a hunch that Fiji still had hope.

And the powerful Third Regiment was headed by a Bainimarama loyalist and career soldier, COLONEL VILIAME SERUVAKULA, who joined the Army in the early 1980s. He opposed the 2000 coup. And he stood out as Fiji’s saviour on that fateful day. 

They gallantly marched into Nabua camp, mounted a brief offensive, and led the all-powerful Third Regiment in a counter-offensive to retake the barracks from the rebels and maintain normalcy and security. They succeeded.

Sitiveni Rabuka-the original coup-maker. He was also implicated in the mutiny, and as a result lost his opportunity of a diplomatic posting.

Following the mutiny, Seruvakula made some controversial statements in the media. He alleged that he had been offered F$250,000 to support George Speight's attempted coup in May, and that former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (who led two coups in 1987) had incited the mutiny and attempted to overthrow the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

It later emerged that this mutiny was led by Captain Shane Stevens. It left some casualties and fatalities, and we can say there was some collateral damage.  A total of 42 soldiers from the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit were subsequently convicted of involvement in the mutiny.

Bainimarama also accused Rabuka of having "politicized" the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW).

The name of Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini has also been mentioned as the person who wanted to depose Bainimarama.

Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, Qaranivalu (right) from Naitasiri, who was convicted for inciting and supporting the mutiny.  He is seen here with his wife, who is sister of another soldier who has been cleansed from RFMF, ex Landforce Commander Ratu Jone Baleldrokadroka. Some feel he is merely the fall guy.

Stevens later testified that Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, the Qaranivalu, a senior chief of Naitasiri Province and a Senator and former Cabinet Minister, had visited the barracks during the mutiny to offer moral and practical support, which included supplying the mutineers with cellphones. Later, Takiveikata was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the mutiny.

That was a flashback of events that unfolded over two decades ago. Can you for a moment imagine what Fiji would be like now, had the devils, supported by some chiefs, succeeded in assassinating Bainimarama on that fateful day? 

What would have been the fate of Fiji Indians? Another Girmit or slavery, or massacre, something like Luanda or Syria? What would have the so-called leaders, masquerading as Chiefs done to Fiji, after they had looted National Bank of Fiji(NBF) and other institutions of Fiji under Rabuka regime?

Can you appreciate and perhaps now understand Bainimarama for taking the actions he took? How would you feel if your own people, in military, who were there to protect the leader, had become your killers? How about Chiefs? Instead of being mentors and respectable advisers, they abused their position for greed of power?

The events that unfolded subsequent to this attempt on his life is reflected in the tough stance Bainimarama took. He had warned Qarase to inculcate better governance, bereft of nationalism and racism, which Qarase ignored at his peril.

Bainimarama purged military and removed all the thorns and opposition, and strengthened it with loyal officers who believed in multiracialism, good governance and loyalty.

The thieves…oops, I mean Chiefs, some of them abused their positions and power, and politicized the august body of GCC for personal and political gains. 

The biggest disappointment was Naitasiri's powerful and respected Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, who was implicated and sentenced. As a result the sham of Great Council of Chiefs had to go.

Fiji's Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama-thank God the mutiny failed in 2000 - we have a stronger person leading the nation. We cannot imagine what Fiji would have been with those ethno-nationalists

With the election of Fiji’s First government as the now democratically elected government of Fiji and recognition by Australia, New Zealand and USA, followed by the whole world, Fiji has come a long way since that fateful day on 2 November, 2000. 

Yes, this is the significant and historic day when Fiji’s current Prime Minister, Commodore Bainimarama played hide and seek with death in a cassava patch in Nabua. And like Diwali which heralds victory of life over death, life won on that crucial day, which we now realize made him into an ironman for the rascals and a friend of the weak.

Thank God for the 2 November, 2000, which gave back a stronger Bainimarama and a new pleasant history to Fiji. We are so thankful to the failed mutiny on this fateful day when victory, light and life respectively defeated loss, darkness and death.

Indeed, second of November should be declared local Diwali for Fiji – every year.

[E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]

[About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator and runs blog site, FIJI PUNDIT, that tells what others fail to tell. He is a former publisher of Fiji's Daily Post newspaper, and is based in Auckland, New Zealand. This article was originally written in 2014 and is intended as a historical reminder of our dark past.]