Maa Tujhe Salaam – a Salute to India on Independence Day 2016

Thakur Ranjit Singh, Auckland, New Zealand.

A salute to India on its 70th anniversary of independence -15 August, 2016.

On the night of 14 August, 1947, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, gave the historical, Tryst with Destiny speech”

“Long years ago we made a tryst (date) with destiny (fate), and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.

At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. ”

Jai Hind-Hail India

I dedicate this article on behalf of Indian Diaspora in Auckland and also in memory of my Indian Girmitiya (indentured labourer) grandfather Bansi, to all the freedom fighters who were able to deliver this dream – a meeting with fate and cashing on the reality of an Independent India. 

I am a third generation Fijian (Indo Fijian).My grandfather Bansi, was displaced from Karouli, in Rajasthan and torn and tricked from his roots by British in 1915, to slave in Fiji to fill their coffer via sugar plantation, as an indentured (Girmitiya) labourer. I made a pilgrimage to his village some sixteen years ago.

Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India (left) with father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. "Tryst with Destiny" was a speech made  to the Indian Constituent Assembly in The Parliament, on the eve of India's Independence, towards midnight on 14 August 1947.

As the Airbus 320 of Lufthansa Airlines glided towards Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, it was a milestone in my life. This was a flight from Frankfurt, Germany, around midnight of 20 October, 2003. Fate destined that I , together with my good wife were passengers on that flight. I was filled with emotions and unprecedented feelings of delight. I had pledged on the burning pyre of my father that one day I would visit my grandfather’s birthplace, to trace my roots, and also visit the places that we only read in Holy Scriptures. The land we looked upon with awe and reverence, and called Bharat Mata –mother India. As I stepped out, I knelt down there and picked some dust and anointed on my forehead. This was the earth where Ram and Krishn also treaded, and so did my Aja, Bansi. And the land we only knew from Bollywood, and little bit from my Girmitiya grandfather. This was his birthplace.

Bharat Mata - Mother India. Maa Tujhe Salaam- a salute to India on its 70th Anniversary of Independence.

I had good and exciting memorable times in tracing my roots to my lineage and the land of Prithviraj Chauhan, near Jaipur in a small town called Karouli in Rajasthan. I was saddened to see that the economic development and progress in India has failed to reach remote areas, as sections of the country is gripped in poverty, with deep division in the then leaders. Karouli is very close to Vrindavan, Mathura and Taj Mahal, and near stronghold of dacoits like Gabbar Singh of Sholay fame, near Chambal Valley. But those things some other day.

When the then Indian PM Indira Gandhi visited Fiji over three decades ago in 1981, she had good advice for descendants of indentured Indian labourers or girmitiyas as we are known there. She told us that Fiji was now our country, hence we belonged there. As a result, we owed allegiance, loyalty and love for our country, Fiji.

Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai - the country where River Ganges flows-India. The great country where  this author went in 2003 to trace his roots in Rajasthan. This Raj Kapoor movie gave world a lesson on how to treat your visitors- Atithi Deva Bhava - visitors are our Gods. This is a lesson world leaders need to learn from India.

When Fiji’s racist and ethno-nationalist deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase visited India some two decades ago, he failed to learn anything from Indian hospitality.  The uncrowned father of Indian movies, Raj Kapoor immortalized this aspect of Indian culture in his film, “Jis Desh Mein Ganga Baheti Hai” (the land where Ganges flows) with this song….”Mehmaan jo hamara hota hai, woh jaan se pyara hota hai, jyada ki nahin laalach humko thore mein gujara hota hai... hum us desh ke waasi hai jis desh mein Ganga baheti hai...” His song translates to say that we value our visitors more than our life; we do not lust or greed for much as we manage in little that we have... We hail from the land where the Ganges flows…. And from that land if Qarase had learnt that language of Indian love, he may still be ruling Fiji today. But he failed to do so at his peril. And as they say, the rest is history.

Nationalist leaders and others around the world should gain immensely from Indian history and the way of life. Ethnocentric Anglo Saxons, Europeans and other ignorant people who still regard India as a land of snake charmers and rope tricks need to see Akshay Kumar’s Bollywood movie Namastey London. (Greetings to London) They need to get a translation of episode where the protagonist Akshay Kumar, shuts up the great grandson of an English East Indian Company employee who was running down India and its people.

1. Namastey London: a scene from the movie where the protagonist, Akshay Kumar tells the true tales of real India to a grandson of an Englishman whose grandfather served in  India [Click on the (blue) link above to see that scene- strongly recommended-very inspiring for anybody who hates ethnocentrism.)

By clasping his hands, Akshay says that when we Indians greet each other in the tradition of five thousand year old civilization, we fold our hands close to heart in Namastey (greetings) because we believe that God resides in the heart of every human being. 

We come from a nation where we allow a lady of Catholic Religion (Sonia Gandhi) to step aside for a Sikh (Manmohan Singh) to be sworn as the Prime Minister by a Muslim President (Abdul Kalam) to govern a nation with over 80% Hindus (India)

English is spoken and read more widely in India than in England. India has 5,600 newspapers, 35,000 magazines and 21 major languages with combined readership of 120 million, many more than in England. We have reached the moon and back but yet many Anglo Saxons (Europeans) still feel that India has reached only as far as gourd flute of snake charmers. We have third largest pool in the world of doctors, scientists and engineers. All these are of the details of our intellectual might, now look at our physical might.

May be the English grandfather did not tell that we have the third largest army in the world, and even then Indians clasp their hands in humility because they do not believe that they are above or beneath any individual…..end of the lesson. 

So next time you are confronted by an ethnocentric individual who runs down your Bharat Mata , then you repeat the above to shut him. Some good movies, among others, to enlighten you and your children on pride of India are Manoj Kumar’s Shaheed, Upkar and Purab aur Paschim.

Purab aur Pachhim  (East and West)), Manoj Kumar's movie that tells an exemplary tale of Indian culture versus London Anglo Saxon culture. A pride in promoting our culture-very relevant to our westernised Indian Diaspora, especially teens who frown on things Indian.

But how true are those dreams and future that Jawaharlal Nehru uttered some 70 years ago to the date?

“The service of lndia means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over. And so we have to labour and to work and work…”

"You support me and be a good Indian, and I will make India number one..." NARENDRA MODI- The Lion of Gujarat - answer to our prayers for somebody to wrest back honour, dignity and respectability that Indian once commanded.

And that work shall continue. And we are proud that India today is in better hands than ever been so, under Narendra Modi. And shall we pray that he will be able to wrest back the dignity India once had. The economic development of the last 70 years has not trickled down to the common people. There is a lot more that needs to be done, where social justice is delivered to ALL Indians. 

A salute to India-Maa Tujhe Salaam

And as we raise the Tiranga, the tricolour flag of India, we pledge to emulate the dreams of our freedom fighters who brought independence to India.

Jai Hind (Hail India)

(About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is a third generation Indo Fijian. He was born in Fiji Islands. His indentured grandfather, Bansi came as an indentured labourer to Fiji in 1915. Thakur runs his blog site, FIJI PUNDIT)

STOP THE HYPOCRISY OF RAKSCHA BANDHAN IF YOU CANNOT RESPECT ALL WOMEN

RAKSCHA BANDHAN IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT RESPECT BY MEN TOWARDS ALL WOMEN

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Many abused wives and other women would see the hypocrisy of Rakscha Bandhan when they see sisters tying Rakhi on the hands of wife-beating and women abusing men, seeking protection. How can such abusive brothers protect another woman? And how hypocrite is a dowry - demanding brother? 

 

We cannot continue to happily celebrate Rakscha Bandhan while our sisters get beaten up by their husbands and others behind closed doors in their own homes, without community taking any positive action. I have personal experience of a beaten sister by a brute husband.

India, while glorifying its Goddesses and Deities in real fact appear to treat our women as trash and lowly weak creatures in reality. India, with 80% Hindu population, is tainted as the worst country for a woman to be born into the country of Sita, Lakshmi, Radha, Gauri and Durga, while a European-dominated Canada is the best. 

 

This Hindu festival will have little relevance to the theme of brotherly-sisterly love and respect for women if all that the celebration involves is feel-good stage shows, singing, dancing and a platform for speeches by politicians as done by some.

 

And increasing commercialisation of Hindu festival by greedy businesses, including media, promoting sarees, gold, sweets, perfume and materialism, without message of love and respect for all women that Hindus in particular and India in general lack.

Rather than running with bruised egos, our community organisations need to really tackle the hard issues facing our community - the band of women beaters in our community.

A research by Massey University in Auckland shows that Indians in general and Hindus in particular are biggest abusers of women in Auckland from their sample in a women’s refuge. I believe that as a fact, as police statistics, Auckland Council feedback and Ministry of Social Development figures substantiate this. 

 

So, FIJI PUNDIT is giving you a shock treatment this Rakscha Bandhan because this once revered holy festival degenerates to a joke in commercial money-making festival, ego-boosting functions and materialism, without passing the real message – FOR INDIANS TO RESPECT ALL WOMEN - EVERYWHERE…EVERY-TIME.

 

Please read on for our shameful hypocrisy….

 

Krishn-Draupadi episode in Mahabharat where Lord Krishn saves honour of Draupadi, remains the hallmark of protection that brothers need to provide to sisters in times of need - care and respect ALL MEN should show towards ALL WOMEN, not only their sisters.

Many believe the concept of Rakscha Bandhan originated from Draupadi and Krishn. Once, when Krishna had hurt his finger while beheading Shishupal, (via Sudarshan Chakra), Draupadi immediately rushed to him.

She at once tore off her sari and bandaged Krishna’s finger. Krishna for this loving act had vowed to help Draupadi. For every thread which she had used to cover his wound, Lord Krishna promised to repay the cost of each thread. He had promised to help Draupadi by saying, “whenever you need me I’ll always be there.”  He repaid this debt during Draupadi Cheer Haran (disrobing), and in many other episodes of Mahabharat. 

Historically there is story of Rani Karnavati (grandmother of the legendary Maharana Pratap) of Chittorgarh and Mughal Emperor Humayun, whom Rani sent a Rakscha Bandhan. When Rani was attacked and defeated and died through mass suicide, Emperor Humayun defeated Bahadur Shah and restored kingdom to sons of Karnavati. This almost 5 century old history shows that brotherly-sisterly love through Rakscha Bandhan transcends religions: love of a Muslim brother to a Hindu sister - some 500 years ago.

Bollywood has been foremost in promoting brotherly-sisterly love. From Choti Bahen to Hare Rama Hare Krishna to current times, brotherly -sisterly love is shown as immortal in reel (film) life, but such respect for women seem to have been escaping India in real life.

Bollywood has glorified Brotherly-Sisterly love. The leading one is Dev Anand's "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" which immortalised this love with melodious song: "Phulo ka taro ka sab ka kehna hai...ek hazaron mein meri behna hai..."

The chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister is one of the deepest and noblest of human emotions. 'Rakscha Bandhan' or 'Rakhi' is a special occasion to celebrate this emotional bonding by tying a holy thread around the wrist. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the ‘Rakhi’. 

We can extend this love to sibling love where one may not have brothers or sisters (sisters to sisters and brothers to brothers). This is similar to the Bandhan which a pundit or priest ties to your hand during Pooja, signifying that God is your protector. 

Bollywood has been instrumental in promoting and glorifying Rakhi festival. But has the "reel' glorification descended on "real" India and amongst Indians? 

This Hindu festival will have little relevance to the theme of brotherly-sisterly love and respect for women if all that the celebration involves is feel-good stage shows, singing, dancing and a platform for speeches by politicians. And this also provides an avenue for businesses to sell more sarees, gold, sweets, perfume etc. This also becomes a revenue source for media to promote such commercialisation.

Personally, I have no objections to brothers giving gifts to their sisters. But it comes with a condition that if you have to give your sister anything, FIRST gift her the promise to respect and protect ALL women - starting from your wife.

To the brothers, who has Rakhi tied to their hands, and who vow to protect their sisters, I have one question for you: You vow to protect your sister, but who protects my sister - your wife? This is especially relevant because Indians in general and Hindus in particular hold the relationship of a brother and sister in high esteem, together with respect for all women-theoretically in many cases. 

While your married sister is someone else’s wife, at the same time, your wife happens to be someone else’s sister. Hence there is a logical reason for reciprocity if one wants to protect sisters. What this means is that for your sister to be respected and protected, you need to do the same to your wife, and other women, who are somebody else’s sisters.

A brother's hand that extends towards a sister for tying of the bond of love is also used to bash other women who are somebody else's sisters.  That is why Rakscha Bandha should be a platform to promote love, respect and regard for ALL women. And this incidence of violence is higher among our people.

But is this happening? We reportedly have high incidents of family violence, (and atrocities) especially against women in India and amongst Indian migrants (read People of Indian Origin) to New Zealand and other countries. Therefore the Indian community glorifying Racha Bandhan festival to promote themselves are abusive towards media revealing out violent attitude to women.

That research by Massey University shows that Indians in general and Hindus in particular are biggest abusers of women in Auckland from their sample in a women’s refuge. I believe that as a fact. Hospital records, police statistics, Auckland Council concerns and Ministry of Social Development figures substantiate this. 

Through such concerns, in 2010, Waitakere Indian Association held a joint workshop with these organisations to tackle this problem. Rather than running with bruised egos, Hindu organisations need to really tackle the hard issue facing our community - the band of women beaters in our community.

Tragedy for Indians is that while they pledge to protect their own sisters, then why do they openly abuse sisters of others? If we took the theme of Raksha Bandhan to protect sisters, that translates to respect for ALL women. Then why are women so much abused and dishonoured in India generally by Indians? Are our festivals only a sham and show piece, without any meanings?

We appear to be too religious, but many lacking spirituality – we need to practice it in real life. Hindu religious organisations need to inculcate better respect for women within their community from “vyas gaddi” (religious pulpit) in practical terms and NOT in some abstract religious theory, not understood by many. 

The visiting Swamis from India need to speak more about relevance of religion to improve well being of migrants rather than abstract knowledge that is merely theoretical. We need to walk our talk of good deeds. We have too much religious activities, but little in practice in life.

During Rakhi, a sister should also seek protection of her Bhabhi-sister in law, who is also somebody's sister.

Therefore Rakscha Bandhan should be an occasion to pass a message to our community to address the issue about respect for women and stop family violence. This is because celebrations are good avenues for addressing social issues in the community, despite so called Hindu organizations disputing this. 

Therefore sisters, when you tie the sacred thread, Rakhi on your brothers’ hands, please ask them not only to vow to protect you, but your Bhabhis (sisters-in-law) – their wives as well, because they also are somebody’s sister.

Sisters always feel protected by gallant and brave men who fight for the nation, but show their cowardice in beating up and abusing women and children.

Therefore I plead to all brothers to accept this theme and slogan for all Rakscha Bandhan in future. Please take this pledge with all other men: I vow to protect your sister in my home, please pledge to protect mine in your home. And this way, we will use our culture to tackle this vice of family violence in our society.

We cannot continue to happily celebrate Rakscha Bandhan while our sisters get beaten up by their husbands behind closed doors in their own homes, without community taking any positive action.

This should be the gift all sisters should seek from their brothers: My brother, this hand is for protecting sisters in particular, and women in general. Please never use it with bad intent on any other sister.

Let us all join in the spirit of Rakscha Bandhan to respect all women, and introduce a social theme for betterment of our women. 

Happy Rakscha Bandhan to all.

[About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator and runs blog site FIJI PUNDIT to pass social message to the community. He advocates change in community attitudes towards festivals we celebrate, to address issues in our communities. Otherwise the well-meaning festivals remain hollow, meaningless and degenerates into a fashion parade. E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com.]

Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) excel,with new executives.

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Racial taunts of “curry muncher” and “get out of this country” were not unusual in the earlier parts of 1980s and 90s in New Zealand. And it was such abuses that inspired the founding President of Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) to think about forming a body as a collective pressure and advocate group to provide support for the growing migrant Indian community (People of Indian Origin) in West Auckland.

The Founding President, Praveen Chandra had told the tenth anniversary celebration of Waitakere Indian Association on 8 May, 2010, that the idea of forming an organisation of Indians took root at a birthday party in Te Atatu Peninsula in 1999. And sixteen years on, that organisation is still going strong, with its latest Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 31 July 2016.

All the president's men and women.The incoming executive members of Waitakere Indian Association elected at AGM on 31 July, 2016. SITTING -from left. Kajal Kumar (Assistant Secretary), Hasmita Singh (Secretary), President, Mahendra Sharma, Sunil Kaushal (Vice President), Manoj Tahal (Trustee/Executive)

STANDING -Left to Right- Hardip Singh (Executive), Preeya Prakash (Executive), Mohini Prakash (Assistant Treasurer), Sunil Chandra (Trustee/Executive), Chandrika Prasad (Executive), Nawal Prakash (Executive) Naveen Prakash (Trustee/Treasurer/Immediate Past President), Arvind Singh (Rohit) (Executive) and Dev Bhardwaj (Executive)

Over the past one and a half decades, WIA has been recognised as one of the best organisations in West Auckland, and perhaps New Zealand and received numerous awards for that. It has established itself as a credible community organisation and has formed sound working relationship with like-minded  organisations, the local Maori, Auckland Council, various ethnic groups, various Government ministries, NGOs, local business communities, the sponsors, and of course with its grassroots membership.

The stormy, rainy, windy and wintery cold last day of July, 2016, in mid-winter, saw a warm function at St John Hall in Henderson Auckland. It was an evening for the grassroots membership and the evening rounded off with networking, socialising and dinner. The membership included thinning and greying - haired senior citizens, jean-clad youths, sari and salwar-kameez clad ladies wing, and of course the smartly dressed engine room of the organisation - the past, present and prospective executive members of WIA. This was a day to continue celebrating an icon of West Auckland.

The big boss: Chairperson of Trustees, Sunil Chandra (standing), addressing the meeting while the Secretary, Hasmita Singh (left) is taking notes and the Treasurer Naveen Prakash is engrossed in the financial figures.

The meeting was first addressed by Chairperson of Trustees, Sunil Chandra, who thanked the outgoing executives for a job well-done. WIA has a three tier system, with Trustees, Executives and general membership. The permanent nature of Trustees ensures continuity and stability in the organisation, with trustees having powers of veto to ensure smooth functioning of the organisation. Such a system of governance ensures nobody can “coup” the hard work of the organisation at AGM. 

The founding Trustee / President Praveen Chandra has vacated office. The current Trustees are Sunil Chandra, Rameshwar Dutt, Abhay Ballu, Umas Chandra, Naveen Prakash, with Manoj Tahal making the newest trustee. Perhaps this form of a system would suit other similar organisations to keep opportunists away, and for smooth operation. The buck in such an organisation, does not stop at AGM – the Trustees give the final blessing to grant it legitimacy and authority. And that has been the reason for success and stability of WIA, thanks to the learned Trustees, who rarely get recognised for being the foundation and beacon of the organisation.

The two Presidents: Incoming President, Mahendra Sharma (left) watches on while the Immediate Past President/Treasurer , Naveen Prakash addresses the meeting.

The outgoing President Naveen Prakash presented his annual report and outlined the achievements. Apart from the annual popular Waitakere Diwali and Waitakere Holi (being the pioneer of Holi festival in Auckland), WIA was also been involved in other community activities including fundraising for hurricane in Fiji, working with Auckland Council on final death rite issues and working with like-minded ethnic bodies and organisations for well-being of the community. 

Respective Project Managers of Diwali and Holi, Anilesh Kumar and Mahendra Sharma presented their reports and wonderful events they managed. Other reports of successful subcommittees, such as Youth and Sports, Women’s Wing and Senior Citizens reports were also presented. Naveen being a former treasurer guards money very closely and was able to deliver a healthy surplus and bank accounts for incoming executives.

Part of the Senior Citizens at WIA Annual General Meeting

Allocating and delegating responsibilities to Project Managers for specific events provide opportunities for personal development and spreads leadership training and exposure. Its success was self-evident when the last Holi Festival Project Manager, Mahendra Sharma was unanimously elected as the new President.

Part of the members present at AGM

The full Executive Committee for 2016-2017 year are as follows:

President: Mahendra Sharma
Vice President: Sunil Kaushal
Secretary: Hasmita Singh
Assistant Secretary: Kajal Kumar
Treasurer/ Immediate Past President: Naveen Prakash
Assistant Treasurer: Mohini Prakash
Executive Members: Hardip Singh, Manoj Tahal, Sunil Chandra, Preeya Prakash, Chandrika Prasad, Dev Bhardwaj, Arvind Singh (Rohit) and Nawal Prakash.

One uniqueness about AGM at WIA is the smooth election process where most elections have been through consensus, in a cordial atmosphere, with guiding hands of the trustees. And we were blessed by a grassroots member of our community as the next President. Mahendra Sharma – a soft-spoken, humble person.

The new President, Sharma, in his first presidential address laid the basic foundation of the new executive. This, among others, included working closely with police, and having Indian Wardens in Henderson. This will be headed by the new executive member, Nawal Prakash, who is a former senior sergeant of Fiji Military Forces. The other was working with Fire Services to ensure checking on working smoke alarms in our homes. Sharma also emphasised working closely with the Maori community in general and Waipareira Trust in particular. In addition, WIA would work very closely with Shri Ram Mandir and Hindi School. One area of emphasis will be youth development, and well-being of Senior Citizens. Another emphasis would be extending the sphere of WIA with a membership drive to bring in more people on board.

Empowering women. A pride of Indian Community in New Zealand, Constable Mandeep Kaur Sidhu, Ethnic Peoples Community Relations Officer, based at Henderson Police Station. Here she is seen addressing AGM, while the past and incoming Secretary, Hasmita Singh is taking instant-minutes of the proceedings. With these ladies in the forefront and WIA executives comprising some 30%, West Auckland takes pride in empowering its ladies. President, Mahendra Sharma intends to work closely with police and law enforcement in Henderson.

With the mixture of new and the old, and with three trustees in the executive committee, the membership can expect another successful year from a very enthusiastic, energetic and well deserved team. And unlike many similar organisations WIA can boast to be empowering ladies by having some 30% ladies in key positions.

They say, charity begins at home. WIA, a charitable organisation is indeed unique in this way. Perhaps another rarity of WIA is that, while maintaining its transparency and good governance, it remains a community, a grassroots and a family organisation. To reflect this, WIA’s new Executive has two sets of father – daughter team, while there is a husband – wife team as well. It is through such homely and closely-knit team that Waitakere Indian Association continues to be a shining light of charitable organisations in New Zealand.

FIJI PUNDIT congratulates and blesses them in his usual, salutary manner-Aayushmaan Bhava.

[About the Author-Thakur Ranjit Singh is a former Secretary and Executive Member of WIA, and runs his blog site FIJI PUNDIT, covers news and issues that generally miss the radar of commercial news organisations.]

The Blacklisted NZ Journalists: When Fiji stands firm

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Barbara Dreaver and Michael Field are two New Zealand journalists still blacklisted (banned) from Fiji. When NZ Prime Minister, John Key visited Fiji in June 2016, he did raise issues with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama to relax the ban. However, the banned journalists appeared arrogant and felt that Fiji owed an obligation to allow them in. Bainimarama effectively said, “…get stuffed…” (Pun intended, as one banned journalist used to work for a media called Stuff!)

It appears that some Fijian journalists, former journalist and media educators in Fiji tend to believe that sun rises from backsides of some Kiwi (read Anglo Saxon) journalists, and goes back to set there in the afternoon. For somebody who has studied journalism in NZ, and has been a media commentator and blogger here in Auckland, I can vouch that some media and journalists here cannot stand as exemplary beacon for Fiji or Fijians to emulate. Some are far from perfect, others are blatantly biased against certain political parties, and the remainder abuse their positions in media to shame any media student. Some appear to be lapdogs of certain influential advertisers. Therefore, Third World journalists in Fiji have to wake up to this fact and stop adoring those who are unworthy of this gesture.

Some people whining and whinging in Fiji need to shed off the shackles of colonialism, and accept that anything foreign or White need not be superior. It is better to be standing tall, than being a bootlicker or a servile journalist. FIJI PUNDIT is one such…Read on…

Barbara Dreaver

Michael Field

Prime Minister John Key’s visit to Fiji (9-10 June), marked a significant gain in the restoration of relations between New Zealand and Fiji. This was despite NZ mainstream media ignoring, appreciating and failing to report this. In 2006, during the reign of Helen Clark, Fiji suffered ‘smart’ sanctions, following the Bainimarama-initiated coup on December 5, 2006 that removed the Qarase Government. Ironically, she now needs Prime Minister Bainimarama’s support too in her quest to clinch the prestigious position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. What more, Fiji’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Peter Thomson is now the President of the United Nations and would decide on her fate! Following New Zealand and Australia’s rigid stand, Bainimarama said that he would not return to the Pacific Islands Forum until the influence of New Zealand and Australia on the forum were reduced. In his recent visit, Mr Key urged Mr Bainimarama to re-join the Pacific Islands Forum but did not get any commitment from him.

On ban imposed by Fiji on some foreign journalists, such as Barbara Dreaver of TVNZ and Michael Field, formerly of Fairfax, Mr Key said he had tried without success to get Mr Bainimarama to lift the bans. Mr Bainimarama retained his vigorous opposition to the banned journalists saying, the journalists’ reporting was misleading and mischievous and was not amenable to Mr Key’s call on media freedom in Fiji.  He said, "Certain journalists in New Zealand and Australia and certain journalists in Fiji think nothing of dispensing with the facts if they get in the way of the politically-motivated narrative they want to tell. We are saying to the news organisations that employ them, send someone else." He clarified that no one who reported on events in Fiji fairly and in a balanced manner was excluded and they were free to criticize the government or him in an opinion piece or report criticism by others in their news stories. 

John Key meeting Frank Bainimarama: Anybody reporting in a balanced manner was not banned from Fiji.

Indeed, hopes of Barbara Dreaver of TVNZ and Michael Field, on the lifting of the ban against them has been dashed, as Bainimarama spoke with same vigour and verve, leaving no doubt in John Key’s mind on the futility of seeking reprieve for them. Bainimarama accused Barbara Dreaver for posting footage of tanks in the streets of Suva when Fiji had no tanks in its armoury. She denied the accusation and claimed that TVNZ had no such footage. However, her footage showing schoolchildren pulling grass with their hands, as they did not have fuel for the motor mowers smacks of notoriety. In Fiji, the backup support for such eventuality is knives (machete), which is commonly used and pulling grass by hand is both unacceptable and impractical for clearing school grounds. Besides, the size of grass, which children were pulling, was not of a height that required desperate and unconventional measures. In addition to this, according to the TVNZ footage, the children seemed to move away, indicating that it was possibly a set up to ventilate her views on the Fijian economy. 

Michael Field also tried to defend himself but showed his obvious unsavoury reputation. He wrote, “Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum, who really run the show, are a kind of unelected politburo. Only last week they had opposition politician Tupou Draunidalo kicked out of Parliament until 2018 when she correctly called Education Minister Mahendra Reddy an idiot.”  Fiji has a democratically elected Parliament with Bainimarama’s approval rating consistently 60 percent or above since his election, which also credibly reflected on his Government. Field endorses Draunidalo’s comment, stressing that she ‘correctly’ called Reddy an idiot but ignored her comment, accusing Reddy for saying ‘dumb natives’, in a bid to stir racial feelings, when he did not utter such words. To claim that Sayed-Khaiyum running the show is an insult to the Fijian parliament and people of Fiji and Michel Field has proven that he thoroughly deserves the ban to remain. When journalists become judgemental and blatantly opinionated, they deserve to suffer the consequences. 

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa who was riled by Dreaver's report on Samoa  being " awash with guns and drugs"

By such actions, journalists of the ilk of Barbara Dreaver and Michael Field invite retaliatory measures against them and when it happens, they navigate for public opinion to rescue them.  Indeed, for Michael Field, banned from Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati and Nauru, proved his culpability in being biased, insensitive and too opinionated for his own good. On Barbara Dreaver, a Fiji Sun source (June 12) claimed that following complaint to New Zealand’s Broadcasting Authority against her by Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, claiming Samoa was “awash with guns and drugs”, the TVNZ was reportedly ordered to pay NZ$5,000 to the Samoan Government. Mr Tuilaepa reportedly later claimed that the ruling was a “victory for responsible and substantive reporting”

Interestingly, these two claim the high ground of media freedom and their right to impose themselves, as they deem fit, on island nations but disappear in the thin air when dealing with China, Iran or Saudi Arabia when leaders of these nations come to New Zealand. They do not whinge, as they do against Fiji now ruled by a leader who has the guts to stand up to people like Barbara Dreaver and Michael Field.  Media freedom is a right that impinges on the practitioners in the field of journalism to dispense their obligations responsibly and not recklessly, as Barbara Dreaver and Michael Field do.

Further, Barbara Dreaver’s defence against Fiji’s stance through the TVNZ on 10 June clearly demonstrated her resentment, arrogance and self-righteousness, which one hopes does not extend her sentence by the Fijian authorities. She obviously has to learn the art of diplomacy in dealing with national leaders and nations, hiding her hostility and contempt, easily captured through her body language, voice modulation, including facial expressions. Obviously, she would not dare do that to the Chinese Government on the state TV, risking her job at the command of the authorities from the Beehive! 

Indeed, such journalists are the cause for media controls being implemented in many countries and when it happens, they cry foul. Fiji is not a perfect democracy but an evolving one that is substantially better in concept and practice than past governments, anchored to the 1970, 1990 and 1997 Constitutions. 

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is the principal of blog FIJI PUNDIT and Indian Media Watch - New Zealand. He is a qualified journalist, a postgraduate scholar from Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) with honours and a former media personality from Fiji. He is a media commentator, specialising in social media, covering Fiji and local news, generally bypassed by the mainstream and side stream media.]

When a character from ‘Airlift” visits Shri Ram Mandir: His Excellency Sanjiv Kohli

Thakur Ranjit Singh

As the Indian dhol sounded out, and the conch shell or shank, was blown by Pundit Jagdish Maharaj, His Excellency, the protagonist of Airlift, Sanjeev Kohli was escorted into Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson, Auckland on the evening of 16 July, 2016. His entry was preceded by flagbearers carrying three flags of the countries touching all of us: New Zealand, India and Fiji. 

A person of such a short stature, such a humble-looking servant of people, how could he have caused miracles in Kuwait during Desert Storm (Iraqi wars)? One could but be proud of the very pivotal role he played in rescue and evacuation of over 150,000 Indians from Kuwait during Saddam’s invasion in 1990. [I overnight saw the movie “Airlift” in preparation to write this article.]

The reel and real Sanjeev Kohli. Left, Actor Kumud Mishra who plays Sanjeev Kohli in Airlift. Centre, the real Sanjeev Kohli, the then Joint Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)  who visited Ram Mandir. He is now Indian High Commisioner to New Zealand. Left, poster of Airlift"

When Akshay Kumar’s ‘Airlift” was released, questions were raised about authenticity or truthfulness of the events and the story. One of the main characters, Sanjeev Kohli (played in the film by actor Kumud Mishra), has spoken out. The truth is that real Sanjeev Kohli exists, and that differs from the reel (movie) Kohli, who is portrayed as a helpless Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The real Kohli dispels a lot of theories about the lack-lustre performance of the Ministry, “We had orders from Delhi not to leave till the last Indian had left, and we did it despite limited resources,” he reportedly told NewsMobile in an exclusive interview.

Sanjeev Kohli, now Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand, is an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1988 batch. He is known in the ministry as a quiet performer who has served in Kuwait, Moscow and Qatar and served as a Joint Secretary in MEA headquarters in Delhi. He was a young third Secretary in the Indian mission in Kuwait when Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait on 2nd August 1990. “It was a traumatic time we were completely stuck without any communication link, it was about ten day later that we set up a communication link with great difficulty, but we never fled the country,” Kohli told media. In the movie, the Indian diplomats desert the mission with a lone staffer telling Akshay Kumar that all diplomats had left. It is reported that the movie Airlift is a tremendous effort by Akshay Kumar and does score on creativity. However it appears to have failed in research, missing out on important factual points which would have helped the movie.

Sanjeev Kohli facilitated and coordinated with various agencies to arrange almost 500 flights to evacuate over 150,000 Indians stranded due to Iraqi war- Desert Storm in 1990. The real story is that people were not abandoned. Indian government cares for its stranded people.

And despite its shortcomings, Airlift did show Sanjeev Kohli as a righteousness and loyal civil servant who played a key role in ensuring Indians were safely transported to India.

Therefore it was a historical moment when Shri Ram Mandir, on that cold wintery evening, warmly welcomed a distinguished guest, very deserving of the honour. Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Sunil Sharma very ably controlled the evening event which was a joint effort of Waitakere Indian Association (WIA), Waitakere Hindi School and the hosts, Shri Ram Mandir. Naveen Prakash the president of WIA, explained the role of Indian Association which has become a leading light for Indian Diaspora in West Auckland. Despite its volunteering efforts and being the genesis of celebration of various Indian festivals, the organisation was dependent on funding, and hinted on Indian High Commission coming to its rescue, in promotion of Indian culture. 

The grand entry: with dhol, preceded by three flags, new Zealand, India and Fiji. His Excellency, Sanjeev Kohli is escorted by Naveen Prakash, President of Waitakere Indian Association.

Outlining the history of Hindi School, students of the school informed that Hindi School was an off-spring of WIA which is now an autonomous body, which has been responsible for guiding language and culture in our young generation. The youth wing of Shri Ram Mandir, consisting of ladies, Pooja Kumar and Sagrika Kumar explained the history of the temple which has brought the community of Henderson together and has now matured into a community centre from being a devotional centre.

But the evening was reserved for the real hero of Airlift, His Excellence, Sanjeev Kohli. I wished to request him to email me his speech. But how do you request a speech from somebody who could speak very eloquently for some ten minutes in English, without any notes or written speech! It was all impromptu and it spoke volumes of the calibre of an accomplished and yet humble international Indian diplomat.

"A family which prays together lives together and are strongest together. " Sanjeev Kohli giving his address at Shri Ram mandir. He said, of all his trips to Auckland, the visit to Mandir was most fulfilling as it brought the nostalgia of his sweet childhood experience of visiting Mandir with his family. He told the devotees that temples also play a crucial social role in building bonds and community networking.

“ It is more than a delight to be present here-I feel blessed to be present in this magnificent temple…..As far as my tenure here is concerned I have been here for some four and a half months and had visited Auckland four - five times, mostly for business purpose. But this has been the most satisfying visit, “Kohli Ji told the devotees in the temple.

He had a nostalgic feeling of his “sweet memories of childhood which became alive again “by coming to the temple. He fondly remembered his younger days and childhood where he visited temples with his family and prayed together with his parents and siblings. He was pleased to see similar interaction, with various generations of people, young, teenagers, kids, babies and the elderly.

“It is a kind of feeling we need to develop in our younger people. A family which prays together lives together, and is always strongest together,” he said.

Group Photo: from left, Pravin Kumar- Managing Trustee - Shri Ram Mandir, Sunny Kaushal, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi- National List MP, Councillor Linda Cooper- Auckland Council, Baljit Kaur- Executive- Waitakere Indian Association, Constable Mandeep Kaur- Ethnic Communities Relations Officer, His Excellency- Sanjeev Kohli, Ami Chand - Whau Local Board, Sunny Kaushal - NZ Labour Party and Naveen Prakash- President of Waitakere Indian Association.

Kohli praised the efforts of the Hindi school performers and especially the girls. “As a father of two girls, I feel proud to see the girls taking the lead over boys” He praised the Hindi school initiative. “A nation which does not take pride in its language does not go far”. On funding, he committed their assistance and would be prepared to help wherever possible. He was so impresses with the temple that he (jokingly) wishes to make it into a training centre…” I think we should also bring some Trustees from India who run temples to come and see and learn the way you do things here. The way you have maintained this place, I need to salute the vision and commitment of Pravin Ji (referring to Pravin Kumar, Managing Trustee of Ram Mandir) and his team, “he said.

Elaborating on the wider roles of place of worship, he advised devotees to have a paradigm shift. “Temples are not only a place where you get your devotional and spiritual fulfilment, they also serve a very important social cause. I think they bind communities together, and also in terms of building bonds within the community. We perform marriages in temple, we perform other events in temples. And whenever you have a problem, you go to temple and seek divine blessings. You also interact with your friends here. This is especially important if you are away from your country,” He praised the Indian Diaspora for their achievements and especially named Kanwaljit Bakshi, who was present, and praised him for noteworthy service to the community.

He touched on the issue of problems people faced with the past High Commissioners and many grievances people had. “We like feedback on the services we provide. I would like to assure you that someone who cannot have his problem addressed in the normal way, is most welcome to send me a direct e-mail, or message, I personally go through each mail and message, and it will be an honour to serve you, “he assured.

Acharya Dinesh Prasad Semwal,(right) a priest at Ram Mandir, presenting Holy Book to His Excellency, Sanjeev Kohli (left). In the centre, looking on, is Pravin Kumar, Managing Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust.

Indeed, a person of such a small stature, lifted up the morale of all of us at Shri Ram Mandir.
He did it the same way as depicted in ‘Airlift.” With about 500 flights, he intervened, coordinated and facilitated evacuation of over 150,000 Indians stranded in Kuwait in Iraqi war of Desert Storm.

For a change, New Zealand has been honoured with the calibre of an Indian High Commissioner we can all be proud of. And Shri Ram Mandir was honoured to host such a humble servant of the people.

Your Excellency, Sanjeev Kohli Sir, we salute you. You make all People of Indian Origin proud. Jai Hind.

[About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a Kiwi Fijian (Indo-Fijian) and the principal of blog FIJI PUNDIT. He is a qualified journalist and media commentator.]