When a Mandir Delivers Beyond the Call of its Religious Duties

Thakur Ranjit Singh

We have multitudes of religious societies and organisations in New Zealand. They are performing commendable duties of religious teachings, promoting their respective Gods, and in doing so, handsomely collecting funds for upkeep of their respective institution. Some have accumulated loads of money. Nothing wrong with that, in fact very admirable, if properly utilised.

Let the walk begin: Devotees and volunteers in front of Mandir before the walk.

However, one among very few, that stands out from the above categorising is SHRI RAM MANDIR at Brick Street, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand.

Being a Hindu institution, it really stands out and appropriately follows the definition of Hinduism, which is more of a way of life than mere rituals. The spirituality is their priority, which means being good, compassionate, caring, respecting, community -conscious, God-loving and a good human being. And these teachings need to physically translate into practical deeds rather than being confined as theoretical discourse only.

The Managing Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir, Pravin Kumar (extreme right) announcing the fund collected, and Minister of Housing and Transport , Phil Twyford (centre) handing the cheque for $43, 442.60 to Rajesh Chaudhry, Chairperson of Friends of Fiji Health Foundation. Project Manager, Mahendra Sharma (in yellow safety vest), with other Trustees of both the organisations look on.  

And according to our scriptures, the best deed one can do is service to humanity, what we call parr hitt. This is also taught by other religions and well depicted in Abu Ben Adam poem by Leigh Hunt. The bottom line message here is that God loves and blesses those who love their fellow beings.

And that is exactly what Shri Ram Mandir does – it literally walks the talk in loving its fellow beings. And this is done through its walkathon which they call Ram-A-Thon, named after Lord Ram, who walked across India during his exile. Here, the devotees walk and raise funds for worthy causes.

The dedicated and passionate team of walkers take a break for photo in the picaresque Oratia walk in Henderson: From left, Pushpa Adhar, Sunita Singh, Master Shiu Charan, yours truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh, his wife, Shashi Kala Singh and Satish Chand.

The colourful Rewa team of walkers, led by Viren Lal (extreme left), with two Tavua (yellow) walkers as well.

Six years ago, this started as a full day 35 km of marathon walk from Papatoetoe to Henderson. It was later reduced to 20 km walk from Auckland Domain (Museum) to Mandir at Henderson. Since then they have held two other walkathon to help out Starship Children’s Hospital (over $10,000) and Saint John Ambulance (over $16,000)

This year, it was decided to reduce the walk to 10km, but utilise the day to assemble people together in a huge community networking and people wellbeing quest, developing it into a family carnival.

Sport Waitakere conductors were on hand to keep the participants busy. Here a lady coordinator is conducting exercise for Senior Ladies. It was indeed a day of fun and laughter, and all had loads of fun.

As we have said before, since the inception of Ram Mandir in Henderson, it has developed more than a religious institution into a Community hub. There was Ghazal and Bollywood nights, hosted Senior Citizens group, has become a venue for wedding and birthdays and promotes music, arts, culture and history.

The family carnival that was held after the walk at Henderson Park was fun-filled Mini Fiji carnival where we had friendly sporting rivalry between the districts in Fiji like Suva, Lautoka, Rewa, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, Labasa and Nadroga.
And we had a bucketful of family and sporting events such as Men’s soccer, Tug of war, seniors lawn balls, seniors ball and bucket, Ladies penalty kicks and Ladies Volleyball.

The friendly district loyalties and rivalries prompted greater efforts to make your team win. The highest funds were collected by Tavua, over $16,000, followed by neighbor Ba, with a distant $6000 and Rewa with just over $5,000 being third.

  The family fun: Tug –of –War, with father and son in Ba team. Pravaal Tahal,  (extreme right) giving all he can in pulling the rope while his father, Manoj Tahal (third from right) is putting in all efforts to pull for the Ba team in one of the many fun sports event at Henderson Park.

Some individuals were recognized for their efforts. Master Shiu Charan was the best overall fundraiser, who put great efforts in penetrating to the community and donors to raise funds. Bhavishna Dutt from Tavua was the highest fundraiser with $5070 raised. And of course, the Tavua team was also judged the best with overall high points.

The Project Manager of the event, Mahendra Sharma was elated with the overall results and thanked all for their overall efforts. Another reason for his joy was that he had his brother Pundit Dhirendra Sharma and his wife from Surrey, Canada, who participated in the event. While Dhirendra raised over $500 in just a few days and walked the distance, his wife, Punditaain helped in preparing food for the participants.

When two brotherly Pundits meet: Dhirendra Sharma (left) and Project Manager Mahendra Sharma at Henderson Park, Auckland during family carnival. Dhirendra is a practising Pundit in Surrey (Vancouver) Canada and was visiting his brother and decided to help. Within 3 days he was able to raise over $500, and beat two of the district teams in this short time, while walking the full length.

The success of the fundraising and a joyful family day goes to the very kind-hearted sponsors and partners. These, among others were, Sport Waitakere, Cooperative Bank, Northern Football Federation, Oratia Football, Auckland Co-op Taxis, Subway Central (Daven and Babita Maharaj), Roshan Nauhria, Sam Achari, Lotus Foreign Exchange, The Indian News, Apna TV and Apna 990 Radio.

We were blessed with generosity of our sponsors and wellwishers. Here we have owner of Subway,  Deven Maharaj, serving a child, providing free vegetarian subway. His company has been sponsoring food to Ram-A-Thon since its inception.

While having fun, the friendly rivalry between the districts accelerated the fundraising efforts, as amount collected far exceeded what they did previously. This year funds collected went to Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH). Statement by them is self-explanatory:

$43,442.60 was donated by Shri Ram Mandir Trust to FOFH. This was the highest amount by a single donor. Our most sincere appreciation to Pravin Kumar, Mahen Sharma and a large number of their executive members, volunteers, soccer team members, youth groups and community and social workers. A big thanks to FOFH Medical team who provided free basic medical check-up to the general public who attended the fundraiser and family festival. The cheque was presented by Hon. Phil Twyford, Minister of Transport and Housing.

The dedicated doctors and support medical personnel of Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) Foundation, who dedicatedly spend their time and money to help the needy people in Fiji. There is NO administration cost, and each dollar contributed adds over $18 of value-added service provided in Fiji.

The managing Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir observed that while Ram-A- Thon has been intended to raise funds for worthy charities that is not necessarily their prime objective.

We wish to engage with the wider community, including children, youths, elders, women and people from all walks to life, while enhancing diversity, teamwork, networking and multiculturalism. It has been an effort to create awareness of well-being, healthy living, walking, exercising and keeping fit, while raising funds for worthy causes. In doing so we worked collaboratively with other like-minded charitable, community and religious organisations and obtained corporate and commercial businesses on board as sponsors. 

The unsung heroes of family day: food servers, Rakesh Singh, and chutney expert, Robert Goundar, (in cap, back to the camera) serving continuously for some three hours, from 12 noon to 3pm, feeding all those in the carnival. Very tasty plau and chutney cooked at Shri Ram Mandir, and lovingly served by the smiling duo. Rakesh served plau while  tasty (and Khatta) tomato chutney served by Robert. They made our day.

Indeed, it was a fruitful day, and the general verdict from community elders is that other like-minded religious institutions need to broaden their base and lower their radar to capture many in the community who are normally by-passed by Mandirs focussing on religion only.

As the message from Abu Ben Adam speaks, God loves and blesses those who love their fellow beings. 

And Shri Ram Mandir receives such blessings in abundance for its trendsetting humanitarian and philanthropic deeds.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT and has been part of Ram-A-Thon since its inception in 2014]

Shri Ram Mandir to help Fiji community through Ram-A-Thon

Thakur Ranjit Singh

What started four years ago as a prop to raise funds for completing Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson, Auckland, has snowballed into annual fundraiser for needy organisations. 

First we helped out the Starship Children’s Hospital with a collection of just over $10,000.

Second we helped out Saint John’s Ambulance and collected just over $16,000.

The next walkathon, which has been named as Ram-A –Thon to reflect its initiative from Shri Ram Mandir, will be held on Sunday 3 February, 2019. This will be to help people needing urgent medical attention in Fiji. Funds collected will go to FRIENDS OF FIJI HEALTH, which organises volunteer doctors to help out people in Fiji.

Shri Ram Mandir-where it all starts - A flashback-beginning of Ram-A -Thon 2017 in front of Ram Mandir before boarding the bus.

A WALK WITH A DIFFERENCE

Unlike past walks which was long and used up the whole day, walking through built up area and roads, we have reduced this walk to just 10km. And we have moved down nearer to the beauty and greenery of West Auckland.

A glimpse of beautiful cemented walkway for 2019 walk,  just beyond Sturges Road in the greenery of Henderson Valley. You will be assured of magnificent face of West Auckland.

It starts at Shri Ram Mandir at 8.30 am, with assembly time of 8am to get organised. The walk from Mandir proceeds down to Swanson Rd, turning right into Sturges Rd, turns left into second Vintage Drive (off near 61 Sturges Rd) and joins picturesque cemented walkway of Henderson through beautiful forests, vines, and Oratia Stream, between Sturges Road and Henderson Valley Road. 

The major break will be at 359 Henderson Valley Road Ashram.

The main difference this year is the addition of a family fun day. The walk will terminate at Henderson Park, where a day full of activities is planned, commencing at 11 am. Planned competitive activities include Women's volleyball & penalty kicks, Men's 7-a-side soccer & tug o' war, Senior citizens' lawn bowling & ball and bucket, Kids’ marble & spoon, sack race, and relay and other non-competitive fun-filled activities will be organised for all age groups.

Another glimpse of picturesque walk among the bushes of Henderson Valley Road, where this walk will takes us to. Breathtaking views of greenery.

For soccer fans from Fiji, attraction will be division and competition according to ten districts as follows:  Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi, Nadroga, Suva, Nasinu, Rewa, and Labasa.

MESSAGE OF SPIRITUALITY TO THE COMMUNITY

With our example, we appeal to other like-minded organisations to extend their radar of focus to wellbeing of the community.

The person leading the organisation that came with this benevolent thought, stressed that this type of walkathon has multi-pronged objectives. Pravin Kumar, the Managing Trustee of SRMCT said, “We have advised from the outset that the priority of this charity walk was not fundraising. While that is one of the aims, it is one on low priority.”

When and where it all began- a flashback 4 years ago, at 8.52am on 30 November, 2014 at Shri Ram Krishna Mandir at Onslow Rd, Papatoetoe where the first Ram-A-Thon began for the marathon 35 km walk.

He advised that the multi-objectives of this walk are: 

• 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. 
• Raise much needed funds for worthy charitable causes and help inculcate 
        the concept of helping others who are less fortunate than us
• Work collaboratively with other like minded charitable, community and 
        religious organisations 
• Get corporate and commercial businesses on board as sponsors

Keeping fit, and show of women-power of Shri Ram Mandir. Ladies leading the walk of 2018, just at Winter Gardens at Auckland Domain where the walk began.

We are requesting general public to reserve Sunday, 3 February, 2019 in your calendar for walking to help vulnerable people in Fiji, needing urgent medical attention. With our help, Friends of Fiji Health will be able to do that much more back home.

While walking to help, this will also bring the community together to have family fun in Henderson Park.

Further information and sponsorship forms can be obtained from Event Director Mahendra Sharma on 027 661 3242 or e-mail – family_sharma@hotmail.com

For further details please visit Shri Ram Mandir Facebook page or can be obtained by contacting Pundit Markand Bhatt on 09-836 4647 at the Mandir.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh runs the blog FIJI PUNDIT, and is also a media commentator, and promotes community and other events beneficial to the society and enhances community wellbeing. He is part of the organising committee for 2019 Ram-A-Thon]

The Scandal of Lack of Business Confidence

The Scandal of Lack of Business Confidence

Thakur Ranjit Singh

The biggest scandal the world has seen was the Y2K BUG or THE MILLENNIUM BUG. 

Then we have some home-grown scandal and red-herring in New Zealand. One is the National Party’s mantra and gravy-train of a ROCK STAR ECONOMY. 

And the third scandal which is also home grown in NZ is so-called LACK OF BUSINESS CONFIDENCE in the new Labour led coalition government.

What is significant is that the business survey which says there is lack of business confidence is carried out  by ANZ bank which is chaired by former Prime Minister, Sir John Key, who boogied to popularity and then abandoned a sinking ship under the scam of a rock star economy (which we subsequently found was, in fact, rotten)

For your information, this ANZ Bank made an after tax profit of $1.780 billion dollars in 2017 and $1.986 billion in 2018 in New Zealand, in supposedly an environment with lack of business confidence!

Ha ha ha, what a rotten joke to discredit the new government under a survey which reeks of political punishment by businesses supporting  National Party which lost power.

Read on to be shocked….and informed.

We have seen some famous scandals, red-herrings and gossips over our lifetime. I will enumerate three.

World's biggest scandal -THE Y2K BUG or the MILLENNIUM BUG. Nothing happened despite predictions of the pundits of doomsday. Similarly, NZ has politically-oriented economic pundits predicting lack of business confidence despite such a rosy outlook. Just another politicised  lie and scandal.

The first and perhaps most notorious scandal and scare the world has seen was the Y2K bug or millennium bug, which scared daylights out of us. We were told the world would come to a standstill or it will go haywire when the clock ticks at midnight of 31 December, 1999. Nothing happened when the clocks ticked 2000.

The second such nonsense and claptrap is National Party’s “rock star economy.” Now Labour- led government is discovering the garbage, trash and rottenness under those rocks with no sight of any stars. They have been busy cleaning up years of neglect, under-funding in essential services, under-paying key (pun intended) people and lack of proper investment in infrastructure. While this made National’s books look good, such carelessness and lack of judgement nevertheless left a country with a veneer of good economic management but underneath, rotten to the core.

Another Scandal of a ROCK STAR ECONOMY under the mantra of which, former Prime Minister Sir John Key danced to prominence, while National Party slept on the job and housing market went out of control. Yes, Sir John gained out of dereliction of duty when he sold his Parnell mansion for over $20m to a Chinese buyer in an over-heated housing market his government ignored to tackle. So, he did gain out of that so-called rock-star economy, while we are now finding the rot in what National Government left behind.

And this brings us to the third scandal, and that is business confidence, or lack of it. This questionable measure has been given much oxygen by certain right-wing journalists in some mainstream media. They still cannot fathom the concept of MMP and the fact that National Party is no longer in power now. Hence they need to stop being cheerleaders of the Opposition.

As with the lack of acceptance of reality from sections of media about change in government, there appears to be a similar lack of approval from businesses. David McLean, Chief Executive of Westpac Bank seems to have a better appreciation of this fact where some CEO’s appear traumatised with National sitting in opposition. Mc Lean observed that this debate generated more heat than light, as irrespective of who is in government, there would be many challenges. This is because economic growth has its peaks and troughs in cycles.

Jacinda Ardern and her team now has to clean up the mess and make up for all all those under-funding in the National Government's so-called rock-star economy. Teachers, nurses, doctors, police and other strikes or threat of them are just the tip of those floating rock star economy icebergs.

Many business leaders are optimistic about performance of their own business in future, hence this talk about imagery business confidence needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

This grain of salt tastes saltier once you decipher the link between this business confidence survey and those undertaking it. ANZ Bank? Yes, ANZ Bank which is chaired by none other than the Knight who abandoned ship from a so-called rock star economy - Sir John Key. He has a vested interest to rubbish Labour-led government, as he has already taken opportunity do this, riding atop a questionable survey undertaken by the bank he chairs. A mere co-incidence? He appears to be helping a hapless leader of National Party, Simon Bridges who is too engrossed in stopping a leak that has given Streisand effect a new meaning (FIJI PUNDIT will explain this effect in another article) 

In a recent meeting Prime Minister Ardern had with business leaders, she argued that business expectations as projected by such surveys did not correlate with economic indicators and unprecedented GDP performance. Others in the community have raised alarm about the serious disconnect between negativity of such surveys and daily optimistic comments on the economy.  This appears to be a matter of political prejudice rather than economic fact.

Business surveys reflect value judgements and government has been warned not be distracted by it lest those who voted it for change will be short-changed. 
Singer Bob Dylan said, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.’” No weather can be tamed or accurately reported by computers. Best sunshine is judged by looking out the window when the weatherman predicts a cloudy day.

Similarly, the politicised views of selected CEOs will not determine economic outlook or performance which look a great deal more confident than those painted by the questionable surveys.

You do not need a weatherman to tell you the wind direction. Similarly, you do not need a questionable survey to tell you about business confidence. A look out of window on the clogged motorway with business moving on trucks and traffic is a better barometer.

All you need to do is to look out the windows. Loaded trucks leaving the wharf clog motorways, building industry is booming, more and more flights are coming, booming visitor numbers are bursting tourism industry at seams, spending is greatest, stock exchange is doing better, reduced dollar is good news for exporters, shopping malls are crowded at all hours of the day, we are running short of hotels, and so much more is happening.

As you do not need a weatherman to tell you the wind direction, similarly you do not need a survey to tell you how we are progressing - all you need to do is look out the window.


In fact the view out of window of that clogged motorway with loaded goods trucks is a better barometer of the country’s business confidence than some politically-tainted subjective survey. 

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT]

LABOUR NEEDS A LITTLE LESSON ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Thakur Ranjit Singh.

It was Mark Twain who said: It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.

He said it some centuries ago (1835-1910) but it very aptly applies to Labour’s Justice Minister, Andre Little regarding his retort to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s  stance that: “My expectation is that when we set a budget, we stick to it.”.

This was when the final cost of Justice Summit held in August in Porirua was more than double its budget of $700,000.  Prime Minister was reacting to the final cost of $1.5 million dollars - more than double its budgeted/estimated cost. 

Andrew Little defended this cost and said he was satisfied with it.
Poor Andrew Little, he made a huge error of judgement. He is a nice fellow, and in fact FIJI PUNDIT bestowed him the honour he deserved as the Queen-Maker. Had he not given that strategic Hail Mary Pass of Labour Leadership to Jacinda Ardern, Labour would have been languishing in opposition. His timely relinquishing of his position gave him this opportunity to be in Government and now defending the indefensible when his portfolio is caught napping.

Andrew Little (right) is, indeed, the "Queen maker". He very prudently vacated Labour leadership and gave the position to Jacinda Ardern. And the rest is history. However, his handling of the busted costs of Justice Summit leaves a great deal to be desired. He needs to inculcate financial prudence in his portfolios.

I wonder whether Little has previously done any big projects, events or organised anything involving financial management and budgeting? I wonder whether he was ever obligated to work to an estimated expenditure. Having worked with Boards of a Bank, a City Council and a Newspaper in Fiji, I appreciate the importance, prudence of financial management and working to budgets and forecasts. One’s career and livelihood may depend on it. 

It appears Andrew Little is bereft of any past experience in this area, because unexplained variance of over 100%, as in this case, would have resulted in his termination, unless it was beyond his control. If in any of the Boards above, we had attained the variance as in Justice Summit, heads would surely have rolled.

What Justice Minister failed to realise is that the Prime Minister was NOT questioning the cost of the summit. What she rightly questioned the lack of financial discipline by somebody who could have been the Prime Minister. She was questioning double the estimated costs, and as the guardian of national purse, she has a right to do that and expect her Ministers to regard public money as their own. All she called was a show of financial prudence by her team. 

This whole incident reflects on dereliction of duties of Little’s support staff, and they need to be disciplined. What credible support service does he get as Justice Minster? Doesn’t he have a highly paid Chief Executive (read ‘on six figure’)? In turn is he/she not supported by equally highly paid and highly qualified finance people and bean –counters? Did they do project plan, especially projected costing and budget and estimate for expenditure of this summit? If no, why?

If yes, then heads needs to roll unless Labour wishes to look at some real holes in their overall budget with its support staff sleeping on the job. And does Labour have other Ministers who are also sleeping on the job, supporting such oversight, and lacking proper judgement? How long will people expect Jacinda Ardern to be her brother’s keeper?

This article comes on the heels of FIJI PUNDIT article questioning a wanting media and communications support for the Prime Minister. I take no pleasure in writing such critique of a Party which I support and whose member I am. But I had warned them, and they have failed to notice that this Devil’s Advocate is real.

NZ Herald cartoon of 12 September, 2018 said it all. The Justice Summit was estimated to cost $700,000 but ended up costing more than double, at $1.5m. Apart from a busted budget, the summit will also be known for a very elaborate and sumptuous lay of the buffet table.

I will not sit on the side line and allow Labour Party to score own goals, and falling on their swords as they did while nine years in opposition. They need to be accountable to their members and voters who have shown confidence in their capabilities.

And Fiji Pundit, its Devil’s Advocate will pull them up whenever again they aim towards their own goal.

Finally, to the apex of the summit. I have attended many such summits, seminars, conferences or whatever you call them, both in Fiji and New Zealand. And what do you remember them for? The fine speakers? The video presentations that wake you from boring speakers? The message? The fantastic multi-media presentations? The free bag and other souvenirs? No, wrong. What you remember is the buffet layout and feasting.

And this Justice Summit in Porirua will be known for a “decadent glutton free chocolate brownie, pork, apricot and thyme pastries, four different kinds of croissants, luxury pies and chicken and cranberry casserole”

Indeed, justice has been done to this Justice Summit!

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT]

Hang on, Girl: Do not be distracted by Pundits of Doomsday

Thakur Ranjit Singh

It appears the curse on Labour Party of having a deficient and wanting media and communication cell has weighed down on the Party since leadership era of Phil Goff, David Cunliffe, David Shearer and Andrew Little. And that jinx seems to be an obstinate one, has not been exorcised and stuck on for the millennial Labour Prime Minister and Hail Mary conversion scorer, Jacinda Ardern.

While having the blessings of Opposition Leader, Simon Bridges digging a hole in the travel leak fiasco, she nevertheless is cursed with some right-wing commentators in certain mainstream media. We get an impression that such commentators are doubling as cheerleaders of the National Party, and still haven’t fathomed the fact that we have a change of government now.

Jacinda Ardern, the first ever millennial Prime Minister has been carving out  a new culture granting natural justice to those caught in disciplinary issues. While she is seen as a PM with a heart, unfortunately her government appears to be cursed,  by her media team unable to communicate, project reality and facts to the general public and counteract many media wolves trying to devour this Government. 

Lest I be accused of hate speech, one glaring fact in New Zealand is that the mainstream media is still very White. Despite some plea, even the Labour Party did little to colour its media team. What I am writing should have been written by one of their well-connected and well paid media expert, and not this Fiji Indian, writing voluntarily for his blog, FIJI PUNDIT.

There is no problem in having an Anglo-Saxon (White) team. Nevertheless, their weakness is lack of exposure to alternative kaleidoscope, and missing on diversity of wider views appropriate to a rapidly changing world.

Some mainstream commentators, including Mike Hosking and Matthew Hooton, among others appear to be spin doctors of the opposition party, tainting the fourth estate with their questionable and unbalanced views, masquerading as neutral media commentary.

In fact such blatantly blinkered media commentary haven’t gone unnoticed. One NZ Herald writer observed: 

Has there ever been a more concerted attempt to undermine a NZ government than that we are seeing from the National Party and its apologists such as Hooton, Hosking and Business NZ? If it weren't so serious, it would be seriously funny.

There is a frenzy of views on Ardern’s lack of business experience, drop in business confidence and her lack of decisiveness in party discipline. The latter refers to Labour youth conference scandal, and issues affecting two of her Ministers. They expect Ardern to be her brother’s keeper. While the editorial writer of NZ Herald could appreciate the issue on cabinet discipline, some of its celebrated columnists and radio commentators appear to be very naïve.

While being accused by some blinkered media commentators of lacking decisiveness, she nevertheless has proved to be  PM with a heart, and can be firm and resolute when need arises. Unfortunately she has been subject of unbalanced media commentary.

NZ Herald of Saturday 1 September, 2018 really summed it well when it rejected former Labour Party President, Mike Williams’s contention that such lack of discipline reflected a lack of training for those appointed ministers.

The Herald corrected him, by stating:

Voters and taxpayers have a right to expect that all of the people a political party offers for election - let alone those chosen to be ministers in government- possess the personal qualities needed at any level of leadership.

The question that arises is, did Clare Curren and Meka Whaitiri meet this criteria? Do you expect Ardern to nanny-sit these two, or any Ministers, who are experienced in management in their own rights? Should she be held responsible for their lack of judgement? And should she be castigated for what comes naturally to her - having a heart? Why should she not allow them natural justice that her older predecessors may have denied them? Should heads roll for all moments of indiscretion? (Read Bill Clinton)

We have for the first time in New Zealand history, a millennial Prime Minister. Being of the new generation, she introduced immense personal charm and aura. Having delivered for the vulnerable and the so-called underclass in our community, she has proved she also has compassion for poorly paid people ignored by previous governments.

Thankfully, Ardern rightly lacks ruthless and cold-blooded management style of her predecessors. She believes in natural justice and has a right to carve out a new culture that delivers mercy. That is where lack of diversity in media becomes noticeable. Kiwi journalists need to appreciate the Pacific Way of leadership with compassion, humanity and forgiveness. This is not a sign of weakness.

Media has failed to acknowledge her virtue and justice in halting undeserving pay rises for highly paid parliamentarians as well as state Chief executives in recognition of so many lower paid people who really deserve a pay rise.

Neither have these media commentators given her deserving kudos for outstanding achievement in working with the “enemy.” The fact that she has roped in rock star chief executive of Air New Zealand, Christopher Luxon as chair of Prime Ministerial Business Advisory Group speaks volumes for her charm offensive. As we are aware, Luxon was caught on the wrong side of Shane Jones, when Jones criticised Air New Zealand for ignoring the region and calling Luxon to resign and enter politics if he wanted to play politics. 

Working with the "enemy": Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon  heads Prime Ministerial Business Advisory Group, despite being caught on the wrong side of Regional Minister Shane Jones.  Jacinda Ardern's ability to build and mend Bridges (pun intended) has not been recognized by certain section of the mainstream media.

And the fact that she has not reigned in Jones makes sense, and speaks highly of her maturity. Government needs a loose cannon the boom of which can open up the eyes and ears of corporate that were seen as treating the region with scorn and arrogance. Jones deserved the loose rope that Jacinda has given him - he is a hero to a great number of people who have been victims of big corporate (read Air New Zealand, Warehouse and, Australian Banks, among others) and had nobody speaking for them until Jones came on the scene.

The pundit of doomsday need to realise that so-called lack of economic confidence is not supported by economic indicators. (That will be visited by FIJI PUNDIT in another article). Media commentators who humiliate the Fourth Estate need to realise that New Zealand now has a new government. It has the agenda to correct weaknesses they inherited: skills shortage, lack of investment in productive sector (inflated house price is not productive), under-investment in infrastructure, low productivity, low-wages, environment neglect and little care on social welfare with an obsession for healthy books but extremely unhealthy everything else.
 

Shane Jones, the secret weapon, a loose cannon that the government deservedly needs. He has been given a loose rope to tie in delinquent corporate who have been used to bullying public under protection of previous government they supported. He is seen as the savior of the region.

Perhaps it is not too much for an ethnic (read Fiji Indian) journalist to request better understanding from the mainstream (read Anglo Saxon) journalists who need some refresher course on ethics, morals and balance in journalism. Hope that is not asking too much from a media which still fails to reflect the country’s demographic colour in its newsrooms.

Sadly, political parties also mirror such deficiency, including PM Ardern’s Labour Party.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT, and is a media commentator]

Book Review-Enslaved in Paradise: Reclaiming, Retelling and Restoring Fiji’s Distorted Past – and Invalidating Some Historical Myths

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Rajendra Prasad’s second book on Fiji’s untold history was launched by Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Sanjiv Kohli at New Lynn Community Centre, Auckland on Sunday 12 August 2018. 

Enslaved in Paradise (2018) refutes Fiji’s history and retells it from perspectives of victims.

Prasad fearlessly and boldly declares wickedness of the colonial government and chiefly collusions. He reveals many self-serving, self-centred and arrogant leaders, who had ravaged Fiji’s political landscape, but escaped scrutiny. And they eventually degenerated Fiji permanently into the ‘coup coup land label. 

The book also tells how the British sabotaged the return of Indians to save the sugar industry and Fiji’s economy in the  early 1920s and discredits a historical lie that Indians opted to  stay back and that the British were magnanimous in granting them the right to live in Fiji.

Democracy in Fiji was acceptable as long as Itaukei and Chiefly Party won. If they lost, democracy was demonised and trashed. This also happened in 2000 when Muaniweni farmers were terrorised, raped and pillaged after win and one year rule of Chaudhry-led People's Coalition Government. This photo well depicts the sad status of Indians/Indo-Fijians in Fiji from the Girmit days of 1879 to 2006, when all they did was suffered and cried. Only when  Bainimarama stopped state-sponsored and institutionalised racial discrimination against Indo-Fijians through extra legal means did the descendants of Girmitiyas attained security, social justice and equality.

The book is an eye-opener on the biggest lie ever told. It reveals how indigenous chiefs, in 1963, concocted a lie to unite the Taukeis, misleading simple common ITaukei about non-existent fears of the Indo-Fijian threat to land ownership, customs and customary rights. 

The book also gives an opportunity for Indo-Fijians to objectively evaluate how the failure of leadership denied them respect, justice, equality and dignity, and also how their own folly and wrong choices have been the reasons for their sufferings.

It provides irrefutable evidence the Taukei chiefly system did incalculable harm to the social, economic and political development of the Taukeis and Fiji. All the while, the blame for their poverty was mischievously attributed to Indo-Fijians. 

It is a must reading for ITaukei, especially the new generation, to get an appreciation of how a system of Chiefly rule was the biggest shackles for common ITaukei, and how their poverty was self-inflicted. 

The book, in ten chapters makes a gripping reading, and reclaims Fiji’s history never told by any author in that language and passion. In the first chapter, appropriately titled “My Quest for Justice” Prasad reproduces three self-explanatory letters he wrote to Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), Australian and British governments respectively, and their replies. They eloquently sum up the pain, suffering and sacrifices of Girmitiya. 

The question that arises is, why this was not done by any of those famous Girmitiya lawyers who became rich from an infighting community?  And how about academics or Girmitiya businessmen? Why it took a simple poor but passionate author from a sleepy rustic village to do the unthinkable?

The book also answers many questions that it raises.

Laisenia Qarase

Ratu Sukuna

Ratu Mara: Was he behind 1987 coup? Was he really a multiracial leader as internationally projected or was he just another ethno-nationalist leader? Was it divine justice of Karma when he was "exiled" out of Suva and his Presidential position by his own Itaukei subjects who should have been protectors and not vultures to their respected chief? Read Enslaved in Paradise to get the answers.

Was Ratu Mara really an advocate of multiracialism? Who was the best or worst of ITaukei leaders: Ratu Sukuna, Ratu Mara, Rabuka or Qarase? And among Indo-Fijians? A.D Patel, Koya, Jai Ram Reddy, or Chaudhry? Was Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) really that great? What were the reasons for racial tensions and political instability in Fiji? Who was the greatest Girmitiya who did enormous good for the oppressed people and whom over 95 percent of Indo-Fijians do not know? 

Jai Ram Reddy and Sitiveni Rabuka. Indo-Fijians have suffered because they rejected the multiracial path carved by Reddy and Rabuka alliance in 1999.

A.D. Patel

S.M. Koya

Mahendra Chaudhry: Did he achieve Pyrrhic victory where he could not enjoy the fruits of his victory, where his victory had taken such a heavy toll that it negated any true sense of achievement? Was it self-inflicted? Did he score many own-goals?

You will be shocked and annoyed with some of the answers this very well-researched book gives and substantiates.

And where does Frank Bainimarama stand?

Some may feel that the author Rajendra Prasad is advocating for Fiji First Government and Frank Bainimarama. Nothing is further from truth. He has never met Bainimarama, his deputy or any of the other movers and shakers in Fiji First. His quest for justice began with research for his first book in late 1990s. This was long before Bainimarama came on the political scene. And that self-financed research of some seven years culminated in publishing of Tears in Paradise in 2004.

As they say, once a writer, always a writer. Some more information came on hand, he had some unfinished business, and that extensive investigations climaxed in the blockbuster and bombshell that shatters so many historical myths. And that is Enslaved in Paradise.

Enslaved in Paradise is a hard-hitting book that tears into Fiji's wanting leadership, their betrayals, British treachery, Chiefs and Great Council of Chiefs which were very destabilizing force and threat to  Fiji's democracy. The Chiefs spread false rumour of Indo-Fijian threat to win political support through misplaced fear of Indo-Fijians. Among others, that has been the reason for continued racial-tension through divide and rule mantra the Chiefs aptly learnt from the British.

And what motivated Prasad? He was no academic and neither had any privileges of academic freebies. It is a non-academic writing, deep from the heart and without desire of any academic rewards. It was done to seek justice through untold bare history unable to be told from the confines of a university. 

I have grieved in the stillness of the night and, in the deep peal of thunder, I have heard the muffled cries of our ancestors, imploring us, their descendants, to ensure that their pain and suffering during the indenture period in Fiji, was not lost in the mist of time.

The book tells what happened in 2006 through extra-judicial means could not be done through democratic process. The Bainimarama initiative liberated Indo-Fijians from state-sponsored racial discrimination and granted them equal citizenry. In addition, it stopped the exploitation of the commoner Taukeis by chiefs who benefited hugely through the entrenched legislations. Significantly, the dissolution of the GCC in 2012 meant it could no longer interfere in Fiji politics, leaving its governance to the elected representatives.

Author’s plea in the final chapter sums it all for the forthcoming Fiji election:

The 2018 election is the watershed, which would decide the political trajectory of Fiji. If Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama fails, Fiji could resurrect the politics of ethnicity, which would be disastrous for Fiji. In him, Fiji had a true indigenous Fijian leader who cared for everyone, irrespective of race, religion or culture, lifting Indo-Fijians, in particular, from the ignominy of being the second-class and being the most despised citizens of Fiji. I sincerely hope Fiji overwhelmingly rejects those who profess restoration of ethnic seats, ethnic voting and the Great Council of Chiefs, including politicians and parties that masquerade as champions, hiding their villainous deeds and intents. 

What is also unprecedented is his direct plea to misinformed iTaukei people. Never had Indo-Fijians ever discussed, conspired or even thought of disposing them of their land, culture, customs or customary rights. Ironically, this was done by their trusted people and savors:

…the Europeans appropriated over 500,000 acres of prime land through deceit and lies, facilitated by your chiefs…

Your chiefs, who posed as God’s chosen ones to rule over your lives, deliberately lied to secure their social, economic and political advantage, creating racial discord to benefit from disharmony between you and us. The coups (1987, 2000) executed behind the façade of your rights and interests were sheer illusion, which did not benefit you but only those who concocted deceit and lies.

He compared their changed status after 2006 when an inclusive government, advocating equality and unity in diversity, saw unmatched social, economic and political advancement. 

Oddly, the military coup of 5 December 2006 brought change, which liberated the people of Fiji from draconian acts of defilement in the governance of the nation that continued for over a century. The people of Fiji became hostage to the villainy of those who hid behind the democratic façade to violate the freedom and rights of Fijians. 

History of Fiji was manipulated and conveniently missed all atrocities. British treated Indians as economic slaves and threw them in front of ITaukei when they left. Indians were indeed treated as derelicts of the empire, used as scaffolding in building, and abandoned when the building stands up.

This book tells of all those missed stories and thus fills this historical chasm.
It is a must reading for all Fijians. You will be enlightened, shocked - and angered.

Rajendra Prasad, the author of Tears in Paradise (2004) and its sequel, Enslaved in Paradise (2018). Although being a non-academic, and researching via self-finance, he has done what no academic could achieve with all the university resources. He deserves an honorary university doctorate, and one of Fiji universities should volunteer and be honoured to launch his excellent book which shatters many historical myths.

The author’s caliber of research, depth of thought, tenor of writing and aptitude of language would be cause of envy to most, if not all Indo-Fijian historians in Fiji universities. The only historian deemed capable is retired Professor Brij Lal, who stands tallest, Prasad comes the second, and I struggle to see even a distant third.

Universities in Fiji could redeem this deficiency by offering honorary doctorate to a non-academic author, Rajendra Prasad and volunteering Fiji launch of this brilliant book. This would bestow more honour and dignity to the institution with initiative, rather than to Prasad who does not expect any kudos for what he deems was his obligation to his aggrieved forebears. 

Over to you, University of the South Pacific (USP), University of Fiji and Fiji National University (FNU) respectively. You may ignore this plea at your peril –and retain your right to be enslaved by ignorance in paradise!

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist, media commentator and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]