PART 2: WHEN BAINIMARAMA ABDICATES HIS PM POSITION TO KHAIYUM

 

PART 2: WHEN BAINIMARAMA ABDICATES HIS PM POSITION TO KHAIYUM

 

Thakur Ranjit Singh

 

A Summary of Part 1:

In Part 1, we told of the two choices between Rabuka and Bainimarama for the upcoming election, and how Rabuka reformed into a gentleman after apologising and repenting his sins of 1987. On the other hand, Bainimarama was a good noble man when he removed Qarase in 2006, promising to clean up Fiji. Then I was his ardent supporter for the good things he promised. However, Bainimarama started changing and I changed my views on him since Khaiyum came on board and Bainimarama started to change for the worse through bad advice, bad direction and bad influence. The story continues in Part 2….

 

PART 2

Since Bainimarama’s abdication of Prime Ministership seat of the country to his Attorney General (AG), Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji has really gone to the dogs and became a country of shame, abusing its democratic principles under one-man rule. Democratic institutions were raped. Special laws were passed either to reward cronies or punish or remove opponents. This is unheard of in any civilised democracy.

 

Welcome to the real Prime Minister of Fiji, Khaiyum (left) while Bainimarama (right) seems to have abdicated his position and power, and lost control of Fiji. Khaiyum seems to make all the decisions, and institutions of the country seem to have become his personal man-servants which bow down to him. The neutrality and the independence of the JUCIARY, LEGISLATURE and EXECUTIVE no longer exists, as all are at the disposal of the real mover and shaker, commandeered for his use - and abuse. Read this article to see how.

Fiji needs to be rescued – we owe it to our new generation. I don’t have to enumerate the list of nepotism, nepotist corruption, bad practices, rape of democratic principles and other issues when some media also appear to have become AG’s lapdogs - paltu kutta. Propaganda Model, the theory of media I studied in media school became reality where media that benefit from government suck up to the regime and become its marketing machine, and hence spread propaganda for its leaders and turn into a weapon for the opponents. Under the Propaganda Model of media, some media benefitting from a government degenerate as cheerleader of them and renders into a mere business where journalism becomes a prostitute of those in power.

 

Fiji now has unprecedented levels of poverty, decaying infrastructure as evidenced by frequent water cuts and power outages, assault on human rights, silenced and bullied media, extraordinarily high levels of external debt, blatant nepotism, religious- skewed favours and mismanagement at all levels. And some media do not report the bare facts. Others are gagged with designed legislation and other threats. Media freedom, apart from other freedoms, have also become mistress of the regime. Fiji had never descended so low.

 

I seem to have angered a group of Facebook imposters, led by a faceless Max Ram and joined by other trolls from Fiji First, who have gone dirty, involving my family in the equation. It can only come from a certain group of people associated with Fiji First and those close to them. My intelligence tells me this is from a group of young University people earning very lucrative money by doing public relations (PR) jobs facilitated by Fiji First, made up of some USP dropouts and associates and friends of the regime. And that includes some relatives of those nearer to the power as well, and your guess is as good as mine, as to who they are. It reflects on the level of dirtiness to which Bainimarama’s Party has degenerated into, and more the reason why they have to be removed. And now they are accusing me of being an Anti-Muslim.

 

This so-called Max Ram names me as a “new player, a strong critic of Bainimarama government residing in NZ, anti-Islamic, on Fijis stop departure joins the growing list of insurgents trying to overthrow a democratic elected govt of Fiji.” What a joke.

It appears these people create fake Facebook accounts and accuse and hound anybody who is seen as a threat to AG or the Fiji First, or who dare to comment about nepotism related to the Muslim equation. They are doing this to me personally, and wish to silence me through intimidation, accusing me of religion-bashing. Because of this bullying, many are scared from speaking about the Islamic factor in Fiji since Bainimarama has abdicated his position to his deputy who has unashamedly favored people of his faith.

"Don't worry, Sir, I will take care of Fiji while you are overseas," says Khaiyum. And Bainimarama has been spending much time overseas, earning healthy per diems, while Khaiyum is free to run Fiji at his whims.

The latest Bollywood Akshay Kumar blockbuster, “Sooryavanshi” has revealed how potential terrorists from Pakistan infiltrate India as sleeping cells, coming in guise of cricket players and supporters, assume profiles as Hindus, marry their women, settle down, as they look the same, speak the language and hide as Hindus until called in for terror actions against the host country. Somewhat similar seems to be the fate of Fiji when it seems some Muslims have adopted fake Facebook Hindu names, namely this Max Ram, who then try to discredit any critics and go dirty as expected, and try to tarnish name and drag the family as well. Fiji was never been this low.

Little do these puppies of Fiji First realize that this Thakur survived despise, punishment and hatred of two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers of Fiji between 2000 and 2003, who today are lying on scrap heaps of Fiji’s political history. (You guess who they are). Let the third one and his greaser boys try.

"Look here, I removed the corrupt leader to clean up Fiji, and no Army Officer will gain out of this removal" he promised in 2006, when he removed Qarase. However in the last 15 years, Fiji seems to be in deeper dirt and depth now than it was in 2006. He seems to have forgotten his promise, started enjoying the baubles and benefits of the office and seems to have abdicated his office to his deputy. 

Another matter of concern on this regime is adulteration of our Immigration department which would need urgent enquiry and cleansing once Fiji is rescued from Fiji First abuse. And like the plot of “Sooryavanshi”, we concerned Fiji born citizens need to ask, how many Bangladeshis and Pakistanis have been allowed to enter Fiji, assume Fiji Indian identity, run businesses, have Fiji passports and vote for Fiji First? When last year a murder took place in my village in Rarawai, Ba where a Bangladeshi killed two of his countrymen, only then did we realized they have been living among us as our village people. Reportedly many are settled in the Western division and some run businesses, do farming and have market stalls in Ba, Lautoka and other markets in the Western division.

I was talking to a friend of mine in Ba and he mentioned he saw some people on the street who looked Indian, he spoke and found the accent unusual. Upon enquiry, he was told that this guy was from ‘Bangladesh” and my friend thought he was from such a named settlement near Yalalevu, in Ba, Fiji. No, said this guy, “me from country of Bangladesh, former West Pakistan, near India.” Similar stories are also in Lautoka, Nadi and other areas in the West as well. I wonder how many of such “foreigners” have been fast-tracked as Fiji citizens who will undoubtedly vote Fiji First in the election. What an immigration scandal we have on our hands, with Khaiyum in the driver’s seat while Bainimarama naps.

"I had no other way, but follow the wishes of my Chiefs in denying Bavadra Government a smooth transition of power, as per wishes of the people and democracy" admitted a young Rabuka in 1987, when he initiated the coup culture in Fiji. However, since then, he appears to have grown, matured, apologised and repented the sins of 1987. Hence , he deserves a second chance to redeem his sins and rescue Fiji from the rabbit -hole.

This fake Max Ram, acting as a Mongrel (jungli kutta, dog) of Fiji First has been barking at me, with false accusation of me being anti-Islamic, their usual tactic to distract people from discussing the Islamic factor under Bainimarama. I am not anti-Islamic, nor I hate any religion. I belong to a religion which believes in the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning all the world is a family, we are children of one God, and not like some religions which believe that there is only one God and all non-believers are infidels, Kafirs, worthy of hatred. Therefore, I as a Hindu don’t hate my Muslim brothers who have been living peacefully amongst us from the days of Girmit when they shared brotherhood as “Jahajis” - travelling companion in the same Girmit ships. We all had brotherly relationships until infiltration of Fiji by Mullahs (priests) from overseas, especially Islamic nations, who radicalize Fiji Muslims into treating non-believers as infidels and Kafir. But my Hinduism treats the whole world as a huge family.

And as Hindus, we have an upbringing that teaches us to love all as children of one God and hate nobody for their beliefs. Only we chant in our temples, Mandirs...” Eeswar Allah tere naam…” (Ram, Bhagwan and Allah are one). However, as a journalist, I will not allow a Muslim politician who regards Fiji as his personal property, seems to have hoodwinked Bainimarama, and abuses his position of power while the real PM seems to be under a spell. As part of this manipulation, he is trying to “Islamize” Fiji under guise of equality for “all Fijians” where every man and his dog in most top Fiji positions belong to his religion. Only 5% of population in Fiji now seem to control over 90% of top influential positions. Even statistics of Girmit reveals that Muslim Girmitiyas were only around 10%, majority being Hindus.

A matter of shame for Hindus is that the largest Hindu organisation, Shri Sanatan Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji seems to have become a lapdog, a paltu kutta of the Fiji First Government, with some top officials reportedly minting money. (Disclaimer - I did not speak about any printing press!) Perhaps this shows the reason why India was in shackles of Moghuls and the British for a thousand years because of betrayal and disunity in their own people. This is happening to Sanatani Hindus in Fiji who are misled by their opportunist leaders. Indeed, a shame for Hindus to be so gullible under a wanting leadership of their organisation.

Rabuka (left) and Bainimarama - the two former army commanders and coup-makers are getting the highest poll results for the upcoming election. Both the leaders have changed, Rabuka for the better, and Bainimarama, for the worse, after giving powers of PM to his deputy, and allowing Fiji to go down to the dogs, as detailed in these three part articles.

While racial inequality existed in Fiji since colonial days, religious inequality is a new phenomenon, which only came in since Khaiyum entered politics and teamed with Bainimarama. This sort of religious-based inequality had never existed in history of Fiji. One may ask, since when people belonging to a certain religion have overnight acquired such extraordinary skills and IQ to beat Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and others of Fiji for most top positions? It never happened in Fiji’s history. And particularly, never since Fiji independence in 1970 in Ratu Mara's Alliance, Rabuka's SVT, Qarase's SDL and Chaudhry 's People's Coalition. How come it started under Fiji First’s Bainimarama when Khaiyum usurped the PM's position to commit religious cleansing of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians from top positions to be replaced by people and relatives of his religion?

Why is this allowed to happen under guise of democracy? My stand is against injustice in Fiji and dictatorship masquerading as democracy, not against Islam or Muslims. It is nothing about being anti any religion. This is my journalistic ethics crying out against injustice committed to people of Fiji, disguised as democracy.

Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere. Bainimarama forgot his pledge to clean up Fiji, which has now sunk in deeper dirt than when he removed Qarase. People are asking, where is that noble (and slimmer) Bainimarama of 2006? Now he appears to have become a mere puppet of Khaiyum. That is most worrying for Fiji and those who wish to vote him back in power just because once he was a noble man. Now he appears to be under a big spell, and some claim it may be some sort of voodoo or Ojha’s (witchdoctor’s) work.

But in time to come, if Fiji First remains in power, any racial tensons of Itaukei will not be only with Indians, but Pakistanis and Bangladeshis will also come into the equation if the current reported floodgates at the Immigration department continues unabated.

 

[To be continued in Part 3 - a shocking revelation rarely spoken before…see this space]

[Continued in the final third part, revealing further notoriety and villainy of Fiji First under Khaiyum. and the choice left for people of Fiji to salvage it from hell]

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper, which Qarase and SDL regime ordered shut. Thakur was fired and removed from the positions by two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth and being too frank and not mincing his words, and he is doing so here again. He is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT.]

 

 

 

WHY INDO-FIJIANS DID NOT JOIN FIJI ARMY DURING THE WARS: THE UNTOLD HISTORY ALL NEED TO KNOW

 

Why Indo-Fijians did not join Fiji Army During the Wars: The Untold History all need to know

                           Thakur Ranjit Singh

Last month, in November, we marked Remembrance Day.

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Fiji marks a memorable day. That is Remembrance Day on 11^th November each year. Americans call it Veteran’s Day. Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

Historically, arguments have raged since the wars on the reasons why Indo-Fijians (Fiji Indians, descendants of Girmitiyas) did not join the army in numbers. Since Fiji’s history fails to tell this, descendants of Girmitiyas (indentured labourers) need to reclaim the stolen history and restore facts that need to be told as to why their forbears did not join Fiji Army for World War I and II.

Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna is a celebrated Itaukei Chief who had been a beneficiary of British favours. Hence, as a payback, he helped in recruitment of mostly unemployed Itaukei in villages in Military for the wars. He, together with the British and other Chiefs had shown resistance to recruitment of Fiji Indians in the Army. Like Mahatma Gandhi, while some celebrated Chiefs may have high standing overseas amongst academics and Europeans, back home they may not be that favourably regarded when judged in the light of equality, fairness, honesty and compassion for all the people.

Every now and then Itaukei (Native Fijian) leaders, commentators, ethnonationalists, politicians and even ignorant Fiji Indians in all sizes and shapes have levelled accusation at Indo-Fijians for being disloyal to Fiji by not joining the army during the world wars. 

Among others, a Fijian (this term refers to Itaukei, Natives) nationalist academic who was behind the racist 1990 constitution, late Dr Asesela Ravuvu had accused Indo-Fijians of not being interested to fight for the maintenance of democratic rule in the world and were selfish while Itaukei gave their lives for this cause. He accused Indo-Fijians of demanding more pay and special protection for their families and property. It was such non-cooperation, according to him, that partly contributed to difficulties in acquiring trust and acceptance of the Itaukei Fijians as good neighbours and countrymen.

Professor Brij Lal, Fiji’s greatest celebrated Historian, an Indo-Fijian academic and one of the Commissioners behind the 1997 constitution gave clarifications and wrote about the reasons why this happened. I take liberty to borrow his thoughts and quote him to inform the world who deserved to know this untold story - an untold history, a long time ago.

It is agreed that, to some extent, government’s refusal to grant Indo-Fijians the same conditions of service provided to European soldiers is one of the reasons for them not being in the military. However, there are others which need to be clarified to counteract accusations of Fijian nationalists who castigate a whole race for something they were not guilty of.

The reasons why Indo-Fijians did not join in the World Wars in the Fiji army are the following, among others:

 

1) Recruitment for Fijians was well-organised and even supported by chiefs, including Ratu Sukuna in his military uniform. His support and efforts perhaps was because, he was a beneficiary of the things that came from Britain, hence the need to protect them. Furthermore, by recruiting greater number of Fijians, there was an intention to display Fijian loyalty to the British to win their support for the Fijian community, as pressures were being exerted by the Indo-Fijian community for more say in the government.

RATU SIR LALA SUKUNA:  Recruitment for Fijians was well-organised and even supported by chiefs, including Ratu Sukuna in his military uniform. INDIANS WERE DISCOURAGED FROM RECRUITMENT THROUGH OBJECTIONS FROM FIJIANS AND EUROPEANS

2) Easier access to Fijian villagers to recruit, as they lived in stratified structure collectively and were more easily accessible than scattered Indo- Fijians in cane farms.

 

3) While Indo-Fijians said they would fight if Fiji was attacked, they refused to fight for the empire in the other parts of the world unless government acknowledged the principle of equality between European and non-European soldiers. What they said was that an Indo-Fijian life should be valued same as a European life. What they effectively asked for was that Brown/Black lives also matter - not only the White ones.

 

Prior to Military's involvement in interfering with democracy in Fiji in 1987, Fiji   Military Forces worldwide was best known for its very colourful and melodious Band and  peacekeeping duties in the Middle East.

4) The government was reluctant to recruit Indo-Fijians because of objections from Fijians and Europeans, as they did not wish them to be equipped with this skill. There have been instances where Indo-Fijians were requesting their sons to be recruited but were refused. One Indo-Fijian is reported to have gone to New Zealand to enlist in the Maori regiments because the Fiji army was not taking in Indo-Fijians.

 

5) Europeans were fearful of Indo-Fijians because of Gandhi’s ’Quit- India’ campaign and Subhash Chandra Bose’s collaboration with the Japanese.

 

6) There was reluctance by CSR (sugar millers) to grant leave for the farmers to fight the war, as they needed to meet their contractual arrangements on the cane farms. Indo-Fijians were not unemployed and “free” like most of the Itaukei villagers who were not fully utilised and were available for military services without any constraints elsewhere. Indo-Fijians had a difficult choice of selecting between enlisting for the war and keeping their farms. Fijians on the other hand did not have the difficulty of such a choice, as they had no farming obligations.

 

7) The government proclaimed that the most important contributions the Indo-Fijians could make were to increase the production of foodstuffs and maintenance of essential agricultural interests. This had been their contribution to the war as soldiers on the farm, as soldiers in war cannot fight on hungry stomachs. In other words, Indo-Fijians were effectively fighting an economic war for Fiji.

 

Fiji's proud son, PROFESSOR BRIJ V. LAL, (right) who filled the vacuum on Indo-Fijian and Girmit history that British and Australian CSR Colonialists stole from History books of Fiji. This clarification on mis-information on Indians not joining the army is from him. These were lies perpetuated by British, who, together with Fijian Chiefs objected to Indians joining the army. He is pictured here with your truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh, (left) author of this blog site, FIJI PUNDIT and Secretary of Trustees of Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand, during Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day in Auckland in May 2014 where Professor Lal (with Dr Padma Lal) was the Chief Guest and the Keynote Speaker. 

8) Membership in the British Empire was no badge of honour for the Indo- Fijians. Local Europeans owed their power and prestige to British colonialism, and Fijian chiefs were grateful for the security, handouts and privilege they and their people enjoyed as a result of British policies. On the other hand, the Indo-Fijians had been subjected to most inhuman racial humiliations and denigrations on a daily basis during indenture (Girmit). Therefore, fighting a war for the British would have meant a fight for the preservation of a system that was oppressive and humiliating. And for Indo-Fijians, a British war medal was not considered a badge of honour, but a sign of exploitation and oppression.

 

The conclusion by Professor Brij Lal in analysis of the above  is that the Indo-Fijians were neither seditious nor disloyal. It was the European propaganda and the exuberance, liveliness, and excitement of  war efforts of the Fijians that made them appear so. It was concluded that there was no evidence of any opposition to the war by Indo-Fijians who had displayed full loyalty for the government with a fervent hope for the victory of the Allied Nations. It is obvious that a vacuum in the true historical facts have clouded this issue.

Therefore, it is hoped these historical facts give information why Fiji Indians were hardly present in Fiji Army during the two World Wars.

 

The question that I pose here is, would Fiji’s history have been different if the British had encouraged racial balance in the Fijian Military during the wars? What may be the history of Fiji if Indo-Fijians were encouraged and even forced to join the army during the two world wars?

 

The answer perhaps lies in the next question and answer.

 

Question: Why developing Third World Countries like Papua New Guinea and India, despite being so divided on regional, provincial, language, cultural or ethnic lines have little chance of success of a racially instituted military coup that Fiji saw?

 

Answer: This is because their military do not have the type of racial, ethnic, traditional, or religious polarisation that Fiji military has. In those countries the diverse makeup of the soldiers would thwart, discourage and even prevent uprising based on racial, religious, Chiefly status or regional superiority.

 

For argument sake, assume if Fiji military in 1987 had, say 30 to 50 percent Indo-Fijian soldiers distributed equally in all ranks, would Rabuka still have been able to topple the then Commander and institute a racially and religious-based coup?

 

The chances would have been slim and may even have resulted in a mutiny as comradeship in the military transcends race and religion, and rational reasoning may have come out against such a treasonous suggestion.

 

Fiji Military is a racially based institution made up of over 95 % of Itaukei and have been the instrument of political instability since 1987. Before that, Fiji Military was best known for its celebrated Fiji Military Forces Band. Unfortunately, despite his rhetoric for equality for all Fijians, Frank Bainimarama did nothing to bring any semblance of racial balance in the last 15 years he had control over Fiji.

The bottom-line, to remove coup culture in Fiji is for the military to venture on racial balancing of the Fiji Military forces and encourage Indo-Fijians to join the military services. There is no shortage of such people to join, the only problem is that, like in those colonial days, they still are not taken in, and in turn are blamed for lacking patriotism, and being of lower stature (built). As if Japanese and Gurkha need the size and physique of Fijians to be successful soldiers, who need brains as well as brawn.

Sadly, even Frank Bainimarama, despite his rhetoric on all of us being Fijians has been a shocking disappointment. In his control subsequent to removal of Qarase in 2006, he has not been able to make a dent in his 15 years control of Fiji, while Khaiyum on the other hand has been able to populate top positions in Fiji government institution with his “own people”. Indeed, some see it as a hypocritical stance on singing the songs of equality for all while still remaining racist or a religious crusader.

 

I hope Fiji Indian Diaspora around the world will learn the reasons why they were not represented in the Fiji army during the wars, and still so. They now have information to rebut any ignorant, uninformed and racists people who accuse Fiji Indians of any lack of patriotism towards Fiji.

 

E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com.

[About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and media commentator and runs his blog site, FIJI PUNDIT, that tells what others fail to tell. He is a former publisher of Fiji's Daily Post newspaper, and is based in Auckland, New Zealand. This article was originally  written and published in FIJI PUNDIT blog in 2012 and is being republished to inform Fiji Indians of the stolen history of Fiji. He is a Postgraduate of Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the above is an extract from a project paper he had done on coup culture in Fiji and was largely from the eminent Fiji historian, Professor Brij Lal’s work and writings]

YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE - DO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING WHILE ALIVE: REGRETS ON DEATH BED

 

YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE – DO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING WHILE ALIVE - REGRETS ON DEATH BED

Thakur Ranjit Singh

 

As I am gearing up to republish this article, news comes in that Japan's Princess Mako has given up her title and defied odds to marry college sweetheart. She is living life as she wants. Please read on..

Covid has changed the course of life - and DEATH. We are dying in large numbers- with many unfulfilled wishes, hence need for this article to be republished.

This is a survey by a worker in Hospice, palliative care, tending to people who were dying, with little time left.

Even learned sages like Ravan and Bhishm Pitamah in our epics had regrets during their death, while on Mrityu Shayya – death bed.

Many of us have pride in our money, education, materialistic wealth, and other possessions.

SOME ARE SO BUSY EARNING THEIR LIVING THAT THEY FORGET TO LIVE – AND  FORGET ONE DAY THEY WILL DIE.

Here, I summarise the result from that survey of dying people.

I am especially urging our Pundits, Pastors, Priests and Pracharaks to use this as a subject of their discourse – tell people to do something earthly before becoming too Godly.

Please read to the end… AND LEARN BEFORE DEATH ENGULFS US…………….

As we age, we tend to commence viewing life with greater depth of philosophy. Organising school reunions has been one way to meet older students we may not have met for many decades.

To those younger ones too engrossed with their career -DO NOT WORK YOURSELF TO DEATH AT COST OF QUALITY TIME FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY. You will be replaced within days of your death in your workplace. But the vacuum you leave behind in the neglected family will be there forever. So, please, SLOW DOWN -AND SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES.

Translated in Hindi, this was theme of Bollywood blockbuster: Kal Ho Na Ho - Suno, jiyo, khush raho, muskurao. Kya pata, kal ho na ho.D.A.V. College, Ba Fiji’s international reunions have been held biennially respectively in Canada (2015), Auckland (2017) and Fiji ( 2019). The next one in Brisbane in planned for next year, 2022. In recognition of age catching up, and death embracing many of our school mates, the 2017 Auckland reunion had appropriate philosophical theme, urging ageing mates to listen, live life, be happy, and smile, as unbeknown, there may be no tomorrow.

And the latest reunion in Ba, Fiji in 2019, continued in similar Bollywood theme – you live only once -Yeh zindgi na milegi dobaara

In my Ba reunion experience, it appeared many of our ageing mates from Ba did not reciprocate our desire to meet older students and share the love we had for our long-separated mates. Many did not seem to care, because they appear to be too engrossed with life and failed to take advantage of meeting old mates who may never again come to their hometown in another DAV reunion in Ba in their lifetime. Life is too short; hence we need to live life to full.

Older people need to be inspired to enjoy stress-free life in their twilight years, without giving much thought to what others may think.

As I am also part of Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) Seniors team, I wish to share some thoughts with my Seniors, and ageing school mates from DAV and Khalsa Colleges in Ba, and friends and relatives in the community who are sliding down the ladder of life.

Coincidently, I was fortunate to come across a NZ Herald article by author Bronnie Ware, who shared thoughts that I also carry – thoughts coming from death beds of those at end of their lives.

Epics and history books are full of accounts of those who had regrets while on death beds. Here, Bhism Pitamah, on his death bed, mrityu shayya, bed of arrows. He also had regrets if life- things he should have done differently. This article is to make readers learn from mistakes and regrets of others.

Bronnie is an author, an inspirational speaker and songwriter. She lives in northern New South Wales, Australia. She has worked in palliative care (hospice, end-of-life care), tending to those people who were dying. She has worked closely with those having little time to live and noted their most common regrets in life.

I wish to share this with younger ones and my elder friends, so they can learn some lesson and do not die with great deal of regrets.

Her TOP FIVE REGRETS OF DYING are as follows:

 

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was "by far the most common regret".

"People were astonished by how much power they had given to the opinions of others - friends or family or society."

Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made, at times depending on what others expected them to do.

In Hindi, we say… log kya kahenge, what others will say. This is the biggest folly and fear we have.

Please break away from this and do not care to what others think.

SO, LIVE YOUR LIFE, AND TO HELL WITH WHAT OTHERS MAY THINK.

We all will end here one day. Go ahead, live your life, love, say and do things you did not do while living. So many have gone regretting things they did not do. Have courage and do it now-still not too late for many.

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

Men especially are used to putting too much of themselves into their jobs – missing treasured family moments, like birthday. Marriages, anniversaries, family reunions  and not developing other areas of their life. Most men spent so much time at work that they missed seeing their children grow up and had not spent quality time with their partners.

On their death, the employer will fill their position within days, but the vacuum he leaves in a neglected family remains for a lifetime.

This message is for those who are so engrossed in earning a living, that they forget to live.

SO, WORK LESS HARD, CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY

 

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many had kept their true feelings to themselves over the years, either to not upset others or could not get courage to express their feelings. Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others and themselves.

 

As a result, they settled for a second-rate or mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result of missed opportunities.

It is too late to leave things undone and have realisation of that mistake when it is too late - and you are on your death bed. Still not too late for many-go and attend school and family reunions, start living happier, becoming less grumpy, tell-off somebody who has been bugging you and make most of it while you can.

This is well depicted in  Akshay Kumar’s 2003 Bollywood movie, Andaaz, and this song says it says it…”kissi se tum pyaro, toh phil ishaar karo..kahin na phir der ho jaaye.. if you love someone, express it, otherwise it will be too late on the marriage of the loved one to somebody else.. How many times you had such missed opportunities because you failed to express your feelings?

SO, ADMIT “I LOVE YOU” AND HAVE COURAGE TO TELL OFF PEOPLE, AND ALSO THAT THEY ARE A**HOLES – DON’T BE AFRAID TO UPSET ANYBODY BY SPEAKING YOUR MIND.

 

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

"Dying people often want to have some laughter about good old memories. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. This applies to the ones who fail to attend school or family reunions and fail to keep in touch, come and meet their old, loved ones and friends.

Unfortunately, many of our Ba friends who failed to come and meet us, will pass away never having those fun time memories of schooldays and walking down those memory lanes with us from overseas. One of the regrets dying people shared with author Bronnie Ware was wishing they had stayed in touch with their friends, as shared experiences bring joy.

There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

"A lot of patients wished they had access to their old friends, so that they could have a little bit of light reminiscing."-old memories. But too late when on death bed. Go, ring them up now.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip, and this they regret on their death beds, like those missing their school or family reunions.

 

SO ATTEND SCHOOLS AND FAMILY REUNIONS, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OLD FRIENDS AND RELIVE YOUNGER DAYS

 

Epics and history books are full of accounts of those who had regrets while on death beds. Here, Ravan, of Ramayan, regretting what he failed to do while alive. It was too late to realise that while on his death bed, Mrityu Shayya. This article is intended to inspire readers to learn from mistakes and regrets of others.

5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

"When people were looking back, they realised they'd chosen to focus on dramas or problems or challenges, when they could have actually blessed themselves with more happiness." In family reunions or gatherings, some dwell on what separates us (conflicts) rather than having unity, good time and fun. They will feel and act bitter…and regret that action later on death bed. Be positive, talk on what that unites us.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits of being nasty, grumpy, always serious and loud voiced. They wasted their lives being unhappy this way.

Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. Some grumpy old ones always wish to remain that way. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

This is well-explained by this Hindi song..khushiyon ki har phool se maine gumm ka haar piroya, pyaar tamanna ki Jeevan mein, pyaar ko paa ke khoya…jab tak humne samjha jeevan kya hai..jeevan beet gaya..Translated it means…from flowers of happiness I always wove a garland of grief and sadness, I always wished for affection and love, but always lost them when I found them. By the time I understood what life was, life had already gone by.

When you are on your deathbed, it is too late. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying. Alas, many do not have opportunity to learn it before death. This article gives you that opportunity.

SO, STOP BEING TOO SERIOUS, NASTY OR GRUMPY. HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE - BLESS YOURSELF WITH MORE OF IT

 

LESSON TO ALL

Hope this article will at least inspire one elder, or young one, to change attitude to life, and I will feel blessed.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, and choose honestly. Choose happiness – and learn from others what they failed to do while they had time. Too late when on death bed.

 

You live only once, there is no tomorrow -learn and  best wishes for a HAPPY long life.

YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO CHANGE……AND ENJOY WHAT IS LEFT OF LIFE

[About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist, a community worker, Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ, Secretary of Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) Seniors, media commentator and speaks truth without fear or favour. He runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT and comments on issues affecting our communities. This is one of them. E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]