Rishi Shankar: A tribute from Indo-Fijian community in Auckland

The Indo Fijian community was saddened to know about the passing away of an old pillar of Indo Fijian community in Auckland, Lawyer Rishi Shankar. 

He hailed from a small hilly, dusty village in Lautoka, between Ba and Lautoka- in Qalitu, (Vitogo) Lautoka. He joined Fiji Police Force in 1950s and rose to the position of Police Prosecutor, working under the guidance of former Police Commissioner, P.U Raman. While still at police force, he did his law degree in New Zealand, and returned to head the Police Training School in Nasese, Suva. Upon retirement, he went into private law practice, in partnership with a prominent Ba lawyer, G. P. Shankar, and later opened his own office in Nadi.

Rishi Shankar: A well-liked community person, very friendly, likable and generous.

He later went into politics and was a National Federation Party (NFP) candidate in the ill-fated Bavadra Government of 1987. As the Lady Luck would be on his side, for some reason, he was not present in the fateful day, and fateful time in Fiji Parliament, when Sitiveni Rabuka committed treason at 10am, which we call the original 1987 coup.  He later flew to New Zealand and informed the government here about situation in Fiji. Since then, he has settled in Mt Wellington, Auckland and operated his law firm.

Rishi Shankar – an individual with a Golden Luck, Golden Heart and Golden Smile, is no more, but his memories will linger with us. A close friend of Rishi Shankar, Master Shiu Charan pays tribute to his friend. 

Shankar had Golden Luck, because for some reason, he was not present in Fiji Parliament when Rabuka executed the original coup, hence he was able to travel to NZ and seek support for a movement against the coup. He had Golden Heart because he was very compassionate about helping religious and social organisations. He had a Golden Smile, as he was so dear, and pleasant to all, with a very contagious friendly disposition.

Shankar’s relative, family friend and political colleague, Master Shiu Charan, who provided the information on him, was really saddened with the departure of his another friend. This was so soon after passing away of another NFP and religious and social colleague, Pundit Devakar Prasad, within a period of less than six months.

“I am really saddened by the passing away of my dear friend who has always been a friendly individual, with a very pleasant disposition. He has been such a nice and well-liked person from his days in the police force where he was popular with colleagues and friends, and still so, until his death” Master Shiu Charan said. He added that Shankar was also a community oriented person who always has a soft spot for religious and community organisations.

Rishi Shankar (extreme left) sharing meal with Dr Shamshud Deal Sahu Khan (centre) and Nek Mohammed,  at Fiji Girmit Foundation of NZ's Girmit Day at Skipton Hall, Auckland in May, 2014

In his capacity as a Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust and as President and Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation, Master Shiu Charan paid tribute to generosity of Shankar. “He was one of the first there donors who kicked off Ram Mandir’s fundraising campaign on 30 October, 2014 with a big donation. He has also been in the forefront to commemorate the memories of his forebear Girmitiyas in our successive Girmit Remembrance Day. He gave moral and financial support to community organisations.” said Charan.

Trustees of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust and Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand join with other Indo Fijians and well-wishers to pray for the family and salvation and peace for his soul. He will be dearly missed by all in the community. May his soul rest in peace.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh runs his blog site, FIJI PUNDIT. He is also a Trustee and Secretary of Fiji Girmit Foundation of NZ, where Shankar was an active supporter]

Indian Media Watch reports on Indian Newslink

In response to Auckland invaded by shady Indian witchdoctors and palm readers, a recent meeting of Concerned Community Group against this vice in Auckland  was informed that that a formal complaint would be lodged with Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) against a newspaper that gave much “oxygen” to this blaze of deceit, fraud and social irresponsibility.

Below is an excerpt of that complaint, and the first action by the recently launched Indian Media Watch - New Zealand:

I, as the principal of Indian Media Watch, lodge this complaint to ASA against the Auckland Indian newspaper Indian Newslink, its Publisher and Managing Director, Jacob Mannothra and its Editor and General Manager, Venkat Raman for violating the Basic Principles of the Advertising Code of Ethics vis-à-vis items 3 and 4 which read:

Indian Media Watch of New Zealand,  has made its first complaint  to the complaints committee of  Advertising Standard Authority (ASA). It is against the Auckland based Indian newspaper, Indian Newslink for violating some Basic Principles of the Advertising Code of Ethics.

3) No advertisement should be misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive the consumer. And
4) All advertisements should be prepared with a due sense of social responsibility to consumers and to society.

In addition to above, rule 2 further amplifies above:

Truthful Presentation which says that: Advertisements should not contain any statement or visual presentation or create an overall impression which directly or by implication, omission, ambiguity or exaggerated claim is misleading or deceptive, is likely to deceive or mislead the consumer, makes false and misleading representation, abuses the trust of the consumer or exploits his/her lack of experience or knowledge

The misleading advertisements, named after deities, with religious photos to con the religious-minded people who are made to believe these frauds possess some divine powers

Indian Media Watchdog initiated in Auckland

As the populations of Indians and Indo-Fijians in particular and People of Indian Origin in general increase in New Zealand, so does news-selling and Indian entertainment business. This is more so marked in Auckland where we now have three 24- hour radio stations, one of them being an FM station, a free - to-air 24 hour TV station, a weekly, and some fortnightly Indian newspapers, with some blog sites. People generally open businesses with the prime objective of making money, so the news-selling radio, newspapers and TV are there to make money – that is the prime objective. Being anything else is beyond their understanding, as money and revenue overrides any other obligations.

Indian Media in Auckland will now be placed under scrutiny by Indian Media Watch body.

While public has been treating such news-selling business as media, the so-called Indian media have much more to do to take the position of what we call the Fourth Estate –media as the fourth pillar of democracy. But the question is, has so called Indian media in Auckland stood up to this respectability and high-elevation?



Recent events in Auckland within the Indian community gave rise for the necessity for Indian Media to be placed under scrutiny. Indian Media Watch aims to do exactly that.