INL April 15 2019 Digital Edition

08
APRIL 15, 2019
Fijilink
Five commemoration events to mark 140th Girmit Anniversary
Programmes in Auckland on May 14, 2019
Thakur
Ranjit Singh
The Fiji Girmit Foundation of
New Zealand is gearing to
mark the 140th Anniversary
of the arrival of first Indian
indentured labourers in Fiji, which
was on 14 May 1879.
It will be a day to commemorate
the suffering and sacrifices of the
Girmityas and celebrate triumph of
the human spirit over formidable
adversities.
This event will take place on May
10, 2019 at ARST Skipton Hall, 53 Skipton
Street, Mangere East, Auckland.
About the Foundation
The Foundation was established in
2013 to reconnect, reclaim and restore
Fiji-Indian history, which has failed
to echo in successive generations as it
should have.
This event is being organised to
provide an opportunity to every Indo-Fijian
family to remember and pay
respects to their Girmitya forebears
for the sacrifices they made and the
legacy they left behind for successive
generations.
It is also the Foundation’s
fervent hope and desire to bring
enlightenment of their foundational
Girmit history to Fiji Indians who
grown up unaware of their tragic but
fascinating history. In addition, it is
their fervent desire to honour some of
The building at the Calcutta (now Kolkata)
Port where indentured labourers were
housed before boarding ships to British colonies
(Picture by Janifa Khan Janif published
in our May 1, 2015 Issue)
Girmityas at a Banana Plantation in Fiji
(Pictures from INL Archives)1
the descendants of the Girmityas for
their achievements in various fields.
Recognising veteran Girmityas
In History of New Zealand, Girmit
Remembrance was never marked
regularly till the Foundation was
established, and held commemoration
from 2013 to 2015 inclusive.
In 2013, elderly Fiji Indians (those
over 80) were recognised, honoured
and given Girmit Commemorative
Medals.
In 2014, Professor Brij Lal was the
Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker.
In 2015, the then Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Fiji, Inoke Kubuabola
was the Chief Guest. The theme for the
occasion was “Commemorating the Syria
Tragedy,” which included remembering,
acknowledging and paying tribute to the
Nasilai Villagers who risked their lives to
render assistance in the rescue efforts,
mounted by Dr William McGregor on
that fateful night of May 11, 1884.
Mr Kubuabola led a delegation from
Fiji, including staff of the Fiji High
Commission based in Wellington to
honour the occasion on behalf of the
Government of Fiji.
Delegation to Nasilai
Following this event, the Foundation
led a delegation to Nasilai Village on
October 15, 2015 to formally thank the
Nasilai villagers for the role their ancestors
had played in the rescue efforts,
which saved hundreds of lives.
It was a solemn occasion, reliving a
tragic event but provided us an opportunity
to meet the descendants to express
‘Leonidas’ the first ship with indentured labourers
entering the Fiji waters on Mat 14, 1879
our appreciation, though belatedly.
The villagers honoured the visitors
with traditional welcome and subsequent
discussions led to undertaking of
important renovations and improvements
to the village communal facilities,
costing us over $80,000.
Fiji-Indian Issues
The Foundation is also gearing up to
focus on some issues which Fiji Indians
need a voice in, playing a wider role by
having a closer link with New Zealand
Government, the government agencies,
political and community leaders.
There is a revamped, passionate,
professional and diverse youth executive
team who are coming on board,
empowered to carry the banner and
baton of Girmit and create awareness
in the new generation.
One may say, like New Zealand
Prime Minister, Fiji Indian Millennials
in Auckland have been given an
opportunity to take the lead and the
torch of Girmit.
The Foundation considers it
important to enlist the support of our
community to ensure that our Girmit
history is not lost. Accordingly, public
awareness was vital and the commemorative
events that commenced some
six years ago lit and fanned the spark,
which has ignited the desire in our
people to reconnect and revive our
Girmit history.
Saluting ancestors
At least five commemoration events
are planned for Auckland to mark and
salute the pioneer Indian indentured
labourers who were ordinary people
who achieved extraordinary feats. And
this is evident in a new breed and race
of people, who originated from India,
but created a distinct Pacifica culture,
with best of both worlds.
There have been requests to Girmit
Foundation to join with Global Girmit
organisations overseas. However, the
New Zealand Girmit Foundation feels
first they need to make it effectively
work here at grassroots level before
venturing overseas.
There is a desire to empower Fiji
Indians to extend this organisation as
an advocacy body for Fiji Indians in
New Zealand, who, as stated, while
being Indians, are also distinct Pacifica
people - Fiji Indians.
Awareness overseas
The Foundation wishes to work
on ground with Fiji Indians in New
Zealand, and also create awareness
in Canada and USA to arm the new
generation with their original identity,
and advise them the importance of reconnecting
and restoring their Girmit
history as a tribute to the Girmityas.
The Foundation seeks the participation
of all descendants of Girmityas to
show their gratitude to the vision and
sacrifice of ordinary people who did
extraordinary things in an extraordinary
environment.
The Fijian government has already
implemented the request of Girmit
Foundation to include Girmit History
in the School Curriculum has already
been implemented.
We now await Fiji declaration of
May 14 as a Public Holiday in Fiji.
Thakur Ranjit Singh is the Founding
Trustee of the Fiji Girmit Foundation
New Zealand and is a media commentator.
He has a passion for his
forebears, and has written various
articles on them in the past. He will
visit Fiji later this year to initiate
and inaugurate ‘Totaram Sanadhya
Vatika,’ a Girmit Botanical Garden
at Fiji Girmit Centre in Lautoka. This
will be as a part of DAV Reunion in
Fiji, in association with Fiji Girmit
Council.
Indian Newslink will publish
further information on the 140th
Anniversary shortly.
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