INL Nov 1 2019 Digital Edition

08
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
Fijilink
Pioneersofeducation
in Fiji remembered
ADiamond for Khalsa College, Ba
Harnam Singh Golian
Khalsa College, Ba, Fiji was
established in 1959 by an
enterprising group ofSikhs
who saw education as a
means to bringing success totheir
children and future generations.
We honour those stalwarts and
teachersparticularly Jogindar
Singh Kanwal, the first substantive
Principal whose dedication and
hard work brought such lasting success
to this proud institution.
The Institution marked its
Diamond Jubilee (60th Anniversary)
Celebration at the School on June
15, 2019.
Mr Kanwal served almost half of
this time as Principal.
Becausemyclose association with
SikhCommunity inFiji since the inception
of KhalsaInstitutions ,the
current committee decided togive
me the honour ofbeing the chief
guestand unveiling the Diamond
JubileePlaque.
Premier Institution
Iwas greatly humbledand honouredtobeaspecial
invitee byvirtueofbeing
aCo-Founder ofthe
Khalsainstitution on the auspicious
occasion of the Diamond Jubilee
Joginder Singh Kanwal (Picture Supplied)
celebrationsofthe reputedKhalsa
Primaryand Khalsa College founded
in theearly 1959.
Khalsa College may beone of the
earliest educational institutions established
by the Sikhs of Fiji outside
India.
The concept ofeducation (Viddia)
in Sri Guru Granth SahibJiisavery
important subject because the educationaltradition
is deep rooted
in Sikh beliefs and shapesthe Sikh
way oflife. The very word Sikh
means alearner –adisciple and
astudent who discovers the truth
from the hymnsofGurbani.
The Fiji Sikhs, known as Punjabis,
particularly ofthe western districts
of Lautoka, Baand Tavuainthe
mid-1950s of British Era, although
small innumber, was avibrant
community.Because of the scarcity
of schools, many school-age children
couldnot get admissionhence
deprived of formal education.
Importance of education
Realising the importance of formal
education, the Punjabi community
seriously decided todosomething as
aservice to theIndian community.
It was also achallenge for our
martial community aswellastheir
Girmitya brethren who had experienced
deprivation together were
kept behind socially, economically
and politically.
In the post-Girmit Era, amajority
of Fiji Indiansmerely lived on
hand tomouth existence. There was
no sustainable income ofthe Cane
farmers, the labourers generally
were dependent on Cane farms.
Under these constraining circumstances
there was agreater need of
the community to educate theirchildren
in order to seek employment or
advance themselves out ofthe sugar
industryfor their sustenance.
Sikh Hospitality
The Sikhs all over the world are
known for their hospitality, kindness
and charity apractice that derives
from the teachings and philosophy
of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji –The
Gurmat- aSikh isinspired with courage
to uphold the traditional values
in the service of the humanity.
Having all that in mind the elders
congregated from time to time
at the Tagi Gurdwara(temple) and
resolved that children should get a
balanced education to lead ameaningful
life without any prejudices of
colour, caste or religionorany other
form of discrimination.
Hence, they formed the Sikh
Education Society of Fiji and established
the Khalsa Primary and
Khalsa College.
Bainimarama praises
BusinessCouncil
in Australia
Staff Reporter
The Australia-Fiji
Business Council
stands as evidence of
the intimate economic
relationship between thetwo
countries, Fiji’s Prime Minister
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama
has said.
Speakingatthe Silver Jubilee
celebrationsofthe Council held
at the Brisbane Marriott Hotel
last night (October 16, 2019), he
said that this is arelationship
whose strength is owed in no
small waytothe business communities
of Fiji andAustralia’s
commitment to strengthening
such bondevery year.
Hallmark Event
“Over the years, thisForum
has evolved to becomea
hallmark event for Australian
business peoplewho are
looking to Fiji for investment
and business opportunities.
With over 120 companies as
Members, the Council has become
the perfect space for any
business engaged in bilateral
trade or looking to engage in
the future,” he said.
Mr Bainimarama said
thatthe presence of alarge
delegation from Fijiindicated
the support that theCouncil
gets from Fiji andthe Fijian
government.
Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe
Bainimarama speaking in Brisbane
yesterday (Facebook Picture)
“Aswecome together for
thisyear’s event, joined by the
highest levels of government
from both Fiji andAustralia,
it is clearnow more than ever
that this Forum is adynamic
platform for exchanging ideas,
engaging in networking andexploring
business opportunities
between our two countries,”
he said.
The Dignitaries
The Fijian delegation to
the Forum included Industry,
Trade,Tourism,Local Government,
Housing and Community
Development Minister Premila
Kumar, Agriculture, Waterways
and Environment Minister
Mahendra Reddy, Permanent
Secretary at PMO, Sugar
Industry and Immigration
Yogesh Kiran (who is also
Acting Permanent Secretary
for Foreign Affairs), Permanent
Secretary at Industry,Trade
and Tourism Shaheen Ali and
Fiji’sHigh Commissioner to
Australia LukeDaunivalu.
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