Public Articles Fiji
“Starting from the 1860s, tens of thousands of Pacific Islanders were taken to Australia to work on plantations in Queensland, often by force or trickery.”
Photo credit: State Library Of Queensland
“A former prime minister urged Fiji to better acknowledge its past, especially the 40 years indentured Indian labor.”
By Grant Wyeth
Photo credit: Jared Wiltshire on Flickr
“Indo-Fijians are mostly descendants of indentured laborers brought in by the British to work on CSR Australia-owned sugar plantations.”
By Michael Field
Photo credit: The Internet Archive
“Girmit, or indentured labour from 1879 to 1920, is typically recognised as originating from India. This includes Pakistan and Bangladesh, whose geographic boundaries were encompassed as part of India during the girmit era.”
Photo credit: The National Archives UK via Flickr
“The exodus of Fijian Indians should start soon as some of the brightest and better off, shut out of power by the strongly nationalistic interim government, decide to leave the sinking ship which was their island home.”
Indians should not bask in success stories: Ex Indo-Fijian Prime Minister
“
Former Fijian PM of Indian-origin has appealed to the Indian diaspora to guard against being deluded by certain success stories.”
by The Economic Times
“DELIBERATIONS from Dialogue Fiji and Citizens’ Constitutional Forum’s Dialogue on Ethnic Relations next month will be fed into the CSO report to the UN’s Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination.”
By Felix Chaudhary
“The descendants of indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji more than 100 years ago have undergone many changes, says University of the South Pacific academic Professor Vijay Naidu…”
By Repeka Nasiko
“Descendants of the Girmitiyas, born and bred here, have every right to be called Fijians because they have earned it through their immense contribution to Fiji…”
By Nemani Delaibatiki
“…The British and other European colonisers took with them a whole spread of games such as the various forms of football along with cricket, hockey, tennis, rowing, swimming, cycling, golf, polo and racing of animals among others…”
“THE term is “Madrasi” and not “Mandraji” as some have perceived for decades in Fiji. South Indians came to Fiji well before 1903 as part of the indenture system. However, on record the first ship from Madras named Elbe III reached Fiji on May 22, 1903…”
“Each time you travel past Wainadoi, on your way to Navua and beyond, you would most probably see a few lines of mysterious-looking trees that spring out of a patchwork of grass and shrubs prolific in rainy parts of Viti Levu…”
“The debate on whether Indians in Fiji are “vulagi” (visitors) has reached offshore, and discussion in the New Zealand media is getting intense…”
“Girmit, or indentured labour from 1879 to 1920, is typically recognised as originating from India. This includes Pakistan and Bangladesh, whose geographic boundaries were encompassed as part of India during the girmit era.”
“1835 - Missionaries first came to Fiji via the Wesleyan mission in Tonga.
1851 - 1860 - Due to epidemics of various diseases, thousands of indigenous Fijians died. Their numbers did not begin to rise again until the 1950s.”
By the University of Maryland
“Such were the findings of Dr Brij Lal, the former permanent secretary for the Ministry of Education and sitting member of Parliament while carrying out research into the life of his grandfather, Khanjan Lal, an indentured labourer who found his way to Fiji during the girmit era…”
By Matilda Simmons at The Fiji Times
“FIJI’S one and only Hindi newspaper, Shanti Dut, the vernacular newspaper of the Fiji Times Ltd, has been shining for 82 years in Fiji.
Two years ago, the newspaper celebrated its 80th anniversary.”
“In Fiji and abroad, a familiar name that comes to mind when you think of quality Indians sweets and snacks is Bhikhabhai.
Their sweets and snacks are top quality yet competitively priced. Bhikhabhai’s director and CEO Viraaj Kantilal Lad said they now had four shops based in Ba, Lautoka, Nadi and Suva.”
By Atasa Williams at The Fiji Times
“Gujarat is famous for celebrating festivals with huge enthusiasm. They have a range of traditional dances based on their rich culture and tradition…”
Photography by dpbirds, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, via Flickr.
“Fijian-Indians living in New Zealand are opposing moves by the government to classify them as Asians and not Pacific Islanders.”
Image by peonyandthistle , CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, Retrieved from Flickr.
“More than 140 years of Fiji’s Indian-origin community’s history will be remembered in a special commemorative event in Auckland next month.”
By Arvind Kumar
“On the fronts of 19th-century postcards displayed in Caribbean shops, women in traditional Indian styles portrayed the islands as lush and exotic tourist destinations.”
By Hena Sharma, CNN
Image: DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University via Flickr
(29 May 2021) They deserve much more – Girmit legacy — our heritage by Selwan Nandan
https://www.fijitimes.com/they-deserve-much-more-girmit-legacy-our-heritage/
(17 May 2021) The story behind Bob’s Store by Wanshika Kumar
https://www.fijitimes.com/the-story-behind-bobs-store/
(17 May 2021) Insider vs outsider – Sakul: Work together rather than against by Dr Sakuland Bhawnakundra
https://www.fijitimes.com/insider-vs-outsider-sakul-work-together-rather-than-against/
(15 May 2021) NFP pays tribute to girmitiya by Luke Rawalai
https://www.fijitimes.com/nfp-pays-tribute-to-girmitiya/
(15 May 2021) Family Remembers Ancestor’s Arrival, Works And Legacy by Shratika Naidu
https://fijisun.com.fj/2021/05/15/family-remembers-ancestors-arrival-works-and-legacy/
(27 April 2021) The arrival and rise of Sikhs in Fiji by Siteri Sauvakacolo
https://www.fijitimes.com/the-arrival-and-rise-of-sikhs-in-fiji/
(8 November 2020) Solovi Temple Marks 100th Anniversary by Waisea Nasokia
https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/11/08/solovi-temple-marks-100th-anniversary/
(12 February 2020) Overwhelming Support For Fiji Hindi Over Hindi by Nemani Delaibatiki
https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/02/12/overwhelming-support-for-fiji-hindi-over-hindi/
(16 July 2019) Girmitiyas Not ‘Vulagi’: Rosi Akbar Speaks Out by Jyoti Pratibha
https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/07/16/girmitiyas-not-vulagi-rosi-akbar-speaks-out/
(12 November 2018) Fijians Mark SS Sutlej’s 102nd Anniversary by Ashna Kumar & Neelam Prasad
https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/11/12/fijians-mark-ss-sutlejs-102nd-anniversary/
(12 November 2018) Prema Remembers Late Grandad by Nicollete Chambers
https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/11/12/prema-remembers-late-grandad/
(2 July 2018) Special Allocation To Mark Girmitiyas 140th Anniversary by Selita Bolanavanua
https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/07/02/500000-to-mark-girmitiyas-anniversary/
(15 May 2018) Ministerial Statement: Marking 139 Years Since The First Girmitiyas Arrived by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Acting PM and Attorney-General
(15 May 2018) EDITORIAL: Girmityas Celebrate Big Day, Equal Citizenry by Maika Bolatiki
https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/05/15/editorial-girmityas-celebrate-big-day-equal-citizenry/
(15 May 2018) Bala: Remembrance Day Important by Arieta Vakasukawaqa
https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/05/15/bala-remembrance-day-important/
(14 May 2018) Drama Marks Girmit Era by Arieta Vakasukawaqa
https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/05/14/drama-marks-girmit-era/
(11 May 2018) Professor Misir Launches Book About India Indentured Women by Rosi Doviverata
https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/05/11/professor-misir-launches-book-about-india-indentured-women/
(8 October 2017) Publication : Misir To Publish Book On Plight Of Indentured Indian Women by Sheldon Chanel
(15 September 2017) Panel Discusses Adoption Of Descendants Of Indentured Workers by Ashna Kumar
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/09/15/panel-discusses-adoption-of-descendants-of-identured-workers/
(15 May 2017) Girmit Descendents Have Now Found Dignity, Respect, Equality, Says A-G by Losirene Lacanivalu, Shratika Naidu & Litia Tikomailepanoni
(10 May 2017) Rewa adopts descendants of indentured labourers by Litia Cava
https://www.fijitimes.com/rewa-adopts-descendants-of-indentured-labourers/
(6 May 2017) Descendants Humbled By Inclusion: Farmer by Kathrin Krishna
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/05/06/descendants-humbled-by-inclusion-farmer/
(6 May 2017) ‘New Rewans’ Honoured In Historic Event by Kathrin Krishna
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/05/06/new-rewans-honoured-in-historic-event/
(5 May 2017) Rewa adopts indentured labourers’ descendants by Litia Cava
https://www.fijitimes.com/rewa-adopts-indentured-labourers-descendants/
(4 May 2017) Province To Conduct Bestowing Ceremony by Losirene Lacanivalu
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/05/04/province-to-conduct-bestowing-ceremony/
(26 April 2017) Goverment Plans To Honour Women Of Indenture In Fiji by Arieta Vakasukawaqa
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/04/26/govt-plans-to-honour-women-of-indenture-in-fiji/
(29 March 2017) Tribute to fallen indentured labourers by Alisi Vucago
https://www.fijitimes.com/tribute-to-fallen-indentured-labourers/
(23 March 2017) Girmitiya Descendants’ Contributions Huge: Academic by Arishma Devi-Narayan
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/03/23/girmitiya-descendants-contributions-huge-academic/
(26 Jan 2017) Deenbandhu Charlie: Girmit And Gandhi by Satendra Nandan
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/01/26/deenbandhu-charlie-girmit-and-gandhi-3/
(8 January 2017) Fiji Girmit: Its Legacies And Lessons by Satendra Nandan
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/01/08/fiji-girmit-its-legacies-and-lessons/
(26 November 2016) A-G Hails Hard Work Of Our Girmitiyas by Ashna Kumar
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/10/26/a-g-hails-hard-work-of-our-girmitiyas/
(19 November 2016) Journey And Sacrifices Of The Girmitiyas by Satendra Nandan
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/11/19/journey-and-sacrifices-of-the-girmitiyas/
(12 November 2016) Girmitiyas Helped Growth In Ba, Veena Bhatnagar Tells Town by Arishma Devi-Narayan
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/11/12/girmitiyas-helped-growth-in-ba-veena-bhatnagar-tells-town/
(11 November 2016) A Dream Come True: Descendant by Arishma Devi-Narayan
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/11/11/a-dream-come-true-descendant/
(11 November 2016) EDITORIAL: Girmit History, A Compelling Story That We Should Learn And Cherish by Nemani Delaibatiki
(10 November 2016) Girmitiya Descendants No Longer Vulagi: President by Arieta Vakasukawaqa
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/11/10/girmitiya-descendants-no-longer-vulagi-president/
(2 November 2016) EDITORIAL: Let’s Keep Out Politics From Celebrations To Honour Our Girmitiyas by Jyoti Pratibha
(9 July 2016) Indentured Survivors ‘Were Well Looked After’ by University of the South Pacific
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/07/09/indentured-survivors-were-well-looked-after/
(4 July 2016) Indentured system by Fiji Times
https://www.fijitimes.com/indentured-system/
(16 May 2016) Poems of indenture period by Fiji Times
https://www.fijitimes.com/poems-of-indenture-period/
(15 May 2016) 137 YEARS ON, Why All FIJIANS Should Honour GIRMITIYAS by Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote, President of Fiji
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/05/15/137-years-on-why-all-fijians-should-honour-girmitiyas/
(15 May 2016) Significant Progress Because Of Girmitiyas by Litia Cava & Ashna Kumar
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/05/15/significant-progress-because-of-girmitiyas/
(12 May 2016) Girmitiya Women An Inspiration: Reddy by Litia Tikomailepanoni
https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/05/12/girmitiya-women-an-inspiration-reddy/
(14 October 2014) Ceremony: Vanua O Ba Welcomes Girmitiyas Descendants by Karalaini Tavi
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/10/14/ceremony-vanua-o-ba-welcomes-girmitiyas-descendants/
(14 May 2014) Granny from indentured labour era still strong by Fiji Times
https://www.fijitimes.com/granny-from-indentured-labour-era-still-strong/
(15 May 2011) Indentured Labourers by Ashneel Prasad Lautoka
https://fijisun.com.fj/2011/05/15/indentured-labourers/
(12 May 2011) Our Forgotten Girmitiyas: Colonial Indentured Slavery Marks 132 Years by Thakur Ranjit Singh