As Girmit Day commemoration events begin in Labasa today, Global Girmit Institute says a lack of knowledge about the hardships the Indians faced during the Girmit era is a major reason why there have been racial disharmony in the country.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Institute Chair Dr Ganesh Chand says indigenous Fijians do not know about the history of Indians in Fiji.
He says some think all the Indians are like the shopkeepers in Cumming Street or Naviti Street.
Dr Chand says another issue related to lack of awareness is the lenses worn by those who wrote the history.
He says for instance in May 1884, the Syria ship got wrecked in Nasilai and 57 people died but the rest were safe.
The Chair says what you normally read is that it was the colonial government which went and saved them from the wreck but this is not the case.
Dr Chand says it was the indigenous Fijians from Rewa who went and saved them and he asks how many people in Fiji know this.
He stresses the written history needs to be corrected.
Dr Chand says there are a lot of work that needs to be done and if people knew that it was the indigenous Fijians who were the first people to go to the aid of the indentured workers in trouble, the perception and relationships would be different. Meanwhile, Girmit commemoration events will take place from today to Monday at Subrail Park in Labasa.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Pabitra Margherita will be part of the events on Monday.
The public holiday for Girmit is on Monday.
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