Professor Baba was revolutionary, not only in education but in politics and public life - Prof. Shameem

The late Professor Tupeni Baba was a giant of an intellect and this is what made him stand out among the academics not only in Fiji and the Pacific but further afield. This is the message shared by University of Fiji Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem while delivering her eulogy during Professor Baba's funeral in Tailevu earlier today.

Professor Shameem says Professor Baba was a big supporter of education in the holistic sense - and this is probably why he remained with the University of Fiji for so long, because the University embarked on an educational journey that emphasized human values in the delivery of programmes, and which was completely in line with his own philosophy of education. She says he had acquired this radical and much needed approach to education due to his own background and experiences, first as a young person in Udu Point, then as a student, all the way to his PhD with experiences in teaching at a number of different universities, in Fiji and overseas.

She further says Professor Baba was a revolutionary in Fiji and not only in education but also in politics and public life.

The UniFiji Vice Chancellor adds that he was also a freedom fighter for the nation as a whole, and for all the communities in it.

Professor Shameem says she is very glad that at the University of Fiji, among caring colleagues, Professor Baba felt protected and cherished and for them, he was a comrade-in-arms.

UniFiji Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, Pundit Bhuwan Dutt says it was an honour that Professor Baba was part of the University of Fiji family and he was their mentor, a colleague, a friend and an inspiration. Dutt says his own experience with Professor Baba goes back to the year 1960 where they stayed together, with several other boys, at the then Nasinu Teachers Training College and attended Suva Grammar School at Veiuto, in sixth form as classmates.

He says he had come from Labasa to Suva for the first time, to study in form 6, on government sponsorship, and he found Professor Baba to be a readymade friend who could understand him as he was also from the North, and of the same age group.

He adds it was a great relief for him and they treasured their relationship throughout.