Professor Lal’s courageous words were sadly taken out of context by authorities who expelled him from his home country – Rabuka

Former Prime Minister and People's Alliance Leader Sitiveni Rabuka says the late Professor Brij Lal loved Fiji so much that he devoted his entire life to the pursuit of knowledge which he turned and committed to writings.

While speaking at the NFP Condolence Gathering for Professor Lal at Jai Narayan College, Rabuka says Lal's work was aimed at elucidating the minds of his readers, listeners and students to understand Fiji is a great country, built on the sacrifice of so many players in Fiji's society in all stages of our socio-political evolution.

Rabuka adds Lal was a brave man, committed to his course, he was courageous and his courageous words were sadly taken out of context by authorities who expelled him from his home country.

He further says the world has lost a great man, a man rejected by the country he called home and loved very much until he drew his last breath in a country he was forcibly exiled to more than 12 years ago.

Rabuka adds he was not spared Lal's sharp brain, pen and tongue after the 1987 coup but Lal accepted his apology and later invited him to speak to academics at the Australian National University in 1999.

Rabuka says he was the Prime Minister when Lal was commissioned by the then President, the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to be part of the Constitution Review Commission.

He says the People's Alliance is still committed to allowing Dr Padma Lal to return to her beloved Fiji although now it will be without her beloved husband.

Lal will be laid to rest in Australia later today.