Support from iTaukei community during Girmit era must also be acknowledged – Kiran

A lot of focus is given on how the Girmitiyas struggled and persevered in Fiji but the support they got from the iTaukei community during that period should also be acknowledged, as because of this relationship, they progressed.

This has been highlighted by Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran as we commemorate Girmit Day tomorrow.

While speaking during the annual Mariamman Puja at Venkatesh Perumal Temple in Nawai, Nadi, Kiran says the Girmitiyas, through their struggles, laid the foundation for us and there is a lot of resilience and a lot of success in it, which gives us a lot to learn.

She says according to Totaram Sanadhya’s book titled “My 21 Years in Fiji”, when they did not have food because they used to get so little food, the Fijian people used to secretly bring them food.

Kiran says when the indenture system ended, the Colonial Sugar Refining Company gave very small land for cane farming.

She says the Girmitiyas learned the language and culture of the people here.

Kiran says when there was no Native Land Trust Commission, Fijian landlords in Vuda gave their land to the Indo-Fijians.

The Minister also highlighted that fishing company owner, Ben Naidu’s father who as an infant during the Girmit era, was at risk of dying due to a lack of milk, as his mother could not breastfeed and formula milk was unavailable.

She says a compassionate Fijian woman, moved by his cries, took him in, cared for him for 14 years, and later returned him to his Indian family.

Kiran also highlighted that on May 11, 1884, the Syrian ship sank, killing 54 people, and while colonial authorities arrived 2 days later, it was the villagers of Noco, Rewa who rescued the survivors, buried the dead, and cared for the injured for over a month.

Kiran says the Girmitiyas got a lot of help from many communities including the Melanesian, Chinese and the iTaukei and because of this relationship, they progressed a lot.

The Minister adds as we have Girmit Day and Ratu Sukuna Day this month, it is important that we try and learn each others cultures to further improve our relationships.

Meanwhile, tonight’s Girmit Day event at Subrail Park has been cancelled due to bad weather but tomorrow’s program remains unchanged.