The struggles of the girmitiyas and forefathers depict what Fiji is today – Bulileka resident

The struggles and sacrifices of the girmitiyas and our forefathers depict what Fiji is today in terms of business and the economy.

This has been highlighted by Bihari Prasad of Anuve, Bulileka, Labasa whose grandparents were the first lot of Girmitiyas that landed in Fiji.

While sharing his story, Prasad says after landing in the country the girmitiyas were taken to different places for work purposes.

He says all married people were kept in one room while all the singles were kept in a separate room.

Prasad adds their life had not been easy as they had to wake up at 4am to do their chores and work on the farm finishing off at 6pm with only 1 penny a day.

The 82-year-old also says pregnant women and mothers were beaten by the British supervisors and some even had to take their babies to work in the farms as well.

While sharing the struggles of the girmitiyas through singing folk songs, Prasad says they had no relatives but accepted whatever they had.

He further says they have also sacrificed and struggled a lot for Fiji to gain independence in 1970.