For years, the names of those who died in the tragic Syria shipwreck on May 11th, 1884 remained unknown but efforts are now underway to ensure their stories are never forgotten.
The University of the South Pacific Associate Professor Margaret Mishra says identifying the victims is an important step in preserving Fiji’s Girmit history and recognising those who were “lost to history”.
Prof Mishra says these were our ancestors, they are part of our history, so we cannot just let them be lost to history.
She explained that reconstructing the Syria ship list has been challenging because no official record of the victims existed.
The professor says instead, she carefully pieced together information using old arrival and departure records to help descendants trace relatives connected to the ship and better understand the families who were aboard.
Professor Mishra also acknowledged the important role played by iTaukei villages, including Nasilai, in rescuing survivors after the wreck, highlighting that the story of the Syria is not only part of Indo-Fijian history, but also part of Fiji’s shared history.
She is encouraging young people to explore Fiji’s archives and uncover the many untold stories that continue to shape the nation’s identity.
