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A tragedy at sea claims 56 lives

Tribute to Girmityas 139th Anniversary

Venkat Raman (Indian Newslink)

Auckland, May 10, 2018

The physical and mental abuse, along with inhuman living and working conditions were not the only tragedy that the Girmityas suffered during the indentured (Girmit) period that dominated Fiji from 1879 to 1916.

A tragedy of even greater magnitude occurred in 1884 when Syria, a ship carrying 497 indentured labourers and their children including infants, wrecked on the Nasilai Reef in Fiji waters.

The ship, with 43 crew on board, left Calcutta (now Kolkata) in East India in the early days of May 1884 on its ill-fated journey.

It ran aground on the Reef on May 11, 1884.

Captain Benson dispatched a boat to Levuka to report the mishap and sought assistance.

Available records indicate that the surrounding villages Kiuva, Vadrai, Muana-i-ra, Nasilai and Naivilaga heard the cries of passengers.

They responded and rescue efforts were carried out for several days but by the time the operations were completed, 56 indentured labourers and three Indian seamen had drowned.

The villagers buried the dead bodies along their shores.

The tragic news jolted people in India but the surviving indentured labourers and their families went on to complete their five-year contract and settled in Fiji.

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Special Programme in Homage to Girmityas of Fiji

Monday, May 14, 2018 from 7 pm to 9 pm

Ram Mandir Temple Complex

11 Brick Street, Henderson

Auckland 0610

Phone: (09) 836 4647

Contact: Mahendra Sharma

Mobile: 027-6613242

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