Salutations to the forgotten generations in Fiji
Thakur Ranjit Singh
Auckland, May 10, 2020
As we approach yet another Girmit Day and May 14, we are forced to ask: why despite enormous contributions to Fiji’s development, Fiji Indians escaped the history books?
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, very aptly summed up this phenomenon in his book, The Discovery of India: “History is almost always written by victors and conquerors and gives their viewpoint; or, at any rate, the victor’s version is given prominence and holds the field.”
Deliberate cover-up
Therefore, in case of Fiji Indians, history was deliberately concealed to cover up the crimes of British and the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. Since British were the colonial rulers of Fiji for around a century, they had a distinct advantage in manipulating history.
Those of you who came through Fiji’s education system would recall that in primary and secondary school history, you learnt about early history of indigenous Fijians, about provincial tribal wars and their legends. You would have also learnt about the prowess and courage of various European explorers and seamen.
You must have also read the history of British Royal Family, contributions of the British in developing and civilising the earth, virtues of the Commonwealth, the penal history of Australia, and so on about the glory of White men’s contributions to carving out the destiny of the world.
Some writers have likened indenture or Girmit to slavery. In fact, some have dubbed slavery as being better, because, at least in slavery, people got better food and shelter.
Wounded community
Why is there lack of history of Fiji Indians?
The supposedly custodians of Girmityas, the British owed a duty of care to record history as it really and actually unfolded rather than how they wanted it to be told. They abrogated their responsibility by manipulating history of Girmityas, thus leaving a community wounded.
On this Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day, we salute the sacrifices and vision of our Girmitya forebears.
Their resolve ensured that the plan of British to keep Girmitya children uneducated failed.
They pooled their own resources and built primary schools in the villages.
They felt a strong conviction in their hearts that education of their children would liberate them from servitude and poverty. That is what exactly happened.
Today, we are the beneficiaries of that vision.
Unrecorded violent era
Girmit was a very violent era which went unrecorded. The British only told their good tales and swept the villainous acts and atrocities under the carpet.
Author Rajendra Prasad lifts this carpet in his epic book on forgotten Girmit history, Tears in Paradise. He reveals: “The woman turns around in fear, and puts her hands in entreaty. The whip comes down upon her half naked back and legs. The child is struck also. Both are crying and screaming and the mounted brute almost puts his horse’s hoofs upon her….”
The Girmityas endured their suffering and captured them in different ways. This ‘Bidesia,’ a deep lamentation, was composed in the sugarcane fields of Fiji by an unknown Girmitya.
It captures their helplessness, anguish, anxiety and pain.
Kali kothariya ma biteye nahin ratiyaan ho
Kiske batayee ham peer re bidesia.
Din raat hamri beeti dukhwa mein umariya ho
Sukha re naynwa ke neer re bidesia.
Translated, it says, “In the dark rooms of the coolie lines, the nights are difficult to endure. Who do we tell the depth of our pains? Day and night of our lives are consumed in suffering. Tears have dried from our eyes.”
Consolation in solitude and groups
When the cruel masters ignored their pleas and justice system failed them, they found relief and comfort, capturing their emotions in their own mysterious ways. In groups, they gathered, shared, consoled and wiped each other’s tears.
‘Bidesia’ was a common song that Girmityas sang and shared. It was a folksong that captured the longing and lament of the heart of the victims and the singer, usually a woman, sang with tears streaming down.
May we be thankful to the sacrifices of our forebears.
Let us remember them on May 14, in some small way, as we mark other memorial days.
Let us remember them by dedicating May 14 every year as ‘Girmit Remembrance Day.’
I dedicate this article to the memories of my Aaja Bansi, through whose sacrifices and vision, I got educated to the level that I could tell their untold stories to the new generation, who may, hopefully be more thankful to their sacrifices which gave them this life of comforts.
Shat Shat Naman-our salutation to their memory.
Om Satgati – May their souls attain salvation.
And may we become a more caring people towards the memories of our departed forbears.
Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and media commentator. He is a third generation of Fiji Girmitya. He lives in Auckland.
