Every passing year is lengthening the shadows of Girmit, the indenture period (1879-1919) in Fiji.
However, it will never disappear, as it will retain its spectre over the lives of Indo-Fijians; the descendants of Indian indentured immigrants because their history is rooted in Girmit, the indenture period.
The history of a community cannot be obliterated, though it may be ignored or forgotten but such lapse is always counterproductive because history not only gives identity but also perennially remains an asset that is a rightful inheritance for successive generations.
Any generation that attempts to circumvent this legacy fails in its duties and obligations to successive generations.
Surprisingly, the echoes of Girmit have become audible after a long period of silence.
Reawakened spirit
The 1970s saw a reawakening of the Indo-Fijian spirit to reconnect with its early history. It gained motion in 1979 when Fiji celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Fiji.
The national celebrations fueled a strong desire among the descendants of the Girmitiyas to reconnect with their early history and many writers like Dr Brij Lal, Dr Ahemad Ali and Dr Vijay Naidu, descendants of the Girmitiyas, intensively examined that period and wrote books and articles on the subject that drew others to probe a taboo subject.
The Girmitiyas, victims of horrific violence, pain and suffering had placed a taboo on discussions on this subject.
Their influence on their children, largely illiterate, successfully imposed the prohibition that was sanctified in silence.
However, as they passed away and educated and informed generations emerged, the cover over the gruesome period of our history was gradually removed.
It revealed the depth of their pain and suffering that was wrapped in mystery.
The sacrifices that the pioneer generation made on the premise of karma will remain unequalled by successive generations. They bore the scars of Girmit on their physical bodies and tormented minds and left this world, seeking neither recognition nor redress for the pain and anguish that became part of their lives.
Productivity in the plantations superseded human considerations.
The transgressors
It was largely attained through punitive measures and physical violence was extensively used. The white Overseers of the Australia-based CSR Company ritually used whips to exact productivity but the victims were expected to continue working even when their skins were punctured by whips and bled.
Their wails and cries rarely attracted sympathetic response from those that injured them. Other Girmitiyas who worked with them could not come to their rescue, as to do so also subjected them to same inhuman treatment.
All they could do was to clip their lips, wipe their tears of sympathy and continue working with their heads down.
In the realm of productivity and profits, the very essence of humanity was lost.
The inhumanity and indifference of the masters towards the Girmitiyas who were our ancestors is a grim story and a grim reminder of our past that we must not ignore or forget because our lives are built on the solid foundations of struggle, suffering and sacrifice.
Each generation has sacrificed to secure the future of the following generations and that spirit should not diminish. The benchmark for sacrifice was established by the Girmitiyas and the best tribute that successive generations can make to them is to commemorate their sacrifices once every year.
Treachery begins
On May 14, 1879 the first sail ship Leonidas reached Levuka with 479 Indian indentured immigrants and it was followed by 86 other ships that transported 60,553 others to Fiji.
An annual commemoration should become a regular feature in the calendar of Indo -Fijians when we should individually and collectively pay our homage to our pioneers.
It was a deliberate attempt by the British to erase our history and they succeeded in hiding their iniquities to escape being implicated for commission of crimes against humanity.
That our community has not been able to seek redress for such heinous crimes is a sad commentary on the leadership that failed to address an issue that was of enormous significance. Every leader, in the post-indenture era, knew the gravity of crimes committed against their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents during the indenture period but not one raised this issue to seek redress.
Grave omission
This was a grave omission on the part of the leaders, as any such prosecution would have made the British at least accept its guilt and express remorse.
Many claim that if the matter was pursued through the international courts, Indo-Fijians would have received millions of dollars in compensation from the British Government and the CSR Company. Both had connived in the exploitation and ill-treatment of the Girmitiyas and the crimes they committed against them were indefensible. Sadly, the passage of time has perhaps made it impossible to take this road as the CSR Company has sold its Australian interests to a company in Singapore and the British Government feels vindicated having expressed its remorse for the use of slave labour.
Our responsibility
I humbly urge all parents to establish a shrine of gratitude for the pioneer generation in their homes and on May 14 every year join hands and pay your respects and gratitude to your forebears.
Importantly, impart in your children the knowledge you have of our early history and the significance of this date. There is no reason for us to learn the history of other cultures at the expense of our own.
It was tragic but fascinating and it has the power to inspire, encourage and motivate our children to inherit the traits of resilience, courage and fortitude.
To deny our children this vital knowledge is an abrogation of our parental responsibility because our history belongs to them as much as it belongs to us.
There should be a collective endeavour by social and religious organisations to observe this day and pay their homage to the pioneer generation, the Girmitiyas.
In life, they were denied respect, recognition or dignity by those who persecuted them but we must not deny them our respect and gratitude to which they are entitled.
They left a rich legacy, a vibrant culture and a spirited community that has weathered the storms of adversity with wisdom, courage and sacrifice, upholding the values and virtues that they treasured.
Rajendra Prasad is a thinker and Indian Newslink columnist. His book, Tears in Paradise is an authentic account of the sufferings of the Indian community in Fiji during the Girmit era and thereafter. Copies of the book can be purchased by writing to him. Email: raj.prasad@xtra.co.nz
