Girmit Divas - 7-15 May 2004
(posted 17 March 2004, 12.15)
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is organising
celebrations to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the arrival in Fiji
in 1879 of the first Indians, Girmityas, who served under the Indenture
System. The celebrations are to be held in all major centres of Fiji from
7-15 May 2004.
The first batch of Girmityas arrived in Fiji on board
the coolie vessel Leonidas on 14 May 1879. Over the next 37 years, some
62,000 of them were brought by the British colonial government as
indentured labourers to slave in European-owned plantations here. They
were contracted to work for a fixed term of five years under conditions
highly degrading and de-humanising.
Although slavery, to all intents and purposes, had been
abolished in 1833, the British introduced a new form of slave labour to
pursue their mercantile interests in the colonies.
Why the celebrations?
The celebrations are intended to pay homage to those
brave Girmitya souls who endured unbelievable indignity and hardship as
human beings to contribute to the economic well being of the European
plantation owners and the infamous Australian sugar milling company- the
CSR Co. Ltd.
Freed from Indenture in 1920, Girmityas and their
descendents were forced through sheer circumstances to farm cane for the
CSR Co. under highly exploitative conditions on land largely leased from
the company or from native landowners. They supplied sugar cane to the
company's four sugar mills under contracts which were grossly iniquitous,
paying the farmers a pittance for their crop.
It was not until 1970 that they received economic
justice from Lord Denning who in his award on a new cane contract, ensured
that the moneys from sugar sales were shared equitably between the grower
and the miller.
Soon afterwards, the CSR packed up and left. The
industry was then nationalised giving birth to the Fiji Sugar Corporation
in 1973.
The struggle of the Girmityas and their descendents for
their civil and political rights, for social and economic justice has been
long and arduous, punctuated by exploitation, oppression, violence and
dislocation.
The three coups of 1987 and 2000 saw the Indian
community subjected to gross violations of their human rights. Today,
thousands of them have been rendered landless and homeless on expiry of
their leases on native land. These, once proud and independent farmers,
have today been reduced to destitution without State assistance in any
tangible form.
Yes, our struggle for justice and equal citizenship
rights continues. We of the present generation, must acknowledge with
gratitude the sacrifices our pioneering forefathers made to create a
better life for us. We in turn, have a duty to secure the future of those
who will come after us. So, let us all join hands to overcome our
difficulties and differences and strive for a better and fairer Fiji for
all citizens.
A lot has transpired since the first Indians landed here
in 1879. Despite the difficulties and the discrimination they faced, many
have achieved fame and success in the professions, in business, as
academics, administrators, farmers and so on. Many others have left our
shores to settle in countries more prosperous than Fiji to build a better
future for their children. They too continue to regard Fiji as their
homeland.
Finally , let me say that the Girmit Divas is being held
as a tribute not only to the Girmityas but also to all of our people who
have triumphed over trials and tribulations, who have overcome the
obstacles of life to become successful, law-abiding citizens of our
nation. The Divas is meant to reinforce the pride and dignity of our
people in all walks of life.
As an esteemed person in our society, you are
respectfully invited to join us and make your contribution to the success
of the celebrations.
Mahendra P Chaudhry
General Secretary NFU
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