Fiji's Indian community prepare for Girmit 'Remembrance Day' in Auckland
Friday, 30 April 2021
More than 140 years of Fiji’s Indian-origin community’s history will be remembered in a special commemorative event in Auckland next month.
Close to 1000 dignitaries, community leaders, elders and invited guests will gather at Malaeola Community Centre in Mangere on May 7 to honour and remember the community and their special place in Fiji’s history.
“Remembering, Celebrating and Advocating Fijian Indian Heritage, Identity and Diaspora” event has been organised by the Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand to commemorate 142 years since the first arrival of Indian indentured labourers to the island nation.
“The Remembrance Day, as we refer to this day, will also be an occasion to celebrate our identity and the contributions we have made to Fiji, Pacific and New Zealand - culturally, socially and economically,” says foundation president Krish Naidu.
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“It is through such success stories we can empower our younger generations to carry the legacy of Girmit forward, protecting and promoting the values of hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice.”
Naidu said last year’s event was cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions, and that had made this year’s celebration even more special.
“The Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ was formed in 2013 with the object of reconnecting, reclaiming and restoring Fijian Indian/Fiji Indian history and creating awareness among the descendants of the Girmitiyas on their tragic but fascinating early history,” Naidu said.
“In this regard, we organise commemorative events every year, marking the arrival of the first ship Leonidas, carrying Indian indentured labourers to Fiji on May 14, 1879.
Leonidas landed 481 (Girmitiyas) in Fiji, followed by 86 other ships that transported a total 60,495 Indians who largely worked as slaves in the sugarcane plantations.
Naidu said the indenture system succeeded the system of slavery, following its abolishment in 1833, which created an acute labour shortage in the British colonies.
“To cater for the labour needs, the British who ruled India recruited over 1.2 million Indians to work in its colonies, including Fiji,” he said.
“The indenture system was slavery by another name except that it was a contractual agreement for a period of five years.”
The illiterate Indian indentured workers, unable to pronounce the word ‘agreement’ called it ‘Girmit’, an acronym that came to identify that period (1879-1920) and they came to be identified as the ‘Girmitiyas’.
“We hold an annual commemorative event both to pay tribute to the Girmitiyas for their sacrifices and at the same time create awareness, reconnecting the descendants of the Girmitiyas to their tragic but fascinating history,” Naidu said.
The May 7 programme will include candle vigilance, speeches, cultural songs, items, oratories by children, senior medal awards etc.
Naidu said an extra commemorative honour – the Girmit Legacy Medal – will also be awarded to any Fiji Indian descendant aged over 80.
If you know of any such individuals, email their name and a brief to treasurerfgfnz@gmail.com by May 2.
Programme starts at 6:30pm, dinner included.