WHICH WAY, KIWI FIJI INDIANS? WHAT IS YOUR IDENTITY AND RIGHTS IN NEW ZEALAND?
Thakur Ranjit Singh, FIJI PUNDIT Are Fiji Indians part of Fiji History? Something to think about as we mark FIJI INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023 I received this email from my niece in Waikato who is a fifth generation Kiwi Fiji Indian in NZ: “I received a scholarship offer from the University of Otago for the Pacific Peoples Entrance. The scholarship requires a verification of my indigenous pacific ancestry which includes documents such as: land title documents, birth certificate, passports, and citizenship papers. While we can provide those documents, I am not sure how I can be eligible under the indigenous aspect. “ And she asked for assistance on how to verify her ancestry. Wonder how does a fully Pakeha-looking Maori prove his 2% Maori Ancestry? And I started thinking about our political debate on two separate classes or groups of people, one group is favoured because of race and other discriminated against. And Fiji Indians now join that group Where is our voice? Fiji Indians have been part of NZ since the advent of Indenture because of its nearness to New Zealand.
Our people came in large numbers to clean up a bushy NZ, and clear the scrub, which we call gorse. Some stayed back and we have some Fiji Indian citizens here who were victims of the Dawn Raids. Hence, from a long time, we were part of the Pacific. But we stand fragmented, without any real identity and questions from this student reflects on our past failed leadership. To a great extent, that is our fault. We have arrived here in large numbers, became big business owners, owned multiple-houses, we have built many temples, (last count was at 11), have many religious groups, have done very well individually, but as a community we have failed to come collectively for the betterment and welfare of Fiji Indians here in NZ. While we have had a Governor General and an MP who identify as Fiji Indians when it suits them, we need to question, what did they deliver us? We are still struggling for an identity in New Zealand. Thanks to the vision of some Fiji Indian leaders who formed an umbrella advocacy body over a decade ago, and it has been relentlessly promoting identity and other wellbeing of Fiji Indians which the well-off people have been ignoring since they arrived here over five decades ago. Many are wallowing in wealth, but welfare of the new generation is coming into spotlight. We face gross discrimination and our identity issue has been raised by concerned Fiji Indian leaders for many years to the mainstream political party leaders and MPs who have been coming to our events. We are blessed to have multiple identities. While
FIJI DAY we honour and respect our Indian/Asian roots and ancestry, that does not mean our Pacific identity should be denied or ignored - which we are morally and legally entitled to. Fiji Indians miss out on resources allocated to Pacific Peoples. We must be part and parcel of it - not just when it suits. We miss out on both sides — we miss out on the Asian side because we get diluted — then we miss out on the Pacific side, we are neither here nor there. For some, not Indian enough to be Indian, and for some, not Pacific enough to be Pacific. It appears the battle, injustices and discrimination our indentured labourers, the Girmitiyas met in Fiji 144 years ago have been following their fourth and fifth generations in a supposedly transparent, and a fair First World New Zealand. Fiji Indians have little or no connection to India. Fiji is our country and the origin of Fiji Indians. They have been in Fiji for almost 145 years, yet nor recognised by NZ Government and institutions as Pacific people. I wonder how long it takes for uprooted people to become indigenous or recognised to their country of birth of their great-great grandparents. Ministry of Pacific People and the government do not
recognise us as Pacifica People. Some Itaukei leaders in NZ do not consider us as Fijians, mainstream Indians do not recognise us as Indians, then WHO THE HELL ARE WE? Former Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand faced this prejudice and discrimination by the mainstream Kiwis before he became Governor General. Paul Henry, a well-known TV commentator asked: from which angle does Anand Satyanand looks a Kiwi. Other Fiji Indians here still face a similar dilemma. From which angle does Thakur Ranjit Singh look an Indian? Yes, I look like an Indian (some say Rajesh Khanna or Vinod Khanna) But the similarity ends there. I have a distinct Fiji Hindi language that developed in cane farms of Fiji. I am culturally different, as I practice a mixture of culture that developed in Fiji. I am completely different, as I grew up in a multi-cultural and distinct Pacifica community, hence my foods, habits, way of speaking and most other things are different than Indians. I have no links to Indian. Perhaps that is why even Indians do not recognise us as Indians. We are not represented by NZ Central Indian Association or any other multitudes of Indian Associations. We are a distinct different people. I add what Sir Anand Satyanand; former Fiji Indian Governor General of NZ said, in our 140th Girmit celebration in Auckland in 2019 about this similarity, and yet uniqueness. He quoted Sir Sridath (Sonny) Ramphal, erstwhile Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, who described Indian cultural
Miracle of Miracles…The Christmas Story Jesus said “Arise and Shine…” Key Scripture: For a Child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest upon His shoulders. And He will e called: Wonderful counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and Justice…for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s armies will make it happen. - (Isaiah 9:6-7) Dear Reader, We all love good news. But life throws many challenges to every one. The story of Christmas is about the Good News of Great Joy. Our theme through this message simple and clear. It is to make God real and
personal. And to present God as a Living and Loving Person. There-fore, you can understand His nature and relate to Him personally. Just like children learn to relate their parents. For many, concept of God has been misunderstood. This leads to assumption and imagination.
20 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, December, 2023
But, God is not an object or an image or imagination of human mind. God is a living and loving person. We find this amazing revelation in the pages of Holy Bible. Keep reading with an open heart and humble spirit. It our hope that you will encounter your Creator today. You don’t need a thousand years for your Salvation (Mukti). You can receive your greatest miracle ‘Mukti’ today. This is the confidence you can have in Christ alone. Do you know what is the Miracle of Miracles? Here is the great news of great joy spoken through ages. And it has never lost its intensity and the intent. I believe in the Miracles. I also believe in the Miracle of Miracle. The Holy Bible is a living word of a loving God. Every page is filled with life giving truth. You shall know the
truth in complete clarity and simplici-ty; and in the process of knowing this truth you will be set free in your mind and spirit. You will be set free to encounter your Creator and Saviour in a personal and intimate way. Prophet Isaiah wrote a profound prophetic message about 700 BC. We know that every word Isaiah wrote is divinely inspired by the Spirit of God. This message accurately foretold the supernatural birth of Jesus Christ. This the Christmas, a message of hope and joy to the weary world. It is written: For a Child is born to us, a son is given to us.
FIJI INDIANS ELDERS IN NZ MARKING GIRMIT DAY IN 2014
WAITAKERE HINDI STUDENTS IN AUCKLAND PERFORMING DIWALI AARTI DEVOTIONAL SONG. - WILL THESE STUDENTS GET DISCRIMINATED AS WELL heritage, in his own instance as being like a seed from a tree growing in India being taken across the seas and growing with encouragement from a seed again to flower in the Caribbean – being different but maintaining the essence of Indian origin. Similarly, Indian cultural heritage, for Fiji Indians is like a seed from a tree growing in India being taken across the seas and growing with encouragement from a seed again to flower in Fiji Islands – being different but maintaining the essence of Indian origin. That is who we are, a unique seed from India, growing on Fijian soil as a distinct Pacifica People with the best of both the worlds FIJI INDIANS. The question that goes begging: why are we called on
to justify our Pacifica identity? And who are some Itaukei leaders in NZ to determine who we call ourselves? Will any of the leaders going to election shortly address the questions raised here? Will the new generation of Kiwi Pacifika Fiji Indians continue to face this discrimination? Where are Fiji Indian leaders in New Zealand? Please answer what my niece requested – Are we Pacifica People and will this very bright fifth-generation Fiji Indian student qualify for that Pacifika scholarship? [About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and a media commentator and an advocate for the Fiji Indian course in Auckland. E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]
The government will rest upon His shoulders. And He will e called: Wonderful counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and Justice…for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s armies will make it happen. (Isaiah 9:6-7) This is the powerful story of Christmas, God enters human history as baby born in Bethlehem manger. His birth is supernatural. His purpose was to redeem humanity from their sin. Jesus did accomplish our redemption. He died for our sins and he rose again by defeating death and power of sin. When we believe this truth in our heart and confess with mouth that Jesus is our Saviour; we enter into a unique relationship with God. That is an awe-some news.
We become a child of Most High God, the Creator of the uni-verse. Therefore, we invite you to pray this with a sincere heart; and experience the sweet aroma of Christ in your life. Do not harden your heart but humble yourself to your Creator and make Him your Saviour and Lord. Please Pray: “Dear Father God, I thank you for your word that has touched my heart. Help me to under-stand the hope of Christmas. I choose to repent of my wrongs and I confess with my mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and I believe in my heart that Jesus died for my sins, God raised Jesus from the dead for my Mukti (Salvation). Now help me to know Jesus and His sweet fragrance more and more so that I can grow in the knowledge of your grace and mercy. Teach me your ways so that I can be person who will learn to honour you and learn to love each other. In Jesus name I ask and pray, so be it (Amen).
