A Magazine About Fiji and India Lifestyles Published in USA by Arun Maharaj
Published and Edited by Arun Maharaj - Hayward, California—USA 510—875 0568—indiafijitoday@gmail.com Cover Picture—A Vegetable Farm in Nadi—Fiji
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Publisher’s Profile ARUN MAHARAJ
Publisher & Editor Hayward, California 510 : 875 0568 indiafijitoday@gmail.com Past Co-chairman California Business Advisory Council—Past National President Fiji Jaycees—California Jaycees Senator— Jaycees International Senator—Represented Fiji in Jaycees World Congress in Japan 1986—Former Secretary Arun Maharaj of the Fiji Teachers Union Credit Union— Former Director Nasinu Festival—Taught at Vunimono High School in Nausori Fiji—DAV College in Suva Fiji—Yat Sen School in Suva Fiji—Rishikul High School in Nasinu Fiji.
Appreciation To the readers of India Fiji Today- Thank you for reading the magazine which has attracted a lot of readers since it became online. The magazine is read here, locally in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Fiji. It has received highly positive comments from some readers and as the publisher of India Fiji Today, I show my gratitude to them and hope the other readers also enjoy reading
the magazine. Arun Maharaj—Publisher
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HIMMAT LODHIA P ROMINENT B USINESSMAN —F IJI Born in Nadi, Fiji, Mr. Lodhia attained great success in life reaching up to the position of a Government Minister in Fiji in 1992. He currently resides in Suva, Fiji and holds the position of Governing Director of Lords Group of Companies. After his high- ‘Mr. Lodhia in his office at Lords Jewelers in Suva’ school education he attended University of Bombay and Massey University along with other educational institutes. Mr. Lodhia has been actively involved in public life, some of his involvement include—Member of Nadi and Suva Rotary Clubs since 1971, National President of Fiji Jaycees, Jaycees International Senator and Member– Asia Pacific Retailers Association. He has also served on the committee of Suva Hibiscus Festival and many other organizations in Fiji. Currently he holds the positions of President of Suva and Fiji Retailers Association, the positions he has been holding since the mid 1980’s and Justice of Peace. Mr. Lodhia seemed as cheerful and hospitable as ever, in a friendly interview in his office in Suva, Fiji recently with the publisher of INDIA FIJI TODAY, a long time friend. INDIA FIJI TODAY wishes him further success in life and good health!
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F IJ I AWAIT S T HE 2 0 1 4 G ENER AL E LECTION. . . THE
L O N G AWAI T E D G E N E R AL ELECTION IN FIJI IS BELIEVED TO B E TA K I N G P L A C E T H I S Y E A R . A F T E R T H E M I L I TA RY TA K E O V E R O F THE QARASE GOVERNMENT IN 2006 FIJI HAS SEEN LOTS OF HAPPENINGS I N VA R I O U S A R E A S . T H E P O L I T I C A L PA R T I E S S E E M T O B E P U T T I N G T H E I R B E S T E F F O R T S I N W I N N I N G S E AT S I N T H E N E W PA R L I A M E N T U N D E R T H E NEW CONSTITUTION. THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION SHOULD BE VERY INTERESTING FOR FIJI AND ITS FORMER RESIDENTS LIVING ABROAD.
Objectives To Create an awareness about specific happenings in Fiji Community in America and abroad—To inform about the current happenings in Fiji in review form – ‘Fiji Today’—To enlighten issues on Fiji by ‘Fiji Feature’ — To provide reading material on Fiji’s past happenings by artic on ‘Fiji Flashback’—To recognize people in Fiji Community in Fiji, USA and abroad—Inform and entertain Fiji Community about India through articles and pictures— To share perspectives on philosophical aspects
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Volume 1, Issue 1
HANDICRAFT CENTER I N C E N T R A L S U VA ‌
The Handicraft Center near the Bus Station in Central Suva is ideally situated. The vendors sell quality products in a wide area making it highly convenient for the customers to select items of their choice. 7
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L A T E G E E TA K U M A R I G A U TA M Born in a wealthy, well—known family of Navua, Fiji, Geeta grew up in the friendly environment of Galoa, Navua surrounded by relatives. The third child of a prominent businessman, Chandra Sen Singh and Chandra Singh, Geeta was a loving and simple child. Having completed her primary and secondary education at Lomery Primary and Secondary Schools in Galoa, she was wedded in a Nausori family. After staying there for sometime, Geeta along with her husband and children moved to Nasinu where they lived until their migration to America in 1992. With high hopes of a prosperous life, like anybody else who migrates to America, Geeta along with her husband settled in Sacramento. After working for a while they bought a Body Shop in Sacramento and lived a prosperous life with their three children. Their dream for prosperity in America came to them too soon, unlike many others but destiny had something more in her life as on February 12, Geeta Kumari Gautam 2003 she met her untimely death in an unfortu1962—2003 nate incident. She left behind her three children along with her mother, brother, sisters and a large number of loving relatives. She is remembered today at her eleventh death anniversary. Along with her family, relatives and friends, India Fiji Today prays to the almighty to grant her everlasting peace. MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE FOREVER!
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‘Left too Soon…’ R E M E M B E R I N G D E E PA K P R A S A D F ORMERLY OF N ASINU 8 M ILES, F IJI “Left for eternal journey, at an early age of 45 years, on March 4, 2014 in Suva, Fiji.” Deepak Prasad’s sudden death left his family, relatives, friends and all who knew him in total dismay. Deepak worked for the Government of Fiji and was a resident of Nasinu eight Miles, Fiji. He leaves behind his wife, three children, sister and elderly mother grieving his loss. All his relatives, particularly his cousins and nephews and nieces living abroad in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA join his family in mourning his loss.
Rest in Peace—Deepak!!!
Thanks to Vineeta and all those who kept us, the relatives living out of Fiji, informed about the happenings at Deepak’s residence and details about his funeral through Face—book. ‘Inserted by Arun Maharaj—a cousin of Deepak in USA’
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I N D I A T R AV E L AUTO RICKSHAWS IN NEW DELHI Auto Rickshaws are common site in all parts of India. They are seen more in the urban areas where there are more passengers to carry. Easily available and excessible to all roads and side roads the Rickshaws are India’s most used Auto Rickshaws in New Delhi transportation for short distance travel.
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A letter from Sydney… by Jai(nand) Kumar—Former Radio Fiji Personality Residing in Sydney, Australia The Indian community in Sydney and mostly the Fiji Indian community said goodbye to Monika Chetty after she failed to recover from injuries sustained by her in an alleged attack on her by ‘someone’ throwing liquid on her causing Jai(nand) Kumar 80% burn to her face and body. She was admitted to Concorde Hospital’s Burns Unit 2 where she died after remaining in coma. Police are still investigating and no arrests have been made.
A Fiji soccer player Roy Krishna is to play in the Australian Soccer League. He has been signed by New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix team till the end of the season.
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THE GOLDEN ERA OF HINDI CINEMA The forties, fifties and sixties, the golden—era of Indian Film Industry saw the success of the black and white films on the silver screen. This period brought films that still haunt the people’s minds with its stories and the evergreen songs. When we take a journey back into the Golden Era—Black and White era we meet personalities like Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Meena Kumari, Nargis, Waheeda Rehman, Vijayanthimala, Madhubala and others . They are the celebrated artists who will always live in the history of Indian cinema. The spark and joy that the songs of the era provided then is still prevalent today even among the younger genIndia Today eration. The remixes are Juhu Beach—Mumbai the products of unforgotten songs of Black and White era. Source—Sulekha.com
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S U VA — T HE L AND OF L OCAL M IGRANTS N OW… Fiji’s capital city Suva has changed its face over the years. There was a time when the original residents of Suva, who were born there and had lived in Suva for generations , were seen around. The residential areas of Samabula, Toorak, Tamavua and surroundings had families living there from sort of unknown periods. There was no question of when they settled there. The original Suvan’s are not seen much there now as they have left and settled abroad over the years. The migration of people from other parts of Fiji, particularly from the North has filled the gap created by the original Suva people who are not much there now. Suva today has become a land of local migrants.
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DENGUE FEVER SCARE AFTERMATH OF FLOODING Dengue Fever can be highly dangerous and Fiji seems to be dealing with the outbreak of the disease. The Ministry of Health seems to be doing its utmost in taking control over the deadly fever. Home self help seems to have become useful as the number of cases of the fever Central Suva窶認iji seems to be in large numbers.
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D E VA S TA T I N G R A I N I N P A RT S O F S U VA Excessive rain recently, in parts of Central Division including Suva made the lives of the residents miserable. People taking shelter in schools and other centers in Suva has not been common. The constant rain causing flash— flood in parts of Suva and compelling Suva Markrt– Fiji schools in the Central Division to be closed shows the nature of flooding there. Other parts of Fiji Including North also suffered due to the rain.
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P OLITICAL P ARTIES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION This year is believed to be historic year for Fiji politics as the country prepares for a General election later in the year. As usual Fiji General Elections have created lots of interest among the Fiji community in Fiji and abroad. The political parties seem to be preparing for the long— awaited battle in the political field. Some veteran politicians along with some fresh emerging politicians seem to be planning their way to new Fiji A Scene at Ba Bus Station—Fiji Parliament on the new constitution.
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TAP WATER FOR R EMOTE I SLAND The basic necessity of life, water, finally reached a remote island. It is believed an island in Fiji was equipped with tap water supply after decades of being without tap water system. Obviously the villagers would be overwhelmed with the supply of the most needy commodity. Tap water system may change the lifestyle of the people there in the village who have been using the natural Ba Bus Station窶認iji supply of water for all their life till now.
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Living as a Big Family in a Community‌ ‘There was a time when children in a community in Fiji would respect the elders in the community as they would their parents and the elders would guide them as they would their own children.’ The community based lifestyle had nothing but advantages that are not seen these days particularly here in America. The concept of nuclear and individual lifestyle has set in so much in some cases that it has distanced people from their very own. Even the elders in some cases have changed so much that the youngsters are not able to look upon them. Community based living in Fiji had the joy of living together as one large family. The warmth and protection it provided molded children in to responsible adults. The satisfaction of being respected by the children gave the elders confidence in their community.
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India Fiji Today Online Magazine
Disclaimer—Fiji Today/Fiji Feature Fiji Today/Fiji Feature/Fiji Highlight is the editor’s view on the major happenings back in Fiji based on the information from ,online Fiji Times; Fiji Live, Fiji Sun; visitors to and from Fiji and other Fiji publications. These are editor’s own views based on the information from those sources. Contributing articles are the writers’ views and opinion only and any error/s and or misinterpretation are regretted and the editor / publisher is not responsible for any such error/s and or further discussions and or any liability. A Letter from Sydney is the creation and views of the writer and INDIA FIJI TODAY holds no responsibility about the content of the letter. The Publisher/Editor of India Fiji Today will not accept any LIABILITY, CRITICISM, ANNOYANCE or ADVERSE REACTION what so ever, to the contrary of its intention caused by any misinterpretation, miss-understanding or non-acceptance of the same. Advertisements
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