Bridging cultural barriers through diplomacy
Dr Satendra Singh has been recently awarded the Order of Fiji, following the conferring of Pravasi Bhartiya Samman in 2013 and New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006, for his remarkable contribution towards the cultural development of Fiji and its people
Very few have traversed three nations and have left their mark on each. Dr Satendra Singh happens to one of them who has received honours in his home country - Fiji, the country he resides in currently – New Zealand, and the country of his origin – India.
The President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, invested the Honorary Officer of the Order of Fiji (OF) on Singh towards the end of 2014. The OF is an honorary civilian award, rarely made to a non-Fiji citizen as was the case with Singh. The Investiture Ceremony at Government House Suva was attended by the Indian and New Zealand High Commissioners.
Singh has previously received a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in 1990 and in 2006 was gifted the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM). In 2013, he was bestowed the highest civilian award by India to its diaspora – Pravasi Bhartiya Samman by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. Singh has served as a Justice of the Peace in New Zealand for 35 years.
Born in Suva, Singh served as Fiji’s first Treaty Officer in the office of Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in 1970 after independence. Singh travelled extensively on treaty missions with Deputy Prime Minister, later Governor General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau. One such mission was to India in 1971 where Singh was privy to arrangements made to establish a Cultural Centre of India in Suva.
Forty years later, he was asked to help open the year long celebrations by the Centre, with Lady June Hillary, widow of Sir Edmund Hillary. In that time, Singh has arranged many and varied cultural programmes in NZ, Fiji and several Pacific Islands including Kathak, Kathakali, Bharat Natyam and with popular artists such as Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor and Kalyanji/Anandji.
On another mission, Singh met Pope Paul VI at a Private Audience in the Vatican. In 1990, Singh and Pravindra Singh were assisted by Governor General Sir Paul Reeves in arrangements that culminated in the first Cultural tour of India by a Maori group of thirty. Te Waka Huia toured India and presented live shows in many cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Agra and Chandan Nagar.
Over the years, Singh has welcomed many Fijian and Indian dignitaries including President Ratu Mara, Prime Minister Qarase, Governor General Ganilau, India’s Chief Justice, Hon K N Singh and Hon Dr Najma Heptula, currently Minister of Minorities in Narendra Modi’s Cabinet. Singh welcomed Heptula in Auckland when she was on her way to attend the funeral of Fiji’s deposed Prime Minister Dr Timoci Bavadra in Lautoka. At the time she was the Vice Chair of the Rajya Sabha.
In 1986, Singh was asked by Prime Minister David Lange to arrange an Indian ceremony and to welcome India’s Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Auckland International Airport. Following the state occasion, Singh met Gandhi in India on several visits. Singh had met Gandhi’s mother Mrs Indira Gandhi in 1972.
On many cultural occasions, Singh had assisted Indian Council for Cultural Relations promotions, especially those related to the Pacific. He is also commended for promoting Fijian and other Pacific Island themes in Indian school journals. Singh had once even called on Harivansh Bachchan, father of actor Amitabh Bachchan, as he was involved in promoting writing workshops among children.
Singh worked closely with Sir Edmund Hillary and Lady Hillary over many years on fundraising and cultural projects, especially in fostering Indian Council for Cultural Relations programs. When Sir Edmund died, Singh was asked to arrange an Indian input at the State Funeral.
Since 2006, Singh and Lady June Hillary have judged the annual essay writing competitions sponsored by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), offered to senior students in secondary schools of Fiji.
Singh recently assisted Save the Child Fiji in its hot meal project following flooding in Viti Levu. With support from NZ donors, a dairy component was added to the daily pack provided by Save the Child Fiji.
So how does it feel to constitute the bridge among three countries, with the recognition he has received from all three?
“Being a small part of connections among India, Fiji and New Zealand over so many decades has been a privilege. In that process I was immensely fortunate to meet many distinguished people from various backgrounds, including, education, arts, culture - all fundamentals in our myriad of interactions. One example is the way in which the Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR) has connected us, from both New Delhi and Suva, with countless artistes who have visited and a succession of programmes in what I call cultural diplomacy at its best,” explains Singh.
Dr Satendra Singh has been recently awarded the Order of Fiji, following the conferring of Pravasi Bhartiya Samman in 2013 and New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006, for his remarkable contribution towards the cultural development of Fiji and its people
Very few have traversed three nations and...
Dr Satendra Singh has been recently awarded the Order of Fiji, following the conferring of Pravasi Bhartiya Samman in 2013 and New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006, for his remarkable contribution towards the cultural development of Fiji and its people
Very few have traversed three nations and have left their mark on each. Dr Satendra Singh happens to one of them who has received honours in his home country - Fiji, the country he resides in currently – New Zealand, and the country of his origin – India.
The President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, invested the Honorary Officer of the Order of Fiji (OF) on Singh towards the end of 2014. The OF is an honorary civilian award, rarely made to a non-Fiji citizen as was the case with Singh. The Investiture Ceremony at Government House Suva was attended by the Indian and New Zealand High Commissioners.
Singh has previously received a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in 1990 and in 2006 was gifted the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM). In 2013, he was bestowed the highest civilian award by India to its diaspora – Pravasi Bhartiya Samman by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. Singh has served as a Justice of the Peace in New Zealand for 35 years.
Born in Suva, Singh served as Fiji’s first Treaty Officer in the office of Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in 1970 after independence. Singh travelled extensively on treaty missions with Deputy Prime Minister, later Governor General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau. One such mission was to India in 1971 where Singh was privy to arrangements made to establish a Cultural Centre of India in Suva.
Forty years later, he was asked to help open the year long celebrations by the Centre, with Lady June Hillary, widow of Sir Edmund Hillary. In that time, Singh has arranged many and varied cultural programmes in NZ, Fiji and several Pacific Islands including Kathak, Kathakali, Bharat Natyam and with popular artists such as Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor and Kalyanji/Anandji.
On another mission, Singh met Pope Paul VI at a Private Audience in the Vatican. In 1990, Singh and Pravindra Singh were assisted by Governor General Sir Paul Reeves in arrangements that culminated in the first Cultural tour of India by a Maori group of thirty. Te Waka Huia toured India and presented live shows in many cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Agra and Chandan Nagar.
Over the years, Singh has welcomed many Fijian and Indian dignitaries including President Ratu Mara, Prime Minister Qarase, Governor General Ganilau, India’s Chief Justice, Hon K N Singh and Hon Dr Najma Heptula, currently Minister of Minorities in Narendra Modi’s Cabinet. Singh welcomed Heptula in Auckland when she was on her way to attend the funeral of Fiji’s deposed Prime Minister Dr Timoci Bavadra in Lautoka. At the time she was the Vice Chair of the Rajya Sabha.
In 1986, Singh was asked by Prime Minister David Lange to arrange an Indian ceremony and to welcome India’s Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Auckland International Airport. Following the state occasion, Singh met Gandhi in India on several visits. Singh had met Gandhi’s mother Mrs Indira Gandhi in 1972.
On many cultural occasions, Singh had assisted Indian Council for Cultural Relations promotions, especially those related to the Pacific. He is also commended for promoting Fijian and other Pacific Island themes in Indian school journals. Singh had once even called on Harivansh Bachchan, father of actor Amitabh Bachchan, as he was involved in promoting writing workshops among children.
Singh worked closely with Sir Edmund Hillary and Lady Hillary over many years on fundraising and cultural projects, especially in fostering Indian Council for Cultural Relations programs. When Sir Edmund died, Singh was asked to arrange an Indian input at the State Funeral.
Since 2006, Singh and Lady June Hillary have judged the annual essay writing competitions sponsored by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), offered to senior students in secondary schools of Fiji.
Singh recently assisted Save the Child Fiji in its hot meal project following flooding in Viti Levu. With support from NZ donors, a dairy component was added to the daily pack provided by Save the Child Fiji.
So how does it feel to constitute the bridge among three countries, with the recognition he has received from all three?
“Being a small part of connections among India, Fiji and New Zealand over so many decades has been a privilege. In that process I was immensely fortunate to meet many distinguished people from various backgrounds, including, education, arts, culture - all fundamentals in our myriad of interactions. One example is the way in which the Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR) has connected us, from both New Delhi and Suva, with countless artistes who have visited and a succession of programmes in what I call cultural diplomacy at its best,” explains Singh.
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