A little bit of Fiji, India and Kiwi
Quite often during my travels outside Fiji, I am asked if I am Indian. In most cases, my instant reaction would be a slight stammer and then a yes. Most often than not, my mind would then quickly analyse the need to explain myself further. This usually starts with me assessing the other person’s reaction to my answer and depending on how curious they are, I then come out with out what perceive is my real identity. Which is usually something along this line. “In fact I am Indo-Fijian if you are asking for my ethnicity because technically I am a fourth generation Indian but if you are asking about my nationality, then it’s Fijian”.
What then follows is a quick run through of our history, mainly about the Girmit era. How my forefathers who first arrived in Fiji as indentured labourers during the British Colonial s rule to work in sugar cane fields then choosing to stay on in their new found home after their contract expired.
By now I would have either managed to satisfy their curiosity to ask no further questions or I would have generated more interest in my ethnic background which often sees me talking at length about being Indo-Fijian, racial dynamics in Fiji, life in Fiji and the various waves of migration of Indo-Fijian overseas.
But for someone of an Itaukei mother and Indo-Fijian father, identity can be more complex than just being labeled an Indo-Fijian.
Quite often in this part of the world, I have been referred to as Indo-Fijian, Fijian, Pacific Islander and occasionally something unexpected like Latino or even Arab. I often find myself pondering the question of who is the real “Indo-Fijian”?
While my looks may be a dead giveaway of my roots, my “Indianess” is something I consider more than skin deep. Apart from my great love for Bollywood and a passion for Indian arts, the so called Indian culture or Indo-Fijian culture to be politically correct and what it has evolved to is what I am fascinated about and proud to be a living example of. I consider myself more of a modern indo-Fijian who is still cultured. By cultured, I mean my own Indo-Fijian culture. A blend of the Fijian Itaukei culture and that of our forefathers, which is what sets us apart. Like any diaspora, the first Indian in Fiji learnt to assimilate into their new home while striving to retain their own culture. They also remained steadfast in their religion be it Islamism, Hinduism or Sikhism. The first Indians practiced their religion as part of their culture which to large extent helped retain traditions, rites and rituals such as Tirikutu, bhajans, wearing sari, Indian food, celebrating festivals such as Diwali and Eid, all these surviving years of change and transformation that their new home went through. Even the Itaukei community has absorbed some of the Indian culture into their lives. It’s not rare to spot roti and curry in most lunch boxes in schools, even during Eid and Diwali you would find the Itaukei women in sari or salwaar kameez. The indo-Fijian home would often make tavioka and fish in lolo in the weekends, or make lovo for Christmas just like their itaukei neighbour.
So if you find an Indo-Fijian in Auckland, Sydney or London, you will definitely see a slightly different Indian than one that has come directly from any Indian city. We are our own unique blend of India and Fiji that has warped through generations making us who we are today. Our language, even though still colloquial sets us apart, our cuisine and kava. Kava drinking is very common in Indo-Fijian communities abroad has become more than just a social get together. It has been a circle that bonds and binds us as people of a common background. It wouldn’t be rare to see former Fiji residents of Indian origin sitting together at a home in Papatoetoe reminiscing life back in Fiji, talking about politics, the latest migrant from Labasa who has moved in their street, who is getting married to who’s son, who is going back to Fiji for the Inter District Soccer Competition, the next kriya, etc.
This unique culture is what Indo-Fijians from Fiji take to the world. Our own version of being Indian, which is still not far off from what, our forefathers brought to Fiji.
Naziah Ali, is the publisher of Mai Life Magazine, a general interest magazine based out of Suva.
Quite often during my travels outside Fiji, I am asked if I am Indian. In most cases, my instant reaction would be a slight stammer and then a yes. Most often than not, my mind would then quickly analyse the need to explain myself further. This usually starts with me assessing the other person’s...
Quite often during my travels outside Fiji, I am asked if I am Indian. In most cases, my instant reaction would be a slight stammer and then a yes. Most often than not, my mind would then quickly analyse the need to explain myself further. This usually starts with me assessing the other person’s reaction to my answer and depending on how curious they are, I then come out with out what perceive is my real identity. Which is usually something along this line. “In fact I am Indo-Fijian if you are asking for my ethnicity because technically I am a fourth generation Indian but if you are asking about my nationality, then it’s Fijian”.
What then follows is a quick run through of our history, mainly about the Girmit era. How my forefathers who first arrived in Fiji as indentured labourers during the British Colonial s rule to work in sugar cane fields then choosing to stay on in their new found home after their contract expired.
By now I would have either managed to satisfy their curiosity to ask no further questions or I would have generated more interest in my ethnic background which often sees me talking at length about being Indo-Fijian, racial dynamics in Fiji, life in Fiji and the various waves of migration of Indo-Fijian overseas.
But for someone of an Itaukei mother and Indo-Fijian father, identity can be more complex than just being labeled an Indo-Fijian.
Quite often in this part of the world, I have been referred to as Indo-Fijian, Fijian, Pacific Islander and occasionally something unexpected like Latino or even Arab. I often find myself pondering the question of who is the real “Indo-Fijian”?
While my looks may be a dead giveaway of my roots, my “Indianess” is something I consider more than skin deep. Apart from my great love for Bollywood and a passion for Indian arts, the so called Indian culture or Indo-Fijian culture to be politically correct and what it has evolved to is what I am fascinated about and proud to be a living example of. I consider myself more of a modern indo-Fijian who is still cultured. By cultured, I mean my own Indo-Fijian culture. A blend of the Fijian Itaukei culture and that of our forefathers, which is what sets us apart. Like any diaspora, the first Indian in Fiji learnt to assimilate into their new home while striving to retain their own culture. They also remained steadfast in their religion be it Islamism, Hinduism or Sikhism. The first Indians practiced their religion as part of their culture which to large extent helped retain traditions, rites and rituals such as Tirikutu, bhajans, wearing sari, Indian food, celebrating festivals such as Diwali and Eid, all these surviving years of change and transformation that their new home went through. Even the Itaukei community has absorbed some of the Indian culture into their lives. It’s not rare to spot roti and curry in most lunch boxes in schools, even during Eid and Diwali you would find the Itaukei women in sari or salwaar kameez. The indo-Fijian home would often make tavioka and fish in lolo in the weekends, or make lovo for Christmas just like their itaukei neighbour.
So if you find an Indo-Fijian in Auckland, Sydney or London, you will definitely see a slightly different Indian than one that has come directly from any Indian city. We are our own unique blend of India and Fiji that has warped through generations making us who we are today. Our language, even though still colloquial sets us apart, our cuisine and kava. Kava drinking is very common in Indo-Fijian communities abroad has become more than just a social get together. It has been a circle that bonds and binds us as people of a common background. It wouldn’t be rare to see former Fiji residents of Indian origin sitting together at a home in Papatoetoe reminiscing life back in Fiji, talking about politics, the latest migrant from Labasa who has moved in their street, who is getting married to who’s son, who is going back to Fiji for the Inter District Soccer Competition, the next kriya, etc.
This unique culture is what Indo-Fijians from Fiji take to the world. Our own version of being Indian, which is still not far off from what, our forefathers brought to Fiji.
Naziah Ali, is the publisher of Mai Life Magazine, a general interest magazine based out of Suva.
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