The efforts of reconstructing the much cherished, though almost forgotten, history of Girmitiyas – the first generation Indian indentured labourers in Fiji – received a boost in Auckland, when the visiting Indian Union Minister of State for Surface Transport, National Highway, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilisers, Mansukh Mandaviya, met with the leaders of Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand.
The Indian Minister was in Auckland on Tuesday, April 24, in a brief layover of less than 24-hours on his way to Tonga and Fiji for bilateral talks.
The Minister had made it a point to use this brief stopover in Auckland to reach out and connect with the broader Indian diaspora in New Zealand.
It was in one such engagement that the members of Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand viz, Sardar Harnam Singh Golian, Nek Mohammad, and Krish Naidu, met with the Minister to present their request for support from the Government of India for Project Nasilai.
Project Nasilai is a project seeking to restore a small, but a significant aspect, of the Girmitiya history in Fiji.
Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand had taken upon itself the task of commemorating the death of 59 Girmitiyas and expressing gratitude to the native Fijian community who came to rescue lives of 438 passengers on that eventful night of May 11, 1884 when the ship carrying passengers (Syria) was wrecked at the coast of Nasilai village in Fiji.
It was in this regard that the members of Fiji Girmit Foundation of NZ sought Minister’s ear to secure the long pending support from the Government of India.
To their much delight, the Minister met with them warmly and was very receptive to the idea of celebrating the history of Indians living overseas.
Currently, the Indian Weekender is doing a special reporting on the progress of Project Nasilai and how this project plays an important role in invigorating the emotions of the Fiji-Indian community living in New Zealand about their mutually shared Girmit past.
The Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Sanjiv Kohli was also present in the meeting.
Mr Kohli informed everyone that this request had been raised with him earlier, and to which he has already written to the Office of the Indian High Commission to Fiji seeking a favourable disposition.
To this, the visiting Minister, Mr Mandaviya assured the delegation from the Fiji Girmit Foundation of NZ that he will look into it further.
“This is certainly a great cause, and in principle, I appreciate the cause of having a commemorative place in the South Pacific that pays tribute to the Indian people,” the Minister told the Indian Weekender.
The Minister is on a visit to Tonga and Fiji and will be travelling to Fiji for a bilateral talk.
Later, speaking with the Indian Weekender, Sardar Harnam Singh Golian, expressed satisfaction with the meeting with the Indian Minister.
"It was great to see that the Minister was warm and receptive to the whole idea of commemorating our Girmit forefathers."
"This gives us lot of hope," Mr Golian said.
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