The Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand along with Shri Ram Mandir, in a gesture, to honour the sacrifices of the first Girmitiyas in Fiji, hosted a profound event at the Shri Ram Mandir on Monday, May 14 that witnessed the presence of hundreds of men, women of children.
The occasion was to remember the sacrifice and hardships of the first Girmitiyas who were brought to Fiji in dire conditions as indentured labourers. The event was also hosted to salute the spirits of the Girmiitiyas and celebrate their perseverance through which they worked and survived and prospered over the years.
The event started at 7 p.m. inside the temple hall by conducting Aarti and puja for the lost souls and the ancestors through which several generations of Fiji Indian exist today. Master Shiu Charan, one of the founding members of the Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand and one of the trustees of the trustees of Shri Ram Mandir, acknowledged the presence of more than 200 members of the community gathered to observe the Girmit Day.
This was followed by songs sung by the students of Waitakere Hindi School and Birha and Bidesia songs by the community groups. Both Birha and Bidesia songs captured the pains of the Girmits and the deceit they were subjected to.
Nasilai Village Project:
Nasilai Village holds a special mention in the history of the Girmitiyas for the people of the village who ran to help rescue the sinking ship named Syria on May 11, 1884. The village community hall has been under a poor condition for a long time and the Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand took upon themselves the responsibility to contribute their part in improving the conditions of the village community space.
Project Manager of the Nasilai Village Project Viren Lal gave a brief history of the incident at Nasilai reef and how the Foundation came up with plans to raise funds and provide the village with a much need renovation to its community hall, and it’s public toilet services.
Viren Lal reiterated the concept of giving back to the village and remembering the hard work of the forefathers who although starting as indentured labour flourished over the time and made Fiji what it is today.
Mr Lal encouraged the community to make their contribution to the Girmit history and visit the Nasilai village where relics of the Syria ship remains half sunk in the Nasilai reef. He asked the descendants of the Girmitiyas to pay their gratitude to the villagers who rendered their hand at the time of need and saved hundreds of lives more than a century ago.
The organisers acknowledged and commended the contribution of MP Kanwaljit Bakshi who back in October 2015 came forward to be a part of the Project Nasilai and even travelled with a delegation to Nasilai village to express their collective gratitude towards the villagers.
Mr Bakshi expressed his satisfaction in being part of the pilgrimage to Nasilai village and asked the community to contribute their part by travelling to the village and supporting the young children and in their education.
The event concluded with a prayer for the souls of the Girmitiyas, and their sacrifices that led to a flourishing Fiji Indian community not just in Fiji but across different parts of the globe.
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