Historical Achievements of Our Girmitiyas Must Be Remembered
There are two first generation descendants of the Girmitiyas still alive, says Fiji Girmit Council executive secretary
COVID-19 restrictions should not stop people from remembering the 141st Girmit Independence Day, and 100 years since the abolition of the indenture system, says Fiji Girmit Council executive secretary Selwa Nadan.
He said normally they had a programme every year to celebrate the occasion.
It would include a chief guest giving a speech about the lives of the Girmitiyas, oratory contests, arts competition, drama and cultural items.
But, that was deferred until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, despite this, he said descendants of Girmitiyas must still celebrate this day in every little way.
Mr Nadan said the abolition of the indenture system was because of public outrage and protests in India led by the late Mahatma Ghandi and other leaders who said the indenture system was another form of slavery.
“The British Government finally decided to abolish the indenture system in 1916, but what happened was that those who were already serving their five-year contracts were required to finish so that’s why it finally ended in 1920 when they finished their terms,” he said. He said there were two first generation scendants of the Girmitiyas still alive.
“What we did last year was honour deof the descendants by giving them a plaque for their dedicated long service to Fiji, so we had planned a bigger celebration this year, but unfortunately COVID-19 had taken over,” he said. Mr Nadan said the event was significant in paying tribute to those who had paved the way for their descendants.
“They were resilient, leaving their family back at home in India, some even enticed because most were illiterate but the vision they had for the future generation like building schools and temples was to promote education and religion to make people’s lives better and make a way out of poverty,” he said.
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