Preserve Girmitiya Heritage, 69-YearOld Urges Parents
Raj Tilak Chand says parents must instill the importance of girmitiya heritage within their families or it will be lost to future generations.
The retired teacher travelled from Vaivai in Ba to be part of the Girmit Day celebration at Churchill Park in Lautoka on May 13.
“It’s important for children to know about our history. Nowadays they are on social media more so they do not want to read; they just want to be on their mobile phones,” she said.
“I want to stress that it is the responsibility of their parents to see that they are in touch with their culture and heritage otherwise a time will come when no one will know about the girmitiyas.”
Ms Chand, 69, said she was proud to be part of the celebrations to mark the historical occasion.
“My great grandfather came from Bihar in India, but after he passed away, we lost contact with my great grandmother, but I know they had more than 10 children and were settled in Vaivai, Lautoka,” she said. She said the sacrifices made by her
I want to stress that it is the responsibility of their parents to see that they (children) are in touch with their culture and heritage otherwise a time will come when no one will know about the girmitiyas. Raj Tilak Chand Retired school teacher
great-grandparents for her family.
“It’s because of my great-grandparents that I am here today, I have waited for this for a long time, and I am grateful that I am still alive to see this day when Government has decided to recognise the work done by the girmitiyas,” she said. paved the way