BOOK TAKES READERS ‘ACROSS THE KALAPANI’
AUTHOR SUNITA NARAYAN’S BOOK IS A CHRONICLE OF COLONIAL TREACHERY The Indentured Labour System - invented and enforced by the British Administration was a trickery agreement that recruited approximately 60500 Indians between 1879 – 1920, their last arriva
The views expressed are those of the author of this article and not of any Institution or the Fiji Sun.
The book is available from PTC Bookshop and USP Bookcentre - Price $26.00
The link between Fiji and India started in 1879 when Indian laborers were brought here under indenture system to work on sugarcane plantations.
Between 1879 and 1916 around 60,000 Indians were brought to Fiji.
The Leonidas, a labour transport ship, specially fitted 1600-ton ship carrying men and women from Calcutta stagger into the horizons, arrived in eastern Fiji on May 14, 1879.
A colonial promise of paradise of what turned out to be only “Girmitiyas”, or Indentured Laborer’s, is the corrupt name given to the Indians who left India in the middle and late 19th Century to serve as laborers in the British colonies including Fiji. The Indians were brough here to work on the sugar-cane plantations.
Reflecting on history
This book Across the Kalapani: From Uttar Pradesh to Fiji by Sunita Narayan is a chronicle of colonial treachery of how the Indians (mostly from North India) were promised a pleasant life in the Pacific and were transported to work in the sugar cane plantations in Fiji.
The Indentured Labour System - invented and enforced by the British Administration was a trickery agreement that recruited approximately 60500 Indians between 1879 – 1920, their last arrival, to be slaved in an untrue promised paradise. An agreement full of deception and drudgery rule that ended with the horrific treatment of the Indian indentured migrants.
Their living and working conditions were so atrocious with the long hours of work, assaults, social breakdowns and even worse – the ill-treatment of women that tore their hearts apart. The testimony of Ms Narayan is an awakening call to all, especially the descendants of the “Girmitiyas” and the coming generations to recapture the sight of the Indian Diaspora and their heritage.
Ms Narayan narrates the indenture experience and choreographs the painful shipment of mostly Indian peasants as ‘coolies’ to distant outposts of the British Empire to harness and exploit the economic resources. The working and living conditions were so horrendous that in particular Mahatma Gandhi erred in seeking the end of the indenture system based on isolated incidence of deprivation and discrimination, especially the female generation.
Methodist missionary, Hannah Dudley, in her letter to the Indian leaders on November 4, 1912, asked for the abolition of the indenture system.
The methods used to lure young Indians to Fiji were extreme and unethical and lacked in any consideration of human rights.
They were told stories of the great fortunes by the colonial rule that they would make and the leisurely lifestyle they would live.
They were even told that at the end of their five years (the length of time they would work and stay in Fiji, according to the agreement) their passage would be paid back to India which was only a deception.
They would have to pay for their own way to India which was impossible considering the lack of pay.
Tale of struggles
Across the Kalapani: From Uttar Pradesh to Fiji is a heart touching yet a gripping chronicle of the struggles of Indian Diaspora from villages of Indian State of Uttar Pradesh to an alien nation of Fiji.
The book captures and essence part of Fijis history for both, the Indians and the iTaukei who are the natives of this island – also referred as “KaiViti”.
The loving people who gave Indians a home.
We commemorate this day to those heroes who came in slavery, lived in bondage and made Fiji their home. Equally and importantly, we express our gratitude to Ms Sunita Narayan (Author), an inspirational writer who has marked a vital time in place in Fiji’s history on the haunted lines that is to be remembered by future generations.
There are no Girmitiyas now, but their descendants are well into second and third generation. However, their contribution towards transforming barren land into productive resource remains unchallenged and needs to be remembered in Fiji’s history.
They maintained their culture and sacrificed their earnings for their children’s future education.
These memories are never forgotten but are remembered with gratitude. They have laid the foundation of our Fiji Indian culture that gave the foremost Girmitiya spirit to struggle, strive and succeed.
This book is highly recommended for all Fijians and people interested in the rich tapestry of Girmit history.