Independence medals

I HAVE been intrigued by the long list of people who have been chosen to receive a medal to commemorate this historic milestone.

While the names seem to transcend a wide spectrum of people, ranging from academics, activists, business people, coup makers, diplomats, lawyers, politicians, social workers, et cetera, it is not clear what criteria was used for an ‘objective’ assessment of eligibility and whether these were transparently followed.

It does seem to me, however, that the names are of people who had the privilege of being in the limelight, in whatever capacity, due to their position in society, power and influence.

My heart goes out to our parents and grandparents, our unsung heroes, who toiled the land in the remotest parts of the islands, and to those who carried out the most basic jobs and essentially were the cogs of the economic and social development wheel, right from the colonial and girmit days, that has got the country to where it is today. Many of these folks are now in their 60s, 70s and 80s, and were also an intimate part of the conversation towards independence.

I recall the history of our village primary school which was built after a casual conversation among a small group of village folks who did not have the opportunity to attend school (the nearest being 15km away!) but did not want their children deprived of education. The result, through their contributions and personal sacrifices, was a school which over the past 50 years has provided for the schooling needs for tens of thousands of children, many of who now are contributing to the nation’s development.

How has Fiji recognised such individuals or groups situated in some of the remotest areas and villages, without all the modern day conveniences, which we now take for granted.

Surely our entire population deserves a medal at this important juncture! They have endured a lot: conflicts, coups, political upheavals, social and economic crisis, diseases, disasters and other calamities such as the current pandemic, et cetera.

I fervently hope the recipients pause and think about others who have not been lucky enough to be identified and may be equally deserving. Also, I pray it does not give them a sense of complex or superiority that they are more deserving and hence more equal than the rest.

MONISH CHAND Suva