Knowing history of the Girmit era vital: PM
HUNDREDS of people turned up in Navua to be part of the celebration of the 120th Anniversary of the first Ram Leela presentation in Fiji.
The event was portrayed through a moving role-play performance which attracted people from all over Fiji.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said that “for generations, the traditions brought by the Girmitya to Fiji have added layers to our cultural fabric”.
“Not only in the form of celebrations, but by strengthening the shared values that matter for every Fijian and this festival is the perfect example,” he said.
“The story of Rama’s life carries lessons and ideals that any worthy child, sibling, student, spouse, friend, or leader should strive to emulate,” he added.
“The history of the Girmit era was never properly taught to the nation and it is a history we are still coming to terms with. Thanks to the hard work of descendants, activists and historians, first-hand accounts of girmitya have also been recorded for all to read.”
“To truly get a feel of what life was like at the time - to see through the eyes of the girmitya - I encourage all Fijians, regardless of age, ethnicity, or background, to take the time to read them,” he encouraged.
Prime Minister Bainimarama stressed its importance noting that we must know all of history, the good and the ugly, the triumphs as well as the injustices.
“They performed the hardest work of building the colonial economy, working cane fields, farming copra, laying brick, and carving out roads while earning wages too meagre to fund a return home to British India,” he highlighted.
“It was our good fortune that they remained because they made the best out of those circumstances through wonderful contributions to the nation in agriculture, education, medicine, and literature.”
“They founded schools and started businesses, their food, festivals, and traditions added richness to our cultural fabric. So much of what we think of as “Fijian” - including roti and curry – was introduced by the girmitya.”
PM Bainimarama said that Fiji has come a long way since the Girmit era; a long way since 1987; and a long way since 2000.
“At the heart of this change, sits the 2013 Fijian Constitution which enshrines the government’s unwavering commitment to protect the rights and freedoms of every Fijian – equally,” he emphasised.
PM Bainimarama adds that it delivered recognition that was decades overdue by declaring every citizen of this country to be a Fijian with equal votes of equal value, equal protection under the law and united by a common purpose of building a better Fiji.