KUMAR FOLLOWS IN HIS GRANDFATHER, RAJMAN’S FOOTSTEPS
Ashok Kumar, 75, vividly remembers the wise words of life shared by his late grandfather, Rajman, a Girmitya who came from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1915.
He is a third generation descendent who resides on their 12-acre land in Carreras, Nadi where the late Rajman embarked on a new life for himself as a sugar cane farmer.
Today his younger brother, Anil Kumar Baran, 64, is a wellestablished businessman in the hardware industry. “Together with my brother and our respective children we still live in Votualevu. We harvest sugarcane every year with much pride and love for what we do,” he said.
“I was still in high school when I lived with my grandfather. I do think about the adversities and the vision he had to come all the way from India to Fiji. That same passion kjeeps us going.”
The family continues to be part of the Awaaj Ramayan Bhajan Faag Mandali Votualevu/Nasau Nadi which was established by his father, the late Shyam Baran, the son of Rajman.
“Some family members have migrated to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.”
On April 25, this year
Mr Kumar visited his grandfather’s village, of Maharajganj Baijnathpur Kala in Gorakhpur, India
“We obtained his arrival papers from the archives and traced our family line back in India,” he said.
“I was able to reunite with my relatives who share our ancestral family tree. This was a proud moment for me. It has brought back precious memories knowing where our roots started.
“During this celebration together with my family we remember Girmityas and as we acknowledge their resilience, strength and courage.”