Fiji Girmit Foundation celebrates 142nd anniversary

The Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand celebrated 142nd anniversary of the arrival of ‘Girmits’ to Fiji, at Malaeola Community Centre at Mangere in Auckland on Friday 7th May 2021.

The Fiji Girmit Foundation of NZ was formed in 2013 with the object of reconnecting, reclaiming and

restoring Fijian Indian/Fiji Indian history and creating awareness among the descendants of the

Girmitiyas on their tragic but fascinating early history. To commemorate this historic event of arrival of first ship Leonidas with indentured labourers to Fiji on 14th May 1879, is celebrated as ‘Girmit Day’. A total number of 60,495 Indian labourers arrived by 86 other ships to Fiji. Girmit is the Fiji -Hindi word for Girmitiyas or the indentured labours. The descendants of these Girmitiyas are now spread all over the world including a large number of them in New Zealand. The Girmit Remembrance Day takes the older people of Girmit descendants, back to their nostalgic journey of hardships they faced, brutal atrocities on them, their struggle for survival in the new country thousands of miles away from their motherland.

During British rule in India, Britishers recruited over 1.2 million Indian labourers to work in its colonies. The indenture system was slavery by another name except that it was a contractual agreement for a period of five years. The illiterate Indian indentured workers, unable to pronounce the word ‘agreement’ called it ‘Girmit’, an acronym that came to identify that period (1879-1920) and they came to be identified as the ‘Girmitiyas’

The Girmit Remembrance Day programme started with the singing of national anthems of Fiji, India, and New Zealand by a group of school children. The programme was well attended by a around a thousand people that included people from Fiji community, community and business leaders and politicians from various parties. The High Commissioner of India was the Chief Guest at the programme. He attended the programme along with his wife and India’s Hon Consul Bhav Dhillon and his wife. More than 20 seniors of over the age of 80 years were honoured for their contribution to the community by giving them commemorative certificates. At the start of the programme the invited dignitaries including Indian High Commissioner took part in candle vigilance by lighting candles. Some important speaker including Indian High Commissioner spoke on the occasion and paid rich tributes to Girmitiyas.

The programme was well organised and all the cultural activities, songs and other performances were carried out in a dignified manner. Programme ended with a sumptuous Fiji style dinner served to all.

-TIN Bureau