- Fiji Indian organisations
__NOTOC__There have been numerous organisations formed by
Fiji Indian s ever since they became free from the bondage ofindenture and were able to organise themselves to seek social and political justice. These organisations promoted the teaching of Indian languages and religious practices and also to helped others in time of need. Some of the successful organisations are listed below in order in which they were established.British Indian Association (1911)
The British Indian Association was established in 1911, following a severe hurricane that had brought much hardship to the
Fiji Indian s in the Central division. It was formed by a group that included J.P. Maharaj (a Suva Storekeeper),Totaram Sanadhya (a pundit and social worker from Rewa), Ram Singh (a Suva printer) and Ram Rup. The meeting was chaired by Shriyut Rupram and discussed grievances such as the lack of educated leadership amongst the Fiji Indians and the dependence on European lawyers. Totaram Sanadhya was responsible for its Hindi language correspondence.Indian Imperial Association (1918)
The Indian Imperial Association (I.I.A.) came into existence in
Fiji on2 June 1918 to further the well-being of theIndia n settlers in Fiji.Manilal Doctor became its first President and Ram Singh its Secretary. The association contained mainly educatedFiji Indian s. It sent petitions to the Government seeking review of marriage law, an end to the death penalty and representation into the Legislative Council. The aim of the association was to ‘watch the interests of and to assist in the general improvement of the Indian community in Fiji’. As president of the I.I.A., Manilal Doctor wrote toGandhi , other Indian leaders and theBritish Labour Party on the sad plight of Indian indentured labourers inFiji . Following, the strike of 1920, the I.I.A. organised petitions in different languages, asking for Manilal to be allowed to stay in Fiji but after he was deported from Fiji in 1920, the I.I.A. collapsed.Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji (1918)
The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji (Arya Representative Society), the national body for all the Arya Samajs in
Fiji , was formed in 1918, althoughArya Samaj had existed in Fiji since 1904. Its first President was Swami Manoharanand Saraswati. The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji is affiliated to Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (World Council of Arya Samaj) based inNew Delhi . Immediately after its formation the Sabha went about establishing schools in Fiji, with the first one, Gurukul Primary School, established in 1918 in Saweni,Lautoka . The "Sabha" owns and manages 14 pre-schools, 18 primary schools, 7 secondary schools, a commercial school, a religious training centre, a youth development centre and has provided the facilities and resources for the establishment of theUniversity of Fiji .Indian Cane Growers Association (1919)
The Indian Cane Growers Association was formed on
28 September 1919 and was based in Ba district, one of the cane growing districts in the Western Division ofFiji . It was led by a former overseer of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company and included some well-to-doIndia n cane farmers from Ba. The Association proposed a scheme for co-operative stores and an agricultural bank financed by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company but the company refused to finance it. The Association asked for a higher price and Indian cane farmers refused to plant any more cane. The company made concessions, although it refused to guarantee the price increases for future years and refused to continue the bonus in 1921.Indian Association of Fiji (1920)
The Indian Association of Fiji was formed in 1920 by N. B. Mitter, who was the headmaster of a school in Nadi. The Association organised labourers from the Western Division, which included Ba, Nadi, Lautoka and Nadroga. In the early 1920s Ram Singh tried to revive the defunct Indian Imperial Association as the Indian Association of Fiji but having representatives from all sections of the Indian community. It made representations to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies about residential tax and other issues, but the Government regarded it as representing only the urban educated Indians and refused to recognise it. On9 December 1934 , The Indian Association was reformed, this time time as a successor to theFiji Indian National Congress . Its president wasA. D. Patel andVishnu Deo was its secretary. The Association made representations toEngland andIndia opposing the proposal for a purely nominated system of choosing members to the Legislative Council. In 1935, the Association protested to restrictions to Indian immigration to Fiji.Indian Reform League (1924)
The Indian Reform League was formed in
Fiji in 1924, following the refusal of theSuva Y.M.C.A. to admit Indians. Its founder wasA.W. McMillan of theNew Zealand Y.M.C.A and educated Indians and Government clerks and interpreters. Its aim was to carry out social work and apply pressure for social reform, like changes to marriage laws. Since most of its members were IndianChristian s, it soon acquired a sectional character. It provided volunteer nurses during thetyphoid epidemic of 1925. It had a women's wing known as the "Stri Sewa Sabha" (Women's Service League), founded in 1934, which carried out social work amongst Fiji Indian women. The League encouraged participation in sports, including incricket , football,hockey andlawn tennis . The League was instrumental in the formation of the Suva Football Association, which was one of the original Associations that formed theFiji Indian Football Association .Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (1926)
The "Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam" (TISI Sangam) was founded in Fiji by Sadhu
Kuppuswami , an ex-indentured labourer, who inspired South Indians to form an organisation to promote their language and culture. On10 January 1926 , while celebrating the birth ofSwami Vivekananda inRakiraki , attended by people of all districts, the idea of forming the South Indian organisation was proposed. On 24 May 1926, at a meeting in Nadi, the Then India Sanmargya Ikya Sangam (TISI Sangam) was formed with Sadhu Swami. Sadhu Kuppuswami was elected the first President of Sangam and he remained its President for his life time. On26 December 1927 , the Madras Maha Sangam, was formed inSuva by Verrappa Muthiah Pillai in Suva and branches were soon established inLevuka andLabasa . In 1937 the Madras Maha Sangam merged with the TISI Sangam. The arrival of Swami Avinashananda andSwami Rudrananda from theRamakrishna Mission of India provided impetus to the Sangam which proceeded to promote South Indian language and culture.Fiji Muslim League (1926)
The Fiji Muslim League is a
Muslim religious and social organisation based inSuva ,Fiji . The League was formed on31 October 1926 , at a meeting at the Jame Masjid in Toorak, although a number of Muslim organisations had existed in Fiji since 1908. The League has made valuable contribution in the field of education in Fiji. The first school, Islamic Girls School, was already in existence in 1926. Today, the League owns and manages seventeen primary and five secondary schools plus a tertiary institution. Besides education, the League from its outset has attempted to assist in satisfying all the social needs of Muslims. Currently its involvement in social welfare is both at national and branch levels. In times of natural disasters or turmoil the League directly helps Muslims whose homes and lives are disrupted. Its charity keeps many families clothed, fed and housed, and Muslim children sent to school. Since 1929 the Fiji Muslim League has sought to obtain separate representation for Muslims, in the Legislative Council till 1970, and in Parliament (both the House of Representatives and the Senate) since 1970.Hindu Maha Sabha (1926)
Hindu Maha Sabha was an organisation representing various Hindu organisations and was formed in
Fiji in late 1926, following the formation of All-India Hindu Maha Sabha inIndia . Although the organisation was formed to unite all the Hindu groups, its leadership soon came under the control of the better organised Arya Samajis. WhenShri Krishna Sharma arrived in Fiji in 1927, he assumed leadership of the Sabha. The Hindu Maha Sabha (and the Fiji Muslim League) contested with the Indian Reform League (mainly supported by Indian Christians) for the right to represent Indians. The Sabha was organised at village level into "sangathans" (religious unions) and was led in theSuva -Nausori area byVishnu Deo ,K. B. Singh ,Kundan Singh Kush and the western districts ofViti Levu byChattur Singh and Sahodar Singh. Conflict with Muslims and orthodox Hindus led to court action and a conviction in the early 1930s and the Sabha ceased to represent all the Hindu organisations in Fiji.Fiji Indian National Congress (1929)
The Fiji Indian National Congress started as two different organisations, one formed by
Vishnu Deo inLautoka on12 October 1929 and another formed by Dr Hamilton Beattie inSuva on14 October 1929. As both organisations had the same aim,S. B. Patel was able to persuade them to amalgamate on7 November 1929 to from a single organisation. The aim of the Congress was to improve the status of theFiji Indian s by uniting the Indians and demanding common franchise. Vishnu Deo tried to model the Congress on theIndian National Congress , but it failed when non-Hindu members left following disagreement over the distribution of relief funds following floods in 1930.Fiji Teachers Union (1929)
Fiji Teachers Union is a union representing school teachers in
Fiji . It had its beginning when on7 December 1929 , an organisation known as the Teachers' Association of Fiji was formed inLautoka , with PanditAmi Chandra as President and W. K. Phillip as Secretary. The aim of this Association was to improve the standard of education in Fiji schools, to raise the status and to improve and safeguard the conditions of employment of its members and to work for the betterment of the community as a whole. Its membership was open to all teachers wheter from Fiji or overseas, whose certification was approved by the Department of Education of Fiji. Later this Association became the Fiji Teachers Union. Although it is a multi-racial organisation, the overwhelming majority of its members is ofIndia n origin.Fiji Bharatiya Mazdur Sangh (1930)
The "Fiji Bharatiya Mazdur Sangh" (Fiji Indian labour Union) was a short-lived union formed in June 1930 by
Vishnu Deo andK. B. Singh for the benefit of the newly arrived Punjabi immigrants who were finding it hard to find employment in Fiji.Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam (1933)
Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam was formed in 1933 by some educated Muslims in Fiji who had earlier led the
Fiji Muslim League but lost control of the League they offended the majority of Muslims in Fiji, who are Sunnis, by bringing Ahmadiyya missionaries from India. Some prominent Fiji Muslim who were Ahmadiyyas were Mohammed Towahir Khan and Mohammed Sahu Khan ofLautoka , and X.K.N. Dean of Suva.Kisan Sangh (1937)
"Kisan Sangh" (Farmers Union) was the first successful farmers' union formed in Fiji on
27 November 1937 byAyodhya Prasad . After initially opposing its formation, the Government and the sole sugar milling company in Fiji, Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), were forced to recognise the Sangh as it gained support from most of the farmers and in 1941 won major gains for sugar cane farmers. This early success was not to be repeated with the formation of rival unions and the use of unions as power base for political aspirants. It gradually lost support and at present has an insignificant influence on Fiji's sugar industry.Fiji Indian Football Association (1938)
The Fiji Indian Football Association was formed under the leadership of Arthur Stanley Farebrother, a Suva businessman, as teams from Suva, Rewa, Ba, Levuka and Lautoka gathered in Suva for an inter-district tournament on
8 October 1938. The first inter-district football tournament was played for the Lloyd - Farebother trophy donated by Lloyd and Company and A.S. Farebrother and Company. The following year Nadi, Nadroga and Rakiraki also joined the Association. In 1943 Navua and Tailevu/Naitasiri joined the Association andTaveuni joined in 1947. In 1958, when the association celebrated its 21st inter-district tournament, 14 districts took part.Dakshina India Andhra Sangam (1941)
The "Dakshina India Andhra Sangam" of Fiji was formed on
20 April 1941, under the leadership of Alipati Tataiya and Veeranna, at the Gallau Temple inRa . The aim of the new "Sangam" was to promoteTelugu language and culture. Initially Telugus in Fiji were members of the TISI Sangam, but its domination by the more numerousTamils led to the formatoin of the A"ndhra Sangam".Maha Sangh (1941)
"Akhil Fiji Krishak Maha Sangh" (All Fiji Farmers’ Grand Union) was a
sugar cane farmers' union formed on15 June 1941 in opposition to the existing union, theKisan Sangh . The people responsible for the formation of a second sugar cane farmers' union in Fiji wereA.D. Patel andSwami Rudrananda . The union was supported mainly by the South Indian sugar cane farmers inFiji . The Maha Sangh provided the support base for the launch of the political career of A. D. Patel. The Sangh was one of the unions that joined the umbrella organisation, the Federation of Cane Growers to negotiate the 1960 sugar cane contarct with the CSR and remained within this organisation as it grew to be a fully fledged union. The original members of the Sangh remained the main support base for the Federation of Cane Growers and its successor, theFiji Cane Growers Association .Maunatul Islam Association of Fiji (1942)
Maunatul Islam Association of Fiji (MIAF) represents approximately 30% of the
Sunni Muslim s inFiji who are mostly followers ofImam Shafi . The followers of Imam Shafi in Fiji are the descendents of Muslims ofMalyalam origin who came to Fiji under theindenture system fromKerala inSouth India between 1903 and 1916. The other Sunni Muslim organisation in Fiji, theFiji Muslim League , represents all other Sunni Muslims in Fiji who are mostly followers of ImamHanafi . The organisation originally operated under the name of Then India Maunatul Islam Association of Fiji since it was officially formed in 1942. One of the most prominent past President and Speaker of the Association was the late Hon S.M. Koya.Rewa Planters Union (1943)
The Rewa Planters Union was formed on
14 July 1943 at a meeting attended by 1500 cane farmers fromRewa Province ,Fiji . The union was formed in reaction to the strike of cane farmers taking place in the Western Division. The Government had appointed a commission to inquire into the farmers' grievances and the Rewa farmers wanted to send a representative to it. The Rewa Planters Union took an active role in the negotiations for the 1950 cane contract. With the closure of theNausori sugar mill in 1959, the union ceased to exist.Southern Division Kisan Sangh (1946)
The Southern Division Kisan Sangh was formed in 1946 by a former member of parliament,
K.B. Singh , due to personal differences with the president of theRewa Planters Union . There was widespread opposition to this untilVishnu Deo took over its leadership. The Southern Division Kisan Sangh took an active role in the negotiations for the 1950 cane contract. With the closure of theNausori sugar mill in 1959, the union ceased to exist.Vishal Sangh (1946)
"Vishal Sangh" (Great Union) was a cane farmers union established in
Fiji on1 September 1946 , by mainlySikh farmers, who refused to re-join theKisan Sangh after its reunification following the split of the Kisan Sangh into two factions in 1943. It was led byMehar Singh , one of the founding members of the Kisan Sangh and its former vice-president. The Vishal Sangh played an active role in negotiations for cane contracts in 1950 and 1960 but always aligned itself withA.D. Patel and theMaha Sangh .Labasa Kisan Sangh (1950)
The "Labasa Kisan Sangh" (Labasa Farmers Union) was formed in 1950 as negotiatians began for the new cane contract and was based on the island of
Vanua Levu inFiji . It was sponsored by theKisan Sangh andAyodhya Prasad based in the western districts ofViti Levu and was in competition of the Maha Sangh, which had also spread its activities to Vanua Levu. Due to its distance fronm the main island and communication problems, this union remained autonomous from the main body in Viti Levu and provided the political power base forVijay R. Singh .Federation of Cane Growers (1959)
The Federation of Cane Growers was formed as an umbrella organisation to negotiate the new cane contract due to take effect from 1960 with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. Talks on the new contract started on
5 January 1960. The farmers’ representatives were from theMaha Sangh , theVishal Sangh , theLabasa Kisan Sangh , and theKisan Sangh . The united front did not last as the two Kisan Sanghs accepted the contract offered by the Company while the Maha Sangh and Vishal Sangh opposed it and called their members out on strike.Citizens Federation (1963)
The Federation of Cane Growers Committee contested the 1963 Legislative Council election under the banner of Citizens Federation. It was not a properly constituted political party but sought to promote economic, cultural and political progress and stability in a united Fiji. All three Citizen’s Federation candidates were elected to the Legislative Council. In the Western Constituency, A.D. Patel defeated the president of the Kisan Sangh by 6244 votes to 3346, in the North Viti Levu Constituency, Sidiq Koya defeated
James Shankar Singh by 3,998 votes to 3,480 and in the Northern ConstituencyJames Madhavan defeated won by 2,753 votes to 2,175. There was no Citizens Federation candidate in the Southern Constituency, won byAndrew Deoki . All the three candidates opposing the Citizens Federation candidates were supporters of theKisan Sangh Federation Party (1964)
The success of the
Citizens Federation in the 1963 elections, and the impeding constitutional convention, promptedA. D. Patel to transform the Citizens Federation into a fully fledged political party. TheFederation Party came into existence on21 June 1964 , with A.D. Patel as President and S.M. Koya as Vice-president.National Congress of Fiji (1965)
The National Congress of Fiji was formed on
10 January 1965 inLautoka , Fiji byAyodhya Prasad , the Secretary of theKisan Sangh . The Congress sent a telegram to theSecretary General of theUnited Nations stating that 80,000Fiji Indian s wanted to settle in a foreign country. The telegram had the desired result, as under pressure from the United Nations the Colonial Secretary called a Constitutional Conference for26 July 1965. Ayodhya The Congress was bitterly opposed toA.D. Patel and the Federation Party. In October 1965, Ayodhya Prasad metRatu Kamisese Mara and suggested the establishment of a new political party made up of theFijian Association and National Congress of Fiji. In the 1966 elections, two members of the Congress contested the election for the Alliance Party and lost. WithVijay R. Singh supporting direct membership of the Alliance, relatins between him and Prasad worsened and the National Congress was wound up in 1967.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.