Sunday, November 18, 2012

Carter's Coup:New leadership may change Labour’s fortune

This article was written in May 2011 when leadership battles were looming in Labour Party and Chris Carter had thrown in name of David Cunliffe as a suitable leader in place of Phil Goff. As a result Carter lost his seat and David Shearer g
ot elected as Labour Leader despite LEC's direction for Cunliffe as the leader. So began the woes of Labour Party. It appears my friend Chris Carter would be redeemed, or avenged, with looming coup expected. What I suggested of David Cunliffe can happen now- David Cunliffe may emulate a Gillard - on - Kevin Rudd on Labour leader David Shearer.
THE QUESTION IS NOT IF IT WILL HAPPEN, IT IS WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN.





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New leadership may change Labour’s fortune


By

New leadership may change Labour’s fortune
As the popularity of Labour and its Leader Phil Goff continue to slide, it is time the Party revisited what former frontbencher and Member Chris Carter had initiated last year.
Labour now has little to lose and perhaps much to gain from a younger leader who could be a match for National’s John Key.
Politics is a numbers game and numbers depend on popularity. Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd knows it well, as he found himself displaced (as Prime Minister) overnight by his ruthless Party caucus.
When 78% of the voters say ‘you will not win’ and 55% of your own supporters discount your chances of winning the next election, warning bells should start ringing in the Labour caucus.
What happened in Australia in July 2010 appeared to have been taking shape in New Zealand, as we saw Mr Carter’s bungled efforts in being a one-man crusade to change leadership in the Party.
The Carter Principle
Was his action intended to change Labour’s misfortunes in 2011 elections? Was he really out to save the Labour Party?
Mr Carter’s action cannot be discounted as actions of an unsound mind. He has proved his worth not only as a credible, capable and visible Minister, but also as an effective MP. As a migrant and as a community worker in his Te Atatu Electorate, I vouch for his popularity, especially among the ethnic communities.
Mr Carter polled 14,620 votes in the Te Atatu Constituency in 2008 Election, while his Party collected 11,263 votes, which indicated his personal popularity.
In TV debates following the ‘Letter fiasco’ last year, there appeared consensus on one issue: how he revealed the disenchantment in the Party was questionable but what he had stated was the truth.
You need not have the crystal ball to see that Labour would not win in the 2011 Election with Mr Goff as the Leader. One commentator said he lacked the charisma while according to another, he suffers from the ‘Prince Charles Syndrome,’ of being around too long. That was in August 2010.
Missed opportunities
With Mr Key backing down on the mining of reserves, increasing economic woes and National’s assault on the rights of workers, coupled by New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters joining with (former MP and Wanganui Mayor) Michael Laws, may yet spell some positive chances for the Labour Party in Election 2011.
If the Party is prepared to go for a copy-cat gamble of Australians in ditching Mr Rudd for better election chances with Julia Gillard, then perhaps the smouldering embers set up by Mr Carter may be worth fanning by the Labour caucus.
The Cunliffe Factor
Now that the gap has widened further, they may have nothing to lose in ‘doing a Rudd,’ on Goff, but in a relatively more civil manner.
One name floated as a possible challenger for the leadership role is New Lynn MP David Cunliffe who, like Mr Carter, is popular in his electorate.
The New Zealand Herald, in its November 10, 2008 issue, named him as the possible competitor with Annette King for the role of Deputy Leader and said that he was tipped to be Labour’s next Leader.
It is perhaps a prophecy that could come true.
Mr Cunliffe had reportedly said that he would not put his hand up for leadership.
“Labour is a Collective Party. Wisdom will be shared, and I will not be surprised if people come to a pretty shared collective view.”
That was more than two years ago and the supporters are waiting to see if Labour will come to a collective view that Mr Cunliffe had hinted.
Things have gone worse for Labour now. Those with ears close to the political ground already know that the change in leadership is a foregone conclusion.
Some claim, though prematurely, that Mr Carter had either strategically planned or inadvertently put things in motion.
One scenario is that if commonsense is to prevail in the Labour caucus, then Mr Cunliffe should lead the Party, which may have a remote chance of wresting back political control.
If there is a change in leadership, fanned by the heat that he set, Mr Carter’s political life may be far from over.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a political commentator, a Waitakere community worker and a postgraduate student in Communication Studies at AUT University.
Email: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Satyamev Jayate: Hey Ram, Indian leadership in Auckland shot the messenger this Independence Day


Satyamev Jayate: Hey Ram, Indian leadership in Auckland shot the messenger this Independence Day

 Thakur Ranjit Singh

[This article was given to Indian Newslink newspaper in Auckland, which had incorrectly quoted Thakur Ranjit Singh and led a lynch mob against Thakur for saying some home truths about India on his Facebook posting. This was Thakurs correction which Indian Newslink and its editor, Venkat Raman did not publish for obvious reasons.]

This episode opens with the Indian lynch mob after head of an Auckland journalist. He is purported to have posted comments on Facebook, deemed offensive by Indian politicians and some leaders. This makes a good script for a Bollywood movie. Here is an honest-speaking journalist, who speaks some home truths about his grandfather’s country. Indian leadership in Auckland, with a media and some political opportunism, makes a villain of him. He is chased out of his muhalla - his street, the house is burnt and emotionally-charged people, prompted by media, stone this “villain” to death. Truth should never interrupt a good script. And that is where the film ends with everybody dancing around his dead body and chanting “bharat mata ki jay, mera bharat mahaan…”

Thank God I am not in India, or by now, I would have been that dead body. That is the advantage all NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) have in this civilised democracy - where we still (supposedly) have freedom of speech. That journalist is none other than yours truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh.

What were the truths that Thakur said in his Facebook posting? [Please see link (s) under each heading to substantiate what I said]

1) India has been judged the worst country for a woman to live (by G 20 survey).


2) Indians have hoarded the largest amount of black money in Swiss Banks



3) India has one of the most corrupt politicians in the world.


4) India has done very well economically, but this wealth has failed to reach many of the needy, with very heavy unequal distribution of wealth.


5) In the Olympics India failed miserably.



Things that Thakur said you should do during Independence Day in front of Indian Flag:

1) Bow your heads and pray for a miracle to salvage the name of a once proud country, so once again we can say we are proud to be an Indian

2) Pray for a prosperous, honest conscientious and caring nation where all have equality and share in the economic cake.

What Thakur said about Fiji?

1) I am proud to be Fijian, and thank my grandfather for running away from India in 1915 for a new home in Fiji.

What Thakur did not say, but was misrepresented by media, Indian Newslink:

1) I never said I am NOT proud to be an Indian.

2) I never said ‘bow your head in shame” I said bow your heads in prayers.

3) I never said India is economically backward – I praised its economic development, but criticised its distribution.

This is what the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said on the eve on India’s Independence Day: Anger against the bitter pandemic of corruption is legitimate, as is the protest against this plague that is eroding the capability and potential of our nation. There are times when people lose their patience...” It was one such time for me.

India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh said the following in his Independence Day speech: “We will continue our efforts to bring more transparency and accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption...” So I wonder what different I said that riled these distant NRIs?

Indians can say things because of blind nationalism and misplaced patriotism.  What I am perturbed by is comments by former Fijians in Indian Newslink of 1 September, 2012. In what I said above, what did Sunil Chandra, President of Waitakere Indian Association, find “unacceptable”? What were “derogatory”, Ahmed Bhamji? And Vinod Patel, who heads Mega Mitre 10 and is President of Hindu Council of New Zealand (HCNZ), surprised me most with his boorish, blinkered and vitriolic statement that borders on defamation of character. He calls me a “failed journalist?” Last year I graduated with Masters in Communication Studies with Honours from Auckland University of Technology (AUT) after doing a 300 page research thesis on media and politics in Fiji. Does he question the standard of AUT? Since when did he become a media commentator and analyst? He blames me for writing without base and research and having hatred in my writings. I had earlier worked at HCNZ and at one time had been president of Hindu Elders Foundation and Chaired media section of their Hindu Conference earlier this year. I still remain Media Officer for Waitakere Indian Association and Waitakere Ethnic Board and head Sanatan Media Watch. I can also question his suitability to head HCNZ with such non-substantiated and divisive views, but I will not, but vote with my feet. HCNZ has strenuously attracted only a handful Fijians, they will have one less now.

And Venkat Raman, editor of Indian Newslink has been using my free services, feature journalism articles and opinions for some 8 years and had occasionally praised me for this.  And he publishes this defamatory and unsubstantiated diatribe of Vinod Patel in his paper which any respected editor would question, especially against a person he knows personally. I find this strange. I appreciate that as a journalist and media commentator, I have been thorn to some people. Writing honestly about vice in society has been my trait and for that I make no apologies, and even had tussles with the way HCNZ operates. I believe that if you are a popular and likeable journalist, you are not doing your job; if you rile or annoy people, and they hate you, you must have done something right. I have been fired by two diametrically opposed Fijian Prime Ministers for speaking truth. One is Qarase (serving jail term) and another one is Mahendra Chaudhry, now in courts for abusing his position. Compared to these, my suspension as Vice President of WIA due to pressure from Indian leadership is like a Sunday picnic.

The instigator of this, Sunny Kaushal is a Labour politician who can now proudly tell his son in Labour Party youth that he should never be truthful and fearless like Thakur, team up with the right influential people and politicians, hide truths, curtail free speech that offends your mother country, befriend media-wallahs and you will become a successful Indian politician in NZ.

No Indian leader or politician can teach me the history of Girmit of my grandfather. He ran away to escape poverty and atrocities back home, seeking better life elsewhere. I grew up listening to Bhagat Singh’s revolution from my grandfathers’ 78 RPM HMV wind-up gramophone. That is why my heart bleeds when it appears the sacrifices of these revolutionaries-“saheeds” went in vain, with the current situation in India.

People are completely wrong in comparing this episode to Paul Henry saga. I am a Fijian of Indian descent and judged things from my knowledge of India and have substantiated each allegation with media link, in many cases, written by Indians themselves. All those slating me are well-off NRIs, majority from one or two particular prosperous states, very few migrants are from downtrodden states, and hence they have little overseas voice. I chose to speak bluntly on behalf of my downtrodden cousins in Karauli, Rajasthan in India where I went in 2003 to trace my roots and was shocked to see how the Maharaja still rules, Mandirs are his commercial arms and religion is for sale. Independence has yet to reach Indians almost the population size of USA.

Perhaps my only crime is to have used English idiom that perhaps many Indians do not properly understand. Calling “every Englishmen and his dog” does not mean I am calling or comparing England to a dog. It is just a way of emphasising “all’ or ‘everybody” Similarly; I have said nothing about dog and India. I hope Indian community leaders understand this.

Nobody to date can honestly say what I have said wrong or untruthful, they just merely appeared to have joined the lynch-mob started by a labour politician, seeking my scalp, hiding behind generalisations like “unacceptable”, “derogatory”, “bad attitude”, ‘deplorable,” “very disturbing” and so on. Only one person agreed with my right to free speech.  Contrary to Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings, it may now be an Indian sin to speak the truth. However, I feel it is still not a Kiwi sin to do so.

What an irony that on the Independence Day of the largest democracy on earth, Indian leadership in New Zealand shot down few of the strongest pillars of free world, democracy and principles of Independence - free speech, media freedom and - truth. Together with it, they have shot the messenger as well. Hey Ram!

Why Indo-Fijians did not join Fiji army during the wars: What Girmitiya descendants need to know


Why Indo-Fijians did not join Fiji army during the wars: What Girmitiya descendants need to know



Thakur Ranjit Singh, Auckland, New Zealand

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Fiji marks a memorable day. That is Remembrance Day on 11th November each year. Americans call it Veteran’s Day. Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Historically, arguments have raged since the wars on reasons why Indo-Fijians did not join the army in numbers. Since Fiji’s history fails to tell this, descendants of Girmitiyas (indentured labourers) need to be told the reasons why their forbears did not join Fiji army.
Fiji's proud son, PROFESSOR BRIJ V. LAL, (right) who filled the vacuum on Indo-Fijian and Girmit history that British and  Australian CSR Colonialists stole from History books of Fiji. This clarification on dis-information on Indians not joining the army is from him. These were lies perpetuated by British, who, together with Fijian Chiefs objected to Indians joining the army. He is pictured here with your truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh, (left) author of blog Site FIJI PUNDIT and Secretary of Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand, during Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day in Auckland in May 2014 where Professor Lal ( with Dr Padma Lal) was the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. (see link below for the speech)
Every now and then Fijian (read I-Taukei) leaders in all sizes and shapes have levelled accusation at Indo-Fijians for being disloyal to Fiji by not joining the army during the world wars. Among others, a Fijian nationalist academic who was behind the racist 1990 constitution, late Dr Asesela Ravuvu had accused Indo-Fijians of not being interested to fight for the maintenance of democratic rule in the world and were selfish while Fijians gave their lives for this cause. He accused Indo-Fijians of demanding more pay and special protection for their families and property. It was such non-cooperation, according to him, that partly contributed to difficulties in acquiring trust and acceptance of the Fijians as good neighbours and countrymen.

Dr Brij Lal, an Indo-Fijian academic and one of the Commissioners behind the 1997 constitution wrote about the reasons and I take liberty to quote him to inform the world that deserved to know this a long time ago.

It is agreed that while to some extent, government’s refusal to grant Indo-Fijians the same conditions of service provided to European soldiers is one of the reasons for them not being in the military, there are others which need to be clarified to counteract accusations of Fijian nationalists who castigate a whole race for something they were not guilty of. The reasons why Indo-Fijians did not join in the World Wars in the Fiji army are the following, among others:


1)   Recruitment for Fijians was well-organised and even supported by chiefs, including Ratu Sukuna in his military uniform. His support and efforts perhaps was because, he was a beneficiary of the things that came from Britain, hence the need to protect them. Furthermore, by recruiting greater number of Fijians, there was an intention to display Fijian loyalty to the British to win their support for the Fijian community, as pressures were being exerted by the Indo-Fijian community for more say in the government.

      RATU SIR LALA SUKUNA:  Recruitment for Fijians was well-organised and even supported by chiefs, including Ratu Sukuna in his military uniform. INDIANS WERE DISCOURAGED FROM RECRUITMENT THROUGH OBJECTIONS FROM FIJIANS AND EUROPEANS

2)   Easier access to Fijian villagers to recruit, as they lived in stratified structure collectively and were more easily accessible than scattered Indo- Fijians.

3)   While Indo-Fijians said they would fight if Fiji was attacked, they refused to fight for the empire in the other parts of the world unless government acknowledged the principle of equality between European and non-European soldiers. What they said was that an Indo-Fijian life should be valued same as a European life.

4)   The government was reluctant to recruit Indo-Fijians because of objections from Fijians and Europeans, as they did not wish them to be equipped with this skill. There have been instances where Indo-Fijians were requesting their sons to be recruited, but were refused.  One Indo-Fijian is reported to have gone to New Zealand to enlist in the Maori regiments because the Fiji army was not taking in Indo-Fijians.

5)   Europeans were fearful of Indo-Fijians because of Gandhi’s ’Quit- India’ campaign and Subhash Chandra Bose’s collaboration with the Japanese.

6)   There was reluctance by CSR (sugar millers) to grant leave for the farmers to fight the war, as they needed to meet their contractual arrangements on the cane farms. Indo-Fijians were not unemployed and “free’ like most of the villagers who were not fully utilised and were available for military without any constraints elsewhere. Indo-Fijians had a difficult choice of selecting between enlisting for war and keeping their farms. Fijians on the other hand did not have the difficulty of such a choice, as they had no farming obligations.

7)   The government proclaimed that the most important contributions the Indo-Fijians could make were to increase the production of foodstuffs and maintenance of essential agricultural interests. This had been their contribution to the war, as soldiers do and cannot fight wars on a hungry stomach.

8)   Membership in the British Empire was no badge of honour for the Indo- Fijians. Local Europeans owed their power and prestige to British colonialism, and Fijian chiefs were grateful for the security and privilege they and their people enjoyed as a result of British policies. On the other hand, Indo-Fijians had been subjected to most inhuman racial humiliations and denigrations on a daily basis during indenture (girmit), and fighting a war for the British would have meant a fight for preservation of a system that was oppressive and humiliating.

The conclusion by Dr Brij Lal in analysis of the above reasons is that the Indo-Fijians were neither seditious nor disloyal. It was the European propaganda and the exuberance war efforts of the Fijians that made them appear so. It was concluded that there was no evidence of any opposition to war by Indo-Fijians who had displayed full loyalty for the government with a fervent hope for the victory of the Allied Nations. It is obvious that a vacuum in the true historical facts have clouded this issue.

The question that I pose here is would Fiji’s history have been different if the British had encouraged racial balance in the Fijian Military during the wars? What may be the history of Fiji if Indo-Fijians were encouraged and even forced to join the army during the two world wars?

The answer perhaps lies in the next question and answer.

Question: Why Papua New Guinea and India, despite being so divided on regional, provincial, language, cultural or ethnic lines have little chance of success of a racially-instituted military coup that Fiji saw?

Answer: This is because their military do not have the type of racial, ethnic, traditional or religious polarisation that Fiji military has. In those countries the diverse make up of the soldiers would thwart, discourage and even prevent uprising based on racial, religious or regional superiority.

For argument sake, assume if Fiji military in 1987 had, say 30 to 50 percent Indo-Fijian soldiers distributed equally in all ranks, would Rabuka still have been able to topple the then Commander (now Fiji’s President) and institute a racially-based coup?

The chances would have been slim, and may even have resulted in a mutiny as comradeship in the military transcends race and reason may have come out of such a treasonous suggestion.

The bottom-line is, to remove coup culture in Fiji, for the military to venture on racial balancing of the Fiji Military forces and encourage Indo-Fijians to join the military service. There is no shortage of such people to join, the only problem is that, like in those colonial days, they are not taken in, and in turn are blamed for lacking patriotism.

I hope Indo-Fijians will learn the reasons why they are not represented in the Fiji army, and rebut any uninformed people who accuse us of lack of patriotism towards Fiji.


(About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a political analyst and a media commentator, based in Auckland, New Zealand. He graduated with Masters in Communication Studies (MCS) from Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 2011 and the above was an extract from a project paper he had done on coup culture in Fiji)

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

A smooth landing from Los Angeles to Nadi: Thanks to Air Pacific


A smooth landing from Los Angeles to Nadi: Thanks to Air Pacific

Thakur Ranjit Singh





As the Boeing 737-800 of Delta Airlines, eased into descent mode in a flight from Sacramento to Los Angeles on 16 August, 2012, it was relieving to leave a burning and extremely hot Sacramento. Temperatures here stood at above 38-41 deg C (over 100 F, climaxing at 107) some eight days in a row, when our Fiji hardly heats above 32. Sacramento Airport has really expanded to international level, in an expanding region with some 2.5 million people. In case you did not know, Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California. In 1967, former president, Ronald Reagan became its governor, and actor of the action movies Commando and the latest one, Expendables 2, Arnold Schwarzenegger was its last governor. Sacramento was cited by Time magazine as America's most ethnically and racially integrated city in 2002. Indeed, it is. You ask any Fijian in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, somebody would have a relative in Sacramento- so great is Fijian (Indo Fijian) population there, perhaps most for any US city. I have over 100 in-laws, and many people are there through family sponsorships. They are doing well, they have a Mandir, numerous mandalis, have many ritual activities, but social issues and family problems, despite wealth of America, are always there. Richness or being wealthy never solves any social problems. And, yes, they also have English/ Hindi newspaper, Sanatan Sandesh, run by a former Fijian, Kishore Gokul for I which I am a regular writer.

So, on this clear afternoon, as Delta flight 4502 glided over Los Angeles, the huge city of Hollywood looked magnificent with tall buildings, and mountains on one side leading on to a blue, deep port on the seaside. After glidingly descending for another 25 kilometres, we approached Los Angeles International Airport. The airport looked strange and unwelcome; there were airlines of many rich developed and other Asian and South American nations. Air New Zealand and Qantas gave us some familiarity and assurance of South Pacific connection. But I was looking for that reassuring sign of our rainbow colour, and lo behold, there it was. As we eased on the ground, near Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) I could see the tail of our island in the sky-yes, our Air Pacific. It was so assuring to see this familiar Pacific sign on this international airport where our part of the world was missing. In Los Angeles, just seeing you Air Pacific in our unique colours is so reassuring that your friend and island in the sky is nearby. Other countries in the Pacific, notably, Samoa, because of our problems, wanted to replace Fiji as the hub and administration centre of Pacific. Even they, including other rival Pacific neighbours have no capability to have their airlines in Los Angles; hence Fiji really flies the flag of Pacific in Los Angeles. It is so reassuring to know that from next year, it will be flying Fiji’s flag, as Fiji Airways. And Tom Bradley terminal is so familiar to many Fijians who have passed through LA. This terminal opened for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games and is named in honor of Tom Bradley, the first African-American and longest serving (20 years) mayor of Los Angeles, and champion of LAX.

Tom Bradley International Terminal is just minutes walk if you are coming by Delta or United, but there are good sign-posting for those who are confused, and free buses. The ground staff are very friendly to advice on directions. It always helps to arrive four to five hours before the flight to Nadi to avoid crowding; check in open at 6.30 pm for the 11.30 flights; hence you have five hours before flight time. Facilities in TBIT are good with many food outlets including many types of pizzas and Mc Donald. For Fijians linking from Canada, San Francisco or Sacramento, you can bring your roti parcels or sandwiches if you do not like junk food. Make sure to bring in bottles of water if you have long wait, as no drinking fountains are available at TBIT check in area, but discard all liquids before going in for security check. However if you miss your meal then air hostesses in the plane are very friendly and efficient and hot food served is much enjoyable and better now than cold sandwich wrap that I received in 2010. I experienced big improvements after two years.

 If two of you are travelling then inside aisle seats are recommended because then you will not be disturbed by anybody else to stand up, with four seats, two exits on each side respectively. Choosing window seats for two people would be uncomfortable, with three seats in window side rows. One stranger would be disturbed every time you go out in the 10 hour flight. The seat configuration in Air Pacific’s 747-400 is three- four- three (3-4-3). Do not choose window seats if you do not have to, because you hardly see much except for a few minutes light of LA as it is a night flight. Even landing at Nadi is often in dark, in early hours of the morning.

The in flight service was very good, meal and a breakfast plus drinks all throughout the night, and good opportunity to sleep as well, after takeoff. Compared to my flight in 2010, this flight was in a better-fitted aircraft with better seating space and other facilities.

I must commend our captains and accompanying offices, I found smooth landings in all Air Pacific flights and at times you do not feel when you have already landed. When I disembarked the flight after 10 hours flight, for somebody over mid-fifties, I still felt fresh and energetic. The new arrival card is a welcome change where all racial references are removed and you are only treated equally as a Fijian. The welcome change is arrival at the arriving lounge where instead of a boiler room as in the past, you are in an air-conditioned nicer area which could be further improved. The immigration officers were helpful and smiling, unlike those unfriendly zombies I found in Canadian Greyhound bus offices and grumpy officers at American-Canadian border near Surrey. More often than not, the visitors queue tends to be very long.


Thank God for the new Government’s policy on dual citizenship, I checked in LA on NZ passport, but used my Fiji passport to enter Fiji at Nadi Airport. I went in as a breeze in the Fiji citizen counter and had done my duty –free shopping and was collecting my baggage when my wife joined me downstairs from the long visitors queue with an NZ passport. In fact the inbound duty-free shopping, taken for granted in our part of the world is foreign to Vancouver. Never put off duty free-buying to Vancouver in-bound as they do not have any. This plus duty free shops allowance of only one bottle spirit  is a Canadian policy of reducing alcohol usage.

There is so much of welcome change at Nadi Airport where the scanning of baggage has made customs clearance so efficient and fast. I found myself outside the terminal just half an hour after landing when as usual, I had allowed an hour for this. My trip into Nadi from Los Angeles after two years was a complete contrast to 2010 when I found that a burden. Now, it was a breeze and thanks Fiji for the progress you have made.

For those critical of Fiji, you need to make a trip to experience the change. And thanks to Air Pacific, our international pride for spreading its wings with pride in parts of the world most airlines from our part of the world does not fly to- that is our Air Pacific, soon to be Fiji Airways.



[Thakur Ranjit Singh was on a trip to Canada and USA and notes his personal experience, services and advice. He has been round the world twice, loves travelling and writing about his experience. This is a travel segment that we will endeavor to bring on a regular basis to assist and inform visitors in planning their trip. Further information on flights can be obtained at Air Pacific website: www.airpacific.com]

Saturday, January 7, 2012

The Indo Fijian Easter conventions should unite the people


The Indo Fijian Easter conventions should unite the people
Thakur Ranjit Singh
[THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN ETHNIC PAPERS IN MAY, 2011]
Indo Fijian Conventions during Easter
Traditionally Easter had been a time for the Christian community in Fiji to immerse in prayers of the Lord and indulge in solemn religious activities. On the other hand, in a deeply religious Fiji with harmonious interfaith activities, Indo Fijians of Hindu, Sikh and Islamic faiths use this as a sporting and social occasion where Indo Fijian Diaspora  from around the world descend in Fiji in show of family, religious and ethnic unity.
I have been advised by my Facebook contacts in Fiji that last Easter , from 22 to 25 April, 2011, Gujaratis had their convention in Rewa (Nausori), Sanatan at Rishikul in Nasinu, TISI Sangam at Nadi, Andhra Sangam in Rakiraki, Muslims in Lautoka and Sikhs in my hometown of Ba (Ba toh Ba hai -after all, Ba is Ba in uniqueness). That basically covers all the ethnic and religious dominations in the Indo Fijian community. During this period, the whole country would have been swarming with NRIF – Non Resident Indo Fijian. Consequently, no rental cars would have been available, most local hotels were booked out and tourism from the former residents with stronger dollars from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA were good boost for Fiji’s tourism and economy.
While all the ethnic organisations are unique and full of fun, joy and networking, the unmistakable leaders of all the gatherings is the TISI convention - Then India Sanmarga Ikya   Sangam representing majority of descendents of girmitiya (indentured) South Indians.
This is because despite representing a minority ethnicity among Indo Fijians, they are dominant in the extent, level and professionalism of their organisation. They are perhaps one of the most successful ethnic organisations in Fiji. Unlike the religious nature of Hindu, Sikh and Muslim gatherings, the TISI is more about ethnicity and South Indian ancestry. While most are Sanatanis or Hindus, some are also Christians or of other faiths, but all are free to participate as long as they have South Indian heritage. That is where the issue gets somewhat controversial, especially in the globalised world with migration of our people.
Challenges for overseas affiliates
The problem and criticism that Sangam has been facing is its male-oriented, some may call it male chauvinistic conventions where one is considered a South Indian only through paternal links. I have a niece who is married to a South Indian and her husband attended a Sangam forum in Brisbane that addressed the challenges the overseas Sangam affiliates were facing, which any ethnicity-based organisation would face in the globalised village. He saw the problems that an organisation like Sangam faced where membership was restricted to people who have a paternal South Indian link. He felt that it would be a bonus if our kids married a South Indian, but this is not so and we could not continue to have these groupings of socials/cultural groups because the future generations may not care and these organisations would die a natural death.
History
I tried to explain him through historical facts and linked these with the changes our migrant community has faced. Most early girmitiyas (indentured labourers) were North Indians from Uttar Pardesh and Bihar. Fewer numbers came from South India. Because of language problems and different look, they felt ridiculed and discriminated by other Indians in those dark days of girmit. Even the overseers (koolambars) were harsh on them, many went through greater difficulties.  They faced great hardship and difficulties even post-girmit. Through all this developed the Sangam, now TISI, to protect their heritage. They have done a great deal more, together with other girmit communities.  Even today they stand tall in ownership of schools, temples, nursing school, the ability to organise the convention in international style, women’s groups, youth groups and all facets of an ethnic organisation. I take my hat for people like my dear friend and class mate, Sada Sivan Naicker (originally from Ba, but now) of Nasinu for his selfless services to the community through TISI.
The advancement of Indo Fijians in general and South Indians in particular has now made the original purpose of the birth of Sangam somewhat obsolete. Now things have to change to attract the younger generation not put off by too much complicated and unexplained rituals and restrictions placed by a past generation.  Sangam is not a religious grouping as most are Sanatanis or Hindus. Sangam is an ethnic group. That is why we have so many South Indians playing in Sanatan Soccer teams.

Discrimination defying international laws

My friend Sada Sivan Naicker is married to his high school sweet- heart, Sarita, who happens to be a North Indian. Sada’s son Nitesh can play in Sangam tournament and is eligible for Sangam membership, he is classed a “Madrasi” or South Indian because his father, is a South Indian.
However, my nephew in Calgary, Melvin Singh is married to Shristi Ryan who is a South Indian. Melvin’s son is not eligible to be a member of Sangam according to Fiji rules and hence will not be able to play in Sangam soccer, because while his mother is South Indian, Melvin is North Indian. Such gender discrimination which goes against the spirit of human rights laws of most progressive democracies where our Diaspora has settled. This obviously could be soon challenged in court in this globalised world if Sangam does not come to terms with the globalisation of Indo Fijians in general, and “mixed” South Indians in particular. This rule has to change.

The advent of modern education, westernisation and more liberal thinking has led to many intermarriages and this will cause problems for Sangam worldwide. Hence Sangam should change this law before they are classed as hypocrites who adopt the good western ways, opportunities and wealth of the first world while embracing the third world gender and ethnic discrimination.

So, TISI has to come to terms with this and embrace international laws, as I am aware of the displeasure and broken hearts such draconian provisions are causing in Fiji. The NRIF (Non Resident Indo Fijian), with greater exposure to developed world may find such restrictions and discriminations abhorrent.

Perhaps it is time TISI heeded the message that the retired International Judge and Fiji’s statesman Hon Justice Jai Ram Reddy gave during Sangam Convention in 2003:

Lest we forget, let us remind ourselves once again that Sangam was conceived in benevolence. The name itself stands for coming together of people and the participatory process that it entails. It was born out of adversity that in times that were equally dark. I

 Salute all those who have persevered to keep the human values of love, compassion and service alive through Sangam. I urge you to work for the good of all the people of this country. Sangam has always given us a sense of security and identity. DO not do anything to weaken this organization. Take it from strength to strength so that we can all be proud to belong to the Sangam family.

Therefore the message for Sangam and all other participants during Easter convention was of coming together in this participatory process to unite through human values of love, and compassion.

It is ironical that while Commodore Bainimarama’s vision for Fiji is a country and its politics devoid of racism, the Indo Fijians continue to discriminate their own people based on gender and ethnicity.

(E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz)

(Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator, a community worker, a Trustee of Sanatan NZ and heads Sanatan Media Watch in New Zealand)