Andrew Deoki
Encyclopedia
Andrew Indar Narayan Deoki (a.k.a. A.I.N. Deoki) was a Fiji Indian statesman who served his community as a social and religious leader, a soccer administrator, a member of the Legislative Council
in colonial Fiji, a member of the Senate
in independent Fiji and as the Attorney General.
team to tour overseas, managing the 1961 tour of New South Wales
. He was one of the first administrators to put forth the proposal to open up soccer to all races in Fiji, and despite opposition from some quarters, the word India
n was removed from Fiji soccer’s governing body to form the Fiji Football Association
in August 1961.
from politics in 1959, Deoki won the Southern Indian Division on his own merit and was made a member of the Executive Council
. He retained the seat in the 1963 election despite stiff opposition in a five-way contest, with less than 40% of the votes cast. Very early in his political career, he displayed political maturity when he realised, that being a Christian
(who made up a tiny proportion of Fiji Indian community), he needed to maintain good relations with all sections of the Indian community, and consequently his nomination paper for the 1963 election was signed by two Hindu
s, a Muslim
, a Gujarati
, a South Indian
and a Sikh
. Although he contested the election as an independent, he received support from the Kisan Sangh
's newspaper, the Kisan Mitra. He lost the Suva Indian Communal Seat to Irene Jai Narayan
in 1966 election by 5,676 votes to 2,779 votes.
objected to this, stating that “Deoki was uncooperative with him and his group” and threatened to resign as Member for Social Services. The Governor backed down and instead appointed A.D. Patel’s ally, James Madhavan
. In 1966, the four Federation
members of Legislative Council supported the Agricultural Landlord and Tenants Bill but Deoki showed foresight when he pointed out that the short term nature of the Bill, in the long term, failed to provide security of tenure to the Fiji Indian farmers. He opposed the establishment of the Fiji national Provident Fund (an A.D. Patel initiative) because he believed that economic conditions in Fiji made it impossible for labourers to contribute to the fund. In 1966, after he had lost the election, the Government appointed him as the Vice Chairman of the Sugar Advisory Board, which did not please A.D. Patel as Deoki was based in Suva and had little knowledge of the sugar industry.
, all members of the Federation Party. The Governor stated that the Federation group did not represent all Indian political opinion in Fiji and accepted Deoki’s proposal that all the 18 unofficial members of the Legislative Council attend. At the Conference, while the Federation members insisted on common roll, the ethnic Fijian
and European
members wanted the status quo to be maintained. Deoki proposed a compromise whereby 12 seats (four from each of the ethnic groups) were elected on communal roll, 18 were elected from cross-voting seats ( 6 Fijians, 6 Indians, 3 Europeans and one each from Chinese
, Rotuman
s and Pacific Islanders, and the remaining 6 seats were to be elected on a common roll. Neither Deoki’s compromise nor Federation’s common roll was accepted, and instead the Conference decided on 25 communal seats (9 Fijians, 9 Indians and 7 Europeans), 9 cross-voting seats (three for each ethnic group) and two Fijians nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs
. When the constitutional framework for Fiji was debated in the Legislative Council in December 1965, Deoki voted with the four Federation members against the new constitution.
Sir
Kamisese Mara
and appointed Attorney General, a position he held until 1981.
Legislative Council (Fiji)
The Fijian Legislative Council was the colonial precursor to the present-day Parliament, which came into existence when Fiji became independent on 10 October 1970.-The first Legislative Council:...
in colonial Fiji, a member of the Senate
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
in independent Fiji and as the Attorney General.
Contribution to Soccer in Fiji
Andrew Deoki served two terms as President of the Fiji Indian Football Association, from 1951 to 1953 and from 1955 to 1958. He was responsible for the establishment of the Fiji Secondary Schools Soccer Association which took competitive soccer to high school students. He was the manager of the first FijiFiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
team to tour overseas, managing the 1961 tour of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He was one of the first administrators to put forth the proposal to open up soccer to all races in Fiji, and despite opposition from some quarters, the word India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n was removed from Fiji soccer’s governing body to form the Fiji Football Association
Fiji Football Association
The Fiji Football Association is the governing body of football in Fiji. It came into existence in 1961, replacing the ethnically based Fiji Indian Football Association...
in August 1961.
Member of Legislative Council
Andrew Deoki had for a long time held ambitions of serving in the Legislative Council, and realised his dream when in 1956 he was nominated into the Council by the Governor. Following the retirement of Vishnu DeoVishnu Deo
Pandit Vishnu Deo OBE was the first Fiji born and bred leader of the Fiji Indians. From 1929, when he was first elected to the Legislative Council, until his retirement in 1959, he remained the most powerful Fiji Indian political leader in Fiji...
from politics in 1959, Deoki won the Southern Indian Division on his own merit and was made a member of the Executive Council
Executive Council (Fiji)
The colonial Governors of Fiji relied on the Executive Council for advice on proposals for legislation which, after being discussed in the Executive Council meetings, came before the Legislative Council in the form of bills. In this way, the Executive Council was the chief policy-making body and...
. He retained the seat in the 1963 election despite stiff opposition in a five-way contest, with less than 40% of the votes cast. Very early in his political career, he displayed political maturity when he realised, that being a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
(who made up a tiny proportion of Fiji Indian community), he needed to maintain good relations with all sections of the Indian community, and consequently his nomination paper for the 1963 election was signed by two Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s, a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, a Gujarati
Gujarati people
Gujarati people , or Gujaratis are an ethnic group that is traditionally Gujarati-speaking and can trace their ancestry to the state of Gujarat in western India...
, a South Indian
South Indians in Fiji
The South Indians in Fiji are mainly descendents of the 15,132 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1903 to 1916. This represents about 25% out of a total of 60,965 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1879 and 1916...
and a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
. Although he contested the election as an independent, he received support from the Kisan Sangh
Kisan Sangh
Kisan Sangh was the first farmers' union formed in Fiji on 27 November 1937. This was the result of one man's determination to improve the plight of Fiji's Indian cane farmers...
's newspaper, the Kisan Mitra. He lost the Suva Indian Communal Seat to Irene Jai Narayan
Irene Jai Narayan
Irene Jai Narayan, was an Indian born teacher and politician, who had a significant influence on politics in Fiji. She came to Fiji, in 1959, after marrying Jai Narayan, a well known school Principal in Suva, and began her career as a teacher...
in 1966 election by 5,676 votes to 2,779 votes.
Conflict with A.D. Patel
In 1964, the Governor proposed the appointment of Andrew Deoki into the Executive Council. A.D. PatelA.D. Patel
Ambalal Dahyabhai Patel, better known as A.D. Patel, was a Fiji Indian politician, farmers' leader and founder and leader of the National Federation Party. Patel was uncompromisingly committed to a vision of an independent Fiji, with full racial integration...
objected to this, stating that “Deoki was uncooperative with him and his group” and threatened to resign as Member for Social Services. The Governor backed down and instead appointed A.D. Patel’s ally, James Madhavan
James Madhavan
James Madhavan was one of the longest serving politicians in Fiji. He initially was a primary school teacher but when the Maha Sangh was formed in Labasa was one of its earliest members. Unlike, Viti Levu where it was mainly supported by South Indians, the Maha Sangh in Labasa had support from a...
. In 1966, the four Federation
National Federation Party (Fiji)
The National Federation Party is a Fijian political party founded by A.D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Federation Party and the National Democratic Party...
members of Legislative Council supported the Agricultural Landlord and Tenants Bill but Deoki showed foresight when he pointed out that the short term nature of the Bill, in the long term, failed to provide security of tenure to the Fiji Indian farmers. He opposed the establishment of the Fiji national Provident Fund (an A.D. Patel initiative) because he believed that economic conditions in Fiji made it impossible for labourers to contribute to the fund. In 1966, after he had lost the election, the Government appointed him as the Vice Chairman of the Sugar Advisory Board, which did not please A.D. Patel as Deoki was based in Suva and had little knowledge of the sugar industry.
1965 London Constitutional Conference
In December 1964, the Governor asked each ethnic group to select its own delegates to the 1965 London Constitutional Conference. A.D. Patel nominated himself, James Madhavan, Chirag Ali Shah and Sidiq KoyaSidiq Koya
Siddiq Moidin Koya was a Fijian Indian politician and Opposition leader. He succeeded to the leadership of the mostly Indo-Fijian National Federation Party on the death of the party's founder, A.D. Patel, in October 1969, remaining in this post until 1977...
, all members of the Federation Party. The Governor stated that the Federation group did not represent all Indian political opinion in Fiji and accepted Deoki’s proposal that all the 18 unofficial members of the Legislative Council attend. At the Conference, while the Federation members insisted on common roll, the ethnic Fijian
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
and European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
members wanted the status quo to be maintained. Deoki proposed a compromise whereby 12 seats (four from each of the ethnic groups) were elected on communal roll, 18 were elected from cross-voting seats ( 6 Fijians, 6 Indians, 3 Europeans and one each from Chinese
Chinese in Fiji
The Chinese diaspora in Fiji consists a small, but influential, community in the multiracial society that makes up modern day Fiji. In the early 2000s their numbers were estimated at around 6,000, or a little over half of one percent of Fiji's population. The most recent estimation puts the...
, Rotuman
Rotuman
Rotuman may refer to:*anything related with the island Rotuma*Rotuman people*Rotuman language...
s and Pacific Islanders, and the remaining 6 seats were to be elected on a common roll. Neither Deoki’s compromise nor Federation’s common roll was accepted, and instead the Conference decided on 25 communal seats (9 Fijians, 9 Indians and 7 Europeans), 9 cross-voting seats (three for each ethnic group) and two Fijians nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
. When the constitutional framework for Fiji was debated in the Legislative Council in December 1965, Deoki voted with the four Federation members against the new constitution.
Member of Senate and Attorney General
In the 1972 elections he stood for a National seat as an independent candidate and barely managed 10% of the votes. In 1979, after the resignation of Vijay R. Singh, he was nominated to the Senate by RatuRatu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Kamisese Mara
Kamisese Mara
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992...
and appointed Attorney General, a position he held until 1981.