B.D. Lakshman
Encyclopedia
Brahma Dass Lakshman was an Indo-Fijian politician, union leader and businessman, who had a considerable influence on Fiji
’s sugar industry.
with a B.A. degree. In India
, he was reputed to have taken part in the independence struggle with Gandhi. On his return to Fiji he started teaching at Gurukul Primary School
in Saweni, Lautoka
. In 1939, after some differences with the school committee he left the school and moved into Lautoka town and opened a night school where he taught adult men.
and offered his services to the sugar cane farmers’ union. He worked closely with the Kisan Sangh leadership, and when he expressed a desire to contest the 1940 Legislative Council
election, he had no problem in obtaining endorsement from the Kisan Sangh, as the sitting member, Chattur Singh
, had lost its confidence. B.D. Lakshman was also articulate and well educated. He stood for the North West Indian Division against Sadanand Maharaj, also a member of the Kisan Sangh, and won easily.
and in numerous discussions with the Government. He was also a key advisor to Ayodhya Prasad
during the 1943 cane strike as the Kisan Sangh and Maha Sangh
vied to support from the farmers. When the Kisan Sangh split into left and right wings he allied himself with the right wing led by Ayodhya Prasad but had secret meetings with members of the left wing. The badly split Kisan Sangh could not help him retain his seat in the 1944 Legislative Council election, when the candidate supported by the left wing of the Kisan Sangh and Maha Sangh, A.D. Patel
easily defeated B.D. Lakshamn by 1841 votes to 554.
In 1953, differences arose between Ayodhya Prasad and B.D. Lakshman, who was now the Vice President of the Kisan Sangh, regarding payment to the Fijian
landowners to obtain land to construct a building for the Kisan Sangh. Lakshman was expelled from the Kisan Sangh and subsequently involved himself with organising the sugar mill workers.
After the departure of Sidiq Koya
from the Central Committee of the Kisan Sangh, Muslim supporters of the Kisan Sangh were alienated, and in the 1959 Legislative Council election supported B.D. Lakshamn to defeat Ayodhya Prasad and regain his old seat. He held his Legislative Council seat until the next election in 1963. He put up his name for a number of other elections but did not launch a serious campaign and remained out of politics for most of the rest of his life.
and was responsible for the gold mine workers strike of June 1955.
In the negotiations for the 1960 cane contract B.D. Lakshman represented the mill workers
Fiji
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...
’s sugar industry.
Education and teaching career
B.D. Lakshman graduated from Banaras Hindu UniversityBanaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
with a B.A. degree. In 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...
, he was reputed to have taken part in the independence struggle with Gandhi. On his return to Fiji he started teaching at Gurukul Primary School
Gurkul Primary School (Fiji)
Gurkul Primary School was the first substantive school for Fiji Indians established in Fiji in 1918. Its establishment, coincided with the formation of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, the Arya Samaj organisation that manages the school...
in Saweni, Lautoka
Lautoka
Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar...
. In 1939, after some differences with the school committee he left the school and moved into Lautoka town and opened a night school where he taught adult men.
First election to Legislative Council
While in Lautoka he met leaders of the Kisan SanghKisan 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...
and offered his services to the sugar cane farmers’ union. He worked closely with the Kisan Sangh leadership, and when he expressed a desire to contest the 1940 Legislative Council
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:...
election, he had no problem in obtaining endorsement from the Kisan Sangh, as the sitting member, Chattur Singh
Chattur Singh
Chandersen Chattur Singh caused a major sensation in early Fiji Indian politics, when against all odds he defeated A.D. Patel, a well known lawyer and political ally of Vishnu Deo, in the 1937 Legislative Council Election.- Early Political Activities :...
, had lost its confidence. B.D. Lakshman was also articulate and well educated. He stood for the North West Indian Division against Sadanand Maharaj, also a member of the Kisan Sangh, and won easily.
Member of Kisan Sangh
Form 1940 to 1943, B.D. Lakshman represented the Kisan Sangh in negotiations with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji)Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji)
The Colonial Sugar Refining Company began operations in Fiji in 1880 and until it ceased operations in 1973, had a considerable influence on the political and economic life of Fiji. Prior to its expansion to Fiji, the CSR was operating Sugar Refineries in Melbourne and Auckland...
and in numerous discussions with the Government. He was also a key advisor to Ayodhya Prasad
Ayodhya Prasad
Ayodhya Prasad Sharma was an Indo-Fijian farmers’ leader and politician, who formed the most successful farmers’ union in Fiji and forced the Colonial Sugar Refining Company to make concessions to farmers after 60 years of complete control over Fiji’s economy...
during the 1943 cane strike as the Kisan Sangh and Maha Sangh
Maha Sangh
Akhil Fiji Krishak Maha Sangh was a sugar cane farmers' union formed on 15 June 1941 in opposition to the existing union, the Kisan Sangh. Supporters of Kisan Sangh tried to stop the formation of the Maha Sangh but were unsuccessful. The people responsible for the formation of a second sugar cane...
vied to support from the farmers. When the Kisan Sangh split into left and right wings he allied himself with the right wing led by Ayodhya Prasad but had secret meetings with members of the left wing. The badly split Kisan Sangh could not help him retain his seat in the 1944 Legislative Council election, when the candidate supported by the left wing of the Kisan Sangh and Maha Sangh, A.D. Patel
A.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...
easily defeated B.D. Lakshamn by 1841 votes to 554.
In 1953, differences arose between Ayodhya Prasad and B.D. Lakshman, who was now the Vice President of the Kisan Sangh, regarding payment to the 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...
landowners to obtain land to construct a building for the Kisan Sangh. Lakshman was expelled from the Kisan Sangh and subsequently involved himself with organising the sugar mill workers.
Second election win
In the 1956 Legislative Council election, B.D. Lakshman stood against Ayodhya Prasad but managed to get a mere 109 votes. His fortunes improved, when in 1958 he was elected into the Lautoka Town Council with the support of the local ratepayers association.After the departure of Sidiq Koya
Sidiq 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...
from the Central Committee of the Kisan Sangh, Muslim supporters of the Kisan Sangh were alienated, and in the 1959 Legislative Council election supported B.D. Lakshamn to defeat Ayodhya Prasad and regain his old seat. He held his Legislative Council seat until the next election in 1963. He put up his name for a number of other elections but did not launch a serious campaign and remained out of politics for most of the rest of his life.
Trade unionist
Lakshman became the President of the Fiji Industrial Workers Congress following the death of Ami ChandraAmi Chandra
Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar came to Fiji, from India in 1927 at the behest of the Arya Samaj, which wanted to improve the education standard of Fiji Indian students and promote Arya Samaj in Fiji. He led a busy life in Fiji, being an educationist, Arya Samaj preacher, labour leader, football...
and was responsible for the gold mine workers strike of June 1955.
In the negotiations for the 1960 cane contract B.D. Lakshman represented the mill workers