Hinduism in Fiji
Encyclopedia
Hinduism in Fiji has a following primarily among the Indo-Fijians. They are descendants of either indentured servants brought to Fiji
by the British
in 19th century, or descendants of immigrants who came to the island nation in the 1920s and 1930s. According to the Constitution of Fiji
, citizens of the country are Indo-Fijians if they can trace their ancestry to the Indian subcontinent
, but not necessarily India
.
(with the rest being Sikhs
, Muslims
, or Christians
). Therefore, about 30 percent of the population of Fiji is Hindu.
was held hostage by a group headed by George Speight
. They were demanding a segregated state exclusively for the native Fijians, thereby legally abolishing any rights the Hindu inhabitants have. Several dozen Hindu temples have been vandalized or destroyed by arson or looting.
The Methodist Church of Fiji called for the creation of a Christian State and endorsed forceful conversion of Hindus after a coup d'état in 1987.
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...
by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 19th century, or descendants of immigrants who came to the island nation in the 1920s and 1930s. According to the Constitution of Fiji
Constitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
, citizens of the country are Indo-Fijians if they can trace their ancestry to the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, but not necessarily 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...
.
Demographics
According to the Republic of the Fiji Islands' December 31, 2004 estimate, 38.1 percent of the population of Fiji is Indo-Fijian. Meanwhile, 76.7 percent of Indo-Fijians are HindusHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
(with the rest being Sikhs
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
, Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, or Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
). Therefore, about 30 percent of the population of Fiji is Hindu.
| Religion | Indigenous Fijian | Indo-Fijian | Others | TOTAL | ||||
| 393,575 | % | 338,818 | % | 42,684 | % | 775,077 | % | |
| Sanatan | 551 | 0.1 | 193,061 | 57.0 | 315 | 0.7 | 193,927 | 25.0 |
| Arya Samaj Arya Samaj (Fiji) The Arya Samaj was the first religious, cultural and educational Fiji Indian organisation established in Fiji. From its inception, in 1904, it attracted the young, educated and progressive Hindus into its fold... |
44 | 0.0 | 9,493 | 2.8 | 27 | 0.1 | 9,564 | 1.2 |
| Kabir Panthi | 43 | 0.0 | 73 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 118 | 0.0 |
| Satya Sai Baba | 7 | 0.0 | 52 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Other Hindu | 219 | 0.1 | 57,096 | 16.9 | 113 | 0.3 | 57,428 | 7.4 |
| All Hindus Hinduism Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions... |
864 | 0.2 | 259,775 | 76.7 | 458 | 1.1 | 261,097 | 33.7 |
Persecution
During the late 90's there were several riots against Hindus by radical elements in Fiji. In the spring of 2000, the democratically elected Fijian government led by Prime Minister Mahendra ChaudhryMahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
was held hostage by a group headed by George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
. They were demanding a segregated state exclusively for the native Fijians, thereby legally abolishing any rights the Hindu inhabitants have. Several dozen Hindu temples have been vandalized or destroyed by arson or looting.
The Methodist Church of Fiji called for the creation of a Christian State and endorsed forceful conversion of Hindus after a coup d'état in 1987.