Ram Narayan Deoki
Encyclopedia
Ram Narayan Deoki was the first Fiji Indian Methodist Church minister. He was an articulate preacher and exerted great influence on the Methodist Church in Fiji
.
but the decline in the sugar industry in the district forced him to move to Suva
, where he set up a grocery business. In 1918, S. N. Deoki, together with 20 other members of his family converted to Christian
ity.
to study with students much younger than him. He also studied biblical studies at the Methodist Home Mission College in Kew
, Melbourne
. In 1926, his name was put forward to be trained as a minister but there was opposition from Europe
an ministers who feared that he would have to be paid the same rates as themselves as there was no provision for an India
n miniter in a Church dominated in Fiji by Fijian
ministers. He worked for several years as a local preacher and teacher before being accepted on probation in 1934. He was finally ordained on 11 June 1939.
promoted the Missions schools. He was respected outside his church as well and served as District Commissioner for Boy Scouts
in every district where he ministered. He fought for Indian autonomy in the Methodist Church in Fiji, fearing that integration of the Fijian and Indian Churches would lead to Indians being swamped by numbers. He served as the President of the Indian division of the Church.
He was also a founding member of the Indian Reform League
, a social and sports organisation formed in 1924 to cater for the needs of Fiji Indians.
He died on 2 October 1964.
Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population at the 1996 census...
.
Family background
His father, Shiu Narayan Deoki, was initially a farmer in NavuaNavua District, Fiji
Navua District is located within Serua Province in the Central Division of Fiji. During colonial times it used to be a sugar growing area, but the closure of the sugar mill in Navua in 1923 led to a decline in economic activity in the district...
but the decline in the sugar industry in the district forced him to move to Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, where he set up a grocery business. In 1918, S. N. Deoki, together with 20 other members of his family converted to 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...
ity.
Education
At the age of twenty-one he was sent to Melbourne High SchoolMelbourne High School
Melbourne High School is a selective entry state school for boys in years 9 to 12 located in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra. Being a selective school, it is known mainly for its strong academic reputation...
to study with students much younger than him. He also studied biblical studies at the Methodist Home Mission College in Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. In 1926, his name was put forward to be trained as a minister but there was opposition from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an ministers who feared that he would have to be paid the same rates as themselves as there was no provision for an 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 miniter in a Church dominated in Fiji by 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...
ministers. He worked for several years as a local preacher and teacher before being accepted on probation in 1934. He was finally ordained on 11 June 1939.
His accomplishments
He was a minister for more than 20 years and as Secretary for Education in the SynodSynod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
promoted the Missions schools. He was respected outside his church as well and served as District Commissioner for Boy Scouts
Fiji Scouts Association
The Fiji Scouts Association, is the national Scouting organization of Fiji. Scouting in Fiji was founded in 1914, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1971. The Fiji Scouts Association has 3,926 members as of 2011.Scouts are involved in numerous community service...
in every district where he ministered. He fought for Indian autonomy in the Methodist Church in Fiji, fearing that integration of the Fijian and Indian Churches would lead to Indians being swamped by numbers. He served as the President of the Indian division of the Church.
He was also a founding member of the Indian Reform League
Indian Reform League (Fiji)
The Indian Reform League was formed in Fiji in 1924, following the refusal of the Suva Y.M.C.A. to admit Indians. Its founder was A.W. McMillan of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A and educated Indians and Government clerks and interpreters such as M. S. Buksh, S. S. Chowla, John F. Grant, Ilahi Ramzan, and...
, a social and sports organisation formed in 1924 to cater for the needs of Fiji Indians.
He died on 2 October 1964.