Sikhism in Fiji
Encyclopedia
Unlike the majority of Fiji
's India
n population, who are descendants of Indian indenture
d labourers brought to Fiji between 1879 and 1916, most of the Sikh
s came to Fiji as free immigrants. Most Sikhs established themselves as farmers. Sikhs also came to Fiji as policemen, teachers and preachers. In recent years large numbers of Sikhs have emigrated from Fiji, especially to the United States
. Sikhs in Fiji are generally referred to as Punjabi
s.
Although no religious breakdown of these Punjabi migrants is available, because of the enterprising nature of the Sikh people a large proportion of these would have been Sikhs.
, in 1904, on the understanding that high wages were paid there. After finding working conditions unacceptable in the French
colony, the seventy came to Fiji where some found temporary employment but most soon left for India dissatisfied at the low wages paid in Fiji. From 1905, when the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand
began a regular service from Calcutta to Fiji, there was a regular flow of Sikhs and people from Punjab also known as the Ravidass community to Fiji. Some came to Fiji to make it easier for them to enter North America, Australia
, New Zealand
and even Argentina
.
The early Sikh and the Ravidass community migrants were mainly from the Jullundur and Hoshiapur
districts, although some also came from Ludhiana, Amritsar
, Ferozepore, Lahore
, Ambala
and Rohtak
districts of Punjab
. They were all young and mostly younger sons. They came with few women and those who stayed in Fiji married Hindu women and became prosperous farmers and some of them went back to Punjab to get married within their caste and culture and brought their wives to Fiji and started their family. Majority of the people maintained close ties with their families in the Punjab and remitted money back to their families.
and Shanghai
. C. F. Andrews and W. W. Pearson, in their report on Indian indentured labour in Fiji, in February 1916, expressed high regard for the Indian Police Force in Suva
made up of Sikhs. They noted that unlike India these policemen did not take bribe. They wrote that:
Walter Gill, who served as an overseer for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company
in Lautoka
during the final years of indenture has also written about significant numbers of Sikhs employed in the Western Division of Fiji
to police the Indian population.
) in 1922 to provide for the needs of new Sikh migrants. Once Tamavua and Nasinu
areas (near Suva) had a large concentration of Sikhs and in 1943 First Shree Guru Ravidass Gurudwara was established in Nasinu 6 miles.The founding fathers of this Guru Ravidass Gurudwara (a.k.a) AD-Punjab Association came from Punjab India in early 1900s. Registered trustee's are Mr. Lachhu Ram a.k.a. Lachhu Sheemar (f/n) Khema Ram, Mr. Rakha Ram (f/n)Phila Ram, Mr. Bakshi Ram (f/n) Melu Ram, Mr. Khushi Ram (f/n) Atchu Ram, Mr. Mehnga Ram (f/n) Nathu Ram. Most Sikhs from the settlements around Suva have emigrated to the United States
and Canada and some have moved to the Western Division
to undertake cane farming. There is a concentration of Sikh cane farmers in Mataniqara and Tagitagi which lie between Ba
and Tavua and to cater for their needs, a temple was built in Tagitagi. There is another temple in Lautoka City
, built to cater for the needs of the Sikhs in the Sabeto Valley, but many of these have either left for overseas or moved into the naighbouring settlement of Vutualevu. There is only one temple outside the main island of Viti Levu
and it is located in the town of Labasa
in the second largest island of Vanua Levu
. All the temples in Fiji, except the one in Nasinu, are controlled by temple committees and funded by donations from the local Sikh community. The Ravidass Gurudwara also known as Nasinu Gurudwara is funded by the followers of the Ravidass community in Fiji.
Ad Dharm movement, the glorious Dalit movement that not only envisaged an egalitarian social set-up but also struggled hard for the same, was founded formely on June 11–12, 1926 in village Muggowal near Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur) under the dynamic leadership of Babu Mangoo Ram, a famous Gadhrite. Sarva-shri Basant Rai, Thakur Dass and Shudranand were the equally powerful other lieutenants of the Ad Dharm movement. However, when it comes to the brass stack, it was Babu Mangoo Ram who emerged as the leading star of the movement.
He said our Gurus are Guru Nam Dev, Guru Ravidass, Guru Kabir, Guru Valmiki and all other Dalits saints. Thus Ad Dharm movement has very early shown the vision for the establishment of a separate Dalit identity based on distinct Dalit native religion: Ad Dharm
in 1958 to provide instruction in the Gurmukhi Language to Sikh pupils. It is at present a multi-racial and co-educational institution open to students of all communities. In 1972, out of a total roll of 491 students, only 124 were Sikhs. The Guru Nanak Khalsa Parimary School was also built at the same site in Ba. A small school, the Naduri Bay Khalsa Primary School, was built near Sigatoka
to provide for the needs of the small Sikh community in the area. The Guru Nanak Khalsa Primary School opened in Labasa
in 1970 with a roll of 47 students.
- Phuman Singh - Served in WW1 and survived. Wound up in Suva, Fiji and was appointed Justice of the Peace and prominent member of the Suva Gurdwara.
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 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 population, who are descendants of Indian indenture
Indenture
An indenture is a legal contract reflecting a debt or purchase obligation, specifically referring to two types of practices: in historical usage, an indentured servant status, and in modern usage, an instrument used for commercial debt or real estate transaction.-Historical usage:An indenture is a...
d labourers brought to Fiji between 1879 and 1916, most of the 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"...
s came to Fiji as free immigrants. Most Sikhs established themselves as farmers. Sikhs also came to Fiji as policemen, teachers and preachers. In recent years large numbers of Sikhs have emigrated from Fiji, especially to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Sikhs in Fiji are generally referred to as Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
s.
Arrival under indenture system
Recruitment of indentured labour for Fiji did not take place in the Punjab (the home of the Sikh and Punjabi Hindu people) but some people who stated their home province as being Punjab were recruited from other parts of India and boarded ships to Fiji from Calcutta. Between 1879 and 1900, out of the 21,368 emigrants from Calcutta, only 369 were from Punjab.Although no religious breakdown of these Punjabi migrants is available, because of the enterprising nature of the Sikh people a large proportion of these would have been Sikhs.
Arrival as free migrants
The first Sikh free migrants came to Fiji as part of the group of seventy Punjabis who were lured into coming to New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, in 1904, on the understanding that high wages were paid there. After finding working conditions unacceptable in the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
colony, the seventy came to Fiji where some found temporary employment but most soon left for India dissatisfied at the low wages paid in Fiji. From 1905, when the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
began a regular service from Calcutta to Fiji, there was a regular flow of Sikhs and people from Punjab also known as the Ravidass community to Fiji. Some came to Fiji to make it easier for them to enter North America, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and even Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
The early Sikh and the Ravidass community migrants were mainly from the Jullundur and Hoshiapur
Hoshiarpur District
Hoshiarpur District , is a district of Punjab state in northern India.In 2011, Hoshiarpur had population of 1,582,793 of which male and female were 806,921 and 775,872 respectively. There was change of 6.85 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001...
districts, although some also came from Ludhiana, Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, Ferozepore, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Ambala
Ambala
Ambala is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India, located on the border of the states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically; Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt and Ambala City, approximately 3 kilometers apart from each other...
and Rohtak
Rohtak
Rohtak City is a Municipal Corporation in Rohtak district that styles itself as the "Heart of Haryana". It is located 70 km Northwest of New Delhi and 210 km South of the state capital Chandigarh at the NH 10...
districts of Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
. They were all young and mostly younger sons. They came with few women and those who stayed in Fiji married Hindu women and became prosperous farmers and some of them went back to Punjab to get married within their caste and culture and brought their wives to Fiji and started their family. Majority of the people maintained close ties with their families in the Punjab and remitted money back to their families.
Arrival as policemen
From 1900 Sikh policemen were brought to Fiji from Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. C. F. Andrews and W. W. Pearson, in their report on Indian indentured labour in Fiji, in February 1916, expressed high regard for the Indian Police Force in 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,...
made up of Sikhs. They noted that unlike India these policemen did not take bribe. They wrote that:
We found an extremely well-conducted Indian Police Force in Suva. These Indians, who were Sikhs, were paid a good monthly wage, and expressed themselves, on the whole, contented with their position. They had come out under an agreement, but there was nothing about it that was servile. Their passage was quite different from that of the ordinary coolies.... They were treated well by their senior officers, who spoke highly of their men.
Walter Gill, who served as an overseer for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company
Colonial Sugar Refining Company
The Colonial Sugar Refining Company may refer to:*CSR Limited - Australian company*Colonial Sugar Refining Company - the sugar plantations in Fiji*Chelsea Sugar Refinery - the New Zealand company formed by Colonial Sugar...
in 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...
during the final years of indenture has also written about significant numbers of Sikhs employed in the Western Division of Fiji
Western Division, Fiji
The Western Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. It consists of the three provinces Ba, Nadroga-Navosa and Ra.The capital of the division is Lautoka. The division includes the western part of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu, with a few outlying islands, including the Yasawa...
to police the Indian population.
Sikh Temples in Fiji
Sikh temples have in established in areas of Fiji where there is a concentration Sikhs. These temples do not only serve as places of worship but as a place where the food and shelter were provided for the needy. The first Sikh temple in Fiji was built in Samabula (near SuvaSuva
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,...
) in 1922 to provide for the needs of new Sikh migrants. Once Tamavua and Nasinu
Nasinu
Nasinu is an urban area on the island Viti Levu in Fiji. It is officially designated a "Town" despite its population . Nasinu is the most populous municipality in Fiji, having overtaken that of Suva , and is one of Fiji's fastest-growing towns...
areas (near Suva) had a large concentration of Sikhs and in 1943 First Shree Guru Ravidass Gurudwara was established in Nasinu 6 miles.The founding fathers of this Guru Ravidass Gurudwara (a.k.a) AD-Punjab Association came from Punjab India in early 1900s. Registered trustee's are Mr. Lachhu Ram a.k.a. Lachhu Sheemar (f/n) Khema Ram, Mr. Rakha Ram (f/n)Phila Ram, Mr. Bakshi Ram (f/n) Melu Ram, Mr. Khushi Ram (f/n) Atchu Ram, Mr. Mehnga Ram (f/n) Nathu Ram. Most Sikhs from the settlements around Suva have emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada and some have moved to the Western Division
Western Division, Fiji
The Western Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. It consists of the three provinces Ba, Nadroga-Navosa and Ra.The capital of the division is Lautoka. The division includes the western part of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu, with a few outlying islands, including the Yasawa...
to undertake cane farming. There is a concentration of Sikh cane farmers in Mataniqara and Tagitagi which lie between Ba
Ba (town)
Ba is a town in Fiji, 37 kilometres from Lautoka and 62 kilometres from Nadi, inland from the coast of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island. Covering an area of 327 square kilometres, it had a population of 14,596 at the 1996 census. The town is built on the banks of the Ba River, after which it is...
and Tavua and to cater for their needs, a temple was built in Tagitagi. There is another temple in Lautoka City
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...
, built to cater for the needs of the Sikhs in the Sabeto Valley, but many of these have either left for overseas or moved into the naighbouring settlement of Vutualevu. There is only one temple outside the main island of Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
and it is located in the town of Labasa
Labasa
Labasa is a town in Fiji with a population of 27,949 at the most recent census held in 2007.Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, and is the largest town on the island. The town itself is located on a delta formed by three rivers - the...
in the second largest island of Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
. All the temples in Fiji, except the one in Nasinu, are controlled by temple committees and funded by donations from the local Sikh community. The Ravidass Gurudwara also known as Nasinu Gurudwara is funded by the followers of the Ravidass community in Fiji.
AD - Punjab Association a.k.a "Shri Guru Ravidass Gurudwara" ( Nasinu Gurudwara )
Shri Guru Ravidass Gurudwara in Nasinu was the first Guru Ravidass Gurudwara out of Punjab India. In 1943 First Shree Guru Ravidass Gurudwara was established in Nasinu 6 miles.The founding fathers of this Guru Ravidass Gurudwara (a.k.a) AD-Punjab Association came from Punjab India in early 1900s. Current Trustee for this Gurudwara are Mr. Lachhu Ram a.k.a. Lachhu Sheemar (f/n) Khema Ram, Mr. Rakha Ram (f/n)Phila Ram, Mr. Bakshi Ram (f/n) Melu Ram, Mr. Khushi Ram (f/n) Atchu Ram, Mr. Mehnga Ram (f/n) Nathu Ram. Shri Guru Ravidass ji was born in the 14th century (1377 most of the scholars says ) at kanshi (Vanaras), Uttar Pradesh in India, in a humble family of Baba Santokh Dass ji being as father and Mata Kalsa Devi ji as mother.Ad-dharmi
Ad Dharm is a name of the indigenous religion of the Dalits of the region who are the natives of this land ( India ). The invading Aryans subjugated them and established their rule over the natives. They see to it that the culture and religion of the natives had to be wiped out fully so that they could not stage a revolt. Mangoo Ram thought it appropriate to relocate the lost native religion in order to re-establish sovereign Dalit Raj once again. He named his movement deliberately after the name of the religion of the natives: Ad Dharm. Thus Ad Dharm is both 'Religion' as well as 'Movement'Ad Dharm movement, the glorious Dalit movement that not only envisaged an egalitarian social set-up but also struggled hard for the same, was founded formely on June 11–12, 1926 in village Muggowal near Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur) under the dynamic leadership of Babu Mangoo Ram, a famous Gadhrite. Sarva-shri Basant Rai, Thakur Dass and Shudranand were the equally powerful other lieutenants of the Ad Dharm movement. However, when it comes to the brass stack, it was Babu Mangoo Ram who emerged as the leading star of the movement.
He said our Gurus are Guru Nam Dev, Guru Ravidass, Guru Kabir, Guru Valmiki and all other Dalits saints. Thus Ad Dharm movement has very early shown the vision for the establishment of a separate Dalit identity based on distinct Dalit native religion: Ad Dharm
Sikh Schools in Fiji
The first schools built by Sikhs in Fiji was the Khalsa High School in Ba District, FijiBa District, Fiji
Ba is a district situation on the North Western part of the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. The name Ba is also used for a province, a tikina , a town and a river. Ba district comprises the areas surrounding Ba Town and includes the Fijian administrative tikinas of Ba and Magodro. Ba district is in...
in 1958 to provide instruction in the Gurmukhi Language to Sikh pupils. It is at present a multi-racial and co-educational institution open to students of all communities. In 1972, out of a total roll of 491 students, only 124 were Sikhs. The Guru Nanak Khalsa Parimary School was also built at the same site in Ba. A small school, the Naduri Bay Khalsa Primary School, was built near Sigatoka
Sigatoka
For the banana disease, see Black sigatoka.Sigatoka is a town in Fiji. It is found on the island of Viti Levu and is situated at the mouth of the Sigatoka River, after which it is named, some 69 kilometers from Nadi. In Fiji's last census the population of Sigatoka was at 9622...
to provide for the needs of the small Sikh community in the area. The Guru Nanak Khalsa Primary School opened in Labasa
Labasa
Labasa is a town in Fiji with a population of 27,949 at the most recent census held in 2007.Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, and is the largest town on the island. The town itself is located on a delta formed by three rivers - the...
in 1970 with a roll of 47 students.
Famous Sikhs in Fiji
- Bhai Gyan Singh Sangha was the first Sikh priest in Fiji. He was known for his work in religion. Singing the sacred hymns of Guru Granth Shabib and Sewa (helping people in need) He shared his knowledge and spread the words of Sikhism and Sikh Guru's philosophy to others. He and his wife Pritam Kaur Sangha were very devoted in the Sikh community. Many Sikhs left India, but many Sikhs forgot their culture and religion behind. Thanks to this unique man and his devoted wife, Sikhs in Fiji still remember their faith and culture.
- Mehar SinghMehar SinghPadri Mehar Singh was one of the founding members of Fiji's Kisan Sangh when it was established in 1937. He remained a prominent member of the union until 1943, when he and Ramcharan Singh led a faction that supported the strike instigated by the rival union, Maha Sangh, led by A.D. Patel...
(a.k.a Padri Mehar Singh) was the first president of the first effective cane farmers union in Fiji, the Kisan SanghKisan SanghKisan 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...
. He was the President from 1937 to 1944 when, due to disagreement with the Secretary of the union, Ayodhya PrasadAyodhya PrasadAyodhya 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...
, he left the union and formed a rival union known as the Vishal SanghVishal SanghVishal Sangh was a cane farmers union established in Fiji on 1 September 1946, by mainly Sikh farmers, who refused to re-join the Kisan Sangh after its reunification following the split of the Kisan Sangh into two factions in 1943...
. His new union had a small support base (mainly Sikh) and had to align itself with the more powerful union, Maha SanghMaha SanghAkhil 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...
, formed by A. D. Patel in 1941, for survival. - Ujagar SinghUjagar SinghUjagar Singh was a Fiji Indian politician who was elected to the Legislative Council in the 1968 by-election from the Nasinu Indian Communal Constituency....
was elected to the Legislative Council of FijiLegislative 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 the 1968 by-electionFijian by-elections, 1968After the 1966 election, Fiji adopted a Ministerial type of Government with Ratu Kamisese Mara, of the Alliance Party, as Chief Minister and A.D. Patel, of the Federation Party, as Leader of the Opposition...
from the Nasinu Indian Communal Constituency, representing the National Federation PartyNational 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...
(NFP). He was also a member of independent Fiji's House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives (Fiji)The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
. His strong support for the then leader of the NFP, Sidiq KoyaSidiq KoyaSiddiq 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...
, led to his political demise when the NFP split into two two factions in 1977. - Sarvan Singh was member of the House of Representatives of Fiji, representing Labasa for the National Federation Party from 1972 to 1982. He was a supporter of Jai Ram ReddyJai Ram ReddyJai Ram Reddy is an Indo-Fijian statesman, who has had a distinguished career in both the legislative and judicial branches of the Fijian government...
for the leadership of the NFP. - Kuar Battan Singh was member of the Senate of FijiSenate (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...
from 1970 to 1977. He was a businessman based in Nausori. During his younger days he was a soccer player and was a member of the 1955 Interdistrict soccer tournamentInter-District Championship (Fiji)The Inter-District Championship is the most important event in the Fiji Football Association calendar. Teams representing various football playing districts of Fiji have taken part in this annual event every year, except 1987 due to disruptions caused by military coups, since the formation of the...
winning Rewa teamRewa F.C.Rewa FC is a Fijian football team playing at the top level. It is based in Nausori. Their home stadium is Vodafone Ratu Cakobau Park.- History :...
. He died in an air crash in July 1999. - Pardeep Singh Rakkar was a Medical, Acupuncturist and a HerbalistHerbalistAn herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....
practitioner in Ba, Fiji during mid-1990s. He was a brilliant student from Khalsa College, Wailailai, Ba (1977 to 1981). Pardeep was born in Korovou, Tailevu, Fiji but lived at Mataniqara, BaBa District, FijiBa is a district situation on the North Western part of the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. The name Ba is also used for a province, a tikina , a town and a river. Ba district comprises the areas surrounding Ba Town and includes the Fijian administrative tikinas of Ba and Magodro. Ba district is in...
, Fiji. Pardeep has a pleasant personality and served generousily to many poor farmers of Ba district. He also provided free service to many of his former patients who were in need. In the late 1980s, Pardeep also taught at a high school in LautokaLautokaLautoka 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...
. Pardeep now resides happily in Brisbane, Australia with his Khalsa College class mate and wife Sanita Devi Singh. - Jogindar Singh Kanwal has been a long serving Principal of Khalsa College in Ba, Fiji. He is proficient in EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, HindiHindiStandard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, UrduUrduUrdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and PunjabiPunjabi languagePunjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
. He has written a number of books in Hindi which include, Mera Desh Mere Log, Savera, Dharti Meri Mata and Karvatbut his best known book is a survey of the development of Hindi in Fiji, called A Hundred Years of Hindi in Fiji. He believed in the separation of the teaching of language from religion and with like minded people formed the Hindi Association of Fiji. - Gurmit Singh was an educationist in Fiji who served as a high school principal, an Education Officer, a curriculum development officer, principal of a teachers college and a lecturer at the University of the South PacificUniversity of the South PacificThe University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
.
- Phuman Singh - Served in WW1 and survived. Wound up in Suva, Fiji and was appointed Justice of the Peace and prominent member of the Suva Gurdwara.
Statistics
- According to the 1921 census, 449 of the 61,000 Indians were born in the Punjab.
- According to Fiji Labour Department statistics, between 1927 and 1930, 1,508 male but only 18 female Punjabi immigrants came to Fiji.
- According to the 1956 census, 468 out of a total of 25,848 Fiji Indian households stated Punjabi as the main language spoken
- According to the 1966 census, only 3,002 of the 240,960 Fiji Indians were of the Sikh faith and there were 175 households where Gurmukhi was spoken.
- According to the 1996 census, 3,076 individuals listed their religion as being Sikh. This represents 0.9% of the Fiji Indian population.
- According to the 2007 census, 2,577 individuals listed their religion as being Sikh. This represents 0.86% of the Fiji Indian population.