RACIAL identity is surely a non-issue for the iTaukei students of Ratu Emeri Catholic School in Bua as they sing the national anthem every morning in the Hindi language.
Tucked away in the interior of the Bua Province, far from the Fijian of Indian descent influences or settlements, the students believe multiculturalism is the way forward for Fiji.
The standard set by school management and teachers has won applause from the Indian High Commission.
Indian Cultural Centre director Doctor Kamal Mishra said the Bua situation was unique and unheard of.
"That is very good and has lifted our national spirit," he said.
"We are like a big melting pot and I salute the children of the school in Bua for setting the standard for all schools and the nation as a whole as we all need one another to push the country forward."
School headteacher Tomasi Kunau said he had encouraged the students during the beginning of the year to sing the national anthem in Hindi. "It is a norm to hear the national anthem sung either in the Fijian or the English language and hardly do we hear it sung in Hindi," said Mr Kunau.
"Ratu Emeri Catholic is sending out a message to the people out there that Fiji is for everybody regardless of the many races we have - the national anthem is ours to sing in any language of our major races."
Minister for Education Filipe Bole said the exercise was becoming common now with secondary schools singing the anthem in the three languages.
For any visitor to the school located in the district of Kubulau, hearing the iTaukei students sing in the Hindi language certainly creates challenges. Being a Catholic iTaukei-dominant school, visitors have been touched to hear the innocent echoes of the Hindi words being sung out with sincerity and patriotism.