Ajay Singh died at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, near Delhi, on June 9th after a short illness. He was 69 years old.
Fiji was in his blood and Fijians had a very special place in his heart.
His great grandfather, Ram Chandar had come to Fiji with his wife as indentured labourers in 1885.
They were assigned to Chalmer’s Estate in Penang where their son, Bere Singh was born. Bere Singh, had his early education at the Marist Brothers’ Primary School in Suva where his parents worked as jail wardens after the expiry of their indenture.
After over a decade in Fiji, the family returned to Agra so that Bere could continue his education. He was recruited into the Fiji Civil Service in 1909 and worked in various capacities for about 17 years during which time, he formed lasting friendships, which continued and grew during the subsequent generations.
These bonds were so strong that Bere Singh’s son, Bhagwan Singh, an ex-army officer and a very senior Indian Civil Servant sought a preretirement diplomatic posting to Fiji. The then Indian Prime Minister, ndra Gandhi appointed him as the first Indian High Commissioner to independent Fiji in 1971.
Mr Singh resided in India House in Tamavua, Suva during his six-year term in Fiji.
His son Ajay while working as a journalist for The Fiji Times proposed to his future wife Shiromani in the lounge room at India House not realising that he and Shiro would occupy the residence some 30 years later when President Abdul Kalam would send Ajay to Fiji in 2005 as Indian High Commissioner.
Ajay Singh’s deep and long-standing association with Fiji spanning four generations together with his background in journalism, politics and diplomacy were some of the reasons for him being appointed as the Indian envoy during a crucial time in our history.
Ajay was able to use his experience and significant networks in India, Fiji and New Zealand to build bridges both nationally among the races and internationally among countries to help restore confidence and assist Fiji in the path to normalcy after a very difficult period.
During his father’s tenure as India’s envoy to Fiji, India House in Princes Rd, Tamavua became a regular meeting ground for prominent Fijians of all races.
Bhagwan Singh travelled widely throughout Fiji and the Pacific.
He was respected and popular.
He was also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Fiji. At the conclusion of his period as High Commissioner, his services to Fiji were appreciated throughout the country by people from all works of life.The Great Council of Chiefs honoured him with the presentation of a tabua.
He was also given a farewell by the Fiji Military Forces. On his return to Delhi Mr Bhagwan Singh named his house in Vasant Vihar, ‘Tamavua’, a friendly welcoming place for Fijians feeling homesick or wanting a ‘talanoa’.
So, young Ajay had a wonderful apprenticeship for his future crucial role.
Ajay Singh was destined for his future roles in life. He attended the prestigious St Stephen’s College in Delhi and Delhi University where he was a champion swimmer and captained the University swimming and water polo teams.
Naturally friendly, outgoing, open, generous and gregarious he made friends easily and many of them remained friends till his end.
While his father was in Fiji, Ajay worked as a teacher for a year at Jai Narayan College then known as Indian High School.
Subsequently, he studied journalism in New Zealand and worked for a period with Television One in Wellington. On his return to Fiji, he worked as a sub editor for the Fiji Times.
He continued with journalism in Delhi working for the prestigious Times of India. Subsequently, he joined politics first being a member of the Legislative Assembly and then was elected to the Indian Parliament from his hereditary constituency, Agra.
The Singhs belong to the Jat clan from a small village outside Fatehpur Sikri, which is about an hour’s drive from the famous Taj Mahal.Soon after his election to the Indian Parliament during the Prime Ministership of Mr V.P. Singh in 1990, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Railways.
Because of the fickleness of politics, this was a short appointment lasting for about 6 months.
After retiring from politics, Ajay Singh took on several significant roles in civic society especially with the Jat community, being recognised as their leader.
Like his father Mr Bhagwan Singh, Ajay was recognised in India as a Fiji specialist. In this role, he was often asked for advice after the military coup in 1987. His deep understanding of Fiji and being in tune with the aspirations, fears and challenges of the different communities added to the value of his advice.
Additionally, the trust he had built with key leaders, his political acumen, his wide-ranging network built over 4 generations and his marriage to a Fiji citizen placed him in a unique position of influence. Indeed he understood India, Fiji, politics and diplomacy.
Ajay was very active in assisting with critical advice at a crucial time of instability in Fiji when the country was isolated and the citizens increasingly vulnerable and insecure. He argued strongly for a measured stance by the Indian Government at the Commonwealth Heads meetings.
He was a strong advocate for India and the other Commonwealth countries restoring diplomatic ties with Fiji.
On his appointment as the Indian High Commissioner in 2005 his deep commitment to Fiji, and its prosperity led him to intensify his efforts.
In these efforts, he had a champion advocate in his wife, Shiromani who also had a wide network in Fiji in her own right as the daughter of a prominent Fiji businessman and philanthropist, Shiridhar Maharaj.
His Excellency Ajay Singh played a decisive role in assisting the sugar industry by ongoing support for major infrastructure upgrades at three major sugar mills.
The sugar mill infrastructure needed major repairs and refurbishment. This work had started some years before but needed sustaining.
He facilitated the establishment of collaborative networks in health between India and Fiji. This has resulted in ongoing improved accessibility to key health care for the people of Fiji when not locally available.
The health of the Fijian people had been impacted by non-communicable diseases and their complications such as coronary heart disease, renal failure and cancers.
Treatment for these was limited in Fiji. The establishment of these networks and their development achieved affordable care in state of the art hospitals in India.
Mr Singh worked to improve educational opportunities for Fijians in India by appointing a Senior Academic to the High Commission. This appointment assisted students in making informed choices about the most appropriate training.
His Excellency was instrumental in the inauguration of the Fiji High Commission in New Delhi and organising the Fijian Prime Minister’s trip to India for its opening. This initiative has built on the past record of collaborations and bilateral understandings, increasing economic, social and cultural benefits.
Ajay Singh became a natural mentor for several individuals who now hold senior positions in Fiji & abroad.
Informally, the Singh households, both in Fiji and Delhi have been a place where several generations of Fijians have had the opportunity to interact and learn from a family with a four-generation connection with Fiji, which goes back to 1885.
His great grandfather, Ram Chandar after serving his Girmit, was appointed a jail warden at the Korovou Goal. His grandfather, Bere Singh worked as a civil servant in Fiji for 17 years.
His father, Bhagwan Singh was the first Indian High Commissioner to a newly independent Fiji. Ajay, the fourth generation, worked in Fiji as a teacher, a journalist and got married to a Fijian national.
He then, like his father, over 30 years before him served Fiji as India’s High Commissioner. His love for Fiji and its people has deep roots and his commitment to serve Fiji’s interests has been sustained, strategic and invaluable.
The Singh story is unique and likely to remain so in the annals of Fiji.
Sadly, Ajay lost his wife Shiro over 2 years ago after her battle with cancer. He was a devoted husband and friend and missed her dearly. He is now reunited with his life’s love.
- Prof Rajat Gyaneshwar is a long-time family friend. The views and opinions ecpressed are his and not necessarily of this newspaper.
