Lata Wati says she is grateful her late grandfather came to Fiji because if were not for that decision, she would have been struggling in India.
Her grandfather, Dhani, was a first generation girmitiya who came to Fiji from Patna, India in 1907.
The 64-year-old and her elder sister, Vidya Wati, were among those who visited the Girmit Exhibition at Albert Park, Suva, yesterday.
Ms Wati said did not get a chance to see her grandfather who had passed on in 1947 before she was born.
“I have fond memories of him from stories relayed to me by my father Ranjit and an uncle,” she said.
“He was a strong and very religious person who loved playing the Punjab drum.”
Ms Wati said she was grateful her grandfather came to Fiji.
“If we had been in India we would have been struggling.
“We are still carrying on his culture from what we were taught.
“My grandmother was from Suva and they had eight children.
“They settled in Muanivatu, and stayed also at one mile, and from there they moved to Charles St in Toorak.”
Ms Wati thanked the Coalition Government for remembering the plight and contribution of the girmitya.
“We are proud that they have brought this public holiday and hope this continues.”
