The Girmitiya history is not only a history of Indo-Fijians, it’s a history of Fiji – it is the history of our people.
This was the message by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad during the Brahman Diwas celebration organised by the Shree Sanatan Dharm Purohit Brahman Maha Sabha Fiji in Nasinu yesterday.
Prof Biman said the under the leadership of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Government would work towards uniting the country and promoting the philosophy of working together.
“The coalition government or the people’s government is an inclusive government that is going to unite the country and recognise that Fiji is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country,” Prof Biman said.
“We’ve heard the history of this country — our people have always lived together despite the challenges, despite the difficulties and we, with the Government, are here to promote the philosophy of working together.”
Prof Biman added as part of the Government’s commitment to bringing together the country, they have announced a national holiday to commemorate more than 140 years of girmit history in Fiji.
“And so today I passed the message to the organisation that we would like to work with the organisations which were formed as part of the legacy of our Girmityas to come together and everybody else.”
National president Amar Nath Maharaj deemed the day as a “historical celebration” in the Hindu community.
He said the purpose of the celebration was to unite the two Hindu religious groups: Shree Sanatan Purohit Brahman Maha Sabha Fiji and the Shree Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha Fiji.
“We are trying to come together to stand under one roof, so that was the main point of view for me as the president of this organisation,” he said.
Mr Maharaj said after a lapse of 49 years, the Shree Sanatan Dharm Purohit Brahman Maha Sabha Fiji was finally united.
He also lauded government’s plans to include a national holiday to honour the descendants of girmitiyas.
