Fiji will always be the motherland of Fijians of Indian descent in the country, says National Federation Party leader Prof Biman Prasad.
He made the comment while paying tribute to those who had travelled from India 142 years ago to work in the cane fields in Fiji.
Prof Prasad said their blood, sweat and tears, as well as co-operation with indigenous Fijians and other minority races, made Fiji the Pacific hub it was today.
He said most of the girmitiya opted to stay back in Fiji after completion of their indenture and they and future generations made Fiji their only home.
“Of course migration, exacerbated by the military coups and political upheavals starting from May 14, 1987 to 5th December, 2006, have seen an exodus of Indo-Fijians, particularly to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States,” he said.
“But the Indo-Fijian diaspora in these nations is as traditionally and culturally vibrant as Fiji. “Simply, they can be away from Fiji, but Fiji can never be taken away from them.”
Prof Prasad said the contribution of the girmitiya to the social, economic and political advancement of Fiji was historical and immeasurable.
He said this was notably in the development of the sugar industry into the economic backbone of the country for more than 100 years, and the transition of Fiji from 96 years of colonial rule to independence in 1970.
On May 14, 1879, the first indentured labourers numbering 463 arrived from India onboard the ship Leonidas.
In total, 60,553 girmitiya were brought between May 14, 1879, and November 11, 1916, by the British government to work on sugarcane plantations.
