Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has praised the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI) as a key force in Fiji’s development, as the organisation marked 100 years of community service at a national convention in Nadi.
Speaking at the centennial Annual General Convention at King Charles Park, PM Rabuka described the Sangam as a “cornerstone of national resilience and unity”, highlighting its long-standing role in education and social support.
“For 100 years, the Sangam has demonstrated that national resilience is built not by institutions alone, but by people who step forward in service,” he said, adding that its work reflected “everyday acts of care, responsibility, and shared duty” that sustain a united Fiji.
Founded in 1926, Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam has grown into one of the country’s largest community organisations, managing a network of schools and early childhood centres.
PM Rabuka said the group now operates 21 primary schools, five secondary schools, 18 early learning centres and a nursing college in Labasa, collectively serving more than 10,000 students.
He said the Sangam’s educational work had helped produce generations of skilled citizens and reinforced the enduring value of learning, describing education as “the one form of wealth that cannot be diminished”.
As part of the ceremony, PM Rabuka lit a symbolic flame marking the centenary, following a nationwide torch relay tied to the celebrations.
TISI president and Member of Parliament Praveen Kumar Bala said the flame represented both the organisation’s legacy and its future, while paying tribute to founder Sadhu Kuppuswamy and its origins in Nadi in 1926.
Adding to the tributes, Prof. Biman Prasad, leader of the National Federation Party (NFP), said it was an honour to attend the centennial convention alongside the Prime Minister, describing TISI Sangam as the largest cultural organisation in Fiji with a long-standing commitment to inclusive education.
He said organisations such as Sangam played a critical role during the colonial period, when access to schooling was limited, by providing education “to all, regardless of race or ethnic origin”, a legacy he said continues to shape Fiji’s national identity.
Prof. Prasad also paid tribute to prominent figures associated with the organisation and Fiji’s political history, including A. D. Patel, Jai Ram Reddy and long-serving Sangam president Y. P. Reddy.
He congratulated Sangam members in Fiji and across the diaspora in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, and expressed hope that future leaders would continue to uphold values of service and integrity.
Separately, Prof. Prasad said he also attended the 64th Sanatan Convention in Navua, organised by the Shri Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, describing it as an important platform promoting unity and social responsibility.
In an Easter message, Prof. Prasad extended his wishes to Fijians at home and abroad, reflecting on the significance of the season in the Christian faith. He said the commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ carried a message of renewal, compassion and shared purpose, urging communities to draw on those values in strengthening national unity.
Centennial events are being held alongside celebrations linked to the Shri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple, regarded as the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere, with programmes including cultural performances, prayers and community activities.
Separately, Government MP Manoa Kamikamica called for greater inclusivity, saying Indo-Fijians “belong here” and should be recognised simply as Fijians, urging a focus on shared national identity.
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