The President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, was accorded a full traditional welcome in Naduri, Macuata, as the nation prepares to mark the 146th anniversary of the arrival of the Girmitiyas.
Hosted at the traditional seat of Na Turaga Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the former President, the ceremony underscored the deep cultural ties and solemn respect that surround this national commemoration.
During the visit, President Lalabalavu also paid tribute to the chiefly household of Caumatalevu, reaffirming long-standing kinship bonds and urging the people of Macuata to remain strong in preserving their customs and values.
Recalling fond memories of his time as a young estate officer in Labasa with the then Native Land Trust Board, the President also honoured the late Turaga Tui Macuata and praised Ratu Wiliame’s legacy of leadership.
In his address, the President emphasised the transformative power of education, stating that “only through education can we truly achieve progress and development.” His message echoed the broader theme of this year’s Girmit Day—“Preserving the Past, Envisioning the Future.”
Amidst the cultural ceremony and national pride, a more urgent call for action continues to resonate. Global Girmit Institute Chair Dr Ganesh Chand has urged the government and stakeholders to do more to preserve the memory of the Girmitiyas, whose stories, he argues, remain marginalised in Fiji’s education system and public history.
Dr Chand told the fijivillage that the official recognition of Girmit Day as a public holiday is a welcome and “remarkable” step forward, but added that real progress requires structural change—beginning with the integration of Girmit history into school curriculums and the establishment of museums to safeguard artefacts and oral histories from the indenture era.
He also criticised the lack of progress on the promised Girmit Museum, which was announced and allocated funding in 2018 but has yet to materialise.
“Despite announcements, nothing has been done. We need action, not just symbolism.”
The Global Girmit Institute has taken independent steps to document this history by launching girmitdata.org, a digital archive that holds over 60,000 digitised handwritten arrival cards of Girmitiyas. Each record contains 15 to 18 pieces of personal information, offering a crucial tool for descendants tracing their ancestry.
Yet Dr Chand admits much work remains. The database needs further verification and expansion, and historical records housed in the National Archives in Suva must be digitised and made more accessible.
“We must also track those who returned to India, moved to other countries, or remained in Fiji to understand the full scope of the Girmit legacy.”
For Dr Chand, the preservation of Girmit history is more than academic. It is about empowering future generations to understand who they are and where they come from. “This is not just about honouring the past—it’s about giving descendants the tools to reconnect with their roots and identity,” he said.
National Girmit Day commemorations will take place across the weekend, culminating in a major event at Subrail Park in Labasa on Monday, 12th May, attended by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. As the nation pauses to reflect, the ceremonies serve as both remembrance and a call to action—to ensure the story of the Girmitiyas is never forgotten.
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