In a landmark move to preserve and promote Fiji’s cultural heritage, the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs has initiated preparatory work to compile and digitise the country’s historical Girmit records.
These documents, which are currently stored in physical form, chronicle the experiences of Indian indentured labourers, known as Girmitiyas, who were brought to Fiji between 1879 and 1916 to work on plantations.
The Ministry aims to create a digital platform to provide public access to these vital records, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
The project focuses on four key record clusters: Immigration Passes, Ship Records, Plantation Records, and Repatriation Records. Once digitised, these documents will be made available online, making Fiji the first among the 19 Girmitiya nations to provide such public access.
Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry, Charan Jeath Singh, emphasised the importance of preserving these historical ties. “It is vital to digitise these documents and make them accessible to the public to honour our shared history,” Singh said.
He further explained that once the digitisation process is completed, the Girmit database will be handed over to the National Archives of Fiji to ensure its long-term preservation and public accessibility. Singh also called on the public to support this effort, highlighting the Ministry’s commitment to using modern technology to enhance access to historical data.
This initiative aligns with Fiji’s National Development Goals, which prioritise the preservation of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. By digitising these records, the Ministry seeks to support historians, researchers, and the general public, promoting wider collaboration and easier access to this essential data.
Between 1879 and 1916, 87 voyages were made by 42 ships, carrying indentured labourers first from Calcutta, and later from Madras. A total of 60,965 passengers embarked from India, with 60,553 (including births at sea) arriving in Fiji.
These labourers played a crucial role in Fiji’s sugarcane industry and contributed significantly to the nation’s multicultural identity.
Prominent Indo-Fijian academic, Prof. Ganesh Chand, who is also on the board of Global Girmit Institute, praised the initiative, stating on social media: “This is the best news I have heard coming from any Fiji Government or Minister on Girmit records since 2004.”
In an earlier interview, Prof. Chand had pointed out that many Fijians were unaware of their country’s history and the way of life under British rule in Fiji, noting that Fijian-Indians were even unaware of their origins – the Girmitiyas.
“For Girmitiyas, there has been a total silence of material in our curriculum all the way up to now. There is nothing in the text, and students don’t learn their history,” Prof. Chand observed.
The Ministry’s digitisation effort marks a significant step towards building a more inclusive and culturally rich future for Fiji, ensuring that the legacy of the Girmitiyas is preserved for generations to come.
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