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106-449: Indo-Fijians ( Fiji Hindi : फ़िजी के हिंदुस्तानी ), also known as Indian Fijians (also colloquially known as " Findians " or " Findus "), are Fijian citizens of South Asian descent , and include people who trace their ancestry to various regions of the Indian subcontinent . Although Indo-Fijians constituted a majority of Fiji's population from 1956 through the late 1980s, discrimination and

212-473: A Fiji-Indian division. The use of the terms 'Fiji-Indian' or 'Fijian-Indian' are misnomers. This is because the meaning of the words 'Indian' and 'India' have changed over time, including during the British colonial rule and before it. Historically, the subcontinent of South Asia was informally referred to as "India" by foreign travelers and cartographers, the people living there were called 'Indians'. However, after

318-473: A bigger gap between them and the indigenous Fijians. Former Prime Minister Chaudhry has expressed alarm at the high rate of emigration of educated Indo-Fijians. "If the trend continues, Fiji will be left with a large pool of poorly educated, unskilled work force with disastrous consequences on our social and economic infrastructure and levels of investment," he said on 19 June 2005. He blamed the coups of 1987 for "brain drain" which has, he said, adversely affected

424-654: A communal franchise instead, with different ethnic groups voting on separate electoral rolls. At a specially convened conference in London in April 1970, a compromise was worked out, under which parliamentary seats would be allocated by ethnicity, with ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians represented equally. In the House of Representatives , each ethnic group was allocated 22 seats, with 12 representing Communal constituencies (elected by voters registered as members of their particular ethnic group) and

530-585: A contributor to the local economy, with about a dozen small resorts providing accommodation options for visitors and employment and business opportunities to the local population. The Taveuni dialect of Fijian reflects Tongan influence. One of its most distinctive features is the replacement of the consonant 'k' by a glottal stop . The Tui Cakau is therefore known locally as the Tui Ca'au. Taveuni notable peoples of high birth, other settler societies or ordinary Fijian (Indigenous) residents can be traced back to

636-604: A fruit is fal instead of phal ) and between / d͡ʒ / and / z / (in Fiji Hindi land is jameen instead of zameen ). The consonant / n / is used in Fiji Hindi for the nasal sounds / ŋ / , / ɲ / and / ɳ / in Standard Hindi. These features are common in the Eastern Hindi dialects. Some other characteristics of Fiji Hindi which is similar to Bhojpuri and Awadhi are: In Fiji Hindi verb forms have been influenced by

742-410: A further 10 representing National constituencies (distributed by ethnicity but elected by universal suffrage . A further 8 seats were reserved for ethnic minorities , 3 from "communal" and 5 from "national" constituencies. In 1987, shortly after a coalition government was formed that represented both communities, two military coups were staged by low-ranking Fijian officers that aimed at sidelining

848-573: A mixed language; there are many different dialects amongst the Indian population, and of course much intercourse with the Fijians. The children pick up a little of each language, and do not know which is the one originally spoken by their parents. Other writers, including Burton (1914) and Lenwood (1917), made similar observations. By the late 1920s all Fiji Indian children born in Fiji learned Fiji Hindi, which became

954-427: A multi-racial party in the 1980s, it was supported mostly by Indo-Fijians, but has seen no representation in parliament since the coup of 2006. The Church plays a major role in Fiji politics. Often some leaders appeal to Fijians addressing them as "Christians", even though Hindus are 33% of the population in Fiji, compared with 52% Christians. The 2000 Fijian coup d'état that removed the elected PM Mahendra Chaudhry ,

1060-804: A negative response. In 1870, a direct request by a planter to the Colonial Government of India was also turned down and in 1872, an official request by the Cakobau Government was informed that British rule in Fiji was a pre-condition for Indian emigration to Fiji. The early ancestors of Indo-Fijians came from different regions of South Asia, most coming from rural villages in Northern and Southern India. In January 1879, thirty-one South Asians, who had originally been indentured labourers in Réunion , were brought from New Caledonia to Fiji under contract to work on

1166-584: A number of Hindi dialects in India. First and second person forms of verbs in Fiji Hindi are the same. There is no gender distinction and number distinction is only in the third person past tense. Although, gender is used in third person past tense by the usage of "raha" for a male versus "rahi" for a female. The use of the first and second person imperfective suffixes -taa , -at are of Awadhi origin. Example: तुम मन्दिर जाता हैं / तुम मन्दिर जात हैं। "tum Mandir jaata hai/tum Mandir jaat hai." (You are going to

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1272-508: A plantation in Taveuni . These labourers demonstrated knowledge of the terms of the indenture agreement and were aware of their rights and refused to do the heavy work assigned to them, their contract was terminated by mutual agreement between the labourers and their employers. In 1881, thirty-eight more Indians arrived from New Caledonia and again most of them left but some stayed taking Indian wives or island women. The colonial authorities promoted

1378-578: A policy which warranted an Indian Platoon within the Fiji Defence Force consisting entirely of enlisted-ranked Indians. Governor Fletcher encouraged Indo-Fijians to regard Fiji as their permanent home. One could say this was Fletcher's insurance policy against an anticipated anti-European revolt at the hands of the Native population, which subsequently took place in 1959. While the Fiji Indian troops had

1484-629: A polygon geometry around the perimeter of the island is incorrectly rendered and wraps around the globe. To protect Fiji's wildlife, two sanctuaries have been created on the island of Taveuni, namely the Ravilevu Nature Reserve on the east coast, and the Taveuni Forest Reserve in the middle of the island. The potential to be nominated as a World Heritage Site contributes to the island's national significance, as outlined in Fiji's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. The population

1590-566: A result, and the native male population was scarce at one stage, but by 2000 their share of the population had declined to 43.7%, because of a higher ethnic-Fijian birthrate and particularly because of the greater tendency of Indo-Fijians to emigrate. Emigration accelerated following the coups of 1987 (which removed an Indo-Fijian-supported government from power and, for a time, ushered in a constitution that discriminated against them in numerous ways) and of 2000 (which removed an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister from office). Political differences between

1696-540: A riot which was forcibly quelled on 12 February; Manilal, widely blamed for the unrest, was deported. Another strike, from January to July in 1921, led by Sadhu (priest) Vashist Muni , demanded higher rates of pay for workers of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), the unconditional return of Manilal, and the release of imprisoned 1920 strikers. The authorities responded by deporting Muni from Fiji. Demands increased for direct representation in

1802-399: A single label of identification for those with South Asian ancestry in Fiji has fuelled a debate that has continued for many decades. Labels that use the term ‘Indian’ can be seen as problematic. This is because the term ‘Indian’ no longer accurately represents people with ancestry from the various countries of the Indian subcontinent , such as modern-day Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. In

1908-465: A third of the existing Indian population in Fiji. They were victimized a lot by the military adding to the reasons they moved abroad to Canada, Australia, and the United States. Another reason a lot of skilled Indo-Fijians were migrating to other countries was for a better future. This caused Fiji to lose a lot of their skilled workers. Moreover, many Indo-Fijians strived for a better education causing

2014-510: Is a popular tourist destination. Tourists are attracted by the excellent diving opportunities, prolific bird life, bushwalks and waterfalls. Central parts of the island receive very high rainfall. Being volcanic in origin, Taveuni's soils have supported the island's most historically significant industry, agriculture. Taveuni is located at the northern end of the Koro Sea , and is entirely the product of volcanic activity. Fiji's third largest island

2120-492: Is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by Indo-Fijians . It is an Eastern Hindi and Bihari language , considered to be a koiné language based on Awadhi that has also been subject to considerable influence by Bhojpuri , other Eastern Hindi and Bihari dialects, and Standard Hindi - Urdu . It has also borrowed some vocabulary from English , Fijian , Telugu , Tamil , Bengali , Punjabi , Gujarati , and Malayalam . Many words unique to Fiji Hindi have been created to cater for

2226-558: Is based on the Awadhi dialect with major influence from Bhojpuri . It is a koiné language with its own grammatical features, distinct to the Modern Standard Hindi spoken in India . The major home districts of Fiji's North Indian labourers were Basti , Gonda , Lucknow , Kanpur , Faizabad , Ballia , Ghazipur , Gorakhpur , Sultanpur , Siwan , Shahabad , Saran , and Azamgarh , in

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2332-573: Is concentrated mostly on the more sheltered western side of the island. Taveuni has eight major villages. Halfway down the west coast is the administrative centre of Waiyevo . The largest urban area, however, comprises the twin villages of Somosomo and Naqara . As the traditional fiefdom of the Tui Cakau , one of Fiji's highest-ranked chiefs, Somosomo is regarded as the capital of the Tovata Confederacy , while Naqara, an Indo-Fijian settlement,

2438-554: Is found only on Taveuni. It was discovered by scientists in 1977. The flowering plant Balaka seemannii , which is endemic to Fiji, is found on the island. The green iguana or American iguana has been introduced to the Fijian islands. The lizard poses a threat because it has no natural enemies, can reach a high population density, eats the taro plant and because it carries Salmonella bacteria which can be transferred to humans if bitten. In 2013, an eradication program coordinated by

2544-624: Is one of Taveuni's most famous tourist attractions. It occupies a volcanic crater at an altitude of 800 metres (2,600 feet), and is the habitat of the rare tagimaucia flower. Fiji's most famous waterfalls , the Bouma Falls , are also on the island, located in the Bouma National Heritage Park . South of Vuna village and the lagoon, jet black rocks litter an area known as the South Cape where Taveuni's last volcanic eruption spilled into

2650-587: Is separated from Vanua Levu by the Somosomo Strait . The island is between 10 and 14 kilometres (6 and 9 miles) wide and 42 km (26 mi) long, representing the top of a dormant, elongated shield volcano which erupted from a northeast–southwest trending rift on the ocean floor. About 150 volcanic cones dot the island, including Uluigalau , Fiji's second highest peak at 1,241 metres (4,072 feet), and Des Vœux Peak , next in height at 1,195 metres (3,921 feet). There have been at least 58 volcanic eruptions since

2756-436: Is spoken by Indo-Fijians. Following the recent political upheaval in Fiji , many Indo-Fijians have emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, where they have largely maintained their traditional Indo-Fijian culture, language, and religion. Some writers have begun to use Fiji Hindi, until very recently a spoken language only, as a literary language. The Bible has now been translated into Fiji Hindi, and

2862-462: Is the island's commercial centre. The main hospital is located at Waiyevo while a number of nursing stations and health centres are located around the island. Other settlements include Bouma, Deleni, Gacaavulu, Kanacea, Korovou, Lavena, Matei, Naselesele, Navakawau, Salialevu, Soqulu, Vuna, Wairiki, and Welagi. The climate of Taveuni and Fiji is tropical without temperate extremes. It has been described as typical highland . Between November and April,

2968-509: The Bhojpuri and Awadhi dialects of the Hindi Belt spoken in rural India , mainly Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh — the consonant / ʃ / is replaced with / s / (for example, saadi instead of shaadi ) and / ʋ / replaced with / b / (for example, bid-es instead of videsh ). There is also a tendency to ignore the differences between the consonants / pʰ / and / f / (In Fiji Hindi

3074-515: The Bihari languages of Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , Jharkhand , Madhesh , Koshi , Bagmati , Gandaki and Lumbini , and the dialects of Eastern Hindi of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh , Chhattisgarh and Lumbini, but differs in phonetics and vocabulary with Modern Standard Hindi and Urdu . These are the percentages of each language and dialect spoken by indentured labourers who came to Fiji. Indian indentured labourers mainly spoke dialects from

3180-530: The British Empire since 1837. A recruiting office was set up especially around Calcutta and the South, West and North later, especially a lot in rural village areas in different farming regions, land and areas. The Leonidas , a labour transport vessel, disembarked at Levuka from Calcutta on 14 May 1879. The 498 indentured workers who disembarked were the first of over 61,000 to arrive from South and East Asia in

3286-693: The Colony of Fiji as indentured labourers between 1879 and 1916 to work on Fiji's sugar-cane plantations . Mahendra Chaudhry became Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister on 19 May 1999. Indians had been employed for a long time on the European ships trading in Colonial India and the East Indies . Many of the early voyages to the Pacific either started or terminated in India and many of these ships were wrecked in

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3392-468: The Hindi Belt . Initially, the majority of labourers came to Fiji from districts of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar , while a small percentage hailed from North-West Frontier and South India such as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Over time, a distinct Indo-Aryan language with an Eastern Hindi substratum developed in Fiji , combining elements of

3498-462: The Hindi languages spoken in these areas with some native Fijian and English . The development of Fiji Hindi was accelerated by the need for labourers speaking different languages to work together and by the practice of leaving young children in early versions of day-care centers during working hours. Percy Wright, who lived in Fiji during the indenture period, wrote: Indian children born in Fiji will have

3604-563: The Qarase government, called for the use of the term "Indo-Fijian" to be officially banned. He declared that the term was "unacceptable", and that Indo-Fijians should be referred to only as "Indians". The Hindustan Times reported Navakamocea had "alleged that the Indo-Fijian term was coined by Indian academics in Fiji to 'Fijianise' their Indian ethnicity", which, in Navakamocea's view, undermined

3710-566: The Savulevu Yavonu Waterfall empties into the ocean. Tavoro Creek , Somosomo Creek , Waimbula River and the islands most notable waterways. Many of Taveuni's best known attractions lie underwater. There are three major, distinct diving areas around the island. To the north of Taveuni lie in close proximity the islands of Qamea and Matagi with their surrounding reef systems. The Rainbow Reef and Vuna Reef are famous for diving and snorkeling, respectively. The Rainbow Reef, on

3816-581: The University of the South Pacific has recently begun offering courses in the language. It is usually written in the Latin script though Devanāgarī has also been used. A Fiji Hindi movie has also been produced depicting Indo-Fijian life and is based on a play by local playwright, Raymond Pillai . The phonemes of Fiji Hindi are very similar to Standard Hindi, but there are some important distinctions. As in

3922-708: The de facto leader of the Indo-Fijian community, persuaded the colonial government of Fiji to form an Indian platoon for the Allied war effort during the First World War . He sent the names of 32 volunteers to the colonial government but his requests were ignored. As a result, a number of Fiji Indians volunteered for the New Zealand Army while one served in Europe during the First World War. In 1934, Governor Fletcher enacted

4028-560: The mongoose , a major predator, has also played a part in the survival on Taveuni of land crabs, the unique Fiji fruit bat, the Taveuni silk bat, and some unique species of palm . The island is the second largest in the Pacific Ocean to be free from the mongoose. Other species found on the island include the Fiji banded iguana and both Platymantis vitiensis and P. vitianus frog species. The critically endangered Fijian monkey-faced bat

4134-665: The sugar cane industry, recognising the need to establish a stable economic base for the colony, but were unwilling to exploit indigenous labour and threaten the Fijian way of life . The use of imported labour from the Solomon Islands and what is now Vanuatu generated protests in the United Kingdom, and the Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon decided to implement the indentured labour scheme, which had existed in

4240-621: The 1996 census (the latest available), 76.7% of Indo-Fijians are Hindus and a further 15.9% are Muslims . Christians comprise 6.1% of the Indo-Fijian population, while about 0.9% are members of the Sikh faith. The remaining 0.4% are mostly nonreligious. Hindus in Fiji belong mostly to the Sanātana Dharma sect (74.3% of all Hindus); a minority (3.7%) follow Arya Samaj . Smaller groups, including The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , and numerous unspecified Hindu sects, comprise 22% of

4346-517: The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji saw a bounty placed on both adult and juvenile American iguanas as well as their eggs. Taveuni is also home to the Taveuni beetle , maroon shining parrot , Fiji goshawk , azure-crested flycatcher , Fiji white-eye , Fiji parrot finch , orange dove , and the kula parrot, and the Australian magpie , introduced to control coconut pests, has proliferated on

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4452-437: The British colonial rule and the subsequent partitioning and division of the subcontinent into several countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the term 'India' primarily began to refer to the country that gained independence from the British in 1947, and 'Indian' began to refer primarily to citizens and inhabitants of that new country, rather than all people of the subcontinent. This change in political demarcation and

4558-729: The Europeans as their commanding and non-commissioned officers, the Native Fijians had Ratu Edward Cakobau , a Native Fijian, as their commanding officer. Prior to the Second World War , soldiers served voluntarily and were paid "capitation grants" according to efficiency ratings without regard to race. In 1939, during the mobilisation of the Fiji Defence Force, the colonial government changed its payment system to four shillings per day for enlisted men of European descent while enlisted men of non-European descent were paid only two shillings per day;

4664-496: The Fiji Council of Churches and Assembly of Christian Churches has stated that the coup is "un-Christian" and is "manifestation of darkness and evil". He claimed that "52% of Fijians are Christian and the country's Christian values are being undermined." Indo Fijians are concentrated in the so-called Sugar Belt and in cities and towns on the northern and western coasts of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu ; their numbers are much scarcer in

4770-406: The Fiji Hindi tenses. आना Aana आना Aana आना ānā आना ānā आओ Aao! आओ Aao! आओ! āo! आओ! āo! हम Ham आत aat (आवत) (aawat) Taveuni The island had a population of around 19,000, some 75 per cent of them indigenous Fijians , at the 2015 census. Taveuni has abundant flora and is known as the 'Garden Island of Fiji'. It

4876-637: The Fijian Affairs [Amendment] Decree 2010. The new law effectively replaces the word 'Fijian' or 'indigenous' or 'indigenous Fijian' with the word 'iTaukei' in all written laws, and all official documentation when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji. All Fiji citizens are now called 'Fijians' The correct label and identity for Indo-Fijians has historically been debated. Common labels such as Fijian Indian , as Fiji-Indian and Indo-Fijian have been used inter-changeably. These labels have proved culturally and politically controversial, and finding

4982-637: The Hindu population. Muslims are mostly Sunni (59.7%) or unspecified (36.7%); there is an Ahmadiya minority (3.6%). Indian Christians are a diverse body, with Methodists forming the largest group (26.2%), followed by the Assemblies of God (22.3%), Roman Catholics (17%), and Anglicans (5.8%). The remaining 28.7% belong to a medley of denominations. There is an Indian Division of the Methodist Church in Fiji. About 5000 Indo-Fijian are Methodist. They are part of

5088-530: The House of Representatives; its support fell further still in the 2001 election , when it received only 22% of the Indo-Fijian vote, and in the 2006 election , when it dropped to an all-time low of 14%. The party formerly favoured by Indo-Fijian was the Fiji Labour Party , led by Mahendra Chaudhry , which received about 75% of the Indo-Fijian vote in 2001, and won all 19 seats reserved for Indo-Fijians. Founded as

5194-465: The Indian Platoon quickly disputed this disparity in pay. The colonial government, fearing this dissidence would eventually be shared by the Native Fijians, decided to disband the Indian platoon in 1940 citing lack of available equipment, such as military armour, as their reason. ‘Indians’ in Fiji were originally defined by the constitution of Fiji as anybody who can trace, through either the male or

5300-430: The Indo-Fijian community in politics. Ethnic South Asians outnumbered indigenous Fijians from 1956 through the late 1980s. This was due to the death of 1/3 of the indigenous population, mainly male and children, that died from measles contracted when King Cakobau and other chief leaders returned from a trip from Australia in 1875 during which they caught measles. The percentage of Indigenous female population increased as

5406-458: The Methodist Church in Fiji and support the position of the Methodist Church in Fiji, rather than the rights of Indo-Fijians. The Indo-Fijian diaspora developed with people of South Asian ancestry leaving Fiji, mainly following the racially inspired coups of 1987 and 2000, to settle primarily in Australia, New Zealand , United States and Canada. Smaller numbers have settled in other Pacific islands,

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5512-515: The Ramayana). The third person definite future suffix -ii is found in both Awadhi and Bhojpuri. Example: प्रधानमंत्री हमलोग के पैसा दई। "Pradhanamantri humlog ke paisa daii" (The prime minister will give us money). The influence of Hindustani is evident in the first and second person perfective suffix -aa and the first and second person future suffix -ega . Example: हम करा। तुम करेगा। "Hum karaa, tum karega." (I did, you will do). The origin of

5618-471: The Republic of India. However, the sub-continent of India still exists, comprising many countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan. It is commonly referred as South Asia, a more accurate geographic description and preferred term in many academic and scholarly contexts. Therefore, the term ‘Indo-Fijian’ is preferred as a way to refer to people with ancestry from

5724-565: The Temple). While the third person imperfective suffix -e is of Bhojpuri origin. Example: ई बिल्ली मच्छरी खावे हैं। "Ee billi macchari KHAWE hai." (This cat is eating a fish). The third person perfective suffixes (for transitive verbs ) -is and -in are also derived from Awadhi. Example: किसान गन्ना काटीस रहा। "Kisaan ganna katees raha." (The farmer cut the sugarcane). पण्डित लोगन रामायण पढ़ीन रहा/पण्डित लोगन रामायण पढ़े रहीन। "Pandit logan Ramayan padheen raha/padhe raheen." (The priests read

5830-515: The United Kingdom and other European countries. South Asians were initially brought to Fiji as indentured laborers to work on sugar cane plantations. Between 1879 and 1916, a total of 60,000 South Asians arrived in Fiji. Approximately, 25,000 of these have returned to South Asia. From 1900 onwards, some Indians arrived as free immigrants, who were mostly from the regions of Gujarat , Kutch , Sindh , and Punjab . Indo-Fijians have been emigrating to United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and

5936-489: The United Kingdom since the early 1960s. These were mainly economic migrants and their number gradually increased in the 1970s and 1980s to reach approximately 4000 per year. Following the military coup of 1987, many Indo-Fijians saw little future in staying in Fiji and tried to find any means to leave the country. Professional, middle class and business found it easier to emigrate. It has been estimated that more than 100,000 Fiji Indians have emigrated since 1987. This represents

6042-438: The abolition of the elected membership of Suva Municipal Council in 1934, with the council becoming a wholly appointed body. Two major Hindu movements attracted widespread support in the 1920s, and relationships between Hindus and Muslims also became increasingly strained. The Arya Samaj in Fiji advocated purging Hinduism of what it saw as its superstitious elements and expensive rituals, opposed child marriage, and advocated

6148-632: The area is prone to tropical cyclones. Rainfall rates on the island are high because the central mountains produce precipitation by orographic uplift . As much as 10 metres (33 feet) of rain falls annually on the eastern side of the island, but the western side is sheltered from the southeast trade winds by the ridge that runs the length of the island. The central ridge experiences a wet upland climate which supports montane and submontane forests. Near Mount Koroturanga, 9,970 mm of mean, annual rainfall has been recorded. A 2011 study identified coastal erosion , flooding and water availability and supply as

6254-557: The census) was being spoken in Indo-Fijian households. Hindu schools teach the Devanagari script while the Muslim schools teach the Nastaliq script. Fiji Hindi is also understood and even spoken by Indigenous Fijians in areas of Fiji where there are large Indo-Fijian communities. A pidgin form of the language is used by rural ethnic Fijians, as well as Chinese on the islands, while Pidgin Fijian

6360-457: The central part of Taveuni. In 1876, a 2.4 metres (7.9 feet) horse tramway was constructed on the Selia Levu estate to transport sugar cane to a mill. The Taveuni F.C. was founded in 1947. Bouma Forest Park, later renamed Bouma National Heritage Park was established in 1990 after landowning clans became concerned by the threat of logging. The reserve has expanded to cover roughly one third of

6466-490: The common language in Fiji of North and South Indians alike. Later, approximately 15,000 Indian indentured labourers, who were mainly speakers of Dravidian languages ( Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , Kannada , Tulu , Gondi , and Kodava ), were brought from South India . By this time Fiji Hindi was well established as the lingua franca of Indo-Fijians and the Southern Indian labourers had to learn it to communicate with

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6572-431: The coup in form of so-called " Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill ". In 2005, Methodist Church general secretary Reverend Ame Tugaue argued that the practice of Hinduism and other religions should not be guaranteed in law: Following the military coup in Fiji, which deposed the government of Laisenia Qarase (which Indo-Fijians claimed as unsympathetic to Indo-Fijian interests), Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu of

6678-472: The early free migrants, there were religious teachers, missionaries and at least one lawyer. The government and other employers brought clerks, policemen, artisans, gardeners, experienced agricultural workers, a doctor and a school teacher. Punjabi farmers and Gujarati craftsmen also paid their own way to Fiji and in later years formed an influential minority amongst the Fiji Indians. In 1916, Manilal Doctor ,

6784-435: The era before European contact through to Deed of Cession of Fiji with Great Britain to Fiji Independence and today. Taveuni has 5 main key main villages which has their own Paramount Chiefs. These Chiefs are crucial in keeping their people informed of changes and updates on developments in Fiji. These are those that have helped shaped Taveuni and holding together its people. Perhaps the best-known Taveuni resident internationally

6890-550: The female line, their ancestry back to anywhere on the Indian subcontinent and all government documents used this name. However, in August 2008, shortly before the proposed People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress was due to be released to the public, it was announced that it recommended a change in the name of Fiji's citizens. If the proposal were adopted, all citizens of Fiji, whatever their ethnicity, would be called "Fijians". The Cabinet at its meeting on 30 June 2010 approved

6996-410: The first human settlement around 950-750 BC, all of which affected the southern two-thirds of the island. Major eruptions from 300 to 500 AD caused abandonment of the southern areas until about 1100 AD. The latest eruption produced a lava flow at the southern tip of the island around 1550. The island's central ridge delineates the greatest volcanic activity surrounding volcanic vents. Lake Tagimaucia

7102-438: The following 37 years. The majority were from the districts of eastern and southern provinces, followed by labourers from northern and western regions, then later south eastern countries, they originated from different regions, villages, backgrounds and castes that later mingled or intermarried hence the "Fijian Indian" identity was created. The indentured workers originated mostly from rural village backgrounds. . The contracts of

7208-529: The following day stating that Vanuabalavu and all the other lands given to him. The life of Enele Ma'afu the Tui Lau has been documented in the " Summary of Key Historical Events ". Na Tikina Makawa o Vuna was not defeated by Somosomo as the above statement reads. In fact, historically, Taveuni was owned and controlled by two distinct Chieftainship, Tikina o Vuna from the south, and one in the north of Taveuni. The Tui Cakau has his land across water from Taveuni island and

7314-407: The formation of new countries has caused the meanings of 'India' and 'Indian' to evolve into a national identity. The terms, 'Fiji-Indian' or 'Fijian-Indian' also no longer accurately reflect those whom have ancestry from other parts of the subcontinent. With the creation of the independent nation of India in 1947, the term "Indian" began to be used more frequently to refer specifically to citizens of

7420-470: The house (polite)). The suffix -be , from Bhojpuri, is used in Fiji Hindi in emphatic sentences. Another suffix originating from Awadhi is -it . Example: ई लोगन पानी काहे नहीं पीत हैं। "Ee logan paani kahey nahi peet hai." (Why aren't these people drinking water?), but is at present going out of use. Fiji Hindi tenses are relatively similar to tenses in Standard Hindi . Bhojpuri and Awadhi influence

7526-560: The iCavuti of "Luvedra na Ratu" (The Children of the Ratu). This decision was made in a traditional ceremony held at Ratu Sauvoli School grounds in Nabudrau, where the Tikina (a traditional Fijian political unit) of Noco presented their iCavuti to Ro Teimumu. This is the first time ever that the descendants of indentured labourers have been bestowed with a new iTaukei identity. For a long time, Fiji Indian

7632-519: The imperative suffix -o can be traced to the Magahi dialect. Example: तुम अपन मुह खोलो। "Tum apan muh khulo." (You open your mouth). Spoken in the Gaya and Patna districts, which provided a sizeable proportion of the first indentured labourers from Northern India to Fiji. Fiji Hindi has developed its own polite imperative suffix -naa . Example: आप घर के सफा कर लेना। "Aap ghar ke sapha kar Lena." (You clean

7738-461: The indentured labourers, which they called girmit (agreements), required them to work in Fiji for a period of five years. Living conditions on the sugar cane plantations, on which most of the girmityas (indentured labourers) worked, had poor standards which resembled that of slavery. Hovels known as "coolie lines" dotted the landscape. Public outrage in the United Kingdom and British India over human rights abuses of indentured labourers, such as

7844-508: The island. In January 2003, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ami crossed the island. In January 2008, Cyclone Gene caused widespread damage on the island. In March 2010, the island was hit by Severe Tropical Cyclone Tomas . The eye of the storm passed within 30 km of the island and produced a significant tidal surge and high waves. Nearly all plants and animals indigenous to Fiji are found on Taveuni, which has suffered less devastation from land clearance than other areas of Fiji. The absence of

7950-415: The island. The critically endangered red-throated lorikeet has been found here. In total, 22 regional endemic bird species have been recorded on Taveuni. The total number of bird species found on the island is closer to 100. The island's agricultural output is a significant contributor to the Fijian economy. Copra has been traditionally the most important crop produced on Taveuni, and has always been

8056-573: The late 1860s, the Tongan warlord Enele Ma'afu , who had conquered the Lau Islands , was defeated by the Tui Cakau's army in a skirmish at Somosomo. Several islands that sided with Ma'afu were sold by the Tui Cakau at that time to European settlers as punishment, and their inhabitants were moved to Taveuni. The villages of Lovonivonu and Kanacea are populated with their descendants. In fact, Enele Ma'afu

8162-498: The late 1960s, the leader of the National Federation Party , A. D. Patel , who used the slogan, "One Country, One People, One Destiny", suggested that all Fiji's citizens should be called Fijians and to distinguish the original inhabitants from the rest, the name Taukei should be used for native Fijians. At the time, there was opposition to this from some native Fijians who feared that any such move would deprive them of

8268-610: The legislature. In 1929 , South Asian immigrants and their descendants were authorised to elect three members to the Legislative Council on a communal roll . Vishnu Deo , James Ramchandar Rao and Parmanand Singh were duly elected. Agitation continued for a common roll , which the colonial administrators rejected, citing the fears of European settlers and Fijian chiefs that a common electoral roll would lead to political domination by South Asians, whose numbers were rapidly increasing. The fear of Indo-Fijian domination also led to

8374-424: The more numerous Northern Indians and their European overseers. After the end of the indenture system, Indians who spoke Gujarati and Punjabi arrived in Fiji as free immigrants. A few Indo-Fijians speak Tamil, Telugu, and Gujarati at home, but all are fluently conversant and able to communicate using Fiji Hindi. The census reports of 1956 and 1966 shows the extent to which Fiji Hindi (referred to as 'Hindustani' in

8480-418: The most significant impacts of climate change on some of the villages on Taveuni. In 1643, Abel Tasman became the first European to sight Taveuni. Visibility was poor, and he mistook the peaks of Taveuni for separate islands. Historically, Vuna was considered the paramount village on Taveuni when the Tui Cakau (Ratu Yavala) resided there, but tribal warfare eventually established the supremacy of Somosomo. In

8586-515: The new environment that Indo-Fijians now live in. First-generation Indians in Fiji , who used the language as a lingua franca in Fiji, referred to it as Fiji Baat , "Fiji talk". It is closely related to Caribbean Hindustani and the Bhojpuri-Hindustani spoken in Mauritius and South Africa . It is largely mutually intelligible with the languages of Awadhi and Bhojpuri , as well as with

8692-618: The paramountcy of indigenous rights. Navakamocea lost office in the 2006 military coup when the army accused the Qarase government of anti-Fijian Indian racism and overthrew it. The colonial rulers attempted to assuage Indo-Fijian discontent by providing for one of their number to be nominated to the Legislative Council from 1916 onwards. Badri Maharaj , a strong supporter of the British Empire but with little support among his own people,

8798-695: The present-day Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh and the present-day Bhojpur region of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand . Others (in a smaller quantity) originated in Haryana , Tamil Nadu , Kerala , and the Telugu regions. A small contingent of indentured labourers came from Afghanistan and Nepal. A small amount of free immigrants also came from Gujarat and Punjab . Many of the Muslim Indo-Fijians also came from Sindh and various other parts of South Asia . Fiji's British colonial rulers brought South Asian people to

8904-427: The problem of Fijian security guards, whom some accused of being mercenaries, operating illegally on the island of Bougainville . The incident embarrassed the Fijian government and threatened to strain relations between the two countries. On 4 May 2006 Kubuabola was posted to Tokyo as Fiji's Ambassador to Japan and Korea , replacing Ratu Tevita Momoedonu . He remained in this position until July 2009; on 24 July, he

9010-567: The remarriage of widows, which orthodox Hinduism didn't promote at that time. The Arya Samaj also encouraged education for girls, which wasn't the norm at the time. The Arya Samaj began by establishing schools and by using a newspaper of one of its supporters, the Fiji Samachar founded in 1923, to expound their views. A post-war effort by European members of the Legislative Council to repatriate ethnic South Asians to modern-day India, starting with sixteen-year-old males and fourteen-year-old females,

9116-457: The resulting brain drain resulted in them numbering 313,798 (37.6%) (2007 census) out of a total of 827,900 people living in Fiji as of 2007. Although they hailed from various regions in the subcontinent, the vast majority of Indo-Fijians trace their origins to the Awadh and Bhojpur regions of the Hindi Belt in northern India . Indians in Fiji speak Fiji Hindi also known as ‘Fiji Baat’ which

9222-524: The sea around 500 years ago. The highlight of the region is the Matamaiqi blowhole with geysers created by trade winds crashing against the volcanic rocks. About 20 minutes on foot from the town of Waiyevo is the Waitavala Waterslide. This entirely natural streambed chute plummets for about 50 metres down the lush hillside and is a favourite haunt for local children and brave tourists. In eastern Taveuni

9328-475: The sheltered western parts provide pristine soft and hard coral gardens. Migrating humpback whales pass the island in July. An interesting note is that the island of Taveuni crosses the east–west antimeridian , so the "north-eastern" portion of the island is located at -179 degrees longitude and the south-western part at +179 degrees longitude . This is often an example that causes havoc to GIS software, in which

9434-559: The south and inland areas. The majority of Indo-Fijians came from northern, northern eastern and southeastern part of India and converse in what is known as Fiji Hindi (also known as 'Fiji Baat'), this language has been constructed from eastern Hindi dialects mixed with some native Fijian and some English loan words, with some minorities speaking Gujarati , and Punjabi , and many who speak Tamil as their mother tongue with less fluency. Almost all Indo-Fijians are fluent in English. According to

9540-494: The special privileges they had enjoyed since cession in 1874. The Fiji Times started using Fiji Islander to describe all Fiji's citizens but this name did not catch on. In 2017, The paramount chief of Rewa, Ro Teimumu Kepa, announced that the descendants of indentured labourers, who were brought to Fiji during colonial period as a cheap labor, now officially belong to the Vanua (tribal land) of Noco and Rewa, and will be known as

9646-577: The staple of the local economy. In recent times farmers have mainly shifted to growing taro , kava and other speciality crops like vanilla , along with tropical fruit and coffee . During the American Civil War (1861–1865), cotton was raised on Taveuni and exported to Europe. Sugarcane was also grown for a brief period. Livestock such as sheep , cattle and poultry are also raised, but animal husbandry lags behind crop production in terms of economic importance. In recent times, tourism has become

9752-498: The story of Kunti and Naraini played a factor in abolishing the scheme in 1916. However, Indenture continued unlawfully until the intervention of Banarsidas Chaturvedi and Reverend C.F. Andrews , which resulted in all existing indentured labourers being freed from contracts on 1 January 1920. From the early 1900s, Indians started arriving in Fiji as free agents. Many of these paid their own way and had previously served in Fiji or other British colonies or had been born in Fiji. Amongst

9858-481: The sugar industry, the standard of the education and health services, and the efficiency of the civil service. Similarly to the indigenous Fijian population, Indo-Fijian's face major obstacles when it comes to health. They are often cited in research articles as a group that has a higher than normal prevalence rate of Type 2 diabetes. Fiji Hindi language Fiji Hindi ( Devanagari : फ़िजी हिंदी ; Kaithi : 𑂣𑂺𑂱𑂔𑂲⸱𑂯𑂱𑂁𑂠𑂲 ; Perso-Arabic : فجی ہندی )

9964-449: The two communities, rather than ideological differences, have characterised Fijian politics since independence, with the two communities generally voting for different political parties. The National Federation Party founded by A.D. Patel, was the party favoured overwhelmingly by the Indo-Fijian community throughout most of the nation's history, but its support collapsed in the parliamentary election of 1999, when it lost all of its seats in

10070-592: The uncharted waters of the South Pacific . The first recorded presence of an Indian in Fiji was by Peter Dillon , a sandalwood trader in Fiji, of a lascar (Indian seaman) who survived a shipwreck, lived and settled there amongst the natives of Fiji in 1813. Before Fiji was colonized by Great Britain, some planters had tried to obtain Indian labour and had approached the British Consul in Levuka , Fiji but were met with

10176-810: The various regions of the sub-continent (such as modern-day Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan) rather than just those from modern-day India. The term is also more closely connected to the diaspora of the South Asian indentured labourers (or Coolies) who have settled in other countries, such as the Indo-Caribbeans , Indo-Mauritians , etc. This term, 'Indo-Fijian', has been used by various political figures such as Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Rabuka , as well as writers such as Adrian Mayer and Brij Lal . Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi , Fiji's Vice-President from 2004 to 2006, also used it in his speeches. In 2006, Jone Navakamocea , Minister of State for National Planning in

10282-407: The western side of the narrow Somosomo Strait between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, is known as one of the world's premier soft coral dive areas and the soft coral capital of the world The horseshoe-shaped Vuna Lagoon, near the southern end of the island, is much appreciated by divers for the opportunity to see larger pelagic and schooling fish species on the exposed southern side of the reef, whereas

10388-597: Was Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau (1918–1993), Fiji's last Governor-General and first President , who was also Tui Cakau . The Ganilau family is a branch of the Ai Sokula clan, to which the present Tui Cakau and former Cabinet Minister Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu also belongs. He died in 1993, and was buried there. Another notable Taveunian is Fiji's former First Lady , Adi Salaseini Kavunono , wife of President Ratu Josefa Iloilo (2000–2009). Ratu Jone Yavala Kubuabola served as Fiji's Minister for Finance from 2000 to 2006. He

10494-712: Was also a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji . Ratu Inoke Kubuabola (younger brother of Ratu Jone Yavala Kubuabola) is a Fijian politician who served as Leader of the Opposition in 1999 and 2000. He became leader of the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei , or SVT, following its defeat in the 1999 election and the subsequent resignation of its leader, the defeated Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka , from Parliament. Kubuabola served as Fiji's High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2005. In late 2005, he attempted to handle

10600-725: Was appointed by the Governor in 1916. His appointment did little to redress the grievances of the Indo-Fijian community. Buttressed by the Indian Imperial Association founded by Manilal Maganlal , a lawyer who had arrived in Fiji in 1912, the Indians continued to campaign for better work and living conditions, and for an extension of the municipal franchise; literacy tests disqualified most Indo-Fijians from participation. A strike by Indo-Fijian municipal workers and Public Works Department employees, which began on 15 January 1920, ended in

10706-543: Was involved in an internal Cakaudrove campaign. It was an opportune time for Wainiqolo to initiate his campaign whilst Golea was involved in an internal struggle on Vanualevu. Ma’afu never forgave Wainiqolo for the act that he did and removed all land allocated to him. Historians saw this anger as confirmation that Ma’afu was not part of the Wainiqolo plot to conquer Tui Cakau while he was away in Tonga. The unprovoked attack by Wainiqolo

10812-540: Was not defeated by the Tui Cakau's army as stated above. He was in Tonga at that time. In July 1862, Ma’afu went for a visit to Tonga with Tui Bua to seek resolution about his campaign in Fiji with the Tongan Parliament. During his absence, Wainiqolo, one of his lieutenants, waged war on Golea. Wainiqolo was shot dead on the beach at Wairiki and the Tongans were slaughtered. Wainiqolo had taken Tui Cakau prisoner when Golea

10918-512: Was not successful, but reflected the tensions between Fiji's ethnic communities. Differences between ethnic Fijians and Indians complicated preparations for Fiji independence, which the United Kingdom granted in 1970, and have continued to define Fiji politics since. Prior to independence, Indo-Fijians sought a common electoral roll, based on the principle of " one man, one vote ." Ethnic Fijian leaders opposed this, believing that it would favour urban voters who were mostly Indo-Fijian; they sought

11024-498: Was regarded by the Tui Cakau as cancelling his obligation to respect the right of Ma’afu to islands which had been formerly part of Cakaudrove chiefdom. Golea proceeded to resell the whole of Vanuabalavu to Europeans. On 3 February 1865, a Court of Arbitration was convened by British Consul Jones who handed down the Court's decision that Ma’afu was the lawful owner of Vanuabalavu and associated islands. Ma’afu immediately executed an affidavit

11130-526: Was supported by the Methodist Church. Some Methodist Church authorities have continued to advocate the establishment of a Christian state. In a letter of support from the then head of the Methodist Church, Reverend Tomasi Kanilagi, to George Speight , the leader of 19 May 2000 armed takeover of Parliament, Reverend Kanilagi publicly expressed his intention to use the Methodist Church as a forum under which to unite all ethnic Fiji political parties. The Methodist church also supported forgiveness to those who plotted

11236-470: Was used to distinguish between Fiji citizens of Indian origin and Indians from India. The term was used by writers like K.L. Gillion and by the academic and politician, Ahmed Ali . The late President of Fiji , Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara , also used this term in his speeches and writings. The term was also used by the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma , Fiji's largest Christian denomination, which had

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