The Strength of Our Agreement: Why We Must Honor the Girmit Legacy
In the quiet moments of reflection, I often think back to the stories whispered by our elders, stories of a vast, churning ocean, of the unknown horizons of Fiji, and of a word that would come to define an entire people: Girmit. It was a phonetic corruption of the word “Agreement,” but for the 60,000 souls who made that journey between 1879 and 1916, it was much more than a legal contract. It was a testament to survival, a blueprint for resilience, and the birth of a global diaspora that now calls Australia home.
As an entrepreneur and a media professional, my life is often measured in headlines, broadcasts, and bottom lines. But as a descendant of those indentured labourers, my true compass is set by the legacy they left behind. This is why, through the Deo Family Charitable Foundation, we place such a fierce, passionate focus on Girmit Remembrance Day. For us, this is not just a date on the calendar; it is the heartbeat of our community identity.
From the Plantation to the Boardroom
The history of the Girmitiyas is one of unimaginable hardship. Our ancestors were recruited to toil on sugar plantations under conditions that were often brutal and inhumane. They were separated from their motherland, stripped of their comforts, and pushed to the brink of their physical and mental endurance. Yet, they did something miraculous: they didn’t just survive; they thrived.
They kept their culture alive in the rhythmic chanting of the Ramayan, the shared meals of the plantation lines, and the deep-seated belief that education and hard work were the keys to a better life for their children. That same spirit of “making a way out of no way” is what fuels my entrepreneurial journey today. Every time we launch a new media initiative or expand our charitable reach, I am standing on the shoulders of those who possessed nothing but their will to succeed.
The Power of the Diaspora
One of my primary visions for the JD Media Corp is encompassing the Australian Indian Times, Australian Indian Radio, and Australian Global Indian TV is to serve as a digital and cultural glue. The Indo-Fijian diaspora is unique; we are a people who have been twice-migrated, carrying the heritage of India and the history of Fiji into the modern landscape of Australia.
In a world that is becoming increasingly fragmented, the need to keep our diaspora together is more urgent than ever. We must be the narrators of our own story. If we do not tell the tale of the Leonidas, the first ship to arrive in Levuka on May 14, 1879 then who will? If we do not celebrate the contributions of our community to the Queensland economy and social fabric, our history risks becoming a footnote.
Why Remembrance Matters
Through the Deo Family Charitable Foundation, we host Girmit Remembrance Day in Brisbane to ensure that the flame of memory never flickers out. This event is a bridge. It connects the elderly, who still carry the oral histories of their parents, with the youth, who are navigating life as proud Australians.
We celebrate this day with passion because our ancestors’ sacrifice bought us our current freedom. We don’t just mourn the struggle; we celebrate the resilience. We honour the fact that despite the attempt to break their spirits, the Girmitiyas preserved our cultural values, our languages, and our sense of Seva (selfless service).
A Vision for the Future
My message to the diaspora is simple: Our history is our strength. As we gather in Brisbane to mark this solemn yet empowering occasion, let us recommit to supporting one another. Let us use our platforms, whether in business, media, or community leadership to uplift the next generation.
When we stand together on Girmit Remembrance Day, we are telling the world that the “Agreement” our ancestors signed wasn’t just a contract with a colonial power, it was an unbreakable pact with the future.
We are that future. And as long as the Deo Family Charitable Foundation and our media voices remain strong, the story of the Girmitiyas will continue to inspire, unite, and lead us forward.
History is often written in ink, but for the descendants of the Girmitiyas, it is written in sweat, salt water, and an unbreakable spirit. As we observe Girmit Remembrance Day, we are called not only to look back at the arduous journeys across the Kala Pani (black waters) but to look forward at the vibrant community that has blossomed from those initial seeds of hardship. In Brisbane, this flame of remembrance is kept alive with vigor by the Deo Family Charitable Foundation, whose dedication ensures that the story of the indentured labourers remains a cornerstone of our local cultural fabric.
In the heart of Brisbane, the Deo Family Charitable Foundation has become a vital bridge between the past and the present. Their focus on Girmit Remembrance Day is not merely about an annual ceremony; it is about the preservation of identity. For many younger Indo-Fijians born in Australia, the stories of the plantations can feel like distant echoes. The Foundation works tirelessly to amplify those echoes into a clear, proud voice.
The word Girmit is a linguistic corruption of the English word “agreement.” Between 1879 and 1916, approximately 60,000 Indians were transported to Fiji under this system of indentured labour. This era, known as the Girmit years, fundamentally reshaped the demographic, cultural, and political landscape of the South Pacific, leaving behind a legacy defined by profound suffering and an even more profound triumph of the human spirit.
Following the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833, colonial plantation economies faced a massive labour shortage. The British solution was the Indentured Labour System. In Fiji, the first Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon, sought to develop a sugar industry without disrupting the traditional Fijian way of life or exploiting the indigenous population. His solution was to import labour from India.
The journey to Fiji was the first of many traumas. Packed into ships like the Leonidas (the first to arrive in 1879), the labourers were stripped of their social identities. On these vessels, caste hierarchies began to dissolve out of necessity. High-caste Brahmins and Dalits ate, slept, and lived side-by-side.This forced proximity birthed a new bond: Jahajibhai (Brotherhood of the Ship). These relationships often became stronger than blood ties, providing a crucial support network for the hardships that awaited them in the cane fields.
Upon arrival, the Girmityas (those under agreement) were assigned to various plantations, mostly run by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR). The conditions were so brutal that the labourers frequently referred to the plantations as Narak, the Hindi word for hell.
The workday was governed by the “task.” A task was a set amount of labour like hoeing, weeding, or cutting cane and that a worker had to complete to earn their daily wage. If the task was deemed incomplete or unsatisfactory by the sirdars (overseers), the labourer was not paid, yet they could still be prosecuted for “refusal to work.”
Despite the systematic attempt to strip them of their dignity, the Girmityas held tenaciously to their culture. In the coolie lines at night, away from the eyes of the overseers, they gathered to sing bhajans (hymns), recite the Ramayana, and celebrate festivals like Holi and Diwali.Because the recruits came from various regions, speaking Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Tamil, a new language emerged to bridge the gap. Fiji Hindi became the lingua franca of the plantations. It was a simplified, robust dialect that incorporated English and Fijian loanwords, serving as a linguistic testament to the adaptation and survival of the Girmityas.
The indentured labour system was eventually abolished in 1916, influenced by the rising Indian nationalist movement led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and C.F. Andrews, who visited Fiji and reported on the “shameful” conditions of the women. By 1920, all indentured contracts had expired.
The Girmit era created a permanent Indo-Fijian population that eventually became nearly half of the nation’s total population. This demographic shift laid the groundwork for the complex political history of Fiji. The struggle for “Common Roll” voting and equal rights became the hallmark of Indo-Fijian politics throughout the 20th century.The memory of Girmit remains a sensitive and powerful touchstone. It is a story of being “uprooted and transplanted.” While the initial years were defined by colonial exploitation, the long-term result was the creation of a vibrant, hardworking community that has contributed immensely to Fiji’s economy, particularly through the sugar industry, commerce, and the professions.
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough that has sent ripples of cautious optimism across the globe, a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States has been brokered, with Pakistan serving as the unexpected primary mediator. The development, finalized this weekend, aims to de-escalate months of heightened regional tension.
A vibrant Multicultural Eid Dinner organised by Crescent AusIndia Inc brought together people from across the community for an evening of celebration, connection and shared values.The event welcomed a number of distinguished guests, including Federal Speaker Milton Dick, along with Julie-Ann Campbell MP, James Martin MP and Peter Russo MP. Their attendance reflected strong support for community-led initiatives that promote inclusion and cultural harmony.
The program featured a mix of meaningful and entertaining segments. Young participants impressed the audience with Quran recitation and the national anthem, while a range of cultural performances brought energy and enjoyment to the night. The performances were warmly received and appreciated by all in attendance.The success of the event was made possible through the support of key organisations including Brisbane City Council, Federation of Indian Communities in Queensland (FICQ), Queensland Muslims Inc (QMI), Urdu Forum, Muslim Charitable Foundation (MCF) and GOPIO Brisbane, along with several generous sponsors. Their contributions helped create a welcoming and well-organised event for the community.
Guests were treated to a delicious dinner along with a variety of homemade desserts, adding a personal and festive touch to the celebration. The evening also featured special treats that were particularly enjoyed by families and children.Crescent AusIndia Inc was commended for its efforts in organising the event, with many acknowledging the time and dedication required to deliver such a successful program. The dinner provided a valuable opportunity for people from different walks of life to come together, interact and celebrate in a positive environment.
When I first arrived in Australia as a wide- eyed 18-years old in the 2000s on a student visa, my suitcase was full of Maggi packets, Parle-G, and familial expectations. I had no idea how profoundly this journey would shape me. Initially, like any other 18-year-old, I was relieved that I can now finally sleep-in and do things my own way and won’t have parents waking me up early to study for exams. I was finally going to be free.
The Vedas represent the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Derived from the root word Vid (to know), “Veda” literally translates to “Knowledge.” They are not considered the compositions of human authors but are categorized as Shruti—that which is “heard” or revealed. According to tradition, ancient sages (Rishis) perceived these eternal truths in states of deep meditation and articulated them into the hymns we study today.