Proud to Be a Descendant of a Girmitya
The legacy of struggle and sacrifice shaped who I am today — and it must never be forgotten.
By Jitendra Deo,
Chief Executive Officer
JD Group Australia
I was born in Fiji, and I am a fourth-generation descendant of a Girmitya. It is a heritage I wear with pride. To some, this may sound like a historical footnote — but to me, it is the foundation of my identity, values, and purpose in life.
The word “Girmitya” refers to the tens of thousands of Indian indentured labourers brought to Fiji between 1879 and 1916 under British colonial rule. These men and women, lured by promises of fair wages and opportunity, signed agreements — or girmits — that led them to the distant sugar plantations of the Pacific. What they found instead was back-breaking labour, harsh living conditions, and separation from everything they knew.
My ancestors were among them. They came with little, suffered much, and received less than what was promised. But they endured. They built communities, kept their traditions alive, and through resilience and hard work, laid the foundation for future generations. Their spirit lives in every Indo-Fijian family today — mine included.
Growing up in Fiji, I was surrounded by stories of my great-grandparents: stories of 4 a.m. mornings in the cane fields, of food shared among neighbours, of prayers offered in makeshift shrines, and of laughter that persisted even when life was hard. These weren’t just stories of hardship — they were stories of dignity and survival.
It is from them that I learned the meaning of perseverance. Their struggles gave me perspective; their sacrifices gave me strength. Today, as a business owner and community leader in Australia, I see their legacy in every opportunity I’ve had — and in the values I pass on to my two sons Ravneel and Soneel.
In recent years, I’ve felt a growing responsibility to ensure that the Girmitya story is remembered — not just as history, but as an ongoing legacy. Through the Deo Family Charitable Foundation, and the Fiji Girmit Foundation Australia, we’ve been hosting Girmit Remembrance Day for the past four years here in Australia. These annual events bring together descendants, scholars, artists, and youth to reflect on and celebrate the Girmitya experience.
In 2023, we launched the Fiji Girmit Legacy Awards, which recognize individuals who are preserving and promoting Girmit history and values in contemporary society. Over 20 remarkable community members have been honoured so far, representing fields such as culture, education, social justice, and leadership. Their stories inspire us — and ensure that the flame our ancestors lit continues to burn bright.
Yet, I believe we must go further. As our elders pass on, their memories risk being lost unless we act to document them. We need to invest in education, oral history projects, school curriculums, and digital archives that capture the full story of the Girmityas. We need our children to understand that the freedoms and opportunities they enjoy today were paid for by people who had none.
The Girmitya story is not one of victimhood. It is a story of resistance through survival. It is a story of culture maintained against the odds, of languages that crossed oceans, and of values — hard work, humility, and family — that remain central to who we are.
Being a descendant of a Girmitya is not just a matter of genealogy. It is a call to action. It reminds us to honour our past by building a stronger, more united future — rooted in the values our ancestors lived by.
As we approach yet another Girmit Remembrance Day, let us not simply remember — let us recommit. To education, to unity, and to honouring those who came before us by carrying their legacy forward.
I am proud of where I come from. I am proud to be a Girmitya descendant. And I will continue to work to ensure that pride is shared, celebrated, and passed on.
