Celebration to mark 100 years since the end of indentured system

The celebration of 100 years since the end of the indentured system is about strengthening brotherly relationship between the i-Taukei and Indian descendants.

This comment has been made by the Coordinator of the celebration of freedom from indentured system, Govind Singh, who is representing himself as a child of Girmityas as they prepare for the celebration at Syria Park this weekend.

It has been confirmed that the descendants of the survivors of the indentured labour ship, the Syria, will be making a formal presentation to the Marama Bale Na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa and the people of Rewa at 11am tomorrow.

Singh says they have been told by the chiefs of Noco village that all the descendants of Girmityas are the children of Noco village and there is a strong bond between the Indian descendants and the soil of Noco.

He adds that his team was in Noco village for a research and the village chiefs told them that the relationship was always there since the Syria ship incident when their ancestors buried the Indians in 1884.

Singh stresses that they found out that no one has ever acknowledged the people of Noco for the respect they showed to the Indians in the 1800s.

Tui Noco, Ratu Isoa Damudamu says that according to his grandfather 10 villages from Noco district were instrumental in the rescue of the Syria survivors and those who lost their lives were buried in the vanua of Noco in the Province of Rewa.

Meanwhile, the Rewa Day and Girmit celebration will start today and end tomorrow where there will be an exchange of gifts traditionally with the theme ‘You belong to us and we belong to you’.

Some folk songs will also be played in remembrance of Girmityas.