A Fiji-Born Indian Defends

His People

Letter to the Editor

I HAVE just read the article of “John Bull” about Fiji Indians in your Feb ruary issue, and thought I should say something in defence.

You are quite right in saying that he is a little extreme in his views, and disre spectful of authority. But you also say that he knows Fiji intimately. Anybody who has read his article can easily tell why he wrote it. I think I am telling you the truth when I say that he hates and envies the Indians domiciled here.

That is the reason why he wrote such a rubbishy article.

He condemns the Governor and the British Government and says that the Fijians have been betrayed. This state ment is not true. When the Fijian people do not say out themselves that they have been betrayed, I wonder how did he ascer tain that. If you ask the Fijian how he js getting on, he will immediately reply and say that he is fine. The Fijians are the happiest people here. Everybody says that.

“John Bull” seems to know more about Fiji’s affairs than the Governor and the Legislative Council. Perhaps Fiji and the Fijians could live like kings under his guidance. When he takes charge of Fiji the first thing he will think of will be to clear the Indian coolies (as he calls us) out of this colony. Then, only, I suppose, he will be content with himself. Well, Mr. John Bull, why not ask the Colonial Office to elect you as the Governor of Fiji!

He says that the “Indians in Fiji are a problem and a curse, Australia and New Zealand are wise in preventing them from coming in. They breed like rabbits, and Fiji in a few years cannot and will not be able to support them. India does not want them. Where will they go?”

I never heard such nonsense before in all my life. We Fijian-born Indians can go to almost any part of the world and nobody can stop us. We are not coolies —we are free men born in Fiji. Even the people who originally came here as coolies are not called such.

We are just as good as anybody, and “John Bull” should know that by this time. India is our Motherland, and “John

Bull” is a damnable liar in saying that she (India) doesn’t want us back, Thousands of Indians have gone back to India. I myself have been to India, Cey lon, Australia, and New Zealand. Hundreds of Indians are going to India every year, Do you not know this?

Your correspondent thinks Fiji will not be able to support us in a few years’ time, since we “breed like rabbits.” Mr. John Bull, you will be just as good as Miss Katherine Mayo (the author of “Mother India”) if you carry on and write a book about all the worst things you can find out about the Indians. In fairness to yourself, I recommend you to read only “Unhappy India” (leave the other books aside) written by an Indian, and you will soon find out all about the white people, too. After reading this book I don’t think you will ever want to say anything wicked about the Indians again. See about your self first, in thought, words, and deeds, before you condemn another nation or race.

Mr. Editor, I wish you could make a trip to Fiji and go into the various prob lems affecting the people here. I think you should not publish such articles as “John Bull’s” as that article is too extreme and throws a wrong impression upon your readers of the “Pacific Islands Monthly.”

We are human beings, too, and made by the same God that made you. And what is more, our ancestors belonged to the same Aryan race as yourselves. Knowing all this, I can’t understand why we are still molested in a most unpleasant man ner. It is no use trying to tell somebody a story from the middle of a book. You will have to read from the beginning before you can understand the whole story, I hope that you will publish only articles that are good, and which would be appre ciated by all races alike, since this paper is read by all.

I am, etc.,

A Fiji-Born Indian.

Suva, Fiji, 17/3/’34.

EDITORIAL NOTE.—Another vigorously-written letter on the same subject, by J. A. Kirpal, of Suva, is held over, for publication in next issue, owing to lack of space.