He Says He Did
Not Say It
Remarkable Report About Fiji- Indian Scholarships
THERE has been a little storm in a tea-cup over “Indian Scholarships” in Fiji—amusing, to the distant on looker, but embarrassing to the principals on the spot.
The Government of India recently de cided to grant three scholarships, tenable at Indian universities, to young Indians resident in Fiji.
It was not a very wise gesture. If there ever is to be any peaceful solution of the Indian problem in Fiji, the present strong links between India and the Fiji Indians must be removed or reduced. The grant ing of scholarships in this way only tends to create new cultural relations between India and Fiji. Therefore, in the view of the more thoughtful Europeans and Fijians, the scholarship system is un desirable.
On June 29, in the Suva Town Hall, at the instance of the Indians, a public meeting was held to say farewell to two of the Indian scholarship-winners. Mr.
Vishnu Deo, MLC, presided, and among those present were the Mayor of Suva (Mr. Alport Barker), the Director of Education (Mr. Howard Hayden) and the Commissioner for the Government of India (Mr. S. A. Waiz), A speech was made by Mr. Waiz. Next day, in the “Fiji Times” (whose owner editor is Mr. Barker and who was pre sent on the platform) it was reported that Mr. Waiz had said that it was proposed that the Indian Government should ex tend the Fiji scholarship scheme to in clude two native Fijian students, who could go to Indian universities for “higher education” and to “learn some thing of the arts and crafts of that great country, whose glories exceed those of ancient Greece.” It was reported, also, that Mr. Waiz said he had consulted the Secretary for Fijian Affairs (Sir Lala Sukuna); that a selection of two students would soon be made; and he “hoped the Fijians would return to their own country and tell their people here something of the wondeiful country where they had completed their education.”
THE report, of course, caused a sensa tion. If true, it not only disclosed an almost unforgiveable impertin ence on the part of the Government of India, but an astonishing attitude of mind on the part of Sir Lala Sukuna.
No one knows what happened then in the private rooms of officialdom: but al most immediately there was an emphatic disclaimer by both Mr. Waiz and Sir Lala Sukuna.
In a formal letter to the Fiji Govern ment, Mr. Waiz insisted that he had said nothing of the kind —his remarks had been completely misinterpreted and misreported.
Sir Lala let it be known that he had not been consulted regarding any Indian scholarship plan, and had not approved of it.
There, at last report, the matter rested, with sundry high official personages breathing heavily. But—no “correction” has appeared in the “Fiji Times.”
In a way, it is quite an intriguing mystery. I am inclined to put my money on Alport Barker, mayor and editor. He is not, in any sense, an irresponsible per son, and I cannot believe that he would create that speech—which he reported in some detail —out of nothing. He has sat tight and said not a word: and, as far as I can find out, the somewhat distressed
Mr. Waiz has made no protest to him.
Which may or may not be significant.
Anyway, we may take it that no Indian scholarships are going to be offered this
year to Fijian students.