Fijians And Indians
pp. 104-105 · Read in the full issue
Nature of the Problem
(From an article on Fiji in the October i “Crown Colonist,” by Lucille Iremonger.) ( BY the centenary of Cession the popu- lation of Fiji may be expected to o reach the half-million mark, with a £ substantial preponderance of Indians.
To what extent this is to develop into o a problem depends on the success or t failure of British leadership in equipping § Fijians to govern themselves; and in this a context the word Fijians applies alike to o indigenous Fijians, Fijians from India, and the “Fiji-born,” as the European n colonists call themselves. .
From the point of view of the mdige- -i nous Fijian the outlook is good. Affairs g' are already largely in Fijian hands, and b. our methods have been successfully yJ
grafted on to native customs and social structure.
However, this is only half the battle.
Unfortunately, that sense of responsi bility for native peoples which inspires British Colonial government is not al ways extended with the same imaginative sympathy to alien (and often economi cally more important) populations.
Indian society in Fiji is admittedly complex and evolutionary. Admittedly, too, District Officers are obliged to pass examinations in an Indian language. But the fact remains that the attitude of Government, especially the personal at titude of most individual officers, is that Fijians are the people, and the Indians the potential “problem.” Such an at titude is dangerous. For better or for worse, the Fijian and the Indian will have to work out a common destiny.
At present there are few signs that the Indian section of the community is being prepared for the responsibilities of self government. There are no signs at all of sympathy or spontaneous co-operation between the two races. Such co-operation as does exist is limited to official bodies, and Government-sponsored activities. Nor is there any sign as yet of the races merging by miscegenation, and, in fact, they have little in common in culture, language or character.
There is hope, however, in the notice able breaking down of social and religious barriers among the Indians themselves, who, moreover, show little tendency to look to India,” despite the exhortations of irresponsible politicians.
For their part, the Fijians show no great love of the kai India. A sinister illustration is that this notably honest people regard thieving from Indians as venial, and even laudable. It will need tact and vision to launch such diverse elements as a homogeneous nation.