THE girmitiyas came to Fiji with a passion to achieve something in life.
Those were the words of 105-year-old Prithi Pati of Gallau Rakiraki who was in tears while remembering what his forefathers had to go through during girmit.
Mr Pati, who is known as Nanka, said his father was only 16 when he arrived in Levuka with his parents.
He said his father told him that the British lured them to Fiji on the promise that they will receive good pay just for removing dirt from sugar.
Their family was given a house in Rakiraki but their parents were forced to work in sugarcane fields and their tasks changed with much harsher treatment from the Englishman on horseback who beat them and told them to work from dawn to dusk.
“We were four siblings and I was the only son. My father used to say that his parents left their motherland for a brighter future in Fiji. They were told lies that by digging soil in Fiji they would get gold. They did not find gold and they always felt betrayed by the British,” Mr Pati added.
He said after the indenture system ended, his father went to India to get other family members and then he settled in Rakiraki.
‘I can clearly remember my father’s last words before he passed away. Why are you late from work son, I was waiting for you. He then took his last breathe.”
Despite being over 100 years of age, Mr Pati looks after his 61 year old mentally challenged son, does the housework, looks after cattle and cook.
Meanwhile, 91-year-old Dhanpat of Mulomulo, Nadi also shared her story passed down to her by her parents who were girmitiyas.
She recalls the sufferings her parents went through and was told that women were only given two days to rest after giving birth before they were called back to work in the fields.
“Their babies were looked after by other older relatives or neighbours.”
Ms Dhanpat said sometimes the labourers were given only two meals a day and they were not allowed to rest while working in the hot sun.
She added like every dark night ends at dawn, the girmitiyas with the assistance of their culture, tradition, hard work and perseverance made sure their children and grandchildren had a brighter future in this country.
Despite being illiterate themselves they built schools for the next generation.
Ms Dhanpat said they gave priority to Hindi language, culture and tradition to ensure their children read the religious scriptures and become better citizens of this country.
Their accomplishments are worth honoring and this will be their best tribute.