Girmitiyas were Indian indentured labourers who migrated under contract to British colonies. This included over 60,500 sent to Fiji between 1879 and 1916 to work on plantations.
According to history Girmitiyas were Indian indentured labourers who left India in the mid to late 19th Century to work in British colonies, where many eventually settled.
The term “Girmit” is a mispronunciation of “agreement,” referring to the contract under which they migrated.
Girmit.org acknowledges the National Archives of Fiji as the custodians of the original records.
These immigration passes have been digitised and are freely accessible online via the National Library of Australia.
Particularly for descendants of the Girmitiyas who are eager to explore their roots and confirm their heritage, everything can be searched online for them.
Another website, Girmit.org was created to share information about the history of ‘Indentured Labourers’, known as “Girmitiyas,”
This year the Lautoka Girmit Remembrance Day will be marked on a smaller scale because the main celebration will be held in Labasa.
Lautoka Girmit Centre manager Selwa Nadan said there would be a small celebration at the centre.
The event will feature a variety of dramas, songs, dance and interviews.
“It’s encouraging to note that the women’s groups have shown great interest,” Mr Nadan said. Today a women’s group from the Ba Multicultural Centre will be producing a Girmit drama along with a group from the Nadi Nari Sabha and Sangam ladies from Nadi and Lautoka.
Mr Nadan said the three dramas would be the main items on the program.
“If you present the drama in a way that will depict the message that we want to send out to the younger generation, that will sort of carry more weight,” he said.
Mr Nadan said the centre was also trying to arrange for descendants of the Girmitya to attend. “We have contacted some but they’re based in Ba and have medical issues. It’s going to be difficult for them to travel from Ba.
“We had the same problem last year.”
Mr Nadan said it was a challenge arranging for the transportation of the Girmitya descendants since their family members did not have time to bring them.
“From my phone interviews, I could see that one is 85 and one is 89 years-old.
“They actually did not see things with their own eyes, but they heard stories from their parents.”
Members of the Suva Nari Sabha, from front, Sushila Wati, Tara Mahabir, Sheela Wati and Vidya Wati during the Girmit celebrations at Albert Park in Suva on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Sohan Singh with instruments during the Girmit celebrations at Albert Park in Suva in 2023.
Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
