Asked to write a few words in memory of Vijendra Kumar, I fortunately found a copy of the book he published in 2016, A Fiji Diary, Reminiscences and Reflections of a Newsman.
The first thing I notice about Vijendra’s stories is they are easy to ready. His clean, clear writing style brings back memories of a highly intelligent, erudite man with a keen sense of history.
It reminds me of the moment Vijendra stressed the importance of using the least number of words in a sentence to tell a story.
We were meeting in the editor’s office of the old The Fiji Times building on Gordon St mid 1978. I was fresh out of university in the UK and he had been editor of The Fiji Times since 1975.
“Have you heard of the inverted [upside-down] pyramid?” “No”, I replied, completely mystified.
It’s like this he said, using his hands to outline the shape. At the top in the first sentence you must have all the essentials of the story: the when, where, what and why… and how. The second sentence develops the story and so on… with the least important pieces of information at the bottom.
That way, he said, if the editors had to cut the story to fit the space it could easily be done at any point in the story – without losing the essentials for readers, who also may not have time to read it all.
Thus commenced my seven years at The Fiji Times and my involvement with newspapers, diverting into management and culminating in sub-editing on the Canberra Times. I’ll always be grateful to Vijendra for imparting the basics.
As I’m sure others will testify, those early years at The Fiji Times under the leadership of Vijendra were good ones. We looked up to him and were thankful he had our backs. In return he had our loyalty.
As I read Vijendra’s reminiscences in 2016 and reflect on the times, it’s clear he was still carrying some of the burden of Fiji’s emergence out of its colonial period and the tumultuous years that followed the coups.
Vijendra admired and respected the then prime minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. He had his private number and sometimes took the PM’s side in favour of the local boys on the frequent industrial disputes. He was in awe of Ratu Mara’s invective and at times fearful of his rage.
I remember one occasion when Vijendra said he had to hold his phone – out there he demonstrated, extending his arm – because the PM was shouting so hard.
“What was he saying, I asked?” “‘Well what would you suggest we do?”. He kept repeating it.”
The context was the challenge of creating employment opportunities for Fiji’s increasing number of job seekers after the newspaper had editorially questioned the wisdom of a government decision.
Recalling 1987, in his book Vijendra writes he was shocked at the sight of the then Governor General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, being jeered at the Suva town hall in 1987. He considers the accusation that Ratu Mara could have stood up to the coups in 1987 and concludes “the tidal wave of Fijian nationalism was so strong it would have swept aside anyone who dared to challenge it”.
It’s no wonder then that Vijendra welcomed Frank Bainimarama’s reforms for a common and equal citizenry in Fiji, seeing him as a necessary step in the mould of Ghana’s Jerry Rawlings. But was he aware of the full extent of the regime’s excesses?
Summing up his 21 years at The Fiji Times from 1969 to 1991, Vijendra said it was exciting. But the military coups of 1987 put enormous pressure on the media, he said, and journalists were routinely harassed and intimidated.
“While we at The Fiji Times did our best under difficult conditions…. I found the new environment unpleasant and after five years of frustration decided to leave.”
“I have been blessed with a good life. But as I reflect on the past, and I do this often now, I miss my dear departed kin and friends…”
“I find some comfort in the simple philosophy that the purpose of life is to remember. Only through our collective remembrances, right from the dawn of civilisation, mankind has been able to acquire and preserve knowledge in its continuing quest for perfection.
“Knowledge gained over eons ultimately may help us to unlock the door to this great mystery. My remembrances contribute but a tiny drop to a limitless ocean of knowledge.”
But across that ocean Vijendra, the ripples you created will continue to spread.
We will remember you.
