Sevaka Ratnam Sadhu Kuppuswamy thought long and far when he founded Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Sangam Fiji in 1926.
While there wasn’t much financial support available then, the founder had a clear vision for the South Indian community.
This is what the head priest of the Sri Raja Maha Mariamman Tiru Kovil in Suva, Prakash Shivam had to say about the founder of Sangam Fiji .
Shivam highlights that education was an important pillar for the founder, pointing out that Suva Sangam College stands right next to the temple.
“Indian students normally come to the temple to pray but they are always here to seek the blessings of Saraswati, who is the goddess of knowledge, when it’s time for their external exams,” he said.
Shivam said it was a wonderful feeling to note that Sangam Fiji was still going strong 100 years after its founding.
“Every country in the world has religious and cultural groups but one thing I’ve seen is that the South Indian community in Fiji is very strong,” he observes.
Having worked as a head priest in Singapore and Malaysia, Shivam says he has never seen the Sangam community so unified.
“Sangam is a mix of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam people who are classified as South Indians.
“I’ve seen they’re separated in other countries and don’t come under one banner.
“But I’ve seen that there’s unity here in Fiji and they are all one under the Sangam banner.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen the Sangam community being so strong in any country.”
As the Sangam community marches toward its 100-year milestone next April, the Sri Raja Maha Mariamman Tiru Kovil is set to embrace transformation.
Last year, the temple on Howell Road celebrated 100 years of its establishment.
Next year will mark the 100th year for fire walking ceremonies that are held at the temple annually.
Sangam Fiji will celebrate its centennial anniversary in April 2026.
As part of the Road to 100 Years, Sangam Fiji is carrying out some activities that include restoration of the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple in Nadi and the temple in Suva.
The organisation has brought in artisans from Tamil Nadu in India to paint the two temples.
Four of the skilled craftsmen have returned to India after carrying out major painting works while the remaining two are giving the final touches at Nadi temple.
The two artisans, Yuvaraj Thandavan and Karthikeyan Neelakandan said they would start working on the Suva temple soon and give it a new look for the centennial celebrations.
Originally from Mangadu village in the district of Pudukkotta in Tamil Nadu, Shivam is the head priest at the Suva temple since 2015.
Coming from a full Pundit and Brahman family, he followed his ancestors’ footsteps and left home at the age of 15 to study and enter priesthood.
After seven years of religious studies, he worked as the head priest at a temple in Singapore for five years and then in Malaysia for four years.
“In 2014, some painters from my village in Tamil Nadu had returned from Fiji after painting this temple and they told me about Fiji and the temple,” he said.
“They told me that the people are very good and I should try to go and work in Fiji so I applied and after all the paperwork, my visa was approved about one year later.
“So, I moved to Fiji in early 2015 to take up my role as the head priest at Suva temple and I’m here since then,” said the 45-year-old.
He has two assistant priests, S Pragadeeshwara Shivam and R Govindh Sivam who are also from Tamil Nadu, and another assistant priest Salesh who is a local.
The Sangam World Cup 2025 that was held in Lautoka from October 30 to November 2 was a major event in the calendar of events as part of the Road to 100 Years.
Sangam Fiji branches around the country are also organising events to recognise their former and current officials.
The Road to 100 Years was launched at the Sangam annual convention in Ba in April this year.
In May, Rakiraki was the first district to honour its officials as that is where the idea by Sevaka Ratnam Sadhu Kuppuswamy to form the organisation was born.
Suva and Nasinu have held theirs while Labasa branch will have it later this month.
n AVINESH GOPAL is TISI Sangam Fiji’s communications & publicity officer. The views expressed in the article are his and do not reflect the views of this newspaper.
An iTaukei student performs at the event in Suva. In the background is a picture of Sevaka Ratnam Sadhu Kuppuswamy. Picture:SUPPLIED
A fire walking ceremony at the Sri Raja Maha Mariamman Tiru Kovil in Suva. Picture:SUPPLIED/Alvina Nair Photography
Head priest, Prakash Shivam with his assistant priests from Tamil Nadu, S Pragadeeshwara Shivam and R Govindh Sivam. Picture:SUPPLIED
