At her home on Lakha Singh Rd at Sakoca, Tamavua, Anita Devi Prasad speaks with quiet pride about a lifelong connection to music — one that began in the green hills of Tabia, Savusavu, where she was born and raised.
Coming from a humble farming background, Ms Prasad grew up in a household where music was an integral part of daily life.
The songs that filled her childhood were not just melodies — they were memories, traditions, and a reflection of her family’s identity.
Her parents, Dashrath and Gangajali, were both passionate singers, deeply rooted in traditional and devotional forms of Indian music.
“My mother was a lokgeet singer,” Ms Prasad recalls, her eyes lighting up at the thought.
“She used to sing with my aunties at weddings, birth ceremonies, and other community events.
“I accompanied her from childhood, sitting nearby, trying to hum along to the tunes I heard.”
Those early performances left a lasting impression. Her mother’s songs, mostly sohar (childbirth songs), bidesia (songs of longing), and birha (songs of separation), carried the voices of generations of women before her.
Her father, too, had a gift for melody.
“My father used to sing classical songs, mostly from Bollywood movies of the golden era. He also sang kirtan and bhajan. He was a renowned melodist during his time and was often invited to sing at conventions and big events.”
Surrounded by music from both sides of her family, it was almost inevitable that Ms Prasad, 56, would find her own voice.
“I was just eight years old when my love for singing started. My cousins were also singers, and I used to join them. We mostly sang the songs our mothers and aunties taught us, and they guided us patiently.”
Her parents recognised her talent early on. Far from discouraging her, they nurtured it.
“My parents were proud of me. They never stopped me from singing. Instead, they encouraged me and helped me grow.”
By her early teens, Ms Prasad was already performing at family functions and community gatherings, earning admiration for her strong, soulful voice.
Her repertoire included traditional lokgeet, sohar, and bidesia songs that spoke of joy, sorrow, and the everyday rhythms of life.
“I still remember all those songs I sang as a child. They’re still close to my heart because they connect me to my roots, to the voices of my parents and grandparents.”
When she married at the age of 18, some expected her singing to fade into the background, as often happened to women after marriage. But for Ms Prasad, marriage only strengthened her musical journey.
“I was fortunate to get married into a family that also had a deep interest in music.”
Her mother-in-law shared her passion and became both mentor and companion.
“When my mother-in-law saw my interest in lokgeet, she guided me further. She was also a singer and used to take me to weddings and other events to perform with her.”
Her husband, Shivendra Prasad Milan, is himself a respected singer known in local circles for his devotionals and bhajans. He became one of Ms Prasad’s greatest supporters.
“He supported me throughout because he was also a singer. He never stopped me from performing in public.
“Music brought us closer. Sometimes, after dinner, we would sit and sing together — just the two of us.
“Those are memories I hold dear.”
Over time, the couple became familiar faces at cultural programs, weddings, and kirtan gatherings across Suva and nearby areas.
Her popularity soared even further following the release of her four lokgeet and bidesia albums. Today, the legacy of music in her family continues into the next generation.
Ms Prasad is the proud mother of three children, all of whom grew up surrounded by rhythm and melody.
Her son, Manjeet Milan, is now a well-known kirtan and sangeet singer in his own right, often performing at national religious events and live programs.
“Manjeet’s interest in music developed from childhood,” Ms Prasad said with pride.
“He used to accompany us to our singing programs, just as I used to accompany my parents. It’s like the music passed from one generation to another.”
For Ms Prasad, that generational continuity means everything. She sees music not only as a personal passion but as a bridge connecting the past with the present, parents with children, and culture with community.
“Music is something that keeps families together. It’s not just about singing; it’s about expressing who you are, where you come from, and what you believe in.”
Reflecting on her journey, Ms Prasad believes that supporting children’s creative interests is just as important as encouraging their academic pursuits.
“I urge parents not to stop their children when they show an interest in singing. Instead, help them develop their skills.
“Some parents discourage their children because they want them to focus on schoolwork, but I believe they do better when they follow their true interests.
“It gives them confidence and purpose.”
Ms Prasad is also deeply passionate about the preservation of traditional music, especially lokgeet, sohar, and bidesia, which she fears are slowly fading from community life.
“We should continue to promote and protect our folk songs, especially those sung by our ancestors and Girmitiya. They carried these songs across the oceans when they came to Fiji. These songs tell our history.”
Ms Prasad now encourages the younger generation to participate in cultural events and temple gatherings, not just as spectators but as performers.
“Take your children to cultural events so they can understand their significance. Give them platforms to perform, that’s how our traditions will survive.”
Even today, she continues to perform at community functions and family ceremonies. Though she may not take the stage as often as before, her voice still carries the same devotion and warmth that once echoed through the hills of Tabia.
“I sing because it makes me happy. And when I see others enjoying it, that’s my reward.”
For Ms Prasad, music is far more than a pastime; it is a living legacy, a thread binding generations together.
From the folk songs of her childhood to the devotional melodies of today, her story is one of harmony of a life tuned perfectly to the rhythm of tradition, family, and love.
