Students are being encouraged to value education and appreciate the sacrifices made by girmitya, during the Girmit commemoration held at the Fiji National University’s Naiyaca Campus in Labasa yesterday.
Speaking at the event, organised by the university and the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs, scholar and guest speaker Payal Maharaj shared personal stories of hardship faced by earlier generations in their pursuit of education.
“My own mother walked barefoot for miles to school, carrying books in plastic bags because proper school bags were unaffordable,” she said.
Ms Maharaj said her dad lost his own father while still in Class Seven and had to support his siblings’ education at a young age.
She said the sacrifices and resilience of the descendants of the girmitiya had created opportunities for young people today to pursue higher education and build better futures.
Ms Maharaj reminded students that many children of the girmitiya studied under kerosene lamps and candlelight without proper resources, yet remained determined to succeed.
She urged young people to stay disciplined, avoid distractions such as drugs and unhealthy influences, and continue to carry forward the values of resilience, unity and hard work.
