Today is Ratu Sukuna Day, and we celebrate the life and achievements of a great leader, distinguished scholar, soldier, sportsman, and statesman with a far-sighted vision.
The life of Ratu Sir Josefa Lalabalavu Vanayaliyali Sukuna left behind valuable lessons.
His belief that the way forward for Fiji was through peaceful co-existence must be reiterated by our leaders.
His life was centred around indigenous identity, culture and education, and bravery in battle.
That signified his distinguished career and tagged him “the man of two worlds”.
Imagine the time and being an iTaukei, the esteemed chief attended overseas institutions and became the first iTaukei to graduate from a university.
Apart from education, he excelled in sports (cricket, rugby and boxing). This is a valuable lesson for our students that if we balance education with sports, we will shine.
His commitment and passion speak volumes of citizenship. Ratu Sukuna’s concept of the “three-legged stool” paid dividends as education then became a sacred concept and was valued.
There is a need to re-ignite this concept. His visionary leadership transformed Fiji.
At Nabua Secondary School, the students demonstrated Ratu Sukuna’s life. The audience watched in delight as they showed Ratu Sukuna’s achievements, something that will motivate the young.
The Indo-Fijian students also put up an item much to the delight of their iTaukei colleagues.
It is important to reflect on Ratu Sukuna’s life and devise strategies to strengthen the vital connection between education and culture in schools to assist teachers in addressing behavioural issues!
Ratu Sukuna left a distinct imprint on the sand of every facet of Fiji’s life, and his legacy is one that will be hard to fill and must be known by our young.
