After the end of Indenture System in Fiji in 1919, Indians continued to risk the arduous three-month sea journey and travelled 11,500km in search of greener pastures and better opportunities in Fiji.
Among the droves was a Hindu priest called Gopal Sadhu, who settled in Nakasi upon setting foot on terra firma in Viti Levu.
While Sadhu died many years ago, the Gopal Sadhu Hanuman Gadhi temple on Nakasi continues his legacy. Ram Prasad, a patron and life member of the temple, said the Hindu shrine was established long before he was born.
“It was built as a small shed in the early 1940s,” said Mr Prasad.
“I was born in 1945. “Sadhu Gopal was still around when the temple was built.
“The place where the statue of Lord Hanuman is currently located in the temple is where Sadhu ji used to do his meditations.
“Sadhu ji’s shack was near his worship place.”
Mr Prasad said Gopal Sadhu travelled from India to Fiji on a religious pilgrimage.
“Nobody knows where in India he was actually from.
“He got married in Fiji and I am told that his wife was also from India.
I am not sure how many children he had, but I know he had two daughters – one of whom was the wife of the late B. D. Lakshman of Navua – a renowned businessman at that time.”
Mr Prasad said Sadhu Gopal did not return to India and spent his entire life in Nakasi.
“He was a generous man, and he used to provide a resting place to those who used to travel long distances from other areas to visit Nakasi.
“Sadhu ji’s prayer hut was very small then. “He had a small idol of Lord Hanuman in his compound.
“And while resting there, visitors would also take time out to pray to Lord Hanuman.
“They realised that the place was full of spiritual powers, so they started to visit there frequently to pray to Lord Hanuman.”
Mr Prasad said when Sadhu Gopal became old, he handed over the property to his daughter and son-in-law, the late Mr and Mrs B D Lakshman of Navua. “The Lakshman family of Navua became the trustees of this property.
“Gopal Sadhu always loved peace and unity, and he wanted to see this in his community.
“People complained to him that white men were harassing them, so Sadhu ji formed a group and they started protesting against it.
“One day, during a protest while they were on their way to Suva to see the authorities, Gopal Sadhu was shot in the leg.
“This incident happened near the Rewa Dairy factory in 4 miles.”
Mr Prasad said the gunshot scarred him for life, and from that day onwards, Gopal Sadhu was unable to walk properly. “His health also started to deteriorate.
“He didn’t go anywhere from here and was just praying here in his small hut.”
Temple president Vijendra Prakash said the construction of the old temple was done in 1962.
“One of the families of B. D. Lakshman, Prince Gopal’s family, began to build the temple here in 1962,” Mr Prakash said.
“They used to come with people from Deuba and Navua to Nakasi to work on the temple.
“It was very hard for them to travel during that time, but they persevered.
“They faced many challenges. A lot of break-ins happened. Things were destroyed, so they were only able to construct half of the temple.
“So they requested the people nearby to take over and build the temple in the name of their grandfather Gopal Sadhu.”
Mr Prakash said in early 1992, the family met Ram Sumeshwar Yadav and sought his assistance in getting in some people to run the temple.
“People didn’t show interest at that time because there was a Whalley’s Butchery here and a poultry farm also.
“The place was very messy, and the area was covered with bush, so nobody wanted it.
“So Mr Ram Sumeshwar Yadav influenced me and other people to get involved.
“I came from Vunidawa and others were from Vatoa Ramayan Mandali in Narere.
“He took us to Deuba and Prince Gopal told us about their difficulties regarding the temple.
“He said they were Arya Samaji’s and their nana and nani (grandparents) were Sanatani’s and they wanted to build a Hanuman temple under his name.
“From that point on, we developed a relationship with this family and took over the temple.”
