FIJI’S national anthem was sung for the first time during an official occasion on October 10, 1971.
Meda dau doka or God Bless Fiji is the national anthem of Fiji. The melody was adapted from a 1911 hymn by Charles Austin Miles entitled Dwelling in Beulah Land. The lyrics and music were composed by Michael Francis Alexander Prescott and adopted upon independence in 1970.
The English and Fijian lyrics are not translations of each other, and in fact have very little in common
According to The Fiji Times of that day, which by the way cost five cents a copy at the time, a religious worship service was held at Albert Park where passages from holy books and prayers were read in Fijian, English, Arabic, Gurmukki and Urdu.
“Representatives of a Muslim sect which was not permitted to take part in yesterday’s service at Albert Park did not attend the service,” The Fiji Times reported.
“A Government source said the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaar-Islam had returned 50 tickets for seats in the grandstand and on the dais for its representatives”.
In his editorial on Fiji’s first anniversary of independence, editor and publisher of this newspaper Sir Len Usher wrote: “A one-year old child is very much a baby, still heavily dependent on its parents for nurture, still faltering in its steps.
“A better comparison in Fiji’s case would be that of a young man who has left the parental home and has started to earn his own living.
He keeps the affection and goodwill of the family, but no longer relies on others to tell him what to do or to feed, clothe and house him.
He has become an adult, assuming adult responsibilities.” Sir Len’s editorial went on to say that independence brought with it new costs to Fiji and “these would grow as the years go by”.
“There is danger in relying too heavily on an income source that can be heavily and perhaps suddenly affected by outside infl uences and in neglecting, as Fiji is increasingly doing, the use of her own resources to produce food for her people,” Sir Len said in his editorial on October 10, 1971.
“There is danger too in excessive borrowing, which piles up debts that will remain a burden for generations to come”.
Sir Len said, “The prime minister has expressed his concern about the unequal distribution of wealth. This must trouble all with a social conscience.
From a national view point, it is cause for special concern when it results from, or shows itself in, exorbitant charges for basic household needs, or rent, or transport or house building materials or professional services, or is accentuated by gross profi – teering on speculative deals in land or buildings.”
English
Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji
CHORUS:
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom, hope and glory, to endure what ever befall
May God bless Fiji
Forever more!
Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji
Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji.
iTaukei
Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Biu na i tovo tawa savasava
CHORUS:
Me bula ga ko Viti
Ka me toro ga ki liu
Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu
Me ra liutaki na tamata
E na veika vinaka
Me oti kina na i tovo ca
Me da dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga
Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti
Ni yavala me savasava na vanua
Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali
Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua
Hindi
He jagdishwar, kripa karo tum Fiji desh pe apne
Ahle watan hum teri sharan mein, teri dhwaja ke neehe
Ajaadi ki raksha aur samman sada hum karege
Sab milke badhte rahege
Sarwamangal Fiji
CHORUS
Yeh Fiji, hamara Fiji
Hum sab mil gaate rahe
Yeh Fiji Hamara Fiji
Yeh naara lagate rahe
Dharti hai apni, azaadi, asha aur garva ki
Kripa rahe prabhu ki, Fiji par sarwada
