LAST month, we looked into the Meridian Store and how a man travelled all the way from Navsari in India to start up a business on Taveuni.
As Fiji developed, other Indians arrived not as labourers but as traders, craftsmen and businesspeople searching for opportunities.
Today, we bring to you the story of the first Gujaratis who came to Fiji.
While the arrival of the Leonidas in 1879 marked the beginning of the indentured labour system in Fiji, not every Indian who came to these shores arrived under that system.
Many came voluntarily, bringing with them skills, ambition and the determination to build better lives through trade and enterprise.
Among them were Gujaratis and Punjabis, communities that would become closely associated with business and entrepreneurship across the country.
From small village shops to larger commercial enterprises, these migrants helped shape Fiji’s economy while building lasting relationships with the communities they served.
Nearly a century later, their contributions remain visible in businesses that continue to operate across Fiji, including the well-known Meridian Store in Wairiki, Taveuni.
For Meridian Store managing director Champak Lal Dayaram, the story of these early migrants is one of courage, sacrifice and perseverance.
“Those people who came here had nothing guaranteed. They came to an unknown place, but they had the confidence and determination to build something,” he said.
“They started small. They worked hard, they understood the needs of the community, and they slowly established themselves.”
The arrival of Gujarati businesspeople in Fiji formed part of a wider migration movement that brought skilled workers and traders to the colony during the early 20th century.
Unlike indentured labourers who were recruited to work on sugar plantations, these migrants paid their own way or were sponsored by relatives and associates already living overseas.
Many left western India hoping to improve their lives through commerce, taking advantage of opportunities in emerging colonial economies.
Historical records show the first Gujaratis in Fiji were two goldsmiths from the Sonar caste who arrived in 1904 from Natal, South Africa.
Originally from Porbandar in the Kathiawar district of Gujarat, they travelled to Fiji with the assistance of Totaram Sanadhya.
Their arrival marked the beginning of organised Gujarati migration to Fiji.
Four years later, more goldsmiths followed.
Soon afterwards came tailors, barbers, launderers, shoemakers and other skilled workers from Surat and Navsari, bringing trades that were in demand as Fiji’s towns and settlements expanded.
Between 1916 and 1920, of the 752 Gujaratis who applied to migrate to Fiji, 336 came from Surat, 296 from Navsari and 120 from Kathiawar.
Patels also began arriving in 1914, mainly from Baroda State and the Nadiad district of the Bombay Presidency.
Although many had farming backgrounds in India, they quickly adapted to Fiji’s changing economy, opening grocery stores, drapery shops and laundry businesses.
Mr Dayaram said the willingness of these migrants to adapt became one of the reasons for their success.
“When they came here, they had to learn about Fiji. They had to understand the people, the culture and the needs of the community.
“They were not only thinking about themselves. Their businesses became places where people could access goods and services.”
In many rural settlements, small family-owned shops became more than businesses.
They stocked groceries, hardware, clothing and household necessities, often extending credit to families during difficult times.
For isolated communities, they became gathering places where news was exchanged and friendships developed.
Many shop owners knew their customers personally and understood the challenges they faced.
Mr Dayaram believes trust was the foundation that allowed many of these businesses to survive for generations.
“Business is not only about selling products. It is about building relationships. If people trust you, they support you. That is something the older generation understood very well.”
Punjabi migrants also established themselves in Fiji’s commercial sector.
While many entered different trades and industries, they shared similar values of hard work, resilience and community service. Together, Gujarati and Punjabi business families became an important part of Fiji’s economic development.
Mr Dayaram said the sacrifices made by these early migrants created opportunities for future generations.
“They came here, and they worked hard. They did not complain about difficulties. They focused on creating a better life for their children.”
Among those who made that difficult journey was his own grandfather, Dayaram Fakir.
In early 1926, Dayaram Fakir arrived in Fiji by ship and settled in Wairiki, Taveuni.
Like many migrants before him, he arrived with little certainty about what the future would hold.
What he did possess was determination.
Mr Dayaram said his grandfather’s experience reflected the struggles faced by many early settlers.
“They came here without knowing what the future would bring. They had to have faith, patience and courage.
“When you look back at their journey, you realise the sacrifices they made so that future generations could have better opportunities.”
Although the Dayaram family established their lives in Fiji, they have never forgotten where their journey began.
Their ancestral home in Navsari, Gujarat, remains an important connection to their roots and the generations that came before them.
For Mr Dayaram, the house is far more than a family property.
It represents the history, memories and values that shaped the family long before Dayaram Fakir travelled across the ocean to Fiji.
“A house is not only about bricks and walls. It is about the people who lived there, the memories created there, and the history it carries.
“It is a place that connects our family to our roots in Navsari.”
He said preserving the family’s history helped younger generations appreciate the sacrifices made by their ancestors.
“When we look back at our history, we understand the struggles and sacrifices made by our ancestors. They built the foundation for us, and it is our responsibility to remember and respect that.”
Leaving behind the familiarity of home was never easy.
“He came alone and managed to establish himself before bringing his wife and other family members. He had to find a place, start working and create some stability before bringing his family.”
After arriving n Taveuni, Dayaram Fakir first operated near the present location of Meridian Store on a sub-lease held by a girmitiya named Mathura Prasad.
Once he was established, he secured a lease from the Mataitoga clan at Navarada, Wairiki, where he opened Dayaram Store, the business that would later become Meridian Store.
“He started small, but he had a vision. He wanted to create something that could support his family and become part of the community.”
For almost nine years, Dayaram Fakir lived and worked in Fiji on his own while his wife and daughter remained in India.
In early 1929, he travelled back to India after managing to establish the business.
He, his wife and daughter made a two-month voyage from the Port of Madras to Fiji.
Ambaram Dayaram later continued the family business and helped build on the legacy started by his father.
Today, nearly a century after Dayaram Fakir first arrived in Fiji, Meridian Store stands as a reminder of the pioneering spirit of the early Gujarati migrants who crossed oceans not as indentured labourers, but as traders and entrepreneurs determined to create a better future.
“The foundation was built by our grandparents and parents. They taught us that success comes through commitment and dedication.
“They showed us that a business must always have a connection with the community.”
Their legacy lives on not only through businesses that continue to serve communities across Fiji, but also through the values they passed on to future generations.
This was through hard work, honesty, resilience, service and an unwavering commitment to the communities they helped build.
