Three weeks ago, Prof Brij Lal called his family in Tabia, Labasa.
He told them that he missed Fiji and would visit them once he was allowed to enter the country.
Speaking to The Fiji Times yesterday, Prof Lal’s nephew Arvind Nath – his older brother’s son – said despite his uncle being exiled in 2009 for speaking against the 2006 military coup, his heart remained in Fiji.
“My uncle never gave up. He lived in the hope that one day he would return to visit us,” Mr Nath said.
“But all that has ended now that he is gone, instead we have started gathering here in Tabia to remember him for all the good things he has done for the community.
“Uncle Brij’s daily routine in Brisbane – after he wakes up – he visits the library set up in his house, reads for about an hour then has his coffee.
“Yesterday, he did the same and while my aunty (Dr Padma Lal) prepared his coffee, he took a quick nap and never woke up again.”
