Journalism was in his blood.
Why else would a young boy continue working for a newspaper without being regularly paid his wages?
When he began his journalism career, he single-handedly reported, proofread, edited, laid out, and completed all other tasks to produce the bi-weekly Pacific Review. With little or sometimes no financial rewards, Vijendra Kumar reluctantly left his desired field to join the teaching profession, which could not retain him for more than about 12 years.
The magnetic force of journalism within him was much greater than the satisfaction from a teaching career. That force drew him back to journalism in 1969 when he joined The Fiji Times as a reporter at the newspaper’s Lautoka office.
His meteoric rise from news reporter to bureau manager, and finally becoming the first local editor of The Fiji Times within about eight years, spoke volumes about his character, commitment, dedication, and professionalism.
I was first introduced to Vijendra through a common news contact when I was a reporter at the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. That formal introduction turned into weekly chats discussing various subjects and news stories we covered during the week.
By the time he was transferred to Suva, I had already left FBC to venture into my own commercial printing business.
Although I was no longer active in journalism, our regular contacts continued and soon blossomed into a close friendship.
There was one tourist weekly newspaper known as Fiji Beach Press owned by Stinson Group of companies. They had a web newspaper printing machine. They were ceasing operations and their printing equipment was up for sale. The newspaper printing machine piqued my interest as I had plans to revive our family’s old weekly Hindi newspaper, Fiji Sandesh. I bought that machine and imported a Hindi typesetting machine as well.
When Vijendra learned of this purchase, he phoned me to arrange a meeting for serious discussions. We met that same evening.
He opened his heart out. He spoke of his dream: starting his own daily newspaper. He believed there was an opportunity since I now had a newspaper printing machine. He was confident that with his journalism expertise and my business knowledge, he could fulfill his dream.
After that initial discussion, we had many more meetings, seriously considering financial viability, investment in raw materials, sourcing finance, recruitment of staff, and all other pros and cons of the project.
Finally, one day he advised me that his family had decided not to proceed with the project due to the financial risks involved, especially the risk of losing his secure and respectable job with assured income.
I saw tears in his eyes as he explained his family’s decision to me.
As we concluded our meeting that day, he told me, “Well, let my dream remain a dream for another day to come true.” Unfortunately, for Vijendra, that day never came.
Lord Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita says, “Death is not an end of a journey; it is in fact a beginning of a new journey.” I wish Vijendra well in his new journey.
Aum shanti aum.
Bharat Morris is a former news reporter at the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and a businessman.