Thousands of South Indian descendants from Fiji and the global diaspora will gather in Nadi from April 2 to April 6 for the centennial celebrations of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Sangam, organisers confirmed, marking a century since Girmitiya pioneers first met on the banks of the Nadi River to preserve their language, faith and culture while contributing to nation-building.
Under the theme “Our Legacy, Our Future,” the week-long national convention and cultural programme is being billed as a historic homecoming and a forward-looking reaffirmation of the Sangam’s role in Fiji. The organisation says the centenary events will spotlight intergenerational participation, with a particular emphasis on the involvement of women, girls and young people as custodians of cultural and educational continuity.
Founded in Nadi in 1926 by Sadhu Kuppuswamy and a small group of pioneers who emerged from indenture, TISI Sangam has grown into one of Fiji’s most significant educational and cultural institutions. New figures released for the centenary show the Sangam now manages 21 primary schools, five secondary schools, 18 early childhood education centres and a College of Nursing, collectively educating more than 10,000 students of all races and backgrounds without discrimination.
The scale of the Sangam’s footprint in education helps explain why the centennial has drawn participants from across Fiji and the overseas South Indian diaspora. The organisation points to generations of alumni educated in its schools and training institutions as evidence of its sustained contribution to national life, while the College of Nursing is highlighted as a modern extension of the Sangam’s community service mission.
This year’s programme includes cultural performances, religious observances and formal tributes that link the Sangam’s early history to contemporary Fiji. Organisers said one key ceremony will pay homage to the old temple site in Nadi and to the Vanua o Nadi — a formal acknowledgement of the iTaukei custodians who welcomed their forebears and provided land and support when the pioneers first settled. That gesture is intended to underline the Sangam’s long-standing relationship with indigenous communities and its place within Fiji’s multicultural fabric.
The centenary follows pre-commemoration events, including a nationwide “Torch of Unity” relay that began at the original temple site in mid-March and culminated at the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple at the end of March. TISI Sangam National President Parveen Kumar Bala previously described the relay as a symbolic link between the organisation’s history and future generations, and organisers say the April convention will consolidate that message through policy discussions, youth forums and cultural exchanges.
As the Sangam marks 100 years, leaders say the focus now is on translating heritage into tangible opportunities for young people — strengthening education, encouraging civic engagement and ensuring that women and youth play central roles in decision-making. The centennial events in Nadi are being presented as both a celebration and a renewed pledge to carry the Sangam’s legacy into the next century.
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