The Tamil language will once again be taught in Fiji schools after a gap of 80 years, marking a significant cultural revival. This important development was announced at Penang Sangam School in Rakiraki by India’s High Commissioner, Palaniswamy Subramanyan Karthigeyan, during the launch of a Tamil language teaching program funded by the Indian government.
As part of this initiative, two educators from India have been assigned to teach Tamil at Penang Sangam School and Sangam Primary School in Labasa. This move comes in response to longstanding requests from the Fiji Indian community, particularly from the descendants of Girmitiyas—the individuals who migrated from the Tamil Nadu region of India to Fiji in the early 20th century.
Mr. Karthigeyan emphasized that the revival of Tamil, one of the world’s oldest classical languages, is crucial for preserving cultural heritage and enhancing cross-community understanding. The partnership includes the Ministry of Education of Fiji and the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam, an influential organization among the diaspora in Fiji. The initiative was facilitated following a visit by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Fiji last February.
By reintroducing Tamil instruction, the program aims to not only revive a nearly lost language but also strengthen the cultural ties between India and Fiji. Mr. Karthigeyan urged the people of Fiji to embrace this opportunity, highlighting Tamil as a vibrant language with over 80 million speakers globally.
The local community appears to be enthusiastic about this development, as evidenced by a quiz contest organized by the High Commission of India, allowing students to engage with their heritage actively.
This initiative not only breathes new life into Tamil in Fiji but also promotes a sense of unity and pride among those in Fiji of Indian descent. It’s a hopeful step towards preserving cultural identity in a diverse and multicultural landscape.
Overall, the revival of the Tamil language in Fiji is a positive step towards celebrating and preserving cultural diversity, enhancing community bonds, and reinforcing connections between nations.
Leave a comment