The teaching of Tamil has made a comeback in Fiji schools after an absence of 80 years, marking a significant cultural revival for the Indian community. This development was announced by the High Commissioner of India, Palaniswamy Subramanyan Karthigeyan, during a launch event at Penang Sangam School in Rakiraki. The initiative is funded by the Indian government and aims to reintroduce the Tamil language to students and community members.
To support this program, two educators from India have been assigned to Penang Sangam School and Sangam Primary School in Labasa to conduct Tamil language classes. Karthigeyan emphasized the importance of this initiative, especially for the descendants of Girmitiyas who migrated from modern-day Tamil Nadu to Fiji in the early 20th century.
This revival comes as a result of collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Education in Fiji and the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam, a significant organization within Fiji’s Indian diaspora. The agreement for this program was established following discussions between Fiji’s diaspora representatives and India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, during his visit for the 12th World Hindi Conference.
Karthigeyan expressed that the reintroduction of Tamil, a classical language with a rich heritage spoken by over 80 million people worldwide, holds immense value for preserving cultural identity and improving inter-community relations. He encouraged the Fijian populace to embrace this learning opportunity, which is intended not only to revive a nearly lost language but to strengthen ties between India and Fiji.
In a community engagement initiative, students from Penang Sangam participated in a quiz organized by the High Commission of India as part of the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz contest, promoting cultural exchange and knowledge.
The reintroduction of Tamil in Fiji schools is a beacon of hope, reflecting a commitment to preserving cultural diversity while fostering educational opportunities. Emphasizing cultural heritage encourages mutual understanding among communities, showcasing the power of language as a bridge between different cultures.
This initiative not only brings language back but strengthens the connection between two nations rooted in shared history, identity, and aspiration for cultural enrichment.
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