Vijendra Kumar, the first local editor of The Fiji Times, passed away peacefully in Brisbane at the age of 88 on Thursday, June 27, 2024, after a short illness. Born on June 2, 1936, he was the first-born son of Ram Dulare and Ram Dulari of Martintar, Nadi.
At the age of six, Vijendra moved to Sabeto to live with his uncle, Rameshwar Prasad, a renowned scholar and headmaster of Sabeto Indian School. Vijendra completed his primary education there and passed the entrance examination for Natabua Secondary School before Class 7, skipping Class 8. He then attended Natabua for two-and-a-half years before transferring to Shri Vivekananda High School in Nadi.
Encouraged by his principal PND Moosad, Vijendra took a part-time job with the Pacific Review, a weekly newspaper. Though initially inclined towards law, financial constraints led him to begin his career in journalism at the Sangam Press in Nadi. He later transitioned to teaching at Islamia College, which became Tilak High School, where he taught English, English Literature, Hindi, and Health Science for 12 years.
In 1963, Vijendra married Sadan Devi, daughter of Pandit B D Lakshman. They had three children: Jirin, Kartika, and Vrijesh, and were married for over 60 years.
Returning to journalism in 1969, Vijendra joined The Fiji Times as a reporter and quickly earned recognition for his work. In 1975, he became the first local editor of the newspaper. During his 16-year tenure, Vijendra brought a sensitive perspective on Fiji’s political and social landscapes. However, after the first military coup in 1987, he faced increasing harassment and threats, leading him to migrate to Australia in 1991. Settling in Brisbane, he worked at The Courier-Mail until his retirement.
Vijendra had a passion for soccer, old songs by artists like Saigal and Pankaj Malik, and was an avid reader and chess player. He also loved cars, often attending old car shows in Brisbane.
He is survived by his wife and three children. His passing marks the loss of a respected journalist and cherished family man. Praveen Chandra, a retired electrical engineer and close friend of Vijendra for 60 years, shared his condolences.