Ami Chandra
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Pundit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar, came to Fiji in 1927, at the same time as other Arya Samaj teachers and preachers, like Shrikrishna Sharma, K. B. Singh and Kundan Singh Kush, who were brought from India to improve the education standard of Indian students and promote Arta Samaj in Fiji. Unlike his other counterparts, Ami Chandra concentrated on education and made significant contribution to education in Fiji, in particular in the Hindi language. In later year, he made valuable contribution to soccer, the farmers' union, and was also served as a member of the Legislative Council.
[edit] Arrival in Fiji
Ami Chandra was a graduate of Gurukul, Kangri in India. He arrived in Fiji on 22 December 1927 and was given an enthusiastic welcome at the Suva Town Hall. After a brief sojourn at Suva, he came and loined Pundit Gopendra Pathik at Gurukul in Saweni, Lautoka. In 1928, after Pathilk left for India, Ami Chandra became the Principal. Under his leadership, boarding facilities were established at Gurukul with 45 boarders out of a total population of 140, including 25 Fijian students. During his time as Principal, the school made remarkable progress and he was commended by the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher. Ami Chandra remained at the school until March 1930, when Pathik returned from India.
[edit] Contribution to education
Ami Chandra then went to Suva where he was instrumental in the establishment of Arya Samaj Girls School at Samabula. Later, he went to Ba, establishing another school, Arya Kanya Pathshala (Arya Girls School). While in Ba he was also recruited by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR) to teach company employees and overseers to speak proper Hindi and understand Indian culture. His greatest contribution was the series of books, Hindi Ki Pothi (Hindi Readers), that he published to enable Indian students to learn Hindi easily. These readers were used in Fiji for over twenty years.
[edit] Other Accomplishments
In 1935, with support from CSR, he formed the Ba Indian Football Association with a local league which grew to four teams by 1940. He was seen as a person who could be trusted by all sections of the Indian community, for when the Kisan Sangh split into two factions in 1943, both sides agreed to have the union’s books audited by him. He was also a member of the Legislative Council, from 1947 to 1950 and worked closely with Vishnu Deo. Ami Chandra lost his seat when the 1950 election turned to one between Fiji-born and India-born. (This was the second time that this issue had been successfully exploited in Fiji Indian politics). Another reason for his loss was that he had aligned himself with the Kisan Sangh, whereas, his opponent was supported by the Maha Sangh, which was more popular in the Northern Division in 1950.
[edit] Untimely death
He was a man of great scholarship and humility and when he died suddenly, on 13 March 1954, on an overseas trip, Fiji Indians suffered a great loss as he was also being touted as a future successor to Vishnu Deo. On 28 August 1956, during the Arya Samaj Golden Jubilee celebrations, he was posthumously awarded with the Dayanand Medal for Meritorious Service.
[edit] References
- M. Prasad, Sixty Years of Soccer in Fiji 1938 – 1998: The Official History of Fiji Football Association, Fiji Football Association, Suva, 1998
