Vashist Muni
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Vashist Muni was an educationist and a Hindu missionary but came into prominence in Fiji when he assumed the leadership of the strike in the western districts of Fiji in 1921. He was born in Banaras, India in 1888 and arrived in Fiji, via Australia in May 1920. He was an orthodox Hindu and spoke Hindi and English fluently.
[edit] Educationist and Missionary
Initially he carried out educational work in areas where Fiji Indians were concentrated and is reputed to have doubled the attendance of a school in Lautoka by walking through the settlements and talking to parents. He built a school in Navua, enrolling boys to study Hindi, as he wanted children to be proud of their heritage. He discouraged Indians from attending Christian schools. He donated books to schools and stated that his mission was religious. He came to the attention of the Government in November 1920 when it became aware of his non-political educational work. The Government wanted to have discussions with him on Indian education but did not manage to arrange a meeting with him.
Although he was apalled at the treatment of Indians in Fiji he publicly stated his intention of working through constitutional means to improve the plight of the Fiji Indians. He did not agree with those who were encouraging Indians to return to India. The Fiji Government suspected that he might be an agent of Gandhi and asked Government officials to report on his activities. In one such report he was referred to as the "mystery man", as giving sound advice to the people and responsible for the loss of the influence that N.B. Mitter had enjoyed.
[edit] 1921 Strike
Although the workers of the north-western districts were organised by N.B. Mitter, the strike which began on 11 February 1921, in Ba, was a spontaneous action of the workers and farmers. It spread to all the western districts and Labasa.The strike was peaceful and well organised. On 23 March, Vashist Muni was arrested and deported. His deportation did not end the strike, which dragged on for six months. At the time of Vashist Muni's arrest, the Government House in Suva was struck by lightening and destroyed. This only heightened the belief in the power this mysterious sadhu had.
[edit] Deportation from Fiji
After his deportation to India, he made an appearance at the depot in Calcutta where ex-indentured labourers had gathered to ask for return to Fiji. He asked them not to return, undertook a hunger strike and publicly cursed C.F. Andrews, whom he accused of being a recruiter. This seemed to have the desired effect as Andrews was able to bring political pressure on the Indian Government to stop further labour ships departing for Fiji.
[edit] Legacy
Although Vashist Mini spent very little time in Fiji, his legacy lives on. There are a number of schools named after him, some of which are:
[edit] References
- K.L. Gillion, The Fiji Indians: Challenge to European Dominance, 1920-1946, Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1977
