President of India Receives Fiji's Highest Civilian Award

• 07 Aug 2024

Source: IE

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu has been awarded the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest civilian honour from Fiji recognising the strong India-Fiji ties. This recognition comes during her historic visit to the island nation, marking the first time an Indian President has travelled to Fiji.

• The President of India acknowledged the contributions of the Indian diaspora, particularly the Girmitiya laborers, and emphasized the importance of overseas Indian communities.
  • The word 'girmitiya' is derived from 'girmit', meaning 'agreement'. Indian indentured labourers transported to places like Fiji and Mauritius were known as 'girmitiyas'.
  • Though girmitiyas were not technically slaves, they were subjected to "blackbirding" (deceiving or tricking people to work as slaves or poorly paid labourers).
• Fiji, a country and archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. It surrounds the Koro Sea north of Auckland, New Zealand. It comprises over 300 islands, with only about 100 inhabited.
  • It is known as the "soft coral capital of the world," Fiji boasts over 4,000 square kilometres of vibrant coral reefs.
    • Sugarcane was a major economic driver for Fiji for many years.
  • Fiji is a parliamentary democracy, its population is a mix of Indigenous Fijians, Indians, Europeans, and other ethnicities. Fiji is home to the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple.

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