Students of Nasinu Sangam Primary School took part in drama, traditional dances and tirikutu (South Indian dance and drama) to celebrate Sadhu Kuppuswamy Day.

Sadhu Kuppuswamy was an ex-indentured labourer, who convinced South Indian indentured labourers in Fiji to form an organisation to promote their language and culture.

He then became the founder and first president of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam in 1926.

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Vijay Nath, who was chief guest at the event, spoke about Sevaka Ratnam, Sadhu Kuppuswamy to inspire the students.

“Sevaka Ratnam, Sadhu Kuppuswamy was born in a small village in Konoor in India in 1890 and arrived in Fiji in 1912 on board the Sutlej III as an indentured labourer,” he said.

“He was assigned to serve a five-year term in Yaladro, Tavua. After completing his indenture, he acquired a piece of land in Tavua and began to work for a Melbourne company as a horse-drawn ploughman,” Mr Nath said.

He later worked as a teacher at Mallau School and later he became the first president of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam, he said.

“He passed away in Nadi in 1956 and from 1977 onwards the Sangam organisations in Fiji observe August 2 as the Sadhu Kuppuswamy Day.

“Sadhuji’s main aim was to unite the South Indians in Fiji so that their culture could be preserved and promoted,” he said.

“Swamiji spent his time in the propagation of education moving from house to house inspiring the South Indians to build their schools and temples to preserve their language and culture.”

Feedback: shahani.mala@fijisun.com.fj