An enduring lesson in unity, what Ratu Meli taught Fiji

As the nation prepares to celebrate Fiji Day on October 10, we are reminded that the true fabric of our identity is woven not just from history, but from acts of courage and compassion.

We saw this unfold on Saturday September 27, 2025 on the village green of Nabukadra. It was the homecoming of the descendants of Bihari to Nabukadra, fulfilling a century-old bond of adoption and acceptance.

The story traces back to 1916, near the end of the Girmit era. Bihari, a young man from Bihar, India, found himself lost and estranged. His fate was transformed by the Turaga na Gonesau, Ratu Meli Salabogi, the chief of Nabukadra. Ratu Meli’s act was revolutionary. He defied the conventions of the time.

The concerns of high-ranking chiefs like Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, who was worried about setting a precedent was secondary. Ratu Meli saw only “a human being in need, a son without a father”. He adopted the young man, renaming him Ratu Timoci Salabogi Kapaiwai, and formally registered him into his mataqali and tokatoka, making him a true son of Nabukadra.

This openness ensured that six generations later, the descendants could return to perform the cara sala ceremony, where they were welcomed back as full members of the clan.

Here are some lessons from the story of Bihari and Ratu Meli:

• Put human need before social rules. Ratu Meli chose to help Bihari, who was “a human being in need, a son without a father”, even though it defied the conventions of the time.
• Love and acceptance define family, not blood alone.
• Have the courage to do what is right, regardless of what others think. The chief “did not care what others thought” when he adopted Bihari.
• Kindness leads to lasting national unity and reconciliation. The century-old act of adoption culminated in the cara sala ceremony, which strengthened kinship and aligns with our ongoing efforts towards “national reconciliation”.
• True acceptance means granting full rights and belonging. Ratu Meli formally registered Bihari into his mataqali and tokatoka.

As we reflect on this century-old act of compassion, the challenge for us is to follow in the footsteps of Ratu Meli by applying that same boundless love to those marginalised in our society.