Fiji Samachar
Encyclopedia
Fiji Samachar was a Hindi
language newspaper published in Fiji
from 1924 to 1974. It was published in Suva
by the Indian Printing and Publishing Company and its first editor was Babu Ram Singh
. It started as a bi-lingual Hindi and English Monthly newspaper but from 1935 became a weekly Hindi newspaper. The editorial committee was headed by Pandit Vishnu Deo
and included Pandit Ami Chandra
and Pandit Gopendra Narayan Pathik, all active members of the Arya Samaj in Fiji and consequently the newspaper was seen as the mouthpiece of the Arya Samaj
in Fiji. In the 1930s Vishnu Deo became the editor.
The newspaper was involved in a number of controversies. In 1927, the newspaper was sued for making groundless allegations against some Fiji Indian civil servants, with Ram Singh and Vishnu Deo being charged but the charges were withdrawn after a public apology arranged by S. B. Patel
. In 1932, Deo was convicted of publishing objectionable material against the religious practices of others in the newspaper.
In early 1943, the Fiji Government suspended the publication of Fiji Samachar for six months after it published record of the meeting of Central Indian Was Committee in November 1942, in which most of the speakers took the view that Indians
could not be expected to enlist for the army unless they were paid the same as European
s.
The Fiji Samachar enjoyed wide readership during the period from 1929 to 1959 when Vishnu Deo was active in politics, but lost its readers to numerous other Hindi language newspapers which began publication in the 1960s. In 1963 the newspaper was sold to S. M. Bidesi and labour problems caused it to cease publication in 1974.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
language newspaper published in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
from 1924 to 1974. It was published in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
by the Indian Printing and Publishing Company and its first editor was Babu Ram Singh
Ram Singh (Fiji)
Babu Ram Singh was a Fiji Indian who had come to Fiji under the indenture system and was one of the few people who, after indenture, prospered and made an attempt to help his less fortunate ex-indentured brethren.Babu Ram Singhs surviving Business, Fiji Rubber Stamp Co Ltd is still under operation...
. It started as a bi-lingual Hindi and English Monthly newspaper but from 1935 became a weekly Hindi newspaper. The editorial committee was headed by Pandit Vishnu Deo
Vishnu Deo
Pandit Vishnu Deo OBE was the first Fiji born and bred leader of the Fiji Indians. From 1929, when he was first elected to the Legislative Council, until his retirement in 1959, he remained the most powerful Fiji Indian political leader in Fiji...
and included Pandit Ami Chandra
Ami Chandra
Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar came to Fiji, from India in 1927 at the behest of the Arya Samaj, which wanted to improve the education standard of Fiji Indian students and promote Arya Samaj in Fiji. He led a busy life in Fiji, being an educationist, Arya Samaj preacher, labour leader, football...
and Pandit Gopendra Narayan Pathik, all active members of the Arya Samaj in Fiji and consequently the newspaper was seen as the mouthpiece of the Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj (Fiji)
The Arya Samaj was the first religious, cultural and educational Fiji Indian organisation established in Fiji. From its inception, in 1904, it attracted the young, educated and progressive Hindus into its fold...
in Fiji. In the 1930s Vishnu Deo became the editor.
The newspaper was involved in a number of controversies. In 1927, the newspaper was sued for making groundless allegations against some Fiji Indian civil servants, with Ram Singh and Vishnu Deo being charged but the charges were withdrawn after a public apology arranged by S. B. Patel
S. B. Patel
Shivabhai Bhailalbhai Patel, commonly known as S.B. Patel, was a London trained barrister, who arrived in Fiji, from India, on 24 December 1927. He was a man of calm and philosophical nature and had considerable influence on Fiji politics, always working behind the scenes...
. In 1932, Deo was convicted of publishing objectionable material against the religious practices of others in the newspaper.
In early 1943, the Fiji Government suspended the publication of Fiji Samachar for six months after it published record of the meeting of Central Indian Was Committee in November 1942, in which most of the speakers took the view that Indians
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
could not be expected to enlist for the army unless they were paid the same as European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s.
The Fiji Samachar enjoyed wide readership during the period from 1929 to 1959 when Vishnu Deo was active in politics, but lost its readers to numerous other Hindi language newspapers which began publication in the 1960s. In 1963 the newspaper was sold to S. M. Bidesi and labour problems caused it to cease publication in 1974.