Kamlesh Kumar Arya
Encyclopedia
Kamlesh Kumar Arya is the president of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji
, which is a national organization uniting all the Arya Samaj
s in Fiji
. Initially, he chose teaching as a career and was active within the Fiji Teachers Union. He later entered politics holding the Laucala
Indian Communal Constituency, one of 19 reserved for Indo-Fijians, for the Fiji Labour Party
(FLP) in the parliamentary elections
of 2001, taking more than 87 percent of the vote.
Arya announced his retirement from politics on 7 March 2006. He had been hurt by questions on his loyalty to the FLP, he told Fiji Village
; in the face of reports that several FLP parliamentarians
intended to defect to the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Party (SDL), the FLP hierarchy "had begun rumour-mongering" about him personally, he claimed. "After a lot of soul-searching I decided not to contest the elections," he said. The Fiji Sun
(11 March) quoted him as saying that party leader Mahendra Chaudhry
had lost the plot and needed to change his attitude and respect parliamentarians more. There were many dissatisfied FLP members, he claimed, who would now reveal the true condition of the party.
FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry rejected Arya's claims, insisted that there was no discord within the party, and that Arya had never been accused of disloyalty to the FLP, which he had joined twenty years earlier.
At present, Arya concentrates on social work for the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, carrying out administrative duties as its president, managing schools run by the Sabha and conducting religious ceremonies.
On 6 August 2008, Arya was appointed High Commissioner of the Republic of the Fiji Islands to Australia.
Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji
The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji is the national body for all the Arya Samajs in Fiji. It was formed in 1918 and registered as a religious body through the efforts of Manilal Doctor, who was in Fiji from 1912 to 1920 at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi to provide legal assistance to the Fiji Indians...
, which is a national organization uniting all 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...
s 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...
. Initially, he chose teaching as a career and was active within the Fiji Teachers Union. He later entered politics holding the Laucala
Laucala (Indian Communal Constituency, Fiji)
Laucala Indian Communal is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 19 communal constituencies reserved for Indo-Fijians. . The electorate covers northern suburbs of Suva, Fiji's capital.- 1999 :- 2001 :- 2006 :- Sources :* *...
Indian Communal Constituency, one of 19 reserved for Indo-Fijians, for the Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
(FLP) in the parliamentary elections
Fiji election of 2001
The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a High Court decision on 15 November 2000, following the failure of the political upheaval in which the government had been deposed and the constitution suspended in May that year. On 1 March 2001, the Appeal Court upheld the decision. An election to...
of 2001, taking more than 87 percent of the vote.
Arya announced his retirement from politics on 7 March 2006. He had been hurt by questions on his loyalty to the FLP, he told Fiji Village
Fiji Village
The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. Published daily, it covers political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items, and also includes the Yellow Bucket commentary, an editorial which does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fiji Village owners or staff, according to...
; in the face of reports that several FLP parliamentarians
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
intended to defect to the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua is a political party in Fiji...
Party (SDL), the FLP hierarchy "had begun rumour-mongering" about him personally, he claimed. "After a lot of soul-searching I decided not to contest the elections," he said. The Fiji Sun
Fiji Sun
The Fiji Sun is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. Owned by Sun News Limited, it was first published in September 1999. An internet edition is also published....
(11 March) quoted him as saying that party leader Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
had lost the plot and needed to change his attitude and respect parliamentarians more. There were many dissatisfied FLP members, he claimed, who would now reveal the true condition of the party.
FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry rejected Arya's claims, insisted that there was no discord within the party, and that Arya had never been accused of disloyalty to the FLP, which he had joined twenty years earlier.
At present, Arya concentrates on social work for the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, carrying out administrative duties as its president, managing schools run by the Sabha and conducting religious ceremonies.
On 6 August 2008, Arya was appointed High Commissioner of the Republic of the Fiji Islands to Australia.