Vivekanand Sharma
Encyclopedia
Vivekanad Sharma was a Fiji Indian politician and religious worker but is best known for his promotion of the Hindi
language in Fiji
and abroad.
, Fiji into a cane farming family. He had his primary education at Votualevu Government School and secondary education at Shri Vivekananda High School after which he undertook teacher training. He went to India
for further studies and did his Bachelors and then Masters Degrees from the University of Delhi
and PhD in Hindi Literature
from Sardar Patel University
.
customs and culture. He was the founder and the President of Hindi Maha Parishad of Fiji (an organisation to promote Hindi), founder, Principal and the Manager of Maharishi Sanatan College. He was the Chairman of the Hindi Work Group of Curriculum Development Unit, Ministry of Education, Fiji. He was also the Hindi Programme Coordinator at the University of the South Pacific
.Upon his return to Fiji he produced several plays and used Radio to promote Hindi and Hinduism. He opened a book shop in Nadi Fiji which was primarily dedicated to Indian culture. He was instrumental in promoting Hinduism in Nadi and mostly in Votualevu. Unbeknown to the public but his best friends were Mr. Chauhan and Mr Gaj Raj Singh of Lega Lega Nadi a suburb of Votualevu. Mr. Singh was his primary person to finance his bookshop and provide significant financial backing in his first and second election.Mr.Singh migrated to USA in 1978 and continued his friendship with Dr. Sharma.
who kindled his interest in politics. He was the founder and President of International Youth Federation of the University of Delhi. He surprised everyone by standing as an Alliance candidate in the 1972 general election. He lost the election but was appointed a Senator by Ratu
Sir
Kamisese Mara
and later he won the general election and became the Minister of State for Youth and Sports. He held Ratu Mara in high regard and wrote a book on him in Hindi. In the 1977 election, he won the South Western Indian National seat for the Alliance Party and remained in Parliament until 1981. During the time of the Qarase Government
he was a national member for his Indian Council of Fiji.
He died in Brisbane
, Australia
on 9 September 2006. He was cremated at Vatuwaqa Cemetery in Suva on Wednesday, 13 September 2006.
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 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...
and abroad.
Early life
Dr. Vivekanand Sharma was born in NadiNadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
, Fiji into a cane farming family. He had his primary education at Votualevu Government School and secondary education at Shri Vivekananda High School after which he undertook teacher training. He went to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for further studies and did his Bachelors and then Masters Degrees from the University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
and PhD in Hindi Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
from Sardar Patel University
Sardar Patel University
#Shri Bhailalbhai D. Patel #Shri Babubhai Jashbhai Patel#Dr. Maganbhai D. Patel#Shri Ishvarbhai J. Patel#Shri Rameshbhai S. Mehta#Dr. Ramanbhai D. Patel#Dr. Ranchhodbhai M. Patel#Dr. Krishnalal N. Shah#Dr. Kantibhai C. Patel...
.
Contribution to Hindi literature
Dr. Sharma published a large number of books on Hindi and HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
customs and culture. He was the founder and the President of Hindi Maha Parishad of Fiji (an organisation to promote Hindi), founder, Principal and the Manager of Maharishi Sanatan College. He was the Chairman of the Hindi Work Group of Curriculum Development Unit, Ministry of Education, Fiji. He was also the Hindi Programme Coordinator at the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
.Upon his return to Fiji he produced several plays and used Radio to promote Hindi and Hinduism. He opened a book shop in Nadi Fiji which was primarily dedicated to Indian culture. He was instrumental in promoting Hinduism in Nadi and mostly in Votualevu. Unbeknown to the public but his best friends were Mr. Chauhan and Mr Gaj Raj Singh of Lega Lega Nadi a suburb of Votualevu. Mr. Singh was his primary person to finance his bookshop and provide significant financial backing in his first and second election.Mr.Singh migrated to USA in 1978 and continued his friendship with Dr. Sharma.
Political involvement
Dr. Sharma was an associate of A.D. PatelA.D. Patel
Ambalal Dahyabhai Patel, better known as A.D. Patel, was a Fiji Indian politician, farmers' leader and founder and leader of the National Federation Party. Patel was uncompromisingly committed to a vision of an independent Fiji, with full racial integration...
who kindled his interest in politics. He was the founder and President of International Youth Federation of the University of Delhi. He surprised everyone by standing as an Alliance candidate in the 1972 general election. He lost the election but was appointed a Senator by Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Kamisese Mara
Kamisese Mara
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992...
and later he won the general election and became the Minister of State for Youth and Sports. He held Ratu Mara in high regard and wrote a book on him in Hindi. In the 1977 election, he won the South Western Indian National seat for the Alliance Party and remained in Parliament until 1981. During the time of the Qarase Government
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
he was a national member for his Indian Council of Fiji.
Religious activities
He was the founder of Votualevu Tirth Dhaam (Hindu Pilgrimage Centre). He served as the General Secretary and later as the National President of Shri Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji and as an advisor of Shri Sanatan Dharam Brahman Purohit Sabha of Fiji.He died in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on 9 September 2006. He was cremated at Vatuwaqa Cemetery in Suva on Wednesday, 13 September 2006.