Sikhism in Fiji - Notables

Notables

• Bhai Gyan Singh Sangha was the first Sikh priest in Fiji. He was known for his work in religion. Singing the sacred hymns of Guru Granth Shabib and Sewa (helping people in need) He shared his knowledge and spread the words of Sikhism and Sikh Guru's philosophy to others. He and his wife Pritam Kaur Sangha were very devoted in the Sikh community. Many Sikhs left India, but many Sikhs forgot their culture and religion behind. Thanks to this unique man and his devoted wife, Sikhs in Fiji still remember their faith and culture.
• Mehar Singh (a.k.a. Padri Mehar Singh) was the first president of the first effective cane farmers union in Fiji, the Kisan Sangh. He was the President from 1937 to 1944 when, due to disagreement with the Secretary of the union, Ayodhya Prasad, he left the union and formed a rival union known as the Vishal Sangh. His new union had a small support base (mainly Sikh) and had to align itself with the more powerful union, Maha Sangh, formed by A. D. Patel in 1941, for survival.
• Ujagar Singh was elected to the Legislative Council of Fiji in the 1968 by-election from the Nasinu Indian Communal Constituency, representing the National Federation Party (NFP). He was also a member of independent Fiji's House of Representatives. His strong support for the then leader of the NFP, Sidiq Koya, led to his political demise when the NFP split into two two factions in 1977.
• Sarvan Singh was member of the House of Representatives of Fiji, representing Labasa for the National Federation Party from 1972 to 1982. He was a supporter of Jai Ram Reddy for the leadership of the NFP.
• Kuar Battan Singh was member of the Senate of Fiji from 1970 to 1977. He was a businessman based in Nausori. During his younger days he was a soccer player and was a member of the 1955 Interdistrict soccer tournament winning Rewa team. He died in an air crash in July 1999.
• Pardeep Singh Rakkar was a Medical, Acupuncturist and a Herbalist practitioner in Ba, Fiji during mid-1990s. He was a brilliant student from Khalsa College, Wailailai, Ba (1977 to 1981). Pardeep was born in Korovou, Tailevu, Fiji but lived at Mataniqara, Ba, Fiji. Pardeep has a pleasant personality and served generousily to many poor farmers of Ba district. He also provided free service to many of his former patients who were in need. In the late 1980s, Pardeep also taught at a high school in Lautoka. Pardeep now resides happily in Brisbane, Australia with his Khalsa College class mate and wife Sanita Devi Singh.
• Jogindar Singh Kanwal has been a long serving Principal of Khalsa College in Ba, Fiji. He is proficient in English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. He has written a number of books in Hindi which include, Mera Desh Mere Log, Savera, Dharti Meri Mata and Karvatbut his best known book is a survey of the development of Hindi in Fiji, called A Hundred Years of Hindi in Fiji. He believed in the separation of the teaching of language from religion and with like minded people formed the Hindi Association of Fiji.
• Gurmit Singh was an educationist in Fiji who served as a high school principal, an Education Officer, a curriculum development officer, principal of a teachers college and a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific.

- Phuman Singh - Served in WW1 and survived. Wound up in Suva, Fiji and was appointed Justice of the Peace and prominent member of the Suva Gurdwara.