K. S. Reddy
Encyclopedia
Krishna S. Reddy was a Fiji Indian school teacher, leader of a farmers' union and both a nominated and elected member of the Legislative Council
. Although he started his political career as an ally of A. D. Patel (founder of the National Federation Party
), disputes over the leadership style of A. D. Patel led to a split within the farmers' union that they both led and later they became members of opposing political parties. After independence, he was elected to the House of Representatives
as an Alliance member and also served as an assistant minister.
, Fiji
and his father was an active member of the Sangam and the Maha Sangh
. He was an early beneficiary of the Sangam's attempts to improve education amongst the South Indians in Fiji
and performed well in his early education. He then travelled overseas to complete his university degree. When the Shri Vivekananda High School was established on 9 March 1949, K.S. Reddy was appointed its first Principal.
, who until then was the undisputed leader of the Maha Sangh. K.S. Reddy's other advantage was he was based in Nadi
, was a South Indian
like most Maha Sangh supporters and held the powerful position of General Secretary of the union. Competition between the two reached a crisis on 31 March 1956, when at a meeting in Nadi, Reddy asked non-financial members to leave. Their refusal to leave led to police being called and tear gas used. The split between the two factions within the Maha Sangh remained until the negotiations for the 1960 sugar cane contract.
n majority, but Reddy surprised everyone by winning the election and was appointed an assistant Minister
in the next Alliance Government. After independence, Reddy was rewarded for his loyalty to the Alliance Party by being given a safe seat in the Central Division
which he held from 1972 to 1982, except for a brief period between April 1977 to September 1977.
Legislative Council (Fiji)
The Fijian Legislative Council was the colonial precursor to the present-day Parliament, which came into existence when Fiji became independent on 10 October 1970.-The first Legislative Council:...
. Although he started his political career as an ally of A. D. Patel (founder of the National Federation Party
National Federation Party (Fiji)
The National Federation Party is a Fijian political party founded by A.D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Federation Party and the National Democratic Party...
), disputes over the leadership style of A. D. Patel led to a split within the farmers' union that they both led and later they became members of opposing political parties. After independence, he was elected to the House of Representatives
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...
as an Alliance member and also served as an assistant minister.
Early life
He 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
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 his father was an active member of the Sangam and the Maha Sangh
Maha Sangh
Akhil Fiji Krishak Maha Sangh was a sugar cane farmers' union formed on 15 June 1941 in opposition to the existing union, the Kisan Sangh. Supporters of Kisan Sangh tried to stop the formation of the Maha Sangh but were unsuccessful. The people responsible for the formation of a second sugar cane...
. He was an early beneficiary of the Sangam's attempts to improve education amongst the South Indians in Fiji
South Indians in Fiji
The South Indians in Fiji are mainly descendents of the 15,132 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1903 to 1916. This represents about 25% out of a total of 60,965 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1879 and 1916...
and performed well in his early education. He then travelled overseas to complete his university degree. When the Shri Vivekananda High School was established on 9 March 1949, K.S. Reddy was appointed its first Principal.
Union leader
The Maha Sangh (farmers' union) was established in 1941, K.S. Reddy's father became its first Secretary, but on his death the position was passed onto his son, K.S. Reddy. In 1953, the Governor appointed him to one of the two seats reserved for nominated Indian members. His elevation to a position of influence within the society brought him into conflict with 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 until then was the undisputed leader of the Maha Sangh. K.S. Reddy's other advantage was he was based in Nadi
Nadi
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...
, was a South Indian
South Indians in Fiji
The South Indians in Fiji are mainly descendents of the 15,132 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1903 to 1916. This represents about 25% out of a total of 60,965 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1879 and 1916...
like most Maha Sangh supporters and held the powerful position of General Secretary of the union. Competition between the two reached a crisis on 31 March 1956, when at a meeting in Nadi, Reddy asked non-financial members to leave. Their refusal to leave led to police being called and tear gas used. The split between the two factions within the Maha Sangh remained until the negotiations for the 1960 sugar cane contract.
Politician
K.S. Reddy later joined the Alliance Party while A.D. Patel had formed the Federation Party. In the 1966 election, Reddy was given the ticket to the Western cross-voting seat by the Alliance Party. This seat was regarded as safe for the Federation Party because of its large IndiaIndia
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...
n majority, but Reddy surprised everyone by winning the election and was appointed an assistant Minister
Cabinet (Fiji)
Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime...
in the next Alliance Government. After independence, Reddy was rewarded for his loyalty to the Alliance Party by being given a safe seat in the Central Division
Central Division, Fiji
The Central Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. It consists of five provinces - Naitasiri, Namosi, Rewa, Serua and Tailevu.The capital of the division is Suva, which is also the capital of Fiji. The division includes the eastern part of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu, with a...
which he held from 1972 to 1982, except for a brief period between April 1977 to September 1977.