National Congress of Fiji
Encyclopedia
The National Congress of Fiji was formed on 10 January 1965 at the Kisan Sangh
Hall in Lautoka
, in front of 1,500 farmers , led by Ayodhya Prasad
. The Congress sent a telegram to the Secretary General of the United Nations
stating that 80,000 Fiji Indians wanted to settle in a foreign country. The purpose of the telegram was to draw the attention of the United Nations to the plight of the Fiji Indians. The telegram had the desired result, as under pressure from the United Nations the Colonial Secretary called a Constitutional Conference for 26 July 1965.
Ayodhya Prasad and the Congress were bitterly opposed to A.D. Patel
and the Federation Party
. Prasad believed that A.D. Patel actually did not want independence for Fiji and used the fear of common roll to deter other races from agreeing to independence. On 21 July 1965, before the delegates departed for the London constitutional conference, the Congress called a meeting in which Fijian
and Europe
an members of the Legislative Council
were invited. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that delegates to the London
Conference were aware that there was at least one group of Fiji Indians willing to work with people of other races to achieve independence.
In October 1965, Ayodhya Prasad met Ratu
Kamisese Mara
and suggested the establishment of a new political party made up of the Fijian Association and National Congress of Fiji. Ratu Kamisese Mara got the Europeans to join up as well and several meetings were held before it was decided on 29 November 1965 to form the Alliance Party. The Alliance was formed on 12 March 1966 with the coming together of the Fijian Association, National Congress of Fiji, General Electors Association, Suva Rotuman Association, Rotuman Convention, Chinese Association, All-Fiji Muslim Political Front, Fiji Minority Party and the Tongan Organization, along with Vijay R. Singh
, who joined it independently.
For the 1966 elections
, the Alliance Party asked the National Congress to put forward names of its candidates. Ayodhya Prasad put his own name for the Western cross-voting seat, while K.S. Reddy was nominated for the Nadi/Nadroga seat and James Shankar Singh
for the Ba
seat. Vijay R. Singh, was able to use his influence with Ratu Kamisese Mara to have the Western cross-voting ticket given to K.S. Reddy and the Nadi/Nadroga ticket (against A.D. Patel) given to Ayodhya Prasad. This incident showed how both Ayodhya Prasad and Vijay R. Singh trying to outmeanouvre each other for the leadership if Indians in the Alliance Party. Ayodhya Prasad lost to A.D. Patel by 7601 votes to 4025 votes and K.S. Reddy won against his Federation party opponent.
Originally Indians had joined the Alliance Party as members of the National Congress, but Vijay R. Singh encouraged people to join the Party directly. Ayodhya Prasad believed that the Indians would have a better say in the Alliance Party if they joined it through the National Congress but was powerless to prevent the move to direct membership as he was afraid that this would be seen as an attempt by him to destabilise the Alliance Party. With failing health he could do little and the National Congress was wound up in 1967.
Kisan Sangh
Kisan Sangh was the first farmers' union formed in Fiji on 27 November 1937. This was the result of one man's determination to improve the plight of Fiji's Indian cane farmers...
Hall in Lautoka
Lautoka
Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar...
, in front of 1,500 farmers , led by Ayodhya Prasad
Ayodhya Prasad
Ayodhya Prasad Sharma was an Indo-Fijian farmers’ leader and politician, who formed the most successful farmers’ union in Fiji and forced the Colonial Sugar Refining Company to make concessions to farmers after 60 years of complete control over Fiji’s economy...
. The Congress sent a telegram to the Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
stating that 80,000 Fiji Indians wanted to settle in a foreign country. The purpose of the telegram was to draw the attention of the United Nations to the plight of the Fiji Indians. The telegram had the desired result, as under pressure from the United Nations the Colonial Secretary called a Constitutional Conference for 26 July 1965.
Ayodhya Prasad and the Congress were bitterly opposed to A.D. Patel
A.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...
and the 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...
. Prasad believed that A.D. Patel actually did not want independence for Fiji and used the fear of common roll to deter other races from agreeing to independence. On 21 July 1965, before the delegates departed for the London constitutional conference, the Congress called a meeting in which Fijian
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an members of the Legislative Council
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:...
were invited. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that delegates to the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Conference were aware that there was at least one group of Fiji Indians willing to work with people of other races to achieve independence.
In October 1965, Ayodhya Prasad met 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"...
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 suggested the establishment of a new political party made up of the Fijian Association and National Congress of Fiji. Ratu Kamisese Mara got the Europeans to join up as well and several meetings were held before it was decided on 29 November 1965 to form the Alliance Party. The Alliance was formed on 12 March 1966 with the coming together of the Fijian Association, National Congress of Fiji, General Electors Association, Suva Rotuman Association, Rotuman Convention, Chinese Association, All-Fiji Muslim Political Front, Fiji Minority Party and the Tongan Organization, along with Vijay R. Singh
Vijay R. Singh
Sir Vijay Raghubar Singh, KBE was an Indo-Fijian lawyer and politician who held Cabinet office in the 1960s and 1970s. Vijay Singh served in Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara's government in a variety of positions, including Attorney-General, and was President of the Indian Alliance, a...
, who joined it independently.
For the 1966 elections
Fiji election of 1966
The general election to the Legislative Council of Fiji in 1966 was the last to be held before independence from the United Kingdom was granted in 1970. It was not the first election to be held under colonial rule, but it marked the first time that all adult citizens were allowed to vote....
, the Alliance Party asked the National Congress to put forward names of its candidates. Ayodhya Prasad put his own name for the Western cross-voting seat, while K.S. Reddy was nominated for the Nadi/Nadroga seat and James Shankar Singh
James Shankar Singh
James Shankar Singh was a Fiji Indian farmer, businessman, social worker and politician who served as a Minister in the Alliance Government of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara...
for the Ba
Ba District, Fiji
Ba is a district situation on the North Western part of the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. The name Ba is also used for a province, a tikina , a town and a river. Ba district comprises the areas surrounding Ba Town and includes the Fijian administrative tikinas of Ba and Magodro. Ba district is in...
seat. Vijay R. Singh, was able to use his influence with Ratu Kamisese Mara to have the Western cross-voting ticket given to K.S. Reddy and the Nadi/Nadroga ticket (against A.D. Patel) given to Ayodhya Prasad. This incident showed how both Ayodhya Prasad and Vijay R. Singh trying to outmeanouvre each other for the leadership if Indians in the Alliance Party. Ayodhya Prasad lost to A.D. Patel by 7601 votes to 4025 votes and K.S. Reddy won against his Federation party opponent.
Originally Indians had joined the Alliance Party as members of the National Congress, but Vijay R. Singh encouraged people to join the Party directly. Ayodhya Prasad believed that the Indians would have a better say in the Alliance Party if they joined it through the National Congress but was powerless to prevent the move to direct membership as he was afraid that this would be seen as an attempt by him to destabilise the Alliance Party. With failing health he could do little and the National Congress was wound up in 1967.