Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji
The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji (Arya Representative Society) 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. Its first President was Swami Manoharanand Saraswati who had arrived in Fiji, from India, in 1913. The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji is affiliated to Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (World Council of Arya Samaj) based in New Delhi.[1]
Immediately after its formation the Sabha went about establishing schools in Fiji, with the first one, Gyrykul Primary School, established in 1918 in Saweni, Lautoka. The Sabha owns and manages 14 pre-schools, 18 primary schools, 7 secondary schools, a commercial school, a religious training centre, a youth development centre and has provided the facilities and resources for the establishment of the University of Fiji.
Educational institutions
| Year Established | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1918 | Gurukul Primary School | Lautoka |
| 1929 | Vunimono Arya School | Nausori |
| 1930 | Arya Samaj Primary School | Suva |
| 1936 | Vunikavikaloa Arya School | RakiRaki |
| 1938 | Arya Kanya Pathshala | Ba |
| 1942 | Bhawani Dayal Memorial Primary School | Nakasi |
| 1943 | Naduna Arya School | Labasa |
| 1952 | Swami Shraddhanand Memorial School | Suva |
| 1952 | DAV Girls College | Suva |
| 1952 | DAV College | Suva |
| 1953 | DAV College | Ba |
| 1956 | DAV Primary School | Ba |
| 1962 | Korotari Arya School | Labasa |
| 1967 | Wainikoro Arya School | Labasa |
| 1970 | Pt. Vishnu Deo Memorial Primary School | Suva |
| 1972 | Pt Vishnu Deo Memorial College | Lautoka |
| 1972 | Bhawani Dayal Arya College | Nakasi |
| 1973 | Labasa Arya Secondary School | Labasa |
| 1975 | Dr. Ram Lakhan Memorial Primary School | Nasinu |
| 1980 | Lautoka Arya Samaj Primary School | Lautoka |
| 1980 | Draladamu Primary School | Labasa |
| 1981 | Nadi Arya Samaj Commercial School | Nadi |
| 1982 | Vatukoula Arya Samaj Primary School | Tavua |
| 1992 | Nadi Arya Samaj Primary School | Nadi |
| 1998 | Nadroga Arya College | Sigatoka |
| 2003 | J.N. Jokhan Memorial Primary School | Navua |
| 2003 | Vedic Training Centre | Suva |
| 2005 | University of Fiji | Lautoka |
President and Secretary
The following is a list of the President and Secretary of the Sabha and year when they were first elected.
| Year | President | Secretary |
|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Jagarnath Prasad Maharaj | R. Parmeshwar |
| 1954 | Jagarnath Prasad Maharaj | Narendra Gaji |
| 1964 | Shankar Pratap | Narendra Gaji |
| 1965 | Ram Lakhan | Narendra Gaji |
| 1966 | Saraswati Devi | R. Parmeshwar |
| 1967 | Harish Chandra Gaji | Ram Karan Cheta |
| 1970 | Ram Karan Cheta | Ravindra Pratap Singh |
At present there are 11 Arya Samajs affiliated to the Sabha and its president is Kamlesh Kumar Arya.
References
- ^ Vedalankar, Nardev; Manohar Somera (1975). Arya Samaj and Indians abroad. New Delhi, India: Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. p. 123.
- ^ "Education". Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji. Archived from the original on 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ Vidyalankar, Nardev; Manohar Somera (1975). Arya Samaj and Indians abroad. New Delhi, India: Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. p. 130.