Eulogy to the late Tui Ba Ratu Sairusi Nagagavoka: “His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to the world, "This was a Man"

Delivered by
FLP leader
Mahendra  Chaudhry

We are gathered here this morning, not to mourn, but to celebrate the life of an exemplary person – a leader, High Chief, a man who inspired and led not through fear and  force, but through his ultimate humility, his humanity, and the quiet strength of his personality.

So much so that I am reminded of the words of Shakespeare:

                      “His life was gentle and
                       the elements so mixed in him that
                       Nature might stand up
                       and say to all the world,
                       “This was a Man”.    

I am indeed, honoured and truly humbled, to be invited to share my thoughts on the life of this man who was held in such high esteem by not only the people of Ba but all those who came in contact with the late Tui Ba, Ratu Sairusi Nagagavoka.

Although a chief of paramount rank, Ratu Sairusi stood not on ceremony – he was a sincere, humble, generous person who mixed easily with people from all walks of life – a true peoples’ man in close touch with everyone in his vanua, of whatever race.

My own close contact with the late Tui Ba dates back two decades to the start of my active advent into politics. In 1987, 1999, 2000 whenever we campaigned in the Ba area, we would pay a courtesy visit to the Tui Ba in Sorokoba Village.  

Sitting around the grog bowl or over a cup of tea, he would hold long conversations with us discussing the problems of the common people, exchanging views on developmental, social and economic issues.

I came to respect his views, and his genuine feelings for the welfare of his people and the nation. The Tui Ba was truly committed to multiracialism and believed that the prosperity of the nation depended on all its people, of all races, living and working together in harmony.

This belief was reflected in his land policies. The cane farmers of Ba are beholden to him for his liberal views and his generosity in making land easily available for commercial farming.

He was, of course, fully aware that Ba’s economy was sugar-driven, that cane farming was the dominant economic activity of his vanua and as such, the well-being of cane farmers was important.

He stands today as the symbol of unity for Ba which has long been renowned for its racial tolerance and assimilation, despite the political turbulence that has marred race relations in other parts of our country.

Much of the credit for this goes to Ratu Sairusi and before him, to his brother the late Ratu Marika Latianara, both of whom enjoyed close relationships with the Indian community in Ba.

Ratu Sairusi himself grew up among Indians and spoke fluent Hindi. I have just a working knowledge of the Fijian language, so my own conversations with him were always in Hindi, not in English.

He regarded me as a son, affectionately calling me ‘Beta’ in Hindi and for me Ratu Sairusi was a father-figure. I always took his blessings before taking any major political steps.

I remember how elated he was when the Peoples Coalition Government romped into power following the 1999 general elections. If you remember PANU was one of our coalition partners at the time. The Tui Ba was the President of PANU.              
         
He was equally sad when we were deposed in the 2000 coup, and a pillar of strength to us in the early traumatic days of the coup.  I shall always remember with deep gratitude his concern for my family at the time.

His wife, Bulou Suguta Soweri, and family members came and stayed several days at our home in Suva Point.

---

“His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, “This was a Man”.

---

They slept on the floor in the lounge, refusing to accept beds – offering us comfort, consolation and protection at a time when we were most vulnerable. Such was the measure of the man and his closeness to me and my family.   

As a member of the GCC, Ratu Sairusi made his mark as a voice of sanity and rationality during its deliberations on issues of national concern. His contributions were always balanced, upholding democratic values.

With his departure today, we have lost a man of remarkable leadership qualities, a chief who in his own little sphere of influence   measured up to the stature of Ratu Sir Kamisese with his belief in racial and cultural tolerance .

The two were, of course, contemporaries and grew up together on the chiefly island of Lakeba where, no doubt, qualities of leadership were ingrained into them.

That brings me back to the observation I made in the beginning – the Tui Ba was a leader who inspired and led not through the force of fear or his chiefly status, but through his quiet courage, his deep interest in the welfare of his people and his belief in the fundamental values of humanity.   

This was a man we can all learn to emulate. He taught us that chiefly leadership and traditional values can still play a positive and beneficial role in the development of modern Fiji.

I myself have benefitted much from my contacts and relationship with the late Tui Ba. Indeed, I believe we can all take lessons from him in benevolent leadership and our dealings with our people.

I have always thought of him as “a man of all seasons”. He lived life to the fullest, enjoying all its pleasures, lived to a robust 93 without any serious health worries - long enough to enjoy having eight children and 31 grand-children and 14 great-grand-children.  

Ba will indeed miss him. He will long be remembered as Tui Ba – the Father of the vanua of Ba, the symbol of its unity and racial harmony.

I share deeply in their loss and offer my condolences and sympathies to the wife and family of the late Tui Ba and to the people of Ba.

May his soul rest in peace.

Vinaka va’levu