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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"    

15/8/2013

13 Comments

 
Picture
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.


Picture“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”.

Picture
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
13 Comments
Santa Harbhjan from Haryana
15/8/2013 04:28:02 am

Indeed, I believe we can all take lessons from him in benevolent leadership and our dealings with our people.

Yes, indeed, and not steal nearly $3million from his own Indo-Fijian people - especially those who the money was meant for - those languishing in the nearby Lautoka girmit refugee camp.

Reply
Three million dollar season
15/8/2013 06:50:54 am

Did MPC ever share at least a small portion of his $3m, later, with the indo-Fijians in Fiji esp. those who were chased from their homes and ended up at the Lautoka Girmitiya centre?

Reply
Bing Bong Bonker
15/8/2013 04:30:14 pm

Yes he did. He always does.

Reply
sugar daddy
15/8/2013 06:36:02 pm

Hi Bonker

Please share the details of monies shared out by MPC.

BHONDE SARDAR
15/8/2013 07:28:58 pm

Yes Mr Maharaj, he did, with the people in need and not with the thieves who hid behind the guise of an overseas NGO to make money using the poor downtrodden people beaten up. You Santa Maharayj is a shameless crook of the highest order and no doubt will steal the shirt off a dead man's back when no one is looking.

Reply
Not buying
15/8/2013 07:35:41 pm

Or shoe for that matter.

Details please of monies shared to the downtrodden by MPC, otherwise stay choop!

Confused
15/8/2013 07:54:06 pm

May Ratu Sairusi rest in peace.
Firstly he is not paramount chief ,,,,that term only applies to certain chiefs. These shows that majority of you reading this are ignorant of i taukei culture and should be deported out from fiji.
Second - he did know exactly know where he stood and was dragged along by the sweet talk and bribery of kai dias like chaudry,,,,,,
what a pity

Santa Maharaj
16/8/2013 12:36:12 am

Firstly show some respect to Late Ratu Sairusi then to drag my name into your little fame without a proper name.

Secondly, I was rung and told of this article this morning by MPC's friend after which I saw my name put in comments at 3.25am for an article posted only after midnight to 3.25am. Obviously I was sleeping at the time. So just like you not having used your name someone like you used my first name to divert Ratu Sairusi's attention, just as they havew done in the past in c4.5. Please follow some funeral protocols then drag my name in.

Thirdly you put your real name then ask me to show the accounts before making blind accusations.

Forthly, ask those who were cheque signatories to Girmit Centre Bank Account. It was not Santa Maharaj for your information. Since you know so much why don't you write down who the cheque signatories were for all funds received into the Refugee Camp Account and ask them to print here camps accounts given they are supporters of FLP and is in FLP's interest and obviously you want this cleared also.

Or why don't you summon me to file the Accounts in MPC's Court Case if you are so adamant overseas ngo running the Refugee Camp stole money purportedly given by MPC as you claim?

All our accounts summary were given to the PM's office, FHRC, Fiji Times. And if you are so concerned that we stole the money MPC purportedly gave us, then certainly report to the police and don't forget to quote receipt number and payment details!!!!!.

RM72_Fiji 15/08/2013 3:20pm
16/8/2013 01:48:06 am

RM72_Fiji 15/08/2013 3:20pm
Amber...you are certainly out of step when it comes to MPC, aren't you! His cunning stance is detailed here: http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/may/22tara.htm ,

"Fundraising allegations[edit source | editbeta]
On 8 December 2005, Chaudhry announced his decision to sue Prime Minister Qarase and Fiji Television for defamation.
Addressing the House of Representatives on 23 November 2005, Prime Minister Qarase alleged that Chaudhry had had money raised for him in the Indian state of Haryana, and called on Chaudhry to reveal what had happened to the money since. On 2 December, he told Parliament that he was aware that money had been raised in his name in Haryana, but denied having authorized the appeal or receiving any of its proceeds. He had raised the issue with Om Prakash Chautala, he said, after being hounded by the media in both Fiji and India. He claimed to have discovered only during his 2005 visit to India that Chautala's record with money is not transparent. "My anger about the whole episode is that Shri Chautala should exploit the feelings of the ordinary and poor folks of Haryana who are emotionally tied to me and to the people of Indian origin in Fiji and play on them a game of deceit for self enrichment," Chaudhry said.
On 30 November, the Haryana state government ordered an investigation into the allegations. This followed reports in the Indian media that an Indian political party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), had raised over a million crore (F$376,557) for Chaudhry in 2001, who was then visiting India to raise support following his overthrow in the 2000 coup. According to Webindia, however, the money had not been delivered to him, because of currency regulations, and was instead deposited in the Oriental Bank of Commerce account of the Indo-Fiji Friendship Society. INLD Secretary General Ajay Singh Chautala, whose father Om Prakash Chautala was Chief Minister of Haryana at the time, welcomed the probe. The Haryana authorities were not mollified by his comments, and on 20 December Ranbir Singh Surjewala, the Haryana State Transport and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, called for the passports of Chautala and his two sons to be seized to prevent them from leaving the country.
It was announced on 7 December 2005 that India's Bureau of Investigation had cleared Chaudhry of the allegations." is taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahendra_Chaudhry . That last sentence about IBI clearing Chaudhry is relative to that country and its severing of allegations against MPC, not necessarily clearing him from allegations back home. Tell me, where do you think he acquired the 1.3M he declared recently as being in his personal account?

BLONDE SARDAR
16/8/2013 04:12:34 am

Chaudhry sues
FIJI Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry is seeking damages for slander and defamation against former prime minister Laisenia Qarase and Fiji One.
Mr Chaudhry claims that on November 23, 2005, Mr Qarase said in Parliament Mr Chaudhry and colleagues tried to get a share of the $86m loan from the EXIM Bank in the form of a commission.
Mr Chaudhry claims Fiji One televised a story in which Mr Qarase alleged Mr Chaudhry raised money for himself in the state of Haryana in India and he and his colleagues tried to get a commission from the $86m loan from the Indian Government.
Justice Filimoni Jitoko yesterday set down the hearing of the matter for January 20.

Reply
Ratu Nai
16/8/2013 05:36:46 am

Rip Ratu

Old Fiji Times Article below :

TUI Ba Ratu Sairusi Nagagavoka says he will not speak against his "beta" Mahendra Chaudhry after The Fiji Times identified the interim Finance Minister as the one accused of not paying his taxes when due.

Ratu Sairusi said he was closely associated to Mr Chaudhry to make a comment.

"He's my beta (son) and I will not comment on it," he said.

Ratu Sairusi was surprised when told of the contents of the articles in The Fiji Times.

"Oh is it him? I can't say anything on that.

"He's my beta and he calls me kaka."

Ratu Sairusi said he would always be grateful to Mr Chaudhry for assisting him whenever he was in need like when the chiefly house in Sorokoba was built with the assistance from foreign aid during Mr Chaudhry's term as Prime Minister.

"He arranged for about $175,000 grant from Taiwan, which was directed towards this house," he said.

Reply
My father's government
16/8/2013 06:14:57 am

What? He used his ministerial position to obtain foreign govt grants for his personal friends? Well...

It's no wonder hiding the millions came naturally to him. So we're not surprised that the man was livid when people questioned him about the money... then brought him down to earth with bang!

Serves him right.

RIP Ratu Sairusi, late Paramount Chief of Ba. Unfortunately, your adopted beta is a crook.

Reply
Butako
18/8/2013 07:02:38 pm

The facts are that Chaudry directed Taiwanese govt funds to build Rt Sairusi's house when Chodry was PM. This was to cont Rt Saitusis support to Chaudry that Chod was supported by a high chief who was in fact a one village chief. This was bribery by Chod and accepted by Sairusi. Both are guilty of corruption and should be charged by FICAC & worse the house was Rt Sairusi personal house.............WHAT A SHAME!!!




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