Girmit Day: Indo-Fijian Aussies & Indentured History

May 14 is Girmit Day - a day that commemorates when the first indentured labourers arrived in Fiji from India in 1879 under British colonial rule. The term Girmit, or Girmityas, was used to refer to Indian indentured labourers as it was how they would pronounce the English word 'agreement'. SBS Spice's Suhayla Sharif speaks with six Indo-Fijian Australians to shed light on their enduring legacy.

Joining SBS Spice virtually are six guests of Indo-Fijian heritage in Australia: Chef Justin Narayan, authors Nilima Rao, Salvin Kumar and Manisha Anjali, artist Shivanjani Lal and media personality Fuzz Ali.

In a documentary-style feature, this episode fleshes out the personal stories of each guest's connection with their Fijian ancestry, the lack of understanding among the wider South Asian diaspora, and the importance of knowing the history of the subcontinent under British colonial rule.

Get to know our guests:

Justin Narayan: Winner of MasterChef Australia 2021, Justin Narayan is a chef whose recipes serve as an ode to both his Indo-Fijian ancestry and Australia's unique and diverse food culture.

Nilima Rao: The author of 2023 novel A Disappearance in Fiji Nilima Rao used her 'cultural confusion' to create literary accessibility to the legacy of Indo-Fijian indentured labourers.

Shivanjani Lal: Fijian-Australian artist Shivanjani Lal has showcased her work globally that employs storytelling to explore ancestral loss, grief and diasporic healing.

Salvin Kumar: Born and raised in Vitogo Village, Lautoka, Fiji and after moving to Australia in 2013, Salvin Kumar is the author of Fiji-Baat, a series of children's books connecting emerging Indo-Fijians to Fiji-Hindi language.

Manisha Anjali: Born in Suva, Fiji, raised in Auckland, Aotearoa and now based in Melbourne, Australia, Manisha Anjali is a writer and artist whose creative works deeply explore her experiences as a descendent of Indo-Fijian girmityas.

Fuzz Ali: Best known to Australian audiences for his time on My Kitchen Rules in 2022, Fuzz Ali is a multimedia personality with work spanning across both Fiji and Australia that celebrates culture, inclusion and visibility.

Tap the audio player to listen to the full interview.

SBS Spice breaks new ground with English language content for young South Asians in Australia by exploring what is making us tick or ick. Find us in your podcast app such as the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or LiSTNR and follow us on Instagram @SBSSpice