Vivekanad Sharma (1939 - 10 September 2006) was a Fiji Indian politician and religious worker but is best known for his promotion of the Hindi language in Fiji and abroad.
Vivekanad Sharma (1939 - 10 September 2006) was a Fiji Indian politician and religious worker but is best known for his promotion of the Hindi language in Fiji and abroad.
Dr. Vivekanand Sharma was born 'in' [Nadi], Fiji into a cane farming family. He had his primary education at Votualevu Government School and secondary education at Shri Vivekananda High School after which he undertook teacher training. Upon completing his three years bond to serve the government, he went to India for further studies on 1st January 1964 and did his Bachelors and then master's degrees from Hindu College, Delhi University and later PhD in Hindi Literature from Sardar Patel University.(As per my personal records of the Family History)
Dr. Sharma published a large number of books on Hindi and Hindu customs and culture. He was the founder and the President of Hindi Maha Parishad of Fiji (an organisation to promote Hindi), as well as founder, Principal and the Manager of Maharishi Sanatan College. He was the Chairman of the Hindi Work Group of Curriculum Development Unit, Ministry of Education, Fiji. He was also the Hindi Programme Coordinator at the University of the South Pacific. Upon his return to Fiji he produced several plays and used radio to promote Hindi and Hinduism. He opened a book shop in Nadi, Fiji, namely Prashant Pustak Bhandaar in 1975 for the preservation and promotion of Hindi and Indian cultures, customs and traditions in Fiji at national level. Dr. Suresh Rituparna, one of his best friends from Hindu College Delhi helped in the publication of all the books of Dr. Sharma. [1]
Dr. Sharma was an associate of A. D. Patel who kindled his interest in politics. He was the founder and President of International Youth Federation of the University of Delhi. He surprised everyone by standing as an Alliance candidate in the 1972 general election. He lost the election but was appointed a Senator by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara; later he won the general election and became the Minister of State for Youth and Sports. He held Ratu Mara in high regard and wrote a book on him in Hindi. In the 1977 election, he won the South Western Indian National seat for the Alliance Party and remained in Parliament until 1981. [2] During the time of the Qarase Government he was a national member for his Indian Council of Fiji.
He was the founder of Votualevu Tirth Dhaam (Hindu Pilgrimage Centre). He served as the General Secretary and later as the National President of Shri Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji and as an advisor of Shri Sanatan Dharam Brahman Purohit Sabha of Fiji.
He died in Brisbane, Australia on 10 September 2006. [3] He was cremated at Vatuwaqa Cemetery in Suva on Wednesday, 13 September 2006. [4]
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During World Hindi Convention in Mauritius he was appointed Vice President of World Bhojpuri Secretariat and a Senior Member of World Hindi Secretariat. He was also awarded Hindi Bhushan by the Uttar Pradesh Government of India - the first recipient of Indian origin born outside India. World Bhojpuri Convention honoured him with "Vishwa Bojpuri Sammaan" and the Vishva Hindi Sanskriti Sansthan honoured him with Vishva Hindi Sammaan. Locally, he was also decorated with the rare award of Sanatan Ratan by Shree Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji in 2004
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There may not be another Vivekanand Sharma for many years to come. He was indeed an institution and we shall ever be rini (indebteded) to him. Some of his quotable quotes are: 'How can they who leave their mothers unrobed, clothe others’ mothers in saris' 'Do your duty righteously and leave the rest on Bajrangi Baba' 'Never turn away any one disappointed from your compound' 'Language means culture, culture means identity' 'Make Hindi the vehicle of communication to protect our civilization which gives us our identity' 'Life is short, let it be great' by Satya Nand Sharma (B.A. - Delhi Uni)
The Hindi Belt, also known as the Hindi Heartland or the Hindi speaking states, is a linguistic region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India where various Northern, Central, Eastern and Western Indo-Aryan languages are spoken, which in a broader sense is termed as Hindi languages, with Standard Hindi serving as the lingua franca of the region.
Bhadase Sagan Maraj was a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician, Hindu leader, civil rights activist, trade unionist, landowner, businessman, philanthropist, wrestler, and writer. He founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha in 1952, which grew to be the largest and most influential Hindu organization in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. He also founded the Caroni East Indian Association, the People's Democratic Party, the Democratic Labour Party, the Democratic Liberation Party, the Federation of Unions of Sugar Workers and Cane Farmers, and The Bomb newspaper.
The University of Fiji is a university based in Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji. It was established in December 2004 under academic leadership of the Fiji Institute of Applied Studies and financial sponsorship of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, a Hindu religious organization dedicated to education." On 14 February 2016, the Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB) signed a 99-year lease with the university for the 5-hectare property, for which the university paid F$100,000. The university agreed in return to provide two scholarships annually for the children of landowners.
Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, formerly Sanatan Dharma College, is a co-educational constituent college of the University of Delhi. The college was founded on 3 August 1959, by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Delhi. Shri Atma Ram Chadha, a philanthropist, took over as chairman of the college governing body in 1967.The college is one of the premier colleges of Delhi University. It was ranked 5th among colleges in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024.
Caribbean Hindustani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by Indo-Caribbean people and the Indo-Caribbean diaspora. It is a koiné language mainly based on the Bhojpuri and Awadhi dialects. These Hindustani dialects were the most spoken dialects by the Indians who came as immigrants to the Caribbean from Colonial India as indentured laborers. It is closely related to Fiji Hindi and the Bhojpuri-Hindustani spoken in Mauritius and South Africa.
Pt. Vishnu Deo OBE was the first Fiji born and bred leader of the Indo-Fijians. From his initial election to the Legislative Council in 1929 to his retirement in 1959, he remained the most powerful Indo-Fijians political leader in Fiji. He was a staunch supporter of Arya Samaj in Fiji and also the editor of the first successful Hindi-language newspaper to be published in Fiji.
The Arya Samaj was the first religious, cultural and educational Fiji Indian organisation established in Fiji. From its inception, in 1904, it attracted the young, educated and progressive Hindus into its fold. During the first three decades of the twentieth century, it was the sole voice of the Indian community in Fiji and as Fiji Indians won political rights, it was not surprising that first Indian members of the Legislative Council were all Arya Samajis. The influence of Arya Samaj over the Indians in Fiji gradually waned as other organisations representing Indians were established but it remained the dominant force in politics until 1959. The modern day Arya Samaj in Fiji still speaks out on issues affecting its members and its activities are visible through the numerous educational institutions that it manages.
Pandit Shri Krishna Sharma was an Arya Samaj preacher who came to Fiji in 1926 from Rajkot, India. He was a gifted public speaker and singer of religious songs. He provided impetus to the Arya Samaj movement in Fiji. Under his influence Arya Samaj schools and temples were established in Fiji. He was responsible for the establishment of the Hindu Maha Sabha for the purpose of uniting all Hindus in Fiji. He advocated shuddhi and this caused conflict with Muslims and Christians in Fiji.
Harish Chandra Sharma is a Fiji Indian politician who became the leader of the National Federation Party in 1987. He was also the leader of the organisation representing most of the Hindus in Fiji, the Shree Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji.
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement in South Africa. Like other parts of the world where people of Indian origin are settled, the teachings of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj, made their way to South Africa during the beginning of the twentieth century. The Arya Samaj encouraged Indian South Africans to take pride in their heritage and culture and promoted education and social reform.
This is a synopsis of organisations formed by Indians in Fiji. When they became free from the bondage of indenture and were able to organise themselves, they founded numerous organizations to seek social and political justice. These organisations promoted the teaching of Indian languages and religious practices and also to help others in time of need. Some of the successful organisations are listed below in the order in which they were established. Some, such as the National Federation Party, are no longer exclusively Indian, but are still predominantly so.
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement in Mauritius. Established in 1911, the Arya Paropkarini Sabha was officially registered in 1913. Since its creation Arya Samaj has had a great influence on the religious, social, educational and political lives of the people of Indian origin on the island. It has endeavoured to uphold the principles and ideals set forth by Maharishi Dayanand and his reformist movement. Some of the more notable ideals are women parity and free access to education. It has provided Hindus with a choice of progressive Hinduism, has promoted education with particular emphasis on Hindi and established orphanages, primary schools, colleges and tertiary institution.
Among the first published works of Fijian literature, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, were Vivekanand Sharma, Raymond Pillai's and Subramani's short stories and Pio Manoa's poetry. The emergence of Fiji's written literature coincides with the country's transition to independence in 1970.
Ram Dayal Munda, known as R. D. Munda, was an Indian scholar and regional music exponent. He was awarded the Padma Shri of the year 2010 for his contribution to the field of art.
Shrilal Shukla was a Hindi writer, notable for his satire. He worked as a PCS officer for the state government of Uttar Pradesh, later inducted into the IAS. He has written over 25 books, including Raag Darbari, Makaan, Sooni Ghaati Ka Sooraj, Pehla Padaav and Bisrampur Ka Sant.
Litterateur and parliamentarian Shankar Dayal Singh was twice elected to the Parliament of India. He was one of the youngest members of the Fifth Lok Sabha, in which he represented the Chatra parliamentary constituency in Bihar. Contesting his maiden Lok Sabha election in 1971, he defeated Smt. Vijaya Raje, the wife of Sri Kamakhya Narayan Singh, Raja of Ramgarh. He was again elected to the upper house, the Rajya Sabha, in 1990 from Bihar.
This timeline lists important events relevant to the life of the Vaishnava (Hindu) spiritual leader, poet, commentator, educationist, religious and social figure Rambhadracharya.
Parichay Das, is an Indian writer, essayist, poet and editor of contemporary Bhojpuri poetry. He is Professor and Head, Department of Hindi, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Deemed University. He writes in Bhojpuri and Hindi. He earned his Ph.D. from Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur. He is former Secretary, Maithili-Bhojpuri Academy and ex-Secretary, Hindi Academy under Delhi Government. He has written/ edited/ text edited more than 30 books. He received Dwi-Vaageesh Samman award for "Srijan Evam Anuvaad" [Creative Writing and Translation] by the Bhartiya Anuvad Parishad [Translator's Association of India] in 2012. He received Bhojpuri Keerti Sammaan, Bharteey Dalit Sahitya Sammaan, Shyam Narayan Pandey Sammaan, Editor's Choice Award and Damodar Das Chaturvedi Bhasha-Sahitya Sammaan. He delivered a lecture on Bhojpuri in Kathmandu as representative of Kendriy Sahitya Akademi in 2012. He recited his poems in 'SAARC Literary Summit ' in Delhi in 2011. He is considered a unique personal essay writer in Indian Languages and path breaker poet in Bhojpuri.
Nandlal Sharma was an Indian politician and shastri. He was born in Alizai, Kohat District, the son of Pandit Harish Chander who settled in Kohat from Khost, Afghanistan. His father was a landlord and a Pandit. Nand Lal Sharma studied at Sanatan Dharma College in Rawalpindi and Benaras Hindu University. He obtained M.A. and LL.B. and Vedant Shastri degrees from BHU. In Benaras, he became the general secretary of the Benaras Hindu Sabha.
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