Punjabi in Fiji

Introduction / History

The British Raj had a big problem in the 1870s. The Fijian Islands were willing to become part of their empire, but they had to have a stable economy. Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon came up with a way to make money and finance this new colony. Finances would come from sugar plantations. The governor knew that the Fijians would be incensed if they were suddenly forced to work the plantations, after agreeing to become part of the British Empire. He decided to bring laborers in from their South Asian colony, India.

South Asian sugar workers started coming to work at the sugar plantations in the 1870s. Sikhs from India's Punjab were relative latecomers. They came to Fiji from 1900 to 1930. According to one Sikh website, "The Punjabis have established themselves irreversibly, firmly and successfully in Fiji."

What Are Their Lives Like?

It would be unusual to see a Sikh working in the sugar fields today. Some have been elected to Fiji's Parliament, and many now own businesses.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Diaspora Punjabi reflects the three major religions of their homeland: Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. Most Diaspora Punjabi speakers are Sikhs, who are mostly atheists.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the sixteenth

What Are Their Needs?

Those who have heard the words of Jesus have been drawn to him. Since the 1970s, many Sikhs have put their faith in Christ, especially in Canada and in their homeland, India's fertile Punjab State. But there are few Sikhs who follow Christ in Fiji, largel

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to thrust out workers specifically to the Sikhs in Fiji.
Pray for these Sikhs to hear and respond to the Word of God and turn to Jesus, the God who transcends all "religion."

Text Source:   Joshua Project