Indo-Fiji ties, rooted in indentured labourers’ journey over a century ago, are now renewing through climate, trade, and security cooperation
The story of India-Fiji relations has been one of resilience - born in the hardships of Girmit, tested in the turbulence of coups, but renewed in dialogue and reconciliation. Fiji a tropical island nation located in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean has one third population of people of Indian orion. It has not been a easy life for them as they struggled as indentured labourers under the British colonial rule and thereafter had a troubled relations with the native population of Fiji. However, with their sheer handwork and mettle made a place for themselves and today are an integral part of Fiji. All this must have been in the mind of the visiting Prime Minister of Fiji Ligamamada Rabuka and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the two met in Delhi to chart the way for the future. Rabuka reaffirmed the importance of Indo-Fijians to Fiji’s growth, acknowledging their “contribution to what Fiji is today.” Between 1879 and 1916, over 60,000 Indians were transported to Fiji under the indenture system, known as Girmit. By the mid-20th century, Indo-Fijians had become the backbone of Fiji’s agricultural economy and formed a significant part of its urban workforce. This very demographic reality also sowed tensions in Fiji’s post-independence politics. Rabuka, then a military officer, staged two coups in 1987 and toppled Fiji’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister, Timoci Bavadra. However, he later publicly apologised for his actions.
Over the past two decades, Fiji has moved towards greater inclusivity, with political leaders working to heal divides. The signing of the “Forward Fiji Declaration” in 2023, bringing together leaders of indigenous and Indo-Fijian communities, symbolised this intent. In parallel, India has steadily expanded its engagement with Fiji. New Delhi views the South Pacific as strategically important for maritime cooperation, climate resilience, and counterbalancing growing Chinese influence in the region.
India has provided development aid, scholarships, and support for renewable energy and digital connectivity in Fiji. Rabuka’s visit to India comes at a time when both nations are seeking to expand cooperation in new domains. Climate change is an urgent priority: Fiji, highly vulnerable to rising seas and extreme weather, can benefit from India’s International Solar Alliance and disaster-resilience initiatives. Trade in sugar, tourism, and pharmaceuticals also offers avenues of growth, while cultural exchanges and diaspora engagement remain natural strengths.
India’s outreach to the Pacific Islands, including through forums like FIPIC (Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation), positions Fiji as a key partner in shaping a regional balance. Rabuka’s visit to New Delhi is not just a diplomatic engagement; it is a reminder of how history can weigh heavily on ties, but also how shared futures can be built on acknowledgement, apology, and collaboration.
