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India’s High Commissioner to Fiji Professor Prabhakara Jha has called on the youth of Fiji to stay back and serve their country.
Addressing the 84th annual convention of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Sangam as chief guest, Jha said there is no better place to work than serving in one’s own motherland.
Speaking on the theme of ‘Youth Empowerment’, Jha said youth are the hope for a brighter, happier and stronger Fiji.
“Only through hard work, sacrifice and harmony can there be future peace, security and development and yet the youth do not know the power they hold,” Jha told convention delegates in Suva today.
He also commended the efforts of the Sangam organisation in preserving and safeguarding the language and cultural heritage of South Indians.
“The ideals and objectives that draw the founding fathers to establish Sangam was to safeguard their rich social, cultural and religious heritage,” he said.
Jha also acknowledged the Sangam establishing 21 primary and five secondary schools in Fiji to ensure appropriate and higher education for their children.
He said more than 140,000 people in Fiji today belonged to the Sangam organization from the initial 40 individuals who came to Fiji from South India.
He urged people to take advantage of the cultural classes offered by the Indian Cultural Center in Suva and Lautoka to ensure continuity in maintaining a rich culture.
