| Description Summary | Partly spoken in Hindi. Mr Ram Dutt, born in Labasa, talks about growing up in Fiji, his family and their origins, working as a child, his siblings and their careers, land rights and losing the family property, their subsequent family businesses. He explains the difference between Fijians and Fijian Indians, mixing with other religions, Indian festivals, the expansion of their photography business, his own career, ending up in Suva and meeting his wife.
Leelavati Dutt briefly recalls her early life, attending school, her 11 siblings, her marriage at 16, her five children, her upbringing, education.
They explain they lived with family when first married. Ram describes the financial difficulties of the time, his memories of the first political coup, discrimination against Indians and the change in attitude of Fijian’s after the coup. He recalls the process of his children moving to New Zealand, his and his wife’s emigration, their first residence in Te Atatu North (Te Atatu Peninsula), support groups of friends, growing food in his garden, grandchildren and the origins and development of the Waitakere Indian Association.
Ram explains his work creating Hindi language materials, the Hindi school, the growth of Hindi interest and support groups, his role at the school. Leelavati explains the benefit of the school to Hindi children born and raised in NZ. |
