16 Facts About Vishnu Deo

Vishnu Deo OBE was the first Fiji born and bred leader of the Indo-Fijians.

Vishnu Deo was a staunch supporter of Arya Samaj in Fiji and the editor of the first successful Hindi-language newspaper to be published in Fiji.

Vishnu Deo attended Marist Brothers School and had a keen intellect, becoming a fluent debater in both English and Hindi.

Vishnu Deo founded a number of social and religious organisations.

The Governor of Fiji proclaimed 15 May 1929 a public holiday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Indians in Fiji, but Vishnu Deo wanted this to be a day of mourning; at a meeting in Lautoka on 12 May 1929, it was decided to fast and pray on the day and to form the Fiji Indian National Congress.

Vishnu Deo was initially appointed to the Central Indian War Committee but had his appointment terminated when he published a serial record of a Committee meeting in his newspaper, the Fiji Samachar.

Vishnu Deo took a proactive role in propagating the teachings of Swami Dayanand, some of which were the establishment of a castless society, education for girls, an end to child marriage and remarriage for widows.

Vishnu Deo soon found himself at loggerheads with other religious groups, who for the first time had to deal with a Hindu society aggressively promoting re-conversion to Hinduism.

Vishnu Deo participated in public debates, and during one of these debates published material for which he was convicted and fined.

Vishnu Deo was the editor of the Hindi language newspaper, Fiji Samachar, which was regarded as the mouthpiece of the Arya Samaj in Fiji.

Vishnu Deo had to wait until 1956 before he finally joined the Executive Council.

Vishnu Deo stepped in to provide a unified voice for these farmers.

When Radio Fiji started broadcasting in July 1954, the first Hindi voice heard over the air in Fiji was that of Vishnu Deo, who presented the inaugural address.

Vishnu Deo had been appointed to the Commission in March 1954, following the death of Ami Chandra.

On 14 September 1956 Pundit Vishnu Deo was appointed to the Executive Council.

Vishnu Deo died on 7 May 1968 but his contribution to the Indo-Fijians can be seen by the number of schools and roads named after him.