From little things big things grow

Human rights activists sing the national anthem at Princess Road in Suva to mark Fiji day. Picture: IVAMERE ROKOVESA
from w
I'm not interested in the hype of most speeches about Fiji Day but here is one small story about a group of activists with a love of Fiji and hope for the future. The journalist says they were singing the Fiji National Anthem, but of course if you really notice the English words of the anthem, there is a great deal of hypocracy/irony/fantasy in the words!

Love and honour our country, activists say

Serelisoni Moceica
Tuesday, October 11, 2011

LOVE and honour our beloved country, Fiji.

The comment was made yesterday by a group of human rights activists who celebrated Independence Day holiday in Tamavua, Suva.

"Fiji Day is a good time to start and as citizens of Fiji we must move forward on a common platform that embraces human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law," said host, Shamima Ali, the executive director of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre.

Ms Ali said the resilience of the people of Fiji through these hard times was to be celebrated including individuals who were genuine in their efforts to move the country forward.

Youth advocate, Tura Lewai said the day was about remembering the tireless work of the people who have Fiji at heart and said youths were starting to take action.

"You don't need big rallies, a march or even a big crown, you just need to start by changing your mindset, and that in itself, is great and will make a difference as change comes from people and change starts from citizens"," said Hibiscus king, Peter Waqavonovono.

The advocates held up banners with lyrics of the national anthem and also sang the anthem as part of the party.
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And here are the words of the Fiji National Anthem, as from wikipedia. Note the Fijian words were written many years ago as a sere ni vanua (national song) and the English words were those of the winner of a competition in 1970 where people were asked to write verses to a set tune which was an old hymn tune called 'Beulah Land'.

English lyrics

Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji

CHORUS:
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom, hope and glory, to endure what ever befall
May God bless Fiji
Forever more!

Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji
Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji.

[edit] Fijian lyrics

Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Biu na i tovo tawa savasava

CHORUS:
Me bula ga ko Viti
Ka me toro ga ki liu
Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu
Me ra liutaki na tamata
E na veika vinaka
Me oti kina na i tovo ca

Me da dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga

Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti
Ni yavala me savasava na vanua
Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali
Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua
[edit] Fijian lyrics- Translated

Let us show pride and honour our nation
Where righteous people reside
Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere
Abandon deeds that are immoral

CHORUS:
Let Fiji live on
And progress onwards
May our leaders be honourable men
Let them lead our people
To great things
And bring an end to all things immoral
Let us show pride and honour our nation
Where righteous people reside
Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere
Abandon deeds that are immoral

The burden of change lie on your shoulders youth of Fiji
Be the strength to cleanse our nation
Be wary and not harbour malice
For we must abandon such sentiments forever
[edit] Hindi Lyrics

आशीर्वाद फिजी
के द्वीपों पर ओह राष्ट्रों के भगवान अनुदान जैसा कि हम महान बैनर तले नीले
एकजुट और हम सम्मान और स्वतंत्रता के कारण बचाव कभी
आगे एक साथ
मार्च भगवान भला करे फिजी

कोरस:
फिजी के लिए, कभी फिजी, चलो हमारी आवाज गर्व
साथ अंगूठी फिजी के लिए, कभी फिजी, उसका नाम जय दूर और चौड़े,
स्वतंत्रता आशा है, और महिमा, का एक भूमि सहना करने के लिए क्या कभी
बीतना भगवान भला करे फिजी
हमेशा के लिए और अधिक!

आशीर्वाद अनुदान, फिजी
के द्वीपों पर राष्ट्रों के भगवान, ओह सुनहरी रेत और धूप, खुशी और गीत
की किनारे एकजुट खड़े हो जाओ, फिजी, प्रसिद्धि और महिमा से हम कभी
आगे एक साथ
मार्च भगवान फिजी भला करे.
[edit] Transliteration

Āśīrvāda phijī
Kē dvīpōṁ para ōha rāṣṭrōṁ kē bhagavāna anudāna jaisā ki hama mahāna bainara talē nīlē
Ēkajuṭa aura hama sam'māna aura svatantratā kē kāraṇa bacāva kabhī
Āgē ēka sātha
Mārca bhagavāna bhalā karē phijī

Kōrasa:
Phijī kē li'ē, kabhī phijī, calō hamārī āvāja garva
Sātha aṅgūṭhī phijī kē li'ē, kabhī phijī, usakā nāma jaya dūra aura cauṛē,
Svatantratā āśā hai, aura mahimā, kā ēka bhūmi sahanā karanē kē li'ē kyā kabhī
Bītanā bhagavāna bhalā karē phijī
Hamēśā kē li'ē aura adhika!

Āśīrvāda anudāna, phijī
Kē dvīpōṁ para rāṣṭrōṁ kē bhagavāna, ōha sunaharī rēta aura dhūpa, khuśī aura gīta
Kī kinārē ēkajuṭa khaṛē hō jā'ō, phijī, prasid'dhi aura mahimā sē hama kabhī
Āgē ēka sātha
Mārca bhagavāna phijī bhalā karē.
[edit] Proposed change

In August 2008, the draft version of the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, a government document intended to supplement the Constitution, recommended a change in the national anthem. It suggested that the national anthem should be in the country's three main languages: Fijian, Hindi and English.[1]