Under the Leadership of Manilal Doctor The Indian Imperial Association of Fiji (I.I.A.) came into existence in Fiji on 2 June 1918 after the arrival of Manilal Doctor, who asked for the original name of the association (British Indian Association of Fiji) to be changed because the name had the word "British" in it and Manilal, being a citizen of Baroda State, was not a British subject. Manilal became the President of the Indian Imperial Association of Fiji and Ram Singh its Secretary. The association contained mainly educated Fiji Indians. It sent petitions to the Government seeking review of marriage law, an end to the death penalty and representation into the Legislative Council. The aim of the association was to ‘ watch the interests of and to assist in the general improvement of the Indian community in Fiji ’ . As president of the I.I.A., Manilal Doctor wrote to Gandhi, other Indian leaders and the British Labour Party on the sad plight of Indian indentured labourers in Fiji. C.F. Andrews and W.W. Pearson were dispatched to Fiji to enquire into the complaints. Manilal Doctor made submissions for their report, published on 29 February 1916, which reported on the deplorable living conditions of the indentured labourers and their lack of access to education and medical facilities. On 26 December 1919, the Association organised a conference in the Suva Town Hall, which Manilal chaired and which passed a number of resolutions, including a call for independence for India, sympathy for the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and other resolutions relating to Fiji Indians. On 29 December 1919 the Association sent a list of request to the government which included the following: Immediate cancellation of all remaining indenture agreements Repeal of the Masters and servants ordinance Improved educational facilities Training of Indian medical officers like the Fijians Permission to repatriate gold sovereigns Establishment of sugar-cane board Abolition of hut tax and hawkers licences Agricultural training and financial help for Co-operative credit societies or agricultural banks Better pay for skilled Indian workers such as locomotive drivers and those handling dangerous machinery Worker ’ s compensation Better roads to Indian settlements Easier acquisition of land without distinction of race Better railway and steamship facilities Amendment to municipal ordinances to enable most Indian ratepayers to vote Amendment to all Fiji ’ s ordinances to enable Indians to do most of the things permitted to Europeans only.
Under the Leadership of Manilal Doctor The Indian Imperial Association of Fiji (I.I.A.) came into existence in Fiji on 2 June 1918 after the arrival of Manilal Doctor, who asked for the original name of the association (British Indian Association of Fiji) to be changed because the name had the word "British" in it and Manilal, being a citizen of Baroda State, was not a British subject. Manilal became the President of the Indian Imperial Association of Fiji and Ram Singh its Secretary. The association contained mainly educated Fiji Indians. It sent petitions to the Government seeking review of marriage law, an end to the death penalty and representation into the Legislative Council. The aim of the association was to ' watch the interests of and to assist in the general improvement of the Indian community in Fiji ' . As president of the I.I.A., Manilal Doctor wrote to Gandhi, other Indian leaders and the British Labour Party on the sad plight of Indian indentured labourers in Fiji. C.F. Andrews and W.W. Pearson were dispatched to Fiji to enquire into the complaints. Manilal Doctor made submissions for their report, published on 29 February 1916, which reported on the deplorable living conditions of the indentured labourers and their lack of access to education and medical facilities. On 26 December 1919, the Association organised a conference in the Suva Town Hall, which Manilal chaired and which passed a number of resolutions, including a call for independence for India, sympathy for the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and other resolutions relating to Fiji Indians. On 29 December 1919 the Association sent a list of request to the government which included the following: Immediate cancellation of all remaining indenture agreements Repeal of the Masters and servants ordinance Improved educational facilities Training of Indian medical officers like the Fijians Permission to repatriate gold sovereigns Establishment of sugar-cane board Abolition of hut tax and hawkers licences Agricultural training and financial help for Co-operative credit societies or agricultural banks Better pay for skilled Indian workers such as locomotive drivers and those handling dangerous machinery Worker ' s compensation Better roads to Indian settlements Easier acquisition of land without distinction of race Better railway and steamship facilities Amendment to municipal ordinances to enable most Indian ratepayers to vote Amendment to all Fiji ' s ordinances to enable Indians to do most of the things permitted to Europeans only.
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