Totaram Sanadhya

Totaram Sanadhya (1876 - 1947) was an indentured labourer who, after completing his five-year term, dedicated his life to helping those still under the indenture system in Fiji and to contributing to ending the evil system.

Sanadhya was born in the village of Hirangaon, in the district of Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh in India in 1876. The death of his father caused him to leave his village in search of employment to support his family. One day he met an arkhati (recruiter of indentured labourers), who offered him a job. Although he was of Brahmin caste, he was asked lie about his caste to increase his chances of being recruited. He came to Fiji on 28 May 1893 abroad the ship Jumna and was assigned to the CSR's estate in Nausori.

When he finished the mandated five years of indenture, he was penniless. he borrowed money to lease land to grow sugarcane. He knew that he would not have been able make enough money with farming, so he supplemented his income by working as a priest. He  also learnt carpentry, metalwork and photography and the ability to speak the Fijian language. In 1902 he organised the first Ram Leela in Fiji.

When he was financially secure, he left his farm to labourers and went about trying to help indentured labourers. He was banned from entering the estates, so he would sit outside, singing bhajans. On hearing this workers came out to seek his help. In 1910 he wrote a petition, signed by 200 Indians from Suva and Nausori, which was sent to the Governor. In 1911, after a hurricane that caused great distress among Indians, the British indian Association of Fiji was formed. On behalf of the Association, he wrote a letter to Gandhi asking for an Indian lawyer to be sent to Fiji. This was successful as in 1912, an Indian lawyer, Manilal Doctor arrived in Fiji. Sanadhya raised funds to help Manilal establish his legal practice in Fiji.

He left Fiji on 27 March 1914 but, unfortunately, he camera and other photographic equipment which contained evidence of the conditions in Fiji, were confiscated on his departure. He traveled throughout India and spoke about the condition of Indians in Fiji. This included a convention of the Indian National Congress in Madras. His experiences in Fiji were published in a book, Mere Fiji Desh me Ikkis Varsh (My 21 years in Fiji), which drew the attention of the Indian public to the situation in Fiji.

He joined Gandhi at the Sabramati Ashram in 1922anddied in 1947 after a long illness.

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