Irene Jai Narayan (23 February 1932[1] – 29 July 2011) was an Indian-born teacher and politician, who had a significant influence on politics in Fiji.[2] She came to Fiji in 1959 after marrying Jai Narayan, a well known school Principal in Suva, and began her career as a teacher. She taught in DAV Girls School and MGM High School in Suva before entering politics.[3]
Irene Jai Narayan
Member of Legislative Council (Fiji) Suva Indian Communal Constituency
In office 1966–1972
Member of House of Representatives (Fiji) Suva City Indian Communal Constituency
In 1966, she was handpicked by the then leader of the Federation Party, A. D. Patel to contest the Suva Indian Communal seat in the Legislative Council against Andrew Deoki. Deoki was an experienced political campaigner, having represented Suva in the Legislative Council since 1959 and had wide social contacts. He was the only non-Federation Indian member elected in the 1963 elections. A.D. Patel was of the opinion that a female candidate would be able to counteract some of Deoki's influence in the constituency. In the end Irene Narayan won easily by 5,676 votes to 2,779 votes.[4] She increased her majority in the 1968 by-election. For a long time, she remained the sole Indian female member of the Legislative Council.
Member of House of Representativesedit
This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Irene Jai Narayan" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(August 2016)
Irene Narayan was elected to the Dominion of Fiji's House of Representatives in the 1972, 1977 (March), 1977 (September) and 1982 elections, from the Suva Indian Communal Constituency. In 1977 when the National Federation Party split into two factions, she joined the "Flower" faction, with Jai Ram Reddy, opposed to Sidiq Koya's "Dove" faction. In the September, 1977 election, the "Flower" faction won most of the seats reserved for Indians, Jai Ram Reddy became the Leader of the Opposition and Irene Narayan played an influential role within the "Flower" faction. In January 1977, The Fiji Times honoured her as its Woman of the Year.[3]
She served as president of the party from 1976 to 1979. She was also the Opposition Whip from 1977 to 1979, and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 1979 to 1985. In 1985, following the resignation of Jai Ram Reddy, she narrowly lost a bid to lead the opposition, to Sidiq Koya. Relations between her and the new leader remained strained and she resigned from the National Federation Party (NFP) after electoral setback in a by-election, accusing Koya of favouring his own supporters over party unity and stating that "the NFP has no future and is no longer virile as an opposition party."
Between 1985 and 1987, the NFP again went through internal turmoil and many of its Parliamentarians resigned from the Party, but while most joined the fledgling Fiji Labour Party, Irene Narayan surprised everyone by joining the Alliance Party, which she had bitterly opposed throughout her political career. The Alliance Party was aware that she would not be able to hold the Suva City Indian Communal seat on its ticket and so rewarded her with the marginal seat of Suva Indian National Constituency. The Alliance had never lost this seat but in the general election of 1987, the loss of this seat led to the narrow defeat of the Alliance Party.
Following two military coups in 1987, she was one of the few Indo-Fijians who agreed to serve (as Minister of Indian Affairs) in the transitional government of 1987–92, a government that was widely condemned by many of her fellow Indo-Fijians for promulgating a constitution which many saw as racist as it ensured ethnic Fijian political supremacy. She served as a Senator from 1994 to 99, and in 1985 co-founded the Fiji Indian Congress. Although a Hindu, she played a leading role in the founding of the Christian Democratic Alliance in 1999.
Early in 2005, Narayen joined the National Alliance Party, a new party founded by Ratu Epeli Ganilau as an attempt to revive the defunct Alliance Party. She participated in the official launch of the party on 8 April 2005.
^Who's Who in Asian and Australasian Politics. Bowker-Saur. 1991. ISBN9780862915933. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
^Lal, Brij V. (January 2006). Islands of turmoil: elections and politics in Fiji. Asia Pacific Press. p. 52. ISBN978-0-7315-3751-8. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
^ abLabour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry remembers Irene Jai Narayan 2011-08-08 at the Wayback Machine, flp.org.fj; accessed 22 August 2016.
^"Fiji's women take a ... Vol. 37, No. 12 ( Dec. 1, 1966)". Trove. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
January 01, 1970
irene, narayan, february, 1932, july, 2011, indian, born, teacher, politician, significant, influence, politics, fiji, came, fiji, 1959, after, marrying, narayan, well, known, school, principal, suva, began, career, teacher, taught, girls, school, high, school. Irene Jai Narayan 23 February 1932 1 29 July 2011 was an Indian born teacher and politician who had a significant influence on politics in Fiji 2 She came to Fiji in 1959 after marrying Jai Narayan a well known school Principal in Suva and began her career as a teacher She taught in DAV Girls School and MGM High School in Suva before entering politics 3 Irene Jai NarayanMember of Legislative Council Fiji Suva Indian Communal ConstituencyIn office 1966 1972Member of House of Representatives Fiji Suva City Indian Communal ConstituencyIn office 1972 1987Minister of Indian AffairsIn office 1987 1992SenatorIn office 1994 1999Personal detailsBorn 1932 02 23 23 February 1932Lucknow British IndiaDied29 July 2011 2011 07 29 aged 79 Suva FijiPolitical partyNational Federation Party Alliance Party National Alliance PartySpouseJai NarayanResidence s Suva FijiProfessionTeacher Contents 1 Member of Legislative Council 2 Member of House of Representatives 3 Resignation from NFP 4 Member of Alliance Party 5 Post coup politics 6 See also 7 ReferencesMember of Legislative Council editIn 1966 she was handpicked by the then leader of the Federation Party A D Patel to contest the Suva Indian Communal seat in the Legislative Council against Andrew Deoki Deoki was an experienced political campaigner having represented Suva in the Legislative Council since 1959 and had wide social contacts He was the only non Federation Indian member elected in the 1963 elections A D Patel was of the opinion that a female candidate would be able to counteract some of Deoki s influence in the constituency In the end Irene Narayan won easily by 5 676 votes to 2 779 votes 4 She increased her majority in the 1968 by election For a long time she remained the sole Indian female member of the Legislative Council Member of House of Representatives editThis section relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Irene Jai Narayan news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2016 Irene Narayan was elected to the Dominion of Fiji s House of Representatives in the 1972 1977 March 1977 September and 1982 elections from the Suva Indian Communal Constituency In 1977 when the National Federation Party split into two factions she joined the Flower faction with Jai Ram Reddy opposed to Sidiq Koya s Dove faction In the September 1977 election the Flower faction won most of the seats reserved for Indians Jai Ram Reddy became the Leader of the Opposition and Irene Narayan played an influential role within the Flower faction In January 1977 The Fiji Times honoured her as its Woman of the Year 3 Resignation from NFP editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message She served as president of the party from 1976 to 1979 She was also the Opposition Whip from 1977 to 1979 and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 1979 to 1985 In 1985 following the resignation of Jai Ram Reddy she narrowly lost a bid to lead the opposition to Sidiq Koya Relations between her and the new leader remained strained and she resigned from the National Federation Party NFP after electoral setback in a by election accusing Koya of favouring his own supporters over party unity and stating that the NFP has no future and is no longer virile as an opposition party Member of Alliance Party editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Between 1985 and 1987 the NFP again went through internal turmoil and many of its Parliamentarians resigned from the Party but while most joined the fledgling Fiji Labour Party Irene Narayan surprised everyone by joining the Alliance Party which she had bitterly opposed throughout her political career The Alliance Party was aware that she would not be able to hold the Suva City Indian Communal seat on its ticket and so rewarded her with the marginal seat of Suva Indian National Constituency The Alliance had never lost this seat but in the general election of 1987 the loss of this seat led to the narrow defeat of the Alliance Party Post coup politics editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Following two military coups in 1987 she was one of the few Indo Fijians who agreed to serve as Minister of Indian Affairs in the transitional government of 1987 92 a government that was widely condemned by many of her fellow Indo Fijians for promulgating a constitution which many saw as racist as it ensured ethnic Fijian political supremacy She served as a Senator from 1994 to 99 and in 1985 co founded the Fiji Indian Congress Although a Hindu she played a leading role in the founding of the Christian Democratic Alliance in 1999 Early in 2005 Narayen joined the National Alliance Party a new party founded by Ratu Epeli Ganilau as an attempt to revive the defunct Alliance Party She participated in the official launch of the party on 8 April 2005 See also editNational Federation PartyReferences edit Who s Who in Asian and Australasian Politics Bowker Saur 1991 ISBN 9780862915933 Retrieved 14 September 2018 Lal Brij V January 2006 Islands of turmoil elections and politics in Fiji Asia Pacific Press p 52 ISBN 978 0 7315 3751 8 Retrieved 4 April 2011 a b Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry remembers Irene Jai Narayan Archived 2011 08 08 at the Wayback Machine flp org fj accessed 22 August 2016 Fiji s women take a Vol 37 No 12 Dec 1 1966 Trove Retrieved 11 March 2024 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Irene Jai Narayan amp oldid 1213181846, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
