K.C. Ramrakha joined the Federation Party when its support was concentrated in the sugar cane growing districts of Fiji. One of the four Indian members of the Legislative Council (Andrew Deoki, representing the Southern Constituency which included the districts of Suva, Navua, Nausori and Tailevu in the Central Divisionelected in 1963 was not a member of the Federation Party). In the 1966 election, A. D. Patel recruited Ramrakha as one of the candidates (the other was Irene Jai Narayan) to extend NFP's support into the Central Division. Ramrakha's main opponent was K. B. Singh, a veteran politician who had first entered the Legislative Council in 1937. Ramrakha easily defeated Singh by 3,220 votes to 677 votes with a third candidate receiving 604 votes.[2]
Leadership contenderedit
Ramrakha soon proved himself to be an accomplished debator and was rewarded for his skills by being made the Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council. He was also elected the General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union. In 1969, he aided A. D. Patel in the Court of Arbitration appointed for the new sugar cane contract. When A. D. Patel died in 1969, many people thought that Ramrakha was a suitable person to take up the leadership of the National Federation Party (NFP),[3] but the Party chose Sidiq Koya instead. After the 1972 elections, his relationship with Koya worsened and he resigned as General Secretary of the party and opposition whip in September 1972.[4] However, he later withdrew his resignation.
By 1976, the NFP was beginning to split into two factions and Ramrakha was seen to be Koya's main opponent. After the NFP patched up its differences and won the election of March 1977, Ramrakha's opposition to Koya's leadership was one of the reasons for the delay in NFP attempting to form Government. By the time elections were held again in September 1977, the NFP had split into two factions and Ramrakha became a prominent member of the Flower faction, opposed to Koya's Dove faction. Ramrakha was seen as the natural leader of the Flower faction, but Irene Jai Narayan (another Flower faction leader), without consulting others, announced during the campaign that if Jai Ram Reddy defeated Koya in the Lautoka Indian Constituency, he would become the leader.
Jai Ram Reddy did defeat Koya and became the new leader of the opposition and later the leader of a reunified NFP. Ramrakha showed his disappointment by sitting as an independent member for the rest of the parliamentary term. He did not contest the 1982 election and migrated to Australia.
Lawsuit against Mahendra Chaudhryedit
Pacific Media Watch reported on 7 September 2004 that Ramrakha had announced his intention to sue former Prime MinisterMahendra Chaudhry. Ramrakha's grievance was related to allegations made by Chaudhry in his autobiography, Children of the Indus, that Ramrakha and Narayan had advised Governor GeneralRatuSirGeorge Cakobau against appointing Koya as Prime Minister after the NFP's electoral victory, saying that Koya did not have the support of the whole NFP caucus. Ramrakha said that the allegations were false and had damaged his reputation.[5]
Fiji Teachers Union Presidentedit
He was elected the President of the Fiji Teachers Union, being the first non-teacher to hold this position. His election and his leading role in the National Federation Party caused the Fijian Teachers Association (a second teachers union representing ethnic Fijians) to withdraw from negotiations for amalgamation of the two unions.[6]
Referencesedit
^"Ramrakha: The Great Workhorse who Never Slept". Fiji Sun. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
^"FIJI ELECTION DETAILS". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 37, no. 11. 1 November 1966. p. 40. Retrieved 5 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Death in Fiji of Mr. A. D. Patel". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 40, no. 10. 1 October 1969. p. 28. Retrieved 5 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^Mr. Ramrakha embittered Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1972, p12
^. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
^Mamak, Alexander (1978). Colour Culture & Conflict. Australia: Pergamon Press. pp. 83–84. ISBN0-08-023353-8.
May 08, 2024
ramrakha, karam, chand, ramrakha, march, 1933, april, 2021, former, fiji, indian, lawyer, union, leader, politician, served, colonial, fiji, legislative, council, independent, fiji, house, representatives, from, 1966, 1982, karam, chand, ramrakhamember, legisl. Karam Chand Ramrakha 18 March 1933 17 April 2021 1 was a former Fiji Indian lawyer union leader and politician who served in colonial Fiji s Legislative Council and independent Fiji s House of Representatives from 1966 to 1982 Karam Chand RamrakhaMember of Legislative Council Fiji Nausori Tailevu ConstituencyIn office 1966 1972Member of House of Representatives Fiji Nausori Levuka ConstituencyIn office 1972 1982Opposition Whip Fiji In office 1966 1977Personal detailsBorn18 March 1933Nabouwalu FijiDied17 April 2021 2021 04 17 aged 88 Sydney AustraliaPolitical partyNational Federation Party Fiji Residence s Sydney AustraliaProfessionLawyerHe was also President of Fiji Teachers Union from 1967 to 1973 Contents 1 Entry into politics 2 Leadership contender 3 1977 constitutional crisis 4 Lawsuit against Mahendra Chaudhry 5 Fiji Teachers Union President 6 ReferencesEntry into politics editK C Ramrakha joined the Federation Party when its support was concentrated in the sugar cane growing districts of Fiji One of the four Indian members of the Legislative Council Andrew Deoki representing the Southern Constituency which included the districts of Suva Navua Nausori and Tailevu in the Central Division elected in 1963 was not a member of the Federation Party In the 1966 election A D Patel recruited Ramrakha as one of the candidates the other was Irene Jai Narayan to extend NFP s support into the Central Division Ramrakha s main opponent was K B Singh a veteran politician who had first entered the Legislative Council in 1937 Ramrakha easily defeated Singh by 3 220 votes to 677 votes with a third candidate receiving 604 votes 2 Leadership contender editRamrakha soon proved himself to be an accomplished debator and was rewarded for his skills by being made the Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council He was also elected the General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union In 1969 he aided A D Patel in the Court of Arbitration appointed for the new sugar cane contract When A D Patel died in 1969 many people thought that Ramrakha was a suitable person to take up the leadership of the National Federation Party NFP 3 but the Party chose Sidiq Koya instead After the 1972 elections his relationship with Koya worsened and he resigned as General Secretary of the party and opposition whip in September 1972 4 However he later withdrew his resignation 1977 constitutional crisis editMain article 1977 Fijian constitutional crisis By 1976 the NFP was beginning to split into two factions and Ramrakha was seen to be Koya s main opponent After the NFP patched up its differences and won the election of March 1977 Ramrakha s opposition to Koya s leadership was one of the reasons for the delay in NFP attempting to form Government By the time elections were held again in September 1977 the NFP had split into two factions and Ramrakha became a prominent member of the Flower faction opposed to Koya s Dove faction Ramrakha was seen as the natural leader of the Flower faction but Irene Jai Narayan another Flower faction leader without consulting others announced during the campaign that if Jai Ram Reddy defeated Koya in the Lautoka Indian Constituency he would become the leader Jai Ram Reddy did defeat Koya and became the new leader of the opposition and later the leader of a reunified NFP Ramrakha showed his disappointment by sitting as an independent member for the rest of the parliamentary term He did not contest the 1982 election and migrated to Australia Lawsuit against Mahendra Chaudhry editPacific Media Watch reported on 7 September 2004 that Ramrakha had announced his intention to sue former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry Ramrakha s grievance was related to allegations made by Chaudhry in his autobiography Children of the Indus that Ramrakha and Narayan had advised Governor General Ratu Sir George Cakobau against appointing Koya as Prime Minister after the NFP s electoral victory saying that Koya did not have the support of the whole NFP caucus Ramrakha said that the allegations were false and had damaged his reputation 5 Fiji Teachers Union President editHe was elected the President of the Fiji Teachers Union being the first non teacher to hold this position His election and his leading role in the National Federation Party caused the Fijian Teachers Association a second teachers union representing ethnic Fijians to withdraw from negotiations for amalgamation of the two unions 6 References edit Ramrakha The Great Workhorse who Never Slept Fiji Sun 8 May 2021 Retrieved 21 February 2022 FIJI ELECTION DETAILS Pacific Islands Monthly Vol 37 no 11 1 November 1966 p 40 Retrieved 5 July 2023 via National Library of Australia Death in Fiji of Mr A D Patel Pacific Islands Monthly Vol 40 no 10 1 October 1969 p 28 Retrieved 5 July 2023 via National Library of Australia Mr Ramrakha embittered Pacific Islands Monthly October 1972 p12 Former politician sues Chaudhry over book Archived from the original on 3 September 2007 Retrieved 27 May 2007 Mamak Alexander 1978 Colour Culture amp Conflict Australia Pergamon Press pp 83 84 ISBN 0 08 023353 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title K C Ramrakha amp oldid 1163492124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
