Sadanand Maharaj (died 8 April 1962) was an

Indo-Fijian Indo-Fijians or Indian-Fijians (also known as Fiji Indians) are Fijian citizens of Indian descent, and include people who trace their ancestry to various regions of the Indian subcontinent.Girmit by Suresh Prasad Although Indo-Fijians constitu ...

politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council and Executive Council between 1950 and 1953.

Biography

Maharaj was the son of

Badri Maharaj Badri Maharaj was an Indo-Fijian farmer, politician, and philanthropist. He was the first Indian member of the Legislative Council serving for two periods between 1916 and 1923 and 1926 to 1929 as a nominated member, but he was not a popular ...

, the first Indo-Fijian member of the Legislative Council.Indian Nominated MLC's Appointed In Fiji
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', October 1950, p51 In the late 1930s he moved to Wairuku in

Rakiraki District Rakiraki () is a district in Fiji's Ra Province. It is located between Tavua and Korovou when travelling along the Kings Road, on the northern coast of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island. At the 1996 census, the Rakiraki district had a population ...

. A keen scout, he was a scout commissioner in his district. He contested the Indian Northern & Western seat in the

1940 elections The following elections occurred in the year 1940. Africa * 1940 South-West African legislative election Asia * 1940 Philippine special election Europe * 1940 Moldavian parliamentary election * 1940 Swedish general election United Kingdom * ...

, but was defeated by B. D. Lakshman by 1,010 to 447 votes. Following the

1950 elections The following elections occurred in the year 1950. Africa * 1950 South-West African legislative election Asia * 1950 Iranian legislative election Australia * 1950 New South Wales state election * 1950 Queensland state election * 1950 South ...

, he was appointed to the Legislative Council as one of the two Indo-Fijian nominees by Governor

Brian Freeston Sir Leslie Brian Freeston (11 August 1892 – 16 July 1958) was a British colonial official. Career Freeston was educated at Willaston School and New College, Oxford. After service in the London Regiment of the British Army in the First Worl ...

, and also became a member of the Executive Council, serving on both until 1953.Mr. S. Maharaj
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', May 1962, p141 He also served on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for several years and as a

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

.''Department of Agriculture Report for the Year 1959'' In the

1959 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1959 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate ...

he was made an MBE for public service."Supplement to the London Gazette, 13th June 1959"
London Gazette He died in Suva on 8 April 1962 at the age of 59 .

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maharaj, Sadanand Fijian politicians of Indian descent Fijian justices of the peace People associated with Scouting Scouting and Guiding in Fiji Members of the Legislative Council of Fiji Members of the Executive Council of Fiji Members of the Order of the British Empire 1962 deaths