Shivabhai Bhailalbhai Patel, commonly known as S.B. Patel, was a London trained

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...

, who arrived in

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

, from India, on 24 December 1927. He was a man of calm and philosophical nature and had considerable influence on Fiji politics, always working behind the scenes. Even the Government of Fiji used him as a channel of communication with Fiji Indian leadership. He was born in the Kheda district of Gujarat in India and had worked with Gandhi when he initiated satyagraha in

Kaira Kaira or KAIRA may refer to: Places * Kaira (Lydia), a town of ancient Lydia, now in Turkey In India * Kheda, also known as Kaira, a town in Gujarat, India ** Kaira district ** Kaira Agency, a former administrative unit ** Kaira (Lok Sabha constitu ...

District, in 1918, to secure suspension of revenue assessment on failure of crops, then went to

Rangoon Yangon ( my, ရန်ကုန်; ; ), formerly spelled as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar (also known as Burma). Yangon served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006, when the military government ...

and London. His decision to come to Fiji was the result of Dr Hamilton Beattie's correspondence with Henry S. L. Polak regarding the problems of the Fiji Indians. Polak suggested that Patel go to Fiji to practise law and help organise the Indian community. He was reluctant at first, but at Gandhi's urging agreed to come to Fiji. While studying in London he met

A. D. Patel Ambalal Dahyabhai Patel, better known as A.D. Patel (13 March 1905 – 1 October 1969), was an Indo-Fijian politician, farmers' leader and founder and leader of the National Federation Party. Patel was uncompromisingly committed to a vision of an ...

and is credited with being responsible for getting him to come to Fiji. On his arrival in Fiji, he had first-hand experience with the division among Fiji Indians when he was welcomed by two rival groups at

Suva Suva () is the capital and largest city of Fiji. It is the home of the country's largest metropolitan area and serves as its major port. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in Rewa Province, Central Divi ...

wharf, one led by Beattie and the other by

Vishnu Deo Pt. Vishnu Deo (Hindi: विष्णु देव) OBE (17 July 1900 – 7 May 1968) was the first Fiji born and bred leader of the Indo-Fijians. From his initial election to the Legislative Council in 1929 to his retirement in 1959, he rema ...

. It was the mediation of S.B. Patel which led to the merger of the two rival organisations, each called

Fiji Indian National Congress On the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the first Indians in Fiji, two different organisations called the Fiji Indian National Congress were formed in Fiji. The acting Governor of Fiji, Alfred W. Seymour, despite European opposition, declare ...

, to form a single national organisation in 1929. He, together with A.D. Patel and

planned tactics which led to Vishnu Deo moving a motion calling for common roll. S.B. Patel was actually present in the public gallery as Vishnu Deo moved the historic motion. After the walkout by Indian members, the Governor convened a meeting of Indian leaders and S.B. Patel was one of the delegates. In 1934, when the fight for common roll was being conducted from outside the Legislative Council, S.B. Patel chaired meetings called by the umbrella organisation, the

Indian Association of Fiji The Indian Association of Fiji is the name used by organisations established in Fiji seeking to unite different groups within the Fiji Indian community to facilitate the plight of Indians in Fiji. Origins Initially created in 1920 by Nk. B. Mi ...

. During the 1943 sugar cane strike, it was through S.B. Patel, that a meeting was arranged between the Government and the

Maha Sangh Akhil Fiji Krishak Maha Sangh (All Fiji Farmers’ Grand Union) was a sugar cane farmers' union formed on 15 June 1941 in opposition to the existing union, the Kisan Sangh. Supporters of Kisan Sangh tried to stop the formation of the Maha Sangh but ...

. When negotiations started for the 1950 cane contract, it was S.B. Patel who persuaded the five farmers' unions to work together. In 1976, when the National Federation Party (NFP) was hopelessly divided, it was again S.B. Patel who managed to get the two sides to patch up their differences and fight the March 1977 election as a united party. The NFP won this election.

References

Fijian politicians of Indian descent Fijian people of Gujarati descent Indian emigrants to Fiji Gujarati people People from Kheda district Indian expatriates in Myanmar National Federation Party politicians {{fiji-bio-stub

See also

References