K. B. Singh
Kunwar Bachint Singh | |
---|---|
Executive Council | |
In office 1946–1947 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1905 British India |
Died | 1979 Suva, Fiji |
Profession | Teacher |
Kunwar Bachint Singh
Early life
Singh was born in 1905 in
Political career
In the build-up to the 1932 elections, Indo-Fijian leader Vishnu Deo needed a candidate to oppose a rebel candidate who had nominated for a seat in the Legislative Council against the call for boycott from Vishnu Deo and other leaders, K. B. Singh was an obvious choice. He was regarded as a loyal supporter of Vishnu Deo and common roll. K.B.Singh defeated his opponent for the Southern Indian Division,[4] capturing 79 percent of the formal votes cast.
On 14 October 1932, under the guidance of Deo, Singh put forward a motion for common roll. The Governor convinced him that his fears were unfounded and asked him to withdraw the motion so that he could discuss it with the Secretary of State. Contrary to Deo's advice, he withdrew the motion. In February 1933, the Secretary of State informed the Legislative Council that it was impracticable to have common roll. Singh resigned and was re-elected in the subsequent by-election with an increased majority over the same rival with Deo's support. However, he took his seat in the Legislative Council, contrary to Deo's instructions and evaded the common roll issue, which led to him being denounced in public meetings organised by Deo and his associates. On 23 March 1934, Singh introduced another motion for common roll which was defeated but its consequence was that new motion could not be introduced immediately after next election.
Fully aware that he would not be able to retain his seat in the next election, Singh accepted the Governor's advice and moved a motion calling for members of the Legislative Council to be nominated and not elected. The motion was passed,[5] but the Colonial Office implemented a compromise, combining election and nomination. The Legislative Council was increased to 31, made up of 15 unofficial members, made up of 5 members from each ethnic group, and 16 official members. All the Fijian seats were to be nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs, but three each of the Indian and European seats were to be elected on communal franchise and the remaining two filled through nomination.
In June 1934 he was made a
Singh did not contest the
Singh was nominated to the Legislative Council again following the 1944 elections. In 1946 Singh was appointed to Executive Council, becoming the first Indian to serve in government.[8] During the same year, he also attempted to establish a new union known as the Southern Division Farmers Union. There was widespread opposition to this until Vishnu Deo took over its leadership. Following the 1947 elections, he lost his place in the Legislative Council. He was made an OBE in the 1948 Birthday Honours.[8]
Singh made several subsequent attempts to get back into the Legislative Council as an elected member, losing to Andrew Deoki in the 1959 and 1963 elections, and by K. C. Ramrakha in the 1966 election.
He died in Suva in 1979 at the age of 77.[9]
References
- ^ "Committee to advise on closure of Nausori Mill". Fiji Times. 3 February 1958.
- ^ a b c d Young Indian Leaders in Fiji Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1935, p7
- ^ Sharma, Guru Dayal (1987). Memories of Fiji: 1887 - 1987. Guru Dayal Sharma, Suva, Fiji. p. 99.
- ^ "Fiji Elections Archive: Elections for the Legislative Council, Southern Division 1929 - 1959". Archived from the original on 25 October 2009.
- ^ The Franchise in Fiji Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1935, p53
- ^ Fiji Indian J.P. Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1934, p29
- ^ The Fiji-Indian J.P. Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1934, p17
- ^ a b Fiji Birthday Honours Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1948, p27
- ^ K.B. Singh Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1979, p68