Guru Vandana

Continuing on with verses from my fathers book I bring you the following poem. The poem was written and dedicated to mentor of his. Someone who guided him during his later years of life.

Guru Vandana

A word for Guru Nandan

Whose perpetual encouragement

Resulted in these verses

Which may stike a chord or two

With someone like you

Not leave you despondent

“My Dear Umanand”

His daily call

Came from Canberra

And enthralled

The very heart of me

And changed my mundane world

Of sick and old

With miseries untold

To sitting with comfort

And being able

To write verses at dining table

Verses few

About roses I grew

Filled me with happiness

My gratitude is due

This Vandana

Guru Nandan

To you

Guru Nandan also known as Satendra Nandan was an Indo-Fijian academic, writer, and former politician. He is one of Fiji’s Leading Writers.

Nandan was born in Nadi, Fiji. After completing his secondary education he studied at Delhi University, from where he obtained his degree in engineering. He subsequently obtained a master of Arts from the University of Leeds and a PhD from Australian National University. He taught at various schools in India, including the all-boys' boarding school The Doon School in Dehradun. He joined the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji in 1969.

Nandan was first elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji as a National Federation Party candidate at the 1982 Fijian general election. He was appointed to Sidiq Koya's shadow cabinet as education spokesperson, but resigned in 1985 as the National Federation Party began to fragment. He subsequently resigned from the party and became an independent. He contested the 1987 election as a candidate for the Fiji Labour Party, and was re-elected. He was appointed Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Women's Affairs in the government of Timoci Bavadra, but was removed from office by the 1987 Fijian coups d'état.

Satendra was a dear friend of my father who really went out of his way to help my dad with his University in Fiji.

I will be writing about my journey to Fiji and helping my father build it.