Arnav Prasad

The creation of the Indo-Fijian culture expressed through poetic literature.

My project examined how cultural and illustrative exploration can enhance the accessibility of information about Indo-Fijian indentured labourers (Girmitiyas). I illustrated their story of loss and resilience to reject colonial selective storytelling and to aid the personal testimony of descendants/diasporic adolescents who are challenged by cultural entanglement.

My project comprises four booklets that explore the history of Girmitiyas, the significance of literature, the creation of the Indo-Fijian culture, and the hope it inspires in the community. Each book features a poem that the audience can interact with, as it reveals silenced voices through the conventions of concrete poetry. This was an integral part of the project, as it brought movement to the oral tradition and the written word of the Girmitiyas Literature. I used lines and thread to articulate the complexity of connection and to metaphorically and visually draw parallels between identity and history.

My project is significant as it increases the availability of cultural information for the wider New Zealand community and helps society better understand the historical events that have shaped the Indo-Fijian identities. Within the field of communication design, my project demonstrates how collective remembrance can be induced by research and a culturally led design approach.