Restaurant robbery

It’s hard to imagine that someone dared to break into the Maya Dhaba restaurant, considering its location in the heart of bustling Suva and the significant amount stolen. With the recent surge in various types of crime, this could be an indication that thieves are getting bolder and more desperate. Even well-known and secure establishments are not immune to these daring heists. Maya Dhaba’s reputation for offering authentic Indian cuisine certainly adds to the shock of such an incident. If it’s known to generate a solid income, it would have been a particularly attractive target for thieves. On a positive note, since Maya Dhaba is quite popular with its offering of delectable curries and raking in an average of $10-$15k a week, I might just pop in one day for a lip-smacking lunch while my stay here in the drizzling Central Division. Nishant Singh, Suva

Tourists around

Lautoka, you lifted your hand to scratch your head, hundreds of tourists gracing our Sugar City. Polite hellos and bula smiles, wananavu! NAVNEET RAM (TD)

Lautoka Spreading life and love

Perhaps Edward Kumar (FT 07/01) can tell us all, as a Christian, what he will do about the prejudice, arrogance and apartheid practised by the FRU in players and in management. Or is the Christianity practised in Fiji a special type of Christianity – the right type, that is to exclude other communities from the sport? I am stating facts – not pretend hot air like Edward, based on his personal prejudice. And Jan means “life” and “love”. And I am spreading life and love through my messages, just like the government and the prime minister. To say Jan is short for January is the opinion of a third-rater. For his information Jan Nissar means sacrifice one’s life. Perhaps he should Google “Janissary”. Jan Nissar, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Working people

One of life’s main objective is to gain regular income beyond the costs of basic food, clothes, housing etc, so that one could save and invest in the system that would lead toward personal security and a certain level of prosperity i.e. owning one’s house and all important aspects of a bourgeois life. But it just ain’t possible with the high cost of living and low wages in Viti. Isa! Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka

Drug challenge

A learned lawyer was quoted in the Fiji Times date January 7, that and I quote “97 plants weighed under 1000grams which warranted a non custodial sentence”. How ridiculous is this statement – whether he grew 1 gram or 10,000grams it was still illegal. How can we eradicate the use of drugs, keep our youth sane, lower the drug related crime rate if we continue to condone the planting of drugs in whatever quantity. I’m still pushing for a life term for all drug cultivators and pushers as they are destroying the very fabric of our society. Tai Smith, Nasinu Sec Sch Rd, Kinoya, Nasinu

Glue cans and syringes!

Marine Drive is littered with used glue tins and used syringes. It seems our young people are so much into sniffing glue and injecting themselves these days. Our paradise is becoming a drug paradise now with drugs readily available through illegal taxidrivers, market vendors, BBQ sellers and even students selling drugs. What is the use of making rehabilitation centres when the use and sale of glue and other drugs cannot be controlled? It is like building more prisons then stopping crime! Geoffrey Chand, Lautoka

World Hindi Day

On January 10, 2025 the Hindi speaking world will celebrate World Hindi Day to focus attention on the global outreach of the Hindi language. Hindi is one of the major languages of the world and it is the official language of India. The first World Hindi Conference was held at Nagpur, India, in 1975 and it was officially opened by late Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. I was fortunate to have attended this historic conference in the company of Late Dr Vivekanand Sharma and Bhagauti Prasad. It was an exhilarating experience! The day is celebrated to promote Hindi as an international language. It also highlights the cultural and historical importance of Hindi: encouraging its use in global communication through literature and education. Hindi has its roots in ancient classical Sanskrit language. It has a global outreach through Bollywood film industry and its tantalising songs and dances. It uses Devnagri as its script and has a huge volume of written literature in the form of fiction, poems, dramas etc. Tulsidas wrote Ram Charitmanas in Awadhi language and it went to the corners of the world where Indians were taken as indentured labourers by the British. The day will be celebrated in the form of conferences, seminars, cultural performances, essay competitions, poem readings, debates and quiz competitions etc. Speeches will be delivered in Hindi at the United Nations and other international forums. In Fiji we speak what has evolved as Fiji Hindi! Modern communications technology such as social media, internet and AI (Artificial Intelligence) has done much to promote Hindi as a global language’ Hindi in its various forms is a powerful communications tool. May Hindi continue to inspire and connect. May I wish all Hindi speakers a very happy and fruitful World Hindi Day Celebrations. Dewan Chand, Namadi Heights, Suva