Ami Chandra

Pandit Ami Chandra
Ami Chandra and wife, Deviji, who was also a teacher
Member of Legislative Council (Fiji) Nominated Indian member
In office 1947–1950
Personal details
Born	1900 India
Died	1954 Singapore
Spouse(s)	Sarvati Deviji
Profession	Educationist, trade unionist
Religion	Hindu (Arya Samaj)
Established the Ba Football Association

Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar (1900–1954) came to Fiji, from India in 1927 at the behest of the Arya Samaj, which wanted to improve the education standard of Fiji Indian students and promote Arya Samaj in Fiji. He led a busy life in Fiji, being an educationist, Arya Samaj preacher, labour leader, football administrator, scout leader and marriage officer. He furthered the cause of Hindi in Fiji by compiling a series of text books used to teach Hindi in primary schools. He served as a member of the Legislative Council of Fiji and was loved and respected by all communities in Fiji.

Chandra, a graduate of Gurukul Kangri University in India, arrived in Fiji on 22 December 1927 and was enthusiastically welcomed by the Fiji Indian community at the Suva Town Hall. After a brief sojourn at Suva, he started teaching at the Gurukul Primary School in Saweni, Lautoka. In 1928 he became the Principal and under his leadership, boarding facilities were established at the school with 45 boarders out of a total population of 140, including 25 native Fijian students. During his time as Principal, the school made remarkable progress and he was commended by the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher. In 1930 he went to Suva where he was instrumental in the establishment of Arya Samaj Girls School at Samabula. Later, he went to Ba, establishing another school, Arya Kanya Pathshala (Arya Girls School). In 1950, he opened a post primary class for youth using volunteer professionals from a cross section of society in Ba. This became the forerunner of the Dayanand Ango Vedic College of Ba in 1952.

While in Ba Chandra was also recruited by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR) to teach company employees and overseers to speak proper Hindi and understand Indian culture. His greatest contribution was the series of books, Hindi Ki Pothi (Hindi Readers), that he published to enable Indian students to learn Hindi easily. These readers were compiled for students of different levels in primary schools and were used in Fiji for over twenty years.