James Shankar Singh
| James Shankar Singh | |
|---|---|
| Member of House of Representatives (Fiji) Lau/Cakaudrove/Rotuma Indian National Constituency |
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In office 1972–1982 |
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| Preceded by | Vijay R. Singh |
| Succeeded by | Ahmed Ali |
| Nasinu/Vunidawa Indian Communal Constituency | |
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In office 1987–1987 |
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| Preceded by | Satendra Nandan |
| Succeeded by | Constitution abrogated |
| Minister of Health | |
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In office 1972–1982 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 10, 1924 Ba, Fiji |
| Died | July 27, 2014 (aged 90) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Alliance Party, National Federation Party |
| Spouse(s) | Kamla Wati Singh |
| Residence | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Profession | Farmer, Businessman |
James Shankar Singh (May 10, 1924 – July 27, 2014) was a Fiji Indian farmer, businessman, social worker and politician who served as a Minister in the Alliance Government of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Like many Fiji Indian politicians of the era, he joined the Alliance Party with a belief in mutiracialism, but was disappointed with the Alliance Party's appeal to Fijian nationalism after 1977 and left the Alliance to join the National Federation Party.
James Shankar Singh, although himself a Christian convert, came from an influential Kisan Sangh supporting Arya Samaj family from Ba. After completing his primary and secondary education in Fiji, he was sent overseas for further education but returned without completing his studies. He then established a successful insurance and travel agency in Ba town. He made valuable contribution to the Red Cross and was a driving force in the establishment of the Ba Health Centre.
With his family's involvement in sugar politics, it was only a matter of time before James Shankar Singh himself entered politics. His opportunity arose in 1963 when he stood for the North Viti Levu Indian Constituency against S.M. Koya of the Citizens Federation. The constituency included the districts of Ba, Tavua and Ra and in a tense and sometimes violent campaign Singh lost to Koya by 3,998 to 3,480 votes. This was the closest contest of the election and although Singh obtained the majority of the votes in Ba, voters from Tavua and Ra swung the election in Koya's favour. The increase in the number of Indian Communal sets in the 1966 election, led to the creation of the Ba Indian Communal Constituency, which included all the areas of the district of Ba only. Singh was expected to do well this time but lost this time to R. D. Patel of the Federation Party by 4704 to 4411 votes. In this election, although Singh had stood as an independent candidate, he supported the policies of the newly formed Alliance Party. After the two losses he took a brief break from politics, not contesting the 1968 by-election.
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