Born in Jalandhar and raised in Mumbai, Suklesh Bali experienced the vibrant urban lifestyle of India, far removed from the rural way of life. Little did she know that her journey would eventually take her to Fiji, a place where quaint villages and sugarcane farms would profoundly influence her personal and professional path.
Mrs. Bali holds a bachelor’s degree in arts, another in education, and a master’s in arts from Bombay University, providing her with a solid academic foundation in Hindi language and literature. This training set the stage for a remarkable career in education that spanned over four decades.
In 1973, after marrying an Indo-Fijian who was studying medicine in India, Mrs. Bali moved to Fiji. The transition from bustling Mumbai to a tranquil Fijian village was nothing short of a culture shock. “There was no electricity, homes had wooden floors, small windows secured with wooden sticks, and daily life unfolded at a pace I had never experienced — not even in India,” she recalls.
Fiji became the cornerstone of Mrs. Bali’s life’s work. She began teaching Hindi in high schools in 1974 and continued this commitment until 2007, later becoming the first Hindi lecturer at the University of Fiji in 2008, amassing an impressive 42 years of teaching experience. Throughout her career, she observed a troubling decline in student enrollment and interest in the Hindi language, attributing this trend not to the children but to the parents and society at large, who began to question the relevance of learning Hindi.
Mrs. Bali noted that the languages and cultural identities brought by the Girmitiya are no longer embraced with the pride they once commanded. She emphasized the phonetic nature of Hindi and Sanskrit, pointing out their compatibility with modern technology and the importance of teaching children about the rich knowledge embedded within these languages. Encouraging parents to use Hindi at home, even through simple word games, she advocates for a deeper connection to cultural roots rather than a complete reliance on English.
Concerns grew as Mrs. Bali observed that, while other countries had introduced Hindi schools and integrated the language into their educational frameworks, Fiji—once home to the largest population of Girmitiya descendants—was witnessing a gradual loss of linguistic heritage among the youth.
Adding resilience to her narrative, Mrs. Bali is also a cancer survivor. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010, breast cancer in 2015, and stage four breast cancer in 2022, she continues her treatment while celebrating her recovery, claiming to have overcome more than 90 percent of the disease. Her positive mindset has been a crucial element in her healing journey, reinforcing her belief in the profound connection between mental attitude and physical health.
Despite her health challenges, she remains an unwavering advocate for language, culture, and tradition. Mrs. Bali finds joy in witnessing her former students apply the knowledge she imparted to them, stepping into roles of leadership and education in society, which affirms the lasting impact of her dedication to teaching.
In her journey, Suklesh Bali represents strength, resilience, and an unyielding love for her cultural roots, leaving a legacy that inspires both students and educators alike.