From Fiji to America

I wrote this book as a memoir of my journey from Fiji to America. Shedding some light on the Indian indentured system, I aim to share not only the challenges faced in these trying times but also leave a piece of history to my current family and future generations to come.

My mother Changi was a first-generation Fiji-Indian woman that married at the age of 13, had eight children, of which I am the youngest. As a Fiji-born Indian, I was encouraged to help in our family farm instead of going to high school. I soon left Fiji for the U.S. and arrived in Berkeley on February 14, 1957, at the age of 17. In Junior College, I worked odd jobs to make a living and met my now wife, Alexandra, to whom I have been married to since December 17, 1960. I later attended San Francisco State University where I earned my B.A. in Biology and M.S. in Clinical Science. I spent most of my career at Seton Medical Center as Director of Clinical Laboratory, Pathology, Nuclear Medicine, Radiology and Radiation Oncology. Finally, despite working the sugar cane plantations in my youth instead of going to high school, I successfully earned my PhD in the year 2000.

I trust this book can be a source of knowledge for my immediate family and all of those who will be interested in reading my story.