Life of Subramani

Subramani was born in Labasa, Fiji. His father went to Fiji as an indentured labourer. Subramani was educated in Fiji and at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, graduating with B.A. in England. He was the teacher of a high school for two years and then went to Canada to study for an M.A. at the University of Brunswick. He took his Ph.D. from the University of the South Pacific, where he had been a lecturer since 1974. There he became actively involved with a group of Pacific writers in encouraging creative literature from that region. He edited their journal Mana from 1976-1978. In 1979, he edited a centennial volume entitled The Indo Fijian Experience.

Subramani’s short stories have been published in a number of journals and anthologies. In 1978, his short story ‘Marigolds’ won the south Pacific Association of Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies’ short fiction competition. In the following year ‘Gamalian’s Woman’ was a highly commended short story, as was ‘Dear Primitive’, in a European short story competition. Apart from short fiction, Subramani has written many critical essays, and is the author of South Pacific Literature: From Myth to Fabulation, a study of Oceanic literature in English.

Subramani has been asked at various times to serve in the University the South Pacific administration. From 1980-1983 he was Dean of Academic Affairs and more recently a Pro Vice-Chancellor. His other works include The Fantasy Eaters, a collection of nine short stories and a novella, After Narrative, an edited work and Altering Imagination. He also wrote a novel in Fiji-Hindi, named Dauka Puraan, which is regarded as a masterpiece. He was honoured by the Indian Government for his creative work in Hindi Literature in Sixth ‘Vishwa Hindi Sammelan’ organized in Surinam. 

Presently he is living in Australia. He is very much familiar with the Indian culture and has considerable mastery over the English language and literature. He has visited India several times.