One Good Man

The following story which was published in Fiji Times February 02, 2010 is a tribute to one of my most brilliant students from Fiji. Other than being a journalist, an editor of an online newspaper in Fiji, Kavai was also a loving father of four children, a good friend to many, an excellent mentor to cadet journalists and an inspiration to many.

It is true, even God is in the need of Good people.

Kavai Damu

It was six months after my arrival in Fiji when my things from the US were -finally delivered to me. I owned many books and wanted to take them to my office at the USP.

Tired of sifting through scores of publications I threw the last lot in my suitcase. It was so heavy. I struggled aboard a bus to USP and sat down to realize my mistake. With all these weighty books, I should have taken a cab.

As I got off the bus I wobbled under the weight of the books. A large hand came from behind and grabbed my bag. I turned and was greeted with a friendly smile by a handsome Fijian ”Good morning Dr. C”.

He noticed the confused look on my face, “I am a second year student, Kavai… Kavai Damu” he said with humility.

That was the first time I talked with Kavai. He carried my suitcase to my office, bowed and took his leave.

In the following two years I would hear many stories about Kavai. All of which were positive. The stories ranged from his assistance to cadet journalists, his loyalty as a friend, and his dedication to the field of journalism.

Many young women would wink and add, “and on top of all that he is handsome” and would lament that he was married.

Kavai registered for two classes with me. Neither of which he was able to complete due to his family and professional commitments. But despite that, he was one of my brightest and most creative students. His dedication to class readings and his insightful questions left no doubt in my mind that he was one of those rare journalists in Fiji who valued both theory and practice.

During the time I knew Kavai, we shared ideas over a range of topics, from culture to cuisine, to politics. He volunteered to help me in a project on studying journalism culture in various countries. He was bound to the project only through his love for journalism.

I recall the joy on his face as he graciously accepted books on journalism that I gave away in my last weeks in Fiji. He would utter “Bula” and clap his hands three times for every book he accepted and say, “Dr. C, I am not volunteering you paid me multifold by these books.”

He was one of the few students from the Journalism program who never came to my house for a home cooked meal. Most of my students had actually been to my house on campus.

While many of my students who I taught for many classes and became friends with were too busy with their new jobs to attend my farewell, Kavai, despite his high-stress job as the editor of FijiLive showed up. When I saw him at the party, I simply uttered….”Turanga Vinaka!!”

He chuckled like a boy, and said in his usual humility, “I could not… not come Dr. C.”. Despite holding a prestigious position, Kavai never once addressed me by my first name.

And we say in India, ‘this world runs on a few good men/women!’

Kavai lives in our hearts. Whenever I think of him, I cannot but recite an Urdu couplet...---”badi aas se sun raha tha zamana, tumhi chal diya dastaan kehte kehte….”

‘The world was hanging on to every word in your story, only you left us in the middle of your telling…..”