Pandit B.D. Lakshman1900 – 1981 · Teacher, Politician, Statesman
Gallery

Photographs and Documents

Most of the photographs of Pandit B.D. Lakshman that survive in print were gathered by D. Sharma for his 1981 booklet, A Brief Life History. They show a life that crossed oceans: a young teacher in Suva, a student and satyagrahi in India, a union leader in the cane districts, a legislator, and a landowner at Deuba.

They are arranged here in the same order as the life story, with the captions used in the 2026 Second Edition. Each picture links to the page that tells its part of the story.

The gallery begins with his mother, who came to Fiji under indenture in 1888, and with the earliest pictures of him as a young man in Suva. It follows him to India – aboard the SS Ganges, with Nehru, and on the salt satyagraha of 1930 – and home again to the college at Lautoka, the union delegations of the 1950s, Albert Park, the Legislative Council and Deuba. The documents at the end include his Congress tickets of 1929, the letter Mahatma Gandhi wrote to him, and the Fiji Ratana medal of 1981.

A few photographs described in the 1981 booklet, such as a meeting in Delhi in 1961 with Mr Piare Lal, Mahatma Gandhi's private secretary, survive only on its printed pages. They can be seen in the complete booklet on the Sources page.

About these images. The rights of reproduction of the 1981 booklet were "reserved with Pandit B.D. Lakshman" and now rest with his family. The family has approved the 1981 booklet photographs for use on the public site. Every photograph on this page keeps its credit to the 1981 edition. The 1975 Hong Kong photograph was credited there to Air India. Most of the photographs are scans from a small printed booklet, so some are soft or faded; they are shown as they are.

Early life

Pandit B.D. Lakshman’s mother, who came to Fiji under indenture in 1888 with her husband.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman’s mother, who came to Fiji under indenture in 1888 with her husband. (1981 edition)
One of the earliest photographs of Pandit B.D. Lakshman, with St Felix College in the background, 1920.
One of the earliest photographs of Pandit B.D. Lakshman, with St Felix College in the background, 1920. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman as Troop Leader and Bugler of the First Toorak Scouts, 1920.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman as Troop Leader and Bugler of the First Toorak Scouts, 1920. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman’s wife and family relatives in Fiji, 1924.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman’s wife and family relatives in Fiji, 1924. (1981 edition)
Gopal Sadhu of Nine Miles, Nasinu, Pandit B.D. Lakshman’s father-in-law, who led the march to the Samabula bridge.
Gopal Sadhu of Nine Miles, Nasinu, Pandit B.D. Lakshman’s father-in-law, who led the march to the Samabula bridge. (1981 edition)

India, 1927–1934

Pandit B.D. Lakshman on the SS Ganges, February 1927, “in the garb of an indentured labourer”.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman on the SS Ganges, February 1927, “in the garb of an indentured labourer”. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman (seated centre, in a black coat) being welcomed by the Gurukul students at Brindaban on his arrival from Fiji, 1927.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman (seated centre, in a black coat) being welcomed by the Gurukul students at Brindaban on his arrival from Fiji, 1927. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman leading Fiji students on a visit to Mussoorie in the Himalayas, 1928. On his right is Shri Ram of the Gurukul at Brindaban.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman leading Fiji students on a visit to Mussoorie in the Himalayas, 1928. On his right is Shri Ram of the Gurukul at Brindaban. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman bidding farewell to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, President-elect of the Indian National Congress, after the Dehra Dun meeting, 1929.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman bidding farewell to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, President-elect of the Indian National Congress, after the Dehra Dun meeting, 1929. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman at Lahore, 1930, just before the salt march.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman at Lahore, 1930, just before the salt march. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman breaking the salt law by making salt out of sea water at Juhu Beach, Bombay, 1930.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman breaking the salt law by making salt out of sea water at Juhu Beach, Bombay, 1930. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman (standing at the rear, holding the national flag) with Congress workers at Khar, Bombay, 1930.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman (standing at the rear, holding the national flag) with Congress workers at Khar, Bombay, 1930. (1981 edition)

Schools, the Council and the unions

The first conference between the CSR Company and the cane farmers on an equal basis, Lautoka, early 1940s, with Pandit B.D. Lakshman leading the farmers.
The first conference between the CSR Company and the cane farmers on an equal basis, Lautoka, early 1940s, with Pandit B.D. Lakshman leading the farmers. (1981 edition)
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Lautoka, 1949: the high school section, with students from Suva, Ra, Tavua, Ba, Nadi, Nadroga, the Yasawas and Labasa. The principal, B.D. Lakshman, B.A., B.T., is at the centre.
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Lautoka, 1949: the high school section, with students from Suva, Ra, Tavua, Ba, Nadi, Nadroga, the Yasawas and Labasa. The principal, B.D. Lakshman, B.A., B.T., is at the centre. (1981 edition)
Mr and Mrs C. Attlee welcomed at Nadi Airport by the Fiji Industrial Workers’ Congress, 18 September 1954. Pandit B.D. Lakshman, the Congress’s president, stands with the union leaders.
Mr and Mrs C. Attlee welcomed at Nadi Airport by the Fiji Industrial Workers’ Congress, 18 September 1954. Pandit B.D. Lakshman, the Congress’s president, stands with the union leaders. (1981 edition)
The Fiji Industrial Workers’ Congress delegation to the Governor, Sir Ronald Garvey, Suva, 5 November 1954.
The Fiji Industrial Workers’ Congress delegation to the Governor, Sir Ronald Garvey, Suva, 5 November 1954. (1981 edition)
The Fiji Sugar Industry Employees’ Association deputation to the Governor, 23 April 1959. Pandit B.D. Lakshman, the Association’s General President, sits in the front row.
The Fiji Sugar Industry Employees’ Association deputation to the Governor, 23 April 1959. Pandit B.D. Lakshman, the Association’s General President, sits in the front row. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman addressing the Albert Park meeting during the Suva riots, December 1959.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman addressing the Albert Park meeting during the Suva riots, December 1959. (1981 edition)
Indian members of the Fiji Legislative Council with Mr Julian Amery, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, at the Governor’s Bure, Lautoka, 14 October 1960. From right: Mr S. Narain MLC, Mr A.I.N. Deoki MLC, Mr Julian Amery MP, Mr B.D. Lakshman MLC, Mr Goodhart MP, Dr A.H. Sahu Khan MLC, and Mr H.P. Hall MP, secretary to Mr Amery.
Indian members of the Fiji Legislative Council with Mr Julian Amery, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, at the Governor’s Bure, Lautoka, 14 October 1960. From right: Mr S. Narain MLC, Mr A.I.N. Deoki MLC, Mr Julian Amery MP, Mr B.D. Lakshman MLC, Mr Goodhart MP, Dr A.H. Sahu Khan MLC, and Mr H.P. Hall MP, secretary to Mr Amery. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman in London for a conference with the British Government, 1961.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman in London for a conference with the British Government, 1961. (1981 edition)

Deuba, family and later years

Mr and Mrs B.D. Lakshman and their children, 24 June 1956. (Photograph from the 1981 edition.)
Mr and Mrs B.D. Lakshman and their children, 24 June 1956. (Photograph from the 1981 edition.) (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman turning the first sod of the Deuba Development, 1970.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman turning the first sod of the Deuba Development, 1970. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman and Mrs Rampiari Lakshman at a convention in Suva, 1974.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman and Mrs Rampiari Lakshman at a convention in Suva, 1974. (1981 edition)
Pandit B.D. Lakshman and Mrs Rampiari Lakshman visiting Hong Kong in 1975.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman and Mrs Rampiari Lakshman visiting Hong Kong in 1975. (Photograph by Air India, from the 1981 edition)

Documents

Indian National Congress tickets issued to Pandit B.D. Lakshman at the Lahore session of the Congress, 1929.
Indian National Congress tickets issued to Pandit B.D. Lakshman at the Lahore session of the Congress, 1929. (1981 edition)
Mahatma Gandhi’s letter to Pandit B.D. Lakshman, in Gujarati, as reproduced in the 1981 edition.
Mahatma Gandhi’s letter to Pandit B.D. Lakshman, in Gujarati, as reproduced in the 1981 edition. (1981 edition)
The welcome address in Hindustani presented to him on his release from the Benares Central Prison.
The welcome address in Hindustani presented to him on his release from the Benares Central Prison. (1981 edition (facsimile page))
Letter of introduction from the American Consulate, Suva, 8 May 1961, signed by the Vice-Consul, John C. Dorrance.
Letter of introduction from the American Consulate, Suva, 8 May 1961, signed by the Vice-Consul, John C. Dorrance. (1981 edition (facsimile page))
The “Fiji Ratana” gold medal of the India Fiji Girmit Council, to be presented to Pandit B.D. Lakshman on 15 May 1981.
The “Fiji Ratana” gold medal of the India Fiji Girmit Council, to be presented to Pandit B.D. Lakshman on 15 May 1981. (1981 edition)
Photograph to come
India’s copper plate (Tamra Patra), presented at Deuba on 26 September 1981. A family photograph will be added when available. (Family)

The portrait and the books

Pandit B.D. Lakshman. The portrait from the cover of the 1981 first edition.
Pandit B.D. Lakshman. The portrait from the cover of the 1981 first edition. (1981 edition)
The Second Edition, 2026, with the 1981 portrait on its cover.
The Second Edition, 2026, with the 1981 portrait on its cover. (Second Edition, 2026)
The back cover of the Second Edition, 2026.
The back cover of the Second Edition, 2026. (Second Edition, 2026)

The complete 1981 booklet, page by page, is on the Sources page.