Chaudhry's son marries Tui Lau descendant in Fiji
{{date|November 21, 2005}}

[[w:Sachindra Chaudhry|Sachindra Chaudhry]], the youngest son of [[w:Fiji Labour Party|Fiji Labour Party]] leader and former [[w:List of Prime Ministers of Fiji|Prime Minister]] [[w:Mahendra Chaudhry|Mahendra Chaudhry]], married [[w:Marian Ma'afu|Marian Ma'afu]], a descendant of [[w:Fiji|Fiji's]] first ''[[w:Tui Lau|Tui Lau]]'' [[w:Enele Ma'afu|Enele Ma'afu]], in a [[w:Hinduism|Hindu]] ceremony at [[w:Wailailai Temple|Wailailai Temple]] in [[w:Ba Town|Ba]] yesterday. A [[w:Christianity|Christian]] wedding will follow at Sacred Heart Cathedral in [[w:Suva|Suva]] next week.

Intermarriage between Fiji's [[w:Fijian people|indigenous]] and [[w:Indo-Fijian|Indian]] communities is uncommon.  Speaking for the family, Chaudhry's elder brother, [[w:Rajendra Chaudhry|Rajendra]], said that the union was for love and that nothing political should be read into it.  The union was a personal love-match between two who had known each other for more than six years, he insisted, and dismissed media speculation that the wedding was intended as a statement about uniting the two races, whose historical, cultural, religious, and political divisions have defined Fiji for generations.  It was a proud day for the family.

Ma'afu's ancestor, Enele Ma'afu, was a [[w:Tonga|Tongan]] prince who was exiled to Fiji following disagreements within the Tongan royal family.  He conquered [[w:Taveuni|Taveuni]] and the [[w:Lau Islands|Lau Islands]], taking the title of ''[[w:Lau|Tui Lau]]'' (King of Lau).  He later participated, with the Fijian King [[w:Seru Epenisa Cakobau|Cakobau]], in the ceding of the islands to the [[w:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] in 1874.  The Tui Lau title has since been held by such noted individuals as [[w:Lala Sukuna|Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna]] (considered modern Fiji's first statesman) and [[w:Kamisese Mara|Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara]], independent Fiji's first Prime Minister and second [[w:List of Presidents of Fiji|President]].

Chaudhry, who traces his ancestry to the state of [[w:Haryana|Haryana]], in north [[w:India|India]], became the first of his race [[w:Fiji election of 1999|to be elected]] Prime Minister in 1999.  He was deposed a year later, in the [[w:Fiji coup of 2000|Fiji coup of 2000]].

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.Fijitimes.com/
|title=Sachin marries long-time sweetheart
|author=
|pub=Fiji Times
|date=November 20, 2005}}

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[[Category:Fiji]]
[[Category:Melanesia]]
Sachindra Chaudhry, the youngest son of Fiji Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, married Marian Ma'afu, a descendant of Fiji's first Tui Lau Enele Ma'afu, in a Hindu ceremony at Wailailai Temple in Ba yesterday. A Christian wedding will follow at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva next week.

Intermarriage between Fiji's indigenous and Indian communities is uncommon.  Speaking for the family, Chaudhry's elder brother, Rajendra, said that the union was for love and that nothing political should be read into it.  The union was a personal love-match between two who had known each other for more than six years, he insisted, and dismissed media speculation that the wedding was intended as a statement about uniting the two races, whose historical, cultural, religious, and political divisions have defined Fiji for generations.  It was a proud day for the family.

Ma'afu's ancestor, Enele Ma'afu, was a Tongan prince who was exiled to Fiji following disagreements within the Tongan royal family.  He conquered Taveuni and the Lau Islands, taking the title of Tui Lau (King of Lau).  He later participated, with the Fijian King Cakobau, in the ceding of the islands to the United Kingdom in 1874.  The Tui Lau title has since been held by such noted individuals as Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna (considered modern Fiji's first statesman) and Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, independent Fiji's first Prime Minister and second President.

Chaudhry, who traces his ancestry to the state of Haryana, in north India, became the first of his race to be elected Prime Minister in 1999.  He was deposed a year later, in the Fiji coup of 2000.
Fiji Melanesia