Nilima Rao is the author of Disappearance In Fiji. The author was born in Fiji. At age three her family moved to Australia. Her grandparents were born in India and came to Fiji as indentured servants to work on the sugar cane plantations. In this story a 25 year old police constable in sent to work in Fiji after he made a professional mistake working in Hong Kong. He was born in India and his family still lives there. The year is 1914 Akal Singh is miserable and grumpy. He does not like Fiji. He is sent to investigate the disappearance of an female indentured servant on a plantation a day away by horseback. Once there he is appalled at how the indentured workers are treated. They don't get enough food. They are forced to work long hours. Some of the females are sexually assaulted by the European farm managers or owners. Akal is a kind and honest man with a strict moral code. I can see how writing this would help the author explore her past and her identity. This is an excellent story.
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