Uday Singh (Fijian politician)

He died in Ba Mission hospital in the early hours of 7 June 2014, after being admitted the night before.

After several unsuccessful attempts in earlier elections, he won the Indian National seat based in Ba in a by-election in 1985 in which he defeated his brother, James Shankar Singh of the National Federation Party and Mahendra Chaudhry of the Fiji Labour Party. This was the first election contested by the Labour Party and its candidate was the future Prime Minister of Fiji, Mahendra Chaudhry. The election was won by Uday Singh with 7848 votes defeating Mahendra Chaudhry who got 7644 votes and James Shankar Singh a distant third with 5003 votes. In the 1987 elections he stood as a NFP-Labour coalition candidate for the Nasinu/Vunidawa Indian Communal Constituency and won his seat easily[1] but the coup of 1987 ended his political career. He was later appointed to the Senate by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, effective from 30 May 1994. Uday Singh was one of the most successful and powerful political figures in the country. The Singh family are til this day known for their unprecedented impact and popularity in the nation. They are one of the most impactful and powerful family’s.

Singh was a supporter of Arya Samaj in Fiji and played a leading role in the Ba branch of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji. He was the chairman of the Board of Governors of the two schools run by the Arya Samaj in Ba. He was national president of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji from 1984-1987. Singh was awarded the highest honor of the Arya Samaj, the title Arya Ratna, in 2002. The Title of Arya Ratna was conferred for exceptionally valuable contribution to Arya Samaj.

1970 - Independence Medal 1974- Justice of Peace 1985- Order of British Empire (OBE) 1994- Commissioner of Oaths 1995- Fiji 25th Anniversary Independence Award 2002- Arya Ratna

Uday Singh was a cane farmer and Gang president of KumKum in Moto Sector, Ba, since 1960. In 1970-1995 he was the chairman of Ba Health Center. Between 1985-1987 Singh was the director of the Sugar Fund Authority, between this period he was also a Member of Parliament. He was a commissioner in the Fiji Public Service Commission between 1987-2001. In 1992 he became a member of the delegation to the United Nation. From 1994-1999 he was a Senator in the House of Senate Fiji. Between 1992-1997 he was the director of Yaqara Pastrol Farm Limited.

Uday Singh Commissioner of Oaths, OBE, JP, (14 September 1938 – 7 June 2014) was an Indo-Fijian landowner, social worker and politician. Hon. Mr Singh was a staunch supporter of former Prime Minister Ratu Mara and the former Alliance Party. The Singh family is the single largest private landowner in Fiji.

Born to Jang Bhadur Singh and Manorama Singh on 14 September 1938. Uday Singh grew up with his parents, brothers and sisters on the Singh Family Estate at KumKum, Ba. His brothers were: James Shankar Singh, Sital Singh, Bir Singh, Robert Singh (Soki) and Kuar Singh.