Prakash Raniga
Prakash re joined the Rotary Club of Carlton as his current club was not growing and the Carlton Club seemed more dynamic. Not being in court as much as he used to be has allowed him more time to attend a lunch meeting. Prakash is Principal of the Law Firm RRR Lawyers and has been a lawyer in Melbourne for over 30 years. Prakash was born in Fiji and described himself as being a member of the FBI (Fiji Born Indians) As a student at a party he suggested to a Maori that they both came from the same neighbourhood. The reply came back “…if you are Fijian then I am Dutch”
Immigrants from India came to Fiji in the late 1800’s as indented labour. Prakesh’s parents however were free settlers. The Indians and native Fijians were divided, often the word “Bula” was the only thing that united them. Prakesh had the opportunity of attending a boarding School with students of all nations. He lived in Fiji with his nine brothers and one sister till he was seventeen, where the family ran a corner shop near Nadi. His family now comprises two pharmacists, an accountant and engineers.
When he came to Ipswich in Queensland in 1974 he received a real cultural shock. He started his Arts Law Degree at James Cook University and completed his studies at Melbourne University. In 1984, as a lawyer Prakesh went back to Fiji for fifteen months to pursue his political ideals regarding discrimination and its representation in multi-national companies.
Since then Prakesh has got into a similar rut we all have, where your profession has to fund children’s school fees, cars and a lifestyle. He joined Rotary to fulfill a need to give back to the community. He also does pro bono work to satisfy this need as many people cannot access the court system due to soaring costs
Prakesh is a vegetarian and joined the Vegetarian Club at Melbourne University. He follows two religions, Hindu and Cricket. He is married for the second time, with two boys. His idols are Ghandi, Obama and Mandella