B. D. Lakshman

Brahma Dass Lakshman (1900 – 5 October 1981) was an Indo-Fijian politician, trade unionist and businessman, who had a considerable influence on Fiji’s sugar industry. He served in the Legislative Council in two spells between 1940 and 1963.

Education and teaching career Born in the village of Waila near Nausori in 1900,

In the 1956 elections he ran against Prasad, but received only 109 votes. However, in 1958 he was elected to Lautoka Town Council with the support of the local ratepayers association. After the departure of Sidiq Koya from the Central Committee of the Kisan Sangh, Muslim supporters of the organisation were alienated. They supported Lakshman in the 1959 elections, in which he defeated Prasad. In the same year he was elected president of the Fiji Trades Union Congress.