I Remember And Reflect

Mauritius and Mauritians will always hold a special place in my heart

MT @ 70

By Peter Ibbotson

I was first introduced to the complexity of Mauritian politics and social affairs and was led to be actively interested in them in 1948 — by one who was at that time active in the Government Teachers’ Union, André Bazerque of Rose Hill. Gradually, thanks to newspaper cuttings he sent me, I came to know much about the educational scene. When he visited England in 1951, I was privileged to meet Dr Ramgoolam and to discuss educational matters with him.

In those days Mauritius was still a colony. The Governor and his officials and nominated members of what was then a Legislative Council, held the political power. Those whom the nominated members represented — big business and the sugar estates — held economic power. The workers were treated as pawns by some capitalists: they were — if they were in employment — badly paid. In its turn, this meant that they and their families were badly housed and poorly fed. Only 30 years ago a bus-driver, in those days one of the aristocrats of the working class, had basic monthly wages of Rs 145 — and had to spend (if he were married with children) Rs 144 a month on food alone. That meant that his overtime earnings had to pay all the rest of his household expenses.

Then in September 1954 one of my correspondents sent me four or five copies of the Mauritius Times – then a small-sized single sheet paper. “Some of us have started this newspaper,” he wrote. “We wish to support the role of the people in helping to make a better Mauritius.” The first issue included a statement of aims which the editor, Beekrumsing Ramlallah, has striven always to uphold.

“We think that it is high time that all communities of this colony should find a modus vivendi. We must eliminate fear, foster trust, encourage understanding and friendship between individuals of different races and religions. We must make this island home of ours a worthy place to live in. Let our motto be “Live and Help Live.” That was on the 14th August, 1954. Since then, Mauritius and the Mauritius Times have grown up. And each has changed.

The Mauritius Times remains, as it has always been, an independent weekly. It apportions praise and blame wherever each is due; it exposes shortcomings and seeks to redress wrongs. It has consistently sought to uphold the people – their history, their wellbeing, their aspirations, their rights, their responsibilities. It has always defended the people against those who oppose popular rights, against those who sought to usurp privilege at the expense of the worker.

Admit Our Children

As a professional teacher, I have always had a particularly keen interest in educational matters. So has Mr Ramlallah, also a former teacher. Right from the start, the Mauritius Times sought to counteract the conservative – aristocrat view of the history of Mauritius by slowing the role of the people. Right from the start, the Mauritius Times sought to get rid of the colonialist approach to education and to give the educational system more relevance to Mauritian society. When a short-sighted Department of Education wanted to curtail admission to school, the Mauritius Times rightly – and successfully – opposed the Department with a “Admit our Children” campaign with the cooperation of late P. Dabee and other youths.

Yawning Gaps

Those were early days in the beginning of Mauritius’ advance from colonial status via internal self-government to independence.

From those early days, I particularly recall D.Napal and his articles on aspects of local history which truly counteracted the traditional approach enshrined in Patrick Joseph Barnwell and Auguste Toussaint; Francis Chadien, a teacher at Royal College and a MLC; J.N. Roy; Aunauth Beejadhur, at the time editor of the lamented Advance but later to become Minister for Education and, subsequently, Governor of Bank of Mauritius; Malcolm de Chazal (and to his day I regret that I have none of his written works or paintings) and two Labour stalwarts whose sad deaths in their prime of life left yawning gaps in the political scene – Guy Rozemont and Renganaden Seeneevassen.

Love of Liberty

All of these loved liberty; all of these knew as Mr Ramlallah knows and as I have maintained all my life. ‘‘The love of liberty is the love of others.’’ Looking back over the years that I was an active contributor to the Maurtius Times, I recall great controversial issues which from time to time brought vituperations from some sections of the press and angry letters from some readers. There was the great family planning campaign – I wrote at length in its support against much religious opposition. But the editor of the MT rightly upholding the freedom of the press, gave space to the opposition and, by his example in so doing, gradually led other editors to allow much more freedom of expression in their columns.

Proportional representation

There was the campaign of against proportional representation, that device which would have continued to frustrate the popular vote if it had been imposed as Whitehall would have wished. There was the case for independence, which had to be made in terms which people would understand and appreciate. There was the continuing case for social justice. There was the permanent case for communal harmony, for the working class solidarity against the divisive tactics of some grands missiés. Many of these campaigns I was able to further in the columns of the British press: The Times, Tribune, Peace News, The Observer, New Commonwealth, to name but five.

Labour Party’s failings

From time to time, appreciative letters came from readers. Some appreciated my articles’ content. Others appreciated the fact that my articles were in English, which gave them a chance to become more familiar with English usage.

All the time, though I was imbued with one driving force – a sense of fair play, the need for justice, the love of others. There were regrettably those who showed themselves as temporary, transient allies, who loved themselves (and therefore power) more that they loved liberty (and therefore others).

Unfortunately the Labour Party failed to move with the times. Many of its leaders lost touch with the grassroots and with the aspirations of those who were its potential supporters. The Mauritius Times remained faithful to the hopes of the people even though this meant criticisms of the Labour Party (without, however, ceasing to support it).

Responsible & adult

Mauritius is very different now from 30 years ago, when the MT was launched. The railways have gone. Advance and Le Cernéen (with whose one-time editor NMU, I waged a running battle over several years) have gone. TV and tourist hotels have come. Toplessness is seen at times on some beaches. Above all, Mauritius is independent and has a responsible and adult electorate which can see through the posturing pretensions of demagogues.

Left-wing demagoguery

In that, there is little change. When I began to be associated with the Mauritius Times, the demagogues were the right-wing capitalists, and their press spokesman was NMU. Consistently in the MT I exposed the empty propaganda of NMU – and at election after election, the voters of Mauritius rejected the right-wing demagoguery by substantial majorities. The difference nowadays is that the demagoguery and their facile propaganda are elsewhere.

The Mauritius Times is still needed, to expose the left-wing demagoguery now as it exposed the right-wing demagoguery then.

To thine own self be true

Only once have I been to Mauritius – 10 years ago. Mrs Ibbotson and I were touched by the esteem in which were my writings were evidently held, and I was delighted to meet many of the people who had over the years written to me. Mauritius will always hold a special place in my heart and in my memory – and so will certain Mauritians among them Ramgoolam, Beekrumsing Ramlallah, Anauth Beejadhur, Rozemont and Renganaden Seeneevassen, all of whom led their lives according to the precept:

‘“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

― William Shakespeare, Hamlet

 

 Peter Ibbotson’s reflections were published in the Mauritius Times of Friday 17 August 1984 in our 30^th Special Anniversary Issue

---

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 30 August 2024

Tags:Admit our Children, Aunauth Beejadhur, Beekrumsingh Ramlallah, Communities, Demagoguery, Economic Power, Education, Mauritius, Mauritius Times, NMU, Politics, Proportional Representation, Ramgoolam, Renganaden Seeneevassen, Rozemont, Wages, Workers