Memory, History, and Mauritian Resilience

Our resourcefulness and resilience are sufficient for us, individually and collectively, to embrace the future courageously

Opinion

By Sada Reddi

A teacher once asked his pupils to raise their hands if they wanted to play for the class football team. Several did. If asked why, the probable answer would be that they knew they could play, having done so in the past with sufficient skill to contribute to the team. Memory, experience, and the art of reflection are critical faculties for any human being making decisions and taking action every day.

“The resilience of the country does not rely solely on economic or political elites, though they have played a significant role through innovative policies and should continue to do so. National resilience is a collective effort involving the entire country — particularly the people as suppliers of labour and skills, without whom the nation cannot function…” Resilience. Pic – IUCN

We all know the consequences when a person suffers from partial or permanent memory loss. Similarly, memory and history are vital tools, alongside other skills, for citizens to meet everyday challenges. At a time when the country is confronted with a shambolic legacy and the uncertainties of Middle Eastern conflicts, pessimistic attitudes and low morale inevitably seem to be gaining ground. This is unavoidable.

What is overlooked by observers and politicians who predict or gloat over worst-case scenarios is that history has taught us that no problem is so formidable that it cannot be solved. Mauritian resourcefulness and resilience remain the twin pillars required to overcome present and future challenges.

From a personal family anecdote, I learned that my paternal grandfather — an indentured immigrant in the early 20th century turned job contractor — drew on his family’s experience in rice-growing in the rural district of Kanchipuram, India, to meet food shortages. When the country faced rationing during the War and people were forced to eat manioc (cassava) and sweet potatoes, he took the initiative to grow rice in the marshy land on the banks of Rivière des Créoles to feed his family and fellow workers.

Such a praiseworthy initiative stood him in good stead at a critical time. During the War, rice was rationed, and Indian families had to fall back on chapati made from manioc flour. Many labourers complained of stomach pains; in those days, malnutrition was rife and workers could hardly complete a day’s labour. But they survived.

The history of Mauritius, too, from the beginning of settlement to the present day, is replete with examples of people surviving by being resourceful, creative, and hardworking, while demonstrating both imagination and determination. These qualities and values have been built up to constitute Mauritian resilience.

French and other settlers, as well as enslaved people from Madagascar, Africa, and India, all faced existential problems in the colony, and all, in their different ways, have survived to the present day. No doubt there were many casualties, tragedies, and immoralities in this struggle for survival. Slavery was racist and based on the exploitation of man by man, while the indenture system remained harrowing for labourers until recent decades. Despite these injustices, the working classes in Mauritius have survived the hard way.

Mauritian ancestors endured profound hardships, including systemic poverty, financial ruin, forced emigration, and the recurring devastation of epidemics and natural disasters. The cholera epidemics of the 1820s and mid-1850s killed approximately 30,000 people; the malaria epidemic of 1867 claimed 40,000. The devastating cyclone of 1892 was followed by the epizooty of 1902, which killed all draught animals. This resulted in increased internal transportation costs and rising prices. The death toll of the influenza epidemic of 1918 – 1919 was about 8,000 people, despite years of unprecedented prosperity. The Great Depression of 1929, the war economy of 1939 – 1945, and the cyclones of 1945, the 1960s, and 1980 were catastrophic for the economy and society.

Despite this long list of crises, the country and its people have survived.

In recent decades, diversification and industrialisation have built a strong economic foundation. By necessity and conviction, a welfare state emerged — something unprecedented for a small developing economy with no natural resources except its people. In 2008, we successfully navigated the financial crisis, and for every decade since 1968, we have added a new pillar to the economy. Having survived Covid-19, there is no reason why we cannot overcome the shambolic legacy of the past decade and the current global crises, even if they take a turn for the worse.

The resilience of the country does not rely solely on economic or political elites, though they have played a significant role through innovative policies and should continue to do so. National resilience is a collective effort involving the entire country — particularly the people as suppliers of labour and skills, without whom the nation cannot function.

People are also consumers and active citizens at the grassroots level. They are grouped into thousands of religious, social, professional, and cultural organisations that play an important role in society, often anonymously. These groups serve as a determining factor in strengthening national resilience, by making key decisions for their members. Furthermore, grassroots organisations remain actively engaged with political representatives and on social media to pressure decision-makers for local and national solutions.

Whether individuals opt to reduce non-essential consumption, grow local food, or avoid sugary drinks, these decisions carry significant economic and health consequences. Each person must make a judicious choice, as there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Similarly, traders can diversify foreign sources for goods and medicine. Government bodies must also play their part in reducing resource wastage, and the State Trading Corporation (STC) can innovate by importing essential medicine alongside basic food or oil. National resilience requires every person and organisation to play its part — trade unions, NGOs, religious organisations, consumer protection groups, and local communities alike. They must enhance their activities and embrace new initiatives for the benefit of the nation.

If in the distant past our resilience was achieved at a high cost to many communities and individuals, this is not acceptable in modern times. The welfare state has been one major solution, yet risks remain despite inclusive policies. Such policies must be consolidated through public participation, proactive measures, safety nets, disaster preparedness, and capacity building within local communities. While many measures have already been taken in this direction, they must be sustained continuously to reduce the risks to which many communities and individuals can become vulnerable.

In all our history, we have been successful; there is no ground for pessimism. Our resourcefulness and resilience are sufficient for us, individually and collectively, to embrace the future courageously. The country has always had to confront pessimists who never believed in its future, but luckily they were always a minority who often “voted with their feet,” and history has consistently proved them wrong.

Let us hope that the people will draw lessons from our past and confidently forge ahead to turn obstacles into opportunities. Our memory suggests that hard work, discipline, and ethical conduct can take us very far.

Years ago, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam reminded us that as an island in the middle of the ocean, the sea is not a barrier but an opportunity. He showed us the way by building a network of alliances with friendly countries to support us as an independent nation in an interdependent and globalised world. We can heed his advice and muster our physical, mental, and moral resources to overcome every obstacle in our way.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 3 April 2026