Preserving Roots, Building the Future: Mauritius commemorates 192nd Indentured Labour Anniversary
History & Heritage
Commemorating 192 years since the first 36 indentured workers arrived on Mauritian shores, government officials and diplomatic representatives convened at Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis to celebrate Girmitiya resilience and chart a shared path forward rooted in national solidarity, heritage protection, and youth opportunity.
Delivering the keynote address in the absence of PM Navin Ramgoolam — who was attending the Commonwealth Summit — Acting PM Arianne Navarre-Marie urged citizens to work collectively toward a cohesive society free from division. “Let us continue working together to move our country forward, to build a stronger society, and to improve the lives of all our compatriots, without any distinction regarding their origin, skin colour, or beliefs,” she stated.
Paying tribute to the courage of the early workers and the late Beekrumsing Ramlallah, who dedicated over three decades to safeguarding the site, Mrs Navarre-Marie reflected on the dual legacy of slavery and indenture. While acknowledging the brutal treatment and suffering endured by ancestors, she emphasized their defiance and refusal to surrender their dignity. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s historic 1901 advice to Mauritians to educate their children and participate in public life, she called on the nation to move beyond historical trauma toward shared progress.
Highlighting ongoing preservation efforts led by the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund (AGTF) since 2005 — including key sites at Trianon, Antoinette (Phooliyar), Bras-d’Eau, Flat Island, and the Vagrant Depot — she concluded with a poignant pledge in Kreol for the nation’s youth: “Let us ensure our children and youth understand that our history, with all its hardships and struggles, forms a fundamental part of our national identity… We have a duty to ensure no child born in Mauritius faces an insurmountable mountain.”
Echoing this commitment to heritage, Minister of Arts and Culture Mahen Gondeea unveiled plans to establish a dedicated “Cultural Heritage District” in Port Louis. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Municipality of Port Louis, the initiative aims to protect the capital’s historic architecture while fostering urban development. Minister Gondeea noted that archaeological research at the former Docks building is well advanced and will soon allow Mauritius to share the untold stories of indentured workers.
Reviewing AGTF initiatives — which AGTF Chairperson Sukhend Ramdass noted include international collaborations under the Indentured Labour Route Project and conservation work at Flat Island, Trianon, and Antoinette — Mr Gondeea stressed that grounding young people in their ancestral sacrifices prevents identity crises. Addressing recent social tensions in the country, he warned: “We must not let anyone use our differences to turn us against one another. We must be proud of our roots and respect the roots of our neighbours.”
Looking across the Indian Ocean, Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius Anurag Srivastava invited Mauritians — particularly the youth — to participate in large numbers at the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Kolkata from 7 to 9 January 2027. Describing Kolkata as the historic point of departure for the “Great Experiment” 192 years ago, he noted that the convention celebrates the enduring bond between India and its diaspora.
Mr Srivastava highlighted active bilateral initiatives, including the digitisation of Indian immigration archives at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI), oral history recordings of elders, the Know India Programme (KIP) for youth, and special Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) provisions extending up to the seventh generation of Mauritians. Praising the preservation of Geet-Gawai, Bhojpuri, and ancestral traditions, he described Aapravasi Ghat as a monument to endurance: “It reminds us how a people who were given the least went on to build the most.”
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 6 November 2026
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