“The Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site belongs to all Mauritians”

Interview: V.P. Bundhun – Director of Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund

‘It is a unique place where all Mauritians can connect with their shared history, heritage, and identity’

* ‘The AGTF is leading discussions on teaching history – specifically indentured labour history – in schools and universities’

Serving as the launching pad for the “Great Experiment” that transformed the island’s demographic, economic, and cultural landscape, Aapravasi Ghat remains a vital touchstone of national identity. Beyond its historic stone steps in Port Louis, the site stands as a testament to the sacrifices, resilience, and enduring legacy of the indentured labourers who built modern Mauritius.

In this interview, V.P. Bundhun, Director of the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund (AGTF), a long-time educator and former minister, reflects on the dual significance of this year’s commemorations. He discusses the Trust Fund’s ongoing efforts to engage younger generations through modern technology, new film projects, and curriculum reform, while detailing global diplomacy initiatives — including the UNESCO Indentured Labour Route Project and proposed twinning initiatives with Bihar. He also addresses the complex responsibilities of structural conservation, urban planning, and preserving ancestral memory for all Mauritians.

Mauritius Times: What makes this 192nd anniversary particularly special or unique for the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund and the Mauritian public?

V.P. Bundhun: This year is indeed special because it marks the 20th anniversary of the inscription of the Aapravasi Ghat on UNESCO’s World Heritage List — the first World Heritage Site of the Republic of Mauritius. The event was held on Thursday, 16th July 2026, and was a great success with over 100 attendees and several VIP guests present, including Mrs Christelle Pondard, Lord Mayor of Port Louis; Mrs Toulouse, the Mauritian Representative to UNESCO in Paris; Mrs Ganesan, Second Secretary of the Indian High Commission, among others.

To mark this auspicious event, for the first time in its history, AGTF invited 20 centenarians and their families to participate in our commemoration. They were to receive a shield, place their handprints on an artwork displayed in the Beekrumsing Ramlallah Interpretation Centre (BRIC), and receive a commemorative AGTF t-shirt. Unfortunately, at the last moment — despite prior assurances — the Ministry of Social Security objected to having so many centenarians present at the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site. This was despite C-Care Clinic taking full responsibility for transporting the centenarians to and from the site, complete with a medical team on standby.

* How does remembering the arrival of the indentured labourers at the Aapravasi Ghat help young Mauritians understand their multicultural roots today?

The Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site is a cornerstone of our Mauritian cultural heritage and history, with the youth of the Republic of Mauritius consistently serving as one of its core target groups. Education and knowledge dissemination among young people are fundamental to the mission statement of the AGTF. Between mid-2025 and mid-2026, the BRIC and the Aapravasi Ghat site welcomed an estimated 15,900 schoolchildren, along with hundreds of university students and other young people. Over the past year, Sukhend Ramdass, Chairman of AGTF, and I, as Director, have personally welcomed many schoolchildren and their teachers to the site.

Since 2004, AGTF has operated an outreach programme spanning primary schools, secondary schools, and tertiary institutions across Mauritius. More recently, AGTF — together with SILWF — organised outreach initiatives in the context of the 126th birth anniversary of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the Father of the Nation, whose father was an Indian indentured worker linked to Aapravasi Ghat and sites in Sebastopol, Kewal Nagar, Bel Air, and elsewhere.

AGTF highlights to young people that 2nd November, the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site, other indenture sites, and indentured workers played a pivotal role in shaping the history, demography, economy, and politics of Mauritius, making immense contributions to our country’s intangible cultural heritage.

* How is the AGTF using digital tools or educational outreach to get school students interested in history?

For over two decades, AGTF’s outreach team has engaged primary, secondary, and tertiary students using laptops and modern technology to render history more accessible and engaging. Since 2014, digital tools such as computer displays and the “Kids’ Corner” — which features the story of ‘Rajah’, a young child immigrant, at the BRIC — have been utilised to spark interest in history and heritage. Alongside this, Rajah, a modern comic book illustrating the life of a child immigrant in Mauritius, became a bestseller and was reprinted.

For the 2026–2027 fiscal year, significant funding was earmarked to replace outdated and non-functional monitors at the BRIC, which are essential for guided student tours. However, due to severe roof leakage at the museum, these funds must currently be reallocated toward urgent structural repairs and maintenance.

It is also worth noting that the Trianon Old Labourers’ Barracks — a long-neglected indenture site — has been transformed. The barracks will feature new designs and exhibits showcasing how Indian indentured labourers lived and worked between the 1860s and early 1900s, serving as a vital pedagogical tool for students and the general public.

In mid-May 2026, during the international conference of the Indentured Labour Route Project, AGTF led discussions on the teaching of history, specifically indentured labour history, in schools and universities. Educators and academics from the University of Mauritius, the Mauritius Institute of Education, and other institutions under the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage analysed current curricula and proposed introducing history as a subsidiary subject in primary and secondary schools.

* Are there any specific stories, documents, or personal records from the indentured labourers that have come to light recently?

Over the past quarter-century, the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund — through its publications, annual magazine, conferences, seminars, public talks, and media documentaries — has played a crucial role in highlighting key historical documents, events, and indentured labourers and their descendants who shaped the Mauritian experience during and after the indenture era. One such figure is Dookhee Gungah, who lived from the 1860s to the 1940s and was the son of an indentured worker. He became a prominent landowner, religious figure, and philanthropist.

Over the past two years, AGTF has collaborated with the Gungah family on an AI-assisted historical documentary detailing the life and achievements of Dookhee Gungah. The film project, titled ‘The Forgotten Story of Dookhee Gungah’, is near completion and highlights rich archival material from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, the National Archives, and the Gungah family’s personal collection. In November 2026, to coincide with the anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers, AGTF is partnering with the Gungah family for a public screening at the Serge Constantin Theatre or another suitable venue.

* For Mauritians trying to trace their ancestors who passed through Aapravasi Ghat, what resources does the AGTF provide to assist them?

Each year, we receive hundreds of requests from Mauritians locally and abroad seeking to trace their lineage. Our research team guides the public in tracing their indentured and free passenger ancestors, working in close collaboration with the MGI Archives, the Civil Status Office, and the National Archives Department. We also encourage 4th and 5th generation descendants (and beyond) to undertake genealogical research, and we have participated in several exhibitions to support these efforts.

*How is Mauritius coordinating with other countries that experienced indentured labour (like Fiji, Suriname, or Guyana) to preserve this global history?

From 13th to 15th May 2026, the international conference ‘The Indentured Labour Route at the Crossroads – Imagining New Futures for the Global Diaspora’ was held at the University of Mauritius. Organised by the AGTF, the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, and other stakeholders, the event brought together over 50 scholars, researchers, and writers from Mauritius and 11 other nations. As the site of the ‘Great Experiment’ that received the largest number of Indian indentured labourers, Mauritius — and specifically the AGTF — was selected by UNESCO to host the Secretariat of the Indentured Labour Route Project, with myself serving as Head of Secretariat.

The three-day conference attracted more than 200 attendees. Discussions covered the history, economic impact, and demographics of indentured labour across various countries, alongside the lives of immigrants and their descendants. Other key themes included collective memory, culture, oral history, personal narratives, indentured labour databases, publications, the current state of research, and future collaborative projects.

We are proposing a formal twinning relationship between the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, with Patna, the capital of Bihar — the state from which the largest contingent of indentured labourers departed. Designed to facilitate cultural, educational, and heritage-based exchange initiatives, this project has been fully supported and welcomed by Arts and Culture Minister Mahendra Gondeea. Alongside this initiative, we are designing an immersive Light and Sound show. This production will trace the narrative of Aapravasi Ghat from its early operational days through its physical restoration, the founding of the AGTF, the opening of the Beekrumsing Ramlallah Interpretation Centre, and our comprehensive research program, which ultimately inspired UNESCO to establish the Indentured Labour Route Project Secretariat here in Mauritius.

* What are the primary challenges in physically preserving and maintaining the historic structures at Aapravasi Ghat today, and how is the Trust Fund balancing modern urban development in Port Louis with protecting the surrounding Buffer Zone?

For nearly 20 years, the protected area has comprised the core site of Aapravasi Ghat itself and a surrounding Buffer Zone of approximately one square kilometer, as required by UNESCO. AGTF advocates for striking a balance between commercial development and preserving the historical character of the zone in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance 6 (PPG 6). Over the past two decades, several development projects yielding economic and social benefits have been successfully integrated into the buffer zone, while proposals that risked damaging the urban landscape were halted or rejected.

Every July, AGTF hosts its annual Consultative Committee meeting with key stakeholders in the Buffer Zone as part of our community engagement strategy, which continues to be highly constructive. The recent Chinese Chamber of Commerce building project stands as an example of a successful development approved and implemented with support from AGTF and the City Council of Port Louis. Furthermore, AGTF personnel perform regular inspections across the Buffer Zone and maintain close communication with local residents and business owners.

* What message would you like every Mauritian to take away as they visit or reflect on Aapravasi Ghat during this anniversary?

My message as Director of AGTF and a lifelong educator is that the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site belongs to all Mauritians. It is a unique place where all Mauritians, particularly the youth, can connect with their shared history, heritage, and identity. Sukhend Ramdass and I have welcomed many senior citizens to this hallowed ground, which stands as a poignant reminder of the toil, tears, sacrifices, and enduring contributions of our ancestors in making Mauritius a beacon to the world.

We also invite the public to explore other historic indenture sites, such as the Trianon Barracks and Antoinette, where commemoration ceremonies will also take place. Senior citizens like myself are deeply aware of the sanctity of these spaces. Lastly, we must honour and remember the achievements of our forebears every 2nd of November at Aapravasi Ghat, where our Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam, will lead the national commemoration ceremony. I warmly invite the Mauritian public to attend.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 30 October 2026