{"id":3221,"date":"2014-11-28T07:11:52","date_gmt":"2014-11-28T07:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/2014\/11\/28\/mt-60-years-14\/"},"modified":"2018-05-20T22:26:56","modified_gmt":"2018-05-20T18:26:56","slug":"mt-60-years-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/mt-60-years-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Contribution of Indians to the development of Ile de France"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mauritius Times\u00a0 60 Years Ago -1st YEAR NO. 16 –\u00a0<\/span>SATURDAY\u00a0<\/span>27th November 1954<\/span><\/p>\n

GLIMPSES OF MAURITIAN HISTORY<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is generally believed that Indians owe their existence in our island to the abolition of slavery in British colonies in 1834. Though this is true of the majority of Indians it is no less a historical truth that a good number of Indians lived in Mauritius in the French period. <\/span><\/p>\n

Before taking possession of Ile de France the French held in India important settlements in Pondicherry, Karikal, Mah\u00e9, Yanam and Chandranagore. This state of things facilitated the relations of the French with India when they established themselves here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Labourdonnais facing the difficulty of finding workers for the development of the colony had recourse to blacks who could supply labour-power, but cut a poor figure as skilled workmen.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the famous exhibition held in Port Louis in 1932 were displayed a bed and a cupboard which belonged to Labourdonnais and were made by Pondicherians who were then in our island. Even today we can find such a bed and cupboard at the Shradhanand Ashram. The workmanship of these relics of a memorable past is so fine as to be considered as works of art rather than articles of daily use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the Pondicherians living in the island in Labourdonnais\u2019 time there was an artisan whose son came to hold so important a position as notary in Port Louis. We speak of the ancestors of Mr Symphorien Lami who visited us a short time ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bernardin de St Pierre who immortalized Mauritius by making of it the stage of his famous novel \u2018Paul et Virginie\u2019 had noticed the presence of Indians in the island during his three years\u2019 stay here. A novel is often a reliable source of information for the social history of a country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bernardin de St Pierre is of great value as a source book of the mode of life and sceneries of Mauritius in Ile de France of the period of Labourdonnais. \u2018Paul et Virginie\u2019 bears a testimony to the presence of the Indians in our Island.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the wreck of the St G\u00e9ran the body of Virginie was brought \u201cdans les cabanes des p\u00eacheurs o\u00f9 nous le donn\u00e2mes garder \u00e0 de pauvres femmes malabares qui prirent soin de laver\u201d.<\/em> The word \u2018malabar\u2019 had not yet acquired its note of contempt for Indians and everything Indian.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further we read: \u201cLes Indiennes de Bengale et de la C\u00f4te de Malabare apport\u00e8rent des cages pleines d\u2019oiseaux auxquelles ils donn\u00e8rent la libert\u00e9 sur son corps.\u201d<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

Baron Grant gives a description of the Indians who lived in Ile de France. He writes: \u201cOf the population of this island we must consider the Indians and the negroes as forming a considerable proportion. The first are from the coast of Malabar and are a very mild and gentle people. They come from Pondicherry and let themselves out for a number of years. They are of a deeper colour than the natives of the island of Madagascar who are negroes, have features of Europeans, and their hair is not woolly. They are sober and economical. Their head is dressed with a turban, and they wear long dresses of muslin with large gold-earnings and silver bracelets at their wrists. There are some who enter in the service of the rich, and titled inhabitants as Pions, a kind of domestic who answers to the character of a running foot-man and their peculiar distinction is a cane in hand, and a dagger at their girdle. It were to be wished that there were a greater number of these inhabitants established in this island, particularly of the caste of husband-men. \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He also writes: \u201cThe latter (Indians from Bengal) are generally prepared for home services. They are gentle, of docile character, therefore better qualified for domestic purposes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the publication of the centenary of the Jummah Mosque (1852-1952) we find the picture of the Eastern Suburb Mosque underneath which is written:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Eastern Suburb Mosque built on the plot of land conceded by Captain General Decaen in 1803\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately we do not know much of this Muslim immigration during the French period. This much is apparent. There must have been enough Muslims in 1803 and they must have been fairly organised to have felt the need of a Mosque. The artisans who had earlier settled down in Mauritius, had their offsprings whom we see in the time of General Decaen, working in works of fortifications in Port Louis and Mahebourg. Henri Plentort, the most reliable authority on the period of Decaen, writes about these Indian workers: \u201cChaque atelier \u00e9tait dirig\u00e9 par un ou plusieurs ma\u00eetres libres ou creoles ou malabares. Quelques ateliers tels que ceux des ma\u00e7ons, des rotineurs ou des plombiers \u00e9taient uniquement compos\u00e9s d\u2019ouvriers libres avec paie r\u00e9guli\u00e8re \u00e0 l\u2019ann\u00e9e et acquitt\u00e9s par tous les mois. C\u2019\u00e9taient pour la plupart des Malabares attir\u00e9s de l\u2019inde par l\u2019ancienne Compagnie, et qui, de p\u00e8re en fils se succ\u00e9d\u00e8rent dans l\u2019\u00e9tablissement.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

We cannot therefore dismiss the assertion that there were many Indians in Ile de France, as a popular fallacy. That there existed Indians in Mauritius in the French period cannot be doubted. There were special places where they lived, known as Camp Malabar, and Camp Lascar.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is unfortunate that there are very scantly sources of information about the activities of Indians in Ile de France.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of our history books either keep silent on this point or speak superficially.<\/span><\/p>\n

However from the scanty material available we gather that the Indians have made a fair contribution to the development of this island during the French period.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

A Test Case<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

V\/S<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MR GAJADHARSINGH<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr R. Gajadharsingh\u2019s daughter, Miss Gaitree Gajadharsingh, applied to join the Training College in 1952 and followed a short course in 1953. She was released from the Training College in January 1954 and was posted at the Aryan Vedic Aided School, Vacoas, to work with the status of an aided school teacher. She worked under protest for about four months. As she was not sponsored by any of the four educational authorities she refused to work until she was given the status of a government school teacher.<\/span><\/p>\n

Miss Gajadharsingh\u2019s father had signed a bond to the effect that he would be liable to Government in case her daughter would not teach for a period of three years. Government is now suing the father. The case came before Mr Hughes at the Rose Hill Court last Tuesday the 23rd November. Mr Garrioch, Crown Counsel, who is appearing in the case for the Crown moved for a postponement because Mr A. Glover who is a witness was unable to attend. Mr Ardill too is a witness. Mr Bhuckory who is appearing for the defendant had no objection to the postponement. So, the case has been fixed to Tuesday the 14th of December. Mr Bhuckory has raised two objections in law. <\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cross<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Against <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Hammer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In Mauritius<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

His Grace the Bishop of P. Louis ordered the Catholics to militate against Communist propaganda<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In a pastoral letter which was read on Sunday the 21st instant in all Catholic Churches, His Grace the Bishop of Port Louis warned the Catholics of the Island of the communist tyranny, its method of propaganda, infiltration, etc. Monseigneur Liston pointed out to the Catholics that the Church has never condemned the effort of communism to raise the standard of life, its economic planning, etc. but it condemns \u201cla doctrine materialiste qui voudrait tarir la vie spirituelle.\u201d His Grace the Bishop of Port Louis outlined the attitude to be adopted by Catholics towards Communism: \u201cL\u2019attitude \u00e0\u00a0 adopter par les Catholiques est donc claire. Ils doivent s\u2019abstenir de tout acte qui puisse, si peu que ce soit, aider le communisme \u2013 C\u2019est la partie n\u00e9gative de leur attitude. Mais vu l\u2019opposition inh\u00e9rente qui existe entre leur Religion et le Communisme, et vu les efforts fait par celui-ci pour extirper totalement cette Religion, la logique et la loyaut\u00e9 leur imposent le devoir de lutter positivement et avec \u00e9nergie contre la diffusion de cet ennemi. Vous avez donc le devoir, chers fr\u00e8res, de militer contre la propagande communiste et pour cela d\u2019apprendre \u00e0 la discerner et d\u00e9masquer\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Are we to understand that by ordering the Catholics to militate against communist propaganda, His Grace the Bishop of Port Louis wants his people to wage war against communism which might be found inside the Catholic fold or wherever it might be found?<\/span><\/p>\n

The declaration of His Grace the Bishop of Port Louis that \u201cOn a nettement l\u2019impression que le communisme s\u2019organise efficacement dans certains milieux parmi nous, dans d\u2019autres le terrain est lentement pr\u00e9par\u00e9\u201d is rather vague and ambiguous. But it leaves one under the impression that the growth of communism among the Catholics is alarming.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anti-Communism has become the handmaiden of some people of this colony, especially of the anti-labour groups. It is so easy to brand one\u2019s opponent a Communist in order to debase him in public eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is the danger that the pastoral letter might be exploited by unscrupulous people to political ends.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

A Motion against the Education Dept<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hon. S. Chadien has tabled the following motion in the Legislative Council: \u201cThis Council is of opinion that the system of admitting, educating, examining, and promoting children in Government and Aided Schools is unsatisfactory and that it be recast so as to provide efficient and sufficient full time education suitable to the age, ability, and aptitude of every child.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* Published in print edition on 28 November 2014<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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