1 Editor-in-Chief : Ambassador (Retd.) J K Tripathi IMFF is registered with government of India and Republic of Mauritius. Front cover: Kathakali Dance. Photo courtesy: Rejil Rajan India Office : A86/B,2nd Floor, School Block, Chander Vihar ,New Delhi-110092 Ph: +(91) 99999016674 Mauritius Office : Dussoye Lane,9th Mile ,Triolet, Mauritius. +(230) 59105990 Visit IMFF on the web at - www.imff.co.in , For Advertisement : [email protected] Contact us: [email protected] / [email protected] IMFF2019-2020 2 FROM EDITOR’S DESK lived in. But they did not forget the ancient land their forefathers had migrated from nor did they leave their religious beliefs and practices. They also maintained a steady relationship with the land of their forefathers despite climbing the social and political ladders in the countries they reside. They did not live or work as foreigners but acted hand in hand with the indigenous community as the “Partners in jktrik progress”. It is this thread that this magazine strives to emphasise. Our advise to the persons of Indian origin settled Ambassador (Retd.) J K TRIPATHI world over is “don’t forget the land and Editor -in -Chief beliefs of your ancestors but at the same time, have your primary responsibility to It is a matter of great pleasure for me to the land you live because it is this land that present this inaugural issue of ‘IMFF’, the has given your bread and butter, security flagship souvenir magazine of the Indo- and progress in life”. The Indian settlers Mauritius Friendship Foundation, to the abroad have significantly contributed to readers. the development of India as well-for example, Mauritius has emerged as the Here, one may question the need of one largest investor in India leaving many more magazine in this vast ocean of western countries far behind and India is periodicals and newspapers catering to the certainly proud of this trend. persons of Indian origin settled outside India and the question is very much valid. Though this magazine is published by the The need is felt due to the difference that Indio-Mauritius Friendship Foundation, it we want to make in this field and the will try to cover every corner of the world difference lies in the approach of ‘IMFF’ to where persons of Indian origin reside. the persons of Indian origin abroad. “IMFF” represents the sprouting of an idea Centuries ago, millions of Indians had and cooperation from readers is required to migrated from India to the places unknown nurture it, to enable it to become a soothing in search of better prospects voluntarily or tree. This inaugural issue is in your hands forcibly. They fought adverse conditions in and we will welcome your regular their new countries of residence through comments, advices, feedback and ideas for their sheer hard work and toiled a meaningful improvement. I believe that relentlessly to develop the lands they this magazine will not only be associated settled on. Their vivacity and a strong belief with India or Mauritius, but with the in the ancient Indian motto “Vasudhaiv homes of all those of Indian origin who kutumbkam” (the whole earth is a family) have settled in different countries across made them not only develop materially but the world. We wish a very happy and also assimilate in the local society they satisfying year ahead to our readers ! Ambassador J.K. Tripathi is a retired officer of Indian Foreign Service with 33 years of experience in Diplomacy. He had served in various capacities in Indian missions in Zambia, Maldives, Hungary, Sweden, Venezuela and Oman before taking up the important post of Consul General of India in Sao Paulo, Brazil, India’s only trade office in South America. Ambassador Tripathi retired in 2014 after serving as Ambassador of India to Zimbabwe. IMFF 2019-2020 3 THIS EDITION’S CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE Chundraprakash Prof Pradeep Mathur Vinay Dussoye is a veteran journalist President of GOPIO & & former HOD, IIMC, IMFF is a JNU, New Delhi multifaceted personality Dr Savita Mehta is Sarvesh Tiwari the vice president communications of is a Port louis/Delhi the Amity Education based senior Group journalist & director of IMFF Premchand Boojhawon is the Devianee Ramdin is the vice president News Editor of the GOPIO (Mauritius) Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) & Member IMFF Padmaja Dr K C Naithani is the High is the global head for Commissioner of India health initiatives, IMFF to Fiji President Managing Editor/ Director CEO Chundraprakash Vinay Dussoye Sarvesh Tiwari Rahul Thagele IMFF'S CORE TEAM Premchand Boojhawon MSK, CSK Umesh Kumar Tripti Tiwari Manoranjan Mohanty Anudut (Rajen) Dussoye Dr K C Naithani IMFF2019-2020 4 5 IMFF 2019-2020 6 Message High commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius to India I am deeply honoured to associate myself with the publication of the Special Anniversary Journal of the Indo-Mauritius Friendship Foundation (IMFF). I wish to congratulate the Indo-Mauritius Friendship Foundation (IMFF) for its laudable initiatives in strengthening the relationship and cultural exchange between Mauritius and India in areas of shared interest like Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, amongst others. Ayurveda and Yoga blend our modern lifestyle and health-oriented habits with the ancient wisdom of natural healing to help us lead a healthy, happy, disease-free and stress-free life which is very much required in modern days. AYUSH, the combined Indian system of medicine is deeply rooted in the Mauritian culture. Through these traditional medicines and practices, way of life, physical, mental and emotional health can be significantly improved in the current COVID 19 pandemic. IMFF2019-2020 7 I commend India for its initiative in promoting AYUSH as an alternative and preventive medicine. Mauritius is very much inspired and looks forward to becoming a regional hub to promote AYUSH. As the High Commissioner of Mauritius in India, the promotion of AYUSH in Mauritius and in the region is high on my agenda and I look forward to the Indian collaboration towards that end. I hope that the Indo-Mauritius Friendship Foundation (IMFF) will continue to work closely to further strengthen the ties between our two countries. I seize this opportunity to wish the member of the Indo-Mauritius Friendship Foundation (IMFF) all success in their future endeavours. H.E. Mrs. Santi Bai Hanoomanjee, G.C.S.K. High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius to India IMFF 2019-2020 8 Message High commissioner of India to the Republic of Fiji This is to congratulate the IMFF and GOPIO for the success of their joint efforts. The efforts and resolve of the IMFF are appreciable because such efforts have resulted in the resuscitation of Indian culture in the people having Indian origin around the globe. Presently, to tackle the pandemic both community as well as personal efforts are important. The efforts of IMFF both on the cultural and the health front are promising and will inspire the Indian diaspora. With Best Wishes, Ms Padmaja High Commissioner of India ( T0 Fiji, Cook Island, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) IMFF 2019-2020 9 Message High commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius to Malaysia It gave me great pleasure when I was made aware that the Indo Mauritius Friendship Foundation (IMFF) is releasing a special Journal about Indo Mauritius Relationship & Foreign Policy. Mauritians of Indian origin have kept a very strong attachment to their Indian heritage. Although, in some cases, we have lost the spoken language, yet we keep strong attachment to the cultural and religious aspects of our heritage. Diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius were established in 1948. Mauritius maintained contacts with India through successive Dutch, French and British occupation. From 1820s, Indian workers started coming to Mauritius to work on sugar plantations. From 1834, when slavery was abolished by the British Parliament, large numbers of Indian workers began to be brought to Mauritius as indentured labourers. November 2, 1834 marks the day when the ship ‘Atlas’ docked in Mauritius carrying the first batch of Indian indentured labourers. This day is now observed in Mauritius as ‘Aapravasi Day’. In all, about half a million Indian indentured labourers are estimated to have been brought into Mauritius between 1834 and the early decades of the 20th century, out of whom about two-thirds settled permanently in Mauritius. At present, around 68% of the Mauritian population is of Indian descent. A brief stopover by Mahatma Gandhi en route to India from South Africa (October 29 to November 15, 1901), while awaiting departure of his ship SS Nowshera, is still etched in the consciousness of Mauritius. Barrister Manillal Doctor, who came to Mauritius in 1907 on the suggestion of Gandhiji, helped the Mauritian Indian community to organise themselves and laid the foundation for their struggle for political and social rights. As a tribute to Gandhiji and the Indian freedom struggle, the National Day of Mauritius is celebrated on March 12 (the date of launch of Dandi Salt March). In Mauritius there are many active organisations who have their roots in India and are promoting the Indian culture. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC) at Phoenix is one of the largest centres of ICCR, which from March 2000, has emerged as an important venue for promotion of Indian cultural activities in Mauritius. IMFF2019-2020 10 The IGCIC holds classes in disciplines of Hindustani music, Kathak, Tabla and Yoga for Mauritian students. A Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) (2010-2013) was signed in July 2010.The Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) was established in 1970 as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Mauritius for the promotion of Indian culture and education. The Rabindranath Tagore Institute was established with the assistance of the Government of India in 2000 as a Centre of Studies on Indian culture and traditions.