ISSUES]Independence Day: It's the same old song… > pp. 34-35

Insert N° 3• Friday 11 March 2011

INTERVIEW] Editorial ] by Touria PRAYAG “Women should share a International common understanding of what Women’s Day centenary exactly we are fi ghting for” ne hundred years of struggle and the United Nations verdict is still alarming: nowhere in the world can women claim to have the same rights and opportunities as their male counter- > pp. 36 - 37 O parts. Worse: the majority of those living in abject poverty (1.3 billion) are women. They are the segment of the population most likely to be abused, exploited and their rights as human beings disregarded. In our little paradise, we celebrated this day with great pomp. The National Day ] PM surprised everyone by announcing the introduction of quotas for women. Ambitious women took turns with the microphone. Some talked proudly about the great strides women have made towards equa- lity. Others talked about the dismal number of women in Parliament. Some verbs like “empower” have been so used and abused that they have become hollow. Yes, Sheila Bappoo’s efforts to empower housewives by turning them Ideological into “entrepreneurs” are praise-worthy. We would not like to undermine that. However, in many cases, these women, with little training, little edu- cation and often shackled with children end up being mere ‘achard’ ma- kers, shoving wedges of vegetables into pickling jars between feeding their evolution in Mauritius children, changing their babies and cooking the family meal. Some of their ‘enterprises’ bite the dust within two years. The harsh reality is that the measures taken to help women have been more of a cosmetic nature. The harsher reality is that the movements which are supposed to stand up for them have tied their claims so much to the Legislative Assembly that they have become completely cut off from the daily realities of the ordinary woman. The manifesto the Muvman Liberasyon Fam (MLF) unveiled this week will hopefully reignite, inspire and channel women’s struggle for em- ancipation. They have shifted the debate away from the man/woman 50/50 paradigm and focused on the problems both men and women face. Their demands are that household chores, for example, should not be shared but rather socialized, by providing an adequate framework which allows both men and women to get out of the house and participate fully in the overall development of the country. The one simple measure which would help women on the bottom rung of the ladder as well as those professionally trained mothers who fi nd them- selves forced to reduce their participation in the workforce and downscale their hopes for achievement is making suffi cient resources for good quality child care available, regulated and subsidized and having working mothers supported by adequate pre-school and after-school programmes. Legisla- tion should push for having work-based child care centres. Also, we will not make any progress in the fi ght to reduce violence against women so long as battered wives are not taken care of by the state and provided with accommodation and adequate support. We all know all this but the debate has been driven by the obsessions of the few rather than the needs of the many. So we can’t claim that we celebrated women’s emancipation this week. It hasn’t happened yet. The debate is only just beginning: the oppressor is not the male but the pa- triarchal society we live in. The enemy is not the man we wake up next to but the challenges we face as individuals, as couples, as families and as a society. Progress is made through programmes not through gender. So, between Nando Bodha and Maya Hanoomanjee, I’d still vote for > pp. 38 - 39 Nando Bodha. Sorry! l’express [ Friday 11 March 2011 • Insert N°3 QUICKREAD] p. 32 Events ] International Women’s Day ] Exhibition on Local Musical Heritage Catch the last day of an exhibition on the Stories from musical heritage of Mauritius, Rodrigues and other islands, organised by the Conservatoire de Each year, Inter- Musique Francois Mitterand, in Quatre Bornes in line with the National Day celebrations. The exhibi- national Women’s tion will include instruments that came from Europe, Day brings high- and traditional instruments like the “Bobre” and the fl own themes, abs- “Cayambe.” The section on traditional instruments was put together in collaboration with the MASA. tract lectures and Visitors will also have the chance to listen to Creole lengthy debates tunes from the 19th century, which were composed about what women for four-hand piano. The exhibition will be open from 9.30am to 6pm. really want. But There will be demonstrations with the instruments displayed at 2pm and 5pm. Contact the Conservatoire on 4241012 for more information. what about those women who live in Discover the North-West rural areas, and Pat Loisirs is organizing an outing on Saturday 12th March in the nor- have little interest thwest of the island. The trail will cover 12 kilometres and will be narrow, in scholarly theo- thorny and quite steep, so participants must be in good physical condi- ry? As they cou- Vanessa Packery, aged 29, lives in New Grove and owns tion. Children aged 12 and under cannot join in. The outing will start off a roadside snack-stall. in Vallée des Pretres, moving on to Cheetrakoot rageously struggle forest, Montagne Longue range, La to make a better “I run this business with my husband. My mother in law and I Fenetre, Cantin’s Peak, Virgin Peak, life for themselves make cakes, dalpuri and ‘roti’, as I love baking and cooking. I have Village de Creve Cœur, New Trunk and their families, two children, and all my efforts are for their benefi t. I believe women Road Verdun-Terre Rouge and Ripailles. have great value, but they must not be afraid to get out there and do Please ensure that you bring lots of water some of these wo- something for themselves. That’s my message to them. I love learning and leather gloves. You are requested to bring men from the east and I have taken many courses at the social centres, where I have also your fl ag and wear a t-shirt with one of the colours and south of the made many friends. I learned baking, curtain making, and crafts, as I of the Mauritian fl ag. Transport will be available have my husband’s support. In my opinion, housework is not just the from the following pick up points: Curepipe Town Hall island shared their woman’s job. Men can do it too! My husband certainly does, and that’s at 7.15am, CWA in St Paul at 7.25am, Plaza in Rose views with us a great help. My dream is for us to expand our business.” Hill at 7.45am, Grand Riviere North West at 8am, old without any post offi ce in Port Louis at 8.15am and Passerelle de Terre Rouge at 8.30am. The outing costs Rs 250 for pretensions… adults and Rs 150 for children aged 13 and above. Call 764 7192 to sign up. Francophone Week The Institut Francais de Maurice (IFM) will be organizing events to mark the Semaine de la Francophonie (Francophone Week) from 13th to 20th March. Quizzes on French culture will be held throughout the week. The quizzes are open to people of all ages. On Wednesday 16th March, a fi lm called Bamako will be shown at the institute in Rose Hill at 8pm. And on Friday 19th March, a concert entitled Do Pagaal will be held at Eliette Louis, 43 years old, lives at Médine Camp de 8pm. This unique performance of music Masque and washes dishes in a restaurant. and poetry combine the talents of Nikola Ragoonauth, a poet from Mauritius and Automat, Parisian DJ. Tickets “I don’t know about this day. Anyway, it is a day like any other for this show are available at Rs 200, Rs 100 and Rs 50. Call the IFM I have to go to work and look after the house and the kids. Apart on 467 42 22 for information and reservations. Text: from work and family, going to church and being in good health Melissaa LOUIS, are the most important concerns in my life. I believe I’m not the The Fabulous Story Majhegy MURDEN only one who feels like this.” of Bollywood Neela Veerasamy, a 46 year- old, divorcee, Discover the magic of Bollywood through this specta- cular show, organised by Hemisphere Events, and held lives at Bel-Etang Camp de Masque and on Wednesday 27th April at 8pm, at Swami Vivekanan- works as a hawker. da Centre in Pailles. The show, named the“Merchant “Every day is a working day, except when I’m ill. I don’t be- of Bollywood”, tells the story of the Merchant fa- lieve there’s really a special day for women. I have to be indepen- mily, the most famous family of choreographers dent and look after my children and there’s no other way to live. in Bollywood. It includes about 30 dancers, I’ve been working since the age of seventeen, in textile factories, as singers and actors, magnifi cent costumes, housemaid and now I sell ‘roti’. Every day, I wake up at 3 o’clock breathtaking sets and much more. Tickets to prepare everything so as to be at my stall from 8 am till 5 pm. are available through Rezo Otayo at Rs 1500, I have to cater for the needs of my children. I dream of enlarging Rs 1200, Rs 900 and Rs 600. Call 466 9999 for my business. My only other activity is praying for courage for information and reservations. my daily activities.”

ILLUSTRATIONS : Stephane BENOIT p. 33 QUICKREAD] Insert N° 3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express real life

Samul Chintadevi, aged 33, lives in Bois Cheri and works in a tea plantation. “I have two small children, and I have to struggle to make ends meet by picking tea, which is bought by a tea factory in the south. I juggle between work and looking after my home and children, with little family support. My dream is to get out of poverty. I did not go to school for long, and I would like my children to study and have good jobs. I don’t want them to face poverty. I heard about International Women’s Day through the media. Tarawantee Rambojun, The day brings some recognition to women like me. Otherwise, how would 64 years old, lives at I have expressed my views today?” Centre de Flacq and is retired. “I’m not aware that there is a day devoted to women. I had a Tanuja Fokeerah, aged 39, lives in New Grove diffi cult childhood and suffered and is a housewife. at my parents’ and husband’s place. You see, I have worked “I work a couple of days per week selling vegetables at my brother’s since a child, rearing cattle and stall. I have two young daughters, but the problem is there is no one to other livestock. I have laboured help me with day care. I look after them myself, except for the occasional in the fi elds and raised seven times that an acquaintance helps out. I wish that I could fi nd a job of my children. Today, I’m a widow own. It’s diffi cult to rely only on my husband, but who will look after my and grandmother of fi fteen children? I worry about the rising cost of living, and about making sure grand children and I spend my that my children are well educated. There are many more opportunities time going to prayers. I insist on for women today, and they even work with computers. I’d like to see my doing all my things by myself. I daughters do that too. I know about Women’s Day. But what difference Nasreen Bolaky, aged 42, lives in Grand Bois don’t like to depend on others. I does it make? It doesn’t change anything for us.” and is a fruit seller. dream of travelling abroad but I “No one in my family ever went to university, and it’s my dream to don’t have the fi nancial means to see my daughter, who is in secondary school already, get that far. I’d like accomplish it. I have never cele- my son, in primary school now, to get into a good college. I’m learning brated the International Day for to drive, and I imagine myself one day in a small car of my own. But life Women.” is diffi cult, especially with the soaring food prices. If both my husband and I didn’t work, we’d never be able to put food on the table and pay the bills. I am in a women’s association and I feel concerned by Women’s Day. I think women are more aware of its importance now, thanks to the media. Even my children wished me happy Women’s Day.”

Linda Appou, 47 years old , lives at Camp de Masque and works as housemaid. “It’s a special day. But there is Sila Ramdhun, aged 50, lives in Gros Billot and so much to do that I hardly have works in the fi elds. time to celebrate. Everyday, it’s the Indira Mangroo, 58 years old, same routine of looking after the “Right now, I am working at this construction site, derocking the kids and cooking the meals. I ask land with other women on contract. It’s hard work, but I do not regret lives at Post de Flacq and sells vegetables. God to give me courage to conti- any of it, since it has helped me raise and educate my children, who are “My husband has been ill for six months and I have had to handle nue fi ghting my daily struggle. now in their 20s. It’s a dream come true for me. I’m happy my daugh- the business alone. My daughter passed away some years ago and I With the occasional rain, the lack ters are educated. I come from a family of nine children, and couldn’t have to take care of my two grandchildren, sending them to school and of proper drains in the village in- go to school beyond Standard 6. Where would you fi nd the money in seeing to it that they don’t lack anything. Even if it’s raining, I have to creases my work load. I would like those days? For me, International Women’s Day shows that women sell my vegetables. Otherwise, they will rot Every day, I have to be at to become literate and see my chil- have more value now. They can be lawyers, magistrates, doctors, things my stall from 7 am to 5pm. I don’t know about the International Day dren live independently.” women couldn’t do before.” for women and I won’t be celebrating it since I have to work.” l’express [ Friday 11 March 2011 • Insert N° 3 ISSUES]p. 34 Left Field] Independence Day By Nicholas RAINER It's the same Beasts of burden Written by Jean Georges Prosper and composed by Philippe Gentil, Motherland is synonymous with Independence Day ast Saturday, after the Confédération des Tra- celebrations. There’s more to singing the national anthem vailleurs du Secteur Privé’s (CTSP) march in than simply knowing the lyrics though. Rose-Hill against all these price hikes we’re Lbeing bludgeoned with, we decided to have something to eat. As you do. After a millisecond’s TOMORROW, Mauritians are still heavily patriarchal yet we hesitation, we headed towards Jeyome’s bicycle. For of all ages, races, creeds, social personify our nation as a woman. those unfamiliar with this one-man institution, know backgrounds and waist sizes will There’s a hint in there somewhere. this: he’s occupied the same spot for the past 38 years, sing Motherland at the tops of Perhaps it’s telling us that we he wears a sort of medical blouse with his name and their voices. Indeed, Indepen- should learn to respect women, if contact details written on the back and he makes a dence Day is the one day of the we’re to have any hope of treating mean dholl puri. We duly paid Rs40 for four dholl puris year where almost everyone puts our country properly. The same (when he started out they were 30 cents a pop) and as- aside the niggling differences that thing applies globally, to Mother ked him about business; you know the usual. Not good, all too often characterize our daily Nature. he said. The cops want to kick him off his corner. Fancy interactions in order to imbibe the that, the authorities decide, for once, to act decisively nectar of nationhood. Until, that and who gets shafted? Oh yes, the working man. is, they’ve imbibed other, more O Motherland What a startling revelation. Who’d have thought that physically intoxicating nectars. politicians could be so mean? It’s almost like they don’t And one of the central compo- of mine care about the little people. Having come straight from nents of this yearly experience is an event denouncing the cost of living, the irony of the belting out our national anthem, Ah, normal business is resu- situation was even keener. Here you have a guy who that mellifl uous, almost simplistic, med here it seems. By referring makes an honest living by selling a snack that everyone hymn to the country and its ideals. to the nation as our possession, loves and that’s affordable to boot, and what do our lea- On the eve of the Nation’s 43rd we’re betraying our natural ins- ding lights want to do? Get rid of him, of course. What birthday, it seems apposite to revi- tincts. Mauritius does not belong a masterstroke! That way, every Mauritian high street sit the lyrics of Motherland, what to us; it’s not a pair of old football will look identical. They’ll all have the same banks, junk they mean and whether we’ve li- boots! This misconception goes food franchises, supermarkets and clothing stores. It’s ved up to the hype. a long way to explain why some happened elsewhere, now it’s happening here. Ah, the people, the fat of the land, behave uniform blandness of globalization! Make way for the like the country literally is their rich and the connected; they need it most you know. private property. Independence It’s in moments like these that I thank Gaia that Glory to thee, Day is as good a day as any to pe- the Labour Party is the majority partner in this coa- rhaps remind them that we belong lition government. Because if this is the sort of policy Motherland to Mauritius, not vice-versa. Clear espoused by a left of centre party, I quake to think at that one up and there truly will be the treatment a right of centre party would dish out to Although it might seem reason to rejoice. our huddled masses. Harvesting their kidneys for cash straightforward enough at fi rst perhaps? On a (more) serious note, now that the public glance, the opening salvo of our debt is edging past acceptable levels, government really national anthem contains two Sweet is thy is going to have to explore new avenues of raising funds concepts worth dwelling on. if it’s to dampen the impact of further price increases Firstly, there’s the notion of giving beauty on the population. Luckily, there are billions of rupees praise and thanks to Mauritius, a waiting docilely to be made. All government has to do is country that, despite its young age, Despite our annoying (yet impose a tax of a few cents on every fi nancial transac- little imperfections and lack of vast commercially advantageous) ten- tion made in the offshore sector. oil reserves, continues to provide dency of misquoting Mark Twain, This might sound outrageously audacious, but please us with a mostly benevolent living there is no doubt in anyone’s mind bear with me. Mauritians are getting accustomed to environment and forms the cor- that Mauritius is a very special hearing their country named associated with words like nerstone of our identity. With all place indeed. By that token, the “tax haven” and “money laundering”, as well as in a due respect to our forebears who person cited by the great writer in couple of scandals that have rocked India recently. Yet travelled from afar and sometimes Travelling the Equator had a very apart from a certain amount of notoriety, what exactly under duress to this far-fl ung valid point and God could indeed are we gaining from this sector? Sure, it employs a few speck of volcanic rock, we are the do far worse than to decorate his thousand people, pays taxes like everyone else and al- children of Mauritius, fi rst and fo- dwelling place with our craggy lows us to brag that Mauritius is the “number one fi nan- remost. It is what it is because we peaks, verdant forests, winding ri- cial center through which funds are invested in India”, are who we are. vers, powdery white beaches and but the rest is pretty opaque. Imposing our own version This might sound a bit cant, translucent lagoons. of the Tobin Tax on fi nancial transactions would thus but it’s the truth and one that Yet anyone reading this will allow the country make some money from the gazillions might be worth bearing in mind doubtless agree that the country of rupees that transit through our borders. when vocalizing these fi rst three is in far worse shape than it was a There’s no reason for the government not to like it words. The second notion is that few years, not to say decades, ago. either. There’s no actual work involved; all it’d have to we refer to our country as a Mo- If we continue using and abu- do is pass a law, which is something it does quite well. therland. Notwithstanding the sing our island like it’s some sort It’d need a bit of courage though, because the sector fact that countries referred to as construction site, by the time our wields an inordinate amount of clout in certain circles. Fatherland often have destructive grandchildren and great grand- Far better then to keep on bullying beasts of burden militaristic tendencies, this says a children get to give their own like Jeyome. lot about our society. Mauritians tone-deaf rendition of Mother- p. 35 [ISSUES Insert N° 3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express old song… FABIEN DUBESSAY

They know the words but what about the meaning?

land, this particular phrase might red around anything as a country? and villages from which our an- seem rather anathema. We should Around thee If my memory serves, it was Bruno cestors came and which we conti- Beloved country, perhaps pay heed to another Julie’s bronze medal run during the nue to glorify out of some totally beautiful song called Motherland, we gather last Olympics. Not to take anything misplaced form of nostalgia? That may God bless this time from Nathalie Merchant: This rallying cry for unity away from the momentousness of we’re neither as brilliant nor as thee “Where in hell can you go/ Far should be of particular interest to the event, it refl ects pretty poorly on mediocre as we think we are? Or, from the things that you know/ our politicians. Since 1968 (and us that we had to wait for a boxing could it be that we’re just being Far from the sprawl of concrete/ before that even), they have done match in China to express a bit of petty and insecure? That’s a tad facile; putting the That keeps crawling its way/About far more to divide the country than national pride. Funny that, isn’t it? onus on God to bless Mauritius. a thousand miles a day?” to unite it. That perhaps explains Perhaps if we start acting like we why more than 40 years after In- As one nation care then we won’t have to rely dependence we’re still struggling to As one people so heavily on the assistance of Sweet is thy come to terms with what it means This one’s rather self-evident, the Great Sky Fairy. On the other to be Mauritian; for such a young This is perhaps the most but don’t forget to register your hand, at least it gives us someone fragrance country we sure have a lot of bag- meaningful lyric of them all and, ethnic belonging on your way to blame when things go awry; gage. How else do you fathom that paradoxically, the one we’ve lost out. You never know when it may a bit like the referee in a football Motherland could well be the we’ve not even been able to keep sight of the most. If written today, come in useful. game. only national anthem in the world our own national football league the national anthem might have which refers to the actual smell for fear that it could be a source of to mention “this socio-cultural of a country. What fragrance is sectarian violence? organization” and “that secta- In peace, justice For ever that we’re talking about exactly? Thankfully, the population has rian group” just to keep everyone The smell of the salty sea air? been far more earnest in its attempts happy. Seriously though, what and liberty and ever Frangipani fl owers? Freedom? at nurturing our commonalities ra- scares us so that we’re unable to Then again, that’s what’s nice ther than our differences. We’ve embrace our “Mauritianness”? Is There you have it: in fi ve Or until the next time we feel about lyrics: they convey different still got a long way to go however if it the thought that we’re not ac- words, Motherland says more the stirrings of national pride. connotations and, ahem, aromas, we’re to overcome politically-mo- tually all that different? That we’re about our ideals than the Consti- London 2012 then? to different people. tivated attempts to keep us apart. more at home here than we would tution does in thousands. When was the last time we gathe- be if we moved back to the towns Nicholas RAINER l’express [ Friday 11 March 2011 • Insert N° 3 [INTERVIEW] p. 36

Rajni Lallah, who has been an active member of the Muvman Libe- rasyon Fam (MLF) since its beginnings in 1977, situates the wo- men’s movement in the context of 21st century Mauritius. She sees the local political parties as betrayers of women’s rights and some wo- men’s movements as “deformers” of their legitimate demands through their adhesion to capitalist and pa- triarchal institutions. Interview With Rajni Lallah, Member of Muvman Liberasyon Fam (MLF) and LALIT “Women should share a common understanding of what exactly we are fi ghting for” ■ We start with last Tuesday’s political movements representing what we thought it was. Capitalist party. Today, all the parties have witnessed the domination Women’s Day celebrations. You the working class and women’s as- ■ What did you think it was and in parliament are Capitalist parties. of fi nance-capital and are now in presented a programme. What sociations were created during the what did it turn out to be? ■ Which is the only road to a period of economic crisis that is new about it? time when the political struggle was People, particularly after the power. takes many forms: structural crisis We are in a new political, eco- about the right to vote, about inde- August 1979 strike, thought the To what they saw as “power”, which has brought job destruction nomic, and social context. Our ap- pendence, about workers’ struggles. MMM was a political leadership yes. But the question of power is ve- for thousands of women in the su- proach over 14 months, together So local women’s associations (and that would bring more class equa- ry different for the women’s move- gar industry and textile factories, with women of different currents there are still hundreds of them lity, more women’s equality, and ment and the workers’ movement. food crisis with a dramatic increase of the women’s movement, was to all over the country) started off women’s liberation. It isn’t a question of sitting in the in the price of food, energy crisis, think in terms of if we had to in- partly as a political initiative to ■ One is dependent on the National Assembly and servicing ecological crisis, fi nancial crisis. vent a women’s programme that teach women to read and write so other. the Capitalist system. It is a question Women and workers are bearing addresses women’s needs today, they could vote. This link between Yes, one is dependent of the of how to transform how we orga- the brunt of all these crises. So we what would be in it. We did have women’s struggles and political other. And people thought that the nize life itself, socially, economically needed a Manifesto that responds our manifesto of 1977, but in a way, struggles reinforced the women’s MMM would bring “Socialism”. and politically so that it responds to to this present situation. in the beginning of this process, we movement. So this is to say that in ■ But Socialism didn’t work the needs of women, of workers, of ■ What are the demands ex- decided very consciously to forget the 80s, women’s movements had anywhere in the world. the oppressed; how you change the pressed in this manifesto? the past and start anew so to speak, very strong demands and some of (Hesitates) Well… you know structures so that they become really First of all, we want democratic and only later, to re-visit our old these were won because it was the here, there’s never really been a tra- democratic permanently. That was control over the economy. Manifesto to be sure that our new period where there was a link with dition of Communist or Stalinist the agenda and that is what people ■ How do you do that in manifesto addresses the challenges the workers’ movement, which was parties in Mauritius. So if you are generally assumed the MMM was concrete terms? of the women’s liberation struggle particularly vibrant. talking of the bureaucratic regimes, about, and this is why the MMM’s In concrete terms, it means we of today. ■ What happened in the 80s in Stalinist regimes, this has nothing betrayal was partly responsible for want to know who owns what and ■ When you say, “forget about women’s struggle? to do with what people here saw the demobilization of the 80s. why? Who owns the land and why? the past and start anew”. Why Well, there are a number of as Socialism. What people here ■ Wasn’t the demobilization Who owns the means of our survi- today? things. Firstly, there was a political thought Socialism consisted in was due rather to the big changes val and why? Because we are in the middle of betrayal. down-to-earth, reasonable and ne- in the economy? ■ Don’t we know that? a new period, very different from ■ Who betrayed whom? cessary politics that the workers’ I agree that there were very big Well, we know a bit about pu- the 70s when the MLF was crea- ( Laughs) Who betrayed whom? movement and the women’s mo- changes. The whole wave of Stali- blic land and how it is used. We ted. We were born in the middle of That’s a good question. There was vement thought could have been nist regimes fell and was replaced know vaguely about private land students’ and workers’ strikes. There political betrayal fi rstly by the La- achieved, if there had been a poli- by a very greedy, mafi a-type kind – it is after all “private”. We mostly was full-scale mobilization then. But bour Party that was the political lea- tical leadership with enough will in of Capitalism. There was the That- see cane growing on it, even when in the 80s, there was demobilization dership of the workers movement. that direction.. But the political lea- cher-Reagan offensive worldwide the price of food is very high, but in the women’s movement. Then after that, in the 1980s, there dership did not want to go in that that attacked the Welfare State we are not encouraged by the status ■ Why was that? was political betrayal by the political direction. which gave some economic secu- quo to fi nd out why. For several reasons. One is that leadership of the MMM that re- ■ It chose pragmatism. rity, albeit limited, to women in ■ But is it women’s business to there’s always been a strong link presented workers’ interests in the It chose another road and fi nal- terms of pension, social housing, go and fi nd out who owns what? between women’s movements and 1970s. The MMM was no longer ly, like the Labour Party, became a free health and education. We Yes, it is women’s business. p. 37 [INTERVIEW Insert N°3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express

Resources like land and water are we, in the women’s movement, But it is not possible within a loose end up being tamed. It is a ma- our means of survival. We need to never demanded. Instead of wom- network to agree on a detailed nifesto that poses the question of be able to collectively control such en and men being free to go out of manifesto. So they can only work democratic control over the eco- resources and the means of pro- the home, we end up asking that on the basis of points on which nomy and contains demands for duction. both men and women be tied to the there is broad agreement. Some an economy that we have control ■ But that is Communism, home to do household chores. That WIN members have in fact, not over: we need an economy where isn’t it? was never our demand. as WIN, but as individuals, partici- land is used to grow food, an eco- You can call it what you like. ■ So you don’t agree with the pated in the meetings out of which nomy that provides employment People here called it Socialism until feminist movements which ask our new manifesto has been pro- on a large scale, and where labour all traditional Capitalist parties star- that men help their wives? duced. laws and industrial relations laws ted calling themselves “Socialist”. This is not really a demand that ■ Some say they are also self- that repress and oppress workers ■ Why is this the business of goes towards women’s emancipa- serving. such as the Employment Rights women? Isn’t it the business tion and liberation. All it does is Well they do become a structure Act and the Employment Re- of citizens all over the country? to make women individually bat- that individual women who want lations Act are revoked. We are Yes, it is the business of citizens, tle men in the household to “stay to climb up patriarchal hierarchies against patriarchy and patriar- of people all over the country, ir- home” more, instead of demand- lean on. I don’t think networks such chal hierarchies. We want social respective of gender, but we must ing that the State provide childcare, as WIN are representative of the housing for all women with no remember that traditionally, women old-people’s care, laundry, canteen whole of the women’s movement. housing and we want a total re- are in charge of food in the home. services that will help decrease Neither do they claim to be. What hauling of matrimonial laws. We ■ Of cooking it, not bringing it housework. we think the real problem is, is that want abortion decriminalised and to the home. ■ Any other demands which patriarchal institutions, Capitalist accessible contraception. We say Since it is our responsibility to you think have been ‘defor- institutions, State institutions want no to State Repression. We say no cook it, so it’s women’s business med’? to pervert our demands into so- to military occupation and mili- where this food is going to come Yes, a very important one is mething they can tame and contain. tary bases. from. As an extension of that re- about how demand, generally for ■ How would they “tame and ■ You seem to be thrilled about sponsibility, we also have to take women’s emancipation, has been contain”? the mobilisation of women that responsibility for fi nding the means equated with promoting women (Laughing) By channeling you began last Sunday ...but the last to ensure the survival of our families. into “positions of power”: more into a strategy of promoting wo- time there was a real mobilisa- And it is just basic common sense women heading companies, more men into “positions of power”, tion of women was with the front to get rid of a system that obviously women in the top rungs of the civil giving you the illusion that one against the abortion laws but it does not work and to replace it with service, the judiciary, the National day, it will be possible to have a didn’t lead anywhere, did it? a system that does. Assembly. We believe that there is system where women will have Well, it did. We made progress ■ But these demands are miles a conscious offensive on the part 50% control over the patriarchal in the sense that there is now agree- away from those of other wo- of Capitalist and patriarchal insti- hierarchies that control society. ment on all sides that the present men’s movements. tutions and ideologues to try and You’ll have two or three more law is no good. The Prime minister, Well, such demands have al- tame the women’s movement into MPs or even 30% seats in par- leader of the Opposition, minister ways been on the agenda of the integrating patriarchal and Capital- liament, you’ll have a woman for Women’s Rights, minister of Jus- women’s movement. However, we ist structures. commissioner of police, and you tice, women members of parliament have noticed, in the last 20 years or ■ So ‘one woman in three’ might even get a woman Prime all agreed on the need to change the so, that the central demands of the is not something you would minister. But will that rid us of law or to suspend it. Charges against women’s movement, for some rea- fi ght for? patriarchy? Even if this were pos- Shabeela Kalla, who was being sued son, have been deformed, disfi gured No, because it has no real sig- sible, patriarchy would be there for having had an abortion, were until they have become absolutely nifi cance in terms of women’s lib- oppressing all women, and most dropped. unrecognisable. eration. Taken on its own, it will not men too. The only difference ■ Yes, but the law has not ■ When you say “some rea- really help. It will only help if it is would be that there would be changed. son”, you really don’t know linked to a programme for women’s more women oppressing us all. The law hasn’t changed yet, the reason or don’t you want to emancipation because the kind of In the MLF, we are mem- that is true…we must make sure mention it. “power structures” which exist are bership-based association of wo- that it does. (Laughs) I have mentioned patriarchal hierarchies. So, if you men with common aims, with links ■ Neither has the mentality… some of the reasons why the status have a demand that makes women to other women’s associations. We (Hesitates) I think that, in that quo would want to pervert our de- go up the rungs of patriarchal hier- have debates and meetings with area, to be precise, there has been mands as these demands challenge archies, you end up being a patri- other women’s associations to reach a change in the balance of forces. their very existence. What I mean is arch, even if you are a woman. a common understanding of what Even those who opposed the legali- that it’s something quite strange for ■ As in the case of Margaret it is we are fi ghting for, and that is sation of abortion recognise the suf- us women who are in the women’s Thatcher… what forms the basis for our mobi- fering of women. movement because we understand Ye s , Margaret Thatcher and lization. ■ Where will the MLF go from our demands and we don’t un- quite a few women who have sup- ■ So what was the response to here? derstand how other people don’t posedly “made it” in patriarchal your manifesto? On Sunday 6th March, the understand them. For us, these de- societies. The response to this new MLF, on the occasion of Interna- mands make absolute sense. I’ll just ■ The perception of many manifesto was quite remarkable. tional Women’s Day held a mee- give you an example: for many years people now is that some wo- There is a rare interest in the wo- ting of our members, delegates now, we’ve been asking that house- men’s movements like Wo- men’s movement for thinking out of other women’s associations, work be socialised and become a men in Networking (WIN) and together a manifesto that can guide women in trade unions to debate responsibility of society. You’ve got Women in Politics (WIP) are “If you have a us forwards. And now, the time has the new manifesto and begin the to fi nd ways to make it lighter. This bourgeois movements, cut off demand that come for mobilisation on the basis process of mobilisation on the means State-subsidised canteens, from the grassroots, would you of this manifesto. The manifesto has basis of the manifesto. Local wo- crèches and all kinds of modern agree with that? makes women given us renewed vigour. The big men’s associations have already appliances that make housework WIN and WIP are both movements in Tunisia, Egypt, Alge- fi xed neighbourhood meetings to work diminish. networks. A network is very diffe- go up the rungs ria, Bahrain, and other countries in discuss this manifesto and the de- ■ But you are not saying that rent from an organization. Given of patriarchal the region show the power of mobi- mands that it contains. We believe housework should be shared its nature, that it is open to indi- lisation but also show us the impor- that the actions and campaigns 50/50 between men and wo- viduals and very different kinds hierarchies, you tance of a programme, a manifesto, that are born of this manifesto will men… of organizations, it is impossible and this is something we have now, be all the more powerful when we, We are saying that we want to have common agreement on a end up being a a tool we are developing. in the women’s movement, share housework to be diminished for manifesto, a programme that eve- patriarch, even ■ So, in concrete terms how a common understanding of what both men and women. This de- ryone agrees on. I think quite a does your manifesto aim to exactly we are fi ghting for. mand has been transformed into few women in WIN, for example, if you are a fi ght patriarchy? “men have to do an equal share of would want to see another kind of woman.” Our manifesto is based on ten Touria PRAYAG the housework”. This is something system that was not patriarchal. points that guide us so we don’t PHOTOS : CYNTHIA EDOUARD l’express [ Friday 11 March 2011 • Insert N° 3 COVERSTORY] p. 38 National Day Ideological evolution o one says it better March than the MMM’s 12 Vijay Makhan marks National Nwhen he tells us Day in Mauritius. he believes that “all the ‘isms’ As various political have become passé.” Three observations are apparent parties clamour to looking at the state of Mau- remind the people ritian politics today. Firstly, of their role in the politics has become a contest of pragmatism, not ideology. history of Mauri- The language of politics is no tius, not a few must longer the language of ideo- be wondering how logical agents but rather that it is we have come of administrators. Secondly, ideology is less relied upon in to evolve into a sys- terms of articulating slogans tem with no signi- and drawing up manifestoes. fi cant differences This may leave some with the impression that ideology no between those that longer has a role in our poli- aspire to rule it. tical system. The evolution of the two ma- jor political parties, Labour and the MMM, closely parallel one another. At its inception in 1936, Labour, according to historian and academic Jocelyn Chan Low, was was “an extra-parliamentary centre-left Socialist party. It never called for a revolution of the Bol- shevik type but asked for work- ers’ political and social rights -the right to vote, legalization of trade unions, old age pensions etc.” De- spite a number of radical demands such as the 1939 electoral mani- PHOTOS LIBRARY festo that called for the nationali- Differences of ideology between the two largest political parties in Mauritius have been narrowing with the passage of tim zation of the means of production, its ideology remained vacuous. model of investing in human cap- rents on the left. In 1982, the like Labour before it, that the Nita Deerpalsing, spokesperson ital.” With independence around MMM announced the policy IMF-World Bank prescriptions of the Labour Party volunteers to the corner, Chan Low maintains, formulation titled the ‘new so- were the only hope for saving the us that, “Cure was reacting against the Labour Party “tried to reach cial consensus’. As veteran Ra- Mauritian economy. injustice, in SSR this had evolved a modus operandi with the sugar ma Poonoosamy tells us, “the into an idea and developmental barons.” Labour has reconciled it- ‘nouveau consensus social’ was Whence the self to serving merely as a vehicle designed to attract people, espe- for those sections which felt their cially decision makers from the Differences? social mobility restricted by the private sector, in the MMM’s racist edifi ce of colonialism. Post- endeavour to promote a mixed The explanation of political independence did not entail any economy favouring ‘develop- parties beginning from vague signifi cant redistribution of the ment with a human face’. The ideological premises and em- colonial-era economy, save the political objective of the MMM barking on a strategy of the emergence of a new ruling elite was clearly to win the hearts and “migration to the centre of the dependent upon state power and minds of a majority of Mauritians spectrum in order to reach a largesse. The political alliance with for the next General Election.” wider electorate,” as Chan Low the reactionary, anti-independ- What this meant was that the puts it, is still not enough to ex- ence PMSD, and the adoption of MMM no longer functioned as plain why Fabian socialists and the International Monetary Fund an advocate of the subaltern libertarian Marxists end up (IMF) structural adjustment pro- classes alone but of all interests pushing largely the same poli- grammes were symptomatic of in the country. Like Labour, cies. International context also this watering down. it attempted to broaden its ap- has a role to play. The evolution of the MMM peal by watering down its pro- Talking of collective self-re- largely follows the same pattern. gramme and rhetoric. By the liance as the MMM did in the Inspired by Marxist currents and time it got into power in 1983, seventies, of selectively engaging the wave of radicalism sweep- the MMM was engaging in alli- with the world market, would ing Europe, the ideology of ances with those it had little ide- seem out of place today. Vijay the MMM remained a garbled ological resemblance with such Makhan adds that “Political to- Ever since independence, the founding ideology of Mauritius remai- hotchpotch of radical slogans as Harish Boodhoo’s PSM and pography is not the same as it ned opaque, serving as justifi cation for policies of all sorts. and competing ideological cur- Aneerood Jugnauth and touting, was in the seventies; people will p. 39 [COVERSTORY Insert N° 3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express

High-Heeled] in Mauritius By Deepa BHOOKHUN Frailty, thy name is man irst Navin Ramgoolam doesn’t like the death penalty. Then he does. First Navin Ramgoolam doesn’t like quo- Ftas for women. Then he does. First Navin Ramgoolam doesn’t like the Sun Trust. Then he does. First Navin Ramgoolam doesn’t like sociocul- tural organizations. Then he does. The seventies saw revolutionary ferment that appeared to open a Laugh all you want about the man’s fi ckleness new ideological vista, only to end in a damp squib. but I can relate. Do you know what I do when I go shopping? I go down one aisle and I look at a prod- jor parties; Patrick Asseervaden, sound profound, such as na- uct (usually something I don’t need) and I decide President of the Labour Party, tional unity, social and political that I want it. But then I will dilly-dally. Eventually asserts, “We have to adapt to the democracy and good governance, I’ll throw it in my basket. Five minutes later, I go realities of the moment. Today, we raised by all parties that aspire to back and replace it on its shelf deciding that I will have to adapt to globalization.” govern the country, but which do after all be able to survive without a jar of some- This scarcely differs from what not deal with questions of politi- thing that comes from too far, costs too much and MMM veteran Jayen Cuttaree cal economy. doesn’t even fi ll me up. tells us abouabout his party, The result is that any confl ict It does also sometimes happen that as I’m queu- “Structur“Structurally,ra the that does take place is described ing up at the till, I suddenly have a change of heart party hass remained not in ideological but in largely and run back to that particular aisle to go and re- the samsame.me It has, personalized terms. Take Nita trieve the overpriced product. nevnevertheless,ve Deerpalsing’s explanation of the Like I said, I can relate to Ramgoolam. Except evevolvedolo v with zigzags in Labour party doc- that I am entitled to be fi ckle about my purchases. thee times. trine: “Basically Labour has gone It’s my money, it’s my mind and whatever I but will WWe had to through an evolution with the affect no one but me. ssee how times. Some people who are not The same is not true for Navin Ramgoolam. As wwe could necessarily imbued with the ideol- long as he is Prime minister, that is. His decisions aadapt to ogy of the Labour Party come and will affect an entire population and that’s why he globaliza-glg infl uence the party in one way or cannot take them based on his whims and caprices. me. tion.”tioon another, reinforcing or deviating For sure, only fools and dead men- dead women too from its core principles. Sithanen for that matter- don’t change their minds but that no longerr PoliticalPolitti is one of those egregious exam- should be the exception and not the rule. turn out ples.” Or take Cuttaree’s explana- The problem with Ramgoolam though is that he in the DDiscourseiscco tion of the split in the MMM in can change his mind at leisure because whenever street forr TTodayodayy the eighties, “My own belief was he announces a measure or a decision, it can take demonstra-strra-a that Boodhoo came with the in- from two to ten years- if we’re lucky- for it to be tions.” Nita DeerpalsingDli InIthb the absence of f actual ideo- tention of creating a split in the implemented; this leaves him plenty of time to sway recounts a few ideological in- logical alternatives, what remains MMM, to weaken it. He was a back and forth. fl uences on the Labour Party’s is a largely visionless technocratic Trojan horse in the MMM.” But our patience is running a bit thin with all the earlier radical discourse, “My political discourse. If there is no These arguments may have merit decisions announced and their lack of implementa- guess would be that post-inde- difference of opinion in terms of but they largely overlook ideology tion. Remember the electoral reform? 20 years later, pendence, African independence economic doctrine, all that’s left or economic doctrine, preferring it’s still in what must be like the longest pipeline in and liberation movements, the to compete over is who can de- to scapegoat individuals rather history. The Freedom of Information Act? The Po- non-aligned bloc and the cold liver the goods. As Asseervaden, than re-evaluate dogma. lice Complaints Commission? The Equal Opportu- war infl uenced us.” The need to when asked about the difference In the ultimate analysis, it nities Act? Shall I go on? Do I dare? appease an increasingly restive between Labour and the MMM is not that Mauritian politics When a Prime minister makes a decision, he populace in a time of global rev- replied, “All development, with- has lost its ideology; far from needs to explain why he thinks that’s the best way olutionary ferment with radical out exception, the ports, roads, it. It does play an unacknowl- to go. When he changes his mind, likewise, he owes sloganeering and posturing was sugar protocol etc. has the im- edged part in Mauritian politics. us an explanation. This is the essence of democracy; not to last for long. print of the Labour party on it. Whilst politicians on both sides one doesn’t govern a country by whim. The offensive of Reaganite The MMM uses a lot of good like to present themselves as The PM wants to introduce quotas for women? neoliberalism beginning in the slogans but what have its achieve- un-ideological, the truth is that Great. The way to go about it is not to announce it eighties, the end of the cold war, ments been?” their ideologies are just becom- in a speech and then forget about it. He needs to and western capitalist trium- The performance of a party ing increasingly similar. That is explain why he thinks such a decision is the best one, phalism marked our own shores is not measured by its ideological why we seem lumbered with a he needs to consult the opposition, we need to de- as well. The universalization of views in practice but merely by system with many parties but no bate the matter; the population needs to understand neo-liberal economics in the con- generating growth and employ- alternatives. Something to think what we’re doing and why and an amendment to the text of globalization has affected ment. Economic fundamentals about as we celebrate our Na- constitution needs to be brought ASAP. all parties in the same way. Take, remain largely the same between tional Day. Enough of the empty slogans; we need doers for example, explanations of the successive mandates. What is left who not only talk the nice talk but walk that hard ideological evolution of both ma- for debate are issues that may Iqbal Ahmed KHAN walk too. l’express [ Friday 11 March 2011• Insert N° 3 THIS IS MAURITIUS p. 40 We all share child- hood memories Mauritian Comics of reading comics like Astérix, Lucky Luke and Tin- tin. But few of us A little known universe realize that there hat do Spider- are talented ar- man, Superman and Batman all tists here who have have in com- worked hard to W mon, aside from being super keep the Mauritian heroes? They all started out as comic alive. The comic strip characters, before their popularity led to cartoon sector may have and cinema adaptations. The been neglected for comic strip, whether most of us the past few years, realise it or not, is an art. In ma- ny countries, such as France, but 2011 promises it has achieved cult status. The to revive this art, “bande dessinée” as it is especially with the known, is a popular form upcoming release of literature which is celebrated an- in April of a new nually at the comic, “Ile était Festival une fois”, 100% d’An- gou- made in Mauritius. lême. The best-known comics are collectors’ items. On the lo- cal scene, comics are still struggling to carve a place of their own in the Mauritian cultural context. There are nevertheless talented artists like Thierry Permal, Laval Ng and Evan Sohun amongst others who have been working hard to keep the genre alive over the years. Then there are those who through their work in Mauritius have decided to lend a hand and

tell the Mauritian story through PHOTO LIBRARY speech bubbles. One such artist is ‘L’ile Maurice racontée a mes petits-enfants’ is a best-selling Mauritian comic. Pov, who is from Madagascar and is the caricaturist for l’express. they can’t take them seriously.” Pov. It is also simply meant to tell There are also comics for women, One of the main problems Thierry Permal is nevertheless a story and to be read for the sake written in a Bridget Jones style that faced by comics in Mauritius is optimistic. “Along with others I of entertainment. “Mauritius is at deal with women’s love and sex lives the absence of a reading culture. have worked hard to promote this a place where the question is how and certainly do not target children. If people do not read books, why form of literature over the last 10 to attract the public’s attention,” “To break the image of the ‘ti ko- would they turn to comics, which years,” he says. “We all do it as a explains Pov. “Comics are not just mik’, cartoonists in Mauritius need are not considered as a form of hobby, aside from our usual jobs. to be used as a pedagogical tool to go towards these kinds of comics, literature here? “People in Mauri- It will take time, as the public to prevent children from getting but prejudices prevent them from tius tend to look down on them,” needs to get used to it.” bored at school.” doing so,” says Pov. says Pov. “There is little text, a lot Aside from newspapers, the Another real challenge faced of illustration and people feel that spheres of education and infor- Closer to the people by comics in Mauritius is the cost. mation are the main areas where The average imported version is the comic strip The ideal comic would there- expensive and this discourages seems to have fore be one that is close to Mauri- people from buying them. “Pa- found takers. tians and their society, and would rents for example will not encou- Comics in Mau- touch upon the lives of different rage their children to read comics ritius often have types of people. People still associate because they are not willing to a pedagogical these books with children, and there spend Rs.400 on a book that will purpose, and are have been comics for children that be read in 20 minutes,” says Pov. widely accepted as have had a huge success like “L’île Thierry Permal and Pov agree an excellent means Maurice racontée à mes petits en- that the solution would be to pu- of communication. fants”, by Jean-Claude de l’Estrac blish them in a low cost format, One example is the and illustrated by Pov. There is convenient to Mauritians. “We recent one explai- nevertheless, a genre of comics for had at one time come up with ning the Constitution adults, from comedy, adventure and the idea of a fanzine, which is a of Mauritius that was eroticism to those with a strong and small format comic strip at a low illustrated by Pov. But serious message, like one by the Bel- cost,” says Thierry Permal. “We ‘La Balade au bout du monde’ is illustra- that is not the main mis- gian Jean Philippe Stassen, which would go out to book stores and ted by a brilliant local talent, Laval Ng. sion of the genre, argues deals with the genocide in Rwanda. shopping centers to autograph p. 41 THIS IS MAURITIUS Insert N° 3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express The genesis REALITY CHECK] of a comic strip Creating a comic book is not Iqbal Ahmed KHAN an easy task. The story is told in a long sequence of images, A little known universe and it can even take up to a year for a 48-page piece of work, depending on the detail and complexity in- volved. In many cases, the Justice publisher may ask for a synopsis of the plot, or and other Idols even a copy of the story written in novel format. here is little that is as dangerous as the Once the plot is ready, a selective application of justice. Applied storyboard will be de- in this manner, Rousseau states that it veloped which means T“merely makes for the good of the wicked the story is put down and the undoing of the just, when the just man ob- in a series of simple serves it towards everybody and nobody observes sketches to defi ne it towards him.” This elementary understanding of the layout of the comic Justice as protection of the weak from the strong, strip. IllustratorsIll indicate sta- the oppressor from the oppressed is largely absent ging ooff fi gures, backgrounds in our system; instead, what has taken its place is a and bballoonbal placement. This formalistic caricature. is thee partp where the cartoo- As Harish Boodhoo watches his cars smouldering, nist turnstuuru n into a director, crea- he is threatened with court cases for, of all things, ting thetthhe shots of his story and “instigating the Mauritian population to imitate the fi ndingndinngn the right pace for the people of the Middle East.” The gentleman making storstory,y,, asa the reader needs to this allegation probably did not think his sentence hahhave a sense of move- through, unwittingly implying that the target of ment. Drawings Boodhoo’s criticism sits in the fi ne company of Ben involve a lot of re- Ali, Al-Saleh, Kadhafi and Hosni Mubarak. Asinine search for the car- gaffes, however, are not the subject of this column. toonist. If you are We may well laugh at this outlandish episode, but is drawing a ship, you it really all that far from the way our justice system may need to research has been perverted? the various parts and Let’s take the joke a little further: we are well nautical terms for the aware that criticizing government often is enough to drawing to be accurate. warrant threats of lawsuits for ‘defamation’, ‘Sapping The next step will be unity’ and ‘destabilizing society’. We also know that completing the detailed Sithanen has announced that he plans to sue for his drawing. Next comes the previous mistreatment, not the political bigwigs that inking, where the relevant dumped him, but a police functionary. If only the en- sections of the drawing are lightenment thinkers and classical legal minds of the fi lled in with black ink. Then west could see our legal system used, not as a guaran- the colours are added, fol- tor of rights, but as a means of settling grudges, they lowed by the text. Both can would no doubt spin in their graves. Murders may either be done by hand or on be covered in excruciating detail, seemingly without a computer. end, but the ultimate stick to silence dissent is always the books and we discovered that the courtroom. there was interest and curiosity,” Half of all families in Mauritius may be in debt, he says. Using a newspaper as a the Bank of Mauritius informs us. Failure to pay will support system may also be an Highlights result in the poor borrower dragged before court, not effective solution for people to the snake oil salesmen that continue to encourage get used to comic strips. After all, The history of the Mauritian comic strip began in the people to get loans they perhaps cannot afford. Nor it this is where many well-known 50s with the adventures of a detective called Pierre Ki- seems, those sectoral interests that insist on keeping comics began their life cycle. roulle that was published by ROG, or Roger Merven in us dependent on imported food, nor on those that A new comic book, “Ile était a newspaper called “Action”. Although short-lived, the insist that we make life harder by devaluing our ru- une fois” will be released on mini-series marked the start of the local comic strip. The pee, necessitating more and more people to drown in 20th April. The project was led fi rst colour comic strip was created by painter Ismet debt. Nor, ultimately, those that mask this mediocre by a group of cartoonists called Ganti, and published in 1970 in a magazine. The earliest state of affairs, and debt-led paper growth under Croart, with nine artists inclu- comic in book form was “Republik Zanimo”, by Rafi k GDP statistics and declamations of prosperity. ding Pov and Thierry Permal. Gulbul - a political story in Creole, inspired by George The needs of the Shylock outweigh all other consi- The comic book will be a col- Orwell’s Animal Farm. As from 1999, the Alliance Fran- derations. Thankfully, no one can be sent to prison lection of eight fi ctional stories çaise began organizing a comic strip competition that anymore for civil debt, a small mercy perhaps out about Mauritius, taking place at gave rise to new young talents, and allowed the creation of recognition of how shameful such business must different periods in time. An ini- of the fanzines “Ticomix” and “Koli explozif”. Eric Koo appear to be. tiative that will give a new boost Sin Lin then came out with two short comics that poke Instead of the rational kernel of justice that should to the fi eld of local comic books. fun at Mauritian habits and behaviour but he moved to guide our deliberations, we make do with a fetishized “Many people do not fully appre- Australia in 2002 without completing a new series. Enter constitutionalism, people regurgitating Western po- ciate its value, but the comic strip “Ballade au bout du monde” illustrated by Laval Ng, one litical and juridical treatises; it’s not enough to have is a complete and powerful art of the “Ticomix” talents. In 2004, the Nelson Mandela letters scribbled in statute books. Until we remember form,” says Pov. “When people Cultural Centre published “Zistoir ze ek melia: lepok es- that justice is inherently meant to protect the weak understand this, things will take klavaz” which was about slavery in Mauritius. There has from the strong, the law will continue to be trans- a step forward.”” also been work by David Olivier, Titane Laurent, Dave formed into its very opposite: a way to buttress the Sukur and Christelle Barbe amongst others. fortunes and reputations of the powers that be. Melissa LOUIS l’express [ Friday 11 March 2011 • Insert N° 3 L'EXPRESS YOURSELF ] p. 42 Talking about a revolution? MET a leech some weeks back. rules for different categories But ‘leech’ is certainly not of people. At one point, most the politically correct term. people could no longer bear Met someone close to the with a situation where privile- power bearers not too long gium est quasi private lex. This from now. He was a man of is a situation which is akin to few words. Sadly, not few that of our Motherland at the enough to spare me from his moment. self-adoring moments. My Will there be a revolution comment on the fact that he in Mauritius? It has already had reached the heights of the started. Minds are in the pro- corporate world only because cess of evolving, not in terms His Benefactor had placed his of switching political allegiance caring hand on him had ruf- but rather in terms of thinking fl ed him. Funnily, he spoke of as one group of people, as One morality. As unnatural in his Nation. One voice that says mouth as a speech in Hindi ‘No’ to leeches, to incompe- from Navin would be. Immoral tents, to opaque fi nancing, to people tend to be highly sensi- the monopoly on wealth by a tive when they are confronted few, to nepotism and despotism with the truth. Such species and la pensée unique. And it usually have a pathological will materialise when we fos- need to veil themselves behind ter solidarity among ourselves. titles and decorations as well as had been diligently parachuted ned money through a golden situation where some people Then only will a new Mauri- a thinly veiled arrogance. into the organisation where he handshake, he still managed to are more equal than others. tius be built…people by people, The VIL (Very Important worked. New members were fi nd a place in one of the most Let me add that not all politi- street by street, neighbourhood Leech) had started as a front admitted occasionally in the important companies of Mau- cal nominees are incompetent. by neighbourhood…all united line employee in one of the leech society. Thus, one of ritius when his clique found its Unfortunately, the worthless around one same goal. country’s leading companies them had been hired because way to power in 2005. Now largely outnumber those that The march towards free- and escalated from there to the his wife had good ties with preying over a post of higher are honest and capable. Those dom has begun. top, blessed by the good graces a key person in the country. calibre (Read with a more ge- who are familiar with the of the Saviour of the people. Leeches are generally very sup- nerous package), the VIL is pa- French Revolution will recall In the meantime, he had bred portive of each other. tiently waiting to switch from that the population had had Chetan RAMCHURN his own army of leeches. The Having racketed taxpayers one parastatal body to another. enough of an unfair system President of the latter were devoted to him and millions of their hard-ear- I simply cannot accept a whereby there were different MMM Youth Wing The Beginning of the End Prologue to an Uprising RATHER naïve, unfortuna- Navin Ramgoolam was wel- ruled and governed by alliances have heard. After elections, we reel king and committed individuals tely ‘un-detached’, at times pas- comed into the arena of politics, forged at the last minute, usually from the results which show how to take a step towards renewal and sionate and irreverently unkind it was thought that he would not at the eve of an election, over competent and hard-working ex- transformation. That is why I urge to some politicians, this commen- possess the political stamina of glasses of whiskey. MPs have missed being elected by youngsters to stop pointing fi ngers tary suffers from an immature and his father but he defi ed critics by a thread because they belonged to at an imaginary culprit and to start unabashed streak, but it shall be, I winning the 1995 elections by a A mix of admiration a certain community. When ban- seeing themselves as individuals hope, totally refreshing and helpful landslide. The next fi ve years in ners are being thrown in the bin, who have potential in making a for those who want to take a dip power however revealed his lack and disgust when all the fret of the election go of politics. For the younger ge- into the world of titans. On the face of experience and his bout in campaign has died down, when neration, who have watched their of it, Mauritian politics is still alive, the desert, which was a time of I have come to this painful only disdain as well as a sense of elders with a mix of admiration to say the least, and kicking to say trial and questioning, did him conclusion: We are a nation wal- being deceived perpetuates, and and disgust at times, now is the the most. some good. On the other hand, lowing in insipid passivity, who when the list of Ministers is being time to take things into their hands. Summarizing Mauritian po- Pravind Jugnauth has been some shies away from its responsibilities, drawn up, somehow, the Mauri- Boldness and strength in the face litics as consisting of two dynas- sort of mystery, unfathomable and who, like myself, takes pride tian population feels that elections of adversity have magic and power ties grappling for power is not at fi rst, and fi dgety at times. His in making speeches, rather than might be free and fair, but as long to transform things. That is the es- a fi ction. History has witnessed entrance into politics has been stretching a hand towards change. as communalism bogs down the sence of what we are witnessing in how the Father of the Nation, Sir effortless, notwithstanding his We have heard political rants and system, Mauritian politics will the Arab world today: dictators do Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, gave rather erratic record. Summa- promises, been gullible enough bear the scars of failure and look not stand a chance when libera- his heart and soul for the Mau- rizing the above, it would seem to believe in speeches heralding a like a sham. However, the battle ted souls seek freedom. Likewise, ritian cause, and his resolve led that we have indeed been at the new political regime and political has not been irrevocably lost, yet. the time is ripe for toppling down to the country gaining indepen- hands of two dynasties, each ta- reform, and even bowed down When I look at the hunger and our old system of politics to build dence. We need not be reminded king turns in the seat of power to semi-independent institutions determination in the young po- a shining model of democracy. of the ‘economic miracle’ and and command. If Mauritius has which are corrupted by the in- pulation’s eyes, I know that Mau- As one, we can stop the scourge Mauritius’s rather unscathed had such a political ‘geography’, fl uence and interference of politi- ritian politics will surely rise from of communalism; as one we can record amidst the shift from a then no one is to be blamed ex- cians. During election campaigns, its ashes and be a shining example spread tolerance; and as one, we mono crop to a diversifi ed eco- cept for the population itself. We we are not educated to vote but are for Africa one day. As well as being can build a nation. nomy, throughout the reign of are a passive audience, with a pressed on to ‘vote bloc’ which is free, fair, and accessible, elections Sir Aneerood Jugnauth. When short-term memory, happy to be one of the most mindless slogans I will be the chance for hard-wor- Krishnee APPADOO p. 43 [L'EXPRESS YOURSELF Insert N° 3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express 2012 A apple a day ] The End of the World? (Part 2) By Dr Zina Valaydon

Designer Pills

itamin supplements are everyone’s favourite. People like you and me love them because pop- ping that little pill makes us believe that we are Vbeing dynamically proactive at improving our health, our energy levels, our looks, our lives, whatever. Absolution for our poor diets, lack of exercise, alcohol excess, smoking- all in one little handy pill! Doctors like them because, when stuck with an unsolvable general malaise, a vitamin recommenda- tion is harmless and can be a potent pacifying placebo. And pharmaceutical companies LOVE them; Vitamin supplements are a 25 billion dollar business and the only industry to actually prosper in the recession. Beer com- panies tried to grab a slice of the lucrative pie, enriching beer with thiamine and even Coca Cola tried to jump on the band-wagon in 2007 trying to enrich Diet Coke Films such as "Avatar" or "2012" appeal to a deep-rooted fascination with apocalyptic naratives. with Vitamin B! Vitamins are organic compounds required by the IN a way, the 2012 hype is for humanity to accomplish its side it. We’re beasts with self- body in minute quantities (we’re talking micrograms only the very tip of an iceberg, rightful place in the universe. consciousness, predators with here). Although we think that broadly-speaking Vitamin in that interest in “the end” is Bill Arnold of Asbury Theo- ethics, mortal creatures who A is good for your vision, B for blood and nerve cells, C not a new phenomenon. For logical Seminary, writing in the yearn for immortality.” for the immune system (and to prevent scurvy if you’re Western civilization, the roots Oxford Handbook of Eschato- Perhaps another way to put a sailor!), D for bones and so on , in truth, nobody, not lie deep in Judeo-Christian as- logy, addresses this unhappiness it is that humanity stands above even the biochemists who package your Sandoz, knows pects of eschatology – the study from the perspective of the Old the rest of creation and recogni- how these things work in the body. of “the end” or “the last.” For Testament prophets: “Such a zes that it is to some degree res- Since we don’t know precisely how vitamins work, millennia, writers and sages conviction that the intrinsic de- ponsible for it, a role with which there is very little scientifi c evidence to support vita- have foretold the end of the pravity of the present world will even the earliest biblical record of min supplements. A food-derived vitamin is not equi- world, and the Bible contains someday be overturned results human life agrees. It reinforces valent to the sugar-coated one that comes in a bottle. We some of the oldest and best in an eschatological ethic, cal- a concept broached by David assume that a fi zzy Vitamin C drink every morning is known of these accounts. ling upon God’s people to live Novak, a rabbi and professor in the same as downing four oranges because that’s what faithfully to the covenant and philosophy at the University of it says on the box, but really, there is very little proof Judeo-Christian the righteousness enjoined by Toronto. Speaking of Jewish es- in that effervescent pudding. It is awfully passé I know the prophets.” chatology, he suggests: “It might but science and pharmaceuticals do not speak as loud culture well be concerned with the fi nal as nature; a proper diet including fruit and vegetables James Cameron’s realization of both human and remains the best way to meet your nutritional require- But such a study is not the divine hopes for each other.” ments. A supplement will never make up for a poor diet. exclusive preserve of the Judeo- Avatar Vitamins and minerals are also not curative in any Christian culture. The ancient way, shape or form. It doesn’t matter how much Vitamin Greeks also discussed the end But people in the 21st- What will happen? C you take, it will neither prevent nor cure your cold. of the world, though for them century developed world are Similarly, Vitamin E has never been shown to prevent it was in the domain of philoso- surely not driven by such mys- Lessons of the past should heart disease with its magical antioxidant properties. phy, whereas in Judaism, Chris- tical ideals as are contained in help us evaluate and temper The only people who need supplements are those tianity and Islam it was always a the writings of the prophets – ideas such as those surrounding who have special needs for higher doses, primarily pre- religious and theological matter. are they? As unlikely as it may 2012. History shows, however, gnant and breastfeeding women, strict vegans and chro- Moving farther afi eld, we fi nd seem, such appears to be the that humanity wants to know nic alcoholics. The only synthetic vitamin that has ever that Buddhism has its own va- case. In fact, James Cameron’s the particulars of the event on been scientifi cally shown to be benefi cial is folic acid in riety of eschatology, whereby a latest blockbuster movie, Ava- its own terms, without conside- pregnancy. person escapes the restraints of tar, appeals to some of these ring the demands placed on us Vitamins will probably not harm you but if you the physical to attain an ultimate Western sensibilities. It speaks by our Creator. are over-zealous with the fat-soluble ones, like A, D, state of Nirvana. to the fact that humanity is not Come December 2012, the E and K, they can become toxic. Some vitamin sup- In the 21st century, we fi nd satisfi ed with its role within the proclaimed end will most likely plements can also interact with other medication, so all these ideas melding together. cosmos and the handling of its turn out to be just like all the like a classic Chanel suit, less is more when it comes to It is as though something in responsibilities. Analyzing Ca- other ends of the world that supplements. Most people take a general, ‘just in case’ the human genome makes us meron’s movie in a December people have predicted over the multivitamin which is probably harmless but it is also understand that all is not right 21, 2009, New York Times op-ed centuries. Meanwhile, aren’t our probably unnecessary. with the human condition; we column, Ross Douthat observed: energy and attention better de- Sometime I fear we’ve become victims of progress, witness, incessantly and with “Religion exists, in part, preci- voted to caring for what we have of over-zealous medicine and of pointless health trends; glaring detail from even remote sely because humans aren’t at been given and to treating one more and more we turn to pills and potions to fi ll voids parts of the earth, the suffering home amid these cruel rhythms another as we would treat our- that are best fi lled by simpler measures. Instead of pop- and death that are so much a [of suffering and death as a part selves and as God treats us? ping a preservative- laden supplement, you are better part of life. We just know that of nature]. We stand half inside off eating your vitamins in the way nature intended for some change needs to take place the natural world and half out- them to be had…like having an apple… Krishna ATHAL l’express [ Friday 11 March 2011• Insert N° 3 INTERNATIONAL SCENE] p. 44 E-REVOLUTION The Dark Side of Social Media

Nad SIVARAMEN

Social media do not just make political organizing easier, but also make it easier for regimes to identify dissidents and spread disinformation, skeptics maintain.

INFORMATION is power. true social media revolutions” response to the cyber-utopia - Tunisia, Egypt’s transformation regimes will no longer be taken The medium is the message. And which are changing the way news Evgeny Morozov, a skeptic on cannot really shed light on the by surprise. The more people use now with the uprisings in the is conveyed and analyzed. And in the power of digital uprisings, way regimes fi ght social media. social media sites, the more in- Arab world, we are witnessing the order to keep up with the revolu- highlights Internet’s “contradic- Mubarak’s regime in abducting formation is out there for various increasing power of social me- tions spreading across North Af- tions and confusions that are just Wael Ghonim, an activist Goog- purposes. The key question is who dia. When traditional media are rica and the Middle East, major becoming visible.” According to le executive after the latter’s controls the information, who tilts cowed, censored or simply shut news outlets are launching Twit- Morozov, the liberating potential Facebook page (said to have it and in which direction. Because down, it only takes a cell phone ter dashboards. The aim is to of the Internet also contains the sparked the fi rst protest) topped once something enters the web, it and ten seconds to post text and show what is being tweeted about seeds of depoliticization and thus 300, 000 people, was an indi- lacks context. images on the world wide web. in the Arab world, by whom and dedemocratization. cation of panic and tardiness. The “Twitter Revolution” What happened in Tunisia in which area. The daily total of Ghonim later called the events that happened in Iran two years proved to the world that social tweets is then shown in graphs, on Software to protect in Egypt “Revolution 2.0” and ago could well be a cautionary media and technology can defi - which analysts spend hours offer- said that he intends to write a tale. The Iranian government nitely make protests way more ing comments and predictions. the regime book with the same name about simply collected all the tweets and effective. Twitter, Facebook and However, even if social me- Contrary to the ‘cyberuto- the role of social media in politi- Facebook messages and then ar- Youtube got thousands into the dia constitute a growing part of pians,’ as he calls people who cal demonstrations. rested whoever it wanted because streets and contributed to top- the world we live in, it is not sure consider the Internet a powerful But the debate on the extent it had all the data. Following Chi- pling decades-long dictatorships. that they will factor into any po- tool of political emancipation, to which the Internet and social na’s recipe, more and more gov- The fi rst two are looking for ways litical movements or revolutions Morozov argues that, in free- media played a role is still on- ernments are now setting up an to expand their reach (together around the world. Actually it is dom’s name, the Internet more going. In a New Yorker article, army of social media users that they are nearing one billion of us- argued that social media can be a often than not constricts free- Malcolm Gladwell has a totally are said to create a pro-govern- ers) around the globe. They have double-edged sword. dom. “If the government doesn’t different point of view: “People ment vibe, censor unwanted news designed mobile sites and appli- Social media help activists to end up falling in the end, it also with a grievance will always fi nd and collect intelligence. cations geared to lower end cell organize, create a global watchdog gets much more data and much ways to communicate with each In an era when social me- phones and slower Internet con- and increase free speech. But the better technology to engage in a other. How they choose to do it dia proves to be a tool for social nections. information that fl ows through crackdown on protesters.” is less interesting, in the end, than change, it is obvious that digital Clearly this is a societal evo- social media is a tool for anyone, In Egypt, for instance, Mu- why they were driven to do it in activists will be more and more lution, an information revolution, not just activists, but for those barak understood that he had the fi rst place.” In Libya, Inter- monitored. Ben Ali and Mubar- something that deserves recog- who are against freedom of infor- to shut down Internet – and net’s role is insignifi cant… ak did not get it, but others are nition. Of course, referring to mation too. to block Twitter - but when he But whether Twitter and Fa- quickly downloading the lessons Tunisia and Egypt, social media In “The Net Delusion” – a did so, three days into the up- cebook are tools of revolution or and developing the software to punditry is trumpeting the “fi rst provocative and enlightening rising, it was too late. So, unlike not, it is quite obvious that other protect their regimes. p. 45 [SOCIETAL ISSUES Insert N° 3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express Mauritius at Forty-Three! TOMORROW at the harbouring the secret hope of leaking pipes. The womenfolk, not so petty criminals. Corrup- crack of dawn, Mauritius will being caught in the lens of the “The people who, despite all talk of equal- tion seems to be on the path of wake up as a forty-three year television camera and pray that ity and emancipation, are still institutionalisation. Lackadai- old country. Time for celebra- the images will be beamed into have to be mostly saddled with household sical attitudes are pervasive in tion or time for stock-taking? our living room throughout happy and live chores, will go about them most services and competence Let’s leave the celebration to the day and for the next cou- worrying about what to put on is fast becoming the exception. the offi cial programme that ple of days or so, courtesy our in a feel-good the boil for the next meal, be- Unfortunately, this tale of woe will be put up at state level national broadcasting station. fore deciding what to sacrifi ce is far from being exhaustive. with some lavish banqueting Isn’t that value for our Rs100? environment, to ensure that the children can Yet, to the foreign eye, and merry-making at the ex- Meanwhile, most of the no wonder then attend school on Monday, rea- Mauritius has reached an al- pense of the taxpayer, after truly lesser mortals of the sonably dressed and fed. The most developed status. The yet another couple of preachy country will be caught in the that the fervour constant hike in price of basic statistics say so. High rise discourses from Le Réduit woes and worries of their own food that her family is used to buildings, tarred roads, shop- and Clarisse House. Cronies lot. They will possibly take ad- and fever of an has made it diffi cult for the la- ping malls, a fl attering per will fl ock to the grounds of Le vantage of the decreed public Independence dy of the house to lay the usual capita income alone do not Réduit and cluster around the holiday, though a Saturday, table. Making matters worse, necessarily make a prosper- Mighty of the day. The dig- to spend time with their folks anniversary the job she has, which helps ous country. The people have ital gadgets, cameras and cell most probably at home, for tide her household over, rests to be happy and live in a feel- phones, will pop up to capture they won’t be able to afford the are completely on a string which can snap an- good environment. No won- the moment for home display transportation to take them to absent.” ytime. On the other hand, the der then that the fervour and and safeguarded to be thrust the gradually almost inaccessi- country itself is beset by a sit- fever of an Independence an- at some opportune time un- ble and receding nearest pub- uation where rot is fi rmly set- niversary are completely ab- der the eyes of the Supremo lic beach. Others will seize the tling in. Institutions are shaky, sent. The proverbial smiling as proof of loyalty for some re- opportunity to try and mend, to say the least. Some are even and radiant face of the Mau- ward in a situation of unequal best they can, the damage headless while others are be- ritian has given way to a sag- opportunity. Others, lesser brought in by the fl oodwater ing run in the most amateur- ging and sulky expression. mortals in Offi cialdom, espe- of Monday last or even prob- ish manner. Our roads are no Nonetheless, happy anni- cially those who, these days, ably build themselves a small longer safe, invaded as they are versary Mauritius! are in desperate need of pa- basin to capture the trickles by inconsiderate and ever ag- tronage at the highest level, will of water that the CWA would gressive drivers, if they are not hover around the same mighty, hopefully release through its simply overrun by petty and Vijay MAKHAN

A deceptive vision of development, masking inherent societal problems, serves to sap this national day of much of its gusto. p.46 [BOOK REVIEW Insert N° 3 • Friday 11 March 2011 ] l’express A novel full of local colour THIS book gave me quite ter 35 years earlier, a seemingly at the hands of Salander… ver lose interest for a single a bad headache….for the insoluble mystery. Blomkvist is Set partly in Stockholm, moment. A feast. simple reason that I couldn’t seconded by Lisbeth Salander, partly on an island further All three volumes of the Mi- stop reading it! “The Girl with the “girl” of the title. Herself north during the coldest lennium Trilogy are available at the Dragon Tattoo” is the fi rst a victim of all kinds of abuse, winter Sweden has known in ELP Vacoas at Rs 300 each. volume of the Millennium Tri- Salander is an expert hacker – years, the novel has plenty logy by Stieg Larsson who died no computer is safe from her. of local colour. The worlds Beti PEERUN just after completing the three She is emotionally dysfunc- of big business novels, so never saw them pu- tional, ruthless and fearless, and journalism, blished to become internatio- but totally committed to the as well as that of nal bestsellers as well as being one person she learns to trust, the complex re- made into successful fi lms. Blomkvist himself. The rela- lationships inside (Incidentally, many people pre- tionship between the two is the huge Van- The author Stieg Larsson. fer the books to the fi lms…). one of the many strong points ger family com- Larsson was known for his of the work. bine seamlessly courageous stands against ra- to provide a li- cism and right-wing extremism Scandinavian vely and varied and his particular concern background. We about violence against women. sexual mores also see something “The Girl with the Dra- of Scandinavian gon Tattoo” is a thriller with a The original title of the sexual mores, complex and cleverly wrought novel in Swedish was “Men refreshingly libe- plot. Its main protagonist is the Who Hate Women” and the ral, but it’s amu- likeable – and lovable – Mikael theme of sexual abuse and sing to note that Blomkvist, an investigative violence runs through it from old-fashioned jea- journalist who is persuaded by beginning to end, giving rise lousy also makes the head of the wealthy Vanger to some gruesome scenes. The an appearance! family to inquire into the disap- offenders, however, get much The narrative pace pearance of his grand-daugh- more than they bargained for is fast and we ne-

Kreol korner]

Piso – nil, nothing, zero “Piso” usually puts the emphasis on a football result in which one team fails to score; it adds insult to injury. For instance, if it weren’t for Javier Hernandez’s last minute consolation goal, Liverpool would’ve trounced Manchester United 3-0 “piso” last Sunday! Still, Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick (the fi rst in this fi xture at Anfi eld since Peter Beardsley in 1990) and Luis Suarez’s combination of tenacity and wizardry gladdened the hearts of Reds the world over. As someone said, this result showed why the manager of one of the teams is a king while the other is just a knight. NR

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