DR. S. RAMGOOLAM
MAURITIUS : FATHER OF MAURITIUS
BORN : 1900 DIED : 1985
Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean. Its area is about 700 sq kilometers.
It was under occupation Great Britain for centuries and has great strategic
value. A large percentage of its population is of Indian origin who went
there to work as indentured labour. The Indian labourers led a pitiable
life. They were poorly paid and tyrannized over by English supervisors.
The freedom movement in India instilled in them the will to be free. Dr.
Ramgoolam was in the frontline of its freedom struggle. As such, he is
regarded as father of free Mauritius. He was the initiator of freedom
movement in that island and eventually succeeded in winning freedom.
Dr. Ramgoolam was born on September 18, 1900. He qualified as a doctor
in England and then devoted himself to the freedom movement. The credit
for all progress in this island nation goes to him and he was really the
creator of modern Mauritius. He died on December 15, 1985.
Dr. Ramgoolam was a great friend of our country. He visited India many
times. In 1959, he became the Chief Minister and then the Prime Minister
of Mauritius and remained in this post for a long time. He was also the
president and founder of the Labour Party in his country. In 1984, he
became the Governor-General of Mauritius. Till his end, he remained the
most popular politician of his country. His role in strengthening Indo-Mauritius
relations can never be forgotten.
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