Mauritians of Indian origin

Indo-Mauritians

Total population
812,769 65.7% of the population of Mauritius (2019[1][2])
Languages
Mauritian Creole French English Mauritian Bhojpuri Hindi-Urdu Marathi Tamil Telugu Gujarati Awadhi Bengali Odia
Religion
Predominantly: Hinduism 48.5% Minority: Islam 17.2%[1]
Related ethnic groups
Bihari Mauritians · Tamil Mauritians · Indian diaspora in Southeast Africa · Indo-Caribbeans · Indo-Fijians · Indian South Africans · Indian people · Indian diaspora · Bihari diaspora · Tamil diaspora

Indo-Mauritians are Mauritians who trace their ethnic ancestry to the Republic of India or other parts of the Indian subcontinent in South Asia.^[3]

History

During the administration of the French East India Company (until 1767) and subsequent French rule at least 12,000 workers arrived from India between 1721 and 1810 before the abolition of slavery.^[4] These first Indian immigrants came from various parts of India such as Pondicherry, Karikal, Yanaon, Bengal and others. They worked under contract as skilled stonemasons, blacksmiths, and carpenters although hundreds of them were slaves.^[5][6] After the legislative changes of 1767 these Indian immigrants were allowed to start businesses, buy land and own slaves.^[7]

Following the November 1810 British Invasion from the northern coast, the island came under British rule. With the liberation of about 65,000 African and Malagasy slaves after the 1833 abolition of slavery the Franco-Mauritian plantation owners and sugar oligarchs resorted to indentured labourers, or Coolies, from various parts of India to work in their fields. Between 1834 and 1920, nearly 700,000 Indian indentured labourers arrived at Aapravasi Ghat, an embankment located in the harbour of Port-Louis.^[8] Mauritius thus became the British colony's largest recipient of indentured migrants.^[9] Indian indentured labourers were mostly brought from the Bhojpuri speaking regions of Bihar State and Uttar Pradesh State, with a large number of Tamils from Madras, Telugus from Hyderabad and Marathis from Bombay amongst them. A small number of Bengalis from Calcutta and Odias from Puri also came along who were mostly Hindu priests. The descendants of these indentured labourers make up two-thirds of the island's current population.^[9][10]

As free immigrants, these later arrivals were commonly employed by the British in the armed forces, police forces, as security personnel with a substantial portion of immigrants from Rajasthan State, Gujarat State mostly of Kutch region and Sindh Province arriving as traders, businessmen, and merchants. A tiny portion of immigrants from Punjab State were also brought along them.

In the late 19th to early 20th century, Chinese men in Mauritius married Indian women due to both a lack of Chinese women and the higher numbers of Indian women on the island.^[11][12][13] The 1921 census in Mauritius counted that Indian women there had a total of 148 children fathered by Chinese men.^[14][15][16] These Chinese immigrants were mostly traders.^[17]

Demographics

Today the population consists of predominant Hindus with Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews and Baháʼí Faith minorities. The mother tongue of almost all Mauritians is the Mauritian Creole, while a minority of Indo-Mauritians still use both their ancestral language and Mauritian Creole at home. Indo-Mauritians use their native languages mostly in religious activities, some of them include Bhojpuri, Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Urdu.

As from age six, all Mauritian children must learn a third language at school (French and English are already compulsory). The languages learnt in decreasing order are Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Chinese, Marathi, Telugu and Bhojpuri. Mauritian Creoles can opt for Mauritian Creole as the third language. Choice is usually based on ethno-religious background with Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi chosen by Hindus who belong to the respective ethnicities and Urdu by Muslims from the Indian Subcontinent.

Indian influence

Indo-Mauritians have influenced Mauritian culture, dominating the economic, public sector and political faces of the island.^[9] Mauritian politics have been historically dominated by the Indo-Mauritian community^[18] due to their majority as a whole on the electoral platform. All presidents except Karl Offmann and all prime ministers except for Paul Berenger have been members of the community. Most Hindu festivals are public holidays. Indian influence is not only felt in religions, cuisines and arts but also in the local music of the island where it has its own groups of Bhojpuri and Tamil bands.^[19] Indian films such as Bollywood and Tollywood are also widely popular.^[20]

Caste system

Due to local demographic realities, the Indian caste system was not directly implemented in the Mauritian context.^{[21][22][23][24][25]}

Notable people

• Nathacha Appanah
• Amode Ibrahim Atchia
• Michael Atchia
• Viveka Babajee
• Bhinod Bacha
• Sheila Bappoo
• Rashid Beebeejaun
• Sunil Benimadhu
• Kader Bhayat
• Heeralall Bhugaloo
• Basdeo Bissoondoyal
• Sookdeo Bissoondoyal
• Harish Boodhoo
• Arvin Boolell
• Satcam Boolell
• Satyajit Boolell
• Suella Braverman
• Vasant Bunwaree
• Dayendranath Burrenchobay
• Dan Callikan
• Siddick Chady
• Angidi Chettiar
• Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra
• Kishore Deerpalsing
• Vikash Dhorasoo
• Gaëtan Duval
• Alan Ganoo
• Anil Gayan
• Hurrylall Goburdhun
• Ramchundur Goburdhun
• Shenaz Patel
• Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
• Maya Hanoomanjee
• Sudhir Hazareesingh
• Mahesh Jadu
• Kher Jagatsingh
• Kailesh Jagutpal
• Anerood Jugnauth
• Lall Jugnauth
• Pravind Jugnauth
• Visham Komalram (Vishwananda)
• Misha Mansoor
• Abdool Razack Mohamed
• Shakeel Mohamed
• Yousuf Mohamed
• Prem Nababsing
• William Newton
• Ananda Devi Nirsimloo-Anenden
• Armoogum Parsooraman
• Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay
• Navin Ramgoolam
• Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
• Lutchmeeparsadsing Ramsahok
• Veerasamy Ringadoo
• Prithvirajsing Roopun
• Kailash Ruhee
• Rama Sithanen
• Prisca Thevenot
• Vijaya Teelock
• Harry Krishnan Tirvengadum
• Khal Torabully
• Cassam Uteem
• Dev Virahsawmy

Sports

Football is the most popular sport amongst Mauritians. Vikash Dhorasoo, who played for French football team, is of Indo-Mauritian origin.

See also

• Mauritian of African origin
• Mauritian of French origin
• Mauritian of Chinese origin
• Mauritian Creole
• Indian diaspora in Africa
• India–Mauritius relations
• Hinduism in Mauritius

Notes and references

Footnotes

1. http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/HPC/2019/HPC_TR_Vol2_Demography_Yr19.pdf ^{[dead link‍]}
2. "Population of Non-resident indians country wise". Government of India. 2019.
3. Ravi, Srilata (2010). "Indo-Mauritians: National and Postnational Identities". L'Esprit Créateur. 50 (2): 29–45. ISSN 0014-0767. JSTOR 26289646. Archived from the original on 2024-06-29. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
4. Srilata Ravi (2010). "Indo-Mauritians: National and Postnational Identities". L'Esprit Créateur. 50 (2): 29–45. doi:10.1353/esp.0.0236. ISSN 1931-0234. S2CID 162237049.
5. "Présence des tamouls dans une société pluriethnique et multiconfessionelle: Le cas de Maurice". Le Mauricien. 10 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
6. Boodhoo, Sarita (8 November 2015). "The Tamil Presence in Mauritius". Mauritius Times. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
7. "Tamouls, les racines de l'histoire". L'Express. 5 February 2004. Archived from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2004-02-05.
8. Lal, Vinay (2021). "Indo-Mauritians and the Innocents: A Photo Gallery". University of California, Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
9. "The legacy of Indian migration to European colonies". The Economist. 2 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
10. UK Parliament https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1947-06-11/debates/2b5e723e-eff5-4fc5-b635-a765f0be903c/Indo-Mauritians. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
11. Marina Carter, James Ng Foong Kwong (2009). Abacus and Mah Jong: Sino-Mauritian Settlement and Economic Consolidation. Vol. 1 of European expansion and indigenous response, v. 1. Brill. p. 199. ISBN 978-9004175723. Archived from the original on 2016-05-04. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
12. Paul Younger Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies McMaster University (2009). New Homelands : Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0199741922. Archived from the original on 2016-05-22. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
13. "What Inter-Ethnic Marriage In Mauritius Tells Us About The Nature of Ethnicity" (PDF): 15. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
14. Huguette Ly-Tio-Fane Pineo, Edouard Lim Fat (2008). From alien to citizen: the integration of the Chinese in Mauritius. Éditions de l'océan Indien. p. 174. ISBN 978-9990305692. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
15. Huguette Ly Tio Fane-Pineo (1985). Chinese Diaspora in Western Indian Ocean. Ed. de l'océan indien. p. 287. ISBN 9990305692. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
16. "What Inter-Ethnic Marriage In Mauritius Tells Us About The Nature of Ethnicity" (PDF): 16. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
17. Monique Dinan (2002). Mauritius in the Making: Across the Censuses, 1846-2000. Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, Ministry of Arts & Culture. p. 41. ISBN 9990390460. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
18. "India Mauritius Bilateral Brief". hcimauritius.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
19. Servan-Schreiber, Catherine (2011-01-24). "Indian Folk Music and 'Tropical Body Language': The Case of Mauritian Chutney". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal. doi:10.4000/samaj.3111. ISSN 1960-6060. Archived from the original on 2024-06-29. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
20. "Stars Arrive in Mauritius for Zee Cine Awards 2006 | Photo of Twinkle Khanna,Akshay Kumar from the Stars Arrive in Mauritius for Zee Cine Awards 2006 Images - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
21. Claveyrolas, Mathieu (2013). "Au " pays des Vaish " ?". Archives de sciences sociales des religions (163): 191–216. doi:10.4000/assr.25272. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
22. "Portrait: Atma Doolooa, un chamar fier de l'être". Le Mauricien. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
23. G., R. (7 June 2017). "The fallacy of the caste system in Mauritius". L'Express. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
24. Hollup, Oddvar (1994). "The Disintegration of Caste and Changing Concepts of Indian Ethnic Identity in Mauritius". Ethnology. 33 (4): 297–316. doi:10.2307/3773901. JSTOR 3773901.
25. "Autrefois orateur vedette du MMM: Prem Koonjoo devenu un "ton"". L'Express. 2 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-06-02.

Notations

• Mauritius: History, Geography, Government, and Culture Archived 2024-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
• South Asian Indentured Labor - Online Archive of Research and Resources Archived 2019-12-24 at the Wayback Machine - an online archive and living syllabus of text-based resources related to Indian indentureship, with country-specific resources related to Indians indentured to Mauritius