Cool Bihari: Mauritius and the Bihar Connection

Former Mauritius Prime Minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam's native village Saran in Bihar will get a facelift as part of a plan to develop and strengthen roots of Indian origin people of Mauritius.

Mauritius High Commissioner to India Mookkhswur Choonee said during a visit here: "It will develop the village as a historical place." He stressed on the need to strengthen the cultural roots of Indian origin people in Mauritius.

He said it was a known fact that "our great grandfathers had sailed form India to Mauritius and had made important contribution to socio-economic development of the country". Choonee said that people of Indian origin in Mauritius have kept the Indian values and traditions high despite living far off from their native lands. "We are proud of the land of our ancestors," he added.

In his address to Bihar legislators early this year, President A P J Abdul Kalam had mentioned how the Indian origin people of Mauritius are proud of their Bihari roots and culture.

A large number of people from Bihar, known as the Girmitiya labourers, travelled to various parts of the world, including Mauritius, in the 19th century to serve as indentured labourers in sugarcane and rubber plantations. Most of these people were from districts like Chapra, Gopalganj and East and West Champaran.