# Mauritians of Indian origin

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

## 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. 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. Some Malbars from Reunion (Bourbon) Island were also brought to work with them. After the legislative changes of 1767, these Indian immigrants were allowed to start their own businesses, buy a land and have slaves too.
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. Mauritius thus became the British colony's largest recipient of indentured migrants.
Indian indentured labourers were mostly brought from the Bhojpuri speaking regions of Bihar State and Uttar Pradesh State in India as well as from the Terai region of Madhesh Province in Nepal before its independence, 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 and are dominant political figures in Mauritius.
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 Hindu Rajput immigrants from Rajasthan State, Gujarat State mostly of Kutch region and Sindh Province arriving as traders, businessmen, and merchants before the Partition of India. A tiny portion of Punjabi Hindu immigrants from Punjab State were also brought along them as soldiers.
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. The 1921 census in Mauritius counted that Indian women there had a total of 148 children fathered by Chinese men. These Chinese immigrants were mostly traders.

## 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. Mauritian politics have been historically dominated by the Indo-Mauritian community 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 this 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 bands and Tamil bands. Indian films such as Bollywood and Tollywood are also widely popular.

## Caste system

Due to local demographic realities, the Indian caste system was not directly implemented in the Mauritian context.

## 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.