Mauritius is family, links India to wider Global South: PM Modi

NEW DELHI: For India, Mauritius is not just a partner country but family, connecting India to the wider Global South, PM Narendra Modi said on Tuesday as he invoked Ram, Ramayan and Ganga Maiya to emphasise the bond between the two countries.

Speaking at a public reception, Modi recalled the struggle of indentured labourers who were duped by British colonisers to leave their homes in Bihar and travel to Mauritius. He emphasised that 200 years ago, Indian labourers — deceptively brought as ‘Girmitiyas’ to toil on plantations — found strength in Lord Ram and the Ramcharitmanas despite immense hardship.

He recalled his 1998 visit for the International Ramayan Conference while underlining that Mauritius had declared a half-day holiday to mark the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Welcoming Modi at the event, Mauritius PM Navin Ramgoolam announced that the country will confer its highest civilian award ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK)’ on Modi during National Day celebrations on Wednesday. The two representatives will also hold delegation-level talks that will be followed by the signing of several agreements.

Modi thanked Ramgoolam, who received the Indian PM at the airport, for his warmth and friendship and for his contribution to strengthening the vibrant and special ties between the two countries, Indian govt said. In a special gesture, Modi handed over OCI cards to Ramgoolam and his spouse Veena Ramgoolam.

Highlighting the shared heritage and familial connections that form the bedrock of the close people-to-people ties between the two countries, Modi appreciated how the Indian origin community in Mauritius had preserved and nurtured their cultural roots. “To further strengthen these bonds, a special carve out for Mauritius has been made whereby OCI cards can be made available to the seventh generation of people of Indian origin in Mauritius. The PM underscored that India would be supporting several initiatives to nurture the Girmitiya legacy,” govt said.

Modi also noted that India was privileged to be a close development partner of Mauritius. He further said India-Mauritius special ties played a key role in India’s ‘Sagar’ Vision and its engagement with the Global South. “Speaking about tackling the shared challenge of climate change, he appreciated Mauritius’s partnership in the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance initiatives,” the govt said.

With many in the audience tracing their ancestry to Bihar and UP, Modi, an MP from Varanasi, promised efforts to restore Bihar’s glory and predicted that Bihar’s Makhana would become a global snack staple. He described Mauritius as a “Mini India” and a vital bridge to the Global South. He also announced plans for a global Girmitiya database, a university-led study of their legacy, and a potential world Girmitiya conference to trace their journeys and settlements.

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