Mahatma Gandhi Institute (Mauritius)

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute (commonly known as MGI), located in Moka on the island of Mauritius,[2] is an educational institution focused of secondary, tertiary and pre-vocational education. It also promotes and facilitates research and preservation of cultural heritage and arts.

Mahatma Gandhi Institute
(MGI)
Address
Gentilly Road

Moka

Mauritius
Coordinates20.2272°S 57.5032°E / -20.2272; 57.5032
Information
School typePublic
Founded1970 (1970)[1]

History

The idea of creating the MGI came up in December 1969. Mon Desert Alma Limited, the company which owned the Sugar Estate and the lands nearby, donated an area of land of 31 arpents. It was founded in 1970 as a joint venture between the governments of Mauritius and India.[3][4] The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi on 3 June 1970. Soon afterwards the Legislative Assembly approved the MGI Act on 23 December 1970.[1] It was inaugurated on 9 October 1976 by Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Ministers of Mauritius and India respectively. The Mahatma Gandhi Institute Act No. 1970 was later superseded by the MGI Act No.11 of 1982 and MGI Amended Act No. 47 of 2002.[3][5]

Education

Tertiary education

At tertiary level there are 5 schools which operate:[6]

  • School of Indian Studies
  • School of Performing Arts
  • School of Fine Arts
  • School of Mauritian & Area Studies
  • School of Indological Studies

Secondary education

The MGI also runs a network of 6 secondary schools located in various regions of the country. They are as follows:

  • Mahatma Gandhi Institute Secondary School (Moka)
  • Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School (Moka)[7]
  • Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School (Flacq)[8]
  • Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School (Solferino)[9]
  • Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School (Nouvelle France)[10]
  • Rabindranath Tagore Secondary School (Ilot).[11]

Pre-vocational education

The Gandhian Basic School (located at Moka) specializes in pre-vocational education based on Gandhian principles.

Cultural archives

The MGI has among its archives the records of those girmityas (Indian indentured labourers) sent to Mauritius under British colonial rule between 1842 and 1910. In 2015, these were inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register as being of great historical importance, particularly to the history of Mauritians of Indian origin. The records were originally transferred to the National Archives of Mauritius following a cultural agreement with the government of India in 1973, to be moved to the MGI once construction was complete. The newly-built MGI took possession in 1978 and has maintained them since.[12][13][14]

These archives are accessible by researchers and descendants of these immigrant labourers.[13][15][16][17]

Other facilities

Other components of the MGI include a specialised Library of Languages and Culture, Folk Museum of Indian Immigration, Art Gallery, Language Resource Centre, multi-lingual Printing Press, Auditorium and Subramania Bharati Lecture Theatre.[18]

See also

References
  1. Rivet, Annick. "Mahatma Gandhi Institute et Rabindranath Tagore Institute : Soorya Gayan tire sa révérence". Defimedia. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  2. Supraja, Mahesh. "Mahatma Gandhi's little-known Mauritius trip and its link to India's partition". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  3. "Mahatma Gandhi Institute". High Commission of India. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  4. Mohadeb, Praveen (2003). Higher Education in Mauritius: An analysis of future financial sustainability (PhD thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. p. 5. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  5. "Il y a 41 ans, le 9 octobre 1976: Shrimathi Indira Gandhi inaugure le Mahatma Gandhi Institute". L'Express. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  6. "History and Vision (MGI)". Mahatma Gandhi Institute. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. Chamroo, Jane. "HSC 2019 : ces autres collèges qui ont réalisé une belle performance". Defimedia. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  8. Chamroo, Jane. "Lutte contre la pollution du Wakashio : des flotteurs de paille fabriqués par des collégiens". Defimedia. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  9. Bhuckory, Kamlesh. "HSC 2016 : ces collèges qui brillent dans l'ombre". Defimedia. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  10. Moris, E. "Nouvelle France incendie dans un autobus". Zinfos. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  11. Momplé, Stéphanie. "HSC 2019 : Le Rabindranath Tagore Secondary School se démarque avec 3 lauréats". Defimedia. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  12. "The Records of Indentured Immigration". UNESCO Memory of the World. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  13. "Indian Immigration Archives". Mahatma Gandhi Institute. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  14. Boodhoo, Sarita (31 October 2016). "The Jahaji Bhais – Our Forefathers". Mauritius Times. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  15. Nayanjot Lahiri, Nayanjot Lahiri. "Remembering the oppressed: In Mauritius, thinking about the battle of Bhima Koregaon". Scroll. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  16. "Indian-Origin Candidate to Be Seychelles President, Ending Ruling Party's 43-Year Rule". The Wire. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  17. Seetamonee, Rajmeela. "Bibliothèque nationale : un trésor patrimonial" (in French). Defimedia. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  18. Dasagrandhi, Madhuri. "From Mauritius to Hyderabad, for the love of Telugu". Telangana Today. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
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