Dear Children & Grand Children, Dear brother and sisters, Dear family and friends,
Sons and daughters of traditions…
For at least the last 70 years, on May 1st, the Labor Party of Mauritius has held its traditional massive Labor Day meeting.
Ever since our return to Mauritius uncle Fernand and I, when I was still in MRU, have attended. Over the last few years uncle Fernand got a special ticket from our Prime Minister to step on the Labor party podium on May 1st!
This year, national elections have been scheduled for May 5th. The Labor Day celebrations were planned to be the biggest ever! There were to be over 60 candidates on the May Day celebrations platform.
So Eve and I told uncle Fernand not to be disappointed if he did not get his podium ticket.
But you know uncle Fernand… He could not imagine not participating fully. Fortunately, our Prime Minister, Navin, showed yet one more time what a big heart he has. I have never found or known a person in such a high position show so much compassion, kindness, love and patience towards anyone. This is what sets Navin apart as the beloved and undisputed (except by a few losers) leader of each and every member of our rainbow community.
Sons and daughters of traditions…
For at least the last 70 years, on May 1st, the Labor Party of Mauritius has held its traditional massive Labor Day meeting.
Ever since our return to Mauritius uncle Fernand and I, when I was still in MRU, have attended. Over the last few years uncle Fernand got a special ticket from our Prime Minister to step on the Labor party podium on May 1st!
This year, national elections have been scheduled for May 5th. The Labor Day celebrations were planned to be the biggest ever! There were to be over 60 candidates on the May Day celebrations platform.
So Eve and I told uncle Fernand not to be disappointed if he did not get his podium ticket.
But you know uncle Fernand… He could not imagine not participating fully. Fortunately, our Prime Minister, Navin, showed yet one more time what a big heart he has. I have never found or known a person in such a high position show so much compassion, kindness, love and patience towards anyone. This is what sets Navin apart as the beloved and undisputed (except by a few losers) leader of each and every member of our rainbow community.
Regardless of the pressure and stress Navin must have been under, on the eve of one of his biggest days, Navin must have sensed what it meant for uncle Fernand to be by his side on that important day. So, uncle Fernand got his usual special pass to the platform. Navin is a Godly man!
I am for ever grateful and thankful to Navin and his team for making uncle Fernand’s May 1st so very special. To my mind, that is just one of the small examples that establish Navin as an extraordinary world leader among so many other ordinary ones!
I am for ever grateful and thankful to Navin and his team for making uncle Fernand’s May 1st so very special. To my mind, that is just one of the small examples that establish Navin as an extraordinary world leader among so many other ordinary ones!
To record this unforgettable event, Eve & I had told uncle Fernand to be sure to take a camera to memorialize that unique moment in the history of Mauritius – A Labor Day meeting only 4 days before elections on May 5th, our Mauritiano version of Mexico’s Cinquo de Mayo.
On May 5th and 6th Eve and I gave up work and stayed glued to the TV until the final results. Navin scored an outstanding victory.
In the mid ‘60s Mauritius was considered doomed by ‘brilliant’ British economists, professors Titmus and Meade. My father told me then, and was often heard saying, that the only man who could set the course for a new Mauritius was Dr. Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. Failing that, Mauritius was deemed to be facing a bottomless abyss!
History proved my father to be absolutely right. The vision and determined perseverance of Dr. Ramgoolam were foreign to the foreigners and Mauritians who in the ‘60s firmly believed that Mauritius was destined to be engulfed in a spiraling vortex of chaos! Many abandoned ship then! But with wisdom and perseverance Dr. Seewoosagur Ramgoolam stayed at the helm and with a fatherly hand, he led every Mauritian remaining in the land, away from a bleak future. Dr. Ramgoolam had successfully defied The Malthus theory – Mauritius would not die from within!
He fathered the Mauritian Nation. With single vision (literally & figuratively) The Honorable Dr. S. Ramgoolam turned history around and interred prophets of doom. He provided a springboard for long term sustained economic growth through initiating a policy of free education for all. Then together with Gaetan Duval, Dr. Ramgoolam launched and gave much impetus to the tourism industry, one of the solid and flourishing back bones of the Mauritian economy!
Today I am delighted to tell you my children and grand children, my brother and sisters, my family and friends around the world that Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam successfully passed the ‘baton’ to his son Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
In turn, I confidently assert to you all that the only person who can and will set the tone for a multi faceted durable Mauritius for decades to come is our returning Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
Today I am delighted to tell you my children and grand children, my brother and sisters, my family and friends around the world that Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam successfully passed the ‘baton’ to his son Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
In turn, I confidently assert to you all that the only person who can and will set the tone for a multi faceted durable Mauritius for decades to come is our returning Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
With full confidence in Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, in 2005, soon after Navin’s election as Prime Minister, I joined the multitude of other Mauritians who now choose to return to our land so full of promises! The grass is greenest right here… This is no accident. Two generations of the Ramgoolam family have strived and succeeded to make Mauritius durable, spiritually, culturally, socially, economically and environmentally.
Over the years, from one generation to the next, God has His ways of rewarding those transcending figures who seek His wisdom, place all their faith in Him and strive for the overall betterment of all of God’s creation.
It is no wonder then, that Sir Seewoosagur was granted the wisdom and perseverance to defy the foreign economist pundits in the sixties. Thus SSR successfully commandeered Mauritius. He enabled this small island with no natural resources to maintain its position as the key and the star of the Indian Ocean.
Most worthy of wearing his father’s shoes and walking beyond his father’s footsteps our returning Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam has also managed to successfully defy the recent world financial crisis. In so doing, in 2009, Navin has firmly established Mauritius as a shining beacon of light to world economists! Today financiers from all over the world confidently scramble to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in various sectors of the Mauritian economy!
An American ambassador recognized once that Mauritius is more complex and difficult to govern than America.
Another American, Mark Twain, wrote in 1897 in his book, ‘Following the equator’, “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius”.
God has undoubtedly handpicked His architects to continue His work in heavenly Mauritius. Two generations of the Ramgoolam family, SSR and his son Navin have succeeded to maintain Mauritius as a heaven on earth for all Mauritians as well as hundreds of thousands of visitors and investors. Our new Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport is gearing up to welcome over four million travelers to our heavenly island in the sun.
Over the years, from one generation to the next, God has His ways of rewarding those transcending figures who seek His wisdom, place all their faith in Him and strive for the overall betterment of all of God’s creation.
It is no wonder then, that Sir Seewoosagur was granted the wisdom and perseverance to defy the foreign economist pundits in the sixties. Thus SSR successfully commandeered Mauritius. He enabled this small island with no natural resources to maintain its position as the key and the star of the Indian Ocean.
Most worthy of wearing his father’s shoes and walking beyond his father’s footsteps our returning Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam has also managed to successfully defy the recent world financial crisis. In so doing, in 2009, Navin has firmly established Mauritius as a shining beacon of light to world economists! Today financiers from all over the world confidently scramble to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in various sectors of the Mauritian economy!
An American ambassador recognized once that Mauritius is more complex and difficult to govern than America.
Another American, Mark Twain, wrote in 1897 in his book, ‘Following the equator’, “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius”.
God has undoubtedly handpicked His architects to continue His work in heavenly Mauritius. Two generations of the Ramgoolam family, SSR and his son Navin have succeeded to maintain Mauritius as a heaven on earth for all Mauritians as well as hundreds of thousands of visitors and investors. Our new Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport is gearing up to welcome over four million travelers to our heavenly island in the sun.
I hope you enjoy the photos of our family hero and heroic friends.
Cherished Navin
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Navin, Xavier Luc and uncle Fernand
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Arvind & Uncle Fernand shaking hands
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Uncle Fernand... Proud & so happy to be there!
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As I looked at those pictures I was lifted by the power of such durable traditions. I thanked God for the friendships that have united us for generations.
After an absence of some 40 years from Mauritius I recalled the warm words of Navin on World Book day on Saturday April 28, 2007. Navin had, as usual, kindly accepted to launch my book, First American Title To Injustice. In his speech Navin recalled our long and stable family ties: “I was happy to learn that the National Library has been behind the launching of several books, the next one being one by Mr. Louis Leclezio, whose family has a long standing friendship with mine.” Worldwide time and tide wait for no man. In Mauritius time and tide wash away no sincere friendships
When I spent time gazing at the picture of uncle Fernand shaking hands with Arvind Boolell, our ex foreign affairs minister, I was stirred by a remark Arvind’s father, Sir Satcam Boolell had made concerning our father.
In an interview with l’Express published on Friday November 21, 2003, Sir Satcam Boolell was asked:Quels sont les chemins que vous avez croisés au cours de votre carrière et qui restent pour vous des références ? (During your carrier who stands out among those you have crossed paths with?)
Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, Bickramsing Ramlallah et aussi Fernand Le Clézio qui était un avant-gardiste. Je le rencontrais souvent. Il avait une grande ouverture d’esprit. Et puis, il y a Guy Rozemont. Si je ne l’avais pas rencontré, je ne serais sans doute pas dans le Parti Travailliste.
Note that Grand Pa had died in 1990 ! Yet 13 years later Sir Satcam Boolell still remembered him!
And now decades later their sons Arvind and uncle Fernand are on the same podium shaking hands on May Day!
That’s sons of traditions…
How could I forget! There are also daughters of traditions…
I must point out that among other names, Sir Satcam Bollell mentioned: “Bickramsing Ramlallah et aussi Fernand Le Clézio”.
Well, although Eve and I had asked uncle Fernand not to forget his camera, for uncle Fernand, all that was important was to be there! In spite of the painful calluses under his feet, he walked under the rain to take the bus to the celebrations. To be present was what was all important to him – Period!
After uncle Fernand had waited for a bus for a long time to get home, we asked him if he had pictures for us to see? Oh! No he said, I forgot my camera but that does not matter, I was there…!!!
We felt most sorry for uncle Fernand and all of us!
Note that Grand Pa had died in 1990 ! Yet 13 years later Sir Satcam Boolell still remembered him!
And now decades later their sons Arvind and uncle Fernand are on the same podium shaking hands on May Day!
That’s sons of traditions…
How could I forget! There are also daughters of traditions…
I must point out that among other names, Sir Satcam Bollell mentioned: “Bickramsing Ramlallah et aussi Fernand Le Clézio”.
Well, although Eve and I had asked uncle Fernand not to forget his camera, for uncle Fernand, all that was important was to be there! In spite of the painful calluses under his feet, he walked under the rain to take the bus to the celebrations. To be present was what was all important to him – Period!
After uncle Fernand had waited for a bus for a long time to get home, we asked him if he had pictures for us to see? Oh! No he said, I forgot my camera but that does not matter, I was there…!!!
We felt most sorry for uncle Fernand and all of us!
Surprise! Surprise! Sadhna Ramlallah, the daughter of Bickramsing Ramlallah was there. Sadhna was most thoughtful and kind to take photos of the meeting and of uncle Fernand. Sadhna surprised and delighted us when she e-mailed the pictures above to us!!!
In his book, entitled Social Problems, Henry Georges, the nineteenth century social philosopher, said:
In his book, entitled Social Problems, Henry Georges, the nineteenth century social philosopher, said:
“Social reform is not to be secured by noise and by shouting, by complaints and denunciation, by the formation of parties or the making of revolutions but by the awakening of thought and the progress of ideas. Until there be correct thought, there cannot be right action”.
Certain sons and daughters of traditions most certainly know how to awake correct thoughts and inspire right actions!
We thank God for them.
P.S. Uncle Fernand is arriving next week. We look forward to his surprise when we hand him over those pictures!!!
1 comment:
nice pic fer fernand....
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