Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mauritius on Tuesday for a two-day visit, marking a return to a country he first visited 27 years ago. His arrival was met with a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora, including a traditional Bihari cultural performance known as Geet Gawai.
“Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Mauritius. Their strong connection to Indian heritage, culture and values is truly inspiring. This bond of history and heart continues to thrive,” PM Modi said.
A connection rooted in history
Known as ‘Mini India’ due to its large Indian-origin population, his ties with the island nation date back to October 1998, when he visited as the BJP’s National General Secretary to address the International Ramayana Conference in Moka.
In a post on X, Modi Archive handle shared images from the 1998 visit, showing PM Narendra Modi engaging with Mauritian leaders and the local community.
“When Narendra Modi visited ‘Mini India’ in 1998 – Modi in Mauritius”
During his visit, he met key Mauritian leaders, including then-President Cassam Uteem, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and Leader of the Opposition Sir Anerood Jugnauth. He also met Paul Raymond Bérenger, who later became Prime Minister.
Mahatma Gandhi’s influence in Mauritius
PM Modi’s 1998 visit also reinforced his understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s influence in Mauritius. At a Gandhi Jayanti event, he witnessed how deeply the Mauritian people revered the Mahatma and how their independence movement was inspired by India’s own struggle against colonial rule.
In a speech at the World Hindi Secretariat Building in 2015, PM Modi recalled how the newspaper ‘Hindustani’, published in three languages—Gujarati, Hindi, and English—became a unifying force in Mauritius.
“2nd October is still being celebrated in Mauritius. The kind of celebration they have, even we do not have. There is a tremendous sense of belonging,” PM Modi said, recalling his experience.
Spiritual and cultural bond
During his 1998 visit, PM Modi also visited the sacred Ganga Talao, a crater lake revered by Hindus in Mauritius. He noted how Mauritians had poured water from the Ganges into the lake, deepening its spiritual significance.
Speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2015, PM Modi said, “If there is one place that unites all of Mauritius, it is Ganga Sagar… Though the quantity of water may be small, the emotions and devotion associated with it have given it a different dimension.”
Seventeen years later, in 2015, PM Modi returned to Ganga Talao, offering flowers to Maa Ganga once again.
Mauritius’ tribute to Indian culture
Such is the deep-rooted connection between the two nations that on January 22, 2024, when the consecration of the Ram Temple took place in Ayodhya, the Mauritian government granted special leave to Hindu public servants to attend prayers.
Hindus comprise around 48% of Mauritius’ population, and the island has long maintained close cultural and historical ties with India.
PM Modi’s visit reaffirms India’s deep-rooted bond with Mauritius, extending beyond diplomacy to shared heritage, history, and emotions.
