Mauritians of Indian origin: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Mauritians who trace their ethnic ancestry from India}}
{{Short description|Mauritians who trace their ethnic ancestry from India}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group     = Indo-Mauritians
| group           = Indo-Mauritians
| flag      = {{flagicon|IND}} {{flagicon|Mauritius}}
| native_name      =  
| image      =
| image            = {{flag|Mauritius}}
| population = 812,769<br />65.7% of the population of Mauritius
| population       = 812,769<br>65.7% of the population of Mauritius
| total_year = 2011<ref name="statsmauritius.govmu.org"/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Government|first1=India|title=Population of Non-resident indians country wise|date=2012}}</ref>
| total_year       = 2011<ref name="statsmauritius.govmu.org"/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Government|first1=India|title=Population of Non-resident indians country wise|date=2012}}</ref><ref>cite journal|journal=Government of India|title=Population of Non-resident Indians country wise|date=2019</ref>
| languages  = {{hlist|[[Bhojpuri]]|[[Hindi]]|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|[[Marathi language|Marathi]]|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]|[[Urdu]]|[[Mauritian Creole]]|[[English language|English]]|[[French language|French]]}}
| languages  = {{hlist|[[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]|[[Hindi language|Hindi]]|[[Urdu language|Urdu]]|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]|[[Marathi language|Marathi]]|[[Languages of South Asia|other South Asian languages]]|[[Mauritian Creole]]|[[English language|English]]|[[French language|French]]}}
| religions  = Majority: [[Hinduism]] 73.8%<br />Minority: [[Islam]] 26.2%<ref name="statsmauritius.govmu.org">http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/HPC/2011/HPC_TR_Vol2_Demography_Yr11.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
| religions  = Majority: [[Hinduism in Mauritius|Hinduism]] 73.8%<br />Minority: [[Islam]] 26.2%<ref name="statsmauritius.govmu.org">http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/HPC/2011/HPC_TR_Vol2_Demography_Yr11.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
| related    = [[Bihari Mauritians]]{{·}}[[Tamil Mauritians]]{{·}}[[Indo-Caribbeans]]{{·}}[[Indo-Fijians]]{{·}}[[Indian South Africans]]{{·}}[[Indian people]]{{·}}[[Indian diaspora]]
| related    = [[Bihari Mauritians]]{{·}}[[Tamil Mauritians]]{{·}}[[Marathi people|Marathi diaspora]]{{·}}[[Telugu diaspora]]{{·}}[[Indian diaspora in Southeast Africa]]{{·}}[[Indo-Caribbeans]]{{·}}[[Indo-Fijians]]{{·}}[[Indian South Africans]]{{·}}[[Indo-Seychellois]]{{·}}[[Indian people]]{{·}}[[Indian diaspora]]
| related-c =
| related-c       =  
| footnotes  =  
}}
}}


'''Indo-Mauritians or Indian Mauritians''' are [[Mauritians]] who trace their ethnic ancestry to India or other parts of South Asia.
'''Indo-Mauritians''' are [[Mauritians]] who trace their [[Ethnicity|ethnic ancestry]] to the [[India|Republic of India]] or other parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]] in [[South Asia]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ravi |first=Srilata |date=2010 |title=Indo-Mauritians: National and Postnational Identities |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26289646 |journal=L'Esprit Créateur |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=29–45 |jstor=26289646 |issn=0014-0767 |access-date=2024-06-29 |archive-date=2024-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629012952/https://www.jstor.org/stable/26289646 |url-status=live}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
During the administration of the [[French East India Company]] (until 1767) and subsequent [[History of Mauritius|French rule]] at least 12,000 workers arrived from India between 1721 and 1810 before the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Présence des tamouls dans une société pluriethnique et multiconfessionelle: Le cas de Maurice |date=10 August 2014 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/magazine/presence-des-tamouls-societe-pluriethnique-et-multiconfessionnelle-cas-maurice/59526/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Boodhoo |first1=Sarita |title=The Tamil Presence in Mauritius |date=8 November 2015 |url=http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/sarita-boodhoo-67/ |publisher=Mauritius Times |access-date=2015-11-08}}</ref> After the legislative changes of 1767 these Indian immigrants were allowed to start businesses, buy land and own slaves.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tamouls, les racines de l'histoire |date=5 February 2004 |url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/tamouls-les-racines-de-lhistoire |publisher=L'Express |access-date=2004-02-05}}</ref>
During the administration of the [[French Indies Company|French East India Company]] until 1767 and subsequent [[History of Mauritius|French rule]] at least 12,000 workers arrived from [[India]] between 1721 and 1810 before the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|abolition of slavery]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Srilata Ravi |date=2010 |title=Indo-Mauritians: National and Postnational Identities |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/esp.0.0236 |journal=L'Esprit Créateur |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=29–45 |doi=10.1353/esp.0.0236 |s2cid=162237049 |issn=1931-0234|url-access=subscription }}</ref> These first Indian immigrants came from various parts of India such as [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]], [[Karaikal district|Karikal]], [[Yanaon]], [[Chandannagar|Chandernagor]] and others. They worked under contract as skilled stonemasons, blacksmiths, and carpenters although hundreds of them were [[slavery|slaves]]. Some [[Malbars]] from [[Réunion|Reunion (Bourbon) Island]] were also brought to work with them.<ref>{{cite web |title=Présence des Tamouls dans une Société Pluriethnique et Multiconfessionelle: Le Cas de Maurice |date=10 August 2014 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/magazine/presence-des-tamouls-societe-pluriethnique-et-multiconfessionnelle-cas-maurice/59526/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=2014-08-10 |archive-date=2021-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626163030/https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/magazine/presence-des-tamouls-societe-pluriethnique-et-multiconfessionnelle-cas-maurice/59526/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Boodhoo |first1=Sarita |title=The Tamil Presence in Mauritius |date=8 November 2015 |url=http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/sarita-boodhoo-67/ |publisher=Mauritius Times |access-date=2015-11-08 |archive-date=2024-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713033043/http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/sarita-boodhoo-67/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After the legislative changes of 1767, these Indian immigrants were allowed to start their own businesses, buy land and own slaves.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tamouls, les Racines de l'Histoire |date=5 February 2004 |url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/tamouls-les-racines-de-lhistoire |publisher=L'Express |access-date=2004-02-05 |archive-date=2021-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131201538/https://www.lexpress.mu/article/tamouls-les-racines-de-lhistoire |url-status=live }}</ref>


Following the [[Invasion of Isle de France|November 1810 British Invasion]] from the northern coast, the island came under [[History of Mauritius|British rule]]. With the liberation of about 65,000 African and Malagasy slaves after the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|1833 abolition of slavery]] the Franco-Mauritian plantation owners and sugar oligarchs resorted to [[Indian indenture system|indentured labourers]], or [[Coolie]]s, from various parts of India to work in their fields. Between 1834 and 1920, nearly 700,000 Indian indentured laborers arrived at Aapravasi ghat, an embankment located in the harbor of Port-Louis.<ref>{{ cite web | title = Indo-Mauritians and the Innocents: A Photo Gallery | url = https://southasia.ucla.edu/diaspora/indo-mauritians-innocents/ | year = 2021 | last = Lal | first = Vinay | publisher = University of California, Los Angeles}}</ref> Mauritius thus became the British colony's largest recipient of indentured migrants.<ref name="eco" >{{cite news|title=The legacy of Indian migration to European colonies|url=https://www.economist.com/news/international/21727896-century-after-india-ended-system-indentured-labour-its-diaspora-building|access-date=2 September 2017|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=2 September 2017}}</ref> Indentured labourers were mostly brought from the Bhojpuri speaking regions of [[Bihar]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]], with a large number of [[Tamils]], [[Telugus]] and [[Marathis]] amongst them. The descendants of these indentured labourers make up two-thirds of the island's current population.<ref name="eco" />
Following the [[Invasion of Isle de France|November 1810 British Invasion]] from the northern coast, the island came under [[History of Mauritius|British rule]]. With the liberation of about 65,000 African and Malagasy slaves after the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|1833 abolition of slavery]] the [[Franco-Mauritians|Franco-Mauritian]] plantation owners and sugar [[Oligarchy|oligarchs]] resorted to [[Indian indenture system|indentured labourers]], or [[Coolie]]s, 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|Port-Louis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indo-Mauritians and the Innocents: A Photo Gallery |url=https://southasia.ucla.edu/diaspora/indo-mauritians-innocents/ |date=2021 |last=Lal |first=Vinay |publisher=University of California, Los Angeles |access-date=2021-04-10 |archive-date=2021-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410032016/https://southasia.ucla.edu/diaspora/indo-mauritians-innocents/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mauritius]] thus became the [[Crown colony|British colony]]'s largest recipient of Indian indentured migrants.<ref name="eco" >{{cite news|title=The legacy of Indian migration to European colonies|url=https://www.economist.com/news/international/21727896-century-after-india-ended-system-indentured-labour-its-diaspora-building|access-date=2 September 2017|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=2 September 2017}}</ref> Indentured labourers were mostly brought from the Bhojpuri speaking regions of [[Bihar]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]], with a large number of [[Tamils]], [[Telugus]] and [[Marathis]] amongst them. The descendants of these indentured labourers make up two-thirds of the island's current population.<ref>name="eco" /></ref><ref name="Indo-Mauritians Volume 438: debated on Wednesday 11 June 1947">{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1947-06-11/debates/2b5e723e-eff5-4fc5-b635-a765f0be903c/Indo-Mauritians |website=UK Parliament |title=Indo-Mauritians - Hansard - UK Parliament }}</ref>


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 immigrants from [[Gujarat]] and [[Sindh]] arriving as traders, businessmen, and merchants.
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 immigrants from [[Gujarat]] and [[Sindh]] arriving as traders, businessmen, and merchants.<ref>{{cite book |page=33 |date=2009 |access-date=May 17, 2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |first=Paul |last=Younger |title=New Homelands: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F0X9eLq57ocC&q=chinese+shopkeepers+indian+creole+women+mauritius&pg=PA33 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522073223/https://books.google.com/books?id=3VTiBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT40&dq=chinese+men+cohabit+indian+women+mauritius&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XFWTVfS7OYW4yQTe14HQDw&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=2016-05-22 |isbn=978-0199741922 }}</ref>


In the late 19th to early 20th century, [[Sino-Mauritian|Chinese men in Mauritius]] married [[Indian people|Indian]] women due to both a lack of Chinese women and the higher numbers of Indian women on the island.<ref>{{cite book|page=199|year=2009|access-date=May 17, 2014|publisher=BRILL|volume=1 of European expansion and indigenous response, v. 1|author=Marina Carter, James Ng Foong Kwong|title= Abacus and Mah Jong: Sino-Mauritian Settlement and Economic Consolidation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SN53oTMjAyMC&pg=PA199|archive-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RtOwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=chinese+shopkeepers+indian+creole+women+mauritius&source=bl&ots=ux4RYxvT3x&sig=ozjqdTOIbdbIVubSnNR1_YEXIz4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3EeUVZu2FcfEsAXp2paYDQ&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=chinese%20shopkeepers%20indian%20creole%20women%20mauritius&f=false|archive-date=2009|isbn=978-9004175723}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|page=33|year=2009|access-date=May 17, 2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|author=Paul Younger Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies McMaster University|title= New Homelands : Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F0X9eLq57ocC&q=chinese+shopkeepers+indian+creole+women+mauritius&pg=PA33|archive-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3VTiBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT40&dq=chinese+men+cohabit+indian+women+mauritius&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XFWTVfS7OYW4yQTe14HQDw&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=chinese%20men%20cohabit%20indian%20women%20mauritius&f=false|archive-date=2009|isbn=978-0199741922}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=What Inter-Ethnic Marriage In Mauritius Tells Us About The Nature of Ethnicity |url=http://arinave.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INCORE-Paper-2001-PDF1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518083011/http://arinave.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INCORE-Paper-2001-PDF1.pdf |archive-date=May 18, 2014 |page=15 |access-date=May 17, 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> The 1921 census in Mauritius counted that Indian women there had a total of 148 children fathered by Chinese men.<ref>{{cite book|page=174|year=2008|access-date=May 17, 2014|publisher=Éditions de l'océan Indien|author=Huguette Ly-Tio-Fane Pineo, Edouard Lim Fat|title= From alien to citizen: the integration of the Chinese in Mauritius |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FNswAQAAIAAJ&q=children+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+men+with+women+of+the+general+population+and+148+others+were+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+men+with+Indian+women.+(62)+The+first+signs+of+a+new+culture+born+from+the+symbiosis+of+Eastern+and+...|isbn=978-9990305692}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|page=287|year=1985|access-date=May 17, 2014|publisher=Ed. de l'océan indien|author=Huguette Ly Tio Fane-Pineo|title= Chinese Diaspora in Western Indian Ocean |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3U4MAQAAIAAJ&q=He+thus+recorded+that+in+1921+there+were+386+children+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+with+women+of+the+general+population+and+148+others+were+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+with+Indian+women+(62).+The+first+signs+of+a+new+culture+born+...|isbn=9990305692}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=What Inter-Ethnic Marriage In Mauritius Tells Us About The Nature of Ethnicity |url=http://arinave.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INCORE-Paper-2001-PDF1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518083011/http://arinave.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INCORE-Paper-2001-PDF1.pdf |archive-date=May 18, 2014 |page=16 |access-date=May 17, 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> These Chinese were mostly traders.<ref>{{cite book|page=41|year=2002|access-date=June 1, 2015|publisher=Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, Ministry of Arts & Culture|author=Monique Dinan|title= Mauritius in the Making: Across the Censuses, 1846-2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnawAAAAIAAJ&q=intermarried+cohabited|isbn=9990390460}}</ref>
In the late 19th to early 20th century, [[Sino-Mauritian|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.<ref>{{cite book |page=199 |date=2009 |access-date=May 17, 2014 |publisher=Brill |volume=1 of European expansion and indigenous response, v. 1 |first1=Marina |last1=Carter |first2=James |last2=Ng Foong Kwong |title=Abacus and Mah Jong: Sino-Mauritian Settlement and Economic Consolidation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SN53oTMjAyMC&pg=PA199 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504233417/https://books.google.com/books?id=RtOwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=chinese+shopkeepers+indian+creole+women+mauritius&source=bl&ots=ux4RYxvT3x&sig=ozjqdTOIbdbIVubSnNR1_YEXIz4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3EeUVZu2FcfEsAXp2paYDQ&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=chinese%20shopkeepers%20indian%20creole%20women%20mauritius&f=false |archive-date=2016-05-04 |isbn=978-9004175723 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Nave |first=Ari |title=What Inter-Ethnic Marriage in Mauritius Tells Us about the Nature of Ethnicity |url=http://arinave.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INCORE-Paper-2001-PDF1.pdf |website=AriNave.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518083011/http://arinave.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INCORE-Paper-2001-PDF1.pdf |archive-date=May 18, 2014 |page=15 }}</ref> The 1921 census in Mauritius counted that Indian women there had a total of 148 children fathered by Chinese men.<ref>{{cite book |page=174 |date=2008 |access-date=May 17, 2014 |publisher=Éditions de l'océan Indien |author=Huguette Ly-Tio-Fane Pineo, Edouard Lim Fat |title=From Alien to Citizen: The Integration of the Chinese in Mauritius |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FNswAQAAIAAJ&q=children+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+men+with+women+of+the+general+population+and+148+others+were+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+men+with+Indian+women.+(62)+The+first+signs+of+a+new+culture+born+from+the+symbiosis+of+Eastern+and+... |isbn=978-9990305692 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713031905/https://books.google.com/books?id=FNswAQAAIAAJ&q=children+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+men+with+women+of+the+general+population+and+148+others+were+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+men+with+Indian+women.+(62)+The+first+signs+of+a+new+culture+born+from+the+symbiosis+of+Eastern+and+... |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |page=287 |date=1985 |access-date=May 17, 2014 |publisher=Ed. de l'océan indien |author=Huguette Ly Tio Fane-Pineo |title=Chinese Diaspora in Western Indian Ocean |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3U4MAQAAIAAJ&q=He+thus+recorded+that+in+1921+there+were+386+children+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+with+women+of+the+general+population+and+148+others+were+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+with+Indian+women+(62).+The+first+signs+of+a+new+culture+born+... |isbn=9990305692 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713031906/https://books.google.com/books?id=3U4MAQAAIAAJ&q=He+thus+recorded+that+in+1921+there+were+386+children+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+with+women+of+the+general+population+and+148+others+were+born+from+the+union+of+Chinese+with+Indian+women+(62).+The+first+signs+of+a+new+culture+born+... |url-status=live }}</ref> These [[Chinese immigrants]] were mostly traders.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dinan |first=Monique |date=2002 |access-date=June 1, 2015 |publisher=Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, Ministry of Arts & Culture |title=Mauritius in the Making: Across the Censuses, 1846-2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnawAAAAIAAJ&q=intermarried+cohabited |isbn=9990390460 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713031900/https://books.google.com/books?id=gnawAAAAIAAJ&q=intermarried+cohabited |url-status=live |page=41 }}</ref>


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
Today the population consists of mainly [[Hindus]] with [[Muslim]], [[Christian]], [[Buddhist]] 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 Creole at home. Indo-Mauritian use their ancestral languages mostly in religious activities, some of them include [[Bhojpuri]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Urdu]].
Today the population consists of mainly [[Hindus]] with [[Muslim]], [[Christian]] 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 Creole at home. Indo-Mauritian use their ancestral languages mostly in religious activities, some of them include [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Urdu]].


As from age six, all Mauritian children must learn a third language at school ([[French language|French]] and [[English language|English]] are already compulsory). The languages learnt in decreasing order are [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Telugu language|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 language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] chosen by [[Hindus]] who belong to the respective ethnicities and [[Urdu]] by [[Muslims]] from the [[Indian Subcontinent]].
As from age six, all Mauritian children must learn a third language at school ([[French language|French]] and [[English language|English]] are already compulsory). The languages learnt in decreasing order are [[Hindi]],<ref name="Hindi act">{{Cite web|title=The Hindi-Speaking Union Act – 1994|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/The%20Hindi%20Speaking%20Union%20%20Act%201994.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Urdu]],<ref name="urdu act">{{Cite web|title=The Urdu-Speaking Union Act – 2002|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/The%20Urdu%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202002.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Tamil language|Tamil]],<ref name="tamil act">{{Cite web|title=Tamil-Speaking Union Act – 2008|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Tamil%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202008.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Chinese language|Chinese]],<ref name="chinese act">{{Cite web|title=Chinese-Speaking Union Act – 2011|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Chinese%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202011.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Marathi language|Marathi]]<ref name="marathi act">{{Cite web|title=Marathi-Speaking Union Act – 2008|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Marathi%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202008.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> and [[Telugu language|Telugu]].<ref name="telegu act">{{Cite web|title=Telugu-Speaking Union Act – 2008|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Telugu%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202008.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> Mauritian Creoles can opt for [[Mauritian Creole]] as the third language. Choice is usually based on ethno-religious background with [[Hindi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] chosen by [[Hindus]] who belong to the respective ethnicities and [[Urdu]] by [[Muslims]] from the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/MAURITIUS_Contribution%20to%20A_HRC_46_27.pdf|title=Inputs on Human Rights Council Resolution 46/27 on Combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade (Human Rights Division)|access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref>
 
In addition to these, [[Sanskrit]] and [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] courses are offered by the [[Mahatma Gandhi Institute (Mauritius)|Mahatma Gandhi Institute]].<ref name="sanskrit act">{{Cite web|title=Sanskrit-Speaking Union Act – 2011|url=https://culture.govmu.org/Pages/Legislations/Sanskrit%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202011.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhojpuri-Speaking Union Act – 2011|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Bhojpuri%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202011.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref>
 
[[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], once widely spoken as a mother tongue, has become less commonly spoken over the years. According to the 2022 census, Bhojpuri was spoken by 5.1% of the population compared to 12.1% in 2000.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite journal |last=Mari |first=Will |date=3 July 2021 |title=Editor & Publisher, 1901–2015, Internet Archive |journal=American Journalism |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=381–383 |doi=10.1080/08821127.2021.1949564 |issn=0882-1127 |s2cid=237538061}}</ref><ref name="2011census">{{Cite web|author-link=Statistics Mauritius|title=2011 Population Census – Main Results|url=http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/ESI/pop2011.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111152858/http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/ESI/pop2011.pdf|archive-date=11 November 2017|access-date=11 November 2017|website=Statistics Mauritius}}</ref>


==Indian influence==
==Indian influence==
Indo-Mauritians have influenced Mauritian culture, dominating the economic, public sector<ref name="eco" /> 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 the community. Most Hindu celebrations are public holidays. Indian influence is felt in religion, cuisine and arts. Indian influence is also felt on music wherein the island has its own groups of Bhojpuri and Tamil bands. Indian films are also popular.
Indo-Mauritians have influenced [[Culture of Mauritius|Mauritian culture]], dominating the economic, public sector and political faces of the island.<ref name="eco" /> [[Politics of Mauritius|Mauritian politics]] have been historically dominated by the Indo-Mauritian community<ref>{{Cite web |title=India Mauritius Bilateral Brief |url=https://hcimauritius.gov.in/pages?id=9avme&subid=yb8md&nextid=RdG7d |website=HciMauritius.gov.in |access-date=2024-01-12 |archive-date=2024-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112052512/https://hcimauritius.gov.in/pages?id=9avme&subid=yb8md&nextid=RdG7d |url-status=live }}</ref> 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. Five [[Hinduism in Mauritius|Hindu festivals]] are public holidays. Indian influence is not only felt in [[Religion in Mauritius|religions]], [[Mauritian cuisine|cuisines]] and [[Music of Mauritius|arts]] but also in the local music of the island where it has its own groups of [[Bhojpuri Boys|Bhojpuri]] and Tamil bands.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Servan-Schreiber |first=Catherine |date=2011-01-24 |title=Indian Folk Music and 'Tropical Body Language': The Case of Mauritian Chutney |url=https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3111?amp;id=3111 |journal=South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal |doi=10.4000/samaj.3111 |issn=1960-6060 |doi-access=free |archive-date=2024-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629125939/https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3111?amp;id=3111 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-20 }}</ref> [[Indian films]] from [[Bollywood]] in Hindi and [[Tamil cinema|Kollywood]] in Tamil are also widely popular.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/parties-and-events/stars-arrive-in-mauritius-for-zee-cine-awards-2006/stars-arrive-in-mauritius-for-zee-cine-awards-2006-10/ |title=Stars Arrive in Mauritius for Zee Cine Awards 2006 &#124; Photo of Twinkle Khanna, Akshay Kumar from the Stars Arrive in Mauritius for Zee Cine Awards 2006 Images - Bollywood Hungama |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |archive-date=2024-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713031907/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/themes/bh-theme/page-templates/loadphotos.php |url-status=live |access-date=2022-09-16 }}</ref>
 
==Caste system==
Due to local demographic realities, most notably a [[Vaish]] majority among Hindus and the lack of a clear religious absolute majority in the country, the Indian [[caste system]] was not directly implemented in the Mauritian context. The indentured labour system and the plantation economy further weakened pre existing caste structures.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://journals.openedition.org/assr/25272 |doi=10.4000/assr.25272 |title=Au 'Pays des Vaish'? |date=2013 |last=Claveyrolas |first=Mathieu |journal=[[Archives de sciences sociales des religions]] |volume=163 |issue=163 |pages=191–216 |access-date=2023-12-17 |archive-date=2024-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713031532/https://journals.openedition.org/assr/25272 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Portrait: Atma Doolooa, un chamar fier de l'être |date=8 July 2012 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/portrait-atma-doolooa-chamar-fier-letre/119171/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=2012-07-08 |archive-date=2021-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517101117/https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/portrait-atma-doolooa-chamar-fier-letre/119171/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=G. |first1=R. |title=The fallacy of the caste system in Mauritius |date=7 June 2017 |url=https://lexpress.mu/idee/309149/fallacy-caste-system-mauritius |publisher=L'Express |access-date=2017-06-07 |archive-date=2024-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713031541/https://lexpress.mu/idee/309149/fallacy-caste-system-mauritius |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Hollup |first=Oddvar |title=The Disintegration of Caste and Changing Concepts of Indian Ethnic Identity in Mauritius |journal=Ethnology | volume=33 |issue=4 |date=1994 |pages=297–316 |doi=10.2307/3773901 |jstor=3773901 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Autrefois orateur vedette du MMM: Prem Koonjoo devenu un "ton" |date=2 June 2019 |url=https://lexpress.mu/article/354012/autrefois-orateur-vedette-mmm-prem-koonjoo-devenu-un-ton |publisher=L'Express |access-date=2019-06-02 |archive-date=2019-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607111941/https://www.lexpress.mu/article/354012/autrefois-orateur-vedette-mmm-prem-koonjoo-devenu-un-ton |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Similar caste and sectarian affiliations within [[Caste system among South Asian Muslims|Muslims in South Asia]] are found among Mauritian Muslims.<ref>https://sunnirazvi.net/society/mauritius.htm</ref>
 
From the indian origin [[Chamar]] caste, the locally formed [[Ravived]] subcaste appeared.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://medium.com/@shakunharris/understanding-the-caste-system-in-mauritius-c8fe9468c097 | title=Understanding the caste system in Mauritius | date=6 April 2021 | access-date=8 June 2023 | archive-date=8 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608153100/https://medium.com/@shakunharris/understanding-the-caste-system-in-mauritius-c8fe9468c097 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Journal of Indian research | url=http://mujournal.mewaruniversity.org/JIR%203-4/JIR3-4.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927095123/http://mujournal.mewaruniversity.org/JIR%203-4/JIR3-4.pdf | archive-date=2020-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3886 | doi=10.4000/samaj.3886 | title=The 'Land of the Vaish'? Caste Structure and Ideology in Mauritius | year=2015 | last1=Claveyrolas | first1=Mathieu | journal=South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal | doi-access=free }}</ref>
 
During the 19th century (1834 onward), many [[Dalits]], including [[Chamars]] (leather-working caste), migrated to Mauritius as [[Indian indenture system|indentured laborers]] under [[British rule]]. Those who were followers of [[Guru Ravidas]] began identifying collectively as Ravived to affirm a dignified identity. With time the term 'Ravived' became the preferred name in Mauritius to distance from the derogatory label of 'Chamar.'<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rāmaśaraṇa |first1=Prahlāda |title=Glimpses of the Arya Samaj in Mauritius |date=2001 |publisher=Sarvadeshik Prakashan Limited |url=https://www.google.com.sg/books/edition/Glimpses_of_the_Arya_Samaj_in_Mauritius/_ogRAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=chamars+ravived&dq=chamars+ravived&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Colonial Research Studies |date=1960 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |page=137 |url=https://www.google.com.sg/books/edition/Colonial_Research_Studies/25sdAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=ravidas+ravived&dq=ravidas+ravived&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>


==Notable people==
In the ship records on which Indian laborers migrated to [[Mauritius]], around ten percent of the boarded people mentioned their caste as Chamar. After the establishment of caste hierarchies in Mauritius, the Chamar community families turned to the religious songs of [[Kabir]] and [[Ravidas]] for their own religious outlet. Slowly, they started adopting religious-sounding names from these devotional songs.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Younger |first1=Paul |title=New Homelands: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa |date=30 November 2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-974192-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F0X9eLq57ocC&dq=ravidass+mauritius&pg=PA32 |access-date=30 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Amode Ibrahim Atchia]]
*[[Viveka Babajee]]
*[[Sheila Bappoo]]
*[[Rashid Beebeejaun]]
*[[Sunil Benimadhu]]
*[[Basdeo Bissoondoyal]]
*[[Sookdeo Bissoondoyal]]
*[[Harish Boodhoo]]
*[[Satcam Boolell]]
*[[Dayendranath Burrenchobay]]
*[[Angidi Chettiar]]
*[[Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra]]
*[[Kishore Deerpalsing]]
*[[Alan Ganoo]]
*[[Hurrylall Goburdhun]]
*[[Ramchundur Goburdhun]]
*[[Ameenah Gurib|Ameenah Gurib-Fakim]]
*[[Maya Hanoomanjee]]
*[[Mahesh Jadu]]
*[[Kher Jagatsingh]]
*[[Anerood Jugnauth]]
*[[Pravind Jugnauth]]
*[[Misha Mansoor]]
*[[Abdool Razack Mohamed]]
*[[Prem Nababsing]]
*[[William Newton (Mauritius)|William Newton]]
*[[Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay]]
*[[Navin Ramgoolam]]
*[[Seewoosagur Ramgoolam]]
*[[Veerasamy Ringadoo]]
*[[Prithvirajsing Roopun]]
*[[Rama Sithanen]]
*[[Harry Krishnan Tirvengadum]]
*[[Khal Torabully]]
*[[Cassam Uteem]]
*[[Dev Virahsawmy]]


==Sports==
==Sports==
[[Football (soccer)|Football]] is the most popular sport amongst [[Mauritians]]. [[Vikash Dhorasoo]], who played for [[French football team]], is of Indo-Mauritian origin.
[[Football (soccer)|Football]] is the most popular sport amongst [[Mauritians]]. [[Vikash Dhorasoo]], who played for the [[French football team]], is of Indo-Mauritian origin. His ancestors were [[Telugus]] from [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rao|first=Dasu Kesava|date=22 June 2010|title=Mana boy in world soccer|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Mana-boy-in-world-soccer/article16264445.ece|access-date=22 October 2020|issn=0971-751X|quote=Vikash's Telugu-speaking forefathers hailed from Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh (then part of Madras Presidency), migrated to Shiraz in Iran and then to Mauritius to work on the sugarcane plantations of the paradise islands.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=26 April 2008|title=Footballer Vikash Dhorasoo turns filmmaker|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-footballer-vikash-dhorasoo-turns-filmmaker-1161481|access-date=22 October 2020|website=DNA India|language=en|quote=Dhorasoo, 34, is of Indo-Mauritian extraction, his Telugu-speaking ancestors hailing from Andhra Pradesh.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=16 June 2006|title=Indian connection in World Cup football|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/indian-connection-in-world-cup-football/story-kDWU9Tw4LP7aSWQ8BuijeP.html|access-date=22 October 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=IndianFootball.Com Interview: VIKASH DHORASOO|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/features/interview/interview68.html|access-date=22 October 2020|website=www.indianfootball.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=20 Feb|first=TNN|title=Vikash Dhorasoo's pearls of wisdom {{!}} Football News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Vikash-Dhorasoos-pearls-of-wisdom/articleshow/7531195.cms|access-date=22 October 2020|website=The Times of India|date=20 February 2011 |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Notable people==
{{div col begin}}
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[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]]
* [[Nando Bodha]]
* [[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]]
* [[Dharam Gokhool]]
* [[Ameenah Gurib|Ameenah Gurib-Fakim]]
* [[Maya Hanoomanjee]]
* [[Sudhir Hazareesingh]]
* [[Mahesh Jadu]]
* [[Kher Jagatsingh]]
* [[Kailesh Jagutpal]]
* [[Anerood Jugnauth]]
* [[Lall Jugnauth]]
* [[Pravind Jugnauth]]
* [[Hazel Keech]]
* Visham Komalram ([[Vishwananda]])
* [[Misha Mansoor]]
* [[Abdool Razack Mohamed]]
* [[Shakeel Mohamed]]
* [[Yousuf Mohamed]]
* [[Prem Nababsing]]
* [[William Newton (Mauritius)|William Newton]]
* [[Ananda Devi|Ananda Devi Nirsimloo-Anenden]]
* [[Armoogum Parsooraman]]
* [[Shenaz Patel]]
* [[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]]
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
{{div col end}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Mauritian of African origin]]
* [[Ravived]]
* [[Mauritian of French origin]]
* [[India–Mauritius relations]]
* [[Mauritian of Chinese origin]]
* [[Indian diaspora in Africa]]
* [[Indian diaspora in Southeast Africa]]
* [[Religion in Mauritius]]
* [[Hinduism in Mauritius]]
* [[Islam in Mauritius]]
* [[Christianity in Mauritius]]
* [[Mauritian Creole]]
* [[Mauritian Creole]]
* [[Indian diaspora in Africa]]
* [[Mauritian Creoles|Mauritians of African origin]]
* [[India–Mauritius relations]]
* [[Mauritians of Chinese origin]]
* [[Franco-Mauritians|Mauritians of French origin]]


==Notes and references==
==Notes and references==


===Footnotes===
===Footnotes===
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


===Notations===
===Notations===
{{refbegin}}
{{Refbegin}}
*[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107775.html Mauritius: History, Geography, Government, and Culture]
* [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107775.html Mauritius: History, Geography, Government, and Culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713031536/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertagids&topUrl=www.infoplease.com |date=2024-07-13 }}
*[https://www.patreon.com/sail_oar South Asian Indentured Labor - Online Archive of Research and Resources] - an online archive and living syllabus of text-based resources related to Indian indentureship, with country-specific resources related to Indians indentured to Mauritius
* [https://www.patreon.com/sail_oar South Asian Indentured Labor - Online Archive of Research and Resources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224204306/https://www.patreon.com/sail_oar |date=2019-12-24 }} - an online archive and living syllabus of text-based resources related to Indian indentureship, with country-specific resources related to Indians indentured to Mauritius
{{refend}}
{{Refend}}


{{Mauritius topics}}
{{Mauritius topics}}
{{NRI-PIO}}
{{Indian diaspora}}


<!--Categories-->
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Indian diaspora in Mauritius| ]]
[[Category:Mauritian people of Indian descent| ]]
[[Category:Mauritian people of Indian descent| ]]
[[Category:Indian diaspora in Mauritius| ]]
[[Category:Asian diaspora in Mauritius]]
[[Category:Asian diaspora in Mauritius]]

Latest revision as of 04:38, 29 March 2026


Indo-Mauritians
 Mauritius
Total population
812,769
65.7% of the population of Mauritius (2011[1][2][3])
Languages
Religion
Majority: Hinduism 73.8%
Minority: Islam 26.2%[1]
Related ethnic groups
Bihari Mauritians · Tamil Mauritians · Marathi diaspora · Telugu diaspora · Indian diaspora in Southeast Africa · Indo-Caribbeans · Indo-Fijians · Indian South Africans · Indo-Seychellois · Indian people · Indian diaspora

Indo-Mauritians are Mauritians who trace their ethnic ancestry to the Republic of India or other parts of the Indian subcontinent in South Asia.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

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.[5] These first Indian immigrants came from various parts of India such as Pondicherry, Karikal, Yanaon, Chandernagor 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.[6][7] After the legislative changes of 1767, these Indian immigrants were allowed to start their own businesses, buy land and own slaves.[8]

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.[9] Mauritius thus became the British colony's largest recipient of Indian indentured migrants.[10] Indentured labourers were mostly brought from the Bhojpuri speaking regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with a large number of Tamils, Telugus and Marathis amongst them. The descendants of these indentured labourers make up two-thirds of the island's current population.[11][12]

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 immigrants from Gujarat and Sindh arriving as traders, businessmen, and merchants.[13]

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.[14][15] The 1921 census in Mauritius counted that Indian women there had a total of 148 children fathered by Chinese men.[16][17] These Chinese immigrants were mostly traders.[18]

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Today the population consists of mainly Hindus with Muslim, Christian 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 Creole at home. Indo-Mauritian use their ancestral 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,[19] Urdu,[20] Tamil,[21] Chinese,[22] Marathi[23] and Telugu.[24] 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.[25]

In addition to these, Sanskrit and Bhojpuri courses are offered by the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.[26][27]

Bhojpuri, once widely spoken as a mother tongue, has become less commonly spoken over the years. According to the 2022 census, Bhojpuri was spoken by 5.1% of the population compared to 12.1% in 2000.[28][29]

Indian influence[edit | edit source]

Indo-Mauritians have influenced Mauritian culture, dominating the economic, public sector and political faces of the island.[10] Mauritian politics have been historically dominated by the Indo-Mauritian community[30] 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. Five 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 and Tamil bands.[31] Indian films from Bollywood in Hindi and Kollywood in Tamil are also widely popular.[32]

Caste system[edit | edit source]

Due to local demographic realities, most notably a Vaish majority among Hindus and the lack of a clear religious absolute majority in the country, the Indian caste system was not directly implemented in the Mauritian context. The indentured labour system and the plantation economy further weakened pre existing caste structures.[33][34][35][36][37]

Similar caste and sectarian affiliations within Muslims in South Asia are found among Mauritian Muslims.[38]

From the indian origin Chamar caste, the locally formed Ravived subcaste appeared.[39][40][41]

During the 19th century (1834 onward), many Dalits, including Chamars (leather-working caste), migrated to Mauritius as indentured laborers under British rule. Those who were followers of Guru Ravidas began identifying collectively as Ravived to affirm a dignified identity. With time the term 'Ravived' became the preferred name in Mauritius to distance from the derogatory label of 'Chamar.'[42][43]

In the ship records on which Indian laborers migrated to Mauritius, around ten percent of the boarded people mentioned their caste as Chamar. After the establishment of caste hierarchies in Mauritius, the Chamar community families turned to the religious songs of Kabir and Ravidas for their own religious outlet. Slowly, they started adopting religious-sounding names from these devotional songs.[44]

Sports[edit | edit source]

Football is the most popular sport amongst Mauritians. Vikash Dhorasoo, who played for the French football team, is of Indo-Mauritian origin. His ancestors were Telugus from Andhra Pradesh.[45][46][47][48][49]

Notable people[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes and references[edit | edit source]

Footnotes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/HPC/2011/HPC_TR_Vol2_Demography_Yr11.pdf [dead link]
  2. ↑ Government, India (2012). "Population of Non-resident indians country wise". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ↑ cite journal|journal=Government of India|title=Population of Non-resident Indians country wise|date=2019
  4. ↑ Ravi, Srilata (2010). "Indo-Mauritians: National and Postnational Identities". L'Esprit Créateur. 50 (2): 29–45. ISSN 0014-0767. JSTOR 26289646. Archived from the original on 2024-06-29. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  5. ↑ Srilata Ravi (2010). "Indo-Mauritians: National and Postnational Identities". L'Esprit Créateur. 50 (2): 29–45. doi:10.1353/esp.0.0236. ISSN 1931-0234. S2CID 162237049.
  6. ↑ "Présence des Tamouls dans une Société Pluriethnique et Multiconfessionelle: Le Cas de Maurice". Le Mauricien. 10 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  7. ↑ Boodhoo, Sarita (8 November 2015). "The Tamil Presence in Mauritius". Mauritius Times. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  8. ↑ "Tamouls, les Racines de l'Histoire". L'Express. 5 February 2004. Archived from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2004-02-05.
  9. ↑ Lal, Vinay (2021). "Indo-Mauritians and the Innocents: A Photo Gallery". University of California, Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The legacy of Indian migration to European colonies". The Economist. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  11. ↑ name="eco" />
  12. ↑ "Indo-Mauritians - Hansard - UK Parliament". UK Parliament.
  13. ↑ Younger, Paul (2009). New Homelands: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0199741922. Archived from the original on 2016-05-22. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  14. ↑ Carter, Marina; Ng Foong Kwong, James (2009). Abacus and Mah Jong: Sino-Mauritian Settlement and Economic Consolidation. Vol. 1 of European expansion and indigenous response, v. 1. Brill. p. 199. ISBN 978-9004175723. Archived from the original on 2016-05-04. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  15. ↑ Nave, Ari. "What Inter-Ethnic Marriage in Mauritius Tells Us about the Nature of Ethnicity" (PDF). AriNave.com. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2014.
  16. ↑ Huguette Ly-Tio-Fane Pineo, Edouard Lim Fat (2008). From Alien to Citizen: The Integration of the Chinese in Mauritius. Éditions de l'océan Indien. p. 174. ISBN 978-9990305692. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  17. ↑ Huguette Ly Tio Fane-Pineo (1985). Chinese Diaspora in Western Indian Ocean. Ed. de l'océan indien. p. 287. ISBN 9990305692. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  18. ↑ Dinan, Monique (2002). Mauritius in the Making: Across the Censuses, 1846-2000. Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, Ministry of Arts & Culture. p. 41. ISBN 9990390460. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  19. ↑ "The Hindi-Speaking Union Act – 1994" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "The Urdu-Speaking Union Act – 2002" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Tamil-Speaking Union Act – 2008" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  22. ↑ "Chinese-Speaking Union Act – 2011" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  23. ↑ "Marathi-Speaking Union Act – 2008" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Telugu-Speaking Union Act – 2008" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  25. ↑ "Inputs on Human Rights Council Resolution 46/27 on Combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade (Human Rights Division). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Sanskrit-Speaking Union Act – 2011" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  27. ↑ "Bhojpuri-Speaking Union Act – 2011" (PDF). Ministry of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  28. ↑ Mari, Will (3 July 2021). "Editor & Publisher, 1901–2015, Internet Archive". American Journalism. 38 (3): 381–383. doi:10.1080/08821127.2021.1949564. ISSN 0882-1127. S2CID 237538061.
  29. ↑ "2011 Population Census – Main Results" (PDF). Statistics Mauritius. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  30. ↑ "India Mauritius Bilateral Brief". HciMauritius.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  31. ↑ Servan-Schreiber, Catherine (2011-01-24). "Indian Folk Music and 'Tropical Body Language': The Case of Mauritian Chutney". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal. doi:10.4000/samaj.3111. ISSN 1960-6060. Archived from the original on 2024-06-29. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
  32. ↑ "Stars Arrive in Mauritius for Zee Cine Awards 2006 | Photo of Twinkle Khanna, Akshay Kumar from the Stars Arrive in Mauritius for Zee Cine Awards 2006 Images - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  33. ↑ Claveyrolas, Mathieu (2013). "Au 'Pays des Vaish'?". Archives de sciences sociales des religions. 163 (163): 191–216. doi:10.4000/assr.25272. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  34. ↑ "Portrait: Atma Doolooa, un chamar fier de l'être". Le Mauricien. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  35. ↑ G., R. (7 June 2017). "The fallacy of the caste system in Mauritius". L'Express. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  36. ↑ Hollup, Oddvar (1994). "The Disintegration of Caste and Changing Concepts of Indian Ethnic Identity in Mauritius". Ethnology. 33 (4): 297–316. doi:10.2307/3773901. JSTOR 3773901.
  37. ↑ "Autrefois orateur vedette du MMM: Prem Koonjoo devenu un "ton"". L'Express. 2 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  38. ↑ https://sunnirazvi.net/society/mauritius.htm
  39. ↑ "Understanding the caste system in Mauritius". 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  40. ↑ "Journal of Indian research" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-27.
  41. ↑ Claveyrolas, Mathieu (2015). "The 'Land of the Vaish'? Caste Structure and Ideology in Mauritius". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal. doi:10.4000/samaj.3886.
  42. ↑ Rāmaśaraṇa, Prahlāda (2001). Glimpses of the Arya Samaj in Mauritius. Sarvadeshik Prakashan Limited. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  43. ↑ Colonial Research Studies. H.M. Stationery Office. 1960. p. 137. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  44. ↑ Younger, Paul (30 November 2009). New Homelands: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-974192-2. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  45. ↑ Rao, Dasu Kesava (22 June 2010). "Mana boy in world soccer". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 October 2020. Vikash's Telugu-speaking forefathers hailed from Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh (then part of Madras Presidency), migrated to Shiraz in Iran and then to Mauritius to work on the sugarcane plantations of the paradise islands.
  46. ↑ "Footballer Vikash Dhorasoo turns filmmaker". DNA India. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2020. Dhorasoo, 34, is of Indo-Mauritian extraction, his Telugu-speaking ancestors hailing from Andhra Pradesh.
  47. ↑ "Indian connection in World Cup football". Hindustan Times. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  48. ↑ "IndianFootball.Com Interview: VIKASH DHORASOO". www.indianfootball.de. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  49. ↑ 20 Feb, TNN (20 February 2011). "Vikash Dhorasoo's pearls of wisdom | Football News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

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