While Port Louis paints itself red with flags and posters to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, glimpses of his October 1998 visit to Mauritius have cropped up. The then BJP National General Secretary had visited the island nation to speak at the International Ramayana Conference in Moka.
Mauritius holds a special connection with India, as a significant portion of its population traces its roots back to India. “As PM Modi revisits Mauritius, it feels like a homecoming to Mini India,” stated the X handle Modi Archive.
PM Modi’s 1998 Mauritius Visit: Strengthening Cultural Ties
On his 1998 tour, Modi stressed the common history, language, and cultural affinity between India and Mauritius. Addressing the International Ramayana Conference, he underscored the universal lessons of Lord Ram and how the Ramayana serves as a bridge binding both countries together.
Modi also met with important Mauritian leaders, such as then-President Cassam Uteem, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and Leader of the Opposition Sir Anerood Jugnauth. His visit was not just about official meetings. He toured Mauritius, bonding with its people and history, and visited the holy Ganga Talao, where Hindu practices flourish outside India.
The Modi Archive blog added, “PM Modi’s 1998 visit was not limited to official meetings. He took the time to understand the land, its history, and its people and also visited the sacred Ganga Talao, where he witnessed how Hindu traditions continue to thrive outside India.”
Returning to Sacred and Historical Places in Mauritius
While visiting, Modi honored Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the Father of the Nation, at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden. He also ventured to explore the natural marvels of Mauritius, such as the Seven Coloured Earths of Chamarel and the Chamarel Waterfall.
Seventeen years had passed when, in 2015, Modi again visited Mauritius, where he stood at Ganga Talao and paid his respects to Maa Ganga. In his 2015 Mauritius National Day speech, he stated, “Brothers and sisters, to know whether a mango crop is good, one does not need to check every single fruit. Just tasting one or two is enough to understand the quality of the entire harvest. Similarly, if the world looks at Mauritius, they can see a glimpse of what India is like. What will the people of India be like? If the sample is so extraordinary, imagine the greatness of the entire nation!”
PM Modi’s 2024 Visit: Strengthening Bilateral Ties
PM Modi is now set for a two-day visit to Mauritius, this time as India’s Prime Minister. He will be the chief guest at the island nation’s 57th National Day celebrations. A contingent of Indian armed forces, an Indian Navy warship, and the Akash Ganga skydiving team of the Indian Air Force will participate in the event.
On this visit, he will once again go to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden to pay tribute to the deceased leader. He will also greet the new President of Mauritius, Dharambeer Gokhool, and engage in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Ramgoolam. There will be other political meetings as well.
New Agreements and Infrastructure Projects
India and Mauritius will sign a number of agreements to boost bilateral ties. PM Modi will also open more than 20 India-funded projects aimed at capacity building and community-associated infrastructure. He will also launch new major infrastructure projects with a view to deepening democracy in the Southeast African island nation.
With a legacy of fostering deep-rooted cultural and diplomatic ties, PM Modi’s visit marks yet another chapter in the enduring friendship between India and Mauritius.
