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Aapravasi Ghat in Mauritius

Aapravasi Ghat in Mauritius

or Immigration Square
They came through sea to work, mostly as plantation workers in sugarcane fields and set their first step on Mauritian soil at this historic place in Port Louis harbor, in the capital of Mauritius. It was on this particular site that, they also spent their first two days in Mauritius before being registered and sent to work.

Aapravasi Ghat @lemonicks.com

The Memorial.

Literally translated in Hindi, Aapravasi Ghat (अप्रवासी घाट) means Immigration Depot. The meaning of ghat is “interface”, reflecting its position between the land and sea, and marking a transition between old and new life for the arriving immigrants. The prospective plantation workers were also called coolies and so the Immigration Depot had an older name, the Coolie Ghat.
The prominent use of Hindi language in Mauritian naming conventions is because of social and ethnic demographics, with over half of the national population having Indian lineage.

aapravasi Ghat mauritius @lemonicks.com

The Aapravasi Ghat or “the landing place of the immigrants” is a powerful symbol of the global migration & historical bond which exists between Mauritius and India and was declared a UNESCO‘s World Heritage Site in 2006. It serves as a shining beacon to the rest of the region and the world.

Mauritius Aapravasi Ghat @lemonicks.com

All immigrants were registered and photographed after disembarkation. These archives have been saved, and are now in the Indian Immigration Archives of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The labourers’ five years contracts provided details of their terms of employment and outlined their general standard of living such as wage rates, working hours, type of work, rations, housing and medical care.

Besides Africa, China, these indentured labourers originated mainly from Eastern part of India. From 1849 to 1923, it was at this place these brave immigrants congregated together as a mini community, cooked their food, sang their songs, told their stories and said the prayers together. Once the indentured labour was abolished in 1923 & their contracts ended, they chose to stay on to make this land their new home. Lifelong harmonious friendships between families were blossomed & continued over several generations.

Mauritius Aapravasi Ghat @lemonicks.com

From the outside the complex looks like the remains of a fortress. After the end of the indentured labor system in the 1920’s, parts of the depot were gradually destroyed by the government and then by a cyclone. Only the partial remains of three stone buildings from the entire complex have survived and are now protected as a national monument.
As I moved around, I noticed it includes sheds for immigrants, quarters for officers, a small hospital and offices. The best preserved parts are the lavatories & baths for the immigrants.

Mauritius Aapravasi Ghat @lemonicks.com

Mauritius Aapravasi Ghat @lemonicks.com

Mauritius Aapravasi Ghat @lemonicks.com

A stone stove in the community kitchen.

It was through the Indian immigrants and their descendants’ toil, determination and sheer physical endurance that this small Indian Ocean island, called Mauritius, was transformed into the most important exporter of sugar in the British Empire during the 19th century.
“We are the proud descendants of these indentured immigrants, we carry their names, their blood flows through our veins and they form an integral of our identity. Their history is our history and our history is a continuation of their history.” This is precisely being commemorated and emphasized at the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site every year on 16th July, by the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund.

Travel Tip- Entrance to the site is free, so is the guided tour. The place is near the chic Caudan Waterfront in Port Luis.

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17 thoughts on “Aapravasi Ghat in Mauritius”

  1. Very nice read, It inspired me. I am a history lover, I take it The Aapravasi Ghat is like our Ellis Island here in the States. Ellis Island is where all the immigrants entered the USA.

  2. Very nice interesting read & very much into history. I have not been there but will read all your posts when I go there.

    Thanks for making us aware of Mauritian history.

  3. Barry,
    Thank you. I am glad that you liked it. I also like these kind of history where one learns so much about the struggle they faced.

    Not been to Ellis Island, will go when I visit US again.

  4. I love UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and this one is nothing short of amazing from how you describe it. There’s so much history in the the Aapravasi Ghat itself. I love the shining beacon part!

  5. This place was so insightful – so full of hope and yet despair. 🙁 I would have loved to do that museum which unfortunately, we missed. Lovely post, Nisha. Loved all your shots of this place.

  6. I had no idea there was such a strong Indian history in Mauritius…I really don’t know much about the country at all! I’ll definitely have to check out Aapravasi Ghat whenever I visit!

  7. Very interesting! My cousin’s husband is from Mauritius so I knew there was a large Indian population but I didn’t know the history of how and why they landed there. Thanks for sharing this bit of history!

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