All-weather friend, major trade partner

Over the past 10 years, Mauritius has become a cornerstone of India's maritime strategy that straddles the security, economic and ecological dimensions

- Pankaj Saran

In November 2024, Navin Ramgoolam, scion of the celebrated political family that led Mauritius to freedom from British rule, won a landslide victory in the country's national elections and became prime minister (PM) of the country for the third time. Among his first decisions has been to invite PM Narendra Modi to be the chief guest for Mauritius's National Day on March 12. Last year, under his predecessor and political rival Pravind Jugnauth, it was President Draupadi Murmu who was the chief guest. For PM Modi, it will be his second time as chief guest. India has navigated the complexities of Mauritius society well.

There is something remarkable about India's relations with Mauritius. The simple facts are worthy of repetition to remind ourselves of two things. First, the depth of the close ties and second, the fact that both countries, and specially Mauritius, far from trying to downplay them, wear these links on their sleeves. The date fixed to celebrate the National Day, March 12, for example, has been chosen to pay tribute to the day Mahatma Gandhi began his Dandi March. About 70% of Mauritius's population is of Indian origin, most of whom are Hindus. Mauritius boasts of India's largest overseas culture centre and is the headquarters of the World Hindi Secretariat. There are many more links which date back in time and continue to thrive even today.