

The country became an independent state in March 1968 and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1992. Universal adult suffrage was instituted in March 1959. Mahatma Gandhi visited the island in November of 1901 and encouraged these workers to become more active in issues affecting their well-being.ġ0. They recommended measures that positively affected the lives of those Indo-Mauritian laborers over the next 50 years.ĩ. In 1872 two lawyers were sent from England to form a Royal Commission. The planters then brought in a large number of indentured laborers from India to work the sugar cane fields as well as almost 9,000 Indian soldiers.Ĩ. Description: red represents self-determination and independence, blue the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the islandħ. When slavery was abolished by Parliament in 1835, the planters received compensation for their African slaves. Under British rule Mauritius became the Empire’s main sugar-producing colony. The French settlers were allowed to keep their land, French language and French laws.Ħ. Though the French won the naval battle of Grand Port, the British forced the surrender of the island three months later in December 1810. As an important base on the trade routes from Europe to the East before the opening of the Suez Canal, it was fought over by the French and British during the Napoleonic years.ĥ.

Due to its strategic position, the island was known as the “star and key” of the Indian Ocean.Ĥ. Five years later the island became a French colony named Isle de France. This colony lasted until abandoned in 1710.ģ. The Dutch Republic established a colony in 1638, naming it after Prince Maurice van Nassau. The Portuguese came next, calling the island Cine. Mauritius was uninhabited by humans until the Arabs landed there in the Middle Ages. Read on for 53 interesting facts about Mauritius and learn more about its history, culture, people, economy, tourism, and more. With wonderful sandy beaches, coral reefs, forested mountains and beautiful national parks and gardens, there is much to see and do on a vacation here. In the Indian Ocean over a thousand miles from the southeastern coast of Africa is the gorgeous island of Mauritius.
