Marathi Culture, History and Heritage in Mauritius - Achievements

148 Pages·2012·6.25 MB·English

A Study of Marathi Settlements in Mauritius

Contents
LIST OF FIGURES 5
LIST OF APPENDICES 7
1. INTRODUCTION 8
1.1. Frame of the research 10
1.1.1. Mauritian History 10
1.1.2. Marathi people in Mauritius 12
1.2. Definition of main concepts 15
1.2.1. Identity 15
1.2.2. Ethnicity 15
1.2.3. Culture 16
1.2.4. Multi-ethnicity and multiculturalism 16
1.2.5. Acculturation and assimilation 17
1.2.6. Cultural creolisation and interculturality 17
1.2.7. Preservation 17
1.2.8. Ancestrality 18
1.2.9. Rites 18
1.2.10. Oral traditions 19
1.2.11. Heritage 19
1.2.12. Lieu de mémoire (Memory place) 22
1.3. Methodology 23
1.3.1. Sampling process 23
1.3.2. Research methods 24
1.3.3. Interview guide 24
1.3.4. The team 25
1.3.5. Constraints 27
1.3.6. Treatment of data 28
2. SETTLEMENT OF MARATHI PEOPLE IN MAURITIUS 29
2.1. Marathi migrations 29
2.1.1. Relationships between villages 31
2.2. Memory of settlement 32
2.2.1. Black River District 34
2.2.2. Savanne District 53
2.2.3. Grand Port District 56
2.2.4. Plaines Wilhems District 59
2.2.5. Port Louis District 67
2.2.6. Flacq District 68
2.2.7. Moka District 70

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3. IDENTIFICATION OF SYMBOLIC PLACES 73
3.1. Cultural sites 74
3.1.1. Settlement places 74
3.1.2. Structures and materials 75
3.1.3. Religious sites 75
3.2. Natural sites 77
3.2.1. Planted trees 77
3.2.2. Cave 78
4. LIFESTYLE OF THE PAST 79
4.1. General picture of past lifestyle 79
5. MARATHI INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE 82
5.1. Identity 82
5.2. Language 83
5.3. Community life 84
5.4. Dress 87
5.5. Houses 88
5.6. Food habits 88
5.7. Music, songs, dances 91
5.8. Traditional medicine 92
5.9. Sorcery 93
5.10. Oral traditions 93
5.11. Religious rituals and festivals 94
5.11.1. Iswoti 94
5.11.2. Bhajan 95
5.11.3. Ganpati 95
5.11.4. Jatra 99
5.11.5. Gondal 99
5.11.6. Jaagran 100
5.11.7. Dashawtar 100
5.11.8. Mhaal 100
5.11.9. Nagpanchmi 101
5.11.10. Shivaratree 101
5.11.11. Anushtan 101
5.11.12. Ramjanam 101
5.11.13. Gowri 101
5.11.14. Shani Mahatma 102
5.11.15. Hawan 102
5.11.16. Satsang 102
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5.11.17. Maharashtra & Shivaji Day 102
5.11.18. Others rituals and festivals 102
5.11.19. Barsa and Patchwi 103
5.11.20. Wedding ceremony 104
5.11.21. Death rituals 104
6. CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES 106
7. GLOSSARY 113
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY 119
APPENDICES 122

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Mauritius in the South-West Indian Ocean .......................................................................... 10
Figure 2: Main ports of origin of Indian indentured ........................................................................... 11
Figure 3a: Situation of Maharashtra in India ....................................................................................... 12
Figure 3b: Map of Maharashtra district............................................................................................... 122
Figure 4a:Document from MGI Archives showing the arrival of labourers from the port of Bombay as from
1834………………123
Figure 4b: Photos of Marathi immigrants from PE Series ................................................................ 124
Figure 5: Map of Marathi settlements in Mauritus ............................................................................ 333
Figure 6: Marathi settlements in Black River District ...................................................................... 344
Figure 7: Sketch map of the Gorges .................................................................................................... 366
Figure 8: Basin Zegret ........................................................................................................................... 388
Figure 9: Low stone-walls at Marmite Cassée in the Gorges ........................................................... 389
Figure 10: The “three steps rock” in the Gorges ............................................................................... 40
Figure 11: Kalimay of the Gorges ......................................................................................................... 41
Figure 12: Mandir of Cascavelle .......................................................................................................... 444
Figure 13: Kalimay of La Gaulette ...................................................................................................... 477
Figure 14: Former kalimay of Coteau Raffin ..................................................................................... 477
Figure 15: Kalimay of Coteau Raffin .................................................................................................. 477
Figure 16: Mandir of La Gaulette ........................................................................................................ 477
Figure 17: Le Morne Mountain ............................................................................................................. 488
Figure 18: Map of Staub estate .............................................................................................................. 50
Figure 19: Marathi settlement in Savanne District ........................................................................... 533
Figure 20: Kalimay of Dan Koko .......................................................................................................... 544
Figure 21: Marathi settlement in Grand Port District ...................................................................... 566
Figure 22: Marathi settlement in Plaines Wilhems District ............................................................. 599
Figure 23: Mr Bhiwajee in front of the house of the keeper ............................................................ 61
Figure 24: Mr. Coocaram on the second dam ...................................................................................... 62
Figure 25: Kalimay of Sept Cascades.................................................................................................... 62
Figure 26: Rwiso dimans ....................................................................................................................... 633
Figure 27: Simonet Mountain ............................................................................................................... 633
Figure 28: Installations for the CEB .................................................................................................... 644
Figure 29: Grapefruit tree planted by Mr. Coocaram ...................................................................... 644
Figure 30: Low stone-walls in Sept Cascades .................................................................................... 644
Figure 31: Marathi settlements in Port Louis District ...................................................................... 677
Figure 32: Marathi settlements in Flacq District .............................................................................. 688
Figure 33: Marathi settlements in Moka District ................................................................................. 70
Figure 34: Map of symbolic places ...................................................................................................... 733
Figure 35: Jata (maize crusher) ............................................................................................................ 91
Figure 36: An old marmit ....................................................................................................................... 91
Figure 37: Moorti of Lord Ganesh ....................................................................................................... 977
Figure 38: All the women of the extended family cook together .................................................. 977
Figure 39: Preparation of kanawla ..................................................................................................... 977
Figure 40: Lord Ganesh is settled on the shrine ............................................................................... 977
Figure 41: Mrs. and Mr. Govinda.......................................................................................................... 988
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Figure 42: Devotees praying Lord Ganesh ......................................................................................... 988
Figure 43: Devotees dancing and singing aarti at the arrival in Flic en Flac .............................. 988
Figure 44: Prayers and rituals done in honor of Lord Ganesh ........................................................ 988
Figure 45: Lord Ganesh before the immersion ................................................................................. 988
Figure 46: Bamboo baskets and flags used in jatra ceremonies .................................................... 999
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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix 1 – Guideline ………………………………………………………………………… p.123
Appendix 2 – List of informants ……………………………………………………………… p.126
Appendix 3 – Informant‟s birth place by district …………………………………… p.128
Appendix 4 – Table of informants ………………………………………………………… p.137
Appendix 5 – Family tree of Ittoo Bappoo …………………………………………… p.142
Appendix 6 – Family tree of Chawan Family ………………………………………… p.143
Appendix 7 – Database of immigrants ……………………………………………….. p.144
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A Study of Marathi Settlements in Mauritius

1. INTRODUCTION

This research ordered by the Mauritius Marathi Cultural Centre Trust focused on “A study of
Marathi History and settlement in Mauritius”.

The research aimed at gathering oral and written data pertaining to Marathi settlement patterns
in Mauritius: history of settlement, family history, and identification of first places of Marathi
settlements. It was expected also through the analysis of the generated data to identify a
symbolic place appropriate and acceptable to the community, for the erection of a
commemorative monument marking the arrival of Marathi people in Mauritius.

Moreover, the research was also the opportunity to identify elements of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage of the Marathi community, opening at the same instance a reflection on the perspectives
for future in-depth investigation and analysis of same. It is undeniable that these elements
constitute important means of preserving and promoting the Marathi culture and heritage.

The research was, moreover, founded upon some key questions namely:
1. How did Marathi settlement in Mauritius occur and evolve?
2. Is memory of this settlement still alive amongst the 21st century Marathi people?
3. What can be a symbolic place for Marathi people in Mauritius?
Furthermore, questions relating to cultural identity and heritage were also raised such as:
1. What is the intangible cultural heritage of Marathi people which is part of the cultural
identity of Marathi people?
2. What is the specificity of this cultural identity?
3. Can this identity be surveyed?
4. How is it transmitted through generation?
5. Are there some elements of this heritage that have already disappeared?
This research built on the grounds of methodologies and concepts blending history, oral history,
memory, traditions, heritage and anthropology tries to delve with the above questions.

Structure of the account
The introductory chapter introduces the research: its goals and objectives, domains of the
research, questioning, interests of the research. It further, defines the structure of the research:
historical context, presentation of the Marathi population and definitions of main concepts such as
cultural identity, ancestrality, heritage, memory place and oral traditions. The last section focuses
on the methods used to gather data and for the treatment of data.
The second chapter on Marathi settlement and migrations provides along with an overview of the
main sites Marathi people settled in Mauritius, the different waves of migration. It tries to
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reconstitute a map of settling places and movements of population through the 20th century. Its
objective is to identify a symbolic site for Marathi.
The third chapter describes the lifestyle of the Marathi people in the past. It offers an overview of
social and economic life as it was in the past based on oral history.
Fourth chapter is on intangible cultural heritage, it is an overview trying to launch a list of
domains to be studied in a second phase.
The report concludes with a chapter highlighting further avenues of research and portent of new
perspectives.
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1.1. Frame of the research

To have a better understanding of the subject it is important to situate the frame of the research.
As mentioned in the introduction, this research is touching different domains of research. A
definition of the main concepts used in this research is provided to have a better understanding of
the orientation of the analysis, such as cultural identity, heritage, oral traditions and memory
place.

It is important to first contextualize this population both historically and culturally. Therefore we
will have an overview of the Mauritian historical context and in particular that of Marathi people.
1.1.1. Mauritian History

Figure 1: Mauritius in the South-West Indian Ocean1
The Mauritian society has been formed by different waves of migration since the first colonial
settlement of the Dutch in 1598 to 1710, during French rule from 1715 to 1810 and British rule
from 1810, to the independence of the Island in 1968. The first colons brought slaves mainly from
Africa and Madagascar to work for them for the building of a society on this very strategic island
situated on the South West of the Indian Ocean. At that time, slaves from India were brought in
very small number: only 13% from India (Talingas, Bengalis and Malabars) (Filliot 1989).
Sugar industry was in expansion when, in 1835, the abolition of slavery was declared. Landowners
therefore had to turn to a new source of workers. They opted for indentured labourers. The latter

1 Source : http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/images/Ocean_Indien-carte.gif (Consulted on 21.07.2011)
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