77

Unit 4 Celebratine independence

Mauritius - The Star and Key of the Indian Ocean
Why was Mauritius ideally located in the Indian Ocean?
(i) Because it was a good stop-over for Europeans sailors.
(11) Because it was an important trading centre through the exchange of goods
by traders in Port-Louis.

Mauritius had two good harbours. Where were they situated?

(i) Grand Port in the South-East.
(ii) Port-Louis in the North-West.

. When did Port-Louis become an important port and town?

In the 19" century by the end of the French period.
. Give two reasons why Port-Louis was important for
the French.
(1) Many ships from Europe came to trade.
(ii) They sold and exchanged goods with the traders.

(a) How did the French use Ile de France?

The French used Ile de France as a naval base.

(b) Why did the French use Ile de France as a naval base?
the British.
They used Ile de France as a naval base to fight
The French and British fought a naval battle in 1810.

How is this battle known as?

EateofGrand Por
(a)
The battle of Grand Port.

(b) Who won the naval battle?

The French won the naval battle.

(c) What did the British do after the naval battle?

The British went to Rodrigues where they planned
to attack the French.

(d) What was the name given to the island after the British captured it in November 1810?
The British gave it the name Mauritius.

Mauritius An important British Colony in the 19th Century

When did the British take possession of Mauritius?
The British took possession of Mauritius in 1810.

What did Mauritius become?

.
Mauritius became a British Colony

Why were Indian indentured labourers brought to Mauritius?

cane fields.
To work in the sugar
 78

4. What happened with the arrival of indentured labourers?

i) The sugar produced increased.

(1) Mauritius became one of the biggest producers in the British EmpuC

Where was sugar exported'

Sugar was exported to England and other countries.

6. What did the sale of sugar bring to Mauritius?

The sale of sugar brought much revenue to Mauritius.

Why was Port-Louis an import port in the Indian Occan?

Because trade increased.

(a) Continent X : Africa.

Continent Y: Asia.
(b) (i) Country C where the indentured
labourers came: India. MAUPITIUSS

(ii) Three ports from where indentured

labourers were brought:
(iii) Madras.
(i) Bombay. (ii) Calcutta.

(c) One sentence to explain why Mauritius was known as the Star and Key of
the Indian Ocean
Because of the increasing number of Europeans sailors and traders calling at Port-Louis.

A. Mauritius An independent country

The end of the British rule in Mauritius.

What did Britain have in different parts of the world?

Britain had many colonies in different parts of the world.

. Name a few colonies ruled by Britain.

i) Mauritius. ii) Seychelles. (ii) Singapore.
(iv) India. (V) Australia. (vi) South Africa.
3. When was Britain engaged in many wars?
In the 19" century Britain was engaged in many wars.

What did Britain find out after the wars?

Britain found out that it was very costly to rule over the colonies.

5. What did people in the colonies want?

People in the colonies wanted their country to be
independent.
6. When did the colonies get their independence?
In the 20h century.

B. Independent Mauritius
What did people believe in Mauritius?
Many people believed that they could govern the country.
Indentured labourer
 79

Name one person who wanted Mauritius to have its

independence from Britain.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam wanted Mauritius to have its
independence.
Why did people want Mauritius to have its
independence from Britain?
Because Mauritius was a British colony.
. What did Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam provide for people to
have a better life?
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam provided them with
education and health facilities. Sir S. Ramgoolam

Some people believed that Mauritius should remain a British colony. Who was their
5.
leader?
Their leader was Sir Gäetan Duval, a lawyer.
What was organized to decide either to remain a British
6.
colony or to be an independent country?
An election was organ1zed.

1. Who won the election?

The people who wanted to be an independent country
won the election.

When did Mauritius become an independent country? Sir G. Duval

(a)
Mauritius became an independent country on March 12, 1968.

(b) Who was the first Prime Minister of Mauritius?

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was the first Prime Minister of Mauritius.

9.
Name a few personalities who worked with Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam in the process of
Mauritius obtaining its independence.
Sir Abdool Rajack Mohamed. (ii) Bissoondoyal brothers.
i)
What happens after Mauritius became independent?
10.
Gäetan Duval
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Sir
worked together to develop the country.

Where the independence ceremony hall? Union Jack

11. was

The independence ceremony held was at the

Champ de Mars in Port-Louis.

12. How was the British flag called?

Union Jack.

eminent personalities who attended

13 Name the two
ceremony at
the Champ de Mars.
the flag
Rennie who represented the Queen of Britain. Mauritian Flag
(i) Sir John Shaw
Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius.
(ii) Sir Seewoosagur
 80

14. (a) Who was the Head of the state of Mauritius?

The Queen of Britain was the Hcad ofthe State
(b) Who represented the Queen of Britain as the Hecad of the State?
The Governor General represented the Queen of State.

(c) Who was the first Governor General of Independent Mauritius

Sir John Shaw Rennie was the first Governor General of Mauritius.

(d) Name the first Mauritian Governor General.

Sir Abdool Raman Osman. (1972-1977).

15. When did Mauritius become a

Republic?
Mauritius became a Republic in 1992.

16. What changes occurred when Mauritius becomne

a Republic?
The Queen was no longer the Head of State.
A President was
appointed.
17. Who became the First President of the Republic of Mauritius? Sir V. Ringadoo
Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo was the First President of the Republie of Mauritius.

18. (a) When are Independence Day and Republic Day celebrated?
Both Independenee Day and Republie Day are eelebrated on 12 March.

(b) How is it known?

It is known as the National Day.

19 Give the names of the other Governor Generals of Mauritius.

(i) Sir D. Burrenchobay (1979-1983).
(ii) Sir S. Ramgoolam (1983-1985).
(ii) Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo (1986-1992).

20. Presidents of the Republic since 1992.

Sir Veerasamy Sir Cassam Karl Offiman Sir Kailash Sir Aneerood
Ringadoo Uteem
Purryag Jugnauth

National Symbols of Mauritius

1. What are national symbols?

Symbols which represent a country are national symbols.

When are national symbols used?

National symbols are used during important events to represent the country.
 81

3 Name the national

symbols of a country.
(i) Its flag. i) The national Anthem.
Some countries have different (iii) The Coat of Arms.
features as their national
(i) Bird. (ii) Animals. symbol.
(ii) Plants. (iv) Flowers.
Name the national flower
of Mauritius.
Trochetia Boutoniana (Boucle
d'oreille).
6. When did Mauritius have
its own
Mauritius had its own National National flag?
flag in 1968.
1. Name the colours of the
Red, Blue, Yellow and flag.
Green.
8. Name 2 places where
we can see
(a) At schools. the National flag.
(b) At police stations.
9. (a) What does each colour
of the flag
the strugglerepresent?
Red colour
Blue colour represents for frecdom and
Yellow colour
represents the Indian Ocean in independence.
which Mauritius is located.
Green colour represents the golden sunshine and the bright future of
represents the abundant the nation.
(b) Write one sentence to vegetation on the island.
describe the
The National
flag develops a senseimportance
of
of the National
flag.
10 (a) What is the name of the belonging and citizenship to one's
National Anthem of country.
Motherland is the National Mauritius.
Anthem of Mauritius.
(b) Who wrote the National
Jean Georges Anthem of Mauritius?
Prosper wrote the National Anthem of Mauritius.
(c) Who composed the
music for the National
The music for the Anthem?
National Anthem was
composed by Philippe
Coat of Arms Gentil
1
Why do we have a Coat of Arms?
Because a Coat of Arms is
a country.
a
symbol that represents
The Coat of Arms
distinguishes it from another
2. (a) What are the different country.
Coat of Arms of
features on the
Mauritius?
The Coat of Arms STR
of Mauritius consists of a AVISQUE MARIS INDIC
a deer
supporting sugarcane and a dodo and
shield. Coat of Arms
(b) What do the of Mauritius
features the Coat of
on
The features on the Arms
Coat of Arms represent?
Mauritius since the represent
beginning settlement.an event related to the
of
. (a) Into how many history of
parts has the shield
Four sections known as been divided?
quarters.
 82

(b) (1) The ship in the first quarter rcfers to Europcan sailors travelling in
the Indian Occan.

(ii) The second quarter shows three

palm trees for tropical vegetation.
The three palm trees also represent the three dependencies of Mauritius
Chagos Archipelago, Rodrigues, Agalega.
(iii) The third quarter: The Key symbolizes the importance of the island
(iv) The fourth quarter shows the island as a star of the Indian Ocean.

(c) The extinct dodo and sambar deer s ymbolizes the extinct and present wildlife.

(d) The two sugarcanes show the

importance of sugar to the local economny.
What does the motto "Stella
Clavisque Maris Indici" mean?
Stella Clavisque Maris Indici" means
"Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.
5. Name the features on the Coat of Arms which show that the Dutch came to our island.
(i) Sugarcane. (ii) Dodo. (iii) Deer.
Why are sugar canes shown on both sides of the Coat of Arms?
Sugar canes brought by Dutch is important for the economy of Mauritius.
(a) The third and fourth quarters of the Coat of arms show a "key" and a
"star
What do they represent?
Key: Indicates the importance of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
Star: The Star shows Mauritius as a star in the Indian
Ocean.
(b) Which other feature of the Coat of Arms confirms the above idea?
The ship.

The National Flower

. Name the National Flower of Mauritius.
Trochetia Boutoniana (Boucle d'Oreille)
is the National Flower of Mauritius.

When was it declared the National Flower of Mauritius?

When Mauritius became a Republic on 12th March
1992,
Trochetia Boutoniana was declared the National Flower.

(a) After whom was the flower named?

The flower was named after a French botanist, Louis Bouton.
(b) Is this flower found only in Mauritius?
Yes. Trochetia Boutonania is an endemic flower to Mauritius.
(c) What is the colour of the flower?
Orange-red flower.
(d) In which season does it flower?
In the winter season. (From June to October)
 83

Rodrigues Island
1. Does Rodrigues fornm part of the Republic of Mauritius?
Yes. Rodrigues forms part of the Republic of Mauritius.

(a) When was Rodrigues Regional Assembly set up?

A
Rodrigues Regional Assembly was set up in 2002. RODR
B&GKONA
KSEMBLY
(b) Why was Rodrigues Regional Assembly set up?
To give more autonomy to the people of Rodrigues.
(c) Why was more autonomy given to Rodrigues through
the setting up of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly?
Because the Assembly has the authority to make laws specific to Rodrigues and to take
certain administrative decisions.

Coat of Arms: Rodrigues

1. (i) Two birds are shown on the Coat of Arms.

Name them.

(a) Solitaire. (b) Fauvette de Rodrigues.

(ii) Can you think why these two birds were chosen?
Because it symbolizes the extinet and present wildlife.

(ii) Write one sentence about each bird.

The extinct Solitaire reminds us of the importance of Coat of Arms of Rodrigues
the protection of the natural environment.

La Fauvette de Rodrigues is an endemic bird on the verge of extinction.

) Name the three features on the Coat of Arms that represents the products of Rodrigues.
(a) Maize. (b) Fish. (c) Basketry.

Gi) Write one sentence to explain why these products are illustrated on the Coat of Arms.
These products show the vision of prosperity,
abundance and creativity.

Name the flower shown on the Coat of Arms of

3.
Rodrigues Island.

Hibiscus Flower.

The scroll on the Coat of Arms reads:

4.
Travail, Solidarité, Fierté, means Work
Solidarity and Pride.