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Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden
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About Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
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A
b
out Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR)
(September 18, 1900 - December 15, 1985)
GCMG
,
LRCP
,
MRCS
, often referred to as “Chacha Ramgoolam”(uncle), was a
Mauritian
politician
,
statesman
and
philanthropist
. He was a leader in the Mauritian independence movement, and served as the first
Chief Minister
and
Prime Minister
of Mauritius, as well as its sixth
Governor General
. SSR fought for the rights of labourers and led Mauritius to independence in 1968. As Mauritius' first Prime Minister, he played a crucial role in shaping modern Mauritius’ government, political culture and foreign policy. He worked for the emancipation of the Mauritian population, established
free universal education
and
free health care
services, and introduced
old age pensions
. He is known as the "Father of the Nation".
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, known as Kewal as a child, was born on 18 September 1900 at Belle Rive, Mauritius, in the
district
of
Flacq
.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam served as Chief Minister from 1961 to 1968, he was
knighted
on 12
th
June 1965. He became Prime Minister from 1968 until 1982 and lastly as Governor General from 1983 to 1985. He is known as the "Father of the Nation". Amidst much decolonisation, he led Mauritius to independence from the
United Kingdom
in 1968.
He died in office, on 15 December 1985, at the
State House
due to health complications. His funeral rites were performed at the then Pamplemousses Botanical Garden on 17
th
December 1985.
In memory of SSR, various streets in Mauritius and public places bear the name of SSR, as well as his portrait on every Mauritian coin and on the highest note tender of
Rs
2,000.
It was on these lines that the Pamplemousses Botanical garden was renamed after this illustrious son of Mauritius as Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic garden on the 18
th
September 1988. A funerary monument has been erected at the
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden
on the exact place where the Father of the Nation was cremated according to the Hindu tradition.
Further reading:
ssr.intnet.mu
