Telugus in Mauritius: A Story of Resilience & Legacy

vk_hyd · March 13

@ProtoTelugu Telugus in Mauritius

: A Story of Resilience & Legacy They arrived on Mauritian shores with dreams, knowing only Telugu - no English, no French. Yet, they didn’t just survive, they thrived. A true story of Telugu resilience(ఓం).

In 1835, the British abolished slavery, but plantations still needed labor. Their solution? Indentured labor - under which labourers were recruited on contract basis for 5 or more years in return for wages, land. This brought thousands of indians-including Telugus to #Mauritius

Telugus began migrating to Mauritius in 1836. Most came from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East & West Godavari, Krishna districts, also from Ganjam (now Odisha). Some also hailed from Guntur, Nellore & Cuddapah. They boarded ships from Chenna Patnam(Chennai).

What were Telugus called in Mauritius? Korenghis/Coranghess – Named after Koringa Port, from where most of the north andhra Telugus boarded ships. This port was lost in an 1839 deadly cyclone. Telengoos – A term used by Tamils.

Bankola: a tall relic from glorious past of Coringa trading post

From thehindu.com

Surviving the Fields: Plantation life was brutal. Landowners controlled their work, wages, & homes. Yet, they resisted. They spoke Telugu among them, sang folk songs at dusk, & built small temples in hidden corners - preserving their heritage against all odds.

Telugu Language: A Revival from the Brink of Extinction By the 1900s, most first-generation immigrants had spent their lives in Mauritius. Their children, however, spoke Creole & French more than Telugu. The fear loomed - would Telugu vanish in another generation?

Pydiah recognized that Telugus needed organized efforts to preserve their language & culture. In 1940s he wrote to Trilinga & Andhra Patrika newspapers in Andhra, appealing for religious missionaries to come & support the Telugu community in Mauritius.

His efforts bore fruit. In 1947, the Mauritius Andhra Maha Sabha (MAMS) was founded. Leaders worked tirelessly to: - Open Telugu schools - Establish temples - Unite Telugus across Mauritius https://g.co/kgs/R7i6Up5

In 1958, the Mauritian government officially introduced Telugu in primary schools. Telugu didn’t just survive - it was formally recognized & taught to future generations.

Even after two centuries, Mauritian Telugus continue preserving their culture through: Festivals – Ugadi, Ammoru Pandaga, Ramabhajanam, Sankranti Dance – Kuchipudi, Perini Sivatandavam Music – Annamayya, Tyagaraja, Ramadasu kirtanas Attire – Thali, Metlu, Jada Koppu, XXXXX Voni

Today, Telugus in Mauritius stand as a testament to resilience, sacrifice & survival. The Mauritius Andhra Maha Sabha, Mauritius Telugu Cultural Center Trust remains their beacon, ensuring Telugu heritage thrives across generations. http://mtelugucct.com/home,1.html