Mauritians are found scattered across the four corners of the world. As always as far as possible they get together on the 12^th of March to celebrate Independence Day of Mauritius.

This year to mark the 40^th anniversary a special effort by members of the Benevolent Society of Mauritians in Scotland (BSMS) founded some 25 years ago was given a special boost and support by a well-known Mauritian businessman, Mr Dev Fowdar. He sponsored practically every thing needed to celebrate this occasion. Carmichael Hall in Giffnock, Glasgow was booked for the occasion and special guest singers and musicians (Sona Noyan & Co) from Mauritius were flown to Scotland at his own expenses.

With his financial assistance the BSMS organised a Dinner Dance on the 12^th of April within the Mauritian Independence celebration programme to raise fund to support two charity organisations; i.e. the BSMS itself and the Ramalingar Illam, a Day Care Centre at St Croix, in Mauritius. The Day Care Centre’s representative in Scotland is Mr Diva Sockalingum, a member of BSMS; he has already raised some fund for this centre with the support of his Scots and Mauritians friends here through an earlier Dinner Dance project.

• The benevolence and largess of Dev Fowdar is well-known in Scotland; he has wide contacts and connections through his business that have equally come to his assistance to make this occasion a success. Mr Dev Fowdar, a progressive Mauritian business man based in Glasgow. Dev has always had a keen interest in helping the community and has been actively involved in raising funds for the local Hindu temple, the purchase of a mobile medical unit in Gujarat and in contributing to the construction of a temple at Grand Bassin, Mauritius.  Dev Fowdar of Thistle Healthcare won the businessman of the year not so long ago; this man came to Britain from Mauritius with £25 and today employs about 700 staff. He is one of the Directors of the Scottish Academy of Asian Arts. He has recently set up a website for the BSMS; see www.mauriscot.org.

Mauritians here as elsewhere feel passionately about their motherland. They are prepared to make sacrifice in order to improve the lots of our brothers and sisters in Mauritius. Marking the 40^th Independence Day of our motherland in this way is worth doing to demonstrate unity and harmony that exist among us in Scotland; we hope that this very sentiment prevails at all times in our motherland as a mark of greatness in all walks of life.

• Many individuals and organizations have made donation and sponsored the event in either catering, printing/advertising, provision of transport, items for raffle, running the auction,etc. Among them are:
• Ian Johnstone of Blackcase Internet Solutions
• Sonah Singh of Bombay Blues
• DJs Bobby B & Jay Jagpal
• Hassan of Safran Catering
• Gloria & Harry Stewart of Clan Contract
• Rickey Poorun of VisionCall
• Narud & Ruma Fowdar of Corstorphine Hotels
• Nanda Appadoo of Northumberland Hotels

Although ticket was £20 per person friends from distant parts of England also travelled to Glasgow to participate in this Glasgow gathering. The event started at 6.30pm with a short welcome speech by Usha Devi Fowdar (Dev’s daughter); the National Anthem of Mauritius was sung by several Ladies and Members of BSMS. This was followed by a speech from Mr Alex Mackie, Provost of East Renfrewshire  and later the vote of thanks was delivered by the BSMS Chairman, Mr Laval Grenade. By midnight the event came to an end having been entertained by Sona Noyan and Co, one of Mauritian's most popular singers with bhojpuri songs and segas, not forgetting Scotland 's best Asian DJs, Bobby B & Jay Jagpal. The audience of over 200 people danced to their favourite music. The Provost and his wife joined in the Séga dancing along with a whole host of Scottish friends.

Mauritius High Commissioner who has been contacted failed to respond to attend the event or even to send a message on the occasion. This was noted by all those present.  However, Mr Krish Veeramah and his wife, Santa, Editor and Publisher of Mauritian Abroad, from Kent did grace the event with their presence and generous donation. In his message of support to the BSMS he expressed his deepest appreciation for the work and effort of the members of BSMS, thanked them on behalf of so many for all the help and support they have provided, “ and congratulated all of them for such remarkable achievement”. Krish also presented a special award to BSMS for the patriotic service to the community; this was received by Mr Laval Grenade, Founder Member and President.

Mauritian Flags side by side with the Scottish ones were very visible in the hall. Some members were even wearing the Scottish tartan kilt; others, the Fowdars were wearing specially designed tartan suit made out in the colours of the Mauritian flag. This is patented as Fowdar Tartan in Scotland; such is the patriotism and fervour of our community here. The Scottish Executive Motto: “One nation and many cultures” seem to sit very well with the Mauritians here.

As I moved around the Hall I met many old friends who had travelled to Scotland to be part of this remarkable event. Each one had a special story to tell and talked of the progress made by Mauritius over the 40 years since independence. Others drew my attention to the comments of Dr Navin Ramgoolam, our Prime Minister when he spoke to the Financial Times on the eve of the island’s independence anniversary, recalling how, in the 1960s, Mauritius had been written off as a “doomed island” by James Meade, the British economist and Nobel prize-winner, while an American Expert had predicted a future of “famines, epidemics and martial law”.

 Another one commented on our Prime Minister’s hope for the future economic future of our paradise island: “We have managed to turn things around, even though we don’t have huge natural resources. Gross domestic product grew 6.3 per cent last year and in 2008 we are expecting 7 per cent.”  I share this sentiment and vision.

Everyone I spoke to was full of praise for he efforts and support by Dev Fowdar and Family in helping BSMS to mark the 40^th Mauritian Independence Day with such an event and at the same time to raise substantial fund for BSMS and the Day Care Centre, Ramalingar Illam, in Mauritius.

Mauritius has managed to maintain a free and stable democracy. The Mauritian Leader explains the country’s long tradition of political freedom is “ingrained in our culture – an open society, a free people are used to going to the ballot box and deciding whom they want to govern”. The strong constitution of Mauritius with its protection of human rights has also played an important part in the democratic process, stated Dr. Ramgoolam. “However, fair distribution of wealth - preventing the rich from getting richer and the poor from getting poorer - the strict observance of human rights, protection of freedom of the individual and restraining police brutality, and equal opportunities for all, are major challenges that democratic Mauritius has to face,” observed Mauritius News editor with whom we fully agree (March).