Reminiscences of an Immigrant: Struggles and Achievements Sam Lingayah Published by Pro Bono Books, 2008 ISBN 978-0-9542872-2-1 317 pages, £10 + p&p. £3 Distributed by Gardners Books: www.gardners.com Copies also available from S. Lingayah, 38 Kimberley Rd. London N17 9BJ, Tel. O20 8801 8343 Shortly also From Le Printemps, Mauritius, at Rs 700.

The approach used in writing this book is down-to-earth without any academic pretensions. It is primarily seeking to convey events as experienced, with all the raw feelings, frustration, anger and hopelessness, as aroused at specific times and occasions in the author’s quest for his dreams and goals. Reviewers’ Comments “Dr Sam Lingayah’s Reminiscences has described the unfolding of a human drama in its rawest and purest form. Prof. Roger Haw, Ansted University.” “This is a story of our time that should be read by all who decry immigrants and immigration. Sam Lingayah’s story of his life from day labourer to retired Social Worker with PhD is proof of the achievements of a liberal British state and condemnation of recent policies shutting down access to such opportunities. Today [a student without formal qualifications could not do this] and that is a measure of the way we have moved backwards rather than forwards as a civilised nation”. Prof. Tim Butler, King’s College London. A Child Labourer’s Quest for Social Justice Sam Lingayah, born into a working class family in a superstition-dominated close community, where he developed an acute observation and consciousness of social injustice from an early age during his experiences as a child labourer. He began to question the fact that why his and other working class’s parents could never make ends meet, despite hard work and sacrifices. Viewing this as a monstrous injustice, he embarked on a long gruelling journey, vowing to challenge it. Child Labourer to British Soldier Failing to resolve the problem in his community, Sam left home in order to serve apprenticeships in greengrocery and also attempting to learn to drive a bulldozer. Unable to accept deeply rooted tradition of his community, he was dubbed as a maverick, an influenced to be avoided by his peers. This status was confirmed by the ultimate outrage of joining the British army on his 18th birthday and served overseas. To his great surprise, it was during the army service in the Middle East that he discovered the key to overcoming the indignity of poverty but also his potential for self-development for greater things in life. The Indian Odyssey Demobilised from the army after a three-year service, the impatient Sam betrayed his parents’ trust in trying to implement his education programme in India. His father’s sudden death severely interrupted financial support. Unable to pay college fee, he was expelled. Destitute, he encountered some physical violence in Bombay; expulsion from Gandhi’s ashram; and, experiencing a relapse of depression, lost faith in life’s worthiness.

This year as Mauritius is getting ready to celebrate its 40th Independence Day the leader of MSM is talking of bringing back capital punishment. He believes society in general is facing tremendous changes and that a all kinds of crimes are on the increase. This is affecting our civilized way of life. His only solution is bring back capital punishment to deal with those who commit serious crimes by way of dealing with these social degradations.

Touch in any form has been shown to boost the immune system. When it is done in a loving environment with experienced healing hands it can be very powerful. It has a healing potential. The power of touch is miraculous in its simplicity. It is a necessary gift of nature, without which a human being cannot thrive.We have a lot to learn from our ancestors. Only now and gradually will science provide supporting evidence of their practices.

I felt very humble on reading the recent editorial(Mauritian Abroad/Quarterly). Krish Veeramah said he was in need of nothing being grateful “if I could retain all my faculties.” This is pure wisdom earned through life experience; pure happiness is indeed the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Mauritius to set up Open University Dr David B. Lingiah with Prof. Roger Haw Mauritius is ready to make tertiary studies accessible to all. L’express July 17 reported that this September a Commonwealth of learning expert will be assisting the Ministry of Education in setting up an Open University. “The whole idea beyond this virtual university is to give the opportunity to more learners to complete higher studies at lower costs than the University of Mauritius.” Despite the existence of the University of Mauritius, the University of Technology and several private tertiary institutions, there are still HSC holders who can’t find a seat to complete tertiary education. “There is not enough room for full time courses in traditional university,” regrets Surendra Bissoondoyal, pedagogue, who worked on the project of Open University under the previous government. Some pupils do not have the financial means of starting courses in a private institution, for instance.”

The world is so full of daily violence in one form or another that steps are being taken to make sure we stand and take note of this situation. To mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on the October 2nd, 114 UN member countries have joined hands to support India’s resolution to declare Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday as the ‘International Day of Non-Violence’ as a tribute to the Mahatma’s ideology. A lot has been written about this great advocate of peace and non-violence. Every year on his birthday some kinds of events do take place to mark this occasion. Nothing else is done throughout the year. Violence continues unabated everywhere; only lip service is paid to the memory of this man.

Mauritius is getting ready to celebrate Independence Day granted in 1968. Nearly 40 years after this historic event the islanders are still struggling to unite under one flag as one people, as one nation.

Dr Crish Virahsawmy, Président d’honneur de l’Organition Pour lUnité

 

Dr Crish Virahsawmy, Président d’honneur de l’Organition Pour lUnité   has put out a communique listing the activities of L’OPU in the recent past.  This peace organization has received a National Unity Award in 2002, a solid recognition of the achievement by this organisation in its campaign to ensure the people of Mauritius live in Peace and Unity.

 

In a few months L’OPU will be marking its 8th year of existence. During this period a lot of  concerned individuals have given their support and been involved in the  various activites to raise awareness among the

Dr. Navin Ramgoolam will be in New Delhi for an international conference in January to talk on Peace, non-violence and Empowerment, Gandhian Philosophy in 21st Century. According to Le Mauricien (12/1/07) Dr N. Ramgoolam and other leaders of the opposition political parties from Mauritius have been invited to India by the President of the Indian National Congress, Sonia Gandhi.

This conference has been organised in the context of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Satyagraha movement- launched on 11 September 1906 by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa. It coincides also with the 59th anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination on the 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fanatic. Among the invited guests will be Nobel Prize laureates, political figures, ONG leaders involved in the battle to eradicate poverty and the construction of a peaceful society.

Violence against women

Towards the end of November two newspaper headlines grabbed my attention. From Scotland the Communities Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, writing in (The Scotsman,25 Nov,06 ) stated “Men must play a part in ending violence against women.” Diren Valayden (L’express Outlook (30 Nov,06) wrote of women-the eternal victims from a global point of view, observed “Shamelessly, men continue to abuse women worldwide.” In Mauritius there has been a lot of press coverage, and marches by concerned citizens to raise awareness among the public about this serious situation.

Hundreds of academics from around the globe attended a key forum on higher education, research and knowledge development at the UNESCO Headquarters (Paris) for three days (29th Nov to 1st Dec.2006). From Mauritius were Prof Goolam Mohamedbhai, President of the International Association of Universities, who chaired a special session, Dr George Leung (London based) Dr David Lingiah, Honorary Council Doard member (Glasgow based).