LINDSAY HARRIS
Photographer of the daily
paper “Le Mauricien” in 1968
From Australia
12th of March 1968. Time, 12 oclock on a bright, sunny day at Champ de Mars, Port Louis, in front of a big crowd of overseas guests and representatives of other countries, Sir John Shaw Rennie, the last Governor General of Mauritius under British rule, stood with Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, to watch the Union Jack being brought down and the quadricolour (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green), the new flag, being hoisted.
It was a very touching moment to see these two men shake hands and make history together under the quadricolour. This is very vivid in my memory as the photographer of the daily paper “Le Mauricien” at that time. It was a very busy day for me – Champ de Mars for the flag-raising ceremony; Le Réduit for the signing of the documents by the ministers…
Mauritius was one of the few countries which had its Independence flag-raising ceremony held during the day at noon, instead of a midnight ceremony.
While school children, dressed in the quadricolour, sang the new national anthem with words by Jean Georges Prosper and music by Philippe Gentil, the crowd gathered was entertained by the many colourful floats depicting the various steps Mauritius went through since its discovery. The Champ de Mars was packed with people and children of all ages.
Sir S. Ramgoolam is no more. But all of us who have known him will remember him as a very paternalistic figure who achieved his goals. Like every political figure he was loved by some and hated by others.
Patris, Australis, Queen Frederica…
The next day I was again busy photographing many of those leaving by sea. Patris, Australis, Queen Frederica are some of the “bateaux” that took many Mauritians to Australia.
These photos are now part of the history of Migration in Melbourne. They were on display for La Faya 2004 at Federation Square. They are the only ones showing migrants leaving their country of birth. We came here by choice and paid our own fares. The future of our children was important to make the sacrifice.
