As Hamlet fell down, he reached out to his friend and said:
As thou’rt a man
Give me the cup; let go; by heaven, I’ll haven’t
O good Horatio, what a wounded name,
Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!
If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart
Absent thee from felicity awhile,
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
To tell my story
Equality of educational opportunity, bridging cultural barriers, eradication of poverty, peace and unity, cross-cultural learning…..the list of his involvement goes on. Claude Obeegadoo, lawyer, pedagogue, diplomat, philanthropist, was a man of distinction. He commanded a great deal of respect for his beliefs and convictions. He was among the few, of a golden generation. Claude left us on 9 May 2022, aged 94. It was a privilege to have known Claude personally and we spent some wonderful moments together. As a friend I can only pay him tribute.
Claude’s life was so enriching, it is hard to summarise his accomplishments and thoughts in a few lines. What follows is a mere sketch of this wonderful human being.
Highlights
Born in 1928 in Moka, of humble background, he studied at the Royal College of Curepipe, and then went to the Middle Temple to study law. Among his classmates, was the fiery jurist, Lord Hailsham. Claude started his professional career as a lawyer and from 1957 to 1967, he worked at the High Court in Patna, India, where he left a lasting impression.
Aged 20, he started a career in teaching and taught at the Hindu Maha Sabha College. At the same time, he studied and obtained a BSc in Chemistry and Mathematics in 1954. The following year, he founded the Trinity College in Port Louis and made Mr Bhujoharry tremble. These two along with people like J.N. Roy and Balgobin, created a system for providing secondary education to those who were marginalised and left out by an elitist system. Claude Obeegadoo was the pioneer who paved the way for equality of educational opportunity. By 1972, he was running several institutions and created his own company. Claude was a social activist, a bundle of energy who found time to serve his community selflessly. He served on several organisations such as the Association of Directors of Private Colleges, he was an active member of the Rotary Club and served as President. In 1972, he became the 9th President of the Rotary Club of Port Louis. He was also the President of the Mauritius Catholics Association (MCA) and eventually served as the Treasurer of the Hindu Cadets Association. Claude was awarded a scholarship by UNESCO. He taught at the Goldsmith College and at the Institute of Education in London. He was a visionary and a pedagogue and co-authored The Pupil and the Total Environment.
On 27 November 1982, he was appointed the High Commissioner of Mauritius to Great Britain. The late Anerood Jugnauth commented that Claude Obeegadoo served his country in the most exemplary fashion.
A teacher and pedagogue
« If wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be erected » (UNESCO). This was the sort of inspiration that drove Claude Obeegadoo to immerse himself in the classroom. He always dreamt of becoming a teacher, more importantly, to bring people together. Teaching for him was a passion and a vocation and believed that education is a true source for social mobility. He had lived through the tough years and experienced the injustices of colonial rule and the harsh realities of the plantation system. He learnt the hard way but he was a fighter and committed to a cause. Claude lived to serve others. With the Rotary Club of Port Louis, he initiated a project on cultural diversity. Claude stated: “The sixties were quite a troubled period, as we were going towards independence and intellectuals wondered which culture would prevail to become the Mauritian culture”. He understood how fragile Mauritian society was and his commitment was to see a strong multicultural nation. As a true pedagogue, Claude knew it was in the classroom that diversity started. He was convinced that children from an early age had to be taught that Mauritius is a rainbow nation. Our strength is our ability to live and exist as a nation. Claude Obeegadoo, a Mauritian and a true patriot.
After the riots in 1999, Claude Obeegadoo responded in the most positive way. With the Rotary Club he initiated the Culture, Sharing for Peace and Unity Project, involving primary and secondary school children. The objective was dialogue and intercultural sharing. Claude was an advocate for peace and unity. This project spread to schools around the country. Peace and diversity should be part of the school curriculum. Policy makers take note. Claude Obeegadoo spent a lifetime in providing education and managing schools. He knew the shortcomings of a system which he tried to improve.
Claude Obeegadoo’s life is an example. He practised what he believed. I think his biggest contribution is in the field of education. He was a pioneer and thanks to his efforts many underprivileged children got an education. I agree with him that access to education must be universal and through education one can build a country and a nation.
Claude Obeegadoo was a man of distinction. He was humble, yet his thoughts were provoking and convincing. His mind was like an encyclopedia, and I remember the many conversations we had. He could discuss any topic, from literature to cinema, politics to philanthropy. He was versatile, stylish and knew the meaning of life. I will always remember him as a gentle man, kind and loving, a true friend. Yes indeed. It is a delight for me to tell the world his legacy and give him the tribute he deserves.
My last conversation with Claude….his words: “Let’s not forget how children are influenced in schools. If we do not take this opportunity to put them on the right path, we have not done our job. The potential is there”.
To his wife, Primerose and his children, Steven, Kevin and other members of the family, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Claude would have liked us to celebrate his life.
