INDEPENDENCE DAY MENU : ‘ Farata ek kari kok ’

The 1967 general election remains the most important one in the history of Mauritius. The result of this poll was the decisive factor for the colony to accede to independence, to be granted independence by the colonial power, Great Britain. It was the first election after the merging of the constituencies reducing their number from 40 to 20 while increasing the number of elected representatives from 40 to 60, each constituency with 3 representatives, as recommended in the Banwell Report of 1966. Rodrigues stayed as one constituency with 2 elected representatives. This election was also an open vote of confidence for the socialist Labour Party – electoral symbol, key –, founded in 1936, regrouping mainly the working class population and which has all along been requesting for freedom for the country. In 1967 it made an alliance with two minor parties The Comité D`Action Musulman of Sir A.R. Mohamed and The Independent Forward Block led by Mr Sookdeo Bissoondoyal to form a new party The Parti de L’Indépendance, a common front for independence, and to face the fierce opposition party The Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate – electoral symbol cock –, led by the high calibre and flamboyant lawyer Sir Gaëtan Duval. Within the Independence Party while the choice of the 2 candidates in the lot of 3 for each constituency was not much of an issue, since they were already from the area, that of the 3rd one was a sensitive exercise subjected to all sorts of lobbys from all quarters and in some cases resulted in the designation of a candidate from a party which was a traditional opponent to the majority one but for the sake of independence had to be accommodated. A sense of apprehension could not be avoided. The constituencies no 9 [Pamplemousses] represented by my late father, Mr Lallah Ramsoondur Modun and No 10 [Triolet] represented by Dr Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the late Prime Minister, respectively were merged to become constituency No 5. August 1967, all eyes were focussed on this one where seeking re-election were Dr Ramgoolam, The Leader of the Labour Party, The Leader of the Independence Party, the man leading the country to independence and his ‘colistier’ Mr L.R. Modun. The 3rd candidate was a newcomer in politics the lawyer Mr L.Jugnauth whose roots were in the Independent Forward Block.
Mr Modun, a fervent patriot and strong believer in the Gandhian philosophy that there`s room for everybody under the sun, always encouraged people to take an interest in the history of our country and to be present at important events; I quote : `être témoins de l’histoire du pays et de la transmettre aux générations futures`. He would take it on his own at his own financial cost, invite members of the press, writers and photographers for coverage of activities with photographs and films as support.  On election day, 7th August 1967, dressed in a red outfit, colour of the Labour Party, note book in hand with instructions to record happenings… I accompanied him throughout the day from opening to closing of the polling stations in the new constituency No 5. Since the latter was already well known in Pamplemousses, same for the Premier in Triolet it was decided that Mr Modun would pay more attention to Triolet and the Premier to Pamplemousses and that they would meet at about 3 pm in Pamplemousses Govt. School polling station where the counting would be done the next day. Effectively the Premier’s cortège arrived at the expected time. I stayed at the back, away from the limelight and carried on scribbling. The Premier seemed very relaxed, went on greeting everybody while enquiring on the voting trend and coming towards me said in a very jovial mood – ‘Se ki pa vot lindepandans pa pou gagn farata et kari kok pou manze tanto ’. We all agreed and had a good laugh. The message was well received and I felt very much honoured by this unexpected recognition of presence by such a high personality at a time of dense political activities.  Dr Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the refined diplomat, never missed on details and faithful to his care for all the young, the elderly, men, women alike rather than choosing words from the butcher’s dictionary and expressing these in a ready to kill cockfight style so characteristic of certain politicians chose a pleasant and respectful approach to encourage those present not without stimulating their real physiological appetite.  Indeed we were hungry first for independence; the mood was such that if it were to be given on that very day after the closing down of the polling stations whether we were prepared or not we would have agreed on the spot. Since 1967 at my father’s place on each special day celebrating a patriotic event the answer to ‘ki pou kui zordi ’  is obviously ‘ farata et kari kok ’.