Tribute to professor Ramesh Dutt Ramdoyal

DR ISHWARDEO R.DHOOWOOAH

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Professor Ramesh Dutt Ramdoyal was born at Rivière du Rempart on 28 March 1939. The Ramdoyal family later moved to Ward IV in Port Louis. Ramesh left for the heavenly abode on Saturday 14 September 2024 at the advanced age of 85. The country has lost an illustrious and eminent personality, a shining star in the educational and cultural firmament. His indelible imprints in the spheres of language, literature, education and culture are vibrant. He dwells one of the most distinguished sons of the Republic of Mauritius.

He joined the Royal College Port Louis as a Junior Scholarship winner in 1950. As a Laureate in 1958, he travelled abroad to study English language and English Literature instead of opting for law and medicine.

Between 1959 and 1963, he studied at University College, Dublin and achieved a B.A with Double First Class Honours in English Language and English Literature, a B.A in French, and then an M.A Honours in English Language and Literature.

From 1963 to 1965, he read for a B.Phil degree and a Diploma in Education at Jesus College, Oxford and the Oxford Institute of Education. On his return, he was recruited as an Education Officer by the Mauritius Teachers’ Training College. He soon went overseas as a Commonwealth Scholar. Between 1968 and 1971), he successfully completed a Diploma (ESL) and an M.Phil in Education at the prestigious London Institute of Education.

In 1977, he was Associate Professor, Head of Department of Curriculum Research and Development, and Deputy Director, Mauritius Institute of Education.

His fascination and love for literature was triggered by his teachers, Frank Richard and George Telescourt, at the Royal College Port Louis. He had thus developed an irresistible fascination for the works of prominent literary figures like Shakespeare, Keats, Shelley and other novelists, poets and dramatists. His interests were ‘people, books and the sea’.

Since his early age, he longed to bequeath an aesthetic legacy to posterity and  contribute to the advancement and uplift of the country and the nation. Besides, Ramesh Ramdoyal also wrote the National Republic Day poem in 1992.

Having known him in person, I owe him a glowing tribute. I had close ties and professional association with him,  unknown to the general public so far.

He dwells a distinguished educationist, poet, novelist, pedagogue and short story writer. He wrote an array of books in English, Mauritian Creole, and French.    

His trilogy comprises ‘Tales from Mauritius’ (1979), ‘Further Tales from Mauritius’ (2013), and ‘More Tales from Mauritius’ (2019) as he aimed to contribute to children’s literature. ‘Castaway and Other Tales from Mauritius’ as well as ‘Festivals of Mauritius’ was published in 2016. ‘The Development of Education in Mauritius (1710-1976)’ was published by the MIE in January1977 and ‘La Mare Mo Memoire’ – poems in Creole – in 1985. He upheld the struggle for the valorisation of Mauritian Creole. He also wrote ‘An Islander’s Journey’. The content of the books showcases the day-to-day realities of Mauritian life in this rainbow island.

In 2000, the Government of Mauritius having set up the Centre Culturel Mauricien of which he was a member, he resolved to work towards a Mauritian culture. Ramesh had stated that “tôt ou tard, le kreol aura droit de cité au Parlement”.

My first encounter with Ramesh Ramdoyal dates back to 1968. I was a trainee teacher at the MTTC, Beau Bassin. After studies abroad, he had returned to Mauritius and had joined MTTC as Education Officer or Tutor. In 1968, he was teaching the John Locke Group. The subject (later ‘module’) was Principles of Education; the prescribed textbook was ‘Principles of Education for Teachers in Africa’ by E. B. Castle.

The first time, I came across him in class, I was really dazzled by the imposing, magnetic personality of that dashing, handsome, young academic fresh from academia. His impeccable mastery of the English language, his oral and pronunciation skills and competencies left me in awe. That overpowering impression had triggered something in my psyche.

My flair for English since the early school years was whetted by Ramesh. My breaktime, short informal chat with him kept me spellbound. I was overawed by his  stunning mastery of the English language. Unfortunately, he left us before completing the course content allocated to him.

In 1976 when I had joined the Teacher’s Diploma (Secondary) course on a Part Time basis at the MIE, I became his student again during Saturday morning classes in the Lecture Theatre of Queen Elizabeth College, Rose Hill. As MIE Lecturer for the module, ‘History of Education’, he was simply superb.

I joined the English Department, MIE as academic in 1988 and I benefited immensely from the interactions with Ramesh on a more frequent basis. Ramesh Ramdoyal was then the MIE Director.

My option for the English Department was quite weird to my colleagues. There was an upturn in events. Ramesh had called at the NCCRD prior to our recruitment by MIE.  His words still resound in my ears and mind.”You are a cluster of angry, frustrated and disenchanted young people ready to take a new plunge…”.     

Within the English Department, I felt ill at ease in the company of stalwarts like Ramesh Pudaruth, Ahmad Ramjanally, Bisnoodeo Bissoonauth, Dev Virahsawmy, Brian Bamber. Verily, I felt dwarfed. Pudaruth, very humane and considerate, soon sensed my discomfort. He liaised with the Director and pleaded for the award of a scholarship to me for further studies in UK. The duo firmly believed in and trusted me. Time justly proved them to be very right. However, objection was raised by the Registrar.

1988 was the crucial year when the English Department Panel, chaired by Brian Bamber, was reviewing and revamping the Password Book II. Nevertheless, within a short time, the British Council KELT Officer flew back to UK. Pudaruth took over and led the Panel of Writers and Editors.

I was not conversant with the principles and practice of Curriculum Development and Renewal at that stage.

The juncture impelled the HoD and the Director to decide on a course of action to empower me with the relevant and appropriate know-how and know-what. Hence, the Director and the HoD assigned me as participant on the 6-week Intensive Curriculum Studies Course run jointly by ACO/DSE in 1989.

In the late1990s, Ramesh Ramdoyal retired from the MIE in the capacity of Director and Ramesh Pudaruth as Associate Professor. The Head of School, Humanities and Social Studies recruited the two distinguished academics on a contractual basis. Once more, I was privileged and blessed to rub shoulders with them. I had always been looking up to them as models.

I was accommodated in Room 607 in the MIE Tower. Ramesh Pudaruth and I shared the same office and Ramesh Ramdoyal was in Room 608.

Once more, I recollect how Ramesh Ramdoyal and I co-operated and collaborated in marking and grading PGCE and BEd dissertations. He appealed to my judicious application of knowledge and expertise used in my recent PhD thesis. Sometimes, I felt awkward and floored by his assertion. Since 1968, I had been working, inspired by him, and he was now up to that kind of statement. Anyway, I went by his advice and wisdom but simultaneously doing justice to students’ performance.

He was aware of my recent achievement, PhD with Distinction from the reputed Washington International University on 1st September 2005. Whatever Ramesh Ramdoyal and Ramesh Pudaruth had conceptualised about me as a modest academic scaling heights became a truism.

Both Ramesh Pudaruth and Ramesh Ramdoyal made the same observation, still engraved in my mind:“Congratulations, Ishwar, you have made us proud. You are the very first academic having achieved a doctorate qualification, that too, with Distinction, in the English Department”.

After retirement in the late 90s, Ramesh Ramdoyal was still actively involved in a range of activities. However, some medical signs and symptoms urged him to stay aware and alert and to curtail tiring and exacting schedules and tasks.

My area of predilection is Linguistics like that of my academic guru, Ramesh Pudaruth. Ramesh Ramdoyal often harped on the statement: “Ramesh,  your  reference to English Linguistics are Greek to me”. Ramesh Pudaruth’s reaction was: “Just borrow a book from Ishwar and get going. He has a few good and appropriate ones stacked on his table.”

Such incidents aroused hearty laughter and the jovial, jocular mood of the two Rameshs sent waves of gentle relief in us from tiring departmental meetings.

To wind up, I would like to place on record the positive and durable influence Ramesh Ramdoyal has had on me since my first encounter with him in 1968 when I had just made my first step into the realm of teaching and pedagogy. He deserves a pride of place in the hearts of all those whom he had met, lived and worked with and collaborated at national and international levels. Evidently, I am not conversant with his years spent in UK and his achievements.

One important reminder very much pertinent to highlight is the elocutionary and rhetorical abilities of Professor Ramesh Ramdoyal. While addressing an audience, he never resorted to a copy or pre-drafted text. The delivery was  always spontaneous, natural, verily extempore!

To the bereaved family, I wish to convey my heartiest and most sincere condolences. I pray the Almighty to shower on him as well as on the family His choicest blessings and graces. Professor Ramdoyal has left his indelible imprints on the sands of time!     

ACCROCHE

« Having known him in person, I owe Ramesh Ramdoyal a glowing tribute. I had close ties and professional association with him,  unknown to the general public so far.

He dwells a distinguished educationist, poet, novelist, pedagogue and short story writer. He wrote an array of books in English, Mauritian Creole, and French. »    

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