On December last, it was the 115th birthday anniversary of an outstanding politician, social worker and a dedicated educator called Sookdeo Bissoondoyal.
Simplicity, patriotism and honesty were the guiding principles of Sookdeo Bissoondoyal and he never compromised with them. These qualities are rarely found in our politicians nowadays. As far as simplicity is concerned, Sookdeo was always dressed up in his ‘costume de tussor’ and his ‘sapo fet’ (chapeau feutre). Most of the time, he walked alone – no car, no driver, no bodyguards, no bouncers around him. His party members and disciples also adhered to the simplicity of their leader.
Sookdeo was a fearless politician. Once, he wanted to have the floor and he tried four times but the Governor did not notice him. S. Bissoondoyal had a clash with the Governor. The latter said: ‘Does the Honourable Member understand to whom he is addressing himself?’ Bissoondoyal retorted: ‘You also should understand that we are representatives of the people.’ He was applauded for his courage from the public gallery. When he was leaving also applause and shouts of Vive Bissoondoyal could be heard.
Sookdeo, in the supreme interest of the country, put aside all the differences he had with his opponents and came under the banner of the Independence Party to fight for the 1967 general elections. His party bagged 12 seats. Faithful to his principles, he declined big offers of the PMSD to cross the floor. Later, the MMM also offered him prime ministership but he refused.
In 1941, Government appointed Mr.Ward, Director of Education, to investigate into the teaching of Oriental Languages in Mauritius and to report. In his report, Mr. Ward stated: ‘neither Hindi, Urdu,Tamil nor any other Indian Languages be either taught or inspected at Government expense but these communities provide their own teachings if they want it, as other communities already do.’
A meeting was organized in this context at the Port Louis Municipal Theatre where Mr. Ward would elucidate and justify his recommendations. Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, his followers and many volunteers were also present there. Mr. Ward was interrupted by some members of the audience to show their indignation by shouting : ‘Bharat mata ki jai, Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai’ and they made a walk out. In front of such pressure, the government did not implement Mr. Ward’s recommendations. Had Sookdeo Bissoondoyal and others not taken such bold decisions, the teaching of Oriental Languages would have had to be discontinued. The Oriental languages community is indebted to the Bissoondoyal brothers.
When nobody was taking the initiative to organize the funeral of Anjalay Coopen, 32 years, who died in a shooting while protesting for the workers’ rights, Basdeo and Sookdeo Bissoondoyal took the lead. They appealed to their friends, supporters and volunteers. Some 1500 people responded to their appeal. They believed that Anjalay Coopen deserved a funeral of a martyr who sacrificed her life for a good cause. The volunteers, leading the procession, were recited verses from the Bhagvad Gita throughout the journey to the cremation ground. Thanks to the Bissoondoyal brothers for this noble initiative, if not Anjalay Coopen’s funeral would have been like ‘un fait divers’.
Sookdeo Bissoondoyal in his capacity as Member of the Legislative Assembly, Leader of the Opposition and Minister of Cooperatives has left his footprints in the political history of Mauritius. He can undoubtedly be considered as a role model for the young generation of politicians.
V.K.Beeharry
Member, Arya Veer