Tamil Power in Mauritius !
har...@hotmail.com
05:37 a.m. Nov 19, 1998 Eastern
By Clifford Vellien
PORT LOUIS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The central Bank of Mauritius (BoM) on Thursday
said it had started to withdraw its new family of banknotes after thousands of
Tamils took to the street protesting that their language appeared last on the
notes.
The episode has cost more than $2 million and underscored the fragile balance
between the island's ethnic communities.
Mauritian banknotes have traditionally carried the denominations written in
English, Tamil and Hindi scripts -- in that order. Last month, the central
bank issued a new series of notes -- in English, Hindi and Tamil.
The Tamil community in Mauritius was outraged. Thousands took to the streets
protesting that their community had been slighted.
On Wednesday, the government of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam asked
the central bank to withdraw the notes.
``It's a great victory for all Tamil militants,'' Tamil Council leader
Devarajen Kanaksabee said. ``The controversial family of banknotes was a
deliberate affront at the history of this country and more especially at the
Tamil culture.''
The Tamils, who hail mainly from southern India, constitute around 10 percent
of the Mauritian population of 1.2 million.
Their claim for precedence over Hindus on the banknotes -- who make up another
40 percent of the population -- was based on traditional practice and their
claim to have arrived on the island before the Hindus.
The central bank said new notes -- with the scripts restored to the previous
order -- would be ready for circulation by the beginning of July next year.
But the episode has cost more than 50 million rupees ($2.1 million), the
government says.
Moslems make up another 16 percent of the islanders, while creoles -- the
mixed- blood descendents of the former African slaves brought to the islands
in the 18th century -- account for up to 30 percent of the population.
Neither Arabic nor Creole -- the lingua franca of the island -- appears on
the currency.
($-24.77 Mauritius rupees)
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Taeller D
>protesting that their community had been slighted.
>
Then what Haran, is it going to make Tamils richer in Mauritius, what is the
purpose of this useless protest ?
Undertaker
>Then what Haran, is it going to make Tamils richer in Mauritius, what is
the
>purpose of this useless protest ?
'Useless'? I don't think so. Firstly, it has brought to the surface an
ethnic tension that has been introvert within the Mauritian society.
Secondly, is has confirmed historical recognition of Mauritian Tamil
community since its origins.
Undertaker
Umbertslyr
>ethnic tension that has been introvert within the Mauritian society.
>Secondly, is has confirmed historical recognition of Mauritian Tamil
>community since its origins.
>
>Undertaker
>
I think Tamils in Mauritius should work with the bigger Indian community to
resole their problem. Lets take the issue of Language Rights.
Why is that Creole not in the currency, over 30% of the people are of African
Creole decent and 90% of the people speak in creole including almost all
Tamils. So asking that an undemocratic situation whereby the language of the
10% minority should be given precedence over other peoples rights is going to
create backlash agains the Tamils in Mautitious.
Mauritiuns of Tamil decent should work for the democratic rights of every one
and all the languages and all minority ethnic groups
thus they can succed in maintaining their just right. If every one is treated
correctly then Tamils will be treated correctly too.
This fight for undemocratic special rights is going to backfire on them when
they need support from other political entities in the future.
- Slayer -
"You take the lies out of them, and they'll shrink to the size of your hat,
you take the malice out of them, and they will disappear." Mark Twain
Undertaker
:-)
It's very rare for any single community in the island to end up behind such
a major conflict, but as the latest events have shown, they were very much
in their right. The Tamil inscription, for historical reasons, has always
been second only to the English writing. Though few ever bothered about it,
throughout the years, it has become a matter of pride to that community. So
it's been a heritage. But with the new notes, these writings have been
demoted in favour of the Hindi writings. Now to most people, this is
insignificant, but for the Tamil community, it has been quite an insult, the
more so, since no valid motive has been given by the Central Bank to explain
such a move. Being but a minority group, the fear of oppression only grew
withing the community and as the Tamils felt they were being crushed they
took the streets. In their opinion, it was a deliberate move. I personally
don't think so: to me it was plain negligence, stupidiy and ignorance. But
anyway, they were feeling oppressed and the inter-ethnic relationships with
the Mauritian society were threatened. Thus, the governement had to take
actions and the best thing they could do was to correct their mistake.
I can't perceive how you see this as an undemocratic situation.
Concerning, Creole, you should understand that it is but a dialect and not
an official language.
Undertaker
(alt.mauritius)
PS: If you're interested, you might want to check out the posts concerning
this matter on alt.mauritius . Your views are the most welcome.
Also, check the back issues of some of the local papers at
www.lemauricien.com and www.lexpress-net.com (both are French sites, but
with brief English translations)
Mina Kumar
>
> The Tamils, who hail mainly from southern India, constitute around 10 percent
> of the Mauritian population of 1.2 million.
>
> Their claim for precedence over Hindus on the banknotes --
Are the Tamilar *not* Hindus?
--
Mina Kumar
http://www.concentric.net/~Minak
rathanam
Mina Kumar wrote:
har...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> The Tamils, who hail mainly from southern India, constitute around 10 percent
> of the Mauritian population of 1.2 million.
>
> Their claim for precedence over Hindus on the banknotes --Are the Tamilar *not* Hindus?
--
I suppose the term Hindus is in reference to Hindustanis (from UP).
rathanam
Mina Kumar
http://www.concentric.net/~Minak