Pushmaotee Subrun, MAURITIUS

Exclusive: Best of Women Poetry: Edited by Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

WOMEN, THE PRIME AVAILABLE LAKE OF TALENT 

In past cultures, women, being autonomous, marvellously
Enjoyed equality, politically, economically, scripturally,
For example, the Cherokee women lived harmoniously, 
As producers, farmers, property owners and warriors.
Currently, in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Slovenia, Namibia,
Oman, New Zealand, France, Malaysia, Romania, Latvia,
India, to name a few, many top posts are held by women.

In developing countries, innovations in childcare provision,
Contraceptives, resulting in planned conception,
Alleviating wood and water collection,
Access to education, mobile banking, saving time and money,
And adopting new technologies successfully,
Families, communities and nations are enriched accordingly,
As the prime available lake of talent, illumines universally.

Women of this millennium dive into their creativity.
Being more intelligent than men emotionally,
Talented, confident, caring, career oriented and ambitious,
Manage all the chores efficiently and strike a fine balance
Between dedicated personal lives and the professional,
Develop a healthy and empowered relationship with all.
Working in different fields with patience, great vision, intuition,
Compassion, creativity, social connection and collaboration,
They have destroyed the myth with excellence
That men are more endowed with brilliance.


Pushmaotee Subrun, studied in Delhi University, worked in Zimbabwe and Mauritius, was later a member of the Council of the University of Mauritius and is currently an editor in the Ministry. She is the author of: ‘Ella’, ‘Who is Your Best Friend?’ and ‘Short Stories and Fables’. ‘Dreams to Reality’ and ‘A lyrical bouquet of Soulful Poems’ will be published soon. Her poems have featured in prestigious online magazines such as ‘Setu’,‘Atunis Galaxy Anthology 2020’, ‘OPA Anthology of Poetry’, ‘Best Poetry’, International Poetry Anthology of Amaravati Poetic Prism and in ‘Destiny Poets’, selected as Poet and critic of ICOP Awards 2019.

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Best of Women Poetry -2020 :: Setu, March 2020

Pushmaotee Fowdur Subrun, MAURITIUS

FRAILTY, THY NAME IS NOT…

Frailty, thy name is NOT woman!

Honourable Shakespeare spare me this word but one.

Of centuries repute, greatly revered bard of Avon,

With all my respects to you, Iet me simply 

Bring home to you that woman of the twenty first century,

In addition to being a housekeeper,

A sister, a daughter, a care giver,

To the children a character moulder,

She is in many households the chief bread earner.

In the role of a wife she bestows love unconditionally,

Pregnancy, with all its complications, she faces stoically.

From early dawn to dusk, the drudge ever,

From house to office she does not falter ever,

Executing the daily commitments

With love, dedication and a personal fulfilment.

With head held high, an individual of integrity,

Her mission to protect her family her priority.

No doubt the far-sighted Maharishi Dayanand

The well-wisher of one and all, being enlightened.

Maintained that there should be equal rights for women

And that there should be education of all children,

Regardless of gender

Could there be anything better?

Now active are all previously repressed talents, 

With dynamic women working in all sectors

We have scientists, astronauts, lady doctors,

Judges, lawyers, pilots, writers,

Singers, artists, and freedom fighters,

Yes, the like of Joan of Arc as warriors.

And the like of Mother Teresa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

In history so many influential Prime Ministers, 

To name a few, the Iron lady Margaret Thatcher,

Mrs Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, Sheik Hasina Wazed, Aquino,

Bandaranaike, Maria de Lourdes, Eugenia Charles and Benazir Bhuto.

Presidents, acting presidents and currently Chancellor Merkel

Are examples of stoic ladies, fully dedicated and not frail.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Living in an age of women empowerment.

Enhances lives of women, bringing overall improvement,

To make the world a better place,

Otherwise it would have been but a rat race

To the detriment of our civilisation,

Resulting in women leading lives in utter deprivation.

Sheer frustration, in the role of a baby making machine,

Misery, horrible to imagine.

Providing education to women, has created an awareness,

Resulting in much fewer of them in harness,

With the idea gradually cropping up, for a living,

Women, in different sectors, are now working.

Automatically, they are more awakened

To their needs and more self-disciplined.  

Attaining a freedom to unwind,

Opening to larger vistas, their mind.

They can now have a say in decision making,

Having shattered fetters, and impediments breaking,  

Boosting their confidence,

Yielding better performance,

Professionally, economically,

Socially and even culturally,

Consequently, in most relationships showing comprehension

Leading to peace and stability and satisfaction.

Briefly put, they can lead meaningful,

Purposeful

And fruitful

Lives, with self-respect,

With little to regret in retrospect.

Breathe freely in their own right

Thanks to the power of their might

To reach the dizzy height.

Becoming independent of others,

Instead, contributing to the wellbeing of others.

They can defend against exploitation,

Gain legal protection,

Against different types of harassment

Leading to gnawing embarrassment,

Thus, enabling them to establish their own identity,

Gaining respect of one and all and living with dignity.

A SPECK IN THE UNIVERSE

I, a speck in the universe,

Today, allow me to immerse in verse.

If my kind represents almost half of the global population

Why not receive my socio-economic contribution?

Without me the global economy will be affected

Without me business will be impeded.

Why not give me access to the flood gates of knowledge?

It will be such a privilege.

Nay, let me have social interaction

Break all taboos, myths and misconceptions

For a just and progressive nation.

It will bring peace and prosperity

Happiness to organizations and the family

Why not remove the obstacles on the way

Why am I amidst the minority

In the executive sector

In the technology sector

In the news media

At the beginning of this feminine era?

Realise that I shoulder more of the household burden, 

It’s high time you keep away rape, and violence my brethren!

Come thunder, lightning or rain, I don’t shirk from working,

And taking all responsibility.

I am here not only to love, to care

But also, to face challenges and to dare

To protect not only my family,

But give my humble contribution for the progress of humanity.

Pushmaotee Fowdur Subrun, was an Education Officer in Mauritius and Zimbabwe for over 45 years. Having completed her PGCE at the Mauritius Institute of Education. After her retirement, she was a member of the Council of the University of Mauritius, she is currently a Reader and Editor in the Ministry of Arts and Culture. She is the author of 3 books that include collections of her plays, stories and fables and a novel. Her poems have been featured in prestigious online literary magazines such as ‘Setu e zine’, ‘Poetry and Creativity’, ‘Atunis Poetry’ and ‘Destiny Poets’. She was a poet delegate from Mauritius at the 4^th International Multilingual Poets Meet in Vijayawada, India, in November 2018. Her multilingual poems have been featured in the Multilingual Poetry Anthology ‘Amaravati Poetic Prism 2018’ and  Atunis Galaxy Anthology- 2019.

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Women, Power & Creativity :: Setu, March 2019

My Mother, my Muse

Pushmaotee Subrun

Pushmaotee Fowdur Subrun

Mum, even though in your abode heavenly,
My terrestrial and celestial muse you are eternally.
Nutritious to my soul has been your love,
On earth or high above.
You have been my every moment’s high
The life air that lifts me up to the sky.
My rock, my caring guide, my strength
Going to great length,
The morning sun shining down on me brilliantly.
My northern star, shining luminously
In the darkest of days, indefatigably.
So graciously, so compassionately
The warmth of your voice in my head echoes.
Your hugs and kisses bring tears to my eyes,
Making each rainy day become smiles,
Bearable, brighter,
My soul becoming warmer.
I felt God’s divinity
In your love beyond infinity,
Yes, you have been my living God.
Chastising me but standing by me even when I was odd,
Becoming my dependable source of comfort.
Rendering my world, full of purport,
My dear mum, oh my great support!

I always wonder how

You never gave up on me anyhow.
Always being there with words assuring,
My worries, my fears vanishing,
My days enlightening,
Giving me the reason to push on
Every day of my life, on and on,
Everyday,
Till today,
Oh yes! from your heavenly abode, till today,
Pressing me to be better,
To have more confidence, my great booster!

Thank you for shining eternally
Your divine light on me unreservedly,
Thank you for being my main inspiration.
Noble soul for eons.
Even from beyond,
My gentle muse, my helper
My well-wisher,
My hope, my comforter,
My selfless giver
My constant motivator,
My source of power,
My greatest friend, my dear Mother.

Setu, July 2018

Poem: Laughter, the Best Medicine

Pushmaotee Subrun

Pushmaotee Fowdur Subrun

We know the benefits of laughter abound,

But it is pleasant to be reminded

How much laughter makes us feel unwound

Relaxed and sound.

The immune system laughter boosts,

Many ailments it shoots,

Forgotten are the bitterness or pains,

With release of endorphins.

With resistance,

It can lead to jubilance.

One is protected against heart attacks

Making the person lay back,

Enjoy the years extra, 

With added stamina. 

Making life worth living

As a healthy human being.

Laughter gives bounteously,

Increases the zest of life plentifully,

Physical and mental relief it brings, 

And can make a person sing,

Carrying away all the stress 

With all its terrible mess.

On the social level, relationships become motivating

For the one who has humour, is interesting.

Pessimism is replaced by optimism,

Fear vanishes, replaced by enthusiasm,

Attracting people, strengthening bonds

Resulting in more friends fond.

With pleasantness, there is more focus,

Often having a surplus,

Accomplishments follow in life,

Without too much strife,

With focus in full,

Leading to plentiful.

So, to stay blessed

And less depressed,

Engage in or create funny moments,

Or remember funny events.

Of former days spent jovially,

When you laughed so light heartedly.

Meet or phone a light-hearted person,

Or read comics to be on,

Watch a humorous film when you are down,

Or relate an embarrassing situation,

Or simply dance to music in jubilation,

Over minor triumphs causing elation.

Continuously create hilarious situations,

To be away from debilitating tribulations.

Make it a habit to laugh every day,

It’s a must anyway,

If you want to keep the doctor at bay.

So, while the sun is shining, why not make hay?

According to natural selection,

Setu, June 2018

Poem: Bravo Women for Multi-tasking

Pushmaotee Subrun

Pushmaotee Subrun

According to natural selection,
Men focused on hunting skill expeditions,
Women looked after children and caring
For family and food gathering,
Prepared daily meals,
With different tasks had to deal
And so, sprung up, multi-tasking,
Without any woman sparing.

It is universally believed women are better,
At multi-tasking than men and faster.
Their involvement in child care being greater.
Besides, experiments suggest,
At skills women are best
When rapidly switching tasks, finest.

Everyone may not be natural-born multitaskers,
So, say the masters,
So, psychologists always maintain.
Unless on one activity, attention we sustain
Neuroscience confirms, myriad tasking exhausts the brain.
And productivity will go down the drain.

There are many examples of multitaskers,
The office workers,
Jump between incoming emails,
To phone calls and assignments and sending mails
In between meetings,
To emergency calls of nature attending.

Or mums simultaneously caring for two or three siblings
Cooking, cleaning, and breastfeeding,
The toddler tumbling while playing,
Suddenly the phone ringing,
Or the skype calling,
The grocery shopping list waiting,
No respite, no relaxation expecting,
What is it if not multitasking?

Researchers say women think more deeply,
While men act more impulsively.
This implies women are more equipped to stop
And manage in difficult situations or jobs.
Hats off to the ‘supertaskers’ who though tired,
With constant switching, must stay wired.

Setu, May 2018

Poem: She

Pushmaotee Subrun

Pushmaotee Subrun

She was aborted a million times when she was an embryo, 

She was widowed even before knowing she married,

She wore the grey nun’s garment before she understood why,

She was raped when she was a baby of six months old,

She was not spared either at eighteen,

Or at the age of eighty,

She was mutilated and deprived

Of the God given seat of pleasure on reaching puberty,

She was stoned to death in the name of honour killings.

She was given capacity to love but not allowed to love…

She became the wife with stars in her eyes but soon disillusioned,

She was used as a machine to procreate,

She was abused, beaten black and blue and used again,

Where is equality, justice and human dignity?

Why talk of a just world when so much has still to be realized?

Why so much of yearly publicity on 10^th December?

Rabindranath Tagore rightly said,

The clear stream of reason has lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Setu, December 2017

Poem: My Dream

Pushmaotee Subrun

- Pushmaotee Subrun

Where there is freedom from bitter intolerance,
Where there is no discrimination of caste, colour or creed,
Where no chaotic situation prevails,
Either due to bigotry or hatred,
Where the Lord, our Creator, is deeply revered,
With recognition for Unity in Diversity,
Where there is deep gratitude, compassion and understanding,
Where there is love and respect, and goodwill,
Where a helping hand is offered,
To the vulnerable,
To helpless women, children, the aged,
The sick or the physically incapacitated,
Instead of showing indifference,
Instead of mercilessness…,
To such a Utopian world I dream to go.
To live, to feel and to imbibe the air of peace and fraternity.

Setu November 2017

The break of Dawn

Pushmaotee Subrun

By Pushmaotee Subrun

In the auspicious hour of silence, Mother Earth greets the new dawn.
Revelling, savouring the smiling crack of dawn,
The dawn of life and creation,
In the vegetative world with its mysteries increasing the fascination
The silhouettes of trees start revealing their verdant beauty,
Ready to conquer the first morning air as darkness dissipates steadily,
To display mesmerising hues of red and pink in the eastern horizon.
As an enticement to join the celebration
Soon increasing with the myriads of hues, the fascination,
And redeemed by this phenomenon, nature dances in exhilaration.


In awe stands the poet, full of admiration of this silent beauty.
Soon the sun peeps out of the skyline gradually, progressively,
And the magical beauty captivates him,
Heart and soul, and as the thrill sweeps over him,
He thinks of glorifying in his aubades,
This diurnal revolution of the earth in different shades.
No less attracted is the artist who starts visualising
Of presenting this awesome divine moment in his painting.
Will he be able to portray even a fraction of this phenomenal beauty?
Will he, the mortal, achieve in depicting this magnificent scenery?


He is not alone to be lost in admiration,
Soon the birds start twittering melodiously in unison,
Flying from one branch to another with much gaiety,
The mynahs peep full throatedly,
The red fody proudly perches on one branch, single,
Not at all wishing with others to mingle,
The serin bird is already at work, doing its best,
Skilfully ripping the choicest palm leaves to weave its nest.
The emboldened paille-en-queue soars higher and higher gaily,
Parading its unique beauty majestically.


Every blade of grass seems to rejoice
The leaves awake to the sunlight to power photosynthesis,
All the flowers send out fragrant scents, full of enthusiasm,
The flower buds of sunflowers start exhibiting their heliotropism,
Attracting the bees which soon start going around,
And soon the honey combs with honey abound,
The butterflies add to the ambiance, flying merrily around,
The grasshoppers hop gaily in jubilation,
As if to rejoice in the celebration,
Of the radiant rising sun. 


The freshness, the beauty and the gaiety abound.
The auspicious hour and the serenity around
 Awakes in the human world, the desire for divine connection, 
To feel His omnipresence and His intervention,
In each thought, each decision and action,
And to bow down in thankfulness and veneration
To the Supreme Lord of this wonderful creation,
For continuous guidance and benediction,
The benediction of love, hope and faith as assurance
To fill the new day with profound serenity and peace.

Setu, September 2017

India as Viewed by Mauritian Writers

by Vatsala Radhakeesoon

Vatsala Radhakeesoon

India is the ancestral land of many Mauritians. Though the largest group of Indians came as indentured labourers to Mauritius in 1834 during the British colonization period, a strong bond and a sense of brotherhood have remained between India and Mauritius up till now. On the occasion of the 71st (70th) Independence Day of India, I have the greatest pleasure to bring forth the views of some Mauritian writers about India. They are namely Pushmaotee Subrun, Amarnath Hosany and
George Lewis Easton.

So here goes an enriching conversation with those inspirational personalities.

  

Vatsala Radhakeesoon: What first comes to your mind when you hear the word or country “India”?

Pushmaotee Subrun: India, being my favourite destination, makes me feel something mystical with its myriads of cultures, mesmerising hill stations like Manali, Kashmir and Ooty among others, making me wonder at the amazing creation of the Lord… Incredible India, where the eyes are soothed, admiring the hills, dales and valleys of scenic beauty and above all, the Grand Himalayas with not only the topmost peak in the world but also being home to ten of the fourteen highest peaks in the world.

India, the land of the birth of the Lord in different manifestations, not forgetting rishi munis, saints and great poets of epics and legends, lures me to visit it repeatedly and feel the Lord’s presence in the holy places such as Vaishno Devi, Golden Temple, Dwarika, Rameswaram with its carved pillared hallway, Trichy, Mayapur, Jaganath Puri, Daksineswar, Velankani, Sarnath and Varanasi to name a few.

And to add to the attractions, this land of fascinating art and architecture since ages, places such as the Ellora and Ajanta Caves, the Taj Mahal, (one of the wonders of the world), and the temples in the south, displaying love, patience, perseverance, and dedication, to be able to come up with magnificent creations of temples such as Meenakshi Temple, Thanjavur, Rameswaram Temple and many others, are all simply too grand to be described. They are like magnets inviting me to feast my eyes on their splendid creation.

Amarnath Hosany: It is the image of a great country with a vast historical and cultural background, celebrating marvelous festivities such as Holi and Diwali which convey human values like brotherhood and sharing. Being a hindu, I have experienced these values since my childhood and I am very fortunate indeed. I was therefore blessed and honoured to have been able to visit this great country for a few days in 2005. I was invited by the “Media and Communication Research Foundation’ for the launching of a multimedia CD adapted from my book ‘La Terre a disparu’.

George Lewis Easton: As an academic I am fascinated by “India”, either the country or the word, what it connotes in terms of space and time, its ancient and vibrant civilisation, cultural encounters and symbiosis. On a more personal level my great-grandmother on my father’s side was Anglo-Indian, born Emelda James c. 1880 in Calcutta where she met and married Charles Easton, a trader from Mauritius. She followed him to Mauritius c. 1910 and died here in 1970. She never reconnected with her homeland. I have been wondering whatever happened to her parents and others she left behind on the quay through Ceylon to follow the call of love to the forlorn island of Mauritius. The only relative she was in touch with was a cousin who used to call here on a ship until the Second World War. Hence my emotional interest in India.

 Vatsala: What fascinates you and what upsets you about the Indian culture and traditions?

 Pushmaotee : What fascinates me about Indian culture is the Indian philosophy, its literature, the great epics  The Rāmāyaṇa, the Mahābhārata, the Bhagawad Gita, which all preach spirituality.

Its religions depicting unity in diversity among the Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and tribal population, its dedication to architecture, its exquisite cuisine, its languages, music and dance, the celebration of the festivals, with great pomp ad gaiety and the great faith of the Indians are all fascinating.

When it comes to the treatment of women and Dalits I would have appreciated more fellowship. But hopefully, with the new empowerment of women and with the spread of education and growth of economics, and the change of attitude, there can be brighter futures for those who are looked down in society.

Amarnath: I am fascinated by the richness of Indian culture such as its music, dance, movies and cuisine, amongst others, which is appreciated all over the world. However, I am disappointed by the caste system, which is a blemish to the reputation of such a great nation.

George: I admire India’s long and complex history, diversity, syncretism, pluralism, resilience and manifold achievements before and after 1947. Also its sheer capacity to absorb influences and welcome modernity is its assets. Yet I am sometimes upset by some forms of extremism and intolerance and the instinct to react negatively to the challenge of democracy, pluralism and secularism.  Not ascribable as such to its people as to a few politicians and rabble rousers.

Vatsala: What are your views about Indian Economy and Politics?

Pushmaotee: In India, extreme wealth and poverty coexist. The country has three sectors to track   its economy and GDP, namely agriculture, industry, and services. At the same time, it has to deal with traditional sectors, typical of a lesser developed economy. Poverty and in addition, poor management of public finance, affect overall development. Despite the efforts taken by the government to bring equity by providing food, shelter, and basic necessities, including literacy for one and all, many people are still below poverty level.

 On the other hand, modernisation is taking place with technology and manufacturing sectors as forward-thinking as any in the world, making the country have an average annual growth of around 7 % over the previous five years, despite its setbacks. The struggle is there to provide social, economic, and political institutions to ensure justice, empowering the poor and illiterates, eliminating the social evils, to bring about communal harmony among people.  

The fact is that India is a Sovereign. It is Socialist, Secular, Democratic and a Republic. As an ever-maturing democracy, it is going forward to create a better society and nation. There could not have been a better system than Democracy to bring this progress. As the founding father Jawaharlal Nehru said, “Democracy is good because all other systems are worse.”

Amarnath: Political decisions have a direct impact on a country’s economy. India has emerged as a strong economic force that is commanding respect from developed nations and this is definitely due to the adoption of right policies. India’s economy is so sound that it is in a position to provide financial assistance to developing countries, Mauritius being a very good example. As a writer, my focus is inevitably on the particular attention given to the promotion of culture. As a result, India has the most prolific film industry in the world which offers job opportunities for so many actors, singers, dancers, script writers, cameramen, and so on.

George: India has a rich track record of secularism and democracy. Granted that its geopolitical predicament is such as it poses formidable internal and border challenge, I wish it could exercise restraint and not indulge in perverse social and religious stands bathing in the glories of yesteryear, and instead take stock of the progress achieved so far and harness its human and other resources for a better tomorrow. This great country deserves better indeed. As shown in a current BBC documentary by Mark Tully on the impact of Partition, real prospects not only for India but the whole region call for wise policies inspired by inclusion, toleration and mutual respect. As an islander I wish India all the best as a beacon for the African Continent and mankind at large.

Vatsala: What are your views about the mother of Indo-European languages, that is, Sanskrit?  Do you think all of us must learn this language to have a better understanding of languages?

Pushmaotee: Sanskrit is the sacred language of the ancient Vedic religions in India. It has been found that many English words have Sanskrit origins. It is rich in Literature, rich in values and rich in ideas. It integrates three of the world’s major religions.

Besides, Sanskrit has been the language of great writers, dealing with spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects of human nature, and the best possible ways to live in harmony with others. 

Hence it would certainly be worthwhile to learn Sanskrit, to have a better understanding of languages.

Amarnath: I have heard that Sanskrit is the language of the Gods.  So, it will be a blessing for all of us to learn this marvellous language which will help us to be closer, to appreciate each other and hopefully, the world will become a better place to live.

George: As a scholar I look upon Sanskrit as a treasure trove, just like Latin, Greek, etc. However I would not impose it on everyone for the simple reason that at this point in time one has to be realistic. As is the case with ancient languages, the motivation to learn and spread has to reckon with the current dynamic conditions prevailing in the fields of economics, politics, communication, trade and the arts. My answer to the second part of the question is that it is not necessary. People with a scholarly bent could find it desirable; otherwise living languages will come in handy. I concede it could enhance the existing legacy bequeathed to the country and the Diaspora.

Vatsala: What are your good wishes for India on its 70^th (71^st) Independence Day?

Pushmaotee: This year India will be proud to celebrate its 71^st Independence Day as an illuminated country, as the basic electricity needs will be provided to each and every village.

On this memorable 71^st Independence Day, let the radiance of the Indian flag fly high all over the country! 

May the country be always blessed with peace and prosperity!

Vande Mataram!

Amarnath: Firstly, May India continue to shine on its path to prosperity.
Secondly, let’s find a way to fight against the caste system. Thirdly, a humble request to Indian film-makers - Please do not lose your culture and your identity.

George: I wish this great country success on both national and international levels. Pragmatism, broadmindedness, a strong will to address inequalities and social dysfunctioning, promote unity in diversity and achieve diplomatic, trade, scientific success. This will go a long way towards streamlining enduring obstacles arising from prejudices, fanaticism, jingoism and indifference to the fate of the poor.

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Biography: Pushmaotee Subrun

Pushmaotee Subrun was born in 1949 at Camp de Masque Pave, Mauritius. Pushmaotee attended Professor Basdeo Bissoondoyal College and later pursued higher studies in Delhi University from 1968 to 1971 where she graduated in English. For the past forty years she has worked in secondary schools, seven years of which she spent in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, teaching English in an army school. She completed her PGCE at the Mauritius Institute of Education in 1993. After her retirement, she was a member of the Council of the University of Mauritius for three years. She has written one novel Ella which was published in May 2013, Short Stories and Fables published in August 2015, one play entitled Who is Your Best Friend, published in June 2015 and launched by Ministry of Arts and Culture in February 2016. She is currently a reader and editor in the Ministry of Arts and Culture.

Biography: Amarnath Hosany

Amarnath Hosany is an employee at Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes, Mauritius. He is the author of 15 story books in the fields of children and teens fiction. He is the winner of the prestigious French literary award Prix du Livre Insulaire Ouessant 2015 for his book Le Facteur (The postman).

He has also been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2017 (Sweden).

He conducts various creative writing workshops in schools and NGOs of Mauritius and other French speaking countries in the Indian Ocean. He often participates in international book fairs and is also actively involved in promoting the reading culture and Arts in Mauritius.

Biography: George Lewis Easton

Currently an independent Researcher, George Lewis Easton is a former Government Archivist, Educator (French Language & Literature) and Lecturer in French history and Education Studies. He is a graduate of the University of London and holds a BA (Hons) and a Dip. Ed. He has contributed extensively over 4 decades to: Le Mauricien, L’Express, La Gazette des Iles, Italiques, Le Mag, Revi Kiltir Kreol, the Journal of the Mauritius Institute of Education and the Journal of Mauritian Studies. He co-authored, with Issa Asgarally & others, the Etude pluridisciplinaire sur l’exclusion à Maurice: Rapport final (Govt. Printer, 1997). His areas of research span French, English and Mauritian Studies with an abiding focus on educational and cultural history (American & English pop songs). He published in 2013 an illustrated ‘L’Hôtel du Gouvernement, le temps d’une histoire’ (Mon Goût, Pamplemousses Éditions, ISBN 978-99949-909-5-5). An English version ’Government House Through Time’ (ISBN 978-99949-909-4-8) is also available. He is currently finalizing ‘Western Education: Historical Perspectives from Ancient Greece to Our Times’ (21 chapters in around 50, 000 words) for late 2017/early 2018. The concluding chapter charts and discusses colonial and post-colonial education in Mauritius, addressing the combined issues of slavery, indenture and social class.

Setu, August 2017