Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission – Hearing number 190 Expelled Mauritian professor shares heartbreaking experience |05 August 2021

Mr Vurdien

The difference between democracy in Seychelles and democracy in Mauritius is that in Seychelles you have one party and in an election you have multiple candidates from the same party, whereas in the Mauritian system there are many parties with each party fielding one candidate.

The above statement made on June 3, 1980 earned Mauritian professor Ramalingum Vurdien his marching orders from the Seychelles College where he was teaching, as well as his plane tickets out the country after being considered as ground for dismissal by the regime in place.

Mr Vurdien shared his story in his capacity as a general witness during yesterday’s hearing of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) which requested his experience as a teacher in Seychelles and also his perspective on what was happening in the education system and the broader society following the coup d’Etat of 1977.

Mr Vurdien was forced to leave Seychelles following a discussion in his class dominated by Pauline Ferrari in 1980.

On the morning of Wednesday June 4, 1980 (41 years ago) when Mr Vurdienarrived at the Seychelles College, at around 7.25am, he was informed by Brother John who was the principal that he could not teach and had to report to the Ministry of Education.

He was told that it had nothing to do with his teaching, but rather a special matter that must be dealt with at ministry level.

Once at the ministry, acting permanent secretary Mrs Murray informed him that he should leave the country as soon as possible, following orders from State House.

Once again, he was told that it had nothing to do with his teaching.

“I would have liked to do an investigation, but I received straight orders not to do any investigation, but to get you to leave the country immediately,”Mrs Murray told him.

He was asked to go and see Simone Testa in the Ministry of Administration and Political Organisation.

Seen an honourable and well respected teacher by both his colleagues and students, Mr Vurdien wanted to know the reason behind the sudden decision.

He was given a letter from the Ministry of Administration and Political Organisation, with reference number RV/PERS/5915, dated June 4, 1980.

The letter stated that he had been terminated effective immediately for political reasons(that I am not allowed to discuss with you).

He was then asked to go to the Delhomme Travel to collect his plane ticket home to Mauritius.

Mr Vurdien said he was really sad since he loved his job, teaching two upper six, one lower six; two form four classes (French), along with form four classes for GCE A-Level (English Literature).

According to him, the whole situation was triggered by something that happened on Tuesday June 3, during the sixth period, while teaching French in the upper six class.

He explained that after completing the translation exercise, the students asked him tell them about the political situation in Mauritius, to which he gave them a description of the Mauritian governing system.

Following that, Ms Ferrari asked him “when will Mr Bérenger become the Prime Minister?”

As reply, Mr Vurdien said he cannot answer the question since it will all depend on the results of the elections, and that since Mauritius is a multi-party state, the leader of the party with the most seats in the parliament will automatically become the Prime Minister.

Miss Ferrari told him that Paul Bérengerwill do a coup if he does not win the election, to which Mr Vurdien replied that it is not something that Mauritius will accept.

Then the bell rang, and the next morning he was asked to leave the country.

Mr Vurdien said that prior to the conversation, he did not realise the sensitivity of the topic, describing himself a bit naive since he was only 27 years old at that time.

He explained that he thought at this age, students should definitely have a broader perspective on the different types of democracy.

Mr Vurdien, who studied in France, also explained that it was the first time he was in a country with a dictatorial system.

From Seychelles, he worked in Mauritius for two years, before moving to China with the United Nations and later the United States where he had an exceptional career in the American higher education system, occupying several high and prestigious positions.

He, however, noted that he was really sad as to what happened to him here, never at any moment thinking that he will be kicked out of his job and the country.

While in transit in Reunion, Le Journal de la Réunion newspaper wrote an article about him, after finding out that a Mauritian teacher was expelled from Seychelles and was transiting through Reunion.

Once back in Mauritius, L’Express newspaper also wrote an article about the incident.

Despite not ending his stay in Seychelles on a good note, Mr Vurdien said he made a lot of good friends and would love to come and visit once the Covid-19 pandemic is over.

Roland Duval