Sookdeo Bissoondoyal

Sookdeo Bissoondoyal was one of the major leaders who fought for the independence of Mauritius.

Early life

Sookdeo Bissoondoyal was born on 25 December 1908 at Tyack, Rivière des Anguilles in the island of Mauritius. He acquired his primary education at the Young Men’s Hindu Aided Primary School in Port Louis, the Mauritian capital.

Career

After passing his Teacher’s Examination, he worked as Primary School Teacher from 1923 to 1945. In 1946, he became active in the political field and on 10 August 1948 Sookdeo Bissoondoyal was elected to the Legislative Council in the constituency of Grand Port/Savanne. On 13 April 1958 he founded a political party, the Independent Forward Bloc. Sookdeo Bissoondoyal was appointed Minister of Local Government and of Cooperative Movement. In 1965, he attended the Constitutional Conference in London leading towards the independence of Mauritius in 1968. He joined the Independence Party which won the general elections in 1967. He became Minister of Cooperatives. He resigned from the Council of Ministers on 21 March 1969 due to a disagreement on some issues with the Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and became the Leader of the Opposition. In 1976, he stood for the general elections but was not elected. On 18 August 1977 he died at the age of 68 [ [http://www.mauritiusmuseums.org/article.php?id=9|Sookdeo Bissoondoyal Memorial Museum] ] .

He was an MP representing Grand Port, and he was leader of the I.F.B. He was a key Minister in the post independence cabinet before being ousted by Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. He was always a bitter rival to Ramgoolam. He was known for his simple life style. Even when was a Minister he used to travel by bus and wear traditional clothesFact|date=February 2007.

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