Gujadhur

The Gujadhur surname is an Indian surname. The most notable family with this surname are the descendants of Rajcoomar Gujadhur.

Rajcoomar Gujadhur and his seven sons, formed a business dynasty in the island of Mauritius. Rajcoomar Gujadhur was also well known for being the first non-white member of the legislative assembly in Mauritius and for having started the family's century-old involvement in horse racing in Mauritius, launching his famous electric blue and red sash silks in or around 1904.

Two sons of Rajcoomar Gujadhur, namely Ackbar Gujadhur and Sir Radhamohun Gujadhur C.M.G., were also later members of the Mauritian parliament, Sir Radhamohun going on to occupy the post of Deputy Speaker. The Gujadhur family is a well-known and a well respected family in Mauritius. The family business is mainly into the sugar industry, previously owning two of the four main sugar factories on the island. This was quite remarkable for an Asian family, to participate actively in the island's economy, which was (and is still) dominated by whites.

"By having the Gujadhur family (Hindu family) as business partners while setting up FUEL Sugar Estate, a Mauritius of today" could be seen as said by historian and writer, Jacques de Marroussem. [ [http://www.maisoneureka.com/english/history.htm Euréka - the history ] ] It was a wise decision to work with an influential family, of Indian origin, who were considered as one of them by the whites and yet, were popular, among the natives.

Nonetheless, since the colonial times, the family gained its fame, by having stables into horseracing, which is one of the most popular forms of recreation on the island. To date, it is one of the oldest horse-stables, to be owned by one family over generations, in the southern hemisphere. The family stable is currently headed by the 80+ year old daughter-in-law of Rajcoomar Gujadhur (wife of the late Gunness Gujadhur) and is currently trained by Ramapatee Gujadhur.

In present times, the family has withdrawn from its active participation in politics but still holds a significant role in the Mauritian economy, mainly through direct and indirect holdings in Medine Sugar Estate Company Limited (a company listed on the secondary stock exchange in Mauritius) and horseracing in Mauritius. [ [http://www.mauritiusturfclub.com The Mauritius Turf Club ] ]

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