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Girdharry LOBIN (1908-1973)

Girdharry LOBIN (21 September 1908 - 15 August 1973) was a Mauritian writer, poet and educator.

Early Life and Education

Girdharry, also known as Sadeo, was born on 21 September 1908 in Ruisseau Rose, Long Mountain, Mauritius. He was the eldest son of Nundlall LOBIN, a planter and jeweler, and Foolbasseea Bhoojawon. Girdharry came from a Bengali Hindu-speaking family.

Girdharry studied at the Royal College of Curepipe in Mauritius, where he obtained his Cambridge School Certificate with merit in 1925. He also qualified for a First Class Teacher's Certificate and was awarded the Silver Medal for an essay competition, presented to him by Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. From 1965 to 1968, he followed an advanced course in English language in London, UK and also completed a course in Modern Education up to A.C.P Standard.

Associations and Positions

Among Girdharry's contemporaries were Ramlallah and Sir Raman Osman, who were his classmates. Together, Girdharry, Sir Raman Osman and Ramlallah formed the Indian Cultural Association, which welcomed Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam upon his arrival to Mauritius in 1935.

During his 42-year career as a teacher and headmaster, Girdharry was elected President of the Government Teachers Union for 5 consecutive terms, a record at the time. This was a particularly challenging role during a period of heightened tensions between the Education department and the legal sector, with frequent motions of censure tabled against the Education department. Girdharry was asked by the Director to help smooth relations between the teaching profession and the government on the issue of recognition of teachers' certificates for promotion.

Literary Achievements

As a writer, Girdharry translated the famous novel "Paul & Virginie" by Bernardin de St. Pierre into English, gaining the approbation of the French government. He also wrote many articles for the newspaper "Le Mauricien" under the pen name "Ashok Kandhye".

Personal Life

Girdharry was related to Somduth Bhuckory and Oumashankar (Rishi) Hawoldar. He married Anooraga LOBIN, who came from a landowning Indo-Mauritian family in Rose Hill. They had seven children.

Girdharry suffered from heart conditions towards the end of his life and passed away peacefully in his sleep on 15 August 1973.