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J’étais enthousiasmé de lire le livre de Jacques Attali : « une brevet histoire de l’avenir ». Un  ouvrage de prospective, ou il appréhende le futur de la societe « hyper ».

Ce pavé de 420 pages se lit très facilement. Il n’a tenu en haleine et je l’ai dévore en quelques jours. Merci à Elizabeth Markevitch qui m’a passé son livre.

 

Jacques Attali, au dernier chapitre, prescrit quelques actions réformatrices à la France pour se  positionner par rapport aux changements de la ‘9eme forme de  l’ordre marchand’ surtout dans le sillage des  présidentielles.

 

 

L’auteur m’a permis de vivre et suivre les différentes formes de l’ordre marchand depuis que l’homme est homme. Le parcours de l’Homo sapiens vers notre siècle est vu sous un regard evolutif, sous des  filtres,temps en temps, humain, historique ou social ou geopolitique ou encore politique  et ceci contraste  avec le regard paleo-anthropologique que m’avait donne Pascal Picq il y a quelques années.

Sans conteste, le savoir partagé et l’étendu du travail fourni m’ont  bien enrichi. Je vous recommande de lire l’ouvrage vous les nouveaux nomades.

Et Maurice,notre patrie cherie dans tout cela?

 

I was happily surprised to see in front of the treatment rooms where I was led to this morning,this beautiful design made on the door step. Made of colored sand,delicately drawn to adorn the entrance, I was told ,it was called a Rangoli. My curious instinct was immediately aroused. Soon after my massage and herb bath I immediately went for more information on Rangoli which,I found out, is a traditional Art form widely spread in rural India particularly in the south. Rangoli which is colorful, serves to welcome guests and put them in the appropriate mood as they cross your doorstep.Made from colored sand or rice they give the creator of the Rangoli great liberty of expression and improvisation in form and texture.

I had wish that this art be taken on board by Mauritians as a heritage of our mother India origin country of the vast majority of our population. Would it be possible to organise a national Rangoli contest on some appropriate Indian Festival day,like Sankranti (14 Jan) or Pongal(15 Jan) as called in the Southern Dravidian language?

I like this religio-philosophical definition. Like Hindu and Buddhist Mandalas, the reason for using powder or sand as a medium for creating Rangoli (and its resulting fragility) is sometimes thought to be a metaphor for the impermanence of life and maya.
Yes, this year I shall be feasting Pongal in Mysore. Day of worship of cattle and crop, Mysore will be dressed in its best attire I am told. The town will be decorated in beautiful colors even the errant cows will be painted!EllaBella will be exchanged and given to all guests.You may want to try out a Pongal sweet recipe!
I am so pleased to discover & deepen my skimpy knowledge of the rich and centuries old Indian Culture.

‘Always a foreigner’ was the words uttered to me by Nargis and her sister Nazlee yesterday. Both of them are now residents in London UK and may be British citizens for all intent & purposes. Yet, much like nomads they seem to belong to no land. Both sisters were born in Lamu near Mombassa Kenya of parents who themselves children of migrants from Kutch, Gujarat, India. Their family names were “Panju” which indicated their origin. Their forefathers were probably moved to Kenya under economic and social compulsion earlier in the last century. Even from Kutch where they were supposed to have come from they cannot find any trace of origin nor of identity. No parents, relatives and ties were to be found in Kutch. For the memories of the family, they only knew that they originated from there, which is confirmed by the language they spoke. Are they condemned to be without family identity source and to be foreigner where ever they go?

In India, even now they feel themselves to be a foreigner. Having lived in the United Kingdom for over 30 years they are definitely not in their homeland: the habits, accents and language are so much different.

Even in London were they live they are foreigners. Pakis or Indians they would be called.

Forced migration got them to move from their country of birth and where they grew up. Foreigners again they were in East Africa.

They just do not belong!

Funnily enough, “Always a foreigner” could answer some aspects to the discussions of Eddy Young’s blog set aflame with much passion since the start of the year under the title: What does it mean to be a Mauritian. “Where do we belong?” would be a more appropriate question. I believe that it is not the document or citizenship document that makes you a Mauritian: at heart where do you belong?

Would a Chinese, African, French or Indian at heart living in Mauritius be a Mauritian? No, they will always be a foreigner! Only those who “belong”, those who accept, cherish and espouse our beloved country and continue to work for its future are worthy to be called Mauritians.

Mind you, I am not in favor of the melting pot analogy to describe the Mauritian society. I prefer the Fruit Salad analogy where each fruit whilst being still distinct enhances the flavors the salad which by the way, may well contain in its self some of the jam made up of the combination of the different fruits.

I like to think that in Mauritius I am no foreigner! Because I belong.

Time came to bid farewell to a number of newly made friends, ayurvedic companions with the wish to exchange emails and photos. Good Bye to the Shah’s sisters presently London UK, residents, Kenya born who fled Arap Moi’s rule. Good Bye to Leslie & Jessie, Canadian, in the prime of adulthood, who are enjoying sabbatical years after the undergraduate University studies.Farewell to Marlyse of Geneva who is continuing her Kerala state visit in research of deeper ayurvedic knowledge.

 

A new lot of rejuvenation & health seekers have landed at IVAC this week. The house keeping staff told me that they are under pressure as the center is almost housefull. The therapist planning center is now a bee hive.We wish that the additional treatment rooms were ready! A therapist told me, that he has been on his foot since 5.am this morning and will not hit bed before 10.00 tonight. This is high tide for them.
I have met couple of Singaporeans Chineses at time lunch time! As an “old” time resident, I see that change as a new wave of water flowing in the cliff!