Socio-Cultural Group
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| History of Mauritius |
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| Portuguese |
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| French (1710–1810) |
| British (1810–1968) |
| Independence (1968) |
| Specific themes |
Socio-Cultural Group is a term which is used on the island of Mauritius to refer to private organisations whose primary objectives are to consolidate human and moral values, strengthen the family unit and promote religious and cultural values. These groups are also known as socio-cultural movements or socio-cultural associations.[1]
Some of the earliest socio-cultural groups which have survived are the Cutchee Meiman Sunnee Mussulman Society (CMSMS) which was founded in 1852 and the Surtee Sunnee Mussulman Society (SSMS) which dates back to 1890. They set up schools for religious studies.[2] The Indian Cultural Association (ICA) was active in Mauritius in the 1930s and politician Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was ICA's president during his early foray into politics.[3] In the 1940s the Jan Andolan was founded by Basdeo Bissoondoyal when he returned from his higher studies in India. Jan Andolan volunteers contributed to the record participation in the 1948 general elections by teaching eligible adults how to write and sign their name in one of the island's many languages at the Baitkas located in villages and sugar estates.[4]
During the 1960s and 1970s socio-cultural associations contributed to the education of the rural mass which resulted in increased mobility in rural areas of Mauritius. There was a substantial increase in the number of socio-cultural groups following the government's decision in 1962 to subsidise them using state funds. These groups started to play a direct role in politics from the 1963 General Elections.[5]