The Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) is an apex institute of oriental learning of the Government of Mauritius established with the support of the Government of India. The foundation stone of the Institute was laid on June 3, 1970 by Smt. Indira Gandhi and it was inaugurated on October 9, 1976 jointly by Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Smt. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Ministers of Mauritius and India. Its Mission is to provide academic and cultural basis for the promotion, consolidation and dissemination of Indian Cultural traditions within the multicultural context of Mauritius. The Institute has a mandate to promote Indian Studies, Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Mauritian Studies, Chinese Studies and African Studies. The High Commissioner of India is the ex-officio Vice-chairperson of the Council of the Institute, which is headed by a Chairperson nominated by the Government of Mauritius. 

MGI runs a network of five secondary schools located in various regions of the country and one Form Six College (Senior Secondary School) as well as the Gandhian Basic School, which specializes in pre-vocational education based on Gandhian principles. This school provides vocational training to the dropouts at primary level. 

The MGI has the responsibility of maintaining the archives of Indian immigrants to Mauritius. The archives are well maintained and are an authentic repository of the arrival records of the Indian indentured labourers from1834. This information is used as authentic document for the issuance of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards.

In October 1998, a one time grant of Indian Rs.50 lakhs and a recurring annual grant of IRs 5 lakhs for a period of 10 years was approved for the MGI. The grant has been released through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, for collaborative activities under an MOU signed between MGI and CIIL on April 28, 2005.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Chair for Indian Studies was established at MGI in 1993 for a period of 10 years with the support of Government of India. The Chair was administered under the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) scheme from 1999 to 2003. 

The Institute has brought Indian studies, especially Indian languages, philosophy and culture into the mainstream of the Mauritian education. Through its education facilities, the School of Mauritian, Asian and African studies, Folklore Museum, Fine Arts building, Gandhian Basic School for crafts learning and a rich library, the Institute has served as a bridge for bringing together the cultures of the two countries and has enriched the understanding of each other.

Each year on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, the MGI organises the Gandhi Memorial Lecture, delivered by a distinguished personality.

Contact details: 

Mahatma Gandhi Institute
Tel: (230) 4032000
Fax: (230) 4332235, 4331277