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PERSONALITIES
The Mauritius
Postal Services is issuing a set of four commemorative postage stamps to highlight
the contribution of four Mauritian personalities in the fields of Commerce,
Culture, Health and Labour Rights. The set consists of the one rupee, five
rupees, seven rupees and nine rupees denominations:
Re 1 - Affan Tank Wen (1842 - 1900)
Affan Tank Wen, Chinese Immigrant arrived in Mauritius on 31 October 1861. He took employment
as shop assistant to one of the wealthiest Chinese families of Port Louis. He
later married the daughter of his employer and worked his way up in the Chinese
community. In 1882, he was
appointed by Governor Pope Hennessy member of the Electoral Reform Committee. In
1888, as one of the Chinese leaders, he conveyed the good wishes of the community
to Queen Victoria.
He is remembered for his philanthropic activities in the betterment of his community. He
spearheaded the construction of the Chinese pagoda inaugurated in 1896. In 1899,
he contributed financially to the erection of a plague hospital in Port Louis to
treat Chinese victims of the epidemic. He is referred to as the ”Protecteur
des Pauvres” of the Chinese community. He died on 2 June 1900.
Rs 5 - Alphonse Ravaton Ti Fr?re (1900 - 1992)
Born on 21 April 1900 at Quartier Militaire, Alphonse Ravaton, known as Ti Fr?re, has heen named
”le Roi du S?ga”. From his early childhood, he learnt the ”S?ga” from his
father. In the company of his friends, he formed a group which toured the
country, populariing the ”S?ga” both as a song and a dance.
Ti Frere's popularity grew as the ”S?ga” began to make inroads into the different social
classes of Mauritius. His voice was compared to that of Louis Armstrong. His songs
were recorded and in 1971 he was made ”Member of the Order of the British Empire"
by the Queen.
Alphonse Ravaton
passed away on 17 June 1992 and was given a grandiose funeral by the artistic
community of Mauritius. On 20 June 1992, the National Assembly paid tribute to
him for this contribution in bringing into the limelight an important cultural
aspect of our nation.
Rs 7 - Dr Idrice Goumany (1859 - 1889)
Idrice Goumany was born in Port Louis in 1859. Idrice was one of the very few students of
Indian origin to he admitted to the Royal College to pursue secondary education.
After his secondary education, his parents who were of modest means ran into
debt to send him to Scotland to study medicine at Edinburgh.
On his return in 1887, Dr Goumany, established his surgery at his home and worked very hard. He
was pressed from all quarters to help in alleviating the sufferings of his countrymen
struck by a smallpox epidemic. Through his actions for the downtrodden, he
earned the respect of the whole population.
In May 1889, due to the refusal of several medical practitioners to take charge of the lazaret
at Pointe aux Canonniers, the Colonial Administration contacted the young Dr Idrice
Goumany. He unhesitatingly took up the challenge, knowing perfectly well the risks
associated with such a decision.
After two and a half months of dedicated service, he was himself struck by smallpox and died
on 28 July 1889. Given the circumstances which led him to accept the offer of the
Colonial Administration, Governor Sir John Pope Hennessy praised his courage in
Council and moved for a pension to be paid to his family, though he did not
have the required length of service to enjoy such pension.
Rs 9 - Anjalay Coopen
The stamp depicts a statue of Anjalay Coopen, labour martyr who died of rifle shots at Belle Vue Harel
during an industrial action in late 1943. Anjalay, a woman labourer who was
pregnant at that time was among the numerous labourers who fought for better
working conditions on sugar estates. The events of 1943 had a direct bearing
on the later constitutional development of the country.
Anjalay Coopen is a symbol of
both women and workers' emancipation of Mauritius. She symbolises the countless,
anonymous sugar cane labourers who helped to build the country. Her memory is perpetuated
through the erection of her statue at the Apravasi Ghatt. The Stadium at Belle
Vue also bears her name.
First Day Cover Illustration
The First Day Cover illustrates an artistic composition of the tools and instruments associated with the personalities
Cancellation Cachet
The cancellation cachet especially designed for the issue is applied on First Day Covers only.
Technical Details
Designer Ray Hutchins
Printer House of Questa
Stamp Size 27.94 x 44.45 mm
Perforation 14
Gum PVA
Sheet Composition 50 stamps set in 2 panes of 25
Paper Crown Agents Watermarked
Release date 13 December 2000
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