Aapravasi Ghat
The Aapravasi Ghat or Immigration Depot in Mauritius is a complex of buildings in Port Louis, which contains remains of the island's first facility to receive indentured labourers from India.Following the abolition of slavery, the British Empire put into execution an ambitional scheme of replacing African slaves with indentured labourers from other countries, primarily India. The island of Mauritius was the first place where the scheme was implemented. Between 1834 and 1920, almost half a million indentured labourers arrived from India at Aapravasi Ghat to work in the sugar plantations of Mauritius, or to be transferred to Reunion Island, Australia, southern and eastern Africa or the Caribbean.
The site was recommended by ICOMOS in its April 2006 advice to be deferred back to the State Party, to place the proposal into a broader "Indentured Labour" context.
The 2006 session of the World Heritage Committee, however, overruled this and inscribed Aapravasi Ghat on the World Heritage List as "the site where the modern indentured labour diaspora began".
| Year | Decision | Comments |
| 2006 | Inscribed | Reasons for inscription |
Reviews
Kishore ramlugun (UK):
I think it is a wonderful site.I first visited the site a couple of years ago and I was immediately overwhelmed with emotion,just standing on the very place where my ancestors landed and where temporarily housed.I enjoyed the slide shows and the talk,including the guided tour.That same year I went to Bihar and traced my ancestral village and roots.It was a tremendous feeling!I wish the organisation my best wishes and I congratulate them for their excellent work. Date posted: May 2009 D. TAKOOR (MAURITIUS):
Aapravasi Ghat Revisited
Following my first comments posted early July (not June), I wish to state that Aapravasi Ghat WHS is in good hands and the young Mauritian team are doing a great job in its management after having understudied the foreign consultants.I wish management could open up more like Pompeii,Reuben Island and even the Great Wall to developmentlike heritage tourism.As it is, Government is sparing no efforts. Date posted: July 2008
Have you been to Aapravasi Ghat? Share your experiences!
- Aapravasi Ghat
- Country: Mauritius
- Inscribed: 2006
-
Cultural Heritage
Criteria: (6) - Category: Human activity, Transport and Trade
- Period: Built in the 19th Century .
- Connections:
Built or owned by British . Controversial at inscription . Hospitals . Human Migration . Indian Ocean . Located in a Capital City . Sugar .
News and links:
» Critical account of the Ghat's world heritage status (02-11-2007).
» Wikipedia on Aapravasi Ghat.
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