Dr. (Miss) I. Gopauloo
Head, School of Mauritian and Area Studies (contact: 4032000, 4339294)

Dear Students and Academics,

Welcome to the the School of Mauritian and Area Studies (SMAAS). The School of Mauritian and Area Studies regroups the Centre for Mauritian Studies, the Department of Bhojpuri, Folklore and Oral Traditions, the Chinese Studies Section and the Folk Museum of Indian  Immigration Archives.

The Centre for Mauritian Studies operates as full-fledged centre of higher learning since 1996 when the institute was given full responsibility to develop the  following fields of learning  at the tertiary levelIndian Studies, Mauritian Studies, Chinese Studies, Performing Arts and Fine Arts. The setting up of the centre in 1996 re-emphasized the importance of the Mauritian Studies as an area of studies for which the Mahatma Gandhi Institute has had a clear mandate since 1976 when the school of Mauritian, Asian and African Studies (SMAAS) was created. The creation of the SMAAS in 1976 as one of the constituent schools of the Mahatma Gandhi embodies a vision – that of enlarging the role of the MGI so as to provide a unique academic meeting-ground of cultures, a laboratory to investigate the heritage and the society in the making. The Centre for Mauritian Studies is involved in the analysis of the Mauritian society through research and teaching as well as cultural activities. It has, since its inception, oriented research projects and taught modules towards a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach, focusing primarily on Literature and Social Sciences. The disciplinary orientation of the research in Mauritian Studies is in History, Literature, Social Geography, Sociology, Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies. The field of Mauritian Studies offers panoply of opportunities for in-depth understanding of the Mauritian multicultural society. You will discover and learn about the rich history and culture of the Mauritius from the perspective of the different disciplines, and in the academic setting. The Centre’s multifarious academic activities such as research, publication, exhibitions, workshops, seminars and conferences further strengthen the academic endeavour of the Centre. The Centre also offers graduate and undergraduate teaching programmes, and takes advantage of new sources of funding and new opportunities for collaborative research.