The early days of Abdool Amin Osman

By Amin Osman 

(Beau Bassin, 16 October 2011)

Abdool Amin Osman, August 1974,
Brookside, Beau Bassin, Mauritius.
Picture: (c) Shafick Osman.

I was born on 3 October 1936 at Morcellement Saint André, a small village in the North [of Mauritius] between the villages of Triolet and Plaine des Papayes and next to Bon Air Sugar Estate. I was registered as Abdool Amin Tejally at the Civil Status Office but on 28 October 1948, my name was changed to Abdool Amin Osman. Parcelling of marginal agricultural lands belonging to the sugar estates (morcellement) started in 1870 and Bon Air Sugar Estate created Morcellement Saint André.

My father, Mahomed Osman Tejally was born in 1876 in Jungipore, a village in Gazipore in Uttar Pradesh, British India. He arrived at Port Louis on 16 February 1879 at the age of three on board MV Canada No 1274 embarking at Calcutta and was given Immigrant No 387456. He accompanied his father, Tejally Immigrant No 387276 aged 40 years, his mother Mooleea aged 30 years, his sisters Roheemun aged 14 years and Soheemun aged 12 years [and infant Nuzeebun, 11 months' old]. 

 

"Some years later, the family moved to Bon Air Sugar Estate where father was recruited as a ‘Marquère’ or Timekeeper as he could read and write English, French, and Hindi as he had attended primary school."

 

Grandfather Tejally was recruited as an indentured labourer by Duhamel Frères and the family settled at Petite Rosalie, a small village in Pamplemousses District. Grandmother Mooleea passed away on 28 June 1883, i.e., 4 years after her arrival in Mauritius. Some years later, the family moved to Bon Air Sugar Estate where father was recruited as a ‘Marquère’ or Timekeeper as he could read and write English, French, and Hindi as he had attended primary school. Grandfather passed away on 15 May 1913 at Morcellement Saint André.

Father first married Saheerah Sheik Joomun of Montagne Blanche in 1896 while working at Bon Air S.E. and three sons were born from that union: Abdoollatif (1898), Abdool Raman (1902) and Coorbane (1906). Some years later Saheerah passed away and he married a second wife who later passed away without having borne any child. Then he married Aniffa Dilmahamood of Bel Ombre, and Ayesha was born on 14 January 1917 surviving Dawood and Bibi Hawan who died during their early childhood. Unfortunately, Aniffa also passed away and Father married my mother, Sarifamouzana bint Houssean-Patmah and eleven children were born out of that union: Hossen, Ayoub,Taherah aka Choti, Moussa, Asmat, Mouslim, Rasoulbee, Shafoorah aka Madinah, Amin, Jaheda aka Swalehah and Hapsah.

 

 "Grandfather was of Yemenite origin and was living in Singapore before coming here."

 

My mother was born on 12 May 1900 in a house situated at 11 Madras Street, Port Louis. Her father Sidi Housean-Patmah and her mother was Bibi Jugurally of Port Louis. Grandfather was employed by the British Army as an Engine Driver at Electricity Generating Plant of Fort George and lived by the beach in quarters provided by the army. He spoke Arabic, English amongst other languages. Grandfather was of Yemenite origin and was living in Singapore before coming here. Mother had three brothers: Ali, Osman and Abdul Rahman and a sister. The latter two passed away at an early age.

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Amin Osman is the son of Mahomed Osman.