By Shafick Osman
Mahomed Osman, the 'founding member' of the Osman family, arrived in Mauritius from India on 16 February 1879, exactly 144 years ago (according to the Gregorian calendar), at the age of three, together with his parents Tejally and Mooleea, and siblings (Rohemun, Sohemun, Nuzeebun). On the Canada-named vessel, number 1294, they arrived from the port of Calcutta.
We are happy to share important papers from Sir Abdool Raman Osman, his second son, with the family and the rest of the world in remembrance of this historic day. Sir Abdool Raman became the country's first Muslim lawyer, Magistrate, Supreme Court judge, and—possibly most significantly—the nation's first Mauritian Governor-General. We are extremely thankful to the Archives of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in England for not only giving us with these historical documents, but also for enabling us to share them with the public today. These documents date back more than a century.
The Admission Papers
According to documents obtained from The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Sir Abdool Raman was admitted to the Middle Temple for legal studies on 27 March 1922, following his request for admission on 8 February 1922 (in another official document, it is mentioned 3 February 1922). He was 19 years old at the time. He presented Certificates of Character from the Mayor of Port Louis (Mauritius) dated 6 December 1921 and signed by Mayor Edouard Nairac, as well as from the Acting Rector of the Royal College Mauritius.
We also learn that Sir Abdool Raman took the Cambridge Senior Local Examination in Latin in December 1921 at the Holloway Centre (London). Sir Abdool Raman had a Senior Local Certificate from Mauritius, but he did not meet the required level in Latin for legal studies, according to a memo from the University of Cambridge dated 1 February 1922 from the Assistant Secretary for Examinations, A. H. N. Sewell.
Sir Abdool Raman enrolled in the Royal College Mauritius' Junior Cambridge Class in January 1918, according to the Royal College Mauritius' Certificate of Character dated 11 February 1921. "In July 1920, Mr. Osman obtained the Senior Cambridge Local Certificate, passing with Credit in English, Composition, French, Mathematics, and Botany," the Certificate states. "He was promoted to the English Scholarships Class's Second Section."
However, in a Petition for Admission to The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple dated 18 August 1921, it is stated that he is "fairly proficient in Latin" and has "a Senior Cambridge certificate in English Composition including Literature, French, Mathematics, [and] Botany." We can conclude that Sir Abdool Raman chose to take Latin in London before joining The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple because he did not meet the required standard in Latin in Mauritius.
His years in London
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple's records reveal that Sir Abdool Raman arrived in England on 1 April 1921, and that he lived at three different addresses between that time and the day he was admitted to the bar on
26 January 1925:
- London's Finsbury Park, N4, 12 Portland Road.
- London's Tavistock Square, WC, 3 Endsleigh Street.
- London's Tufnell Park, N19, 117 Brecknock Road.
On 7 January 1925, Sir Abdool Raman submitted an application to the Middle Temple to be admitted to the Bar.
Good character
Sir Abdool Raman's "good character" is attested to in a number of documents. The General Secretary of the Indian National Council of YMCAs, P. D. Runganadhan, states that he is a man of "studious habits and good character" in a reference letter dated 8 January 1925. In the Certificate of Character dated 11 February 1921, the Acting Rector of the Royal College stated that his conduct was excellent. Edouard Nairac writes that his parents were "honourable" in the Certificate of Character issued by the Mayor of Port Louis on 6 December 1921. In another referral letter dated 8 January 1925, a lawyer from Montpelier Lodge (London) writes that "his time was strictly devoted to study and his conduct irreproachable".This letter also reveals that Sir Abdool Raman visited France during his studies.
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 | |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
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| © The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023 |
Note: I would like to thank from the very bottom of my heart my cousin Azad Osman who hinted to my father and me the Middle Temple for Sir Abdool Raman's law studies. Thank you very much, Azad!
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