Documents from Sir Abdool Raman Osman's legal studies a century ago are now available

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thankful to the Archives of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in England for not only giving us with these historical documents, but also for enabling us to share them with the public today.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.

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

 

 

 

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

 

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, 2023

© 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!

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.

 ---

Amin Osman is the son of Mahomed Osman.

The renowned children and grand-children of Mahomed Osman

Mahomed Osman, arrived in Mauritius in February 1879, at the age of three only, is the 'founder' of the Osman family in Mauritius. He went to school, worked as timekeeper at the Bon Air Sugar Estate (next to Plaine des Papayes and Morcellement St André) in the north of the island, and got married successively four times after the death of the previous wives. A few of Mahomed's children and grand-children have shaped the history of Mauritius: Abdoollatif Mahomed Osman, Sir Abdool Raman Osman, Hossen Mahomed Osman and Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra. 

 

Mahomed Osman pictured at the age of 19.
No. 387456 was his Immigrant Number.
Source: MGI Archives (Mauritius).

 

Abdoollatif Mahomed Osman

Abdoollatif Mahomed Osman is first Minister of Agriculture of Mauritius. He was appointed Minister while the country was still a British colony. Abdoollatif, the eldest son of Mahomed, was also a a large landowner and he was known for his sugar estate at Belle Isle, Bambous. He was the one who helped to build the first mosque at Morcellement St André. A popular road in the town of Quatre-Bornes bears his name.

Sir Abdool Raman Osman

Sir Abdool Raman Osman is very well-known. He was a comrade of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius' first Premier and first Prime Minister. They went to the Royal College of Curepipe and travelled together to England by ship for their further studies. While Seewoosagur read medicine, Abdool Raman opted for law.

Abdool Raman is first Muslim lawyer and barrister in Mauritius, the first Muslim Supreme Court Judge and the first Mauritian Governor-General appointed three years after the Independence of the country. Sir Abdool Raman was passionate about botany and horticulture, and he settled in rural Le Goulet, Baie du Tombeau, where his iconic house stood at the intersection of a river and the sea. A State College in Phoenix has been named after him.

 Hossen Mahomed Osman

Hossen Mahomed Osman, the eldest son of Mahomed of his fourth marriage, is one of the very first Muslim attorneys in Mauritius. At the end of his life, he was the most senior attorney-in-law in the country. Hossen, also known as Dayas, is the first Town Clerk of the Municipality of Vacoas-Phoenix. A street in Vacoas, next to his house, bears his name.

 Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra

Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, grand-daughter of Mahomed Osman, is the first female Muslim lawyer and barrister in Mauritius, the first female Muslim Member of the Legislative Assembly (now called MP), the first female Muslim Minister and Attorney-General, the first female Muslim Ambassador and also the first Ombudsperson for Children of the country.