A family history that spans more than two centuries and develops in several countries. Add to that universal messages of world peace and environmental protection. *Memory of stories in the Indian Ocean in the islands of Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, Chagos and Madagascar *by Georges Toussaint was published by Éditions Angoulvent in 2021. The English version, Memories in Indian Ocean: On the Islands of Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, Chagos and Madagascar : Historyhas recently been available in bookstores.
When the French version was released, the reception was positive, says the author. “People knew me thanks to the reissue of my father’s book (Editor’s note: Port Louis two centuries of history)”. The thousand copies are “almost gone”rejoices Georges Toussaint.
Via social networks, Mauritians from the diaspora, “in Australia and South Africa, Seychelles, Canada, England”contacted the author to request an English version. Having studied at secondary school until Higher School Certificate at St Joseph College, Georges Toussaint – who is based in Paris – calls on his “good basics in English. But I don’t practice enough to have fluent English”. He therefore resorted to a “kind translator”. As well as his older brother Jacques, who lives in Brest, “who did it with pleasure”.
The opening chapter takes us back to the ancestor, Jacques Christophe Toussaint, who arrived in the Ile de France in 1795. Directly related to Georges Toussaint, son of the historian and former curator of the National Archives, Auguste All Saints. And the niece of Georges Toussaint, Cécile, French teacher in Germany, who discovered Port-Louis, two centuries of history “from my grandfather”the book by his maternal grandfather, Auguste Toussaint, in 2012. Which triggers the series of visits to the various branches of the family scattered across the Indian Ocean, which is recounted in the book.
Georges Toussaint, who signs the historical part of the book explains:“I’m handing over to my niece Cécile to make reading more enjoyable, otherwise the text would have been dry”. Above all, we remember that this lineage shares a taste for history. “This niece has a great family spirit. She is in touch with all the members of Maurice’s family. As with those of the Adam family, on my mother’s side, who are in Seychelles, Madagascar and elsewhere.
The author insists on the strict truthfulness of everything he has written. “The only deviation I allowed myself was to involve my ancestor during the Battle of Grand-Port. This is the only thing I don’t have formal proof of.” The episode is still based on real events. A few months after the capture of the Ile de France by the English, “Governor Farquhar grants to my ancestor the land where he works as a doctor in Souillac, for good and loyal services rendered to the population”. Georges Toussaint adds that this battle left many wounded on both sides and “We lacked surgeons. So, it is not excluded that my ancestor, who was in Souillac, was called up during the battle of Grand Port..
Another element which could be related to fiction, “but here too everything is true”affirms Georges Toussaint, these are the references to pirates. He also mentions Libertalia, the republic of pirates which appeared in 1695 in Madagascar. “Some historians say it’s not true but many say it’s probably true.” Still, between 1695 and 1730, the governor of Reunion authorized around thirty pirates to settle on the island.
This book – the initial version in French – took eight years to come to fruition. By way of conclusion, the author and his niece insist on the need for understanding between peoples and the notion of world citizenship. “Mauritius is a magnificent example of cohabitation between people from different civilizations and religions. This is the message we need to send to the world.”
