The Migration of Sunni Surtees to Mauritius

The migration of Indian-origin Sunni Surtees to Mauritius began in the early 19th century under British colonial rule. The initial wave in the 1830s was largely linked to the lucrative prospects of trade, principally in textiles and commodities. This movement gained significant momentum in the 1850s with the migration and subsequent settlement of Gujarati Sunnee Vohras.  

Unlike the indentured laborers brought to work on the sugar plantations, many of the Sunni Surtees arrived as "passenger immigrants." This group included wealthy merchants, agricultural landowners, peasant farmers, village artisans, and petty traders who paid for their own passage. They were primarily drawn from South Gujarat, specifically the hinterland of the port city of Surat, from areas such as Rander and Barbodhan. Because they adhered to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, they became known locally as the Surtee Sunnee Vohra community, distinguishing them from other local groups.  

Upon arrival, these enterprising individuals became a common sight in the Central Business District of 18th-century Port Louis. They established a vibrant commercial enclave, often colloquially referred to by the locals as "marchands Arabes", particularly along the streets of Corderie and Desforges (now Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Street). This area subsequently became known as the Surtee Bazaar.  

Notable figures within this early merchant class included Bahemia, a merchant from Rander who is recorded as the first Surtee migrant to establish a business in Port Louis around 1844. He was followed in the 1850s by Goolam Hossen (of the extended Piperdy family of Rander), who became one of the most influential Surtee merchants and the founder of the trading firm Goolam Hossen & Co. Other prominent merchant families from this era included the Botawalla family, headed by Issop Mamode Sulliman, who were active in shipping, port infrastructure, and real estate.  

Another distinct group of Gujarati passenger immigrants arrived from the agricultural village of Barbodhan in 1861. Led by figures like Assenjee Atchia, this group settled in the Upper Plaines Wilhems at a hamlet called Rose Hill. Coming with less capital than the urban brokers in Port Louis, they established a network of rural shops (dukans) to cater to the needs of the indentured labor force working on the surrounding sugar estates.  

Over time, these merchants played a major economic role in Mauritius. They financed sugar plantations, imported goods for laborers, exported sugar to India, and invested heavily in shipping and real estate. The community also placed a strong emphasis on cultural and religious preservation. In 1897, leaders within the community, including Ajum Goolam Hossen and Aboo Baker Mamode Taher, co-founded the Surtee Soonnee Mussulman Society (SSMS) to provide assistance to new immigrants and foster communal bonds.  

Despite initial hardships and the challenge of adapting to a new colonial environment, the descendants of the Sunni Surtees have become an integral part of Mauritian society, significantly contributing to the nation's economic development and shaping its diverse cultural and social landscape.