Gungadeen Sungker, popularly known as Master, was born of poor parents on July 2nd,1896 at United Estates- Flacq, Mauritius. Unlike his grand parents, who were among the last batch of ?Hill Coolies? brought to the colony to work as indentured labourers for the wealthy and influential Franco-Mauritian and British planters, his father Oogeerah Sungker worked as coachman for the white owners of F.U.E.L Sugar Estate and his mother Nunkbee Imrith was a housewife looking after her four children.

Childhood was difficult for Gungadeen Sungker as in those days children had to work from a young age in order to help boost the family income. But he was fortunate enough to attend the Camp de Masque R.C.A. School.

Educating children, mostly boys, before the 1900?s was a matter of sacrifice and luck, for only brilliant students were allowed to continue their studies; others less fortunate were made to work in the fields. During those days the white planters and people of their clique had the monopoly of education. The Indians, it was said, were meant for the fields. Even children were not spared. It was thought that with proper education they would start climbing up the social ladder and become a challenge. The doors of schools were shut to them. Education was taboo. Furthermore, Indians feared that their children might slip into the grips of the Christians because they knew that educated sons of Indians had to become Christian before they could get jobs in the government.

Gungadeen?s father, being the coachman of the influential owners of F.U.E.L Estate, had their blessings and encouragement to educate his children.

Being very studious and hard working, Gungadeen Sungker passed his sixth standard without difficulty and became the talk of the village. Family meetings were held to discuss the future of this bright student. Pursuing further studies would mean much financial stress for the already poor family. It was much on the advice and with the blessing of Mr. Henri Leclesio, an influential owner of F.U.E.L Sugar Estate, that Oogeerah Sungker prepared his brilliant son for the Junior Cambridge, launching Gungadeen into the world of knowledge and learning. He passed his Junior Cambridge privately while at the same time working to finance his studies.

It is to be noted that there was only the Royal College of Curepipe offering secondary education at that time, where Seewoosagar Ramgoolam and Rahman Osman were studying as scholarship holders. A few missionary schools existed and were attended by the white people only.

Gungadeen Sungker studied English Language, French, History, Arithmetic, and Geography. His English teacher Rev. Fowler, gave him private tuition along with Seewoosagar Ramgoolam aqnd Rahman Osman. Thus began a faithful friendship between them. Ramgoolam and Sungker were good friends as they shared the same background family and came from the neighbouring villages of Belle Rive and Camp de Masque.

As years passed by between working in the field and burning the midnight oil studying, Gungadeen Sungker went through his secondary education and passed his Senior Cambridge Certificate with flying colours in 1920. So did Seewoosagar Ramgoolam and Rahman Osman, who in 1921 left for London to study medicine. They were among few Indo-Mauritians who succeeded in this examination.

After his success, Gungadeen was offered a job in the Railway Services, but instead chose teaching as a career.

He was on probation for a few years, and then from third grade teacher, he gradually climbed up the ladder to first grade teacher. That too was in a very short lapse of time. His success was spectacular because of his hard work. Gungadeen had an instinct for educating people and living for others. His sincerity and dedication resulted in his appointment as Head Teacher in 1948. His deep involvement in work made Gungadeen Sungker a very famous and respected person in the Flacq and Riviere Du Rempart district, where he worked in different primary schools. This was the time when he was nick- named MASTER, by the inhabitants who wereent messages from Indian Leaders and missionaries, like Gandhi in 1901, Manilal Doctor in 1904 and the different Arya Samaj Missionaries who often visited the colony. The important message was to ?send children to school and educate them??

Master was also a dedicated social worker contributing to and helping in the construction of Hindu temples at Camp de Masque, Medine and Lalmatie. Some grand parents still remember how Master would travel in his Baby Austin car No. 1365 every Sunday morning and set about collecting money from different Hindu families all round the island to build these temples.

Being successful all the way, Master was appointed Inspector of Schools on the 1st September 1950. Three months later, in December 1950, he submitted his first report on the teaching of the Hindi Language in the government aided schools, to the Director of Education. This was the stepping stone to the modern teaching of Hindi language in schools

Since 1941, all government supported schools were put under a Director of Education. Primary schools had concentrated almost entirely on book learning and no practical subjects, not even handicrafts, were taught in the secondary schools attended by moneyed families and a few clever students.

With such a diversity of languages current in the island Mauritius produced few writers. When the Ward Report was published the education department was already spending Rs. 15000 yearly on the teaching of Hindi, Urdu and Tamil. Ward was of the opinion that this money could be saved by abolishing the teaching of Indian languages.

Master coached recruit teachers at the Beau Bassin Teachers Training College, where he made good friends with Sookdeo Bissondoyal and together they struggled much in the social awareness campaign for better living conditions for the Indo-Mauritians round the island.

Gungadeen Sungker had the privilege of learning Hindi Language from Ramlagun Sharma, a famous and respected pundit and also from Ramkrit Jugessur, the secretary of the Arya Samaj of Mauritius at that time.

Politically Mauritius has advanced quite rapidly since 1948. Following the deaths of such Labour stalwarts as Anquetil, Rozemont, and Seeneevassen, it was a stroke of political genius on the part of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam to form an alliance with Sookdeo Bissondoyal and Sir Abdool Razac Mohamed to campaign under the banner of the Independence Party.

Master retired from government service on1st May 1955 at the age of 60, and launched himself into active politics.

Many brainstorming meetings were held at the residence of Master, Camp de Masque, where eminent personalities used to attend, Satcam Boolell, Roy, Balgobin, Seeneevasen, Seewoosagar, Ringadoo, Bhageerutty etc. of whom today only Sir Satcam Boollel is present to witness.

Master was famous all over the island. He combined all the qualities which his friend Ramgoolam was looking for in his political march. Intellects of the calibre of Gungadeen Sungker were rare in those days, and both stood together hand in hand with the labour party to topple the oligarchy and pay heed to the battle-call which Swami Vivekananda had raised - arise, awake and do not stop till the goal is reached.

During the 1950?s the country was stepping ahead on its socialist path as traced by Dr. Ramgoolam.The Labour party fought the 1953 election on the issue of universal suffrage and pressed for constitutional talks, which first took place in London in Febuary 1956, the famous London Agreement.

The policy of the British was Divide and Rule. Everywhere, the British divided the country by siding with one section against the other, giving one section of the population unfair advantages over the rest. They governed by communal and caste division.

It was on popular demand and because of the forsightedness of Seewoosagar Ramgoolam that in 1959, Gungadeen Sungker contested for a parliamentary seat in the single member constituency of Vieux Grand Port. He secured the popular vote in the highly contested election on account of his dedication to selfless service of the community. His steadfast philosophy and sincerity was his success. Against a highly casteist campaign by his opponent Master lost the election by 211 votes.

The labour Party and the newly founded Muslim Committee of Action polled 29 members, Sookdeo Bissondoyal ?s IFB won 6 seats and the Party Mauritian secured 3 seats. Labour felt in a strong position and now pressed for self government and independence.

Dr Ramgoolam proposed Gungadeen Sungker as council nominee, but the latter refused and instead proposed and introduced Robin Ghurburun, a young lawyer and good orator.

Though Dr. Ramgoolam did all to persuade Master to enter the council, his steadfast philosophy and honesty wouldn?t accept such an offer to enter the council through the ?window?? or ?backdoor?? as we commonly say.

Meanwhile, Gungadeen Sungker set up the Camp de Masque Corporative and worked with the Registrar Alexendre, head of the cooperative union of the colony.

Later in 1960 Master, was appointed Assessor at the Public Service Commission, and as such was responsible for ensuring that that meritocracy prevailed in the recruitment of civil servants.

The devastating cyclones Carol and Felix hit the country, causing tremendous damage to the sugar plantations and financial loss to many small planters. The Cyclone and Drought insurance Fund was set up to assist with the financial help to the needy -the chairman was no other than Gungadeen Sungker from 1962 to 1965.

In 1963 along with Dr. Ramgoolam , Satcam Boollel, Bates, Walter and Ringadoo,he set off to London in search of funds and independence.

Mauritius became independent on 12 March 1968. Gungadeen Sungker and his friend Ramgoolam had successfully fought their struggle and reached their goal. The job well done and with a heart full of satisfaction, Gungadeen Sungker passed away on the 8th May 1967.

Seewoosagar Ramgoolam would say, ?? Master was a genuine and faithful labourite, He was a selfless and loyal friend of mine,, may I come across such intellect and trustful personality during my Prime Minister ship??

Master trained lots of intellectuals during his leisure time. He was a real nursery. It is a must for all of us and the future generation, to draw inspiration from such products of the 1900?s. Thank you Masterji, for guiding and producing intellectuals of your calibre. We are indebted.

MASTER JR.