At least 35 years have passed since Goolam Luttoo, teacher at Curepipe Road Governement School, last went to Aapravasi Ghat. At that time, few people really believed in what was still called, with pejorative connotations, ?Coolie Ghat?. Hopefully a wider awareness and pride supported the site?s inscription under the World Heritage List, leading to its thorough restoration. Presently a truly cherished place, it already attracts visits, allowed on request at the approach of the official opening scheduled for July 16. Significantly, for his come back, Goolam is not alone: he is accompanying three CPE classes.

In accordance with UNESCO?s 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the site has to be preserved in its integrity and its uniqueness. One of the aims of the inscription of this unique historical immigrant depot, is to encourage visitors and inhabitants to engage with local culture. But education is another highlight. On this Thursday, it is clear that these issues are being met for Goolam, both as teacher and as a local in quest of his shared roots.

?I recall buildings like the Immigration Office?, points out the man, who came with two other colleagues, to his pupils and to Aartee Pydatalli, the Heritage Field guide in charge of the present visit. This very building, like a few others in the immediate surroundings of the main surviving constructions, was pulled down as the nearby motorway was built 20 years back. But this is still an invaluable opportunity both for the pupils and their teachers to enrich their experience of history and to compare with the knowledge reaped at school from social studies and ?histoire-géo? courses at CPE level.

The site is in quite good condition, as described in Amitava Chowdhry?s book, Aapravasi Ghat, Past and Present : ?The wharf interface between the sea and the island, the original staircases, toilets that catered for the immigrants the first two days after their arrival, the kitchen in the central ?yard?, the sheds that served as resting places, and the seven chambers in a row including the hospital, surgery unit, officers? privies, gatekeeper?s room, a general store and the hospital unit, have all survived in different degrees ...?

?A school kit is already being prepared at the Aapravsi Ghat Trust Fund?, says Corinne Forest, one of the team researchers. Already, Aartee is interacting with the children through a series of questions, which follow a significant halt in the visit, and occasional silences among the puzzled young audience: ?Do you know the meaning of Aapravasi Ghat ??, she begins, with a large open smile, while her fellow guide?.. is finishing his own tour explaining to the young people the significance of the inscription on the World Heritage List. ?Aapravasi : immigrant. Ghat : a place where land meets water?. The visit also provides an opportunity for the teachers to verify the exact number of steps, these crucial steps that were taken by half a million women and men. Goolam is somewhat surprised to discover two steps that have been recently uncovered, bringing the total to 16. At each halt, Aartee gives a short historical brief in Creole, which proves captivating: to the question on the date of the depot?s establishment, she gets a chorus of interrogative answers, more or less accurate, but enthusiastically offered : ?1833??, ?1834?? Actually, few of us knew that it was in fact 1849.

After such a visit, one can guess that most pupils will have at least a better idea of their own history. Though he had prepared his class and wanted to rehearse his pupils on site before the final exams, Goolam places much importance on subsequent discussion to complete the lesson. For him, there could be no better way to emphasise the relevance of that symbol of cultural identity and continuity as an embodiment of cultural values and traditions.