Diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius were established in 1948, soon after India’s independence.

Shri Dharam Yash Dev was appointed as the first Commissioner in September 1948 who remained in office till June 1950. There were 8 Commissioners in all. The last Commissioner was Shri Avtar Singh who held office from May 1967 till March 1968.

Following Mauritius’ independence in March 1968, the representation was upgraded to High Commission. Shri Avtar Singh became the first High Commissioner of India to Mauritius. Since then there have been 14 High Commissioners. The present High Commissioner Shri M. Ganapathi is India’s 15th High Commissioner to Mauritius.

Available records at the High Commission suggest that the High Commission was first housed adjacent to Champs de Mars. It moved to Bank of Baroda Building afterwards. Since 1993, the High Commission is located in the LIC Building, President John Kennedy Street. This is a prominent landmark in Port Louis designed by the renowned architect Charles Correa.

The construction of a new Chancery building of the High Commission in the business-hub of Mauritius, the Ebene Cyber City is expected to begin in the near future.

The list of Commissioners and High Commissioners of India to Mauritius is as follows:

The Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture, the cultural wing of the High Commission, was established in 1987 and had been functioning from the rented premises in Quatre Bornes before moving into its own building in 2002. The new premises of IGCIC at Phoenix was inaugurated on March 11, 2000 by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India and Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius. The entire area of the IGCIC is 20000 sq.m with a unique structure reflecting the beauty of the Indian architecture in a lush green layout.

Address to the National Assembly of Mauritius by the Hon’ble Presidents/Prime Ministers of India
during their visit to Mauritius