In the context of the celebrations of the 55th anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius, Mr Bahal Gowry, was given due recognition and rewarded with a cheque of Rs 250,000 for his patriotic song, “Donn to lamé, pran mo lamé, lamé dan lamé”, on Monday 20 March 2023, during a ceremony held at the seat of the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, in Port-Louis.
The Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mr Avinash Teeluck, and the Director of Culture, Mr Vikram Neeraj Boodhun, were present on the occasion.
In a statement, Minister Teeluck highlighted that Mr Bahal Gowry, also known as the Gowry Brothers, is best remembered for the song, “Donn to lamé, pran mo lamé, lamé dan lamé”. The song, he underlined, is an attempt to bring unity and brotherhood following the communal riots that had broken out in Port-Louis in January 1968 at the dawn of Independence. He emphasised that the twin brothers launched the patriotic song to send a strong message of solidarity and nationhood that had influenced and, continues to influence generations of Mauritians.
The Minister further indicated that the song was re-edited and used during the celebrations of the 50thanniversary of Independence of Mauritius. Mr Gowry has expressed the wish to add another couplet to the song and the Ministry will support him to this end, he stated.
As for Mr Gowry, he said that he is deeply touched by the recognition and expressed his deepest gratitude to the Ministry. He recalled that the song, recorded in the aftermath of the race riots and sung in the Kreol language, invited Mauritians to reach out beyond their ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious differences.
He further remarked that the song epitomises a sense of patriotism that has given the country a strong foundation to build on and serves as a reminder to create a nation that looks towards the future, hand in hand.