Storyline
Girmitya evokes a painful facet of our country’s history, a human tragedy. The film pays tribute to those who were victims of injustice, to the families from whom they were torn away, and to the descendants who still bear the scars, but who in their own way have shaped the history of Mauritius. Every nation and every citizen must occasionally pause to commemorate the building of their history and pay tribute to their ancestors. Girmitya honours our past and the legacy they have passed on to us. Today, as we commemorate the 191st anniversary of the arrival of the first Indian immigrants, it is fitting to honour our girmityas. These 36 courageous Indian pioneers arrived on board the ship Atlas on 2 November 1834 and were the precursors of some 500,000 immigrants who made Mauritius their home. On 16 July 2006, the Aapravasi Ghat was inscribed on the World Heritage List and in 2016. Geet Gawai, the oral tradition of indentured labourers, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Girmitya is a journey through time, and at the heart of the film is Aarav, a dynamic and successful entrepreneur at the helm of a thriving business.
