Rémy Ollier
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Rémy Ollier | |
|---|---|
 Statue commemorating Rémy Ollier, Jardin de la Compagnie, Port Louis | |
| Born | October 6, 1816 |
| Died | January 26, 1845 (aged 28) |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, educator, human rights activist |
Rémy Ollier (October 6, 1816 – January 26, 1845) was a journalist, author, and political activist of Mauritius.
Childhood
Rémy Ollier was the son of Bénoît Ollier, a French artillery captain who settled in Beau-Vallon around 1799, and Julie Guillemeau, a freed slave. Like other settlers and rich Creoles, Rémy's father owned slaves. [1]
Life
Young Rémy had an easy childhood and was a brilliant student with a talent for literature. After the death of his father, Rémy, aged 16, had to find employment at a merchant's office in Port-Louis. He also worked as a French tutor in the schools of Port Louis.
At 21, he becomes a spokesman for the emancipation of the people of colour. Since all newspapers were controlled by the oligarchy of the sugarcane platers, he published a first pamphlet to distribute among the population. Entitled "La Sentinelle", this pamphlet became a regular publication from April 8, 1843, and an important voice in the fight for the emancipation of the coloured population.
Rémy Ollier succeeded in convincing the English colonial government to open the scholarship system to non-white applicants, and in 1844 the first two coloured students travelled to England.[2]
Ollier died, only 28 years old, of intestinal inflammation. For many years, rumours of foul play by his political adversaries continued to circulate.
Legacy
All cities and many villages in Mauritius have a Rue Rémy Ollier, and many schools are named after him. A bust of the activist was erected in the Jardin de la Compagnie in Port Louis in 1908 and his 100th anniversary celebrated there 8 years later.
References
- ^ "Lancement de Rémy Ollier "Le Combattant" de Lindsay Pointu". Maurice Info. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Droits de l'homme : Rémy Ollier, champion des libertés". Defimedia.info. Le Défi Media Group. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
Prosper, Jean-Georges (1995). Mémorial, Rémy Ollier : 150e anniversaire de la mort de Rémy Ollier, 1845-1995. Mauritius: Mahatma Gandhi Institute.