Tribute to Mouslim

 By Monique Stegen (Canada)

 

Upper picture: Mouslim and I at a Native American (Indigenous) village near Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Other picture: In front of Just Christmas shop at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Credits: Monique Stegen.

 

My husband and I met Mouslim when we were living in London in the 1960s. He was so jovial that he soon became a friend. In London, at that time, it was difficult to get a phone, it took a year or more to get settled. So it was to his house that we went to make our calls and I was the one making most of the calls, especially, when my husband had left for Canada in 1967. Left to my own devices, Mouslim became my advisor on the sale of my house and would get upset when my husband in Canada demanded that everything be done more quickly.

Mouslim, together with another Mauritian, oversaw charter flights from London to Plaisance. He had managed to convince some Mauritian friends, my husband, and an Englishman we knew, to do this and the meetings were held in our living room in London. I remember attending some of these meetings and if I am not mistaken, I was also taking the minutes!

 

Mouslim, together with another Mauritian, oversaw charter flights from London to Plaisance. He had managed to convince some Mauritian friends, my husband, and an Englishman we knew, to do this and the meetings were held in our living room in London.

 

Having left Mauritius after my marriage in 1957 and not having much financial resources, I had no way of visiting my family in Mauritius and this was very sad for me although several members of my family came to visit us on holiday. Ten years passed and I was nostalgic to see my island and those I had left behind for so long. We also had a little girl born in 1960. Now that I would soon be joining my husband in Canada after the sale of my house in London, I had no prospect of seeing my island again, I had to settle in Canada before thinking of travelling. On the other hand, my whole family from Mauritius was going to migrate to Australia in 1968.  

 

Two free tickets to Mauritius

Mouslim arrived at my house one day with two free tickets to Mauritius: one for my 7-year-old daughter and one for me! What a joy! I don't know exactly what I told him. We had to leave quickly. The trip to Mauritius was planned in three weeks. My first plane trip and what a trip it was! Our first stop was in Libya where Libyan soldiers were pointing their guns at the passengers as we got off the plane and went to a building that looked more like a bar than an airport. Everything was covered in red dust, and we drank lukewarm Coca Cola. The next stopover was in Entebbe, again it looked like anything but an airport. I remember my daughter and I took a shower to wash off the red dust of Libya. All was forgotten as soon as we returned to Mauritius where we had a wonderful stay like a fairy tale, thanks to the generosity of Mouslim!

At home in Canada, he first came with his wife Amina who had health problems. Then, after her death, he came alone to see us again and we had a great time together. In memory of him, he gave me a rosebush which gave extraordinary flowers. He never failed to write to us. If I remember correctly, his birthday was the same date as my husband's i.e., 8 November. May you rest in peace, Mouslim!

--
Une version française de cet hommage est disponible ici : Hommage à Mouslim.