Maheswarnath temple in Triolet in Mauritius that was built by a migrant Oriya priest and social worker Pandit Sajeewan. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, July 19: The successors of Oriya migrants to Mauritius are frantically looking for their roots in Orissa. In the process, they are seeking help from the Bhubaneswar Chapter of National Archives of India.

According to the officer-in-charge of the National Archives, Bhubaneswar office, Lalatendu Das Mohapatra, many of the present generation Oriyas situated in the island country off the eastern coast of Africa, are getting aware of their roots gradually.

“Many of the current generation Oriyas in Mauritius are desperate to know more of their culture and roots, as they are slowly learning the story of their ancestors’ settlement in an alien land,” he said.

“A recent research by a scholar has made it popular there that the biggest Saivite temple of the island country — the Maheswarnath temple in Triolet — was built by an Oriya in 1866.

The tale of this eminent social worker of their nation, Pandit Sajeewan, who fought for the rights of indentured labourers, has revived the memories of home among the Oriyas there,” added Das Mohapatra.

The Oriyas who are in touch with the archives office to look for their relatives, have informed the officers that they are soon to set up an Oriya association.

“Now that we have come across an illustrious Oriya in the person of Pandit Sanjeewanlall, we are planning to set up an Oriya association or society so that we may make representations to the authorities,” said Ramroop Jugurnauth.

The archives officials are helping the Mauritian Oriyas find the village of their ancestors. “We have delved into a sea of records to find out what villages these migrant from Orissa who went on different vocations to Mauritus, belonged to. Most of them are found to have been occupied as indentured labourers. But later, many made a good fortune and turned into eminent people there,” said Das Mohapatra.

“Since many hamlets have disappeared over these 150 years since the immigration of the Oriyas, it is very difficult for us to look for their relatives,” he said.