Kailash Purryag: A Life of service, loyalty and dignity

I am saddened to learn about the demise of Kailash Purryag. I have known Kailash since the early seventies as he was close to my cousins of Vacoas. Years later from 1990 onwards I had the privilege of working closely with him and in the same group at the Mauritius Labour Party. I am grateful to him for his guidance and best advices in our political good and bad days.
 
He had amassed a lot of experience which he would unselfishly share with us. I remember that he always used to quote the pessimistic views of Prize Nobel V.S. Naipaul and also Professor Richard Titmuss and Professor James Meade on the bleak economic outlook of Independent Mauritius in the seventies. He would also take pleasure to share his advice on Education. 

Though we were very close to the leader of the MLP, we both were deprived of party tickets for the 2005 general elections. But we both chose to remain loyal to the Party. A respected Attorney-at-law, Kailash has been Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Minister of Telecommunications, Minister of Health, Minister of External Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, and President of The Republic. 

Kailash Purryag has during his whole political career earned the respect of all. He gave us the practical example of "Seva" or unselfish service to the population, service to the nation and will be remembered as such. I offer my heartfelt condolences to Aneeta, Anu and Ritesh and the Purryag and Sewraj families. 

Sarat Lallah