Late Sir Aneerood Jugnauth

Sir Anerood Jugnauth, GCSK, PV, KCMG, PC, QC (29 March 1930 – 3 June 2021) was a Mauritian politician and barrister who served both as President and Prime Minister of Mauritius. He founded the Militant Socialist Movement in 1983 and was the Leader of the Party till 2003.

A central figure of Mauritian politics in the 1980s and 1990s, he was Leader of the Opposition from 1976 to 1982. He served as Prime Minister from 1982 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2003. He was then elected as President of Mauritius and served as such from 2003 to 2012. Following his alliance's victory in the 2014 general elections, he was appointed again to serve his sixth term as Prime Minister on 14 December 2014.

He was the longest serving prime minister with more than 18 years of tenure thus overtaking Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who held the office for 14 years. Often nicknamed Rambo (a film character known to be unbeatable), he maintained a historical political career as, under his leadership, his party/alliances won 5 general parliamentary elections in a row, those in 1976, 1982, 1983, 1987, and 1991.

Sir Anerood Jugnauth was honoured with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards for his continued support for India's causes and concerns and for strengthening India's relationship with Mauritius. He was made Queen's Counsel in 1980 and was made a member of the Privy Council in 1983. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988 when Mauritius was still one of the Queen's realms and Queen Elizabeth II was Queen of Mauritius.