Famous Hindus in Mauritius, Fiji and South Africa

Quick answer: In Mauritius, the best-known Hindus in public life are Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and President Dharam Gokhool, both of whom have prayed at major temples in India while in office, along with opposition leader Pravind Jugnauth, former President Prithvirajsing Roopun and the late Sir Anerood Jugnauth. In Fiji, Biman Prasad leads the National Federation Party. In South Africa, spinner Keshav Maharaj, Hindu Maha Sabha president Ranjiv Nirghin and peace activist Ela Gandhi stand out. Roles are as of 9 October 2026.

These three countries sit on different oceans but share a history, and their Hindu communities are among the oldest outside South Asia. This guide introduces the public figures whose Hindu faith is on the record, grouped by country, with each person's current role first and a source for every fact. It is not a ranking.

An indentured history, told briefly

In broad terms, indentured migration from India to Mauritius began in 1834, to the colony of Natal in what is now South Africa in 1860, and to Fiji between 1879 and 1916. Labourers went mainly to work on sugar plantations, and they were later joined, in Natal especially, by traders who paid their own way. Many were Hindus, from the Bhojpuri-speaking north as well as the Tamil and Telugu south, and they kept their festivals, temples and languages alive in difficult conditions.

A century and a half later, Hindus are the largest religious community in Mauritius and have provided many of its heads of state and government, Durban and KwaZulu-Natal remain the heart of Hindu life in South Africa, and Indo-Fijian Hindus remain an important part of Fiji's national life. Our Hindus in South Africa 2026 guide tells the South African story in depth.

At a glance

Name	Country	Field	Known for
Navinchandra Ramgoolam	Mauritius	Politics	Prime Minister since 2024; Labour Party leader
Dharam Gokhool	Mauritius	Politics	President since December 2024
Pravind Jugnauth	Mauritius	Politics	MSM leader; Prime Minister 2017-2024
Prithvirajsing Roopun	Mauritius	Politics	President 2019-2024
The late Sir Anerood Jugnauth	Mauritius	Politics	Six-term Prime Minister; President 2003-2012
Biman Prasad	Fiji	Politics	National Federation Party leader; former Deputy PM
Keshav Maharaj	South Africa	Sport	Proteas spinner; most prolific SA Test spinner
Ranjiv Nirghin	South Africa	Hindu organisation	President, SA Hindu Maha Sabha
The late Ashwin Trikamjee	South Africa	Hindu organisation / law	SA Hindu Maha Sabha president; priest and lawyer
Ela Gandhi	South Africa	Public life	Gandhi Development Trust chair; Religions for Peace co-president

Mauritius

Hindus are the largest religious community in Mauritius, and the leaders below span both of the country's main political camps. Several of its leaders have made temple visits a visible part of their state visits to India.

Navinchandra Ramgoolam (Prime Minister)

Current role: Prime Minister of Mauritius since 2024 and leader of the Labour Party. He was also Prime Minister in 1995-2000 and 2005-2014.

He took office on 12 November 2024 after the Alliance du Changement won 60 of 62 seats. He is the son of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius's first Prime Minister, and made a state visit to India from 9 to 16 September 2025.

Hindu connection: During that visit, in September 2025, he and his wife performed aarti and offered prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya (Source: Tribune India), and at Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, where he also attended the Ganga Aarti (IANS).

Dharam Gokhool (President)

Current role: President of Mauritius since 6 December 2024, elected by the National Assembly.

Born in Plaine des Roches, Mauritius, he made a five-day visit to Andhra Pradesh, India, in January 2026.

Hindu connection: Born into a Hindu family, he offered prayers during that January 2026 visit at the Sri Kanaka Durga Devi temple in Vijayawada and at the Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple, and planned a visit to the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara temple (Source: All India Radio News). Telugu readers may know both temples well; see our Tirumala Venkateswara temple page.

Pravind Jugnauth (MSM leader)

Current role: Leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) since 2003. He was Prime Minister of Mauritius from 2017 to 2024.

He is the son of former Prime Minister and President Sir Anerood Jugnauth. After losing the November 2024 general election to Navin Ramgoolam, he said in April 2026 that the MSM's rebuilding had begun (Source: AllAfrica / L'Express).

Hindu connection: In September 2023 he and his wife prayed at the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi (Source: Organiser). He also immersed his father's ashes in the Ganges amid Vedic chanting.

Prithvirajsing Roopun (former President)

Most recent role: President of Mauritius from 2019 to 2024, succeeded by Dharam Gokhool in December 2024. He is also a former cabinet minister.

Hindu connection: In November 2022 he visited Ayodhya's Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan and the Ram Mandir site (Source: Udayavani (PTI)). On a May 2023 visit to Kolkata he went to the Dakshineshwar Temple and offered prayers to Maa Kali (Curly Tales).

The late Sir Anerood Jugnauth

Roles: Prime Minister of Mauritius in 1982-1995, 2000-2003 and 2014-2017, serving six terms in all, and President from 2003 to 2012.

He died on 3 June 2021, and India held a national day of mourning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him the architect of modern Mauritius (Source: The Hitavada).

Hindu connection: He offered prayers and performed abhishek at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi (Source: Outlook India), and his ashes were immersed in the Ganges at Varanasi amid the chanting of Vedic mantras.

Fiji

Biman Prasad (National Federation Party)

Current roles: Leader of the National Federation Party and a Member of Parliament. An economics professor, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance from 2022 to 2025.

Hindu connection: He visited the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in 2024 as a serving minister. In February 2024 he said Fijians must seek lessons from the life of Lord Rama on how to live a life of faith, and Fiji Village carried his remark that the Ram Lalla Mandir will guide our faith for centuries (Source: Fiji Village).

South Africa

Keshav Maharaj (cricket)

Current role: South Africa (Proteas) international cricketer and left-arm spinner since 2016. He was stand-in Proteas T20I captain on the New Zealand tour in March 2026 (Source: SuperSport).

In 2024 he passed Hugh Tayfield's 170 wickets to become South Africa's most prolific Test spinner, and he played in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Hindu connection: In January 2024 he said he is a devotee of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram, explaining why "Ram Siya Ram" plays when he walks out to bat (Source: Daily Jagran). He has an Om sticker on his bat, and posted "Jai Shree Ram" before the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

Ranjiv Nirghin (South African Hindu Maha Sabha)

Current roles: President of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha since 2025, and President of the Midlands Hindu Society in Pietermaritzburg.

Hindu connection: An advocate by profession, he was elected unanimously in 2025 to succeed Ashwin Trikamjee, and pledged to uphold Hindu Dharma (Source: The Post).

The late Ashwin Trikamjee

Roles: President of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha until his death in 2025, an acting High Court judge, and a founding member and vice-president of SAFA.

A practising Hindu priest and lawyer, he recited Sanskrit shlokas at Nelson Mandela's funeral service. He died in March 2025, aged 80.

Hindu connection: News24 described him as a Hindu leader, head of the SA Hindu Maha Sabha and a practising Hindu priest (Source: News24).

Ela Gandhi (public life)

Current roles: Chairperson of the Gandhi Development Trust and Co-President of Religions for Peace. She was an ANC Member of Parliament from 1994 to 2004.

A granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, she grew up at the Phoenix Settlement in Durban and spent nine years under apartheid banning orders and house arrest. She turned 85 in July 2025 (Source: IOL / The Post).

Hindu connection: Religions for Peace lists her as Hindu, South Africa (Source: Religions for Peace), and KAICIID gives her religious affiliation as Hinduism.

What links these figures

Pilgrimage as public life: Mauritian leaders across parties have prayed at Ayodhya, Kashi Vishwanath, Dakshineshwar and Andhra temples on official visits, a visible tie between the island and India's sacred geography.
Faith on the field: Keshav Maharaj's 'Ram Siya Ram' walk-out song has made his faith familiar to cricket fans far beyond South Africa.
Community institutions: the South African Hindu Maha Sabha has passed from one lawyer-leader to another, keeping a strong voice for the community. See more in Hindu spiritual leaders and temple founders abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Prime Minister of Mauritius in 2026?

Navinchandra (Navin) Ramgoolam, leader of the Labour Party, who took office on 12 November 2024 after the Alliance du Changement won 60 of 62 seats. He was also Prime Minister in 1995-2000 and 2005-2014, and is the son of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius's first Prime Minister.

Who is the President of Mauritius?

Dharam Gokhool, who took office on 6 December 2024 after being elected by the National Assembly. He succeeded Prithvirajsing Roopun, President from 2019 to 2024.

Which South African cricketer is a devotee of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram?

Keshav Maharaj, the Proteas left-arm spinner. In January 2024 he said he is a devotee of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram, explaining why 'Ram Siya Ram' plays when he walks out to bat. He also has an Om sticker on his bat.

Who leads the South African Hindu Maha Sabha?

Ranjiv Nirghin, an advocate, was elected unanimously as president in 2025, succeeding the late Ashwin Trikamjee, who died in March 2025.

Is Ela Gandhi Hindu?

Religions for Peace, where she is Co-President, lists her as Hindu, South Africa, and KAICIID gives her religious affiliation as Hinduism. She is a granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and a former ANC Member of Parliament.

When did Indian indentured labourers go to Mauritius, Natal and Fiji?

In general terms, indentured migration to Mauritius began in 1834, to Natal (South Africa) in 1860, and to Fiji between 1879 and 1916. Many Hindu families in all three countries trace their roots to that era.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

People are included only where public statements or reputable reports (official sources, major news outlets, or the person's own words) establish their Hindu faith or practice; Indian heritage alone is not enough. Roles are given as of 9 October 2026 and can change. People who have died are marked as the late, and we report only the facts of their death given in our sources. The indentured-labour history is summarised in general terms only. If you spot an error or an outdated role, please let us know and we will correct it.