A Mauritian tribute to Professor Thomas Hylland Eriksen

Abstract

Professor Thomas Hylland Eriksen is possibly the main scholar whose work Mauritian social science students encounter closely while studying at university. His contribution to social science scholarship on Mauritian society is colossal. Thomas has particularly focused on ethnicity and nationalism in Mauritius. Apart from his scholarly work on the island society, he was particularly fond of Mauritius, and I often teased him that his island home awaited his next visit. This piece is a reflection on the seminal scholarship that Thomas has left us and his significant contribution to the social science literature and knowledge on Mauritian society. His writings also explored the wider implications of the Mauritian case study which he saw as an example of ‘good practice’ that the world could learn from. In his more recent work on the Indian Ocean island states, he focused on scale in both Mauritius and Seychelles. Apart from his scholarship, the paper also offers glimpses of my experience of working with Thomas the person, his kindness, as a mentor, and the friendship we shared.