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Sarojini Jugnauth

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Lady Jugnauth
First Lady of Mauritius
In role
7 October 2003 – 31 March 2012
Preceded byMarie Rose Danielle Offmann
Succeeded byAneetah Purryag
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Mauritius
In office
14 December 2014 – 23 January 2017
Preceded byVeena Ramgoolam
Succeeded byKobita Jugnauth
In office
12 September 2000 – 7 October 2003
Preceded byVeena Ramgoolam
Succeeded byArriane Bérenger
In office
30 June 1982 – 15 December 1995
Preceded byLady Sushil Ramgoolam
Succeeded byVeena Ramgoolam
Personal details
Born
Sarojini Ballah

(1938-04-20) 20 April 1938 (age 86)
Quatre Bornes, British Mauritius
Political partyMilitant Socialist Movement
Spouse(s)Sir Anerood Jugnauth
(1956–2021)
ChildrenPravind Jugnauth
Shalini Malhotra
Residence(s)La Caverne, Vacoas
OccupationTeacher, Spouse of Prime Minister, First Lady

Sarojini Ballah, Lady Jugnauth (commonly known as Lady Sarojini Jugnauth), a former Spouse of the Prime Minister of Mauritius is the widow of Sir Anerood Jugnauth. She previously held the position [clarification needed] from 1982 to 1995 and from 2000 to 2003, most recently from 2014 to 2017. She was the First Lady of Mauritius from 2003 to 2012 when her husband served as President of the country. She is a primary school teacher by profession and is the mother of Shalini Malhotra and Pravind Jugnauth.

Jugnauth (right) and her husband (center) greet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015

She took an active role in social activities being the patron of various charitable organizations and also participates in various political activities in support of her family and party. Over the years, she generally retained a high approval rate as wife of the prime minister. She became a subject of controversy in 1992 when the bank of Mauritius issued a Rs. 20 note with her effigy on it. The inauguration of the note was done by her husband and other members of the government.

Due to various pressure from other political parties and unpopularity of then government, the note was subsequently removed from circulation while prime minister Jugnauth apologized in parliament stating that it was a mistake for which he was terribly sorry. The government collapsed in 1995 after losing the general elections.[1]

Personal life

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Sarojini Ballah married Sir Anerood Jugnauth on 18 December 1956. They have two children, Shalini (Mrs Malhotra) and Pravind who is the current Prime Minister.[2][3] She is the grandmother of five grandchildren that is Anusha, Divya, Sonika, Sonali and Sara.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "IL Y A EU VINGT ANS, LE MOIS DERNIER: L'affaire du billet de Rs 20". 6 May 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ^ Connett, David. "Essex care home shooting: Husband, 86, arrested after wife shot dead". The Independent. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  3. ^ Mestry, Anne-Lise. "L'acquisition d'un ex-hôtel par le Dr Malhotra fait jaser". L'Express. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  4. ^ Karghoo, Christophe. "La petite-fille de sir Anerood raconte…". 5Plus. Retrieved 4 April 2005.