His ExcellencyDharam GokhoolGCSK | |
---|---|
8th President of Mauritius | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 6 December 2024 | |
Prime Minister | Navin Ramgoolam |
Vice President | Robert Hungley |
Preceded by | Prithvirajsing Roopun |
Minister of Education | |
In office 2005–2008 | |
President | Sir Anerood Jugnauth |
Prime Minister | Navin Ramgoolam |
Succeeded by | Vasant Bunwaree |
Minister of Industry, Science and Research | |
In office 2008–2010 | |
President | Sir Anerood Jugnauth |
Prime Minister | Navin Ramgoolam |
Personal details | |
Born | (1949-10-25) 25 October 1949 (age 75) Plaine des Roches, Mauritius |
Political party | MMM (1980–c. 1994) Labour Party (since c. 1994) |
Spouse | Mrs. Brinda Gokhool |
Education | Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University |
Profession | Academic · politician |
Dharambeer Gokhool (born 25 October 1949) is a Mauritian politician who is the President of Mauritius since 6 December 2024.
Early Life
Gokhool was born on 25 October 1949 in the village of Plaine des Roches, Mauritius. He is from the Hindu Indo-Mauritian community. He attended Roches Noires Government School, where he was considered an exceptional student, and then Mapou Government School. In 1975, he went to study at Delhi University in India. After his studies there, he returned to Mauritius and became a member of the staff at the University of Mauritius, serving several positions including lecturer, associate professor and dean of the faculty.
Career
Gokhool began his political career in 1976. In 1980, he joined the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) party. In 1982, he won election to the National Assembly as part of the MMM/Mauritius Socialist Party (PSM) alliance which won a landslide victory that year. After the MMM and PSM split, Gokhool stayed with the MMM and ran for re-election in 1983, but lost his bid for the Piton-Rivière-du-Rempart seat. In 1991, he returned to the legislature by winning a seat under the MMM/Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) alliance. However, during his term he defected to the Labour Party.
Gokhool also served as the mayor of the town Vacoas-Phoenix from 1991 to 1993. He was a parliamentary private secretary from 1993 to 1994 and after joining the Labour Party, served as the party's administrative secretary in 2003, then was the secretary general from 2004 to 2005. During the administration of Navin Ramgoolam, Gokhool served as Minister of Education from 2005 to 2008. Following that, he became the Minister of Industry, Science and Research and held that role from 2008 to 2010. After the 2014 elections, he was a candidate for vice president, although he was not chosen for the position.
In the 2024 elections, Gokhool was a candidate for President of Mauritius and was unanimously elected by members of the National Assembly. In the same elections, Robert Hungley was elected as his vice president.
Awards and decorations
- Mauritius
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean
References
- ^ "President of the Republic of Mauritius" (PDF). National Assembly. 6 December 2024. pp. 9–10.
- ^ Mahmood, Kazi (2 March 2018). "Gokhool President? But Gurib-Fakim challenges reports". World Future TV.
- ^ "Dharam Gokhool élu président de la République" [Dharam Gokhool elected President of the Republic] (in French). Le Défi Media Group. 6 December 2024.
- "Dharam Gokhool elected Mauritian president". Xinhua News Agency. 6 December 2024.
Heads of state of Mauritius | ||
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Queen (1968–1992) | ||
President (from 1992) | ||
*Acting president |