The blacklist

3 mars 2025 10:48

L’écrivain livre une puissante histoire qui pousse à réfléchir aux rouages locaux. Vous pouvez retrouver tous ses écrits ici : https://chetangukhool21.medium.com/.

He stepped into the interview with the confidence of a 21-year-old moulded by the belief that hard work truly pays off. His suit was immaculate, his hair neatly styled, and his heart calm. His parents instilled in him that education was the key to success. He had studied the necessary reforms, polished his responses, and meticulously shaped his aspirations. Deep down, he envisioned a room full of people eager to see that determination, ready to recognize a young Mauritian poised to construct his future, one brick at a time.

The panel before him shattered his expectations. One member was glued to their phone, another nibbled on a snack, leaving crumbs scattered across the table, while the third seemed intent on making him feel small. “Do you really think you can handle this?” they questioned, raising an eyebrow. He responded with his best professional demeanor and patience, but his confidence waned as he walked away. Had he made a mistake?

The call finally came, but it wasn’t for a permanent position. Instead, they offered him a role as a supply teacher – two hours away. He brushed it off and dove into the work, thinking that maybe this could be a steppingstone for him. For months, he devoted himself to the job, connecting with the students, inspiring them, and forging genuine bonds. Just as he was starting to settle in, the office called with disappointing news: “We no longer need your services; the permanent teacher has returned.” He gathered his belongings, his lunch untouched, and stepped out. A lingering question haunted him: what was he doing wrong?

This wasn’t a one-time story. Throughout Mauritius, countless individuals like him exist – young, optimistic, and highly educated, yet trapped in a system that seems to overlook merit. People from diverse backgrounds are learning the same harsh truth: the country they cherish and wish to serve doesn’t reciprocate their affection. Their skills and qualifications are judged based on ethnicity, affiliation, beliefs, and distance from the current regime. Each rejection and closed door chips away at their self-worth, leading some to question their abilities altogether. What were they doing wrong?

But not him. After twelve interviews and countless supply positions, he had begun to uncover a powerful truth: success wasn’t solely about merit but resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. The infamous “Blacklist” was real – a silent wall that would try to keep people like him out, the ones who stood firm, who refused to bow, who didn’t have the right connections, yet dared to believe in fairness. In that realization, he found strength, knowing that the whims of a flawed system could not overshadow true worth and character.

One day, he finally decided he’d had enough of knocking on locked doors. He set up a classroom in his father’s garage, filling it with mismatched desks, stacks of books, and a handful of students who saw him as a teacher and a mentor. Over ten years, his garage classroom and his mission grew. Here, he was free to teach, inspire, and be the change he’d always dreamed of being. His students weren’t just students; they were warriors, the next generation he was determined to empower. In that garage, he taught them resilience, pride, and the unwavering belief that they didn’t need any official list to make a difference.

For every student who crossed his threshold, he ignited a flame – a quiet yet fierce message: “Let them have their lists. We’ll forge our own.” He didn’t limit his teachings to just academic subjects; he was instilling lessons in survival and strength, empowering them to rise above the challenges meant to hold them back. They could attempt to blacklist him all they wanted; his legacy was already alive, thriving in the hearts of his students.

It wasn’t just about him or his students. Across the island, he saw countless young people who had encountered similar struggles and had often been quietly labelled, overlooked, and dismissed. He understood that each of them, in their unique way, held a flickering spark within. Combined, they formed a powerful flame just waiting to ignite – a generation determined to shine brightly and refuse to be snuffed out.

He watched his kids grow and took on the world, knowing they would build a new Mauritius not defined by corruption or nepotism but by resilience, hope, and integrity. He shared the same dream as them. This wasn’t just his victory; it was theirs. We were right for every young person who felt left out in their country. They failed us as a generation, but we still have the chance not to fail future generations.

This was not merely a tale of one man’s defiance but a powerful cry of hope, a testament that no system could silence. The future of Mauritius resided in the hands of its youth, poised not to follow but to lead.

And by the way, that list, you can take it & shove it, without any “zel”, where the Sun never shines.

Yes, Sir

PAR CHETAN GUKHOOL