Mauritius

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The author is R.K. Laxman, a renowned Indian cartoonist and writer, best known for his creation 'The Common Man' and his work in 'The Times of India'.

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The travelogue 'Mauritius' is adapted from R.K. Laxman's book *Idle Hours*, published in 1982 by IBH Publishing Co.

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After retiring from cartooning, Laxman visited Mauritius with his wife Kamala to reflect on his life and decide what to do next. The trip inspired him to write this travelogue.

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Mauritius is a small island located below the Equator on the Twentieth parallel, about 4,500 km southwest of Bombay in the Indian Ocean.

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The author’s atlas was old and covered with spots caused by cockroaches and weather damage. These marks made it hard to identify the tiny island of Mauritius among the clutter.

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The author compares the oddly shaped clouds to figures from ancient legends of China, Rome, Greece, and India—abstract and imaginative forms.

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The people are extremely warm and relaxed. They greet strangers with smiles and friendliness, unlike the grim expressions common in big Indian cities like Bombay.

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Africans, Chinese, Biharis, Dutch, Persians, Tamils, Arabs, French, and English—all live together in harmony, creating a unique cultural mix.