On October 2 1969, Mauritius issued the largest and most elaborate set of
Gandhi stamps issued to date by any nation. The fine lithography in the design was
the first dedicated to a "person" in Mauritius, after Mauritius achieved
independence in 1968. The relationship between Gandhi and Mauritius dates back to
1901, when he spent a fortnight here on his way from Natal to Bombay. Having learnt
the importance of political expression after several years in South African prisons,
Gandhi later sent a friend on a mission to increase the political consciousness of the
Indian community in Mauritius.