Dharam Gokhool

Dharambeer Gokhool (born 25 October 1949) is a Mauritian politician who is the President of Mauritius since 6 December 2024.

His Excellency Dharam Gokhool GCSK
Gokhool in 2025
President of Mauritius
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 December 2024
Prime Minister	Navin Ramgoolam
Vice President	Robert Hungley
Preceded by	Prithvirajsing Roopun
Minister of Education and Human Resources
In office 7 July 2005 – 13 September 2008
Prime Minister	Navin Ramgoolam
Preceded by	Louis Steven Obeegadoo
Succeeded by	Vasant Bunwaree
Minister of Industry, Science and Research
In office 13 September 2008 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Navin Ramgoolam
Preceded by	Rajesh Jeetah (Industry)
Succeeded by	Showkutally Soodhun (Industry) Rajesh Jeetah (Science and Research)
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	Brinda Gokhool
Residence	State House
Education	(MBA) Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi[1] Delhi University[1]
Profession	Academic · politician

Early life and education

Gokhool was born on 25 October 1949 in the village of Plaine des Roches, Mauritius.^[2] He is from the Hindu Indo-Mauritian community.^[3] He attended Roches Noires Government School, where he was considered an exceptional student, and then Mapou Government School.^[2] In 1975 he graduated with an MBA degree from Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi in India.^[2] 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.^[2]

Career

Gokhool began his political career in 1976.^[4] 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.^[4]

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.^[2] During the administration of Navin Ramgoolam, Gokhool served as Minister of Education from 2005 to 2008.^[3][4] Following that, he became the Minister of Industry, Science and Research and held that role from 2008 to 2010.^[2] After the 2014 elections, he was a candidate for vice president, although he was not chosen for the position.^[3]

Nomination as president of Mauritius

In the 2024 elections, Gokhool was a candidate for President of Mauritius and was unanimously elected by members of the National Assembly^[5] and awarded as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. In the same session, Robert Hungley was elected as his vice president.

Presidency

Modi gifts Gokhool an OCI card.

Modi gifts Gokhool gangajal.

In 11 March 2025, Indian PM Narendra Modi arrived in Mauritius and visited the State House and gifted Gokhool gangajal from the 2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela, makhana, and an OCI card. Dharam Gokhool also showed Narendra Modi the Ayurvedic garden at the State House. PM Navin Ramgoolam also attended the State House.

Awards and decorations

• Mauritius
  • Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean