India, March 2 -- Despite its beauty, Mauritius honours its painful history of slavery annually on Abolition Day

As I dived into an ambitious itinerary on my fourth visit to Mauritius, checking into the breathtaking island's luxury hotels, savouring world-class gastronomy, and admiring its storied landscapes, beaches, lagoons and reefs, I also had a rare chance this time to reflect on the country's early beginnings, marked by suffering and social upheaval.

In fact, it is impossible to understand Mauritian history, dominated by the Arabs, Dutch, English and French, without delving into its past of slavery. Located on the east coast of Africa, 702 mileseast of Madagascar, the island traces its provenance to its discovery by Arabs and Mala...