19 Facts About Kailash Purryag

Kailash Purryag was elected president of Mauritius by the National Assembly and took office on 21 July 2012.

Kailash Purryag succeeded Sir Anerood Jugnauth, who spent nine years as president from 2003 until resigning in March 2012.

Kailash Purryag previously served as Member of Parliament, Minister and Speaker of the National Assembly; he made his debut in the political arena at an early age in 1976.

Kailash Purryag is a Bihari Mauritian and his ancestors originated from the Indian state of Bihar.

Kailash Purryag's ancestry is traced from a Nonia caste family of Bihar.

Kailash Purryag attended the Shree Shamboonath Government School and later the Mauritius College.

Kailash Purryag became general secretary of the party in 1984 and president in 1995.

Kailash Purryag became a member of the Labour Party in 1973.

Kailash Purryag was a member of the Municipal Commission of the Municipal Council of Vacoas-Phoenix from 1974 to 1976.

Kailash Purryag became Minister of Social Security from January 1980 to June 1982.

At the 1982 elections Kailash Purryag was not elected when he stood as candidate of the Parti de l'Alliance Nationale at Constituency No 15.

Kailash Purryag was not a candidate at the 1987 elections and at the 1991 elections he was not elected when he stood as PMSD-Labour candidate in Constituency No 6.

Kailash Purryag served as Secretary General of the Labour Party from 1987 to 1991 and became President of the Party from March 1991 to March 1996.

Kailash Purryag became the fifth President of Mauritius and took office on 21 July 2012.

Kailash Purryag is recipient of both highest order merits in Mauritius.

Kailash Purryag was elevated as Grand Officer of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean on 12 March 1998 and Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean on 12 March 2009.

Kailash Purryag received the Conferment of Honorary Freedom of the City of Port Louis on 23 August 2007.

On 9 January 2013, Kailash Purryag received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honour conferred to overseas Indians at the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Kailash Purryag was living at Camp Fouquereaux, Curepipe before he became president, he is the eldest of a family with nine children, he is married to Aneetah Purryag since 8 December 1973, he has a daughter and two grandchildren.