Ramgoolam, Sir Seewoosagur, 1900–1985, Mauritian political leader. A physician, he was a leader of the Labor party and active in the Mauritian independence movement. Ramgoolam served as chief minister (1961–68) before leading the country to independence from Great Britain in 1968, then was prime minister (1968–82) and governor general (1983–85). As prime minister he introduced free education and health care, as well as benefits for workers. He sought to diversify the country's economy, which was heavily dependent on sugar cane, but was swept out of office by Anerood Jugnauth's Mauritius Militant Movement when the economy declined sharply in the early 1980s. Ramgoolam was knighted in 1965.
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