Africa-Press – Mauritius. First I would like to offer my sympathy to Nicolas, Chloé and to all those grieving the loss of a brother, a brother-in-law, an uncle, a friend, a colleague, the poet, the long time contributor to Mauritius Times, the engaged citizen who cared enough to share in black and white relentlessly ideas and hopes.
In the late 1950s, more than sixty decades ago a young Father Henri Souchon launched the movement of ‘L’Entité mauricienne’ calling to unite the diverse ethnic communities of the island.
Clifford Ng Kwet Chan, then a young professional, was invited to voice the concerns and hopes of the Chinese community on the podium where representatives of all communities were given the opportunity to share ideas.
This is how I came to know Clifford as one of those driven by the altruistic ambition of making the world a better place. I left Mauritius in the early sixties and missed the opportunity to follow more closely Clifford’s subsequent interventions and engagement on social issues.
Clifford became known not only as “l’homme engagé” but also as a poet. Only some French terms can express my perception of Clifford the poet: c’est “l’homme au cœur pur” ; his vision of any given event takes him to its “essence” which he would then succinctly put into words.
For example, when Nicolas came into the life of Clifford and Thérèse his spouse, he wrote about the “point” which made possible the formation of the triangle.
Thanks to Clifford I came to understand that poetry is not a play with words but rather a distillation of the meaning of life. It takes a certain asceticism and purity of the mind and heart to touch this core.
On Saturday July 1st, barely a month before he left us, I had the privilege of paying Clifford a visit, he was seated and received me with his usual kindness.
As I had voiced some concerns in our conversation, his last words in Hakka were conciliatory, in translation: ‘don’t worry, I will see to it. ’ He was still the visionary looking “beyond” with a steady gaze.
Clifford, you are now reunited with Thérèse, the other point of the triangle, you will surely watch over the point left behind. Rest In Peace “en contemplant l’Absolu, l’Essence de toute vie dont tu as essayé d’en saisir et de nous partager quelques bribes durant ta longue vie de poète”.
Merci de nous avoir entraînés dans ton sillage, aujourd’hui le cœur endolori il nous reste à regarder plus haut et te voir dans l’étoile de la nuit en faisant notre deuil.”
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