(8 July 1939 – 6 July 2010) was a Mauritian author and poet. She was a key player in the post-colonial literature revival in Mauritius, after the country gained independence from Great Britain. She published works in Mauritian Creole (Morisyen), French, and English, becoming the first Mauritian female author – and one of the first authors overall – to publish literature in Creole. Her books primarily focused on themes of racism and prejudice in Mauritian society and their impact on relationships.

Personal life Asgarally was born Renée Lilianne Juddoo to a lower middle class Creole Métis family in 1939 British Mauritius. Her mother was a school principal and inspector.

Asgarally married playwright, teacher, and future Mauritian parliament member .

Career Asgarally published her debut novel Quand montagne prend difé in 1977, nine years after Mauritian independence. Quand montagne prend difé was the first book by a female author to be written and published in Mauritian Creole. While Mauritian Creole was commonly spoken, even post-independence, there was a remaining stigma around the language and prioritization of French and English languages. The book focused on themes of racial and religious prejudice in Mauritian society, describing the tragic and secretive interfaith and interracial relationship of characters Soonil and Caroline in the late 20th century.

A preface for Quand Montagne prend difé was later written by Issa Asgarally, who called the book a "revalorization of the national language of Mauritius." The book was translated into french under the title La Brulure in 1993.

In 1979, Asgarally wrote a second book in Mauritian Creole, Tension gagne corne. The book was a collection of short stories: "Névaine Madame Zozef – Ene vagabond," "Missié sacristin," "Zistoire ène ti la sirène," and "Madame Gab."

She a semi-autobiographical series Les filles de Madame Laljee (1981) and its sequel Tant que soufflera le vent (1983) in the French language. According to , the books " []"

Bibliography Books in Mauritian Creole

Books in French

References