Urdu is one of the languages brought by the Indian immigrants in Mauritius. It flourished as the language of the Muslims who used it not only as a medium of instruction for religious education but also as a vehicle of cultural expression. It is being taught in primary schools since 1953 and later it was introduced in secondary schools. Today Urdu is one of the subjects offered at B. A. (Hons) level. Both governmental concern and societal commitment have brought it to the stage where it stands today.

Since the turn of the 20th century, the development and maintenance of Urdu has been intimately linked with the emergence of a Muslim identity in the Mauritian community. But Urdu had greater aspirations. It had to rise above a mere religious need; it had to generate scholarship and creativity. For that it needed an institutional set up that could muster all the dynamic forces in the country and offer a powerful platform for the expression of talents and potentialities.

Upon the initiative of late Professor Athar Parwez, an ITEC officer from Aligarh Muslim University, India and Mr Enayat H Edun, with the staunch support of late Hon. Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed (a famous leader of the Muslim Community), Late Mr Abdulla Currimjee and Mr Ahmed Abdulla Ahmed CBE, GOSK, together with other well-wishers, the National Urdu Institute was created. It was inaugurated on the 18th September 1970. The late Hon. Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed was its first patron and late Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam, (the first Prime Minister of Mauritius), was the chief patron. A fresh chapter in the development of Urdu in Mauritius thus began.