The Rabindranath Tagore Institute (RTI) was established with the assistance of the Government of India as a Centre of Studies on Indian Culture and Traditions. The foundation stone of the Institute was laid on May 12, 2000 jointly by Shri Atal Bihari Bajpayee and Dr. Navin Chandra Ramgoolam the then Prime Ministers of India and Mauritius respectively at Ilot, Pamplemousses. A bronze bust of Rabindranath Tagore, gifted by the ICCR, was installed in the premises of the Institute and was unveiled on May 31, 2007 by Dr. Navin Chandra Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius. The Institute functions under the Governing Council (MGI-RTI) of which the High Commissioner of India is represented as the ex-officio Vice- Chairperson. Director (RTI) is the main executive of the Institute, who reports to the Director-General (MGI and RTI). The Institute has established a permanent gallery on the life and works of Tagore and a Central Library (with contribution of the High Commission and Rabindra Bhavan). The Gallery is open to public. The Institute has established an annual Tagore Memorial Lecture, the first Tagore Memorial lecture was delivered by the then High Commissioner on August 29, 2007, on the theme “ Rabindranath Tagore: Education, Freedom and Art”.