Coined by Franco-Mauritian poet and semiologist Khal Torabully in the 90's, coolitude blends two meanings, widely circulated nowadays :
- the attitude of being relaxed, cool, non-violent, springing from the ahimsa of Gandhi, to promote understanding between human groups, cultures, arts...
- a poetics or vision of the world, to celebrate the
coolie or indentured in
History, whose memory was in limbo, as he/she was the one who was neglected in
History and Literature. In coolitude, the word
coolie was reappraised, in a view of giving a voice to the downcast, and develop a dialogue between descendants of slaves and coolies, and to promote cultural interaction and understanding, in a wider sense, in a globalized world.
"The concept of 'coolitude' encompasses the experiences of first generation workers together with those of their descendants spread across the Caribbean, Pacific and
Indian Ocean islands today". Dr Crispin Bates, review, 2002
"Over the last couple of weeks I have had several inquiries from descendants of
Indian migrants asking for suggestions for further reading. Coolitude is a very good place to start..." Amitav Ghosh, October 2011
Barack Obama proves his coolitude by delivering a speech while slamming...
Brad Pitt is the prince of coolitude...
