“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
Introduction
Situations have the power to shape certain individuals, while others can shape their circumstances into their destiny. From the cramped neighbourhoods of Ecroignard, where five children shared an intense struggle for necessities, Dr. Mangroo plotted a course that would lead him to the command deck of the most formidable warships that Mauritius had to offer. Privilege or connections were not the actual factors which helped him become a successful military officer; rather, it was his relentless discipline, unwavering belief instilled in him by his mother from his childhood, and an indomitable spirit to climb higher, regardless of how steep the mountain was.
Having joined the Mauritius Police Force on October 31, 2001, Dr. Vikraj Mangroo has served for more than 24 years, during which he has been posted in barracks training, offshore patrol command, as well as international training operations. Now, he is holding the rank of Superintendent of Police and Commanding Officer of CGS Guardian. Dr. Mangroo is known for his valuable innovations. He has successfully integrated the Coast Guard operations with his police and interagency coordination skills. His innovative measures in policing have significantly contributed to providing safety and security to various users, helping to manage and resolve complex issues within the maritime domain. His other achievements are the Surface Warfare Badge of the Indian Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard International Maritime Officer Badge (2013), the President’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and a four-star commendation by Admiral M.P. Fitzgerald, U.S Navy.
His journey encompasses three intense commitments, including perseverance, balancing late-night studies with intensive training; leadership, command of three ships as well as providing international training; and lifelong learning. Over 50 professional certificates highlight his knowledge and expertise in the fields of warfare, intelligence, and humanitarian law.
As this biography unfolds, you will witness how a young boy from a poor family of Ecroignard, armed with little more than an academic certificate, rose through merit and grit to become a global maritime strategist and why his life’s compass still points toward horizons which are far from sight. There is a futurism in his vision and this farsightedness helped him to achieve heights that are far-fetched.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Phase 1: Roots & Early Years: Origins and Foundations
Born into a close-knit family of five children in Ecroignard, Mauritius, Dr. Vikraj Mangroo was the fourth of three sisters and a brother, but the only one to pursue full schooling and subsequently enter the state services. The Mangroo family had seen neither comfort nor security: there were five of them living in one room, and they could not be sure that they would get their meals tomorrow. But these tough childhood days taught young Vikraj the initial forays in endurance. In the neighbourhood, some older boys bragged about their toys while he was taught to take pride in his school notebook. When school friends questioned what he would wear or what he would eat, he would just shift to the next class, looking forward to forging a future, not out of necessity.
His mother, Mrs. Madodree Bakhoree, said to him constantly, “Don’t worry; be positive, it will be done. Simply do what you can and do your best in that.” His mother also taught him that faith and diligence could defeat any insufficiency of means. During the most challenging periods of his naval training and academic studies, he would remember the room where he spent his childhood with his siblings and the assurance that things would turn out all right if he did not give up.
These encouraging words embrace Dr. Mangroo’s childhood: Each small triumph—passing a grade, earning a book, finding a spare moment to study—felt like victory over circumstance.
By October 31, 2001, Dr. Mangroo had completed only the School Certificate and was commissioned into the Mauritius Police Force, the country’s de facto defence force, as the first brother in the family to join the civil service. With only a youthful resolve in hand, he arrived for basic training with no uniform other than the one issued on a standard basis, no assurance of ranking up, and no surety that his studies could do any more. Despite facing numerous challenges, he focused only on one goal : learning.
“Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving.”
Phase 2: Education and Qualifications : A Way to Continuous Development
Dr. Vikraj Mangroo’s accomplishments and leadership roles at sea have rightfully made headlines, but his academic and professional credentials give him the strategic insight and operational excellence he needs to do his job well. He has earned numerous degrees and specialised courses over the past 24 years, each chosen to enhance his knowledge of maritime security, law enforcement, and crisis response.
He borrowed funds to pursue a legal education at the University of London, where he earned his Bachelor of Laws with Honours degree. Subsequently, he went on to earn a Master of Laws degree from the University of Central Lancashire. These qualifications show a planned progression from basic legal frameworks to technical seamanship to strategic policy analysis. His LLB and LLM studies helped him understand admiralty law and rules of engagement better. His MSc studies helped him understand ship dynamics and coastal management better. His ongoing postgraduate work helps him deal with new threats in the maritime domain. Working on an MA in Maritime Security and a BSc in Police Studies simultaneously, Dr. Mangroo sets an example for lifelong learning. He has also completed an MSc in Nautical Science from Cochin.
Dr. Mangroo has more than fifty different certifications, including those in human rights law, port security, disaster management, and humanitarian aid. Many of these were earned while on active duty, such as watching lectures via satellite link on the CGS Guardian’s bridge, studying with others in foreign ports, and turning in papers between boarding inspections.
This never-ending quest for knowledge is what makes the scholar-practitioner Dr. Mangroo distinguished and revered. Dr. Mangroo ensures that every new certificate leads to tangible improvements for Mauritius and the surrounding areas by swiftly applying legal principles to rules of engagement, leveraging machine learning insights to enhance navigational safety, and instructing partner navies in VBSS tactics.
It was his quest for knowledge that prompted him to receive specialised training in areas such as anti-submarine warfare, gunnery, humanitarian law, drone warfare, maritime law enforcement, and crisis management. He received this instruction from prestigious institutions in India, the United States of America, France, and China. According to him, each qualification was not a title but rather a stepping stone. His life’s journey is a proof that discipline and education could change a little lad from a rural town into a prominent figure in the law enforcement industry for the entire world.
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Phase 3: The chronology of Impact: Indian Naval Academy & Beyond
As a distinguished pass out of his first selection board into the Coast Guard, Dr. Vikraj Mangroo was selected in 2005 to train with Indian Naval cadets in INS Mandovi in Goa (under the then new Graduate Special Entry Scheme of the Naval Academy). During three years, he, as a cadet, midshipman, and sub lieutenant, went through the technical stages and acquired the art of navigation, the science of gunnery, and the necessary details of ship life.
The best he achieved in this period was his Bridge Watchkeeping (“pilot”) certification on the 106-metre warship INS Tir. This uncompromising ticket allowed him to take charge of any war vessel as an official navigator. He was again specialised at Kochi Navigation and Direction School, graduating with distinction in navigation specialisation. It was through these qualifications that he laid the foundation of a two-fold excellence in seamanship and tactics in naval war.
Upon returning to Mauritius, Mangroo was appointed Watchkeeping Officer in CGS Vigilant and, within a short time, promoted to Executive Officer in CGS Guardian. And over the years, he accomplished a truly remarkable feat: he had commanded three different vessels simultaneously. He switched among CGS Observer (jet propelled), CGS Retriever, and CGS Rescuer (both ex-USSR hulls), alternating them in a span of weeks, perfecting the peculiarities of each ship, its propulsion, and handling. This has never been seen in contemporary maritime operations.
Mangroo’s Goa training forged the steel of his leadership: under discipline and constant appraisal, he honed the confidence to guide others across uncharted seas.
Note of Thanks
A life of service is never really over. It changes with every wave that breaks, every horizon that calls, and every new generation that wants to take the lead. Dr. Vikraj Mangroo’s journey from the bridge of CGS Guardian to the larger arenas of policy, education, and public life is a living example for those who want to combine duty with discovery.
From the dusty classrooms of Ecroignard to the polished decks of international warships, from the glow of a barracks veranda lamp to the Gothic spires of distant university libraries, Dr. Mangroo’s path reminds us that boundaries are less barriers than invitations. He used every problem he faced as fuel for his ambition, and every award he received was just a stop on his journey. His acceptance of niṣkāma karma, the concept of doing things without expecting anything in return, reveals a more profound truth: the best way to judge a leader is not by their rank or decorations, but by their willingness to serve without expecting anything in return.
When you look back, you see not only the significant events, like the medals, certificates, and commands, but also the small, everyday things that happened in between: the late-night study sessions on a rocking ship, the kids laughing as their dad came home, and the quiet before dawn when an officer bowed his head in prayer. These simple scenes ground a life that is otherwise full of high-stakes missions and global duties. There is a lesson for every reader in them: greatness does not make you better than others, it makes you more connected to them. But the story doesn’t end here. As Mauritius addresses the challenges of climate change, maritime security, and the blue economy, Dr. Mangroo’s unique combination of operational skills, legal expertise, and moral clarity will be more crucial than ever. He believes that learning and service are two oars that are needed to keep any vessel on course, whether he is writing policy, mentoring cadets, or representing his country on the world stage.
To the young officer who is unsure whether to pursue that extra certificate, to the student who is uncertain whether sacrifice and service can coexist with ambition, and to the community seeking leaders with integrity—take heart. Dr. Vikraj Mangroo’s life teaches us that persistence turns problems into chances, that leadership grows where kindness meets skill, and that the real journey of discovery is not in finding new places, but in seeing old ones in a new way. This biography doesn’t serve as a final farewell, but rather as a sail that opens and pushes each reader towards their own distant shore, giving them the confidence to know that we all have the strength to navigate the deep and chart courses that have never been imagined before.
Thank You
Dr. Vikraj Mangroo