During his address to the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked deep cultural ties between the Caribbean nation and India, highlighting the enduring legacy of Bihar and honouring Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as a “daughter of Bihar.”
Recalling her ancestral roots in Buxar district, Bihar, Modi said, “Kamla ji’s ancestors lived in Buxar, Bihar. She herself has visited the village. People consider her a daughter of Bihar.”
In a symbolic gesture of spiritual unity, PM Modi brought sacred water from the Sarayu River and the Mahakumbh in India and requested Persad-Bissessar to offer it at the Ganga Dhara in Trinidad and Tobago. “Earlier this year, the world’s largest spiritual gathering, the Mahakumbh, took place. I have the honour to carry water from the Mahakumbh. I request Kamla ji to offer the holy waters of Sarayu and Mahakumbh to the Ganga Dhara here,” he said.
Speaking before a large gathering of people of Indian origin—many of whom trace their lineage to Bihar—PM Modi emphasized the state’s rich global legacy. “Bihar’s heritage is a matter of pride not only for India but for the entire world. Be it democracy, politics, diplomacy, or higher education, Bihar showed the world new directions centuries ago,” he noted.
Reflecting on the journey of the Girmitiya community, the indentured Indians who came to British colonies in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Modi said, “They left the Ganga and Yamuna behind but carried the Ramayana in their hearts. They were not just migrants—they were messengers of a timeless civilisation.”
He praised their resilience: “The circumstances your ancestors faced could have broken the strongest of spirits. But they faced hardships with hope and met challenges with persistence.”
Modi also mentioned initiatives announced during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to honour the Girmitiya community globally and reaffirmed his belief in Bihar’s continued contribution to global progress in the 21st century.
This marks PM Modi’s first visit to Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country since 1999. The visit was made at the invitation of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.