On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the country's highest civilian honor — the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis — during his historic one-day State Visit to Namibia.
Attended to the ancient and resilient desert succulent of Namibia, the Welwitschia Mirabilis, the high honor symbolizes the toughness, resilience, and unrelenting spirit of the Namibian people.
Established in 1995, a year after Namibia gained independence in 1990, the award recognizes those who exhibit superior service and leadership.
I express gratitude to you and the Namibian government for choosing to award me with the highest civilian honor of 'Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis', which is a source of pride for 140 crore Indians," PM Modi stated in the delegation-level talks held in Windhoek with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
This new award takes the total number of foreign honours awarded to the Indian Prime Minister to 27 — four of which have come during his current five-nation tour, and two within less than 24 hours.
On Tuesday evening (Indian time), Brazil bestowed its highest national honour — the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross — upon PM Modi during his official State Visit there.
Only a few days ago, while visiting Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago awarded its highest civilian award — The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago — to PM Modi. He is the first foreign leader to be awarded, which was given for his humanitarian leadership in the pandemic, his profound outreach to the global Indian diaspora, and his efforts towards international diplomacy. T&T Prime Minister Kamala Persad Bissessar has commended PM Modi for his exceptional leadership on the international front.
The initial of these four such recognitions during the current tour was on July 2 in Ghana, where President John Dramani Mahama awarded Prime Minister Modi the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana. The award was given to recognize his "distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership."
According to diplomatic observers, these awards collectively affirm PM Modi’s unparalleled standing in global diplomacy — a status no previous Indian leader has achieved to such a degree. Analysts note that he is increasingly seen as a statesman whose foreign policy doctrine is rooted in clarity, confidence, and a resolute "India First" philosophy.
India's foreign policy is for the first time unequivocally 'India First' — uncluttered in thought, self-assured, and steady. The world is not merely observing; it is recognizing and respecting this new India," a former Indian diplomat said.
This year alone, a number of countries have awarded India's Prime Minister with their highest civilian honors. In June, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.
In April, PM Modi was awarded Sri Lanka's highest honour to foreign leaders — the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana — by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The award commemorated the bolstering of bilateral relations and was regarded as a sign of shared fate and mutual respect between both countries.
In March, on the occasion of National Day, which is celebrated in Mauritius, President Dharambeer Gokhool awarded PM Modi the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK) — the highest civilian honour in the island nation. It was the first time the award had been made to an Indian leader.
At the same time, on his Brazil visit, PM Modi was given full ceremonial reception at Brasilia's Alvorada Palace by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The reception also featured a 114-horse grand escort and a ceremonial military ceremony.
The two leaders followed with high-level talks, in the form of a closed-format meeting and then larger delegation-level discussions. The launching of several bilateral agreements was to be followed by official press remarks and a State Lunch in honor of the Indian Prime Minister.
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