In a poignant tribute that underscored the strong cultural bond between India and Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar recited a poem penned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The verses, taken from Modi’s Gujarati poetry collection ‘Aankh Aa Dhanya Che’, served as a powerful symbol of shared heritage and emotional resonance with the Indian diaspora.
The verse that she had read, loosely translated into English, presents a profound introspection and emotional process:
"In the depths of my mind
I journey deep into the past
And every stage I see opens a memory
My memory comes with ease
Each face is recognisable easily
Nothing is concealed
For thus is the plain truth to be seen
For our friends
With whom we endured hardships
Never forgotten
Shared the bearing of those hardships
They are the journey ultimately."
By reciting these lines, PM Persad-Bissessar honored the Indian cultural heritage and commemorated the deep emotional bond shared by the two countries through their people and history.
In her speech, the Trinidadian head of state gave extremely warm words for Prime Minister Modi, saying his visit was more than ceremonial—a time filled with meaning and respect for one another.
"We are blessed with the visit of a person who is close and dear to us. We are blessed with the visit of a leader whose arrival is not merely a matter of convention but a deeply enriching honour to us. I am overwhelmingly fortunate to receive one of the world's most revered, most well-respected visionary leaders, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India."
She continued her tribute, highlighting the impact of Modi’s leadership both within India and globally:
"Prime Minister, you are a force of change who has perfected the governance of India and made your nation a leading and dominant global power. Through your visionary and futurist actions, you have transformed the Indian economy, enabled more than a billion citizens, and most importantly, you have infused pride into the hearts of all Indians throughout the world."
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar also praised PM Modi for his act of humanitarianism, particularly in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. She specifically praised India's Vaccine Maitri programme, which provided crucial medical support to nations across the globe, including in the Caribbean region.
This is a historic visit—a first by PM Modi to Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister, and the first official bilateral visit by an Indian head of government to the country in more than two decades. The invitation had come from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, highlighting the priority the two countries attach to deepening their diplomatic and cultural relations.
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