Namaskar,

Good morning to everybody,

President Christine Kangaloo ji,

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ji,

Distinguished guests,

I express my heartfelt gratitude to you, your government, and your people for conferring upon me the highest national honour, the ‘Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago’.

This honour symbolizes the eternal and deep friendship between our two nations. I accept it as a shared pride on behalf of 140 crore Indians.

Friends,

That this honour is being awarded to a foreign leader for the first time reflects the depth of our special relationship. This bond is rooted in our shared history and cultural heritage.

Those who came here from Bharat 180 years ago laid the foundation of our friendship. Though they came empty-handed, their minds were enriched with Indian civilization, culture, and diversity. The seeds of harmony and goodwill they sowed are now blooming in the form of Trinidad and Tobago’s progress and prosperity.

It is a matter of great pride that the Indian community has preserved our shared traditions, culture, and customs to this day. President Kangaloo ji and Prime Minister Kamla ji are the greatest brand ambassadors of this community. Cultural exchange between the two nations is visible at every step.

Friends,

President Kangaloo’s ancestors hailed from Tamil Nadu, the land of Saint Thiruvalluvar. Thousands of years ago, Saint Thiruvalluvar said:

पडई कुडी कूळ् अमईच्चु नट्परन् आरुम्

उडैयान् अरसरुळ् एरु

Which means — a strong nation should possess six things: a valiant army, patriotic citizens, resources, good representatives, a strong defence... and friendly nations that always stand by. Trinidad and Tobago is such a friendly nation for Bharat.

Our relationship includes the thrill of cricket and the spice of Trinidadian pepper. When the rhythm of calypso meets the beat of the tabla, our ties become even more melodious. The deep harmony between our two cultures is a great strength of our relationship.

Friends,

I also view this honour as a responsibility towards our relationship. As a close and trusted partner, we have always emphasized skill development and capacity building for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. For Bharat, Trinidad and Tobago is not only a key partner in CARICOM but also an important partner globally.

Our cooperation is crucial for the entire Global South. As two vibrant democracies, we will continue working together for the well-being of both our peoples and of all humanity.

Excellency,

Once again, on behalf of 140 crore Indians, I express my deepest gratitude for this honour. This recognition will continue to inspire us to achieve greater heights in every field.

Thank you very much.

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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MJPS/VJ/VK