‘Connected by belonging’: Modi hails Trinidad & Tobago PM as Bihar ki beti

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday celebrated India’s historic ties with Trinidad and Tobago, calling the country’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ‘Bihar ki Beti’ (daughter of Bihar), during his address to the Indian diaspora.

In a special gesture, Trinidad and Tobago conferred its highest civilian honour — The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago — on Modi, recognising his role in deepening bilateral ties.

Speaking at a community event, Modi shared that Persad-Bissessar’s ancestors hailed from Buxar in Bihar and that she had even visited the town. “We are not just connected by blood or surname, we are connected by belonging. India looks out to you and welcomes you,” he said.

Praising Bihar, he said, “Bihar’s heritage is the pride of India and the world. It has shown the way in various fields for centuries — and new opportunities will emerge from Bihar in the 21st century as well.”

Persad-Bissessar holds a number of historic distinctions: the first woman to become Prime Minister, Attorney General and Leader of the Opposition in Trinidad and Tobago, and the first woman of Indian origin to head a government outside India and the subcontinent. She also became the first woman to chair the Commonwealth of Nations.

1st foreign leader to get nation’s top honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the highest national award, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. He is the first foreign leader to be conferred this honour. The citation said the highest national award of Trinidad & Tobago was being conferred on PM Modi for his statesmanship, for championing the priorities of the Global South and for his exceptional contribution to strengthening the relationship between India and Trinidad & Tobago.

Modi recalled her visit to India 25 years ago, noting how Indo-Trinidadian ties have strengthened since. He highlighted cultural overlaps — such as street names like Banaras, Patna, Kolkata and Delhi in Trinidad — and pointed to local celebrations of festivals like Navratri, Mahashivratri and Janmashtami, as well as the continued popularity of traditional music like ‘Chautal’ and ‘Bhaitak Gana’.

“Even though Trinidad and Tobago is smaller than Jodhpur, the Indian community here has played a big role in its culture and economy,” Modi said. “Indian traditions live on in food, music, language and festivals,” he added.

About 40 per cent of Trinidad and Tobago’s population is of Indian origin, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. Of the 5,56,800 people of Indian descent, only around 1,800 are Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), while the rest are descendants of indentured labourers who arrived between 1845 and 1917.

In a significant announcement, Modi declared that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards would now be available to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago.

Earlier, Modi received a ceremonial welcome at Piarco International Airport, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, 38 ministers and four MPs.

India