It's raining global awards for PM Modi. He's bagged 13 in 3rd term alone, a whopping 27 since 2014
'I humbly accept this honour on behalf of 140 crore Indians…I dedicate this award to the people of Namibia and India, to their continued progress and development, and to the enduring strength of our unbreakable friendship,' Modi said during his acceptance speech.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with his 27th international honour Wednesday—the 'Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis'—during his visit to Namibia. This is the fourth award he has received in the past week, and the 13th since the start of his third term in June 2024.
Starting with Mauritius, Modi has received an award during almost every visit to a foreign country this year, including Sri Lanka and Cyprus before his current five-nation visit. These awards are given for various reasons, but are considered an important marker of the influence the individual has had on building ties between the two countries.
For example, the citation of the award from Namibia reads, 'His leadership, defined by technological innovation, economic growth, social and climate justice, and international diplomacy, transcends the borders of India.'
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said in the conferment of the award, 'Narendra Modi, who has significantly contributed to socio-economic development and the promotion of peace and justice in Namibia and globally.' The award has been conferred on Modi's first trip to the South West African nation.
The first of the four awards in the past week conferred on him was the 'Order of the Star of Ghana'. Conferred on 2 July, it was given in recognition of Modi's 'distinguished leadership, contribution to global development and deep commitment to strengthening ties between Ghana and India'. Some of the other foreign leaders to receive the Ghanaian award are Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan and King Charles.
The next one was conferred during the visit to Trinidad and Tobago—the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. A couple of days later, Modi received the 'Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross' by the President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva.
Also Read: Modi makes diplomatic push in Africa, says continent must not be just a 'source for raw materials'
From West Asia to Latin America
During his first two terms as prime minister, Modi was conferred with 14 international honours, primarily from West Asian nations, the neighbourhood and the Pacific Island States. A couple of Western nations, including the US, Greece and France, were some of the other nations to confer honours upon him.
His first international honour in 2016 came in from Saudi Arabia, the 'Order of King Abdulaziz', followed by the 'State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan' from Afghanistan the same year. In 2018, he received the 'Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award' during a visit to the city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is currently headquartered.
The Palestine visit was the first official visit by an Indian prime minister to the West Asian nation. India has recognised the State of Palestine since 1988, and hosts an embassy in New Delhi.
In 2019, the Indian Prime Minister received a raft of international honours, including 'King Hamad Order of Resistance' from Bahrain, the 'Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin' from the Maldives, and the 'Order of Zayed Award' from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
That same year, Russia announced its decision to confer the Order of St. Andrew on Modi. The Indian Prime Minister received the award during his visit to Russia last year.
In 2020, US President Donald J. Trump had awarded Modi with the US Legion of Merit—a decoration created specifically for foreign citizens in 1942. In 2021, Bhutan conferred its highest civilian award, the 'Order of Druk Gyalpo' on him, which he received last year.
The prime minister received a number of awards in 2023, including the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Honour' from Greece during his state visit. Other honours conferred on him that year were the 'Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour' from France, the 'Order of the Nile' from Egypt, the 'Ebakl Award' from Palau, the 'Order of Logohu' from Papua New Guinea, and the 'Companion of the Order of Fiji'.
In 2024, Modi was conferred with a number of honours from the Caribbean nations during his visit to the Guyanese capital of Georgetown in South America for the India-CARICOM Summit. He was conferred with the 'Dominica Award of Honour' from Dominica, the 'Order of Freedom' from Barbados and the 'Order of Excellence' from Guyana.
Before travelling to South America, the Indian Prime Minister made a visit to Nigeria, where he was conferred with the 'Order of the Niger' in November 2024. A month later, in December, he was conferred with the 'Order of Mubarak the Great' from Kuwait during his visit to the West Asian nation.
In April this year, Sri Lanka conferred the 'Mitra Vibhushana' on Modi, the highest civilian award given to foreigners. Also, in June, during a visit to Cyprus, he was conferred the 'Order of Makarios III'.
While the awards are a recognition of the individual's contribution to various areas, it does not necessarily change the course of diplomacy between nations.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: Bihar ki beti in Trinidad & Tobago, Madhubani in Argentina—Modi's poll messaging on foreign tour
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