"We love PM Modi": Members of Indian Diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago overjoyed by PM Modi's visit
Reacting after the community event, a member of the Indian diaspora said, '...His speech was immaculate, amazing, heartwarming, beautiful, and it touched every soul in Trinidad and Tobago. We love PM Modi...We are so happy to have him here with us.'
Another member of Indian origin, Kamala Badri, said, '... I am a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Today, I am very happy to be here at the welcome and cultural event for PM Modi.'
Adrian, part of the Indian diaspora, remarked, 'We are very excited to welcome PM Modi to our island... We are very happy to be a part of this historic occasion...'
After PM Modi's community event, Brahma Vidya Peetham, International general secretary, Sadhvi Anandamaiyee Giri praised PM Modi's speech and said that there was great applause and excitement among the people present at the event.
She said that Prime Minister Modi will receive their country's highest honour, 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago' (ORTT).
'...PM touched everyone's hearts with his words. He didn't leave out any subject - culture, economics, India's agriculture, he touched every sector...There was great applause and great excitement here. This was a historic day not just for this country but also for India. We are delighted and proud. Tomorrow, the President will bestow our country's highest honour, ORTT (The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) on PM Narendra Modi...' she said.
Radio personality Kristie-Marie Taj also shared her thoughts after the event, saying, '...It was such an honour and privilege for us to witness this momentous occasion, seeing the PM of India, Narendra Modi, for the second time here in Trinidad and Tobago, my first time seeing him. What an experience it was, listening to him speak in person...'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address to the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago underlined Bihar's historic and cultural importance, praised the courage of the Indian diaspora, and called Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar 'daughter of Bihar', as he recalled her ancestral ties to the state and requested her to offer water from the Sarayu and the Mahakumbh to the Ganga Dhara in the Caribbean nation.
'Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's ancestors lived in Buxar, Bihar. Kamala ji herself has visited there. People consider her a daughter of Bihar,' PM Modi said.
'You all know that earlier this year, the world's largest spiritual gathering, the Mahakumbh, took place. I have the honour to carry water from the Mahakumbh with me. I request Kamala ji to offer the holy waters of the Sarayu river and Mahakumbh to the Ganga dhara here,' he added.
This is PM Modi's first visit to Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Caribbean nation since 1999. The visit is taking place at the invitation of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. (ANI)
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The Hindu
37 minutes ago
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Secularism — implicit from day one, explicit in 1976
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Though the Supreme Court has said more than once that the term secular in India does not connote either strict separation between religion and state like in France or the non-establishment of religion like in the United States, the debate on the artificial imposition of secularism during the Emergency and the urgent need for its deletion continues though Indian secularism is rooted in Emperor Ashoka's Dhamma and is consistent with noble ideals of India's freedom struggle. Article 51A(b) makes it a fundamental duty of every citizen 'to cherish and uphold noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom'. Secularism was one such ideal. Secularism spells autonomy The advocates of Hindutva think that minorities have got some special privileges through secularism and that the time has come to bring an end to neutrality of the state in religious matters. Unfortunately, supporters of a theocratic state do not understand that secularism is basically good for religions as it protects religions from state domination and interference. Religions remain independent and autonomous under secularism. If a religion becomes state religion, the state takes over the control of such religion. Our secularism ensures autonomy of the Hindu religion and the proponents of Hindutva must understand this. Has not Islam been destroyed through various so-called Islamic states? Mahmud Ghazni and Illtutmish defied the caliph and assumed the title of king . Zawabit or state-made laws prevailed over Shariah during medieval India. Did not Henry VIII defy Papal authority just to marry Anne Boleyn and create the Anglican Church with the King as its head. In the consecration of the Ram temple in January 2024, the state's decision prevailed over the theological view of the Shankaracharyas. The state, not religion, decided what is auspicious. 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On October 17, 1949 when the Preamble of the Constitution was under discussion in the Constituent Assembly, H.V. Kamath proposed that the Preamble should begin with the words 'in the name of God'. We should thank god that in an overwhelmingly religious country, god lost by 17 votes in a tally of 68 to 41. Similarly, the word 'secular' was not specifically included; yet, members, in one voice, spoke of it being a fait accompli of a liberal democratic constitution and consistent with the ideals of our freedom struggle. No member of the Constituent Assembly ever proposed a Hindu Rashtra including Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Three years prior to the insertion of the word secular, the Supreme Court had held secularism to be the basic structure in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973). Silences of the Constitution are equally important. For instance, the words federal, judicial review, rule of law too have not been used in the Constitution. 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