Latest news with #BhojpuriChautaal
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Villagers construct wooden bridge in UP's Fatehpur, shame authorities into action
0:57 Trinidad and Tobago welcomed PM Modi with a traditional Bhojpuri Chautaal a tribute to its rich Indian roots.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Who is Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad, hailed as ‘Bihar ki Beti' by PM Modi: All you need to know
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, traces her roots to Bhelupur village in Bihar's Buxar district. Her great-grandfather, Ram Lakhan Mishra, migrated as an indentured laborer in 1889, a journey confirmed through ship tickets and land records preserved by the family. During a poignant 2012 visit to her ancestral village, she declared: "Bihar is in my DNA" while embracing relatives. Prime Minister Modi highlighted this connection during his July 2025 visit, calling her "Bihar ki Beti" (Daughter of Bihar) before the Indian diaspora. Born in rural Siparia in 1952, Persad-Bissessar earned multiple degrees, including law honors where she topped her class, before teaching at the University of West Indies. Her political journey began in 1987 as a local councilor. She shattered glass ceilings as Trinidad's first female Attorney General (1995), and first woman Opposition Leader (2006), and made history in 2010 as the nation's first female Prime Minister. After electoral victories in 2025, she reclaimed the premiership, taking her oath on the Bhagavad Gita. Persad-Bissessar actively nurtures Indo-Caribbean ties, hosting PM Modi with Bhojpuri Chautaal folk performances and ministers in traditional Indian attire. During his visit, PM Modi gifted her Sarayu river water and a Ram Mandir replica, reciprocating the diaspora's earlier contributions of sacred water and stones for Ayodhya's temple. In 2012, India honored her with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest award for overseas Indians, acknowledging her bridge-building efforts. Married to obstetrician Dr. Gregory Bissessar since 1971, she balances political life with family in Penal, Trinidad. Her leadership extends beyond politics; she champions education and women's empowerment, crediting her grandmothers, who supported their families as widows, for her resilience. With 45% of Trinidad's population having Indian roots, her story embodies the enduring legacy of Girmitiya laborers who preserved Bihar's culture abroad.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Bihar mentioned frequently during PM Modi's visit to Trinidad and Tobago
Bihar, which is due for Assembly elections by November this year, found frequent mentions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago, which concluded on Friday with him leaving for Buenos Aires, the third stop of his five-nation tour. The PM is scheduled to spend two days in Argentina, marking the first bilateral visit by a serving Indian PM in 57 years. This visit is crucial for India's search for critical minerals and energy sources. He will reach Rio de Janeiro on Monday to attend the Brics Summit, followed by a visit to Brasilia for a bilateral meeting with Brazil's President Lula da Silva. Addressing an Indian diaspora event in Port of Spain on Friday, Modi said, 'The ancestors of many people present here came from Bihar. The heritage of Bihar is the pride of not only India but the world as well." He also mentioned that the ancestors of his Trinidad & Tobago counterpart, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, hailed from Bihar. Modi added that PM Kamla had even visited the state, and people in India consider her the "daughter of Bihar." PM Modi's X post about the cultural connection between the two countries was in English and Bhojpuri, which is widely spoken in Bihar and by the Indian community in the Caribbean nation. 'Very happy to have witnessed a Bhojpuri Chautaal performance in Port of Spain. The connection between Trinidad & Tobago and India, especially parts of eastern UP and Bihar, is noteworthy,' he said after watching a musical performance. In his address at the diaspora event, the PM said, "Be it democracy, politics, diplomacy, higher had shown a new direction to the world in many such subjects centuries ago.' He added that new inspirations and opportunities "will emerge from the land of Bihar for the 21st-century world." Modi's was the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Trinidad and Tobago since 1999. Modi announced that India is actively working on creating a comprehensive database of the Girmitiya community. "This will support the deep and historic ties with our brothers and sisters in Trinidad & Tobago as well,' he said. 'Our decision on issuing OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cards to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad & Tobago will strengthen their connection to India and preserve our shared heritage for future generations,' the PM posted on X. The relationship between India and Trinidad & Tobago goes back to 30 May 1845, when the first ship, 'Fatel Razack', carrying 225 Indian indentured workers, reached the shores of Trinidad, then a British colony. Their numbers increased with the arrival of more ships from India until 1917. The descendants of these indentured workers, now in their fifth or sixth generation, form nearly 40–45 per cent of the total population of 1.36 million (2024), constituting an integral part of the economic, political, and social fabric of the country. This year, the diaspora is celebrating 180 years of the arrival of the first group of their ancestors. The PM's visit to Argentina comes at a time when that country is undertaking major economic reforms somewhat similar to those India underwent in the past, said P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, at a briefing in New Delhi on Monday. Argentina holds the world's second-largest shale gas reserves and the fourth-largest shale oil reserves, along with substantial conventional oil and gas deposits. 'This makes Argentina a potentially important energy partner for India in the future,' Kumaran said. Argentina's rich reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, copper, and other rare earth elements complement India's growing need for secure and sustainable supplies for its clean energy transition and industrial growth, he added.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi lands in Trinidad and Tobago to a Bhojpuri Chautaal welcome, meets Indian-origin stars and sends strong diaspora message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with the vibrant beats of a traditional Bhojpuri Chautaal as he landed in Trinidad and Tobago for his first bilateral visit to the Caribbean nation. His visit marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister since 1999 and was held at the invitation of Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Modi shared a clip of the welcome performance on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, captioning it, 'Bhojpuri Chautaal echoes in Trinidad & Tobago!' Warm reception from local leaders and Indian diaspora On arrival at Piarco International Airport, Prime Minister Modi was received by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, accompanied by 38 cabinet ministers and four members of Parliament from Trinidad and Tobago. He was also accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. May the friendship between India-Trinidad & Tobago flourish in the times to come! Highlights from a special welcome in Port of Spain… During his visit, Modi engaged with members of the Indian-origin community, many of whom trace their ancestry to migrants who left India generations ago. Acknowledging their contributions, he remarked that the community has made notable strides in various sectors while maintaining a strong cultural link to India. Appreciation for Diaspora contributions Addressing the local Indian diaspora, Modi said, 'Many people from India made their way to Trinidad & Tobago years ago. Over the years, they distinguished themselves in several fields and are enriching Trinidad & Tobago's development journey. At the same time, they have retained a connection with India and are also passionate about Indian culture.' एगो अनमोल सांस्कृतिक जुड़ाव !बहुत खुशी भइल कि पोर्ट ऑफ स्पेन में हम भोजपुरी चौताल प्रस्तुति के प्रदर्शन देखनी. त्रिनिदाद एंड टोबैगो आ भारत, खास करके पूर्वी यूपी आ बिहार के बीच के जुड़ाव उल्लेखनीय बा। He also expressed gratitude for the community's heartfelt reception in Port of Spain, calling it 'unforgettable.' Meeting with young quiz winners Modi also met with three young participants from Trinidad and Tobago—Shankar Ramjattan, Nicholas Maraj, and Vince Mahato—who won the Bharat Ko Janiye (Know India) Quiz. Sharing this interaction online, he noted, 'This Quiz has generated widespread participation across the world and deepened the connect of our community with India.' PM Modi's visit highlighted cultural unity, diaspora pride, and growing ties between India and the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago.
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
In Trinidad & Tobago, PM Modi's Subtle Bihar Message Ahead Of Elections
PM Modi, who is in Trinidad & Tobago, said people of India consider Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as a daughter of Bihar The Bihar assembly election may still be four months away, but the political campaign is already heating up—not just within the state, but thousands of miles away as well. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a foreign tour, appears to be making subtle yet pointed remarks aimed at the Bihar electorate, signalling that the battle for the state has unofficially begun. PM Modi, who is in Trinidad & Tobago, said people of India consider Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as a daughter of Bihar. The Prime Minister also witnessed a Bhojpuri Chautaal performance in Port of Spain. The connect between Trinidad & Tobago and India, especially parts of eastern UP and Bihar, is noteworthy, he wrote in a post on X. This is his first visit to the country as Prime Minister and the first Indian bilateral visit at the prime ministerial level to Trinidad and Tobago since 1999. Citing eminent Indian-origin figures in the country, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and President Christine Carla Kangaloo, he said the descendants of Girmitiyas are no longer defined by struggle, but by their 'success, service, and values". Girmitiyas were indentured labourers from British India transported to work on plantations in Fiji, South Africa, Eastern Africa (namely Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda), Malaysia, Singapore, and the Caribbean as part of the Indian indenture system. At the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, PM Modi presented a replica of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and holy water from the Saryu river as well as from the Mahakumbh held in Prayagraj. They symbolise the deep cultural and spiritual bonds between India and Trinidad & Tobago, the Prime Minister said. First Published: July 04, 2025, 14:01 IST
