Port of Spain: India will soon be among the top three economies of the world, and its missions on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum computing are becoming the new engines of growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.
In an address at a gathering of the Indian diaspora on Thursday, Modi said India is a land of opportunities today, and the fruits of its growth and progress are reaching the “most needy”.
“For New India, even the sky is not the limit.”
Bihar, the heritage of which is the pride of India and the world, considers Kamla Persad-Bissessar their daughter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he spoke at a community event at the National Cycling Velodrome, Couva.
“We are not just connected by blood or surname, we are connected by belonging. India looks out to you and welcomes you,” PM Modi said.
“The ancestors of PM Kamla were from Bihar’s Buxar. She has also visited the place. People consider her the daughter of Bihar,” he said.
“Bihar’s heritage is the pride of India and the world. The state has shown the way to the world in various fields for centuries. New opportunities will emerge from Bihar in the 21st century,” PM Modi added.
In his address, the Prime Minister stressed that the Indian community members’ contribution has benefited Trinidad and Tobago “culturally, economically and spiritually”.
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.
Also speaking about India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, PM Modi, while addressing the Indian community, said, “I am sure everyone amongst you feels proud when India grows. For the New India, even the sky is not the limit. All of you must have cheered when India’s Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon.”
“We named the place where it landed as ‘Shiv Shakti point’,” he said.
Also mentioning Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, PM Modi said, “An Indian astronaut is onboard the International Space Station as we speak. We are now working on a manned space mission, ‘Gaganyaan’. Soon, an Indian will walk on the moon, and India will have its own space station.”
“We don’t just count the stars, we try to reach them by mission like the ‘Aaditya’ mission. The moon is not far from us. India’s achievements in space are not just ours, we are sharing its fruits with the rest of the world,” PM Modi added.
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that citizens of Indian origin in Trinidad and Tobago, up to the sixth generation, will now be eligible for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, allowing them to live and work in India without restrictions.
“Today, I’m happy to announce that the OCI cards will be given to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago,” PM Modi said.
He also encouraged the Indian-origin community to visit their ancestral land and deepen their connection with India.
“I encourage all of you to visit India more in person, and not just virtually via social media. Visit the villages of your ancestors. Walk the soil they walked on. Bring your children and neighbours. Bring anyone who enjoys ‘Chai‘ and a good story. We will welcome all of you with open arms, warm hearts, and Jalebi,” he said.
Speaking further, the Prime Minister said that the journey of the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is one of courage, emphasising that the hardships their ancestors endured could have “broken even the strongest spirits”.
PM Modi, whose first engagement in the Caribbean nation was with the Indian community, also said that it felt completely natural, as “we are part of one family.” Trinidad and Tobago has a population of approximately 13 lakh, 45 per cent of whom are of Indian origin.
“The journey of the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is about courage. The circumstances your ancestors faced could have broken even the strongest of spirits. But they faced hardships with hope. They met problems with persistence,” he said.
“They left the Ganga and Yamuna behind but carried the Ramayana in their hearts,” he said, calling them messengers of a “timeless civilisation”.
“The community programme in Port of Spain was spectacular. The energy and warmth of the people made it truly unforgettable. Our cultural bonds shine brightly!” he wrote in an X post.
PM Modi also said that India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
“Soon we will be among the top three economies of the world.”
“As we grow, we are ensuring that it is of mutual benefit to the world. Today’s India is a land of opportunities,” he said, adding that “India has a lot to offer,” he said.
