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Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi's longest foreign tour: At 74, what keeps him going?
Barsha Nag Bhowmick has an opinion on anything and everything. A scribe for more than two decades, she writes on various topics including art, literature, relationships, lifestyle and anything that arouses her interest from time to time. When not into writing, she paints. Follow @barshanag on Twitter LESS ... MORE At 74, many people begin to slow down. Mornings get quieter, routines softer, and travel becomes less of a priority. But just last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now 74, wrapped up what's said to be his longest overseas trip in a decade. Five countries in eight days, from July 2 to 9. As the updates kept coming in, I realised I was barely paying attention to the official statements or policy talk. What lingered instead was something quieter, and far more personal. Again and again, I found myself drawn to one thing… his sheer stamina. Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia, the itinerary read like a rush across continents. There were Shiva Tandava chants and samba beats, speeches and shawls, temple visits and trade talks, diaspora gatherings and diplomatic embraces. In Ghana, he draped a Kashmiri Pashmina shawl over the Vice-President, a gentle gesture honouring India's textile heritage. Later, in Trinidad, PM Modi stood before a large diaspora gathering in Couva with visible energy. Greeted with a vibrant Bhojpuri Chautaal welcome and warm applause, he addressed the crowd while standing, inviting cultural connection and showing no signs of slowing down. And amid all that, images of a man, sometimes tired, often smiling, always showing up. What keeps someone going like that? This isn't about agreement or admiration. It's about energy. About what drives people long after the world expects them to slow down. For some, it's power. For others, perhaps, it's purpose. More and more, I believe that what keeps people moving isn't physical stamina, it's inner clarity. I think of older people I have known, those who keep showing up, long after the world has moved on. A teacher from years ago who never took a sick day. A senior colleague who, just after retirement, set off to travel the world with his wife and still roams across India on a bike, more eager than any twenty-five-year-old. A neighbour who rises early each morning to teach underprivileged women in slum areas, quietly defying everything society expects of her age. There's something about people who don't let the years dilute their intention. They don't necessarily move fast, but they move with focus. Maybe that's what I glimpsed in those Modi tour updates… between the handshakes and the photo ops. Not a man escaping time, but someone choosing to fill it to the brim. Of course, politics has its compulsions. But even beyond the headlines, such relentless travel at that age stirs something quietly remarkable. It's not just about legacy or image, it's about still wanting to show up. Not for applause, perhaps, but for what remains unfinished. Not everyone keeps globe-trotting into their seventies. But sooner or later, many of us find ourselves wondering: when do I slow down? Or more urgently… why should I? Not all journeys are about where you go. Some are about why you still want to. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
India Today
04-07-2025
- 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
04-07-2025
- 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
04-07-2025
- 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
04-07-2025
- 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.
