Modi hails Trinidad & Tobago PM as ‘Daughter of Bihar’: The Indian connection, explained

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Trinidad and Tobago on Friday for a two-day official visit, marking the second leg of his ongoing foreign tour.

While addressing the Indian diaspora in the capital, Port of Spain, Modi referred to his counterpart, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as “Bihar ki Beti” (daughter of Bihar), acknowledging her ancestral ties to India.

The Caribbean nation shares a unique bond with India, with nearly 45 per cent of its population tracing their roots back to the country.

“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,” PM Modi, addressing the diaspora.

But what exactly links this island nation so closely with India? Here’s a look at the cultural and historical ties that continue to connect the two countries.

PM Modi’s Indian-style welcome in Trinidad & Tobago

PM Modi received a heartwarming and colourful welcome on his arrival in Port of Spain. He was greeted at the airport by PM Persad-Bissessar herself, along with a team of ministers, all dressed in traditional Indian attire.

A special Guard of Honour and Bhojpuri Chautaal music played in the background. Sharing the moment on X, the PM wrote: “Bhojpuri Chautaal echoes in Trinidad &Tobago!”

As a gesture of cultural and spiritual connection, Modi brought with him a replica of the Ram Mandir, along with sacred water from the Sarayu River in Ayodhya and from the Sangam at Mahakumbh.

“Our bonds go well beyond geography and generations," PM Modi said at a community event at the National Cycling Velodrome, Couva. “The Indian diaspora is our pride. As I have often said, each one of you is a Rashtradoot — an Ambassador of India’s values, culture and heritage,” he said.

He also announced that OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cards will now be extended to the sixth generation of Indian-origin families on the island, allowing them to live and work in the country without restrictions.
“We aren’t just connected by blood or surname. You are connected by belonging. India welcomes, and India embraces you!” he said.

This was Modi’s first visit to Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister, and the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to the country since 1999. The visit came at the invitation of PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Who is Kamla Persad-Bissessar—and what’s her Indian connection?

Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the current Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and holds the distinction of being the first woman to lead the country. But what caught attention during PM Modi’s visit was her strong ancestral connection to India.

Her great-grandfather migrated from Bhelupur village in Buxar, Bihar, to the Caribbean during the British colonial period as an indentured labourer, known as a Girmitiya. In 2012, Kamla visited her ancestral village in Bihar, where she received a warm and emotional welcome from the local community.

Recalling this link in his speech, Modi said, “Kamla ji’s ancestors lived in Buxar, Bihar. She herself has visited there. People proudly call her Bihar ki Beti.”

Born on April 22, 1952, Kamla Persad-Bissessar has had a long career in education and public service. She is widely recognised in the island nation for her contributions to educational counselling, broadcasting, and moral and spiritual education in schools.

She completed her early education in Trinidad and later went to England to pursue a law degree. She began her career as a teacher at Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College, before moving into the legal profession.

Kamla entered politics in 1987, and by 1995, she was elected as a Member of Parliament. She served as Education Minister when the United National Congress (UNC) came to power. She was later sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26, 2010.

Over the years, she has achieved several firsts: she was the first woman to serve as the country’s Attorney General, Acting Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and eventually the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

Why are there so many Indians in Trinidad & Tobago?

The connection between India and Trinidad & Tobago goes back over 175 years, rooted in a shared colonial history. Between 1845 and 1917, the British transported around 143,000 bonded labourers, from India to work on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, following the abolition of slavery. Of them, about 85 per cent were Hindus and 14 per cent Muslims.

Most of these workers came from present-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, travelling through the ports of Calcutta (Kolkata) and Madras (Chennai). These migrants, often referred to as Girmitiyas, faced tough conditions, low pay, and long separations from home.

Many Indo-Trinidadians remained impoverished, socially isolated, and largely illiterate well into the 1960s. One of the earliest formal efforts to influence these communities began in 1875, when the Canadian Presbyterian Mission stepped in.

As part of its outreach, the Mission not only promoted Western-style education but also actively converted many Indo-Trinidadians to Christianity. It simultaneously set up Hindi-language schools in Indian communities.

Over time, the Indian community established a stronger foothold in society. By the early 20th century, Indians were playing a visible role in local economics, politics, and cultural life. Today, people of Indian origin make up around 40–45 per cent of Trinidad and Tobago’s 13 lakh population.

The legacy of this migration includes notable figures like Nobel Laureate VS Naipaul, who was born in Trinidad before relocating to the UK. His family home—widely believed to be the inspiration for the book “A House for Mr Biswas”—still stands on what is now Naipaul Street.

Dr Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s first Prime Minister, also had a personal friendship with Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first PM. The two first met in Oxford in 1935 and reconnected in New Delhi in 1961, just before Trinidad and Tobago gained independence in 1962.

Despite being far from India, Indo-Trinidadians have preserved many elements of their heritage. Major festivals like Diwali, Holi, Navratri, and Ram Navami are still widely celebrated.

PM Modi said it beautifully during his visit, “They left Ganga and Yamuna behind, but carried the Ramayana in their hearts. They left their soil, but not their soul. They were not just migrants. They were messengers of a timeless civilisation.”

With input from agencies