Culture, cuisine, cricket connect India, Guyana: PM Modi at community event

Culture cuisine and cricket deeply connect India and Guyana Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said asserting that the commonalities provide a strong foundation for friendship between the two nations Addressing a community programme in Guyana on Thursday the prime minister praised the IndoGuyanese community and their contribution to the development of the Caribbean nationHe stressed that the shared values between the two nations provide a strong foundation for their friendship Three things in particular connect India and Guyana deeply Culture cuisine and cricket he said Modi said both countries are proud of their rich and diverse culture We see diversity as something to be celebrated not just accommodated Our countries are showing how cultural diversity is our strength he saidNoting that Indians traditionally carry food wherever they go the prime minister highlighted that the IndoGuyanese community has a unique food tradition that blends both Indian and Guyanese elements The love for cricket also binds our nations strongly It is not just a sport It is a way of life deeply embedded in our national identity he saidMany of our cricket fans enjoyed the T20 World Cup that you hosted this year Your cheers for the Team in Blue at their match in Guyana could be heard even back home in India he added Saluting the spirit of the IndoGuyanese community he said You have fought for freedom and democracy You have worked to make Guyana one of the fastestgrowing economies From humble beginnings you have risen to the top he addedReferring to the diaspora as rashtradoots Modi said that they are ambassadors of Indian culture and values The prime minister underscored that the IndoGuyanese community is doubly blessed as they have Guyana as their motherland and Bharat mata as their ancestral land Recalling his visit to Guyana two decades ago Modi said he came to the country as a traveller full of curiosity Noting that a lot has changed now that he visited as the Indian prime minister he said The love and affection of my Guyanese brothers and sisters remain the sameMy experience has reaffirmed you can take an Indian out of India but you cannot take India out of an Indian he said Modi also highlighted the shared history that binds India and Guyana Common struggle against colonial rule love for democratic values and respect for diversity he said We have a shared future that we want to create Aspirations for growth and development commitment towards economy and ecology and belief in a just and inclusive world order Modi saidThe prime minister noted that the top leadership of the two countries has worked to strengthen bilateral cooperation Today we have agreed to widen the scope of our collaboration from energy to enterprise Ayurveda to agriculture infrastructure to innovation healthcare to human resources and data to development Our partnership also holds significant value for the wider region The second IndiaCARICOM summit held yesterday is a testament to the same he addedOn Wednesday Modi cochaired the second IndiaCaribbean Community CARICOM Summit here during which he proposed seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India and the Caribbean Community During the address Modi asserted that India and Guyana believe in reformed multilateralism as members of the UN and as developing countries understand the power of the Global SouthWe seek strategic autonomy and support inclusive development We prioritise sustainable development and climate justice And we continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to address global crises he said Talking about Indias growth he said it has not only been inspirational but also inclusive Indias journey over the past decade has been one of scale speed and sustainability he saidIn a post on X Modi shared pictures of the event and called it a very special community programme Connecting with the larger Indian family the Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X PM commended the Indian diaspora for preserving their culture and traditions He highlighted Indias growth story and invited them to visit their ancestral land it saidThe prime minister arrived here in Guyana on Wednesday making it the first visit by an Indian head of state to the country in more than 50 years He was conferred the highest national award in Guyana the Order of Excellence Modi thanked the people of Guyana for the gesture This is an honour of 14 billion Indians It is the recognition of the 3 lakhstrong IndoGuyanese community and their contributions to the development of Guyana he said during the addressThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever