Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the National Assembly of Seychelles on Sunday, said that the Indian Ocean does not separate India and Seychelles, but connects the two countries. He said that Seychelles has a special place in India’s vision of the Indian Ocean and the relationship between the two countries was built between people before governments.
Modi, who became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the National Assembly, said, “Speaker Sylvain Libian, Leader of the Government Bernard George, Leader of the Opposition, respected members of the National Assembly and my dear brothers and sisters, greetings. It is a special honor for me to address this distinguished House.”
The Prime Minister thanked the Speaker for welcoming him and said he was also grateful to President Patrick Hermine and the people of Seychelles for honoring him with the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ award on Sunday. He said that this honor will inspire all the people who make continuous efforts for environmental protection.
He said, “I bring with me warm wishes on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India.” PM Modi said that after becoming the Prime Minister, his first visit to the Indian Ocean region in 2015 was to Seychelles and it was also his first visit to Africa. He said that he first chose Seychelles because this country has special importance in India’s Indian Ocean thinking.
Congratulating the people of Seychelles on completion of 50 years of independence, the Prime Minister said that the friendship between India and Seychelles is not just 50 years of diplomatic relations, but its history is much older than that.
He said that five Indians were also among the people who reached St. Anne’s Island on the ship ‘Telemaque’ in August 1770. This visit marked the beginning of human-to-human relations between the two countries and over time the Indian community became an integral part of the story of modern Seychelles.
The Prime Minister said, “Our relations were not built by governments. They were built by people, carried forward by families and cherished by generations. The Indian Ocean has strengthened this relationship. That is why we meet not like strangers, but like old friends.”
Hailing Seychelles’ diverse culture, Modi said the country’s biggest strength is its people. People from different parts of the world have brought together their languages, traditions and cultures to create a common ‘Seychelwa’ identity.
He said that the motto of the National Assembly ‘Unity in Diversity’ reflects this sentiment. This is reflected in Creole music, moutaya dances and events such as the Festival Creole.
The Prime Minister said that the cultural ties between India and Seychelles are clearly visible even in everyday life. He said that from the taste of ‘Kari Koko’, Samosas and Chutneys to the celebrations like Garba during Diwali, Thai Pongal and Navratri further strengthen the cultural bond between the two countries.
He expressed confidence that this shared cultural heritage and Creole spirit will take India-Seychelles friendship to new heights in the future.
Also read-
Modi’s Seychelles tour successful, India’s respect increased on global stage!
Comments are closed.