Dear Editor,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the warm welcome he received in Guyana at multiple locations is an unforgettable experience, and he is returning to his native India with fond memories.
Guyanese with whom this writer conversed feel the same! Modi ji left with immense joy and satisfaction, and President Ali would have felt the same.
It was an overwhelming experience on both sides. A special relationship was developed between the two leaders. The common touch between leaders of the two countries and the personal family-friendly engagements made the visit special and memorable, and the experience will endure for a lifetime.
The TV and social media coverage; pix of the various site visits on social media and in the newspapers; the hugs and the formal ceremonies; addresses to CARICOM, parliament, and the Indian diaspora; the toasts; the consumption of seven curries in a leaf; playing jaal in chowtaal and biraha singing; interacting with locals; posing for photos, among other experiences, would remain etched in memory for a long time. It brought back, for many from older generations, memories of the visits of members of the Royal Family of the UK to Guyana in 1966 and in later dates.
As many told this writer, Modi’s visit outshone those of the Royal Family. It was like Royalty was visiting. He was treated like a rock star in Guyana as he is treated wherever he goes, including in India. He is a charming, charismatic leader, and a brilliant orator when speaking in Hindi or Gujarati. Everywhere he went, crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of him amidst heavy security. He was cheered by ordinary people of all ethnicities, and by Indian nationals residing in Guyana. They waved at him, and he did so in return. School children lined up and waved flags. Lamp posts had alternating flags of India and Guyana, and Modi posters were at several locations.
The visit brought back fond memories of British Princess Margaret’s visit decades ago, when the public lined the road to welcome her. Modi, however, received greater adulation and affection for being one of our own, and for the way he has treated Guyanese.
Modi himself must have been surprised by the level of admiration he received. Accolades were showered on him by Guyanese, including politicians from both sides, and that was demonstrated both at the governmental level and among the public.
He was enthusiastically welcomed, and the chemistry between the leaders of these two countries was great and came across as natural, as though they were brothers, or father and son. No leader has ever previously received the kind of grand welcome and honour that was accorded to Modi. President Ali went all out to provide a grand welcome to the Indian PM, who himself had graciously welcomed him to India in a state visit he had made in January 2023, which resulted from intense lobbying of Indo-Guyanese activists.
After their election to the respective presidencies of Suriname and Guyana, Ravi Dev and I, using very close Hindu contacts in India and America, had lobbied the Indian Government to honour Chandrikapersaud Santokhi and Irfaan Ali as Chief Guests at the PBD, which comes with the coveted Samman Award. Ravi and I were invited, during the 2017 edition of the PBD in Bangalore, as special guests of the government.
Santokhi was indeed selected as Chief Guest in 2021, but could not attend in person, because of COVID-19. The Indian Government chose Irfaan Ali as the Chief Guest in 2023, and invited both Chan Santokhi and Irfaan as co-Chief Guests. Both received the prestigious Samman Award, the highest honour given to someone from the Indian diaspora for achievements, distinguished service, and/or promoting India abroad.
Irfaan and Modi met on several occasions, the first being at PBD in Gujarat in 2015, when President Ramotar was Chief Guest and Irfaan was Housing Minister. It was Ravi and I who had lobbied Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to choose Ramotar as Chief Guest. We have had a long association with Sushma ji in the USA and in India, engaging her at Hindu conferences.
Ali and Modi met again in January 2018 in Delhi at a summit for PIO. MPs Modi and Irfaan also met on the sidelines of the UN at several summits of the Commonwealth and at the Climate Summit in Scotland. They must have had fond memories of each other, and reminisced when they met in Guyana.
As an aside, Modi had made a private visit to Guyana in August 2000, when he was hosted by Ravi Dev and Swami Aksharananda, among others; and they had met again at SVN on the West Coast of Demerara. Irfaan was not in the picture at the time, only becoming public in 2006.
Having been honoured in 2023 by Modi, who has been very generous towards Guyana in doling out developmental aid, the Guyanese President must have wanted to return the honour.
Irfaan and Modi have had a good stronger relationship and bonding since then. Modi shook hands with others, but embraced Irfaan, an act also reserved for Ravi Dev and Swami Ji, with whom there has been a long association long before Irfaan. But with Irfaan, there appeared a tremendous father-son type relationship, although Modi called Irfaan “my special friend and brother”.
Irfaan, being a member of the Indian diaspora and product of an Indian university, is proud of his ancestry and of his association with Modi. He was never shy to praise Modi’s leadership and kindness, and did so at several engagements. Irfaan is very fond of India; he did his Master’s degree in Delhi, and declined scholarships to study elsewhere. He once told people that he was sad when leaving India after his study. He has had a liking for India, his ancestral homeland, and developed a liking for Modi since 2015, when they first met.
When they met in Guyana, the chemistry was there, as exemplified by the warm embrace, a gesture reserved for Irfaan and towering leaders like Trump, Biden and Putin, among others. Modi was wholeheartedly welcomed, not only by State House, but by the Ali family, with whom he meshed closely. Modi held the hand of Irfaan’s son, and walked him down like a grandfather. Modi and the Ali family ‘sanay’ food, eating directly with fingers rather than with cutlery in purine leaves. The common touch and personal things made further engagements and discussions that followed meaningful.
The duo also met with famous cricketers, and joked a lot. It was mentioned that famous cricketers came from Port Mourant. Reference was made to the match between India and the West Indies at Albion. It was pointed out that Albion and Port Mourant are Indian territories that historically support India and Pakistan against other teams. The crowd cheered India, rather than the domestic side. West Indies were jeered. India beat the West Indies badly. Alvin Kallicharan cracked jokes about the defeat. Clive Lloyd said the West Indies would never play India again at Albion.
It was a historic visit, only the second by an Indian PM, with the last being that of Indira Gandhi in 1968. It may have been the first time a visiting head of government of a large nation addressed the national Parliament, where he praised Guyana’s democratic credentials.
Many things happened with agreements signed. On behalf of the nation, President Ali bestowed Prime Minister Modi with the highest honour of Guyana, the Order of Excellence. Modi thanked the Government and people of Guyana for this honour, and dedicated it to Indo-Guyanese people who have played a key role over the last 186 years in the special and enduring bond between the two countries.
Guyanese were and are very impressed with Modi’s humility, and have praised the several visits to Indian diaspora communities and sites. The PM also met with Afro and other Guyanese, who waved at him at several visits, and he responded in kind.
The Modi visit would long be remembered for how President Ali and Guyanese people treated the visiting PM, and the magnificent experience he had, which he described in glowing terms.
Yours sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram
