Modi hails 35 million diaspora as India’s pride, Pg1

Context:

• During his visit to Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Modi addressed the Indian diaspora, announcing key initiatives to strengthen cultural and civic ties with the Girmitiya community, including granting OCI cards to sixth-generation descendants.

Key Highlights:

• PM Modi described India’s 35 million-strong diaspora as the nation’s “pride” and “Rashtradoots”.
• Sixth-generation Indian-origin citizens in Trinidad and Tobago to receive OCI cards, marking extended civic linkage.
• PM highlighted the Girmitiya legacy, referring to indentured labourers taken from Bihar and eastern UP to the Caribbean during colonial rule.
• India is building a comprehensive database of the Girmitiya community, including migration origins and settlement locations.
• Trinidad and Tobago becomes the first Caribbean country to adopt India’s UPI system, boosting financial linkages.
• Announcement comes ahead of the 180th anniversary (2025) of Girmitiya arrivals in Trinidad and Tobago.
• India committed to organising World Girmitiya Conferences to honour diaspora legacy.

Detailed Insights:

• The Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card offers long-term visa, property ownership rights, and civic engagement to Indian-origin persons abroad.
• The Girmitiya community, comprising descendants of indentured labourers sent by British colonialists (1834–1920), forms a significant cultural link between India and countries like Fiji, Mauritius, and Trinidad & Tobago.
• Modi’s remarks emphasised diaspora diplomacy — using historical and cultural ties to deepen strategic and economic relations.
• The Bhojpuri-speaking diaspora in the Caribbean traces its roots to districts in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• Mapping diaspora origins, conserving oral histories, and institutionalising diaspora conferences are part of a larger cultural diplomacy initiative.
• The adoption of India’s UPI system by Trinidad and Tobago boosts India’s digital soft power in the Caribbean and supports smoother financial exchanges.

Key Concepts Involved:

• UPI (Unified Payments Interface): Real-time payment system developed by NPCI that facilitates inter-bank transactions through mobile platforms.
• OCI Card: A form of permanent residency status for foreign nationals of Indian origin, enabling multiple entry and long-term stays in India.
• Girmitiyas: Term for indentured labourers from India transported to British colonies under the “Girmit” (agreement) system post-abolition of slavery.