During his recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the country's Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as "Bihar ki Beti," underscoring her ancestral connections to the Indian state of Bihar. Modi's remark, made during an address to the Indian community in Port of Spain, highlighted the historical and cultural links between the two nations.
Modi noted that Persad-Bissessar's ancestors hailed from Buxar district in Bihar and that she had visited her ancestral village of Bhelupur in 2012. He stated, "The ancestors of PM Kamla were from Bihar's Buxar. Kamala ji herself has visited there. People consider her the daughter of Bihar". He also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora to Trinidad and Tobago, recognizing their cultural, economic, and spiritual impact.
Persad-Bissessar, who welcomed Modi at Piarco International Airport dressed in traditional Indian attire, has often spoken of her Indian heritage. Her ancestors were among the 148,000 Indian laborers brought to Trinidad between 1845 and 1917 to work on sugar and cocoa plantations under the Indian indenture system. In 2012, she visited Bhelupur, her paternal great-grandfather's village, where she emotionally connected with her roots, stating, "Whatever I am today, it is because of my forefathers. It is in my genetic make-up and DNA". She also acknowledged that her forefathers, who migrated without modern communication, carried with them the culture and values of their community.
The village of Bhelupur is located in the Buxar district of Bihar. Persad-Bissessar's paternal great-grandparents, Pundit Ram Lakhan Mishra and Ganga Mishra, were from India. Pundit Ram Lakhan Mishra was from Bhelupur, Bihar, India. After indentureship, Pundit Ram Lakhan and Ganga Mishra had settled at Boodoo Trace in the town of Penal in southern Trinidad.
Modi's visit to Trinidad and Tobago marks the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the Caribbean nation since 1999. During his visit, Modi conveyed a replica of the Ram Mandir and holy water from the Sarayu River in Ayodhya, requesting Persad-Bissessar to offer the holy waters to the Ganga Dhara in Trinidad and Tobago. He also announced that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards would now be given to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago. Modi is also expected to receive the Order of Trinidad and Tobago, the highest honor of the country.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar's political career is filled with many firsts. She is the first female Prime Minister, Attorney General, and Opposition Leader of Trinidad and Tobago. She also holds the distinction of being the first woman to chair the Commonwealth of Nations and the first woman of Indian descent to become a prime minister of a country outside of India and the wider subcontinent. She served as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015 and assumed the office again on May 1, 2025, after her party's victory in the general elections.
The Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago comprises approximately 40% of the population. Their traditions are reflected in the country's food, music, language, and religious festivals. Modi acknowledged their significant role in shaping the nation and praised their courage and resilience. He emphasized the enduring cultural connections between India and Trinidad and Tobago, noting that cities like Banaras, Patna, Kolkata, and Delhi are not only in India but also found as street names in Trinidad.
