‘Tendulkar is as loved in Trinidad and Tobago as Lara is in India’: Prez who calls herself ‘daughter of diaspora’

India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), which gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. What do you think about the trajectory of the relationship so far?

Trinidad and Tobago’s ties with India go back well before our countries established diplomatic relations in 1962: they go back to May 30, 1845, when the first ship — the Fatel Razack — carrying 225 Indian indentured workers reached the shores of Trinidad, then a British colony. For 72 unbroken years thereafter, more than 1.43 lakh Indians came from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, reshaping Trinidad and Tobago’s social, demographic, economic and cultural landscape forever.

Our countries, therefore, share unerasable historical ties and the relationship has always been extremely close and cordial. Our trade relations are now robust, with T&T exporting iron, steel, ammonia, aromatic bitters and other products to India, while importing pharmaceuticals, cashew nuts, fabrics and diamonds. And we also enjoy a rich cultural cooperation.

India’s kindness and generosity to the people of Trinidad and Tobago are legendary and have been shown time and again, including during the pandemic, when 40,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines arrived here as a result of the gracious response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a letter sent by our PM.

How do you view the diaspora event (Pravasi Bharatiya Divas)?

In hosting the event, the Indian government and the people give powerful expression to their commitment to strengthening the ties between India and all of her children throughout the world.

It is impossible to overstate how uplifting it is to members of the Indian diaspora to know that the country of our origin carves out for us this sacred space during the convention to reach across the seas, to find us in whatever parts of the world we are, and to embrace us.

Have you visited India before? What is your impression of India?

I have not visited India before. I had been looking forward with great anticipation to visiting India for the first time, to attend this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.

My heart is filled with sadness and regret that circumstances did not make it possible for me to do so.

My impression of India is that it is a place of great beauty and majesty. I am a great admirer of India and India’s remarkable contributions to the world’s development.

These include, among many other legendary accomplishments, the fact that the world’s first university is said to have been established in Takshashila in 700 BC; Ayurveda as the earliest school of medicine known to humans; the art of navigation is said to have been born in the Sindhu river 6000 years ago; algebra, trigonometry and calculus were first developed in India. India is one of the greatest countries.

More than 40 percent of the population of T&T is made up of ethnic Indians. What is it that the community adds to the culture, economy and society of a multi-ethnic country like yours?

The descendants of the Indian indentured workers who came here between 1845 and 1917 are now in their fifth and sixth generations and form nearly 42% of the total population here — the largest numerical presence of persons of Indian descent anywhere in the Caribbean. They constitute an integral part of the economic, political and social fabric of the country.

As a developing nation, we face many of the same challenges that other developing nations do.

But Trinidad and Tobago has the advantage of being able to draw upon the rich legacy of the courage and the determination of our citizens of Indian descent; and we have, in doing so, been able to create a stronger, more resilient nation.

In addition, the Indian community has added tremendously to our culture. Our music, religious festivals and food — all of which the entire country participates in and thoroughly enjoys — have been heavily (and happily) influenced by our citizens of Indian descent.