Welcome PM Modi to Guyana

Nov 19, 2024 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji arrives Tuesday evening after a G20 summit in Rio in neighboring Brazil. As expected, a grand welcoming ceremony is planned and being organized by the diaspora as well as by the state (government). Head of State ceremonies are technically or diplomatically reserved for visiting heads of states, not heads of governments.

Mr. Modi is not a head of state, but he is accorded a welcoming ceremony (red carpet) and treatment deserving of a head of state of a very powerful nation or global power. Because of who he is, Modi ji is granted a ‘state visit welcome’, a diplomatic nicety reserved for few heads of states and governments. Other countries like USA, UK, etc. were known to treat Modi like a head of state. The head of state is the symbolism of the sovereignty of the nation.

PM Modi is the most popular political leader in the world and countries go out of their way to show their respect and love for him. India is a very important nation that is being courted by competing superpowers and other powerful countries to cement ties. Modi was accorded red carpet treatment everywhere he visited, most recently by Nigeria on Monday. Brazil is also expected to put out the red carpet for him. And President Ali is right to tender an invitation to Shri Modi ji in accordance to that given to a head state, as distinct from a head of government. ‘State visit’ is for head of state, not necessarily for head of government, the latter rarely given. Irfaan Ali is both head of state and head of government. So is Biden. Shrimati Droupadi Murmu is Head of State of India.

As is the norm in all of his foreign trips, the PM is expected to be accorded a grand welcome by the Indian diaspora separate from the warm, friendly welcome by the state or government. The state will accord an official welcoming ceremony that is given to a visiting head of government or state, perhaps with the presence of the cabinet and all the trappings that go with it. Modi ji is not any foreign leader; he is leader of an extremely important country and one with which Guyana has shared cultural values and objectives in addition to being very generous in aiding our national development. He is a rock star and will be treated accordingly by the state. His visit is accorded the treatment of that of a head of state even though he is not, signaling the towering respect that the government has for the visiting leader and the importance of India as a partner in development.

With regards to the diaspora, in his dozens of overseas trips, the Indian diaspora was known to provide a cultural welcoming ceremony garlanding the PM, presented bouquets of flowers, and singing the Indian national anthem and bhajans. It is certain that the latter will be done at the airport as well as at the hotel where the PM will stay.

The Indian diaspora is very complex and all encompassing as it includes descendants of indentured laborers who are now fourth and later generations of Guyanese as well as recent migrants from India (NRIs) in various capacities (business, employment, students, residents, new citizens, etc.) and lengths of presence. Girmitya countries, those with descendants of indentured laborers like several in the Caribbean, Africa, the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Asia, present a challenge in participation of ceremonial activities relating to India.

Then there is the diaspora twice removed— Indian Guyanese or Indo Caribbeans settled in USA, Canada, Europe, etc. — the double degreed Indian diaspora, a unique diaspora category or group of Indians attached to their former homeland as well as to Mother India. Which of the two or more Indian diasporas will preside over or participate in the unofficial ceremonies for Modi ji.  As experienced in Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, etc., that have two categories of Indian diasporas, as distinct from visits in USA and Europe, Australia and New Zealand, both diasporas participated in ceremonies welcoming Modi as they should. The PM is very fond of the diaspora and has a special place in his heart for the girmityas or descendants of indentured laborers, the pioneers of the Indian diaspora.

It is certain that the Indian High Commission in Guyana will accommodate the diasporas to perform their own ceremonial activities in accord with local traditions. Other Guyanese (of other ethnicity) will also be part of welcoming ceremonies as they should. The HC is known to be all embracing and inclusive in its various activities over the decades. Guyanese of all races and faiths should and are expected to join in the ceremonies to welcome the leader of the world’s largest democracy.

Thank you President Ali for the invitation to the Indian PM to visit our country and for upgrading the visit to that given to a head of state. It will strengthen ties between our two countries resulting in increased developmental assistance.

Yours Respectfully

Dr. Vishnu Bisram

(Welcome PM Modi to Guyana)

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• G20 summit in Rio in neighboring Brazil, Narendra Modi, political leader, UK, USA

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