Bhelupur (Bihar): Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar on Wednesday visited Buxar, the land of her forefathers where she was moved by the warm welcome of the people.
Bissessar, who arrived here amid tight security by an IAF helicopter visited her ancestral village Bhelupur under Itarhi block of the district.
Later addressing a huge gathering at the village, she said India and Trinidad and Tobago have strong historical and cultural ties "just like ties of the heart and soul". She added, "We believe in grand Mother India."
Bissessar, who was accompanied by her husband Gregory and her sister Revati, congratulated the Government of India for doing "exceedingly well" by laying thrust on literacy and education and appealed to the people to try their best for ensuring education for their wards, particularly girls.
In her speech, which she delivered in English and was translated into Hindi by a translator for the benefit of the gathering, Bissessar said "I am overwhelmed by the welcome and hospitality of the people of Bhelupur and adjoining villages...I feel it is the homecoming of a grand daughter."
She said, "Whatever I am (today) is because of the blessings of my forefathers and the people here. Without the blessing of the soil here I would never have dreamt of becoming the prime minister.
"When my forefathers went to Trinidad the people were illiterate and poor... They took with them copies of the Ramayana, Bhagvat Gita and Quran and no gold or silver jewellery
"...They carried with them seeds, clothes and food besides rural delicacies. Our ancestors provided us education to overcome poverty" she said.
Trinidad and Tobago foreign minister Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan and Bihar Arts and Culture Minister Sukhda Pandey were also present at the programme.
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