- By Ajeet Kumar
- Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:37 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to his Tobago counterpart Kamla Persad-Bissessar as a "Bihar ki Beti" (daughter of Bihar), during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, highlighting her ancestral roots in the Indian state. Addressing the Indian diaspora, PM Modi said, "We are connected not just by blood or surnames, but by a shared sense of belonging. PM Kamla’s ancestors were from Buxar in Bihar, and she has even visited the place. The people there see her as one of their own- a daughter of Bihar."
"Our connection goes beyond shared ancestry or last names-- it's a bond of belonging. India sees you, values you, and welcomes you. Prime Minister Kamla’s roots trace back to Buxar in Bihar, and she has even visited her ancestral village. People there proudly regard her as a daughter of Bihar," said PM Modi.
"Bihar's rich heritage is a source of pride not just for India, but for the entire world. For centuries, Bihar has been a guiding light across many fields — and in the 21st century, it will continue to create new opportunities," he added.
Who is Tobago PM Kamla Persad‑Bissessar?
Kamla Persad‑Bissessar is a popular politician and lawyer who made history as the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 2010 to 2015 and then returning to power in May 2025. Born on April 22, 1952, in Siparia, she built a distinguished career as an educator, attorney general, and Leader of the Opposition before rising to the nation's top post.
Kamla Persad‑Bissessar Bihar connection
Ancestral roots in Buxar, Bihar: Kamla Persad‑Bissessar great-grandfather, Pandit Ram Lakhan Mishra, hailed from Bhelupur village in Buxar district and arrived in Trinidad in 1889 as an indentured labuorer. While her maternal great-grandmother, Sumaria, came from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Despite humble beginnings, Persad-Bissessar’s maternal grandmother and great-grandmother were strong matriarchs, earning a living and supporting their families after losing their husbands early. Kamla credits her mother and grandmothers as inspirations, shaping her values on education, service, and women’s empowerment.
Emotional homecoming: In 2012, during a state visit, she returned to Bhelupur. Locals welcomed her warmly, and she emotionally recounted how “Bihar is in my DNA”.
“Bihar ki Beti” label: During PM Narendra Modi's visit to Trinidad and Tobago, he affectionately referred to her as “Bihar ki Beti” (daughter of Bihar), reaffirming her deep ancestral link to the Indian state.
What did PM Modi says about Kamla Persad-Bissessar
PM Modi said that PM Kamala has even visited the state, and people in India consider her the "daughter of Bihar". PM Modi's X post regarding the cultural connection between the two countries was also in Bhojpuri, a prominent language in Bihar, also spoken by the Indian community in the Caribbean nation.
"Be it democracy, politics, diplomacy, higher education...Bihar had shown a new direction to the world in many such subjects centuries ago," he added. He said that new inspirations and new opportunities "will emerge from the land of Bihar for the 21st-century world." PM Modi announced that India is actively working on creating a comprehensive database of the Girmitiya community.
It will support the deep and historic ties with "our brothers and sisters in Trinidad and Tobago as well," he added. The community, mainly comprising people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, was sent from British India to work on plantations in South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean islands. PM Modi's Bihar push is seen as significant considering the upcoming elections in Bihar, people familiar with Bihar politics said. Bihar is going to the polls later this year, and the BJP is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance in the state.
(With inputs from agency)
