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222931
Thu, 01/12/2012 - 13:54
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https://www.oananews.org/index.php//node/222931
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Trinidad & Tobago PM visits her ancestral village in India's Bihar state

Bhelupur (Bihar, India), Jan 12 (PTI) Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Wednesday visited Bhelupur village in Buxar district of the eastern Indian state of Bihar, the village of her forefathers where she was moved by the warm welcome of the people.
Addressing a 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".
"We believe in grand mother India," Bissessar, who was accompanied by her husband Gregory and her sister Revati, said.
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."
Bissessar in her emotional speech which lasted for about 18 minutes 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 Surujrattan Rambachan and Bihar Arts and Culture Minister Sukhda Pandey were present at the programme. PTI
Caption for pic: Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar interacting with people of her ancestral village Bhelupur in Bihar on Wednesday. PTI Photo