Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday accorded a rousing civic reception by the expatriate Indian community here that was similar to the reception that he had received at New York's Madison Square Garden when he visited that city in September last year.
An estimated three-and-half-thousand expatriate Indians, greeted the visiting Prime Minister with loud cheers, clapping of hands, and slogans such as "Modi, Modi", and "Vande Mataram, as he began to address them from the podium at the event.
Greeting the audience with the Gujarati salutation of "Kemcho", Prime Minister Modi said, "Nature might have separated us, but it can never part our hearts, which are connected. Science says India and Seychelles were a part of the same land a thousand years ago, and I believe that the world is one family, and people who have been brought up with this belief, can never be separated by geographical barriers."
Emphasizing the civilizational ties and links that existed between India and Seychelles, Prime Minister Modi stated further, "The sea (Indian Ocean) doesn't divide us...it unites us, you can point in India's direction, and say, that's my Bhuj, that's my Chennai."
Praising the contribution of the Indian community to the prosperity of Seychelles, he said, "The Indian community living in Seychelles has further added to the capability, prosperity and sweetness of Seychelles. We are proud of you."
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India, he said, was a country where a boy steps out of bed after waking up, and is told to apologize to the motherland, as he is stepping on her, and it was a matter of history as well as pride, that the nation had been able to elect a majority government to rule over it after a gap of over 30 years.
Prime Minister Modi said he was happy and satisfied to hear that the Indian community in Seychelles had celebrated the results of the elections in India with as much gusto and fervor as at home.
"India created had a government of complete majority after almost 30 years, and I was told that you all were celebrating here when poll results were being declared in India," said the Prime Minister.
He added, "It is important for India to prosper, as, if we lag behind, we won't be able to contribute in fulfilling aspirations of the world."
Prime Minister Modi described the Seychelles as a scenically beautiful country, and said that though his current visit was a short one, he would certainly come for a longer visit the next time.
He said that the people of Seychelles had made him feel like 'one of their own', adding that India saw the island nation as a trusted neighbour and strategic partner.
"Though this is my first visit to Seychelles, the people of Seychelles have made me feel like one of their own. I have been deeply touched by their warmth and affection towards me. This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister in over three decades. Yet, President Michel and I were able to strike a rapport as if we were old friends," he wrote.
"I am impressed by President Michel's vision. India considers Seychelles not only as a maritime neighbor, but as a trusted friend and a strong strategic partner. This visit has deepened our mutual trust and taken our cooperation to a new level. The beauty of this 'Paradise on Earth' will remain with me forever," he added.
Relations between India and Seychelles have been characterized by close cooperation and understanding.
During the Indian presidential visit to Seychelles in 2012, India announced USD 50 million as Line of Credit and USD 25 million as grant to the Government of Seychelles. Indian assistance has also flowed since the 1980's under ITEC programme in civilian defense and other fields.
Indians constitute about a tenth of the country's 91,000-strong population.
On January 9, 2015, the Pravasi Bharatitya Samman Award was conferred on a Seychelles citizen of Indian origin, Justice D. Karunakaran. He is the second Seychellian recipient of the award.
The Indian community is looking forward to greater people-to-people contact with India.
Prime Minister Modi embarked on his five-day, three-nation visit to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
