Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam has announced to honour Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the country’s highest award ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian to receive this award, which is his 21st international award.
The announcement was made at a special event of the Indian community, where Prime Minister Modi said, “The population and government of Mauritius have decided to give me this honour, which I humbly accept.” He began his address in Bhojpuri and recalled his earlier visit, saying that he had come to Mauritius on this day ten years ago. He also mentioned that he will bring back the colours of Holi with him during this visit, which will also be celebrated in India the next day.
Referring to the historic supply of sugar for sweets in Mauritius, Prime Minister Modi said that this relationship has become even stronger. He said, “The sweetness of relations between India and Mauritius is increasing with time. Whenever I come here, I feel like I am a family.”
Referring to the International Ramayana Conference in 1998, the Prime Minister said that at that time he was not holding any government post, yet he got the opportunity to come here. Recalling this connection between the present and the past, he said that it is a matter of pride for him to express his respect to the people of Mauritius. This award is a symbol of the historical relations between India and Mauritius.