GOPIO TnT WELCOMES SRI MALAY MISHRA, INDIA's NEW HC TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

GOPIO TnT WELCOMES SRI MALAY MISHRA, INDIA's NEW HC TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO


GOPIO TnT WELCOMES SRI MALAY MISHRA, INDIA's NEW HC TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago held a gala welcome reception for the new High Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Malay Mishra. Prominent members of the PIO community in Trinidad were present at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, on Tuesday March 24th, 2009 to greet and welcome Hich Commissioner Mishra and members of the Indian High Commission.

A traditional welcome with garland and Tassa music, which was then followed by an address by GOPIO T&T President Deosaran Bisnath and poetry recitation by Dr. Rajandaye Ramkissoon-Chen, author of four volumes of poetry. Mr. Bisnath described the special relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago and reminded all of the contributions of People of Indian Origin, and the important role of the High Commissioner and the Indian High Commission, as well as the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Culture and Cooperation (MGICC), in developing and nurturing that relationship. Mr. Bisnath also welcomed the new Director of the MGICC, Shri Madan Mohan Sharma.

Also greeting and welcoming Shri Mishra were Swami Prakashanandaji, Spiritual Leader of Chinmaya Mission, Trinidad & Tobago; Haji Kamal Hosein, Vice-President of ASJA Trinidad & Tobago; and Mr. Basdeo Panday, Leader of the Opposition in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament.

In his response, Shri Mishra extended greetings to the PIO community in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean, and described his recent visit to Tobago and plans by the Indian High Commission to assist the Tobago PIOs in development of culture in the sister isle. Shri Mishra spoke glowingly of the PIOs in Trinidad and Tobago with special reference on his observations during a recent tour of several villages and towns in Trinidad and Tobago. He was extremely impressed with the progress, achievements, and lifestyle of PIOs in Trinidad and Tobago, and their ways of worship in temples and he praised them for treasuring and practicing their cultural and religious heritage.

The new High Commissioner gave a detailed description of the cultural diversity of his homeland and emphasized that India had high regards for the people of Indian origin and Indians living throughout the International Indian Diaspora. Shri Mishra pointed out that overseas Indians contribute $27 billion to the Indian economy by way of remittances and noted that some states in India are heavily dependent on these funds. He added: "You can take an Indian out of India but you cannot take India out of an Indian," and then elaborated on the love and appreciation of Indian culture and heritage that has followed 25 million Indians who now form part of the global Indian diaspora.

Shri Mishra's speech was followed by Indian dance; Chutney music from Mr. Ramdeen Falco Maharaj; and Poetry from Ms. Madeline Coopsammy, author of Prairie Journey.

The reception concluded with gift presentations to Shri Malay Mishra from Mr. Ramdeen Falco Maharaj from the National Chutney Foundation; Mr. Lenny Kumar from the Tassa Association of Trinidad and Tobago; and Mr. Deosaran Bisnath from GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago. Guests were served Indo-Trinidadian cuisine while also enjoying pulsating Tassa and Chutney music in the background.