Mauritius Honors PM Modi with Nation's Highest Award
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Synopsis
On March 11, Mauritius announced it would award Prime Minister Narendra Modi the prestigious 'Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean' during his ongoing State Visit, marking him as the first Indian to receive this honor, which is the 21st international accolade he has received.
Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Modi receives Mauritius' highest honor.
- This is the 21st international award for PM Modi.
- Only five foreign dignitaries have received this title since Mauritius became a republic.
- The award signifies the growing diplomatic ties between India and Mauritius.
- PM Modi has received numerous prestigious awards globally.
Port Louis, March 11 (NationPress) The government of Mauritius announced on Tuesday its intention to award the nation’s highest distinction, 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean', to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his current two-day State Visit to the picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago.
The announcement was made by Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam shortly before PM Modi addressed the Indian community in Mauritius on Tuesday evening. PM Modi becomes the first Indian recipient of this prestigious honour.
This recognition marks the 21st international award granted to PM Modi by a foreign nation.
"It is indeed fitting for you, Prime Minister. Since our nation became a republic, only five foreign dignitaries have been awarded this title, among them the esteemed 'Gandhi of Africa' - Nelson Mandela, who received it in 1998. We are immensely honoured to have you here today, and we appreciate you taking time out of your very packed schedule," Ramgoolam stated amidst great applause.
In December, Kuwait conferred its highest accolade, 'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer', upon PM Modi, acknowledging his significant contributions and efforts to fortify the bonds between the two nations.
This Order is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns as a symbol of friendship.
Notably, it has previously been awarded to esteemed leaders such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush, along with dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi was honoured with Guyana's highest civilian award, 'The Order of Excellence', by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, recognizing his visionary leadership and commitment to enhancing India-Guyana relations.
During the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana, Dominica also presented its highest national award, 'The Dominica Award of Honour', to PM Modi for his critical support during the COVID-19 pandemic and his dedication to strengthening India-Dominica ties.
Nigeria also awarded PM Modi the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) during his inaugural official visit in November, making him the first foreign leader to receive this accolade since Queen Elizabeth in 1969.
The recognition from Kuwait brings PM Modi's tally of civilian honours to a remarkable total of 20, underscoring his leadership and India’s rising prominence on the global stage.
Experts believe this reflects India’s enhanced diplomatic relationships and growing influence.
Prior to the recognitions from Kuwait, Guyana, Dominica, and Nigeria, PM Modi has received numerous civilian honours from various countries, including Saudi Arabia (King Abdulaziz Sash, 2016), Afghanistan (State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan, 2016), Palestine (Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award, 2018), UAE (Order of Zayed Award, 2019), Russia (Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, 2019 - awarded to PM Modi in July 2024), Maldives (Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin, 2019), Bahrain (King Hamad Order of the Renaissance, 2019), US (Legion of Merit by the US Armed Forces in 2020), Bhutan (Order of the Druk Gyalpo, 2021), Fiji (Companion of the Order of Fiji, 2023), Papua New Guinea (Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu, 2023), Egypt (Order of Nile, 2023), France (Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, 2023), and Greece (Grand Cross of the Order of Honour, 2023).
Besides these prestigious civilian honours, PM Modi has also been recognized with various accolades from esteemed global organizations.
In 2018, he received the Seoul Peace Prize from the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, acknowledging his contributions towards global harmony and world peace.
That same year, the United Nations awarded PM Modi its highest environmental recognition, the Champions of The Earth Award, for his bold leadership in environmental matters.
In 2019, PM Modi was the inaugural recipient of the Philip Kotler Presidential Award, given to leaders exemplifying exceptional national leadership.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation honored him with the Global Goalkeeper Award in 2019 for transforming India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a widespread cleanliness movement.
In 2021, PM Modi was awarded the Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) for his leadership in global energy and sustainability efforts.
