Grateful to be honored with the highest national accolade of Mauritius; I dedicate it to 1.4 billion Indians: PM Modi
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Synopsis
During the National Day celebrations in Mauritius, PM Modi expressed his gratitude for receiving the nation's highest award, dedicating it to the people of India and emphasizing the historic ties between the two countries.
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi received the Highest National Award of Mauritius.
- This marks his second time as Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day.
- He dedicated the award to the 140 crore people of India.
- It is the 21st international award received by PM Modi.
- The award reflects India's strengthened diplomatic relations.
Port Louis, March 12 (NationPress) Emphasizing the remarkable and distinctive partnership between India and Mauritius, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Wednesday was the Chief Guest at the National Day celebrations for the second occasion in a decade, expressed that he was humbled to be honored with the Highest National Award of Mauritius.
"I am humbled to receive the Highest National Award of Mauritius. I dedicate this honor to the 140 crore people of India and the deep-rooted friendship that binds our nations," PM Modi remarked during his speech at the event.
This marks PM Modi's second time as Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day, a privilege he first attained in 2015. The rare repeat invitation highlights the exceptional bond between India and Mauritius, founded on shared history, cultural connections, and diaspora links.
The government of Mauritius announced on Tuesday its decision to grant the prestigious title of 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean' to Prime Minister Modi during his ongoing two-day State Visit to the Indian Ocean nation.
Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam made the announcement just before PM Modi addressed an event for the Indian community in Port Louis on Tuesday evening, making him the first Indian to receive such an honor.
This achievement also marks the 21st international award conferred upon PM Modi by a foreign country.
"This is highly fitting for you, Prime Minister. Since we became a republic, only five foreign dignitaries have received this title, among whom is a figure we refer to as the 'Gandhi of Africa' - Nelson Mandela, who received it in 1998. We are profoundly honored to have you with us today and appreciate that you took time from your extremely busy schedule," stated Ramgoolam to resounding applause.
In December, Kuwait honored PM Modi with its highest distinction, 'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer', in recognition of his significant accomplishments and efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
This Order is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns, as well as members of foreign royal families, as a symbol of friendship.
Previous recipients include prominent international leaders such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush, along with notable figures like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Prior to this, PM Modi received Guyana’s top civilian honor, 'The Order of Excellence', from President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, for his visionary leadership and advocacy for developing nations on the global stage, as well as for his commitment to enhancing India-Guyana relations.
During the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana, Dominica also awarded PM Modi its highest national honor, the 'Dominica Award of Honour', recognizing his crucial support during the Covid-19 pandemic and dedication to fostering India-Dominica relations.
Nigeria granted PM Modi the national honor of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) during his inaugural official visit to the country in November 2024.
He was the first foreign leader to receive this award since 1969, when Queen Elizabeth was honored with Nigeria's highest national commendation.
'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer' brings PM Modi's total of civilian honors to an impressive 20, emphasizing his leadership and India's rising prominence on the world stage.
Analysts believe this reflects India's enhanced diplomatic relationships and the country’s growing influence.
Before Kuwait, Guyana, Dominica, and Nigeria, PM Modi had received top civilian honors from 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 - received by 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), Papua New Guinea (Ebakl Award, 2023), 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).
In addition to these prestigious civilian honors, PM Modi has also received multiple renowned awards from global organizations.
In 2018, he was presented with the Seoul Peace Prize by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, acknowledging his contributions to global harmony and peace.
That same year, the United Nations recognized PM Modi with its highest environmental award, the Champions of The Earth Award, for his bold leadership in environmental issues.
In 2019, PM Modi was awarded the inaugural Philip Kotler Presidential Award, given to leaders who exemplify outstanding national leadership.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation honored PM Modi with the Global Goalkeeper Award in 2019, recognizing his efforts to mobilize India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a mass movement for cleanliness.
In 2021, PM Modi received the Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award from Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) for his leadership in global energy and environmental sustainability.
