Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Event: President of Trinidad and Tobago Emphasizes India's Global Contributions

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 (NationPress) The President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Carla Kangaloo, remarked on Thursday that India has made extraordinary contributions to global development, underlining several of the country's key accomplishments in fields such as education, medicine, and mathematics.

"The contributions of India to global development are truly impressive. The world’s first university was founded in Takshashila around 700 BC. Ayurveda is recognized as the earliest system of medicine known to humanity," Kangaloo stated while addressing the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention virtually as the chief guest.

She also mentioned that the art of navigation is believed to have originated near the Sindhu River approximately 6,000 years ago.

Algebra, trigonometry, and calculus were initially formulated in India.

Furthermore, she pointed out that India was the pioneer in utilizing Zero as a symbol in arithmetic calculations.

The game of chess is also thought to have been created in eastern India. She highlighted other Indian accomplishments such as the inception of the decimal system and Shusruta being recognized as the father of surgery.

Kangaloo also acknowledged that the Indian diaspora has significantly contributed to cultural, social, and economic advancements globally.

She noted that over the past two decades, the Pravasi Bharatiya conventions have functioned not just as a platform for collaboration between India and its diaspora, but also as a means of celebrating the resilience and determination of those of Indian descent worldwide.

"India was among the first nations to establish diplomatic relations with Trinidad and Tobago after our independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. However, our relationship extends back to 1845 when the first ship carrying 225 Indian indentured laborers arrived in Trinidad, which was then a British colony. For 72 consecutive years, more than 143,000 Indians from regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengal came to Trinidad, transforming the social, demographic, economic, and cultural fabric of the nation," Kangaloo elaborated.

She also mentioned that the descendants of those indentured workers now make up about 42% of Trinidad and Tobago's total population. Kangaloo expressed that her country has greatly benefitted from the traditions and values of Indian heritage.

Additionally, the President of Trinidad and Tobago expressed her deep humility and honor in being chosen as the Chief Guest for the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Convention and receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award this year.