The name Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been the topic of much conversation after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his official visit to Trinidad and Tobago, talked about her Indian origins, calling her “Bihar ki beti” (daughter of Bihar).
PM Modi was addressing the Indian community in the Caribbean nation on his recent five-nation tour when he made the comments.
Ms. Bissessar is an impressive figure, going from her native village in Bihar to becoming the first female prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
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PM Modi at an event in Trinidad and Tobago brought to attention the close bond Bihar has with the nation, where many Indian origin people migrated to over the years. He said, “Many people present here have ancestors who came from Bihar itself. Bihar’s heritage is a matter of pride not only for India but for the entire world.”
He further appreciated that the Indian community in the region had kept the Indian culture alive and present. PM Modi added, “The journey of the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is about courage. The circumstances your ancestors faced could have broken even the strongest of spirits. But they faced hardships with hope. They met problems with persistence.”
Referring to current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, he said, “Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s ancestors lived in Buxar, Bihar. Kamala ji herself has visited there. People consider her a daughter of Bihar.”
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, or Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar, was born in rural Siparia in 1952 to Lilraj and Rita Persad, descending from India. As per reports, her ancestors were moved to Trinidad somewhere in the 1880s as part of the Indian indenture system.
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This was a Colonial British system where Indians were taken to European colonies as slave labour after slavery was abolished across various British and European regions in the 1800s.
Around 1.6 million workers were taken from India to be used as indentured slaves in several British colonies, including the Caribbean, Natal (South Africa), Mauritius, Fiji, and more.
Persad’s paternal ancestors came from the Bhelupur village in Bihar, while her maternal great-grandparents were from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Persad-Bissessar visited her paternal great-grandfather’s village in 2012 while on a state visit to the country.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar was the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 2010 to 2015. She was once again elected for the post in May 2025.
Impressively, Persad-Bissessar does not hold the title only for the first female PM, but she was also the first attorney general, opposition leader, and chair of the Commonwealth of Nations to be a female in the island nation.
During her visit to her ancestral village, she said, “Whatever I am today, it is because of my forefathers. It is in my genetic make-up and DNA.” She added, “They left the country at a time when there were no cellphones or social networking sites. They, in fact, could not even read and write, but they carried with them their quintessential culture and values of their community and land.”
During this visit, former President Pratibha Patil also conferred her with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honour for overseas Indians. This acknowledged her efforts and leadership role in making the ties between India and Trinidad stronger.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Economic Times, TOI, Mint
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