About 15,000 people from 40 states across the US gathered at the Nassau Coliseum in this New York suburb to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while reflecting on the diversity of India in their kaleidoscope of clothes, punctuating his speech with slogans of “Modi, Modi”, and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.

Before he was to speak, PM Modi responded to the resounding welcome he received as he strode into the arena, posting on X, “The warmth and energy of the Indian diaspora in New York is unparalleled”.

During his hour-long speech, he covered an entire range of subjects, from his meeting with President Joe Biden on September 21, US-India relations, and India’s role in the world to Indian elections and the “extraordinary” third term he won and its mandate for his development goals.

The Prime Minister praised the work of the Indian diaspora in the US and across India, saying “I salute you”.

“You have flown the flag high,” he said.

He said he has “only praise from every leader about the Indian diaspora”. “Whichever society we live in, we make great contributions, here in America, as doctors, researchers, as tech professionals, scientists, and other professionals,” he said. But it extends to sports, he said referring to the World Cup Cricket championship that was played not far from the venue he was speaking where the US team comprised many Indian-Americans.

He recalled the affectionate welcome he had received the previous day from President Joe Biden and said, “This respect is for you, for your achievements, for the hundreds and thousands of Indians living here.”

On the enduring links of the diaspora, he said, “There is no ocean so deep that would create distance between you and the India you have given a place to in the depths of your heart.”

Indian-Americans are the brand ambassadors of India and have linked both countries.

Diaspora across 40 states assemble

Hours before Prime Minister Modi’s speech, the area in front of the Coliseum began filling up with people carrying large and small Indian and US flags, many wearing “Modi & US” T-shirts.

They came from 40 states, some on the 60 charted buses from New York, New Jersey, Washington and Boston, and others in their vehicles or public transportation

Before Prime Minister Modi took the stage, there was a rich cultural programme with dances and music from across India, classical and popular, some a fusion of the two.

Chandrika Tandon, the entrepreneur and Grammy nominee, led a choir melding ‘America, the Beautiful’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ -- a tribute to the two nations.

The diaspora event came in the middle of a three-day whirlwind visit to the US, sandwiched between the Quad Summit convened by US President Joe Biden in Delaware with Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Fumio Kishida of Japan on Saturday, and Prime Minister Modi’s address to the United Nations Summit of the Future on Monday.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)

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