Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Indian roots Trinidad and Tobago counterpart Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday (Thursday in T&T) and called her “Bihar ki Beti” (daughter of Bihar), spotlighting her ancestral roots in Bihar’s Buxar district.While addressing a community event during PM Modi’s visit, Bissessar praised PM Modi and recited his poem from his book ‘Aankh Aa Dhanya Chhe’.
Who is Kamla Persad-Bissessar?
Born on April 4, 1952, in Siparia, according to her official profile shared by the World Economic Forum, Kamla Persad-Bissessar rose from humble beginnings to become the first woman to serve as Attorney General, Leader of the Opposition, and eventually the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Since January 2010, she has also served as the political leader of the United National Congress (UNC).Before entering national politics, Persad-Bissessar served as an alderman and later made her way to Parliament as the representative from Siparia in 1995. Over the years, she held several cabinet positions, including Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs, and Minister of Education.
Ancestral bonds, global bridges
Kamla Persad-Bissessar has deep ancestral ties to India — more specifically, to Bhelupur village in Bihar’s Buxar district. In 2012, she visited her village during a private trip and called it one of the most emotional moments of her life. Welcomed with traditional Bihari folk songs, flower garlands, and heartfelt celebrations, she had told the villagers: “I feel I’ve come home.”Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s contributions have not only earned her acclaim in Trinidad and Tobago but also recognition in India. In 2012, she was conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman — the highest honour for overseas Indians — by then President Pratibha Patil, acknowledging her outstanding leadership and her efforts in strengthening India-Trinidad ties.
Scholar Before Stateswoman
Kamla Persad-Bissessar earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma in Education from the University of the West Indies, followed by a law degree from Hugh Wooding Law School, where she was ranked top of her class.Never one to stop learning, she later completed an Executive MBA from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business in Trinidad in 2006.Before stepping into politics, Persad-Bissessar spent over six years in academics — teaching at the University of the West Indies, St Andrew High School in Jamaica, and serving as a Consultant Lecturer at the Jamaica College of Insurance. She also worked as a social worker with the Church of England Children’s Society in London, combining compassion with intellect long before entering Parliament.