Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during the first day of his two-day visit to the country. The visit comes ahead of his participation in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Leadership Summit.
Prime Minister Modi visited the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Park in Bishkek and offered floral tributes at the statue of the Father of the Nation. The statue holds a special connection with India-Kyrgyzstan relations, as it was unveiled by Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2015.
Following the tribute, Prime Minister Modi interacted with people and organisations in Bishkek that share close ties with India. Representatives associated with yoga, academics, research, environmental activities and the Indian diaspora were among those who met the Prime Minister.
During the interaction, members of the community presented Prime Minister Modi with a copy of Manas: Kyrgyz Veergatha Kavya, a work associated with the rich cultural traditions of Kyrgyzstan. The interaction highlighted the growing people-to-people and cultural connections between India and Kyrgyzstan.
Prime Minister Modi also met members of the Indian community living in Bishkek and appreciated their continued engagement with India. The interaction included people involved in different fields, including business, yoga, education, research and cultural activities.
According to reports, the Prime Minister also met representatives of organisations working with India in various areas, including yoga and the Manas Academy. The discussions reflected the longstanding cultural links and growing cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan.
Yoga practitioners and cultural representatives from Kyrgyzstan also shared their experiences of their association with India. Their participation highlighted the role of cultural exchanges in strengthening relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bishkek is primarily focused on India’s participation in the 26th SCO Leadership Summit. The summit brings together leaders of SCO member states to discuss regional and global issues and explore ways to strengthen cooperation.
During his stay in Bishkek, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the SCO summit. These engagements include meetings with the leaders of Russia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, among others, according to the reported schedule.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address the 26th SCO Summit on Tuesday, which will be the second and final day of his visit to Kyrgyzstan. India’s participation in the summit is expected to focus on regional security, connectivity, economic cooperation and other issues of shared interest.
The floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi added an important cultural and symbolic element to Prime Minister Modi’s visit. Gandhi’s message of peace, non-violence and harmony continues to have global relevance and has been recognised in Kyrgyzstan through the memorial in Bishkek.
The visit also underlines India’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries through political dialogue, cultural exchanges, people-to-people contacts and cooperation in areas such as education, technology and traditional practices including yoga.
Prime Minister Modi’s Bishkek engagements are part of his broader Central Asia outreach and India’s active participation in the SCO framework. The meetings and interactions are expected to further strengthen India’s ties with partner countries while advancing cooperation on regional and international issues.
