VISIT OF PRESIDENT MURMU TO SURINAME

Suriname is one of the smallest countries located in the South American Caribbean region and is culturally and ethnically diverse with influences from the Caribbean, India, Africa, South East Asia, the Netherlands and the United States. 

- Amb Manju Seth

India and Suriname share warm and close bilateral relations underpinned by close cultural and historical linkages going back to 150 years when the first Indians came to Suriname as indentured labour, to work on the sugarcane, coffee, cocoa and cotton plantations of the Dutch and British colonial powers. After Suriname became independent, from the Netherlands, on 25th November 1975, India and Suriname established diplomatic relations in 1976 and India opened an embassy in Paramaribo in 1977, while Suriname opened its embassy in New Delhi in 2000.

Even though Suriname and India are geographically far apart, located in different time zones, the Indian diaspora is a strong anchor for the partnership. It is the largest ethnic group at 27.4% of the total population and comprises descendants of Indian indentured labour, mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and some from southern India. It is a vibrant and dynamic community, hard-working and enterprising, and plays an important role in Suriname's economic development, politics, and governance and is actively involved in all sectors including agriculture and business. Having retained the traditions and elements of their Indian culture, cuisine and language, the diaspora contributed to a multi-cultural and diverse Suriname serving as a bridge between Suriname and India. A little-known fact is that Suriname has the distinction of being the most prominent country in the world promoting the Hindi language with almost all of the diaspora speaking Hindi quite fluently; it is also one of the officially recognised languages in Suriname. The World Hindi Conference 2003 was held in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. Interestingly, the current President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who is of Indian origin, took the oath of office in Sanskrit, in July 2020.