Insta
Watch: Suriname’s Indian-Origin President Chandrikapersad Santokhi Takes Oath In Sanskrit Holding Vedas In Hand
Swarajya Staff
Jul 26, 2020, 07:05 PM | Updated 07:05 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
The newly elected President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi is winning the hearts of Indians on social media for all the right reasons.
The newly elected supremo of the South American nation took the oath of office in Sanskrit while holding Vedas in his hand during the inauguration ceremony on 16 July. He also repeated the Sanskrit verses chanted by the priest during the ceremony.
On 16th July Shri. Chan Santokhi of Indian origin took oath as #PresidentRepublicOfSuriname, with Holy Vedas in his hands & chant of Sanskrit Mantras by the priests. Best wishes. Congratulations & best wishes! pic.twitter.com/uhTuuYgfMH
— Narendra Sawaikar नरà¥à¤à¤¦à¥à¤° सावà¤à¤à¤° (@NSawaikar) July 22, 2020
Indian origin Santokhi replaced the military strongman Desi Bouterse to win the election. A former Justice Minister, Santokhi of the Progressive Reform Party (PRP) was elected unopposed.
Notably, Suriname is a former Dutch colony where people of Indian descent make up the largest ethnic group comprising 27.4 per cent of the population of 587,000.
Addressing his monthly Mann Ki Baat programme earlier today, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi also congratulated the newly elected president.
"India has a very close relationship with 'Suriname'. More than a hundred years ago, people from India went there, and made it their home. Today, the fourth or fifth generation is there. Today in Suriname more than one-fourth of the people are of Indian origin. Do you know? 'Sarnami' one of the common languages there is a dialect of Bhojpuri. We Indians feel very proud of these cultural relations," he said.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.