President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with the Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, the highest civilian distinction bestowed by Suriname, making him the first Indian to do so.
Murmu received the award from the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Murmu after receiving the award said that the honour holds tremendous significance not only for her but the people of India. "I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction, "Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star." This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent," the President of India said in a tweet.
She dedicated the award to the "successive generations" of the Indian-Surinamese community.
"I also dedicate this honor to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries," she further said.
President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname on June 4 as part of her state visit to Serbia and Suriname. She was welcomed at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full state honours by Suriname's President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the official release of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Murmu began her engagements by travelling to Paramaribo's Presidential Palace to meet with counterpart, President Santokhi. She received a warm welcome from her counterpart Santokhi at the Presidential palace in Paramaribo.
The President appreciated President Santokhi's warmth and hospitality throughout the meetings. She was delighted to discover that Suriname has a large Hindi-speaking population, which makes her think of India. Four significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between India and Suriname in the areas of capacity building, agriculture, and health.
