Malaysian diaspora gears up for tryst with PM Modi

PM Modi KUALA LUMPUR: The stage is set for PM Narendra Modi to once again showcase India’s soft power on the global stage. This time round it’s Malaysia, on Feb 7, as thousands of Indian diaspora members will be waiting to see and hear Modi.Adding to the excitement is the murmur of Malaysia’s prime minister Anwar Ibrahim joining Modi at the event. For Anwar, the Thaipusam festival which is largely an occasion to assert Indians’ cultural and political identity, Modi’s visit, and address to the Indian diaspora, could all blend together to provide some sort of firm ground in changing electoral scenarios.Further, with Chinese New Year celebrations also round the corner, and the Dragon Dance as one of the elements of the cultural extravaganza, the opportunity for affirming India’s image as the unifier in the Global South is huge.Around 15,000 Indians, including ‘Malay Indians’ as PM Modi had referred to them in his last community address in 2015, and expatriates, will gather at MINES International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC) in Kuala Lumpur to listen to Modi. More than 60 Indian community organizations and NGOs in Malaysia have come together to form the `Selamatdatangmodiji’ event.Talking to TOI, Nabhesh Khanna, director of MI Cultural Events, which is supervising the event, said, “The event has been conceptualised in such a way that it will highlight the unity and diversity of Indians and Malaysians; reminding that our bonds transcend boundaries and are rooted in everyday culture, lives.”Malaysia Hindu Dharma Maamandram, a Hindu NGO with 40 branches across Malaysia, has reached out to various temples in the country for participating in the grand event. Rishi Kumar Vadivelu, head of the NGO said, “Modiji has brought our culture, tradition, our roots, in the international arena. He has been promoting Thiruvalluvar, the great philosopher.”Pradip Batra, head of OFBJP in Malaysia, said, “The excitement is huge. Senior BJP functionaries have already reached here for preparations and everyone is working to make this event a grand success.”