The Prime Minister’s Diwali speech on October 11 evening in Siparia was among the finest of her hundreds of speeches over the last 30 years she has served in parliament (from November 1995 ). No doubt, it was her best Diwali speech for the festival celebrated in the constituency and by anyone else of any Diwali celebrations nationally over the decades. Kamla has been known to mesmerize audiences with her speeches; she did it again. For me, last Saturday’s was second only to her speech at the Veladrum cycling center welcoming Prime Minister Modi last July and describing the nature of the relationship with India. The congregation last Saturday also extolled the speech as they did last July’s.
Kamla was bedecked in red sari, fittingly dressed for the auspicious festive occasion, first performing puja, then participating in the annual parade of lights and the play staged in the street, and finally the brilliant speech after an interlude of bhajans. Dozens lined up to perform aartee on Kamla, a tradition in Hindu worshiping. Her presence on stage had the aura of Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Light, dispeller of ignorance. Kamla, her supporters Lakshmi, lit up the place not only with her traditional attire but also with the substance of her speech and the many deyas lit around the stage and the compound and the hundreds held in the hands of attendees. And around the office compound as well as the stage were beautifully decorated with artificial flowers and plant arrangements. There was live entertainment of Diwali related songs and music that devotees soaked in. Siparia and South Trinidad, neglected for a decade, returned to ‘life’, feeling like it is part of T&T.
Although it was a speech uttered during her annual Diwali constituency celebration, it was national in scope, addressing the nation and carried live on TV, radio, and social media. It was eloquent, clear, articulate, informative, inspiring, uplifting, compelling, coherent, lucid, and remarkable, centering on the Diwali theme of light shining over darkness, of enlightenment (knowledge) prevailing over ignorance. And the large gathering lap it up. She adroitly said what her supporters wanted to hear, at times assailing the predecessor regime. The speech, having a Hindu PM after 11 years and the festival itself, have fueled pride among Hindus of their identity during this sacred period of Diwali. Her speech was cheered by the large gathering of several hundreds of people of all backgrounds—Muslims, Christians, Baptists, Africans, Mixed, and others, young and old, diplomats who came all the way from Port of Spain, Ministers and MPs. Celebrants dressed in all colors and all fashions, a few in their own ethnic wear. Almost every non-Indian, non-Hindu was also dressed in Indian garb. The crowd was huge. The PM, the UNC leader is very charismatic; she draws people. That is the primary reason she managed to win last April elections.
Her remarks were empowering, encouraging the public to have faith in themselves to overcome obstacles and also to have faith in the government to do what is best for them. She recognized the hard work of Trinigabonians to uplift themselves during what she described as difficult years under the previous PNM administration. She also used the occasion to praise the Siparia Women’s Association for their hard work since the NGO was founded some twenty five years ago.
It was a very captivating speech holding the audience’s attention using appropriate, relatable language to connect with the crowd. She connected directly with the audience, telling personal anecdotes about growing up in Siparia and about Diwali celebrations to make her points more impactful and creating a strong rapport with listeners. She also praised India for the aid provided to T&T and the most recent generosity in funding prosthetics and several other projects — commitment made by PM Modi when he visited last July. Modi is honoring his commitments as is Kamla.
She also took some pot shots of the opposition, describing its ten year governance as a period of darkness, of what life was like when Lord Rama was exiled. She talked about being banished for ten years, describing a difficult period of life in T&T and relating it to the banishment of Lord Rama who was exiled for 14 years. Light has returned to T&T with UNC in government she said. Everyone wins!
Regardless of how one feels about Kamla, one has to commend her speech. Her strong voice and metaphors relating Diwali to aspects of her political life over the last ten years make you want to listen regardless of your opinion about her or the UNC — content was brilliant; demeanor was great, voice strong and dynamic, delivery and intonation fantastic. She spoke with confidence. The delivery of the speech, its flow, and authoritativeness of the message went down well with the audience. Those who watched on TV and social media are in agreement. Her ratings are boosted!
Whoever wrote that speech did a commendable job. It was superb. The High Commissioner of India Dr Pradeep Rajpurohit also uttered beaming remarks laced with Diwali metaphors, tying Diwali with local events in T&T and links with India, discussing the warm, friendly relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr Bisram, politics scientist and pollster, also studied art of speech making in USA.
