Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Auckland for a significant visit to New Zealand, marking the first visit by an Indian PM in four decades. The Indian diaspora warmly greeted him, reminiscing about his 2001 visit when he emphasized the preservation of Indian culture and traditions. Dinesh Pahuja, a member of the Indian community in New Zealand, fondly recalled Modi’s previous visit and shared his memories with ‘Modi Story,’ a popular social media platform dedicated to showcasing the Prime Minister’s inspiring life journey.
During his earlier visit to New Zealand, just before becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi visited a Gujarati school where he inquired about the imparting of Indian values and culture to the children. Pahuja highlighted that the school primarily focused on teaching the language to young children. Modi, observing this, stressed the significance of incorporating Indian culture into the curriculum to ensure the children remained connected to their heritage and understood India’s progress.
Modi’s emphasis on cultural learning was evident during his visit to a ‘Gujarati School’ managed by the Manukau Indian Association. He recommended integrating cultural values and heritage into the school’s curriculum to foster a strong connection to Indian roots and values among young learners. The goal was not only language proficiency but also a deep sense of pride and understanding of their cultural heritage.
