The Secret message behind PM Modi mentioning Georgia in “Mann Ki Baat”

On Sunday, PM Modi through his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, thanked the people of Goa for cherishing the common history of India and Georgia which they share through the holy relics of St Ketevan, he further goes on to mention the fact that India handed over a relic of Georgia’s 17^th-century queen St Ketevan discovered in the ruins of St Augustine complex in Old Goa to Georgia which has strengthened the relationship between the two countries.

“At this event, India handed over the relic to the government of Georgia and its people, and India’s external affairs minister travelled there to participate in the event,” he said. “This ceremony not only strengthened Georgia’s relationship with India but also with Goa because the relic of St Queen Ketevan was found in 2005 at St Augustine’s church.”

Goa has been the land of great spiritual heritage. The St Augustine church also happens to be a part of the Unesco world heritage site at Old Goa, the PM said. “The words of appreciation used at this ceremony for India will be fondly remembered,” Georgia’s president, PM, along with religious heads and a large number of people participated in the event, he further said.

400 years ago, Georgia had refused to give up on their Christian faith and convert to Islam. The queen from Kakheti, a kingdom in eastern Georgia, was tortured and killed in 1624 in Shiraz during the rule of the Safavid dynasty. It was a moment of gratitude and emotional ceremony for the Georgians on Sunday, India’s Dr S Jaishankar handed over part of the relics to its government and the people.

Georgia is of strategic importance to India. It has the potential in helping India connect to Europe. Also, India is missing no opportunity to make countries realize the perils of associating with China. Georgia has deep economic ties with China. China has become one of Georgia’s top trading partners and also the main source for foreign direct investments into the former soviet state. However, despite their economic ties, Georgia and China relations are undergoing certain changes. A sense of growing disenchantment is starting to develop in China-Georgia relations and this is the best opportunity for India to take and bring the country on our side.

Indian Foreign minister Jaishankar during his recent visit to Georgia invited his Georgian counterpart to India with a business delegation. Jaishankar said, “We discussed economic cooperation, tourism, trade and connectivity. Our relationship is doing well. There are some big Indian projects in Georgia, power projects and steel projects.” He added, “I think our very excellent relationship will even go to a higher level,” his visit to Georgia marks a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries.

Read more: India has begun snatching Georgia from China’s grips and the plan looks solid

“A lot of Indian tourists come, about 50,000 of them. We have some 8,000 Indian students in Georgia. But in every sector, we felt we can do more. We agreed today that we will work together to find ways of raising it,” Jaishankar said.

“I invited the Vice Prime Minister to visit India with a business delegation. In India, people need to know about Georgia, especially about their high ranking in the ease of doing business,” he said.

There are many farmers from India who have invested in the agriculture sector in Georgia. During his visit, Jaishankar met the Indian community representatives in the country and appreciated their hard work in the agriculture sector. “As I begin the day, nice to meet Indian Community representatives from Tsnori, Khaketi. Their hard work in the agriculture sector has earned a good name. Enterprising Indians are our global bridge,” he further added.

Jaishankar, while handing out the relics of Queen said, “The presence of some of the relics in India and Georgia is a bridge of faith between our two countries. I hope that in the coming years, the people of both of our nations will traverse that bridge of spirituality as much as of friendship.”

Georgia is situated strategically at the crossroads where Europe meets Asia. PM Modi’s message on Georgia in the latest “Mann Ki Baat” episode is a presupposition of things to come in relation to the developing relationship between India and Georgia.