President Droupadi Murmu Receives Suriname’s Highest Civilian Award

On June 5 2023, Indian President Droupadi Murmu was given the Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star. This is the highest civilian award of the Republic of Suriname, South America. Droupadi Murmu became the first Indian to receive this award. The award was presented to her by the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo.

Suriname completed 150 years of the arrival of Indians in the country on June 5. To commemorate this event, Droupadi Murmu addressed the crowd at the Independence Square in Paramaribo. She spoke about the history of the first Indians who arrived in Suriname in a ship called Lalla Rookh. She also talked about the unity of the people of Suriname and appreciated their cultural diversity.