PM Modi Visits Seychelles: The Little-Known Bihar Link In The Archipelago's Political Landscape

Last Updated:June 27, 2026, 17:12 IST

Relations between India and Seychelles go back centuries, when a small group of five Indians arrived in the country to work as indentured labourers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome in Seychelles as he embarked on a three-day official visit to the island nation. The visit highlights New Delhi’s growing strategic focus on the Indian Ocean Region and deepening engagement with island nations.

Relations between India and Seychelles go back centuries, when a small group of five Indians arrived in the country to work as indentured labourers, along with seven African slaves and 15 French colonists. Today, people of Indian origin comprise at least 5% of Seychelles’ 120,000-strong population.

India-Seychelles Diplomatic Relations

India and Seychelles established diplomatic relations after the latter’s independence on June 29, 1976. A contingent from the Indian Naval Ship, INS Nilgiri, took part in the Independence Day celebrations in 1976, and the Indian Mission was established in 1979.

The relationship evolved to Seychelles becoming one of India’s closest maritime security partners in the Western Indian Ocean. The two countries have cooperated extensively on defence, security, healthcare, development and capacity building.

The Bihar Connection In Seychelles

In 1770, a small group of Indians arrived in the Seychelles to work on plantations. Migration from Bihar, particularly the Bhojpuri-speaking regions, to Seychelles also began during the colonial rule in the 19th century.

From the 20th century onwards, there was a constant flow of Indians, predominantly from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, who came as traders, labourers, and construction workers. Today, the Bihari population is the third largest group among the Indian-origin community in Seychelles.

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The Bihar connection also extended to the politics in the archipelago nation. Wavel Ramkalawan, who was elected President of Seychelles in 2020, traces his roots back to Bihar. Ramkalawan, born in 1961, had a great-grandfather who left the shores of India over 138 years ago.

While serving as an Opposition MP, Ramkalawan undertook an “emotional" journey by visiting his ancestral village in Bihar in 2018. He told The Indian Express how his great-grandfather left the Parsauni village to travel to Calcutta, from where he was sent to Mauritius to work on a sugarcane plantation.

About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int...Read More

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