'Felt as if we met god': Indian diaspora, artists who performed to welcome PM Modi in Italy
Rome, May 20
The members of the Indian diaspora and several artists who performed to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rome on Wednesday expressed joy and admiration and said they were proud to witness India's growing global stature.
Speaking to IANS, several members of the Indian community in Italy said they were proud to meet the Prime Minister and witness India's growing global stature.
One member of the Indian diaspora said, "Today, I felt as if I had met God. This is the second time I am meeting him, and I felt very happy after meeting him."
A member of the Italian Hindu Union also praised the Prime Minister's influence and presence, saying, "Whenever he comes here, his presence is very powerful. Seeing him, Indians feel happy that India is progressing a lot and continues to move forward in the same way."
Artists who performed during the welcome ceremony also shared their excitement and gratitude after interacting with the Prime Minister.
Kathak artist Rosella Fanelli said the opportunity to perform for PM Modi was a deeply emotional experience.
"It was very nice for me and for my friends. We were waiting for a long time, so the emotions were very high. I consider this opportunity a very nice experience, and I hope we can meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India," she said.
Artist Martina Argada said the Prime Minister appreciated their performance and encouraged the artists.
"He told us the performance was excellent. We are very thankful to the Indian Embassy in Rome for giving us the opportunity to perform in front of the Indian Prime Minister," she said.
Another artist, Francesco Gherardi, said PM Modi actively engaged with the performers during the event.
"His participation was there; we could feel it. He was clapping during the performance and gave us a lot of good vibes. We were able to shake hands with him and also had nice pictures together," he said.
Artist Simone Mattiello described the event as joyful and said the Prime Minister appeared to connect with the performers.
"Our performance was very joyful, and I think he connected with us. He clapped, so I think he enjoyed it," he said.
Musician Nicolo Melocchi called it a "great opportunity" to perform before the Prime Minister and interact with him briefly.
Artist Valerio Bruni added that PM Modi seemed genuinely enthusiastic during the cultural presentation and appreciated the team's efforts.
Meanwhile, Svamini Shuddhananda of the Italian Hindu Union highlighted the Prime Minister's continued support for the organisation and the Hindu community in Italy.
"We met him in 2021, and he has continued to support the Italian Hindu Union mission here. Recognition in the Italian Parliament is a very important achievement because Hindus are now officially recognised in Italy," she said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's heartwarming how the Italian artists were genuinely excited to perform for PM Modi. The Kathak artist Rosella Fanelli being emotional shows that Indian culture is truly global now. But I wonder, how much of this is orchestrated PR vs genuine admiration? Either way, it's nice to see India getting this kind of positive attention abroad.
I love how the Italian Hindu Union is getting recognition in Italian Parliament—this is a big deal for our community abroad! But let's not forget that while we celebrate these diplomatic wins, we also need to address issues like unemployment and inflation back home. Both can coexist. Proud moment nonetheless 🙌
As someone living abroad, I can attest that the Indian diaspora's love for Modi is real. It's not just about one person—it's about seeing a country that was once struggling now commanding respect globally. The artists saying he "connected" with them shows his charisma. But we should also focus on why many young Indians are still choosing to leave India.
"Felt as if we met god" — honestly, that kind of devotion makes me uncomfortable. Yes, respect your leaders, but let's not deify politicians. That said, the cultural exchange part is genuinely nice. Italian artists performing Kathak and being appreciated by PM Modi is a beautiful example of soft power. Let's keep the admiration respectful and grounded.
The Italian artists' excitement is contagious! Francesco saying "we could feel his participation" and Simone noting he "connected" shows that Modi ji doesn't just perform diplomacy—he genuinely engages. But I wish
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