It was nothing but sheer spectacle of Modi magic that was evident at the Qudos Bank Arena at Sydney Olympic Stadium in Sydney where a sea of Modi Modi chanting diaspora crowd created euphoria that happens very seldom in a lifetime. It may not even happen in someone’s wild imagination 8,000 miles away from home land in distant land of Australia.

Everyone present at the arena was mesmerised as PM Narendra Modi made his grand entry into arena and the chant of Modi-Modi just kept getting louder and faster. The Australian Prime Minister present at the event visibly looked amused that it’s all happening in his own country and that was not for him. An almost packed stadium of 25,000 capacity waited patiently with bated breath for 3 hours for their leader who has given them the opportunity to feel proud about their motherland. This was second time in Sydney after the maiden visit of Narendra Modi months after getting elected Prime Minister of India in 2014. On both the occasions Modi’s visit created the same frenzy, same spark and same euphoria within the diaspora community of Australia.

Why would the younger sibling New Zealand leg behind from its big brother Australia hence a bunch 40 odd people flew down across the ditch to Sydney to express their gratitude to the visionary leadership of great mother India.

The Hon Consul of India Bhav Dhillon led the team of a few community leaders, business leaders and ethnic media members. Prominent among the delegates were philanthropist Roshan Nauhria, Kuldeep Arora, Sandeep Agrawal and Praveen Kumar who found time from their busy schedules to be part of the event.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morison and many ministers and Member of Parliament were present at the event. Australian Prime Minister received his Indian counterpart at the entrance of the Olympic Stadium arena and escorted him to the podium holding his hand and waving to the crowd.

Anthony Albanese was all praise for India, the hard-working Indian community of Australia and Prime Minister Modi. He literally seemed to be in love with India and PM Modi told the cheering crowd that in last one year since he took over office, he has met Mr Modi six times so far.

He said there are a lot of common grounds between two countries and the trust, and the friendship is growing leaps and bounds. Albanese appreciated the contribution of Indian diaspora community is making to Australian economy, cultural values and harmony. Earlier NSW Premier Chris Minns welcomed PM Modi to Sydney and mentioned about naming a Sydney suburb Parratamatta as Little India, by him.

As Modi started his address the crowd went berserk and cheered their favourite leader with repeated thunderous applause. Narendra Modi was in his elements and sensing the mood of the crowd he started touching their raw nerves. Modi talked about everything that has been undertaken, happening, and achieved in India during his 9 years governance and the crowd cheered and applauded for all his claims.

Modi in his inimitable style made an instant connect with his audience and the crowd also liked and supported whatever he said. This is Modi’s unique USP which no other leader in the world has got and there is no surprise he is world’s most popular leader surveys after surveys with the current ratings of 78% now. It may be matter of jealousy, frustration and competition for most opposition leaders of India that despite of their all-out efforts of 24×7 hours to malign his reputation, Modi just keeps getting more and more popular with the masses. In his speech Modi outlined his vision to make India a world superpower in next 25 years when India completes 100 years of independence.

Modi said his government is working tirelessly to bring India at par with the world and all efforts are being made to create a world class infrastructure in the country. What was not done in 60-65 years since independence it’s all being done now.

He said even the World Bank and IMF now say that India is only bright spot in world in an otherwise gloomy economic scenario. When the whole world is plagued with pandemic, calamities and wars, India marches ahead with pride and head high.

It’s PM Modi’s this visionary thought and approach that today the whole world looks up to him for his direction on every issue. He is invited to those forums as of which India is not even a member and seek his views and directions on world matters. At the end of his speech Modi went around the arena for a short lap as he normally does and didn’t disappoint people who were waiting to touch him, see him or even take his autographs. Once again it was a night for everyone present there that they will remember all their life and for the contingent from New Zealand it was truly a memorable trip. We came across several hundreds of people at the venue who had flown down to Sydney from all parts of Australia just to have of glimpse of Narendra Modi and by looking at their vigour and devotion for their leader, it was very clear that Sydney was in the grip of Modi mania.

-Yugal Parashar from Sydney