Paramaribo (Surinam): It was a day to remember their ''Mai Baap'', who landed here this day 130 years ago on board the ship ''Lalarookh'' as indentured labour and the government here declared it as a national day.

Surinamese President Runaldo, India's Minister of state for External Affairs, Digvijay Singh and participants in the World Hindi Conference, on June 5 garlanded a magnificent memorial built for ''Mai Baap'' in Paramaribo.

Speaking on the occasion, Ronaldo said the people of Indian origin had enriched the country with their hard work and commitment and added to its cultural heritage a chapter that would be forever shining.

On the occasion, a road here was a named as ''Hindi path'' and the building of Surinam Hindi Parishad built at the end of the road was inaugurated on June 5.

Speaking at the ''Mai Baap'' memorial, Singh said the day was historic for both Surinam and India and he was pleasantly surprised to see Indian culture and language thriving in this land.

India would make every effort to strengtnen this bond, he added.

The Chairman of Surinam Cultural Union, Lando Ramdin, its Secretary John W Prasadi and a large number of the people of Indian origin wee present on the occasion.

Those present on the occasion of the inauguration of the Hindi Bhavan included besides Singh, Hindi Parishad's Chairman S Janaki Prasad Singh and Surinam's Culture, Education and Community Development Minister, Walter Sandriman.

The guests planted trees on the occasion and garlanded statues of Goswami Tulsidas and Surinam's eminent social worker Lakshman Singh.

Meanwhile, arrangements are complete for the World Hindi Conference, which would be inaugurated by President Ronaldo on June 6 and a message of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would be televised on the occasion.

Surinam government would issue a postage stamp on the day and four exhibitions including one on Indian heritage, language and industrial development would be organised.

PTI