PM Modi Honoured with Cyprus’ Grand Cross

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus’ highest civilian award, drawing renewed attention to Archbishop Makarios Marg in Delhi. This central Delhi road, near Lodhi Road, is named in honour of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus and a key figure in the country’s independence movement.

A Street Named After a Freedom Fighter and Diplomatic Ally

Archbishop Makarios III served as both the Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus (1950–1977) and President of Cyprus (1960–1977). The road in Delhi was renamed in his honour during the early 1980s, following the 1983 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in New Delhi. As India hosted world leaders like Fidel Castro and Yasser Arafat, the government commemorated NAM icons by naming roads after them — including Makarios, Josip Broz Tito, and Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Makarios’ Ties With India and the NAM Vision

Makarios was a leading voice against colonialism and played a central role in securing Cyprus’ independence from British rule. His strong ties with India, especially with Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, made him a prominent figure in India’s diplomatic memory. Historian Mani Shankar Aiyar remarked that Makarios’ diplomatic positioning, especially amid Greek and Turkish claims over Cyprus, aligned him with NAM’s ideals, making a road renaming an “adequate evolution.”

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recalled that Makarios visited India in 1962 and stayed as Nehru’s guest for two weeks. After Nehru’s death in 1964, Cyprus declared a national day of mourning — highlighting the depth of bilateral relations.

Diplomatic Symbolism: Delhi and Nicosia Exchange Tributes

The Indo-Cypriot bond is symbolically reflected in both capitals: while Delhi houses Archbishop Makarios Marg, Cyprus’ capital Nicosia features Indira Gandhi Avenue — representing mutual respect and recognition of shared values.

Modi Dedicates Honour to India-Cyprus Friendship

While accepting the award, PM Modi dedicated the honour to the enduring friendship between India and Cyprus, and the NAM legacy of sovereignty, non-alignment, and decolonisation. Archbishop Makarios Marg today stands not only as a road but as a testament to a long-standing diplomatic relationship rooted in shared struggles and common principles.

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