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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention, a key initiative of the government to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora, in Bhubaneswar on January 9. President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Carla Kangaloo, the chief guest, will address the gathering virtually.
President Droupadi Murmu will deliver the valedictory address on January 10 and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, which recognises individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions in fields such as social work, humanitarian efforts, and enhancing India’s global standing. As many as 27 individuals and organisations will be honoured this year, from countries like the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9 to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa to India in 1915.
In a statement Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said ahead of the January 9-10 convention, the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be observed on January 8. Overall, the three-day event will see participation by a large number of overseas Indians, including top businessmen, entrepreneurs and economists from over 50 countries, the MEA said.
This year’s theme is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat”, aimed at celebrating the bond between India and its overseas Indian community, the MEA statement said.
The convention, the MEA said, will also offer an opportunity for dialogue between the Indian government and its overseas citizens, allowing for discussions on policies affecting the diaspora — visa regulations, investment opportunities, and community welfare. It will also showcase India’s potential as a hub for investment, innovation, and collaboration, encouraging overseas Indians to contribute to the nation’s development.
The Indian diaspora is now over 35.4-million strong, with 19.5 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 15.8 million NRIs. The US and the UAE are home to the largest groups of diaspora, with over 2 million PIOs in the US and more than 3.5 million NRIs in the UAE. These communities continue to play a crucial role in India's economy, besides solidifying ties with these nations.
Coming just days ahead of the first anniversary of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the PM will also inaugurate an exhibition at the venue, titled ‘Vishwaroop Ram — The Universal Legacy of Ramayana’.
There would be another exhibition on the diaspora’s contribution to technology and Viksit Bharat, and a third on the spread and evolution of the Indian diaspora, which will showcase rare documents of people who migrated from Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman.
The PBD convention will have five thematic plenary sessions including one on ‘Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills’.
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