Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Bhubaneswar. Addressing the NRIs who arrived from different parts of the world, Prime Minister Modi said, "India is not just the mother of democracy, but democracy is an integral part of Indian life and our way of living. Due to the country's heritage, it is able to tell the international community that the future does not lie in 'Yudh' (war) but in 'Budh' (Buddha), he added.
"We do not have to teach diversity, but our life goes along with diversity," PM Modi said adding that Indians naturally integrate seamlessly into the societies they join, respecting local rules and traditions.
The three-day 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention that started on January 8 with a grand celebration at Bhubaneswar’s Janta Maidan will conclude tomorrow with President Droupadi Murmu scheduled to attend the valedictory function and present Pravasi Bharat Sammans.
Prime Minister Modi has been frequenting Odisha well ahead of last year’s general election to Lok Sabha and the state assembly. His Bharatiya Janta Party brought Odisha to its kitty by ending Biju Janta Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik’s long tenure. The PM had attended several events held in the state recently including the all-India DG Police conference while President Droupadi Murmu had graced the Navy Day celebration at Puri.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) has a greater political intent as the MEA is organizing this programme with the assistance of state government. Odisha got the chance to host such a mega programme for the first time since its inception in 2003. It is usually held once in two years at different places in India to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa. This year's programme’s theme is 'Diaspora’s contributions to a Vikshit Bharat(Developed India).'
PM Modi said India has risen from the 10th to the 5th largest economy in the world and is on track to become the third largest soon. "Indians excel globally and I am proud of you. Over the last ten years, I have met many world leaders and they all appreciate the Indian diaspora in their respective countries. One major reason is the social values we carry," the PM said.
He highlighted the significant role of the Indian diaspora in global development and emphasized the importance of reconnecting with their roots. He praised the diaspora for their contributions to India’s growth and their efforts in enhancing India’s image worldwide. "Today’s India not only firmly asserts its own point but also strongly amplifies the voice of the Global South," the PM said while adding that it is India’s responsibility to assist the diaspora during crisis situations, reflecting a key principle of the country's foreign policy.
Recounting how people in the past had t travel long distances and wait for days to access consular facilities, Modi said these issues were now addressed by opening 14 new embassies and consulates in the last two years. He added that the scope of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards was being expanded to include persons of Indian origin (PIOs) of the 7th generation from Mauritius and the 6th generation from Suriname, Martinique and Guadeloupe. He urged the diaspora to spread India’s true history with the world.
"The great land of Odisha where we have gathered is a reflection of India’s rich heritage," PM said, before exclaiming that India is now recognized as a V'iswa Bandhu’. He urged diaspora to to strengthen this global connection by increasing their efforts.
MEA S Jaishankar gave the welcome address followed by the speech of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Later, Chief Guest Christine Carla Kangaloo, the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago addressed the gathering. The event saw the participation of 5000 NRIs from over 50 countries.
Jaishankar referred to the diaspora as the living bridge that connects India with the international stage. His address highlighted the significant achievements of young Indians in various domains including artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles, startups and even sports like cricket and chess. He urged the NRIs to continue promoting India as a tourist destination and to bring friends from abroad to explore India’s rich heritage and culture.
PBD convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. There are 35.4 million non-resident Indians in different countries of the world. Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Aswini Vaishaw, Jual Oram, Pralhad Joshi, Mansukh Mandaviya, Sushri Shova Karandlage, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Pabitra Margherita and the new Governor of Odisha Dr Hari Babu Kambhamati also attended the event.
