Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023, The Amrit Kaal begins…

17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas organized on 8th - 10th January 2023 in Indore , Madhya Pradesh was a mixed bag of knowledge sharing, enhancing learning, and experiencing a city with its vast culture, heritage, art and business.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas now in its 17th year was first celebrated in 2002 when Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the celebration of the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on the recommendation of the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora under the leadership of L.M Singhvi. It marks the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.

Since 2003, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every two years. Non- resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin are recognised for their valuable contributions to India’s economy, arts, and culture. The convention provides all attendees of the convention the platform to meet and greet with other fellow diaspora from other countries fostering new connections, support and community building.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention also invites speakers for plenary sessions on various pressing topics regarding Diaspora issues and economic development of India through business and investments.

This year at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Australian Member of Parliament Ms Zaneta Mascarenhas was honored to address NRI’s as keynote speaker for the plenary on Youth Diaspora. Ms. Zaneta Mascarenhas said, “ She was honored for the opportunity to be in India and contribute in fostering the bilateral relation between India and Australia”

Ms. Sheba Nandkeolyar, Chair for Women in Business Chapter of Australia India Business Council was one of the speakers at the plenary Enabling Global Mobility of Indian Workforce- Role of Indian Diaspora.

The most interesting plenary session of all was where Hon. Minister of Finance, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the plenary on Harnessing the potential of women diaspora entrepreneurs towards an inclusive approach to nation building. At this session one of the speakers was our very own Australian Ms. Mitu Bhowmick Lange Director of Mind Blowing Films and Director of Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and all other speakers not only shared their stories of success but also inspired a lot of women present in the Grand Hall that they can be entrepreneurs despite all the domestic hurdles they face in their everyday lives.

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, in her speech, highlighted that Indians are spreading valuable know-how to the world, be it as teachers, manufacturers, or engineers. Along with getting nobel prizes for the achievements in mathematics, science and technology, and social work she said,'' India is becoming the knowledge hub for the world and that is how it will be for 25 years from now.” Talking about industrial development and components being manufactured in India she said that “14 of 15 diamonds cut and polished in the world are now cut and polished in India…any car that is bought abroad there is at least one component of the car that is made in India… Global capacity centers are all being established in India… air bus, aircrafts are being manufactured in Gujarat…2000 chips are designed in India. Semiconductor chips are being designed in India, and the Semiconductor design engineers are designing these chips in Karnataka’s ring road area which has become the highest employing sector in Karnataka. So not just low key products but high value specialized components are now being designed and produced in India.” Highlighting about health care she said, “ Medical tourism is increasing in India, there are people from 78 countries visiting India just for medical purposes.” Our Hospitals, Doctors, and Pharmacies are well equipped with highly sophisticated equipment, with skilled doctors and cheaper medicines. This has made people around the globe visit India for specialized surgeries and cosmetic care. At the end of her speech, She appealed to all the diaspora, especially the women entrepreneurs present that as a member of parliament, she would like to get help from the diaspora in making India the plus one country for all economic aspects. Currently the world is looking at China and the European Unions as leaders but that is not enough and there has to be the China plus one or European Union plus one. That plus one should and must be India and the diaspora can definitely help in making that possible.

Another inspiring and interesting plenary session was the one chaired by Minister of External Affairs, Ms Meenakshi Lekhi, on Leveraging the soft power of India-Goodwill through Craft, Cuisine, and Creativity. Arts, Craft, and Cuisine of India are the highest grossing soft power. Proper branding and promotion is necessary by all NRI’s to build this soft power. Meenakshi Lekhi highlighted the adage, the way to the heart is through the stomach, and said that “ India’s arts and crafts as well as Indian cuisine should and must be branded, marketed and spread in foreign countries to foreigners, giving it the best value for its aesthetic appeal. She also said that the Indian diaspora are the “Rashtra Dhoot” hence the responsibility to spread the arts, buy the crafts, and make the Indian cuisine the soft-power that will generate economic growth and leadership for India. 2023 being the year of the millets, with more than 2500 recipes of millets such as Bajra, Jowhar, we need to market this abroad as it is healthy and nutritious and must be eaten to be disease free. This no doubt will also help the farmers and their family in India to make a living that they rightly deserve.

Another highlight of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Samman Award. The Award is the highest honor given to Individuals, organizations, and businesses for their contributions to India and the adopted country, to create a better understanding of India abroad, support Indian causes, work for welfare of the local Indian Community or for achievements in their respective fields. Till date 269 diaspora individuals, organizations, and businesses combined have been conferred with this Award. Each time around 30 individuals, organizations, or businesses are recognised for their valuable contributions. This year 27 Individuals were recognised for their contributions and achievements. Honorable President of India Mrs. Draupadi Murmu conferred the awardees with the prestigious award. Our very own Australian Dr. Jagdish Chenupati was conferred with this Award for his esteem contributions in the NanoTechnology field. He said, “I am humbled by the honor given to me and inviting me to Indore for this Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Through my work and research in Nanotechnology, I have and will be continuing to develop technical knowhow and pathways for both the countries, thereby improving the much needed technical systems.”

Honorable Prime Minister of India, graced the occasion and addressed the diaspora present at the convention. Despite the mayhem that occurred because of the popularity of India’s Prime Minister, the convention was well received and enjoyed by all members of the diaspora attending the convention.

Hon. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan apologized to the NRI’s for the mishap that occurred because of lack of capacity of the hall to hold 4000 members of the Indian diaspora invited and registered for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023. With a heavy heart he said that the convention felt like a marriage procession where his government was giving away the bride and she was now leaving them to lead her life in her own lands. As the father, if there was anything that went wrong in the hospitality of the esteemed guests he apologized for it and begged for forgiveness, he also added that they will always be waiting for the daughter to come back to her homeland.

The convention was no doubt a political strategy to engage the Indian diaspora living abroad who are the significant catalysts in the equation of improving the economic growth of India making it the global leader. Right from the Chief Minister to the External Affairs Minister to the President and Prime Minister of India, the one thing that was constantly highlighted was the gratitude for the immense contributions the Indian diaspora contribute to both the adopted country as well as the country of origin. With the promise of improving the issues pertaining to the Indian Diaspora regarding visas, trade and commerce, Hon. Prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi thanked the Indian Diaspora for branding India Abroad. He also appeals to the Indian Diaspora to participate in the Amrit Kaal to make India the Global Leader not only in science and technology but also in Folk Arts, Crafts, and Cuisine of India.

The article is written by Mrs. Amrita Deshpande, Community New Editor for India News who represented India News as a Media Delegate at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023.