New Delhi . Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm wishes to Indians living abroad on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. PM Modi said that the Indian community is working like a strong bridge between India and the world. In a post on the social media platform, PM Modi wrote, Hearty greetings on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. The Indian community remains a strong bridge between India and the world. Wherever he went, he enriched the societies there and not only this, all Indians also remained connected to their roots. I always say that our Indian community is our national ambassador, who has popularized Indian culture across the world. Our government has taken several steps to bring our diaspora closer to India. Let us tell you that Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is celebrated every year on 9 January, which provides an opportunity to recognize and honor the contribution of the Indian community to the development of India and its position in the world. This opportunity provides an important platform to connect with Indians living abroad and acknowledge their role in promoting India’s progress in various fields.
In fact, the day of January 9 was chosen to commemorate the return of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa in 1915. Widely considered the greatest diaspora, Mahatma Gandhi led India’s freedom struggle and deeply influenced the country’s history. This day symbolizes the enduring bond between India and its people living abroad.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was first started in 2003 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The program was launched as a formal way to connect and recognize the Indian community living abroad and strengthen their connection with India.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the main event of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and is organized by the Ministry in different cities of the country. It shows the regional diversity, development and cultural heritage of India. Also, it gives Indians living abroad an opportunity to connect directly with the country.
Since 2015, the Ministry of External Affairs has changed the format of the event and organizes the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention as a biennial gathering, with theme-based conferences in the intervening years. This approach enables more focused discussions on areas of particular interest and promotes meaningful interaction and networking among members of the Indian community around the world. The main objective of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is to recognize the contribution of Indians living abroad in the development of India and to increase understanding of India abroad.