Highlighting the rapid progress of 21st-century India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, January 9, 2025, stated that the nation is well-positioned to meet the global demand for skilled talent. He made these remarks while inaugurating the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. | Photo Credit: PTI
Prime Minister Modi underscored the global acknowledgment of Indian expertise, emphasizing the significant role Indian professionals play in driving growth for leading global companies. He also pointed out that India is poised to maintain its status as the world's youngest and most skilled population for many years to come. “India has the potential to fulfill the world's demand for skilled talent” Prime Minister Modi asserted.
He highlighted that many countries now welcome skilled Indian youth and emphasized the Indian government's commitment to equipping Indians going abroad with high levels of expertise through ongoing skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling initiatives.
India's Progress Across All Sectors Reaches New Heights
Showcasing the remarkable pace and scale of development in 21st-century India, the Prime Minister highlighted that within just a decade, India had lifted 250 million people out of poverty and advanced from being the world’s 10th largest economy to the 5th largest. He confidently predicted that India is on track to soon become the 3rd largest global economy.
Prime Minister Modi also took the opportunity to celebrate India’s achievements, mentioning the Chandrayaan mission’s milestone at the Shiv-Shakti point and the global acclaim for the strength of Digital India. “India is advancing to new heights, breaking records in renewable energy, aviation, electric mobility, metro networks, and bullet train projects,” he pointed out.
“Modern India is progressing with the mantra of development and heritage”, said the Prime Minister.
Highlighting India's expanding global influence driven by its achievements and future potential, Prime Minister Modi said “Today's India not only firmly asserts its own point but also strongly amplifies the voice of the Global South”. He emphasized the unanimous backing for India's proposal to grant the African Union permanent membership in the G-20, underscoring India's dedication to the principle of "Humanity First."
‘The Future is Not in War, it is in Buddha’
Describing Odisha as a mirror of India's rich heritage, Prime Minister Modi highlighted Dhauli as a prominent historical site symbolizing peace. He remarked that it was here that Emperor Ashoka embraced the path of peace, at a time when the world was focused on expanding empires through warfare. This enduring legacy, he emphasized, inspires India to convey to the world that the future belongs to Buddha's teachings, not to war. “The future lies in Buddha, not Yuddha,” he remarked.
In his address, the Prime Minister underscored the rich history of the Indian diaspora across the globe, highlighting their accomplishments in various nations as a vital aspect of India's heritage. “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has become an institution to strengthen the bond between India and its diaspora,” Prime Minister Modi said.
The event, scheduled from January 8 to January 10, 2025, has been jointly organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Odisha government. This year’s PBD Convention centers around the theme, “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.”
Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, served as the Chief Guest, sharing her message with the gathering through a video address. The convention has drawn participation from a large number of Indian diaspora members representing over 50 countries.
PM Modi Launches Exhibitions and Flags Off Special Train
Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated four exhibitions at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. These exhibitions include:
(i) Vishwaroop Ram - The Universal Legacy of Ramayana: This exhibition highlights the timeless Ramayana epic, blending traditional and contemporary art forms to offer a unique perspective.
(ii) Diaspora’s Contribution to Technology and Viksit Bharat: This exhibition recognizes the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora to global technological advancements.
(iii) Spread and Evolution of the Indian Diaspora Worldwide, with a Focus on Mandvi to Muscat: It features rare documents about the migration of people from Mandvi, Gujarat to Muscat, Oman.
(iv) Heritage and Culture of Odisha: This exhibition showcases Odisha’s rich cultural traditions, highlighting its distinct art and craft forms and illustrious heritage.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi virtually flagged off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designed for the Indian diaspora. Departing from the Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi, the train will visit several key tourism and religious destinations across India for three weeks. The Pravasi Bharatiya Express is part of the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana.
The PBD Convention, a flagship initiative of the Government of India, provides a significant platform for connecting and engaging with the Indian diaspora, encouraging interaction and collaboration. This year’s 18th PBD Convention is particularly noteworthy as it is being held for the first time in Odisha, a state known for its rich historical, cultural, and spiritual legacy. The 17th PBD Convention took place in 2023 in Indore, in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh State Government.
How Does the Government Categorize Overseas Indians?
Overseas Indians are divided into three categories: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). NRIs are Indian citizens residing in foreign countries.
An individual of Indian origin who holds foreign nationality and is registered as an Overseas Citizen of India under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, is classified as an OCI. The individual must either have been eligible for Indian citizenship on January 26, 1950, or have been an Indian citizen at any time after that date, or belonged to a region that became part of India after August 15, 1947. Minor children of such individuals, excluding those who were citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh, are also eligible for OCI cards.
The PIO category was merged with the OCI category in 2015.
History and Origins of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
In January 2002, a High-Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora, chaired by jurist and Parliamentarian L.M. Singhvi recommended that the government strengthen and renew connections between overseas Indians, their homeland, and among themselves.
The committee proposed the creation of a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan as a central hub for fostering networking between India and its global Indian community, while also serving as a place to honor the stories of the Indian Diaspora. This initiative led to the establishment of the Bhavan in New Delhi.
The concept of a day dedicated to honoring overseas Indians was introduced and first celebrated in 2003. January 9 was chosen, marking the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa in 1915. Over time, Gandhi has been referred to as the first non-resident Indian, or the most famous NRI, by several political figures, including PM Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Since 2015, the centenary year of Gandhi’s return, the format has been adjusted to hold the event biennially.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is presented as part of the programme, as stated on the official website, “It is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin; or an organisation or institution established and run by them.”
The award is intended to recognize the efforts of the Indian diaspora in fostering a deeper understanding of India abroad, supporting India’s initiatives, and working towards the welfare of the local Indian community.
“A jury-cum-awards committee, with (the) Vice President as the chairman and External Affairs Minister as the vice-chair and other distinguished members from various walks of life considered the nominations… and unanimously selected the awardees,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a release.
On January 10 this year, President Droupadi Murmu will confer awards to 27 individuals.
Emphasizing the Indian Diaspora
As per data from the MEA in late 2024, the United States is home to 5.4 million Overseas Indians, the United Arab Emirates has 3.5 million, Canada is home to 2.8 million, and Saudi Arabia has 2.4 million. This significant diaspora contributes a substantial amount of money back to India, with remittances reaching approximately $125 billion in 2023.
Beyond these figures, the Indian diaspora plays a crucial role in strengthening international relations. In countries like the US and Canada, members of the Indian diaspora are becoming more prominent in politics. Political parties in India, from the Communist Party of India to the ruling BJP, have increasingly sought to engage with the diaspora.
For example, the "Howdy Modi" event, held in Texas in September 2019 during the lead-up to the 2020 US presidential election, was one of the largest gatherings of the Indian diaspora. Prime Minister Modi interacted with the audience alongside then US President Donald Trump.
(This Article was originally published by India News Network and Indian Express)
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