External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged with members of the Indian diaspora from countries such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Kuwait during the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention held in Bhubaneswar.
Following his interactions, Jaishankar shared updates on the social media platform X, welcoming delegates from different nations and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to participate.
In one of his posts, he thanked Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stating, “Thank you @dpradhanbjp. Privileged to spend this day in Odisha, surrounded by friends. Will be a cherished memory.” He also shared a picture of his interaction with delegates from Saudi Arabia and remarked, “A quick chat with our #PBD delegates from Kuwait.”
During the event, Jaishankar delivered opening remarks emphasizing the role of the diaspora in nation-building. He discussed the government’s efforts to provide a safety net for the diaspora and explained how they could act as anchors for bringing developmental opportunities to India.
“This function is like a family reunion; Indians living abroad are able to see and experience for themselves the progress and development taking place in their country,” he stated, adding that Indians take pride in the diaspora’s achievements.
Jaishankar noted the increasing relevance of the diaspora in a globalized world, highlighting their contributions in areas such as technology, best practices, resources, tourism, trade, and investment. He remarked, “The two-way flows you enable are invaluable.”
He also outlined people-centric changes promoted in India that benefit the diaspora. These included efforts to enhance the ease of doing business, improve the ease of living, and facilitate connectivity and travel. He highlighted the application of digital technologies to ensure diaspora welfare, such as simplification in passport issuance and renewal, improved consular services, and effective grievance platforms.
The event also featured remarks from Pravasi Bharatiya Divas awardees. Ajay Rane, an awardee from Australia recognized for community service, highlighted the importance of female empowerment. He discussed efforts to raise awareness about female foeticide and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” initiative.
“We work for female empowerment. Female foeticide has deeply penetrated India and China, where, we believe, more than 100 crore foetuses have been murdered since 1984. This award is for those women whose daughters were murdered,” Rane said.
Sudha Rani Gupta, an education awardee from Russia, spoke about the significance of spiritual education in contemporary society. Gupta, who has established over 60 Brahma Kumaris centers in Russia and other former Soviet countries, emphasized the role of India’s ancient culture in addressing modern challenges.
“We have more than 60 centres of Brahma Kumaris in Russia and additional centres in other countries of the former Soviet Union. Spiritual education is a must in today’s world,” Gupta noted, adding that the event provides an opportunity to see India’s developments and culture.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention serves as a platform for connecting and engaging with the Indian diaspora, offering opportunities for interaction. This year’s convention, held in collaboration with the Odisha state government from January 8 to 10, featured the theme, “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.”
Over 50 countries were represented at the event, with many members of the Indian diaspora registering to participate.