Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended greetings to the global Indian community on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, underlining that the Indian diaspora continues to serve as a powerful bridge between India and the rest of the world.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Warm greetings on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. The Indian diaspora remains a powerful bridge between India and the world. They have enriched societies wherever they went and, at the same time, stayed connected to their roots. I often say that our diaspora is our Rashtradoots, who have popularised the culture of India globally. Our Government has taken numerous steps to bring our diaspora even closer to India.”
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is observed every year on January 9 to recognise and honour the contributions of overseas Indians to India’s development and its global standing. The day serves as a key platform for engagement with the Indian diaspora and acknowledges their role in promoting India’s progress across sectors such as business, science, culture and public service.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention was first instituted in 2003 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Conceived as a formal mechanism to connect with overseas Indians, the convention has since become the flagship diaspora engagement event of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Hosted in different cities across the country, the rotating format of the convention showcases India’s regional diversity, development and cultural heritage, while enabling overseas Indians to engage directly with the country. Since 2015, the event has been organised as a biennial convention, with theme-based conferences held in the intervening years to encourage focused discussions and meaningful interaction.
A key highlight of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest honour conferred on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or organisations led by them. Presented by the President of India, the award recognises exceptional contributions towards enhancing India’s image abroad, supporting national causes and working for the welfare of Indian communities worldwide.
(With IANS inputs)
