Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (English: Non-Resident Indian Day), is celebrated in India on 9 January each year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in Bombay on 9 January 1915.[1] Established in 2003, it is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of the government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region of India. A celebratory event is held on 7–9 January each year in an Indian city: a forum for issues concerning the Indian Diaspora is organised and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are given.[2][3]

In 2014, Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held in New Delhi and was attended by 1,500 delegates from 51 countries. President Pranab Mukherjee gave the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards. Media India Group (MIG) is one of the media partner of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014.[4]

In 2013, 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Kochi from 7–9 January, where the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) is organising partner of the summit. [5] The President of Mauritius, Rajkeswur Purryag, was the chief guest at the official inaugural session.[6] Canadian Minister Jason Kenney became the first individual of non-Indian heritage to address the gathering.

The 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7–9 January 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Theme for this year was Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations.[7]

The 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7–9 January 2015 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat . The Theme for this year was "Apna Bharat, Apna Gaurav".

History

The decision to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was taken in accordance with recommendations of the High Level Committee (HLC) on the Indian Diaspora set up by government of India under the chairmanship of L. M. Singhvi (L M Singhvi). The then Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee after receiving the report of the Committee at a public function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 8 January 2002, announced the "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas"(PBD) on 9 January that year. The day was chosen to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.[4][8]

The occasion is marked by special programs to recognise the contributions of NRI/PIO individuals of exceptional merit, felicitate NRI/PIO individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field/profession (Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Hindi: NRI/PIO Award)) and provide a forum to discuss issues and concerns of people of the diaspora. The event has been organised every year since 2003, and is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), initially sponsored by FICCI.

The 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas took place on 7–9 January 2010 and was webcast live at the official Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs website , also covered live on social media via live blogging and live tweeting at Pravasi Bharatiya, an online platform powered by Kotak Mahindra Bank. An investment facilitation platform for overseas Indians, the Overseas Indians Facilitation Centre, was launched by India's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, with a view of strengthening ties with the diaspora for partnering in India's growth story on the occasion.

The 2012 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held from 7–9 January 2012. The venue was Jaipur, Rajasthan. Chief Guest of this event was the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar.[9]

The 2013 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held from 8–9 January 2013 in Kochi, Kerala. Chief Guest of this event was the President of Mauritius, Rajkeshwar Purryag.[10] The 2015 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Ahmedabad celebrating 100 years of Mahatma's return to India. Chief guest was Mr Donald Ramtar, President of Republic of Guyana. The theme for this was "Apna Bharat Apna Gaurav" "Connecting Generations".

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the annual event for the Indian diaspora, was canceled for 2016. The format of the event, which is held between January 7 and 9, has been changed as announced by the minister of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs Sushma Swaraj, in October 2015. As per the announcement, the event was being moved to different states every two years; a smaller event would be held in Delhi every alternate year.

The 2017 (14th) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held from 7–9 January 2017, in Bengaluru || Karnataka. Theme: “Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora"

Venues

The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Program since 2003 has been organised in the following cities:

Day Year Venue State
1st 2003 New Delhi Delhi
2nd 2004 New Delhi Delhi
3rd 2005 Mumbai Maharashtra
4th 2006 Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh (Now in Telangana)
5th 2007 New Delhi Delhi
6th 2008 New Delhi Delhi
7th 2009 Chennai Tamil Nadu
8th 2010 New Delhi Delhi
9th 2011 New Delhi Delhi
10th 2012 Jaipur Rajasthan
11th 2013 Kochi Kerala
12th 2014 New Delhi Delhi
13th 2015 Gandhinagar Gujarat
14th 2017 Bengaluru Karnataka

Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra

A High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, headed by Shri L. M. Singhvi, had recommended in January 2002 that the Government must renew and strengthen linkages of overseas Indians to their place of origin and with each other. The committee recommended that a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan should be set up to emerge as the focal point for networking between India and its overseas Indian community; and as a suitable place which would commemorate the trials, tribulations, the evolution and achievements of the Indian Diaspora.Taking this recommendation forward in January 2004, at the second Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) organized in Delhi, then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced that the Government will set up the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra in New Delhi.The Foundation Stone of the Kendra was laid by the then P.M. Dr. Manmohan Singh at 9th PBD in January, 2011. Ground Breaking was done by then Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs on 28.04.2011 and construction started in April, 2013. Contract for construction of Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK) was awarded to National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) on turnkey basis.Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi on Sunday on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The centre was dedicated for the welfare of the Indian Diaspora. At the inauguration, the prime minister said "We are inaugurating this Kendra on a significant day of 2nd October. Gandhi ji had left India but the call of the nation brought him back."[11] Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra located at the heart of the Capital in Plots No.15A, 15B and 15D, Dr. Rizal Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi is a tribute to the overseas Indian community; and commemorates their migration to various parts of the world, the challenges they faced abroad, their achievements and contributions. Over time, the Kendra is expected to develop into a hub of activities for sustainable, symbiotic and mutually rewarding economic, social and cultural engagement between India and its Diaspora. Activities, seminars, events, workshops pertaining to the Indian Diaspora are expected to be organized here. The Museum in the Kendra will depict the history of migration of the overseas Indian community; their experiences and contributions. In the Kendra’s state-of-the art auditorium, multi-purpose halls, Conference and seminar halls – workshops and conferences with overseas Indians and on issues pertaining to them would be organized on a regular basis. The Kendra will also house the autonomous bodies India Centre for Migration, a think-tank working on issues pertaining to Indian migrant workers and the India Development Foundation for Overseas Indians, a not-for-profit Trust promoting contributions to flagship programmes in India. The Library in PBK is a valuable repository of material about the Indian Diaspora including books written by overseas Indians in different languages.With an emphasis on digital material, the library will provide access to online journals and prestigious library resources[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tharoor, Shashi (15 January 2013). "The Global Indian". Project Syndicate.
  2. ↑ "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas". Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs .
  3. ↑ "About us". PBD website.
  4. 1 2 "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas concludes; Overseas Indian doctors ready to help India". Economic Times. 9 Jan 2011.
  5. ↑ "Canadian team to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas". business line. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "Manmohan to open Pravasi Bharatiya Divas". the Hindu.
  7. ↑ "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014 to be held at New Delhi from January 7". Biharprabha News. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas". Ministry of External Affairs.
  9. ↑ http://pbdnetwork.com/pbd2012/2011/chief-guest-of-pbd-2012-in-jaipur-ms-kamla-parsad-bissessar/
  10. ↑ "Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag visits India to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013".
  11. ↑ http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-modi-inaugurates-pravasi-bharatiya-kendra-in-delhi-2260603
  12. ↑ http://www.mea.gov.in/images/attach/pravasi_bhartiya_kendra_new_new.pdf
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