Ahmedabad: Celebrating the achievements and contributions of the 32-million-plus-strong Indian diaspora on this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded them for embodying the spirit of India across the globe, fostering a sense of unity and diversity.
He said in a post on X, “Greetings on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. This is a day to celebrate the contributions and achievements of the Indian diaspora worldwide.”
“Their dedication towards preserving our rich heritage and strengthening global ties is commendable,” he said.
Celebrated on January 9 every year, the day honours the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the nation, and also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.
“Greetings on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. This is a day to celebrate the contributions and achievements of the Indian diaspora worldwide. Their dedication towards preserving our rich heritage and strengthening global ties is commendable. They embody the spirit of India across the globe, fostering a sense of unity and diversity,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.
After greetings, PM Modi also held a productive meeting with President of Timor-Leste in Gandhinagar. Discussions between both premiers covered bilateral cooperation in various fields including development partnership in health, traditional medicine, energy, IT, fintech, capacity building among others.
He congratulated President Horta for ASEAN’s in-principle decision to admit Timor-Leste as its 11th member and expressed hope for its attainment of full membership soon.
President Horta also thanked the Prime Minister for the invitation to participate in the Summit. He sought support from India in meeting its development priorities, particularly in the areas of healthcare and capacity building in IT.
Prime Minister Modi and President Horta met in #Gandhinagar today. Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to President Horta and his delegation to the #VibrantGujarat Summit on what is the first ever Head of State or Government level visit between the two countries.
President of… pic.twitter.com/wpHEs6edNZ
— Dr. Shahid Siddiqui (@shahidsiddiqui) January 9, 2024
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the diaspora has played a crucial role in enhancing India’s global standing.
Extending his greetings on the occasion, Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar posted on his official social media account, “On Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, greetings to the Indian Diaspora across the world. We take immense pride in your achievements. Your outstanding contributions play a crucial role in enhancing India’s global standing.”
So far, the Ministry of External Affairs has held 17 PBD conventions, providing an important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Indians and to enable the diaspora to interact with each other.
However, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also greeted the diaspora on the occasion ” Greetings to the vibrant Indian diaspora across the globe on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. As ambassadors of our rich culture and values, they have made a lasting impact worldwide. Their talent and hard work have not only enriched the countries they reside in but have also been a driving force behind India’s global prominence.”
On this special occasion, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also gave his wishes “Happy Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas to the expatriate brothers and sisters who are strengthening the Indian culture of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” all over the world. Despite living away from the country, India resides in his heart. It is our wish that they continue to play an important role in the all-round development of India.”
The event, which is celebrated every two years since 2015, was first introduced in 2003 by the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
–Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via X (Twitter) @shahidsiddiqui
