President Ali to be chief guest at India diaspora day event
President Irfaan Ali is set to be the chief guest at the Indian Diaspora Day event from January 8-10, 2023 in Indore, Mahdya Pradesh during which he will be conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the Government of India.
A release from the Indian High Commission said that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas commemorates January 9th - the day when Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa to India in 1915. To mark this day, the celebrating of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Indian Diaspora Day) started in 2003. The first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventionwas organized on January 9th 2003 to mark the con tribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.
Since 2015 under a revised format, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized every two years. In 2023, the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held with the theme of “Diaspora : Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal (Golden Era).”
Former Presidents of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar were Chief Guests of previous Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions and were bestowed with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards in 2004 and 2015 respectively.
In a message during the website inauguration for the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S Jaishankar stated that “Even during testing times of the pandemic, our Diaspora displayed great devotion and commitment towards their motherland. During the forthcoming 17th PBD Convention, the Diaspora will have the opportunity and the platform to share its ideas and sentiments about India’s future development.”
The release said that the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention programme will involve a Youth Convention on 8 January 2023 for the Diaspora Youth. Zaneta Mascarenhas, Member of Parliament from Australia, will be the Guest of Honour for the Youth Convention.
The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be inaugurated on 9 January 2023 jointly by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President Ali.