PBD delegation from Qatar holds meeting at ICC
Delegates from the Indian community in Qatar for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023 (PBD 2023), to be hosted by the government of India at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, from January 8 to January 10, recently came together at a meeting at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in Doha.
Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal, who presided over the meeting, said the PBD is a unique opportunity for Pravasis (members of the Indian diaspora) from Qatar and all over the world to reconnect with their roots. Indian embassy first secretary (consular & community affairs) Xavier Dhanraj, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman winners Hassan Chougule and Dr Mohan Thomas and Indian Community Benevolent Forum president Vinod Nair were present.
ICC president P N Baburajan said over 250 delegates from Qatar are expected to attend PBD 2023. The meeting was coordinated and conducted by ICC general secretary Krishna Kumar Bandhakavi, vice president Subramanya Hebbagelu, past general secretary Seenu Pillai and North Indians’ Association president Rajneesh Shastri.
January 9 commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915. To mark this day, the tradition of celebrating PBD started in 2003. The theme of the 17th PBD convention 2023 is: ‘Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to inaugurate the event.