Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.
PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.
What is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas?
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a Convention organized to connect the Government of India and State Governments of India to its Overseas Indian Diaspora. The PBD Convention provides a platform for the Indian Diaspora to engage with the Government of India and acquaint themselves about policies, developments and opportunities of contemporary India.
Why we celebrate?
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a Convention of the Indian Diaspora organized in India by the Government of India and is celebrated on 9 January since 2003, to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa on 9 January 1915.
What happens in a PBD?
The PBD convention attracts overseas Indians from all over the world. Nearly 3000 delegates participated in the PBD in January 2015 in Gujarat. The PBD Convention features Plenary Sessions; an Exhibition; Cultural programmes and provides an opportunity to interact with other Overseas Indians, Policy makers, Political leadership and others. The highlight of the PBD convention is the inaugural address by the Prime Minister. Chief Ministers of several states also participate and address the delegates on opportunities available in their respective states. The last day of PBD features the valedictory address by the Hon’ble President of India, who will also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on Overseas Indian for their achievements and contribution both in India and abroad.
The Youth PBD is a new feature which has been introduced recently. It is a special day long programme which provides a platform to connect with Young Overseas Indians and discuss subjects of relevance to them. The Young PBD delegates will also have the opportunity to interact with other Young PIOs and Young Indians of their own age group. The highlight of the Youth PBD is the inaugural address by the Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, followed by a plenary session, and a cultural programme and dinner.
PBD gives a platform to the Indian Diaspora to know about the Government’s achievements in various sectors and policies and initiatives undertaken by Government. The delegates of the PBD will also have the opportunity to interact with the Indian Diaspora belonging to different countries and network with them and explore how they leverage their resources in a nation building activities in India.
In 2015, the Government decided to revise the PDB Convention and reenergize its engagement with Indian Diaspora. As a result, the PBD Convention will be held once in two years in India. In the intervening year, smaller, outcome based PBD Conferences will be organized in New Delhi on issues of concern to the Indian Diaspora.
Through PBD Conferences the Government is proactively engaging with Overseas Indians, which is a significant constituency across globe. The PBD conferences enable an issue-based dialogue with the Indian Diaspora as opposed to sporadic event based connect.
Objectives of PBD 2017:
- PBD 2017 will focus on the theme Redefining the engagement with the Indian Diaspora.
- To strengthen Diaspora engagement and provide a platform for networking with the Diaspora.
- To recognize the Diaspora3contribution to India and know their expectations and concerns.
- To deepen engagement with young Diasporas, to help them know more about their roots.
In 2015 the Government of India revised the format of PBD and re-energized its engagement with the Indian Diaspora to enable sustained and more substantive engagement. Following the review, the PBD Convention will be held once in two years in a city outside Delhi. In the intervening year, smaller, outcome-based PBD Conferences will be organized in New Delhi on issues of concern to the Indian Diaspora. It was decided that Indian Missions and Consulates will also celebrate PBD every year.
Through the first series of PBD Conferences which commenced in February 2016 the Government is proactively engaging with the Overseas Indians in an issue-based dialogue.
As a run up to PBD 2017, 10 PBD Conferences (Panel Discussions) were held in New Delhi in 2016 on issues of importance to the Indian Diaspora. These Conferences were chaired by the Minister of External Affairs. Domain experts from the Diaspora, and stakeholders and policy makers based in India were invited for day-long deliberations on various topics. Their recommendations have been submitted to the concerned Ministries & Departments in the Government of India for consideration. At the 14th PBD Convention in January 2017, each PBD Conference will present their recommendations and the Action Taken Report to PBD delegates for their suggestions and comments.
Previous Event: (पूिव समारोह)
• Event: The 15th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas(PBD)
(समारोह: प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस (PBD) का 15वाां सांस्करण )
• Duration: 7th to 9th January 2017
(अवचध: 7 से 9 जनवरी 2017)
• Venue: The country’s IT hub Bengaluru, Karnataka
(स्थि: कां ट्रीज आईटी हब बेंगिुरु, कनाषटक)
• Chief Guest : Portugal Prime Minister Dr. Antonio Costa was the Chief guest.
(मुख्य अततचथ: पुतगष ाि प्रधान मांत्री डॉ. अांटोतनयो कोस्टा)
• Theme: “Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora”.
(ववर्य: “Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora”.)
16th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (16वाां प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस)
(Regional ASEAN India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas ) (िेत्रीय आलसयान भारत प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस):
• Duration: on 6th & 7th January 2018
(अवचध:6 से 7 जनवरी 2018)
• Venue: in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands
(स्थान:मरीना बे सडैं, लसगां ापरु)
• Chief Guest: Sushma Swaraj (Indian External Affairs Minister)
(मख्ु य अतिथथ): सर्ुमा स्वराज (भारतीय वविेश मांत्री)
• Theme: ‘Ancient Route, New Journey: Diaspora in the Dynamic ASEAN INDIA Partnership’.
(विषय: ‘Ancient Route, New Journey: Diaspora in the Dynamic ASEAN INDIA Partnership’)
Fourteen PBDs
To connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring their knowledge, expertise and skills on a common platform, the PBD Convention – the flagship event of MOIA is organized from 7th-9th January every year since 2003.
Fourteen PBDs have been held earlier in various places of India so far as follows:
| Year | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9-11 January, 2003 | New Delhi |
| 2004 | 9-11 January, 2004 | New Delhi |
| 2005 | 7-9 January, 2005 | Mumbai |
| 2006 | 7-9 January, 2006 | Hyderabad |
| 2007 | 7-9 January, 2007 | New Delhi |
| 2008 | 7-9 January, 2008 | New Delhi |
| 2009 | 7-9 January, 2009 | Chennai |
| 2010 | 7-9 January, 2010 | New Delhi |
| 2011 | 7-9 January, 2011 | New Delhi |
| 2012 | 7-9 January, 2012 | Jaipur |
| 2013 | 7-9 January, 2013 | Kochi |
| 2014 | 7-9 January, 2014 | New Delhi |
| 2015 | 7-9 January, 2015 | Gandhinagar |
| 2016 | 7-9 January, 2016 | New Delhi |
Chief Guests at PBD Conventions
| Sr. No. | PBD Year | Name & Position | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003 | Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister | Mauritius |
| 2 | 2004 | Shri Bharrat Jagdeo, President | Guyana |
| 3 | 2005 | Shri J.R. Ajodhia, Vice President | Suriname |
| 4 | 2006 | Shri Ahmed Kathrada, Political Activist and a Contemporay of Nelson Mandela |
South Africa |
| 5 | 2007 | Prof. S. Jayakumar, Dy. Prime Minister | Singapore |
| 6 | 2008 | Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister | Mauritius |
| 7 | 2009 | Dr. Ramdien Sardjoe, Vice President | Suriname |
| 8 | 2010 | Dr. Khalid Hameed, Chairman, Alpha Hospital Group | UK |
| 9 | 2011 | Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor General | New Zealand |
| 10 | 2012 | H.E. Ms. Kamla Persad Bissessar | Trinidad and Tobago |
| 11 | 2013 | Mr. Rajkeswur Purryag, President | Mauritius |
| 12 | 2014 | Dato Sri G. Palanivel, Federal Minister for Natural Resources and Environment | Malaysia |
| 13 | 2015 | H.E. Mr. Donald Rabinderanauth Ramotar, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana | Guyana |
| 14 | 2016 | Ms Priti Patel, Minister of State for Employment of UK | UK |
Dates and Venues
| Year | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7-9 January, 2016 | New Delhi |
| 2015 | 7-9 January, 2015 | Gandhinagar |
| 2014 | 7-9 January, 2014 | New Delhi |
| 2013 | 7-9 January, 2013 | Kochi |
| 2012 | 7-9 January, 2012 | Jaipur |
| 2011 | 7-9 January, 2011 | New Delhi |
| 2010 | 7-9 January, 2010 | New Delhi |
| 2009 | 7-9 January, 2009 | Chennai |
| 2008 | 7-9 January, 2008 | New Delhi |
| 2007 | 7-9 January, 2007 | New Delhi |
| 2006 | 7-9 January, 2006 | Hyderabad |
| 2005 | 7-9 January, 2005 | Mumbai |
| 2004 | 9-11 January, 2004 | New Delhi |
| 2003 | 9-11 January, 2003 | New Delhi |
Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (RPBD)
This Ministry organizes Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) to allow participation of the Indian diaspora who are unable to attend annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India. So far, eight Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas have been held at New York, Singapore, The Hague, Durban, Toronto, Mauritius and Sydney. These have elicited enthusiastic support from the Indian diaspora and the local Government and have been highly successful.
7th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) Convention was organized by MOIA in Sydney, from 10th – 12th November, 2013 to have interaction & discussion with Indian Diaspora to ensure their connectivity with their ancestral motherland as well to know their expectations & concerns. Secondly, the guiding spirit of the decision to hold the 7th RPBD in Australia was on account of the sentiments of the Indian diaspora in the region. Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea represent an important region for our diaspora, and the Indian community has been taken note of by the leadership of all political parties, there.
The theme of the PBD Convention in Sydney was “Connecting for a Shared Future: The Indian Diaspora, India and the Pacific”. This was appropriate, as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas seeks to reach out to both members of the Indian origin community as well as all those persons who are interested in plugging into India’s growing relationship with Australia and its neighbouring countries.
The programme for the event included an inaugural session on Sharing Experiences and breakout sessions on different topics including Bilateral Business Opportunities in Services, Resources, Primary Commodities, Engagement through Culture, Indian Languages, Skills, Infrastructure (Airports, Ports, Road and Construction), Manufacturing, Education, Culture and Youth Dialogue. There were breakout sessions also on Sharing Experiences, The Indian Diaspora in the Pacific, Honouring the Success Stories, Scientists and Academics, Women in Business and Community, Power of Media in the Asian Century and India Australia Strategic Partnership.
Eighth Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held in London, UK from 16th to 18th October, 2014.
The ninth RPRD will be held on 14 and 15 November 2015 in Los Angeles California, USA choiced by honorable Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.
