Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9 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.
During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India’s growth. The event also provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora.
The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held from 7 to 9 January, 2017 at Bengaluru in Karnataka. The theme of 2017 PBD is “Redefining Engagement with Indian Diaspora”. It will see close to 3000 Non-Residential Indians (NRI) and PIO delegates from across the world.
PBD was not the same in the initial years compared to what it is today. Over the years it has changed in better directions with new initiatives and ideas. It became more focused on achieving its goal to engage the diaspora in much productive ways. The first three PBDs had no tag line. The fourth edition in Hyderabad for the first time came with a tag line – : Coming Together, Working Together.
The interactions with the community also increased with more interactive plenary and working sessions. Specific sectors were targeted for investment opportunities. All these initiatives successfully created a true ‘Local platform for Global Indians.’
Here is a look at the previous Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations:
Year 2003: The first PBD was held in New Delhi.
The topics of the main plenary sessions were
‘India and the Diaspora – Forging a Constructive Relationship’
Science and Technology in India – Networking for Excellence’
The Global Business Matrix and the Indian Diaspora
Prominent Speakers included – Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, Dr. L. M. Singhvi, Rajya Sabha MP and Chairman, Organizing Committee of PBD, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, External Affairs Minister.
Year 2004: The second PBD was also held in New Delhi. The topics of the main plenary sessions were
India and the Pravasi Bharatiyas: Policies for Productive Engagement
Diaspora Youth and India: Blueprint for Engagement
Globalization, Indian Economy and the Diaspora
India and the Diaspora: Vision 2020
Education Synergies between India and the Diaspora
Prominent Speakers included – Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, Yashwant Sinha, External Affairs Minister, Arun Jaitley, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Industrialist Mukesh Ambani
Year 2005: The third PBD was held in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The topics of the main plenary sessions were
India: A hub for Globalization
New Initiatives for the Diaspora
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation
India and generation Next
Prominent Speakers included – P Chidambaram, Minister of Finance, Raghuram Rajan, Economic Counsellor and Director Research Dept, IMF, Industrialist Ratan Tata
Year 2006: The fourth PBD was held in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Theme: Coming Together, Working Together
The topics of the main plenary sessions were
Defining a Diaspora Agenda
India: The Knowledge Powerhouse
Diaspora collaboration in Healthcare
Remittance services
This was the first time that an Interactive Plenary session with all state was held.
Prominent Speakers included – P Chidambaram, Minister of Finance, Oscar Fernandes, MOS (IC), Dr. Mohanbir Sawhney Professor of Marketing, Kellogg School, USA
Year 2007: The fifth PBD was held in New Delhi.
Theme: Rooting for the Roots
The topics of the main plenary sessions were:
Challenges of development in the Global context
Developmental Challenges of the States: Partnership Opportunities
How to get US $1.5 trillion of capital investment: The resource hurdle for development
Leveraging Technology for Development
Planning for development – How to include the Indian Diaspora
There were many working sessions as well including one on ‘GOPIO: Engaging PIOs in India’s Development.’
Prominent Speakers included Kamal Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Sam Pitroda, Chairman of Knowledge Commission, Asook Ramsara, Secretary General, GOPIO
Year 2008: The sixth PBD was again held in New Delhi.
Theme: Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward
The topics of the main plenary sessions were:
Social Development Challenges in India – Health and Education
Investment and Infrastructure
Trade & Business Opportunities
Developmental Challenges of the States: Partnership Opportunities
Diaspora Philanthropy: Empowerment of Rural Women
Couple of Concurrent sessions was also held.
Prominent Speakers included Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of External Affairs, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Lord Karan Billimoria
Year 2009: The seventh PBD was held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Theme: Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward
The topics of the main plenary sessions were:
India as an Emerging Power: The Diaspora Factor
Reflections on Current Economic Crisis: Diaspora Concerns
Indian Diaspora: Preservation of Language and Culture
The number of Regional working sessions increased to seven.
Prominent Speakers included Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of External Affairs, Ashwin Patel Chairman, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Thomas Abraham Chairman, GOPIO International
Year 2010: The 8th PBD was held in New Delhi.
Theme: Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward
The topics of the main plenary sessions were:
Interaction with Union Ministers: Diaspora – Role and Expectation
Interaction with PIO Ministers and Dignitaries: Diaspora – Interest and Concerns
Session with Chief Ministers: Skills Development
Prominent Speakers included Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Finance, Renu Khator Chancellor and UH President, University of Houston, Prof Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University
Year 2011: The 9th PBD was held in New Delhi again.
Theme: Engaging the Global Indian
The topics of the main plenary sessions were:
Engaging Young Overseas Indians
Opportunity India: Interaction with Union Ministers
Investment opportunities in the North Eastern Region
Interaction with Chief Ministers on Inclusive Growth
Prominent Speakers included Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, USA based filmmaker Mira Nair, Ruby Dhalla Member of Parliament, Canada
Year 2012: The 10th PBD was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Theme: Global Indian – Inclusive Growth
The topics of the main plenary sessions were:
Inclusive Growth: Two Decades of Economic Liberalization
Business Session: Partnering for Prosperity
Global Indian: State initiatives and Opportunities
Prominent Speakers included Preeta Bansal Noted Attorney and Former Senior Obama Administration Official, Dr Thomas Abraham Founder, GOPIO, Dr Shashi Tharoor, MP
Year 2013: The 11th PBD was held in Kochi, Kerala.
Theme: Engaging Diaspora – The Indian Growth Story
The topics of the main plenary sessions were:
India’s Growth: Greater Opportunities
Heritage and Diaspora
Engaging Young Overseas Indians
Prominent Speakers included Hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, Naval Bajaj President, Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce
Year 2014: The 12th PBD was held in New Delhi.
Theme: Engaging Diaspora – Connecting across Generations
Year 2015: The 13th PBD was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Theme: Apna Bharat Apna Gaurav: Connecting Across Generations
South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane attended that year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, commemoration to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa 100 years ago. The chief guest of the 13th PBD was Guyana President Donald Ramota.
In 2015, The External Affairs Ministry decided to revise and re-energize the format of the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. Accordingly, it was decided that the PBD Convention will be held bi-annually and that, in the intervening year, smaller, outcome-based PBD conferences will be organized in New Delhi on issues of concern to the Indian Diaspora and the Government. The 14th PBD was held in New Delhi 7-9 January, 2016.
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