New Delhi: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots. During the Convention, selected overseas Indians are also honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to recognize their contributions to various fields both in India and abroad.
The 15th PBD Convention is being held on 21-23 January 2019 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The theme of PBD Convention 2019 is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India”. Special arrangements are also being made for participation in Kumbh Mela and Republic day parade.
As a run up to PBD 2019, Ministry has organized seven PBD Conferences (Panel Discussions) in New Delhi in 2017 & 2018 on issues importance to the Indian Diaspora. These Conferences are chaired by the Minister of External Affairs. Domain experts from the Diaspora, stakeholders and policy makers based in India and foreign countries are invited for day-long deliberations on various topics. Their recommendations are submitted to the concerned Ministries & Departments in the Government of India for consideration in policy formulation. At the 15th PBD Convention in January 2019, Action taken on the recommendation will be presented to PBD delegates for their suggestions and comments.
PROGRAMME
Day 1– Youth PBD & Uttar Pradesh State PBD
Joint inauguration of Youth PBD by External Affairs Minister and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports. The event will bring limitless opportunities for the young Diaspora to engage with New India. Uttar Pradesh PBD is a unique opportunity for Pravasis from Uttar Pradesh to reconnect with the roots.
Day 2- Inauguration of PBD Convention by Prime Minister
Inauguration of 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2019 by Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India in the presence of Prime Minister of Mauritius, H.E. Pravind Jugnauth.
Day 3- Valedictory Session & PBS Awards by President
Conferment of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and Valedictory Address by President of India.
Day 4- In Prayagraj (Visit to Kumbh Mela)
Participants would arrive in Prayagraj by bus (Volvo AC Bus). Arrangements for holy bathing at Sangam.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a celebratory day observed (starting in 2015) on 9 January by the Republic of India to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on 9 January 1915.
Established in 2000, it is sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industries and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. A celebratory event is held on 7–9 January every other year in an Indian city: a forum for issues concerning the Indian Diaspora is organised and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are given.
In 2006, the concept of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) was launched during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at Hyderabad on 9th January.
In 2014, Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held in New Delhi and was attended by 1,500 delegates from 51 countries. President Pranab Mukherjee gave the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
In 2013, 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Kochi from 7–9 January, where the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) is organising partner of the summit. The President of Mauritius, Rajkeswur Purryag, was the chief guest at the official inaugural session. Canadian Minister Jason Kenney became the first individual of non-Indian heritage to address the gathering.
The 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7–9 January 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Theme for this year was Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations.
The 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7–9 January 2015 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, and Gujarat. The Theme for this year was “Apna Bharat, Apna Gaurav”.
The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which was supposed to be held during 7–9 January 2016 at New Delhi, was cancelled under the MEA’s decision to make the event biennial.
The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7–9 January 2017 at Bengaluru, Karnataka. The theme for this year was “Redefining engagement with the Indian diaspora”.
The Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2018 was held during 6–7 January 2018 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
The 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2019 will be held during 21-23 January 2019 at Varanasi, India. Prime Minister of Mauritius,Pravind Jugnauth will be the chief guest.
Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The Ministry of External Affairs organizes Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) periodically outside India to connect with the Indian Diaspora in specific regions, familiarize them with the policies and programmes of the Government, enable them to contribute to India’s development and growth, and address their concerns.
10 RPBD events have been held till date, at the following places:
- 1st – New York, USA on 24 September, 2007
- 2nd – Singapore on 10-11 October, 2008
- 3rd – The Hague, Netherlands on 19 September, 2009
- 4th – Durban, South Africa on 1-2 October, 2010
- 5th – Toronto, Canada on 8-10 June, 2011
- 6th – Pailles, Mauritius on 27-28 October, 2012
- 7th – Sydney, Australia on 10-12 November, 2013
- 8th – London, UK on 16-18 October, 2014
- 9th – Los Angeles, USA on 14-15 November, 2015
- 10th – Singapore on 6-7 January, 2018
The 10th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) Convention was organized in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands, on 6th & 7th January 2018. This was a special RPBD to celebrate the 25 years of strategic partnership between India and ASEAN. The theme of the 2018 PBD Convention is “Ancient Route, New Journey: Diaspora in the Dynamic India-ASEAN Partnership”. Indian EAM Sushma Swaraj is the Guest of Honour, and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean also attended. Indian Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Assam, N Chandrababu Naidu and Sarbananda Sonowal respectively, also attended the event. Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister S Iswaran and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also addressed over 2,500 delegates.