Bengaluru: “The Indian diaspora has made immense contribution to the country, in the fields of business, politics and sports, to mention a few. Now, their contribution for their motherland is needed even more,” said President Pranab Mukherjee at the concluding ceremony of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Monday.
“Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is historic as this was the day when the greatest ever Pravasi, Mahatma Gandhi, returned to India from South Africa and shared the experiments of his truths with India,” he said.
“The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas served as an excellent opportunity to showcase the policy initiatives of India and achievements of the Indian diaspora. It is time for the diaspora to give back to the country,” he said.
Pravasi Samman for Portugal PM, 30 others
President Pranab Mukherjee presented Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to 30 distinguished personalities on the concluding day of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on Monday. Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, was one of the awardees.
Ms Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Affairs in the United States Department of State, spoke on behalf of award winners and said, “This award is one of the highest honors for people of Indian origin. Indian diaspora from 23 countries, including Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Costa, have received the honours.”
Ms Biswal said that she has sought to deepen the partnership between the US and India, and pointed out how Diwali is celebrated in schools, college campuses and even at the White House in the US.
Ms Biswal said that she is proud to be the first Indian-American to hold the position of assistant secretary of state. Even outgoing US President Barack Obama drew many inspirational things from his Indian roommate when he was young, she said.
President Pranab Mukherjee, who released a book containing PM Modi’s select speeches, said that emerging India is reflected in the speeches of Mr Modi. Suriname Vice-President Michael Ashwin Adhin received the first copy of the book.
“The Indian diaspora toils hard and sends money back home. These remittances are the largest by any diaspora, at 12% of the total global remittances, amounting to $69 billion in 2015,” he said.
