Pravasi Bharaitya Divas : The Significance of this Day

This day particularly helps to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India. 

January 9th is being celebrated every year since 2003 as Pravasi Bharaitiya Divas(PBD) to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India  from South Africa in 1915.  

Since then celebrations help to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and also helps them to reconnect with their roots. 

The diaspora as a powerful driving force helps in sustainable development as it helps in an array of varied benefits.

After over 21 years stay in South Africaand at the age of 45, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India on January 9, 1915 with his wife Kasturba. He soon set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers to protest against excessive land-tax and discrimination.

He had moved to South Africa in 1893 to represent an Indian merchant in a lawsuit. He went on to live in South Africa for 21 years. It was here that Gandhi raised a family and first employed nonviolent resistance in a campaign for civil rights. 

The teachings, struggle and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi is still an inspiration to the Indian Diaspora all around the world. .

PBD conventions aid in the creation of global network of NRIs as well as the connection of the youth with immigrants, enabling them to contribute substantially to the nation’s progress 

The first time Pravasi Bharaitiya Divas, was celebrated in 2003 by the Republic of India to mark the contribution of the overseas Indians. 

The decision to celebrate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was taken on the recommendation of the High Level Committee(HLC) on the Indian Diaspora set up by the government of India under the chairmanship of LM Singhvi. 

The then Prime Minister of India, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, received the report of the committee at a public function at Vignyan Bhavan in New Delhi, on 8th January 2002. The official announcement declaring Pravasi Bharitiya Divas was made  on 9th January 2002. 

In 2006, the concept of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) was launched during the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas convention at Hyderabad on 9th January. 

The Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra has been renamed Sushma Swaraj Bhawan as a Tribute to the late Leader. 

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