The Indian diaspora, in its broadest sense, is over 30 million strong, with over 18 million of them born in India. It has spread all over the world in over 200 countries.
Moreover, it is a growing global population, with an estimated 2.5 million leaving our shores for foreign lands, mostly in search of better educational or work opportunities.
The largest number is in North America, with the United States and Canada together accounting for over 6 million overseas Indians.
Estimates vary, but according to Indian government sources, other countries with significant Indian populations include the United Arab Emirates (3,425,145), Malaysia (2,987,950), Saudi Arabia (2,594,950), Myanmar (2,009,207) and the United Kingdom (1,892,000).
Countries with a high percentage of Indians include Mauritius (65.06%), United Arab Emirates (42.1%), Guyana (39.83%), Qatar (39.5%), Trinidad and Tobago (35.4%), Fiji (34.42%) , Réunion (31.42). %), Suriname (27.4%), Saudi Arabia (23.22%), Kuwait (22.5%) and Bahrain (21%). All these have over 20% of the population consisting of Indians.
Additionally, significant and influential Indian populations live in geographically widespread and separated countries such as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (19.7%), Oman (16%), Nepal (14.7%), Guadeloupe (13, 6%), Grenada (11.7%) ), Seychelles (10.48%), Martinique (10%), Singapore (8.3%), Malaysia (7.4%), Sri Lanka (5.4%), Canada (5.1%), Brunei (5%), New Zealand (4.7%) ), Jamaica (3.4%), Australia (3.1%), Myanmar (2.50%), South Africa (2.40%), United Kingdom (1.8%), United States United States (1.3%) and Kenya (1.13%).
The main event
It was only 20 years ago that the Indian government decided to officially honor and reconnect this extremely important population with the homeland.
The credit for initiating the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) must go to the former prime minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. January 9 was chosen because this was the day Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915 after spending over twenty years in South Africa.
Since then, the PBD Convention has been the government’s “flagship event” to “engage and connect with Indians overseas and enable the diaspora to interact with each other”.
The 17th PBD convention was held in Indore this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi began by emphasizing the cultural and religious importance of Madhya Pradesh and Indore, even praising the latter’s famous “Namkeen tissue” or delicious.
The theme of this year’s Convention was “Diaspora: Trusted Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.” Over 3,500 delegates from around 70 countries registered to attend.
The chief guest was Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Ten years ago, in 2013, the main guest of PBD was the then president of Guyana, Donald Ramtar.
This year’s guest of honor was the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the President of Guyana Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, in Indore on Monday, January 9, 2023.
Image credit: ANI
Ambassadors of the nation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a commemorative postage stamp, “Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen,” which means being protected and well qualified.
True to his style, he brought in technology to add to the theme of the Convention by inaugurating a first-of-its-kind Digital Exhibition highlighting the contribution of the Diaspora to India’s Freedom Struggle.
This was quite fitting for the ongoing party at India@75“Amrit Mahotsav of Freedom.” The PBD convention concluded on Monday after an impressive ceremony in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself addressed the gathering.
Modi said India’s diaspora constituted our best brand ambassadors: “I call all diaspora Indians as India’s brand ambassadors. You all are ‘Rashtradoots’ (ambassadors of the nation). Your role as India’s brand ambassadors is multi-faceted: you are brand ambassadors for Make in India, Yoga, India’s handicraft industry and millet.”
He added, “The idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam— or the whole world as one family — was visible to Indians abroad.”
Perhaps, no other Indian leader has worked harder to build ties with Indians overseas than Modi. His support, one might even call it a fan following, among Indians abroad is legendary. It can fill large stadiums, such as at the Howdy Modi event in Houston, Texas, in September 2019.
US President Donald Trump and Modi took an unforgettable victory lap together, with an ecstatic and cheering audience of influential Indo-Americans, US senators, congressmen and other dignitaries. I witnessed this amazing event, with its electric energy and unforgettable atmosphere.
September 22, 2019: US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the “Hello, Modi!” at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
Image credit: AFP
Known from the homeland
During PBD 2023, Modi highlighted India’s global role during its presidency of the G20: “India’s voice is being heard on the global stage. India is also hosting this year’s G20. We don’t want to make it just a diplomatic event, but an event of people’s participation.”
Modi was also quick to highlight India’s demographic dividend, the contribution of a skilled and young population to the 21st century world: “Our youth have skills, values, honesty and determination to work. Our qualified capital can become the engine of growth in the world.”
Modi was right in observing that the eyes of the world are on India. India is not only an object of curiosity, but admiration, although sometimes resentment: “The world is interested in India’s speed and scale. They are interested in the future of India. When it comes to a cashless economy, the world is amazed to see that 40 percent of the world’s real-time digital transactions happen in India.”
Modi invited the Indian diaspora not to contribute to that of India “Amrit Kaal” or ambrosial age, but also for the new world order that is appearing before our eyes.
Both the old diaspora of labor and the new diaspora of technology and capital must be welcomed and recognized by the homeland.
In line with such principle, the surprise recipient of this PBD’s highest government recognition award, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, to a member of the Indian diaspora was American billionaire Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, who supported the Farmer of the Year agitation offering free food to protesters.
This shows that the government does not want to hold grudges but to move forward in the process of healing and reconciliation, especially important in a sensitive border state like Punjab.
