Bengaluru : The 14th edition of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, billed as the largest convergence of Indian diaspora, began in the country’s IT hub today with the spotlight on the role of youth in transforming the society and India’s potential to play the role of a ‘Vishwa Guru’ again.
The ‘Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ was inaugurated as part of the PBD 2017 with an aim to connect with the youth, the new generation of Pravasis growing up all over the world.
An initiative to engage with young diaspora that provides forum to discuss issues that concern them was attended by Suriname Vice President Michael Ashwin Adhin, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh.
The Youth PBD 2017, with focus on ‘Redefining engagement with the Indian Diaspora’, is being attended by delegates from 72 countries and registration has crossed 7,200 as of yesterday, officials said.
The event being held on the city outskirts aims to provide a platform to overseas Indians to engage with the Government on issues of concern to the diaspora and to explore opportunities for investment in India and contribution to the country of their origin.
Speaking at the event, Singh said the common thread that binds the Indian diaspora together is the enduring connect with a country whose history dates back to five millennia, whose contemporary reality takes them on an incredible journey and whose future offers them endless possibilities.
Recalling that the 2015 Youth PBD was about 3Cs — connect, celebrate and contribute, he said it will be 4Ts this year. “I would like to mention in this Youth PBD 2017, about 4 Ts through which you can transform your lives as well as that of India. These are Talent, Technology, Training and Teamwork,” he said.
Stating that a stronger and more influential India was needed for the balance of power in the world, Adhin in his address said India can once again become a ‘Vishwa guru’. He said India can become a superpower and had the potential to become a spiritual and cultural hub.
The Youth PBD in 2017 includes plenary sessions on problems faced by Indian students abroad, problems faced by NRI students in India, startups and innovation which have a social impact in India. —PTI
