Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

 

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on January 9 every year to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian community to the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate the occasion because on this day in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa. After his return, he led India’s freedom struggle and shaped the history of India. The objective of PBD is to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots.

The decision to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was taken in accordance with recommendations of the High Level Committee (HLC) on the Indian Diaspora set up by government of India under the chairmanship of L.M. Singhvi. The then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, received the report of the Committee at a public function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 8 January 2002, and announced the "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas" (PBD) on 9 January 2002. The day was chosen to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.

The occasion is marked by special programs to recognise the contributions of NRI/PIO individuals of exceptional merit, felicitate NRI/PIO individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field/profession (Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Hindi: NRI/PIO Award)) and provide a forum to discuss issues and concerns of people of the diaspora. The event has been organised every year since 2003, and is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), initially sponsored by FICCI.