India Diaspora is a 'brain gain' says Modi

On the day of Mahatma Gandhi’s anniversary, PM Modi inaugurated the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi to mark the valuable work of the Indian Diaspora.There are over 27 million Indians living across the globe making huge impact on their respective host countries. PM Modi said that the ‘brain drain’ can be converted into an ‘brain gain’ if India saw its diaspora as a strength rather than just numbers.

To acknowledge and highlight the astonishing contribution of Indians globally, Mr Modi opened the new state of the art complex saying that the world is now keen to ‘engage with India’. It is Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra located in south Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area and will serve as the focal point between India and overseas Indians. Mr Modi praised formed Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who came up with the idea and the work continued to be progressed by successive governments.The centre has a library, research centre, meeting rooms, cultural centre, auditorium and guest rooms as well as a restaurant.

Marking Mahatma Gandhi’s anniversary, Mr Modi added that the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was an apt occasion for such an event. He added Mahatma Gandhi had left India, but the call of the nation brought him back.

Mr Modi added that India has never attacked any country and at the same time made supreme sacrifices for the cause of global peace with thousands of Indians soldiers sacrificing their lives in the both the World Wars. The sacrifices should never be forgotten.

The Prime Minister said that at a time when the world is keen to engage with India, the “fear of the unknown” can be the biggest obstacle, which the Indian diaspora can help overcome.

Also present at the inauguration was External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who added that the Kendra represented all the beauty and diversity of our heritage as well as India's modernity. She said that there are many facilities for Pravasi. They can stay in this building as well. It incorporates art and culture of every state of India.

The Background adapted from Government of India documents

The Indian Diaspora constitutes a significant economic, social and cultural force in the world today. Overseas Indians estimated at over 28 million are spread across the world. Their industry, enterprise, education, expertise and economic success are widely recognized.

A High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, headed by Shri L. M. Singhvi, had recommended in January 2002 that the Government must renew and strengthen linkages of overseas Indians to their place of origin and with each other. The committee recommended that a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan should be set up to emerge as the focal point for networking between India and its overseas Indian community; and as a suitable place which would commemorate the trials, tribulations, the evolution and achievements of the Indian Diaspora.

Taking this recommendation forward in January 2004, at the second Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) organized in Delhi, then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced that the Government will set up the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra in New Delhi.

The Foundation Stone of the Kendra was laid by the then P.M. Dr. Manmohan Singh at 9th PBD in January, 2011. Ground Breaking was done by then Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs on 28.04.2011 and construction started in April, 2013. Contract for construction of PBK was awarded to National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) on turnkey basis.

Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra located at the heart of the Capital in Plots No.15A, 15B and 15D, Dr. Rizal Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi is a tribute to the overseas Indian community; and commemorates their migration to various parts of the world, the challenges they faced abroad, their achievements and contributions.

Over time, the Kendra is expected to develop into a hub of activities for sustainable, symbiotic and mutually rewarding economic, social and cultural engagement between India and its Diaspora. Activities, seminars, events, workshops pertaining to the Indian Diaspora are expected to be organized in PBK.

The Museum in the Kendra will depict the history of migration of the overseas Indian community; their experiences and contributions. In the Kendra’s state-of-the art auditorium, multi-purpose halls, Conference and seminar halls – workshops and conferences with overseas Indians and on

issues pertaining to them would be organized on a regular basis. The Kendra will also house the autonomous bodies India Centre for Migration, a think-tank working on issues pertaining to Indian migrant workers and the India Development Foundation for Overseas Indians, a not-for-profit Trust promoting contributions to flagship programmes in India.

The Library in PBK is a valuable repository of material about the Indian Diaspora including books written by overseas Indians in different languages. With an emphasis on digital material, the library will provide access to online journals and prestigious library resources.

India Diaspora is a 'brain gain' says Modi

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