​Indians abroad: On the 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

At the inauguration of the 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Indian diaspora as India’s “ambassadors to the world”, having “seamlessly assimilated” into the local society, served the community, and contributed to India’s growth and prosperity. The strength of the India-origin community worldwide of over 35 million — about 15.85 million NRIs and 19.57 million PIOs, who are foreign nationals — is their ability to adapt and thrive in different fields, including in politics, where Indian-origin people have become leaders of more than 30 other countries. The PBD’s purpose is to celebrate this success and discuss issues of importance; President Droupadi Murmu handed out about 27 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards. Intractable global conflicts, especially in West Asia where more than nine million Indians live and work, are also putting lakhs of Indians in peril, and the PBD engagement would benefit from discussions between the community on how best to increase awareness and enhance safeguards for them.