Indore: Indians are spread all over the world and will be found in every part of the world. Keeping this in mind, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday (January 8) praised the Indian community living abroad. He emphasized on how the Indian diaspora is among the most talented in the world. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said that this is the largest and most talented diaspora in the world. In his inaugural speech at the Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas here, Jaishankar said perhaps what is unique about the Indian community is the close ties fostered by conventions like the ongoing Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in the city of Indore.
Addressing India’s youth delegates, the minister said, “India has the largest diaspora in the world and many would say, the most talented. But what is unique about us is the intensity of the ties between the community overseas and the homeland.” and abroad.
“And it is a two-way street which is especially promoted by activities like Pravasi Bhartiya Divas,” he added. Minister Jaishankar made these remarks in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan, Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and Australian MP Zaneta Mascarenhas.
The three-day 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized under the theme of this PBD convention: “Pravasis: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in the Age of Amrit Kaal”. Delivering the inaugural address, Jaishankar emphasized that this connection with the Indian diaspora was very evident amid the challenges of the COVID pandemic.
“On its part, the Government of India launched the Vande Bharat Mission and the Vaccine Maitri initiative, which significantly focused on our diaspora-centric partners,” he added. EAM also acknowledged the overwhelming response received by the Government of India from the PIO-NRI community during the most difficult moments of our own Covid experience.
“As we meet today, I can truly say that our bond has grown stronger as a result of the trials and tribulations we have gone through in the time of Covid,” he said. Jaishankar pointed out that a migrant’s identity is largely determined by how closely he is connected to his roots.
He said, “Here too, our endeavor is to encourage easy exposure of Indian culture and traditions abroad. I think many of our embassies today offer yoga, dance and music classes, most of them.”
(With inputs from ANI)