January 9, 2003, New Delhi

Forge Individual Talent into Collective will urges Yashwant Sinha

Theme Keynote by Dr. L M Singhvi, MP

Dual citizenship for People of Indian Origin

* Compulsory insurance, welfare scheme and reservation of seats in educational institutes for workers in Gulf

* Exploit of the intellectual capital of People of Indian Origin NRI’s

The Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in his inaugural speech and the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas organized jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and FICCI, today announced granting of “Dual Citizenship” for the People of Indian Origin from certain countries. Vajpayee also announced a compulsory insurance scheme and welfare fund for Indian workers in the Gulf Region, alongwith reservation of seats in educational institutes in India. The modalities of these measures are being worked out and Legislation will be introduced in the Budget Session of the Parliament.

The Prime Minister also made a clarion call to exploit the intellectual capital of People of Indian Origin (PIO) and Non-Resident Indians (NRI). In his speech, the Prime Minister said, “ This is a true homecoming for Pravasi Bharatiya’s. India is emerging as the land of opportunity. We want to create an environment for you so that you can excel in India as much as you could anywhere else in the world. We do not want your investments, we want your ideas. We do not want your riches; we want the richness of your experience. We want to gain from your experience to achieve our vision of making India a developed country by the end of 2020.”

Recalling the Pravasi Bharatiya’s support to the motherland, Vajpayee said, “We are deeply appreciative of the support of Pravasi Bharatiya community in times of need, be it our nuclear tests in 1998 or the Resurgent India Bond issue in 1999. We would now like our countrymen abroad to project the truth about the changing face of India in a truthful and credible manner and strengthen the broader Indian identity across the globe.”

“The benchmarks for success set by the Pravasi community are a challenge for us in India. You make us examine why the India is so much more innovative, productive and successful abroad than in his own country. You prod us to create a business, investment and economic climate, which is as conducive to success as anywhere in the world.”
The First Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebration, organized jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and FICCI, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India with the lighting of the traditional lamp alongwith the Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, Minister for External Affairs, Yashwant Sinha, Rt. Hon Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. L. M. Singhvi, Chairman, Organising Committee of Pravasi Bharatya Divas and Dr. A.C.Muthiah, President of FICCI.

Lighting of the Lamp was followed by a mesmerizing invocation by Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar and Bharat Ratna Dr. Ustad Bismillah Khan called “Milap”. “ Pt. Ravi Shankar and I have sat together after many-many years. May he live for 100 years so that we can enter into a jugalbandi together again,’ said Dr. Ustad Bismillah Khan,

Pt. Ravi Shankar echoed the same sentiment, “At 86 years, Ustad Bismillah Khan is the oldest performing musician in India is the and I am the second oldest at 82. I hope we are able to come together again soon.”

RT. Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius, in his Special Address recounted the experience of the Indians in nation-building in Mauritius. “The Pravasi Bharatya Divas provides a framework for enhanced cooperation in the Indian Diaspora and opportunities for global prosperity. We did not control our past, but the future is in our hands and let us now chart a roadmap for our future.”

In his welcome address, Yashwant Sinha, Minister for External Affairs, said, “Pravasi Bharatya’s have made a distinctive impact in their country’s of residence by their loyalty, dedication, hard work and success. They have been the torchbearers of our culture – Bharatyata - and on numerous occasions have shown their commitment to the feeling of Bharatyata. As you succeed, India succeeds with you.”

Recounting the speech made by Vajpayee, when he was the Foreign Minister during the Janata Party regime, Sinha said, “PIOs and NRIs are on the top of the Government’s agenda today. We are optimistic about the future of India and our Diaspora. We want this to grow bigger and better with each passing year, to realize the Prime Minister’s dream 25 years ago.”

Calling the Prime Minister the “Karta” of the Indian Diaspora and the Diaspora as the ‘National Resource and Reserve of India’, Dr. L. M. Singhvi, Chairman, Organising Committee of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, in his Theme Presentation said, “January 9th, marks a momentous day for us, the beginning of a new dawn, the first stepping stone in establishing India’s relationship with its Diaspora. We want to change the emotive core that India occupies in the minds of Diaspora to become a destination for a meaningful and practical partnership in common endeavours.”

The High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora had made 160 recommendations. An annual Pravasi Bharatya Divas and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, are the first installment of the recommendations made, to involve the Indian Diaspora spread over 100 countries, numbering around 20 million.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, an honour People of Indian Origin and Non Resident Indians who have made the country proud, was given away by the Prime Minister to 10 Indians who have made a mark for themselves. Nazir Mohammad, one of the eldest original migrants to leave the shores of India was also honoured as a tribute to the millions of Indians who constituted the first wave of migrations from the country.

The Inaugural Session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was marked by a spirit of homecoming with speakers breaking into emotive conclusions in Hindi and incessant clapping by the audiences. Someone even called out – “Bharat Mata Ki Jay”.

The recommendation of celebration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was made by the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora chaired by Dr. LM Singhvi to recognise the contribution of the Indian Diaspora in the political, economic, social, academic and cultural fields. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). (keralamonitor.com)