India’s Global Engagement and Recognition of Overseas Indians

President Droupadi Murmu stated on Tuesday that India is now more self-confident and has a broader goal of securing national interests as it engages with the world during a time of economic and geopolitical turmoil. She also invited the Indian diaspora to participate in nation-building.

Murmu emphasized the significant and unique role of the nearly 3.2 crore Indian diaspora in global affairs, highlighting their outstanding contributions in leadership positions.

During the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, Murmu spoke at the closing session and presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards, the highest honor for overseas Indians, to 27 individuals.

Murmu expressed India’s self-confidence and broader goals in engaging with the world amidst challenging economic and geopolitical circumstances.

She also emphasized the importance of the awards, recognizing the achievements of the pravasis and their dedication to upholding India’s reputation around the world.

Recipients of the award included President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali, US-based NRI businessman Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, DBS Bank CEO Piyush Gupta, and Poland-based businessman Amit Kailash Chandra Lath.

The event was attended by over 3,500 delegates from nearly 70 countries, with the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Civil Aviation Minister.

The overcrowding during Prime Minister’s speech led to disappointment among many delegates, prompting an apology from Chief Minister Chouhan.

At a media briefing, it was revealed that over 3,200 people had registered for the event, exceeding the auditorium capacity, and efforts were made to accommodate the overflow.

The event organizers acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the overall success of the event, which commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa in 1915.

Recipients of the award included FedEx Corporation CEO Rajesh Subramaniam, Indian-Australian physicist Chennupati Jagadish, and Associate Professor Kannam Ambalam, who has made significant contributions in Ethiopia.

Sourav Roy Barman, as part of the national bureau, covers education and other topics.