Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (English: Non-resident Indian Day), is celebrated in India on 9 January each year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in Bombay on Jan uary 9, 1915. Established in 2003, it is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of the government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region of India. A celebratory event is held on 7–9 January each year in an Indian city: a forum for issues concerning the Indian Diaspora is organized and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are given.

The decision to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was taken in accor dance with recommendations of the High Level Committee (HLC) on the Indian Diaspora set up by govern ment of India under the chairmanship of L. M. Singhvi. ThePrime Minister, receiving the report of the Committee at a public function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 8 January 2002, announced the "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas"(PBD) on 9 January that year. The day was chosen to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.

The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Program since 2003 has been organized in the following cities:

·         2003 1st Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi

·         2004 2nd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi

·         2005 3rd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Mumbai

·         2006 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Hyderabad

·         2007 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi

·         2008 6th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi

·         2009 7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Chennai

·         2010 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi

·         2011 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi

·         2012 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Jaipur

·         2013 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Kochi

·         2014 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi

PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.