New Delhi, 09 January (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm greetings Friday on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa in 1915, while lauding the Indian diaspora as a powerful bridge between India and the world, enriching global societies while steadfastly preserving cultural roots.

In a heartfelt X post,PM Modi declared: Warm greetings on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. The Indian diaspora remains a powerful bridge between India and the world. They have enriched societies wherever they went and, at the same time, stayed connected to their roots. I often say that our diaspora is our Rashtradoots, who have popularised the culture of India globally. Our Government has taken numerous steps to bring our diaspora even closer to India.

Legacy of Engagement and Cultural Ambassadorship

Observed annually on January 9 since 2003, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas—India's NRI Day—honors over 32 million Overseas Indians across 200 nations, recognizing their pivotal contributions to remittances exceeding $100 billion yearly, economic partnerships, and soft power projection from Silicon Valley innovators to Gulf laborers.

PM Modi's tenure has amplified ties through initiatives like OCI card expansions, diaspora conferences in Indore (2023) and Bhubaneswar (2025), Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, and visa facilitations, transforming NRIs into de facto ambassadors—Rashtradoots—fostering yoga diplomacy, Bollywood fandom, and investment corridors that propelled India's global stature.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar