Thirteen Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be launched in Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar on Wednesday by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
The duo will also inaugurate an exhibition to mark 100th year of Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa. Since 2003 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), is celebrated in the country on January 9 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 January 9, 1915 at Apollo Bunder (port). Swaraj and Patel will also open the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade show as a prelude to the seventh Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit scheduled for January 11 to 13.
The exhibitions spread across 125,000 square metres of area with 17 domes housing over 1,300 stalls will be one of the largest exhibitions in the country, Gujarat Finance Minister Saurabh Patel said on Tuesday. Two domes will be dedicated to PBD-2015 for the various departments of the Government of India and the State Governments to showcase their schemes and initiatives. The overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC), the economic engagement arm for the Diaspora set up by the Union Ministry of overseas Indian affairs, will put up an interactive ‘Market Place Forum’ during the event.
The grand inauguration function of the 13th PBD will be conducted on Thursday in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the three-day event at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar in the presence of nearly 5,000 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIOs). All most all the Indian States have participated in the event and will be putting up exhibitions and pavilions at the venue —Mahatma Mandir —to attract NRIs and PIOs as investment destination as well as to promote the tourism.
The Gujarat Government has also established a permanent exhibition, “Salt Mound” on Gandhi’s life journey at Mahatma Mandir to mark the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi.
On Wednesday, Youth PBD will also be conducted in presence of Swaraj. The next day will be full of activities with inauguration in the presence of PM Modi and other dignitaries as well as a programme on cultural diversity of India. On the last day, Vice President of India Hamid Ansari will remain present during valedictory function of 13th PBD on Friday. Also, a play on the life of Mahatma and his role in the Independence movement will be screened at Sabarmati Riverfront in the presence of VVIP guests.
Co-incidentally, the thirteenth PBD will be held at Mahatma Mandir a week before the seventh edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit at the same venue. Major attractions of both the global events will the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will inaugurate both the important event at the Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar. Of the 12 previous PBD, seven were organised in New Delhi and one each held at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur and Kochi.