Pravasi Bharatiya: India’s global strength

You can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an Indian. That is so true, as Indians have made a mark across the world in all walks of life, yet they remain rooted in their Indian ethos and values. Perhaps that is what gives them resilience and enables them to face the vagaries of life in an alien land. The Indian diaspora is now over three million strong. Over the years, its profile has drastically changed from indentured labourers to swanky IT professionals, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs — you name it. The Indians who left these shores have left an indelible mark on the lands they adopted as their own, without forgetting their Indian roots — food, language, clothes, values, and above all, a connection with their motherland.

As India celebrates the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) on January 9, it is time to acknowledge the contributions made by Indians to the countries they adopted and to their motherland, often toiling hard and surviving in the worst of circumstances. It is a day observed since 2003. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas honours Overseas Indians who continue to work relentlessly for the betterment of India's destiny — economically, culturally, and diplomatically. The day is symbolic, as it marks the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in 1915, a homecoming that gave direction and momentum to India's freedom movement. Indeed, he is rightly remembered as the greatest Pravasi Bharatiya. His years abroad sharpened his moral vision and political resolve, which he later brought back to India. He was among the pioneers who shed the inhibition of leaving the country and crossing the seas. In many ways, this journey mirrors the larger story of the Indian diaspora — individuals who leave India in search of opportunity, knowledge, and security, yet carry with them an enduring connection to their roots and often return value far greater than what they took with them.

Today, the Indian diaspora stands as one of the largest and most influential migrant communities in the world. People of Indian origin everywhere —IT professionals in Silicon Valley, doctors in the NHS, entrepreneurs and traders on Wall Street, and workers at Gulf construction sites — have left an indelible imprint. Indian-origin CEOs head some of the world's most powerful corporations, and Indian engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs drive innovation in cutting-edge fields. Equally significant are the small business owners, teachers, and caregivers who quietly uphold India's reputation for diligence and skill. The advantage the Indian diaspora brings lies not only in dollar remittances but also in goodwill and strategic collaboration. The diaspora serves as a powerful ambassador for India - influencing policies and building bridges between India and host countries. Indeed, human resources are India's biggest and most profitable export. Yet there is a sad undercurrent: we have often brushed their contributions under the carpet, labelled them opportunists who left the country, and questioned their patriotic credentials. This must end. All Indians are Indians, no matter where they live and work, and no one has the right to question their love for the country. Once an Indian, always an Indian.