President Murmu Bestows Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 At PBD Convention

GG News Bureau

Indore, 11th Jan. President Droupadi Murmu attended the valedictory session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on Tuesday and bestowed the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on 27 overseas Indians as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or an organization established and run by Non-Resident Indians in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.

The awardees expressed their happiness and gratitude for receiving the prestigious awards, and stated that the Indian diaspora is shining in foreign lands where they have moved with India in their hearts.

“This award has been incredible. Coming home, coming to India and my family is already humbling, and then to receive an award from the President herself has been a truly magical moment and a very big honor in my life,” said Archana Sharma, from Switzerland who received an award in the field of Science and Technology.

“The Indian diaspora is shining diamonds in Switzerland because in Switzerland we have a very – very highly skilled and highly educated Indian diaspora and they are actually dotting very key positions. For example, in the United Nations, the WHO, and in all these kinds of international organizations in multinationals, and in the business community as well. So, we have a sterling diaspora in Switzerland and they are all very connected with India”, added the awardee.

Reena Vinod Pushkarna from Israel, who received the award in the field of business and community welfare, thanked the Government of India for the honor, saying she was delighted that the government did not forget them even when they left their Motherland and went to other places.

“Very honoured, extremely touched. My parents up in heaven must be very happy today. It started with food, led to culture then led to diplomacy. Now, there are so many exchange programs, between the citizens of India and Israel, and it all started with just two simple people so I thank the government of India for not forgetting its people and this is what PBD stands for, that they don’t forget their Indians even when they leave their Motherland and go to other places to carry on our journeys but with India in their hearts”, said Reena.

Another awardee from Canada stated that he was honored to receive the award from his Matribhoomi and that he will continue to serve in both Canada and India.

“It is a privilege that I got this award from Bharat Mata our Mataribhumi and I will continue to offer our services I am blessed to be able to continue my service, for contributing to the field of education, health care, and clean technology, and continue to serve both Canada and India”, said Vaikuntam Iyer Lakshmanan.

Sivakumar Nadesan from Sri Lanka, who got the award for community welfare, said that we can do better with the quality of life, improve it and make larger jobs and skills.

“I got the award for community welfare. They have also mentioned that I have done media. So, I think that it is the combination of both. But especially on the community welfare side, we are talking about the Indian origin people who went there four generations ago and they have planted tea, worked on the bridges, worked on the roads and actually done lot of development for Sri Lanka during their lifetime. But I think we can do better with the quality of life, improve it and kind of make them more free to make larger jobs and skills and housing”, he said.

The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The President presented the awards during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations’ valedictory session. The recipients were chosen by a jury-cum-awards committee chaired by the vice-president, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar serving as vice-chair of the panel, which also included members from various fields.

In his address to the gathering, President Murmu stated that the Indian Diaspora has evolved into an important and distinct force in the global system. It has grown into an energetic and confident community in every region, and its leaders are making outstanding contributions to global affairs.

The theme of this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal,” reflects India’s desire to make its Diaspora a partner in the achievement of its national developmental goals, according to the President.

In the next 25 years, India will embark on an ambitious journey of collective hard work, sacrifice, and intensive development in order to become a self-sufficient world leader by 2047, when we will celebrate the centennial of our independence, she said.