PM Modi on Pravasi Bhartiya Divas: Indian diaspora a "great capital", opportunities await you

Gandhinagar, Jan 8: Indian diaspora is a "great capital" for the country which needs to be nurtured, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today as he sought its cooperation in transforming India that awaits them with opportunities.

Reaching out to the expatriates, he recalled how once adversity, courage and urge to explore new avenues for livelihood motivated their ancestors to leave Indian shores but now the country had "risen with great strength" where "great opportunities" awaited them.

"My conviction is that Indian diaspora is a great capital for us in the global context. The more we nurture it, the more strong will be our presence globally," Modi said after formally inaugurating the 13th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas at Mahatma Mandir which marked the centenary of

's return to the country from South Africa.

The Prime Minister said today the world was eager to engage with India with "love". "After taking up my new responsibility, I have had the opportunity to meet the Heads of State of over 50 countries. We spoke with an open heart. I feel the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich nations are looking up to India.

Such occasions are rare. "A measure of love the world has for India was reflected when the United Nations accepted my proposal to observe the World Yoga Day. 177 of the 193-member UN co-sponsored that resolution, over 40 of them Islamic nations, and it was passed in just 100 days, a record of sorts when such resolutions normally take two years to pass," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the love being shown by the world was not because of the affluence of the Indian diaspora in the countries they have adopted but because of their "value system and cultural inheritance".

He, however, said it was a challenge to prove equal to the expectations the global community has from India.

"Now it is our responsibility to prove equal to the expectations of the world with confidence which Mahatma Gandhi showed even while sweeping the streets, popularising Khadi and doing other services to the nation as he led the freedom movement," Modi said.

"There used to be a time when you left your beloved country to explore opportunities in different parts of the world...Now I want to assure you that lot many possibilities are awaiting you as time is changing rapidly and India has risen with new strength," Modi told around 4,000 delegates at the event.

PTI