Diasporas Of Greece-India: Promising Area Of Collaboration

The 2nd International Conference entitled "Greece and India: History, Society, Science & Entrepreneurship", which was held from December 2-6, 2024 in the building of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Thessaloniki, Greece marked a major step in taking forward the relations of the two countries. A team of experts from India participated in the conference brought together by Dr. Anil Kumar Singh, Chair, Greek Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The India's Ambassador to Hellenic Republic, Amb. Rudrendra Tandon welcomed the Indian participants in the Inaugural session the Conference.

Professors from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi who were part of the Diaspora panel included Prof. Ajay Kumar Dubey, School of International Studies, Dr. Sushmita Rajwar, School of International Studies, Dr. Amit Singh, Special Centre for National Security Studies, Dr. Laxman Behera, Special Centre for National Security Studies and Dr. Hemant Tahiliani, Education Deptt, Delhi Government. They discussed about how diaspora is an integral part of the public diplomacy and there is huge potential in both the countries to cooperate with their diaspora. It was proposed by the panel to initiate a cooperation at the University level to have a project where both the countries can come together to mobilise their diasporas in countries like USA to put forward their common interests.

Both the countries India and Greece have a long-lasting relationship and there are many areas on which both the countries can have a meaningful dialogue and cooperate. The conference was addressing important themes of History, Culture & Tourism, International Relations, Diplomacy & Geopolitics, Entrepreneurship & Business. While history, culture and tourism were discussed as one of the most areas for cooperation, there are other areas too which were highlighted during the discussions. Among these relevant areas the theme of International Relations, Diplomacy & Geopolitics was of critical importance. There were many issues discussed and debated under the theme but the most relevant one was collaboration on Diaspora.

India and Greece, both have classical diasporas in many parts of the world and a substantial number of their diaspora reside in the United States of America. Both the countries have launched several policies and programmes to engage its diaspora under their respective Ministries of External Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. India engages its diaspora under the Ministry of External Affairs. India's policy towards its 34 million diaspora developed only in late 1990s and since early 21st century India has actively engaged its diaspora. India never engaged its diaspora actively since independence. After the pro-active engagement of its diaspora policies in the early 21st century, India started a series of programs to engage its diaspora for example the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas celebrated in the month of January where a large number of the Indian diaspora is invited and Pravasi Samman are given to the distinguished member of the diaspora. Some other programmes included the Know India Programme, Tracing your Roots, Bharat ko Jaano quiz, scholarships for diaspora children. India is today the highest remittances receiving country in the world amounting to almost 125 US$ billion. A large number of Indian diaspora also resides in the USA and is very well connected with India.

On the other hand, the size of the Greek diaspora as per the government records is 7 million. According to estimates of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad (GSGA), the largest population of Greek origin is located in the US and numbers approximately 3,000,000. Greek diaspora almost 7 million in number is also old diaspora and Greece has engaged them continuously through various bodies and secretariats of the government, even passing the legislation allowing them to vote in Greek elections from their countries of origin. Greece has developed a series of government institutions to connect the diaspora with their homeland and has an experience in reaching out to its diaspora.

Therefore, there is huge potential in both the countries to collaborate in terms of their diaspora in the USA. Both Greek and Indian diaspora have voiced their concern with regard to the policies of the USA government towards their country of origin. Lobbying is commonly used by various diasporas in the USA to serve their interests and both these diaspora have huge potential to work with each other to push their interests through the government of USA. The conference also recommended that there could be possible collaborations between Non-Governmental Organizations of Greece and India to come together and develop possible programs of future actions.