PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra on occasion of Gandhi Jayanti

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. 

Speaking at the inauguration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, a state-of-the-art complex dedicated to overseas Indians, PM Modi said, "We are inaugurating this Kendra on a significant day of 2nd October. Gandhi ji had left India but the call of the nation brought him back."

"Brain drain worries can be converted into brain gain if we see the Indian diaspora as a strength rather than counting them just as numbers," PM Modi said.

He said the world was more keen now than earlier 'to engage with India'.

"World's keenness to engage with India has grown. In such times fear of unknown can be an obstacle. Our diaspora can help overcome this. They just have to tell the world that we belong to India," he said.

The Prime Minister stressed on the need to connect with the diaspora and hailed his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee who 'coined idea of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas and it has been continued since then'.

"Connecting with the diaspora is important. Atal ji coined idea of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas and it has been continued since then," PM Modi said. 

"In past two years, you have seen how government has rescued people from conflict regions, not only Indians but also foreigners," Modi said, adding further that "India has never coveted territory, never attacked another country yet thousands of Indians gave their lives in the 1st world war."

The centre is expected to develop into the hub of activities for sustainable, symbiotic and mutually rewarding economic, social and cultural engagement between India and its Diaspora.

Among other facilities, the complex has a library, research centre, flexible capacity meeting rooms, cultural centre, auditorium of 500 capacity, 24 guest rooms, business centres and restaurant.

The center will be dedicated for the welfare of Indian diaspora. 

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated in India in January 9 every 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 9th January 1915.