By Hello Mumbai Team:(Edit by Aleem Shaikh)

 The 14th edition of the three-day event began in the country’s IT hub on Saturday with the spotlight on the role of youth in transforming the society and India’s potential to play the role of a ‘Vishwa Guru’ again. Here are the highlights of  PM Modi speech: It is indeed a pleasure for me to be present amongst you on the occasion of the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bhartiya Sammelan.  On this historic day 102 years ago, the greatest Pravasi Bhartiya of all times Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa.

We gather here today to recalibrate and reaffirm our roots even as we take pride in and gain sustenance from our adopted countries.  One of the largest community of expatriates amounting to about 31.7 million, the Pravasi Bhartiya stands out for his innate ability to assimilate and yet maintain his identity.  In doing so, you have contributed immensely to your adopted lands through your dedication and hard work.

There are many amongst you who have made notable contributions in the fields of high technology, business, politics, art & culture, and sports to mention, a few.  On behalf of the Government of India, it was indeed an honor for me to have conferred the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman on 30 members of the Diaspora just a while back.  I congratulate each one of you for your contributions to your countries of origin and India.

Friends, We are here today to celebrate your successes and achievements.  You have been the frontline envoys of Indian culture since long and I hope that you will remain the foremost emissaries of the unfolding Indian story. As a people exposed to the best of western technology and yet having their civilisational moorings in the ageless and eternal ethos of India, you are doubly blessed.  The synergy of the west and the east that you represent provides you with a unique position and opportunity that involves sharing knowledge between your homeland and your adopted countries.  While you showcase India to your host countries, you also bring along the cultural heritage of your adopted lands to India.  To my mind, nothing could exemplify our belief of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam’ more than this.

Many of you having achieved material abundance, are actively involved in the pursuit of higher callings of spiritualism and happiness.  For us in India, this has to be a parallel exercise and I am sure that you could play a guiding role in this sphere.  As we continue to strive successfully in achieving our due and deserving place amongst the Comity of Nations on economic and strategic indices, our ancient strengths in the realm of the sublime and the subtle should continue to remain in focus.  The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas has been a flagship event for the engagement of the government with the Diaspora spread across the world.  I am happy to know that Indian Embassies and High Commissions abroad are celebrating the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas today, with the members of Indian Diaspora in their respective countries.  I am also glad that one of the youngest Indian Diaspora leaders, the Vice President of Suriname Mr. Michael Ashwin Adhin is here with us today.  India enjoys close and friendly relations with Suriname, reinforced by cultural and people to people contact. The Indian Diaspora migrated to Suriname nearly 142 years ago. More than 2,30,000 persons of Indian-origin living in Suriname have made a significant contribution in all walks of life in that country. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention is a very important platform for engagement of the central and state governments with the Overseas Indian Community.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been held traditionally on January 9 every year to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi as a Pravasi from South Africa to India. The function was attended by, Union Minister Ananth Kumar, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with several other ministers. Suriname Vice-President Michael Ashwin Adhin, along with Union Minister Vijay Goel, Minister of State for External Affairs General V. K. Singh and Karnataka ministers R.V. Deshpande and Priyanka Kharge .President Pranab Mukherjee was slated to confer Pravasi Bhartiya Samman on Monday. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a biennial event held in the country on January 9 to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi as a Pravasi from South Africa to India. It is considered to be an important convention to build a platform for engagement between Central and state governments with Overseas Indian Community.Ministry of External affairs, M.C Luther, PGE and his team played very important role to organize the function.