Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once every two years to solidify the engagement of the Indian diaspora with the government of India and to aid them in reconnecting with their roots. The day has been celebrated since 2003 to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.
A convention is organised by the Government of India to recognise the contribution of the Indian community settled overseas in the development of India and promoting Indian interests abroad. So far, 16 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions have been organised.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023 is to be organised in Indore from the 8th to the 10th of January with the theme “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal”.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin, or an organisation or institution established and run by them.
The objective of the award is to recognise the Indian diaspora’s contributions to improving international understanding of India, promoting Indian causes, and promoting Indian community welfare. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are given to deserving members of the Indian diaspora in the presence of Hon’ble Rashtrapati Ji.
On this Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, let us look at the recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees that are contributing to the welfare of Indian society through Philanthropy.
1. Dr Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay
Dr Mukhopadhyay is the founder of the Hanseatic India Forum in Hamburg and has made a seminal contribution to promoting ties between India and Germany in the areas of science and technology, cultural exchange, and humanitarian activities in the villages of the Sundarbans.
He has set up solar-powered health centres and a bakery unit in remote villages of the Sundarbans to provide skill development & employment opportunities to women. These health centres also help in providing medicines, especially against snake bites, Rabies, and Rh-incompatibility in pregnant women, among others.
Dr Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 for his contribution to Community Welfare and Medicine.
2. Mr. Amit Kailash Chandra Lath
Mr Lath is an entrepreneur and philanthropist in Poland, serving as the Managing Partner of the Sharda Group of Companies. He has promoted business ties between India and Poland. He has been helping the Indian community in Poland and played an indispensable role during Operation Ganga by arranging accommodation and transport for Indian citizens to evacuate out of Ukraine via Poland. Despite his busy schedule, he was the full-time coordinator for several days at the hotel shelter for Indian students in Rzeszow.
Mr Amit Kailash Chandra Lath has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 for his contribution to Business and Community Welfare.
3. Mr. Parmanand Sukfumal Daswani
Mr Daswani is one of the first Indians to establish a business in the Republic of Congo. His company Regal Group Congo has created employment opportunities for over 140 Indian expatriates and 1000 locals. He had worked relentlessly for the opening of the Indian Embassy in Congo since 1982 and has always helped fellow Indians who became victims of conflicts and civil wars in the region.
Due to his exemplary work, the Indian Government conferred upon him the honour of Honorary Consul General of India in 2002. In 2023, Mr Parmanand Sukhumal Daswani has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
4. Mr Sivakumar Nadesan
Mr Nadesan is the Managing Director of Express Newspapers, which publishes the leading Tamil language newspaper – ‘Virakesari’. He has been promoting Indian interests and culture and relentlessly working for the welfare of Indian-origin people in Sri Lanka. He also initiated a fundraiser to assist stranded Indian citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has been instrumental in inviting Indian artists to perform in Sri Lanka and has also supported the Swami Vivekananda Culture Center in implementing traditional programs highlighting Carnatic music. Mr Sivakumar Nadesan has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 for his contributions.
5. Mr Siddharth Balachandran
Mr Balachandran is a renowned Indian businessman who is greatly involved in philanthropic and charitable activities in India and UAE through his company Buimerc Corporation Ltd (BCL). BCL has generated significant investments and employment in India in the field of infrastructure and skill development. He is inculcating scientific knowledge through the Science India Forum, UAE.
The Alpha Palliative Centre, developed under his patronage, provides palliative care to underprivileged people. He also played an important role in the repatriation of Indian workers to India and in providing them with relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Siddharth Balachandran has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023.
6. Dr Darshan Singh Dhaliwal
Dr Dhaliwal is the Founder and Chairman of Bulk Petroleum Corporation – one of the world’s largest independent petroleum and convenience store operators in the USA. He has greatly contributed in the development of technology business incubators in Northern India and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
His philanthropic and humanitarian endeavours have positively impacted communities affected by natural crises such as typhoons, floods, disease and lack of sanitary conditions. He has sponsored numerous programs in Sikh studies and provided thousands of scholarships for Indian students to study in the USA.
Dr Darshan Singh Dhaliwal has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 for his contribution to Business and Community Welfare.
