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Biggest global Indian family reunion in January diaspora fest
By Deepshikha Ghosh, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) India meets another India in January as persons of
Indian origin from 110 countries around the world converge here in the first
ever reunion of the global Indian family.
The three-day meet beginning January 9, to mark Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, or
Indian Expatriates' Day, is the first event in which India officially
engages with its 20 million strong diaspora across six continents to
rejuvenate ethnic and cultural bonds.
But, more than that, it promises to be a meeting of minds, hearts and souls
as a large number of global Indians who have done well for themselves in
other countries return to their roots.
"It is the most important event for India as well as Indians abroad," said
J.C. Sharma, member-secretary of the organising committee, who is also
secretary, ministry of external affairs.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will inaugurate the event that is likely
to feature Nobel laureates V.S. Naipaul and Amartya Sen, former Fiji premier
Mahendra Chowdhury, top London-based businessman Swraj Paul and Indian
American astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
The glittering fest, sponsored by the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the external affairs ministry, may also
see current Hollywood sensation Manoj Night Shyamalan and Pulitzer winning
short story writer Jhumpa Lahiri, both based in the United States.
A galaxy of business leaders, doctors, lawyers, scientists, social
scientists, film personalities, writers and others of Indian origin will
commune with Indian authorities and celebrities.
Sharma told IANS: "The main focus of the event will be to engage with the
diaspora to understand their sentiments about India, their expectations from
India, and to evolve a policy facilitating a better interaction between
India and its people in other countries."
After the lighting of the inaugural lamp by Vajpayee, the event will take
off to a melodious start with an invocation by Lata Mangeshkar.
L.M. Singhvi, Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the High Level Committee on the
Indian Diaspora, will make a theme presentation. After this, Naipaul and Sen
would make their observations just before the inaugural address by the prime
minister.
During the day, sessions and meetings will see interactions between Indian
ministers and bureaucrats and panellists from various parts of the world.
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha will interact with the delegates.
Vajpayee is likely to host a dinner for the participants that evening.
January 9 holds special significance in India's history. On this day in
1915, Mahatma Gandhi, the original NRI, returned to India after a two-decade
stay in South Africa and plunged into the freedom movement.
On the second day, businessmen and industrialists will interact with Finance
Minister Jaswant Singh in a session likely to be chaired by former finance
minister Manmohan Singh.
This will run parallel with several breakout sessions. One such meet is on
culture, literature and the diasporic identity featuring writers Jhumpa
Lahiri, Vikram Seth, filmmaker Shyam Benegal and playwright Girish Karnad.
Deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptulla will chair a session on
'Culture, language, literature and the diasporic identity'. Deputy chairman
of Planning Commission K.C. Pant will preside over a session on
'Philanthropy - Catalysing Development'.
Communications Minister Pramod Mahajan and technology savvy Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will address a session on
knowledge-based industries.
A session on science and technology may bring Kalpana Chawla to an
interaction with others of the Indian scientific fraternity. Film actor
turned Health Minister Shatrughan sinha will inaugurate a session on
healthcare.
A session on 'Ethnic Media and the Diasporic Identity', likely to be chaired
either by U.S.-based newspaper publisher Gopal Raju or leading television
personality Prannoy Roy, will feature several media luminaries.
Former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao will chair a session on education.
Delegates are also set for a special interaction and lunch with Deputy Prime
Minister L.K. Advani on the day.
But the highlight will be a breakout session on entertainment that will have
speakers of such popularity as Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna - both meeting
in a public forum after many a hit double act in movies - Ismail Merchant,
Mira Nair, Manoj Night Shyamalan of "Signs" fame, Gurinder Chaddha ("Bend It
Like Beckham"), Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth), Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin
Shah.
The last day has been saved for a session with Indian states, followed by a
special investiture ceremony at the presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is expected to give away the "Pravasi Bharatiya
Samman Awards" to 10 people as the highest acknowledgement of India's pride
for their success.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas initiative follows recommendations of the
diaspora panel, many of which were approved by the government early this
year.
The most important recommendation of the committee - that of permitting dual
citizenship to enable PIOs hold Indian passports - is yet to be accepted.
Dual citizenship has been long coveted by the Indian diaspora and is likely
to be the talk of the conference to be held in the sprawling Pragati Maidan
fairgrounds in the heart of New Delhi.
But the event is not all about what the country can do for PIOs - it is also
about what they can do for their country when it is counting on foreign
investments in development projects.
It will also be a season for nostalgia, with film stars spanning three
generations from Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar to today's heartthrobs such as
Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai lighting up the glamorous Bollywood
evenings.
And, to serve as a reminder that India's traditions, culture and music is
alive in some form even thousands of miles away, cultural troupes will come
from Britain, the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia.
The evenings will be telecast live in some 20 countries, the organisers say.
--Indo-Asian News Service
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What's On In Goa (WOIG):
* Nov 1-17: Swimming classes for children, others. SAG pool, Fatorda
* Nov 1: Antonio Costa's painting exhibition opens, F.Oriente 6.30pm
* Nov 3: Children's Day by Jan Ugahi, Navelim Perpetual Convent morning.
* Nov 4: Book release, on Dr Gama Pinto, Lourdes Convent Saligao
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