Dear Editor,
Several prominent Guyanese are heading for India for this weekend’s conference on Indians in the Diaspora in New Delhi. Around 2,000 People of Indian Origin (PIOs) from over 70 countries are expected to attend this fifth annual jamboree to hobnob with thousands of delegates and renew their links with the land of their ancestors. Among the Guyanese attending are Berbician Ashok Ramsaran, General Secretary of the U.S-based Global Organization of People of Indian Origin and businessmen Yesu Persaud. This writer is also scheduled to attend the meeting as a reporter for a New York newspaper.
The Guyanese contingent has requested a private meeting with the President of India, Abdul Kalam.
The forum allows for an interaction between resident (in India) and overseas Indians (PIOs). Previous conferences were great and a tremendous experience and the Guyanese contingent will have a wonderful time. The Government of India had decided to celebrate Pravasi in recognition and appreciation of the constructive, economic and philanthropic role played by the Indian Diaspora (ethnic Indians living around the globe) in their host countries as well as for maintaining their links with India. About 25 million Indians are based overseas in 110 countries. January 9 has been picked as the day of celebrating the PBD in a symbolic gesture to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa on that day in 1915.
The Indian Prime Minster, Manmohan Singh, President Kalam, several Ministers of Government as well as Opposition Leader L.K Advani will address the conference. Ramsaran and Persaud will present papers at the conference. Other captains of business and industry and academics will also make presentations on varied topics.
The President will confer the prestigious Pravasi Samman Award to outstanding personalities. Last year, Yesu Persaud was a recipient. Alvin Kalicharran, Rohan Kanhai, President Jagdeo, and Shridath Ramphal were also earlier recipients of the award. Several other Guyanese have been nominated for the award but it is not clear if any is on the honours list this year.
Like the previous four Pravasi, this one will also have a serious theme for discussion: Meeting India’s Development Challenges. Associated themes are: How to get US $1.5 Trillion of Capital Investment, The Resource Hurdle for Development and Leveraging Technology for Development. The Guyanese delegates at the conference plan to follow up on a proposal for the establishment of a university for Indians in the diaspora and for the reduction of the fee to obtain the PIO card that would allow overseas settled Indians to reside, work and study in India without the need for a visa.
An exhibition of Indian goods and services will target PIOs as the government tries to link Indian industrialists with others in the diaspora to promote trade and investment.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
