Next PBD meet in Gandhinagar to mark Mahatma's homecoming

The next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the world's largest annual gathering of the Indian diaspora, will be held in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar in January next year to mark 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa, officials said Monday

In this connection, two Gujarat ministers, Finance Minister Saurabhbhai Patel and Minister of State for Non-Resident Gujaratis Pradeepsinh Jadeja, Monday met Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here for the first advisory committee meeting on the upcoming mega diaspora meet.

The 13th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held for the first time in Gujarat, at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar from Jan 7-9.

Terming the meeting with Sushma Swaraj "very successful", Patel said that the theme of the PBD has been decided to be 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa. Mahatma Gandhi returned to his homeland from South Africa on Jan 9, 1915 and hence all the celebrations at PBD 2015 will be focused on the centenary year of Gandhi's homecoming, Patel added, according to a Gujarat government press statement.

The mega event is expected to be attended by over 4,000-5,000 NRIs, the minister said.

The advisory committee meeting was also attended by Minister of State for External Affairs, Gen V.K. Singh (retd) and other senior officials from the Overseas Indian Affairs ministry and the Gujarat government.