Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the next generation diaspora to equip themselves with knowledge about their country of origin to help satisfy global curiosity on India’s growth story.
“We are giving many opportunities to the youngsters who were born and brought up in the country their parents migrated in order to learn about India. They can understand India by visiting the country during major events like “melas”. They should visit the Ramayan and Buddha circuit, or events related to Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav ” he said while speaking at the 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city.
Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry has initially identified fifteen destinations including Sitamarhi, Bihar for development under the Ramayana Circuit theme namely Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar), Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Mahendragiri (Odisha), Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Hampi (Karnataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu).
Similarly, the Buddhist Circuit project is aimed at further developing the sites of Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Viashali, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Sankisa and Kapilavastu in Bihar.
Modi said when well informed, these future ambassadors of India can give a boost to tourism and research related to India.
Calling the diaspora “brand ambassadors” of India, PM Modi said, “The world is watching India very keenly. You are the people who will address the world’s desire to know about India.”
“Your role as India’s brand ambassador is diverse. You are brand ambassadors of Make In India. You are brand ambassadors of Yoga and Ayurveda. You are also brand ambassadors of India’s cottage industries and handicrafts. At the same time, you are also brand ambassadors of India’s millets. You would already know that 2023 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Millets,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that India performed well on all developmental parameters even during a global pandemic. “The world is watching us because we were able to make a home-grown vaccine and administer it for free. Despite global economic upheaval, we emerged as Top 5 economies and top 3 start-up ecosystems in the world.”
He also revealed that 40 per cent of real-time digital money transactions happen in India. “The whole world is eager to know about us. When we launch 100s of satellites, we make Tejal fighter planes, INS Vikrant, or Arihant like nuclear submarines.”
He also said that the Indian diaspora is famous in the world for being the most peace-loving and disciplined citizens. They have contributed to the development of the countries they have settled in. “Their lives should be documented. Universities should aid research work and audio-visual recording of the stories of struggles and success of the Indian diaspora.”