The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This important bi-annual event’s major attraction was the virtual flag-off of a special tourist train for expatriates. The train, known as the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, is exclusively for Indian expatriates aged between 45 and 65.
Departing from the Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi, the train will travel to major tourist and pilgrimage destinations. The train has a capacity for 156 passengers, and the Railway Department announced that services to multiple destinations will begin in the next three weeks. This initiative is part of the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a platform to honor the contributions of the diaspora to their motherland. This year’s theme is “Contribution of Diaspora to the Development of a Developed India.” The event, organized jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Odisha government, will be held from January 8 to 10.
In his speech, Modi expressed that he always considers expatriates as India’s ambassadors. He highlighted the strength of India’s heritage, stating that due to it, India can tell the world that the future will be shaped not by war, but by wisdom.
