Bhubaneswar: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was among the prominent speakers at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas(PBD) hosted in Bhubaneswar, and explained the importance of providing the youth with a driving role in turning the currents of the world. Keeping in view the youth of the country that Narendra Modi is associated with, Jaishankar vividly remembered the Indian badminton star Player P V Sindhu. She said, “I remember, a while back, during a session, PV Sindhu, a renowned Indian badminton player, made a remark regarding why the PM Modi is a youth icon, and she put it as his attitude which transformed the country from chalta hai to badal sakta hai hoga kaise nahi.

#WATCH | 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Bhubaneswar | EAM S Jaishankar says, "I still recall some time ago an observation by a famous Indian badminton player PV Sindhu on why PM Modi is a youth icon. She summed it up as his attitude which moved the nation from 'chalta hai' to… pic.twitter.com/AKA1gKw1Xj

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2025

Pioneers of this change are the younger generations who are now becoming the change makers.

As stated also highlighted by Jaishankar, enhancing global change from aiding in AI improvement to being involved with electric vehicles to startups to even changing the scope of cricket and chess, the current younger generations are doing it all.

He continued, ‘It is effortless to support the cause when we know that we are strong and nothing is unattainable.’ Jaishankar stressed how development is complicated, yet amplified through Slowly but Surely, we’ve finally embarked on our viksit bharat. Amrit Kaal, and we still have a long way to go till we catch up with the rest of the globe.

On the behalf of the Prime Minister, he appealed to the Indian population abroad: ‘do visit India and turn it into your go-to travel portal, it would also be appreciated if you turn reporters visiting from overseas amids were to visit as well’’. I initiated the concept to break with decorum when selecting the guest of honor for the function in order to make it easier on Jaishankar in regard to the expectations of the audience.

"Usually we choose someone from the political world for that position (guest of honour). On this occasion, we have made a break - I think a very understandable and a very justifiable break of choosing someone from the media or the world of business," he remarked. Jaishankar proceeded to explain, "Because young Indians today are excelling in so many fields which need to be said… This state (Odisha) gives an amazing scope to, in a way, feel much of what we will be discussing in the course of the PBD. The cultural and religious and historical and archaeological sites of this place remind us of a question, why we as Indians say we are a civilizational nation."

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention

One of the Indian diaspora’s major events, the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention will be held from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The event is attended by the representatives of more than 50 countries , the focus for this year will be on “Contribution of Diaspora towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India).” On January 9, at 10 AM, Modi will flag off the event depicting the trend of increasing global integration of India and the significance of the Indian Community in the evolution of this country.