Women’s Leadership, Diaspora Contributions, Cultural Connections Shine At PBD

BHUBANESHWAR, (ANI) – The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebration here served as a platform to showcase women’s leadership, entrepreneurial success stories, and the critical role of the Indian diaspora in fostering global connections.
The three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas began on January 8. The flagship event, organised by the Government of India in partnership with the Odisha government, focused on the theme ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.’
Over 50 countries were represented by members of the Indian diaspora, who shared insights on leadership, innovation, and cultural integration.
The event brought together leaders and dignitaries from around the world to share insights and experiences that underscored resilience, cultural integration, and innovative contributions to society.
Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Urban and Housing Development, highlighted the transformative potential of systemic support for women leaders during a session on Nari Shakti.
“This session is about women’s leadership. It has a component where the self-motivation, inspiration matters. The second layer is about the community, about the systems, about the institutions which can help women to come forward. So I’m sure that some of the countries who have the intention, they can bring such institutional mechanisms, systemic interventions due to which women can be incentivised to be in the public sector,” Padhee explained, emphasizing the importance of enabling structures that promote female participation in public life.
Adding an international perspective, Prerna Bhardwaj, Mayor of Gerrards Cross in England, shared her admiration for the stories of Indian women who overcame significant challenges to succeed abroad.
“I found it really inspirational to listen to all the women stories of how they made it as entrepreneurs and how they went by themselves to different countries, often with their families, often with very little and they made it really big by working hard and being really dedicated… I think it’s very inspirational. It does show that Indian women, no matter where we are, we are very resilient to change and we can make a difference to our society and also bring India to other countries,” she said.
Bhardwaj also reflected on the cultural exchange and gender perspectives discussed at the event, sharing examples such as a Slovenian entrepreneur’s sari shop and her daughter’s Indian restaurant, and the inspiring story of a former Miss India making her mark in Qatar.
Another highlight of the event was the recognition of Dr Subramanium K V Sathasivam from Malaysia, who received an award for his contributions to the Indian community in Malaysia and strengthening India-Malaysia relations.
Sathasivam emphasized the significance of PBD in uniting the Indian diaspora, which he estimated to comprise over 200 million people worldwide. He elaborated on the event’s role in fostering cultural and emotional ties, providing a forum for discussions, and celebrating the collective identity of Indians abroad.

Also Read: Modi At Pravasi Divas: Grateful To Diaspora For Raising India’s Image