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Indian Cinema: A Bridge and a Barrier for the Global Diaspora

The latest film to be banned in the UAE is ‘Fighter’. Losing the UAE business means a goes chunk out of your recovery, considering that 60 per cent of the Emirates population is from the sub-continent. And, also considering the fact that the film is said to have cost a mammoth Rs 400+ crore…reports Vinod Mirani

The Indian diaspora spread all over the world has mostly stayed connected to its roots. And one of the institutions that keeps this connection alive is Indian cinema. These films could be in Hindi or in any of the South Indian languages. The Indian film market is spread far and wide, but Indian films also have to conform to the local culture and sensibilities, mainly of the religious kind.

We do not make films that are against any other country or its culture, but when it comes to religious sentiments, considering the mixed population we have, Indian films feature characters from different religious backgrounds. Yet, Indian films cannot always please all people. Almost all countries exhibiting films have their own censorship bodies. It is also not uncommon for them to occasionally ban films from theatrical release. The reason could be a vulgarity, nudity or religious sentiments being hurt.

Films are most commonly banned in Islamic countries. Banning vulgar and other objectionable content is understandable, but a factor peculiar to Islamic countries is that a film with content against a friendly country, which means another Islamic country, is frowned upon. Generally, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a lucrative market, is quite open and liberal about viewing films as just a means of entertainment. But when another Islamic nation objects to a film, the Emirates government respects its sentiments. Besides, which country wants a film to ferment restlessness among its people, especially if it has mostly expatriates from various countries! The latest film to be banned in the UAE is ‘Fighter’.

Losing the UAE business means a goes chunk out of your recovery, considering that 60 per cent of the Emirates population is from the sub-continent. And, also considering the fact that the film is said to have cost a mammoth Rs 400+ crore. The film is not against Islam, but it deals with the fraught relations between India and Pakistan. Still, there’s no reason for one Islamic nation to spoil its relations with another for the sake of one film. Pakistan keeps banning Hindi films off and on, but these don’t always get banned in other Islamic nations. Akshay Kumar’s ‘Baby’, banned in Pakistan, was allowed to be screened in other Islamic nations because the villains in the film were not specifically designated as Pakistani. ‘Udta Punjab’, too, was allowed in other Islamic countries because it focused only on the Pakistani drug trade in so far as it affected India. Also banned in Pakistan, but not elsewhere, were ‘Pad Man’, ‘Raanjhanaa’, ‘Naam Shabana’, ‘Tere Bin Laden’, ‘Mulk’, ‘Raees’, ‘Neerja’, and, of course, ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ and ‘Gadar 2’! Can’t always find a logical explanation for this banning business, be it in India or Pakistan, or any other country! Other films banned in the Middle East included Salman Khan’s ‘God Tussi Great Ho’, besides ‘Beast’, ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘Bell Bottom’, ‘Kurup’, ‘The Killer’, ‘Padmaavat’, ‘The Dirty Picture’, ‘Oh My God’, ‘Tiger 3’ (Kuwait, Oman and Qatar), and ‘Samrat Prithiviraj’ (Kuwait and Oman). Can you imagine, ‘Delhi Belly’ was banned in Nepal! Of all the countries, Kuwait found ‘The Dirty Picture’ objectionable for its bold content. And, for whatever reason, Mani Rathnam’s ‘Bombay’ was banned in Singapore. The Rudalis of Social Media There is a new ‘rudali’ (professional mourners) brigade on social media! All along, we have seen bots engaged along with people to promote films and, then, go on posting fake box-office collection figures.

The activity starts from the day a film’s promo is released till the film is hailed as a box-office success / hit / blockbuster, and now, with ‘Pathaan’, ‘Jawan’ and ‘Animal’, the term used is India’s greatest hits, benchmark setters, and so on! Hrithik Roshan’s ‘Fighter’ was expected to be another of those illusionary Rs 500 crore+ blockbusters. And those, warming up to post Rs 50 crore figures with every post till they crossed Rs 700 crore, were lost. More than the cine goer, the film had let the brigade down! So, they have now taken to writing paeans for ‘Fighter’ and insisting that the viewers have done injustice to it, though it was a fantastic film. The same audience who rejected or ignored it, the ‘rudali’ brigade prognosticated, will end up calling it a masterpiece when it is released on OTT! One such ‘rudali’ also goes on to say that people will then realise they failed as an audience (in appreciating a right film?). Yet another so-called film critic posts a message for Hollywood with the poster of ‘Fighter’ in the backdrop: “Hollywood should take lessons from Bollywood on how to make a masala action film!” Hey guys, why do you assume the people who rejected a film in cinemas will watch it on OTT? And rate it as a masterpiece? It is the same audience but more discerning if you checked recently on what works on OTT platforms. Sycophancy seems to have found a new level. Films Vying for Election Season Film releases have been planned in a way that helped them to cash in on festivals and national holidays.

Diwali, Eid, Independence Day, Republic Day and the Christmas week have been the most favoured for film releases. They assured decent opening collection figures. In the last decade or so, even the themes of films are such that they pander to nationalism, patriotism and social issues promoted by the ruling dispensaton. And films such as ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘Kerala Story’ worked with both the critics and the box office. So a lineup of such films was to be expected. Now that the national general election season is here, some more filmmakers are ready to roll out films along the same lines. A string of new releases has been announced in the hope that they would get noticed at a time when the political atmosphere will be surcharged. These include films such as ‘Palayan Kab Tak’, ‘Mirg’, ‘Article 370’, ‘Veer Savarkar’, ‘Sabarmati Express Report’, ‘Accident Or Conspiracy: Godhra’, ‘West Bengal Diary’ and ‘965’. And they all expect to stir up some media attention during the pre-election season.

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Ugandan President Lauds Contribution of Indian Diaspora

At the outset of his address, he also recognised India’s pivotal role in the establishment of the NAM group and the nation’s participation in the inaugural NAM summit in Belgrade in 1961…reports Asian Lite News

At the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kampala, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed admiration for the substantial contributions made by Indian returnees to the economic development of his country.

Commending their noteworthy accomplishments, he said, “I was asking people how many factories have been built by our Indian returnees. They told me about the 900 factories that they had built since they came back.”

Reflecting on Uganda’s historical events, particularly the expulsion of Asians, primarily Indian Ugandans, during Idi Amin’s regime, President Museveni openly acknowledged the mistakes made by the government.

He said, “NAM countries also sometimes make mistakes like here in Uganda.” He recounted the adverse consequences of Amin’s actions, including the economic impact on his country. India during Amin’s time had cut ties with his regime due to his actions.

President Museveni noted the adverse impact of Amin’s decisions on the country’s economy, saying, “You had a leader of a NAM country undermining his own economy.” The expelled individuals were actively involved in various sectors, including sugar, hotels, and steel production.

Expressing remorse, the president lamented the lost opportunities for growth and development during that tumultuous period. President Museveni reflected on the measures undertaken by the Ugandan government to address and rectify past injustices.

“So therefore it is very crucial that we study very carefully the issue of the investment climate in our respective countries. When we kicked out all these people and we came into government, we brought back, we gave back the properties of our Asian citizens and non-citizens that Idi Amin had taken. We gave them back. We had a hot debate in parliament, some people saying this. We said, no, they must get back their properties. And they got their properties,” he added.

At the outset of his address, he also recognised India’s pivotal role in the establishment of the NAM group and the nation’s participation in the inaugural NAM summit in Belgrade in 1961.

“This group of countries, accounts for 4.46 billions of people of the World. It was started by our far-sighted elders in the persons of Sukarno of Indonesia, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Nasser of Egypt and Chou En Lai of China,” he said.

The first summit of NAM took place in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1961 and was attended by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Burma, Cambodia, Ceylon, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Republic, Yemen and Yugoslavia, the President of Uganda said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Jaishankar Meets Nepal PM in Uganda

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-Top News Diaspora India News

Jaishankar Hails Indian Diaspora’s Role in Shaping Global Perceptions

Dr S. Jaishankar shared valuable insights into the dynamic changes taking place in India and their impact on the lives of Indians both domestically and abroad, reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, provided a comprehensive overview of the ongoing transformations in India and underscored the critical role of the Indian diaspora in shaping global perceptions.

From technological advancements to social campaigns, Jaishankar painted a vivid picture of a progressing India, urging the diaspora to convey this narrative to the world.

In a captivating address to the Indian diaspora in Dubai, Jaishankar engaged with Indian students and young professionals in Dubai, sharing valuable insights into the dynamic changes taking place in India and their impact on the lives of Indians both domestically and abroad.

“Happy to interact with Indian students and young professionals in Dubai today. They will work at the forefront of building a Viksit Bharat in the Amritkaal. Shared perspectives on transformations in India and the impact it is having on everyday lives of Indians at home and abroad,” posted Jaishankar on X.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Jaishankar stated, “Happy to interact with Indian students and young professionals in Dubai today. They will work at the forefront of building a Viksit Bharat in the Amritkaal.” He emphasised the diaspora’s pivotal role in shaping global perceptions of India and influencing others, extending beyond their immediate circles.

“While you look at the CoWIN portal, Covaxin, 5G, and Chandrayaan, these are all components of Viksit Bharat,” Jaishankar remarked, highlighting India’s remarkable achievements in technology and space exploration. He stressed the importance of effectively communicating India’s progress to the world, especially for those studying abroad.

Discussing a significant event in India, Jaishankar shared, “If I was not here but in India, I would actually today be participating in a very important event which the prime minister would be addressing, called the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.” This initiative aims to showcase the progress made in the last decade through various schemes and campaigns.

Jaishankar enumerated campaigns such as Swatch Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Digital India, Skill India, and Awas Yojana, illustrating how each contributes to a comprehensive picture of India’s progress. “When you connect each one of these, you get a very different picture. That is today the progress in India. And that progress today is actually the basis for greatness tomorrow,” he added.

He urged the diaspora to understand the importance of their influence, saying, “Your influence is not just limited to your immediate group or family. You shape the thinking of India. When they hear from you in a very natural way, what is happening in India, it gives them a sense of how India is progressing.”

Touching upon India’s global role, Jaishankar discussed the recently concluded G20 presidency, highlighting India’s ability to bring nations together despite geopolitical challenges. “We have shown that India is capable of getting the world at a very difficult, very divisive moment, around a table, agree on common goals,” he stated, emphasizing India’s positive impact on the international stage. (ANI)

ALSO READ: India’s Strong Pitch for Adaptation Goals in Dubai

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-Top News Diaspora UK News

Gutsy British Indian women find their niche

She adds that a major achievement for IIW has been organising the She Inspires Awards in the British parliament to recognise the work of women…reports Asian Lite News

As the Indian diaspora witnesses monumental changes in its profile and confidence across the world, Indian women stepping out of the country too reflect that change. The new generation of women settling in the UK come equipped with education and attitudinal understanding which makes them stand apart from the ones who migrated a generation earlier.

Despite the progress, Indian women in the diaspora still have to surmount challenges in a foreign land, some of which can be formidable.

Rashmi Mishra of Inspiring Indian Women (IIW), an entity that she set up in 2016 in London to support women in the diaspora who faced assorted challenges – right from domestic abuse and hostile in-laws to lack of work opportunities and a non-existent social circle in an alien land.

Mishra says that one of her motivations to start IIW was to support well-qualified women who arrived on dependent visas and were looking for suitable work. “It was very frustrating for me as I had to get into ‘supply teacher work’ – where I would get teaching assignments only if a regular teacher went on leave. My long-term experience of teaching in India was not counted. Because of my experiences as an expat, I could understand the emotions of educated women who were engineers and IT professionals but could not find jobs in London”.

She began to connect women from the diaspora so that they leave behind the drudgery of their homes, find the right opportunities and do better in their personal and professional lives. Many women were able to hold exhibitions while others were happy to meet others women and share experiences.

Mishra also realised that she could not just stop at creating networking opportunities as diaspora women were facing other challenges like domestic abuse. “Lots of cases come up in London, therefore, we set up an online group called Sister Support where women ask and provide answers from their experiences related to domestic violence”.

Narrating an incident, she mentions how a woman who was “beaten up black and blue” by her husband bit him in self-defence. “The mother-in-law called up the police and the woman had to spend a night in jail for the assault. I took guarantee for her and got her out of jail but then she had nowhere to go. She did not want to go back to India to face her family and society”.

Mishra says she gets immense support from local authorities. “The Indian High Commission is very helpful. In this woman’s case, the high commission provided hotel accommodation for 10 days. Similarly, social systems here and the British authorities are supportive. The local council helped her and we got help from care workers”, she adds. Even as the legal case carries on, the woman is out of the toxic relationship and settled down in the UK.

Despite occasional hostile incidents at home, the diaspora is witnessing far-reaching changes. Mishra says dowry is going down among the Indians settled in the UK. “Now it has become an embarrassment to ask for it”.

IIW was registered as a company house entity as opposed to organisations existing only as WhatsApp and Facebook groups. Mishra says she has been filing accounts for the last eight years which has made the organisation transparent and accountable. “We do not take any money for personal gain. Our donations go entirely into activities. We have extended our work to underprivileged girls in Santa Cruz in Mumbai”, Mishra says.

She adds that a major achievement for IIW has been organising the She Inspires Awards in the British parliament to recognise the work of women.

“Member of Parliament, Bob Blackman hosts the awards under numerous categories. We honour mothers who have sacrificed their careers for their families and children. We felicitated a 75-year-old woman who was winding up her business. She had opened up the first ayurvedic store in the UK decades back. It was a great moment for her as well as her family”.

Now, IIW has extended the awards to include women in India, like Meenakshi Walke who promote unusual vocations like teaching bamboo art.

An active IIW member, Vini Kalia says that because of IIW Indian women have established newer networks and are in fact expanding those across the UK, adding that she also discovered newer skills and confidence within. Often, she finds herself holding meetings with officials as well as arranging logistics for IIW events.

On the other extreme, Sudha Rawat also corroborates that IIW helped her express her creativity. “I am interested in graphic designing and playing with photos and videos. It was through IIW that I got a platform to express my video-making skills”. Besides making videos, Rawat now spends her time organising events and getting other women into the fold.

Her husband, Ravi Rawat says that diaspora women are becoming achievers and getting recognition their families had not thought possible earlier. Adding a touch of humour he adds: “Now many of us feel jealous that the women are organising events at the parliament or the holding meetings at the Indian High Commission – something which even we had not done”.

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-Top News India News World News

Chandrayaan-3’s Lunar Triumph Sparks Joy Across Global Indian Diaspora

Capturing the excitement of Indians in South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the country for BRICS Summit, shared pictures of community members meeting him and celebrating….reports Meenakshi Iyer

It was a ‘proud and historic day’ for India’s 32 million-plus strong diaspora, which stood in unison with their mother country amid chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’, as the nation conquered the moon on Wednesday with its historic Chandrayaan-3 mission.

From holding special screenings of the landing event, to saying prayers and distributing sweets, loudest cheers on the mission’s success could be heard from the community that is far away, yet not away from India.

Capturing the excitement of Indians in South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the country for BRICS Summit, shared pictures of community members meeting him and celebrating.

“Feeling the fervour all the way from Johannesburg for Chandrayaan-3! The enthusiasm of our diaspora in South Africa for India’s achievements in the space sector is truly gladdening,” PM Modi posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.

Taking to X, member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, Lord Rami Ranger, said, “Indians are literally over the moon with the smooth landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft! Congratulations ISRO. India becomes the only nation to land on the South Pole of the Moon.”

“Congratulations to India on the #MoonLanding — this is a national, regional and global success story. Everyone involved has played their personal part in a national victory.
#Chandrayaan3 is a win for everyone,” Virendra Sharma, Member of British Parliament, posted.

Indians from across the UK joined the High Commission in London where people chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ slogans.

Calling it a “moment of immense pride”, the Friends of India Society International (FISI), a UK-based diaspora group, celebrated India’s expanding prowess in the realm of technology.

“The successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface is a moment of immense pride for the 1.4 billion people in India and the global Indian diaspora. This achievement serves as a powerful testament to India’s unwavering dedication to scientific progress, poised to ignite the aspirations of forthcoming generations of explorers and scientists within the nation,” FISI said in a statement.

Singapore’s Indian-origin Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also dropped a congratulatory message to Indians. “Congratulations India for landing on the South Pole of the Moon. This is indeed a proud achievement that will resonate across the world!”

M A Yusuff Ali of Emirates-based Lulu Group and Second Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said, “It is a historic moment not just for India and Indians but for the entire mankind. May this landmark landing of #Chandrayan3 pave for many more achievements in the science and technology field”.

Chandrakanth ‘Chandra’ Arya, a powerful Indian-origin voice in the Canadian parliament, who visited India in July this year and met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, attributed the success to ‘India’s mastery of advanced technologies’.

“India is now on the Moon”. Congratulations to India on Chandrayaan-3 becoming the first space mission to land near the south pole of the Moon and joining the exclusive club of just three other countries in the world to land on moon,” Arya, who hails from Karnataka, wrote on X.

“This is proof of the sophistication of  India’s space programme and India’s mastery of advanced technologies. This is a great moment for the people of India and all those of Indian heritage across the world,” he said.

With Tricolours in their hands, Indian-Americans gathered at Times Square in New York to celebrate the event.

“Congratulations to India for the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the southern polar region of the moon. It’s an incredible feat for all the scientists and engineers involved. We are proud to partner with you on this mission and space exploration more broadly,” US Indian-American Vice President, Kamala Harris, said.

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, who was in India this month to celebrate Independence Day, called it a “big moment” for the country. “A big moment for India. Congratulations… I saw incredible ingenuity and dynamism across India in the delegation we recently led,” Khanna said.

Calling the success an “incredible moment”, Google’s Sundar Pichai and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella congratulated ISRO for its victory.

“My congratulations to ISRO on the moon landing of the Chandrayaan-3. What an exciting moment for India – and the future of space exploration,” Nadella wrote.

“Wow! Chandrayaan-3’s moon landing is a great achievement for India and all humanity! Congratulations to the ISRO team and all of India,” Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, wrote on X.

The success of the moon mission was of prime importance to India, which has now become the fourth country to master the soft-landing technology on the lunar surface after the US, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Via this mission, India will understand the lunar surface better but also its potential for human habitation in the future.

Chandrayaan-3 landed successfully after a 40-day journey starting from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.

ALSO READ: Political Leaders Unite in Applauding Chandrayaan Success

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-Top News Diaspora India News

Indiaspora to host G20 Forum in Delhi

The three-day programme will feature an array of plenary and breakout sessions, providing a platform for stimulating discussions led by an esteemed lineup of speakers…reports Asian Lite News

Indiaspora, a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to uniting the Indian diaspora for a stronger, more interconnected global community, announced on August 2 that it will host a G20 Forum in New Delhi later this month to brainstorm the Indian diaspora’s role in the country’s march towards 2047.

The three-day Indiaspora G20 Forum from August 22 will convene influential voices from around the world to deliberate on critical issues encompassing foreign policy, financial inclusion, climate change, gender equality, healthcare, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, sports, trade and investments and beyond, according to a media release issued by the organisation.

“The Indiaspora G20 Forum presents an unparalleled opportunity to create a lasting impact on a global scale. By convening this event, we aim to drive tangible solutions that transcend boundaries and foster collaboration. This forum is a testament to the Indian diaspora’s collective commitment to creating positive change and leaving a meaningful legacy for generations to come,” said Sreekumar Nair, CEO of Indiaspora-India.

The three-day programme will feature an array of plenary and breakout sessions, providing a platform for stimulating discussions led by an esteemed lineup of speakers. Drawing from various fields, the speakers include government officials and policymakers, businesspersons and entrepreneurs, accomplished sportspersons, inspiring artistes and dedicated philanthropists, all of whom share a common vision for a better world, the release said.

“As India assumes the G20 presidency, the Indiaspora G20 Forum could not have been planned at a more opportune moment. Indiaspora is assembling 200 diaspora leaders from 25 countries to see how we can contribute to India’s journey towards 100 years of independence,” said Sanjeev Joshipura, executive director of Indiaspora.

“The Indian diaspora, working alongside prominent leaders in India, are committed to harnessing our collective strength to foster inclusive growth, sustainable development and social progress, as India continues to assume its global leadership position,” he added.

ALSO READ-G20 nations to unite in cultural exchange

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-Top News India News USA

Is Modi’s stance on Ukraine affecting bond with US diaspora?

A bipartisan group of Indian Americans will loudly declare their estrangement from the Modi government on this issue at an event on Capitol Hill, home to the US Legislature….writes YASHWANT RAJ

Indian Americans have been a strong and critical pillar of India’s strategic relationship with the US. But the Modi government’s current stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine has pushed them furthest than they have ever been from New Delhi. A bipartisan group of Indian Americans will loudly declare their estrangement from the Modi government on this issue at an event on Capitol Hill, home to the US Legislature.

The idea is for the event, billed as “Indian Americans Against Genocide in Ukraine,” to demonstrate that the diaspora is just as horrified and appalled by the invasion of Ukraine as the rest of the US, and not just the government and lawmakers but most lay Americans, barring some right-wing commentators such as Tucker Carlson.

The event, which was first reported by IANS in May is taking place on Wednesday and many lawmakers from both parties are expected to speak, including the four Indian American members of the House of Representatives, all of whom have been stridently critical of the Russian invasion and India’s refusal to condemn it.

Raja Krishnamurthi’s picture figures on a flyer distributed by the organisers, along with President Joe Biden’s.

The American President is not attending, of course. But his picture is supposed to signal that the event is in the knowledge of the White House, according to the organisers, and dispel any misgivings that may have been felt there about Indian Americans, who are often seen as cheerleaders for New Delhi.

Indian Americans have indeed aligned themselves closely with policies of the government in New Delhi in the past and have been activists on their behalf. They were an integral part of the Vajpayee government’s efforts to blunt the impact of the sanctions imposed by the Clinton administration for the Pokhran II nuclear tests in 1998 and played an outsize role in the ratification by the US Congress of the India-US civil nuclear deal, which ended India’s nuclear pariah status globally and, most importantly, ushered a new warmth in the bilateral relationship that continues to this day, endorsed and bolstered by successive governments, Democrats and Republicans.

The June 22 event is jointly hosted by unequivocally Democratic US-India Security Council Inc. and Republican-leaning Hindu American Coalition. They are on the opposite sides of the aisle in US politics, but are joined at the hip in their support for the Modi government. And that is the most notable aspect of this event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enjoyed unparalleled popularity thus far among Indian Americans, many of whom have either travelled to India to help his campaign or worked the phones from here to canvas voters in India. But his personal equity, unfortunately, may be insufficient to offset the blowback in America to his Ukraine policy.

ALSO READ: ‘India-US ties guided by Modi, Biden, yoga vital linkage’

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-Top News India News

Modi wishes Indian diaspora on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome from Indian diaspora.

January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since, in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, had returned to India from South Africa, on this day…reports Asian Lite News

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted everyone, especially the Indian diaspora on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Greetings to everyone, especially the Indian diaspora on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. Our diaspora has distinguished itself all over the world and has excelled in different spheres. At the same time, they have remained connected to their roots. We are proud of their accomplishments.”

On January 9, the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is observed to strengthen the engagement of the Indian community overseas with the India government and reconnect them with their roots. It is celebrated to mark the contribution of the Indians living abroad in the development of the land of their ancestors.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan will address a virtual youth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas conference on ‘the role of Indian diaspora’ with regard to innovation and new technologies.

January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since, in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, had returned to India from South Africa, on this day, and led the country’s Freedom Struggle which changed the lives of Indians forever.

Started in 2003, these conventions provide a platform to the Indian community overseas to engage with the government and the people from the land of their ancestors, for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.

ALSO READ: Supreme Court directs to secure all records on Modi’s Punjab visit

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Diaspora India News

Stalin looks to team up Tamil diaspora for TN Dollar goal

Thennarasu said that the members would act as brand ambassadors of Tamil Nadu’s industrial ecosystem and they would be given the mandate to open sub-chapters in their respective countries of residences…reports Asian Lite News.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is in the process of roping in Tamil diaspora abroad to achieve the state’s trillion-dollar goal by 2030, a pet project of the Chief Minister.

The Tamil Nadu government has already roped in the services of several non-resident Tamils for this project.

US-based entrepreneur R. Rangaswami, who is Founder and Chairman of Indiaspora which is a network of global Indian origin leaders, has already been roped in for executing the project. A panel of Tamil diaspora including Sunder Pichai of Google, Indira Nooyi, the former Chairperson of Pepsico, and several other technocrats and management experts will be used for developing the economic investment in the state.

Tamil Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu will be the Chairperson of the 12 member panel, and the Vice Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission, and the state Industries Secretary are the ex-officio members. The Managing Director and CEO of Guidance will also be an ex-officio member.

The others in the 12 member panel are Dr Bala Swaminathan, of the Bala family foundation, Ganesh Radhakrishnan, CEO, Wharfedale Technologies Inc, US, Saravanan M. Sinapan, President, DHRRA, Malaysia, Suresh Sambandam, CEO, KISSFLOW (Founder, Dream Tamil Nadu), M. Arumugam, CEO, Broadline Computer Systems Private Ltd, Tamil Nadu, Elenchezhian Loganathan, CEO, Yaal Exports, Tamil Nadu and Rm Arun, President, SICCI, Tamil Nadu.

Thennarasu said that the members would act as brand ambassadors of Tamil Nadu’s industrial ecosystem and they would be given the mandate to open sub-chapters in their respective countries of residences.

The panel will help the Tamil Nadu government to conduct an annual investment and cultural conclave and the panel members will help the Chief Minister and Industries Minister to conduct physical and virtual meetings with the diaspora in their respective countries.

The panel will connect with the Tamil diaspora and create an online platform for regular interactions.

Big investment push

In July, this year, Tamil Nadu received investment commitments to the tune of Rs 28,508 crore from 49 companies across various segments that will create 83,482 jobs in the state. In an event, organised by the industries department and ‘Guidance Tamil Nadu,’ Stalin laid the foundation stone for nine projects, entailing investments of Rs 4,250 crore that will generate 21,630 jobs.

An official release said 35 Memorandums of Understanding were signed in the presence of the chief minister, with a cumulative investment of Rs 17,141 crore, which would create 55,054 jobs.

General Electric (GE) has proposed to establish a Centre of Excellence to enhance production of aircraft and aeronautical components for industries in the aerospace and defence sector, using advanced manufacturing technologies. While there was no mention of the investment details, the release said an MoU was signed by top executives of GE and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO) on Tuesday in the presence of the chief minister.

As per the MoU, the total investments proposed (Rs 28,508 crore) are spread across electronics, auto-components, industrial parks, information technology, manufacturing, food processing, footwear and pharmaceuticals. Guidance Tamil Nadu said it entered into an MoU with American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association to promote start-ups in innovation, research and development in Tamil Nadu. The digital accelerator programme sanctions grants to start-up projects engaged in innovation, Research and Development. The government has sanctioned Rs five crore for this programme.

ALSO READ-Kerala CM speaks to Stalin on Mullaperiyar

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London News UK News

Croydon Celebrates Festival of Lights

The exquisitely decorated Ganesha bejewelled with silk flowers gazed benevolently upon the numerous diverse communities of shoppers who paused to gawp but stayed to gaze and admire the richness of the culture of Bharat…reports Sheillama Maharaj and Nilanjana Paul

The Hindu community in London suburb of Croydon organised first-ever Diwali celebrations in town’s shopping centre.

The autumnal air in Croydon Centrale nipped at the heels of shoppers. But the inner atrium of Whitgift Centre was ablaze with the warmth, light and energy of a major Hindu festival.

Ms Seema Anand collaborated with IIW (Inspiring Indian Women) to curate and organise the Diwali Celebrations at Centrale and Whitgift Shopping Centres and created one of the most dazzling, the first-ever Diwali at Whitgift Square! The exquisitely decorated Ganesha bejewelled with silk flowers gazed benevolently upon the numerous diverse communities of shoppers who paused to gawp but stayed to gaze and admire the richness of the culture of Bharat and the beauty of her people. The Ganesh was made last year (in 2020) for the 20th year celebrations at Brent Cross. From start to finish it took about 3 weeks.

Ms Seema Anand

Inspiring Indian Women wove their way through the throngs of the curious and admiring They were sinuous, elegant and gracious as they inspired the onlookers to appreciate and participate. The performances were varied – from Breakdance Bollywood to Bharatnatyam to Carnatic Dance to Yoga! A marvellous powerful synergy was created between the onlookers, the performers, the proud mums and Dads and the Musical, Creative Arts.

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A beautifully arranged bouquet of performances brought the spirit of Diwali alive. From professionals to amateurs, from old to young, the festival brought together artists from all over the land. The celebration included the glamorous dancers from Senjuti’s Rhythm and Dance and cute Siya and Aarav Rau with their solo performances.

It also had students from Indradhanushkids with their presentation of songs and dances. The event featured performances from Beeja Group. The talented mother and daughter duo Moumita and Tanisha, Paromita Goswami and Vini Kalia, Soumya with her team, Forums Dance Academy, and Krati Banga with her team also took part in the celebrations.

Almost hundred palms got free henna designs beautifully done by Divya Chari and Ruchita Brahmkshatriya. Free Diya making workshop by Anita Choudhary from Mehakflowers.co.uk engaged several Kids who now could connect ‘Diya’ (Lamp) with Diwali. Pics Credit – Kranthi Roy from Pink Pearls Photography UK The audience left with lingering memories of the joyous celebration, until next year

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