“Pravasi Bhartiya Divas” held at the Consulate

Chicago IL: The Consulate General of India Chicago organized the “Pravasi Bhartiya Divas” on 9th January, 2017 at the Consulate premises in which in which a large cross-section of Indian-American Diaspora, representatives of major socio-cultural organizations and print & audio-visual media organizations in Greater Chicago participated.

The programme commenced with the screening of special thematic films sent by MEA to mark the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017. Following this, full address of the Prime Minister of India delivered on the 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017 in Bengaluru was screened. The actual video clipping of the conferment of PBSA 2017 to Dr. Bharat Haridas Barai, a prominent community leader from Indiana, by Hon’ble President of India was also screened.

In his address, Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed lauded the Indian-American Diaspora (Pravasis) for making significant contribution towards the socio-economic development of India. He invited them to whole-heartedly participate in GOI’s Flagship Programmes such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Skills India’, ‘Swatch Bharat Abiyan’, ‘Digital India’ and ‘Green India’. The Consul General also encouraged the India Diaspora in the US Midwest to actively engage in philanthropic activities to supplement the development efforts being undertaken through the India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians [IDF-OI]. Pamphlets on IDF-OI were distributed to the attendees.

Consul General of India Dr. Ausaf Sayeed made a power point presentation recapping the major activities undertaken by the Consulate during 2016. Some of the important events that were undertaken by the Consulate during 2016, including those in which the Consulate collaborated are as follows: Pravasi Divas” and “Meet the Media” (January 8); Screening the film "India Awakes" (January 21); 67th Republic Day of India celebrations (January 26); 'India Day’ at the University of Missouri at Columbia (January 30); Interactive Session with Indian Association of St. Louis (January 31); Seminar on “Make in India Week” (February 3); “Skill Development Conference - Opportunities for American Organizations” (March 28); Interactive Session with the Sikh community (April 2); Screening of film 'For Here Or To Go'? (April 6); Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14); Book Release “Nadanandam” & painting exhibition “Sunaada Sudha” (April 15); ‘Amazing India’ at Navy Pier (April 17); South Asian Women’s Health Initiative Seminar (May 5); 12th Annual Sikh Parade and Community Festival, Lansing, Michigan (May 7); Emerging Markets Conference, Kellogg Business School (May 7); Theatre Plays 'Quli Dilon Ka Shahzada' and 'Spaces' by Padma Shri Mohammad Ali Baig & Nur & Calligraphy Exhibition from Hyderabad (May 15); third Annual Vivekananda Lecture by Professor David Shulman (May 31); participation in Rath Yatra and India Festival in Madison (July 09); Polo match between the Delhi Polo Club and the Oak Brook Polo Club teams (August 7); Independence Day Celebrations (August 15); 3rd Kala Utsav ( August 22); Screening of Discovery Channel documentary ‘Revealed: Humayun’s Tomb’ (September 8); ‘Jazz by the Lake concert’, IAHM (September 18); ‘Hindi Diwas’ (September 3); "Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in India" seminar in coordination with TiE Midwest ( Sep 15); Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at CGI Chicago & by Gandhi Memorial Trust - Heritage Park, Skokie (October 4th); Young Investigators Meet- Chicago (YIM-C, October 21st); “Ignite 2 Disrupt” Conference, Detroit (October 26-27); 6th Chicago South Asian Film Festival (October 5-10); 141st Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (October 31); “Indo-US Rare Diseases Conference” in collaboration with the Indian Rare Diseases (IORD) and the University of Minneapolis (November 18); 2nd ‘Samvidhan Diwas’ (November 25), Incredible India-Tourism and Hospitality” Seminar (December 14) and Interactive Session with Indian American Community in NW Indiana at the Indian American Cultural Center at Merrillville (December 18) etc.

While sharing the various activities proposed to be undertaken by the Consulate during the year 2017, the Consul General mentioned that the efforts of the Consulate would be directed towards strengthening the political, economic, cultural, educational and people-to-people relationships between India and the US Midwest. As part of this process the Consul General and other senior officers of the Consulate have established a close working relationship with the offices of the Governors, Lt. Governors, elected representatives and Mayors, besides senior officials of the Economic Departments of various states and leading Chambers of Commerce.

The celebration also featured the farewell address by the outgoing Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed in which he expressed his gratitude to the Indian-American Diaspora for the unflinching support extended by them to the Consulate and its activities during his tenure. He acknowledged the efforts of the Cities of Naperville, Aurora and Oakbrook in organizing the ‘India Day Parade’, Diwali Celebrations, and the Indo-US Polo tournaments respectively.