Address by Prime Minister Vajpayee at conference on the contribution of persons of Indian origin

New Delhi
February 12, 2000

Shri Jaswant Singh, Dr. L. M. Singhvi, Dr. I. P. Singh, Shri Baleshwar Agrawal, and Ladies & Gentlemen,

I am happy to be present at this conference on the Contribution of Persons of Indian origin. I heartily congratulate the Antar-Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad for organising it. 

This is perhaps the first conference of the PIOs to be held in the new century. The credit for this goes to Shri Baleshwar Agarwal and his associates. 

Persons of Indian origin live in almost every country of the world. They have made their mark in an increasing number of professions and occupations. 

Wherever they are, they have earned a good name for themselves and for their mother country – India - with their hard work, talent and, of course their loyalty to the country that they are citizens of. 

The story of the journey of our people to all parts of the world is an amazing one. It is a story of the journey of great courage and character. It tells the tale: 

• Of indentured laborers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh taken to various British colonies all over the world; 

• Of Gujarati traders who sailed to various parts of Africa; 

• Of Sikh farmers who went to the United States and Canada nearly a hundred years back; 

• Of Tamil workers and enterpreneurs who went to Singapore and Malaysia; and 

• Of Sindhi businessmen who went to Thailand and Hong Kong 

It is also the story of the bright, young Indian engineers, doctors, and other professionals who went to the United States and United Kingdom in the '60s , '70s and '80s. They were followed in the ‘90s by software programmers, many of whom have now world-beating businessmen.

Wherever they have gone, Indians have always enriched and fertilized their country of adoption. They have contributed to the economic prosperity and cultural heritage of their host countries. 

I am told that there are forty countries in the world, in each of which the Indian population exceeds fifty thousand. There are many more countries where the Indian population may be less, but its their presence is no less noteworthy. Perhaps there is no other nation in the world that has a widely dispersed diaspora. This is a matter of pride for all of us – for Indians as well as PIOs.

This outstanding contribution of PIOs is due to India’s strong culture and traditions. Our civilization is founded on the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the entire world is one family.

Wherever our sisters and brothers have gone, they have preserved the essential family and social values in their own communities, and also spread them in the larger community that they are part of.

Friends, if we look back, there are various forces of history that prompted our people to leave India and settle abroad. This kind of trans – national movement of people will only accelerate in the inter-dependent and inter—connected.

The expansion of the Indian diaspora in the new century and the new millenium, however, will follow a very different trajectory. In the past, people left India out of distress or some economic compulsion, because ours was then a country under colonial subjugation.

This will no longer be the case in the future. India is now not only a free country, but is also marching ahead confidently to occupy its rightful place in the comity of developed nations of the world.

Never again will any Indian have to leave our shores for distant alien lands out of want and deprivation. Rather, as is already happening, it will be because of the legendary knowledge and talent of Indians that they will go increasing numbers to work and to live in foreign lands.

We are seeing yet another difference. In the past, many of the Indians who went abroad had to work in the lower rungs of the economic ladder in their host countries. Now, they are rapidly climbing up the value chain. It is a matter of pride that many Indians are now heading large banks, airlines, consultancy firms and, of course, information technology companies abroad.

Persons of Indian origin are among the richest in many countries. I am sure that this phenomenon will only gain momentum in the coming years. As the PIOs and NRIs become more and more prosperous, they are looking to India as an attractive place for investment and doing buisness. I assure you that the Government will facilitate this process in every possible way.

Friends, now the time has come when your economic strength and professional achievements should begin to be matched by your voice and influence in politics, culture, and the social life of your adopted countries.

You should also participate responsibly and effectively in your country's political life by supporting every worthwhile political cause. It is a matter of happiness that many persons of Indian origin are beginning to play leading roles in governments and political parties abroad. This process, however, is so far slow and needs to be accelerated.

The Government sees the PIOs not just as investors, but also as our links with the rest of the world.  We would like you to play the of our unofficial ambassadors by communicating the reality of a new and resurgent India to the political, cultural, business, and intellectual establishments in your host countries.

Whenever the need and the occasion arise, we would like you to strongly articulate India’s case to the various constituencies in your adopted countries. I am happy that this is what you indeed did during the Kargil war and, more recently, during the hijack crisis.

I would urge you to do this on a more sustained basis over issues such as India’s stand on Kashmir, our strong secular tradition and state-sponsored terrorism which has actually become a menace to global peace and security.

Today’s India is a self – confident India marching ahead to economic prosperity and social justice and equality. Today's India is ready to play its part in shaping a new and equitable international order. While we will not brook interference in our internal affairs or allow others to meddle in our bilateral relations or problems, we are ready to engage with any country in a cooperative framework.

Friends, let me conclude by stating once again that India is proud of your achievements. More and more Indians – both in India and abroad – are succeeding.

In the new century that has just begun, let us together resolve to make India succeed.