Muscat: A record number of participants from the Indian diaspora in Oman will attend the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Odisha, scheduled for January 8 to 10, 2025.
With more than 300 individuals registered on the PBD portal, the delegation comprises members from various community organizations, business leaders, and distinguished figures within the Indian diaspora in Oman.
On January 5, 2025, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, Amit Narang, officially launched the delegation during a ceremonial event at the Embassy.
He introduced a uniquely crafted logo for the PBD participants from Oman and presented merchandise kits adorned with the logo to the attendees.
The logo, named “PRAVASI FROM OMAN,” represents the rich history of the diaspora in Oman and their involvement in the PBD Convention.
In his speech, Ambassador Amit Narang emphasized, "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas serves as a vital platform for our diaspora to reconnect with Bharat and play a significant role in its developmental progress. I urge each of you to fully embrace this opportunity and proudly represent the Indian community in Oman."
This year, two prominent representatives of the Indian diaspora in Oman will serve as panel speakers at the PBD Convention. Mohiuddin Mohammad Ali, Vice Chairman of Galfar Engineering and Contracting SAOG, will take part in Plenary Session 1 focused on ‘Diaspora Youth Leadership.’ Meanwhile, Aishwarya Hegde, Founder Director of Deepam Odissi Academy, will address Plenary Session 5, which centers on ‘Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection, and Belonging.’
In conjunction with PBD 2025, a unique exhibition featuring diaspora archives, curated by the National Archives of India, will present digitized documents that illuminate the history of the Indian diaspora in Oman. This exhibition stems from a significant project undertaken by the Embassy of India in Muscat, which successfully digitized over 7,000 records in English, Arabic, Gujarati, and Hindi from the private collections of long-established Indian merchant families in Oman. A senior delegation from the Hindu Mahajan families of Oman, whose documents are included in this project, will be present at the exhibition during PBD 2025. This inaugural exhibition represents a moment of pride for the Indian diaspora in Oman, as their homeland acknowledges and celebrates their rich history as pravasis abroad.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas serves to unite the Indian community globally and remains a vital connection between India and its diaspora.
The strong representation from Oman underscores the enduring ties of the Indian community in Oman with India, as well as their eagerness to support Bharat’s emergence as a global power.
