West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said the BJP-led state government was ready to host the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Kolkata from January 7 to 9, 2027, as he welcomed members of the Indian diaspora to the event.
Invoking the legacy of Swami Vivekananda and the renowned Kalighat Temple, Adhikari highlighted Bengal’s cultural heritage and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as a “great” leader.
He was addressing an event in New Delhi alongside external affairs minister S. Jaishankar to launch the convention’s official website, pbdindia.gov.in.
The three-day convention, organised by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) in partnership with the West Bengal government, will begin with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the convention, while President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the valedictory session and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, recognising the achievements of overseas Indians and their contributions to strengthening India’s global engagement.
The MEA also launched a special Bharat Ko Janiye (BKJ) Quiz, designed to connect overseas Indians and foreign nationals with India’s heritage, culture and contemporary achievements.
The quiz, available through the BharatVerse app and bkjquiz.com, will run from November 11 to December 20. Winners in three categories — Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin and foreign nationals — will be invited on a 10-day tour of India and to participate in the convention.
The revamped digital platform offers quizzes, puzzles, crosswords, word searches and other interactive activities.
The launch of the PBD website also marked the opening of online registrations. The portal provides information on the convention’s programme, accommodation, logistics and other arrangements.
Addressing the gathering, Jaishankar described the Indian diaspora as an “integral part of India’s present and important stakeholder in India’s future”.
He said Kolkata occupied a special place in the history of the Indian diaspora, recalling how thousands of Indians had sailed from the city to Mauritius, Fiji and the Caribbean during British rule, enduring considerable hardship.
The convention, a flagship initiative of the government, aims to strengthen ties with overseas Indians and encourage their participation in the country’s development.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915.
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