The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebration in Bhubaneswar, the City of Temples in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, served as a platform to showcase women's leadership, entrepreneurial success stories, and the critical role of the Indian diaspora in fostering global connections.
Organised last week by the Government of India in partnership with the Odisha government, PBD 2025 focused on the theme 'Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat' and brought together many British Indians among the over 50 countries were represented by members of the Indian diaspora.
Prerna Bhardwaj, the Mayor of Gerrards Cross in England, was among those who shared her admiration for the stories of Indian women who overcame significant challenges to succeed abroad.
She said: "I found it really inspirational to listen to all the women stories of how they made it as entrepreneurs and how they went by themselves to different countries, often with their families, often with very little and they made it really big by working hard and being really dedicated... I think it's very inspirational.
“It does show that Indian women, no matter where we are, we are very resilient to change and we can make a difference to our society and also bring India to other countries."
Bhardwaj also reflected on the cultural exchange and gender perspectives discussed at the event, sharing examples such as a Slovenian entrepreneur's sari shop and her daughter's Indian restaurant, and the inspiring story of a former Miss India making her mark in Qatar.
Bhardwaj addressed misconceptions about women's safety in countries like India and Qatar, adding: "I've been to Qatar myself, and I had a fantastic time there – so it's good to know that even in the Middle East, there's a perception that it's unsafe for women, that women are sort of suppressed, but actually it's not like that in reality. I think that's the same for India – the Western world thinks that, you know, women aren't safe in India, that men aren't friendly towards women, but actually it's the other way around. The reality is very different."
Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Urban and Housing Development, highlighted the transformative potential of systemic support for women leaders during a session on Nari Shakti.
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"This session is about women's leadership. It has a component where the self-motivation, inspiration matters. The second layer is about the community, about the systems, about the institutions which can help women to come forward,” she said.
(*With ANI Inputs)
