Based on a clarion call of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking members of the Indian diaspora around the world to encourage at least five non-Indian friends to travel to India, the country’s Ministry of Tourism has launched a Chalo India initiative to enable people of Indian origin to become “Incredible India Ambassadors”.
That call resonated at the High Commission of India in London, as it did across Indian missions around the world.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said at a diaspora gathering India House last week: “I think there is truly an opportunity for you to be incredible ambassadors of an incredible India.
“Ours is not just a diverse country, it is the world in one country. You can travel from every country of the world and you will still not have enough time to see all of India. So, the opportunity to send every one of your friends who's interested in this rare and unique mix of things is absolutely before you.”
Under the Chalo India campaign, there is no upper limit on the number of foreign friends a diaspora member can encourage to travel to India, although it is recommended to encourage at least five friends – with rewards for every such traveller choosing an Indian travel destination to explore.
The Indian Ministry of Tourism believes with more than 31.2 million overseas Indians, the Indian diaspora can serve as a powerful catalyst for Indian tourism, acting as cultural ambassadors.
Meanwhile, in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, India House in London also unveiled a new Living Bridges series. The first set of Living Bridges videos featured women as the central theme of the new series, which will celebrate the contributions of the nearly 1.8-million-strong British Indian community in the UK.
“These are heroines of the UK-India relationship, featuring contributors in the field of adventure sports, a chess prodigy, culinary achievements, film and business,” noted the Indian High Commissioner.
The first set of the Living Bridges now live across the Indian mission’s social media highlights the achievements of British Sikh record-breaking mountaineer Preet Kaur Chandi, eight-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, award-winning chef Asma Khan, actor Ayesha Dharker, and Chair of Prudential plc Baroness Shriti Vadera.
*Info: Chalo India
