With more than 32 million persons of Indian origin living outside India, Indians are the world’s largest diaspora. In 2021, Indian diaspora sent home remittances worth a whopping $89 billion, keeping India at the top of the list of remittance-recipient countries in the world. It has held the top spot since 2008. New Zealand has more than 250,000 persons of Indian origin amounting to some 5 per cent of the country’s population.
As well as sending back funds to India, overseas Indians seem to effortlessly purvey Indian culture and everything that goes with it: colourful festivals, delectable cuisines, ancient wellness practices like yoga, meditation and traditional performing arts, ‘Bollywood’ cinema – all of which spreads India’s soft power to the corners of the world.
Ever since it came to power in 2014, India’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has accorded great importance to overseas Indians and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always strived to meet and spend time with the Indian diaspora on his official visits to countries around the world.
There is no gainsaying Indians living overseas are an extremely important factor in India’s global progress toward becoming the world’s third largest economy by 2030. While this seventy-fifth year of India’s independence is being celebrated by Indians worldwide as ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Prime Minister Modi has named the next 25 years that will take India into its centenary of independence as ‘Amrit Kaal’ that translates as ‘Age of Immortality’, by which time a confident India aims to be a fully developed nation.
It is clear that there is a leading – as well as emerging – group of spirited Indian men and women the world over who are leading the charge of achieving this dream of PM Modi’s ‘Amrit Kaal’. Some of these are very much in his government at present. And there is no doubt that one of them is the erudite, competent, well-spoken and much-feted External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar.
It is fitting that Dr Jaishankar was recognised as a “Global Indian Icon” on behalf of the Kiwi-Indian Community in NZ by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the Indian Weekender Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame in Auckland on 6 October. He was presented with an exquisitely carved koru specially crafted from kauri wood for the occasion.
As the esteemed guest of honour at the Hall of Fame, Dr Jaishankar delivered a stirring speech based on the anthology ‘Modi@20’ authored by eminent Indians drawn from many walks of life, which he also released on the night. He was also on stage at the award ceremonies, when Prime Minister Ardern presented the top award inducting her Cabinet Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan into the Indian Weekender Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame.
Dr Jaishankar’s visit to NZ is significant in that such a visit by an Indian external affairs minister has come after over two decades and it was fortuitous that it came on the eve of the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame’s 2022 edition. The event annually celebrates the brightest, high achievers of the Kiwi-Indian community and their achievements and contributions to the community and the country are feted and celebrated in the presence of the country’s prime minister and a bevy of VIPs and dignitaries.
Dr S. Jaishankar has been in the global headlines in recent times for his exceptionally astute diplomacy and leadership, particularly on diverse multiple fronts such as the Ukraine crisis, challenges in the Indo-Pacific and India’s own geographical borders.
Dr Jaishankar holds a an M. Phil and PhD in international relations specialising in nuclear diplomacy. In his long and distinguished diplomatic career, he has been India’s ambassador to the United States, China, the Czech Republic as well as High Commissioner to Singapore and India’s Foreign Secretary in New Delhi.
The consummate diplomat that he is, he speaks English, Russian, Tamil, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin and some Hungarian. He was conferred Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, for his contribution to the country’s international affairs.
Since 2019, he has been India’s External Affairs Minister and his work is making a global impact reflecting a brave, new, confident, India offering technological, scientific and healthcare solutions to the world while also reclaiming its status as a true Vishwaguru, with its vast knowledge base and rich heritage as it forges ahead into a glorious ‘Amrit Kaal’.
Dr Jaishankar truly is a fine example of today’s Global Indian Icon.