Dev Pragad to be guest of honour at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meet
India has invited Dev Pragad, the transformative CEO of Newsweek to attend the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention celebrating the Indian diaspora’s contributions to the country’s development, as a guest of honor.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar invited Pragad to the prestigious event, scheduled from Jan 9 to 11 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, according to an MEA press release.
To be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan 9, the PBD convention is described as the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other.”
Pragad will be the Guest of Honour at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Jan 8. As a transformative leader at Newsweek, Pragad has redefined the legacy media brand into a modern, digital-first, multi-platform powerhouse with over 100 million monthly readers.
Under his leadership, Newsweek launched initiatives like the globally renowned “World’s Best Hospitals” rankings and the “Auto Disruptor Awards.” The platform has also become a hub for impactful discussions with global leaders, including Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Pragad’s remarkable turnaround of Newsweek has been recognized globally and is studied as a case at Harvard Business School. His innovative approach integrates artificial intelligence, sustainability, and global partnerships, establishing Newsweek as a leader in contemporary media.
Danish Manzoor Bhat, Editorial Director and Senior Vice President (Asia) at Newsweek, will join Pragad at the event. Bhat oversees the publication’s operations in Asia, spearheading its editorial vision and strengthening its regional engagement.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention provides a platform to honour diaspora leaders like Pragad, whose journey from India to global prominence reflects the spirit of the event. His participation highlights the crucial role of the diaspora in shaping India’s global narrative.
A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to participate in the PBD Convention with the theme of “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.”
The Convention will feature a virtual address by the Chief Guest, Trinidad & Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo.
Modi will remotely flag-off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special Tourist Train for the Indian diaspora, which will depart from the Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi and would travel to multiple destinations of touristic and religious importance in India for a period of three weeks. The Pravasi Bharatiya Express will be conducted under the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Modi will also inaugurate four exhibitions at the convention:
Vishwaroop Ram – The Universal Legacy of Ramayana: This exhibition would present the timeless epic of Ramayana through a curated juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary art forms.
Diaspora’s Contribution to Technology and Viksit Bharat. This exhibition would acknowledge the contributions of the Indian diaspora to the development of technology in the world.
Spread and Evolution of Indian diaspora in the world with special focus on Mandvi to Muscat. This exhibition will showcase rare documents of people who had migrated from Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman.
Heritage and Culture of Odisha exhibition will showcase the rich heritage and cultural traditions of Odisha through its different art and craft forms and highlight its illustrious legacy.
President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the Valedictory Session of the Convention on Jan 10. She will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2025 upon select members of the Indian diaspora to recognize their achievements and to honour their contributions in various fields in India and abroad.
The PBD Convention will have five thematic plenary sessions :
Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World;
Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills;
Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contributions to Sustainable Development;
Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti; and
Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection and Belongingness.