AFTER
New York in
2007, Singapore in 2008 and The Hague in 2009, the 4th Regional Pravasi Bhartiya
Divas is going to be organised at Durban in South Africa. This two-day event is
scheduled to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2.
The theme of this
event is ‘India and Africa: Building Bridges’. This is being organized in
partnership with the Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Government
of South Africa. Around 600 to 800 delegates from all over Africa are expected
to participate in the conference.
A
large Indian diaspora lives in Africa. This conference aims to bring all of them
together. The Premier of Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) province, the Mayor of Durban
Municipality, PIO community leaders, prominent businessmen, dignitaries and
other distinguished persons from entire African Continent are expected to
participate in the convention.
The
event will also be a part of the year-long celebrations to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of the arrival of Indian immigrants in South Africa from India.
Durban has historic significance because Mahatma Gandhi lived in Durban from
1893 to 1914 and first experimented with non-violence and passive resistance
based on truth as potent and novel tool of struggle against apartheid and
imperialism in South Africa. The South African Indian origin community currently
numbers around 1.28 million and constitutes about 2.5% of its total population.
About 80% of the people of Indian origin live in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KZN is noted for its link with Mahatma Gandhi.
During his 21-year stay in South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi fought against the
racist regime and founded the Natal Indian Congress.
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