Mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held here this year on October 2 to coincide with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Consul-General Anil Sharan has announced.
"A couple of days ago, I had a brief discussion on this with the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal province, Dr Zweli Mkhize,
who welcomed the idea and agreed to support the event," Sharan said at the official opening of the 10th annual conference of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
Sunday.
It would be appropriate to host the event on Gandhi's birthday as he was the greatest 'pravasi', he said, referring to the two-decade-stay of the father of the nation in South Africa.
"I will be starting consultations with our partners and the friends and well-wishers of India soon. I will welcome advice and suggestions to make the conference in October memorable," the Consul-General said.
Nearly 1,000 guests from 13 countries have gathered for the three-day GOPIO conference in which 67 speakers are expected to present a wide range of research papers into issues concerning Indians in a total of 18 sessions.