It is that special time of the year again when the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is upon us.

India Empire has been an Official Reporting Partner at the event for several years now, and has put together its special issue for January once more. This will be the biggest PBD in over a decade due to two reasons. Firstly, it is being held in Gandhinagar, and will be the first one under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, and the able guidance of Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Mrs Sushma Swaraj. Secondly, January 9, 2015 marks 100 years of the return of the Great Pravasi—it was on January 9, 1915 that M.K. Gandhi, later to become the Mahatma, returned from his 21-year-stay in South Africa to alter not just the course of Indian history, but British and world history as well.

Mr Gandhi caused the sun to set on the British Empire, but the sun is rising today in the Indian Empire—countless Pravasis are branding India globally in ways that have captured the imagination of the world. From heads of global software giants to chairmen of some of the world's largest steel conglomerates, from presidents and prime ministers to academics and social workers, Indians world over are making a difference—not just to the land of their domicile, but to the image of India itself. Several of them are involved in giving back to India, like we can see in the interview-based story of California-based Dr Nandini Tandon that we have for you. Almost 90 years ago her grandfather built an eye hospital in Sitapur, UP, and her mother, Mrs. Bimal Tandon, wanted Dr Tandon, who is the Vice Chairman of the Board of El Camino hospital in the Silicon Valley and her entrepreneur sister, Ms Priya Tandon, to re-connect with their roots to pay back to their birthplace by building a smart, integrated medical and skill development city in India—in their home state, Uttar Pradesh. On December 21, the Tandon sisters along with their mentor and partner Dr B.R Shetty of NMC, UAE signed a MoU with the UP Government led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to bring in very large investments in the healthcare and skill development space in India's largest and most populous state. The Silicon Valley Tandon sisters also received the first two NRI cards given by the state a few weeks before the MoU signing event, a clear indication that India is willing to make NRIs a part of the India story for the next decades to come. Events such as the PBD can certainly help galvanize more such ventures.

Our cover story, like in the last few years, looks at the Newsmakers of 2014 from the Indian Diaspora. This year, our list includes overseas Indians from different walks—software, healthcare, venture capitalism, education, community work, IT, and enterprise.

As we step into the New Year, let me wish you the very best. May you achieve more than you ever have.

(sayantanc@gmail.com)