On the journey of 20 years…
It has been a very satisfying journey, both for GOPIO as an organization, and for me personally. Building the organization has involved plenty of hard work. When I took over as president of GOPIO in 2004, there were no more than five chapters in the organization, including two in the USA and one in Europe. We wanted to increase the visibility of the GOPIO all over the world. We did away with the previously adopted UN model where you had just one delegate representing one country. That wasn’t working out for the GOPIO. Instead we started opening chapters. The diaspora has now whole-heartedly involved itself to service the cause of the PIOs and NRIs. In five years, I am happy to say, we have 60 chapters in over 25 countries of the world.
On the involvement of PIOs…
Between 1989 and 2004 GOPIO had become a big name, but internally it remained a small organization. We did not have enough people who could take up enough responsibilities, say as regional vice-presidents. Now the situation is healthy. There are more people ready to serve in these positions, and lesser positions available to serve. The structure of the organization has changed, its scope has expanded, and it truly provides leadership and service opportunities to those who wish to get involved with communities. It has been a great experience widening the scope of GOPIO’s activities and be able to work with people across the globe.
On connecting with the diaspora…
Our single biggest achievement has been to sensitize the global Indian community. Earlier, Indian communities were working in isolation, largely unknown to the rest of the global community. For instance, when something happened in Fiji that affected descendants of indentured Indian workers, it remained largely unknown to Indian communities in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Mauritius who were from similar backgrounds. For the first time GOPIO began to create a consciousness about the larger Indian diaspora, which in turn began to feed off the strength of a global, unifying voice. The other major achievement was in sensitizing the Indian Government. Gradually, we were able to act as a pressure group to make the Indian side realize that it had a responsibility towards its diaspora. Nothing had been done by the Government until then to unite the diaspora, we acted as a network to do so. But as volunteers we were limited in our capacities to function, we could not do what the Government could. We were glad when 14 years after we were formed (1989), the Government of India held the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2003 in New Delhi. The scattered, dispersed community came under one roof. We are happy that today the PBD in India is an annual affair with other PBDs being carried out across the world.
On the main achievements of GOPIO during this period…
It has been to sensitize the global Indian community. There was hardly enough community news going beyond the boundaries of individual nations. There was nothing that the Government of India could claim as having contributed from its end. The first challenge was to network with the global Indian community and work towards a united diaspora with a common outlook. Now we are able to fight for rights and issues of Indian diaspora. We have provided the base, and the thrust for the Indian Government to now address the diaspora and engage with it in all spheres. This is a major accomplishment for us.
On bringing the breakaway GOPIO under one roof…
I have tried my best to invite the other breakaway group. We still want to welcome them. They are good people, well-meaning people. But somehow we have not been able to make them join. If they don’t join, all powers to them to serve their respective communities. But if they join, it will give us more powers, a greater and stronger voice. Meanwhile, we will continue to serve the diaspora aggressively and with passion.
On GOPIO Mauritius…
We know that the GOPIO in Mauritius is patronized by the country’s Prime Minister. But we don’t want to be an integral part of any Government. We are fighting Governments in different parts of the world for our rights.
On the main agenda of the GOPIO…
There are 8 million NRIs living outside India. They have Indian passports but they are disenfranchised. We should be able to cast votes through postal ballots. An American stationed in India during elections in the USA can do so through the country’s embassy and consulates. NRIs should be allowed the same. If the Government of India wants to see us close to the motherland, then it must involve us in the democratic process. Give us representation in Parliament. Then we can play a much more meaningful role to help our motherland. It is very much doable.
On the major issues raised at the 20th anniversary meet in New York in August…
Many NRIs have their properties in India encroached upon, or taken away fraudulently by relatives and friends. In many cases, tenants do not vacate. The net result is that these days NRIs are hesitant in renting out properties. It creates a social problem. You are depriving someone of housing. In times of housing shortage, this is not helpful. The laws are not in favour of house-owners unlike in the USA, UK and Canada. Then when cases are filed, they drag on for years. The affected NRIs’ presence during court hearings is not practical. We keep hearing that speed-courts are being set up, but we are not being benefited by them. The other issue discussed relates to voting rights, as I mentioned earlier. A bill in this regard is pending, but we want it to become an act. Someone has to take the initiative.
On the way forward…
We cannot wait indefinitely. The property matter has been raised earlier, but speed courts are not yet in place. The India of today needs to be in sync with the times. We need to act fast. It took 14 years for the Government to even start talking to us on dual citizenship in 2003, since we first raised the issue. Then it took another three years before it came up with the OCI scheme. The current minister is doing a lot, and we are quite glad. But definitely we want things to move much faster in the areas mentioned earlier.
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