PM Narendra Modi to Indian Diaspora: ‘India is waiting for you’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Indian diaspora in California that it is time the brain drain became a “brain gain” for India. “India is waiting for you,” he declared in an address to as many as 18,000 heady Indian-Americans gathered at the SAP center in San Jose on Monday.

The Prime Minister said it was time the diaspora started contributing to India. “People used to talk a lot about brain drain, they complained a lot about it,” he said, as the audience, the very ‘brain drain’ the PM was talking about, laughed and cheered. “Did anybody ever think that this brain drain could become brain gain? No, but now it has,” he said. Modi said he sees the brain drain essentially as a ‘brain deposit’ and it is time to use this deposit, “with interest”, to benefit India.Modi heaped praise on the Indian diaspora and credited it for lifting India’s image in the world. “Your fingers created magic on the keyboard and the computer and this gave India a new identity. Your skill and commitment is wonderful. Your commitment, your innovations, sitting here you are are forcing the world the change,” he said, to the audience’s delight.

The Prime Minister also used his hour-long address to talk about his 16-month-old government’s achievements . “Today after 16 months, I need your certificate. Did I fulfill my promise? Did I fulfill my promise?” he asked, as the audience returned the favour, shouting, “Yes, Yes” and “Modi, Modi.”

“For the last 25 years, there’s been a question, ‘Whose is the 21st century?’ ” he said, as the crowds again answered, ‘Modi, Modi.’ The Prime Minister answered his own question saying that while it used to be said this century was Asia’s, a lot of people are now saying the century belongs to India.”This change didn’t come because of ‘Modi Modi Modi.’ This change has come about because of the 125 crores of Indians who have resolved that India won’t lag behind.”