CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PROF. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar / General

Embassy of India celebrates ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas’

Published: 11 Jan 2026 - 08:51 am | Last Updated: 11 Jan 2026 - 08:52 am
Ambassador of India to Qatar H E Vipul with honourees and officials during the event.

Ambassador of India to Qatar H E Vipul with honourees and officials during the event.

The Peninsula

Doha, Qatar: Embassy of India, Doha celebrated Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) with a ceremony at Indian Cultural Centre honouring the Indian diaspora’s role in India’s global journey.

In his remarks, Ambassador of India to Qatar H E Vipul extended warm greetings to the Indian community and reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to work with and for each and every Indian living in Qatar.

Ambassador also highlighted Prime Minister Modi's message that the Indian diaspora remains a powerful bridge between India and the world which not only enriches host societies but also simultaneously stays connected to the roots.

This year’s celebration by Embassy of India, Doha was centred on the theme of “Nari Shakti” (Women Power) and honoured women leaders from the Indian community who exemplify Nari Shakti through their distinguished community service and role in fostering India-Qatar friendship. Embassy felicitated women leaders for their contribution in education, community service, and media.

In the Education category Hameeda Kader (Principal, MES Indian School) and Asna Nafees (Principal, DPS–Modern Indian School) were honoured for their leadership in academic excellence and for nurturing future generations with a strong foundation in Indian values.

Under community service vertical, Embassy recognised several leaders for their tireless work in cultural and welfare domain, including Anjana Menon (ICC Women’s Forum President), Nandini Abbagouni (ICC MC Member), Aparna Sharath (Billawas Qatar), Usha Patil (Maharashtra Mandal), Zareena Ahad (ICBF Advisory Council), and Neelambari Sushant (ICBF MC Member).

In the media category, Embassy felicitated Anshu Jain, Aafrin Khan, Nazia Amir, and Anu Sharma for their role in amplifying diaspora voices and fostering India-Qatar friendship.

The ceremony was followed by two insightful panel discussions on the theme of “Nari Shakti” exploring the resilience and leadership of Indian women in Qatar.

Panellists shared perspectives on how women are driving progress in professional and social spheres, further cementing the influence of the Indian community abroad.