While the Vajpayee government had taken some important initial steps, under Shri Narendra Modi, the Indian diaspora came to occupy a place in India’s national consciousness and international outreach on an unprecedented scale.
We were no longer seen simply as people who had left India to build lives elsewhere. Instead, we were increasingly recognised and engaged as a living bridge between India and the world — from the United States and Europe to Africa, Australia and beyond – something which has been part of the DNA and founding vision of this newspaper.
Few leaders before Mr Modi had demonstrated the same conviction, imagination and ability to mobilise such enthusiasm among sections of the Indian diaspora. He helped redefine the relationship between India and its global community, placing overseas Indians firmly within the country’s international narrative.
For millions of Indians living abroad, Modi ji represents a new India. To many of his supporters, he symbolises a more confident nation, increasingly assertive on the world stage and ambitious about its economic future. His message has resonated particularly with diaspora communities that have built successful lives overseas while maintaining deep emotional, cultural and familial connections with India.
Diaspora Pride
One explanation for Modi ji’s popularity among sections of the diaspora is his emphasis on India’s international standing. For generations, overseas Indians have balanced pride in their heritage with the experience of belonging to minority communities in their adopted countries — sometimes struggling to be seen, recognised and celebrated. Modi ji’s projection of India as an emerging global power, alongside his emphasis on the diaspora’s role in that journey, has offered many supporters a renewed sense of confidence. For them, India’s growing international profile has become a source of personal as well as national pride.
Rock-star Global Events
Modi ji’s public appearances overseas have become defining moments in this relationship — grand receptions that have announced the presence and influence of the Indian diaspora to the world. In September 2014, thousands of Indian Americans gathered at Madison Square Garden in New York to welcome him. Yet that appeared to be only a trailer to what followed a year later, when Wembley Stadium in London hosted an extraordinary reception attended by around 60,000 people of Indian origin.
In 2019, the Howdy Modi event in Houston attracted an audience of approximately 50,000, with then US President Donald Trump also in attendance. Similar gatherings in other global cities became a hallmark of Modi ji’s overseas visits.
The unprecedented scale of these events demonstrated his ability to mobilise diaspora audiences far beyond the confines of conventional diplomatic engagements. They were more than political rallies; they became public celebrations of Indian identity, heritage and international visibility.
India’s Ambassadors to the World
The Indian diaspora is one of the largest in the world. According to United Nations estimates from 2014, approximately 18 million people born in India lived abroad, making India the largest country of origin for international migrants at the time. Some estimates put the number of Indians who took up a foreign passport at a total of 32 million, according to some estimates. (That’s more than the entire population of Australia).
Modi ji’s approach has given this huge community a more prominent role in India’s international narrative. By encouraging us to act as ambassadors for the country, he has invited the diaspora to see its professional achievements, entrepreneurship and community contributions as part of a wider Indian success story.
The message is: the diaspora can contribute not only to the countries in which its members live, but also to stronger economic, cultural and diplomatic ties with India.
Why Britain Matters
This relationship has particular significance in the United Kingdom, home to nearly two million people of Indian origin. British Indians have made substantial contributions to business, medicine, science, education, politics and the cultural life of the country. For this community, India is often much more than a country of ancestry. It is a connection sustained through family visits, festivals, food, language, faith and business. Modi ji’s high-profile engagement has helped bring these connections into the public spotlight.
His November 2015 visit was especially significant. The Wembley gathering, attended by then British Prime Minister David Cameron, demonstrated the visibility of the British Indian community and its potential to strengthen relations between the two countries. It also underscored the economic and diplomatic importance of the India-UK partnership.
Of course, not every member of the Indian diaspora supports Modi ji, and political views differ across generations, communities and individuals. As in any healthy democracy, debate and divergent views are an essential part of public discourse. Nevertheless, his influence and the enthusiasm he has generated in vast swathes of the global Indian community have been unique.
A longstanding bond with Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar
My association with Narendra Modi ji goes back decades, long before he became Prime Minister. Through Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, I have followed his journey from his early days in public life to the highest office in the country. Our relationship has been shaped by a shared commitment to public service, democratic values and the welfare of the Indian community. One moment that remains particularly memorable was his historic visit to Wembley Stadium. As Prime Minister, Modi ji publicly acknowledged our persistent efforts to secure a direct flight between Ahmedabad and London, recalling how I had raised the issue with him when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. His announcement that the service would resume was a proud moment — not just for me and our publications, but for the entire British Indian community. It demonstrated how sustained community advocacy from all of us can help turn a longstanding aspiration into reality.
A Diaspora Seen Differently
Modi ji may have recognised and elevated the enormous potential of Indian communities across the world, but his wider significance lies in how he has helped change their (our) perceived role.
The diaspora is no longer viewed merely as a minority community that has established itself successfully overseas. Increasingly, it is recognised as a community capable of shaping business, culture, public life and international relationships — benefiting not only itself, but also the countries it calls home and India itself.