Invest more in Gujarat, NRGs told

Looking at the increasing number of English medium schools in the state, many Gujaratis fear that the future of Gujarati language is dark and that it is dying. However, non resident Gujaratis, who are not only preserving the language but taking it to the next level, are confident that the language will live forever.

On the second day of the fourth Vishwa Gujarati Parishad (VGP) organized by Vishwa Gujarati Samaj (VGS), a seminar was organised spanning many contemporary and important issues. The subjects included past, present and future of Gujarati language, Gujarati diaspora, climate change and Gujarat, expanding horizons of Gujarat's development and challenges to the young generation. Besides this, issues of various Gujarati organisations in the country and abroad and a business to business individual meet was also held.

Not many Gujaratis settled outside Gujarat are keen to invest in their home state at a time when Gujarat has emerged as an investment hub for many across the world. This was one of the observations pointed out during a two-hour long business meet.
The program was presided over by managing director of Barclays equities Dixit Joshi who hails from Rajkot and is now settled in London, Himanshu Vyas, founder of Claris Life Science, Sushil Handa and chartered accountant and a representative of GCCI Durgesh Buch.   

Joshi talked about three points covering impact of credit crisis, progress of Gujarat and what next for Gujaratis. One of the issues he touched upon was use of Gujarati language among non-resident Gujaratis. "I believe we need to nurture what we are -- history, culture and language. Gujarati spirit is not defined by its progress but by recognising all these things," said Joshi. He also mentioned that arrangements to teach Gujarati language to kids of Gujaratis settled outside India should be taken up as it is also difficult to find a place where kids can learn their mother tongue.
In the morning session, noted experts on Gujarati diaspora and Gujarati language expert like Balawant Jani, director of Gardi Institute of Research in Indian Diaspora (GRID), Harshad Desai from Australia, Manda Parikh, and Trupti Patel were present. On this occasion Dhirubhai Thakar and Kumarpal Desai of Gujarati Vishwakosh, Ratibhai Chanderia of Gujarati Lexicon, Krishnachandra Patel,  and Gopal Patel of Praveen Prakashan were felicitated.