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Feedback LETTERS MA TTER
AWESOME COVER STORY I am a regular reader of your magazine. Contents are very nice, I like it. e cover story on Dubai- Gateway to the Gulf was simply awesome as it covered the useful information about the Dubai’s economic status. e best part I like that you covered the top 50 Indian Achievers in Gulf. But you printed only a few. It would be nice, if you put more light on all the successful Indians settled in different parts of Gulf. If I suggest some Indians who are known to me and they have really struggled in their early stage of life to survive and now they are raising the name of India by their sheer successes and achievements, would you like to carry their stories in your magazine. Faizan Ahmed, Dubai, UAE Marc h 2016
Dear Vijay Nardekar IMPORTANT DAYS ank you for writing to us with your feedback. Our DATE COUNTRY DAY team has taken note of your observations and will April 4 Senegal National Day surely act on them within the confines of our editorial April 16 Denmark Birthday of H.M. The Queen parameters. On the subject of sharing interesting and April 17 Syria National Day
path-breaking stories of Indians abroad and especially April 18 Zimbabwe National day in the Gulf, we will indeed be very happy to April 26 Israel National day review them if you send these to us for favor of publi - April 27 South Africa Freedom day cation. Best wishes. April 30 Netherlands Queen’s Birthday
MISSING EDUCATION, SPORTS AND CUISINE portant sectors are ignored like education, sports, and cuisine. I have been reading your magazine for past two years. Articles Today’s generation is more interested in reading articles related published in this magazine are really awesome. Along with the to education, sports etc. As I requested you in the previous issue articles, the advertisements published in it are very useful and it to cover these sectors also but the current issue still lacked with also maintains the quality of the contents and sketches. NRI these articles. So I again request you to cover them. anks! Achievers covers mostly all the sectors but sometimes, few im - Jyoti Singh, Delhi
Dear Jyoti Singh within the confines of our editorial parameters. We are working ank you for writing to us with your feedback. Our team has on the topics you have suggested us & very soon you will find taken note of your observations and will surely act on them them as regular features in our magazines. Best wishes.
4 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð
Volume 04 Issue 07 April 2016 CHIEF PATRON —AJAY SINGH NRI ACHIEVERS (Former High Commissioner, Fiji) ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð © EDITOR RAJEEV GUPTA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER B.K. AGGARWAL RNI No. DELBIL/2012/45826 CHIEF ADVISOR DR. KAMAL KUMAR ADVISORS SUSHIL TAYAL VARSHA GOEL CH. SUNIL OHLYAN INSIDE CONSULTING EDITOR CHAKRAVARTHI SUCHINDRAN CONSULTING EDITOR (REAL ESTATE) VINOD BEHL COVER STORY BUREAU HEADS RAJ UPPAL (NORTH AMERICA) SANJAY KUMAR (EUROPE) AJAY AGGARWAL (U K) PREMCHAND RAMLOCHUN (MAURITIUS) RAJIV KUMAR (FRANCE) RAVI KUMAR (FRANCE) BALESH DHANKHAR (AUSTRALASIA) SUMAN KAPOOR (NEW ZEALAND) LOSHNI NAIDOO (SOUTH AFRICA) JYOTHI VENKATESH (MUMBAI) ASSOCIATE EDITORS SANDIP THAKUR BARKHA ARORA SR. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT AJEET VERMA SUB EDITORS KRITI RASTOGI REALTY ON WINGS OF PHOTO MENTOR AJAY SOOD REGULATION 14 SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER RAJEEV TYAGI AVP (MARKETING) SUMIT SINGH MANAGER-PR & MARKETING VINOD SHARMA SURENDER SINGH BUSINESS ASSOCIATE (DELHI) CHANDER MOHAN MARKETING EXECUTIVE NITIN AADVANSHI MANAGER-MARKETING (MUMBAI) AARTI BAGARKA OVERSEAS ADVISORS ISMAIL KHAN (NORTH AMERICA) VIJAY MALIK (EUROPE) DR. HARRY DHANJU (CANADA) 24 36 M.S. SHALI (UK) MANJIT NIJJAR (UK) DOSSIER INDIAN ACHIEVERS MOHAN GUNTI (ASEAN) A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE THE ENIGMATIC POWER TO INTUIT OVERSEAS CO-ORDINATORS RAJKUMAR YADAV NORTH INDIA CO-ORDINATORS SUNNY VYAS JOGINDER MALIK PUNJAB CO-ORDINATOR SHIKHA CHOPRA BANKING MEDIA ADVISORS MUKESH SAINI DIASPORIC BANKING–FAQS SANSKRITIKA COMMUNICATIONS 43 DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR MUKESH KASHIWALA ART DIRECTOR AR. VIVEK KHURANA HERITAGE SR. GRAPHIC DESIGNER ANJU GUPTA RAMAYANA BEYOND HINDUISM 54 INDIA DISTRIBUTOR CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY PVT. LTD. CIRCULATION INCHARGE S.P. PANDEY DESTINATIONS DIGITAL STRATEGISTS SUCHI SIKKIM: THE LAND OF LOVE, 56 DINESH SHARMA NATURE & ADVENTURE LEGAL CONSULTANT DR. RAJA VOHRA SILVER SCREEN EDITOR: RAJEEV GUPTA VIEWS EXPRESSED IN ARTICLES PRINTED, PUBLISHED & OWNED BY ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS, & NOT RAJEEV GUPTA, PUBLISHED FROM TO BE CONSTRUED AS THOSE OF NRI “MY BIGGEST INSPIRATION A-208, WEAVERS COLONY, ASHOK ACHIEVERS OR ITS EDITORS. HAS BEEN RAJ KAPOOR” VIHAR PHASE-IV, DELHI-110052 AND ALL DISPUTES ARE SUBJEST TO PRENTED AT ROLLERACT PRESS SERVICES EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF C-163, GF NARAINA INDUSTRIAL AREA COMPETENT COURT & FORUM IN DELHI. 47 PH-I, NEW DELHI-110028 © ALL RIGHT RESERVED CONTACT: SLM MEDIA SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD. Cover design: Kumar Brijesh New Delhi, India Ph: +91 11 4702 3674 E-mail. [email protected] 6 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Editorial
AN AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING
ith April dawning on us, we are now entering into the Hindu new year, which is traditionally celebrated across the various states of India during Wthis month starting the first weekend of the month. On that auspicious note, our team at NRI Achievers takes the opportunity to wish all our readers a pros - perous time ahead in all their endeavours. e past month passed without any no - table ado, except for the extended debates and acrimony that is part and parcel of Indian political life and bickering among parties of various hues. While the patriot - ism factor, desh bhakti and what is considered anti-national is still hitting the news, it is now more of a cerebral discussion than a disrupting factor. e past month also saw one of India’s popular godmen, Sri Sri Ravishankar, or - ganising and hosting a mammoth cultural extravaganza on the flood plains of the Yamuna river in Delhi, which was attended by the who’s who from across the world. Apart from all that, life intermingles and moved on, as we at NRI Achievers also do to take it in our stride. In this issue, we are proud to share with you that we are beefing up our Real Estate coverage, and from now on we will be giving you a lot more quality content on this sector that is set to boom and bloom with India prepar - ing for building 100s of cities. is is triggered by the Indian parliament passing the much awaited real estate regulation, which is now through and enacted into Law. We have interviewed the Ambassador of Suriname who features in Dossier, which also brings you a story about an NRI who has adopted a village in his home state Haryana lock, stock and barrel. In Indian Achievers we bring you face to face with a rather unusual personality—the less said about it in this editorial the better—you read it without our hints. Heritage talks about the 300 different ramayanas, while Silver Screen features an interview with a father-figure of family dramas Suraj Bar - jatya. We also bring you the second part of 18 installments of Chanakya’s the distilled wisdom in this issue. Other news on milestone happenings is all there under News Scan, Business Buzz, & PSU Buzz. Metaphysical Musings takes to your spiritual side, while Diaspora News continues to feature you and your communities. What’s more, we are on the verge of launching a few yeoman initiatives, like a help- line for NRIs, PIOs and OCIs, through which they may connect to resolve any and every issue pertinent to them. We will tell you more about this as we go along. And best wishes to all of you for the upcoming new year and vacation season ahead.
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April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 7 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð News Scan
FROM HERB DHALIWAL TO HARJIT SAJJAN: 10 TOP GOLD- THE RISE OF SIKHS IN CANADIAN POLITICS PRODUCING COUNTRIES
OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin NEW DELHI: In 2014, global gold produc - Trudeau told a student at the American Uni - tion increased by 2 percent from the previ - versity in Washington DC that he had more ous year, according to a January 2015 US Sikhs in his cabinet than his Indian counter - Geological Survey (USGS) report. While part Narendra Modi, he was stating a fact but China kept its place as the world’s single- also being facetious. He appointed four Sikhs largest producer of gold, it was certainly not in November, giving the high-profile national the only country to contribute to last year’s defence portfolio to combat veteran Harjit growth. Production increases took place in Sajjan. But that throwaway remark was evi - that country, as well as several others, in - dence of the evolution of the Sikh community cluding Australia, Canada, the Dominican in Canadian politics. “There’s a certain amount of pride and it speaks to Canada’s Republic and Russia. This swelling of pro - multicultural policy but I don’t see it as a challenge to India,” said Satwinder Kaur duction outweighed some of the dips that Bains, director of the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies at the University of the other countries experienced, such as Peru, Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Tanzania, South Africa and the US. Here are the world’s top gold-producing countries from 2014, as reported by HINDUJA BROTHERS TOP the USGS. BRITAIN’S ‘ASIAN RICH LIST’ 1. China: Mine production: 450 metric tons 2. Australia: Mine production: 270 metric LONDON: e Hinduja brothers have tons emerged as the richest Asian-origin entrepre - 3. Russia: Mine production: 245 metric tons neurs in Britain for the fourth consecutive 4. United States: Mine production: 211 year with an estimated personal fortune of metric tons 5. Canada: Mine production: 160 metric TOP 10 WEALTHIEST INDIANS IN UK 16.5 billion tons 2016 2015 2015 pounds. e Net Worth Net Worth Position 6. Peru: Mine production: 150 metric tons India-born broth - 1 GP & SP Hinduja £16.5bn £15.5bn 1 7. South Africa: Mine production: 150 ers GP Hinduja 2 Laxmi Mittal £6.4bn £9.7bn 2 metric tons 3 Sir Prakash Lohia £3bn £3bn 3 and SP Hinduja 8. Uzbekistan: Mine production: 102 met - Simon, Bobby, 4 £2.10bn £2.10bn 4 topped the “Asian and Robin Arora ric tons Rich List 2016” re - 5 Cyrus & Priya Vandrevala £2bn New Entry 9. Mexico: Mine production: 92 metric tons 6 Anwar Pervez £1.7bn £1.1bn 8 leased and the an - 10. Ghana: Mine production: 90 metric tons A 7 Jasminder Singh £1.4bn £1.35bn 7 nual rankings 8 Anil Agarwal £1bn £1.5bn 8 showed that they 9 Chandaria Family £1bn £1bn 9 had added one bil - 10 Rajesh Satija Ram £900m £850m 10 lion pounds to their personal fortune in a year to be worth an estimated 16.5 bil - lion pounds. e Asian Rich List assesses the total wealth of Britain's top 101 richest Asians and is compiled by UK-based publishing house Asian Media and Market. Steel tycoon Lakshmi Niwas Mittal was ranked second in the list, released by the Indian high commissioner to the UK Navtej Sarna. e fortune of Mittal, however, has plummeted by 3.3 billion pounds to finish with 6.4 billion pounds.
8 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Product Scan
GREEN TRENDS INTRODUCES ‘ORGANOSSENCE’ RANGE OF FACIALS
Green Trends Unisex Hair & Style Salon introduces ‘Organossence’ range of nature based facials. ese facials have been developed combining the best of natural in - gredients like oats, honey, sandalwood etc., and professional skin care products, thus giving the benefit of nature & science. e Organossence facial range consists of Moisture Lock Facial, Skin Lightening Facial and De-pigmentation facial.
×çã´Îýæ Ùð Üæò‹¿ ·¤è ·¤æòÂñ€UÅU SUV -ÙéßôSÂôÅUü JBM & SOLARIS UNVEIL INDIA’S FIRST 100% ·¤æòÂñ€UÅU SUV âð»×ð´ÅU ×ð´ Ü»æÌæÚU °·¤ ·Ô¤ ÕæÎ °·¤ »æçǸØæ´ Üæò‹¿ ãô ÚUãè ãñ´Ð §â âð»×ð´ÅU ×ð´ ×çã´Îýæ ELECTRIC BUS ‘ECOLIFE’ ·¤è ÌèÙ »æçǸØæ´ ÂãÜð âð ãè ×õÁêÎ Íè´Ð ¥Õ ·¤´ÂÙè Ùð ¥õÚU ¥æ·ý¤×·¤Ìæ çιæÌð ãé° Ù§ü ·¤æòÂñ€UÅU SUV ÙéßôSÂôÅUü Üæò‹¿ ·¤è ãñÐ §â·¤è JBM Auto Ltd, India’s leading automotive àæéL¤¥æÌè ·¤è×Ì |.xz Üæ¹ L¤ÂØð (°€Uâ company, unveiled India’s first 100% Elec - àæôM¤×) ÚU¹è »§ü ãñÐ ÙéßôSÂôÅUü Ù§ü tric Bus ‘ECOLIFE’. is revolutionary bus ÁðÙÚUðàæÙ S·¤æòçÂüØô ·Ô¤ ŒÜðÅUȤæ×ü ÂÚU ÕðSÇU¸ has been developed in partnership with ãñÐ ·¤´ÂÙè ·¤æ Îæßæ ãñ ç·¤ §â×𴠥淤ô renowned European bus manufacturer So - ·¤Èü¤Å,U âSÂð´àæÙ ¥õÚU °´ÅUè ÚUôÜ laris Bus & Coach S.A. e bus was un - ÅUð€UÙôÜæòÁè ·¤æ ȤæØÎæ ç×Üð»æÐ ÙéßôSÂôÅUü veiled by Mr. S.K. Arya, Chairman, JBM ×ð´ v.z ÜèÅUÚU °×ãæò·¤ §´ÁÙ Ü»æ ãé¥æ ãñ Group; Mr. Nishant Arya, Executive Di - Áô ·¤ÚUèÕ v®® BHP ÂæßÚU ·Ô¤ âæÍ wy® rector, JBM Group; Dr. Andreas Strecker, NM ÅUæò·¤ü ÁðÙÚUðÅU ·¤ÚUÌæ ãñÐ CEO, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. and Mr. Dariusz Michalak, Deputy CEO, Solaris DETTOL PARTNERS WITH AMAZON INDIA TO Bus & Coach S.A. ECOLIFE is a zero emission vehicle (ZEV) as it is powered by LAUNCH AIR PROTECT MASK lithium batteries, which are fast charging With over 80 years of strong heritage in product innovation and creating new through pantograph, and runs 150-200 categories in the country, Dettol has been consistently ranked amongst the most kms in 10-15 hrs of city bus operation. A trusted brands in the country. Dettol has further strengthened its legacy of product innovation and commitment towards improving the health and hy - giene of consumers by launching a solution for the growing menace of air pol - lution. A 2015 WHO report had revealed that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India. Particulate matter (or small airborne particles) is among the most detri - mental of these pollutants. Studies link it with in - creased rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease. NRI Achievers Bureaus www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 9 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Business Buzz
MARUTI GOES ‘NEXA’
For decades, India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki was famous for trailing the field on the tech - nology front. In 1998, for instance, Hyundai launched the Santro with multi-point fuel injection, which helped it meet Euro norms and made it more fuel efficient. Maruti was still using the almost-obsolete carburettor technology. In 2012-13, Maruti decided on a new “liquid flow” design language. e hatchback Baleno is the first product of this ethos. It was an instant hit; sales crossed 10,000 in December and are ruling at 12,000 a month, including exports. It also took some bold steps, such as launching a premium dealership network called Nexa.
AIR INDIA STAKE SALE Air India may have been a chronic loss-making carrier for more than two decades, it may be said to have a really bloated workforce, and whatever recent strides it has made in terms of projections of turning operationally profitable in FY16 and reducing its losses by almost half is largely thanks to the global scenario, on the back of low jet fuel prices and government bailout money, But minister of state for civil aviation Mahesh Sharma feels that banks and private parties will be keen to hold a stake in it, if offered.
ITC ACQUIRES TECHNICO AGRI ALTICO CAPITAL INVESTS SCIENCES FOR RS 121 CRORE RS 575 CR IN 3 REALTY FIRMS
FMCG to cigarettes major ITC Ltd said it has completed Non-banking financial com - the full acquisition of Technico Agri Sciences Ltd (TASL), pany Altico Capital India said a company owned by its direct subsidiary Technico Pty it has invested INR 575 crore Limited (TPL), Australia for a cash value of INR 121 in three real estate developers crore. e acquisition, as per a BSE filing by ITC, is ex - in Mumbai, Pune and Ben - pected to “improve business and operational synergies”. galuru. Altico has entered e acquired company, which is into production and into a multi-project financing arrangement with Marvel Develop - sales of a registered category and field generated seed po - ers, Pune. Additionally, it has concluded its second transaction tatoes, has been revenue positive for the past three fiscal with Midcity group, a developer having brownfield projects fo - years. In 2012-13, TASL's cused on society redevelopments in prominent locations in Mum - turnover stood at INR 64.89 bai. The third was in Bengaluru, financing Unishire against a crore which climbed to INR portfolio of five projects, a company release said. The company 73.94 crore in 2013-14 and fur - expects similar amount of disbursements of around INR 600 crore ther rocketed to INR 105.54 over the next three months. A crore in 2014-15. e value of the acquisition is the same as NRI Achievers Desk TASL's net worth.
10 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð PSU
ONGC TO INVEST RS 34,000 BHEL CREATES HISTORY CR IN K-G BASIN FIELD
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited e Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (BHEL) has recorded the highest-ever (ONGC), the country’s largest petroleum ex - Commissioning of Projects in its his - plorer, announced an INR 34,012 cr. invest - tory and the highest Order Booking in ment to bring into production the Krishna the last Five Years in fiscal 2015-16, Godavari basin oil and gas ending the year with significant trac - field by 2020. “e invest - tion in growth drivers. Enhanced ment will be made over four focus on project execution has re - BSNL CMD CLEARS years to bring Cluster 2A sulted in BHEL creating history by FIRST HURDLE, TO and 2B into production. At way of commissioning/synchronizing COMPLETE HIS its peak in 2023, the field will contribute 3.5 an all-time high 15,059 MW of power TENURE million tonnes (mt) of oil, around 15 percent generating equipment during the year. of the total oil production envisaged by With this, the worldwide installed Giving a thumbs up to his achieve - then,” ONGC Chairman D K Sarraf said in base of power generating equipment ment as the CMD of the state-run a board meeting. supplied by BHEL has exceeded 170 telecom company, Anupam Shri - vastava has been given charge of BSNL for another four years. Shri - GAIL TO GET RS 400-CR vastava was last year appointed the BOOST AFTER HIKE IN CMD of BSNL for a period of five PIPELINE TARIFF years or till the time of the super - annuation age of 60 years. But State owned gas utility Gas there was a condition that his con - Authority of India limited firmation as CMD would be taken (GAIL INDIA) may see its top GW. is includes the highest-ever up aer a review of his perform - line getting a boost of around power generation capacity addition of ance at the end of his first year of INR 406 cr. aer the downstream regulator 13,061 MW to the Indian utility seg - tenure. While confirming the de - Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board ment, a quantum jump of 59% over velopment, Shrivastava told a news (PNGRB) has hiked the tariff for its KG basin the previous year. agency that “this is very crucial and pipeline from INR 5.56/mbtu to INR a turnaround time for BSNL”. 45.3/mbtu, a sharp increase of 715 percent.
100 GW SOLAR CAPACITY BY 2017 END
e Centre expects to achieve its ambitious target crossed 19,000 megawatts (MW) in the just-con - of 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity genera - cluded fiscal. “When we came to power, solar en - tion much ahead of its deadline of 2022, accord - ergy capacity was only 2,400 MW, and the target ing to Power Minister Piyush Goyal. “We are set by the National Solar Energy Mission then looking at achieving the 100 GW target of in - was 20,000 MW by FY22. But PM Modi later in - stalled capacity of solar energy by the end of 2017 creased the target by five times to 100 GW by itself.” He said solar power generation has already 2022,” Goyal added. A
NRI Achievers Desk www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 11 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Diaspora News
GOPIO ELECTS NEW INTERNATIONAL TEAM
Global Organization of People of Indian Ori - wari, e Netherland as International Coor - gin (GOPIO) elected a new international ex - dinators. Niraj Baxi said, “e GOPIO is ecutive council at a warmly contested making concerted efforts to attract Indian election, conducted electronically for the first Diaspora entrepreneurs and businessmen to time, where 208 of the 223 international del - take more interest in investing in India in all egates from 21 countries cast votes, electing spheres ranging from business, education, Niraj Baxi of USA as its President, Noel Lal, healthcare and social causes. With an invest - Sydney, Australia, Exe. VP, Ram Gadhavi, ment and business friendly government in New Jersey, USA, VP, Dr. Rajeev Mehta, India, we see a lot of opportunity for the In - USA, Dr. Pradip Sewoke, France, Mrs. dian Diaspora to invest and actively partici - Suman Kapoor, New Zealand & Rajidre Ti - pate in India’s development”.
PIO CREATES DOLLS TO REFLECT ETHNIC DIVERSITY An Indian-American Harvard University graduate has come up with a new series of seven dolls that represent common girls with ethnic diversity and celebrate them for their brains, talents and leadership. Neha Chauhan Woodward, 29, has given each of the seven dolls unique personalities, which girls can relate to. e doll collection created by her startup toy company Willow brook Girls and story series is based on the similarly ambitious childhood friends she grew up with on Willow brook Road.
PIO BUYS 33% IN B’LURU AIRPORT Airport operator GVK Power & Infrastructure, which owns SMALL BUSINESS the majority stake (43%) in Bangalore International OWNER BORN IN INDIA Airport Ltd, is selling 33% holding to PIO Prem Watsa’s RUNNING FOR MAYOR Fairfax Group for Rs 2,149 crore to reduce its debt.GVK could also pursue a similar divestment move in Mumbai In - OF MADISON ternational Airport Ltd.
Hanu Karlapalem, a small business owner, says the police stop of a 57-year-old Indian citizen and the ensuing international attention was unfortunate, but that has little to do with why he is now running to become the mayor of one of Alabama’s fastest growing cities. "I think the Madison Police Department is one of the best police de - partments in Alabama," said Karlapalem, who was born in the state of Andhra Pradesh on the southeast coast of India and now runs a network solutions business in Madison. He says he has a better vi - sion for Madison than incumbent Mayor Troy Turlock. A
NRI Achievers Bureaus
12 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Photo Essay
Diplomat’s nite@ASSOCHAM
Highlights of the Diplomat’s nite organised by ASSOCHAM in New Delhi recently. Diplomats & high dignatories were present in the networking night.
(L to R) Ambuj Chaturvedi, Executive Director-OIA, Preeti Sinha, H.E. Ali Llliassou, Ambassador, Niger (R) Senior President-YES Bank, Sunil Kanoria, MD-SREI, S C Aggarwal and D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM
Joseph Kabakeza, First Counsellor, Rwanda interacting with corporate delegates
(L to R) H.E. Ali Llliassou, Ambassador, Niger, Mr. Joseph Kabakeza, First Coun - sellor, Rwanda, H.E. Alem Tsehaye Woldemarian, Embassy of the State of Er - itrea, & H.E. Andre sanra, Consulate General, Benin www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 13 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Cover Story REALTY ON WINGS OF
REALTY REGULATOR PAVING WAY FOR FAIR DEALS
Vinod Behl
e proposed Real Estate Regulator cleared by the Indian Parliament and aided by reforms, will empower and protect property buyers and in - vestors, paving the way for more organised, fair, credible and transparent property transactions, thereby making real estate- investors- friendly.
14 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Real Estate
recent survey by the ers both residential and commercial is not diverted elsewhere, thereby en - Ministry of Consumer real estate including ongoing projects, suring that project is not delayed due Affairs, dubbed real es - yet it’s the residential real estate which to fund crunch. e escrow mecha - tate sector as the second is going to get big boost , especially by nism will also guarantee security of A worst industry aer boosting the confidence of home buy - the money invested by home buyers. telecom in terms of quality of service. ers. Unlike in the past, now the home e provision of a model and fair e prevailing liquidity crisis, unaf - buyers can take informed decision to buyer- seller agreement under RERA, fordable property prices, high delivery invest with all the project information will put an end to shortchanging of defaults, tepid sales and low investor at their disposal which developers and home buyers on account of hidden confidence has plunged the sector into brokers are now liable to disclose.In charges like External Development crisis. In this backdrop, Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) cleared by the upper house of parliament as - sumes significance as it seeks to check fraudulent practices and provide a fair deal to property buyers. e consumer- friendly landmark legislation is aimed at setting up regu - latory and redressal mechanism, the absence of which is responsible for the present mess in the real estate.e key provisions of the legislation that brings brokers along with developers under its ambit, include mandatory registration of projects with complete information on project plan, lay out, approvals, land title, schedule for completion, ban on pre- launching and advertising any project without all necessary sanctions this context, it is worthwhile to men - Charge (EDC), Internal Development ensuring mandatory disclosures in tion that one single most factor re - Charge (IDC), parking charges, main - project advertisements and prospectus sponsible for keeping home buyers tenance fee, club charges and prefer - to check any gap between promise and away thereby resulting in lukewarm ential location charges etc. So, there delivery, sale of property only on the sales, was the sheer lack of safety of will be no escalation of charges and basis of clearly defined carpet area in their investment, especially in view of the home buyer will not be liable to order to ensure that the buyer gets ex - extraordinarily long delays in project pay any charges other than the ones actly the space for which he has made completion with buyers money stuck mentioned in the agreement. e pro - payment, mandatory escrow account for years without redressal. But now vision of speedy and time bound dis - for the project to check any diversion of RERA will ensure timely completion pute redressal within two months , is funds that result in delays along with with time frame for completion and also a big confidence booster for home fair compensation for delays in delivery, delivery of registered projects to be buyers who are till now deprived of addressing issues related to quality of clearly mentioned and adhered to.e this and are forced to run from construction, speedy dispute resolu - mandatory project- specific escrow ac - consumer courts to lower courts to tions with penalty and imprisonment count will ensure that as much as 70 higher courts for justice. for non- complying developers. percent of the money collected by de - RERA is fully supported by the ough this model legislation cov - veloper for certain project from buyers ongoing reforms in the real www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 15 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Cover Story
“CONSUMER SATISFACTION THROUGH UNIFORM REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT” — VENkAIAh NAIDU, UNION MINISTER FOR URbAN DEVELOPMENT
On the need to regulate real estate sector under the Act, has been assigned a promotional faction. The Bill is clearly aimed at preventing spec - Keeping in view the burgeoning real estate with role for making recommendation to the concerned ulation and curbing black money which push up over 76000 real estate companies in the business government for the creation of a single window prices. Further, the mechanism for early clearances and about one million consumers making invest - system in order to ensure timely execution will help bring down prices. ment to buy a house, there was a dire need to come of the projects. up with a regulatory mechanism that could benefit On long-term impact of RERA both consumers and property developers by On concerns over inclusion of under- By providing a uniform regulatory environment, accommodating their concerns. Such a regulator construction projects in the Act the Act will root out unscrupulous players and was required to bring in much needed fair play and Under- construction/ongoing projects have check malpractices and promote orderly growth of transparency in real estate transactions. been brought under the purview of the Real Estate the sector, increasing the contribution of the real Regulatory Act to address the grievances of lakhs estate sector to the country’s GDP. On RERA catalyzing foreign investments of consumers who are yet to get the possession of With the introduction of proper regulatory their home. However, we are seized of the framework, bringing in transparency in real estate concerns expressed by real es - transactions, the market sentiment and confidence tate developers in this regard. of foreign investors will get a boost. And once the In order to properly address bill gets notified, more investments will flow. this issue, we will come out with clear cut norms for On granting infrastructure status to real estate the ongoing projects Real estate regulation is a precursor to according while framing the rules. the sector. Now following the passage of the Real estate Regulation & Development Act 2016, once On apprehensions the regulations are in place and regulator is set up over Regulatory with accompanying measures, the Finance Ministry Act’s capability to as per its promise will look into the long pending check home prices demand of granting industry status to the sector. Our ultimate intention is to create con - On key to the success of regulatory act sumer satis - The key to success lies in its effective implemen - tation. The cooperation of states for faster clear - ances to projects is sought to make this bill (that will override all state legislation) a success.
On single window clearance to check project delays The Real Estate Regulatory Authority Real Estate
ber of policy initiatives like 100 per - cent service tax exemption for afford - able homes, additional yearly rebate of Rs 50000 on housing loan interest for first time home buyers in affordable The Bill aims to segment with loans not exceeding Rs Real Estate bill bring in trans - 35 lakhs.. hike in limit of deduction for through inbuilt parency in the real rent paid to boost rental demand for protection will help estate sector, thereby, affordable housing Earlier, similar pol - improve the sentiments of encouraging investments icy initiatives were taken like National home buyers by boosting from foreign and domestic fi - Housing Board and HUDCO creating their confidence level and nancial institutions and pro - a pool fund to promote affordable making them more comfort - tecting the interest of the housing by incentivizing cash- able while buying properties home buyers. It will place the strapped developers engaged in af - as they will be protected Indian real estate market, fordable housing. against any exploitation at the which currently is fragmented hands of builders. The bill will Lack of sustained fund flow has been and unorganized, at par with bring more transparency in the biggest bane, restricting the supply, that of other developed the working of the sector by countries with clear account - leading to housing shortage, particu - promoting professionalism ability of developers through larly in mass housing.But now with and standardization of the establishment of the Real RERA becoming a reality, it will pave industry practices, ensuring Estate Regulatory Authority better working environment (RERA). Mandatory disclo - for builders.” sure of projects, including — Om Chaudhry, Founder & CEO details of the promoter, of FIRE Capital and Chairman & project, land status, clear - CEO of Astrum Value Homes ances, approvals, etc. would increase the credibility of The real estate bill is way for industry status to housing , developers and would pro - an important particularly affordable housing to facil - tect consumer rights as well. development to - itate cheap bank funding It may be The provision of mandatory wards the regulation of realty mentioned that banks exposure to real escrow account, a relief for sector and to provide relief estate in India is merely 3 percent while home buyers, is likely to to the home-buyers by way it is 10 times in the U.S.e major pol - result in the builders losing of ensuring transparency, icy decision in this year’s budget to fungibility of money, thereby, accountability and protection resulting in price hike.” boost REITs by abolishing Dividend of home buyers and in - distribution Tax, will help developers — Sanjay Dutt, Managing Director vestors. It will consolidate raise funds for affordable housing, be - India, Cushman & Wakefield real estate sector by weeding sides commercial real estate. out non- credible players, Faster approvals are a key to afford - much to the benefit of serious players. The bill able housing as delayed sanctions result estate/housing sector. which will prove however needs to be bal - in cost over runs.Project sanction is a a big boon for the affordable/low cost anced by fixing accountability long and tedious process where devel - housing in line with government’s of approving authorities.” opers need to seek over three dozen flagship mission of ,’Housing for — Manoj Gaur, President CREDAI NCR clearances for construction and com - All’.is year’s budget has addressed & MD, Gaursons India Ltd. pletion. As such there is an urgent need the affordability issue through a num - for simplifying and streamlining the
www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 17 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Cover Story
The Real Estate Reg - The bill addresses The bill regulating ulation would en - some real issues that residential and com - hance the credibility, will bolster the sec - mercial real estate, transparency and trustwor - tor: It will help the industry once made a law, will not thiness of real estate, benefit - to grow in an organized man - only protect property buyers ing all stake holders, ner and will check entry for but will also boost invest - particularly the consumer. the unorganized players. ments in the sector. With With the passage of the Act, With this bill the long sub - provisions like escrow ac - the last hurdle in treating dued sentiment in the real es - count and fast track dispute housing projects as infra tate sector is expected to get resolution mechanisms for projects also gets removed. the much needed boost” consumer grievances, the bill However, the inclusion of — S K Sayal, MD & CEO, will prove to be consumer- ongoing projects under the Bharti Realty Ltd. friendly. The builder commu - legislation will be impractical, nity will also get benefited as time consuming and the bill would promote fair expensive.Credai expects faults that not only add to the cost but play in realty transactions.It Union Urban Development also shake the confidence of property would distinguish between Minister to consider exclud - buyers and investors. genuine and fraud builders ing ongoing projects from the A recent study by CB Richard Ellis and make serious builders ambit of the legislation.” says that the real estate sector can dou - stand out with quality work ble its share in GDP to 13 percent with — Confederation of Real Estate and timely delivery.” Developers Associations of India the aid of reforms.With urbanisation — Prashant Tiwari (CREDAI) National expected to grow at a CAGR of 2 per - Chairman, Prateek Group cent over the next two years,,RERA process to fast track approvals. Some can be used as a tool to achieve dou - simplified and rationalised taxation states like Maharashtra, under its new ble- digit growth with reforms like on - through GST, liberalised FSI & density housing policy, is working to speed up line speedier projects sanctioning, norms to boost supply. the approval process by reducing Once the central bill takes the shape number of approvals and mak - of Act, states will have to come up with ing it online.e Centre, as their own framework of RERA.With part of its reform policy of its implementation, RERA will wipe ‘Ease of doing business’, out the negative image associated with needs to bring out a the fragmented, unregulated and ‘model mechanism’ to opaque realty sector, in turn ensure faster approvals for making real estate an at - other states to follow. tractive asset class RERA calls for this and for domestic and for - an expert committee consti - eign investors. But then the key tuted by the Housing Ministry has to its success lies in implementing it in come up with a reform blueprint in this letter and spirit so that it does not end regard to check large scale delivery de - up as another piece of legislation. A
18 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð©
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SLM Media Solution Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, India [email protected] +91 11 4702 3674 www.nriachievers.in +91 97177 12245 Cover Story TIME TO MONETISE NRI REAL ESTATE ASSETS e passage of the historic Real estate Regulation & Development Bill 2016, paving the way for setting up of much awaited real estate regulator, to safeguard the interests of real estate consumers, bringing in trans - parency and fair play in property transactions, is a landmark reform. To - gether with this, many other key reforms like ‘Ease of Doing Business’, have considerably improved the market sentiment towards making real estate an attractive asset class. In this backdrop, it is the right time for NRIs to leverage the investment potential of their locked up properties.
number of NRIs own ances - JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREE invest in other asset classes. Also it takes tral properties in India and are MENT JDA! away the risk of encroachments and A probably not able to get the NRIs can enter into a JDA maintenance of the property. best returns out of them. For example with developers, for redeveloping their An outright sale however needs to in Mumbai, it has been observed that land and could keep a few units be done at the correct valuations, there are many NRIs who own ances - for themselves. is way, they remain which are sometimes difficult to find. tral bungalows in prime areas like connected to their roots and at Juhu, Bandra, etc. which are lying idle the same time also earn a sizeable COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT or are given on rent at below average amount of money. & LEASING rates. Generating new land is difficult e major advantage associated e Commercial Real Estate seg - in metro cities, hence the demand for with this method is that the owner’s ment has been under performing in such properties is very high. Develop - share in the profits of the overall proj - the last 2-3 years. However, a turn - ers have been eyeing such properties ect could be higher compared to an around of the economy with an esti - since a long time and are willing to pay outright sale amount. If the builder is mated GDP growth of 7.5-8% in FY- a heavy premium for the same. able to secure a high FSI, he could 2016-17, is likely to give a boost to the ere have been several instances in build multiple flats thereby resulting in MNCs entering India. In addition, op - which NRIs have encountered increased profits. However, NRIs need erations of Indian entrepreneurs are property disputes relating to illegal to be cognizant to the fact that, this also expected to improve. e Central occupation of lands by encroachers. route may face certain hurdles in Government’s recent initiatives for Hence, it is in the best interest of NRIs terms of delay in permissions from promoting start-ups will further aug - to convert their existing sizeable land civic authorities resulting in a high op - ment the growth of commercial real parcels/properties into residential or portunity cost. Also improper pricing estate in India which is already on the commercial buildings, before they get of the new development will result in recovery path. encroached upon. reduced profitability. In commercial leasing the owner - ship of the property remains with the HOW TO MONETISE PROPERTY OUTRIGHT SALE owner as does any future capital ap - Ajay Jain, Executive Director & Another option could be to go for preciation. Maintenance costs are also Head, Real Estate, Centrum Capital an outright sale of property, since such borne by the lessee. However, the lists out & analyses a number of land parcels carry high premiums. property cannot be vacated till the ways in which NRIs can monetise is route makes available immediate lease tenure is over. Corporates usually their properties. funds to the owner which can be used to go in for long term lease agreements
20 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Real Estate
are usually at a rate of 11-12% which for Rs. 425 crores. Cyrus Poonawalla are relatively cheaper than other became the owner of Mumbai’s iconic modes of finance. Lincoln House on Breach Candy for Rs. 750 crores. A prominent industri - SUGGESTED WAY FORWARD alist bought a sea-facing triplex ere are reputed advisors and bro - penthouse on Napean Sea Road for Rs. kers who will felicitate an appropri - 202 crores. Harish Ahuja, Managing ately structured deal and suggest the Director of Shahi Exports, bought a right developer for a fee. Credentials bungalow on Prithviraj Road, of the developer are most important. Delhi for Rs. 173 crores. Essel While going for a JDA ,it is essential group bought a bungalow spread to choose a developer who has com - across a 2.8 acre plot in Lutyens’ pleted projects in the range of 5-7 lacs Delhi for Rs. 304 crores from and early termination can result in for - sq. in a radius of 5 kms of the prop - Anant Raj group. going rent for a few months. erty. It is easy to secure these details Some of the real estate developers, as his work will be known in the area who are actively participating in the LEASE RENTAL DISCOUNTING LRD! and information with regard to qual - redevelopment projects include Ekta A subset of commercial leasing, ity and timely execution can be ascer - Developers, Chandak Group, Supreme LRD enables the owner to get imme - tained. Further being a local Universal, A&O Realty, Gundecha diate funds against rental receipts developer, he would be familiar with Group, Kalpataru, Sheth Realtors, Ra - derived from lease contracts. LRDs permissions & approvals required. dius Developers, etc. It is important that the NRIs study the taxation structure in detail CONCLUSION before entering into any agreement. It It is evident that though the real es - is advised to consult a tax advisor tate market is currently facing some who can help with efficient tax plan - headwinds with respect to land gener - ning structures. ation. Making available land parcels The mandatory If you own a ready flat/commercial for further development will help in registration of all office up to 10,000 sq., then it is increasing supply of residential real es - the real estate con - favourable to go in for an outright sale tate , thereby stabilizing prices and sultants under the new legis - or a lease rental agreement provided giving the required impetus to revive lation is bound to help you are getting the correct valuation. the sector. Demand for exclusive an - professionals like us to give If you are holding a land plot / bun - cestral properties at good locations better service to the end cus - galow of a large size, then a JDA can attract good valuations, making it tomer and can also help in with a reputed developer would be a a win-win situation for all stakehold - building a credible image of preferred option. ers. Hence we feel that it is the right the consultants in the cus - tomers’ mind. With the regis - time to unlock the values of these idle tration of agents and projects RECENT DEALS properties and better leverage the becoming mandatory, the e year 2015 witnessed some of the locked up investment. A buyers will see the project biggest bungalow deals in the history development actually hap - of Indian real estate, where corporate pening but not on just paper.” giants took over similar assets: e author is Consulting — Sam Chopra, Founder e iconic Jatia House on Malabar Editor, Real Estate. & Chairman, RE/MAX India Hill in Mumbai was bought by industrialist Kumarmangalam Birla www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 21 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Cover Story SURINAME A CULTURALLY DIVERSE SOCIETY
“e giant snow mountain on its path cuts across different cultures from Islam, both Tantric-Mahayana and Hinayana form of Buddhism, Hinduism and even shelters the fierce head hunters of Nagaland among numerous other tribes and sub tribes with their distinct heritage. Sikkim is one such former Buddhist kingdom growing by the mountains shadow.”
former Dutch colony, democracy Suriname is located on the northern plantation colony of the Netherlands that in Suriname has gained strength coast of South America. One of the small - gained independence on Nov. 25, 1975. Ain recent years, creating an econ - est countries in the continent, it is yet pop - From 1980 to 1987 the country was gov - omy more diversified and less dependent ulation-wise one of the most ethnically erned by a succession of military regimes on Dutch financial assistance. e coun - diverse in the region. e economy is de - before a new civilian constitution was ap - try’s biodiversity makes it an attractive pendent on a rich extensive supply of nat - proved in 1987. Another military coup destination for eco-tourism. e country ural resources, most notably bauxite, of took place in 1990, but the country re - still faces some challenges in terms of which it is one of the top producers in the turned to civilian rule the following year. broadening its economic base, diversifying world. e southern four-fihs of the e capital, Paramaribo, lies 15 km from its trading partners and improving the country is almost entirely covered with the Atlantic Ocean on the Suriname River. business environment. Here is a profile of pristine tropical rainforest. Formerly South Asians, descendants of contract the tiny South American nation. known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname was a labourers from India, are the largest ethnic
22 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Country In Focus
group in Suriname, making up more than one-fourth of the population. e second Javanese, Creole, Western African, and major ethnic group accounting for nearly Chinese cuisine are oen blended. one-fih of the population is the Creoles, Nearly three-fourths of the Surinamese who in Suriname are people of mainly population resides in urban areas. Some African descent. e descendants of Ja - one-fih of them are concentrated in the vanese people (from the island of Java in capital Paramaribo and its environs. Many Indonesia) contract labourers and the Ma - of the city's Dutch colonial buildings re - roons (descendants of escaped slaves of with harmonious contact between its eth - main intact, and its historic centre was des - African origin) each constitute nearly one- nic groups in the cultural sphere. Fine arts ignated a UNESCO World Heritage site in sixth of the population. At least one- such as painting and sculpture were tradi - 2002. Smaller urban centres include Nieuw eighth of the population is of mixed tionally middle-class concerns dominated Nickerie in the northwest near the ethnicity and ancestry. Aboriginal de - by Western cultural standards, but since Guyanese border; Albina in the northeast scendants of the original inhabitants of independence the works of artists from on the border with French Guiana; Moengo Suriname make up a mere tiny fraction of different ethnic groups have received more in the centre of the bauxite-mining region the population. Minor ethnic groups in - recognition. Culinary traditions cross eth - in north eastern Suriname; and Paranam in clude descendants of Chinese, Lebanese, nic lines, and elements from South Asian, the bauxite-mining and bauxite-processing Portuguese, and Dutch immigrants; Cre - region on the Suriname River south of oles from the West Indies; and U.S. citi - SURINAME QUICK FACTS Paramaribo. Small settlements of Maroons zens. More recent immigrants include and Indians make up almost the entire Population: 0.6 million Chinese—known in Suriname as “New population of the interior. Some Indian vil - GDP (PPP): US$ 9.2 billion Chinese” to distinguish them from the de - 2.9% growth lages are located in the coastal area, and no - scendants of those Chinese who were 4.3% 5-year compound annual madic groups live along the Brazilian brought over as labourers in the 19th cen - growth US$ 16,623 per capita border in the south. A tury—and Brazilians who arrived in the Unemployment: 5.6% Inflation (CPI): 3.4% late 20th and early 21st centuries. FDI Inflow: US$ 4.2 million NRI Achievers Desk Suriname is a culturally diverse society, www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 23 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Cover Story A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE — Aashna Kanhai Ambassador of Suriname to India
Ms. Aashna Kanhai is the Ambassador Plenipotentiary of Suriname to India and Sri Lanka, based out of New Delhi, India. NRI Achievers touched base with her to learn more about this small South American country that has a large Indian Diaspora pop- ulation, to which she too belongs. Unlike many other Indian Diaspora rich countries that were under the British dominion, Suriname’s Indian Diaspora came to the coun- try mostly through the Dutch East India Company. Till today, Suriname is very closely connected with the Netherlands, and Dutch is a lingua franca in the country. Our Consulting Editor spoke to HE Aashna Kanhai about her country and her own life, which we reproduce here partly in her own words, and partly as a narrative ...
hen we met Her Excellency name some 150 years ago. So in effect, one “As PIOs we speak Surinami Hindi WAashna Kanhai, she came could call us PIOs. The PIOs in Suriname, which is a blend of old Bhojpuri, Awadhi across to us as a very warm apropos, are really doing wonders and & Maithli of India. It is an original lan- and engaging lady sans any pomp and for- contribute greatly to the growth of our guage and we generally converse in this mality. Interacting with our team, making country—there are doctors, lawyers, finan- lingua at home, markets et al., but it is us comfortable in the room designated for cial specialists, many many other profes- also quite commonly used in politics, and the interview, plying us with excellent tea sions. And of course in agriculture PIOs is heard as political speeches etc. In polit- and refreshments, she was the perfect host- are dominantly engaged. You can say in ical speeches a typical concoction of half ess as we prepared the setup for our simple Suriname business and agriculture Indians Hindi and half Suriname Hindi is often audio interview and photography. Once have a good hold, though not in politics. used. In our temples too Hindi is spoken settled, we simply led her have the lead and “In Suriname, Holi, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr and it is actually taught in the Temples of let her narrate to us in her own words those are all national holidays. Diwali is so im- Suriname, just as we have Arabi taught in aspects of her story and her experiences, portant a festival that at our National Masjids. Hindi however is not taught in her impressions of India and its people that Square in Suriname, starting with five days our schools. In Suriname we have 27 dis- she wished to share. Here goes: prior to Diwali, everybody —everybody, tinct and different spoken languages. The “Like a lot of Surinamese people, my including all ethnic groups, religions light official language and our mother lan- origins are from India where our family up the Diyas. Ethnicity of population wise, guage is Dutch. creole is a common lan- roots lie. The Suriname branch of our line we have an almost equal or identical pro- guage. I for one am proficient in Hindi, and family tree starts with my great grand- portion of ethnic communities in Suri- English, Dutch, Spanish, Arabic, creole father, who reached the shores of Suri- name —Indians, Africans etc. and Surinami Hindi. This is in fact not re-
24 NRI ACHIEVERS April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Dossier
ally considered a accomplishment of any sort, as many Surinamese are polyglot — multilingual —due to the mix of ethnic- ity we have and the way all languages are encouraged and kept alive both cultur- ally, socially and linguistically. “In Suriname we have 33% representa- tion for women in the parliament. Out of 13 ministers in our government, 4 are women. We have almost equal men- women representation in economic sec- tors, in companies etc. In almost all sectors women are playing a key and growing role. 99% of our women are lit- erate and have higher education — whereas men generally tend to be less qualified, they have this tendency to get more into commercial activities —set up small businesses, offer services etc., they invariably want to start earning early. So in the University, the majority students will be girls. They are generally all study and no work but when I was in college, I used to do part time work to earn extra pocket money. “By profession I am a Lawyer, Interna- tional Law is my specialty, and I studied law in Holland. Before getting into Law, I was a columnist for a newspaper. I like to call myself a typical ‘Desh Premi.” To give you a glimpse of my individual predilec- tions, I am a bit of a foodie, and my culi- nary likes are a bit adventurous —I like Tandoori Aloo (Potato) very much. In south India I like Masala Dosas. Momos too I like. I am a strict vegetarian, though during auspicious occasions only. Though it might be thought immodest, I like to say that I am a very good cook. For realising my inclination towards the arts I have taken to music —it is said I am a good vocalist, a singer. My favorite Indian film stars in Bollywood are Nawazudin Siddique for his different style of acting like in Bajrangi Bhaijan, Badlapur, etc. I www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI ACHIEVERS 25 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Cover Story
(L to R) H.E. Mr. Hans Dannenberg castel- lanos, Ambassador, The Dominican Republic, H.E. Forbes July, High Commissioner, Guyana, H.E. Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambas- sador, Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Ash- win Adhin, Vice president, Suriname & H.E. Aashana Kanhai, Ambassador, Suriname dur- ing a programme in Antarrashriya Sahyog Parishad in New delhi recently
like Naseerudin Shah also very much. On a cerebral level, I am a religious/spiritual kind of a person as well, and like visiting places of worship. Here in India, I found passionate since my childhood about the place. Because frankly after two cen- you have Shani Mandir, and I have posi- seven wonders of the world —and hon- turies, there is really no use for me to go tively come to love Shani Mandir because estly, by the grace of God —I have been and try to locate and meet people whom we don’t have such in Suriname. (On our blessed with the grace to have seen them I would not know and may not be able to asking her if she would like to establish the all in this lifetime. And I am thankful, relate to. Yes, my father was quite pas- one there, she averred that it wasn’t really grateful. So, almost immediately on my ar- sionate about finding roots and he did possible, as she was a woman and women rival into India, guess where I went —I make efforts, and also succeeded in his do not establish temples … ) Apropos Kali immediately visited the Taj Mahal. heydays —and that was long ago. He vis- Ghat - I can go to Kali Ghat any time, “I have often been asked during these ited, he related. I am not dismissing this again and again as many times as I want, last few years I am here if I was not keen ‘pilgrimage’ of sorts completely —maybe because I get recharged by these visits, it to visit my roots here —meaning seek out the next time I am in India I will steel gives me loads and loads of energy. I love any family members etc., from tracing myself to go. My father apropos has roots visiting Dargahs, and here in Delhi I have connections that go back to 200 years. in Basti and my mother’s root go back to been to the Dargah Nizammudin. I am Well, frankly, at this point of time, I am Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. keen to understand Islam and its follow- very ambivalent about it —I am not too “In sum, my journey to India has in- ers, especially the people in Islam. I am passionate about it and do not really want deed been very rich in terms of experi- quite a bit into philosophy, and have been to visit my great grandfather’s ancestral ences, emotions, sentiments, some feelings of homecoming (ambivalent …). I have picked up so many great things from this land of my ancestors during this brief tenure here in this region. And Indian so- ciety is so diverse that I have taken a lot, assimilated a lot. If I talk about India as a whole, I can say that it gives one such a vast perspective that it is indeed extremely overawing. As a diplomat and the Chargé d’Affaires here, I have managed to get some few good things done, like expand- ing our consular footprint in the subcon- tinent —we have opened for example a consulate in Bangalore —and on other
Rajeev Gupta, Editor, NRI achievers with H.E. Ashwin Adhin Pics: Rajeev
26 NRI ACHIEVERS April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Dossier
fronts like trade and commerce, our team not to mention close linguistic, social and in India that I can call my favorite here has had some success in getting In- cultural ties which hark back to common place, because in India I just simply love dian interest for investments into Suri- roots. So much so that when just last the distinctiveness of each and every name. There are immense opportunities month, when our Vice President H.E. place here. But as I said, the most familiar for foreign investments in Suriname sec- Ashwin Adhin visited India he was place for me remains Bhowanipur in tors like mining, agriculture, healthcare, warmly given a cordial welcome by In- Bengal. That is because this is the very etc. We have a lot of gold/bauxite mines. dian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, place from where my ancestors were seen Then of course we have more than good who took time to interface and discuss in India for the last time before they were reserves of crude oil where investments Indo-Suriname relations. I have also had sent to Suriname. are needed and are now being made wel- good experiences in promoting people to “My tenure here is soon coming to an come by our present government. I am people connections, and your govern- end, and I will be taking up what new as- keen that investments from India flow ment too has been very gracious and gen- signment my government will now entrust into Suriname and we in this mission look erous when it comes to common me with. But for me this opportunity that forward to opinion builders like you in the heritage, diaspora connects et al. So when was given to come and serve my country Indian media to publish about opportuni- your foreign minister Shushma Swaraj ji in India means that I will now keep com- ties with us, and also introduce and en- inaugurated, unveiled the Suriname Me- ing again and again. A courage Indian investors to engage with morial at the Suriname Ghat along the us with a view to do investments and busi- banks of river Hooghly last year, I was Suchindran Chakravarthi ness in Suriname. there, and my turn to speak a few words The writer is an technocrat “Overall, Suriname and India have had at the ceremony came, I became very who dabbles in journalism a very cordial and good diplomatic, eco- much emotional. print & broadcast photogra- phy & creative visual arts. nomic and trade relationship historically, “I am unable to specify any one place Dossier
47 year old Gorav Aggarwal is an NRI based out of the United States, who was specially in - vited by Haryana State Chief Minister Jagdish Lal Khattar to come and take part in the re - cently concluded “Happening Haryana 2016” summit that took place in March at the mil - lennium city of Gurgaon on the outskirts of national capital Delhi. Gorav interacted with the NRI Achievers Editorial team, which apropos was cov - ering the event, and shared his thoughts on NRIs coming forth and taking up, adopting devel - opment work in their own home states, villages and re - gions, contributing and partic - ipating in resurgent India's new growth story. We bring you here excerpts from that free-wheeling conversation we had with him ... i g a y T
v e e j a R
: s c i P INDIA’S NEW GROWTH STORY AN NRI ADOPTS A VILLAGE IN HARYANA
www.nriachievers.in
Dossier
o introduce myself, I am from Haryana, To hana town, born and Tbrought here. I had opted for an MBA in Marketing and Finance from IMT Ghaziabad after completing my electrical engineering from Pune Univer - sity, and began my career as a marketing executive for Siemens. While there I worked the whole of the North Indian market for Siemens products in the mar - keting automation division. After a while the US bug bit me and I decided to move to the US and try my fortune there. To start with that meant I move into a new field, Information Technology. For me it was a big switch – from marketing to pro - gramming. it meant coming to grips with many new and unknown, unfamiliar board, there is absolutely no family his - velop it ? So I evolved this concept to matters. New field, new country, new en - tory of doing business. is background make Village Dangra, a model village. e vironment, everything new. and lack of acumen meant I had to un - idea is to showcase this village such that ough while at Siemens I had worked dergo a lot of struggle before I could start other NRIs can be motivated and inspired on a SAP implementation that had given getting it right. to get interested in similar activity, adopt me a pretty good idea about the IT side of Today, touch wood we are doing good, villages and contribute holistically in de - things, when I actually moved out of my we work out of Empire State Building in veloping them. Our current government comfort zone and moved into IT, I still NYC, 200 engineers. Here in India, I have in India is pushing cleanliness, health and lacked the knowledge that was needed. promoted and run a professional IT firm sanitation through Swachch Bharat – so I Yet deep in me I wanted to get into it, not based out of Gurgaon here, 150 engi - plan to take up cudgels and thoroughly just because it was the most upcoming neers. We have a presence in South India clean up Dangra village, through provid - field but also because I felt that IT is im - too, a small office in Chennai, TN. Plan - ing good sanitation, toilets and other stuff portant not just for my development and ning to expand operations, open offices to the village. Education for girl children prosperity, but also for my country, my in Noida, UP and Hyderabad, Telangana. is the next item on my agenda. In these people. So I said okay let me risk it, take We are into growth spaces of the econ - times of global warming etc., sustainabil - the chance and see what happens. I omy like pharmaceuticals, health care, ity is important, so Solar power, biogas reached the US. It was 1999. e economy manufacturing … offering technology energy, etc., is another item on the went into a massive recession. e dot- and technology based solutions that can agenda. In my interactions with the vil - com bubble had long bust and the sector cater to various horizontals and verticals lagers so far, I have got very good re - was experiencing a colossal slowdown. It within these sectors. sponse from the village. e people were took me the better part of a good two Talking about myself, I am married and super excited that somebody wants to do years before I could achieve some amount have daughter Tanisha and my company good for their village. I would here like to of stability, learn the little tricks of the is named aer her. I also have two sons. share with you that the CM too is very trade and polish up on my IT skills. In the is time when the CM invited me to supportive in this. I am now very much year 2003, I finally mustered up the guts come and involve myself in state activities excited for this village agenda. A and gumption to kickstart my own IT and in the state economy, I had a virgin business. My father's a civil engineer who thought. Why not adopt an entire village NRI Achievers Bureau worked for the Haryana state electricity and become a benefactor for it, help de -
30 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð
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Pic: Rajeev Tyagi ¥Õ ç·¤âæÙæð´ ·¤æð Öè ç×Üð»æ â×æÙ çÕÁð´Îý ¥»ýßæÜ
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32 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð
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Üðç·¤Ù çÁÙ »ÚUèÕ ç·¤âæÙô´ ·¤è Öè ©â Âðàæð âð ÁéǸð Üô»ô ·Ô¤ Âã¿æÙ âð ÁéÇè ãô»è. çÜ° ç·¤âæÙô´ ¥æñÚU ·¤ëçá âð ÁéǸð çßàæðá™ææð´ ·¤ô Á¸×èÙô´ ÂÚU Øã §×æÚUÌð´ ÕÙè ãñ´ ßð »ÚUèÕ ·Ô¤ »ÚUèÕ ãUè ×âÜÙ ¥æ×èü çß´», ÂéçÜâ çß´», ×èçÇØæ çß´», â×æçÙÌ ç·¤Øæ ÁæÌæ ãñU. ÚUãð »°. ¥æñÚU çÕËÇUâü ¥×èÚU ÕÙÌð ¿Üð »°. ×ðçÇ·¤Ü çß´», ‹ØæØ çß´», âÚU·¤æÚUè ·¤×ü¿æÚUè çß´», çÕÁ´ðÎý ¥»ýßæÜ Ùð ·¤ãæ ç·¤ ×ñ´ ·¤Öè ·¤Öè ç·¤âæÙô ·Ô¤ çãÌñáè ¥»ýßæÜ Ùð âô¿æ €UØô´ Ù ·¤éÀ §´ÇçSÅþØÜ çß´», çâçßÜ âçßüâðÁ çß´», §‹àØæðÚUð‹â âô¿Ìæ Íæ ç·¤ ƒæÚUßæÜô´ ç·¤ âæÚUè ¥ßà·¤Ìæ°¡ Ìô ×ñ´ °ðâæ ç·¤Øæ Áæ° ç·¤ çÕËÇÚUô´ ·Ô¤ âæÍ âæÍ ç·¤âæÙô çß´», Õñ´ç·¤´» çß´», ©‘¿ ÃØæÂæÚUè çß´» ß»ü ¥æçÎ. ÂêÚUè ·¤ÚU ¿é·¤æ ãê¡ çȤÚUU Öè ·¤æ× ç·¤° Áæ ÚUãæ ãê¡, ·¤ô Öè Ù çâÈü ȤæØÎæ ãô ÕçË·¤ ÂýôÁð€UÅU ×ð´ ©Ù·¤è §Uâ ÂçÚØæðÁÙæ ·ð¤ ÂèÀðU çÕÁð´Îý ¥»ýßæÜ ·ð¤ ¥Üæßæ €UØô´? ÎÚU¥âÜ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð ×ð´ ×éÛæð ×Áæ ¥æÌæ ãñU Öè Öæ»èÎæÚUè ãô. çȤÚU €UØæ Íæ Áãæ¡ ¿æãU ßãæ´ ÚUæã. °·¤ ¥ÙéÖßè ÅUè× çÁâ×ð´ çßÚÔUàæ »é#æ, ÇUæ. ©Uáæ »é#æ, ¥õÚU ·¤æ× ·¤æ Øð Ùàææ ×éÛæ ÂÚU ßáô´ü ÂãÜð âð ¿É¸æ °Ù ßQ¤ ÂÚU ÇèÇè° ç·¤ Üñ´Ç ÂêçÜ´» ÂæçÜâè ¥æ§üU ×ÙæðÁ çâ´ã, ×Ùèá »é#æ, Øé»ðàæ ÖæçÅUØæ, ÚUæÁèß çâ´ãU, ãéU¥æ ãñ, Õâ §UÌÙæ ãñU ç·¤ Øð Ùàææ ¥æÁ Ì·¤ ©ÌÚUÙð çÁââð ¥»ýßæÜ ·¤è âô¿ ·¤ô ÕÜ ç×Üæ. ¥»ýßæÜ ’ØæðçÌ çâ´ãU, ¥àææð·¤ âæðÜ´·¤è, âÙè çÙßæüÙ ¥æñÚU ·¤æ Ùæ× Ùãè´ Üð ÚUãæ. Ùð ÕÌæØæ ç·¤ çÎ„è ·Ô¤ çß·¤æâ ·Ô¤ çÜ° Üñ´Ç ÂêçÜ´» ·é¤ÜÁèÌ ·¤Ëâè, §UˆØæçÎ àææç×Ü ãñ´U.U A ×êÜÌÑ »ýðÅUÚU Ùæð°Çæ ·Ô¤ °·¤ ÀôÅUð âð »æ¡ß ·¤âæÙæ ØôÁÙæ ÕÙæ§ü ãñ. §â ØôÁÙæ ·¤æ ÂÌæ ¿ÜÌð ãè NRI ·Ô¤U çàæß ¿ÚU‡æ Îæâ ¥»ýßæÜ ß ©Ù·¤è Ï×üÂ%è çâÅUè ÂçÚUØôÁÙæ ç·¤ ÂçÚU·¤ËÂÙæ ·¤ô ã·¤è·¤Ì ·¤è çßÙæðÎ àæ×æü Ÿæè×Ìè ·ñ¤ÜæàæßÌè ·ð¤ Âé˜æ çÕÁð´ÎýU ¥»ýßæÜ ·¤æ Á‹× Á¸×èÙ ÂÚU ©ÌæÚUÙð ·¤æ ·¤æ× àæéM¤ ãô »Øæ §â
34 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Öæß ÖÚUæ ¥æ×´˜æ‡æ Ÿæè ãÙé×æÙ Ïæ× ·Ô¤ ÖÃØ ×êçÌü Âýæ‡æ ÂýçÌDæ â×æÚUôã °ß´ Üô·¤æ‡æü v{ ¥ÂýñÜ âð ww ¥ÂýñÜ w®v{ ÌÎæÙéâæÚU ·¤ô ÁÂ-Ì °ß´ ¥ÙéDæÙô´ ·Ô¤ â´», çßmÌÁÙô mæÚUæ â´Âóæ ãô»æÐ ·¤çÜØé» ×ð´, Âé‡Ø Âýæç# ·¤æ Øã »õÚUß×Øè °ß´ °ðçÌãæçâ·¤ â×Ø ãô»æ, ÁÕ ã× Ÿæè ãÙé×æÙ Áè ·Ô¤ Ùß SßM¤Âô´ °ß´ vw ÜèÜæ¥ô´ ·Ô¤ ÎàæüÙ, çßE ·Ô¤ ÂýÍ× Ÿæè ãÙé×æÙ ÌèÍü Ïæ× ×ð´ ·¤ÚU Ï‹Ø ãô´»ðÐ §â ·¤æØüR¤× ×ð´ ¥æ âÂçÚUßæÚU °ß´ §C çטæô´ âçãÌ Âé‡Ø ÜæÖ Âýæ# ·¤ÚUÙð ãðÌé âæÎÚU ¥æ´×ç˜æÌ ãñ´ Ð ¥æ·¤æ âéàæèÜ ÌæØÜ, âè.°. àæéÖæ»×Ù ã×ð´ ¥æÙç‹ÎÌ °ß´ ã×æÚUæ ©ˆâæãßÏüÙ ·¤ÚUð»æ Ð ¥æ âÖè §â ¥ÙéDæÙ ×ð´ âÂçÚUßæÚU Öæ» Üð·¤ÚU °ß´ (âðß·¤ ) âãØô» ·¤ÚU ¥ÂÙæ ÁèßÙ Ï‹Ø ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´ Ð short conversation it was—a suc - cinct invite for me to go over for Aa quick tête-à-tête—with some - THE ENIGMATIC one he respects and looks up to. Piqued and seeking an end to this mystic mystery of the referenced, this curious cat—yours POWER TO INTUIT truly, was within 30 minutes of the call leaning on his doorbell. Ushering me in - side, my host directs me towards the sit- full-circle to the conclusion that the larger assets in the recent past. In his reckoning out, where I find a young charming lady humanity ought to benefit from her tal - he expected to figure somewhere in the seated in the company of a youthful Sikh, ents. About a fortnight ago, Baba ji had 20s. Baba ji though was adamant—and who it transpires is her cousin. And it mentioned it to Satiija that he was once swore to him that he will make it to either comes as a bit of surprise to me when she again going to figure among the top 10 of the ninth or the tenth position, failing is introduced by my host as a “Baba” Ji (a Asia’s richest in the United Kingdom. is which she went to the extent of saying that spiritual person). rich-list has an annual routine of getting she would give up all babagiri if her calcu - My host then goes on to narrate a most refreshed—and while Satiija has been fig - lations prove wrong. e 7th Asian Rich recent life experience of his related to the uring in this list for several years now, he List was subsequently released on the 18th Baba that had strengthened his belief in was pretty sceptical of making it to the top March—and lo and behold! Satiija occu - Baba ji’s foresight even more, bringing him 10 this year, having liquidated some of his pies pride of place at the 10th, just as Baba
36 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Indian Achievers
It was the evening of an other - Now as an aside—what with my twenty problems faded away, and the household wise typical nose-to-the-grind - plus years of journalism, I too have come became a happier place. is saw Rimple stone day. I had just entered across and interacted with numerous god - devoting herself to Baba ji, so much so the cool environs of the Delhi men, spiritualists, religious leaders, heal - that Baba ji these days prefers to stay with Press Club lounge thirsting for ers, gurus, mystics and what have you. Rimple when in Delhi. a sundowner aer covering a More oen than not, my experiences and Now, coming back to our story—aer a protocol stiffened formal press- memories of those encounters have few niceties and some small banter on ar - meet of the Suriname VP. My evoked more of scepticism and nagging rival, we got down to the nitty-gritty of an handy that had been silenced for the event, growls in my suspicions than inspiring faith or overaw - impromptu photo session—while Rajiv pocket, vibrating persistently, ing me to adoration, as I observed the vir - clicked away, I engaged in small talk, pick - evoking a tinge of annoyance. tual empires these folks have managed to ing up threads where we had le off the ear - Pulling it out, I see the call is establish purely based upon human lier eve, seeking more insight and quality from one who rarely if ever credulity and adulation. Satiija I have information about her. Also in the interim, takes initiative to text or call known for a while now as a ‘canny’ busi - between yesterday and now, I had fortu - me. Feeling a mite honoured to nessman with an ‘uncanny’ knack and itously managed to root out a couple of be at the receiving end, I pick acumen for a good deal, a hard-nosed, Baba ji’s followers who were also in my cir - up the call—from Rajesh worldly-wise and critical evaluator. His cles, and their inputs about her aura, glow “Lucky” Satiija—business - avowal of the Baba’s intuitive prowess and and feeling of goodness she carries around man, gold-uranium-miner, her ability to see through the mists of time herself had not merely given me more grist apple-grower and global busi - ended up spelling for me a scenario where for the mill—it had reinforced the gut feel ness tycoon ... there be more of truth and credibility in that here was someone adept at what others the Baba’s adeptness. Yet deep in my gut claim she could, though she herself had said the cynical Journo was, well, being his nary a word about her myriad abilities—I ji had predicted ... Aghast at the accuracy usual cynical self—and all I needed was could even subjectively sense the will-o- of her prognosis, Satiija today goes to the more time. And so it was for more time I wisp of a spiritual aura around her. All of a extent of saying that for his, she (Baba ji) asked, on the morrow ... and she agreed. sudden, things clicked into place, and I got is the only guru in the world today ! e next morning, I drove down with the floodgates open. Maybe because I Dilvinder—the baba ji’s cousin, also Rajiv Tyagi, senior photographer, to call walked into this least encumbered with opened up and took it upon himself to re - upon Baba ji, who was being hosted in mental extra baggage, an open mind and gale me with yet a few more interesting Delhi by one of her staunch and devout with a resignation that I might just as well anecdotes, all revolving on how many oth - followers, Ms. Rimple Sethi. Talking of the make do with what I reap this day. Aston - ers have tended to become her followers Baba’s host, there is this anecdotal story ishingly though, it did go famously well, aer hearing her insights and seeing them about how her relationship with the Baba and I garnered as much as was needed to come wholly true in their own lives. e came about. She had sought out baba ji to pen these pages you read now. Baba, apropos, was her calm self, speaking solicit advice on some vexing family prob - Gradually, Dilvinder too opened up, no more than a word or two in between. lems. Baba ji had taken one look at her, confessing that as a close sibling, it was Aer hearing all this, I was both intrigued and commented that Rimple has had her neither easy nor palatable for him to easily and inquisitive, and in fact thirsting for banglow driveway dug up and redone accept his cousin’s prowess or grow his more—but as it was getting late, I pro - three times—astounding Rimple with the faith in her foresights. He shares an inci - posed an appointment with the Baba ji for accuracy of the fact. Baba ji then also dent that ex-post-facto mesmerized him the next day, seeking ostensibly another pointed to a fountain on her property that and succeeded in his overcoming the extended opportunity to delve deeper into was kept idle most of the time, and ad - mental block in instilling faith in Baba ji’s the hazy outlines of a now emergent story, vised her to keep this water-source run - intuitive reach into other people’s lives. It and seek answers to the gazillion questions ning all the time. Once this was was about 10 years ago when Baba ji cau - have now begun swarming within ... implemented, Rimple’s vexatious family tioned him about some painful differences www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 37 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Indian Achievers
seeking his visionary glimpses into their lives, and his advice as also guidance to them along the path of least resistance to a better life. As a youngster, Neena, a precocious child close to her Dadaji, would often ensconcing herself on his lap as he would hold court with his multi- various seekers from the region who wanted him to tell them how to possibly circumvent their problems. All through childhood and youth, Neena has surprised and astonished many with her talents, though she has never ever attempted to convert these unique endowments given her by nature into any commercial venture or proposition or even constituency building. As one who actively seeks to remain anonymous rather than be famous, she keeps a Rajesh Satiija with Babaji scrupulously low profile—and there is that are likely to emerge among immediate what will befall—and having glimpsed family members, that would put paid to that, the words flow automatically, with - peace within the confines of his home— out her having to give shape to her and to boot, she was quite explicit about thoughts and verbalise it. As an aside, she how it was all likely to shape up. And then shares with us that her paternal grandfa - she had le it at that, having given her ther, Pritam Singh ji, was a spiritually en - cousin a heads-up well in advance. Time lightened soul, possessed of tremendous passed, and this cautionary note slipped visionary powers from whom she intuits into the depths of his passive memory— she has inherited the way to see that has and he almost forgot about it until a good time and again blessed her with the ability two and a half years later. Dilvinder was to look into people’s lives—and the more going through a really rough patch in his she has looked, the more adept she has life when it all came flooding back to him, become at it ... as he recalled that fateful day when his Baba ji (Neena Singh) was born to the didi had prognosticated precisely such a Nijjar family of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, fallout in the family. the first daughter to Sardar Jaswant Singh I turned to Baba ji and asked her, ‘how and Sardarni Satwinder Kaur. She has does it all work ? Do you get visions, para- two younger siblings, both sisters. A visualize, or is it some guiding sound, landed middle class extended family liv - some augury that tells you what lies ahead ing the old way, the Nijjars were like any ? She mulled it over for just a moment be - other nondescript punjabi sikh family, fore averring that it was none of these, as - devout and god-fearing. Her grandfather, serting that it was nothing more than an Nihal Singh ji, was a well-known seer, an intuitive glimpse through the shiing adept who would hold open house to sands of time that momentarily shows her help those who oft made a beeline to him,
38 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð
Indian Achievers
nothing much worth mentioning about her in the public domain. Living the life of an ‘extra’ ordinary and normal young lady, she is as comfortable in everyday clothes as well as in jeans and tops, and is quite fond of going on long drives through the picturesque Himalayan countryside. She takes pleasure in little things, including everyday chores—be it sweeping and mopping their home, or cooking a fine meal for the family. Not only is she a devout Sikh who swears by the Guru Grant Sahib and the teachings of Baba Guru Nanak, she is a staunch be - liever in Shiva the cosmic dancer—as in - Dilvinder With Babaji i g a
y socialite types who are more keen to be This uncanny ability of Baba ji to make T
v e e
j seen with her than seek to derive any real a marked and valuable difference to the a R
: s
c benefit to their lives. She carries this aloof - very lives of her adherents has also meant i P ness to such an extent that oen she o ab - that she has to reckon with an ever stains from meeting anyone twice—or growing circle of followers from many even picking up calls from them. When I walks of life, despite her strenuously con - asked her how she could make out if the scious efforts to remain obscure and said call is not in reality an SOS from a fol - anonymous. Bollywood personalities, lower, she has it pat—“my intuition tells big-ticket entrepreneurs, global tycoons me when it is so, and if the right vibes are and industrialists, powerful people— there, I pick up the calls of course ...” politicians, emirs, modern-day merchant But as it so works out those who do princes from home and abroad ... you come in touch with her swear by her—like name them, and you will find some con - Rimple Sethi—or even Rajesh Satiija for nected with Baba ji at some spiritual level that matter, who shares with me that for or the other. long now, he does not embark on any ven - What more do I say ... I am still at a loss ture or business deal without first sound - of words to paint, nay portray this strange, ing it out to Baba ji, a fact that I find speaks enigma-like persona of the Baba ji... and Rimple Sethi With Babaji volumes about the faith and confidence having confessed that, I think this will re - Baba ji commands in her followers—the main an evolving story—one that contin - grained into her by her grandfather. modicum of predictability she brings into ues to develop as our understanding of Shunning adulation and flattery, she is their life’s equations indeed goes a pretty Baba ji and her doings evolve too. A intent on living her life her own simple long way in successfully diminishing the way—explaining away the modus gross uncertainty of their futures—aer all, Rajeev Gupta operandi of the various gurus and babas the net result of the satisfaction of a job e author is a veteran journal - as humbugs—no satsangs, mass out - well done, a deal profitably clinched and an ist who had been associated with many Electronic Channels before reaches or darshans for her—she simply affair amicably concluded is ‘happiness’— starting NRI Achievers doesn’t believe in them—and what’s more, and what better quotient than ‘happiness’ magazine. He may be reached at: [email protected] openly says that she would like to shun the to measure a life well lived?
40 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Health-WIne lFlonceusss
K PAIN BAC Y EPIDEMIC MODERN DA y Lifestyle edial Health Adopt A Rem
ver the last 2 decades, Back ubiquitous common cold. pain has reached epidemic Back pain is one of the most Oproportions worldwide. Here common reasons people go to the doc - are some facts: tor or miss work. 80 – 85% persons suffer from sig - It is the most common cause nificant low-back pain at some point in of job-related disability. their life time. It is responsible for the 70% sufferers have a recurrence highest number of man-hours within one year of initial episode. lost in industry. In the US for example it is the ough no proper epidemi - second most common ailment aer the ological study has been done Health-Wellness
on India we could posit that incidence and some have propensity leading to pro - prevalence here would more or less be the longed adoption of improper posture. same as in western countries. Most of the Obesity: Too much bodyweight predisposing factors are equally if not causes stress the back and cause pain. more prevalent here in Indian populations Stressful life style: Emotional as lifestyles change predominantly to stress plays a role in how severe pain is reflect western mores. and how long it lasts. Stress has a ten - Root causes of Back Pain may be dency to affect musculature, causing back summarized as: muscles to tense and reduce threshold to withstand pain. MECHANICAL BACK PAIN: Most Smoking: Reduces blood flows to common cause. Weak or strained muscles lower spine and causes spinal discs to de - and ligaments are not able to support the Dr. Harvinder Singh Chhabra generate. Smokers suffer from inadequate back leading to manifestation of pain. nutrients reaching discs in their backs legs due to pressure on nerves by the pus Smoker’s cough also causes back pain. NERVE ROOT PAIN: Caused due to and infected bone/so tissue. Infections pressure on the nerve or oen due to a are generally associated with fever. Get a spine check done immediately if herniation (or bulging) of the disc be - any of the following are red-flagged: tween lower back bones. Sciatica is an ex - INFLAMMATION: ere are conditions Back Pain of more than 6 weeks ample of nerve root pain. Such pain tends where antibodies are formed against one’s duration. to be sharp, in one spot, and associated own joints and tissues. Rheumatoid Pain radiating to one or both legs with numbness in the area of the leg that Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis etc., are below the knee. the affected nerve supplies. some such conditions. Back pain is Associated symptoms of fever, accompanied by morning stiffness. weight loss, loss of appetite. SPINAL STENOSIS: With ageing the Morning stiffness with or with - size of the canal in which the nerves lie TUMORS: Possibly cancerous, a source of out pain in other joints of the body. and the opening through which they skeletal pain. Associated weakness in the legs come out of the spine gradually reduces, and/or partial/complete loss of leading to increasing pressure on nerve REFERRED PAIN FROM OTHER OR - bowel/bladder control. roots. is can result in sciatica. Classi - GANS: Pain from other organs may also Significant trauma. cally, leg pain increases as a person walks, be felt in the back, and is known as re - further forcing the individual to sit down. ferred pain. Intra-abdominal disorders PREVENTION Aer a while of rest the person can again like appendicitis, aneurysms et al., can Removal of high risk factors. walk for around the same distance. With cause referred pain. Specific back exercises. time the distance which the individual Physical conditioning exercises. can walk gradually reduces. RISK FACTORS Proper posture in everyday activ - Sedentary life styles: One of two ities. DEGENERATED DISC DISEASE: factors mainly responsible for increased Controlling any interfering psy - Again with ageing, discs tend to degener - incidence of back pain, leading to weak chosocial, professional or personal ate and gradually lose their normal func - back and abdominal muscles which may emotional factors. A tion. is is another cause of pain. not properly support the spine. Improper posture: Leads to Dr. Harvinder Singh Chhabra INFECTIONS: Infections like tubercular stress on muscles and ligaments which in e author is Medical Director and Chief of Spinal Services at the Indian Spinal or other bacterial infection oen result in turn can’t support the back properly. Injuries Centre, Delhi back pain. ey also cause weakness in the Profession: A risk factor since
42 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Banking DIASPORIC BANKING–FAQs
For any Indian citizen emigrating long term overseas, an issues to reckon with is how they will man - age their financial affairs in the homeland. If you are one of them, here is an FAQ on how you can manage your bank accounts and pointers on whether you need to make any changes on acquiring NRI status. Even OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India)—those of you who have taken up citizenship of another country but maintain connections in India will be ben - efited by this FAQ—it gives info on how to open accounts in India plus dos & don'ts of such ac - counts. Do read on ...
any categories of Indian Dias - pora are permitted to open ac - Mcounts with Indian banks, but the shades of grey and the fine print in the T&Cs are oen missed by many. is fea - ture begins by clarifying major pointers. Any NRI can open 'NRI' accounts with any of the banks authorised by the RBI and can do so by visiting the nearest branch of the selected bank in India or overseas. Most banks today offer a seamless online process through which NRIs can fulfill the account opening formalities and complete the process from the comfort of their home/workplace without having to physi -
April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 43 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Banking
cally travel to India. In a nutshell, there are current income like rent, dividend, pension, two options. NRIs can open two types of interest, etc., transfers from rupee accounts accounts—NRE (Non Resident External) of non-resident banks, remittances received and NRO (Non Resident Ordinary)—with in permitted currency from outside India an authorised dealer in India, which is through normal banking channels, sale pro - usually any bank authorised to deal in for - ceeds of assets including immovable prop - eign exchange. Now for more details. erty acquired out of rupee/ foreign currency Non Resident External (NRE) Ac - funds or by way of legacy/ inheritance etc. counts—is is a Indian Rupee denomi - Payments that can be made from NRO nated account and facilitatesnon residents to other NRE accounts of the same person accounts are all local payments in rupees to remit their overseas earnings to India or to the NRE or NRO account of another including payments for investments as and hold them in Indian rupees. is ac - NRI, remittances outside India, invest - specified by the Reserve Bank and remit - count is exempt from Income Tax in India ments in shares / securities/commercial tance outside India of current income like and the funds in this account are fully and paper of an Indian company, etc. rent, dividend, pension, interest, etc., net freely repatriable without any restrictions. Banks are allowed to extend loans of applicable taxes, of the account holder. An NRE account may be in the form of against security of funds held in NRE Ac - NRI/OCIs are permitted to remit an savings or current account. Such accounts count either to the depositors or to third amount upto One million US dollars per can be opened only by the NRI himself and parties without any limits, subject to the financial year, subject to payment of ap - not through a holder of the power of attor - usual margin requirements. NRE accounts plicable taxes. Except current income and ney. NRIs can open an NRE account jointly can be operated through power of attor - the limit of USD 1 Mn per financial year, with their resident close relatives such as ney in favour of residents for the limited balances in NRO accounts cannot be parents, spouse or children on a ‘former or purpose of withdrawal of local payments repatriated overseas without the prior ap - survivor ‘basis. e resident close relative or remittances through normal banking proval of RBI. Loans to non-resident ac - shall be eligible to operate the account as a channels to the account holder himself. count holders and to third parties may be Power of Attorney holder in accordance Non Resident Ordinary (NRO) Ac - granted in Rupees by Authorized Dealer / with the extant instructions during the life counts : Any person resident outside India bank against the security of fixed deposits time of the NRI/PIO account holder. may open NRO account with an authorised subject to certain terms and conditions. e credits that are allowed to NRE ac - dealer or an authorised bank. NRO Savings So, in a broad level, NRE accounts facil - counts are inward remittances to India, accounts can also be maintained with the itate the overseas to India transactions and proceeds of account payee cheques, de - Post Offices in India.It is pertinent to men - NRO accounts facilitate the within India mand dras / bankers' cheques issued tion that an individual who becomes an transactions. For the purpose of buying & against encashment of foreign currency, NRI, should immediately inform his bank selling of authorised share/ equity of com - where the instruments issued to the NRE about the change in his status from “resi - panies listed in Indian stock exchanges, account holder are supported by encash - dent” to “non-resident” and have his resi - NRIs have to open an exclusive NRE ment certificate issued by AD Category-I dent accounts converted to NRO accounts. and/or NRO Portfolio Investment Scheme / Category-II, transfers from other NRE / NRO accounts may be opened and (PIS) account. A FCNR accounts, sale proceeds of FDI in - maintained in the form of current or sav - vestments, interest accruing on the funds ings accounts. NRO accounts are rupee (All views expressed are the writer’s personal held in such accounts, interest on Govern - denominated i.e. the account should be views and do not in anyway represent his ment securities/dividends on units of mu - denominated in Indian Rupees.e ac - organization’s interests or opinions.) tual funds purchased by debit to the counts may be held jointly with residents Anand Subramaniam NRE/FCNR(B) account of the holder, cer - and / or with non-resident Indian. e e Author is a Group Vice tain types of refunds, etc. NRO account holder may opt for nomina - President of DCB Bank. Payments that can be made from NRE tion facility. accounts are local disbursements, transfer Permissible credits to NRO accounts are
44 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð
Cineppets
NEHA DHUPIA GOES BIKINI SHOPPING IN FIJI ADITYA TO PLAY BOY NEXT DOOR ere is no doubt about the fact that Neha Dhupia Actor Aditya Roy Kapoor’s look in his upcoming film alongside actor Shraddha is one of the most stylish actresses in B-town. But Kapoor is very similar to how he is in real life. e actor plays a boy-next-door what many of us don’t know is that she even styles and the film’s makers wanted him to be as natural as possible. “Aditya has sported herself in films. In fact for her next film, Santa Banta different looks in all his films. However, for his next, the director wanted Aditya Pvt Ltd, the actress did the same. Neha had to wear to look just the way he is in real life. e makers feel that his role in the film a bikini for an important scene in the film and for matches his image in real life, which is why they want him to look as natural as the same the actress chose to go and buy it herself. possible,” says the actor’s spokesperson. Accompanied with the stylist of the film, the actress roamed for a few hours in the Fiji market and hunted for the right bikini. TIGER—SHRADDHA SHARE A PASSIONATE KISS IN BAAGHI
Baaghi director Sabbir Khan has maintained that his leads, Shraddha Kapoor and Tiger Shroff, displayed a sizzling chemistry from the first day of the shoot. A ripped Tiger, dressed in a black vest, is seen passionately embracing his on - screen ladylove who has his shirt draped around her, as they share PARIS BOLLYWOOD DANCER a kiss in the rain. “Tiger and DONIA TANZI BIGGEST FAN OF SRK Shraddha share a great rapport having known each other since Everyone is awaiting the release of Maneesh their school days and were really Sharma‘s Fan starring Shah Rukh Khan with bated comfortable with each other. A breath. ough Bollywood celebs enjoy immense popu - larity thanks to their fan- following, sometimes fans go overboard to prove their love for their favourite star and get noticed by them. Shah Rukh Khan's Fan seems to be the story of one such ob - sessed fan.
Mumbai Bureau
46 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Silver Screen “MY BIGGEST INSPIRATION HAS BEEN RAJ KAPOOR” — Sooraj Kumar Barjatya
e man with the Midas touch known for making films which are family oriented goes down memory lane and talks to Jyothi Venkatesh of NRI Achievers about his journey as a film - maker right from Maine Pyar Kiya to his last release - Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo.
At the outset, how happy are you with your latest film Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo’s box office success? I am happy at the way Prem Ratan Dhan Payo has fared at the box-office. I knew that it is a family film and I was catering to a family audience. It was my desire to make a film with Salman that an entire family could watch together. is is my biggest success till date and I am happy that people liked it.
When you look back at your career, how do you feel? When I launched my first film Maine Pyar Kiya way back in 1988 with brand new faces like Salman Khan and Bhagyashree, to be frank I was brasher, more demanding and definitely more technique conscious. Today, over the years, I have realized the supreme value of not only the characterization but also the writ - ten word. I confess that today, it is pure story telling that inspires me. I am more relaxed on the sets and have realized even more how important it is to give hope and show the good side of life to the audiences.
You began your career as an assistant on the sets of Saaraansh produced by your home banner with Mahesh Bhatt as the director. Name one filmmaker who has in - www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 47 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Silver Screen
spired you in a big way, besides Mahesh their old times and go back and give time Bhatt that is? and the effort to their relationships. So Undoubtedly, my biggest inspiration many problems would never arise. right from my formative years has always been Shri Raj Kapoor and all the great R.K. To what extent is the subject of paramount Films. I have been very fortunate to have importance to you as a filmmaker? worked with Bhatt Saheb in Saaransh as Primarily, a subject has to strike a an observer to what a DIRECTOR chord within me. I have to want to means. I have always wanted to live that film for two/three years of make that one film where my father my life. During the filming, I live Rajbabu would be totally happy and each character, I like to see, read, meet proud as a passionate creative producer. everyone and everything only related to that subject. It has always been an obses - While Salman Khan and Bhagyashree sion to make it look as natural and effort - were totally new when you launched your less on screen. film Maine Pyar Kiya with them, Shahid Kapoor and Amrita were already ten How do you strike the right balance be - films old in films when you cast them in tween being a producer and a director? your film Vivaah! As a director I need to sit back, Honestly, Salman Khan , Bhagyashree read, travel look around and get energies and I all learnt with experiments and were back. But yes, as a production house we finding our foot-space during the making are going to move aggressively with 2/3 of Maine Pyar Kiya, whereas both films a year with other directors, more Shahid Kapoor and Amrita were 10 shows on television and channelize films old and hence knew so much into mobile and online entertain - more about the technique of film ment which my brother Rajjat making which indeed helped me im - is looking into. mensely. I would not at all hesitate to state that they had actually played much more ere are rumors that you are planning difficult roles than Salman Khan and to make a action film with Salman Khan! Bhagyashree did in Maine Pyar Kiya. It is not at all that true that I am plan - ning to make an action film with Salman You have always maintained that V Khan. Right now, I am working on a sub - ivaah has been one of your most favorite ject. ough it is too early for me to dwell subjects, even more than Maine Pyar for that goes to my father. Vivah was about at length about what kind of subject it will Kiya. Why? the courtship period and the tag line said be, all that I can say now is that it is not I agree that my film Vivah has been one - “A journey from engagement to mar - 100 percent action as is being speculated. of the favorite subjects of my father since riage”. During this period we do every - But yes, a film with Salman Khan is defi - he read a news print about what happened thing to make the other person happy. We nitely there on the cards. A to a couple to be in the 80’s in western U.P. travel hours to buy that one card which He would keep discussing it with us, giv - can give a smile to his/her face. It is only Jyothi Venkatesh ing us encouragement to make it soon. aer marriage that we get into our day to e writer is a well-known & e climax of the film was very novel and day rut and take each other for granted. established film critic. it had never come earlier in any Hindi film e ' I ' becomes more important. I hope any time before or aer. e entire credit people see Vivah again and remember
48 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð
Metaphysical Musings ¿æ‡æ€UØ ÙèçÌ
¿æØü ¿æ‡æ€UØ °·¤ °ðâè ×ãæÙ çßÖêçÌ Íð, çÁ‹ãô´Ùð ¥ÂÙè çßmžææ ¥õÚU ÿæ×Ìæ¥ô´ ·Ô¤ ÕÜ ÂÚU ÖæÚUÌèØ ¥æ §çÌãæâ ·¤è ÏæÚUæ ·¤ô ÕÎÜ çÎØæÐ ×õØü âæ×ýæ’Ø ·Ô¤ â´SÍæ·¤ ¿æ‡æ€UØ ·¤éàæÜ ÚUæÁÙèçÌ™æ, ¿ÌéÚU ·¤êÅUÙèçÌ™æ, Âý·¤æ´Ç ¥ÍüàææS˜æè ·Ô¤ M¤Â ×ð´ Öè çßEçßØæÌ ãé°Ð §ÌÙè âçÎØæ¡ »éÁÚUÙð ·Ô¤ ÕæÎ ¥æÁ Öè ØçÎ ¿æ‡æ€UØ ·Ô¤ mæÚUæ ÕÌæ° »° çâhæ´Ì ¥õÚU ÙèçÌØæ¡ Âýæâ´ç»·¤ ãñ´ Ìô ×æ˜æ §âçÜ° €UØô´ç·¤ ©‹ãô´Ùð ¥ÂÙð »ãÙ ¥ŠØØÙ, ç¿´ÌÙ ¥õÚU ÁèßæÙæÙéÖßô´ âð ¥çÁüÌ ¥×êËØ ™ææÙ ·¤ô, ÂêÚUè ÌÚUã çÙÑSßæÍü ãô·¤ÚU ×æÙßèØ ·¤ËØæ‡æ ·Ô¤ ©Î÷ÎðàØ âð ¥çÖÃØQ¤ ç·¤ØæÐ Âðàæ ãñU v| ¥ŠØæØæð´ ßæÜè Ò¿æ‡æ€UØ ÙèçÌÓ ·¤æ ÎêâÚUæ ¥ŠØæØÐ ãUÚU ¥´·¤ ×ð´ ãU× °·¤ ¥ŠØæØ ÂÚU ÙÁÚU ÇUæÜð´»ðÐ
v. ÛæêÆ ÕôÜÙæ, ·¤ÆôÚUÌæ, ÀÜ ·¤ÚUÙæ, Õðß·¤êȤè x. çÁâð ¥ÂÙð ÏÙ ÂÚU â´Ìôá ãñÐ Avoid him who talks sweetly before ·¤ÚUÙæ, ÜæÜ¿, ¥ÂçߘæÌæ ¥õÚU çÙÎüØÌæ Øð ¥õÚUÌô´ He whose son is obedient to him, you but tries to ruin you behind your ·Ô¤ ·¤éÀ Ùñâç»ü·¤ Îé»éü‡æ ãñÐ whose wife’s conduct is in accordance back, for he is like a pitcher of poison Untruthfulness, rashness, guile, stu - with his wishes, and who is with milk on top. pidity, avarice, uncleanliness and cru - content with his riches, has his elty are a woman’s seven natural flaws. heaven here on earth. {. °·¤ ÕéÚUð çטæ ÂÚU Ìô ·¤Öè çßEæâ Ù ·¤Ú´UðÐ °·¤ ¥‘Àð çטæ ÂÚU Öè çßEæâ Ù ·¤ÚUð´Ð €Øæð´ç·¤ ØçÎ °ðâð w.ÖôÁÙ ·Ô¤ Øô‚Ø ÂÎæÍü ¥õÚU ÖôÁÙ ·¤ÚUÙð ·¤è y. Âé˜æ ßãè ãñ Áô çÂÌæ ·¤æ ·¤ãÙæ ×æÙÌæ ãô, çÂÌæ Üô» ¥æÂâð L¤C ãôÌð ãñ´ Ìô ¥æ ·Ô¤ âÖè ÚUæÁ âð ÿæ×Ìæ, âé‹ÎÚU S˜æè ¥õÚU ©âð Öô»Ùð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ·¤æ× ßãè ãñ Áô Âé˜æô´ ·¤æ ÂæÜÙ-Âôá‡æ ·¤ÚUð, çטæ ßãè ãñ ÂÎæü ¹ôÜ Îð´»ðÐ àæçQ¤, ÂØæü# ÏÙÚUæàæè ÌÍæ ÎæÙ ÎðÙð ·¤è ÖæßÙæ— çÁâ ÂÚU ¥æ çßEæâ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãô´ ¥õÚU Â%è ßãè Do not put your trust in a bad °ðâð â´Øô»ô´ ·¤æ ãôÙæ âæ×æ‹Ø Ì ·¤æ È¤Ü Ùãè´ ãñÐ ãñ çÁââð âé¹ Âýæ# ãôÐ companion nor even trust an ordi - To have ability for eating when dishes They alone are sons who are devoted nary friend, for if he should get angry are ready at hand, to be robust and to their father. He is a father who sup - with you, he may bring all your se - virile in the company of one’s reli - ports his sons. He is a friend in whom crets to light. giously wedded wife, and to have a we can confide, and she only is a wife mind for making charity when one is in whose company the husband feels |. ×Ù ×ð´ âô¿ð ãé° ·¤æØü ·¤ô ç·¤âè ·Ô¤ âæ×Ùð Âý·¤ÅU prosperous are the fruits of no ordi - contented and peaceful. Ù ·¤ÚUð´ ÕçË·¤ ×ÙÙ Âêßü·¤ ©â·¤è âéÚUÿææ ·¤ÚUÌð ãé° nary austerities. ©âð ·¤æØü ×ð´ ÂçÚUßçÌüÌ ·¤ÚU Îð´Ð z. °ðâð Üô»ô´ âð Õ¿ð´ Áô ¥æ·Ԥ ×éã´ ÂÚU Ìô ×èÆè Do not reveal what you have x. ©â ÃØçQ¤ Ùð ÏÚUÌè ÂÚU ãè Sß»ü ·¤ô Âæ çÜØæÑ ÕæÌð´ ·¤ÚUÌð ãñ´, Üðç·¤Ù ¥æ·Ԥ ÂèÆ ÂèÀð ¥æ·¤ô thought upon doing, but by v. çÁâ·¤æ Âé˜æ ¥æ™ææ·¤æÚUè ãñ, ÕÕæüÎ ·¤ÚUÙð ·¤è ØôÁÙæ ÕÙæÌð ãñ´, °ðâæ ·¤ÚUÙð ßæÜð wise counsel keep it secret, w. çÁâ·¤è Â%è ©â·¤è §‘Àæ ·Ô¤ ¥ÙéM¤Â Ìô ©â çßá ·Ô¤ ƒæǸð ·Ô¤ â×æÙ ãñ´ çÁâ·¤è ©ÂÚUè being determined to carry it into ÃØÃãæÚU ·¤ÚUÌè ãñ, âÌã ÎêÏ âð ÖÚUè ãñÐ execution.
50 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Metaphysical Musings
}. ×ê¹üÌæ Îé¹ÎæØè ãñ, ÁßæÙè Öè Îé¹ÎæØè good one by chastisement, therefore v|. ßðàØæ ·¤ô çÙÏüÙ ÃØçQ¤ ·¤ô ˆØæ» ÎðÙæ ¿æçã°, ãñ,Üðç·¤Ù §Ù âÕâð ·¤ãè´ ’ØæÎæ Îé¹ÎæØè ç·¤âè beat your son as well as your pupil; ÂýÁæ ·¤ô ÂÚUæçÁÌ ÚUæÁæ ·¤ô ˆØæ» ÎðÙæ ¿æçã°, ÎêâÚUð ·Ô¤ ƒæÚU Áæ·¤ÚU ©â·¤æ ¥ãâæÙ ÜðÙæ ãñÐ never indulge them. (“Spare the rod ÂçÿæØô´ ·¤ô ȤÜÚUçãÌ ßëÿæ ˆØæ» ÎðÙæ ¿æçã° °ß´ Foolishness is indeed painful, and and spoil the child.”) ¥çÌçÍØô´ ·¤ô ÖôÁÙ ·¤ÚUÙð ·Ô¤ ÂpæÌ÷ ×ðÁÕæÙ ·Ô¤ verily so is youth, but more painful by ƒæÚU âð çÙ·¤Ü ÁæÙæ ¿æçã°Ð far than either is being obliged in an - vx. °ðâæ °·¤ Öè çÎÙ Ùãè´ ÁæÙæ ¿æçã° ÁÕ ¥æÂÙð The prostitute has to forsake a other person’s house. °·¤ àÜô·¤, ¥æÏæ àÜô·¤, ¿õÍæ§ü àÜô·¤, Øæ man who has no money, the subject a àÜô·¤ ·¤æ ·Ô¤ßÜ °·¤ ¥ÿæÚU Ùãè´ âè¹æ, Øæ ¥æÂÙð king that cannot defend him, the ~. ãÚU ÂßüÌ ÂÚU ×æç‡æ€UØ Ùãè´ ãôÌð, ãÚU ãæÍè ·Ô¤ ÎæÙ, ¥Øæâ Øæ ·¤ô§ü Âçß˜æ ·¤æØü Ùãè´ ç·¤ØæÐ birds a tree that bears no fruit, and the âÚU ÂÚU ׇæè Ùãè´ ãôÌæ, â’ÁÙ ÂéL¤á Öè ãÚU Let not a single day pass without guests a house after they have finished Á»ã Ùãè´ ãôÌð ¥õÚU ãÚU ßÙ ×´ð ¿‹ÎÙ ·Ô¤ ßëÿæ your learning a verse, half a verse, or their meals. Öè Ùãè´ ãôÌð ãñ´Ð a fourth of it, or even one There does not exist a pearl in every letter of it; nor without attending v}. Õýæ±×‡æ Îçÿæ‡ææ ç×ÜÙð ·Ô¤ ÂpæÌ÷ ¥ÂÙð mountain, nor a pearl in the head of to charity, study and other ØÁ×æÙô ·¤ô ÀôǸ ÎðÌð ã´ñ, çßmæÙ çßlæ Âýæç# ·Ô¤ every elephant; neither are the sadhus pious activity. ÕæÎ »éL¤ ·¤ô ÀôǸ ÁæÌð ãñ´ ¥õÚU Âàæé ÁÜð ãé° ßÙ to be found everywhere, nor sandal ·¤ô ˆØæ» ÎðÌð ãñ´Ð trees in every forest. vy. Â%è ·¤æ çßØô» ãôÙæ, ¥ÂÙð ãè Üô»ô´ âð Brahmins quit their patrons after [Note: Only elephants in royal Õð§’ÁÌ ãôÙæ, Õ¿æ ãé¥æ «‡æ, ÎéC ÚUæÁæ ·¤è âðßæ receiving alms from them, scholars palaces are seen decorated with pearls ·¤ÚUÙæ, »ÚUèÕè °ß´ ÎçÚUÎýô´ ·¤è âÖæ—Øð Àã ÕæÌð´ leave their teachers after receiving (precious stones) on their heads]. àæÚUèÚU ·¤ô çÕÙæ ¥ç‚Ù ·Ô¤ ãè ÁÜæ ÎðÌè ãñ´Ð education from them, and animals Separation from the wife, disgrace desert a forest that has been v®. Õéçh×æÙ çÂÌæ ·¤ô ¥ÂÙð Âé˜æô´ ·¤ô àæéÖ »é‡æô´ from one’s own people, an enemy burnt down. ·¤è âè¹ ÎðÙè ¿æçã° €UØô´ç·¤ ÙèçÌ™æ ¥õÚU ™ææÙè saved in battle, service to a wicked ÃØçQ¤Øô´ ·¤è ãè ·¤éÜ ×ð´ ÂêÁæ ãôÌè ãñÐ king, poverty, and a mismanaged as - v~. Áô ÃØçQ¤ ÎéÚUæ¿æÚUè, ·¤éÎëçC ßæÜð, °ß´ ÕéÚUð SÍæÙ Wise men should always bring up sembly: these six kinds of evils, if af - ÂÚU ÚUãÙð ßæÜð ×ÙécØ ·Ô¤ âæÍ çטæÌæ ·¤ÚUÌæ ãñ, ßã their sons in various moral ways, for flicting a person, burn him even àæèƒæý ÙC ãô ÁæÌæ ãñÐ children who have knowledge of niti- without fire. He who befriends a man whose con - sastra and are well behaved become a duct is vicious, whose vision impure, glory to their family. vz. ÙÎè ·Ô¤ ç·¤ÙæÚUð ßæÜð ßëÿæ, ÎêâÚUð ÃØçQ¤ ·Ô¤ ƒæÚU and who is notoriously crooked, is ×´ð ÁæÙð ¥Íßæ ÚUãÙð ßæÜè S˜æè °ß´ çÕÙæ ×´ç˜æØô´ rapidly ruined. vv. Áô ×æÌæ ß÷ çÂÌæ ¥ÂÙð Õ‘¿ô´ ·¤ô çàæÿææ Ùãè´ ·¤æ ÚUæÁæ—Øð âÕ çÙpØ ãè àæèƒæý ÙcÅU ãô ÁæÌð ãñ´Ð ÎðÌð ã´ñ ßô Ìô Õ‘¿ô´ ·Ô¤ àæ˜æé ·Ô¤ â×æÙ ãñ´ €UØô´ç·¤ ßð Trees on a riverbank, a woman in an - w®. Âýð× ¥õÚU çטæÌæ ÕÚUæÕÚU ßæÜô´ ×ð´ ¥‘Àè çßlæãèÙ ÕæÜ·¤ çßmæÙô´ ·¤è âÖæ ×ð´ ßñâð ãè other man’s house, and kings without Ü»Ìè ãñ, ÚUæÁæ ·Ô¤ Øãæ¡ Ùõ·¤ÚUè ·¤ÚUÙð ßæÜð ·¤ô ãè çÌÚUS·¤ëÌ ç·¤Øð ÁæÌð ãñ´ Áñâð ã´âô ·¤è âÖæ ×´ð Õ»éÜðÐ counselors go without doubt to swift â×æÙ ç×ÜÌæ ãñ, ÃØßâæØô´ ×ð´ ßæç‡æ’Ø âÕâð Those parents who do not educate destruction. ¥‘Àæ ãñ, °ß´ ©žæ× »é‡æô´ ßæÜè S˜æè ¥ÂÙð ƒæÚU ×ð´ their sons are their enemies; for as is âéÚUçÿæÌ ÚUãÌè ãñÐ a crane among swans, so are ignorant v{. °·¤ Õýæ±×‡æ ·¤æ ÕÜ ÌðÁ ¥õÚU çßlæ ãñ, °·¤ Friendship between equals flourishes, sons in a public assembly. ÚUæÁæ ·¤æ ÕÜ ©â·¤è âðÙæ ×ð´ ãñ, °·¤ ßñàØ ·¤æ ÕÜ service under a king is respectable, it ©â·¤è ÎõÜÌ ×ð´ ãñ ÌÍæ °·¤ àæéÎý ·¤æ ÕÜ ©â·¤è is good to be business-minded in vw. ÜæǸ-ŒØæÚU âð Õ‘¿ô´ ×ð »ÜÌ ¥æÎÌð´ ÂÜÌè ã´ñ, âðßæ ÂÚUæ؇Ìæ ×´ð ãñÐ public dealings, and a handsome lady ©‹ãð´ ·¤Ç¸è çàæÿææ ÎðÙð âð ßð ¥’Àè ¥æÎÌð´ âè¹Ìð ãñ´, A brahmin’s strength is in his is safe in her own home. A §âçÜ° Õ‘¿ô´ ·¤ô ÁM¤ÚUÌ ÂǸÙð ÂÚU δç‡ÇÌ ·¤ÚUð´, learning, a king’s strength is in his ’ØæÎæ ÜæǸ Ù ·¤ÚUð´Ð army, a vaishya’s strength is in his Many a bad habit is developed wealth and a shudra’s strength is in his Source : www.hindisahityadarpan.in through over indulgence, and many a attitude of service.
www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 51 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Metaphysical Musings בÀÚUô´... Ì´» ×Ì ·¤ÚUæð!
àææ´çÌ âð ÕñÆæ ¥¹¸ÕæÚU Âɸ ÚUãæ Íæ, ÌÖè ÕéçhÁèçßØô´ Ùð ¥¹¸ÕæÚU ×ð´ ÌÂÌð Ì·¤ô´ü ·Ô¤ âæÍ ÕǸð- ·¤æ ×õ·¤æ Öè Ùãè´ çÎØæ!!! §ÌÙð ×ð´ ãè ·¤éÀ ÚUæÁÙðÌæ ·¤éÀ בÀÚUô´ Ùð ¥æ·¤ÚU ×ðÚUæ ¹êÙ ¿êâÙæ ÕǸð Üð¹ çܹÙæ àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU çÎØæ!! ©Ù·¤æ ·¤ãÙæ Íæ Öè ¥æ »° ¥õÚU ßô ©Ù בÀÚUô´ ·¤ô ¥ÂÙð Õ»è¿ð ×ñ´àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU çÎØæÐ SßæÖæçß·¤ ÂýçÌç·ý¤Øæ ç·¤ בÀÚU Îðã ÂÚU ×õÁ¸êÎ Ìô Íð Üðç·¤Ù ¹êÙ ¿êâ ÚUãð ·¤è ÒÕãæÚUÓ ·¤æ ÕðÅUæ ÕÌæÙð Ü»ð.!! ×ð´ ×ðÚUæ ãæÍ ©Ææ ¥õÚU ¥¹¸ÕæÚU âð ¿ÅUæ·¤ ãô »Øæ Íð Øð ·¤ãæ¡ çâh ãé¥æ ãñ? ¥õÚU ¥»ÚU ¿êâ Öè ÚUãð Íð ãæÜæÌ âð ãñÚUæÙ ¥õÚU ÂÚUðàææÙ ãô·¤ÚU ×ñ´Ùð ·¤ãæ ç·¤ ¥õÚU Îô-°·¤ בÀÚU ÉðÚU ãô »°.!! çȤÚU €UØæ Íæ Ìô Öè Øð »ÜÌ Ìô ãô â·¤Ìæ ãñ Üðç·¤Ù ÒÎðãÎýôãÓ Üðç·¤Ù °ðâð ãè בÀÚUô´ ·¤ô ¹êÙ ¿êâÙð ÎðÙð âð ×ÜðçÚUØæ ©‹ãô´Ùð àæôÚU ׿æÙæ àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU çÎØæ ç·¤ ×ñ´ ¥âçãc‡æé ·¤è Ÿæð‡æè ×ð´ Ùãè´ ¥æÌæ, €UØô´ç·¤ Øð ÒÕ‘¿ðÓ ÕãéÌ ãè ãô ÁæÌæ ãñ, ¥õÚU ÌéÚU´Ì Ù âãè ÕæÎ ×ð´ Õè×æÚU ¥õÚU ãô »Øæ ãê¡!! ×ñ´Ùð ·¤ãæ Ìé× ¹êÙ ¿êâô»ð Ìô ×ñ´ Âý»çÌàæèÜ ÚUãð ãñ´., ç·¤âè ·¤è Öè Îðã ÂÚU ÕñÆ ÁæÙæ ·¤×Á¸ôÚU ãô·¤ÚU ×õÌ ãô ÁæÌè ãñ.!! §â ÂÚU ßô ·¤ãÙð ×æM¤´»æ!! §â×ð´ ¥âçãc‡æéÌæ ·¤è €UØæ ÕæÌ ãñ? ßô §Ù·¤æ ÒâÚUô·¤æÚUÓ ÚUãæ ãñ!! Ü»ð ç·¤ ÌéãæÚUð Âæâ Ì·¸¤ü Ùãè´ ãñ´ §âçÜ° Ìé× ÖçßcØ ·¤ãÙð Ü»ð ¹êÙ ¿êâÙæ ©Ù·¤è ¥æÁ¸æÎè ãñ!! ×ñ´Ùð ·¤ãæ ×ñ´ ¥ÂÙæ ¹êÙ Ùãè´ ¿êâÙð Îê´»æ Õâ.!!! ·¤è ·¤ËÂÙæ¥ô´ ·Ô¤ ¥æÏæÚU ÂÚU ¥ÂÙð ÒȤæâèßæÎèÓ Ò¥æÁ¸æÎèÓ àæŽÎ âéÙÌð ãè ·¤§ü ÕéçhÁèßè ©Ù·Ô¤ Âÿæ Ìô ·¤ãÙð Ü»ð Øð Ò°€UâÅþè× ÎðãÂýð×Ó ãñ.! Ìé× Èñ¤âÜð ·¤ô Æè·¤ ÆãÚUæ ÚUãð ãô..!!! ×ñ´Ùð ·¤ãæ Øð ×ð´ ©ÌÚU ¥æØð ¥õÚU Õãâ ·¤ÚUÙð Ü»ð!! §â·Ô¤ ÕæÎ ·¤^ÚU´Íè ãô, çÇÕðÅU âð Öæ» ÚUãð ãô.!!! ×ñ´Ùð ·¤ãæ â槴çÅUçȤ·¤ Ì‰Ø ãñ ç·¤ בÀÚUô´ ·Ô¤ ·¤æÅUÙð âð ×ÜðçÚUØæ ÙæÚUðÕæÁè àæéM¤ ãô »§ü., Òç·¤ÌÙð בÀÚU ×æÚUô»ð ãÚU ƒæÚU ÌéãæÚUæ ©ÎæÚUßæÎ Ìéãð´ ×ðÚUæ ¹êÙ ¿êâÙð ·¤è §Á¸æÁ¸Ì ãôÌæ ãñ., ×éÛæð §ââð ÂãÜð ¥ÌèÌ ×ð´ Öè Øð ÛæðÜÙæ âð בÀÚU çÙ·¤Üð»æÓ? Ùãè´ Îð â·¤Ìæ!!! §â ÂÚU ©Ù·¤æ Ì·¸¤ü Íæ ç·¤ ÖÜð ÂǸæ ãñ.!! â槴çÅUçȤ·¤ àæŽÎ ©‹ãð´ â×Ûæ Ùãè´ ¥æØæ.!! ãè Øã »ÜÌ ãô Üðç·¤Ù çȤÚUU Öè ÍôÇ¸æ ¹êÙ ¿êâÙð Ì‰Ø ·Ô¤ ÁßæÕ ×ð´ ßô ·¤ãÙð Ü»ð ç·¤ ×ñ´ §çÌãæâ âð ÌéãæÚUè ×õÌ Ìô Ùãè´ ãô ÁæÌè, Üðç·¤Ù Ìé×Ùð ·¤ô בÀÚU â×æÁ ·Ô¤ ÂýçÌ ¥ÂÙè ƒæë‡ææ ·¤æ ÕãæÙæ ×æâê× ×‘ÀÚUô´ ·¤è çÁ¸‹Î»è ÀèÙ ÕÙæ ÚUãæ ãê¡, ÁÕç·¤ ×éÛæð ßÌü×æÙ ×ð´ ÁèÙæ ¿æçã°!!! Üè!! ÒÈÔ¤ØÚU ÅþæØÜÓ §ÌÙð ã´»æ×ð´ ·Ô¤ ÕæÎ ©‹ãô´Ùð ×ðÚUð ãè âÚU ×æãõÜ çÕ»æǸÙð ·¤æ ¥æÚUô Öè ×ɸ çÎØæ!!! ×ðÚUð 繸Üæȸ ×ðÚUð ·¤æÙ ×ð´ ƒæéâ·¤ÚU âæÚUð בÀÚU çÖóææÙð Ü»ð ç·¤ ÒÜð·Ô¤ ÚUãð´»ð ¥æÁ¸æÎèÓ!!! ×ñ´ Õãâ ¥õÚU çßßæÎ ×ð´ ÂǸ·¤ÚU ÂÚUðàææÙ ãô »Øæ Íæ, ©ââð ÊØæÎæ çÁÌÙæ ç·¤ ¹êÙ ¿êâð ÁæÙð ÂÚU ãé¥æ Íæ!!! ¥æ繸ÚU·¤æÚU ×éÛæð ÌéÜâè ÕæÕæ ØæÎ ¥æØðÑ ÒâÆ âÙ çßÙØ ·¤éçÅUÜ âÙ ÂýèÌè....ÓÐ ¥õÚU çȤÚU ×ñ´Ùð ·¤æÜæ çãÅU ©ÆæØæ ¥õÚU ×´ÇÜè âð ×æ¿ü Ì·¤, Õ»è¿ð âð ÙæÜð Ì·¤ ©Ù·Ô¤ ãÚU âæòçȤçSÅU·Ô¤ÅUðÇ ¥õÚU âè·ýð¤ÅU çÆ·¤æÙð ÂÚU Îð ×æÚUæ!!! °·¤ ÕæÚU ÌðÁè âð çÖóæ-çÖóæ ãé§ü ¥õÚU çȤÚUU âÕ àææ´Ì!! ©â·Ô¤ ÕæÎ âð Ù ·¤ô§ü Õãâ Ù ·¤ô§ü çßßæÎ., Ù ·¤ô§ü ¥æÁ¸æÎè Ù ·¤ô§ü ÕÕæüÎè., Ù ·¤ô§ü ·¤æ´çÌ Ù ·¤ô§ü âÚUô·¤æÚU.!!! ¥Õ âÕ ·¤éÀ Æè·¤ ãñ!! Øãè ÎéçÙØæ ·¤è ÚUèÌ ãñ.!!! A
— °·¤ ç¿´Ì·¤
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Did You Know?
Ratnakar, a robber once tried to rob sage Narad. It was a routine job for him, to kill and rob travellers. But this time was different. Narad asked him, you do all this for your family, but will your family also share the load of your sins. is le Ratnakar deep thinking. He checked with his family and to his surprise, they did not agree to share the burden of his sins, despite of have enjoyed the luxuries it provided. At this, Ratnakar asked Narad to teach him the right path. Narad told him the story of Lord Ram and also said, you should chant god’s name. But the name he gave was ‘Mara’ (means dead). So Ratnakar started meditating and chant - ing MARA-MARA-MARA…MA.RA.MA.RA.MA.RAMA.RAMA.RAM….RAM-RAM-RAM-RAM……
s you are able to note, his to Sita’s children Luv and Kush, which chant soon became Lord they recited in Ram’s court. at’s ARam’s Name. But by the time how their father Ram recognized he could master his worship, he was them and momentarily reunited with buried deep in ant-hills. When he his wife Sita. reached the divine stage, the holy Since then, hundreds of versions of voice from heaven told him to rise Ramayana have been written. While and gave him a new name: Valmiki most are mere translations, some were (means Ant-hill in Sanskrit). is written from scratch, according to re - robber turned into the biggest saint of gional beliefs. Biggest challenge has all times. It is said that when Lord been that the original Ramayana story Rama returned to Ayodhya, he had to as told to Valmiki by Narad was then disown his pregnant wife. His wife, passed to Luv and Kush. e original Sita, took shelter at Sage Valmiki’s text was lost long long ago but it did ashram. Rishi Valmiki also wrote the travel orally to different regions and famous epic Ramayana, and taught it cultures. Saints and poets from all RAMAYANA BEYOND HINDUISM OVER 300 VERSIONS EXIST
54 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Heritage
across tried to interpret the epic in their malyas. 12 year later they come back, and local language. During this interpretation now Ram and Sita become consorts and and translation from oral traditions, many rule the kingdom. Interestingly, abduction aspects of the story were changed. How - of Sita has no mention in this version. ever, one common and most important Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th spiritual Mantara provoking Queen Kaikayi to send thing remains constant in all versions: Ra - master of Sikhs also wrote the story of Ram to exile was not an act of cruelty. mayana is actually a compilation of teach - Ram in his bani ‘Ath Chaubees Avataar’ in Goddess Saraswati comes as Mantara to ing of ancient Hindu sages. It presents Sri Dasam Granth. Even Guru Granth play her part in the larger drama of destiny. these teachings in a nice narrative, where Sahib mentions characters and messages Ram was born to remove the evils of Ra - each character, starting from Lord Rama to of Ramayana at several places. ‘Salok Ma - vana, hence Saraswati helped the situation. Ravana and Sugreev are fundamental to halla 9’ in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, written Since Ram knew of Sita’s abduction, he en - cultural consciousness of the region, where by Guru Teg Bahadur (9th Sikh guru) sured that Sita had her illusion born of fire Hinduism was prevailing. says: ‘Ram gayo, raavan gayo, jaako bahu in place. Here, all characters and their acts Most importantly, Ramayana is not re - parivaar, Kahu nanak thir kichh nahi, are portrayed as spiritual messages. stricted to Hinduism. Muslims of South supne jiyo sansaar’. Means, both Ram and In Sri Lanka, a version of Ramayana India incorporated the message of Ra - Ravan, who had such big family, le this depicts Ravana as Hero. The Malaysian mayana in their poems and the work is mortal world. Nanak says, nothing is sta - version places Dashratha as grandson of called Mappillapattu or Muslim Ra - ble. is world is like a dream. prophet Adam and Ravana receives mayana. Jains have their own version of Interestingly, while over 300 versions of boons from Allah. Also, Laxman is hero Ramayana, where instead of Rama, it is Ramayana exist, and even Maharishi instead of Ram. In the Thai version, Laxman who kills Ravana, for which he is Valmiki is said to have written two ver - Sita is a daughter of Ravana and Man - pushed to hell along with Ravana. Rama is sions himself. His other version is called dodary and Hanuman is the main hero, characterized as an upright person who in ‘Adbhut Ramayana’, where aer killing the instead of Ram or Laxman. Despite all the end sacrifices his kingdom, becomes a 10-headed demon Ravana, Lord Rama these variations, the core message of hu - Jain monk and attains Moksha. ey also travels to Pushkar to kill his elder brother, manity and spirituality in this epic story believe that Ravana will one day be born the 1000-headed Ravana. In this later part, remains the same. A as a Jain Tirthankara. Sita transforms into Goddess Mahakali or e Buddhist version is much different Shakti. Best part is that even Lord Ram from others. Here, King Dashrath was rul - prays to Goddess Shakti with 1008 divine Vikramjit Singh Rooprai e writer is a heritage lover ing Banaras (Varanasi) and not Ayodhya. names, which glories the virtues and at - and activist who found it fit to He sired Ram, Laxman and Sita through tributes of the Goddess. leave a lucrative career in IT to his first wife. To save these siblings from Rishi Ved Vyasa also authored a version take up the promotion of the heritage and cultures of India. his second wife, he sent the trio to HI - of Ramayana, where entire episode of maid www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 55 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Destinations
The Land Of Love, Nature & Adventure
“e giant snow mountain on its path cuts across different cultures from Islam, both Tantric-Mahayana and Hinayana form of Buddhism, Hinduism and even shelters the fierce head hunters of Nagaland among numerous other tribes and sub tribes with their distinct her - itage. Sikkim is one such former Buddhist kingdom growing by the mountains shadow.”
ikkim is a landlocked Indian State lo - of Sikkim stands at 6.44 Lakhs as compared to National Highway 31 link Siliguri to Gangtok. cated in the Himalayan mountains. last year figure of 6.37 Lakhs in 2015. Sikkim Privately run bus, tourist taxi and jeep services SSikkim is a tiny former Kingdom in the currently does not have any operational air - operate throughout Sikkim, and also connect Himalayas between Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and ports or railheads because of its rough terrain. it to the Siliguri. the Indian state of West Bengal. Sikkim is one However, Pakyong Airport, the state's first air - of the smallest states in India both in terms of port, located at a distance of 30 km (19 Miles) FLORA AND FAUNA population and area. The present population from Gangtok. National Highway 31A and Sikkim is situated in an ecological hotspot of Travel
the lower Himalayas, one of only three among the eco regions of India. Owing to its altitudinal gra - dation, the state has a wide variety of plants, from tropical species to temperate, alpine and tundra ones. Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of flowering plants, 515 rare orchids, 60 primula species, 36 rhododendron species, 11 oak vari - eties, 23 bamboo varieties, 16 conifer species, 362 types offerns and ferns allies, 8 tree ferns, and over 424 medicinal plants.
CUISINE Noodle-based dishes such as thukpa, chowmein, thanthuk, fakthu, gyathuk and won - ton are common in Sikkim. Momos—steamed dumplings filled with vegetables, buffalo meat or pork and served with soup—are a few pop - ular snacks. Beer, whiskey, rum and brandy
www.nriachievers.in April 2016 NRI AchIeveRs 57 ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð Destinations
are widely consumed in Sikkim, as is tongba, a SIKKIM IS SITUATED IN AN millet-based alcoholic beverage. ECOLOGICAL HOTSPOT OF THE LOWER HIMALAYAS, TOURIST PLACES IN SIKKIM ONE OF ONLY THREE Rumtek monastery 24 km from Gangtok in AMONG THE ECO REGIONS East Sikkim—the main seat of the Karma OF INDIA. Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism in Sikkim. Originally built by the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Gurudongmar Lake is at an altitude of 5,150 Dorje in 1740, but fell into disrepair. e cur - metres. e lake is pristine, and is considered rent structure dates from 1959. sacred. e lake is frozen during the winters, Tsongmo Lake: 40 km from Gangtok in East except for a small part which is considered to Sikkim on Nathula route—Tsongmo Lake (also be touched by Guru Padmasambhava. Visits to called Changu Lake or Tsomgo Lake) is a large the lake are allowed aer obtaining a permit lake in the East Sikkim district of India. It is from the government. e whole area is con - oval-shaped, with a length of about one kilome - trolled by army, due to its proximity to China. ter and has an average depth of fieen metres. It is advisable not to run or speak loudly here. It is also a home of Brahminy Ducks besides Hanuman Tok is a Hindu temple complex being a stopover for various migratory birds. which is located in the upper reaches of Gang - e lake remains hidden in the rich forest cover. tok, the capital of the Indian state of Sikkim. e temple is dedicated to lord Hanuman, the Mon - key God, and maintained by the Indian army. Khecheopalri Lake, originally known as Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning the heaven of Pad - masambhava), is a lake located near Khecheopalri village, 147 kilometers (91 mi) west of Gangtok in the West Sikkim district of the Northeastern Indian state of Sikkim. e lake is surrounded by a broad-leaved mixed temperate forest. A
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58 NRI AchIeveRs April 2016 www.nriachievers.in ÁèÌð ãñ´ àææÙ âð
Registered with Registrar of Newspapers for India Postal regd. No. G-3/DN/297/2016-2018 RNI No. DELBIL/2012/45826 Date of Publication: 5th of every Month Date of Posting: 8th & 9th of every Month