A Forum for Forward Thinking Indians Globally TM

Vol. 2 / No. 10 January 2010 2nd Anniversary

Towards an Indian Century!

PBDS pecial: GOPIO Leaders Migrants need to be SpecialR eport: Engaging talk to NGI welcomed back Support behind the the Diaspora Mumbai carnage www.newglobalindian.com

CONTENT

A Forum for Forward Thinking Indians Globally TM EDITORIAL PROFILE 2 / From the Publisher s desk 32 / A great Indian space scientist 3 / Uniquely Indian! BOOK REVIEW Editor-in-Chief Kanchan Banerjee 4 / An Indian century amidst global meltdown 29 / The man of science Publisher Haimanti Banerjee PBD SPECIAL Managing Editor Ujjwal K. Chowdhury ECONOMY 6 / PBD 2010: Engaging the Diaspora 46 / Taking stock of the stock market Management Advisor R N Banerjee 18 / Global Indian community & civic responsibility Editorial Consultants Anand Mulloo (Mauritius) 20 / The Indian homecoming INDIAN TALENT SHOW Rupak Ghosh (Delhi) 26 / The Hindu Diaspora in the United States 48 / The career pathfinders Creative Consultant Milind Joshi National Marketing Manager Anand Singh EDUCATION Marketing Manager Kangkan Mahanta 54 / Manipal Education: Providing the cutting edge International Representative Archana TRAVEL & TOURISM Senior Sub Editor Ritika Bade 56 / Simply India Sub Editor Vinay Pagarani INDIA IT Consultant Mahesh Gupta SOCIETY Krish Velmurugan 62 / Voice of the community Branding & Marketing Dushyant Joshi (Ahmedabad) 65 / Greenpeace marches on in Hyderabad Ajit Kumar (Delhi) 68 / Caring for the valued and the vulnerable Indrani Sarkar (Hyderabad) 84 / Helping hands from other lands Arjya Patnaik (Orissa) INTERVIEW Aaishwari Chouhan (Goa) Noopur Bapna (Rajasthan) 64 / We cannot afford to take risks of any kind INTERVIEW 76 / Bihar tourism: A force to reckon with Correspondents: Richa Taneja (Karnataka) Zulfiya Hamzaki (Karnataka) 8 / GOPIO preps up for PBD 2010 94 / Education at its best S Mrudhula (Tamil Nadu) 10 / This is going to be India's Century Ujjwal Khullar (Rajasthan) 14 / Migrants need to be welcomed back Layout: Gopal Mahamuni NGI LAUNCH NGI media is a collaborative initiative of 25 / NGI dedicates November-December issue to 'iPremm Inc.' a US based PR & Media company and Mauritius Delhi based 'ICONS Media Initiative Pvt. Ltd.' FEATURES Contact Nos. and Email ids: 30 / India in the making Haimanti Banerjee 16173066609 34 / Captured in lens [email protected] 36 / A resurgent India coming up in the international Ujjwal K Chowdhury 91 9373311239 arena [email protected] 40 / David Coleman Headley: Support behind the Office Address Mumbai carnage New Delhi 42 / India today and tomorrow: Emerging security 210, Pocket-E, Mayur Vihar-II, New Delhi - 110091. concerns Pune 44 / Protecting the perimeters 40, B/2 wing, Vrindavan Park, Mahatma Society, Kothrud, 52 / Kama: Desire and spirituality Pune - 411029. 58 / Accumulating the memories TRAVEL & TOURISM Milton (USA) 66 / The nine wonders of Hyderabad 109 Gulliver Street, Milton, MA 02186, USA 72 / Mhaaro rang rangeelo: Rajasthan! 80 / Maharashtra: A mammoth on the move This magazine is printed and published by Haimanti Banerjee and copyright with respect to all 88 / Welcome to Tamizhagam... contents remains with iPremm Inc. and ICONS Media 92 / Eco tourism in Orissa: An unexplored avenue Initiatives Pvt. Ltd. FEATURE 70 / Aspiring to reach the sky 75 / Paving way to fulfill dreams The views expressed in some of the articles or interviews are of the writers or interviewees themselves and do not 78 / Bihar Model necessarily express NGI's opinions and beliefs. 86 / Another Feather in Gujarat's cap www.newglobalindian.com 90 / Stay Ahead of the Market

JAN '10 / 01 PUBLISHER'S NOTE

From the Publisher's Desk

The Prabashi Bharatiya Divas is a great occasion for are becoming the center of attraction among people of all Indians from across the globe to come together and cherish ages in different countries, who consider these as great achievements and relationships, and share memories. performing arts of the world. Even if the stay is rather short and hectic, we must not miss Globalization has caused the world to shrink. The idea of exploring the spirit of the land of our dreams, India. This the New Global Indian (NGI) as a forum came into reminds us of what Rabindranath Tagore wrote: “I have existence in 2008. It has been a much appreciated concept travelled for days, covered miles and spent thousands to and has provided a platform for thousands around the see countries, mountains and rivers in far off places. But I world. We all are global Indians, maybe far from each missed seeing the beauty of the tiny dew drop on a leaf just other; but are uniquely connected via Indian-ness and the outside my great Indian ethos. In this century of globalization and house, which information, we cannot afford to be segregated on the shines in the basis of ideas such as NRIs, or Non-NRIs. sunlight.” The Prabashi today While the flag of development and progress of India is also feels the visible everywhere, we are also facing many challenges same after and difficulties. On one hand, terrorism, Maoist traveling the resurgence and other divisive forces are threatening unity globe, or and the lives of people. On the other hand, very poor living residing abroad conditions of millions is marring the progress and for several prosperity of India. But with her long and eventful history years. and unique wisdom India endeavors to secure its position in the world community to offer Indian solutions to the India is the land challenges of the 21st century. of beauty, history and The New Global Indian forum is a dynamic platform for tradition. Each promoting connectivity and networking between Indians and every all over the world, and also to share ideas and untold Indian soul is stories. We are happy to say that so far we have exceeded bound in a our goal by reaching out to people in over 25 countries. certain way to At the dawn of the year 2010, I urge you all to contribute spirituality, regardless of where he or she lives. Today, and be a part of this great undertaking. I want to take this Indians are successful in all walks of life. They always long opportunity to salute those who have sacrificed their lives to be connected to their roots and their motherland. to protect India; and to those who have made significant Prabashi parents take their children to visit India, contributions for a better India, as well as those who are encourage them to learn about their rich history, culture striving for a better world. and heritage. Indian music and dance always bring Indians close to their homeland. Indian restaurants across We all hope to realize our dreams and help others do the the globe bring in a flavor that Indians cherish. In these same. We sincerely thank all our subscribers, well-wishers arts and cuisines, they experience nostalgia, a feeling of and sponsors for their continuous being very close to their roots. India's strength lies in her support. democratic values and her beauty lies in her diversity and I wish you all a very peaceful, pluralism in thoughts, expression and religious practices. prosperous and happy new year. As a global Indian, and as a citizen of the world, each of us has the responsibility of carrying forward the spirit of these values.

In the last few years, different schools of yoga have flourished all over the world. Innumerable non-Indians Haimanti Banerjee are learning to practice it and benefit from the same. Publisher Indian music and classical dances are quite popular and Email: [email protected]

02/ JAN '10 EDITORIAL Uniquely Indian!

'Prabashi' (Non-resident) is in direct contrast to 'Nibashi' reconcile the existence of people who are culturally close, (resident). The former indicates 'You do not belong here'; yet geographically separate? How about those who are while the latter denotes 'You are here', and not 'there'. PIO racially akin, yet politically—and to some extent, (People of Indian Origin) is an interesting term. We can be culturally—different? living anywhere, as long as the roots are traced back even Take a look at Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. You can partially to this land called India, about which Mark Twain even go as far as Thailand or even Indonesia, and find fine commented. “…the one land that all men desire to see, and preservation of Indian heritage. But, they are not Indians, having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that neither NRIs nor PIOs. Forget not, the heritage was glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the globe brought to these lands by some PIO or NRI; whether they combined.” Even with all the challenges the country faces, lived there for the rest of their lives or not. But the fact and no matter how much the corruption and slow pace of remains, there were many such NRIs in those days when development may affect people and progress, the central India provided much of trade, science, technology,religion theme—the 'raison d'être' for the nation—remains and philosophy to the world. In this 'visa-raj' era of human unchanged. civilization, where mobility occurs at the speed of jets, the While Tagore tries to rouse us with: concept of 'global citizen' and a clearer identity are still evolving. Some day in future we might need new “Awake my mind, awake my mind terminologies; or the obvious might happen. We shall end Gently awake in this holy land of pilgrimage up being identified with our cultural faith, or our religion On the shore of this vast sea of humanity that is India. only. Here I stand with arms outstretched to hail man Until then, any person who feels related to India can call Divine in his own image and sing to his glory in notes glad himself a New Global Indian (NGI), irrespective of and free”, whether he is a migrant, trader, student or a citizen of any He also reminds us about of a real 'melting pot' of people country. And thus, NGI is a forum for global identity, with: global connectivity, global co-operation and contribution, and global peace, the Indian way! So, each NGI can play a “Aryans and Non-Aryans, Dravidians and Chinese crucial role to represent the ancient and the 'to-be world Scythians, Huns, Pathans and Mongols, leader' by impacting all aspects of the civilization today.

Are all mixed, merged and lost in one body.” India traded throughout the globe. India gave science and It is common to hear an American proclaim that he is half math to the world. The language we speak in the Indian Italian, and a quarter each of Swiss and English. However, subcontinent and in Europe has direct roots in India. As if Indians start to claim statistics for their lineage—and if the imaginary Aryan-Non-Aryan theory becomes there were any way to trace back all those who came to obsolete, the world will slowly accept these facts and give India as invaders or travelers, traders or pilgrims, and India due credit and its rightful place in the history of our became one with the race called Indians—hundreds of civilization. such data would be found. This does remind us of John A meek nation, a nation without a past cut off from the Galsworthy's 'The Little Man'. roots always tries to mimic others. Whereas a confident So, what will happen to a Prabashi in few centuries of nation gifts to the world what it treasures to be the most mixing? It is a challenging question to ask even to a PIO valuable and unique. In the case of India, it is the message himself. What percentage of India do you need to have in of harmony and peace, major contributions towards you to claim to be a PIO? There might be some legal material prosperity, and finally, a philosophical and definition, but at the end of the day the heart of a person is practical means to aim for an evolutionary trajectory for all not defined by laws and boundaries. Their affinity to a people on Earth to realize their true potential. particular land or culture is not in whether they were born So, dear NGI, are you ready for such a travel to the future there or not; or in whether they have visited the place or where we can build an abode of peace, full of the spirit of not. The true identity of a person is in his or her heart and harmony, and freedom from discrimination, strife and the way he/she lives. war? So, how long are we going to have a wall segregating Kanchan Banerjee Indians from Non-Resident-Indians (NRIs)? How do we Editor-in-chief Email: [email protected]

JAN '10 / 03 FEATURE An Indian Century amidst Global Meltdown

There is an age old saying, which states 'When the going the Western world. Value, nature and limits of savings gets tough, the tough gets going.' based approach are other key areas of learning.

The tough and seasoned Indian business acumen and a Relationship building, networking, resolving differences ready-for-any-situation attitude of Indian professionals to find a win-win solution for all stakeholders are a few displayed across the globe has always been something to other global aspects of the Indian approach in both watch out for, especially during today's times of global business and social life. Case studies of the same abound, meltdown. but need to be documented at one place, so that these can serve as reference in times of an economic challenge in the There are numerous cases of Indian businessmen, future. scientists, doctors and technocrats, from Lord Rana, Raj Loomba, Mani Bhowmick to K P Chowdhury; from L N Indian businesses and community efforts have been Mittal to Paul; from Khimjis to Mickey Jagtiani; usually considered to be eco-sensitive and sustainable in from Sunny nature, and that is another area of key learning in these Varkey to times. Kallicharan; Blending Dharma with Karma, Gyana with Bhakti, and from Inder spiritualism with temporal pursuits have been the Singh to Mahen hallmark of the Indian approach. In times of apparent Utchana…to conflicts of ideologies and religions, and so-called clash of name just a few. civilizations, this attitude of blending apparently Thousands of irreconcilable elements in life and society acts as a Indian origin harbinger of peace and harmony. Again, the world needs leaders of the to be told of these in the simplest of languages through the Diaspora have offline, online, on-ground and on-air media. exemplified how to rise like Climate, culture, cuisine and constitutions: these four pose a Phoenix from challenges everywhere as they change both with and the ashes, how within nations. Indians have shown how to weather the to reinvent same and transform them into new life-styles. A major themselves lesson in times of globalization, indeed! after economic crises, how to weather social turmoil The entrepreneur knows no bounds and is an instinctive during difficult times, and how to sail through financial, survivor, be it while running a roadside dhaba, or a seven or people-related challenges. star hotel. The scholar knows no limits, from his little The time has come to assimilate, both online and offline, home at his birthplace to any university or conference, the stories of such valiant individuals, and also air them. when it comes to seeking new sources of knowledge. The These are those rare personalities who have created humanist is not tied by a culture, black, brown, white or history in their lifetimes. They have all started from yellow,s/he sees the person behind the skin. scratch and succeeded in building empires, in the process And Indians have shown this to the world, many a time. generating innumerable jobs and immense wealth. Yet, The latest in the series is being netizens who are utilizing they have always remained firmly rooted to their land or the New Media to the benefit of both origin in more ways than one. business and mankind. The world at large, and India in particular, have to learn lessons in business and community life from them and Prof Ujjwal K Chowdhury many other Indian origin leaders around the globe. We, Director, Symbiosis Institute of Media & Indians, by nature are savings oriented, which has played Communication, Pune an important role in ensuring that we have sailed through Dean, Symbiosis International University the current economic meltdown that is severely affecting Email:ujjwalk . [email protected]

04/ JAN '10 INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL PBD SPECIAL Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas 2010 Engaging the Diaspora Ajit Kumar offers a sneak peek into the annual event, which is back in Delhi with some new initiatives on its agenda.

Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas 2010 is now at our doorstep. conceptualization of PIO/NRI University, formation of Recently, the government candidly acknowledged the Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of People of importance and benefits of this most awaited annual event Indian Origin, setting up of the India Development in India. “PBD Conventions traditionally provide a Foundation, enabling professionals who are Overseas platform for exchange of views and networking to the Citizens of India to practise in India and the launching of Persons of Indian Origin settled all over the world on the Global Indian Network of Knowledge (Global-INK).” matters of common interest and concern to them. Such On the first day, January 7, the recently formed Prime Conventions Conferences have helped the Government of Minister's Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians India to better understand and appreciate the expectations will be meeting for the first time. The body is headed by Dr of the overseas Indian community from the land of their Manmohan Singh, and comprises the most prominent ancestors. More importantly, it allows us to acknowledge ministers and overseas Indians. The members are: the important role played by Minister for External Affairs, SM ; Minister for them in India's efforts to Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2010 has some Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi; Principal Secretary acquire its rightful place in the new and unique features. They are to the Prime Minister, TKA Nair; the newly appointed comity of nations, as also in webcasting the event in an interactive Secretary, Ministry Of Overseas Indian Affairs, A Didar their adopted countries, mode on the Ministry of Overseas Indians Singh; Nobel Laureate, Prof Amartya Sen and other whether for the diaspora or (MOIA) website www.moia.gov.in, as well important people like Prof Jagadish Bhagwati, Lord national development.” as on the Ministry's e-magazine 'Pravasi Khalid Hameed, Karan F Bilimoria, , Bharatiya' through their website The government has also taken Ela , Rajat K Gupta, Dr Renu Khator, Kishore www.overseasindian.in. note on the wide consultations Mahbubani, PNC Menon, LN Mittal, Indra K Nooyi, held at these Conventions, and , CK Prahalad, Lord Bhiku Chotalal Parekh, has taken many major , Tan Sri Dato Ajit Singh, Neville Joseph decisions based on these, which include: “…the Roach, Prof. Srinivasa SR Varadhan, and Yusuffal MA. The formulation of the Overseas Citizenship of India scheme, Indian's Foreign and Finance secretaries will also establishment of Overseas Indian Facilitation Center, participate as special invitees.

Next day, Dr Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the conference, which will have Lord Khalid Hameed of Hampstead CBE DL as the chief guest. Lord Khalid Hameed, CBE DL hailing from Lucknow is the Chairman of Alpha Hospital Group and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the London International Hospital. He was earlier the Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Cromwell Hospital in London. He chairs the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council. He is a Board member of the British Muslim Research Centre, and also the Ethnic Minorities Foundation and is involved with inter religious matters and lectures. Dr Hameed is involved in many philanthropic activities and was awarded the SternbergAward for 2005 for his contribution to the Christian - Muslim - Jewish Relations. He was appointed by Her Majesty the Queen as the first Asian High Sheriff of Greater London for the year 2006-2007, the PM Dr. Manmohan Singh with delegates at PBD 2009, Chennai second oldest

06/ JAN '10 The 13 NRIs who were honoured at PBD 2009 with Indian President Pratibha Patil office in the country after the monarchy. He was also Indian community' will discuss institutional named British Asian of the year in 2007. In February 2007, arrangements to safeguard the properties of overseas the House of LordsAppointments Commission appointed Indians in India, as well as the modalities for credible him as life peer and sit as a Crossbencher. On 27th March investment avenues in the real estate sector. 2007, the peerage was gazetted as Baron Hameed, of The 8th PBD Convention will have three plenary and six Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden. concurrent sessions. In the first plenary session the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2010 has some new and unique delegates will have an opportunity to interact with some features. They are webcasting the event in an interactive key Cabinet Ministers from India, who will expound on mode on the Ministry of Overseas Indians (MOIA) website 's policies on subjects like economic www.moia.gov.in, as well as on the Ministry's e-magazine recovery, good governance, technology & innovation and 'Pravasi Bharatiya' through their website infrastructural development. www.overseasindian.in. “This will enable overseas This session will seek to articulate the role that the Indians from across the world to not only witness the diaspora can play in India's race to join the league of the proceedings of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, developed world. The second plenary session would have session-by-session, but also interact with the Ministry and a panel of PIO Ministers, which will seek to explore how express their opinion and views.” Another important the diaspora could work towards strengthening the addition this year is the launch of the annual symbiotic relationship between India and the diaspora, as 'Distinguished Global Indian Oration-series' with also India's relations with the country of their residence. Professor Jagdish Bhagwati of Columbia Univesity as the This session will deliberate on the issues of concern to first speaker. He will talk on 'India: The Role of the overseas Indians residing in different regions. The third Diaspora' on 8th January in the afternoon. plenary session would have Chief Ministers from 14 states Other new addition is separate seminars on and one Deputy Chief Minister (Punjab), who will focus 'Nanotechnology' and on 'Property-related issues of the on the role the diaspora can play in 'Skill Development' an overseas Indian community' which are being held as Pre area of critical importance, given forecasts that India is Conference events. The nanotechnology seminar will likely to be confronted with significant skill-gaps in a bring together scientists, technologists, policy-makers and couple of decades' time if we do not act now. entrepreneurs from India and abroad on a common There are over 1000 participants expected from over 40 platform. The focus of the seminar will be on applications countries for the entire Pravasi Bharatiya Divas program, of nanotechnology in agriculture, energy and health-care. including 20 participants from Sri Lanka. The seminar on 'Property-related issues of the overseas

JAN '10 / 07 INTERVIEW GOPIO preps up for PBD 2010

Mahen Utchanah, Mauritian President of the Global GOPIO, in conversation with Vinay Pagarani about his expectations out of PBD 2010 and more.

What can be the expectations of PIOs when it comes to inconvenience to PIOs settled in France and others living GOPIO's endeavors in 2010? in various former French colonies, such as Reunion Island, which has more than 5 lakhs PIOs. I had made a special MU: To answer this question, I need to reiterate one of the request to Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian broad objectives of GOPIO, which is to create a worldwide Affairs to find a solution. I am pleased to announce that network for People of Indian Origin (PIOs) to promote simultaneous translation in French will be provided at their interests and aspiration, PBD this year onwards. I am thankful to the Minister for The y ear 2010 also marks the 150th while keeping in view the his help in this regard. anniversary of the arrival of Indian intricacies of their respective immigrant workers to its shores. PIOs from countries of adoption; and to There is one GOPIO meeting prior to the PBD, and one around the world will be associating promote, through the PIO after. The first one brings together mainly PIOs and NRIs themselves with their counterparts in South community, worldwide, peace from the West, with the USAas base. Africa in a display of solidarity. and harmony . I am involved in the second meeting which is a forum for This will be the focus of GOPIO's Dialogue with India and will be attended by GOPIO in the New Year. Key PIO personalities, along with PIOs from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, , Indian luminaries will be invited to address issues and Australia, France, Reunion Island, Switzerland, themes in line with the above, and their deliberations will Guadeloupe, Martinique, etc. The Eighth GOPIO's be widely disseminated. These will serve as beacons. dialogue with India is scheduled to be held on 10th January, 2010, at Le Meridien Hotel. At least two senior Today's generation of PIOs are extremely well qualified, ministers representing the Mauritian Government at the and are doing very well for themselves. What are the PBD will be there at the event, alongside Vayalar Ravi. Our measures that GOPIO has in mind to engage them focus will be on the consolidation of the measures initiated further with 'Brand India'? by the Indian Government for the benefit of PIOs and their MU: The names that immediately come to my mind are extension so that none of the PIOs are excluded there from. Deepak Chopra, C K Prahalad and Prof. Amartya Sen. But We were the proponent of the PIO University, which has there are numerous others around the world who have become a reality. We shall now encourage all to make the flourished in academia, politics, business, spirituality, etc. best use of that initiative. It is in India's interest to attract these individuals and enlist We shall also focus on mobilizing PIOs for the 10th GOPIO their support towards creating and enhancing existing Convention to be held in South Africa in 2010. The year institutions to promote the Brand 2010 also marks the 150th anniversary of India. GOPIO shall further encourage the arrival of Indian immigrant workers to this process on an individual basis, as its shores. PIOs from around the world well as at organizational and national will be associating themselves with their levels. counterparts in SouthAfrica in a display of What are the major issues that will be solidarity. They will join hands to work for raised at the GOPIO meets, prior to the common good of PIOs around the the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) world. event? If you could tell us about what is already MU: One major issue that has already there on the GOPIO's agenda to woo the been tackled concerns language. So overseas Indians, post the 8th PBD event. far, English has been the medium MU: Mauritius, which has been declared used at the PBD. This caused a lot of Mahen Utchanah

08/ JAN '10 Gopio International Executive meeting held in September, Mauritius. Courtesy call to the President of Mauritius, Sir Aneerod Jugnauth and Lady Jugnauth the GOPIO Capital, is already offering numerous MU: Mauritius is one of those rare instances where the possibilities to investors, including overseas Indians and political and legal systems have made the country safe for NRIs. Already many of them have made Mauritius the its population and investors. This explains the presence of base for their overseas operations, as well as a window big names such as MTNL, Indian Oil, Apollo Hospitals, through which they channel their investments to India. SBI, Bank of Baroda, and many renowned international brands such as Starwood, Hilton, Meridien. Our Mauritius is a member of the African Union, the South achievements have been mainly due to hard work, African Development Community (SADC) and sacrifice, investments in COMESA. It is thus well placed to be the ideal stepping human capital and a point into Africa for both Overseas Indians and NRIs. We Mauritius is a member of the African leadership that has the are going to lay stress on this aspect of cooperation. Union, the South African Development people's interest at heart. Mauritius can serve as a platform towards an African Community (SADC) and COMESA. It is thus market of over 7 hundred million people through the How has the global meltdown well placed to be the ideal stepping point above organizations and treaties. affected PIOs around the into Africa for both Overseas Indians world, in general, and and NRIs. What are your expectations from PBD 2010? Mauritius, in particular? MU: We look forward to PBD 2010 as a continuation of the MU: Mauritius has not been unaffected by the global series of PBDs held so far. The emphasis should be on India meltdown. However, given the resilience of our economy, to look outward regarding how the PIO and Indian the industrious nature of our people, and the wisdom of community worldwide can better coordinate their efforts our political leaders, the economy has weathered the for their mutual benefits. storm. Though the PIO community around the world has Mauritius, 70% of whose residents are from India, is on had to face trying times, we feel that PIOs have managed the fast-track to evolution. What modus operandi is in to keep their heads above the water. place in 'Little India'?

JAN '10 / 09 INTERVIEW “This is going to be India's Century” Universally acknowledged as one of UK's top businessmen, Lord Diljit Rana — President of GOPIO International offered his views on business, Indo-Irish ties, GOPIO; and his passions, namely, community development and educational initiatives toKanchan Banerjee and Ujjwal K. Chowdhury .

Tell us about your journey to Ireland. Why and when did began to change with the IRA bombings of commercial you go there? premises. Two of my restaurants were damaged by bomb attacks. I also had to close down my original café because LDR: In 1963, I left for England hoping to find a public- people started avoiding visiting the city center at night. sector job that would do justice to my BA degree. In The fourth one shut down when the lease ran out. England, however, I found no opportunity in governmental departments or public agencies. Thus, I had In December 1971, I found myself with no source of to settle for a job as a store man in a factory at Leamington income. In those days there was very little compensation Spa. Needless to say, it was far from satisfying and offered for damage caused by terrorist attacks; and even that took no career prospects. a long time to arrive. My policy has always been to re- invest profits into the business. With the few hundred The same applied to my next job, as well, that of a pounds of savings I had, I procured a small clothing shop postman. These experiences strengthened my belief that in the city.

Subsequently,I expanded and set up a successful clothing wholesale business. I used the earnings to invest in property, and then in hotels. In 1990, I built the first new hotel in Belfast for 20 years. The hotel, the Plaza, was also the first international hotel brand in Northern Ireland. Soon there were three more, including leading brands such as Ramada, Holiday Inn, etc. The interesting point is that all of these were established against a backdrop of terrorism.

Today, the violence has ended and political stability has been restored. This has encouraged me to seize other exciting business opportunities in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland. In November 2009, for instance, I opened two new hotels on the very same day in Belfast, under the aegis of the international Ibis brand. My company,Andras House, which I set up in 1981, has plans to come up with more hotels in the region.

We are currently the biggest hotel group in Belfast. Our aim is to become the biggest in Northern Ireland. The opportunities, I am delighted to say, have encouraged US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pictured with GOPIO President Indian corporations such as ICICI Bank, Polaris Software, Lord Rana, Lady Shruti Rana during her visit to Belfast HCL and TechMahindra to set up operations in Northern the only satisfying thing for me was to set up my own Ireland. business. When, in 1966, a friend invited me to Ireland, I saw an opportunity there. I chose Belfast because it was You are known for your active participation in varied the most economical option. In 1967, I purchased a small community activities. If you could throw light on some café in Belfast using the savings I had from my time in of these initiatives. England. LDR: I became involved in activities involving the Indian What were those initial years like? community in Northern Ireland shortly after coming to Belfast. These included being elected Secretary of the LDR: From 1967 to 1970, things went very well. I used the Indian Social Association in the late '60s. There were profits from my first café to buy others. By 1971, I had four around 2,000 Indians residing in Northern Ireland at that restaurants, including the first one at Belfast, all of which time. Our programs included visits to a cinema to watch offered authentic Indian cuisine. However, the situation the Indian films we brought to Belfast from our homeland.

10 / JAN '10 In 1979, I helped transform this initiative into the Indian outside the official GOPIO organization, for one reason or Community Center, which soon acquired its own another. The challenge for me is to bring them all within premises near the Belfast city center. We established a the framework. Hindu temple inside the building. From the beginning, we What are the special programs ensured that it was open to people from every section of In India, I am working with community and activities GOPIO offers in the local community,regardless of their religious beliefs. leaders in Sanghol to develop an education Ireland? complex offering degrees across a range of In 1987, I was instrumental in forming the Indian Business LDR: We have supported subjects including Humanities, Business Forum to promote trade and investment links between meetings, lectures and visits and Hospitality Management. India and Northern Ireland. It reflected the role being involving Indian academicians, played by Indian businessmen in Northern Ireland. businessmen, educators, politicians and scholars. GOPIO Over the years, I have been involved in a broad range of Ireland is a fairly new chapter that is just beginning to business, education, social and charitable organizations, formulate a program of activities. We have organized including the Institute of Directors, the Confederation of meetings with the relevant ministers from the British Industry and Belfast Chamber of Trade. I was the governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland to discuss first ethnic businessman to be elected President of the areas suitable for collaboration, such as trade, investment Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the region's and cultural exchanges. biggest business organization. What is the current population of Indians in Ireland? I have also supported initiatives to bring children together Does the younger generation British/Irish Indians at a secondary education level. I have been associated with growing up in Britain have a strong affinity for India? Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster, LDR: Around 10,000 Indians stay in Ireland, including and have received honorary degrees from both. In 4,000-odd in Northern Ireland. The younger generation is addition, I have developed strong links with similar benefitting from the commitment of their elders to become institutions in the Republic of Ireland, especially Dublin's integrated with their local communities and to play a part Trinity College and Griffith College. in business and other professions including medicine, In India, I am working with community leaders in Sanghol nursing, teaching and law. They also benefit from the to develop an education complex offering degrees across a strong equality legislation that exists, and from the range of subjects including Humanities, Business and widespread Hospitality Management. The complex also includes a acceptance that all teacher training college and a secondary school. are entitled to fair and equal treatment. How different is it today to work for any community organization? In your opinion, how can the LDR: Today, there are more community bodies covering a British/Irish- spectrum of activities. The organizations I have been part Indians contribute of have played a crucial role in promoting social cohesion to their land of and harmony in Northern Ireland, particularly during the origin? violent period from 1969-94. The same is true in India where I have found the Sanghol community to be LDR: They have a tremendously supportive of the education complex, as wealth of knowledge well as towards the health camps I have organized in that and experience in part of the Punjab. business, IT, medicine, education Bill Clinton with Lord Rana NGI: What is GOPIO's role in bringing together the NRI and the environment. They can be enlisted by the Indian community across the globe? Government through GOPIO to bring this knowledge to LDR: As President, I want to portray GOPIO as a strong India and transform the nation into a global player. voice for NRIs. They should join us in our efforts to We need to see opportunities in education, healthcare and promote their well-being and also support the Indian technology offered to all. There is much, for example, that government in its efforts to ensure that people throughout NRIs can do to help India address environmental issues the nation share the benefits of the nation's growth in including a reduction in carbon emissions and more economic, education and social spheres. effective waste management. Many NRIs are highly We have chapters in most parts of the world representing placed in the US and Europe in industries such as IT, the interests of Indians. Regrettably, some are currently environmental engineering, life sciences and tourism and

JAN '10 / 11 could help India harness its potential in these areas. They in India and abroad? can also influence governments of the countries in which LDR: My advice is be tenacious and willing to grasp they live to enhance links with India. opportunities and take business risks. Opportunities exist As someone who has built a career in the hospitality even during the deepest recession. business, I believe India has enormous tourism potential. As the GOPIO Head, what message would you like to Tourism could generate significant opportunities convey to Global Indians? throughout the country,especially in areas which have not been part of the IT/outsourcing/biotech revolution. LDR: A very simple one: Unity is strength. We must stay together to ensure that GOPIO becomes the strongest What do you plan to achieve from the upcoming GOPIO possible advocate for Indians living abroad. event in New Delhi? Which are the key areas of Indian diaspora involvement LDR: My role at the GOPIO event in New Delhi will be to in the development of India? provide a new and dynamic leadership that raises the profile of the organization and demonstrates its influence LDR: The economy, healthcare, education and global with the Indian Government in particular. This is going to links. These themes are increasingly featuring at all our be India's century. conferences and events. The younger gener ation is benefitting from the commitment of their elders to What are the trade and What are your expectations from the Ministry of become integrated with their local business-related activities Overseas Indians towards further expanding the communities and to play a part in business that Ireland and India are Diaspora involvement in Indian development and the and other professions including medicine, currently engaged in? issue of Diaspora security and growth elsewhere around the world? nursing, teaching and law. LDR: India is now the second biggest business investor in LDR: I believe the Indian Government recognizes the Northern Ireland after the US. Also, more than 30 of contribution that the Diaspora can make through GOPIO Northern Ireland's biggest IT, life sciences and and is keen to work with us in areas that will benefit engineering companies have started their operations in people throughout the country and those living abroad. I India. want to build on this and work closely with the Ministry to develop an agreed action plan covering areas in which we Moreover, Queen's University, Belfast and the University can help each other to achieve greater success. of Ulster now have technology/knowledge transfer and student exchange agreements with Jawaharlal Nehru How far has the global economic meltdown affected the University, New Delhi; Bengal Science and Engineering Indian Diaspora, and what are the measures being taken University, Kolkata; University of Madras in Chennai and for the future? the Indian Institute of Immunology. Indian musicians, LDR: Everyone has suffered to various degrees. Business dancers and Bollywood producers are also frequent leaders have seen their markets contract and revenues visitors to Northern Ireland. decline. Employees have seen their jobs disappear. It is the NGI: In what way will the economic ties prove to be emerging economies which have been seriously affected, mutually beneficial? owing to their dependence on commodity products and also, tourism. GOPIO has sought to influence many LDR: By promoting growth and prosperity, and also governments, including the Indian Government, to ensure contributing towards an understanding between the two that the rights of migrant workers are protected. Our countries. chapters have sought to identify measures that In your opinion, what is the role of entrepreneurship governments can adopt to stimulate faster growth. towards the cause of nation building? To be a critical force in the new emerging world order, LDR: Entrepreneurship drives economic development what should networked Indians do next? and helps create a dynamic and forward-looking LDR: They need to ensure that their opinions are heard community. Many entrepreneurs are equally active in and acted upon by the relevant governments. I would like community development because they recognize such to see more Indians entering the front line of politics in the engagement helps to promote community stability and US, Europe, Australia and elsewhere in the world. It is cohesion. They also drive the innovation needed to ensure time to provide leadership towards a more stable, progress, and not just in terms of technology. cohesive and caring global community. As an extremely successful entrepreneur, what is your message for young entrepreneurs of Indian origin both

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“Migration is natural and a key factor in the global economy and development"

Dr. Dilip Ratha is an economist, professor, writer, researcher and associated with the World Bank. He also has a keen interest in economic policy and developing economies. In this unique interaction, he talks toKanchan Banerjee about migration, remittances and innovative financing.

About half a decade ago, you were among the first in the home. That suggests that remittances may reach almost a world to figure out the first global tally of remittances, tenth of the world's population. what was the result? You believe that migration is not only natural but also is DR: The money that migrants send home turned out to be a necessity for a better world. Why is it so? way larger than I expected, the finding actually stunned DR: Migration is the least developed aspect of experts in the field. Gathered from a trickle of hard-earned globalization today as compared to foreign investment or cash, believe it or not, trade.As it turns out, many rich countries are experiencing remittances are larger than The world needs to prepare for future a decline in population which means there a lot of old $300 billion a year. Compare global labour markets, which would require people drawing pensions and in need of care, and there that with official aid flows different skill sets than the ones we are not enough working age people in these countries to which are just about $100 currently have. come to their rescue. In contrast, many poor countries in billion a year. Africa and other developing regions have growing Today you are a leading figure number of workers looking for jobs. In any case, the world in the area of Migration and Development. What are the needs to prepare for future global labour markets, which factors that attracted you to work on the two related areas would require different skills sets than the ones we of development in today's inter-connected world? currently have. Movement of people across borders will be pertinent to meet these skill requirements. DR: As a migrant myself, I am deeply interested in the phenomenon of migration and remittances. Before Y2K, I The world needs to prepare for future global labour was actually talking with friends about starting a money markets, which would require different skill sets than the transfer service to India from the US! The main reason for ones we currently have. my interest in migration is that it produces instant poverty You propounded 'innovative financing' in the area of reduction. And it does that without having to resort to even remittances. How does the money transfer affect corrupt practices. This enables a poor person to hold human life and economy and what innovation do you his/her head high in the society. When migrants send promote? money, it helps not only the immediate family members and friends, but also indirectly the local community. I call DR: While remittances are not new, there are new ways of remittances 'value-added money' because it is not only the leveraging these flows for improving financial inclusion of dollar that comes in, each dollar also comes with advice on the poor and access to capital markets for banks and what to do with it. Also remittances are friends in foul governments. One can imagine consumer loans linked to weather they increase when the recipient is facing remittances. As people are drawn to a financial institution difficult times. There are about 200 million migrants to send or receive remittances, they can be persuaded to worldwide, supporting as many if not more people at learn to save and invest. Many countries have also raised

14 / JAN '10 billions of dollars in bond financing by using rights to Besides drawing attention to the quality and importance remittances as collateral. There is also Diaspora bond, of data on remittances and migration, I have also pointed such as the Resurgent India Bond, which can be used by out that migration is not only a South-North phenomenon, countries to tap into the wealth of the Diaspora. I can but that South-South migration is actually larger than imagine that a bond targeted to the NRIs to raise financing South-North migration. For example, I believe that the for, say, a new railway line or a high-speed train passing largest migration corridor in the world may not be Mexico through their home town can be very attractive to NRIs. to US as commonly believed, but that it is Bangladesh to India. So the so-called 'brain-drain' is not necessarily bad? In my new work, I am trying to argue that the relationship DR: I believe one should be careful in using words, between immigration and because attaching “drain” to any phenomenon would border controls may actually prompt a desire to stanch it. It is true that emigration of a follow the shape of an inverse- I can imagine that a bond targeted to the large number of highly skilled people can reduce the U. That would imply a different NRIs to raise financing for, say, a new availability of skills at home, especially in small countries. actually opposite set of railway line or a high-speed train, passing But this problem is rather rare in large countries. The real policies to manage migration through their home town can be very issue is what policies one might propose to increase the than currently practiced. attractive to NRIs. supply of skills at home. Stopping people from emigrating is an outright violation of the right to mobility. Also that What is your role in the World would raise ethical questions such as, how do you choose Bank today and what contributions have you made which skill is more valuable to the society than others? In through this organization so far? any case, stopping a particular skill category from DR: I have been fortunate enough to work on many emigrating does not preclude these workers from interesting aspects of global development finance at the switching profession if they have no job satisfaction at World Bank. Prior to remittances and migration, I worked home. Finally, one must realize that the possibility to on South-South foreign direct investment, and migrate and earn several times more money actually relationship between official and private flows. I am attracts trainees in the profession concerned; without this continuing my work on innovative financing, which possibility, enrollment in medical or IT sectors are likely to includes, among others, a model that predicts shadow go down over time. sovereign ratings for countries.Aremarkable finding from How are Migration and Remittances related? this latter line of work is that DR: Remittances provide the most tangible link between many unrated migration and development, a relationship that has only countries increased in importance since the economic down turn. nearly 60 of What is your achievement so far in terms of making them today migration and remittance more meaningful and more appear to impacting in the global economy? have the same rating as DR: When I first came to the World Bank in the early 1990s, many most economists saw remittances as small private sums emerging that were irrelevant to development. There was also a market feeling that remittances fueled so-called conspicuous economies of consumption, and therefore, were not good for the early development. Through my work, I have pointed out that 1990s. In other remittances are actually large and a dependable source of words, they funding during hard times. We know now that can consumption is not necessarily a bad thing. Remittances potentially access capital from the international markets. generate significant indirect benefits to the community at These shadow ratings can be very useful in evaluating large. They are used to fund education of the children, public-private partnerships in infrastructure financing. health care for mothers, and food and shelter for every one. One area where we can make things better is to reduce During this economic crisis, you believe that remittances remittance costs. I think this is an important issue in India play a very positive role. Please explain. where we also have very large internal migration from one DR: Historically, remittances have tended to rise in times state to another, and the cost of sending money is of financial crisis or natural disasters because migrants unnecessarily high. Also remittances can be linked to living abroad send more money to help their families back financial products, as I said before.

JAN '10 / 15 home. For example, remittance inflows increased to labor markets. I am not sure that fences actually make Mexico following its financial crisis in 1995, to the great neighbors. Philippines and Thailand after theAsian crash in 1997, and What do you propose to do about migration and to Central America after Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Now we remittances? know that remittances also tend to be resilient during crisis in remittance-source countries such as the US or the DR: To best leverage these flows for development, it is UAE. I was in Dubai recently (to attend a meeting of the time to create an international body -- an "International World Economic Forum). It turns out that migrants are not Remittances Institute" -- that would monitor the flows of returning in large numbers despite the economic crisis labor and remittances and oversee policies to make them there. Many are trying to maintain the level of remittances easier, cheaper, safer, and more productive. Indeed, this by cutting consumption and rental. We expect remittances could be an institution for migration and development to fall only 6% in 2009 and recover in 2010 and 2011. more broadly. We are working on a proposed African Remittances Institute in collaboration with the African In the global downturn, fluctuations in currency rates Union and the European Union. But a global institution is have led to some surprising increases in remittance levels - necessary to monitor and facilitate sizeable flows of - especially between India and people and money. I also hope that countries such as India the United States. Remittances I am hoping that one day we can think of would revamp their apparatus for issuing passports and many different concepts of national meant for consumption will regulate agencies that recruit unskilled workers. I am a boundary. likely fall as the U.S. dollar strong believer in the multilateral process initiated appreciates against the Indian through the Global Forum on Migration and rupee, because the same basket Development. I hope India would host the Global Forum of local goods and services in India can now be purchased someday, perhaps in 2013, after the UN High Level with fewer U.S. dollars. However, the remittances meant Dialogue. for investment -- or the purchase of goods with long-term payoffs -- will rise as the depreciation of the rupee What impacts of migration and remittances you foresee produces a "sale effect" for housing and other assets in in future for Indian Diaspora? India. DR: As the crisis deepens, lack of jobs will force some What picture you want to share with the readers about workers home. But they will return with savings that are the future of Migration and the fate of remittances? typically recorded in official statistics as remittance inflows. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, for example, DR: In the near-term, I do not expect new migration flows a large number of Indian migrants came back home from to turn negative and return migration to be large, which the Gulf, driving up the amount of remittances to India. means the existing migrant stock will continue to grow.At Migrants not only bring back savings, but also business the same time, I do not believe that the record level of skills. First of all, they have to be welcomed back into the remittances seen in 2008 when India registered society and then have to encourage them in facilitating remittances of $52 billion would be breached any time there entrepreneurial services. soon. Slowing construction and a delay in the global economic recovery would imply that remittances will In few decades, being the nation with largest number of remain rather flat during young working age people, India will also be one of the 2010-11. largest suppliers of the migrants to the world. The Indian Government will start planning for this but for the whole In the long-term, not only in regards to current destination countries but migration and also newer regions. India has to invest a lot in skill remittances are set to development of millions. At the same time an aggressive increase. Besides the accreditation program for various educational institutes demographic imbalances to maintain standard and employable graduates is also alluded to earlier, falling required, this also calls for possible collaboration with travel costs and reputed foreign institutions. explosion of information flows will break down The author is the Lead Economist in the Development many economic and Prospects Group of the World Bank and also a recognized cultural barriers to the expert on migration, remittances and innovative movement of people. I financing. He has a PhD in economics from the Indian am hoping that one day we can think of many different Statistical Institute, New Delhi. For more info, please concepts of national boundary: one for trade, another for visitwww.dilipratha.com . national identity, and perhaps not many for the global

16 / JAN '10 With recognition & approval of the Medical Council of India.

anupam_creations@redif

1F, Raja S.C. Mullick Road Jadavpur, Kolkata- 700 032 Phone: (033) 2429 8497 Telefax: 91-33-2429 8496 fmail.com Website: www.thekpcgroup.com FEATURE GlobalGlobalIndianIndian CommunityCommunity & Civic Responsibility Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal, National Coordinator of GOPIO, enumerates the socio-political duties of Indian Diaspora, and its salient strengths and how it should capitalize on them to fulfill its untapped potential.

The phenomenon of Immigration is as old as the human enjoying the fruits of their labor. race or the living creatures on this planet. And, generally, Despite our tendency of survival and keeping ourselves to say the least, it has handsomely contributed to the out of politics since, unfortunately, we believed in “koi progress of mankind. To fuel or sustain this phenomenon, nrip hoi hamen ka haani” meaning “it does not matter to several factors, namely, greed, poverty, opportunity, us who is the king,” we have progressed quite well. But, education, business, labor, and curiosity have been mostly this progress and richness is mostly limited to individuals. responsible. Unfortunately, “immigration” came to this Collectively we do not have the clout of better organized world with its twin known as “invasion.” While and united Diaspora. Immigration gets the credit for progress, Invasion must be blamed for destruction. Our topic for this brief is related to In very recent years, we, of Indian Origin, have had some Immigration and not to Invasion since India or Indians or success in electing Prime Ministers & Presidents, but due for that matter Hindus have never invaded any country or to lack of our unity and self-centered interests, we have any people. lost most of those achievements; to countries like Fiji and Trinidad & Tobago. These peace-loving people for centuries have migrated out of India for various reasons throughout the history to The Indian Diaspora currently is blessed with a highly different parts of the world. With them they have taken a educated and accomplished population; thanks to our piece of India in terms of its forefathers for inculcating hard work and family values in Though the culture and the family values culture and values that have us. It is great to have individuals with such distinction, helped sustain the life of Indians in odd sustained them through but if our community does not get the benefit of these circumstances, lack of civic responsibility many hardships they have accomplishments, it does not help to create a voice of and vision beyond survival made them endured and challenges they consequence. second class citizens everywhere they went. have faced in the hostile The United States of America is a shining example of environments of far away prosperity created by immigrants. The socio-political lands. climate for the most part has created an extremely Though the culture and the family values helped sustain conducive environment in this country for the immigrants the life of Indians in odd circumstances, lack of civic to prosper and become whatever they wanted to be and in responsibility and vision beyond survival made them this process the nation has progressed to become the second class citizens everywhere they went. wealthiest and the greatest power on the earth.

Among all the Diaspora, the Indian Diaspora is one of the However, even in this country, it must be pointed out that oldest and the largest in the world, but, its relative the history of immigration, as well as of the assimilation, influence at the world stage is minimal. Single most has not been smooth. Every wave of migrants has paid its important reason for this dismal performance is lack of dues through various types of sufferings and unity, shortsightedness, and narrow focus of purpose. discriminatory practices. Even the laws enacted in this Look at the Indian migration to Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, country of immigrants have not always been fair and the Caribbean, Mauritius, and East Africa. Despite equitable despite the claim of “liberty & justice for all.” majority population in some places, and financial strength Many examples can be cited - the slaves, the Asian in other places, we have not been able to establish Exclusion Act, Japanese Internment, McCarthyism, etc. ourselves as a voice of consequence. On the other hand, the But, as we all know, there is no perfect system and Utopia European Diaspora the British, French, Spanish, etc. is always a dream. created separate homelands for themselves through To make life a little easier and to make the assimilation united efforts in Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand, process a little less painful for the immigrants, self- and several countries in South America and are today

18 / JAN '10 organized Immigrant groups have played a vital role. Socio-political activism is one of the finest tenets of a These organizations, mostly based on ethnic basis, have democratic society and as such the immigrant not only helped the assimilation process, but have helped organizations can flourish in any democratic country generously by enriching the culture of this country. unabashedly to support their own causes.

Quite a few Immigrant Organizations have played a dual As it should be, in a democratic society, the voice of the role; namely, serving the interests of immigrants and people is responsible in creating/changing the laws and as serving the interests of the population of country of their such the laws of the land change at appropriate times as origin, especially in providing support to either maintain and when the voice of the people changes, and, therefore, or give rise to the democratic principles. For example, the socio-political activism of these Immigrant from the Indian American perspective, the Gadar Party of Organizations is as important as the democracy itself. India (in USA) covertly participated in the Freedom Therein lies the importance of organizations like the Movement to liberate India from the British during the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) first part of the twentieth century. Most recently, the whose mission is to promote legitimate interests of the Indian American immigrants organized themselves to get Indian community as a whole and in particular countries. the US-India Nuclear Treaty passed. There are similar Creating a sense of civic examples from different ethnic groups to illustrate the responsibility to encourage point that these immigrant organizations have been active Socio-political activism is one of the finest participation in the socio- in carrying out their civic responsibility in the manner tenets of a democratic society and as such political activities at the local, they have deemed fit. the immigrant organizations can flourish in state, national and any democratic country unabashedly to In the recent history, the oldest Indian immigrant international level for the support their own causes. organization, the Association of Indians in America benefit of the Indian (generally known as AIA and established in 1967 when Community (PIOs & NRIs) is USA opened its borders for the first time for legal a very legitimate interest of ours. migration from India) aptly chose its motto as “Indian Let us UNITE ourselves to create a more cohesive, Heritage & American Commitment” signifying its dual formidable and civic minded community of people of role of serving the interests of both, the country of their Indian Origin origin and the country of their adoption. I was honored to serve this organization as its National President from 2000 The author is also the National Past President, to 2003. Association of Indians in America and a Former United Nations Expert.

JAN '10 / 19 ECONOMY The Indian Homecoming As the United States sunk into economic recession, emerging economies like India and China have become coveted destinations for engineers and technologists.Prof. Vivek Wadhwa analyses the tide that has shifted from Boston to Bengaluru and Beijing.

In 1950, the first Indian Institute of Technology was Naturally,India's own IT industry followed along, making founded in a former detention camp in Kharagpur.Apet the move into outsourced R&D in sophisticated areas such project of Jawaharlal Nehru, the goal of the IIT was to as aerospace components and semiconductor design. The replicate the institutions of higher educational excellence result is that career offerings for young Indians are, by in the West with particular focus on engineering, some measures, actually superior in their home country mathematics and the physical sciences. The goal of this than in the West -- and especially than in the West, where effort was to provide fertile scientific minds who were xenophobic policies and a populist backlash against crucial to drive the young democracy's economic foreigners stealing U.S. jobs has made hiring Indians the development forward. Third Rail of human resources.

The Indian government invested heavily in the IIT In China, likewise, the tide of smart knowledge workers concept, opening several more in short order. But the streaming to the U.S. and the West has waned. Beijing is initial outcome was not to their liking. Yes, the IITs did pouring billions of dollars into building sophisticated produce superlative graduates with world class skills; research labs to attract not only proven applied however these graduates escaped India after their technologists but also theoretical and basic scientists education for better economic futures in the West. Critics skilled in disparate areas like materials sciences and claimed that the young IIT artificial intelligence. As the tide has turned, the specter of Since 2000, hundreds of global grads bailing to the west for a hegemonic power shift from West to East in human multinationals have set up research labs in better bucks, illustrated that capital has gone from something that might happen in a India to capitalize on cheap but highly the system did not work. decade or more to something that might happen in the next few years. skilled labor and to move closer to Five decades later Nehru is emerging markets in Asia. having the last laugh as IIT Meanwhile, politicians in Washington D.C., led by U.S. grads and other Indian Senator Charles Grassley , have drawn a legislative bulls technologists who were eye on the backs of smart immigrants by proposing yet previously working abroad are returning home in droves. again to make it harder for U.S. companies to hire workers They started returning in small numbers in the 1980's and on H-1B visas, the most popular and prevalent form of 1990's and fueled the early growth of India's IT industry, employment visas for science and technology companies. driving the subcontinent to become the world's system Under the guise of reducing H-1B visa fraud (they claim administrator. Since 2000, hundreds of global these visas are used to hire Indians to work in the U.S. for multinationals have set up research labs in India to below market wages), on Nov 19, Charles Grassley and capitalize on cheap but highly skilled labor and to move Senators Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to bar major closer to emerging markets inAsia. companies that lay off U.S. workers from hiring foreign labour through H-1B and other programs. The legislation would apply to companies that have cut 50 or more employees in the past year. In other words, the xenophobic drumbeat of the U.S, by chasing out skilled immigrants who are already spooked by the staggering U.S. economy government fulfills the fondest wishes of the Chinese and Indian governments.

With the timing of the U.S. economic downturn and political pressure, stopping this drain will be challenging. But as research by our team at Duke, Harvard and Berkeley Universities has

20 / JAN '10 shown, smart Indians and Chinese are now leaving for a difficult to quantify. No government broad combination of professional and cultural reasons. presently tallies return immigrants or The desire to be closer to friends and family and departing immigrants, let alone the types of INDIA comfortable lifestyles now easily available in their home work skills they have to offer. But stories of countries are strong drivers. But the most important factor these departures are common in the driving their return is a strong belief that they will have popular press and circulating in brighter professional and economic futures at home -- immigrant-oriented electronic regardless of politics or even a rebounding U.S. economy. communities. We feel fairly certain that the Most foreign national students now express little desire to numbers are most likely in the tens of settle in the U.S. Many say they would prefer to return to thousands. As part of research on their home country to start a business or build a career. immigration funded by the Kauffman Foundation, we located more than 1,200 As brain flow continues to reverse, a significant such returnees with knowledge worker percentage of U.S. innovation would be lost to the Rising backgrounds on the social networking site East. This would be good for India and China and bad for LinkedIn alone. the U.S. That foreigners residing in the U.S. contribute enormously to innovation is beyond dispute. We Future departures seem set to increase, as well. In a similar calculated that foreign nationals residing in the United study of over 1,200 foreign national students States were named as inventors or co-inventors in one matriculating in the U.S., we found that only 6% of Indian, quarter of WIPO patent applications filed from the United 10% of Chinese, and 15% of European students said they States in 2006. Additionally, 16.8 percent of international want to stay permanently. Not surprisingly, many cited patent applications had an inventor or co-inventor with a worries over obtaining visas, a logical concern as Chinese-heritage name and 13.7 percentage had an restrictive immigration policies have left roughly 1 million inventor or co-inventor with an Indian-heritage names. By immigrants and their dependents in a limbo that could go way of comparison, ethnic Chinese and Indians on for over a decade with no promises that they will ever collectively represent less than 3% of the total U.S. obtain citizenship. population. What's more, those that have departed did so at a In 2006, immigrants contributed to 72% of the total patent particularly critical time in their careers -- just before they filings at Qualcomm, 65% at Merck, and 60% at Cisco would be likely to start their own companies. On average, Systems. And contrary to claims that immigrant patent- these company founders had lived in the U.S. for 14 years. filers crowd out U.S-born researchers, emerging research The average returnee in our survey was in their mid-30s. is increasingly showing that immigrants actually tend to The implication is clear. Those who had left will start boost patent output by their U.S. born colleagues. These companies in their home countries, where most of the immigrant patent-filers emerged from the U.S. university benefits of this entrepreneurship will accrue. The students system, where foreigners now dominate the advanced who plan to depart will have a similar impact as they classes in science, technology, engineering and would likely be the same researchers who would be filing mathematical disciplines. For example, during the patents in the future for Qualcomm and Cisco. 20042005 academic year, roughly 60% of engineering What is clear is that a big shift is underway. The U.S. is no Ph.D. students and 40% of Master's students were foreign longer the only magnet for the world's best and brightest. nationals. Senators Grassley and Sanders may not have to wonder Beyond intellectual contributions, immigrants have been about H-1B visa fraud in the not so distant future if the key entrepreneurial drivers in the U.S. According to American Dream for Indians another survey we conducted, one-quarter of all and Chinese techies is better The xenophobic drumbeat of the U.S, by technology companies in the U.S. have at least one founder fulfilled in Shanghai or chasing out skilled immigrants who are who is an immigrant. Indians dominated the country Bangalore. already spooked by the staggering U.S. founding group founding more startups than the ethnic economy government fulfills The author is with the Labor groups from UK, China, Japan and Taiwan combined. The the fondest wishes of the Chinese and and Worklife Program at concentration of immigrants is even heavier in certain key Indian governments. Harvard Law School and industries such as semiconductors and enterprise executive in residence/adjunct software. Based on this data, we calculated that in 2005 professor at the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke immigrant-founded tech companies generated $52 billion University. He has featured in thousands of publications in revenue nationwide and employed 450,000 workers. including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Precisely how many of these entrepreneurs and Washington Post, New York Times, etc. knowledge workers have already departed remains

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After reaching out to thousands across the US and the UK was gasping for among other countries, the New Global Indian (NGI) breath. Mulloo magazine made its present felt in Mauritius in a big way, also brings forth a with its launch in September 2009. Introduced to those detailed present by none other than the President of the Republic of discussion with Mauritius at a ceremony held at the Municipality of Port H.E. Shri Louis, NGI very evidently moved several notches up the Madhusudan growth ladder with this landmark launch. Ganapathy, the Indian High The issue - focusing mainly on Mauritius and Bihar - is a Commissioner in media venture with the potential to break down Mauritius, where geographical divides, in an attempt to bridge the distances he elaborates on between Indians in different parts of the world. Based on the Indo- the Indian concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', New Mauritian Global Indian, as a platform for Indians across the globe, relationship. “If functions on the philosophy of global oneness. Prof. Ujjwal Chowdhury (left) at the NGI Mauritius issue Mauritius is launch in Mauritius A monthly magazine with focus on a different state each heaven, India is time, NGI aspires to provide the Indian away from home definitely the cradle of civilization. The two countries have with glimpses on the strides their country and their home overlapping views, their interests intersect”, he says. state are rapidly taking. For this issue then, the focus was From a tribute to the first on analyzing Mauritius, a country most Indians have Prime Minister of Mauritius to A monthly magazine with focus on a heard of and even dreamt of going to, but that most are not describing how every different state each time, New Global Indian much in the know of. Mauritian is a 'citizen of the aspires to provide the Indian away from The issue opens with Prof Ujjwal Chowdhury describing world', the issue highlighted home with glimpses on the strides the important role that People of Indian Origin (PIO) will several different aspects of the their country and their home state are play across the world, at a time when India, with 65 equation between the rapidly taking. percent of its population being under the age of 35, is countries, and spoke at length definitely a 'young' country. on Mauritius in a way few Indian magazines have so far. Among other things, the The issue then moves to a biographical account of magazine mentioned two historical sites of Mauritius that Mauritian President Sir Anerood Jugnauth, in which have been recognized by the UNESCO, thereby talking Anand Mulloo pens how he implemented a successful also about the recent strides made by the country. economic model, at a time when the country's economy

JAN '10 / 25 FEATURE The Hindu Diaspora in the United States Dr. Ved P. Chaudhary, currently the General Secretary of Hindu Collective Initiative (HCI) of North America, talks about the gradual recognition that the Hindu Diaspora received in the US.

Two political incidents in the US in the last two years speak been organizing a massive effort against allowing a Hindu volumes about the acceptance, or lack thereof, of the priest to lead the prayer on the Senate floor. The American Hindu American diaspora in the US society in the twenty Family Association was at the forefront of this effort first century: On July 12, 2007, for the first time in the urging their followers to contact all Senators and asking history of the US Senate, a Hindu priest was invited to them to oppose a Hindu prayer in the Senate. deliver the opening prayer. This gesture from the US Amore recent and more remarkable incident happened on Senate reflects profoundly on the eve of Diwali. On October 14, 2009, a sitting President, the religious tolerance and Barack Obama, not only participated in the celebration of On October 14, 2009, for the first time in pluralism US has come to Diwali at the White House, but himself lighted the first the history of the United States, a sitting embrace and the recognition Diya, as a Hindu Priest chanted a famous Sanskrit verse: President, Barack Obama, not only that the Hindu diaspora has Asato ma sad gamaya, tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, mrityor ma participated in the celebration of Diwali at received in the US. However, amritam gamaya… Lead me from untruth to Truth; from the White House, but himself lighted the even before the priest could darkness to Light; from death to Immortality (God). first Diya, as a Hindu Priest chanted a speak, three Christian right (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad - I. iii. 28) famous Sanskrit verse. wing extremists seated in the public gallery disrupted the Diwali has been celebrated in the White House every year ceremony with angry shouts since 2003 thanks to the initiative and dedication of Dr. full of venomous denunciation of to the shock Piyush Agrawal of Florida, the former President of AIA of all on-lookers on the Senate floor. "This is an (Association of Indians in America) but President George abomination!" shouted one. "We are Christians and Bush never participated in the celebration never even patriots!" yelled another before all three were quickly came to say Happy Diwali to the attendees let alone apprehended and led away by the Senate security police. lighting a Diya! Just as Truth, Light and Immortality are symbolic of a higher meaning, President Obama's lighting It was widely reported that several fundamentalist of the lamp is also symbolic of a higher purpose. That he is Christian organizations spread through out the nation had committed to promoting religious tolerance and pluralism not only in the US but around the world.

Both these incidents are important landmarks; they are unmistakable signs that we have come a long way from the early days of 1980's when the first wave of Indian American immigrants had arrived here and many of them had settled in the suburbs of New York/ New Jersey metropolitan area. Many first generation would never forget the horrifying experience of Memorable moment: US President Barack Obama celebrating the festival of Diwali, last year 26 / JAN '10 late1980's when a group of the Sacred An Analysis of misguided youth who Hinduism Studies in America” called themselves “Dot- by Ramaswamy, et al published busters” killed one, beat up by Rupa in 2007. a few, and harassed many Hindu diaspora in US is full of Hindu men, women and luminaries in every field: children in Jersey City and Molecular biologist Venkat surrounding areas. Hindus Ramakrishnan shared this year's in those days didn't have Nobel Prize for chemistry. anybody to protect them, Pranav Mistry at MIT is the not even the Police Chief of founder of the futuristic techno Jersey City. It was rumored invention Sixth Sense which may that his own son was the change the way humans live. leader of the “Dot-busters” , the CEO at gang. PepsiCo, is ranked by Forbes as one of the world's 100 However, twenty years later, the situation has changed most powerful women. They are recognized world significantly. It was New Jersey Congress man Frank leaders, yet the world would never know that their Pallone and Florida Congressman Bill McCollum who in characters, their ethos, are shaped by Hindu principles, the early nineties launched the Congressional Caucus on because they rarely express their Hindu identities. India and Indian Americans that now boasts the largest While it is common to hear many American professionals membership of any congressional caucus with the speak freely of their background, most Hindu resounding clout that helped build US India relationships professionals would shy away from saying in public that to great heights during President Bush' administration they are inspired by their Hindu ethos or heritage. But culminating in the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement that look at the other side: when Piyush (Bobby) Jindal was hurriedly signed in the last days of 2008. appeared in a political debate with his Democratic Party But lets not become complacent; the religious landscape of opponent, both candidates were asked by the moderator America is still dominated by the right wing groups as what was the most significant event in their lives. Jindal exemplified by the massive effort orchestrated against the answered that the most significant event of his life was Hindu prayer in the Senate. This is most keenly when he accepted Jesus …This example brings to the fore experienced by those Hindu (or Sikh or Jain) how being a Christian is a matter of pride and advantage organizations who have tried to build or expand a temple in the US, and how being a Hindu a disadvantage! in any city in USA and faced an uphill battle with these We can take proactive steps to set the stage where conservative Christians as many of them are politically Hinduism can be properly understood and respected in very active on the township councils -- and on the school the US society. Two major conferences titled “Hindu boards. Dharma Summit” organized by the Hindu Collective Children all across USA learn Hinduism through the Initiative of North America (at Rutgers University, NJ in negative lens implanted by their schools, teachers and August 2005 and at University of Central Florida in textbooks. That is the reason why Hinduism still carries a Orlando in December 2007) brought together eminent generally negative sense in the society here. It is taught as a scholars and intellectuals from all Hindu organizations complex, primitive religion that has nothing good to offer who spoke on the ways Hindu religious, cultural and to the world as it practices caste based discrimination and social organizations as well as professionals in various worships idols of many gods and goddesses (which is fields can better organize and contribute their time, considered very bad according energy, talents and wealth to let to Christian theology). the world know, understand and appreciate Hinduism by There are very few professors in providing Hindu world view on colleges and universities who various contemporary social are practicing Hindus. issues. For example: Hinduism is taught by Christians, Jews and Muslims at Support for Environment the university level. Examples of Hindu way of life and the their prejudiced scholarship principles of Dharma are nature have been compiled in a 545 based. Dharma is a spiritual way page volume titled “Invading

JAN '10 / 27 of life in harmony with the the school boards. Being nature and for maintaining highly educated harmony among people in professionals, more the society. When Rajendra Hindus must take on Pachauri delivered his this responsibility. acceptance speech at the Interfaith Dialog Nobel awards ceremony in Oslo, he began with the Believing in Vasudhaiva Hindu philosophy of kutumbakam, Hindus “Vasudhaiva are in the best position to Kutumbakam (the whole promote interfaith world is one family) that dialog. must guide global efforts to Neighborhood Charity protect the global commons.” Hindu American community has been (non-violence) very active in providing and charitable support to Vegetarian diet must be needy men, women and promoted to improve children in India which health, eliminate hunger, is commendable. reduce disease and medical However, we also need expenses, and reduce to provide charitable global warming. Hindus and Jains must take lead in this support to the neighborhoods where we live in our effort to raise awareness of the benefits of vegetarian diet adopted land. HinduAmerican Seva Charities founded by to the masses. This should also lead to better Anju Bhargava, who was recently appointed by President understanding of principles of non-violence as practiced Obama to the Council on Faith Based and Neighbor hood by in general. Partnerships, has taken a major step in raising awareness of Indian organizations for undertaking local Charity Yoga and Meditation work in communities through out USA and deserves our Hindu temples and organizations should offer free (or for support. a nominal charge) lessons not only to their Hindu devotees Community Service Organizations but, more importantly, to every one in the community as a service of the temple. This will create good will and As our communities are growing and maturing, we need acceptance of Hindu temples in their communities. to mold our existing organizations or create new organizations that can help our community with needed Civil Rights Children all across USA learn Hinduism services. Also new immigrants and Hindu refugees from through the negative lens implanted by Mahatma Gandhi was the Bhutan deserve support from Hindu organizations. father of the civil rights their schools, teachers and textbooks. Even if one in ten Hindus takes up social participation in movement in the world. That is the reason why Hinduism still these activities, and volunteers to speak at their children's Hindus in US and other carries a generally negative sense in the school about India and Hinduism, the true image of both countries must continue to be society here. India and Hinduism can emerge and be fully appreciated the torch bearers of the by the public. profound light illuminated by him. Finally, it is only through understanding and engaging in the broader political, civic, social, cultural and religious Separation of Church and State spheres that we can address major issues affecting our Again, Hindus believe in it, practice it, but we need to take community and fully integrate in the mosaic of America. the moral responsibility to speak up for the separation of church and state, not merely stand as spectators. The author is the Assistant Commissioner for finance and Participation on School Boards budget in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), USA. He is also an agricultural Hindu ethos elevates children's education to a high engineer and management specialist. priority in life, yet not many Hindus run for elections to

28 / JAN '10 BOOK REVIEW The man of science Archana Raghuram reviews Mani Bhaumik’s fascinating book 'Code name God' – a story about a man’s journey on the material as well as the spiritual path of life.

Born in a village in Bengal (India), when the independence the size of a proton (if you can movement was at its peak, Dr. Mani Bhaumik is the give it the dignity of size!!). inventor of the LASER technology which is used in Lasik Have you heard of the weak eye surgery. His father was a school teacher and freedom anthropic cosmological fighter. He lived in abject poverty and was close to principle? It concludes that the starvation and death many times in his childhood. observer is the participator in In his recent book, 'Code Name God: The Spiritual the creation. Odyssey of a Man of Science', is a combination of a You can create 'twin' Photons spiritual autobiography and a rags-to-riches story, it goes and whatever be the distance on to describe a world view of the universe that combines that separates them, you some of the most esoteric ideas of modern theoretical high change the state of one Photon, energy physics and medicinal sciences with equally the other automatically and esoteric concepts in Eastern philosophy (both Chinese and instantly adjusts its state. Indian). While reconciling science and spirituality in the Dr. Mani Bhaumik most simple, beautiful, and scientific manner from a A great Indian seer, Shankarcharya tells in one of his physicist's point of view, here he talks about how he was famous work, the world is only as large as your thoughts. influenced by his father, grandmother, fellow freedom When I read the work of great scientists, I think, it must fighters and Gandhi. He says “Gandhi exhausted an entire feel so good to be one. Their mind itself is source of so empire by sheer force of his goodness”. During the famine much happiness; it makes their world so big. in Bengal, his grandmother starved to death by giving her Code name God is an inspiring portion of the food to him. story of a man who rose form Dr. Bhaumik is one of those rare men of He rose from such a background to become a great abject poverty to great fame science who see science and spirituality, as scientist and multi-millionaire. He also gives an honest and wealth. But his greatness being connected. account of how he indulged in his wealth. This book lies in the fact that he could describes his spiritual journey, his discovery of God. He recognize the limitations of his success. He could look tries to explain God using Physics and how he does it, is back at his humble roots and derive richness from it. In this mind blowing. He also proves that book you'll find a rare look at how a he is first a scientist and then a scientist uses science to deepen his spiritualist. Here are few amazing spiritual understanding and to gain facts from the book. spiritual wealth. Dr. Bhaumik is one of those rare men of science who see If the rate of expansion of the science and spirituality as being universe during the time of Big connected. You'll find it fascinating Bang had varied by even 1/1050 the to read what he has to say. universe would not be suitable for life. This is not a sectarian book. So if you only like to think about spirituality The total energy of the universe is in terms of the tenets of your own zero. faith, this book may not appeal to An unmanifest field called the you. quantum field pervades the whole The book, a must read, is universe and is felt equally in all remarkably well written. The parts of the universe. language and choice of expressions The theorized size of the universe at show both great care and deep the time of big bang is about one understanding. hundred millionth of a billionth of

JAN '10 / 29 FEATURE India in the making

With India on the rise, many argue today that India will lead the torch of humanity once again.Mayank Shekhar looks into our glorious past which have been explored solely by colonial eyes and talks of the importance of exploring it on our own.

Our childhood appears as if it were just yesterday. We Aurobindo put it, we did not understand the new cherish childhood memories off and on sharing with our conditions the colonizers imposed upon us. Our struggles children and particularly when we visit places from then. remained confined to securing our lives. We did not invest Towns and cities of our childhood have changed from in social sciences but parroted what was produced in the what we hold in our memories. They have grown bigger western universities. Intellectuals are replaced by with many shopping malls. With development comes celebrities. Even today, with such economic progress and concentration of population in urban areas, long hours in promises, we are not investing into research. If there was traffic, and interruptions and dust from construction. any work they remained buried in books and papers. No Children cling to television and we hear of attention one, as it appears, is investing into understanding the deficiency and hyperactivity. current social and political conditions, without which these conditions may not change. Surrounded with such Contact with another culture and society brought us new impossibility,we yearn nevertheless to achieve this future. experiences. It posed questions that threw us into another perspective that of a different culture. We learned to speak Since the turn of globalization, some studies document in terms of one God, one book and in the process, that India was the leading economy until the 18th century unbeknownst to us, we moved further away from our when China and subsequently US economy overtook. tradition and its values. The distance created by India had a share of over 20% of the world economy based colonization further increased. Brahma became the one on production. On the contrary, we often talk about God from being the root, the single source of universe. Our thousands of years of this and that, all evil. And, if at all own past is blurred replaced by stories colonizers retold. these are true, we have not investigated what brought us here; from a successful economy into this chaos, from a India today is tipped to lead flourishing society to one of discrimination, a society of the world economy in the next With development comes concentration of caste and all the evil that comes along with false God? If four decades. However, for us population in urban areas, long hours in these are just a matter of perception, a perspective through our knowledge of our own traffic, and interruptions and dust from the Christian theological framework through which the past and the reality on the construction. Children cling to television West perceived India, why did we take to these? and we hear of attention deficiency and ground do not add up to this hyperactivity. projection. How can India Shri Dharampal, through his research into documents of progress to this future while travelers to India and of British records of surveys, has a the chaos is so pervasive? The different story to tell about our last few centuries; different chaos of the last hundred years than what was taught to us. Entrusted by Mahatma do not suggest of a temporary phenomenon. There is Gandhi, he started to find what happened to “The corruption which one only complains about. There is this Beautiful Tree” that the Indian education was. Travelling democracy which no one believes in, though it's more of a in search of these documents, this Gandhian has opened global phenomenon today. There are social issues, real or before us an opportunity to possibly know what our past made up, that keep the media spinning perennially. really was. Through his work, we have the opportunity to Amidst such chaos politics is pandering endlessly. find the beautiful tree and what happened to it.

While West invested in understanding other cultures and Reading Dharampal gives us an idea of our past, it still society, we remained occupied with the chaos. They leaves a gaping hole into our understanding of why we are travelled to east, to India and studied our societies. West here and what we have become. Prof. S. N. Balagangadhar, moved from its barbarous past through secularization to a philosopher at Ghent University, Belgium, through his age of reason, enlightenment and industrialization. As work “The Heathen in His Blindness” and other

30 / JAN '10 researches are opening our consciousness and whom we call barbarous, observe much more decency and enlightening us of what has become of us. civility in their discourses and conversation, …”. He continues “And if it be not so in this civiliz'd part of the While we do not know worship and God of the West, world, we must impute it to a neglect in education, which which entails the one and only true God of Christianity,we has not yet reform'd this antient piece of barbarity are far removed from the Brahma, the Shiva and Sakti, the amongst us.” Purusha and Prakriti, and the Atma. We know terms like Reading history tells us that the bhajans we Advaita, Vishishta Advaita and Dvaita, but we do not We have been parroting the sing with devotion and the kathas of the know what these darshanas are and what they were descriptions given by the West poojas we perform came into practice only concerned with. We depend upon our experience, as our own. We need to a few hundred years ago, incorporated by introspection and the learning, and speak of the one and rediscover our India on our the poorva mimansakas. only true God. Reading history tells us that the bhajans we own. India must find its own sing with devotion and the kathas of the poojas we history, and describe in its own perform came into practice only a few hundred years ago, experience. India is in the incorporated by the poorva mimansakas. making again. Its development and growth must be based on sound principles and values. India needs to know the Prof. Balagangadhar argues that we are products of two conditions within and in the rest of the world. India must colonialisms and these were more than just about ruling invest into research. If the government does not see this and extracting wealth. Colonialism is a violent process involving both the physical as well as the psychic. He further argues that Orientalism is more about West's experience of the Orient than being a true or factual description of it. In his words “…they [Indians] have simply taken over the European descriptions of their experience of India as though they are facts about India and her traditions. They do not know this fact, which is excusable. What is unforgivable is that they do not want to know it. I call this phenomenon 'the colonial consciousness'.”

In one of his findings, Shri Dharampal brings to us a British record submitted by the Madras Presidency.This document reveals the number of students from different castes, as the travelers looking for classification of society perceived Indian society as. This is a shocking revelation for we have always talked about thousands of years of discrimination. Another document from Bihar and Bengal talks about 100,000 schools in this region alone. In another document a Government in Bissenpour from two centuries ago is described as “the most beautiful and most interesting monument in the world”. The traveler further writes “It has been governed, from time immemorial, by a Bramin light, resources must be generated through alternate ways family of the tribe of Rajahputs.” This document was to fund researches into social sciences. It is understandable translated into English in 1790. that research into social science will not benefit industry directly and immediately, but a sound understanding of These documents describe eighteenth century India. Shri the West, the values of their societies, and the current Dharampal also wrote a volume on science and social and political issues of India will help India in technology in Eighteenth century India. While education achieving its goals. was so widespread in India, England at that time had a The author is the Secretary, Educators' society for the Heritage of statute that required an earning of 20 shillings for a child to India (www.eshiusa.org ) and can be reached at attend school. While we were told that the British came to [email protected] civilize India, John Locke wrote in 1692 “The Indians,

JAN '10 / 31 PROFILE A GREAT INDIAN SPACE SCIENTIST Kanchan Banerjee provides insights into the life and achievement of Dr. Kamlesh Lulla, a person of humility and genuine integrity, who is also a distinguished NASA chief scientist.

Inspired by the great Indian science leaders like Dr. Homi missions. Bhabha, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Hargobind Khorana, Dr. Lulla was awarded with several NASA group Dr. Kamlesh Lulla is very proud to be an Indian or achievement awards, the Johnson Space Center Director's 'Bharatiya' as it is called. Being a son of the soil, he is Commendation and special achievement certificates and immensely in love with the art and culture of India, over twenty NASAsuperior performance awards for these especially Gujarat his 'janambhoomi'. mission related accomplishments. He has received the Dr. Kamlesh Lulla's NASAExceptional Achievement medal for science in 2005 Dr. Kamlesh Lulla also supported Indian remarkable contribution to and the Luckas Memorial Award in 2004, the Remote American astronaut Dr. Kalpana Chawla's NASA's Earth Observations Sensing Medal from the American Association of flights both times she flew as a programs has made the Geographers in 1999, and Houston Federal scientist of the mission specialist. country look up to him for year in 1992 among many other honors. many such endeavors. Since As a team leader for Earth Observations for the joint the time he joined NASA in 1988, he was the lead mission NASA-Mir missions during 1994-1999, Dr. Lulla worked scientist for Earth Observation program for space shuttle with several scientists from Russia and America and missions, provided astronaut training and briefings to the defined several science programs, which were analyzed flight crewmembers in relevant Earth science disciplines, by both the US, and Russian teams. It was finally supported the mission operations during the flight and led published in a book - “Dynamic Earth Environments: the post flight cataloging and analysis of data from these Observations from Shuttle-Mir missions”. Dr. Lulla has worked with scientists from Costa Rica and produced a large format book entitled “Costa Rica from Space” published by the United Nations and the Cost Rican Earth University in 2002. In addition, he has worked with space scientists from India, Brazil, European Union, Poland, Germany and Canada.

Dr Lulla has also served as the Chief Scientist for Earth Observations. He led the team of Earth observations scientists to develop an observational window facility on-board the International Space Station (ISS). This enabled the astronauts on-board to conduct Earth imaging and recently the program celebrated acquisition of over 500,000 Earth images from ISS.

As a senior scientist and a senior leader, his insights and expert advice have been invaluable and his contributions vital to the success of many of Earth remote sensing programs not only at NASA but several other federal agencies and other countries.

PRESTIGIOUS MOMENT: Dr. Kamlesh Lulla receives special recognition from NASA Astronaut Having worked in this arena for over thirty-five Dr. Steve Hawley, Director for Exploration Sciences Directorate in May 2008. Interestingly, the years, Dr. Lulla's contributions have been Flags of India and the United States were flown in orbit during the Hubble Telescope mission by monumental in many diverse dimensions of the Astronaut Dr. Hawley. Earth remote sensing disciplines. He has made

32/ JAN '10 major contributions in: University and guided eight PhD students and many masters' students in Space sciences remote sensing. He has ! Space Shuttle remote sensing of biophysical been actively involved in the American Society for parameters research Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing for a long time and ! Space shuttle and International Space Station imaging served as the Associate Editor of its premier journal of urban systems Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing for five years. ! Space Shuttle Earth Observations database development Apart from being a space scientist, Dr. Lulla is also a great linguist. In addition to English, he is adept in Hindi, ! Space Shuttle and ISS Global mapping of biomass fires Gujarati, Marathi, Urdu, Parsi, Sindhi, and Punjabi and and burning understands Bengali and ! Creation of improved change detection algorithms in Bhojpuri. geosciences, and Dr. Kamlesh Lulla was awarded with For the past twenty years, Dr. several NASA group achievement awards, ! Development of improved remote sensing Lulla has served as founding the Johnson Space Center Director's classification technology Chief Editor for Geocarto: An Commendation and special achievement international journal of remote Dr. Lulla also supported Indian American astronaut Dr certificates and over twenty NASA superior sensing and geoinformation Kalpana Chawla's flights both times she flew as a mission performance awards for these mission systems. Dr Lulla has worked specialist. He has extensively published about the life and related accomplishments. with most respected ISRO work of Dr. Kalpana Chawla to inspire young generation scientists by offering them a of explorers all over the globe. When Ms. significant role in the editorial board of the journal. joined NASA as an astronaut candidate; she attended science briefings given by Dr. Lulla and his team of flight In 1985, Dr. Lulla and Dr. K N Au founded established an support scientists. Dr. Steve Hawley- the astronaut who international journal that focused on the dissemination of repaired the famous Hubble Telescope actually flew an remote sensing sciences and technologies to the American and Indian flag with him into space and developing world. Dr. Lulla has provided invaluable presented these flags to Dr Lulla after the flight to show his opportunities to the young Indian Remote sensing appreciation for all his contributions for a successful scientists to publish in this journal and till date hundreds Hubble Repair flight. of ISRO scientists have contributed to Dr. Lulla's journal. ISRO and IIT scientists from India have also been Before joining NASA in 1988; Dr Lulla served as a continuously publishing many papers in this journal. university professor and research director at Indiana State

JAN '10 / 33 MAURITIUS CapturedCaptured in in lens lens

Nandini Bhautoo-Dewnarain takes a quick 'roll camera — action' of the Bollywood and Diaspora in Mauritius

There was a time when Indian Cinema meant larger than incarnation of the angry young man figure which became life heroes, superstars who towered over the lives and Amitabh Bacchan's trade mark. This working class hero imagination of their enthralling public with impossible had people glued to his anger and his power and feats - whether it was Dharmendra jumping form a bridge charisma, as he took on the crooked politicians, or Amitabh Bacchan taking on four goondas with businessmen, exploiters of the poor. His power over the phlegmatic nonchalance. Audiences in Mauritius thrilled Mauritian cinegoing public was absolute. to the songs of Dosti, sighed with Raj Kapoor in his Shri This was the last phase of the two movie billing, when 420 avatar, were nationalistically inspired by Manoj cinema was a major event for the whole family; when you Kumar biopics. entered the movie hall around 11 a.m. and came out when Indian Cinema in Mauritius, as in all plantation diasporas, it was already dark, after 6.00 p.m., with a terrible have accompanied the transformations of Mauritian headache and unable to 'come back' to real life, but happy society. In its mass appeal, Ashish Nandy states that and drained of excessive emotions. This has been the role “Indian Cinema constitutes the revenge of the people over of mainstream Hindi cinema before it became the dominating and 'bollywoodised'. constraining discourses of Audiences in Mauritius thrilled to the songs Bollywoodisation has been accompanied by a changed power within the nation”. For of Dosti, sighed with Raj Kapoor in his Shri attitude to the notion of cinema itself on the part of the plantation 420 avatar, were nationalistically inspired public. Bollywood as a term, diasporas, by Manoj Kumar biopics. came into being in the 1990's. It cinema was this followed the technological as well as a wave, where videos, dvds, colourful and camcorders, internet, valorizing mode of entertainment, which transformed the relationship functioned both as escapism and as modes of the audience to the magic of of imagining their collective lives as bonded cinema. Suddenly cinema was beyond the limits of space to larger worlds- no more 'out there', with its transnational realities. magic, but within reach of the The Dilip Kumar era created the archetype ordinary citizen. Significantly, of the tormented romantic hero in films like the nature of film scripts also Deedar, Madhumati. Raj Kapoor was the underwent transformation. If chaplinesque figure who used comedy to we bypass the terrible 1980's address issue of poverty, homelessness, decade, films in the 1990's lost corruption, illegitimacy, by echoing the some of their larger than life discourse of Nehruvian socialism. The sheen, scripts went towards anxieties about the state of the postcolonial audiences- I have in mind here nation were reflected in the screen the reinvention of the

34 / JAN '10 diasporic narrative in films like Dilwale Dulhaniya patterns, technological innovations. For instance, the Lehjayege or Pardes, which spoke across time to Dev animated film Roadside Romeo, marketed as a masala Anand's earlier representation of the East West divide, in a animated film, is testimony to the great technological and film of the same name. script potential of the Hindi film world. The quality of scripts has Bollywoodisation came when Indian cinema embraced its undergone unbelievable transnational, globalised reach, and was transformed by transformations under the hands the awareness of audiences beyond its shores. But at the of imaginative new directors, same time a curious phenomenon was taking place with educated in the subtleties of the parallel development of the small screen family serial. technology which allows them to Films in the 1990's became focused on the joint family, e.g. play with visuality and itself a Hum Aap Ke Hein Kaun the home. Some see this as a mode of discourse in Hindi films- nostalgic assertion of a sign system that is increasingly by cutting, overlapping, scenes, unavailable to metropolitan Indians in the 1990's. playing with time and Paradoxically it marks a stage of anxiety against the reality perspectives, circular narratives, of social breakdown in the family structure which comes introducing themes and with modernization. The 1990's is also the decade characters which are far from the following the economic boom in Mauritius, where usual stereotypes of the standard lifestyle changes are visible and a new youth culture film. Altogether the complexity of begins to be etched, through music, dress, entertainment the Indian film, where, what used to be the two distinct modes which are strongly influenced by film culture, for streams of mainstream and art films, have merged to give better or worse. audiences renewed experiences of both emotional and The recent transformation of Hindi cinema in the post 2000 intellectual pleasure. is a consequence of larger exposure and distribution

JAN '10 / 35 FEATURE A resurgent India coming up in the international arena India has all it takes to be the world's next force to reckon with, writesDr Mahesh Mehta .

In my recently concluded visits to eighteen Indian The leadership of the world: universities in nine states from August to October 2009, I The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 has changed the had an opportunity to deliver talks and interact with world scenario from being bipolar to multi polar and not research students, professors, lecturers and intellectuals mono-polar as anticipated by many in the West. The covering many different academic arena. indomitable power of the USA was challenged by the 9/11 The general impression I gathered was a lack of acts of terrorism. The terrorist forces like the Al Qaeda, the enthusiasm for not only world leadership but also the local Taliban, the Lashkar-e-Toiba and others have shaken up one. Their frustration was rooted in the corrupt political the dreams of the advocates of democracy, human rights leadership that exists at every and global peace. The economic crisis caused by the level. I left India with an failures of giant financial institutions in the USA, the bail Indian scholars and researchers need to impression that the university out of troubled assets by the US government using tax open their eyes to the catastrophes that youths are looking for leaders payers' money, the unemployment rate of over 10% in the have been plaguing humanity for the last with integrity,dynamism and a USA, the weak dollar and the US economy burdened by few years. Even if not look for the vision to be their role models in debts of trillions of dollars, are all big monsters facing the underlying reasons, they should at least note how evidently the staunchly western every sphere of national life. It US Government at home. would be appropriate to outlook to life has resulted in ruin. The rising power of China with a good GDP, it becoming summarize here, certain the manufacturing arm of the USA, strong currency and a important aspects of my talks broad assets base in the USA all of these make the USA with the academic community. complacent in dealing with human rights violations in Current global scenario: China.

Only a couple of decades back people did not have to The US involvement in the conflicts of middle eastern worry much about global issues. Today the world is pretty countries, the antagonism of Arabs against Israel, the much drawn into our living rooms, thanks to the power of continued war against Taliban in Afghanistan and with Al advanced communications technology.This transition has Qaeda on the western front of Pakistan, the continued caused all of us to shift our attention from gestures of nuclear development in Iran are local to global issues. Today we are some of the issues consuming the facing five major challenges in the financial resources and American world, namely (i) global warming lives when the internal issues of (ii) global terrorism (iii) nuclear American people demand focus proliferation and threats of to resolve the crisis at home nuclear sites falling in the front. hands of terrorist groups (iv) The New World Order: the increasing gap between the poor and the rich in the The western world view current global economy (v) rooted in the philosophy of the demographic changes individualism and caused by the ageing mechanistic model of population in the west and creation has promoted econo- growing number of young centric and also homocentric people in Asia. These approaches in dealing with demographic changes are all aspects of human life. The also caused by the migration result has been the search of of people with an unfriendly happiness for a fraction of attitude to the multicultural humanity at the cost of the life of the host nations. rest. Being homocentric it has exploited nature, causing

36 / JAN '10 severe damage to the ecology of planet earth. The current global meet at Copenhagen to deal with the issue of global warming, attracting a large number of developed and developing nations to come to some acceptable standards of emissions points out how much damage is already done to our environment. The same is likely to result in rising levels of ocean waters, the disappearing of forests in the Amazon, the receding glaciers in Gangotri, the source of river Ganga, the changing migratory patterns of birds, the dying flora and fauna, among others.

In promoting the western world view, the advocates have covered all possible strategic moves to control the destiny of humanity. Among those strategic tools, the West has promoted International Organizations with very well calculated moves to achieve the best standards of living for a fraction of humanity. Among these institutions are the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and others, all having, on the face of it, the ideals of global peace, a world without war, no poverty, better education and health for all nations.

With the help of these agencies many resolutions have been passed and many agreements have been signed for The timeless centre of knowledge: Takshashila the good of all. These are GeneralAgreements on tariff and entertainment industry to promote the western paradigm Trades (GATT), North American Free Trade Agreement of life. One of the keys to the success of the mass media (NAFTA) etc. technology is the power of programming the subconscious of all human beings, whether educated or The second very powerful tool promoted by the West is the illiterate. The subliminal message of “free to make your International Currency. At the base of the corporations is own choices” using the mass media, has generated a sense the need for authority over the issuing of money. In any of trust between the brand national economy, central currency gives controls in the names and people. The mass hands of the government and that in turn is influenced by media has promoted The acceptance of Aatman, that is the corporations. The corporations have thus gained more disconnection between the holographic image of cosmic power over the economy, the government and the culture. local and more real world of consciousness, is the source of the integral It may not be easy for the common man to link the power human beings and established view of life. The highest goal of human life, of International currency in influencing their lives, connection with brand names according to this view, is to experience the manipulated by those who are working for a new world and the virtual world. The Self in the creation. order. The West established the dollar as the standard for consumer pays more attention international exchange of currency. The dollar used to be to self-interest at the cost of the exchangeable with gold or silver. Since 1971 the gold community interests. The value is created by centralized standard was discarded in favor of paper-dollar. In the currency meaning the brands in the products and the words of John Exter, Citi-banker, the dollar bill's promise,” leaders supported by multinational corporations. I owe you” means “I owe you nothing”! Need a new paradigm of life: The third strategic tool in the hands of the advocates of the western paradigm is the birth and growth of multinational Humanity has come to a cross-road of making choices for corporations (MNCs). According to the ourselves, our children and grand western paradigm, the world is a market children. Indian scholars, researchers, place and the human beings are academicians, intellectuals and all leaders consumers. This view has systematically have to grasp the major issues faced by replaced the values of human life and people everywhere. Even if one does not human relations to be controlled, directed have the inclination or acumen to go into and ruled by the power of corporations. deeper analysis of the causes of the current catastrophes, one can at least see The fourth powerful strategic tool where humanity has arrived after a deployed is the news media and the Chanakya

JAN '10 / 37 couple of centuries of experiments with the western seers and sages of India, goes beyond the human body, world's view of life. It is not implied here that all that has mind and intellect and hence beyond thought. In contrast been developed has had only a negative impact on human to Descartes' theory, the ancient wisdom says, “I am life. The advances in therefore I think.” The Upanishads describe it as, knowledge achieved by the ”Ekoham bahu syam” - I am one and I multiply in many.In application of these Yajurveda (4016) it is expressed as: principles have given a “Yasya sarvani bhutani aatmanev anupashyati much better understanding of the natural forces, the laws Sarva bhuteshu cha aatmanam , tato na vijigupste.” governing the universe and “One who sees himself in every being( not just human the ability to deploy this being) and one who sees the same aatman in every being, knowledge for enhancement and hence cannot hate anyone”. of the quality of life. However there are serious The acceptance of Aatman, that is the holographic image side effects caused by of cosmic consciousness, is the source of the integral view following the path of only of life. The highest goal of human life, according to this the objective understanding view, is to experience the Self in the creation. Hence all the of life. developments for the benefit of human beings are centered in the well being of all including animals, plants, The current global scenario environment and the planets. is ripe for an alternative world view to deal with the The challenge before the academicians, scholars, challenges presented to us intellectuals and leaders of India, is to open new windows today.India is in a position to for growth and development. In the new world order, provide a leadership role by India can promote the principles of excellence, presenting the solutions cooperation, all-inclusiveness, holistic health, character rooted in the eastern building, self-reliance, growth, family and social harmony paradigm based on the to take center stage instead of the current ones like cut- integral view of life. The integral view is rooted in the throat competition, exclusivity, self serving education, philosophy of wholeness of creation and oneness of life. dependence on developed nations, pollution of air, water The view is not exclusive but all inclusive in search of and land, violence and hatred among people. happiness, not homocentric but holistic. This new world The leadership role of India is not an empty dream but has view is really a gift of the ancient scientists and a very high probability based on today's realities. India philosophers of India. The western thought that is rooted with a population of one billion that has 75% people below in the famous proclamation of Rene Descartes, “Cogito the age of 35, is a young nation. India has the brain power ergo sum” meaning, “I think therefore I am.” This view to establish new paradigm of life. India is a nation with an established the idea that man could know the world independent and loyal military force. India possesses around him through his five senses. The reality is nuclear power and a democratic political system. India perception and hence can be analyzed through reduction. has one of the most panoramic societies with diversity of Thus the development of science and technology did not expressions and underlying currents of spiritual culture. give any recognition to the India has a track record of more than ten thousand years of subjective view, the view of continuous and sustainable cultural life. India has been a The real challenge for India, that boasts reaching the mysteries of knowledge-based society since the time of Vedas, guided incredible treasures of spirituality and creation through the inner by the principles of Dharma, the cosmic laws that sustain culture, is to provide an all-inclusive model experiences of mystics or creation. The real challenge is to give an alternative model of life that supports and sustains all, and spiritual seekers. The net of life not borrowed from the materialistic philosophies, benefits all, inclusive of all forms of life. result is the current stage of either of communism or capitalism, but inspired by the human development. Integral view of well being of all. Fortunately later developments in science have opened an understanding I see the arrival of resurgent India as a leader of the of subjective reality as expressed in the quantum theory international community in the twenty first century. and theories of physics beyond Einstein. The scientists are Dr. Mahesh Mehta is the Chairman of the Innovative facing the basic question as to whether cosmic intelligence Quality Group. He can be reached at: is the cause and material reality an effect, or vice versa. [email protected] The eastern or Bharatiya world view as revealed by the

38 / JAN '10

FEATURE

David Coleman Headley Support behind the Mumbai carnage Amidst innumerable debates, discussions, news, trials in courts, exchange of dossiers etc. on the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, a new revelation in the case has been made with the arrest of David Coleman Headley, a Chicago-based businessman.B. Raman writes more.

David Headley was arrested along with his accomplice However, David Heyman, Assistant Secretary for Tahawar Hussain Rana on October 3 at Chicago's O'Hare Homeland Security said the circumstances surrounding International Airport, on his way to Pakistan. Originally a the Headley investigation were changing the way Pakistani national, he changed his name from Daood authorities were looking at potential suspects. Gilani to David Headley in 2006, allegedly to reduce Meanwhile, there have been multiple classified hearings scrutiny by immigration and customs officials while prior to recent public revelations wherein Headley was traveling. discussed. It would be reasonable to infer that at least Headley is alleged to have made five trips to Mumbai from some key government elements in the US were aware of 2006 to 2008 to conduct pre-attack planning and Headley's actions for a while now. It also appears that the surveillance for LeT of many of the targets that were struck relevant US agencies were possibly downplaying in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. Headley's actions as only a threat outside of the US as opposed to threats to the US directly. So just because Headley was an U.S. citizen, his travel likely did not raise suspicions, and he was able to use the Headley was charged in federal court with six counts of US as a base of operations while helping to plan the conspiracy to bomb public places in India, to murder and terrorist attacks in India? maim persons in India and Denmark, to provide material support to foreign terrorist plots, and to provide material It is immaterial whether Headley is a Pakistani citizen or support to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), and six counts of aiding an American citizen born in and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India. Pakistan or an American It is also interesting to note that Headley is citizen born in the US, it should Headley started working for the Drug Enforcement alleged to have made five trips to Mumbai not prevent the immigration Administration (DEA) around 1998 and then for the LeT from 2006 to 2008 to conduct pre-attack department from questioning sometime in 2005. It is not clear whether he joined the LeT planning and surveillance for LeT of many him. The most incriminating at his own instance or at the instance of the FBI or the CIA of the targets that were struck in the evidence at the very starting or both in order to penetrate it. He was already visiting November 2008 Mumbai attacks. point of this conspiracy is the Pakistan at the instance of the DEA since 1998. Since 2006, fact that he changed his name he started visiting India too. The DEA and the FBI would in order to conceal his Muslim have been aware of his visits since every time a conscious background. This should have immediately resulted in a agent of an agency travels abroad his passport is personal interview with the applicant in order to question scrutinized by the controlling agency on his return. him on these points. Anyone who changes his name in He started working for the 313 Brigade of Ilyas Kashmiri order to obtain a new passport is immediately viewed as a towards the end of 2008 and agreed to visit Copenhagen to suspect by the consular and immigration authorities of all collect operational information for a possible terrorist countries of the world. attack. This was probably not at the instance of the FBI,

40 / JAN '10 which came to know accidentally of Headley volunteering Later on July 10, 2009, LeT Member A responded that, himself to undertake a task in Copenhagen while “There are some investment plans with me, not exactly at monitoring the chat room of the old students of the Army Rahul's city but near that. Rest we can decide when meet Cadet School at Hasan Abdal. Both Headley and Rana according to your ease”. studied in the school. The FBI put Headley under On July 16, 2009, Headley electronic surveillance after obtaining orders of a relevant stated, in part, “One very David Coleman Headley was arrested along court. Headley was also in touch with serving and retired important thing I need to know with his accomplice Tahawar Hussain Rana officers of the PakistanArmy. on October 3 at Chicago's O'Hare please is that how long do you International Airport, when he was on his While doing electronic surveillance to monitor his need me for, meaning how long way to Pakistan. involvement in the Northern or Copenhagen or Micky should it take me to finish my Mouse project for the 313 Brigade, the FBI came across a work, in your opinion. And is it series of E-mail intercepts in July and August, 2009, which really urgent? Before it seemed showed Headley had helped the LeT for the 26/11 that the Northern Project was really urgent.” terrorist strikes and had agreed to help in carrying out After LeT Member A responded on July 18, 2009, that “it another terrorist strike in India for which he was to visit may take somewhere between 2 to 4 weeks,” Headley India. The FBI started monitoring the meetings and replied on July 19, 2009, that “I think I can manage it,” and conversations of Headley and Rana and recorded their that he would be available in October. He closed his email conversation of September 7, 2009, in a car which clearly indicated their involvement in the 26/11 terrorist strike.

Excerpts of the e-mail conversation between Headley and the LeT Member “A” is as follows

On July 3, 2009, LeT Member A sent Headley an email saying, “I need to see you for some new investment plans” to which Headley replied on July 8, 2009 “What do you want me to do? Where are you interested in making investments?”

On July 8, 2009, Headley emailed that “I think when we get a chance we should revisit our last location again and say hi to Rahul.” Following his arrest, Headley acknowledged that, in this email, “Rahul” refers to a prominent Indian actor with the first name “Rahul”.

LeT Member A replied on July 8, 2009 that “to see Rahul is a good idea coz have some work for you over there too. Matters are good enough to move forward...” A sketch depicting David Coleman Headley (orange) attending his court trail On July 9, 2009, Headley responded, “When you say by asking “Is the Northern Investment definitely “move forward” do you mean in North direction or postponed for now?” towards Rahul? Also in the future if we need to meet to discuss anything, do I have to come over there or can we LeT MemberAand Headley continued to exchange emails meet somewhere in the middle like Africa or Middle through late August 2009, when Headley told LeT East?” The same day, LeT Member A responded “I mean MemberAthat he “will be there end of next month.” towards Rahul.” Headley's case reflects poorly not only on the US agencies On July 10, 2009, Headley sent an email stating, “I would but also the Indian agencies. The ease with which he and like to know a few things: 1) What is the status with the Rana allegedly obtained multiple-entry business visas Northern project, is it still postponed indefinitely? 2) The from Indian consular authorities despite their Pakistani visit to Rahul's place, is it for checking out real estate origin and with which they repeatedly visited India property like before, or something different and if so tell without any alarm bell ringing in our airport immigration me what you can please. Also is it exactly in Rahul's city or control shows shockingly lax immigration controls. different one? 3) How long do you think I will need to stay The author is an ex-Additional Secretary, Cabinet at Rahul's place to complete this task? 4) Will I have to stay Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Presently, he is the there continuously for a while, or back and forth like Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai. before?”

JAN '10 / 41 FEATURE India Today and Tomorrow: Emerging Security Concerns

Dr. Navniit Gandhi elucidates how security concerns today go way beyond protecting our territorial perimeters.

Over a year has passed since the terror network hit India to enhance the speed and decisiveness of the response hard on 26/11. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram mechanism to terrorist threats or attacks. The Government insists that the prevention of yet another 26/11 has been, by is also rightfully investing in acquiring the latest itself, no moderate an achievement. We seem to have equipment and technology to fight terror. begun learning our lessons. However, attacks on, or threats to, national security are not The Home Ministry has re- always overt, planned, and carried out by terror groups Threat perceptions are changing, moving established and empowered trained on the other sides of our borders. Even if threats to beyond the mere defence of territory, to the Multi-Agency Center security are largely plotted outside, they are expertly identifying the other areas of serious created in 2001 to deal with all conflict within nations that can explode executed because there is poverty, deprivation and matters concerning the into threats to national security. despair inside. A country feels insecure or weak not only gathering and sharing of when externally sponsored attacks take place; but also intelligence inputs pertaining when the stock markets crash, there are floods or drought, to terrorism. The Government when there is instability in governance, or due to has recognized the importance of filling vacancies in the preponderance of ethnic strife and social unrest. police machinery and the need to keep the local police station at the focal point of the intelligence gathering 'Change' in perceptions, situations, contexts, and machinery.The Central Government has set up hubs of the connotations has never been as swift and forceful as is National Security Guards in different parts of the country being experienced in this present century. Threat perceptions are changing, moving beyond the mere defence of territory, to identifying other areas of serious conflict within nations that can explode into danger to national security.

Globally,the concept of national security is being redefined. While no nation can afford to downplay the relevance of strategic means of maintaining national security, the non-strategic threats must essentially be recognized and addressed in time as they entail grave consequences on human security. There exists an inexorable link between national security and human security, which must receive its due significance when security policies are designed. The former is incomplete and narrower an objective without the latter.

Almost all the concerns that nations

face in contemporary times are universal in character and impact. Threats have Dr. (Ms.) Navniit Gandhi (right) at the launch of her book titled 'National Security'

42/ JAN '10 assumed many garbs, such as the continuously altering lack of development, poor socio-economic conditions, regional balances, new conflict dynamics among exploitation of mineral and natural resources without civilizations, environmental damages, industrial and matching benefits reaching the local population, influx of natural disasters, illegal immigrations, pirates and heavily outsiders and their total hold over trade and commerce; armed criminal gangs, insurgencies and separatist and most important, the strong feeling of alienation movements, etc. strengthened by the use of repressive measures by the army and the Para-military forces. They either do not recognize national boundaries when they hit us, or even if they strike any one nation, the ripples The Government cannot ignore the ecological issues are felt across borders, inter-connected as we are in this either, and must prevent them from becoming too gigantic global village. Hence, a threat to political stability will and laden with severe security risks. According to the have an impact on the economy and society. Similarly, an latest warnings issued by the International Panel on ecological disaster will affect the economy, civil society Climate Change (IPCC), 120 million to 1.2 billion people in and threaten political stability, too. It is imperative, Asia will experience increased water shortage by 2020. therefore, that each nation takes a comprehensive view of The per capita availability of water in India will drop from the threats that endanger human security and adopts 1,820 cubic metres in 2001 to 1,140 cubic metres by 2050 We policies which are all pervasive so that a minimum level of need to save our precious natural resources with as much security can be ensured to its citizens. alertness and caution as we have protected our borders till date. India, too, has taken cognizance of, and begun addressing, the manifold threats to its national security. For instance, While global solutions are considering the fact that a poor and starved nation cannot indispensable, and united Sonia Gandhi, in her first letter to PM boast of an assured sense of security merely on the basis of global endeavor an inevitable Manmohan Singh after the UPA came back the deadly weaponry it possesses, the Congress President necessity, we must to power in May 2009, proposed an Act on and Chairperson of the United ProgressiveAlliance (UPA) nevertheless, begin by setting National Food Security. This stems from the Sonia Gandhi, in her first letter to PM Manmohan Singh our own house in order, for growing global realization that unless after the UPA came back to power in May 2009, proposed which the primary people are well fed and adequately an Act on National Food Security. This stems from the responsibility lies with the nourished, a nation cannot be secure. growing global realization that unless people are well fed Government and then, on us. and adequately nourished, a nation cannot be secure. The Government must take measures to ensure there is at The year 2009 witnessed another issue casting its forceful least a minimum level of honesty, discipline and impact on the national security of India'the Maoists'. commitment maintained by those who are in charge of our Amidst the fierce battle, which erupted between the affairs. Second, while tackling the terror attacks or Maoists and the security forces of India, the Central insurgency, it is very important that there must be no Government did not lose sight of the fact that it must ambiguity about who will have overall authority over the redress the sense of betrayal, neglect and deliberate different forces, who will deploy the forces according to alienation harbored by the armed groups within the the needs of the situation, and who will be held country.Since 2004, close to 5,000 policemen, militants and accountable for the operation. Serious measures must then civilians have been killed in Maoist-linked incidents. In be taken to erase indiscipline, mob-mentality, apathy and 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had labelled the alienation from the psyche of the masses. And most Maoists as the single biggest threat to internal security. important, standards of governance by both, political elite Home Minister P. Chidambaram, realizing the gravity of and bureaucracy need to improve. A better life to every the situation, has drawn a comprehensive strategy to take citizen of our country will ensure a basic sense of security on the Maoists and clear out Maoist-held areas even while in the society. That will be the beginning of a mature developmental efforts are made to alleviate the lot of the management of our security concerns. disadvantaged residents. The plan is to combine the offensive with an unprecedented deluge of development, The author has taught Political Science and International including schools, health services, more police stations, Politics for 12 years at L.U. & M.V. College, affiliated community centres and roads. with the University of Mumbai. She has been a prolific writer on national and international political affairs for The insurgency movements in the Northeast are also a more than 15 years and has recently authored a book threat to national security, and such threats cannot be titled: 'National Security: Emerging Dimensions and tackled by the use of brute force alone. Since the issue has a Threats', published by Pentagon Security International social dimension, the solution, too, must be socially (Pentagon Press), New Delhi. She can be reached at: rooted. While every state in the Northeast has its own [email protected] peculiar set of issues, yet the common grievances include

JAN '10 / 43 FEATURE Protecting the Perimeters In the year gone by, the defence sector had to prove its steadfastness amidst terrorism and threats of battles. Security, both internal and external, became paramount; so much so that the Government passed a hike in budgetary allowance for the Defence forces. But the question remains, has the money been well spent?Keerat Kaur finds out.

The Indian Army The Air Force

The year began with a bang for the Indian territorial forces. The past year was hardly a notable one for the Air Force, There was an increase in troop build-up across the LoC in when a number of crashes made news. With the major January. Following hostilities post 26/11, the Indian Army, success of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the Air according to Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor “was Force declared that it was producing 40 LCAs of Mark I keeping all its options open”. At a point of time the and would soon embark on LCAs in the Mark II Fukche in situation ominously started looking like a sequel to Eastern Ladakh. Following a crash in May,the Sukhoi fleet Operation Parakaram; however, thankfully, it was was temporarily grounded. More bad news followed with diffused. the death of a pilot in a MIG-27 crash near Jodhpur. In May itself, an AN 32 disappeared over Arunachal Pradesh. Its February saw India's largest-ever joint amphibious wreckage was discovered a few days later, with exercise with the three wings of defence, namely, the confirmation of death of all the 13 people aboard. This Army, the Air Force and the Navy joining hands in incident led to a deal with Ukraine for the upgradation of Gujarat. the ageingAN 32 fleet. Although the Army faced flak While the IAF crash rate has reduced by 50% since 2003-04, due to a couple to around 0.27 accidents per 10,000 hrs of flying, it seemed of instances in 2009 was belying the data. An Mi-17 helicopter crashed which its into the Chenab, followed by another MIG-27 coming personnel was down in Jalpaiguri. The IAF also grounded the entire fleet accused of of Hindustan Piston Trainer (HPT)-32 initial trainer killing civilians aircraft after a number of crashes and engine failures. in the Kashmir In November, the IAF finally reached a landmark decision valley, which allowing women fighter pilots, provided they followed resulted in their the no-child condition. The decision arrived in the wake of being convicted, the world-record setting flight of Indian President at the same time Pratibha Patil onboard Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet aircraft at credit should be the Pune airbase. The 74-year old Patil became the oldest given to the woman in the world to have been airborne at supersonic armed forces for speeds in a combat jet for close to 30 minutes. ensuring an all-time low in violence and the simultaneous thinning down of troops. The Navy

What is interesting to note is that till early 2009, Pakistan The Naval forces had an eventful year due to a number of was the Army's prime concern. It was only in the summer, submarine procurement and repair deals. In April, the with intelligence inputs from the Pentagon and India's Naval Chief announced that INS Vikramaditya (ex- own indigenous agencies that China began looming as a Admiral Gorshkov) would arrive in India by December threat. It was predicted that a Sino-Indian War might take 2012. Following a number of pressure tactics by the place by 2017. Indians, the Gorshkov deal was finalized in December at an estimated cost of USD 2.2 billion. In November, four Generals of the Indian Army found themselves embroiled in a major land scam, which Admiral Gorshkov, a 44000-ton Kiev-class carrier was included the sale of some tea estate surrounding the army initially meant to be inducted into the Indian Navy in 2008, land at Sukhna Military station in Darjeeling district. A but the Russians could not keep the deadline mainly due court of Inquiry followed. The year ended with Pakistan to economical and technical evaluations. The deal came firing in J&K more than five times a week, thereby under immense public scrutiny and media criticism violating the cease-fire norms. mainly because of the argument that India could have

44 / JAN '10 Defence Headlines that made news in 2009

January - Brahmo fired successfully February - Indigenous submarine secret out March - Brahmo II hits bulls eye April - Navy arrests nine pirates May - MIG 27 crashes in Jodhpur June - 13 killed as AN 32 crashes in Arunachal July - INS Arihant- India's first nuclear powered submarine launched August - Chinese incursion reported in Ladakh September - Chandrayaan - I discovers water on moon October - Manned mission to moon by 2015 November - Sukhna land scam involves Army Generals December - Gorshkov deal finalized

purchased a new aircraft carrier for USD 3 billion. Mukherjee, the hike is justifiable in light of the role played by the defence personnel in fighting terrorism. An The big feather in the Navy's cap in 2009 was INS-Arihant, additional Rs. 24,960 crores has been kept aside for settling India's first nuclear powered submarine. The 80 MW the expenditures of the Ministry of Defence and associate nuclear reactor on board will ensure that it can remain organizations such as the Coast Guard, as well as for submerged for a considerable period of time. The 5000-ton defence pension. vessel, which has been armed with 12 K-15 ballistic missiles of 700 km range, would now come with K-X As always, the lion's share of the budget went to the Indian missiles, with a range of 3,500 km. The sub took 11 years to Army, followed by the Air Force and the Navy.A part also build and is one of its kind in the Indian Navy. However, benefited the Defence Research and Development one needs to ponder on the fact that the US has 74 such Organisation (DRDO) and the setting up of ordnance subs, while China has 10. factories. In light of the 26/11 attacks where the terrorists entered India by sea, it is time the Government realized The year ended with President Patil stepping aboard that the Navy and the Coast India's sole aircraft carrier INS Viraat in December. Guard need to be made more In light of the 26/11 attacks where the Other sectors pro-active when it comes to terrorists entered India by sea, it is time the security breaches. Hence, the Government realized that the Navy and Sectors like DRDO, Coast Guard, BRO and the Indian need for increased budgetary the Coast Guard need to be made more Space program, too, had an eventful year. The Coast allocation for the Navy is the pro-active when it comes to security Guard began undergoing an overhaul after its importance need of the hour. breaches. Hence, the need for increased became paramount post 26/11. The NSG upgraded its budgetary allocation for the Navy is the firepower and had its troops prepare for helicopter The Year Ahead need of the hour. operations. Chandrayaan- I was a major success, The year 2010 promises to be especially after reports of discovery of water on the moon equally interesting for the Defence forces. The IAF has to made headlines. India is now planning on sending a come out of the shadow of its crashes. The Navy needs to manned mission by 2015, with the men aboard, in all justify its budget. The Army has the responsibility to crack probability,belonging to the IAF. down on corruption. Most importantly, we have to be on The Budget the guard against hostility from both Pakistan and China. The Macmohan Line needs an increase in troop build-up, With a hike of 34% over 2008, the Budget was a favourable especially in the Ladakh region. There is also a necessity of one for the defence sector.According to the interim budget more indigenous missiles, while the Coast Guard have to in 2009, Rs.141,703 crores has been allocated to sector. be on constant vigil along the rather porous coastal There was good news for Junior Commissioned officers borders of the country. (JCOs) and other ranks, in terms of an increase in the pension amount. According to Finance Minister Pranab

JAN '10 / 45 Taking Stock of the Stock Market Sunayan Bhattacharjee analyzes the various factors affecting the Indian stock market in 2009 and offers projections about what 2010 promises for players and investors alike.

2008. October 10th, 2008 was a calamitously historical day in the history of Indian stock trading with the benchmark index 'Sensex' of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the largest and the oldest stock exchange in Asia, slumping to a paltry 10,527 points from a whopping 21,000 points on January 8th, 2008.

The year 2009 came as a whiff of fresh air in the overall trading state of affairs with the markets picking up at a steady pace. With the global trend of severe economic recession controlled to a reasonable degree, the Indian Stock Markets, including the BSE and National Stock Exchange (NSE), started to recover some of the lost ground. When the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led government again came to the helm at the center with a thumping majority, speculations about political uncertainties came to a halt for the time being, and there Contrary to a popular belief, stock markets is not the was an amazing bout of buying spree among the investors domain of the elitist. The fact of the matter is that the to catch the mood of the moment. Thus, the stock markets emerging Indian middle class invests a significant amount also experienced a surge in activities. of its cumulative earnings annually in stocks and shares. Hence, what affects the stock market does impact the “2009 was a landmark year in many respects for the stock teeming middle class, as well. traders, considering it was somewhat indicative of the And with India growing at a happy times coming ahead for the investors and buyers There is a huge problem in managing rate next only to China, the alike. The insecurity factor among the panic stricken Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with land repercussion of a volatile stock buyers came down to a large extent after the indices across acquisition taking on a tremendously market is only expected to be all the stock exchanges started to stabilize to a significant political dimension. It is hard more widespread in the next considerable degree,” elaborated Hemang Dangli, Head reality that about $98 billion is on hold to decade or so. of Birla Sun Life. be invested just because of the paucity of It is an astonishing fact that the Sensex rose by about 79.6% land throughout the country. The global economic turmoil that surfaced in 2008 with the in 2009. Now, there can be a major point of debate as to driver being the 'Real Estate whether or not this rise can be attributed to strong Crises' in the USA had a fundamentals in the growing Indian economy; or to a disastrous effect on global stock prices. Market indices fell bubble effect that took the stock markets by storm in the at the rate of knots across geographical boundaries. India, years preceding the great downturn. There are certain albeit, not being directly in the firing line, still had to bear points, which need to be taken into consideration before some brunt of the overall scenario. Thus, markets arriving at any conclusion. witnessed a slow but steady decline in trading throughout

46 / JAN '10 ECONOMY

Political interference at all levels has ensured that India is subtle and direct risks that came with it. But with not actually blessed with the capacity to assimilate all the globalization and liberalization becoming the buzzwords lucrative foreign capital percolating to the country. There in the early nineties of the last century, this section of the is a huge problem in managing Foreign Direct Investment diaspora increasingly started investing in stocks and (FDI) with land acquisition taking on a tremendously shares; thus ensuring its increasing influence on the significant political dimension. It is hard reality that about economic robustness of the country. $98 billion is on hold to be invested just because of the Anand Nayak, Head of LIC Mutual Fund revealed, “This paucity of land throughout the country. This staggeringly year has been largely a mixed one in terms of the trading disturbing data was revealed by a survey conducted by activities in both BSE and NSE. The brokers had 'Business Week' magazine. Unfortunately, corruption at reasonable time in setting a target for themselves.” all levels has had a disastrous impact on the Indian economy with billions of dollars going down the drain. The Securities and Exchange According to a 'Transparency International' study, India Board of India (SEBI), the There is a definite deficiency of a large-scale ranks 85th in the world in the annual corruption official regulator of the stock bond market, which has compelled investors perceptions index. The real estate sector, which plays a exchanges in India, introduced to invest heavily in the equity markets; thus very important part in determining the stock indices, has a slew of measures in 2009 to raising the prices, which might just burst witnessed an unbelievable upward trend over the past one make the entire exercise safer subject to a trickling down effect. year; thus raising fears of a US like explosion, which and more client-friendly. One rocked the entire global economy. of the steps included the tightening of key clauses in the agreement between the With the Information Technology (IT) sector comprising a client and the broker.According to the measure which was tiny fraction of the total work force of the country, Indians announced in the month of December' 09, SEBI largely do not trust this sector to be a safe investment categorically made it mandatory for all the brokers to option. Thus, in spite of doing well, it has hardly managed maintain all the documents required for registering a to maintain the momentum. Another paramount client. consideration is that of the export sector which has significantly died down over the past year or so. In fact, till Yet another move that might trigger fresh changes in the September 2009, exports were down by about 20%, thus stock-trading scene is the amendment in regulations, fortifying the belief that increases in domestic which bars companies from issuing shares, which account consumption can in no way replace foreign demands, for special rights. This move has been spurred by the urge which increases foreign capital, and significantly bolsters to protect the rights of the existing shareholders. Under the economy. the present circumstances, where Differential Voting Rights (DVRs) is hardly a reality, this change to the Equity A grave issue that demands everyone's immediate Listings Agreement appears to be a step to save the attention is the fact that the current growth is largely due interests of the minority shareholders. to the stimulus packages announced by the government at different points in time. These packages also entail Another event that shook trading in our country in 2009 in borrowing heavily from different sources. Thus, there is a terms of the entire business of Stocks Trading was the big possibility of the growth rate falling rapidly after the 'Satyam Computers Controversy' which urged SEBI to investments have been made. come up with a lot of restrictive and major changes as to how it needs to go about to prevent similar incidents from There is a definite deficiency of a large-scale bond market, recurring. which has compelled investors to invest heavily in the equity markets; thus raising the prices, which might just Premal Shah, a broker said, “What the entire Satyam burst subject to a trickling down effect. controversy did was to completely tarnish India's corporate image globally. It was an insult on the face of the In order to revive the economy and arrest the recessionary growing business community; and consequently, it had a trends, which were having a big influence on the stock telling effect on the stock prices across categories.” markets, the government undertook a plethora of steps. Some of these included substantially easing the limits on With India trying to improve the export sector and big the amount of foreign investment in corporate backed foreign companies willing to invest in the country, the bonds, and decreasing the key rates. situation is improving. Thus, 2010 is expected to usher in a new beginning across all the markets with investors and The steps highlight the significance with which the Indian players expected to have a gala time in buying and government views the stock markets. There was a time trading. when the great Indian middle class refused to be a part of this tremendously dicey proposition considering the

JAN '10 / 47 INDIAN TALENT SHOW The Career Pathfinders

Intra-organizational career enhancement initiatives can help employees discover their latent potential and help them influence their career outcomes, writesAnirban R Banerjee .

Knowledge about what we excel at is often buried deep change in learning environment, but will also enable within our subconscious. While we are in search of new organizations to create 'thinking leaders'—those who will strengths and capability, we remain largely unaware of help nurture talent. our innate forte. In this respect, while facing challenges in Business Induction the present, we can derive an immense amount of learning It is the orientation and induction process that provide us Learning initiatives will not only help from our past experiences. We with the best opportunity to initiate this practice. The in bringing about a positive change in can gain a lot from embarking entire exercise becomes even more potent when the learning environment, but will also on a journey of self-discovery organization has a long-term plan in place that links enable organizations to create to identify our potential, to sourcing of talent with its development. The induction 'thinking leaders' those who will help explore what we can do; in process can be the starting point of career enhancement. It nurture talent. addition to what we are can also play the role of a platform to change the standard curre design and find new ways to ntly enable the employee to capable of, and find ways to do envisage the value he is going to so. add. This acts as a motivator, while simultaneously offering Exploring Potential greater clarity regarding job The best way to understand expectations. However, for this what we are capable of is to look entire endeavor to attain at our own self from the eyes of fruition, the management and someone who can enable us the human resource team need explore such capabilities and to work in tandem. The end help us think of ways to do so. result is a learning process that This can only happen when we lends greater value to business. are inspired to put in the Create Pathfinders requisite effort and invest in our self. 'Learning leaders' should Business orientation can act as be committed to a long-term the foundation for a larger people development plan and talent enhancement plan. This value the investment made on single program can open people. At the same time, multiple avenues when it learning initiative designers comes to career development need to provide the necessary initiatives and thereby keeps support in the form of alive the focus on learning. knowledge networks. These Another key support can come initiatives will not only help in in the form of evolving a group bringing about a positive of pathfinders who act as a

48 / JAN '10 guide to the new employee on Even though we career initiatives and draw up learn the most when a possible road map for a we share our sustained talent knowledge, often it development plan. happens that we The pathfinders lose our own drive. can play a key At each stage, we role in need different proactively information and communica competency to meet our ting what growth needs. Hence, at each the stage of the career cycle a organizati different but compatible framework on has to and networking is needed to lead offer to the us. This is precisely where employee. varied level and types of After all, its knowledge management people are the network supported by best suitable people and ambassador an resources can get organization can the desired have. Hence, a broad results. The induction framework, four key supported by the career leads, aspects of can be of great help to the team creating the members. This will open the right door for network are new capacity enhancement initiatives by the framework learning team. to connect, networking Group Learning tools, facilitation Some of the most cherished moments of our lives are of networks and those when we were able to do things collectively the leader's against all odds. We learn the most when we share commitment to drive knowledge with others and get to know their the initiative. Such perspective. Career is one such area where employee initiatives allow employees group learning can play a pivotal role in sharing of to innovate, develop individual best practices and experience. This can lead to a knowledge banks and find smart sea change in employee outlook on career growth. Such solutions. group engagement goes a Affect the Change long way towards building better understanding for Chanakya had once said that constant learning is the multiple business roles. An only way to be successful in what we do. An additional advantage of such organization, by bringing people and learning pathfinder groups is that together, can create a network of guides for talent they encourage employees to development initiative, thus enabling each employee come up with their own to realize higher level of potential. This will ensure solutions. The groups are attainment of individual career outcomes, which can also able to reach out to a directly impact business results and help in the larger number of employees flourishing of Indian talent. and discuss in detail each The author is a senior Manager Human Resource challenge and the likely Learning & Development at Dr Reddys Leadership solution to these. Academy, and can be reached at Learning Network [email protected].

JAN '10 / 49

FEATURE Kama: Desire and Spirituality Kama is our desire, but not just the limited sexual desire as is frequently taught. Kama is our experience of divinity via the senses and ultimately it is a vehicle for returning home to our true essence. Some interesting insights by Yogi Baba Prem Tom Beal.

For humanity, few arguments have withstood the test of cows, prosperity, among other things. Certainly the time as well as perceived conflicts between desire (Kama) Atharva Veda has rituals for the desire of a husband, wife, and spirituality. This conflict appears within most or other desire. While these could be viewed by some as spiritual traditions and has enkindled an endless debate as apara or lower, they certainly play an important role as the to the proper perspective and role of desire and soul witnesses the play of karma. The Atharva Veda deals spirituality. with the desire for health and wellness. Certainly these are desires that need to be addressed and are valued by An average student of spirituality has been led to believe people. So there is a more expansive view toward Kama or that desire is in complete conflict with spirituality and it is desire in a broader meaning than the narrow meaning of especially true of students of the western hemisphere, but just sexuality. We find kama referenced in numerous appears throughout the world. Thus an apparent paradox ancient texts such as Rg and Atharva Vedas, the Taittiriya has evolved — it is believed that desire shows lack of Samhita from the Krishna Yajur Veda, offering mantras spirituality, while ironically the practice of spirituality when desires are not fulfilled (2.3.3). These particular contains numerous prayers, mantras, and meditations mantras have nothing to do with sexuality or sexual aimed at fulfilling desire. desire, but with other types of desire. The Ayurvedic system teaches In Sanskrit, a deeper meaning of kama is revealed. The It is believed that desire shows lack of four main aims primal root to Kama is “Ka” and the Taittiriya Samhita spirituality, while ironically the practice of 1. Dharma - good vocation spirituality contains numerous prayers, from the Krishna Yajur Veda, states that Ka is Prajapati, the 2.Artha - prosperity mantras, and meditations aimed at lord of creation. Within Sanskrit, 'ka' can be a reference to fulfilling desire. 3. Kama - desire the soul, sun, Vishnu and much more. So clearly it does not 4. Moksha - liberation contain the negative attributes given in later texts. In “” XVI, 11-12, Kama is held in the lowest Often, Kama is interpreted only in reference to love, and esteem. In this section (XVI of the Gita) kama is associated particularly sexual love or sexual desire - but this is only with more demonic qualities or those of a lower nature or the strongest or the basic form of Kama. Kama is basically kama-apara it focuses only on the sexual/lust view and enjoyment and is strongly associated with the have numerous valid points to prove it. Thus emotional mind (manas); it can also have a after exploring the Vedic views and the Gita, we higher spiritual manifestation. This would can see the dual nature of kama revealed commonly be referred to as kama-apara (lower through the concepts of lower and higher desire) and kama-para (higher desire). The Rg desires. Veda is about fulfillment of desires - obviously some of these are the lower interpretations Kama can also be explored through tantra - with (kama-apara) of the Vedas where people want reference to sexual desire, as sexual tantra is Yogi Baba Prem Tom Beal

52/ JAN '10 what most people are familiar with, especially in the west. 3. Allow cultivation of bhakti (devotion) with a deity that Within the Tantric teachings, kama manifests shakti you are drawn to. This could involve meditation on the known as kamala (ultimately a manifestation of Kali) and deity or basic mantras to the deity. she is strongly associated with beauty and prosperity in 4. Experience the manifestation of divinity through forms like Laxshmi. But she is also the spirit of giving and senses, using mantra, sacred images, candlelight, through giving one begins to bring an end to the outer incense and spiritual music. seeking of the senses and manifests the higher form of 5. Experience manifestation of divinity in nature. kama (para). We begin to discover the higher desire for Recommended reading - Yoga and the Sacred Fire and spiritual truth and realization. Kamala is located in the Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses by Dr. David heart chakra - the seat of devotional worship. In fact, this Frawley. spiritual seat within the heart chakra is considered as the 6. Study, contemplate sacred most important spiritual doorway for the astral and causal Kama is basically enjoyment and is texts. body; jnana yoga even values this spiritual doorway,as the strongly associated with the emotional heart chakra and various points within this field was 7. Practice yoga and mind (manas). referenced by Ramana Maharishi. Ayurveda, or both.

Kamala and Kama in its higher form begins as recognition 8. Practice meditation daily. of the divine beauty within the world. This appears on 9. Practice giving to others. basic levels as an appreciation of art, music, beauty, and 10. Recognize Kama as a deity or force as a powerful slowly starts to manifest as an appreciation of aromas, and presence in your life. Examine ways to use this force in other meditative tools such as incense, candle's, productive, positive and balanced ways. meditative music, and meditation itself. Kama as Kamala 11. Realize Kama as a goal in life for the manifestation of can manifest as a powerful desire to meditate and moksha or liberation. experience the power of the heart chakra. 12. Create a list of higher values and cultivate them using Kama's energy is reflected in numerous Hindu teachings some of the above techniques. with the quote “God wanted to be many.” This references 13. Create positive sensory input by using above the original primal desire of consciousness. Our return to techniques. our true source and essence begins with desire (kama). This idea is taught repeatedly with one of the oldest 14. Recognize that all sensory input is food - Food for the references being in the Rg Veda, “Desire first arose in it…” mind and body. Ingestion of proper food allows one to (Rg Veda: X.129). Kama is also mentioned in the Atharva move quickly along the spiritual path. Examine mental Veda, and at times associated with Agni within the Rg foods being ingested and evaluate which ones serve Veda. According to the “Taittiriya Brahmana” he is born of the best. Dharma and the deity of Justice. This is a very different 15. Practice bija mantra to Kama or Kamala, which is view of kama verses the puranic god of lust and sexual “Shriim”. This should be learned from someone desire that is often portrayed. But in reality, kama on the versed in Sanskrit. lower levels is reflected in human sexuality,which is only a veiled “urge to merge”. Regrettably many people do not fully understand this “urge to merge” and cannot move past the basic sexual urge. In other words, they become lost in the sexual experience and never realize the spiritual teaching behind the experience. But for others, over time, this desire evolves into a higher longing. This idea is reflected in tantra and such things as art and music, a modern notable example would be Steve Winwoods song, “Bring me a higher Love.”

Kama in practical application and daily life

Suggestions to use kama in a productive way in life:

1. Make a list of all your desires, find out the important ones, ones have been fulfilled and the ones that needs more time. 2. Evaluate different desires, see which one can serve you and which cause pain and suffering.

JAN '10 / 53 EDUCATION

Manipal Education: Providing the Cutting Edge Richa Taneja takes an in depth look into Manipal Education's exclusive offerings, which are all geared towards making its students 'employment-ready'.

With its distributed learning initiative and launch of affordable, accessible and appropriate, while maintaining vocational courses, Manipal Education (ME) has ushered quality is a daunting task ahead of us as an Educational in a spirit of innovation into 'regular' education. In both Group. What distance learning does is bridge this gap, and cases, tailor-made modules oriented towards imparting stem the leakage.” necessary employability skills lend students that extra Distant Learning offers Diploma, Graduate, PG Diploma edge when they intend to join the industry. and PG Degree in various disciplines that include V. Sivaramakrishnan, Principal Officer, Distributed Information Technology, Telecom Technology, Learning and Chief Marketing Officer, Manipal Management Studies, Commerce, Allied Health Science, Education, is a staunch believer in the cause of reaching Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Journalism & Mass out to young students with a plethora of educational Communication, Fashion Design, Hospitality and opportunities, which have a common thread of Tourism, and Ecology and Environment, to name a few. employability skills EDUNXT Higher education is y et to touch the enhancement running through smaller districts of Bihar, Jharkhand and them. His vision is to make EduNxt is a new technology- Chhattisgarh. In order to make education higher education accessible to infused learning system that is all set to transform affordable, accessible and appropriate, those who find themselves lost distributed learning in India. This innovation from while maintaining quality is a daunting task amidst the number crunching Manipal Education has affected a paradigm shift by ahead of us as an Educational Group. What and learning by rote approach evolving an era of 'learner-centric' education, as against distance learning does is bridge this gap. of most mainstream the traditional 'faculty-centric' approach. Infusing educational institutes. technology into both delivery and learning environment, EduNxt empowers students with an anywhere, anytime Committed to that cause, he remarked, “The 11th Five access to information. Students get to experience a Year Plan directs 'Increase the percentage of each cohort 'portable campus', 'carry along mentors' and have access going to higher education from the present 10% to 15% by to over one million online books and journals, thereby the end of the Plan'. This, in itself is a challenge, keeping in creating a knowledge driven society and bridging the mind that there is a lot of leakage in the funnel in terms of growing employability skill gap. (Demo of EduNxt is the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). Moreover, higher available at: education is yet to touch the smaller districts of Bihar, http://www.smude.edu.in/edunxt/demo.html) Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. In order to make education

Hari Menon,CEO,shares some fast facts on the newly launched 'India Skills' initiative

Irrespective of the industry,the demand for skilled personnel is perennial. Bearing in mind that by 2026, around 65% of India's population will be in the working age of 15-64 years, the requirement is to bridge the gap between supply and demand through skill enhancement training.

The fact that in next five years' time around 75 million jobs will be created implies that the need of the hour is to train about 15 million people annually. With the current vocational training pegged at 3.1 million per annum, the opportunities, undoubtedly,are immense.

54 / JAN '10 The extensive reach of EduNxt has brought in its wake the innate responsibility to reach out to the masses. “Manipal Distant Education Education is partnering with Microsoft, BSNL, and Netbook OEM suppliers to provide quality and affordable On the basis of the 4 Cs, namely, Communication, Content, education, coupled with computer access and Internet Computation and Collaboration, a self-learning and e-learning connectivity. This would lead to deeper penetration in process are in place. The correspondence program consists of: rural areas”, revealed Sivaramakrishnan. 1.SLM - Self Learning Material (Instructions and reading material “We are tying up with banks to provide subsidized offered to all students) educational loans which can be repaid once the student 2.Face-to-face counselling (In the Learning Centers): As of now, gets a job. Not just this, to ensure greater reach, we are around 650 study centers in 235 districts are fully functional. Here pitching in to provide access cards to our students at counselling sessions are conducted during evenings, when doubts Internet cafes, to make learning simpler for them. When are clarified and questions posed in sync with the proactive we have technology,why not use it?” he exclaimed. 'learner centric' model. There is a robust self-assessment and external evaluation 3.VSAT: VSAT relates to the technology adopted for video and system in place. The medium of instruction is English. audio transmission from a studio setting via a satellite. It provides “We have near about 314 exam centers in place in about virtually error-free digital data communication with 99.9% 227 towns; with over 1.02 million examinees. We firmly network reliability. That makes it a truly dependable and unique believe that a distance education degree is as credible as model of communication. These virtual classrooms, therefore, any regular degree obtained by a student. However, it create an interactive environment, providing quality training to a should be from a prominent and credible player, which we large number of students located in geographically diverse can proudly proclaim to be,” Sivaramakrishnan revealed locations. with apparent pride in his voice. 4. The newly launched'EduNxt' program is the next generation On matters pertaining to placements, he elaborated, interactive learning system. It brings together 2,55,000 students, “There is a nationally co-ordinated placement body in who have access to 6,300 mentors across 1,00,095 counselling place. Before a student appears for placement interviews, sessions in 310 towns. The outcome is one prestigious degree enhancing his or her soft skills is a key element that we offered by Sikkim Manipal University. The courses of study are all keep in mind.” Moreover, industry interaction is professional, market driven and are extremely collaborative, facilitated via industry mentor chats, updates on which interactive and personalized. are provided through Catch up Tracker, or via SMS.

Courses offered ! Skill-oriented IndiaSkills offers City & Guilds certified courses in Retail, ! Career-relevant Hospitality and Spoken English. On the anvil are courses ! Job-ready onAuto, BFSI, Construction, Hair and Beauty,Health care, Duration of the courses 3-4 months. Media and Entertainment, Security, etc. There are no age limits attached to candidates undertaking the Credibility qualification, unless it is a legal requirement of the The course is collectively certified by City and Guilds, the process, or the environment. global leader in skills recognition, and Manipal Education. The key points of these vocational courses are Thus, students need not worry about getting a job, once they have the certification. ! Short and effective ! Tailor-made to suit the needs of the industry Website: www.indiaskills.com

V. Sivaramakrishnan, Principal Officer, Distributed Learning and Chief Marketing Officer, Manipal Education JAN '10 / 55 TRAVEL & TOURISM

India is a socio-cultural experience that stuns, mesmerizes and amazes.Dr. Tara Singh reports on the 2-week Bharat Yatra Tour organized by Kali SIMPLY INDIA Tours and Travels for tourists from the Caribbean. “Kali is the best, no one can stop him!” said an exuberant “Living Well” advocate Sanjeev Tulsian to put together a Uncle Pooran. “Beyond description, it was amazing,” traditional Hindu Wedding Ceremony for the couple in quips Anand Kishore. For Raymond and Geeta Castellan, Jaipur. The event that garnered coverage from The Times of “it was memorable.” Jane Edward with her words of India in its October 17th issue attracted much attention from praise for everyone captured the sentiments of everyone the tour party, who were excited about witnessing a on the tour party: “The tour was well planned and traditional Hindu Wedding. “At a time when the rising organized. Sunil, the tour guide was amazing, and the trend among the youth of this country is towards “live-in” drivers Bajrand and Rejendra were pleasant young man. relationships, the West is looking at the security of 'Water boy' Jogendra made sure we had a steady supply of marriage with renewed enthusiasm,” said the report in water and soda always had a special smile for each and The Times of India. every one of us. Veer was also a great person to have The couple had earlier said that something was missing around.” from their lives - in India they found the answer- it was the “I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, the history and landmarks institution of marriage. It was a complete traditional were fascinating. Overall, it was very enlightening!” wedding withmehendi and marriage procession( baraat) . expressed Lakshmee Bahadur. The marriage ceremony was conducted by an Indian A fellow traveler, Lena Priest and Kali acted as the father of the bride. “It was an I thoroughly enjo yed the trip from the Swiggert said the memories of awesome experience!” saidAnand Kishore. beginning to the end, the history and the trip will last a lifetime. landmarks were fascinating. Overall, it was Surprise after surprise The above sentiments are a very enlightening! The next surprise was theJhulelal Mandir in Jaipur. The sample of views expressed by entire temple was dedicated to the tour party, for Diwali travelers of the 2-week Kali celebrations. AfterLakshmi Pooja , a performance of Ram Bharat Yatra tour to North Lila and a live band left the party spell bound. Anjee India in October, organized by Legendary Cultural Icon, Durga, an Indo-Caribbean recording artiste and a Ramesh D Kalicharran. In keeping with tradition, Kaliji participant in the tour reciprocated with a song on behald sprang a number of surprises that the tour party relished. of the Kali Yatrans. Later, the tour party met Guyana's Finding Holy Matrimony Minister of Labour, Mansoor Nadir at theAmber Fort.

Raymond and Geeta arrived in India, having been in a Finally in Mumbai, when the tour party was about to leave live-in relationship for over 8 years. Kali requested India for New York, Kaliji had arranged for Rohan Kapoor, son of the late Mahendra Kapoor of Hamraaz fame, to make an appearance at the Emerald Best Western Hotel in Juhu, Mumbai. There, Rohan received a posthumous citation from the Indo-Caribbean Council attesting to the memory and superb contribution of his father's work in the entertainment field. The citation recognizes Padma Shri Mahendra Kapoor for his “remarkable, revitalizing, and unique contribution” to Indian Film Music. Also gracing the occasion was actor,Ninad, Varsha Usgoankar, a TV serial actress and Music Director Kumar Saxena.

The Taj Thrill

The tour party was mesmerized, by the stupendous Taj Mahal inAgra built by Shah Jahan as a lasting testimony of his undying love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, “a style that combines elements from Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.” In 1983, the Taj Mahal became Warm welcome at Radiant Hospitality Hotel in Jaipur.

56 / JAN '10 a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of mystique, of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired culture and masterpieces of the world's heritage." Some members had spirituality,” the opportunity to attend a concert also where the guest said Ms India artiste was mega star,Amitabh Bacchan. New York, Neha Motwani. Spiritual Sojourns Some of the areas The tour party joined a 4-hour train trip from Delhi to and sites visited Rishikesh, regarded as the meditation center of India. The during the group performed “Ganga aarti” and visited the famous October 9th to Parmarth Niketan to obtain blessings of world-famous October 24th trip, Swamiji Chidanand Saraswati. included the Tourists travelling in Delhi, India, could hardly avoid the Akshardham Ramesh D. Kalicharran and Anand Kishore at Rajghat towering majesty of the Swaminarayan Akshardham that (Delhi), Rishkesh/Haridwar, Jaipur, Fatepur Sikri, Taj was built by the Swami Narayan outfit. The vision of Mahal (Agra), Mathura/Brindavan (Lord Krisha's birth Pramukh Swami Narayan comes to reality with this spell- place), and Mumbai. binding monument that attests to man's relentless quest Kali Bharat Yatra also organized a trip to South India that for peace and inner beauty. was headed by veteran Santram Dukhbhandan. They Bridging Distances visited Bangalore, Mysore, Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Madurai, Meenakshi Temple, The Bandra Worli Sealink bridge, officially the Rajiv Rameshwaram, , The vision of Pramukh Swami Narayan Gandhi Sea Link, is an engineering marvel. Built at an Trivandrum, Kovalam, Kerala, comes to reality with the spell-binding approximate cost of $(US) 400 million, the Sea Link Kumarakom, Cochin, and monument of the Akshardham that attests reduces travel time between Bandra and Worli from 4560 Mumbai. to man's relentless quest for peace and minutes to 7 minutes. The link has an average daily traffic inner beauty. of around 37,500 vehicles. Kali Bharat Yatra had organized a 2-week tour in Experiencing India for themselves March, covering conventional tourist locales like Goa and When the tour party left New York on October 9, 2009, they Amritsar. The tour coordinators were Harry Nepal and were given a brief orientation at the Air India lounge. The Shyaam Boodram. Manager of Air India Airlines (Airport operations), Mr 2009 marks the 26th anniversary of Kali Bharat Yatra tours Anil Sabharwal, as well as, Ms India New York, Neha to India. It is not without significance that Kali Travel and Multani, and the writer, offered some useful hints to the Tours is the only Caribbean tour operator recognized by tourists. The tour party was asked to keep “an open the Government of India Tourist Board. Over the years, mind,” “watch what they eat,” and “experience India for Yatrans have expressed great pleasure at the way in which themselves.” That exercise helped to lay the foundation Kali Bharat Yatra tours are organized and managed. for greater experiences to come. In fact, the Air India Hearty congratulations to Kaliji and his Yatrans! official said how he was amazed to see the vitality of Indian culture been exhibited in North America and the Caribbean, while traditional culture seems to be dying in several urban centers in India.

“Every successful mission needs a creative founder and the CEO Ramesh Kalicharran of 'Kali Tours and Travel,' has found its talisman.” Kaliji attributes his achievements to all those who have participated and experienced his 'mission to India:' “It is their success, I'm merely a symbol.”

“Especially to the Indo-Caribbean segment of our population, Kali Bharat Yatra is known for the nostalgic impact every Yatra produces through its thoughtful programs that also provide insights into their cultural roots. The trip will rejuvenate you with fun, as well as, with comfort and relaxation laced with a delightful touch Cross-section of Kali Bharat Yatra Group at Parmarth Niketan in Ganga Arti at Rishikesh, October 2009. JAN '10 / 57 EVENT ACCUMULATING THE MEMORIES Keeping in mind the growing student community, SIMC conducts a series of media seminars called Footprints.Ritika Bade takes a look at all the 25-city journey.

Footprints — a media seminar is organised every year Prof. Lakshmi Narayanan from the Madras Christian across 25 cities in India and a few cities around the world. College, Supraja Dharini, Co-Founder, TREE foundation, The objective of the seminar is to educate the students Mr. M.B. Nirmal, Exnora, Prof. Nithyanand from Asian across the country on media industry and a socially College of Journalism stressed on how each person can relevant topic. Organised by the students of SIMC, the contribute to make the earth greener. event is in its 10th year and has been consistently In the second session Mr. K. Srinivasan spoke about social successful. networking and cyber crimes. Dr. Shyam, owner of Radio Chennai Footprints was held on Shyam, an internet radio, stressed on internet, Mr. Kiruba Chennai Footprints was held on 26th 26th October '09 at the gates of Shankar explained the nuances of blogging, Mr. Sukumar October '09 at the gates of Chinmaya Chinmaya Heritage Centre compared animation in India and abroad, Mr. Prashant Heritage Centre where stalwarts such as Mr. where stalwarts such as Mr. stressed on the importance of new media and Mr. Pradeep Sarath Babu and Ms. Priya lit the Sarath Babu and Ms. Priya lit Shankar talked about internet branding. Kuttuvilaka, the ceremonial lamp. the Kuttuvilaka, the Chief Guest of the event, actor Sarath Kumar felicitated RJ ceremonial lamp, along with Suchi with the Young CommunicatorAward. Prof Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury, Director of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication. Noida footprints '09 was held on 1st November at KRIBHCO Bhawan, Sector 1 Noida. Mr. Rahul Dev, the SIMC believes in awarding young individuals of great chief guest for the event, chose to speak in Hindi, and caliber who have communicated and contributed to the discussed the importance of vernacular languages and society in some special way. The Young Communicator threat posed to them from a globalised and competitive Award was presented to Benny Dayal in Bengaluru.

L-R: Prof. Ujjwal K. Chowdhury, Mr. Rahul Dev, Brig. Lighting the diya at the J&K Footprints KKV Khanzode lighting the Diya at the Noida Footprints event

58 / JAN '10 world. awards to Mr. Yudhjait Dutta, CEO of Chennai Super Kings and Mr. Supriyo Sen, a journalist turned The theme for the first session was 'The Green battle: role independent film maker. of media in environment related issues'. Mr. N. M Prusty, chief of party, DMS project, US Aid Organization, Mr. In the session on 'Green Battle', Mr. Supriyo Sen, Mr. Pankaj Saxena, Documentary film maker and Mr Maneck Shankha Acharya, one of the leading activists of Green Kotwal, Director, Commonwealth Games Village, spoke Peace Kolkata and Dr. Rashneh N. Pardiwala of CERE about energy saving, Global Warming and environment. India spoke on the issue.

The theme for the second session was Advertising vs. PR: In the second session 'youth What's the new reality? The dignified panellists were Mr. and media' ad guru Prahlad The two awardees at the Patna Chapter of Uday Sahay, Delhi Govt. PR head and Additional Director Kakkar spoke on brand Footprints 2009 were Mrs. Suman Chuobey General (Communications), Commonwealth games, building. of the Times of India and Mr. Alok Pandey, Delhi, Mr. Ashwini Singla, CEO, Genesis Burson TheJammu Footprints 2009 in Principle Correspondent of NDTV. Marsteler, Mr. Amitava Mitra, VP, Percept H and Mrs. association with Jammu Plus, Pragya Narang, Marketing Head, Creative Crest (PR was flagged off on the 8th of November, at the Abhinav agency). Theatre, Canal Road, Jammu. Chief guest of Honour, Mian RJ Abhish from Hit 95 FM and RJ Jia, from BIG 92.7 FM Altaf, Environment and Forest Minister, inaugurated the were honoured with the Young CommunicatorAward. event.

ThePatna Chapter of Footprints was held on 5th November The first session focused on the Role of Media in the '09. Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Development of the State. The panel comprised of print as association with Idea Cellular Ltd and SIMC gripped the well as electronic journalists like Shujaat Bukhari (Bureau attention of the audience with an array of speakers, which Head, the Hindu, J&K), Pradeep Dutta (Bureau Chief, included Mr. Abhayanand, Mr. Khursheed Ahmad, Mr. Times now, Jammu) and Anuradha Bhasin (Editor, Shankar Dutt, Mr.Srikant Pratyush, Mr. Kaushalendra Kashmir Times). and Mr. S. Narayan. The second Session focused on the pertinent and topical The two awardees at the Patna Chapter of Footprints 2009 issue of the Environment. Titled the Green Battle, the were Mrs. Suman Chuobey of the Times of India and Mr. speakers were Dr C. M Seth (Director, WWF), Raahil Alok Pandey,Principle Correspondent of NDTV. Khurshid(Senior Correspondent, Times Now, Srinagar) and Harish Dutt(Vice Chairman, Himalayan Ecological SIMC in association with the Times of India organised the and Conservation Research foundation). 11th edition ofKolkata footprints on 6 th November '09 at Kala Mandir. Nymphia Vishin (Regional Director, Imprimis Perfect Relations) and Pawan Bali (Head, Jammu, CNN IBN) were Honourable mayor of Kolkata Shri Bikash Ranjan awarded Young CommunicatorAward '09. Bhattacharya handed over the Young Communicator

The Bengaluru Footprints depicted a different story L-R: Prof. Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury, Lou Majaw, Manahaudhuri Cwith the Shillong Footprints team

JAN '10 / 59 Symbiosis FootprintsBengaluru , hosted in the new was explored by media personalities like Sri A.S Murthy, Symbiosis Campus, was held on 14th November '09. Some father of Kannada street theatre. Arundathi Nag, theatre of the NGOs participating in the exhibition were personality, Chitrashri, television anchor, Rachana Association of People with Disability, Concern for Bharadwaj, RJ of Radio Mirchi spoke about the Working Children, National Association for the Blind and importance of mother tongue.

TheShillong chapter of Footprints was held on 21st , November 09 and the themes were “The Green Battle” and “Digital Drive - The Net Effect”.

The first session of the seminar saw esteemed panelists such Mr. Parag Dutta- HOD of Environmental Studies, Edmunds College, Mr. Amit Sharma- WWF India, Bibhab Talukdar- Sec. General Aaranyak, Jibankumar Singh- NECEER. The panelists discussed serious issues relating to the environment, Global warming, Uranium issues in the Northeast and animal conservation.

In the next session Mr. Bidyut Kotoky- National Award Winning Filmmaker, Ms. Tanushree Hazarika Agarwal- MD of The Eclectic Magazine, Mr. Gagann Jain- Director of Amazed at the Guwahati Footprints show Sikkim Manipal Institute discussed the impact of the KarunaAnimal WelfareAssociation of Karnataka. digital medium and its indispensable nature in every form of communication. Dr. A Ravindra, the Guest of honor for the inaugural session spoke on environment and laid special focus on The Young Achievers Award 09 was presented to Mrs. the future of public transport in India. Also present was Tanushree Hazarika Agarwal- MD of The Eclectic Mr. Pankaj Gupta, the director of SIBM Bengaluru; Mr Magazine and Mr. Rudy Wallang & Ms. Tipriti Cyril Mani the Deputy Director of SIMC Bengaluru and Kharbangar of the renowned band “Soulmate”. Col. Khanzode. FootprintsGuwahati, held on 25th November '09, discussed Pavitra Chalam and Praseed Prasad were presented with the themes “The Green Battle”, “Branding Axom and its the Young CommunicatorAward. Opportunities and Challenges” and “Challenges faced by contemporary Assamese cinema”. The programme was The first session on Green Battle started with discussions inaugurated by Dr. Walter Fernandez, Director, NESRC, by Dr Yellapa Reddy, former secretary of the Department who was a keynote speaker of the topic “The Green of Environment and Ecology, Government of Karnataka. Battle”. The other speaker for that session was Mrs. The others, who provided insight on environment and e- Rashmi Narzary,Editor, Northeast Beats. waste, were Gerry Martin, Wildlife conservationist, Ms Bineesha, GTZ and Mr. Suresh Heblikar. The second topic on branding the state was addressed by eminent personalities from the industry like Dr. D.K Post lunch, the theme “Resurgence of Kannada in Media” Sarma, Secretary, General, North Eastern Chamber for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Chinmoy Sarma, noted film exhibitor and distributor and Mr. Vishal Jain, Director of Accoland amusement park. They spoke of ways and means to market and promote the brand “Axom”.

The third session included eminent speakers from the film and media professions such as cinestar Mrs. Bobbeeta Sarma, MD of Unicornis Movement, Mr. Prithish Chakraborthy, Ms. Tinat Atifa Masood and Bollywood Director, Mr. Bidyut Kotoky.

A young staff reporter of Dainik Agradoot, an Assamese Daily, Ms. Samim Sultana Ahmed was awarded Young CommunicatorsAward.

The Green Battle session in action at the Kolkata Footprints

60 / JAN '10 INDIA KARNATAKA VOICE of the Community Mr. Ashish Sen, former Director and currently a Trustee of VOICES a development communications NGO based in Bengaluru. In conversation with the man himself,Zulfiya Hamzaki finds out about VOICES, community radio and media for social change.

Inception, mission and vision poor district in Karnataka with extremely low literacy rate), wanted local information for local needs and As a part of Madhyam Communications a parent therefore felt the need of a radio. Based on this data and for organization that explores the interface between the fact that Myrada had been working there for the last 20 communication, culture, media and development, years, VOICES entered into a partnership in 2000, working VOICES was born out of a realization that communication with self-help groups in community communications. plays a vital role in the development and empowerment of the poor. Need for information in the local community on certain issues like the market scenario, local cropping patterns, Registered as an NGO in 2003, VOICES started with a sanitation mechanisms in drought prone areas and several vision to work towards the media for social change with others were found out and a conclusion was sought as to the belief that 'Voice' is a critical ingredient for poverty how radio could play a role in bridging this gap. Thus eradication. Namma Dhwani or “Our Voices” was born out of this need The mission of VOICES is based on the belief that the in Budikote, a village in Kolar, about 100 kilometers from media has a catalytic role in Bangalore. empowering people to make VOICES started with a vision to work In 2003, Namma Dhwani started loudspeaker informed choices. This is done towards media for social change with the narrowcasting positioned on treetops, where the local through the areas of media belief that Voice is a critical ingredient for village sandhya would take place. Relaying market production, training, and poverty eradication. information and agriculture and sanitation related research, cross cutting public programs not only created awareness among the locals but communication, building also ignited the curiosity and interest of the local children bridges with different media - public, private and about the functioning of the radio. community and also strengthening community communications so that communities, especially the poor As a result, Namma Dhwani tied up with schools, can have a media of their own. extending radio activities to classrooms, leading to the commencement of the school radio, where programs were Strengthening Communities mostly made by children. The management committee VOICES extends help to people suffering from disabilities, comprising largely of women from self-help groups, poor farmer groups, children in distress through expressed their desire to listen to these programs in their communications. It works with community-based organizations, grass root level NGOs such as Myrada, which works towards the development of the community. Myrada is headquartered in Bengaluru and it has done significant work in integrated social development. VOICES partners with such NGOs and provides the communications component.

VOICES set up a Community Radio with Myrada, which has facilitated the functioning of one of the first community radio stations in the country,Namma Dhwani.

Namma Dhwani

Namma Dhwani was initiated based on a survey by Myrada, according to which the community in Kolar (a Recording in progress in Namma Dhwani.

62/ JAN '10 homes. Thus Namma Dhwani tied up with the local village cable TV operators and all the houses that had cable TV sets. One of these channels became the audio channel the Namma Dhwani channel. From being able to reach only five villages, Namma Dhwani now reaches over fifty-five villages.

Development Communications in India

Mr. Sen feels that Development Communications in India is still at a very young stage. Communication actually becomes transformative when it is managed by communities for their own needs. And it was to address this need that VOICES set out to muddy its hands so that advocacy and change were strengthened. Training in progress in the Mathikere Slums. As far as democratization of the media is concerned, Mr. Sen feels that commercial media is the flavor of the month. Karnataka in 2006-07. “Unless a three-tier system based on principles of equity Theatre and inclusion is provided, one won't get the dividends that one wants to achieve.” VOICES uses theatre as a medium of communication by engaging people with disabilities. Training Mahesh Dattani's Final Solutions was staged three years Namma Dhwani has imparted training in both print and after Godhra. The members of the chorus were hearing broadcast media - to institutions and groups of people impaired individuals, making it one of the most apart from volunteers and community members. This memorable performances. involves concept training, audio formats, presentation skills, interviewing skills, newsreading skills, field Other Community initiatives recording (theory and practical), editing and mixing and The Proof Energy Centre is an VOICES has successfully made significant cablecast procedure. initiative that allows impacts in the field of developmental VOICES have conducted training for organizations like community intervention to communications by empowering the SEVA in Gujarat and also for schools and colleges in bring about transparency in the local community. Bengaluru. This training is provided for students and urban city space. It started as a NGOs to geographically based communities covered by coalition for NGOs where the Namma Dhwani and Radio Kalanjiam and thematically idea was to urge city governments to put their financial based communities such as people with disabilities at the quarterlies in the public space. Following this, the Shree Ramana Maha RishiAcademy for the Blind. Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike agreed to post the information in the public domain. VOICES took up the VOICES has also conducted radio training to promote challenge to socialize the message by popularizing it on community radio awareness in the last two years. It has radio and print, creating awareness in colleges and been a part of significant networks for development like holding public discussions every quarter. The Proof AMARC, which is the World Association of Community Energy Centre had the support of corporates like Infosys. Radio Broadcasters and Our Media, which is a global community based network. VOICES is also the founder Making a mark member of the Community Radio Forum. VOICES has grown to be a leading player in Community Documentaries radio advocacy in the country. It has moved from being just training NGO to one actively engaged in building VOICES was involved in a series called Daricha meaning community radio and co partnering with community “Revelations” which ran for 76 episodes. It showcased media initiatives. how technology could empower people with disabilities. VOICES also involves itself in creating docu-dramas. It Mr. Sen feels that the media landscape offers a huge has created a documentary for Mithre Jyoti Community amount of opportunities today and he strongly urges Centre, which articulated the need for a community centre youngsters to look at communications for development as for people with disabilities. It also tracks the growth of a vital part of their workspace. campaigns such as the Universal Birth Registration in

JAN '10 / 63 KARNATAKA “We cannot afford to take risks of any kind” Renowned as a tracker of the notorious Veerappan and Rajeev Gandhi's trusted escort, Shankar Mahadev Bidari is currently the Police Commissioner of Bengaluru city.Afrah Shafiq caught up with him to discuss the city's safety issues, security threats and related preparations by the men in khaki.

After the serial blasts in Bengaluru, and in light of the the law and the Constitution, and evaluate the Mumbai terror attacks, what precautionary measures performance of the police. These bodies share the load of have been adopted by the state to tighten up security? the Police Department, while providing guidelines to follow to make Karnataka safe. SB: Due to the high frequency of terror threats, especially in several IT companies, the Police Department has In your opinion, what are the measures that need to be initiated a program called Quick Reaction Squad. The adopted to simplify the job of the police? officials in the squad are trained in areas like heavy arms, SB: Recently,I met up with six other Police Commissioners battalion and special intelligence. These teams are further from various states to discuss an upgradation of security assigned different regions that they must take measures.Aproposal has been chalked out and forwarded responsibility for in the occurrence of any breach in safety to the Central Government for action. We have identified a of that area. QRS has proved to be very effective because need for improvement of the police battalion, arms, the teams know exactly how to tackle any emergency vehicles and equipment that will help us fight situations situation, and are also well- armed at all times. more successfully. The number of sub-inspectors and What is the protocol in case of a inspectors in each police station will be increased, and a security threat, in terms of immediate reduction in political interference from the Government in action and prevention? the functioning of the police will also help increase efficiency. SB: Telephonic and email threats are very frequent in the city. As soon as the Where does Bengaluru stand in terms of safety for the police receive such a message, it is common public, as well as for focus groups such as mandatory for the team to conduct a women and senior citizens, against daily criminal thorough enquiry on the threatened activity and violation of law order? zone, as well as track the caller or sender SB: I know I am famous for enforcing the '11:30 of the threat. Most of the time, these are deadline'—which has now been extended to 12 hoaxes, and a lot of time and effort is midnight—in a city like Bengaluru, which is well known wasted on checking up these empty for its night life. Such simple preventive measures have, Shankar Bidari threats. Mechanisms are being devised however, led to a low crime rate, as compared to the other to swiftly trace such callers, so that the nuisance can be metros. Over and above, special programs have been completely eradicated. In terms of email threats, it is formulated for women and senior citizens. We also have difficult to find the sender. Cyber cafes are being asked to exclusive help lines that these groups can contact in times demand for identification from all customers.Anumber of of an emergency. other measures are being adopted by the Cyber Crime Branch to smoothen out the existing problems. Recently, a cricketer, Pervez Masool, from the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team was arrested on suspicion of There are several initiatives taken by the state, such as possessing explosives. After the player was detained, The Bengaluru Task Force or the State Security the allegation proved to be false, leading to his Commission, which work to promote security in the subsequent release. This is not the first instance that the region. How do such bodies complement and assist the department has raised a false alarm. Do you think the police in their work? police need to be more certain before they make arrests? SB: The Task Force and the State Security Commission SB: The cricket stadium was packed with thousands of have been set up to aid the police in tightening security spectators. Considering the fact that the police personnel measures. The Task Force has come up with several picked up a clue on Rasool, it was mandatory for them to propositions, including an increased strength in the police do their job by making sure everything was in order. We wireless network and technology. The Security have to be certain, and as policemen, we cannot afford to Commission has the additional right to draft policy take risks of any kind. guidelines, ensure that the police always act in line with

64 / JAN '10 FEATURE Greenpeace marches on in Hyderabad Pankaj Kumar, the Territory Manager of Greenpeace Hyderabad, elaborates on the Green Peace journey in the city.

Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, by the Greenpeace volunteers with scare-crows and stressing on one basic mission: the fight against nuclear warning signs being placed in obvious, easily noticeable power. Their journey commenced when the United States locations. These resulted in agitation and lodging of an FIR of America began its nuclear tests in Alaska. But today, the by the company officials which also eventually served in organization has come to deal with several important favour of the Greenpeace volunteers: they benefitted environmental concerns, with anti-nuclear action as its abundantly from the hype and drama. Aided by main focus, but numerous other issues as well under its tremendous publicity and media support, they overcame fold. Its reach has traveled across nations and today it has a this battle with additional help from the local consumers significant presence in India as well. From Delhi to as well. Chennai, this organization has 16 branches across India Greenpeace has been self- A major achievement of Greenpeace in and is headquartered in Bengaluru. The Hyderabad sufficient so far and does not Hyderabad was when they recently had a branch is one of the most efficient and active Greenpeace depend on any government, raid conducted at the site of a German bases and has delivered its objectives and goals very corporate or private business company that was producing unsafe and effectively, creating abundant awareness on environment untested GM rice. organisation. It is raised and conservation in the city. supported by the individual The Greenpeace venture in this city began in 2004 and members who voluntarily pool since its very inception, environment awareness has been in, supporting the cause Greenpeace fights for each day. its primary focus. Today, it has gained around 10,000 Conserving the environment and safeguarding our supporters from across the city, a commendable limited resources is what each of these supporters firmly achievement indeed considering that it has been in believes in. Greenpeace also maintains cordial relations existence just five years. The teams interact with about a with the government and law and policy makers to jointly hundred people everyday using varied creative tactics to battle for environment conservation, and bring in justice at send their message across to people, and in the process, the earliest. gain several supporters each day. Greenpeace has reached every corner across the city and today almost every Greenpeace has Hyderabadi understands the environmental battle that started several the organisation is involved in. Their reach ranges from campaigns and schools and colleges to organized groups and even the initiatives and has city's streets. Of late, their primary focus has been the vowed to keep its youth, considering the pivotal role they play in the society. word with several In another recent initiative, Greenpeace Hyderabad other NGOs and encouraged plantations among people across various age organisations it has groups by providing them saplings. Several plantation partnered with, campaigns were organised in Gachibowli, Hi-tech city promoting an and Necklace road and a pollution campaign was held in unfailing concern for the year 2005 in Pattancheru stressing on pollution control environment being the need of the hour. conservation. I urge all of you to always One of the most significant achievements of Greenpeace protect our mother Hyderabad is the strong backing of a volunteer team that it earth and take all measures needed to preserve what are possesses. They recently brought more success to this undoubtedly our most precious natural reserves. organization with a raid they conducted at a site set up by a German company which was secretly generating illegal, The author is presently pursuing his masters in Human unsafe and untested GM rice. This task did not achieve Rights. After working with Hindustan Times, Delhi, he success right away. It took a considerable amount of time joined as the Direct Dialogue (DD) campaigner with to bring to light these non-environment friendly acts Green Peace and worked in five cities before becoming the which assured negative consequences to the local Territory Manager for Hyderabad. consumers. A very loud, in-the-face strategy was adopted

JAN '10 / 65 ANDHRA PRADESH The Nine Wonders of Hyderabad

Sarah Swaroop offers a sneak preview of the seven magnificent Hyderabadi structures and lifestyle, each exuding its own sense of exuberance, while harking back to the days of yore.

These several ancient structures of Hyderabad are consecrated ambience within the temple and a feeling of absolute fantastic examples of the grandeur and valor of quietude among the visitors. This temple, dedicated to the great Nizams. These can be termed as the best tourist Lord Venkateshwara offers a stunning view of destination of all times and each of it has a rich history to Hyderabad. The judicious mix of northern and southern unfold. techniques adopted by the architects depicts their versatility. Qutub Shahi Tombs Golconda Fort Situated almost towards the outskirts of the city, at Ibrahim Bagh, these tombs depict a mild magnificence and The legendary Koh-i-noor diamond originated within a subtle aura, while preserving the royal remnants of the these massive 5 km long walls of granite. The fort houses a seven Qutub Shahi rulers. Each tomb has a mosque mini city, replete with its own unique water supply adjacent to it, which still attracts Muslim visitors on a daily arrangement, distinctive palaces and exceptional basis. These domed shaped structures, with their intricate acoustics. combination of Persian, Pathan and Hindu style of Salarjung Museum construction commands immediate attention. With each tomb having its own story to tell, one can easily get With as many as 32 galleries containing 43,000 objects, and engrossed in the abundance of history lying scattered 50,000 books and manuscripts collected and preserved by amidst this exquisite site. one man, Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III, former Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam of Birla Mandir Hyderabad, the eponymous Salarjung Museum is the Soaked in white amidst the clutter and chaos of the city, third largest of its kind in India. Dating back to the 1st this tranquil sanctuary located on top of a hill draws century, these antiques belonging to diverse civilizations multitude from far and near. The ringing of bells and from across the world have all been conserved with chanting of verses from Holy scriptures generates a meticulous care.

Charminar Tomb

66 / JAN '10 Hussain Sagar: Situated in the heart of the city, this manmade lake, or 'Tank Bund', as it is commonly called, is a favorite haunt for Hyderabadis. One of the most fascinating features of this water body is the white granite statue of Lord Gautam Buddha that stands tall right in its middle. The bridge atop Hussain Sagar connects Secunderabad and Hyderabad. During the evenings, the entire environ is lit up gloriously, leading to a true visual delight.

Mecca Masjid

At a distance of exactly 100 yards from the Charminar, Muslims consider this structure as one of their most sanctified mosques. Constructed by the same Qutub Shahi ruler, who shifted base from Golconda to Hyderabad, 8000 masons worked for 80 years to complete this structure. The highlight of this edifice is the 15 constituent arches.

Charminar

The image of Hyderabad to the rest of the world, this four- minaret structure enjoys a gush of tourists all day long. Birla mandir This remarkable edifice is yet another instance of the major ingredients, there are variants which use chicken, magnificent Qutub Shahi architecture. Legend has it that instead. Broadly, there are two types of Hyderabadi the Charminar was built in the memory of Bhagmati, the biryani, namely, the kacchi, or raw and the pakki biryani. Hindu wife of Sultan Muhhamed Quli Qutub Shah. Each Preparing the former takes more time, because it involves minar is exactly 22 m high and is positioned in four marinating the meat in a number of spices and curd, and different directions. The four minarets are divided into arranging and placing the ingredients in layers inside a four floors, each situated on a lotus leaf motif. The arches container, which is then sealed with dough and placed and the spiral staircases were adorned with clocks at a over burning coal. Meticulous maintenance of time is a later stage. pre-requisite so as to avoid over- or under-cooking the Well after rendezvous with the magnificent monuments, dish. In the case of pakki biryani, however, the ingredients one cannot forget the 'Finger-licking', 'lip-smacking', are cooked well in advance before the layering 'mouth-watering' delectable world famous delicacy called commences. 'Hyderabadi biryani'. Let us take a look at how this Visit to this land of Nizams delicacy topped the list of the menu card. wouldn't be complete unless Hyderabadi Biryani - A Majestic Meal you have bought pearl jewelry The word 'biryani' originates from 'Birian', found in the innumerable Persian for 'roasted before cooking'. It is Originating in Andhra Pradesh, it is claimed that till date shops in the city thus believed that nomads had buried an the original recipe has not been mastered by the chefs of bestowing upon it the name earthen pot full of rice, meat and spices; any other Indian state. In other words, to relish the true City of Pearls. the outcome was what we now flavor of this scrumptious meal, one has to savor it in the know as 'biryani'. Deccan plateau region. The Wonder in White

Mainly a non-vegetarian dish, the highly qualified biryani A pearl is a symbol of grace. Its makers, however, have not neglected the sizeable vegan pristine beauty is unmatched in a world of colorful population. There is an equally delicious vegetarian recipe gemstones. Gently exuding an aura of peace and that has been evolved keeping the vegetarian community tranquility, this 'fair maiden' has been a perennial favorite in mind. in all its designs, shapes and sizes, adorning chains, earrings, bracelets, bangles, headgear, anklets and other Hyderabad has a wide network of eateries that serve this jewellery items. Sparkling gold or shiny silver takes on an Nawabi cuisine, some of which are just 200m apart! The ethereal sheen when gracefully embellished with this more famous outlets include Paradise, Bawarchi, soothing stone. Hyderabad House, and Garden among others.

While traditionally,basmati rice and goat meat are the two

JAN '10 / 67 RAJASTHAN Caring for the Valued and the Vulnerable Yasmin Chandra Singh details her experience with Rajasthan- based NGO called TAABAR.

Junction, this energetic project occupies the top floor and the former vehicle compound at ground level. These have now been transformed into a garden and play area. The The success of the Oscar-winning movie 'Slumdog staff members put in a lot of hard work to provide meals, Millionaire' has brought the plight of India's so-called accommodation, counselling, medical care, referrals and 'Railway children' into limelight. Every year thousands of repatriation services to up to 35 children, who stay on an youngsters run away from home in pursuit of a better life; average between three to four months. only to find that life in a big city is lot worse than the one Comprising a core team of 16, the project is led by the they have left behind. young and dynamic social worker, Ramesh Paliwal. The While the film tells the TAABAR project staff work tirelessly to positively impact remarkable rags-to-riches story Every year thousands of youngsters run the lives of those children found trying to eke out a living of a boy from the slums of away from home in pursuit of a better life; in and around Jaipur Junction. Mumbai, almost a thousand only to find that life in a big city is lot Success is measured in terms of repatriation. As high as miles away in Jaipur, a small worse than the one they have left behind. 65% of children are reunited with their families, where charity is caring for the real life after follow-up counseling is organized. Amazingly, only Jamals and Latikas of around 10% end up back on the streets, often because they Rajasthan and beyond. find it difficult to break the habit of leading a haphazard I got the opportunity to meet some of the dedicated and stress-filled life. The rest of the children progress to individuals who have devoted their lives in helping the apprenticeships, or are at times referred to local slum and street children. I felt privileged to meet some of orphanages where they are cared for over the long-term. these young people whose lives have been transformed by Within a period of three years since its inception, the this small, yet outstanding organization. project has grown organically. Activities and resources Like moths to a flame, many children are attracted to the have been channeled strategically and are being promise of a big city. The reasons, however, vary. They continuously reviewed to ensure that focus never wavers may be orphaned, physically abused or running away from the key needs of the children, and how best to serve from real or imagined punishment. Many of them harbor them. innocent dreams of becoming rich and returning home to The existence of the project is a constant struggle for funds rescue their mothers, brothers and sisters from the that would enable a continuation and expansion of the clutches of poverty and domestic violence. Sadly, these current success stories. gullible children inevitably become the victims of further abuse and neglect and are ultimately drawn into a life of I feel many of us, like myself, even though we have been crime and drug-addiction. born abroad, share an in-depth understanding that poverty and suffering in India is a problem of immense Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan or the famous 'Pink City' is economic and cultural complexity and share an innate a confluence of contrasts from royal palaces, historic forts, desire to be part of the solution. precious stones and symbols of fabulous wealth to the overcrowded, incredibly noisy markets, shops and We have witnessed India's rise to the heady heights of factories. Here, amidst the bustling and polluted streets becoming an 'International Super-Power', a political lies another of Jaipur's gems: 'TAABAR' a unique charity heavyweight and one of the world's fastest growing dedicated to changing the lives of street children. economies. We have seen many examples of the new breed of globally-based Indians amongst the world's wealthiest Housed in an erstwhile police station, opposite Jaipur tycoons and have heard of the meteoric rise of the Indian

68 / JAN '10 middle class and space programs. trend.

Yet, to many, India still remains a A key objective of the project is to confounding enigma. For many foreigners, create a model that can be the guilt associated with being materially sustained to a large extent by secure incites them to give indiscriminately, Indian sponsors and local thereby compounding the problems in some government partnerships. The cases by encouraging reliance, rather than overwhelming challenge has been developing a sense of responsibility amongst to generate the confidence needed those who receive the assistance. to secure these investments.

It is almost a tradition among some sections in Against all odds, and nurtured by India that foreign aid should be relied upon to Indian philanthropists, academics champion the cause of the poor and helpless. Yasmin Chandra Singh and some elements of local A culture of uneasy indifference seems to be government who have had the prevalent amongst many Indians who have secured a conviction to share in the vision; TAABAR project comfortable life for themselves and their families. They continues to struggle relentlessly for the children in its have inevitably been desensitized by constant exposure to care, and for the chance of achieving the critical mass it India's much-publicized 'social problems', coupled with needs to achieve its aims. the sheer immensity of it all. Here again is where the ripples of the NGI influence might TAABAR owes much of its success to the relentless be felt. Many young foreign-born Indians are keen to determination of the individuals at the center of the explore the opportunities that India has to offer. Armed organization, their dedication, professional qualification with their overseas citizenship, it is easier than ever before and a deep-rooted understanding of the underlying social to invest in India.Along with this 'repatriation', there is the problems. Currently, TAABAR receives a substantial coincidental growth in awareness of how CSR packages support from foreign donors. Ramesh aims to reverse this can not only provide tax incentives, but also how these can be used to target issues such as education via NGOs like Many of us, like myself, even though we TAABAR. All this, combined have been born abroad, share an in-depth with the ability to enhance the understanding that poverty and suffering in image of not only large India is a problem of immense economic corporations but also medium- and cultural complexity. sized businesses, makes corporate 'giving' an attractive proposition.

With Western aid drying up due to the economic crises, the TAABAR model may herald a new way in the battle for the dignity and survival of India's most vulnerable her children.

We, NGIs, now have the opportunity to explode the myth that Indian poverty is an unsolvable problem. We should now lead the way by reinvesting in NGOs like TAABAR that have the vision, authenticity and skills to implement meaningful change and create a new future for those who need it the most.

The author has travelled extensively in Rajasthan and has been engaged with a range of charitable and public service NGOs. She has been instrumental in establishing a UK Trust which aims to support the work of the TAABAR project in Jaipur, with which she remains a firm friend and well wisher.

Children learning

JAN '10 / 69 RAJASTHAN AspiringAspiring to to reach reach the the sky sky Ujjwal Khullar gives voice to the budding sports talent in the land of golden drifts.

Amidst other good things, the desert land excels in talent. six years, Amanjyot Singh, 18, is a member of National Many people, who've made their mark internationally, Junior Golf team. He has a great potential to do well, even belong to this land of brave souls. We have the emblems of internationally. In 2008, he was nationally ranked as our talents marked from number one Junior Golfer in India and won the Sunfeast business to arena of sports, Southern India Junior Golf Championship 2007. He is the The purport of bravery, the spirit to fight to from acting to the art of music. only Indian to have won a 'Major' internationally by win and yet a humble nature is the mark Lt. Col. Rajyavardhan Singh winning 'the Junior Open' in 2006. In '2007 Asia Pacific of a Rajasthani. Sports have always been a Rathore the first Olympic Golf Championship', he was instrumental in achieving the way to spend leisure time. Horse riding, winner of India, Pt. Vishwa third position in the team event for India. Born with a gift camel riding, archery and polo were once Mohan Bhatt the Grammy for golf, he has always been number one in nationals in all popular in the desertland of India. But even award winner, Lakshmi Niwas age categories till date and was the 'National Junior today, the sporting spirit is alive here. Mittal entrepreneur and Number One' at the tender age of 15. amongst the world's richest, When almost every child's parents want him to study and Irfan Khan take sports as a past time, Amanjyot's parents have always Bollywood/Hollywood actor, and many others. Rajasthan encouraged and supported him to follow his passion. is proud of its sons and daughters… According to him, Cricket has been over hyped in the The purport of bravery, the spirit to fight to win and yet a country.“It is of national importance, but if we spend even humble nature is half the amount spent on cricket on other sports, their the mark of a condition would improve considerably. We lack the basic Rajasthani. Sports necessity of infrastructure in other sports.” have always been a way to spend leisure The budding star sportsman feels that many people do not time. Horse riding, understand the depth of sports and do not consider camel riding, sportsman seriously, though he is positive that with the archery and polo considerable achievement in sports sector, people's were once popular attitudes would also improve. in the desertland of The shooting champion: India. But even today, the sporting Determined to participate and win in the next Olympics, spirit is alive here. Pragya Rathore, 24, is an international Air Pistol Shooter Among other who also preaches the art of living. She enjoys spiritualism talents, the land has and is good at multi tasking. Apart from being an some budding international shooter, she also learns animation. She sports talent which finished among the top-twenty positions in a 'Meeting of would definitely Shooting Hopes - 2005' in Czech Republic. With many make the land National awards to her credit, she says, “To polish the rejoice one day. potential of our country, there is a need for international From swimming to standards of training to make our mark internationally.” polo, from squash to Guiding on the qualities a shooter must have, she said, golf, Rajasthan has “Patience, concentration, the skill of being relaxed and its fair share of focused at the same time, and stability are a must for a talent. shooter.”

The young Golfer: From passion to career with Polo:

Dominating the Hailing from the regal city of Udaipur, he started riding Indian Junior Golf his grand father's stallion at a young age of seven. Today, Himmat Singh Bedla arena from the last Himmat Singh Bedla is one of the top players in Indian

70 / JAN '10 polo and a member of Jaipur team. He got his first break at “India is full of talent. With proper guidance and training ten to participate in local riding events from Arvind Singh. Indian talent can shine in the sports sector. We have Polo entered his life when he joined Mayo College and already proved our mettle in cricket, tennis and shooting, became a part of the Mayo Polo team which, incidentally, internationally. Once was reunited after 51 years. determined, an Indian can achieve anything, but of course “India is full of talent. With proper Winning the first game played at school level against for sports resources are guidance and training Indian talent can Mewar (Jodhpur), he was the junior-most player in his needed.” shine in the sports sector. We have already team and was the first zero-handicap player setting a new proved our mettle in cricket, tennis and record at Mayo College, Ajmer. When he was selected to With more players like Shagun shooting, internationally. Once determined, Choudhary, a double trap play polo in an exchange program with Cheltnan College, an Indian can achieve anything, but of shooter has shot down silver in UK, he contemplated taking up his passion as a career. course for sports resources are needed,” Asian clay Championship and When he secured admissions in a college in Pune, he left says Gaurav Chouhan. after a month as he missed horses and shifted back to gold in women's trap event at a Jaipur. National Championship in 2008; Surbhi Mishra and Dhiraj A player who has participated in many national Singh Squash players; Arushi Asawa championships, Himmat has won many awards. 'Semur Table Tennis player; Atmika Cup' has spotted him as the 'Best Upcoming Player' and he Jagdhari shooter and many more was the 'Arasia Diamond' in Jodhpur. “Apolo player needs budding players, Rajasthan can to be a horse lover! Of course passion for the sport is also definitely look forward to see essential,” retorted Himmat when he was asked on the its gems glitter in the sports' quality of a polo player. world. “Every horse is different. Ideally, polo enters in the life of a rider who has around 3 years of experience. It can

be a very dangerous game for a novice rider. All other sports are played on machines or by the person himself, but here we need to play on an animal and we ride different horses. There are higher risks involved.” He has coached many budding players and he too has found that there is a lack of training facilities for the game. “Attempting to fill the void, a company for which I play is coming up with a polo resort in Jaipur, where we would train budding players.”

Incredible swimmer:

The land of golden dunes also bears testimony of an incredible swimmer - Gaurav Chouhan, 21, has a natural talent of swimming. He is currently focusing on the upcoming international championships. He was the swimming and diving captain at Mayo College. Thankful to his father, who encouraged him to swim since the age of 6 and made him practice the sport, Gaurav says “Parents support is of utmost importance.”Awinner of many states and national awards, his fortes include free style, breast stroke and back stroke. Pragya Rathore

JAN '10 / 71 MhaaroMhaaro Rang Rang Rangeelo Rangeelo Rajasthan!Rajasthan!

Ujjwal Khullar discovers the enchanting state of Rajasthan in all its beauty and splendor.

“Oh! Just some more time, dear… let me capture this place and forests, beatific palaces and forts, enchanting from all the possible angles which I can in the natural light; museums, historic streets, traditional art and craft, we shall have our tea then.” The man went on snapping throbbing commerce, or delectable cuisine. Amber Fort with his DSLR, while his pretty wife gazed at Jaipur, the capital of the land of kings is also known as the the monument with awe. It teleported her back to the 'Pink City'. This is where numerous monuments steeped times of the kings, queens, painted elephants, camels, in history echo the city's rich cultural heritage. Jaipur also horses and nagadas (drums) of the royalty. Needless to has the distinction of being the first planned city.Asojourn say,she was in no hurry for the tea, either! through Jaipur is a walk through time. A visit to the Jal That, in a nutshell, is Rajasthan. Mahal is nothing short of awe-inspiring, as one ponders Rajasthan has it all, be it a vibrant culture, A sumptuous treat served on a on the creative prowess of the architect. Moving on, one expansive lakes and forests, beatific platter of history, festivals, art, can relive the times of the royal women at Hawa Mahal, palaces and forts, enchanting museums, culture, music and beauty. whose numerous jharokhas acted as a conduit between the women and the outside world. Amber Palace offers a historic streets, traditional art and craft, Mhaaro Rang Rangeelo sneak peek into the lives and times of the royalty and the throbbing commerce, or delectable cuisine. Rajasthan (My colorful and kingdom. jubilant Rajasthan), welcomes every guest by saying 'Padharo Jaipur came into being, when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh felt mhare desh' (Welcome to our land). A must-see for the need of shifting his capital city from Amber, owing to architects, a treat for photographers and source of the increasing population and growing scarcity of water. amazement for tourists, the land is indeed a pride for The city was christened after its founder. The king, a lover Indian tourism. History has shaped every district of the of science and mathematics, planned the city with keen state in a way,which is similar; yet different. attention. After waging several battles with the Marathas, and realizing the need for security, the 7-gated walled city Rajasthan has it all, be it a vibrant culture, expansive lakes was conceptualized. Jai Singh sought advice from Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a scholar from Bengal, to aid him in designing the city. Vidyadhar referred to ancient Indian literature on astronomy, books of Ptolemy and Euclid. Hence, was laid the foundation of the first architecturally planned city in India.

With the strategic plan in place, the construction of the city began in 1727. It took around four years to complete the major palaces, roads and squares. Based on the principles of Shilpa Shastra (the science of Indian architecture) the city was divided into nine blocks. Two of these consisted of the state buildings and palaces, whereas the remaining seven blocks were earmarked for the general public.

When the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur, the entire city was painted pink in his welcome. Later, post Independence in 1948, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II acceded the state of Highlight of Rajasthan: The Ronakpur Jain Temple

72/ JAN '10 RAJASTHAN

Jaipur to the Government of India and it became the boarding schools in India that has, over the years been capital of Rajasthan. Even today, the neat and broadly laid attended by the Indian elite, particularly the princes of out avenues, painted in pink, present a magical charm. Rajputana. The college, which instills the value-systems of Today, Jaipur has a population of over three million. The royalty and bravery in its students, is also the only school city is teeming with new infrastructure and corporate in India, which trains its students in Polo. structures, yet its people have not lost touch with its Astone's throw away,on the out shores ofAjmer, is located history. the land of Brahma, or Pushkar. It is believed that Pushkar Another gem of Rajasthan, Udaipur, (previously Mewar), came into being when gods released a swan with a lotus in is also known as the 'Venice of the East'. Recently declared its beak. The bird released the flower at a spot where Lord as one of the world's most beautiful cities by 'Travel and Brahma performed a grand Leisure' magazine, the 'White City' is a favorite tourist Yagna. No wonder then, that destination for many, including Indian and foreign the world's only Brahma Recently declared as one of the world's celebrities. Not to forget, it is a dream marriage location! temple is situated at Pushkar. most beautiful cities by 'Travel and Leisure' The city of lakes exudes an aura via its shimmering waters The Pushkar fair, organized magazine, Udaipur, the 'White City' is a and white marble palaces. The Lake Palace is considered during November-December favorite tourist destination for many, one of the most romantic places in the world. every year, where thousands of including Indian and foreign celebrities. Not camels are decorated, sold and to forget, it is a dream marriage location! Legend has it that one day, when Maharana Udai Singh raced is an eagerly awaited was out hunting, he met a hermit, who asked him to build event. his palace at a spot of a fertile valley among lakes, which was surrounded by low mountains. Hence, in mid 1550s, With the Mehrangarh fort on one side; and Umaid Bhavan Udaipur came into being. on the other, Jodhpur (Marwar) is also known as 'Blue City', after the indigo tinge of the whitewashed houses. For those seeking a spiritual experience swathed in ethereal beauty,Ajmer is the destination.Ablend of Hindu The golden deserts of Jaisalmer are a land of fantasy. It is religion and Sufi culture, the city was once under the reign said that the Bahti Rajputs, a warrior family caste, who of the mighty Prithviraj Chouhan. A land of miracles, ruled the dynasty for a considerable period, are Ajmer is visited daily by thousands of pilgrims. descendents of Lord Krishna. An exotic land, it is an important trading center because of its strategic location Dargah-E- Sharif, where Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti's along camel routes. Carved in golden yellow sandstone, mortal remains lie buried is visited not only by Sufis and the 19th century havelis narrate the saga of a land Muslims, but people belonging to all religions. Eternal entrenched in heritage. Along with its forts and Jain peace and joy is experienced at the Dargah, where one can temples, it is also renowned for the 'Desert Festival', which also enjoy the devotional Qawwalis. During the 'Urs' is celebrated in January and February. The place jingles festival, it becomes a hub for devotees seeking blessings with the sounds of hooves of camels and melodious tunes. from the Khwaja. The turban tying contest, colorful markets, fire dancing Ajmer also boasts of Mayo College, one of the best and camel racing are the main attractions of the festivity.

Photo courtesy: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation

JAN '10 / 73 At night, beneath style bungalows and royal holiday lodges. the full moon, the A place that stands for courage, Chittorgarh was invaded desert looks three times. Each time, when the people were straight out of a outperformed even after fighting heroically, they resorted fairy tale. to 'Jauhar', or self-immolation over the chance of being Bikaner is dishonored. inexorably linked Rajasthan also provides opportunities for wildlife to the Camel expedition at sanctuaries like Ranthambore National Festival and the Park, Sariska Tiger Researve and Keoladeo Ghana camel-breeding National Park. The gypsy safari and trying to spot a tiger farm, the latter are adventures in themselves. being the only one of its kind in the The diversity in the land of kings can be adjudged by the whole of Asia. At a fact that different districts have their own unique styles of distance of around 30 km from the mesmerizing red painting, music, handicraft, cooking, celebration, sandstone forts, lies the unique Karni Mata temple, which dressing, and even of tying the turban! There are nine is home to hundreds of mice, who are said to be the diverse ways in which the turban is tied, which provides devotees of goddess Karni Mata reincarnated as rodents. an easy identifying mark to understand the locality an individual hails from. A pleasant retreat, which seems like a mirage amidst the sand, is Mount Abu, which has been the home of many The royal land touches hearts through its welcome for saints. It is said that sage Vashishtha performed a yagna guests, the sagas and the romanticism. An architect couple here to create the four clans of Rajputs who were given the once fell in love, when their eyes met while shooting the task of protecting Earth from demons. The exquisite Hawa Mahal. Later on, their marriage invitation card was Dilwara Jain temple, dating back to the 13th century, and embellished with a picture of the enchanting building. Gomukh temple make it a popular pilgrimage spot. The The magnificent land is enthralling, indeed! area also presents an interesting contrast of the British-

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74 / JAN '10 RAJASTHAN Paving way to fulfill dreams

Noopur Bapna writes about the educational hub Kota , which has stood against all odds to help the Engineering and Medical aspirants.

Today,Kota has emerged as one of the most promising city in the challenging field of IIT-JEE preparation. for aspirants of Engineering and Medical colleges, The Institute's highly qualified and experienced faculty preparing for entrance tests. What started as a source of has been devotedly working with a positive and survival against the odds at a time when Industrial city competitive attitude. They keep the students abreast of the was going through a rough phase has today become a case syllabus, pattern and type of questions asked in IIT-JEE study for all.Although the beginning was very modest, the and also strongly emphasize on developing great social institutes grew in numbers and have brought Kota on the values. The training is national map. Besides the pioneers, a new generation of exhaustive and rigorous in the institutes has also emerged and has made their terms of depth and coverage of A competitive environment and the presence felt at the national level. Promoted by the subjects. Teachers are assessed devotion of teachers add to the effect of visionary and dynamic entrepreneurs, these institutes at the initial stage of the best infrastructure to have emerged as Centres of Excellence in education. recruitment and they are enable students realize their potential & Amongst the various coaching institutes for IIT-JEE, provided training, financial enhance knowledge. Resonance was founded on 11th April 2001 with the support and other benefits. concept to provide objective-centric coaching education in Systems have been created to solve day-to-day academic a different, innovative and affable learning environment and non-academic problems of students. The emphasis is laid not only on theory but also on solving practice problems regularly. A competitive environment and the devotion of teachers add to the effect of the best infrastructure to enable students realize their potential & enhance knowledge. Motivational classes and scholarships to meritorious students are some of the special features of the Institute.

Resonance has always been rewarding high performers and acknowledging their merits. Aspirants who have exhibited applaudable performance in their previous examinations are accredited through Scholarships. In the boquet of awards, Resonance has Unique Scholarship Programme(USP),General Scholorship programme(GSP),Periodic performance and annual performance awards.

The institute started its expansion process with the launch of Jaipur Study Center in 2005 followed by Bhopal in 2007.Ecstatic with the achievements of Jaipur Study Center, the faith shown by the students and parents in Bhopal Study Center and its working, motivated us to extend our wings with nine new Study Centers, in five prominent cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata and Nagpur), introduced in the academic session 2008-09.

JAN '10 / 75 Bihar tourism Aforce to reckon with 'Tourism, granted 'industry' status in Bihar, has the potential to change the state's fate,' says Bihar Tourism Minister Ram Pravesh Rai toProf. Ujjwal K. Chowdhury .

What is the one major characteristic trait that marks the new heights. Several steps are being taken for the people of Bihar? realization of the above.

RPR: Bihar today is known for its vast human resources. It In your opinion, which ones have been the government's is also famed for its hospitality. major achievements?

Where does Bihar stand today in terms of economic RPR: With the formation of the new government, the law progress? How badly has it been affected by the 6th Pay and order conditions in the state have improved Commission and the global recession? considerably.Automatically,that has caused an increase in tourist inflow in the state, both domestic and RPR: As far as the tourism sector of Bihar is concerned, international. there has been a substantial increase in domestic as well as foreign tourists, by up to 15% and 95% respectively, as With yours being a BJP government, is it getting compared to the figures of the previous year. These figures sufficient support from the United Progressive Alliance clearly indicate that tourism in Bihar is on the rise. (UPA)-led government at the centre? Also, what steps have been taken to strengthen tourism development in You have completed three years of being the Tourism the state? minister of Bihar. How does it feel? RPR: The Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India RPR: Tourism has immense potential in Bihar. By is coordinating with the Tourism Dept of the state developing tourist-friendly infrastructure and basic commendably. This could easily be established by the fact amenities with world-class connectivity in prominent that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has tourist sites in Bihar, we can take tourism in the state to sanctioned many mega tourism projects in the state and

02/ JAN '10 BIHAR has been a continuous source of inspiration and guidance RPR: The Department of Tourism has already launched for the enhancement of tourism and hospitality industry state-level tourism campaigns in a big way by organizing in the region. road shows in other states and by participating in various national level tourism events like TTF, TTM, conventions, Tourism is the mainstay of the economy in Bihar. What conferences etc. Besides, the Department of Tourism of strategy is your government planning to promote these Bihar also participates in international events such as ITB sectors? Berlin, WTM London, CITM China and others, regularly. RPR: Tourism has been given the status of an industry in Has recession affected the tourism industry? Bihar. A tourism policy has also been formulated for the promotion of tourism for the first time in Bihar which is RPR: Yes, slightly. presently being processed for approval. Why do you think Bihar is unable to carve a niche for What plans do you have in mind towards the over-all itself? Why is it now being known as the development of the state in the year ahead? underdeveloped state of India?

RPR: We have taken up numerous measures to enhance RPR: Bihar has been neglected since long due to various tourism in the state. To begin with, the Ganga Ghats in factors. Natural calamities have also played a role. Patna are being developed and beautified, in order to However, the state is now on the path to progress. I'm develop aqua tourism. A 48-seater air-conditioned twin confident it will make it to the list of developed states in screw floating restaurant is going to be plied in the Ganga the near future. river cruise in Patna.Also, DPRs are being prepared for the On keeps hearing about Naxal violence in Bihar. What installation and operation of a ropeway chairlift system at measures are you taking to tackle this menace? Rajgir as well as Mandar Hill in Banka. Plus, we have already sketched out plans for the development of RPR: Naxalism is not important tourist spots and historical places in the state. limited to Bihar, it is a national phenomena. In Bihar has been neglected due to various What role does tourism play in the development of Bihar at present, it is factors, and it has also suffered on account Bihar? How far has the government developed it under under control. of natural calamities. However, I am your leadership? confident it will soon catch up. A place is known by its RPR: Tourism plays a substantial role in the development people. Are the people of The new government has improved the of the state. It also gives recognition and publicity to the Bihar apt representatives law and order conditions in the state. We major tourist destinations of the region that attract large of the state? are now hoping that the Union Tourism numbers of domestic and foreign tourists, apart from Ministry will promptly sanction our contributing to the state exchequer. For the state-level RPR: The people of Bihar developmental projects, so that funds can tourism campaign, different mahotsavas like Rajir, are definitely apt be released on time. Bodhgaya, Vaishali, Deo Mahotsava are celebrated yearly. representatives of the There are plans for Kundalpur and Janki Mahotsavas as state. well. What do you expect from the Union TourismMinistry? What is the scope of medical, rural and eco tourism in RPR: The Union Tourism Ministry is expected to expedite Bihar? the sanction of the different developmental projects RPR: There is tremendous scope for all three. The submitted by the state government for the early release of Department of Tourism of the Government of Bihar has funds for the proposed projects to be executed on time. identified many places such as Tehta, Jehanabad, Nepura, They could thus contribute to the state's development. Nalanda, Nathanagar, Puraini, Bhagalpur, Valmikinagar, What would be the prospects of the BJP during the Bhimbandh etc as potential rural and eco tourism sites. national next general election in Bihar? Are you planning to launch a tourism campaign for RPR: The prospects are looking bright. Bihar like some other states have done?

JAN '10 / 03 BIHAR Bihar Model Development with justice (4th Year)

What Bihar thinks today, country "Jaankari" Call Centre Scheme launched. ! Constitution of SAP: Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) adoptstomorrow constituted by recruiting ex-servicemen on contract.

Bihar government started various new schemes and ! Shiksha Diwas: Celebrating the birth anniversary of interventions, which have been adopted later by India's first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam government of India and also recommended for adoption Azad as "Shiksha Diwas". to other states. ! Democratic Basis for Cooperatives: An Independent ! Reservation for women: 50% posts in Panchayati Raj Election Authority constituted to conduct elections of Institutions and urban cooperative institutions (including PACS). local bodies reserved for ! women. "Hunar" scheme implemented for skill up gradation and economic empowerment of minority Muslim girls. ! Right to Information: To ! ensure affective and "Mukhyamantri Ahshar Aanchal Yojna" launched to transparent encourage female literacy. implementation of Right to ! On Bihar's initiativeGangetic Dolphin (locally known Information Act, a as S6ns) declared asNational Aquatic Animal . telephone based

78 / JAN '10 Bihar:APreferredDestination crore. ! 1.22 crore domestic tourists and 3.56 lakh foreign Positive changes taking place in Bihar have created a tourists visited Bihar in 2008. TheSonepur fair and favourable environment for private companies, investors, Cranga River Cruise attracted foreign tourists in large entrepreneurs, tourists etc. numbers. ! Bihar is fast becoming a preferred destination. Earlier ! Patna has seen a quantum jump in new shops of people used to hesitate in visiting Bihar but now a large branded commodities, brand restaurants, four wheeler number of private institutions, companies and dealerships etc. Large number of private companies investors are looking towards Bihar. have opened their regional headquarters in Patna. ! In a joint World Bank International Finance ! Various personalities of national and international corporation report, Bihar was considered to be a better fame visited Patna, i.e. Nobel Laureate DrAmartya Sen, place, much ahead of the commercial capital Mumbai, Olympic Gold Medalist , Dr. Nandan to start commerce and business activities. Nilekani, head of National Unique Identification ! 125 companies from across the country participated in Database Authority, DEID Minister of UK, Country the third state level employment and counseling fair heads of World Health Organisation (WHO). India and organised by state government. UNDP India, Director of World Bank Institute are some examples. The World's foremost IT personality and ! TheState Investment Promotion Council has received philanthropist. Bill Gates interacted with CM, Bihar hundreds of proposals. 209 proposals have been through Video Conference. A team from the Bill & sanctioned. 12 proposals have been implemented while Melinda Gates Foundation also visited Bihar. 74 proposals are in advanced stages of implementation. These 86 proposals, involve an investment of Rs 1033 ! Patna was chosen to host various national level events such as Platinum Jubilee session of Indian Road Congress, IT Conference "Infocom 2009" Assochem's Invest Mart Bihar 2009, Local Chapter of "London School of Economics" etc.

! Patna and Gaya airports witnessed a substantial increase in regular and chartered flights. 4 flights between Patna- Kolkata (3 new), 2 new flights between Patna and Mumbai, 6 flights between Patna and New Delhi (3 new) and 1 new flight between Patna and Hyderabad were started. In tourist season 25 flights a week from Bangkok, Yangon, Paro and Colombo to Gaya.

JAN '10 / 79 Maharashtra: A Mammoth on the Move

Sneha Chaudhary articulates the inherent potential of the state that is well on its way towards emerging as a highly touted tourist destination for Indians and foreigners alike.

One of India's leading states when it comes to business and by associating with the Singapore-based Conference and trade, Maharashtra has identified tourism as a driving Exhibition Management Services to organize the Mumbai force towards attaining fiscal growth. Hence, it is International Tourism Expo (MITE), a unique imperative to boost the state's historical and cultural international event to boost travel and tourism in the state. inheritance in addition to supporting and facilitating The objective is to provide an interactive platform for tourism. awareness trade alongside the promotion of thoughts, developments and prospects. While coming up with an Maharashtra Tourism Development increasing number of resorts, Of late, Maharashtra has emerged as a force to reckon with Corporation (MTDC) has carried out a range hotels, and restaurants is a step in the realm of tourism, which is one of the world's biggest of ideas and plans to encourage tourism in in the right direction, one also industries. The next step is to identify and explore a Maharashtra and transform its image from needs to supplement it with significant section of people to capitalize on and pull in as a good tourist destination to being the very formulating attractive many local and global buyers and sellers. For instance, best. promotional activity for Kuoni Travels, a Mumbai-based travel and tourism visitors, which include company and subsidiary of Switzerland-headquartered organizing celebrations, carnivals, fairs and fiestas at Kuoni Travel Holding, as an element of its strategy to important tourist spots. Undoubtedly, a lending hand spread out its patrons, has a contract with the MTDC to from top business leaders would go a long way in realizing endorse a few chosen sightseeing destinations that include these ideas and concepts. beaches, heritage sites like Ajanta and Ellora caves and the luxury train Deccan The need of the hour is to adopt a path of Odyssey. Deccan Odyssey is considered 'Sustainable Tourism', a holistic structure one of the best trains in the world, which of economic growth that is designed to will ensure encore visits from global offer superior experience to the tourist; tourists every year. “The sites which we while sustaining quality of the seek to develop are from MTDC's environment, heritage, art and culture on existing ones, and are easily accessible which the host community depends. from Mumbai—probably within three to The Maharashtra Tourism Development four hours of motoring distance—or Corporation (MTDC) has taken up the within reach of charter helicopter mantle and come up with a laudable step services, which many private operators

80 / JAN '10 MAHARASHTRA are now offering,” explained Zubin Karkaria, CEO and from three sides; this is a very much feasible option. MD, Kuoni Travel Group, India. Moreover, there exists a number of prospects in both Mumbai and other towns who have the requisite Ably complementing its publicity campaigns, monetary clout to purchase a yacht that costs anywhere Maharashtra Tourism's decision to go digital has acted as a between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 400 crore. shot in the arm. Among host of other features, the interactive website of MTDC helps customers in checking The next step should be to develop the yet untouched and the availability of hotel rooms and booking them online, unvisited areas of the state, which have latent tourism thereby facilitating their travel plans. potential. One approach can be to evolve these areas as mini hill stations, just like the one at Koyna Dam, which Tourists coming to India need no longer visit Srinagar or has one of the largest water-front. Kerala to partake of a houseboat experience. Exploiting Maharashtra's backwaters opportunity, houseboats are The time has come to show the world that Maharashtra now available at the Tarkarli creek in the Ratnagiri district. can offer a total tourist experience; from silver beaches, The options include a deluxe variety, as well as standard rocky mountain forts, wildlife to cultural treasure. ones to suit one's budget. An exquisite attraction at “Although, tourism contributes a mere 2% to the state's Tarkarli and Bhogwe coasts is the school of 150-200 GDP—unlike neighboring dolphins, which frequent those areas between October Goa's 40%, or Kerala and MTDC has chalked out novel and modern and May each year. Additionally, there are scuba diving Rajasthan, where it is around schemes to augment the tourism potency, and snorkeling facilities available at the Malvan district in 25%—we can offer a tourist which includes the Bed and Breakfast Ratnagiri. what Goa, Kerala and scheme where MTDC has approved a Rajasthan can offer together," Another development in the state is the inauguration of number of localites, who were inclined to exclaimed Bhushan Gagrani, the Bharat Van Gardens, which is spread across five rent out rooms to tourists. Managing Director, MTDC. verdant acres of land on a small hill at Marol in Mumbai. Already, it is attracting both Mumbaikars and Maharashtra's potency as a tourist destination lies in its international tourists in large numbers. swanky international airport, Bollywood, amusement parks, sea forts, religious sites, Buddhist cave architecture, Promotion of fort tourism, development of beach tourism, specialty tourism and beaches. Its limitations include long participation in domestic and global tourism fairs, haul tourist dependence, Mumbai's transit destination endorsement of coastal cuisine, encouragement for status and dependence on business tourism, lack of Vipasana and Ayurveda tours are all being undertaken. innovation, unfocussed development and lack of co- The Government has included Shirdi under its 'Special operation. The opportunities lie in nostalgia and roots Area Development Plan'. With approximately 104 sq.km. tourism, the Indian outbound market, business tourism of forest cover, Maharashtra has excellent potential for and MICE market. The threats are safety and security eco-tourism. No wonder then, the Indian Society for issues in Mumbai, economic situations at source market, Environment, Art and Cultural Heritage is already and competition from other Indian states. conducting eco-tours in the region. All in all, a state as huge as Maharashtra has immense MTDC has taken up the onus in putting Mumbai on the possibility to draw more tourists than what it currently map when it comes to potential destination for leisure and does. The government should also focus on building business travel. As a part of Maharashtra's promotional infrastructure and other required amenities, to augment activity, annual boat shows can serve as an attractive its publicity and marketing initiatives. proposition. With the city being surrounded by water

JAN '10 / 81 AD AD HelpingHelping Hands Hands from from Other Other Lands Lands

Sushma Mulchandani, an intern with SAATH Charitable Trust, an NGO in Ahmedabad, got an opportunity to meet many enthusiastic and talented volunteers from around the world during the course of her internship. Here, she presents a glimpse of her interactions.

Romaine Rolland, a French scholar rightly said, “If there is Bijal Shah one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living “I was working in the corporate sector in Pune, when small men have found a home from the very earliest days when kids use to bang on my car windows begging for money,” man began the dream of existence, it is India!" And this says Bijal Shah, from the USA. A Chemical engineer by holds true today as well, India is still open for dreamers. qualification, Bijal was moved by such incidents of astute We all are working for the progress of India. But amongst poverty, to work for NGOs. Having completed a us are some youngsters who come from different fellowship programme in social work, she aspires to be a countries to be a part of India's development story. Mr social entrepreneur someday. “I came to India to Rajendra Joshi, Director contribute to the social system, but India has taught me SAATH, was himself an NRI much more than I ever had to offer it,” she says. “I like the focus, clarity, dedication and was moved by the dismal undying spirit of people in this sector, who conditions that prevailed in Leena Desai are completely focused on the betterment slums of Ahmedabad, and Leena Desai has taken a year off from her masters of India.” setup SAATH in 1989. programme in Experimental Surgery to intern with Confident that slum dwellers SAATH. She hopes the experience will help her would willingly pay for understand the Health Care Industry better and hopes to essential services if guaranteed non-eviction, he launched evolve solutions that provide cost effective services in the integrated slum development program, a classic health. Her interests eventually lie in the area of public-private partnership in 1993. Developmental Health Care. They built bridges by involving NRIs with SAATH. I was “I like the focus, clarity, dedication and undying spirit of interning with SAATH were I got a chance to work and people in this sector, who are completely focused on the interact with these enthusiastic and hardworking NRIs. betterment of India. It feels satisfying when your efforts Here are few glimpses of the interaction.

84 / JAN '10 GUJARAT

are valued and when you able to bring a positive change in Teaching here was satisfying, and Balachandran will someone's life,” says the intern from Canada, “The always remember it for the love and affection showered on severeity of problems in a country like India is very her by her pupils. Proud of her Indian Roots she says, “I different from those in a country like Canada. But the did not come to India in search of opportunities. I came passion to solve problems by thinking of creative solutions here because my heritage is Indian and because I have can be seen here,” she adds. always envisioned working in India.”

She commends the kind of work organizations like Astrong believer of economic equality, she adds that she'd SAATH are involved in, expressing that it will aid in a someday like to see all sections of the Indian population future India with equitable development. Leena is also a benefit from globalization and the economic boom. Kathak enthusiast, and dances for 5-7 hours a day, Rick Desai balancing it along with her internship. An alumni of Georgetown “I did not come to India in search of Meghna Shah University where he majored opportunities. I came here because my Meghna Shah, a student of Urban Sociology from the US in Finance and International heritage is Indian and because I have has worked with non-profits before coming to India. Business, Rick Desai, went on always envisioned working in India.” “India is a place where talent and innovative ideas are to work with Lehman Brothers welcomed and encouraged. I wanted to explore the Investment Bank, and with a developmental sector in India, hoping that my skills and private equity firm, Madison Dearborn Partners. “My past work will be put to good use,” says the hardworking work in the equity firm got me interested in the concept of New Yorker for whom working in the grass roots with Microfinance and Social enterprise.” local communities has been her biggest take-away in the Rick applied to American India Foundation's WJ Clinton India experience. Fellowship for Service in India, and through the “India is a country that knows how to give,” she says, “I fellowship got associated with SAATH. Some of the have become much more patient and persistent in my experiences he has had in India have been nothing short of approach to work thanks to the environment here. It gives incredible. “ I was teaching computers to slum children, me an incredible satisfying feeling.” and was amazed to see them computer-savy in just a span of two weeks!” he says, “ There is so much of talent that Niveditha Balachandran exists in India, it is just waiting to be tapped.” A bachelors in International Studies, Niveditha Rick suggests more NRIs should involve themselves in Balachandran has had rich stints in teaching. Currently hands-on developmental work, “The work ethics and pursuing her masters in Development Studies, Niveditha motivational levels in such organization in India is was with the Microfinance Department of SAATH, and seriously inspiring,” he raves. also taught English to underprivileged youth and children during her stay. For more info, please visit:www.saath .org .

Leena explaining the benefits of Microfinance to the residents of Vasna in Ahmedabad. Meghna praising the Rural Artisans.

JAN '10 / 85 GUJARAT Another Feather in Gujarat's cap

Ritika Bade provides insights into the Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (GSFC), which evolved into multi-location, multi plant, multi product, multi service and multi crore company in the business of manufacturing fertilizers, petrochemicals, polymers and industrial gases.

In a bid to offer quality products and services to the farmers, Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (GSFC) was set up by the State Government in 1962. Gujarat ushered a new era of growth when the first prills of fertilizers rolled out of the production unit. The growth story has continued ever since and the company diversified its product portfolio and from 1974 to 1982 set up the manufacturing facilities to produce Caprolactam, Nylon-6, Melamine andArgon gas.

Spread over 1600 acres of land at four different locations - Performance Unperturbed Fertilizernagar, Sikka, Kosamba and Nandesari, GSFC has 26 different plants and 25 products with a turnover of Rs Even though the markets have been extremely volatile in 5881 crores in 2008- 09. The company has developed the FY 2008-09 with raw materials, fuel and power costs excellent marketing network across India independently skyrocketing during this period, GSFC exhibited steady for fertilizers and performance and surpassed all previous records by petrochemicals. The company achieving the highest ever-net sales, which have gone up GSFC, GACL and GNFC are embarking on has also developed strong to Rs 5880.80 crores in the FY 2008-09. During the first big petrochemical complex in Dahej and base in agro development and quarter of current year, the company has achieved the formed a Rs 10,000 crore mega joint services to provide excellent highest ever production of fertilizers as compared to the venture to produce EDC/PVC, Phenol, farm advisory services to the corresponding quarters of the last five years. bis-phenol, polycarbonates and rubber farmers in Gujarat and Expansions and Diversification based products. elsewhere. GSFC has a good market presence in export GSFC is pursuing the conversion of Ammonia I plant for market in products like production of Methanol based technology from M/S Caprolactam Melamine and MEK Oxime in the countries Haldor Topsoe, Denmark and M/S PDIL appointed as of Europe, Asia and Middle East. Today GSFC is the consultants to carry out detailed engineering. The largest producer of Caprolactam and Melamine in the mechanical work of project is expected to be completed by country,which are produced in Baroda. end of March 2011.

Core Strength To meet the demand of phosphoric acid in Sikka unit for DAP plant, GSFC has entered into a Joint Venture viz Competent and motivated personnel are the core strength Tunisian Indian Fertilizers (TIFERT) and is expected to go of the company. The Company provides relevant training on stream during 2011. GSFC has made conscious effort to its employees at various levels with a view to equip for development of green technology and commissioned them to take up the challenges ahead and enhance their 10 MW and 12 MW windmill projects in Kutch to meet the performance in the overall interest of the company. captive power requirements of the company and plans to

86 / JAN '10 add additional 25 MW capacities to meet future power 14001 and BS OHSAS 18001 and recently received RC requirement. Logo in 2008. Preservation and promotion of environment is the fundamental concern for GSFC in the day to day GSFC, GACL and GNFC are embarking on big business activity. petrochemical complex in Dahej and formed a Rs 10,000 GSFC has already crore mega joint venture to produce EDC/PVC, Phenol, achieved Zero Waste bis-phenol, polycarbonates and rubber based products. Discharge at the The project will have integration of by-products from phosphatic group of GACL and GNFC and will be fully integrated either with plants. Two fully- the upstream petrochemical projects at Dahej or raw fledged Effluent materials available within the country. OPaL, the ONGC Treatment Plants and GSPC Joint Venture Company has already set up a (ETP) are installed for cracker in Dahej to produce raw materials such as treatment of effluents propulene, ethylene and butadiene with further scope to generated from augment capacities. petrochemical plants GSFC is already a market leader in producing and treated effluents Caprolactam and Melamine, which are produced at conforming to Fertilizernagar in Baroda. Adequate quantities of urea are Pollution Control imported into the country, which can support ammonia Board norms are urea projects in the country. New fertilizer policy of the discharged into the Government and availability of natural gas from the sea. GSFC plans to revamp its Effluent treatment Plants to Krishna Godavari basin would boost the investments to enhance their treatment capacity. set up ammonia-urea plants with larger capacities. GSFC GSFC was conferred with ICC award for 'Excellence in plans to set up large integrated fertilizer complex, a larger Management of EHS' in 2007, 'Commendation Certificate' replica of that in Fertilizernagar to manufacture for Scope of Meritorious Ammonia, urea, Caprolactam and Melamine to meet the Award for Environment growing demand. Memorandum of understanding GSFC was conferred with ICC award for Excellence and Sustainable (MoU) has already been signed with Gujarat Government 'Excellence in Management of EHS' in Development' in 2006-07 and during Vibrant Gujarat 2009 and land already at Dahej. At 2007, 'Commendation Certificate' for Scope 'Srishti' Good Green present GSFC is carrying out feasibility studies for of Meritorious Award for Environment Governance Award 2008 from execution of the project, which involves investment of Rs Excellence and Sustainable Development' Shristi Publications Pvt Ltd, 7000 crores. in 2006-07 and 'Srishti' Good Green New Delhi. Governance Award 2008 from Shristi EHS Compliance Compliance with the highest Publications Pvt Ltd, New Delhi. Company has taken conscious efforts towards waste safety standards of operation minimization, recycling and conservation of natural has helped the company resources like raw materials water and energy to the achieve highest ever accident free million man hours of maximum possible extent for environment protection. To 13.25 at Baroda unit, 0.88 at Fibre unit, 4.16 at Sikka Unit generate green electricity and mitigate CO2 emissions, 22 and 4.25 at polymer unit till date. Earlier in 2004 also GSFC MW windmill in phased manner and has plans to further had received Sword of Honor from the British Safety increase wind power production by adding new projects. Council. Company has adopted GSFC has bagged the most Clean Development coveted 'International Mechanism (CDM) to Safety Award 2008' from undertake several projects world's renowned for reduction of emissions, Advisory Body, the British energy conservation and Council UK, for the second earn carbon credits. consecutive year. The Keeping pace with company has recently commitment for good received 'ICC Aditya Birla market leaders in the fronts Award' for 'Best of Environment, Health, Responsible Care Comitted Safety (EHS) GSFC has Company'. obtained ISO 9001, ISO

JAN '10 / 87 Welcome to Tamizhagam...

A blend of tradition and culture, Tamil Nadu stands as a testimony to the greatest of temple architecture in the world and marvellous beaches.S. Mrudula elaborates.

Vanakkam! some of the most celebrated of these. UNESCO has identified eight places in Tamil Nadu as world heritage If some sun, sand and hills are what you are looking for, sites. then the Dravidian land is the right place for you to be in. But that is not all about this Tamil state. A blend of The Dutch, British, French and Portuguese have also set tradition and culture, this state stands as testimony to the their foot on this soil and have contributed to its greatest of temple architecture in the world. The hill development in terms of infrastructure, education, stations are worth a visit too. With a coastline of nearly technology etc. 1000 kilometres, the beaches of Chennai, Rameshwaram Must visit and Kanyakumari can leave you breathless. Centuries later, not much has changed about the The capital city of Tamil Nadu Chennai popularity of this state. With much effort, of the 33,000 (formerly called Madras) is a metropolitan city temples that are rooted here, I have narrowed down on in true sense endowed with rich ethnicity and few. urbaneness. On one hand, it has a very strong industrial and technological base and on the Madurai Meenakshiamman temple other, the art forms such as Bharatanatyam This temple is situated in the city of Madurai, the and classical music is very popular. Art, presiding deities being Lord Shiva in the form of theatre and education is given much Sundareswarar or Beautiful Lord and Goddess Parvati as importance. The people of this city identify Meenakshi. There are 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers themselves with idli, vada, filter kaapi (coffee) including two golden Gopurams for the main deities. and of course, Kollywood which is the Tamil Another attraction of this temple is the 1000 pillar hall or film industry. the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam which actually contains 985 Early History pillars.

The Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas Shore temple of Mamallauram have undoubtedly contributed the most to the In a tiny village, south of Chennai is the shore temple of ancient temples, monuments and Mamallapuram which obtained its name as it overlooks infrastructure of Tamil Nadu. Tanjavur, the Bay of Bengal. Built with blocks of granite, this temple Madurai, Tiruchiapalli, Kanchipuram house contains shrines of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and

88 / JAN '10 TAMIL NADU balances the conflicting religious interests. when rows of earthen lamps are lit outside every home. Fire crackers are burst too. Sri Ranganathaswamy Templeof Srirangam: The fifteenth day of the Tamil month of Karthikai marks This temple is dedicated to lord Ranganatha, a reclining the Hindu festival of form of Lord Vishnu and is situated in the holy city of Deepavali. Mr Bhanu Teja, NRI says “Due to the fact Srirangam. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams which the that education in Tamil Nadu is of very high Vishnu temples that devotees aspire to visit in their Voices quality due to the prestigious institutions, lifetime. The 21 day Vaikunta Ekadesi which is a chariot Mr Bhanu Teja is a Chennai more youth from here are now working and festival is very popular where in the Vaishnavite text, based student who has been studying abroad. Thus the NRI remittances Tiruvaimozhi is recited before Lord Vishnu. living in Singapore for quite are also high. As a tourist I must say that Marina beach, Chennai some time now. He says “Due the class of tourism has especially to the fact that education in increased in Tamil Nadu”. A day at this beach cannot be imagined without the Tamil Nadu is of very high umpteen shops selling peanuts and ice creams, balloon quality due to the prestigious men, mini giant wheels, joggers, memorials and statues institutions, more youth are now working and studying and love bitten couples! Extending to Besant Nagar, abroad. Thus the NRI remittances are also high. As a located in South Chennai, this sandy beach brings in lot of tourist I must say tourists around the year. The harbour present here makes that the class of it an export and import hub. tourism has Kanyakumari beach especially increased in Tamil This beach situated at the southernmost tip of the Indian Nadu”. peninsula, is at the confluence of three water bodies - Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The “Touring around Chitra Pournami is indeed a very special day here as one Tamil Nadu is one can see the sun and the moon face to face on the same of the best horizon while on other days the sunset and moonrise experiences I have happen simultaneously. The Vivekanada Rock and 133m had. It has a very Thiruvallur statue here is spellbinding. well connected network of buses Up on the hills and trains” says The Nilgiris, Anamalai hills, Ooty a.k.a Ms Roshini, a U.S. Udhagamandalam, Yelagiri, Kodaikanal and Yercaud are based Indian who nothing short of the perfect honeymoon destinations. had recently visited Tamil They are endowed in abundance with natural flora and Nadu. fauna. Angling, hand gliding and wildlife sanctuaries are "Enchanting Tamil Nadu - few attractions in these places. experience yourself" is a The above mentioned places do not even constitute a campaign launched by the speck of the gamut of monuments and tourist spots that Tourism Department in one can talk about in this place. The TTDC, Tamil Nadu 2003-04. This campaign has Tourism Development Corporation is doing a great job in become very popular and is promoting Chennai as a tourist destination. The campaign meant to communicate the of enchanting Tamil Nadu is doing great. With its friendly varied tourism people and vibrant places, Tamil Nadu sure won't leave opportunities of Tamil you disappointed. Nadu. This has brought about great results in terms Festival time of increase in the tourists turnover. One can find Tamil Nadu at its best during times of With some interesting packages to celebration. One of the most exclusive festivals of Tamil offer for tourists, Nadu is 'Pongal'. A namesake dish, pongal is cooked on www.tamilnadutourism.org is the this day. Bhogi, Mattu Pongal (for celebrating the official site of TTDC (Tamil Nadu cows/bulls) and Kannum Pongal. Tourism Development Corporation). Tamil Nadu's festival of lights is the Karthigai Deepam

JAN '10 / 89 TAMIL NADU Stay Ahead of the Market S. Mrudhula explores the world of investments, offers an insight into the various possibilities of a safe investment for an NRI, and discusses how Tamil Nadu is currently positioned when it comes to FDI growth.

Money never arrives alone. It invariably brings with it the investments: responsibilities of saving it, spending it wisely and ! NRO Account (Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee): The doubling it eventually. That is exactly where investments, funds in this account can be used only in India. Local which promise high returns and a steady source of income funds from rental income, share market dividends, sale over a period of time, come into the picture. of property,etc., are allowed. Today,there are myriad investment options available to an ! NRE Account (Non-Resident External Rupee): To open NRI, ranging from stock markets, mutual funds, real an NRE account, funds are required to be remitted to estate, and insurance to gold. However, irrespective of the India through the proceeds of foreign exchange choice made, what remains constant is continuous remittances from abroad through banking channels in monitoring of one's investments. “Investment is like your an approved manner, and proceeds of foreign currency baby. You have to fend for it,” opined Mohan, an NRI notes and traveler cheques brought into India by the hailing from Chennai, who meticulously follows the NRI. market while making judicious investment decisions. ! FCNR Account (Foreign Currency Non Resident): The NRIs can avail of bank deposits, secondary markets account can be opened with funds remitted from through portfolio investment in equity shares/convertible abroad, or transferred from an existing NRE/FCNR debentures, new issues, mutual funds (provided the account. Conversion to another designated currency is amount is invested out of permitted at a cost to the account holder. Only term NRE/FCNR/NRO account or deposits can be maintained in FCNR accounts, for a The NRO account entails the highest by inward remittance), time range of 6 months to 3 years interest rates, while the FCNR variant Domestic (NRO) funds attracts the lowest. Bank deposits through deposits in Indian The NRO account entails the highest interest rates, while investment in shares, units of Mutual Funds companies, bonds, proprietary the FCNR variant attracts the lowest. Bank deposits etc. are exempt from wealth tax in India. or partnership concerns in investment in shares, units of Mutual Funds etc. are Similarly, interest earned on NRE and FCNR India, immovable property, exempt from wealth tax in India. Similarly, interest earned accounts is completely tax-free. etc. on NRE and FCNRaccounts is completely tax-free.

Here's a sneak peek into some Stock Markets of these investment opportunities. Fortitude and finesse play an alternating role in the stock Bank Deposits markets. However, to ensure regular returns, it is ideal to undertake an investment when the rates are low. While 'A' An NRI can hold the following accounts as bank deposits group shares are the non-risky ones with good reputation, and also utilize these towards making payments for small and mid-cap funds are risky and involve careful calculations. Short-term (sold in less than a year) capital Percentage Share State 2008-09 (April-March) gains arising on sale of equity shares in company, or units (value in USD million) of equity-oriented funds are chargeable to tax at 10%; while long term (more than one year of holding) capital Maharashtra 12,409.20 45.44 gains are exempt of income tax.

Gujarat 2,825.80 10.35 While elaborating on the age at which an individual Karnataka 2,026.40 7.42 should consider investing, Mohan replied, “Anyone less than 35 years old can take a chance and invest in the ratio New Delhi 1,868.10 6.84 80% equity and 20% debt. For a person between 35-50 years, 60%-40% is an ideal proportion. And for those Tamil Nadu 1,724.20 6.31 above 50, a 40%-60% mix is the best. All this is owing to the Andhra Pradesh 1,237.80 4.53 fact that at any point of time, equity has a larger proportion

90 / JAN '10 of risk than debt (bonds/debentures, etc.) which has a country a great opportunity to explore this field. Mohan fixed rate of payback and definite return of principal was of the opinion that Systematic Investment Plans (SIP) amount.” is an even better investment option. These involve a periodic payment of a specific amount. The units of the In the words of Manikandan, NRI Services Officer at fund are accumulated according to its net asset value HDFC bank, Chennai, Anna Nagar, “When people opt for during the period. The other advantage is that SIPs do not equity investment, they route it through approved banks pinch one's pocket. and well established companies”. He did point out that among HDFC's NRI customers; the stock market does not It is not just individuals who are on the lookout for seem to be a favorite, possibly because of the time and investments, but a sizeable number of international attention that investment in stock markets entail. companies also are following suit. Thanks to the Government of Tamil Nadu, FDI has provided new Real Estate: Given a choice, Mohan opined that he, unlike technologies, markets and demands in the state. It is now most NRIs, would not choose real estate due to the fact that one of the top 6 states which have attracted the maximum it involves locking up of funds for an extremely long FDI during Financial Year'09. Additionally, Tamil Nadu period of time. The income tax rates on offer, too, are not has recorded the fastest growth in FDI during fiscal'09, quite encouraging, with a short-term (less than 3 years of with foreign investment increasing by an amazing 734 per holding) capital gain being taxed at a whopping 33%; cent. Be it in the automobile industry, or communications, while the taxation rate for long term (more than 3 years) is umpteen companies are striking deals to set up projects. 20%. Still as high as 50% of NRI investment goes towards real estate possibly because of the high volatility in prices. “Even during the recession of 2008, or the Dubai debt crisis, India's points never fell by much. As compared to Mutual Funds the United States, which took a dip at 7000 points, the BSE The safest option in the eyes of both investors and banks. stood strong at 9000 points at any particular point of time. Providing the luxury of an investment in an 'A' grade This was mainly due to our GDP being secured from stock, they indeed have given the middle-class of the domestic consumption”, revealed Manikandan.

JAN '10 / 91 ORISSA Eco Tourism in Orissa: An Unexplored Avenue Dr. Kranti P. Sawarkarand husband Mr. Subodh Kumar Mishra trace the Tourism industry in Orissa, also known as the Golden Triangle of India.

Over the years tourism has established itself as a the people and culture of Orissa. The Puri-Konark- promising industry.Economy of several countries is based Bhubaneswar, better known as “Golden Triangle of on tourism alone. According to the UNWTO (World Orissa” is a well-established tourist circuit in India. Below Tourism Organization) the world tourism arrival in 2008 are the statistical highlights of Orissa Tourism: was 924 million. Worldwide spending on tourism at the Orissa Tourism:A statistical highlight same time was about US$3 billion per day. The good news is that all these figures are set to double by 2020. Needless In 2007, close to 60 lakh visitors came to Orissa of which to say, tourism alone accounts for 40% of global services only 0.6% were foreigners. However, the receipt from trade and 6% of total world trade. tourism was Rs.3195.14 crores of which foreigners contributed 3.34%. Most domestic visitors are from inside Tourism is an important sector of Indian economy and the state only. contributes substantially in the country's foreign exchange earnings. According to the reports of Ministry of Inflow of money through tourist expenditure Tourism, Government of India, the foreign exchange earnings (FEE) from tourism during 2008 in US dollars are Year Domestic Foreign Total estimated at 11.75 billion as compared to 10.73 billion Tourists Tourists (Rs. in Crores) during 2007, registering a growth of 9.5%. FEE from tourism in US dollars during the period January-March 2003-04 1274.54 30.31 1304.85 2009 were US$ 2731 million with a growth rate of (-) 30.6% 2004-05 2151.10 74.80 2225.90 as compared to the FEE of US$ 3935 million with a growth rate of 31.3% during January-March 2008. The foreign 2005-06 2334.91 88.21 2423.12 tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India during the year 2008 were 2006-07 2673.77 97.29 2771.06 5.37 million (Provisional) as compared to 5.08 in 2007, 2007-08 3088.21 106.93 3195.14 registering a growth of 5.6%. FTAs during the period January-March 2009 were 14.61 lakh with a growth rate of (-) 13.8% as compared to the FTAs of 16.94 lakh and growth However few of us know that, Orissa is the 4th largest rate of 12.2% during January-March 2008. among all Indian states in terms of the extent of forest cover, with per Capita Forest of 0.16 ha. This is more than Orissa is one of the many states pioneering the tourism double the national average. Naturally, the state is the business in India. “The soul of India” (as it markets itself!) abode of immense biodiversity. Thus it is best suited for is blessed with pristine beaches, unbelievable temple eco tourism activities. architecture and a vibrant culture. Spearheaded by Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri, spirituality is simply inherent in Eco-Tourism:An introduction

92/ JAN '10 Ecotourism (also known as ecological tourism) is travel to and international travelers. The effort of the government fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to has earned “Golden Triangle of Orissa” a place in the be low impact and (often) small scale. It helps educate the national and international tourist map. The recent rural traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits tourism initiative at Raghrajpur craft village is also a the economic development and political empowerment of welcome decision. But all these initiatives are restricted to local communities and fosters the coastal region of the state. With respect for different cultures and little more initiative the virgin for human rights. Eco tourism ecological & cultural resources can implies a scientific, aesthetic also made popular among the philosophical approach, although tourists from India and abroad the ecological tourists are not alike. required to be a professional Recommendations for scientist, artist or philosopher. developing eco tourism in Orissa: “The person who practices ecotourism has the opportunity of 1. Attractions of the above immersing him/herself in nature in tourist circuit should be a way most people cannot enjoy in marketed well through print their routine life.” (WTO/UNEP and electronic media so that a 1992) demand to visit these destinations arises.

Eco-TourismProducts of Orissa 2. Accessibility through adequate rail, road and waterways leading to these destinations and circuits There are about 20 sanctuaries in Orissa.Afew eco tourism must be developed. destinations of Orissa are: 3. Amenities at the destinations like hotel, restaurants, 1. Migratory avifauna at Chilika Lake, largest brackish telecommunication & money changing facility etc are water lake inAsia to be developed. 2. Gahirmatha, where the world famous Olive Ridley 4. Carrying capacity each destination or circuit may be turtles lay eggs twice a year well defined so that beyond a particular number the 3. Lion safari and white tiger safari at Nandankanan zoo access to the area is to be restricted.

4. Satkosia gorge at Tikarapara & the Crocodile 5. Participation of local people in providing facilities will Sanctuary nearby lead to a better guest-host relationship.

But the untapped eco tourism potential of Orissa include 6. Capacity building of local people to manage their own beautiful waterfalls at Khandadhar, Pradhanpat & resources. Joranda, golden beaches at Chandipur & Gopalpur, hot 7. Stringent laws for both facility providers and tourist springs at Atri & Taptapani and to cap it all the only hill with provision of station at Daringbadi. punishment in case of Development of Eco-TourismCircuits violation will keep the Tourism alone accounts for 40% of global tourism activity The Forest & Environment Department, Govt. of Orissa services trade and 6% of total world trade. sustainable. along with Ministry of Tourism has taken a policy initiative to develop the Eco-circuits in a holistic and 8. Periodic assessment of the integrated manner. The objective is to ensure that the impact of tourism activity on the ecosystem will weed infrastructure of these mega circuits is developed to the out the activities that are not viable in the area. extent that it can cater to the future tourist inflows so that 9. Sensitize visitors to respect the social & cultural visitors get a satisfying and memorable experience. To diversity of the host destinations. date, the department has identified 11 circuits - Satkoshia- Baisipalli Circuit, Bhitarkanika-Mahanadi Delta Circuit, 10. Sustainable and optimal use of natural resources. Chilika Circuit, Similipal Circuit, Kuldiha Circuit, Dr. Kranti P. Sawarkar was instrumental in making Debrigarh Circuit, Chandaka Circuit, Sunabeda Circuit, Mahaparinirvan Express special among the tourist, Karlapat Circuit, Lakhari Circuit, Gahirmatha Circuit. which later was rewarded with National Tourism Award. Conclusion & Recommendations Her husband Subodh Kumar Mishra's vision is to make tourism affordable to all. The couple endeavors to create a Orissa tourism has created a niche among the domestic niche in the tourism and hospitality industry.

JAN '10 / 93 INTERVIEW EDUCATION AT ITS BEST Vinay Pagarani interviews Prof. Omprakash Mishra, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which provides seamless access to sustainable training to all by innovative technologies and methods.

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has crossed several Today, IGNOU is the largest university of the world, a important milestones in the country. How do you rate citadel of ODL and IGNOU Vice Chancellor heads the IGNOU's contribution to its growth? country's Distance Educational Council (DEC). Accordingly, IGNOU accorded recognition to 14 state OM: The ODL as a pedagogy was conceptualized in India open universities, for the staff of which IGNOU arranges only by IGNOU soon after its inception in 1985. It has been training and teaching programmes. a steady march, since then, for scaling up new stages of innovation. IGNOU today is the National Resource Centre If you evaluate the contribution of IGNOU as the nerve for ODL with international recognition and presence. The centre of ODL in the country, you would probably record university is capable of providing unique learner-centric that over 300 universities of the country are running quality education methods for skill upgradation and IGNOU programmes under Convergence Scheme, about training to all by using innovative technologies and 10 million homes are taking education from IGNOU methodologies. In 1990, the international training through ICTs and Satellite (Edusat), over 50 international programme held at IGNOU was a beginning of the universities and institutions are running need-based university's footprints abroad. In the same year, IGNOU innovative programmes of IGNOU for social conducted its first joint training programme with empowerment, upliftment and employability. Commonwealth of Learning (COL) for learners from Access to education to the disadvantaged in the country India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. has been the motto of IGNOU. How do you describe the journey today?

OM: Within the country, the enrolment strength is over 25 lakh learners enrolled through 62 regional centres.Abroad we have about 28,000 learners who have enrolled through our 53 International Partner Institutions (PIs) spread across 34 countries. Over 338 need-based employment- ensuring educational programmes are on offer for disadvantaged and willing learners who can join the programme anytime of the year.

The learners today find IGNOU courses interesting. These courses are developed through meticulous procedures. Experts from in respective fields join hands with IGNOU academics. The university follows a rigorous course design methodology, based on principles of instructional designs.

What steps IGNOU has undertaken to ensure maximum employment opportunities for the youth?

Another landmark move by IGNOU: Gyan Darshan OM: IGNOU has launched over 250 programmes to ensure employment on successful passing out. Varied In 1991 All India Radio and Doordarshan relayed IGNOU vocational areas such as Tourism and Hospitality Services, programmes. In 1992, the UGC declared that all degrees, Nursing, Journalism, Animation 3D Imaging, TV diplomas, and certificates by IGNOU are equivalent to techniques, Legal Business Process Outsourcing, Foreign those of other universities in the country. In 1993, the COL Languages, Air and Rail Ticketing, Optometry, Fashion recognised IGNOU as a centre of excellence.

94 / JAN '10 Designing, Retailing, Broadcasting & Web Journalism, Darshan is also working to develop the Science Education about fifty programmes in fields of Engineering, channel open to people in the communities. Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacy, Library Sciences, Education, Tell us more about ICT use in teaching and the online Teachers' Training, Sign Language Training, Environment learning portals. & Disaster Management, etc. The stress is to ensure placement and on the job training. For these, the university OM: All that Gyan Vani and In 1991 All India Radio and Doordarshan has entered into collaborative understanding with leading Gyan Darshan are doing are on relayed IGNOU programmes. In 1992, the market players under the banners of FICCI, CII, innovative platforms of the UGC declared that all degrees, diplomas, ASSOCHAM, PHD, multinational houses and Information and and certificates by IGNOU are equivalent to international institutes of repute. All vocational Communication Technologies those of other universities in the country. In programmes of the university are tagged to some (ICTs). IGNOU is also working 1993, the COL recognised IGNOU as a corporate opportunities, so employment after successful to develop the Internet centre of excellence. completion of IGNOU programmes is not difficult. capabilities very fast. Internet is one of the essential platforms for disseminating ODL How does the university plan to spend the Silver Jubilee pedagogy. Efforts are on to make use of the fibre-optic Year? cable network available in the country to take education to OM: IGNOU has charted a heavy schedule to observe the villages and remotest parts of the remote areas of the Silver Jubilee Year. There will be at least 12 National country. For this two essential steps have already been Lectures by various eminent scholars in various taken first, IGNOU has started hosting the secretariat of disciplines. All the 62 Regional Centres will have very the conglomerate of international educational bodies such busy schedules in arranging for Lectures and Seminar as International Development Research Council, Canadal series, grassroots activities, etc. All schools of studies etc. Work has started to set up Common Service Centres would carry out various seminars, lectures, programme (CSCs) in each village panchayat, whereby education launches and training sessions during the year. It is going online will be carried to educate rural girls and boys. to be a great year with developmental activities. Those who cannot travel a distance for admission to school and colleges for formal education will be the most What the Gyan Vani and Gyan Darshan stations have benefited. This will gradually improve Gross Enrolment planned to do for the year? Ratio and Gross Graduation Ratio in the country. OM: Gyan Vani and Gyan Darshan are FM radio channel and dedicated educational TV channel for the masses.

Gyan Vani aims to enhance and supplement the teaching- learning process by reaching the learners through a low cost popular mass medium using interactive formats. Presently Gyan Vani has 31 stations running all over India. It serves as an ideal medium for niche audience addressing the local educational, developmental and socio-cultural requirements. The flavour of the channel is by and large local and the medium is English, Hindi or regional language.

Gyan Vani stations operate as media cooperatives with the day to day programmes contributed by various educational institutions such as NCERT, NIOS, IGNOU and State Open Universities, NGOs, Ministries, government organizations and foreign broadcasters.

Similarly, the Gyan Darshan TV channel also work for the Prof. Mishra (right) at the launch of Bhojpuri coures in IGNOU niche dedicated purposes. It carries educational teaching- learning feeds from various national and private Another development is the tie-up with Indian Railways institutions such as NCERT, Universities, Department of to make use of its surplus fibre optic cable network to rural Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Management, areas. Study Centres will be set up in rural railway stations Indian Institute of Technology, NIOS etc. The Gyan wherein rural folks will be brought for admission and Darshan telecast through DD platforms. It will soon educational sessions. The application of ICT is best used so upgrade its Science Channel to disseminate all latest far in this manner. educational information for the communities. The Gyan

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