Global – IndIan network of knowledGe (Global–Ink): “the VIrtual thInk tank”

AN INITIATIVE OF THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS

Global –INK positioned as a strategic “virtual think tank” connects Overseas Indians (knowledge providers) with the development process (knowledge receivers) in India and empowers them to partner in India’s progress. Being a next generation knowledge management, collaboration and business solution platform, Global-INK provides context to connect knowledge experts with knowledge seekers Consequently, these connections enable flow of knowledge and expertise from the Diaspora back into India and facilitate collective action. Global – INK will catalyze Diaspora ability and willingness into well thought out projects and programs for development, transform individual initiatives into community action and achieve critical mass in chosen verticals.

The portal can be accessed only by registered users. Registration request can be submitted by filing out the registration form located on the Global-INK homepage (www.globalink.in)

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Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs www.moia.gov.in izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=ky; Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs www.overseasindian.in contents 38 40 41 ray’s comrade the laadli of mumBai and manto Actor Soumitra Chatterjee, the lead Abhi na jaana chhod kar... ki cake abhi In his short life spanning barely 43 actor of ‘Apur Sansar’, recalls what it kata nahin... ki pet abhi bhara nahin, years, Manto left a legacy of some of meant to work with the legendary sang veteran actor Zohra Sehgal on her the most profound and popular filmmaker Satyajit Ray 100th birthday contribution to Urdu literature

traVel Printed and Published by Bekal: destination next N. Simte on behalf of the After popularising destinations like Kovalam, Kumarakom, Wayanad Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Thekkady, the Kerala government now aims to place the Akbar Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, pristine and scenic town of Bekal on the global tourism map New Delhi — 110021 42 Website: http://moia.gov.in www.overseasindian.in

Pravasi Bharatiya is a monthly publication. The views expressed in this journal are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA). All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be produced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the permission of MOIA. 10 Editorial correspondence and manuscripts can be addressed to [email protected] aiming for the skies With the twin launches of the all-weather Radar Imaging Satellite (Risat-1) and the Designed and produced by IANS 5,000-km range Agni-V ballistic missile, India’s space and missile scientists have proved (www.ianspublishing.com) on behalf of they are among the best in the world. We chronicle the story behind their success the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

cuisine Printed at not just a Bhujia story Anit Printers Bikaner, one of the oldest Rajput fiefdoms, has 1811, Gyani Bazar, transformed itself without compromising on its Opp. D-56 N.D.S.E Part -1, 18 old-world sensitivities, says Rajyashree Kumari Bikaner Kotla Mubarkpur, 32 New Delhi -110003 second life A special pension and life insurance scheme would benefit over five million unskilled and semi-skilled Diaspora workers, mostly in the Gulf new-age collectors From Wedgewood cutlery to Moorcroft glass sculptures, high-end ‘interior art’ from Europe 34 and the US is finding a niche market in India 20 44 srk charms yale food for life The Ivy League institution felicitates ‘No secrets in the kitchen’ is the mantra of celebrity chef destination australia izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=ky; the Baadshah of Bollywood with Vikas Khanna whose signature dish gobi ka pakoda was Britain’s loss is Australia’s gain. UK’s stringent Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs served to none other than US President Barack Obama visa rules are driving more and more Indian www.overseasindian.in Chubb Fellowship, one of Yale’s top honours 38 students Down Under news clean energy: ‘india to become third now explore stars in the us, leap for india largest aviation market ’ from indian territory!

push India from ninth to third position in students FroM nearly 80 Delhi dents to control and monitor 10 inch and the world in terms of volume of traffic, ne - schools would soon get an opportunity to 16 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes lo - cessitating a very strong security system,” explore the night skies in the United States cated at the Ironwood North Observatory, said Gurjot Singh Malhi, Commissioner of while sitting in India using an Internet tel - while sitting in New Delhi. Security (Civil Aviation), Bureau of Civil escope through a project in collaboration “It is the first time that such a project Aviation Security. “The bureau has endeav - with the International Astronomical has been brought to India on a large scale. oured to help equip stakeholders responsi - Search Collaboration. Selected students will get an opportunity ble for aviation security in the country with Students, sitting at their desks in India, to be trained and participate in this excit - need for indian cutting-edge technology, skill enhancement will remotely control telescopes to see and ing real science project,” said C.B. Devgun domestic helps IndIa has taken a leap in the clean IndIa Is lIkely to become the third- of security personnel, training in use of ad - explore the night sky visible in the U.S. and from SPACE. energy race with a 54 percent increase in largest aviation market in the world from vanced technology and acquisition of secu - take high quality pictures of celestial ob - abroad: ravi investments in 2011, vaulting it from 10th its current position as traffic volumes grow rity equipment,” he said. jects such as asteroids, galaxies, nebulae to sixth place in the G-20 in just one year, exponentially, a top official said recently. The civil aviation sector had grown at and clusters. there Is demand for Indian workers of according to a new study. “The growth of civil aviation is likely to 18.5 percent in the last seven years. The international space science project various skill-sets such as housemaids and The wind sector led the way, attracting — ‘Internet Telescope’ — is brought to home nurses abroad, including in the Gulf $4.6 billion out of a total $10.2 billion in - India by SPACE (Science Popularisation countries, Malaysia, Singapore and in vestment in India and spurring deployment Association of Communicators & Educa - some European nations, Overseas Indian of 2.8 GW during the year, a 38 percent in - ‘indian oil investments tors), an organisation working for spreading Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has said. crease in wind generating capacity, accord - awareness about astronomy in youngsters. Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, ing to The Pew Charitable Trusts. in both sudans safe ’ Internet Telescope enables school stu - Ravi said the recruitment of home nurses “On a number of measures, India has with educational qualification above Class been one of the top performing clean en - This was conveyed to Amarendra 10, and also those migrating to Emigration ergy economies in the 21st century, regis - Khatua, India’s special envoy on Sudan and kerala ad wins award in prague Clearance Not Required (ECNR) coun - tering the fifth-highest five-year rate of additional secretary in the External Affairs tries, is not regulated under the Emigration investment growth and eighth-highest in in - Ministry, when he met top ministers and of - (PIAF) in the category of ‘State as an Ad - Act, 1983. “As such, no data is available stalled renewable energy capacity,” said ficials in Khartoum and Juba recently. vertiser’. “This is an unprecedented honour in this regard with the ministry,” Ravi said. Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s Clean ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL), the overseas for us. It is a recognition of the hard work He also noted that the government pol - Energy Programme. arm of India’s state-owned oil major, had in - put in by the Kerala Tourism in managing icy was to facilitate orderly and legal emi - “The country holds great potential in the vestments worth $2.5 billion in petroleum the Brand Kerala and devising effective gration of Indian workers including Asia/Oceania region and will continue to exploration and production in undivided marketing strategies,” said Kerala Tourism women; discourage illegal and irregular be a top destination for private investment Both sudan and South Sudan have as - Sudan as part of the Greater Nile Petroleum Minister A.P. Anil Kumar. migration; and ensure the protection and this year,” she said. sured India that its $2.5 billion investments Operating Co., in which it owns a 25 percent The other big names, which shared the welfare of emigrants in accordance with India’s ‘National Solar Mission’, with a in the oil industry spanning the trans-na - stake. The conflict between the two Sudans the kerala Tourism advertisement podium with Kerala Tourism, included Mc - the Emigration Act and rules made for goal of 20 GW of solar power installed by tional border are safe and will not be affected has affected OVL’s commitment to supply campaign ‘Your Moment is Waiting’ has Donald’s Germany, Sony Pictures, Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) 2020, helped drive the seven-fold jump in by the simmering dispute over oil revenues 12,000 barrels of oil per day to Sudan, caus - won the bronze medal at the prestigious Heineken and Lego. The PIAF is an exclu - passport-holders’ emigration to 17 ECR- solar energy investments, to $4.2 billion. between the two countries. ing a loss of over $8 million. Prague International Advertising Festival sive event in the global advertising calendar. notified countries. westminister university to strengthen india ties a first, here comes bengaluru financial city

BrItaIn-Based University of West - search,” said Myszka Guzkowska, Univer - FInance MInIster Pranab leading banks and institutions on 50 minster has signed a memorandum of sity of Westminster Pro Vice-Chancellor, Mukherjee laid the foundation stone acres of land, provided by the Kar - understanding with Mumbai’s HR announcing its new Indian presence. for the country’s first financial city, nataka government,” IFCI chief ex - College of Commerce and Economics to The University also announced its new being built by the state-run IFCI In - ecutive and IIDL chairman Atul expand its Indian scholarship programme, partnership with the Jamia Millia Islamia frastructure Development Ltd. Kumar Rai said on the occasion. officials said. University in New Delhi. (IIDL) at Hardware Park, near the The ambitious project is scheduled “India has historically been an impor - “It is our goal to strengthen these international airport at Bagalur, to be completed in three years. The tant partner for the University of Westmin - existing ties into long-term, sustainable about 30 kms from Bengaluru. layout of the financial city is based ster, through students who have come to and mutually-beneficial relationships for “We are developing India’s first fi - on the Zen geomancy concept, with learn with us, academics who have shared the university and for India,” Guzkowska nancial city as a premium urban in - effective circulation and activity pat - their expertise, and as a partner for re - added. frastructure in association with terns.

6 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 7 news

guidelines and they have to be adhered to,” Ahamed told IANS . big oz dollars to woo indian tourists The minister said the Consulate would start functioning in a few months. other Asian countries in the next decade. million people in 2009 to 3.2 billion in The news about the setting up of the Besides India, the Tourism and Trans - 2030. Consulate was announced last July when port Forum (TTF) has also urged the fed - The TTF and other tourism promotion UAE’s Ambassador to India Mohamed eral government to focus on Australia’s top bodies Down Under have reasons to focus Sultan Abdalla Al Owais met Kerala Chief visitor resource country China and other on China, India and other Asian countries Minister Oommen Chandy. Asian countries. as there has been an increase of 40 percent The new Consulate will help people of “The burgeoning middle class in Asia in the number of Asian visitors compared the state who want to go to the UAE for will continue to provide potential visitors to 1999. The growth in export earnings work. and their increasing buying power makes from non-Asian source markets, on the Currently, they have to get their docu - them a key market for Australian goods other hand, went up by only 2 percent over ments certified by the UAE Embassy and and services, including food and wine, ed - the same period. Consulate in New Delhi and Mumbai, re - Buoyed By the number of Indian ucation, health and technology,” says the In the last three years, India has jumped spectively. tourists flocking to Australia, an influential forum’s report, titled ‘Australia in the from the 11th position to seventh as the The new consulate is also expected to tourism promotional body has asked the Asian Century.’ source country of visitors to Australia. The uae to set up consulate in kerala enhance trade between Kerala and the Australian government to invest $1 billion According to a TTF projection, the increase looks even more impressive if UAE. to attract more visitors from India and Asian middle class could rise from 500 analysed on percentage basis (315 percent). the unIted Arab Emirates (UAE) has “The decision to set up the Consulate in More than a million people from the decided to set up its Kerala Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram is because of the state live and work in the UAE, says a Thiruvananthapuram, Minister of State rule that Consulates can be set up only in study by the Ministry of Overseas Indian for External Affairs E. Ahamed has said. state capitals. There are certain rules and Affairs. water: kabul seeks indian help oz commits nsg

and Water Minister Alhaj M. Ismail. support to india Ismail, who met Indian Water Resources india announces $50 mn credit for seychelles Minister Pawan Bansal during his visit in cItIng IndIa’s “very good” non- April, said Afghanistan wanted India to proliferation track record, Australia has notIng that India would always chelles counterpart James Alix Michel in help it build capacities in the water sector, committed to support its membership in be a “trusted partner” of Seychelles”, Mahe recently. including training of technical staff. international atomic export control President Pratibha Patil announced a $50 Expressing satisfaction over the present “Our expectation from India is to build regimes, including the Nuclear Suppliers million line of credit and $25 million state of their economic-commercial ties, capacity of staff...helping (in) manage - Group (NSG). grant for the Indian Ocean archipelago. the two countries agreed that considerable ment of water resources in the country,” “In principle, we would look at India’s “India will always be a trusted develop - opportunities still exist for further expan - Ismail said. The minister added that build - application (for the NSG) very ment partner of Seychelles,” Patil said in a sion, particularly in the areas of trade and WIth long years of conflict reducing ing of water infrastructure requires “enor - favourably,” Australian High Commis - press statement after talks with her Sey - economic cooperation. the area under irrigation, Afghanistan is mous effort” due to 30 years of sioner Peter Varghese said in New Delhi. looking for assistance from India and other “destruction (war)” in Afghanistan. “India has a very good track record of “friendly countries” in building its water in - “Not only India, other friendly coun - non-proliferation. We are entirely com - gujarat kids on sharing a “message of love, inspiration, first tagore award frastructure and management, said Energy tries could also help us,” he said. fortable with NSG exemption to India,” and a call to action: to push the world he added. gandhi mission closer to oneness and peace,” will be for ravi shankar Varghese was replying to questions staged in Chicago, Washington, D.C., San us push for community colleges after delivering a talk on ‘Australia-India Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Austin, classIcal sItar maestro Ravi Shankar Strategic Partnership in an Asian Cen - Atlanta and New Jersey. has been awarded the first Tagore Award for the visit of education ministers from sev - tury’ at Observer Research Foundation, a ‘Ekatva’ was inspired by a similar project Cultural Harmony by a jury chaired by eral Indian states to explore the possibility New Delhi-based think tank. called ‘Ekta’ (Unity), which was created in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mark of opening such publicly funded two-year “If India is able to demonstrate that it 2000 by Manav Sadhna, a nonprofit based the 150th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate institutions that primarily attract students can comply with rules and regulations of at the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram, and Rabindranath Tagore. from the local community. the systems in place to manage effective teachers from the Darpana Academy of The National Implementation Committee The State Department, Nuland said, systems of export control... If India is Performing Arts, the organisers said. for Tagore's anniversary celebrations, chaired has “been working with the Indian side able to do that, I don’t see any reason “It sounds like a large task for small by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, said to flesh out the initiative” that was agreed why India ought not be admitted to all sIxteen chIldren from the slums people — but I have learned every day in he is the first recipient of the Tagore Award the unIted States is working with upon between President Barack Obama of those groups,” Varghese said about of Ahmedabad in Gujarat will tour the working with these children that they are in recognition of his outstanding contribu - India to flesh out an initiative to set up and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. the four blocs — the NSG, the Missile United States in June to spread Mahatma not ‘small’ in any way — they are capable tion to cultural harmony. hundreds of community colleges in India Asked if the Indian degrees are ac - Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Gandhi’s message of “oneness” through a of so much,” said ‘Ekatva’ director The award comprises `1 crore in cash, a on the American pattern, according to cepted in the U.S., she said that was on a Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia 90 minute dance-drama. Nimesh Patel, a Wharton Business School citation in a scroll, a plaque and an “exquisite State Department spokesperson Victoria case-by-case issue depending upon where Group. He said Australia would like to Titled ‘Ekatva’ (Oneness), the show, graduate and former hip-hop artist. carved handicraft or handloom memento”, Nuland. “Well, obviously, we support this students graduate from and where they see India as a part of the non-prolifera - the committee said. initiative,” she replied when asked about are looking to get accredited from. tion treaty (NPT).

8 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 9 FLIGHT TO GLORY

In April, India’s space and missile scientists made the nation proud with the twin launches of the all-weather Radar Imaging Satellite (Risat-1) and the 5,000-km range Agni-V ballistic missile. N.C. Bipindra chronicles the story behind these successes

Agni-V being launched from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast. pril 2012 will go down in Risat-1 is the heaviest luggage so far fer - India’s history as a milestone ried by a PSLV since 1993, delivering it into month when the nation’s sci - a polar circular orbit at a 480-km altitude. entific community touched the “PSLV-C19 mission is a grand success. Askies with glory, literally. It was in this This is the 20th successive successful flight month that India’s space and missile scien - of PSLV. India’s first radar imaging satel - tists made the nation proud with the twin lite was injected precisely into orbit,” In - successful launches of its all-weather Radar dian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Imaging Satellite (Risat-1), that can be put chairman K. Radhakrishnan said after the to both civilian and military use, and the launch. “It is a 30-year effort,” he added. 5,000-km long-range Agni-V ballistic mis - Remote-sensing satellites send back pic - sile that can reach targets deep inside tures and other data. India has the largest China’s northern parts and the whole of constellation of remote-sensing satellites in Pakistan. Come, be part of the Indian the world, providing imagery in a variety space Odyssey mission: of spatial resolutions, from more than a metre ranging up to 500 metres, and is a RISAT-1 major player in vending such data globally. The indigenously made Risat-1 was With 11 remote sensing/earth observa - launched from the spaceport of Shri - tion satellites orbiting in space, India is a harikota in Andhra Pradesh, some 80 km world leader in the remote sensing data mar - from Chennai, on April 26. This one act ket. The 11 satellites are TES, Resourcesat- propelled India into a select group of na - 1, Cartosat-1, 2, 2A and 2B, IMS-1, Risat-2, 53 27 11 tions like the U.S., Canada, and some Eu - Oceansat-2, Resourcesat-2 and Megha- satellites PSLV has foreign satellites India remote sensing/ earth ropean countries having such technology. Tropiques. Risat-1’s synthetic aperture radar successfully launched has placed in orbit till observation satellites The rocket that put the 1,858-kg Risat-1 (SAR) can acquire data in C-band and in orbit is the 44.5-metre tall and 321-tonne would orbit the earth 14 times a day. till date date India has put in orbit heavy Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C19 In 2009, ISRO had launched 300-kg (PSLV-C19) that had a one-way ticket to Risat-2 with an Israeli-built SAR enabling soar into the skies. earth observation in all-weather, day and COVER STORY

ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan (left) and easily hit targets across entire Asia and as his team showing high-quality images acquired from RISAT-1 to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan far as Europe. Singh in New Delhi. Following the test, Agni-V will go through more tests before it is inducted into the armed forces by the end of 2014 or early stormed into an elite, exclusive club of na - 2015. India maintains a ‘no-first-strike’ nu - tions comprising the U.S., Russia, China, clear doctrine. Agni-V and the 3,500-km- France and Britain — all U.N. Security range Agni-IV missile, successfully tested in Council permanent members — that have November 2011, provide the country’s this capability. strategic forces “a second strike” capability Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against a nuclear attack from enemies. hailed the successful test as “another mile - stone” in the country’s “quest for security, THE SPACE ODYSSEY preparedness and to explore the frontiers From the days of having a church as con - of science”. trol room, the bishop’s house as office, a “The three-stage Agni-V missile’s entire bicycle as ferry, naked eyes to track the performance has been successfully demon - smoke plume at Thumba in Kerala, and strated. All mission objectives and opera - converting a toilet into a satellite data re - tional targets have been met,” Defence ceiving centre in Bangalore, the Indian Research and Development Organisation space odyssey has come a long way to (DRDO) chief V.K. Saraswat said. launching lunar probes, working on a “India is today a nation with proven ca - Mars mission and ferrying foreign satel - pability to design, develop and produce a lites into orbit. long-range ballistic missile. India is a mis - “During those days, infrastructure was sile power now,” an exultant Saraswat said. not available. We utilised whatever was “It was a fantastic launch. It hit the tar - available. In Bangalore, we converted a toi - get with high accuracy,” S.P. Dash, the di - let into a data receiving centre for our first night conditions. With the launch, the first and third stages are fuelled by solid rector of the test range, added. satellite Aryabhatta,” mused U.R. Rao, PSLV rocket has successfully put in orbit fuel, while the second and fourth stages are Reaction came in swiftly from China as former chairman of ISRO. 53 satellites out of 54 it carried — mostly powered by liquid fuel. ISRO had used the well, where Foreign Ministry spokesper - Today, India is reckoned as a serious remote sensing/earth observation satellites PSLV-XL variant for its Chandrayaan-1 son Liu Weimin downplayed the tests, say - emerging player in the global satellite both Indian and foreign — and has been a moon mission in 2008 and for launching ing: “China and India are both big launch and manufacturing industry and the major revenue earner for ISRO. the GSAT-12 communications satellite in emerging countries, we are not rivals but market leader in vending images sent by its Its sole failure happened in 1993, when 2011. cooperation partners.” remote sensing/earth observation satellites. a satellite was not able to attain orbit. During the test, the 17.5-metre-long, 50- Ferrying 27 foreign satellites till date, The rocket that delivered Risat-1 into AGNI-V tonne Agni-V reached an altitude of 600 km ISRO, in August 2012, would carry an 800 space is ISRO’s four-stage PSLV’s up - With the Agni-V launch from Wheeler Is - and attained a velocity of 7,000 metres per kg French satellite (the heaviest foreign graded variant called PSLV-XL. The letters land off the Odisha coast on April 19, second, which enabled the missile to achieve payload to be carried by an Indian rocket), XL stand for extra large as the six strap-on India emerged as a major missile power - its intended target range. The missile system signalling the increased confidence in the motors hugging the rocket at the bottom house of the world, having developed this can be transported by road or rail. space agency’s PSLV rocket. The space can carry 12 tonnes of solid fuel as against long-range missile capable of carrying a Agni-V’s range is 500-km short of an the base version that has a fuel capacity of one-tonne warhead, almost entirely indige - ICBM, for which the world standard is nine tonnes. The PSLV’s four stages are fu - nously over the last four years. 5,500-km range. China’s Dongfeng-31A A panoramic view of fully-integrated 44.5-metre elled with solid and liquid propellants. The With the development, India also ICBM has a range of 11,500 km and can tall and 321-tonne heavy PSLV-C19.

E 1962 The Indian National Committee for 1968: Experimental Satellite 1972 Department of Space is established 1979 Bhaskara-1, an earth observation

N Space Research is set up by Department Communication Earth Station is set and ISRO brought under DOS. ISRO Satellite experimental satellite is launched. First exper - I

L of Atomic Energy, and work begins on up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Centre is established in Bangalore and the imental launch of Satellite Launch Vehicle

E building Thumba Equatorial Rocket Space Applications Centre is formed in (SLV-3) carrying Rohini satellite. Satellite is

M Launching Station (TERLS). 1969 The Indian Space Research Ahmedabad. not placed in the orbit. I

T Organisation (ISRO) is formed under

1963 First sounding rocket is launched. Department of Atomic Energy. 1975 Satellite Instructional Television Experi - 1980 – Second experimental launch of SLV-3 E

C ment is done, using a U.S. satellite. with Rohini satellite. Mission successful.

A 1965 Space Science and Technology 1971 The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is P Centre is established in Thumba, Kerala. formed in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. 1976 First Indian satellite Aryabhatta launched. 1981 – First developmental launch of SLV-3. S

12 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 13 COVER STORY

DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat (second from right) communication satellites can be launched with his team celebrating the successful launch A GIANT LEAP of Agni-V. and the rocket used for launching heavier, third-party payloads. “The challenge before ISRO is to get its by Ford Aerospace and was launched by own cryogenic engine that would power an American rocket. The satellite had a the final stages of the GSLV rocket per - short life,” said Pramod Kale, the first proj - fectly. Otherwise, the rocket has the same ect director for INSAT. reliability as the PSLV,” said B.N. Suresh, However, success started smiling at former director, VSSC. ISRO from INSAT-1B onwards which, ac - The one GSLV rocket fitted with an in - cording to Rao, ushered in the communi - digenous cryogenic engine failed during a cation revolution in India. There was no flight. The failure of a second GSLV looking back for the space agency on the rocket in 2010 forced ISRO to apply the satellite side. From one-tonne satellites, the brakes on GSLV — to take a detailed look INSAT series started growing in weight to at its heavy-rocket programme. become three-tonners and ISRO later According to ISRO Chairman K. Rad - started making satellites for others. hakrishnan, the space agency is in the Scientists at the Vikram Sarabhai Space process of getting its cryogenic engine Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram ready to power the GSLV sometime during during those times were, however, toiling September/October 2012. agency has also jointly built two heavy from Thumba since 1963, its efforts to to get their rocket right, as the SLV and Meanwhile, ISRO, that is also developing satellites — the 3,453 kg W2M and the launch a rocket with a heavier payload ac - Augmented SLV (ASLV) missions gave an upgraded GSLV variant called GSLV 2,541 kg Hylas — for the French agency tually started with Satellite Launch Vehi - mixed results. Mark-III, plans to fly the rocket without the EADS Astrium. cle-3 (SLV-3) in 1980. “The two ASLV failures were the real cryogenic engine during 2012-13. On its own, India uses its satellites for However, by that time, ISRO had al - test beds for perfecting the PSLV rocket. Is - civilian (earth observation/remote sensing, ready built and launched two satellites — sues like rocket tumbling, monitoring of THE MISSILE TRAJECTORY communication, meteorology) and de - the 358 kg Aryabhatta and the 444 kg rocket’s main forces, detailed profiling of India’s journey in missile technologies has fence purposes. Recently, the government Bhaskara-1. wind and other issues were done,” said been one roller-coaster ride, punctuated with told Parliament that communication satel - “Starting from the scratch was the chal - S.C. Gupta, former director of VSSC. efforts at isolating the country from obtain - lites for Navy and Air Force would be lenge before us while we began the Aryab - The third ASLV with Stretched Rohini ing critical dual-use technologies for con - launched within a two-year timeframe. hatta project. A majority of the team Satellite Series (SROSS) turned out to be ducting its only two nuclear tests in 1974 The high point in India’s space odyssey members were new to this field. The time successful but the result of the first PSLV and 1998. was its moon mission in 2008 when it given was just two-and-half-years so that it flight in 1993 was negative, owing to a soft - Effectively, India’s entry into missile de - launched Chandrayaan-1. Chandrayaan-2, could be flown in a Russian rocket. Build - ware error which was later sorted out. velopment to provide it a credible second- test in February 1988. The single-stage, From the days when bicycles and bullock-carts a joint lunar exploration mission with the ing clean room, thermo vacuum room and Since then, it has been a steady march strike option and deterrent to any nuclear solid-fuel 700-900-km range Agni-I test worked as ferries to carry rocket parts, the Indian space odyssey has come a long way. Russian Federal Space Agency, is slated for other facilities were all new,” recalled Rao. ahead for ISRO as far as the PSLV rocket adventure that its adversaries in the neigh - quickly followed in May 1989. The Mis - launch in 2014. After Bhaskara-1, the Indian space is concerned. The space agency has now bourhood could attempt happened only in sile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) But the achievements that ISRO started agency built the APPLE communication three PSLV variants. “As technology was 1983 when Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was did slow down the Indian missile pro - “consortium approach” that roped in notching up in rocket and satellite satellite that laid the ground for the INSAT not available, we developed our own navi - roped in to pioneer the Integrated Guided gramme but did not cripple it in any way. many of its own laboratories to work on launches since 1990s were due to the trials series satellites possessing multiple capa - gational systems,” Gupta said. Missile Development Programme India continued its march and here we specific technologies, private industries and tribulations that its founding fathers bilities — telecom, television, meteorolog - But the serious issue before ISRO is per - (IGMDP). The IGMDP was successfully have Agni-V, with all its three stages pow - that produced components through tech - underwent while laying the building ical and imaging. “Building the four-in-one fecting the technology for its heavier concluded in 2007. But it’s first step was ered by solid propellants, as a “game- nology transfers and universities that col - blocks. Though ISRO has been flying satellite was a challenge. While we de - rocket – the Geosynchronous Satellite the 150-km-range, single-stage, liquid-pro - changer” for India. laborated on projects to infuse new sounding rockets (experimental rockets) signed the INSAT-1A satellite, it was made Launch Vehicle (GSLV) – so that heavy pelled, surface-to-surface Prithvi missile’s The march was ably aided by DRDO’s thinking. The success story continues.

1982 Launch of Insat-1A communication 1987 First development launch of e 1992 First successful launch of ASLV 1994 Fourth developmental flight of

n satellite by an U.S. rocket. Augmented SLV (ASLV) with satellite placing SROSS-C satellite. Launch of ASLV with SROSS-C2. Mission successful. i SROSS-1. Mission fails. Insat-2A — the first satellite of Successful launch of PSLV placing IRS-P2 l

e 1983 Second developmental flight of the indigenously-built second in orbit. SLV-3 places Rohini satellite in orbit. Insat 1988 Launch of Indian Remote Sensing m generation Insat series, followed i system is commissioned with the launch (IRS) satellite – IRA-1A — through by series 3 and 4. 1996 Third developmental flight of PSLV t to Insat-1B satellite. Russian rocket. Mission fails. with IRS-P3. e 1993 First development flight of Polar c 1984 First Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma 1991 Launch of second operational a Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with 1997 First operational launch of PSLV

p enters Russian space station ‘Salyut 7’. remote sensing satellite IRS-1B. IRS-1E. Mission fails. carrying IRS-1D. s

14 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 15 Interview Interview

ally exclusive. Both are imminent to be pursued at the same time for the country. We plan to have the next flight of GSLV WOMEN BEHIND AN AUGUST with an indigenous cryogenic engine very soon. Our GSLV Mark III is in an ad - vanced stage of development and an exper - THE ROCKETS BEGINNING imental flight test is being planned. On India and China in space sector. The Indian and Chinese space pro - gineering for reasons I don’t know. I com - India is set to ferry its heaviest foreign satellite into grammes have reached new heights in their pleted my engineering and took an M.Tech orbit, ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan tells V. Jagannathan respective endeavours. The Indian space in guided missiles,” said Thomas. programme is evolving with the impetus Among scientists, the father of India’s for national imperatives and for social and missile programme A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is ome August, an Indian rocket Imaging Satellite (Risat-1). He dwells on economic uplifting of the people. India’s her inspiration. “When I joined in 1988, will ferry a French satellite, an ISRO’s plans to build heavier satellites, space programme is bright and several suc - Dr. Abdul Kalam was a director of DRDL 800-kg SPOT-6 — the heaviest measures to increase the transponder ca - cessful missions in a short span of time are (Defence Research and Development Lab - foreign satellite till date — to - pacity and other matters. Excerpts: a testimony to this unconcealed truth. oratory) and was the one who directed me Cwards the heavens. In the process, Antrix to join inertial navigation group.” Corporation, the commercial arm of Indian On ISRO’s plans to build heavier satel - Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will lites having more transponders… VALARMATHI’S JOuRNEY earn a handsome fee. ISRO currently develops satellites in the Tessy Thomas N. Valarmathi Satellite scientist N. Valarmathi, 52, was What is further interesting is that the 3-3.2 tonne class lift-off mass and around Project Director (Mission) Agni-V Project director for Risat-1 herself on cloud nine when her baby, the launch deal signals the increasing confi - 8 kW power. We are currently developing Age: 49 Age: 52 Risat-1, started its ascent to the skies. “It dence of others in the precise satellite a 4-tonne class communication satellite, Employer organisation: DRDO Employer organisation: ISRO was a nice feeling. I felt great,” Valarmathi, launch capability of ISRO’s Polar Satellite GSAT-11, that will have around 14 kW Working since: 1988 Working since: 1984 project director for the Risat-1 project, Launch Vehicle (PSLV). power and a Ka/Ku band hybrid payload. Family: Husband in the Indian Navy; Family: Husband, a banker; son named Tejas a daughter and a son said. “Today, internationally, India is viewed The throughput of this satellite would be Passionate about: Cooking Passionate about: Nature, books Hailing from Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur dis - as a front-running space-faring nation. Of around three-four times of the satellites trict where she had her schooling, Valar - course, this is a great testimony to our ca - that we have today. We are also planning mathi is the first woman to head a remote pabilities that the French satellite maker to develop a 6-tonne class communication sensing satellite project. Holding a Mas - EADS Astrium prefers PSLV over the other satellite with even higher payload capacity. he sees no paradox in a woman an accountant, suffered a paralytic stroke ter’s degree in engineering from Anna Uni - launch vehicles of the same class. You may Current transponder capacity, operated as working on Agni-V. Associated and remained confined to the house till his versity, Valarmathi joined ISRO Satellite also remember that we had earlier built two INSAT capacity, is around 250. This in - with all Agni-series missiles, death. “My father was good at mathemat - Centre in Bengaluru in 1984. Valarmathi commercial communication satellites for cludes capacity from ISRO satellites and Tessy Thomas led the Agni-IV ics and was a very knowledgeable person. has worked on satellite projects like Insat European operators EUTELSAT and leased transponders. The INSAT capacity is Steam as project director for vehicles and My mother is a qualified teacher but she 2A, IRS IC, IRS ID, TES and finally Risat. Avanti Communications, in collaboration set to reach the 300 mark by the 12th plan. mission and was project director (mission) never went to any school for teaching. She Wife of a banker, G. Vasudevan, and with EADS,” ISRO chairman K. Radhakr - for Agni-V. “There is no gender discrimi - put in all her effort in teaching her chil - mother of two, Valarmathi got involved in ishnan said. With augmentation of manufac - On the view that India should first per - nation in science because science does not dren, the six of us — five girls and a boy.” the Risat-1 project in 2002 and worked in turing capacity and industry participation, we fect its heavier rocket, the Geosynchro - know who is working for it. When I reach While her siblings became engineers, capacities like deputy project director and will aggressively pursue the international nous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), there for work, I am no more a woman. I managers and bank officers, Thomas rose associate project director before she got el - market for satellites in the future, he added. before inter-planetary missions... am only a scientist,” says Thomas. to dizzy heights as a defence scientist. evated as the project director. Radhakrishnan, 62, was busy with the Launching heavier rockets and conduct - She was in class VIII when her father, “From my school days, I wanted to do en - — V. Jagannathan with Mohammed Shafeeq post-launch activities of India’s own Radar ing inter-planetary missions are not mutu -

e 1999 PSLV carries foreign payloads 2004 Launch of Edusat by GSLV’s first 2008 Launch of Israeli satellite Tecsar 2010 Failure of two GSLV missions.

n (Korean and German satellites), along operational flight. by PSLV. Launch of 10 satellites by a Launch of Cartosat-2B, STUDSAT and i

l with ISRO’s satellite ‘Oceansat’. single PSLV — two Indian and eight three small foreign satellites by PSLV.

e 2005 Second launch pad at Sriharikota. foreign. India’s first moon mission

m 2001 Successful launch of heavy rocket Launch of Cartosat-1, Hamsat by PSLV. Chandrayaan-1 by PSLV is planned. 2011 Launch of Resourcesat-2 and two i Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle small satellites by PSLV. Launch of GSAT- t (GSLV) with GSAT-1 satellite. 2007 Launch of Cartosat-2 with Space 2009 Launch of Radar Imaging Satellite 12 by PSLV. Launch of Megha Tropiques e (Risat-2) and Anusat from Anna and three small satellites by PSLV.

c Capsule Recovery Experiment and two

a 2003 Launch of GS AT -2 onboard GSLV foreign satellites and successful recovery University (first satellite from an

p and Resourcesat-1 by PSLV. of the space capsule. Indian University) by PSLV. 2012 Launch of Risat-1 by PSLV. s

16 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 17 Special Report

mohan Singh during the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur this January. The scheme, aimed at people in the age New Life After group 18-50, caters to those having a stamp of “emigration clearance required” retiremeNt on their passports, besides a valid work permit or an employment contract. The pension will commence after age 60 l The Overseas Ministry will provide and there would be an accidental cover an annual co-contribution of up once the member of this scheme returns to `3,000 for female workers and from abroad. `2,000 for male Indians working According to the Ministry of Overseas overseas. Indian Affairs (MOIA), over five million people belonging to the poorest of the poor l Workers will be required to partly in the NRI community would be eligible contribute for their pension and for this scheme. resettlement returns. Incidentally, this scheme is generally meant for those in the Middle-East coun - l The pension will commence after tries. “This is a life insurance scheme, be - age 60 and there would be an ac - sides helping the holder to save for old age cidental cover once the member of and accumulate savings for resettlement. this scheme returns from abroad. My ministry would also contribute from its budget to the PLIF,” said minister Ravi. l The scheme provides opportunity Any person availing the scheme has to to low-paid workers to accumu - pay `5,000 while the MOIA would chip in late savings for resettlements pen - with `2,000 for male workers, and `3,000 sion when they return to India. if the person entering the scheme is going abroad to work as a housemaid. l It also provides life insurance “In this scheme, the Life Insurance Cor - cover for a specified period in poration and Bank of Baroda are also par - case of natural death. ticipants. People opting for this would get a unique number and all the details of the l People opting for this would get members would be available on a com - a unique number and all the puter,” added the minister. details of the members would He said all the Indian embassies have be available on a computer. been informed that they should help of those who approach them to become a member. “Incidentally, this is the pilot project that has been launched and one which is going scheme in force, no one needs to worry to bring some sort of stability for the NRIs. about their future,” remarked the chief From left, State Excise Minister K. Babu; CPI We also call upon the non-resident organ - minister. Parliamentarian K.E. Ismail; State Non-Resident isations that are working abroad to take in - According to a recent study by the Cen - Keralite Affairs Minister K.C. Joseph, Minister for terest in promoting this unique scheme,” tre for Development Studies on the Kerala Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi; Kerala Chief said Ravi. diaspora, the number of Kerala emigrants Minister Oommen Chandy and MLA Hibi Eden. SECOND The minister also praised the efforts of living abroad in 2011 was estimated to be Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukher - 2.28 million, up from 2.19 million in 2008, A special pension and life insurance ulfilling the promise made by the jee in making the scheme a reality. 1.84 million in 2003 and 1.36 million in scheme would benefit over five government to the underprivi - Kerala Chief Minister Oommen 1998. leged among the vast non-resi - Chandy, present during the launch of the The report said the total remittances to million unskilled and dent Indian (NRI) community, scheme, said this was going to be one of Kerala in 2011 were estimated to be `49,695 UFnion Minister for Overseas Indian Af - the best gifts ever given to the ordinary crore compared to `43,288 crore in 2008. semi-skilled workers employed fairs Vayalar Ravi launched the Pension working-class NRI. Nearly 40 percent of Kerala’s emigrants overseas, mostly in the Gulf and Life Insurance Fund (PLIF) in Kochi “A good number of the poorest of the live in the UAE and 25 percent in Saudi countries, says Sanu George recently. poor working abroad generally return Arabia. In the last three years, especially, The much-needed “lifeline” that will ad - empty-handed. As a result, his require - after the global crisis, Saudi Arabia has LIFE dress the social security needs of millions, ments like home, education and marriage gained about 2 percentage points and UAE was announced by Prime Minister Man - remain a distant dream. With this has lost out by the same proportion.

18 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 19 DIASPORA NEWS

Shah Rukh Khan performing to the “I make 10-15 bags a day, Mall, Jimi Mall in Al Ain, tune of ‘Chammak Challo’ with except on exam days,” Dubai Festival City and Yale student Natalia Khosla. Muqeet said. His schoolmates Dubai Marina Mall. PAPER have nicknamed the bags His mother Andaleeb portance of young people “Abdul Muqeet Bags”, and he Fatima said Muqeet has appreciating and cherishing is popularly known as the received several awards for his their parents’ love. “Paper Bag Boy”. commitment to environmen - “Whatever you do, BAG Muqeet is never shy about tal conservation. whichever mistakes you stopping a stranger in a super - His parents now accom - make, your parents are your market to deliver his message. pany him to his demonstra - best friends,” he stressed. He waits at the check-out tions. “When we saw his The lecture took a light- counters and politely asks enthusiasm, we wanted to hearted turn when Khan exe - BOY for a minute of their time nurture his interest. I want to cuted his signature to talk about the environ - tell mothers that every child ‘Chammak Challo’ dance ment. “I tell them that recy - can give back to the commu - moves with Yale student Na - Abdul Muqeet, a 10-year-old Indian boy cling one tonne of paper saves nity,” she said. talia Khosla. in UAE, has a passion for saving the 17 trees,” he said. Currently, Muqeet is fulfill - “This is the most fun I have Muqeet has held demon - ing his mission by campaign - had in months!” Khan said. environment — he makes paper bags and strations in Marina Mall, Abu ing to reduce CO2 levels in The actor was introduced distributes these to malls and stores Dhabi Mall, Khalidiya his home country. by Yale student Isha Ambani, who is president of the South Asian Society at Yale, and 10-year-old In - what he could do personally participated in a conversation dian boy in the and how he could get other onstage with Jeffrey Brenzel, United Arab Emi - people to act. Yale dean of undergraduate rates (UAE) is Every day after school, admissions and master of Adoing his bit to save the envi - Muqeet began making bags Timothy Dwight College, the ronment. Every day, he from old newspapers. In Yale residential college that makes paper bags and distrib - two years, he has made and administers the Chubb Fel - utes them to supermarkets, distributed about 4,500 bags lowship; Yale College alumna stores and malls. to supermarkets, stores and Sarika Arya; and Yale Law Abdul Muqeet started his malls. School student Nihkil Sud. project when he was only As part of the Yale Chubb eight, after his father ex - SHAH RUKH (Clockwise) Abdul Muqeet Fellowship, Khan attended a plained to him the negative watering a plant; with UAE-based reception and dinner at Timo - impact the non-biodegradable industrialist Dr. B.R. Shetty (second thy Dwight College with over plastic bags have on nature. from left) after being honoured for 120 Yale students, including This led Muqeet to think his stride; and at a paper bag- CHARMS YALE members of the South Asian about eco-friendly ideas — making demonstration Society at Yale, fellows of Timothy Dwight, and success and failure and how other members of the Yale The Ivy League institution felicitates the to live life to the fullest. He community. Baadshah of Bollywood with the Chubb encouraged young people to Each year, three or four dis - Fellowship, one of Yale’s top honours find fulfilment in creativity, to tinguished men and women learn to laugh at themselves have been appointed as visit - and to never become cynical ing Chubb Fellows. ollywood star the afternoon of April 13 and about their lives. Former Chubb Fellows Shah Rukh Khan as the day went on, the line “Failure is a fiendish friend include presidents George W. enthralled the snaked around the corner. that can lead to success by Bush, Ronald Reagan, and students of Yale Fans travelled from as far teaching one to be pragmatic, Jimmy Carter; authors Oc - BUniversity as he came to the as Alabama and California to work harder and to be true tavio Paz, Carlos Fuentes, Ivy League institution as a to join with members of the to oneself,” the superstar and Toni Morrison; film - Chubb Fellow, one of its top New Haven and Yale commu - said, adding that the true maker Sofia Coppola; honours. nity to hear Khan speak to strength of one’s friendships architect Frank Gehry; chore - A crowd gathered outside over 1,700 people. is tested in the face of strong ographer Mikhail Barysh - the Shubert Theatre in New Khan charmed the crowd adversity. nikov; and journalist Walter Haven, Connecticut, early on as he spoke to them about Khan emphasised the im - Cronkite.

20 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 21 DIASPORA NEWS

ndia remains the top re - Cooperation Council coun - cipient of money from tries, which are major destina - Diaspora as total remit - tions of recent migrants,” the VOICES TOP OF tance flow to the country World Bank said. iIs estimated to have crossed In a report last year, the $63 billion in 2011, almost 3 World Bank had said remit - percent of the country’s gross tance flow to India was likely THE HEAP domestic product (GDP), ac - to reach $58 billion. HEARD cording to World Bank data. However, the Washington- $63 billion in remittance came to India in In an update on migration based multilateral agency has Flyrights, an innovative mobile app, allows and remittance, the World now updated the figure to users to report racial profiling in real time 2011, making the country the top recipient Bank said remittance flow to $63.66 billion. of money from diaspora in the world India has surged due to the India received $54.03 bil - weak rupee and robust eco - lion remittance in 2010. With he Sikh Coalition, a (TSA) and Department of nomic activities in the Gulf estimated inflow of $62.49 U.S.-based commu - Homeland Security (DHS), countries. billion in 2011, China re - nity group, has the group said. The World Bank revised mains the second-largest launched FlyRights, “FlyRights creates a novel upward remittance flow esti - recipient of money from Di - Tan innovative mobile applica - marriage between technology mate for 2011 by $5.8 billion aspora. But remittance ac - tion that allows users to re - and civil rights activism. It is from its previous estimate an - counts for only 0.8 percent of port instances of airport the first and only mobile ap - nounced in November last China’s GDP. profiling in real time. plication created to combat year. “An upward revision to Total remittance to devel - Reports filed through the racial profiling at airports,” flows to India in 2011 (by oping countries is estimated FlyRights app will be consid - the coalition said. $5.8 billion) is primarily due to rise to $372 billion in 2011, ered official, actionable com - Asking its supporters to to a weak rupee and robust an increase of 12.1 percent plaints by the Transportation download FlyRights on their economic activity in the Gulf over 2010 figure. Worldwide Security Administration phones and start filing reports remittance flows, including of unfair treatment at air - those to high-income coun - ports, the group said: “Policy The remittance flow surged due to tries, reached $501 billion in You can download Flyrights on your will not change unless you robust economic activities in the Gulf. 2011. iPhone or Android phone. make your voice heard.”

INDIANS CREATING YUSUFFALI MAKING WAVES IN GULF Key findings JOBS IN US: SURVEY erala-born M.A. UAE’s home-grown regional M.A. Yusuffali. Yusuffali is today brand expanded outlets to 100 ndian companies operat - India-U.S. trade and eco - l 70 percent of surveyed companies increased the Kdubbed as one of the with the opening of a hyper - ing in 40 American states nomic engagement provides a number of employees since 2005 most influential Indians in the market at its newly-built mall. that the Lulu brand’s success Ihave invested over $820 key underpinning to the Gulf Cooperation Council Lulu, which started out as story would continue apace million in manufacturing strategic partnership between l More than 34 percent of the surveyed companies (GCC), a political and eco - supermarket and department with the opening of more out - facilities in the U.S., creating our two countries,” said Niru - established manufacturing facilities in the U.S., in - nomic alliance of six Middle store chain, has gradually lets in the Middle East and thousands of jobs, according pama Rao, India’s ambassa - vesting more than $820 million Eastern countries — Saudi moved onto to the big format India this year. to the 2012 India Business dor to the U.S. “The aim is to Arabia, Kuwait, the United hypermarkets (retail store that He said the retail major Forum (IBF) survey. highlight the range of Indian l Since 2005, the surveyed companies collectively con - Arab Emirates, Qatar, combines a department store would have four new stores in The survey, titled ‘Indian investments in the U.S. and ducted 72 mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. Bahrain and Oman. and a grocery supermarket), 2012 in the GCC and Egypt Roots, American Soil: also dispel misconceptions as - He is the first non-Arab and now manages 10 shop - and would make a retail foray Adding Value to U.S. Econ - sociated with Indian compa - l Their collective revenues for 2010-2011 were more elected member of Abu ping malls in the GCC, said into India with the opening of omy and Society’, released by nies,” said Sandhya Satwadi, than $23 billion Dhabi Chamber of Com - Yusuffali. a hypermarket by end-2012. the Confederation of Indian director and head, CII. merce and Industry. The retail major, account - The group’s next move is to Industry (CII) at a reception The event was attended by l Projected research and development investments of The Thrissur-born Yusuf - ing for 32 percent of the retail and industry-wide recession, launch a “Webstore”. on Capitol Hill recently, high - four co-chairs of the India the surveyed companies are estimated to be over fali is managing director of business within the GCC, the Lulu Group has gone “One of the most popular lights the significant eco - Caucus on the Senate and $190 million in 2012 alone the Middle East’s retail giant cruised to a 19 percent sales ahead with its plans. It and recognised local brands nomic and social impact House side: Senator John Emke Lulu Group. The group growth in 2011 to $4.5 billion opened 23 hypermarkets and of the region, Lulu today is a made by Indian companies Cornyn, Senator Mark l Nearly 65 percent of companies engage in CSR is all set to register a 20 per - despite the general downturn. shopping malls in last three market leader in almost all on American communities. Warner, Congressmen Joseph initiatives cent business growth this Yusuffali said despite the years in almost all major the countries that they oper - “The rapidly expanding Crowley and Ed Royce. year, hitting $5.4 billion as the global financial meltdown cities of the GCC. He added ate,” he said.

22 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 23 DIASPORA NEWS

Sameer Gandhi of Accel Partners is ranked 33rd (81 in 2011). His 2008 Series A in - CHANGE AGENT MIDAS TOUCH vestment in file-sharing com - pany Dropbox is doing quite nicely, going by the ru - moured $4 billion valuation Meet Reshma Saujani, the first Indian-American woman to run for the US Congress in 2011, Forbes noted. He has who wants to create opportunities for immigrants in New York City, says Arun Kumar recently invested in an India online shopping site called Flipkart. Khosla Ventures’ Vinod eshma Saujani, the Reshma Saujani. Khosla follows at No. 34 (71 first Indian-Ameri - in 2011). Khosla is known can woman to run From left, Aneel Bhusri, Neeraj Agrawal, Rob Chandra, Subrata Mitra and Vinod Khosla. for off-the-beaten-path for the U.S. Con - made by showing up, by clean-tech investments. Rgress, now wants to create being at the senior centre or Khosla’s passion for social opportunities for immigrants the street fair and meeting the entrepreneurship led to an in - who have made New York people that are working to Nine Indian ine Indian-origin financials and human vestment in SKS, the Indian City their home. make a difference in our com - entrepreneurs resources software company. microfinance lender he Although Saujani, a munities,” Saujani said. Americans make made it to this Four-time consecutive funded in 2006, Forbes said. lawyer, politician and entre - “I’ve always been an organ - it to the Forbes year’s Forbes Midas member Rob Chandra Other Indian-Americans preneur, lost her 2010 ambi - iser, and as the daughter of ‘NMidas List of Technology’s of Bessemer Venture Partners on the Midas list include Bat - tious run against Democrat immigrants, I have always ‘Midas List of Best Investors’ for fuelling a comes next at No. 28 (26 in tery Ventures’ Neeraj Carolyn Mahoney, a nine- been especially passionate Technology’s Best bull market for hot young 2011). Agrawal at 36 (51 in 2011), term member of the U.S. about engaging people in the Investors’ companies. Chandra, who had a string Mayfield Fund’s Navin Chad - House of Representatives political process, who have Heading the Indian-Ameri - of IPOs on India public mar - dha (46), Bain Capital Ven - from New York, she is now been excluded from it or who can list is Greylock Partners’ kets, has two late-stage com - tures’ Ajay Agarwal (95), “exploring a race for citywide felt no one was listening to Aneel Bhusri at No. 25 (15 in panies in India-based Bharat Greylock Partners’ Asheem office in 2013”. them.” 2011). Bhusri is co-CEO of Matrimony and Summit Mi - Chandna (96) and Accel “My 15 months at the Pub - She is behind the ‘The Workday, the cloud-based croelectronics. India’s Subrata Mitra (99). lic Advocate’s office were Light of India Awards’ that truly some of the best of my are a “powerful way to cele - life,” said Saujani, currently brate the work Indian Ameri - the deputy advocate for spe - cans are doing and to show New Jersey-born Victor cial initiatives in the watch - their innovations and accom - Roy will use his award to dog body, charged with plishments”, Saujani said, SIX-PACK POWER study for an MD at North - ensuring that all New Yorkers noting that they “are in every western University’s Feinberg have a voice in shaping the form of government from School of Medicine. city’s policies. policy leaders to activists to Born in Norwalk, Connecti - “What we were able to change agents”. cut to an Indian father and accomplish with the Fund Author Jhumpa Lahiri, tel - Chinese mother, Indra Sen for Public Advocacy, from en - evision personality Padma will use his grant to pursue a couraging immigrant entre - Lakshmi and CNN contribu - Master’s degree in public pol - preneurship to providing tor and surgeon Sanjay Gupta icy at Harvard University. scholarships to undocu - are among the nominees for Born in India, Vineet Singal mented students, was power - the second annual ‘Light of plans to use his grant to study ful,” she said. India Awards’, recognising for a medical degree at the (From left) Indra Sen, Jasmeet Ahuja, Rina Thomas, Sahil Singh Grewal, Victor Roy and Vineet Singal. “I’m committed to being a excellence and exemplary Mayo Clinic School of Medi - leader in charting the future done in Washington, and I “New ideas are so impor - achievements of Indians cine. Louisiana-born Rina of New York City, and I want was frustrated by the lack of tant for driving innovation in abroad. Thomas, who deferred her ad - to keep creating opportuni - leadership and the lack of this country, and I wanted a The winners of the awards, ix Indian Americans advanced degrees. Each pursue a law degree or MBA. mission to Harvard Law ties for the people who live political courage we were chance to get my ideas out in the fields of business, edu - were among 30 immi - award provides up to $90,000 Singh worked on health care School to become advisor to here.” seeing in Congress.” there, and talk to voters in cation, science & technology, Sgrants and children of in tuition and support for two issues while interning at the Louisiana Governor Bobby Explaining what made her “I was noticing people New York City about theirs.” arts and entertainment and lit - immigrants from 20 countries years of graduate study in the White House. Jindal on economic develop - run for the U.S. Congress in around me become jaded and But “the experiences I had erature and journalism, were who won ‘2012 Paul and U.S. in any field. Jasmeet Ahuja plans to use ment, taxes and budget policy, the first place, Saujani said: I wanted to do something to talking with voters showed to be announced on June 1 at Daisy Soros New American Texas-born Sahil Singh the money to pursue a law will use the grant to complete “Things were not getting change it,” she said. me what a difference could be a gala event in New York. Fellowships’ to pursue Grewal, will use his grant to degree at Yale Law School. her law degree.

24 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 25 DIASPORA NEWS

Congress,” Obama added. Born in Chhajulwadi, Pun - TOPPER’S THE TRAILBLAZER jab, Saund represented the 29th District of California from 1957 to 1963. Barack Obama “When I think about Asian cites Dalip Singh Americans and Pacific Saund to laud Islanders, I think about my STOP family — my sister, Maya; my Asian contribution brother-in-law, Konrad. My in the building of nieces Suhaila and Savita. I Rohan, a science student of Dubai Modern think about all the folks I High School who topped ICSE Grade 12 America, says grew up with in Honolulu,” Arun Kumar Obama said, striking a per - exams worldwide, hopes he sonal note. can return to India one day, writes “I think about the years I spent in Indonesia. So, for me, Malavika Vettath “I think the hours spent in Rohan has chosen to attend iting the example coming here feels a little bit tuitions should be spent in Stanford University and study of Dalip Singh like home. This is a commu - either economics or engineering. studying yourself with focus Saund, the first In - nity that helped to make me physics, 100 percent in com - or on extra-curricular activi - dian American who I am today. It’s a commu - puter science and 98 percent ties,” he added. Bloud said. Celected to the U.S. Congress, nity that helped make America in English, becoming the Contrary to the image of a Despite having grown up President Barack Obama has the country that it is today.” highest scorer in the history topper, Rohan doesn’t believe in Dubai all along, Rohan lauded the contribution of The Asian Americans, he of the ICSE examinations. in studying long hours or says he has a special connect Asian Americans and Pacific said, “came here looking for His parents, who have been cramming either. In fact, the with India. Recalling his holi - Islanders in the building of new opportunities not merely in Dubai for 18 years, are nat - teenager was busy organising days with grandparents to America. for themselves, but for their urally overjoyed but say they an international debate com - teaching underprivileged chil - “They were trailblazers like children, and for their chil - were more elated when he got petition in his school just a dren in Mumbai as a volun - Dalip Singh Saund — a young dren’s children, and for all through both Stanford and week before his exams. teer for an NGO called man from India who, in 1920, generations to come”. Yale universities in the United “We were hosting the ‘Aakansha’ last year, Rohan came to study agriculture, “Few of them had money. States. “We were not that ‘Modern World Debates,’ hopes he can return to his stayed to become a farmer, Dalip Singh Saund was elected to House of Representatives in 1956 from A lot of them didn’t have be - concerned about marks. He which saw teams coming country some day. and took on the cause of citi - California and represented 29th district in California from 1957 to 1963. longings. But what they did has topped in school every from the UK, India, Qatar “I have always wanted to zenship for all people of South have was an unshakeable be - his 17-year-old year with 98 percent. My ela - and Singapore. It was a re - return to India after my edu - Asian descent,” he said at the lief that this country — of all knew he would do tion was higher when he got sponsibility we had to fulfill,” cation.” On adjusting to life 18th Annual Gala for the in Washington, D.C., recently. up to serve the country he countries — is a place where well in his Grade through Stanford and Yale. said the bespectacled young - in India, he said: “I don’t Asian Pacific American Insti - “Once Dalip earned his loved — and became the first anybody can make it if they 12 exams but be - Only later when we realised ster who is also the president think it will be that tough. I tute for Congressional Studies own citizenship, he stepped Asian American elected to try,” Obama said. Tcoming the Indian Certificate that he had topped ICSE of the school debating society. don’t find much difference be - of Secondary Education across the world, then of He might not have been tween me and kids my age in (ICSE) topper worldwide course we were very happy,” worried, but his mother sure India except that we don’t talk with 99.5 percent marks was said his mother Sandhya was anxious. “Believe me, I much Hindi.” unimaginable. India-born Sampath. was very worried but we had He credits his parents’ up - POLAND SWAYS TO TAGORE’S MUSICAL Rohan Sampath now looks Rohan has chosen to attend no choice,” Sandhya told bringing and his school for in - forward to joining Stanford Stanford University and study IANS , adding that Rohan is a culcating in him “the Indian aying glowing It selected Tagore’s dance stage.” Sen had to prepare 20 places not only in Europe but University and unlike many either economics or engineer - good tennis player and swim - value system with a global tributes to Gurudev musical ‘Shyama’, a romantic young dancers to learn Ben - also West Bengal and brought up in Dubai, he re - ing. Private tuition classes mer as well. perspective”. PRabindranath Tagore tragedy, in which there are gali and make them under - Bangladesh. We are searching ally hopes he can return to have no place in Rohan’s study Rohan’s school principal Rohan’s parents originally on the occasion of his 150th two intertwined love stories stand the nuances of Tagore’s for different avenues and pa - India some day. mantra, defying a trend Darryl Bloud too is all hail from Tamil Nadu but birth anniversary, Poland — that of Shyama, a court genius. They took six months tronage,” Sen told IANS . “My first reaction was dis - among a majority of Indian praises for him. “Rohan they too were brought up out - organised an enthralling dancer, and Bojroshan, a to stage this dance musical as “The president of the Indo- belief. I thought it was a typo. families. Sampath has re-defined the side their home state. Rohan’s dance musical based on foreign merchant. Polish artists had to sing Polish Cultural Committee I didn’t expect it,” Rohan, a “I’ve been an opponent of word ‘full potential’ by rais - success has suddenly shifted his work to wind down Sabina Sweta Sen, the direc - Tagore songs on the stage (IPCC) in Krakow, Umesh science student of Dubai tuitions. Teachers in school ing the bar at Modern High the spotlight to the thousands celebrations. tor and choreographer of the themselves along with the Nautiyal, and Indian Ambas - Modern High School, told have been instrumental in my with his phenomenal of Indian expat children The dance group ‘Taal’ ‘Taal’ group, said: “It was a dances. The director used the sador to Poland, Monika IANS in an interview. success. I look at private tu - achievement at the ISC Ex - around the world who study from Chorzow, Poland, gave great challenge for us to enact music from Obhi Chatterji’s Kapila Mohta, have really Born in Mumbai, Rohan itions as an insult to my aminations 2012. We salute and compete with their In - two outstanding perform - this musical play. One needed film Shyama . encouraged us to produce scored 100 percent in teachers as I trust them com - this outstanding member of dian counterparts for top hon - ances in Krakow and tremendous concentration and “We are very keen to take more classical programmes,” mathematics, 100 percent in pletely,” said Rohan. the Modern community,” ours at school level. Warsaw recently. commitment to put on the this dance musical to many Sen added.

26 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 27 DIASPORA NEWS

Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations. GLOBAL

“If America, with its little over 300 million population LEADER can have five million rooms, surely India with its billion plus people should at least The University of South Florida match that number,” he said. honours Infosys founder N.R. He called on AAHOA members to create their own Narayana Murthy for his leadership brands suitable for the Indian and contributions to the international conditions, rather than just business world bringing their American fran - chises. “India is booming and its 550 million people below he University of difficult for his company to the age of 25 are not only po - South Florida has maintain its values as it might tentially the workforce for the honoured Infosys be for the mass of people world but also a major market founder N.R. eking out a living. for the hospitality industry as TNarayana Murthy with the “You need a spirit of well,” he said. Global leadership and Free sacrifice and you need to FOCUS HOSPITALITY Pitroda said that with dis - Enterprise Awards for his have trust,” he said. pensable incomes among the leadership and contributions Murthy explained how Indian middle class rising, to the international business the company’s ethos has its It’s time to s Indian Ameri - nual convention of the Asian they travel around the country world. Presenting Infosys roots in the very first meeting can hoteliers American Hotel Owners Asso - more than ever before but are chairman emeritus Murthy held at his house in Mumbai revolutionise savour their ever- ciation (AAHOA) in Atlanta often hard-pressed to find de - with the awards at the Patel with his six fellow founders. India’s hospitality growing clout in recently to bring their expertise cent accommodation. Centre for Global Sustain - Their discussion was focused Athe United States, they are to bear and transform mid-seg - Himanshu Vyas, an ability recently, USF Presi - on profitability. In response to a question You need a spirit of sacrifice and industry, Sam now being asked to revolu - ment hospitality infrastructure Ahmedabad-based entrepre - dent Judy Genshaft praised Murthy focused their atten - from about the chances of trust, says N.R. Narayana Murthy. Pitroda tells tionise the hospitality industry in India. “Second and third neur, told IANS : “I have been him for his entrepreneurial tion on “seeking respect”, Murthy entering politics, he Indian American in India. tier towns in India are in des - impressing upon AAHOA spirit. “living in harmony with mentioned his preference for USF information systems and Sam Pitroda, advisor to the perate need of professionally- members to get into the game Earlier, in an informal society” and making sure “rational discussion” and the decision sciences department, hoteliers at an Prime Minister on Public In - run, affordable hotels. I think right away. As Pitroda said, conversation with past and “you don’t shortchange your difficulty the political world said Murthy’s story is inspir - Atlanta event formation Infrastructure and AAHOA members have the the whole country is waiting present students, Murthy said customers,” he said. When offers for such and expressed ing for students. “He’s a Innovations, called on Indian- ability to transform this seg - to be transformed in terms of because of his middle class you do those things, “revenue some hesitation. world-class business leader,” American hoteliers at the an - ment,” Pitroda said. mid-segment hotels.” background, it was not as will come. Profit will come”. Kaushal Chari, chair of the said Chari .

NOOYI 4TH IN TOP FORTUNE 500 LIST MEET KAMAL BAWA, THE SAMARITAN

epsico’s India-born women executives by started within the last year. ndia-born professor Kamal Award from the Royal Nor - promotes sustainable develop - CEO Indra Nooyi is the leading US business Also on the list are Patricia Bawa has donated the en - wegian Society of Sciences ment globally, and the first Pone of the 18 women magazine. Woertz of agricultural Itire prize money of one and letters (DKNVS). award was given to Bawa for who have shattered the glass She “has overseen a shift in processors Archer Daniels million Norwegian Kronor He gifted the prize money his work on biodiversity in ceiling to lead America’s 500 focus from soft drinks into Midland, Irene Rosenfeld (about `10 million) from the to the Bangalore-based Central America, the Western largest corporations, accord - less profitable, albeit health - who heads up Kraft Foods world’s first major interna - Ashoka Trust for Research in Ghats in India and the Hi - ing to Fortune magazine’s lat - ier, snack foods market in and Ursula Burns who is tional sustainability award to Ecology and the Environment malayas. est ranking. recent years,” CEO at Xerox and Sherilyn the Indian organisation he (ATREE), a research institu - Bawa was recently elected Nooyi, who leads the 41st Others on the list that in - McCoy at Avon. Rometty is founded in 1996. tion in the areas of biodiver - to the prestigious American biggest company in America, cludes more women CEOs IBM’s first female CEO and Bawa, distinguished profes - sity conservation and Academy of Arts and Sci - is listed fourth among top than ever before are Meg Xerox chief Ursula Burns is sor of biology at the Univer - sustainable development. ences for his contribution Whitman of Hewlett-Packard the first African-American sity of Massachusetts, Kamal Bawa’s donation will help the The Gunnerus Sustainabil - to public discourse and Indra Nooyi leads the 41st biggest (10th) and Ginni Rometty of woman to head a Fortune Boston, is the 2012 winner of cause of sustainable development. ity Award is given for out - public policy surrounding company in America. IBM (19th), both of whom 500 company. the Gunnerus Sustainability standing scientific work that sustainability.

28 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 29 trends

The kitchen, as a designer space at home, is children,” Tandon said. Healer, psycholo - becoming vital to tasteful interior decor in urban gist and writer Shivi Dua, the author of a homes, says Indian designer Wendell Rodricks new book on parenting, ‘Let Go Mom...I (below). MINDFUL Will be Fine,’ said: “Parents are often em - barrassed when a child is unable to meet parents' expectations.” PARENTING “It happened to me recently when I found that my daughter (a teenager) does not know things around the house. I expect Nuclear homes are adopting new parenting tools like her to be responsible around the home. It mindfulness, analysis and complex psychological is understood that we often get carried away with our child creating a disconnect healing, says New York-based Shefali Tsabary between our needs and the child's needs,” Dua told IANS . “Things have changed from my child - selves, Empowering Our Children’, tries to hood and we have to understand that our move the epicentre of the parent-child re - children are independent human beings. lationship away from the parent-to-child We have to keep the process of our own “know it all” approach to a mutual growth. growth alive,” Dua said. Once parents begin to learn alongside “We were brought up in a different way. the child, “power, control and dominance We were told what to do and what not to become an archaic language, because par - do. There was no television and no com - ents unwittingly pass their needs, psycho - puters those days,” said Shallu Jindal, of logical pain and egos to their children”. the Openspace Jindal Foundation, which “Long ago, my father gave me the free - campaigns for social causes, children's wel - KITCHENS dom to find my own self after I told him fare and family values. that I could not return home permanently to India from the U.S. Our children have the right to fight and live their own des - (Left) author Shefali Tsabary who preaches GO STYLISH ! tiny,” Tsabary said. freedom and sensitivity while dealing with kids. Actor Raveena Tandon said: “There is o your homework, eat whatever no perfect parent. I became a mom when Kitchens are becoming awareness about kitchen styling among the divine and a fresh spring water well at - is on the table and don’t ever try my child was given to me. We say many those who liked to spend time over the oven. tached to the kitchen to ensure that we use to be naughty. Parenting has things that might unconsciously wound the style statements in Indian The kitchen, as a designer space at the purest mineral water,” Rodricks said. moved beyond the reprimands child. A parent has to be conscious about home, is becoming vital to tasteful interior The designer said the areas where styling Dand stern etiquette codes to become an art what is good and bad...” homes, bridging ethnicity decor in urban homes in the region over was required in kitchens was “without of mindfulness, analysis and complex psy - At a session on parenting in the capital and modern practicality the past few years with the arrival of mod - doubt the wash up area, lighting, the breeze chological healing. recently, she recalled a lesson that her ular kitchens, new electronic gadgets and circulation and garbage disposal”. The mantra in the new nuclear home is daughter had taught her. Western influences in layout and food “Attached to our kitchen is a luxurious freedom and sensitivity; it spares the rod “I left my favourite sunglasses a couple ften pushed to the background preparation. verandah which makes jobs such as clean - and allows the child to discover its own of years ago at a hotel in South Africa in South Asian homes, the More and more Indians are now doing ing rice and peeling vegetables a real pleas - identity through the roller-coaster of life, where I was invited to attend an Indian kitchen is becoming a style away with dining spaces for smug eating ure. There is also a panel of baskets with said New York-based clinical psychologist Premier League match. After I returned, I statement with a spiritual feel, nooks in the kitchen for easy serving. Con - fresh produce. It adds colour to the kitchen and writer Shefali Tsabary, who works with telephoned the hotel to enquire about Osays leading Indian designer Wendell Ro - cern for environment has also led to the and we know when to use fresh produce families to promote mindful living and con - glasses. I lost my temper with my three- dricks, who chases his passion for culinary creation of organic kitchens in the region. without letting it spoil in the refrigerator,” scious parenting across the world. year-old daughter who interrupted my style when he is not fashioning fabrics. Neatness and a clean tabletop were vital Rodricks said. “Conscious parenting puts the onus of call,” Tandon said. “I agree with writer Devdutt Patnaik to a stylish kitchen look at all times, Ro - The style honcho said the “refrigerator the child's development on the parents - “My daughter said ‘Mama, you who, in an article, ‘The Talking Thali’, dricks said. “The kitchen is often relegated stores only liquids such as sauces, wones and is challenging. Parents have to know can have my pink Cinderella sun wrote that the kitchen is sacred in many because people tend to look at it as a place and neatly boxed excess food, never fresh more to influence their children in this glasses... and I realised how mate - ways. Kitchen style is not simply a kitchen for cooking,” said Rodricks, a “catering col - fruits and vegetables”. world of Internet,” Tsabary told IANS . rialistic I was sounding. It gives me fitted out with technological extravaganza. lege graduate”. “The fresh fruits and vegetables are kept Tsabary, in her new book, ‘The Con - goosebumps thinking about it. We Style is about bridging ethnicity and mod - The designer said “his kitchen looks out to entice and colour the kitchen. At the scious Parent: Transforming Our - must learn to love the journey with our ern practicality,” Rodricks told IANS . Goan and feels modern”. end of the kitchen, we have a compost unit. Rodricks, who delivered a lecture on “We also have decor in the kitchen. I insisted we keep it near the kitchen in - ‘Style in the Kitchen’ at the Taj Tashi Hotel Gleaming brass Goan pots and pans, a stead of in the modern because we can in Bhutan at the Mountain Echoes festival hanging rack for onions and sausages 'a la keep an eye on it. We also plant herbs in recently, said he was trying to promote ancienne (like an ancient dish)', an altar to one end of the compost,” he said.

30 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 books

are in desperate need of protection and one of my ancestors, Ganga Singh, nearly renovation,” the former princess said. 20 years ago and forgot about the diaries. BEST SELLERS NOT JUST A Outlining the process of change, the I came across the notes when I was mov - writer said that former ruler Sadul Singh ing house and decided to write an account was the first royal to merge with the Indian of the family. The history of our family FictioN NoN FictioN state after independence, inspiring other needed to be updated,” Rajyashree Ku - BHUJIA STORY princely states to follow suit. mari said. “I remember growing up in the palace in She said she had to research afresh be - 1 1 the mid-1950s when we still had the place cause “the account had to be fleshed out Calico Joe Breakout Nations he rugged district of Bikaner, syn - to ourselves. The biggest setback came with of the biography of her great-grandfather, Author: John Grisham Author: Ruchir Sharma onymous with munchies known the abolition of privy purses. In the case of grandfather and father and the administra - Publisher: Hodder Publisher: Penguin Price: `350 Price: `599 by their brand name ‘Bikaneri Bikaner, privy purses went into the upkeep tion files stored in the archives”. bhujia’, has a rich history that of the palace staff. We had many. The move The lucid book, full of engaging anec - mTakes it one of the most popular destina - forced my father and grandfather to re-as - dotes about war, politics, instances of Ra - 2 2 tions for tourists in Rajasthan, after Jaipur. sess their roles,” Rajyashree Kumari said. jput valour and everyday life in the court The Sins of the Father Pakistan On The Brink The appeal of Bikaner lies in the fact The former princess said the idea of in an easy-to-relate style, lists the life of Author: Jeffrey Archer Author: Ahmed Rashid that it is one of the oldest Rajput fiefdoms writing a book about her “former king - every ruler “over 23 generations” in 12 Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publisher: Penguin Price: `399 that has transformed itself without com - dom” turned into a compulsion a few chapters with analysis of events — strictly Price: `350 promising on its old-world sensitivities and years ago when she was moving home. “I from the writer’s perspective. values, says former princess Rajyashree had interviewed some of the old staff of The text is complemented by rare 3 3 Kumari Bikaner who has updated the his - archival images. It begins with Rao Bika’s tory of the place in her new book, ‘The conquest of the desert villages in the year Fifty Shades Of Grey Why Nations Fail Author: E.L. James Author: Daron Acemoglu & Maharajas of Bikaner’ (Amaryllis). 1465 and goes up to the writer’s brother, Publisher: Arrow Books James A Robinson After it acceded to the Indian Union, scion Narendra Singh. Price: `350 Publisher: Profile Books the state has become a prosperous business “I don’t want Bikaner to lose its charac - Price: `1,048 centre, even as the erstwhile royal family ter and become another metro city. One of 4 4 has acted as a guardian to its traditions. Its its strengths is its harsh terrain — only the well-kept archives are now open to schol - hardiest could reach it and it has kept Guilty Wives The Magic ars and its palaces to guests and filmmak - Bikaner out of the way of unchecked ur - Author: James Patterson Author: Rhonda Byrne Bikaner, one of the oldest Publisher: Century Publisher: Simon & Schuster Rajput fiefdoms, has ers from Mumbai who find its period banisation. Price: `550 Price: `399 premises a perfect setting for grand screen “To my mind, Jaipur has grown to such transformed itself without dramas, the former princess said. an extent that it risks losing its identity. compromising on its The archives – sustained by a clutch of Let’s not lose the identity – the very char - 5 5 trusts and foundations – house one of the acteristics which made the royal region of Kill Shot Behind the Beautiful old-world sensitivities and largest collections of medieval manu - Rajputana,” she said. Author: Vince Flynn Forevers Author: Katherine Boo scripts retrieved from the Deccan. “It re - The ‘bhujias’, of course, is another Publisher: Simon & Schuster values, former princess Price: `499 Publisher: Penguin Rajyashree Kumari Bikaner quires a great effort to preserve heritage; story. It is the successful commercial face Price: `499 just look at the European countries and of working-class Bikaner, said the former Source: Bahrisons, Delhi; Capital Book Depot, Chandigarh; Spell & Bound Bookshop&Cafe Pvt Ltd, Delhi tells Madhusree Chatterjee Russian palaces. The havelis of Bikaner princess.

was originally created as part of an exclu - is now available for `500 and features all unprecedented visual styles. They included AN INDIAN CREATED ELVIS! sive hardcover, collector’s item anthology ti - of the content from the ‘Graphic Elvis’ Kang, Mukesh Singh, Saumin Patel and tled, ‘Graphic Elvis’, which was limited to collector’s book with bonus videos, anima - Samit Basu. cclaimed Indian artist Jeevan J. only 2,500 copies worldwide and available tion and interactive features. Kang created the artwork of the famous Kang ( seen at left ) teamed up with through select online retailers and at Beyond the original illustrations, ‘Graphic ‘Spider-Man: India comic’. He has been Alegendary superhero creator Stan www.GraphicElvis.com. Elvis’ also features numerous hand-written signed by Liquid Comics, founded by Sir Lee to sketch the artwork for a new comic Los Angeles-based Liquid Comics has notes and musings, never before seen by Richard Branson and his Virgin Group, au - book honouring Elvis Presley — the ‘King of now made Stan Lee’s ‘Elvis’ story available the public and written in the margins of thor Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Rock n’ Roll’. Written by Lee, co-creator of to millions for free as part of ‘Free Comic various books owned by Elvis, making the Kapur, and entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, some of the world’s leading superhero char - Book Day’, the industry’s biggest annual hardcover collector’s book and the digital Suresh Seetharaman and Gotham Chopra, acters (Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, giveaway of free comic books across app a must-have collectible for Elvis fans to create art for their Indian comics. Iron Man, Daredevil, Hulk, Thor), the new America. around the world. His other works include ‘The Sadhu’ short story was released recently. In addition to the physical book, an Lee was joined by some of the most ac - (Virgin Comics, 2006) and ‘Seven Brothers’ Commemorating the 35th death an - interactive digital and mobile app titled, claimed graphic novel creators in the indus - (based on a concept by John Woo, five- niversary of Elvis Presley, the story by Lee ‘Graphic Elvis: The Interactive Experience,’ try to portray the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in issue mini-series, Virgin Comics, 2006). A page from ‘Graphic Elvis’.

32 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 33 arts

buy high-end art any more and the coun - Indians have become and Murano in Italy in the early medieval tries have to find emerging markets. “In - era. However, historians say, glass, as a dian economy is still strong. It is a reverse medium of crafting, was used as early as trend,” he said. adventurous. We have 1,500 BC. Sethi, the founder of Interarts that offers “I started collecting glass in 1992. The contemporary art for corporate and private been exporting haute first piece of glass that I bought was from collectors, promotes high-end accessory art Okra Glass. Over the years, my collection brands like Wedgewood, Royal Doulton, objects’d art from has grown and I befriended the artists, glass Moorcroft, Arthur Price, Poole Pottery studios and large glassware chains to set up from UK, Costaboda from Scandinavia, England and they think a export platform,” said Sethi, who, with Svaja from Eastern Europe, Versace sculp - wife Purnima, set up Interarts some four tures, Armani from Italy, Rosenthal from years ago. Germany, Lladró from Spain, Felix Valez that India is a big He has exhibited and sold British acces - bronze sculptures, Cyan Glass and Franz sory art in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, (Clockwise from left) Wedgewood cutlery, porcelain from Spain. high-end market for art . Indore, Jaipur, Ludhiana and Chandigarh. inspired by Indian motifs; a sea dragon An Interarts showcase of home accessory When not in India, Interarts conducts sculpture by Amanda Brisbane and a art at Bikaner House in New Delhi on April — Sunil Sethi business with Indian buyers on the Inter - Moorcroft glass sculpture. 27-28 displayed more than 100 limited edi - collector net, he said. tion objects’d art from Europe and the US — featuring the best of contemporary crys - tal, porcelain, bronze and glass sculptures The three, along with hot glass artist Ian and cutlery. The prices ranged between Rs. MacDonald, cameo glass artist Helen Mil - 2,500 and Rs. 14 lakh. lard, glass revivalist Andrew Potter, glass A section dedicated to coloured glass designer Rebecca Morgan, the Isle of sculptures by Amanda Brisbane, Will Wight Glass Studio and veterans like Shakespeare and Richard Golding — a Simon Moore, represent UK’s new face of few of Britain’s best glass artists — was the glass art, a tradition that dates back to the centre of attraction. Brisbane sculpts large country’s ties with glass capitals Venice products from nature in single sheets of ex - pensive shaded glass while Shakespeare crafts futuristic shape in crystalline fired glass. Golding, the founder of Okra Glass, (Below and right) Moorcroft glass NEW-AGE fuses metal with glass. sculptures on display in New Delhi. COLLECTORS

From Wedgewood cutlery to Moorcroft glass sculptures, high-end ‘interior art’ from Europe and the US is finding a niche market in India, says Madhusree Chatterjee haute objects’d art from England, and they think that India is a big high-end market ising disposable incomes and Europe and the US are looking at India as for art,” said Sunil Sethi, one of UK’s lead - increasing global travel have ex - a large market to sell their products at ing Indian collectors of designer objects’d posed the Indian middle- and cheaper prices – a “reverse trend” from arts and sculptures. upper-middle classes to unique pre-independence times, when Indian “Exporting niche art objects from Eu - Rart forms. And this means that interior ac - goods were sold for a pittance in Europe, rope is easy now as the manufacturers and cessory art such as Amanda Brisbane says a leading UK-based home arts pro - artists don’t impose conditions on sale in sculptures, Wedgewood cutlery, Royal moter of Indian origin. developing countries because of the eco - Doulton and Moorcroft objects’d art are “The Indian economy is growing and so nomic slowdown here, as was the case ear - finding their way into urban homes. are people’s choices. Indians have become lier,” Sethi added. High-end lifestyle art brands from across adventurous. We have been exporting European buyers are not in a position to

34 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 35 education music

main function on his birthday. On his 86th birth anniversary, the admirers of Indian MAGICAL classical music in Poland had a feast of functions, named “Smritiyan”. In each of the three cities, there was a local body to sponsor the event. In Warsaw, the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IPCCI), under the patronage of J.J. Singh, agreed to foot the bill. Similarly, the India-Polish Cultural Committee (IPCC) in Krakow provided the local hospitality. FLUTE “We are really indebted to ICCR for selecting Krakow, the cultural capital of Poland, as a venue for one of its programmes. One of the doyens of him for a long time to come,” Janusz The love for Indian classical music for Indian classical music, Krzyzowski, president of the India-Poland Krakowians is an established fact and many Cultural Committee in Warsaw, told IANS . classical dancers and musicians have been Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia Pt. Chaurasia’s event was jointly coming to this city in the past 15 years. We sponsored by the Pandit Chaturlal Memorial eagerly awaited for Chaurasia’s concert and More than 8,000 Indians applied for visa to study enthralls Poles in Wroclaw, in Australia in the nine months to March 31, 2012. Society of New Delhi, along with its sponsors he obliged us,” Umesh Nautial, president of Krakow and Warsaw, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations the IPCC, Krakow branch, told IANS . DESTINATION writes Surender Bhutani (ICCR) and the Embassy of India. They had In Wroclaw, a fast emerging metropolis persuaded Pt. Chaurasia to perform at because of its proximity to Germany, the concerts in Poland to mark the annual Chatur Embassy of India, along with Wroclaw Lal Music Festival. University, organised the function. It was for AUSTRALIA he profile of Poland has gone up Pandit Chatur Lal was regarded as a the first time that the citizens of Wroclaw by many notches as a cultural tabla wizard in his days when he used to had a chance to listen to Pt. Chaurasia . destination for Indian artists. play with Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali “The attraction of Poland for the Indian After Bollywood films and Akbar Khan and other great artists, not only artists has grown very fast and now many UK — the representative organisation for translations of Urdu masters into Polish in India but also in western countries. big artists want to come to Poland to give Britain’s loss is Australia’s Britain’s universities — has reportedly written language, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, one Yehudi Menuhin, a great violinist, once their performances. There is an absolute gain. UK’s stringent visa to British Prime Minister David Cameron, of the doyens of Indian classical music, said: “Chatur Lal was one of those few necessity to have an Indian Cultural Centre rules are driving Indian warning that the immigration changes could enthralled Polish crowd in three cities — supreme pioneer musicians who won for like we have the Nehru Centre in London cost the country as much as five billion Wroclaw, Krakow and Warsaw — recently. India the greatest and growing following it where I was the director for four years,” students Down Under, pounds ($8 billion) in tuition fees alone. In all these places, Chaursia won the now commands. He stole the hearts of his Monika Kapila Mohta, Indian Ambassador says Paritosh Parasher The recent immigration crackdown is hearts of the audience with his spell-binding audience wherever he went with his art and to Poland, told IANS . reported to have led to Indian students flute recitals. his enchanting personality.” shunning British universities. “He creates magic with his flute and we Unfortunately, Chatur Lal died at a Besides Australia, the Canadian and simply feel enchanted with his performance. young age of 40 in October, 1965. After his Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia performed at three n a classic reversal of a situation a few European universities and vocational It was once in a lifetime event and so death, a memorial society was established, concerts in Poland to mark the annual Chatur years ago, Australian universities now training institutes are also benefitting from memorable that we would love to remember and since then, the society organises its Lal Music Festival. stand to benefit from the recent international students looking for overseas tightening of student visa rules and a options other than Britain. British authorities, on the other hand, idrastic fall in enrolments in Britain from In a similar scenario a few years back, have abolished Post Study Work Scheme India. Indian students had shunned Australian for international students. Many critics of British universities have experienced a education providers after the country the immigration curbs consider this as the fall of more than 30 percent in Indian tightened immigration rules. single-most damaging of a “multitude of enrolments while the percentage of the The massive decline in Australia’s recent policy changes”. number of enrolments and visa grants for number two source for international Indian students seem to be have reacted Australia is reported to be in three students, India, led to the Australian negatively to the denial of work rights in figures. government ordering a review of the Britain as the number of applications for The number of Indian student visa enrolment and student visa process. British student visas from India and other applications for Australia has gone up by Among other recommendations, a South Asian countries is on a sharp decline. a whopping 120 percent in the last nine former New South Wales minister, The Cameron government has also months while the number of visa grants Michael Knight, had pressed for a post- removed work rights for most private has also improved by nearly 80 percent in study work visa for international students college students. Work rights for other the same period. in his recent ‘Strategic Review of the students were also reduced to just 10 hours Eric Thomas, president of Universities Student Visa Programme 2011’ report. a week.

36 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 37 Tribute

SOON, A FILM ON RAY’S CHARACTER SHONKU

Professor Shonku (left) holding Newton, his cat

oon, Satyajit Ray’s fans would get a rare opportunity to watch Sa film on Professor Shonku, a famous character created by the (Above) Soumitra with actor Sharmila Tagore; watching his acting, I had decided that I legendary filmmaker. (Facing page) Satyajit Ray immersed in direction. I don’t know will do only this. My ideas towards life On his father’s 92nd birth anniver - have also been nourished by him,” he said. sary on May 2, Satyajit Ray’s son what I would Apart from Ray and Bhadhuri, the Sandip Ray said: “I will make a film on RAY’S “I couldn't have learnt so much. Even actor said he is also grateful to Sinha for Professor Shonku. Discussions are today he remains alive in me. Even today have done if he helping him understand the art of cinema going on over the film, about the sets he is an inspiration for me,” Chatterjee, as well as acting. that are needed, special effects and who is the winner of ‘Officier des Arts et was not there. But I can Asked about the difference in the graphics. However, who will play the COMRADE Metiers’, the highest award of Arts by the technique of working of Ray and Sen — role of Shonku is yet to be decided,” French government, told IANS . with whom he had worked in films like Sandip told IANS . Chatterjee said he had declined offers say one thing for sure, Aakash Kusum and Pratinidhi — Chatterjee To mark the Oscar-award winning Soumitra Chatterjee, the lead actor of Apur Sansar , tells from Bollywood at the time as he neither said: “There was a lot of difference. Mrinal late director’s birthday, a portal on Pradipta Tapdar and Sirshendu Panth what it meant to would have been able to work freely nor that many dreams would Sen writes very well, which is of great help Goopy Gayne, a comic character from work with the legendary Satyajit Ray would have succeeded in pursuing other to actors.” the film Goopy Gayne Bagha Bayne literary genres. “I couldn't have done Chatterjee feels his unquenchable thirst was also launched. recitation, theatre. The whole world knows have remained unfulfilled. for perfection not only eggs him on as an Several people, including film per he actor and the director, the equation is as strong as ever, said the me through Ray’s films. So why would I actor but also drives him to work more, sonalities, visited Ray’s residence on man and his muse, Soumitra Bengali movie veteran. need to go to Mumbai?” he asked. — Soumitra Chatterjee even at age 77. “I am a perfectionist. Since Bishop Lefroy Road in Kolkata to Chatterjee and Satyajit Ray. A “From the very beginning, we had Making his debut in Ray’s masterpiece actor my childhood, I have been a perfectionist. pay tributes. symbiotic relationship, which developed a comradeship, a rapport, Apur Sansar (The World of Apu), the third I am never satisfied. I am a dissatisfied The director’s five favourite foreign Tgave expression to one of greatest eras in knowing each other, understanding each part of the Apu Trilogy, in 1959, person. This (dissatisfaction) drives me. language films — Bicycle Thieves , celluloid creativity, still continues with other. I don’t know what I would have done Chatterjee became the famed director’s Sen and Tapan Sinha. Although the actor The word satisfaction is rather vague. The Rashomon , Metropolis , Battleship Chatterjee saying that Ray “remains alive” if he was not there. But I can say one thing favourite actor, playing lead roles in Ray’s describes Ray as his mentor in films, it was fact that I have been able to work for so Potemkin and The Passion of Joan of in him, even 20 years after his death. for sure that many of my dreams would have masterpieces such as Sonar Kella , Jai Baba the famous theatre personality Shishir long is the only solace,” Chatterjee said. Arc — were screened at the Nandan Chatterjee, who was awarded the remained unfulfilled,” said Chatterjee, 77. Felunath , Charulata , Ghare Baire , Ashani Bhadhuri who drew Chatterjee towards In 2004, he received the Padma theatre. Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Their association has often been Sanket , Devi , Abhijan , Aranyer Din Ratri and acting. Bhushan and in 2008 the National Award. To celebrate his father’s birthday, Achievement this year, worked with Ray compared with the famous actor-director Ganashatru . “It’s true that Ray is my mentor in film The versatile man credits his upbringing Sandip Ray played western classical for over three decades and did more than a duos of the world such as Akira Kurosowa- Rated as one of the finest actors in acting. I have learnt a lot from him. But it in a literary and cultural environ at Nadia music. “During his birthdays, it was dozen projects with him. It’s been 20 years Toshiro Mifune and Marcello India, Chatterjee has also worked with was Shishir Bhadhuri’s acting that district's Krishnanagar as one of main mandatory for him to listen to it since the Oscar winner’s death, but the Mastroianni-Federico Fellini. legendary movie directors such as Mrinal attracted me towards this art. After reasons behind his success. (Western classical),” Sandip added.

38 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 39 In Focus

Over the years, he was catapulted to fame with works ‘Boo’, ‘Khol Do’, OF MUMBAI AND ‘Thanda Gosht’, and his magnum opus, ‘Toba Tek Singh’. In the biographical sketch of Nur Jehan, Manto writes: “I think I arrived in Bombay on Aug 7, 1940, and my first meeting with Shaukat (Syed Shaukar Hasan Rizvi) took place at 17 Adelphi Chambers, Clare MANTO Road, which served both as office and his residence.” His ever-popular story, ‘A Question of Honour’, described in great detail the In his short life spanning places with which he was associated in the barely 43 years, Manto left city, the places he lived in, ate, visited dur - ing his few years here. a legacy of some of the In ‘A Question of Honour’, Manto men - most profound and popular tions Mumbai’s famous Arab Gully: “An - contributions to Urdu other street in the area was called Arab Gully, with 20-25 Arabs living there, all ap - literature, says Quaid Najmi parently in the pearl trade. Others were Punjabis and Rampurias. I was in Arab Gully that I had rented a room, which was so dark that the light has to be kept on at all times. The monthly rent was exactly THE LAADLI nine rupees, eight annas....” Despite an early struggle, Manto was fortunate that the film studios of that era he was born a year before Indian Awards. And she continues to prove how recognised his gift for storytelling and he cinema. Film, theatre and TV apt the title is for her! wrote several scripts which later became personality Zohra Sehgal, who Her tryst with showbiz began with movies. They include Keechad, Apni Na - turned 100 on April 27, has dance when she joined Uday Shankar in gariya, Begum, Naukar, Chal Chal Re Nau - gSrown to be as colourful and entertaining 1935. She later took to dramatics with the jawaan, Ghamandi, Beli, Mujhe Paapi Kaho, as the industry itself. Prithvi Theatre in 1945. Sehgal has ap - Doosri Kothi, Shikaar, Aath Din, Aagosh and Her characteristic lust for life appeared peared in over 20 films. She is best remem - he city surfaced in his stories. He Mirza Ghalib . undimmed on her birthday at the launch of bered for her appearances in Bhaji on the even wrote scripts for its famous He has also acted in a couple of films — Abhi na jaana chhod kar... her first official biography, titled ‘Zohra Beach (1992), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, film industry and starred in Eight Days and Chal Chal Re Naujawan . Segal: Fatty’ by daughter Kiran Segal. The Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Dil Se... (1998) some movies. Now, 100 years Considered one of the best Urdu short ki cake abhi kata nahin... book was unveiled by Prime Minister Dr. and Cheeni Kum (2007). aTfter Saadat Hasan Manto’s birth, Mum - story writers of the 20th century, Manto ki pet abhi bhara nahin Mamohan Sing’s wife Gursharan Kaur. In the mid-1960s, she featured in an adap - bai remembered the eventful time that the also developed a reputation for being the Her zest for life, wit and charm, which tation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Rescue of legendary Urdu writer spent here. most controversial. (Don’t leave the party, have continued to inspire generations, re - Pluffles, and then anchored a few episodes of Born May 11, 1912, in Samrala, Punjab, Known for penning topics which were main unmatched, say entertainment indus - TV series Padosi. While she was in London, Manto arrived in Mumbai in the 1940s and considered social taboo in the Indian and the cake hasn’t been cut try veterans. “She is the most incredible she featured in a film called The Courtesans spent four to five years here. Though not Pakistan societies of those days, Manto yet, tummy isn’t filled yet), woman I have ever met and one of the of Bombay, directed by James Ivory, in 1982. much is officially known about it, his writ - was reviled and revered in equal measure finest actresses I have ever seen,” says film - She went on to feature in TV series like The ings provide adequate hints of his sojourn and often compared with British writer sang the blue-eyed “baby” maker R. Balki, who roped her in to play Jewel in the Crown, My Beautiful Launderette, here. He lived in small, dark buildings In his short life spanning barely 43 years, D.H. Lawrence. of entertainment Zohra Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘bindaas’ mom in his Tandoori Nights and Never Say Die. spread across the congested Grant Road, Manto left a legacy of some of the most Manto’s focus of writings ranged from the 2007 film Cheeni Kum . “She shot with us In 1998, she was honoured with the Byculla, Nagpada areas of south-central profound and popular contributions to grim socio-economic injustices prevailing in Sehgal on her 100th even in 42 degrees at Qutub Minar (in Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian parts of the city. Urdu literature. A short story writer, film the pre- and post-colonial subcontinent, to Delhi). She was full of life and didn’t care awards, following which she received the Senior film journalist, researcher and and radio script writer and journalist, in a the more controversial topics of love, sex, in - birthday, before she about the heat and went on dancing. She Kalidas Samman in 2001, and the Sangeet writer Rafique Baghdadi said: “Manto’s professional career of less than two cest, prostitution and the typical hypocrisy ‘knifed’ the cake is awesome,” he adds. Natak Akademi in 2004. In 2010, she was contribution to Urdu literature is remark - decades, Manto bequeathed 22 collections of a traditional subcontinental male. In 2008, she was named the ‘Laadli of bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan. able.” Zubair Ansari of Urdu Markaz said, of short stories, one novel, five collections He died on January 18, 1955, in Lahore, the Century’ by the United Nations Popu - Small parts or big, Zohra continues to “The legendary writer merits a befitting of radio plays, three collections of essays Pakistan. And the literary void he left be - lation Fund (UNPF) — Laadli Media spread smiles. tribute on his birth centenary.” and two collections of personal sketches. hind has been difficult to fill.

40 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 41 travel

fter firmly putting places by this town, which has settings similar “Around 50 other properties in the area such as Kovalam and Ku - to Goa. offer around 1,000 rooms. You also have marakom on the global “Bekal received some 3.2 lakh tourists home-stays villas and ayurvedic centres. tourism map, the Kerala (320,000) last year. We would like the Accommodation will be expanded and gAovernment has picked this idyllic town numbers to go up to more than six lakh by people are welcome to invest, especially in of beaches and backwaters as destina - 2015. That is our target, that is our aim.” budget hotels,” Rani George, director, tion next for visitors to ‘God’s Own The chief minister also said this desti - Kerala Tourism. told IANS . BEKAL Country’. nation was the fifth to come up under the Detailing the major attractions in and The ‘Know Bekal’ campaign to kick- Kerala government’s drive to promote around Bekal, she not only referred to off the tourism initiative in this pristine sustainable and responsible tourism — the majestic Bekal Fort, but also those at DESTINATION NEXT and scenic town was launched recently after Kovalam, Kumarakom, Wayanad Hosdurg and Chadragiri. near the landmark Bekal Fort, built by and Thekkady. “There are also many stunning After Kovalam, Kumarakom, Wayanad and Thekkady, the Kerala the Portuguese in 1640 and spread over Otherwise on National Highway 17, beaches, backwaters and hill stations in 40 acres. less than 10 km from Kasaragod in north and around Bekal,” she added. government now aims to place the pristine and scenic town of Bekal on “Bekal is the next amazing destination Kerala, Bekal is also easily accessible by Ancient temples and mosques, handi - the global tourism map, says Arvind Padmanabhan for tourism in Kerala. Our efforts that rail network, some eight kilometres craft like lamps, utensils and curios made started 17 years ago have now begun to away. The nearest airport is at Manga - of bell metal, and preservation of rich bear fruit. Our top priority is to improve lore in Karnataka, 70 km north. culture like Theyyam dance form and road, rail and air connectivity,” Chief Talks are on with the central govern - Kalaripayattu martial arts are other at - Minister Oommen Chandy told IANS. ment to upgrade the railway station, im - tractions, George said. “Where else can you find beaches, prove the national highway and build an Most other existing resort destinations backwaters and hills all within a few airstrip. To develop resorts, 230 acres are close to urban centres and therefore kilometres?” asked the chief minister, re - were acquired and a part of it was allot - over-developed. Bekal, on the other ferring to the variety of options offered ted for six private projects. hand, is still virgin and pristine.

Travel tips

Bekal is on National Highway 17, less than 10 km from Kasaragod in north Kerala, Easily accessible by rail network. The nearest airport is at Mangalore in Karnataka, 70 km north. Bekal received over 3.2 lakh tourists last year.

42 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 April 2012 | Pravasi Bharatiya 43 Cuisine

S-based celebrity was a diary of his journey Fahrenheit . Season the (whole spoon salt, 2 cups of small writer-chef Vikas from India to America and small) hens with salt and set and sliced French breakfast Khanna, whose how it reflected on his dishes. ‘Flavors First ’ aside for 10 minutes. In a radishes, 1 tablespoon of signature Indian “Your food starts absorbing medium mixing bowl, combine lemon juice, 1 cup roasted dUish ‘Tree of Life’ — a varia - more influences. I agreed to honey, soy sauce, lemon juice, peanuts, 1 tablespoon of tion of gobi ka pakoda — was shifting, but I don’t believe in For foodies and cooking enthusiasts, here garam masala and lavender chopped cilantro. served to US President Barack de-rooting myself. I thrive are some recipes by Vikas Khanna flowers. Obama recently, is also a physically in America, but Process: Heat oil in strong votary of the philoso - India is my spiritual home,” Rub the hens with the small saucepan with a lid. phy of “no secrets in the the chef said. marinade. Heat oil over Add cumin and mustard kitchen”. He said the dishes he chose Chai-Infused water. Set aside. Preheat the medium high heat and sear seeds. Cover and shake the Food has to be shared as it for ‘Flavors First’ reflect a Emperor’s oven to 350 Fahrenheit in a the hens from all sides so that pan till seeds sputter. Add represents sharing of cultures new kind of understanding Green Rice medium pot with a lid. Melt the oil enters. Transfer hens in onion, turmeric, salt and which is the way civilisations about Indian food in the West butter over medium heat. a roasting pan and roast in cook. Remove from heat and move forward, says Khanna, and the “Indian women in IngredIents: 1 cup of oven till hens are tender. Insert then cool. Use it as dressing. whose new cookbook, ‘Fla - kitchens from where the food emperor's green rice, 2 table Add bay leaves, cloves, cinna - thermometer in the thigh of Place radishes in a bowl and vors First,’ has hit the stands. comes”. It also includes spoons of unsalted butter, 4 mon, cardamom, and ginger. hens and wait till it reads 165 add radishes with lemon juice. “There should be no walls, collaborative recipes that bay leaves, 4 white cloves, 2 Stir until fragrant for about degrees F. Arrange on platter Serve with peanuts and no secrets in the kitchen. Khanna has learnt through three-inch long cinnamon two minutes. Add rice and and garnish with lavender cilantro. Recipes cannot be secret. If his interactions with cooks sticks, 6 green cardamom saute for a few minutes until sprigs. my grandmother had kept from across the world. pods, 1 two-inch long rice and spices are well com - them as a secret from me, I The book is divided into bined. Add the water, tea bags French Breakfast would not have been a chef. A segments devoted to an intro - and salt — bring to a boil, Radishes with journey that begins with se - duction to the Indian kitchen, cover with a damp kitchen Mustard Dressing crets ends in secrets. People condiments, starters, rice, towel and a lid. (lal-mooli and copy me. I have shared my breads, legumes, soups and sal - Bake for 12-15 minutes until moongfali chaat ) recipes with honesty in my ads, vegetables, the liquid evaporates. Re - book,” Khanna told IANS . poul - move tea bags carefully IngredIents: 1 table - “‘Tree of Life’ is a variation without tearing spoon of olive oil, 1/4th ta - of gobi ka pakoda (cauli - them. Fluff with blespoon of cumin seeds, flower munchies) fork and garnish with 1/4th tablespoon of black fried in a batter of cilantro. mustard seeds, 1 small red rice flower to onion minced, 1/4th table - make it spoon turmeric, 1/2 table - crispy. It is served with a roasted French Breakfast Radishes with tomato sauce Mustard Dressing. garnished with spices,” the chef said. The dish — embel - lished on a white China plat - FOOD ter with pomegranate seeds try, meats, Masala Honey and mint leaves — is known seafood, dessert and drinks. “I fresh ginger (peeled and Cornish Hens as ‘Tree of Life’ as a whole wanted to convey the universal minced), and one and a half cauliflower is cut from its base theme of food. Cinnamon, for cups of water. IngredIents: 4 one- FOR LIFE to resemble a tree with leaves example, occurs in three vari - pound Cornish hens rinsed spread out like a flower, said eties — American, Indian and Darjeeling tea bags or strong well and patted dry, 1/2 table - the chef, demonstrating the Indonesian,” he said. black tea bags (remove the spoon salt, 2 tablespoons of dish in New Delhi recently. The chef has completed paper tags), one teaspoonful soy sauce, juice of 2 lemons, ‘No secrets in the kitchen’ is the mantra The ‘Tree of Life’ is also work on his new book, ‘Holy of salt and half cup finely 1/4th cup garam masala, the theme around which Kitchens’ — a book on Hi - chopped fresh cilantro will 1/4th cup of lavender powder of celebrity chef Vikas Khanna (above) Khanna’s restaurant in New malayan cuisine. “I am trying also be required. ground, sprigs for garnish whose signature dish gobi ka pakoda York, ‘Junoon’, is designed. to bring back the meaning of and 1/4th cup olive oil. was recently served to none other than Khanna has been working sharing food, breaking bread Process: Rinse the rice in on ‘Flavors First’ for the last together and how people bond cold water, drain and then Process: Pre-heat US President Barack Obama three years. He said the book over food,” Khanna said. soak for 30 minutes in cold oven to 400 degrees

44 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 newsmakers

BhAndAri eLected icj judge

ustice Dalveer Bhan - the UN, Bhandari was locked in dari, a sitting judge of a fierce contest with Justice Flo - the Indian Supreme rentino P. Feliciano of the Court, has been elected Philippines. Jto the International Court of Bhadari takes the place of Expanding the economic engagement of the Indian diaspora with India Justice (ICJ). It is the first time Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh of an Indian has managed to get Jordan who resigned from the this key international post in Asia-Pacific region seat at the over two decades. end of 2011. Bhandari secured 122 votes in An eminent legal luminary, the United Nations General As - Bhandari will serve the remain - sembly against 58 for his Fil - der of the term from 2012-18. ipino rival. Acknowledging his outstand - In simultaneous elections at ing contribution, the Northwest - the UN headquarters in New ern University School of Law, York, Bhandari also secured an Chicago, while celebrating its absolute majority in the Security 150 Years (1859-2009), selected Council. In the election to the Justice Dalveer Bhandari Bhandari as one of its 16 most ICJ, a primary judicial organ of distinguished alumni. rAju wins white house AwArd singh gets pentAgon post

ndian American journalist ikram J. Singh has been Manu Raju was among the appointed to a key Pen - I‘White House Correspon - Vtagon position to take dents Journalism Award’ win - care of South and South-East ners for 2012, honoured at the Asia. Singh was appointed to association’s traditional dinner the Senior Executive Service with President Barack Obama. and was assigned as deputy as - Raju, along with colleagues sistant secretary of defense for Glenn Thrush, Carrie Budoff South and Southeast Asia, Of - Brown and John Bresnahan at fice of the Under Secretary of Politco , was named the winner Defense (Policy). He of the ‘Merriman Smith Award previously served as special as - Manu Raju for Excellence in Presidential sistant, Office of the Under Vikram J. Singh Coverage Under Pressure’. Secretary of Defense (Policy). ‘AsiAn Lite ’ wins top British AwArd sian Lite , a fortnightly leading British titles, includ - For details contact: focusing on British ing Rupert Murdoch-owned AAsian events and is - News Corporations’ The Ms. Sujata Sudarshan sues and edited by Indian-ori - Times ; Newsquest’s The Bolton CEO, OIFC, and Director – CII gin journalist Anasudhin News and Johnston Press 249-F, sector 18, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV, Gurgaon —122015, Haryana, INDIA Azeez, has won the presti - Group’s Lancaster Guardian. Tel: +91-124-4014055/6 | Fax: +91-124-4309446 gious ‘How-Do Newspaper of Asian Lite was the only British the Year’ award for 2012. ethnic media title shortlisted Website: www.oifc.in A judging panel comprising in the 18 award categories. BBC veteran Jim Hancock The committee said Asian and Google’s Andy Barke se - Lite bucked the trend in de - lected ‘Asian Lite’ as the clining sales and circulation ‘Newspaper of the Year 2012’ Anasudhin Azeez (left), editor of Asian Lite magazine. in publishing and with inno - from the short-list of eight vative solutions.

46 Pravasi Bharatiya | April 2012 Celebrating the spirit of festivals

The nation, and expatriates across the world, celebrated the traditional harvest festivals — Baisakhi, Vishu and Bihu — with fervour. “They are not only an occasion to celebrate the harvest but also a time to mark a new beginning,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while wishing every one on the occasion. “May these festivals usher in prosperity and happiness for all,” he said. In the United States, Maryland state governor Martin O'Malley opened his house to celebrate Baisakhi. Over 150 Indian and Sikh community leaders gathered at O’Malley’s residence for the celebrations in Annapolis. In Kerala, crowds gathered at the famed Sabarimala, Guruvayoor, Sree Padmanabha Swamy temples since early morning. The most important event of the day started with the ‘Vishukani Darshan,’ the auspicious sight of their favourite deity. Baisakhi is celebrated mainly in Punjab, Vishu in Kerala and Rongali Bihu in Assam.

lR;eso t;rs Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs www.moia.gov.in www.overseasindian.in