newCover IP 07.02.11 final:Layout 1 3/2/11 2:25 PM Page 1 INDIAVOL 25 NO. 1 MARCH 2011 PERSPECTIVES

INSIDE

COVER STORY Why India is Cricket Crazy

ESSAY The Importance of Being Sachin

CULTURE Chennai in Season

TRAVEL Andaman and Nicobar Islands

INTERVIEW Arpita Singh, Arts and Minds Calender-March:Layout 1 3/1/11 8:02 PM Page 2

INDIA THIS MONTH MARCH-APRIL 2011

March 19 April 6-8 Dangs Darbar Mewar Festival Enjoy the Dangs Darbar This event is a visual treat festival with its fascinating with Rajasthani songs, dances, dramas and dances, processions, songs. During the fest, devotional music and women wear traditional firework displays. The colourful dresses and fest has special significance heavy silver jewellery. for women. Where: Ahwa, Gujarat Where: Udaipur, Rajasthan

March 19 April 3 Mid-April Elephanta Festival Nenmara Vallangi Vela Chithirai Festival Enjoy an evening of Indian An annual affair in Kerala, The Chithirai Festival is classical dance the celebrations open with one of the biggest performances while some traditional flag celebrations in Madurai. admiring the grandeur hoisting, during which It re-enacts the wedding of sculptures of the 30 caprisioned-elephants of Lord Shiva and Elephanta Caves. line up under lavishly Goddess Meenakshi. Where: Elephanta Island, decorated canopies. Where: Meenakshi Temple, Mumbai Where: Palakkad, Kerala Madurai, Tamil Nadu

April 5 April 9-10 Attuvela Mahotsavam Shad Suk Mynsiem The Attuvela Mahotsavam Shad Suk Mynsiem or the is a delightful water carnival. Dance of the Joyful Soul is Devotees carry out a a much sought-after event procession of illuminated in Meghalaya. Locals dance canoes carrying colourful to mark the onset of the temple replicas on the sowing season. Moovattupuzha river. Where: Weiking Ground, Where: Vadayar, Kottayam Shillong

March 20 April 6-7 Mid-April Holla Mohalla Gangaur Festival Rongali Bihu This festival is celebrated a Join the women of This is the most popular of day after Holi. During this Rajasthan when they all the three Bihu festivals. time Sikhs reaffirm their honour Parvati with lively The sensuous, yet energetic commitment to the processions during the Bihu dance is performed in community. It is the biggest Gangaur Festival. the fields, on road-sides event held at Anandpur. Where: Across Rajasthan, and on stages especially Where: Anandpur Sahib, mainly in Jaipur, Udaipur, erected for the occasion. Punjab Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Where: Throughout Assam Editorial Note:Layout 1 3/1/11 7:54 PM Page 3

EDITORIAL NOTE

e are grateful to our readers for the numerous messages of appreciation and support they have sent us from all over the world. This has been the impetus behind the changes we have made to the content and look of India Perspectives. The environment around us is rapidly changing and we feel that the W magazine should adapt to the times and remain in sync with what you want. With this in mind we have gone back to being a monthly publication, but one with a contemporary look and with content that is more representative than ever before of our vibrant, pluralist society. To help us realise our vision for the magazine we have tied up with Media Transasia, a well-known publishing house that has over 26 titles to its credit worldwide. The company will bring to the table its vast experience and help us bring to you India Perspectives in its new and improved avatar. The issue may be slimmer, now that it is a monthly, but in no way are we going to compromise on quality. Also, we are placing special emphasis on translations, so that wherever in the world you are and whichever of the 18 languages you are reading it in, it will be as if it has been especially written for you. Currently, the ICC World Cup is being played in the Subcontinent — it was last played here in 1996 — and cricket fever is at its peak. In the issue we analyse why our nation is cricket crazy and why Sachin Tendulkar is a God for many Indians. Also, our Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao writes about Tagore’s vision of India and China. This year, at the Davos Summit, our country made its presence felt strongly with the ‘India Inclusive’ campaign and we bring you a snapshot of the event and its unique mix of style and substance. To help you understand the India story better, we have introduced a series on our development partnerships; the first of which is about the training provided under the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation Programme. To make the magazine even more relevant and reader-friendly we have included features on culture, travel and the arts, plus reviews of films, books and lots more. We look forward to your feedback on our new initiative, so write to us on [email protected]. And if you are one of the 500 million individuals with a Facebook account, join the India Perspectives community on Facebook and become our partner in advancing India’s conversations with the world.

Navdeep Suri

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INDIA PERSPECTIVES

MARCH 2011  VOL 25 No. 1/2011

Editor: Navdeep Suri MARCH 2011 Assistant Editor: Neelu Rohra

Essay: The Importance of Being Sachin 10 MEDIA TRANSASIA TEAM Editor-in-Chief: Maneesha Dube COVER STORY Editor: Mannika Chopra ART AND CULTURE Creative Director: Bipin Kumar Chennai in Season 12 Desk: Urmila Marak 06 Editorial Co-ordinator: Kanchan Rana Artistic Impressions 14 Design: Ajay Kumar (Sr. Designer), Sujit Singh CRAZY ABOUT Production: Sunil Dubey (DGM), CRICKET Brijesh k. Juyal (Prepress Operator) The passion that Profile: Rajendra Singh 16 India has for cricket is greater than any Photofeature: Raghu Rai’s Indians 18 Chairman: J.S. Uberoi other country has President: Xavier Collaco for any sport India and the World: Davos 2011 24 Financial Controller: Puneet Nanda Comment: Tagore’s Vision of India and China 28 Send editorial contributions and letters to Media Transasia India Ltd. Development Partnerships: ITEC 32 323, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV, Global Brands: Bharti Airtel 34 Gurgaon 122016 Travel: Andaman & Nicobar Islands 36 Haryana, India E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 91-124-4759500 IN REVIEW Fax: 91-124-4759550 Art: Anish Kapoor 42 Books: Ramchandra Guha: Makers of Modern India 43 India Perspectives is published every month in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Film: Naghma Iman’s In the Season of Blue Storm 44 English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Music: Manganiyars, minstrels from Rajasthan 45 Pashto, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Sinhala, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. Views expressed in the articles Verbatim: Arpita Singh 46 are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the magazine.

This edition is published for the Ministry of AFP External Affairs by Navdeep Suri, Joint Secretary, Public Diplomacy Division, New Delhi, 140 ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001. Telephones: 91-11-23389471, 91-11-23388873, Fax: 91-11-23385549

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Text may be reproduced with an acknowledgement to India Perspectives

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COVER STORY

WHY INDIA IS CRAZY ABOUT CRICKET The passion that India has for cricket is greater than any other country has for any sport

 TEXT: ASHOK MALIK

or a month-and-a-half beginning image of the towns and cities of the vast Saturday, February 19, 2011 India American heartland. Today, the English is going to be obsessed, engrossed Premier League is not just emblematic of F and riveted. The object of this English football but also of British extreme emotion will, of course, be the multiculturalism – it attracts talent from cricket World Cup. A complex game, cricket all continents. has three mainstream formats: That each of the three versions of cricket • Test match cricket, which lasts five days has a market in India is indicative perhaps • One-day cricket, which sees teams bat 50 of the multiple rhythms of this land and of overs each and is sometimes called Fifty50 the many Indias that exist under that one or F50 cricket political identity. The languid, never-ending • A new, brash and abbreviated version that test match could, at the end of five days, sees teams bat 20 overs each and is often leave you with nothing but a thrilling draw. called Twenty20 or T20 cricket The F50 game speaks of a broader, Between February 19 and April 2 this smaller city India which still has limited year, India will co-host the F50 World Cup. entertainment and economic options and Immediately after that it will stage the so can pack a stadium for an entire day. planet’s richest cricket tournament: the The T20 revolution, with its attendant Indian Premier League, India’s flagship T20 razzmatazz, is the ideal product for the event. At the beginning of 2011, India metropolitan crowd, a direct rival to the toured South Africa for a series of test three-hour film and tailored to audiences matches. Later in the year, it will play top- that have more money than time and are in line test series against England and tune with the business and leisure Australia. In a country that needs few principles of the developed world. excuses not to immerse itself in cricket lore, Which individual, which demographic 2011 is an extraordinary bonanza. It’s a and which geography follows which type 12-month festival of quality cricket. of cricket? The answer is a snapshot They say you can never understand a introduction to the Indian – any Indian – society without understanding its major you’re interrogating. It’s almost as fail-proof sport. At one point, baseball defined the as a marketing survey. Middle American dream and the idyllic self- Why is India so cricket-focussed? Modern sport is not an amateur pastime but hard commerce. A large economy – the United States, Australia – can sustain and support many sports. As such, baseball, basketball, American football and golf may CRICKET FEVER: (left) Crowds support the Indian team in a match against New all be lucrative in the US. India offers the Zealand; (top) Fans cheer during a match strange case of an economy that is now big enough to shore up more than one sport

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CRICKET IS THE GREAT LEVELLER IN INDIA. IT UNITES REGIONS AND RELIGIONS, SOCIAL VARIANTS AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITIES. IT IS WHAT BINDS THE BUSINESS TYCOON AND THE SHOP-FLOOR WORKER

but a society that is still essentially a one- advertising contracts to Indian companies. sport phenomenon. This causes it to over- Cricket is not just India’s sport; it’s India’s invest in cricket. Consequently, the game power trip. and its practitioners attract disproportionate The politics and the money of cricket are media and spectator interest, sponsorship important no doubt, but not as compelling money and advertisement revenue. as the hunger and devotion of the ordinary Why is India cricket fanatic to the extent cricket fan. India is united by cricket, curry of ignoring other sports? The fact is cricket and cinema. Listening to radio commentary, offers the rare example of sustained good stealing a glance at the television in the performance by Indian players and teams middle of a busy day at office, asking the in any sport. Tennis has the occasional next man on the street if he knows the Leander Paes or Sania Mirza, badminton score, rushing home from school or work the lone world-beater in Saina Nehwal. to catch a game being set up for a close Indian athletics produces the odd track and finish: every Indian has many such field star. The hockey team wins a big AFP experiences, many such confessions. tournament about once a decade. In 2008, when the first IPL was played Individual golfers are slowly climbing the to unbelievable enthusiasm, the state of ladder on the tour. Yet, none of these Karnataka in south India was in the midst comes close to the conveyor belt regularity of legislative elections. Political parties had of cricket stars and skills. to end public meetings early because Capital breeds capital. The fact that people – voters – wanted to leave and money is poured into cricket makes it an catch the evening’s IPL game on attractive career path for young Indian television. This is not an apocryphal story; sportsmen. This makes team selection it actually happened. tough and, to the degree possible, Cricket is the great leveller in India. It meritocratic. In turn, this leads to successful unites regions and religions, social variants teams, mass interest and still more money and economic diversities. It is what binds pouring in. the business tycoon and the shop-floor With no other international cultural worker. Along with the film industry – product cricket still calls the shots. Seventy perhaps politics as well, in a certain kind of percent of global cricket revenues are way – it offers the most evocative and

generated in India. Australia sets its cricket UNITED COLOURS OF CRICKET: salient vehicle of social mobility. In a land of calendar to match India’s; England wants (left) A fan waves the Indian flag faith and spiritualism, cricket is a self- during an India-Australia match in Indian players in its domestic tournaments Mohali; (top) Newspaper front renewing religion. On the 19th day of to make its county games worth the while pages on February 25, 2010, a day February, cricket began its quadrennial after Tendulkar scored a double for Indian television channels and century in a one-day match; pilgrimage. If you want to hear the heartbeat audiences; West Indies cricket authorities (above) Preity Zinta cheers for of India, be there for the World Cup. Kings XI Punjab at an IPL Match wait for an Indian tour to make money by —Ashok Malik is a senior columnist based in

AFP selling television rights and in-stadia New Delhi with a passion for cricket

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ESSAY

AYAZ MEMON

superb technique, style and consistency make him perhaps the most BEING SACHIN complete batsman of all time. Indeed, Tendulkar’s last year has been his best in terms of runs and Everytime Tendulkar walks to the crease, a centuries scored suggesting that he may have got a second wind which whole nation marches with him to the field can be as rewarding as his first. Indeed, in his twenty-first year in international cricket, Tendulkar is batting with the aplomb and the ambition of a twenty-one-year-old; if anything, with greater control. But to measure Tendulkar’s impact only through runs, centuries and averages is to assess him only as a cricketer and ignore an extraordinary sociological phemonenon. Beyond pure charisma, which he had even ndians across the world are approaching the upcoming World Cup when he made his debut as a chubby-cheeked 16-year-old, Tendulkar now with unprecedented fervour. The manic obsession for cricket in the also commands the highest credibility in the game. Had he not been Indian psyche is too well-known to bear repetition here, but this time around when the match-fixing scam broke in circa 2000, it is a moot point Iit is different: everybody knows this is Sachin Tendulkar’s last such whether cricket would have recovered quickly enough to its present lofty tournament, and it appears that the entire diaspora is egging him on to position in the Indian Subcontinent. His personal integrity (and by extension win that one trophy his mantelpiece lacks. There is an unmistakable air of of players like Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman) Sachinmania in the country, which I suspect, also holds true of wherever has helped restore the prestige and credibility of Indian cricket. It is also Indians live in the world. widely known that it was Tendulkar’s word which swayed the case in What Tendulkar means to India should rightfully be the subject of a Harbhajan Singh’s favour in the ‘Monkeygate’ controversy with Andrew thesis. So deep, long and widespread has been his impact that he has Symonds three years ago. transcended being a mere sportsperson into becoming a metaphor of In the popularity stakes, such is his appeal, that he remains the most the aspirations and hopes of a billion-strong nation. No other cricketer in durable brand endorser for products over the past two decades — even the history of the game, barring perhaps Sir Donald Bradman, has held ahead of cinema icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Amitabh people in such sway, which makes the comparisons between the two Bachchan. His fans range from age 3 to 103, and across genders. Indeed, great batsmen more credible than one just based on statistics. he is perhaps the biggest contributor in raising the equity of Indian cricket, Is Tendulkar the greatest batsman ever, as his legion of fans aver? in which TV rights itself run into a few billion dollars. Statistics don’t always tell the real story, but in extraordinary cases are the And yet for all the fame, glory and wealth that he has accumulated over most revealing. Since no other batsman has finished with a Test career the years, Tendulkar retains his humility. This has largely to do with his average of even 75, leave aside 99.94, Bradman in that respect stands upbringing. I recall meeting his father Ramesh, a Sanskrit scholar, in 1990, supreme. Indeed, even other great contemporary batsmen, Brian Lara, just before the Indian team toured England. While taking delight in his son’s Ricky Ponting and (increasingly) Jacques Kallis find several staunch rapid rise to eminence, the senior Tendulkar was emphatic that his son supporters. Glance back in time and the names of Ranji, Trumper, Hobbs, should “always have his feet on the ground’’. Hammond, Hutton, the three Ws, Kanhai, Gavaskar, Border, Miandad, Greg HE IS THE Tendulkar seems to have imbibed that early lesson well for he has Chappell — to name only a few — also crop up. COUNTRY’S always remained rooted. He is the country’s biggest and most abiding But one has to look at the situation differently. His best performing BIGGEST superstar, but he has never become a prima donna. Moreover, his career peers — Lara, Shane Warne and Wasim Akram — truly believe Tendulkar AND MOST has been remarkably without blemishes, on and off the field. to be the best cricketer of his generation. That should settle the debate ABIDING Poet-writer C.P. Surendran wrote once: “Batsmen walk into the middle substantially. Moreover, like Bradman, Tendulkar has an extraordinary SUPERSTAR, alone. Not Tendulkar. Every time Tendulkar walks out to the crease, a statistical aspect that place him head and shoulders above the rest: he BUT HE HAS whole nation, tatters and all, marches with him to the battle arena; a has 51 Test centuries and 46 in ODIs, and no other player is even within NEVER pauper people pleading for relief, remission from the lifelong anxiety of striking distance of his 97 international hundreds. BECOME being Indian, by joining in spirit with their visored saviour.’’That, I believe, By common consensus then, Tendulkar will straddle across the A PRIMA is the true essence of Sachin Tendulkar.

150-year history of cricket with his genius unquestioned in any era. His AFP DONNA —Ayaz Memon is a sports columnist and commentator

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THE ARTS & CULTURE

Vasanthakumari and Pattammal and the A CITY IN SEASON matchless M.S. Subbulakshmi. Today’s performers boast of prodigious talent and Every winter, for two-three weeks music and dance engulf Chennai creative energies, and if we have lost the magic of the golden age there is still a great  TEXT: KESHAV DESIRAJU variety to be sampled. The origins of the Madras, now Chennai, season are relatively recent. With the growth of the city as a centre of education and commerce and migration from all parts of the erstwhile Presidency, the city was uniquely poised to become a great cultural capital. The migrants from the hinterland brought with them their love of the classical tradition and from the 1920s onwards, Madras became dotted with Sabhas, secular public platforms for performance, providing an alternative to the temples and salons of Madurai, Tanjore, Mysore and elsewhere. Sabha performances were also ticketed which meant that access to performances was no longer limited to rich patrons and their friends. The Music Academy, Madras, set up in 1927, was not the first of such Sabhas but certainly the most significant, with its annual RHYTHMSPEAK IN CHENNAI: (left) ‘Bombay’ Sisters, C. Saroja and C. Lalitha; (top) Danseuse Malavika Sarukkai (above) Vocalist Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan and guitarist Prasanna award of the title of Sangitha Kalanidhi being among the most coveted. The ‘Academy’ is, quite simply, the first among equals. C.Saroja and C.Lalitha, popularly known as the Bombay Sisters, grace the title of Sangitha An imagined conversation between a festival of music and dance, or quite simply days, without moving very far from his Kalanidhi this year. Other Sabhas are not to Rama’s ring) and Maha Pattabhishekham, a teacher in Chennai. Many young Chennai-vasi and an Out-of-Towner could ‘the season’. home, and for a very modest price, a rasika, be left behind, either in influence and (The Grand Coronation). The Music foreigners are also performing, in the slots quite conceivably go like this. The numbers are staggering. Over a a person with some knowledge of Carnatic patronage, or in the splendour of the titles Academy moved the dance recitals to an meant for junior artistes. period of two or three weeks, possibly a music, could have heard Ariyakudi awarded. The Tamil Isai Sangam awards the entirely new slot this January where India’s The morning sessions, lec-dems, CV: So when are you next in Chennai? thousand artistes, musicians, dancers, Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Isai Perarignar; the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha greatest dancers were presented – discourses, niche events, are meant for the OoT: I am thinking of coming in December. percussionists, instrumentalists gather to Iyer and G.N. Balasubramaniam, each awards the Nritya Chudamani; and yet Malavika Sarukkai, Alarmel Valli, Mallika more informed where in one session you CV: (with a knowing look) Oh, ho, perform in one of the hundred or so accompanied by maestros such as Palghat others award the Sangeetha Kalasarathy, the Sarabhai and several others, including the could listen to a disputation on the season-ukku varel-aa (coming for the locations across the city. The atmosphere Mani Iyer on the mridangam and Lalgudi Sangita Kala Nipuna and the Nadabrahmam. senior artist/film star Vyjayanthimala, who structure of a raga, and in another the season)? is festive, the crowds exuberant, the Jayaraman or T.N. Krishnan on the violin. The list is endless. still electrifies audiences with her art. There compositions of a lesser known composer, OoT: (with a satisfied smile) Aama (Yes)! performances resplendent. Every aspiring The same rasika without moving from his It is not all music. Dance recitals are are also alternative dance events, a fusion or a demonstration by a senior vidvan. Carnatic musician seeks to perform here. shabby but comfortable seat in the front very much part of the season. Kalakshetra of traditional and modern dance forms. There is, quite simply, something for ll great cities have their Whatever their background or training or rows would have also seen stalwarts like continues with its stately tradition of At several Sabhas books, CDs and everyone, seasoned rasika or novice distinguishing features, something whatever the reputation they have acquired Kamala dance and Yamini Krishnamurti, presenting episodes from the Ramayana, DVDs are available, and it would not be at listener, for a Chennai-vasi or an Out-of- special which makes it a city like elsewhere, it is only a ‘season’ performance and if luck was in, possibly even as choreographed and first presented by all unusual to find a young American, Towner. Chennai in December is an Anone other. In Chennai, a city that distinguishes the best amongst them. Balasaraswati. A short trip to the canteen, Rukmini Devi Arundale. This year the perhaps of south Indian origin, buying up experience like none other. where ancient tradition merges effortlessly A casual look at the concert books of the that indispensable temporary restaurant, presentation is Choodamani Pradanam, the shop. This same person has possibly —Keshav Desiraju is a Delhi-based bureaucrat into cyber technology, it is the December 1960s will reveal that in the space of ten and he could sit back and listen to (Hanuman greeting Sita in the forest with spent hours learning music on Skype from and a devotee of Carnatic music

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THE ARTS & CULTURE

effort to view and document the throes of ART OF THE MATTER: Some of the art works on display at the summit ARTISTIC IMPRESSIONS various transformations. Quite frequently it was empty, often it was filled with The India Art Summit saw a confluence of artists and enthusiasts construction materials, debris and things discarded by people who lived there or  TEXT: URMILA MARAK passed through,” says Gill. space in the expansive outdoor area at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Indian art panorama was represented by surrounding the venue, was packed with outside his country of residence, Britain. almost all leading national art galleries. The around 40 excited schoolchildren who The exhibition showcased some of his focus was global with 34 leading foreign were interning with participating galleries ground-breaking installations. he third season of the India Art huge crowd-puller. “The footfall was twice Photographer Gauri Gill’s months of galleries like Aicon Gallery from New York, and media partners. Another attraction of the summit was Summit provided an unparalled the number compared to last year’s efforts to capture the migrants who had Beck and Eggling from Germany, Lisson Art The highlight of the summit was the the video lounge, which was filled with opportunity for art aficionados, 40,000,” said the organisers. Pragati come from across India and their attempts Gallery and Rob Dean Gallery from London elaborate Speakers’ Panel, where artist visitors who flocked to watch the works of Tconnoisseurs, curators and Maidan, the venue of the carnival, bustled to prepare the space for staging the summit participating in the summit. Senior artist Anish Kapoor, Hans Ulrich Obrist, co- the emerging and established artists from collectors to enjoy works of art from across with 84 exhibiting galleries from twenty paid off. Her exhibition at the summit was F.N. Souza was the most focussed artist at director of the Serpentine Gallery, and across the world, including India. The the world under one roof. Even those countries, including India, Australia, France, a big hit among the visitors. the third edition of the carnival. Gallerie 88, Homi Bhabha, director, Harvard Humanities carnival was successful in displaying some ignorant about art were thronging the Germany, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Spain, “The hall’s history as it plays out may be The Loft, Delhi Art Gallery and Dhoomimal, Centre came together and discussed the great works of art which otherwise is rarely venue and spouting superlatives as they Switzerland, UAE, UK and US. Around seen as a microcosm of ‘development’ besides two other UK-based galleries, perception of Indian art internationally. seen in India. It was also an excellent scanned the pieces on display. 500 artists jostled for space to showcase across India, and indeed many parts of the displayed his works. Anish Kapoor for the first time unveiled one platform to present the best that India had The three-day event was undoubtedly a their works of art. world today. I spent time in space in an This year’s Sculpture Park, an extended of the biggest retrospectives of his art works to offer. 

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PROFILE RESURRECTING RIVERS, RESTORING FORESTS Legendary ‘Water Man’, Rajendra Singh, known for his conservation work in arid Rajasthan, continues to inspire

 TEXT: USHA RAI

onstructing johads or traditional water harvesting structures, restoring hills and forests that have lost their crowning glory and rejuvenating rivers that have run dry Cbecause of rapacious mining, quarrying and logging in and around the sylvan settings of Alwar, Rajasthan, Rajendra Singh is one of India’s finest eco-warriors. Better known locally as the ‘Water Man’ or ‘Jal Purush’, he has rejuvenated at least half a dozen rivers in Rajasthan and ended the migration from villages that his NGO, Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), works in. 90 villages and another 32 in Sawai Madhopur, Karoli and Jaipur certain stretches of Arvari river. However, Singh opposed the MAN WITH A MISSION: Rajendra Singh on the banks of Luni river In 2001, his work in community leadership was recognised and districts. One such committee has set up a people’s wildlife contract which he felt would not only decimate the fish before he was given the Ramon Magasaysay Award. His expertise on sanctuary – Bhairovdev Lokvanyajeev Abhayarny – spread over optimum regeneration but other riverine life forms too. The watershed development and employment generation at the 12km in Bhaonta Kolyala village of Alwar. Twelve years ago a barren government withdrew the contract and a River Parliament of 70 grassroots level is matched by tireless activism. He believes that patch, the area now has sufficient forest cover and wildlife. villages along the Arvari river was set up by Singh to engage villagers constructing water harvesting structures and planting trees is not Work began in a small way in 1985 when a core group of in the development and conservation of the river. Now, water into the courses conducted by the Tarun Jal Vidyapeeth, a university enough; powerful lobbies destroying nature have to be challenged people worked on rural development and employment generation conservation has led to increased employment and reduction of of water management, set up by TBS. In addition, TBS has and stopped. He has successfully fought in the Supreme Court for through water conservation at Gopalpura village of Alwar district. migration in the area. documented medicinal plants of the region and their use for the closure of some 100 mines that were destroying the ecology Slowly, this grassroots work intensified and spread to more areas. To keep the issue of conservation alive, almost every year, major different ailments. In the villages where TBS has a presence, herbs of the Sariska National Park. Rajendra Singh played a key role in constructing some 8,600 campaigns or yatras are held. Campaigns like the Nadi, Pahar and medicinal roots are preferred to allopathic treatment. Fifty-one year old Singh has spent 25 years of his life campaigning johads in 1,058 villages spread over 6,500 sq kms. After TBS Bachao Yatra (Campaign to Save Rivers and Hills) which Singh lead The conviction has paid off. Recognising his commitment and for restoration of water bodies, forest cover and empowering constructed 3,500 johads and lands became productive with the from Gatta in Jaipur to Gangotri in Uttarkashi. He also initiated a success for watershed development, states like Madhya Pradesh, communities. Under his initiative, community-led institutions of the availability of water, local communities were motivated to 40-day water conservation programme, Jal Bachao, Johad Banao Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka send their villages have been educated as well as involved in Gandhian construct another 5,100 water harvesting structures in Alwar, Yatra (Save Water Build Dams March). In 2002, he organised the foresters and watershed development officials to TBS for concepts such as gram sabhas, mahila banks and River Parliaments. Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Karoli and Jaipur districts. Appropriate Rashtriya Jal Yatra (National Water March) from Gandhi’s Samadhi orientation on community-based watershed development. He has spearheaded campaigns on gram swawlamban (self-reliant water harvesting structures were also built in Jaisalmer, Ajmer, at Raj Ghat in Delhi covering 30 states and 144 river basins. A whole generation in the desert state of Rajasthan was unaware villages), soil conservation, seed improvement, collection of herbal Udaipur and Bharatpur. Simultaneously, five conferences were organised to share concerns of the potential of the barren land around them. Singh’s medicines and shramdan (voluntary labour). As a result of all these efforts, seasonal rivers of north-east on water and strategise action plans. At a time when the interlinking determination, vision and hard work has transformed their lives. In and around the Sariska National Park, he has motivated village Rajasthan, like Ruparel, Arvari, Sarsa, Bhagani and Jahajwali, are of rivers was being discussed at the political level, Singh’s message Now, they know they have a better future. communities to regenerate and protect forests by reviving their now in full flow. With the regeneration of the rivers, aquatic life was “instead, link people for water conservation.” —Usha Rai is a senior journalist who specialises on envrionment customary laws. Forest Protection Committees have been set up in thrived, the government even started giving contracts for fishing on The experiences and lessons learnt from these marches are fed and development issues

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BOOKS

SHADES OF LIFE & LIGHT Selection of photographs taken from Raghu Rai’s The Indians: Portraits from My Album

A pair of house-painters who laboured at Raghu Rai’s house for six days. Rai watched them and could not let them go before photographing them “as they were so much there,” Delhi, 1980; (right) Mrs Indira Gandhi, the first and only woman Prime Minister of India

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(Clockwise from above) Carnatic vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi, Delhi, 1992; spiritual teacher, writer and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, Delhi, 1985; shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, Varanasi, 1988

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THE INDIANS: PORTRAITS FROM MY ALBUM Raghu Rai Introduction by John Falconer Publisher: Penguin Studio Price: ` 4,999 Pages: 160

Shah Rukh Khan with his fans, 2008

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INDIA AND THE WORLD

IN FOCUS: Public transport buses in Davos RISING INDIA, FALLING SNOW with India Inclusive! promos designed by India Brand Equity Foundation At the World Economic Forum in Davos no other country was as visible as India

very year, for the past 40 years, plenty of big wheels descend down on the Alpine resort town of EDavos in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF). For five days the world’s most influential globocrats — leaders, top-notch CEOs, bureaucrats social entrepreneurs and media mavens gather to exchange thoughts and concerns on assorted issues like the European debt crisis, US economic growth, climate change, sustainable development, Asian security, African poverty, supporting a G-20 agenda and developing a Risk Response Network. This year, the 2,500-odd global leaders also talked about India. In this annual event India made its biggest splash ever declaring its coming of age in an explosion of colours, and flavours and, most importantly, ideas. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) ` 400 million India Inclusive@Davos campaign ensured that India was everywhere: on billboards, on the sides of buses, in adda sessions, in seminars and discussions, in assorted cultural events. As a prominent Kenyan TV anchor said in headlinespeak, “In Davos, the story is India.” The country’s two hundred-strong contingent, the largest outside the US and Europe, was lead by five ministers, P. Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Kamal Nath, Praful Patel and Montek Ahluwalia and technocrat Nandan Nilekani. Between them they represented critical areas of the nation’s infrastructure; collectively and individually they spoke of how a rising, inclusive India was creating eddies of growth, markets and opportunities, creating

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a new economic order for a world rocked Jeffery Sachs, Joseph Stiglitz and an

by recession and stagflation. assortment of ministers and corporate IDEA EXCHANGE: (clockwise from above) Accompanying the politicians was a leaders who dropped in for discussions and India rocks at the Cultural Soirée during the penultimate night; India billboards dot rolodex of India Inc, including Chairperson, yes, some masala chai. With emerging Davos; Minister for Commerce and CII’s Banking Committee, Chanda Kochhar, markets accounting for 33 percent of the Industry Anand Sharma with United States Trade Representative, Ron Kirk and Vice President, CII, Hari S. Bhartia, CMD, world’s tally for mergers and acquisitions, a Chairperson and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, CEO substantial leap from 2009, it was not Mahindra & Mahindra, Anand Mahindra with CEO of WPP, Martin Sorrell and MD, Infosys Technologies, surprising to see international investment S. Gopalakrishnan, Chairperson, Aditya bankers, swarming to the adda to speak to Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla, their Indian counterparts. Chairperson, Godrej Group Adi Godrej; No other country enjoyed the same kind Chairperson, Wipro Azim Premji and of visibility as India. The WEF had four Entrepreneurship become drivers of India’s Chairperson, UB Group, Vijay Mallya. exclusive sessions on India, as compared to Growth Story?’ Members of the delegation joined in one or two each for major countries like Financial Times, one of WEF’s media discussion lending an important Indian China, Brazil and Russia and two on Africa. partners, ran advertisements and feature perspective to global issues ranging from Each India session attracted packed houses, articles on India in its main edition and climate change, innovation, science and two of them were even televised on BBC. Davos supplements. Broadcaster NDTV too technology, employment, inclusive growth These public sessions were as apart from had a huge presence interviewing and good governance. the several private ones, which had a celebrities like George Soros, Randy Perhaps the talk of the town were the separate entry charge, and were supported Zuckerburg and others. colourful hoardings and billboards that were by major Indian companies. It was perhaps appropriate that the on the frontages of prominent buildings like On the sidelines of the WEF, the India concluding dinner of this year’s WEF was the Congress or the Kirchener Museum, Inclusive programme had two major panel hosted by CII and the government. The showing shining bright young faces of India’s discussions at the Kirchner Museum, part annual ball, renamed the Cultural Soirée, Generation Y. Or it could have been the India of the India Future of Change campaign. showcased food, fashion and the Adda! at the Cafe Schneider located The first – ‘Can India grow faster than performing arts. After days of intense centrally on the Promenade. The adda – China? What role can government and discussions, it was quite a contrast to see literally a hangout – cleverly served as a business play? ‘– was moderated by Martin global leaders enthusiastically dancing to unique base for bilateral ministerial Wolf of the Financial Times. The second, the rhythm of Indian music. The Kenyan meetings. Open to delegates it attracted moderated by design guru Tim Brown, anchor was right, at work and at play, India personalities like Bill Clinton, Ron Somers, focussed on ‘Can Design, Innovation and was all-pervading at Davos 2011. 

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a new economic order for a world rocked Jeffery Sachs, Joseph Stiglitz and an

by recession and stagflation. assortment of ministers and corporate IDEA EXCHANGE: (clockwise from above) Accompanying the politicians was a leaders who dropped in for discussions and India rocks at the Cultural Soirée during the penultimate night; India billboards dot rolodex of India Inc, including Chairperson, yes, some masala chai. With emerging Davos; Minister for Commerce and CII’s Banking Committee, Chanda Kochhar, markets accounting for 33 percent of the Industry Anand Sharma with United States Trade Representative, Ron Kirk and Vice President, CII, Hari S. Bhartia, CMD, world’s tally for mergers and acquisitions, a Chairperson and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, CEO substantial leap from 2009, it was not Mahindra & Mahindra, Anand Mahindra with CEO of WPP, Martin Sorrell and MD, Infosys Technologies, surprising to see international investment S. Gopalakrishnan, Chairperson, Aditya bankers, swarming to the adda to speak to Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla, their Indian counterparts. Chairperson, Godrej Group Adi Godrej; No other country enjoyed the same kind Chairperson, Wipro Azim Premji and of visibility as India. The WEF had four Entrepreneurship become drivers of India’s Chairperson, UB Group, Vijay Mallya. exclusive sessions on India, as compared to Growth Story?’ Members of the delegation joined in one or two each for major countries like Financial Times, one of WEF’s media discussion lending an important Indian China, Brazil and Russia and two on Africa. partners, ran advertisements and feature perspective to global issues ranging from Each India session attracted packed houses, articles on India in its main edition and climate change, innovation, science and two of them were even televised on BBC. Davos supplements. Broadcaster NDTV too technology, employment, inclusive growth These public sessions were as apart from had a huge presence interviewing and good governance. the several private ones, which had a celebrities like George Soros, Randy Perhaps the talk of the town were the separate entry charge, and were supported Zuckerburg and others. colourful hoardings and billboards that were by major Indian companies. It was perhaps appropriate that the on the frontages of prominent buildings like On the sidelines of the WEF, the India concluding dinner of this year’s WEF was the Congress or the Kirchener Museum, Inclusive programme had two major panel hosted by CII and the government. The showing shining bright young faces of India’s discussions at the Kirchner Museum, part annual ball, renamed the Cultural Soirée, Generation Y. Or it could have been the India of the India Future of Change campaign. showcased food, fashion and the Adda! at the Cafe Schneider located The first – ‘Can India grow faster than performing arts. After days of intense centrally on the Promenade. The adda – China? What role can government and discussions, it was quite a contrast to see literally a hangout – cleverly served as a business play? ‘– was moderated by Martin global leaders enthusiastically dancing to unique base for bilateral ministerial Wolf of the Financial Times. The second, the rhythm of Indian music. The Kenyan meetings. Open to delegates it attracted moderated by design guru Tim Brown, anchor was right, at work and at play, India personalities like Bill Clinton, Ron Somers, focussed on ‘Can Design, Innovation and was all-pervading at Davos 2011. 

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COMMENT

of love and therewith, overcoming all differences, bridge the chasm of passions which has been widening for ages”. These were powerful words addressed to both the peoples of China and India, calling upon them to build a deeper mutual understanding. In speaking of the need for “eternally revealing a joyous relationship unforeseen”, he sought to promote the cause of China-India understanding, NIRUPAMA RAO envisioning the ascent of India and China to a higher platform of civilisational leadership and fraternal partnership since they together comprise 40 percent of humanity. In his view, there was no fundamental contradiction between the two countries whose civilisations stressed the concept of harmonious development in the spirit of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family) and shijie datong (world in grand harmony). RABINDRANATH TAGORE’S It was Tagore’s vision of eternal partnership between India and China that inspired the vision of India-China friendship in the fifties in the last century. Prof. Tan Chung, son of Tan VISION OF INDIA AND CHINA: Yun-Shan, has coined a phrase ‘geo-civilisational paradigm’ to describe the relationship between India and China. A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY I believe that Tagore’s focus on Asia’s unique identity is of particular relevance today as we seek to promote peace, PERSPECTIVE stability and prosperity in Asia. Instinctively, he reflected the spirit of an Asia which had traditionally lived in peace, SHARED HISTORY: Tagore in China with writers Xu Zhimo pursuing the traffic of ideas, the peaceful absorption of (right) and Xie Bingxin different religions without proselytisation, and trade and here is a heightened focus on Rabindranath Tagore relationship between the two great civilisations of China and commerce across oceans that were not polarised but were politically charged atmosphere. His vision was long-term and today as we engage in preparations to celebrate the India. He passionately advocated the reopening of the path neutral – literally zones of peace and a common economic civilisational, rather than ephemeral, approximating the 150th anniversary of his birth. This year it will also between the two countries that had become obscured space. This was an approach defined by secularism and a millennium-long cultural contacts between India and China T be 87 years since Tagore made his memorable visit through the centuries. His international university, Visvabharati, complementariness of interests. This balanced commercial in which he found a worthy model for sustenance of the to China. He went to China with a message of love and played a pioneering role in development of Chinese studies equilibrium was enhanced by the concept of spiritual unity. Asian way of harmony and coexistence. This is why he brotherhood that he felt symbolised the essence of the ties in India. The establishment of the first Sino-Indian Cultural One has only to visit the caves of Ajanta or see the murals interpreted the invitation to him to visit China as an invitation between the two countries. From all we know, his visit Society, and then, Cheena Bhavana (Chinese Department) of Dunhuang in China to see the capturing, through the eye from China to India rather than to an individual, and captured the imagination of Chinese intellectual elite, some at Santineketan were corner stones for this cause. Scholars, of the artist, of this vision of unity – with their depiction of ‘accepted it as a humble son of India’. of whom were overcome with admiration for his eloquence teachers like Tan Yun-Shan, who led Cheena Bhavan for many various nationalities thronging royal processions or expressing The import of Tagore’s influence for the revival of India- and passionate espousal of the civilisational strength of the years, contributed greatly to modern India’s understanding of their grief before a dying Buddha. China relations should not be underestimated, because it had East, while others especially young students in some of the Chinese civilisation and her modern development. In the 8th century, an Indian astronomer named waned after the Song dynasty and especially following the Chinese leading universities, drawing directly from the Our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was greatly Gautama Siddhartha, was named the President of the Board advent of the Europeans. It is significant that all exchanges ideology of the May 4, 1919 movement, were vehement in inspired by Tagore’s desire for India-China fraternity. He of Astronomy of China. This tolerance and openness, lack of between India and China with lasting impact till this point their rejection of Tagore’s critique of modern civilization. believed in the strong civilisational links between the two prejudice toward foreigners and outsiders, the spirit of were by religious personages. Tagore was the first thinker of Even before his arrival in China in April 1924, Tagore was countries that had drawn them to each other in historical enterprise and the absence of trade barriers, was modern India to be invited by the thinking elite of China, along already a celebrated figure in that country. Chen Du Xiu, one times. This civilisational link also inspired Panchsheel or the unprecedented in the history of the world. I believe this is with the likes of John Dewey and Bertrand Russell, as the of the founding fathers of the Communist Party of China, Five Principles of Co-existence. It is also to be noted that for what Tagore meant when he said that we should have our Chinese grappled with the question of China’s place in a translated Tagore’s prize-winning anthology, Gitanjali, as the last many years, Tagore and Nehru have been regarded past as a rough guide for the future. modern world. In India, which was also facing pulls and early as 1915. It was during Tagore’s stay in China that the as among the fifty foreigners who have contributed most in When Tagore visited China, both India and China were in pressures of different kinds, Tagore similarly sought to revive renowned Chinese scholar, Liang Qichao, presented him the shaping China’s modern development. the throes of their own and distinct revolution. In some the spirit of unity with China and enhance understanding of Chinese name, Zhu Zhendan which translates to ‘thunder Tagore was a visionary, always forward-looking. In one of sense, Tagore, with his poet’s love of beauty remained this important country by pioneering modern studies of China of the oriental dawn’. Tagore was deeply touched. his lectures in China in 1924, he said, “I hope that some unaware of the visceral repugnance among the intellectual and building on contacts with noted Chinese personalities. He truly believed in the mutually beneficial interactive dreamer will spring from among you and preach a message elites of China for Confucianism and traditional culture in a Even if Tagore’s outreach to China did not evoke the

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from our friends in Singapore that we often hear the most been working to realise the vision of a truly global university, incisive commentary and comparative analyses of modern a holistic mix of the old and the new, of the past, the present China and India. And, it is probably here in Singapore that and the future. Again, Tagore’s happiness at this development you are able to best understand the imperative of closer would have been spontaneous. It is the modern day dialogue and peaceful interaction between India and China. Xuanzangs and Bodhidharmas in both our countries and Tagore’s encounter with China did not culminate with his indeed in the rest of Asia that this University will target – so trip there in 1924. The idea of India and the idea of China – that this ancient rendezvous comes alive once again with all civilisations that could never perish – were guiding principles its attendant relevance and meaning. We are deeply for leaders like Nehru. Until the unfortunate border conflict of appreciative of the fact that the Singapore Buddhist 1962, the concept of fraternal partnership between India and community is to make a financial contribution for the library China had never been questioned. The estrangement of the of Nalanda University amounting to $ 5 million. In December sixties and early seventies expressed an aberration that went 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao announced a contribution of $1 against the grain of the inspirational words of Tagore and his million for the Nalanda University. belief in the geo-civilisational paradigm of India-China Tagore was ultimately a breaker of barriers, and in that relations. This is a useful model for Asia as we see it resurge sense he is very much of the 21st century. His appeal once again, and we seek open, transparent, balanced and should cut across any nationalism that is narrowly defined or equitable dialogue structures and patterns of cooperation circumscribed by a limited appreciation of the ebb and flow among all the regions of our continent. of the tides of history. That sanity and rationality should Last May, I was present at Shanghai when the President prevail in the debates and encounters of countries like India of India, unveiled a bronze statue of Tagore at the crossing of and China is a principle that nobody can find exception Nanchang Road and Maoming Road very close to the spot about. Tagore’s nationalism did not come in the way of the where Tagore had stayed at the house of the young poet Xu widest internationalism. This is a message for the youth of Zhimo during a brief transit through Shanghai on his onward China and of India. Let their relationship flourish in the journey to Japan and North America in 1929. The event was amrakunj – the mango grove – like the one at Santiniketan, recognition of the enormous contribution made by Tagore in a field of inspiration, with their personalities developing in resurrecting the traditional friendship between India and harmony with the environment around them. Perhaps the China. Last month, during the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to theme of the amrakunj should define 2011 which is the India, the Indian Government announced that the study of Year of India-China Exchange! the Chinese language would be introduced into the During his visit to Delhi in December 2010, Premier Wen curriculum of secondary schools across the country. Tagore Jiabao spoke to a cross-section of media and cultural and AFP would have been overjoyed by this resolve to promote the academic personalities on how to improve perceptions of scientific study of China through its language. Indians and Chinese about each other. What came through intended response during or immediately following his visit, In many ways, the Nalanda University Project, which was the need for an inclusive and plural approach given the convergence and common ground. I believe that the ballast his approach looks prophetic with the passage of time. At arises out of the decisions reached at the East Asia Summit, multi-ethnic nature of both societies. The need for the two must come from deeper dialogue which is defined by that point in time, Tagore said in his final lecture in China, “I is an expression of this spirit. The road to Nalanda, giver of countries to evolve as hubs of creativity, in addition to being greater transparency, understanding the relevance and have done what was possible — I have made friends.” education and knowledge, echoes with the muffled engines of economic growth, was stressed by Premier Wen. import of the words of thinkers like Tagore, realising that a However, this was not just friendship between the poet and footsteps of that period of shared history between India and India and China share what is termed as a strategic and conflicted or contest-ridden relationship between India and his fans in China, it was in many ways symbolic of the China when the traditions of Buddhist pilgrimage and quest cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity today. Their China can do neither any good, that peace and stability for renewal of friendship between India and China and of scholarship defined the reaching out of these two relations have, in the last decade particularly, grown an Asian century flows from the enduring strength of a well- awakening of their potential. For instance, India and China countries to each other. In fact, the lore of the Tang Dynasty increasingly multi-faceted. These two big economies of Asia functioning interaction between these two countries. were to launch the Panchsheel initiative exactly three monk’s “Journey to the West” is like a trail leading to are interacting closely with each other, both in terms of The concept of Zhongguo-Yin Da Tong or ‘Great Harmony decades later, drawing upon their civilisational values. Nalanda. The tradition of Nalanda not only included monks bilateral trade, but also on issues concerning the global between India and China’ can describe the future of our Since the venue of this talk is Singapore, I cannot but like Faxian, Xuanzang and Yijing, but also other monks and economic situation. The two governments have decided to relations, if we use not only our complementarities in help thinking of how the most evocative visualisation of the scholars, prominently among them Kumarajiva, who is institute a strategic economic dialogue as a measure of the development and economic growth but also our great synergy between India and China has often sprung from our claimed by both India and China as their own worthy son. increasing complexity and sophistication of their dialogue on strengths in cultural and civilisational values, thus emerging as friends in South-East Asia. And here, Singapore has played In our own century, the 21st, the Government of India economic issues. hubs of creativity and innovation, to create a fitting new a leading role. It was in Singapore that Tan Yun-Shan met has sought to revive Nalanda as a centre of cultural exchange It is a truism that between two such large countries such paradigm for the India-China equation.

Tagore and from where he resolved to follow Tagore to and scholarship between East, Southeast and South Asia. The as ours, relations will be complex and with continuing areas —Excerpts from a speech by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Santiniketan when Cheena Bhavana was being set up. It is Nalanda Mentor Group, headed by Dr. Amartya Sen, has of divergence. The challenge remains to build more at the Singapore Consortium for India-China Dialogue

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ITEC

and editing; economic journalism and media freedom, law and ethics. By the end of four months journalism students become more knowledgeable about communication and development issues. They also develop a range of skills – from analytical to computers and writing, while improving their competency in specific media streams. In short, they become more well-rounded professionals as they acquire both theoretical and practical skills required for media practitioners in developing countries. “Students come from all over the world, from Africa, South Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe,” enumerates Dr. Sunetra Sen Narayan, ITEC Associate Professor and coordinator at IIMC. INTERNATIONAL PROFILE: (left) Students stand in front of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication located in south Delhi and (above) in a classroom While more than 44 institutes all over India offer different training courses under the ITEC programme, IIMC is the only institute that offers a media course which is conducted in batches of 25, starting every August and January. “Participating in the course gave me an different parts of the world was useful as I OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING For the students, this mid-career international profile, exposed me to a learnt about cultures I had not known learning experience has been hugely diverse culture and also made me before,” she says. Journalists from developing countries benefit from a course at Delhi’s rewarding. “The experience at IIMC is very confident because of the skills I acquired in Certainly, for the institute, the one prime Indian Institute of Mass Communications useful. The course has helped me to the field. Can you imagine when I got back focus is to facilitate interaction between the understand different aspects of journalism to Ghana one of the largest TV stations in foreign and Indian students. “We organise  TEXT: DEVIRUPA MITRA / IAANS as it is practiced in developing countries joint sessions with students under different while different tours during the course have courses. From time to time, we also hold helped us to learn about India’s rich cultural workshops and seminars which are open heritage,” admits Mohammed Humayun to all students, and here foreign students Kobir from Bangladesh who has just get a chance to interact with local ones. hey come to India from all over — Conducted twice a year, in a tree-flecked several aspects of communication and completed the course. Besides, the international students also from Africa, Latin America, Asia — campus located in south Delhi, the course development.” “Inevitably after the course, our alumni the country called me for an interview? participate in various cultural programmes imbibing skills, learning the 5 Ws attracts a number of students, mostly from The course which started way back in always report back to us when they get While in Delhi I was even able to pick some at the institute,” Tandon explains. Tof journalism in a country widely the developing world. Explaining the 1979 has been organised under the back home. They tell us about either Hindi and I am still learning. I wish I could Despite its popularity, there are no plans recognised as having one of the world’s objective of the course, Sunit Tandon, relationship-building Indian Technical and switching to more lucrative jobs or to jobs get back once again.” to expand the course. “We cannot increase freest and most robust media. director of IIMC, says: “Our Development Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme that they are more interested in as a result For Precious Nomuo of Zimbabwe, it’s numbers because we have limited hostel Every year, around 50 budding Journalism course is meant for mid-career initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs. of participating in the IIMC course. They all the intermingling of cultures which has space. However, we expect to have more journalists from different countries come to journalists who come mostly from non- It contains six modules: defining stay in touch. It makes us feel so proud,” been most useful. “The course gave me a hostels constructed within two years and New Delhi’s Indian Institute of Mass aligned and other developing countries. development journalism; role of mass Tandon says. good grounding in the basics of journalism perhaps then we can consider opening the Communication (IIMC) for a four-month Our endeavour is to give an opportunity media in developing countries; new Eric Walker of Ghana, a former student, basics but the sheer cultural diversity and course to more participants,” ends Tandon course in Development Journalism. to them to develop an expertise in technologies; various aspect of reporting explains via email, how he benefited. the inter-mingling with people from on a hopeful note. 

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GLOBAL BRANDS AFP

RIGHT CONNECTIONS: (far left) Bharti Airtel’s Sunil Mittal; (left) Zain subscribers in Kenya; (above) Zain CEO, Nabil bin Salamah AFP AFP

as one of the world’s top outward investors investments, the latest being a luxury hotel The Africa story is important as it HOW BHARTI MADE A CALL with over $75 billion dollars investment in Cape Town, South Africa. Other Indian represents the growth and expansion of having been made overseas in the past corporates which are active players in Africa Indian corporates in the world through Bharti Airtel’s acquisition of Zain Telecom spikes Indian investments in Africa decade. During 2009-10 alone, Reserve include Ashok Leyland, Videocon, Marico, buyouts. In the hydrocarbons sector, Bank data shows that the outward Dabur, Godrej, Mahindra and Mahindra, domestic oil companies like the Indian Oil  TEXT: SUSHMA RAMACHANDRAN investment was $10.3 billion dollars. Suzlon, UB, Cipla, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, NIIT, Corporation are setting aside a war chest of Among other big international takeovers in Kirloskar and Essar. There are also at least a billion dollars to buy exploration recent years has been Tata Steel’s $12 investments by the state-owned ONGC and production assets abroad. In the harti Airtel’s acquisition of Zain Telecom. For another, it has to cope with There is no doubt that the Indian billion dollar buyout of the larger Anglo which bought a 25 percent stake in Sudan’s pharma sector, Indian firms have already Telecom in Africa marks the the teething problems of carrying out telecom’s company’s entry into Africa is Dutch company, Corus, as well as its Greater Nile project seven years ago in carried out a host of buyouts in Europe and biggest foray of Indian corporates operations in a new environment. So far, significant as it underlines the tremendous acquisition of the iconic Jaguar Motors, not a bid to improve the country’s energy the U.S. while infrastructure companies are Binto this continent. The landmark Bharti, India’s largest telecom company, has potential available in this continent for to mention Tata Tea’s takeover of UK’s security. The pharmaceutical industry has looking at the purchase of coal mines and deal estimated at $10.7 billion dollars in only ventured to nearby Sri Lanka. In Africa, Indian industry. In the telecom sector Tetley. Lakshmi Mittal’s acquisition of also played a role in providing cheap and power plants abroad. March 2010 has escalated the level of Indian however, it has to deal with a completely alone, the sky is the limit as far as growth Arcelor has been another landmark deal. effective drugs for a market that earlier India Inc is clearly in a mood to go investments in Africa to $16.7 billion dollars. different regulatory and market scenario. is concerned. Only consider, tele-density in Other Indian companies are also looking relied on the high value drugs produced in pursue global expansion plans aggressively: The acquisition is not without its share And although Bharti has had the first-mover the continent is only about 30 percent. for growth opportunities in Africa. The Tata developed countries. Even in the area of Bharti’s takeover of Zain is only the tip of of challenges. For one, Bharti has to deal advantage in India, in Africa, it has to Bharti is not the only Indian company group was the first to make its presence felt telecom, Bharti is not the first Indian entrant the proverbial iceberg. with the enormous task of managing the contend with stiff competition from MTN, a to have made its mark in global mergers here and it is estimated that it has already to the African market as Essar had already —Sushma Ramachandran is an economic African assets of the Kuwait-based Zain company which it tried to acquire in 2009. and acquisitions. India is quickly emerging made about $1.6 billion dollars worth of launched its YU brand in Kenya. and corporate analyst

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TRAVEL

t’s only eight in the morning but the are a mere two-hour flight from Kolkata. INTO THE QUIET: The 572 islands of the EMERALD SEAS, CERULEAN SKIES sun is already high in the sky, bouncing The 572 islands of the Andaman and Andaman and Nicobar archipelago lie off the backs of a school of dolphins, Nicobar archipelago lie between the Coco between the Coco Channel and the maritime boundary of Sumatra Home to some of the most isolated indigenous people on earth the Andaman Ifishing some distance off the bows of Channel, off the coast of Myanmar, and the and Nicobar islands remain an unpolluted and tranquil destination our boat. We are gliding through clear, still maritime boundary of Sumatra. It is the last emerald waters. On either side of the boat home of the Andamanese indigenous  TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS: PRASHANT PANJIAR lie uninhabited beaches — the kind you find peoples, like the Sentinelese, who even History tells us that Marco Polo was in the pages of travel brochures. Edging the today are one of the most isolated and among the first western visitors to visit the sandy shores are thick virgin rainforests. As unassimilated people on earth, and the islands. The Maratha admiral Kanoji Angre a vision of paradise, there are few places in Jarawas, who only recently have come into made the islands his base in the early 18th the world that can rival these islands which contact with the mainstream. century and his navy harassed British,

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TAKING THE PLUNGE: (left) Jolly Buoy beach; (below) an underwater view

Dutch and Portugese merchant ships. The British finally annexed the islands in the 19th century and converted one of them into a penal colony for Indian freedom fighters. Construction of the infamous Cellular Jail was completed in 1906 and it was here that many Indian freedom fighters were incarcerated. During World War II, the Japanese captured the islands and after Independence, the islands were declared a Union Territory of India. The hub of the island is Port Blair, the administrative capital which connects to Chennai and Kolkata by air and ship. Here visiting the Cellular Jail, now a national monument, is de riguer. Other items on a tourist’s to-do list are the smattering of museums, the beach at Corbyn’s Cove, a harbour cruise and a visit to Ross Island, the seat of the British administration. Across the bay you can see Mount Harriet, covered in dense forests with some trekking tracks. Motorbikes are an interesting way to explore Port Blair and South Andaman — cheap and adventurous. Astride these sturdy chariots you can ride through dense tropical rainforests where magnificent Garjan trees tower around you like skyscrapers to reach Chidiyatapu, snuggling in the southern-most tip of South Andaman.

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PERFECT PACKAGE: (clockwise from left) enjoying a ferry ride; Cellular Jail in Port Blair and Radhanagar beach

Undoubtedly, the highlight of any trip to the Andamans is to discover the amazing underwater world of the coral reefs. The best, and easily the most accessible coral reefs, are in the Mahatma Gandhi National Park. The corals at Jolly Buoy are amazing and the sea is abundant in marine life. Snorkelling here is an experience not to be missed. Although there is a diving centre at Wandoor, located some 29 km from Port Blair, Havelock Island is the place if you’re looking for more serious action. Though Middle Andaman has been opened to foreign tourists travel still remains restricted so as to protect the Jarawas from contact with the outside world. Travel by car is permitted from Port Blair to Rangat and Mayabunder, both of which are also accessible by sea. The road journey is done in convoys, escorted by armed policemen. But be warned: photography of the Jarawas and the reserve is forbidden. Despite its restrictions, for the right reasons, the Andaman Islands is a once-in- a-lifetime experience, an other wordly experience in one of the most pristine environments left on earth. —Prashant Panjiar is a renowned, independent columnist/photographer based in New Delhi

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IN REVIEW

ART BOOKS Anish Kapoor's first-ever exhibitions in India capture the popular imagination An invigorating view of India’s diverse political and social canvas

o matter what your MAKERS OF expectations are from the MODERN INDIA Mumbai-born artist Anish By Ramchandra Guha Publisher: Kapoor, he will always surprise N Penguin/Viking you. Nothing quite prepares you for his Pages: 549 sculptures and installations—not the size, Price: ` 799 nor the ideas. London-based Kapoor’s Indian debut comes with all the trappings of cult celebrity-dom. However, his first India shows have nothing on the scale on ndia was an idea that was not expected which he usually works. His works were to succeed, but that view was belied simultaneously exhibited at the National in the six decades that India has Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi and Ibeen a secular, democratic republic. Mehboob Studios, Mumbai. Congress Ramchandra Guha’s selection of nineteen AFP chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the original thinkers and activists provides an Delhi show while the Mumbai opening was invigorating view of the diversity of political ripe with socialites and Bollywood stars. NEW LANGUAGE OF ART: Anish Kapoor in front of his wax-imploding art installation, and social debate in India. Makers of Shooting into the Corner, at Mehboob Art Studio, Mumbai Born in 1954, Kapoor studied in Modern India is an anthology of their Mumbai and Doon School, Dehradun, essays, letters and speeches on issues of before he headed for London where he national identity, democracy, religion and studied and taught art. Later, he turned a social justice. full-time sculptor and installation artist. Most different levels whether on the ground or work includes plastic, acrylic, sandstone, The nineteen thinkers range from Raja of his iconic works consist of reflecting across buildings, or creating steel blimps in pigments, fibre glass and several other Rammohan Roy, Mohandas K. Gandhi, surfaces in steel that are shaped to reflect, the nature of half-filled balloons that allow elements that broadly come under the Rabindranath Tagore, Sir Syed Ahmed subvert or invert images, so that the familiar themselves to wrap themselves fluidly category of mixed-media. Yet, it is the Khan, G.K. Gokhale, Jawaharlal Nehru, is rendered unfamiliar. His works stand tall around built structures. These experiments distortions and illusion of his stainless steel E.V. Ramaswami, M.S. Golwalkar to in city centres and parks across the world. have found a global following for him and installations that continue to intrigue and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. Edited and Kapoor, the artist, imagines space as his city installations have become star mystify his fans around the world. It turns introduced by the author, the excerpts deal something outside our understanding, attractions be it in Chicago, San Francisco, playful and an allegory to perceptions of with all the major issues that went into the letting it ‘expand’ or ‘contract’ in his works Tokyo or London’s Hyde Park. reality, they reveal to us the truths and debate on India’s transition to a modern, which become an interactive element for Currently, he is working on the Arcelor’s untruths of our ways of looking at the world secular republic – race, religion, caste, Hamid Dalwai comes as a surprise as the – as those who were thinkers as well as visitors, lending a new dimension to art and Mittal Orbit, a huge tower in London’s and people around us. gender, nationalism, colonialism, language, author himself describes them as obscure activists-reformers; this may explain the how people engage with it. Olympic Park. The Orbit subverts the textual Kapoor’s mirror allows us all to gaze democracy and economic development, in their lifetime, but her strong demand for absence of several well-known names in While some of his works are a bow to his meaning of the word and has all the into ourselves and discover notions of violence and non-violence. The eclectic equality between men and women in his list. This is the book to read for a richer Indian-ness, Kapoor works outside any promise of being this century’s equivalent of space we had never considered earlier. For collection shows the span of their political 1882 takes Shinde into the category of understanding of India’s political heritage. established ideology. This is something the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Orbit will be that and the new contemporary language thought, from B.R. Ambedkar on original thinkers of their day. Hamid As Guha writes, it is meant to give “a fuller central to his massive architectural ready ahead of the Olympic Games in 2012. of art he has created, Kapoor’s exhibitions democracy, Rammanohar Lohia on caste Dalwai’s critical writings in the 1960s on understanding of how this unnatural interventions, with which he is increasingly Associated, at least initially, with in the two cities were events that were not and Jyotirao Phule’s writings on the plight Muslim liberalism are of even greater nation and unlikely democracy was argued absorbed; burrowing into hillsides, tunneling reflective surfaces, the new medium to be missed. of farmers which still retain their relevance. importance in contemporary times. into existence.” underground, linking passages between Kapoor finds himself using as part of his —Kishore Singh The inclusion of Tarabai Shinde and Guha explains his choice of intellectuals —Shubha Singh

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IN REVIEW

FILM MUSIC In the Season of Blue Storm goes beyond the veil and looks at Muslim women Rajasthan’s Manganiyars make Delhi see the music and hear the light

ased on the personal stories of five young, middle-class Muslim women from different Bparts of India, Naghma Inam’s documentary In the Season of Blue Storm makes a larger case for their sisters who are stepping out and fighting their own battles. Pilot Sumiara Sururi, BBC World Service Assistant Producer Samarah Fatima, data AFP analyst Anam Mehmood, IAS officer Sehala Nigar and MNC executive Sabiha Saeed are self-assured, intelligent, and fully aware of their families’ support. Endearingly frank, hey are keepers of the history arranged in four horizontal rows, one with a hearty dislike of compulsions, they of the desert; sentinels to the above the other. The show began with a exude a sense of comfort at being Indians. sound of the sands. Called the single cubicle lighting up and its They do not don the veil, but have TManganiyars, these Muslim occupant starting to sing. Throughout the faced no harassment or discrimination as minstrels from Jaisalmer and Barmer, the concert, the performers, collectively and women, as Muslims or as professionals. It is desert regions of Rajasthan, reinforced the individually, waxed and waned, but the here in India, they say, that you can really traditions of their forefathers as they music never stopped. be yourself. They are proud Muslims who mesmerised their audience against the Effectively using the concept of Jaipur’s have never hidden their identity. Merajur Rahman Baruah – shows these they move in is that of their community. historic backdrop of the Purana Qila. Hawa Mahal and the red light area of Yet they know Muslim women face women at their workplace, their modes of There’s no mention, however, of any An hour-long concert, conceived and Amsterdam to create a feeling of intimacy, dilemmas, especially before platitudes such dress, their easy relationships with their male social indicators. To conclude on the directed by Roysten Abel, used the raw Roysten, an associate of the National as “Islam doesn’t allow…” Without denying colleagues and with their families. For the strength of five success stories that Muslim voices of the Maganiyars and instruments School of Drama, reportedly said before the

the tenets of Islam, they question the views rest, it sticks to certain characteristic images: women are leaving their four walls may like the kamancha, a stringed lute and the ANKUR MALHOTRA show: “All over the world, we have always society proffers, and ask whose purpose it namaz, masjids, dargahs, kite-flying, appear far-fetched. But moulds are being khartal, small pieces of smooth wood, got a standing ovation,” And India’s capital really serves to contain women. selecting bangles, bearded men, bazaars broken slowly, and education is at the heart which, much like the Spanish flamenco did not disappoint him. After the final notes TUNE FROM THE DUNES: During A Public Diplomacy initiative of the crowded preponderantly with Muslims –as of it. With cautious optimism, In the Season dancers, are used to reinforce beat and the concert at Purana Qila, New died down the applause continued well Ministry of External Affairs, The Season of though once removed from their of Blue Storm tells us how. rhythm. Forty-three Rajasthani folk Delhi; the Manganiyars in Pokharan into Delhi’s winter night. Blue Storm – scripted and directed by professional context, the only other context —Latika Padgaonkar musicians sat in 36 curtained cubicles, —Suparna Sengupta

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VERBATIM ON A DREAM ROLL A mural by artist Arpita Singh has become the most expensive work of art to be auctioned in India

eventy-three-year-old Arpita Singh appears to be more embarrassed than ecstatic about the record Sprice of ` 9.56 crore her Wish Dream mural fetched at a recent Saffronart auction, making her the highest-paid woman artist (a term she deplores) in India. Having started off in the fifties, it was only in the eighties that she began to paint seriously. Her canvases reflect the daily lives of women, often putting them at the centre of unfolding stories not in their control. There is a hint, too, of violence – of guns and strangers and airplanes that build up a theatre of unease in a world of roses and gardening and sewing, which is as true of Wish Dream as well. Ducking calls from the building at Qutab Institutional Area in New but with Wish Dream I felt as though some press rather than courting it, Arpita Singh Delhi, and so I had to think accordingly in barrier in my work had been removed. In makes an observation about the emerging terms of size. (The building was sealed, and that sense, it did a very good thing to me. environment as far as buying art in India is the mural was never put up.) As an artist, I concerned. “I feel good that our own society don’t have any large social or political ideas With Wish Dream did you make any is supporting us,” she says in an interview that I paint. So, for this mural, I chose as my changes in your journey as an artist? to Kishore Singh — a nod to the purchase subject what I mostly paint, though I was No, I was continuing and have continued of the mural by an Indian collector. not very sure of its outcome in the project. since then, to think and paint in the same way as always. What was your reaction to, first, the high Was Wish Dream intended to be part of estimate, and then the record price that your ongoing feminist ideology? Why do you show your women as being

Wish Dream fetched at the auction? Frankly, I don’t know what you mean by vulnerable? SAFFRONART COURTESY: When you consider prices for most Indian feminist ideology. I wondered for some …perhaps a sense of insecurity, I should say. art, it strikes you as very high. But when you time what I would paint over such a huge Even if you are not doing anything unusual, consider the size of the mural, which is space and was struck by the terms ‘wish’ or out of the way, you feel very insecure. COLOUR MY 24 ft x 14 ft – at least according to the and ‘dream’. It’s easy for me to understand, WORLD: (left) average price for my works, it isn’t so and paint, women’s wishes and dreams But don’t men face fear too? Arpita Singh; (above) extraordinary. which are common to all of us. So I had a I’m not a man. Maybe I’m reading too Wish Dream start, though I didn’t know where the many newspaper reports of women being Oil on canvas 287x159 inches What was it like working on such a large painting was going or where it would end. violated, maybe that has affected me. 16 panels scale when both your subjects as well as Inspired by Buddhist monastic traditions, the sizes in which you work, have How has the scale of the project Finally, have you tried escaping strewn with flowers, tended to be much more intimate? impacted you since? somewhere from all the pesky reporters? numbers, fragments of text, aircraft The mural was intended for the inside of a I was used to painting much smaller works, (Laughs) Is it possible – you tell me?  and cars

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INDIA PERSPECTIVES Advancing India’s Conversations with the World

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