India Celebrates Its 66Th Independence

A Publication of the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.

September 1, 2012

I India RevieI w Vol. 8 Issue 9 www.indianembassy.org

President Pranab Mukherjee at the 'At Home' function, organized on the occasion of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inspecting the Guard of Honor at the India’s 66 th Independence Day, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on August 15. Red Fort, on Independence Day, in New Delhi on August 15. India celebrates its 66 th Independence Day

n Ambassador meets n Finance Minister n Veteran actor families of gurdwara unveils roadmap to A.K. Hangal passes shooting victims revive growth away at the age of 97 Ambassador’s PAGE

The failure of the Indian power grid on July 30 and 31 attracted international media attention. However, an isolated incident should not be perceived as the final word of terminal illness in the Indian power sector. Excerpts from Ambassador Nirupama Rao’s blogs: India’s power sector: what you also need to know

IT SEEMED the entire world sat up links, strengthen and re-inforce the of the 10 th Plan (2006-07) to 7.9 per and took note of disturbances in the weaker elements, impose substantial cent during April-December 2011, the Indian Power Grid on July 30 and 31, congestion charges to curb over-draw - peak deficit declined from 13.8 per 2012, which affected major parts of al by States, and so on. cent in 2006-7 to 10.6 per cent during Northern, Eastern and North Eastern During the 11 th Five Year Plan the same period. . India. While alarm bells rang, and the period, spanning 2007-2012, India Let’s not make the power grid fail - commentariat was rife with advice added 55,000 MW of electric power ure the signature tune for India’s about what India should do to “fix” its generating capacity, which is almost power sector. The achievements to power sector, it went hardly noticed the same as was added during the augment our capacity in the last few that essential services in Railways, three preceding Plan periods. And, years have been significant, and we Metro Rail and Airports were restored, significantly, the capacity addition of must not fail to recognize them. For a on both days, within a few hours. 20,500 MW in the Financial Year (FY) country as large and as complex as By all accounts, the Grid is function - 2011-12 is the highest ever capacity ours, we’ve come a long way, in terms ing normally since, and is being close - addition in any year. In fact, this of progress, from where we were even ly monitored by a phalanx of engineers capacity addition led to the deficit in a few years ago. and specialists. At the highest levels of power supply, in terms of peak avail - Government there is the firm resolve ability and total energy availability, to The full text of the Ambassador’s that these instances should not happen decline during the 11 th Five Year Plan. blog can be viewed at: in future. Steps are being taken to While the energy deficit decreased http://www.indianembassy.org/news_f review trans-regional and other critical from 9.6 per cent in the terminal year iles/News_File_2017.pdf India ’s misunderstood electrical grid THE INTERNATIONAL media transmit and distribute power over the The federal government in India reacted with alarm last month when last decade. In 2003, India passed the has taken a series of steps to work major parts of northern India Electricity Act, which spurred open with states to bolster the financial suffered power outages. They access to the grid and cleared the way health of utilities. In addition, almost shouldn’t have. The failure of the for private participation in electricity all villages in the country have been electric grid on July 30 and 31 was an generation. As a result, millions of electrified under a program launched isolated incident. The government Indians have benefited mightily from in 2004. In his Independence Day and private sectors are working hard their new-found ability to receive elec - address earlier this month, Prime to prevent a recurrence. tricity. Minister Manmohan Singh said that No one would claim that delivering India added 55,000 megawatts of his next goal was to provide electrici - 2 reliable electricity to a country of more electrical capacity between 2007 and ty to every household in the nation in than 1.2 billion residents is easy. 2012. That was as much power as had the next five years. Certainly India, with its accelerating been added in the previous 15 years. The temporary lapse in India’s economic growth in the last few years, The 20,500 megawatts of capacity power grid last month was unfortunate has had its challenges in this area. But added in fiscal 2012 was the largest but was also an aberration. occasional problems should not yearly boost in India’s history and was obscure the substantial progress that a remarkable achievement given the The full text of the Ambassador’s has been made. fact that in 1947 — the year India article can be viewed at: The disruption of service had a lim - declared its independence — the http://thehill.com/blogs/congress- ited duration because India has steadi - country had a total generation capaci - blog/foreign-policy/246389-indias- ly improved its ability to produce, ty of only 1,376 megawatts. misunderstood-electrical-grid

September 2012 India Review Cover STORY Peace must be our ideology: President President Pranab Mukherjee urged the citizens to embrace non-violence and carry out their duties with unflinching loyalty to the values enshrined in the Constitution

President Pranab Mukherjee addressing the Nation on the eve of India’s 66 th Independence Day in New Delhi on August 14.

tressing that democratic extending green revolution to the east - tiny, Mahatma Gandhi, who fought temper calls for dignity of ern parts of the country and fast track - with selfless, unflinching conviction behavior and tolerance of ing the creation of high-quality infra - against the mightiest power in history, S contrary views, President structure. “Education and health serv - with a moral force that transformed Pranab Mukherjee in his address to ices have to reach the last man at the political thought and whose reverbera - the Nation on the eve of India’s 66 th earliest,” he said. tions echo in great events all around us Independence Day on August 14 said today. If the rise of European colo - that peace was essential for achieving Excerpts from President Mukherjee’s nization began in 18 th century India, progress. “We need peace for a new speech on the occasion: then the rallying cry of “Jai Hind!” also economic surge that eliminates the “We are all equal children before our signalled its end in 1947. The final call competitive causes of violence,” mother; and India asks each one of us, to victory, “Jai Hind!” was given by he said. in whatsoever role we play in the com - Subhas Chandra Bose, fondly known President Mukherjee underlined the plex drama of nation-building, to do to every Indian as “Neta ji ”. Pt. importance of Parliament in a demo - our duty with integrity, commitment Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Saheb cratic set-up, calling it the “soul of the and unflinching loyalty to the values Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, people, the atman of India”. enshrined in our Constitution. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini He said that the Indian economy It is important to remember, on Naidu and many others charted the was confident and resilient enough to Independence Day, that in the age of roadmap of independent India. These withstand the adverse external envi - empires freedom was never given; it extraordinary men and women sacri - ronment. The President called for fur - was taken. It was won by a generation ficed their todays for our tomorrows. ther strengthening the economy by of giants, led by a mighty man of des - That tomorrow has come, and there is

September 2012 India Review Cover STORY

a question we must ask ourselves: have we honored the great vision of these stalwarts, as a nation and as a society? Neta ji and Nehru ji believed that India could seize the future by an application of synthesis, samyavada , of what might seem on surface to be implacable opposites. They believed that free India would become, by example, an alternative model for a post-colonial world through economic equity and a social revolution inspired by harmony between communities that had been misled into hostility. Propelled by freedom of faith, gender equality and economic justice for all, President Pranab Mukherjee paying homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, on the occasion of India will become a modern nation. India’s 66 th Independence Day, in New Delhi on August 15. Minor blemishes cannot cloak the fact that India is becoming such a modern Two decades of steady economic reforms have nation: no faith is in danger in our contributed to improvement in average income and country, and the continuing commit - ment to gender equality is one of the consumption levels in both rural and urban areas great narratives of our times. — President Pranab Mukherjee I am not a pessimist; for me, the glass is always half full, rather than half knowledge that will lift their skills; and to conserve her bounty during the empty. I would go to the extent of say - for opportunity that will put India on many seasons of plenty so that we are ing that the glass of modern India is the fast track to the first world. They not bereft during the occasional bout more than half full. Our productive have the character; they need the of scarcity. working class; our inspiring farmers, chance. Education is the seed; and Institutions are the visible pillars of who have lifted a famine-wrecked land economy is the fruit. Provide good our Constitution, and if they crack, to food-surplus status, our imaginative education; disease, hunger and pover - then the idealism of our Constitution industrialist entrepreneurs, whether in ty will recede. As I said in my accept - cannot hold. They are the interface the private or public sector; our intel - ance speech, our motto must be: All for between principles and the people. Our lectuals, our academics and our politi - knowledge and knowledge for all. institutions may have suffered from the cal class have knit together a modern Vision cannot be an open-ended vista; weariness of time; the answer is not to nation that has leapt, within mere it must be focused on our youth. destroy what has been built, but to re- decades, across many centuries in eco - Notwithstanding the tremendous engineer them so that they become nomic growth and progressive social pressure of an adverse external envi - stronger than before. Institutions are legislation. ronment, our economy today is more the guardians of our liberty. If our economy has achieved critical resilient and confident. Two decades of I am proud of our brave armed mass, then it must become a launching steady economic reforms have con - forces and our valiant police forces, pad for the next leap. We need a sec - tributed to improvement in average who have done so much, at such great ond freedom struggle; this time to income and consumption levels in both personal risk, to curb the menace of ensure that India is free for ever from rural and urban areas. There is new terrorism. If we sleep in peace it is hunger, disease and poverty. As my found dynamism in some of the most because they are awake and vigilant in 4 pre-eminent predecessor Dr Sarvepalli backward areas bringing them into the desolation of desert and mountain Radhakrishnan, speaking from this national economic mainstream. and forest; and in the vast loneliness of platform on the 18 th anniversary of I do not believe that there is any the seas.” freedom, said, “Economic progress is inherent contradiction in protecting one of the tests of democracy.” our environment and economic devel - The full text of President Pranab If progress falls behind rising aspira - opment. As long as we heed Gandhi ji ’s Mukherjee’s speech can be viewed at: tions, particularly of the young, rage great lesson: there is sufficient in the http://www.indianembassy.org/prde - will manifest itself. We are a nation that world for man’s need but not for man’s tail2014/president-shri-pranab- is becoming younger both in age and greed, we are safe. We must learn to mukherjeeandrsquo%3Bs-address-to- spirit; this is an opportunity as well as live in harmony with nature. Nature the-nation-on-the-eve-of-the-66th- a challenge. The young thirst for cannot be consistent; we must be able independence-day

September 2012 India Review Cover STORY

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the Nation from the Red Fort on India’s 66 th Independence Day in New Delhi on August 15. ‘We have achieved extraordinary success’

Calling for political consensus on matters of national security, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that no power in the world could stop India from achieving new heights of progress and development

ddressing the Nation from The Prime Minister promised every Nehru took the first step toward the the ramparts of the Red Fort possible effort to secure the livelihood realization of that dream by hoisting on India’s 66 th of the poor and encourage investment the Tricolor at the Red Fort. The jour - A Independence Day on in the country. Pointing out the prob - ney we began on August 15, 1947 is August 15, Prime Minister lems that have afflicted the world now 65 years old. We have achieved Dr. Manmohan Singh said that despite economy, he said, “We cannot do much in these 65 years. global economic slowdown, India had much about the conditions that prevail Today is certainly a day to celebrate achieved extraordinary successes in outside our country. But we must the success of our democracy. many areas during the last eight years. make every effort to resolve the prob - However, on this occasion we should “We now need to replicate these suc - lems inside our country so that our also introspect about what remains to cesses in newer areas,” he said. economic growth and the creation of be done. We would achieve independ - “I promise to you today that our employment opportunities in the ence in the true sense only when we Government will work hard for country are again speeded up.” are able to banish poverty, illiteracy, India’s rapid economic growth and hunger and backwardness from our for shielding the country from the Excerpts from the Prime Minister’s country. This would be possible only effects of the global economic slow - speech on the occasion: when we learn from our failures and down. I promise that we will work “The leaders of our freedom move - build on our successes. hard for creation of new employment ment, under the stewardship of I promise to you today that our opportunities for our young men and Mahatma Gandhi, had dreamt of an Government will work hard for India’s women living in villages and cities,” independent and prosperous India. On rapid economic growth and for shield - Prime Minister Singh said. this day in 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal ing the country from the effects of the

September 2012 India Review Cover STORY

global economic slowdown. I promise that we will work hard for creation of new employment opportunities for our young men and women living in vil - lages and cities. We will make every possible effort to secure the livelihood of our poor brothers and sister, our workers and our farmers. We will leave no stone unturned to encourage investment in our country so that our entrepreneurs can make a substantial contribution to our economy. It has been our endeavour in the last eight years to empower our citizens socially and economically so that they can contribute to the sacred task of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, during his speech to the Nation on August 15, said the Government nation building. Today, one out of would take steps to increase investment for infrastructure development with the help of the private sector. every five households in the country has become eligible to benefit from the five years and to also improve the vided with good education and are Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment supply of electricity. healthy, then our future would be Act through a job card. In only the last No praise is high enough for our bright. This is the reason why we have one year we have provided employ - hard working farmers. They have pro - paid special attention to the needs of ment to more than 80 million people duced a record output of crops succes - children in our policies and pro - under this scheme. sively in the last two years. Because of grammes. The education of children When the UPA Government came our Government’s efforts for develop - has been made mandatory by law. to power in 2004, we had promised ment of agriculture and for protecting In the last one and half years no new that we would provide electricity to the interests of farmers, agriculture has case of polio has come to light and now all villages. To fulfill this promise, we grown at an average rate of 3.3 per India does not figure in the list of launched the Rajiv Gandhi Rural cent in the 11 th Plan which is substan - countries affected by this disease. Electrification Scheme. More than tially higher than the 2.4 per cent we Malnutrition in children is a big 100,00 new villages have been pro - achieved in the 10 th Plan. In the last challenge for us. We have taken steps vided with electricity connections eight years, we have doubled the sup - in many dimensions to deal with this under this scheme and now almost all port prices of crops. We are providing problem. In the last eight years, the the villages in the country have been loans at low interest rates to thousands number of mothers and children ben - electrified. Our next target is to of farmers. efitting from the ICDS has doubled. provide electricity to each and every Our children are the biggest strength The process of making the ICDS household in our country in the next of our country. If our children are pro - more effective is in its last stages and

IndIa a beacon for the World: US reeting India on behalf of President India in a strategic, indispensable partnership Barack Obama and the American people built on our shared democratic values and fun - G on its 66 th Independence Day, the U.S. damental belief in the entrepreneurial spirit,” she 6 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called India “a assured. beacon for the world of the power of non-vio - The Indian and the U.S. governments and the lence and the promise of democracy”. people of the two countries, she said, “will con - “As you celebrate this special day with family, tinue to work together to tackle the challenges friends and loved ones, know that the United and seize the opportunities of the 21 st century.” States stands with you as a partner and friend,” She said through her many visits to India, she Secretary Clinton said in her message of best had “been impressed with the creativity of the wishes on the eve of India’s Independence Day, Indian people, the richness of your culture, and on August 13. the resilience and strength of your democratic “The United States stands side by side with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton institutions”.

September 2012 India Review Cover STORY will be completed in the next one or in which 80 million people will be Plan would determine the future two months. trained in the next five years. course of action on all important mat - We had launched the National Rural Creation of new employment ters relating to the country’s develop - Health Mission in 2005 so that health opportunities is possible only when ment. It would lay down measures for services can be extended to each village we encourage industry and trade. increasing our present rate of econom - in the country. Today this Mission is For this we need to speedily improve ic growth from 6.5 to 9 percent in the being implemented with the help of our infrastructure. Recently we have last year of the Plan. The Plan would one million health personnel including taken new measures to accelerate focus special attention on areas impor - 85,0000 Asha workers. After the suc - infrastructure development. tant from the point of view of reaching cess of the National Rural health Ambitious targets have been fixed in the fruits of development to each citi - Mission, we now want to expand the roads, airports, railways, electricity zen of our country and specially to the 7 scope of health services in our towns generation and coal production. The weaker sections of our society. also. The National Rural Health Government will take steps to We have achieved success in many Mission will be converted into a increase investment for infrastructure areas of internal security. In Jammu National Health Mission which would development with the help of the pri - and Kashmir, people participated in cover all villages and towns in the vate sector. To attract foreign capital, large numbers in the Panchayat elec - country. we will have to create confidence at tions. There has been a reduction in We want to create many new job the international level that there are violence in the North Eastern States opportunities for our youth in the no barriers to investment in India. and we are engaged in dialogue with coming years. To achieve this it is nec - Just 10 years back only three out of many groups there so that they can essary that we train them in skills every 10 households in our villages join the mainstream of development. which our economy needs. It is our were benefitting from banking servic - We have initiated new schemes of endeavour to put in place a system in es. Today more than half of the rural development in areas affected by naxal which training facilities are available in households get the benefit of bank violence to ensure that the grievances many new skills. We also wish to pro - accounts. It will be our endeavor to of the people residing there, especially vide short duration training courses of ensure that all households benefit from our brothers and sisters belonging to six weeks to six months for our young bank accounts in the next two years. Scheduled Tribes, can be removed and brothers and sisters. The National Skill This year, we will present the Twelfth their lot can be improved. However, Development Council has formulated Five Year Plan for consideration of the we need to be constantly vigilant as far a major scheme for skill development National Development Council. The as internal security is concerned. Communal harmony has to be main - We will leave no stone unturned to encourage tained at all costs. Our Government believes that the investment in our country so that our entrepreneurs can difficult problems which India faces make a substantial contribution to our economy can be resolved only with the coopera - — Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh tion of the common man. It will be our endeavour that in the coming time, still more people help us in tasks like removal of poverty, illiteracy and inequality. I believe that no power in the world can stop our country from achieving new heights of progress and develop - ment. What is needed is that we work together as one people for the success of our country. Let us once more resolve that we will continue to work for a progressive, modern and prosper - ous India.”

The full text of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s speech can be viewed at: http://www.indianem - bassy.org/prdetail2015/prime-minister- dr.-manmohan-singhandrsquo%3Bs- Indian Border Security Force soldiers during a ceremony to celebrate India’s Independence Day. independence-day-speech%2C-2012

September 2012 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS Ambassador meets victims of gurdwara shooting

mbassador Nirupama Rao offered her condolences to the family members and A relatives of the victims of the August 5 shooting at a Sikh gur - dwara in Wisconsin and assured them of all support by the Embassy of India and Consulate General in Chicago during her visit to Oak Creek, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 7. She praised the valiant act of the late Satwant Singh Kaleka, President of the gurdwara, in con - fronting and resisting the gunman, thus saving the lives of many devotees in the gurdwara. Ambassador Rao also addressed a large gathering at National Night Out, where a vigil and a memorial service was conducted in memory of Ambassador Nirupama Rao in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, soon after the gurdwara attack. (Photo: India Abroad) the victims of the gurdwara shoot - ings. Terming the incident a senseless welcomed the Ambassador to Oak Police Chief John Edwards and FBI act of violence, the Ambassador Creek and expressed regret over the Special Agent in charge Teresa urged everyone to unite against vio - tragic incident. He also informed Carlson to take stock of the investi - lence in an expression of common Ambassador Rao of the measures gation of the shooting incident. She humanity and in a manner that tran - that he would put in place for conveyed her appreciation for the scends nationality. Governor of improving communication with the prompt action by Oak Creek police Wisconsin Scott Walker was also Sikh community and to upgrade the and the heroic role of Lt. Brian present at the vigil. security at the gurdwara. Murphy who was shot several times Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi The Ambassador also spoke to by the assailant.

‘We should not fear for the future of our community ’

alling the August 5 Wisconsin gurdwara Regarding the security of the Sikh communi - American people at large to know more about shooting an unfortunate and tragic inci - ty in the United States, the Ambassador said, the Sikh community, about Sikhism as a reli - C dent, Ambassador Nirupama Rao in an the law enforcement agencies of the country gion, about the role that the Sikhs have played interview to Suhasini Haidar of CNN IBN on were contemplating putting in place certain through history in terms of their valor and their August 8 said that there was no need to create addition measures. Ambassador Rao said that compassion and their community spirit. a fear psychosis about what had happened. the law enforcement officials spoke of institut - “That’s a process that we should take with a 8 “Our community, the Indian Americans in this ing greater vigilance in the places of worships lot of seriousness for the future,” the country, have prospered and they live secure and establishing a channel of communication Ambassador said. lives and their children go to school, they are between the Sikh community and the law part of the work force, they travel around the enforcement agencies so that they could share The full transcript of the interview can be country, they have made their lives here and information about any suspicious event or any read at: http://www.indianembassy.org/prde - that’s the example that should prove an inspi - circumstances that they feel require investiga - tail2012/transcript-of-ambassador-nirupama- ration to all future numbers of our people who tion. She said that establishing such habits of raoandrsquo%3Bs-interview-on-august-8%2C- come to this country, who come to work here, cooperation between the citizenry would help 2012-with-suhasini-haidar-of-cnn-ibn-on-the- to live here and that’s the message I would like prevent acts of violence. august-5-shooting-incident-at-a-gurdwara-in- to convey,” she said. She said that it was important for the oak-creek%2C-wisconsin-%28usa%29

September 2012 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS ‘We have to move forward ’

aying that the gurdwara again, and that is really the story of shooting incident in India. I think we have tremendous Wisconsin on August 5 resilience and capacity to heal. And I S should not define India’s think that is really what is called for relations with the larger American again in the current situation. We have community, Ambassador Nirupama to move forward,” she said. Rao, during an interview on NPR ’s Ambassador Rao said that the Ambassador Nirupama Rao with Michel Martin 9 of NPR ’s ‘Tell Me More’ after her interview at the ‘Tell me more’ with Michel Martin on Indian-Americans, particularly the NPR Studio on August 9. (Photo: NPR’s Amy Ta) August 9, said it was time to move Sikhs, are eternal optimists. “That’s forward. Ambassador Rao said she the capacity to look ahead, to heal, to lence of this nature happen? We need was struck by the calm, composure be tolerant, to be understanding and to a mature conversation on that.” and dignity of the families and rela - be calm and composed in the face of tives of the victims of the gurdwara terrible grief or tragedy.” The full transcript of the interview shooting when she met with them. Pointing out the futility of violence, can be read at: http://www.npr.org “There’s been a process of healing Ambassador Rao said, “We need some /2012/08/09/158494217/sikh-tem - and a process of coming together once soul searching. Why do acts of vio - ple-shooting-felt-across-the-world

Ambassador Rao calls on Mayor Bloomberg

Ambassador Nirupama Rao with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion, New York, on July 31. NCAIA celebrates India ’s Independence Day

Ambassador Nirupama Rao at a Banquet hosted by the Indian American community organizations of the Greater Washington Metropolitan region and the National Council of Asian Indian Associations (NCAIA) on August 26 to mark India’s Independence Day. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake and Dr. Rajan Natarajan, Deputy Secretary of State for Policy and External Affairs, Maryland Government, are also seen. Ambassador Nirupama Rao addressing the gathering.

September 2012 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS Smithsonian celebrates Indian culture, art

1 2 7. Presentation of Indian flute music recital at the event. 8. Bollywood dance performance at the event. 9&10: Paintings from ‘Worlds within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran’, displayed at the event. The paintings display the artistic legacy of the Mughal patrons who nurtured India’s leading painters, calligraphers, and illuminators between 1556 and 1657. 3 4

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1. Ambassador Nirupama Rao and Dr. Julian Raby, inauguration of the event ‘Inspired by India: A Family Director of the Freer & Sackler Gallery of the Celebration’. Smithsonian Institution inaugurating the event 3. Ambassador Nirupama Rao, Dr. Julian Raby and ‘Inspired by India: A Family Celebration’ on August Dr. Debra Diamond, Curator at the Freer & Sackler 11. Sponsored by the State Bank of India, and with Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, at the event. support from the Embassy of India, the event show - 4. Ambassador Nirupama Rao, Dr. Julian Raby and cased Kathak and Bollywood dance performances, Dr. Debra Diamond viewing the exhibition of Arts of Indian flute music presentation, making of rakhi the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas. bracelets, Indian rangoli paintings, henna designs and 5. Creation of traditional Indian rangoli designs as part of offered Indian food. Also at the display was ‘Worlds the event. within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran’. 6. A presentation of classical Kathak dance performance 2. Ambassador Nirupama Rao lighting the lamp at the at the inauguration of the event.

September 2012 India Review Embassy EVENTS

Embassy celebrates Independence Day 2012

1 2 1. Ambassador Nirupama Rao laying the wreath at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi out - side the Embassy on the occasion of India’s Independence Day on August 15. 2. Ambassador Nirupama Rao unfurling the 11 Indian National Flag on the occasion. 3. Ambassador Nirupama Rao addressing the guests and reading out the President’s Address to the Nation. 4. A group of singers led by Rabin Goswami presenting Indian patri - otic songs. Other members are Satyen Das, Anurag Barua, Nipika Bora, Arundhotee Goswami and Anjana Bordoloi. 5. Ambassador Nirupama Rao with the group of singers. 6. A section of the guests in attendance.

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September 2012 India Review Embassy EVENTS

Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations at Embassy Residence

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1. Ambassador Nirupama Rao welcoming and greeting the guests at the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations hosted at the Embassy Residence on August 24 . In the course of the celebrations, Ambassador Rao tweeted, “Extremely happy to welcome our Muslim brethren to a celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr at my residence today. A magi - cal evening, perfect weather”. 2. Rashmi Sanan introducing the event to the guests. 3 4 3. Invocation (recitation from the Holy Quran) by Yusuf Hameed — Dawoodi Bohra Community. 4. English translation of the Invocation prayer by Ahsan Ali Khan, Hyderabad Association of Metropolitan Area. 5. Afeefa Syed, Senior Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development Middle East and Asia Bureaus, speaking on ‘Significance of Eid-Ul-Fitr: Our Renewed Commitment to Nurturing the Positive’. 6. A musical performance by community children. 7. Dr. Sajeev Anand presenting songs on the 5 6 occasion. 8. Devapriya [Debu] Nayak presenting a Tabla recital. 9. Dr. Afshan Hashmi proposing the vote of thanks. 10. Guests in attendance. 11. Ambassador Nirupama Rao greeting and interacting with the guests at the Eid-ul- Fitr celebrations.

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September 2012 India Review Embassy NEWS ‘India-US trade has more than doubled’

During the annual gala and awards banquet of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH), Parvathaneni Harish, Consul General of India in Houston hosted a luncheon reception in honor of DCM Arun K. Singh on August 25. Congressmen Ted Poe and Pete Olsen, Lt. Governor of Texas David Dewhurst and Indian community leaders attended the event. DCM Singh was the chief guest at the annual event. DCM Arun K. Singh addressing the gathering.

ddressing the annual gala place in both directions. Over the last ship”. He said that the two countries and awards banquet of the five years Indian companies have now exchange views “on almost all Indo-American Chamber of invested about $30 billion in the U.S. issues of bilateral, regional and global A Commerce of Greater economy. Indian IT sector has con - interest, without compromising on the Houston (IACCGH) on August 25, tributed $15 billion as taxes here over strategic autonomy of our respective Deputy Chief of Mission Arun K. the same period, and about $3 billion decision making on such matters.” Singh underscored the importance of as social security contributions,” the He also commended the role of the private sector cooperation in strength - DCM said. Indian-Americans in strengthening the ening India-U.S. commercial engage - He said that India’s partnerships relationship between India and the ments. Commending the role of IACC with the U.S. in areas of technology U.S. in fostering bilateral commercial rela - and innovation would provide new tionship between India and the US, the growth avenues for both the countries. The full text of DCM Singh’s speech DCM underlined that two-way trade Pointing out the growing strategic can be read at: between the two countries had more partnership between India and the US, http://www.indianembassy.org/prde - than doubled over the last four years. DCM Singh said the “existing fre - tail2023/remarks-by-dcm-ambassa - “It is broadly a balanced trade rela - quency, breadth and intensity of our dor-arun-k.-singh-at-indo-american- tionship. In addition, capital flows and political engagement is reflective of the chamber-of-commerce-annual- investment efforts are also now taking great transformation in the relation - gala%3A-25-august%2C-2012

DCM Arun K Singh presenting the IACCGH — International Educator of the Year award to Dr. Suresh Kahtor, Associate Dean of the university of Houston From left, Ajit Thakur, President, IACCGH; Congressman Al Green; DCM Cullen College of Engineering. Arun K. Singh and Consul General Parvathaneni Harish at the event.

September 2012 India Review Consulate EVENTS Independence Day celebrations Consul General at CGI New York rings NASDAQ Opening Bell o commemorate India’s 66 th Independence Day, NASDAQ T invited Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, Consul General of India in New York, to ring the Opening Bell on August 15. The NASDAQ billboard flashed the Indian tricolor with (Left) Consul General Prabhu Dayal addressing the gathering during a reception he hosted to accompanied words ‘NASDAQ commemorate India’s Independence Day on August 15; (right) a section of the audience at the event. Celebrates India’s Independence Day — August 15, 2012.’ o mark the 65 th anniversary prominent members of the Indian- of India’s Independence, the American community and local dig - Consulate General of India, nitaries also participated at the event. T New York, hosted a recep - Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, in his tion on August 15. Ambassador remarks said that he had the privilege Prabhu Dayal, Consul General of of serving as the U.S. Ambassador to India, read out excerpts from the India from 1994-97 and since then, President’s message delivered on the relations between the two countries eve of India’s Independence Day. had increased manifold in various During his speech, Ambassador Dayal fields, primarily political, economic, The Consul General added that the said that the Indian community in the defense, science & technology, etc. Government of India was pursuing U.S. had been contributing immensely Ambassador Manjeev Puri, Deputy policies which encourage investment to the growing friendship between Permanent Representative of Indian in infrastructure and expressed his India and the US. The vibrant com - Permanent Mission to the UN, in his confidence that NASDAQ would munity had also been organizing func - address said that during the last 18 continue to focus the interest of tions in various parts of the country to months of India’s UN Security investors on the opportunities pro - commemorate India’s Independence Council membership, India and the vided by India and thus play a posi - Day, he added. U.S. had been working very closely in tive and helpful role in the growth of Around 250 guests, including various fields. the Indian economy.

CGI ’s engagements n o t 14 s u o H

I Opening of the University of Texas at Dallas Asia Center on August 10: G from left, Yan Guohua, Consul and Director of Education in the Consulate General of China in Houston; Parvathaneni Harish, Consul General of C India; David Daniel, UTD President; Steve Lyle, Director of Diversity and A Memorial Service for the victims of shooting at a gurdwara in Workforce Development for Texas Instruments; Zhang Xiuqin, Director- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was held at India House, Houston, Texas, on General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges; August 12. Consul General Parvathaneni Harish (5 th from right) and many Monique Wedderburn, Director of the Center; and Dennis Kratz, Dean of elected representatives and religious leaders of different faiths also the School of Arts and Humanities at UTD . attended the event. Also seen is Congressman Al Green (6 th from right).

September 2012 India Review Dr. Masum Momaya SPEAKS Beyond Bollywood and much more... In September 2013, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program will open Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation , at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington, DC. Beyond Bollywood will celebrate the history, art, and culture of Indian immigrants and Indian Americans, 15 and showcase the vitality of the Indian diaspora.

Dr. Masum Momaya succeeded Dr. Pawan Dhingra as the new curator of the Indian American Heritage Project in June 2012. She was earlier a curator at the International Museum of Women and engaged in cura - torial work for the Indo-American Heritage Museum. She is also a recipient of a National Science Foundation Research Fellowship. In a candid conver - sation with India Review (IR) , Dr. Momaya talks about Beyond Bollywood and the future plans of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program

Indian-American experience. that an additional 100,000 From 2013-2014, we are plan - people will be able to experi - IR: What can people expect to see ning a wide variety of public ence Beyond Bollywood when it when they visit Beyond programs — an Inside the tours across the nation. The Bollywood ? Actors Studio conversation exhibition will also have an MM: Something amazing, I hope. with an Indian-American interactive website. The exhibition will highlight actor, a film screening, dance the defining vibrancy of the and music performances, a IR: How can our readers be a Indian-American community: book reading, a demonstration part of this effort? sights, colors, energy, tastes, and tasting with an Indian- MM: We are still raising funds for the and diversity. While much of American chef, a hip hop/spo - exhibition and looking for sup - the exhibition will feature ken word evening, a comedy porters. And we are looking for iconic images, music, art and night, and hopefully much photographs! We are artifacts to tell stories about more. crowdsourcing the story of innovation and achievement, it Indian-Americans and asking will also recognize our strug - IR: Will Beyond Bollywood trav - Indian-Americans across the gles as a community and our el or do you have to come to country to share their story. We many civic and political contri - Washington, DC? recently launched a campaign butions to the United States; MM: After a one-year tenure at the to collect family photos. I hope this is an aspect of American Smithsonian, Beyond people will be willing to be part history that is not well known Bollywood will travel to venues of this effort at collective story - by the general public. across the country for 3-5 telling and upload their photos years. The Smithsonian to our Facebook page IR: Will the Smithsonian Asian Institution Traveling Exhibition (www.facebook.com/ home - Pacific American Program Service (SITES) will organize spunproject ) or send them to organize events around the the tour of the traveling version [email protected]. exhibition? of the exhibition. In addition to Photos should include the sub - MM: Absolutely. Beyond Bollywood the more than 7 million visitors mitter’s name or family’s name, is the starting point for a who will see the exhibition at the year that the photo was larger conversation about the the Smithsonian, we estimate taken, and the occasion.

September 2012 India Review Economy NEWS PM cautions international rating agencies rime Minister Dr. Moody’s said in a latest note on Manmohan Singh on August August 8 that the slowdown had been 11 asked the international sharper and more broad-based than P rating agencies not to draw anticipated and was now deeply unwarranted conclusions on the econ - entrenched across all sectors of the omy’s growth prospects and asserted economy and cut the growth rate to that the fundamentals of the Indian 5.5 percent. economy were strong. India’s economic growth slumped “The fundamentals of the economy to nine-year low of 5.3 percent in the are strong. We have the highest savings quarter ended in March. and investments rate in the world,” The government is aiming at said the Prime Minister. around 7 percent growth, but the “We shouldn’t draw unwarranted Reserve Bank of India recently low - conclusions. This year we will see bet - ered the growth outlook to 6.5 per - ter than 6.5 percent (GDP) growth of cent for 2012-13. last year,” Prime Minister Singh said Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh The newly appointed Finance on the sidelines of the swearing-in cer - Minister P. Chidambaram said that emony of Vice President Hamid Ansari recently cut India’s growth forecast for the government would take necessary at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. 2012-13, citing lack of policy reforms steps and remove hurdles in critical The Prime Minister was comment - and slowdown in manufacturing and sectors like power and transport that ing on the global rating agencies which exports and a below average monsoon. were impeding growth.

Government considering FM unveils roadmap to revive growth amendments to boost SEZs inance Minister P. of investors,” he said unveiling a he government is considering steps to Chidambaram on August 6 roadmap to revive growth. T ensure that SEZs remain attractive desti - F assured the investors that the “We will improve communication of nations for investment, Commerce and government would fine-tune policies to our policies to potential investors. The Industry Minister Anand Sharma has said. meet their expectations and revive aim will be to remove the perceived dif - Minister Sharma said he had written to growth. ficulties in doing business in India, the Finance Minister to reconsider withdraw - including fears about undue regulatory ing the Minimum Alternate Tax and the burden or regulatory over-reach,” the Dividend Distribution Tax. Finance Minister said. “Access to cheap credit at interest rates He said Indian companies, especial - comparable to those in competitive interna - ly public sector enterprises which have tional markets has also engaged my atten - large cash balances, would be encour - tion especially in the wake of a slowdown in aged to restart investment. “Proposals the economy,” he said. pending with the Foreign Investment He said the government was working Promotion Board will be processed and closely with the industry leaders to formulate decisions taken expeditiously.” 16 a slew of measures to offer a fillip to the spe - “Clarity in tax laws, a stable tax cial economic zone exports. regime, a non-adversarial tax adminis - He said the gems and jewelry sector, tration, a fair mechanism for dispute being the single largest merchandise item of resolution, and an independent judici - Finance Minister P. Chidambaram export, earning valuable foreign exchange ary will provide great assurance to fetching approximately $42 billion. “The key to restart the growth investors,” he said. “Today the Indian The minister pointed out that the govern - engine is to attract more investment, economy is stronger and better pre - ment was encouraging global partnerships both from domestic investors and for - pared to face the challenges. Moderate and collaborative ventures to adopt a diver - eign investors. Since investment is an growth in two out of eight years should sified approach in the jewelry sector. act of faith, we must remove any not dent our confidence,” said the apprehension or distrust in the minds Finance Minister.

September 2012 India Review Economy NEWS First Boeing C-17 to arrive in India by mid-2013 erospace major Boeing has said the first of the 10 heavy-lift military aircraft, A C-17 Globemaster III, for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will arrive in the country by June 2013. Speaking on the sidelines of the “Major Join” ceremony for the first 17 Indian C-17 aircraft that was con - ducted at the Long Beach (California) facility of the aerospace major, offi - cials confirmed that the final assembly of the first of the 10 aircraft would be completed by December, 2012 and Consul General of India in San Francisco, Ambassador N. Parthasarthy, speaking at the “Major Join” the first trial flight would take place by event on July 31. January 2013. “The first aircraft is on its way for final assembly. We expect it to be ready by the end of this year. The first flight test after the induction of indigenous components manufac - tured by Indian companies will be conducted in January 2013,” said Robert P. Ciesla, Vice-President, Airlift and C-17 Programme Consul General Parthasarthy riveting. Air Attache Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh riveting. Manager, Mobility, for Boeing Defense, Space and Security. the Indian Air Force and U.S. leaders airlifters under the foreign military The “Major Join” ceremony entails who drove the ceremonial rivets into sales (FMS) provisions. riveting of the aircraft’s fuselage with the C-17. Other officials with Boeing Defense, other parts like wings and the cargo In June 2011, the Indian Defense Space and Security said the total of 10 hull. The ceremony was attended by Ministry signed an agreement with the aircraft would be delivered to India by senior officials of the Indian embassy, U.S. government to acquire 10 C-17 the end of 2014.

Tata-made Sikorsky S-92 helicopter airframe takes off he first Sikorsky S-92 — a Sikorsky and the Tata group large, twin-engine helicopter already have a 26:74 partnership T that can be used for both civil joint venture, TARA, which manufac - and military purposes — with a Made- tures and supplies about 4,300 in-India airframe is now flying in components to the Tata Advanced Brazil. Systems Ltd. (TASL) in Hyderabad. Air Vice Marshal (retired) Arvind TASL, a Tata company, makes the Walia, Sikorsky’s Regional Executive cabins, fits them with these for India and South Asia, told India components and sends them to the Strategic defense magazine ( www.indi - The first Sikorsky S-92 helicopter with a Made-in- Sikorsky facility at Coatsville in India cabin lands in Brazil. (Photo: India Strategic) astrategic.in ) that the Tatas had sup - Pennsylvania, US. plied 15 airframes to the U.S. compa - The flight tests on the first Tata- Walia said TASL was turning out the ny, which was fitting them with cock - made S-92 cabin have progressed sat - airframes at the low rate initial produc - pits, engines, systems and rotors. The isfactorily and the helicopter is now tion (LRIP) of two a month but should completed helicopters are now ready being customized for supply to Lider be moved to three a month in accor - for supply to global customers. Aviacao of Brazil. dance with the demand by 2013.

September 2012 India Review Science NEWS Nano-scale device to detect big explosives esearchers at the Indian that may be put to practical rescence microscope has Institute of Technology, use soon. been demonstrated by Madras, (IIT-M) have In simple terms, the IIT team to take R developed a novel device the detector works place in the pres - that can visually detect even a single somewhat like an ence of even just molecule of TNT (trinitrotoluene) used alert traffic cop one molecule of in the making of powerful explosives. who spots a viola - TNT — a lower Apart from national security, this tor by simply limit that has not ultra-sensitive and highly selective looking at the been achieved by detection method will have applications traffic signal. In any detector so far. in early identification of diseases and in other words, if the The TNT sensor radiation prevention, the IIT suspected sample that the IIT team has researchers claim. being tested is clean, developed uses a com - Chemistry Professor Thalappil the detector gives off a red bination of gold and silver Pradeep and his students Ammu glow on being irradiated with nano-particles. Mathew and P.R. Sajanlal reported the light of a particular wavelength. According to the scientists, their principle behind this device in the But if the sample contains the explo - novel approach “can be considered a online issue of the leading chemistry sive TNT, the signal changes to green. single-particle, single-molecule detec - journal Angewandte Chemie on August This dramatic change from red to tion technique which is probably the 22. They are now building the device green that can be observed with a fluo - ultimate in ultra-trace sensitivity”.

Pioneering clot buster drug Nualgi — an Indian solution for set for human clinical trial cleaning polluted US lakes lot-specific Streptokinase (CSSK), a pio - C neering biotherapeutic clot buster drug product developed by Nualgi water bodies like the Duck Pond and so from the Chandigarh-based Council of Nano Biotech (NNB), a the company wanted to assess whether Scientific & Industrial Research’s Institute of A Bangalore-based biotech com - the addition of Nualgi to its pro - Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) was pany, is helping Americans to clean up gramme could speed up recovery of cleared by the office of the Drugs Controller polluted lakes. A three-acre Duck Pond this water body. The U.S. company General of India (DCGI) for Phase-One in Croton-On-Hudson in New York obtained 50 kg of Nualgi from Human Clinical trials on August 16. state has been restored to normal Sampathkumar in August 2011 to try The drug, which was earlier licensed to a health thanks to Nualgi — an inven - it out. US-based firm, Nostrum Pharmaceuticals tion by NNB founder Thothathri In an email to the Bangalore-based LLC, has recently been successfully found to Sampathkumar. company, Tucci said that the water be safe in test animals, including monkeys, Prior to the application of Nualgi in quality in the pond showed a “remark - after its design and process development August 2011, the Duck Pond “was in a able and sustained improvement” after and scale-up was achieved by a team led by highly impaired state with a variety of application of a single dose of Nualgi. Dr. Girish Sahni, Director, CSIR-IMTECH, water quality issues” such as bad odor, Nualgi is a mix of micro nutrients in Chandigarh. poor clarity and infestation with duck the form of nano particles including 18 CSSK is a first in India-Patented (non- weed and algae, said John Tucci, silica, iron and manganese, which Generic) biopharmaceutical therapeutic pro - President of Lake Savers, a small com - triggers the rapid growth of a type of tein that will not only help to save the lives pany in Richland, Michigan. algae called diatoms, explained of patients of heart attacks, but is also Lake Savers, which has about 2,000 Mallimadugula Bhaskar, a collabora - expected to reduce side-effects, such as inter - acres of lakes and ponds, including the tor of Sampathkumar. The oxygen nal bleeding often associated with the use of Duck Pond, under its management, released by diatoms through photo - clot busters. The successful development of uses a combination of oxygenation sys - synthesis increases the dissolved oxy - bio-therapeutic drugs such as CSSK marks a tems, beneficial bacteria and enzyme gen level of water and thus keeps the major milestone for the Indian biotech sci - formulations in its restoration projects. pond clean and the diatoms converted ence community. According to Tucci, this, however, did into 'zooplanktons' provide food for not work well in extremely impaired the fish.

September 2012 India Review Diaspora NEWS

ASEI annual convention to ASEI RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING ACHIEVERS IN THE FOLLOWING focus on green engineering FOUR CATEGORIES: 1. ASEI Professional Excellence Award he 27 th annual convention of a. ASEI Entrepreneur of the Year Award the American Society of b. ASEI Engineer of the Year Award Engineers of Indian Origin c. ASEI Student of the Year Award T (ASEI) on October 6 will 2. ASEI Service Excellence Award 19 focus on promoting and presenting 3. ASEI Lifetime Achievement Award innovative ideas related to green engi - 4. ASEI Corporate Excellence Recognition neering and technology, the organizers Program (CERP) said. The Michigan chapter of ASEI a. Corporate Engineering Excellence will host the event that will be held at Award Ford Community & Performing Arts b. Corporate Woman Engineer of the Year Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Award Over 300 professionals, including c. Corporate Young Engineer of the year scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, Award and corporate leaders from ASEI d. Corporate Outstanding Achievement chapters across the US, are expected to Award participate in multiple interactive ses - e. Corporate Service Excellence Award sions featuring prominent business owners, technologists, media personal - ities, educators, policy makers, and ASEI recognizes entrepreneurs engi - investment bankers during the conven - neers, and students during the nation - tion. al convention. It also awards numerous ASEI is a non-profit organization of scholarships to students pursuing engineers and technical professionals degree in any discipline of engineering, of Indian origin. Since its inception in including one Kalpana Chawla schol - 1983, ASEI has been engaged in insti - arship to students studying space tuting a channel of communication at the local and national levels, lending technology. between technical organizations within a helping hand to charitable organiza - For more information and registra - the United States and abroad, provid - tions and organizing networking tion, please visit: http://www.aseimi. ing assistance to engineering students events. org/GET2012.

Indian-American academic to head US institute he New School, a leading uni - the world economy, polity and society.” versity in New York, has named Founded by The New School in T Indian-American academic 2004, ICI supports research, teaching Sanjay Reddy as one of the two direc - and discussion on the relationships tors of the India China Institute (ICI), between India and China and their a leading center of trans-regional interactions with the US. study. Sanjay Reddy’s research focuses on Reddy, Associate Professor of global political economy, development Economics, and Mark Frazier, and poverty, with a particular focus Professor of Politics, will develop the on contemporary India. Professor ICI’s exploration of the relationships Sanjay Reddy Reddy earned his Ph.D. in economics between India, China and the U.S. by from Harvard University. He has pre - launching new research programmes nations states and civilizational spaces viously taught at Columbia University, and partnerships with other global which scholarship and teaching in the and conducted research for various institutions, the school announced. United States cannot afford to ignore,” development agencies and interna - “India and China represent rising said Reddy. “They are jointly reshaping tional institutions. — IANS

September 2012 India Review Trends IN SOCIETY Not just tourism The Tourism Ministry has been making efforts to develop quality tourism infrastructure at various tourist destinations and impart employable skills among the youth

ourism has been recognized and, while recognizing the sover - as one of the major engines eign rights of States to control for inclusive growth and the entry of foreign nationals, T employment. It has been uni - we will work towards develop - versally acknowledged that the travel ing travel facilitation initiatives and tourism sector contributes sub - in support of job creation, stantially to reducing poverty and quality work, poverty reduction empowering women, youth and and global growth.” migrant workers with new employment opportunities. Growth on the cards The Ministry of Tourism, is the nodal The benchmark for the sector is the agency for the formulation of national growth in the number of Foreign policies and programs and for the co- Tourist Arrivals and generating valu - ordination of activities of various able foreign exchange. The Foreign Federal Government Agencies, State Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in India in 2011 billion as compared to $11.6 billion Governments/Union Territories and were 6.29 million with a growth of 8.9 during the year 2010 over 2009. the private sector for the development percent, as compared to the FTAs of The objective of the Ministry is to and promotion of tourism in the coun - 5.78 million with a growth of 11.8 per - increase India’s share in world tourist try. The Ministry has focused on holis - cent during the year 2010. The growth arrivals to 1 percent from the present tic development of tourism in the rate of 8.9 percent in 2011 for India is 0.6 percent by the end of the 12th Five country with the objective of promot - better than UNWTO’s projected Year Plan. This would result in achiev - 20 ing employment and inclusive growth growth rate of 4 percent to 5 percent ing 11.37 million Foreign Tourist along with active participation and for the world in 2011 and 7 percent to Arrivals by 2016. Also, the Ministry has support of the private sector. 9 percent for Asia and the Pacific. targeted 1495.82 million domestic The importance of tourism as a The number of domestic tourist vis - travelers by 2016. growth engine has been underlined in its increased from 740.21 million in the recent declaration of the G-20 2010 as compared to 668.80 million in Infrastructure development Leaders of Nations Summit held in 2009 showing a growth of 10.7 per - Infrastructure development holds the Mexico in June 2012, which reads: cent. Thus, the domestic tourism wit - key to the sustained growth in India’s “We recognize the role of travel and nessed impressive growth during this tourism sector. Therefore, the tourism as a vehicle for job creation, period. Foreign Exchange Earnings Ministry has been making efforts to economic growth and development, from tourism during 2011 were $14 develop quality tourism infrastructure

September 2012 India Review Trends IN SOCIETY at tourist destinations and circuits. A ministerial issues involved in the devel - programmes ranging from 6 to 8 scheme for development of nationally opment of tourism in the country, as weeks covering food and beverage and internationally important destina - well as issues raised by industry associ - service and food production, house - tions and circuits through mega proj - ations in the tourism sector. keeping utility and bakery and patis - ects has been initiated. serie as well as acquiring driving skills. So far, 47 mega projects have been Preparing the youth One of the innovative approaches of identified out of which 32 projects The Tourism Ministry has been work - the Hunar Se Rozgar scheme is the tie have already been sanctioned. The ing toward broad-basing the imple - up with the Indian Army entitled- mega projects are a judicious mix of mentation of the Hunar Se Rozgar ‘Hunar Se Rozgar — Sena Ke Sahyog culture, heritage, spiritual and eco - (HSR) programme that aims at Se’ in which Army units will provide tourism in order to give tourists a imparting employable skills among the training infrastructure free of cost and 21 holistic perspective. youth in the age group of 18 to 28 also administer the programs. The Tourism development depends on years. Hunar Se Rozgar (HSR) is an trainees will be expected to imbibe the synergy and convergence between var - important means to achieve the goal of spirit of military discipline and hardi - ious sectors and the Ministry is contin - the 12th Plan – of promoting faster, ness. The academic support will be uing in its efforts to achieve such syn - sustainable and more inclusive eco - provided by the Institutes of Hotel ergy. Due to its efforts, an Inter-minis - nomic growth. Under the HSR initia - Management designated for the pur - terial Coordination Committee for the tive, the youth can also get training in pose. The first training program within tourism sector has been set up under this sub-initiative is already underway the chairmanship of the Principal since June 14 at the Army Unit at Uri. Secretary to Prime Minister. The com - The Institute of Hotel management at mittee will facilitate resolution of inter- Srinagar is the partner Institute.

Campaign Clean India The Ministry of Tourism has taken the initiative to put in place a comprehensive strategy to effect cleanliness at tourist destinations under the ‘Campaign Clean India’. The Campaign will employ a bal - ance of persuasion, education, sen - sitization, training, demonstration and regulation for achieving its goal and will be implemented in collaboration with federal and state governments, min - istries, the corporate sector, travel trade NGOs, educational institutions, media and other stakeholders. The Ministry would also sign Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with 14 min - istries seeking their intervention for synergy of efforts. The pilot project of the Campaign Clean India was launched in New Delhi on June 19. Thirty six monu - ments have been identified by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the pilot project and ten of these have already been adopted by Institute of Hotel Management and Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management. They will critically ana - lyze the solid waste management sys - tem and propose improvements. Skilled workers from the Archaeological Survey of India measure one of the two ancient temples at (Courtesy: Press Information Mansar Tank reservoir at Viramgam town, some 60 kms from Ahmedabad in Gujarat. (Photo: AFP) Bureau)

September 2012 India Review Cinema NEWS

‘Independent films can Singers add a lot to an help tackle issues’ actor’s career: Ranbir ilmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia, who is riding high on the suc - fter the success of Rockstar , in his forthcoming Barfi too. “ Barfi is a F cess of Paan Singh Tomar , feels playback singer Mohit very special film and it releases on independent filmmaking can help tack - Chauhan is being identified September 14. Mohit babajee (Mohit le socially relevant issues in a big way. A as Ranbir Kapoor’s voice. Chauhan) has sung the title song ‘Aala “I think inde - The actor admits that singers play a big re Barfi’ and I am very happy. A singer pendent film - role in an artist’s generally doesn’t get the credit for the making is the career. importance he brings to the career of only way out in Ranbir is an actor,” the 29-year-old said. this country. happy that “But if you look at late singers There are so Mohit has Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh ji , Kishore many issues that sung for him Kumar, they used to add a lot to an can be tackled actor’s career,” he added. through inde - Ranbir Kapoor Recently, megastar Amitabh pendent film - Bachchan too said that playback making and not Tigmanshu Dhulia singers play an important role in build - by studio films,” Dhulia said at the ing an actor’s stature in Indian cinema. launch of Delhi International Film When asked how tough was it to Festival on August 21. emote only with actions in Barfi , Part of the new wave of cinema, he is Ranbir said: “I am an actor and I known for making films like Charas , should know how to act not just with Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster and Paan my face but my body also,” added the Singh Tomar . 29-year-old who plays a deaf-mute “It is a good time for Indian film boy in the film. industry. Cinema is changing now. Directed by Anurag Basu, Barfi Though it showed changes in early also stars Priyanka Chopra and 2000, but over the past 10-12 years Ileana D’Cruz. cinema has matured,” said Dhulia.

Mumbai in 1949. He was with the Indian A.K.Hangal: People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), which also attracted Balraj Sahni, Utpal Dutt, Kaifi Azmi Once an actor, and many others. He stepped into the Hindi film industry in always an actor 1966-67. His initial films included Teesri Kasam and Shagird . e faced the cameras first when he was As an actor, who began his tryst with cinema 50. At 96, he took to the fashion run - at age 50, he had little options in terms of the H way on a wheelchair. At 97, he gave variety in his roles. But he gladly and responsi - voice-over for an animated film and did a TV bly played an uncle, father and grandfather to 22 show. Age was clearly never a bar for A. K. heroes and heroines starting from the 1970s. Hangal. He lived with an undying passion for Known as a character artist, he is remem - his craft almost till his last breath, even when a bered for playing Rahim Chacha in Sholay . financial crisis took a heavy toll. cameo in a TV show Madhubala . He was ill by Some of his other memorable movies include Hangal, who epitomized the phrase ‘once then but he wasn’t willing to give up. Namak Haraam , Bawarchi , Chupa Rustam , an actor always an actor’, passed away in Born in Sialkot now in Pakistan, Hangal spent Abhimaan and Guddi . Mumbai on August 26 following a prolonged most of his childhood in Peshawar. He grew up And who can forget his role in Shaukeen , illness. He was 97. to be a tailor but quenched his thirst for acting where he played a retired old man who goes on “I believe there is no age limit to work,” through theater. a holiday with two of his friends to make the Singhal said in May when he gave a nod for a Post partition, he is said to have moved to best of life.

September 2012 India Review Travel & TOURISM

AdvAncIng wellneSS erala has now set its eyes known to exercise as much as 97 per - on advancing tourism cen - cent of the muscles. So when a person tered around ayurveda, the undergoes an ayurvedic therapy, it K ancient Indian system of seeks to restore a balance in your medicine and well-being, to the next system, and yoga can help in main - level by promoting its curative and taining it.” cosmetic properties. Billa said a pilot project would also “Beaches, backwaters, hills and be started on a public-private partner - ayurveda are the four pillars of ship mode where all forms of medi - tourism in Kerala. We realize there is cine and well-being — allopathy, still a large potential within ayurveda ayurveda, unani and siddha — will to attract people to our state,” says come under one roof to offer an inte - state Tourism Secretary Suman Billa. grated system. “So far, when it came to ayurveda, Toward this, he said, 25 acres had we mainly focused on well-being. But already been acquired and that the there are also the curative and project would be showcased cosmetic sides, and these are what we prominently at the upcoming now also intend to promote,” Billa ‘Emerging Kerala’ conclave in Kochi said. in September to attract potential “What we will offer is the art and partners. science of living, and living well.” The location, he said, was at He said while ayurvedic massages Nelliyampathy in Palaghat district, were hugely popular, attracting which is also a popular hill station three-star and above categories, tourists from India and abroad, the surrounded by tea and coffee planta - respectively — based on the service system also offered cures for ailments tions with some breathtaking views. quality and facilities. such as back pain, rheumatism and Billa said Ayurveda was endemic to Explaining how well the four pillars psoriasis that needed to be advertised the entire region but there was now of tourism were intertwined in Kerala, better. some emerging competition from Billa said visitors to the state general - “Similarly, we have also promoted neighboring Sri Lanka. This was ly sought to experience more than just the integration of ayurveda with yoga being countered by branding and one of these offerings by the state. so that when a tourist goes back after maintaining the quality of service, he Kerala received 10 million tourists undergoing a treatment, he or she also said. The Kerala government already last year, of which 9.2 million were maintains a healthy lifestyle on a daily extends its approval to treatment-cen - from within India and 800,000 were basis,” Billa said. ters and resorts, and rates them as from overseas. Britain, France, Russia “Surva namaskar , for example, is green leaf or olive leaf — five-star and were the main overseas markets.

September 2012 India Review EMBASSY OF INDIA SS Pre-sort First Class A U.S. Postage 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW CL T Paid RS Washington, D.C. 20008 FI Silver Spring, MD Tel: 202-939-7000 RT Permit No. -SO Fax: 202-462-7276 PRE 3966

n Celebrating Eid

Devotees offering Namaz on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr at Jama Masjid in New Delhi on August 20. (Photo: PIB)

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