May 2011 India Review Cover STORY

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

May 1, 2011

I India RevieI w Vol. 7 Issue 5 www.indianembassy.org

International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Governors pose for a group photograph on April 16 at the IMF Headquarters in Washington, DC. Strengthen global cooperation, says India at IMF meet

n India’s Central bank n India sets target to n K.V. Kamath becomes hikes lending rate by more than double its new Chairman of IT 50 basis points, raises merchandize exports bellwether Infosys, interest rate on to $500 billion in the takes over from iconic savings accounts next three years N.R. Narayana Murthy Cover STORY Bolster global cooperation to avoid crisis: India

International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Governors pose for a group photograph on April 16 at the IMF Headquarters in Washington, DC. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Duvvuri Subbarao is seen second from left in the second row.

t the Spring Meeting of the and as leader of the Indian delega - fabric of international cooperation. International Monetary tion, the Reserve Bank of India “We must ensure that the IMF is ade - 2 Fund (IMF) and the World Governor Duvvuri Subbarao said quately prepared for this role so that A Bank held in Washington on “given the deepening integration of it remains relevant, legitimate and April 16, 2011, India strongly under - countries into the global economic effective,” Subbarao said. “While the lined the need for deeper global coop - and financial system, uncoordinated trough of the crisis definitely appears eration within the IMF framework if responses will lead to worse out - to be behind us and there are signs the global economy had to overcome comes for everyone. We should coop - that the recovery is consolidating, the effects of the recent global financial erate not only to firmly exit from the new challenges facing the global and economic crisis and at the same crisis, but also to ensure that in economy render it vulnerable. We time avoid sowing the seeds of a new resolving this crisis, we do not sow have to remain vigilant and be pre - one. the seeds of the next one.” pared to deal with all threats, old and Speaking on behalf of Indian Citing the common interest of all, new, as we repair and rebuild,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Subbarao urged the IMF to weave the Subbarao told the delegates.

May 2011 India Review Cover STORY

“There are several key questions incisiveness and traction.” Subbarao scriptions with respect to capital flows confronting us today: Is the recovery added: “Ensuring consistency and should be even-handed. “So far as assured in the face of still turbulent comprehensiveness across the vari - lumpy and volatile flows are a spillover financial conditions and upward pres - ous levels of surveillance is impor - from policy choices of advanced sures on commodity prices? How tant, as is the candor and evenhand - economies, managing capital flows resilient is the international monetary edness of the IMF — that systemic should not be treated as an exclusive system to future shocks? Will the risks are pointed out irrespective of problem of emerging market ongoing reforms empower the IMF where they may originate. We need to economies and the burden of adjust - and make it more effective in anchor - stress that multilateral surveillance by ment should be shared. How this bur - ing global monetary and financial sta - the IMF should not lose sight of sov - den will be shared raises both intellec - bility?” he asked. ereign debt concerns of developed tual and practical challenges.” 3 In trying to answer these ques - With regard to multilateral strategies tions, the RBI Governor highlighted to managing capital flows, he felt any several issues that needed to be tack - standardized approach binding on all led. member countries would be difficult to “A variety of risks, including politi - follow and each country should be left cal and social turmoil in parts of the free to determine its own policies. world combined with natural disas - Earlier, speaking on the Global ters, have made the global recovery Economy and Framework Intervention vulnerable,” he observed. at the G-20 Ministerial Meeting, he “Financial conditions have turned said, “India has had the privilege of co- volatile and uncertain, with risks of chairing, together with Canada, the G- adverse feedback loops into the glob - 20 collective effort toward drawing up al economy. Recurring sovereign a Framework for Strong, Sustainable debt fears have affected market con - and Balanced Growth. fidence. In the crisis-affected “The success of this initiative is crit - economies, financial systems are yet ical for a durable global economic to be fully repaired. While the sense recovery and for better global econom - of crisis has waned, new challenges ic and financial governance. have surfaced,” he pointed out. Importantly, the success of this initia - In this context he warned that the tive is also critical for the credibility of recovery could be jeopardized by a the G-20 and its ability to forge a con - sustained rise in oil prices and spec - sensus in non-crisis situations.” ulative movements in the commodity Pointing out that there were four rea - derivative markets. sons why a mechanical approach or a Pointing out that the problems The International Monetary Fund’s Plenary one-size-fits-all approach would not confronting the international mon - session in progress on April 16, 2011 at IMF work, he said a consensus-based etary system stemmed from weak - Headquarters in Washington, DC. approach was needed to finalize the nesses in detecting and communi - guidelines under the Framework. cating early warnings of impending countries by adopting tighter screen - In another discussion on the theme crises and management of global liq - ing criteria for developing countries of “Global Challenges, Global uidity, he recommended that “This that have actually seen fiscal improve - Solutions”, Subbarao again dwelled on calls for fundamental reform of the ment relative to the advanced the role of global cooperation and the international monetary system. It is economies.” need to resist the temptation of also important to evolve a mechanism Pointing out that with the recovery protectionism. to address the challenges of stem - of emerging and developing countries In his remarks at the World Bank’s ming volatile capital flows and to gaining momentum, capital flows Development Committee meeting, strengthen multilateral adjustment have almost touched pre-crisis levels. R. Gopalan, Secretary (Economic mechanisms to deal with imbalances “These flows have exhibited consid - Affairs), highlighted some of the and sources of instability.” erable volatility, imparting macroeco - major challenges that the World Bank “The surveillance function is criti - nomic instability in the event of sud - needed to address in the coming cal to the IMF’s overall mandate,” den stops and reversals, eroding years. He spoke about the future Subbarao pointed out, adding that competitiveness and complicating the directions that the Bank should take, “effective implementation at both setting of macroeconomic policies,” the need to enhance its lending multilateral and bilateral levels is the he warned. capacity, and the need to invest more key to providing surveillance with In this context, he said policy pre - in agriculture.

May 2011 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS speech at harvard Kennedy school ‘asIan econoMIc sUrGe anchorInG GloBal GroWth’ mbassador Nicholas Burns, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honor to be here A at the Harvard Kennedy School which is one of the foremost public policy programs. I am especial - ly delighted that the Kennedy School has introduced a dedicated program on India and South Asia. This com - mendable initiative owes much to the interest and leadership of Ambassador Nicholas Burns who has played a key role in the transformation of India-US relations in recent years. I would like to speak to you today about the future of Asia, from an Indian perspective. In a way, both India and the U.S. are today more aware of each other’s Asia-Pacific identities and that has, I think, brought us closer together. The center of gravity of global chal - lenges and opportunities is shifting rapidly to the Asia-Pacific region. Asian economic surge, especially in countries like India and China, is increasingly anchoring global econom - Once, the U.S. and from India’s extended neighborhood. ic growth and opportunities. We are Europe were the main The region has yet to evolve a security witnessing the rise simultaneously of architecture that reflects all the several parts, each convinced that its markets for Indian changes and challenges in the region, position relative to the others will exports. Today around and one of the goals for us all is to improve rather than worsen in the make sense of that and work out effec - years to come. There are new ques - 54 percent of India’s tive arrangements. tions about the role and responsibilities exports go to Asia. The future of the Asia Pacific region of extra-regional powers. The region is ASEAN and East Asia is absolutely vital for India’s own undergoing rapid changes and throw - future. Once, the U.S. and Europe 4 ing up new challenges of reconciling together account for were the main markets for Indian historical differences with growing about 28 percent of exports. Today around 54 percent of inter-dependence. The traditional India’s exports go to Asia. As a region, fragmentation of Asia into distinct and, India’s exports, ASEAN and East Asia together often, mutually exclusive regions is los - recently surpassing account for about 28 percent of India’s ing its meaning because of the increas - the European Union as exports, recently surpassing the ingly global nature of the challenges European Union as the single largest that we face today, many of which, the single largest regional destination for India’s such as terrorism, nuclear prolifera - regional destination exports. West Asia’s share in our tion, energy security, piracy and cyber exports also exceeds that of the threats emanate from Asia, especially for India’s exports European Union. At the turn of this

May 2011 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS century, Asia was the source of just 29 Our Prime Minister’s and celebrating our common heritage. percent of our imports; last year, the Our strategy today rests on economic figure was 61 percent, not in small vision is that the and humanitarian assistance, trade measure due to the burgeoning energy linked fortunes and concessions and improving regional imports from West Asia. destinies of South connectivity within the overarching Indian companies are now increas - framework of political outreach. ingly investing abroad to exploit syner - Asian countries leave It is our desire to build a future with gies, improve market access, acquire us with no alternative Pakistan defined by the power of coop - technologies and secure energy sup - eration rather than the perils of conflict plies. While the United States and UK to building a collective that leads us to hope for a stable, mod - are preferred destinations, the Indian future of shared erate and prosperous Pakistan. We 5 footprint is growing significantly from prosperity and peace have repeatedly extended the hand of West Asia to Australia. friendship, despite the pressure of ter - The Indian Ocean region is central by resolving our rorism emanating from Pakistan — as to our security and economic develop - differences, and investigations after the Mumbai terror - ment. We have a coastline of over ist attack and revelations of U.S. 7,500 kms, several far flung islands connecting our people national David Headley have shown. and an Exclusive Economic Zone of We have recently resumed dialogue 2.3 million sq km. The waters around our economic and political engage - with Pakistan. For the resumed dia - us are a source of the bulk of our ment in the Asia Pacific region, our logue to be productive, our concerns domestic production of petroleum and defense cooperation with countries in on terrorism must be addressed and all natural gas. Some 90 percent of Indian the region is also growing. We have those responsible for the Mumbai trade by volume takes place through had naval exchanges with virtually attack brought to book. the seas; and, 75 percent of energy every country in the region and also A major success of our diplomatic supplies come by sea. The Indian held some multilateral exercises. We initiatives in recent years is the remark - Ocean region is also the center of 70 want to see the Indian Ocean region able progress in revitalizing our ancient percent of the world’s natural disasters develop into a zone of cooperation economic and cultural ties to the coun - and vital for the stability of global com - rather than of competition and domi - tries in West Asia, especially the Gulf merce and energy trade. nation and support dialogue between countries and Saudi Arabia. Countries Since the 1990s, India has con - stakeholders. in this region are today undergoing a sciously followed a “Look East Policy” Our relationship with China is not historic cycle of change which holds to deepen our engagement with the only important for the two countries, great promise but is also complex and dynamic and changing Asia Pacific but its course will have a strong bear - difficult. Since the 1990s, Israel has region. It began with the ASEAN ing on the future of the region. Prime emerged as one of our key strategic countries, but over time the policy Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has partners, a country with which we also gradually evolved to include the Far often said that the world is large have very robust economic and tech - Eastern and Pacific regions. enough to accommodate the growth nological ties. Iran is an important Our engagement with the Asia ambitions of two large countries such country in our extended neighborhood Pacific is not only economic, but also as India and China. China has become with which we have civilizational links. increasingly strategic and political, in India’s largest trading partner in We are conscious of the need to objec - character. Institutionally, with the goods. Together, the two countries can tively address Iran’s nuclear issue. We region, we have a 2004 Declaration on power Asian and global prosperity. have maintained that Iran should fulfill India-ASEAN Partnership for Peace, South Asia will have a profound its obligations as a signatory to the Progress and Shared Prosperity and a impact on the future of Asian, indeed NPT regime, while having the right to regular ASEAN-India Summit. We global, prosperity and stability. It is peaceful uses of nuclear energy. India, participate in the East Asia Summit, home to a significant part of the global on its part, has consistently implement - the ASEAN Regional Forum and the population and continues to face a ed all relevant UN Security Council ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting wide range of political, economic and resolutions. Plus Eight process. social challenges. We also recognize that the United Beyond the institutional relation - Our Prime Minister’s vision is that States is an Asia-Pacific power, that it ships, with virtually every country in the linked fortunes and destinies of has a role and stake in the future of the region — in Southeast Asia, East South Asian countries leave us with no Asia. The U.S. has played an important Asia and the Pacific, we are witnessing alternative to building a collective role in the emergence of Asia, given its a deepening of political and security future of shared prosperity and peace wide ranging economic, trade, finan - dialogue and cooperation. by resolving our differences, connect - cial and military influence. In recent Concomitant with the growth in ing our people, opening our markets years, it has shown a renewed engage -

May 2011 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS

ment with the region. The continuance vis-à-vis Asia. We have agreed to work We share the responsibility to shape of economic growth and prosperity in together and with other countries of our collaboration to liberate the cre - both our countries is in some ways the region for evolution of an open, ative energies of the region. linked to Asia. balanced and inclusive architecture in As Asia works to chart a course for It is necessary in this context that we the region. addressing common challenges to work together to manage the chal - We believe that this would need to be peace, stability and prosperity, there lenges that may threaten peace and a consensus based process, so that all are opportunities for both India and security in the region and impact on stakeholders can make their respective the U.S. to contribute positively to that sustained economic growth. contributions to regional security. process and in doing so to also An important new aspect of our India aspires to this vision in coopera - strengthen their partnership and make transformed relationship with the tion with all countries, including the it truly global. On its part, India stands United States, a transformation in U.S., through partnership, consulta - ready to work actively to realize both which Ambassador Nick Burns played tion and dialogue. these objectives. a key role, is the increasingly global As the U.S. prepares to participate in Cambridge, MA nature of our partnership. the East Asia Summit later this year, April 21, 2011 When President Obama visited India we will also continue our consultations (See full Text at: http://www.indi - last November, he and Prime Minister to ensure that the Summit has a pro - anembassy.org/prdetail1712/amba Dr. Manmohan Singh, spelt out the ductive outcome. ssador-meera-shankaran - shared vision of both countries for Today Asia stands at the center of drsquo%3Bs-speech-at-harvard- peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, momentous geo-political and geo-eco - kennedy-school---- the India Ocean and Pacific regions. nomic changes underway, which hold andquot%3Bindia-u.s.-relations- There is an increasing convergence of both promise and challenges for our in-an-asia-pacific-centu - interests between India and the U.S. future collective endeavours. ryandquot%3B) ambassador visits Boston n a visit to Boston from April The Ambassador year. At the Harvard Kennedy School, 20-22, Ambassador Shankar invited high-level Ambassador Shankar delivered a O met with the President of speech on “India-US Relations in an MIT, Dr. Susan Hockfield. participation from MIT Asia Pacific Century” that was attend - Referring to education, a key focus and Harvard University ed by senior faculty, scholars and area in India-US relations, she invited students. MIT to partner with Indian institu - at the India-US Ambassador Shankar called on the tions. Dr. Hockfield was positive about Education Summit Governor of Massachusetts Mr. MIT’s ongoing cooperation with the Dewal Patrick. The two discussed IITs in Kanpur and Chennai, BITS scheduled to be held opportunities for collaboration Pilani, IIM Kolkata and IFMR in Washington in June between India and enterprises in Chennai and expressed the desire to Massachusetts in the areas of biotech - expand collaboration with Indian insti - nology, wind, solar and other renew - tutions, particularly in areas of innova - active engagement with several univer - able forms of energy, and robotics tion and research. Ambassador sities in India, citing examples of JNU, among others. Shankar also addressed the MIT India BHU, Jadavpur University, Indian Governor Patrick said he was deeply Forum on India’s achievements and School of Business in Hyderabad, and impressed by India’s economic growth 6 challenges as India moves toward universities in Manipal and and development and that he was opti - greater socio-economic development Puducherry. Dr. Faust added that she mistic about greater collaboration and scientific and technological keenly looked forward to her visit to between Indian companies and tech - advancement. India and hoped it would lead to more nology firms of Massachusetts. He Ambassador Shankar also met with institutional linkages and joint projects informed Ambassador Shankar of his the President of Harvard University, with India. intention to lead a high-level trade and Dr. Drew Faust, and discussed Ambassador Shankar invited high- technology mission from prospects of closer collaboration level participation from MIT and Massachusetts to India, possibly early between Harvard and Indian universi - Harvard University at the India-U.S. next year. The Indian Ambassador ties and research centers. Dr. Faust Education Summit scheduled to be assured all possible expressed satisfaction at Harvard’s held in Washington, DC in June this assistance for the mission.

May 2011 India Review Embassy EVENTS aahoa receptIon

Prominent members of AAHOA presenting a memento to Ambassador Ambassador Meera Shankar welcoming members of the Asian American Meera Shankar. Also seen is Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Arun K. Singh Hotel Owners’ Association (AAHOA) at the Embassy on April 13. (extreme right).

stUdents’ BrIeFInG

Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Arun K. Singh briefing students of the University of North Florida on India-U.S. relations at the Embassy on April 5.

Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Arun Singh briefing students of the ‘Semester in Washington’ Program of Georgetown University on India-U.S. Relations at the Embassy on April 15.

May 2011 India Review Embassy EVENTS BAISAKHI CELEBRATIONS

Ambassador Meera Shankar welcoming guests on the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations at the Embassy Residence on April 15. Singers rendering an invocation song.

Mr. Mohan Singh Bains singing Punjabi folk songs on the occasion. A section of the audience.

BRIEFING OF INDIAN FOREST SERVICE OFFICERS

Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Arun K. Singh briefing a group of Indian Forest Service Officers at the Embassy on April 15.

May 2011 India Review Embassy EVENTS ‘WOmEN’S FORum OF WASHINGTON, DC’ RECEpTION

Ambassador Meera Shankar welcoming members of the ‘Women’s Forum of Washington, DC’ to ‘An Evening with Women Ambassadors’ at the Embassy Residence on April 19.

Guests in attendance.

May 2011 India Review Consulate EVENTS HAppENING HOuSTON

Smt. Meira Kumar, Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha, with a delegation of Members of Parliament and senior officials, transited through Miami on April 21 after attending the 124th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Panama. The Indian-American community in South Florida hosted a reception in honor of the Hon’ble Speaker and her delegation. The photo shows the Hon’ble Speaker (2nd from left) with Consul-General Sanjiv Arora (1st from left) and Mrs. & Dr. Piyush Agrawal, National Coordinator (USA) of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). The Hon. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was the keynote Speaker on participants at the community function thanked the Hon’ble Speaker for April 3 at the 15th Annual Gala of ‘Daya’, a Houston-based NGO helping gracing the occasion and giving an enlightening and inspiring address. The women and children in distress. The photo shows Congresswoman Jackson Hon’ble Speaker was presented the Keys of the City of Miami, on behalf of Lee and Consul-General Sanjiv Arora with Houston Police Officer Muzaffar the Mayor of Miami, by Ms. Isabel M. de Quesada. Siddiqui in the center.

Consul-General Sanjiv Arora was Chief Guest at a concert by Swaralayam Arts Forum (SAF), Houston, featuring young artistes. The concert was held at the Children’s Museum of Houston on April 2 to support victims of the recent earthquake in Japan. The photo shows the Consul-General — addressing the audience — with Mr. Ravi Iyer, Director, SAF, and the artistes.

Consul-General Sanjiv Arora was the Chief Guest at the inauguration of the Atlanta Chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) on April 23. The photo shows the Consul-General cutting the cake. Others in the picture are (from right to left): Ms. Bhairavi Nadgonde, Consul-General Sanjiv Arora participated in a panel discussion on India and President, GOPIO Atlanta Chapter, Dr. Piyush Agrawal, GOPIO’s National India-U.S. relations organized by the International Speakers Association Coordinator for USA, Mr. Upendra Bhatt, Vice-President, Dr. Paddy (ISA), a student body at the University of Texas, Austin, on April 6. In the Sharma, Chairperson and Mr. Mustafa Ajmeri, Secretary/Treasurer. Freedom photo, the Consul-General and ISA President Ameya Latkar (2nd and 3rd fighters and other members of the Indian-American community were felici - from left) are seen with other ISA office-bearers. tated on the occasion for their dedication and accomplishments.

May 2011 India Review Consulate EVENTS

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 120th birth anniversary being celebrated at the Consulate General of India, New York. CELEBRATION OF DR. B.R. AmBEDKAR’S 120TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARy

he Consulate General of the Government of India’s contribu - which continue to be a source of India, New York, organized a tion to establish the “Dr. Ambedkar recourse in matters of constitutional lecture on “Dr Ambedkar’s Chair in Constitutional Studies” at the dispute. He also pointed out how T Contribution to Nation Law School in Columbia University. Dr. Ambedkar brought to bear his Building” in association with the Prof. R.S. Rawat, University of intellectual and legal prowess on the Ambedkar International Mission, to Delaware, in his address explained process of refining and drafting the celebrate his 120th birth anniversary Dr. Ambedkar’s intellectual and politi - various articles of the Constitution. on April 16, 2011 at the Consulate. cal tryst, noting how different streams Deputy Consul-General Dr. A.M. Academics, social activists, local offi - of social reformers aligned their local Gondane recalled Dr. Ambedkar’s sac - cials and the media attended the and regional activities to support rifices for social causes, his thoughts on lecture cum celebrations. Dr. Ambedkar’s line of thought. liberalism, and his faith in constitution - Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, He said that different national ways to solve political problems. Dr. Consul-General, inaugurated the builders chose their own ways, but they Gondane talked of how history would program by garlanding the picture of converged to strengthen the nation at appraise the genius of Dr. Ambedkar Dr. Ambedkar. He said that Bharat the time of Independence and national when the nation emerges on the global Ratna Dr. Ambedkar was a social government formation. scene. Milind Thamke, Representative reformer, jurist, politician, historian, P.K. Malhotra, Member, Securities of the Ambedkar International Mission philosopher and an economist. Appellate Tribunal, in his remarks (AIM), said that the motto of AIM was Ambassador Dayal described Dr. brought out the salient features of the to spread Dr. Ambedkar’s thoughts Ambedkar’s struggle against social Indian Constitution, especially the and mission in different part of the obscurantism and told the gathering of debates in the Constitution Assembly, world.

May 2011 India Review Consulate EVENTS Visit of Hon’ble Speaker Meira Kumar to Chicago

on’ble Smt. Meira Kumar, Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Lower House H of the Indian Parliament, led a 12-member Indian parliamentary delegation to Chicago from April 10- 11. The team was on its way to Mexico and then to Panama to attend the 124th Inter Parliamentary Union Assembly from April 15-20. The Consul-General of India in Chicago, Mukta D. Tomar, hosted a dinner in honor of Speaker Meira Kumar and the accompanying dele - gates, at the Union League Club of Chicago on April 10. Local dignitaries and prominent members of the Indian (From left seated) Smita N. Shah, President and CEO of SPAAN Tech and Chair of the Delhi Sister and Indian-American community Cities International Program, Mrs. Mukta D. Tomar, Consul-General of India in Chicago, Speaker of Lok Sabha Meira Kumar, Ms. Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court, Mrs. Patil, spouse attended the dinner reception. of•Sanjay Patil, MP; (Standing from left): Ravindra Kumar•Pandey, MP; Naren Patel,•President, In her address, Smt. Kumar talked Association of Indians in•American, Chicago, and President of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj, Chicago about the excellent political, economic Balwinder Singh,•President of Devon Gurdwara and a prominent Indian American and businessman Dr. Benton Cook, spouse of Dorothy Brown, Manjul Kumar, spouse of•Hon’ble Speaker Dr. M. and strategic relations between India Jagannath, MP Mr. Sanjay Patil, MP and the United States. She highlighted the address of President Barack Swami Vivekananda’s address at the The Parliamentary delegation Obama to the Joint Session of the World Parliament of Religions in included Members of Parliament Indian Parliament in November 2010, Chicago, 118 years ago. Smt. Kumar Shreegopal Vyas, Dr. M. Jagannath, an event which she said she had the said that her visit to the venue of that Sanjay Kumar Dinanath Patil, privilege of conducting. She also spoke historical address, at the Art Institute Ravindra Kumar Pandey and about the contribution of the Indian of Chicago, this time was one of the T.K.Vishwanathan, Secretary-General community to Chicago, beginning with important visits she had undertaken. of the Lok Sabha. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visits Chicago ormer President of India Dr. ry. During his discussions with A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited Dr. Piermaria J. Oddone, F Chicago from April 23-26, at Director of the Laboratory, Dr. the invitation of the Indo-American Leon Lederman, former Director Center, Chicago. Mukta D. Tomar, of Fermi Lab and Nobel Laureate Consul-General, hosted a dinner on in Physics, and other scientists, April 25 in honor of Dr. Kalam at the Dr. Kalam stressed the impor - Consulate General of India. In his tance of developing further col - 12 address, Dr. Kalam spoke on laboration between laboratories of “Emerging Rural India”. Prominent the Indian Department of Atomic members of the Indian-American com - Energy and Fermi Lab in research munity engaged in projects for rural projects for developing thorium development in India, non-govern - based fast breeder reactors. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, mental activists covering social sectors addressing the Consulate General of India, Chicago. Dr. Kalam’s address to like education, rural health, water con - scientists and Indian students servation, and solid waste The highlight of Dr. Kalam’s visit to researching at the Fermi Lab was well management, and academicians Chicago was his tour of Fermi received. During his three-day visit to involved in agriculture, attended the National Accelerator Laboratory, a Chicago, Dr. Kalam had several other evening reception. U.S. Department of Energy laborato - speaking engagements.

May 2011 India Review Economy NEWS india’s central bank hikes key rates again ndia ’s Central bank “The Reserve Bank’s on May 3 hiked its baseline inflation projec - short-term lending tions are that inflation will I rate by 50 basis remain elevated, close to the points, pegging the borrow - March 2011 level over the ing rate 100 basis points first half of 2011-12, before below it and raised the inter - declining,” Subbarao said. est rate on popular savings “Over the long run, 13 accounts by 50 basis points high inflation is inimical to to 4 percent with immediate sustained growth as it effect. harms investment by creat - Laying emphasis on ing uncertainty. Current curbing inflation over elevated rates of inflation growth, the Reserve Bank pose significant risks to of India (RBI) hiked the future growth,” he said. repurchase rate to 7.25 “Bringing them down, percent from 6.75 percent therefore, even at the cost earlier, by which the of some growth in the reverse-repo rate gets auto - short-run, should take matically revised to 6.25 precedence,” the Governor percent from 5.75 percent. added, spelling out what This was the ninth time in guided the monetary policy 15 months that the policy rates were Other policy rates such as the statu - stance for the current fiscal. Reacting hiked. The structural change in the tory liquidity ratio and the cash reserve to the monetary policy, Finance monetary policy was announced by ratio — the minimum quantum of Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in RBI Governor D. Subbarao before the money against deposits which the New Delhi that the rate hikes were in chief executives of commercial banks banks have to retain as cash or speci - order, as it was necessary to contain at the RBI headquarters in Mumbai. fied government securities — have inflation that had started behaving “These policy decisions take immedi - been left untouched. The bank rate “erratically” again after showing ate effect,” the Governor said. also remains unchanged at 6 percent. signs of easing.

india aims at doubling AMbitiouS tArget exports to $500 bn by 2014 n The strategy paper hinges on four pillars — product strategy, market $245.9 billion in ndia on May 3 set a target to more than strategy, technologies and 2010-11, substantially double its merchandize exports to $500 research and development and surpassing the official building a branch image. billion in the next three years, banking I target of $200 billion n Exports of engineering goods on the increasing demand for Indian on the back of a near - were likely to reach $125 billion engineering, pharma and chemical products ly 85 percent jump in by 2014. in emerging markets. engineering exports. n Employment intensive sectors Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said have been given special focus. Sharma released a paper that detailed the exports of engineering Anand Sharma strategy for doubling exports in three years. goods were likely to given a special focus, which includes gems “We have finalized the strategy paper for reach $125 billion by 2014. Engineering and jewelery for which we have set a target achieving the target of $500 billion exports surged 84.76 percent to $60 billion of $70 billion and agri exports for which we merchandize exports by 2014,” Sharma said. during the last fiscal. The Minister said have set a target of $22 billion,” the Minister “The strategy paper hinges on four pillars chemical industry exports would touch $25 said after releasing the strategy paper. — product strategy, market strategy, tech - billion; drugs, pharma and basic chemicals Sharma added that a market diversification nologies and research and development, $44 billion; and electronic exports were tar - strategy had helped boost India’s trade in and building a brand image,” he said. geted to reach $17 billion in fiscal 2013-14. recent years. India’s exports surged 37.5 percent to “Employment intensive sectors have been

May 2011 India Review Economy NEWS Kamath to succeed Narayana Murthy at Infosys

igh-profile banker K.V. Kamath will be the new IT bellwether Infy drops Chairman of India’s IT ‘Technologies’ from name H bellwether Infosys, ndia’s IT bellwether Infosys has dropped becoming the first non-founder to I‘Technologies’ from the company’s name head the country’s second-largest soft - as part of its re-branding exercise. ware exporter. In a regulatory filing on April 30, the Restructuring the top leadership in company said its board had approved the change in the name to Infosys Ltd from the 30-year-old company, the Infosys Infosys Technologies Ltd. board also named one of the founders “We have decided to re-name the com - and present Chief Executive Officer pany as part of our re-branding exercise. and Managing Director S. The brand Infosys is so strong that we felt Gopalakrishnan as the Executive Co- ‘Technologies’ is no longer required in line with its profile with a broad range of end- Chairman. New Role: K.V. Kamath Another founder, S.D. Shibulal, now to-end services,” newly appointed Co- Chief Operating Officer, will the company with six others, retires as Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan said in succeed Gopalakrishnan. Chairman on attaining the age of 65 Bangalore. The company will seek share - holders’ approval on the proposal at its All the appointments will be effective years. His association with the compa - 30th Annual General Meeting to be held from August 21, the day the iconic ny, however, will continue as he has on June 11. N.R. Narayana Murthy, who founded been chosen Chairman Emeritus. Indian owned US businesses rake in Adani Group acquires port in Australia $150 billion: Survey wning nearly a fifth of 1.5 Asian Indian-owned U.S. firms undra Port and Special Economic million non-farm U.S. busi - accounted for 1.7 percent of all U.S. MZone Ltd (MPSEZL), the port arm of nesses owned by Asians oper - businesses in these sectors. Retail Adani Group’s flagship company Adani O ating in the U.S. in 2007, Indians trade, wholesale trade, and profes - Enterprises Ltd (AEL), on May 3 announced its acquisition of a port Abbot earned over $150 billion in revenue, sional, scientific, and technical serv - Point Coal Terminal (APCT) in Australia according to a new survey. ices accounted for 59.1 percent of for `8,710 crore ($2 billion). With their number going up by over Asian Indian-owned business rev - The deal takes MPSEZL into the league 40.4 percent since 2002, these Asian- enue. California had the largest of top global port companies, with its owned firms accounted for 5.7 percent number of Asian Indian-owned asset base of $100 million expanding to of all non-farm businesses in the firms at 58,995 (19.1 percent of all over $3 billion in 10 years, the company United States, employing 2.8 million Asian Indian-owned firms), with said. persons (2.4 percent of total employ - receipts of $29.1 billion (19.1 per - From a 2.5-million ton per annum (MTPA) capacity in 2001, MPSEZL has ment) and generating $507.6 billion in cent of all Asian Indian-owned firm now risen to cargo handling capacities of receipts (1.7 percent of total receipts). receipts). over 200 MTPA. Of them, Asian Indians owned New York and Texas were next with The sale-and-purchase agreement 308,514 firms (19.9 percent of all 47,760 (15.5 percent) and 27,748 was signed on May 3 at Brisbane, Asian-owned firms), with receipts of (9.0 percent) Asian Indian-owned 14 Australia, between MPSEZL Director $152.5 billion (30.0 percent of all firms respectively, with receipts of Rajeev Sinha and officials of the govern - Asian-owned firm receipts), according $17.2 billion (11.3 percent) and $14.0 ment of the state of Queensland, mak - to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2007 billion (9.2 percent) respectively. ing it the only acquisition outside India by any port company of the country, the Survey of Business Owners (SBO). “Asian-owned businesses continued to company said. Asian-Indian owned businesses be one of the strongest segments of According to Chief Financial Officer B. recorded a growth of 38.2 percent. our nation’s economy, bringing in Ravi, the deal is one of the largest Among Asian Indian-owned U.S. more than half a trillion dollars in sales amongst all port acquisitions in the firms, 48.9 percent was in the profes - in 2007 and employing more than 2.8 world, and makes the Adani Group the sional, scientific, and technical servic - million people,” said Census Bureau largest Indian investor in Australia. es; the retail trade sector; and the Deputy Director Thomas healthcare and social assistance sector. Mesenbourg.

May 2011 India Review Diaspora NEWS Satish Tripathi appointed U.S. varsity president

eputed Indian-American foster economic development in computer scientist Satish Western New York, as well as provide K. Tripathi, a Banaras excellent education for our students,” R Hindu University alum - he said. nus, has been appointed President of Tripathi, who served as UB provost the prestigious University at Buffalo and Executive Vice-President for (UB) in New York state. Academic Affairs for six years, suc - Tripathi, 60, is the first internation - ceeds John B. Simpson as head of 15 al-born President in the history of SUNY’s most comprehensive UB, the largest and most comprehen - university. Tripathi graduated at the sive university in the State University top of his class from the Banaras of New York (SUNY) system and one Hindu University in India, and holds of two SUNY institutions which is a three master’s degrees — one in com - member of the prestigious puter science from the University of Association of American Universities Toronto and two in statistics from the (AAU). University of Alberta and Banaras Jeremy M. Jacobs, Chair of the UB Hindu University. After receiving a Council and the Presidential Search doctorate in computer science from Committee, said Tripathi was the the University of Toronto in 1979, he unanimous choice for the post. Satish K. Tripathi joined the computer science faculty at Tripathi was selected from an was committed to furthering the the University of Maryland, where he outstanding pool of some 70 candi - vision of the university that is at the spent 19 years on the faculty, includ - dates in a very competitive search heart of the UB 2020 plan: to make ing seven as department chair. spread over seven months. UB an excellent university and take it In 1997, he moved to the “Dr. Tripathi is a gifted leader and to the next level, where it would com - University of California-Riverside to an accomplished researcher who pos - pete with the top research universities become Dean of the Bourns College sesses the ability and knowledge to in the country. of Engineering. He joined UB as guide UB to become one of the “To do that, we need to make an Provost and Executive Vice-President world’s truly great research universi - impact with our research, have a bet - for Academic Affairs in 2004. ties,” Jacobs said. Tripathi said he ter quality of life for our citizenry and — IANS

American Sikh Day Two Indians selected as Yale World Fellows celebrated at wo Indians figure among 16 World served as Medical Director for the California Capitol Fellows for 2011. They were selected International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. Others he Sikh American community celebrated T by the Ivy League Yale University as include an executive at the Johannesburg Tthe first ever American Sikh Day in part of its “signature global leadership Stock Exchange and a director at the World California on the steps of the California development initiative” and its commitment Economic Forum; the director of the World State Capitol with dozens of California to internationalization. They are Monika Health Organization’s tuberculosis control elected officials. The event on April 13 high - Halan, Editor of India’s second largest busi - program in China; a policymaker in lighted the history and contributions of Sikh ness newspaper, Mint Money , and Sonali Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Americans in California and the challenges Kochhar, Medical Director, India, Institute for the executive director of Greenpeace Brazil. the community faces, according to the Sikh OneWorld Health. Halan is “a media person - This year’s cohort brings the total number American Legal Defense and Education Fund ality well-known for her financial expertise”. of Yale World Fellows to 171, (SALDEF), a community civil rights group. She is editor of Mint Money , which has an representing 77 countries, the New Haven, The event was organized by the exclusive partnership with the Wall Street Connecticut University announced on April Sacramento Sikh Temple and Senate Journal . 26. Since 2002, Yale has welcomed exem - President pro Tempore Darrell rg Steinberg. A medical doctor and clinical researcher, plary mid-career professionals from a wide “We all have common bonds as part of Kochhar leads efforts to develop safe, afford - range of fields and countries for an intensive the American fabric and having that able, and accessible drugs and vaccines for four-month period of academic enrichment common love is what America is about,” diseases prevalent in the developing world, and leadership training, the University said. California State Senator Doug LaMalfa including HIV/AIDS. She had previously — IANS said. — IANS

May 2011 India Review Trends in SOCIETY

Sustainable Development in India: Contribution of Renewable Energy ustainable development in capacity additions in the renewable Mines, Government of India, has India encompasses a variety energy sector and by the eligibility of become the first PSU in the country to of development schemes in more renewable energy projects to implement a pilot-cum-demonstration S social, cleantech (clean ener - issue CERs. Consequently, the share of project on Carbon Sequestration in its gy, clean water and sustainable agricul - renewable energy projects in Indian captive power plant at Angul in the ture) and human resources segments. CERs will increase to 31 percent. eastern Indian state of Orissa. The pro - These have caught the attention of CRISIL Research expects India’s ject is expected to go a long way both federal and state governments, as renewable energy capacity to increase toward bringing down GHG, a well as the public and private sectors. to 20,000 megawatt (MW) by NALCO spokesperson said. India is expected to begin the green - December 2012, from the current Currently, India has 18,655 MW of ing of its national income accounting, 15,542 MW. The contribution of installed renewable energy, accounting making depletion in natural resources renewable energy to the power busi - for a total of 11 percent of the total wealth a key component in its mea - ness in India has now reached 70 per - capacity of 168,954 MW. The target surement of gross domestic product. cent, compared to 10 percent in 2000, includes adding 20,000 MW of solar India’s sustained efforts toward reduc - in terms of project numbers and dollar energy by 2022, which would take the ing greenhouse gases (GHG) will ensure value, according to Anita George, share of renewable energy in the total that the country’s per capita emission of Regional Industry Director, Asia electricity generation capacity of the GHG will continue to be low until 2030- Infrastructure and Natural Resources, country to 15 percent, said Dr. Arun 31. It is estimated that the per capita International Finance Corporation Tripathi, a Director and Scientist at the emission in 2031 will be lower than the (IFC). Growth in use of green tech - Ministry, adding that the Indian per capita global emission of GHG in nologies has put India on the green- Government’s goal was to make renew - 2005, according to a new study. Even in building leader board with countries able energy account for 30 percent of 2031, India’s per capita GHG emissions such as the United States. “About 2-3 the total electricity capacity by 2032. would stay under four tons of CO 2, percent of all construction in India is which is lower than the global per capita green, as good as (in) the U.S. In the Investments emission of 4.22 tons of CO 2 in 2005. next two or three years, we want to India expects investments to the tune bring it up to 10 percent, which will put of $55 billion by 2015 in the renewable Major Achievements us on top,” as per the Indian Green energy sector which is expected to pro - 16 The number of carbon credits issued Building Council (IGBC). duce 35 giga watt (GW) of power, for emission reduction projects in India On the back of the incentive package according to Debashish Majumdar, is set to treble to 246 million by for electric vehicles announced by the Chairman and Managing Director, December 2012 from 72 million in Ministry of New and Renewable Indian Renewable Energy November 2009, according to a Energy, average monthly sales of elec - Development Agency Ltd. CRISIL Research study. tric two-wheelers has risen 20 percent, According to a recent attractiveness This will cement India’s second posi - according to Sohinder Gill, Director, survey by Ernst & Young, foreign tion in the global carbon credits market Society of Manufacturers of Electric direct investment in renewable energy (technically called Certified Emission Vehicles. The National Aluminium in India witnessed a 105 percent rise. Reduction units or CERs). The growth Company Limited, the top public sec - Wind energy is the fastest growing in CER issuance will be driven by tor unit (PSU) under the Ministry of renewable energy sector and the FDI

May 2011 India Review Trends in SOCIETY inflow in the sector has been increasing over the years. Companies such as CRISIL Research expects Auro Mira Energy, Greenko, Orient India’s renewable energy Green Power and Green Infra have capacity to increase to been cited in the report as some of the Independent Power Producers which 20,000 MW by December received funding from investors like 2012 from the current IDFC PE, Axis PE, Baring PE and 15,542 MW Global Environment Fund. With the proposed commissioning of a 50 MW tidal power project off Gujarat in 2013, sure and disclose their greenhouse gas Technologies announced the launch 17 India would be ready to place its first emissions and climate change strate - of India’s largest e-waste recycling “seamark” — also a first for Asia. gies through CDP. These disclosures facility in Bangalore. aid them in setting reduction targets n The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has Corporate Investments and make performance improvements. set up a platform to ensure availabil - n State-owned Gujarat Alkalies and n Switzerland-based Satarem AG has ity of funds at reasonable rates to Chemicals Ltd has entered into a signed a pact for a joint venture with implement energy efficient projects. pact with a Germany-based specialty SA India, erstwhile promoters of the n Indian firms can help Finnish clean chemicals maker, Evonik Industries, Crocodile brand in India, to enter the technology companies produce 38 for setting up a multi-million waste management and renewable percent of energy through Hydrogen Peroxide and Propylene energy business in the country. renewable means by 2020. Oxide project at Dahej in Gujarat. n State-run power company NTPC n Overseas Private Investment has set up a joint venture with the Government Initiatives Corporation (OPIC), a U.S. govern - Asian Development Bank and Announcements in the 2011-12 ment agency, has signed a pact with Japan’s Kyuden International Budget indicate India’s plans to pro - Azure Power to fund its 15 MW solar Corporation to develop renewable mote clean energy and technologies. photovoltaic project in the state of energy projects with a capacity of Key points from the Finance Minister’s Gujarat. The investment in the $40 500 MW over the next three years. speech included: million project will be led by OPIC. n Hyderabad based Premier Solar has n Planned launch of National Mission n Toshiba JSW Turbine & Generator signed a pact to import 200,000 thin in hybrid and electric vehicles. Pvt Ltd has said its manufacturing film modules — which can provide n Allocations of $89.41 million from facility for super-critical steam tur - for generation of 20 MW — from the National Clean Energy fund for bines and generators would go on German manufacturer Schott Solar. speeding up the National Mission for stream in the second half of 2011. n Wind turbine manufacturer KEN - a Green India. ERSYS has set up a new facility at n Budget of the Environment Ministry Corporate Initiatives Baramati near Pune in the state of increased by around $67.1 million. n The world’s first facility to manufac - Maharashtra with an investment of n Extension of a tax holiday for the ture carbon foam batteries will be set $11.18 million. power sector by one year. up at Bavla near Ahmedabad in n IFC has announced equity financing n A budgetary provision of $56.6 mil - Gujarat. Firefly Energy India is plan - up to $15 million to Andhra Pradesh- lion has been made for research and ning to build a plant to produce car - based Shalivahana Green Energy development in renewable energy. bon foam batteries at an investment Limited, a privately-owned entity n The Government would dole out of $28 million, the company’s producing power based on biomass, $335 million over the next two Chairman Mukesh Bhandari said. to fund the latter’s pipeline projects. years to banks and finance compa - n State Bank of India, the country’s nies to lend money to solar energy largest lender, has become a signa - National Solar Mission projects. tory investor in the Carbon Implementation of the Jawaharlal n IFC will provide up to $15 million in Disclosure Project (CDP), a collab - Nehru National Solar Mission has corporate equity financing to Simran oration of over 550 global institu - been satisfactory, as per the Ministry of Wind Project Private Limited tional investors with assets under New and Renewable Energy which has (Simran), a privately-owned entity. management of $71 trillion. sanctioned 802 MW capacities of n The Punjab government has initiated CDP is an independent not-for-profit grid-connected solar projects and 36 a clean energy project to generate organization, holding the largest MW off-grid solar projects. 1,500 MW power from the ‘run of database of primary corporate climate the canal turbines’. change information in the world. Over Clean Energy and Technology (Courtesy: The India Brand Equity 3,000 organzations worldwide mea - n Recently, Cerebra Integrated Foundation)

May 2011 India Review Science NEWS IndIa launcheS ReSOuRceSat-2, twO OtheR SatellIteS n a boost to India’s remote V. Narayansamy, sensing capability, the PSLV Minister of State in the C-16 rocket on April 20 Prime Minister's Office, I launched Resourcesat-2 and said: “Heartiest congratu - two other satellites from the space - lations to the entire port in Sriharikota in the southern Department of Space. The state of Andhra Pradesh. scientists have proved their The Indian Space Research expertise in launching the Organization’s `90 crore ($20 mil - PSLV rocket.” lion) rocket — the Polar Satellite Narayansamy also Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-16 — thanked the Prime Minister soared toward the heavens to place in for his encouragement to orbit Resourcesat-2 and two other the scientific community. satellites, together weighing 1,404 kg. Built to last for five years, Apart from its main cargo — the `140 crore ($31 mil - advanced earth observation satellite lion) Resourcesat-2 will Resourcesat-2 — the rocket also car - augment ISRO’s remote ried two mini satellites — the 92 kg sensing data services. It will joint India-Russian Youthsat satellite replace Resourcesat-1 sent for stellar and atmospheric studies and up in 2003. the 106 kg X-sat for imaging applica - Apart from carrying three tions built by the Singapore-based sophisticated cameras, the Nanyang Technological University. satellite also carries the AIS Just over 18 minutes after the blast-off, (Automatic Information the rocket ejected Resourcesat-2 and System) from COMDEV, followed it up with the other two. Canada, for the surveillance Immediately after the ejections, Soaring High: The PSLV-C16 rocket blasts off from the Satish of ships in the VHF band to ISRO with its network of ground sta - Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota on April 20, 2011. derive their position and tions monitored the health of the ly grateful to Prime minister Dr. speed, among others. three satellites. “I am extremely happy Manmohan Singh for all his encour - “With the launch of Resourcesat-2, to announce that the Resourcesat agement,” ISRO Chairman K. ISRO will have 10 remote sensing mission is a success. We are extreme - Radhakrishnan said. satellites in orbit — Resourcesat 1, TES, Cartosat 1, 2, 2A and 2B, IMS- 1, RISAT-2, Oceansat-2,” S. Satish, ISRO plans more satellite launches ISRO’s Director (Publications and Public Relations), said. he Indian Space Research Organization GSAT-12, with 12 extended C band (ISRO) is planning to launch a series of transponders, will be launched on a PSLV- With the largest civilian remote Tsatellites this year to augment its C17 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket sensing satellite constellation in the transponder and earth observation capaci - sometime in June-July, Radhakrishnan world, India is a global leader earning 18 ties, a top official said on April 20. “We will added. a sizeable amount vending imageries launch GSAT-8, a 3,200 kg communication That will be followed by the launch of in a variety of spatial resolutions, satellite. It will be launched by an Ariane remote sensing satellites, Megha-Tropiques spectral bands and swaths. rocket from the French Guyana,” ISRO by PSLV-C18 and Risat by PSLV-C19, he The data is used for several appli - Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said. said. cations covering agriculture, water GSAT-8 will have 24 Ku band transpon - Radhakrishnan said ISRO’s second lunar ders — automatic receivers and transmit - mission, the `460 crore ($103 million) resources, urban development, min - ters of communication and broadcast sig - Chandrayaan-2, was progressing well and eral prospecting, environment, nals. will be realized in 2013-14. forestry, drought and flood forecast - Another communication satellite, the — IANS ing, ocean resource management and disaster management. — IANS

May 2011 India Review Science NEWS

u.S. firm signs up dRdO for India to integrate explosives detection kit technology indigenous airborne radar in July iming to enhance the Indian Air A Force’s surveillance and strike capac - ity, India will begin integrating the indigenously-built Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system atop the Brazilian Embraer aircraft in July, a top 19 defense official said on April 16. “The first Embraer plane (EMB-1451) will land in India by June-end after its power units have been connected to our airborne early warning radar fitted atop. Integration of its sub-systems will begin in July for user trials,” the Defense Minister’s Scientific Advisor V.K. Saraswat said in Bangalore. India placed the order, valued at $400 million, with Brazilian aerospace major Embraer to supply three aircraft, cus - tomized with advanced radars, for induc - tion into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by The Chief Controller (Armaments & Combat Engg.), Director (Armaments) and Director of DRDO’s High Explosives and Materials Research Laboratory Subhananda Rao with representative of the U.S. 2013. The integration and flight tests will firm Crowe & Company. be undertaken in Bangalore by the Center for Airborne System (CABS) in ndia’s Defense Research and and Company President Faye Crowe in association with the Aeronautical Development Organization New Delhi in the presence of DRDO Development Agency (ADA) of the state- (DRDO) on April 25 got a shot Chief Controller Research and run Defense Research and Development in the arm for its efforts to mar - Development (Aeronautics and Organization. I “After the first plane was rolled out in ket its world-class products globally Services Interaction) Prahlada. with an American firm signing it up for HEMRL has developed the kit for February, the primary radar, identifica - tion-friend-or-foe (IFF) interrogator, com - technology transfer of an explosive quick detection and identification of munications and electronic intelligence detection kit (EDK). explosives based on any combination receivers and data-processing systems Crowe and Company signed a mem - of nitro esters, nitramines, trinitro - are being integrated with the fuselage," orandum of understanding with the toluene (TNT), dynamite or black Saraswat said on the margins of the fifth DRDO for obtaining license for the powder. The testing requires only Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial technology of EDK. three to five milligrams of suspected Lecture on “Aerospace Technologies in the The kit, developed by the Pune- sample and only three or four drops of 21st century”. based High Energy Material Research reagents. The EDK comes packed in a Embraer will deliver the remaining two aircraft in 2012 and 2013. The aircraft Lab (HEMRL), a DRDO laboratory, vanity case-sized box and in miniature was also modified to suit the Indian is already in use with the Indian armed vials. It contains reagents capable of weather conditions and will be certified forces. HEMRL Director Subhananda detecting explosives, even in extremely for airworthiness and user trials. Rao signed the agreement with Crowe small, trace quantities. — IANS

growing economy of the world, India needed India to double expenditure on science research to enhance allocations for science and tech - nology. “We have decided to give great sig - ndia will double its spending on research for science and technology nificance to science and technology-related and development related to science and will be doubled to `150,000 research studies to enthuse people to pure technology during the 12th Five Year Plan crore ($34 billion) amount - I sciences, applied sciences and research,” starting next year, Minister of State for Science ing to 0.6 percent of coun - Kumar said, adding the Ministry had decided and Technology Ashwani Kumar said on April try’s GDP (gross domestic to partner with institutes of higher education, 26. “The Government is giving a big push to product),” he said in New schools and science institutes to make science science and technology during the 12th Five Delhi. The Minister said popular among students. — IANS Year Plan (from 2012-2017). The expenditure Ashwani Kumar that being the third-largest

May 2011 India Review Short STORY

MAY THE KOHASSA BRING YOU JOY By Anil Chandra

(The author, a former Indian bureaucrat, is a short story writer and a scholar. Chandra has 20 also written three books on history covering ancient India and China)

he was six years old when “I’m building,” she said. “It’s what?” Prabha first met her on a “I see that. What is it?” Prabha “It”s a joy. My mother says kohassa beach in Mumbai. She was asked, not caring. comes to bring us joy.” S building a sand castle or “Oh, I don’t know. I just like the feel The bird went glissading down the something and looked up, her eyes as of the sand.” beach. “Good-bye, joy,” Prabha mut - sparkling as the sea. That sounds good, Prabha thought, tered to herself; “hellow, pain,” and “Hello,” she said. Prabha answered and slipped off her shoes. A bird glid - turned to walk on. She was depressed; with a nod, not really in the mood to ed by. her life seemed completely out of bother with a small child. “That’s a kohassa,” the child said. b alance.

May 2011 India Review Short STORY

“What’s your name?” the girl wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed wouldn’t give up. and admitting to herself she missed “Prabha,” she answered. “I’m her, she went up to her house after her Prabha Athawle.” walk. A good looking young woman “Mine’s Nutan.” “And I’m six.” opened the door. “Hi, Nutan.” “Hello,” Prabha said. “I’m Prabha She giggled. “You’re funny,” she Athawle. I missed your little one today said. In spite of her gloom Prabha and wondered where she was.” laughed too and walked on. “Oh yes, Prabhaji, please come in.” Her musical giggle followed her. “Nutan talked of you so much. I’m “Come again, Prabha didi. We’ll have afraid I allowed her to talk to you. If 21 another happy day.” she was a nuisance, please accept my The days and weeks that followed apologies.” belonged to others: office politics “Not at all — she’s a delightful where Prabha could be transferred, a child,” Prabha said suddenly realizing rift with her husband and an ailing what she meant: ‘Where is she?’ mother. The sun was shining one “Nutan died last week, Prabhaji. She morning as Prabha took her hands off had cancer — leukamia. Maybe she the pressure cooker. “I need to go to didn’t tell you.” the beach,” she said to herself. Struck dumb, Prabha groped for a The never changing balm of the chair. seashore awaited her. She had forgot - “She loved this beach; so I never ten the child and was startled when she stopped her. She seemed so much bet - appeared. Prabha’s mind was on ter playing on the beach and had a lot “Hello, Prabha didi,” she said. “Do other things. When she of what she called happy days. But in you want to play?” left for home, Nutan the last few weeks she declined rapid - “What did you have in mind?” ly...” Her voice faltered. “She left Prabha asked, with a twinge of annoy - said it had been a something for you... if only I can find ance. happy day. Feeling it. Could you wait a moment while I “I don't know. You say.” surprisingly better, look?” “How about solitude?” Prabha Prabha nodded stupidly, her mind asked sarcastically. Prabha smiled at her racing for something, anything, to say The tinkling laughter burst forth and agreed. Three to this lovely young woman. again. “I don’t know what that is.” weeks later, Prabha She handed Prabha a smeared enve - “Then let’s just walk.” Looking at lope with ‘Prabha didi’ printed in bold, her, Prabha noticed the delicate met Nutan again on childish letters. fairness of her face. the beach. She was Inside was a drawing in bright cray - “Where do you live?” Prabha asked. in no mood even to on hues — a yellow beach, a blue sea, “Over there.” She pointed toward a a white and brown bird. Underneath row of houses. She chattered little-girl greet Nutan was carefully written in a childish talk as they strolled up the beach, but scrawl. Prabha’s mind was on other things. “Because my mother died!”— and When she left for home, Nutan said it thought, my God, why was I saying May the kohassa bring you joy had been a happy day. Feeling surpris - this to a little child? Tears welled up in Prabha’s eyes, and a ingly better, Prabha smiled at her and “Oh,” Nutan said quietly, “then this heart that had almost forgotten how to agreed. is a bad day.” love opened wide. She took Nutan’s Three weeks later, Prabha met “Yes, and yesterday and the day mother in her arms. “I’m sorry. I’m so Nutan again on the beach. She was in before that and — oh, go away!” sorry,” she muttered over and over, no mood even to greet Nutan. “Did it hurt?” and they wept together. “Look, if you don’t mind,” Prabha “Did what hurt?” Prabha was exas - The precious little picture is framed said crossly when Nutan caught up perated with her, with herself. now and hangs in Prabha’s study. Six with her, “I’d rather be alone today.” “When she died?” words — one for each year of her life Nutan seemed unusually pale and out “Of course it hurt!” Prabha snapped, — that speak to her of inner harmony, of breath. and strode off. courage and undemanding love. A gift “Why?” Nutan asked. A month or so after that, when from a child with sparkling eyes who Prabha turned on her and shouted, Prabha next went to the beach, Nutan taught her the gift of love.

May 2011 India Review Cinema NEWS New York Indian Film Festival to partner with film schools he New York Indian Film top short films from its film students Festival, the oldest festival for each year. These award-winning shorts Indian cinema in the United will now travel to New York and screen T States, will partner with three at NYIFF each year, allowing emerging prestigious film schools in New York filmmakers to reach audiences and and India to help directors have their industry professionals in the U.S. stories reach a wider platform. “These graduates will be part of The partnerships, aimed at helping India’s next generation of filmmakers foster a new generation of filmmakers, and have commenced their filmmaking are with award-winning filmmaker journey with these films. I am extreme - Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods Subhash Ghai ly happy to see the quality of their International (WWI)in Mumbai, The work,” says Subhash Ghai, Founder Department of Cinema Studies at the Film Festival, organized by the Indo- and Chairman of Whistling Woods. Tisch School of Arts, New York American Arts Council (IAAC), ran “I am thrilled about the association University, and the New York Film from May 4 to May 8 in Manhattan. between the Mukta Arts group and the Academy. WWI, an institute for film, television, 11th annual New York Indian Film The 11th annual New York Indian animation, and media arts, awards the Festival,” he said. ‘Life! Camera Action...’ nominated for Washington fest ew York-based Indian director It will compete in categories like Best “The film will keep you watching it Rohit Gupta’s Life! Camera Screenplay (Rohit and Amanda), Best all the way to the end,” June Daguiso, NAction ... has been nominated Drama, Best Actress (Dipti Mehta), co-founder and CEO, WMIFF, said in in seven categories at the World Music Best Supporting Role (Noor Naghmi), a press statement. and Independent Film Festival Best Supporting Role (Swati Kapila), The film has also been nominated (WMIFF) to be held from August 15- Best Original Soundtrack (Manoj for the Best Feature Film-North 19 in Washington. Singh), and Best Director (Rohit America at the Swansea Bay Film Written by Rohit Gupta and Gupta). Festival 2011, to be held in Britain Washington-based lyricist-screen - The film narrates the story of Reina, from May 5-15. writer Amanda Sodhi, Life! Camera a young Indian-American woman who It premiered at the Mahindra Indo- Action … was filmed in New York. It is pursues a career in filmmaking against American Arts Council Film Festival in English, Hindi and Punjabi. her parents’ wishes. 2010 in New York last year.

Foreign operators queuing up for Bollywood tours uess who is making a from countries like sight at these sets. However, we do not guar - beeline for Bollywood Europe and Australia,” antee meeting them,” said Arora. G tours? Foreign tour oper - Poonam Arora, head Talking about the interest in Bollywood ators, especially those from marketing and opera - among foreign nationals, she said the indus - Europe and Australia, says a tions, Bollywood try had become an international brand, company that organizes trips to Tourism, said at the giving tourism a new dimension. 22 film sets and to the residences of GITB exhibition. With Bollywood movies are highly popular in popular movie stars. each tour, the company foreign markets. Also, with English subtitles, Bollywood Tourism, the com - offers visits to film sets more and more foreigners are getting curious pany, says got an amazing Bollywood Tourism has partnered where shooting is in about the making of these films, she added. response from foreign tour with industry leaders like progress. While the The company has partnered with industry operators at the Great Indian Anupam Kher’s (above) Actor cost of a full day trip is leaders, such as Balaji Telefilms, Big ND stu - Prepares academy, among others. Travel Bazar (GITB) which kicked $150, a half day jour - dios, Whistling Woods and Anupam Kher’s off in Jaipur on April 18. ney costs $125. India, after all, has one of the Actor Prepares academy. The tour also offers “The response we have got has been largest filmmaking industries in the world, customized products, which include sari amazing. Apart from the NRI market, we are producing over 1,000 movies every year. draping sessions, portfolio creation, and also witnessing a huge amount of interest “Film and television stars are a common makeover sessions.

May 2011 India Review Travel & TOURISM

HoW to ReACH FROM DELHI eight hours by road, or overnight train Mandor Express, or flights. THE RENTS for the rooms, classified in four categories, vary between `6,400 to `9,800 in the peak 23 season.

independence,” Rathore says. Supping on hunter’s platter at Ranbanka Palace has been built in the style of early 20th century Rajasthani mansions with domes, arches, and lat - RANBANkA PALACe tices in red stone. The palace has a long tradition of shikar or hunting, which ocooned in the deep shad - air restaurant, the Ranbanka Bagh, finds its way into the numerous stuffed ows of towering trees, breaking off between courses to buy and mounted animal busts adorning Ranbanka Palace has carved the items. Jootis crafted from camel, the rooms, the rich smattering of tiger C a niche of its own in heritage buffalo and goat leather by Manohar art from Ranthambore and the family tourism, offering traditional art and Lal of neighboring Nagaur, whose photographs of hunting. craft, affordability and mouth watering family has been in the business for 700 “We began with 30 rooms in the hunter’s cuisine. Owned by the erst - years, are in great demand. main quarters and have now expanded while Rathore royal and polo ace Karan “The idea is to connect the two her - to 80 by refurbishing an old maze of Vijay Singh and wife Shweta Rathore, itages — the ancient heritage of dilapidated stables and palace offices the palace was converted into a heritage Jodhpur and the heritage of the palace into a new modern wing,” Rathore resort in 2000, and is now a hub for — and combine the old and the new says. The palace flaunts its cuisine, local crafts under a revival program that works in India. We are reviving the catering to local diners, army officers undertaken by its owners. The intention heritage crafts too and providing from the cantonment, wedding is to resuscitate traditional livelihoods. employment to villagers and local arti - entourages and occasional foreign film The palace overlooks the imposing sans. That is the way to go for heritage crews. In keeping with the hunters who Umaid Bhavan Palace in the heart of hospitality in India,” Rathore says. owned the palace, Ranbanka’s signa - Jodhpur, 590 km from Delhi. Ranbanka is part of a family palace ture dish is the junglee murgi (wild Every evening, performing artistes that dates back to 1927. Named after chicken). It is a hunter’s concoction of and craftspeople flock to the sprawling the clan’s war cry, “Ranbanka jungle fowl cooked in a sauce of red lawns of the retreat to showcase their Rathore” (the invincible Rathore), it chilli paste, peppercorn, bay leaves, skills. The performances include tradi - was built for Ajit Singh, the younger chopped onions, garlic, desi ghee (clar - tional puppet theater, local dances and brother of Maharaja Umaid Singh of ified butter) and salt — minus water. music — both instrumental and vocal Jodhpur. “Erstwhile rulers brought the The tariffs are reasonable given that — of the desert. English guests home and lodged them the palace is barely three kilometers Artisans spread their wares on the in rooms dotting the sprawling proper - from Jodhpur airport, says the retreat’s manicured lawns for guests to browse ty, outlying the living quarters. The tra - General Manager Devender Wallia. through items ranging from handcraft - dition sowed the seeds of the country’s “The rents for the rooms classified in ed jootis (shoes), accessories, bags, first heritage retreat. Ours was one of four categories vary between `6,400 to trinkets and dolls. the first homes to open up for hospital - `9,800 in the peak season,” Wallia Guests shop as they dine at the open ity in the early 20th century before adds.

May 2011 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 Gudi Padwa: The Harvest Festival

Indian women celebrate Gudi Padwa or the Maharashtrian New Year in Mumbai on April 4, 2011. Gudi Padwa marks the end of a harvest and the beginning of a new one, which for an agricultural community signifies the beginning of a new year.

EMBASSY OF INDIA 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-939-7000; Fax: 202-462-7276 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.indianembassy.org CONSULATES Consulate General of India Consulate General of India Consulate General of India Consulate General of India 3 East, 64th Street 540 Arguello Boulevard 455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive 1990 Post Oak Blvd. # 600 New York San Francisco (NBC Tower Building) 3 Post Oak Central N.Y. 10065 CA 94118 Suite #850 Chicago, IL 60611 Houston, TX 77056

Tel: 212-774-0600 Tel: 415-668-0662 Tel. 312-595-0405 to 0410 Tel. 713-626-2148/49 Fax: 212-861-3788 Fax: 415-668-2073 Fax. 312-595-0416 Fax. 713-626-2450 E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Website: Website: Website: Website: www.indiacgny.org www.cgisf.org www.chicago.indianconsulate.com www.cgihouston.org

Printed and Published by the Press & Information Office, Embassy of India, 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C., 20008 Content, design and production by IANS. www.ianspublishing.com