Our ties with Gulf countries have been reciprocal — both have gained a lot — Shri Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Global – IndIan network of knowledGe (Global–Ink): “the VIrtual thInk tank” AN INITIATIVE OF THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS Global –INK positioned as a strategic “virtual think tank” connects Overseas Indians (knowledge providers) with the development process (knowledge receivers) in India and empowers them to partner in India’s progress. Being a next generation knowledge management, collaboration and business solution platform, Global-INK provides context to connect knowledge experts with knowledge seekers Consequently, these connections enable flow of knowledge and expertise from the Diaspora back into India and facilitate collective action. Global – INK will catalyze Diaspora ability and willingness into well thought out projects and programs for development, transform individual initiatives into community action and achieve critical mass in chosen verticals. The portal can be accessed only by registered users. Registration request can be submitted by filing out the registration form located on the Global-INK homepage (www.globalink.in) lR;eso t;rs Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs www.moia.gov.in izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=ky; Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs www.overseasindian.in contents Printed and Published by N. Simte on behalf of the arts Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs Akbar Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, 30 art oF survival New Delhi — 110021 Watercolour as a medium of art is battling to live in the age of new Website: http://moia.gov.in media — the easy-to-convey digital and video art www.overseasindian.in dance Pravasi Bharatiya is a monthly 32 Fusion steps publication. The views expressed in this Contemporary dance with journal are those of the contributors classical roots is now and do not necessarily reflect the views finding its own space of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in India (MOIA). All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be produced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, travel without the permission of MOIA. Cover photo: One of the popular Indian markets in 36 FrencH the U.A.E. (Photo: Courtesy, connection Editorial correspondence and gulF links At Home In the World, Love tranquility in the lap Published by the Overseas manuscripts can be addressed to There are nearly six million Indians living and working in the of exquisite colonial [email protected] Indian Facilitation six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and they are Centre (OIFC). (Above) The heritage? Your moment lies 14 Dubai seafront. in a trip to the French Designed and produced by IANS cover story playing a pivotal role in the development of the region (www.ianspublishing.com) on behalf of settlements in India. the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Believe it, you won’t feel away from the European grandeur... Printed at Anit Printers 1811, Gyani Bazar, Opp. D-56 N.D.S.E Part -1, 10 cuisine Kotla Mubarkpur, New Delhi -110003 special report 42 etHereal palate advantage oiFc A North-Eastern meal is Since its inception in 2007, the Overseas always balanced and for Indian Facilitation Centre is touching the every spicy dish, there is lives of thousands of overseas Indians a bland one 34 22 28 Music diaspora Books Healing Melodies diaspora’s date Grammy nominee and practising witH Mauritius BoMBay girl Journalist-turned-novelist Kavita Daswani’s monk Nawang Khechog uses his flute The ocean country is set to organise 6th crossover novel talks about a tale of new India as a bridge across Buddhism, Mini Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in October izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=ky; Hinduism and the West that straddles several continents Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs www.overseasindian.in news Diaspora meet in Amsterdam Indian mission Kerala woos NRI investment for medical college The annual Indian Diaspora confer - launches ayurveda The Kerala government has given its ence in the Netherlands will be held this centre in Trinidad approval to set up a `300 crore hospital year in Amsterdam city on September 30, and medical college in which the diaspora EuAsia News has reported. The IndIan High Commission in will be allowed to invest, it was announced Organised by the Foundation for In - Trinidad and Tobago has launched a recently. The Kerala Institute of Medical dian Diaspora in Europe, the one-day centre for ayurveda following a growing Education and Research will come up in conference is to focus on improving inter- interest in the Caribbean in the tradi - Alappuzha district in three years, an offi - generational relations as well as relations tional Indian system of medicine. The cial said. State Chief Minister Oommen between different groups of Indian dias - centre was inaugurated by Trinidad and Chandy cleared the project at a recent cab - pora in the Netherlands. Tobago’s Minister of Local Govern - inet meeting. The Indian Ambassador to the Nether - ment Surujattan Rambachan recently. In his budget speech, state Finance Min - lands, Bhaswati Mukherjee, Dutch offi - The minister also announced that a ister K.M. Mani had announced plans to cials, Indian and Dutch experts, and Chair of Ayurvedic Medicine will be set up five government medical colleges in representatives from various social and launched soon at the University of the the state. This is the first of them. An business organisations are expected to West Indies in St. Augustine. official told IANS that the state-of-the-art participate in the event, said the confer - He said this would be the second such institute would have a split structure — a “The institute will be built on public-pri - tute’s shares will get one seat every year for ence organisers. academic programme to be launched at committee of government officials to run vate partnership model and will be run by admission to an MBBS course,” said the of - The conference aims to strengthen the Bhaswati Mukherjee the university, the first being the Chair the hospital and a management to run the a government-appointed committee.” ficial. “Since the gestation period for an in - links between various Indian diaspora of Asian Studies. Rambachan said the college. The government has allocated around stitute like this will be longer compared to groups and organisations, promote the The Netherlands has the second largest steps followed several agreements signed Another committee would look after the 25 acres for the project near the National other ventures, the diaspora wanting to in - role of Indian diaspora in Dutch society, population of people of Indian origin in between Trinidad and Tobago’s Indian- infrastructure development of the hospital Thermal Power Corp plant in Alappuzha. vest should be aware that there will be no and intensify and broaden ties between Europe with an estimated 200,000 people, and the college. “The project will be a re - “The government’s contribution would profit for over 10 years,” added the official. India and the Netherlands in various mainly from Suriname, and non-resident ality in three years. Interested non-resident work out to be 26 percent of the equity. The This is the second project after the Kan - fields. Indians (NRIs) from India. Keralites can invest in the project and will rest will come from investment made by nur international airport where the govern - get shares,” said the official. the diaspora. Those who will buy the insti - ment has asked the diaspora to invest. Punjab to launch card for NRIs India, S. Korea tie-up The Punjab government has announced has asked the NRI Affairs Department to Latin America looks to India that it will soon launch NRI cards for immediately work out the details for NRI for electoral reforms Punjabis living abroad to identify them for cards and implement it at the earliest. ChIle, Cuba and Venezuela, the troika tunities are manifold and tremendous. We official purposes and facilitate various serv - Badal said Punjab has to involve NRIs of Latin America’s premier grouping, have are looking for a pan-continental engage - IndIa and South Korea signed an ices for them. in the process of development by assuring sought closer strategic and economic part - ment with the Community of Latin Amer - agreement to collaborate in strengthening Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir them total support of the state govern - nership with India and described New ican Countries (CELAC),” he said. institutions and processes for democracy, Singh Badal, accompanied by NRI Affairs ment. He said that all NRIs will be able to Delhi as “an emerging power” that can play “The LAC region was once considered a good governance and rule of law in the Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and former apply for this card on the website of the an important role in transforming the re - distant horizon for Indian diplomacy. Now two countries. union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, NRI department. origin Prime Minister Kamla Persad- gion. Seeeking to scale up ties with India in there is a multi-dimensional transformation A Memorandum of Understanding He said the card, besides giving an iden - Bissessar and her Indian counterpart diverse areas, Chile’s Foreign Minister Al - of relations,” said Rajiv Bhatia, Director- (MoU) was signed recently by Chief Elec - tity to the NRIs for official purposes, would Manmohan Singh during Persad-Bisses - fredo Moreno Charme listed the many ad - General, ICWA. tion Commissioner of India V.S. Sampath assure quality medicare to them and offer at - sar’s historic visit to India in January. vantages of India and the Latin American The India-troika meeting culminated in and the chairperson of the National Elec - tractive discounts on shopping in Punjab. Rambachan said relations between region working together to transform their both sides agreeing to set up joint commit - toral Commission of Republic of Korea, Majithia said that a comprehensive web - India and Trinidad and Tobago have societies and economies.