1st issue of November 2013

A Fortnightly publicAtion oF the high commission oF indiA, london Vol. 11 Issue: 21

IAF gets fourth Manna Dey Many nuances of airlifter P2 passes away P5 Naldhera P8 Indian mission heads for Mars India is the first Asian country and the fourth in the world to launch a probe to the Red Planet ndia’s first Mars orbiter success - Its scientific mission will be to explore fully began an arduous 400 mil - the Mars surface features, morphology, Highlights of India’s lion km long journey to Mars on or the study of organisms, mineralogy, Mars mission November 5, making it the first the study of minerals, and Martian n India is the first Asian country and IAsian country and the fourth in the atmosphere by all Indian-made scientif - the fourth in the world to under - world to undertake a mission to the Red ic instruments. take a mission to the Red Planet in Planet in the hope of finding methane According to Indian Space Research the hope of finding methane and and minerals. Organisation (ISRO) officials, the Mars minerals. India’s `4,500 million (about $72.9 orbiter will orbit the Earth till November n The cost of India’s mission to Mars million) Mars orbiter was successfully 30 and then its motors will be fired to is `4,500 million. placed in orbit by an Indian rocket in push it towards the red planet. n The Indian-made rocket - Polar what scientists said was a flawless launch. For nearly 300 days the motor will be Satellite Launch Vehicle-C25 Exactly at 2.38 p.m., the Indian-made off while the spacecraft floats through (PSLV-C25) is around 44 metres rocket — Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle- the inky void towards Mars. When the tall and weighs around 320 tonnes. C25 (PSLV-C25) standing around 44 spacecraft nears Mars, the motors will be n The scientific mission will explore metres tall and weighing around 320 restarted and fired again to carry out the Mars surface features, morphol - tonnes — rose from its launching pad manoeuvres to put it in Martian orbit ogy, or the study of organisms, min - slowly, and then gathered speed as it around September 2014. Following that, eralogy, the study of minerals, and zoomed into the skies on a plume of fiery the on-board instruments would carry Martian atmosphere. orange flames. out their jobs. PSLV-C25 Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft — n The rocket will cover a distance of The expendable rocket, costing around The Mars mission blasted off from the Mangalyan, successfully launched from about 400 million km. `1,100 million had a single but impor - first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Sriharikota. n The Mars orbiter will orbit the tant luggage, the 1,340-kg Mars orbiter Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. At it as “a landmark in our space pro - Earth till November 30 and then its costing around `1,500 million. Around around 44 minutes into the flight, PSLV- gramme”. motors will be fired to push it `900 million has been spent on augment - C25 spat out the Mars orbiter. “Now it will be complex mission to towards the red planet. ing the ground support/tracking systems. Minutes after its launch, Prime take the Mars orbiter from the Earth’s n When the spacecraft nears Mars, the The orbiter now heads to the Red Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in a orbit to Mars orbit,” K. Radhakrishnan, motors will be restarted and fired Planet that gets its red hue from the tweet congratulated ISRO scientists for ISRO Chairman, said post launch. again to carry out manoeuvres to iron in its soil. Mars is the fourth plan - “successful initiation of Mars Mission According to him, in September 2014 put it in Martian orbit around et from the Sun and the planet closest and wishes for its successful future”. the orbiter will be around Mars and it September 2014. to Earth. President Pranab Mukherjee described will then be placed in Mars orbit. Indian multi-culturalism exemplary: Vice President ‘Management of diversity to ensure the integration of minds and hearts has been India’s national priority’ he success of Indian multi-cul - turalism is an example for the Twhole world to establish a peace - ful and harmonious society, Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said in London. Vice President Ansari was addressing a gathering at the Nelson Mandela Lecture Hall at Said Business School in Oxford, England on ‘Identity and Citizenship: An Indian Perspective’ on November 1. “Different religions and cultures can co-exist peacefully in a successful dem - ocratic system.” (Left) Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari delivering a lecture on ‘Identity and Citizenship: An Indian perspective’, at Nelson Mandela Lecture Hall in London; (Right) Vice President Ansari and his wife Salma Ansari at the new building of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in London. “The size and diversity of the Indian Minister of State for Human Resource Development Jitin Prasada and Director Dr. Farhan Nizami CBE are also seen. landscape makes it essential. A popula - tion of 1.27 billion comprising of over absolute terms to around 160 million,” at three or four levels, namely individ - accepted as an ongoing national prior - 4,635 communities, 78 percent of he added. ual, group, regional and national.” ity,” the Vice President said. whom are not only linguistic and cul - Vice President Ansari said every soci - “The Indian approach steers clear of “Integration is not a process of conver - tural but social categories. Religious ety has three or four levels of identities notions of assimilation and adaptation, sion of diversities into a uniformity but minorities constitute 19.4 percent of and to accommodate them in a harmo - philosophically and in practice. Instead, a congruence of diversities leading to a the population; of these, Muslims nious way is a challenge. the management of diversity to ensure unity in which both the varieties and account for 13.4 percent amounting in “In every society, we have identities the integration of minds and hearts is similarities are maintained,” he added. []1st issue of November 2013 2 ‘Weave disaster strategies into developmental programmes’ Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh lauded the response to Phailin cyclone which helped in saving lives of thousands of people Union Minister for Railways Mallikarjun Kharge launching the High Speed Rail Corporation of India Ltd in New Delhi. ndia needs to mainstream disaster risk reduction strategies into its development programmes as High Speed Rail extreme weather events are on the Corporation of Irise, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan India launched Singh said on October 28. Addressing the 5th meeting of the UNION MINISTER for Railways National Disaster Management Mallikarjun Kharge on October 29 Authority (NDMA) in New Delhi, the launched the High Speed Rail Prime Minister stressed the need to Corporation of India Ltd (HSRC), a improve the country’s disaster man - subsidiary of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. agement capabilities. (RVNL) and tasked to develop High The meeting was held to review the Speed Rail (HSR) Corridors in India devastating Uttarakhand floods of June to run passenger trains at speeds up to and the cyclone Phailin which battered 350 km per hour. Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in Inaugurated at the two-day interna - October. tional technical conference on “High “We are aware that the world over, Speed Rail Travel; Low Cost Solution” extreme weather events are on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh chairing the fifth meeting of the National Disaster in New Delhi, the Minister also Management Authority, in New Delhi. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Minister of State rise,” he said. “Such events impact the for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy and Vice unveiled the logo of HSRC. poor and marginalised people in a dis - Chairman, NDMA, M. Shashidhar Reddy are also seen. Minister Kharge said for a country proportionate manner. like India, “leveraging rolling stock “It is therefore all the more necessary said: “Disaster risk reduction strategies Uttarakhand floods severely tested the technologies may provide a lower cost that we quickly improve our disaster therefore need to be mainstreamed into efficacy of India’s disaster response solution to meet the immediate needs management capabilities. our developmental programmes and mechanisms and there were important of achieving speeds of 160 to 200 “Every rupee spent on disaster pre - policies. lessons to be learnt from the rescue and kmph and that too on the existing paredness is a saving of expenditure on “Our early warning systems and relief operations that followed. The track”. Therefore, the focus of the post disaster relief, rehabilitation and response mechanisms should be Prime Minister lauded the response to conference was to consider achieving reconstruction measures.” strengthened further so that we are able Phailin cyclone which helped in saving higher speed trains in the range of 160 Calling upon the NDMA and other to minimise the negative impact of lives of thousands of people — as one to 200 kmph with marginal inputs in agencies to lay greater emphasis on dis - disasters.” million people in the coastal belt were the existing infrastructure, he added. aster preparedness, the Prime Minister Prime Minister Singh said the evacuated before it struck. ‘Water use efficiency holds great promise’ ndia is home to 17 percent of the available without giving due attention global population but has only four to the manner in which the water will Ipercent of water resource, and so it be used or managed. is vital to focus on water use efficiency, “A paradigm shift from water resource Indian Air Force President Pranab Mukherjee said on development to integrated water gets fourth airlifter October 28. resource management is now neces - Speaking at the India Water Forum in sary,” he said. THE INDIAN Air Force (IAF) has New Delhi, President Mukherjee said President Mukherjee said the received its Fourth Boeing C-17 due to the population expansion, rapid President Pranab Mukherjee at the India Water National Water Policy 2012 recognized Globemaster III, a large, versatile mil - urbanisation and developmental needs, Forum in New Delhi. Union Water Resources the need to improve efficiency in the itary transport aircraft capable of car - there had been tremendous pressure on Minister Harish Rawat and Minister of State for use of water resources. HRD Dr. Shashi Tharoor are also seen. rying heavy, oversize loads long dis - water availability in the country. “The improvement of water use effi - tances and landing on rough and “As we grapple with diminishing promise,” he said. The President said ciency requires innovative tools of pro - unprepared surfaces. Once India water resources and escalating water that in the past, focus was laid primari - motion and incentives for efficient water receives its full complement of ten demand, water use efficiency holds great ly on augmenting the quantity of water utilisation,” he said. aircraft, it will be the largest C-17 operator outside the US. The plane departed for India October 19 from Boeing’s Long Meghalaya museum: A unique endeavour Beach, California, facility keeping the resident Pranab Mukherjee visit - states, including Sikkim, presented in company on track to deliver a total of ed the Don Bosco Centre for 17 galleries, with 56,000 square feet five advanced airlifters to the IAF this PIndigenous Cultures in Shillong, floor space and 15,154 square feet of year. Boeing will deliver five more C- among Asia’s largest museums display - display wall space. 17s to India in 2014 to complete the ing a collection of tribal artifacts and the “Amidst diversity the trend of unity contract, the company said in a media culture of the northeastern region. He are clearly visible, linking us with our release. said it was “an enriching experience”. neighbours. This museum is a work of In operation since 1991, the C-17 “The visit to this museum is reward - art culture with scientific skills,” the has been used in humanitarian and ing. It is an enriching experience. The President Pranab Mukherjee visiting Don Bosco President said. Museum of Indigenous Cultures in Meghalaya. military missions around the world rich acculturation of tribal artifacts has Also seen is Meghalaya Governor Dr. K.K. Paul. The museum also has a gallery and recently surpassed 2.6 million been displayed beautifully depicting the named “Our Neighbours” which aims flight hours. Most recently, the IAF distinct yet composite culture of the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous at showcasing the cultures of the five used its C-17s to support Cyclone northeastern region of our country,” Cultures is a seven-floor museum that neighbouring countries of India’s Phailin relief efforts. President Mukherjee, who visited the showcases the cultures of the indige - northeastern states— China, Bhutan, Museum on October 21, said. nous people of India’s northeastern Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh. []1st issue of November 2013 3 President, PM greet people on Diwali The festival marks triumph of good over evil and an occasion to strengthen bonds of brotherhood in the society

resident Pranab Mukherkjee and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on UK PM visits temple, hosts reception to mark Diwali November 2 greeted the TO MARK DIWALI, the festival of Ppeople on the eve of Diwali, saying the light, British Prime Minister David festival marked triumph of good over Cameron hosted a reception at evil and was an occasion to strengthen Number 10 Downing Street, the Prime bonds of brotherhood in the society. Minister’s official residence at In his message, the President said Westminster on November 6. Diwali marks the triumph of hope over Wishing “a very happy Diwali to despair, good over evil and light over everyone”, Prime Minister Cameron darkness. lauded India’s role in global economy “On the auspicious occasion of and said that a close relationship with Diwali, I extend my warm greetings and New Delhi is beneficial to both the good wishes to all my fellow country - countries. men and to all friends of India, within India’s acting High Commissioner in the country and abroad,” he said, adding London, Virander Paul, Labour leader the festival was celebrated across India and former Minister Keith Vaz MP, Priti by people of different faiths and was a Patel MP and Sun Mark chief Rami UK Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha joined the Diwali celebrations at the strong re-affirmation of the country’s Ranger were among the prominent Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London. secular traditions. people who attended the Diwali event. He also called for efforts to celebrate The British Prime Minister thanked “There’s the great excitement about India, especially in education, econo - Diwali “in an eco-friendly and pollution- the British-Indian community for their our economies. India invests more into my and infrastructure. free manner”. contribution to Britain. the United Kingdom than the rest of The British Prime Minister, accom - In his message, Prime Minister Singh “It is a strong relationship, it’s a Europe put together. Britain is one of panied by his wife, visited the said Diwali was a celebration of the vibrant relationship,” he said. “It has so the top three investors into India. Swaminarayan Mandir, in north-west victory of good over evil, light over many parts to it. There’s all the shared The British Prime Minister said London and celebrated Diwali on darkness, and knowledge over history, there’s the shared language. Britain wanted to improve ties with November 4. ignorance.

Export Champion Award Indians shine at Fourth goes to an NRI Rhodes Youth Forum peakers and experts of Indian-ori - Time. Last year, there gin featured prominently in the was a successful India S2013 Rhodes Youth Forum from Youth Time Forum September 28 to October 1. Organised organised in associa - by Prague-based Youth Time tion with Jawaharlal International Movement, the event Nehru University, included Hrishabh Sandilya, Vice New Delhi. Rakesh President of External Relations and Biswas, Founder and Development, Anglo-American Rakesh Biswas. Chairman, University Czech Republic and India- International Youth Society of Eco born Florent D’Souza, host and Digital Friendly and Renewable Technology, Producer, Qatar Foundation. won the Best Suggested Project for Social Julia Kinash, Youth Time President, and Quality improvements of Life at the

Dr Rami Ranger MBE, FRSA, Chairman of Sun Mark Ltd., receiving the prestigious Growing spoke of the need to create “the good cit - 2012 Rhodes Youth Forum. Business Awards, Export Champion of the Year 2013. izen, the good person” through Youth —Rani Singh

Mukesh Four Indians make to Fortune top 50 women Ambani business leaders FOUR INDIANS led by ICICI tops rich list Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar figure among Fortune magazine’s list of ith personal wealth of $18.9 world’s top 50 women business lead - billion, Reliance Industries ers, while India-born PepsiCo chief Limited Chairman Mukesh Indra Nooyi is ranked second in a W Top Three: From left, Mukesh Ambani, L.N. Mittal and Dilip Shanghvi. Ambani tops the country’s rich list fol - separate US list. lowed by London-based Arcelor Mittal According to the report, the total them witnessed a decrease in their assets. Kochhar has been ranked fourth, Chief L.N. Mittal with assets of $15.9 wealth of India’s top 100 rich people rose Reliance Group Chairman Ambani is followed by National Stock Exchange billion, according to the second edition to $250 billion this year as compared to ranked 11th with a personal wealth of (NSE) chief Chitra Ramkrishna at of Hurun India Rich List released in $221 billion in the previous year. The $7.1 billion. His wealth has gone up by 17th, Axis Bank’s Shikha Sharma at New Delhi on October 24. report says 141 individuals in India have 34 percent in the past one year, result - 32nd and HSBC’s Naina Lal Kidwai Dilip Shanghvi, 58, founder of Sun personal wealth of $300 million or more. ing in promotion of his position by two at 42nd place among the Indians on the Pharmaceuticals, India’s second largest Last year it was only 101 individuals. ranks — thanks to superb performance international list. Chitra Ramkrishna drug maker, broke into the top three In the elite club of 141 super rich peo - of Reliance Communications. figures among 12 women newcomers for the first time with a 66 percent ple, 101 individuals either retained or Men dominate the list with just four “changing the face of global power”. surge in his wealth. increased their wealth and only 40 of percent of it being occupied by women. []1st issue of November 2013 4 ‘Super 30’ in British varsity’s case study

The project, supported by the British Council under the UK-India Education and Research Initiative, is aimed at mapping social innovation strategies in India and Britain

ihar’s Super 30, known for the chosen organisations for their inter - providing free coaching and ventions, understanding and analysing assistance to underprivileged strategies, approaches and methods and students to help them crack suggest arenas of policy practice in Bthe prestigious entrance examination social protections and overcoming dep - of IITs, is now the subject of a case rivations. study by a British university. As part of the study, a team of The University of East London, in researchers interviewed founder of partnership with Mumbai-based Tata Super 30 Anand Kumar and successful Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), students of Super 30 in order to cap - selected Super 30 as one of the three ture their experience in life. case studies from India. Manish K. Jha, Professor and “Super 30 is just one of three case Chairperson, Centre for Community studies selected from India and only one Organisation and Envelopment from Bihar. Two other case studies have Practice, TISS, Mumbai, said Super 30 been taken from Mumbai, while three was selected as case study for showing case studies were from Britain,” Anand how education could make a lasting Kumar, Founder-Director of Super 30, Anand Kumar, Founder-Director of Super 30, at an examination centre in Bihar. difference to deprivation, while two said in Patna on October 23. other case studies in Mumbai were on The project, supported by the British multiple deprivations in select locations doms” which limit the potentials of slums and Hindu-Muslim unity. Council under the UK-India in India and Britain, he said. people coming from deprived socio- Anand, when contacted, said it was Education and Research Initiative Anand said the specific objectives of economic background. good that people were trying to (UKIERI), is aimed at mapping social the study include identification of var - It also includes understanding the understand the art and science of innovation strategies in overcoming ied aspects of “deprivation and un-free - context of deprivations identified by Super 30.

National Museum RCI Director gets starts documenting India’s cultural Homi J. Bhabha award heritage irector of the Research Centre sented by Prime Minister Dr. TO RESEARCH and catalogue Imarat (RCI) G. Satheesh Manmohan Singh during the inaugural India’s Intangible Cultural Heritage DReddy has been named for the ceremony of 101st Indian Science (ICH), the National Museum Indian Science Congress Association Congress in Jammu and Kashmir on Institute (NMI) has started docu - Homi J. Bhabha Memorial Award for February 3, 2014, said a statement from menting age-old human treasures in 2013-14. RCI is the avionics hub of RCI in Hyderabad on November 9. the fields of performing and fine arts, India’s Defence Research & The renowned avionics scientist also officials said on October 21. Development Organisation’s missile holds the rare distinction of Full Pilot projects have been launched complex. Academy Member Diploma of the RCI Director G. Satheesh Reddy. in the plains of western Uttar Pradesh The award has been bestowed on him Academy of Navigation and Motion instituted this annual award in 1989 to and mountains of Ladakh by NMI for his contribution to the development Control, Russia. He is a Fellow and commemorate the birth centenary of which has embarked the task of devel - of science and technology in the country, Associate Fellow of many leading nation - India’s eminent scientist Homi J. oping ICH records from across India. specifically in the realm of electronics al and International professional bod - Bhabha. The award is given every alter - “We have started listing the ele - and communication engineering. ies/scientific societies. nate year to honour a distinguished ments of cultural heritage of these The prestigious award will be pre - Indian Science Congress Association scientist of the country. two regions. They will be the models for other such studies,” said Venu V, Director-General of National Museum. Bamboo heritage club to boost artisans The events in both places were held on October 17, coinciding with the he Tripura Government on of bamboo in northeast India,” Agrawal 10th anniversary of signing of October 28 set up a Bamboo added. UNESCO’s Paris convention for the THeritage Club, the first of its The Tripura Bamboo Mission aims safeguarding of ICH. kind in India to recognise and encour - to double the livelihood scope of the Manvi Seth, Assistant Professor at age bamboo-based artisans — espe - bamboo artisans and associated people NMI said, “In both the places, we cially the national awardees. through value addition of the bamboo, have identified village women and “The Bamboo Heritage Club would also called ‘green gold of forest’ in elders as part of the ICH documen - take suitable schemes to protect the northeast India. The Tripura tation given their significant knowl - interests of the artisans and promote Government has been developing edge and experience in social and cul - the rich tradition of bamboo and cane India’s first bamboo park at the cost of tural traditions.” craft of Tripura,” Tripura Bamboo `300 million spread over 70 acres of As per UNESCO, cultural her - Mission Managing Director Pravin L. land in Bodhjunjnagar Industrial itage does not end at monuments Agrawal said. The Tripura Bamboo awardees contributed a lot for the Growth Centre, situated 15 km north and collection of objects. ICH Mission is a society under the Tripura development of the bamboo and cane of Agartala, to expand bamboo-based includes traditions inherited from government which has set up a Bamboo craft in India and abroad.” industries. ancestors like performing arts, social Heritage Club. “The Bamboo Heritage Club Of the 1,250 bamboo species through - practices, rituals, festive events etc. Agrawal said so far 20 artisans from platform would be used to promote the out the world, India has 145. Bamboo which help in maintaining cultural Tripura have got the national award for craft and felicitate meritorious crafts - forests in India occupy about 10.03 mil - diversity. their excellent craftsmanship in cane man who would act as a master-train - lion hectares, covering 12 percent of the and bamboo crafts. “These national er in order to preserve the rich heritage total forest area of the country. []1st issue of November 2013 5 Versatile Manna Dey defied norms The music genius sang over 3,500 songs in his decades long career, won some of the highest honors

ndia’s legendary playback singer Manna Dey passed away on Top songs by October 24 after prolonged illness at a private hospital in Bangalore. Manna Dey IHe was 94. n Poocho na kaise maine rain bitayi The singer, honoured with the (Meri soorat teri aankhen ) Dadasaheb Phalke Award, will be n Ek chatur naar karke singar remembered for his versatility and mas - (Padosan ) culine style of rendering love songs. n Zindagi kaisi hai paheli haai ( Anand ) He proved his flexibility and versatil - n Pyar hua iqrar hua ( Awara ) ity by going behind the mike for a range n Ae bhai zara dekh ke chalo ( Mera of songs like ‘Aaja sanam madhur chan - Naam Joker ) dani main hum’, ‘Chunari sambhal gori n Laga chunari mein daag ( Dil hi to udi chali jaye re’, ‘Zindagi kaisi hai pahe - hai ) li’ and ‘Chalat musafir moh liyo re’. n Ae meri Zohra Jabeen ( Waqt ) All thanks to Shankar-Jaikishan, the n Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi ( Chori composer duo who offered him a vari - Chori ) ety of songs. n Ay mere pyare watan ( Kabuliwala ) Labelled as a classical singer, the music n Chalat musafir moh liya re ( Teesri genius managed to sing over 3,500 songs Kasam ) in his decades long career, and Manna End of an era: Manna Dey sang in 14 Indian languages, including Bengali, Punjabi and Malayalam. Dey’s work helped him win some of the highest honours in the field of art and Kapoor for seeing the potential in his his uncle K.C. Dey, who was visually ily and in the same year he even got a culture. singing. impaired, took him under his wings and chance to sing a duet with Suraiya, one of In his memoir Jiboner Jolshaghorey “I used to consider Raj Kapoor one of mentored him. Manna Dey also took the reigning queens of the era, in (translated in English as ‘Memories the icons in this line. Nobody but him lessons from Ustad Dabir Khan. Tamanna , his career didn’t take off in a Come Alive’), he thanked Shankar- gave me songs like ‘Pyaar hua ikraar hua’ Known as an open-throated singer, big way until his first solo ‘Upar gagan Jaikishan, who closely worked with Raj and ‘Yeh raat bheegi bheegi’...,” Manna Manna Dey learnt the art from his uncle, vishal’, composed by S.D. Burman for Kapoor in films like Awara and Shree 420 , Dey has been quoted as saying in one of a singer with mastery over many Indian 1950 film Mashal , happened. for sensing “that my masculine style of his interviews. musical genres. A recipient of many honours, he was rendering love songs would appeal to the The Shankar-Jaikishan, Raj Kapoor At the age of 23, Manna Dey came to decorated with Padma Shri in 1971, public”. and Manna Dey team gave many hits, Mumbai. He was accompanying his Padma Bhushan in 2005, and the “I am especially indebted to Shanker ji , including ‘Tere bina aag yeh chandni’, uncle. As luck would have it, he got his Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country’s for had it not been for his patronage, I ‘Mudh mudh ke na dekh’, ‘Ae bhai zara first assignment when his uncle refused highest honour in cinematic arts, was would certainly not have attained the dekh ke chalo’ and ‘Yashomati maiya se to sing for composer Shankar Rao Vyas conferred on the veteran singer in 2007. heights of success I enjoyed in my bole Nandlala’. and the song fell into Manna’s lap, and He also won National Award for best career,” Manna Dey mentioned in his Born as Prabodh Chandra Dey on thus with ‘Gayi tu gayi’ from Ram Rajya male playback singer for the film Mere memoir. If he was thankful to Shankar- May 1, 1919, to Purna Chandra and (1943) he embarked on his journey as a Huzur in 1969 and in 1971 he won it for Jaikishan for tapping his versatility, he Mahamaya Dey, Manna Dey’s singing playback singer in Hindi filmdom. two films — Bengali film Nishi Padma also credited actor-filmmaker Raj talent was noticed in his salad years and Although first break came to him eas - and Hindi film Mera Naam Joker . Record number of avian Another kind of India visitors keep Kashmir tryst s this India? I’m driving on a blunt thumb that protects the city WITH OVER 300,000 migratory birds already road that winds through from the Lakshadweep Sea. This thronging Hokersar Bird Reserve in Jammu & Iswooning plantations of was the centre of the city’s spice Kashmir, officials coconut palms and rubber trees. trade, the aromatic commerce say they are The sun winks on a jade pin - that put Kochi on the map and expecting the cushion of wet rice fields, where made it a destination for traders highest number of slow-moving white egrets are from Arabia and China — and an avian visitors this hunting frogs. If I open the win - object of desire for European winter. dow the air is hot, damp and powers out for a slice of the “The arrival of scented. Every so often we pass action. migratory birds the giddy facade of a Syrian Fort Cochin is a fascinating has begun in large Christian church, but it’s not place, a languid, ramshackle numbers,” until we come to a village that melange of Arab, Portuguese, Muhammad women in saris finally give the Dutch and British cultural cross- Maqbool Baba, game away: Kerala is another kind currents that date back 1000 years. Wetland Warden (Kashmir) told IANS . of India. This is the tottering remnants of “We have around 300,000 migratory birds in the Set close to the pointy southern and a tongue-twisting language all a colonial outpost on its last legs, reserve this time. This is a record so far as first migra - end of India’s shark’s tooth, its own. This is India’s well-being teasing the imagination with tory arrivals are concerned. We expect to host over Kerala is a calmer, less chaotic ver - room, the dessert trolley in the crumbling villas, creeping mould one million migratory birds in the various bird sion of the spirited subcontinent. Indian feast, a cool-headed, that wraps walls in a verdigris reserves of the Valley this winter which would be the The landscape owes more to the sweet-natured chill zone, with mantle and vast trees with ferns highest ever number,” Baba added. liquid green of south-east Asia warm-oil massages as a core dripping from their writhing The warden said migratory birds have arrived at than the dusty plains of the coun - promise. limbs like green tinsel. It’s also a Hokersar Bird Reserve early and in such large num - try’s north. Christianity rules the Most Keralan journeys begin at backwater ripe for redevelop - bers because their winter homes are well maintained. hearts and minds of Kerala as Kochi, the former spice port and ment. “We have maintained optimum levels of water in much as Hinduism. Traditional the state’s largest city, which The full article can be read at: Hokersar this year by plugging leakages and the like,” dress for men is the mundu , a wraps itself around a mosaic of http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/ano the warden said. close relative of the sarong. The islands. The place to be is Fort ther-kind-of-india-20131029- locals speak Malayalam, a script Cochin, the northern end of the 2wdtw.html []1st issue of November 2013 6

Smithsonian opens 1st Changing tunes with exhibit on art of yoga THE SMITHSONIAN Institution has organised what curators believe is changing times the first exhibition about the visual history and art of yoga, its origins and The Manganiyars, who are Rajasthan-based folk musicians by profession, are evolution over time. The now keen to adapt to western musical instruments and innovate with them Smithsonian’s Sackler Gallery is showcasing the exhibit, “Yoga: The Art wenty-five-year-old Raies ways of remembering taals or beats and of Transformation,” through January Khan and Kheta Khan, 37, calculating them in mind, he added. (2014). Later, it will travel to the Asian are among the younger gen - “The realisation to improve our tech - Art Museum of San Francisco and to eration of Manganiyars, a niques hit us when we started per - the Cleveland Museum of Art. pTrofessional caste of Muslim musicians, forming with Indian classical musi - Curators brought together Indian whose international sojourns haven’t cians. We were amazed when we saw sculptures, manuscripts and paintings, just given them recognition and many how they were experimenting with as well as posters, illustrations, photo - wonderful memories but determina - music and adapting new styles to suit graphs and films to showcase yoga’s tion to evolve with changing times and the taste of younger audiences,” Kheta, history over 2,000 years. adapt to contemporary musical notes. who has toured with tabla maestro Museum Director Julian Raby said This is why when the two are in a Zakir Hussain, told IANS . years of research behind the exhibit jamming session it is easy to spot them, Their quest led to the discovery of shed new light on yoga’s meanings even if they are performing with inter - new beats and techniques. and histories. national artistes. “We sit for hours and experiment “It examines for the first time a spec - Raies produces electronic-kind-of with newer tunes. We jam amongst our - tacular, but until now largely ignored, music with the morchang or jaw harp — selves and the tune that gets clicked, we archive,” he said. “That archive is a wind percussion instrument — modify and play,” said Bhungar Khan, India’s visual culture of extraordinary whereas Kheta’s dexterous hand move - one of the youngest khartal players. yoga-related artworks created, as you ments create high-pitched vigorous Their focus now is to adapt to any will see, over some two millennia.” clap sounds with the khartal , a percus - western musical instrument, innovate Guest teachers will lead yoga class - sion instrument made of teak wood. Raise Khan playing Morchang. with it while keeping the traditional es in the museum’s galleries on “We have been performing all over the roots intact. Wednesdays and Sundays. The muse - world and what we have seen and predominantly based in the regions of Kachara Khan, 58, a veteran Sufi um also will host a symposium for observed during these journeys is that Barmer and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. singer, is happy with the way the scholars and enthusiasts on yoga’s music is evolving internationally and we Their musical legacy is passed on oral - younger generation is taking this musi - visual culture. too have to add a fusion element to our ly from one generation to another. cal journey forward. Curator Debra Diamond said the music,” Raies told IANS . The two performed recently at the He said the younger generation now Smithsonian borrowed some of the “It is good to be performing with Rajasthan International Folk Festival wants to experiment with music because greatest masterpieces in Indian art as international musicians, but it is also where musicians from India and abroad they are eager to appeal to a wider glob - well as pieces that have never been very important to develop our own come together for jamming sessions. al audience. “It is good the younger gen - shown before. techniques and style which is unique Raies said there are around 20,000 eration has started innovating with this The full article can be read at: to us,” he added, saying he has per - Manganiyars, and all are musicians by age-old musical tradition. This has http://theadvocate.com/utility/home - formed at various international festi - profession. helped impart some freshness and will pagestories/7392971-129/smithsonian- vals in the US, Britain and Germany. They, in fact, have no written musical keep the music alive for many more opens-1st-exhibit-on The Manganiyars are folk musicians history. The musicians have their own years to come,” he added.

n News from The Nehru Centre Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s Celebrating 100 years of Book Launch: ‘The Hindustani Classical 196th Birth Anniversary award of Nobel Prize to Second Homeland — Melodies by celebrations Rabindranath Tagore Polish Refugees in India’ Prof. Sugata Marjit n October 23, The Nehru Centre Oin association with Nrityakala The Rhythm celebrated 100 years of award of Nobel Prize to Rabindranath Tagore. The show included poetry reading, music, dance and also highlighted sig - nature production of Nrityakala the Rhythm — dramatisation of poems of Tagore for new audience following NC hosted the launch of the book, launching of a CD on the writings of TThe Second Homeland — Polish he Nehru Centre in collaboration Tagore containing songs and poems in Refugees in India by Dr. Anuradha Twith The Aligarh Muslim Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, English and Bhattacharjee on October 28. The Second University Alumni Association (UK) Sanskrit by renowned artists of India and Homeland chronicles the passage through and Sir Syed Foundation London cel - the U.K. Nrityakala The Rhythm was India of young orphaned Polish children ebrated Sir Syed’s 196th birth anniver - founded in 1986 to propagate Indian cul - refugees, comparable to the Kinder he concert on October 30 fea - sary on October 18. ture and heritage in the U.K. transports. The book gives an authentic Ttured a collage of classical The celebrations included ‘Sir Syed account of their tribulations through the melodies like Khayal bandishes (com - Memorial Lectures’ and a ‘Panel first-person narrative of a young Polish positions) capturing the essence of Discussion’. The Programme focused orphan’s hair-raising journey to India time, nature and emotions. The com - on ‘Syed Ahmad’s personality and his and his experiences during the stay. The positions were drawn from the rich mission’ and also evaluated the con - work includes a historical perspective heritage of the Rangeela and tribution of this extraordinary thinker culled out from archival documents in Vendibazar Gharanas (Schools) of and reformist to his community, his India, the UK and Poland. The impor - Hindustani Music. Also the compo - country and to the humanity as a tance of the event was discussed by sitions embodied nuances of folk as whole. The talk and the panel discus - experts from the global, Polish and exemplified by Pandit Kumar sion were much appreciated. Indian perspective. Gandharv. []1st issue of November 2013 7 lq[k&le`f) dk çrhd nhikoyh Økafrdkjh i=dkj Fks jr ds R;ksgkjksa esa çeq[k nhikoyh x.ks'k 'kadj fo|kFkhZ eq[; :i ls jks'kuh dk R;ksgkj gSA Hkkjrh; Lora=rk laxzke ds nkSjku ftu o"kkZ_rq ds mijkar] 'kjn ds çkjaHk i=dkjk as u s viuh y[s kuh dk s gfFk;kj cukdj Hkk vktknh dh txa yMh+ Fkh mue as x.k's k 'kda j esa euk;k tkus okyk ;g R;ksgkj lq[k&le`f) dk çrhd gSA nhikoyh dh jkf= fo|kFkhZ dk uke vxzx.; gSA lkça nkf;d dks ?kjksa rFkk nqdkuksa ij cM+h la[;k esa nhid] nxa k as dh HkVas p

fczVsu dh fgUnh Hkkjr ds fcLekdZ Fks ljnkj oYyHkHkkbZ iVsy ysf[kdk dh dfork ra= Hkkjr dk vkt vkSj ,dhdj.k djus ds fy, :i esa iVsy us detksj eqdnes dks lVhdrk ls fnYyh fo'ofo|ky; esa Lo tks Lo:i gekjs ljnkj iVsy us ogh Hkwfedk çLrqr djds vkSj iqfyl ds xokgksa rFkk vaxzst lkeus gS] mls fuHkkbZ tks bVyh ds U;k;k/kh'kksa dks pqukSrh nsdj fo'ks"k LFkku vftZr fnYyh fo'ofo|ky; us vkdkj nsus esa ftl jktusrk ,dhdj.k esa fcLekdZ us fd;kA vfuok; Z fgUnh d s vk/kkj us egrh Hkwfedk fuHkkbZ mls fuHkkbZ FkhA blfy, mUgsa 1917 esa eksgunkl djepan xka/kh ls çHkkfor ikBîØe dh iLq rd *Hkk"kk] ns'k ljnkj oYyHkHkkbZ iVsy vktkn Hkkjr dk fcLekdZ gksus ds ckn iVsy us ik;k fd muds thou dh lkfgR; vkjS ltuZ kRedrk^ d s uke l s tkurk gAS vktknh dguk dgha ls Hkh fn'kk cny xbZ gSA 1918 esa iVsy us xqtjkr ds e as fcVz us dh fgUnh y[s kd ds ckn nslh jtokM+ksa dk vfr'k;ksfä ugha gksxhA dSjk ftys esa fdlkuksa vkSj dk'rdkjksa ds vkjS vkykps d M‚- dfork foy; Hkkjrh; la?k esa djuk ljnkj oYyHk HkkbZ iVsy dk tukanksyu dh :ijs[kk cukbZA 1928 esa iVsy us okpDuoh dh *ty^ uked ,d cM+h ftEesnkjh Fkh] ftls tUe 31 vDVwcj 1875 dks c<+s gq, djksa ds f[kykQ ckjnksyh ds Hkwfeifr;ksa dfork dk s 'kkfey fd;k gAS bll s iow Z o"kZ fuHkkus ds fy, ftl dkS'ky xqtjkr ds ukfM;kM esa gqvk d s l?a k"k Z dk lQyrkiow dZ urs R` o fd;kA ckjnkys h 2002 e as ,u-lh-b-Z vkj-Vh- dh ikBî iLq rd eas Hkh budh dfork dk s 'kkfey fd;k x;k FkkA dh t:jr Fkh] og ljnkj FkkA 16 o"kZ dh voLFkk esa vkanksyu ds dq'ky usr`Ro ds dkj.k mUgsa ljnkj bll s irk pyrk g S fd Hkkjr dk f'k{kk txr iVsy esa dwVdwV dj Hkjk FkkA mudk fookg gks x;k] 22 o"kZ dh mikf/k feyhA Hkh vc fcVz us d s fgUnh lkfgR; d s egRo dks ;gh dkj.k gS fd mUg as n's k ykSg&iq#"k d s miuke dh mez esa mUgksaus eSfVªd dh ijh{kk ikl dh vkSj lu~ 1991 esa mUgsa ej.kksijkar Hkkjr jRu ls Lohdkj dj jgk gAS ls tkurk gSA ftyk vf/koäk dh ijh{kk esa mÙkh.kZ gq,] ftlls foHkwf"kr fd;k x;kA ljnkj iVsy 15 fnlacj] fc[kjs Hkkjr dks ,d jktuhfrd lw= esa fijksus mUgsa odkyr djus dh vuqefr feyhA odhy ds 1950 dks egkç;k.k dj x,A vkvks tkusa Hkkjr ds ckjs esa jkT;ksa ds izrhd d s lqna jou d s ouk as Hkh ik;k tkrk gSA e/; izn”s k Epic : egkdkO; n tks vius Åij fot; izkIr djrk gS ogh ckjgflaxk ds dkUgk jk’Vªh; m|ku esa Hkh ckjgflaxk dh Frank : Li’Voknh lcls cM+k fot;h gSaA & xkSre cq) ckjgflaxk fgj.k iztkfr dk “kkunkj oU; Ik”kq nwljh iztkfr ikbZ tkrh gSA Incarnation : vorkj gSA bl oU;tho dks mÙkj izns”k ,oa e/; izns”k ckjgflaxk dh da/ks rd dh ÅapkbZ 135 D;k vki tkurs gSa dh ljdkj us viuk jkT; Ik”kq ?kksf’kr dj j[kk lsaVhehVj gksrh gSA bldk otu yxHkx m)j.k Hkkjr ds izeq[k yksdu`R; gSA nqyZHk 170&180 fdyksxzke rd gksrk gSA ;g izk;% ue n Bksdj yxrh gS vkSj nnZ gksrk gS rHkh euq’; Ckkal u`R; fetksje oU;tho nynyh ?kkl okys {ks= esa jguk ilan djrs gSaA lh[k ikrk gS & egkRek xka/kh Tkknqj fcgkj gksus ds ckjgflaxk izk;% lewgksa esa ik, tkrs gSaA blds n Ekuq’; dk lcls cM+k “k=q mldk vKku gS fyaxh vka/kz izns”k dkj.k bls lhax 75 ls-eh- yacs gksrs gSaA vf/kdka”k ckjgflaxksa & pk.kD; NkÅ vksfM”kk ladVxzLr ds lhaxksa esa 10 ls 14 rd “kk[kk,a gksrh gSaA n foosd thou dk ued gS vkSj dYiuk mldh HkkaxM+k iatkc lwph esa vf/kdre 20 “kk[kk,a okys ckjgflaxk Hkh ns[ks feBklA ,d thou dks lqjf{kr j[krk gS vkSj YkkbZ gjksck ef.kiqj j[kk x;k x, gSaA nwljk mls e/kqj cukrk gSA & vKkr dksyV~Ve rfeyukMq gSA n d’V vkSj foifÙk euq’; dks f”k{kk nsus okys xjck xqtjkr ckjgflaxk nSfud ç;ksx ds “kCn Js’B xq.k gSaA tks lkgl ds lkFk mudk jÅQ d”ehj nq/kok jk’Vªh; m|ku] gfLrukiqj vHk;kj.;] Citizen : ukxfjd lkeuk djrs gSa] os fot;h gksrs gSaA Mkf.M;k jkl jktLFkku vle ds dkthjaxk jk’Vªh; m|ku vkSj caxky Booklet : iqfLrdk & yksdekU; fryd fcgw u`R; vle []1st issue of November 2013 8

The many nuances of Naldhera

Located 22 km from Himachal Pradesh capital badminton, golf putting and indoor games. ReachiNg NaldheRa Shimla, Naldhera may seem to be a laid-back It even has a small revolving restau - destination but it packs quite a punch rant, offering 360-degree views of the n Naldhera is 430 km from New Himalayas, a well-equipped confer - Delhi, 165 km from Chandigarh and taying in a boutique moun - The Chalets, which opened its ence hall for about 75 people, a spa and 22 km from Shimla. The drive from tain resort built in Nordic doors in 2002, is itself an experience. outdoor sitting arrangements. The Shimla takes about one hour. design with pinewood logs “We imported the pinewood from resort has nearly 300 varieties of flow - n The Chalets resort is located in from Finland, playing golf on Oulu town in Finland and created this ers and plants. Durgapur village, 300 metres ahead aS 2,200-metre high course with tow - (resort). No trees were cut while the “On a clear night, the stars are a of the Naldhera golf course. ering cedar trees as the backdrop, cottages came up. Each cottage and delight to watch through the towering n The tariff ranges from `8,000 (room) breathtaking views of the Himalayas apartment offers a breathtaking view. Deodhar trees around the resort,” said to `36,000 (cottage with 4 bedrooms) and mingling with simple hill folks. All cottages have their own balconies tourist Harinder Singh. per night. And all this packaged into one makes and private gardens and a working fire - Each cottage has been given a dif - n Meal for two can cost up to `1,500. for a refreshing holiday. place,” said Sud, a perfect host. ferent name by Shimla-based author Naldhera, one of the highest 18- The storybook resort offers forest and historian Raja Bhasin. cer who authored the book ‘Flora hole courses in the world, would and nature walks, horse-riding, golf, a One of the cottages has been named Simlensis: A Handbook of the charm any avid golfer given the com - solar-heated indoor swimming pool, ‘Sir Henry Collet Chalet’ after a Flowering Plants of Simla and the pletely different terrain that it offers recreation activities like table tennis, famous British botanist and army offi - Neighbourhood’. for golf. The lush green course, spread Just two kilometres away from the over the hill slopes, is a delight to resort is a tiny village, Kogi, which watch and play. The golf course was a showcases heritage house architecture favourite spot of British viceroy Lord of the hills. Curzon, who was so in awe of the “The simple life of the village and beauty of the place that he named his its residents is a pleasure to observe. third and youngest daughter Lady Even the hot water hamam is unique,” Alexandra Naldhera (1904-1995). said tourist Ritika Chopra, who was Located 22 km from Himachal visiting the village. Pradesh capital Shimla, Naldhera may At the golf course, which is seem to be a laid-back destination but managed by Himachal Tourism, a it packs quite a punch. Naldhera is bright sunny day or even clouds hov - located close to the sulphur hot- ering in the vicinity, offer a different springs at Tattapani, 23 km away, along experience. the Sutlej river. River-rafting can also “We get golfers from all over the be done at Tattapani. country and abroad. Playing here is a “The beauty of Naldhera is that completely different experience from everything here is raw nature. You can - all golf courses,” its caretaker, Pratap not get closer to nature than this,” Singh Verma, said. Amish Sud, a young entrepreneur and Apart from the peak season, playing owner of the Nordic-style resort, The golf at Naldhera gives the feeling of (Top) The Naldhera golf course was a favourite spot of British viceroy Lord Curzon; (Above) The Chalets, told IANS . Chalets at Naldhera. playing on your own private course.

Disclaimer: India Digest gathers its contents from diverse sources and the views expressed in interviews and articles published do not necessarily represent the views of the High Commission or the Government of India. Printed and published by the Press & Information Wing, High Commission of India, India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA. Tel: 0207 632 3005 . Fax: 0207 632 3204. Email: [email protected] Website: www.hcilondon.in