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

November 1, 2011

I India RevieI w Vol. 7 Issue 11 www.indianembassy.org

Minister for Human Resource Development and Communication & Information Technology Kapil Sibal with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. on October 13. First US-India Higher Education Summit Concludes

n Draft National n India launches n Music maestro Telecom policy cheapest tablet Jagjit Singh 2011unveiled computing device passes away Festival of LIGHTS

Messsage froM PM greets the U.s. PresiDeNt Barack oBaMa NatioN oN October 26, 2011 The White House oday, here in America and around the world, Diwali Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists will cel - Tebrate the holiday of Diwali — the festival of lights. Many who observe this holiday do so by lighting rime Minister Dr. greeted the the Diya , or lamp, which symbolizes the victory of light 2 nation on the joyous occasion of Diwali on over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. I was P October 25. proud to be the first President to mark Diwali and light In a message, the Prime Minister said the festival of the Diya at the White House, and last year Michelle and lights, Diwali, was a harbinger of , joy, and prosperi - I were honored to join in Diwali celebrations during our ty. “It celebrates the victory of good over evil, and the visit to India. spreading of the light of learning. It is a national festival in Diwali is a time for gathering with family and friends which all communities rejoice in amity and friendship and and, as we experienced in India, celebrating with good celebrate the solidarity of the nation,” the statement from food and dancing. It is also a time for contemplation and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said. prayer that serves as a reminder of our obligations to our “May this Deepawali bring peace and prosperity to all the fellow human beings, especially the less fortunate. To all people of our nation and to the world at large,” the Prime who are observing this sacred holiday here and around Minister added. the world, Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak.

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Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal speaking at the US-India Higher Education Summit at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. first Us-iNDia higher eDUcatioN sUMMit coNclUDes The Summit highlighted the importance of education as a pillar of the US-India Strategic Dialogue and set forth goals for deepening this aspect of bilateral relationship between the two countries

ith a view to further and India, as well as private sector lead - Celeste delivered luncheon remarks. strengthening higher edu - ers, the Summit featured a roundtable Secretary of Education Arne Duncan cation collaboration and discussion on India-U.S. Higher and Minister Sibal delivered the Wexchange between institu - Education Cooperation, co-chaired by closing remarks. tions in India and the United States, the senior officials from the U.S. and two countries hosted the first US- Indian governments. Us-india Joint statement India Higher Education Summit at Prominent higher education and Recalling the considerable progress Georgetown University on October 13. thought leaders spoke at a plenary ses - achieved in bilateral educational rela - India’s Minister for Human Resource sion and in breakout sessions on topics tions following the visits by Prime Development and Communications crucial to expanding and strengthening Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to the and Information Technology Kapil higher education collaboration United States in 2009 and President Sibal and Secretary of State Hillary between the two countries. Barack Obama to India in 2010, Clinton delivered the opening remarks Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Minister Sibal and Secretary Clinton at the inaugural session of the Summit. Nirupama Rao and former U.S. reaffirmed the strategic partnership Attended by higher education leaders Ambassador to India and President between India and the United States and government officials from the U.S. Emeritus of Colorado College Richard for meaningful dialogue, cooperation

November 2011 India Review Cover STORY and engagement in the field of higher education, and launched a new phase in this partnership. The two leaders acknowledged the immense possibili - ties for further collaboration between the two countries given the inherent dynamism, emerging challenges, and numerous exciting opportunities avail - able for sharing and growing together. Minister Sibal and Secretary Clinton emphasized that access to, and devel - opment of technology and skills were cross-cutting requirements to meet the challenges that their two countries faced. They acknowledged the fruitful collaboration between India and the United States in the areas of education, research and innovation and noted its contribution to the development of technologies, skills and knowledge- based societies in both countries. Both leaders emphasized the need to enhance this collaboration. From Left: John J. DeGioia, President, Georgetown University, Ambassador Nirupama Rao, Secretary of Expressing their commitment to that State Hillary Clinton, Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal and Robert O. Blake, Jr. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, at vision, Minister Sibal and Secretary Georgetown University. Clinton launched the expanded US- India Higher Education Dialogue as and Secretary Clinton underscored the more such opportunities for engage - an annual bilateral event to map out need to enhance the scope of ment would emerge in the future in strategies for partnership in the field of collaboration and identify new ways to other fields. education between the two countries. encourage linkages and exchange The two sides endorsed the resolve The Dialogue should identify areas for programs. of the stakeholders from academia, mutually beneficial exchanges and pro - The two leaders also expressed their government, and industry to take for - vide a platform for intense and mean - support for the Indo-U.S. Science and ward the following areas of consensus ingful collaboration among academia, Technology Forum, which provides arrived at during the Summit: the private sector, and government on fresh impetus to academic collabora - 1. A continued expanded India-U.S. both sides. The Dialogue is planned to tion in cutting-edge areas of scientific Higher Education Dialogue with be held alternately in the United States research and technology development. representatives from government, and India. Thy lauded the continuing efforts by academia and business that would Minister Sibal and Secretary both sides to explore new avenues for interact on a periodic basis to Clinton expressed satisfaction with the collaboration such as the Indo-U.S. inform and underpin the progress achieved in the Obama-Singh Engineering Education Conclave, held Dialogue. 21st Century Knowledge Initiative, in January 2011 in New , for 2. Support for the following goals: launched in 2009, under which pro - strengthening higher educational insti - posals had been invited by both sides tutions in the fields of engineering and v Promoting strategic institutional by November 1, 2011, to be reviewed technology. They expressed hope that partnerships for further strength - by a joint working group for academic ening and expansion of collabora - 4 awards in support of university part - tion in the priority areas of higher nerships. The two leaders reiterated Minister Sibal and education, including science and their strong commitment to the Secretary Clinton engineering, social sciences and Fulbright-Nehru Program and its con - launched the expanded humanities, and addressing socie - tribution to leadership development tal challenges in areas, such as and scholarly achievement. They also US-India Higher cyber security, energy, environ - highlighted and encouraged the full Education Dialogue ment, health and agriculture; array of direct collaborations between v Encouraging expansion and higher education communities, such as as an annual deepeniing of collaboration in the India-U.S. Higher Education bilateral event research and development in the Leadership Program. Minister Sibal above areas between academic

November 2011 India Review Cover STORY institutions of the two countries exchanges, skills development Clinton and her colleagues, as well as through existing initiatives; and institutional partnerships. the academic, non-governmental, and v Fostering partnerships in the areas 3. India announced its intention to business communities in the United of vocational education and skills set up an India-U.S. higher edu - States for their efforts in successfully enhancement to meet the needs of cation platform as a means to pur - organizing the India-U.S. Higher today’s world; sue these goals. Education Summit, and expressed v Exploration of models for ‘educa - 4. Strengthening educator enrich - optimism about building on this suc - tional institutions for the 21st cen - ment and exchange programs cessful Summit in the expanded India- tury’ (such as ‘meta’ universities); (with the U.S. Higher Education Dialogue to be v Further strengthening programs indicating its intention to sponsor held in 2012. for student and faculty enrichment initially up to 1,500 faculty and and exchange, and development of junior scholars to leading universi - Minister kapil sibal’s remarks at 5 leadership in academia at all levels; ties and research institutes in the the Us-india higher education v Welcoming the involvement of United States) to promote devel - the private sector in the two opment of human resources while summit countries to support and deepen also enhancing broader interaction Addressing the first-ever US-India collaboration with the higher between the two countries. Higher Education Summit, Minister education community, faculty Minister Sibal thanked Secretary Sibal said it was only through educa - tion that the world could hope to empower populations across the globe to confront the challenges of the 21st MiNister siBal UNDerliNes the century. “Without doubt, the U.S. iMPortaNce of iNDia-Us PartNershiP defined the milestones of the 20th cen - tury; while India, as you, Secretary the goals of a gross enrollment ratio of Clinton, described recently, is a defin - 30 percent in 10 years. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy ing story-line of early 21st century,” he Secretary Burns stated that education was said. one of the pillars of the strategic partnership “This historic Summit will forge a between India and the U.S. He said that they new collaborative association in which had high expectations of this relationship in our young can draw inspiration from the years ahead. your benchmarks of excellence in edu - During the program the ‘India Centre for cation and innovation and channelize Sustainable Growth and Talent Development’, their energies for public good. Today, a joint initiative of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Rutgers University, was also inau - we dedicate our partnership for a gurated. This program will see collaboration better tomorrow,” he said. between the two institutions in the areas of Women’s Leadership and on Vocational Text of Minister Sibal’s address: Minister Kapil Sibal speaking on “Transforming India into an Education Hub” at the Center for Education Programs. At the outset, I wish to thank Strategic and International Studies, in Washington, Delivering a talk on ‘Transforming India into Secretary Clinton for facilitating this D.C. on October 11. an Education Hub’ at the Centre for Strategic first-ever Higher Education Summit and International Studies (CSIS) on October 11, between the two largest democracies in n October 12, Minister for Human Minister Sibal said India and the United States the world. I recall that it was eleven Resource Development and needed higher levels of collaboration, especial - O Communications and Information ly in education. “By structured and multi-level months ago that Secretary Clinton and Technology Kapil Sibal and Deputy Secretary collaboration, we can work toward helping I recognized that education was one of of State William Burns addressed a reception solve many of the world’s problems,” he said. the primary pillars of the India-U.S. held in honor of the Summit hosted by the The event was also addressed by Ambassador strategic partnership. This Higher US-India Business Council. Nirupama Rao and Karl Inderfurth, Wadhwani Education Summit is a culmination of Addressing the US-India Business Council, Chair in India-U.S. Policy Studies, CSIS. Minister Sibal said the two countries could find that recognition. Minister Sibal said that India would emerge It is only through education that we solutions for tomorrow through as the center for human resources for the world hope to empower populations across partnership. He also pointed out that India was in the coming years as it reaps the benefits of the land of opportunity, with its vast demo - its demographic dividend. He also expressed the globe to confront the challenges of graphic advantage. He said that this asset the view that there were many challenges that the 21st century. Without doubt, the could be harnessed in a manner so as to serve the globe faced and the solutions for these U.S. defined the milestones of the 20th the world. He also spoke about the need in challenges would have to be found through century; while India, as you, Secretary India of vastly scaling up research based in nations such as India that Clinton, described recently, is a defin - college and university infrastructure to meet confronted these challenges. ing story-line of early 21st century. I also wish to welcome industry and

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Round table discussion: Strategic Vision and Achievable Steps at the US-India Higher Education Summit at Georgetown University on October 13.

academia to this Summit. Without are qualitatively different from those in ship for the common good. Social them, the defining moments of tomor - the past. They do not recognize networks and resource sharing in row will be beyond our reach. The plat - national boundaries. They are truly cyber-space are precursors to the forms that you create with our young global. No nation on its own can hope development of knowledge networks will etch the contours of those defining to confront them. Nations are defined that will aim to address the problems of moments. by boundaries, but in the 21st century tomorrow. Technology has led to the The USA epitomizes excellence in nations will have to transcend them in “death of distance”. Partnerships education, innovation and research. thought and action for sustainable and would lead to the germination of Through fundamental research and affordable solutions. Food security, knowledge. visionary entrepreneurship, you have global warming and the environment, Research and innovation will require fostered the emergence of new ecosys - demands on energy, water, security in collaboration of multiple knowledge tems for public good. We, on the other physical and virtual spaces, healthcare partners — those who have the capac - hand, are a nascent democracy. Our are all matters that we need to address ity to create, share, and apply new young population, almost the size of together. knowledge in cultures of mutual learn - , is energetic, on the move and Business as usual is a sure recipe for ing and continuous innovation. full of hope. global disaster. The global economy Creativity can flourish only in an envi - The young are our future. We have a will not be defined by financial flows ronment where inquiry is encouraged responsibility to create an appropriate and trade but by global, collaborative, and the status quo challenged. In this, environment to help them plan their knowledge networks where ideas move India and the US, with their democrat - future. We must help them face the seamlessly. The future of knowledge ic traditions, openness of thought, challenges of tomorrow to reshape the creation will emerge through partner - spirit of tolerance, rule of law, respect world. In a global, interconnected, for institutions and understanding of 6 mutually dependent world, the way diversity are natural partners in our forward is through building partner - The challenges of the quest for lasting solutions. ships. This historic Summit will forge a 21st century are Let me now outline very briefly the new collaborative association in which challenges that confronts us in India. our young can draw inspiration from qualitatively different More than 100 million youth — the your benchmarks of excellence in edu - from those in the past. combined labor forces of Britain, cation and innovation and channelize They do not recognize France, Italy and Spain — are project - their energies for public good. Today, ed to join the workforce by 2020. This we dedicate our partnership for a bet - national boundaries. will be a great potential resource only if ter tomorrow. They are truly global they are empowered with education The challenges of the 21st century and skills to leverage available global

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Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal and Ambassador Nirupama Rao interacting with the press on October 13. opportunities. If we fail to do this, our force can provide the basis for sus - rapidly. Technology has facilitated demographic advantage will be lost tained economic growth. Besides, with collaborative learning through the and our youth alienated. For us, it is a declining demographics around the democratizing influence of the web. It fundamental imperative that our young world, the global community will may be too early to write the epitaph have access to affordable, quality edu - require a suitably skilled workforce to for the classroom, but the classrooms cation. We must embrace three princi - serve its needs. Our demographic of the 21st century will be different ples: First, to provide for all our young advantage could, thereby, become an from those that served us in the past. access to educational opportunities; integral part of the global workforce. The content of pedagogy too would be second, reduce financial barriers to For imparting skills to our young, we radically altered. The silos that frag - ensure access; and third, ensure quali - need to build a robust vocational edu - mented knowledge have already start - ty with accountability. cation system that links education to ed collapsing. Customized learning The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) the world of work. This requires the across cultures will be the dominant in higher education in India is present - award of qualifications of international theme of higher education. We need to ly around mere 15 percent, about 10 standards accepted by industry global - open up the university as a learning percent below the world average. We ly. This will enable mobility of students space, embrace collaborative knowl - shall endeavor to increase our GER to across vocational and higher educa - edge production, and break down the 30 percent by 2020. This would require tion. Students endowed with skill-sets walls between institutions. I foresee a us to provide for opportunities in high - sought by industry globally will then day where an engineering student from er education for an additional thirty serve its needs. We can draw from the the Indian Institute of Technology million children by 2020. To do that, we experiences of community colleges in (IIT) can register for a liberal arts will need to build an additional 1000 the U.S. as we proceed to develop the course offered by Yale while simultane - universities and 50,000 colleges. To vocational education system in India. ously enrolling for an economics serve these institutions, we will require Ladies and Gentlemen, I also believe course in Stanford. The university as a quality faculty of over a million assisted that the nature of delivery of physical entity may no longer remain by quality support structures. The educational services is changing the unit of learning space. “new” demand for higher education in We together need to lay the founda - India is emerging from three groups tion for this change Our enduring that traditionally did not have easy For imparting skills to partnership will define the future of access to higher education: the disad - our young, we need to education. Our relationship is unique. vantaged and marginalized, women We must strengthen and deepen it. For and a “rising” lower-middle class. build a robust this, academia, industry and policy - But this is only a part of the picture. vocational education makers must work together. We, in India, to sustain our own eco - system that links Knowledge has no limits. Let our part - nomic growth, require a skilled work - nership dismantle the boundaries that force of about 500 million by 2022. As education to the limit us. That is our destiny. Let us the center of gravity of global econom - world of work embrace it. ic activity shifts toward Asia, this work - Thank you.”

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reMarks By aMBassaDor NirUPaMa rao at the Us-iNDia higher eDUcatioN sUMMit ddressing the US-India Higher Education Summit on October 13, A Ambassador Nirupama Rao said as India and the U.S. worked toward becoming truly knowledge economies, there were immense opportunities for forging new links in the areas of education, research and inno - vation as also technology and skill develop - ment. She emphasized that interactions in the higher education field between the institu - tions of India and the U.S. had been a very important dimension of the overall India-U.S. partnership. She also pointed out that the U.S. had been a preferred destination for Indian students with over 60 percent of all Indian international students coming to the U.S. to pursue higher degrees. Ambassador Nirupama Rao speaking at the US-India Higher Education Summit on October 13.

Excerpts from Ambassador Nirupama other engineering schools, have been a major Michigan and Duke University. A number of Rao’s speech at the Summit: source of student talent for U.S. graduate individual universities and technical institu - As both our countries work toward becom - schools and have played a significant role in tions of India and the U.S. have collaboration ing truly knowledge economies, I believe innovation and business. Nearly 100,000 stu - for teacher-student exchange programs, there are immense opportunities for forging dents from India, who are enrolled in U.S. curriculum design, etc. new links in the areas of education, research universities, are benefitting from the higher Our bilateral cooperation in Science and and innovation as also technology and skill education system of the U.S. In fact, the U.S. Technology has deepened through the Joint development. remains a preferred destination for our stu - S&T Sub-Commission and Science & One of the key features of our bilateral dents with over 60 percent of all Indian inter - Technology Initiative. With the setting up of relationship is that it is people-centric. People- national students coming here to pursue their the bilateral Science and Technology to-people connections have been at the heart advanced degrees. Endowment Fund of $30 million, we are cap - of this relationship. Links between our scien - One of the members of the audience at the italizing on our respective scientific and tech - tists, researchers and academics have always panel discussion that just concluded spoke nological strengths to encourage promising been an important component of such people- about, what he termed, as an imbalance in the and innovative ideas and joint R&D, that to-people ties, and interactions in the higher numbers between Indian students studying could produce material benefits for both education field between the institutions of here and American students going to India. As countries and support the vibrant entrepre - India and the U.S. are a very important dimen - one of the panelists pointed out, you don’t look neurial spirit of both our peoples. sion of the overall India-U.S. partnership. at it as an imbalance, you look at this as a need, A number of U.S. firms are capitalizing on the You are all well aware of the fact that U.S. as a gap that needs to be addressed. It points large pool of skilled engineers, scientists and universities helped set up our IIT Kanpur and to a certain information gap that exists between researchers of India. A number of big U.S. com - IIM , institutions which are global the two countries. It also points to the absence, panies have research centers in cities like brand names now. Some of our leading agri - if you look at the spectrum of what U.S. univer - Bangalore. The GE research center in Bangalore cultural universities, that played a key role in sities do, of a serious engagement with India. I is I understand the largest such center that GE our first Green Revolution, such as Pantnagar think India has to be approached as a discipline, has outside of the United States. Together they and the Agricultural University at Ludhiana, as a science — as Ralph Emerson once said — are producing innovative and affordable solu - were established with assistance of some of and I think you have to be able to attract the tions for diverse fields such as healthcare and the leading land-grant universities of the U.S. best minds here in America and the best young energy. Indian firms too are expanding their 8 Such exchanges laid a very broad foundation minds to study in India. And I believe that global horizons and increasingly establishing a of collaboration in research and teaching to imbalance, that gap will be addressed as our very visible presence in the US, across the meet the needs of the people. partnership grows in strength and substance, as length and breadth of this country. I believe The Fulbright Program, established in the economic engagement between India and they are already in 43 states. 1950, has provided opportunities for more United States is further fostered and grows in all In the last two years, we have taken sever - than 16,000 scholars both from India and the its dimensions. al additional steps to expand the links U.S. to visit each other’s countries and has Indeed we seem to be turning a full circle. between faculties and institutions of the two enriched their lives. We heard how the num - Major U.S. universities have established col - countries. ber of scholars under the Fulbright-Nehru laborative ventures with Indian institutions The full text of Ambassador Nirupama Program has tripled in the last three years and launched India initiatives. There are Rao’s speech at the event can be viewed at: Over the last few decades, graduates of Indian study centers/initiatives at University of http://www.indianembassy.org/page.php?id Indian universities, especially the IITs and Pennsylvania, Harvard, Yale, University of =1810

November 2011 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS seNator JohN corNyN Meets with aMBassaDor NirUPaMa rao

S Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), Co-Founder and U Co-Chair of the 9 Senate India Caucus, met with Ambassador Nirupama Rao. Ambassador Rao and Senator Cornyn discussed the shared values of the American and Indian people and the importance of enhancing the strategic partner - ship between the two nations. ‘india regards the Us as the most important partner in its quest for social and economic development’ peaking at the Yale University of India — its languages, literature, as critical for achieving its goals to on ‘Future Direction in India- religions, history, politics, economics have inclusive growth and to realize the SU.S. relations’ on October 2, and society. I understand Yale was the potential for taking the Indian econo - Ambassador Nirupama Rao said first U.S. University to start teaching my to even higher growth trajectory. India-U.S. partnership was multi- Sanskrit. Many eminent Indians and This is just one of the facets of our faceted and that India regarded the Indian-Americans have passed multi-faceted partnership with the U.S. as the most important partner in through its portals. Yale is today not U.S. today. Ours is a partnership that its quest for social and economic only continuing its tradition of seeks to meet common aspirations for development. engagement but has strengthened it mutual prosperity and for peace and She said India was working toward and extensively broadened it through security. President Obama’s landmark expanding its relations with the U.S. the Yale India Initiative that was visit to India last November has indeed to cover the entire spectrum of bilater - launched in 2008. helped in taking our relationship to a al agenda, including areas such as I would like to thank Dr. Richard new level. trade and investment, science and Levin, President of Yale University for In India, we regard the U.S. as our technology, clean energy, health, high - his leadership and commitment for most important partner in our quest er education and agriculture. enhancing Yale’s connections with for social and economic development India. and we are working to expand our Excerpts from Ambassador As both India and the US work relations across the entire spectrum of Nirupama Rao’s speech : toward becoming a truly knowledge our bilateral agenda, including in areas I am truly delighted to be here this societies we believe there are immense which I believe, are of importance to evening at Yale University — one of opportunities for forging new links in the United States as well — areas such the finest seats of learning and the the areas of education, research and as trade and investment, science and imparting of knowledge. It is an honor innovation as also technology and skill technology, clean energy, health, high - for me to have this opportunity to development. Therefore, deepening of er education and agriculture. address the Yale Community about our cooperation in the field of The full text of Ambassador India-U.S. relations. Yale has had a education has been identified by both Nirupama Rao’s speech at the event historical connection with India that governments as a key priority as we can be viewed at : http://www.indi - goes back more than three centuries chart the course ahead for our strate - anembassy.org/prdetail1799/ambas - beginning with Elihu Yale and his days gic partnership. sadorandrsquo%3Bs-address-at-the- in Madras (now Chennai). Yale has India-U.S. cooperation in the field yale-university-on-andquot%3Bfuture- been a pioneer among the U.S. of education is today poised for major direction-in-india-us-relation - universities when it comes to the study expansion. We in India see education sandquot%3B

November 2011 India Review Ambassador’s ENGAGEMENTS ‘IndIa-US economIc and commercIal parTnerShIp reqUIreS renewed focUS’ peaking at an exclusive inter - active session on ‘’US-India Economic and Commercial SPartnership: Two-Way Job Creation’ at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, organized by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on October 7, India’s Ambassador to the United States Ambassador Nirupama Rao has urged for a renewed focus on value-creation From Left to right: Ben Erulkar, Senior Vice-President, Economic Development, Detroit Regional in the India-U.S. economic and com - Chamber; Surya Kant, President, Major Markets (North America, UK and Europe), Tata Consultancy Services; Nirupama Rao, India’s Ambassador to the United States and Joseph Abraham, Senior mercial partnership. She emphasized Vice-President, HCL America. that it was important to look at the dis - tance traveled by India and the U.S. in strong networks of value creation. Detroit Regional Chamber highlighted enhancing the bilateral relationship, Dispelling some myths about the pur - the positive contributions made by especially given the unprecedented ported imbalance in the trade relation - Indian immigrants and businesses to convergence of both the countries in ship, Ambassador Rao highlighted that the Michigan economy, which had common concerns in global issues. trade with India in sectors such as suffered some of the worst impact of Focusing on the significant mutual manufacturing, engineering and high- the economic downturn of 2008. advantages of the economic engage - tech products was actually in favor of Joseph Abraham, Senior Vice- ment, Ambassador Rao pointed out the US, while in the services sector too, President, HCL America said that that the U.S. businesses had leveraged trade and investment linkages had HCL had invested in the U.S. states of India’s strengths to produce globally created jobs, rather than taken them North Carolina, Washington and New competitive products, while Indian away. Jersey, increasing the U.S. employee companies had invested $21 billion in At the panel discussion that headcount by 175 percent over the last the U.S. Private participation in trade followed, Ben Erulkar, Senior Vice- three years, and have hired 40 percent and investment had also created President, Economic Development, of the workers locally.

‘India-US strategic partnership should be driven by a vibrant S&T eco-system ’ ddressing the Pan IIT 2011 Global Excerpts from the Keynote Address by National Medal of Technology and Innovation - Conference on ‘Creating Global Common Ambassador Nirupama Rao at the event: the highest honors bestowed by the United AGoods: Role of evolving India-US Science While establishing IITs, its founders were States government on scientists, engineers, and & Technology eco-system’ in New York on clear in their objectives. Their goal was not only inventors. We feel proud that three of them are October 2, Ambassador Nirupama Rao said that to produce the country’s best engineers and of Indian origin and out of them two are IITians. science and technology cooperation between scientists but also to produce leaders and trend - IIT as an institution has always played a vital India and the US had always been an upwardly setters who would contribute in building a role in evolving and strengthening the India- moving curve. She said that through partner - modern India. IITs and IITians have lived up to U.S. relationship. ship in investment and innovation the two the expectations of their founding fathers. Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe this co- 10 countries could address the priority needs of Today, IITians are playing a pivotal role in the development of the vibrant S&T eco-system as both the nations and generate global common socio-economic transformation of India into a the new foundation of the expanding India-U.S. goods. knowledge based economy. They are also mak - cooperation, which will create synergies Ambassador Rao added that India was ing their mark on the global landscape. While between science and diplomacy to produce poised to play a leading role in shaping the 21st introducing one of the IITs, Lesley Stahl, co- common global goods. century as an era of peace, prosperity, innova - anchor on CBS 60 Minutes had observed and I The full text of Ambassador Nirupama tion, growth and development and hoped that quote, “Put Harvard, MIT and Princeton togeth - Rao’s speech at the event can be viewed at: the Indian Institutes of Technologies and their er, and you begin to get an idea of the status of http://www.indianembassy.org/prdetail1798/k students and alumni would play a commensu - this school in India.” eynote-address-by-the-ambassador-at-the-pan- rate role in this endeavor as innovators, Last week, President Obama named twelve iit-2011-global-conference-on-creating-global- business leaders, entrepreneurs, engineers or eminent researchers and innovators as recipi - common-goods%96role-of-evolving-india-us- teachers. ents of the National Medal of Science and science-and-technology-eco-system

November 2011 India Review Embassy EVENTS embaSSy welcomeS mInISTer KapIl SIbal

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PHOTO LEGENDS 1. Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal addressing the guests at the Embassy Residence on October 13. 2. Ambassador Nirupama Rao welcoming the guests. 3. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan speaking on the occasion. Ambassador Nirupama Rao is also seen. 4. Guests in attendance.

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November 2011 India Review Embassy EVENTS

embaSSy hoStS Shijith Nambiar DaNcer leela SamSoN PerformS at the 1 2 embaSSy

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Noted Bharatanatyam exponent and former PHOTO LEGENDS dancer, Director of the Kalakshetra faculty member of Kalakshetra Shijith 1. Ambassador Nirupama Rao addressing the Foundation and Chairperson of the Central Nambiar giving a demonstration on Indian guests at the Embassy on October 5. Board of Film Certification, making her classical dance forms at the Embassy on 2. Daniel Phoenix Singh, Director of ‘Dakshina’ presentation on classical Indian arts and October 25. The audience included Indian dance company introducing Leela Samson. culture culture enthusiasts and teachers and students 3. Leela Samson, renowned Bharatanatyam 4. Guests in attendance. of Indian classical dances.

aaPi DelegatioN ViSitS the embaSSy 1 2 3

12 4 PHOTO LEGENDS 1. Ambassador Nirupama Rao addressing members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) at the Embassy on October 24. 2. AAPI President Dr. Sunitha Kanumury speaking on the occasion. 3. AAPI Legislative Chair Dr. Vijayalaxmi Appareddy proposing the vote of thanks. 4. Guests in attendance.

November 2011 India Review Embassy EVENTS lightiNg of lamP oN gaNDhi jayaNti eputy Chief of Mission tation on himself,” Ambassador hearts. For that light represented Ambassador Arun K. Singh said. He said that Mahatma something more than the immediate Singh attended the Gandhi’s life and teachings had past, it represented the living, the D Gandhi Jayanti celebra - inspired millions of people across the eternal truths, reminding us of the tion at the Gandhi Memorial Centre world. right path, drawing us from error, at Bethesda, Maryland, on October 2. Quoting Pandit Nehru, the first taking this ancient country to free - Speaking on the occasion, he said , from a dom.” Gandhiji believed in the dignity of all speech broadcast after the assassina - “Gandhiji’s teachings and thoughts human life. Ambassador Singh said tion of , remain valid and relevant to all 13 that Gandhiji struggled to win inde - Ambassador Singh said, “... the light aspects of our national and individual pendence for colonized people, but has gone out of our lives and there is lives. The power of peaceful means to he did not sacrifice the search for darkness everywhere…. The light has seek justice; the effectiveness of non- equality and social justice in this pur - gone out, and yet I was wrong. For violence in countering force; respect suit. “Gandhiji led by example and it the light that shone in this country for diversity within and between soci - is due to his strong and personal was no ordinary light. The light that eties; fighting social prejudices and commitment to secularism, truth, has illumined this country for these promoting social reforms; conserva - non-violence and social reform that many years will illumine this country tion of nature; probity in public life; modern India has stayed rooted to for many more years, and a thousand and, simplicity in personal life, are these values despite pressures and years later, that light will be seen in enduring ideas that can help us challenges. Whatever he taught, he this country and the world will see it address many problems of the first subjected to rigorous experimen - and it will give solace to innumerable contemporary world,” he said.

1 2 PHOTO LEGENDS These events were held as part of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations on October 2. 1. Lighting of the lamp at Gandhi Jayanti: Seen here are Anubhav Nath of Ojas Art, Srimati Kamala, President of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Foundation, Carrie Trybulec, Director of Gandhi Memorial Center, and Deputy Chief of Mission, Amb. Arun K. Singh, with Supriya Dutt on tanpura. 2. Bell Choir ensemble presents Tagore 3 4 5 song ‘Dhonilo Re’ — arrangement by Jeffrey Bauer, with vocalist Supriya Dutt, Bell Choir, cellist Taka Ariga, violinist Ron Dicus and violinist Cliff Kellogg. 3. Carrie Trybulec, Director of Gandhi Memorial Center speaking on the occasion. 4. Deputy Chief of Mission, Amb. Arun K. Singh, addressing the audience 5. Renu Jain presents a sitar recital with Debu Nayak on tabla. 6. Charu Narashimhan performs a 6 7 8 Bharatanatyam dance. 7. Anubhav Nath of Ojas Art speaks with DCM, Amb. Arun K. Singh at the inau - guration of the ICCR-sponsored exhib - it: “Freedom to March: Rediscovering Gandhi through Dandi” at the Gandhi Memorial Center on October 2. 8. DCM, Amb. Arun K. Singh, at the inau - guration of the ICCR-sponsored exhib - it: ‘Freedom to March: Rediscovering Gandhi through Dandi’ at the Gandhi Memorial Center on October 2.

November 2011 India Review Consulate EVENTS

cgi New york celebrateS gaNDhi jayaNti

he Consulate General of India, New York, celebrat - ed the 142nd Birth T Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Union Square Park. Ambassador of India to the United States, Nirupama Rao graced the occasion. Other notable personali - ties included Ambassador Vijay Nambiar, Under Secretary-General to the ; H. R. Shah, CEO, TV Asia; noted Gandhian, Dr. P. Jayaraman and Dr. Surinder Malhotra, President Indian National Overseas Congress. About 80 per - sons participated in the event. The program began with floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by the dignitaries and participants. Consul-General Ambassador Ambassador Nirupama Rao addressing the audience at Union Square Park on the occasion of Gandhi Prabhu Dayal in his opening Jayanti on October 2. remarks welcomed Ambassador Rao and other dignitaries and partici - pants. He quoted Albert Einstein’s tribute to Gandhiji which stated, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth”. He recalled Gandhiji’s influ - ence on Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in shaping the non-violent movement for freedom and civil rights. Ambassador Rao, recollecting the impact of Gandhism on mankind mentioned that this day reminded one to renew our allegiance and our pledge to follow the Gandhian ideals of peace and non-violence which had led us into freedom. “Gandhi Jayanti is not only a time to recall and recollect the life of the Mahatma 14 but also to be inspired to address the Consul-General Prabhu Dayal addressing the audience at Union Square Park on the occasion of 142nd Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. challenges that we face and an occasion to draw inspiration in the remarks, mentioned the tradition of message resonated around the world present times of conflict and contra - commemorating the celebration of and his ideals of non-violence were dictions. It is an opportune time to Gandhi Jayanti each year at the also showing relevance in the Arab think, reflect, introspect and follow Union Square Park. He further stat - world today. the precepts of Gandhiji to “be the ed that the United Nations had The event concluded with the change you want to see in the declared October 2 as the singing of Gandhiji’s favorite bha - world,” she said. International Day of Non-Violence. jans by the music academy of the Ambassador Nambiar, in his He mentioned that the Mahatma’s Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

November 2011 India Review Consulate EVENTS

cgi New york hoStS ghazal artiSte talat aziz’S coNcert s a part of the ‘Jewels of India’ series, the A Consulate General of India, New York, with the support of State Bank of India, Bank of India and Helena Kaushik Education Foundation organized a 15 musical concert by renowned artiste Talat Aziz at the New India House on October 10. Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, Consul-General of India in New York, warmly welcomed Talat Aziz and said that the artiste needed no introduction and was well known across India and abroad for his highly popu - lar songs, which included ghazals, film songs and sufi songs. Ambassador Dayal particularly mentioned about Aziz’s popularity gained through numerous performances in various mehfils and singing in films, including the very famous ghazal ‘Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm main’ from the film Umrao Jaan . After his introductory

Top: Renowned ghazal artiste Talat Aziz performing at the New India House on cgi SaNjiV arora meetS with October 10. Bottom: A section of the audience. SeNator johN corNyN remarks, Ambassador Dayal informed the gathering of the sad news of the passing away of India’s Consul-General Sanjiv Arora renowned artiste Jagjit Singh a day greeting Senator John Cornyn before and requested them to join at a reception held in him in observing a one minute the latter’s honor on September 30. Senator silence in the memory of the Cornyn had delivered “State departed soul. of the Senate” address at the While commencing his program, event organized by the Greater Houston Partnership Talat Aziz paid rich tributes to Jagjit (GHP) in Houston. Singh saying that he personally felt a deep sense of loss. Aziz dedicated the evening to the late singer.

November 2011 India Review Consulate EVENTS

dIwalI CelebratIons at CGI new york CGI new york hosts reCeptIon for mbassador Prabhu Dayal, Consul-General of mInIster e. ahamed India in New York hosted a function at the mbassador Prabhu Dayal, Consul-General of A Consulate General of India on October 25 to cel - India in ebrate Diwali with the A New York, Indian community. E. and Chandni Ahamed, Minister of Dayal hosted a State (External Affairs) reception in honor also attended the of E. Ahamed, function. Minister of State Ambassador Dayal (External Affairs) welcomed the at the Consulate Minister E. Ahamed with Consul-general community members General of India Prabhu Dayal (to his left) and other community members. and conveyed his hearty on October 27, Diwali greetings to the 2011. Minister Ahamed was visiting New York to take assembled gathering Minister E. Ahamed addressing the part in the ongoing session of United Nations General and especially thanked guests at CGI New York on the Assembly. occasion of Diwali. Consul-General the Minister for sparing Prabhu Dayal is also seen. Ambassador Prabhu Dayal welcomed the Minister for his time in coming to the finding time for the Reception and to meet and interact Consulate to celebrate Diwali and requested him to greet with the community members. Minister Ahamed recalled the community members. his previous visits to the Consulate and said that there Minister Ahamed expressed happiness at his being able was considerable improvement in all spheres of work. to attend the function and to be amongst the The Minister also released the special issue of Hudson community members. He conveyed his greetings to Valley Malayalee Association’s magazine Kerala Jyothi . everyone, saying that the event signified the victory of He thanked Ambassador Dayal and the community good over evil. members for the honor given to him at the Consulate.

CGI atlanta partICIpates In GandhI CGI ChICaGo hosts symposIum on JayantI CelebratIons aGrICulture andhi Foundation of USA (GFUSA), King he Consulate General of India, Chicago, hosted a Centre, National Park Service and Sweet symposium on ‘Opportunities for Innovation in G Auburn Fall Fest celebrated Mahatma TIndian Agriculture Sector’ on October 4 in Gandhi’s 142nd birth anniversary in Atlanta on Chicago. The University of Illinois at Urbana- October 2. Champaign, The func - Michigan State tion was University and The held at the Chicago Council on entrance of Global Affairs were the King partners in the Centre. event. After gar - The conference From left to right: Dr Robert Easter, landing the brought together Interim Vice-President, University of Illinois 16 at Urbana-Champaign; Consul-General statue, in a Consul-General Ajit Kumar paying over 100 regional Mukta D Tomar; Sam Pitroda, Advisor to keynote tribute Mahatma Gandhi on his 142nd Birth and international Prime Minister of India on Public address, Ajit Anniversary in Atlanta on October 2. agriculture experts Information Infrastructure & Innovations and P.K. Basu, Secretary (Agriculture) Kumar, Consul-General of India, Atlanta, stressed on to share information Government of India, at the Symposium. the relevance of Mahatma Gandhiji’s message of and experiences in peace, non-violence, tolerance and pluralism in today’s Indian Agriculture and articulate the challenges and world. He thanked the speakers and Indian associa - opportunities for innovation in the Indian Agriculture tions for coming together to celebrate Gandhiji’s birth - Sector. A fifteen-member business delegation from day, which had been declared by the United Nations as Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and the International Day of Non-Violence. Industry also participated in the Symposium.

November 2011 India Review Maritime COOPERATION admIral nIrmal Verma Calls for unIted aCtIon aGaInst pIraCy ddressing the 20th Clausewitz would tell us imperative to International Sea Power strike at their center of gravity, ‘the hub Symposium in New Port, of all power and movement, on which A Rhode Island, USA, on all else depends’. To my mind, their October 19, India’s Chief of Naval Centre of Gravity is the elaborate net - Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma said the work of financiers that fund operations 17 international efforts toward combating and facilitate revenue collection. A piracy would benefit if there were recent UN report revealed that of the fewer disparate task forces and inde - ransom paid in each incident of piracy pendent naval operations. “If piracy is only 20 percent reaches the pirates, to be deterred, the present ‘risk versus while financiers and sponsors hive off reward quotient’ must be inverted 50 percent. The question that begs to exponentially by the development of be answered is that how do they man - appropriate laws and Rules of age to divert funds in so unfettered a Engagement. These require both manner? Therefore, there is a need to national and international consensus build a strategy beyond multinational which can be facilitated by an exchange maritime counter piracy operations to of first-hand operational experience of facilitate tracking of the fiscal trail. navies presently involved in anti-piracy It is important that our efforts be operations, beside ideas from legal and cultivated before what is at present a academic circles as well as the expert - relatively benign problem of piracy, ise and local knowledge of the regional Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma develops a nexus with radical terrorism players,” he said. which has a cancerous potential. The International Sea Power from just $150,000 five years ago. What is required is the collaborative Symposium was held under the aegis According to a recent study by ‘One engagement of both major maritime of the U.S. Naval War College. The Earth Future’ the economic cost of powers as well as the littoral states. theme of the 20th edition of the sym - piracy maybe as high as $12 billion a Finally, I would conclude with the posium was ‘Security and Prosperity year. This translates into increased reflection that the international efforts through Maritime Partnerships’. More operating costs, environmental expens - towards combating piracy would bene - than 110 nations, with 75 heads of es in view of rerouting of ships and fit if there were fewer disparate task Navy and 22 heads of Coast Guard, most importantly, tremendous human forces and independent naval opera - attended the Symposium. costs. tions. India’s relative autonomy of Despite multinational efforts, the efforts towards combating piracy off Excerpts from Admiral Nirmal number of incidents and net effects of Somalia can be traced to its preference Verma’s speech at the Symposium: piracy are on the increase with season - for a UN mandated operations which At the outset, I would like to thank al variations on account of the mon - we believe if adopted would holistically Admiral Jonathan Greenert and all the soons and geographic shifts dependent enhance the efficacy of operations. organizers of the International Sea on the presence of naval units. The Our Prime Minister in his speech at the Power Symposium for affording me international efforts off the Gulf of UN General Assembly last month the opportunity to speak to this august Aden have resulted in piracy spreading called upon the comity of nations to audience on a subject that has affected to other areas of the Indian Ocean evolve a comprehensive and effective mariners since times immemorial and which had not experienced these response to the problem of piracy and yet is very contemporary — maritime attacks earlier. has assured the world of India’s readi - piracy. It has become evident that pirates ness to work with other nations in this The difference today is that piracy at are changing their modus of opera - regard. sea which was previously primarily tions as they have been observed to use The full text of Admiral Nirmal robbery has now morphed into an hijacked merchant vessels as mother Verma’s speech can be viewed at: elaborate network of operations to ships. This has given them an extended http://www.indianembassy.org/prde - extract enormous quantities of ran - reach of over 1,000 nautical miles from tail1811/admiral-nirmal-verma-draws- som. Ransom amounts have increased the Somali coast. Given their chang - attention-of-chiefs-of-navies-to-critical - to an average of $5.4 million per ship, ing tactics and operations, it is, as ity-of-united-action-against-piracy

November 2011 India Review Economy NEWS ‘india to rank among top five aviation nations’ ith a huge growth poten - private partnership (PPP). In next five tial forecast over the next years, we plan to expand the airport 10 years, the Indian network and provide connectivity to W aviation sector is set to tier-II and tier-III cities.” be catapulted among the top five in the “In metro cities, where the existing world, President Smt. Pratibha Patil airport cannot accommodate future said on October 17. growth, a second airport is being “The potential for growth of civil planned... Navi is a case in aviation in India is huge. Recent esti - example. As a policy, we will continue mates suggest domestic air traffic will to build and replicate the PPP model touch 160-180 million passengers per with other airports,” the President annum in the next 10 years and inter - President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil added. national traffic will exceed 80 million She also stressed on the importance passengers,” the President said while option for an increasingly broader of an economic regulator to create a inaugurating the fourth International section of society,” she said. level playing field, promote competi - Civil Aviation Negotiation Conference She pointed out that deregulation of tion, protect consumer interests and (ICAN) in Mumbai. the domestic sector and liberalization ensure better service levels. The Indian aviation market current - of bilateral traffic rights in the past “One of the key achievements by ly ranks ninth in the world. decade had led to multiple options in India in the last decade has been to set “Aviation plays an important role in carriers, timings and fares. up an independent regulator for eco - the economic development process of “Between 2005-2010, $10 billion nomic regulation of airports by an act countries. Flying is no longer the pre - has been invested in airports develop - of parliament with appropriate provi - rogative of a few privileged but an ment in the country, with public- sion of an appellate body,” she said.

Business aviation government to set up aviation university players form association hirty-nine business aircraft operators, ivil Aviation Minister Vayalar representing 65 percent of the coun - said on October 17 that T try’s fleet in this category, have formed C the government planned to set an association to define standards for the up an aviation university that would sector and promote its growth, an official ensure minimum standards of aviation said on October 21. skills. “We are in the process of evolv - “The Business Aircraft Operators’ Association (BAOA) will be the industry’s first ing a project report for this facility, recognized body and provide a platform to which will ensure that the gap between Civil Aviation Minister (R) with encourage close cooperation among the var - demand and supply is bridged,” he Secretary, Civil Aviation, Dr. Nasim Zaidi at the ious stake holders in the aviation sector,” said. ICAN 2011 press conference in Mumbai on said its first President Rohit Kapur. Speaking at the fourth International October 17. Kapur said India would be the third Civil Aviation Negotiation Conference civil aviation authority had been pro - largest aviation market in the world by 2020. (ICAN 2011), Minister Ravi said the posed for administration and regula - Decks cleareD for government planned to strengthen the tion of civil aviation safety. international flights to agra Bureau of Civil Aviation Security He added that the process of consti - (BCAS). tuting an accident investigation com - ourism is set to boom this winter in the Taj city Agra, , with the 18 The conference, jointly organized by mittee on the lines of the National T Defense and Civil Aviation Ministries the government of India and the Transport Safety Board was underway. giving the go-ahead for landing of direct Montreal-based International Civil In India, there has been a international flights at the local Kheria air - Aviation Organization (ICAO), was significant enhancement in national port, an important base of the Indian Air held in India for the first time with an and international connectivity mak - Force. “Though some challenges like termi - aim to highlight the need of modern - ing it the ninth biggest civil aviation nal and parking facility remain, the major ization of air service agreements market in the world. India has bilat - areas like night landing, emergency services (ASAs) by including certain safety eral air services agreement with 108 have been taken care of by the Airport Authority of India. We hope that the upgrade clauses, code-sharing guidelines, secu - countries and presently 72 foreign will continue, making it a world-class tourist rity and tariff. airlines are operating to and from airport hub,” an official added. Ravi also said that an independent various destinations.

November 2011 India Review Economy NEWS

Draft national telecom inDia Becomes Better place to Do Business policy 2011 unveileD ith the second best performance after Sri Lanka in South Asia, he government unveiled a W India climbed seven places to be draft of its new telecom poli - ranked 132nd best place to do business, cy that focuses on free roam - according to a new global survey. T ing, transparent allocation of China, India, and the Russian Federation airwaves, strategies to increase rural are among the 30 economies that improved reach, higher broadband speeds and the most over time as 163 economies made 19 more funding options for operators in their regulatory environment more business- on October 10. friendly over the past six years, noted the The draft policy, which was survey by International Finance Corporation uploaded on the official website by (IFC) and World Bank. Minister for Human Resource “Recently implemented mandatory elec - Development and Communications tronic filing and payment for value-added and Information Technology Kapil tax made paying taxes easier for Indian Sibal, also promises a new law on Minister for Human Resource Development and firms,” according to the “Doing Business spectrum allocation and usage. Communications and Information Technology 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent The minister said the new policy Kapil Sibal (C) launching the portal of National World” report released on October 20. Telecom Policy-2011 in New Delhi on October 10 . sought to de-link allocation of licence The report assesses regulations affecting to service providers from the award of subscriber base was barely two million. domestic firms in 183 economies and ranks radio waves — which means spectrum “Telecom today has emerged as a the economies in 10 areas of business regu - would have to be acquired through key driver of economic and social lation, such as starting a business, resolving competitive bidding or by sharing it development and in an increasingly insolvency and trading across borders. with existing firms. knowledge-intensive global scenario, The global report shows that govern - He also said that the final policy India needs to play a leadership role,” ments in 125 economies, out of 183 meas - would be unveiled by December after Minister Sibal said, outlining the broad ured, implemented a total of 245 business receiving inputs from stakeholders and contours of the proposed new policy. regulatory reforms — 13 percent more people at large. The current policy was “This policy is designed to ensure reforms than in the previous year. drafted in 1999 when India’s telecom that India plays this role effectively and transforms the socio-economic sce - iaf to orDer six more highlights of Draft nario through accelerated, equitable c-130J airliftes national telecom policy and inclusive economic growth by lay - he Indian Air Force (IAF) will soon n To increase rural tele-density from 35 ing emphasis on providing affordable, percent to 100 percent by 2020 quality services in rural and remote place a follow-on order for six more C- n To ensure broadband on demand and areas,” he said. According to Minister T 130J Super Hercules medium-lift aim at 600 million connections by 2020 Sibal the policy aims to encourage transporters and these will be based in n To grant one nation-wide licence and do convergence of telecom, television and Charbatia in Orissa to operate in the coun - away with roaming charges broadband services in the country, try’s eastern and northeastern sector, includ - n To aim at releasing 500 MhZ spectrum by overcoming all existing norms that seg - ing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 2020 to improve service quality regate issues such as licensing, regis - The IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Norman n Transparent allocation of spectrum Anil Kumar Browne, said on October 3 that through market-related process tration and regulatory mechanisms. n Enactment of a new spectrum act to “The main thrust of the policy is on the new lot of C-130Js would operate in the address these issues the multiplier effect and transforma - northeastern part of India and go right up to n Infrastructure status to telecom for better tional impact of such services in the the Car Nicobar air base in the Andaman and financial options overall economy. It recognizes the role Nicobar Islands. Discussions with the US n A new company to help fund telecom of such services in furthering the Government and the American manufacturer projects national development agenda while Lockheed Martin for the new batch of aircraft n Mobile number portability across the enhancing equity and inclusiveness.” were on, and the order is expected to be country, rather than just intra-circle He also made it clear that while pur - placed by January 2012, he said. The C-130J n Appropriate policy for firms wishing to exit telecom business suing the new policy, the focus would can land and take off from unpaved, grassy n New fund to promote domestic research, be clearly on the development agenda fields the size of a football ground and can manufacturing and not on the money that could be a big support during both peace and war. accrue to the exchequer. ”

November 2011 India Review Diaspora NEWS President obama honors three Indian-americans ecognizing the work of especially his work on large devia - three Indian-Americans, tions from expected random behav - two inventors and a ior “which has revolutionized this R researcher, President field of study during the second half Barack Obama has presented them of the 20th century, and become a and nine other scientists and inno - cornerstone of both pure and vators the nation’s highest honors in applied probability”. their fields. Agrawal, an alumnus of IIT- New York University’s Srinivasa Kanpur, won the National Medal of S.R.Varadhan was among seven From left to right: Srinivasa S.R.Varadhan, Rakesh Technology and Innovation “for an researchers who received the Agarwal and B. Jayant Baliga extraordinary record of innovations National Medal of Science from thrive and dreams can become real.” in improving the energy efficiency and Obama at a ceremony in the East “From China, Germany, India, reducing the cost of gas liquefaction Room of the White House on October Canada and England, they searched and separation”. 21. Two Indian Institute of Technology for the best universities and the most Baliga, an alumnus of IIT-Chennai, alumni, Purdue University’s Rakesh advanced labs, and they found them also won the technology medal, “for Agarwal, and North Carolina State here, because America is the best place development and commercialization of University’s B. Jayant Baliga are in the world to do the work that they the insulated gate bipolar transistor among the five who were presented do,” President Obama said. and other power semiconductor Technology and Innovation medals. Varadhan, an alumnus of Presidency devices that are extensively used in “We recognize them today,” said College, Chennai, and Indian transportation, lighting, medicine, Obama, “because America has always Statistical Institute, won the medal for defense, and renewable energy genera - been a place where good ideas can his work in probability theory, tion systems”. 3 yoUng IndIan-amerIcan US hails Indian diaspora’s role in ScIentIStS honored hree Indian-Americans — Dr. Kartik A strengthening ties Srinivasan, Sumita Pennathur and ith a growing Indian- community’s ideas, energy and T Hari Shroff — were among the 94 sci - American community which commitment,” said Desai, a second- entists honored by President Barack Obama W has increasing influence, the generation Indian-American. with Presidential Early Career Awards for U.S. sees the Indian “On a range of issues, from Scientists and Engineers on October 3. diaspora as an important our passport to India intern - Texas-born Dr. Kartik A Srinivasan, 31, is partner for forging closer ship project to exciting new the project leader of the research group on ties with India, according initiatives aimed at enhancing nano-fabrication at the Center for to a senior U.S. official. philanthropy in India and Nanoscale Science and Technology. He has The long-standing further accelerating India- published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in work of Indian commu - U.S. state-state and city-city scientific journals. nity groups in organizing linkages, the diaspora has a Massachusetts-born Sumita Pennathu the community and hav - crucial role to play,” he Pennathur, 33, is an assistant professor of ing a dialog with policy added. mechanical engineering at the University leaders embodied the Mitul Desai Desai’s job at the bureau is of California in Santa Barbara. Her research importance of proactive to build a dialogue and part - 20 is focused on using fundamental fluidics civic engagement, said Mitul Desai, nerships with private sector, NGOs knowledge at both microscale and Senior Advisor for outreach in the and diaspora organizations. nanoscale to create devices for practical South Asia bureau of the State Thomas Abraham, Founder applications. Department at a meeting with them President and Chairman Kerala-born Hari Shroff, 29, heads the on October 10. Emeritus of the Global Organization lab at the National Institute of Biomedical “The India-U.S. relationship will be of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Imaging and Bioengineering, a part of the one of the defining partnerships of the said the Obama administration’s ini - National Institutes of Health under the 21st century; but we know govern - tiative to reach out and motivate the Department of Health and Human ments alone cannot realize the full diaspora group was a welcome move Services. promise of this potential and that is in the right direction to further solid - why we need the Indian-American ifying India-U.S. relations.

November 2011 India Review Science NEWS cheaPeSt tablet comPUtIng devIce laUnched iming to bridge the digital IIT-Rajasthan divide in the country, India Director Prem Kalra on October 5 launched the said the prototype of A world’s cheapest tablet the low-cost device was computing device Akash costing developed by his stu - about $46. dents. Around 100,000 students will be Akash has a seven- able to have better access to informa - inch Android 2.2 touch tion through the product developed screen, Wi-Fi and can 21 jointly by the Indian Institute of be used as an Ebook Technology (IIT)-Rajasthan at reader for access to Jodhpur, and DataWind Ltd. online streaming The tablet, christened ‘Akash’, will Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications course material and be made available to higher education and Information Technology Kapil Sibal launching the “Aakash Low web-based research, he students in India at $23 per unit with Cost Access Device (LCAD)” in New Delhi on October 5. Minister said. of State for Human Resource Development Dr. (Smt.) the federal government bearing 50 D. Purandeswari is also seen. Minister Sibal said percent of the cost. the challenge for IT The government wished to bring but for those of the world.” experts was now to generate world- down the cost of the device to less Officials said the low-cost device class content. He appealed to the than $10, Human Resource would allow students in the rural hardware industry to come forward Development Minister Kapil Sibal areas access technology that would and partner the government in manu - said. define the 21st century. “People said facturing the low-cost device. “Akash is a milestone in history. It it can’t be done in India and by the N.K. Sinha, Additional Secretary in will bring paradigm shift in education Indians. We accepted the challenge,” the Human Resource and delivery,” said Sibal, adding: “The said DataWind Chief Executive Development Ministry, said field device is not only for Indian students Officer Suneet Singh Tuli. trials would help improve Akash. 50 glorIoUS yearS of SatellIte laUncheS ndia’s most suc - now risen to 53. cessful rocket, the A major revenue IndIa mUllIng Second rocket I Polar Satellite earner for ISRO, the Port: SPace agency chIef Launch Vehicle (PSLV), PSLV is a four-stage o increase the frequency of satellite on October 12 exceeded rocket alternatively launches and to cash in on the inter - a half century of satellite powered by solid and T national market for launching remote launches when it slung liquid propellants. The sensing satellites, the Indian space agency four satellites into orbit. first and third stages are is mulling another space port and adding The PSLV-C18 rocket fired by a solid propel - more facilities at Sriharikota in Andhra blasted off the first lant and the second and Pradesh, a top official said on October 12. launch pad at fourth stages by a liquid “A feasibility study on building second Sriharikota in Andhra propellant. space port like the one in Sriharikota will be Pradesh at 11.01 a.m. ISRO has developed made during the 12th (Five Year) Plan carrying the 1,000 kg three PSLV variants. (2012-17) period. The study will look at the PSLV-C18 taking off from Indo-French Megha- Sriharikota on October 12. The first is the standard need, economics, safety and other aspects,” Tropiques satellite to variant weighing Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) study tropical weather. The rocket also around 290 tonnes with six strap-on Chairman K.Radhakrishnan said. carried three other small satellites motors measuring 11.3 meters with a “We have launched 27 foreign satellites together weighing 42.6 kg. fuel capacity of nine tonnes. The other till date using PSLV as co-passengers. There The Indian Space Research two variants are the PSLV Core Alone are several requests for launching small Organization (ISRO) inducted the without the six strap-on motors and remote sensing satellites,” Radhakrishnan PSLV rocket in 1993. Since then the PSLV-XL with longer strap-on motors said. He said the outlay for a new spaceport rocket had carried 49 satellites (23 measuring 13.5 meters having a fuel would be not less than $202 million. Indian and 26 foreign). This figure has capacity of 12 tonnes of solid fuel.

November 2011 India Review Cinema NEWS JagJit singh signs off he soulful voice behind many a popular Punjabi, Gujarati and Nepali. His career ghazal was stilled forever with the death boasted a repertoire comprising 50 of Jagjit Singh in Mumbai on October albums, and he readily contributed to T 10 following brain haemorrhage. He the ghazal , devotional and was 70. Some of his songs like ‘Hontho se chhoo market. lo tum’, ‘Jhuki jhuki si nazar’ and ‘Tumko dekha Music icons like Lata toh yeh khayal aaya’, continue to remain all-time Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle feel favorites. his music will live on. His death left not just his friends, family and “I can’t imagine the days when I colleagues teary-eyed, but also a huge void in the will no longer be able to hear his music industry, which he had enriched with his silken voice, no longer be able to soul-stirring and lilting melodies. He is survived talk to him or listen to his new by his wife, Chitra Singh. songs. Now his old ghazals is all The film industry remembered the singer and we have. His soothing voice, his many paid condolences through . warm hearted nature are all gone Megastar posted on the now. He was the pride of India. I microblogging site: “The sonorous silk voice of also feel bad for his wife Chitra, she Jagjit Singh silent now!! A great loss to the world is all alone now,” said Asha Bhosle. of music and Ghazal ...Prayers and condolences.” Lata, with whom Singh collaborat - Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman ed for one of his best sold albums tweeted: “Rest in Peace Jagjitji...No one can Sajda , said: “It is such a big loss, an end replace your voice and the perfection you had of an era. He was one artiste who never toward your art.” needed films to get popular. He was an Born to a Sikh couple in Rajasthan on February instant hit.” 8, 1941, Singh went on to pursue a post-gradu - Singh also worked with his singer wife Chitra, ate degree in history from the Kurukshetra whom he married in 1967, on various compila - University in Haryana. He came to the country’s tions including Ecstasies , A Sound Affair, Passions entertainment capital, Mumbai, in 1965 in search and Beyond Time . He was the first Indian of work as a singer. composer and, together with wife Chitra, the first A Padma Bhushan award recipient, Singh has recording artiste in the history of Indian music to sung for many popular Hindi films. He had also use digital multi-track recording — for the sung in several languages, including Urdu, album Beyond Time (1987).

Jackson guitarist plays crossover flavor at MuMbai filM festival for ‘rockstar’ he past few years have seen a were directed by Indians living abroad. omposer A.R. Rahman roped in lull in crossover films but the If Paris-based Indian director Orianthi Panagaris, the lead guitarist T Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) Prashant Nair’s Delhi In A Day takes a C from the team of Michael Jackson, to has screened six such movies, includ - peek into the lives of rich living in play for the song ‘Saadda ing Lucky and Delhi In A Day , and sprawling country villas in India’s cap - Haq’ in Imtiaz Ali’s film Rockstar . each of them had a fresh perspective ital, Philadelphia-based Sarovar 22 While Rahman and Imtiaz and engaging stories with a connection Banka’s A Decent Arrangement , which had short-listed several to India. has , is about the Indian and international The six films — Delhi In A Day , arranged marriage of a non-resident musicians, they had Orianthi Love, wrinkle free , A Decent Indian (NRI) man. Interestingly titled on top of their list given her incredible body Arrangement , Chatrak , Lucky , Love, wrinkle free , which is shot in of work and her huge international success,” Everywhere and Nowhere — were Goa, deals with the effect a 46-yearold a source from the team said. screened in the India Worldwide woman’s pregnancy has on her 38- Rahman checked with his agent in Los Angeles and even met with Orianthi during section at the MFF on its concluding year-old husband and her adopted one of his visits there. He made her listen to day on October 20, and they covered daughter. Director Sandeep Mohan the track and Orianthi immediately agreed to an interesting range of stories, travel - said his film had an international flavor be a part of the film. ing from Srinagar and Delhi to and was inspired by his personal Durban and London. Most of the films experiences and observations.

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A Sikh devotee offers prayers at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. AFP Photo.

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