PUBLICATION OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA IN DUBAI VOL.4 ISSUE 7 | jULy 2012 President Pranab sworn in Veteran Congress leader enters Rashtrapati Bhavan as the 13th President of India, following a four-decade-long political career C FROM THE CONSUL-GENERAL’S DESK COVER STORY 04 President Pranab Dear Reader, O We offer our heartiest congratulations to Pranab Mukherjee is sworn in as the 13th President of India, amid President Pranab Mukherjee on his election as pomp and pageantry India’s 13th President. This issue describes in detail, his swearing-in ceremony and reports on N the President’s thoughts on eradicating poverty and on our diversity. 06 IN FOCUS In our regular feature, ‘10 Questions’, entre - Gagan opens medal preneur, Mohan Valrani shares his views on glob - T alisation and economic growth while giving us an account for India insight into his life, philosophy and his involve - Gagan Narang wins a bronze ment with the Indian community in the UAE. medal for India; shooters do it for E Our In Focus this month is India’s participa - India the third consecutive time tion at the London Olympics. India has fielded its largest Olympic contingent of 81 athletes in this N year’s games. The athletes are among competitors ECONOMY from 204 countries. The story also includes 08 details about the first Olympic 2012 medal won We will restore for India by ace shooter Gagan Narang. We wish growth: PM T the Indian teams our very best. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Happy Reading! CINEMA P. Chidambaram express hope of S 10 ‘Fairly’ versatile reviving the Indian economy Women directors dare to enter the male bastion, take up bold subjects Sanjay Verma LIFESTYLE 16 The local mantra International brands take pains to launch products aimed specifically at Indian market RADIO MATTERS The Consulate General of India in Dubai brings to you its weekly radio programme ‘India Matters’ on Suno 102.4 FM. The purpose of the show is to highlight the services provided by the Consulate and talk about the events and news related to India and the Indian community in UAE. India Matters is aired every Friday between 5 and 6 pm on Suno 10 QUESTIONS 102.4 FM and repeated every Saturday between 12 and 1 pm. 12 For more details visit www.cgidubai.com and www.suno1024.com ‘My success, a serendipity ’ BOOKS Mohan Valrani, Senior Vice-Chairman 18 of the Al Shirawi Group of Companies, Nehru worked for one world on his rise in Dubai A new book describes the first Prime Minister’s quest to eliminate differences in the world 14 FEATURE Sunita moment again SUPERBRANDS Winner of the June 2012 monthly quiz contest is Indian-origin scientists make a mark in 20 space, at CERN and on ice Tata Steel R.R. Singh India Matters is a monthly publication of the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai . All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be produced, stored ratulations! The winner gets a gift hamper. or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the CGI Dubai . 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Editorial Coordinator: Zarin Amrolia, Dubai 2 SEPTEInMdBEiRa M200a9 tters| July 2012 July 2012 |India Matters 3 Cover story Change of guard: President Pranab Mukherjee with the outgoing President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on his way from the Parliament I HAVE SEEN VAST, PERHAPS First thoughts: President Mukherjee signing the register at President’s office at House to Rashtrapati Bhavan after the swearing-in ceremony, riding the traditional baggi , in New Delhi on July 25 Rashtrapati Bhavan on his arrival from Parliament House after the swearing in UNBELIEVABLE, CHANGES DURING THE JOURNEY THAT HAS BROUGHT ME FROM THE FLICKER OF A LAMP IN A Pranab sPeak SMALL BENGAL VILLAGE TO President Pranab THE CHANDELIERS OF DELHI. he principal responsibility of this savaged by a famine that killed mil - Toffice is to function as the lions; the misery and sorrow is still The swearing in ceremony of India ’s 13th President marked by colour and tradition guardian of our Constitution. I will not lost on me. We have achieved — President Mukherjee strive, as I said on oath, to preserve, much in the field of agriculture, protect and defend our Constitution industry and social infrastructure; but t was a day of tradition and The President’s mounted body - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, not just in word but also in spirit. We that is nothing compared to what modernity as India on July 25 guards, resplendent in their livery of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, room Rashtrapati Bhavan from his are all, across the divide of party and India, led by the coming generations, got its 13th president in the 76- white with dark turbans to match, Opposition leader L.K. Advani and official bungalow on Talkatora region, partners at the altar of our will create in the decades ahead. year-old seasoned politician presented the national salute, while Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Road. He will henceforth travel in a motherland. Our federal Constitution “There is no humiliation more abu - I embodies the idea of modern India: it sive than hunger. Trickle-down theo - Pranab Mukherjee, who pledged to 1,000 members of the three services Banerjee, who decided to back long black bomb-proof Mercedes rise above partisan politics in his lined along Raisina Hill for the ‘Hazar Mukherjee’s candidature just two limousine — a far cry from the defines not only India but also moder - ries do not address the legitimate conduct of the high office. Salam’ to the President, the supreme days before the July 19 poll. Ambassador car he used to travel in. nity. A modern nation is built on aspirations of the poor. We must lift Mukherjee was administered the commander of the armed forces. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Mukherjee, who won the July 19 some basic fundamentals: democra - those at the bottom so that poverty oath of office by Chief Justice of In his first speech as President, Rajapaksa sent in his congratula - presidential poll as the ruling United cy, or equal rights for every citizen; is erased from the dictionary of India S.H. Kapadia at 11.28 a.m. Mukherjee, who has a five-year tions and “deep joy” to Mukherjee, Progressive Alliance (UPA) candi - secularism, or equal freedom to every modern India. inside the central hall of Parliament. term, said his high office demands while Mamata Banerjee invited him date, has been India’s Finance faith; equality of every region and “India’s true story is the partner - He accompanied his predecessor that he rise above personal or parti - to visit West Bengal. Minister, Defence Minister and language; gender equality and, ship of the people. Our wealth has Pratibha Patil from Rashtrapati san interests in the service of the The President’s elder sister External Affairs Minister, in his 40 perhaps most important of all, been created by farmers and work - Bhavan to Parliament and back to national good. Mukherjee termed Annapurna Banerjee, 83, sat glued years as politician. economic equity. ers, industrialists and service- Rashtrapati Bhavan — this time as corruption as ‘an evil that can to her TV set in her home in West Mukherjee was a key member of “For our development to be real the providers, soldiers and civilians. Our the first citizen — in a tableau of depress the nation’s mood and sap Bengal, watching her younger broth - the UPA and was chief troubleshoot - poorest of our land must feel that social harmony is the sublime co- grandeur that has for decades its progress’. er take oath. She could not attend er for the coalition because of his they are part of the narrative of existence of temple, mosque, church, marked this historic change of guard Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony due to her old age. excellent rapport with leaders of all rising India. gurudwara and synagogue; they are of democratic India’s top office. the swearing-in ceremony were Mukherjee moves into the 340- political parties. n “I was a boy when Bengal was symbols of our unity in diversity. 4 India Matters| July 2012 July 2012 |India Matters 5 in foCus WHATEVER I CAME HERE TO DO, I HAVE ACHIEVED. I HAVE HAD A GREAT JOURNEY, I HAVE HAD MY SHARES OF UPS AND DOWNS BUT IT HAS BEEN VERY EXCITING. Gagan opens —Gagan Narang flame to the next participant. Speaking about the historic medal account moment, Amitabh Bachchan said, “I never thought I’d represent India for this. I’m so very proud to have done for india this and to be leaving a legacy behind for my grandchildren.” He continued, The third time in row that Indian “I am overwhelmed with the support shooters have won medals at the that I have received in London. The Olympic Games symbolise peace, har - Olympics mony and community spirit and by inviting me to be a part of this, the organisers are bringing communities together from around the world. This is indeed a great honour for me, the Bang on target: India ’s Gagan Narang competes in the 10m air rifle men qualifying round at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London people of India and the film industry.” on July 30, 2012, during the London 2012 Olympic Games the indian contingent The sports ministry approved a 142- ce rifleman Gagan Narang Indian shooters had won medals at tion ceremony on July 27.