Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister
Shri Ram Nath Kovind President
Ambassador’s message on the occasion of 72nd INDEPENDENCE Day of India Independence Day Greetings
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On this auspicious occasion of the 72nd Independence Day of India, I have the pleasure to convey my warm greetings and felicitations to all my fellow citizens residing in the State of Qatar. I also avail this opportunity to express my heartfelt and sincere thanks and appreciation to the Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Government of the State of Qatar for their continued support and cooperation and to the hospitality and patronage extended to the Indian community in Qatar. The multi-faceted bilateral relationship between India and Qatar continues to deepen further in various areas, including political, energy, trade & investment, cultural and defence spheres. We expect that 2019, as the India-Qatar Year of Culture, would be a year filled with memorable cultural events, in a manner that befits the longstanding cultural and people-to-people ties between our two countries. Independence Day is an occasion for all Indians to pay our respects and honor the freedom fighters who contributed to the struggle for India’s independence, some of them making the supreme sacrifice towards this cause. Today, India takes pride in being the world’s largest democracy as a result of the strong foundation laid by our leaders who framed our constitution and built strong democratic institutions. On this occasion, I would also like to thank and congratulate the Indian community in Qatar for their continued good work, which has earned for them a well-deserved reputation in Qatar for their sincerity, hard work, technical expertise and law-abiding nature. Independence Day is not just an occasion for us to celebrate our freedom, but also one for all of us to take stock of our achievements in these 71 years and to rededicate ourselves to the cause of the continued development of our nation in the coming years. India has come a long way since its independence on 15 August 1947. We have achieved self-sufficiency in food production and today export various food grains to other countries. We are the largest producers of fresh fruits, milk and pulses. India is a recognised military power in the world today. The Indian Space Research Organization has been successful in developing a highly acclaimed, low-cost and efficient space program in the world. In economic terms, India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world and is expected to be one of the top three economic powers of the world in the next 10-15 years. India holds the position of the third largest startup ecosystem in the world and is expected to have 100,000 startups by 2025, worth US$ 500 billion, which will create employment for 3.25 million people. I invite the Indian community in Qatar to contribute to the success of various flagship and infrastructure development projects being undertaken by the Government of India, such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Clean India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Skill India’, ‘Startup India’, 'Stand Up India', ‘Smart Cities’ and so on. As the Ambassador of India to Qatar, my heart swells with pride when I hear from Qatari dignitaries about the valuable contribution made by the Indian community to the growth and development of Qatar over the years. Today, India's fast-paced growth, technological achievements, business-friendly environment, skilled workforce and a vast consumer market, offer Qatar a useful opportunity to contribute to India's growth and development in the coming years. India looks forward to greater Qatari investments, with investments of more than US$ 1.5 trillion planned in the area of infrastructure over the next two decades, making it one of the most attractive markets for leading investors. These factors are reflected in the Global Competitiveness Report for 2016-17 by the World Economic Forum, which ranks India as a best performer in South Asia for structural reforms undertaken in infrastructure, financial market development, innovation and market size, among others. India attaches great importance to its friendly relations with the State of Qatar. India is the third largest export destination for Qatar. Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India, accounting for 55% of India's global LNG imports and 15% of Qatar's total export of LNG. We look forward to enhanced cooperation in the energy sector, as India seeks to enhance the share of natural gas in its energy mix in the next decade. India is a major exporter of food products to Qatar. India’s exports to Qatar witnessed an overall increase of 87% in 2017-18, compared to 2016-17. Indian companies operating in Qatar are pursuing mutually-beneficial collaborations in infrastructure, information and communication technology, energy and other areas in Qatar, contributing to Qatar’s preparation for the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Official bilateral interactions continue at a regular pace to boost economic co-operation between the two countries. The Embassy of India, along with the Indian Business & Professionals Council (IBPC), organized the Qatar India Business and Investment Conference (QIBIC) in April 2018. The Hon'ble Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri MJ Akbar, along with his Qatari counterpart Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H.E. Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, jointly inaugurated the Conference, which examined avenues for further cooperation across various sectors between Qatar and India. India and Qatar consider people-to-people ties as a bedrock of great significance in further deepening the bilateral ties between the two nations. We are happy to note that Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has opened a representative office in Mumbai to promote and encourage more tourism from India to Qatar. India is also a popular tourist and wellness destination amongst Qatari nationals, given the cultural compatibility and historical contacts between the two countries. We look forward to enhanced contacts and connectivity between our peoples in the coming years. Defence ties between the two nations continue to prosper. The year 2017-18 saw a number of bilateral visits. ICGS Samarth visited Qatar in November 2017 for a joint passage exercise between Indian and Qatar Coast Guard ships. Indian Navy’s destroyer INS Kolkata visited Qatar on the occasion of the Doha International Maritime and Defence Exhibition (DIMDEX) organized by the Ministry of Defence, Qatar. The high level meetings between our delegations discussed various opportunities for cooperation, including for training, procurement and joint production of defence equipment in India. The Indian Embassy remains committed to promoting the interests of the Indian community in Qatar. The Embassy shall continue its efforts to expand its outreach to various sections of the Indian community and remain in close contact with the authorities concerned in Qatar, to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of Indian nationals. On this 72nd Independence Day, I once again extend my warm greetings to fellow Indians in Qatar and thank them for their contribution to the growth and development of Qatar and India. I am hopeful that the Indian community will continue to extend its cooperation, as in the past, to the Embassy and partner with us in the delivery of various services to the needy sections of the community in an efficient and timely manner. (P. Kumaran)
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Focus on BILATERAL ties India’s Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar paid a two-day visit to Qatar. During his visit, the minister held talks with the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi and discussed bilateral relations and a number of regional and international issues.
President & CEO of Qatar Petroleum and the Chairman of Qatargas Saad Sherida Al Kaabi concluded a visit to India on March 21. During his visit Al Kaabi held talks with India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan which focused on bilateral cooperation and means to strengthen economic relations with Qatar in areas of Energy. Separately, the delegation held meetings with the senior officials of the Indian Oil, GAIL, Petronet, and Reliance Industries.
V K Singh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs met with H.E. Dr. Ahmad Hassan Al-Hamadi, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar on April 20 in New Delhi. Separately the visiting delegation also held meetings with Indian dignitaries from Ministry of External Affairs.
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Chief of Staff of Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant General (Pilot), HE Ghanim bin Shaheen Al Ghanim met Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Staff of the Army and Commander of the Indian Navy and discussed bilateral relations on June 20.
T. S. Tirumurti, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, India, met with H.E. Dr. Ahmad Hassan Al-Hamadi, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar in New Delhi.
An official delegation led by Kerala’s Labour and Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan visited Qatar from June 27 to 29. The delegation held meeting with Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Labour and Indian businessmen.
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Ambassador’s meetings with dignitaries
The Indian Ambassador met H.E. Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar, on January 18 and handed over an invitation from Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India, to participate in the 16th International Energy Forum in New Delhi. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met the Ambassador of India P. Kumaran and reviewed relations between Qatar and India and ways of developing and strengthening them on May 29.
The Ambassador met HE Director General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi and discussed a number of issues of mutual interest on May14.
Warm Greetings to the Government of India and the People on the joyous occasion of
72nd Independence Day
M.E.S. INDIAN SCHOOL DOHA - QATAR
A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ISO 9001:2015, QNSA and IWA 2:2007 Certified School in Qatar.
The Indian Ambassador met with H.E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Media Corporation and discussed the media relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them.
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A glance at Embassy events
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The Mission, in association with the Indian Cultural Centre observed the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 9. Speaking at the event, the Indian Ambassador lauded the Indian community in Qatar for their hard work and requested them to continue and strive for the better. The event was attended by over 200 members from the Indian community including last year’s PBD delegates from Qatar.
Anti-Terrorism Day The Indian Ambassador administered the official pledge to all embassy officials on May 21 on the occasion of Anti-Terrorism Day.
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69th Republic Day On the occasion of India’s 69th Republic Day, the Indian Ambassador hoisted the National Flag at the Embassy premises. Around 1,000 Indians and friends of India in Qatar attended the celebration. A reception was organised by the Ambassador to commemorate the Day on January 28, at Sheraton Hotel, Doha. The event was attended by the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour & Social Affairs, HE Dr. Issa Saad al Jafali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Development Planning & Statistics, HE Dr. Saleh Bin Mohammed Al Nabit, Chief of Protocol, Ibrahim Fakhroo, the diplomatic corps and over 600 members of the Indian community in Qatar.
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‘Bharat Utsav’ The Indian Cultural Centre, under the aegis of Indian Embassy, held a show titled ‘Bharat Utsav’ at the Qatar National Convention Centre on April 13 to highlight the cultural heritage of India. It featured about 350 expatriate artists. The Indian Ambassador was the chief guest and the Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were the guests of honour.
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A strong imprint in the African continent
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By HHS Viswanathan
rime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to three African countries recently should be seen in the larger context of the remarkable outreach to that continent in the last three years. India’s relations with Africa go a long way back to pre-colonial times. Over the last seven decades, as independent nations, India and the African countries have engaged effectively in political, economic and commercial fields. These engagements became more substantial in the new millennium because of two reasons: the transformation of India as a leading emerging economy and the political and economic resurgence of Africa. There has been an exponential growth in trade, investments and Development Partnership. The IndiaAfrica Forum Summit (IAFS) has turned out to be an effective platform for taking the engagement to a higher trajectory. The third edition of the IAFS, held in New Delhi in 2015 was significantly productive due to the participation of all the 54 African nations. One major lacuna in the bilateral engagements has been a visible lack of exchange of high level visits. There have been countries where there have no visits ever or for decades. This lacuna has been squarely addressed by this government. In the last three years, there have been more than 20 visits at the levels of the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. According to Secretary (ER) in
Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomes PM Modi the Ministry of External Affairs Tirumurti, with this tour, India will complete visits at the levels of Ministers or above to all the 54 countries under New Delhi’s Africa Outreach Initiative.
Rwanda
Modi’s first port of call was Rwanda. It is historic because this is the first ever vis-
it by an Indian Prime Minister. The small East African country has come a long way after the tragic genocide in the mid1990s. Today, Rwanda is looked upon as a gateway to the East African market. Its business friendly policies have attracted impressive foreign investments. Rwandan President, Paul Kagame (who, at present, is also the African Union Chairman) is playing a key role in the sub-regional and regional integration of Africa. His role in the recent finalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area
of the bilateral relations is borne out by the fact that in January 2017, the two countries elevated their ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership. During the visit, Modi announced two more LOCs: US$ 100 million for industrial parks and a similar amount for agriculture and irrigation.
Uganda
Modi’s visit to Uganda was one by an Indian Prime Minister after 21 years. Over the years, defence cooperation, particularly training and capacity build-
Modi with Ugandan President Kaguta Museveni (AfCFTA) was very significant. Modi and Kagame have had earlier interactions. Kagame visited India twice in two years: in January 2017 for the Vibrant Gujarat event and in March 2018 for the founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance. Rwanda has received US$ 400 million as Lines of Credit (LOCs) in the last few years. Many Rwandans have also benefitted from India’s training and scholarship programs. The importance
ing has attained great significance. There is an Indian military training team in Jinja since 2010. This cooperation is to be enhanced further. Two new LOCs were also announced: one for US$141 million in the power distribution sector and one of US$ 64 million for agriculture and dairy production. Uganda is also home to over 30,000 Indians with whom PM interacted. The highlight of the visit was the address to the Ugandan Parliament, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister.
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When the dragon and the tiger work together‌
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By Laurence Brahm
he dragon and the tiger are two ancient Asian symbols that express dynamism and strength in both China and India. The ancient Chinese science of geomancy, or feng shui, always necessitated having dragon and tiger elements in balance and synergy to assure both prosperity and peace. According to Hindu tradition, the god Vishnu assures maintenance, sustainability and prosperity of all existence by floating dreamlike upon a bed of entangled Naga, or serpent dragons. Such symbolic innuendo will not be lost among the leaders of two nations that share more than 5,000 years of unbroken history, cultural and economic exchange among themselves, having both served as main sources of our world’s heritage and culture. As Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Wuhan on 28-29 April, it potentially heralded a restart of the ancient Silk Road. For millennia the Silk Road network of trade and commerce represented the economic order of our planet. From the historical perspective of both China and India, the 200 and more years of colonial, post-colonial and neoliberal eras that sidelined these traditional exchange routes marked only a very brief disruption in the overarching sequence of their shared history.
Prime Minister Modi and Xi at the recently concluded BRICS summit in South Africa. Now it is time to bring it all back. Xi and Modi shaking hands in Wuhan could represent a historic moment – an ancient yet new strategic alliance that could prove a global game changer. These two powers, through policy coordination, could spark a regional megatrend of smart infrastructure integration, enhanced through technology, telecom-
munications and digital finance. Today China stands as the largest single global investor in artificial intelligence and quantum communications. India is the world leader in software outsourcing and IT consulting. Both nations are the largest innovators and users of digital financing networks and mobile-phone banking systems, pioneering financial
empowerment into the most isolated villages where their low-cost smartphone penetration is already strong. The future of innovation is no longer in Silicon Valley, but rather in the arc spreading from the Great Bay of China (Shenzhen-Hong Kong) to Bangalore in India. The question now is how to better integrate it.
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China’s Belt and Road offers a blueprint for integration, as does India’s Act East policy. For consecutive years, the Himalayan Consensus Summit held annually in Kathmandu has called for both policies to become integral and synergistic rather than viewed as separate and isolated from each other.
Nirupama Rao, former Indian Foreign Secretary and member of the Himalayan Consensus board, called for a Himalayan charter for the establishment of a Himalayan Council where regional governments can convene on climate concerns as proposed by David Molden, director-general of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and also a Himalayan Consensus board member.
In the area of infrastructure and communications, both nations will only gain from co-ordinating and synergising their respective development policies. Such new infrastructure will need to be smart, green and blue. Certainly China and India are now leaders in scaling renewable energy innovations as viable commercial solutions. Environment and climate change are the most critical issues requiring information and policy co-ordination. Both nations are the treasurers of our planet’s vital resource, the Himalayan glaciers. River systems from shared glaciers are the main water source for a quarter of the world’s population stretching across Central, South and South-East Asia. Thousands of cross-boundary river systems pose challenges of both water supply and sanitation. As the two leading regional powers, both China and India must act together in averting imminent water crisis that could pose unprecedented costs of water, food and health security along with natural disasters, migration and regional instability.
In this time of global volatility, when Western leaders and policymakers are lost amid political myopia, and disregard of both long-term climate and human dignity in favour of short-term greed, our planet is in search of a new direction to avert climate crisis and war.
For this very reason, Prof Mahendra Lama, one of India’s eminent persons and a member of the Himalayan Consensus board, proposed at the 2016 Himalayan Consensus Summit that an alternative people-to-people and think-tank mechanism should be established to mitigate crisis and avert conflict by addressing root causes rather than effects.
At the 2018 Himalayan Consensus summit, Nicholas Rossellini, the UN China regional co-ordinator, announced the launch of the UN Development Programme-Himalayan Consensus Silk Road dialogues, focusing its agenda for the year on environmental and technology discussions aimed at improving China-India relations.
That voice of sanity may very well come from two ancient nations who have historically offered the world some of its deepest philosophical foundations. Europe may need to think about rebalance. Africa, whose largest inbound investors are China and India, can see the equation clearly. South America may be thinking along the same lines. This is a time when no nation can put itself first, and everyone must co-ordinate and work together for the sustainability, if not existence, of our planet. It is time to realise a “community of shared future for mankind” as a vision to be shared among us all.
India’s ‘goddess of speed’
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n a historical landmark for Indian track events, Hima Das last month became the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold medal at the world level as she clinched the top spot in the women’s 400m final race in the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships. Hailing from Dhing village in Assam’s Nagaon distrist, 18-year old Hima was expected to win gold at the tournament, having been the U-20 season leader in this quarter-mile event. She clocked 51.46s to win the historic gold for India. However, this has not been her personal best so far.
Hima, who trained in her father’s rice fields in Dhing Village, scripted a journey to the top which is nothing less than spectacular, considering she took up serious racing only last year. The teenager had earlier clocked an Indian U-20 record of 51.32 seconds to finish sixth in the Commonwealth Games 400m final in Gold Coast this year in April. Not only has she improved her timings since then, she has also lowered the Indian U-20 record in 400m to 51.13 seconds while winning gold in the recent National Inter State Championships in Guwahati. No woman before Das has won a gold medal in a World Championship at any level, be it youth, junior or senior. She is also the first Indian to have won a gold in a track event at the world level. With the feat, she has now joined javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold in Poland in the last edition in 2016 in a world record effort. She has also become the first Indian track athlete to have won a medal in the history of this competition.
Hima is the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold medal at the world level
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Paving the way for cutting-edge US technology can be made to India without individual licenses. This regulatory change will enhance the bilateral defence trade relationship and result in a greater volume of US exports to India.
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he United States has recently designated India as a Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) country - a status that will allow the country to buy highly advanced and sensitive technologies from America. With such coveted designation, India will now be at par with the United States’ closest allies and partners such as NATO. In a statement, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said that this new designation reflects India’s membership in three of the four multilateral export control regimes, as well the development of its national export control system. “US companies will be able to more efficiently export a much wider range of products to Indian high technology and military customers. India’s new status will benefit US manufacturers while continuing to protect its national security,” he added. STA Tier 1 treatment will expand the scope of exports subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that
Currently there are 36 countries on STA-1 list. India is the only South Asian country to be on the list. Other Asian countries designated as STA-1 are Japan and South Korea. According to Ross, STA-1 provides India greater supply chain efficiency, both for defence and for other hightech products, that will increase activity with US systems, the interoperability of the systems, and will reduce time and resources needed to get licensing approved. “We calculate that it will be a competitive advantage for the US, in terms of supplying those kinds of products to India. It looks as though over the last seven years, some USD 9.7 billion of products would have been affected, so it’s a meaningful-sized number. And probably, it’ll be much more than that because a lot of things they knew wouldn’t be exportable, they didn’t order from us,” the US Commerce Secretary said. In 2016, the US had recognised India as a major defence partner - a move which paved the way for India’s STA-1 status. Both the countries had issued a joint statement saying, “Noting that
the US-India defence relationship can be an anchor of stability and given the increasingly strengthened cooperation in defence, the US hereby recognises India as a Major Defence Partner.” Both the countries had reached an understanding under which India would receive license-free access to a wide range of dual-use technologies in conjunction with steps that India has committed to take to advance its export control objectives. STA-1 designation authorises the export, re-export and transfer (incountry) of specified items on the
Commerce Control List to destinations posing a low risk of unauthorised or impermissible uses. Reacting to US’ move, Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Singh Sarna said: “It is a sign of trust not only in the relationship but also on India’s capabilities as an economy and as security partner, because it also presupposes that India has the multilateral export control regime in place, which would allow the transfer of more sensitive defence technologies and dual use technologies to India and without the risk of any proliferation.”
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How ancient India changed the world – with maths
By Christian Yates
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t should come as no surprise that the first recorded use of the number zero, recently discovered to be made as early as the 3rd or 4th century, happened in India. Mathematics on the Indian subcontinent has a rich history going back over 3,000 years and thrived for centuries before similar advances were made in Europe, with its influence meanwhile spreading to China and the Middle East. As well as giving us the concept of zero, Indian mathematicians made seminal contributions to the study of trigonometry, algebra, arithmetic and negative numbers among other areas. Perhaps most significantly, the decimal system that we still employ worldwide today was first seen in India. The number system As far back as 1200 BC, mathematical knowledge was being written down as part of a large body of knowledge known as the Vedas. In these texts, numbers were commonly expressed as combinations of powers of ten. For example, 365 might be expressed as three hundreds (3x10²), six tens (6x10¹) and five units (5x10⁰), though each power of ten was represented with a name rather than a set of symbols. It is reasonable to believe that this representation using powers of ten played a crucial role in the development of the decimal-place value system in India. From the third century BC, we also have written evidence of the Brahmi numerals, the precursors to the modern, Indian or Hindu-Arabic numeral system that most of the world uses today. Once zero was introduced, almost all of the mathematical mechanics would be in place to enable ancient Indians to study higher mathematics. The concept of zero
West until the early 13th century, though Fibonnacci’s book liber abaci.
Zero itself has a much longer history. The recently dated first recorded zeros, in what is known as the Bakhshali manuscript, were simple placeholders – a tool to distinguish 100 from 10. Similar marks had already been seen in the Babylonian and Mayan cultures in the early centuries AD and arguably in Sumerian mathematics as early as 3000-2000 BC.
Solutions of quadratic equations
But only in India did the placeholder symbol for nothing progress to become a number in its own right. The advent of the concept of zero allowed numbers to be written efficiently and reliably. In turn, this allowed for effective record-keeping that meant important financial calculations could be checked retroactively, ensuring the honest actions of all involved. Zero was a significant step on the route to the democratisation of mathematics.
Rules for negative numbers
These accessible mechanical tools for working with mathematical concepts, in combination with a strong and open scholastic and scientific culture, meant that, by around 600AD, all the ingredients were in place for an explosion of mathematical discoveries in India. In comparison, these sorts of tools were not popularised in the
In the seventh century, the first written evidence of the rules for working with zero were formalised in the Brahmasputha Siddhanta. In his seminal text, the astronomer Brahmagupta introduced rules for solving quadratic equations (so beloved of secondary school mathematics students) and for computing square roots. Brahmagupta also demonstrated rules for working with negative numbers. He referred to positive numbers as fortunes and negative numbers as debts. He wrote down rules that have been interpreted by translators as: “A fortune subtracted from zero is a debt,” and “a debt subtracted from zero is a fortune”. This latter statement is the same as the rule we learn in school, that if you subtract a negative number, it is the same as adding a positive number. Brahmagupta also knew that “The product of a debt and a fortune is a debt” – a positive number multiplied by a negative is a negative.
For the large part, European mathematicians were reluctant to accept negative numbers as meaningful. Many took the view that neAgative numbers were absurd. They reasoned that numbers were developed for counting and questioned what you could count with negative numbers. Indian and Chinese mathematicians recognised early on that one answer to this question was debts. For example, in a primitive farming context, if one farmer owes another farmer 7 cows, then effectively the first farmer has -7 cows. If the first farmer goes out to buy some animals to repay his debt, he has to buy 7 cows and give them to the second farmer in order to bring his cow tally back to 0. From then on, every cow he buys goes to his positive total. Basis for calculus This reluctance to adopt negative numbers, and indeed zero, held European mathematics back for many years. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was one of the first Europeans to use zero and the negatives in a systematic way in his development of calculus in the late 17th century. Calculus is used to measure rates of changes and is important in almost every branch of science, notably underpinning many key discoveries in modern physics. But Indian mathematician Bhāskara had already discovered many of Leibniz’s ideas over 500 years earlier. Bhāskara, also made major contributions to algebra, arithmetic, geometry and trigonometry. He provided many results, for example on the solutions of certain “Doiphantine” equations, that would not be rediscovered in Europe for centuries. The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics, founded by Madhava of Sangamagrama in the 1300s, was responsible for many firsts in mathematics, including the use of mathematical induction and some early calculus-related results. Although no systematic rules for calculus were developed by the Kerala school, its proponents first conceived of many of the results that would later be repeated in Europe including Taylor series expansions, infinitessimals and differentiation. The leap, made in India, that transformed zero from a simple placeholder to a number in its own right indicates the mathematically enlightened culture that was flourishing on the subcontinent at a time when Europe was stuck in the dark ages. Although its reputation suffers from the Eurocentric bias, the subcontinent has a strong mathematical heritage, which it continues into the 21st century by providing key players at the forefront of every branch of mathematics.
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India’s opportunity in a multi-conceptual world
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ur world is undergoing a series of transformational shifts occurring at an exponential speed. These shifts bear promise as well as peril. Galloping progress in science and the advent of cutting-edge technological developments have made our environment more intelligent and interconnected than ever. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has created a unique inflection point for the world and smart innovations have enabled us to attain unprecedented accuracy and speed in information flow. At the same time, we are facing significant global challenges, recurring as well as new, such as deepening income inequality, persistent jobless growth, escalating violence and conflicts around the world, threats to state stability, eroding public trust in federal governments, heightening geostrategic friction and, of course, environmental sustainability and climate change. In parallel, however, we are witnessing the emergence of novel national and international political and governance systems
renewed international identity akin to its potential as a major global player. India’s extraordinary achievements – despite its complex federal governance structure and highly pluralistic and diverse society – corroborate that the country possesses a robust institutional mechanism for deftly counterbalancing pervasive diversity while projecting a single identity, a fact which bears important lessons for the world struggling to find equilibrium and move towards a harmonious multiconceptual existence. This is being made possible through the philosophy of ‘Together with all, Development for all (Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas)
By Klaus Schwab
with far-reaching impact on regional and global social contracts and interactions. From a unipolar global governance system, we are moving towards a multipolar and multi-conceptual social order with precarious friction points. Bending under the weight apt and optimally respond to these changes and global challenges. Amid this metamorphosis, India presents an image of optimism and promise. Its unique demographic dividend, rising tide of entrepreneurial spirit, breakthrough innovations across sectors, and remarkable pace of bold and structural reforms have boosted the macroeconomic fundamentals and enhanced India’s long-term economic outlook. Simultaneously, India is expanding its leadership in a wide range of global initiatives. Its leading role in the Paris climate agreement and International Solar Alliance, and efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the Nuclear Suppliers Group demonstrate a quest for a more pivotal role in global geopolitics and a relentless pursuit of a
The time is right for India to amplify its global influence and accelerate the development of robust and resilient economic, social and political foundations. For India to reap the benefits of its reforms process, it is imperative that it address some critical challenges at home. In spite of significant economic and social progress, spatial, income- and gender-based inequalities persist, and access to core public services is disproportionate between rural and urban areas. There are concerns over high levels of air pollution and scope for improved infrastructure. For many of these challenges, the government is already scoping targeted initiatives.
With this in mind, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018 will take place on 23-26 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, under the theme “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World”. It will convene over 3,000 leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society, academia, media and the arts to set an agenda that drives greater multistakeholder collaboration to address the political, economic and societal challenges of our times. At this Annual Meeting, we are delighted to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi - the first Prime Minister from India to attend the meeting in the last two decades
There is no doubt that India is in transition and will soon become a force to be reckoned with. The country will undoubtedly have a great role and influence in shaping our common future by enriching the global policy debate as well as assisting in designing and developing better policies for a prosperous world. International cooperation, born of mutual interest and collective reflection, is the only way that will allow us to adequately tackle our challenges and create a more equitable, prosperous and harmonious global society.
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Sixth-largest economy in the world
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s per the World Bank's updated data for 2017, India has edged past France and snatched the tag of the world's sixth-largest economy from it, sending it a rank lower. India's gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $2.597 trillion at the end of last year while the French economy was valued at $2.582 trillion. The US remains the world's largest economy with a GDP of $19.39 trillion, followed by China ($12.23 trillion), Japan ($4.87 trillion), Germany ($3.67 trillion) and the United Kingdom ($2.62 trillion). Indian economy had slowed down last year due to transitory shocks like demonetisation and the chaotic implementation of the national goods and services tax (GST), but has since bounced back. India's growth accelerated to 7.7 per cent in the quarter ended March, up from 7 per cent in the previous quarter. Better still, last month, the World Bank forecast a growth rate of 7.3 per cent for India this year and 7.5 per cent for the next two years, making it the fastest growing country among major emerging economies. According to India Today, the World Bank noted that the Indian economy has benefitted from robust performances in manufacturing sector driven by increased consumer spending. Overall, India has made rapid progress, doubling its GDP in less than past decade and emerging as the engine of economic growth in Asia, especially with the Chinese economy showing definite signs of lethargy. The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook report expects China to decelerate from 6.6 per cent in the current year to 6.4 per cent in 2019, while India is expected to post growth rates of 7.4 per cent and 7.8 per cent in the same time frame. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to take GDP growth to double digits while speaking at the Niti Aayog's fourth Governing Council. But the outlook in terms of per capita GDP is rather dismal since India boasts a population of around 1.34 billion, and according to a
2017 UN report, is likely to surpass China as the world's most populous country around 2024. Despite India's per capita GDP rising to $7,170 in 2017, up from $6,690 the previous year, it only ranks 126th in the world as per IMF data. And France, with a population of 67 million, reportedly boasts a figure roughly 20 times higher than us. London-based consultancy, the Centre for Economics and Business Research's 2018 World Economic League Table recently predicted that the Indian economy will overtake the UK, too, in real money dollar terms in 2018. And by 2032, India will emerge as the world's third largest economy.
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A haven in the emerging market turmoil
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s the threat of a trade war grows and emerging-market central banks sacrifice growth to protect their currencies, equity investors have their backs to the wall. But in their search for a haven, one name keeps cropping up: India.
terms. Since a global selloff began in January, equities have erased $274 billion, equivalent in value to the entire market of Finland. Increased volatility and passivefund outflows suggest India is no less vulnerable to the jitters than its peers.
The South Asian nation, the fastestgrowing major economy in the world, enjoys relative insulation from external shocks as a booming middle class delivers enough domestic demand to counter the fallout from protectionism, according to money
The country’s central bank raised interest rates for the first time in four years last week, and Governor Urjit Patel has even gone as far as pleading with the Fed to go slow with its interest-rate increases.
managers including Franklin Templeton and Newton Investment Management. Exchange-traded fund house WisdomTree Investments Inc. goes a step further, saying investors should allocate as much as 20 per cent of their emergingmarket portfolios to Indian equities. India is “one of those places that provides better risk-reward compared with emerging markets at large, especially China or more globally-linked countries,” Gaurav Sinha, an asset-allocation strategist at WisdomTree, said in an interview in London. “If I am investing in India, I am investing for the local consumption.” That might sound brave to anyone who’s been watching India’s performance this year. While stocks are up in localcurrency terms, the rupee’s weakness has left investors with losses in dollar
The nation will become the third-largest consumer economy, with household spending tripling to $4 trillion by 2025, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group last year
When the dust settles, they say, the country will start to outperform again. And they have history on their side: India was quicker to rebound from the 2008 crisis, handing investors 70 per cent greater returns than the rest of the developing world since then. “I don’t think our positive stance on India has changed,” said Vikas Chiranewal, a Mumbai-based senior executive director for Franklin Templeton Investments’ emerging-markets group. “The broader
market was becoming a bit pricey and some amount of price decline is healthy.” Growing consumerism Propelled by economic reforms that started in 1991 and have been deepened by Modi’s government, India’s middle class has ballooned past 600 million, according to a study by Mumbai University. The nation will become the third-largest consumer economy, with household spending tripling to $4 trillion by 2025, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group last year. That’s made Indian markets a magnet for foreign investors, spurring flows of $335 billion in the past 10 years. The International Monetary Fund predicts India’s gross domestic product will grow an average of more than 8 percent annually in the next five years.
By Selcuk Gokoluk
“India is the only, large accessible country which has the potential to grow at substantial rates,” Sinha said. Yet India is less reliant on exports than most other emerging markets. With almost two-thirds of GDP accounted for by consumption, companies have their hands full serving local demand. As a result, exports account for just 11 per cent of the GDP, compared with China’s 19 per cent and Russia’s 23 per cent.
Mumbai’s $2.2 trillion stock market is primarily driven by investors at home. Foreign-investment flows have accounted for a fraction of the trading even during this year’s declines. Still, signs abound that India’s stock market is overcrowded. Investors have to pay more than $18 for every dollar of projected profit, one of the world’s highest valuations. The country’s sensitivity to oil prices and the approach of the 2019 general elections increase the risk that the market may be volatile for the next 12 months. “Valuations have become more stretched for the Indian equity market as a whole, but provided the oil price does not continue to rise, we think India does offer relative insulation against protectionist trade policy,” said Douglas Reed, a Londonbased strategist at Newton Investment Management.
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Achievements that helped push technological boundaries the world over
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hanks to the talent and infrastructure in our country, today, India is among the topmost countries in the world in the field of scientific research. There are so many technological achievements that every Indian should feel proud about. 1. Development of an atomic clock has made ISRO one of the few space organisations in the world to have gained this sophisticated technology ISRO has developed an atomic clock that will be used in navigation satellites to measure precise location data. The space agency currently imports atomic clocks from European aerospace manufacturer Astrium. 2. A team of Indian astronomers has discovered an extremely large supercluster of galaxies This is one of the largest known structures in the neighbourhood of the universe - as big as 20 million billion suns. It is a path-breaking discovery and the cluster has been named 'Saraswati'. 3. ISRO demonstrated its capability of handling complex missions by successfully launching a record 104 satellites on a single rocket This is the highest number of satellites ever launched in a single mission by any other country in the world. 4. ISRO launched the country's heaviest rocket GSLV-Mk III whose cryogenic engine was developed indigenously The rocket is described as a “game-changer” in the first of its kind space mission and is yet another major step towards being self reliant in the country’s space programme. 5. Rifath Sharook, an 18-year-old from Karur in Tamil Nadu, scripted history by designing the world's smallest satellite The tiny 3D-printed satellite is called Kalamsat, after former President Abdul Kalam, and was flown by NASA into space in one of its missions. 6. PARAM - India’s first ever indigenous supercomputer was a major milestone in modern India’s technological journey India faced a technology-denial regime in the 80s. It was then that the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) was set up with the clear mandate to develop an indigenous supercom-
By Meenu Katariya
puter to meet high-speed computational needs. 7. Aryabhatta - the first unmanned satellite built by India was a breakthrough achievement in India's space programme Aryabhata was built by the Indian Space Research Organization to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics and opened new possibilities for ISRO. 8. India developed an indigenous seeker for Brahmos for the first time Brahmos is the world’s fastest and most formidable anti-ship cruise missile. This marks a big achievement and breakthrough for the supersonic missile as this is the first time the country has developed a seeker for a missile of this calibre and class. 9. The Mars Orbiter Mission made India the only nation in the world to reach Mars in its first attempt Mangalyaan-1, the indigenously built space probe marked India's first venture into the interplanetary space. It also made India first in Asia and fourth in the world to reach the surface of Mars. 10. Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar exploration mission, made it possible for ISRO to go beyond the Geostationary Orbit With this mission, India emerged as the fourth country in the world to hoist its flag on a lunar surface. It also provided the needed thrust to basic science and engineering research in the country. 11. ISRO successfully test-fired Scramjet Rocket Engine, a breakthrough technology in air-breathing propulsion Air-breathing rocket systems use atmospheric oxygen from their surroundings, burn it with the stored fuel to produce a forward thrust in contrast to the conventional chemical rocket systems which carry both the oxygen and the fuel. The development of this high-technology system will go a big way in meeting India’s futuristic space transportation needs.
Mangalyaan-1
12. Space Capsule Recovery Experiment Mission established India’s technological capability to recover an orbiting satellite It was a remarkable achievement and the technology will now be used to develop recovery technologies for future human and robotic missions. 13. The successful demonstration of the use of cryogenic engine technology put India among a league of only five other such nations With the successful launch of GSLV-D5, India has gained the capability to launch heavy satellites without foreign assistance. It will also pave way for sizeable savings for the country's future launch costs. 14. India's INSAT system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems owned by any country in the Asia-Pacific region It initiated a major revolution in India’s communications sector. At present, it is serving several crucial sectors of our economy, including telecommunication, education, and meteorology. 15. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) helped India realize its dream of having an independent satellite navigation capability It has freed India from its dependence on navigation satellite systems operated by other countries. By all means, a home grown GPS system like IRNSS could serve as a strategic asset of tremendous significance for the military too.
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Promising agro startups in India
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ndia is a country of farmers. Agriculture is the primary occupation for most people in the country. 70% of its population depends directly or indirectly upon agriculture. India ranks second in the economic contribution of agriculture. The Green Revolution which started in India in the early 1960s, led to an increase in food grain production. This landmark agricultural revolution transformed the nation from chronic dependence on grain imports into an agricultural powerhouse that is now a net exporter of the world. Farmers face unprecedented challenges like unpredictable weather, non-availability of good quality seeds, and fertilizers and unreliable avenues to sell their crops after the harvest. They have little knowledge of government policies. All this leads to high debt burdens on farmers. Can we do anything about it? Yes. Some agriculture startups in India have come up with innovative answers to this question. To help farmers overcome these challenges, various agriculture companies in India have emerged out to work in the agricultural sector. The profit depends not only on capital investments and human resources but also on the technical capacity used before and during the production, and in marketing. With the use of technology, these agriculture startups in India are working their best to help farmers grow by making farming more sustainable and profitable.
Agrostar
Agrostar aims to provide availability, quality, convenience and simplicity in all agricultural products to Indian farmers who don’t have access to quality products. Its “direct to farmer” m-commerce platform helps the farmers buy agri- inputs (seed, crop nutrition, crop protection and agri- hardware) by giving a missed call and then accessing the mobile application.
Kisan Raja
Kisan Raja, operational in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, solves the problem of farmers of getting up at odd hours in the midnight to switch off the motors.
Their key product is a GSM-enabled device called Kisan Raja that allows a farmer to remotely control his irrigation pump with their mobile or fixed line phone connection.
Skymet Weather Ser vices
Naturally occurring disasters are a risk for agricultural businesses. Loss of resources can be avoided with the help of risk management. Skymet Weather Services is an agriculture company in India which aims to provide its clients proper risk management by forecasting weather so that precautions can be taken. This company measures, predicts and limits climate risk to agriculture and also gives the facility of crop insurance to farmers.
Rain Water Concepts Pvt. Ltd. This social agricultural business implements rainwater harvesting systems. Innovative technologies are used for irrigation and rainwater harvesting: urban and rural rainwater harvesting, bore- well recharging, subsoil recharging, stream- water harvesting, groundwater recharging, non- irrigational agriculture, and the recycling of used water
RML Information Ser vices Pvt. Ltd. (RML)
Indian farmers are being paid low prices for their crop yields as compared to the farmers of developed nations. Lack of information and awareness is the root cause for this. This agricultural company aims to remove this information deficit by providing knowledge regarding government schemes and bank credits, arm solutions, market data, weather forecasts or ways to analyse business calculatedly, by the use of technology i.e., mobile and the internet. Even the best agricultural businesses in India face similar challenges like other startups. However, these agriculture startups in India face additional challenges. The main customers of these startups are farmers who are skeptical of new innovations, though the situation is improving gradually. There is a lack of understanding in the investors as agriculture sector isn’t as glamourous as the technology, telecom, and enter-
tainment industries. But there is an increasing support from the government for the upliftment of this sector due to which many entrepreneurs have been able to create the best agricultural businesses in India. It can be estimated that as the country and multiple industries depend directly and indirectly on agriculture, these agriculture companies in India will become more and more active as there is a lot of room for growth.
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Avani’s solo-sortie creates history
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whereby you get a feel of the aircraft, a senior IAF fighter pilot who didn’t wanted to named said.
lying Officer Avani Chaturvedi of Indian Air Force (IAF) flew her first solo sortie in a Russian made MiG-21 fighter creating history.
Flying officers Chaturvedi, Bhavana Kanth and Mohona Singh were the first woman cadets to be admitted into the fighter stream of the IAF in 2016. Till 2016, the IAFs fighter stream was male only domain. Both Flying Officer Chaturvedi and Flying Officer Kanth have been assigned to the MiG-21 squadrons.
Flying Officer Chaturvedi took off from the Jamnagar Air base in Gujarat and successfully completed her mission. The solo sortie in a fighter is the first step to becoming a fully operational fighter pilot. Prior to her solo-sortie, she took off from Jamnagar with her instructor for the last time for the Solo Check. For the last time, the instructor watched her carefully in a MiG-21 Bison Aircraft to ensure Flying Officer Chaturvedi got everything right.
More training
While the first solo sortie is a big step forward for the IAF, Chaturvedi still has few steps to walk before she is considered to be fully operational and can be deployed. She will now train for at least another two years before being deployed as a fully operational pilot.
Solo check
Flying and more so fighter flying is a zero error profession, an IAF pilot said explaining the need for a Solo Check. Soon after, she would roar down the Jamnagar Airbase and get airborne again. Only, this time she didn’t have anyone flying with her to help her take those split second decisions on a fighter. Experienced flyers and instructors would, however, be at the Air Traffic control of Jamnagar Airbase and on the run-way to monitor her flight.
She is the first Indian woman to fly to a fighter aircraft solo. The solo sortie is a first milestone of any fighter pilot and this reinforces IAF commitment give a level-playing field to both genders.
Chaturvedi lasted for about 30 minutes in a super-sonic MiG-21 Bison fighter which is also considered to be a difficult aircraft to handle. The Russian made MiG 21 Bison is also the oldest fighter in IAF’s stable.
First sortie
In the first sortie you are not expected to carry out very complicated manoeuvres. There are set drills one needs to go through
The first sortie of Flying Officer Avani
For the next six months, Flying Officer Chaturvedi will fly the fighter to learn the intricacies of a fighter. She will then graduate to learn about tactical flying and then how to use an aircraft as a war fighting machine. She will have to learn how to fight during the day. After that she will have to learn how to fly and fight at night all over again, a senior IAF instructor said.
World’s largest mobile phone factory now in India
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amsung Electronics Co. opened the world’s largest mobile phone factory in India, in a win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship program to lure investors to manufacture in the South Asian nation. The factory was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during their visit to the facility located at the outskirts of Delhi. This will double Samsung’s Noida unit capacity for mobile phones to 120 million units a year from 68 million units a year, it said in a statement. The phase-wise expansion will be completed by 2020. Smartphone makers from Xiaomi Corp. to Oppo Mobiles are building factories in the world’s fastest growing market for the product bolstering Modi’s push to encourage overseas investors to “Make in India.” Asia’s third-largest economy attracted record foreign direct investment in the past year totaling $62 billion, including reinvestment.
By Anurag Kotoky & Saritha Rai
“The opportunity is just massive,” said Faisal Kawoosa, who heads new initiatives at researcher CMR Pvt. “Such a large facility will help Samsung cater to the huge demand in a country of 1.3 billion people where there are only 425 million smartphone users. India’s smartphone market grew 14 per cent with total shipments of 124 million units in 2017, the fastest pace of growth among the top 20 markets, according to International Data Corp. Demand for new phones is surging in India, helped in part by billionaire Mukesh Ambani offering $23 4G feature-phones, free voice services and cheap data plans. China’s Xiaomi said in April it will set up three more factories in India. The Samsung factory will make everything from low-end smartphones that cost under $100 to its flagship S9 model, according to the company. Earlier this year, China’s Xiaomi displaced Samsung from the No.1 smartphone spot in the country, breaking its long-held dominance.
Indians favor low-end smartphones priced at $250 or less, given the low average annual income of its people, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. That’s one reason why Apple Inc. has struggled to gain market share in India, with most iPhone models priced beyond $500, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence report earlier this month. Last year, India overtook the U.S. to become the world’s second-largest smartphone market after China. There will be 780 million connected smartphones in 2021, compared with 359 million in 2016, according to a study by Cisco Systems.
The Samsung factory will make everything from low-end smartphones that cost under $100 to its flagship S9 model
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The diva who rewrote the rules of stardom
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Sridevi is often credited with rewriting the rules of stardom and wresting the rightful space for the heroine in cinema. From Sivaji Ganesan to Nawazuddin Siddiqui, she acted with several generations of heroes and was that rare heroine to have starred as the lead with a real-life father and son, Dharmendra and Sunny Deol. But none of her superstar heroes — be it Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kamal Haasan or Rajinikanth — could achieve success in as many languages as she did. They were kings of their own fiefdoms, while all of India was her playground. What she lost out on was childhood. Her first adult role happened at the age of 13, opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, in K. Balachander’s Moondru Mudichu (1976). Apart from Balachander, her other significant mentors were Bharathiraja and Balu Mahendra. Their complicated, moving love stories, 16 Vayathinile (1977) and Moondram Pirai (1982), did not just firmly entrench Sridevi in the Tamil film industry; the Hindi remakes Solva Sawan (1979) and Sadma (1983) forced the Hindi film industry to take note. It is widely agreed that her performances in southern cinema were far more organic than her glamorous turns in the north, be it Varumayin Niram Sivappu, Meendum Kokila or Kshana Kshanam. But she managed to display her enormous range in Hindi films too. She comfortably swung between parallel streams of critical and commercial hits in Hindi. She started off with kitschy song-and-dance routines in southern productions. Despite being initially unversed in Hindi, she worked hard on her way to the top. Chandni, Mr. India, Chaalbaaz and Lamhe showed her versatility — drama, emotion, dance, comedy, even action. Sridevi may not have crossed over to international projects but her appeal went beyond India. Spontaneous outpouring of affection is expected when a young life is suddenly cut short. In her case it was also to do with the personal connect she established with individual viewers. Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam — in each industry she had a special place for herself. But the fact is that she couldn’t be owned by any one; she belonged to all.
ridevi made her debut in cinema as a child artiste in the Tamil film Thunaivan in 1969. It was the same year that Amitabh Bachchan, more than 20 years her senior, faced the camera for the first time in Saat Hindustani. Even that early start does not take away from her remarkable feat of packing into her short life of 54 years almost 300 films and a career spanning five decades.
More than the numbers, her career stands out for the sheer diversity of roles she played. Sridevi could not be restricted by linguistic or territorial boundaries. She could pull off Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films with the same ease with which she ruled over the Tamil and Hindi film scenes. In this respect she outdid almost all her contemporaries, male or female.
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The Dravidian stalwart beyond compare‌
arunanidhi, who was chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu five times between 1969 and 2011, was born to poor working class parents in Tiruvarur town in 1929. His public life began at age 14 when he dropped out of school to join the student wing of the Justice Party, which later became a movement to bolster Tamil identity. Even as the rest of India was in the throes of a freedom movement against British rule, the Justice Party stood out for challenging elitism, religious dogma and caste orthodoxies in south India. It was stringent about civil rights, opted for civil disobedience to demand affirmative action and was outspoken for Tamil identity against national pride. These ideals found a zealous convert in the young Karunanidhi. He campaigned against the caste supremacy of Brahmins and also opposed a move by the federal government to impose Hindi as an official language of communication in south India
And he was a pioneer in dovetailing popular culture with political and social advocacy. From street plays, to movies, to owning television channels bearing his party emblem of a rising sun, Karunanidhi enjoyed an extraordinary status in Indian politics for segueing politics and performance art into a successful formula for reaching voters and wielding influence. He was a wordsmith beyond compare. So his wit and clever puns gave him a Wilde-like literary charm unmatched in Tamil politics. His fans were swayed by his gravelly voice, hyperbolic flourishes and blazing oratory. His theatrical moments of repetition for emphasis with a liberal sugar dust of irony and humour were hugely popular. And his unique gift of employing Tamil grandiose literary verse one moment and using a mocking street cadence in the next showed his mastery in appealing to all kinds of listeners.
A typical Karunanidhi speech, in fact, gave rise to a generation of mimics before memes were even a thing. He could, with stony self-conceit, tide over tricky questions in press conferences with droll asides and wry humour that led his critics to call him the artful dodger in the tangled world of Indian politics.
From left, VP Singh, Karunanidhi, NT Rama Rao, EMS Namboothiripad and Upendra at the National Front leaders' meeting He helped found the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in 1949. The party would go on to be one of the most influential political entities in the state. As a young activist, he strongly challenged caste hierarchy in the country and was inspired by the ideals of the Self-Respect Movement, which envisioned a society where backward castes would have equal rights. According to a recent biography, Karunanidhi: A Life in Politics, he was dazzled by the oratorical skills of Self-Respect Movement leaders. "The compelling arguments of Periyar's speeches, the bravery and courage in Azhagiri's sentences, Anna's beautiful Tamil - these mesmerized me," he wrote. But his radical views did not always work in his favour. His sympathies for the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militants in neighbouring Sri Lanka cost him his position as chief minister when former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the group. But despite this setback, Karunanidhi continued to be a master in political sophistry, often playing a critical role in federal politics as well. His first foray into national politics came in 1989 when he formed an alliance with the National Front under then prime minister VP Singh. His party also joined the coalition government headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) AB Vajpayee in 1999. The DMK continued to play a key role in federal politics as it joined the Congress-led coalition in 2004 after it defeated the BJP. In the theatrical world of Tamil Nadu politics though, he faced corruption charges and was famously subject to a midnight arrest by his fierce rival Jayalalitha who died in 2016. Drawn in by the world of letters, Karunanidhi wrote, staged and acted in plays that doubled as vehicles of his party ideals.
...with Annadurai The artist
...with DK founder Periyar
To his die-hard fans and supporters though, Karunanidhi was known as Kalaignar, or "the artist". Even his political enemies admired his vast contribution to Tamil cinema and literature. In 1952, he wrote the screenplay and dialogues for a film called Parasakthi which was an instant hit - and shook up Tamil cinema. The hitherto benign world of Tamil talkies, that was used to religious musicals, mythological and family dramas, sat up. Centred on a Tamil family of migrants from what was then Burma to Tamil Nadu, the wordy film harshly critiqued the exploitative caste structure that led to the family being ostracised in society. It created enough controversy to prompt the government at the time to try and ban the film. But despite the protests, the film was released. It is considered a classic in the canon of India cinema and enjoys cult status in Tamil Nadu even today. A prolific writer, Karunanidhi wrote more than 30 movie scripts, novellas, poems, historical novels and regularly contributed letters to readers in Murasoli - the Tamil newspaper that was the mouthpiece of his party. He never gained the swooning fan base that his political rivals the popular matinee idol turned chief minister, MG Ramachandran, and later Jayalalitha - enjoyed. But his iconic status among his followers was evident as they gathered in droves across Tamil Nadu to mourn his passing. Karunanidhi leaves behind the distinct legacy of a leader who played the dual role of artist and statesman for the longest time in Indian politics.
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Golconda Fort … where sound is the first line of defence
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owadays, we depend on modern technology for live communication, but way back in Medieval Era, Indians had mastered the art of live communication within a range of few kilometers, that too without the support of any electronic equipment. India was one of the leading countries to use acoustics or sound based systems, which is an interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids, including vibration, sound, ultrasound, and infrasound. You will be amazed to know that Hyderabad, where the ‘Hitec City’ is located, has glorious scientific past as well. Golconda Fort, built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1525 on the Western outskirts of Hyderabad city, is not only an optimization of the opulent ‘Nawabi culture’ of the time but also a premium metaphor of the science. Though, the fort looks like any other fort built during the Medieval Era, it is devised on scientific style. The magnificent architecture of the fort is a manifestation of acoustic system. Entire building structures were built to support the acoustic arrangement. Every structure - main gates, king palace, public assemblies, and the court is placed in an order that the sound travels clearly. Also, the outer surface is so solid that it can reflect the sound waves without diluting their velocity. Amazingly, the king was able to hear even a whisper in his court from his bedroom (main palace). In the absence of proper maintenance, the grandeur buildings are decaying but its acoustic/sound system is yet working.
Why the acoustic system was needed?
In the 16th century, Golconda was the capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom and the centre of flourishing diamond trade. The world's most
By Raju Kumar
famous gems, including the Koh-i-Noor, the Hope Diamond, and the Nassak Diamond belong to Golconda. So, to ensure foolproof security, Kings of Qutb Shahi dynasty built the citadel on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400 ft) high with acoustic sound system. All main gates were acoustically synchronized in a defence communication system. In case of an enemy attack the gatemen would alert others through acoustic sound system.
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Stunning examples of Indian architecture
The Golden Temple in Punjab The Golden Temple or the Sri Harmandir Sahib is the holiest pilgrimage site of the Sikhs of the world. The temple is located in the Punjab city of Amritsar and was designed by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan. The holy book of the Sikhs known as the Adi Granth was installed inside the Golden Temple. The temple also houses the Akal Takht or the "throne of the timeless one" which is regarded as the physical attribute of God. People of all religions can visit the Golden Temple, lending a universal appeal to this site. The Golden Temple, covered by gold in the upper floors, is visited by over 100,000 people daily. The monolithic Gomateshwara statue in Karnataka The Gomateshwara is a giant statue of Bahubali, a revered figure of the Jain community of India. Bahubali was Rishabhanatha's (the first Jain tirthankara) son. Bahubali is said to have attained moksha or salvation by meditating while standing motionless for a year till climbing plants grew around his legs. The giant Gommateshwara statue was thus built in ancient India to show respect to Bahubali. It is a 57-foot monolith that is located on a hilltop in Shravanabelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka. The statue was built by Chavundaraya, a minister and commander of the Ganga Dynasty at about AD 981. The Nalanda University in Bihar A large Buddhist monastery and a world-renowned center of learning between the 7th century BCE and 1200 CE, Nalanda well deserves to be one of the 7 wonders of India as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nalanda is located about 95 km from Patna, the capital city of India’s Bihar state. Nalanda is as one of the most famous universities in ancient India that was inspired by the highly organized methods of Vedic learning. The university flourished during the reign of the Gupta Empire and later during the rule of the emperor of Kannauj, Harshavardhana. Nalanda during its peak time was attended by scholars who came from near and far including knowledge-seekers from China, Korea, Central Asia, and Tibet. Sadly, it the University was ransacked and destroyed by a Muslim army of the Mamluk Dynasty in 1200 CE and was eventually abandoned and forgotten. Many years, later, the Government of modern India revived the site, and today it attracts a large number of tourists to the Indian state. Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh Perhaps there are only a few people in the world who have not heard about the Taj Mahal, the famous symbol of love. It is an ivory-white mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal after her demise. The Taj Mahal today is the resting place of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The tombs are the centerpiece of the 17-hectare complex. The Taj Mahal was probably completely built by 1653. The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is today admired by the millions of visitors who visit the site. It is not only one of the 7 wonders of India but also the world. The Konark Sun Temple in Orissa The Konark Sun Temple is another one of the 7 wonders of India and is located in Konark, Orissa. The temple was built in 1255 CE by the East Ganga Dynasty ruler, King Narasimhadeva I. The temple is famous for its fascinating architecture and erotic sculptures. The main attraction is the sun-chariot-styled temple with elaborately carved wheels, walls, and pillars. Though a major part is in ruins, what remains is enough to draw the attention of visitors to the Konark Sun Temple. The temple is dedicated to the Sun God. Its architecture and engineering continue to baffle modern architects and engineers. Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a vast complex of Jain and Hindu Temples, located in Khajuraho in India’s Madhya Pradesh state. The site has been declared as one of India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Khajuraho temples are known across the world for their erotic sculptures and elegant nagara-style architectural symbols.
The Khajuraho temples and other monuments were built between 950 and 1050 by the rulers of the Chandela Dynasty. As per historical records, the site hosted 85 temples by the 12th century of which only about 20 survive to this date. The profusion of sculptures, intricate details, and symbolic designs all exhibit the great artistic wealth of ancient India. For all these reasons, it is regarded as one of the 7 wonders of India.
The Hampi Temple in Karnataka Hampi is a temple town in India’s Karnataka state dotted with fascinating ancient Hindu temples and shrines. During its peak time, Hampi was one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Hampi was part of the ancient Indian kingdom of Vijayanagara whose rulers were known for their love of arts and culture, thirst for knowledge, and efficient rule. The Virupaksha Temple, the Queen’s Bath, the Vittala Temple Complex are some of the most notable temples and monuments in Hampi. The place inspires the awe of all who visit Hampi and is thus rightly classified as one of the 7 wonders of India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
25
Obituary
Somnath Chatterjee (89)
Ashok Mitra (90)
Bhimsain Khurana (81)
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee passed away in Kolkata at the age of 89. Chatterjee, who was associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), served as Lok Sabha Speaker from 2004 to 2009 during the UPA-I rule. An advocate by profession, he actively joined politics in 1968. He became a Member of the Lok Sabha in 1971 and was elected for the first time as an independent candidate supported by the CPI(M). One of the longest-serving parliamentarians, Chatterjee, is a ten-time Lok Sabha MP–from 1971 to 2009–except, the 1984 election when he was defeated by Mamata Banerjee. In 1996, he was honoured with the ‘Outstanding Parliamentarian Award.’ In 2008, he was expelled from CPI (M) for not resigning as the Speaker after the party withdrew’s its support to the UPA alliance. According to Chatterjee, the expulsion was “one of the saddest days” of his life. He retired from active politics in 2009.
Noted scholar and the first Finance Minister in the Left Front government in West Bengal Ashok Mitra passed away after prolong illness. Besides serving the State Government, he also worked with the Central Government as the Chief Economic Adviser and was a member of Rajya Sabha. A teacher of economics, who taught in UN Economic Commission, Mitra was also associated with World Bank for many years. He also edited a Bengali magazine till his last days. One of Bengal’s most prolific columnists, he was known for his deep and critical analysis of society and its politics. A lifelong Communist, Mitra, during one of his last interviews to The Hindu, said, “death is a great equalizer which finally erases the differences between the rich and the poor.” Mitra authored many books of which a few, penned decades ago, continue to be in the best seller list.
Like several film personalities of the times, Bhimsain’s roots were in Pakistan. Born in Multan in 1936, Bhimsain moved to Lucknow after Partition. Though there was always an inclination towards the arts, and he did study fine arts and classical music at the Lucknow University, Bhimsain honed his artistic talent on the job, while working as a background painter at the Cartoon Film Unit of Films Division and later at Prasad Studios. He learnt animation under the legendary Ram Mohan, considered the father of Indian animation. The first film he made independently – The Climb (1971) — won the Silver Hugo award at the Chicago Film Festival. Then on there was no looking back — films like Na, Ek-Do , Munni , Freedom is a Thin Line , Mehmaan , Kahani Har Zamne Ki and Business is People followed. Bhimsain’s career was marked by eclecticism — shorts, documentaries, TV series, features, animation and ads. It was a versatile innings for Bhimsain at the movies as he rode the “middle of the road cinema” wave of the 70s and the 80s.
Politician (25 July 1929-13 August 2018)
Nargis Rabadi (89) Actress (24 April 1929 – 6 March 2018)
Nargis Rabadi, an actress who appeared in some 200 Bollywood films and was beloved for her comedic roles as doting sisters, mothers and grandmothers, died. Nargis was born in Mumbai to a family of Parsis, followers of Zoroaster. Her father, who died when she was 3, was a priest in a temple. After his death, Ms. Rabadi’s mother cooked at religious functions for extra cash. Nargis Rabadi, began her career in 1949, when a family friend working in the movie industry arranged a meeting between her and the actor and producer Sheikh Mukhtar to discuss a role in a film he was working on called “Ustad Pedro.” Following Ms. Rabadi’s acting break in 1949, she appeared mostly in supporting roles in a career that stretched over 60 years, including as the lovable grandmother Choti Nani on the popular sitcom “Dekh Bhai Dekh.” Known for her comedic timing, she attributed her long career to her eagerness for work of any kind.
Economist / ex-minister (10 April 1928 – 1 May 2018)
K Raghava (105) Film producer
Veteran Telugu film producer K Raghava was born in 1913, the year India got its first feature film Raja Harishchandra. And he had been part of the film industry since he was a child. He began his journey in the film industry with the Silent Pictures film studio in Kolkata where he worked as a trolley puller for three years. Then, he moved to Vijayawada to work with Maruthi Talkies and assisted iconic filmmakers such as Kasturi Shiva Rao. Raghava founded Pratap Arts Productions and bankrolled many super hit films. Out of the 30 films that were produced by Raghava, 28 were in Telugu. He made one movie each in Tamil and Hindi. Raghava also launched the decorated career of late filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao with Thaatha Manavadu in 1973. He also produced films like Jagat Kantreelu, Thurpu Padamara, Chaduvu Samskaram, Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnaiah, Tharangani, Anthuleni Kadha and Surya Chandrulu among others.
Filmmaker (November 24, 1936- April 17, 2018)
Rajindar Sachar (95) Former justice (22 December 1923 – 20 April 2018)
Born in Lahore to former chief minister of United Punjab Bhim Sen Sachar in 1923, Rajinder Sachar was truly a man of tumultuous times. A product of Government College and then Law College in Lahore, he started practice in Shimla in 1952. In 1960, he started practising in Supreme Court, cutting his teeth assisting a campaign against corruption charges of Punjab Chief Minister Pratap Singh Kairon. He was an additional judge of Delhi High Court in 1970 and became a permanent judge in 1972. He was a judge in Sikkim but sent to Rajasthan for his bold defiance of the Emergency after 1975. His associates saw his transfer without consulting him as ‘punishment’ for his espousing of civil liberties and approach to the Emergency. After the Emergency was called off, Justice Sachar was moved to Delhi High Court in 1977. Later, Sachar was the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, from where he retired in 1985.
26
Obituary
Ram Kumar (94)
Rita Bhaduri (62)
Gopaldas Neeraj (93)
Ram Kumar will always be remembered for his contribution to contemporary Indian art for over seven decades. Kumar was among the pioneers of the post-1947 art movement in India and would often exhibit with the members of Progressive Artists’ Group that included legendary artists like MF Hussain, FN Souza and SH Raza, among others. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 2010 and Kalidas Samman by the Madhya Pradesh government in 1986. Born in Shimla, Ram was an Economics major from St Stephen’s College. A career in banking beckoned but a chance visit to an art exhibition in 1945 led him to enroll for art classes at the Sarada Ukil School of Art in New Delhi. He also travelled to the United States and Mexico on a Rockfeller Scholarship. One of his celebrated works include ‘The Boats’ (1968-69). The painting comprised of a few boats and the silence of water, and had a jade green and turquoise blend and metaphysical imagery with an air of romanticism.
Veteran actress Rita Bhaduri, a familiar face from several films and TV shows, passed away. Rita, who began her career in the late sixties, had a role in the ongoing TV show Nimki Mukhiya. She appeared in a series of Gujarati and films in other regional languages as well as Bollywood movies such as Virasat, Raja, Hero No 1, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Kya Kehna and Beta. Ms Bhaduri received a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance in 1995 film Raja, which starred Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Kapoor. Her last few Bollywood appearances were in 2002's Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and 2003's Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon . Rita Bhaduri, an alumnus of FTII where she studied with actress Zarina Wahab, also had several television credits and starred in shows such as Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, Kumkum, Ek Nayi Pehchaan, Hasratein, Mujrim Haazir and Chunauti.
Veteran poet and lyricist Gopaldas ‘Neeraj’ died recently days after he fell at his house in Agra and suffered a serious head injury. The 93-year-old was a recipient of Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in the country. Neeraj’s unique style connected him with people from all walks of life, across generations. His works are unforgettable gems, which will live on and inspire many. Born on January 4 ,1925 in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah, Neeraj wrote several hit Bollywood songs in the 60s and 70s and was at the peak of his career when he gave it all up for a quiet life in Aligarh. He continued to be a popular fixture at poetry meets (kavi sammelans), winning hearts and applause with his simple and affable style. He also wrote some ghazals with focus on harmony. Some of his popular songs include Phoolon ke Rang se (Prem Pujari), E Bhai Zara Dekh ke (Mera Naam Joker), and Mera Mann Tera Pyasa (Gambler).
Artist (23 September 1924 – 14 April 2018)
Actress (4 November 1955 – 17 July 2018)
Author/poet (January 4, 1925 - July 19, 2018)
Free health care for half a billion people! By Vindu Goel and Hari Kumar
I
ndia recently announced a sweeping plan to give half a billion poor Indians free access to health care, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to address rising demands for greater economic and social protections before national elections next year. The move is sure to be popular in a country where most people have no health insurance and the per capita income is a few dollars a day. Although India’s overall economy is growing, Mr. Modi and his governing Bharatiya Janata Party have been trying to find ways to court the population left behind. The health care plan, part of the government’s 201819 budget presented, would offer 100 million families up to 500,000 rupees, or about $7,860, of coverage each year. That sum, while small by Western standards, would be enough to cover the equivalent of five heart surgeries in India. Officials did not outline eligibility requirements, and many details of the program have yet to be finalized. India’s finance minister, Arun Jaitley, said in a speech to Parliament that the plan would cover more people than any other government-funded health care program in the world. In addition to the direct health benefits, he said, the program would create hundreds of thousands of jobs. The new program would be a vast expansion of health coverage, allowing people to visit the country’s many private hospitals for needs as varied as cancer treatment and knee replacements. Although government-run hospitals are theoretically free for everyone, the waits are long, quality is poor and corruption is endemic. “This is huge. It’s the biggest step the government has taken in 20 years in health care,” said Dr. Ajay Bakshi, the former chief executive of Manipal Hospitals, a chain of 16 private hospitals based in the southern city of Bangalore. The average Indian’s life expectancy is about 68 years,
significantly lower than other large developing countries like China or Brazil. In large part, that’s because of poor health care. As part of the budget proposal, Mr. Jaitley said the government would levy a surtax that would raise about
$1.7 billion a year specifically for health care programs. The government is also proposing a new tax on capital gains to capture some of the wealth being created as India’s stock market rises to new highs.