PBD 2015 - India & You by Media India

PBD Special

The World’s Window to India

Number 64

Jan-Feb 2015

Dossier

Real Estate Sector Signs of turnaround

Lead

PBD 2015

Accentuated by Modi

Environment

Make India Green

www.india-magazine.com

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years of Return of the

PRAVASI

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PHOTO FEATURE Deepavali Reunion

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100 GANDHI’S RETURN YEARS OF

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2015 is relevant for two reasons. Primarily, it marks the centenary of the homecoming of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa and touches the emotional chords of many resident and non-resident Indians.The Father of the Nation returned to India on January 9, 1915, after spending 21 years in South Africa fighting against racial discrimination. It is hardly a secret that Gandhi was the first Indian to not only engage with the Indian diaspora but also reach out to wailing conditions of Indians in distant lands. Gandhi’s contributions, apart from home, are historically significant for countries such as South Africa and Mauritius where the lives of people of Indian origin changed dramatically by his presence. It is, therefore, not a surprise that the Indian government chose this date to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 13 years back and naturally the theme for this year is 100 years of return of Gandhi. The 13th edition is also important as it makes for the first PBD under India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is, therefore, hardly coincidental that the PBD this year is hosted in Ahmedabad, home to both Gandhi and the current PM. Modi is already a hit among the diaspora, thanks to his famous monologue at Madison Square in the US where he addressed the people of Indian origin and the initiatives such as the merger of PIO and OCI cards in favour of the diaspora under his governance. Aware of the rich powerhouse of the Indian diaspora, Modi has strategically and admirably involved himself with the event this year. Unlike other PBDs, the upcoming one is infused with Modi’s label. It is estimated that over 3000 NRIs/ PIOs, a record turnout, would be attending the event, clearly indicating the awe of Modi among the diaspora. This issue, consequently, is focused on the diaspora.The dossier covers the real estate sector of India and highlights the involvement and investments of the diaspora.While the sector had experienced a slowdown in the past few years, it gained traction with the change in government.The new government’s initiatives of 100 smart cities in India and infrastructure development has infused new hopes in the sector.The ease in regulation and 100 per cent FDI has also encouraged many foreign investors to pave their way to India. In the list of foreign investors, Mauritius is on the top and the Indo-Mauritian relations go back to nearly 180 years ago when thousands of Indians were forced to migrate as indentured labour.The recent visit of the minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, in November to Mauritius was therefore both sentimental and trade oriented. On the one hand, Swaraj discussed DTAA with Arvin Boolell, her counterpart in Mauritius while on the other, she attended a function to mark the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indians on the island at the Apravasi Ghat in Port Louis. Right next to Mauritius lies the Reunion Island, another destination of the Indian indentured workers and a French territory.Traditional Indian customs and festivals like Deepavali continue to play an important part in the lives of the PIOs in Reunion, Mauritius or France. For many PIOs just celebrating Indian festivals in their lands is not enough and they like to discover the country of their ancestors. So, we take you on a visit to the hills of the North Eastern state of Meghalaya to witness pristine countryside and the cleanest village in nature’s abode. From the cold climate of the mountains, we take you to the desert landscape to play in the sand dunes and enjoy the bright culture of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. For those attending the PBD in Ahmedabad, we also bring the dual pleasure of discovering the diverse architecture of Ahmedabad as well as its delectable cuisine. Bon Appetit!

C ontent India & You January-February 2015

08 72 08

Lead

Focus

Business

PBD 2015 Accentuated by Modi

India-Mauritius Growing business linkages

Make in India Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big investment push

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s balanced ocean act

Education Sector Growing by Leaps & Bounds

Interview

Bhojpuris in Mauritius Rejoicing the culture

Sunil Prasad, Secretary General, EICC and Founder President, GOPIO, Belgium Sanjiv Gupta, Executive Chairman & Managing Director, askme.com

16 DOSSIER Indian real estate sector Signs of turnaround in 2015 Real value for NRIs in realty

Diaspora Remittances Mixed signals by India

48 DIASPORA Reunion Island A forgotten Diaspora? Baggage of Indian culture Centenary commemoration of Indian Soldiers in WWI

64 Environment Make India Green

80 Destination Jaisalmer Gateway to the Thar Mawlynnong Charm of the North East Ahmedabad Discovering architectural units

RGA NI

GOPIO INTERNATIONAL

On the occasion of the 13th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Media India Group and GOPIO International take immense pleasure in inviting you to 6th Francophone Evening and 13th Dialogue with India in January 2015 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

For events registration, please log on to http://pbd2015.com/event-registration/ or visit http://www.go-pio.org/ For further assistance, please contact at:

GOPIO INTERNATIONAL secretary@go-pio.org Regd. No. 13644, Chemin des brises, Floreal, Mauritius Mobile: +230 2507037 Mobile (France) : +33 661 26 49 38 January 10, 2015, 09:00 am onwards CAMBAY GRAND, AHMEDABAD

The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Window to India

Diaspora brief

Bill in LS to merge PIO, OCI schemes A bill to facilitate merger of the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes by amending the Citizenship Act has been introduced in Lok Sabha during the winter session. The amendment provides for registration of OCI cardholders, confirmation of rights of such cardholders, renunciation of OCI card and cancellation of registration of OCI card. During his recent visits to the US and Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a two-month deadline for the long-pending merger of OCI and PIO status to woo the Indian diaspora.

Godrej Properties to engage Indian diaspora in Dubai Godrej Properties, the real estate development arm of the Godrej Group, has opened its first international representative office in Dubai’s key business district to engage directly with the Indian Diaspora across the GCC market. “We are happy to have launched our first international representative office in Dubai. NRIs living in Dubai are constantly looking for home buying options in India,” Girish Shah, EVP, Marketing and Sales, Godrej Properties said. Over the years, Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) has been constantly engaging with customers through various exhibitions and events in international markets including Dubai, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Africa and the US.

Indian-origin politician is ‘Labour MP of the year’ Indian-origin British politician Keith Vaz named as the Labour MP of the year 2014 for his valuable work for underrepresented, deprived and minority sections of the country. “I am honoured to have been chosen for this award. In my constituency of Leicester East, I work with individuals and groups of all backgrounds, faiths and races. For all groups to be better represented in Parliament, and the wider political process, is a positive and necessary aim in our multicultural society,” Vaz said. Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party said: “For over 32 years, Keith has been a political pioneer and has consistently championed the diversity that makes Britain great and he is well deserved for the honour of ‘Labour MP of the year’.”

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Raj Shah to leave Obama Administration in Feb Raj Shah, the highest ranking IndianAmerican in the Obama Administration, has decided to quit as Administrator of United States Agency for International Development after serving for nearly six years. “It was with mixed emotions that I informed President Barack Obama and Secretary of State (John) Kerry that I will step down as Administrator in midFebruary 2015,” Shah said. President Obama said, “Shah, the son of proud Indian immigrants, has embodied America’s finest values by pro-actively advancing our development priorities, including ending global poverty, championing food security, promoting health and nutrition, expanding access to energy sources, and supporting political and economic reform in closed societies.” Shah had joined the Obama administration in 2009.

DIASPORA BRIEF

Facilitating remittance in India gets costlier There is bad news for non-resident Indians (NRIs) who remit money back home. The government has decided to levy a 12.36 pc service tax on fee or commission paid by agents for facilitating remittance. This means sending money home would become costlier. According to CBEC (Central Board of Excise and Customs), no service tax is payable per se on the amount of foreign currency remitted to India from overseas. As the remittance comprises money, it does not in itself constitute any service in terms of the definition of service. India is a major recipient of global remittance. In 2013, it received USD 71 billion, the largest by any country, from across the globe.

Kerala to set up NRI panel to resolve diaspora woes Following numerous complaints from the Kerala diaspora, regarded as the backbone of the state economy on account of their remittances, Kerala government is to set up a NRI Commission before which the diaspora can approach with all issues they face in Kerala. The commission would be a quasi judicial body. Punjab is the only state in the country where such a commission exists.

Sikh woman elected as council member in California Preet Didbal, the first Sikh woman has been elected as a council member of California’s Yuba City that has one of the largest concentrations of Sikhs in the US. A correctional health care services manager in the California Department of Corrections, Didbal said, “It is a proud moment. In general, the women have always been more subservient and have followed the lead versus being the leader. Our culture is very different and hopefully starting to open up and educate young girls not to be subservient. It’s exciting to be an example,” adding, “We heard questions from some of the older generations about why I’m doing this and that it’s a man’s role. It’s a milestone we just created. Now every girl will be under the impression that they can do it.” She holds an associate degree in nutrition, a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s in public administration.

LEAD

PBD 2015

Accentuated by Modi The 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is historic in many ways. It is the first PBD to be held in Gujarat, the first to be conducted by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also marks 100 years of Mahatma Gandhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return to India. Ranvir Nayar

ithin a few months of taking charge as Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has shown the importance he attaches to diaspora as in practically every overseas visit that he has undertaken since May 26, he has consecrated an important part of his agenda in each nation

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

to interact with the diaspora and listen to their issues and problems, understand their expectations and aspirations. Modiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appearance at the Madison Park in New York is still being talked about not just in India but media around the world. He reinforced his image as a rockstar politician with another wow show that he put up with the diaspora in Australia, Fiji and Myanmar. The difference between Modiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

approach and that of his predecessors was stark. While earlier prime ministers contented themselves with meeting a few elite members of the diaspora on their visits abroad, Modi preferred to go the whole hog and meet thousands of diaspora members, connecting with them. So, quite naturally, as the diaspora from around the world gathers for the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas under the

LEAD

A positive sign of change is to include a separate session on the Francophone nations

leadership of Modi, the expectations are very high. Though it is always a challenging task to predict the turnout at any PBD, it is expected that the PBD 2015 will be record breaker, with over 3000 participants from around the world gathering to hear Modi and his team about their projects for integrating the diaspora and connecting them with various schemes and projects that have been launched by the new government since June 2014. Already, over 1200 registrations had been made by Christmas, a record of sorts. An overview Not just a greater engagement and enthusiasm to meet with the new team, the diaspora has many other expectations as well from the government and the PBD programme. Notably, the diaspora expects the new government to completely revisit the entire organisation of the PBD, as it has grown repetitive and the subjects taken up for discussions there are becoming irrelevant for the diaspora. This is largely due to the fact that most of the programming is done by the Indian government without much consultation with the diaspora members or organisations.

A positive sign of change here was seen when the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs decided to at long last accede to the demands of the Francophone diaspora, led by Media India Group, to include a session on the Francophone nations, as the problems and challenges faced by the diaspora in these countries are very peculiar and distinct from those faced by the diaspora from other parts of the world. This decision has been welcomed by leading members of the Francophone diaspora, who believe that by instituting a separate session on their issues, the government would finally take cognisance of their problems, notably the delivery of PIO and OCI cards for fourth, fifth and sixth generation persons of Indian origin as the ancestors of a very large chunk of the Indian diaspora living in these countries had left India over 160 years ago and hence beyond the three generation limit currently imposed by the Indian government for eligibility to a PIO card. The programme The theme of the PBD in 2015 is Apna Bharat, Apna Gaurav (Our India, Our Pride) and the programme will mainly project the priorities of the new government in Delhi. The sessions this time will focus on cleansing of Ganga, development of smart cities, skill development initiatives and tourism projects, besides of course, a much-awaited inaugural speech by Prime Minister Modi. As this PBD also marks the 100th anniversary of the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa, the overall programme in Ahmedabad has a firm stamp of the Father of Indian nation. The opening day has a session on Gandhian Thought in the modern world and there is also an art and photo exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi, which will feature works by artists and photographers of Indian origin from around the world. What’s more, the main PBD oration this year is also focused on the relevance of the Gandhian Philosophy over the Century that has gone by since his return to India. For that the government has invited renowned academicians such as Arvind Sharma who

is a faculty of Religious Studies at McGill University in Canada and specialises on Hinduism and comparative religion. Putting the return of the Mahatma in focus, the government has also invited Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa Maite Nkoana-Mashabane as a special guest for the 13th PBD. The chief guest of the event is yet another leader from the Caribbean, the president of the Republic of Guyana Donald Ramotar. Chief Ministers of non-NDA ruled states of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Meghalaya have confirmed their participation along with those ruled by BJP or its allies include Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana and Maharashtra. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a number of Union Ministers will participate in plenary sessions which will have themes such as ‘Opportunities in India’, Smart Cities and Urban Planning, Skill Development and Tourism etc. As usual, the first day will be devoted to youth and includes discussions on the relevance of Gandhi and his thoughts to the youth of this century and also includes interaction between Indian youth and the diaspora youth, which would be held at four universities of Gujarat - Petroleum, Law, IT and Entrepreneur Development.

NARENDRA MODI’S VISITS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN 2014 June 16-17: Bhutan (Paro, Thimpu) July 13-16: Brazil (Fortaleza, Brasilia) August 3-4:Nepal (Kathmandu) August 30-September 3: Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo) September 26-30: United States (New York, Washington) November 11-13: Myanmar (Naypyidaw) November 14-18: Australia (Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney) November 19: Fiji (Suva) November 25-27: Nepal (Kathmandu)

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

INTERVIEW

Modi infuses new hopes in

DIASPORA The new government’s initiatives, fuelled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits and interactions with Indian diaspora in US and Australia have created a buzz amongst the people of Indian origin, says Sunil Prasad.

SUNIL PRASAD, Secretary General, EICC and Founder President, GOPIO, Belgium

PM “Modi has

energised the nation with hope

“

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Where do you see India on the global map now? Today’s India is different from what it was just seven months ago. India has once again captured the imagination and the attention of the world. With Prime Minister Modi at the helm, the Indian economy has the potential to emerge as the third largest by 2024, next to China and the United States. Modi just needs to turn his rhetoric into action, if he eventually wants to see India emerge as the world’s largest economy. It is estimated that by 2030, India is likely to be the rising economic powerhouse of the world as China is seen today and that it will continue to consolidate its power. To maximise its advantage from the greater proportion of youth, however, India will need to boost its educational system, both attainment and quality at lower levels; make substantial governance improvements, particularly in countering corruption; and undertake large-scale infrastructure program to keep pace with rapid urbanisation and the needs of a more advanced economy. The Prime Minister has energised the nation with hope and aspirations and has thus woken up a nation made somnolent by the earlier regime that was perceived to have followed self-serving pursuits at home and a subservient approach to powers outside. During the last seven months, economic growth has moderately rebounded, capital inflows have increased, exports have accelerated and helped the trade balance, confidence has increased, bond yields have declined, and equity prices have risen. However, lack of policy response introduce challenges and uncertainty.

Democracy, demographic dividend, and demand is also contributing India’s place in the global stage. India, one of the world’s oldest civilisations, has one of its youngest workforces with 800 million people, forming 65 per cent of the population, under the age of 35 years. India’s successful Mars Mission made India the first Asian country to achieve the feat and the only country to do so on first attempt. This extraordinary achievement also highlighted India on the global map. What are your expectations from the new government led by Narendra Modi? Within a few months of his rule, Prime Minister Modi has created the impression that India as a nation – once pushed to its potential – could become a mighty player in the multi-lateral world order. He has been able to assure the world that India is determined to develop into a fountainhead of trained manpower and a hub of manufacture, and that for this the country will provide a proper environment for investment. His commitment to his party’s nationalist agenda is also being closely watched by India’s 150 million Muslims. The primary challenge for Modi would be to revive the economy that is mired in its worst slowdown since the 1980s due to myriad issues such as strained public finances, persistently high inflation, high interest rates and rising bad loans at banks. India is in the grip of stagflation - growth has slumped to 4.9 percent from nine percent two years ago and consumer inflation is at a wage-eroding 8.6 percent.

INTERVIEW

Public finances are in dire straits as government expenditure has outpaced revenues. The government has to take a decision on slashing subsidies, which are threatening a budget blow-out and a sovereign ratings downgrade. Prime Minister Modi needs to act fast as states hold the key for a revival in capital investments, which barely grew last fiscal year as delays in clearances grounded many infrastructure projects. Securing India’s energy needs over the next decade ranks among Modi’s greatest challenges and one that will likely see him both compete and cooperate with China, the United States and Russia. These three are the world’s biggest energy consumers, with India at fourth spot. For all of them, energy security is a constant goal, driving their search for new resources, new technology and new investment opportunities around the globe. Improving farm productivity, building quality infrastructure, and boosting manufacturing in India are some of the other areas on which the government is currently focusing. Measures such as setting up farm credit, prize stabilisation funds, and agriculture-tech infrastructure funds have been proposed to boost agricultural sector output and productivity. Strategies such as public-private partnerships and tax holidays in the transport sector, providing custom duty relief to the energy sector, digitalising rural India, and building smart cities and metro infrastructure in some cities are expected to improve infrastructure. Policy strategies such as the revival of special economic zones, tax breaks for manufacturing units, the revival of medium and small scale enterprises, and the building of an industrial corridor will likely provide much needed thrust to the manufacturing sector. The Prime Minister’s push to “Make in India” will strengthen the manufacturing sector and indigenise production. India has an historic opportunity to institute free market reform and push through stalled projects; the dream of investors and economic analysts. It is also a unique chance for India to redefine capitalism. It is sad that the European governments have a narrower focus on just trade and investment. Many have noticed Prime Minister’s call for the Indian external affairs ministry to focus on “trade treaties” rather than just strategic issues is a visionary approach. This reflects a sense of policy priority for the India-European Union free trade agreement, presently in negotiating limbo, is number one on the agenda. I call upon the Prime Minister to take full advantage of India’s growing importance in the world economic scenario and take lead in concluding the EU-India FTA which will benefit Indian economy at a time when Europe is still under severe economic strain.

Improving farm productivity, building quality infrastructure, and boosting manufacturing are some of the focus areas of the current government

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

INTERVIEW

Initiatives such as lifelong visas for the PIOs and recent engagement of PM Modi with the Indian Diaspora of Australia and the US show a positive sign. What is your perspective? Indian diaspora is India’s “External Permanent Asset” and time and again it has proved that the diaspora can come forward to India’s global interest. Whether it was economic crisis of the 1990s or the international sanction imposed on it after India’s nuclear test, Indian diaspora stood with India. The NRIs and PIOs therefore are thrilled with the decision of life long visa. This is a bold and courageous decision. In January 2011, the Congress-led government had said that it would merge the two visa categories for people of Indian origin to enable visafree travel to India, rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities in the country but in fact the then government never took the steps to implement this scheme. The lifelong visa will create a sense of belonging with India. India’s tourism industry will get a boost as Indian diaspora will be able to visit India anytime they like without any bureaucratic problems. The decision to grant life-long visa to persons of Indian origin (PIOs) is likely to give an impetus to India’s development too. However, it is important that India shakes its bureaucracy, get away with red-tape, and make investor friendly policies. At the same time I would urge the government of India to look into the nation’s security aspect as there may be attempts by anti-national and separatists elements to revive their agenda. It is, therefore, important that lifelong visa should not compromise India’s internal security. In my view, India should not see the potential of Indian diaspora through the prism of economic and investment angle. It is more than this. I was recently in Mauritius to attend the commemoration of the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured workers to the Indian Ocean colony. I have noticed how the three day celebration united the Indian diaspora throughout country and how India was on everybody’s lips. That the Prime Minister, on his visit to US, Japan, Australia and other countries, chose to address Indian diaspora, makes him a visionary leader and a person who has generated faith and hope for Indians living abroad. No wonder he is seen as a rock-star politician who directly connects with the Indian diaspora. Have there been satisfying initiatives taken to engage the women and youth of the diaspora? Government of India has been taking some useful initiatives on the issue of engaging with Youth and Women but this is

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Government of India has been taking some useful initiatives on the issue of engaging with Youth and Women but this not enough not enough. There was lack of seriousness and policy bottlenecks in pursuing the objectives. The arrival of Modi has brought this issue again to the fore. Modi understands the importance of youth both in India and the Indian diaspora overseas. He has captured the dreams of Youth and women through his engagements with them during his visits. He knows that the diaspora youth and women have massive talents and possess top-notch entrepreneurial skills, and which will propel India ahead. Attracting youth and women is tied closely to the need for a free, fair, and open economic system which can be a magnet for entrepreneurs in a similar way that Silicon Valley was a magnet for Indian entrepreneurs in the late-2000’s. India needs to create necessary employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for highlyskilled Indian students, and may even succeed in attracting back the country’s human capital from abroad. In the Upcoming PBD, what are the issues you wish to raise? PBD should not be seen only as a forum for investment and economics. It is an established fact that the contribution of overseas communities of Indians to Indian economy has been substantial. Also the Indian overseas community has emerged as the ‘soft power’ promoting India’s international relations, being its global ambassadors and contributing immensely to the social and intellectual capital of India.

It is important that India re-engages with its diaspora. Each country where Indian diaspora has presence, the Government of India and the host country should organise cultural programmes and events to celebrate the success of the Indian diaspora. Indian government should have a special grant to promote Indian culture in the host countries. PBD should also consider establishing high class scientific,research and management studies in some countries of Indian diaspora to help the Indians there. India should consider creating a Global Knowledge Hub and encourage the diaspora in order to attract human capital from overseas as well. India should help create a knowledge ecosystem in the diaspora countries with sufficient opportunities for these individuals, particularly youth and women. I would like to urge the Indian diaspora to connect with the Europe India Foundation for Excellence (EIFE) and associate to help Indian diaspora in skill development and in its mission to connect with youth and women. The Indian Missions in all the countries should organise “Diaspora Day” once a year dedicated to the Indians and Indian diaspora. This will help Indians to unite with Indian diaspora and the diaspora with the host countries. Many countries have postal ballot system and even voting in their Missions and I would urge the government of India to take necessary steps for making it possible for Indian nationals living abroad to vote. n

Know India Programme is a good initiative to engage with the youth of the diaspora

Inaugural conclave in ITB Berlin Putting India on the map of

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INTERVIEW

BOOSTING SME business online

The potentials of 48 million SMEs across 5,500 categories in India and the current online trend were together tapped by askme.com. Sanjiv Gupta shares strategies such as expansion in small towns and introduction of new apps for an upsurge. SANJIV GUPTA, Executive Chairman & Managing Director, askme.com

are trying “toWeempower the SMEs “ 14

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Jasleen Kaur

Tell me something about askme.com. When did you start it and how has it evolved with time? Askme, if you describe in one line, is a SME (small and medium enterprise) market place of India, where SMEs of all kinds can provide information and do transactions online. Askme was re-launched as a brand in July, six months ago. But in the backend, the creation of SMEs database started two years ago. In terms of number, we have a database of about nine million SMEs across the country. We have about 1,000 people who as sales force go across the country in small towns like Madurai, Meerut or Firozabad to meet these SMEs and help them put online. As you may know, SMEs contribute about 35-40 per cent of the Indian economy and they contribute significantly in export. Every government supports and promotes them strongly. One of the biggest ways to promote SMEs is to ensure that their business becomes discoverable, they can get online very easily, they can provide information about their business, products and catalogues easily, they can transact easily – this is what we have attempted to provide. There are 48 million SMEs in India across 5,500 categories but only about a million are online. So, the opportunity of increasing productivity and enhancing the business of the SMEs is very large. For this, we have launched the askme app. India has became the second largest internet user base in the world, beating the US and is just behind China; but our penetration as percentage of population is still very low. We are only at 20-22 per cent while even China is about 50 per cent. When

the penetration will rise, these 240 million people who use the internet will go to 500 million; and they will keep searching for information about SMEs whether they want to go to a restaurant or whether want to call for a plumber or to buy something. This is happening across the metros and now in small towns too. So your focus is only on SMEs? SMEs can come out to the askme platform and list their business. If you are an electrician, then you will come and list your business. If anybody searches for an electrician in that area, they can find you. Or, if somebody is into the business of selling second hand cars or computer, he can show his inventories in our classifieds. So, we are giving an opportunity to SMEs to share business information and transaction and that is what customers are also looking for. What are the particular sectors you are focusing on? We have 5,500 categories, ranging from earth moving equipments to pizza sellers. Anybody and everybody is using this service. Top category includes hotels, hospitals, taxis, interior decorators, car showrooms and in the B2B segment there are pump manufacturers, etc. So from which sector you are getting the maximum attraction? The maximum one, I would say hotels. We are getting a lot of attraction because there is a lot of inbound tourism. In addition, we get a lot of attraction in the fashion and apparel category, gadgets and mobiles.

INTERVIEW

While the last six months have been extremely good for e-commerce and online business, it is completely a competitive environment. How do you create value for your customers? The big question is the reliability; how do you deal with this? We are not trying to compete with the SME in fact we are trying to empower the SMEs. We take the local sellers and put them online and it is the local sellers who understand their business best so we don’t give out any unrealistic deals. We let the seller decide the cost. And, reliability is something that we are discovering as e-commerce is becoming bigger. Our current reach is about 10,000 pin codes and in next three months, we hope to upgrade to 20,000 pin codes. What are the services you are looking to expand in future? I think we will expand pretty much on transaction because every small person, even if he is sitting in Dehradun and doing business of spectacles, wants to sell online. The other area which we really want to target now is ‘SOHO’, which means small owner home owner. There are a lot of women who run catering business or beauty parlour from their homes, we want to target them because these people need exposure and we offer fairly economic deals. What we offer are the premium listing on about INR 500 a month or INR 20 a day. As I mentioned earlier, there are 48 million SMEs, out of which only one million are online. Our target is to reach out to these SMEs who are outside Gurgaon, Delhi or

Mumbai; and want to sell their products online. What are plans in tier 2 and tier 3 cities? We are now present in 233 cities across India - Bihar, Chattisgarh, North East, Kota, Sriganga Nagar, where SMEs are keen and they have smart phones. They have the aspiration. How has your international business been? We have just started with Malaysia. We want to go out to Middle East, Vietnam and African countries like Nigeria. Any plans for European market? Not yet. It will take some time. Now we will talk about investors or NRIs who want to invest in India; how can askme help them? As I said we really concentrate on the SME segment and there are good things to work in the SME segment. In the last two years, lots of players such as Amazon have forayed in India that have been concentrating on SMEs. With NRIs, askme really leads them find whatever they want to. But I think, the new government’s initiatives of empowering the SMEs can be a big push. How do you see these government initiatives here? I think the government initiatives are pretty aggressive. The government is pretty keen that the internet and the IT are used to empower that and we are in a good position to do that.

askme is targeting tier 2 and 3 cities for bringing SMEs online like Chattisgarh

Last six months have seen many initiatives like Make in India and Digital India, how can this help in booming the SMEs and at the same time internet penetration and the businesses of players like askme? If there is a small business setting in a place like Chattisgarh and Chattisgarh artisans are making something which they want to sell all over India, the best way for him or her is to just put it online and we will make it discoverable for you sitting in Delhi who would never or rarely go to Chattisgarh. Our job is to provide all India market place to every entrepreneur in India. What are the challenges prevailing in the market? Challenges are pretty high. The challenge is to convince SMEs that whatever they are paying, they are getting a return on investment. We have to constantly provide them customer service and ensure that they see the value of the business. What are your future plans and where do you see askme in next five years? We really want to make askme the SME place for India where any SME can come, put up a listing and open up a store, put out a deal with anybody across the country. And, what would be your offerings? It keeps happening. The statistics is that 70 per cent of people access internet through their mobiles so we would look out for better, speedy and easier apps in the next 3-4 years. n

askme can help foreign investors to find the right player in the Indian market

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Indian real estate sector

Signs of turnaround in

2015 A mixed bonanza greeted Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s realty sector in 2014 with anomalies that were plaguing it for some years now still at play. The new government, however, with promises of reforms arises new hopes among the stakeholders. Jasleen Kaur

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

DOSSiER

itendra Singh, Gurgaon based property dealer, says, “The real estate market in the NCR (national capital region) hasn’t really picked up after the 2008 slowdown, except for a brief boom period in 2009-10. New launches have virtually stopped and demand is sluggish. Project delays are rampant in the region, either because the builder doesn’t have the money to complete the project or because the project was launched without taking all the required government approvals.” It is a no brainer that the real estate market in India is in the throes of crisis. For the past few years, the market prices have more or less remained stagnant, and yet the sales have not picked up at all. This continued in 2014 as well. Slowdown continued in 2014 The real estate market has been yoyoing up and down over the last few years. International investment decreased substantially from 2009 and fell to an all-time low during 2012. During the 2012 to 2013 period, investment in the real estate market fell by as much as 50 per cent. Demand for housing across leading cities remained subdued in the first half of 2014. According to real estate services firm Jones Lang Lasalle, net absorption of residential units was 175,000 in the first six months of 2014 against 195,000 in 2013; and unsold inventory was 230,000 during the same period against 80,000 in 2013. Due to high pricing and lending rates, buyer preference remained focussed on secondary and emerging markets of cities, while developers began to offer discounts to boost sales. “2014 was a challenging year for the Indian economy as well as for the real estate sector. The economy was growing at five per cent and market sentiments were not favourable for the growth of the construction industry as a whole. The inflation rates have been increasing and our economic growth has not been able to match the pace. Thus, while there was some nominal economic growth, there was no real economic growth,” says J C Sharma, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Sobha Limited. Like others, Omaxe Group was also affected with market sentiments and its top and bottom line were impacted. Mohit Goel, CEO of the company, says, “2014 didn’t see too much activity in the real estate sector. Buyers stayed away from the market due to continuously high interest

rate and inflation. Household income growth wasn’t seen in a lot of sectors and therefore majority remained cautious in making large investments.” However for Sushant Muttreja, Chairman, Cosmic Group, the year 2014 was neither bullish nor bearish and prices were stable. The revival mode Almost everything in India is intimately connected to the political party at the centre, and having a new political party in reign has brought a sign of optimism among the real estate players. “For the last 10 years, a single political party managed India and real estate policies did not change much. However, a change in the political leadership now could mean that the incoming leadership could challenge most of the policies already in place causing a dramatic upheaval. This will impact the real estate market too,” says Neeraj Bansal, Partner and Head – Real Estate and Construction, KPMG India. The budget 2014-15 announced by the new government has given a fresh lease of

life to the cash-strapped real estate sector, by fulfilling the long-pending demand of developers on easing guidelines for allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector. The Budget has proposed reducing the minimum built-up area requirement in FDIfunded real estate projects to 20,000 square metre from 50,000 square metre. Apart from this, it has also proposed reducing the minimum paid up capital requirement of wholly owned subsidiaries of foreign partners to USD 5 million from USD 10 million at present. Goel says, “With the arrival of a new and stable government in the second half, the sentiments began to improve for good. Investors - domestic and foreign have been bullish and expect the budget to spell out in the direction of reforms.” Muttreja believes that the new government has brought in an immense positivity. “The kind of drives they have done, the kind of boosters they have given to the real estate sector in terms of the budget, has been developer friendly. We have lot of expectations from the new government in

The Lake, Omaxe New Chandigarh - is an initiative to expand in tier 2 and 3 cities

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Dossier

Focussing on expansion in southern region, here a view of Sobha’s offering in Bangalore - Petunia

Mumbai does have property but the high investment rate and rental prices have left more than 45 per cent of the property as it is

terms of giving a big push to the sector.” Echoing similar thought, Sharma from Sobha Limited considers the budget real estate sector friendly. “One of the important steps taken in this direction is approving the REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) framework. The investment limit was also raised from INR 100,000 to INR 150,000 and deduction limit on account of interest on loan in respect of self- occupied house property was raised from INR 150,000 to INR 200,000. This may have helped in some savings at the hands of the home buyers.” Lured by high returns and with the government permitting FDI in real estate, a number of overseas players – private equity, real estate developers, financial firms as well as REITs have invested in the country. “Real estate industry in India is quite impressive as it has been growing by almost 15-20 per cent every year, whereas back in Europe, it is declining by 5-10 per cent per year; which makes India one of the big emerging markets for us,” says Alberto Canepari, co-founder of an Italian business consultancy firm – Gianesin Canepari & Partners, who is planning to bring investment of over INR 6 billion in the Indian real estate sector over the next five years. According to Cushman & Wakefield, the REIT market of India has immense potential to emerge out as one of the top five largest markets in Asia by market capitalisation. Tier 2 & 3 cities in demand A report by a daily newspaper stated that large cities such as Delhi and Gurgaon have

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

already exploited their land reserves and expansion is on to provide affordable housing. Mumbai does have property but the high investment rate and rental prices have left more than 45 per cent of the property as it is. Investors are more likely to invest in satellite areas around Mumbai like New Mumbai that has affordable property but in a lower price range and a much better infrastructure arrangement. Upcoming areas like Khargar, Panvel and Rabale are seeing high demand for industrial centres and for corporate centres as well. Based on this, local authorities are now looking at Tier II and Tier III cities located around big cities as feasible housing options to deal with their population overflow. Most of these cities already have a good infrastructure in place, and companies are moving into these cities to make use of the lower cost of living and cheaper housing costs. For example, the Delhi-Jaipur highway has now made it possible to connect Delhi with Jaipur and every small city in between is seeing rapid economic and housing development. Cities like Neemrana and Manesar are the new investment buzzwords and developers have already snapped up land in these cities for affordable housing. “Tier 2 and 3 cities are witnessing a steady demand and 80 per cent of our sales will come from them,” shares Goel from Omaxe Group, who is expanding existing projects in Faridabad, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, etc. Cosmic Group is also bullish on tier 2 and 3 cities, although it has been primarily investing in the NCR

DOSSiER

Real estate developers are getting good response in tier 2 and 3 cities and thus, they have plans to explore more projects here

region. “These cities have potential and we have plans to explore more projects in the future. As of now, we are focussed on NCR,” mentions Muttreja. While, focussing on Southern India for expansion, Sharma says, “With growing employment opportunities in these emerging cities, they are becoming real estate hotspots. We have our real estate presence in some of the major tier 2 cities and this far, we have seen a good response in some of the cities. We may look to expand our operations in Hyderabad while also exploring some tier 2 and tier 3 cities in Southern India.” Smart city and housing for all by 2020 Building smart cities and “Housing for All by 2022” is on the priority list of the new government. These new satellite cities and smart metros would reap in employment and boost the real estate sector. Muttreja says, “The concept is very nice. This will lead to commercial developments by creating a city very close to the visiting cities like Greater Noida. However, high connectivity and public transport would be the key issues that will help these small cities grow and then, people would come and actually participate in these small cities. It is a welcome process, as it will give lot of boost to the sector and to the economy. We are currently able to supply only 2-3 per cent of the total demand and housing for all would need a great interest by

government on low income category.” Sharma is of the opinion that housing for all by 2022 will solve some of India’s economic concerns and put it on a growth trajectory. A majority of the population having access to good quality lifestyle is definitely a positive indication of a growing economy. This will not only boost investor confidence but also set the ball rolling for a brighter future. While Goel from Omaxe has informed that a few countries like Singapore and Japan have shown interest and agreed to partner with India in developing smart cities. “We also endeavour to be a partner in smart city development as and when the policy is given a final shape. We shall continue to make our projects smart, intelligent and modern for residents to experience an exquisite lifestyle,” he adds. It was a ‘catch the bull by horn’ policy that set an ambitious agenda of ‘Housing for All by 2022’ and building ‘100 smart cities’ with proactive measures for its execution. Notwithstanding all this, challenges remain. The sector needs INR 132 trillion of investment over the next eight years to achieve the government’s ambitious target of housing for all. The government is taking initiatives to make real estate affordable in order to realise its mission and to make real estate an attractive asset class for end-buyers and investors - and in the process ensuring

faster and sustainable growth of real estate sector; but there is lots more to be done in the new year, such as amendment of Land Acquisition Act. What is in store for 2015 The first half witnessed a huge slowdown majorly due to political ambiguity and poor

MARKET SIZE OF REAL ESTATE IN INDIA FY 20E

$180 Bn

FY11

$66.8 Bn

FY10

$55.6 Bn

FY09

$53.3 Bn

FY08

$50.1 Bn 0

100

150

200

DEMAND ANALYSIS OF TOP 8 CITIES (‘000 UNITS) Ahmedabad

230

Pune

165 400

Bengaluru NCR

775

Kolkata 105 Mumbai

245

Hyderabad

270

Chennai

315 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Dossier

The Forest Spa in Surajkund - Omaxe’s endeavour to expand in NCR region

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

A reduction in the home loan interest rate to around 7-8 per cent will further boost buyer sentiments therefore, that a unified approach to nurturing this sector is taken. Participation from government and private developers is equally important. With an objective to provide housing to all, various aspects

starting from ensuring affordability to easy access of finance, approval, licensing, cost of raw materials and supply of labour need to be considered. The coming times may see some improvement,” concludes Goel.

Completions, Net Absorption & Unsold Inventory – Residential 28 250000 27 200000 26 150000

100000

50000

23 22

0 2013F Net absorption

2014F New addition

2015F Unsold inventory

Unsold inventory (in months)

Numbers of residential launches

business confidence whereas the second half saw a sudden uplift in the sentiments of both buyers and developers. In 2015, overall property markets are expected to continue edge further into recovery. The government has also shown its inclination to support the ailing sector. However, experts believe that the real estate market of India in its current form is far from ideal and lot more has to be done. From the builder’s perspective, the major challenges include land acquisition, project approval process, industry status to the sector, shortage of skilled labour, lack of adequate sources of finance, rising manpower and material costs, amongst others. Expressing hope for the coming year, Sharma says, “We are hopeful that few key concern areas are addressed. The first is the availability of working capital at reasonable rates that will help the developers to purchase contiguous land for development. The much awaited single-window clearance system will also help in eliminating unnecessary delays in the construction process and quicken the delivery timelines. A reduction in the home loan interest to around 7-8 per cent will further boost buyer sentiments.” Muttreja avers, “From moving to a very high standard to the new technology replacing the old one, a lot of exciting things are happening in the sector. I think, the next two-three years will be very exciting for the industry.” “It is imperative,

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DOSSIER

REAL VALUE FOR NRIS

IN REALTY Slowdown in the Indian real sector has never deterred non-resident Indians from investing in their homeland and now with the euphoria around the new government, their confidence has been boosted more. Jasleen Kaur

reya Nijhawan and her husband Rishabh, hoteliers in the UAE, already own an apartment in their hometown Mumbai and are keen to invest in properties in India that would fetch them handsome return on investment (RoI) five years from now. The enterprising couple, after some good research and bargaining, recently picked up three apartments in Bangalore. “Bulk investment offered us a good bargain along with one-time registration process and will also help in easy monitoring of properties going forward,” says Sreya. NRIs who have so far shown interest in buying properties in overseas markets, are now keen to invest

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

in Indian real estate. They are making bulk purchases, getting decent discounts, and expecting good returns in anticipation of a revival in the market. Popular destinations A study by ASSOCHAM suggests that NRI property buyers’ investment is expected to surge by 35 per cent vis-à-vis 18 per cent in the last fiscal year. Bangalore tops the charts owing to its evergreen IT sector. Other markets include Ahmedabad, Pune Chennai and Goa. Property markets in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and outskirts of Mumbai, including Ambernath and Navi Mumbai, are generating good interest among buyers in the UAE, Singapore, the

US and Canada. According to the study, Ahmedabad with 32 per cent continues to be the most stable market in terms of demand and absorption of both residential and commercial spaces. NRIs consider Ahmedabad as a safe place to invest in, with lenient government regulations for property investments. Pune takes the third place (30.5 per cent), whereas Chennai (28 per cent) assumes fourth and Goa (23 per cent) is at fifth position. Delhi saw a 21 per cent rise in enquiries this year as opposed to last year from this segment. Moreover, according to a study by Sumansa Exhibitions that organised Indian Property Show in Dubai recently, Mumbai has once again emerged as the most popular

DOSSIER

and attractive property investment hotspot amongst the UAE-based Indian expats. Bangalore grabbed the second spot with 24.13 per cent. Canada-based NRI billionaire Bob Dhillon who is a Founder, President and CEO Mainstreet Equity Corp (Canada), says, “There are a large percentage of NRIs that are successful real estate developers who can bring in foreign capital, foreign expertise, and foreign design. There has been great opportunity for technology, trade, architecture, urban planning and most importantly, institutional long-term capital in the Indian real estate sector,” adding, “North America has been very active in going vertical on affordable housing for the populations of North America, Europe, and Asia.” New government boosts NRIs’ confidence The study by ASSOCHAM stated that NRIs feel confident about the new government in India and are waiting for an investment-friendly market in various fields. The government has boosted NRIs’ confidence and they are making bulk property purchases, anticipating realty revival in India. This is clearly helping both sides here as NRIs are getting discounts while developers, the much-needed liquidity. However, there have been expectations of NRIs from the new government. Dhillon shares, “If the new government is serious about providing affordable housing or middle class housing in a mass scale, then there is need for sufficient amount of capital. To attract institutional capital, changes are required in ownership rights by foreign institutional capital, foreign direct investment, and, repatriation of capital.” “Real estate land development is a localised business and for the local businesses to become more transparent and clean, you have to be very clear and transparent on zoning, ownership rights, squatters, municipality, infrastructure, utilities hook-ups and dealing with the many levels of permit issues. So, to attract people or NRIs for investment, the government has to eliminate red tape and bureaucracy,” he adds. Opportunities for developers Sensing an opportunity of rising interest among NRIs to invest in Indian real estate, some developers are keen on their NRI offerings. J C Sharma, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Sobha Limited, said, “We have seen an increase in the number of NRI investors for our properties. As of H1 FY15, 27 per cent of our total customers are NRIs.”

Mohit Goel, CEO, Omaxe, shares, “NRIs/PIOs have shown a lot of interest in this slowing market. A weakened rupee is a reason big enough where NRI/PIOs can benefit when rupee corrects in the medium-long run with stable government at the centre. Besides investment in the metros, NRI/PIOs have found tier II and III cities as potential investment destination, including Lucknow, New Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Faridabad.” “Omaxe has always been NRIs’ paradise. Our projects in cities like New Chandigarh, Noida, Surajkund and Ludhiana have huge NRI investments due to customised product that caters to the lifestyle NRIs are used to,” he adds. Omaxe is seeking opportunities in Northern region for NRI investments, while, Sahil Kapoor, Executive Director, RE/ MAX India is exploring southern region for this purpose. “With Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Vishakhapatnam seeing a lot of infrastructural growth and amenities, these cities continue to attract investments by NRIs. In fact, seeing the potential for development and the rich lifestyle that these cities offer, they are one of the locations for the expatriates and also the NRIs who want to relocate in India.” The NRIs who reinvest in India prefer locations that would reap them high returns and compliment their luxury lifestyle that cater to both their needs as well as demands. With the developers expanding their distribution channels and tie-ups, a lot of investment can be seen from NRIs. Sushant Muttreja, Chairman, Cosmic Group, says, “There are huge investment opportunities and we have a lot of participation from the NRIs and PIO from all over the world. Growing at the rate of 18-30 per cent, Indian real

estate sector will never disappoint the NRIs. We have brilliant offerings such as our project ‘City of Romance’ where they can pay 20 per cent initially and rest the amount post possession. Even post possession, we have twin usage of resort and housing in that particular project. It is very beatifically conceptualised. This project is exclusively for NRIs. We have similar offerings for them in commercial segment too. This will bring in return on investment higher than 20-25 per cent. So, there are amazing strategic investments which one can look up for in Cosmic Group and we have received a lot of participation from NRI and Indian diaspora. We expect the same to continue in the coming year.” To tap the growing business opportunities from NRIs, real estate developers have set up their sale offices in different regions. Omkar Realtors and Developers has started its office in Dubai and now it is looking at setting up offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. Godrej Properties, the real estate development arm of the Godrej Group, has opened its first international representative office in Dubai’s key business district to engage directly with the Indian Diaspora across the GCC market. “With some high expectations from the realty sector and confidence in the Indian government, the year ahead will be seeing a lot of NRIs showing interest in investing in India,” says Kapoor. Dhillon, who expects transparency, encouraging FDI and corruption free environment with the coming of the new government, says, “There is a bit of Modi fever, which should be capitalised into FDI that would help India in becoming one of the most dynamic BRIC countries in the coming years.”

NRIs who reinvest in India prefer locations that would compliment their luxury lifestyle

INTERVIEW

Paving its way in India With its presence in over 95 nations and one-stop shop for realty services, real estate brokerage firm RE/MAX started its Indian operations five years ago. Sahil Kapoor, Executive Director, talks in detail about business areas.

To begin with, how was 2014 for RE/MAX India? For RE/MAX, 2014 was quite eventful and we have been successful in making our footprints in the Eastern as well as the Northern parts of the country. By appointing master regional franchisees, including the regions of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Telangana, Central Andhra and West Bengal; RE/MAX has been very successful in paving its way for the real estate entrepreneurs. With our vision of trying to bring a structure to the crowded and unorganised real estate franchising and brokerage industry, a lot of positivity has been seen in the market towards the acceptance of more professional and one-stop shop services to all their real estate needs.

How has been the sector with the coming of new government? What are your expectations from the new government? The overall market size of real estate in India is expected to see a significant growth as well as development with the coming of the new government. Our expectations from the new government is to bring in the much needed rules and regulations that will have impact like mandatory licensing of all brokers, making of all the transactions along with buyers, buyer’s broker, sellers and seller’s broker details and value of transactions as a part of public domain and take remedial measures to remove the corruption in realty.

What are RE/MAX’s important How do you see the future of business areas, and subsidiaries Indian real estate sector? After serving these areas? the formation of new government, RE/MAX sells maximum Real Estate what are your projections for your in the world and has the international business? expertise of successfully operating in more After a stable government, there than 95 countries. RE/MAX in India is an have been improvements in the investing initiative of Sam Chopra to bring the best in patterns in the sector. The markets of trade to the country. It has been operational Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi are seeing for the last five years now and in this short an increased investment. Growth in the span of time, RE/MAX India has a presence IT and manufacturing sector is very much in more than 35 cities with around 100 supportive of the overall growing demands offices all over the country. of the sector, especially the commercial At RE/MAX India, we look at identifying sector. With a number of initiatives to business professionals to represent RE/MAX protect the interest of the real estate as regional master franchise in their region. buyer, the Real Estate Regulatory SAHIL KAPOOR The regional franchisee further has the right Authority introduced the Real Estate Executive Director, RE/MAX India to appoint broker office franchisees across (Regulation & Development) Bill that his region in different cities and locations. will re-build the trust in the consumers Further these broker offices and the business mind and ensure that the builders do not associates are one-stop shop for all the real misuse buyers and thus avoid delays in the estate needs of our clients varying from residential, commercial, retail, completion of the projects. Another initiative of FDI in Real Estate is a positive signal raising renting, leasing, industrial, farms and villas as well as value added services the hopes of the mid and the small size developers and making the such as home loans, investor’s club, property management, etc. real estate market investor friendly. The foreign inflow in the market will be beneficial to the sector to meet the capital requirements. What cities are you targeting? What kind of sales are you In addition, the Public Private Partnership (PPP) will definitely be expecting from tier 2 and 3 cities? RE/MAX India is looking expansion in the states of Mumbai, Pune, providing a roadmap for the private sector participation to assist the rest of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, North Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, “Housing for all by 2020”mission of the government. The new Land Bihar, Odisha, etc. With tier 2 and 3 cities coming forefront and a lot of Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Act replacing the old real estate development taking place in these regions, some excellent legislation, is also an initiative which will have a positive impact on the business environment. investment opportunities can be looked upon in these areas.

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

INTERVIEW

Stability in projects is exciting Irrespective of slowdown in the real estate sector, 2014 was fairly good for Cosmic Group. With core focus on development in the NCR region, 2015 looks good too, says the chairman of the company Sushant Muttreja.

To begin with, how was 2014 for Cosmic Group? In 2014, prices were stable in Indian real estate sector. Sales neither went bullish nor too bearish for us. We will continue with our action and 2015 should be very exciting for us. What are the projects currently in the execution process and what would come for sale in 2015? We are currently executing projects in Noida, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Rishikesh. We are currently doing about 10 million square feet of overall development, including IT parks, five-star hotels, resorts and shopping centres. What are the Cosmicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important business areas and subsidiaries serving these areas? As I have mentioned earlier, development is our core focus. We are currently doing multi scale development, covering almost all sectors of real estate; and this ultimately leads to development of the economy. We are currently doing economical projects, luxury projects, ultra luxury projects. We are present in all three segments and serving country in all the formats of real estate.

in. The kind of drives they have done, the kind of booster they gave to the real estate sector in terms of the real estate sector friendly budget; there are many expectations. However, there is a need to consider few things like single window clearance which has been pending from decades now. There are a lot of expectations especially in terms of clean governance and corruption free governance for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team are working very hard. But still there are some challenges in the sector, affordability is not showing up in the sector and how big is taxation as a concern for developers? As far as affordability is concerned, the cost of land is very high. And for this, the land acquisition bill is required. Then, there is a need to focus on small cities for development. High quality projects should be developed in these small villages and cities. For this, law and order and support are required from authorities and administration. There is a lot of scope in small cities. One can actually go and do a lot of stuff in these small cities. The only thing required is the overall government machinery to provide comfort, support and security to the sector.

What cities are you targeting and what sales are you expecting from SUSHANT MUTTREJA T2 and T3 cities? What are the emerging trends in Chairman, Cosmic Group We are operating currently in the the sector and how do you see the NCR region. As far as T2 and T3 cities are scenario of the Indian real estate concerned, they have lots of potential and sector with the formation of the we will move to bring development in near new government? future. As of now, our developments are focused in NCR. In future, There are some very exciting trends. The government has we will develop high quality projects in T2 and T3 cities. introduced the concept of smart cities. The boost could be given to the sector in terms of the real state. There are new concepts How do you see the pricing scenario? which are coming in the building material, which are very innovative. Prices were stable last year and it will continue to be stable in Now, we are getting away from simple three or four bedroom first quarter. apartment and moving to very high standard, very contemporary structures. Even in terms of the construction, we are replacing the How has been the sector with the coming of the new old technology with new and innovative ones. A lot of exciting things government and what are your expectations from the new are happening in the sector, a lot of improvements and innovations government? have been seen in the sector and I think next 2-3 years will be very There is a lot of positivity with the new government coming exciting for the industry.

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

INTERVIEW

Driving sales from small cities Although affected by the downslide of the realty sector, Omaxe continued its focus on developments and today boasts of 42 projects in 30 tier 2 and 3 cities. Mohit Goel, CEO, Omaxe, shares his views on returning optimism in the sector.

To begin with, how was 2014 for Omaxe? The year 2014 didn’t see too much activity in the real estate sector. Buyers stayed away from the market due to continuously high interest rate and inflation. Like all, we, too, were affected with market sentiments. Our top and bottom lines were impacted but in the last six months, we have seen a lot of improvement with the coming of new government. Our launches have gone off shelf in quick time and we expect the tier 2 and 3 markets where we operate to drive maximum sales in the coming times. How many projects do you currently have? Presently, we are executing 42 real estate projects, which include 18 integrated township, 14 group housing and 10 shopping malls, office spaces and hotels. The spread of project would be more or less same but we intend to make a sale of 8-10 million square feet in 2015.

How has been the sector with the coming of new government? What are your expectations from the new government? Since the new government took over in May, many policy decisions have been taken in favour of the real estate sector. The Government is also faced with its commitment of providing ‘Housing for All by 2022’ and its initiatives are directed towards fulfilling this objective. The government has also eased FDI in construction. Foreign firms have shown keen interest and domestic real estate companies too have been eager to partner and execute projects. The idea of smart cities and a budgetary allocation towards it is yet another important initiative of the government which we believe is crucial for our smart cities. A few countries like Singapore and Japan have shown interest and agreed to partner India in developing Indian cities.

What are the emerging trends in the sector? How do you see the future What are Omaxe’s important of Indian real estate sector? After business areas, and subsidiaries the formation of new government, serving these areas? what are your projections for your Omaxe is primarily and only engaged in business? real estate development. The company has Real estate is one sector that plays a diversified portfolio of products in both an important role in the overall growth residential and commercial segments. We and employment. It is imperative, are also executing entertainment zones in therefore, that a unified approach to nurturing this sector is taken. a few projects. MOHIT GOEL Participation from government and CEO, Omaxe Limited What cities are you targeting? What private developers is equally important. kind of sales are you expecting from With an objective to provide housing to all, various aspects, starting from tier 2 and 3 cities? Omaxe has its footprints in 30 cities across nine states. However, ensuring affordability to easy access of finance, approval, licensing, we are focussing on our projects in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab cost of raw materials and supply of labour need to be considered. and Madhya Pradesh. Tier 2 and 3 cities is witnessing a steady The coming times may see some improvement on a lot of fronts demand and 80 per cent of our sales comes from this region. For mentioned above. We expect sales of around INR 17-19 billion and growth of now, we have been expanding our existing projects in Faridabad, 20 per cent. Delivery of projects will remain a focus and we New Chandigarh and Lucknow to name a few. hope to deliver about six million square feet every year. We also endeavour to be a partner in smart city development as and when How do you see the pricing scenario in the coming year? The prices in metros have softened a bit but tier 2 and 3 continue the policy is given a final shape. We shall continue to make our to remain steady. For example, we sold at around 25 per cent more projects smart, intelligent and modern for residents to experience an exquisite lifestyle. price in 2014 against 2013. We expect the same increase in 2015.

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

INTERVIEW

Eyeing Southern India With its 50 ongoing projects, Sobha Limited is focussing on expansion in Southern India. J C Sharma,Vice Chairman and Managing Director shares about a unique project in Bangalore that covers the ‘golden quadrilateral’ of the city.

To begin with, how was 2014 for Sobha? The year 2014 was challenging for the Indian economy as well as for the real estate sector. The economy was growing at sub five per cent and market sentiments were not favourable for the growth of the construction industry as a whole. Despite the challenging environment, Sobha’s financial performance has been credible. On a consolidated basis, we registered a turnover of INR 12.60 billion during the first half of FY15. We have also completed and handed over three projects in real estate having total area of 1.60 million square feet and six projects in contracts with a total area of 1.30 million square feet in H1 FY15. In addition to this, we launched eight projects with a total saleable area of 5.14 million square feet in 2014. However, our operational performance has not been up to our expectations. Except for Bangalore that has been performing consistently well, all other markets have slowed down. Keeping in mind that a good number of ongoing projects are available for sale as well as over 15 million square feet of newer projects are likely to be launched in the coming year. We are confident that the coming year will be significantly better. Structurally, we are in a growth phase.

projections for your business? The new government has taken right measures towards the revival of our industry, starting with the Union Budget which was real estate sector friendly. Some of the important steps taken in this direction include approving the REIT framework and easing the FDI norms for the construction sector. The government’s objective of ‘Housing for all by 2022’ and its drive to develop 100 new smart cities in the country will also augur well for the sector. In the year ahead, we are hopeful that few key concern areas are addressed. The first is the availability of working capital at reasonable rates that will help the developers to purchase contiguous land for development. The much awaited single-window clearance system will also help in eliminating unnecessary delays in the construction process. A reduction in the home loan interest to around 7-8 per cent will further boost buyer sentiments. With the economy showing signs of recovery, we are hopeful that the real estate industry will also witness growth in the coming few months.

You talked about initiatives taken by the new government. One of the key projects is ‘Housing for all by 2022’. How do you this project? How many projects are you currently ‘Housing for all by 2022’ is an ambitious executing? project by the government. This will solve Currently, we have 50 ongoing projects some of the growth concerns for the measuring 31.14 million square feet of economy. However, looking at the current developable area and 31 contractual J.C. SHARMA scenario, we believe that the government is projects measuring 9.35 million square Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Sobha Limited not really addressing the issue. Developing feet of developable area. Overall, we really small, low quality homes in inaccessible have completed 95 real estate and 251 locations will not serve the purpose. contractual projects covering 65.83 million Therefore, adequate measures need to be square feet of area. taken in this regard to make the project a success. What cities are you targeting? What kind of sales are you Doing our bit to provide high-quality homes to the aspiring yet expecting from tier 2 and 3 cities? quality conscious and value discerning customers, Sobha will soon be We have real estate footprints in Bangalore, Mysore, Thrissur, launching a project near Balagere in Bengaluru that will offer optimally Calicut, Kochi, Coimbatore, Chennai, Pune and Delhi-NCR. We have designed functional units with various practical amenities. This is not just seen a good response in some of tier 2 cities. We may look to expand our maiden project in the aspirational series but also one of the largest our operations in Hyderabad while also exploring some tier 2 and tier 3 developments we will be undertaking in a prime location. The Project will cities in Southern India. be located in the midst of the four major roads in the city – the Outer Ring Road (ORR), Marathahalli road, Varthur road and Sarjapur road – What are your expectations from the new government? that can aptly be termed the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’. Coming from the After the formation of new government, what are your house of Sobha, this project is designed to be the best in its category.

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

ADVERTORIAL

JHARKHAND

One Stop Shop: Mining to Manufacturing Jharkhand has immense potential for investment due to its large mineral deposits, skilled labour force, and responsive administrative set up. It has a well-established industrial base comprising of reputed business houses. The State offers innumerable investment opportunities across various sectors.

VISION STATEMENT

Mr. Raghubar Das Chief Minister of Jharkhand Jharkhand is a land known for its mineral wealth, natural resources, enterprise and endeavour. The State offers excellent infrastructure to industries, has abundant human capital and is an ideal place to work in. We are moving towards becoming the most preferred investment destination in India through our commitment to effective governance, efficient administration and investor friendly policies. I invite you to invest in Jharkhand to leverage the resources available in the State to prosper, shine and be a part of India’s growth. • Jharkhand is one of the richest mineral zones in the world and boasts of 40 per cent and 29 per cent of India’s mineral and coal reserves respectively. • During 2012-13, the value of minerals produced in Jharkhand was US$ 3 billion.

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

The state had a 7.4 per cent share in the total value of minerals (excluding atomic and minor minerals) produced in India. At current prices, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Jharkhand for 2013-14 is estimated to have been US$ 31.4 billion. • Jharkhand is the only state in India to produce coking coal, uranium and pyrite. The state is also a leading producer of coal, mica, kyanite and copper. With 26 per cent of the total iron ore (hematite) reserves, Jharkhand ranks second among the states. • Jharkhand offers a wide range of fiscal and policy incentives to industries, under the Industrial Policy, 2012. The state also has policies for IT and special economic zones (SEZs) offering sector-specific incentives, as well as the Jharkhand Energy Policy 2012 which aims to supply reliable and quality power in an efficient manner at a reasonable price. Some of the potential sectors in the State are Automobile • Home to one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturing unit in India (Tata Motors at Jamshedpur). • More than 600 auto ancillary industries including auto component units are functioning in Adityapur (One of the largest auto cluster of the country), providing direct employment to more than 25000 people. • An Automotive Vendor Park will be established under PPP mode at Adityapur

Cement • Jharkhand has vast track of crystalline limestone, starting from Garhwa district to Bokaro district. • The state has 4 large cement plant with an installed capacity of 8.48 million tonnes • Jharkhand has around 745.8 million tonnes of good quality limestone deposits • With the reserves of cement grade lime stone, the state offers huge opportunity in cement sector. • The major cement companies in Jharkhand are ACC Ltd, Jaypee Group and Lafarge India. Engineering • The major growth drivers of engineering industry in Jharkhand are availability of raw material (iron and steel, aluminium, copper and other metals and nonmetals), power, water and industrial labour. • A number of heavy-engineering companies located in the state produce equipment and provide turn-key and consulting services to the existing metal and mining industry. • Bokaro and Jamshedpur are the major engineering clusters in the state. • Company like Mcnally Bharat Engineering Company Limited, TRF Limited, Timken, Mecons are operating in the State Mining & Metal • Mining and quarrying sector contributed around 10.2 per cent to the state’s GSDP and about 7.4 per cent of total value of

ADVERTORIAL

Jharkhand has 7.4 per cent share in the total value of minerals produced in India

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mineral production in the country in 2012-13. Jharkhand’s mineral reserves include coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, mica, graphite, manganese, rock phosphate, silver, uranium and limestone. Jharkhand is home to largest Steel plants in India and accounts for more than 20% of the steel production in the country. Tata Steel, Jindal Steel and Power Limited. Hindalco Industries Limited and SAIL are underlying their presence in the State. The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research and Indian School of Mines are located in Dhanbad and National Metallurgical Laboratories is located in Jamshedpur

Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) • With its large skilled manpower and manufacturing base the State is striving to become a destination for Electronic System Design & Manufacturing Sector. Towards the same the State has envisioned to setup an electronics manufacturing cluster at Adityapur (Jamshedpur). The project boasts of envious proximity & high quality synergy with an existing ecosystem of auto and engineering industries. The project offers state of art physical infrastructure (including logistics facilities, testing and certification centres, trade pavilions etc.) along with high quality social infrastructure including employee hostels, hospitals, and other commercial area over 82.50 Acres.

Power • Availability of Coal in abundance makes Jharkhand an ideal state for setting up thermal power plant. • With the abolition of freight equalization, there is tremendous cost advantage in setting up these plants at the coal pit itself • At present the installed capacity is 2540 Mega Watt, however a number of projects (10,000 Mega Watt) in the power sector are under implementation • NTPC, DVC, JINDAL, Reliance, Abhijeet Group, Adhunik are setting up power plants in the state Silk and Handicraft • Jharkhand has a large sericulture base. The state is the largest producer of Tussar (Non-mulberry silk) in the country, with 63% share in the total output. • There are 17 clusters of Tussar Silk in the state. In order to promote integrated development of the sector, the state is coming up with two silk parks at Ranchi and Kharsawan respectively. It exports Tussar silk to US, UK, Garmeny, France, Turkey, Japan, Australia, Sweden and Switzerland. Information Technology • The Government considers IT as an agent capable of transforming the State into knowledge-based society. • The State Government has provided special incentives such as exemption from environmental clearance, self certification for purposes of compliance with certain Acts, rebate in the cost of land allotted to an IT Industry, etc.

• The State Government is in the process of notifying Jamshedpur - Ranchi Patratu – Ramgarh Corridor as IT Investment Region, a corridor of nearly 200 km having the potential to attract IT Investment in the state covering major Urban nodes and industrial townships like Ranchi, Jamshedpur. • The State Government has initiated for development of IT/ITeS Parks at Ranchi and Adityapur offering around 2 million square feet built space. Tourism Sector Government has initiated various steps to attract investments: • The State offers several incentives for the provision of certain tourist facilities by the private investors which includes hotels & motels, tourist resorts, camps & facilities for adventure tourism, aerial ropeway, amusement parks, etc. • The tourism policy of the State aims at making Jharkhand as one of the most preferred destination for tourists, and to ensure accelerated development of tourism related infrastructure. • Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance for projects which are prioritised in consultation with the State. • Government subject to availability of funds and adherence to guidelines under various schemes. n

Come Invest-Prosper- Shine Be a partner in the growth story of Jharkhand

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

ADVERTORIAL

JHARKHAND An Ideal Destination for Investment in Food Processing Jharkhand is endowed with favourable climatic conditions for cultivation of a variety of seasonal as well as off seasonal agriculture due to its ideal location in Eastern India. Its agricultural production caters to 1/3rd of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population and has the potential to export to SAARC countries. It has a progressive farming community which is involved in organic farming, horticulture and floriculture. With abundant labour and other inputs and its proximity to industrial and urban centres of West Bengal and Odisha, Jharkhand is an ideal place for value addition in these activities.

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

ADVERTORIAL

Jharkhand has 2 million tonnes of high quality surplus vegetables suitable for processing or export.

Centre for horticulture • Jharkhand cultivates wide variety of fruits & vegetables, both for domestic consumption and export • Nearly 76,000 ha of fruits cultivation with 852,000 MT of production and 315,000 ha of vegetables cultivation with 4238,000 MT of production during 2013-14 • The State has about 2 million tonnes of high quality surplus vegetables suitable for processing or export. • Jharkhand is the 3rd largest producer of peas in India with 359.25 thousand tonnes of production and 8.94% of share in India. Tomato production is very high. • Climate conducive for round the year cultivation of high value crops viz., cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce etc • 895.4 thousand MT of fruits produced in the state. Primarily mango, guava, jackfruit and litchi in abundant quantity • 90% cultivation of fruits, vegetables and field crops are organically produced. Dairy Farming • Dairy is being treated as potential area to spur primary sector growth • Huge Scope in dairy processing with 52% milk deficit and a ready market

Fisheries • High Potential in Fisheries export and processing; increase in production of 92,000 MT of freshwater fish and presence of support infrastructure Infrastructure and Support to Food Processing • 631 rural markets in addition to 28 APMC markets and 192 secondary APMCs in the state • Food Processing Sector accorded priority in Jharkhand Industrial Policy, 2012 • Agro-Food Processing Industrial Units with only Rs. 500 million of investment covered under Mega Classification and enjoys the benefit of Preferential Land Allotment by IADA. • 75% net VAT subsidy and upto 15% investment subsidy • Successfully running the Central Govt. sponsored National Mission on Food Processing with streamlined application and approval process and under which grant in aid available to investors ranging from Rs. 5 million to Rs. 50 million under various schemes. • Extensive opportunities exist in – Setting up Food Park, Rice and Wheat Flour Mills, Organic Farming of Oilseeds and Pulses, Vegetable Preservation and Processing,

Milk and Milk Products, Feed Production Units for Cattle, Piggery, Fish and Poultry • Opportunities also in exploiting the commercialization of agro-forestry products, cashew processing, medicinal plants processing and honey production Government Schemes to Upgrade Food Processing There is a need to focus on food processing and preservation to create more off farm jobs, bring greater value addition and increase the income of rural workforce and farmers. Government is taking steps in developing the sectors and have also made schemes for it. • Technological Upgradation, Establishment, Modernisation of Food Processing Industries Scheme. • Scheme for Human Resource Development • Scheme for Promotional Activities • Scheme for Reefer Vehicles • Scheme for Implementation of Partially Completed Projects of Old Food Parks • Setting up of Primary Processing Centres & Collection Centres in Rural Areas.n

Come Invest-Prosper- Shine Be a partner in the growth story of Jharkhand

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

FOCUS

Strengthening old ties with new

COOPERATION ANUP KUMAR MUDGAL, High Commissioner of India to Mauritius

Mauritius and India have had close links for nearly half a century as most of Mauritius’ population is of Indian origin. As a representative of India in Port Louis, Anup Kumar Mudgal has gone beyond the call of the duty even in short span of nine months to strengthen ties between the two nations.

You have been in post since about nine months. What is the vision that you have for strengthening economical, cultural and political ties between India and Mauritius during your tenure? It is an immense privilege for any Indian diplomat to serve in Mauritius, a country with which India shares a truly unique and extraordinary relationship. Over several decades, we have fostered a dynamic, contemporary and mutually beneficial partnership through high-level political interaction, robust people-to-people contacts and intensive inter-Governmental cooperation. Our cooperation covers a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, education, health, culture, capacity building and human resource development, hydrography, maritime security and anti-piracy cooperation, to name just a few. They are constantly expanding to encompass newer areas of cooperation, and it is my endeavour to further consolidate and strengthen this unique partnership.

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Our partnership has a vital strategic dimension

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January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

How has been strategies ties between the two nations and what more is required to uplift it, especially when India’s prime aim seems to be ‘neighbourhood policy’ - right from the day one of oath taking ceremony when neighbouring countries were invited and now visits of Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs to these countries? The invitations extended by Prime Minister Modi to leaders of SAARC countries and to his Mauritian counterpart to attend the swearing-in ceremony

of the new Government was indeed unprecedented, and historic. It is a testimony to the Indian government’s commitment to prioritize, consolidate and strengthen its relations with its neighborhood, which includes Mauritius. We share historic and civilizational roots with the countries of this region, and peace, stability and socioeconomic development of South Asia is of paramount importance of the progress and well-being of Asia and the rest of the world. India will always stand ready to be an active partner not only in the growth and development of Mauritius, but also in its defence and security. Our partnership has a vital strategic dimension, encompassing varied elements including maritime security, joint anti-piracy patrolling and EEZ surveillance, hydrography, capacity building and training. India and Mauritius also have a critical role to play in ensuring peace and prosperity in the wider Indian Ocean region: it is noteworthy that the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which is headed at present by an Indian Secretray General, is headquartered in Mauritius. How was the recent visit of Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to Mauritius? Was the outcome of the visit satisfactory? What were the major topics of discussion during her visit? The visit of Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to Mauritius from November 1-3 , 2014 as Chief Guest at the national level celebrations commemorating the 180th Anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labourers was truly a landmark visit. She was accorded an exceptionally warm

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and emotional welcome by the entire cross section of the Mauritian people and leadership. During her visit, besides presiding as chief guest at a very moving commemoration ceremony at the Aapravasi Ghat UNESCO World Heritage Site, she also attended a Civic Reception hosted in her honour, a reception on board the visit Indian Naval Western Fleet Ships, a business meet organised by Board of Investment and Mauritian Chamber of Commerce, and the inaugural ceremony of the Indenture Labour Route Conference. The minister also had bilateral meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Leader of the Opposition, during which issues of mutual interest were discussed.. How has been the investment scenario between the two nations and how will you balance it when India is bullish on creating investment opportunities with the ‘Make in India’ programme in action? How can two nations strengthen their relations financially amid global competition? India and Mauritius have immense potential for consolidating and further diversifying their trade and investment relationship. Mauritius is a democratic, forward looking and investor friendly country and offers several unique opportunities to Indian businesses. Mauritius has preferential arrangements as a member of SADC (South African Development Community) and COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa). With its well-developed, modern infrastructure and communication facilities, Mauritius offers attractive opportunities in sectors as ICT, agro-products, consumer goods, automobiles, education, health care, drugs and pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and the newly developing arena of the ocean economy, among others. Indian companies are reaching out and exploring new opportunities in these and other areas. In addition, the unique strategic position of Mauritius gives it the potential of emerging as a commercial nerve-centre in the heart of the Indian Ocean region. Indian public sector enterprises such as the Bank of Baroda; Life Insurance Corporation of India; New India Assurance Ltd.; India Handloom House; Telecommunications Consultants of India Ltd.; State Bank of India (Mauritius) Ltd.; Indian Oil (Mauritius) Ltd; Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Limited (MTML) recognised these advantages early on, and today constitute a major part of India’s economic engagement with Mauritius. From the private sector, Indian companies have a presence in Mauritian business sectors such as tourism & hospitality, healthcare, agroprocessing, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, manufacturing, wind and solar power and education. Over the years, these Indian

companies have contributed immensely to the Mauritian economy as well as to social and economic causes through their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. Bilateral cooperation between India and Mauritius in the economic sphere has also resulted in the building of iconic structures and institutions in Mauritius. Some of these cooperative ventures include the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, the Upadhyay Training Centre, the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, the Subramania Bharati Eye Centre, the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, the Rabindranath Tagore Institute, the Cybertower at Ebene

and the Swami Vivekananda International Conference Centre. Similarly , the focus of the Indian Government on improving business environment, and the emphasis on manufacturing, infrastructure and trade, as articulated in the extremely well-received ‘Make in India’ campaign, has opened up enormous prospects for Mauritian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the resurgent Indian economy. As we have gathered again for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2015, what are

Above: Anup Kumar Mudgal, High Commissioner of India to Mauritius presenting cedentials to President of Mauritius Rajkeswur Purryag Below: Indian Ocean Rim Association has been working towards ensuring peace and prosperity in the wider Indian Ocean region

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Focus

the issues that the Government of Mauritius and PIOs of Mauritius would like to discuss at this event? Mauritius has always sent a very large and enthusiastic delegation to the PBDs. This year, there is a special session being organised on the ‘Girmitiyas’ – the indentured labourers who left India in the mid-1800s to various countries on the ‘Indenture Labour Route’. This is of special interest to Mauritius, since it was the first and largest recipient of Indian indentured labour. The Indentured Labour Route Project, which was recently approved by the UNESCO, is to be headquartered at the Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis Mauritius, itself a UNESCO World Heritage site. Issues such as the preservation and propagation of Indian languages, engagement with the youth diaspora, and cultural exchange are also extremely important. How can PBD 2015 bring forward to consolidate relationships between India and Mauritius? The PBD is an excellent platform for the preserving and re-energising the special relationship between the diaspora and the Motherland. People to people contacts, are, I believe, the strongest pillar of the unique India- Mauritius relationship, and the PBD is a wonderful platform to nurture this essential aspect of our bilateral ties. Recently, Mauritius celebrated 180th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers. How was it celebrated in

The strongest pillar of India-Mauritius relationship and PBD is a wonderful platform to nurture this critical aspect of our bilateral ties Mauritius as indentured workers form an integral part of the Indian diaspora? The 180th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers was celebrated was celebrated across the country. Commemorative ceremonies, cultural performances, book releases, and several other events marked the week-long celebrations. Not surprisingly, India was present in a big way in all these events. Sizable Indian delegations participated in the Antarrashtriya Bhojpuri Mahotsav and the International (Regional) Hindi Conference, both of which were inaugurated by President Purryag in the presence of several Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries. The celebrations also included an Indian Food Festival with two guest Chefs from India sponsored by ICCR, a painting exhibition on ‘Women by Women’ (both inaugurated by Aneetah Purryag, spouse of President Purryag), cultural performances by a Bhojpuri music and dance group sponsored by ICCR, GOPIO Women and Youth conference, an exhibition on the ‘Glories of Bihar’ at the Rabindranath Tagore Institute, etc.

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj during her recent visit in Mauritius

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

How do you see bilateral ties between India and Mauritius in the coming times? How do you see the situation for Indian diaspora in Mauritius improving? Relations between India and Mauritius are rooted in our shared historical, cultural and linguistic heritage. Today, we find that both countries share the same socio-economic, cultural and strategic space, and follow the same ideals of democracy, pluralism, and tolerance. We share a common desire to ensure that freedom and growth go hand in hand towards the larger good of the international community. I am confident that this unique relationship will only grow from strength to strength in the years to come, anchored by the enduring bonds of fraternity that our people share. Mauritius is a country where members of the India diaspora have displayed remarkable strength and resilience, by converting extremely harsh circumstances into opportunities. While they reflect values and ideals of India in all their colours, they have created a unique identity for themselves, which they can be rightly proud of. n Indian diaspora at Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis, Mauritius

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(left) President of India Pranab Mukherjee with (right) President of Mauritius Rajkeswur Purryag in Mauritius

India-Mauritius

Growing business

LINKAGES The ties linking Mauritius and India, deeply rooted in cultural tapestry, have consolidated themselves into strong business linkages along the years. Mauritius has become the biggest foreign investor in India and gateway to Africa. In addition to the strengthening of relation, the new government has extended more commitments.

Jasleen Kaur he word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mauritiusâ&#x20AC;? fills the mind with beautiful seashore, natural beauty, rivers and Honeymoon package. However, Mauritius is equally famous for business and tax

haven. Mauritius, a small country, is the biggest foreign investor in India. It bears strong cultural and historical ties with India that offer great assistance and boost in the bilateral relations between the two nations, the relation that started even before

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

independence with the visit of eminent Indian personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi. As a result, trade and investment between the two economies has always been a top priority for mutual development and profits. Indian companies are fast realising the potential of the Mauritian markets and have increased their presence multi-fold in the past few years. Mauritius has evolved from primarily being an agricultural sugarcane economy to one that is now defined by manufacturing, textiles, tourism and financial services. Its core

competencies like strategic location and trade agreements at multilateral and local levels serve as a suitable platform for Indian investors in Mauritius. Largest trading partner Mauritius and India have had close links for nearly half a century. Even before the establishment of diplomatic links, India looked upon the island with a fraternal eye as most of its population is of Indian origin. Therefore, since 2007, India is Mauritiusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; largest trading partner and has been the

Focus

largest exporter of goods to Mauritius. In 2012-13, India exported goods worth USD 1.31 billion and imported goods worth USD 28.49 million. Petroleum products are the principal commodity of export to Mauritius. A three-year agreement between the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals and the State Trading Corporation of Mauritius for supply of all petroleum requirements of Mauritius was renewed in July 2013. Besides petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, cereals, cotton, electrical machinery and apparel and clothing accessories were main items of India’s exports to Mauritius while iron and steel, pearls, precious/semi-precious stones and optical, photographic and precision instruments were main items of Mauritius’ exports to India. In Q1 of FY 2013-14, India’s export was USD 295 million, representing over 25 per cent of total import of Mauritius. Mauritius has been the largest source of FDI equity flow to India. The investment from Mauritius to India during April 2000May 2014 reached USD 80,808 billion, amounting to 36 per cent of the total FDI flows into India over this period. During FY 2012-13, it was USD 9.497 billion. However, Singapore has taken over Mauritius as largest source of FDI inflows to India in 2013-14. Indian companies have invested over USD 200 million in Mauritius in the last five years. Gateway to Africa Mauritius enjoys a perfect location between Asia and Africa, along with a convenient time-zone that coordinates its markets with most of the global economies and aids its business ventures around the world. Apart from this, it also possesses a strong political stature, munificent tax regimes and well developed infrastructure. Being a part of COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) and SADC (Southern African Development Community), it enjoys secure market access to the European Union as well as the USA. Sectors like manufacturing, tourism, healthcare, ICT/BPO, real estate, renewable energy, life sciences, financial services, etc. are swiftly enticing investors into the Mauritian market. Indian Oil Corporation, State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation, New India Assurance Company, Telecommunications Consultant India, Infosys and Oberoi Group are among the many Indian corporates having presence in Mauritius. On the other hand, Mauritius too, is readily reciprocating investments in India. “In April 2012, we ventured in a hospital in Kampala, Uganda, making it our first in the African mainland,” said Dr Simmardeep

Trade and investment between India and Mauritius has always been a top priority for mutual development and profits Singh Gill, Chief Operating Officer, Fortis Clinique Darné. The venture into Uganda has been undertaken in partnership with the Mauritian CIEL Group. Gill added, “For centuries, Mauritius has been known as the key of the Indian Ocean, but we perceive Mauritius as the gateway to Africa. Moreover, the advantageous Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), incentivising Indian investment though Mauritius also contributed to Fortis Healthcare coming to Mauritius. The fact that the government has VAT exemption on medical equipment made a lot of sense to us being in the healthcare business to come over here.” B Ashok, Chairman, IndianOil (Mauritius) said, “The economic, political and security conditions prevailing in Mauritius are excellent for investment. Thanks to the close diplomatic ties between Mauritius and India, support of the Government of Mauritius and many other major stakeholders in Mauritius coupled with untiring efforts of the-then officials of Indian Oil that this young entrant, conceptualised in 2000, came into reality with starting of physical operation in 2004.” Strengthening ties India’s links with Mauritius is ethnic. As

much as 68 per cent of its population is of Indian ethnicity with Indians migrating long ago to that country in droves as indentured labourers for sugar plantations owned by the British. The other affinity with that country is strategic with India protecting it from possible aggression and that nation in turn protecting Indian ships passing through its territorial waters from attacks by pirates. The new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also shown commitment. During the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi, Mauritius Prime Minister was the only non-SAARC head of state to be invited. Recently, during her visit to Mauritius, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj assured Mauritius that India will always remain ‘a steadfast friend and partner’ and the interests of the Indian Ocean Island nation would be kept in mind while reviewing the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. “India and Mauritius need to actively pursue greater economic and commercial depth in their partnership to elevate the bilateral economic and commercial engagement to a level commensurate with the special and enduring status of their bilateral relationship. And we are committed to fully facilitate this joint endeavour of our business people and entrepreneurs,” the minister added. n

Petroleum products are the principal commodity of export from India to Mauritius

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

FOCUS

INDIA’S

balanced ocean act Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Mauritius highlighted the importance of bilateral ties between the two nations, which adapt very well to emerging political alignments domestically. Jasleen Kaur

t is ‘neighbours first’ foreign policy that is high on agenda of India’s External Affairs Ministry. Soon after taking charge, the Minister, Sushma Swaraj, visited the neighbouring countries immediately. One of her landmark visits was to Mauritius, the small Indian Ocean island nation in November 2014, which has historically enjoyed privileged relations with India. The relationship between Mauritius and India dates back to the early 19th century, when thousands of Indians came to the island as indentured workers on its sugar plantations. Many stayed on and form the largest ethnic group in the population. Mauritians of Indian stock are intensely proud of the link. Therefore, to mark the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers in Mauritius, the minister participated in the celebration and paid tribute to those labourers. There was an extraordinary effort to reach out to the people of Mauritius, mainly Indian-origin, who account for 80 per cent population of the country. Aapravasi Diwas celebrations One of the high points of Swaraj’s visit to Mauritius was to be part of celebration of the 180th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers in Mauritius. For this purpose, Swaraj was accorded an extremely warm, enthusiastic and emotional welcome by the people and Government of Mauritius. She was the chief guest at the Aapravasi Diwas (Non-resident day) celebrations, including wreath laying, inauguration of onsite Beekrumsing Ramallah Museum, and release of a Coffee-Table Book on the history of the Aapravasi Ghat site, which has been published with the support of the Government of India. While the centerpiece of the celebration was the presence of External Affairs Minister as Chief Guest; India’s presence at the celebration went much beyond this - sizable Indian delegations participated in the Antarrashriya Bhojpuri Mahotsav (International Bhojpuri Festival) and the International (Regional) Hindi Conference, both of which were inaugurated by President Purryag

in the presence of several cabinet ministers and other dignitaries. The celebration also included an Indian Food Festival with two guest Chefs from India sponsored by ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and a painting exhibition on ‘Women by Women’. Both events were inaugurated by Aneetah Purryag, spouse of President Purryag. Cultural performances by a Bhojpuri group sent by ICCR, GOPIO Women and Youth conference, an exhibition on the ‘Glories of Bihar’, many more parallel events were organized during the minister’s visit. Guarding the Indian Ocean Due to its strategic location and act link gateway to Africa, Mauritius has always enjoyed a longstanding and growing security cooperation with India. Last year, India strengthened its defence ties with Mauritius by launching an Offshore Patrol Vessel for delivery to the island state. Considering this, the new government is responding to India’s new maritime imperatives in the Indian Ocean. There is a scope for security cooperation between the two nations and it was highlighted during the minister’s visit. “The Indian Navy is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the strategically vital Indian Ocean region in cooperation with the coast guards of Mauritius,” said the minister during her visit, adding, “Maritime security is of vital significance for an island nation like Mauritius as well as for a country with a vast coastline like India,” Swaraj said in her speech, adding, “A large part of our trade passes through the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean. Safety and security of the sea-lanes is thus indispensable for our territorial, economic and energy security.” Three ships from the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy namely, INS Mumbai, INS Deepak and INS Talwar were docked in Mauritian waters to enhance and deepen security ties. “These ships have been deployed to Mauritius with a view to qualitatively enhancing our long standing and multi-faceted cooperation in ensuring peace, stability and maritime security in the Indian Ocean region,” she added. INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

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India deputes a navy officer to manage the National Coast Guard of Mauritius, where two-thirds of the public is of Indian origin. In 2007, New Delhi built a monitoring station in Madagascar that relays intelligence back to Mumbai and Kochi. India is also installing a network of coastal radars in all 26 Maldivian atolls that feed back to India. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard frequently assist Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius in maintaining security by providing maritime surveillance, hydrographic surveys, training, and maritime military equipment and repair, in addition to engaging these countries in exercises. In contrast, China has not provided such maritime assistance, except for two patrol craft and training to Seychelles. Bettering the business relations While exchanging views on bilateral and global issues with the Mauritian leaders, Sushma Swaraj called upon government and business community of Mauritius to participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, encouraging the island nation to be part of India’s growth story. While reiterating her government’s firm commitment to improve business environment and provide speedy decision making, she further added, “Our focus is growth with good governance and transparency with eye on manufacturing, infrastructure and trade. I understand that many among you were present at this very venue some weeks ago to witness the launch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign live. This initiative has opened up enormous prospects for the global business community to take advantage of the resurgent Indian economy.” She paid tribute to the friendship between India and Mauritius and added that the bond shared by the two countries was due to a shared historical and cultural heritage. Apart from ‘Make in India’ campaign, Swaraj talked about other initiatives, saying, “Our government has embarked upon a very ambitious agenda for the development of India whether it be building 100 smart cities, modernisation and revamping of railways, developing dedicated freight and industrial corridors, augmenting power generation, increasing investment in agricultural sector or cleaning the revered Ganga and other rivers.” The business meet was organised by the Board of Investment, the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other important agencies of trade, investment and business in Mauritius. During her visit, Sushma Swaraj had bilateral meetings with the President Rajkeswur Purryag, the then Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam,

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Deputy Prime Minister A R Beebejaun, Foreign Minister Arvin Boolell, and Leader of the Opposition Pravind Jugnauth. She was also hosted for a luncheon meeting by Minister of Arts and Culture Dr M Choonee. This visit has proved second time that strengthening relations with maritime neighbourhood is high on agenda. First time was during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, when there was a surprising addition to the guest list – Prime Minister of Mauritius that is not a member of SAARC Forum. Moreover, the new governments have not affected

the old relations. Previously Congress-led government had given priority to relations with neighbouring countries and the new government has also shown commitments to Mauritius with the visit of Sushma Swaraj. It was warmly accepted by the President Purryag. And the relations seem to move with the same bonding with the new Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth in the seat. The old relations, rather, seem to be getting stronger and it would not be wrong to say that Sushma Swaraj’s visit turned out to be “India’s balanced Ocean Act”! n

ACKNOWLEDGING THE SACRIFICE A flight of 14 steps through which the first batch of 36 Indians climbed down after they landed on Mauritian soil on November 2, 1834 to work as indentured labourers still stands. The steps, on which almost half a million Indians climbed over the next 80 years at the Aapravasi Ghat, are a symbolic reminder of the British Empire’s ‘Great Experiment’ – using “free” labour to replace slaves to work in their sugar plantations. The iconic Aapravasi Ghat represents Mauritian identity as the ancestors of more than 70 per cent of today’s Mauritian population arrived to the island through this immigration depot. Therefore, Mauritius celebrated the 180th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers in India and India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was also a part of the celebration in Mauritius as a Chief Guest. Paying tribute to nearly half a million Indians who arrived in Mauritius to work as indentured labourers in the 19th century, she said that their sacrifice did not go in vain as they went on to become the architects of a resurgent and confident new Mauritius. “The Indians, by dint of their hard work and sacrifice, paved the road for the freedom and prosperity that are enjoyed in Mauritius today.” Nearly half a million Indians, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were sent to Mauritius in the 19th century to work as indentured labourers in the sugarcane plantations or to sail on to further destinations, such as Guyana, Suriname and Reunion Island. Recollecting the historic date of November 2, 1834, she said, “We pay tribute to all those resilient ancestors who landed on the shores of this rainbow island from India and other parts of the world. Through their toil and tears, sweat and sacrifice, they enabled later generations to live in comfort and security.” The minister further added,“Yet it is these very first footsteps that went on to change the course of history, not only for Mauritius but also for India’s relationship with the wider world. The tireless men, women and children who landed on these shores survived disease, deprivation, and injustice, and went on to become the architects of a resurgent and confident new Mauritius.”

MAURITIUS - FACTFILE

DOSSIER

177 km COASTLINE

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Geographical area

INDIAN COMMUNITY Ut aut volorest resequi sitiatur ? IN MAURITIUS:

2,040 sq km

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•Magni Indian nationals Mauritius int aut doluptateliving num in quiam faces – 10,000 es soloritibus ature •dolorpo Workrestrum permitfugit, holders – 6,865 etum dia volore porae core excessequo et lanis •reperibusda Professional occupation permit holders – 696 volupta tempore ruptatem quam, etur am suntiandias perum–dit et quodio •EritVisas issued (Mid June) 8,911 isit que doluptatem harchillori dolorio nsequae • PIOs cards issued – 146 rnaturibus, cones dendust runteni hilique suntia •coremperios OCI cards issued - 148 odigenis nobit eum si doluptaspiet

Pereybere Grand Baie

Triolet quibusam nis eos sitatemium sit, ilit isciusam MAURITIUS aditaquas aped ma velest, cum qui dolore pa Mapou quaturibusam reresci cupta doluptam coratem. Pamplemousses Ibusdandam et, que in cum il earchilibus as Riviere du ditate veri nonseritist, as sant, veresciis adipiet Terre Rempart Rouge lat. voluptatem fugitam reseris eum untota sitate doluptisto dolorum quiatem eumque Valton Southern Africa, island eum harcienetur atet min con explic te nusdaer PORT LOUIS in the Indian Ocean, atemqui verum consequi qui derspedi occus, Pitit Lalmatie Riviere quiatet ius, quis et omnist, ad quam quae. Eheni about 800 km east Centre di si adit magnam que modistrum hilles elest, temFlacq of Madagascar L’Agrement GDPquae – PER CAPITA doluptat.d ma velest, cum qui dolore pa Rose Hill quaturibusam (PPP) (2013) reresci cupta doluptam coratem. Mincipicium esed que necto ide latur, tem aut esci et, que in cum il earchilibus as USD Ibusdandam 16,100 billion Quartiers Bel Aire offic te litae enis sequibus Bambous Militaire ditate veri nonseritist, Montagne as sant, veresciis adipiet lat. voluptatem UNEMPLOYMENT Blanche fugitam reseris eum untota sitate doluptisto RATE 8.3 %dolorum quiatem eumque eum harcienetur atet min con explic te nus Cone volupta voluptam reriam, officab INVESTMENT Cone volupta voluptam (GROSS FIXED) (2012) reriam, officab oreperi onsenti onsequi 23.1 per cent of GDP ra vellabo. Itaest que poreica tatur ? Sin placerum fuga. La es eaquunt vero 654,822 Rose Belle corestrum simusapist optas nimus estiur sum voloraesto omnihil modigenis sime si abo. Nem 676,333 La Gaulette Pleine Magnien quatem simaio quam, volorro magnat et quas Grand Bois que consequi cum, totatempor sunt minusaest experum laborem harit vel eat. emperios eum si doluptaspiet odigenis nobit quibusam nis eos Camp Diable sitatem ium sit, ilit isciusam aditaquas aped ma Population growth rate velest, cum qui dolore pa quaturibusam reresci 0.66% cupta doluptam coratem. Ibusdandam et, que Sex ratio (total population) in cum il earchilibus as ditate veri nonseritist, as sant, veresciis adipietlat. voluptatem fugitam 0.97 males/female reseris eum untota sitate doluptisto dolorum Languages Mincipicium esed que necto ide latur, tem dolestiam quo eruptat ibusdan derrovispoken quiatem eumque eum harcienetur atet min con French,blatis English aut esci offic te litae enis sequibus eiunto dendebis dolupti cuptatemqui ea (official), explic te nusdaer atemqui verum consequi qui (common), mi, sitat renienda dolliciam am quam quodi vernate mporatur accab id Creole quae laccabor derspedi occus, quiatet ius, quis et omnist, ad Bhojpuri sapedi doluptam as sequiatur? sitaque nata aute volo te vene doluptis quam quae. Eheni si adit magnam que modistrum hilles elest, temquae doluptat.d ma velest, Berspicid qui dolluptate qui comniscia perro dolut entotasit vellacc aborem ea • cumquo India exported goods to Mauritius (2012-13): cum qui dolore pa quaturibusam reresci cupta delluptatquo ma doluptin consenam eaquod utat es autecepudis aligent 9 districts and 3Ibusdandam dependencies USD 1.31 billion doluptam coratem. et, que in cum qui volutem quatend electet vellibu saneumet alit aut exercimus et ipsumquat laut • dantemquo India imported goods from Mauritius (2012-13): il earchilibus as ditate veri nonseritist, as sant, molupta preres ditam quia con eostibusa nitat ut etus doluptas est sit. veresciis adipiet lat. voluptatem fugitam reseris USD 28.49 million praecae veliqua spelend andus, explit erunt eum untota sitate doluptisto dolorum quiatem • aut FDIperum equity inflows from Mauritius India (April qui doluptatem iustomolorepuda ETHNIC GROUPS eumque eum harcienetur atet min con explic 2000-May 2014): billion quia vendelibus ilita USD invent80,808 moluptatem te nus sunt rem quia voles verchil inctatur Sino-Mauritian Franco-Mauritian Cone volupta voluptam reriam, offica moluptur aut labo. Liae. Et everionsequo 3% 2% aditaquas aped ma velest, cum qui dolore pa inusam, ut estiis ea vendips antiatur reprati quaturibusam reresci cupta doluptam coratem. id mo quia eum, occatis dest facepreicia Ibusdandam et, Creole quam untem. Magnimporem sit ipsuntoque in cum il earchilibus as ditate veri non27% INDUSTRIES tati te dolo dignisi mporempos nonem seritist, as sant, veresciis adipiet lat. voluptatem Food processing (largely sugar milling), Indo-Mauritian fugitam reseris eum untota sitate doluptisto textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, 68% dolorum quiatem eumque bn

Location

POPULATION (MID 2014)

1.33 million Iberiae Ommollabo Et ea voluptatur alique poresed iassit reiur ?

88.8%

LITERACY RATE

metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

INDES November-December

Source: CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) World Factbook

Administrative divisions

MINCIPICIUM ESED QUE NECTO BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH INDIA:

focus

Bhojpuris in Mauritius

Rejoicing the culture Despite the thousands of kilometres and several decades that separate the two, the Bihari or Bhojpuri community of Mauritius has managed to keep its language, culture and traditions not only alive, but perhaps purer than in the land of its ancestors. Christine Nayagam

n the stage, women of all ages wiggle on the beats of the tablas and bells. They clap their hands and dance in circles in their colorful and embroidered sarees. Sitting on the floor, one of them sings a song. It tells the story of a ship moving wildly in a turbulent sea. The song goes on to recount the misfortunes and difficulties of the journey and the arrival on the tropical island whose landscape is completely unknown to the people in the boat. It is no wonder that Mauritius is nicknamed the “Little India”. Nearly 70 per cent of the 1.2 million inhabitants of the island are of Indian origin. A majority of them are from Bihar - one of the poorest

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

and most populous states in India. Their mother tongue, Bhohpuri, is still spoken and has been successfully transmitted through the generations. The Mauritians of Bihari origin are descendants of indentured labour who arrived on the island to work in the cane fields in the mid 19th century when slavery was abolished by the Western Powers and the African slaves were liberated. In his book, “Sea of Poppies”, the writer, Amitav Ghosh, explains that many small Bihari peasants were forced by drug traffickers to cultivate and produce opium, which was then sent to China. This episode created a large group of Bihari migrants in search of a better future and desperate enough to do

anything to change their lives, even leave their motherland and brave the high seas. Even today, most Mauritians of Indian origin have never been to India and have never contacted their homeland. Yet, their culture and traditions have remained intact. “The lively presence of Bhojpuri in Mauritius can not be denied. We can no longer ignore or erase or bury this language alive. Its presence is manifested more through a cultural vivacity, embracing oral traditions, customs, rites and rituals, as well as the collective consciousness, food and dietary habits and also culinary skills and arts, etc,’’ says Sarita Bodhoo, the spokesperson for the Bhojpuri Speaking Union.

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Linguistic Tradition The Bhojpuri language, recognised by the government and taught in private schools, has contributed in particular to the enrichment of the lingua franca of Mauritius - the Creole. “The Bhojpuri has contributed a lot to the semantics of languages in Mauritius. Bhojpuri terminologies, proverbs, riddles and even curses, tales and nursery rhymes, phrases, children’s games and especially the ancient folk and traditional songs have perpetuated generation after generation. All this makes the Bhojpuri an exciting and intrinsic component of the linguistic kaleidoscope in Mauritius, “says Sarita Bodhoo. Bhojpuri is especially entrenched in

the songs, even if they are parts of the folk songs, often called ‘geet gawai’. The Ministry of Arts and Culture has been organising annual drama competitions in Bhojpuri over 30 years. “The NGO, Mauritius Bhojpuri Institute, established in 1982, has undertaken several workshops, organised several cultural events to contribute to the development of Bhojpuri and also created a Bhojpuri television channel. Several people who were still reluctant to speak Bhojpuri or had relegated the language to an inferior status or rustic, now watch the Bhopuri channel to improve their knowledge in this field, “says Sarita Bodhoo. In 2010, the government decided to introduce Bhojpuri and Creole

languages in the school curriculum. “The Mahatma Gandhi Institute has a Bhojpuri Department (established in 1982) and with the support of the University of Mauritius, grants degrees in this field,” says a teacher from the institute.

SOME CREOLE WORDS Godi: Lap Chowki: Pastry board Belna: Rolling pin Tawa: Cast iron plate on which bread is prepared Maraz: Pandit (Hindu priest)

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Lost in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the French island of Reunion is proud of being a cultural melting pot. Amongst its inhabitants, numerous people of Indian origin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; primarily hailing from South India - enjoy every year the festival of lights, Deepavali and reconnect with their ancestral traditions. Yerinne Park

Girls getting ready in Indian traditional dresses for a fashion show

Dancers prepare their steps for months on popular Bollywood tunes for the Deepavali festival

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;intense islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, as it is called sometimes, is a sister island of Mauritius, situated not far from Madagascar and the eastern coast of the African continent. This small French territory of 2,510 square kilometres - unknown beyond its borders possesses a rich history that explains its exceptional cultural diversity. Reunion Island is not just about beautiful landscapes that include volcanoes, beaches and tropical forests; it is also about the result of a mixed culture which history dates back to the arrival of Europeans and people from Madagascar in the 17th century, followed by the slavery that brought Africans from the mainland and later on indentured labour from India and China.

The Festival of Lights is a unique opportunity for Reunion inhabitants to explore Indian culture through activities such as henna painting

(Previous pages) Numerous associations train young amateurs from all around the island to perform on the evening of Deepavali. Musicians and dancers celebrate the day with creative and colorful shows

A stall in the Deepavali fair selling various goods from India such as sarees, posters of famous Indian film stars, jewels and statues

Today 45 per cent of its population is of Indian origin. The vast majority is Tamil, with a dark or brown skin and refined features and is commonly called the “Malbars” by the other inhabitants of the island. The other Indians, having arrived more recently from the western state of Gujarat, are mostly Muslim traders and nicknamed “Zarabes”. They define themselves as French citizens but are Indians, spiritually and emotionally. Besides the fact that most of them have never been to India, it is with zeal and conviction that they celebratethe Indian

festivals at numerous colourful temples spread across the island every year. At the end of October, when summer is about to start in the southern hemisphere, Deepavali lights up the roads and the homes. On the beach, and in the heart of the city, the music, dances and other aspects of Indian culture bring joy not only to the locals but also the tourists and other inhabitants who can discover this millennia-old tradition. When the night falls, the festivities end with a giant parade in the honour of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. n

DIASPORA

Reunion Island

A FORGOTTEN

Diaspora? Over a century ago, many Indians were forced into migration to British and French colonies as indentured labourers. While the neighbouring island Mauritius received the support of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the Indians in Reunion were left to their fate. Ramsamy Jean-Regis

his question is not a useless one. Mauritius and Reunion Islands are only 200 kilometres away from each other and yet Mahatma Gandhi did not visit both places during his journey when he landed in Mauritius on October 30, 1901 aboard “Nowsherra” en route to South Africa. This happened again in 1970’s when Indira Gandhi, former Indian Prime Minister, visited Mauritius alone to lay the foundation stone of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. It may not be necessary to recall how much Mahatma Gandhi improved the way of life of people in this island of Mauritius by his sole presence. The writings in publications such as The Hisndustani, a weekly founded by Manilal Doctor in 1909, testify to its high significance. Manillal Doctor, lawyer and politician of Indian origin who was based in London then, was called to the bedside of the island at the request of Gandhi as mentioned in Indians in Mauritius by Aunauth Beejadhur in 1997. This tiny territory has seen its destiny transformed by Gandhi’s retorts. Numerous changes occurred after this historic move. The foremost change occurred in the lives of Indian workers. The famous lawyer had spare no efforts to support hundreds of thousands of coolies. And he did not ask them to revolt or to overthrow the government in power. Instead he urged everyone to be perfect citizens in their host country. This was a significant revolution and this was the way Gandhi’s realism worked. In contrast nothing happened in the neighbouring island. The then colonial press

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

made no statement, although there were so many Indians to inhabit the island. The political configuration of the era owes much to Gandhi exclusive passage in Mauritius. A decade earlier, Britain had unilaterally decided to end Indian immigration to Bourbon (former name of La Reunion Island before 1789). Except for the fact that the road to Durban, South Africa, had no requirement to go through this island, the political environment was not conducive to such a visit. France was still mourning over the closure of the labour force from the Indian reserve, thus was hardly opened to any kind of inference from Anglo-Indian personalities. The socio-economic situation On December 5, 1911, a letter again showed the willingness of British India to resume talks for the Indian immigration. Sir Arthur Nicholson told the ambassador of France in this respect that the general feeling in India was to stop the migration: for different reasons that no new Indian would reach La Reunion for indentured work anymore. Indian workers arriving in La Reunion received identification and work booklets to follow them in the island. The booklets acted as the identification card (I.D) for the Indian’s workers. Examination of the booklets owned by workers hired in Sainte-Rose proves that in 1910, Indians were still returnees and that they were still engaged in 1918. The fact that commitments have been made in 1910 does not necessarily mean

new contributions. For many Indians in La Reunion, the terminating contracts were most often immediately extended. Because of assimilation compensating the lack of new arrivals, returning back to India became very rare. The authorities did not comply with the law on their promise to pay the return ticket of former workers. Interbreeding as an integration fastener was increasing. Representatives from the Chamber of Agriculture, assisted by their colleagues from the Chamber of Commerce and councillors still expressed their desire for arms to continue sugarcane production in the colony. On January 25, 1917 the President of the Chamber of Commerce mingled with the defenders of the island, addressing the governor to him that “the mobilisation of a large number of soldiers Creoles created a considerable gap particularly in farm labor, as well as the staff of the works and railway, port, and threatens to ruin the colony, depriving it of its harvesting and transport of its products for the next campaign.” “If India ever escapes the British government and the Indian Empire, it will not be because of domestic issues in the country, but especially because of the treatment of the Indians in the Colonies” declared in December 1920 by Govindaraghava Iyer, a supporter of the liberal nationalist as stated in A new system of slavery, the export of Indian labour overseas 1830-1920 by Hugh Tinker. This statement intervened in the year of a complete stop coolie trade system or dismantling. Besides, on April 20, 1921, Montagu asked the Foreign Office to formally close the 1861 convention planned

DIASPORA

immigration in the French colonies. This was done on July 1 of the same year when the British ambassador in Paris told the foreign minister of the time, Aristide Briand, the Convention has become obsolete. During this year too, Britain began a final judgment in all forms of coolie-trade which still existed in the colonies. Shadowed in history Because of the so-called policy of assimilation, former workers and their children turned away from the land of their ancestors. While in Mauritius Indians continued to pour in. Thereby Gandhiji had neither the right nor the means to interfere in the affairs of an island belonging to a foreign country. At the time of his trip to Mauritius this context prevailed. The Mahatma intervened and sent his emissary Manilall Doctor in the island. Meanwhile La Reunion Island lived another story. One wondered if the Indians’ son were French and whether to be sent to war sooner or later. Though, sending these men to war meant to depopulate the sugarcane fields and factories at the same time while Indians were in the island precisely to work in these structures and produce sugar. History so played for our sister island since it belonged to the British Crown. Policies within the same set had more chance of success. This was not the case between Reunion Island and India as so many things tear us apart. From this time the separation seems to be forever. Calling it a “50 year time of shadow” fits very well. It is often referred to as also the dark period in the history of the Reunion’s Indian community. Wielding this hypothesis with tweezers to avoid falling into an anachronism, we can say that the fate of RIOs -Reunionese of Indian origin- would have been different if they had met the story through K. Mohandas Gandhi. How could it not be as Mauritius had an almost identical context. The father of the Indian independence should certainly not have ignored the situation of the Indians of La Reunion. Indian politicians even today say Bharat Mata never forgets her children. In the same way it has always been suggested to indentured workers descendants to live in harmony in their host country. Loyalty must be flawless said a political leader. Historical thinking does not prohibit realism. Indeed there is no reject of any historical evolution. Members of the French speaking Diaspora have no regrets vis-à-vis the path events went. They see each destiny as different. Part of their strength is there, in the distance between them and India: raised in a quite different context, traditions are different. In the worldwide Indian diaspora, representatives of the Francophony are not few, though not being as well integrated in the diaspora. They deserve respect because the separation from motherland that occurred makes them more complicated in the recognition process. And there is no shame in such difficulties. Now if the Gandhian legacy is thinner, communication challenges promote their actions. Social networks and other means still allow them to be definitely into the right way of history. The cultural diversity they bring with them is an additional factor that should help them in their relationships with India. The fact that Gandhi did not come because of political circumstances should not act as a deterrent anymore, we rather need to move forward. (The author is a historian and journalist of Indian origin in the Reunion Island) n

Above: An Indian merchant who suceeded in Reunion Island in 1950 Centre: Comorian Indentured Labourers at the Immigration Depot in Reunion in 1900 Below: An old sugarcane factory

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

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Baggage of Indian

CULTURE When Indians travel to other parts of the world for work and better opportunities, they carry with them the culture as well. While it helps them to retain their identities, some customs and practices have tainted the communities overseas. Shweta Keshri

I “

think growing up with lots of family and Indians has made me more secure in my identity. Some kids who didn’t have strong cultural ties may have more conflicts. That said, all IndianAmericans are now reconciling with their dual identities” says Karuna Jobanputra, a young Indian American who hails from a family that migrated to the United States in 1960s, a time when many Indians were moving out of the country in search of work and a better life. This is a common story of any third or fourth generation Indian who has grown up in the US or any other country in secure settings. “In the UK, where I was born, multiculturalism is promoted. As a result, Indian heritage and British upbringing are both part of my identity. Indian culture thrives in the UK. Indian food, for example, is now accepted as a part of British cuisine and most people are familiar with Bollywood films. Within the Indian community itself, Indian languages like Hindi and Gujarati are widely used even among second or third generation BritishIndians born outside India. But we’re also aware that we are British and this side of our identity becomes much more apparent when interacting with the wider UK population, at school or work,” states a journalist of Indian origin. Karuna, who has an extensive family in India and visits often says, “Every family is different even within a bracket of shared culture. It also depends on how open immigrants are to experiencing American

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

culture, food, or the other cultures that are here. It is somewhat crucial for survival and flourishing to acclimate in new cultures, and personally I think Indians have learned to do it well, without compromising their values or customs. But then there are some who chose not to interact, and I think it may cause challenges to being “successful”.” Retaining Indian culture It is true that the non-resident Indians (NRIs) and the people of Indian origin (PIOs), despite being forced to regions such as Mauritius, Reunion Island, Guyana and East Africa as indentured labour during the British colonisation and emigrating to developed countries such as the US, Canada and European countries that offer shimmering opportunities and hopes in latter part of the 20th century, have managed to stay close to the cultural roots of their nation. Rajaram Munuswamy migrated to France nearly three decades ago to study telecom engineering and has stayed back since. Married to an Indian woman and now with two children, Munuswamy feels he was never really cut away from the Indian culture. “Indian culture in the Frenchspeaking countries has survived through the day to day commodities such as food, clothing, visual and verbal mediums such as temples and languages respectively,” says Munuswamy, who is also the secretary general of Gopio International, a body of Indian diaspora spread across over 50 countries.

That Indian culture can thrive in the community, even nearly two centuries after it migrated from India to a foreign shore can best be seen in the celebration of festivals like Diwali in the Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, lying between Mauritius and Madagascar. Even though the PIOs of the Reunion, numbering about 350,000 or 45 percent of the total population of the island today, had lost all contact with India for nearly 200 years, the island is home to several beautiful and fairly authentic Hindu temples, built in the typical South Indian fashion, which are lit up for the Diwali celebrations each year. The dark side But it is not just the vibrant or colourful aspects of Indian culture that are transported to the distant lands. Some of the worst traditions and practices of the Indian society find a way to emerge even in the ‘developed’ economies and despite the dual identities or a mélange of Indian and western cultures. Treatment of women, dowry, caste barriers, gender discrimination and other ills that are prevalent in India can also be found in the adopted countries of the diaspora. Like in any urban-Indian household, these practices may not be visible ordinarily but they are deeply embedded and surface during situations such as weddings. Practices such as caste and dowry come into play on such occasions as.families prefer to find a match within the same

Abandonment of wives and dowry practices are some of the issues among the diaspora

caste. “Parents still want their children to marry within the same caste and ethnicity, and some parents are a bit more openminded to allow an Indian from India. Generally parents want their kids to marry Indians and things turn a little difficult if it’s an outsider. But eventually kids win them over”, says Karuna. The prevalence of caste or any regional division, however, is not merely limited to the weddings. “I have witnessed situations where the upper-caste Brahmins won’t have meals together with the people of barber communities who form the lower caste in India. While it is okay for them to mingle and talk together in a gathering, they show their distance at lunch or dinner and prefer to share their tables with people of the same caste. This is also seen among the employees of same office who are from different caste”, says Munuswamy reflecting over the caste division that is present in the lives of people of Indian origin in France. On the other hand, Amrit Dhir, IndianAmerican lawyer, whose grandparents were born in East Africa while his parents moved to the US, states, “In my experience, I have seen religion and region factor as far more

relevant in the association and marriage decisions or actions of Indians in America than caste. Caste has certainly never come up in my house. To be honest, I don’t think most in my immediate family have any idea what caste we are! That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s not deemed relevant by some Indian-Americans” indicating that such divisions may have lost their existence in the third or fourth generation. Recounting his experience, a journalist of Indian origin in London says, “My family is from Kutch in Gujarat and yet we were discriminated against by other Gujaratis in the UK.” On the role of caste during marriage, he adds, “Marrying outside of the Indian community has been a taboo but that’s changing and today many second and third generation British Indians go in for interracial marriages.” However, he says that there has been no case of untouchability, an extreme practice followed in the caste system in India that he has heard about in his community. Another custom that is seen during weddings is dowry. While India is still fighting this age-old tradition in which a bride’s family is obliged to pay large sums in

cash or kind to the groom, the westward brothers are far from rejecting it either. “Generally dowry is practiced, and the justification used is because the groom’s family is doing all this, so the bride’s family has to give that much, too,” says Karuna, relating it to the social pressure that accompanies such conduct. She also adds that the dowry issue is more serious among the new immigrants who settle in the US with skilled jobs. Marriages on false premises or complete untruths is another curse of the diaspora. Men, who are already married and have children, often visit India to lure unsuspecting parents with the prospect of their daughter getting married overseas and only to abandon their newly-wed wives as soon as they receive the dowry. Such marriages often lead to a complete abandoning of the girl in a distant land. The old emigrants too are not completely devoid of this practice. Indian origin people in the Gulf countries also often seek virgin girls far younger than themselves. Newspaper reports have cited cases where young brides from India are circulated among entire communities in INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

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Marriages on false premises or complete untruths is another curse of the diaspora these countries. Some of the cases have originated in Hyderabad in southern India, a favourite hunting ground for brides for the Middle East countries. Though rare, but cases of honour killings have also scarred the reputation of Indian communities, mainly in the western nations. While these are some of the most extreme and unfortunate examples, describing the scene in the UK, a journalist says, “It depends. If someone is marrying within the community, then I wouldn’t be surprised if a dowry was given as a way of keeping with tradition. But like I mentioned, inter-racial marriages among Indians are becoming common in the UK. In these marriages, it’s unlikely that a dowry is given.” Gender based discrimination While gender discrimination is not unique to the Indian society, this malaise is very widespread and fairly high as compared to some developed countries. The contrast shows up glaringly in the Indian diaspora living in these countries. As a girl raised in an Indian-American family, Karuna says, “Girls are still discriminated against, and boys have more freedom than them. Women can’t do as much as men can. Like guys can travel alone, and go places alone, and not be questioned, while women don’t have the same freedom.” She further recounts from her experience, “Living together before marriage is a big no, dating is not allowed

and talking to boys is somewhat suspicious, girls going off by themselves and living far away is not ok, college is made an exception because sometimes good education is given greater consideration, but it is a constant negotiation for a girl. Scholarship money may aid this decision, however.” These biases also give rise to preference of having a boy over girl child and unfortunately cases of female foeticide have also been reported. “Son favouring, I have heard, does happen, again mostly among the recent immigrants. But, I think it comes from in-laws’ pressure”, says Karuna. “There still may be a preference for a boy within the Indian community in the UK, but female foeticide is not practiced. However, that’s not to say isolated cases don’t exist”, says another Indian expat in the UK. “As such, the British Indian women, who are given the same access to education as men by their families, are much more empowered than their counterparts who have not had the same access. But the world over, male dominated societies prevail and that includes the UK and so hurdles do exist.” However, in the Indo-French community it comes as a pleasant surprise that such practice of son favouring does not exist. As states Munuswamy, “French government supports every child and law governs France unlike India that mostly survives on individuals.” He, however, adds that among the recent immigrants, problems such as female

foeticide and domestic violence could exist. These complications arise typically if the woman is not financially independent. Discrimination also reinforces stereotypic roles of the men and women. “I think that these are probably more rigidly defined for Indian-Americans than for nonIndian Americans, with men expected to work and women expected to stay home, cook, and take care of the family. But, just as with other Americans, I think, these are being challenged with second generation and later, and there are certainly examples of alternative arrangements.” Nevertheless, as the emigrants move in search of work, it is not as orthodox because both the spouses have to work for a good lifestyle. “In America, since everyone is starting from a scratch, for the immigrants that came in the 60’ and 70’s both women and men were working because everyone was trying to establish themselves. So if the dad was bringing in the money and could afford for the mom to stay home, then you could see that happening. But among the kids from these parents, women are often working in skilled jobs, so in my generation, both men and women work.” While the extent and statistics may not be the same as in India, but the evil practices evidently have travelled with the Indians. It is a relief, however, that by the third and fourth generation they start disappearing. However, as fresh emigration continues, mainly lured by jobs in sunrise sectors such as technology and finance and mainly in the US, the ills of Indian society continue to arrive across the oceans. Abandoning of newly-wed wives, with their American dreams, and rising domestic violence among the Indian communities abroad is something to be concerned about. n

Gender discrimination has scarred the Indian communities overseas as well

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Delegation of Indian diaspora at Agra Fort, as part of Know India Programme

Know India Programme

Discovery of India The Know India Programme is a creditable initiative of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to collect the Indian diaspora from around the world at one platform every year. It attracts the youth of Indian origin to learn about their roots, culture and lifestyle. Pratishka Ruthun

he 28th Know India Programme (KIP) was held from June 9-30, 2014. It was organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs together with the Government of India. The group comprised of 39 delegates from Fiji, Myanmar, South Africa, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia, Suriname and Israel. Participants were between 19-26 years old and had already graduated

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

or were studying towards the completion of their qualification. My motivation to participate in KIP stemmed from the urge return to where it all started and to use the experience to learn more about and understand the social, economic and political horizon of India. KIPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal aim is to inform Indian Diaspora youth about growth and development in India and familiarise participants with different facets, allowing cohorts to understand the complexities

of the Indian Subcontinent. This helps the Indian diaspora settled around the globe to understand their heritage and culture better. Through this experience I was able to build a closer relationship to Hinduism.Some highlights included understanding the significance of lighting a lamp, being educated on the processes and rituals within a gurudwaraa (a place of worship for Sikhs) as well as visiting a temple built within the walls of Bahu Fort. The programme broadened my sense of

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My motivation to participate in KIP stemmed from the urge return to where it all started spirituality and ‘Indian-ness’. Ultimately, the true experience that we took away was more than we had expected to return with, which was an extended family, that will remain for eternity. Our introduction to India Our journey began in Delhi, where we spent six days. Here, we were hosted by the Indian Institute of Public Administration and were lectured by experts such as Dr. Charru Malhotra, Dr. Usha Munshi, Dr. Sameer Sharma, Dr.Mamta Pathania, Prof. V. K. Sharma and Prof. Pranab Banerji amongst others. They shared their knowledge on different arenas of India revolving around tourism, consumer awareness, e-Governance, the environment, climate change and several other discussions.This introduction to India allowed us to interact with academics and understand on a surface level the general affairs of India today. Art, colour and mystery form a huge part of Indian legacy. Later that week participants gathered at the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) for a dialogue on related topics. We were fortunate to be enlightened on the beauty of Indian classical dance as well. The performance allowed us to understand the complexities and intricacies of Kathak and left us in awe. Before this I was merely an onlooker, yet now I have started to appreciate the art form as a contributor to the shaping of Indian dance and culture. From the movement of the dancer’s hand, to the ringing of her ghungroo (ankle bells) as the artist danced vigorously to the beat of tabla expressing her passion, our hearts were awakened to the art of classical dance. CCRT also gave us the opportunity to express our creative flares through hands on activities like rangoli (an Indian folk art), tie and dye, paper craft, bead and clay work.

travelling communally makes it worthwhile. Participants sang, danced and occasionally fell silent as the beauty behind bus windows left us mesmerised. An overnight stay midway, in Jammu, was scheduled and an interactive session with leaders of the Forest Department of Jammu was held. Post meeting, the delegates moved to Jammu Aquarium followed by Bahu Fort. To our dismay, the heat in Jammu at this time of the year was no less than Delhi.. On day nine participants travelled to Srinagar where we spent six days, visiting Kashmir’s famous Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The highlight of this trip was the horse-riding experience from Sonmarg into the Himalaya Mountains. Here we witnessed beauty at its best as we played with snow, slid off ice glaciers and revered the company of hundreds of horses that resided there. The second highlight was meeting Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, at his residence. Hewelcomed us to an hourlong Q&A session. The discussion was graciously opened to the youth, allowing us the opportunity to ask questions and offer suggestions based on the knowledge gathered over the duration of the programme so far. The dialogue ranged from understanding why the lack of proper waste management in India exists to the political tension experienced in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The participants eagerly questioned the mismanaged road traffic system in India and the consequence it could have on people driving. We also

talked about the role media plays in informing the public about the ongoing events in J&K and if the residents of the state are well aware onits current situation. The conversation moved onto a lighter note as we talked about art and textiles in Kashmir and various attractions that J&K offers.Every query was met an answer and the short session ended soon. Srinagar’s magnificence is encapsulated by Dal Lake. It was unfortunately a hazy day for a shikara (wooden boat) ride as the mountains hid beneath the clouds. However, the floating lake market kept us good company. A fair amount of bargaining is suggested while purchasing goods here. Gardens and open spaces such as the Mughal Gardensare in abundance in Srinagar. The natural splendor led our cameras buzzing. Visitors should beware of the imitators who pose as garden keepers to make extra money from tourists by engaging them in their whimsical stories and taking photographs (from tourists’ cameras). The cold climate of Srinagar quickly elapsed as we headed to Agra. The sole purpose behind this visit was to view India’s most beautiful piece of architecture, Taj Mahal. A few participants were quoted as saying, “If you have been to India and have not seen the Taj Mahal, then you have not been to India at all”. I could not agree more, as Taj Mahal would remain an unforgettable experience for all of us. A tour guide Youth from Mauritius meeting the then Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah

An unforgetful journey The programme then took us to the 28th KIP’ partner state of Jammu and Kashmir. A day long journey by bus ride, from Delhi to Jammu through some harsh terrain allowed us to see the natural beauty of India. We drove through different rural and mountainous landscapes. It was not an easy drive to endure, especially with the decaying roads and lack of lavatory facilities available on the way. However, reflecting on the moments we shared whilst INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

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Youth of Indian Origin enjoying the beauty of Srinagar, J&K

provided us with a brief history behind the making of the Taj Mahal. Following this we were sent on our own to explore the edifice. My fondest moment was when I first set eyes on the white marble masterpiece. As I walked through the red walled gate, all I saw was beauty cascading over the morning sky, accompanied by its striking reflection in the waters below. No other memory can replace the first sighting of Taj Mahal. Hundreds of photographs taken collectively by the delegates could not completely capture the beauty that we fortunately saw for real. Reflecting on the experience The participants gathered and shared a moment we all never thought would come so soon in our lives. I recall a conversation witha delegate from Trinidad and Tobago on how he never imagined he would travel to India before the age of 65. Yet here he was, at 25, in his motherland in all its glory. And that’s what KIP was and is for many of us, a dream realised. Despite the sick spells, upset stomachs and homesickness, the ‘Taj moment’ made it all worthwhile. It allowed us, the Indian origin youth to find our heritage, and culture. It pushed us to appreciate our history. More over brought together Indian youth from all over the world to discover likenesses and realise that no matter where ourforefathers’ struggles led them, we would always be united through India. Following our Agra expedition we travelled back to Delhi where we were further educated on the past, present and future of India by various organisations. What I learnt and saw throughout this experience was that as much as this programme was organised to ‘know India’, it was about ‘knowing Indians’ as well.

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

It enforced our beliefs in our respective religions, cultures and family dynamics. KIP also helped me appreciate how fortunate I am to be part of special sect of Indian DiasporaYouth and how the universe connects us through our shared history. The journey taught me to appreciate my country, South Africa, much more. Indians have been living here for over 150 years and have overcome many struggles in our history. Experiencing India opened my eyes to noticing how Indian ethnicity, holds the same consistency and values all around the world. Interaction with 9 countries as well as locals, brought up a common virtue of all Indians - hardworking. The programme also taught me to be more humble and appreciative of the life I led and I returned home with this humility to share with those close to me. The natural beauty of India and its warm and welcoming people have left me with a yearning to return one day.Street culture, holy sites and of course, shopping

are interests that wouldbring me back to India. Exploration of natural landscapes and celebrating religious festivals willalso have me there in an instant. Overall KIP is a whirlwind opportunity and to add to the experience, more interaction between lecturers, organiations and NGOs can be encouraged in future. Additionally, if the youth of India were more actively involved and were awarded the opportunity to engage with us, the learning experience would be beneficial for all parties. Merely listening to the struggles and hardships of people living in poverty, is not constructive, the programme should allow the cohorts to visit these communities and aid local families that need assistance. We as participants were honoured to be invited to India and so use us to our full potential to help uplift and assist India during the time you host us so wonderfully. n Fiji delegation at Dal Lake, Srinagar

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Centenary commemoration of Indian Soldiers in WWI The year 2014 marked 100 years of World War I. Among many who lost their lives in this unfortunate event were also the Indian soldiers who sacrificed for the peace and freedom of Europe. GOPIO and BOPIO commemorated the event in the honour of the soldiers.

n August 23, 2014, a group of 25 BOPIO and GOPIO UK delegation consisting members and their families, visited the Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle in France. They were received by Rajaram Munuswamy, Secretary General Gopio International and senior members of GOPIO France, who hosted the day. Also present to welcome the visitors from Britain was the Mayor of Neuve Chapelle Ronald Lieven, who warmly greeted his guests and welcomed them with some well-chosen words. Manivassagane Balane, president, Manimaran Ponnoussamy, vice-president and Etienne Dubaille, secretary-general from Gopia France Metropol were also present to receive the guests. Balane also welcomed the delegates with a speech. The memorial commemorates over 4,700 Indian soldiers and labourers who lost their lives on the Western Front during the First World War and have no known graves. The location of the memorial was especially chosen as it was at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 that the Indian Corps fought the first major action as a single unit. GOPIO Europe proposes to celebrate 100 years of this event next year in the presence of noted historians, politicians, family members of the soldiers and other stakeholders. It is proposed to organise several events starting from March followed with a grand event in

Paris in September 2015. Approximately 1,500 delegates are expected to attend the events and the GOPIO members await the confirmation from UNESCO for the big hall where the event is intended to be organized. The celebration will include seminars, exhibition depicting sacrifices of Indian nationals for peace and freedom of Europe. GOPIO Europe has also invited the interested stakeholder to extend their support in consolidating the event. Chan Chowdhry, Chairman BOPIO and President GOPIO Europe was overcome by the occasion and spoke movingly of the sacrifices of the Indian soldiers who fought thousands of miles from their home, in alien conditions of weather, culture and language. He made sure that everyone remembered what these soldiers did and that that their sacrifices were not in vain. He asked the Mayor to allow GOPIO/BOPIO to install Amar Jyoti â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an everlasting flame at the memorial. Leaders from GOPIO France echoed their sentiments as well. A proposal to build a non-denominational prayer room near the memorial site is to be discussed with all GOPIO chapters within Europe. Rajaram Munuswamy thanked the mayor of the city and the assembly and recalled the importance of remembering the Martyrs of the WW-I so that the world will never see such a heinous massacre again. He insisted the Gopio chapters to work on a common agenda for the benefit of the Indian Diaspora.

The memorial takes the form of a sanctuary enclosed within a circular wall after the manner of the enclosing railings of early Indian shrines. The column in the foreground of the enclosure stands almost 4.5 metre high and was inspired by the famous inscribed columns erected by the Emperor Ashoka throughout India in the third century BC. The column is surmounted with a Lotus capital, the Imperial British Crown and the Star of India. Two tigers are carved on either side of the column guarding the temple of the dead. On the lower part of the column the words â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;God is One, He is the Victoryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are inscribed in English, with similar texts in Arabic, Hindi, and Gurumukhi. The memorial was designed by the celebrated British architect, Sir Herbert Baker, and unveiled by the Earl of Birkenhead on 7 October 1927. Lord Birkenhead, then secretary of state for India, had served as a staff officer with the Indian Corps during the war. The unveiling ceremony was also attended by the Maharaja of Karputhala, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Rudyard Kipling, and a large contingent of Indian veterans. BOPIO and GOPIO plan to make the visit to Neuve Chapelle, an annual event. The event was concluded with the singing of Indian National Anthem. A Certificate of participation mentioning the Centenary Remembrance in Neuve Chapelle was released and given to all the members of the delegation who were present on the day. n

PERSPECTIVE

Awaiting catalyst policy decisions

BOB DHILLON, Founder, President and CEO Mainstreet Equity Corp, Canada

Canada-based NRI billionaire Bob Dhillon sees India on a global map now under the leadership of the new government. “There is a perception of more transparency, encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) and eliminating corruption. There is a bit of Modi fever, which should be capitalised into FDI which will generate India as potential in 2015, 2016, 2017 as one of the most dynamic BRICS countries. For example, Prem Watsa of Fairfax in Canada has recently launched a one-billion dollar fund for India from the Canadian Capital markets.” Dhillon believes that PM Modi is taking a lot of small positive steps on policy decisions, sending all the right messages to NRIs, especially on the visas. “We are waiting for a large catalyst policy decision.” He has also expressed his concern to engage more of women and the youth and should be addressed. Dhillon claims to be the largest NRI landlord in North America with the asset value of USD 1.3 billion, consisting of nearly 10,000 apartment units in Western Canada.

Achieving 1,270 per cent of total return on investment over the last 10 years, makes his company – Mainstreet – Canada’s highest performance real estate company. In addition, he owns a private 3,000 acre island in Belize that he is developing into a world-class tourist resort. Not only in Canada but Dhillon is keen on investing in India. In 2009, he travelled with Prime Minister Stephen Harper as one of the official delegates to India; and accompanied David Johnston, Governor General of Canada to India in 2014. Being a real estate developer, he feels, there are a large percentage of NRIs that are successful real estate developers who can bring in foreign capital, foreign expertise, and foreign design. North America has been very active in going vertical on affordable housing for the populations of North America, Europe, and Asia. But right now, he is observing the Indian market and hoping that there will be some changes in FDI and repatriation of capital.

Motivating the diaspora

JEAN-RÉGIS RAMSAMY, Journalist, Reunion Island

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Jean-Régis Ramsamy, a journalist and historian, based in Reunion Island is optimistic that with the new Modi government in power, the world will have a changed view about modern India. Hailing from the land where a majority of Indians are descendants of indentured workers, he hopes that there would be some crucial efforts taken towards the engagement of small francophone diaspora. The proposition of mergering the PIO and OCI cards by Modi, according to him, is a good initiative to reduce the long, arduous, expensive and often frustrating process of availing themselves of Indian consular services. This would not only ease traveling options for Indians abroad to their motherland but also let them stay longer if they wish to. This also opens up chances for dual citizenship as promised by Modi on his visit to Australia. The combined scheme of OCI and PIO cards would also take into account the emotional quotient for the Indian community overseas. However, he shows his concerns over the implementation of this facility. As the last government had promised a similar policy, he wishes to raise this issue during the PBD apart

from taking the event as an opportunity to meet the PM himself. He also raises his concerns over the youth of the Reunion Island by saying, “Our youth in francophone area are concerning about their future and their growth. How to convince them that India is also a good way. How to get motivation ? How can we assure them that if they come to India, they will suceed ?” Through these questions he brings out an interesting discussion on whether the new government is also keen on engaging the youth of the diaspora and if any programme or scheme is being launched to encourage this. In PBD 2015, he also wishes to know if the Modi government has more plans or programmes for the diaspora, and if the Reunion Island is a part of it. The country of the ancestors of the Indian living abroad, he believes, is very prominent on the world map now and has bagged immense opportunities with its recent schemes and dialogues. However, he thinks, India should be careful of its immediate neighbour, the giant China.

PERSPECTIVE

Engage with women & youth India, which is a part of BRICS countries, has one of the highest growth rates in the world that cannot be ignored anymore. Everyone wants to invest and do business with India now as opposed to a few years ago when it was seen as a poor country, something I observed a few years ago when I first came to Europe. General expectation that prevails among people is that they do better than previous government in terms of external policies. India has not really been able to impose its opinion on the global scene and vis-a-vis its neighborhood. I hope that now with a stronger government this changes. Although the recent engagements with the diaspora and initiatives such as lifelong visas for the PIOs are impressive, I hope they are implemented. I also hope that Modi takes care of the poorest members of this diaspora living in regions like Gulf and Africa. Wooing the wealthy Indian diaspora is good, but it is not only about investing back in the country. The diaspora also needs India to protect them and

their rights. The social aspects should also be considered. So far I have not seen any public campaign by the Indian government to engage the women and youth and if they do exist they are not well advertised. The problem in countries like France is that the kids are totally cut off from their language and culture that form a multitude of Indian association. Having an official cultural center would help them connect with Indian culture. PBD gives a good opportunity to talk about the real topics related to the diaspora, not only the investment friendly policies (that are also important) but also the role played in their country of adoption and their roles in the global scene and not only in India. The image of India that the diaspora projects is also something that should be looked into.. The diaspora would also like to connect more with India and be involved in the social initiatives and extend its support. Every PBD should have a clear programme and objectives shared among the diaspora.

JOSEPH NAYAGAM, Retired Engineer, France

Initiatives to drive change “I see two ‘Indias’ that exist today. One that has seen tremendous progress, which has given rise to a multitude of entrepreneurs, artists, authors and thinkers and the other India that is regressing and decaying as a result of the endemic corruption, an increasingly irresponsible media and the many walls that have been put up making it difficult for potential investors to navigate the system”, says Malaysia based Ramya Chandrasekaran, who was born and brought up in India and migrated nearly a decade ago for work. With the new leadership of Modi, things look better but unless some real and drastic systemic changes are made, reforms only remain listed on paper. “India has a long record of abandoning reform when the future looks bright. We have to stop getting carried away by our own PR and our past glory, and work towards real change, towards reform at the grassroots level. That’s when India can truly emerge as a global player”, elaborates Chandrasekaran who is chief communications officer at QI Group in Malaysia.

A lot of hopes are being pinned on the Modi government to bring about change. He represents hope for a new India that feels beaten up and resigned after a long bout in the boxing ring. He has a tough job on his hands. The biggest challenge is corruption. It is not going to end overnight, but it needs to start somewhere. “If there is one thing that I as an Indian, who left her motherland a decade ago, want from the Modi government, it is an end to the systemic corruption that has deterred me and many others like me, from returning home,” she says. Initiatives that make it easier for the PIOs and NRIs to come back and invest in the country, to contribute to the growth of the country in a positive way are required. The visas are the first step. But the roadblocks, the corruption, lack of political will to drive real change; all of these are serious deterrents. “Initiatives that drive sustainable change that will welcome the diaspora automatically are required necessarily,” says Chandrasekaran.

RAMYA CHANDRASEKARAN, Chief Communications Officer, QI Group, Malaysia INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

PERSPECTIVE

Strategy for sustainable development

RAJENDRA SHENDE, Chairman TERRE Policy Centre, France

Under PM Modi’s stewardship, India is emerging as a country with ‘theme-based’ development that intends to nurture the aspiration of the underprivileged and ambition of the middle class. The history of the development of the human civilisation has shown that the spiritual, ethical and humane dimension of the prosperity leads to the respect for the ecosystem and sustainable development. Four key challenges are expected to be the top agenda of the new government: inclusive growth, drive against corruption, climate change and tackling terrorism. India is endowed with unprecedented per cent of young population, which we call as ‘demographic dividend’. But that dividend won’t be realised automatically. Government should make early start for availing services of youth through out-of-box projects moving away from simply ‘employment guarantee schemes’ that are likely to set complacency among the youth. Government is expected to set catalytic policies, led by examples and prove to be leading the thematic development. However it is also important that Indian masses

and classes should support the new government. Diaspora’s value in Indian context goes beyond the amount of Dollar-remittance and the investments made by diaspora in India. They represent the potential force to realise India’s dream and come to India’s help when difficulty arises. Hence Modi’s engagement with diaspora to keep them liked to India’s ambition is the right strategy. His heart-to-heart dialogue with diaspora in Australia and USA is a sign that new government is looking at global 25 million of diaspora beyond the $75 billion in remittances. Sustainable and inclusive development and reducing India’s dependence on fossil fuel are the key issues that need to be discussed and way forward need to be cast in 2015 PBD. PM Modi should nominate key personalities and institutions among diaspora to draft a plan in consultation with team India on these issues. A lot needs to be done to engage youth and women in diaspora. Indian diaspora, the host country and Indian government can together explore and exploit the opportunities that would lead to win-win situation.

Unique problems of Francophones

MICHEL NARAYANINSAMY, President, GOPIO Guadeloupe

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

India doesn’t geographically locate itself on the Indian Ocean only but is now present all over the world thanks to its diaspora. The new government realises this and is taking initiatives to engage with this rich bank of human resource. From the new government that has been actively trying to connect with the people of Indian origin all through the world, we expect that the specific history of the persons of Indian origin in the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guyana and Reunion’s PIO is also taken into account when deciding the criteria for the allocation of the new PIO cards. Our challenge is that most of us represent fifth or even sixth generation PIOs and hence not eligible for the PIO cards under the current rules. Another problem specific to our part of the world is that many of us do not possess any original documents of travel or other official documents which prove that our ancestors were indeed from India. In most cases, these documents have been destroyed, either in natural calamities

like the volcanic eruption in the early 20th century in Guadeloupe or wilfully by the then French administration. So, we hope that the new government in India will ensure that the Francophone PIO are not forgotten or ignored anymore like in the past and that a larger place is allocated to them and their problem during PBD. We are waiting to see what is prepared for us and we will be able to measure the efficiency of Gopio International’s work. We would like to have a space dedicated to the francophone Indian diaspora to raise awareness on our community, history and problems. Apart from these initiatives, it is also important for the youth to be connected with India. It is essential that the youth is connected to the rich culture and heritage and is aware of its Indian roots. For the youth, therefore, the resumption of the international days for the young PIO initiated by Gopio Guadeloupe could be a good idea. It is also important for India to take initiatives to engage with diaspora women.

PERSPECTIVE

Need for consolidation While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought in with him new hopes and positivity with his initiatives, the diaspora wishes that Modi provides the impetus for consolidation of India. This is not to return to live in India, but to represent effective interfaces in business with India. Thanks to their double competence caused by their origin and current host country, the diaspora has come out as a powerful resource for India. And Modi should legitimately promote foreign direct investment. Taking the example of distribution, the Indian retail market is expected to represent a value of USD 500 billion in 2020 and could create up to 100 million jobs in the next 10 years. This issue will be realistic with greater openness to foreign trade with the support of the Diaspora. These are approximately 28 million people of Indian origin living abroad and remain a leading force to contribute to the local economy. With nearly USD 70 billion, India remains the world’s largest receiver of remittances from the diaspora.

There are a few million people who live in their country of residence without necessarily having recognition from Indian State. For example, Franch colonies such as the Reunion Island and Guadeloupe were benefited with 30,000 indentured Indian volunteers between 1860 and 1882 who came to work on contracts that was at times a little fuzzy but announced for an initial period of 5 years. But the settlers, or their employers, destroyed their immigration records to keep this captive labor. Families thus were forced to settle and some of them have been living for over 160 years now. Today these people from Indian origin are not recognised by the Indian government for lack of proof of Indian ancestry. In fact, obtaining PIO card for them is not possible. GOPIO, that I represent, works for the law that defines the conditions for obtaining PIO cards. During the PBD, we wish to raise the issue and that if some steps are taken towards this direction to prove their Indian identities with scientific techniques such as DNA tests that allows them to have India as home.

RAJARAM MOHAN MUNUSWAMY, Secretary General, GOPIO France

Essential to empower women Being a Mauritian, I feel that we have maintained a strong bonding with India which is reflected by the fact that we can assert our identity. We do not face any social, cultural and religious discrimination. While maintaining our Mauritian identity, we have succeeded in being Indian. The new Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has woken up a nation and within a few months he has made it clear that India as a nation is capable of becoming a mighty player in the multi-lateral world order. India is pursuing a combined multilateral, regional and bilateral approach to trade through its ‘Look East’ policy with Asia. However, on a more humane context, through bilateral negotiations between Indian and Mauritian government, there is need to review the air ticket rates form Mauritius to Mumbai, only 4671 kilometre away. Women play a critical role in the reconstitution of the Indian diaspora around the world and despite all the hardships they endure, they have succeeded in facilitating the transmission and practice of our culture and religion. However, I feel that not much has been

done to engage the women of Indian origin. In Mauritius, 52 per cent of women work in the labour market that contributes enormously to the socio-economic development of the country. Recently we launched a Women’s Wing under the GOPIO International to provide a dedicated platform where women can discuss community and societal issues and more importantly to connect to other women chapters around the world. An active and enthusiastic participation from the overseas Indian community spread across the world is expected at PBD-2015, which will aim to address the issues and concerns of the overseas Indian community in a meaningful and effective way. Given that the PBD 2015 will coincide with the centenary celebrations of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa, I sincerely feel that much more can be done for the empowerment of Indian women. Women are still being discriminated on the basis of their gender. In this context, working committees with the diaspora can be set up to discuss these issues and to find ways to address the problems.

SOONITA KUMARI KISTAMAH,GOSK Mauritius

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

PERSPECTIVE

Engagement in social development

PREM SHARMA, Patron, EICC, UK

With Prime Minister Narendra Modiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy of good relationships with the neighbouring countries that could be seen on the very first day when he invited leaders from the South Asian countries for his pledge and his priority of visiting the significant countries such as the US and Australia, India is marking its position on the global map. India is, therefore, paving its way to reach the top and we as diaspora look forward to this change. While the new government has brought in some positivity among people, much needs to be done for the development of the country. It is expected that with the advent of the Modi government, the corruption would be reduced significantly and the politicians and the bureaucrats are more serious towards the work front. What India needs urgently is also rural improvement in terms of agriculture, tubewells and irrigation. Inspiration to be drawn from former President APJ Abdul Kalam who has worked in the area. High on priority must also be the sanitation, infrastructure and healthcare. Another issue is that of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety which should be dealt

with very sensitively. While it is important that safety measures are taken, educating women should also be the main agenda, like it is often said that educating one woman means educating the entire village. While, PBD is a good platform to discuss investment related issues such as deregulation for FDI and easing policies for business, it must also be a made a stage to discuss the engagement of diaspora with India socially. People of Indian origin have been involved in initiatives such as the rural development and healthcare movements such as polio drops through trusts and committees and look forward to a bigger involvement together with the government. The initiatives such as the lifelong visas for the PIOs is very encouraging and while it offers to solve many issues related to travelling, it can also come useful in diasporaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wishes to connect more profoundly with India. However, Modi has already proved with his speeches and action, time and again, that engagement with the diaspora is also something that tops his list.

Challenge lies in implementation

PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH, Entrepreneur, France

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

With the new government, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, coming into power, the expectations of change among people have risen. And in the six months of his leadership, Modi has tried answered to these anticipations with multiple initiatives such as Make in India and Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Movement). Additionally, his visits to countries such as the US and Australia for bilateral trade and relations has brought India to the world map and has increased its future potentials. However, India that has been in a trap of its own past, diversity and rich culture needs a clear governance and a faster pace of development. Therefore, the initiative taken by the new government are credible but the implementation needs to be looked after. Many policies and programmes have been proposed in the past as well that have unfortunately not been realised substantially. However, expectations from the new government to deliver are high. The way Modi has been able to connect to the diaspora is phenomenal. It is only after many years that any Indian Prime Minister has

reached out so effectively to the diaspora. However, it is only the first step and the work does not end here. Indians abroad are doing well and India should learn from other Asian countries such as Korea and Japan that have profited from its rich diaspora across the world who come back to invest in their home countries. India needs to work on its system to ease the structure and regulation for business and investments. While recent initiatives such as the merger of PIO and OCI cards are impressive, but the question of implementations surface again. What holds India back despite such positivity is that the optimism in the business community that still remains guarded. India needs to work on the governance and bureaucracy and increase its pace of development by taking advantage of opportunities such as the falling oil prices. Despite its potential, the condition is almost comparable to the Saharan African countries. To tap the rich potential of its diaspora and invite them homeward, therefore, it is important that India works on this.

ENvIRoNMENT

Make India

GREEN While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet campaign ‘Make in India’ has already earned a wide fame and applause, adding a green quotient would push it towards a sustainable development of the country. Like its role in the development of IT sector, the Indian diaspora could also influence the growth of this sector. Rajendra Shende

n Independence Day of 2014, during the first ever-extempore speech by any Indian Prime Minister delivered from ramparts of the historic Red Fort of New Delhi, Narendra Modi launched an equally historic and rousing campaign called ‘Make in India’. Under the campaign 25 chosen

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

sectors will be champions of India’s export-led growth. Modi, while launching the campaign, was driven by the need to leverage India’s unique demographic dividend as 65 per cent of its population is below 35 years of age. He was also charged by the fact that India, with its innovative technological prowess and managerially brave ‘jugaad’ (low-cost

improvisation and creation of successful business models), can be decidedly successful in competing in the world market. The latest illustration of that expertise lay in the Indian mission to Mars, successfully undertaken at a minimalist cost of INR 7 per km of the journey, a fraction of the astronomical costs incurred by USA and China in their Mars missions. This shows India can provide

ENvIRoNMENT

Global growth in investment and installed capacity of renewable energy beat the conventional energy sector

The green prospects It is time for India once again to transform itself from an inefficient supply chain for the globe into a system with youthfully efficient processes and electrifying dynamism. Modi’s leadership could inspire such a transformation and bring stream of investment from outside, including that by the Indian diaspora to ‘Make in India’. If the intended products are made with ‘green power’, such ‘making in India’ would drive the sustainable development, recognising the value of ecosystems and respecting Mother Earth. It would also remind the world about India’s ancient philosophy of living in harmony with nature. What’s more, India would also be in a position to demonstrate its stewardship in developing a model for addressing the climate change-a defining challenge of our times. Will use of green energy, generated

from renewable energy, be really sufficient for ‘Make in India’ campaign? or is this yet another dream? No. The time of the generating renewable energy has come. Renewable energy is the only energy sector where investment and installed capacity have consistently increased rapidly even during the global financial crisis that began in 2008. For example from 2008, to 2013, as per United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), electricity produced from solar Pv cells has grown at 39 percent per year a year and investment in electricity generation by Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) has increased during the same period by 35 percent. Electricity produced by wind energy, too, has grown over12 per cent every year. Interestingly, this growth has been witnessed in the developed as well as in developing countries like India and China. The key drivers Global growth in investment and installed capacity of renewable energy beat the conventional energy sector. This was due to a happy coincidence of many factors. First, the history of human civilization has shown that the adversity leads to actions to seek the alternatives. High financial burden for the developing countries due to imports of costly oil and austerity measures coupled with incentives in the developed countries like Germany has resulted in such spectacular growth. More than 140 of 196 countries globally have now (end 2013) policies and targets aimed at promoting renewable energy of which more than 90, including India, are developing countries. Second, individuals and communities are engaged in developing, installing and operating off-grid electricity and making their own houses, community housing complexes and commercial buildings, parking

Electricity produced by solar power has witnessed growth in developing countries like India. Scene from solar installation in Rajasthan

©REC

technologically sound and yet cost effective solutions to the world’s problems. The last time India arrived on the world stage with its technological supremacy was in late 1990s when software engineering crews of India created their back-office hives to help digitally managed businesses of the West. After all, India gave the zero to the world and adding to it its number ‘one’ creative genes, the Indian IT squad completed the software language of 0 and 1. That was ‘Make from India’ campaign! Those hives and their verticals and scale-ups have now ballooned into a regular stream of honey of USD 125 billion every year, of which exports are nearly USD 100 billion. Indian diaspora had played catalytic role in that Indian IT boom through multifaceted support and by directly or indirectly engaging in the development of the sector. Performing the role of ‘trust-enhancer’ and doing effective networking with the governments and host institutions played by the Indian diaspora community settled in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom enabled the IT professionals from India to work and deliver their services and heightening India’s image. More importantly, it provided venture capital for startup companies in India and helped in pushing development through selling India as a safe destination for investments to foreign investors, by bringing in projects, by providing contacts to overseas clients, and by facilitating the mobility of service providers into and from the industry. Later the possibilities for “brain gain”, through diaspora investment, networking for contacts and projects, technology transfer, information dissemination and exchange, and various forms of collaboration, according to a paper published by Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

places and even parking places and open canals as ‘micro power plants’ by installing Pv cells on the roofs. They are driven by sheer conviction that renewable energy is the way ahead for sustainable living. According to a global survey conducted by Ipsos- a Parisian market research company, nearly 97 per cent of the people prefer solar energy,while less than 50 per cent support coal as source of energy. The people and community movements in favor of renewable energy are no longer on paper, they are now real. The ‘climate tragedy’ due to global warming is making people act and make the renewable revolution happen. This is nowhere as visible as in Germany where 20 million people have chosen to be off-grid and generate their own electricity. Half of the electricity in Germany, a country known for its cloudy weather, is through solar energy. Nearly 10,000 farms in USA also harvest renewable energy along with maze and wheat in their farms. They use renewable energy for their own agricultural operations and extra electricity is sold in ‘grid-market’, adding to the farm revenues. By the end of 2014, the share of global electricity generation by renewable energy (hydro, solar, wind, biomass and geothermal) was approaching 25 per cent. Based on 2014 UNEP’s REN21 report, worldwide investments in renewable technologies amounted to more than US$ 214 billion in 2013, with countries like Germany, China and the USA investing heavily in wind, hydro, solar and biofuels. India was the first country in the world to set up a ministry of non-conventional energy resources, in early 1980s. Between 1990 and 2013, capacity for renewable power has grown from a mere 18 MWs to phenomenal 26,000 MWs (26 GW) and heading for 30 GW. In 2011, India had the world’s fifthlargest capacity for wind energy. Though solar power presently contributes the least to Indian energy needs, its share has been expanding quickly since India launched its National Solar Mission in 2010, aimed at installing 20 GW of grid-connected solar power by 2022. The new government has

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Environment

Investment in India’s wind industry has been picking up

now aimed at 100 GW, which would enable in bringing the share of renewables in power generation in India large enough to extend the campaign of ‘Make in India’ to ‘Make in India –with green energy’. Private sector participation and foreign direct investments or FDI have fuelled the expansion of India’s renewable energy sector. Financial incentives, such as tax exemptions, have attracted investors like the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In 2010, the IFC funneled US$10 million into Azure Power Private Ltd.—an independent solar power producer, which developed India’s first utilityscale solar power plant. Since then, Tata

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Power Solar, India’s largest solar company, has installed solar micro grids across several remote and inaccessible villages, helping to electrify rural India. Though investment in India’s wind industry had abated for a time, it is picking up again, with General Electric Co. pledging to invest USD 200 million into a single wind turbine-manufacturing unit. Taking advantage of falling prices of solar equipment, India has announced a revised target of solar energy capacity reaching to 100 Giga watts i.e. five times the earlier target. The manufacturing based on conventional fossil fuel based electricity is set to shift to renewable energy.

Studies have shown that globally 6,5 million people were employed in renewable sector in 2013, more than in fossil fuel sector. Steep rise in deployment of renewables would see rise in employment in India too. If the Make in India campaign prioritises manufacturing of PV cells, panels, controls and systems, super efficient wind turbinesincluding vertical and horizontal rotary systems-small and micro hydro, bio-gas driven thermal power generation systems, the employment potential for exports oriented manufacture would channel the India’s demographic advantage. The way India became the IT hub, it could also become RT (Renewable Technology) hub of the world. PM Modi’s another pitch is ‘skill India’. Renewable energy is the only energy sector where employment opportunities in design, projects, operations and research are much more than any other fossil fuel related energy sectors. The campaign for Skilling India has a two-pronged advantage. One is to skill the manpower for renewable energy in India and abroad and second, to institutionalise the training employment for the skill building. The renewable energy sector has another, albeit invisible, advantage. It is the only sector that promises democratic and equitable generation and distribution models. As per one of the models of the energy revolution, each house, building, farm, housing societies and even temples and mosques could become electricity generation units either by installation of the photovoltaic (PV) cells or wind mills that could satisfy the owners’ needs and then feed extra production into micro-or smart grids to make ‘green income’. The input for such operation is available to all without any need for allocation, like in mining or exploration of oil. Urgent cooperation for technology development is needed to enhance the efficiency of PV cellsand also storage of the renewable energy using nano-technology. PM Modi’s ‘Skill India’ initiative could be spun to ‘Green Skill India’ through international cooperation. Indian Diaspora would be important link to provide ‘green shade’ to Make in India movement, the way they provided ‘gray shade’ to the IT movement. Reverse migration in the form of brain-gain, providing the venture capital, technology transfers, networking, market-connections, incubators for the green products manufactured in India would be the kind of catalytic support needed from diaspora. Developed world, burdened with financial crisis, is hungry for low cost green products. India has the ability to do more with less and making technology work with low cost. ‘Make in India’ campaign can ride on the renewable energy wave to supply products to the world by labeling them as ‘Made in India powered by nature’. (The author is former director of UNEP, is an IIT alumni and chairman of TERRE Policy Centre.) n

BUSINESS

Make in India

India’s

big investment push To attract foreign investment and spur India’s manufacturing sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet campaign ‘Make in India’ was launched. Despite challenges such as land acquisition, poor infrastructure and complex taxation norms, the campaign hopes to attract international investors as well as the Indian diaspora to push manufacturing industry and employment. Jasleen Kaur

aunched a couple of months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his pet campaign ‘Make in India’ to foreign tours to promote India as a most active global manufacturing centre. He is in the process to remove red tape, facilitate well infrastructure and make it easier for companies to do business. His call for progress in trade development and the ‘Make in India’ campaign charged with positive responses at the recently concluded G20 summit, ASEANIndia summit and at his foreign visits. Aimed at putting India prominently on the global manufacturing map and to facilitate the inflow of new technology and capital, while creating millions of jobs, the programme has three pillars - improving the ease of doing business by de-licensing and de-regulation, enabling infrastructure such as industrial corridors and opening up

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

FDI in sectors such as defence, construction and railways and catering to the countries like Japan, South Korea, Europe and the US. Punit Talwar, Assistant Secretary, US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, says, “Since the signing of India-US Bilateral Framework in 2005, our defence relationship has become the central pillar of our strategic partnership. Both President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have welcomed the decision to renew the framework and have agreed to integrate the ‘political and military dialogue’ that will be convened tomorrow. Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, through its emphasis on co- production and co-development, complements PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.” Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, “Israeli industries, including the defence industries, could ‘make in India’ and thereby reduce costs of manufacturing

Business

products and systems developed by Israel.” Similarly, Australia is optimistic of cashing in the opportunities in the mining sector and is considering technology partnerships. Jumping on to the Make in India bandwagon, old ally Russia has put forward a series of joint manufacturing projects to India, proposing to manufacture helicopters, airliners and satellite navigation systems. Benefits to investors Modi hinted his clarion call to global manufacturers hinged on ‘effective governance’, not just ‘good governance’ that centres on a new mindset and a new way of wooing investors. India will relate to investors “not as a permit issuing authority but as a true business partner”. Dedicated teams will guide first-time investors across 25 identified sectors that include automobiles and automobile components, aviation, biotech, chemicals, construction, defence manufacturing, electronic systems, food processing, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, ports, railways, renewable energy, roads and textiles among others. Prospective investors are welcomed to post questions on the ‘Make in India’ that would be answered by a panel of experts within 72 hours. Amitabh Kant, secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), the agency executing Make in India, says one of the main objectives of the campaign is to reach out to global CEOs. “Making business environment friendly for investors, opening up sectors as we have seen with this government of late and making India a hub for innovation and design are central to our thinking. We are working with the ministries concerned to converge and integrate Make in India, Digital India and Skill India.” Government in action Ahead of the launch of the campaign, the government had already taken several measures to make it easier to do business in India along with the removal or relaxation of foreign equity caps in several areas. “The processes of applying for licences have been made online, it is 24X7. The validity of such licences has also been extended to three years,” commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, adding that several norms and procedures have also being changed to make it easier to do business in India. “Make in India is not a slogan but a mission to be accomplished with a single-minded commitment,” she said. In addition, the government excluded a number of components from the purview of industrial licensing. The government also did away with the inverted duty structure for many products that made domestic manufacturing uncompetitive - importing a finished IT hardware product, for instance, was more lucrative than manufacturing

For India’s industry to shine, SMEs need to shine, and it should be paid attention through ‘Make in India’ and selling it in India because of prevalent duties on electronic components used. The government has also exempted all inputs and components used in the manufacturing of personal computers from a four per cent special additional duty. Roadblocks Though Modi has assured investors that a red carpet will replace red tape, there are plenty of hurdles ahead. Two questions stand out about ‘Make in India’ campaign. First, while a single window for foreign investors is a great beginning, how does it help when no serious reform has been undertaken in areas such as land acquisition, labour laws or administrative reforms? Sure, the executives at Invest India could be trained to be morefriendly than the average bureaucrat and might be able to explain what clearances a business needs to get. But the actual process of getting clearances is the challenge, and that remains steeped in the old India, where files move at snail’s pace and litigation can break a project. Besides, many of the approvals needed are state subjects, and there is only so much that executives at Invest India, or indeed the central government, can do to facilitate licenses and clearances. These issues have not been adequately addressed. Second, the focus on foreign investment and big corporations is at odds with the reality of India’s industrial landscape — the

small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the heroes of the industry and they are the ones who need adequate support and encouragement. Within the manufacturing sector, SMEs constitute around 90 per cent of all industrial units and account for nearly half of India’s total industrial output and 40 per cent of exports. For India’s industry to shine, SMEs need to shine, and it should be paid attention through programmes like ‘Make in India’. The government now seems acknowledging these issues. Finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the government will amend the stringent land acquisition law in the coming months. “Some changes may be necessary. We will first try to reach a consensus and if that is not possible we will go ahead and take the decision. We have opened up investments in various sectors.” Advantage – India as a manufacturing hub The advantages that India offers as a manufacturing hub are evident. It is the world’s second largest market, at least potentially, for every kind of product and service. It also has a very large, educated and skilled work force and is home to the world’s youngest population, ensuring not just a continuous source of skilled workers, but also consumers, completing the ecosystem that an investor is looking at while making long-term and major investment decisions. Among the 25 identified sectors for the campaign, automobile sector is the one

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

BUSINESS

Industrial sectors look optimistic In addition, industrial sectors are inviting the campaign and looking for opportunities. According to Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT), IT manufacturers have a good opportunity to participate in the ‘Make in India’ campaign. MAIT is aiming to work closely with both the government and SME manufactures towards making India a manufacturing hub. An automobile analyst Deepesh Rathore says, “The campaign will certainly go a long in assisting automotive companies especially component suppliers looking to set up their R&D centre/off-shoring centres in India. Apart from boosting the innovation quotient of Indian suppliers this will help in promoting R&D investment in the sector.” Talking about textile industry, Rakesh Garg, Director, Worldwide Tradelinks (exporter and manufacturer of readymade garments and fabrics), says, “The government of India allows 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route in the textile sector, subject to all applicable regulations and laws, which effectively backs the Make

in India programme for the textile and garment industry,” adding, “Under the Make in India initiative, investment opportunities for foreign companies and entrepreneurs are available across the entire value chain of synthetics, value-added and speciality fabrics, fabric processing set-ups for all kinds of natural and synthetic textiles, technical textiles, garments, and retail brands.” The way forward So far, PM Modi’s actions seem to be working, with GDP accelerating to 5.7 per cent in the second quarter after a period of stagnation; inflation is trending down and foreign capital is starting to come in. Modi has also received praise for his recent deals with Japan and China, securing USD 33 billion of new investments from Japan; he even garnered USD 20 billion in infrastructure investment from China – India’s historical geopolitical adversary. These numbers may not be staggering from a western perspective, but they are meaningful for an emerging economy like India, and more to

the point, a sign of confidence from Asia in India’s economic prospects – a signal that the Prime Minister hopes to obtain from the US as well. Among Modi’s many tasks in 2015, it seems that a crucial one will be to beat back the emerging-market blues and convince investors that India is special, for which ‘Make in India’ is full in action. With the beginning of 2015, the pet campaign will be seen as a ‘topic of discussion’ at the most-awaited events in the hometown of Modi, Gujarat – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas from January 7-9, 2015 and following it Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit from January 11-13, where manufacturing is one of the focus sectors. India is reaching for the stars, both figuratively and literally, with an ambitious programme of modernisation and free market growth that can generate wealth for itself as well as its trading partners. That is a trend worth supporting. Therefore, foreign investors and Indian diaspora should bet on India and this should be start as early as possible, perhaps from PBD or Vibrant Gujarat! n

WILL DIASPORA MAKE IN INDIA? From the United States to Australia, high-profile outreach to the Indian diaspora has featured prominently in virtually all of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits abroad. The courtship has proved successful. In New York City, around 20,000 euphoric NRIs from across North America sat spellbound in Madison Square Garden, listening to the new premier speak. A similar rapturous scene unfolded in Australia last month, as more than 21,000 NRIs flocked to Sydney’s Olympic Park to welcome Modi. Sustained and substantive engagement with the diaspora has emerged as an integral component of Modi’s domestic and foreign policies. Domestically, Modi views the 25-million-member overseas community as a potent untapped force willing and capable of fulfilling his ambitious goals at home. One of the goals is of course ‘Make in India’ to invite investment and manufacturing in India. During his addressing speech in NYC, Modi urged the diaspora to invest in modernising India’s ageing infrastructure and help finance the cleanup of the Ganga. He envisions a diaspora directly involved in advancing India’s development through their financial and intellectual capital. In terms of diaspora investments, the bulk goes into bank deposits, portfolio investment or real estate. Now with the ‘Make in India’ programme, there has been huge opportunity for diaspora to try hands in manufacturing sector. An Indianorigin British Parliamentarian says, “We are pleased to hear

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Prime Minister Modi on ‘Make in India’ that is an absolute and excellent direction forward, because we investors in Britain want to come to India and support ‘Make in India’ moves.” Amba Pande, an alumni of the School of International Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University, says, “Dereservation of products and the need for 100 per cent investment for NRIs and PIOs, under the automatic route in the SME segment become significant. There is also a huge scope for collaborative approaches and joint ventures in production and marketing involving the diaspora and the local businesses. It is equally important to harness remittances into generating capital for manufacturing and production. It can open new avenues and possibilities for the ‘Make in India’ campaign.” Modi has brought back hope in Indian diaspora for investing in India, but the real challenge for the government is to be able to create conducive atmosphere by demonstrating good governance, and a transparent, accountable and clean system that can built trust and mobilise the diaspora to engage in some of the major projects that the government has initiated. The real involvement, however, will be gauged at the upcoming PBD 2015.

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Education Sector Growing by Leaps & Bounds Indian education market is predicted to be worth INR 5.9 trillion in 2014-15. Despite the concerns of being over regulated, education industry has drawn investors as the sector continuously scouts for innovative delivery models considering the strong potentials of education and training sector in creating better job prospects. Anupam Chanda

ith about 32 per cent of its population in the 0-5 year age bracket, India is one of the youngest nations in the world. This translates into the Indian education system being one of the largest globally with a network of more than 1.2 million

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

schools and over 30,000 higher education institutes. Recognising the importance of education for a developing nation like India, the government has laid stress on its importance, especially the primary and secondary education. In Gujarat ‘smart goals’ with a future vision of ‘education for all’ is a major project of the education department with its aggressive policies

geared to promote quality education at all levels with a series of other initiatives being implemented. Additionally, being one of the key markets targeted by the leading providers of higher education, India has grown considerably in terms of its contribution in the international students market and is the second most important source country after China. Even though the US is still the top

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The vocational segment has emerged as a big market, which is growing at a rate of 25 per cent

destination for Indian students, its market share has drastically reduced since 2000 mainly because of stricter immigration policies post 9/11. Structure and Requisites The Indian education system is divided into the core and non-core segments. The core group consists of primary, secondary and higher education, while the non-core segment focuses on segments such as pre-schools, vocational training and coaching institutes. According to the 2011 census, the total literacy rate in India is 74.04 per cent. The female literacy rate is 65.46 per cent and male literacy rate is 82.14 per cent. India has 544 university-level institutions that includes 261 state universities, 73 state private universities, 42 central universities, 130 deemed universities, 33 institutions of national importance and five institutions established under various state legislations. India has 79 centrallyfunded institutions that include 15 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 11 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and 30 National Institutes of Technology (NITs). India needs 1.2 million more teachers under the Right to Education Campaign. Moreover, with 546 million people under 25 years of age, there is a huge potential in the education sector that needs to be

tapped. By 2020, to increase the percentage of students going for higher education from the present 12.4 per cent to 30 per cent, India will need 800 more universities and another 35,000 colleges, according to the ministry. According to HRD estimates, India’s education sector needs investments worth USD 150 billion in the next 10 years. FDI inflows into the education sector during the period April 2000 to April 2011 stood at USD 410.40 million, according to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), which is a part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. DIPP is responsible for framing country’s FDI policy. The primary and secondary education, or the K-12 sector, is expected to reach USD 50 billion in 2015. Another estimate states that private education sector itself would grow to USD 115 billion by 2018. Enrolments in the K-12 level is supposed to grow to 351 million, requiring an additional 34 million seats by 2018 and 40 Million by 2020. Where as the higher education sector is expected to witness a growth of 18 per cent per annum until 2020. To manage this the National Development Council has approved the setting up of 14 world-class universities for innovation across 11th and 12th Plan periods on the public-private partnership model. The innovation universities are part of the HRD’s brain gain policy to attract global

talent. Further, the government has agreed to spend USD 675.90 million during the 11th Plan period for setting up 13 new Central universities and converting three existing state universities into Central universities. The report states that steady economic growth will require larger numbers of engineers and management graduates, which mandates the educational infrastructural development to address demand. The understanding is that there is immense scope for growth in the Indian education sector, estimated to be around USD 25 billion. The vocational segment has emerged as a big market that is expected to grow rapidly to USD 3.6 billion by 2014, growing at a CAGR of 25 per cent. According to estimates by a leading Indian Bank, private equity investment in education was USD 190 million in 2013. These estimates suggest that investments in the kindergarten to class XII segment grew to USD 20 billion in 2014 and are further expected to grow to USD 33 billion in 2015. The government allows 100 per cent FDI in the education sector. Diaspora’s Potential & FDI Indian diaspora, though small compared to country’s domestic population, is disproportionately skilled, educated

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

business

A critical mass of skilled workforce is required for India to achieve its growth potential and wealthy. Further, the proportion of highly-skilled Indian migrants has increased considerably over the past decade as the globalisation of trade, capital, and labour has taken hold. While it is only 2 per cent of India’s population, the total wealth of this community has been estimated at USD 1 trillion. The income of this community has been estimated at approximately USD 400 billion or over 20 per cent of India’s GDP. This highachieving group includes US senators, Nobel laureates, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs and prizewinning authors. Additionally, the overseas Indian community also comprises of numerous doctors, scientists, engineers, as well as technology and finance professionals in their respective host countries now form one of the most well-educated, accomplished, and affluent communities. India has not yet figured out how to fully leverage this accomplished group, and more importantly, lure them or their capital back to work and invest in India in large numbers. In contrast, today, the most importance source of remittances to India comes from the Gulf States, which has a large population of lower skilled migrant workers, who transferred more than USD 90 billion in remittances last year. The Indian Diaspora is very keen to contribute back to its home country not just by facilitating investment but also by contributing back through their rich international experience and exposure that they have accumulated over years. They are keen to pitch in, engage and contribute in as many ways as possible. This is what emerged out of deliberations where pre event seminars on education and healthcare were being held. Education is the centre stage of development and more interaction with the international community will lead to faster development. A critical mass of skilled workforce is required for India to achieve its growth potential and for which colleges, universities, vocational colleges spread all over the country will be required. The Indian diaspora could make a big contribution by engaging actively with initiatives in this field. The diaspora could help in policy change as they have a rich global experience and exposure to good governance in other parts of the world. The recent visit by the state resident commissioner with his

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

team to Canada opened new horizons of investments in the education sector in the state. The delegation also met officials of University du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) and discussed possibilities of collaboration between UQAM and educational institutions of Gujarat. FDI in education is not a new concept since the impact of privatisation is penetrating all sectors of the Indian economy, it is bound to affect education sector as well. The country ranks third after China and the US in terms of higher education enrolment and requires more FDI in this sector in order to meet its target of doubling its gross enrolment ratio by 2020 with the government having set an aggressive target of achieving 30 per cent in higher education by 2020 from the current 15 per cent. Role of the private sector in higher education has significantly increased in the last decade. Higher education is an economic requirement for the country for growth which the Indian Government must consider seriously, allowing fast corporatisation in the higher education sector and deliver education of global standards. This will also facilitate several private universities, research house, large corporates to enter and invest in India’s higher education market. The globalisation of knowledge, its creation, dissemination and acquisition poses a tremendous challenge to India’s governing bodies and national education policy makers who are aiming for the sustained integration of global knowledge into the country’s national educational system which demands transparency, openness, flexibility and innovation. Government Initiatives Numerous measures have been taken by the government to promote growth of the education sector in India. For instance, the Central Universities Act was promulgated for conversion of three state universities into Central universities. The Government has set up a unique public-private partnership through setting up of the National Skill Development Corporation with the objective to contribute about 30 per cent to the overall target of skilling and up-skilling of 500 million people by 2022, mainly by fostering private sector initiatives in skill development programmes and providing viability gap funding. Another noticeable move was the inception of the National

Knowledge Commission (NKC) set up as an advisory body to the Prime Minister of India, with the objective of transforming India into a knowledge society. NKC has submitted around 300 recommendations on 27 focus areas and the implementation of its recommendations is currently underway at the central and state levels. These recommendations encompass reforming the education sector, upgrading research labs and formulating intellectual property legislation. In the higher education sector, the Medical Council of India, a state body that regulates the medical education sector and registers doctors, has allowed hospital chains such as Fortis Healthcare, Max Healthcare and Apollo Hospitals to set up medical colleges. The Study India Programme (SIP) initiated by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is envisaged as a means of enhancing engagement with the diaspora youth. The objective of the Scheme is to enable overseas Indian youth, i.e., foreign citizens of Indian origin in the age group of 18-26 years to undergo short term courses in the nature of summer schools to familiarise them with the art and culture, heritage, history, economy and development of India. Such short term courses aim at providing an opportunity to the overseas Indian youth to better understand and appreciate contemporary India, foster closer ties with the land of their ancestors and enhance their engagement with India. Nearly 1120 students have participated in the programme since its launch. SIP was structured around three phases - cultural immersion, academic orientation and work placements and was majorly implemented in two metros - Delhi and Mumbai. The programme has been delivered since 2010 by external delivery partners - King’s College London, University of Birmingham and most recently by Indogenius. The programme in previous years also garnered additional funding and support from Tata Consultancy Services which catapulted the overall impact and outreach of the programme. It has made a valuable contribution to the strategic UK-India relationship by raising awareness and importance of India within the UK, training a new generation of ambassadors, about the opportunities India offers to British graduates. Over 99 per cent of students on the UKIERI Study India

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Programme have indicated their desire to return to India - most to work or study. Investments from Other Sources The Indian education sector has players from both the public and private domains. Some of the successful private sector institutions include Manipal University, Amity University and the Indian School of Business. Schooling and higher education are not-for-profit ventures due to the requirements of being registered as a trust or society. However, an operate and manage model is now legally accepted and enables a for-profit model in education. In such ventures, financial returns are attractive, with EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) levels of 30 per cent plus and project IRRs (internal rate returns) ranging from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Some examples of private players in the K-12 level are Dhirubhai Ambani International School by Reliance Industries, Stonehill International School by Embassy Group, Educomp Millennium Schools, by Knowledge Tree Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Ansal API, and Birla Shloka Edutech Ltd. by Yash Birla group and Educomp’s subsidiary, Edu Infra. Private investors have been carefully monitoring and investing in the education sector realising the great potential that the sector has to offer. Private equity investment in the education sector increased from USD 129 million in 2009 to USD 183 million in 2013. Some of the large deals include Premji Invest’s USD 43 million investment in Manipal Education and India Equity Partners’ USD 37 million investment in IL&FS Education and Technology Services. An array of promising high profile projects are lined up in the sector. For higher education, there is a proposed Vedanta University by Vedanta Resources Plc, spread across 6,000 acres with estimated investment of more than USD 3 billion in Orissa. A proposed multi-disciplinary University by HCL, spread across 300 acres at Noida, in Uttar Pradesh and ISB is building a fully functional second campus near Mohali in Punjab. Microsoft India has announced an investment of USD 20 million in the Indian education sector over the next five years; Reliance Industries is planning to set up a full-fledged university and

Education is the centre stage of development and more interaction with the international community will lead to faster development

has identified around 800 acres on the outskirts of Vadodara in Gujarat for the proposed university project and the Adani Group planning to establish an Institute of Infrastructure Management, a university, and an Adani Knowledge Centre. Global education players are also showing keen interest in the Indian education sector. For instance, the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management has signed a MOU with the Bombay Stock Exchange giving students greater insights into global markets. The programmes started in the academic year 2013-14. Other foreign business schools proposing a big presence in India are the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University, US, INSEAD, the business school headquartered in Fontainebleau, Paris, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Yale University,

The University of Atlanta, Maastricht University, based in The Netherlands, Georgian College, a leading college in Canada, and Schulich School of Business of York University in Toronto, Canada. Further, the Chicago-based Encyclopedia Britannica is launching more online learning and knowledge products in India. Their Indian market, in which Britannica has been present for 12 years, accounts for about 5 per cent of the company’s global print sales.

INDIA’S REQUIREMENT BY 2020 Colleges 35,000 more Universities: 800 more Investment: USD 150 billion Teachers: 1.2 million more Enrolments in the K-12: 40 million

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

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India maintains its top position as the world’s largest emigrant resource of 14 million people

Diaspora Remittances

Mixed signals by India Even as the new Indian government underscores the potential of the diaspora to contribute economically, service tax introduced on transfer of money by the migrants give mixed signs. Shweta Keshri

or the past many years, India has been the largest recipient of remittances by its diaspora, with over $72 bn received in 2013, making remittances the single largest source of inward investments into India. Realising the importance of remittances as a tool to help cover current account deficits or to shore up dwindling foreign exchange reserves, the Indian government has sought out the diaspora in the past, on more than one occasion. Hence, a recent decision to impose service tax on transactions related to remittances was received with surprise,

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

almost shock. “Financial institutions, including money exchange firms, already charge a seven per cent commission on remittances. Now, the Central Board of Excise and Customs has issued a circular to realise 12.36 per cent tax on the commission. They would ultimately pass this on to the account holders, which would mean double taxation,” says minister for non-resident Keralites affairs, KC Joseph, who has already written to the Indian finance minister, Arun Jaitley, urging him to withdraw the service tax recently introduced on remittances in favour of the NRIs. At a time when India is pushing G20

to reduce the global average cost of transferring remittances to five per cent in favour of developing countries, this step has been received negatively by the states. Largest recipient of remittances With world’s largest emigrant resource of 14 million people, as quoted by the World Bank in the latest issue of migration and development brief, it does not come as a surprise that India has maintained its position at the top. The remittances of the developing countries reached $435 bn in 2013, an increase of five per cent from the previous year. “Remittances to developing countries grew

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India’s less developed pension system, drives expatriates towards supporting their parents this year by five per cent. The inflows provided stable cover for substantial parts of the import bill for countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, Haiti, Honduras, and Nepal,” said Kaushik Basu, senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank Group. He further added that India and China led the chart with projected remittance inflows of USD 71 and USD 64 billion respectively in 2014. For smaller developing countries, money sent back in the form of remittances from migrant workers comprises a substantial portion of GDP and their balance of payments. For some countries like Tajikistan, remittances make up nearly 50 per cent of GDP, evidently showing its importance for increasing GDP and living standards. India has seen its due share of migration that can be divided into three stages. During the British Raj, the underprivileged were forced to migrate as workers or labourers to East Asian and African countries; post-independence Indians were seen to be attracted to the Gulf countries such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for skilled or unskilled jobs; while in the latter part of the 20th century, high profile jobs in sectors such as the IT invited the Indians to migrate to developed countries like the United States. Much of the money remitted is used for family support. India’s less developed pension system, compared with Europe or North America, drives expatriates towards supporting their parents and children rather than starting a retirement plan for themselves. Data shows that the bulk of remittances comes from three different categories. Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, developed nations such as the US or Australia, and next-door neighbors such as Bangladesh and Nepal. By far, the largest amount comes from the Gulf countries -Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait –that sent a combined USD 32.7 billion, about 40 pc of all remittances received.

remittances in volume terms surging by 70 per cent,” says UAE Exchange vice-president for treasury, Ashwin Shetty. “The NRIs are remitting anywhere between INR 2.5 to 50 million”, he further added. “The fall in the rupee has positive impact on remittances from high net worth individuals. We are seeing a jump of 15-20 per cent in the high-value remittance volume,” Xpress Money vice-president and business head Sudhesh Giriyan. The HNIs with high disposable incomes look for an opportunity such as this. “Either they have accumulated funds or they borrow from banks of the respective countries at a cheaper rate and then send money home,” Giriyan said. Typically, the remittances grow in the last quarter of the year due to the festive season. Fortunately, the value of rupee started falling on strong account of dollar in early November this year, thus favouring the NRIs. On November 3, the rupee ended at 61.40, after which it fell to 62.03 on November 28. Between the beginning of November and till today, the domestic currency has depreciated by around 4 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India that had seen the potential of the remittance long back, launched the Liberalised Remittance Scheme to simplify and liberalise the transfer. This scheme allowed the individuals to remit up to USD 0.125 million per financial year for any permitted capital and current account transactions or a combination of both. Additionally, India has been trying to push G20 to reduce the cost of transferring the money to five per cent. India, as world’s largest recipient of the remittance, won the back up of G20 in Brisbane last month

to take strong practical measure to cut the average cost of sending money back home. In 2011, G20 members agreed to bring down the global average cost of remittances to five per cent by 2014, but that deadline has been missed. India is now stressing on the deadline of two years for the enforcement of this policy. The cost of remittances has fallen from 9.1 per cent in 2011 to 8.3 per cent now, saving some USD 30 billion for the migrant families since 2010. Further reduction will potentially save nearly USD 20 billion. An official who was part of the Indian delegation that attended the G20 summit In Istanbul, Turkey, says, “The money belongs to poor families of developing countries and cannot be taken away in the name of transaction fees.” Doing their bit, several Indian banks, too, brought down the remittance cost by 30 per cent by offering services that allow Indian migrants in the United States and Britain to send money directly from their bank account or credit card to recipients in India. Additionally, India has also been able to convince Saudi Arabia to reduce it to 3.5 per cent. The recent announcement of 12.36 per cent tax, however, is in opposite direction. A similar proposal was made by the UPA government in 2012 which was withdrawn as a result of severe oppositions from states such as Punjab and Kerala that form two of the highest population of migrants. Conversely, the Modi government through a circular dated October 14, 2014, cancelled the old circular and service tax on foreign remittances is now charged. This move, however, has been criticised by many state governments that are mounting pressure on the central government to do away with the tax.

India has been trying to push G20 to reduce the cost of transferring the money to five per cent

Encashing the lows In the last quarter of 2013 and first half of 2014, when the Indian rupee was extremely volatile and weak, hitting record lows against the USD and the euro, the remittances saw a massive spike as the diaspora tried to cash in on the exchange rate advantages. Global payment service provider UAE Exchange said it has seen a 70 per cent jump in the volume December 2013 alone. “Although the number of transactions have increased by 20 per cent, we have seen high value

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Jaisalmer

Gateway to the

THAR

Amidst the aridity of the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer comes as a surprise to travellers with an adventurous streak. While the desert forms the primary attraction, Jaisalmer is also worth a visit for its rich heritage and culture. Shweta Keshri

onar Qila or the Golden Fort of Jaisalmer found a place in Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s long list of poems. The fort also inspired Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray who wrote a story and transformed it into a motion picture. Many more artists have been charmed and stirred by the Jaisalmer fort that shines at sunrise in the desert backdrop. Located at the edge of the Thar Desert in the north-western state of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer has a very raw-ethnic Indian feel. It contains in itself the solitude of the desert, glamour of the golden fort, art of yellow sandstone havelis (mansions) and warmth of the natives. While the endlessness of the desert may evoke a sense of alienation, the people of Rajasthan, with their hospitality, prevent it from making home in one’s heart. The pleasant drive The route to Jaisalmer makes for an interesting road trip. Rajasthan is best discovered through its well-built highways that connect the cities. Considering that significant revenue of the state is generated through tourism, Rajasthan government actively takes part in providing the travellers with all amenities. It is filled with public convenience and refreshment facilities much

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

to the relief of the tourists and dotted with numerous dhabas that make the journey less tiring and more fulfilling for the hungry travellers. Both sides of the desolate road can be found covered in sand and shrubs and around 30 kilometres away from Jaisalmer, signages showing India-Pakistan border start appearing. Occasionally, women in isolated shelters draw one’s attention. Dressed in traditional bright clothes, silver jewelries, white bangles lining their arms and their mastered coy smiles, they look like they have come straight out of Incredible !ndia ads. The sands get whiter and the shrubs replaced by thorny plants with fleshy stems as one goes deeper into the desert.The sight of windmills lined in rows on white sand becomes more frequent.While this sustainable energy generation has helped the state solve its electricity issues, the tourism industry is concerned as the wind farms acquire land at some of the best sand dunes and which could affect the tourism traffic.The tall windmills, however, add a dreamy feel to the landscape. As one approaches Jaisalmer, hotels start appearing on the each side more often. Some, like the Taj Gateway at Rawalkot have been designed in typical Rajput architectural styles. Overlooking the Jaisalmer fort, the hotel provides a good combination of medieval charm and modern facilities,

The desert camps In the city centre, one may want to avoid the aggressive travel agents who march over to the tourists with accommodation options. Although there are a million options of heritage and boutique hotels, the desert camps offer the tourists to experience a stay amidst the sand dunes. The camps provide tents in the middle of the white sand, camel safaris at sunrise or sunset depending on one’s time of arrival and a cultural evening with folk songs and dance from Rajasthan apart from the taste of the desert food. As the folk performances begin in the evening, with dancers and musicians seated inside a circle of enthusiastic audience, one is immersed in the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. It is a blend of chari and kalbeliya dance and music with traditional instruments such as sarangi (a three-stringed Indian instrument). While the kalbeliya dance of the community of snake charmers portrays the rich artistic caliber and creative imagination of the dancers, chari describes the art of collecting water in a chari or pot by the Rajasthani women in their day to day life. Often during the chari performances, the women balance 8-10 pots with a lighted lamp on the top while they carry on their dance movements.

The customary Rajasthani music is famous for its raw and earthy tunes and unsophisticated voice. Traditional music includes the Panihari songs that lyrically describe women’s chores centered on water and wells, both of which are an integral part of Rajasthan’s desert culture. Epic ballads also tell stories of local heroes such as Devnarayan Bhagwan and Pabuji. Performances like these set the mood for the evening that continues post dinner around bon-fire in the cold desert evening. The mornings in desert are rewarding. A bouncy camel ride is sure to drive one’s sleep away as is the beautiful sight of the sand dunes basking in the orange sunlight of the daybreak. The footmarks left behind by camels are tempting enough to walk barefoot on the sand. While the view indeed is gratifying, it is quite easy to spend hours playing with the light sand rolling and trying to climb up the hills. Numerous sand hills await conquests by travellers, who enjoy the momentary pleasures of peace and solitude. Although it is not as large as the Sahara and Kalahari deserts of Africa, the Thar is the most densely populated desert in the world, with 10 times more livestock than humans. It forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan and is spread across large tracts of Rajasthan and extends

across the border into Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. On the Indian side, Jaisalmer is the biggest city in the desert. About 30 km away, Sam sand dunes are a major tourist attraction. The band of dunes is approximately 2 kilometre long and the most isolated and beautiful in the region to enjoy the sand. Many camps surround these dunes to provide visitors the finest desert experience. A vibrant city In contrast to the desert, Jaisalmer buzzes with life and colours. Men in bright turbans and women in traditional attires stand out with the creamy sand stone structures forming the backdrop. Found in 1156 AD by the Rajput King Maharawal Jaisal Singh, Jaisalmer meant ‘the hill fort of Jaisal’. Sixth in the succession of Bhati clan of Chandravanshi Rajput, who claimed to be the descendants of Lord Krishna, Jaisal Singh levied taxes on the camel caravans travelling along the nearby route that led to an economic upsurge. Its strategic location, as it was situated on the two main routes connecting India with Persia, Egypt and farther west, helped it to prosper naturally. Laden with exotic spices and valuable silks, these caravans that were en route to places like Delhi or Sindh, had to pass through

Dressed in traditional bright clothes, women look like they have come straight out of Incredible !ndia ads

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

ignoring the advice of the priest. Thus came up the five grandiose havelis facing the Jailsamer Fort. Though the time spans of the five havelis differ from each other, they are in astonishingly perfect symmetry with each other. The havelis form for one of the finest architectures of Jaisalmer. Each square inch of the havelis were engraved exquisitely. The latticed jali (carving) friezes provided freshening to the interiors as well as offer privacy to the women to gaze out without revealing themselves. The havelis, much like others in Jaisalmer, are fabricated in yellow sandstone with a dissimilar design on each window and arch. Unfortunately, the prosperity of the family started dwindling and they lost everything. Consequently, they had to leave the city again leaving the havelis to the mercy of the caretakers who eventually took the ownership and put it to their economic use. Like other cities of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer too is filled with opulent havelis and heritage monuments. In the south of the city, to the relief of the local population, is the 14th century Gadsisar Lake. Surrounded by numerous shrines and temples, the rainwater lake is one of the main sources of water supply for the locals. The lake is also a home to wide variety of waterfowl migratory birds during winters. . It is the people of Jaisalmer, however, who make the city hospitable. In the unkind desert life, it is refreshing to see their vibrant and welcoming nature. n Rajasthan Capital Key Cities

The history and architecture of Patwa Haveli fascinate the tourists

Jaisalmer. The city is still largely inhabited by the Bhati Rajputs, who were known for being warriors in old times. Currently, the city is a major military outpost at the Indo-Pakistan border, as borne out by numerous army convoys on highways en route to Jaisalmer. The city engages its travellers through the Golden Fort, savoured havelis of the rich businessmen of the past, its lakes and interesting shopping options available throughout. To reach the fort, one has to cross four huge gateways that are flanked by vendors of jewellery, carpets, musical instruments and other goods. Located on a hill overlooking the Thar Desert and camouflaged by its yellow sand stone material, the Jaisalmer fort was recognised as the UNESCO world heritage site in 2013. The 80 m tall fort is enclosed by three layers of perimeter walls; houses five interconnected palaces, havelis and Jain temples; and has narrow lanes surrounded by the houses of local residents who depend mainly on tourism. The pathways with sharp and twisted turns were designed to make the

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Connecting Highway

fort invincible. Rather well-preserved, the fort is a five-storied monument embroidered with jharokhas (overhanging balconies) and jalis (lattice) exhibiting the fine craftsmanship of Rajput style. However, it is extremely fragile and unfettered tourism could endanger this monument. This has led the government impose restrictions on use of vehicles near the fort. While it is a sheer delight to explore the royal dwelling of the past, the old havelis also attract the visitors. The history of Patwa Haveli, for instance, fascinates the tourists. It is said that in the 18th century, when the Patwa family was struggling to set up their business, the priests suggested them to leave Jaisalmer as they could never flourish in the town. The family, thereafter, rose to success with their business that spanned across banking and finance, silver, brocade and opium trade. The clan returned to their habitat as they prospered. The then head of the family, Ghuman Chand Patwa, decided to gift each of his five sons a separate and elaborate mansion,

Bikaner Jaisalmer Jodhpur Barmer

Jhunjhunu

Ajmer Jaipur

Udaipur

How to reach By Flight: Flights are now operational directly between Delhi, Jaipur and Jaisalmer. The other airport at Jodhpur, 285 km, has more connectivity. By Rail: There are a number of trains from Jodhpur, about six hours journey time. It is directly connected to Delhi and Bikaner. The city station is two km east of the city. By Road: Roadways and private buses connect Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, Bikaner, Barmer and Jaipur. It is also linked to Ahmedabad and Bhuj in Gujarat.

Where to stay Jodhpur offers a wide range of heritage and luxury hotels of all budgets. Desert camps are located further away from the city. However, it is suggested to be careful of the fraud agents in the city.

Mawlynnong

Charm of the NorthEast Much before the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Clean India Campaign, residents of Mawlynnong, a small village near Shillong in Meghalaya, had embraced cleanliness as a religion. A decade back the village was acclaimed as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cleanest Village in Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Anupam Chanda

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CUISINE

The local tribals arranged the roots of the tree Ficus elastica in such a way that over time, they formed a natural bridge; Mawphlang - The burial ground of the Khasi rulers of the past; Entrance Welcom to the Mawlynnong village; Local Children & flowers

e were chasing the clouds, literally. The whitest I had ever seen. One more sharp turn and we were suddenly engulfed by the clouds that were now blocking our way. The blue hills, green valleys and fields, the reed thin foamy streams and the scattered cottages, all vanished into the white blanket that now covered us. The powerful headlights of our vehicle hardly helped, and we surrendered our lives and fates into the hands of our Tibetan driver on the wet, slippery, narrow road. We were on our way to Mawlynnong, nearly 90 kilometres from Shillong, that has earned the distinction of being amongst Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cleanest villages. The weather cleared after an hour or so, and we again found ourselves driving through the beautiful hills and valleys. After umpteenth turns and forests full of broomstick plants, we found ourselves at our destination. The village in itself was smaller than I had expected. The roads, the houses and the courtyards, everything was spotlessly clean. There were dustbins all around and strict warnings for tourists not to litter. From a one year old who could barely walk to 60 year

olds, everyone seemed to be busy cleaning, mostly dead leaves and twigs. And if you are an eager-to-be-of-help tourist, you can be lent a broomstick as well. The onus to keep the village clean lies with every person residing in the village. Locals cleaning the roads, picking up leaves and throwing garbage in the bin is a very common sight. Bamboo garbage bins adorn every nook and corner of the village highlighting the consciousness of cleanliness among the villagers. Cleanliness is an age old tradition and a way of life for all villagers. Surprisingly, the village has hundred percent literacy and most of the villagers are conversant with the English language. It was, however, not the spotless village or the penchant of the villagers for cleanliness that fascinated me but the watchtower made of bamboo. Thrilling as it was, climbing the watch tower was worth the effort for a breath-taking view from the top. Miles after miles of the inundated plains of Bangladesh left me standing speechless. It was at this village that I spotted my first wild orchid, white, tiny but beautiful. The sacred forest We were standing on a dirt road, raindrops trickling down our faces. On one side we could

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

Children of the village sitting on a bamboo hut

Meghalaya Capital

see the hills running as far as the eyes could see, while on the other a grassy field gave way to an unbroken chain to trees, interspersed only by rhododendrons in full bloom. The red flowers welcomed us into the virgin forest, but once inside, the impenetrable jungle only reminded us of the ominous forests of the Lord of the Rings. And if the locals are to be believed, the Mawphlang Sacred Forest, 25 kilometres from Shillong, is as alive as its counterpart in the Oscar winning trilogy. We had a tough time managing a local driver to take us to the sacred forest, not because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the burial ground of the Khasi rulers of the past, but because the locals believe that the forest can bring bad luck. The place, however, transferred us to a different dimension on the verge of time and timelessness. The once mighty chieftains and their beautiful queens now lie nameless and powerless under the tomb stones, strewn at the very edge of the forest and the hills that once were only a part of their kingdoms. Today the kingdoms are gone, yet the forests and the hills survive reminding us of our insignificance in time. Walking past the stone monoliths, we came to a path adorned by white rhododendrons that led to a valley

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

bifurcated by a small mountain river. This trek, the David Scott trail, is considered to be one of the most beautiful treks in Meghalaya. Even half a day seems too small a time and we returned with heavy hearts and a determination to visit the sacred forest again. Our adventures were far from over. For those who are still amazed by the BandraWorli sea link would be inadvertently charmed by the bridge made up of living trees over a roaring mountainous river. An indigenous invention, the local tribes arranged the roots of the tree Ficus elastica in such a way that over time, they formed a natural bridge across streams and small rivers. Our trip to Shillong, popularly known as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scotland of the Eastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; because the hills surrounding the city, became memorable because of this detour. The numerous streams and the hills, the virgin forests and the tomb stones, the rhododendrons and the pitcher plants, the clean roads and the friendly people, the pork momos and the modified fashionable Maruti 800s with LCD screens inside, would surely bring me back to the state once again very soon. The village of Mawlynnong is a charming escapade for those seeking a different experience of travelling in India. n

Key Cities

Umling Williamnagar Tura Cherrapungee

Shillong Saipung Mawlynnong

How to reach By Flight: Shillong airport at Umroi connects only to Kolkata. International Airport at Guwahati, 100 km away from Shillong, is a major airport in north-east and is well connected to all the major cities in India. Mawlynnong is 90 km away from Shillong and can be reached by taxi services available easily. By Rail: Guwahati is the nearest railway station and well-connected to all major railway stations of India. From station one can hire a taxi to Shillong. By Road: Good number of buses to and from Guwahati bus station are available. Shillong is nearly three hour drive from Guwahati. Shared taxis are also available at here.

Where to stay Shillong offers a plenty of beautiful options in the form of British bungalows, cottages and lodges amidst the nature.

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DESTINATION

Ahmedabad

DISCOVERING architectural units

Located on the bank of River Sabarmati in the western state of Gujarat, Ahmedabad relishes a long celebrated history. While the city is moving towards new realty and infrastructural embellishments, the classic and contemporary architectural marvels have not lost their charms. Shweta Keshri

nce when the 15th century sultan of Gujarat, Ahmed Shah, was on a hunting expedition and sat down to rest near River Sabarmati, he saw a rabbit chasing a dog and was amazed by it. Sheikh Ahmed Khattu, a Sufi saint whom he highly revered, pointed out to him that it was the unique feature of the land that allowed a timid creature like rabbit to chase away a dog and that it would be wise to build a capital here. Additionally, it is said, the saint prophesied that the city would be formed by four Ahmeds. Of the required four devout practitioners of Islam were King Ahmed Shah and the saint himself and the city took its name from the king. The city built on such strong foundation naturally flourished and has maintained to prosper through centuries. The former capital of Gujarat that is also famous as Gandhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abode and home to the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for a long list of successful businessmen, its textile industry, the innumerous festivals and its cuisine. On a more humanly context, the people of Ahmedabad stand out with their rich aesthetic sense. From elegant interiors of their homes to graceful khadi or

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

cotton attires, the inhabitants of the city effortlessly bring out the charm. Wellknown design institutes of the country such as NID and CEPT have often found to give a push towards the artistic side. The architectural assemblage and cityscape Like other cities ruled by Muslim kings, Ahmedabad too is an ensemble of mosques and tombs. The Indo-Saracenic architecture that fused the Hindu craftsmanship with Persian architecture from the time of Ahmed Shah and his successors can be seen in these structures. Jamma Masjid, built by Ahmed Shah in 1424, is one of the oldest mosques located in the old city area. It was seemingly the largest mosque in the subcontinent during the time it was built. The prayer hall consists of multiple domes with intricate masonry work supported by over 250 column. The mosque was intended to be the private place of worship for the sultans of the period, justifying its scale and ornamentation. Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, located in close premises to Jamma Masjid, is another significant mosque built in 1573 by the last sultan of Ahmedabad who was defeated by the Mughal king Akbar. The carved stone lattices, locally called jail, form the windows of the mosque. Such is

the impact of these jalis that it has become symbolic to Ahmedabad and has even been found to represent the renowned management institute of the city, IIM through its logo. An excellent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture is Sarkhej Roza, located seven kilometre south-west of Ahmedabad, built in the memory of Sufi saint Sheikh Ahmed Khattu in the latter half of the 15th century. The complex that was built under reigns of three kings has numerous structures such as the tombs of a king and queen, mausoleum of the saint and a mosque. Le Corbusier, a well-known 20th century Swiss-French architect, called it Ahmedabadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Acropolis comparing it with the Acropolis of Athens. However, merely historical structures do not define the work of the bygone kings. Kankaria, a manmade lake built in 1451 by Sultan Qutbuddin, is the biggest lake in Ahmedabad. The Lake is now surrounded by lakefront with attractions such as the zoo, toy train, kids city, tethered balloon ride, water rides, water park and food stalls. In the 18th century, when the rising communal riots necessitated superior security, pols were built in the old, narrow lanes of Ahmedabad as a protection measure. A series of interconnected houses

City Break cuisine

Homes with typical Gujarati decor are a major attraction of the heritage walk

belonging to people of same community or caste with all necessary structures such as a well within a common boundary formed a pol. The use of lime mortar and wood in its construction not only gave it a strong foundation but also proved to be earthquake resistant due to the judicious combination of materials used. It was because of this reason that these 18th and 19th century pols were left unshaken in the earthquake that hit Gujarat in 2001. The exquisite wooden façade of these living pols illustrated the grandeur and opulence of the inhabitants.

Ahmedabad experienced the advent of modern architecture in the postindependence period. The city has been fortunate to be inhabited by people who actively took part in this architectural movement. Influential Gujarati families such as Sarabhai have had significant roles to play. Businessman and visionary Ambalal Sarabhai, who founded Sarabhai group of Companies, invited Corbusier to design the Sarabhai Villas (1951-55) and the Mill Owner’s Association Building (1951). He also designed Sanskar Kendra (1954), a museum depicting history, art, culture and

architecture of Ahmedabad. Well known American architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the administrative building of Calico Mills and the Calico Dome (1962). B V Doshi, considered to be an important figure in the development and evolution of architecture in India, came to the city after assisting Corbusier for four years in Paris to supervise his projects in India in 1955. He also worked with Louis Kahn, an influential American architect known for his meticulous work, in IIM Ahmedabad project in 1961. Corbusier’s understanding of the proper usage of space

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Destination

and planning Kahn’s exceptional skill of playing with materials, structure and light are often reflected in Doshi’s works such as Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University founded by him in 1972 and Sangath, his office space in Ahmedabad. As a result of the initiatives from institutions such as this that the city constantly ponders a sensitive growth and development. One of Doshi’s notable local works include Amdavad ni Gufa (1995), an underground art gallery, that was designed in collaboration with the well-known Indian artist M F Hussain and therefore is often referred to as Hussain-Doshi ni Gufa. This art gallery that exhibits Hussain’s works, represents a unique juxtaposition of art and architecture and is distinguished with its untraditional use of materials and technique. Another eminent Indian architect Charles Correa, known for the use of traditional building materials in his work, designed the Gandhi Ashram on the bank of Sabarmati. Popular for being the residence of Gandhi for 12 years, it was built in 1963 along with the museum. It was from his base here that Gandhi led the Dandi March also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. It has, therefore, been significantly recognised as national monument by the Indian government. The place boasts of the serenity and peace with the stillness of river and the quiet surrounding of the ashram. Christopher Charles Benninger’s, American architect and planner who has extensively worked in India, built Alliance Française (1981) as his first work in Ahmedabad. He also innovated the concept of site and services in Ahmedabad, an approach to housing that allows poor families to construct their own homes, according to their means. Amdavad ni Gufa was built by B V Doshi and M F Hussain

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Ahmedabad has been fortunate to be inhabited by people who actively took part in this architectural movement The recently realised Sabarmati riverfront project was the ambitious initiative of Modi during his role as the chief minister of Gujarat. Apart from revitalising the river that had become a dumping yard for garbage and sewage systems and promoting tourism, it was also an impressive attempt of increasing the interaction between the river and people of the city. The 10.5 kilometre stretch of Sabarmati bank has been partly transformed into a space for leisure and recreational use. It became an exemplary initiative in terms of urban infrastructure and revitalisation. However, it was not devoid of any criticism as well. The slum dwellers on the bank of Sabarmati who were evicted to be resettled have been found to be living in self-made huts in the rehabilitation areas. Experts have also often called it a façade for 10.5 km for Ahmedabad bank and far from being river restoration. Nonetheless, it has become the focal point for the city that is divided by the river into eastern and western Ahmedabad. Heritage Walk of Ahmedabad Apart from adding buildings to the land, people of Ahmedabad have also been sensitive towards the heritage of the city. With over 36 ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) protected structure, Ahmedabad is among the three Indian cities to have

made to the tentative list of UNESCO World heritage city. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in association with the Foundation for Conservation and Research of Urban Traditional Architecture (CRUTA) in the year 2000 began a two hour long heritage walk in the old city of Ahmedabad to give a glimpse of history of the old living neighborhoods through its lanes and houses. The walk begins at 8 in the morning with almost 200 year old Swamnarayan temple and ends at Jamma Masjid. One of the highlights of the walk are the selfcontained pols. In essence, they resemble the gated housing societies with houses that belong to people of a particular family, caste, profession or religion. Each pol had a distinct name or identity, a cluster of interconnected houses, a common courtyard, a public well, a temple and a chabutra or bird feeder. To increase the awareness, AMC installed placards mentioning their names outside the pols. The popular intricate wood carvings of Ahmedabad can be seen in each of the houses. Large overhanging balcony is another feature. Elements of Marathi, Mughal, British and Persian architecture are also found. At one exceptional square at Doshivada ni pol stand four houses, each depicting the four different architectural styles. Often these pols had secret passageways for emergency escapes as they were constructed by the

Sidi Sayedi jali also figures in the logo of the Indian Institute of Management

The Jama Masjid was built by Ahmed Shah in the 15th century

TRAVELLER’S DIARY • For people visiting between Thursday to Sunday, Seva Café located at C G Road is an experiment in the shared joy that comes from humble giving and selfless service.The wholesome meals here are cooked and served by volunteers and offered to guests as a genuine gift and aren’t charged for the food they’re served, instead they are free to pay whatever they want. • Inspired by the three people who observe silence for no agenda in Silicon Valley for almost two decades every Wednesday, a couple started this practice in Ahmedabad as well and opened their doors to complete strangers. An hour long silence is followed by a discussion where people often come out with their ‘aha’ moments. It ends with a vegan meal offered by the couple after which people often stay back for more insightful discussions! • It is also recommended to stopover at Manav Sadhna, located within the boundary of Gandhi Ashram, if one happens to visit the monument. It is an NGO that works with under-privileged children. One may find a group of enthusiastic children engaged in an activity or playing in the premises. • Zen Café, located near Amdavad ni Gufa, is one of the most popular hangout places for the youth of Ahmedabad. Apart from the wide range of tea, coffee and other non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, one can also enjoy the exhibits at Herwitz Art Gallery and the Hutheesing Visual Art Centre located in close proximity. Ahmedabad has numerous roadside tea stalls that not only serve tea but something to chew alongside and all the amdavadis have their favourites here as well. It is recommended to have tea with muska-bun at least once during the stay.

communities to save their families from communal attacks or disturbances. Of almost 600 pols in Ahmedabad, some are as old as 300 years. British built iron poles with a directional arrows stating the direction of the underground sewer is another distinct feature of the pols of Ahmedabad. Kavi Dalpatram Chowk that housed the 19th century Gujarati poet in Lambeshwar ni Pol is the first stop of the heritage walk. The walk also attracts interest of those with religious bent. The temples at pols are spare sized but have their own set of treasures and mysteries. A Jain temple, almost 400 years old, at one of the pols was built at the basement to keep it safe from the Mughal King Aurangzeb when he was on a spree of destruction of temples. The 700-year-old marble idols of Tirthankaras placed in the temple, adorned with pure diamonds and rubies, were brought from the holy site of Palitana in Saurashtra. The Kala Ram temple at Haja Patelni Pol houses a unique idol of Lord Rama in dark colour in a sitting posture. It is said that the idol resurfaced on its own post-independence, hundreds of years after the temple’s priest had hidden it to protect it during the Mughal period. Another highlight of the walk is the remains of the Calico Dome built in 1962 during Ahmedabad’s golden textile era. The 12 metre wide structure was the original site for the administrative building of the Callico Mills. Under the leadership of Gautam Sarabhai of the Sarabhai clan, the geodesic dome was designed taking an inspiration from American neo-futuristic architect Buckminster Fuller. Through other surprises such as the 95 year old building that housed the first Ahmedabad Stock Exchange, old printing press where one can interact with the attendants and see the tools; the walk leads out of the neighbourhood to Manek Chowk. Named after a 15th century saint, the street that is a busy marketplace selling

jewelries and other retail products during the day transforms into a food street after the sunset and is open until 1 at night. The walk culminates at Jama Masjid that demonstrates the amalgamation of Hindu, Jain and Islamic architecture. Ahmedabad is one of the few cities that, despite its rapid development, has preserved the heritage of the old city and coherently grown in the contemporary times with sensitivity. With the conveniences comparable to that of a metro and yet quiet neighbourhoods, the city often comes across as a preferred place for Indians to settle down for life! n Gujarat Capital Key Cities

Banas Kantha Kachchh

Sabar Katha

Gandhinagar Rajkot Ahmedabad Vadodara Jamnanagar Amreli Junagadh

Surat Dangs Valsad

How to reach By Flight: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport at Ahmedabad provides both domestic and international flights to and from Ahmedabad. By Rail: Ahmedabad Railway Station also known as Kalupur Station is well connected with almost all the major cities of India. By Road: Ahmedabad has good highways connecting it to all major places in Gujarat and other states. Interstate buses of different states of India provide services to and from Ahmedabad.

Where to stay The city offers a wide range of budget and midrange bed and breakfast and hotels most often found in the older areas of the city such as Kalupur and to luxury hotels such as Hyatt and Marriott.

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

CUISINE

Ahmedabad

A mouthful

experience Apart from its rich culture, Ahmedabad also boasts of a delectable cuisine. A day spent here reveals the love for food among its people and discovering interesting food pockets in the city. Shweta Keshri

ne of the few things that both amazed and amused me during my two-year stay in Ahmedabad was the food habit of the people. It often seemed that the city transformed itself in response to the dietary requirements and routines at different hours. Law Garden, a popular hub for shopping for girls during the day for instance, changes in the evening into a street food paradise with choice ranging from cuisines such as Gujarati, Maharashtrian and South Indian. People of Ahmedabad are known for their munching all through the day and, as if in answer to this, the city is filled with small shops and vendors that feed people at all hours. Dhokla, Khakra, thepla, vadapav, dabeli, sevpuri are a few preferred Gujarati-Maharashtrian snack items reflecting the clear influence of the neighbouring south-western state of Maharashtra on its cuisine. In addition, Amdavadis have tried peculiar experiments with their food as well. Chocolate and pineapple sandwiches are a few of them indicating a conversion of the western food to complement the sweetness of the Gujarati thali (meal) itself. Eating a Gujarati thali, with sweet curries and vegetables, often appears like having dessert for the main course. Nevertheless, it is one of the most favoured

January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

and loved meals of northern India. The city is among very few places that boast of vegetarian gastronomy and has an enviable range of options that this section lacks in other cuisines. The morning overdose The mornings of Ahmedabad bring a wide range of options. From the traditional khaman, khandavi and dhokla to the roadside vendors selling poha (a flattened rice preparation). The layers and softness of khandvi, made out of gram floor and buttermilk, may seem simple to achieve while cooking but it requiresan optimum consistency, a sophisticated technique and practice to reach a level where it is dignified enough to be served. Its lightness and taste makes people eat abundantly without having an account of the amount of food that melts easily inside the mouth. The soft and spongy khaman and dhokla, made out of gram flour as well, have a similar story. This could be a probable reason why the breakfast is accompanied by multiple other savouries such as fafda and khakra. Apart from the traditional home food that can also be relished at numerous sweet shops that dot the city, the roadside vendors and teashops with interesting options keep the locals attracted to them too. Morning muska-bun (bunbutter)with tea at a tea stall is something one must experience

here. The amount of butter put on the bread is a reminder of the presence of Amul, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest milk producing cooperative, in the neighbouring city of Anand, about 75 kilometres away. As a matter of fact, the city doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the information remain unknown to anyone. It has mastered in the art of experimentally adding cheese to almost everything and with some exceptions, such as poha, it is surprising that only seldom do they go wrong. Not only the usage but amount can be overwhelming as well, adding on to the general notion of a prosperous Gujarat. Between breakfast and lunch, people have numerous options in the form of sevpuri, khakra and handvo that allow a continuous exercise of the jaws. But the serious eating comes during lunch. Gujarat is famous for its thalis. The city is filled with good places that particularly are known for serving thali. However, people with not the same appetites as Gujaratis, should keep

their stomachs reasonably empty for this comprehensive meal. A typical Gujarati thali consists of lasaniya bateta and sevtameta nu sak, bajrana rotla and thepla, khichdi kadhi accompanied by chili pickle and ghee gur. Often referred to as the Kathiawadi thali, it hails from the peninsular Kathiawad region in western Gujarat. Gujarati, specifically Kathiawadi, food is dry in nature due to its geographical location and lack of water resources. It is, therefore, dominated by the pulses, gram flours and sweetmeats made out of jaggery. Onion, potato and garlic in combination with dairy products are largely used as substitutes of the green leafy vegetables that cannot be grown in the harsh climatic condition all year round. As opposed to restricting sugar to the dessert, some of the main dishes in thalis are sweet too, distinguishing it from other cuisines. The sweet flavour of these dishes is believed to neutralise the slightly salty taste of the local

water. Some of them, more distinctively, are sweet, salty, and spicy at the same time inventing a flavour of their own. A thali is, however, incomplete without staples like garlic chutney (dip), raw onions, chilli pickle or fried green chilies, papad, and ghee (clarified butter) with jaggery along with a glass of compulsory glass of chhas (buttermilk). Nankhatais and gharis are the popular sweets of the Southern Gujarat. basundi, ghari ghebar or ghevar, halvasan, keri no ras, malpua, shrikhand are some of the popular sweet dishes of Gujarat that make the meal complete. After a hearty meal such as this, the Amdavadis like to have mukhwaas (mouth freshener) that the city is also famous for. The evening delights As the evening approaches, small hangout places serving evening snacks such as vada pav, moong dal vada or the all-time favourite paani puri are filled with people INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

CUISINE

of all ages. Although largely populated by vegetarians, Amdavadi sare fond of eggs. Many small egg joints with their numerous preparations, therefore, have made their way to the hearts of the people. They are loyal to their preferred hang out places such as the teashop at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), egg corners near Vadilal Sarabhai Hospital and the train station or vada pav at Vijay Char Rasta. Evening also brings light to the Law Garden Street that gets filled with food stalls ranging from Chinese to Maharashtrian to Gujarati and some experiments like ice-cream pakora (Indian fritter). While the girls busy themselves with shopping for imitation jewelry and glittering wares from Kachchh and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat, men heave over the street food. Another part that illuminates at night is Manek Chowk in old Ahmedabad. Filled with gold jewelry and other retail shops in the morning, the area gets covered with food stalls and food lovers in the evening and goes on until 1 am. It is said that the jewelers encouraged the street food vendors to set up shop in the evenings as a way to deter robbers. Apart from the regular street food

such as pav-bhaji, the place is famous for its chocolate and pineapple sandwiches and gwalia dosa. While chocolate sandwich is a concoction of chocolate generously spread over liberally buttered white bread and eventually covered with a tonne of cheese, the plain south Indian dosa bathed in butter makes for a gwalia dosa. It is evidently not a place for those who count every calorie. To the relief of non-vegetarians, old Ahmedabad also answers to their choice of taste. Bhatiar Galli and Khamasa Galli in this part of the city offer fresh and spicy non-vegetarian food at economical rates. Another recommended place for nonvegetarians is La Bella. Run by a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Goan Auntyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, this one room restaurant serves authentic Goan food. Apart from the excellent food at reasonable price, it is also worth for meeting the good natured and interesting old lady who came to the city over 40 years ago from Goa. Cuisine, therefore, is one of the two highlights of Ahmedabad, the other being culture. Such is the obsession for food here that places in New Ahmedabad are often known by the restaurants located in the area. n

Bhatiyar gali is a paradise for non-veg lovers. An array of best non-veg delicacies are served here everyday

food places not to miss in Ahmedabad

Gordhan Thal

Located at the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway, it is a legendary outlet to experience a Gujarati thali. The food here is spot on and works as a perfect introduction to the thali for first time visitors. It is also one of the favourites among the locals. Phone: 079 26871222, 079 2687355 Location: Ground Floor, Sapath Complex, Opposite Rajpath Club, S G Highway, Satellite, Ahmedabad

Vishalla

It is an interesting rural complex on the southern edge of town on Vasana which evokes the atmosphere of a Gujarati village. Here, one dines in Indian fashion, seated on the floor, while watching puppet shows. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not cheap, but the food is great. Vishalla also prides itself for a museum within the premises that has a rich collection of utensils from all ages. Phone: 07926602422, 07926600919 Location: Opp. Vasna Tol Naka, Ahmedabad

Upper Crust

Primarily known for its cakes and pastries, it also serves excellent gourmet food and one of the few restaurants in Ahmedabad with non-vegetarian options. Phone: 079 2640 1554 Location: 12, Chandan Complex, Chimanlal Girdharlal Road, Swastik Cross Roads, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad

Patang

Though the food at this place is probably just above average, the rotating restaurant at the top of the tallest building in Ahmedabad offers the best views of the Sabarmati River. With the riverfront project, the view could only have become better. Phone: 079 26586300, 079 26586200 Location: Nehru Bridge Corner, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad

Honest

Pani puri, an all time favorite street food for people, is also widely popular in Ahmedabad

This chain of restaurants is probably the biggest name in Ahmedabad city for fast food with Punjabi, Chinese, continental and interesting pavbhaji variations on the offer. Phone: 079 2644 2171 Location: Located almost at every part of the city.

INTERVIEW

Taking Ayurveda to

FOREIGN SHORES SHAHNAZ HUSAIN, Chairperson & Managing Director, The Shahnaz Husain Group of Companies

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I adopted the “concept of ‘herbal care and cure’ “ January-February 2015 INDIA & YOU

Shahnaz Husain set up a business empire in the beauty industry at a time when women were rarely seen as entrepreneurial geniuses by selling Ayurvedic products, not only in India but taking Ayurveda and Brand India to more countries like USA, Canada, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Belarus and Latvia, within the next year.

What prompted you to choose ‘beauty’ as a career? How would you trace your journey from having a salon to a successful entrepreneur in this field? I never planned it this way. My life was on a very different course. I was married at the age of 15 and by the time I was 16, I had become a mother. Life seemed perfect, but I was bored with the drudgery of endless routine. Then the mental upheaval began. I was always interested in beauty and in making others beautiful, so I decided on beauty as a career. I was determined to get the best training possible and decided to work my way to the prized institutions of the West, to learn cosmetic chemistry and cosmetology. My husband was posted in Tehran at the time, as head of foreign trade with the State Trading Corporation of India. I was not a college graduate, but I loved to write, so I started writing articles for the Iran Tribune. So gradually, I worked my way to leading institutions like Helena Rubinstein, Christine Valmy, Swarzkopf, Lancome and Lean of Copenhagen. While training in London, I came across instances of damage caused by chemical treatments. In a way, this changed the course of my life and career. I wanted to find a natural alternative that was safe and without risks. My study of Ayurveda convinced me that it could offer the ideal answers to modern cosmetic-care. So, I came back to India and started my first herbal salon in the verandah of my home in New Delhi, in 1971, in a very small way. I began to extend my salons on a unique franchise system. I started encouraging

ordinary housewives to start a beauty salon in their homes and thus achieve financial independence. This way they could have a career and yet be close at hand to care for home and family. I trained them and gave them the Shahnaz Herbal franchise by which they could carry out my specialized treatments. The fast paced extension of the Shahnaz Husain Salons and other ventures is due to our franchise system. Today, the Shahnaz Husain franchise has become a successful business model. We operate in more than 100 countries, with our franchise ventures and direct product distributors. From one herbal salon to a worldwide chain of ventures, it has been a phenomenal journey. You have been credited with redefining beauty and revolutionising the cosmetic market. How have you managed to do so? In order to implement my ideas of natural beauty care, with an emphasis on the good health of the skin and hair, I established customized beauty care, with a personalized style, based on individual needs and problems. I adopted the concept of “herbal care and cure.” It was a totally unique, pathbreaking concept. I also began to formulate my own products using plant ingredients and natural substances, based on the Ayurvedic system. We have become known, not only for our treatments for general beauty care, but also for our therapeutic products and salon treatments for problems like acne, hyper-pigmentation, scars, premature ageing, dandruff, hair damage, hair loss, etc. Having adopted a totally new concept

interview

of herbal care and cures, I had to increase awareness of the healing powers of herbs and the dangers of chemical and synthetic ingredients. I did this by contributing articles in leading newspapers and magazines. Four decades later, I still maintain this practice, this personal touch. In my regular columns, I provide home remedies as solutions for beauty problems. In the minds of the readers, this reinforces my philosophy that “nature is the best cosmetologist.” How has been your business in the international market? Which are the successful markets for the Shahnaz Husain group? Any plans to expand your global presence? The fact that we have established a global network of salons and outlets is an indication of our success in the international market and the worldwide trend for holistic and herbal beauty and health care. The Shahnaz Herbals body, skin, hair care and wellness products are doing very well in the international market. In fact, ours is the only Indian herbal cosmetic brand to be selling at Selfridges, London’s most prestigious store. With all the international marks present, we continue to break cosmetic sales records. The cosmetic buyer of Selfridges, Mary Brogan, said that if a customer asks for Dior and Dior is out of stock, they buy YSL. If that is out of stock, they buy Lancome or some other product. But, if a customer comes for Shahnaz Husain’s Shatone for hair loss, or Shalife for anti-ageing and they are out of stock, they go back and return for the products. There is no alternative for Shahnaz. That is the unique USP of the Shahnaz range. Shahnaz Husain receiving the “Outstanding Ayurvedic Innovation award 2014” from the Home Secretary, UK - Theresa May

We have a niche market for our products through our loyal customers. We are expanding our footprints across the globe. We will be taking Ayurveda and Brand India to more countries within the next year. By 2015, we plan to expand our presence in major countries like USA, Canada, Kazakhstan and Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South East Asia, New Zealand, Russia, Belarus and Latvia. Our future plans include concentrated international branding, strengthening and widening our global chain of franchise ventures and appointing distributors in unrepresented new markets. We have introduced an entire new repertoire of salon and spa treatments, using traditional and exotic ingredients. Product innovation has helped our organization to remain a dynamic one. So, we will continue to launch advanced products in Ayurvedic beauty care in the international markets. Shahnaz Herbals also plans to open treatment and de-stress centres along with spas in hospitals where people going through treatment can relax and rejuvenate themselves. We plan to supply our Chemoline products for skin and hair care to top Cancer hospitals all over the world, that have been especially designed to help alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. These products draw upon the soothing and healing properties of organic ingredients and are known for their beneficial effects on the skin and hair. How open are European markets for herbal products from India? Do you face any additional restraints/checks

as it is not based on ‘modern science’? How has been your business in Paris? Our products have sold at leading stores in Europe, like Lafayette in Paris, Harrods and Selfridges in London, La Rinascente in Milan, El Corte Inglis in Spain. Shahnaz Herbal has participated in prestigious beauty shows and international beauty expos, like Olympia Beauty Show in London and Cosmoprof in Bologna, Italy. The products are now available in other countries of Europe, like the Netherlands, Norway, Czech Republic, Belarus and Russia. In order to further the enterprise in the U.K. and Europe, Shahnaz Herbal has set up a Liaison Office in London and has also appointed renowned Distributors. Shahnaz Herbal’s future plans include the consolidation and strengthening of its international business in Europe and other regions, in terms of franchising and distribution of products and services. How do you plan to shape coming years of The Shahnaz Husain Group? The current outlook is that the beauty industry in India will continue to thrive, as lifestyle and perspectives continue to change. I have always believed that India has a great deal to offer the rest of the world in terms of Ayurvedic beauty care. That is why I will continue to brand India and Ayurveda with a crusader’s zeal. We are seeing the growth of a whole new world of holistic beauty and health care. Today, the Shahnaz Husain brand name is the global face of Indian Ayurvedic beauty care. My dream is to see Ayurveda lead the international beauty industry during this decade. n

Shahnaz Husain with Samantha Cameron, wife of the British Prime Minister, during the British Red Cross event 2014

INDIA & YOU January-February 2015

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BACK HOME

y name is Usha Renault. I was born in Bangalore and was adopted by a French family when I was four. India has always been inside me, I remember when I was little I used to look at the mountains surrounding the cold small village where I was living and I used to tell my parents that Bangalore was on the other side. Leaving India was very difficult even if the life in France was much more comfortable. In 1976 when India allowed Europeans to adopt Indian kids, we were like “guinea pigs”, we were 35 kids, if I remember, between 8 months to 12 years, and we all had to go far away. We were used to sleeping on the floor and eating with the hands and suddenly we had to learn new codes. Nothing was explained to us. The only thing, I remember, told to me before I went was - “You will have a mom and a dad and you will have lot of gifts”. When I was a teenager, India started to beckon me back and I wanted to become a nurse in order to go back and work in the orphanage where I had lived and when I turned 20, I decided to move for six months there. I felt pure happiness when I first stepped in India and smelt the familiar air. The emotion was too strong. I took care of the kids who were there and it was an amazing experience as I discovered my country again and I felt emotionally attached to these kids who, just like me, were also going to be sent to unknown places. After this first experience, 17 years went by and again I looked at India at length. I thought it was a poor country

and with all its misery and that I would not be able to confront it on my own. All the arguments were set for me to not think about my native country anymore. Then I got married, I had a son and a great work. India was not in my head anymore even if I used to add curry powder in all the meals! In 2009, I decided to go back to Bangalore because I had this feeling inside me that something was not right. I had this feeling of something missing from my life and I hardly recognised it. For three weeks I lived with the sisters who had taken care of me when I was a baby. And suddenly, India started to open up in me like a storm and I could not remain indifferent. I started to look for my Indian parents but it was not easy. In 2011, I came back again for a month and I realised that my life was much more easy and peaceful in India than in France. When I turned 40, I decide to move to India for good. Not an easy decision! I left my European comforts for a new life, but the change was needed, in order to be at peace with myself. Now, three years later, I can say that coming back here was obvious but it took me several years to understand, analyse and take a decision. Life here is not always easy, with my brown skin everyone talks to me in Kannada or Tamil! Today I feel good and at ease with both my cultures. I would finish by these two quotes I like a lot: “ To all free travellers, all winds are favourable” and “the secret of happiness is not to look for more but to develop the capacity to enjoy with less”. To live in India, you should be at peace with yourself; otherwise it would create an earthquake inside you!

You can contact Usha Renault by mail usha@enchanting-travels.com

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