Salaam Bahrain August Issue 2017

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August 2017 - VOLUME 10, ISSUE 10

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India takes Bahrain’s health care pulse INDIA CELEBRATES 70 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

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Note from the Chairman

There has been a hue and cry in recent weeks as the game app “Blue Whale” took its first victim in India who died of a “dare” suicide and two more victims were rescued from suicide within 24 hours of each other. The game which originated in Russia sets 100 tasks for players, which keep increasing in the levels of danger and the handlers finally guide the player to the ultimate dare: suicide.

Lawmakers and police have now gotten involved in different countries and they say the inventor has been jailed. My personal take is that twisted games such as this are symptomatic of the creeping poison in our society. With so many material and moral challenges before us, why are young people craving the adrenalin rush of life-threatening danger? In the case of one of the boys who luckily survived, he had been playing the game on his father’s mobile phone and the parent was unaware of it.

At the same time, when discussing this with a young person, I was told that games like Blue Whale were wicked and preyed on people with self-esteem vulnerabilities or undetected mental health issues and we must put them on par with other deadly recreational accessories – like guns in the USA, for example.

After all, so many people die because of gunshot injuries that are self-inflicted or caused by mistake. The implication was clear – youth learn by watching adults negotiate the world and we don’t always send out the right signals.

Being a parent in today’s world is fraught with so much responsibility. Even if you are not a tech- savvy person, you have to be constantly vigilant about the friends your children make in real life as well as online, where there are so many shadows to hide behind. Having been brought up in a strict but loving home with strong traditional values, I believe that imparting these to our children is the best defence against the dangers that lurk in this 21 st century world. A foundation of solid selfbelief and a loving home will guard a child throughout life much better than any vigilance.

Capt. Mahmood Al Mahmood

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Highlights August 2017

Salaam Bahrain wishes the Indian Community peace and prosperity on the occasion of the 71 st Independence Day of the Republic of India

30 COVER STORY

36 SPECIAL FEATURE

Taking the pulse of Bahrain’s healthcare

A narrative etched in gold

The gold jewellery firm of Devji represents the success of integrity and artistry which has made this Bahrain-based Indian group an internationally renowned jewellery brand.

Indian doctors and nurses are closely associated with the growth of modern medicare in Bahrain. Since 2004, this involvement has seen Indian-managed hospitals and medical centres dominate and transform the private healthcare scene in the Kingdom.

40 FASHION

Manstyling, desert hues and Rajasthani grandeur

SPECIAL FEATURE 12 Parsees- inspirational survivors Indian Presidents get exotic and priceless gifts such as rare paintings.. and aphrodisiacs! The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum catalogs and displays the best.

46 SPECIAL FEATURE

Take a look at how men too can choose the high fashion lane and why Rajasthan remains top of the designer list.

South by North-east Long before the 1857 bid for freedom, Indians in South India and the North East were raising the banner against colonialism. It is time we gave these forgotten heroines and heroes their due.

60 CUISINE

One country, many cuisines

P, SHU GUP D O O LLYW S BO U PIX L ..P ENE Y SC T R PA

Indian cuisine is a fabulous and tasty mirror of the sub-continent’s amazing history. Many European and West Asian traditions have shaped India’s kitchens.

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COLUMNS • 16 Ayaz Memon • 54 Shobhaa De

71 Years of Indian Independence!

98 Years of NIA being Indian!

58 Years of Bahrain being NIA’s

Home away from Home!

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Parsees – The inspirational survivors An enterprising community, Parsees will celebrate their Shahenshahi New Year on August 17 this year. We pay them a much-deserved tribute

By K.R.N. SWAMY Maharaja Features Inputs from Hina Asar

Remember that 1978 Hindi film Khatta Meetha which depicted a quaint and utterly delightful take on the trials and tribulations endured by a dysfunctional Parsee family? That movie was one of my earliest introductions to Parsee culture; their trademark attire, their lovable accents, their enterprising spirit and their joie de verve for life. Who can forget the adorable Parsee widower essayed by the evergreen Ashok Kumar, the charming Parsi fire temple in Mumbai

but strong-willed widow played by Pearl Padamsee, and the mayhem which ensues when their marriage forces their

children from their first marriages to live together under one roof!

Khatta Meetha (which translates into Sour & Sweet) might have been a work of fiction, but the characteristics of adaptability, contentment, industriousness, philanthropy and artistic talent that the family portrayed have been the hallmarks of Parsees over generations.

Their forefathers, practitioners of Zoroastrianism, fled persecution from Iran to escape persecution and set sail for India, a land which promised them opportunity and freedom from persecution. Legend has it that they first landed on the shores of Sanjan in Gujarat which was being ruled by King Jadhav Rana of the Silahara dynasty.

At first, the ruler was apprehensive on giving shelter to these refugees, so he sent them a bowl filled to the brim with milk, which was a metaphor conveying 12 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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that the kingdom did not have place for the newcomers. The Zoroastrian refugee leader Dastur Nairyosang Dhaval responded by adding a spoonful of sugar to the milk, demonstrating that they would be like sugar, adding sweetness but not causing the cup to overflow.

The King was impressed with the response and invited the refugee leader to his court. They were allowed to live and practice their religion and traditions freely after agreeing to learn the local language and assimilate with the locals.

Distinctive This ‘selective assimilation’ as termed

by Harvard Pluralism Project is what led to the distinctiveness of Parsees from their Zoroastrian counterparts who stayed back in Iran. The remaining Zoroastrians started arriving on Indian shores during the 19th century and are known as

Above Pic 2: The reconstructed entrance to Udvada Atash Behram, oldest fire temple in the world Above Pic 3: A Parsee vendor sells firewood offerings in the Udvada Fire Temple neighbourhood

Pic 1: Sanjan Zoroastrian Stambh is a pillar that commemorates the landing site of Parsees in India between the 8th and 10th centuries

Iranis, who are culturally, socially and linguistically distinctive from the Parsees.

Five years after settling in Sanjan, the Parsees built their first fire temple, Atash Behram, to shelter the holy fire rescued from Iran. According to Kissah-i-Sanjan which chronicles the events of that time, when the combined army of the local rulers and Zoroastrian men could not repel the assault by invading armies of Mahmud Tughlak, the sacred fire was carried away to the nearby hills and finally brought to Udvada in 1742, where it still burns bright in a splendid fire temple.

Udvada is a sleepy hamlet on the coast of Gujarat and got its name from Unt Vada, as ‘Unt’ means camel in Gujarati and this was the village where the King used to keep his camels. It is a tiny town of barely 2 square kms, but it has preserved the heritage and culture of Parsees in an exceptional manner. The old Parsee houses reflect a distinct culture with simple designs, large verandahs, double storeys and minimally designed furniture.

The Udvada Atash Behram is the most sacred of the Zoroastrian fire temples in India and the oldest continuously burning fire temple in the world. It is one of the nine Atash Behrams worldwide, eight of which are in Western India the ninth one is in Yezd in Central Iran.

Entry is restricted to Zoroastrians only, and hordes of Parsee worshippers from all over the world make their way to the temple to pay their respects to the 1280-

year old holy fire enshrined within the sanctum sanctorum.

Heritage site The Udvada fire temple is the only one of the nine temples which has two High Priests (called Dastoor), while all the others have just one. According to tradition which was also ratified legally, nine Parsee priestly families of Udvada and their heirs are the sole lawful guardians of the fire and its temple. The position of high priest passes in turn from the head of one family to the head of another family. But the town is fast losing its unique fame as youngsters move away and older people find it difficult to maintain their houses. The Fire Temple and nearby architecture faces severe erosion from the sea with waves rising as high as 12 metres in the monsoon.

The community has kept their traditions alive even while contributing significantly to their host nation. Sanjan being the place of landing, the Parsee elders constructed a memorial there called Sanjan Stambh which is a major tourist attraction. It was constructed in the year 1920 and made of granite to a height of 50 feet which includes the square platform below and the leaping flames of fire above. Udvada being the veritable Kashi and Mecca for the Parsees, efforts are being made to have the town listed as a UNESCO site which includes plans to 13 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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establish a museum and cultural centre, tourist lodge and heritage walks.

During colonial times, the Parsees represented a curious mix of defiance and camaraderie with the British. Many leading families made their fortunes as shippers of opium to China for the British. Even as Parsees established and

Sam Manekshaw - outspoken military genius

ran shipping companies and steel mills, individuals like Dadabhai Naoroji and Madam Bhikaji Cama took the fight for Indian freedom into Britain where they lived. Legendary industrialists like Jamshedji Tata established the Tata

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Dadabhai Naoroji

J.R.D. Tata, founder of Air India

Madam Bhikajee Cama

industrial empire while aviation pioneer J.R.D. Tata gave independent India its passenger airline, Air India. Legal luminaries such as advocates like Soli Sorabjee and Fali Nariman, and nuclear physicist like Homi Bhabha added intellectual heft to Indian national discourse despite representing less than 0.6% of the Indian population. Apart from India’s first cotton mill and steel plant, we even have Parsi Theatre to thank for inspiring Bollywood musicals.

Boman Irani, the beloved and talented Hindi star and contemporary dancer Astad Deboo, dance choreographer Shiamak Davar who changed Hindi cinematic dance style..they are all from the Parsee community. In the field of hospitality, nothing can touch the magnificence and legendary status of the Taj hotel chain, established by the Tata family. India’s most beloved war hero and first Field Marshall, Sam Maneckshaw was Parsee too.

Parsee charitable trusts disburse huge amounts of money to individuals and run schools and hospitals virtually free of cost even today. Indeed, the community has always led in charitable works and promoting scholarship. The Tata Institute of Social Studies (TISS) and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) are revered seats of learning.

marriages in the community, the Parsees are facing shrinking numbers. At present, there are only 50,000 followers in India, the highest among all nations. One in every 10 women and one in every 5 men remains unmarried at the age of 50. In 2013, there were 735 deaths and only 174 births, a 13.43% drop from 2012.

The Government of India, aware of the contributions of this exemplary community, introduced a nationally funded project called ‘Jiyo Parsee’ to encourage more births including subsidized IVF treatments and grants.

Many of the younger generation of Parsees are now calling for introspection by the community and for a change of approach with more inclusiveness so

that the community can welcome new blood through children of non-Parsee spouses and through adoption. Today, many Parsee families have migrated Westward, where their westernized attitude sits easily and they assimilate into the adopted land with even greater ease than their forefathers did in Sanjan.

Mahatma Gandhi described the Parsees as insignificant in numbers but spectacular in achievements. To think that all these achievements find a place on the pages of Indian history because a local ruler welcomed a shipload of refugees to start their new innings in a place which they could call home! If ever there was a successful immigrant story, it is this!

Threat The biggest threat that the community faces is from within. Hampered by what many consider old-fashioned and regressive rules that forbid conversion and recognition of adoption or the acceptance of children of inter-faith

Parsee gara silk embroidery is intricate and a community heirloom art

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Pakistan’s Parsees – moving on Numbering 5018 in the 1951 Census, the number of Parsees in Karachi had dropped alarmingly to only 1500 by 2015. What started as a trickle in the mid-1950s took on elephantine proportions by the time the 1971 war started. To make matters worse, the nationalization of many industries by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the proposal by General Zia-Ul-Haq to direct Parsee schools to teach Urdu (which did not eventually materialize) spurred the professional class to leave; they did not have any properties to leave behind and were confident of their skills being valued in their new country.

At the time of independence in 1947, Karachi and Lahore were home to a thriving Parsee community. The founding father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, married Rutti Bai who belonged to a Parsee family before her conversion to Islam. Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta served as Mayor of Karachi for twelve years and made it one of the best cities of the subcontinent.

Eminent businessman and journalist Aredeshir Cowasjee was responsible for saving the Karachi statue of Mahatma Gandhi from vandals in 1948. Veteran diplomat Jamsheed Ardeshir Marker is

listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having been Ambassador and High Commissioner to more countries (20) than any other diplomat. Bapsi Sidhwa was one of the first English language authors of Pakistan to make a name for herself.

The Parsees of Karachi are more liberal in their practices than the Parsees of India.

Women who marry outside the community but choose to retain their faith are allowed to pray at Parsee fire temples. Their children are also allowed to join the faith if they so desire. Philanthropy runs in their blood and many hospitals and educational institutions have been built by the community. The 30-bed Bomanshaw Minocher Homji Parsee General Hospital is a pre-partition facility which also doubles up as an old age home. The same is true

of many Parsee funded schools which have less than 1 % of Parsees on their rolls.

Losing a community like the Parsees is definitely a huge blow to a tolerant Pakistan, it’s cultural diversity and economic well-being, according to Rabia Mahmood, a researcher on religious minorities at the Jinnah Institute think tank. However, the Parsees are accepting of the circumstances and adapting to them. Over the generations, their families have moved from Iran , through India and Pakistan, to North America and Australia. Making another move is something they are used to. “We did it a thousand years ago, so its not so hard now” said a spokesman of the Parsees of Pakistan.

Rotary Manama social evening Members of the Rotary Club of Manama gathered at the stylish Capital Club for a social evening. The club which works with worthy causes in the community, shall be organising its regular meetings after summer.

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Revival of a historic tradition

The Bhatia ladies with the British Ambassador and community representatives

In a ceremony that harks back to the times when the Ras Rumman area in Manama was central to the Indian community’s bustling life, a group of ladies from the Thattai Bhatia community gathered for a prayer ceremony under the 200-year old banyan tree in the British Embassy grounds.

“The Vat-Savitri Puja is a significant religious event in which married ladies

salaam society

The Bhatia ladies with the British Ambassador and community representatives

fast the whole day and gather in the evening to pray around a sacred tree,” observed community leader Bhagwan Asarpota, “For decades the banyan tree in the British embassy premises was the centre of these activities but in the late ‘eighties, the puja shifted to the peepul tree in the Shri Krishna Hindu Temple premises managed by The Thattai (Bhatia) Hindu Community, Bahrain 18 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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(THC) .”

He added, “This year, thanks to the initiative of British Ambassador to Bahrain, Mr. Simon Martin CMG , the ladies were once again invited to hold the puja under the banyan tree. It was an occasion that combined history, piety and nostalgia in equal measure for us and we thank the Ambassador for enabling this.”

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Independence Day message from the Ambassador of India India achieved Independence on 15th August 1947. As the nation celebrates 70 years of freedom, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all Indian nationals and friends of India in the kingdom of Bahrain.

India and Bahrain enjoy historic ties; our relations can be traced back to Indus Valley and Dilmun Civilisations. In recent years, this relationship has grown in all spheres: political, economic and cultural. It is a joyous occasion for us to celebrate 70 years of India’s freedom in a friendly country with deep-rooted people-to-people level contacts.

India @ 70 is in the spotlight, globally and domestically. The last three years have seen remarkable changes in India’s development paradigm, and significant steps have been taken towards social and financial inclusion to ensure holistic development of all sections of the society. There is a lot to achieve.

This year we are celebrating 70 years of India’s freedom. When seen as a comparative timeline, 70 represents a country that is still very young. We have traversed a long distance in this time. But we have many goals to achieve. Five years from now, in August 2022, India will be commemorating 75 years as an Independent nation. This five year period gives us a unique opportunity to ignite the transformation that will create an India by 2022, which our freedom fighters will be proud of.

We have just commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement that began on 9th August 1942. The “Quit India Movement” was an important milestone in the Indian freedom struggle. Five years later, India attained freedom on 15th August 1947. I would like to see us all reawakening the fervour and values that moved our freedom fighters and seek a Quit India movement, for the modernday Indian to take part in, which will see our development challenges vanquished so that we can leave our future generation a stronger and brighter India. In these modern times, when technology has made the whole world a village, the overseas Indian has a greater role to play in facilitating the flow of ideas for a ‘New India’, knowledge and technology between India and other countries. We look forward to you all to be the change you want to see in India.

May this occasion herald a new movement, ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’- ‘Attainment through Resolve.’

On this important milestone in the history of India, I once again extend my warm greetings to all Indian nationals and friends of India in the Kingdom of Bahrain and thank them for their consistent contribution to the growth and development of both our countries as well as to the expansion of our deep-rooted,

August 15, 2017

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(Alok K Sinha)

2017

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New embassy, a fitting community centrepoint

It is a proud moment for the Indian community in Bahrain this August 15, as Ambassador Alok Kumar Sinha will

unfurl the tricolour at the new and imposing Indian Embassy in Seef district.

The Indian community, which is the

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largest expatriate group in the Kingdom will have a purpose-built embassy for the first time.

The new Indian Embassy complex will include the chancery building, staff residence, library, consular hall and an auditorium that can accommodate up to 500 people. Designed by leading Indian architects, it contains many beautiful Indian architectural features. “I am very happy that this milestone occasion of the first flag-hoisting in the premises of the new chancery is taking place on the 70th anniversary of Indian independence,� said Ambassador Sinha.

It is expected that the new embassy will be formally inaugurated shortly in the presence of a minister from India.

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India’s military self-sufficiency dream takes wing

By Dr. S. CHRISTOPHER

On July 1, 2016, home grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was inducted into the Indian Air Force paving way for what has been a long cherished dream in defence matters: self sufficiency. The Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar approved the procurement of 83 LCAs Mk-1A for induction into the Indian Air Force, writing a new chapter in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship project Make in India.

While the actual induction of LCA may take few years to get completed, the offsets of Tejas programme are sure to help India advance in military supplies – be it the development of ancillaries or the leaps in technological developments.

The idea was mooted 33 years ago, when the need was felt to garner selfreliance in defence technology.

Today, sixteen LCAs — christened Tejas by the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee — are flying today (excluding the Series Production aircraft flying with the IAF). About 3300 sorties have been flown without a single

accident in a stupendous achievement for the entire LCA team. Design and development of indigenous fighter aircraft started in mid-1980s. An idea to develop a contemporary fighter aircraft was taken up with the purpose of finding a replacement for the MiG-21. The need for self-reliance in this vital sector was the driving force to embark on an ambitious project of LCA. It was important from the security point of view to propel India into the league of major players in the aviation industry.

The value of the aerospace “selfreliance” initiative was not simply the production of an aircraft, but also development of enabled technologies in the field of aeronautics and the capabilities for creating state-of-the-art aeronautical products.

The LCA programme was intended to expand and advance India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities. To start the process, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), an autonomous society of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under Ministry of 22 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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Defence, was founded in 1984 to oversee the LCA programme. The plan to develop the LCA was officially sanctioned in 1993.

LCA’s development is unique as there was no infrastructure base and negligible technological knowledge available in the country for undertaking development of a modern combat aircraft and LCA has been developed virtually from scratch.

The programme suffered a setback in the backdrop of sanctions imposed by the US on transfer of modern military technology after Pokhran nuclear test by India. However, the challenge was accepted by the LCA team in successfully developing the technologies indigenously. Subsequently, even when the sanctions were finally lifted and consultancy services restarted, LCA team chose the path of self-reliance.

Team LCA functioned through strong collaborative research and development with IAF, IN, HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), CEMILAC (the Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification), DGAQA (Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance), academia, public and private Indian industries and foreign partners with around 400 work centres across the country. The effort resulted in development of LCA, which is the smallest, light weight, supersonic capable, all weather, multi-role, airsuperiority fighter aircraft designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat roles.

Finally, India can proudly boast of a state of the art aircraft, indigenously designed and manufactured — truly a game changer and comparing favourably with the best aircraft in the world in its class. It is to the credit of all those involved in its development that despite the numerous challenges along the way

Bahrain debut

and the criticism for the huge time and cost overruns, Indian scientists and Tejas was put through its impressive paces internationally designers stoically persevered to deliver a world class, state-of-the-art product. for the first time at the Bahrain International Air Show in This fourth-plus generation fighter January 2016. It was a phenomenal performance of LCA aircraft has the potential to revolutionise which literally kept the audience spellbound and ‘Tejas’ the aviation sector in India. This needs to proved its mettle, watched by HM King Hamad of Bahrain, be carefully nurtured and supported to make India, in the years to come, a leader India’s Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj and in aviation and a name to reckon with.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al This would most certainly be a boost Khalifa and other VIPs. for India’s future programmes with Air Superiority has always been the decisive factor in respect to Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The decision would enforcing a nation’s strength and security. The DRDO was reduce our dependence on imports in formed with a vision of making India prosperous by defence sector. Indeed, after the Indian establishing world-class science and technology base that Space Research Organisation’s space will provide the defence services a decisive edge by missions, Tejas represents India’s next big leap forward in the technological equipping them with internationally competitive systems field. It would play the role of a pillar of and solutions. DRDO has consistently strived to attain selfstrength in achieving self-reliance in the sufficiency and develop core competency in the field of air power needs of the country. A ray of aeronautics, electronic warfare systems and missiles aimed hope generated 33 years ago has brought sunshine and certainly would at augmenting Indian Air Force (IAF) and to foster the open new horizons, hopefully acting as a growth of military aviation in India. catalyst to revolutionise, in a true sense, India’s defence sector.

(The author is Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, DG ADA, Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

This artcle first appeared in India Perspective Magazin) 23 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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India in my heart “Merging our NRI spirit with India is very important for cultural continuity” Rajasekharan Pillai Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee, 2017

“My generation was born after independence and for us the brave fight for India’s freedom is a story that was passed down to us by our grand-parents and parents. Speaking for myself, I came away to the Middle East as a young man and have spent close to three decades here. During this time, I have seen India grow from this middle distance, developing self-sufficiency, build democratic practices and achieve a meaningful economic liberalisation. All this has meant that businessmen like me have found it easier to promote India abroad – Indian goods, manpower, technology – the full spectrum of all that is best in India. Today, at 70, India stands tall as an international power in full stride.

As NRIs, my wife and I have also tried to ensure that our culture and heritage stays alive in our children. It is easy from the Gulf , which is so close to India and we travel home often. Keeping the flame of our culture alive is as important to my children’s generation as it was for us to hear the narrative of India’s freedom struggle from our earlier generations.

Celebrating our festivals, speaking our

language and merging our NRI spirit with India – this is very important for continuity in our lives and in the life of India.

2017 is personally a milestone for me as I was proud and honoured to receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest civilian NRI award from the Government of India. I consider the award as a recognition not just for me but for the many businessmen whom my story represents, who have helped to build bridges of economic strength and bilateral relations between India and the West Asian GCC neighbourhood. I continue to seek opportunities to create a consciousness for India’s excellence in the international arena and this award has bound me even closer to this vast, varied and amazing country India, which I am so proud to call mine.

On the 70th anniversary of Indian independence, I bow before my motherland and wish all my fellowIndians warmest greetings on this momentous occasion in the life of a nation.

Jai Hind” 24 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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“India dazzled me country for the first know India and “I actually discovered India quite late in my life – it was not your classic story of childhood visits turning into a lifelong love. Rather, India dazzled me with her cornucopia of charm and beauty when I visited the country for the first time in the late ‘nineties. As with most Arabs, Mumbai was my first destination and I was fascinated by the way India’s ageless arts and crafts melded with the modern pace of life in that cosmopolitan city.

India is a generous country. I have been able to learn so much just by getting to know India and Indians. I have indulged my love for arts and crafts and I built a career by personally curating exquisite Indian crafts collections for my interior design store Lavender in Bahrain.

You can see my passion for India in full display there – whether in the meticulously hand-embroidered table cloths and napkins from Ooty, the beaten

“India teaches the Samya Hussein My father used to trade in Indian crafts and antiques and my first trip was to Mumbai with him. I was fourteen and my sister and I simply loved the colour and bustle of Mumbai – then known as Bombay. Since then, I’ve only been back twice to India, most recently a couple of months ago to Delhi and Kashmir on holiday. But living in Bahrain, I have always been in touch with India through friends and shared cultural spaces.

India is a country of great beauty and contrasts. I simply loved Kashmir during my latest visit there. Nature at its loveliest… and the food there was unforgettable. I love to cook and just

with her cornucopia of charm and beauty when I visited the time. I have been able to learn so much just by getting to Indians.”

Shaikha Huda Abdulaziz Al Khalifa Indophile and promoter of Indian crafts silver vases from Jaipur, the marble artefacts, the silk scarves – each one is more than just an item to be sold. They speak of my association with India, the people I have worked with..because I work closely with the craftspeople, I don’t just shop around for these objets d’art.

Whenever I visit India – mind you, I do it often because one lifetime is hardly enough to know and love this country – I discover a new facet of the land. It could be a rare Himalayan magnolia plant cutting that I bring back to Bahrain and coax into bloom in this desert environment. It could be a love for history and the stories that the stones of the forts and palaces of Rajasthan tell me and the warm friendship of the royal owners of these palaces. It could be the soothing healing of the Ananda Spa in the Himalayas, the eucalyptus breezes of

Kodaikanal and Ooty which rejuvenate. I have made new friends such as the writers Ganesh Saili and Ruskin Bond; I have watched master craftsmen at work skilled musicians and dancers in performance and learnt from the philosophy of the land. I love the beauty of India, the sheer genius of the artisans, I admire the history, the philosophy of the thinkers. I am so proud to be a link in the friendship between India and Bahrain.”

world tolerance and how to love” Member of the Global Charity Foundation NGO standing in the spice markets in India surrounded by the heady aroma of Indian foods got me imagining all the dishes I could try out with these ingredients.

Delhi by contrast is at once modern and also historic. Did I mention that India is a shopper’s heaven? In Delhi I visited the local markets and loved the trinkets and the sarees and Punjabi suits you could get there. And in the malls, I was stunned to see some of the world’s best brands and here too, there were so many shoppers.

In the hotel that we stayed in, we were invited to a wedding taking place and celebrated with the family for

three nights. I loved the way there were flowers everywhere – in the decorations, in the ceremonies…and the way modern and fun occasions were linked by tradition.

Having known Indians here and in India, I am in awe of how they effortlessly respect each other. They don’t judge, they are welcoming of your lifestyle, your different religion..I guess that’s how so many different cultures thrive in India. I visited so many temples and I saw that people from all religions and all walks of life visit different places of worship. That’s the greatest lesson of harmony that India can teach the world.”

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india focus “India has taught me humility, compassion and tolerance, and given me a precious mode of expression through dance.”

Khalil Al Ashar, Bahraini Kathak dancer Growing up in Bahrain, I was easily exposed to the Indian people, culture, and food, mainly through my school teachers. But it was not until the year 2000 when I heard my first few filmy songs at a family wedding reception. I fell in love with the tunes and melodies of the music, the high-pitched female voice and the deep and smooth male voice. It awakened in me an interest to explore Indian culture. In 2008, when I went for higher studies to L.A., I saw a poster for a Kathak performance and impulsively bought a ticket. I was spellbound by the mesmerizing beat and movements which were so different from the Bollywood dances I had seen. I immediately signed up to learn Kathak and I was astonished by the Indian way of discipline and culture that was maintained in the classroom, even though Los Angeles is about 12,800km from India. These classes got me more excited and determined to visit India to see the art and culture first hand. I joined

my Kathak Guru’s dance tour of India in 2010 landing in its capital city New Delhi.

India was immediately my second home. Yes, India has overpopulated cities, cows found roaming the streets, long lines for almost anything, and many who are poor. But, hold on a second.

People of all classes, religions, status, colours, race, live in such harmony, that I have not seen elsewhere. Every citizen respects the position and status of the other, the people respect each other’s religions, even the cows on the street are moved away with such care and compassion. India has taught me, at its finest, a sense of humility, compassion, patience, love, care, tolerance, and most importantly in my case, given me a precious mode of expression through dance. Dance is my way of life, leading me onwards on a highly uplifted selfdeveloping, cultural, and spiritual journey which I was only able to find through my Guru and mentors in and from India.

accolade MGD receives Gemfield’s ‘Retail Jeweller India Award’ Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one of the BIG 5 jewellery retailers received ‘Retail Jeweller India Award’ for the special contributions to the gem and jewellery industry. M.P Ahammed, Chairman Malabar Group received the prestigious Gemfield’s Retail Jeweller India Award.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds has also been awarded the best television campaign award for the current year.

Meanwhile in Bahrain, Anil Kumar and Baby Fidha Fathima were declared winners of the Gold Bullionaire promotion and walked away with 100 grams of gold each.

26 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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INDIAN

INDEPENDENCE Week Celebration 14th to 18th August Specially crafted menu by chef with selection of INDIAN KEBAB AND BIRYANI.

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india focus

LIC celebrates successful track record LIC (International) BSC(C) came into existence on the 23rd of July, 1989 in the Kingdom of Bahrain in partnership with International Agencies Co. Ltd. (Intercol), with the objective of providing life insurance cover to Indian diaspora in GCC countries. The company A Bank Assurance Agreement between ICICI Bank, International Agencies Co. Ltd. (Intercol) and Life Insurance Corporation (International) BSC (C) was signed recently operates in 5 GCC countries: Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Oman which offer benefits like reasonable been significant for the last 3 years. and Qatar. returns, guarantee, life risk, pension etc.

LIC (International) enjoys a niche it is slowly expanding into other Product line-up market position targeting Indian nationalities also in addition to the NRIs. LIC's unique and wide range of expatriate community within the GCC The reason for LIC (International’s) products (all plans are issued in US $) has countries and subsequently to residents strength in the market is the trust people something to offer for every need of a of any nationality. Its parent company, have in the company, which came from customer- be it life cover at lower cost, State owned LIC of India is the strongest them honoring their agreement to the attractive return, liquidity, provision for and largest Life Insurance Company in customer. With that being said as on Children’s education/ Marriage or health India with a market share of more than 31st December, 2016 the company paid coverage or pension.

75%.

USD 173.2 Million of Claims.

1. Portability of policies to India is a LIC (International) has excelled in all The company’s Bancassurance partners very unique and added advantage for all areas of operation for the last 27 years are Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), NRI’s. and stands out as one of the significant Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), 2. LIC has recently launched a Group market players in life insurance sector, Emirates NBD, First Gulf Bank (FGB), Life Insurance Plan, suitable for different not only in Bahrain but also of GCC. The Mashreq Bank, RAK Bank. The organizations / establisments.

Market Share of the Company has contribution from Bancassurance has increased to 47.48% from 38.11% in Total Premium Income, and in respect of Total Policies the Market Share has A tabular Synopsis of a few of LIC's popular plans is given below: increased to 95.03% from 88.88% as at Unique/Special Features Plan Name 31.12.2015.

The company has been preforming Participating Endowment Most popular and simple savings. Ideal combination exceedingly well for the last few years in Plan (PEN) of life cover, liquidity and investments. the area of New Business and Investment Participating Marriage/ Designed to provide for expenses of education and Income. The Company has achieved its Education Plan (PME) marriage of children along with life cover yearly target for 2016. The Total Unique Combination of Endowment and whole life Investment Income as on 30th September Jeevan Anand (JA) with provision of payment of Sum Assured, twice.

2016 has increased to USD 58.26 Million Ideal plan to provide for future expense of compared to USD 41.03 Million for the Professional Educational Plan (PEP) education and start in life of children corresponding period of 2015.

The company has an Asset base of USD Deferred annuity plan with A very unique plan unlikely to be available with any other 1,767 Million as on 30th September or without life cover institution which provides for pension throughout life.

2016. Mr. Rajesh Kandwal, CEO & Unique combination of savings, health Silver Anniversary Health Managing Director, informed that the insurance and flexibility Insurance(SAHI) Company is poised to touch USD 2 Billion Pure Term Assurance(PTA) Ideal for those who look for pure life risk at a lower landmark before the end of 2017. With premium its wide and attractive range of products, 28 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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india focus

Rsquare proves an I.T. winner “I do believe that every Indian represents India and carries the responsibility of doing so to the best of their ability in a foreign land. As the founder, chairperson and CEO of Rsquare Technologies W.L.L, an innovative software development company based in Bahrain, I am proud that we represent a facet of modern India that is famous globally for its success – the I.T. industry.”

Rsquare Technologies W.L.L. established by Mrs. Shanthini Raja, is an IT firm with excellent repute in Bahrain and across the MENA region with core competency in developing customized software solutions using exceptional technological expertise.

With over 400+ clients in the Kingdom, Rsquare Technologies brand is synonymous with quality, delivery, service and technical expertise. The company provides IT services and software products for companies in areas such as Banking & Finance, Real Estate, Manufacturing, Health Care, telecommunications etc. The company has implemented projects in industries such as banks, Insurance Companies, Automobile Showrooms, Schools, Hospitals etc.

Through its development center in Bahrain, the company has resources to execute projects like Development

Application Maintenance, Project Expansion, Porting and Migration – Technology migration, porting, conversion and SaaS – Software as a Service. Some of Rsquare’s projects are CompuCheque, CompuForm, Human Resource & Payroll, Easy Interface Card Reader etc.

Products Rsquare's E-signature System is used to store and retrieve signatures. E-signature can be introduced in all sectors wherever credit card transaction is taking place.

The product was recently implemented in one of the major airlines to eliminate paper signature. Rsquare also successfully launched a new product called the Computerized Inspection System, which is an innovative system to completely automate the inspection process and checklist entering.

Computerized Inspection System (CIS) can be used in

any sector that uses checklists like healthcare, automobiles, insurance, factories and oil and gas fields.

Contact Rsquare Technologies on 17720850 for a free consultation and a live demo of their Robust and Reliable IT solutions!!!

IMA get-together for doctors

salaam society

The Indian Medical Association is a great professional networking group for Indian doctors who are the backbone of the healthcare delivery system in Bahrain. With a programme of talks to update doctors’ knowledge as part of the CME (Continuing Medical Education), the most recent talk was by Dr. Shamik Shah, Nephrologist with the Ministry of Health, who spoke about “The Colour of Water”, an intriguingly titled talk on kidney disease. The event was sponsored by BBK NRI Services.

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India takes Bahrain’s health care pulse

The year 2004 was something of a watershed year for medical services in Bahrain. The Kingdom, which has a world-class public health system that is free for Bahrainis and affordable for expatriates, was facing the burn as the number of people using the services climbed inexorably. Seeing the opportunity to fill the gap, quite a few private hospitals had opened doors for business in the preceding years. They offered good health care and cuttingedge medical technology but for many people who were at the lower end of the salary scale, they were not a viable option.

What attracted private players from India to a hugely competitive field were changes in Bahrain’s medical insurance rules which saw more and more expatriate employees and families seek insurance cover and opt for private medical care mainly because of time constraints.

Dominating the sector today are hospitals and medical centres run by companies with their roots in India and expertise in the GCC. They have won patient confidence among all nationalities by offering an approach to healthcare that was polished

by handling sheer numbers and combining an Indian management savvy with a core doctor-nurse team drawn from India.

Knowhow Exchange In no other field is the exchange of knowledge and technology between India and Bahrain as apparent as the medical one. What’s more it touches all our lives on an everyday basis.

The first medicare company with strong Indian roots to move into Bahrain was the Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Centre (SAJ-MC) which entered Bahrain in June 2004 after successfully putting down roots in Saudi Arabia. By combining affordable care and a good roster of specialists, the centre was able to break the ice and meet with success. It gained a reputation as being the first stop for quick and efficient medical attention, especially for people who preferred the cultural intimacy of a medicare system run mainly by Indian doctors and nurses.

In the same year, the KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre opened in Umm Al Hassam. A part of the renowned Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, Kerala, the founder Dr. Mohammed 30 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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Sahadullah is a highly qualified doctor who used his insights into the Gulf expatriate medical experience (after spending over a decade in Saudi Aramco) to step into the GCC with KIMS Bahrain as a first venture. Today the KIMS Group has moved beyond medical centres and also runs the Royal Bahrain Hospital in Salmaniya.

Dr. Sheriff Sahadulla

“The healthcare landscape in the Kingdom as well as in the region is transforming – mainly driven by changing consumer behavior and needs,” said Dr. Sheriff Sahadulla, Executive Director at KIMS Healthcare Group, “At one level, with increasing per capita incomes, affordability is increasing and hence, the need for convenience and high end customer service. At another level, the rapid increase in lifestyle diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, hypertension, etc. as well as an ageing population, has put close monitoring of health in the forefront.” He added, “Needless to say, patients have a choice to choose from a variety of hospitals, medical centers and specialty care centres.

However, what ultimately defines the healthcare space today is the efficiency, expertise and patient experience. At KIMS Bahrain, the Group is constantly monitoring health and health care delivery trends to ensure consistent quality in everything we do.”

Muscat-based Badr Al Samaa group brought its Al Hilal Hospital to Bahrain in 2005 and unlike SAJ-MC and KBMC, the group opened a 50-bed private hospital in Muharraq and only later did it step into the medical centre business with the opening of its Riffa medical centre in 2014. Within a year the Al Hilal Medical Centre had seen over 100,000 visitors pass through its doors, pointing to a real need for such a facility in Riffa.

Business model “Today, Al Hilal has initiated an ambitious plan to extend its services to areas far away from Muharraq and Riffa, where patients are finding it difficult to travel,” said CEO Dr. Sai Giridhar, “The proposed branches will be located in Manama, Isa Town and Hidd and will provide multi-speciality clinical services, diagnostic laboratory, radiography and ultrasonography as part of their services.”

The hub-and-spoke business model for hospitals was first effectively explored by these Indian-managed hospitals. While KBMC and the RBMC in Riffa are the door to Royal Bahrain

Historic connections, holistic cures

looking back In 1960, this photo of the medical staff of the Naeem Hospital shows the only two Indian nurses serving in the public health sector at that time.

Keeping the Turn the pages of Bahrain’s medical history and one is immediately Kingdom healthyof -Indian doctors who came here in the struck by the predominance thirties and set up clinics as general practitioners. Of these, Dr. Bhandarkar Indian nurses and and Dr. L. Vaidya were very well-known.

Some years ago, Dr. Babu Ramachandran of the American Mission doctors in the Hospital and a few colleagues established the Indian Medical Association (IMA) which serves as a networking platform for medical professionals. service of Bahrain

“We have many members but this is by no means an exhaustive list. we areregion yetwas totoinclude IfMoreover, the history of the MENA be recordedthe in hundreds of nurses from India who detail, the people here – nationals and expats alike – would are the backbone of the medical services sector in Bahrain,” said Dr. acknowledge a huge debt of gratitude to one valiant group of people – the Indian nurses and doctors who came mainly Ramachandran, “The historic role of Indian doctors and nurses is one from Kerala and Mangalore and served as the backbone of athat slowly makes modernisingevery medical profession. nurses bore proud.”

Indian These in Bahrain the brunt of harsh weather, difficult working conditions andWhen often lonely lives to give good health and a longer life discussing the role of Indian medical practitioners, we should expectancy to the people they served. not forget the growing presence of alternative health therapies such as Although the American Mission Hospital was established in 1903 and staffed with missionary doctors from the West, homeopathy and Ayurvedic treatments that have proven successful and the AMH. there were many Indian doctors among those pioneers and plenty of Indian Today, nurses. Dr Babu Ramachandran, president are There attracting were private practitioners India too – Dr. popular.

Ayurvedic centres patientsfromfrom Saudi of the Indian Medical Association in Bahrain, mentions that Bhandarkar, who came here in 1924 and served Bahrain till one Dr Koshy was a medical practitioner in the early days of his death in 1964 and the late Dr. Liladhar Vaidya, whose Arabia and Kuwait also, adding their weight to the Kingdom’s efforts to promote health tourism.

The IMA honours pioneer Dr. Leeladhar Vadhya In 2012, the Indian Medical Association honored Dr. Liladhar Vaidya, then aged 92, whose Muharraq clinic was a landmark till he retired. The Vaidya family has served Bahrain’s medical sector since 1953 and continue to do so.

31 SALAAM BAHRAIN AUGUST 2017 2014 SALAAM BAHRAIN April 2

india focus Hospital, Al Hilal too has embraced this concept with three more medical centres coming up to provide outpatient care and referrals to the main hospital in Muharraq. The hospital now has more than 75 doctors, 25-plus departments and more than 300 staff.

Dr. Varghese Kurian

Five years ago, noted businessman Dr. Varghese Kurian, Chairman of the VKL - Al Namal Group brought his unique vision to this sector with the Middle East Medical Centre which first opened to patients in Salmabad followed by a bigger centre in Hidd.

Again, the medical centre blossomed into a full-fledged hospital – the Middle East Hospital in Segaya, with 85 beds, is the largest private hospital in Bahrain and although it is the newest on the block, it is building a formidable reputation for itself with a string of medical successes in areas as different as brain surgery and orthopaedics.

“My entry into the medicare field stemmed from a desire to serve the community,” said Dr. Kurian, “I believe that Bahrain has one of the best medicare sectors led by the government – in the private sector, healthcare has been one of the fastestgrowing sectors as you can see from the sheer number of small and midsized medical centres that have come up in the past half-dozen years. But in venturing into hospital management, I wanted to blend Indian management strength with an international team of doctors and specialists. There is a

real need for top-of-the line medical care and I believe we have the patient numbers to make it count.”

However, Dr. Varghese cautions that investors in the medicare sector should have deep pockets to withstand the initial build-up of patient base.

“The competition in this sector is fierce and unlike other businesses, success depends on building a reputation, which takes time. Luckily, we started off with offering a holistic approach to healthcare with Ayurvedic treatments as well as allopathic care in our medical centre and I think this gives our patients a wide range of treatment options to choose from.”

ME Hospital is considered among the most advanced technically, with open MRI facilities that are not available in other hospitals and the most advanced equipment from Japan for gastroenterology and double balloon endoscope. The hospital will soon have a fully-functioning first ever Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Centre in the whole of the Middle East. It will be headed by one of India’s most renowned gastroenterologists, Padmasree Dr Philip Augistine

K.T. Mohammed Ali

The latest to enter the sector, is K.T. Mohammed Ali, who is a familiar face in medicare circles. Having honed his expertise in hospital management in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, he branched out into his own and opened Dar Al Shifa in Hidd.

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“We conducted meticulous research and found that Hidd required the services of a medical centre which would be open for 24 hours. It is a predominantly residential area and the residents had to go to Manama or Muharraq to receive treatment. Now they have a multi-speciality centre in the neighbourhood,” Mohammed Ali said.

Covering an area of 10,000 square feet, the centre has 10 out-patient clinics in the fields of Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Orthopaedics, Dental, General Practitioners, Ophthalmology, ENT Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology.

The Aster Group also has a hospital in Gudaibiya and the UAE-based group has announced plans to expand its network in the Kingdom

Trends Like all fields, healthcare too is dominated by trends and changing care patterns. All these hospitals work with their ear to the ground and bring in new management and delivery styles to meet customer needs.

“At Al Hilal, we have focussed our efforts on building a foundation of knowledge about health conditions in Bahrain so that we can aim for a carefully calibrated delivery system,” said Dr. Sai Giridhar, “For example, we are particularly proud of our Breast Cancer Awareness efforts especially because we have actually seen that it helped some ladies to detect malignancies at a very early stage and manage the issue. We have conducted extensive studies on child health and Vitamin D deficiency and uncovered some hidden conditions that we could help these target groups to overcome.”

At Dar Al Shifa, Mohammed Ali takes the neighbourhood hospital image seriously and the centre has a vigorous programme of home visits for patients who are unable visit due to old age,infirmity or disability.

“For example, we are sending a nurse daily for attending to the dressing of an old lady who is highly diabetic but cannot visit the doctors.”

Dr. Sheriff Sahadullah observed “We

Dr. Sai Giridhar

have a bouquet of services carefully designed to suit a wide variety of patient needs and ease their access to quality healthcare. We extend a lot of services to the patients’ home which include, but are not limited to, doctors’ home visits, nursing home visits, laboratory sample collection, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, post pregnancy care, baby care and pharmacy delivery services, to name a few.

Broadly, these services can be broken down into two categories. First, services for which the patient doesn’t need to come to the hospital – this includes blood sample collections, physiotherapy and many types of nursing services.

And second, when patient is unable to come to hospital, because of being bedridden or having decreased mobility, but faces acute illnesses and

Name Kims Medical Center Royal Bahrain Hospital

would require treatment.

This is the age of information and today’s customer is an aware individual who first does adequate research before selecting any kind of product or service. Earlier, people saw a doctor only when something was wrong, however, this trend has changed now and an aware customer is willing to undertake preventive checks to ensure his healthy.

At KIMS we provide a range of checkups that help patient to determine their health status periodically. There is also a need to increase cancer screening programs such as – colon, cervical, prostrate, breasts, etc.

Our Group’s motto of – Putting Patients First – is being realized with unique programmes that stand to enhance information flow and increase accessibility. Also, we believe in constantly engaging with the customer; our RBH app is one of the example of increased customer focus and connectivity.

Some of the noteworthy initiatives taken include establishment of online Patient Portal and Diabetes Clinic at RBH. While the Patient Portal allows customers to check their laboratory and radiology results online, the Diabetes Clinic, offers long-term multidisciplinary management and planned supervision of diabetic conditions. The hospital has also started a 24-hour Mummy Helpline and Baby HomeCare service. Our HomeCare services aim to bring world-class healthcare to the comfort of your home.”

All the hospitals praised the coordination and support of the National

No. of Bed

32

17822123 17246800 17491749 17246800 17344700

35

65

RBH Medex Company W.L.L. MRI Radiology Center Al Hilal Hospital Al Hilal Medical Center Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Co. W.L.L. Al Amal Hospital W.L.L. Middle East Medical Center Hidd Middle East Hospital, Segaya Middle East Medical Center, Salmabad

Tel.

85

Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), a division of the Ministry of Health that ensures standards are kept high.

“The NHRA has brought transparency to the system and its work helps set benchmarks for healthcare delivery,” said Dr. Kurian, “Having been in the eye of all the action in setting up the MEM centres and the hospital, I believe that the NHRA has contributed richly to the development of the medical sector in Bahrain.

Dr. Sai Giridhar said that the Al Hilal Hospital’s recent JCI accreditation, a mammoth task of streamlining the hospital’s every interaction with its stakeholders – especially patients – was smoother because of the support of the NHRA. At the KIMS group, all the units in Bahrain i.e. Royal Bahrain Hospital (RBH), KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre (KBMC) and RBH Medical Centre (RBHMC) are accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI).

“Our Royal Bahrain Hospital and RBH Medical Centre is recently received the prestigious Diamond Level Accreditation from the NHRA,” Dr. Sahadullah said, “In terms of clinical advancements, RBH has been awarded the Centre of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and our surgeon, Dr. Stephen Angamuthu has been awarded the Surgeon of Excellence award. The NHRA plays a very constructive role in building Bahrain’s healthcare sector.”

Email

Type General Medical Center

mail@royalbahrainhospital.com info@rbhmedex.com mail@royalbahrainhospital.com

Hospitals Center

drsai@alhilalhospital.com

Radiology Center Hospital General Medical Center

17280170 17602602

shifabh@gmail.com

General Medical Center

info@alamal-hospital.org

17464848 17362233 17216056

info@membh.com

Hospital Medical Center

info@mehospital.com info@membh.com

Hospital Medical Center

33 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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BCICAI - Keeping CA channels of knowledge live “Like the lawyers did during the freedom struggle, I urge the CAs to take the lead in the journey towards India's economic growth,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he launched the updated curriculum for Chartered Accountancy course on July 1, 2017, which is celebrated as CA Day. His words resonated around the world, where chapters of the ICAI strive to keep the connection strong with their parent body and keep Chartered Accountant members updated and abreast of developments and trends in the financial world.

“PM Modi’s speech came on the day of implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) in India and was a particularly relevant reminder of the important role CAs play in the progress of all countries,” said Bahrain Chapter Chairperson CA Uday Shanbhag, “As the new Executive committe takes the reins of BCICAI, we are drawing up plans to align our vision with the ICAI and the expectations expressed by PM Modi. As finance professionals based overseas, we also have a strong commitment to support the progress and development of the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

Members of BCICAI are very highly placed – they are CEOs, CFOs, professionals in the service industry and business owners and CA Shanbhag says they add value to organisations and provide the vision to re-engineer their company’s work structure to overcome challenges.

“CAs serve as transformative guides

From top left to right: CA Venkata Ramana (Joint Secretary), CA Ankur Lalaji(Excom Member), CA V. Sthanumurthy(Excom Member), CA Mayank Tharad(Excom Member), CA Venkateswarlu Bethini(Excom Member), CA Palanisamy (Joint Treasurer).

From bottom left to right: CA Shubhashree Srinivasan(Excom Member), CA Sridhar Seethapathy(Vice Chairperson), CA Uday Shanbhag(Chairperson), CA Santhosh TV(Secretary), and CA Maheshkumar (Treasurer)

in their companies and we at BCICAI will continue to equite them with all the new information and knowledge about evolving finance scenarios such as GST in India and VAT in the GCC. From these will rise opportunities that CAs will undoubtedly seize for their organisations and for themselves.”

The BCICAI Executive Committee for 2017-’18 finds itself filling big boots – after all, the previous committee led the Bahrain Chapter to a rare pinnacle and won the Best Overseas Chapter of the ICAI for 2016 in Category II (out of 30 chapters globally). CA Shanbhag and his team are full of ideas on taking forward this legacy and have drawn up a busy calendar of social and educational events, with the most anticipated International Conference to be held on

1st and 2nd December 2017 under the theme 'Transforming Posibilities into Reality'.

“We want to make awareness about the profession by reaching out to parents and students. This will help to popularize CA course as a vibrant study option for student,” said CA Shanbhag, “We would love to hear from people wanting to become members and also encourage people to share their special knowledge and skills with us through our regular monthly meetings so that the community is enriched.”

You can call 39276481 or email icaibahrain@gmail.com for more information on the activities of the BCICAI or to become a member. BCICAI is also reachable on Facebook: BCICAI, Twitter :@BahrainICAI, Website: www. bahrain-icai.org.

15th August INDEPENDENCE DAY Wishing all Indians a Happy 71st Independence Day from Bahrain Chapter of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India( BCICAI).

(Affiliated to Bahrain Accountants Association) ‘EXCELLENCE DECODED’ P.O. Box 10924, Kingdom of Bahrain icai bahrain

icaibahrain@gmail.com

BCICAI

www.bahrain-icai.org

india focus

Devji since 1950

A narrative of success etched in gold

The Devji name is embedded in the business DNA of the Indian community in Bahrain and the jewellery house has been partners in all celebrations – births, weddings and festivals, when the gift of gold and more recently, stylish diamond and gem-studded jewellery has exchanged hands. At the same time, the Devji Group has earned recognition from the government of Bahrain for representing

the best of the Bahraini gold trade and on the shop floor, it has won Bahraini customers with a consistently high standard of craftsmanship and sensitive amalgamation of Bahraini design aspects in its jewellery.

Pioneers The company, which can be said to have taken the banner of Bahraini gold jewellery and created an international

brand, has a rich history that parallels the story of India. The Devji narrative begins in 1945, when the turbulence of the closing years of the Second World War and the victorious culmination of the Indian freedom struggle came together to create a backdrop of uncertainity. Nowhere was this more deeply felt than in the gold industry because in the Indian sub-continent, gold was more than

The Devji story tells how a Bahrain-born brand has taken the banner of the Kingdom’s artistic elegance and trustworthiness to the international arena 36 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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By MEERA RAVI

The founder of Devji was the soft-spoken and dynamic Devji Ramji Sagar, seen here (centre) with friends and below in a Manama main street

just a precious commodity – it was a core currency in which people preferred to keep their savings.

“The Devji family’s tryst with Bahrain began when our grandfather Shri Ramji Bhai travelled from Gujarat to Karachi in 1945, seeking to better his fortunes in that financially important port city,” recalled Chairman Bhaskar Devji, “A few months after reaching Karachi, he realised that there would be a lot of upheaval in the future as India was heading for freedom and Partition was a very real possibility. So when a relative who lived in Bahrain encouraged him to visit the island and explore business opportunities here, Ramji Bhai boarded a ship from Karachi and came to Bahrain.”

Bhaskar Devji says stories of the courage of these family pioneers and their determination to succeed in a new and unknown market fills him with awe. “Today, before we make any business decision, we do feasibility reports, call in consultants and hold many meetings before taking the first step. My grandfather came to Bahrain, which was already well-known in the jewellery trade because of the quality of its pearls, just on the strength of his relative’s encouragement and when he realised that there was a lot of scope for his passion - crafting jewellery - he decided to stay and craft his

future too! He was a master artisan and once he settled down here, he sent for his family. We have very vague memories of him. I remember him as being very tall, handsome and extremely gentle and soft- spoken.”

Rare vision The foundation of the Devji business empire was thus laid

by Ramji Bhai who was a master craftsman for many jewellers in the wholesale market. As an independent corporation, Devji came into being in 1950, when his son Shri Devji Ramji Sagar opened a wholesale enterprise bearing his name. The next logical step for the firm was of course retail business, given the popularity of its jewellery. This division was started in 1981 by Prakash Devji in the historic Temple lane near the Shri Krishna Temple in Manama.

The three Devji brothers today head different sections of the business: Bhaskar Devji, the present Chairman has a clear and creative eye and the acclaimed artistry of Devji creations are overseen by him; Prakash manages the 22k gold jewellery retail division and Mahesh manages the stylish Devji AURUM, known for its contemporary designs.

“The one thing that we learnt from our grandfather and

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india focus The New Age vision for the firm is provided by Chairman Bhaskar Devji and brothers Prakash and Mahesh with active inputs from the third-gen leaders such as Arjun Bhaskar Devji (below)

father is that we should pursue what we are good at. Crafting designs and creating jewellery is our forte and passion,” Bhaskar says, “I think this is something that we have inherited from him. Apart from that, our grandfather was a man who combined creativity with business sense – a rare combination.

Early on, he understood that in the gold business, the trust and value that the jewellery builds into every transaction is the foundation of his business success. Today, the Devji core brand values of purity, quality, craftsmanship and value are

what he and my father have instilled in us not just by words but by living such lives. We learnt not through conversation but by observing their lives.”

Bhaskar says the modern management lessons of keeping all stakeholders happy was distilled by his father, Devjibhai into a sustained work ethic: keep your customers happy, your staff happy and suppliers happy.

“When your objective is clear, the customer entering your store senses it. That is why when we talk of our core values, the emphasis is on purity and value. We understand that our customers work hard for their money and one of their objectives in buying gold is to preserve their wealth, which is why we insist on strict standards to maintain purity. The government of Bahrain has also helped build the brand of Bahraini gold. The assay office maintains stringent standards & by adhering to these standards we add value to our brand.”

India-inspired Having come to Bahrain, the family watched from afar the independence birth pangs of their beloved nation. It was a time when telephones were rare, newspapers few and many days old when they reached readers and the Indian community was small.

“Since Bahrain was known for its pearls, I think Surat pearl traders visited the country and brought news of the realities of modern India’s birth. Everybody knew each other and news made its way around by word of mouth.

The big advantage that Bahrain’s Indian community had was the broad-mindedness of the leadership which encouraged the building of the Shree Krishna Temple in the suq. The temple was key in connecting the Indian population 38 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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and as long as I can remember, it was the venue of celebrations and gatherings of the community to exchange news.”

In the absence of 24-hour television like today, the only way for people kept in touch with the happenings in India was through BBC Radio. The sense of distance felt by the lack of today’s all-pervasive technology, only heightened the patriotism and love for India that these pioneers felt as they proudly watched their vast country shake off the shackles of colonial rule and emerge, ready for challenges.

As India celebrates its 70th anniversary of independence, the ‘Devji since 1950’ brand draws inspiration from the way India overcame the many challenges it faced to emerge as a resilient democracy.

Bahraini influence “I do believe that India’s inclusiveness, the country’s ability to nurture team spirit and bring together so many different cultures to live together in peace..all these qualities have fed Devji’s success too. Devji since 1950 evolving as a renowned brand is a credit to our customers and work force. India as a country to the outsider looks like a chaos but when you observe closely there is an order to the chaos. Allowing space for diverse ideas within the organization and respecting the individual is one of the main ideologies that we have derived from our motherland. We have a strong CSR culture through which we support the cultural and spiritual aspirations of the community.”

At the same time, the company has also been enriched by its interpretation of the artistic heritage of Bahrain. The early days of the firm saw Omani craftsmen working for Devji Bhai – Bhaskar recalls Sultan and Salem who went on to start reputed jewellery chains in Oman and the UAE. “These craftsmen were very experienced in crafting beautiful silver jewellery. There was obviously an exchange of techniques, styles. Today India reaches the drawing rooms of Bahraini families through exquisitely made Bollywood movies. These movies celebrate the style and traditions of India. Many Bahrainis love the blend of intricate Indian craftsmanship and Bahraini motifs that we produce.”

Bhaskar added, “We as a company would like to work towards strengthening the brand of “Bahraini Gold”. The Kingdom and its benevolent rulers have provided us with a stable environment where creativity can blossom - we intend to make the best use of it.”

Future dreams Indeed, Devji has taken the reputation of Bahraini gold to the international arena with retail presence in Chennai, Ahmedabad and Coimbatore and in the GCC, in Oman and the UAE. However, the focus in coming years would be on manufacturing.

“We are inherently designers and manufacturers and it is that process that holds interest for us. Here in Bahrain we use technology to improve efficiency in jewellery

manufacturing and that aspect would be beneficial for a huge market like India. The world is evolving very fast.

Commerce dominates every aspect of human life, somewhere in the pursuit of commerce, human values seem to have diluted. As a family-run international business, we believe that the early values and traditions set by our founders keep us grounded. My brothers and I have worked with single -minded dedication and continue to do so. We are passionate about what we do. The fourth generation – our children h a s brought with it a new enthusiasm and introduction of technology that makes us more efficient.

And what are the thoughts of the Devji brothers for India in the coming decades? India must emerge as a global power over the next decade, says Bhaskar, emphasising that all dreams for a prosperous India can only come about through the collective corporate and individual efforts of the 1.25 billion citizens.

“India has come a long way as compared to the past decade and is moving in the right direction. There is more transparency in business. The introduction of GST is a welcome move. This ensures that there is a level playing field. Earlier gold was a vehicle of stashing unaccounted wealth, slowly but surely we are seeing a change in this mind-set,” Bhaskar observes, “The jewellery sector in India has such rich potential – we have our fabulous heritage of design, craftsmanship and in modern times, the processing of gems and diamonds. I am sure, going by the changes we are seeing, the new generation of jewellers will embrace new and more organised ways of taking forward this heritage in the 21st century. The people of India must accept these positive changes and support the government in creating an ecosystem that is free of corruption. Support from the corporate sector is very much needed. The major business houses must come forward to take up issues and solve them.”

He concluded, “In Sanskrit we say- sarve jana sukhino bhavantu; this means let the whole world prosper and live in peace. We need to work towards making this a reality.”

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fashion

Fahd Khatri’s Versatile Desert Look We simply love Mumbaibased Fahd Khatri’s “TimBak-Too” line, inspired by Saharan sand dunes – although the checked scarf looks very Palestinian to us.

The best part is that these layered and quirkily constructed clothes can be draped in 3 ways minimum and you get 3 or 4 different looks and you won’t have to worry about repeating the garment again and again. At the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort wear 2017, Khatri showcased his creations stylishly by getting the models standing on a stage with mirrors and got the audience of buyers to walk around them!

Follow him on Instagram @fahdkhatri for more looks and ideas.

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fashion

Manstyling

When it comes to fashion, men have to deal with a lot of sameness served up in varied styles each year. But some styles never go out of fashion and can serve to inspire you. Here is a look at some head-turning showstoppers spanning 2016 and 2017. Easy to adapt to the Bahrain style scene, these clothes rely heavily on cut, texture and colour to make a statement.

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fashion

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fashion

Rajasthan as designer muse

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fashion

#1

Bolero blouse by Rajesh Kashyap

#1

Drop-waisted and jewelled waistcoat by Suvigya Sharma

The royal history, regal couture and textile traditions of Rajasthan have always drawn the best out of designers. This year, Anita Dongre wowed LFW Summer/Resort 2017 audiences with flowing gowns and kameez that used traditional Rajasthani folk motifs to superb effect to create a truly haute moment.

Sabyasachi extended his reach beyond the catwalk by unfolding a beautifully curated ‘Maharani Diaries – The Udaipur Collection’ on Instagram. With loads of floral print patterns, intricate embellishments and embroidery and of course, the jewellery by Kishandas Jewellery, Sabyasachi’s fashion plate models posed against Rajasthani archways and palace fort backdrops.

If you look closely though, and compare this year’s collections to even way back in 2013, it’s all a bit ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo’ on a sugar high all the way through.

In a recce of past designs, the only one that we found really unique even as it adapted a Rajasthani vibe was Rajesh Kashyap’s bolero blouse and skirt of 2016. It’s timeless, bold and can well be adapted to be worn with a saree. For men, we simply loved Suvigya Sharma’s bejewelled drop-waisted bandhgala jacket at the March DNA Fashion Show in Jaipur this year.

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fashion

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india focus

South by North-East

Its time we paid tribute to the freedom fighters of India’s Southern states and the North-East

By MEERA RAVI If one browses through text books in Indian schools, the narrative of India’s epic freedom struggle against British rule seems peopled only with Mahatma Gandhi and his North Indian followers. Gandhi’s partners from South India and the East and North-Eastern states and even the brave fighters who followed their kings and queens and tilted swords against the British long before the 1857 Mutiny, are barely mentioned. For example, Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivagangai led her army against the British with the help of Hyder Ali, father of the legendary Tipu Sultan and won. She went on to rule her kingdom for ten years after defeating the British.

Tipu Sultan himself was a formidable warrior-king who joined hands with the French and nearly wrested back control over South India from the British – of course, his is an exceptional name which has been celebrated for valour as an early enemy of the British.

Re-discovery Today, with historical blogs, sharing of facts and myth online by history hobbyists, academicians and communities as well as strong petitioning from local history societies, more and more local heroines and heroes in other parts of India are finally rising from the ashes to claim their place in the pages of our freedom chronicle. Some of the earliest skirmishes point to the dawning awareness of Britain’s colonial ambitions and the need to check them. They were led by the rulers of kingdoms and helped to set a limit on British rule, at least calling out the East India Company’s bluff of being a trading outpost and showing resilience against British territorial goals.

The early roll-call included Rani Velu Nachiyar (January 3, 1730 – December 25, 1796) who overcame the treachery of her neighbour, the Nawab of Arcot and joined hands with Hyder Ali to raise her sword against the British in 1780, years before what we call the First War of Independence (1857). She was a scholar, well-versed in Tamil, Urdu (in which she communicated to Hyder Ali and won his support), English and French and trained in war strategy – well ahead of her time. Velu Nachiyar was also the first to use suicide attacks to deadly effect in the battlefield.

It is said that when she found the British ammunition store, she arranged for her companion and faithful follower, Kuyili, to set herself alight and walk into the store, causing destruction to the ammunition as well as other war supplies.

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Rani Velu Nachiyar and the Maruthu Pandi brothers – formidable adversaries of the British in the 1780s. A stamp was issued to commemorate Rani Velu Nachiyar in 2008 after sustained campaigning

by Tamil history and community groups.

Following lobbying from several Tamil groups, the Indian government issued a stamp in Rani Velu Nachiyar’s honour in December 2008. In 2016, a Tamil-American hip-hop artist Prof.

A.L.I., released a song dedicated to Velu Nachiyar entitled “Our Queen” as part of his Tamilmatic album.

Around this time, the need to defend their kingdoms and their freedom from the marauding grasp of the British had set many kings and queens, chieftains and even successful business leaders on collision course with the colonial rulers. During Rani Velu Nachiyar’s time, Puli Thevar, a warrior chieftain of Nel Kattam Sevval in Tirunelveli District, waged a series of battles against the British and their ally, the Nawab of Arcot. Such was his near-mythical prowess, that the battles became known as the Puli Thevan Wars.

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Folk heroes It is said that Puli Thevar’s winning run against the British only came to an end because of political betrayal by the Raja of Travancore at a crucial juncture of his campaign. Even after he was captured, his legendary reputation grew. According to folk stories, Puli Thevar was on his way to Sankaran Koil, the temple of Lord Siva, when he was captured by the soldiers of his enemy, Yusuf Khan. He was handcuffed, chained and hidden for the night in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple till they could continue the journey in daytime. Puli Thevar spent the night calmly and loudly singing songs in praise of the Lord. Towards dawn, the soldiers outside heard a loud snapping noise and when they entered the temple, they found only the broken chains that had bound him. The prisoner had vanished. Puli Thevar was never seen after that.

Puli Thevar’s contemporary and sometime associate Kattabomman (b. January 3, 1760-d. October 16, 1799) was the most powerful chieftain of the region and a leader of the Eastern Palikkayyar community (Puli Thevar represented the Western Palikkayyar). Kattabomman was a charismatic chieftain and able administrator and waged a powerful battle against the British. In his final battle, he was betrayed by his associate, the Raja of Pudukkotai and captured by the British who summarily hanged him from a tree in Kayatharu village. This tree became a gathering point for his followers and all who resisted British rule. In fact, the popular Tamil slang for a traitor or committing treason is Ettapa or Ettapan, courtesy the Ettayapuram Pallikkayyar who betrayed Kattabomman.

In the Tinnevelly Gazetteer of 1917, H. R. Pate notes the presence, in Kayatharu, of “a great pile of stones of all sizes, which represents the accumulated offerings by wayfarers of the past hundred years. Folk songs recalling the heroism of the Pallikkayyar leaders remain alive in Tamil Nadu to this day...”. In 1959, a very popular movie, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, starring Sivaji Ganesan, once more awoke memories of his bravery.

The Tamil Nadu government has always celebrated the Veerapandia Kattabomman festival at Panchalankurichi on his death anniversary. The communication center of the Indian Navy at Vijayanarayanam is named the INS Kattabomman and a stamp was issued in his name in 1999 on the anniversary of his death.

Illustrious A painting of legendary freedom warrior Puli Thevar

So the roll-call of Tamil and Southern leaders who fought 47 SALAAM BAHRAIN

the British even before the 1857 War of Independence is long and illustrious. Besides the three listed in detail here, there were the Marudar Brothers, faithful advisors and leaders of Rani Velu Nachiyar’s court; there was Muthuramalinga Sethupathi, the Ramanathapuram ruler who was imprisoned in Fort

kattabomman painting

A painting of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Tamil freedom hero – the movie starring Sivaji Ganesan was a monster hit

St. George until death for defying the British; VO Chidambaram Pillai, the nationalist-industrialist who set up the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, India's first indigenous shipping service in the teeth of opposition from the British; Pazhassi Raja, who spearheaded the Cotiote Wars against the British in Wynad and was declared a ‘bandit’ for his very effective guerilla tactics and Alluri Sitarama Raju, who led the tribalcentric Rampa Rebellion between 1922 to 1924.

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india focus

A postage stamp tribute to U Tirot Sing Syiem, brave and powerful Khasi tribal chieftain and implacable enemy of British colonial ambitions

A 57 year old mother of eight, Assam’s Bhogeswari Phuknani was a housewife with strong patriotic zeal. There are few photos of her although modern Assam is dotted with public institutions in her name such as a hospital, sports stadium and school

What about the Vellore Mutiny of 1806, the first Indian mutiny against the East India Company? Historians in South India are also pushing for nation-wide recognition of “the Jallianwala Bagh of the South” in Madurai where the Perungamanallur pillar commemorates the massacre of 16 Kallars (a sub-group of the Thevar community) gunned down by the British for protesting their status as a 'criminal tribe'.

North-eastern call While Bengal got a fair share of limelight in the freedom struggle since it was the centre of the Britisah Administration till the ‘thirties, the freedom song of the rest of the East and Northeast went largely unheard. In the mist-wrapped Khasi hills in Meghalaya, tribal leader U. Tirot Sing Syiem (b. date unknown – d. July 17, 1835) was one of the first to raise the clarion call of freedom from British rule and treachery even before news reached this isolated Indian territory, of how pockets of resistance across India were flaring up.

Historical records say that the British reneged on an agreement with Tirot Sing which said that his clan would get trading rights along an extended area through which they planned to build a road. What started as a garrison for road workers was soon joined by army reinforcements. Alarmed at this threat to his kingdom, Sing asked the British to quit his land but received no response.

The legendary patriot king then took up arms against the colonisers on April 4, 1829 and spearheaded an attack on the British garrison at Nongkhlaw, inflicting major casualties. This 48 SALAAM BAHRAIN

marked the beginning of a bitter four-year-long conflict between the British and the uncompromising army of Tirot Sing, in which the Khasi fighters faced the gun-slinging British with just spears, bows and arrows and stones. This uneven war culminated in Tirot Sing’s defeat and banishment to Dhaka where he died in prison.

“Better die an independent king than reign as the vassal”.

These were the immortal words of resolute of U Tirot Sing Syiem, who chose to take on the might of the British and sacrificed his life defending the freedom of his territory.

Today, the U Tirot Sing Memorial in Mairang, 40 km from what was the erstwhile capital of Nongkhlaw, the territory of which U Tirot Sing was the Syiem (King), stands as proud and timeless testimony to this warrior freedom fighter.

Similarly, Mizoram’s Shoorvir Pasaltha Khuangchera (no date of birth available – d. 1890) was the first Mizo leader to fight the British forces in 1890 when they invaded Lushai Hills. According to Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte of Mizoram University, who penned Khuangchera’s biography, the freedom fighter was a resistance hero who should be treated on par with later militant freedom fighters such as S.C. Bose and Bhagat Singh.

“As the British captured the hills, Pasaltha Khuangchera died, fighting to the last drop of his blood. It was not only his bravery but also his strength and righteousness that won the hearts of his people.” Khiangte said, “Khuangchera was the first Mizo freedom fighter to lay down his life fighting British imperialism.”

Mizoram was incorporated into the colonial empire during AUGUST

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Rani Gaidinliu was a spiritual leader and patriot from Nagaland. She holds the distinction of being the woman leader to have served the longest jail term for the cause of India’s freedom.

This photo of Tara Rani Srivastava and her associates from different parts of India is a beautiful comment on the gender diversity and faith that freedom fighters brought to the struggle against British rule

the last part of the 19th century. Mizo historian B. Lalthangliana points out that the British met with stiff resistance from the proud people of Mizoram led by Mizo women chiefs and the widows of chiefs who had laid down their lives for Mizo freedom. It was during this critical time that many women chiefs, including Ropuiliani, Buki, Lalhlupuii, Rothangpuii, Vanhnuaithangi, Laltheri, Darbilhi, Neihpuithangi, Pawibawia Nu, Dari, Thangpuii, Pakuma Rani and Zawlchuaii emerged to lead their people and hold back the British onslaught for some time more.

Unlikely heroine A 57-year old martyr, Bhogeswari Phukanani (b. September 20, 1885 -d. September 18, 1942) was an unlikely Assamese freedom fighter of the 1930s. A housewife and mother of eight, Bhogeswari was always an active freedom fighter and member of the Quit India movement’s leadership. In 1942, she dared to attack and set free the office of Congress in Berhampur town.

As the British police had laid a siege of the building, it was her exemplary courageous act with other revolutionaries that freed the building. At a communal feast that followed, Bhogeswari was shot when British police opened fire on unarmed revellers.

She died 20 days later in hospital. In Assam, she is a revered heroine and, unusually for a woman martyr-leader, there are public landmarks in her name – a sports stadium, hospital and a high school.

And when we speak of the heroines of our freedom struggle, 49 SALAAM BAHRAIN

let us pause to pay tribute also to the woman who came to be known as the Rani Lakshmibai of the East - Rani Gaidinliu (b.

January 26, 1915- d. February 17, 1993) of Nagaland. In 1932, at a tender age of 16, she began a movement against the British imperialism demanding end of colonial rule and resurgence of the Zeliangrong religion and Naga self-rule. She was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment which lasted for 15 years. She is the woman freedom fighter who spent the longest time in jail for the country. In 1937, Jawaharlal Nehru met her in Shillong Jail and was awestruck by her magnetic presence undimmed by her imprisonment. He conferred the title of Rani upon her.

After independence, she was released from jail and continued her works for the poor and downtrodden in the same spirit and determination. She was awarded a Padma Bhushan for her tireless efforts for the cause of Manipur people in Northeast.

This August 15, as India celebrates 70 glorious years of independence and freedom, let us pause and pay homage to all the many women and men of grit, courage, ideals and patriotism who laid down their lives and gave up their youth so that they may check the British power push. While the notion of a united India came much later, it was the sense of patriotism and commitment to their inherited culture and to their people that spurred these heroines and heroes to fight in the name of Bharat Mata!

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shopping scene

Going organic with Al Adil Supermarkets It was a personal lifestyle change that saw him shed weight and get fitter which put Dr. Dhananjay (Jay) Datar, chairman and managing director, Al Adil Trading, on a quest for healthier products for his customers. This culminated in a wide range of high quality Indian organic food products reaching the shelves of his iconic Al Adil supermarket in 2012 and since then the range has grown.

In Bahrain, the two Al Adil supermarkets in Manama (opposite Al Hamra Cinema) and at Yateem Centre, also offer organic grains and spices. Customers can choose their grains and even get it milled into flour at the premises.

“Organic foods are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilisers. Organic foods are also not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives. One important thing is unlike other organic products in the market, our offerings are highly cost effective and affordable to our valued customers,” said Dr. Datar.

He added, “It is true that I discovered the value of organic foods when I was making a conscious effort to adopt a healthy lifestyle and it made such a difference that I wanted to make it available to my customers as well. Since Al Adil has a big network in GCC with 36 of supermarkets and the advantage of booking volumes with 11,000 from all over India, we have been able to encourage customers towards this healthy lifestyle by making organic foods affordable to all.”

In the five years since Al Adil launched its organic foods range, demand has grown.

“We have laid down very stringent quality norms and there is no compro-

Dr. Dhananjay Datar (second right) and his family with Bollywood star Preity Zinta and Bahrain manager Gajanan Kholgade (third left) at the inauguration of the Al Adil store in Yateem Centre

mise towards that. Our stringent quality control measure has helped us to win numerous awards and recognition from nationally and internationally acclaimed bodies,” Dr. Datar said. “We have worked out this aspect and we are now able to offer a wide range of organic products that includes authentic masalas, spices, pulses, wheat, atta, rice and Indian foodstuff items without burning a hole in the consumers’ pockets. With this initiative we try to reach out and pro-

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vide assistance in a manner that we can.

We do not do this to enhance our business. We do it because we feel it is our responsibility,” The Al Adil Supermarket and Flour Mills is a very special store for lovers of Indian foods and products. Whether you are looking for little-known spice mixes like the Bengali Panch Poren or the spicy and pungent Rajwadi Masala & also 11,000 products from all over India whether you want pickles or breakfast powders to whip up classic dosa and idli, all are available here. The store even conducts Wheat Festivals in which customers can select whole wheat berries and get it milled into fine flour, keeping the goodness of the grain unadulterated.

It is worthy to note that Dr. Datar is instrumental in bringing 3,000 new more Indian products to the GCC region.

“Our plan of offering organic products is a growing a testimony to the faith that our customers have in our products.

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䘀伀䰀䰀伀圀 唀匀㨀

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眀眀眀⸀洀甀欀琀愀䄀㈀挀椀渀攀洀愀猀⸀挀漀洀

At Bollywood Steps summer camp kids shake a leg Bollywood Steps threw open it's doors in Sept 2013 and since then it has been a fabulous ride for both the clients and management of the popular dance and fitness studio.

The clientele of Bollywood Steps is from across all age groups and nationalities and caters to their goals of either imitating moves of their favourite Bollywood star with panache or dancing their way into fitness and well being !

Now the studio is organising a dance competition in both solo and group categories.

The competition event will be on Friday 17th Nov at the Cultural Hall and will be judged by none other than Shakti Mohan, the prominent face in dance world.

Shakti Mohan, the winner of Zee TV's dance reality show Dance India Dance season 2, is a contemporary

dancer from India. She is currently appearing as a judge on popular Dance reality show Dance Plus Season 3 on Star Plus.

Shakti will also be conducting an intense 4 hour work shop for a nominal fee of BD 60 on Thursday 16th Nov at Bollywood Steps Dance Studio located at Ramli Mall.

For details on taking part in the competition and workshop please feel free to email them bollywoodsteps@ outlook.com or call 33458390 / 39323453 / 36677719.

salaam society

Rishi Kapoor set to dazzle Bahrain ‘Khullam Khulla’ He has been an industry insider, a social commentator, an actor, a son, a father, and a husband, playing each role in public with remarkable outspokenness.

Rishi Kapoor has worn a lot of hats (and sweatshirts) in his almost five-decade long career. From being a pudgy fellow who ripped his pants to becoming a romantic hero and starred opposite all new heroines, he has been a part of several blockbusters; sometimes helming them, many a time playing second lead.

He also dabbled with production and direction, not always with the success that he would’ve liked.

Career arc Few actors in Hindi cinema have had this sort of a career arc: from the gawky adolescent pining for his schoolteacher (Mera Naam Joker, 1970) to the naughty ninety-year-old (Kapoor & Sons, 2016), Rishi Kapoor has regaled audiences for close to fifty years. He won a National Award for his debut, became an overnight sensation with his first film as a leading man (Bobby, 1973), and carved a niche for himself with a string of romantic musical blockbusters in an era known for its angst-ridden films. He was the youth icon that is still the toast of the satellite TV circuit. The songs he lip-synced are the bread and butter of all radio stations even today. Then there

was the second coming after a brief hiatus in the 1990s as one of the finest actors in mainstream Hindi cinema with powerhouse performances in films like Do Dooni Chaar, D-Day, Agneepath and others.

Wholly aware of his lineage and the astounding legacy it leaves, Kapoor made his literary debut by co-authoring his autobiography Khullam Khulla with Meena Iyer, to trace the origin and magnificence of this First Family of the Hindi film industry. The book which hit the stands in January 2017, was every bit what one has come to expect of Kapoor in this Twitter generation. Candid, self-deprecating, and insightful, it follows his thoughts, not chronology, in recounting episodes of his life, with him playing the proverbial guide to a Kapoor family tree. Given how many influential family members he’s linked to across generations, unless he writes a three-volume memoir like Bob Dylan, Kapoor would have a tough time doing the justice he intends to do, to his life and that of those around him. After all, for a film industry that has been around for 104 years starting with Raja

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Khullam Khulla – Live with Rishi Kapoor will take place on September 1 at the Crowne Plaza Convention Centre.

Tickets priced at BD 50, BD 25 and BD 15 are on sale online at eventsbh.com and you can also purchase them from Mukta Arts Cinema in Juffair Mall, Bin Faqeeh Grand and Breakers Building Seef, Crowne Plaza, Yellowline Restaurant in Zinj near Nasser Pharmacy or call 66906991. known Bahrain neurologist will showcase the hugely popular Khullam Khulla – Live with Rishi Kapoor stage show, a unique live enactment of portions of the book, where Kapoor delves deeper into the narrative, providing one back story after another to piece together larger Dr. Ram Vatwani, the mover behind “Khullam Khulla” and sponsor-guests at the ticket launch for the show incidents in his life.

Excerpts of the book will be brought There was no script - rather, Kapoor “My association with the Kapoor family is a precious relationship which I who thrives on the extempore, works alive through a chat show, in a setting from a series of pointers, taking the treasure,” said Dr. Vatwani, who was befitting a family drawing room. With audience on a 90-minute journey. With audio-visual assistance, he substantiated part of the team of physicians entrusted colourful language, devoid of a verbal his storytelling, often breaking into peals with caring for The Great Showman, filter, he has something to say to everyone of laughter at how hilarious or ridiculous Raj Kapoor, “I was just starting out in who has had something to say to him. some of his life’s chapters have been. my career and since Raj Kapoor’s son Randhir too was at the start of his acting career, we were in a similar age bracket and became good friends. Then I came away to Bahrain and, while the friendship remained, our life paths took different directions . I am so proud that I have been instrumental in bringing to Bahrain fans of the Kapoors two diverse glimpses of the magnificent contribution of this First Family of Hindi cinema – the wonderful music of the Raj Kapoor era and now, through Rishi Kapoor, the anecdotes and backstage glimpses of their incredible Dr. Ram Vatwani and wife Joyce with Randhir Kapoor at his Joyce Vatwani with birthday bash. Also in the photo are film personalities Rakesh journey in the world of Indian cinema.”

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gold style

Joyalukkas grows in Bahrain New Riffa showroom promises more exquisite designs They call themselves the world’s favourite jeweller and when you step into a Joyalukkas store, you understand why. Tiers upon tiers of exquisitely crafted gold jewellery, beautiful gemstone and diamond jewels dazzle the eye and the customer is spoiled for choice.

In Bahrain, Joyalukkas opened its first store in 1999 in Gold City, Manama. This summer, they just made gold shopping easier and more exciting for lovers of jewellery with the opening of the second branch in the Lulu Hypermarket in Riffa.

“We use the combined volume of our global business to make our jewellery affordable,” explained a spokesperson, “At the same time, our global presence enables us to keep abreast of jewellery design trends worldwide and using it in collaboration with the tastes and preferences of our loyal customers to create the stylish Joyalukkas look.”

Currently, trendwatchers at the jewellery house advise that geometric shapes and natural patterns are in demand and the Joyalukkas contemporary range reflects this trend.

There has also been a resurgence of interest in traditional and temple jewellery, especially amongst young Indian brides, so the company, which truly comes into its own when bridal jewellery is being planned, have partnered with the best artisans across India to bring a modern twist to classical designs.

“We just recently concluded a 60 KG gold, 60 days of winning promotion where we drew almost a hundred lucky winners from 11 countries around the world to bring home from 250 grams to half a kilogram gold,” the spokesperson said, “We also make your jewellery shopping more rewarding with the most comprehensive Loyalty Programme, where you can earn and redeem points

at Joyalukkas and at any of our Loyalty Partners. Our loyal shoppers can look out for more exciting promotions for the coming festive season, as well as special collections for Onam, Diwali and more.

We have also recently launched a premium range of diamond jewellery with contemporary designs inspired by nature.”

Gold and diamond jewellery never go out of style, so the Pride Diamond Collection and Eleganza Polki Diamond Collection are amongst Joyalukkas bestsellers. The Zenina Turkish Collection and Apurva Temple jewellery collection are also very popular. The company has flexible instalment plan arrangements with banks in Bahrain. What’s more, you can win Falcon frequent flyer miles on Gulf Air for every dinar spent at Joyalukkas.

“We have also established a dedicated wedding planning division and exclusive diamond counters in some of our over 130 showrooms in 11 countries, and these have proven to be very popular with our customers,” the spokesperson said.

Joyalukkas has a 30-year legacy of high-quality, value for money IGI/GIAcertified products. The company offers a global exchange policy, which means you can shop in the UAE and exchange your purchase in the USA or at any of the 11 countries across the UK, GCC and Asia where it has a presence.

About Joyalukkas Golden Reward The Joyalukkas Golden Rewards (J.G.R Card) programme is one of the most beneficial customer loyalty programmes in the world. A unique card is issued against purchases made from any of the company's worldwide showrooms and other participating outlets. The J.G.R card entitles you to exclusive privileges 57 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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and benefits.

About Joyalukkas Gift Card Joyalukkas Gift card an easy online gifting solution! A unique way to gift your loved ones from your fingertips.

Whether it’s for him/her or for the little ones, Joyalukkas has got it in all! Select a country you’d like to send a gift message letter to the countries where Joyalukkas is located. Personalize with your message, design in a way it goes to your special someone’s inbox. Not only it is convenient for you, it is also convenient for the person who receives the gift card.

About Corporate Gifting Solutions Joyalukkas B2B Solutions creates corporate gifting solutions to your exact needs and specifications in pure gold, diamonds and silver.

With decades of international experience in this field, we are able to recommend the perfect customized solution for your brand, service or organization. After all, employees are the backbone of any organization. Your organization can customize products for employee appreciations, long service awards, sales incentives and memorabilia’s, based on your brand objective.

About Joyalukkas and Gulf Air Joyalukkas has added Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, to its roster of rewards partners giving the airline’s Falconflyer (loyalty programme) members an opportunity to earn points/miles with every Joyalukkas jewellery purchase.

india focus

Connecting cultures through threads of gold After receiving encouraging impetus from the Indian government, zardozi has once again been resurrected to its former glory

Zardozi's richly gilded legacy as a form of embroidery adorning the attires of monarchs has been carried over centuries through a pantheon of highly skilled craftsmen. The name of this ancient art of embellishment also echoes through the hallowed pages of the Rig Veda. A portmanteau of two Persian words - zar meaning gold and dozi meaning embroidery - it constructs elaborate designs by employing precious stones and tensile metals to fuse Mughal art with Indian sensibilities.

Brilliance A globally celebrated form of embroidery which is widely found in Iran and Pakistan, zardozi's inception in India took place during the Medieval Age and reached its crescendo of magnificence under the patronage of Mughal emperor Akbar. During the reign of the Mughals, zardozi embroidery was done with threads of tensile metals to depict intricate patterns in garments stitched exclusively for royalties. Rich designs fashioned in pure gold and silver wires, studded with pearls and precious stones, were crafted by highly skilled artisans. Its lavish appeal was met with such enthusiasm by its royal patrons that zardozi soon moved out from the

confines of imperial apparels and began adorning scabbards, tents, wall hangings and other royal battle paraphernalia.

Perfectionist Over the years, a plethora of materials like beads made of wood, pearls, glass, silver and plastic, available in various sizes, textures and hues; sequins crafted from metals, shells and stones and threads constructed out of silk, copper, gold and silver have been used in zardozi embroidery. The making of the zari or the golden thread is a strenuous process

Interesting facts Zardozi is presently flourishing in Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Agra, Kashmir, Mumbai, Ajmer, Varanasi, Surat, Jaipur and Chennai and has also attained a platform for itself in contemporary European high fashion.

Zardozi has valiantly battled unavailability of gold threads (which was once one of its primary components), struggled with centuries of idle unemployment, survived the deathblows which the Industrial Revolution had hurled its way and has now finally established itself as a resilient form of craft that is as exquisite as it is timeless.

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By PRERONA BASU

and requires several stages of twisting, pulling, plating and polishing. Since procuring unadulterated gold for embroidery is an exorbitantly expensive process, alloys made from heating thin gold wires and silver bars were invented.

The resultant gilded wires were then passed through perforated steel plates to flatten the edges and twisted with the help of silken threads to make the final product. The smooth wires which were obtained in the beginning of the process are known as badla whereas the ones which were further twirled around a

Zardozi work is a key feature in the creation of designers like Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.

silken twine are called kasav.

Essentially an applique form of embroidery, zardozi requires scrupulous precision and painstaking discipline. The fabric used is stretched like a painter's canvas on a wooden frame to facilitate swiftness, clarity and meticulousness.

With the help of a fine needle-like hook, the craftsmen poke previously etched designs onto the fabric, which is usually satin, velvet or silk, through a tracing sheet. Next, a rag dipped in kerosene is rubbed on the perforated tracing paper to allow the patterns to seep onto the dress material. Then metallic wires and sequins are used to create stunning panoramic gold-streaked images. Zardozi embroidered fabrics appear ostentatiously regal and tend to become bulky because of the abundant metals and stones incorporated into the folds of its designs. For this reason, the densely embellished pieces were reserved for weddings and festivals.

Resurrection The art form dwindled during the reign of Aurangzeb. Unable to keep up with the steep rise in prices, the royal court gradually withdrew its patronage and

left the artists to wander from place to place in. search of sustenance. This compelled zardozi artists to evacuate Delhi, and migrate to the neighboring states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in search of work. Some of them were obliged to turn to other modes of vocation for their livelihood.

The dawn of Industrial Revolution in the 18th century further impeded the growth of this exquisite art as machines began to take over the work which previously required human skills.

After attaining Independence, the Indian Government took various initiatives to supervise and sponsor these small-scale industries which had unfortunately receded to their embryonic phase after centuries of neglect. The Government raised funds to support mass-scale zardozi production and provided lucrative retail outlets through which the products could reach out to potential customers. And today, zardozi has once again been resurrected to its former glory and has made its presence felt not only in elaborate costumes but in scarves, handbags, bangles, curtains, cushions covers and 59 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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sandals too!

While traditionally the designs were reminiscent of the Mughal era, zardozi has learnt to imbibe fresh trends into its glittering folds and current motifs display an unmistakable geometrical and natural influence in its intricate patterns.

(This article originally appeared in India Perspectives Magazine)

cuisine

One country, many cuisines Indian cuisine is a fabulous and tasty mirror of the sub-continent’s amazing history. Here is a look at the European and West Asian traditions that have shaped India’s kitchens.

By ADITI NAGAPPA compromise, there evolved a series of rice flour breads called pathiri. Even today, one unmissable breakfast speciality is Meen Pathiri, which is curried fish placed between two rice and coconut flatbreads and steamed.

Reams have been written about Anglo-Indian cuisine and even the French have a kitchen shelf of their own, from their colony of Puducherry in South India, where French restaurants and local cheese factories still pay attention to French touches in the food.

Global flavours

Every morning, the silence in the sleepy villages of Goa is broken by the familiar toot toot of the poder’s cycle horn. He is the lad who delivers freshly baked local Goan pao breads to every household.

With a chequered history of invasion and conquest since times forgotten, Indian cuisine is a living amalgam of all the influences that shaped it into a tantalising and tasty gourmand’s treasure. Some of the influences are celebrated in our everyday lives without our even recalling the culinary trail it travelled down to reach us. We know, for example, that biryani was a Mongol creation, which started life as a onepot meal over wartime campfires and was later refined in the royal kitchens of the predominantly Muslim rulers of India. We know that kedgeree was a British adaptation of our humble khichdi and Mulligatawny Soup is pepper rasam made with chicken stock,

leaders of the famed Anglo-Indian cuisine.

Arabs and Indians have also shared many culinary secrets. Did you know that the samosa was of Arab-Turkish origin and was lip-smackingly embraced

by India during Mughal rule? One place where the early Arab traders left their culinary mark was in Kerala, their first port of call in India. Here the Mapilla, India’s earliest Muslim community, trace their core recipes to the Arab guests – the mainstays of Mappila cuisine involve the various pathiris, which are flatbreads made of rice. It is said the Arab traders always wanted breads with their meals, while the Mapilla were rice-eaters. As a 60 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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But there are nooks and crannies in the Indian kitchen that yield rich global flavours but which we know little about. For instance, how many of us knew that there was a large ethnic Indian community in the Netherlands? These nearly 180,000 Dutch nationals of Indian origin came to their home via Suriname in South America which was a Dutch colony. Their ancestors may have left India 150 years ago as indentured workers for the Surinamese sugarcane plantations, but they still have deep cultural ties to India and many are involved in promoting the relationship between the Indian community and native Dutch. In addition, there are approximately 20,000 first or secondgeneration Indian immigrants living in Amsterdam. While traditional Dutch cuisine is fairly stodgy, the colonial cuisine of the Netherlands is largely influenced by Indonesia – the East Indies, as it was called.

Bengali Christian festive treat

THAKURDAR MUTTON Ingredients

l½ kg leg of lamb For the marinade: ½ cup ginger-garlic paste ¼ cup cashew nut paste ¼ cup raisin paste (soaked and then blended) paste of 10 green chillies ½ cup paste of coriander leaves ¼ cup almond paste (soaked and skin removed) 1 cup yoghurt ½ tsp nutmeg powder 1 cup mustard oil salt to taste ½ cup rum (optional)

Preparation

Clean, wash and pat dry the leg (fatless).

Mix all the pastes, powders, yoghurt, half cup oil and salt in a bowl. The consistency should be smooth. Dress the leg of lamb with this mix, covering it all over. Place it on a tray. Cover with aluminium foil and refrigerate for 24 hours.

To cook, heat the remaining mustard oil in a frying pan big enough to hold the leg. Add the leg and brown from all sides.

Flambe with rum, if using.

On a baking tray place the leg of lamb. Cover with aluminium wrap and bake in a pre-heated oven, for 30 minutes, at 350F. Take it out of the oven.

Slice the leg with a sharp knife and serve with tomato bharta – a tart chutney made of fried tomato, seasoned liberally with fenugreek and cumin and finished with jaggery.

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cuisine Fusion The Dutch had a brief stopover in India but what we find of India in Dutch cuisine today is more about fusion twists to traditional Dutch fare which 20th and 21st century immigrants have fashioned out of homesickness for their spicier fare. One such item is the Stamppot that we have hunted down the recipe for – while the Dutch version is a mash of well-cooked, buttered vegetables with a topping of cooked smoked sausage, this Indianised version is more like a Vada Pav, with the potato mix well spiced and studded with bits of sausage. Served between slices of traditional pav, it is a filling supper dish – just what the Dutch meant it to be!

There are also community variations that find their way into the fabric of Indian cuisine. For example, Parsi cuisine is a blend of bold Indian spices but without the red-hot spiciness; it combines a sophisticated blend of cooking styles from steaming to baking and proudly wears the badge of many regions – of Iran, where the community originated, of Gujarat, India where they first settled as well as distinctly Western touches which they acquired when rubbing shoulders with the elite British and European rulers of colonial India.

If you thought it was only the Americans who were fond of French fries, think again! When it comes to using fried potato chips in their meals, Parsis are not to be left behind.

Popularly called ‘Sali’, these strips of fried potatoes are put in most curries and dishes, adding a delicious crunch to Parsi meals.

Collision course Originally from Iran, the Parsi community fled to Gujarat in Northwest India from Persia about 1300 years ago to escape religious persecution. Their community’s unique mosaic of cultural influences is best seen in “Parsi cuisine is the result of the Persian culinary tradition colliding with the Gujarati palate,” said Mehru Vesuwala, a Parsi cuisine expert “The cereals, pulses, and the sweet and sour flavors typically associated with Gujarati

cuisine meld with the dried fruits, spices, and meats favoured by the Persian settlers. It has the Indian flavour in vegetarian food and when it comes to the non-vegetarian dishes it derives taste from Persia.”

The use of dry fruits and nuts has been passed on from generation to generation. This has resulted in sometimes startling ingredient combinations as in the dhansak (literally translated as lentils and greens, but featuring red meat), jardaloo ma murghi (chicken cooked with dried apricots) and kummas (a kind of cake made with yoghurt). The Parsis also use their own special Parsi masalas, the best of which are available in Mumbai.

The Parsis are very fond of nonvegetarian food and you will often find chicken, mutton, fish in most recipes.

But the mainstay of a Parsi meal is the potato and egg. Potato sticks/straws or ‘salis’ are generously sprinkled atop many dishes. Similarly, Parsis make imaginative use of the very versatile egg. Their Akuri, for example, is a signature breakfast dish which somehow transcends the rather mundane description of ‘spicy scrambled eggs’. Then there is the pora – masala Parsi omelette with unique ingredients such as a teaspoon of finely diced raw mango Often many a main course dishes will be served with an egg gracefully perched on the top.

Traditional breakfasts during the 1930s in Mumbai or in many South Gujarat Parsi villages consisted of khurchan (offal meats cooked with potatoes in a spicy gravy), and some variant of the ubiquitous deep-fried, fried or half-fried eggs.

Community cuisine One style of cooking that is littleknown beyond the home kitchen, is the distinctive Bengali Christian style which combines influences drawn from British food and other Christian rulers at other points of time, such as the French, Danes and the Dutch. And, of course, the presence of the Portuguese in Bengal gave a new dimension to the food. To give an example, something like the hilsa, which is eaten in a light 62 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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cumin-tempered curry or steamed with mustard by most Bengalis, is prepared with vindaloo masalas in the Christian kitchen. There's even vindaloo cooked with red pumpkin or mishti kumro.

The names of the dishes are a nice mix of traditions too. Take something like the amago bhaja curry — which is a dish of sliced aubergines cooked with prawns and spices. Mamur liver aar gijard jhatka consists of pieces of liver and gizzard tossed with green chillies and spices.

Vindaloo meat is a favourite, too, though, unlike the Goan variety, the Bengali Christian dish is cooked without cocum, and can also be prepared with lime juice instead of vinegar.

Again, unlike Christian communities in the south and the north of India, the dishes are cooked in mustard oil.

Thakurdar roast mutton, for instance, relies on the flavours of mustard oil in which a leg of lamb is browned before being put in the oven (see recipe).

The Bengali Christian dishes, unlike their Bengali Hindu cousins, do not use much panchphoron — the five-spice mix that no Bengali kitchen can be without. Turmeric powder is not used in the meat dishes, though it figures in fish recipes.

In sun-kissed Goa, the influence of the 450 years of Portuguese rule goes beyond the whitewashed church spires.

Its there in the Goan preference for soft, fresh-baked bread to mop up their curries, the mix of cashew, coconut, jaggery and that one spice which was the Portuguese gift to Indian cuisine: chillies.

Goan food is extremely different from the food of other regions and this can be attributed to its rich and diverse cultural heritage. It's a potpourri of flavours: beef, pork, coconut, jaggery, cashew and an endless variety of seafood. A lot of Goan dishes like Prawn balchao and Sorpotel are well known and relished around the world.

Hindu cuisine in Goa is mainly pescetarian and lacto-vegetarian, but lately the younger generation have taken up a taste for chicken and mutton, which was not common

Dutch-India fusion supper

SPICY STAMPPOT Layer the Stamppot burger with chutneys and place between slices of pav bread for a quirky fusion supper treat. Its filling and the sausage bits add a wonderful texture and taste to the dish.

Ingredients For the Stamppot:

900 gms potatoes 500 gms butternut squash 250 gms sweet potato or yam 3 large carrots 2 large parsnips 1 large turnip 1 large leek 1 onion 1 large mug of chopped kale 1/2 cup butter (or less to taste) salt and pepper 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional) 750 gms dutch sausage, such as Rookworst (or other spicy sausage such as Spanish Chorizo) Preparation

Prepare the vegetables: Peel and roughly chop the potato, butternut squash (pumpkin), sweet potato/yam, carrots, parsnips and turnip. Peel and finely chop the onion. Wash any grit from the leek and cabbage, then slice both fairly finely.

Place the chopped vegetables in a large stock pot, and add water to barely cover. Cover, bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, around 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the smoked sausage as per the instructions on the wrap. Slice fine, then keep warm.

Drain the vegetables well, then mash - but not too smoothly - some lumps are good. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the butter, and mix through. If desired, stir through the chopped parsley.

For the coconut garlic chutney:

2 tbsp crushed garlic 1/2 cup dessicated coconut 1 tsp red chili powder salt to taste Preparation

Combine all ingredients and grind to a coarse powder.

To assemble

Take a pav bun and slice in half. Butter generously and toast till golden.

Spread the coconut-garlic chutney on one slice and heap a generous tablespoon of the Stamppot.

Top with the other toasted pav slice and enjoy. *You can also add a little cornflour to the Stamppot mix after preparing it and slow-roast tikki style. But this is closer to the original taste with just that twist of exotic coconut chutney for a kicker.

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cuisine From the Goa-Mangalore belt

TAVSALI Ingredients

1.5 cups semolina 1.5 cups organic powdered jaggery, grated and loosely packed 4-5 green cardamoms ¾ cup grated fresh coconut 2 cups grated cucumber, tightly packed, approx 1 large yellow cucumber ¼ tsp cumin powder 2 to 3 tbsp cashews, chopped (optional) ½ tsp coconut oil for greasing the pan

Preparation

Roast the semolina in a little ghee till fragrant and set aside.

Seed the cardamoms and powder in a mortar and pestle.

Rinse and peel the yellow cucumber. Slice the cucumber into two lengthways de-seed. Grate the cucumber, squeeze lightly and keep aside. You can add the collected juice to the batter.

In a mixing bowl, mix the semolina, the grated cucumber along with its juice, grated coconut, chopped cashews and the powdered jaggery. Add the cardamom powder and cumin powder.

Mix the batter very well without any lumps. It should have a medium consistency and be neither too thick nor thin. If required, you can add a few tablespoons of milk or coconut milk.

Grease the cake pan with coconut oil and pour in the batter.

Heat about 3 to 3.5 cups water in a steamer or electric cooker or pressure cooker. Place the pan in the steamer, electric cooker or pressure cooker. Steam without using any weight. Steam for 30 to 40 minutes and switch off flame.

Open carefully after 5 minutes and test if a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool the cake and slice and serve.

before. It has not taken too many ingredients or culinary traditions of Portugal. Hindu cuisine mainly uses tamarind and kokum for souring, and jaggery for sweetening. It uses asafoetida, fenugreek, curry leaves, mustard, and urad dal. It is not very spicy; less onion and garlic are used. It also includes more vegetables, such as lentils, pumpkin, gourds, bamboo shoots, roots, etc. It is less oily and the medium of cooking is coconut oil.

Many parts of coastal Karnataka such as Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have adopted the Goan lacto-vegetarian cuisine, whereas few major parts of Uttara Kannada have adopted the pescetarian cuisine.

Smorgasbord Out of a smorgasbord of culinary inspirations vying to win your palate, we have selected four. The Parsi Paatro Ni Macchi combines the easy access to Bombay pomfret and coastal banana leaves and lifts the steamed fish to new gourmet heights with its green chutney which manages to be robust and delicate at the same time.

We have chosen a unique recipe from Goa - a steamed cake called Tavsali, in which the main ingredient is cucumber! While the yellow cucumber is preferred, you can also use the long, stripey or dark green cucumber. The cake has a dominant taste of cucumber 64 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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which sort of overpowers everything, even the jaggery and coconut. It’s not overtly sweet but has a light sweetness, though you can adjust the quantity of jaggery. Makes for a light, healthy dessert for kids as well as adults. You can also refrigerate and just warm them in the microwave before serving.

The Tavsali Cucumber Cake made it to this list for its sheer unusualness. It is more Manglorean than Goan, more Hindu than Christian or Muslim, although all communities live in this cheek of South Western India.

The Stamppot recipe here is a fusion one that combines a spicy Indian zest with the smokiness of Dutch sausage.

Parsi community wedding special

PATRA NI MACCHI Ingredients

4 pieces of pomfret or rawas Green Chutney made with 1/2 coconut 2 tsp turmeric powder 2 tsp red chilli powder Salt to Taste 2 banana leaves or baking paper String to tie up the fish parcels Steamer For classic Parsi green chutney

1 full coconut chopped into chunks 1 small coriander bunch, stalks cut off 10 chillies 2 cloves of garlic 2 tbsp cumin Juice of 1 big lemon 1 tbsp vinegar 1.5 tbsp sugar Salt to taste

Preparation

Clean and cut the fish into thick, good-size fillets and marinate in turmeric, red chilli powder and salt.

While the fish is marinating, using your grinder, whip up a batch of green chutney. You may only use half this chutney – the rest will keep for upto three days if refrigerated immediately and makes the most delish white bread and cream cheese sandwiches.

Cut pieces of banana leaves or baking paper into small pieces and sandwich a fillet of the fish between two tablespoons of chutney. Make sure that every inch of the fish is coated with chutney and then wrap the banana leaf with string to make a neat parcel.

After all the fish is parcelled, you can pop it into a preheated oven for 15 mins or go with the more authentic steamed version. To do that, fill up a pressure cooker with boiling water until it just touches the base of your steamer. Place the parcels of fish on the steamer and shut your cooker (without the whistle). Now, let the fish steam for 10 minutes on each side – that will mean you open the cooker halfway through and turn over the parcels and steam again.

Once the fish is steamed, serve this classic Parsi wedding meal favourite with the banana leaf still on and let your guests unwrap the yummy surprise!

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health

Study shows O.R.S hydration tablets have greater fluid retention Washroom visits, sweating and even breathing can lead to water loss. A company has created a Beverage Hydration Index to measure the most effective solution.

A recent study on how well different types of drinks are retained in the body suggested that drinks that contain a high electrolyte content or high energy content would have greater fluid retention and thus a higher Beverage Hydration Index or BHI. The study compared hydrating potential of drinks such as plain water, milk, sports drinks, yoghurt, cola, diet cola, hot tea, iced tea, coffee, orange juice, oral rehydration solution or O.R.S. and sparkling water among many others - how well each of the drinks was retained in two to four hours immediately after consumption.

Volunteers consumed 1 litre of fluid and then had their urine output monitored to indicate how much had been retained. Then, to create a straightforward comparison of the drinks, each beverage was given a BHI score. Water was used as the reference point in the scale with a rating of ‘1’.

Electrolyte high The top performer in terms of fluid retention was O.R.S and was the only solution to perform significantly better than water. The likely reason for this is that O.R.S. lowered urine output due to the significant amounts of electrolytes they contain. Constituents like sugars, fats and electrolytes have long been known to increase the retention of fluids in the body, but this data highlights just how significantly that’s the case.

“Human bodies lose great amounts of water throughout the day. Every time you go to the washroom, or every time you breathe out you lose water. Similarly, we lose loads of water from sweating,” said Arsalan Karim, Director, Research and Development, Clinova Ltd., a leading manufacturer of O.R.S. tablets, “While many people think that by drinking lots of water they can resolve any dehydration related issues, it is not an adequate

method for hydration. When our bodies lose water, they’re also losing essential minerals. The main mineral you lose when you sweat is sodium. Sodium, along with other minerals, comes together to form electrolytes. These are critical to helping our bodies function correctly. So, by only drinking water, you aren’t replenishing these electrolytes, and as such it is important to consume O.R.S that can help replenish these salts.”

Sodium needs The study also revealed that drinks that you might have thought would perform a lot worse than water, such as coffee, actually didn’t result in all that much more urine output than the equivalent volumes of water.

Furthermore, standard sports drinks were not shown to be much better in terms of fluid retention than plain water.

“The study reinforces some very 66 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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essential facts. Drinks like milk can probably help with re-hydration more than you might imagine, and can therefore be extremely useful after strenuous, sweaty exercise when consuming both calories and fluids to assist with recovery is beneficial.”

Similarly, solutions like O.R.S. which have high sodium content are also likely to be significantly better than plain water when it comes to retention. In conclusion, O.R.S. provide the perfect balance for modern athletes and people. They help replenish water and salt levels, keeping your bodily fluids well-balanced.

Electrolytes offer people a complete method of replenishing fluids. So if your body is losing water at a rapid rate, then its best advised to consume O.R.S Hydration Tablets, which are a balanced formula of glucose, electrolytes and minerals which when added to water is a perfect, natural replacement that fills your body’s water requirements.

Independence Day wishes from Fly non stop to Delhi & Kozhikode.

Direct to Mangalore & Kochi from Bahrain International Airport

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IX 474

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1440

2130

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2305

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1005

1910

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1105

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DAYS

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techtalk

Nokia’s Android phones now in Bahrain HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, can now announce that its first Nokia smartphone range – comprising of the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 – will be available to buy at selected retailers.

Sanmeet Kochhar, General Manager Middle East at HMD Global, stated, “HMD is the new home of Nokia phones now and we are looking

the editorial team P.O. Box 50650, Arad, Kingdom of Bahrain Licensed by the Ministry of Information Publication Licence no : GASB 740

Chairman and Managing Editor Mahmood Al Mahmood Managing Director P.K. Ravi Editor Meera Ravi Contributor • Hina Asar • Maharaja Features Pvt. Ltd. Designer • Sumesh. C. Unni

portfolio, together with the return of the iconic Nokia 3310, is a true testament to our ambition and commitment to honouring the hallmarks of a true Nokia phone experience.”

With all Nokia smartphones you will always have the latest pure Android experience for your device. With monthly security updates your Nokia smartphone is safe, up-to-date as well as clutter-free – putting choice at the heart of the consumer experience.

And with the latest Android come the latest features including the latest capabilities of Doze, which saves battery life while the phone is in a pocket or bag. The new Nokia smartphones feature Google’s most

Photography • Hussain - Salmaniya Studio

The Nokia 6 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – and will retail at 83.00 BD.

Marketing P.R.M. Marketing Consultancy w.l.l

Advertising Sales Contact: +973 3668 4011 advts.sb@gmail.com Printers Union Press

The Nokia 5 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper– and will retail at 67.00 BD.

Published by Al Ayam Publishing Promoted by Ajyal Consultations w.l.l Advertising / Editorial / Circulation Enquiries +973 3668 4011 +973 1772 0797

The Nokia 3 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – and will retail at 52.00 BD.

e-mail: salaam.bahrain@gmail.com advts.sb@gmail.com

Copyright Reserved.

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher and Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher & editor cannot accept legal responsibility for any error, content or omissions.

forward to a new chapter for one of the world’s most loved and trusted mobile brands. Our new Android Nokia smartphone

68 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure conversations with the Google Assistant happen seamlessly on Nokia smartphones.

techtalk

Mobitel Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification A Seal of Quality for the ICT Products and Services company - professionalism, commitment to quality and customer focus confirmed by auditing body, RICI

Adeel Malik with Syed Waqas, RICI Operations Manager and Mobitel Management

The high quality planning and realisation of ICT industry-related projects at Mobitel Communication WLL meets all the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015. Certification by the auditing body RICI in July 2017 has enabled Mobitel to reach yet another milestone in its continued quest for excellence at all service levels and project provision.

With the extremely fast-paced nature of the ICT industry, countless workflows and procedures are involved, and many crucial decisions need to be made that influence both quality and profitability of a project. For this reason, Mobitel decided to implement a quality management system (QMS) and to receive third party certification.

“Our keen sense of professionalism is thereby visibly confirmed to our customers and partners. In so doing, we strengthen our case for long-lasting collaboration” says Adeel Malik, Founder and Managing Director.

Aspiring for quality For compliance-readiness, Mobitel underwent a rigorous adaption procedure that stretched over various

Adeel Malik - Founder & Managing Director of Mobitel Communications (right) & Syed Waqas, Operations Manager, RICI

months. Organisational structures, interfaces and workflows were listed, optimised and aligned within the requirements of the ISO 9001.

For daily operations, this meant a clear assignment of responsibilities, a binding procedural structure, and a systematic and permanent documentation of knowledge. In terms of competitiveness, the certificate yields a vital edge for the company; along with good support and custom-made services, sub-contractors and service clients always expect transparency at all stages of the project.

“Introducing a management system exactly meets these needs and strongly strengthens customer relations,” explains Zain Ali Waraich, Management Representative for Quality Standards Compliance at Mobitel.

Published in 2015, the latest revision of the ISO 9001 stresses the importance of customer orientation even more clearly. Aspects vital for commercial success, such as long-term planning, risk management and supplier quality have come into greater focus.

“The certificate is our yardstick for constant improvement. We are now well equipped for future challenges,” 70 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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Hafeez Khan, Mobitel’s General Manager adds.

ISO 9001 certification is voluntary and requires a successful auditing procedure.

The certificate confirms that Mobitel fulfils the required standards of modern quality management systems. Follow-up audits on an annual basis ensure that these standards continue being met in everyday practice.

In its quest to further improve overall performance and efficiency at all service levels, Mobitel has also completed another Certification Audit – the OHSAS 18001:2007 Standard.

This ISO Certificate is due to be received following a successful review of the Audit Report by AJA Certification’s Review Board in Bristol, United Kingdom.

OHSAS 18001:2007 sets out the minimum requirements for a best practice occupational health and safety management system – helping organisations to control their hazards and risks, while boosting their performance. This standard also assists companies with their planning and policy formation, while ensuring they comply with the latest health and safety requirements and legislation.

celeb chakker

Oviya is new rage for Tamilians Remember how Shilpa Shetty rewrote her life story by winning Celebrity Bigg Boss in 2007? Well, small-time Tamil model and movie starlet Oviya Helen seems to be going down the same route for a while and became the main reason the debut Bigg Boss Tamil won huge TRPs. At the time of going to press, speculation is rife about whether she has quit the show over her fractured romance with housemate Aarav. She even asked for professional help to deal with her mood swings.

All is not lost though – even if she has quit, she may well returen as a Wild Card entry again and save sinking TRPs. The 26-year old, whose film career is yet to take off, spawned a rampant fan-following which took to social media twice to rescue her despite housemates voting to evict her. Show host Kamal Haasan also

said that he really liked Oviya's light-hearted approach to most of the things happening around her. He revealed that the people of Tamil Nadu have saved Oviya with over 1.5 crore votes.

Oviya’s Anglo-Malayali-Tamil accented spontaneous one-liners became slogans that were printed on t-shirts; chai joints and restaurants printed “Vote for Oviya” on their receipts and there were even plans for a jallikattu style “Save Oviya” movement on Marina Beach.

Producers, directors and actors are tweeting their support and even offering her film roles. Music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja is planning to dedicate a song to Oviya in his upcoming film Balloon.

All we can say is, if the people of Tamil Nadu can expend so much energy and emotion on a TV reality show and not bother about the ruinous state of their government and politics, they deserve their Sasikala!

Akshay flags off controversy Akshay Kumar became the latest celebrity at the receiving end of the internet trolls after he shared a picture of himself holding the tricolour upside down while cheering for the Indian women's cricket team at the ICC Women's World Cup final at Lord's on July 23. The photo was later deleted.

The star, who was present at a press conference for his upcoming movie, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, explained, “What happened is, I was unfurling the flag and at the time I noticed it was upside down. While I was trying to steady it, someone clicked a photo from behind and I did not notice it. But if someone's sentiments are hurt, I seek an apology.”

We agree it’s much ado about nothing. But when you are a good buddy of the Prime Minister and a rumoured politician in waiting, we guess these things take on a new and ominous meaning.

Plus, it wasn’t as straightforward as Akshay’s PR spiel. Apparently, the actor himself shared some of his photos from the match and – oops! in one such picture, the actor is seen holding the Indian flag upside down.

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celeb chakker

Karen aces Mehbooba stakes It was the Face that launched a thousand soaps. It was a soap ad that bubbled its way from Khandala to Kodaikanal, with every waterfall claiming to have been THE fall under which she frolicked. We are talking about Karen Lunel of course. Those of us who went to movies in the late seventies, know that the Liril ad in which the lime-scented soap was advertised by the bikini-clad Karen dancing under a waterfall, was often more popular than the main feature!

Today, the original Liril ad is rocking the ‘net on YouTube and has racked up more hits than R.D. Burman’s classic item number “Mehbooba” which was the hit song of the same year!

Speaking to a journalist recently, Karen recalled her Liril shoot – in the Khandala falls for close ups and Kodaikanal in winter for the long shots.

“It was torturous, hanging around for all of us, waiting for the sun to show up from behind the clouds. I'd be sitting around, under a heap of blankets with my teeth chattering, just planning how I'd do the shot to just get it right. So many variables... Khandala had water snakes and crabs and the waterfalls were very forceful so I had to be tied to boulders to prevent being swept away.”

She adds mischeviously, “I still hate a cold shower.”

In 1985, Lintas re-shot the ad again. Karen had just had an accident that required 60 stitches on her face and sparked rumours that she had died.

“Gautam Rajadhyaksha (who took the pictures to check out the viability) is an absolute whiz, so of course the pics looked great and Lintas decided to take a punt on me again.”

Karen is a busy mum these days, enjoying a happy home life in New Zealand. Her modelling days and time as an air hostess on VIP Air India flights are behind her and she couldn’t be more content! She says she loves her privacy and true to form, is enjoying life to the last bubble!

“BFFs Again” this month

Now that the hungama of his break-up with bestie Kajol has run its course and served its purpose – matlab, raised interest in his memoir to fever pitch and boosted sales – Karan Johar and Kajol are BFFs again, liking each other’s tweets and KJo attending Kajol’s very private birthday party and getting all emo and huggy.

Aww..when will they make up their mind?

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Quote of the Month “I think there are advantages working with family because there is comfort level.

But at the same time, you have restrictions when you come to the floor. You take certain things for granted with family, but that cannot be the case when it comes to work. In that way, Appa and Dhanush sir are perfect professionals. They just cut off the family factor once they are on the floor and see me only as a director.

(In VIP-2) I was given full freedom to create the world I was supposed to for this film.

And on the floor, too, at no point did (Dhanush) make me feel like he was taking the decisions. I don't think he gave me the feeling of being a shadow director.”

Rajinikanth’s daughter, film director Soundarya is re-entering the cine-world with her first live-action

movie,

Velai

Illa

Pattadhari

2

(VIP-2). After the dismal flop of her motioncapture debut Kochadaiiyan, she says that her second directorial venture is not just a ‘family enterprise’ that came her way because Dhanush is her brother-in-law. She explains that she felt a huge responsibility to retain the magic of the first characterisation of Raghuvaran, Dhanush’s character, in this sequel too and is praying hard for its success.

Rekha signals peace to BJP!​ Rekha has been in the news for not attending Rajya Sabha often enough since being nominated in 2012 by Congress for a seat. A sharp observer calculated that her 18 days of attendance​over 5 years​cost the Indian government Rs. 360,000 per day!

When she did turn up to cast her vote in the Vice-Presidential elections this August, she turned heads and caused a major stir because a close look at her self-embroidered cream saree showed *drumroll* - the lotus motif of the BJP! H​mm..is this how one deflects criticism from government?

73 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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2017

celeb chakker

Sanjay Dutt - Misogynist of the Year Many filmi families have often had reservations about the daughters joining films even while they encouraged the sons to go out and own the arc-lights. Of course we have had exceptions such as the Samarth family that gave us stars such as Shobana Samarth of the b/w era and her beautiful daughters Nutan and Tanuja – and then Gen 3 brought forth Kajol. This is the Hindi film industry’s only all-female first family till date. Later we had Raveena Tandon, the Karishma and Kareena Kapoor who broke the stranglehold of the Kapoor men and so on.

Even as a whole generation of youngsters wait in the wings, ready for their shot at being the Next Big Bollywood Star, we still have dinosaur throwbacks like Sanjay Dutt who has threatened beautiful daughter Trishala with extreme violence if she dared to dream of a Bollywood career.

“I would have broken Trishala's legs if she would have chosen acting,” Sanjay told an interviewer recently.

Coming from a lineage that includes Nargis, the biggest star in Indian cinema and married (happily – finally) to former wannabe starlet Manyata, surely Sanjay should know that women can hold their own in what he considers the big bad world of Bollywood?

Sanjay Dutt's daughter from his late wife Richa Sharma, Trishala, according to her Instagram bio, wants to be a psychologist. She lives in New York and has studied criminal justice. She runs a clip-on hair extension company which is big business in America and has made it clear that Bollywood is not on her radar. Which makes her father’s threat all the more insulting!

Kajal shocker from high court Way back in 2008, when Kajal Aggarwal is not a known figure, she has done a coconut hair oil ad for a Chennai-based company. Since then her fame has grown and the hair oil company has enjoyed her success and its effect on their product. The actress approached the Chennai High Court demanding Rs. 2.5 crores payment from the coconut oil company.

However, the star was in for a shock. The Court ruled out Kajal's appeal and gave a judgement in favour of the coconut oil company, saying, “As per copyrights act, once a heroine/model takes payment and acts in an advertisement, the company or the producer will have 60 years of rights to use the ad”.

Besides losing the case, Kajal was also asked to pay all the expenses of the company related to this legal proceeding.

Hmm..wonder how endorsement kings like SRK and Salman and Amitabh Bachchan manage this. Surely nobody would lock THEM down to a 60-year copyright for an advertisement?

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2017

Dulquer wows with on-set excellence Director Nag Ashwin said actor Dulquer Salmaan’s role in the upcoming bilingual biopic Mahanati, on the life of legendary southern actress Savitri, goes beyond the physical resemblance of yesteryear actor Gemini Ganesan, whom he won’t mimic in the film.

The film, being made in Telugu and Tamil, marks Dulquer’s debut in Tollywood.

“Dulquer’s character of Gemini Ganesan will merely be how the legend will be perceived today based on his work and his image. The character goes beyond the physical resemblance, in understanding the veteran on a more emotional level,” Ashwin said, “It takes a lot of courage for a popular star like him to agree to play the part. Unlike other stars who think so much about market, time and other factors while signing a role, it’s amazing that Dulquer gives importance to the story and the film more than just his character.”.

Talking about working with Dulquer, Ashwin said: “I still remember the first scene we shot with him. It was a long dialogue sequence and he nailed it in the first take, much to the astonishment of the entire set. Everybody clapped for him.”

Mahanati is a magnum opus period film set in the golden era. With massive set pieces, the film will be unlike anything we’ve explored in Indian cinema.

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meera ravi

editor's view

For as long as I can remember, the rituals of patriotism were a very real part of my life. In my theosophical school, we had a long-ish assembly with five short world prayers, a song by the music department followed by the national anthem and national pledge – every day. I wonder how many children today would have the patience to stand through this 20-25 minute schedule? Then on patriotic holidays we had flag hoisting ceremonies full of colour and music, which left us inspired.

This year, we are at the dawn of the 71st year of independence and the 75th anniversary of another very significant marker in India’s journey to freedom: the Quit India movement. Simply by making every citizen a footsoldier in the fight to regain India from colonial forces, Mahatma Gandhi empowered India and made the freedom struggle a movement of the people and not a militaristic adventure.

Sitting at this distance from those heady days, it is easy to believe that our fight is behind us. But the very reason we celebrate occasions such as August 15 and January 26, is to look back at how far we have come and also glance forward at our future goals. While leaders get on with national goals, what do we, the citizens do? Especially NRIs who live outside the country? Just like Gandhi involved everybody from the industrial tycoon to the village schoolstudent in the Quit India movement, we should look at how each one of us can contribute to India’s future. Because no national plan, however simple, can achieve success without the power of the ordinary citizen’s participation; no national identity can be structured without constant vigil against sliding back.

We’ve got to begin by being the country we want India to be – you want clean? Keep your street litter free. After all, an orderly and clean environment is the first outward sign of a civil society at work. In Bahrain, it is an undeniable fact that the “Little India” space which has been designed to celebrate the historic ties between both countries, is one of the richest lanes in the Kingdom, thanks to the many gold shops in the vicinity. The eclectic crowds that move through the couple of lanes here are a great testimony to the inclusive spirit of Bahrain and India – we find merchants and professionals rubbing shoulders with workers poring over gold jewellery for their families, celebrating festivals in the temple courtyard or just enjoying a masala chai. There are old Bahraini, Indian and Pakistani trading establishments sharing a common wall.

But this historic lane is also the messiest. Why is the community not taking ownership of the area? Why not make the Indian identity an advantage – emphasise the colour and the celebratory aspects of Indian culture and also the contemporary awareness of the need to hone a civic sense.

The time has come to stand up and be counted and we can only do this by cleaning up our act. Independence Day resolutions, anybody?

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Congratulations to all Indians on the occasion of the 71st Independence Day

Indian Curriculum : CBSE From KG to Class 12

British Curriculum: From KG till A level

Bahraini Curriculum: From Grade 1 till Grade 12

Celebrating the spirit of

Artistry

Devji since 1950 celebrates India’s 70th year of independence with great pride & joy. Wishing the citizens of India a happy independence day.