Oct 2014

Letters Matter

YOUR REALPOLITIK IS GOOD WORK

Dear Editor, this has reference to the August 2014 edition of NRI Achievers. I would firstly like to compliment Mr. Raman Swamy for his insightful piece that is about NDA's Head and India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He has covered quite a lot on the shifting stand of the government on foreign policy, the increasing emphasis on international trade besides taking care of national stability. He has rightly worded that New is the Government and Old are the ex-government veterans to keep an eye even on a single silly mistake for criticism. Expectations are very high and less is the time for the new Government. All the best for such an indepth piece of write-up. I find the Magazine itself is quite interesting and the presentations are praise worthy.

Sunil, Senior Principal PS to Secretary to the GOI, Ministry of Coal

CONGRATULATIONS !

Read the electronic issue of your special on Tihar. Congratulations on bringing out this fantastic Tihar special. You have taken a sensitive subject and taken it out well. Your team is to be applauded for that. Thanks. And hope to get a hard copy soon. Regards.

Anju Mangla, Scj 06, Tihar, New Delhi

INTERESTING

I thank you for sending me an electronic copy of NRI Achievers. I found reading the issue interesting, specially the cover story. Keep the effort going. With highest regards.

Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder, Sulabh International SSO

INCLUDE FASHION TRENDS

I am happy to be on your mailing list and read every issue of your magazine when it reaches my mailbox. I especially like what you write on sections like 'cineppets' and 'silver screen.' It does give us acurated view of what is going on in the glamorous cinema and television soap-opera scene. One more glamour subject that your magazine is missing out on, and should carry, is 'fashion trends.' people in my age-group are trend-conscious, and we would want to know what all is trending nowadays. So do consider carrying something on fashion. Thank you.

Kriti, Delhi

EXCELLENT

Dear NRI Achievers Team, your electronic flavour of the magazine NRI Achievers to hand today. Having browsed through it, I honestly do not have the words to describe it, but I can say its really an “Excellent Creation.” Regards.

Prince

KC, Chairman, GES 2014

GREAT WORK!

You are doing a great work, i especially liked your featuring Rami Ranger. Rami is my good friend and successful businessman in UK. Other stories and material are of high quality. Keep it up. Will be happy to meet the NRI Achievers team when I am in New Delhi next. Best regards.

Markandey Rai, Ph.D., Special Youth Advisor – UN-Habitat, Executive Director, Synergies Institute, Accra, Ghana

BOUQUETS & BRICKBATS!

Human beings have always endeavoured to achieve better things. In this connection your magazine NRI ACHIEVERS unfolds the layers of its toil to showcase major and informative stories of the month. It covers vital news stories from political world to entertainment and business world to our social life. It touches life as this magazine narrates the stories of achievers. People get to know about the unsung heroes and their unassailable passion for work. This magazine not only gives information but inspires a lot. So if you are in the search of such magazine, your quest may stop here. Starting with powerful editorial, this magazine contains different sections including cover feature, realpolitik, travelogue, Indian achievers, real estate, silver screen and many more. The September 2014 issue of this magazine is portraying the inside story of tihar jail. Lifestyle of prisoners has been depicted so nicely, unearthing the unsung heroes of its management system. It is also featuring the story of 100 days of modi sarkar, putting it in dock on its 100 day agenda and narrating its achievements. Heritage and vastu sections are giving different relish with real estate and property section. After heavy dose of information it leaves you with entertainment, depicting silver screen and travelogue. Now coming to the part of its appearance. Its graphic, pictures, and layouts will mesmerize you within the fraction of a second. This magazine has been given neat and attractive appearance. All know nobody is perfect in this world. Being no expectation this magazine has also a few flaws. The tag line of magazine jeete hai shaan se is stale and very common. Achievers always live with shaan including NRI ACHIEVERS. There is new thing in it as they already living with shaan. Achievers word is very strong in itself. To define it, there is need of another powerful word which could instill enthusiasm in the readers. Heroic souls are one of the examples. Editorial page has also drawn my attention as editor name is missing from the page. To know that you need to glance at its catalogue. We all know, its 21st century and people have hardly time to go through each page.

CHIEF PATRON EDITOR

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ADVISORS

CONSULTING EDITOR BUREAU HEAD BUREAU

AJAY SINGH (Former High Commissioner, Fiji)

RAJEEV GUPTA

B.K. AGGARWAL

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SA NJAY K UMAR (E UROPE ) VINOD GOEL (NEW YORK, USA) AJAY AGGARWAL (U K)

PHOTO EDITOR SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

A SST. VICE PRESIDENT (MARKETING)

MANAGER -MARKETING (D ELHI/NCR) MANAGER -MARKETING (MUMBAI)

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COVER P HOTO

SEASONS GREETINGS !

Allow us to start with wishing all of you readers the best, greatest and the most enjoyable times ahead this upcoming festive season! The month of September apropos has been a hectic time indeed for the Indian government, with frenetic activity all round. With the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, the Commerce & Industries Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and the President of India Mr. Pranab Mukerjee, not to mention the PM Narendra Modi embarking upon a diplomatic blitzkrieg at various fora, the month did indeed provide much grist for the mill. Added to all this, while the NDA chose not to go overboard with it's achievements in 100 days of being in office and chose to stay away from any mass campaign, the capital did see a whole slew of ministries organising press conferences with a view to put forth their report cards on performance in a more discreet manner.

While the economy has turned a bit bouyant and sentiment that reigns is on the positive side – industry's glass seems more half-full than half-empty – there is still apprehension that unless all this is followed up by action on the ground, the impact of the government's initiatives taken so far will come to naught.

You will find our Cover Feature this issue focusing on PM Modi's overtures to the international community, while our Special Feature is a mix of multiple segments ... we feature a photo essay on London, host city to the Regional PBDs, accompanied by an eclectic collection of a few companion pieces. By the way, this also includes a brief curtain raiser to the RPBD.

Our other thematic foci continue, Dossier brings you mini-profiles of Diaspora who have carved a niche for themselves in their respective host countries, while Heritage talks about Diwali and what it means to different communities in the region. Travelogue takes you on a journey to Warsaw, while Real Estate brings you an update on urbanisation. Silver Screen interviews SRK, the Khan of Khans, and news from across the board is available through News Scan, Cineppets and The Small Screen, while while Satire takes you on a humour trip.

Your exclusive preview of our companion magazine, the 'Indian Achievers,' continues in cameo form, with mini-profiles of six evocative indian success stories from the corporate world.

As always, we are keen to hear from you. Do share your thoughts on how we have structured our content mix, the features, imagery, profiles and stories, and yes, all those suggestions and advice from readers on adding heft, including more segments and bringing back past themes are all in the pipeline. While we do aim to please, please be kind to us, we do have our own limitations. Favour us with your continued patronage and involvement, and help us improve our outreach. Share the magazine with your circle of friends, your communities, and contribute to the richness of content by sending us your stories, thoughts and experiences. Talk to us, email us, and like us on social media ! The NRI Achievers desk is at your service. And once again, let me close here with greetings to you ... have a great Dussehra ! ... Eid Mubarak! ... Happy Diwali !

FRENCH HONOUR FOR I NDIAN-ORIGIN UK BIzMAN LALWANI

Kartar Lalvani, the Indian-origin founder of Vitabiotics, the largest vitamins company by sales in the UK, has been conferred an honorary professorship of University of Franche-Comte, one of the oldest universities in Europe, for his work in the field of dermatology. The post, only the second such to go to a Briton in the university's history, was conferred by university president Dominique Vuitton at a ceremony in Besancon, the capital of Franche-Comte region in eastern France, last month. Lalvani, whose family was displaced from Sind when India was Partioned, settled in Mumbai before moving to UK, to study pharmacy at King's College, London, after which he completed a doctorate in medical chem-

RICHARD VERMA SET TO BE US ENVOY TO INDIA

President Obama is expected to nominate Indian-American Richard Verma as the new ambassador to India, Reuters reported citing Congressional sources. Verma is a former assistant secretary of state. TOI had reported on September 8 that Verma was in the running. The post has been vacant since the departure of Nancy Powell in April.

istry at Bonn University, before founding his award winning company in 1971. Lalvani's latest invention, an anti-ageing tablet called Perfectil, successfully passed clinical trials recently and the results were published in the Journal of Clinical Interventions in Ageing. Lalvani is one of the richest Asians in Britain and Vitabiotics exports several brands to over 100 countries, including India. Its Indian arm, Meyer Vitabiotics, is betting big on the domestic market, and recently launched a few health food supplements in the country. It also plans to launch its entire Nutraceuticals product range in India within three to four years, besides setting up manufacturing facilities in the country.

NY WILL PAY US$ 2,25,000 TO INDIAN GIRL

In a significant legal victory for the daughter of an Indian diplomat, the city of New York has agreed to pay her US$ 2,25,000 to settle a lawsuit she brought against it, after she was jailed for a day and suspended from school on suspicion of sending obscene emails to her teacher. Krittika Biswas has in turn agreed to dismiss all the claims against the city, board of education and the officials of the New York police department who had arrested and detained her in 2011. US

TIM COOK'S APPLE FINALLY EMERGES FROM THE SHADOW OF STEVE JOBS

The much-awaited autobiography of batting icon Sachin Tendulkar will hit the stands on November 6, with a high-profile release of the book in his home city Mumbai. The book, titled “Playing It My Way,” will be published worldwide by Hodder & Stoughton, and by Hachette India in the Indian sub-continent. The book has been co-authored by renowned cricket historian and media personality Boria Majumdar. “I knew that agreeing to write my story would need me to be completely honest, as that's the way I have always played the game. It would require talking about a number of aspects I have not shared in public before,” said Tendulkar in a press release issued by the publishers. “So here I am, at the end of my final innings, having taken that last walk back to the pavilion, ready to recount as many incidents as I can remember since first picking up a cricket bat as a child in Mumbai 35 years ago,” Tendulkar added. “My autobiography will be

available on Nov 6th... Excited,” he tweeted. The front cover of the book shows Tendulkar raising his bat while walking away from the field one last time after his knock of 74 against the West Indies at the Wankhede.

FOR SETTLING LAWSUIT

district judge John Koeltl, in the southern district of New York, said in his order that the City of New York agrees to pay Biswas US$ 2,25,000 in “full satisfaction of all claims” and in consideration for the payment Biswas “agrees to dismissal of all the claims” against all the defendants. He said that the parties in the case “desire to resolve the issues” raised in the litigation “without further proceedings and without admitting any fault or liability.”

AT US$ 300 A COUPLE, NRI SERVES GRAND BREAKFAST IN NY

While conventional wisdom has it that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, no one has so far proposed that it be the most expensive. Certainly not at Denny's – America's “fast casual” pancake house whose 1600 outlets have catered to the country's middle class for over half a century – with its headquarters in the aptly named Spartanburg in South Carolina. But an Indian family that came to America with just US$ 300 in its pocket has decided to turn conventional wisdom on its head. The Marwahs think US$ 300 plus taxes (approx. INR 20,000) is an affordable price for breakfast-for-two on Wall Street. Their first Denny's in the Big Apple announced a “Grand Cru Slam” brunch special for its opening last month. Besides the regular Denny's Grand Slam breakfast (which ordinary comes at US$ 5.99 elsewhere in the country). the Grand Cru Slam comes with a bottle of 2003 Dom Perignon Premier Cru champagne.

Youth peace foundation celebrates WalK for peace 2014

Youth Peace Foundtion (YPF), a not-for-profit social sector organisation, threw open the 30th International Day of Peace and Non violence, 21st September, with its nation wide event “Walk for Peace.” The response and participation of youth was overwhelming, far exceeding the 30,000 people expected from across 17 cities in India.

Greeting the morning sun, the very zest of the event came alive when people took a peace walk for a mile around designated venues. The walk not only signified people’s interest in Peace promotion, but also was an expression of solidarity of a people united in the best of the spirits, working towards oneness. The opening of the event marked a point of significant change for the YPF, with its mission of “Building a Culture of Peace.” The walk was followed by magnificent live

musical performances and inspiring speeches and videos on Peace. On the event floor, YPF and youth reflected their common ambition of a peaceful society sharing insights and vision. Peace was discussed as an acquired skill essential for living and not a mere natural phenomena bound to happen. Choosing to step outside the stereotyped boundaries of social setups, the YPF strives to promote peace as an es-

sential element for the further evolution of the human race. Youth is the first to benefit from this event and will carry the legacy onwards to coming generations.

A special video message of Peace by eminent speaker and ambassador of peace Sh. Prem Rawat, inspired and motivated the youth, where he emphasized the need for finding inner peace and happiness in one’s life, He also added that, “when every person will take this responsibility on individual basis then Peace is definitely possible on the face of this earth”.

Sh. R.K. Rai, a former IG, said, “The event deserves plaudits with some great initiatives of committed youth volunteers of the Foundation at such a nascent stage after its inception.” A sponsor of the event had this to say: “YPF holds significant promise for those who would like to partner in building the foundations for a culture of peace among individuals, societies and nations worldwide.”

“It is overwhelming to see such a spectacular response from people across India. Youth seem to embrace peace with all its fervor. We will surely be launching a series of more such inspiring and noble initiatives and events in the future. I would like to thank all the sponsors and our entire team of YPF for their commendable efforts in the success of this event,” concluded Balendu Mohan, the director of the Youth Peace Foundation.

VOTE FOR FLASHING RED LIGHTS

It’s no fun being an MLA these days, said the Member of the Legislative Assembly. Each time I go on a study tour to London, Paris, California and Bangkok, the TV channels criticize me for ignoring the sufferings of the common people in my constituency which is reeling under floods. Am I responsible for the heavy rains ?

You are right, said the Minister. I did my duty by making an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas. Only after that did I go to America to get first-hand experience of tourism facilities in developed countries. And so what if my family members accompany me ? Will prices of onions and potatoes come down merely by depriving my children and grandchildren of a trip to Disneyland ?

Great injustice is being done, said the Member of Parliament. Forget foreign trips, even in domestic airports one does not get the respect one deserves. They refused to delay the departure of the DelhiMumbai flight for me. My PA assured them I would reach the airport within two hours but the plane just took off without waiting for me. This has never happened before. As a result I was not able to attend the griha-pravesh ceremony of my daughter’s brother-in-law’s new house.

Sir, last week a policeman stopped me in the middle of the road and forced me to remove the Lal Batti on my car. I told him I was a youth leader of the ruling party and I am also distantly related to the local municipal corporator. But he would not listen. I felt humiliated. What is the use of devoting one’s life to serving the people if even a sub-inspector can insult you in public ?

I am an ex-MP, said the ex-MP. Just because I lost the 2004 and 2009 elections and my party did not give me a ticket for the 2014 elections does not mean I should lose my VIP status. I still get my life pen-

sion and free air and rail travel. But they have withdrawn my security guards saying there is no threat perception on my life. How do they know that ? I have many enemies. I should be given Z-plus security. Many money-lenders are after my blood.

I am an ex-Minister, said the ex-Minister. I have been thrown out from my official bungalow. I wanted to convert the place into a permanent memorial for my father. I was planning to apply for permis-

ment officials.

I agree with you one hundred percent, agreed the veteran political leader. They do not realize that without special privileges and perquisites, the whole government machinery will come to a standstill.

If MPs are denied special status, there will no longer be any incentive for social climbers, school dropouts and unemployed youth to join politics. They will prefer to take up more lucrative professions like petty crime and wheeling-dealing.

If their driving ambition for instant fame and fortune, power and pelf is nipped in the bud, their mental and physical energies will be drained. They will become incapable of tirelessly working for 24 hours a day, crisscrossing the country, holding meetings, making speeches, breaking coconuts, motivating the masses with rosy promises.

Without such non-stop adrenalin-pumping activities of the political class, the people of the country will soon slip into a disinterested stupor leading to languid pessimism, general despondency and mass inertia.

sion in triplicate, as per the rules. But they kept sending me eviction notices. And now they cut off supply of electricity and water to force me to vacate. They have no respect for history.

It is all the fault of the media, said the senior bureaucrat. They have launched a vindictive campaign against VIP and VVIP culture. It is just out of jealousy. Just because the Prime Minister has stopped taking large press parties with him on foreign trips, they are trying to create hurdles in the way of elected representatives of the people and senior govern-

If Ministers and MPs are forced to stand like common citizens in self-service queues and wait patiently for traffic signals to turn green on congested crossroads, if they are made to suffer the same daily indignities as the aam admi does, the real danger is that very soon they will become aam admis themselves.

Hence, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press and Electronic Media, let us keep our political class happy by allowing them to enjoy the loaves and fishes of office and the privileges and perquisites that come with power. Let them play with little toys like flashing red lights and go on foreign junkets at tax-payers’ expense. It’s a small price to pay for normalcy and business as usual.

RAMAN SWAMY

MODI's LOOK EAST

LINK WEST STRATEGY

India's foreign policy resurgence on the world arena has been exemplified by the new Modi government's renewed 'look-east' and 'link-west' policy and the Prime Minister's focus on a strong regional development agenda.

This was more than obvious during Xi Jinpeng's visit to India mid-month, Modi's diplomatic power-play during his Japan visit early-september and his whistle-stop tour of the United States just a few days ago.

Modi, for long cold-shouldered by a Washington that refused him a visa to enter the country, was lavished a rapturous welcome by the Indian-American community and found pleasant solace in Washington's newfound willingness to court him that marked a sea-change in the perception of the US establishment after a decade-long haitus.

Making his stand clear in subtle fashion, he avoided meeting Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan along the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, while he did make it a point to hold one-to-one meets with Sushil Koirala of Nepal, Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh and Mahinda Rajapakshe of Sri Lanka.

Other prominent leaders he met were Netanyahu of Israel, and the Clintons Bill and Hillary.

Narendra Modi arrives in New York on a 5-day long official visit seeking to hardsell India as a sound investment destination and mend ties with the US. Gets a rousing welcome from Indian Diaspora who cheer him all around ...

Modi paying tribute to the 3,000 victims of 9/11. Message: India and United States are allies in their fight against terrorism ...

Taking centrestage at the Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park, Modi addressed a crowd of 60,000, mostly American students. He ended his inspiring talk with: “What you do today will determine our tomorrow ... May the Force be with you.”

was much to the point, steering clear of controversies. But he did take a dig at Pakistan while averring that though India placed highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with neighbours, he was open to serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan only if a peaceful atmosphere without the shadow of terrorism prevails, asserting that Pakistan must take steps to foster such an environment, instead of raking up bilateral issues in this forum (the UN).

He was also critical of the Gx types of groupings and lack of reform within the UN: “Today, we still operate in various Gs with different numbers. India, too, is involved in several, but how much are we able to work together as G1 or G-All ? ... No one country or group of countries can determine the course of this world, there has to be a genuine international partnership. This is not just a moral position, but a practical reality. We must ... also ... reform the UN, including the Security Council, and make it more democratic and participative. Institutions that reflect imperatives of the 20th century won't be effective in the 21st.”

He also emphasised the scale of 'want' in the world – 2.5 billion people have no access to basic sanitation, 1.3 billion to electricity and 1.1 billion to drinking water, mooting the need for more comprehensive and concerted direct international action.

His New York address at the UN General Assembly

No music legend, no sporting great, but a rather unusual 'rockstar' – Narendra Modi, at Madison Square Garden. With his taking on the role of a charismatic messiah for the Indian Americans, the famous venue has now earned a new moniker: 'Modi-son' Square Garden ... His 'rockstar' performance at the MSG saw no less than 40 top US lawmakers attending the event along with some 20,000 odd Indian-Americans.

After two days of outreach to the Indian Diaspora and playing to the audiences, where among numerous positive overtures he announced emigration reforms – the merging of PIO & OCI categories with eligiblity for lifetime visas, no more mandatory visits to Police Stations on long stays, and on-arrival visas for US tourists and business travellers.

On his third day, he shifted gear effortlessly to move on to a power-play mode, connecting with Captains of US Industry and making a strong pitch for largescale investments into the Indian economy, promising a bevy of policy 'and process' reforms that will make doing business in India silkensmooth.

Interfacing with President Obama on the last day of his 5-day visit, Modi focused on issues ranging from terrorism to defence, climate change to ebola and civil nuclear cooperation to India's business policies, among others.

"Joint and concerted efforts" will be made to dismantle safe havens for terror and outfits like LeT, JeM, ISIS, Al-Qaeda et al. Steps will be taken to “disrupt financial and tactical support” to such terror groups. The Indo-US defence engagement now stands extended for another 10 years ... with India raising FDI cap in defence from 26% to 49%, Modi has thrown doors open for US defence companies to participate in developing Indian defence infrastructure.

On Climate Change, both leaders have agreed to cooperate closely. On the Ebola crisis, while India has not been active in the international fight against the humanitarian crisis, Modi stepped up India's role by pledging US$ 12 million towards the effort.

Thay have also "... agreed to take civil nuclear cooperation ahead ... which ... will be very significant for India's energy security."

"America is an integral part of our 'Look East Link West policy'", Modi emphasised, while taking up India Inc's concerns, seeking easier access to the US economy for Indian service companies.

On the TFA, Modi told the US President that it will indeed be difficult for India to endorse the TFA unless a solution is worked to address India's food security concerns. The PM also invited the US President to visit India, which the White House has accepted.

Modi moves breaks out of security cordon to interact with Indian-Americans present to welcome him outside the Washington DC hotel where he stayed ...

“Kem Cho Mr PM ?” ... asks Mr. Barak Obama, as Modi arrives at the White House for a dinner hosted in his honour.

Photo Courtesy: PIB, Text: Chakravarthi Suchindran

INDIA LOOKS EAST PRESAGING AN ASIA RESURGENCE

In the context of India's renewed 'look-east' policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on a regional development agenda, there is no gainsaying that all of Asia in general stands to profit much from India taking its foreign policy seriously and fleshing it out to be more in keeping with it's geopolitical importance in the homily of nations. However, there still remain many ifs and buts, Modi's strong posturing and his hitting the floor running from day-one of his electoral victory notwithstanding. While the right signals have been emanating from important ministries that are India's power-centres, it still remains to be seen how successful the new PM is in positioning India to take optimum advantage of it's stance on the world arena. Raman Swamy embarks on a mini-analysis of what is in store this autumn ...

“S

peak softly but always carry a big stick”. Nobody really knows the origin of this proverb. Some say it is an old West African adage. Others give Theodore Roosevelt the credit for coining the phrase. President Xi Jinping of China probably knows that it has been the wisdom of oriental sages since the Ming dynasty and “big stick diplomacy” is his preferred foreign policy doctrine while dealing with other nations. Despite speaking softly and smiling sweetly for the camera throughout his India visit by attending Prime Minister’s birthday dinner, promising to invest US$ 20 billion into infrastructure and manufacturing projects, pledging to open a new land route to Kailash Mansarovar, urging Narendra Modi to visit China as early as possible next year, despite all these friendly gestures, the Chinese leader simultaneously wielded the big stick by sending his Army into Indian territory in northeastern parts of Ladakh.

Even as the two leaders were closeted in New Delhi’s Hyderabad House, talking of medium-term plans for economic and trade development, signing a dozen MoUs on civil nuclear cooperation, peaceful uses of outer space and railway modernization, Chinese soldiers and personnel were setting up three camps within 300 km of Leh and Chinese helicopters were making several sorties to air-drop food and supplies for the men of the People's Liberation Army. Taken aback and astonished, officials of the Indian government could do little but attempt a feeble show of token retaliation – signals were reportedly sent to the police outside the venue of the high-level talks to allow a small group of 20 Tibetan women to assemble near a side gate, indulge in half-an-hour of slogan shouting and flag waving before being carted away from the scene in buses and jeeps.

Even the man keen to become known as a straighttalking Prime Minister chose to do little more than tell the media after his one-to-one conclave with President Xi: "Respect for each other's sensitivities and concerns

and peace and stability in our relations and along our borders are essential".

If the brief mock demonstrations by a bevy of Tibetan girls were a pale response to the provocative PLA incursion in Ladakh’s Demchok and Chumar region, so too was Modi stress on the need for “mutual respect” a less than adequate reaction to the mood changing act of the Chinese Army. The immediate effect of the timing of China’s “big stick diplomacy” was to dampen the mood of what could otherwise have been euphoric celebration of the advent of a new era of Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai friendship. From the banks of the Sabarmati in Ahmedabad to the treelined avenues of Lutyen’s Delhi, all reports till then had indicated that Modi and XI had developed a personal chemistry that was genuinely a good augury for better relations between the two most populous countries in the world.

Adding to the atmosphere of hope and optimism was the tremendous personal impact that the Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan made on whoever she met, including the students and teachers of the Tagore International School which she visited. Not only is Madame Peng Liyuan the Chinese President’s wife, but she has been a celebrity singing star hugely admired in the own country and rated by US magazines as being even more charming and photogenic than the American first Lady Michelle Obama.

The talk in diplomatic circles is that this is the way China conducts its foreign policy. In the words of one Western envoy: “The Chinese know how to launch a charm offensive when they wish to. They smile broadly and bow courteously but wave a big stick once in a while, just to remind you not to assume you have won them over. That is how they do business. It is just their way of measuring your limits of patience and tolerance and your yearning for friendship”. Such an approach might well have been part of ancient India’s art of war and peace too. But perhaps because of India’s turbulent history of being ruled by outsiders over the centuries, much of the age-old knowledge has been lost and forgotten. China, historically much more fortunate in terms of foreign invasions and conquests, appears to have retained old learnings and incorporated such Oriental wisdom in 21st century diplomatic strategies.

In many ways, the experience with President Xi may have been an eye-opener for Narendra Modi. Till then his foreign policy initiatives showed that he had something of a Midas-like knack of pulling off spectacular diplomatic successes with a personal touch. Just as he won kudos for taking the oath as Prime Minister in the presence of a galaxy of SAARC leaders, so also his idea of inviting the Chinese President to be the guest-in-chief at his 64th birthday celebrations was hailed as a masterstroke.

Within the first three months of his tenure Modi has shown a dexterity to create and seize opportunities to make symbolic gestures when dealing with foreign leaders, which add value to the atmospherics and lend a sense of cordiality and intimacy to diplomatic relations between two countries.

In the case of President Xi Jinping, the very decision to land in Ahmedabad rather than New Delhi might have bent protocol norms to quite an extent, but it did signify that the Chinese were equally keen to reciprocate such confidence building gestures.

Indeed many foreign policy pundits have noted that one of the strong points of the Modi government seems to be the manner in which it is approaching foreign policy and global security issues. It is worth reiterating that the Prime Minister’s visits to Japan and Nepal reflected the ability to think out of the box. These initial successes have been due to imaginative initiatives taken by India, such as the invitation to SAARC leaders for the oath ceremony, the upgrading of the trip to Kathmandu into a grand photo opportunity

and even the masterful manner in which Modi himself raised the Japan visit to the level of a celebration of his personal rapport with Prime Minister Abe. With the amount of interest that has been built up over Narendra Modi’s much-anticipated meeting with President Barack Obama, it is widely anticipated that India’s international profile would rise further.

Hence, apart from a few short-duration blips such as the abrupt cancellation of peace talks with Pakistan and the initial lack of clarity on New Delhi’s policy stance on the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the Modi government appeared to be sure-footed on foreign policy or external security. This indicates that the Prime Minister appears to have the benefit of advice from a pool of experienced and innovative geo-strategic experts who appear to be not only shaping foreign policy contours but also creating opportunities to ramp up India’s global image through dramatic gestures and symbolic initiatives.

Such a think-tank, if it exists at all as a formal entity, also appears to be dealing directly with the Prime Minister and his National Security Advisor rather than through the External Affairs Ministry. This explains why Sushma Swaraj, the de facto Foreign Minister, at times to have been not quite in step with Modi’s emerging and carefully-crafted global strategy. Not only was she not part of the ministerial entourage to Japan, but she was also apparently not fully in the loop about the complex approach to the Gaza crisis. In spite of that, Sushma Swaraj has been

able to hold her own by virtue of her outstanding success in negotiating the release and safe return home of the large number of nurses and other Indian citizens who had been held hostage or otherwise stranded in war-torn Iraq when the ISIS phenomenon first raised its head. It is a different matter that NSA Ajit Doval was, perhaps, the real architect of success story by reportedly making personal under-cover trips to meet his contacts in various countries in the region. But Swaraj did have a key diplomatic role to play and she richly deserves whatever credit she got.

A pertinent issue which is likely to prove a different kind of challenge in the coming weeks is the ISIS issue, which could pose an interesting foreign policy issue dilemma. Apart from the direct impact that the rise of the ISIS has had on India due to alarming reports that hundreds of Indian citizens are being lured to enroll as ISIS fighters in the Middle East, New Delhi has till now been watching the developments in Iraq and Syria from afar, as it were. With US President Obama’s announcement that it had finally taken the decision to carry out aerial bombardment of Syria if necessary in pursuit of its mission to “defeat and destroy” the ISIS forces, India can no longer afford to continue its traditional fence-sitting posture. Obama has pledged a "relentless" war against the “Islamic State” (ISIS), raising crucial questions about US plans to aid rebel groups and carry out air strikes in Syria and also potent questions about what the Syrian government’s response to such violations of its sovereign territory will be.

Already, one of President Bashar alAssad's ministers has warned that "any action of any kind (by the US) without the consent of the Syrian government would be an attack on Syria."

If India wishes to pursue its goal as a major global player, New Delhi may have to significantly alter the contours of its West Asia policy and make common cause with the US and its allies as well as engage with the Kurdish Regional Government leadership in the fight against ISIS in northern Iraq. Reports say the Kurd leaders, with whom Ajit Doval reputedly has close links, have already sought India’s active help.

Moreover, the White House has also issued an official pre-visit statement indicat-

ing that the upcoming Modi-Obama meeting “will focus on regional issues, including current developments in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, where India and the United States can work together with partners towards a positive outcome”. The implications are clear – America wants India on its side in the War against Terror.

As time goes by, in the emerging complex multi-polar global scenario, New Delhi will inevitably be confronted with several tough choices. The frenetic pace at which Modi has been shaping foreign policy in the last month alone indicates that greater reliance is being laid on instinct and intuition rather than on the tried and tested methods of meticulously weighing all the pros and cons before making nuanced, calibrated and deliberately gradual shifts in foreign policy stances.

Conventional wisdom suggests that rapid and instinctive decision-making and

spontaneous initiatives on the international geo-strategic chessboard can be fraught with dangers. Rightly has it been said that the purpose of foreign policy is not to provide an outlet for our own sentiments of hope or indignation; it is to shape real events in a real world. Narendra Modi’s style of diplomacy may appear energetic and imaginative. At the same time it gives the impression that enough thought has not gone into the nitty-gritty of policy formulation. After all, diplomacy is more than saying or doing the right things at the right time – it is avoiding saying or doing the wrong things at any time. In order to avoid making false steps or errors that can prove costly or embarrassing, it is advisable to make haste slowly.

RAMAN SWAMY

The author is an astute veteran journalist who writes on politics, foreign affairs & satire

RPBD 2014: MAKING A BEELINE TO LONDON

Keeping in mind the size and importance of the Indian Diaspora in the UK, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, under the helm of NDA Minister of External affairs Ms. Sushma Swaraj, has zeroed in upon London to hold the 2014 regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention. This mini-PBD event, meant to serve as a bridge between the Diaspora and the Indian Government, is slated to take place between the 16th & 18th of October this year, and the first such to be held in the UK. About 700 participants from all over the UK and neighbouring European countries are expected to participate in the event. NRI Achievers brings you the outlines of what is being planned for the conclave.

Regional PBDs (Pravasi Bharatiya Divas) are Diaspora events organised by the Indian Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in collaboration with the host Government, the Indian Mission there, prominent Overseas Indians, and several Indian community organisations. Earlier Regional PBDs were held in New York, Singapore, The Hague, Durban, Toronto, Mauritius and Sydney. The professed objective of these regional conventions is to reach out to members of the overseas community who have been unable to participate in the annual PBD in India, and to provide them with a platform from which to partake in the Indian Growth Story, and contribute to the relationship between their region

and India.

The Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) is partnering the Indian Government for the Regional PBD in London, and is also busy at organising a Business Roundtable and B2B meetings in collaboration with the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) as part of the conclave. The event will feature discussions on India-UK collaboration in trade and investment (including in third countries), the role of Diaspora in

India-EU trade and their contributions to British/European and Indian societies and economies, the role of NRI/ PIO businesses in European nations, and the role of youth in widening the scope of engagement between India and the Diaspora through cooperation in education, culture and skill development, not to mention taking a serious look at the aspirations and expectations of the Indian Diaspora from the mother country.

Th E OvERsEAs I NDIAN FAcILITATION cENTRE (OIFc) Is PARTNERING Th E I NDIAN GOvERNMENT FOR Th E REGIONAL PBD IN LONDON, AND Is ALsO Busy AT ORGANIsING A BusINEss ROuNDTABLE AND B2B MEETINGs IN cOLLABORATION wITh Th E cII (cONFEDERATION OF I NDIAN I NDusTRy) As PART OF Th E cONcLAvE

Speakers at the event are likely to include prominent dignitaries from the UK and India, key members of the Indian community in Britain, Indian and British representatives of large corporations, as well as eminent academicians and media persona. To recap, the programme of the London Regional PBD will broadly be based on the following themes:

n Present and future relationship between India and the Indian diaspora n Aspirations and expectations of the Indian diaspora from India

n India-UK collaborations in trade and investment including in third countries;

n Role of diaspora in India-EU trade n Role of NRI/PIO businesses in European countries

n Contribution of the Indian diaspora to the British/European and Indian societies and economies

n Role of youth in widening the scope of engagement between India and the diaspora, including through cooperation in education, culture and skill development.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, or PBD as it is know for short, is celebrated on the 9th of January every year to mark the contribution of the communities of Overseas Indians to the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the date on which to celebrate this occasion, as it was on this very day in 1915 that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, one of the greatest and most wellknown Pravasis, returned to India from South Africa, kickstarted India’s free-

dom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.

PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with India's government of the day, and with the people of the land from which their ancestors and peers have been voyaging the seas in their quests for betterment, for embarking on mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian communities resident in various parts of the world and enable them to fruitfully share their experiences in various fields.

During these annual events, individuals of exceptional merit are often honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in and contribution to India’s growth. These Awards are bestowed upon individuals from across the world who the Indian Government feels have brought honour to India through their endeavours and achievements in another country. For instance, in the 2014 PBD, Shailesh Lakhman Vara (born 4th September 1960), a British Conservative Party politician, Justice Minister and Member of Parliament, was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. The event also provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas for 2015, it is now known, will be held in January 2015 at Mahatma Mandir, at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. With 2015 marking one hundred years of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa, PBD 2015 is expected to be celebrated in a grand way. A big number of participants from the UK are also expected to take part in PBD 2015.

Th E PRAvAsI BhARATIyA DIvAs, OR PBD As IT Is KNOw FOR shORT, Is cELEBRATED ON Th E 9Th OF JAN uARy EvERy yEAR TO MARK Th E cONTRIBuTION OF Th E cOMMuNITIEs OF OvERsEAs I NDIANs TO Th E DEvELOPMENT OF I NDIA

NRI Achievers Bureau, UK

PRAVASI BHARATIYA SAMMAN RECIPIENTS FROM THE UK (2003 - 2014)

AWARDEE

LORD NAVNIT DHOLAKIA

Navnit Dholakia, OBE, PC, DL (born 4 March 1937) is a British politician who is the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. Educated in India and Tanzania, Dholakia came to Britain to study at Brighton Technical College. Was made a peer in 1997. He is also one of the most senior Asian politicians in Britain.

LORD MEGHNAD DESAI

Meghnad Jagdishchandra Desai, (born 10 July 1940 in Vadodhara, Gujarat) is an Indian-born, naturalised British economist and Labour politician. Made a peer in 1991. Is LSE Professor Emeritus, and author of 20+ books & 200+ articles. Awarded the Padma Bhushan, third highest civilian award in India, 2008.

AWARDEE

LORD BHIKHU CHHOTALAL PAREKH

Bhikhu Chotalal Parekh, (born 4 January 1935 in Amalsad, Gujarat) is a political theorist. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Westminster & Emeritus Professor, University of Hull.

Vikram Seth (born 20 June 1952) is an Indian novelist and poet, resident in the UK. He has received several awards including Padma Shri, WH Smith Literary Award and Crossword Book Award. Seth is a polyglot, comfortable with Welsh, German, French, Mandarin, and English. Seth's collections of poetry such as "Mappings" and "Beastly tales", are notable contributions to the Indian English language poetry Canon.

AWARDEE

GULAM KADERBHOY NOON

Gulam Kaderbhoy Noon, MBE (born 24 January 1936) is a British businessman originally from Mumbai, India, and is currently the Chancellor of the University of East London. Apropos, he is also known as the "Curry King" of Britain, having founded and operated a number of food product companies in Southall manufacturing chilled and frozen ready meals, especially Indian and Thai cuisine, predominantly for UK supermarkets...

PBD DOMAIN 2003 Public Affairs

PBD DOMAIN 2005 Political Science

SIR

PBD DOMAIN 2006 Business

AWARDEE

PBD DOMAIN 2004 Public Affairs

SHRI VIKRAM SETH

AWARDEE

PBD DOMAIN 2005 Literature

AWARDEE

LORD DILJIT RANA

Diljit Singh Rana, MBE (born 20 September 1938) is a British politician and member of the House of Lords. He has now been a resident of Belfast since 1966, and promotes business links between India and Northern Ireland. He is also India's honorary consul in Belfast.

Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, CBE, DL (born 26 November 1961 in Hyderabad, AP, India, is an Indian-origin British entrepreneur and a life peer. He is best known as one of the two founders of Cobra Beer. A Chartered Accountant and Lawyer, July 2014 saw Lord Bilimoria being installed as the 7th Chancellor of the University of Birmingham.

AWARDEE

BARONESS SHREELA FLATHER

Shreela Flather, (born 13 February 1934) is a teacher and British politician. She attended University College London and has been a teacher of English as a second language. She has served as Deputy Mayor and Mayor for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and has held several senior posts in various organisations involved in refugee, community, race relations and prison work.

AWARDEE

Patricia Rozario, OBE, is a Bombay-born British soprano. Born to Goan parents and educated in Bombay, India, she went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She is the first Indian singer of Western Classical Music to sustain a performing career over 30 years, and is one of the few Indian Fellows at the Royal College of Music, UK.

MS. PATRICIA MARIA ROZARIO

LORD KARAN BILIMORIA

AWARDEE

DOMAIN

Business

Dr. Sandip Verma (born 30 June 1959 in Amritsar, Punjab, India), moved to England as a child with her parents. She is a businesswoman, and a member of the House of Lords. She has been a junior minister at the Dept. of Energy & Climate Change since 6 September 2012. Baroness Verma is a member of the International Trade Council.

BARONESS SANDIP VERMA

AWARDEE PBD DOMAIN

Shailesh Lakhman Vara (born 4 September 1960) is a British Conservative Party politician. Born in Uganda to Hindu Indian immigrants, Vara came to Britain with his family in 1964. Vara qualified to be a solicitor, and worked in the City and West End of London. He has been a senior legal adviser and business consultant for London First, and is the vice-president of the Small Business Bureau.

SHRI SHAILESH LAKHMAN VARA

AWARDEE PBD DOMAIN

1 2

VIGNETTES OF LONDON

3. The City of London is a 'city within a city'. It has a population of 11,000, an area of approximately 1 square mile and its mayor is called The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London. St. Paul's Cathedral is located here. It is cocooned within the London we know that has a population of 8 million.

1. The Prime Meridian is marked here. We measure time in India as GMT + 5.30 hours. The GMT is calculated from here.

This month, London plays host to the 'Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2014'. This montage aims to share the various hues of the RPBD host city. Interestingly, there is a lot here that is directly or indirectly connected with India too!

2. Great Britain is a Constitutional Monarchy. Buckingham Palace is the London residence of the Monarch, Queen Elizabeth the Second. Now, her neighbours are none other than a family of Indian origin, the Hinduja brothers, who recently took the almost next-door Carlton House Terrace on a 125-year lease.

5. The Ganges of the West, Thames. On the other bank, besides the Parliament House, is the Big Ben, which might get rechristened as Elizabeth Tower in recognition of 60 years of her rule.

Westminster Bridge reflects the bigger picture of London that it is a melting pot of people from across the globe.

4. This giant circular auditorium is arguably the most famous stage for artists to perform – The Royal Albert Hall. Just across the road, you'll find a steeple housing an elegant golden statue of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria. Here, besides Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, even Shreya Ghoshal recently performed.

6. The total area of Hyde Park (and its adjoining Kensington Park) is over 600 acres, making it larger than Monaco. Besides its famous Speakers' Corner where many greats have shaped public opinion, it also has been the location for many Bollywood song sequences that have entertained the public.

7. Beefeaters (Yeomen Warders), whose role has now been reduced to being tour guides, were principally responsible to look after the prisoners in the Tower of London, and guard the crown jewels that include the famous Kohinoor diamond from India. The cannons are housed outside the crown jewels vault as symbolic security.

8. The London Eye is on the South Bank of Thames River. This giant Ferris Wheel is 443 feet (135 meteres) tall and gives you an impressive aerial view of the city both sides of Thames. Interestingly, the original London Eye, commissioned in 1894 in Earls Court, was 300 feet tall and was erected for an Empire of India exhibition.

10. For the last 950 years, Westminster Abbey has been the final resting place of the 'Who's Who' of Great Britain. Besides the great authors, artists, poets, royalty and others, it also has an India Mutiny Memorial.

9. Piccadilly Circus

various radials like Regent Street and Oxford Street are the most popular shopping areas of London. And the sites along these streets are colourful, to say the least.

11. Trafalgar Square with its Nelson's Column, 4 bronze lions and an imposing fountain is a popular spot for locals and tourists to meet up or just spend some leisure time. For Indians who have not even been to London, the most nostalgic memory of this spot would perhaps be Amrish Puri feeding the pigeons here in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ). The pigeons have now been driven away and feeding them here is illegal.

and its

Photos & Text: Ajay Sood

THE QUEEN'S INDIA BRIGADE PROMINENT PEOPLE OF INDIAN DESCENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

There are several people of Indian origin in the United Kingdom, who came into British society from many walks of life, some have made the British Isles their home, taking up different vocations, while some remain NRIs. They range from shopkeepers to academicians, chefs to industrialists, actors and actresses to sportsmen, and literateurs to traders and politicians, amongst others. We make an effort in this piece to feature a random crosssection of people of Indian origin, who have adopted the host country of Great Britan for their domicile. And we aim to continue with such mini-profiles in future editions as well, so do look for them ...

THE HINDUJAS

Deciding to spend 100 million pounds sterling on a mansion that should symbolize the power and wealth of the family, the Hindujas have ensured that their name be put among Britain’s finest society. The location of their latest house, a few steps away from the Buckingham Palace, gives the billionaire NRI family the status of neighbors to Queen Elizabeth II. It took the Hinduja brothers (worth UK£ 6 Billion) five years and £40 –£50 million to restore the four properties that serve as the base for this mansion. This is apart from spending £58 million on buying the derelict property. Right across the street, the Queen of the United Kingdom has her residence.

This particular residence that the Hin-

duja brothers have bought is the largest Grade-1 home in London, being now the home of Srichand, Gopichand, Ashok and Prakash Hinduja. The Buckingham Palace is not the only famous residence in their surroundings. There is also the St. James Palace. Located on Carlton Terrace, the mansion is built over six floors, comprises 50 rooms and it was originally built for King George IV back in the 1820s. The rooms will be grouped up to form 4 apartments for each of the brothers, and, covering an area of 70,000 sq ft, it’s more than enough. The mansion also boasts a private cinema, swimming pool, dining room with a huge glass central table that may accommodate up to 30 people. English Heritage supervised the renovation of the huge home, adding solid marble floors, Honduran mahogany paneling and Italian chandeliers. And it’s truly a great place to live in.

The four Hinduja brothers today manage the world-girdling conglomerate known as the Hinduja Group, the saga of which began in Sind, the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilisation, where more than 5,000 years ago the human race learnt its first lessons in organised business and banking. Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, a young entrepreneur from the town of Shikar-

pur, realised early in life that business was all about spotting opportunities, and seizing them wherever they surfaced. He travelled first to Mumbai in 1914, and quickly learnt the ropes of business. He set up the company's first international operation in Iran in 1919, dubbing Hindi films into the Persian language. The headquarters of the group moved to Iran where it remained until 1979, when the Islamic Revolution forced it to move to Europe.

Srichand Hinduja and his brother Gopichand moved to London in 1979 to develop the export business; Prakash manages the group's finances in Geneva, Switzerland while the youngest brother, Ashok, oversees the Indian interests. The brothers are all conservative, vegetarian and teetotallers, and dress in similar ways, with a preference for black suits and round glasses. Though Merchant Banking and Trade were the twin pillars of the business, the Group has since expanded and diversified its businesses, with significant social and charitable contributions, under the present leadership of Parmanand's eldest son Srichand, Chairman of the group, ably supported by his brothers, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok. Today, the Hinduja Group has become one of the largest diversified groups in the world spanning all continents. The Group employs over 70,000 people and has offices in many key cities of the world and all the major cities in India.

The Hinduja Family has always adapted to free-market reforms moving quickly in new markets that have opened, and capitalising on new economy opportunities. As a result, the Hin-

duja Group has now strategically positioned itself to contribute to old economy sectors such as Banking & Finance,

Transport, Energy (Oil & Power) as well as the new economy of Technology, Media and Telecom.

LAKSHMI MITTAL

Speaking of sprawling mansions, London's leafy Kensington Palace Gardens - home to Indian-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, is said to be the world's second-mostexpensive street. The Chairman and CEO of Arcelor-Mittal owns house numbers 9a and 18-19 on this tree-lined street. Mittal ranks among the richest in the world, with an estimated net-worth of US$ 16.71 billion. As the head of Arcelor-Mittal, he is employer to hundreds of thousands of people in more than 60 countries, and is a member of a number of powerful boards, including Goldman Sachs and European Aeronautic Defense. He's also part of the World Steel Association's Executive Committee, and so he has eyes — and hands — everywhere.

The 63 year old tycoon, born in Sadulpur, Rajasthan, says what he does is more important than the money he makes. Mittal is now intent on making his company both responsible and profitable after the beating the world economy took due to a global economic downturn.

To recap a bit, Mittal was the richest man of Asian descent in the United Kingdom in 2007, but despite this, he still does not hold a British citizenship. He was ranked the sixth richest person in the world by Forbes in 2011, but dropped to 21st place in 2012, due to having lost US$ 10.4 billion the previous year. In spite of the drop, Forbes estimated that he still had a personal wealth of US$ 16 billion in October 2013. He is also the 47th "most powerful person" of the 70 individuals named in Forbes' "Most Powerful People" list for 2012. His daughter Vanisha Mittal's wedding was the second most expensive in recorded history.

Lakshmi Niwas Mittal was born into an Indian Hindu Rajasthani Agarwal business family in Rajgarh tehsil (also known as Sadulpur) of Churu district in Rajasthan, India. His family moved from (Rajgarh) Sadulpur, Rajasthan to Calcutta in West Bengal. Mittal has three siblings — Pramod and Vinod Mittal and a sister Seema Lohia (wife of Sri Prakash Lohia of Indo Rama). He studied at Shri Daulatram Nopany Vidyalaya from 1957 to 1964, and graduated from St.

Xavier's College, Calcutta, with a B.Com degree from the University of Calcutta. His father, Mohan Lal Mittal, ran a steel business,

'Nippon Denro Ispat.' In 1976, due to the curb of steel production by Indian government, the 26 year old Mittal opened his first steel factory PT Ispat Indo in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia. Until the 1990s, the family's main assets in India were a cold-rolling mill for sheet steels in Nagpur, and an alloy steels plant near Pune. Today, the family business,

including a large integrated steel plant near Mumbai, is run by Pramod and Vinod, but Lakshmi has no connection with it.

ANISH KAPOOR

Born in Mumbai, he could have been just a very good Electrical Engineer. But Kapoor chose to ditch that career choice for a stint in the Hornsey College of Art and later at the Chelsea School of Art and Design in the

UK. Net result ? Electrical Engineering's loss became the art world's gain. He represented Britain in the XLIV Venice Biennale in 1990, and bagged the Premio Duemila Prize. In 1991 he received the Turner Prize and in 2002 received the Unilever Commission for the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern. His most notable public sculptures include Cloud Gate in Chicago's Millennium Park; the Sky Mirror exhibited at the Rockefeller Center in New York City in 2006 and Kensington Gardens in London in 2010; Temenos at Middlehaven, Middlesbrough; Leviathan at the Grand Palais in Paris in 2011; and ArcelorMittal Orbit, commissioned as a permanent artwork for London's Olympic Park and completed in 2012. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the UK's tallest sculpture in the heart of the 2012 Olympic Park, a 115 metre spiral sculpture that is today the

largest (and the most expensive) work of public art in British history.

Kapoor received a Knighthood in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to visual arts, and has been awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Oxford in 2014.

In late 2010, Kapoor returned to his roots with his first major showing in India, with retrospective exhibitions at the NGMA in Delhi and Mehboob Studio in Mumbai. He has campaigned vociferously on behalf of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who was imprisoned in April 2012 for what the Chinese government called 'suspected economic crimes.' Kapoor proposed a one-day closure of Art Galleries and Museums worldwide as a protest saying, “I feel that as artists we have a communal voice, and it is important that we stick together.” Ai Weiwei, apropos, is one of China’s most prolific and provocative contemporary artists. As of 2014, though released from prison, the dissident artist still remains under surveillance and his movements restricted, but continues to articulate his thoughts through his work.

KIRAN MATHARU

This 25 year old from Leeds is one of the few professional female English professional golfers. When she started out with golf, she cut a striking figure on the course but for one reason – she was outstanding at the game. This is the girl who, as part of Team Faldo, destroyed the opposition in the highly acclaimed 2004 Faldo Series by beating her nearest rival by 11 shots. She even registered a two-round final score which beat the Under-18 and Under-21 boys, all at the age of 15. Not at all bad for a girl who started playing golf by "accident".

She told BBC Sport: "When I was about 12, I went to the golf course with my dad and was just watching him hit balls on the range.

So I had a go with his clubs. Then a professional walked passed and told my dad that I had a natural swing. It was the first time I had tried golf. I wasn't really interested in it before. Now I think it's great."

Revealingly, Matharu admitted then that she probably wouldn't be playing any other sport if she didn't play golf. And even as a teenager, she was aware of the issues facing British Asian girls, but did not really know where the answers lay. She said: "I'm proud to be the only Asian girl playing but I don't know why other Asian girls don't play. None of them play sport really, it's a bit of a problem.”

Matharu's golf success and her story does make it a very enjoyable accident indeed.

V S NAIPAUL BEN KINGSLEY

Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE, was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji, on the 31st of December 1943. He is a British actor, with a long career spanning over 40 years. He has won an Oscar, Grammy, BAFTA, two Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards. He is known for his starring role as Mohandas Gandhi in Attenborough's 1982 film “Gandhi,” for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. He is also known for his performances in the films Schindler's List (1993), Sexy Beast (2000), Lucky Number Slevin

(2006), Shutter Island (2010), Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time (2010), Hugo (2011), and Iron Man 3 (2013). In 2013 he received the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles 'Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Filmed Entertainment'.

Kingsley was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000, and was made a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. In 2010, Kingsley was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Kingsley was born in Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire. He is the son of Anna Lyna Mary, an actress and model who appeared in films in the 1920s and 1930s, and Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, a medical doctor. Kingsley's father, born in Kenya, was of Gujarati Indian Ismaili Muslim Khoja descent. Kingsley's paternal grandfather was a spice trader who had moved from India to Zanzibar, where Kingsley's father lived until moving to Britain at the age of 14.

Trinidad-born

1932,

his comic early novels set in Trinidad, his bleaker later novels of the wider world, and his autobiographical chronicles of life and travels. Naipaul has published more than 30 books, both of fiction and nonfiction, over some 50 years. Born in Chaguanas on the island of Trinidad, the larger of the two islands in the British crown colony of Trinidad & Tobago, he was the second child and first son born to mother Droapatie (née Capildeo) and father Seepersad Naipaul. In the 1880s, his grandparents had emigrated from India to work as indentured labourers in Trinidad's sugar plantations. In the largely peasant Indian immigrant community in Trinidad, Naipaul's father became an English-language journalist. In "A prologue to an autobiography" (1983), Naipaul describes how his father's reverence for writers and for the writing life spawned his own dreams and aspirations to become a writer.

Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, born 17 August

is a

Nobel Prize-winning British writer known for

NRI Achievers Bureau, UK

MAYFAIR, MAYFAIR, HERE I COME...

During the heydays of the British Raj, the colonial establishment used to abandon the searing hot plains in May and make a ritual beeline for the cooler hills to weather over the Indian summer. And what passed for India’s elite, like army officers, academicians and the odd touring aristocrat also followed in the footsteps of the government, making the rickety Himalayan town of Shimla one of the most happening haunts of the British empire during the hot season. It was a time for promenading, gala parties and extramarital affairs. In modern times though, it is the Indian mega-rich who undertake a similar migratory pilgrimage from June to August, when temperatures in tropical India rarely go below 35° C, not to Shimla but to the former imperial capital London — especially to its most exclusive quarter, Mayfair. These super-rich Indians have, for instance, in the past 12 months alone bought up something like UK£ 1 Billion worth of property in Mayfair, with an estimated 3,000 Indian families taking up seasonal residence in the famous London district. NRI Achievers reports.

This is not any entirely new phenomenon — rich Indian Nabobs and Maharajas have shopped and owned houses in Mayfair for a century and more. According to Peter Wetherell, the CEO of Wetherell Estate Agents, 'Indian investments into luxury properties in London goes back to the Edwardian era ... some of India’s richest Princes owned mansions in the capital ...' To quote an example, he cites the Nizam of Hyderabad, who owned Hyderabad House on Palace Green in Kensington, and purchased properties for his family in Mayfair and Belgravia. Mr Wetherell goes on to say: 'In more recent times, when Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of Uganda's Indian business community from the country in 1972, some 27,200 people emigrated to Britain, with the wealthiest families buying up homes in Mayfair, St Johns Wood and Holland Park ...'

Mr Wetherell adds: 'The British and international based Indian business community are extremely successful and adroit. Many have chosen to invest in Mayfair, especially in Grosvenor Square, as they can see that the district is currently undervalued compared to neighbouring locations such as Knightsbridge and Belgravia. There has been a spectacular 314 % rise in sales values in Grosvenor Square since 2000, surpassing rivals such as Eaton Square and Cadogan Square. Just a decade ago, prices and pounds per square foot values in Grosvenor Square

lagged behind rivals such as Eaton and Cadogan squares. Ten years on, the picture is very different and now values in Grosvenor Square have surpassed those in Eaton and Cadogan Square with a thrilling portfolio of UK£ 5,000 per sq/ft plus developments in housing stock underway.'

The Lodha Group, one of India’s large residential developers, recently purchased the Canadian High Commission in Grosvenor Square for UK£ 306 million. They will now spend a further nine-figure sum converting the building into 20 luxury homes.

On top of the houses and embassy buildings, rich Indian investors are also picking up a whole slew of hotels, like the Grosvenor House Hotel which was bought by Indian

business house the Sahara Group in 2010 for UK£ 470 million. The Flemings Hotel is likewise now owned by the Veladail Hotels Group headed by Satinder Gulhati, the Washington Hotel on Curzon Street is understood to be owned by the Sanga family, and The MayFair Hotel is believed to have been acquired by Jasminder Singh of the Radisson Group.

Ultra high net worth individuals (UHNIs) are typically spending between UK£ 1 million and UK£ 20 million on buying a home in Mayfair, with 70 % cent of the Indian investors purchasing an apartment or penthouse. The remainder are going either for mansions, or townhouses and mews properties. Indian buyers are now the largest over-

seas group purchasing properties in Mayfair, making up a quarter of all sales. They have forged past the Asian and Continental European buyers (19 % of all purchasers), and the Russians and Middle Eastern buyers, who now comprise a mere 13 % of all buyers.

So much so that early mornings in St James’ Park is today quite akin to the Lodi Gardens of Delhi or the Hanging Gardens in Mumbai, with a procession of well-heeled Indians perambulating around it, overwatched from the Mall by the lavish residences of a family of Indian-origin industrialists, the Hindujas — bought from the queen and renovated at an estimated cost of UK£ 50 million. At the Buckingham Palace end of the park, a five-star hotel part-owned by Tata Sons, India’s biggest private-sector company, forms the headquarters of the Indian elite’s London season.

It would not be amiss to see in its courtyard senior Hindu nationalist politicians rubbing shoulders with some of India’s national cricketers or a Congress Chief Minister, or a couple of Bollywood A-listers. Every member of this constellation — representing politics, cricket and Bollywood: the very firmament of Indian celebrity status — would also appear quite unsurprised by the encounters. We would gainsay that they Indeed come for more than just the weather. London property is seen as a secure invest-

ment, not to mention the capital’s worldbeating choice of services. British public schools are also becoming popular with rich Indians — and likely to become more so, Shahrukh Khan (the “King of Bollywood”) sending his son to board at Sevenoaks School in Kent is a case in point. A dim — sometimes very dim — sense of history makes such British luxuries all the more enticing. A very rich Indian with a London abode says it makes him mad to see so many fine Victorian monuments built with the stolen wealth of India (“but what about all the millions he’s stolen?” another Indian migrant harrumphs). Yet like the Britons who once flocked to Shimla, India’s elite come to Lon-

don mainly for the self-validating glory of their own company.

To be part of the London scene is a mark of distinction. It can also provide for excellent networking. Rich Indians from different realms and cities are often likelier to cross each other’s paths in London than in Delhi or Mumbai. For those seeking to curry favour with them, being in a foreign city (albeit one substantially owned by Indians) can also provide good opportunities to do so. Mostly, however, the Indians in London hang out with the same crowd as they do back home — and in much the same supercharged atmosphere of “frivolity, gossip and intrigue” in Shimla that Rudyard Kipling once notably noted.

Yet there is a troubling flip-side to this historical comparison. The British in Shimla tended to shut themselves off from India — even banning some Indians from the hillstation’s main promenade. London’s superrich Indians do not go to such lengths, yet their contact with British society is all but minimal. Surprisingly few socialise with British or other non-Indian tycoons or even, unless the India cricket team is in town, attend the traditional events of the London summer like the Lord’s Test match, Wimbledon, or the Henley regatta. Despite a push by the british government to strengthen business ties with India, their contact with the British economy also rarely extends beyond the services they use.

Britain has no doubt seen a handful of big investments by Indian companies in the recent past , Tata Motors’ dazzlingly successful purchase of Jaguar Land Rover in 2008 was one such. Yet Britain’s trade with India remains pitiful — with India importing more from 20 other countries. The usual explanation is that Britain’s competitive advantage lies in high-end financial and legal services, which India hardly imports, in deference to its local providers. Nonetheless, this is a worryingly poor record for two countries with a common history, common language and a common legal system — which looks even worse when you consider how many Indian tycoons keep houses in London. Why do they not see more business opportunity in Britain ? Maybe like the erstwhile imperial rulers of India, their affection for their adopted country is less emotional than transactional, and maybe perhaps also easily erasable ?

NRI Achievers Bureau, UK

CHALLENGES OF URBANISATION

One significant pointer to India's remarkable development and growth is its rapid urbanisation. Today one-third of India's population lives in urban areas and by 2030, our urban population is expected to touch the 590 million mark. According to a McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) Report, it took India nearly 40 years between 1971-2008 for the urban population to rise by nearly 230 million. But it will take only half now the time to add the next 250 million. NRI Achievers brings you a report...

The MGI Report states that cities could generate 70 percent of net new jobs created to 2030, produce around 70 percent of India's GDP, and drive a near four-fold increase in per capita income across the nation. And if urban growth is handled well, it can add 1 – 1.5 percent to the country's annual GDP growth, thereby bringing the economy to near double-digit growth.

However, the scale and challenge of urbanisation is immense, especially with regard to inclusive development. We can sustain economic growth by building inclusive cities which are planned centres of economic growth. Moreover, in our burgeoning cities, we have failed to provide the basic necessity of shelter to masses.

Over the last many years, lot of work has been done on the housing front, especially through schemes like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, and Indira Awaas Yojana, targeted at the economically weaker sections of society. But despite all

our efforts, India today faces a huge shortage of 19 million dwelling units, which is projected to touch the 30 million mark by 2022, the year that marks the Platinum Jubilee of India's independence. It becomes all the more worrysome, considering that most of this shortage is in the economically weaker section of our population.

In order to meet this massive urban demand, our economy will have to build 700 – 900 million square metres of residential and commercial space in a year. In transportation, we will need to build 350 – 400 kilometres of metros and subways every year, besides 19,000 – 25,000 kilometres of road lanes. And it's estimated that India needs to invest US$ 1.2 trillion into capital expenditure on its cities over the next 20 years. This is indeed a gigantic task and government alone can hardly fulfill it. It is here that the private sector has to come forward and play a significant role. The need of the hour is a sound Public-Private Partnership policy aimed at achieving the

desired goal of 'Housing for All by 2022.' We also need better planning and smart governance so that we can provide efficient healthcare, education, power, water, sanitation, transport facilities to improve the living standard of people especially as about 18 percent of our population lives in slums or in poor conditions.

In this backdrop, the real estate, construction and housing sector has a huge responsibility to build India with speedy and sustained development. As we all know, this sector is a huge contributor to GDP that amounted to 6.3 percent in 2013. And with its linkages to about 250 allied sectors, real estate is a huge employment generator as well. It is heartening to note that the central government has fully realised the potential of real estate in building India's economy. In the recent budget, the government has taken positive steps like liberalising FDI norms for construction besides allocating funds for credit flow to EWS & LIG housing segments. To ensure that houses are affordable and within the reach of the masses, there is a need for inclusive housing finance aimed at bringing the poor under the purview of home loans. Also, we need to encourage and adopt newer technologies and building materials for this purpose. The government has to remove several hurdles like fund crunch, land acquisition problem, slow project clearances and promote skill development, transparency and accountability so that the sector can realise its full potential.

Vinod Behl

The author is a senior media professional, with long-standing experience in the real estate sector. He is Editor, Realty Plus - a leading real estate monthly. He may be reached at vbehl2008@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE - Q&A

In this Q&A column, we bring you inputs from an award winning developer on all matters pertaining to the purchase, sale and rental of properties in India by NRIs, the extant laws that govern this, and numerous other related matters. Readers of NRI Achievers are to send in their queries, which will be answered by our panel of top honchos in the domain of real estate development.

What are preferred locations/regions for NRI investment planning ?

Historically, Mumbai and Bangalore were the preferred locations for NRIs but of late there has been a catchment towards Delhi NCR. It’s not a hidden fact that Mumbai Real estate has remained almost stagnant for few years and soaring prices of property also makes it difficult for investors with small and medium resources. Meanwhile, Bangalore finds an overgrowing burden on its existing infrastructure marred by lack of planning. This makes Delhi NCR as the most preferred location as connectivity, supporting infrastructure and development under planning make it an attractive proposition both from the investment as well as habitat point of view.

Why is this the right time for NRIs to invest in Real estate in India ?

There are a few factors that influence the decision making process of investors in any investment instrument. Firstly, RBI norms allow NRIs or any person of Indian origin to invest in residential and commercial properties without any approval of authorities through bank channels and the FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act), paid in the Indian currency. Secondly, rupee is expected to improve over the next few years and the economy is slated for a GDP growth triggered by a number of foreign investments from countries likeJapan, China and Australia. With the upcoming REITS and other checks and balances coming into place, there should be no no concern about losing money due to fraudulent methods.

Which would fetch a better return for the NRIs

– Investment in Residential or Commercial properties ?

Though both residential and commercial properties present a good investment opportunity, our advice will be that they invest more in commercial properties. Most good commercial properties come with an assured bank return and leasing assistance, some even offer guaranteed lease. In this situation, not only does the value of the asset get enhanced, but you also get fixed returns on it. This protects your investment portfolio from the volatility of stock market and inflationary elements. The longevity of leases associated with commercial properties saves you from the pain of frequent changes in leasing. The sense of pride and a portfolio diversification are other implied benefits for an NRI investor.

What other factors need to be considered by NRIs before making an investment ?

NRIs must do due-diligence, check developer credentials, supporting infrastructure, master plan of the area and quality of property management in the project. For any investment in commercial property, investors must consider additional factors like the presence of recreation and entertainment, frontage, foot-fall, location accessibility and the adjoining population.

Vikas Gupta

The writer is a joint Managing Director of Earth infrastructure, who is a marketing expert in real estate. He may be reached at vikas.gupta@earthinfra.com

PRidE of indiA AwARdS 2014

Vikas Gupta, JMD Earth Infrastructures Limited, was recently honoured with the prestigious Pride of India Award 2014, at a gala held on 22 September 2014, at the Ryburn House, Washington DC.

The award honours leaders from a cross-section of endeavour, ranging from business and enterprise to art and culture for their outstanding contributions. Every year, this award instituted by the IndoAmerican Friends Group along with the Indo-American Business Chamber, is presented to trailblazers from a variety of domains. Indians, members of the IndianAmerican communities, and the Indian Diaspora elsewhere, nominate prominent people for this award. The Indo American Friends Group projects a personal interest in promoting Indo-US ties and friendship.

Vikas Gupta, Joint MD of Earth Infrastructures, engaged in Real Estate development in Delhi/NCR, India, was one among the 2014 honourees, on the occasion of the 12th Foundation Day of the IndoAmerican Friends Group.

Other prominent awardees included Joseph Crowley – NY Congressman, and Chair US India Congressional Caucus in the US Congress, Deepak Obhrai – Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary with the Government of Canada and Ms. Renu Khator – Chancellor Houston System of Universities, USA.

INDIAN ACHIEVERS MAKING INDIA PROUD

In this special feature, our bureau brings you vignettes of some Indian Achievers, who have made their mark in different endeavours within the Indian economy, carving out a niche for themselves in their respective domains of business and service to society. Each one of them is apropos a success story, telling you about their indomitable spirit, their attention to detail, their attitude and approach to organisation building, wealth creation and contributions to their communities. Read on ...

FROM SELLING IDLIS TO PEPSI MTV YOUTH ICON IN 2008

Sarat Babu's story is about determination, a mother's hard work, an enterprise and a family's fight against the odds. Sarat accompanied his mother as she sold idlis on the pavements of Chennai to supplement her meagre income. Despite the hardships, his mother encouraged him to get an education. With the help of his family, and a loan of INR 30,000, Sarat managed to get into the prestigious BITS Pilani and followed that with an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. 'Food King' was launched in 2006 to cater to the needs of students at his alma mater – IIM Ahmedabad, and soon he expanded to his other training ground, BITS Pilani.

Serving 2000 meals everyday, Food King today serves five universities across India. Today he conducts his food busi-

BABU

ness in six locations, with a turnover of INR 9 Crore. Sarat has also recently launched a fast food restaurant and hopes to take the count to a 1000 by 2016 touching revenues of INR 50 Crore. In this particular sector, the challenges were availability of capital which applies to any other sector and then, the availability of quality manpower which was also one of the biggest challenges. The third challenge was since he was a first-time entrepreneur and didn't have any capital and/or a credit track record in the market. So nobody was willing to give credit.

His determination has made him not just a true leader in business, but in public life as well. The dark horse in the 2009 general elections, Sarat polled more than 15,000 votes in his debut attempt. Despite that drubbing, he did not give up his political aspirations. He stood as an independent candidate from Velacheri in the recent Tamilnadu elections but lost again. His manifesto was that he wanted to see a hunger-free India in his lifetime. He would create at least 1000 entrepreneurs in his constituency in the small and medium segment. He promised that in the next five years there would not be a single child from his constituency missing school.

So far, he has addressed almost 3.5 Lakh students and slum children. His team consists of 1500 volunteers and well-wishers, including 10 classmates from IIM-A.

INDIG0 AIRLINES – A PHENOMENAL

SUCCESS STORY

This is another “believe it or not” entrepreneurial story of India. A decade ago, the father and son duo of Kapil & Rahul Bha-

R AHUL BHATIA Chairman, IndiGo

tia were just another travel agency in Connaught Place. Five years later they had started off as a small-time humble budget airline, and are now Gurgaon-based IndiGo Airlines. Rahul likes to keep a low profile, but his business makes him visible all over India – and increasingly, the world. IndiGo, with it's two-tone blue livery and enviable on-time performance has become a familiar, favoured brand.

Winner of AIMA's 'Entrepereneur of the Year Award,' Rahul feels the low-cost airline model would prevail over time. Rahul is an electrical engineer from Ontario, Canada, who has over the years accumulated experience and exposure from his family travel business. After a two-year stint with IBM, he roped in an experienced aviation management guru, Rakesh Gangwar, formally of the US Airways, with a 50% share. IndiGo has since become the largest no-frills lowcost carrier which walks its talk about what customers want, i.e., on-time departure, clean aircrafts, and a good and clean flying

SARAT

Food King Catering Services Ltd.

experience. Its on-time performance record apropos is 80.6%.

The airline started operations in August 2006, and currently is the largest airline in India by market-share. IndiGo is also one of the fastest growing airlines in South Asia, operating to 33 destinations in India and abroad with 399 daily flights. Unlike most LCCs, IndiGo uses a hub and spoke model used by full-service airlines, where the flights to different destinations are all routed through the hub. IndiGo has won many awards and recognitions including 'Best LCC' by the Airlines Passengers Association of India (2007), 'Best LCC' at the Galileo Express Travel Awards (2008), the CNBC Awaz's Travel Award for 'Best Low-Cost Airline' (2009), Skytrax Award – 'Best LCC' (2010, 2011, 2012).

FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME

Ten years into branching off on his own, Dr. Grant would examine as many as 300 out-patients a day. Each in-patient was seen by him personally twice a day, imparting a sense of great confidence in the hospital. It was but natural that the institution grew from strength to strength, and by 1999, the hospital had 76 beds in the intensive care unit, the largest then in the entire country. Today the hospital has 550 beds, and with the introduction of a separate intensive coronary care unit (ICCU), has 130 ICU beds. With a staff strength of 150 consultants, 500 panel doctors and 1400 paramedical staff, the hospital is ranked first in Pune among the leading Super Specialty medical centres in the country, covering as it does 35 different specialties, amongst which are bone-marrow transplant, cardiology, cosmetic surgery, critical care, diagnostics, IVF and gynaec-endoscopy, joint replacement, kidney transplant and dialysis, liver transplantation, neuro-surgery, bariatric surgery, oncology/cancer and spinal surgery.

An ardent advocate of cardio-vascular exercise, Dr. Grant was known to jog home from the hospital everyday, while his car followed him. Each year he would participate in the Pune marathon and take home the first prize among senior citizens. At the age of 90, just before he passed away, the Government of India recognised the sterling services of this illustrious son of India by awarding him the Padma Bhushan in 2011. Those who have seen this sage of individual entrepreneurship over the years, would indeed remark, “What a footprint”!

ROSE KING OF THE WORLD

SAI R AMAKRISHNA KARUTURI MD, Karuturi Global Limited

Global has an area of 250 hectares under greenhouse cultivation and an annual production capacity of around 550 million stems per year.

Karuturi is one of the lowest cost producers of cut-roses in the world. Almost the entire production is exported to high-value markets such as Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Muscat, Dubai, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and North America, with a small portion sold in India. Karuturi Global's other fast growing business realms are food processing, floriculture retail (including a flower option portal) and information technology.

Acardiac physician, Dr. Keki Byramjee Grant started out at the Jehangir Hospital in Pune, at that time a small city of a quarter of a million. The hospital was much too small for his vision at the age of 38, so he decided to break out on his own by acquiring a colonial cottage named “Ruby Hall' and converting it to a small nursing home with just two beds. Dedication and discipline were his watchwords and with that he gathered a team of doctors and nursing staff around him, whose fame spread far and wide for superior and low cost medical care – so much so that the Ruby Hall Clinic, which still retains that name – became the Poona Medical Foundation, a charitable trust.

Sai Ramakrishna Karuturi is widely regarded as the pioneer of the cutflower revolution in the world. Under his leadership, Karuturi Global has become the world's largest producer of cut-roses by identifying Kenya and Ethiopia as a hub for cultivation and export of roses. Ram, as he is known to those close to him, was instrumental in acquiring 3,11,000 hectares of land in Ethiopia for a strategic foray into agricultural production. He holds a Bachaelor's degree in Mathamatical Engineering from Bangalore University, and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, Ohio. Karuturi

Karuturi founded the company in 1994 to produce and export roses. As an aside, it is interesting to note here that the idea took seed and germinated in his mind after an incident where while in an attempt to please his wife, Sai Ramakrishna Karuturi wandered around Bangalore in pursuit of red roses, and eventually ended up founding this firm producing roses for the world ! He has since diversified into agriculture (in 2008), planning to grow food crops such as maize, rice and sugarcane. Ram is widely regarded as thought leader and pioneer in the cutflower industry and has been given the title of 'Rose King of the World.' Karuturi Global Limited has acquired

DR . K B GRANT

Ruby Hall Clinic

111,700 hectares of land in Ethiopia to produce cereals, palm-oil and sugar. The company is listed in the BSE and NSE, two premier stock exchanges of India.

Ramakrishna has been nominated as a member of Frontier 100, and is also included in a list of Top 20 CEOs from Africa, contributing to the alleviation of poverty through their businesses. Karuturi Global has received the business excellence award in agribusiness from Corporate Council on Africa in Washington DC.

MANI IS MY FRIEND, EVEN WHEN HE DOES NOT KNOW ME!

VS S Mani started Just Dial with just 50,000 rupees in a 300 sq.ft of space, and owns 33% stake in the firm. It is now worth INR 1253 Crore. He started in 1992 from a fgarage in Mumbai. Today he heads the leading local search company in India that bridges tyhe gap between buyers and sellers by helping a buyer find a right provider of products and services, by helping sellers improve the efficiency of their marketing channels. Just Dial recently bagged the Red

V S S M ANI Managing Director, Just Dial

Hat Innovation Award in the Carved Out Costs Category. It is the first Indian company to bag this award.

Mani is a tamil brahmin born and brought up in Kolkata. He thought of the idea while working for United Database India (UDI, a yellow pages company in 1987. He felt that the information would prove to be much more useful if it could be provided over the phone. In 1996, he came to know that Mumbai's Kandivali Exchange owned the number 888 8888. However the company could not be started for almost a year because Mani could not afford a telephone connection, which used to cost 15,000 rupees. The company finally started providing local search services over the phone in 1996, under the 'Just Dial' brand and launched their internet and mobile services in 2007.

Mani started the company with a few pieces of borrowed furniture, rented computers, a 3x5 feet garage that he took on hire, and a seed capital of 50,000 rupees. In fiscal 2012, Just Dial addressed over 254.3 million search queries from millions of users across platforms. As of March 31st 2012, Just Dial had 6201 employees. It has a database of approximately 7.7 million listings and approximately 1,81,000 campaigns as of June 30, 2012. Just Dial has registered INR 2,770.2 million as consolidated total revenue from continuing operations and INR 522.8 million as consolidated restated profits after tax from continuing operations in fiscal 2012.

BAGGIT FILLS A 'BLACK HOLE' TO BECOME A PREMIER BRAND

For most people, failing in college can feel like the end of the world. But for Nina Lekhi, it was just another stop on the road to success. Today, Lekhi, owner of the premium brand of ladies' handbags and accessories, Baggit, boasts 21 stores across 8 cities in India. She is also on the verge of launching her first store overseas, in Saudi Arabia. Lekhi's jaw-dropping journey started when she flunked her first year exams in her Textile Designing course at the Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai in 1983. With time on her hands till the reexam, the teenager decided she would 'prove herself.' So she enrolled for a screen

N INA LEKHI Founder, Baggit

printing and textile designing workshop.

Bursting with energy and highly motivated, the youngster learnt her first few lessons in retail while selling carpets at a store in Mumbai and taking up temporary jobs with a couple of top-notch fashion designers. Then Lekhi borrowed INR 7,000 from her mother and bought some fabric, rope and other raw materials. Her first employees were the building's lift-man and security guard, who cut the material in their free time while a neighbourhood tailor sewed it into bags. That was in 1985. Baggit was a style statement at a time when ladies' handbags were staid and boring.

Lekhi sold her first few bags at exhibitions. Her proudest moment came when she launched her first exclusive Baggit outlet at Kemps Corner in Mumbai. Lekhi believes it is important to create a work environment where everybody feels they have an equal stake in the business. Today, total number of employees in Baggit is 750. Over 60% of Baggit's revenue comes from bags, while wallets contribute 20%. Accessories such as caps and belts contribute the rest.

At Baggit, everything from weaving and printing to manufacturing and labeling is done in-house. This helps arrest manufacturing delays and keeps quality under control. Baggit has grown at a CAGR of 30% over the last five years and the brand is now worth an estimated INR 50 Crores in the market. But Lekhi is still looking for gaps to fill.

Achievers Bureau

Indian

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DIWALI BEYOND LORD RAMA

The famous festival of Diwali (Deepavali) is said to be celebrated because on this auspicious day, Lord Rama of Hindu Mythology returned from a 14 year long exile, during which he also won the battle against King Ravana of Lanka. Lord Rama’s subjects celebrated his return by lighting up earthen lamps. With time, as the religion spread across borders, culture and festival also reached remote pockets of South Asia. But there is more to Diwali than Lord Rama. NRI Achievers digs a bit deeper to bring you this feature...

In India, the originating point of this festival, Diwali is not a single day event.

Instead, it is a series of celebrations, beginning with Dhanteras and ending 4 days later with Bhai Dooj. In different parts of Indian subcontinent, Diwali is associated with different stories.

Ø As per Ramayana, Diwali is the day of return of Lord Rama from exile.

Ø As per Mahabharta, Diwali is the day of return of Pandavas from exile.

Ø Many believe that Goddess Lakshmi was born on the day of Dhanteras and on the night of Diwali.

Ø Some believe that on this day, Lord Vishnu returned to Lakshmi in Vaikuntha, hence prosperity, happiness and good health is returned.

Ø Nepal & the East Indian regions celebrates this festival as Kali Pooja or Mahanisha Pooja.

Ø In Braj, this day is attributed to Lord Krishna’s lifting of Mount Govardhan.

Ø In southern and western parts of India, offerings are made to Lord Ganesha along with Lakshmi, as he is worshipped before starting anything new. Diwali marks the beginning of New year as some Indian Calendars.

Ø In some parts, it is the day when Lord

Krishna defeated Narakasur and hence started the festival of Nark Chaturdashi. Ø Legendary King Vikramaditya was coronated on this day.

Besides Hinduism, other religions also celebrate Diwali in their own form. Here is an account:

JAINISM: LORD MAHAVIR’S ATTAINMENT ANNIVERSARY

Bhagwan Vardhman (aka Mahavira), last of the 24 Tirthankars of Jainism attained Nirvana on the Kartika Chaturdashi in Pavapuri (Bihar). Lord Mahavira is regarded as an important reformer of Jainism and his teachings comprise most of modern Jain philosophy. According to Kalpsutra by Acharya Bhadrabahu, Lord Mahavira attained moksha on the dawn of amavasya. He further states that many gods were present there, illuminating the pitch dark night. To symbolize the incident, where the master’s light is kept alive even in darkness, 16 Gana kings, 9 Malla and 9 lichchhavi of kasi and kosai illuminated their doors.

»Øð âð Ößé’ÁôØð, ÎÃßé’ÁôØ´ ·¤çÚUSâ×ô

Means “Since the light of knowledge is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter”

Another reference is found in Harivamsha Puraan, written by Acharya Jinasena.

This reference is also the oldest reference to the word “Diwali”. It mentions the word Deepalikaya, from which, the word ‘Deepawavali’ and later ‘Diwali’ is believed to be born. This puraan states: ÌÌSÌéÑ Üô·¤Ñ ÂýçÌßáü×æÎÚUÌ÷ ÂýçâhÎèÂçÜ·¤Øæ˜æ ÖæÚUÌð. â×élÌÑ ÂêÁçØÌé´ çÁÙðEÚU´ çÁÙð‹Îý.çÙßæü‡æ çßÖêçÌ. ÖçQ¤Öæ·¤÷ |20|

Means “The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra on the occasion of his nirvana.”

It is also believed that Gautam Swami, the chief disciple of Lord Mahavira attained complete knowledge (Brahmgyaan/ Kevalgyaan) on this day. This incident makes the occasion even more important.

BUDDHISM: ASHOK VIJAYADASHMI

It is said that on this day, Ashoka the great, the legendary Mauryan emperor from 1st century BCE, converted to Buddhism. After numerous battles and bloodshed, he decided to give up everything and adopt the path of peace. He started following the teachings of Lord Buddha and thus became one of first rulers to spread Buddhism across the subcontinent. He places edicts across the length and breadth of his kingdom, with inscrip-

tions about Buddhism. His edicts are important as one such pillar gives India its national emblem and also the famous ‘Chakra’ in the national flag of India.

Another interesting event is associated with Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, 1st Minister of Law & Justice in independent India and a major contributor to the Constitution of India. He is known for his exemplary work in the reformation of Dalits in India. He had at one point decided to convert to Sikhism. The idea was dropped after a long meeting with Sikh scholars and religious leaders, as he found out that he will be getting a second grade status within Sikhism. He then started looking for a religion, which treats everyone as equally as the religious law teaches them to. On 14th October 1956, he finally converted

to Buddhism in Nagpur along with 5,00,000 followers. This is exactly 30 days before Diwali, but many Ambedkarites associate the event with Diwali and remember Ambedkar on this day.

SIKHISM: DATA BANDI CHHOR DIVAS

After the martyrdom of 5th Sikh master, Sri Guru Arjan Dev jee, time was tough for his followers. The most respected figure in the Sikh community after the Guru himself was Baba Budhha Jee. Baba Buddha jee gave two swords to next Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib jee during his coronation and requested him to stand up against the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and his atrocities. Guru Hargobind Sahib jee, the 6th guru of Sikhs built the fort of Lohgarh in Amritsar and maintained a strong force of 700 horses, 500 Infantry, 300 horsemen and 60 gunners. While he preached peace and humility, he also encouraged his followers to be trained

in martial arts and self defence. They even fought 4 defensive battles against local Mughal generals and won them all.

Mughal Emperor Jahangir was told that the Guru is reinforcing his army and establishing a state within a state. He was said to be preparing for the revenge of his father (which was not true). Jahangir sent his trusted nobles Wazir Khan and Guncha Beg to arrest the Guru. Wazir Khan was an admirer of the Guru and so instead of arresting him, he requested Guru to come to Mughal court, as the emperor wants to have a dialogue with him. Guru agreed and accompanied him to royal court, only to be arrested and confined to the fort of Gwalior. Guru Hargobind was kept in the Baoli of Gwalior fort, along with 52 other kings from neighbouring kingdoms. As the legend goes, Jahangir fell ill soon after the arrest. Witch-Doctors suggested that Jahangir’s illness is because of the curse of

Guru and the Mughal court should immediately release him. Noorjahan convinced Jahangir to release the Guru and official orders were sent to Gwalior Fort. The 52 other imprisoned kings stood in front of the Guru and said that they will allow Guru to leave the prison only if he takes everyone with him. If not, then the Guru should kill all the 52 kings and free them from this mortal life. The matter reached Jahangir and he said, ‘those who can hold on to Guru’s robe can walk away’. Everyone spent the night stitching pieces of their robes to Guru’s robe, making it long enough that all 52 Kings could comfortably hold it. Next day, which was also the Day of Diwali, Guru Hargobind Sahib jee stepped out of Fort with 52 kings holding his robes and celebrating their freedom. Since that day, Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Diwas.

That said and done, Diwali is celebrated in numerous other parts of the world as well, particularly in countries with significant India Diaspora presence ... of Hindu,

Jain and Sikh origin. These include Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. With an increasing understanding of Indian culture and global migration of Indian-origin people, the number of countries where Diwali/ Deepavali is celebrated has been gradually increasing. While in some countries it is celebrated mainly by Indian expatriates, in others it is becoming part of the general local culture as well.

vikramjit singH rooprai

The writer is a self-made IT entrepreneur, who is also a passionate heritage & history buff

You ask we answer

l Namit Ahuja, USA: I bought a studio apartment 4 months ago, entrance is South-West facing and dining hall is to the left of entrance. I would like to know if there is any vaastu dosh ?

You will need to send us the layout plan. You say dining hall is to the left side of the entrance, this could be looked at to be in the south and west or in the south-west as well, it will depend on where you at it from. But if you having a SW entrance, you may slip into financial troubles, health issues and/or less growth. We can analyse the situation in a better way if you send us a proper layout plan of your home. In order to improve things, you may opt for placing some or the other Feng Shui objects in your flat as well. You could make your dining space in the western zone. Paint a Yellow line on the floor outside the main door, it will also reduce any bad effects.

l Khushdeep Sapra, Canada: My house is North facing. As per architectural constraints I cannot build it in the Southern zone. So now what should I do? Where should I build a staircase ? And can I build a toilet under it to utilize the space ?

Yours is not that much of a problem vaastu wise. If there are no other options you can very well make your staircase in the North-West direction as well. But if you will build the staircase in North direction you may have to face difficulties and struggle a lot in your life for earnings. Stairs in the North is the biggest reason of facing heavy debt problems. If you are considering the building of a toilet under the staircase, please ditch this plan, as this could prove very problematic in the future.

decorate my flat according to Vaastu. Please be kind enough to suggest what sort of décor and which items I should buy, and tell me in which directions I ought to place them.

Decorating your house as per Vaastu and adding Feng Shui items is very good for your home, and adding auspicious color combinations will bring good luck to you. You could give a french blue colour to the wall in the North direction, and placing a photograph of a Feng Shui dolphin in a frame with black background will bring more good luck and opportunities. You can also use curtains as per the direction and it’s colour. And remember never use blue color in the Southern zone. Placing yellow colour objects in Western direction creates a healthy environment for women.

l Parva Ganguly, New Delhi: Though I have built my new house according to Vaastu the way the builder had suggested, I am suffering from frequent stomach problems from the time I have shifted into it. What pujas and sanskar should I do to eliminate any Vaastu doshas if present ?

According to the layout map you have sent us, there seems to be a problem in the North East direction. The Electricity meter is there, and your kitchen slab must be of white colour, as using some other colour slab may be the reason for your stomach pain. Firstly, you need to take medical advice for your problem. Secondly, make these two changes, and hang two Feng Shui real Wu Lu (which is Chinese fruit) in your bedroom, and wind chimes in the North-West direction. You can also place a tulsi plant at the centre of your home. You will recover from your problem is short time.

the family has grown and children need more space, I now need to move to another house. But we are facing problems in selling this property.

Kindly guide us

Facing a problem in selling off your property is very common. If you want to improve your chances, please make a cemented square of 2.25”X 2.25” in the South zone. As per your date of birth, it may take a few months to dispose of your property. The map you sent us is not proper, but it seems like the shape of the plot is also quite wrong in the North-West zone. Apart from this, you need to adopt a few more remedies, but it is not possible to figure out a solution just with the help of the map. You could hire a consultant for this, as there may be some problems related to the soil and slope of that plot and its surroundings.

l Tabassum, UAE: My 14 year old son is falling into bad company, and he has started misbehaving with his teachers and us as well. Please give us some suggestions ? Should we continue living in this home ?

Your home has a major flaw in it. Your son’s room is in the South-East direction and there is also a toilet near his room. If you shift him to bedroom 2 as mentioned in map, it may have some good effect on him. Also you need to paint the walls of his room in a light green colour. On the East wall, make it a point to hang a picture of you and your husband. If you implement these remedies, you are likely to notice some changes in your son within the next 49 days.

NAreSh SINgAl

The author is also a well-known exponent of Feng Shui and Pyramidology. You can contact him at: mail@vaastunaresh.com www.vaastunaresh.com

l Shanaya, Bandra Mumbai: I am a newly wedded wife and want to Author will provide free consultation for readers of NRI Achievers. But do send map of your premises and your date of birth.

l Tanuj Deewan, New Delhi: My house was made 9 years ago. Now that

THE TERRIFIC TRIO RETURNS!

Homi Adajania is all set to direct a hindi adaptation of the global blockbuster THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, with Fox Star Studios partnering with Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films to produce the film after they tasted super success with FINDING FANNY. After BANG BANG, this is the next official remake for Fox Star. The film marks Homi's return to fully commercial films after his COCKTAIL. This will be Fox Star's second film with Dinesh and Homi, and it is Dinesh and Homi's fourth film together. Dinesh says, “For me, the core of this story has resonated at a very personal level. It's an out-and-out love story based on such a beautiful premise." Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios says, "It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of film, like Eric Segal’s Love Story was for an earlier generation. This story has connected with this generation deeply and universally."

KATRINA'S HARDCORE ACTION AVATAR IN BANG BANG

Katrina Kaif has done some serious action in BANG BANG. The gorgeous actress has pushed her limits and pulled off some stunning stunts with Hrithik Roshan. In this picture, she is doing a stunt with a seabob. The actress went through training and practiced it for about 2 days before pulling it off to a T. BANG BANG will see Katrina not just in her sexiest best, but also in a never-seen-before action avatar. Produced by Fox Star Studios and directed by Siddharth Anand, BANG BANG releases on October 2.

AJAY GETS READY FOR ROUND TWO WITHOUT EVEN A DAY'S BREAK!

Ajay Devgn, who won acclaim for his portrayal as Bajirao Singham in the super-hit SINGHAM RETURNS which is still having a good run in several parts of the country, didn't take even a day's break before getting on to the schedule of his next action thriller ACTION JACKSON ! As can be seen from the photograph, Ajay who was already wearing a chiselled look for SINGHAM RETURNS but hit it below his khaki uniform and white vest had to bare his torso this time around. Keeping this in mind, the actor put himself on an even more rigorous exercise regimen. And what more can one add here – the photograph says it all.

ASHIMA SHARMA SHOOTS ON LAST DAY OF MUMBAI CAN DANCE SAALA

The last day shoot of the film on bar dancers – MUMBAI CAN DANCE SAALA, was held at Kamalistan Studio, where the entire star cast, leading girl Aashima Sharma (in role of Tarannum), Prashant Narayan, Aditya Pancholi, Rakhi Sawant, Mukesh Tiwari, Mushtaaq Khan, Pankaj Berry, Gargi Patel, Suhasini Mule & Shakti Kapoor participated. A dramatic court sequence was canned where Aashima Sharma is arrested and brought to court by police officers Mukesh, Pankaj and others, and advocates Suhasini Mule & Mushtaq Khan are defending either parties. The media present not only covered the sequence but also took part as live media in the sequence. The film is produced by Ranjeet Sharma, written and directed by Sachindra Sharma and music is by Bappi Lahiri.

AFTER SUNNY, SHANTI NEW PORN STAR IN BOLLYWOOD!

Move over Sunny Leone ! The Indo-Britsh porn star Shanti Dynamite is making her acting debut in Bollywood with I LOVE DUBAI. She has been adjudged as one of the 50 Sexiest Woman of Asia by British Newspaper Eastern Eye. Shanti is often compared to the JISM 2 star and Canadian former pornographic actress Sunny Leone due to their common professional background.

“I am really very excited about my role in I LOVE DUBAI and to work with such an exceptional writer as Ikram Akhtar on his directorial debut and my Bollywood debut,” the actress says. Shanti Dynamite is the film’s leading lady.

Ajaz Khan is also a part of this movie. Ikram Akhtar is the writer of many blockbusters like READY, THANK YOU, NO PROBLEM, CHAL MERE BHAI, et al.

'I Am SELfISH'

SHAH RUKH

KHAN TELLS JYOTHI

VENKATESH

How would you describe HAPPY NEW YEAR?

It is a modern patriotic film starring me and Deepika Padukone with Boman Irani, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood and Vivan Shah, with Jackie Shroff.

Do you think Rohit Shetty is also capable of making a romantic film?

Rohit is the only brand director in our country, the way Yashji was earlier. I wanted to be part of Rohit’s world and hence I asked him to direct CHENNAI EXPRESS for me. I’d not at all hesitate to go on record that he is India’s answer to Christopher Nolan and Woody Allen. Rohit makes films on a big scale.

Can you elucidate and elaborate?

Rohit doesn’t make edgy thrillers but he does contribute to patriotism in his own inimitable way by making the audiences sit together in a cinema hall, forget their day-to-day life problems and laugh their guts out, whether it is the GOLMAAL series, BOL BACHCHAN or CHENNAI EXPRESS. Rohit doesn’t make edgy thrillers but he does contribute to patriotism in his own inimitable way by making the audiences comprising Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs sit together in a cinema hall and forget their mundane day-to-day thorny issues and enjoy themselves.

You worked with quite a few South Indians !

It is quite true that in the last two decades of my career as an actor, I have worked with quite a few Tamilians like AR Rahman, Mani Ratnam, Mani Kandan and Malayalis like Santosh Sivan and Resool Pookkutty, and it has helped me in CHENNAI EXPRESS, though it did take me some time to learn my dialogues in Tamil.

To what would you attribute your star status?

I would like to believe that a lot of my star status is only because of the way the media – both the print as well as the electronic has behaved with me. Till date, I have never been rude or non-cordial with any member of the fourth estate.

What do you feel ails the Indian film industry?

I think we can make it much better, because scriptwriting is a science by itself. If we also stop pulling each other's legs and overcome jealousy and pettiness, I am one hundred percent sure that we will become truly International then.

How selfish are you as an actor?

I am selfish. Every actor is. But I have never ever been that selfish to wish that only my films should click at the box office and others should fail. On the contrary, I have always felt that we should stand united to make our country smile with good films. I have always maintained that just how much paisa a film collects at the box office is not important, but how many successful films the film industry is able to churn out every year that is of paramount importance.

Do you miss your own parents?

I find the importance of my parents now when I have my own kids. A lot in my life have been shaped by my parents. I do not look at any one else as my idols in life except my parents because it is they who had shaped me to be what I am in life today.

Besides your father, who else did you think of when you made your film?

To tell you the truth, I thought of Yashji, and Karan Johar’s father who was a father figure to me when I set up my own production house. The late Yashji even trained the late Bobby Chawla, who was Juhi Chawla’s brother in the ropes of production when I set up our production house Dreamz Unlimited.

The recent patriotic film you liked?

The film I liked in recent times was Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra’s BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG. Farhan Akhtar transformed himself into the character of Milkha and Rakeysh made every viewer watching the film feel the raw emotions by making the film a memorable experience. The USP of BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG was that it was not very overtly in the face kind of patriotic film but it stirs your patriotic instincts instantly.

Who is your super hero?

I would not hesitate to state that it is BATMAN, because by day he is a playboy and a Batman by night.

What does acting mean to you?

I just enjoy acting, and do not think that I will stop enjoying it soon, because very few people are lucky to get the opportunities to do what they really want to do and face new challenges every day

in their lives like I do. I get to visit places which I have not even dreamt of. As long as I am excited about doing a thing, I continue to be happy.

Aren't you basically a serious actor?

Contrary to the image with which I have been slotted by media, I am a serious actor though many people think otherwise. I try to give my best to each character that I set out to play. I also try to learn from every character that I portray on screen. I learn from every character role and try to better my performance with each role that I get to play.

Will you dub HAPPY NEW YEAR into Tamil and Telugu?

Yes. We think that as a production house that it would be prudent on our part to dub the film in both Tamil and Hindi and release it along with the Hindi original, because it is a feel good film. It is Red Chillies Entertainment’s most ambitious venture . It is a film which is very close to my heart and I am glad that it has been generating unprecedented interest for one and all. With Farah Khan

as the director, it is arguably the biggest film from India.

How do you rate Aamir as an actor?

Aamir Khan is one actor who is not only intelligent but also very conscientious. I am glad that though he was a big introvert by his own admission in the initial days of his career as an actor, he has of late developed a terrific sense of humor. With all honesty, I'd say that his films are not only good, but also always look good. Long before his Ghajini was released, I had declared at a press conference for my own film RAB NE BANA DI JODI that I wish people would go in large numbers to see Ghajini. I still maintain the same. I wish more people go to see his next film PK too.

What next, after HAPPY NEW YEAR?

My next film as a producer after HAPPY NEW YEAR will be YRF’s film FAN to be directed by Maneesh Sharma. It is a modern patriotic film in every sense of the term. Rohit and I will also collaborate on a film together shortly.

The writer is a well-known & established film critic.

WARSAW

A PHOENIX THAT ROSE FROM ITS ASHES

This is the first part of a travel trilogy that will take you on a virtual journey to Warsaw, Krakow and Auschwitz in Poland. Part 1 is about Warsaw, the capital of Poland, a wonderful city that is bound to charm you with it's heritage, modernity and a friendly people...

Ihave always held a fascination for the erstwhile eastern-bloc countries and cities and for me Warsaw was perhaps the most iconic of those cities. Hence, a visit to this city was obviously on my bucket list.

From my landing in Chopin Airport to my taking off from there, even though I saw, learnt and imbibed a lot, I still found myself confused. Here was a city (actually the whole country) where there were 2 names for every place – an English Name

and a Polish Name. I am sure that the language factor has made me miss out on some of the important landmarks in this Central European city replete with history.

The people in Warsaw took me by surprise. Despite their war-torn ancestry and background, they are completely grounded and sans any airs; they are happy-golucky; upright with a 'don't-mess-withme-and-I-won't-mess-with-you' attitude; love their drink and food and can be bois-

Many buildings here have been used as an artist's canvas

terous. All in all, it reminded me of Punjabis - natives of Punjab, a state repeatedly attacked by various exploitative and plundering kings, generals and rulers over many centuries - who also display similar traits.

Warsaw came out of WW-II as the most battlescarred and decimated city. The aggressors destroyed almost 80% of this city’s buildings, but,

remarkably, the Poles have rebuilt the city on its ruins and modeled it on the pre-war architecture. This gives the city a unique flavor – especially the Old Town – as the basements of the buildings are visibly old, but the aboveground structures, despite their pre-war architecture, are modern. In acknowledgement of this near-perfect reconstruction, UNESCO accorded the Old Town the status of a World Heritage site in 1980.

Warsaw is a beautiful, well-planned and an extremely green city, with many lakes. Vistula (Wisła in Polish) River divides the city into 2 distinct halves - the left bank and the right bank. Most of the government buildings and other tourist attractions are sprinkled around on the left bank.

Besides a large number of museums and auditoria, the city boasts a large number of places of historical importance. From Jewish cemeteries to Old Town; from small and big war memorials in lush green parks and gardens to an Empire State building look-alike called Palace of Culture and

Photos & Text: Ajay Sood

Presidential Palace

A lake in a parkpicnickers' delight

Aerial view of the modern Warsaw

Copernicus statue marks the entrance to the Old Town

Newlyweds posing for their portfolio shoot in front of the Mermaid

Old Town - A bird's eye view

Cycling is a norm in Warsaw

Travelogue

Science built by Stalin; from churches and cathedrals to Chopin's musical benchesthe city has it all. In fact, it has so much to offer that if you decide to spend a few weeks here you will end up discovering at least one new thing everyday. It is an im-

portant centre of education, culture, history, arts, science (remember Marie Curie?), architecture, etc. not just in Poland, but also in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Old Town houses Jewish quarters, Warsaw University, many significant cathedrals, the Royal Palace, the President's House, King Sigismund's Column (Kolumna

reminded me of the Trevi Fountain in Rome and the square in front of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, as it is packed with roadside cafés offering beer and food, artists offering to paint for you, performers playing concert instruments, tourists gaping in awe, newly-weds excitedly engaged in their portfolio shoots and locals just chilling.

Though you'll find trams, metro, buses and taxis as modes of commute in Warsaw, the locals and even many tourists prefer to rent a bicycle here. The city is not as well planned for cycling as many others in Europe, but is surprisingly safe for the cyclists as the traffic is good-natured and generally tolerant towards them.

The place offers beer and vodka in plenty and you'll find all sorts of eateries offering cuisines as varied as Lebanese, Indian, Italian, French and Brazilian. It even has a Hard Rock Café. But once here, you'll do well to not miss the Polish dishes predominantly comprising meat and potatoes. One special mention is a soup called Zurek - made from rye flour and potatoes as its base, with a lavish helping of diced potatoes, sausages and hard-boiled eggs thrown in. This is a meal by itself.

Do plan a vacation to Warsaw. It isn’t an expensive place and I promise, it will also leave you richer in more ways than one.

The writer is an accomplished and avid travel photographer, relishing equally the challenges in capturing cityscapes and landscapes, heritage and architecture, wildlife and citylife, street and people.

Zygmunta in Polish) and one of the 2 custodians of the city - the Mermaid. The square that houses the Mermaid

Old Town is a UNESCO Heritage Site - Cast in bronze

Tombs of Holocaust victims in Zydowski Cemetery

Warsaw - A beautifully landscaped city

A roadside cafe

Warsaw University