CONNECTING INDIA WITH ITS DIASPORA

Vol 3 Issue 6 June 2010

PRAVA SI BHARATIYA

REDRAWING
A REVOLUTION
Young and driven by a vision, they are empowering the villages of India by
nurturing ideas, setting up enterprises and co-creating wealth

MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS

 CONNECTING INDIA WITH ITS DIASPORA

izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=ky;

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

Vol 3 Issue 6 June 2010

PRAVA SI BHARATIYA
GLOBAL-INDIAN
NETWORK OF KNOWLEDGE
AN INITIATIVE OF THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS

The Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) has partnered

with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to develop the Global‑INK framework.
An online web portal, it is powered by SupportCentral, a next generation knowledge
management, collaboration and business solutions platform.

The communities will also provide an array of collaboration tools:

● Blogs ● Forums ● Askan Expert ● Document management and sharing ● Online resource databases

lR;eso t;rs

izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=ky;

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
www.overseasindian.in
 ollaboration is all. This is the story of a bunch of young men and contents
C
  
  


women, driven by a vision. A vision of bringing about a quiet

revolution on the margins as it were. “There is no better way of
industrialising the villages of India than the spinning wheel...”, said
*'  --/"  /)" 



 



Gandhi. As a development metaphor, there couldnʼt have been a more

powerful messaging. The spinning wheel may not represent the formidable
wheels of large‑scale industrialisation. Yet, it ably represents the power of

10
scalability, sustainability and self‑reliance. The three today stand at a critical

 crossroads globally, in particular, for the developing world. The debate has
 
*/)$ )! !,&0") 2  0&-&*)
.%"2 ," "(+*1",&)$ .%" 0&''$"- *# )!& 2
deepened in philosophical force and intensity given the increasing fragility
)/,./,&)$ &!"-
-"..&)$ /+ ").",+,&-"- )! * ,".&)$ 1"'.%

of the worldʼs economic and eco‑systems which directly impacts millions of

   
 
lives and livelihoods across the world.
First principles can neither be cast in stone nor can they be sacrosanct.
Hence the necessity of revisiting received wisdom as regards the founding
COVER STORY
Printed and Published by principles of development and equity. However, the spinning wheel doesnʼt
Mithlesh Kumar on behalf of the call for a reinvention, it calls for adaptation and scalability. Gandhi says REVOLUTION ON
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs further: “The charkha is intended to realise the essential and living oneness
THE PERIPHERY
Akbar Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, They are young and driven by a vision to
New Delhi ̶ 110021 of interest among Indiaʼs myriads...” To accommodate “Indiaʼs myriads” empower rural India by setting up
Website: http://moia.gov.in would mean revisiting the constituencies of development and national enterprises in the villages of the country
www.overseasindian.in priority. Hence the deepening dialogue on inclusive development and
equity. Which is where we go back to our original proposition of the
Consulting Editor essence of collaboration. In dozens of villages in Tamil Nadu, a handful of
K.G. Sreenivas young men and women are recasting the rules of development. Rather, they
are rewriting the first principles of development in an idiom bearing close
affinity to the soil of native genius.
Pravasi Bharatiya is a monthly

from
publication. The views expressed in this Sreejith who heads ROPE, or
journal are those of the contributors Rural Opportunities Production
and do not necessarily reflect the views Enterprise, aims to “bring manufac‑
of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
turing opportunities to rural India NEWS

the
(MOIA). All rights reserved. No part of
this journal may be produced, stored, or and create employment opportuni‑ US President Barack Obama emphasises how
transmitted in any form or by any
means ̶ electronic, mechanical,
ties for the rural unorganised sector
workers through a replicable, 6 important India is to the US at the Indo‑US strategic
summit that concluded recently

editor’s
photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the permission of MOIA.
scalable and commercially viable
ICT‑enabled rural distributed manu‑
facturing model”. Saloni Malhotra,
Editorial correspondence and

desk
who founded DesiCrew, a rural BPO,
manuscripts can be addressed to ECONOMY
pravasi.bharatiya@gmail.com believes, “In a rural context, the The Indian bureaucracy is in introspection mode.

18
24
money would be distributed locally, A mindset change is needed to attract private
supporting the local economy and investment, government officials said at a recent meet
Designed and produced by IANS generating incomes.”
(www.ianspublishing.com) on behalf of
the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Only a block away is Paul Basil whose Villgro is nurturing an ecosystem
to incubate ideas and innovations in rural India. “I was convinced that inno‑
vation and enterprise could address the rural poor, specifically, the small THE POWER OF TWO
Printed at Collaboration between academia and industry is DIASPORA
and marginal farming communities,” says Paul. Kamla Persad‑Bissessar creates history as she
Anit Printers key to applied research and development that
1811, Gyani Bazar,
Opp. D‑56 N.D.S.E Part ‑1,
Kotla Mubarkpur,
There is a link running through the stories of the three “rural visionaries”.
Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala who at IIT Madras leads an iconic institution, the
Rural Technology and Business Incubator. Ashok helps incubate ideas and
makes a difference to society
28 becomes the first woman Prime Minister of Indian
origin of Trinidad and Tobago

New Delhi ‑110003

develop full‑fledged, self‑sustaining rural enterprises. “Until then (1990s)
the whole idea of incubation was urban‑centric. At the end of the 20th
century, there was refocusing... away from urban India to rural India. It was
also around the time that India began to make rapid strides in technology‑
driven development. But again it was rather urban‑focused. In a democratic
36 38 42 44
CUISINE TRAVEL CINEMA BOOKS
environment it was bound to create tensions. We decided that technology Mango lends its delectable Debabrata Bhattacharjee The 11th International Indian Sudhir Sharma jots down
people should focus on rural India.” flavour to anything it melds travels through Dhaka and Film Academy weekend saw a his thoughts and emotions
This issue of Pravasi Bharatiya brings to you this story being written on with. Take stock of some Bikramhati, exploring his fashion show, celebrity cricket about his life in prison in
the margins. You will also read about another collaboration, this time yummy mango recipes to childhood jaunts and match and a ritzy awards Toote Armano Ki
between academia and industry. Industry often needs to go back to the please any palate memories... ceremony... Aawaz
drawing board for better results while researchers need to closely interact
with industry to get to know as to what is it that the community as
consumer wants in terms of better drugs, machines or technology.
izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=ky;
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs Read about it all and more in the subsequent pages.
www.overseasindian.in ̶K.G. Sreenivas
NEWS
NO CHARGES FOR OLD
PASSPORT SUBMISSION
The government has acceded to the de‑
mands of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)
and has issued a clarification saying that
PIOs will not have to pay “renunciation

Proud to be in charges” while submitting old passports.

Similarly, the government has also waived
the penalty charges for retaining a passport
despite acquiring foreign citizenship for

India: Obama
US President Barack Obama once again
over three years. PIOs had begun an online
petition to protest against a notification by
the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued
on May 13 that mandated that PIOs who
had acquired citizenship of other countries
emphasised how important India is to the US at would have to surrender their old passports
and there would be a penalty of Rs 10,000
the Indo‑US strategic summit that concluded for retaining the passport for above three
recently, reports Arun Kumar years. The government has now issued a
clarification that PIOs will not be asked to
pay any renunciation charges.

FUND FOR DISTRESSED

WORKERS ABROAD SET UP
S President Barack Obama has said he plans to visit India in Novem‑

U
Setting up a fund for distressed Indian
ber to together make “history and progress that will be treasured by workers abroad and a global network of In‑
generations to come”, as he described Indo‑US ties as “one of the dian origin people were among the impor‑
defining partnerships of the 21st century”. “Our relations with India tant achievements of the United
are at the highest of priorities for my administration and for me personally as Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in
president of the United States,” Obama said at a reception on June 4 at the extending its hand of help to the diaspora
State Department hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her Indian during the first year of its second term.
counterpart S.M. Krishna after the inaugural US‑India Strategic Dialogue. In his report card to the people, Prime Min‑
“I am delighted to announce tonight that I plan to visit India in early Novem‑ ister Dr. Manmohan Singh noted that his
ber,” he said. “When it comes to building a future of greater prosperity, oppor‑ government in March last year approved
tunity and security for people, there is no doubt I have to go to India, but even the setting up of the Indian Community
more I am proud to go to India.” The rare gesture of attending a reception at Welfare Fund in 17 Indian missions, mainly
the State department was seen as a way to ease Indiaʼs concerns that the US in the Gulf and the Maldives. Besides, a
views ties with New Delhi through the prism of Pakistan and Afghanistan or a body of prominent members of the Indian
rising China. Obama called India “a responsible global power” and said the “un‑ diaspora ̶ the PMʼs Global Advisory Coun‑
precedented” US‑India relationship “will be cil of Overseas Indians ̶ was set up and
a defining partnership of the 21st century”. held its first meeting on January 7 this year.
“We value our partnership... because of
I am proud to go to India, and I look forward
what we share and where we can go to‑ UK HEALTH OFFICE NO TO
gether,” he said, adding that the two coun‑
to the history that we will make together, progress HIRING INDIAN DOCTORS
tries share a vision of the future built on
that will be treasured not just by this generation Britain wants to recruit junior doctors from
“security and prosperity”. Obama said he but by generations to come India after their exodus from the country
has to go to India to experience “all that due to tightened immigration rules caused
India and its people and its incredible an‑ a shortage, but the Home Office is not in
cient culture have to offer”. “Whatever sphere of the human mind you may se‑ agreement. The National Health Service
lect for your special study, whether it be language or religion or mythology or (NHS) is reported to have interviewed doc‑
philosophy, whether it be law or customs, primitive art, or science, you have to tors from India and even sought the help of
go to India, because some of the most valuable and instructive material of the the British Association of Physicians of In‑
history of man are treasured up in India, and India only,” he said while citing a dian Origin (BAPIO) in its recruitment drive.
quote from an European scholar who travelled to India over 100 years back. The BAPIO stipulated that the doctors
“So I look forward to advancing our partnership, to experiencing all that should be allowed to stay and get training
India and its people and its incredible ancient culture have to offer. So when it for between three and four years, rather
comes to building a future of greater prosperity, opportunity and security for than the two‑year limit currently in place.
our people, there is no doubt, I have to go India. “But even more, I am proud to But the British Home Office said no, pour‑
go to India, and I look forward to the history that we will make together, ing cold water on the NHS drive. The Home
progress that will be treasured not just by this generation but by generations Office is the lead government department
to come.” Krishna, too, stressed the importance of the US‑India relationship, for immigration and passports, drugs policy,
saying New Delhi can be a “dependable anchor of the regionʼs growth.” crime, counter‑terrorism and police.

6 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 7

NEWS

INDIA SUPPORTS CANADA, OZ ON BANK TAX

Coming out in support of developing countries and Australia and Canada, Indiaʼs Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told his
counterparts during the G‑20 meeting in Busan, South Korea that India does not favour taxing banks to create a corpus for future

India, South Africa bailouts and that more importance should be given to regulations to detect and contain any deviation in the functioning of
financial institutions. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee made this clear during talks with Sakong Il, chairman of the presidential
committee for G‑20 finance ministers meeting, in the South Korean city of Busan. The levy idea is backed by the United States and
Europe. Developing nations plus Australia and Canada oppose it, saying their banks did not trigger the 2008‑9 financial crisis and

ink three accords

India and South Africa signed three pacts and agreed to jointly promote investments
should not have to pay for cleaning up the mess. Mukherjee said Indiaʼs banking system could withstand the trouble, mainly
because of well‑placed regulations. Indian banks had largely remained unaffected during the global financial crisis, which saw
many large banks based in the US and Europe go under or seek state help to stay afloat.

in Africa during President Zumaʼs visit to India recently, reports Manish Chand

ndia and South Africa inked three ac‑

I cords during the visit of the South

African President Jacob Zuma to India
recently and agreed to work jointly to
promote Africa as a global investment desti‑
nation, and decided to call for reforms of the
United Nations. Prime Minister Dr. Manmo‑
han Singh and South African President Jacob
Zuma, who was on his first visit to an Asian
country, held talks covering a wide swathe of
bilateral and global issues, including intensi‑
fication of economic ties and closer coordi‑
nation over global issues. Setting a target of
$10 billion bilateral trade by 2012, they also
focused on jointly working to promote and
develop Africa as the next global investment
destination.
“Today, President Zuma and I have de‑
cided to impart a forward‑looking character
to these ties, and to further broadbase our
cooperation,” said Dr. Singh. “We have
agreed to focus on the expansion of our eco‑
nomic, trade and investment relationship,” he
said, while underlining South Africaʼs “influ‑
ential role in world affairs.”
“The discussions were held in an atmos‑
phere reflective of the fraternal warmth, af‑
fection and strategic partnership that
characterise the bilateral relations,” the ex‑
ternal affairs ministry said in a statement.
Acknowledging the rising global clout of the
two countries, Dr. Singh and Zuma called for
speeding up reform of the UN and interna‑
tional decision‑making institutions to reflect
contemporary realities.
The two countries support each other's bid
for a non‑permanent seat in the UN Security
Council. “We agreed to support each other's
candidature for the non‑permanent seat for
the 2011‑12 term,” the prime minister said.
while describing Zumaʼs maiden visit to India
as “a milestone in Indiaʼs relations with
South Africa.”
INDIA, SEYCHELLES SIGN
TWO AGREEMENTS
India and the Seychelles signed two
economic agreements in New Delhi
during the visit of the Indian Ocean na‑
tionʼs President James Michel in the first
week of June 2010. The Seychelles presi‑
dent held formal talks with Indian Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh after
which they signed two deals. Michel ar‑
rived on June 2 on a three‑day state visit.
“We have signed the Non Double Taxa‑
tion Agreements with several countries.
CEOs’ FORUM LAUNCHED We have also today signed a Bilateral In‑
India and South Africa have launched an India‑South Africa CEOsʼ Forum. vestment Promotion and Protection
Indiaʼs Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and the visiting Agreement with India,” Michel said at an
South African President Jacob Zuma formally inaugurated the forum on interaction with captains of Indian in‑
June 3. Addressing top businessmen from the two countries, Sharma said dustry. Delineating the areas of possible
the forum would provide a platform for sustained business interaction and economic cooperation, Michel listed in‑
guide policy issues. Sharma listed several potential areas of bilateral coop‑ dustrial fishing, renewable energy, eco‑
eration. These include infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, mines and tourism projects in outer islands, retail
minerals, oil and natural gas, banking and financial services, tourism, infor‑ sector and Information Technology. But
mation technology, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and auto components. he urged that more linkages be estab‑
“The much anticipated India‑SACU (Southern African Customs Union) pref‑ lished between Seychellesʼ capital Victo‑
erential trade agreement will eventually lead to a free trade agreement be‑ ria and Indian cities. He said that
tween India, SACU and MERCOSUR (South American Trading Bloc). An negotiations will take place for a Bilateral
Agreement for Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments is also Air Services Agreement later this month,
waiting to be concluded. which will “surely open the window to
increase in exchanges.”
US-INDIA TRADE BODY
STARTS EDUCATION PLAN
Looking ahead to global economy of
the future, the US‑India Business Council
(USIBC) has launched a new education
initiative aimed at strengthening institu‑
tional linkages between academia, in‑
dustry and NGOs focusing on the
elementary, vocational and higher edu‑
cation. “The US and India must be com‑
mitted partners in building the
workforce of tomorrow, a partnership
that will unleash opportunity, spur
growth and sustain prosperity not just in
our countries but across the global com‑
munity,” said Harold McGraw III, new
president of the trade promotion body
representing 300 US companies in India.
“To do this, we must focus on strength‑
ening our educational ties at every level.
By working together, our two countries
can equip the next generation with the
education and skills necessary to com‑
pete and win in the global economy,”
the chairman, president and CEO of The
McGraw‑Hill Companies said while ad‑
dressing the USIBC 35th anniversary
meeting on June3, coinciding with the
Indo‑US summit.
INDIAN-AMERICAN SMEs
PLAN $320-M IT FACILITY
Small and medium enterprises owned
by Indian‑Americans plan to set up an
IT incubation facility in Hyderabad with
an investment of Rs.1,500 crore ($320
million). Small and Medium Enterprises
Consortium (SMEC) made the an‑
nouncement when Andhra Pradesh
Minister for IT, K. Venkat Reddy, currently
on a visit to the US, met CEOs of SMEs.
According to an official statement is‑
sued on June 1, SMEC chairman Ma‑
hender Musuku told the minister that
SMEs would invest Rs.1,500 crore in
three phases. The CEOs expressed keen
interest in making Hyderabad the first
choice for their operations provided
they get equal playing field, incentives
in taxation and infrastructure. An incu‑
bation centre, to be set up in two years
for administrative and front offices, is
expected to provide employment to
2,000 people. While the centre will be
set up in a leased facility in Hitec City, a
permanent campus would be set up
later with an investment of Rs.1,500
crore. This will create 10,000 direct and
40,000 indirect jobs.

8 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 9

REVISIONING INDIA COVER STORY
REVOLUTION
ON THE
PERIPHERY
They are young and driven by a vision. Of empowering rural India by
incubating ideas, setting up enterprises, generating employment and co‑creating
wealth in the villages of the country, says K. G. Sreenivas
reejith, Saloni and Paul are driven by a shared vision.
S Sreejith N.N. heads ROPE International, Saloni Malhotra
leads DesiCrew while Paul Basil steers Villgro. ROPE, or
Rural Opportunities Production Enterprise, co‑founded
by Sreejith and Patrick Fischer, aims to “bring manufacturing
opportunities to rural India and create employment opportunities
for the rural unorganised sector workers through a replicable,
scalable and commercially viable ICT‑enabled rural distributed
manufacturing model,” says Sreejith.
In the mid‑2000s, the BPO rush began in India. Saloni ob‑
served that though it offered an amazing rush of jobs and seemed
to be an attractive financial proposition for freshers, salaries
were still small and attrition was high. “It would be more useful
and productive to take jobs where it would be closer to peopleʼs
homes. Also, in a rural context, the money would be distributed
locally, supporting the local economy and generating incomes,”
said Saloni whose DesiCrew today is quietly ushering in a back‑
end services‑driven BPO market in the rural environs of Tamil Nadu.
On the other hand is Paul who through Villgro is forging an
ecosystem to incubate ideas and innovations, like ROPE and Desi‑
Crew, to fuel development in rural India. “Villgro stands for
growth of villages. The dream of a prosperous rural India is what
set me on this journey a decade ago. I was convinced that inno‑
vation and enterprise could address the rural poor, specifically,
the small and marginal farming communities,” says Paul.
10 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
Sreejith has set up a network of rural production centres in a
host of villages in Erode, Madurai, Thanjavur, Theni and Thiru‑
valluvar in Tamil Nadu where artisans use locally available and
environment‑friendly materials, such as banana fibre, elephant
grass, korai and sisal (types of reed) to craft custom designed
complimentary and lifestyle products. Sreejithʼs ROPE, which
sub‑supplies to global furniture maker IKEA, today services top
clients like AIIMS, FabIndia, Industree Crafts and Mihika besides
a number of overseas customers.
How did Sreejith tap the social, economic and commercial con‑
text while setting up ROPE? “Inspired by the success of outsourc‑
ing from the West to the East in creating large‑scale job
opportunities in Indian cities and inspired by attempts at setting
up BPO centres in smaller Indian towns to bring further shift of
jobs from cities to semi‑urban and rural areas, a small group at
the TeNeT (Telecommunications and Computer Networks) of IIT
Madras thought about a similar model to bring manufacturing
opportunities to Indian villages. Thus ROPE was born initially as
Rural Outsourced Production Enterprise in January 2007.
ROPE found rural India needs more manufacturing opportu‑
nities (as it cannot any longer depend on agriculture alone) and
rural India has the potential to do large‑scale manufacturing.” A
distributed production system, however, would be key to the en‑
tire process. “ROPE decided to focus on a distributed production
system in the form of networked small‑scale production units as
the most scalable, environment‑friendly, sustainable approach to
a rural manufacturing model. Globally, too, the concept of dis‑
tributed production systems is gaining ground as opposed to
large industrial set‑ups,” Sreejith says.
“Distributed production systems are more flexible, more eco‑
nomically resilient, less environmentally polluting, can lead to
more efficient use and value addition of local resources, creates
more equitable growth, helps greater diversity in products and
lead to greater team spirit and more product and process inno‑
vations within small units,” he adds.
A similar paradigm was also central to Saloniʼs model. “The
question was how you could demonstrate a successful commer‑
cial model in smaller towns? Why or how cannot, for example,
an insurance company set up back‑up operations in a small
village? Of course, BPOs are about economies of scale and dollar
convergence. But our attempt was to work a smaller but scalable
model, say about a 25‑30 seater BPO,” says Saloni.
The engineering and success of a vision is dependent on goal‑
setting. What were Sreejithʼs immediate and long‑term goals?
“The immediate goal was to identify and focus on a suitable mar‑
ket or a dedicated buy‑back partner in the form of an established
industry, set up the first few distributed rural production centres
and develop the required IT‑based systems and processes for
production and supply chain management. The long‑term goal
was to pioneer this manufacturing model and establish a large
number of such networked rural production centres catering to
the demands of a number of industries, both inside and outside India.”
As far as Paul was concerned, envisioning and goal‑setting was
a drawn‑out process and work in progress. “The vision evolved
over time. While the dream was to create a prosperous rural
India, the vision was to use innovation and enterprise for that
and the mission was to enable innovations to reach the markets.
Over time, we realised that our vision should be much broader,
that is, creating an eco‑system that favoured innovation and en‑
terprise,” says Paul. (see interview)
IDEATION AND TURNING POINT
Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, a much decorated and distinguished
grassroots visionary, and who heads the Electrical Engineering
Department at IIT‑Madras and is also Chairman of the Board of
Directors of what is now an iconic institution, the Rural Technol‑
ogy and Business Incubator (RTBI), has been a common link
among Sreejith, Saloni and Paul. The catchline of the institution
is emblematic: incubate... ideate... innovate.
Asked about what was perhaps RTBIʼs most outstanding suc‑
cess thus far, Prof Jhunjhunwala said, “We would rather see it in
terms of having brought in a culture of entrepreneurship into
rural India; of having helped in forging an academia‑industry re‑
lationship; and, of positioning technology to play a key role in
the life of the deprived.” (see interview)
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 24
11
REVISIONING INDIA COVER STORY

“ This opened our eyes to the richness and diversity of

eco-friendly, renewable natural fibre resources of our villages.
As the world moves towards ‘green’ natural products, ROPE
decided that the use of renewable, environment-friendly natural
fibres, together with locally available skills to manufacture
“
custom designed products for buyers, as the best fit for a
distributed manufacturing model.
—Sreejith N.N.

Referring to the process and time taken to incubate an idea,

The ROPE market
Prof Jhunjhunwala says, “Typically in a rural setting handholding
is longer while in urban centers it is shorter. It is self‑explanatory.
The environments are different, rural India has far more complex
problems. DesiCrew, for example, took two years. Other mentors
come in, funders come in and a lot of new ideas too come in.
Ideas come in, especially from three sources: experienced indus‑
try persons; faculty with wide knowledge; and, youngsters, who
have just joined a company and come up with crazy ideas. They
have the ability to plunge into ideas.”
Sreejith corroborates: “Our evolution was a result of continu‑
ous discussions held by Patrick Fischer, another co‑founder of
the company, and I with Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala and Dr. Aarti
Kawlra, another board member of ROPE, who is an expert in de‑
sign and crafts and was also a consultant to TeNeT at that time.
The acceptance of our model by Dr. Jhunjhunwala and his Rural
Technology and Business Incubator (IIT Madras); support from
Villgro Innovations Foundation, Chennai; investment by National
Research Development Corporation (NRDC); my meeting Fischer
who joined us as my partner and co‑founder of the company;
and our chancing upon Industree Craftsʼ bulk raw material re‑
quirement through the efforts of Dr. Aarti Kawlra were all critical
turning points for the company.”
Saloni says: “Prof Jhunjhunwala helped us in setting up Desi‑
Crew. We had three options ̶ Rural Technologies, Rural Edu‑
j The Global home decor and furnishings market is
worth $1.2 trillion, including kitchen, housewares,
furniture, home textiles, appliances, outdoor living,
art/wall decor and lighting. The US market alone is
worth $270 billion
j The global home furnishings market size is $70 bil‑
lion, growing at an average of 5 percent per annum.
High‑value Indian exports in this is $1.2bn/annum,
growing at 30 pc
j Though the specific market size for eco‑friendly
natural products in the above segments is not avail‑
able, a significant percentage is available for natural
products and that market is growing at a faster pace
j The current Indian exports of specifically non‑cot‑
ton, non‑silk, non‑wool natural fibre based home
decorative accessories is estimated at just $25 mil‑
lion growing at 20pc per annum
j Dry flower exports from India is approximately $100
million and is another target segment of ROPE
j New and unconventional demand for natural fibre
uses are also emerging like paper manufacturing,
use in veneers, packaging, wall panels, etc. Some of
ROPEʼs existing customers are in these segments
cation and Rural BPO. He advised us to look at the rural BPO sec‑
tor. IIT Madras does a lot of work in rural areas of the country.
They helped us understand the nuances of development, partic‑
ularly rural development. They also helped us network with a
wide variety of people and resource persons.” Paul acknowledges
the importance of ʻecosystemʼ and symbiosis (between Villgro
and IIT‑Madras), ideas Prof Jhunjhunwala says are crucial to in‑
cubation. “We have now set ourselves in that direction [innova‑
tion and enterprise]. This explains why we are located at the
fabulous IIT‑Madras Research Park, an eco‑system of technol‑
ogy‑based institutions,” says Paul.
PUTTING VISION INTO ACTION
Social entrepreneurship needs to be commercially viable too, to
be of credible benefit for all stakeholders, particularly for those
at the bottom of the pyramid who form the heart of the system.
Sreejith elaborates: “The search for a commercially viable busi‑
ness model using distributed and networked production centres
led ROPE to think that we should look into the sustainable and
competitive advantages or strengths of our villages while looking
for suitable sectors to enter.
“At the same time, a Bangalore‑based organisation called In‑
dustree Crafts approached us to set up banana fibre rope pro‑
duction centres to meet the growing demand for this raw
material which is used to manufacture natural products. This
Relationships matter a great deal in growing, scaling and diversifying the
business module that Sreejithʼs ROPE International (far left) and Saloniʼs
DesiCrew (above) follow.
opened our eyes to the richness and diversity of eco‑friendly, re‑
newable natural fibre resources of our villages. Each and every
village in India has certain natural fibre resource available and
there is great diversity and uniqueness in these renewable fibres
available in each region. As the world moves towards ʻgreenʼ nat‑
ural products, ROPE decided that the use of renewable, environ‑
ment‑friendly natural fibres, together with locally available skills
to manufacture custom designed products for buyers, as the best
fit for a distributed manufacturing model. With this business
model, ROPE was incorporated as a private limited company in
December 2007 and soon ROPEʼs expansion was changed into
Rural Opportunities Production Enterprise (ROPE) to represent

12 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 13

REVISIONING INDIA COVER STORY

Villgro seeks to adapt

technology‑based
innovations to offer new
solutions to an existing
INTERVIEW / PAUL BASIL problem or an existing
solution to a new problem.
Left: Various Villgro rural
enterprises.

FOR AN
ECO-SYSTEM OF
INNOVATION AND
ENTERPRISE
Founding vision of Villgro…
Villgro stands for growth of vil‑
lages. I was fairly convinced that
innovation and enterprise could
address the rural poor, specifi‑
cally, the small and marginal
farming communities.
The vision evolved over time.
It was to use innovation and en‑
terprise for that and the mission
was to enable innovations to
reach the markets. Over time
we realised that our vision
should be much broader, that
is, creating an eco‑system that
favoured innovation and enter‑
prise. As we were incubating in‑
novations, we found a few
pressing challenges. The first
being last‑mile access to the
end customers of ours, the rural
poor. All entrepreneurs that we
were incubating had to set up
their own marketing channels.
Imagine the cost and time it
would take to build channels
among the poor. Thus came
the vision of Villgro Innovation
Marketing Private Limited, a for‑
profit chain of stores in villages,
supported by a network of vil‑
lage level entrepreneurs.
Incubation is a very time‑
consuming, costly and risky ac‑
tivity. We realised that to
nurture this model, we need to
partner with other players. And
thus was born our co‑incuba‑
tion approach to incubate
more and more enterprises. Co‑
incubation is nothing but two
incubators coming together to
offer services to the same incu‑
batee. This way we leverage
each otherʼs strengths and
make the best use of each
otherʼs geographical locations
while serving incubatees.
Around 2004, after C.K. Praha‑
lad had written The Fortune at
the Bottom of the Pyramid and
at a time when micro‑finance
had really matured, a number of
social venture funds were set
up. However, few could fund in
the range of $50k‑150k. This
seed capital was necessary to
kick‑start these enterprises. Our
vision was to set up the Villgro
Fund for Innovation and Rural
Enterprise.
Putting together the human and
financial resources…
The start is a point of challenge
for any organisation ̶ limited
resources and blurred vision.
With regard to financial re‑
sources, Villgro was fortunate to
have a two‑year funding sup‑
port of Impact Partners and lots
of personal support from its
founder Deval Sanghavi. Subse‑
quently, we attracted grants
from foundations in India and
the US. The new entities in the
form of Villgro Marketing Pvt
Ltd and Villgro Fund will attract
patient commercial capital in
the years to come.
Our formative years were
chaotic. Serving the rural poor
through innovation and enter‑
prise is not something that has
been clearly structured in terms
of formal training, though there
are rural marketing courses. This
need motivated us to inspire
IIT‑Madras to set up a credit
course on Innovation and Social
Entrepreneurship for its under‑
graduate students. We also
helped IIT‑Madras to set up a
new Centre for Social Innova‑
tion and Entrepreneurship with
the objective of increasing re‑
search and education in the
field of innovation and social
entrepreneurship.
On the “innovations” route…
Technologies and technology‑
based innovations have always
changed lives, impacted mil‑
lions, such as mobile phones to
ATMs to credit cards. However,
when it comes to those who
canʼt afford them, we keep away
from even attempting to de‑
velop market‑based solutions.
Innovations like micro‑finance
have made millions bankable
and have transformed their
lives. In the initial years we were
focused on product innova‑
tions, we still continue to do so.
But increasingly we have started
pilots with services, innovations
around business models. Inno‑
vations challenge the status
quo, new solutions to an exist‑
ing problem or an existing solu‑
tion to a new problem ̶ both
ways, opportunities are plenty.
One defining characteristic of
incubatees…
Our incubatees are committed
and visionary innovators and
entrepreneurs whose ideas are
compelling and can impact the
rural poor in a commercially vi‑
able manner and have the po‑
tential to scale. The markets
that they have chosen to serve,
perseverance in doing so, the
ability to embrace uncertainty
makes them unique. Incuba‑
tees are both urban and rural.
Example of a rural entrepreneur
is P.Vivekanandan of Vivega En‑
gineering Works who has de‑
veloped the Pin Pulveriser.
Scouting for innovators…
Scouting is through multiple
means. Wantrapreneur, our an‑
nual business plan competition,
discovers innovative entrepre‑
neurs. We sponsor other busi‑
ness plan competitions such as
Sankalp and Genesis. Our team
reviews the patent applications
and discovers compelling ideas
from that pool. Our partnership
with the Agri‑Business Incubator
and ten other leading research
institutions under the Indian
Council for Agricultural Research
gives us access to hundreds of
new product ideas. We provide
seed funding, networking, men‑
toring, talent, go‑to‑market serv‑
ices etc. We exit when the
incubatees have a good man‑
agement team, sales turnovers
look poised for growth and they
have raised the first round of
institutional investments.
A new idiom?
The poor have problems and
these problems bring with it
opportunities for solutions. The
poor do not need charity. They
need access to affordable and
reliable products and services.
By incubating such innovations,
we bring to rural India a new
wave of social capital, prod‑
ucts/services, talent and an
eco‑system that furthers inno‑
vation and enterprise leading
to rural prosperity.

a broader approach to huge opportunities presented by the
unique strengths of our villages.”
Leveraging the strengths of the rural local communities obvi‑
ously is of the essence. Saloni says, “As a business, the BPOs are
a proven model across the world. It is scalable too. We have at
the moment around 170 people, we now plan to scale up to
1,000 to 2,000 in the next couple of years. Till last year, we had
operations in Tamil Nadu alone but this year we are looking at
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Tamil Nadu is progressive, has
excellent infrastructure, good literacy and internet penetration
up to the taluka level. Even in rural areas, people understand
English, they may not be proficient but they can communicate.”
In fact, Saloni makes a deeper sociological point, which is also
critical to the success of the idea of rural entrepreneurship. “Peo‑
ple in small rural communities are committed. They may be lack‑
ing in communication skills and exposure that urban youngsters
have in abundance. Traditionally, BPOs are well established,
mostly run like factory floors. We decided to do it differently. We
help establish a certain comfort level for our employees, espe‑
cially socially and culturally. Team leaders or managers go out
and build relationships with the local community.”
Obviously, relationships matter a great deal in growing, scaling
and diversifying a business model that Sreejith, Saloni and Paul
have embraced and are nurturing. Saloni elaborates: “In rural
communities, for example the micro‑finance model has worked
exceedingly well. Repayments are as much 99 percent as op‑
posed to urban credit card payments where default is very high.
There are strong moral and social sanctions that bind the com‑
munities together. So, people take pride in their work and are
conscious about how they are seen by the community.” Social
commitment and commercial viability are no contradiction in terms.
Sreejith says: “Our philosophy for social impact is to maximise
rural employment in our villages through our distributed pro‑
duction centres instead of the ʻmaximising profitʼ motive of nor‑
mal private enterprises. At the same time to be commercially vi‑
able we focus on being competitive in servicing our customers
in terms of our pricing and consistently achieving quality and
quantity targets. Marrying these two objectives, we are targeting
high volume‑manufacturing opportunities for large key account
customers. These high volume‑manufacturing opportunities will
not give us high margins as we are competing with manufactur‑
ers from China, Thailand, Vietnam and other South Asian coun‑
tries. So we target a commercially viable margin and maximise
our returns and rural impact by the scale or volume of the units
manufactured.”
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Resourcing is key ̶ seed capital, human resources and training.
At DesiCrew, Saloni says she made a modest start but went on to
expand. “As far as funding was concerned, I put in some of my
personal funds while Prof Ashokʼs Rural Technology and Busi‑
ness Incubator (RTBI) at Madras IIT helped us with the rest. Then
in mid‑2008, we had an angel investor in Rajiv Kochhar, an ex‑
Infoscion, who came on board. We now run on our own revenues.”
Eventually, running on oneʼs own steam would be critical to
any self‑sustaining venture. Serendipity could help occasionally,
but there is little substitute for hard planning, envisioning and
the right mix of people and resources. Sreejith elaborates on
ROPE: “Patrick and I became co‑founders and the senior man‑
agement team. Dr. Aarti Kawlra was another promoter‑director
of the company. Patrick also invested in the company and apart
from that we received an initial debt funding from LRAMP, which
was an innovation nurturing and development programme
founded by IIT Madras and Villgro Innovations Foundation with
support from Lemelson Foundation, US.”
Referring to the management side of it and oversight, Sreejith
says, “We set up a Board of Directors comprising Kunal R
Sachdev, Founder and Managing Director of Caravan Crafts Pvt.

14 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 15

REVISIONING INDIA COVER STORY

INTERVIEW / ASHOK JHUNJHUNWALA

“
SHIFTING
SERVICES AND
MANUFACTURING We would rather see it (successes of incubation)
in terms of having brought in a culture of
TO RURAL INDIA entrepreneurship into rural India; of having helped
in forging an academia-industry relationship; and,
“
WOULD BE THE of positioning technology to play a key role in the
life of the deprived
MOST DEFINING —Ashok Jhunjhunwala

IDEA OF THE
FUTURE
PB: When did the idea of “incu-
bation” strike you? What was the
founding vision of Rural Technol-
ogy & Business Incubator?
The idea of incubation began
forming around the mid‑80s. I
had joined IIT and had also
begun consulting with industry
who would often come to us
with questions on machinery
and technology. Could we fix
this part of a machinery or could
we fine‑tune this part of a tech‑
nology? Such were the queries. I
found that generally innovation
was missing in Indian industry.
We then thought we could per‑
haps tap our alumni who could
devise and design products as
solutions to questions industry
often posed. They even set up
two companies Benchmark Sys‑
tems and Comportex Electron‑
ics geared towards innovations.
Towards the mid‑1990s, we set
up Midas Communications to
devise wireless (local loop) sys‑
tems at a considerably lower
cost. Subsequently, we helped
incubate as many as 12 compa‑
nies. Until then the whole idea
of incubation was urban‑centric.
At the end of the 20th century,
there was refocusing... away
from urban India to rural India.
As of now, we have incubated
30 companies, 15 urban and 15
rural. It was also around the time
that India began to make rapid
strides in technology‑driven
development. But again it was
rather urban‑focused. In a
democratic environment it was
bound to create tensions.
We decided, therefore, that
technology people should
focus on rural India and its
concerns in a serious manner.
PB: The single most defining
feature of the proposals you
have received and incubated?
The key focus was to signifi‑
cantly reduce cost price. The
price point needs to be right for
customers to be able to afford
technology or innovation. The
order of magnitude was key. For
example, telephony cost Rs.
40,000 in the 1990s, we inno‑
vated and made it available at
Rs. 10,000. An ATM typically
then cost Rs. 500,000. We de‑
vised one called ʻGramatellerʼ
for Vortex Engineering Pvt Ltd
at below Rs. 100,000. In terms of
vision, DesiCrew and ROPE, for
example, wanted to create and
sustain employment in rural
India. So we went from telecom
to education to energy and so
on. Today, as you see develop‑
ment has rapidly moved from
the West to the East. Similarly,
we should be able to shift serv‑
ices from urban to rural India.
PB: Typically, how long is the
guiding, funding and hand-
holding stage of the incubatee?
Typically in a rural setting hand‑
holding is longer while in urban
centers it is shorter. It is self‑ex‑
planatory. The environments
are different, rural India has far
more complex problems. Desi‑
Crew, for example, took two
years. Other mentors come in,
funders come in and a lot of
new ideas too come in. Ideas
come in, especially from three
sources: experienced industry
persons; faculty with wide
knowledge; and, youngsters,
who come up with crazy ideas.
They have the ability to plunge
into ideas.
PB: What have been some of
the most outstanding successes
you have helped forge?
We would rather see it in terms
of having brought in a culture
of entrepreneurship into rural
India; of having helped in forg‑
ing an academia‑industry
relationship; and, of positioning
technology to play a key role in
the life of the deprived.
PB: On auditing projects and
re-engineering project models…
We meet every month to evalu‑
ate these projects. The general
success rate has been 10 to 15
percent. We plan to raise it to
25 percent. However, newer
business models and newer
business leaders emerge. So,
there are a slew of ideas.
PB: The defining ideas for the
future, with reference to rural
enterprise, innovation and
development…
Shifting services and manufac‑
turing to villages would be the
most defining idea of the fu‑
ture. The direction of DesiCrew
and ROPE is one such.

Ltd., Bangalore, who came on board as a representative of NRDC
and who was previously CEO of the famous leather accessories
brand Hidesign ̶ apart from Dr. Aarti Kawlra, Patrick and me.
Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala and Paul Basil, Founder and CEO of
Villgro, comprise the advisory committee and they both are
permanent invitees to the board. Using the investments we
received from Patrick, NRDC and Villgro and under the guidance
of the Board and advisory committee the management team
hired the other required human resources.”
TRAINING
For success on the ground, training is critical. Saloni keeps it sim‑
ple, effective and customer/product oriented. “Our training is
spread across three months. We have modules in English, Math‑
ematics and Analytical Skills. We also impart training in manage‑
ment, essentially in acquiring a client perspective and knowledge
about product management. Their competition is with BPO mar‑
kets like Vietnam and Philippines,” Saloni says.
At ROPE, Sreejith has outlined essentially two main types of
training. It is interesting to note that again the training is
customer oriented and order specific. Much if it is also gained
on the job itself. “One for existing artisans like handloom weavers
where it is mainly product specific and order specific training
during which we educate them on the particular design and
quality requirements of a product. A major portion of this
training will be on the job itself,” Sreejith says.
A second area of training focuses on unskilled workers, mostly
for hand‑driven production skills like crochet or basket weaving.
Classical assembly‑line principles also come into play.
“We have arranged professional trainers and conduct
classroom/formal training sessions. Later, they will be engaged
to work on simple designs, gradually increasing the complexity
of the product and their skill levels. In most of the orders
for handmade products we adopt an assembly‑line system
through division of labour so that productivity is enhanced
by specialisation while reducing the level of skill required by
the worker/artisan.”
Have these rural entrepreneurs developed or evolved a
new management idiom or a new management philosophy?
Sreejith invokes C.K. Prahalad. “We believe we have not
developed any new management idiom or philosophy. It was
already identified by many that rural areas present unique
opportunities for businesses. Prof. Prahalad visualised the
potential of the bottom of the pyramid primarily as a big
market. At the same time many others were considering
the bottom of the pyramid as possible supply sources for the
urban market or for urban industrial companies. We were a
bunch of people interested in the idea of wealth generation in
rural areas and developing supply bases in rural areas for
urban markets. Then found that given the enormity and
diversity of our rural areas a decentralised approach
suits it best.”
Paul puts it rather evocatively: “The poor have problems and
these problems bring with it opportunities for solutions. The
poor do not need charity. They need access to affordable and
reliable products and services.
“By incubating such innovations, we bring to rural India a
new wave of social capital, products, services, talent and an
eco‑system that furthers innovation and enterprise leading to
rural prosperity.”

16 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 17

ECONOMY / INFRASTRUCTURE
Mindset Matters
The Indian bureaucracy is in introspection mode.
A mindset change is needed to attract private
investment and bridge the infrastructure gap,
senior government officials concluded at a recent
seminar, reports Arjun Sen
his is constructive self‑criticism
T at its best. The biggest hurdle
standing in the way of rapid de‑
velopment of infrastructure is the
“incumbent mindset of government insti‑
tutions and officials” which tends to dis‑
courage private investment, senior
government officials concurred at a re‑
cent conference in the national capital. In
the conference Infra Vision 2020 jointly
organised by the Union Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways and the Indian
Chamber of Commerce, the common re‑
frain of almost all the speakers was that
rapid infrastructure development is not
possible without massive private sector
investment and this in turn is not possible
unless the existing “statist”mindset of
government institutions and officials
change. The speakers included the Road
Transport Minister Kamal Nath, Minister
of State for Planning and Parliamentary
Affairs V. Narayanasamy and several sen‑
ior serving or retired public servants.
“Just look at the documentation and
red tape involved in exporting from India.
Most exporters will simply give up given
the time he has to spend running from
pillar to post to get his work done,” said
the Minister of State for Planning and
Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy.
“We have to speed up government work,”
he declared.
Road transport minister Kamal Nath ex‑
plained the numerous steps the govern‑
ment has taken during the one year that
it has been in power after being re‑elected
to a second term in office. He said as a re‑
sult of these steps, the private sector is
now showing increasingly greater interest
in road and highway development projects.
18 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
“The average subsidy sought by private
developers has come down to only 19
percent of total project cost against the
currently permissible 40 percent,” Kamal
Nath said, adding that for projects
awarded to private bidders so far in
2009‑10 and 2010‑11, “as much as 25
percent of the bids needed no govern‑
ment funding at all which proves that the
sector is now very attractive for private
investors.” This is also reflected in the fact
that the average number of bidders for
road projects has again begun to pick up
while more and more bidders are now
opting for revenue sharing arrangements
with government rather than seeking
government grants as viability gap funding.
India, Member, Planning Commission B.K. vate investment,” Chaturvedi said. also seemed quite clear that attracting
Chaturvedi, said: “In the telecom sector, He pointed out that under the Eleventh private sector investment was the only
For projects awarded to private bidders so far
85 percent of the investment has come Plan, major ports, which are all in the way out. “We plan to spend $75 billion
in 2009-10 and 2010-11, as much as from the private sector whereas private public sector, were supposed to increase in the seven phases of the NHDP. Of this
25 percent of the bids needed no government sector contribution in the Railways is only capacity from 730 million tonnes to we are expecting $30 billion to come
funding at all which proves that the sector is now about 4 percent.” He felt that unless ef‑ about 1200 million tonnes while minor from the private sector while the balance
very attractive for private investors forts were made to attract private sector ports were supposed to add another 300 $45 billion will come from the govern‑
investment in the Railways, it would con‑ million tonnes. But so far it is only the pri‑ ment, market borrowings etc.,” he said.
tinue to lag behind in development work. vate sector funded minor ports that have “To achieve this level of private invest‑
Both these developments ̶ a realisation 20 kms of roads a day,” said Kamal Nath Incidentally, the current policy frame‑ been able to add about 330 million ment we have to provide a more stable
not only at the highest echelons of gov‑ while the Director General (Road Devel‑ work for road and highway development tonnes during the Eleventh Plan while the regime so that the risks and uncertainties
ernment but also now trickling down to opment) and Special Secretary Ministry of is largely based on the recommendations major ports are still working out public associated with road development are
relatively lower level officials that attract‑ Road Transport and Highways, A.V. Sinha of the B K Chaturvedi‑led Committee private partnership projects for port de‑ mitigated as much as possible,” Dutt said.
ing private sector investment, especially declared “We have now created a perfect which was formed by the government in velopment, he said. The governmentʼs willingness to
foreign direct investment, is the only way launch pad for PPP projects to take off in 2009 to identify and resolve procedural Apparently, however, policies, proce‑ change policy to suit private investors has
to speed up infrastructure development, a big way,” Most speakers at the confer‑ and regulatory issues that were holding dures and rules and regulations have led to the current framework. Even now
and the fact that effective steps have al‑ ence, whose objective was to deliberate up the National Highway Development been tweaked to make port development the government is mulling a few addi‑
ready been taken to make at least the on implementation bottlenecks in infra‑ Programme (NHDP). through the PPP route attractive to pri‑ tional changes to remove the remaining
road sector attractive to private invest‑ structure development, however, admit‑ “In the port sector too, the Eleventh vate investors. “Investors are showing a irritants. In fact, one road transport min‑
ment ̶ auger well for the country. ted things were not so hunky dory in Plan target was to increase port capacity lot of interest for PPP projects,” said K. istry official said during the seminar that
The road transport minister and other other areas such as the railways and port to 1500 million tonnes, but so far addi‑ Mohandas, Secretary in the Ministry of the road transport minister has famously
ministry officials are at least very confi‑ and airport development. tional capacity has been created only in Shipping. The Secretary, Ministry of Road said: “Except for the Bible and the Gita
dent. “We will meet our target of building Referring to the telecom revolution in the minor ports that have come up on pri‑ Transport and Highways, Brahm Dutt, everything else can be changed.”
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 19
ECONOMY / INDUSTRY
Nano
revs up
Tataʼs new Sanand plant for making
the worldʼs cheapest car goes on
stream, reports R.K. Mishra
ata Motorsʼ new manufacturing
T
facility for the Nano, the worldʼs
most inexpensive car, opened in
Sanand on June 2, nearly two
years after the company was forced to
shift out of Singur in West Bengal over a
land row. The new plant was inaugu‑
rated by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi and Tata Group Chairman Ratan
Tata, who seven years ago had dreamt of
making the affordable family car. “We
belong to Gujarat and are happy to re‑
turn to Gujarat,” said Tata. “I am glad that
we will now be able to manufacture the
Nano across the country.” Spread over
1,100 acres, the Sanand plant has been
created at an investment of about
Rs.2,000 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Modi said
every middle‑class familyʼs dream to
own a car was being fulfilled with the in‑
20 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
auguration of the Nano plant.
“The revolution brought by Ford in the
early 20th century with its small car is
being replicated now by Ratan Tata with
his Nano,” he added. The new plant will
deliver 250,000 Nanos a year. Tata had
to find a new home for his Nano plant
after Tata Motors was forced out of Sin‑
gur in 2008 by a campaign led by Ma‑
mata Banerjee and her Trinamool
Congress. They alleged that farmers
were being forced to surrender their
land at unfair rates by the Left Front
government for the car plant.
A company spokesman said deliveries
from the plant, including BS4 Tata
Nanos, will begin later this month. The
output, supplemented by the facility at
Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, will complete
pending orders from the booking
process of 2009. Built in a record time
of 14 months starting November 2008,
the integrated facility comprises Tata
Motorsʼ own plant spread over 725
acres and an adjacent vendor park
spread over 375 acres to house key
component manufactures for the Nano.
The plant has state‑of‑the‑art equip‑
ment. These include sophisticated robot‑
ics and high speed production lines.
Conscious of the critical need for envi‑
ronmental protection, the plant has en‑
ergy‑efficient motors, variable frequency
drives and systems to measure and mon‑
itor carbon levels. These are supple‑
mented with extensive tree plantation,
sustainable water sourcing and harness‑
ing solar energy for illumination.
The plant has already directly em‑
ployed 2,400 people and on capacity ex‑
pansion may eventually generate about
10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
“
Every middle-class
family’s dream to own a
car was being fulfilled with
the inauguration of the
Nano plant. The revolution
brought by Ford in the
early 20th century with its
small car is being replicat-
“
ed now by Ratan Tata with
his Nano
….To drive into Taiwan
Tata Nano, the worldʼs cheapest car made
by Indiaʼs Tata Motors, is set to drive in to Tai‑
wan, a manufacturing hub of iPods and
green technologies, later this year. Theodore
Huang, chairman of Taiwanʼs TECO group, is
upbeat about the prospects of the Tata
Nano in the Taiwan market, but says it may
have to be modified to suit the islandʼs high
environmental standards. Huang, who vis‑
ited New Delhi in January and went on a test
drive in a spanking new Tata Nano, said he
was impressed by the small car and found
the ride “comfortable and satisfactory”. It ac‑
celerates smoothly and can exceed speed of
100 km per hour, he said.
Huangʼs company is interested in becoming
Tata Motorsʼ agent in Taiwan and selling the
Nano car in the prosperous island, the worldʼs
17th largest economy that has identified India
as a focus market. The prospects of Tata
Nano in the Taiwan market are bright, Pradeep
Kumar Rawat, director‑general of India‑Taipei
Association that serves as Indiaʼs consular of‑
fice in the Taiwanese capital, told IANS.
Taiwan, the self‑ruled democratic island
claimed by China, boasts of $17,000 per
capita income, but has a burgeoning middle
class that is stuck to scooters and now wants
to move on to economy cars. Tagged as the
“peopleʼs car”, the basic Nano model costs
around $2,500. Tata Motors is eying a global
market and planning a new model for the
European market to satisfy its stringent
emission standards.
Huang, however, feels that price alone
would not guarantee Nanoʼs success in Tai‑
wan and said that the TECO Group, better
known for its industrial motors and home
appliances, will only sell the car if its specifi‑
cations conform to Taiwanʼs regulations.
TECO has provided Tata Motors with Tai‑
wanʼs automobile safety requirements.
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 21
ECONOMY / INVESTMENTS
Kannada khazana
Investors have signed MoUs worth $85 billion during the second Global Investorsʼ
Meet in Karnataka, reports Fakir Balaji
arnataka has managed to
K reap a bonanza with investors
inking agreements to imple‑
ment 400 projects in the state
during the next four‑five years at a total
cost of $85 billion.
The Memoranda of Understanding
(MoUs) for these projects were signed
during the two‑day Global Investorsʼ Meet
(GIM 2010) held in the state capital Ben‑
galuru on June 3‑4. The projects are ex‑
pected to generate employment for about
865,000 people.
The mega event, held for the second
time after a decade, witnessed agree‑
ments being signed even at the valedic‑
tory function by seven firms and 20
state‑run and private banks with the state
government committing funds for infra‑
structure. On the first day itself, MoUs for
208 projects were signed involving a total
investment of about Rs.3.29 trillion
($70.2 billion), while the balance 192
projects worth a total investment of about
$15 billion were signed on the
second day.
The iron & steel sector attracted 38
proposals worth Rs.2.21 trillion ($47 bil‑
lion), followed by the cement sector with
nine projects worth Rs.36,991 crore
($7.9 billion) and energy sector with
eight projects worth Rs.25,214 crore
($5.4 billion). Among the major steel proj‑
ects are those of ArcelorMittal, Posco and
Bramhani Karnataka Ltd, which have pro‑
posed to set up six mtpa plants each at an
estimated cost of Rs.30,000‑36,000 crore
in Bellary and Bagalkote districts.
ArcelorMittal chief executive Lakshmi
N. Mittal said he will give priority to its
Karnataka steel project, as its two other
similar projects in Jharkhand and Orissa
are bogged down by land issues and
other approvals. The GIM was inaugu‑
22 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
INVESTMENTS GALORE
Brahmani Steels
36,000
Posco
32,336
ArcelorMittal
30,000
Bhusan Steel
27,928
Mangalore Refinery
15,798
JSW Steel
15,131
Aditya Birla Group
8,500
Infosys
2,250
Company l
Investment (in Rs Cr) l
(Top) Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiurappa addressing delegates at the second Global Investorsʼ
Meet, 2010 in Bengaluru on June 3. (Above) ArcelorMittal Chairman Laxmi Ratan Mittal shares a light
moment with Wipro Chairman Azim Premji during the meet.
rated by senior Bharatiya Janata Party year in large parts of north Karnataka ̶
leader and Leader of Opposition in the has been inspired by the success of Gu‑
Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley in the presence jarat in snapping up Rs.7 trillion ($149
of Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa, his billion) investments in 2009.
cabinet colleagues, central ministers During the meet, state government of‑
M.Veerappa Moily and Subodh Kant Sahay ficials announced that the government
and a galaxy of high profile investors. had received 88 fresh proposals worth
The GIM, twice postponed ̶ once in Rs.90,000 crore in the infrastructure sec‑
view of the global economic slowdown tor under the public‑private partnership
and the second time following the devas‑ (PPP) mode. These proposals are now
tating flood in October‑November last being processed, they said.
ew Finance Ministry guide‑
N
lines requiring all listed‑
companies to maintain a
public shareholding of at
least 25 percent will lead to stake sales
by 183 companies to raise an expected
$32‑billion, according to research done
by Delhi‑based sharebroking firm SMC
Capitals Ltd.
“There are 183 listed companies
with public shareholding less than 25
percent. Hence, the new guidelines will
trigger a host of stake sales through
various routes such as follow‑on public
offers (FPOs), qualified institutional
placements (QIPs) and open market
sale by promoters,” said Jagannadham
Thunuguntla, equity head of SMC Capi‑
tals, the countryʼs fourth‑largest share‑
broking firm.
Of the 183 companies, 148 compa‑
nies are from the private sector, while
the remaining 35 are public sector un‑
dertakings (PSUs), Thunuguntla told
IANS. “Of the total amount that is ex‑
Stake Surge
The Finance Ministryʼs new
public holding norms will see 183
companies raise $32 billion in the next
few years, says Arjun Sen
AMOUNT TO BE RAISED IN $BN
No of Comp Total Yr 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
PSU 35 $26.5 $9.38 $8 $4.79 $2.44 $2
Private 148 $5.5 $3.65 $1.31 $423 mn $94 mn $45 mn
Total 183 $32 $13 $10 $5 $2.5 $1.94
pected to be raised through these stake Some of the prominent PSUs that will
sales, the 35 PSUs will raise the bulk of need to come out with stake sales are
the amount, $26.5 billion or 83 percent Hindustan Copper, MMTC, Neyveli Lig‑
of the total, while the private sector will nite, NMDC, Engineers India, NTPC,
raise about $5.5 billion or 17 percent of NHPC, and SAIL. In the private sector,
the total,” he said. companies like DLF, Wipro, Reliance
Further, as the requirement is that Power, Godrej Properties, Jaypee In‑
every year there is at least 5 percent di‑ fratech, Jet Airways will have to offload
lution, the total stake sale would be their stakes.
phased out and will be $13 billion (be‑ “The companies, of course, may
tween June 2010 to June 2011), $10 bil‑ adopt alternate modes of increasing
lion (between June 2011 to June 2012), their public, but Indian markets should
$5 billion (between June 2012 to June get bombarded with a series of stake
2013), $2.5 billion (between June 2013 sales. One may call the first half of the
to June 2014) and $9.14 billion (be‑ coming decade of the Indian captial
tween June 2014 to June 2015), he said. markets as the “Era of FPOs”, he said.
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 23
COLLABORATION

THE POWER
OF TWO
Collaboration between academia and industry is
key to applied research and development that
makes a difference to society besides translating it
into commercially viable and sustainable products,
be it better drugs, machines or technology, for
consumers, says K. G. Sreenivas

riting in EduTech recently, Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, from industry to academia in 1996 and had been funding such international levels. The kinds of difference that we are talking with the best as that provides the best chance for success”.

W Vice‑Chairman and CEO of Zensar Technologies,

says, “...there is a considerable gap between the
quality of students graduating and the kind of talent
that industry needs. As businesses propose to double and treble
their workforce and Indian companies strive to maintain their
position in the global marketplace, it has become imperative to
projects when at BHP. At Deakin we took the model a step further
by really creating a culture of applied research linked to industry
that was underpinned by high quality fundamental research. For
industry not only were they getting solutions to problems but they
were also training high potential students in their business and gen‑
eral industry needs.”
about are really diverse. For example, research on novel metal
composites and carbon fibre will create materials that will
reduce the weight of planes and cars and be used in
wind turbine blades, with potentially large con‑
tributions to global energy savings. Our new
However, it also called for establishing specific R&D strategies
for different clients to make it work, examples being Indian Oil
Corporation and life‑sciences major Bicon. “This again was
a rather slow and careful process where we had nu‑
merous visits and interactions to assess where
research in bionanotechnology has great were the best matches. Some of it was also

“
prepare and plan for a world‑class, skilled, Referring to the principles underpin‑ implications for enhanced agricultural serendipity! It was not an overnight success
competent, and innovative workforce.” ning Deakinʼs initiative in forging vital production and targeted drug deliv‑ for it took almost three years before we got
In India, thus many public‑private part‑ relationship, he says, “Australia went ery...” (see interview) our first research collaborations nailed down
nerships have been forged to advance through a change process from the early and with students in place,” says Hodgson.
close collaboration between industry and 1990s to now. Generally, Australia outper‑ THE INDIA ENGAGEMENT
academic institutions. The Confederation forms most developed nations on a per The India story took shape when
of Indian Industry (CII) has launched capita basis for fundamental/discovery re‑ Hodgson was collaborating with some
At Deakin, we have a tradition Innovative leader...
initiatives to promote industry‑academia search in the basic sciences. However, the of the IITs and was encouraging in‑
collaboration by identifying four key
of research collaboration with translation of this into economic and so‑ terns to come to Australia. In fact, he
Professor Hodgson, currently head of Deakin
industry, businesses and University's Institute for Technology Research
areas of cooperation: developing new cial outcomes has not been as strong. A was “also looking for future PhDs to come
governments, with the and Innovation, is a globally acknowledged ex‑
knowledge as a long‑term investment; number of initiatives were thus developed to Australia as we have a great shortage in
pert in innovative lightweight metals and advanced
helping faculty upgrade knowledge, underlying philosophy that to encourage industry and academia to metallurgy, materials science and engineering”.
materials, especially for the automotive and aerospace
preferably in an industry environment; these partnerships will result “ work together. A key element was to have The process gave him insights into “some of the
industries. His core work around innovative process technolo‑
fostering Centres of Excellence to make in research that makes a research students focused on more issues that would exist with such an education system”. He began
gies and product approaches aim to minimise the environmen‑
final‑semester students industry‑ready; difference in communities applied research where they would have visiting and interacting with Indian. It became evident to him that
tal impacts of both production and application of metals.
and, deepening the involvement of tech‑ direct contact with industry.” “there was an enormous gulf between the two sides ̶ even
Hodgsonʼs research, which will help develop new metal manu‑
nology in the pedagogies of Indian colleges and universities. Prof. Lee Astheimer, Deputy Vice‑Chancellor, Deakin University, greater than what existed in Australia”. It struck Hodgson that
facturing processes and products, will contribute to a more sus‑
Australiaʼs Deakin University too has been forging such recipro‑ who was also on a visit to India with Hodgson, adds, “At Deakin, he could possibly “tweak some of the Australian models”, partic‑
tainable metal industry. In 2009, he was appointed to the highly
cal research and educational partnerships with industry majors we have a very strong tradition of research collaboration with ularly those that involved students being placed in industry for
prestigious position of Australian Laureate. More recently, he
and academic institutions in India. In an interaction with Pravasi industry, businesses and governments, with the underlying research. The incentive? “We also committed significant funds
was appointed to the Australian Government's Green Car Inno‑
Bharatiya, Prof. Peter Hodgson, who heads the universityʼs Insti‑ philosophy that these partnerships will result in research that to make it attractive,” says Hodgson, adding that, “in our devel‑
vation Committee of Innovation Australia.
tute for Technology Research and Innovation, says, “I moved makes a difference in communities ̶ at local, national and opment of research partners we have wanted to always work

24 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 25

COLLABORATION

Deputy Vice‑Chancellor (Research), Deakin University, Prof. Lee Astheimer, and

Dr. R.K. Malhotra, Executive Director, Indian Oil R&D, sign the research protocol.

Australiaʼs Deakin University has been forging reciprocal research and

educational partnerships with industry majors and academic institutions
‘INDIA IS SO
in India. (Above) Prof. Hodgson with researchers at Deakin University.
INCREDIBLY
IDENTIFYING THE GAPS
ENTREPRENEURIAL’
Hodgsonʼs client‑partners cut across sectors ̶ from TATA Steel, Prof. Lee Astheimer, Deputy across the full research contin‑ Evaluating the Indian market Indian industry for the past 2‑3 Ph.D students graduate and the have been impressed by person‑
SAIL and General Motors to Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Vice‑Chancellor, Deakin uum, from highly applied, in terms of commercialisation years though, so at present most value of their research is realised, ally in almost all the interactions I
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and TERI to National University, Australia commercial research through to of R&D collaborations… of our research is pre‑commer‑ further opportunities for indus‑ have had with leaders and
Aerospace Laboratories. How did he identify the need gap in blue‑sky discovery, within our in‑ One of the great attractions of cial. This is certainly a very attrac‑ try‑university R&D will only grow. researchers in industry, institutes
different industry segments? On the philosophy that stitution, within our research conducting innovative research tive aspect of our collaborations We have based a lot of collabo‑ and universities in India has been
“The gaps in many industries are common around the world underpins the initiative… centres and even within the re‑ in India is that India is so incredi‑ and one that our industry part‑ rative activity around Ph.D stu‑ their serious and very personal
but in India there are some interesting local dynamics. One is Australia unfortunately doesnʼt search portfolio of individuals. bly entrepreneurial and is grow‑ ners are very interested in. dent‑based projects. I think this sense of responsibility for mak‑
that a large proportion of engineering students have been drawn have a strong company‑based We really try to identify and re‑ ing at such a rapid rate that there is a great way to develop inter‑ ing India a better place for its
to the IT sector and so other sections of industry have suffered. R&D tradition in its home‑based cruit people who can think and is real interest in and potentially The way forward… national understanding and re‑ people ̶ in terms of health,
This has impacted manufacturing and infrastructure develop‑ industries, but as a nation we work across the full spectrum of rapid uptake of innovation. It is a Deakinʼs partnerships with Indian search collaborations that can education, lifestyle and
ment projects. In biotech, India is moving from a producer of have been very proactive in es‑ research. Professor Hodgson is a really exciting time for new and institutes and industries are all become deeper in the future, es‑ environment. This sort of na‑
cheap generics to developing their own drugs. However, this tablishing incentives for industry wonderful example of someone even for old established markets, based on interpersonal interac‑ pecially as our Ph.D graduates tional ʻduty of careʼ at such a
change requires a large number of highly skilled scientists. It to engage with researchers in who has this unique ability. This and India represents a really new tions, discussion and real under‑ take up leadership positions with personal level is very heart
would not be unrealistic to suggest that India will need between universities. Deakin University has philosophy also underpins our approach. Look at pharmaceuti‑ standing of the synergies and Indian companies and in gov‑ warming and humanist. It
1,000 and 2,000 Ph.D graduates as a minimum each year in the really embraced this approach to undergraduate teaching pro‑ cals for example ̶ there are contributions the parties each ernment. Itʼs about building cul‑ certainly places a sense of ur‑
related fields and it also takes some time to build the capacity to research in all discipline areas ̶ grammes at Deakin University in huge changes in the market brings to the relationship. There tural understanding as well as gency and significance on the
produce them (i.e. academic supervisors and infrastructure).” but itʼs not just about contribut‑ terms of producing graduates forces globally as well as in ethi‑ has been a great deal of interest scientific and research connec‑ research that is being done to
As far as Indian Oil was concerned, Hodgson sees a number ing to applied research ̶ who are both job‑ready and in‑ cal approaches to drug availabil‑ in our ideas about industry‑uni‑ tions and Deakin is making the achieve these improvements,
of potential areas. “I have visited their laboratories a number of Deakin professors and their stu‑ novative thinkers, so I hope that ity that are likely to seriously versity collaboration, but not all investment for the long term. but also a sense of making an
times and we will be hosting a team from there in the next few dents are also conducting cut‑ there will be more people with a reconstruct the industry land‑ companies immediately see the important contribution. For
months. While we have started with lubricant development we ting‑edge discovery research. seamless approach to research scape in the next five years. benefit of conducting collabora‑ On cross-cultural learnings and Deakin University it really fits

“
can see this broadening into other areas The difference is that we support innovation in the upcoming Deakin has only really been ac‑ tive R&D. I think once we have defining differentiations… into our philosophy of doing
around nanotechnology and biofuels too.” and encourage connections generation! tively engaged in research with some real success stories, our I guess that one of the things I research that makes a difference.
Hodgson, however, has a different model
for R&D organisations. “India has excel‑
lent research facilities and top re‑
searchers. In this case we are looking at international supervisory team. One international panel of three experts in the field ̶ there is no as‑ is on research that makes a difference in both countries. This is
probably more fundamental research that difference in Australia is that there is no sessment by the local or Deakin supervisor ensuring that all work a long‑term partnership and there is no better way to
What I dream about is a model
builds on the strength of the two coursework and so we are often looking is at a truly international level in the field.” demonstrate this than through research.”
partners. For the students there is again
where we can have a seamless for candidates for the India‑based PhDs What of collaborations with academic institutions? “Academic However, he wants to go beyond what he calls “the simple
the potential to be awarded an overseas pipeline of ideas and research who have prior research experience ̶ collaborations are based around more fundamental topics of mu‑ academic realms” and “think about broader collaborations”.
PhD and as part of this spend a signifi‑ flowing between the countries and we must say we are extremely im‑ tual interest. However, to promote this we have recently estab‑ Hodgson says, “Australia is renowned for discovery science and
cant time in Australia. In the longer term through such a venture. We pressed and happy with the quality of lished with a number of IITs and NITK a model based around the even applied research up to the point of commercialisation. But
we aim to develop larger collaborative can help make the connections students who have been attracted to this M.Tech thesis. We identify around two topics of mutual interest we donʼt often go that next step ̶ sometimes because our local
research programmes. For example, we between leading technology “ programme.” The programme has an in‑ and during the M.Tech thesis component (i.e. 1 yr). The students market is small or the investment is not there.”
now have four large projects under the companies in Australia and duction phase “where the student be‑ will spend 50 percent of their time in India and 50 percent in In the context, he says giving a free flow to ideas is of the
Australian ̶ India Scientific Research global producers in India comes familiar with the field and Australia. Again our focus is on good papers. Where possible we essence. “What I dream about is a model where we can have a
Fund (AISRF).” company/institution followed by a critical encourage the academic supervisors to travel to Australia and seamless pipeline of ideas and research flowing between the
Referring to how Deakin structures and plan R&D work to be review of the literature followed by the research. We have a support their local costs while their institution covers the airfare.” countries through such a venture. We can help make the
carried out in India by students enrolled at Deakin, Hodgson formal meeting of students and all supervisors regularly using Asked about the commercial viability of R&D tie‑ups with connections between leading technology companies in Australia
says, “A Ph.D programme in India with Deakin is the same as a Skype or other communication media. Students are encouraged industry partners, Hodgson hastens to say that “as a university and global producers in India. Our university is named after one
PhD programme in Australia. There is the same level of academic to write papers and to present their work at national and our priority is not on commercial outcomes but on research of the fathers of our Federation ̶ Alfred Deakin ̶ and he had
rigour but the real difference is that each student will have an international conferences. Our Ph.Ds are examined by an training and the quality of the research we undertake. Our focus a strong belief in connecting with India.”

26 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 27

DIASPORA
Historic arrival
Her victory marks the beginning of a new era... Kamla Persad‑Bissessar creates history
as she becomes the first woman Prime Minister of Indian origin of Trinidad and
Tobago, says Paras Ramoutar
amla Persad‑Bissessar, a
K
descendent of an indentured
labourer, broke the glass
ceiling when she became the
first woman Prime Minister of Trinidad
and Tobago. The leader of the United
National Congress, Persad‑Bissessar led
her Peopleʼs Partnership to win 29 out
of the 41 parliamentary seats in the
elections held on May 24 and ended the
ruling partyʼs 43 years in power. She
was sworn in as the prime minister on
May 26 by President George Maxwell
Richards. Persad‑Bissessar, 58, a grand‑
mother of two and a devout Hindu, said:
“I am grateful for the immense support
from women and womenʼs groups
across the country and to the extent that
this helps to break the barriers so many
competent women face. I celebrate this
victory on their behalf. But the picture is
much larger than any single group and
those very women would be the first to
acknowledge that.”
Persad‑Bissessar, who was born on
April 22, 1952, was a topper in law
school and did her masters in business
administration and diploma in education
from the University of the West Indies.
She was the first woman attorney‑gen‑
eral and also served as minister of legal
affairs as well as minister of education.
Her forefathers belonged to the first
wave of indentured labourers brought
into Trinidad in the mid 19th century.
Persad‑Bissessar, who has represented
her Siparia constituency for 15 years,
had held the reins of power during the
absence of then prime minister Basdeo
Panday. She has become the first woman
to lead any political party in oil‑rich
Trinidad and Tobago. Her meteoric rise
began on January 24 last year when she
28 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
CELEBRATING THE FIRST FOOTFALL
Various social, cultural and religious func‑
tions on May 30 marked the 165th Indian
Arrival Day, the day when 238 people first
came in Trinidad and Tobago from India to
work on the plantations, with Prime Minis‑
ter Kamla Persad‑Bissessar calling it a jour‑
ney that has taken “us all centuries to arrive
at”. She said that observance of the Indian
Arrival Day must be an active reaffirmation
of the governmentʼs commitment to en‑
sure that every creed and race found an
successfully challenged her mentor, Bas‑
deo Panday, for the leadership of the
United National Congress which he had
founded 20 years ago. Incumbent Prime
Minister Patrick Manning broke with tra‑
dition and dissolved the 41‑seat parlia‑
ment April and called for general
elections May 24, some 30 months be‑
fore it was due constitutionally.
For the first time since independence
in August 1962, a coalition of four other
parties joined to confront the ruling Peo‑
pleʼs National Movement which has
been in power for 43 years.
equal place. To mark the occasion, she has
renamed the Ministry of Arts and Culture as
the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism.
Talking about the time when over 148,000
Indians were brought from Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar between 1845 to 1917 to work
on sugar plantations, Persad‑Bissessar, said:
“Itʼs a journey that has taken us all centuries
to arrive at, and still the journey continues
as we steadily improve the means by
which we travel to the destination of our
The five parties are Persad‑Bissessarʼs
United National Congress, Congress of
the People (COP), the National Joint Ac‑
tion Committee, Tobago Organisation of
Peoples, and the Movement for Social
Change. These parties came under the
banner of the “Peopleʼs Partnership”,
with each party maintaining its own
symbol on the ballot paper. The election
was fought on several issues, including
corruption, lack of medical facilities,
breakdown in the infrastructural capac‑
ity and mismanagement. Rising crime
with over 3,000 people being murdered
Indian
origin PMs
across the
diasporic
world
“
I am grateful for the immense support from women and women’s groups across the country and to
the extent that this helps to break the barriers so many competent women face. I celebrate this
victory on their behalf. But the picture is much larger than any single group and those very
women would be the first to acknowledge that
—Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Top: The Dharmveer Sewdass Sadhu Memorial
statue was installed to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of Indian arrival to Trinidad
Right: Kamla Persad‑Bissessar offers ablutions to
the Shiva Lingam in observance of the Maha Shiv
Ratri at the Patiram Trace Mandir, Penal, on
February 13, 2010
over the last eight years was also an
issue. COP chief Winston Dookeran said:
“Everyone who wants a change, wants a
better Trinidad and Tobago is welcome
in the Peopleʼs Partnership”. “Today, we
begin the business of government as we
build a partnership of interests on a
wide range of national issues‑safety and
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (September 18, 1900 — December 15, 1985)
Known as the ʻFather of the Nationʼ, Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was the first
prime minister of Mauritius from 1968 until 1982. He was an Indo‑Mauritian
of Bihari descent.
Navin Ramgoolam (Born July 14, 1947)
Son of the late Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Navin Ramgoolam is the cur‑
rent Prime Minister of Mauritius. He became the prime minister for the first
time from 1995 to 2000, and was reappointed in 2005. He won the 2010
election to resume the post for a consecutive second term.
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry (Born February 9, 1942)
A Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Pal
Chaudhry became the first Indian origin prime minister of Fiji from
May 19, 1999 to May 27, 2000. Chaudhry has his ancestral ties to the
Indian state of Haryana.
Basdeo Panday (Born May 25, 1933)
Basdeo Panday was the fifth prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago from
1995 to 2001. He was born to Harry “Chote” Sookchand and Kissoondaye
Panday ̶ both first‑generation East Indian Arrivants to Trinidad. He was
conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2006.
“
nationhood.” ment, said that Indian Arrival Day is a
Trinidad and Tobago President George statement that “this nation is the home of
Maxwell Richards, in his message to mark people from all parts of the world”.
the occasion which has become a na‑ “T&T is the micrcosm of the wider
tional holiday since 1994, said: “Their stake world. And all of us must work to protect
in this country is undeniable and, while each otherʼs cultural and religious capac‑
the circumstances of their progenitorʼs ar‑ ities. The new government aims to enrich
rival were less than noble, history has not the social and cultural stock of all the peo‑
stood in the way of progress.” ple, which in turn could be the unifying
Winston Dookeran, MP for Tunapuna force, a model nation, an open society,”
and finance minister in the new govern‑ Dookeran said.
security, economic development, justice
and the well‑being of our citizens, and
introduce a new face of governance for
our beloved country.”
A former Spanish colony, Trinidad and
Tobago is an archipelagic state in the
southern Caribbean, lying northeast of
the South American country of
Venezuela and south of Grenada in the
Lesser Antilles. It is mainly made up of
two major islands ̶ Trinidad and To‑
bago ̶ and covers over 5,120 sq km.
Nearly 44 percent of the countryʼs 1.3
million population is of Indian origin.
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 29
DIASPORA / ROOTS INTERVIEW

2
tuguese colony for nearly 450 years.
The rich heritage inherited from cen‑
turies past is marvelous. The cultural
heritage, its history is beautiful. I am a

Reliving heritage
Nalini Elvino de Sousa, a Goan origin Portuguese filmmaker, chronicles the rich
Portuguese citizen of Goan origin as
well as a Goan, and itʼs a wonderful
feeling and am really proud of my
identity. I would say that I am a hybrid
1

plant ̶ with Indian roots and Por‑

history, cultural heritage and tradition of Goa in a docu‑series tuguese stem, which blossoms Indo‑
Portuguese flowers.

Years ago, your ancestors left India for

Portugal, made home of an unknown
land... and you spent your childhood
there... what has brought you back to 3

orn to parents of Goan

B
descent in Lisbon, Nalini
Elvino de Sousa is the di‑
rector and anchor of the
third series ʻContacto ̶ Goaʼ, a pop‑
ular docu‑series in Portugalʼs leading
public broadcasting channel Rádio e
TelevisÃ&poundo de Portugal(RTPi).
It is a series about the heritage of
Goa ̶ a beautiful blend of Por‑
tugese legacy and the centuries‑old
cultural tradition of Goa. In 1998,
she fulfilled her dream to come back
and settle in the land of her roots.
Married to a Goan doctor, she also
runs a language centre in Panaji
called ʻCommunicareʼ, which offers
classes in Portuguese, Spanish, Russ‑
ian, Italian and other regional lan‑
guages. Nalini founded a
Portuguese‑language kindergarten in
Porvorim. She has also organised at
least three workshops in Portuguese
language for children in Fundação
Oriente, Goa.
Nalini Elvino de Sousa spoke to
L. Jyotimala about her ties with Goa
and Portugal. Excerpts:
Goa, once a Portuguese colony, is the
land of beaches, fun, vibrant night
life... more than that what does Goa
mean to you? How does it feel to be a
Goan and a Portuguese at once?
Goa is my home. It is the epitome of
fun, the land of beaches, magnificent
churches, tall palms, exotic food and
feni, and it flaunts a colourful life. But
Goa is beyond that. Itʼs here, on the
soil of Goa, that old culture and tradi‑
tion of Goa blended with that of Por‑
tugal and gave birth to a new rich
and vibrant culture. Goa was a Por‑
the land of your roots?
When I was a child, I used to dream
about Goa, I dreamt of coming back to
the place which my parents had left
years ago. I never thought of working
here or marrying a Goan. All these did‑
nʼt matter to me at that point of time.
But, I always felt the connection that I
have with this place. I knew, I would
one day come back to settle here and
quench my desire to live here.
You must have been told of Goa, when
you were a child... and you must have
pictured Goa in your mind. How did
you feel when you saw the real Goa for
the first time?
Goa was never new and unknown to
me. I was only 6 months old when I
landed at my dream place for the first
time ever. Obviously, I donʼt remember
anything about my first trip but I used
to visit Goa every two years with my
parents. And, when I turned 17, I
started traveling to Goa on my own
during my August/September summer
vacations. I remember how I used to
divide time between my two ancestral
homes ̶ Aldona, the village where my
father belongs and Sinquerim, my
motherʼs place. Apart from these
places, I used to visit Panjim, to see our
other relatives. Goa has always been
close to my heart. So, it was not a new
feeling when I came back to Goa in
1998 and settled. I felt as if I was com‑
ing to my own native land.
Any plans to go and settle back in
Portugal?
I havnʼt thought of going back to Portu‑
gal and settle there, but I can never say
never. Because nobody knows what the
future holds. At the moment, we have
no intention or plan to leave Goa.
4
1. Nuno on camera and Nalini as the anchor of ‘Contacto Goa’; 2. Picture taken during the shooting of
the series; 3. Nalini with her daughter Maya in Portugal; 4. Nalini with her team members ̶ (from left
to right) translator Darryl Pereira, Producer Rohit Phalgaonkar, Nalini, Editor Prasheela Achrekar, and
cameramen Jude Santos Fernandes and Ricardo Estanislau.
What is ‘Contacto – Goa’ all about? India and Portugal are two different
ʻContacto Goaʼ is about the history, tra‑ countries with their own distinct cul‑
dition, folk dance and music, the ex‑ ture and tradition. But when it comes
otic food and wine, and culture of Goa. to Goa, the scenario is different. You
Itʼs an effort to explore and re‑intro‑ will get the feel of Portugal every‑
duce Goa. ʻContacto Goaʼ is part of a where in everything that we do in our
bigger series called ʻContactoʼ that is daily life ̶ in the food we eat, the
shown on RTPi, a Portuguese channel. dress we wear, our behaviour, and in
There are 14 contactos all together our language. You will find a number
featuring other countries like: ʻCon‑ of Portuguese words like pao, mesa,
tacto Canadaʼ, ʻContacto Brasilʼ, ʻCon‑ vestido etc in Konkani language. The
tacto Franceʼ etc. These ʻContactosʼ ʻflavoursʼ are already there, we only
talk about the life of immigrants in had to capture it on camera.
these countries. The series tell the sto‑
ries of the immigrants, the stories of How and when did you become a part
their struggles and success. In our of the series?
case, itʼs different because there are a I was approached to do the series by
few Portuguese in Goa. So our pro‑ the Portuguese Consulate in Goa. It
gramme ʻContacto Goaʼ talks about the was in 2005, that Pedro Adão, a very
Portuguese influence in Goa, in its ar‑ dynamic consul, called me. He told me
chitecture, gastronomy, festivals, as that RTPi was interested in featuring
well as highlighting certain socio‑cul‑ Goa and was looking for someone who
tural aspects of life in Goa. could help producing such a docu‑se‑
ries and he thought of me. After all, I
In ‘Contacto – Goa’, how have you man- am a product of Goan culture! This is
aged to blend the flavours of Goa and how I got the privilege to become a
Portugal? part of ʻContacto Goaʼ.

30 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 31

DIASPORA / FOOD

HOT AND SPICY IN ISTANBUL

Chicken curry, papad, dal tadka, gajar ka
halwa.... all this and more was churned out
at an Indian restaurant in the heart of Is‑
tanbul to cater to Abhishek Bachchan and
others shooting in Turkeyʼs commercial
capital and most important city for a Bol‑
lywood film. Imran M. Rana, the affable
owner of Musafir Indian Restaurant, lo‑
Left: Shovan Das, Coex Intercontinentalʼs Chef de Partie
cated in Talimhane in Taxim, says he was
excited when two Indians, members of
the film crew, approached him for the
food meant for a 15‑member team this
month. They were reportedly shooting for
the movie, Dum Maro Dum. But this was

Desi tadka in Seoul

With Indian food gaining popularity, as many as 300 restaurants in South Korea now
not the first time Rana was taking orders
for an Indian film crew.
“During the shooting of Guru too, we
catered for Abhishek Bachchan and the
rest of the crew,” Rana told IANS, referring
offer tandoori items and other Indian delicacies, says Venkatachari Jagannathan to the 2007 film directed by Mani Ratnam.
“Some of the scenes of Guru were shot in
Istanbul,” he said. Born and brought up in
Manchester, Britain, Rana has deep‑
rooted links with India and Pakistan. His fa‑
f you feel like tucking into some are also chains of Indian restaurants in He said for Indian diners, the items dra Satyam, Indian Overseas Bank, Tata

I
tandoori chicken or aloo gobi while
traversing the lanes of the South
Korean capital, walk right into one
of the many Indian restaurants that are
a hit with not only tourists but also lo‑
cals. North Indian cuisine, especially
Punjabi dishes, is fast making inroads in
South Korea, with the country boasting
of at least 300 Indian restaurants, of which
around 50 are in the capital city alone.
“Lots of restaurants serving Indian
dishes have come up in South Korea, more
so in Seoul. There are around 50 Indian
restaurants in Seoul,” Shrestha Rajesh,
president of Mount Fishtail that serves
Indian and Nepali cuisine told IANS.
Besides stand‑alone restaurants, there
South Korea. Interestingly, the restau‑
rants are owned by enterprising Nepalis
like Rajesh as well as locals ̶ and not
necessarily people of Indian origin. “The
demand is good as there are many Indi‑
ans in South Korea. Also the Koreans are
developing a liking for Punjabi cuisine,”
Rajesh said. He said Koreans and other
international travellers prefer tandoori
items like naan ̶ the regular variety as
well as flavoured with butter‑garlic, roti
and lassi. Other items like aloo gobi, daal
and tandoori chicken also find favour.
Adds Shovan Das, Coex Intercontinen‑
talʼs Chef de Partie: “The South Koreans
prefer Indian dishes less spicy. For the
Indian taste buds it will be bland.”
are made as per their request and there
is a good demand for Indian chefs in
South Korea. According to him, Indian
dishes are more pocket‑friendly com‑
pared to Korean food and there are
around 300 restaurants in South Korea
serving Indian dishes. “We require more
Indian chefs to cater to the needs of not
only tourists but also local Indians and
Koreans. The pay packet is around
$6,000 per annum,” he added. There are
an estimated 6,000 Indians in South
Korea who include businessmen, soft‑
ware engineers, scientists, research fel‑
lows, workers and students. There are
many Indian companies in South Korea
like Tata Motors, L&T Infotech, Mahin‑
Consultancy Services, Jindal Stainless
Steel, Nucleus Software Solutions and
Wipro Technologies. And their employ‑
ees often make for eager customers for
the Indian restaurants. According to the
Indian embassy in South Korea, the
number of Indian students in Korean
universities, mostly in scientific fields, is
on the rise. Rajesh said business
prospects were good and he is planning
to set up more restaurants. “The invest‑
ment is quite high. One needs around
100 million Korean wons ($86,950) to
set up a restaurant,” he added. Chef Alex
of the Ashoka chain of restaurants predicts
a busy season ahead. “Indian cuisine busi‑
ness will be good during winter,” he said.
therʼs side came from Jodhpur and his
mother is from Lahore, Pakistan. For Indi‑
ans keen to get a taste of their food,
Musafir has an array of dishes on offer ̶
poppadums (papad), phirni, chana
masala, paneer makhani, naan, tadka ma‑
soor dal, matar paneer shahi, butter
chicken, chicken korma, chicken tikka, and
the works.
The colours of the Indian flag form a
prominent border around his restaurant
façade. The décor is Indian too ̶ table
cloths made of patchwork and sequins,
Indian folk art decorations inside the
restaurant and a wide television screen
showing the latest Bollywood hit songs.
His grandfather had moved to England
Top: Imran Rana with wife Ezgi outside Musafir
Bottom: People enjoying their meals at Musafir
in 1939. Rana, in his early 30s, opened
Musafir more than five years ago. He has
one Indian cook, one Pakistani cook and
four‑five helpers. One of them is Gurpreet,
who is from Punjab. Ranaʼs wife Ezgi is
Turkish. She helps him out at the restau‑
rant. He has applied for Turkish nationality
and is hoping to get it soon.
He arrived in Istanbul to study Ameri‑
can literature at Istanbul University, from
where he graduated in 2000. While he
was teaching American literature and
English language at Istanbul University,
Rana started the restaurant in 2004.
Ranjana Narayan/Istanbul

32 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 33

DIASPORA

Spelling queen
Spelling ʻjuviaʼ and ʻstromuhrʼ correctly,
Indian American Anamika Veeramani has
won the 2010 Scripps National Spelling
DIASPORA
QUIZ
Bee crown to retain the honour for the
ʻdesisʼ for the third year in a row. “Iʼm really,
really happy. This is one of the best mo‑
ments of my life,” said the 14‑year‑old from
North Royalton, Ohio, who defeated an‑
other Indian American, Shantanu Srivatsa Q1. What was Kangani?
of West Fargo, North Dakota in the nation‑ How well do we know each
ally televised final round on June 4 to be‑ Q2. What is a Maldivian Buggalow?
come the beeʼs 83rd champion.
other? What do we know
Her win earns a $30,000 cash prize and about each otherʼs music, Q3. Who built the Jama Masjid in Durban ‑‑ the
engraved trophy from the eventʼs sponsor, culture, books, country, largest mosque in South Africa, in 1884.
The E.W. Scripps Co., along with a $2,500
U.S. savings bond and a complete refer‑
history and leaders... What are Q4. A number of turbaned Pathans, originated from
ence library from Merriam‑Webster, a those memories and Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan and Afganistan, arrived in
$5,000 scholarship from the Sigma Phi Ep‑ connections we share... In our Australia in the 1860s. They were employed as
Kshemendra appointed to silon Educational Foundation and a pack‑
effort to understand the
ʻcameleersʼ (camel drivers). In Australia they were offi‑
key US intelligence position age from Encyclopaedia Britannica
totalling $3,499. Diaspora better, we bring you
cially classified as _____?

The final rounds began with 10 contest‑ the second part of the Q5. Which year marked the arrival of first Indian stu‑
Indian‑American Kshemendra Paul is all set to lead the U.S. terror ants, who were eliminated one by one by dents in America?
information sharing agency. He will take over Thomas McNamara, who words such as ochidore, a shore crab, and
Diaspora quiz. The answers
retired from the position in July 2009, as the new Programme Manager terribilita, a term applied typically to the art are given at the bottom of the Q6. The Indian sailors, employed on European ships
of the Information Sharing Environment (PM‑ISE). Paul, whose parents of Michelangelo describing the power and page. You can also write in from the 16th century until the beginning of the 20th
migrated from Punjab in 1950s, moves to the new position after spend‑ grandeur of his work. century, were hired mainly from Gujarat, Assam, and
ing the last three years as the chief architect of the Office of Manage‑ For the most part, this yearʼs spellers
with little‑known facts about Bengal. In course of time, the sailors became an inte‑
ment and Budget. The agency that Paul would head has assumed a proved to be intrepid. The semi‑finals were the Diaspora Community. Let gral part of commercial shipping. They were known
major role as the Obama administration is focused on organising and supposed to last three hours covering two us begin a journey of learning as ______.
streamlining the huge terrorism related rounds. But the contest was extended to a
data available with various agencies and sixth round because too many spellers
more about each other... Q7. He is regarded as the father of modern Mauritius.
departments of the U.S. government. ̶ 19 ̶ were still on board to qualify for He was the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Hous‑
Kshemendra Paul’s
As the PM‑ISE, Paul will work in the the finals, usually limited to 15 or less. ing, and Minister of Social Security as well. Who was
top priorities include not
Office of the Director for National Intel‑ only short-term solutions, he and where was he born?
ligence, and will be the co‑chairman of such as interoperability of Anamika Veeramani
interagency meetings with the National multiple government Q8. On May 23, 1914, a ship arrived at Vancouver and
Security staff, to better align and inte‑ networks, but also working anchored in Burrard Inlet. She carried 376 Indians,
grate the office of the PM‑ISE with the with the intelligence who had come to make a new life in Canada. After
White House. He will be responsible for community, law enforcement being sent back from Canada, 21 of the immigrants
developing standards, policies and and homeland security were killed and many hanged by the British police.
processes to improve how the federal communities to develop a Regarded as a disgrace, Canada apologised to India.
government shares terrorist informa‑
long-term strategic vision Name the Japanese steamship after which the inci‑
tion with state and local law enforce‑ dent is named?
ment agencies.
Q9. During the 1930s, which community dominated
trade in Maldives?

Mankind gets its first artificial life Q10. Who was Cheddi Bharat Jagan?
Three Indian‑origin scientists are part of a team that has for the first time
created a synthetic cell, controlled by man‑made genetic instructions, which
can also reproduce itself. The 24‑member team included Sanjay Vashee,
Radha Krishnakumar and Prashanth P. Parmar. “We call it the first synthetic
cell,” said genomics pioneer Craig Venter, who oversaw the project. “These
are very much real cells.” Developed at a cost of $30 million by the re‑
searchers at J. Craig Venter Institute, the experimental one‑cell organism
opens the way to manipulation of life on a previously unattainable scale, the
Wall Street Journal reported.
ANSWERS
politician who became Chief Minister of British Guiana (before independence); later President of Guyana from 1992 to 1997.
originating from western India, 50 Mopplas from Malabar and 50 Ceylonese Moors. 10. The son of Indian sugar plantation workers, Cheddi Bharat Jagan was a Guyanese
4. Indians 5. 1901 6. Lascars 7. Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed, Calcutta 8. The Komagata Maru 9. Bohra Merchants. The foreign mercantile community comprised 250 Bohras,
34 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 Malaya. 2. During the colonial period, the Maldivian ‘Buggalow’ drove trade in the archipelago. An inter-island vessel, it even sailed as far as Sri Lanka. 3. Memon traders
1. Derived from the Tamil kankani, Kangani means foreman or overseer. Kangani emigration prevailed in the recruitment of labour to be sent to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and
CUISINE
CHICKEN SALAD WITH MANGO
The most delicious starter you could
ever have, this light on the stomach
dish is perfect for the summers.
Ingredients
1 big size Mango (diced)
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
2 tbsp Mango chutney
1/4 cup Lettuce leaves (chopped)
500 gm skinless, boneless Chicken
breast halves
1/4 cup Coriander leaves (chopped)
3 Celery stalks (thinly sliced)
1/3 cup Curd
2 tbsp roasted Almonds (sliced)
2 tbsp Lemon juice
1/4 tsp Black Pepper (ground)
1 tsp Curry powder
Method
Take one tsp salt, and enough water to
cover the chicken by one inch in a
saucepan. Add chicken and salt, and
boil over high flame heat. Reduce heat
to low, simmer (boil slowly at low tem‑
perature) for 8‑10 minutes, or until
cooked. Cool for about 30 minutes.
Mix curry powder, curd, mayonnaise,
chutney, lemon juice, pepper, and half
tsp salt separately in a bowl for dress‑
ing. Drain chicken and slice it into bite‑
Mango Delights
The juicy fruit lends its delectable flavour to anything it melds with.
sized pieces. Toss chicken, mango, cel‑
ery, and coriander with dressing. Line
platter with lettuce. Top it with roasted
almonds and serve.
From sweet to spicy, starters to curries, Kamini Kumari explores some MANGAI VEPAMPOO PACHADI
Popular in South India, this fairly easy
yummy mango recipes to please any palate and suit every mood to make dish is a must for April, when
the mangoes are still raw.
Ingredients
1 raw Mango (medium size)
he best thing about summers is the fact that the
T
EAT MANGOES, STAY YOUNG 3 Green Chillies (sliced)
succulent juicy and the thousand‑flavoured mango is The king of all fruits has many nutritional benefits and is an 1/2 tsp Jaggery (crushed)
the seasonʼs essence. And because they are in such de‑ excellent cooling agent. It contains a powerful antioxidant ̶ 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
mand during this time, most regions have specialised phenols ̶ that helps to unblock the clogged pores of our skin. 1 tsp Vepampoo (neem flower), optional
recipes for not just desserts, but also main courses. One of the During summers, we tend to sweat a lot, which causes dirt and 1 tsp Oil
most delicious fruits, the exotic flavour of mango appeals to pollution to accumulate on our skin, resulting in blocked pores. 4‑5 Curry leaves
just about everyone. A tropical fruit, it comes in as many as Therefore, contrary to popular belief that consuming more man‑ 2 tsp Coriander leaves (chopped)
1,000 different varieties, each of them utterly delectable. goes results in pimples and breakouts, this one‑seed fruit keeps Salt to taste
The fruit traces its roots to Southeast Asia ̶ specifically your skin healthy. An enzyme found in mango soothes the stom‑
India ̶ it is now also grown in Central and South America, ach and helps treat acidity and poor digestion. Method
Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Originally from the The ʻMaharaja of Fruitsʼ is rich in iron, carbohydrate and mag‑ Chop the mango into big cubes. Boil
Indian sub‑continent, it has been established that mangoes have nesium, making it a fruit with wholesome goodness. So make the mango cubes with green chillies
been around for over 4,000 years. Legend has it that Lord mango a part of your daily diet during summer and stay healthy. and salt for seven to eight minutes,
Buddha found peace in a mango grove. Considered a symbol of Welcome the ensuing summer season with a wide range of until cooked. Add the jaggery, stir well
life and prosperity, mangoes form a part of our lives on most mangoes including Dusshehri, Hapoos, Banarasi, Choosa, and heat for a couple of minutes. Heat
auspicious occasions. Lucknawi, Alphonso, Sindhu, Badami, to name a few. oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds
36 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
and vepampoo. Sauté until it splutters.
Add the sauteed ingredients to the
mango mixture and mix well. Garnish
with curry and coriander leaves.
DHANIYA MANGODI
A popular Rajasthani dish, this is made
with some thick gravy and is best en‑
joyed with rice.
Ingredients
200 gms Mangodi (Mango)
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp Asafoetida
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 cup Coriander leaves (chopped)
Salt to taste
Oil for frying
EACH MANGO
WEIGHING Method
Fry mango in oil till it becomes golden
100 gm contains brown. Mix turmeric, chilli and corian‑
der powder, salt and water, to make a
Calories - 107 paste. Heat oil in a kadhai, temper
Protein - 0.84 g cumin and add asafoetida. Add the
Carbohydrate - 28 g spices paste, and cook till the masala
Total Fat - 0.45 g leaves oil. Add the mango to the gravy
Fibre - 3 g and cook for 15 minutes. Add corian‑
Vitamin A - 6425 IU der leaves and serve hot with rice.
Vitamin C - 45.7mg
Magnesium - 18 mg
Potassium - 300 mg
Calcium - 20 g
Cholesterol - 0 g
Saturated Fat - 0 g
FROZEN MANGO YOGURT
Treat yourself with a tangy, chilled
dessert that would simply melt in
mouth.
Traces of manganese,
selenium, iron,
Ingredients
2 Mangoes (medium‑size)
sodium and phosphorus 2 cups unflavoured Yogurt
2‑3 tbsp Honey
2 tsp fresh Ginger (chopped)
1 Egg (separated)
Pinch of salt
Pinch of cream of Tartar
2 tbsp Sugar
Method
Peel, pit and chop mango. Puree with
honey and ginger in blender or food
processor. Bring puree to boil in a
saucepan. Gradually whisk in beaten
egg yolk, then set aside to cool. Beat
egg whites with salt and cream of tar‑
tar until soft peaks form. Gradually
beat in sugar until stiff peaks form. Stir
yogurt into mango mixture then fold
in egg whites. Spoon into a shallow
metal pan and freeze until firm, stirring
occasionally.
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 37
TRAVEL

Footsteps along They say that you can never go home,

No matter how long you did roam.
Thereʼs no way things will be the same,

pukurpar
Having been gone so long, you must take the blame.

Where are all the people I once knew?

Are they in another city alone and blue?
We must make an effort to come home once more,
Revisiting his birthplace, Debabrata Bhattacharjee To visit and be among the people we love and adore.
travels through Dhaka and Bikramhati, exploring his
childhood jaunts and memories... A few have been faithful to our home town,
They remained here long after the cap and gown.
Listen quietly, thereʼs a voice from the past,
Hauntingly asking, ʻAre you coming home at last?ʼ

Lynn B. Glover, Poems from the Heart

t was the year 1950...

I I was studying in St. Gregoryʼs High School in the eighth

grade and lived in Dhaka, in an area called Malitola.
Political unrest and communal riots had forced me to leave
my beloved homeland and settle in Calcutta (now Kolkata) with
my family...
With the passing of the years, my family settled in Shantinike‑
tan, East Pakistan became Bangladesh and I moved to the U.S.
I never thought I will get to visit Bangladesh again since
I hadnʼt even visited India in 30 years. However, after retiring
in 2009, I decided to visit my family in India and planned a
trip to Bangladesh.
We landed in Dhaka after a very short flight from Kolkata.
The shared cultural and linguistic heritage of the two cities
meant that they felt quite the same but with one stark
difference ̶ Dhaka was cleaner. After many years of political
Photographs: Sulakshana Bhattacharya

unrest, the country was now experiencing stability.

The Dhaka I grew up was now in Old Dhaka and the paddy
fields of our childhood were now thriving with commerce and
busy streets. The new Dhaka looked just like any other large
South Asian city ̶ with shopping malls, hotels, banks,
multistoried office buildings, highways, flyovers...
However, as I entered Old Dhaka, my heartbeat quickened,
my home was beckoning me. The affectionately named “City of
Rickshaws” felt familiar, yet so different. I felt like the errant

“
son, returning home for some good‑old scolding.
When I hopped on to a cycle rickshaw, it suddenly struck me,
I was home. There are probably millions of rickshaws in Dhaka.
In fact it appears to be a safer option of travelling on the streets
than walking. Even though the sight of the rickshaw didnʼt
surprise me, the unique character and ornate décor intrigued
me. Covered in tinsel, paintings of popular images from local
The entire village of
and Indian films and coloured plastic sheets, they looked like
Bikramhati turned up
little girls, dressed up as brides! Weaving through the bustling
mass of people, rickshaws, two‑wheelers, four wheelers and the
at our house. Some were Nostalgic moments: (Above) Debabrata with old village acquaintances
descendents of the people and descendents at the house at Bikramhati. Debabrata (left) with
occasional three‑wheeler, we reached Sadarghat. Dhaka is lo‑ one of his younger brothers at St. Gregoryʼs old school building.
cated on the banks of Buriganga river. When I was a child, we used to know and some (Top) The pukurpar (pond‑side) at the Bikramhati village.

Sadarghat was a beautiful riverside promenade where people came to quench their “
used to picnic with families, shelling peanuts and eating ice curiosity about the ‘returning
cream. Now, the promenade has disappeared, and so have relatives from India’

38 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 39

TRAVEL

LEAVING
HOME The old and the new: Dhakaʼs
It was 10.30 in the morning of old world charm, such as its
street‑side sweetmeats (right)
Friday, February 10, 1950. My and ornate rickshaws (below)
brother Sunil and I were in exist side by side with seven
storied malls (bottom).
school ̶ St. Gregoryʼs ̶ when
the alarm sounded, asking us to
flee home. Hindu‑Muslim riots
had broken out in Dhaka. We
reached home in Malitola at
around 2 p.m., having dodged
various rioting groups on the
way. All afternoon we could hear
the sounds of screams, gunfire
and bombs. Scores were getting
slaughtered everywhere. By
night, some 200 people from
our neighbourhood had taken
refuge at our home.
The next morning, we left
home with only a gathri (cloth
bundle). A Bengali military offi‑
cer assisted us and sent two
jawans with Baba to retrieve few
more possessions. We were es‑
corted till the High Commission
of India. However, even though
we got shelter, there was no
food there. Baba, Sunil and I
went in search of food. That was
the day, we discovered what
true hunger was. We went to
Dipu Mama, who lived nearby.
There he gave us some bashi
(stale) pulao, but for us it was
amrit (nectar).
After a few days, one of Babaʼs
The unused restroom of the Bikramhati house which has now decayed gracefully into an old nostalgic relic and has become part of the shrubbery. friends offered us his house, as
they were leaving for Calcutta.
Soon, a Muslim barrister from
West Pakistan came to our house
and requested shelter for his
peanuts and ice cream. Buildings have risen on the banks of the The next day we went to the village of Bikramhati in the family. Baba agreed to rent them some came to quench their curiosity about the “returning relatives
river and there are vendors and hawkers selling all kinds of Tangail region. Bikramhati is our ancestral village, where my the upstairs apartment, in turn from India”. The afternoon was spent sharing stories of the last 60
goods on both sides of the street. The river still serves as the family has lived for the last three hundred years. Even today, for protection, since a Hindu years, dining and forging new memories and bonds. It was a
means of mass transportation but the lazy days of watching the the house is owned and occupied by the family. household was never safe. wonderful experience and I cherished every moment of it.
boats and steamers passing by were gone. Exploring the city Upon arrival in Bikramhati, it was an emotional experience During this period, we went back While I was nostalgic about the old times, it was very refreshing
based on 60‑year‑old memories, I tracked down the location of as we started walking along the “pukurpar” (pond‑side) to our to our Malitola house once, to see the progress the village had made during the years. The vil‑
my old school, St. Gregoryʼs. Sadly, the old school building was old house. We came upon the old, now unused, restroom of the where a rude shock awaited us. lage now has electricity and permanent houses, which we could
no longer in use except the church. But the inside looked the house. This building was as old as the house itself. Trees have Our house was taken over and not even think of during our time; and most of all, there is an over‑
same except that there were many more pictures of principals struck roots deep within the brickwork and the building has turned into ʻAliah Hotelʼ. The all sense of prosperity and economic progress.
on the wall. The school had grown a lot in the last 60 years. It decayed gracefully into an old nostalgic relic. The veranda is owner told us that they had kept Neither was the Bikramhati of today the one which we had left
now has a huge new school building with modern facilities and now covered with rows of cauliflower and cabbage fields. our possessions in a room and behind, nor was Dhaka. Even though Dhaka suffers from common
a studentsʼ hostel. Thankfully the students still use the same Walking around the property, seeing the places where as a we could take them. urban problems such as pollution, congestion, and lack of
football field that I used to play in. Next I visited Jagannath Col‑ child, some 60 years ago, I used to play, fish and climb trees to After two months of ordeal, adequate services due to the rising population, it remains the same
lege, where my father was a lecturer. I remember going to the get fresh mangoes, I felt a wave of nostalgia engulf me. on March 23 we left Dhaka in essence ̶ the delicious food, mainly the ilish mach (Hilsa), the
staff hostel, where many of my fatherʼs colleagues used to live, As we arrived, the entire village turned up at our house. forever and came to Calcutta. sweetmeats and above all the warmth of its people, irrespective
and being treated to snacks or candy. Some were descendents of the people we used to know and of religion or nationality.

40 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010 June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 41

CINEMA
Cricket, fashion
& awards
The 11th International Indian Film Academy weekend was a milieu of fashion show,
film festival, cricket and ritzy awards ceremony...
amir Khanʼs 3 Idiots swept the
A 11th edition of the International
Indian Film Academy (IIFA)
Awards that was recently held in
Colombo in June. The three‑day extrava‑
ganza included a fashion show, celebrity
cricket match and the main awards event.
The ritzy grand finaleʼs highpoint was
Hrithik Roshanʼs mindblowing livewire
performance where he not only danced
but wowed the audience by singing as well.
The other highlight was the compering
by Lara Dutta along with Boman
Irani‑Riteish Deshmukh, who once again
enthralled the audience with their excel‑
lent chemistry on an extravagant set. But
then, there were the low points too ̶ for
instance, Bipasha Basuʼs performance on
42 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
the awards night and the humid weather.
The Bollywood flag flew high with the
likes of the glamour quotient of Salman
Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali
Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and
Bipasha Basu.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa
was ecstatic about hosting the awards
ceremony in his country. “Thank you IIFA
for choosing my country as the venue for
this extravagant event. It will help us in
bridging the gap between the two nations
in a simple manner,” Rajapaksa said.
The grand finale apart, there was much
more to the three‑day event. On the first
day, the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza saw
the participation of many Bollywood
actors and Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar
Sangakkara, who walked the ramp for
leading Indian and Sri Lankan designers.
This was backed by a live musical per‑
formance by composers Salim‑Suleiman
and singers Kailash Kher and Anushka
Manchanda.
A charity cricket match was organised
the next day between the Sangakkara XI,
boasting of some Sri Lankan greats and
two teams comprising Bollywood stars
and led by Suniel Shetty and Hrithik
Roshan. The former, quite naturally,
knocked out the Bollywood heroes.
The sixth edition of the FICCI‑IIFA
Global Business Forum, focused on
various strategies to explore and boost
business opportunities between India and
Sri Lanka. The theme this year was “India
Clockwise from left: Actors Sohail Khan and Aftab Shivadasani celebrate during a cricket match between
Bollywood actors and Sri Lankan cricketers; actors Salman Khan and Seema Khan display designs at IIFA Rocks;
Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez attend a "Habitat for Humanity" initiative event for villagers; and actors
Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan arrive at the hotel lobby in Colombo to attend the 11th IIFA Awards weekend.
̶ Sri Lanka Partnership: The Way for‑
ward”, with some key speakers being
President Rajapaksa and former Indian
junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor.
The first look of movies like Dabaang,
Lamhaa and Knockout were also show‑
cased at the event, as was a sneak peek
into the multi‑million project ̶ Kingdom
of Dreams ̶ a mega entertainment des‑
tination slated to open in Gurgaon ahead
of the Commonwealth Games in October.
The green carpet of the IIFA sported
dresses, train gowns, saris and black suits.
Just like previous years, most of the
Bollywood beauties stuck to gowns and
dresses while men chose to play it safe
with black.
3 Idiots walked away with 11 trophies,
being declared the Best Film, while the
Best Director award went to Rajkumar
Hirani and the Best Actress award to
Kareena Kapoor for the same movie.
Kareena shared the award with Vidya
Balan, who was honoured for her role in
Paa of a single mother whose son is suf‑
fering from progeria.
Sanjay Dutt walked away with the Best
Comic Actor trophy for his rib‑tickling
performance in All The Best, while Boman
Irani received the Best Actor in A Nega‑
tive Role honour for his brilliant portrayal
of an eccentric professor in 3 Idiots.
Sharman Joshi won the Best Support‑
ing Actor award, while Divya Dutta
received Best Supporting Actress honour
for her performance in Delhi 6.
When Salman, Anil
danced to Boman's
tunes
Versatile actor Boman Irani
showed a different side of his
personality as he played the
guitar and sang a song at the
IIFA Awards. And two people
who enjoyed his performance
to the hilt were actors Salman
Khan and Anil Kapoor. Boman
sang Give me some sunshine at
the event and both Salman and
Anil supported him throughout
by doing some dance moves
from where they were standing
and tried to motivate the audi‑
ence too. After seeing Salman
and Anilʼs enthusiasm, the
audiences joined in and soon
the venue was abuzz with claps
and people singing along with
Boman.
When Riteish
embarrassed Neil
Riteish Deshmukh, who is
known to play pranks, embar‑
rassed Neil Nitin Mukesh when
he showed his semi‑nude pic‑
ture from the movie Jail and
asked why he was exposing so
much. An embarrassed Neil
said: “The director of the movie
wanted me to do this and
hence I did it.” But Riteish wasnʼt
done with pulling Neilʼs leg and
said: “Abhi aisa kar rahein ho to
aage kya karoge?” Neil blushed
and couldnʼt find words to
match witty Riteish.
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 43
 BOOKS
Imprisoned dreams
Sudhir Sharma jots down his thoughts and emotions about his life in prison in Toote
Armano Ki Aawaz. Vishal Gulati takes a peep into his transformational journey
he play, Toote Armano Ki Aawaz, was staged by eight
T
local artistes on June 4 with the active participation of
the Himachal Pradesh government, the Delhi‑based NGO
Delhi Kala Karam and the National School of Drama. “A col‑
lection of 153 poems which Sudhir Sharma penned during his con‑
demnation has been put into dramatic form and was staged at
Gaiety Theatre on June 4,” Saroj Vasishth, Delhi Kala Karam general
secretary, told IANS. She said the play was an effort to portray the
mental frame of a prisoner during his sentence and his transforma‑
tion if corrective measures are adopted by the prison authorities.
Sharma, 29, was convicted in 2000 for raping a woman. He
received a nine‑year prison sentence and was discharged from
Kanda prison, on the outskirts of Shimla town, in February 2009.
He has got married now and does farming in his ancestral
village near Solan town. Sharma said: “My initial years in jail were
quite worrisome. But when I started penning poems, I learnt how
to live in a different way. Now, I am trying to reorient other pris‑
oners so that they come out of prison as better people.”
While in prison, the Class 12 dropout also maintained a daily
personal diary. “I have also jotted down the hidden details of
prison life... the way the jail staff violates quarantine procedures
and promotes drugs and triggers circumstances that convert an
ordinary prisoner into a hardcore one,” said Sharma.
Vasishth, 77, popularly known as ʻmomʼ among the prisoners,
said: “He used to give us a few stanzas of poem penned on a piece
of paper when we visited the jail during reformatory pro‑
grammes being run by our NGO for prisoners.”
“In fact, when we met him during his initial years of the sen‑
tence, he was under frustration and deep mental disorder. We
3 3
1 4
2 2
FICTION
The Immortals And Thereby Theodore
of Meluha Hangs a Tale Author: John Grisham
Author: Amish Author: Jeffrey Archer Publisher: Hachette
Publisher: Tara Press Publisher: Pan Books India
Price: Rs. 295 Price: Rs. 253 Price: Rs.199
44 Pravasi Bharatiya  June 2010
Sudhir Sharma exhibits the book of poems he wrote in prison
Photo courtesy: Kumar Lalit
motivated him and transformed his restlessness into black and
white,” she said. Vasishth, who is also a former All India Radio
(AIR) broadcaster, said Sharmaʼs poems were compiled into a
Hindi book titled Toote Armano Ki Aawaz ̶ the same as the
play. The 66‑page book was also released on June 4.
“Several copies of the book have been procured by the NGO
and will be distributed in other prisons across the country to mo‑
tivate other inmates,” she said. Vasishth was associated with re‑
forms at Tihar Jail in Delhi for a long time and later shifted to
Shimla to continue her prisoner reform programmes in the hill
state. By staging plays and other correctional programmes, her
NGO re‑integrates non‑violent offenders into society.
5 5
Deliver Us One Amazing Thing
TOP 10 BESTSELLERS
from Evil Author: Chitra Banerjee
Author: David Baldacci Divakaruni
Publisher: Macmillan Publisher: Penguin Books
Price: Rs. 433 Price: Rs. 450
NEW RELEASES
Puffin Lives: Akbar: The Mighty Emperor
By Kavitha Mandana
In this story of Akbarʼs life, as exciting and thrilling
as any adventure tale, the author describes
Akbarʼs rough, difficult childhood spent on the
run; his consolidation of the empire through war
and diplomacy; the myriad interesting and enter‑
taining people who made up his court; the
strong women of the Mughal household; and finally, the intrigu‑
ing circumstances under which the crown passed on to his son,
Jahangir. Accompanied by many vignettes of information about
the Mughal empire, this book is a fascinating introduction to the
life and times of a ruler who still rules our imagination.
The Life and Times of Baba Ramdev
By Ashok Raj
The continuing saga of a contemporary mass
leader who sought out a vision and a method to
amalgamate yoga and healthcare into the main‑
stream consciousness....
Baba Ramdevʼs emergence as the new ideo‑
logue of a national and global spiritual resur‑
gence is considered by many as a curious phenomenon. This
work is a study on the making of the Ramdev spectacle with all
its inescapable assertiveness, and mass enthusiasm.
Leela: A Patchwork Life
By Leela Naidu, Jerry Pinto
A Patchwork Life is a memoir that is charming,
idiosyncratic and a window to a world of Chopin,
red elephants, lampshades made of human skin,
moss gardens and much more: a world where a
naked Russian count turns up in a French gar‑
den, plush hotels offer porcupine quills as tooth‑
picks and an assistant director sends his female lead an inflatable
rubber bra. Leelaʼs life was about ʻstaying in the momentʼ. Every‑
one who met her has a Leela Naidu story. This is her version.
1 4
Songs of Gandhi:
Blood and Sword Naked Ambition
Author: Fatima Bhutto Author: Jad Adams
Publisher: Penguin Viking Publisher: Quercus
Price: Rs. 699 Price: Rs. 699
Book: “We, The Children Of India”;
Author: Leila Seth; Publisher: Puffin; Price: Rs.150
Preamble turns
storybook
Whatʼs the most important book of India? Itʼs the Constitution, silly,
and its goals are contained in the first long sentence, the Preamble.
Any child who has gone through super grandmom and former chief
justice Leila Sethʼs latest offering can tell you that.
Seth, the first woman to be chief justice in an Indian state, who has also
penned her autobiography, acknowledges that she has written this time
with the help of her five‑ and eight‑year‑old granddaughters. And it shows.
Not only does she break down every single big word ̶ Sovereign,
Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic ̶ to its simplest meaning
but also, through trivia, photographs and drawings, turns the
Preamble into a storybook.
“On 9 December 1946, about eight months before India became
independent, a group of men and women met in a beautifully deco‑
rated hall in New Delhi, which is now known as the central hall of Par‑
liament House. They were to discuss their ideas and write the
Constitution...” And thus the golden book came to be written. In “We,
The Children Of India”, the words as well as pictures do the talking.
Starting with B&W photos of Gandhi and Nehru in action and on to
pages from the Constitution, the book is a feast for the eyes.
The drawings by Bindia Thapar will hook children from the start.
The back cover simply says the book is for seven‑plus readers. But this
tome should make it to junior school curriculum and to bookshelves
at home, for adults to refresh long forgotten pledges. Paloma Ganguly
NON-FICTION
The Difficulty Jangalnama ̶ Travels In Becoming
of Being Good A Maoist Guerilla Zone Indian
Author: Gurcharan Das Author: Satnam Author: Pavan K. Verma
Publisher: Penguin/Allen Lane Publisher: Penguin Books Publisher: Penguin/Allen
Price: Rs. 699 Price: Rs. 250 Lane Price: Rs. 499
June 2010  Pravasi Bharatiya 45
DIASPORA / NEWSMAKERS

Left: Ananda Krishnan ranked second

with with a net worth of $8.1 billion; Peerage for
Right: A.K. Nathan placed 24th.
Indian tycoon
Dolar Popat, who worked
as a waiter after arriving in
England in 1971 and later
became a self‑made
multi‑millionaire, will be
nominated for a British
peerage by Prime Minis‑
ter David Cameron. The
Ugandan‑born Indian
business tycoon, who
Making investment in India easier for overseas Indians.
gave the Conservatives
over £200,000 in dona‑
tions, will get a seat in the
House of Lords. He has an
estimated fortune of £42
million, Daily Mail
reported on May 27.
A spot on the Richie Rich list Popat's family fled from
Idi Aminʼs regime; when
Two persons of Indian origin figured among The 72‑year‑old former oil trader Krishnanʼs he arrived from Uganda
Forbesʼ list of Malaysiaʼs 40 richest as the re‑ most valuable asset is Maxis Communica‑ as a 17‑year‑old in 1971,
bounding Malaysian economy expanded 10 tions, Malaysiaʼs largest cellphone service he had just £10 in his
percent in the first quarter of 2010, its high‑ provider, which went public in November, rais‑ pocket. He has helped
est growth rate in a decade. Malaysiaʼs 40 ing $3.4 billion in Malaysiaʼs largest‑ever IPO. bankroll Tory front‑
wealthiest are worth a total of $51 billion, up Krishnanʼs telecom interests in Indonesia benchers, including Inter‑
from $36 billion a year ago and even higher and India are still privately held and he plans national Development
than the $46 billion they were collectively to take his satellite TV broadcaster, Astro All Secretary Andrew
worth in 2008, the U.S. business magazine Asia Networks, private. Mitchell and Cabinet Min‑
noted. Indian origin Ananda Krishnan with a Newcomers include another person of ister Baroness Sayeeda
net worth of $8.1 billion retained his second Indian origin ̶ self‑made building contrac‑ Warsi. Popat, 55, has also
place after Malaysian Chinese Robert Kuok. tor A.K. Nathan, 54, placed 24th with a net made a string of dona‑
They are worth a combined $20.1 billion, worth of $250 million. He owns and runs
tions to fellow Ugandan‑
or 40 percent of the top 40ʼs wealth. The Eversendai, a Kuala Lumpur contractor that
born MP Shailesh Varaʼs
countryʼs 10 billionaires are worth $30 bil‑ fabricates, designs and erects the steel
constituency.
lion, accounting for 59 percent of the total. frames for buildings.

For details contact:

INDIANS RANK FOURTH IN AUSTRALIA’S MIGRANT COMMUNITY Shefali Chaturvedi
The India-born population in Australia rose from 110,563 in 2002 to 239,295 in 2008 | In 2007-08 alone,
the number of Indian-born people in Australia grew by 39,529 | In 2008-09, for the seventh year in Chief Executive Officer, OIFC
a row, India was the biggest source of permanent settlers in Victoria & Director, CII
Courtesy: The Age 249-F, Sector 18, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV
Gurgaon - 122 015, Haryana, INDIA
Tel: +91-124-4014060-67 / 4014071
Limca moment for Veena Rao Fax: +91-124-4014070
Website: www.oifc.in
US‑based Veena Rao, who recently entered the Limca Book of Records as the first NRI
woman to edit and publish a newspaper outside India, hails from Mangalore and is the
editor and publisher of NRI Pulse. Launched in 2006, NRI Pulse is a free monthly newspaper
that serves the Indian‑American and other South Asian communities of Georgia and other
southeastern states of the U.S. “It is important that people know whatʼs happening in their
community, and the country they live in. It is important that they stay abreast of happen‑
ings in India. This is vital for the socio‑economic and cultural growth of the community as
lR;eso t;rs Confederation of
a whole,” a statement quoted Rao as saying. Rao has a mastersʼ diploma in journalism and Ministry of Overseas Indian Industry
communication from Indiaʼs Symbiosis International University. Indian Affairs
— PB Desk
46 Pravasi Bharatiya  May 2010
HOME IS HODKA
Located in Kutch in Gujarat, this small village called Hodka is rich in traditional art and craft, and culture. The village beckons you with its
sand dunes, mud houses, mural paintings and has emerged as an important rural tourist destination. Once in Hodka, you will be
mesmerised by the sparkling clean and naturally cooled circular mud houses called bhungas. The women folk have mastered the art of
mural painting ̶ the art of using dung, natural dyes and pieces of glass, to decorate the interiors of their huts. The camel is the most
preferred mode of transport if you want to go strolling in the desert. The villagers play the perfect host treating you to their very own diet
of ʻbajre ki rotiʼ along with curd made of camelʼs milk. Hodka is home to a variety of birds, including the rare to spot black‑necked stork. You
can also witness some fine embroidery and leatherwork of the region. Hodkaʼs colours and culture are what lures the tourists most. Allow
the community to host you in the style they are used to ̶ plying you with food, sharing their art and music and showcasing their craft.

lR;eso t;rs

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

www.moia.gov.in
www.overseasindian.in