2022
INTERVIEW H.E. SANJIV KOHLI, AMBASSADOR OF INDIA TO SERBIA
TIME-TESTED RELATIONSHIP As India’s Ambassador to Serbia, it will be my sincere endeavour to add more substance and ambition to this important relationship. I would personally like to increase our focus on trade and commercial exchanges, as well as on peopleto-people contacts ~ Sanjiv Kohli
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he start of H.E. Sanjiv Kohli’s ambassadorial posting to Serbia was marked by the formal remembrance of two important historical events. First, in August last year, he ceremoniously raised the flag of India at the embassy in Belgrade to mark the 75th anniversary of independence. Then, in October, he attended the summit commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Non-Aligned Movement, which had connected India and the then Yugoslavia in a special way. Speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine, Ambassador Kohli says that in this new century, “both countries attach high priority to further expanding and upgrading the existing level of our partnership”.
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ANNIVERSARY
KOSOVO
NAM
Given India’s great diversity, the country’s journey towards development, prosperity and stability is truly an inspiring accomplishment for all Indians, particularly the youth
Our position on Kosovo has been and still is consistent and that is that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country must be respected
India remains steadfast in its belief that the global commons must truly remain a shared resource of humanity, governed by open and collaborative international institutions
Your Excellency, speaking of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence how important is remembrance of that period of the struggle for liberation from British imperial rule to today’s generations of Indian citizens, especially the younger ones, and how is the collective memory of that period preserved? It is indeed an honour for me to serve in Serbia, a longstanding friend of India. The celebrations commemorating 75 years of our Independence are being held in all world capitals. Given India’s great diversity, the country’s journey towards development, prosperity and stabiity is truly an inspring accomplishment for all Indians, in particuluar the youth. Contemporary India’s pride in its electoral democracy is very visible. Given the goodwill and mutual respect that our leadership and people have for each other, these celebrations acquire a special resonance in Serbia. We have been conducting a series of cultural events and interacting with a cross-section of people in Belgrade and other major cities. These include friends of India, academic and literary institutions and young students. We are looking forward to conducting some other major events demonstrating India’s cultural and civilizational heritage. This is also an occasion for us to convey our gratitude to the Government and people of Serbia for their friendship.
challenges of tomorrow. India remains steadfast in its belief that the global commons must truly remain a shared resource of humanity, governed by open and collaborative international institutions.
We remain locked in the period marked by the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit both Serbia and India hard, while at the same time creating new opportunities for cooperation between pharmaceutical companies. Are Indian companies still interested in investing in Serbia? The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly made all nations of the world much more aware of risks and vulnerabilities. But together there is also a wider appreciation today of the importance of global cooperation. Both India and Serbia have helped many other nations in their fight against this pandemic through supply of vaccines, pharmaceutical products and protective gear. As far as India is concerned, we have supplied more than 70 million doses of domestically produced COVID-19 vaccines to over 90 countries. Health care and pharmaceuticals are an area of significant promise in our bilateral engagement. We are seeking to facilitate enhanced interaction between business organizations on both sides so as to explore opportunities for both trade and investment.
As the ambassador of one of the countries that founded the Non-Aligned Movement, you had an opportunity to attend the Belgrade celebration marking the NAM’s 60th anniversary. How did you find that event? As a founder member of NAM, we deeply appreciate the Serbian Government’s efforts in ensuring a very successful event marking NAM’s 60th anniversary. India was represented at a high level. This underlined our commitment to re-energize the Non-Aligned Movement so that it can play an effective role in creating systems that address the problems of today and
You arrived in Serbia to take on the role of ambassador during a period that’s been described as the years of the great rise in bilateral relations. Which directions of development do you intend to engage in personally? Our bilateral engagement is based on historic goodwill and mutual respect. It is a time tested relationship. Both countries attach high priority to further expanding and upgrading the existing level of our partnership. As
We are looking forward to conducting some major events demonstrating India’s cultural and civilisational heritage. This is also an occasion for us to convey our gratitude to the Government and people of Serbia for their friendship India’s Ambassador to Serbia, it will be my sincere endeavour to add more substance and ambition into this important relationship. I will personally like to increase our focus on trade and commercial exchanges as well as on people to people contacts. Serbian officials have highlighted the importance of support from India in the fight to preserve our country’s territorial integrity. Is India maintaining its stance of not recognising Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence? Our position on Kosovo has been and still is consistent and that is that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country must be respected.
Your predecessor’s term in Serbia was said to have been marked by the historic news of the start of exports of Serbian apples to India. Do you see possibilities to strengthen cooperation in agriculture? I recently visited the facilites of one of the Serbian exporter of apples to India. They see vast potential in the Indian market and we will assist them and all other interested companies. The agriculture sector in India has been a story of great success. Both countries have much to gain by engaging across the entire value chain including technology to improve agricultural productivity, supply of agricultural machinery and equipment, food processing, cold storage facilities etc. To what extent is progress in this area assisted by the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation between the two countries, which is expected to hold its fourth session soon?
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The Joint Committee provides an institutional framework to review ongoing progress in the area of our economic partnership, identify areas of concern and facilitate their redressal and also to explore new sectors for mutually beneficial collaboration. The objective is to create a facilitating environment to secure sustained engagement between business organizations of both countries. It was during November that you commemorated the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day, in recognition of this programme that has enabled Serbian students to undertake advanced studies in India since 2008. Are you satisfied with the level of interest in this programme, which covers a wide range of subjects – from IT and ecology to diplomacy and yoga? The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme is an important part of India’s developmental assistance to partner countries. It focusses on skill development and capacity building. We would certainly like more Serbians to avail of the opportunities offered through this programme. Serbia has welcomed a greater influx of tourists and travellers from India over recent
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months. Can this trend be maintained once the pandemic abates? Is Serbia an interesting destination for Indian citizens who travel around Europe? We are grateful to the Government and people of Serbia for their assistance in facilitating travel of Indians through their
Both countries have much to gain by engaging across the entire value chain, including technology, to improve agricultural productivity, the supply of agricultural machinery and equipment, food processing, cold storage facilities etc. country to their final destinations. They all had a good story to share with their friends and families in India. This will certainly have a multiplier effect on direct tourism from India to Serbia and we are seeing that impact in the tourism statistics. Having said that, there is also the need to promote Serbia
further through focussed tourism exhibitions and presentations in India. Serbia offers a lot for India tourists and I am sure that it could emerge as a popular destination in the years ahead. A meeting between the presidents of India and Russia marked the end of 2021 at the international level. This top-level meeting included a particularly noticeable announcement that military cooperation between the two countries is set to be strengthened, prompting media speculation that the arrangement could put India at risk of U.S. sanctions. Do you believe that we will see the further polarisation of the world, which some are already viewing as heralding the start of a new Cold War? India remains committed to an international order marked by robust and rule-based multilateral institutions. A rebalancing of the global order is taking place. The India that operates in this global environment is itself changing rapidly. It is an India that is more consequential. India continues to maintain comprehensive strategic relations with major powers while preserving our strategic autonomy.
ECONOMY
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches an initiative to bolster start-ups at an event in New Delhi on January 16, 2016
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key tenet of Indian entrepreneurship growth in the last few years has been to support and catalyse job-givers in the economy. Given India’s fast workforce, it is critical that new employment opportunities are created by risk-taking first-generation entrepreneurs, who dream of building strong global firms out of India. Technology start-ups have been at the forefront of this thinking. There are 500
unicorns around the world. These are technology start-ups with more than USD one billion in valuation. Forty-four of them are now in India – about nine per cent of the total. Twelve of these unicorns got to the coveted valuation benchmark in 2020 – a year otherwise throttled by the global pandemic. This shows that the Indian start-up ecosystem is not just innovative but also robust. The ability to scale up and demonstrate viable business models has set Indian start-ups apart. The 44
Indian technology start-up innovators are now diversifying to such professional areas as commercial logistics, merchant automation and construction management
START-UPS ARE THE ENGINES OF EXPONENTIAL GROWTH, MANIFESTING THE POWER OF INNOVATION. SEVERAL BIG COMPANIES TODAY ARE START-UPS OF YESTERDAY
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Top to bottom: Start-ups like MakeMyTrip, Ola, Byju’s and Paytm are some of the Indian unicorns with a valuation of over USD one billion. According to reports, Paytm continues to be the most valuable unicorn (at USD 16 billion)
technology unicorns have been valued at more than USD 106 billion. To put this in perspective, the market capitalisation of the National Stock Exchange is USD 2.7 trillion. The top 44 technology firms are already valued worth four per cent of the old economy, some of them being global leaders in their own right. These 44 firms have also created about 1.5 million jobs in direct or indirect employment. Many of these jobs have been in the Gig economy sector (a free market system in which temporary positions are common and independent workers are hired for short-term commitments), which directly benefits job seekers who may not have the best educational qualifications, but who are willing to work hard towards improving their and their family’s standard of living. That the Indian start-up ecosystem has come this far should hardly be a surprise. India has always had the brainpower behind some of the biggest technology firms globally. This brainpower used to make a beeline for foreign shores a few years ago. Now, many individuals are searching for opportunities locally and finding them. The access to capital for Indian start-ups is also rapidly improving.
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With the world awash with liquidity owing to loose monetary policies of global central banks, India has attracted large investments. This is reflected year after year in the burgeoning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) figures, where India is one of the hottest destinations. The next stop for Indian technology start-ups is to expand globally, conquering new markets. Given India’s market, which is not just large but also diverse in terms of consumer behaviour characteristics – the global leap of faith may be a matter of when and not if.
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To facilitate Indian start-ups getting a platform alongside similar firms elsewhere, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, had organised Prarambh: Startup India International Summit in January 2021. This two-day summit was attended by several participants from BIMSTEC countries. BIMSTEC or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an economic platform that India has been actively participating in. This event attracted investors, scholars,
According to the NASSCOM-Zinnov report on ‘Indian Tech Start-up ecosystem’, a staggering number of 8,900-9,300 start-ups have been incepted during 2014-2019
policy makers and start-up professionals from various member nations in a firstofits-kind exchange of ideas. Such global platforms are significant in the region, as many countries share a similar economic trajectory as well as consumer traits. The experience obtained in a large country like India can be transferred relatively easily to other markets, where it may be possible to apply the Indian success. In fact, several Indian productivity applications are already being used in other countries in the region. Especially in the areas of merchant automation, new-age mobility, and social commerce and networking, there are already enough proofs of concept that the mantra for commercial success in India and other countries in the region may not be too different. Such platforms thus provide the exploratory opportunities for Indian start-ups to expand geographically. In the recently-presented Union Budget, the government has allowed Indian firms to list themselves overseas without listing in India first. The Indian securities market regulator is also working to create a facilitative environment to ensure such firms that opt to raise capital outside won’t be subject to dual jurisdictions and regulations. These steps are critical in ensuring that growing and promising Indian firms are not starved for resources. In the recent past, the technology start-ups have also diversified. While the initial wave of Sources: Nasscom-Zinnov report
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According to startupindia.gov.in, India has the secondlargest start-up ecosystem in the world and is expected to witness year-on-year growth of 10-12 per cent
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unicorns came from FinTech (finance and technology) and consumer apps in food and mobility aggregation businesses, the recent success stories go much beyond.Technology innovators are now making a dent in varied areas like commercial logistics, merchant automation, construction management and healthcare. This change is critical for Indian economy as a whole, too. As new players enter the market and start challenging long-time incumbents, yesteryear leaders are forced to respond in kind. This leads to new investments in research and development, and employee upskilling, which, in turn, leads to greater economic productivity and, eventually, higher wages. In this sense, start-ups also play a critical role in uplifting and modernising old economy
players they compete with, creating a virtuous economic cycle. With an educated workforce, well integrated in the global ways of working, and a young nation comfortable with using mobile-first technology, Indian start-ups are on a fast growth trajectory. Some of these players will eventually become national and global business leaders in their own right.
Aashish Chandorkar writes on public policy, politics and current affairs. He takes interest in business, sports and technology, and has authored a book on Devendra Fadnavis, the former chief minister of Maharashtra, titled The Fadnavis Years. He holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Indore University
PARTNERSHIP
AZADI KA AMRIT
Mahotsav India @75
NARENDRA MODI Prime Minister Today’s [March 12, 2021] #AmritMahotsav programme begins from Sabarmati Ashram, from where the Dandi March began. The March had a key role in furthering a spirit of pride and Aatmanirbharta among India’s people. Going #VocalForLocal is a wonderful tribute to Bapu and our great freedom fighters.
AN INITIATIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO COMMEMORATE THE 75TH YEAR OF THE COUNTRY’S INDEPENDENCE, AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV IS AN EMBODIMENT OF ALL THAT IS PROGRESSIVE ABOUT THE NATION’S SOCIO-CULTURAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC IDENTITY. FORMER INDIAN AMBASSADOR ANIL TRIGUNAYAT WRITES ABOUT THE VARIOUS WAYS INDIA HAS EVOLVED TO BECOME A FORCE TO RECKON WITH enabled a large number of countries across Asia, Africa and elsewhere to follow suit and in turn, acquired the leadership through non-alignment to become the voice of the developing world. India’s involvement in the United Nations (UN), General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)/ World Trade Organization (WTO) and a plethora of international organisations engineered its adherence to multilateralism which is also implicit in the psyche of Indians at a fundamental level. It was
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Padyatra (Freedom March) from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on March 12, 2021, and inaugurated the curtain-raiser activities of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (India@75)
Image: twitter.com/MinOfCultureGoI
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country is not merely a geography or group of people. It is a civilisational heritage. Modern India,drawing from the civilisational ethos of ancient Bharatvarsh, stands out among the comity of nations by virtue of its intellectual achievements, philosophical discourses and universalism in thought and action. The past can be a good guide for an innovative future. Coming out of the colonial yoke, India
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ABOUT THE MAHOTSAV On March 12, 2021, Indian Prime Minister Modi flagged off the ‘Padyatra’ (Freedom March) from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and inaugurated the curtain-raiser activities of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (India@75), which starts a 75-week countdown to India’s 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022 and will end post a year on August 15, 2023. The objectives of the mahovsav are as follows: • Citizen Campaign: low Cost, People intensive –The event is an intensive, country-wide campaign that will focus on citizen participation, to be converted into a ‘Janandolan’, where small changes, at the local level, will add up to significant national gains. • ek Bharat shreshtha Bharat - The intent is to further the idea of a sustained and structured framework of connection between people of different regions of India by promoting mutual understanding of cultural activities. • every state, every language: har rajya, har Bhasha India writes in many languages and speaks in many more voices. To promote deeper inclusivity across the nation, regional languages will be highlighted. • emphasis on india’s Glorious history - India’s fabric has been woven by diverse linguistic, cultural and religious threads, held together into a composite national identity. India’s shared history is the bedrock of its nationhood. This would be highlighted in the event. • showcasing india’s development - Over the last 75 years, India has grown significantly across all sectors. From space and technology to healthcare and education, the event will showcase India’s impressive and innovative achievements across sectors since 1947. • Global outreach - “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” will be shared and promoted around the world and also with India’s diverse diaspora across many continents. These events will highlight India’s culture and heritage on a global stage and bring awareness globally to the unique legacy of India. (Source: amritmahotsav.nic.in)
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Above: A popular art form of Kerala, theyyam is also an integral part of India’s folk tradition. One of the themes of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is ‘India’s rich cultural heritage’ that will showcase the various aspects of the nation’s diverse cultural, artistic, linguistic and culinary heritage Below: A yakshagana artiste prepares for a performance. Yakshagana, a form of dance-drama associated with the state of Karnataka, was traditionally performed in the open air by allmale troupes but today, it is not only held indoors but is also performed by female artistes, a testament to India extending its traditional and artistic boundaries to become all inclusive
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE AMRIT MAHOTSAV OF INDEPENDENCE. THIS MAHOTSAV HAS STARTED 75 WEEKS BEFORE 15TH AUGUST 2022 AND WILL RUN TILL 15TH AUGUST 2023. FREEDOM STRUGGLE, IDEAS AT 75, ACHIEVEMENTS AT 75, ACTIONS AND RESOLVES AT 75 - THESE FIVE PILLARS WILL INSPIRE THE COUNTRY TO MOVE FORWARD.
at a time when India was struggling to survive hunger, poverty and under development. Yet it became a beacon of hope and trust for the world. India is an example of unity in diversity and has emerged as an indispensable strategic actor which needs to be factored into all global calculations. India at 75 is a force to reckon with. With 1.3 billion voices, it can easily traverse the challenges that stare at her and the world. India’s developmental model, which has evolved with time, has been of great assistance to more than 160 countries across the world through various capacity-building programmes and efforts in the spirit of “Share and Care”. It has helped India to create a tremendous constituency of goodwill across continents. Even during the ensuing Covid-19 pandemic, India was one country which went way beyond her call of duty to help more than 150 countries with medicines and other assistance, and has provided millions of doses of vaccines
Above: Padma Shri and National Award recipient vocalist Hariharan regales audience during the cultural performance that marked the inaugurating ceremony of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Below: A dance performance from the inaugural event
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THEMES OF AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV The six themes that will underline the mega festivals are: Vishva Guru Bharat - Since the beginning of civilisation, India has been the guru (teacher) for the whole world. People from all around the globe converged to gain priceless wisdom from the country that showed the world its academic brilliance through Sushrutha, Kanad and Aryabhatta. The world has finally adopted ‘Namaste’ as a way of greeting, thereby establishing the fact that Indian values and beliefs can change the world for the better. From Ayurveda to Indian science, there’s more to India that the world needs to know, learn and adopt. India and its people believe in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or the world is one family. It is now time for the world to imbibe the same spirit and India deserves to gain the pedestal of being “Vishwa Guru” again. Ideas, Achievements & resolve - The idea is to celebrate the notion of India – being the ‘best in class’ in social, political and economic realm – shared by every Indian. The country has traversed a long way since independence and has a long way to go. Achievements in different spheres, including agriculture, science and technology, will be highlighted during the course of the events. The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Design Centre, being developed as part of the Museum complex at Red Fort (New Delhi), shall focus on indigenous products from all the states and union territories. Furthermore, initiatives igniting the challenger spirit in every citizen will be fostered, such as #RiseUp pledge across social media platforms. Programmes of similar nature will not just devote each individual towards nation-building but will also aid Indians overcome challenges in their everyday life. Aatmanirbhar Bharat - The idea of a self-reliant nation in every aspect is being achieved by the pioneering vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the pandemic, India has demonstrated that it can cope up with dire situations. Aatmanirbharta also gives a financial cushion to several businesses and encourages entrepreneurs to produce maximum goods and services within the country. Within this year, India has not only started the world’s largest self-made vaccination drive but it is also exporting vaccines to countries across the world. The whole concept of self-reliance will reduce unemployment at many levels. India is a big and rapidly-growing market for a majority of the product categories and with the mantra of ‘vocal for local’, the promulgation of local brands, manufacturing and supply chain will provide a big boost to India’s economy. India’s rich Cultural heritage - The Indian word for culture is ‘sanskriti’. From time immemorial, Indians have described their culture as ‘Human Culture’ (manav dharma/ sanskriti). It has a universal appeal. The principle of ‘Unity in Diversity’ is the implicit law of nature, the Universe and life. People belonging to diverse communities, speaking different languages, having different food,
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performing different customs harmoniously co-exist in India. Thus, the soul of the cultural heritage of India lies in the fact that it’s an allembracing confluence of religions, traditions, customs and beliefs. Over the years, numerous styles of art, architecture, painting, music, dance, festivals and customs have developed in India and this wide variety has made the Indian culture unparalleled, to which the entire world still looks up to. Celebrating Unsung heroes - During the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, events, exhibitions (online and offline), publications and museums, highlighting the unsung or unacknowledged heroes of the Indian freedom struggle, will be planned. Many freedom fighters do not find a place in the conventional freedom movement storyline. One such example is Veer Gundandhur, who led the tribals of Bastar in the freedom struggle. Then there are Velu Nachiyar, Bhikaji Cama, and many more whose contributions are yet to see the light of the day. The ideals of human resolve, kindness and selflessness will be celebrated and promoted during the course of the events. With the element of inclusion in the conventional storyline, local history shall find a place under the “Dekho Apna Desh”. Chief secretaries from every state and UT are planning historical events of local importance. The idea of unsung heroes will be intricately linked to the Visit India Year 2022, wherein regional art, culture, heritage, wellness and yoga shall be promoted. Independence 2.0 - Over the years, the notion of India has largely revolved around the narrative of ‘diversity’. Keeping the larger vision for the nation in mind, both for contemporary times and for the future, the emphasis now lies on local manufacturing (‘Made in India’ and ‘vocal’ about ‘local’). Before the nation approaches the global level, the creation of world-class products promoting investments and value pricing remains the focus. This shall lead to the establishment of a level-playing business ecosystem, keeping the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in mind. Not only will sustainability remain a key, but increased participation of local craftsmen and artisans shall also be witnessed as well. For a successful Independence 2.0, the sentiments of India’s rich cultural heritage will be tapped. All the aforementioned elements (such as Visva Guru Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat) will be imbibed in spirit while implementing this vision. Along with imbibing ethos, marketing battles will also have to be fought in the fast-evolving consumer world. Once this is achieved, then the same ethos will be carried at the global stage – with Indian products competing across international categories, thus walking on the path towards the longawaited aspiration of India as ‘Nation of the Future’. (Source: amritmahotsav.nic.in)
to over 90 countries. ‘Vaccine Maitri’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ became the mantra during this crisis. It was no wonder that when India faced the second wave of Covid-19, many friends extended their assistance. Global solidarity for confronting global challenges is what India practices and prescribes. India, with its continental size, is a kaleidoscope of culture, tradition, languages, art, music, films, food and festivities. These would be an integral part of the mahotsav (mega event) until August 2023 and beyond. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to seek global support for the International Day of Yoga on June 21 at the UN in 2014 was an astounding
India is a land of vibrant culture and traditions that vary from one state to the other, a theme that will underline the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav festivities. Above: Gotipua, a dance of devotion, is one of the oldest dance forms of Odisha. It is traditionally performed by young boys dressed as girls. Gotipua is derived from two Odia words - goti meaning single and pua meaning boy; left: The desert state of Rajasthan is a melting pot of colours, traditions and culture. Here a folk artist (right) in traditional Rajasthani costume performs during a festival in the city of Pushkar, while another performs the kacchi ghodi (dummy horse dance), one of the most popular folk dances of the state
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One of the most notable achievements of India’s 75-yearlong journey since Independence has been popularising yoga internationally. Above: On September 27, 2014, when PM Modi addressed the UNGA for the first time, he made his historic and successful proposal for the UN to declare June 21 every year as the International Day of Yoga; Bottom: PM Modi performs yoga with the personnel of the Indian Army during the International Day of Yoga celebrations on June 21, 2019, in Ranchi, Jharkhand
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and unprecedented success. It is gaining greater acceptability across the world. It was also a stellar achievement of Indian diplomacy. Other major initiatives like International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) have earned India the right to be at the forefront of fight against climate change. As India aims to be the third largest economy, led by talented youth into the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Industrial Revolution 4.0, it has embarked on a journey to
become ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (selfreliant India) and an integral part of the global value and supply chains with ‘Vocal for Local’ facilitating a paradigm shift in the post-Covid era. PM Modi has enthused the nation, saying that, “When an Indian takes one step forward, the nation sprints by 1.3 bn [billion] steps”. In the international domain, India is taking the lead as it chairs the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in 2021 and G20 in 2023, and aspires for its rightful place at the high table of UNSC (United Nations Security Council) as it promotes peace and development
Since attaining Independence in 1947, India has taken huge strides in its space programmes and missions. Top: Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan, the maiden interplanetary mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to explore and observe Mars, was launched on November 5, 2013, and was inserted into the Martian orbit on September 24, 2014; Above: ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2 to explore the south pole of the Moon on July 22, 2019. Here, PM Modi watches the live broadcast of the soft landing of the Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-2 on the Moon’s surface at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network centre in Bengaluru on September 7, 2019
across the world through the dynamic five ‘S’ vision for foreign policy, namely Samman (respect), Samvaad (dialogue), Sahyog (cooperation), Shanti (peace) and Samriddhi (global prosperity). PM Modi, while speaking at the UN, said, “India is a nation that has given Buddh [in a reference to Lord Gautama Buddha] and not yuddh [war]. That is why we have an abiding commitment against terrorism. Terrorism goes against the founding principle of the United
Nations, and for the sake of humanity, it is crucial that the world unites against it. A divided world is in nobody’s interest.” We can rightly be proud of our achievements in the last 75 years, although a lot many challenges remain. But to rise to the dreams of our freedom fighters for a resurgent, resilient, robust and reliant India, we have to be innovative across the spectrum, while dedicating ourselves to the service of the nation.
Anil Trigunayat is India’s former ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta. He takes keen interest in the Middle East and Africa, and Russia. He is a Distinguished Fellow of Vivekananda International Foundation and the president of Millennial India International Chamber Of Commerce Industry & Agriculture
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Engineering Exports Scenario In India With Focus On Europe And Serbia 7TH DECEMBER, 2021
Engineering exports continue to remain as a champion sector for India accounting for more than a quarter of India's total merchandise exports and around 3 percent of GDP. Between 2011-12 and 202021, India’s engineering exports grew at a CAGR of 2.41 percent. The sector has remained India’s largest foreign exchange earner with its share in India’s total exports growing from 19 percent to more than 25 percent in the last ten years. The below figure indicates India’s total engineering exports in the last 10 years vis-à-vis India’s total merchandise exports and engineering’s share in merchandise exports.
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he fiscal of 2020-21 witnessed significant de-growth in all economic factors including trade around the globe due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Mirroring the global trends both India’s merchandise and engineering exports in 2020-21 declined. The novel COVID-19 pandemic has added to the global health and economic
crises. The lockdowns and shutting up of economic activities have heavily impacted the supply chains and global value chains. In
Europe continued to remain one of the preferred destinations for India’s engineering exports
cumulative terms, engineering exports for 2020-21 recorded a decline to the extent of 2.95 percent from US$ 75344.41 million in April-March 2019-20 to US$ 73119.60 million in April-March 2020-21. In 2021-22, however, engineering exports exhibited outstanding growth. Since April 2021, engineering exports
FIGURE 1: 10 YEARS ENGINEERING EXPORT TREND V/S TOTAL EXPORTS
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Source: DGCI&S
have been experiencing positive growth as is indicated in the figure below. While the exceptional rise in April was due to the low base effect, exports continued the northbound journey in the following months as is indicated in the figure below As per latest estimates India’s engineering exports during April-October 2021-22 stood at USD 60.98 billion, registering 59.14 percent growth over the shipments of April-October 2020-21 at USD 38.32 billion. Engineering exports in October 2021, also surpassed pre-pandemic levels of October 2019 continuing the trend of the past few months. Share of engineering in total merchandise export was 26.43 percent during April-September 2021-22 compared to same period last year. In cumulative terms, 31 out of 33 panels exhibited a positive year-on-year growth. Maximum y-o-y growth witnessed in Iron and Steel and products, Non-ferrous Metals and products, Automobiles and parts, Industrial Machinery and parts during April-September 2021-22 vis-à-vis same period last fiscal. Region wise, during the period April-September 2021-22, EU and North America remained India’s topmost destinations for engineering exports with a share of 22% and 17%
respectively, in India’s total engineering exports, and, ASEAN and North East Asia ranked third and fourth with a share of 12.4 % and 12 % respectively of the total engineering exports. Europe continued to remain one of the preferred destinations for India’s engineering exports. While Indian engineering exports suffered a setback in Europe especially the European Union in 2019-20 due
With major supply chain disruptions during the COVID pandemic, new opportunities have risen between India and Europe including countries like Serbia for enhanced commercial and trade linkages to their restrictive protectionist stance, the region emerged as the numero uno destination in the current year for Indian engineering exports. Between 2018-19 and 2020-21, India’s engineering exports to Europe fell down by 9.4 percent, however, in the recent year, in April-October 2021-22, India’s engineering exports to Europe grew by 113 percent compared to
the same period last year. This is a very positive trend. Interestingly contrary to the European trend, India’s engineering export to Serbia, although small increased by 3.9 percent between 2018-19 and 202021, whereas India’s exports to Serbia in April-October 2021-22 increased by 68.5 percent to reach USD 0.48 million from USD 0.28 million in April-October 202021. Some of the panels where India and Serbia has potential for bilateral trade include electrical machinery, industrial machinery for dairy, agriculture, etc., auto components, iron and steel and products, aluminium and products, air-condition and refrigeration machineries and medical and scientific instruments. With major supply chain disruptions during the COVID pandemic, new opportunities have risen between India and Europe including countries like Serbia for enhanced commercial and trade linkages. In recent times, Indian stakeholders have communicated with their European counterparts for greater trade associations between the two regions. The industry contemplates that in the coming years, the two regions will be able to increase their bilateral commercial associations to newer heights.
FIGURE 2: MONTH-WISE Y-O-Y GROWTH IN ENGINEERING EXPORTS FOR 2021
Source: DGCI&S
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CUISINE
india
THE SPICE BOWL OF THE WORLD Flavourful and aromatic with a host of health benefits - indian spices are one of a kind. while some seasonings are popular, there are a few indigenous ones that are rarely used. celebrity chef and Padma Shri awardee Sanjeev Kapoor explores a few of india’s lesser-known spices
Of the many new-age recipes that incorporate the use of turmeric, vegan ice creams spiced with cinnamon are one of the most popular
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India 2021
Top: Bhut jolokia, one of the spiciest chillies in the world, is popularly pickled with oil, salt and vinegar Bottom: According to an article published in news18.com, bhut jolokia is also known to improve mood by releasing endorphins
RAJA MIRCHA Since we’re talking about spices, let’s begin with the ultra-spicy pepper or raja mircha, quite popular in the Northeastern part of India. Also known as ghost pepper, Naga chilli and bhut (or bhoot) jolokia, it was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the hottest chilli in the world in 2007. It is best when freshly-plucked as it tends to lose its intensity with time. Another popular way of savouring this spice is by pickling it with oil, salt and vinegar. Nowadays, people are experimenting with it, which has led to the making of the bhut jolokia tea by a Guwahatibased tea company. When consumed in limited quantities, it is said to help in improving blood circulation and digestion, lowering blood pressure and boosting metabolism. KALPASI Also known as daagar ka phool, patthar ka phool or black stone flower, kalpasi is the Tamil word for litchen.
Left: Kalpasi is one of the spices in the mixture used in the preparation of the delicious Chettinad meen kuzhambu (fish curry) Above: Lichens, called kalpasi in Tamil, are important indicators of atmospheric purity and will not grow when the air is polluted. They require a slight elevation above sea level, which is why Ooty and Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu are important catchment areas for the spice (Source: marryamhreshii.com/ the-mystery-spicekalpasi/)
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I
ndia is popular for myriad aspects, including its traditions, rich heritage and diverse culinary styles. People from outside the country are extremely curious about the “secret” ingredients used in Indian dishes that make them so uniquely flavourful. But what they often tend to overlook is that it is the indigenous spices, which make Indian food so irresistible. When we talk about spices, the one thing that is common in every Indian household is a masala dabba (spice box). A quintessential part of every desi Indian kitchen, masala dabbas are fascinating. And even though these spices are added in chutkis (pinches), they play a very big part in turning a dish from just palatable to simply delectable. Apart from the wonderful aroma and flavour, Indian spices also have medicinal and immunity-boosting properties. For generations, Indians have traditionally used commonly-available kitchen ingredients to prepare healthy concoctions like kadha (a healing Ayurvedic drink made with herbs and spices) and haldi doodh (turmeric milk) to cure common cold. Such popular spices as jeera (cumin), saunf (fennel), sarson (mustard) and methi (fenugreek) feature in masala dabbas across the country, and much has been said and written about their exceptional culinary properties. Therefore, here we explore some of the lesser-known indigenous spices from various parts of the nation, which will prove once again that India, truly is, the ultimate land of spices!
CUISINE This special yet rare spice, which aids digestion, reduces inflammation and acts as a pain reliever, is primarily used in Maharashtrian and Chettinad cuisine (of Tamil Nadu). The upper surface of this spice is dark green or black in colour. It has a strong earthy aroma and a dry texture, and is incorporated in the preparation of such popular indigenous spice mixes as Maharashtra’s kala masala and goda masala, and Hyderabad’s potli masala. LAKADONG AND SALEM TURMERIC Turmeric or haldi is probably the most common Indian spice. It enjoys a pride of place in every desi household and deserves more appreciation than otherwise given. It is rich in curcumin, which has antioxidant, antiinflammatory and immunity-boosting properties, and also imparts a beautiful yellow hue to every dish that it is added to! The two varieties of turmeric that are said to be the best in India are Lakadong from Meghalaya and Salem from Tamil Nadu. This humble superfood has travelled from traditional Indian kitchens to global food hotspots and has found a place in several international recipes like Morocco’s pastilla (spiced meat and apricots wrapped in filo pastry), Sri Lanka’s kiri hodi (dried Maldive fish cooked in coconut milk gravy) and the extremely popular turmeric latte. radhuni A spice that finds a special place in Bengali cuisine yet continues to remain obscure to the rest of the country, radhuni
is often confused with ajwain (carom seeds) because of their similar appearance. Radhuni, seeds of wild celery, forms an integral part of the quintessential Bengali paanch phoron - a traditional five-spice mix comprising kalo jeere (nigella), rai (mustard), mouri (fennel), methi and radhuni. This indigenous spice aids digestion, and helps reduce pain and inflammation. RATAN JOT Alkanet root or ratan jot is a unique spice from north India, especially Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. It is a herb that comes from the borage plant family and its roots produce a unique red colour, which has made this spice so popular. The flavour is more earthy than spicy. Rogan josh, the classic Kashmiri meat dish, gets its rich red colour from this spice! It has also been used as a medicine since ancient times for treating infections, skin wounds, rashes, burns and several other health problems. Perhaps, it is a precious ‘ratan’ or jewel after all!
Top: Cinnamon turmeric ice tea is a refreshing and nutritious summer drink. Not only does it cool the body but also boosts immunity Bottom: According to a study published by the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya, titled Mission Lakadong, Lakadong turmeric promotes brain function and reduces inflammation
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India 2021
KUDAM Puli Kudam puli or Malabar tamarind is a popular souring agent in South India and is often used as a substitute for the regular imli or tamarind. Its appearance is similar to kokum but it has a strong smoky flavour and is added to a variety of fish curries, which is why it’s also called ‘fish tamarind’. This spice is known to not only aid weight loss but also promote cardiovascular health and boost energy.
Top: Radhuni, a spice indigenous to West Bengal, has an aroma similar to parsley, tastes like celery and has a striking resemblance to carom seeds. It is used in the preparation of several dishes including daal (lentil soup) Bottom: The brilliant red colour in north India’s popular meat-based dish rogan josh is imparted by the root of the alkanet herb, also called ratan jot
KHUS Another indigenous gem from Indian spices is khus or vetiver, which is also considered a must in Indian homes during summer. Khus sharbat (drink) is very popular during summer for its refreshing quality. In several households, this sharbat is a mustserve during Holi! As per Ayurveda, khus, called the ‘wonder grass’, cools the body and ensures good blood circulation. Khus also boosts immunity, helps control thyroid-related issues and can also be used to keep diabetes in check. Indian spices pack in more than just flavour and aroma. They are treasure chests of wellness too. And although they vary in taste, pungency and usage from one part of the country to another, it is certain that no Indian cuisine is complete without them.
One of the main ingredients of the Malayali fish curry is the kudam puli or Malabar tamarind
Sanjeev Kapoor is a celebrity chef, author and TV show host. In 2018, he had the honour to prepare meals for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The chef was invited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
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SIGHTS TO
behold
Monsoon provides not just relief from the scorching heat but also breathes life into nature and all her elements. as india welcomes the first showers of the year, we take a trip to some of the most stunning waterfalls across the country BY SHRABASTI ANINDITA MALLIK DUDHSAGAR FALLS, GOA One of India’s most mesmeric waterfalls is the astounding Dudhsagar Falls. Located in the Sanguem taluka of Goa, this stunning cascade of the Mandovi river plunges 1,017 ft (309.9 m) creating a magical sight. Dropping from such an incredible height, the water of the fall creates an illusion of white spray and foam almost like milk, which has earned it the name Dudhsagar (dudh or doodh in Hindi means milk). Falling in the jurisdiction of the Goa Forest Department, this waterfall is a part of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. The roads to the falls are maintained by the forest department, who charge fees for entry and cameras. The fall can be reached either by foot or by rail. There is also an off-road track that is suitable only for off-road vehicles, but even then visitors have to trek about a kilometre to reach the base of the falls
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