German News 02/2011 by Groupe Dejour

Rs 1 / â&#x20AC;&#x2030;vol. 53

GREEN GIGAWATTS

India and Germany invest in renewable energ y

the magazine on indo-german relations

JEWELS ON TOUR Mobile Space fuses past and future

issue no. 2 / dec. 2011

THE DEG FACTOR

DEG funds Corporate Social Responsibility

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EDITORIAL

/ jen s urb a n

ubies, diamonds and emeralds? There are few of

war-ridden country. Tanushree Sengupta reports for GER-

us who can resist the temptation of these precious

MAN NEWS what is at the heart of Indian and German long-

gemstones. The good news is: you don’t even have

term engagement in Afghanistan.

to! This spring, our 15-month event series › G ermany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities ‹ will bring you the

For many, security lies at the heart of the Afghan conun-

much-awaited Mobile Space, a set of modern multi-purpose

drum with huge repercussions for the region. However,

pavilions designed by renowned German artist Markus

there are many who predict that energ y will be the most

Heinsdorff. It is the centrepiece of the Year of Germany in

important security issue in the coming decades, not last in

India. The pavilions are modelled on rubies, diamonds and

Asia with most of its economies growing at a breathtaking

emeralds. Starting in Mumbai, these gemstones will soon

pace. But it is not necessarily all about oil. Green energ y is

go on a metro tour to showcase innovative ideas and oppor-

becoming an ever stronger alternative. According to Chris-

tunities related to the core issue of the Year of Germany in

toph Hein from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, India

India: Stadträume – Cityspaces. See our Interview with Mr.

is heavily investing in green power generation. And while

Heinsdorff in this issue of GERMAN NEWS.

the German government is assisting financially, German industry is backing up with high-end technolog y in this

Indeed, we are very happy that the first highlights of our

endeavour. One of the most ambitious projects, the world’s

programme were a big success and drew large crowds to the

largest solar power plant in Dhule in western central India,

venues. One of the top projects was the Yamuna-Elbe art

is co-financed by Germany’s development bank Kf W.

project. It tells us the tale of two rivers from a completely new perspective. Meera Menezes has the story of these

In our economy section, Amitabh Sinha from the Indian

› e motional rivers ‹ for GERMAN NEWS.

Express describes how Germany’s DEG and its Indian partners foster Corporate Social Responsibility in India.

Need a buddy to share your impressions of the › G ermany

Christoph Hein introduces the new brand of trucks on the

and India: Infinite Opportunities ‹ programme or simply

subcontinent. The Bharat-Benz by Daimler will be a › r obust

a cool photo-op? Please check out India’s first Buddy Bear

beast ‹ for India’s roads with the company targeting at least

guarding the main entrance of our Embassy in Delhi. Suha-

90 per cent of local content in production.

sini Raj from the Washington Post tells you how the Buddy Bear found its way to India and how it got its belly painted

In our science section, Narayani Ganesh from the Times

by Indian artist Annie Kumari with nothing less than the

of India shows how Indo-German scientific collaboration

Taj Mahal!

continues to break ground in excellence and cooperation. It is well known that this cooperation goes a long way back.

The Year of Germany in India is a bilateral event, but the

For instance, did you know that one of the pioneers of the

two countries also played an important role at one of this

museum movement in India was a German?

year's biggest multilateral events. On 5 December 2011, Germany hosted 100 delegations with a total of over 1,000

My stint in India has come to an end – as our managing

delegates representing countries, international organisa-

editor’s, Yvonne Krause. Hence, it is time for us to say

tions and Afghan civil society at the International Afghani-

goodbye and thank you, dear readers, for your interest in

stan Conference in Bonn. It was the biggest international

Indo-German relations and for your continuous inspiration

assembly ever in the history of the Federal Republic of

and support!

Germany, and it ref lected the commitment of the international community to work towards a lasting solution for the

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

Enjoy your read!

content

Standards

politics

Mutual commitment: India and Germany in Afghanistan

Bold move: BharatBenz looking to conquer India

Editorial

SHOTS

notepad

Coming Up

ImprINT

Photo Credits

FROM TRANSITION TO THE TRANSFORMATION DECADE

GREEN GIGAWATTS

by Tanushree Sengupta

Generation of green power presents major latitude for Indo-German partnership, by Christoph Hein

UNITY IN DIVERSITY

India’s ORF and Germany’s Zeit Foundation foster young leaders’ network, by Sunanda Rao-Erdem

Cover Illustration by Groupe-Dejour.de

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

Innovative vision: Mobile Space combines art and architecture

economy

science

PROMISING DEBUT

Colourful belly: Taj Mahal decorates Delhi’s Buddy Bear

IDEAS MATTER

With its BharatBenz, Daimler leaves nothing to chance,

German and Indian scholars shed light on complexities

by Christoph Hein

of cross-cultural interaction, by Chetan Chauhan

THE DEG FACTOR

ENDURING TIES

Germany’s DEG funds Indian Corporate Social

Indian fellows maintain relations with their

Responsibility, by Amitabh Sinha

counterparts in Germany, by Narayani Ganesh

GERMANY & INDIA

CULTURE

JEWELS ON TOUR

Taj Mahal on Buddy´s Belly

An interview with German artist Markus Heinsdorff

Delhi College of Art student designed Buddy Bear for

on the › Mobile Space ‹, by Yvonne Krause

German Embassy, by Suhasini Raj

EMOTIONAL RIVERS

did you know that...

Art project focuses on cleanliness and over-engineering

One of the pioneers of the museum movement

of Yamuna und Elbe, by Meera Menezes

in India was a German, by Jutta Jain-Neubauer

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volum e 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decemb er 2011

shots

850 weeks of being in love ---

Even after completing 850 weeks of continuous screening at the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai, the Bollywood movie » D ilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge « (The Big Hearted Will Take the Bride) starring actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol still enchants its audience. Earning over INR 106 crore in India and INR 15 crore overseas, the film became the biggest Bollywood hit of the year 1995, as well as one of the biggest Bollywood hits ever. It remains the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema. As of now, the love story is still playing at the Maratha Mandir theatre, daily at 11.30 am.

/// g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

le o u tse erid s e/ ld/a os n isth krseu id d z iqui ÂŠ re

/ 850 weeks of being in love

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

shots

8,5 seconds being relaxed ---

As Raj Malhotra in » D ilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge « (DDLJ) Shah Rukh Khan became one of Bollywoods big shots. Since then, he was quite busy acting. In February, his 63rd film after DDLJ, » D on 2 « will be released at the Berlinale Film Festival in Germany and it will probably create a Bollywoodmania in the German capital. The Movie is an Indo-German co-production and was partly shot in Berlin. Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg funded the film with about €500,000. What might be his thoughts in this picture is not disclosed, but it seems Don and Shah Rukh Khan have finally got 8,5 seconds to rest.

/// g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

ÂŠ ra p i d e y e mo v ie s

/ 8,5 seconds being relaxed

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

politics

From Transition to the Transformation Decade ---

The International Afghanistan Conference in Bonn. / t e xt: tanu s h r e e seng upta

n 5 December 2011, the UN cit y of Bonn hosted

a stable state so that it would never again harbour a terror-

100 delegations with a total of over 1,000 delegates

ist threat to the whole world. Secondly, to help the Afghan

representing countries, international organisa-

people regain a life of peace and prosperity. Roughly 50 na-

tions and Afghan civil societ y at the International Af-

tions had stepped in at that time on an appeal from the UN

ghanistan Conference. It was the biggest international

after the 9/11 terror attack in the US.

assembly ever in the histor y of the Federal Republic of Germany and ref lected the commitment of the interna-

Terming the last 10 years as a phase of opportunity, growth

tional communit y to work towards a lasting solution for

and improvement in people’s lives on a scale never before

the › h eart of Asia ‹ .

seen in Afghanistan’s history, Afghan President Hamid Karzai outlined the country’s progress in laying the foun-

In his opening speech, German foreign minister and host

dations of a pluralistic, democratic system of government.

of the conference Guido Westerwelle declared, » The goal

He touched upon advances in delivery of public services like

of this Conference will be to lay the groundwork for a free,

basic health, education and infrastructure, and especially

secure and prosperous Afghanistan. « He pointed out that

mentioned women emerging to claim their rightful place in

although there had been setbacks in recent years, a lot had

Afghan society. In fact, the civil society groups participat-

been achieved. In the joint pledge set out in the Conference

ing in the conference included women who specifically fo-

Conclusions, Afghanistan declared its commitment to in-

cused on gender issues and the role of women in reshaping

creasing its efforts in pursuit of good governance, democ-

Afghanistan’s future.

racy and the fight against corruption. The international community meanwhile stands ready to continue providing

Despite these achievements, it is widely acknowledged

support after international combat troops have been with-

that the goal of a stable, self-reliant and democratic Af-

drawn in 2014.

ghanistan is still far from being achieved. Karzai emphasised that beyond 2014, his countr y would require

Exactly 10 years earlier delegates from all over the world

continued financial support from international partners.

gathered in Bonn under the aegis of the United Nations to

» T he people of Afghanistan are looking to this Confer-

discuss Afghanistan’s future following the ouster of the

ence for a clear affirmation of commitment to make

Taliban. At that time, the international community was

securit y transition and economic progress irreversible, «

pursuing two goals. Firstly, to help Afghanistan evolve into

he said.

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/ f rom t ran s it ion t o t he t ran sf ormat ion de ca d e

A newly graduated soldier from the Afghan National Army (ANA) attends a graduation ceremony in Kabul, September 2010

Westerwelle focused on three aspects of particular impor-

The process of handing back responsibility for security to the

tance in the transition years. Firstly, he considered it vital

Afghans began in 2009, when President Karzai announced

that the transition process would prepare the ground for the

that his country wanted to assume full responsibility for

withdrawal of international combat troops and consolidate

security within five years. He reaffirmed this at the Confer-

the authority of Afghanistan’s government. He pointed out

ence in London in early 2010. On 26 January 2010, German

that the onus was on the government to strengthen public ad-

chancellor Angela Merkel supported his call. She said, » We

ministration, reinforce the rule of law and fight corruption.

very much support President Karzai in his statement that we want to have a situation by 2014 in which Afghanistan can

Secondly, he said that political support for Afghan reconcili-

guarantee its own security. That is a goal set by the Afghan

ation – the only way to establish durable peace – had to be

Government. We ourselves are not naming a withdrawal

kept up. This was underlined by President Karzai when he

date but support the Afghan Government in this goal. «

said that the political process in Afghanistan will be inclusive and open to Taliban and other militants who renounce

In December 2011, Germany’s cabinet decided to reduce

violence and accept the Afghan Constitution.

the ceiling on its troops made available to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from 5,350

Westerwelle’s third point was that the international com-

to 4,900. » O ur military commitments have passed their

munity’s long-term engagement in Afghanistan needed to

high point, and in a few weeks, Germany, like others, will

be clearly defined. He explained this meant continued civil-

be reducing troop numbers for the first time, « Westerwelle

ian reconstruction, support for the Afghan national security

affirmed. This, he said, makes it necessary to further in-

forces for as long as necessary, and help for the country in

tensify the search for a political solution. As the Minister

unlocking its enormous economic potential.

pointed out, the conference in Bonn was not a meeting of troop providers or donors, but a » p olitical conference involv-

This spirit of self-determination was carried into the 2011

ing mutual commitments and pledges. « Afghan President

Bonn Afghanistan Conference. The German foreign min-

Karzai termed the international conference as history being

ister emphasised, » There will be no military solution for

made, » a s a sovereign and democratic Afghanistan comes

Afghanistan. « What the country needs – alongside support

together with the international community to deepen and

for the Afghan security forces – is a political process, which

broaden this critical partnership for security and coopera-

involves negotiation and reconciliation.

tion in the region and beyond. «

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

politics

Construction work near Mazar-e-Sharif

One of the objectives of the conference was to focus on the

clear strateg y to make sure that it does not plunge back

regional dimension of the Afghan conf lict and its lasting

into lawlessness and terrorism.

resolution. UN Secretar y-General Ban Ki-moon pointed out that political reconciliation in Afghanistan would only

Earlier in October 2011, during the visit of President

be possible with the support of the countr y’s neighbours.

Karzai to India, both countries signed a Strategic Part-

Apart from Pakistan, which backed out of the conference

nership encompassing securit y, trade, education and vo-

in protest against NATO airstrikes that killed its soldiers,

cational training, culture and people-to-people contacts.

all important stakeholders in the region were part of the

India is the first countr y to have entered into such a part-

consultation process.

nership agreement with Afghanistan, which the Afghan president was quoted to term as » universally popular « in

President Karzai called for the international aid strateg y

his countr y.

beyond 2014 to shift from stabilisation to long-term development. The Conference Conclusions underscore this by

India has been a major player in Afghanistan and has al-

saying, » S hifting the strateg y from stabilisation to long-

ready pledged $2 billion in assistance. Over the past 10

term development cooperation, the International Com-

years Indian assistance for Afghanistan has been ploughed

munity will continue to support Afghanistan, including in

mainly into reconstruction – including rebuilding the Af-

the areas of rule of law, public administration, education,

ghan parliament, road building, education, health ser vices

health, agriculture, energ y, infrastructure development

and other development projects. In a first, the Strategic

and job creation, in line with the Afghan Government’s

Partnership deal now also includes Indian support for

priorities as specified in the National Priority Programmes

training, equipping and capacity-building of the Afghan

framework under the Kabul Process. «

National Security Forces. This enhanced cooperation agreement also gave India a special position at the Decem-

In a reference to a similar effort at reconstruction of post-

ber 2011 Bonn Conference.

Second World War Europe, Indian foreign minister S M Krishna called for something like a › M arshall Plan ‹ for

Germany described India as the › s tability anchor ‹ for the

Afghanistan, involving all major stakeholders. He said

region and welcomed New Delhi’s suggestion of a Mar-

that Afghanistan needed development assistance, prefer-

shall Plan-like arrangement, which they said would help

ential acess to world markets, foreign investment and a

build up society in the political and also in the broader

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/ f rom t ran sit ion t o t he t ran sf ormat ion de ca d e

Afghan boys on a carousel in Kabul

field of economic and social development. At the first

Germany has been NATO’s lead nation for the stabilisation

Indo-German intergovernmental consultations during

of Afghanistan’s northern region since 2006. However, its

Chancellor Merkel’s visit to New Delhi in May 2011,

engagement is not limited to the North; German recon-

Afghanistan fig ured high on the agenda of bilateral

struction projects, air transport, and reconnaissance and

consultations.

communication capabilities benefit all of Afghanistan. Germany was also the first countr y to leave Kabul to estab-

So far, Germany has hosted three international Afghani-

lish a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). The process

stan conferences, two in Bonn (2001 and 2002) and one

of handing over the responsibility for security to the Af-

in Berlin (2004), which have helped to build international

ghans began in July 2011 and by Februar y 2012 the Afghan

consensus on a comprehensive approach in Afghanistan,

government will be responsible for the security of about

combining reconstruction aid, capacity building for gov-

half of the countr y’s population.

ernment institutions and militar y inter vention. In terms of action in the Afghan peace process, Germany’s commit-

In her concluding remarks, Chancellor Merkel empha-

ment however, is not just restricted to building interna-

sised that after security had been handed over, the politi-

tional consensus. On the ground, Germany has committed

cal process would be extremely important, especially in

substantial funds as well as manpower to support the pro-

such issues as reconciliation and the distribution of power

cess of rebuilding the countr y.

across all social and ethnic groups. She summarised Germany’s position towards its South Asian partner: » A fghani-

Reconstruction and development are at the heart of the

stan can count on our support, not only the Government

German engagement in Afghanistan and more than

and institutions but ever yone – men and women, young

100,000 German soldiers and civilians have been part of

and old, regardless of their origins. We are united in our

this effort over the years. Germany is among the largest

goal of a secure and sovereign Afghanistan in a peaceful

contributors of training for the Afghan security forces.

and prosperous region. « ■

With $1.6 billion spent and an additional $2.8 billion pledged through 2013, Germany is the third largest bilateral donor of foreign assistance. In addition, Germany

---

contributes some 20 per cent to the EU assistance to Af-

Tanushree Sengupta, a communication professional, works at the

ghanistan, totalling over $2.5 billion.

German Information Centre in New Delhi.

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

PO LITICS

GREEN GIGAWATTS ---

India is heavily investing in green power generation.

And while the German government is assisting financially, the German industry is backing up with high-end technology in this endeavour. / t e xt: c h r i s to p h h ei n

Wind turbines at sunset 16

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ green gigawatts

here is still some dispute about whether the site is

approximately double by 2020. It is unsurprising, there-

on protected forest land or not, but in March 2012,

fore, that power supply in India has for a long time been

perhaps, work will begin on the world’s largest solar

a key location factor used by states to woo investors. This

power plant in Dhule in western central India. » T hat’s In-

has consequently turned it into a political issue as people

dia; not ever ything can be calculated precisely, « says Os-

are beginning to realise that urgently required jobs are

kar von Maltzan, Director of the India Office of the Kf W

available only where energ y is produced. Yet local people

Bank Group in New Delhi. Kf W is providing a large chunk

often refuse to give up their land for power plants, and

of the financing required for the power plant. The devel-

there are protracted struggles for compensation.

opment bank and the sun make for a good combination − one that the subcontinent will increasingly have to turn

The move towards environment friendly energ y, however,

to. “The energ y bottleneck will become a millstone for

seems irreversible. » We believe that 2011 will be another

India’s growth objectives,” obser ves von Maltzan. These

record year for climate investments in India. In this fis-

have been pegged high. Although the Reser ve Bank, In-

cal year we expect that an additional 2.7 gigawatts from

dia’s central bank, is now quoting GDP growth of only 7.6

renewables will be installed. The annual energ y savings

per cent in this fiscal year, politicians are tr ying hard to

are expected to rise to 3 gigawatts – a figure that has never

finally achieve a double-digit growth rate.

been achieved before, « says Charanjit Singh, an analyst at HSBC Bank. Siemens AG from Germany echoes this senti-

For that, however, the countr y needs a sound infrastruc-

ment: » I nvestments in clean energ y in India amounted to

ture and among other things an assured and reliable

$7.2 billion in the first three quarters of 2011. The total

power supply. About half a billion people in India still do

figure for last year was $5.7 billion. «

not have access to electricity. Experts estimate that even where there is grid connectivity, the supply deficit is about

Germany can contribute in this area, for instance through

10 per cent. This persists despite India having increased

development cooperation. » U ltimately India will have to

its power generation from 108 gigawatts in 2003 to 174

tackle its energ y problem on all three fronts – generation,

gigawatts by spring 2011. Apart from quantity and reli-

transmission and distribution, « says von Maltzan. Devel-

ability, a third factor is now gaining prominence. Power

opment cooperation with India is focusing on the benefits

production in India is to be made as sustainable as pos-

of renewable energ y and enhanced efficiency. The losses

sible, conser ving resources to the maximum extent and

occurring between the power plant and end customer in

minimising impacts on the environment. Solar power,

India are estimated at over 30 per cent. In Germany this

biomass, wind energ y and small hydro power plants are

figure is 5 per cent at most. It is not just efficiency that

the available avenues. German industr y and the German

is low; electricity is also sometimes illegally tapped. Elec-

government are assisting India with high-end technolog y

tricity tariffs need to be restructured and politically im-

in this endeavour. So the situation boils down to the fact

plemented. Most importantly, however, consumers must

that, » I ndia urgently needs more clean and reliable energ y

adopt more energ y efficient behaviour. This ranges from

production, « as von Maltzan says.

replacing light bulbs to the architectural design of new buildings, which can greatly inf luence the need for air

India has taken the initiative. In summer 2008 the govern-

conditioning, and beyond.

ment passed the National Action Plan on Climate Change. The Plan addresses several individual objectives, includ-

Kf W offers assistance on behalf of the German Federal

ing a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 20 to 25 per

Government in this sector. » I n cooperation with the Na-

cent per unit of GDP by 2020. In the same year the share

tional Housing Bank, we are offering a product for financ-

of › g reen energ y ‹ in India’s energ y mix is set to rise to 15

ing the construction of energ y efficient housing, « says von

per cent. Solar power alone is targeted to contribute 20 gi-

Maltzan. The credit line for the National Housing Bank is

gawatts to total energ y supply by 2022; currently its share

to the tune of €50 million. A further €2 million are be-

is about 40 megawatts. There is no alternative to this way

ing made available as a grant. This will help promote the

for ward. India is the world’s fourth largest emitter of

construction of about 3,000 residential units. » We can-

greenhouse gases and rapid economic growth is driving

not and do not want to give charit y. Our loans are catego-

this figure steeply upward. On the f lipside, India is one of

rised as development cooperation, but they are close to

the countries that will bear the brunt of climate change in

market rates. « The Kf W has an ongoing portfolio of €1.3

the form of natural disasters.

billion in the energ y sector. In addition, about €400 million have been approved in principle but not yet disbursed

Energ y supply is another burning issue. Continuing

as loans. » T his is the largest energ y portfolio in develop-

power disruptions are already forcing factories to cut

ment cooperation that our bank has worldwide, « says

down on production or relocate. Demand is expected to

von Maltzan.

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

politics

The DEG (German Investment and Development Com-

million and the new factor y at Vadodara is targeting a ca-

pany), a part of Kf W Group, also supports the expansion

pacity of 500 megawatts. The Munich-based company is

of renewables in India. Its portfolio includes small wa-

also tapping deeper into the solar market. Siemens empha-

ter turbines in the Himalayan foothills, wind turbines

sises that it is the only supplier of complete solar power

and – soon – a 20 megawatt power plant. All projects have

plants spanning the entire value chain, from capturing

one thing in common – they are run by private operators.

solar radiation to power transmission. » T he demand for

DEG's mandate is to support private companies that invest

green technologies in India is already huge and it is stead-

in developing countries. » S ince the early 1990s, thanks to

ily growing, thereby giving us the opportunity to generate

the younger generation of entrepreneurs, India has been

more business. By pursuing an uncompromising localisa-

developing rapidly into a capitalist economy that is also

tion strateg y we will be able to offer products with cut-

increasingly integrated in global networks. These entre-

ting edge technolog y and solutions tailored to the Indian

preneurs have realised that climate protection is an im-

market at reasonable prices. This will help us create more

perative. But it needs to be made socially compatible as

jobs for Siemens in India and indirectly in Germany, « says

well, « says Armin Albert. Albert heads the DEG office in

Armin Bruck, Managing Director of Siemens in India. For

New Delhi.

the global conglomerate it is important not to lose sight of the ground realities in India. And the reality is that for

Yet, the f lagship project of the Kf W Group is the construc-

a long time to come, conventional power plants will con-

tion of Asia’s largest solar power plant in the state of Ma-

tinue to be the mainstay. Electricity generation from fossil

harashtra. » I t will pave the way for restructuring energ y

fuels will remain the primar y source for covering India’s

supply in India, « according to von Maltzan. In the medium

energ y needs until 2017 at least. Siemens therefore offers

term, the power plant located in Shivajinagar Sakri will

combined cycle gas and steam plants that are cleaner and

generate 150 megawatts of electricity. The costs amount

more efficient to operate. Torrent Power in Gujarat, one of

to about €370 million. The German development bank will

Siemens’ customers, has already installed a modern power

provide €250 million as concessional interest loans.

plant with a 1,050 megawatt capacity and has ordered a second plant that utilises natural gas. But ultimately, and

Apart from promoting other solar and wind projects, the

this is also underlined by Siemens, it is not just a matter

Kf W has also helped Green Elephant to get going with a

of generation. » S ecure and efficient power supply is more

credit line extended through the Indian development bank

than just efficient electricity generation. « New high volt-

IREDA. Green Elephant India, a subsidiar y of a Munich-

age DC transmission lines (HVDC) have proved to be a reli-

based company, has made it its mission to promote biogas

able means of transmission with minimal losses. This was

in India. About a year ago, Green Elephant built and began

demonstrated by the 780 km long transmission line from

operating the first large scale plant close to the Kisanveer

Ballia in Uttar Pradesh to Bhiwadi in Rajasthan. Accord-

Satara SSK sugar factor y. Gas is obtained from the waste-

ing to the German conglomerate, 688,000 tonnes of carbon

water of the distiller y and this is then converted into bio

dioxide are saved as compared to conventional modes of

CNG (compressed natural gas). CNG, obtained from utilis-

transmission.

ing waste, can thus be used as fuel. Fuel is also produced in the » G reenbox « developed by Green Elephant Engineer-

The excellent reputation that German climate technol-

ing. Food residue is converted into clean gas in a compact

og y enjoys in India is also evident at another level. Only

device. This was recently installed on the premises of JSW

recently, Tulsi Tanti, whose company Suzlon is one of

Steel in Visand. 80 cubic metres of gas will be generated

the main players in the Indian market for wind turbines,

from one tonne of waste in a large green tank. » T his is suf-

strongly reinforced his position when he completely took

ficient to supply cooking gas to 30 or 40 households daily, «

over the Hamburg-based wind turbine manufacturer Re-

says Sumedh Bapat, Technical Director of Green Elephant

power. The last stockholders were left with no option but

Engineering in Pune.

to sell their shares to Tanti. ■

German large scale industr y has already recognised the market opportunities in this sector. Siemens is currently

---

developing a wind turbine in India that will function even

Christoph Hein is business correspondent for Asia for the German

at low wind speeds. The total investment amounts to €56

daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ green gigawatts

Solar power still unutilised

/ source: mnre

capacity of renewable energy in India in MegaWatt

large-scale hydropower plants

35.000

wind energy

small-scale hydropower plants

biomass

solar power

9.800

2.300

1.800

Fossil Fuel Mix

/ source: central electricity authority

il l u st r at io n s: g ro u p ed ej o u r. d e

proportion of fossil fuel used for power generation in India

oil

nuclear power

other renewable

gas

9% 10%

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

large-scale hydropower plants

25%

coal

53% 19

politics

unity in diversity --For the first time, India’s Observer Research Foundation and Germany’s ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius Foundation coupled to inaugurate a forum that brings together young professional leaders to discuss, debate and challenge conventional interpretations of the existing complex realities confronting communities and leaders. / t e xt: s u nand a r a o -er dem

he onset of winter is an exciting time to be in New

contributing so much to their respective fields, was ex-

Delhi. After the hot lazy summer months, the capi-

tremely stimulating and meaningfully. If Asia is emerging,

tal of India transforms into a vibrant city hosting

it does so with complex internal challenges and external

festivals, cultural activities, events and international

expectations. It was the intention of this forum to provide

visits organised by the hour with a vast array of top-

an instructional and networking platform for young pro-

ics ranging from culture to politics. However, this year, the

fessional leaders to discuss, debate and challenge conven-

city hosted one of the most promising workshops on global

tional interpretations of the complex realities of this day. «

governance, and what made it even more special was its par-

The fact that New Delhi was chosen as the venue to host an

ticipants. For the first time ever, an Asian Forum on Global

international event of this scale did not take much thought.

Governance was organised by Observer Research Founda-

On behalf of the organisers, Tharoor explains, » It was im-

tion (ORF), a New Delhi-based public policy think tank,

portant for young leaders of the international community

along with ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius Founda-

to acquaint themselves to 21st Century India and for them

tion, Hamburg, Germany. In mid-October, 45 young leaders

to see that India provides a platform to engage and interact

from 29 countries participated in this forum with Congress

at a global level. «

MP and erstwhile United Nations Under Secretary General Dr. Shashi Tharoor serving as dean. With the topic of Tra-

One of the most interesting aspects of the forum lay in its

ditional & Non-Traditional Security Threats in Asia, it was

diversity. The programme encompassed full house debates

a unique opportunity for young leaders to confer with high-

amongst participants and speakers with smaller group dis-

ranking figures of the political, business and academic

cussions and site visits to local communities, NGOs and

communities from around the world. Participants included

historic locations in and around New Delhi. One of the high-

parliamentarians, diplomats, executives from banking and

lights of the forum was a two-day trip to the historic city of

prominent international companies, journalists, academi-

Agra, sponsored by Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

cians, members from non-profit organisations and think tanks and serving bureaucrats.

The inception of the idea, as Shashi Tharoor explains, came about with the » n eed to explore the possibility to have an

The guests and participants at the forum should get to

Asian version of Bucerius foundation of Germany, which

know the host country better, which is » g rowing rapidly and

provides an environment for free discourse while keeping

changing dramatically, « as Dr. Shashi Tharoor explained.

high standards of innovative discussion. « Experts like In-

» I nteracting with selected young leaders, who are already

dia’s Law Minister Salman Khursheed, Sweden’s Minister

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ un it y in div e rs i ty

for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, along with Indian Minister

The fatigue of long working hours and outdoor excursions

of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot, heads of

for 10 consecutive days was not even mentioned in passing

industrial houses, 15 distinguished experts from China,

as active discussions spilled into minute-by-minute live

United States, European Union and India in the areas of tra-

debates on social networking platforms such as Facebook

ditional and human security shared their perspectives on

and Twitter. One of the participants, Dr. Christian Aulbach,

security going beyond its conventional definition. Scarcity

member of the German Foreign Service currently posted to

of resources, climate change, water scarcity, lesser fossil

the German Embassy in Delhi as Counsellor for Science and

fuels, poverty and its impact on migration security, issues

Technolog y, found the forum to be an excellent exercise to

transcending borders such as the current Euro crisis were

understand the methodolog y of debate and to learn to struc-

main topics discussed during the 10-day event.

ture thoughts. Giving an example of a simple board game based on the theme of climate change he explained, » I ni-

Despite the fact that young leaders coming from 29 coun-

tially, everyone got busy in collecting a high score in their

tries – as different as Argentina and Bhutan – brought in a

own individual capacity, challenging the opponent, but very

fairly global perspective, participants appreciated the fact

soon we realised that it was the accumulative score that

that issues brought to the discussion table were extremely

would bring us forward. We understood that we all need to

relevant to their own environment. Priya Esselborn, team

work together to win the game. This taught us indeed that to

leader of the Hindi Department at Deutsche Welle, Germa-

engage in issues such as climate change, one needs to work

ny’s International News Broadcaster says, » W hen you grow

together while contributing with one's individual perspec-

up in a certain country you tend to mostly absorb perspec-

tive. « The Asian Forum on Global Governance held this year

tives discussed widely in the local media or in society. In

is the first of a three-part series to be held annually till 2013

this century we can no longer talk about challenges from the

in India. ■

viewpoint of a single country. Everything is interconnected and we are becoming more inter-dependent. As the world © g ro u p e d e j ou r

order changes, we heard very optimistic assessments about the › A sian century ‹. Since many of the participants had

---

never been to India before, New Delhi was the ideal venue

Sunanda Rao-Erdem is based in Delhi and works as senior consult-

for such an international gathering of young leaders – there

ing associate with CNC communications India. She has worked as

is not a single country in the world where change is happen-

the Diplomatic Editor for the Hindi-Daily New World. She lived in

ing as fast as in India. «

Germany and worked with Deutsche Welle for 13 years.

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

Marc Llistosella, Managing Director and CEO of Daimler India. Commercial Vehicles, on the occasion of the sneak preview of the BharatBenz truck in New Delhi, 4 January, 2012.

/// g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

ÂŠ d a im le r a g / r ic h ar d k ie n b erge r

ECONOMY

/ p romisin g d e b ut

--Daimler has launched a new brand of trucks on the subcontinent. A bold move, because the market has long been dominated by major players. The company is consequently leaving nothing to chance. / te xt: c h r i s to p h h ei n

t was the first major public appearance of the new

With its new brand, Daimler is planning to enter one of

heav y weight. The black doors of the Mercedes pavil-

the fastest growing commercial vehicle markets in the

ion’s stage swung open during the Indian Auto Expo in

world in a big way. A sur vey by the consultancy firm Ro-

Januar y and a full-sized truck rolled out before the hand-

land Berger revealed that the commercial vehicle segment

picked audience. White, with a silver radiator grille and

is set for a grow th of about 7.5 per cent this year. By 2020

sporting a new logo: BharatBenz in a wreath of wheat ears.

the commercial vehicle market in India is expected to in-

Daimler hopes that its new commercial vehicle brand will

crease to approximately 500,000 units, up from 300,000

fill the last remaining blank spaces for Daimler trucks

units in the previous year. Expansion will also lead to the

on the map of the four big emerging markets. The market

creation of new segments. » G DP grow th will spur the de-

entr y of the Swabian company in India, where Tata com-

velopment of a new segment – a middle class – even for

mands a 65 per cent share in the commercial vehicle seg-

commercial vehicles, « says Andreas Renschler, Head of

ment, will be a mammoth undertaking.

Daimler Trucks. In 2010, demand for trucks above six tonnes grew by 48 per cent. In 2020 this segment is ex-

The logo and the truck are so far unknown on India’s roads.

pected to make up 80 per cent of the market. According to

Bharat signifies the old India; it appears in the first para-

Renschler, there are already 200,000 target customers for

graph of the constitution of the world’s largest democracy

BharatBenz in India.

and embodies the subcontinent’s fundamental values. In the logo of its seventh truck brand, the Stuttgart concern

After Daimler learnt the hard way with its commercial ve-

has replaced the laurel wreath around the Mercedes star

hicle division in China and also failed to enter the Indian

with a wreath of wheat ears. India, after all, is an agricul-

market, first with Tata Motors and later with the Hero

tural nation. Benz, of course, is not an unknown entity in

Group, it is determined to finally get it right by going solo.

India. The first heav y truck to come on the market in 1954

The company has consequently taken the bold step of put-

was a Tata Mercedes Benz truck. Even today, overloaded

ting an international team together to work on developing

trucks with their characteristic Mercedes-style cabs ply on

a brand for the emerging markets from out of India. The

Asia’s roads.

administrative headquarters in Chennai in south India,

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

ECONOMY

a factory close to the city at Oragadam, supplier and dealer

Indians do not want a truck in the German sense but rather

networks as well as the financing are already in place.

a robust, inexpensive carrier, « says Mast.

Daimler is investing at least €700 million until 2016. The Germans have almost completed integrating their supThe engineers at BharatBenz have an average age of just 30

plier chain, the crucial link to developing and manufacturing

years. » For them it is a huge opportunity to mature in a global

a new truck series. Local content is currently 85 per cent, with

company. In five years they could be working for us any-

the company targeting at least 90 per cent. The suppliers,

where, « says Marc Llistosella, Managing Director and CEO

however, are not just Indian companies. Many are of German

of BharatBenz. 96 per cent of the roughly 1,400 employees in

origin but have been manufacturing on the subcontinent for

his company are Indian. Together with them the young, am-

years – first and foremost global market leader Robert Bosch

bitious team under Llistosella plans to achieve in six years

GmbH. Proximity to the factory is important for ensuring

what other companies needed 30 years of growth for.

reliable delivery and low logistics costs. » 41 per cent of our vendors are located in Tamil Nadu within a radius of 50 km

They are aiming high. Not only are they are up against estab-

from the factory, « reveals Llistosella. The Germans have left

lished brands like Tata, Ashok Leyland and Eicher but also

nothing to chance in their vendor selection process. Over 100

newcomers like MAN and Volvo. » We can only do that if we

employees work in the division overseeing suppliers. » P rior

have the best product in the market, priced as competitively

to 2008 we did not know 75 per cent of our present 450 suppli-

as possible, « says Llistosella, indicating the company’s strat-

ers, « says the BharatBenz CEO. For the suppliers there is good

egy. The Indian team with Swabian roots consequently in-

news: Daimler’s procurement from the subcontinent is cur-

tends to bring out 19 models in just 20 months. These will be

rently about €150 million, while total procurement is close to

unveiled in Hyderabad in early March. Assembled from the

€15 billion. » For Indian suppliers there is an opportunity of

building blocks of the Daimler domain stretching from Ger-

€750 million, « states Llistosella. Of course, it would be pos-

many to Turkey to Japan, equipped by suppliers located in

sible to use sub-assemblies or other components from China

India, targeted at the emerging markets – that in a nutshell

or India, or the other way around, says Zetsche. About half the

is the BharatBenz concept. If all goes well the trucks will also

components of a truck can be used globally.

be exported to Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East by about 2015. » O ur goal is not to collect brands, « says Daim-

Such perspectives do increase confidence. In fact, many sup-

ler Chairman Dieter Zetsche. There will never be one single

pliers asked if they could become shareholders in the new

» w orld truck «. But there will be one that crosses borders.

factory. Until three years ago, Daimler may have welcomed this. Today, the company does not require any fresh funds.

Things are moving rapidly. In mid-April the new 160 hectare

» I f you want to partner us at this stage you would have to

factory at Oragadam will be inaugurated. Daimler intends

pay a substantial premium, « Llistosella says while declin-

to manufacture 36,000 units per year initially – about 10 per

ing offers from interested investors. It also demonstrates

cent of the Indian commercial vehicle market. If required –

the growing self-confidence.

and no one here seems to have any doubts on this score – capacity can be doubled to 70,000 units. There is scope aplenty

The dealer network is also being tied up. There are currently

as less than half of the site has so far been built up.

70 dealerships that will increase to 100 by 2014. BharatBenz plications from almost 500 interested dealers have been

and drivers drove thousands of rounds on the specially

received in Chennai. » M any of them are from our big com-

built test track with the BharatBenz, but also with competi-

petitors, « is the satisfied comment at BharatBenz.

tors’ vehicles. The trucks were taken apart and examined for shortcomings. » We do not need to get our products

Although the first sales are still pending, and it is the mar-

tested or approved in Germany. No one else in the Daimler

ket that will decide whether BharatBenz is a success or not,

world is allowed to do this, « says Llistosella. It is hard to

things are currently looking bright. » Today we are pretty

miss the pride in his voice. » We had 40,823 paving stones

much where we want to be in the emerging markets, « says

laid by hand on the rough road section to achieve test runs

Zetsche. » I n 25 years every child in India will know that

similar to those at the main plant in Wörth, « says Jochen

BharatBenz is synonymous with trucks. « ■

Mast, an engineer responsible for vehicle testing. Even par-

---

abolic curves were something totally novel in India. » A fter

Christoph Hein is business correspondent for Asia for the German

the tests here we are gradually realising what is required.

daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

/// g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

will then be represented in roughly 90 per cent of India. ApLong before the first building was constructed, engineers

/ p romisin g d e b ut

Daimler India Commercial Vehiclesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; employees celebrate the first transmission produced at the Oragadam plant assembly line, November 2011

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

ECONOMY

--Germany’s DEG has been financing private sector investments in developing and transition countries for 50 years. Moreover, by taking a severe look at companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility profile before allowing a credit, it funds projects that benefit the surrounding community as well.

hat drives a textile manufacturing company to or-

While there is nothing new in industrial organisations

ganise AIDS awareness workshops for truck drivers?

espousing or supporting social causes, the nature of this

Or a paper manufacturing company to venture into adult

activity has changed significantly in the past two decades.

education drive? Or a chemical company to engage in slum

Business houses have traditionally been big donors to char-

development?

ity or to temple trusts. They have often set up schools and hospitals, even built roads and parks. But such activities in

As private corporations take on a snowballing role in the

the past depended more on the inclination and generosity

Indian economy, their level of interaction with the outside

of the individual industrialist. CSR as a business strateg y

world and surrounding communities is also growing at a

was mostly non-existent. In the last couple of decades, how-

rapid pace. Consequently, their involvement in social and

ever, CSR has slowly become an integral part of a company’s

public causes has also been much more than earlier. Cor-

core business. CSR activities are ref lective of what the com-

porate Social Responsibility, or CSR, is no longer a fringe

pany believes in, what it stands for. And therefore, almost

activity in any company. It is getting closely integrated with

every private entity today takes pride in its CSR wing and

the core business and is given the same kind of priority.

the work it does for the general good of the society.

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ t e xt: a m i tab h s i nh a

/ t he deg fa cto r

Trucks at Rasulpura, in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, Northern India / // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

ECONOMY

THE CASE OF INDORAMA Take the case of Indorama Synthetics, for example. The

to take precautions. We provide them counseling and edu-

company manufactures polyester fabrics at its main unit

cate them about contraceptives. We would not want them

in Butibori near Nagpur in Maharashtra. It engages in a

to spread the disease in our neighbouring community, «

variety of CSR activities in the field of health, education

Jain says.

and industrial training. » F or our company, CSR is never an expenditure or financial strain. It is an investment, «

Indorama also carries out extensive campaigns in the area

says Vice-President (HR) Ar vind Jain. Four years ago, the

against tobacco and alcohol use and organises regular

company organised a health camp for the truck drivers

health camps in the villages around Nagpur. It has been

who come to its unit − about 300 ever y day. Apart from

associated with the government’s pulse polio programme

routine checks, the company introduced HIV tests since

as well. In the field of education, the company has adopted

truck drivers are known to be one of the biggest carriers of

the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Nagpur, where it

HIV. Some drivers were indeed found to be positive. From

helps in curriculum designing, teacher training and soft-

then on, the company made HIV/AIDS testing an integral

skill training programmes. » We tr y to ensure that the stu-

part of its health camps. It has been organising HIV/AIDS

dents get a feel of what is expected of them by the industr y,

awareness workshops ever y six months exclusively for

so that when they get a job they start contributing from

truckers and the programme is seen as a huge success.

day one, « Jain says. The company absorbs a large number

» T ruck drivers are perpetually on the move and the aware-

of ITI students at its unit in Nagpur. Jain is also happy to

ness levels are ver y low. When they come to our plant, they

point out that the company chairman takes personal in-

are generally stationed for 3-4 days. This is a good enough

terest in these CSR activities because of which they receive

time to make them aware about the disease and urge them

high priority.

THE DEG FACTOR A healthy CSR profile also makes Indorama a worthy ben-

And DEG takes satisfaction from the fact that most of its

eficiar y of financial assistance from DEG. As a member of

clients are enthusiastically carr ying out diverse CSR ac-

the German Kf W bank group, one of the largest develop-

tivities. » I t is not something that we want to take credit

ment finance institutions in Europe, DEG is in the busi-

for. But it gives us immense satisfaction that the money

ness of financing and structuring investments of private

we make available is being used to create and sustain

companies in developing and transition countries. It has

projects that not just benefit a company and its employ-

been operating in India since 1964 but has scaled up its

ees but the wider communit y as well. It’s a win-win situ-

involvement in the countr y manifold in recent years. Cur-

ation for ever yone. We appreciate the work our partners

rently, it has a portfolio of over half a billion euros in

are doing and feel proud of being associated with them, «

India, spread over more than 50 companies. These com-

says Fuchs.

panies operate in a variet y of sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, finance, telecom, paper, wind

DEG is also financing a government project to set up a

turbines and renewables.

water desalination plant in Chennai. The plant, which is already operational, converts sea water into drinking wa-

With a strong emphasis on projects that are clean and

ter to be supplied to the cit y of Chennai and neighbour-

green, DEG takes a ver y serious look at a company’s CSR

ing areas at a small fraction of the cost of bottled water.

profile before deciding on funding its project. » It is not

DEG has contributed €14 million for the project that cur-

that a company’s CSR activities alone would make it eli-

rently produces one million litres of water per day. This

gible for a DEG loan. The streng th and sustainabilit y of

is to be scaled up ten times in the coming years. » We at

the project coupled with the abilit y to pay our investment

DEG strongly believe that a company’s CSR policy must be

back are crucial factors in deciding on which company

closely aligned with its business strateg y. They cannot be

or which project to fund. But, yes, ever ything else being

delinked. And we are happy to note that most of our cli-

equal, the qualit y of CSR would certainly make the final

ents share our philosophy, « Fuchs says.

difference for companies competing for the same basket of funds, « says Antje Fuchs, Director, Portfolio Management at DEG’s New Delhi office.

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ t he deg fa cto r

OTHER SHINING EXAMPLES While Indorama has been doing commendable work, it is by

The company hopes to expand its involvement in CSR even

no means the only one of its kind. DEG happily points out

further. » We realise that while we can be happy with what we

many more similar examples. JK Paper, for one, India’s larg-

are doing, we still have quite some way to go to bring greater

est producer of branded papers, operates two integrated pa-

shine in the life of those living around our units, « he says.

per and pulp mills – one in Orissa in eastern India and the other in Gujarat in the western part of the country. Apart

Similar is the case of Alok Industries, another textile com-

from employing processes that have minimum impact on

pany with a major stake in cotton and polyester segment.

the ecology, the company has been actively promoting social

The company is based in the sleepy town of Silvassa, head-

farm forestry in areas in the vicinity of its two plants. That

quarters of the federally-administered territory of Dadra

has helped local farmers to plant more than 48,000 hectares

and Nagar Haveli on the western coast of India. It has a big

of additional land with high pulpwood varieties. The com-

presence in the town and affects a vast proportion of people

pany sources nearly 60 per cent of its raw materials from

residing in the area. Most of its workers are local residents

man-made plantations.

and the company also offers indirect employment to many others. It has trained a large number of local tribal women

» C SR has always been a part and parcel of our business strat-

who have now become part of its workforce.

egy. It has never been a residual activity. This is what made us take up social forestry activities in the early 90s. It was a

The company mostly uses organic cotton as its raw material

win-win situation for those engaged in plantations and the

and promotes organic farming practices in the neighbour-

mills: they were able to increase their livelihood and income

ing areas. In association with an NGO, Alok Industries has

opportunities and we could in turn get raw material close to

launched a farmer-owned › fair trade company ‹ that sup-

the mills. In recent years we have gone beyond plantation

ports farmers in Vidharbha region of Maharashtra – a cot-

and have taken up various other initiatives, « says Debasish

ton growing area – to convert to organic farming methods.

Ganguly, the company’s General Manager Marketing and

It arranges finance and the technical know-how to help the

Communication.

farmers make this shift. The company also uses major recycling processes in its units through which it is able to re-

These initiatives include conducting adult literacy pro-

cover about 35 to 40 per cent of its waste to be used as raw

grammes and health camps. The company has made 3,500

material once again.

people literate so far and plans to scale up this programme significantly. Its health camps are also popular in neigh-

Among other companies financed by DEG, Steel Strips

bouring communities, with more than 5,500 people benefit-

Wheels Ltd in Chandigarh provides mid-day meals to rick-

ting from it last year. Above all, worth mentioning is an NGO,

shaw pullers and street shop vendors. The company has

started by the company, which works towards capacity build-

opened a school for girls, and supports a theatre group for

ing in the community and makes livelihood interventions.

street children.

EMERGING TRENDS In India’s new economy, private corporations are also being

prescribed – it had to include vocational and skill develop-

entrusted with handling the country’s natural resources.

ment programmes for the local youth. Such conditions are

Corporate Social Responsibility in many such instances is

likely to become the norm especially where the companies

seen not just a philanthropic effort or a business pursuit

are given licenses to exploit natural resources.

but also an obligation. In today’s corporate world, CSR is fast becoming as vital a In some recent cases, the government even made it man-

corporate activity as, say, marketing. Willingly embracing

datory for a company to allocate a particular share of its

CSR activities and openly f launting them to showcase posi-

profits to CSR activities in a region. A case in point is the

tive work ethics gives products additional value and creates

environmental clearance to Steel Authority of India to mine

a positive brand. ■

coal from a heavily-forested area in the eastern state of

---

Jharkhand. The clearance was given on the condition that

Amitabh Sinha is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express.

the company would use at least two per cent of its net prof-

He writes on issues related to science and technology, climate change

its on CSR activities. Even the kind of CSR activities was

and environment, amongst others.

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

GERMANY & I N DIA

Jewels on Tour ---

That the design of the › M obile Space ‹ – the centrepiece of the Year of Germany in India – reminds visitors of precious jewels carefully placed on the drawing board is no coincidence. The set of modern multi-purpose pavilions designed by renowned German artist Markus Heinsdorff is indeed modelled on rubies, diamonds and emeralds. The gemstones will soon go on a metro tour to showcase innovative ideas and opportunities related to the core issue of the Year of Germany in India: Stadträume – Cityspaces. / i nte r v i e w : y vo nne k r ause

Portable constructions – a model of the Mobile Space

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ jewels o n to ur

r. Heinsdorff, › S tadträume – City Spaces ‹ is the central theme of the series of events titled › G ermany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities ‹. It engages with the challenges posed by the growth of mega-cities worldwide. To what extent does your concept of › Mobile Space ‹ present new ideas and possibilities?

Could textile building materials compete with conventional ones in the future? Markus Heinsdorff: For me, the question is not whether textile fabric or membranes, as they are also called, fulfil the same criteria as a wall. The question is rather how we can replace synthetic materials with a totally natural material, for example one that grows in the region. Right now, this is

Markus Heinsdorff: For me, the idea of mobile and textile ar-

a subject every where in the world. Now, we can make syn-

chitecture is a futuristic theme. I find textile construction

thetic material from corn and potatoes. Fantastic! Environ-

very fascinating. Who says that our houses have to look the

ment-friendly! Today, we have shoes and clothes that can be

way they do now, that everything has to be made of stone

decomposed and turned to soil again through composting

or cement? It would be interesting to build modifiable resi-

without putting a strain on the environment for decades.

dential houses. This does not mean that we have to do it.

There are many other possibilities for the use of textiles:

These are just suggestions to develop new ideas for textile

for thermal insulation, for cooling, for acoustic insulation

construction. India itself has an ancient tradition of this:

and for air filtration, such as through the use of felt mats.

one example is the wedding tent. But hardly anybody sees it

Besides, textile construction is also optically alluring. I can

as something special because it is fairly common in India.

work very effectively with natural as well as artificial light

However, it could be a wonderful theme for our architecture.

when I use translucent fabrics. This is also true for the pa-

Textile facades and ceilings are already being built. One just

vilion constructions. I have used light and shadow to create

needs to take a look at modern stadiums to see them.

special facades and atmospheres for the › M obile Space ‹ . Design can be something very sustainable if we create a beau-

What is the potential of textile architecture in the urban planning of the future?

tiful space with it where we feel good. But design elements can also be used for shading and cool-

Markus Heinsdorff: The pavilions themselves will only be

ing. These are actually ancient traditions. Earlier, for ex-

presented as art objects but there are some very sensible

ample in India, streets or houses were shaded with bamboo

approaches used in the structures. For example, I use the

mats, which were sprinkled with water. The water vapour

chimney effect between double walls, thereby creating

would provide additional cooling. Today we are rediscov-

a natural air draft – an eco-friendly system of air-condi-

ering such systems. The bamboo mat is also nothing but a

tioning, so to speak, which does not require any energ y at

fabric, in this case made out of strips of wood or wattles.

all. It only cools by a few degrees, but at the same time it

Ancient traditions are replete with several very eclectic ap-

does not consume even a single watt. Also, it does not pro-

proaches. I often look back to the past in order to develop

duce any waste heat. With textile facades like these we can

new ideas.

take the pressure off conventional cooling systems, which generally devour a lot of energ y and produce a lot of waste

What inspired your design of the › M obile Space ‹ ?

heat and thereby heat up the cities additionally. The construction material also has great potential. How can we

Markus Heinsdorff: I had set myself the task of designing

construct buildings that are attractive and cost less? Right

something absolutely special. Besides, I wanted to inte-

now, a new f lexible building material consisting of glue,

grate symbols that signify India into my design. During

paddy straw and jute is being developed – on a pilot basis

the research and my attempt to generate a picture of India,

as illustrative material for the project – in collaboration

I hit upon gemstones, one of the most precious, beautiful

with the Technical University of Darmstadt. Paddy straw is

and colourful natural products of our planet, and I took

a by-product, which is normally burnt. Jute grows on the

polished diamonds, rubies and emeralds etc. as models

banks of the Ganges without any fertilization – absolutely

for the structures. Then, at some point, I came across

bio-dynamically, so to speak. It is fascinating how we can

these totally peculiar elephant carriages. These gigantic

create something absolutely new with these materials. We

contraptions with blankets, belts and travelling seats are

can build eco-friendly houses with them, which are light,

absolutely fabulous. One could probably cover half a foot-

houses with which we can easily move from one place to

ball field with them. What particularly inspired me were

another. Flexible building materials offer possibilities that

the gorgeous extensions made of textile, basketwork and

we do not have with conventional building materials, even

canopies on the elephant’s back, which are designed some-

cost-wise. Energ y efficiency, costs, natural resources; work-

what like pagodas or pavilions and epitomize our theme of

ing in these areas is a challenge for me.

› M obile Space ‹ .

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

GERMANY & I N DIA What are the characteristics that you attribute to liveable › S tadträume – City Spaces ‹ ?

When would you say you have succeeded in inspiring people on the theme of › S tadträume – City Spaces ‹ ?

Markus Heinsdorff: There are places where I feel I want to live here. It is this feeling of being at home, of belonging,

Markus Heinsdorff: When visitors and peers come to grips

comfort and harmony that turns a place into a liveable city

with the design and the innovations in textile construction

space. It could be ancient as well as modern places.

and ask: How can we bring the wedding tent – a structure that has not changed in the last 200 years in terms of style

What stimulates you as an artist?

– in tune with our times? Although I find Indian architecture from the various centuries and styles fascinating, I

Markus Heinsdorff: I always try to intervene, give sugges-

think we need to go beyond merely admiring the past. In-

tions and pose the question: What can we improve upon? As

stead, we should also ask: How can we design the present

a designer, I am not only interested in developing something

in a more sustainable way? How can we carr y this zest for

beautiful. I feel that all things – the very simple as well as

design and values from the past to the present times? This

the very elaborate – must also have quality. This is the mes-

is a challenging attempt for me.

sage in my works. How can we make things sustainable or better? How can we emerge from this use-and-throw society?

What role does the intercultural dimension play?

I am treading a really unusual path. As an artist I am trying to create technical innovations and to develop them along

Markus Heinsdorff: The incorporation of cultural themes

with universities. These are exciting collaborations. Art and

and stylistic elements is a very important point. I am not

research is an important topic for me.

trying to make an intercultural mix here. I work out the various stylistic elements and forms and try to make people

What is your message, especially to the visitors of › Mobile Space ‹ ?

realize that there is a German and an Indian culture, which have come together in the designs of these structures, thus building a symbolic bridge between the two cultures. I want

Markus Heinsdorff: At all events I want to try to capture the

to motivate people to engage with their own culture and its

visitors’ interest. But what is much more important is that

fascinating world of forms. I find it very exciting when two

the quality of our work should be obvious – that we create

friendly cultures meet and discover one another. It is not

something extraordinary in this Indo-German project. The

about mixing and blending, but about highlighting and il-

visitors should perceive their visit in and around › Mobile

lustrating. Ideally this engagement motivates the creation of

Space ‹ as an extraordinary encounter and – in the best-case

a distinct, modern and – most importantly – sustainable ar-

scenario – as an experience and inspiration. This is what I

chitectural style, which focuses on the individual, particular

would love to achieve.

and historically evolved aspects of cultures. ■

FACTS & FIGURES OF TH E MOBI LE S PACE TOUR

Programme details: www.germany-and-india.com

■ The centrepiece of the year of Germany in India is the Mobile

■ The set of pavilions consists of six differently shaped mod-

Space, a set of modern multi-purpose pavilions, designed

ules. They will be arranged and adapted to the local condi-

especially for the Year of Germany in India by renowned

tions to create a unique temporary festival venue.

Mobile Space combines design elements from both coun-

■ The pavilions will host interactive presentations by various

tries with state-of-the-art textile technolog y, thereby creat-

German corporations and organisations on topics and solu-

ing a symbiosis of art, architecture and technolog y.

tions related to implications of rapid urbanisation.

■ The Mobile Space will be set up for ten days each starting in

■ In addition, a comprehensive programme, including cul-

Mumbai and will move on to Pune, Chennai, Bangalore and

tural performances and conferences, will be held at the

Delhi subsequently.

venue. There will also be a food and beverage area allowing the visitors to get a taste of special delicacies from the German kitchen.

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

German artist Markus Heinsdorff. The concept behind the

/ jewels o n to ur

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

GERMANY & I N DIA

EMotional Rivers

--The Yamuna-Elbe art project coupled two unlikely streams to raise people’s awareness of cleanliness and over-engineering of rivers in India and Germany.

othing encapsulated the Yamuna-Elbe project bet-

Conceptualised by Ravi Agar wal, Till Krause and Nina

ter than two glass bowls filled with water placed on

Kalenbach, this art and outreach initiative played out in

a table. One contained the waters of a German river,

the cities of Hamburg and Delhi and was part of the on-

while the other played host to an Indian one. Though sepa-

going year of Germany in India programme, Germany and

rated geographically by thousands of kilometres, here the

India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities. » O ur intention

Elbe and Yamuna rippled in close proximity of each other.

was to create a situation and exchange of artistic imagi-

The bowls situated on the banks of the Yamuna were part

nation, « explained Till Krause. The project also sought

of a performance by German artist Ines Lechleitner, who

to draw attention to the plight of t wo rivers, situated in

invited visitors to tarr y for a while and examine the con-

t wo ver y different contexts. While the Yamuna is revered

tents of her two containers. She proceeded to record their

by Indians as holy, it has over the years degenerated into

sensations, ruminations and memories as they engaged

a filthy drain, shunned by Delhi’s own inhabitants. The

with the rivers, dipping their fingers in the waters, smell-

Elbe, with its unique fresh water inland delta, has on the

ing or swirling them around the bowls. Her project was

other hand been hemmed in by dykes and construction to

aptly titled: Imagine two rivers: Elbe Yamuna project. For

meet the growing demands of Hamburg’s citizens and its

Lechleitner it was an attempt at capturing the spirit of

shipping traffic.

the two rivers, which she then hoped to convert into a › Yamuna-Elbe perfume ‹ with the help of an Indian perfumer,

The German chapter of this art-in-public-space project took

Yogesh Kumar, based in Vienna.

place in Hamburg, Europe’s designated Green Capital

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ t e xt: m e e r a m e nezes

/ emot ion al ri ve rs

A man squats and prays by the Yamuna River, Delhi.

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

GERMANY & I N DIA

Gigi Scaria’s › Fountain of Purification ‹ draws water from the Yamuna, purifies it and ejects a clean jet through the top.

/// g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

/ emot ion al ri ve rs

for 2011. It was integrated into the India Week Hamburg

ejected a stream of clean water through the top. Sheba

and ref lected its main themes: Sustainable Urban Devel-

Chhachhi’s gigantic, white, f loating sculpture was fash-

opment and Environmental Technolog y in the City. Art-

ioned out of thermocol on an iron frame. Wrapped in white

ists, environmental activists, landscape architects and

bandages it resembled a wounded female form and could

scientists were invited to exchange ideas on the two rivers,

be read as a metaphor for the wounded river Goddess, Ya-

the Elbe and the Yamuna. The site for this exchange was a

muna devi. The sculpture drew the detritus of the river and

barge moored in an area designated the › F ree River Zone ‹ .

in the evening formed the screen for a video projection of

Two Indian artists were invited to participate in the proj-

sounded a word of warning that the material in excessively

ect – Atul Bhalla and Navjot Altaf. Bhalla’s has been an on-

polluted rivers could be highly explosive, turning water

going engagement with water, whether as bodily f luid or as

into fire.

leaping f lames. Titled › B lack rivers will burn ‹ , her project

a water body. He regards rivers as sites of culture and histor y and it is the politics of water – the manner, in which it

Asim Waqif’s work, a string of LED-lit plastic bottles, also

is regulated and distributed, released and deprived – that

came alive at night, shining like a row of luminous pearls

often resonate through his works. His work consisted of

against the inky black waters. In a performance accompa-

a number of large self-performative photographs shot at

nied by the beating of dhols or drums, he moved the string

various spots on his walks along the Elbe. Each of them

through the waters creating different patterns. The dhols

had a question printed at the bottom, which referred to

were also a homage to the dhol makers who once inhabited

those posed by a spirit in a water body to Yudhishthira

the project site but had since been relocated to Bhawana.

in the Mahabharat. These sayings, ranging from › W hat is

Nana Petzet’s › B iodiversity Patch ‹ harnessed an existing

my defeat ‹ or › W hat is my space ‹ , seemed to personify the

clump of tall grass, where she planted photographs of

predicament of the river itself. Navjot’s › E mpty Container ‹

various species of birds, insects and f lowers that she had

project, on the other hand, dwelled on Hamburg’s position

discovered near the river. Jochen Lempert, who has been

as a hub of sea traffic and consisted of 4,000 tiny books in

engaging with natural habitats in his native countr y, ex-

the shape of a 20-foot container, carr ying information on

hibited a series of poetic, monochromatic photographs

the Yamuna and the Elbe.

that drew attention to the bird life still to be found around the Yamuna. Besides the artworks, further awareness-gen-

In Delhi, the project was jointly organised by the Indian

erating events like open-air music concerts by both Ger-

Ministr y of Culture, the City of Hamburg, Goethe-Institut

man and Indian artists, a number of eco-walks, writing

and the Delhi Government. The chosen site was on the

workshops and film screenings where hosted.

banks of the Yamuna, near the historic Loha Pul, built by the British in the late nineteenth centur y. The area that

For German artist Ines Lechleitner, who journeyed to the

had once been a teeming settlement has now been con-

Yamuna for the first time to carr y out her project, the ex-

verted into a park. It formed the backdrop for a number

perience was over whelming » I t is a ver y emotional river for

of site-specific installations by a clutch of Indian and Ger-

me. I thought I would be repelled, but I was not. There is

man artists including Atul Bhalla, Asim Waqif, Gigi Scaria,

something extremely soft and feminine about it. The river

Sheba Chhachhi, Nana Petzet and Jochen Lempert.

is not an entity but a movement of particles; it is more a thought than a thing. « ■

Dotting the park were several oversized sculptures by Atul

---

ter. Next to them were signs with the Hindi translation of

Meera Menezes is the Delhi correspondent of Art India, a magazine

the sayings that he had emblazoned on his posters in Ham-

on contemporary Indian art. She has been involved with the Indian

burg. Gigi Scaria’s remarkable › F ountain of Purification ‹ ,

contemporary arts scene since the late 80s and was the liaison per-

which resembled an apartment complex, towered over the

son in India for the Amsterdam-based Foundation for Indian Art-

park. It drew water from the Yamuna, purified it and then

ists (F.I.A).

Bhalla, which mimicked bottles of packaged mineral wa-

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

--An Indo-German study goes beyond the conventional assumption that complexities of cross-cultural communication are simply determined by cultural backgrounds. / t e xt: c h e ta n c h auh a n

lobalisation has brought innumerable individuals of

the need to communicate on the aisle during the seven-hour

different hues into a challenging work environment

flight is extensive. » We are trying to analyse how people

that requests people having different social and cul-

communicate in a mixed cultural team. It is important to

tural ethos to jell as a good team. But, while this trend is

note that ours is not a prescriptive study aimed at develop-

catching hold of a snowballing number of companies and

ing certain skills, which can help members of such teams to

organisations, qualitative sociological research of intercul-

› a djust ‹ to each other. Our concern is rather to understand

tural teamwork is in its infancy. To outgrow the fledgling

how communication in intercultural teams works, « high-

stages, a recently launched study by a team of German and

lights Anandita Sharma, who has been working on the proj-

Indian scholars tries to shed light on the fundamentals of

ect since 2010.

cross cultural communication and interaction in an IndoGerman flight attendance team.

Apart from Sharma, who studied German at Jawaharlal Nehru University, three German sociologists complete the

The unique project › I ntercultural Understanding and Trans-

team conducting the long-term study. One of them, Dr. Ull-

cultural Identity Work in Global Workplaces: Indo-German

rich Leifeld has done his PhD in communication science

Flight Attendant Teams ‹ wants to examine how people com-

and is now working as chief f light attendant on bord. » A ll

municate in a cross-cultural team. A further objective of the

together, we have German and Indian perspectives in our

research project funded by Germany’s Research Foundation

team to conduct such a cross-cultural study and with Dr

(DFG) is to analyse typical aspects of transcultural com-

Leifeld also first hand insight in the organisational struc-

munication and identity modification in the perspective

ture of the workplace, « Sharma emphasises. The research

of qualitative › s ociolog y of knowledge ‹. The term refers to

is headed by Prof. Dr. Jo Reichertz of Institute for Commu-

a concept that deals with the relationship between human

nication Studies at University of Duisburg-Essen and Prof.

thought and the social context within it arises, and the ef-

Ronald Kurt of Institute of Advanced Studies in the Human-

fects prevailing ideas have on societies or groups.

ities, Essen.

The researchers picked out probably the ideal organisation

The data collection based on narrative interviews with In-

– a foremost German airline – to conduct the empirical anal-

dian and German crew members and the cabin crew man-

ysis. The Indo-German flight attendant teams are a blend of

agement has already been completed. In the surveys, flight

employees from most different cultural backgrounds and

attendants were asked to depict their job on bord and their

/// g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

SCI ENCE

/ ideas matte r

experiences of working in intercultural teams. Interviews at

applicants gain prestige within their society. » T his aspect

the management level were conducted to understand the or-

too subliminally affects the intercultural interaction, «

ganisational framework and how the Indian crew members

states Sharma. This insight has helped the multicultural

are integrated.

research team to re-orient the study and go beyond the abstract assumption that two people with different cultural

The preliminary findings of the study have provided some

backgrounds have varying perspectives and therefore have

interesting insights. One of the remarkable results is that

to negotiate their differences and finally have to go beyond

the functioning of intercultural communication is directly

their own parameters in order to harmonise mutual differ-

dependant on the workplace within which it takes place.

ences to become a successful multicultural team.

More precisely, it seems to matter a lot whether cross-cultural interaction takes place at the aisle of an aircraft or at

The project − when completed in early 2013 − would provide

an accountant office on the ground. » Flight attendants have

a definite insight to German employers about transcultural

a unique way of life − they are criss-crossing between conti-

identity change Indians experience after starting a job with

nents and timelines, working at a stretch for some days and

a German company and will help the domestic companies

then having days off. Their personal lives are organised in a

to rechristen human resource management policies to meet

very flexible way according to their special professional de-

aspirations of the Indian employees. In addition, the find-

mands. The specificity of the work-profile and amongst oth-

ings of the study will also be shared with academic institu-

ers the role allocation within the organisational hierarchy

tions in India and Germany. In February 2012, one of the

determine how German and Indian colleagues interact with

two project heads, Prof. Ronald Kurt would be participating

each other, « explains Sharma.

in an exchange programme organised by the Goethe Institute and will be their guest in Kolkata and Shantiniketan.

Another finding refers to the effects prevailing ideas have

The study re-emphasises the ancient Indo-German partner-

on social interaction. German and Indian crew members –

ship and would strengthen that foundation. It will also help

even working in the same aisle and in positions alike – link

the two nations to reinforce their relations in skill manage-

quite different associations with the job. Whereas Ger-

ment and human resource collaboration. ■

mans, according to common social perception, do not per

---

se attain reputation by becoming a flight attendant, the few

Chetan Chauhan is a senior assistant editor with the Delhi edition

Indian crew members getting selected out of thousands of

of Hindustan Times.

/ / / ge r ma n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

SCI ENCE

--Indo-German scientific collaboration continues to break ground in excellence and cooperation.

. bdra muaz / o hitcei sb p eej o r .d e ka p i a std rpa u c,tin u rfeo gr o f ap p ro nys gro / ÂŠ hu.r ÂŠ

/ t ext : n arayan i gan es h

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ en during ti e s

his being the Year of Germany in India and the 60th year

courses as well. I have been to Germany several times on

of the re-establishment of the Alexander von Humboldt

short study trips in the last 15 years. The academic standard

Foundation since the Second World War, it would be fitting

of Max Planck Institute is world class; the infrastructure

to begin the amazing success story of Indo-German scien-

and accessibility is superb. The activities of the Humboldt

tific synerg y with K A Padmanabhan, who is coordinating

Foundation are also superb and I must make special men-

activities in India to commemorate the occasion. Cur-

tion of their hospitality, f lexibility and the faith they repose

rently, he is Chair Professor at the School of Engineering

in students. «

Sciences and Technolog y (SEST), University of Hyderabad and a Research Adviser on Materials to TCS, India’s largest

Indo-German science and technolog y partnerships have

software company. Prof Padmanabhan doesn’t hesitate to

grown so much both in volume and reach that mutual

admit that he owes a lot to his German collaborations that

S&T exchange has transcended formal agreements, memo-

» d efinitely taught me to stand up for my beliefs, come what

randums of understanding and joint projects to include a

may, and at the same time taught me to be as objective as

wide range of exchange of knowledge and innovative re-

possible. « You could say, he had his career all carved out.

search studies between private universities and research institutes as well as individual researchers who link with

When he moved to Germany as a Humboldt Fellow in 1985,

one another through related networks in the two countries.

he says: » I was already a head of department at IIT Madras. Not once did I experience any unpleasant moment – in fact,

Since 1954, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has

Germany is my second home. « He is the first Indian re-

granted almost 1,710 research fellowships and 20 research

cipient of the Forschungspreis career research award – the

awards to scholars and scientists from India – positioning

highest award of the Humboldt Foundation. His achieve-

it at third place in worldwide ranking of numbers.

ments at home and in Germany are enviable − as Mercator Professor at level C4, the highest in the German system,

According to the German Academic Exchange Service

Padmanabhan spent a year at the University of Muenster.

(DAAD), there were 3,821 Indian students in Germany in

He has been Director of IIT Kanpur, JNU chair professor,

2010, of which 1,037 were doctoral students, mostly in nat-

Dean of Academic Research, head of the metallurgical and

ural sciences and engineering. Seeing the deep interest on

materials engineering department at IIT Madras and a pro-

both sides, DAAD’s initiative › A New Passage to India ‹ seeks

fessor of eminence at Anna University, Chennai besides

to kindle interest among German students of all disciplines

winning several awards and patents.

and courses of study to carry out research or gain experience in the working environment in India and to encourage

In the 60s and 70s, if you were a student of any one of the

Indian students to gain reciprocal experiences in Germany.

prestigious Indian Institutes of Technolog y at Kharagpur,

This involves 46 new cooperation projects between Indian

Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur or Delhi, it would be natural for

and German universities, working and research intern-

you to choose to study the German language. To engineers,

ships and setting up of Indo-German Centres both in India

scientists and technolog y students aiming for higher re-

and Germany.

search, all roads led to Germany. India and Germany have crossed many bridges since. With the globe shrinking due

Germany, after the USA, is the most productive partner in

to transport and communication breakthroughs, it matters

collaborative research with India in S&T, finds the recently

no longer whether you learn a new language before reach-

released study commissioned by the German Research

ing your destination or after, and whether you continue

Foundation (DFG) and compiled by Dr B M Gupta of NIS-

your higher research projects living overseas or at home.

TADS. It says between 2004 and 2009, 12.9 per cent of all In-

Geography and culture are incidental because knowledge

dian publications in international collaboration have been

exchange has become seamless.

shared with authors from Germany; the rate of growth of such collaboration has averaged 6.8 per cent.

» E arlier, language was a problem, but not anymore, « says Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, also a Humboldt Fellow and

Matthias Kleiner, president, DFG, says, » T his report ref lects

today a professor in the Machine Intelligence Unit, Indian

upon the very intense scientific contacts between both

Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

countries and we expect even higher publication performances in the years to come, thanks to more systematic co-

She observes that » s ince 2010, Germany has opened up a

operation in programmes like the International Research

lot. Many of the exchange programmes now offer German

Training Groups or Priority Programmes. «

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

SCI ENCE

/ en du rin g ti e s

The fear that gripped India until 20 years ago was that In-

who would visit MPI Stuttgart at regular intervals. I started

dian students who went abroad for higher studies would

designing new experiments. The contacts I built during my

never return. Today the story is different; with the oppor-

German period helped me a lot throughout my subsequent

tunities that globalisation offers, more and more scien-

career. « Dr Manna started a new field of research during

tists are finding it doable to return to India without losing

his stay at Ulm, on amorphous alluminium alloys and size

continuity or access to state-of-the-art facilities and know-

dependent polymorphism in pure metals due to negative

how. This is especially true for those returning from Ger-

hydrostatic pressure. While expressing gratitude for all the

man universities and institutes as many of these have close

mentoring he received in Germany, Dr Manna fondly re-

working ties with their counterparts in India.

members what a wonderful time he and his family had in Stuttgart during their stay there. » G ermany is the best place

German-educated Indian scientists who have returned

outside India that I ever stayed in. I have been in Singapore,

home to continue their work are impressively generous with

USA, France and UK. «

their praise for the discipline and effectiveness of the German system. Amol A Kulkarni, for example, was a Humboldt

Dr Manna is about to initiate a major collaboration with

Fellow from 2004 to 2005 at the Max Planck Institute (MPI)

Prof Dr Gleiter of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technolog y on

for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems at Magdeburg,

› N anoglass ‹, a completely new and emerging field of ma-

where he was again Visiting Fellow from 2008-2011. » T he

terials research for which he might once again become a

interaction with German scientists has always been useful

Humboldt or DAAD Fellow. It’s an ongoing relationship.

to drive towards accuracy and perfection in experiments and analysis of any data. The interaction also helps to make

Indo-German ties are being further strengthened by a bou-

error-free experimental set-ups, « the scientist from the Na-

quet of new alumni initiatives. In November last year, the

tional Chemical Laboratory in Pune explains.

Freie University of Berlin (FU) organised its first alumni meet in New Delhi to discuss founding FU alumni clubs in

However the appreciation is not only for the German sci-

India and expand networks. ANGIRAS, the Alumni Network

ence system – exchange scholars are unanimously grateful

of German Universities registered under the Indian Trusts

for the cross-fertilization of ideas. » T he collaborations with

Act, is initiated by alumni of the Universities of Flensburg

German scientists have opened up new avenues, exposing

and Oldenburg to pool experiences to create sustainable

me to the latest developments, helping me define my future

energ y solutions. Alumniportal Deutschland was created

work and enabled me to guide my students on new and fu-

in 2008. It connects alumni of German universities and in-

turistic topics, « states Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, who

stitutes from around the world and is gaining in popular-

was with MPI Saarbrucken in 2010 for three months, again

ity among Indian scholars » w ho find it a convenient way to

in 2011 for two months and spent a month at the University

keep in touch and share competencies, experiences and im-

of Heidelberg.

pressions, « says Vishal Yadhav, who presented the platform for the portal in India.

What’s remarkable is that the ties between homecomers and German universities are never severed. Dr Indranil

While individual initiatives by researchers and centres of

Manna, director, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Insti-

learning have opened up S&T potential for the two coun-

tute (CGCRI-CSIR) in Kolkata is an IITian from Kharagpur.

tries, one cannot ignore the seminal role played by both In-

He cherishes his experience as DAAD Fellow at Max Planck

dian and German government agencies in making all this

Institut Stuttgart and Humboldt scholar at the University

possible. The Government of India’s department of science

of Ulm. Winner of several awards and posts, Dr Manna was

and technolog y and government-aided centres and univer-

honorary DAAD advisor in India from 2008 to 2010. He is

sities of scientific learning like the IISc, CSIR, IITs, IIMs,

actively engaged in developing advanced ceramic and glass

UGC and Universities of Hyderabad and Delhi have contrib-

based materials and components for civilian and strategic

uted greatly to make Indo-German tie-ups in scientific re-

sectors.

search a truly remarkable success story.

He says, » M y first visit abroad to Stuttgart as a DAAD Fellow from 1988 to 1990 provided me an invaluable exposure

---

to the international scientific world and boosted my con-

Narayani Ganesh is senior editor with The Times of India. She

fidence as a scientist. I came across stalwarts in the field

writes on issues related to science and technology, environment,

from USA, Japan, Russia, UK and other advanced nations

heritage and philosophy.

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

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nothing comes close

NOTEPAD Bayern farewellS Bhutia It was the biggest turnout for a football match in Delhi. An about 35,000-strong crowd cheered the Indian national team playing against Germany’s Bayern Munich and witnessed the end of an era, when Baichung Bhutia left the pitch. The man from south Sikkim, who became the face of Indian soccer, pulled the curtain down on his 18-year-old career amid standing ovations in the 84th minute of the test match. Bayern Munich left Delhi not only with a 4-0 victor y but also a youth calling. An hour before kick-off of the friendly match, two youth teams fought for a trip to the Champions League final in Munich in May 2012. Bayern Munich scouts had organised a talent hunt in Mumbai before, and 33 short-listed players out of more than thousand f lew to Delhi to win the ticket. Finally, five talents from each team were invited to Munich to watch the Champions League final, and the 10 trainees probably will have the chance to get some training sessions at the Bayern Munich pitch that breeds football stars again and again.

Classic Incantations The interplay of German Film Orchestra Babelsberg and AR Rahman did not need any incantations to create magic. All that was needed to enchant the audience was a tune of the Academy Award-winner and about hundred musicians recreating his composition. Titled › C lassic Incantations-The German Film Orchestra Babelsberg performs AR Rahman ‹, the 10-day concert tour premiered in Mumbai followed by performances in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. The lighthouse event of Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities, a celebration of 60 years of diplomatic ties between the countries, also marked the centenary of Studio Babelsberg, the oldest large-scale film studio in the world, and Indian cinema, both born in 1912. Founded in 1993, the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg derives its name from the legendary Studio Babelsberg. As one of the remaining film orchestras in Western Europe and the only German professional film orchestra, it has a sizeable repertoire of live synchronised soundtracks of silent films. Today, they also do concerts, opera, jazz and pop programmes, apart from recordings.

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

Camel Charm In March 2011, a small factor y to produce paper from camel poo was inaugurated in Sadri in Rajasthan. The factor y, whose construction was supported mostly by German donors like Misereor and the state of Hesse, is just the latest venture in a long effort to save the camel as the basis of rural livelihoods in the drought prone state of Rajasthan. The endeavour goes back to the mid 1990s. Camel breeders from Pali district complained to a visiting German researcher about their female camels having miscarriages and asked for her veterinar y support. In the process of stop-gap measures to control the disease, Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS) was set up with the assistance of Germany’s League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Department. Since then the organisation has grown into an internationally recognised support body for Raika camel breeders and other nomadic livestock keepers. Much of the infrastructure of LPPS was developed trough grants from the German Ministr y of Economic Cooperation (BMZ) and the German Embassy New Delhi. While initial efforts focused on camel health care, on legalising the sale of camel milk and on organising the Raika to advocate for their grazing rights, the latest › l ine of attack ‹ is to generate innovative and value added goods › m ade of camel ‹ . An exciting experiment has succeeded with the quadrupeds’ wool. Rather short and scratchy – it was never considered valuable. But research by Indian wool expert Kamal Kishore demonstrated that there is actually a portion of wool that is ver y soft and almost of Cashmere quality. With the help of designers, a range of ver y attractive items was developed that was exhibited last October at the Ethical Fashion Fair in Paris, where it generated a lot of buzz. Development of camel products has rekindled the interest of camel breeders in their inherited occupation, which they now see as a ray of hope rather than a dying business. Efforts in Jaisalmer district have borne remarkable fruit. Within a span of just five years, camel herds grew by 26.5 per cent, while all other districts of Rajasthan witnessed a decline.

/ / / g e r m a n n e ws / volume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

NOTEPAD In Memoriam Alfred Würfel (1911-2011) Alfred Würfel, who passed away on 13 November 2011, was a unique personality. Unique in his uncompromising and utterly determined desire to live in India, and to do whatever he could to enhance Indo-German cultural relations.

» I made it and am here at Kuchaman in the very heart of Rajasthan … « This is how Alfred Würfel begins his autobiography. Each sentence that one reads makes one feel as if Alfred in person is narrating from his vast pool of memory, adventure and conviction. Alfred Würfel lived a very intense life, right from the beginning in Dresden, where he was born on 26 November 1911. One may ask what made Alfred decide to spend all his adult life in India. The answer is spelled out in his autobiography. He says: » T he zoo became my refuge away from our dreary, ding y and very small f lat in that ugly backyard house … I began to imagine that one day I will go to those far away countries where all these animals came from! « While cherishing his Indian dream, he made numerous friends who left a deep impression on his young mind: Uday Shankar, Zohra Segal, Subhash Chandra Bose and students from India. Soon after he completed his studies at Dresden, he won a scholarship of the India Institute in Munich to go to India in 1935. Living in Banaras from 1935-1939, he was the first German lecturer to teach German language at Banaras Hindu University, while at the same time he himself studied Sanskrit. In this period he met Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and other great personalities from India. Often Alfred would accompany European visitors on their journeys through India, like C.G. Jung, or Alice Boner, who settled in Banaras in 1936. At the beginning of World War II Alfred Würfel was interned by the British and he had to spend the next seven years in an internment camp in Dehradun. After the war when he was forcefully repatriated to Germany, his only wish was to go back to India. He managed to reach Bombay again in 1947, where Indian friends helped him to make a living for the next few years. In 1950, when diplomatic relations between Germany and India were re-established, Alfred Würfel was appointed at the German Consulate in Bombay and shifted to the German Embassy in Delhi in 1953. During his 23-year long tenure at the Culture Department of the German Embassy, he engaged himself for the establishment of the Max Mueller Bhavans and the German School. In recognition for promoting Indo-German relations, Germany as well as India honoured him with the Bundesverdienstkreuz and the Padma Shri, respectively.

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

CULTURE

Taj Mahal on Buddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Belly ---

When German chancellor Angela Merkel visited India, she had some vacancies on her plane. Without further ado, she took a Buddy Bear to Delhi. It was here that officials from the German Embassy came looking for an artist who could do justice to this special icon of friendship. / t e xt: s u h a s i ni r a j

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

/ taj mahal on buddy’s b e l ly

hile the Buddy Bear sculptures in various hues

I shared her studio for four months. We did a restoration

are a common sight in downtown Berlin, the

project of the Taj Mansingh Hotel in Delhi. And I travelled

two meter high fiber glass structure is a rarity in

ever y where with her on painting assignments. «

Delhi. So when the German officials held an open competition at Annie Kumari’s college, she was excited. It gave

Her parents finally gave up on her and accepted the fact

her the chance to experiment with colours and motifs that

that she wanted to be little else but an artist. Annie joined

were Indian. » I wanted to paint a warm Buddy Bear. Since

the course after her heart in 2007 – a bachelor of fine arts

orange is sunny and friendly, I chose that colour. I tried

with specialisation in painting. She is currently pursuing

to merge the national bird with the Taj Mahal, which is a

her masters. » I specialize in oils and acr ylic painting. I be-

symbol of love. Somehow, the Germans liked my final de-

lieve the body is the best subject for art. It is a continuous

sign, « the student of Delhi College of Art remembers.

subject. So we should let the body talk in any art form. «

It took her a few days to scrub the surface of the raw sculp-

The bear has been Berlin’s emblem for centuries. About

ture clean. » B ut, it was a great experience painting in 3D

900 years ago, there was a ruler named Albert, the Bear.

from a scaffolding, « recalls Kumari with glee. » We used

The stor y goes that it is because of Albert that the bear

acrylic paints and it was metallic coated to make the Bear

has become the symbol of Germany’s capital. Inspired by

weather proof. It was a great experience with loud music

the idea of bringing art in the streets of a metropolis like

playing in the background. « More than four dozens German

the cow parade in Zurich and New York, the initiators of

diplomatic missions worldwide have a Buddy Bear in their

the Buddy Bears, Klaus und Eva Herlitz, decided to start a

lobby or at the entrance. Finally, in September 2011 just be-

street art project in Berlin, in collaboration with two mas-

fore the inauguration of the fifteen-month long celebrations

ter students of the famous Berlin University of Arts, Annie

to commemorate 60 years of Indo-German diplomatic rela-

and Roman Strobel in 2001.

tions titled Germany + I ndia 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities, the German Embassy New Delhi unveiled theirs too.

Today, the United Buddy Bears are an international art exhibit that promotes living together in peace and harmony.

Ever since Annie Kumari was four, she has been doodling

Around 140 Buddy Bears – each t wo meters tall – repre-

with clay. Hailing from a town called Tatanagar in the cen-

sent as many countries recognised by the United Nations.

tral Indian state of Jharkhand, she loved to take part in ev-

One important prerequisite for this international unif y-

er y painting competition at school. » M y mother has been a

ing project is to choose artists from the individual coun-

major inf luence in introducing art to me. She worked with

tries – for the circle to ref lect the diversit y of the cultures

local artisans and delved in Bandini and Batik, a painting

of one world.

and textile dyeing technique. « But like most traditional Indian parents, when she finished school, they would lis-

The circle of United Buddy Bears had been such an over-

ten to none of her › a rt talk ‹. They aspired for her to be a

whelming success that it now has been touring worldwide

bureaucrat. So while Annie had to do with solving Math

for 10 years. The Buddies have travelled from Germany to

problems in school, she learnt all about Political Science,

Austria, Hong Kong, Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Australia,

Histor y and English in college.

Eg ypt, Israel, Poland, Argentina, Uruguay, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria and Malaysia.

While in College, she won a scholarship that entailed staying with the teacher or Guru of one’s choice for four months

It was very clear from Annie Kumari’s smile that she takes

and imbibe their art. Annie got the opportunity to be under

as much pride in the colourful Taj Mahal her master strokes

the tutelage of one of India’s leading contemporar y female

have merged with other motifs in the belly of the Buddy

artists, Anjolie Ela Menon. » T his was life changing for me.

Bear, as the Germans and Indians do in their friendship. ■

--Suhasini Raj is a journalist currently working in Delhi for the Washington Post.

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

DID YOU KNOW THAT... ---

… one of the pioneers of the museum movement in India was a German? / text: jutta jain-neubauer

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------left: Studio portrait of Sir Sayaji Rao III (1863-1939), Gaekwar of

top right: Herrman Goetz together with V. V. Giri, President of

Baroda, dressed in his robes for the Coronation Durbar at Delhi.

India, New Delhi 1971.

India, circa 1902.

Museum, Gujarat, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1890s.

bottom left: Photograph of the Baroda

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

l ef t : © ge t t y im a ge s / r ig h t : © » i n d i a a n d t h e w es t « , p u b l is he d b y s o u t h as ia in s t it u t e , n e w d e l hi, 1983 / © t he b rit is h l ib rary boa r d ( cur z o n co l l ecti o n)

CULTURE

/ did you kn ow th at...

he institution of the museum, along with the mod-

his wife, Maharani Chimnabai II, an early and strong pro-

ern notion of art and the preservation of cultural

ponent of women’s rights, he was the first to introduce free

heritage, entered India during the colonial period

education for all and social justice in his state. As many

as part of the great › k nowledge project ‹ of the late

of his royal contemporaries, he collected European art.

eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. As a result,

Already in 1887, in line with his aspirations to bring uni-

the early museums in India consisted of a conglomerate of

versal education and a glimpse of the modern world to his

objects falling under the educational categories of geolog y,

subjects, he established a museum. It was inaugurated in

botany, zoolog y, archeolog y, anthropolog y and art.

1895 and modelled on existing British museums, displaying › k nowledge objects ‹ of art, sculpture, ethnography

The idea of a museum as an institution preserving cultural

and natural histor y. His idea of universal education and

heritage also fired the imagination of several princely

promoting scholarly discourse took shape in 1920, when

families in India, and they instituted museums of art in

the wing of the Baroda Museum called Picture Galler y –

line with the British-colonial concept. Since many of the

housing his rich collections of European paintings – was

princely offspring were educated in France and the UK and

opened. To take up the assignment as curator of the Pic-

maintained estates in these countries, they also infused a

ture Galler y, Goetz had not only the suitable professional

European f lavour to their collections. While abroad, the

training and expertise, which he acquired while working

royal heirs often became fascinated with the History Paint-

as an assistant at Berlin's Ethnological Museum from 1926-

ing genre of Europe, and the princes brought originals of

31. He also had his deep-rooted firsthand knowledge of In-

generally lesser well-known artists as well as copies of more

dian art that in conjunction with his scholarly inclinations

famous works with them, when they returned to India. But,

generated a new vision for the Baroda Museum. Goetz did

whereas the 19th century museums established by the

away with old-fashioned display concepts and provided

government were mainly run by service officers, the royal

the » c ontextual relevance of the exhibit, reorganised the

families preferably employed art-historians and experts on

collection, so that the art-historical significance of the ob-

European art.

jects was highlighted, and he acquired modern works of Indian art and of Western artists working in India, « says Julie

In this context, the pioneering work of the renowned Ger-

F. Codell in her essay on the art collection of the Maharaja

man scholar on Indian art, Hermann Goetz (1898-1976),

of Baroda.

clearly stands out. While most art historians, driven by oriental notions of India’s glorious past, concentrated on the

In 1943, with similar academic objectives in mind, Goetz

ancient and medieval periods, Goetz was one of the first to

founded the Bulletin of the Baroda Museum – what is well-

bring the history of Indian art right up to modern and con-

respected even today – and joined the newly established

temporary times.

University of Baroda as Honorary Professor. On his retirement in Baroda in 1953, he was appointed Director of the

Goetz, an already internationally recognized art historian,

new National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, which was

and his wife Annemarie came to India in 1936 with a travel

inaugurated in March 1954. For this event he put together

grant from the famous Kern Institute. Initially, his task was

a path-breaking exhibition of sculptures by well-known

to explore the history and art of the Punjab Hill States and

Indian artists, proving that he was not only an expert on

the Indian Himalayas. The outcome was a comprehensive

ancient Indian art but also had a keen interest in and un-

study on › T he Early Wooden Temples of Chamba ‹. Realis-

derstanding of the contemporary trends of Indian art.

ing the importance of enhancing his firsthand knowledge, Goetz stayed on in India even after his fellowship expired.

Though Hermann Goetz and his wife returned to Germany

He earned his living by teaching Indian art at various uni-

in 1955, the Maharaja of Baroda invited them back to In-

versities, writing, lecturing and undertaking journalistic

dia in 1958 for an assignment to build the new Maharaja

activities. His most trusted companion was his tiny pin-

Fateh Singh Museum. Back in Germany after completing

hole camera, with which he carefully documented temples,

this project, Goetz was named Honorar y Professor at the

monuments, sculptures, bronzes, miniatures, textiles, and

new South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University in 1961,

all other objects of arts and crafts that he felt were worth

where he taught until his death in 1976. ■

studying. Finally the Maharaja of Baroda appointed Goetz as the Director of the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery.

--Jutta Jain-Neubauer is an art-historian writing on Indian

The German scholar and the Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad

miniature painting, medieval Indian architecture, and other

III of Baroda (1863-1939) made a perfect match. The Maha-

aspects of Indian art. Since 2006 she has been writing the

raja was a man of letters, highly educated, a true connois-

column › Did you know that ... ‹ on lesser-known aspects of Indo-

seur of art and a reformist in his conviction. Supported by

German cultural relations.

/ // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

COM I NG UP

FROZEN IN TIME 19 February – 29 February 2012 The exhibition ‘Frozen in Time, Photographs of Dance‘ comprises 50 photographs – both colour and black and white – and a video installation of selected dance photographers and artists from Germany. Represented by internationally famous dance companies like William Forsythe and Sasha Waltz, the installation offers a glimpse into an art form that hovers between documentation and artistic autonomy.

www.germany-and-india.com

PIX: IMAGINARIES 25 February – 10 March 2012 The fourth edition of PIX, the photography quarterly will be launched at Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan in Delhi with an exhibition. As the theme of the issue is ‘Imaginaries’, PIX attempts to broaden the meaning of the term with images of places and people, whose lives have transformed, of moments that might have altered their lives or indeed of spaces as they are encroached, as they change.

www.germany-and-india.com 56

// / g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b e r 2 0 1 1

REBECCA HORN AT NGMA DELHI 17 March – 15 April 2012 Rebecca Horn is regarded as one of the most versatile and creative artists that Germany has at present. A retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum of New York in 1994 marks a high point of her career. The exhibition at the National Galler y of Modern Art, New Delhi in collaboration with Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) will include photographs, paintings, film and multimedia installations.

www.germany-and-india.com

INDIA GOES 3D 19 April – 28 April 2012 India Goes 3D is a platform for the consolidation of the music scene in India. Borne from the acclaimed and influential German platform – 'Germany Goes 3D' – this programme is created in collaboration with Berlin Music Week, c/o Pop, Reeperbahn Festival, Interessengemeinschaft Hamburger Musikwirtschaft e.V. and BLOT. It includes an all-day music conference, master class sessions and evening performances.

www.germany-and-india.com / // ge r ma n n e ws / vo lume 53 / i ssue no. 2 / decem b er 2011

I MPRI NT

PHOTO CREDITS

Editor: Jens Urban

Cover page 1 © Groupe Dejour Berlin (www.groupe-dejour.de) Editorial page 5 © German Embassy Content page 6 (left) © Ahmad Masood / Reuters / page 6 (right) © Daimler India Commercial Vehicles page 7 (left) © Markus Heinsdorff / page 7 (right) © German Embassy Shots page 8/9 © Danish Siddiqui/ Reuters page 10/11 © Rapid Eye Movies From Transition To The Transformation Decade page 12/13 © Ahmad Masood / Reuters page 14 © Johannes Eisele/ picture-alliance/ dpa page 15 © Ahmad Masood / Reuters Green Gigawatts page 16/17/18/19 © Zoonar.com/ Jan Wachala/ Still Pictures page 19 Infographic Illustration © Groupe Dejour, Source: mnre, Central Electricity Authority Unity in Diversity page 20/21 © Groupe Dejour Berlin (www.groupe-dejour.de) Bharat Benz page 24 © Daimler AG / Richard Kienberger page 26 © Daimler AG / Michael Moebius The DEG Factor page 28/29/32/33 © Tim Graham/ gettyimages Jewels on Tour page 34/35 © Markus Heinsdorff page 36/37 © Markus Heinsdorff Emotional Rivers page 38/39 © Zackary Canepari / Panos page 41 © Gigi Scaria Ideas Matter page 42/43 © picture alliance/chromorange Enduring Ties page 44 © H.R. Bramaz/OKAPIA Notepad page 48 (top) © Parivartan Sharma / Reuters page 48 (bottom) © Gary Hershorn / Reuters page 49 © Mark Newman/ Bruce Coleman/Photoshot page 50 (top) © India. My Karma/ Allied Publishers Pvt. Limited page 50 (bottom) © India. My Karma/ Allied Publishers Pvt. Limited Taj Mahal on Buddy’s Belly page 53/53 © German Embassy Did you know that ... page 54 (left) © gettyimages page 54 (top right) © » India and the West «, published by South Asia Institute, New Delhi, 1983 page 54 (bottom left) © The British Library Board (Curzon Collection) Coming up page 56 (top) © Bettina Stöß page 56 (bottom) © Arunima Singh page 57 (top) © Rebecca Horn & VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn page 57 (bottom) © Avinash Kumar / BLOT Imprint page 58 © IStockphoto

Managing Editor: Yvonne Krause Editor, Publisher and Printer: Jens Urban on behalf of the Press and Information Office, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, 6/50 G Shanti Path, New Delhi 110021 India. Circulation: 60,000 Translation: Anya Malhotra / Anu Pande Design: Groupe Dejour, Berlin, Germany (www.groupe-dejour.de) Art Directon: Groupe Dejour Fonts: › P ort ‹ by Groupe Dejour and › A rnhem ‹ by Ourtype Printed at: HT Media Ltd. B-2, Sector 63 NOIDA Gautam Budha Nagar – 201307 Uttar Pradesh The articles published in German News do not necessarily express the views of the German Embassy. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Next issue of the German News: Summer 2012 For subscription to our magazine please fill in the form at: www.india.diplo.de/subscribe-germannews

N EWS ABOUT GERMANY & SOUTH AS IA O N TH E I NTERN ET AT GIC The German Information Centre South Asia (GIC) is a Public Diplomacy initiative of the German Foreign Ministry. GIC’s social media presence on Facebook (www.facebook.com/germaninfo) offers information and insights on Germany and its role and relations with South Asia. The site also provides up-to-date news about what is going on in Germany – the latest in politics, opportunities for work, business and higher education, research and innovation, travel destinations and cultural events. For subscription to our weekly newsletter please write to: facebook@newd.diplo.de

/// g e rm an n e ws / vo l u m e 53 / is s u e n o . 2 / d e ce m b er 2 0 1 1

RNI No. 4587/59