India-Diaspora, Business, Diplomatic, and Political Connectivity
Editor’s Desk
I
n India, the months of December and January generally make up the Diaspora Season. Hundreds of thousands of overseas Indians make their way to their country of origin during this time of the year, many to connect back with families back home, catch up with weddings, take part in pilgrimage and, of course, numerous conferences and seminars that take place across India. Talking of conferences, the largest one is the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). Held in the second week of January since the year 2003, this time (2019) it has been slightly deferred on to the fourth week of the month (January 21-23). It will be held in the holy city of Varanasi, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. The reason for holding it between January 21 and 23 (the traditional dates have been January 7 to 9) is that it is being tied up with the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj and the Republic Day in New Delhi.
iNDiA
empire Volume 14 No. 7 December 2018 www.indiaempire.com RNI No.: DELENG/2005/16693
GLOBAL ADVISORY BOARD Mr Inder Singh, Dr Rami Ranger, Dr Kamalanathan Sappani, Mr Mridul Pathak, Ms Priya Tandon Editor Sayantan Chakravarty Consulting Editor Yogesh Sood (Business and Commerce) Sipra Das (Photography) Kul Bhushan Jayant Borkar (Mumbai Affairs) Sanjay Sharma (BJP Affairs) Paras Ramoutar (Caribbean Affairs) Vishnu Bisram (New York) Premchand Ramlochun (Mauritius) Liladhar J. Bharadia (Kenya) Jay Banerjei (Toronto) Head—Art and Print Jaydev Bisht
On the first day of this now biennial event will be the Youth PBD with a couple of young Members of Parliament from Norway and New Zealand lined up to speak. Like at the PBD events in Gandhinagar (2015) and Bengaluru (2017), the inaugural address will be delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The keynote this time will be delivered by the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, the chief guest. Present on the occasion will be India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, her colleague General V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Varanasi happens to be the Parliamentary constituency of Mr Modi. The inaugural session will be followed by plenary sessions on developing cyber capacity in India and opportunities and challenges on giving back to India. On the final day there will be plenary sessions on the diaspora’s role in capacity building of artificial intelligence, affordable waste management, and affordable solar power.
Additional Contributions From Arun Kumar Das, Saket Suman, Yogi Ashwini, Krishna Sinha Chaudhury
The valedictory address on the final day will be delivered by President Ram Nath Kovind who will also be presenting the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
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We have a curtain raiser on the PBD and several features in our diaspora segment along with stories on diplomacy and business. Wishing you all a very happy new year ahead.
Sayantan Chakravarty (sayantanc@gmail.com)
Registered Office: N-126, II Floor, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi - 110 048. Contact: +91.11.2923.3647, +91.11.2923.1515. Our Associate Offices: Hyderabad: Abhijit Bhattacharjee, Tel: +91.9848033874. Mauritius: 28, Cnr. Jasmins and Lataniers Avenue Résidence Sunsetville, La Caverne, Vacoas 73310 Republic of Mauritius Trinidad and Tobago: 61 Main Road, Caparo, Trinidad, W.I. Canada: Suite 209 885 Progess Ave, Toronto, ON M1H G3G Canada New York: 260, Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10016
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Sayantan Chakravarty is in a select group of 12 writers chosen by Scholastic Education to promote advanced English literature for schools worldwide. Included in the group are Nobel Laureate William Butler Yeats, R K Narayan (Padma Vibushan and Sahitya Award winner), journalist and poet Walt Whitman, writer Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), poet Nissim Ezekiel (Sahitya Akademi Awardee), writer Jerome K Jerome (author of Three Men in a Boat), poet Edward Lear, Roald Dahl (16th on Time Magazine’s list of greatest British writers). Sayantan Chakravarty’s stories featured in Best of Indian Express of 25 years and among select stories in Best of India Today’s 25 years.
cONTeNTS
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DecemBeR 2018
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PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS .............................. 08 Curtain Raiser
AFGHANISTAN .................................................... 28 Interview with Charge D’Affaires in India
INDIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA .............................. 20 Coming to terms with their identity
MAKE IN INDIA ................................................... 33 Foreign companies expand operations in India
SIKH MISSIONARY ............................................. 14 Bhai Sahib Satpal Singh
WOW ................................................................... 38 New connectivity between India and Iceland
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DIASPORA NEWS
PBD 2019
Pravasi delegates to savour local cuisine on special Kumbh train ride By Arun Kumar Das
D
elegates to the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) jamboree, being held this time in Varanasi, will get to participate in the Ardh Kumbh Mela here, with Indian Railways drawing up plans for a special train that will also give participants a chance to relish the best of local cuisine. The PBD event, which culminates every year on January 9 - marking the day Mahatma Gandhi arrived from South
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Africa in 1915 - has been shifted to January 21-23 this time to give delegates a chance to participate in the Ardh Kumbh (beginning on January 15) and Republic Day (January 26). The Railways is making elaborate arrangements to carry the delegates—who will arrive here from Varanasi for the Kumbh—by special trains to the national capital in time for the Republic Day parade. The visit of the delegates to the Sangam from Varanasi
for a holy dip assumes significance as the annual conven- the equivalent of twice the population of Britain. tion of overseas Indians is being held in Prime Minister The national transporter on its part is making ready four Narendra Modi’s constituency in an election year. AC specials to ferry PBD delegates on the evening of JanThe Railways has earmarked at least uary 24, each leaving at intervals of 30 four special AC trains for the 3,000 to minutes to an hour. The Railways is 4,000 delegates who are expected to According to the Railways, keeping participate in the 15th edition of threethe VIP guests’ food habits in mind, making elaborate day global meet that is being held for IRCTC, the Railways’ catering arm, will arrangements to the first time in the holy city of offer specially-made dishes onboard to carry the delegates— make the train journey a pleasant experiVaranasi. who will arrive here ence for the visitors. “The local cuisine, Comprising mostly nonresident Indiwhich includes kachori sabzi, aloo puree ans (NRIs) and people of Indian origin from Varanasi for the and sweets like Patisha, will be on offer (PIOs), the participants will take a dip at Kumbh—by special for the delegates. While good quality tea the confluence of the Ganga-Yamuna trains to the national and coffee will be served, there will also and the mythical Sarswati rivers—a firstcapital in time for the be continental, Chinese and tandoori of-its-kind holy treat for the Indian diasfood on offer for dinner. pora. They will also see bare-bodied Republic Day parade Though the aim of the PBD is to atNaga Sadhus smeared with ash, the joytract investments and encourage the Indian ous evening prayer (aarti) and experience diaspora to be part of India’s “growth story”, it is unclear how the massive crowds the Kumbh attracts. The Kumbh, which runs from January 15 to March 4, is much investments these NRIs and PIOs have brought to the expected to attract close to 120 million people this time - country since the PBD began more than a decade ago. ❐
december 2018 | india empire
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PBD 2019
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas P
ravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots. During the Convention, selected overseas Indians are also honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to recognize their contributions to various fields both in India and abroad.The 15th PBD Convention is being held on 21-23 January 2019 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The theme of PBD Convention 2019 is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India�. Special arrangements are also being made for participation in Kumbh Mela and Republic day parade. As a run up to PBD 2019, Ministry has organized seven PBD Conferences (Panel Discussions) in New Delhi in 2017 & 2018 on issues importance to the Indian Diaspora. These Conferences are chaired by the Minister of External Affairs. Domain experts from the Diaspora, stakeholders and policy makers based in India and foreign countries are invited for day-long deliberations on various topics. Their recommendations are submitted to the concerned Ministries & Departments in the Government of India for consideration in policy formulation. At the 15th PBD Convention in January 2019, Action taken on the recommendation will be presented to PBD delegates for their 8
india empire | december 2018
suggestions and comments. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians. PBSA is conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Conventions organized since 2003 on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin or an organization or institution established and run by the NonResident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, who has made significant contribution. Programme: Day #1, 21 January, Monday Youth PBD & Uttar Pradesh State PBD Joint inauguration of Youth PBD by External Affairs Minister and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports. The event will bring limitless opportunities for the young Diaspora to engage with New India. Uttar Pradesh PBD is a unique opportunity for Pravasis from Uttar Pradesh to reconnect with the roots. Day #2, 22 January, Tuesday Inauguration of PBD Convention by Prime Minister Inauguration of 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2019 by Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India in the presence of Prime Minister of Mauritius, H.E. Pravind Jugnauth.
Day #3, 23 January, Wednesday Valedictory Session & PBS Awards by President Conferment of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and Valedictory Address by President of India. Day #4, 24 January, Thursday In Prayagraj (Visit to Kumbh Mela) Participants would arrive in Prayagraj by bus (Volvo AC Bus). Arrangements for holy bathing at Sangam Day #5, 25 January, Friday In Delhi After Kumbh Mela, participants would travel from Prayagraj to Delhi by train (two-tier AC coaches). Day #6, 26 January, Saturday Witnessing the 70th Republic Day Event Special passes for foreign delegates of PBD 2019 have been arranged for the Republic Day Parade. Information: Varanasi Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi`s prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. Mark Twain, who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, december 2018 | india empire
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PBD 2019
PBD 2017: Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi alongwith the Prime Minister of Portuguese Republic, Mr Antonio Costa and the Vice President of the Republic of Surinam, Mr Michel Ashwin Satyandre Adhin, at the inauguration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations, in Bengaluru, Karnataka on January 8, 2017
flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, (the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here for major part of their lives. Kumbh Mela
once wrote : “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Varanasi has also been a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and Hindi language and honored authors such as the ever-famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Aptly called as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to 10 india empire | december 2018
Kumbh Mela is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. The founding myth of the Kumbh Mela—attributed to the Puranas (collections of myth and legend)—recounts how the gods and demons fought over the pot (kumbha) of amrita, the elixir of immortality pro-
duced by their joint churning of the milky ocean. During the struggle, drops of the elixir fell on the Kumbh Mela’s four earthly sites, and the rivers are believed to turn back into that primordial nectar at the climactic moment of each, giving pilgrims the chance to bathe in the essence of purity, auspiciousness, and immortality. The festival is held at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation and is attended by millions of people irrespective of caste, creed or gender. Its primary bearers, however, belong to akhadas and ashrams, religious organizations, or are individuals living on alms. Kumbh Mela plays a central spiritual role in the country, exerting a mesmeric influence on ordinary Indians. The event encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and social and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge. Knowledge and skills related to the tradition are transmitted through ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues and texts produced by eminent historians. However, the teacher-student relationship of the sadhus in the ashrams and akhadas remains the most important method of imparting and safeguarding knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela. Republic Day Celebration
Though India became a free nation on August 15, 1947, it declared itself a Sovereign, Democratic and Republic state with the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950. A salute of 21 guns and the unfurling of the Indian National Flag by Dr. Rajendra Prasad heralded the historic birth of the Indian Republic on that day. Thereafter 26th of January was decreed a national holiday and was recognised as the Republic Day of India. On Republic Day, flag hoisting ceremonies and parades by armed forces and school children are held in different parts of the country. The grandest and most important of these parades is held at Rajpath in New Delhi, which showcases a multi-hued image of the country’s rich cultural heritage and military prowess. This parade is presided over by the President of India. One of the main functions of the Republic Day Parade is to pay tribute to the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the country and to confer bravery awards on military persons, citizenry and children for showing courage in the face of adversity. ❐
Partner State: Uttar Pradesh
U
ttar Pradesh, as the name suggests, is a state situated in the north-central part of the Republic of India. Uttar Pradesh (abbreviated as UP) is the fourth largest state economy of India as also the most populous state with 16.17% of the country’s population. It is surrounded by Bihar in the East, Madhya Pradesh in the South, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana in the west and shares an international boundary with Nepal. Uttar Pradesh has been the cradle of civilization and culture, because it is around the Ganga river that ancient cities and towns sprang up. Economy Uttar Pradesh has traditionally been an agrarian state, which extracts 25% of its GDP contribution from food production. It is now changing and turning into an hub of IT, electronic manufacturing and StartUps. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of MSMEs (Micro small and medium enterprises) in India and is the largest exporter among the land locked states. The handloom woven textiles from Varanasi (zari,chikan and brocade embroideries), khurja pottery from Bulandshahr, brass work from Moradabad, sports and musical equipment from Meerut and leather products from Kanpur and Agra have acquired a rising share of the international market. Industrial Climate & Infrastructure Uttar Pradesh has developed a very vibrant industrial climate, with the Industrial Investment and Employment Generation Policy 2017 and other 20 sectoral policies to attract investment. The State provides an investor friendly environment with ICT enablement and simplification of existing procedures. It has one of the best single window clearance mechanisms in the country, the Nivesh Mitra. To complement the enabling policy environment, the State offers safe and secure environment for industrial development. In terms of infrastructure, UP is fast on the road to progress with two international airports, and a metro network coming up in its capital city of Lucknow. It has one of the largest bus services in the country with around 10,000 buses in operation. Tourism and heritage Uttar Pradesh is home to some of India’s most visited sites, the most famous being the Taj Mahal in Agra. The state’s religious significance has been a major contributor to its tourism industry. While Jhansi, Lucknow and Meerut are historical cities famous for their monuments, Mathura, Vrindavan, Varanasi and Ayodhya are some of the holiest cities of the Hindu religion. Uttar Pradesh also hosts the largest religious gathering of the world, the Kumbh Mela every 12 years.
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DiasPora—Dr satinDer swarooP
Flowing from the Heart A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. —Nelson Mandela, Former South African President
I
n the fraternity of cardiologists in the USA, there is hardly anyone who does not know Dr Satinder Swaroop. Likewise, Satinder is immensely popular within the Indian-American community, and not just because he deals with matters of the heart. Medical success and the numerous accolades and recognitions that have come his way, though, constitute only one part of his life. The other is that he is a practitioner of transcendental meditation (TM) for nearly 55 years. He was initiated into TM by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Master who attained worldwide recognition as a spiritual guide to the Beatles. TM is a specific form of mantra meditation developed by Maharishi and is usually practiced between 15 and 20 minutes twice a day. Since 1965, TM has been incorporated in programs at certain schools, universities and corporations all over the world, including in the USA and India. Satinder was in medical college in Srinagar, capital of Jammu and Kashmir, in 1961 when he came in contact with Maharishi. The initiation into TM was to transform his entire life, starting with the way he looked at the world outside, and the world within. When in the late 1990s Satinder’s Master started the Maharishi Ayurveda Physician Organisation, he was among the first to become its member. Subsequently Maharishi sent him on a two-week, five-city tour of India. Among the cities he visited were Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Bhopal where he had the opportunity to address several medical associations. To the skeptical medical community those days, TM was the ultimate esoteric subject. But Satinder, himself a doctor, managed to break through the thick curtain of skepticism, and deftly introduced the subject to his audience, and it went straight into their heart. At the end of his tour, India’s official TV channel, Doordarshan was excited enough to carry an interview with him. At present, Satinder is a board member of both Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation and Brahmananda Saraswati Yagya Foundation. They are named after Swami Brahmanand Saraswati, Maharishi’s Master. ACADEMIC LIFE Satinder is exceptionally qualified. Always keen to pursue medicine as a career, he secured admission at the
Government Medical College in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, after completing his Faculty in Science with first position from the Gandhi Memorial Science College, also in Jammu. He obtained his MBBS degree in 1965 and then moved to Delhi where he completed a residence in surgery from the Irwin Hospital in 1967. As he was eager to hone his skills in interventional cardiology he made up his mind to do further studies in the USA, and keep himself abreast with latest developments in the field. He was an intern at Saint Francis Hospital and Heart Center at Poughkeepsie in New York, a Resident in Medicine at Maryland General Hospital (now known as the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore), Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Tufts University Medical Services at the Boston City Hospital (all in Massachusetts). By 1970 he decided to move away from the cold of the American north east and left for California. He did fellowships with the UCLA
From the book Indian Americans in Greater Los Angeles Area by India Empire Publications 12 india empire | december 2018
Center for Health Sciences at the University of California at Los Angeles, and at the Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital, also in the same city. He has held several faculty positions like Teaching Fellow at the Tufts University Medical School in Massachusetts (July 1969 to June 1970), Fellow in Cardiology at the UCLA Medical School (July 1970 to June 1972). At the University of Southern California (USC) School of Medicine in Los Angeles he has been Clinical Instructor in Medicine (July 1973 to June 1974), Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine (July 1974 to June 1977). At the University of California at Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine he has been Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine (November 2006 to May 2009) and Clinical Professor of Medicine since May 2009. Besides, he has been teaching medical students from the Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine since January 2011. PROFESSIONAL LIFE Between July 1972 and July 1976 he worked with the City of Hope Medical Center at Duarte where he served in various capacities—Staff Cardiologist, Senior Cardiologist, Chief Cardiac Catherization Lab, Project Director, Hypertension Control Program. In January 1977 he branched out on his own, and set up the Swaroop Medical Corporation at Warner Avenue in Fountain Valley. He remains its president till date. At the same time he holds several responsibilities with the Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center (FVRMC) on Euclid Street, barely a 10-minute walk from where he is. At the FVRMC he’s held positions such as Member-Board of Directors, Chief-Critical Care Unit, Director-Cardiac Catheterization Lab, ChairmanInterdisciplinary Practice, Chairman-Department of Medicine, Chairman-Cardiology Sub-division, DirectorCardiology Rehabilitation, Chairman-Department of Cardiology, Director-Partnership for Change and Commitment to Quality, Chairman-Quality of Patient Care Committee, and Chief of Staff. He also is a Fellow American College of Cardiology, Fellow American College of Physicians, Fellow American College of Angiology, Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow American College of International Physicians, Fellow American Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and a Member of American Heart Association. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Several honors and recognitions have come his way. He received the Physicians Recognition Award from the
American Medical Association on five occasions—1970, 1974, 1978, 1997, and 2001. He received the California Medical Association Certification in CME three times— 1992, 1996, and 2001. He was Physician Champion Award at the FVRMC twice in a row, in 2003 and 2004. He received a series of Special Awards—from the City of Anaheim (2007), United States Congress (2007 and 2008), California State Senate (2007 and 2008), California State Assembly (2007 and 2008), and Board of Supervisors Orange County (2007 and 2008). In 2009 he was decorated with the Ethnic Physician of the Year Award by the California Medical Association. And then five years in a row, between 2010 and 2015, the Orange County Medical Association bestowed on him the Physician of Excellence Award. CIVIC POSITIONS As a result of his brilliant professional and academic record, Satinder has held important positions such as President of the Orange County Medical Association, President of the American Association of Cardiologists of Indian Origin, Chairman Board of Trustees Indian Medical Association of Southern California among others. Satinder is married to Dr Venzila Swaroop, a pediatrician. Two of their children are physicians while one is an attorney practicing in California. Through his distinguished academic and professional achievements, and his ability to balance his life out with TM, Satinder has proven Nelson Mandela right—that a good head and a good heart make for a truly formidable ❐ combination.
From the book Indian Americans in Greater Los Angeles Area by India Empire Publications december 2018 | india empire 13
DiasPora—Bhai sahiB satPal singh
The Sikh Missionary “Burn worldly love, rub the ashes and make ink of it, make the heart the pen, the intellect the writer, write that which has no end or limit” —Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Founder of Sikhism, First of ten Sikh Gurus
S
atpal Singh Kohli’s life has been an endless pursuit of excellence. Now he has taken things a notch higher and made it his eternal mission to propagate the truth. Today his life is an open book, and the chapters that fill them are embellished with limitless intellect and wisdom. Known as Bhai Sahib, a title bestowed upon him by the Jathedar of Patna Sahib, he freely shares his knowledge. It is a tribute to his evolving thoughtfulness, erudition and sagacity that he is the Sikh Dharma Ambassador in the Western Hemisphere. Bhai Sahib was born in 1956 in the Southern Indian City of Madras and remembers growing up in a loving family, nourished abundantly with positive and happy emotions by his parents Sardar Malik Singh Kohli and Late Sardarni Rajinder Kaur Kohli. When the family moved to the Indian capital city of New Delhi, he attended Summer Fields High School. After graduating from there he went to Delhi’s St. Stephen’s College and earned himself a Bachelor’s Degree in Science. Sports and academics were like inseparable companions in college life for the athletic Satpal. He had a ubiquitous presence in the hockey field, on the running tracks, and even in the table tennis room. That made him a practitioner of outdoor and indoor games and he excelled in them. He also joined the National Cadets Corps (NCC), an army-administered outfit in India that recruits young volunteers, and prides itself in instilling discipline, character, comradeship, and the noble ideals of selfless service. So at St. Stephen’s, Bhai Sahib was shaping up to be a fine and well-groomed all-rounder, proficient at studies, sharp in games, a young man whose leadership skills were second to none.
MOVING WEST, DOING BUSINESS After graduating from college, he decided it was time to head West. It was in 1978 that Bhai Sahib arrived in the USA and attended another college at Santa Fe, taking up accounting, marketing and other business courses. In the same year he got married in Espanola, New Mexico, to the daughter of Yogi Bhajan, who later became his spiritual guide and mentor. Soon, though, the West Coast was beckoning, and he moved to California and ventured into business,
becoming a partner with GRD Enterprises, a marketing firm in Los Angeles. His academic orientation and experience with Yogiji came in handy. He rapidly helped expand the firm’s business across domains—soon they were running a travel agency, handling international trade, beauty products, providing school and office supplies, importing oriental carpets for sales in USA, doing check cashing business, direct mail advertisement and importing food products. If this wasn’t enough, Bhai Sahib developed a taste for candies, America after all has developed the concept of candy stores like nowhere else. In 1986, some eight years after he had come to the USA, he moved to Canada and started a chocolate and candy manufacturing and distribution business based out of Toronto and Montreal. He also started SPI Real Estate International, a property firm that tied up with top developers in India and
From the book Indian Americans in Greater Los Angeles Area by India Empire Publications 14 india empire | december 2018
marketed their brands across Canada and the USA. While he was helping NRIs invest in property back in India, he was also making a mark in selling real estate in Las Vegas, having tied-up with the Pacific Group of Companies. He also came to own a fine dining restaurant at the Rio Hotel and Casino in America’s glamour city—Las Vegas. Success in business, though, was to become the bedrock of his spiritual life. Somewhere deep within he yearned to move into the higher realms of existence. And life would give him a chance that he grabbed with both hands. He found his spiritual mentor in Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, also called Siri Singh Sahib. Bhai Sahib would go on to call Yogi Bhajan his celestial father, and spiritual guide. Yogiji appointed him Assistant Chief of Protocol for the Sikh Dharma International. Bhai Sahib also became involved with other institutions set up by Yogiji such as 3HO, Sikh Net, Miri Piri Academy and Khalsa Council International. His spiritual life gained momentum in a manner that he blissfully enjoyed. Bhai Sahib would organize Yogiji’s meetings with political and religious figures around the world, and began to accompany his mentor wherever he would speak. He also learnt Kundalini Yoga from Yogiji at his New Mexico ranch called Hacienda de Guru Ram Das.These days the Kundalini Research Institute helps promote this ancient yogic practice that helps in restoring health and intellect. SPIRITUAL STRIVING Bhai Sahib’s dedication and surrender won over Yogiji’s heart, and in no small measure. Yogiji gave the hand of his only daughter, in marriage to Bhai Sahib. Yogi Bhajan left his body in 2004, a point in time when Bhai Sahib became even more determined to keep striving on the spiritual path. He started going on extensive lecture tours, carrying books on Sikhism, and
translations of the Japji Sahib and other Banis from the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Bhai Sahib has dedicated his life to preserve, protect and spread the teachings of Yogi Bhajan and to bring the technology of Kundalini Yoga all around the world. Today Bhai Sahib is the Chairman of the Guru Ram Das Sikh Mission of America based out of New Mexico. He is also Secretary, International Affairs, at the Akal Takht forSikh Dharma, and a Director in Miri Piri Academy, Amritsar. He is also a member of ACT and Sikh Dharma 13. Several recognitions and honors have come his way. For his untiring efforts to propagate the Sikh way of life in the Western world, the Sikh clergy have given him the title of Bhai Sahib. The Jathedar of Patna Sahib Ji—the
From the book Indian Americans in Greater Los Angeles Area by India Empire Publications december 2018 | india empire 15
DiasPora—Bhai sahiB satPal singh
birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru— has anointed him with the honorific Ambassador of Sikh Dharma, onethathe carries around the world with a great deal of dignity and grace. His tireless striving for the Sikh cause has been recognized by Jathedars of all five Sikh Takhats—the great seats of learning. The high Sikh clergy in India appointed Bhai Sahib Bhai Sahib as the “Chief Religious and Spiritual Authority of Sikh Dharma in the Western Hemisphere”. Bhai Sahib travels the world promoting peace, diversity, Sikh teachings, a healthy happy and holy lifestyle through the Teachings of Yogi Bhajan and Kundalini Yoga, and is selflessly dedicated to the welfare of all. He participates in world peace and inter-faith events and travels the globe bringing love, light of wisdom, unity and inspires many towards the path of the divine Almighty. Bhai Sahib is a Peace Ambassador for HWPL (a Peace organization in South Korea dedicated for cessation of wars around the world); Ambassador for the Parliament of World Religions; member of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (the world’s first inter-faith initiative for clean water and hygiene); a Deputy Sherrif in New Mexico; a Knight appointed by the Government of Philippines, and involved with many other organizations around the world including United Nations, World Bank, Religions for Peace and others making efforts for establishing communal harmony in the world. For his service to humanity, Bhai Sahib has received many awards and recognitions from the USA House of Congress and the US Senate.
Bhai Sahib is a true missionary in action, living and walking the words of his master, and the Great Gurus. He sums up his own journey thus, “It is my mission and blessing to promote diversity and culture as taught by Guru Nanak Dev Ji... to better facilitate the current worldwide shift in global consciousness from tribalism, instability, and extremism, to harmony, cooperation and enduring peace. In addition, I welcome and support other organizations that promote the transformation of consciousness as taught by Guru Nanak Dev Ji throughout his life and travels.” The boy from Chennai who started business in Los Angeles, discovered his mentor in New Mexico, and now traverses the world, is someone who preaches what he practices in his own life. In spirit he remains a galactic traveller, one that has made his intellect the writer, and continues to do so with freedom in the now and beyond. ❐
From the book Indian Americans in Greater Los Angeles Area by India Empire Publications 16 india empire | december 2018
DiasPora—amBala cash anD carry
Emperor of palates There is no sincerer love than the love of food. —George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright
T
hey call Artesia, Los Angeles’ Little India, and not for nothing. Indian curry joints, saree and jewelry stores, dot the colorful shopping landscape either side of Pioneer Boulevard. Here the familiar aroma of Rasbhog’s lip-smacking menu has been a top draw for customers. They regularly line up to gorge on authentic Indian cuisine, much like bees drawn to honey. Rasbhog is a premium Indian vegetarian food destination, and the Indians in southern California just seem to love it. Then, who’s behind Rasbhog? Well the story leads us to Munish Makkar who came to the USA from India in 1986. In his heart, Munish was an entrepreneur first, and had a keen nose and a sharp eye for business. He set up a jewelry store with a partner in North Hollywood, and in no time gave it the Midas touch. America’s beautiful people just kept walking in and out of it, and the cash registers, we’re told, never stopped ringing. But within a year, in spite of the success, he decided to give up his jewelry business, and sold his stake to his partner. Now he wanted to be a part of the food and beverage industry. That is how Hurry Curry was born in 1987. It was located in Venice, about an hour’s drive from where Artesia is, and was among the first Indian restaurants on the west coast. As Irish playwright Bernard Shaw says, “there’s no sincerer love than the love of food.” Munish somehow knew and understood this secret well, and it didn’t take him long to cash in on his new passion big time. Within a matter of months he opened three other restaurants along the
boardwalk on Venice beach. Now he had managed to go beyond Indian food and was serving up pizzas and Mediterranean kebabs as well. Like in jewelry, he’d tasted success early in the food industry as well. Sometime in the early 1990s, Munish was looking to purchase some gold ornaments, something he was well acquainted with. He was at a shopping center in Artesia, and Little India gave him big ideas. Now he wanted to bring in spices that would tingle the palates of west coast Americans, and Indians alike. Along with a partner, Munish bought out Ambala Cash and Carry, an Indian grocery store. The Ambala Cash and Carry story is a dream one for immigrants. Many hit USA thinking they’d get rich overnight. While it is truly the land of opportunities, getting rich overnight is not guaranteed. One needs plenty of pluck, guts and great entrepreneurial skills to make a business click from day one. It seems Munish had it all. As business picked, he managed to buy out his partner’s stake, and became sole proprietor of the store. The City of Artesia had become an integral part of Munish Makkar’s life. He now owns another grocery store, Surati Cash and Carry, across the road from Rasbhog. He also has started the Artesia Sports Bar, a popular place where youngsters can hang around. Munish Makkar’s story and that of Ambala Cash and Carry, and Rasbhog, are worth telling. In numerous drawing room conversations people who wish to do their own thing usually want to start with their own restaurant. In Munish, they have the ideal role model. He’s done it in the heart of Los Angeles, California. And won many a foodie’s heart too. ❐
From the book Indian Americans in Greater Los Angeles Area by India Empire Publications december 2018 | india empire 17
DiasPora—ashoka the great
Whiff of good food I could talk food all day. I love good food. —Tom Brady, American football quarterback
L
ike Brady, the 6’4” American football quarterback, those who have eaten at Ashoka The Great can talk food all day long. This popular Indian restaurant was established in 1988 on the Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, a locality also called Mini India in Los Angeles. Over the years, countless palates have had an ongoing love affair with the restaurant’s authentic north Indian cuisine. When it was set up in 1988, the restaurant was one of four in the area. Today, there are 25 of them out there, but Ashoka The Great manages to hold its own, and keeps doing better even as the competition gets stiffer either side of Pioneer Boulevard. You could put it down to a mix of hard work, great cuisine, and, of course, total value for money. Authentic north Indian cuisine is Ashoka The Great’s staple. Since the food has gone down well with customers, the owner, Darshan Singh, has not tampered with the menu over the last 28 years. He says that if something is working just fine, why bother to change it. Over time, the restaurant’s repeat customers have only swelled. Its lunch buffet is much talked about and receives rave reviews from food writers. The restaurant offers a staggering 35-course menu on weekdays, unlike most other places where they pare down the elaborate weekend menu during other days of the week. So there’s plenty of value for money. Darshan himself picks the chicken tikka masala, the goat items and the tandoori chicken as the restaurant’s hot-favorite dishes. Guests also like the free-naan basket that comes with the buffet. The exhaustive fresh fruit bar does not go unappreciated. When you get a 35-course buffet for less than USD 10, you can only come back for more. But it’s not only about the money. Darshan says that Ashoka The Great’s USP is also about the authentic manner in which the cooking is carried out by the chef and his staff. A combination of price and quality places the Pioneer Boulevard restaurant streets ahead of the rest. One guest wrote that “we paid under USD 10, but ate worth more than USD 20.” It helps that the restaurant offers a bar with the best brands, and business is brisk at all times. Several reviews on the website yelp.com help establish Ashoka The Great as a premier restaurant in the north Indian cuisine segment. Aiding Darshan in his business is his wife, Balvir Kaur.
The couple’s three sons, Jagjit, Sarbjit and Gurvinder, are being primed to take over once the father decides to hang his boots, and take the back seat. Darshan Singh made his way to USA from Kuwait where he had worked for three years. After arriving in the US he worked in the kitchen of an Indian restaurant, sharpened his culinary skills, kept his eyes and ears open and learnt the ropes of running the restaurant business. He then opened two restaurants of his own, while leasing out a third. But things did not pan out well. Darshan lost money, and shut the shops. It was around the late 1980s that he ran into Karamchand Sood and Paul Dhillon. Both decided to put up money for what would be his fourth restaurant in the US. This time, though, he made things work. Within 10 years he bought out his partners, and now owns Ashoka The Great fully. People often query him about the restaurant’s name. He is clear in his response: Ashoka immediately connects with India, and while you are walking in you almost half know what kind of food to expect. The menu at the restaurant carries a brief about Ashoka himself. Outdoor catering is now boosting the restaurant’s bottom line and there is a heavy demand for deliveries at home and at parties. Thanks to its success and popularity, now there are enough people in Southern California and beyond who talk about Ashoka The Great’s food all day long. n
From the book Indian Americans in Greater Los Angeles Area by India Empire Publications 18 india empire | december 2018
DiasPora
Diaspora should act as India’s ambassadors: Minister Rijiju
U
The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Kiren Rijiju in a group photograph with the participants of ‘Know India Programme’ (KIP) from eight countries, organised by MEA in partnership with Andhra Pradesh Government, in New Delhi on December 8, 2018
nion Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju in December told a visiting group of 40 Indian Diaspora youths to act as ambassadors of India’s growth story and spread the good word about their experience in this country on their return. The group from eight countries is in India as part of a 25-day visit under the 49th ‘Know India Programme’ (KIP) being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh government. The KIP is an initiative to engage young Indian Diaspora in the age group of 18 to 30 years and makes them feel a sense of connect with their motherland. Interacting with the participants from Fiji (11), Guyana (6), Myanmar (6), Trinidad and Tobago (6), South Africa (6), Suriname (3), the Netherlands (1) and Sri Lanka (1) here, Rijiju said: “The government recognizes the importance of the Indian Diaspora and has a well laid down policy for engaging with the Diaspora community.” Rijiju invited the Indian Diaspora youths to avail scholarship programme GIAN (Global Initiative for Academic Network), VAJRA Faculty Scheme which aims to bring a strong international connect to the R&D ecosystem of India, Mission Shodh GANGA (Global Alliance for New Generation Acceleration), Scholarship Programme for Di-
Minister Rijiju interacting with the participants of ‘Know India Programme’ (KIP)
aspora Children (SPDC) and Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). Besides Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, the 25-day tour will also takes them to Agra. They will also meet senior functionaries in the Central and state governments. Since 2004, the MEA has conducted 48 editions of KIP with participation of 1,612 overseas Indian youths. ❐
december 2018 | india empire 19
DiasPora in aFrica
south african inDians coming to terms with inDian iDentity: ZainaB Priya Dala By Saket Suman
I
n her recent book, “What Gandhi Didn’t See: Being Indian In South Africa”, author Zainab Priya Dala looks back from the vantage point of her own personal history—a fourth-generation South African-Indian of mixed lineage—and recalls that, as a child, she was hesitant about accepting her Indian identity, but contends that she has now come to terms with it.
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She has shared memories of her growing up in South Africa in the 1980s—a time of the State of Emergency, the atrocious Tricameral System advocated and supported by many South African-Indians, and the heightened efforts to have Nelson Mandela released from prison and finally usher in a democratic government. “The largest challenge I think I faced was negotiat-
ing the apparent and false safety of being an Indian rather than a Black child, and watching many of my community accept the Tricameral System, which was a means devised by the ruling White government to give a place in Parliament to Indians,” Dala, who has written two previous novels and has won accolades for her short stories, told IANS in an email from Durban in South Africa. She said she could see that the Indian community were being given more privileges and access to basic human needs as compared to the Black community, and this unfairness went against her formative ideas of democracy. “It irked me that many Indian people benefited and lapped up these handouts and enriched themselves on a false sense of fairness. I felt that we were betraying Nelson Mandela by our complicit acceptance of this better life, and when he was released, I hoped that the playing fields would be leveled. But, the further challenge then came for me when I saw that unfairness seemed to again rear its head in that, again, every Indian was being painted with the same brush and looked at by the Black community as opportunists and sell-outs,” she recalled. She goes on to mention in her book that the truth is “I am South African”, explaining that she relates more to a Black woman than a woman from India. But then she also states that all race groups in the country are now searching for their defining roots. She said South African-Indians today are very mutable, according to the environment. They have always managed to maintain a cultural identity that is strongly Indian, and with that comes religion. She explained that most South AfricanIndians have held onto their religious beliefs, but in doing so they have also appropriated the language and culture of the Afrikaner, the Blacks and all others in between. Dala, who lived and worked in Dublin and has now moved to Durban, said the defining roots of South AfricanIndians remain in religion and cultural practices, but that is only when they are in their own communities and families. “When we are out there in social situations and workplaces, we have developed this ability to be chameleons, and fit ourselves into the melting pot that is contemporary South African society. But... in their own communities and homes, (they) are deeply Indian in their lives and practices. It’s like we have these two lives, and we are constantly weaving in and out of these two worlds,” she added. Dala contends in the book that the Indian diaspora in South Africa has come full circle and, in the last 10 years, more and more people are eager to know where they came from. “I think after South Africa became a democracy and issues of colour were removed from the table, people began to finally look at themselves and possibly felt safer to ask the questions of their lineage. They felt more freedom to find out about where they came from instead of hiding it all away, and pretending to be White,” she said, in response to a question on the ongoing churn. She said that trade has become a factor in this new wave of people connecting to India and hailed the Indian government as well as the BRICS grouping, which have set up opportunities for people in both India and South Africa for business. These have led to more frequent flights to India, and tours to India are being publicised. She also said that the surge of Bollywood made it “cool” for South African❐ Indians to identify themselves as Indians.
Ms Zainab Priya Dala
december 2018 | india empire 21
DiasPora in U.k.
conservative friends of india celebrating the festive season
Conservative Friends of India team with Dr Rami Ranger CBE, Co-Chairman of Conservative Friends of India
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he Conservative Friends of India, (CF India) hosted its Festive Season Drinks Reception on Monday 26th November 2018 at the Taj Hotel, London. It was the perfect occasion celebrating the diversity of Britain and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in the UK. It was also an occasion to thank all those connected with the Conservative Friends of India. The event was attended by the Justice Secretary, The Rt. Hon. David Gauke MP, Mr Alok Sharma, Minister of State for Employment at the Department of Work and Pensions, the Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP, Mr Bob Blackman MP, The Israeli Ambassador to Britain H.E. Mark Regav, Deputy High Commissioner to India, Geoff Wain, Mr AS Rajan, Minister Coordination and Mr SK Jha, Minister Consular at the High Commission of India. Co-Chairman Mr Zac Goldsmith MP, welcomed the guests and paid tribute to the members of Conservative Friends of India and to his fellow Co-Chairman Dr Rami Ranger CBE for the excellent work being done in developing a cordial relationship between the High Commission of India and the Conservative Party. He also thanked H.E. Mark Regev, The Ambassador of Israel for gracing the 22 india empire | december 2018
evening with his presence and showing solidarity with the Indian diaspora in Britain. Dr Rami Ranger CBE, along with the guests and senior representation from the Indian High Commission, Mr S.K Jha, Minister Consular and A.S Rajan, Minister Coordination, held a minute’s silence to remember those who lost their lives in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Dr Ranger said that India is emerging as a positive force and contributing to the prosperity of the world. India is a role model country where diversity is accepted, respected and protected by law just as it is in Britain. In the same way, we also celebrate Diwali, Eid, Vaisakhi and the birth of Lord Buddha in perfect harmony. Dr Ranger highlighted the significant contribution that Indians are making in Britain and he thanked the India High Commission for their support and is looking forward to working with the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Britain H.E. Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam. Dr Ranger went on to introduce the Chief Guest, the Rt. Hon. David Gauke MP, the Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. The Rt. Hon. David Gauke MP paid tribute to the CF India and its Co-Chairmen Zac and Rami for making it one of the most vibrant organisations within the Con-
Mr Zac Goldsmith, MP
Dr Rami Ranger, CBE
Rt. Hon. Mr David Gauke, MP
Mr Bob Blackman, MP
Rt. Hon. Ms Theresa Villiers, MP
Mr Alok Sharma, MP
Mr Geoff Wain
Mr Anil Sharma
Mr Nayaz Qazi
servative Party. He further highlighted the importance of India to Britain and how as a partner it is vital to further develop the relationship post-Brexit. Mr Bob Blackman MP, Vice Chair of CF India, highlighted the importance of the ethnic vote for the Conservative Party. He was disappointed that the gains made in the 2015 general election were not consolidated in the 2017 general election. Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP, Vice Chair of CF India, stated how delighted she was to be at the function and paid tribute to the Indian diaspora and how it is most valued and how the Conservative Party shares it values with it. Mr Alok Sharma MP, Minister of Employment, paid tribute to the Co-chairmen of CF India and how pleased he was with its success. He was proud to have been born in India and even more proud to be a British Indian. He fur-
ther went on to highlight the contribution of the British Indians to the UK. Mr Geoff Wain, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Gujarat and Rajasthan, highlighted the number of staff the British Mission has in India, numbering around 1000 and that this is the largest number of staff for any British Mission compared to any other country. This exemplified the importance of the British - India relationship. Mr Anil Sharma, Patron of Conservative Friends of India, delivered the vote of thanks, he thanked the Chief Guest Rt. Hon. David Gauke MP, Mr Alok Sharma MP, Minister for Employment, the Co-Chairmen, the ViceChairs, Patrons, Executive Committee, the Deputy British High Commissioner Mr Geoff Wain, the Taj Hotel for the exquisite food, drinks and venue and, most importantly, all CF India Members. â?? december 2018 | india empire 23
DiasPora in north america
Brampton to have Canada’s first world-class cricket stadium
Mayor Patric Brown
Mayor Brown with PM Modi
ith its population of cricket-loving immigrants increasing rapidly, the Indian-dominated city of Brampton on the outskirts of Toronto will soon build the first world-class cricket stadium in Canada. Announcing this while addressing members of the IndoCanada Chamber of Commerce in December, Brampton’s newly elected Mayor Patrick Brown said cricket is a passion in India as he has witnessed during his visits. “That’s why we will build a world-class cricket stadium in Brampton during my term,” so that anyone coming from India to do business or live in his city doesn’t miss what they love, the Mayor told the Indo-Canadian gathering. Known as a friend of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Indo-Canadian community here, Brown, a former MP, has been to India 18 times during the past 11 years. In fact, he started this year in India by doing a puja in Varanasi and offering prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Indo-Canadian community accounts for a huge portion of the city’s population of over 600,000, with Punjabis alone making up over 20 per cent of its population. To make
the huge Indian community feel at home in his city, the Mayor said: “We will also have the first outdoor ‘garba’ this year out on the streets.” He also mentioned that Brampton already allows the Indo-Canadian community to celebrate Diwali with fireworks. The Mayor said that since creating jobs tops his agenda, he would take every step to make Brampton attractive for businesses and investors from anywhere, including India, by keeping the cost of doing business in his city low. “There won’t be any tax increase during my term,” he said. Describing Indian and other diaspora communities of his city as its biggest assets, the Mayor said he would use the huge Indian community to pitch his city to businesses in India. “The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce can open doors for Brampton in India. I have been India 18 times in 11 years and I will do now as Mayor to pitch Brampton to businesses in India,” he said. Assuring the Indian-friendly Mayor of all support, IndoCanada Chamber of Commerce President Pramod Goyal said the chamber has been building business bridges between the two countries for over 40 years and creating jobs. ❐
W
24 india empire | december 2018
colUmn: yogi ashwini
minD anD BoDy
The impoRTanCe of Dhwani By Yogi Ashwini Yogi Ashwini
E
verything in creation is a dhwani (sound), it is a frequency, a vibration. All our desires too are dhwanis of varying frequencies. Tantra shastras detail the science of mantras, dhwanis and frequencies through which you can change your desires, your body as well as environment. Om is an extremely subtle dhwani, also called pranav. When om is chanted, the body vibrates from top to bottom. If you come to Dhyan Ashram, I will take you through the experience of this dhwani and the vibrations it creates within you. When you practice the various tantra and mantra sadhnas under a Guru, the effect is immediate, tangible and physical. The various sadhnas have the ability to manifest (vyakt) the unmanifest (avyakt). But to hold the subtler frequencies, it is important to increase the capacity of the body through practices detailed in ashtang yog and sanatan kriya. Then you will come from avidya (unreality) to vidya (reality) - Om asato ma sadgamaya, tamso jyotir gamayo, mrityur ma amritam gamaya (From ureal to real, from darkness to light, then from death to immortality) Most people think everyone else will go, but nothing would happen to them and they will continue forever. Many million generations before you thought the same way, but they are here no more, they had to leave leaving everything behind, so will you. All you can take back with you is the frequency or vibration. If you are able to hold that frequency within you, your next body will be subtler frequency, the body of a dev. If not, then it will be lower body, that of insects or animals. So if you want to achieve divinity, then develop that frequency inside you. Time is less. People often think they are passing time; actually, it is time that is passing you. Before you know you will be in shmshaan and will feel the heat of the fire all through your body. You will feel it for sure because while the soul leaves the body, prana lingers on for some time and that prana can
sense the uneasiness. At Dhyan Ashram we do various sadhnas where we have seen that while we think the body has gone, in reality the body can see and feel everything. Try putting your hand in fire and see how much fun it is. Then imagine the same sensation all through the body…that time will come soon. This is not a punishment, it is called purification (shudhikaran), which is a basic requirement for all the 16 karam kands given in shastras. This is the final karam kand and fire is the purification process. Truth is, whatever you have, has been acquired from Param Pita and has to go back. In earlier times, people would walk the path of vedas and achieve moksh. Nowadays, people walk the path of artha and get stuck in it. Because the path of artha is that of profit maximization and for that one needs to cut costs. In this process the inner voice has to be suppressed often. You can walk the path of artha also, but then don’t forget that for every venture investment is required. On journey of the spirit, people often forget this principle, and are not ready to do service or charity. I met a swamiji recently who knew a lot of businessmen; he said that those who’ve had maximum growth are the ones who have donated the maximum. That is the investment in the journey of spirit, investment of time or money as per capacity in the right direction. And the profit is manifestation of thought, turning avyakt into vyakt. Frequency is the catalyzing factor in the process, then it is up to you whether you steer it towards moksh or arth. If you take the path of moksh, you rise. If you chose arth, you move towards lower yonis. The results are 100%, I can guarantee. It works like a computer; you get an output as per the input without any ambiguity. So invest as per capacity on this path, and gen❐ erate the frequency to manifest.
—Yogi Ashwini is the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation and can be reached at www.dhyanfoundation.com
december 2018 | india empire 25
qUote UnqUote
DipLomaTS To inDia empiRe auTomoBiLe The automotive industry is one of the key drivers of the Philippine economy. In the past decade, the automotive industry’s contribution to national output, employment, investments and exports have been increasing. With the presence of global automotive brands, together with the abundant supply of highly skilled and technical manpower, the quality of final goods and services produced by the automotive industry in the Philippines is at par with regional and global standards. Motor vehicle parts are one of the key exports of the Philippines. The top markets for Philippine merchandise exports of motor vehicle parts are Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Republic of South Africa and Taiwan (ROC). During the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Philippines in November 2017, President Duterte invited Indian automotive industry to invest in the Philippines. Some Indian automotive manufacturers such as Mahindra, Tata Motors, and Bajaj have been operating in the Philippines, through their local distributors. —H.E. (Mrs) Ma. Teresita C. Daza, Ambassador, Republic of Philippines to India
TouRiSm Tourism is one of the six sectors of The Gambian economy that the Government has identified as priority areas which deserves special attention and incentives. The opportunities are enormous as the industry is still budding and is far from reaching its full potential. The peace, warmth and friendliness of Gambians coupled with its pristine beaches, the mystic of the River Gambia and its diverse flora and fauna endowments has made the country a prime destination for those aiming to enjoy authentic touristic experiences. Through the various programs being offered by tour operators and hotels, tourists are given the opportunities to enmeshed themselves into the cultural experiences of the Gambian people. It is therefore, no wonder that the new face of The Gambia has been epitomized in the slogan “Go Discover… The Smiling Coast of Africa”. Finally, I can assure you that whether you are a visitor seeking an exotic holiday or a seasoned traveller yearning for out of the way encounter or that savvy investor and businessman, The Gambia is Yours to Discover! —H.E. Mrs. Naomi Williams, Deputy Head of Mission, Gambia High Commission in New Delhi We would welcome views and comments from Missions at sayantanc@gmail.com
Diplomatic News
O
mLCT 2018
n Thursday, December 13, 2018, the inauguration and the award ceremony of the Photo Exhibition “My Latin American and Caribbean Trip 2018”, took place at the India Habitat Center. This is the third edition of this contest organized by the Group of Embassies and High Commissioners of Latin America and the Caribbean in India under the coordination of the Embassy of Ecuador. This year the collaboration was with the Delhi Photography Club. In this edition there were more than 100 photographs and three winners were chosen. Hemant Puri, Garima Pant and Sunanda Arora whose photos were taken in the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Costa Rica took the first, second and third place respectively. Also photos of 15 countries are on display. They are Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, 26 india empire | december 2018
Nicaragua, Belize, Peru, Bolivia, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. The exhibition will remain open until January 12, 2019.
DiPlomatic interview
Interview with Mr. Mohammad Khairullah Azad Charge D’Affaires, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
“indian pm has reiterated support to the people of afghanistan” Mr Mohammad Khairullah Azad, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, responded to questions from India Empire Magazine on a gamut of bilateral subjects and the upswing in Indo-Afghan relations
Recently under the Indo-China joint cooperation, a training programme of diplomats from Afghanistan was launched. Please take us through this. Well, in a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit at the coastal city Qingdao in July this year, Shri Prime Minister Modi and Xi Jinping agreed to jointly carry out certain projects in Afghanistan. Later on, the joint capacity building program for Afghan diplomats was put forward by the Institute of Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, to India and China. The first part of the said program was held in India for ten Afghan Diplomats from 15-25 October 2018 and the remaining of the program was held from 1525 November in Beijing, China. This program was hailed by the Afghan government and it is expected to usher in an era of cooperation between India and china in Afghanistan. Please take us through the recent high-level visits that have taken place between the two countries. On September 19, H.E, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at the invitation of Shri Prime Minister Modi paid a one-day official visit to India. During his visit he held talks with Prime Minister Modi on a host of issues of mutual interest, pertinent to regional security, bilateral trade, defense and military, renewable energy and development projects. PM Modi restated India’s support to the people of Afghanistan in various areas. Particularly, in areas such as construction of Shahtoot Dam, irrigation canals, solar energy, potable water
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pumps, implementation of rural development projects and food processing. What kind of advantages will be there as a result of the Kabul-Kolkata air cargo? Kabul-Kolkata air cargo began its operation in September this year. The Afghanistan-India air cargo programme which commenced in 2017 expanded its footprint to New Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar and now connecting to Kolkata. The consistent trajectory of Afghanistan-India air connectivity is expectantly will be a defining ingredient for boosting trade and creating wider market for Afghan goods. Afghanistan has trade linkages with Kolkata since ages. The Kabul-Kolkata air cargo connectivity will serve as a gateway to reach Afghan products to north-eastern India and expanding to Bangladesh. In a recent development SpiceJet signed a MoU with Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) freighting to transport 1500 tons of cargo every month under this MoU. Spice jet has freighted its services to Afghanistan in October. ‘Kabuliwala’ Novel is the mirror of Afghanistan’s connection with Kolkata is exemplary since decades. Around 5,000 Afghan refugees are staying in Kolkata. What has been the position with regard to the bilateral trade-both in terms of exports from Afghanistan to India and imports from India to Afghanistan? Bilateral trade between Afghanistan and India is witnessing remarkable increase of more than 900 million USD,
Mr. Mohammad Khairullah Azad, Charge D’Affaires, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
targeting for USD 2 billion in the prospective years to come. India’s main export items to Afghanistan are textiles, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, iron & steel and electrical machinery, while its imports from Afghanistan are fresh and dried fruits and nuts, gums, resins, and spices. India and Afghanistan hold very good economic and social relationship with each other. Afghanistan and India will be benefited in the years to come that will bring added value to the efforts invested by Afghanistan to further boost the economic ties of Afghanistan and India. What kind of investment interests have been shown by Indian businesses in Afghanistan in recent years? Afghanistan-India has multi-di-
Kabul-Kolkata air cargo began its operation in September this year. The afghanistanindia air cargo programme which commenced in 2017 expanded its footprint to new Delhi, mumbai, amritsar and now connecting to Kolkata
mensional approach in conducting trade and business. The bilateral trade between India-Afghanistan is more than USD900 million with India’s exports to Afghanistan being USD377.2 million and imports from Afghanistan worth USD212.9 million. The important investment interests of India in Afghanistan are energy, pharmaceuticals, health and construction industry. Notable progress of India-assisted development projects in Afghanistan that includes the Afghan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam), DoshiCharikkar Power sub-stations, Stor Palace, construction of Afghanistan parliament building, completion of first phase of Chabahar port and supply of 1.1 million tons of wheat have witnessed catalytic opportunities between India and Afghanistan. ❐
december 2018 | india empire 29
DiPlomatic news
INVESTMENT
Saudis keen to invest in Indian food sector: Envoy
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H.E. Mr Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (extreme right) called on Karnataka Chief Minister Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy
audi Arabia was keen to invest in the Indian food about 8 lakh Indians to visit our country this year as against sector as India was one of the largest exporters 5 lakh last year,” said the ambassador. Calling upon India Inc of grains and vegetables to the desert kingdom, to explore business opportunities in his country, the envoy its ambassador to India Saud bin Mohammed told the Karnataka members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) apex body to invest in the education and Al-Sati said in December. IT sectors to benefit the 3 million Indian “We are looking to invest in the Inexpats in the kingdom. dian food sector, particularly in packagHydrolines Chief Executive R.P. ing, storage and transportation, as India Projecting a 10 per Nair said IT, IT-enabled services, pharis one of the largest exporters of food cent increase in maceuticals, life sciences, manufacturing, grains and vegetables to our kingdom,” bilateral trade power, energy, transport and logistics, Sati told an interactive session with food processing and beverage, infraIndia Inc here. between the two structure and construction, plastics and In view of the 30 per cent wastage in countries this polymers chemicals and automotive the Indian farm sector due to bottlenecks fiscal (2018-19) were the key sectors for trade between in storage, packaging and transportation, from $27.5 the two countries. the envoy said investment by Saudi Ara“As relations between the two counbia would benefit both the countries. billion last tries were robust and vibrant, there is Projecting a 10 per cent increase in fiscal (2017-18) huge potential to expand the cooperation bilateral trade between the two countries in unexplored areas. India can be a strong this fiscal (2018-19) from $27.5 billion partner in Saudi Arabia’s expansion process,” added Nair. last fiscal (2017-18), Ambassador Sati said there was imEarlier, the Ambassador called on Karnataka Chief mense scope to boost it further by investing in agriculture, Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at the state Secretariat in the chemicals, fertilizers and tourism. “There is a great potential for tourism as we are reduc- city centre along with former Minister and Congress leging our dependency on petroleum oil. We are expecting islator Roshan Baig. ❐ 30 india empire | december 2018
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amazon india signs mou Amazon’s Indian arm in December signed an MoU with the Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME) to support sellers in the segment under which the e-commerce major would provide the platform and logistics, while FISME would provide support in the area of policy and regulations. Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Amazon India, in collaboration with FISME, will conduct various events and workshops across the country in order to encourage MSMEs to sell their products to consumers from India and overseas by leveraging e-commerce marketplace solutions. “Through these events, Amazon.in and FISME aim to educate MSMEs about online selling domestically and also B2C (business-to-customer) exports to enable them to sell across multiple international locations,” an Amazon release said. “As per this understanding, Amazon will take care of the platform and the logistics needs, while FISME will work on the policy areas,” FISME Secretary General Anil Bhardwaj said at the MoU signing ceremony. “Partnership with Amazon India gives us the opportunity to use our extensive network for the development of Indian MSMEs. Through this partnership, we aim to empower our members and partner associations on various trade related opportunities that are present in the market,” he added. Through the collaboration, while MSMEs will get access to experts from Amazon, FISME will help them understand the procedures and requirements in areas such as logistics, cataloging, imaging, taxation, and will guide them through the entire process of selling through the e-commerce route, the statement said. Amazon India has also announced a dedicated sale day
for MSMEs on December 16. “We wanted to make sure that small and medium businesses are taking advantage. These are unique products with good ratings. Based on our initial enrollment, thousands of sellers are already participating in this sale,” Amazon India Seller Services Director Gopal Pillai said. He also said that the e-commerce platform has over 4 lakh sellers in India of which 3.5 lakhs are small and medium sellers. Speaking on the occasion Arun Kumar Panda, Secretary in the MSME Ministry, said that this segment “actually addresses the problem of regional imbalance in India because they are spread everywhere”. He also said simplifying of procedures had resulted in ensuring an MSME registration takes between 3-5 minutes and that 56 lakh such enterprises were already registered with the ministry.
manufacturing lifts india’s october industrial output Higher production in the manufacAmong the six use-based classificaturing sector, especially of capital goods tion groups, the output of primary goods and consumer durables, accelerated the which has the highest weightage of 34.04 growth of India’s industrial output to 8.1 grew by 6 per cent. The output of interper cent in October from a rise of 4.46 mediate goods, which has the second per cent in September and 1.8 per cent highest weightage, inched up by 1.8 per during the corresponding period of the cent. Similarly, the output of consumer previous fiscal, official data has shown. non-durables rose during the month by “The cumulative growth for the pe7.9 per cent and that of consumer riod April-October 2018 over the corredurables by 17.6 per cent. sponding period of the previous year In addition, infrastructure or constands at 5.6 per cent,” the ‘Quick Estistruction goods output increased by 8.7 Ms Aditi Nayar mates’ of IIP released by the Ministry of per cent and capital goods by 16.8 per cent. “The considerable uptick in indusStatistics and Programme Implementation said. On a YoY (year-on-year) basis, the manufacturing trial growth in October 2018, which is somewhat sharper sector’s output expanded at 7.9 per cent, while mining pro- than expected, reflects the impact of inventory adjustment duction edged-up by 7 per cent and the sub-index of elec- to the later start to the festive season and a favourable base effect,” said Aditi Nayar, Principal economist, ICRA. tricity generation increased by 10.8 per cent.
32 india empire | december 2018
business and governance
Witnessing double-digit growth in India for past 3 years: Oracle By Krishna Sinha Chaudhury
Mr Shaakun Khanna
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loud major Oracle, which is seeing high demand in the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), telecom and manufacturing sectors in India, has witnessed double-digit growth in the country for the past three years, a top company executive has said. Start-ups and small and medium businesses (SMBs) are fast adopting Oracle’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) in the country. “We are seeing double-digit growth (on an average) in the country. In fact, that’s both in our NetSuite business as well as our enterprise business. The India Cloud business is really booming. Overall, the double-digit growth has been there for the last three years in the country, which has been the best-performing region in the AsiaPacific for us,” Shaakun Khanna, India SaaS GTM Lead, Oracle, told IANS in an interview. The company competes with major Cloud players like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure and provides services such as SaaS, Platform-as-aService (PaaS) and Data-as-a-Service (DaaS). According to Oracle, as a corporation, the firm is on track to become the top SaaS company in the world. The company offers innovative and proven Cloud suite of SaaS applications that enable customers to transform their business with the latest intelligent technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). “From a perspective of completeness of our enterprise applications, there’s no one who can compare with us. So, that’s pretty much our objective and vision in India as well,” Khanna added. According to the company, going “au-
tonomous” gave it an edge over rivals in the country. Larry Ellison, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Oracle, in October unveiled the second generation Oracle Cloud with autonomous capabilities, improved security and upgrades for enterprises at the company’s annual user conference “Oracle Open World 2018” in San Francisco. According to Khanna, autonomous is probably the biggest thing because, with autonomous, the ability to engage technologies like AI, ML, UI-UX, is there. “I think the other advantage is our diversity, because if you look at it, we are the only company of our stature in the world that has everything—it’s not just the applications that are ours, the hardware, the infrastructure, the database, everything is Oracle,” Khanna noted. The Oracle Autonomous Database now has the capability to automatically scan for security threats and apply security updates while running to help prevent cyberattacks and data theft. “If you look at the way Oracle built its first set of Cloud infrastructure is very similar to how Google built it, how Amazon built it, how Microsoft built it, almost everyone built it and we are doing exactly the same. “Larry and the other founders who started Oracle—they were working for a CIA project and then they came out and started Oracle. So we understand security from our DNA,” said Mitesh Agarwal, Vice President, Key Accounts, Oracle India. “Almost all of our competitors have never managed to move an enterprise workload to the Cloud—not a single one of them. They all have peripheral applications that have moved to the Cloud. That’s still only about 5-6 per cent of the workloads in the world,” Agarwal informed. ❐ december 2018 | india empire 33
business and governance
Ease of Doing Business
Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi chairing a high-level meeting to review the progress with regard to “Ease of Doing Business”, in New Delhi on December 13, 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December chaired a meeting to review progress on “Ease of Doing Business” that discussed issues such as construction permits, enforcement of contracts and registering property. Mr Modi said that improving last-mile delivery and streamlining procedures would not only improve Ease of Doing Business rankings but also increase the “Ease of Living” for small businesses and the common man. He said there was tremendous global interest about the rise in India’s “Ease of Doing Business” rankings. Mr Modi was briefed on progress being made on various aspects related to Ease of Doing Business.
“Subjects such as construction permits, enforcement of contracts, registering property, starting a business, getting electricity, getting credit and resolving insolvency came up for discussion,” a press release said. India has moved from 142 to 77 in World Bank “Ease of Doing Business” rankings in the last four years. Officials explained that the steps are being taken to plug shortcomings and resolve bottlenecks in implementing business reforms. The meeting was attended by senior union ministers related to economic matters, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and senior officials from the Central, Maharashtra and Delhi governments.
Ericsson opens global facility in Bengaluru Swedish networking and telecom major Ericsson in December said it had opened a global Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerator in this tech hub for research and development (R&D) in AI and Automation. “The new facility will accelerate our execution strategy by leveraging AI and Automation technologies to create data driven, intelligent and robust systems for automation, evolution and growth,” said the company in a statement in Bengaluru. The Bengaluru facility will create 150 jobs for data scientists, engineers, Machine Learning (ML) and AI architects and software developers in 2019. “The accelerator in Bengaluru is a testament to our commitment to India, the rich talent pool and the vibrant ecosystem in the country,” said Ericsson R&D Bengaluru head Sanjeev Tyagi. The facility has been set up as a central unit to speed up projects in the company’s four business areas and customer projects in five market areas. The Stockholm-based telco had set up a similar facility in Sweden and the US early in 2018. Many projects are underway to bring in AI and Automation capabilities to the company’s products in business areas. The results so far demonstrated the potential that intelligent leveraging of 34 india empire | december 2018
data can bring in telecom. “With the advent of 5G and IoT (Internet of Things), we foresee a huge potential ways in which networks will be used, as traditional methods of managing and running networks will no longer scale,” said Tyagi on the occasion. As AI/ML driven automation will be needed to manage networks, the data-centric technologies open up the potential to tap new revenue generating opportunities and business models for the telecom service providers.
business and governance
Vivo announces Rs 4,000 crore investment
Mr. Nipun Marya, Director-Brand Strategy, Vivo India (extreme right) presenting bouquet to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mr Yogi Adityanath (extreme left)
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hinese smartphone maker Vivo in December announced an additional investment of Rs 4,000 crore over a period of four years for opening a new manufacturing plant on the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh that will generate 5,000 jobs in its first phase of expansion. The new 169-acre land has been acquired near the existing 50-acre manufacturing facility that will help expand Vivo’s manufacturing capabilities and support its continued growth in the country, the company said in a statement. The Rs 4,000-crore investment, which does not include the cost of the land, will also spur job opportunities in the region, added Vivo that entered India in 2014. “India is a key market for us, and today we have reiterated our commitment by entering the next phase of growth in India. We’re proud that the new plant will offer a major benefit to the surrounding area through high-quality job creation and training opportunities,” said Nipun Marya, Director-Brand Strategy, Vivo India. According to the company, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the initiative and congratulated it. Currently, all Vivo smartphones sold in the country are being manufactured at the Greater Noida facility, which is one of Vivo’s four manufacturing factories globally. The existing manufacturing set-up, which saw an investment of Rs 300 crore, produces two million units a month, with more than 5,000 people at work. With the new facility, Vivo aims to double the current
production capacity to 50 million units per annum. This is the second big-ticket investment from a global smartphone maker in Uttar Pradesh. In 2017, Samsung announced that it would invest Rs 4,915 crore to double its manufacturing capacity for smartphones and refrigerators at its Noida plant. The South Korean giant in July set up one of the world’s largest mobile manufacturing facilities in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. When it comes to Vivo, the company was third with 10 per cent market share in India, after Xiaomi and Samsung, in the third quarter this year. Vivo performed exceedingly well in offline channels, said Counterpoint Research. Marya told IANS in a recent interview that in terms of value, Vivo is the leader in the Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000 segment and overall No. 2 in the Indian smartphone market for the past 18 months. According to him, the brand awareness of Vivo, which bagged the title sponsorship for five consecutive sessions of Indian Premier League (IPL) starting this year with a whopping Rs 2,199 crore bid, is 100 per cent. There are currently more than 70,000 retailers in India where Vivo phones are available and the company has more than 200 exclusive stores and two experience centres. “When we entered India, we were very clear that we wanted to build a very strong foundation here. And four years after entering the Indian market, we stay totally committed to the country,” he said. ❐ december 2018 | india empire 35
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ola to invest $100 mn in Vogo scooter-sharing start-up India’s leading cab-hailing platform Ola in December announced investing $100 million (Rs 711-crore) in scooter-sharing start-up Vogo. “As part of the partnership, Ola will boost Vogo’s supply by investing in 100,000 scooters on Vogo platform worth $100 million,” the city-based ridesharing app said in a statement. Ola, however, did not disclose the source of its investment. Vogo’s scooter-sharing facility will soon be available from Ola app, the company said. Bengaluru-based Vogo is a pointto-point ‘dockless’ scooter-sharing company, operating in the Karnataka capital and Hyderabad. Vogo app allows users to pick up and drop off scooters, which are equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) device that allows access to the key through a one-time-password, thereby eliminating the need for human intervention. The capital infusion will give Vogo a supply advantage without having to incur significant capital expenditure, Ola said. “Our investment in Vogo will help build a smart
multi-modal network for first-last mile connectivity in the country,” Ola’s Chief Executive Bhavish Aggarwal said in the statement. Vogo had raised $7 million Series A funding from Ola, Matrix Partners India and Stellaris Venture Partners in April. Founded in 2016, Vogo claims to have had 100,000 users renting scooters for short commutes from over 200 locations in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
essex india to expand operations to more cities Essex India, a Hyderabad-based nancial assistance through all major prop-tech company, aiming to disrupt banks. The company will be charging home-buying and selling process in resi3 to 5 per cent commission from the dential real estate market, plans to exdevelopers. It aims to capture 5 per pand its operations to four cities in next cent of the marketing and sales opsix months. Essex, incubated out of portunity estimated at Rs 30,000 crore. Way2online, a leading marketing techRaju Vanapala, Way2online Foundernology and data-driven company, is lookCEO, told IANS that there are plenty ing to expand operations to Delhi-NCR, of gaps in real state. Small-time and mid-range developMumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. ers do not have marketing team and Nirbhay Taneja, Co-Founder and marketing budget, leading to problems CEO, Essex, told reporters in Hyderin liquidating their property. There is an abad that by December 2019 they plan Mr Nirbhay Taneja estimated Rs 4.5 lakh crore unsold to have presence in eight major cities in property in top eight cities in the counthe country. The company using its intry. “Imagine marketing spend of these players. 7-8 per cent novative technology solutions will address real estate-related of this comes to Rs 30,000 crore and our whole intent is to vertical issues, helping developers to liquidate properties in access this large market.” As real estate is second-largest revshort time. It also wants to standardise operations and take enue generator for Way2Online and the company is sitting care of trust-related issues from buyer’s perspective. The CEO said for buyers they would offer free services on huge consumer data, it decided to foray into the business, including legal diligence, document related services and fi- addressing the gaps with its innovative technology solutions. 36 india empire | december 2018
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Trade irritants with Turkey to be resolved soon: Minister Prabhu Mr Suresh Prabhu
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rritants in India’s trade with Turkey will soon be removed, and efforts are being made to address the issue of Turkey’s trade deficit with India, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu said in December. Addressing the India-Turkey Business Forum here organised by industry chamber Ficci, Prabhu said as part of improving trade relations with Turkey, the Indian Finance Ministry was also looking at a proposal from that country on allowing bilateral trade to be carried out in local currency. “We have discussed all issues and we will resolve those so as to promote trade and investments between the two countries,” Prabhu said following a meeting here with visiting Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan. “A proposal to trade in local currencies is now being discussed in the Finance Ministry and we are hopeful that this would be dealt with soon,” he said. On the issue of their trade deficit with India raised by Turkey, Prabhu said that bilateral business relations would have to be made sustainable. “We cannot just export, we have to import from Turkey too,” he said. Prabhu said discussions with his Turkish counterpart
revolved around issues such as setting up of banking facilities in both countries, tapping of construction opportunities in India, and increasing Turkish commodity exports to India of products like boric acid and poppy seeds. Earlier this year, the Indian Cabinet approved an agreement between both countries to ensure quick and transparent processing of poppy seed imports from Turkey. Prabhu also said he is slated to visit Turkey as the head of a business delegation in February 2019. Speaking on the occasion, Pekcan noted the bilateral trade volume last year was $7 billion and going by the data of the first 11 months, the figure is all set to reach $8 billion mark next year. “Turkey would like the figures to be much higher along with balanced trade,” she said. The Turkish Minister expressed hope that issues such as nonacceptance of Turkey’s letters of credit and the absence of a correspondent bank in India would be resolved before Prabhu’s forthcoming visit to Turkey. Turkey continues to remain excluded from India’s liberalised visa regime, with e-visa facilities having already been granted to over 160 countries. ❐ december 2018 | india empire 37
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Telangana’s revenue growth highest in world: KCR royalty from Singareni coal company, fiTelangana’s revenue growth is the nancial discipline, prudence, proper tax highest in the world, claimed Chief Mincollection, lack of corruption and efister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in Decemfective functioning of Finance Ministry. ber. He told reporters Telangana He dismissed the allegations by opachieved nearly 30 per cent growth rate position parties that he landed the state in the state’s own tax revenue collections in huge debts. “We know how to take during the current financial year up to loans and how to repay,” he said adding November. “No state in the country and that the loans were taken to complete irno country on the globe has this sort of rigation projects. The TRS chief said Rs growth,” said KCR, who led his Telan70,000 crore were still required to comgana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to a replete all irrigation projects to achieve sounding victory in the elections held on Mr K. Chandrashekhar Rao the goal of irrigating one crore acres of December 7. land. The collections up to November KCR said Telangana’s revenues and expenditure would amounted to Rs 44,183 crore whereas during the same pereach Rs 10 lakh crore by 2024. During the five year period riod in 2017-18, it was Rs 33,995 crore. Telangana has been consistently achieving an average revenue growth rate the state can repay Rs 2.40 lakh crore loans and this will of 17.17 per cent during the last four financial years. KCR make the state eligible to get another Rs 1.30 lakh crore, he said the state could achieve this growth due to increase in explained.
WoW air launches india-iceland flights
Diaspora remits $80 billion
Icelandic low-cost, longhaul airline WOW air in December launched its flight from New Delhi to ReykjavikKeflavik Airport in Iceland. The inaugural flight was flagged off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) earlier in the day. According to the airline, it will operate three weekly flights from New Delhi, conMs Kiran Jain, MD, WOW Air necting passengers to North America and Europe through its hub in Iceland. The ultra-low fares reflect the need for affordable travel from India to transatlantic destinations. It also gives an opportunity for Iceland to open up to the world and as a tourist destination to Indian travellers, said Kiran Jain, Managing Director of WOW air. “Staying true to our mission of enabling everyone to fly by offering reasonably low fares to our destinations, we are hopeful that more people will have an opportunity to fly around the world,” Jain said. At present, the airline has four fare options including “WOW basic, WOW plus, WOW comfy and WOW premium”. Besides its New Delhi-Reykjavik flight, the airline serves a number of destinations from New Delhi including Chicago, Orlando, New York, Detroit, Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Washington DC in the US; Toronto and Montreal in Canada.
India is expected to receive a total remittance of $80 billion in 2018, said the latest edition of the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief, released in December. “Among major remittance recipients, India retains its top spot, with remittances expected to total $80 billion this year, followed by China ($67 billion), Mexico and the Philippines ($34 billion each), and Egypt ($26 billion),” the brief said. “As global growth is projected to moderate, future remittances to low and middle-income countries are expected to grow moderately by 4 per cent to reach $549 billion in 2019. Global remittances are expected to grow 3.7 per cent to $715 billion in 2019.” According to the brief, remittance flows rose in all regions and was driven by a stronger economy and employment situation in the US and a rebound in outward flows from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Russian Federation.
38 india empire | december 2018
UNION MINISTERS INTERVIEWED BY
Mr Nitin Gadkari Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and Shipping
Mr Dharmendra Pradhan When Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Mr Ananth Kumar Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers
Mr Anant Gangaram Geete Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Sector Enterprises
Mr Chaudhary Birender Singh Minister for Steel
Ms Smriti Irani When Minister for Human Resource Development
Mr Radha Mohan Singh Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Mr Narendra Singh Tomar When Minister for Steel and Mines
Mr Ram Vilas Paswan Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Ms Uma Bharti When Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
Mr Thawar Chand Gehlot Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment
Mrs Sushma Swaraj Minister for External Affairs and Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs
Mr Shripad Y Naik Minister of State (IC), AYUSH
Mr VIjay Goel When Minister of State (IC) for Youth Affairs and Sports
Mr Babul Supriyo Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
Mr Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Ex) Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (IC)
PiCtures BY: siPrA DAs
(May 2014 onwards)