India Empire March 2014

CONTENTS

march 2014

CULTURAL AMBASSADOR ................... 15 Dr Karan Singh speaks on India’s rich heritage EY REPORT .............................................. 07 A look at India as an investment destination ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST ................ 24 An interview with NRI Chaitanya Kalevar

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LANGUAGE OF THE CANVAS ............... 35 Inside an art fair BJP AND NRIS ......................................... 38 Active interactions overseas

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investing in india

INVESTMENT Overseas investors are waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the national elections. For the investor, stability and an enabling environment are key decision-making factors. From indications already coming in, several investors are poised to engage vigorously with new state Governments and the central Government in terms of investments across sectors. After all, India with its solid domestic market, educated workforce and competitive labour costs is no doubt an attractive investment destination. The consumer products, industrials, technology, media and telecom (TIMT) and life-sciences sectors are set to drive India’s growth over the next two years.

In the coming pages find excerpts from the India Attractiveness Survey, prepared by Ernst and Young and shared with Invest India and FICCI. In January 2014, India Empire had partnered Invest India and FICCI to put together a day long investment summit known as the Global Indian Business Conference.

The findings of the survey, no doubt, will be useful to those readers who are looking for pointers on investment

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Cover story—dr Karan singh

Dr Karan Singh President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations

INDIA’S CULTURAL

AMBASSADOR “Philosophers must become kings … or those now called kings must genuinely and adequately philosophize…”

—Plato in The Republic Dr Karan Singh is the king that turned philosopher.

He was born into royalty in 1931 and crowned over the years with myriad high titles that mortal men would find it impossible to acquire over many lifetimes. He is an engaging communicator and world figure on Hinduism in its deepest and most universal form, a learned philosopher with knowledge and understanding of other great faiths. Born a Yuvraj (Prince), he may have held a regal title and numerous top administrative and academic positions in India and abroad, but it is through his brilliant acuity, philosophical mind, and breathtaking oratory skills that he has come to hold sway over audiences around the world.

Today, he is the president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, an organization that is tasked to spread India’s ancient culture and civilizational heritage into the far and near corners of the earth.

He was born into the ruling family of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, arguably the largest of over five hundred native states within the British empire at the time.

In 1949, at the age of eighteen, he was appointed Regent of Jammu and Kashmir. He graduated from the Jammu and Kashmir University while holding the position of Chancellor in that very university, a unique moment in Indian academic history that is yet to be repeated. He earned his masters degree and doctorate from the Delhi University while continuing to remain the Chancellor of the Jammu and Kashmir University. Later in life he was to become Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Benares Hindu University, positions he held for many years.

For 18 years since his coronation, he continued to serve in various capacities— Regent, Sadar-i-Riyasat (President) and Governor—all in Jammu and Kashmir. In 1967, he was inducted into the Union Cabinet by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Only 36 then, Dr Karan Singh became the youngest to become a Central cabinet minister in India. He won several Lok Sabha elections thereafter and continued to remain politically active for a very long time, including a short stint as India’s ambassador to the USA in 1989 – 1990.

He’s also been president of the India International Centre and is chairman of the Auroville Foundation at Auroville, having earlier completed his doctorate on Sri Aurobindo. To this day, he remains a colossal intellectual, a poet, a writer, an author, a singer, a musician, and India’s Cultural Ambassador.

He spoke at length to India Empire’s Editor and Publisher Sayantan Chakravarty at his residence March 2014 | india eMpire 15

Cover story—dr Karan singh

At the launch of the 130th Commonwealth Essay Competition

16 india eMpire | March 2014

“Value education is missing in the country, our youth needs it” While India’s diasporic policies are focused on two main segments, i.e. the descendants of the indentured workers and the modern day emigrants, another segment is somewhat overlooked. You’ve often spoken about the ancient migrations to the South East Asian countries as a “powerful cultural force”. Is it time to engage on that front as well?

I was speaking really about the age old relationships between India and South East Asia which went through merchants, monks, travelers, and essentially through Hinduism and Buddhism. They spread entirely peacefully, there was never any conquest. It was never like some civilizations had imposed their faith through conquests, particularly the western civilization. Not so for India. The entire South East Asia was culturally enhanced as it were by India. So you see the Hindu-Buddhist temples in the Ankor Wat (Cambodia). The largest place of worship in the entire world is a Hindu Temple. You have Borobudur, three Prambanan temples in Java, and even though it is a Muslim majority state, the temples have been very well maintained. Across Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka you have very strong influences of Hinduism and Buddhism. I am not too sure whether you can call it a part of the diaspora, to my mind it is a slightly different event, one that spread over 1,000 years. Nalanda as you know was the greatest centre of learning for 600 years----from the 7th century to the 12th - 13th century when the wretched Bakhtiar Khilji burnt it to the ground. So for around 700 years, people from all over the world came to Nalanda, to Takshashila, into Vikramshila.

So India was a great centre of learning and there were many spheres. Not only philosophy, they taught mathematics, they taught architecture, hence all the architectural marvels that you see in the region, a lot of them have Indian origin. So I am not in any way trying to denigrate any of the indigenous arts and the indigenous genius, but I can claim that the Indian culture impregnated, and mixed with the local culture in such a way that it was extraordinary. In a way you can call it the efforts of a diaspora, but I

Dr Karan Singh with President Pranab Mukherjee

am not very sure how many people actually went out and settled there, or whether people went out there, influenced them, and came back. It is a fascinating field, for example the language—Sanskrit has had its influence all over South and South East Asia.

But when we talk of the diaspora in modern terms, I’d say there are three categories. One like you said is the indentured labour, the Girmitiyas as they are called, they went to Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, Mauritius, Fiji and also to Reunion Islands. They first went there as labourers and rose to become prime ministers and presidents of their countries, amazing March 2014 | india eMpire 17

Cover story—dr Karan singh

In his study at his residence

achievements. And then in between I think, immediately after the war, there was, shall we say, a low-tech migration.

There were jobs for becoming waiters, window washers, jobs at a not very high technical level. And there was the real glory of our diaspora which was the high-tech period, and they have done extraordinarily well. I was in America, as ambassador, and I went to visit NASA and I found 600 Indians working there. More south Indians, as they are well versed in mathematics and science. Indians have excelled in law, finance, medicine, in nuclear science, Indian doctors are at a top, and they’ve been there not through any reservation, but they’ve been there through some very stiff, competitive situations. So those are the 3 main groups.

Then there are other forms of emigration which do not feature prominently in our current diasporic engagements, such as the ones involving gypsies like the Roma community, or even the Tamils who settled in Sri Lanka…

There you are right. They represent yet another dimension of diasporic movement. In Sri Lanka, both the Sinhalese and Tamils went from India. None is indigenous.

Sinhalese arrived from Odisha, Tamils from Tamil Nadu.

The gypsies, on the other hand, are a fascinating story. They believe they originated in Gujarat and Rajasthan, because 18 india eMpire | March 2014

of their music, the garba culture or the banjara culture. They have been treated very badly. The Nazis tried to eliminate them. But they still are carrying on, particularly in Hungary.

In fact I received a letter from someone saying that their rights should be protected, because they originally came from India.

Now I don’t know if we can take on the responsibility of looking after the gypsies. But what we can do is to speak to the Government. Whenever I meet someone from Hungary, the first question I ask is “how are the gypsies?”, primarily because they are still on the peripheries of society and they have not been looked upon with any great favour.

Perhaps because of their lifestyle, they do not fit into the mainstream since they are not Europeans. But whether they have achieved enough cohesion to be recognized as a separate unit, I don’t really know. That would be important if they really want recognition.

Our current diasporic engagement does not involve interactions with the Romas, unfortunately because we have somehow been reluctant to take upon ourselves the responsibility of opening up dialogues on that front. Let me put it this way, we should have a change of heart. We should do more for the Romas, than we have done.

In 1949, relations between Sheikh Abdullah and

“

My only grouse is that the Government of India is not doing enough to support culture. The Chinese are spending vast sums of money on the Confucius Centres around the world, which ostensibly teach Chinese. And here you are scratching for money. India is not giving priority to soft power like it should be.

Otherwise we are doing whatever we can. I think in the last 6 – 7 years we have put ICCR on the map. A lot of hard work has gone into doing that. Today ICCR has become a brand name

your father, Maharaja Hari Singh, had become estranged. Sheikh Abdullah had also insisted that your mother leave the state of Jammu and Kashmir since she was actively helping tens of thousands of refugees that were streaming into Jammu from areas occupied by Pakistani incursion. When you look back at the state were you were regent, where do things stand today?

Today the whole situation has become very different. In 1949, we had just come out of the trauma of partition on one hand, the tribal invasion and accession on the other.

Do not forget something that people do not quite realize, the concept of a plebiscite was very much in the air. It was based on what the United Nations said. People have forgotten that a plebiscite administrator, Admiral Chester Nimitz of the US Navy, was appointed, and Sheikh Abdullah was the one who believed was going to win the plebiscite for us, so he could have his way. He was against the Dogra community and finally he got his opportunity to get even with Maharaja Hari Singh. If you read my autobiography, I was in a way torn between my father and Jawaharlal Nehru.

But I followed Jawaharlal Nehru because I realized that we were moving from feudalism to democracy, and that my life could no longer be linked to a feudal system. I wanted to be part of what Jawaharlal called “the exciting adventure of

”

building a new India.” I opted for public life. My father, of course, wasn’t terribly happy about it. But it’s a decision I’ve never regretted. During the last 65 years, I’ve been in public life. I think I’ve been able to make some contribution as a cultural person.

Well, you are India’s Cultural Ambassador…

That’s because I took the decision of joining the mainstream. Had I gone away with my father to Mumbai, I’d have spent the rest of my life at the race course. I graduated from the university of which I was chancellor—the Jammu and Kashmir University, perhaps the only time in history such a thing has happened. Then after I graduated, I said I wanted to study more. I had this desire to do my MA but I said I do not want to do so from the same place because people would say that I was doing it from the same university where I was a chancellor. I said I wanted to go to Delhi. C D Deshmukh was the vice chancellor. By then I was an elected Sadar-i-Riyasat. Monarchy had been abolished under the new constitution of J and K and I was no longer a regent. So I could not take lectures. What to do?

So Delhi University changed their statutes to say that if the chancellor of a sister university wishes to take a degree, he or she can be recused from actually attending classes, even though they’d have to come down and take the examinaMarch 2014 | india eMpire 19

Cover story—dr Karan singh

Words flowing with eloquence

tions. It was very kind of them to do that. I studied very hard. I think I did rather well, I still have a University record. Then I went on to do my PhD on the political thought of Sri Aurobindo. My wife incidentally was also studying along with me, Hindi. So we were growing up together, when we were married I was 19, she was 13. And she left in the 60th year of our wedding.

The nation found you were the best man to head the Auroville Foundation, a task that could be handled by someone who was extremely sensitive to world cultures and had a global vision…

I am chairman of the Auroville Foundation, set up by an act of Parliament. It is an extraordinary international, interracial and multi-linguistic world at Auroville. There was a conflict there at one point between those who set it up—the Aurobindo Society, and the Aurovilleans who lived there.

Tensions were high, so I said in Parliament that it was too important for Auroville to be left to them. I urged the Government to come out with a bill. As it turned out, they did come out with a bill and it was passed by both houses of Parliament. It was a time when the Chandrasekhar Government was in power, and so they asked me to become the first chairman. To the day, with a break of about 2 – 3 years, I’ve been its chairman. It is a very interesting experiment.

The India Forum that you oversee seeks to ignite within the country a “Cultural Revolution" that will at20 india eMpire | March 2014

tempt to translate the glowing visions of a resurgent India, which was so brilliantly articulated by seers like Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo, into a reality.

This can be achieved only through a process of education and awakening among all the citizens of the country. Please talk us through the awakening that you have in mind…

It is a great deprivation that we have totally abandoned any contact with our cultural heritage in our education system, because the constitution prevents us from religious teachings. My point is that you can abstract great concepts from all the major religions, and at least introduce the young people to them. Today you can go through the whole education system from pre-kindergarten to postdoctorate without once having even heard of the Upanishads, the greatest works of philosophy I think in the world. The only other work of philosophy that comes close is the Socratic Dialogues, because they are dialogues.

We are not a revelatory civilization, we are a dialogic civilization. Upanishad is a dialogue. Gita is a dialogue. Lord Buddha had dialogues with his disciples. Lord Mahavir did the same. How we do it. Simple values like respect to elders, punctuality, cleanliness, discipline. These are not Hindu values or Christian values, these are values. There is no value education in our country. And the Hindus particularly, we have such a rich background, which at least the young Hindus today should know.

It has to come under the guise of value education. We

Cover story—dr Karan singh

With a cultural group used to have moral science in the old days, and today there are no morals left, and we are sinking in a whole morass of corruption. Corruption is destroying our polity, it is destroying our economy, our society. I think there are still some human values that are essential. I was a member of the UNESCO International Commission on Education for the 21st century chaired by Jacques Delors, the eighth president of the European commission, and we came out with a very interesting report—Learning: The Treasure Within, a very Eastern sort of view point. Each one of our greats had their own systems, Gandhiji had Nai Talim, Sri Aurbindo and Mother had Integral Education. Rabindranath Tagore had the Shantiniketan experiment. Krishnamurthy has his own. But none of them have been integrated into our education system.

On the subject of corruption, there is one political party that has declared that every other political party is corrupt and filled with corrupt leaders. Gandhiji’s own grandson, Mr Rajmohan Gandhi has joined this party. Your views…

Rajmohan Gandhi is a senior man. It is quite astonishing that he has joined this party, but he must have seen something. It is a party led by a self-professed anarchist.

Every well meaning person wants to root out corruption, they are not the only one. It is another facet of our democracy, it has become very contentious. There is so much of negative energy now. There are personal attacks galore. I 22 india eMpire | March 2014

was a cabinet minister for 10 years, I never drew one rupee as salary. I did not even take a Government bungalow. I lived in my own house. How can one party claim that every other political person is corrupt?

What is that one defining agenda for the ICCR that you have?

I have been at the helm for quite a long time. I am now coming to the end of my third term. One of the main agendas has been to project India’s multifaceted and multidimensional culture overseas. India has Bharat Natyam, and it has the Bhangra. Both are yet Indian, yet totally different. We also want to promote tribal dance.

We run 5,000 scholarships to promote culture. The whole idea is to project India as a great cultural hub. Whether we become a political superpower or an economic superpower remains to be seen. But we have been, and are, a cultural superpower, partly because the background that we just talked about. My only grouse is that the Government of India is not doing enough to support culture.

The Chinese are spending vast sums of money on the Confucius Centres around the world, which ostensibly teach Chinese. And here you are scratching for money.

India is not giving priority to soft power like it should be.

Otherwise we are doing whatever we can. I think in the last 6 – 7 years we have put ICCR on the map. A lot of hard work has gone into doing that. Today ICCR has become a brand name. ❐

nri environMent aCtivist

“I want to make a difference to the health of the planet” Chaitanya Kalevar, 62 is an Electrical Engineer of Indian origin, based in Canada. He calls himself a “Planetary Patriot” and is active in movements against nuclear energy and climate change. His unique identity and his “quoted t-shirts” is what makes him stand out in a crowd. He is travelling across the world with a vision of spreading the message about the jeopardy of nuclear energy, industrial wastes and climate change. He is a self motivated environmentalist and a lover of mother earth, his upcoming book “Climate change in the Nuclear Age” explains all about him. India Empire’s Assistant Editor Misha Singh talks to Mr Chaitanya Kalevar about his projects and his idea of changing the world You have travelled the world, attending conferences and taking part in protest marches. How do you raise resources for doing so?

Personal sources.

According to you, what is your greatest contribution to the planet?

That I did not work for the nuclear technology industry.

It is a multifaceted answer; It could include my life story (laughs). Well my opposition to the arms race was a high priority during the cold war... recently it has been more of speaking for the environment, animal rights and biodiversity.

Gandhiji said that be the change you wish to see in

“I am smart and committed.

I go on the race with the leaders of the world and ask them to turn back. This is what I do when I see the world going in a wrong direction”

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Mr Chaitanya Kalevar

the world. Do you practice that change?

The times have changed a lot since Gandhiji. When he said those lines the struggles were between the people but today the scenario is different. I am standing up for animal rights and environmental change against the people, it is a struggle between the biodiversity and humans. When Gandhiji died in the late 50’s the population of the world was less than 3 billion and the population of India was 300 million and today the population is 7 billion. The thought of species going extinct back then was also unusual but now you have list of endangered and extinct species. I remember of being afraid of being eaten by the tiger as a kid and now am afraid of people eating the tiger.

Mr Chaitanya Kalevar attends the 1st Global Indian Business Conference, seated next to FICCI Secretary General Dr A Didar Singh

Who are your heroes and why?

Heroes come from the past and there are no heroes from the past for me. The future struggle is completely different and we have to make our own new heroes.

A vast majority of the world is urbanizing at a fast pace. Animal slaughter is on the rise. What is your prediction for this planet?

It’s not rosy, that’s for sure. Population control is a big issue, especially in Asia and particularly in India. I have been saying through my T-shirts that India’s population density is two and half of that of China and it houses almost half of the world’s poor. 30 years ago Sanjay Gandhi tried to do something about it but since then I don’t think that any of the political parties in India have even touched the issue.

It’s not long before India will become the most populated country of the world. The Government should do something about it and not hold themselves back because of the religious and cultural issues persisting in the country. It’s time some strong measures should be done to control the multiplying population of the country.

You walk around wearing T-shirt in Delhi while everyone around you is wrapped in woolens… Do you have a mindset of a man who walks on burning coal?

Burning coal is hot… (laughs). It was quiet easy for me since I am use to much colder temperatures.

How many countries in the world have you been to?

I don’t count countries. I think countries are just boundaries in people’s head. I try to be a part of event held any-

where in the world where I can make a difference to the health of the planet.

The issues in Africa are different than say colder climes of Canada. In your forthcoming book, are you going to deal with this diverse range of issues?

My book “Climate Change in the Nuclear Age” largely deals with carbon and uranium related issue. These are two elements out of the many in the periodic table.

You are an engineer and an activist. Please tell us something about yourself…

I am smart and committed. I go on the race with the leaders of the world and ask them to turn back. This is what I do when I see the world going in a wrong direction. Rest you can wait for my autobiography to come because I am sure that I will be writing it very soon.

Did your grandfather inspire you to become an engineer?

No, he did not. He indeed was an engineer but he died when I was 1 year old. All I have heard about him is that he helped build the city of Indore more or less. Otherwise engineering is more of family tradition, passed on through generations. But what encouraged me was an incident from the mid 50’s … when the Russians sent a dog “Laika” in the space and they could monitor the heartbeat of the dog going around the planet. I thought how could they do that from thousands of miles away when I couldn’t hear the heartbeats of my dog sitting right next to me. That is what drew me into the electronic engineering. ❐ March 2014 | india eMpire 25

CoMMunity doCtor

DR AMARJIT SINGH, EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, CHICAGO

“I work to make a difference to the community” It is no shocker that medical doctors of Indian origin are a brand in the United States because of their outstanding professional credentials. Dr. Amarjit Singh, a medical doctor, however, has gone a step further—he has made a difference by volunteering actively in providing services to various medical organisations, the Asian-American community, and the local community at large.

He was born to parents of Indian origin settled in Burma who later moved to India. In 1977, Dr Singh completed his graduation in medicine from the Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. After his medical degree Dr. Singh worked in Zambia, Africa and the United Kingdom prior to immigrating to the United States where he settled in Chicago. Over the past 20 years Dr. Singh has worked at the Cook County Hospital and St. Bernard Hospital and currently is a physician in the Emergency Department of Mount Sinai Hospital and Level 1 Trauma Centre in Chicago.

Dr Singh has a long list of accomplishments in his career spanning 36 years. Naming a few, he has served as the President of IAMA in 2005 and has been the membership Chair of AAEMI. He was also the Chairman of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago in the year 2011 and 2012. He has been a regular volunteer physician at the Sikh Religious Society community centre in Palatine, Illinois and IAMA charitable clinic, Chicago where he provides free medical services and consultations to the deprived patients over weekends. Acknowledging his work, he was honoured with The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013 and lifetime volunteer service medal of honour by Asian Chronicle USA in November 2013.

He is one of the many Non- Resident Indians making India celebrated all across the globe.

Dr Amarjit Singh talks to India Empire about his work and accomplishments

Dr. Amarjit Singh receiving The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013 and lifetime volunteer service medal of honour by Asian Chronicle USA

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Dr. Amarjit Singh posing with colleagues after receiving The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013 and lifetime volunteer service medal of honour

You completed your education in New Delhi, India and later moved to Chicago. What is the difference in the education system of India and the United States?

I have been in Chicago since 1979, so I am sure that the education system has changed a lot in India ever since.

With internet, Google and other technological advancements are freely available now but these were non-existent back then. Other than that the main difference is - in US you have to be self motivated to study and learn because of so many distractions in daily life. While in India we were motivated by desire to elevate our situation, desire to get a good job, go abroad, help your family financially or make your 'khandan' and family proud. Also, in US exams are multiple choices but in India the format is different, it is a long paragraph answering style. So, memorising was the norm.

ties and you are on your way to a decent income. Currently, there are more than a thousand applications pending for few residencies. So, foreign graduates are having a tough time in the US. The only graduates with 95 per cent score on FMG exams can be hopeful and for rest there is not much that can be expected in coming time.

You have been practising medicine in Chicago, How different is it from India?

In India there are no medical records, no confidentiality and no standard of care. Every doctor in India may be a MD, homeopath, unani, vaid or homeopath and practice medicine in their own way as there is no medical society monitoring the standards and quality of services. It is much regulated here, every bad outcome is peer reviewed and since everything is under regulation, it drives you to excel in practice. The fear of malpractice also forces you to give your best as even a little negligence is fined here and can bankrupt a family finances.

You have been an active volunteer in all the social programmes. What inspires you?

Since, I have been born in Sikh family we have always been taught the concept of Sewa. Once you connect with a human being it is a very spiritual kind of experience where you don't expect anything from the other person and that is what I practice. I feel connected to other people in need and try to be useful in any way possible.

How difficult was it to establish yourself in the field of medicine in Chicago?

All the trouble here is getting into residency. If you get in residency program once and have an above average intelligence, your path is set. All you need is these two quali-

What makes Indian doctors “most preferred doctors” in the United States?

Our ability to converse in English clearly helps us over doctors from other countries. Also, our education in India makes us stand out, we are taught the clinical medicine that makes us better in a number of ways. Indians are generally considered to be great listeners and polite. We also have very good bedside manners and treat the patients gently and kindly.

You have been awarded with “The Asian American Humanitarian Award 2013”. How does it make you feel?

Getting an award doesn't mean much to me, all I can say is that “I feel acknowledged”. I feel great about the acknowledgement I have got from my peers. It not only makes you that you feel that your work is making a difference but also pushes you to do more for the society and more im❐ portantly your own community.

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india and eu

A pARADIGM ShIFT Dr Prabhu Kulkarni explains the changing trade relationship between India and EU

The largest liberal democracy in the world with 1.2 billion inhabitants celebrated its 63 independence day in August 2010, around the same time as the EU, the largest democratic trading block in the world, was celebrating its 53 anniversary. The EU, comprising 27 diverse economies, is also the largest trading partner and FDI investor in India.

In the decade following the liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991, the country's GDP grew by 5% to 6% and since then by about 7% to 8% annually upto 2009. Now it is expected to increase by 8% to 10% annually.

The global banking and financial crises of 2008 and the recession that followed in North America and Europe have left India relatively unscathed. India, like China, was among the handful of G-20 countries that did not go into recession (two consecutive months of negative GDP growths). India maintained its second highest GDP growth rate in the world throughout this period. From 2004 to 2009 Indian GDP increased from about $460 billion dollars to over $1.2 trillion. It is expected to reach about $ 4 trillion by 2015, making it the third largest economy in the world after the US and China.

Per capita GDP of India doubled from 2003 to 2007 and is expected to increase further, by three fold, in 2015. This has resulted in an unprecedented growth in the purchasing power of the average Indian citizen, which is the driving force of the country's economic growth.

Over 300 million people are considered as middle class with a high disposable income. This number is likely to increase to about 450 to 500 million by 2015.

India took about 200 million people out of abject poverty (earning less than US $ 2 per day) between Dr Prabhu Kulkarni 2004 and 2009, and these have 28 india eMpire | March 2014

had some impact on the global food market.

These 200 million people, who could barely afford one simple meal a day, are now consuming two or three times more rice, wheat, vegetable oils, lentils and can afford two or three meals a day. Soon they will become consumers for other essential goods.

They will become part of the mainstream consumer classes and be drivers of the Indian economy. India plans to bring an additional couple of hundred million people out of abject poverty in the next few years. With new government initiatives in poverty elimination, bridging the urbanrural divide will enhance the Indian economic transformation.

Together, these hundreds of millions of people are consuming all types of commodities and products at an astonishing rate. New mobile phone subscriptions are increasing by about 15-17 million per month, and sales of cars, motorcycles, scooters and bicycles are increasing by about 30% to 35% annually. Millions of radios, TVs, washing machines, refrigerators and other consumer electronics adorn the new houses and apartments all over India. The major difference is that unlike some of the EU countries; these goods are manufactured in India, thus creating millions ofnewjobs in manufacturing and service industries. The annual growth in the engineering industry was about13%to 15%during the last few years.

In July 2010, an analysis by India's statistics agency said that the strong industrial and mining output helped boost the growth rate. Industrial output rose more than 12% while mining and quarrying jumped nearly 9%.

The service industries sector accounts for 55% of India's economy, while industry makes up around 25% of output. Services including hotels and banking also did well, with outputupnearly 10%.

Medical tourism is a rapidly developingnewindustry. The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) estimates about 1.1 million foreigners travel to India each year for efficient and low cost treatments and surgeries. A heart bypass surgery costs

South Africa, Brazil and a number of countries is the southern hemisphere is also growing rapidly.

EU-India trade has the potential to reach over â‚Ź250 billion by 2015. Let's take a cursory glance at the trends in the EU-India trade: Total EU Mercantile trade India Trade (US$ Billion) Export

$6,500 in a corporate hospital in India, as compared to $30,000 to $50,000 in the USA. Since 2008 the industrialised economies of North America and Europe have been facing uncertain economic conditions. Their economies were undermined by unregulated banking systems and strong dependence on an overpriced construction industry. In spite of multibillion dollar bailouts and rescue measures, economic growth remains sluggish and the possibility of a double dip recession is looming heavily. Unemployment is rising fast creating social concerns that are likely to lead to restrictive practices, non-tariff trade barriers and protectionism. India's trade with North America and the EU is likely to face a bumpy ride with protectionist environments in two of its major trading regions. India's well-planned strategy over the last few years, of looking to the East (South-East Asia) and the southern hemisphere for increasing its global trade is paying handsome dividends.

China - India trade has crossed the $50 billion mark and is growing at about 20% to 30% annually. India's trade with

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

2008-09 2009-10

18.374

39.351

36.027

19.973

34.553

Import

25.998

29.856

38.450

42.733

38.435

Total Trade

44.390

49.829

73.003

82.084

74.46

Germany is India's largest European trading partner with 2009 trade worth $15.4 billion followed by France and the UK with about $6.8 and $6.3 billion, respectively.

Though these numbers are growing, the share of EU trade with India is not expanding at the same rate as growth in India's total international trade.

At present, the position of theEU(a group of 27 countries), as the largest of India's trading partners, is seriously challenged by other regions. The UAE, with collective trade of US $ 96 billion in 2008-09, is now emerging as a block with larger trade prospects than the EU. In the same year, India has replaced China as the largest trading partner of the UAE. The Asia-Pacific region, including, China, Japan and the group 10 South-East Asian countries 'the ASEAN' will be India's largest trading partners. In 2009 China replaced the USA to become the largest trading country with India.

India has signed a collective Free TradeAgreement with 'ASEAN' and is in the process of finalising an FTA with Japan in October during the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Japan.

For the last few years, negotiations have been in progress to draft an EU- India Trade Agreement. However, since 2007 these negotiations have stumbled due to various insurmountable issues and are lurching from high optimism to stagnation.

The EU-India FTAis an essential step in advancing mutual trade. It will require sophisticated negotiating skills and serious compromises on both sides. Entrenched attitudes and resistance to transform outdated trade practices and financial institutions will hamper FTAnegotiations.

The issues and their consequences will have lasting effects on the survival of millions of poor people in India and the rest of the world and hundreds of thousands of â?? jobs in the EU. —Dr Prabhu Kulkarni is the president of GoPio ireland & india Director, irish Exporters Association -Asia Pacific Trade Forum March 2014 | india eMpire 29

BooK eXCerPts

LIVING THE

DREAM From Nothing to Everything Publisher: Harriman House Ltd. Co-author by: Simon Wicks Price: £19.99 Pages: 174

A

s a teenager, I was spoilt and carefree.

Being the youngest has its ups and downs in a large family — at times I felt that I was the last in line because there were so many people before me. But I was usually happy because I was well looked after by my mother, brothers and sister. Everyone around me gave me a lot of love and I was never short of anything.

Everything revolved around the family and we were very close-knit. In those days there was no television and little to do for entertainment. Besides, we couldn’t afford many things—just having a good meal was an achievement for us. We always ate together and shared everything. Even after my brothers left home, they would come back on leave for a month each year and we would be as close as ever—eating together, still sharing our food; only now we could afford more and better food and eat what we wanted to, rather than what we could afford.

I was spoiled at home and I was spoiled at school. I went to my mother’s primary

30 india eMpire | March 2014

school and, being a child of one of the teachers, the other children were scared of me and gave me respect that I had not really earned. To be honest, I received too much love and attention whilst I was growing up. Everything was made far too easy for me. I was lazy at school and not academically bright and when my mother put me into a good school I had to leave it because it was too much hard work and I couldn’t keep up.

For me, life was easy and I was carefree.

In the summer holidays we would go to my uncle’s near Lucknow, where he had a farm and where I would play in the sugar cane fields with my cousins, most of whom are now scattered all over the world, in Australia, Canada, the United States and, of course, Great Britain.

I was far more interested in playing with friends than studying and had friend after friend. I wanted nothing but friends and became very popular. I got on with people and I enjoyed their company. As I got older, I enjoyed going to the movies

With the late Baroness Thatcher, former British Prime Minister, in 2011

With the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP in 2012

with friends or travelling to their villages outside Patiala to hang around the fields doing nothing in particular— often when I should have been in school.

I didn’t like school. My aim was to find company and truancy became the order of the day. If we didn’t skip school, we would just sit at the back of the class during lessons and chat or play games. The classrooms themselves were huge and classes consisted of anything between 70 and 100 children. It was too easy to go unnoticed, though I can see now that I didn’t enjoy school because I made no effort to follow the teaching. You have to know what’s going on to enjoy something, and I didn’t have any idea what was going on. It’s the same as if you go to an event and the people sitting at the front can hear everything clearly so they’re enjoying it, but the people at the back are straining to hear, missing things and losing track. I sat at the back, chatted, played games and lost interest.

In a way, I was sorted, like a letter at the post office.

There, the letters are sorted by area, whether Bromley, Sidcup, Reading, Slough or wherever. Similarly, in the classroom, the bright, industrious students will sit in the front row and pay attention to the teacher. The mediocre guys sit at the back. They don’t want to sit and study; they want to chat and play games. If they like chasing girls, they’re outside the girls’ school. If they like hanging around in bars, they’ll just go and sit in a bar. People get sorted according to their own desires and aspirations.

So I was sorted, just like that. I fell into bad company and became the most rebellious of my mother’s children.

As teenagers, we would ride motorbikes out to my friends’ villages and hang around, again doing nothing. I would chase girls, get into fights and get up to no good. I was lucky not to get into trouble with the law because we sailed close to the wind at times.

I skipped two years of school because I was roaming around with friends rather than sitting in classes. Patiala was a large market town, a principality, and had everything a relatively modern city would have—a cinema, shops, bars, a station, colleges and a university. There were a lot of distractions and I completed my graduation from high school with a great deal of difficulty. I would just cram during the last month before an exam, scrape through, then spend the next nine months having a great time and

With Mr Salman Khurshid, Cabinet Minister for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, in 2013

playing around. Somehow I got through my exams and secured a place to do a one year pre-degree course at Mohindra College in Patiala in 1966.

I got through it, but still didn’t have a taste for learning. At the end of the pre-university year, I tried to follow my brothers and join the Indian Army. With five brothers in the armed forces, I already felt part of a military family and joining them seemed a natural thing to do. Besides this, the army was the quickest and simplest route out of poverty for people like us. We didn’t have the money to go to medical college or engineering college and study for six years for professional qualifications. The way I saw it, the army route was simple; you get selected, you get commissioned and then you’re an officer living on free rations with good perks and salaries.

You just pray that war never takes place—and 99 per cent of the time it doesn’t with the Indian Army—and you enjoy a good life.

However, I was rejected. I tried twice as a teenager and was rejected both times. I was so disappointed then, but now I understand that this was the best thing to happen to me. My brothers were always on the move and sometimes they were on the battlefield. Their life was actually much harder than I imagined it when I was young—and when they finished their 20-year commissions they were back to square one, building a new life, whilst I had moved beyond them. So I have no regrets.

Needless to say, I’m proud of my brothers for what they achieved as soldiers. They build good careers and were very successful. They took courses and learned to maintain their self-discipline. They all rose to the rank of colonel in time and, en route, learned skills that set them apart from regular officers. For example, one became a German interpreter for the Army and later taught English to German students in Germany. Another became a Russian interpreter for the Indian Air Force. They were all exceptional in their own way. In the next generation, my sister’s son also went into the Army and her daughter married to a colonel. We became an army family. There was something in us as a family that made us all want to be better than the guy next door. There was sibling rivalry to be better than each other but this forced us all to go the ❐ extra mile.

March 2014 | india eMpire 31

netherlands youth rePresentative

KIRTY MATA BADAL, YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE TO UNITED NATIONS

“I strongly believe in the “Hindu dharma” but with common sense and self education” Ms Kirty Mata Badal

Who exactly is Kirty Mata Badal?

I am a 26 years old LLB graduate and currently pursuing my LLM Student Public International Law from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. I am truly a Hindu by heart, a vegetarian and consider my family the most important thing in the world. In my spare time, I love to dance and “Bharatnatyam” is my favourite. I also love reading staking and painting.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'. – Emma Bombeck. This is the quote I love and try to live by. And the other saying that inspires me the most is - ‘Be the change you wish to see in the World’ – Mahatma Gandhi ji.

What is your connect with India?

Since India is the country of my grandparents, I consider it my home. I can very well say that because that is the feeling I get the moment I arrive at Indira Gandhi Airport. It is the feeling of coming back home. Same culture, same religion, same people with dark hair and same skin 32 india eMpire | March 2014

Kirty Mata Badal, a Youth representative to UN of Netherlands. The 24 year old young, dynamic and vibrant Kirty is committed to various social issues. Over the years, she has not only founded her own youth foundation and organised the "Youth Voice Event” but also organised the "Women's World" project, focusing entirely on the issues related to women.

For a while now, she has been working on another project called "Faith and leadership” that focuses on young leaders.

Kirty Mata Badal is a Zoetermeer, Netherlands Leiden resident but considers her a true Hindu and completely believes in philosophy of dharma and karma. She likes to be actively involved in the activities around and is ready to contribute to the society in any way. Kirty has pursued her graduation in Law from the University of Leiden and is now pursuing her Masters degree in 'International public law'. Kirty in the interview with India Empire’s Assistant Editor Misha Singh talks about her personality, experiences and her strong connect to India

colour, same food and I don’t need to constantly explain why I have certain values or habits.

When did your forefathers move to the Netherlands? How many generations of your family have been settled there?

I am the third generation to be born outside of India.

In 1902, my great grandparents left India, to work in Suriname for a few years so that they could save money for a better future and return to India. But they actually missed the boat which was going to bring them back home to India. So, they decided to stay a bit longer and also the reason for my grandfather’s growing up in Suriname. Since Suriname became a colony of the Netherlands, they had the opportunity to send their children to the there for better education. My father, along with his brothers and sisters, were sent to the Netherlands in 1974. The circumstances became much better and our family decided to stay. Unfortunately, my great grandparents passed away in Suriname, without returning to India. Same with my grandparents, they also didn’t find a chance come back to

their home - India.

You strongly believe in the Hindu ideology which is very rare in people of your generation. What is the reason behind it?

I strongly believe in the “Hindu dharma” but with some common sense and self education. I do not take lectures by priests for granted. In the Netherlands and Suriname, our culture and religion is very well preserved but it has been developed by some people in their own way. But to be honest there are still few groups of Hindus in the Netherlands that are even more conservative and old fashioned then the majority of Hindus in India.

I think the reason behind this is that our great grandparents missed their homeland a lot and to overcome that they did everything to make this new and strange country, look and feel like India. With the stuff they had, they tried to maintain and carry forward everything. They taught their children the importance of the tradition and values so that it could pass it on to their children and never forget where they came from.

Can you throw some light on the previous projects that you have worked on?

Ever since the age of 18, I have been quite busy working on social and cultural issues. I actually did pretty much of everything besides my studies. I always thought it as my own way of giving back to the society and I feel

blessed for all the opportunities I have got. I have a strong belief in ‘do good in order to receive good’. In 2008, I was chosen to participate on the Outstanding European Leadership Programme from Fulbright in the US. I then won the 'Hague Spring prizes' of €1000, which was organised by a newspaper 'Algemeen Dagblad' and the municipality of the Hague. With the money I received as a prize, I established a Youth Foundation and organised a multicultural event with youngsters, the money which was being raised was meant for children in third world countries. I have been working on women rights issues and many more. Furthermore, I have been elected as the Dutch Youth Representative to the United Nations, for two years, being the first one with a Non-Dutch cultural background and Indian roots, makes me feel great.

How did you go about to becoming the “Youth representative to the United Nations”? Do tell us about the journey.

Well, for becoming a Youth Representative on behalf of the Netherlands, I had to go through many debates and elections. People in the Netherlands had to vote for me. I still find it amazing that I was elected in 2011 as the youth representative over the people of the same origin. I have been a member of the Dutch delegation to the Commission on Population and Development, Commission on the Status of Women and the General Assembly of the United Nations. I got the opportunity to address the General AsMarch 2014 | india eMpire 33

youth rePresentative to united nations

At a session during the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (top left), and representing her country (right) sembly of the United Nations in 2012 and share my vision with all the world leaders. In December 2012, I was a member of a delegation to Palestine and Israël, where I was on a children's rights mission. In April 2013, I was a member of a delegation to Croatia, for a Palestinian and Israëli conference. I have been to a lot of places around the world to speak and share my ideas and the topics I mostly worked on were implementation, gender equality, food security, education, youth participation and leadership. In the Netherlands, I organised a huge event on food security with a group youngsters.

It was quite a journey, hard work and being in this position for two years. You really get to know how people are, how they work and what they wish for you. You learn what politics are, what social work is and that there is a lot of corruption. However, compared to what I did, it was all worth it. I had the opportunity to meet and speak with so many people, thousands of youngsters and people such as mother Amma ji, Dadi Janki ji of the Brahma Kumari’s, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, but also Ban Ki-moon of the UN and Desmond Tutu. It was an amazing experience.

Where do you see Indian youth in future globally?

Do you look forward to collaborating with Indian youth as well?

I believe that there is still a lot to gain for India, not only the Indian Government but also for the Indian Youth both living in and outside India. Outside India, Indian youngsters (especially PIO children) are growing up to high potentials. I see Indian youngsters taking leading positions in this world which is rapidly changing and growing. The Indian youth has a new way of working, new way of thinking, innovations, growing economies and growing groups of global citizens below the age of 30. These developments need youngsters and especially Indian youngsters who are known as hard and bright workers. At the UN I saw how world economies are investing in their youth and also rejuvenating their governmental bodies and 34 india eMpire | March 2014

business managements. Today’s youth has a lot of opportunities to gain knowledge then generations before. But I think that with the experience of the older generations, with the approach and knowledge of today’s generation India can become a real partner for other big countries such as US, China, Brasil and other developing as well as developed economies.

During the last PBD I have become the chair of GOPIO’s International Youth Council, so I look extremely forward to collaborate with all Indian youngsters across the world. I hope to connect them with each other, so they can exchange information, knowledge and connect with India and Indian youngsters. So, I would like to grab this opportunity and tell that whoever reads this - please, add my on Facebook or connect with me, so we can do something about the same!

According to you, in what ways can the Indian youth collaborate with the youths in Netherlands?

I believe that Indian Youth and Dutch Youth can exchange knowledge. The students of water management, science, construction, politics and technology can impart the knowledge in other youngsters. Both groups have their own specialism, which can be very important for both of them.

You have always followed your rule “Stop Thinking – Start Doing” and it has helped you achieve a lot.

Would you like suggest the youth in India to follow the same rule and why?

Absolutely! I believe that conversations are important, but repeating things over and over again, is useless and a waste of time. Therefore it is necessary that we actually start doing, what we want, make sure that we do not only speak but also our words come into action. No one can achieve their dreams by doing nothing, everyone has to work for it. The longer you delay, the more is a risk to your position and your dream is achieved by someone else. As ❐ they say, hard work pays off.

annual art Fair

Humour, Satire and Quirkiness of Indian Art NRI art lovers, avid collectors and committed connoisseurs of Indian art, overseas Indians can discover the vibrancy and the creativity of Indian and foreign artists at the annual Indian Art Fair—a visual feast for the eyes, reports Kul Bhushan

The writer admires a creative work at the India Art Fair

March 2014 | india eMpire 35

annual art Fair

A

s art lovers, avid collectors and committed connoisseurs of Indian art, overseas Indians are active bidders for works of reputed Indian artists at major auctions in London and New York, among other places. If they want to expose themselves to a huge variety of Indian and global artists, then the Indian Art Fair in New Delhi is a must.

Any fair is judged by the caliber of the visitors. Here the NRIs will not experience the shoving and pushing, the loud chatter or the litter. Before it is inaugurated, receptions are held for collectors and foreign visitors. During the four-day event, buyers, VIP visitors and art aficionados are allowed and the fair is open to the public after lunch. The entry fee is high at Rs. 300 (around three pounds sterling) per person although art students come at a much lower entry fee. Going round the fair, you see elegantly dressed people talking art in soft tones and keenly admiring the art on display. The three main halls have their own cafes and meeting places and public seating for those get tired. It is all very sophisticated, unlike most Indian public events.

Indian art has come of age with her artists arriving on world stage, selling their artworks for millions of dollars and organising a world class Indian Art Fair in New Delhi. The artworks at the sixth edition of this event just con concluded displayed humour, satire, quirkiness and, of course, imagination.

On entering the main hall, an exhibit showed Mahatma Gandhi sitting before a circular Coca Cola logo. More intriguing was the Mahatma working on his spinning wheel painted a stack of Coca Cola bottle crates! Another such ex36 india eMpire | March 2014

hibit showed the Dalai Lama's face on these crates. A mobile sculpture by L. N. Tallur showed the mid-life crises of a stone-faced woman squatting in front of a spinning car tyre smeared with mud splattered all over her and on her face. It was titled Path Finder! Here was the rat race offering a humourous version of the spiritual seeker. In all her glory, the Hindu Goddess Saraswati is painted atop a rubber duck! A clothes line had some garments hung to dry but the twist was all the garments were made of small, shiny steel balls!

In addition, jewellery designer Nirav Modi, art-deco furniture, off-beat exhibits like audio experiences, a desktop computer cut in half and its screen showing a newscast stopped visitors in their tracks!

Around 100,000 visitors admired the works of Indian artists and was also surprised by works of Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and Andre Masson on display.

Renowned Indian painters like M. F. Husain, Jamini Roy, S. H. Raza, Dayanita Singh, L.N.Tallur, Anindita Dutta and Rajorshi Gosh and F. N. Souza, sculptures by Anish Kapoor and Subodh Gupta attracted his attention. The fair showcased over 3,000 works by 1,000 artists by 81 exhibitors across the globe. The Fair attracts around 100,000 collectors, art lovers and critics from all over India and abroad. Major art auctioneers, Christie's, a sponsor of this fair, and Southby's were also involved. Other art events are also timed with this fair. The National Gallery of m Modern Art in New Delhi opened an exhibition of renowned artist Amrita Sher Gill's definitive works; Sotheby's held a reception to showcase their paintings for their forthcoming auction in London; and many Indian artists held their shows.

Subodh Gupta's Aura was a ceiling-high sculpture made from stainless steel utensils illuminated with a great many tube lights in a big jumble. The light created an illusion that fore-

shadows the emptiness of things- big and small. The stainless steel utensils with their towering presence are placed in perspective by the strong white light. The illuminated illusion conveys the make-believe prosperity of the new middle class.

"Seems like the loft of a utensil shop," commented a visitor.

A golden deer about six-foot high caught the eyes of every passerby reminding them about the style of Damien Hirst. One visitor remarked, "Is this the deer that Sita wanted in Ramayana?" A curved mirror with a huge garland distorted faces of everyone who looked at it. No wonder many people captured their crazy 'selfies' or self-photos. A similar exhibit was a mirror that showed your face upside down!

Across the main exhibition halls was a hall with art shops, refreshments and sundries. Bang in the middle of these shops selling art books, art materials, art magazines, costume jewellery and refreshment stalls with tea, coffee and snacks was a huge circular artwork. Titled 'If you meet Buddha on the road, kill him' it was created by Yo Hongxing, a Chinese artist, and showed a black Buddha sitting in the lotus posture, deep in meditation, surrounded by very colourful textiles, stickers, glass beads and toys used on a canvas and wood panels. Dazzling the visitor with image overload, it shows the influence of mass media, pop culture, architecture, environment and landscapes of East and West. The artist from Beijing says this work shows swift change of China's social system. It is also a satire on Asia's fast evolving social, financial, environmental and technological systems.

The different venues for lectures and seminars go on during the four-day fair. Renowned art critics, dealers, experts, auctioneers, dealers and professors address the various sessions. Many of these sessions are well-attended with lively discussions and debates.

Surprisingly, the director of this humungous exhibition is a young lady from Delhi, Neha Kirpal. The story goes that in 2008 she visited London while working for a PR and event management firm. She was awed by London's happening feverish art scene with 9,000 galleries. She wondered, Why not have am art fair for Delhi?

During a flight, she wrote the business plan on the back of an airsickness bag, got off the plane and convinced her employers to loan her ten million Rupees to create the Art Summit.

The first show in 2008 was called India Art Summit at Pragati Maidan showgrounds in New Delhi for modern and contemporary art. The first fair targeted over 6,000 visitors with 34 exhibiting galleries at the fair, and over 550 contemporary and modern artworks. This first show managed to attract local art galleries on one big hall but the next event was much bigger with more Indian and international participation from Britain, France, Spain, USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy and many other countries. Before this Fair, Mumbai was the premium centre for Indian art shows but this event has changed all that and now many galleries from Mumbai exhibit here because they cannot be left out of such an important event on the international circuit that generates good business. After another two years of steady growth, increased participation and attendance, the venue was shifted to NSIC ground in Okhla.

During its six events, the fair has managed to exhibit and facilitate the sale of many world renowned artists like Picasso, Dalí, Auguste Rodin, Miró, Marc Chagall,Marina Abramović, M. F. Husain, S H Raza, F.N. Souza, Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst, Anjolie Ela Menon and Thota Vaikuntam. ❐ What a feast for the eyes!

March 2014 | india eMpire 37

oFBJP

PROMOTING THE

BJP OVERSEAS The Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP) led by Mr Vijay Jolly has been actively and aggressively promoting the party’s investment, political and cultural policies across the diaspora. We take a look at the presence they have created across continents

BJP President Rajnath Singh during launch of BJP Hong Kong

OFBJP Convenor Vijay Jolly addressing NRIs in Italy and Nigeria through video conference

OFBJP in Sydney, Australia 38 india eMpire | March 2014

oFBJP

OFBJP in Brisbane, Australia

Mr Jolly greeting the Leader of Opposition in Japan, Mr Kaieda Banri, in Tokyo

Mr Vijay Jolly presenting a Ganesha statue to Indian Ambassador to Japan Mrs Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo

Mr Jolly presenting BJP Literature to Japan Minister Yasutoshi Nishmura in Tokyo

Ms Michiko Sugita OFBJP Japan member greeted

by OFBJP Convenor Vijay Jolly in Tokyo

40 india eMpire | March 2014

investMent and Fdi

Netherlands is India’s top FDI destination The Netherlands has attracted most of the outward foreign direct investments from India. With Indian corporations increasingly looking at expanding their global footprint by investing overseas, a recent study by Care Ratings showed that a share of 28.8 per cent out of the total Indian foreign investments of $2.9 billion went to or via the Netherlands.

The location as gateway to Europe, the business-friendly climate and the size of the Dutch economy (7th largest economy of the European Union) are the main reasons for Indian companies to establish themselves in the Netherlands. Additionally, the country has an extensive network of almost 100 bilateral tax treaties that avoids double taxation and reduces withholding taxes on dividends. That is why internationally operating companies (including many Indian) have established holdings in the Netherlands.

After establishing holdings, Indian companies often see possibilities for broadening their activities in the Netherlands. The business-friendly climate makes it attractive for foreign companies to open up e.g. sales and marketing offices, customer services centres or research centres. Examples of Indian companies which opened an office in The Netherlands or expanded their Dutch presence last year are Wipro (opened customer service centres), Apollo (opened a global R&D centre) and the acquisition of a Dutch life science company by Dr. Reddy’s.

The Netherlands receives the largest share of Indian exports to Europe. Part of this is meant for transit to the European hinterland, which indicates that India has recognized the Dutch seaports and airports as the “Gateway to Europe”.

Not just Indian FDI, but foreign investments in general have been rising in the Netherlands: a recent survey amongst foreign investors in the Netherlands showed an increase in their appreciation of the Dutch investment climate. Additionally, foreign investments in 2013 rose more than 60% compared to 2012.

More than half of foreign companies in the Netherlands rate the Dutch business climate as good to excellent. This was confirmed by a recent survey carried out by the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) amongst more than 600 foreign companies. Moreover, rating of virtually all location factors has risen.

Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Henk Kamp said: ‘Global competition for FDi and employment is substantial and growing continuously. The Dutch point of departure is good. But standstill is not an option. in the years to come, the Dutch government will continue to dedicate itself to maintain a business climate that remains ahead of the competition. We do this by investing in decisive location factors for foreign companies such as a well-educated labour force, an excellent physical and digital infrastructure, good amenities and further steps cutting red tape.’ ❐

March 2014 | india eMpire 41

yogi ashwini

O

A YOGI’S JOURNEY

n March 23, 2014 country heads and students alike were found on the streets distributing food, housewives and members of the press were seen feeding cows and dogs, while top bureaucrats and businessmen were performing havans. All these were part of the unique celebrations of Yogi Ashwini's birthday are bound to get the attention of many.

In earlier times, birth anniversaries were celebrated to mark one’s growing wiser by a year and also closer to merging back from where one has come. Traditionally, birthdays were celebrated by performing havan to connect to the cosmos and awaken the hidden potential inside through specific chants as prescribed by the Guru. Havans are a medium to interact with divine being, the proof of which can be seen in the divine manifestations that happen and are visible in the agni at Vedic havans conducted under the guidance of Yogi Ashwini.

Our ancients followed the Lunar calendar, which very accurately predicts the congruence of energy on various days. Take for example, the seventh day of Krishna paksh in the month of chaitra, which falls on march 23rd this year. It is a powerful day, the day when Yogi Ashwini was born and the day which resonates with the energy corresponding to His energy form.

While every birth anniversary is a point of transition in the life of an individual, there are three that are especially powerful – the day you turn 25, 50 and 75 respectively. On these specific days the shakti of an individual goes through a major transformation which can be used for manifold progress. The 25th year marks the age at which one enters the physical life after completing education, 50 the time when one starts devoting his energy to connecting with the cosmos and shaktis therein to prepare for a higher birth and 75 when one leaves everything to merge back with the source, which is the ultimate purpose of life.

MORE ABOUT YOGI ASHWINI Yogi Ashwini is adept in the ancient sciences of yog, tantra, spiritual healing, mantra chanting, yajnas, past-life visitation and vedic martial arts. With an honours in economics, a masters in management and a successful business, He is an eminent writer for leading dailies and journals, an acclaimed speaker internationally, author of global bestsellers on ancient sciYogI AShwInI 42 india eMpire | March 2014

ences, honorary editor for the spiritual magazine ‘The Inner World’ and the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation.

After studying the being for decades, spending years in silence and having interacted with the Himalayan masters, Yogi Ashwini propounded the Sanatan Kriya, an assimilation of the eight limbs of Patanjali Ashtang Yog. The sheer magnetism of his persona and radiance he exudes, even nearing 50, and the experiences one gets just by being in his presence, are enough proof of the efficacy of practice. The doctors of the Indian Medical Association have personally experienced under his guidance, the power of Sanatan Kriya and the science of clairvoyance after a live demonstration by His students. His two decades of pioneering research on anti-ageing, has been published in the book ‘Sanatan Kriya: The Ageless Dimension’. Recent researches by certain reputed Western Universities are in accordance with the studies of Yogi Ashwini on anti-ageing.

Thousands have benefited physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually from the practice of Sanatan Kriya, which is taught across the globe free of cost. He runs nearly 17 schools for street children, funds education of blind girls at NAB, organises food distribution camps, generates employment for underprivileged, feeds stray animals at more than 100 centers daily and gives medical help to all those who come to him... humans or animals.

DHYAN FOUNDATION Dhyan Foundation is a spiritual and charitable organisation committed to the cause of spreading awareness about the authentic path of yoga, as laid down by Sage Patanjali 4500 years ago. It is run solely by volunteers who are engaged day in and day out in helping the creation, without any remuneration for their services. These volunteers hail from all walks of life – business magnates, journalists, doctors, designers, lawyers, scholars, home-makers and normal people – driven and guided on the path of sadhna and service by Yogi Ashwini, a true living master.

Formed in 2002, Dhyan Foundation today is a global phenomenon with centers all across the world where classes for Sanatan Kriya are conducted free of cost.

The Foundation is actively engaged in a host of charities including free distribution of food at multiple places, saving wildlife and looking after injured animals, running schools for street kids, sponsoring higher education of the poor and the blind, finding employment for the unemployed, spreading awareness about environmental issues etc. and all this is done without any government funding or selling any products, solely out of funds of Yogi Ashwini and from the contributions of ❐ the volunteers.

—For more, visit www.dhyanfoundation.com

MiChigan university studies

BETTER SAVINGS

CHANGING LIVES OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED

More than 200 million workers travel abroad to work as maids, construction laborers and at other low-wage jobs. The money they send back home is often essential to their families' survival and homeland's economy.

A new University of Michigan study found that workers would save more money and make better financial decisions with their spouses if they attended a motivational talk about personal finance.

"This was a simple one-time talk that had a big impact," said study co-author Dean Yang, U-M associate professor of economics and public policy. "We are just beginning to understand the impact of these simple policies on the workers."

The amount of money migrants sent back home exceeded $400 billion in 2012. In Asia, many of the workers come from India, Indonesia and the Philippines, while the U.S. attracts a lot of labor from El Salvador, Mexico and other Latin American nations.

Published recently in the Journal of Development Economics, the study involved 200 migrant men from India's southwestern state of Kerala who were working in Doha, Qatar. The men, who came from different age groups, education levels and professions, were divided into a control group and a treatment group.

The latter group was given a motivational pep talk about saving by financial guru K.V. Shamsudheen, a Keralite and popular motivational speaker who runs his own radio show in the United Arab Emirates. He discussed why migrants needed to save more money and make joint decisions with their spouses.

"This was a short and targeted motivational session, unlike a class," Yang said. "Even though there wasn't much technical information, the hope was that the session would motivate the migrants to save more."

Yang and colleague Ganesh Sesan of Georgetown University in Qatar conducted follow-up surveys 13-17 months later to see if the workers were doing better with saving, sending money home and communicating with their wives.

They said the migrants reported a 30-percent increase in making financial decisions together with their wives, who also reported a significant increase in seeking out ❐ financial education for themselves.

He was planning to be a lawyer because he didn't think visually impaired people like him could do high-tech jobs in India. But after discovering special technology that allows him to use computers, he changed his mind and now wants to be a software engineer. "I became crazy about computers. Now I want to do something with computers only," said the man, one of 176 people surveyed in India, Peru and Jordan about how their lives were changed by technology that enables blind people to use computers and other devices.

The study shows that assistive technology—screen readers and other communication software—can boost the economic and social aspirations of visually impaired people, enabling them to pursue work they once thought was impossible. The technology also makes them less marginalized in low- and middle-income countries, where they are often stuck at home or limited to low-skilled jobs.

"As one of our interviewees said, 'Technology may not do all the work, but it does create small wonders,'" said the study's author, Joyojeet Pal, an assistant professor in the School of Information at the University of Michigan.

Many of the respondents said they didn't know that a blind person could use a computer until early adulthood. Several only found out about assistive technology when they were applying for jobs either directly or through resource centers. Some of the most interesting comments from those interviewed included: From Peru: "I learned how to use Windows, the Internet, I learned how to use Word and all that...For me, that was great. There was nothing else in the world. I had won the world with that."

From Jordan: "Without (assistive technology), persons with a disability will feel subhuman. At least when dealing with the computer...you do not feel that you are blind."

From India: "When I sit in the bank and work, customers who come to the bank realize that the (visually impaired) can work on the system seeing me. They go and spread this information in their neighborhood."

Pal believes that smart phones and other mobile devices will likely play an increasingly key role for visually impaired people in low- and middle-income countries where assistive technology for personal computers is limited due to cost and other factors. This issue was the focus of another study in Bangalore by Pal and co-author Meera Lakshmanan, an ❐ independent scholar.

March 2014 | india eMpire 43

Business and investMent

UK AND USA

LABA’s President Japsal Singh Minhas hosted a dinner for visiting ar my VIPS from around the world.

The visit organised by the Cabinet Office is part of the Defence Academy, the internationally renowned Royal College of Defence Studies.

The College prepares senior officers and official of the UK and other countries, and future leaders from private and public sectors, for high responsibilities in their respective organisations, by developing their analytical powers, knowledge of defence and international security, and strategic vision. The course runs for an academic year from September to the following July.

The course builds up to demanding study visits of countries in different regions of the world. Before the members are asked to examine the prospects for these countries, they are given the opportunity to look objectively at the UK. Each tour consists of some 17 members and one or two staff, including the tour leader. The majority of the tour party will be from overseas.

The aim of the visit said Uday Dholakia, Chairman of LABA “was to examine, at first hand and from a strategic perspective, the prospects for the stability, security and prosperity of the United Kingdom as evidenced by the part of the UK visited”.

Mr Dholakia led a presentation on the role of LABA and the increasingly impor tant role British Asian business communities play as economic drivers for the UK plc in ter ms of; business g rowth, job creation, inter national trade and in❐ ward investment.

44 india eMpire | March 2014

Coming against the prevailing trade disputes and generally lackluster news on the US-India trade relation’s front, a recent delegation of US investors brought good cheer to the Indian FDI story. The members of this high powered delegation announced their readiness to invest USD 250 million worth of investments in India within the next 6-12 months.

The 12-member trade mission, which visited Delhi and Mumbai consisted of large US investors in sectors like logistics infrastructure, roads, power and energy, engineering, smart cities, manufacturing, and private equity. In its 3-day visit, the US trade mission had meetings with corporate leaders, and attended events and conferences in Delhi. One of the events that the delegation attended was the economic convention at Delhi that was addressed by BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.

“This delegation is indeed a very satisfying outcome of our efforts to promote economic diplomacy between the US and India and should lead to substantial FDI into these sectors along with technology transfer. The members of this trade mission have pledged cumulative investments of USD 250 million of clearly ready money.

Plus another 500 million USD depending on projects availability over the next 12 months”, said Robinder Sachdev, Director of India affairs of the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) that organized the trade mission.

"India is a priority country for Isolux Corsan. We started our activities in India in 2006 and we are investing close to USD 3 Billion with a clear aim to keep growing in the country. We attended the conference at Delhi with USINPAC to gain further clarity on economic policies for the immediate future", saidAlfonso Perez-Bustamante, Director of Energy Investments in India, Isolux Corsan, one of the largest private construction companies based out of Spain in energy ❐ and infrastructure.

WRI AND GOPIO APPOINTMENT

BRISBANE FAIR

goPIo Queensland WRI India has announced that Dr. Nitin Pandit has been appointed as its first Managing Director, based in Mumbai. Pandit will direct WRI India’s program priorities and growth strategy. He will supervise WRI India’s staff in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, and work closely with its partners in government, business, civil society and academia. Pandit will be a member of the World Resources Institute (WRI) global management team and will provide critical input on the Institute’s overall strategy and projects.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Pandit to this important position. He brings a deep breadth of experience and will drive WRI India’s strategy to support sustainable and equitable growth in India,” said Jamshyd Godrej, WRI India Chairman, WRI Board Member, and Chairman and Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd. “India is facing many important challenges in the coming decades to deliver low-carbon energy, smart cities, and clean water. Dr. Pandit brings the experience and vision needed to position WRI India as a trusted partner in advancing these goals.”

WRI India, which was established as an independent organization in 2011, works with officials in local and national governments, business, and civil society to address India’s development challenges. Its staff uses independent research and analysis to identify solutions that are both economically and environmentally sound. It is inspired by WRI, a global research organization, to address environmental and human development challenges facing India.

“I am deeply honored to be taking this position at this critical moment when India faces urgent challenges ❐ and opportunities,” saidDr. Pandit.

Thousands from the multicultural communities in Brisbane will come together to celebrate the iconic “India Day Fair 2014“ on Sunday, the 10th of August 2014, at Roma Street Parklands.

Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Queensland chapter is organising this colourful event as part of 67th Indian’ Independence day celebrations. There will be parades from various Indian communities, Indian music, dance and cultural items running throughout the day, Indian henna - hand painting - will be available and the event will conclude with a mammoth fireworks.

GOPIO with the support of Federation of Indian Communities Queensland (FICQ) and other Indian associations celebrate India Day Fair every year with real vigour, charm and an abundance of colours.

The event has been well attended by dignitaries in the past. Attendees included Mr Robert Cavallucci, Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs of Queensland, Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk, Opposition leader, Lord Mayor Cr Graham Quirk, The Indian High Commissioner Hon. Biren Nanda., Mr Paul Pisasale, Mayor of Ipswich. Many such dignitaries will be attending the event.

Yousuf Alikhan, the president of GOPIO Queensland chapter said “The main outcome of this harmonious, multicultural and multi-racial event is to promote multiculturalism, improve cultural tolerance and promote community harmony. It provides an opportunity to showcase the cultural and regional diversity of India to the wider Queensland community. The event is widely supported by various communities in Queensland and by the Brisbane City Council, the Lord Mayor, and the Queensland government”, ❐ stated Yousuf.

March 2014 | india eMpire 45

BooK

ENTREPRENEUR’S ROAD MAP Everyday Entrepreneur Making it Happen Publisher: Dundurn Press, Toronto Author: Fred Dawkins Price: $19.99 £13.99 Pages: 182

“Everyday Entrepreneur offers a simple but effective road map anyone can use to take the fear out of following their entrepreneurial dreams.”

—Monica Mehta, award-winning author of The Entrepreneurial instinct and iNC Magazine columnist “Fred Dawkins employs a likeable cast of characters and the simple setting of Canadian cottage country in July to convey a complex set of ideas ranging from the nature-versus-nurture debate (are entrepreneurs born or made?) to a variety of essential how-to entrepreneurship skills to specialty topics such as gender, leadership, negotiation, and team formation, as well as the important role of entrepreneurship in the global economy. His casual, easy-to-read writing style belies the critical importance of his subject matter. Not just potential entrepreneurs but also governments, big companies and business schools in the West must adapt to the new relity of an increasingly educated and ambitious middle class in so-called developing countries and take immediate steps to reinvigorate our large population or underutilized problem-solvers in order to remain competitive and continue to enjoy increasing prosperity. As Sam would say: It is not a question of if, but rather how.”

—Ajay Agrawal, Peter Munk Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, founder of the Creative Destruction Lab for entrepreneurs, and co-founder of The Next 36 entrepreneurship programme “Technology entrepreneurs all too often focus only on different ways of acquiring customers, equity value, and raising venture capital money. What is lost in the discussion is all the human issues you will face as you build your business. Fred Dawkins offers a perspective that I think is missing in the current international discussion around entrepreneurship and one that I think founders of technology companies need to consider at an early stage.”

—Jesse Rodgers, Director of the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto, building of VeloCity at the University of Waterloo, and co-founder of Tribehr.com “The analyses of factors dominating business and society are insightful and demonstrative. Fred Dawkins has a wonderful capacity to put things in perspective, a writing style that is captivating and his command of the English language speaks for itself. I believe this will make a great college text book since it would inspire great discussions — arguments? I’d love to be teaching from it. Also a great question and answer book for would-be entrepreneurs.”

—Dr Freeman McEwen, Dean Emeritus, University of Guelph 46 india eMpire | March 2014