India empire july 2016

CONTENTS 38

juLY 2016

29

06

BREXIT ................................................................ 06 Will it hit Indian business?

PM MODI AND DIASPORA ................................ 38 Leveraging the strength of Indians overseas

CANADA ............................................................ 13 Investment opportunities galore

DIASPORA JOURNALISM .................................. 40 The Kenya story

PORTUGAL ........................................................ 17 This nation in the Iberian Peninsula beckons

BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE .......................... 29 India Inc makes it moves

PERU ................................................................... 21 The land of Machu Picchu—Incas’ Lost City

CARIBBEAN ........................................................ 42 Yoga Day

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COVER STORY: BRITAIN’S EXIT FROM E.U.

Brexit: Beginni “EU’s finished, EU’s dead”, boasted Nigel Farage, UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader soon after 72% of UK’s voting population cast their votes in the 3rd referendum of the country and the 2nd to decide on UK’s membership of the EU. This time, shocking the world, the verdict was ‘yes’ in favour of Brexit, abbreviated for Britain’s exit (from the EU). Weather had played spoilsport the day before, supposedly the ‘Independence Day’ for UKIP, otherwise 10% more could have voted in addition and in all probability tilted the referendum in the opposite direction.

That was not to be however. The clouds which had gathered over UK’s sky on June 23 were no ordinary clouds, they symbolised the dark forebodings of an impending crisis, or rather a series of crises which could jolt the European Union out of its collective amnesia. In the absence of Britain, the 2nd largest economy after Germany in the EU, Berlin would come under tremendous pressure to salvage the EU out of the hubris to which it had unwittingly pushed itself to. And in the jockeying to be a close second, Paris could try to fill the vacuum which London would leave behind. Having burnt its fingers with the sovereign debt crisis threatening Greece’s scalp, Chancellor Merkel would be extremely hard pressed to harness the EU’s combined resources while trying once again to keep the flock together.

I have served in Europe in three different stages of my diplomatic career, at the beginning as a diplomat trainee assigned to Paris to learn French, which I did rather well in the intellectual precincts of the Sorbonne, for the second time in my mid-career to Berlin, exactly a decade after the fall of the ideological wall which had coterised Europe into East and West, with Berlin standing a mute, yet splendid witness to the clinical debauchery recorded so minutely at Charlie Point and countless other nooks of the historical city, and finally as Ambassador to Budapest, ravaged by the times and discovering itself as a newly emerging market economy delivered from Fascism and Communism, in that order. All three postings gave me ample time to study the growth and maturity of the European Union built brick by brick nearly half a century ago to form a robust economic and political power bloc in the world today. Many interim visits had reinforced my close contacts with Europe and strengthened my vantage point observations of the strength of the EU derived from the individual core strengths of each member country. Here, for the first time in its history was a fullfledged state seeking to break away on its own, a state which has its own independent clout as one of the P-5 and G-8 6

india empire | july 2016

Ambassador Malay Mishra besides being an important nuclear power, a leading member of NATO and OECD. I have watched London from close all these years, seeing it develop from a skeletal imperial city to the most important financial capital of Europe. Ironically this has become its bane, as UKIP leaders successfully demagogued their way into British hearts by harping again and again on the theme of sovereignty and its loss thereof, and how their vote would help them regain it, bringing Britain back to its former glory.

The youngest Tory PM, flush from a referendum victory in 2014 on Scotland staying within the UK, betted yet again, this time losing disastrously spelling the death of his political career and risking the future of his country. Ironically he gambled too early in his career, to stave off a crisis brewing within his own party ranks, where the Conservatives were split in the middle, while the opposition Labour party was too weak and too diffuse in spelling out unequivocally the damage that this would bring. Their contrarian advocacy was too little too late, revealing an inept leadership in Corbyn and was lost in the eurosceptic rhetoric gaining ground and astutely manipulated by Farage and Johnson who could well be the next to succeed Cameron in October, yet another unprecedented departure from a two-party convention running in Britain for the last six centuries.

ng of the end?

By Malay Mishra

Reminds me of the epic story, ‘Mahabharata’ on which we Indians have all grown up. When the pious Pandu prince Yudhisthira staked his all (including his wife Draupadi, the common wife of all five brothers) in a game of dice, leading to a ferocious battle, at the end of it both sides, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, nursing a pyrrhic victory on their journey to salvation, lay dead, leading in course of time to the conclusion of an age in the linearity of time. A poignant Sanskrit shloka (hymn) has epitomized the epic’s kernel, ‘Vinash kaale viparita buddhi’, meaning, in times of destruction the conscience fails.

The repercussions of Brexit cannot be gauged overnight, not even in a year or two. The very process of UK’s disentanglement from the EU will take years, though the latest fly in Britain’s ointment, Scotland, has threatened to torpedo the Brexit verdict through its domestic legislation while demanding a second referendum for Scotland’s independence, ostensibly to regain the latter’s membership in the EU. The British Union’s dismemberment does not seem far while the process of dismemberment of the European Union could have just begun.

The Brexit shock pulverized financial markets around the world, wiping off $2 billion global stocks at one go while the Indian sensex immediately plunged by 605 points. With all 800 or more Indian companies facing exposure in the UK being hit in varying degrees, Tata’s the most, it will take a long while to recover, more so as London renegotiates all extant financial, legal, labour and political arrangements with EU institutions and entities. Obviously the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations will be pushed to the backburner, not to talk about the India-EU Free Trade talks stalled since 2013.

The Indian Government has sounded defiant with both the Finance Minister and RBI Governor harping on the old tunes of ‘strong macro-economic fundamentals’, ‘strong short-term and medium-term firewalls’ and ‘enough liquidity in the system’ to withstand such an anticipated crisis. On an objective evaluation, however, it is prudent to conclude that the jury is still not out on the cumulative impact of Brexit on the Indian economy, just when it was beginning to go strong on its unprecedented GDP growth, even statistically beating the Asian dragon.

The possible adverse effects in the European theatre cannot be underestimated either. No sooner were the results out, there has been clamour from several European capitals, Rome, Paris, the Hague, Copenhagen, and even

Berlin for such referendums in their own countries. Europe could well be caught in the tail winds of an extreme form of right-wing populism riding on the waves of anti-immigration, anti-terrorism, national income and job security and worst of all, to hell with human rights, the leitmotif hitherto of the EU. Sadly enough Brexit has also sounded the death knell of globalization, ironically from the very country which was one of its earliest torchbearers. And localization is the new mantra which threatens to sweep aside the concept of an integrated sovereign whole to speak for Europe.

Though Russia could theoretically stand to gain out of this crisis, it doesn’t look like, for in the final instance Russia is as much dependent on Europe for its basic imports as Europe from Russia. The factors of immigration, refugees, terrorism, EU’s excessive regulatory regime and interference of Brussels in the policies of member countries and in the case of Britain, highly disproportionate budget share to the actual benefits accrued from EU membership combined to make a tragic cocktail of jingoism which shook the length and breadth of Britain, and the world at large. In fact, the dastardly killing of Labour MP Jo Cox days before the referendum with the assailant screaming ‘Britain first’ should have signalled the potency of the danger. Providentially, the genie of euroscepticism is out of the bottle and cannot be contained any longer. No wonder extreme-right mavericks like Donald Trump are laughing all the way to the next golf course. The blow of direct democracy has hit the mother of parliamentary democracies real hard, and the ❐ world will not be the same again.

—The author, a former ambassador, has served in Senegal, Mauritius, Seychelles, France, Germany, Iran, Trinidad, USA and Hungary. He can be reached at malay.mishra55@gmail.com

july 2016 | india empire

7

COVER STORY: BRITAIN’S EXIT FROM E.U.

BREXIT—IMPACT ON INDIAN DIASPORA FROM ARRANgED MARRIAgE TO DIvORCE

By Kul Bhushan and Shamlal Puri

Mr Karam Bharij

Mr Dushyant Tanna

Arranged marriage is a fact of life for the Indian diaspora everywhere. When it breaks up, as in Brexit as Britain decides to leave the European Union (EU), the Indians know the pain and the after thoughts. After the Brexit or breakup decision, the spouse thinks, “Was it that bad? Can we give it another try?’

A superstore sales woman in London, Maya Sarna, said this referendum split many NRI families with one half wanted to vote in and other half staying out. “I voted out and now after seeing the massive problems the out vote has sparked off including the possibility of taxes going up. I feel it was a wrong decision. I was misled by the media and my colleagues who kept pushing the immigration line. I would be very happy if the referendum is either reversed or held again. I am sure that like me, many of us who voted out will reconsider their decision.” She expected the EU to tighten on travel restrictions for Britons when previously, one just had to flash one’s passport and walk through the open borders.

A majority of Asians are disappointed with the outcome of the Brexit Referendum on 23 June while a minority celebrated Britain’s exit. This is not what a majority of NRIs and even Prime Minister Cameron had bargained for.

Many Britons, including Asians, are pointing out that Cameron’s gamble to please a section of the community had badly backfired as he was confident that the country would remain in the EU and that voters will prove detractors wrong as happened in the referendum for the independence of Scotland.

Coventry-based photojournalist Karam Bharij said Britain’s bickering to leave the EU received a big impetus after the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open border policy which opened the floodgates to unwelcome migrants, a majority of whom were not even genuine but were chasing free money from the British social security system.

“This put an unnecessary burden on the British National Health Service’s free medical care normally available to taxpaying Britons.” Additionally, he said, “the recent onslaught of IS attacks in Europe had generated fear that even Britain could be a target from Europe-based terrorists.”

The icing on the cake of Britain’s exit is that British en8

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Mr Kenny Bhogal

Mr Chaman Lal Chaman

trepreneurs including those from the diaspora will be able to do business globally unhindered by EU’s draconian laws decided in Brussels. He said that now conglomerates like Tata Steel may be able to resurrect their business in the UK in the fervent hope that the country will rein in cheap Chinese steel imports.

“One danger that we can foresee now is the rise of right wing political parties in Britain to assert their newly-found Britishness.” He warned that current political happenings are a wakeup call for Kenyan diaspora in Britain to fully integrate in the British society fearing that there could new calls for those who fail to integrate to quit Britain.”

Radio broadcaster Chaman Lal Chaman said, “Yes British Indians voted in large numbers, though I do not have any figures to support my claim on ethnicity – in fact non is available – my visit to a couple of polling stations indicated a steady flow of black and Asian voters despite heavy rain.

Chaman added, “The labour Party including Vaz, Virender Sharma, Sidiq Khan and all labour members followed the party line and voted to REMAIN while Priti Patel as a Tory Minister opposed her Leader like Boris Johnson and many others.

Majority of small scale business community seem to have welcomed the exit as they were fed up with the EU bureaucracy—you remember those circulars from these Babus sending guidelines like “bananas” should be straight and beer should produce a certain height of “froth” when poured into a glass. Younger Asian professionals wanted to REMAIN as there were greater opportunities in the EU.” Many Goans will be badly affected by Brexit. About 20,000 have come to Britain from Goa as Portuguese citizens. How? The Goan has to prove that he/she was born in Goa when Goa was a Portuguese colony. They then apply for a passport via the Portuguese Consulate in Goa which takes a few months or a year. Once they have a Portuguese, they fly to Lisbon and on to London as EU citizens.

Said Mervyn Maciel, a Goan retiree living in London, “I hear that Goa is making contingency plans to welcome back any Goan feeling unwelcome in the UK.” Divorce proceedings get going soon and the pain ❐ endures.

COVER STORY: BRITAIN’S EXIT FROM E.U.

IMPACT ON DIASPORA Britain’s exit from the European spells uncertainty. There is a chance of growing intolerance against Asian and eastern European immigrants among those who voted in favour of the exit

B

By Anasudhin Azeez in London

ritish voters have spoken and they have spoken clearly and loudly to exit from the European Union. The next three months will be crucial for the country when the new team at 10 Downing Street begins their talks to find out new deals to protect the country's interests. But the question is how united the Kingdom will be to begin the talks.

The Balkanisation has already started as Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has mentioned a Second Independent Referendum and Northern Ireland First Deputy Minister Martin McGuinness seeks a vote on an Irish border for a United Ireland. English and Welsh voters chose immigration over the economy, and, perhaps inadvertently, switched allegiance from Prime Minister David Cameron to a group of largely untested right-wingers who have no plan for managing the political—and potentially, economic— chaos that will now ensue. The prime minister has quit and the opposition leader is facing a trust vote. Cameron is a victim of his own success. His targets to meet the net migration failed because the economy was doing well to prevent more to leave Britain. It also attracted thousands to its shores to test their luck and find better opportunity.

IMPACT ON INDIANS The immigration issue was about numbers coming from Eastern Europe -- about people who don't have English as their first language. But no more. Now not just the eastern European, but anyone with a black or brown face knows that their nationality will be regularly questioned, even when they are born in the UK and speak Cockney or Mancunian. After an appalling referendum campaign, dominated by daily front-page stories regarding migrant invasion, there is no surprise if people ask a differentlyskinned person about their trip back to “home country”.

The impact of Brexit on three million British Asians, especially the 1.6 million Indians, will be enormous. They are one of the most successful communities in Britain. The ABCD (Accountant, Barrister, Chemist and Doctor) culture of British parents produced so many of them. There are over 60,000 Indian doctors working in the National Health Services besides nearly 20,000 nurses, majority from 10 india empire | july 2016

the south Indian state of Kerala.

The Brexit victory has polarised the country and it will make the situation worse at public and work places. The campaign crossed the decency at various stages and it fell when the UKIP leader unveiled the controversial poster with Syrian refugees.

For the average voter, immigration was the main issue.

Except London, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the issue played a crucial factor in their decisions. That makes every one of us vulnerable. The issue may be on Eastern Europeans, but next will be us. The Black and Ethnic Minority Community have a reason to worry. When the campaigns were hijacked by right-wing politicians and their followers, the future is tense for British Asians.

The hardworking plumbers and unskilled workers were taunted in the streets with a question about their return journey. Don't feel lucky. It may be your turn next. The country has polarised. The immigrant population is the reason for all the trouble. They are ignoring the fact that thousands of doctors from India are shoring up the ailing health services; IT experts from India are running the country smoothly and skilled and unskilled workers from Eastern Europe are running the factories to meet their deadlines and targets. If things worsen they will blame you.

Give a dog a bad name and hang it.

The Brexit camp's win in the referendum is the victory of feelings over facts. The Brexit camp won on three factors—Immigration, the 350 million pound weekly fee to the EU club and the so-called Brussels Bureaucracy. All are built on wrong facts and figures. Brexit leaders like Nigel Farage have the audacity to call it an Independence Day. He doesn't know the history of this great country. The country has survived invasions and major wars. Some deals on paper won't turn the country into a colony.

Cameron is a victim of his own success and passion to fulfil promises. Some are still wondering why he called the referendum in the first place. His plan to end his party's Europe issue once and for all backfired on a scale of historic proportions. He was let down by the people who were very close to him. They put their personal interest before the country's long term progress.

This is the time to take stock of the situation. Nobody

can ignore the Brexit camp's agenda. One agrees with the complaint that EU is a remote, mammoth institution without any sense of compassion to set rules, laws and regulations. But they are doing some good deeds also. Worker's rights and struggling farmers were the beneficiary of EU reforms. Research facilities, art centres, community establishments wouldn't have cropped up across Britain, if EU

was not there to fund them. They were wrong. But leaving them is not a solution. They were wrong on uncontrolled immigration. There must be some system to monitor the criminals and the people who want to exploit the benefit system. But they were not listening. If you are not listening, you have to pay the price. That is what we are seeing in Britain now. ❐

ECONOMy wIll ShRINk

By Rami Ranger in London

Brexit has stunned the world including those who voted to leave the European Union. They took an emotional, rather than a pragmatic decision. They underestimated the fallout from the exit in terms of the economy and union with Scotland and N. Ireland. Undoubtedly, the economy will shrink, sterling has become weaker, share prices are low and Britain will now attract less foreign investment. Unfortunately, loss of world’s biggest single market of 500 million affluent consumers will be hard to replace.

Companies like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Fujitsu and Samsung came to Britain due to the fact that Britain was a part of the European Union. Now such companies, understandably, will invest in countries which are still part of the single market. More importantly, Britain’s influence in the world will also diminish to say the least. Britain cannot now threaten any country like Russia with sanctions if it did not behave it-

self as it could being part of the European Union.

Countries which were allies will now become rivals each fighting for its corner against Britain rather than fighting in unison for common goals. As far as immigration is concerned, it is a fallacy to think Britain can stop immigration in view of the fact that British population is aging and the birth rate is declining.

Britain needs migrants to grow its economy as it has done for centuries. Countries like India were benefitting more whist Britain was a part of the European Union as the companies could base their Head Quarters in the UK and do business freely in the Europe Union. People from India could always come to the UK with right qualifications.

—Dr Rami Ranger, CBE, Chairman of Sun Mark Ltd. and Sea Air and Land Forwarding Ltd. has received 6 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and 2 Royal Honours from the Queen, a British record

july 2016 | india empire

11

lAW AND DIPlOMACY COlUMN

FDI POLICY: An OVErVIEW

India is now the most open economy in the world for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In June 2016, the Union Government radically liberalized the FDI regime, the second major reform after significant changes in November 2015. For the benefit of Foreign Investors, the author provides a broad overview of the new FDI policy

By K K Anand

Lot of action is expected in the coming few months in the light of foreign players who have been waiting on the sidelines for this policy regime to come." —Partner at a top international consultancy

A

part from being a critical driver of economic growth, foreign direct investment (FDI) is a major source of non-debt financial resource for the economic development of India. Foreign companies invest in India to take advantage of relatively lower wages, special investment privileges such as tax exemptions, etc. For a country where foreign investments are being made, it also means achieving technical know-how and generating employment.

The Indian government’s favourable policy regime and robust business environment have ensured that foreign capital keeps flowing into the country. The government has taken many initiatives in recent years such as relaxing FDI norms across sectors such as defence, PSU oil refineries, telecom, power exchanges, and stock exchanges, among others.

According to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the total FDI investments India received in FY 2015-16 (April 2015-March 2016) was US$ 40 billion, indicating that government's effort to improve ease of doing business and relaxation in FDI norms is yielding results.

FDI in India witnessed an increase of 29 per cent and reached US$ 40 billion during April 2015-March, 2016 as compared to US$ 30.93 billion in the same period last year.

India has also overtaken China as world's top foreign direct investment (FDI) destination with US$ 63 billion of FDI announced in 2015 including high-value project an26 india empire | july 2016

nouncements across the coal, oil and natural gas, and renewable energy sectors.

Budget 2016-17 has proposed several reforms in FDI Policy in areas of insurance and pensions, asset reconstruction companies and stock exchanges, such as easier governing and fund raising norms, clarification of tax related matters and higher FDI limits.

In order to make India a more attractive foreign investment destination, the Ministry of Finance is planning to introduce the residency permit policy, which will allow key executives of foreign companies making investments worth US$ 2 billion or more in India, to avail various facilities such as special package on upscale housing, residency permits allowing long stay in the country, and cheap rates for utilities.

The Government of India recently relaxed the FDI policy norms for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Under this, the non-repatriable investments made by the Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and NRIs will be treated as domestic investments and will not be subject to FDI caps.

In last two years, Government has brought major FDI policy reforms in a number of sectors viz. Defence, Construction Development, Insurance, Pension Sector, Broadcasting Sector, Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Cardamom, Palm Oil Tree and Olive Oil Tree Plantations, Single Brand Retail Trading, Manufacturing Sector, Limited Liability Partnerships, Civil Aviation, Credit Information Companies, Satellites- establishment/ operation and

of five years’ total value of the Asset Reconstruction Companies. goods purchased. This is to ensure Under the Modi Government the that they manufacture in India rather first big initiative for radical changes in FDI Policy was taken in November, than making profits through just 2015. The second radically liberalized trading activities. regime was announced on June 20, In defence, foreign investment be2016. The second phase includes yond 49 per cent (and up to 100 per changes in sectors including pharmacent) has been permitted through the ceuticals, defence, aviation, e-comgovernment approval route, in cases merce and single brand retail. These resulting in access to modern technoldecisions were announced with a view ogy in the country. The condition of to make India more investor friendly access to ‘state-of-art’ technology in and an attractive FDI destination. the country has been done away with, “The decision will take immediate as many foreign investors had comeffect,” the Department of Industrial plained about the ambiguity regarding Policy and Promotion (DIPP) said in a that term. press note.

The government has permitted ● The changes in the policy include 100 per cent FDI in India-based airallowing 100 per cent FDI under lines. However, a foreign carrier can Mr K K Anand government approval route for only own up to 49 per cent stake in trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of the venture, and the rest can come from a private infood products manufactured and/or produced in India. vestors including those based overseas. This is expected ● To attract investment in the defence sector, the gov- to bring in more funds into domestic airlines. To boost ernment has removed the condition of ‘state-of-art’ airport development and modernization, 100 per cent technology, besides permitting foreign investment in FDI in existing airport projects has been allowed without government permission, from 74 per cent permitted so manufacturing of small arms and ammunitions. ● The government has also permitted 100 per cent FDI far. The move comes close on the heels of the new civil through automatic route in broadcasting carriage serv- aviation policy that relaxed norms for domestic carriers to fly abroad. ices like teleports, direct-to-home and mobile TV. “Today’s FDI reforms will give a boost to employment, ● In a significant reform move, the government allowed job creation and benefit the economy. This is major (FDI) 100 per cent FDI in airlines and relaxed norms for reform after the last radical changes announced in Novemoverseas investments in brown-field airports. ber 2015,” Mr. Modi said in a tweet in June 2016. ● In private security agencies, FDI limit was raised to 74 But taking into account its Make in India initiative aimed per cent from 49 per cent earlier. ● In single-brand retail trading, the government said the at promoting manufacturing, the government sought to mandatory local sourcing norm for foreign firms “will streamline the waiver from local sourcing norms under sinnot be applicable up to three years from commence- gle-brand retail to companies with state-of-the-art and cutment of the business i.e opening of the first store for ting edge technology. entities undertaking single brand retail trading of prod- ● It limited the exemption to three years, with the option ucts have ‘state of art’ and ‘cutting edge’ technology of a subsequent five-year extension, to encourage such and where local souring is not possible“. manufacturers to source from India.

After completion of the exemption period, the foreign ● The exemption to firms with state-of-the-art and cutcompany in the next five years will have to meet the doting- edge technology will be limited to eight years, said mestic sourcing norm at an annualized average rate of 30 Mr Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of Inper cent. Thereafter, they have to comply with the norm on dustrial Policy and Promotion, adding that the governan annual basis. The DIPP also notified the changes in ment will inform Apple Inc. about the new changes. pharmaceuticals, in which government has allowed FDI up ● Apple, the maker of iPhones and iPads, was among the to 74 per cent through automatic route and beyond that few companies that had sought a waiver from the under government approval. The government has also remandatory sourcing norms from the government to enlaxed the norms in animal husbandry sector. FDI into the able it to open exclusive Apple stores. country grew by 29 per cent to $40 billion in 2015-16.

With the latest wave of significant and radical changes However, the government has tightened rules for such in the FDI policy it is genuinely hoped that there would be companies producing items with cutting-edge and state- considerable ease of doing business in the county leading to of-art technology - by giving them only a three-year blan- larger FDI inflow contributing to growth of investment, inket exemption from the 30 per cent local sourcing norm comes and employment.. ❐ over and above the five years where the 30 per cent pro—The author is Founder and Managing Partner of Anand Law curement requirement would have to be met as an average Practice. He can be rached at Kamalkanand@anandlawpractice.com july 2016 | india empire 27

VIEWS OF gOVERNMENT PiCtures © siPrA DAs

MInISTErS TO InDIA EMPIrE All people of our nation also have a responsibility towards handicapped people as we have a culture of “live and let live” philosophy and are based on principles of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.

—Mr Thawar Chand Gehlot Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment

Look, today, chemical, petrochemical and fertilizer industries form the backbone for India’s food and economic security. Our food security depends on fertilizer security and, therefore, we need to create a vibrant fertilizer industry.

On the other hand our chemical and petrochemical industry is the backbone of the entire manufacturing segment of the country.

—Mr Ananth Kumar Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers

In the long term we would like to boost domestic production. Presently we import about 75 per cent of our requirement of crude oil. There are plans to cut down on this import so that we can save the country valuable foreign exchange. But in order to augment and step up domestic production, plenty of exploratory activities need to be taken up.

—Mr Dharmendra Pradhan Minister of State (IC) for Petroleum and Natural Gas

Our priority is to improve infrastructure and fill up vacancies at the district level forums, because that is where 90 per cent of the cases are filed. We have also now mandated that if a case is not admitted within 21 days, it will automatically be considered an FIR so that the consumer does not suffer.

—Mr Ram Vilas Paswan Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

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Comments at sayantanc@gmail.com

BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE

BUSINESS AND gOVERNANCE

UP: rS 300 CrOrE TOUrISM The central Government in June cleared tourism projects worth over Rs 300 crore “in-principle” in Uttar Pradesh under the Ramayan and Shri Krishna Circuits.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Tourism and Culture Minister Mr Mahesh Sharma. Under Ramayana Circuit, 11 destinations—Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringhverpur and Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar and Darbhanga (Bihar), Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Hampi (KarMr Mahesh Sharma nataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)— have been proposed. The expert committee also suggested to include Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Nashik and Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Mahendragiri (Odisha) in the proposed circuit. Under Shri Krishna circuit, 12 destinations spread across five states have been proposed. These are: Dwarka (Gujarat); Nathdwara, Jaipur and Sikar (Rajasthan); Kurukshetra (Haryana), Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon and Govardhan (Uttar Pradesh) and Puri (Odisha).

EMCS In BEnGAL The West Bengal government will set up two electronics manufacturing clusters (EMCs) at Falta in South 24 Parganas and at Naihati in North 24 Parganas. “We will set up two new electronics manufacturing clusters at Falta and Naihati with a cost of Rs 58 crore each. About 58 acres of land has been allotted to the Falta project and the latter will be set up over 70 acres of land,” said West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation's (Webel) Executive Director (Finance) Aninda Chatterjee. “The Falta project has already Mr Aninda Chatterjee been approved by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (Deity) and for the Naihati project, we have got in-principle approval last week but final approval is yet to receive,” he said. Webel, the state government agency responsible for technology development, will propose to the state government to create a VC fund with a corpus of Rs 10 crore. “We will propose to create the VC fund with a corpus of Rs 10 to promote start-up ecosystem. It is in a conceptualise stage,” Chatterjee said at the ICTE B2B Linkages organised by CII. He said nine IT (Information Technology) parks have been completed. Two will be completed shortly and another five parks are in the various stages of construction.

ASSAM CM MEETS PM

Assam CM meets Prime Minister Modi Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for financial support to the state over a period of five years to boost revenue generation efforts of the state Government.

Sonowal met the Prime Minister in New Delhi in June and submitted a memorandum and White Paper on the state's finances. This was the first meeting between the two leaders after Sonowal took charge as Assam Chief Minister. During their 25-minute meeting, the Chief Minister pointed out the state's precarious financial condition with about Rs 10,000 crore committed liabilities it has inherited from the previous Government.

Sonowal said the state Government has been shifting focus to augment internal resources without depending on the central Government alone.

“However, the state's existing precarious financial position has necessitated special support from the Centre, more so during the transitional phase,” Sonowal said.

ODIShA CLEArS InVESTMEnT PrOPOSALS The Odisha Government has approved two projects with an investment of Rs 1,002 crore.

The Single Window Clearance Authority (SWCA) chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi cleared the two projects which are likely to generate employment for about 1,000 people in the state. The first proposal was of the BMW Industries Limited (BMWIL) to set up a steel processing unit at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district with an investment of Rs 900 crore, said Industry Secretary Sanjib Chopra. It would

30 india empire | july 2016

generate direct employment for 602 people, he said. The proposed project would come up over 100 acres of land to produce colour coated steel sheets and galvanised steel tubes.

Besides, Chhattisgarh-based LL Logistics Pvt Ltd has proposed to set up a logistics park at Indranipatna near Choudwar in Cuttack district. The company will invest Rs 102 crore and employ 460 people in its unit, Chopra said. The company would set up warehouse, container facilities and cold storage in 70 acres of land.

Mr Aditya Prasad Padhi

BUSINESS AND gOVERNANCE

VOICE WPI INFlATION DATA Commenting on the latest inflation numbers, FICCI said that the WPI based inflation rate inched up to 0.3% in April 2016, after remaining in the negative zone for 17 consecutive months. While some price pressure is noted in case of select food items, we don’t foresee any significant change in the near term in the inflation trajectory. While the latest monsoon forecast shows a delay by about a week, we hope that the meteorological department’s overall prediction will hold and would provide reprieve in the months ahead.

vorable but at the same time zero tariffs would also hurt the economy. Hence, the industry needs to recommend appropriate tariff rates that the government could propose.

COrN PrODuCTIvITy FICCI said that there is a need to enhance the productivity of maize while increasing the income of the farmers. The state governments along with various stakeholders were making a conscious effort towards this end. The government was cognizant of the needs of the maize sector and the annual Maize Summit was Dr A. Didar Singh IIP DATA an effort to bring to fore the global and It is evident from the data now that the weak consumer domestic scenario of maize and issues confronting the maize and investment demand has started impacting the growth of supply chain. manufacturing more than exports. The growth in manufacturing may take more time to pick up. It’s therefore impor- DeFeNSe PArTNerSHIP tant that the Government holistically addresses the issues FICCI welcomes the bipartisan support to the initiative related to manufacturing by a high level institutional mech- taken by Representative George Holding (R-NC) to instituanism involving all departments and States, stated FICCI. tionalize the Indo-US defense relationship through an The growth in manufacturing for the last year is disap- amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, pointing and emphasizes the need for more deep rooted re- which was passed by the House on May 18. forms for the sector to make its growth sustainable in the long run.

NATIONAl CAPITAl gOODS POlICy Congratulating the Department of Heavy Industry for NeW IPr POlICy coming out with the first National Capital Goods Policy, FICCI welcomes the announcement of the much- FICCI stated that it was happy to see the roadmap for the awaited IPR Policy for India. The Policy correctly identifies Capital Goods sector in India and its recognition as a strateIP as a strategic tool for furthering India’s economic goals gic sector. and therefore recommends for the effective protection of IP rights as an essential element for making optimal use of BANKruPTCy BIll IN rAJyA SABHA innovative and creative capabilities of its people.

The passage of bankruptcy bill is a perfect example of constructive cooperation in the Parliament towards ecogDP grOWTH eSTIMATeD AT 7.7% FOr 2016-17 nomic progress, said FICCI. Bankruptcy Act is a much The results of latest round of FICCI’s Economic Out- needed legislation for industry that would greatly help relook Survey puts across a median GDP growth forecast of solve issues pertaining to speedy winding up of insolvent 7.7% for the fiscal year 2016-17. The growth in 2016-17 is companies, lowering NPAs and redeployment of capital proexpected to be supported by an improvement in the agricul- ductively. tural and industrial sector performance. Prediction of a good monsoon after two consecutive years of sub-optimal rain- BAN ON DIeSel veHICleS IN DelHI fall backs the improved outlook in the current fiscal.

While respecting the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order on ban on diesel cars above 2000cc and diesel public taxis, gOverNMeNT urgeS INDuSTry FICCI feels that the lack of clarity in the policy and such The Ministry of Commerce and Industry assured Indian stringent measures could result in uncertainty that would imindustry that the government was in favor of liberalization pact the image of the country as a preferred investment desbut at the APEC negotiation table it would be the voice of tination besides impacting a large number of entrepreneurs ❐ moderation. India understands that high tariffs are not fa- who have entered the travel industry. july 2016 | india empire 31

BUSINESS AND gOVERNANCE

CII: InCrEASInG FUEL EFFICIEnCY Proper selection of materials used in the automobile industry can cut a vehicle's overall weight and consequently increase fuel efficiency, the Confederation of Indian Industry's Corrosion Management Committee (CII-CMC) has said.

“Material selection is crucial in many ways. With every 10 per cent cut in a vehicle's gross weight, fuel economy improves by seven per cent. Lightweight materials offer great potential for increasing vehicle efficiency,” V.R. Krishnan of CII-CMC said in a statement here. “Corrosion is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges faced by automotive industry, and is probably one of the single largest factor causing exterior degradation of automotive surfaces, resulting in huge warranty claims that the automobile manufacturers have to face,” the release said.

Corrosion in automobiles leads to loss of material, leading to failure and breakdowns, dimensional inaccu-

racy, degradation of aesthetics, deterioration of mechanical properties and increase in maintenance costs, he added. While corrosion causes losses of around Rs 80,000 crore every year in India, of which the automotive industry accounts for Rs 4,000 crore, it is estimated that 25-40 per cent of costs could be saved by implementing proper corrosion management practices, the release said. “Investment in preventive methods is more cost-effective than spending on repairs and maintenance later, which account for $2.5 billion and $6.5 billion respectively,” said Kamachi Mudali, CII-Faraday Council of Corrosion chairman and associate director of corrosion (Science and Technology Group), Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. The CII study estimated that direct costs of corrosion across the world exceeds $2.2 trillion, “which is about 3-4 per cent of the gross domestic product of industrialised countries”.

ASSOChAM: ChEAP FUEL ErA OVEr With international oil prices climbing back to over USD 50 levels, driving around on cheap fuel seems to be a thing of the past though there is no danger of “hard times” as yet, Assocham has said. “The party time on driving around on cheap fuel seems to be over, though there is no danger of hard times as yet even though the automobile fuel has witnessed about 20 per cent increase in the recent past,” the industry chamber said on the basis of a recent study. “While the crude oil prices have shot up by about 20 per cent in the last few months, the auto fuel prices at the filling stations have increased between 12-18 per cent in different cities, depending on the state levies,” said the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India. “A sharp increase in the retail prices of automobile fuel, particularly diesel, will have a cascading impact on the prices of a large number of con-

sumer items, building the inflationary pressure and making the task of the Reserve Bank of India difficult in moderating the interest rates,” it added. Noting the price of petrol in Delhi this year has touched Rs 63.20 per litre in June from Rs 56.61 in March, Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat, while releasing the paper, said: “If the crude oil prices further go up, the government should seriously think of rolling back the duties imposed when the prices touched rock bottom.” “The crude prices shot up from $25 to $50 per barrel in the last six months on the back of pick-up in demand from China, India and reduction in stockpiles in the US. “If the trends of rising prices continue, the profit margins could be hit since the corporate India is not in a position to pass on the rising raw material cost to the consumers even among the industrialised goods,” he added.

FInAnCIAL POWErS UPPED The Union Government has revised the financial limits of its ministries and departments, empowering ministers to clear projects worth up to Rs 500 crore—up from the earlier Rs 150 crore. “The financial power of the minister-in-charge for approval of non-plan schemes/projects has been enhanced and schemes/project costing less than Rs 500 crore can now be approved at his/her level,” a Finance Ministry statement said. “Earlier, the minister could approve projects costing less than Rs 150 crore. The Finance Minister shall be the competent financial authority for approving scheme/projects with financial implications of Rs 500 crore and above, but up to Rs 1,000 crore. “The proposal with financial limits of Rs 1,000 crore and above shall require the approval of the Cabinet/Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,” it said. Non-plan projects of less than Rs 300 crore can now be appraised by the ministry or the standing finance committee of the ministry concerned, the statement said.

32 india empire | july 2016

Mr Arun Jaitley

BUSINESS AND gOVERNANCE

Dell-Shiv NaDar CombiNe

SuNil mittal iS iCC Chair

Dell and Shiv Nadar University have signed an agreement to collaborate and drive research and innovation. Under this agreement, Dell will engage with faculty members at the university to mentor students and jointly work on technology projects in areas such as big data, cloud computing and Internet of Things. Through this partnership, Dell has set up Mr Shiv Nadar two laboratories jointly with the university to integrate theoretical concepts with practical experience. “The labs are a platform for us to collaborate with the faculty, and provide practical learning experiences for students on cutting-edge technology projects. Businesses today evolve at a rapid pace and technology acts as a catalyst in helping businesses race ahead,” said Hemal Shah, Executive Director and Asia Pacific & Japan Chief Information Officer, Dell India.

“The Dell labs will enable our students to undertake original research in focused industry-relevant projects at the university,” said Rupamanjari Ghosh, Vice Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University. Located on a 286-acre campus in India's National Capital Region, Shiv Nadar University was established by the Shiv Nadar Foundation in 2011 through Act no 12 of 2011 of State Legislature of Uttar Pradesh as a State Private University. Mr Shiv Nadar, Founder and Chairman HCL and Shiv Nadar Foundation says “If there is a tool that can empower individuals and narrow the socio-economic, rural-urban divide, I believe that it is transformational education...”

Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been elected Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), an official statement has said. Mittal will take over from Terry McGraw, Chairman Emeritus of S&P Global. The ICC World Council elected the new leaders in a voting held in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal “The global economy is facing unprecedented headwinds to growth and there is an urgent need to restore trade and investment as a driver of growth and jobs, particularly in the developing world and this will be a central focus of my tenure,” Mittal said after he was elected the chairman. The ICC is the world’s largest business organization which represents private-sector views to national governments and intergovernmental bodies around the world.

It advocates for free trade and the market economy, working through a network of national committees and direct members in over 130 countries. Mittal, who is also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, is also a member of the India-US, India-UK and India-Japan CEO Forums.

FiCCi to PartNer vibraNt Gujarat

bhatia New leNovo vP Chinese technology major Lenovo has announced the appointment of Sumir Bhatia as the company's new Vice President of Data Centre Group (DCG) for Asia Pacific. The announcement came after the “Lenovo Tech World 2016” event in San Francisco on June 9 where the company announced to deepen its Mr Sumir Bhatia focus on the data centre technology market. “Sumir is a valuable addition to our leadership team and we look forward to even more success with him at the helm,” said Ken Wong, Senior Vice President and President, Lenovo Asia Pacific, in a statement. Based in Singapore, Bhatia will report directly to Wong. Bhatia will take over the Asia Pacific DCG leadership responsibilities from Amar Babu. In his new role, Bhatia will drive the growth of Lenovo's data centre business across Asia Pacific and lead sales, product and go-to-market execution.

The Gujarat Government has appointed FICCI as the national partner for the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Industries Summit 2017 organised by the state's Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), an official statement has said. According to an official communication by iNDEXTb, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry has been appointed as the national partner and it would work closely with another premier industries body, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) for the biennial summit. The 8th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, with the core theme of “Connecting India to the World” will be held from January 10 to January 13, 2017, at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in the state capital Gandhinagar.

“It is a matter of pride for us that FICCI has been appointed as the national partner for Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017. This summit started by our Honourable Prime Minister when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat has come a long way since its inception,” said FICCI's Gujarat State Council Chairman Rajiv Vastupal.

july 2016 | india empire 33

BUSINESS AND gOVERNANCE

uK to PartNer KarNataKa

Coal miNeS to StateS

On his maiden visit here, new British High Commissioner to India, H.E. Dominic Asquith has said the UK wants to be 'a partner of choice' to Karnataka.

“I am delighted to be here in Bengaluru -- the IT City of India and this fact is recognised worldwide. Bengaluru recently featured in the top five global cities for global locations for innovaH.E. Mr Dominic Asquith tion,” said Asquith.

Meeting senior government officials, Indian companies and politicians in June, the high commissioner talked about promoting bilateral engagement in the realms of smart cities, skills and cyber security. Talking about investments, Asquith said: “Britain is the largest G20 investor in India. India -- the fastest growing major economy -- invests more in Britain than it does in the rest of the EU combined. We are seizing the opportunity to increase each other's prosperity.” Earlier, Asquith joined British Deputy High Commissioner Dominic McAllister to celebrate the Queen's Birthday Party (QBP) in Bengaluru.

McAllister said: “We are proud of the fact that UK was the first country to open a government office in the city.” According to him, UK is well positioned to be the 'partner of choice' for Karnataka. UK was a partner county to the state in the recently held 'Invest Karnataka' summit, where 23 UK companies showcased their products.

The Government will allocate 16 coal mines to state-run utilities for commercial mining

by September, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup has said. He told the Media that the Government expects to discover market-determined prices for coal through these mines production where is expected to start in another year or two after their allotment.

“There will no restriction on pricing from our end. We hope Mr Anil Swarup this will lead to discovery of market determined pricing of coal for the first time in the country,” Mr Swarup said. “Right now Coal India is determining the price. With another entity coming in, some sort of a market will be created and price discovery will happen,” he added. Of the 16 mines identified for commercial coal mining by state government-run utilities, eight will be given to the host state and eight will be available for public sector companies of other states. The host states for which eight mines have been reserved are Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal. “There are in all 16 blocks that are being put for allocation. Each of these blocks will be allocated to host states, that is where the mine is and the other set of 8 blocks will be allocated to states which are no host states,” the secretary said. The 16 mines have geological reserves of 2.137 billion tonnes and are expected to annually add an additional 40 million tonnes of coal production in the country.

oCi For FerNaNDeS

mahiNDra’S buS buSiNeSS

AirAsia Berhad Group CEO Tony Fernandes has received the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status from the Government of India. “I am also delighted to share that I have been granted the OCI status. India has always been close to my heart as my father was from this country and Goa is my ancestral homeland,” Fernandes was Mr Tony Fernandes quoted in a statement. “My father's posting brought him to Malaysia, but he never stopped talking about Goa and the rest is history. I landed in Goa for the first time during the inaugural flight of AirAsia India from Bengaluru to Goa and I take immense pride in that,” Fernandes said. Affirming the airline's commitment to India, he said, “Since then there has been no looking back and AirAsia's commitment to India has only kept growing stronger. We are here with a vision to revolutionise air travel in India and it is also our long term goal to link India to ASEAN and beyond.” AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia India and AirAsia Japan are the subsidiaries of Malaysian AirAsia Berhad.

Mahindra Trucks and Buses Ltd will relook into its bus business strategy in a year or two after roll out of Intermediate Commercial Vehicles (ICVs) is complete, a top company official has said. “We are currently focused on ICVs and new light commercial Vehicles (LCVs). We will take a relook on bus business in a year or two after the rollout of ICV is complete,” said Managing DiMr Nalin Mehta rector and CEO Nalin Mehta.

The company is at present focusing on implementing the ongoing Rs 700 crore project to rollout ICVs and more LCVs along with doubling market share in HCVs. The company planned to invest Rs 700 crore in three years, beginning last year for new ICV segment and broadening LCVs. In HCV segment, the company invested about Rs 1,000 crore. The company expects commercial vehicle demand to pickup. “Good monsoon, GST rollout and better roads will help drive growth,” Mr Mehta said, adding that the company aimed at doubling market share in HCVs in the current fiscal from 4 per cent. Mahindra currently operates in the 15-42 seater small bus segment with a market share about 8 per cent market share.

34 india empire | july 2016

BUSINESS AND gOVERNANCE

miCroSoFt, tCS to joiNtly meNtor

Mr Ravi Narayan, Global Director, Microsoft Accelerator (left) and Nagaraj Ijari, VP and Global Head, Hi Tech Industry Solutions Unit, TCS The technology arms of global software majors Microsoft and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have announced a joint initiative to mentor start-ups and engage with them to make innovate solutions for the global market. As access to markets and customers remains a challenge for Indian start-ups, the partnership will provide start-ups access to their networks and relationships across customers, investors, academia and industry, creating a value proposition in the enterprise marketplace. “The progress India has made in IT and entrepreneurship over the years changed the landscape offering new entrepreneurs unmatched opportunities. As one of the contributors to the start-up ecosystem in this country, we felt it was a story worth telling,” said Microsoft Accelerator global director Ravi Narayan, releasing an e-book on the “History of Indian Start-up Ecosystem” on the occasion.

Delhi iN toP 25 Delhi is the only Indian city—figuring at the 22nd spot—in US tech giant Dell's 2016 Women Entrepreneur Cities Index (WE Cities), listing the top 25 cities fostering high potential women entrepreneurs (HPWE). The top 5, according to the list released at the White House's Global Entrepreneurship Summit, are New York, San Francisco Bay Ms Karen Quintos Area, London, Stockholm and Singapore. Beijing figures at number 13. China's Hong Kong and Shanghai also make the list. “Our index provides insights to move the conversation with policymakers and city leaders from awareness to action and, in turn, to empower women entrepreneurs to have the greatest economic impact on the world,” said Karen Quintos, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Dell.

The company said the findings from WE Cities will be used as a springboard for conversation and change at the seventh annual Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network Summit (DWEN)—a global gathering of 200 of the top female entrepreneurs, business leaders, media and Dell partners.

2-wheelerS oN CNG

The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas (Independent Charge), Mr Dharmendra Pradhan and the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge), Mr Prakash Javadekar launching the Pilot Phase of CNG for Two Wheelers, at a function, in New Delhi on June 23, 2016 In a major step to curb rising air pollution in Indian cities, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas (I/C) Mr Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State (I/C) for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Mr Prakash Javadekar launched first of its kind Pilot Programme in the country to run two wheelers on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in New Delhi today. Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament, was also present on the occasion.

Welcoming the initiative, Mr Pradhan said that the Government is pro-actively striving to promote clean fuel in the country. He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, the Government is promoting the use of gas in the country, thereby providing a better lifestyle to the people and also fulfilling the COP-21 commitments to curb pollution. Mr Pradhan said that the Gas share in the country’s fuel basket is just 7% compared to world average of around 24%. Describing the pilot programme to run two wheelers on CNG as historic, he said that after evaluating its experience, it will be expanded very fast.

Expressing the Government’s commitment to Clean Delhi, the Minister said that he has already written to Delhi Government to make Bawana power plant fully operational on LNG so that cheaper and clean power is made available to residents of Delhi, but no satisfactory reply has been received. He said that 350 MW Badarpur Thermal power plant in the capital is making several times more pollution than all the vehicles of Delhi put together.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Prakash Javadekar said that the Government is fully committed to control pollution in the country, and for this purpose, there will be a jump from Euro-IV type fuel to Euro-VI by 2020. He said that Environment Ministry will fully support the endeavours to promote clean fuel, including Gas.

july 2016 | india empire 35

BUSINESS AND gOVERNANCE

iNveStmeNt DoubliNG iN CleaN eNerGy Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan led the Indian delegation at the 7th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM7) and the Inaugural Mission Innovation Meet at San Francisco, held in June. India has been a member of CEM since its inception and has joined 8 out of 13 CEM initiatives.

India is a Founding Member of the Steering Committee of the Mission Innovation and also a Dr Harsh Vardhan Member of the two sub-groups: Joint Research and Capacity Building and Private Sector Engagement. Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology is coordinating the national efforts towards the Mission. Dr Harsh Vardhan, while making the Mission Innovation Announcement at the Ministerial Panel, stated that the Mission Innovation (MI) is the noblest mission which will help humanity in the future. It is an effort to accelerate public and private global clean energy innovation, pursuing the goals set during the COP21 in Paris. In order to achieve this goal, all the MI partner countries have a shared desire to enhance the pace of innovation and scale of transformation through this clean energy revolution. They released their respective governments’ plans to double clean energy research and development funding over the next five years.

aruNaChal aND Pmo

The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Kalikho Pul meets with the Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Dr Jitendra Singh and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Kiren Rijiju, in New Delhi on June 10, 2016 The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Kiren Rijiju met the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Mr Kalikho Pul in June and discussed a wide range of issues related to Arunachal Pradesh. Mr Kalikho Pul sought the attention of Dr Jitendra Singh to the problem of air connectivity, to which Dr Jitendra Singh said that land had already been identified for an airport in Itanagar. In response to the CMD’s plea for building a railway corridor along the foothills in the State, Dr Singh said that the matter has been discussed with the Railway Minister Mr Suresh Prabhu and the plan is to have a broad-gauge railway track in the North-Eastern States.

SuStaiNable ChemiStry

Smart City miSSioN

The Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Mr Ananth Kumar inaugurated “CHEMINAR-2016” in New Delhi in June. The subject of seminar was “Sustainable Chemistry – India’s future growth story”.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kumar said that the Chemicals and Petrochemicals industry in the country is growing at the rate of 11 – 12 % and producing output Mr Ananth Kumar worth $200 billion annually.

He called upon the industry to target a growth rate of 14.7% per annum so as to double its output in next 5 years. He said the Government will facilitate in the growth story. Touching upon the issue of availability and cost of feedstock for these industries, he said that the Government can help in long term pricing contract with other countries for Natural Gas. Mr Kumar said that there are 22 refineries in the country, and there is a move to set up chemical hubs around them. This will result in savings as cluster approach can reduce costs. The projects need not be confined only to the Greenfield projects but also cover the Brownfield projects i.e. the projects already running at various places.

Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi kick started the flagship Smart City Mission into implementation mode in June with launch of 14 projects of Pune’s Smart City Plan, exactly a year after he set off the mission by releasing the Mission Guidelines. Prime Minister said that Smart City Mission is now succeeding as a peoMr Narendra Modi ple’s movement as envisaged. He expressed satisfaction over citizen participation in preparation of smart city plans of various cities with over 25 lakh people giving serious suggestions on MyGov.in. Mr Modi clarified that the central government did not select the smart cities but it was the citizens who enabled their selection in the ‘City Challenge Competition’. Mr Narendra Modi said that an era of competition has been ushered in for improving conditions in urban areas and urged the citizens to rise to the challenge for bettering the conditions in respective cities and towns. He complimented the team led by Minister of Urban Development Mr M.Venkaiah Naidu.

36 india empire | july 2016

DIASPORA NEWS

DIASPORA COlUMN

IndIan dIaSpora and pM ModI

By Inder Singh

T

here are about 30 million people of Indian origin in the global Indian Diaspora. They wield economic, intellectual and political clout in several countries of the world. A number of Indian origin politicians became the rulers and political leaders in several foreign countries.

The current Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, and former prime minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam of Mauritius, two former prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday (1995 -2001) and Kamla Persad-Bissessar (2010-15), three presidents of Guyana, Cheddy Jagan (1992-97), Bharrat Jagdeo (1999-2011) and Donald Ramotar (2011-15), two presidents of Singapore, C.V. Deven Nair (1981-85) and S.R. Nathan (1999-2011) are of Indian origin. Former Governor General of New Zealand, Anand Satyanand, former governor of Louisiana,(USA), Bobby Jindal, current Governor of South Carolina (USA), Nikki Haley, and current Defence Minister of Canada, Harjit Sajjanare are of Indian Origin.

The first Asian elected in 1956 as U.S Congressman was Dalip Singh Saund from India. There are several people of Indian origin who hold elected positions in the legislative bodies of their countries and some have occupied or are holding ministerial or other high ranking positions. People of Indian origin living in various parts of the world, are generally well educated and most of them hold professional positions or are engaged in their businesses. Some of the professionals and academics have earned coveted recognitions. Four of them, Har Gobind Khorana, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, V. S. Naipaul, and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, have been conferred the Noble Prize. Several others have earned name, fame and fortune in their professions and businesses.

In the United States, some Indian Americans currently hold positions as CEOs of large multinational corporations such as Adobe Systems, PepsiCo, Microsoft, Master Card, and others to mention a few.

Lakshmi Mittal and Hinduja brothers adorn the list of richest men in the United Kingdom. In the Middle Mr Inder Singh East, most of the Indian imChairman, migrants are semi-skilled GOPIO International 38 india empire | july 2016

workers, but about a dozen Indians are found in the list of billionaires.

The Indian diaspora abroad has a history going back to hundreds of years. They went overseas as traders, plantation workers, laborers, students and professionals. Those who went as indentured workers or laborers went through very hard times but those who migrated as skilled, educated and professional workers, mostly settled with better opportunities and became part of the mainstream.

Over the years, the migrant Indians kept and maintained close ties with India and its tradition, and preserved their Indian-ness. Most of them continued to help their families in India. In the past decades their annual remittances to their homeland have exceeded $70 billion. India is one of the largest beneficiary of Diaspora in the world. We have to look back to the era of former and present prime Ministers of India to understand and evaluate the link between Diaspora and Government of India.

In 1947, India gained independence from the British and Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister of India.

Whatever compulsions he had, he advised overseas Indians to identify themselves with the local population of the country of their settlement and seek no favor from India.

Some Prime Ministers who succeeded Nehru continued to be guided by the Nehruvian strategy. Thus India had a limited engagement with the diaspora during the first forty years of India’s independence.

The BJP Government lead by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee acknowledged the role of diaspora in India’s relationship with rest of the world and its unlimited resources to reshape India to march forward to progress. A B Vajpayee set up a high-level committee in September 2000 under L .M Singhvi, Member of Parliament and a former high commissioner to Britain, to look at all issues concerning non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin around the world. "The committee will also study how we can facilitate their (Indian community's) involvement in social, economic and technological transformation of India," he said. Vajpayee also sought to allay concerns over New Delhi's responses to situations when members of the Indian community have faced political and social hardship in the past, like in Fiji and Uganda.

The high-level committee submitted wide ranging recommendations. Some of them were accepted and implemented right away. In 2003, the first ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas,’ a Non-Resident Indian Day, was organized on Janu-

ary 7 to 9 and ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Samman’ awards were given to recognize the contributions of overseas Indians to India and to the country of their adoption. Since 2003, both the Divas and the awards have been the annual feature of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas which attracts hundreds of overseas Indians to participate in the event in India.

GOPIO wanted the establishment of an NRI ministry to look after the interests of global Indian Diaspora and presented a memorandum to Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee during their meeting in New York in 2003. A year later, in 2004, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up the new ministry, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs headed by Mr. Vayalar Ravi, a minister of cabinet rank. The Pravasi minister Mr. Vayalar Ravi did lot of useful work, and he established links between diaspora around the world. But unfortunately, instead of continuing and strengthening the Pravasi ministry, Narendra Modi government abolished the Pravasi ministry in 2016.

During the visit of an Indian prime minister, Indian embassies would organize formal receptions with a few dozen prominent overseas Indians. It was more of an opportunity of darshan than dialogue on issues of the community.

Prime Minister Modi started a new concept, courting and strengthening the diaspora. In Madison Square Garden arena, New York, he addressed about 20,000 people of Indian origin and promised to simplify the rules for obtaining a visa to India, a constant source of frustration in the overseas Indian community. He fulfilled his promise within a short period of returning to India.

During the last two years, Narendra Modi has addressed huge gathering of overseas Indian communities at Wembley Stadium in London, Madison Square Garden in New York, Allphones Arena in Sydney, International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, SAP Center in San Jose, Malaysia International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, and Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.

He also visited Nepal, Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

At all these places, Modi urged direct involvement of the diaspora in advancing India’s development through their financial and intellectual capital.

He wants to modernize India’s ageing infrastructure, clean-up Ganga river, make India garbage-free and build rural toilets. He is counting on the Diaspora to serve as a source of investment for these and other schemes. “He has effectively branded himself as a ‘man of action’ from humble origins, capable of eradicating byzantine bureaucracies, endemic corruption and abject poverty in India. His vision has resonated with the millions who left India precisely for these reasons but have still maintained close ties with their motherland and want him to succeed. Modi recently addressed the United State Congress and pledged to work with the US to achieve mutual progress. As a prime Minister Modi has visited and met more global leaders and Indian Diaspora than any other Indian leaders in the history of India. During the last two years Modi and US President Barack Obama have met several times and shared concerns and pledged to cooperate to build a better world for all.

Modi addressing the United States Congress

The 30-million Indian Diaspora has resources which can help Modi to fulfill his ambitious goals at home. They are capable of bringing more innovation to the India’s economy the same way as they helped transform India into information technology center of the world.

Indian Americans occupy positions of power, influence and significance in academia, business and politics and several hold high appointed positions in the government. They played a pivotal role in getting the civil nuclear deal passed from the U.S Congress a few years ago. It is the same agreement under which Prime Minister Modi during his June 2016 visit to USA got American firm Westinghouse to close a deal with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for setting up six reactors in Andhra Pradesh.

Overseas Indians have numerous achievements in their karmabhumi, developed clout and form a credible force.

They are capable of contributing money, time and technical expertise to programs and projects of their liking. Prime Minister Modi’s dialogue with the Indian Diaspora during his overseas visits is the best way to remind expatriate Indians about their Indian-ness and motivate them to help in the resurgence of India. ❐ —Inder Singh regularly writes on Indian Diaspora. He is the author of The Gadar Heroics—life sketches of over 50 Gadar heroes. He is Chairman of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). He was president of GOPIO from 2004-2009, president of National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) from 1988-92 and chairman from 1992-96. He was founding president of Federation of Indian Associations in Southern California. He can be reached at indersingh-usa@hotmail.com july 2016 | india empire 39

DIASPORA JOURNAlISM—KENYA

A Century of Indian Journalism Saga in Kenya

a

Kenya Indian journalists founded newspapers and magazines to demand human rights and freedom under colonial rule in the first half of the last century; and during the latter half showed professionalism and ingenuity to reach top positions.

Despite facing threats, prison, exile and deportation, they contributed to developing Kenya’s media in no small measure, writes Kul Bhushan

n Indian merchant, Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee, set up a newspaper, The African Standard, in Mombasa in 1901 to counter Anti-Asian racism by the existing British owned newspapers, East Africa and Uganda Mail. Within three years, the British owned paper went bankrupt. A year later, Jeevanjee sold it to two Englishmen who renamed it as East African Standard which is still in print.

Later on, other South Asians founded newspapers in Nairobi to fight for equal rights, self-government and freedom. Colonial Times and Daily Chroniclewere the early ones.

Girdhari Lal Vidyarthi, editor of the Colonial Times, was the first journalist to be jailed for sedition in Kenya. Two others followed suit. The colonial government charged the editor or journalist and fined the publisher or printer with sedition to intimidate and close down the offending paper. The journalists suffered rigorous imprisonment, exile and deportation and a well-known freedom fighter and editor Pio Gama Pinto was assassinated.

But they persisted in their fight for equality and human rights.

During the first half of the last century, Kenya’s South Asian journalists suffered under the British colonial rule but contributed to the independence struggle by publishing newspapers and magazines. After independence in 1963, the Indian owned newspapers and

1. Public spirited businessman Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee founded the first Indian owned newspaper in Kenya in 1901 to counter racial attacks by British owned newspapers and drove them out of business

40 india empire | july 2016

2. Fearless Indian editor G. L. Vidyarthi who struggled for human rights but was charged with sedition and jailed thrice. His son, Anil, was charged with sedition 45 years later but let off

3. Zarina Patel, the author of 'THE INBETWEEN WORLD OF KENYA'S MEDIA: South Asian Journalism, 1900 – 1992, is the granddaughter of A M Jeevanjee who founded the first Indian owned newspaper in Kenya . She has written numerous biographies of South Asians and is a human rights activist

magazines went out of print.

All this is presented in a magnificent new coffee table book, 'THE IN-BETWEEN WORLD OF KENYA'S MEDIA: South Asian Journalism, 1900 - 1992' by Zarina Patel (Zand Graphics) released on 19 April 2016 in Nairobi. The pre-independence era is mostly presented from archives while the stories of the freedom era journalists are mostly told by themselves or their relatives. Interestingly, the author Zarina Patel is the granddaughter of A. M. Jeevanjee, the founder of the first Asian newspaper. The author of a number of biographies of South Asians and a human rights activist, Zarina Patel took five years to collect personal stories of nine print journalists in the Kenya’s colonial era; and another 28 print journalists; 18 photographers; ten radio journalists in the independence era.

“There is a bullet with your husband’s name on it; get him out of Kenya as soon as possible,” the wife of a Kenya Indian editor, Cyprian Fernandes, was warned at work. At the peak of his career as Foreign Editor of the Nation, he left Kenya within a month. A socialist journalist who had gone to jail fighting for Kenya’s freedom, Pio Gama Pinto, was assassinated in broad daylight as he was leaving for office. Another, Pranlal Sheth, was deported while two, Karim Hudani and Chander Mehra, exiled themselves. Most shocking of all, Joe Rodrigues, editor in chief of the Nation newspaper group, was summarily sacked after 21 years of sterling service. Other Kenya South Asian journalists were regularly picked up for questioning by ‘the special branch’ of the police. Over 45 years after G. L Vidyarthi was imprisoned, his son, Anil, became the last Kenyan journalist to be charged with sedition to date. In 1998, Anil was acquitted after the sedition law was repealed from the Constitution. Among the print journalists in free Kenya, Joe Rodrigues stands out as he joined The Nation as a Sub Editor and rose to become the editor in chief purely on his professional capability and hard work. At the global level, he was elected the president of the

4. Top professional, Joe Rodrigues rose from a sub-editor to become the editor in chief of the Nation, the biggest newspaper in East Africa; and was elected the president of the International Press Institute but was dismissed after working for 21 years

International Press Institute. Another sub editor, Alfred Araujo became editor of the Sunday Nation, Cyprian Fernandes rose to the post of foreign editor, Kul Bhushan was appointed as the first business editor, Rashid Mughal became features editor after joining as a proof reader, Norman da Costa as sports editor, while Sultan Jessa and Sham Lal Puri made sterling contributions. This list is almost endless.

Press photographers and radio journalists have also been included as they played a major role during this century.

Three South Asian photographers, Mohamed Amin, Priya Ramrakha and Sir Mohinder Dhillon, made their mark on the global scene with their photo-coverage of Eastern Africa during this time. Priya Ramrakha and Mohamed Amin died in the call of duty; Sir Mohinder Dhillon decided to walk away from a torture scene deliberately extended for filming; 21-year old Mohinder Singh Marjara disappeared in the Congo and no search was ever mounted for him. These and many other cameramen have their tales and top photos here.

The air waves were dominated by Chaman Lal Chaman, Pritam Chaggar, Mussa Ayub, Sajjad and Darshi Shamshi, and others. The first Asian women print and radio journalists, Gaytri Sagar and Tochi Chaggar respectively, are included with due diligence. Why does the book stop at 1992?

Because then the air waves were liberalized and most of the earlier journalists had emigrated.

Journalists are normally writing or telling other people’s stories, here they are writing their own. In cases where the journalist was no more, relatives or colleagues stepped in.

Leafing through the book, an African journalist has commented: “I had no idea these guys existed. This book has secured their place in Kenyan history for posterity.” To label it as a magnum opus of Asian journalists’ saga in Kenya is ❐ an understatement.

—Kul Bhushan worked as a full time journalist and editor in Kenya for 40 years during this period and is included in this book.

5. Legend in his lifetime, Mohamed Amin covered African events for world media and produced over a dozen photo books for different countries and was honoured with numerous international awards. He died on duty during a hijack

6. Renowned photojournalist Sir Mohinder Dhillon covered East Africa for global media and was knighted for his contribution to draw the world’s attention to a famine in Ethiopia

july 2016 | india empire 41

DIASPORA IN WEST INDIES

PiCtures © KumAr mAhABir

YOgA In

CARIbbEAn

By Paras ramoutar

Y

oga can be the antidote to violence. With that message, Rolston Nelson, the acting Chief Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice, has urged the Trinidad Ministry of Education to introduce yoga in the school curriculum. Delivering the keynote address at the launch of Yoga Day held at Trinidad Hilton Hotel, Nelson said yoga can curb violence and indiscipline in the schools. Referring to incidents of crime, Nelson said: “If benefit of Yoga spreads among the population then we would be living in a much more humane and gentle society. I look forward to the Ministry of Education paying more attention to the science of Yoga.”

The International Yoga Day was observed on June 21.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the second International Yoga Day was observed between June 18 and 26 at 10 locations, including the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus and Divali Nagar. Deoroop Teemal, Chairman of the International Day of Yoga Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (IDYCTT) said 12 yoga groups participated in the International Yoga Day this year.

42 india empire | july 2016

According to Indian High Commissioner Gauri Shankar Gupta, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is partnering with the Ministry of Health, the United Nations and the IDYCTT. About 60 schools will hold Yoga classes in September, he said. Quoting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the High Commissioner said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian traditions. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change”.

“We would be happy to go into the high-risk schools and teach Yoga. At the end of the day, we would have healthier children. We are appealing to the government to come forward and cooperate with us,” he added.

Yvonne Lewis, Director of Health Education Division, Ministry of Health, said Yoga can keep one's body active.

Referring to the risks of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer and stroke faced by the people of Trinidad and Tobago, Lewis said: “These diseases account for over 60 per cent deaths every year. And 70 per cent of these diseases can be prevented.” ❐

INDIAN DIASPORA IN U.S.A. AND U.K.

Spirituality in loS angeleS Propounding the path of Bhagwan Mahavira, the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, Pujya Gurudev Shri Rakeshbhai is a spiritual visionary and a modern day mystic. An embodiment of universal compassion, he has touched thousands of lives in various countries through enlightening discourses and an array of meditation retreats steering a multitude of souls towards a spiritual way of life. Pujya Gurudevshri graced Los Angeles from June 17 to 20. A grand celebration commemorating His Golden Jubilee Year was organized at the Jain Center of Southern California. The celebrations included energetic dedications followed by the screening of a riveting film, ‘Unmoved Mover – A Mystic and His Mission’ on the life of Pujya Gurudevshri. The event was graced by many eminent personalities who felicitated the Gurudevshri, including International Vice President of Jain Social Group Federation and Beverly Hills chapter Founder President Rajendra Vora, Manubhai and Rikaben Shah of Sarva Mangal Trust, Corona City Council Member Randy Fox, Sister Gita from Brahma Kumaris, Bharatsinh Zala, Divyesh Patel, Ghanshyamsinh Zala and Kanubhai Patel from Swaminarayan Temple Chino Hills. Sister Gita of Brahma Kumaris welcomed Gurudevshri and shared with the audience that she is only a day older then Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai and requested Gurudevshri to visit more often to Los Angeles in spreading the message of Jainism.

Mr Rajendra Vora presenting US Congressional Recognition to Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai Jhaveri. Host Mr Mahesh Wadher is on right Rajendra Vora whose great grandmother Jabakben was Shrimad Rajchandra’s younger sister also welcomed Gurudevshri. “Today I am very fortunate to witness the celebrations and Unmoved Mover film, and watching it at the Trustee’s home of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur-USA Mahesh and Usha Wadher” he added and presented the U.S. Congressional Recognition to Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai Jhaveri.

SAnDhUrST DInnEr The British Sikh Association hosted a special dinner in June at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. It was hosted jointly with Academy’s Commandant, Major General Paul Nanson. The event was held to honour and acknowledge the contribution of Sikhs who have a long history of serving alongside the British Armed Forces. The dinner was attended by over 100 distinguished The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen; Dr. Rami Ranger CBE, guests including members Chairman of the British Sikh Association and The Rt. Hon. The Earl Howe PC, Minister of State for of the Armed forces of InDefence taking the salute from the Band of the Gurkhas dian origin. The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, presided over the Dr Rami Ranger CBE, Chairman of the the British Sikh proceedings along with Dr. Rami Ranger, Chairman of the Association said - “It is an honour and privilege for me to British Sikh Association, who took the salute. The Chief of be speaking from the Indian Army Memorial Room at the the General Staff addressed the guests and praised the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. A place from where ilcontribution of Sikh soldiers in both of the great wars. He lustrious soldiers are trained to defend our way of life at said they had distinguished themselves and had left a per- any cost to themselves”. Dr Virander Paul, Deputy High manent legacy of their bravery in British history.

Commissioner of India said that to speak at the dinner Major General Paul Nanson CBE, Commandant of the where British Sikhs and the wider British Indian armed Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, welcomed the guests forces personnel were present was a brilliant example of and said he was pleased to have the members of the Sikh the friendship India has with the United Kingdom. The community at Sandhurst. He mentioned the first ever Sikh Guest of Honour, the Rt. Hon. the Earl Howe PC, Minister of soldier who passed out from the Academy was Maharaja State for Defence spoke about the rich history of the Sikhs Duleep Singh who was an exceptionally good cadet. in the British armed forces. july 2016 | india empire 43

MIND AND BODY

WOrkInG WITh nGOs FOr MEnTAL hEALTh – InDIAn ExPErIEnCE Prof roy ABrAhAm KAllivAyAlil

P

sychiatrists in India are very busy. With only 6,000 in number for 1.3 billion populations (one psychiatrist for 2.2 lakhs) they are indeed scarce. India will urgently need another 7,000 psychiatrists to provide the bare minimum mental health services (for a ratio of one psychiatrist for 100,000 people). With under 500 post graduates in psychiatry coming out of our medical institutions every year, this is a distant dream and may take at least 50 years to materialize.

In such a scenario, how does a psychiatrist find time to work with NGOs? When our professional fraternity is too few in number, we will have to first rely on primary care doctors. In my view, NGOs should also be accorded the second or third priority, because they deal with large number of people and the message of mental health can be spread far and wide. Psychiatrists and NGOs working together become powerful advocates for mental health.

My first experience with people in the periphery working in mental health was during 1978-80 when I was doing DPM at Madurai Medical College. As part of community psychiatry, we were posted in Balarengapuram, an outskirt of Madurai. Later during my MD Psychiatry training in PGIMER Chandigarh during 1982-84, we were posted in the village Raipur Rani in Haryana where we came across lots of ordinary people and few mental health workers.

My big break came in 1988, while working as a lecturer in psychiatry at Medical College, Kottayam in my native Kerala. Kottayam was the first General Hospital Psychiatry Unit in Kerala started in 1967, before which mental health facilities were available only at the three mental hospitals in Trivandrum, Trichur and Calicut. At Kottayam we had only 30 beds and a huge clientele. Many times patients could not be admitted, as all the beds were already occupied. At other times, we resorted to early discharges, to accommodate other patients. Around this time, something remarkable happened. Mr. PU Thomas one of our nursing attendant in the ward, thought of a rehabilitation centre for the mentally ill!He told me, he and his friends would take care of 10-12 patients, outside the hospital in a rented building, provided we would give the necessary psychiatric care.

There was a discussion with my colleagues and we all 44 india empire | july 2016

agreed to help Thomas in this small endeavour. At first, patients from distant places especially from the hilly Idukki district of Kerala, who could not come for early follow- up were looked after by this group of lay carers. This turned out to be a big success. More and more people were seeking their support. Moreover, there were many orphan mentally ill, who had no where else to go. With our encouragement and with the support of the public of Gandhi Nagar (in Arpookara village of Kottayam) where the Medical College is located, Thomas and his friends decided to form an NGO. Thus the ‘Navajeevan Trust’ was born in the early nineties. With public donations, they purchased a plot of land, about a kilometer away from the Medical College and soon a full fledged Rehabilitation Centre was born.

Thomas was the quintessential ‘good Samaritan’ and he and his colleagues ate and slept with the inmates, now numbering nearly 300. Police, the district administration, politicians, local MLAs, panchayat members and lay people in unison supported their work. They gave food, clothing and shelter to the needy mental ill, entirely through public donations. No more was the sight of wandering mentally ill anywhere in Kottayam district! If anyone saw any mentally ill in distress, the police were informed and they would bring them to the Navajeevan. The Department of Psychiatry at Government Medical College, Kottayamtook up the entire responsibility of the psychiatric treatment. This was the prime model of Govt.-NGO Collaboration. When the Dept. celebrated its Ruby Jubilee in 2008, only one public man was honoured and it was PU Thomas of Navajeevan.

The candle which Navajeevan lit soon spread across entire Kerala. Now nearly 15,000 people with mental illness are being cared for in more than 100 such NGO run rehabilitation centres. Near my home at Palai, we have another centre ‘Mariasadan’ with whom too, I am intimately associated with. At almost every rehabilitation centre run by NGOs, the psychiatry unit nearby or the psychiatrist resident in the vicinity provides service, mostly free. This is a new revolution in Kerala, India and you do not see wandering mentally ill on the streets here anymore! This is a model worth emulating in other parts of India and across ❐ the world as well.

—The author is Secretary General, World Psychiatric Association

COlUMN: YOgI AShWINI

MIND AND BODY

WhAT ArE ThE COnTAMInATIOnS?

By Yogi ashwini yogi Ashwini

S

omeoneyo’s contamination is social pressure.

What is social pressure? That if ‘I come close to my guru, the others who are close to him will be in pain. Let me be a martyr.’ If you even remotely have such a thought that you can come between me and someone else who is close to me, there is no bigger fool than you. It simply reflects your egoistic nature. It is a contamination within you that is feeding your ego that ‘I am so great, I will sacrifice for this person.’ In this process, you hurt your guru, fail him and you go away from him destroying your journey. It is one of the biggest contaminations. Your guru is not a fool, a guru knows of everything that is happening around a shishya, he monitors you every second. He may or may not express it but if you think your guru is a fool then that is a bigger contamination than this contamination. Social pressure is a dangerous contamination where people form groups. The relationship between a guru and shishyais always one-to-one, it is never in groups. This is a basic teaching- that you are alone, there is no one else. If there is someone else then where are you? It means you are not there. And as soon as the contamination enters, the symptoms start showing and you start making mistakes. You get diverted from the path and lose your way. And the failure is of your guru always, shishya is never a failure because in the first place he should have never accepted you knowing what you are.

The second important contamination is emotional congestion. When one keeps an emotion suppressed within, thinking that if someone gets to know about it, he/she will come across as weak. Those pent-up emotions are a major cause of contamination; they rot you on the inside and ruin your entire life and birth. You may realize it or you may not.

And whoever your guru is, he will always indicate to you – he will be irritated by you, or he will scold you – ‘don’t do this, do it this way’. Every day you will feel distance increasing and a barrier coming in between. When you distance yourself from your guru, it means a contamination is setting in.

Emotions and sensitivity have no value in the world, they are there to tie you and not let you move forth. An emotionally volatile person can never rise in yog. He/she will pass away the entire lifetime in crying over something

or the other. Those who suffer are doing so because of their karmas, not because of you. So stop trying to be a martyr or feeling bad for someone else, it will only take you to pits. Help a person in need to whatever extent you can, but do not get attached to their pain or sorrow, it is their own doing.

Krishna in Mahabharata kept smiling even as people closest to him fell in the battlefield. He was god. Are you trying to become god? Or guru? First achieve that shreni, that level of awareness. At first, the chhavi of Guru should be visible in you, then attempt it as then you will know what you are talking and why. It doesn’t happen just by saying it, it should be inside you also. If you are having experiences, then that experience should be pratyaksh also. If you talk about gods and goddesses, then you should have had interactions with them also. If you are talking about the spirit, then you should have had experienced the spirit. Whatever you talk to me about, you should have had experience of that first.

Or you should ask me to give you that experience and wait for it to happen before moving further. Otherwise it is of no use. Talk about the level where you are at. Stay where you are then we’ll see what happens. So forget about emotions, sensitivity, they are of no value.

The third contamination is maya or attachment. You have two hands. If you have to pick up a stool, you will have to use both your hands. Now if I tell you to pick up the chair after that, how will you do it? You will have to leave the stool first or no? At one point of time can you pick up two things?

If you want to take up the ultimate journey of the final frontier, if you have a guru, then understand that at one point of time you can focus on only one thing. Just try to look at the person sitting on your right and on your left at the same time, now try to comfort your friend who is sitting next to you while looking at the person behind you. Can you do it?

No. You know it but still you cannot understand that at one point of time you can only focus on one thing. This is called contamination.

Second part to be concluded in forthcoming issue of India Empire Magazine.

—The writer Yogi Ashwini Ji is the head of Dhyan Foundation, Delhi. For details contact: ashwiniyogi@yahoo.co.in

july 2016 | india empire 45

INDIAN DIASPORA IN UK

WE—Way to Go

LEFT: Sitting L to R: Baroness Flather JP DL FRSA, Lord Karan Bilimoria and Seema Malhotra, MP. Back row L to R: You Me and WE Coordinate Dee Vara, WE Co-Founder and Chairman Reena Ranger, You Me and WE Co-ordinate Kajal Patel and Pritti Virdee. RIGHT: Guests at the event

W

omen Empowered held its event “Engage and Enhance the Debate” in June with three distinguished speakers, The Baroness Flather of Windsor and Maidenhead, Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham and Heston, and The Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea.

Reena Ranger, Chairman and Co-founder of WE, welcomed the guests to the event. Speaking on BREXIT, she said “the outcome on June 23 could impact generations and it is up to us to fight through the noise, propaganda, mistruths and personalities to understand for ourselves whether we wish to individually remain in or out of the European Union. Although this event is not about the EU referendum, it does get you thinking about engagement and how different voices and opinions can enhance the debate. We all know that diversity and inclusion are incredibly important factors for any organisation, society, institution or community. If we argue that people are products of their environments and experiences, it is these different environments, cultures and experiences that give us our life perspectives, each having different perspectives from each other and it is this variety of thought that we need in all manner of places so that we can approach problems from different angles, find solutions with empathy and innovation. That is why we must engage in and enhance the debates around us.”

The Baroness Flather of Windsor and Maidenhead spoke about challenges she faced along the way and the racism and ignorance she had sometimes faced. She spoke about how the commonalities between people from different communities united them towards common goals and interests. She spoke about knowing and being true to oneself so that one didn’t lose sight of who they are along their life’s path even in the most difficult of circumstances. She spoke about her most enduring achievement, the construction of the magnificent memorial on Constitution Hill at Hyde Park Corner. This long overdue Memorial commemorates the contribution of nearly 5 million for46 india empire | july 2016

gotten volunteers from the Indian subcontinent, Africa and the Caribbean in the two World Wars. She spoke of the work she is currently doing with women in Africa and the Indian Subcontinent through her charity “Women Matter” and in 2010 she wrote a book entitled “Woman – Acceptable Exploitation for Profit”. Both ventures show how extreme poverty can be changed by bringing these women into paid work.

Seema Malhotra emphasised the importance of “knowing thyself ” because whichever way one goes in life and the hurdles that come their way can be overcome if you do know thyself, as one will have a sense of purpose and direction that is yours and unique to you. By maintaining a honesty to yourself and knowing your purpose keeps you going and knowing your weaknesses allows you to play to your strengths.

She spoke about having confidence and looking at a situation with new eyes and look at why things are done in a certain way and, if needed, change them for tomorrow if there is a better way as that will keep you progressing. She said that early mastery was the key, don’t wait for tomorrow to learn or execute things as it may never come and that luck, judgement and hard work are the key. She urged the audience to be courageous and ended with reminding the guests that ideas grow and develop as you give them life and that sometimes it may take a while to find the people to help making them a reality.

The male perspective was provided by The Lord Bilimoria who is probably best known as the founder of Cobra Beer. He started by reminding the guests that anyone, from anywhere and any background can achieve anything through the story of the President of India whose great achievement grew from very humble beginnings. He added, “The only thing that will stop you from being anywhere you want to be is your own ambition.” He spoke of his own experiences and taste preferences that lead to the inspiration and processes that lead to Cobra Beer. “Guts”, he said, “set successful entrepreneurs apart, the guts to do it in the first place and the guts to keep going when others would give up”. ❐