Rensil D'Silva: How to Make it in Bollywood Education in the Gulf ...

16 

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Indian 

THE INTERNATIONAL 

Est 1992: The Region’s Oldest, Authoritative 

2009 • ISSUE 5 • VOL. 16.5 

Magazine of Gulf Society & History 

November / December 2009 

FABULOUS PEARLS 

FOR SUBSCRIBERS! 

Jewellery 

Raed Ahmad Baker 

Chairman, Liali Jewellery 

Anuraag Sinha 

MD of Liali Jewellery 

Rensil D’Silva: How to 

Make it in Bollywood 

Education in the Gulf 

‘Desi’ vs International 

Indians in South Africa 

London Then & Now 

• BAHRAIN BD 2.00 • KUWAIT KD 2.00 • OMAN RO 2.00 • KSA SR 20.00 • UAE AED 20.00 • CANADA C$ 8.00 • UK £4.00 • USA $ 6.00 •

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100 The International Indian 

The International Indian 101

FROM THE EDITOR 

IS INDIA A BATTLEFIELD 

IN THE ‘GREAT GAME?’ 

“Turkestan, Afghanistan, Transcapia, Persia – to many these words breathe 

only a sense of utter remoteness, or a memory of strange vicissitudes and of 

moribund romance. To me I confess they are pieces on a chessboard upon 

which is being played out a game for the domination of the world.” 

-Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, 1898 

George W. Bush, former US President in a reversal of his earlier thinking, 

has declared he is in favor of a UN Security Council seat for India. 

At the recent Hindusthan Times 2009 summit in New Delhi, Bush 

stated, “India has arrived as a strong democratic country in the world. 

It is a tolerant, peaceful and multi-religious democracy.” The US needs 

India’s help to win the war on terror, but for decades the United States ignored a 

democratic India, preferring to support some of Asia’s worst dictators merely for their 

anti-Communist rhetoric. Will America heed Sir Olaf Caroe, political strategist of the 

British Raj and a key player in America’s early Middle East strategy, who after Indian 

independence had warned, “it is impossible to see the Gulf’s problems in correct 

perspective unless the view includes an India which, despite partition still stands at 

the centre of the ocean that bears its name.” Does India need the US as much as the 

US needs India today? 

During the Cold War, the US armed and strengthened China to obstruct the 

Soviet Union. In turn China armed and strengthened Pakistan to pin India down 

in the subcontinent. “This second phase was never explicit US strategy, but the 

powerful interest that the US and China had developed in sub-continental affairs, 

reflected in their heavy investment in Pakistan,” observed Sunanda K. Datta Ray, in 

his book Waiting For America, (Harper Collins 2002): Nine years ago Ray, former 

editor of The Statesman was blunt when he wrote, “Bush will have to rethink his 

South Asian imperatives if he wants to engage a strong, secure, confident India that 

promises to develop the world’s biggest market and could provide Americans with 

both strategic and commercial support. He must end the farce of genuflecting at the 

altar of democracy while contriving to prop up a military dictatorship that opposes 

the world’s biggest democracy.” Pakistan’s dictators maybe out of the picture for now 

but the US still does not display a proper understanding of the balance of power in 

the subcontinent. 

R. Jagannathan writing in DNA, notes, “We have never been in this situation 

before. Just a couple of years back, in the last years of the Bush regime, it seemed as 

if an Indo-US geopolitical alliance was all we needed to move up to the big league. 

But enter Obama and all bets are off. The US embrace is no longer as warm as we 

imagined it to be. Meanwhile, the India-China relationship is fraying at the edges; 

Pakistan is getting into a Talibanesque mess; Nepal is ambivalent, and the Maoists 

positively hostile to us; Sri Lanka is cocky after subduing its Tamil Tigers; and 

Bangladesh is unlikely to do anything to keep its people from spilling over into India 

or turn overtly jihadi. In short we have no real friends anywhere -- neither in the 

neighbourhood nor in the wider world of power blocs. How then are we going to 

protect our national interests?” 

It was Rudyard Kipling who popularized the term ‘the Great Game,’ in his novel 

Kim, describing the 19 th century contest for mastery in Asia. More recently a book 

called The Future of the Great Game, by Peter John Brobst (Akron 2005) expands on 

Kipling’s concept. At this moment 

in history what are the main 

issues for India that significantly 

impact the country internally 

and externally? The blood and 

gore of politics in Pakistan and 

Afghanistan aside, the fact is 

India too is a battlefield, dormant 

for now perhaps, in a game where 

the machinations of the power 

hungry in the region employ 

strategic chessboard moves. 

Political paradigms are shifting 

as India calibrates the balance of 

power in the region, to gradually 

outmaneuver competing powers 

with its growing influence. 

Externally, India is one of 

three possible flashpoints in the 

world – the other two being the 

Middle East, and North Korea. 

The greater danger could be on 

India’s turf because the common 

denominator for all is operating 

in our backyard. America the 

common foe in all three regions 

has roped in unwilling partners, 

India being one of them. In 

realpolitik the guiding principle 

of every country is Lord 

Palmerston’s famous dictum that 

every nation has “permanent 

interests, not permanent friends.” 

Strategy is the name of the Great 

Game, there are no friendly 

matches with any country – 

so is America playing with or 

against India? Ray points out that 

historically US State Department 

strategy has favored Pakistan 

because India was seen as having 

“negligible positive strategic importance,” while Pakistan was considered, “one 

of the most strategic areas in the world.” It could provide, “a staging area for 

forces engaged in the defence or recapture of Middle East oil areas.” That is 

obviously still an important consideration for the US, evident in its ongoing 

sizable investment in Pakistan. 

How does all this affect us as concerned Indian citizens? Outside India is it 

something of mere academic interest unless one decides to relocate back home? 

Too many people adopt rabid “anti” positions without adequate information – 

anti-America, anti- Pakistan, anti-China etc. Ray categorically makes the point 

that, “India’s need for the US transcends oil, strategy and power politics. First, 

the great adventure of taking a billion people into the economic prosperity of 

the twenty-first century calls for American technology and investment and the 

US market. Second, America alone can help India defend itself. It is not only a 

question of sophisticated arms. No other power can pressure the forces of evil that 

are attacking India from without and within.” 

The Diaspora offers some choices, life is relatively untouched by political 

or religious ideology unless one chooses to get involved or happens to be in the 

wrong place at the wrong time. But in India many ideologies operate and impact 

people’s lives without giving them a choice. Not everyone is comfortable in an 

environment where quite often ‘mobocracy’ better defines how India functions. 

If it’s the Maoists and Naxalites today, it will be someone else tomorrow. Internal 

dissent is not the focus of this column, but Arundhati Roy’s comment in Outlook 

is worth noting. In her article on, ‘Mr. Chidambaram’s War,’ she asks the Home 

Minister, “A math question: How many soldiers will it take to contain the 

mounting rage of hundreds of millions of people?” 

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Amartya Sen in his book Identity 

and Violence warns us that, “The 

neglect of the plurality of our 

affiliations and of the need for choice 

and reasoning obscures the world in 

which we live. It pushes us in the 

direction of the terrifying prospects 

portrayed by Mathew Arnold in 

‘Dover Beach.’ 

And we are here as on a 

darkling plain 

Swept with confused alarms 

of struggle and flight, 

Where ignorant armies clash 

by night. 

The future could turn out to be 

very different from what we imagine 

as the Great Game is played out. 

Frank Raj 

Founder Editor & Publisher 

frankraj@eim.ae 

2 

The International Indian


ndian 

EST: 1992 The Region’s Oldest, Authoritative 

Magazine of Gulf Indian Society & History 

FEATURES 

14 facebook 

phenomenon... 

of reuniting 

people! 

by: Sarina Menezes 

Social networking and 

Facebook have become the 

topic of discussion at social 

gatherings these days. 

20 westerners head 

east - for the moment 

by: Benjamin Parker 

To the West, India has long been known 

as a place that people are 

leaving, as Indians make up 

one of the largest segments 

of immigrants of many 

Western nations, particularly 

Commonwealth nations like 

the UK, Canada, and Australia. 

24 rensil d’silva: 

making indian 

cinema global 

& contemporary 

by: Sarina 

Menezes 

In an exclusive 

interview with 

TII he shares 

his journey and 

the challenges of 

Bollywood. 

4 

The International Indian 

30 

puravangara 

unnikrishnan 

by: Hemu Gorde 

ruling the air waves in 

bahrain 

44 relocating 

to new delhi 

by: Archisman Dinda 

The International Indian looks 

into the city which can be easily 

termed as the most cosmopolitan city of 

India. 

52 ‘desi’ vs 

international: 

Akshay Kulkarni 

what’s the 

difference? 

by: Frank Raj 

It is fascinating to 

observe how countries 

with wide exposure to foreign 

cultures still develop ultra- national 

mindsets. But life is different in the 

Diaspora melting pot, some change is 

inevitable even for the most confined 

minds. 

58 london 

then and now 

by: Shamlal Puri 

Today cities like London are a home 

away from home. TII examines the 

changes that have transformed the lives 

of Indians settled there. 

36 

anuraag 

sinha: 

success is 

doing only one 

thing 

by: Frank Raj 

CONTENTS 

62 the flavors 

of 

mumbai 

by: Golden 

Reejsinghani 

Food sold in the 

streets of the 

great metropolitan city of Mumbai 

has gained more popularity than some 

of the swanky restaurants dotting the 

city because the street food is not only 

irresistibly delicious but also affordable. 

70 what’s it 

like to be an 

indian in 

south 

africa 

today? 

by: Jacqueline 

van Staden 

Various 

instruments of legislation 

have enabled South Africans of Indian 

origin to be considered as Black people 

and as African people. 

80 fastingfeasting 

by: Debasree S 

Fasting and feasting 

took on a special 

meaning during 

the holy month of 

Ramadan as Muslims 

as well as non-Muslims got together in a 

renewed bond of friendship and goodwill. 

82 stop, vote & go 

by: Gaurav Karir 

Here in 2009, I see the television 

savvy Priyanka standing beside her 

brother Rahul after the Congress 

victory in this year’s 

General elections. 

83 india 

these days 

by: Ashiok Dongre 

Celebrities inducted 

into the new 

Government are 

slowly learning their 

lessons the hard way! 

87 masala dosas 

for mahatir 

by: Peter Souri Raj 

TII’s ‘My Celebrity 

Encounter’ tells 

of the occasion 

when MGR hosted 

former Malaysian 

PM Mahatir for 

breakfast. 

COLUMNs 

66 rich or poor 

indians: who cares 

about democracy? 

by: Prabhu Guptara 

Indians who vote show their concern 

for India. But mostly poor Indians vote, 

the rich seem to hardly care. 

84 

what 

makes 

nations 

great? 

by: Major 

General Mrinal Suman 

India maybe the only country that is 

so apathetic to the memory of the 

thousands of soldiers who have laid 

down their lives for its security. ‘ 

Soldiers’ is a new column in TII. 

EDUCATION 

34 education in 

the gulf - the uowd 

perspective 

by: Professor John Whelan 

Development and diversity are the 

words that come to mind when 

University of Wollongong in Dubai’s 

president muses about higher 

education in the UAE. 

in every issue... 

2 editorial 

6 letters 

57 TII hall of fame 

68 sex, lies & truth 

78 heritage 

88 buying IT 

90 TII fashion 

95 TII central 

96 futurequest 

8 

BuZz WoRd 

92 • Kenya Tourist 

Board and Air Arabia 

to boost promotions in 

GCC 

• Samsonite launches 

Cosmolite – its 

strongest yet lightest 

luggage ever 

93 • State Bank 

of India Launches 

Corporate Banking 

Services from DIFC 

• Top UAE 

businesswoman 

receives global award 

maldives underwater 

restaurant 

THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN is owned by Global Indian Travellers Association (GITA) a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales 

under the Companies Act 1985 on 14 January 1998 (Company No: 3492445) 50 Grove Rd., Sutton, Surrey SM1 1 BT, UK. Tel: +44-208-770 9717; 

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Indian 

EST: 1992 The Region’s Oldest, Authoritative 

Magazine of Gulf Indian Society & History 

PUBLISHERS 

Prof. Prabhu Guptara 

Santosh Shetty 

FOUNDER EDITOR 

Frank Raj 

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS 

Erik Raj Hadden 

Prem Souri Kishore 

Benjamin H. Parker 

Vishal Mangalwadi 

TRAVEL EDITOR 

Shana Raj Parker 

MANAGER PR 

Christine DeSouza 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Balan Iyer 

GRAPHIC ARTIST 

Melany Caguindagan 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Benjamin H. Parker 

INTERNATIONAL 

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QATAR 

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INDIA 

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

THAROOR & CATTLE CLASS 

Reference the controversy concerning Mr 

Shashi Tharoor, Indian Minister of State 

for External Affairs, referring to economy 

classes as “cattle class”, on railways/flights. 

It is believed that he has hurt the sentiments 

of economy class travellers in India and he 

should resign. This is preposterous. Mr. 

Tharoor is a bright, articulate and intelligent 

professional with an excellent track record 

at United Nations where he was the Deputy 

Secretary General. India should be thrilled 

that a professional calibre has joined the 

Cabinet and will help to upgrade the petty 

level of politics in India. We need more 

men like him in politics. 

In many countries, the economy class is 

referred to as the “cattle class” purely 

LET MY COUNTRY AWAKE 

Tagore’s Vision for an Educated India’ made 

a very good read. I would like to draw your 

attention to the first line of the poem quoted 

in the article. If I remember right, the second 

part of the line should read as ‘and the head 

is held high’ and not as mentioned. Please 

correct me if I am wrong. As far as the article 

is concerned, a good attempt has been made 

to analyse the poem in a clear manner. Mind 

is the cradle from which an individual’s 

growth and development takes place. A 

SAIF ON THE COVER 

Using Saif Ali Khan (TII 16.4) to launch 

your new series on Indian communities was 

a great idea. It is high time you gave equal 

coverage to all our Indian communities in 

the Gulf. Besides playing fair to all, which 

I think is your magazine’s policy, it will 

also add more credibility to TII’s claim that 

you are documenting the history of Gulf 

Indians. Keep up the good work. 

Gopi Balakrishnan, Abu Dhabi 

colloquially, since it is crowded and the 

service is average. I heard this phrase 

for the first time in 1984 in UK. Having 

said this, Mr Tharoor’s comments, 

about the economy classes in India in 

railways and many airlines, are literally 

and absolutely correct. 

Particularly in the trains of India, the 

economy compartments are a gross insult 

to passengers. Most of the seats are made 

of wood, without any cushioning. The 

toilets in the economy carriages in Indian 

railways, are not even fit for cattle. They 

stink and so do the platforms at stations. 

Indians should not be unnecessarily smug 

and should accept criticism and contrary 

opinions. 

Rajendra K. Aneja, Dubai 

The best letters to the editor 

will win exquisite gifts from 

Liali Jewellery. 

Email your letter to: 

frankraj@eim.ae 

Editor: The International Indian 

mind devoid of fear can reach pinnacles of 

glory. Mistakes lead to perfection and the 

freedom to make mistakes comes only when 

the mind is devoid of fear. Your analysis of 

the poem, has made me realise the fact that 

there is a serious need to have a relook at our 

current educational system. While there has 

been a shift from Tagore days, we still have a 

long way to go before our children can walk 

with their heads really held high. 

C Sunil Roy, Dubai 

INDIANS & DOMESTIC LABOR 

I enjoyed the article on domestic labor in 

your previous issue (TII 16.4). It is very 

important to change mindsets on this issue. 

We Indians have deplorable attitudes when 

it comes to treating our servants with the 

care and respect that every human being 

deserves. I am reminded of the Indian 

millionaire couple in New York recently 

jailed for keeping domestic help as slaves. 

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TRAVEL 

Maldives 

Melt Away All Malaise 

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MALE, REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES -- How many times can you say “It’s so beautiful”? 

How about 1,197, or once for each island in the Maldives (pronounced “maul-deeves”)? 

by: Kathy M. Newbern and J.S. Fletcher 

Flying in over some 

of the palm-fringed 

specks that make up 

the 26 atolls, it’s as 

if precious stones in 

Maldives: mouth-gaping bands of Indian Ocean 

every shade of blue were tossed 

from the heavens. Ring-like coral 

formations encircle lagoons. 

The Maldives quickly melt 

away every malaise, delivering 

not only mouth-gaping bands of 

Indian Ocean but an extraordinary 

vacation for honeymooners, 

romantics, luxe travelers, spa 

connoisseurs, families, and 

especially divers. Still, a lot of 

travelers have not heard of the 

tropical, exotic islands. 

Dive Director Alexis Vincent of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island 

says, “I get that a lot: Mal-what? What’s that?” The “what” is blissful 

isolation in an increasingly luxury market. 

Only about 200 islands are inhabited by natives, and another 87 

currently hold resorts, most of them five- and even 

six-stars. 

Anantara resort’s general manager Dominick 

Ruhl comments: “I like to say it’s a thousand stars.” 

Straddling the equator, the Maldives are an 

85-mile-wide and 475-mile-long swath of atolls 

south of India about 300 miles southwest of Sri 

Lanka. The Maldives are 99 percent water, with a 

total land mass of 115 square miles. A third of the 

population, 89,000, live on Male, the capital, making 

it the world’s densest capital. 

These islands, largely undiscovered by Americans, 

are popular with the British, Germans, Japanese, 

Koreans and Russians. Italians, in 1972, are attributed 

with the start of tourism, and there are still a couple of 

predominantly “Italian” islands. 

Vacationing here requires two decisions: First, your traveling 

companion. Mostly couples and families come here. Second is choosing 

your resort, especially important here, as there’s little interaction with the 

native islanders. In fact, visiting a local island, as they’re called, requires 

an invitation, though nearly any resort will be able to offer you a tour. 

If you visit the Maldives, get under the water; otherwise, you’ll 

miss what attracts many, the amazing sea life. Some proclaim it the 

best diving in the world. Conrad’s dive director put it this way: “For 

diving worldwide, I would say, it’s the most consistently good diving 

especially in regards to the variety and abundance.” 

At any of the five-star resorts - and there are loads - offerings will 

include diving, sunset and dolphin cruises, traditional Maldivian hand- 

Cradsouba: If you visit the Maldives, get under the water; 

otherwise, you’ll miss what attracts many, the amazing sea life. 



TRAVEL 

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line fishing, stunning beaches 

and fish-laden “house” reefs, 

gourmet cuisine, eye-popping 

stunning overwaters. Beach House boasts the Maldives’ only golf 

simulator and offers martial arts instruction. The Shui Spa’s standout is 

the Indian Marma Massage - the therapist balances himself holding two 

A seaplane ride away is Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa 

Giraavaru, where about the same number of rooms await on an island 

four times Kuda Huraa’s size. 

Anantara is actually is three 

island resorts in one - Anantara, 

Anantara Veli and Naladhu - and 

spas, infinity pools, and modern 

conveniences like wireless 

Internet (even at sea with the 

Four Seasons Explorer yacht). 

Similarities aside, each 

resort’s unique. Here’s a 

sampling: The Beach House at 

Manafaru Maldives is a reall 

head-turner and the northernmost 

resort. Only 11 percent of its 35 

lush acres were developed with 

68 designer villas including 

Emirates Holidays Packages 

Country Property Room type Duration 

Nights 

Maldives 

Maldives 

Anatara Resort 

Taj Exotica Resort 

& Spa 

robes while delivering a ballet-like, strong massage using his feet. To 

get here requires a 40-minute flight and 35-minute speedboat transfer 

from Male (www.BeachHouseCollection.com; 960-332-0705). 

The 96-room, 12-acre Four Seasons Kuda Huraa means “small 

village,” but none of the Four Seasons world-famous luxury and service 

are sacrificed just because you’re off the radar. The pool is classic Four 

Seasons. The Island Spa lives up to its name, reached by quaint, small 

dhoni (a traditional native, wooden boat). Overwater treatment rooms 

include a view of the tropical fish from the massage table head cradles. 

The signature treatment is the 2 1/2-hour Sea Escape. For sunset dinner 

at The Reef, keep an eye out for the baby sharks and the resident fruit 

bats. The Indian restaurant is a standout. 

5 Star Deluxe 

Sunrise beach 

front Villa 

5 Star lagoon 

Villa 

Dubai 

AED 

5 8,023 

5 11,545 

Maldives Taj Coral Reef 4 Star Beach Villa 5 8,095 

Remarks 

Valid until 19 

Dec 09 


Dec 09 


Dec 09 

Includes: Economy class airfare Dubai/Maldives/Dubai, 5 night’ accommodation with American 

breakfast, transfers airport/hotel/airport by speed boat, room tax and service charges. 

Said one vacationer: “I think the service and spa at Kuda Huraa and 

Landaa are both exceptional...and everywhere we were, they knew us 

(from before).” Guests at both properties often add on a three-, four- or 

seven-night stay on the well-appointed 128-foot Four Seasons Explorer 

yacht, perfect for avid divers and 

snorkelers. A marine biologist offers 

lectures and guided underwater tours 

while the friendly staff meet every 

need from welcome-back-aboard 

drinks to nightly footage by 

Scubazoo of the day’s dive/ 

snorkel/beach highlights. Guided 

swims with massive whale sharks 

and manta rays are worth the booking in themselves. The three-deck 

catamaran has 11 cabins, one a suite, each featuring king beds (or two 

twins), picture window, luxurious linens, and twice-daily service with 

turn-down. 

Once on board, lose the shoes. Cruise Director Jim Hancock 

explains, “It’s a very casual ship. You won’t need them.” Explorer even 

offers spa-at-sea treatments on the top deck behind a batik drape that 

flutters in the ocean breeze. Simple-yet-elegant meals are served either 

on deck, overlooking the turquoise sea, or in the dining room, just off 

the well-appointed salon that also functions as movie theater, lecture 

room and cocktail lounge. 

The affable captain loves to join guests for dinner, as does the cruise 

director, but you have to invite them -- the exact opposite of largeship 

protocol. And you’ll be dining in a tropical setting that rivals Fiji 

and Tahiti. (For all three, visit www.fourseasons.com, or call 800-819- 

5053.) 

excels in dining options. “Dine 

by Design” lets you pick where 

and when for a romantic meal, 

such as a beachfront dinner with 

The Maldives quickly melt away every malaise, 

delivering not only mouth-gaping bands of 

Indian Ocean but an extraordinary vacation for 

honeymooners, romantics, luxe travelers, spa 

connoisseurs, families, and especially divers. 

heart-shaped palm fronds and 

candlelight. The dining variety 

- Italian, fusion, Thai - becomes 

important on longer stays, which 

is the norm here. There’s even 

a “disappearing” dining venue: 

when the tide rises the lagoon 

lunch sand spit is covered in 

water. The Thai cooking class is 

a blast. There’s a wine guru and 

the world’s first salt sommelier, 

who offers a delightful tableside 

presentation of salts, chutneys 

and mustards. The breakfast dhoni 

picnic and snorkel resulted in great 

underwater footage swimming 

[ 



TRAVEL 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

with a green turtle. There’s even 

surfing lessons (offered by the 

same company, Tropic Surf, at 

Four Seasons Kuda Huraa). The 

overwater spa is another jawdropper 

(www.maldives.anantara. 

com, 960-664-4100). 

Naladhu, meaning “pretty little 

island,” is across the lagoon and 

part of the dine-around program. 

Here 19 colonial-style houses offer 

Maldives is like no other holiday experience 

nearly every amenity imaginable, 

from private swimming pool to a 

massive deck with palm trees, a 

daybed, a swing bed, and adjacent 

bathroom with outdoor shower, 

steam room, and chaise lounge, 

plus see-through tub. 

The motto for this six-star resort 

is, “whatever, whenever.” Breakfast 

at 5 p.m.? No problem.” Nor is 

arranging impromptu excursions 

like a quest to view spinner dolphin, 

which we saw en mass. On the 

other hand, a lot of guests never 

leave their rooms (www.naladhu. 

com, 960-664-1888). 

Cocoa Island is a true, small-island getaway but still upscale. 

Focusing on healthy eating and spa therapies at its COMO Shambhala 

Retreat, Cocoa strives to provide a peaceful, harmonious sanctuary 

(the meaning of shambhala). Spa treatments are complemented by a 

state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool and free yoga classes. Vegetarian 

dishes with organic ingredients are a specialty. All of its 33 villas 

are overwater, including the original dhoni-shaped ones. (www. 

cocoaisland.como.bz, 960-664-1818). 

The 150-room Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, one of the Maldives’ 

largest resorts, is actually two islands connected by a walking bridge. 

Arrival is by seaplane. The quiet side, Rangali Island, is usually 

preferred by honeymooners 

(50 villas), while the more 

populated Rangali Finohlu has 

the pool, watersports and the 

must-see Ithaa Restaurant, the 

world’s first, all-glass undersea 

restaurant. 

Ithaa, which means “pearl,” 

seats 14, and cost $2.5 million 

to construct. Couples can even 

have their wedding ceremony 

here (non-binding). The 21 

overwater spa villas, each 

with its own treatment room, 

are part of The Spa Retreat, a 

destination spa set on stilts over 

the ocean off the main island, 

while The Over-Water Spa 

offers glass-floored treatment 

rooms above a coral reef in the 

resort’s lagoon. The property also has 10 dining options, from in-thesand 

Japanese cooking, to the outstanding spa restaurant to a popular, 

international buffet. The 10,000-bottle wine list is impressive as is the 

wine-and-cheese bar with black-sand floor and wine cellar for special 

tastings and dinners with tabletop, pop-up TV screens for presentation 

(www.conradhotels.com; 960-668-0629). 

If You’re Going Emirates airlines, www.emirates.com, flies from 

Dubai to the Maldives capital of Male. 

For more on the destination, log onto www.visitmaldives.com. 

U.S. based, award-winning travel writers Kathy M. Newbern 

and J.S. Fletcher write about luxury, spas, cruising and romantic 

destinations worldwide when not operating their personalized 

romance novel company, YourNovel.com, where they put you in the 

middle of the romance and adventure by starring in your own book. 



FACEBOOK 

th 

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FACEBOOK PHENOMENON... 

It’s reuniting people! 

Social networking and Facebook have become the topic of discussion at social 

gatherings these days. And if you have no clue what I am talking about, you 

may have to catch up with this new wave on cyber space. 


Like many others, after 

ignoring a number of 

Facebook invitations 

to my inbox, a close 

friend in Dublin edged 

me to consider signing up. 250 

million people are on Facebook 

today, wanting to stay updated 

on the happenings around 

them and eager to share 

with the people in their 

lives affirming that people 

are realizing the power of 

staying connected. 

They say the world is 

growing smaller day by 

day. True, because before 

the Internet revolution, 

getting in touch with loved 

ones or business associates 

across the seven seas was 

a task that required hours 

and hours of waiting on 

the telephone operator. 

For the Indian diaspora, 

it was no different. Receiving a 

letter was a big deal and its arrival 

was announced to every other 

member of the household. Most 

people actually ended up saving 

these specimens of antiquated 

communication. 

Believe it or not, but not so long ago, most of us lived in nearpredictable 

social lives -- friends were the people who you met and 

bonded with at school, college, neighbourhood -- your work stayed at 

work and you spent hours catching up with your cousin who visited 

after what seemed like a million years. That is, till the Internet came to 

town and made itself available to all and sundry. Today, one can talk to 

people all around the world and quench that thirst for ‘communicating’ 

with like-minded people making the Internet a playground of choices 

and opportunities. All of 

a sudden there was no 

need to crowd around 

the phone to hang on to 

every single word that 

was being exchanged 

thousands of miles away 

– one had to just click the 

email button. 

I’ve been on Facebook 

for about a year now, and 

over the past six months 

old classmates from school, 

college, earlier work places 

Ajay Nambiar at the management school reunion in 

Bangalore 

have been adding me as 

a friend and vice versa. 

Instantly, I know where 

they are in life: married, single, expecting baby, whatever, but it 

goes a step further: I have a mirror into their day-today lives. Who is 

feeling overwhelmed? Whose newborn didn’t sleep last night? Who is 

obsessed with what? Who is stuck at the airport? It’s all there, in living 

color, for me to see everyday. I’ve also heard from classmates, some of 

whom barely spoke in high school, connecting over Facebook! 

I honestly wondered if I was the only one going through this euphoria 

My school girls reunion 1986 batch 

of connecting with 

people, walking down 

memory lane and 

even experiencing a 

blast from the past 

reminiscing old times. 

Apparently not! 

The Lost and Found 

Arun Rao left the 

shores of India in 

1995 to pursue an 

MS in Technology (Printing Management) in the US after which 

he worked in Milwaukee, Dallas and now in Tampa, Florida where he 

is based with his family. “The busyness of life and the distance from 

India meant that by this time I had pretty much lost contact with most 

of my classmates and friends barring a few. On one of my trips to India 

in Feb 2008, I decided to set up a school group on Facebook and invite 

all who we were in touch with. From just the three of us, we grew to 

about 36. The experience was simply great as we dug out old school 

pictures and posted recent ones on Facebook for all to see.” 

“But the highlight was being reunited with a lost friend. During my 

childhood days, we lived in Pune and I had a couple of friends who I 

still kept in contact with even after we moved (those 

were the days of inland letters). Recently, I got an 

invite from a Dr. Prabhu Desai in the UK who asked 

me if I was the same Arun from Loyola High school. 

Incredibly, it was my old friend and we got back in 

touch after 28 years! I now look forward to catching 

up with him on my next trip to India via London.” 

Women can easily identify with Rupali Mehra 

who is based in Mumbai but has friends and family 

dotted around the globe. Simply because it is typical 

of how life takes over for most women after school 

and college, juggling between family life and 

sometimes careers too. Rupali shares, “My father 

had a lot of friends so as children we had some 

amazing memories of getting together to celebrate 

festivals, staying up all night, pyjama parties with 

friends. I passed out from school in 1985 and 

married in 1989 which meant I lost touch with ALL my school friends 

as I got busy and settled down with my new family.” 

But Facebook has changed all that for Rupali in the last one 

year. “I joined Facebook for a lark but as I started looking for old 

colleagues, relatives, friends and cousins settled overseas who I hadn’t 

met for years, a strange kind of joy took over. It was wonderful and 

nostalgic. I could now connect with pictures, anecdotes, old jokes, 

stories from my childhood; it 

was like an autobiography that 

opened a new page each day as 

new episodes unfolded. I was 

addicted for sure.” 

A Peek into People’s lives 

Indians by nature are curious, 

inquisitive and relational, which 

is obviously why we form strong 

relationships and communities. 

For those of us who are miles 

away from India, have Facebook 

and other such social networking 

websites facilitated our connecting 

global Indians to India? 

One of the fantastic things of 

such websites is the opportunity 

of having a glimpse into people’s 

lives and the happenings on the 

other side of the globe. You can leaf 

through photographs of friends and 

family, find out what old college 

Rupali Mehra’s recent school reunion - 1985 batch 

friends are up to, congratulate 

folks on their latest promotions, 

graduations, birthdays, post links 

and articles you find interesting 

and then engage in discussions 

about them with your friends and 

acquaintances. 



FACEBOOK 

th 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

For most of us it’s like a daily dose as Rupali admits, “Facebook 

now keeps me connected to my family and friends on a daily basis. My 

65 year old mother who spends time between India and my brother in 

Vietnam and my uncle in the US are now in regular touch with me and 

my children. They know how I feel and how my day has gone by. They 

offer cheerful advice, give a patient hearing or sometimes just chat to 

cheer me up. It’s as good 

as living in the same city 

with the distance totally 

wiped out.” 

Arun adds, “The 

“status” feature on 

Facebook allows one 

to type in things one 

is doing or feeling at 

the time of logging on. 

Because I am so many 

miles away from India, 

I don’t even know when 

Asheesh Dewan of Dublin says, “I went to this reunion in 

Chennai because of two special people who impacted my 

life. Facebook has more social connectivity with people and 

thereby has led to a whole spate of reunions.” 

festivals come and go, 

so when family and 

friends from India put 

up comments about the 

festivals I feel nostalgic 

and can re-live those 

days through them.” 

The sheer availability 

of instant information 

due to technology 

has suddenly made 

everything here and 

now providing instant 

gratification and holding 

together a whole lot of 

home sick Indians across 

the globe. 

Akshay Kulkarni 

who has to engage in 

frequent overseas travel 

remembers an incident, 

“I was in Singapore with my wife Kalyani on our anniversary. On 

a previous trip I had spent a fabulous evening with a dear friend but 

just could not remember the place. Meanwhile, another friend called 

to wish us and I was explaining this disappointment to her. Lo and 

behold in about 30 minutes I get an email from my dear friend with 

the address of the place. This was the result of a posting on Facebook 

and he had responded.” 

Arun Rao - the photo that started the reunion effort and 

then facebook 

Reunions and Get togethers 

Because people are on instant 

and constant touch with each 

other on cyber space some are of 

the opinion that social networking 

is making reunions obsolete but 

most think these connections are 

leading and mobilizing people 

to organize more school/college/ 

workplace reunions. 

This summer one of the 

highlights of my visit to India 

was the school girls’ reunion that 

we organised through Facebook. 

Most of us are scattered around 

the globe but those of us who 

connected were ever so eager 

to meet as we anticipated this 

special evening after 23 years. 

That evening will always be 

etched in my mind as we chatted 

non stop, laughed heartily and 

shared our journeys. Although, 

reunions carry with them a 

natural anxiety or worry about 

how you will be perceived by 

your old school friends, what 

held us together were memories 

of school days, those girlie years 

and that until two years ago 

this get together would have 

been unthinkable if it wasn’t for 

Facebook connecting us. 

For Arun it was an unexpected 

turnout, “As a result of my 

Facebook group of Class 6-10, 

and the overwhelming response 

and happiness felt by everyone, 

we did organize a reunion in 

Manipal in Nov 2008. We went 

back to our school and organized 

a lunch for our teachers (most of 

whom were retired but attended 

the function). We honored 

them with mementos, had them 

speak to us and also sat in our 

classrooms ….. it was a great 

experience. Of course we then 

went on to party the night away. 

It continued until the next day 

with a picnic on the beach. Since 

then we have had more friends 

join and now look forward to our 

next reunion in 2011.” 

Ajay Nambiar is ever so 

grateful to Facebook. Having been 

raised in an army 

family, he studied and 

grew up in various 

parts of India and 

Facebook helped him 

contact people from 

the various stages of 

his life. He eagerly 

looks forward to the 

25 th management 

school year celebrations 

in 2011 now that 

contacts have been 

made. Although the 

first reunion was not 

the easiest for him as an 

organizer, according to 

him the common feeling 

everyone had was that of 

anticipation, “it was more 

curiosity and the sheer 

joy of seeing each other 

after all these years and reliving 

our memories of firsts - how the 

college started, first fresher party, 

first training session, first patta 

party, first beach visit, first holiday 

to Kerala, first farewell which no 

one else would know if not present 

then. Ours was the first batch.” 

Rupali was exhilarated when 

she was introduced to her school 

group on Facebook. “There was 

no stopping me as I found my 

old school friends and added 

them left right and centre. I slept 

with my cell phone under my 

pillow and would sometimes 

wake up in the middle of the night to find emails from my friends 

living on the other side of the globe. We then set a date for a school 

re union with the school uniform colour as the dress code – BLUE! 

We had about 30 girls come in from various parts of India and one 

each from North America and New Zealand. The joy of meeting after 

25 years was enough as we exchanged notes about spouses, families, 

careers, education. We all pitched in with various tasks - a clever 

little memento of a small teddy bear wearing the school uniform 

was made. We played a quiz involving school teachers, classmate’s 

kinks, sang the school anthem and 

played all the games we used to as 

pigtailed pixies. 

The Next Big Thing 

What I now speculate and 

often contemplate about is what 

technology and the Internet will 

throw at us next? Arun thinks, “ 

the next immediate technology 

will be video streams -- currently 

most computers still needs one to 

hook up to a web cam but soon we 

might be able to track locations 

of friends on a map through 

REAL TIME. For example, if I 

am en route to India via the UK, 

and log onto my Facebook site 

in UK - all my UK buddies will 

know that I am in their vicinity. 

Scary, isn’t it?” 

Enthusiastic Rupali is eagerly 

awaiting such a breakthrough in technology as she smiles and shares, 

“I guess via realtime group video, we might be able to celebrate family 

dinners, birthdays, festivals together. Earlier on we would go home to 

the family but soon we’ll be with the family all day long communicating 

just as we would at the dining table.” 

This makes me realize, that man truly cannot live alone! We 

belong to a society the moment we are born and spend years building 

relationships that define us and maintain our sense of identity. What 

binds people anywhere around the globe is this sense of belonging 

to a community. No wonder research suggests that social isolation is 

one of the largest contributing factors towards clinical depression in 

people. And if technology and the Internet can be used as a tool to 

connect, maintain and further this much needed bonding in people, 

why not? 

Rupali Mehra with her classmates after 24 years 

Sarina Menezes is a freelance writer based in the UK 



20 

TURNING EAST 

Westerners Head East 

- for the Moment 

To the West, India has long been known as a place that people are leaving, 

as Indians make up one of the largest segments of immigrants of many Western 

nations, particularly Commonwealth nations like the UK, Canada, and Australia. 

The ever-increasing number of Indians moving to places abroad has made some 

Western cities significantly Indian - like my hometown of Vancouver, Canada, 

where Indo-Canadians make up about one-fifth of the total population. 

But recently, more and more Westerners are turning their eyes east to India. 

And as the global playing-field finds itself more and more levelled, India has been 

among the first developing nations to emerge as a place to be in, and not just a place 

to be from. Why are Westerners heading to India? What do they find when they get 

there? And are they there to stay? 

by: Benjamin Parker 

WEIGHING THE CHOICES 

COMING TO INDIA 

The first reality: The choice 

Anthony Apodaca 

is usually made through a 

went to India for 

consideration of personal 

one year as a liaison 

advantage. In other words, the 

for an electronic 

path of least resistance for most 

book publishing 

of us is the path of greatest 

company called Logos Research 

personal gain. When it comes to 

Systems, Inc. Summing up his 

relocating to India, Westerners 

reasons for taking on the one-year 

weigh the advantages (often 

assignment, he said “I was living 

financial) of going versus 

in Bellingham, Washington and 

staying. Indian companies, as 

was simultaneously offered two 

well as foreign companies with 

jobs in electronic publishing, one 

branches based in India, attract 

in Manhattan and one in Chennai. 

specialized employees with 

I took the job in Chennai because 

packages comparable to what 

I thought it would be the most 

may be found in their own 

unique experience and the salaries 

countries. There is nothing 

were more or less equal.” His 

surprising about this practice, 

views reflect those of many others 

who choose India. Anthony Apodaca found many things that of course - except that it has 


he appreciated about Indian culture. 

become something that more and 

more Indian companies are both 

willing and able to do. 

INDIA ON THE MOVE/ 

LACK OF OPPORTUNITY 

BACK HOME 

But in addition to what may 

be called the no-lose scenario 

of financial compensation, India 

has it’s share of other things to 

offer. One of these is that India 

is going places. Employees 

do not usually like dead-end 

jobs, and India, with its rate of 

growth, both economically as 

well as in the number of kinds 

of opportunities available, is 

a place where Westerners can 

realistically expect their careers 

to go somewhere. And not just in 

India. Indian experience on the 

CV is now respected worldwide. 

The other side to the story of the 

change in economic fortunes is the 

saturation of the market in the West. 

As unemployment increases in 

much of the world, the willingness 

(or need) to look away from home 

also increases. Job 

hunters browsing 

sites like monster. 

com just might find 

themselves looking 

at monsterindia.com. 

THE EXPAT 

EXPERIENCE 

But one thing 

must be kept in 

mind. There is still 

a big difference 

between the Indian 

who goes west 

and the Westerner 

‘ 

“Westerners 

complain about 

everything. 

Indians 

complain about 

nothing.” He 

also has respect 

for Indians’ 

prioritizing of 

relationships, 

especially 

family. 

‘ 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

who comes east. The Indian 

in the West is an immigrant. 

The Westerner in India is an 

expatriate. And there are very 

few exceptions to this rule. 

The difference between 

the Indian and the Westerner 

results from both the nature of 

the people and the respective 

destinations. Historically and 

culturally, many Western nations 

are nations of immigrants. And 

it is therefore expected (by one 

and all) that foreigners in the 

West are making a new home for 

themselves. This is played out 

in daily conversation between 

the two cultures. When I meet 

an Indian overseas (or someone 

from many other countries, 

for that matter), it is very 

common for me to be asked 

questions regarding Canadian 

immigration. (By the way, this is not always a good line of inquiry 

to Canadians. Most of us, being born in Canada, have no idea how 

one would go about becoming an immigrant to Canada.) When I meet 

Indians in Canada, a common question that I ask them is when they 

will become a citizen. 

But no one asks a foreigner in India about when they will 

become a citizen - at least not yet. The fact is that Westerners are 

not in India to stay - nor 

does India usually want 

them to. They are there 

for the experience of it, 

that is all. And as for the 

prospects for Westerners 

who might want to make 

India their home? For now 

few prospects and few 

takers exist. 

Anthony buying a car in India. After a small religious ritual, 

he was handed the keys, which he then gave to Rama, 

his driver (far left). 

THE MYSTIQUE OF 

INDIA 

And one must not forget 

one simple fact: India is 

India. There is something 


TURNING EAST 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

22 

- many things - about 

the country that make it 

unique among the nations 

of the world. Throughout 

its long history, India has 

drawn people into itself. 

The Indian exodus is 

actually a relatively recent 

phenomenon. And so for 

people to seek entry to 

India is not really a reversal 

of the normal trend. It is 

a return to the way things 

have usually been. 

‘ 

ON THE GROUND 

THE INDIAN WAYOF LIFE 

When a Westerner arrives in India, there are a number of things 

they find to be different from their way of life back home. For 

example, many western expats 

express their surprise at the 

India is India. 

There is 

something - many 

things - about 

the country that 

make it unique 

among the nations 

of the world. 

Throughout its 

long history, India 

has drawn people 

into itself. 


The ancient city of Mamallapuram, a motorcycle ride from 

Chennai. One of the places visited during Anthony’s time in India. 

‘ 

extent that religion permeates 

the culture. This is found not 

only in the omnipresence of 

religious symbols in India, but 

also in conversation - even with 

strangers. In the West, religion 

has largely been abandoned 

(unless one considers agnosticism 

a religion) and it is generally not 

considered polite to ask about 

another’s spiritual beliefs. 

Not so in India. One blogger 

on an expat site meditates on 

the directness of Indians with 

respect to religion. “But what 

are South Asians, in this case 

Indians, really asking me when 

they inquire about my religion as 

an opening line in conversation? 

I think it’s an easy way to place 

me, to understand who I am and 

where I come from.” 

But though differences require 

some adjustment, they are often 

appreciated. I, for one, 

don’t mind getting into 

a spiritual conversation 

from the first sentence. 

And Anthony Apodaca 

found many things 

that he appreciated 

about Indian culture. 

Regarding these, he 

stated simply that 

“Westerners complain 

about everything. 

Indians complain 

about nothing.” He also has 

respect for Indians’ prioritizing of 

relationships, especially family. 

COMMUNICATION 

One of the realities to 

face is the difficulty found 

in communicating. This is 

not unexpected, but it can be 

frustrating. Westerners find it 

helpful that large numbers of 

Indians speak English, especially 

in the South as well as in the 

companies that Westerners find 

themselves working in. But 

sometimes a common language 

misleads people into thinking 

that the other understands what 

is being said. Though I have 

never worked in India myself, I 

have been there often enough to 

know that I need to change the 

way I speak English in an Indian 

context. It is now natural for me 

to subconsciously adopt an Indian 

accent, especially when speaking 

on the phone. My usual accent, 

which some might consider a 

monotone mumble, just doesn’t 

get me very far at times. 

Anthony found the same with 

respect to sentence structure as 

well. “I also found it difficult to 

speak in a way that they could 

understand me,” he says. “If I 

said, ‘bottle of water’, a waiter 

would look at me like I was 

speaking French. If, however, I 

said, ‘water bottle’, they 

brought it immediately. 

This was annoying.” 

Though no one is to 

blame for this difficulty, it 

can be an adjustment that 

many Westerners have 

trouble making. It’s just 

part of the consequence 

of speaking the global 

language. English is 

found everywhere, but 

each part of the world 

has its own way of 

speaking it. 

THE WORK 

ENVIRONMENT 

There are also differences in the 

work environment as well. Anthony 

relates the following story. 

“When I first arrived at the 

office in Chennai, I was told that 

I needed to go get passport-sized 

photographs in order to have 

an ID badge. I went and faced 

the blistering sun and extreme 

weather to go get the pictures 

and promptly delivered them to 

the office. Five months later, I 

got my ID badge. I asked several 

times in those five months if I 

was going to get my ID badge 

soon and always got the same 

reply, ‘Tomorrow coming, sir’. 

“This illustrates both 

positive and negative sides 

of the Indian culture. On the 

one hand, the office manager 

valued my relationship so he 

didn’t tell me that he didn’t 

know or that it would be another month or whatever. On the other 

hand, coming from the States, I expect an accurate answer. Further, 

I would consider that anyone who actually valued my relationship, 

would give me a straight answer or at least tell me when they do 

not know. The name badge was a small and insignificant event, but 

there were much bigger and 

more frustrating events, 

especially relating to 

workloads and deadlines.” 

Anthony’s story illustrates 

one of the challenges faced by 

Westerners in India. Indians 

(especially subordinates) 

will often tell people what 

they feel the other person 

wants to hear, not necessarily 

what the facts really are. Of 

course, they are encouraged 

to do this: many Indian bosses 

are not comfortable with 

anything else, which is why 

their employees tell them what 

they want. In the West, bosses 

and employees have a different dynamic, usually focusing on the task 

at hand in a more objective way. A subordinate can usually speak 

freely about the task, even giving bad news or disagreeing with the 

boss about how something should be accomplished, and it isn’t taken 

personally. It doesn’t often work this way in India, where the personal 

is often the largest element in the workplace. 

Outdoor adventure. Anthony earned the nickname 

“Auto”, as in “auto rickshaw” because many of his 

fellow-adventurers could not swim, so he carried them 

across the water on his back. 

GOING HOME 

Like most Westerners in India, Anthony completed his contract and 

decided it was time to leave. He still hasn’t made it all the way home, 

though he has gone back to the West: He’s in Oxford, working on his Ph.D. 

One last question before he goes: Would he stay in India if he had 

the chance? “I think I could stay in Chennai for one more year, but I am 

ultimately not happy here. For one, I love to be outside and in nature, 

Chennai is a huge city, densely populated and terribly polluted.” 

So for now the attraction of India for most Westerners remains 

essentially that of an expat experience. But it’s safe to say that the 

attraction is growing and both Indians and Westerners will soon have 

to decide how much further they want to take the relationship. 

Benjamin Parker is contributing editor of TII 


BOLLYWOOD 

Rensil D’Silva: Making Indian 

Cinema Global & Contemporary 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

The much awaited Saif-Kareena starrer, KURBAAN – a romantic thriller set 

against the backdrop of global terrorism make its way to the screens worldwide 

this November. Debutante director Rensil D’Silva is an ad man with 18 years 

experience who has scripted films like the path breaking Rang De Basanti, Aks 

and Mani Ratnam’s upcoming film Raavan. In an exclusive interview with TII he 

shares his journey and the challenges of Bollywood. 


A 

clear indication of 

an Indian identity 

across the globe is 

Bollywood. In the 

history of world 

cinema, nothing even comes close 

Rensil with Saif Ali Khan & Kareena Kapoor 

to the meteoric rise in the number 

of movies produced in Bollywood 

making it a fundamental part of 

the Indian Diaspora experience. 

Be it American, African, Middle 

Eastern or British Indians, they 

have all managed to keep up with 

the latest films and songs coming 

from Mumbai. The Indian film 

industry today is known and appreciated – right from America to 

China. While expatriate Indians love them, others are not untouched 

by their magic either. 

Hindi films employ a surprising mix of facts woven together with 

fiction and colourful songs and dances to keep the viewer captivated in 

a memorable trance! While earlier this distinctive style was domestic 

and sought to showcase its Indian-ness, today, 

it has become very international, appealing 

extensively to Indians settled abroad and 

foreigners alike. The typical tearjerker 

stories have given way, to a large extent, to 

contemporary issues. This change is being 

accepted and in some cases, even demanded, 

on the domestic front. Where, merely a decade 

ago, films like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and 

Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge were madly 

accepted and Rajshri productions bagged 

box office success every time with their 

family dramas. Today multiplex audiences 

are enjoying and are receptive to films 

which present reality they can identify with. 

This November, the much awaited Saif- 

Kareena starrer, KURBAAN – a romantic 

thriller set against the backdrop of global 

terrorism will make its way to the screens worldwide. The man behind 

the film is Rensil D’Silva making his entry as a debutante director. 

And although this is his first directorial venture, Rensil is not new to 

the media industry. An ad man with 18 years experience, Rensil has 

also scripted films like Aks, Rang De Basanti and Mani Ratnam’s 

upcoming film Raavan. 

In 2006, the path breaking film Rang De Basanti scripted by Rensil 

made a noticeable impact on Indian society. This was a film that evoked 

a great social reaction from the youth in India and there was a great 

24 



BOLLYWOOD 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

stir in the public towards government and politicians for constantly 

being mired in corruption and bureaucracy and their inefficiency in 

providing citizens with basic amenities. This was a film that instigated 

political thought and discussions on how citizens should support and 

contribute to non-governmental organizations, exercise simple citizen 

duties of paying taxes and voting, while the others contemplated on 

how to become more responsible towards the country. 

For Rensil D’Silva, writing, scripting and now directing stories 

on real, contemporary and global issues was never a risk but a path 

breaking opportunity 

to quench his passion 

and burning desire 

for expression. The 

timing could not have 

been more perfect. 

And the audiences in 

India and overseas are 

welcoming this change 

in Bollywood. Inspite 

of being busy up to his 

eyeballs, Rensil spared 

a few minutes to tell 

TII about his journey 

into Bollywood and 

the exhilarating but 

satisfying experience 

it has been so far. 

Rensil D’silva: My identity, my terms 

Please give us a brief profile/background of yourself. 

I’ve spent the last 17 yrs doing a combination of documentaries, 

ad films, music videos and feature films. My effort was always to 

test myself in various genres of writing and direction. For the last 10 

years, while I have been a Creative Director in advertising agencies as 

varied as Rediffusion, Mudra and Ogilvy & Mather, I’ve also written 

scripts for movies like Aks, Rang De Basanti, Mani Ratnam’s Ravana 

and Shoojit Sircar’s Shoebite. Currently I am the Executive Creative 

Director of Meridian, a sister agency of O&M. 

Did you face any prejudice because of your name when you entered 

the Bollywood film industry? 

Initially, people found it strange to have a Christian write for a 

Hindi film. It was just not a done thing. Some of them even asked me 

to change my name or leave it out. But I was insistent on the fact that I 

would not change my identity and that if I had to make it, it would be 

on my terms. 

Tell us a bit about your journey 

into writing and now directing 

films. 

As a boy, I’ve always been 

an avid film buff. My influences 

have been Guru Dutt, Ridley Scott, 

Ramesh Sippy, George Lucas and 

the Coen Brothers. After writing 

for many years the 

floodgates opened after 

Rang De Basanti. I 

was offered many films 

and over two years, 

wrote 14 screenplays 

that are now in various 

stages of completion. In 

2006, Karan offered me 

Kurbaan to write and 

direct based on a story 

he had. 

What were the ups 

and downs you had to 

face as a newcomer 

from advertising into 

the fiercely competitive and 

guarded Bollywood industry? 

What drew you to Bollywood? 

Was it the challenge, wanting to 

change things, the money? How 

did you manage the risks? 

I knew I wanted to tell stories 

with a difference which would 

engage the heart and head. In 

1997, when I started, we didn’t 

have multiplexes and the mature 

audiences of today. But I did not 

want to sell out and write what 

was considered entertainment and 

so though work came slowly and 

steadily, I pushed for making the 

films that I would be interested in 

where the screenplays and stories 

would be the highlight. For the 

last 10 yrs, I have worked from 9 

am in the morning to 9 pm in the evening in an ad agency and 11 pm 

to 3 am writing screenplays of my films. It’s been a schizophrenic life 

but the only way possibly where passion and commerce could marry. 

From Rang De Basanti to Kurbaan, it is evident that your story 

writing is upbeat, relevant and contemporary which is pretty 

unusual for Bollywood! Why did you choose to take this path? 

I have always believed that form and content should move hand 

in hand. And that if you add layers of social relevance and emotional 

connect to this story there is no way you can lose. 

I am usually interested in stories where big events 

that affect our times whether it be terrorism or 

apathy in the world around us are played out on a 

more human and intimate level. I am interested in 

reality not melodrama. So this is pretty unusual for 

Bollywood. I guess I chose it because this is how 

my mind works and how I believe that younger 

audiences of today like their entertainment – less 

fluff more reality. 

But Rang De Basanti worked like magic. And 

most people attribute it to the story. What do you 

personally think? What is the one ingredient 

that made it happen or work? 

A non-linear storytelling was just a form that 

aided the idea. It was the sentiment and the idea at the 

heart of the film that made it work. Form is just an aide to content. The 

emotional core connected with the audience and so the film was a hit. 

And now with Kurbaan, an issue that is global. Has Bollywood 

emerged to a point where realistic films will appeal? Why? Is this 

still a risk, a business strategy to move away from the run-of-themill 

or has the audience matured? 

I think finally Indian filmmakers have got an audience they have 

always dreamed about. A young audience with purchasing power and 

global exposure. An audience that thinks in 2 idioms – Western & 

Indian. Most importantly, an audience whose reality is no longer bleak 

but upbeat and confident. It is this reality that propels filmmakers like 

me to make real films. Films about today and today’s concerns. 

It is now up to us to respect the audience and not insult its intelligence 

by making substandard products. 

What is your advice to the younger and upcoming writers and 

aspiring directors in Bollywood? 

I think when you start out there 

is a constant tug of war in your 

head between doing run of the 

mill stuff that gets you money than 

doing new forms of storytelling 

that meet with resistance. I think 

it is very important to persist 

in some form whatever your 

individual capacity may be with 

the latter. May be its impractical 

Rensil: Making films with a distinct voice of their own 

to completely disregard monetary 

consideration. I think one should 

have a healthy respect for money 

but not be subservient to it and lose 

your own voice. It is only when 

you make a film that has a distinct 

voice of its own that you will be 

recognized and appreciated and 

hence have a career for yourself. 

So I guess the simple answer is to 

be true to your heart. 

Is there anything that you would 

never do again? 

No. 

Sarina Menezes is a freelance 

writer based in UK 



BAHRAIN 

Puravangara 

Unnikrishnan 

Ruling the Air Waves in Bahrain 

“In the first place you have to be a very good listener. Otherwise you 

cannot reach anywhere and you also have to be open to criticism.” 

Puravangara Unnikrishnan of Radio Voice in Bahrain shares his 

philosophical approach to broadcasting. 

by: Hemu Gorde 

Puravangara Unnikrishnan could possibly be the first Indian 

or even an expat in the GCC countries to have launched 

the region’s maiden private FM Radio channel, but he 

certainly is the first and the only one to have that distinction 

in Bahrain. 

Voice FM 104.2, that 

went on air on November 

1, 2006 is undoubtedly one 

channel that binds the people 

of the sub-continent, Pakistan, 

Bangladesh and even Sri 

Lanka together in Bahrain as 

well as in the neighbouring 

countries. 

Three years down the lane, 

Unnikrishnan, Chairman and 

Managing Director of Voice 

FM 104.2, says that the station 

is very popular and “enjoys 

the patronage of thousands of 

listeners from Bahrain, Qatar, 

Kuwait and the Eastern Province 

of Saudi Arabia.” But what he is 

also equally happy about is that 

the unprecedented participation 

and patronage of the listeners, 

“which has given us the position 

of a station that receives the highest SMS feedback from listeners 

Puravangara Unnikrishnan Chairman and 

Managing Director of Voice FM 104.2 

across the entire GCC states.” 

While there are many first 

generation highly-successful 

entrepreneurs in the region, it 

was Unnikrishnan who ventured 

into a business untried by his 

compatriots in Bahrain. 

He could well have started an 

advertising agency or a trading 

and marketing firm as a holder of 

an MBA degree in Advertising 

and Marketing; but that is not 

the way Unnikrishnan looks at 

life as he wanted to give back to 

the people by bringing a smile 

to their faces and binding them 

together. 

At 41, he recalls the year 

1993 when he reached Bahrain 

with dreams of becoming 

a copywriter and achieving 

financial security. His route to 

Bahrain was typical as he came 

hoping to find his dream job, but 

for survival, working initially 

in a construction company in 

the accounts section at a junior 

level. 

The salary was mere BD70, 

the living conditions were not 

good and the prospects were not 

bright but he continued working 

hoping to get a suitable job in 

an Ad agency or a marketing 

and trading company. His hopes 

were squashed when he had to 

choose to continue working with 

the company or become jobless, 

and probably leave Bahrain 

due to the labour ministry 

requirements at that time. 

No option left, he chose to 

continue with the company. 

Honest and hardworking 

Unnikrishnan earned the 

respect and trust of the 

owners as he became 

a pivotal factor in the 

establishment’s growth. 

He was instrumental in 

making the construction 

company into a group of 

companies with associates 

and business interests in 

a number of other GCC 

States. And when he left 

it in 1998, with the good 

wishes of the bosses 

and every single worker in the 

organisation, his job position was 

Group Manager. 

“The bosses promised my 

job was available if I wanted it 

back and kept the door open for 

me. But as good human beings 

they allowed me to do something 

new in my life that excited 

me.” The hundreds of workers 

still admire and love him for 

when they came to Bahrain 

under his administration they 

did not have to pay any agent 

or middleman’s fees. 

“This is one of the biggest 

assets that I have earned in life,” 

he says. 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

Looking back Unnikrishnan believes that strength comes from 

managing the “ups and downs opf life” and a burning desire to excel. 

His illustrious grandfather, P. Kurchiraman Nair, was one of Kerala’s 

finest modern era poets and was known as Mahakavi P. Mahakavi (The 

Great Poet) a title that is rare. On the other hand, his father was a 

freedom fighter who later became active in politics and was the Kerala 

State President of the Janata Party. 

It was his mother who raised the family after his father’s untimely 

death when he was only 10. At times things were bad. “But my mother 

instilled the good qualities in me and my other siblings, and I know 

how important that 

is in life when it 

comes to dealing 

with people,” he 

says. 

Unnikrishnan seen receiving the Media Excellence Award 

from Her Highness Shaikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, 

Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Women and wife of 

His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa 

Leaving the 

construction group, 

Unnikrishnan joined 

Asianet TV to 

become the head of 

its team producing 

the regular episodes 

on Bahrain in 1998. 

“Most people in 

Kerala knew only 

Dubai and Saudi 

Arabia then and had 

not heard of Bahrain. 

The Asianet coverage 

introduced Bahrain 

to the people in Kerala in a big way. It also gave me the opportunity to 

highlight the culture, heritage and the rich past of Bahrain—which has 

a history of nearly 8,000 years. Additionally, people also learnt about 

local people, the business and commerce potential and job opportunities. 

I am very glad to have become a part of Asianet which helped increase 

Bahrain’s tourism sector in its own way,” says the man who produced 

more than 1,500 weekly episodes for the channel before setting up his 

own radio station in Bahrain. 

The mere mention of Voice FM, and Unnikrishnan becomes 

enthused, explaining the tag line of the station: “Positive Sound”. 

The idea is that we are “inundated with negative news all over on 

a daily basis, be it the newspapers or the TV, and my objective is to 

bring happiness to the people, in this case through music. The regular 

programmes include, songs in different languages, live interactive 

interviews of doctors, the labour authorities, legal experts among others 

so people can ask questions and get answers. Visiting film and music 

celebrities are also interviewed. This makes people happy as well as 

educates them, thus creating a different world in itself. Additionally, we 



BAHRAIN 

are the only media partner of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority 

(LMRA), which gives us tremendous credibility,” he explains. 

The station is very transparent and “is the only radio station, to my 

knowledge, that carries live criticisms of listeners with no editing at 

all. We allow people to speak so that we can grow and deliver what 

they want by improving ourselves,” he emphasises. 

And how does he look at the criticism? In a very positive way. 

When someone says something was “nuisance” about a programme 

or coverage, I take it as “New Sense.” he smiles. 

”What I have understood in this business which deals with making 

people listen, in the first place you yourself have to be a very good 

listener. Otherwise you cannot reach anywhere. You also have to be 

open to criticism,” he shares his philosophical approach adding that all 

his staff are confident that they can share everything openly with him 

and express their views regardless of their role in the company. 

“Come November 1, we are going to change our station‘s 

Puravangara Unnikrishnan with Ali Radhi, CEO of LMRA after signing their media partnership 

name to Radio Voice to become more closer to the people’s heart,”he 

revealed exclusively to TII ahead of any official announcement 

elsewhere, and as he speaks further he radiates confidence that there 

will not be any problem in the transition because he has “listened to 

the listeners.” 

The station is now running smoothly, and does not require my dayto-day 

presence. The system is in place and, having been blessed with 

dedicated and quality staff, I can relax a little, quips Unnikrishnan without 

highlighting that he still does several major interviews and is a primary 

force in overall management, including designing the programmes. 

“My wife and my son and daughter now get more time with me and 

I try to pass on the qualities my mother instilled in me. I make them 

stay with my mother as often as possible,” he discloses. 

“A decade from now, our business profile will be different from 

now and will hopefully be quite diversified. We are currently looking 

at the prospects of entering 

into the IT industry and are 

negotiating possibilities with 

some reputed players. 

He does not rush into inking 

deals too quickly. This is in line 

with Unnikrishnan’s thinking 

before finalising any deal, and he 

inevitably invites the prospective 

partner to visit Bahrain and 

see his business set up during 

the negotiations. The idea is to 

slow down and take time before 

making any important decision. 

It is also the same with the new 

employees. If selected from 

outside Bahrain, the candidate 

is sent a visit visa first to 

experience the company’s work 

ethics and environment, meet 

and talk to other staff, before 

taking the decision to join. 

“That is because we are 

serious about our relationships 

and our transparency, and we 

value people,” is Unnikrishnan’s 

explanation. 

Puravangara works closely 

with Bahrain Radio and 

Television Corporation (BRTC), 

from where he broadcasts his 

programmes. He acknowledges 

BRTV’s role in his success. 

“The government’s decision 

in making Bahrain’s TV Radio 

set up into a business corporation 

and allowing us to run our 

business privately makes it a 

win-win situation for both. I am 

very happy to be in Bahrain and I 

don’t forget that this country has 

given me much more than my 

initial dreams,” he says looking 

back at his 16 year sojourn on 

the island. 

Hemu Gorde is a freelance 

writer based in Bahrain 

32 


EDUCATION 

Education in the Gulf 

the UOWD perspective 

Development and diversity are the words that come to mind 

when University of Wollongong in Dubai’s president muses 

about higher education in the UAE. 

by: Professor John Whelan 

UOWD at Dubai’s Knowledge Village 

I 

came to the UAE a little over a year ago, to take up the position of 

President at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. As the ‘new 

boy in town’ I had a lot to learn, both about the history of my 

own University and about the rapidly evolving higher education 

environment in Dubai, and in the UAE more generally. 

The first thing that strikes you in the UAE higher education environment 

is diversity. There is a wonderful diversity of university students studying 

here – over 100 countries of origin in UOWD alone! Indian students are a 

feature of many university campuses in the UAE. There is a wide diversity 

of staff too – with 35 nationalities at UOWD. This diversity adds to the 

excitement and reward of living and working in Dubai. 

Although many UAE Nationals choose one of the public institutions, 

many attend private Universities – including UOWD. In addition, many 

foreign students in the UAE are expats living here; some families have 

been here for several generations. Among the students coming here to 

study from other countries, India, 

the GCC and non-GCC Arab 

countries dominate. However, 

we also have international 

students from places as far afield 

as Australia, the West Indies, 

China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan. 

This diversity is evidence of 

the great progress being made in 

establishing the UAE of as a ‘hub’ 

for world class higher education 

in the Middle East region. This is 

undoubtedly an objective in the 

UAE. The Abu Dhabi Education 

Council, for example, has a 

vision of being “recognized as a 

world class education system that 

supports all learners in reaching 

their full potential to compete in 

the global market”. To this end, 

this Emirate has invited some 

prestigious overseas Universities to 

establish campuses in that Emirate. 

Earlier this year, UOWD 

hosted a research symposium on 

“Business Clusters: a Source of 

Innovation and Knowledge for 

Competitive Advantage”. At this 

symposium, Dubai’s aspirations of 

becoming a world class education 

hub were presented by the 

Director of Dubai’s ‘Knowledge 

Village’ Ibrahim Jamel. Dubai’s 

strategy differs from Abu Dhabi’s 

Professor Robert John Whelan, President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai. 

‘‘Diversity adds to the excitement and reward of living and working in the Gulf.’’ 

in that they are encouraging many universities from overseas to establish 

branch campuses in education Free Zones, such as ‘Academic City’ – to 

co-locate many higher education institutions in a cluster. 

You might say that the UAE’s range of higher education options 

is as diverse as the potential student population. There can be no ‘one 

size fits all’ marketing approach in this heterogenous society. There 

is no one size fits all teaching approach either. Some students are 

already in full-time work and want classes after hours, some commute 

to us from as far away as Oman and Abu Dhabi and they would prefer 

weekend classes, others are more traditional full-time day-time 

students. Also, students in Dubai come from a bewildering array of 

high school backgrounds – CBSE, ISC and a myriad of Indian State 

Board curricula, Pakistani Year 12, GCE ‘O’ ‘AS’ and ‘A’ Levels, 

International Baccalaureate, American High School, Australian Year 

12, Arab High School. 

Some higher education institutions in this 

region see their place as simply delivering a niche 

‘product’ – say a business diploma – and no more. 

This gives their graduates a qualification that may 

have international ‘currency’, but not a campus 

experience nor other less tangible benefits of 

studying at a traditional university, such as being 

taught by staff who are actively involved in research, 

and engaging in activities that engage and benefit the 

local community. 

The first big issue I had to deal with, as the new 

President of UOWD, was brought to me by the 

Manager of our Marketing Department. He wanted 

to know: “Why are our degrees not recognised in 

other GCC countries?” “Are they not?” was my 

initial response. His reply was: “Well, they are in 

th 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

some countries in the region, but 

not all.” 

I was surprised, because 

UOWD has been operating in 

Dubai for 16 years. Moreover, 

it is an independent, private 

institution licensed by the UAE 

Ministry for Higher Education 

and Scientific Research, along 

with 57 other private institutions 

in the UAE and the three national 

tertiary institutions: United Arab 

Emirates University, Zayed 

University, and the Higher 

Colleges of Technology. Our 

21 degree programs are among 

the 454 programs accredited by 

the Ministry’s Commission for 

Academic Accreditation (the 

‘CAA’). 

I soon found out that this 

national accreditation process 

creates a clear distinction 

between branches of foreign 

Universities that have set up in 

the Emirates, the majority of them 

in education Free Zones, mostly 

in Dubai. The Knowledge and 

UAE’s range of higher education options is as diverse as the 

potential student population. 



EDUCATION 

th 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

In the UAE, as with most other countries, few high 

school leavers seem to research the implications of the 

choice of institution for their future studies or careers 

Human Development Authority, 

for example, records 52 higher 

education institutions operating in 

Dubai. Of these, 29 do not have 

UAE national accreditation, but 

operate as shopfronts or branch 

campuses for overseas institutions. 

Why do universities and 

governments place such emphasis 

on accreditation and on quality 

assurance? What does accreditation 

tell us about a university or 

about a specific degree program? 

What opportunities do different 

qualifications open up for 

graduates? These are important 

questions for anyone embarking on 

a university degree, in any country. 

Quality audit of universities is 

designed to evaluate the quality of 

the academic outcomes, including 

the attainment of certain threshold 

standards of performance and the 

effectiveness of the processes a university has in place to ensure the 

delivery of these outcomes. Most quality audit agencies worldwide 

also see an important part of their role as informing the public and 

higher education policy-makers of the relative academic standards of 

universities in a particular country or region. 

Accreditation is one way to advertise the positive outcome 

of a quality audit. An accredited institution has demonstrated that 

its internal structures and processes do indeed deliver educational 

outcomes that meet or exceed standards, and prospective students 

can be confident of this without needing to examine for themselves 

every aspect of the institution and its programs. 

The Commission for Academic Accreditation (the ‘CAA’) was 

established in the UAE Ministry for Higher Education and Scientific 

Research to ensure that universities in the Emirates operate at 

international standards of quality. To achieve this, the CAA conducts 

a program of licensure of universities and also accreditation of each 

of their academic programs. 

The CAA makes public its Standards for Licensure and 

Accreditation (see www.caa.ae/caa/images/standards2007.pdf). 

The CAA has its own Commissioners, who have both international 

experience and also deep knowledge of local conditions, workforce 

needs, and potential 

student demand. It also 

engages international 

consultants to help evaluate 

applications for licensure 

and program accreditation. 

The Standards, and 

the CAA’s tests of a 

university’s performance 

against these standards, 

therefore reflect the unique 

national circumstances 

in the UAE and also 

ensure that international 

comparability is achieved. 

The CAA’s membership 

of the International 

Network for Quality 

Assurance Agencies in 

Higher Education, gives 

confidence that the quality 

of accredited degree 

programs from licensed 

universities in the UAE is 

at international standard. 

In the UAE, as with 

UOWD has a large number of students form the 

sub-continent. 

most other countries, few high school leavers seem to research the 

implications of the choice of institution for their future studies or 

careers. In order to assure a high standard of higher education, the 

CAA requires that students are proficient in English, that they have 

a good school academic performance (for undergraduate entry) or, 

for entry to Masters programs, a good first degree 

GPA from a nationally accredited University 

in the UAE or an internationally recognized 

overseas institution. 

These entry regulations exist to ensure that 

students are well prepared for the demands of the 

high quality education which the Ministry requires 

of its licensed institutions. So, if a student anticipates 

a future career in a government agency in the UAE, 

a degree from a nationally licensed institution is 

likely to be required. If a graduate from a UAEbased 

university plans to enter a Masters program 

at a licensed institution, this will be possible only 

with good performance in an undergraduate degree 

from the right university. 

In a recent interview, I was asked: “Has 

education been reduced to being primarily a 

business?” My personal view is that it is very 

important to separate business from education because, in any country, 

the education of young people determines the future of the country. 

A significant reason for a staff member wanting to teach and research 

in a private university should be to contribute to the good of the local 

environment, community, society and economy. 

This is because a university should be about providing education 

and promoting research. It should contribute to national goals and help 

the country to a knowledge-based economy. But above all, education 

should be about improving society. In a sense it’s a calling, rather than 

just a job, to provide high quality education. 

This is not to say that universities should not engage with business 

or industry. They should, and the best universities do this very well. 

Feedback from industry helps universities to improve their academic 

offerings and make them more relevant to society. Further, collaboration 

with university staff on research projects can provide a significant 

competitive advantage to commercial and industrial partners. 

Research is not particularly well developed in UAE tertiary 

institutions. Although there are excellent researchers with strong track 

records at many of UAE’s universities, it was not until 2008 that there 

was a national research funding program. His Excellency Sheikh 

Nahayan Mabarek bin Nahayan, the Minister for Higher Education 

and Scientific Research, established the National Research Foundation 

(NRF) and the first competition for research project grants is currently 

under way – the outcomes are expected early in November. 

The NRF will change the 

landscape for research in 

universities by providing a 

funding stream for excellent 

researchers to conduct projects 

The education of young people determines the future of the country. 

that address problems of 

national significance. It will 

also encourage universities to 

reward staff for good research 

performance as well as being 

good teachers. This is one of the 

most critical parts of a higher 

education system – ensuring 

that the leaders of tomorrow, our 

current students, are learning 

from people who are themselves 

actively engaged in learning. 

With a combination of a 

national university system 

including both public and private 

universities, a very strong 

accreditation process, and a 

National Research Foundation – 

the UAE is on the way to achieving 

its aspiration of becoming a 

world-class education hub. 

Professor John Whelan is 

President of the University of 

Wollongong in Dubai 



COVER STORY 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

ANURAAG SINHA: 

Success Is Doing Only One Thing 

Anuraag Sinha, Managing Director of Liali Jewellery a decade old 

company in Dubai, is proof that an idea for a business can transcend 

age and nationality to forge a viable, lasting partnership. 

by: Frank Raj 

Anuraag Sinha with his wife Arti and their two sons, Ankit (15) and Anshul (11) 

Are entrepreneurs 

born or made? 

Theories diverge on 

this issue but the fact 

remains there are 

people who choose not to run with 

the pack, they march to the beat of 

a different drummer. Millions of 

Indians come to work in the Gulf 

but very few overcome real or 

self imposed barriers to create 

successful business 

relationships. One 

exception is 49 

year old Anuraag Sinha, Managing 

Director of Liali Jewellery whose 

decade old company is proof that an idea for a 

business can transcend age and nationality to 

forge a viable, lasting partnership. He easily 

validates what personal productivity gurus 

often point out - ‘Ideas have consequences.’ 

That is an axiom with broad life applications 

too, but it is highly relevant to launching and 

growing any business where creativity and 

innovation is the key to success. 

Anuraag’s experience though is not a 

common one – many stories circulate in 

the Gulf expatriate community of different 

nationalities not getting along, and it is the 

rare entrepreneur who succeeds because 

he initiated and nurtured the right business connection. Ten years 

ago Anuraag convinced Raed Ahmad Baker, scion of the prominent 

Emirati Baker family to launch Liali Jewellery under the umbrella of 

the Dutco group, one of the UAE’s top business houses. What began 

with one showroom in Dubai’s Jumeirah Centre Mall is today a chain 

of 20 stores in Europe and the Middle East. 

“My roots are in Uttar Pradesh but I grew up and studied in 

Mumbai,” says Anuraag, which is possibly an indication of how he 

acquired his entrepreneurial instincts. Living in the big city many an 

Indian entrepreneur has tested and honed his mettle before venturing 

out to the Gulf and beyond . Being a product of St Xavier’s School and 

graduating with economics and statistics from KC College also gave 

Anuraag the foundation and confidence he needed to take his share 

of risks. “From the very beginning I was never interested in working 

long term for anybody else,” he confesses. Doing quite well on his 

own, Anuraag had already turned down a management trainee job with 

Ceat Tyres soon after college so the entrepreneur in him was evident 

quite early. 

But the jeweler-businessman’s tryst with destiny could have taken 

him in different directions, and one of them was a readymade career in 

Bollywood. Anuraag’s father and his uncles were filmmakers in the 60s 

and growing up in that heady atmosphere, his life could have taken a 

very different turn. But it was not meant to be, for after working with his 

father for three years in show business he decided he was not interested 

in the film industry. Many a Bollywood aspirant would be surprised 

at his decision especially because 

some of the films the Sinhas made 

in the 60s and 70s, are popular 

hits of yesteryear. 

Anuraag was only 19 at the 

time, and he is quite detached 

when he recalls the 

experience, “Our family 

business was Hindi 

films – we made movies 

like Saaz Aur Awaz, 

Sharafat (with 

Dharmendra) and 

Zahrila Insaan, 

the second Rishi 

Kapoor starrer, 

Dushman starring 

Rajesh Khanna and 

Mumtaz, and many 

more films. My 

father’s older brother was 

one of the first importers of 

English movies like Django 

Anuraag Sinha, MD of Liali Jewellery and 

Raed Ahmad Baker: Chairman, Liali Jewellery 

etc., and my Dad’s youngest 

brother Virender Sinha who 

wrote the screenplay for Kal 

Aaj Aur Kal is alive and still involved in Bollywood.” However nobody 

in the second generation, neither Anuraag nor his two younger brothers 

and one sister were inclined to follow in their footsteps, although his 

sister Seema Sinha is a prominent Bollywood writer today. “My father 

himself was a misfit in the business, he knew that ethics in the industry 

was zero, it was not organized, and what one had to do to be successful 

was not what he liked to do.” He was not disappointed when Anuraag 

decided filmmaking would not be his choice of a future. 

Anuraag’s entrepreneurial instincts led him elsewhere, and in his 

early 20s aiming to cash in on the export boom in India, he started a 

leather business with 

a factory in Agra 

manufacturing 

ladies shoes 

for export. 

“The business 

only went so 

far and we had 

to shut it down. At 

the time we felt we 

were undercapitalized, but 

looking back now I think we 

lacked the experience to 

make it work - the business 

acumen and skills were 

missing,” is Anuraag’s 

retrospective analysis. 

Possibly realizing this and 

the lessons learned from 

his early work experiences 

led him to explore what 

opportunities the Gulf 

could offer. With a specific 

financial goal in mind, he 

moved to Kuwait in 1985 

for a job in the plastics 

industry. There he utilized 

his skills and qualifications, 

gaining valuable experience 

in production costing and 

inventory management. His 

modest savings target was 

five lakh rupees at the time, 

and once that was achieved 

he left Kuwait in 1989, after 

only four years. Another Gulf 

assignment awaited him within 

a week of his returning to Mumbai. 

As luck would have it his new 

employer was Dubai’s biggest 

jewellery firm, in fact still the 

industry leader in the Middle East. 

Anuraag had landed on the right 

track for the future of his choice, 

but it would be nearly ten long 

years before his entrepreneurial 

dreams would come true. 

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Starting out in sales and marketing Anuraag quickly realized how 

essential it was to understand every aspect of the jewellery business. A 

one hundred day training program followed under the direct supervision 

of one of the owners after which he was promoted to manage a store, 

gaining more knowledge and expertise of retailing and manufacturing 

high fashion gold and diamond jewellery. 

Anuraag had only one objective throughout that long decade in 

harness – how to break 

into the jewellery business 

independently. After 

the seventh year his 

determination intensified. 

He did not think of 

doing any other business 

because he liked the 

industry so much. “I 

was determined to learn 

every aspect of it,” he 

remembers, revealing 

how single-minded he 

was even in the early 

days when he was just 

dreaming about starting 

his own business. He 

was totally involved 

Liali’s new store at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. 

in retail sales, managing shops, business development, overseas 

business opportunities, product development, brand building, 

recruitment, training etc. – basically acquiring in-depth 

knowledge of the trade. When you talk to him, it is obvious 

he is in love with the jewellery business. “I am simply 

fascinated by the creativity and beauty of the products we sell 

and the retail business. We think and create beauty and that’s 

what we sell in our line of work. Whatever the customer wants 

can be designed to specification,” he says. 

From the seventh year onwards, Anuraag was ready with a business 

plan and kept fine tuning it, looking for an investor. “You’ve got to do 

what you’ve got to do and move on,” he urges. Still, while determination, 

skill and experience are important, what about so many people who are 

equally determined and qualified but don’t see their dreams come true? 

“Yes I know, so many people try, I’m sure I was blessed,” Anuraag 

agrees that may be the primary reason he succeeded. “But there’s more 

to it,” he points out . “I am totally focused. So many opportunities come 

up all the time, people keep telling you to do this or do that, like Dubai’s 

recent real estate boom for instance. But we have never wavered in our 

commitment to our core business - 24/7, 365, we eat, live, breathe and 

love our work. That’s the way it’s been at Liali Jewellery ever since we 

started. I had the same mindset when I was employed -if you truly enjoy 

your work you don’t think you’re working too much, it just becomes a 

way of life.” 

However being focused 

and prepared doesn’t always 

guarantee results, how did he 

find the money he needed to start 

and what happened when Anuraag 

presented the business plan to 

his potential Emirati 

investor Raed Ahmad 

Baker? “We had a 

mutual friend who 

introduced us because 

Raed wanted to do 

something of his own 

and I had the expertise. 

He and his father liked 

the idea…I believe we 

all liked each other … 

and it just got started. It 

was a completely new 

business for the Bakers 

and Raed took seven 

months to complete the 

due diligence,” Anuraag 

recalls, “which meant 

seven months of follow up from 

my side! But once he grasped the 

concept and the potential, it took 

just one meeting with Raed’s 

father Mr Ahmad Baker and 

their financial advisor and in half 

an hour the decision was made. 

There’s been no looking back. 

But what gave Anuraag the 

courage to approach the Baker 

family to invest in his project? 

“I totally believed in the viability 

of my project and my ability to 

make it a success. I already had 

ten years of experience in all the 

different fields of jewellery retail 

as well as jewellery purchase, plus 

office management, recruitment 

etc., hence I had the courage to 

approach them.” 

What was Anuraag’s initial 

business plan like? Was it bold? 

Was it conservative? Did he play 

it safe? “As a person I am not the 

type who makes huge 

plans,” he admits. 

“You should 

always have a 

bigger picture 

in mind but make realistic plans, 

think and move forward,” is his 

advice. “Don’t try to eat your 

entire meal in one go. 

Small meals are healthy, 

I prefer to have things 

under control and run a 

well managed business. 

We didn’t think of starting 

out with 20 stores, we 

started with only one outlet 

in Jumeirah in June 1999 

and decided to take it from 

there.” The name ‘Al Liali’ 

was chosen by his partner 

Raed. It means ‘Romantic 

Nights’ from the book ‘1001 

Arabian Nights,’ and to 

give it a more international 

feel, they now use only the 

short name ‘Liali.’ Initially 

the game plan was to open the 

store and start retailing no matter 

where they got the products from 

as long as they were top quality. 

“We figured once we established 

our niche and understood what 

the customer wanted we could 

move ahead. We soon realized we 

would have to enter supportive 

manufacturing not for the mass 

market but just by creating a small 

unit to support the store.” 

It was hard work, for the first 

four years. Anuraag was present in 

the store morning to night paying 

attention to client service, thinking 

about product development, 

involved in relationship building 

and just physically being at the 

store. In the very first year of 

operations Liali Jewellery opened 

its second store in November 1999 and at the end of the year Anuraag 

was gratified that the balance sheet was positive. “We had a team of just 

five people, I would pick them up and drop them personally from and to 

their homes. That’s how we worked for nearly two years till we decided 

to have a van and a driver,” says Anuraag, obviously nobody could have 

doubted his commitment from the very beginning. “We didn’t have an 

accountant for the first eight months, we somehow managed in-house. 

It was the typical small startup - money was not really an issue but we 

chose to build the business brick by brick.” 

In the first 1,000 

days that experienced 

businessmen say is 

required for a business 

to succeed did he have 

any doubts? “When I 

first began we had a new 

born son and a 4 yearold. 

Had I thought will 

this business succeed 

or not and what is 

going to happen to my 

family, I may not have 

taken the risk. I was so 

Anuraag shares Raed’s victory when he was awarded the Sheikh 

Saeed Golden Sword Award for winning the 1000 Dunes in 2003. 

obsessed with getting 

things going that I 

did not stop to think 

what would happen if the business did not take off,” he says. Today 

his wife Arti and their two sons, Ankit (15) and Anshul (11) can affirm 

the wisdom of Anuraag’s bold decision. Anuraag readily acknowledges 

Arti’s role in his success, “My wife has been a true support to me all 

these years,” he says, “In the initial 5-6 years of Liali, not only 

did she manage the household single handedly (I was out 

working 25 hours a day!) but she also provided me with all 

the back office support, handled all my correspondence, 

answered all my calls, did all the follow up.” To 

this day Anuraag prefers to work without a 

personal secretary – Arti runs the office from 

their home providing all the support he needs for 

his operational decisions. 

Back in Kuwait he had set a five lakh rupee target as an employee 

so does he have another target as a businessman in Dubai? “No! Once I 

achieved that first goal I stopped thinking that way because when you set 

such targets you tend to stop at that,” says a more experienced Anuraag. 

He unassumingly describes himself as a normal working man dismissing 

any notions of having made it big. “I realize there are people far more 

successful than myself who still keep on working like anyone else. Ours 

is not a mega success as yet, there are people who have gone from zero 

to hero in a very short time with far more achieved. I am happy with 

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42 

what we have 

accomplished, 

but Liali is still 

among the top ten jewelers 

in Dubai, so there is a lot more 

to achieve,” is his realistic 

assessment. “Including retail, 

office and skilled craftsmen we 

have about 150 personnel now 

and we have been opening about 

2-3 stores a year in viable 

locations. We could have 

grown much faster but we 

deliberately curtailed our 

expansion preferring to 

move ahead with restraint.” 

Despite his cautious 

approach to the business 

there is an adventurous 

streak in Anuraag’s 

strategic planning. It is 

evident in the company 

venturing outside Dubai 

and opening two stores in 

Spain and one in Bahrain 

with another in the nearby 

emirate of Al Ain. But why Spain? 

Anuraag says, “Everybody asks 

me why Spain? It was just an 

adventure, actually on one of our 

trips to London, Raed and I found 

a great store location just opposite 

Harrods. We sat in a coffee shop 

nearby for one whole day just to 

observe what the traffic was like. 

The location was fabulous, but 

the cost was enormous and as 

we studied the people coming in 

and out of Harrods we realized 

they would not walk across to our 

store, so we dropped the idea.” 

Then they thought why not try 

a small experiment in Europe? 

Looking at various options they 

decided that Spain, which has 

a population of 30 million and 

attracts another 52 million tourists 


every year was the ideal choice. The weather is also moderate there and 

people dress in clothes that allow them to wear jewellery compared 

to other parts of Europe that require warm clothing, which hides 

jewellery. They found a mall store in Barcelona with sensible 

economics and decided to go for it, opening a second high street 

store and gallery soon after in the same city. 

“We do a lot of innovating with our product line,” says Anuraag, 

revealing it is one area where he constantly likes to experiment. “You have 

to explore all possibilities when you are dealing with a multi-cultural, 

diversified customer base, especially in a place like Dubai, which is a 

melting pot of nationalities,” 

he notes. Compared to any 

other mega city in the world 

the diversity of Dubai is quite 

shocking – in a population 

of less than two million 

the income groups range 

from ordinary people to 

dollar millionaires. Liali’s 

products are designed to 

reach the widest, most 

appropriate audience 

possible keeping in mind 

their various store locations 

in the city that are designed 

to attract different segments. 

In Dubai there is the high end tourist segment, the affluent Arab and 

Asian cluster, the western expat grouping and so on, all requiring a range 

of products that will particularly satisfy their tastes. “To serve all these 

segments,” says Anuraag, “a range of jewellery is required that cannot 

be bought from people who do not understand such diverse customer 

tastes. I am doomed if I only try to sell mass manufactured products 

from a factory in Spain or Italy, Hong Kong or Thailand to my customers 

in Dubai. So we experiment with small customized manufacturers in 

various ways to offer a unique product range that is always new and 

fresh. My team is very product-centric , I am also a product person, 

it is one of our big strengths,” insists Anuraag. “That’s what keeps our 

inventory lean and ensures that customers keep coming back.” 

Anuraag ascribes much of their success to his personal involvement 

in every aspect of the business, “I’m a very hands-on person and I 

work with all my teams – marketing, finance, production, customer 

service etc. I am in my stores quite regularly, I just love my business!” 

He has enhanced his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics 

with a Diamond Grading course through the International Gemological 

Institute (IGI), but with 20 years in the jewellery field most of his 

learning has been hands-on. Anuraag’s favorite charity on a personal 

level is CRY in India, but Liali supports the Al Noor Training Centre 

Anuraag Sinha and Oofrish Contractor, Marketing Manager 

of Liali presenting a cheque to the Al Noor Training 

Centre for Children with Special Needs in Dubai 

for Children with Special Needs in Dubai and has helped various 

charity organizations raise funds through auctions of their jewellery. 

As someone who has succeeded in doing what so many NRIs would 

like to do, how does Anuraag work together with his Arab partner? 

After a decade in business they have a very clear understanding of 

each other’s role says 

Anuraag. “First of all 

let me tell you that Mr 

Raed Ahmad Baker 

comes from a very, very 

affluent UAE national 

family and his social and 

economic conditions 

are very different from 

mine. I was raised in 

Mumbai and he grew 

up in Dubai and the 

West, which is like 

north and south. He is 

also 15 years younger 

than I am, yet despite 

Raed Ahmad Baker beat many seasoned drivers and claimed six 

category wins in the Dunes championships since his participation 

in 1996. Raed represented the UAE at the Race of Champions 

held in Jeddah in 2001 and 2002. He won the most valuable team 

award in 1997, 1998 and 2004 and received the Sheikh Saeed 

Golden Sword award in 2003 for winning the 1000 Dunes race. 

the generational 

differences, we 

complement 

each other 

in our strengths, which is ideal for the business.” Raed and 

Anuraag decided it was important to capitalize on each 

other’s unique understanding of the jewellery business. 

“There are certain products I might not even look at to 

buy for the store. But Raed knows what will attract high net 

worth customers and what we must include in our product range, 

which is suitable to a particular store. Liali doesn’t participate in many 

trade fairs but we do go to all of them and Raed comes to almost all the 

shows we attend in various countries. Between him and me we know 

how to cover the market bandwith and reach the target audiences we 

want to reach, that’s how we span our socio-economic and generational 

differences - by putting them into product!” 

But what is the reason for such a successful relationship between two 

very diverse individuals? “We have a very transparent relationship with a 

clear focus on what we should do to make the business successful –it’s not 

about us, it’s about Liali - we look at Liali as an entity that needs to move 

ahead, it’s an idea we have also instilled into our team,” says Anuraag, 

explaining that his goal is to create and build Liali as a professional, 

cohesive business without fragmented individual thinking. “We focus on 

our strengths not on the weaknesses that we all have,” he says. “But the most 

important thing in a partnership I have realized is that one must be ready 

to give more rather than expect more, and as a partner one should not be 

overly concerned about the slice of 

the pie. That’s how our relationship 

has worked in the last ten years.” 

Budding entrepreneurs can no 

doubt glean valuable insights from 

such a transnational 

partnership if they want 

to do business in the 

Middle East. Anuraag’s 

theory is that if you have 

a good business plan it 

will automatically attract 

investors. 

What seems to set 

apart people like Anuraag 

is an ability to look beyond 

obstacles common to all 

but overcome only by a 

few, and the willingness 

to forego immediate 

gratification. Does 

Anuraag function purely as 

an instinctive entrepreneur 

or is there a process to 

his thinking? Going by 

the insights he has gleaned, he is 

quite decisive after everything is 

considered and planned. 

There is an old adage, which 

says success is about doing only 

one thing – Anuraag Sinha is 

one person who cannot be easily 

distracted from his business 

because he has judiciously tapped 

the power of that concept and its 

upshot. In doing 

so Anuraag has 

found his labor 

of love and it 

has brought 

him a long 

way from 

his fortune 

hunting days in Mumbai. 

Frank Raj is the founder editor 

of The International Indian 


INDIA CITY SCAN 

Relocating to 

New Delhi 

As the Indian capital gets ready to host the 2010 Common Wealth 

games with much fanfare, The International Indian looks at the 

city which can be easily termed the most cosmopolitan city of 

India. How well equipped is New Delhi to host Indians returning 

by the lure of new jobs and brighter prospects and how well is it 

geared for the hordes of foreigners expected for the games? 

by: Archisman Dinda 

Welcome to New Delhi! An enthusiastic air-hostess 

declared over the public announcement system. It 

was a long journey home, for your correspondent. 

Though technically not from Delhi as it it is mostly 

referred to minus the ‘New’, I was certainly heading 

back home after a trip abroad. So was it for my co-passengers, who were 

also returning home after sojourning in the United States. So amidst our 

chit chats I found, 

one was returning 

to Noida, one 

to Gurgaon and 

their respective 

workplaces were 

in Ghaziabad 

and Dwarka. But 

strangely all said 

they were returning 

to New Delhi! 

So where or 

rather what makes 

New Delhi? To 

apprise my readers, New Delhi or Luyten’s Delhi is what the world 

knows as the India’s capital, the power centre from where this country 

is governed. But with the passage of time, Delhi has grown beyond the 

dreams of its architects and to accommodate these aspiring individuals 

Bahai Lotus Temple 

the government of India 

formulated the National Capital 

Region, commonly known as 

NCR. This comprises New Delhi, 

and the satellite townships of 

Gurgaon, Dwarka, Noida and 

Ghaziabad. But to make things 

look simple, we call all this New 

Delhi. 

However, navigating Delhi 

can be a tricky business, even for 

people who have stayed there for 

a number of years. Not only due 

to the massive geographical area 

this city poses, but also due to the 

fact that the feel of the various 

areas change as you travel 

through the city. Delhi‘s growth 

started in 1947, especially after 

the partition, and to provide 

shelter, the government of the 

day had to build colonies for 

respective groups of people. So 

when you reach Rajori Garden or 

Punjabi Bagh, you will feel as if 

you are in Punjab. The same happens when you reach Chittaranjan 

Park, which is an area demarcated for Bengalis. Not that people of 

other communities can’t live in these areas, in fact they do and are 

quite happy about it. But such demarcations are clearly visible. 

HOUSING 

One of the primary concerns for any individual shifting to a new 

city is finding the accommodation of their choice. Though finding 

accommodation is not a big issue in Delhi, one should give due 

consideration to the location. “Delhi is a huge city. It is almost double 

the size of any other Indian metropolis and one could end up travelling 

a lot if you don’t choose the location of your house carefully,” says 

Sanjeev Tiwari, whose company helps people relocate. “While deciding 

on the house, people 

look into creature 

comforts that the 

building and the 

locality provide. 

But in Delhi, one 

should first find out 

how far it is from 

your work place 

and how far is your 

kids school,” adds 

Sanjeev. Radhika 

Sen, who recently 

shifted to Delhi 

from Qatar, finds it 

difficult to believe 

Old Delhi 

that her 5-year-old daughter has to commute fifteen kilometres to reach 

school every morning. “We made a strategic mistake. When we bought 

this flat three months ago we never took this into consideration and our 

daughter is suffering the most. Now it’s difficult to change the school 

or the flat,” says Radhika. 

When it comes to the outright purchasing of property, Luyten’s 

Delhi provides very few options, not only in terms of cost, but also 

in terms of availability. A three-bedroom apartment can cost more 

than one crore in South Delhi. “Property prices have soared in Delhi 

in the last five years and are all set to go even higher with increasing 

demand. However, the satellite townships are offering a lot of options 

in terms of affordable housing. “Not only are the satellite townships 

offering lot of options in terms of price, but also in terms of choice. 

A duplex in South Delhi will cost you around three crores where as it 

will be a crore in Noida,” says Rajesh Singania a leading real estate 

dealer in NCR. “The biggest hurdle facing the real estate market in 

Delhi is the fact that builders demand a major portion of the price in 

cash, which makes it difficult for the new buyers,” he added. 

th 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

TRANSPORTATION 

Delhi is a rapidly expanding 

megacity. Population and vehicle 

use continue to expand, and 

vehicles are the principal source 

of severe air pollution. Yet vehicle 

ownership is still a fraction of 

that in industrialized countries. 

The complexities of Delhi’s 

transport sector are examined, 

along with what kind of a future 

is likely and how it might be 

altered. Indian transportation 

experts and political leaders 

were interviewed, historical 

data analyzed, and various 

policy options and strategies 

reviewed. Because of large 

institutional, political, economic, 

and technological uncertainties 

as well as limited knowledge of 

travel behaviour and preferences, 

two scenarios were created to 

characterize what is likely and 

what is possible. The “businessas-usual” 

scenario extrapolates 

from present trends in Delhi, 

modified to reflect existing 

policies and commitments. It 

results in dramatic increases in 

vehicle use, translating to about 

a fourfold increase in transportrelated 

greenhouse gas (GHG) 

emissions between 2000 and 

2020. The second scenario is 

premised on strong political 

and institutional leadership to 

enhance the economic, social, 

and environmental performance 

of Delhi’s transportation system 

in which car use decreases and 

transit and bicycle use increase. 

Even with this aggressive shift 

toward more environmentally 

benign transportation, GHG 

emissions more than doubled 

during the 20-year period. Under 

44 




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New 

Delhi 

any plausible scenario, GHG 

emissions will soar, but the lower 

GHG path leads to far fewer 

emissions and much lower 

transport and energy costs. 

Seriously, pollution 

is the biggest enemy for 

anyone commuting in 

Delhi. Though things have 

lessened to a considerable 

extent, with the introduction 

of CNG buses and scooters, 

and the Delhi Metro is 

helping to calm things down, 

but certainly it not up to 

the mark. “We expect the 

pollution to go down after the 

entire Delhi metro project is 

complete. People will find it 

more economical to use the metro 

rather than to drive to work,” 

believes leading environmentalist 

Sunidhi Sen. However, all is not 

that optimistic. Delhi, being the 

capital has a high ‘Babu’ culture, 

where people will think their 

status in society will go down 

if they use public transport. 

There has been significant 

development in Delhi buses 

in the last ten years, but still 

people prefer to drive. 

COMMUTING TIME 

Though road conditions in 

Delhi are much better off, compared to the other Indian 

metros, with the higher availability of car rental and luxury 

taxis, and the ubiquitous auto rickshaw known as scooter in 

local parlance, the sheer distance can take a toll on the rider. 

How long will it take you to reach here?” If you are not a 

frequent traveller on the route, it is usually difficult to answer 

the question. After travelling on Delhi’s roads, I’ve noticed 

a relation between the distance, the time of the day and the 

time it takes to reach from point A to point B. I have devised 

a simple formula. Let us take the first variable, distance. If 

you know the distance, good. If not, there’s Google Maps. 

Just type the “location” to “destination” on the search box 

a n d hit enter (eg. Connaught Place to Noida). It’ll display the 

suggested routes along with the distance in kilometres (Google 

Maps also tells you the commuting time, but that doesn’t seem to 

be in sync with Delhi’s traffic 

conditions). Now that you 

know the distance, let me 

explain my (not-so-magic) 

formula. Heavy traffic 

(peak hours) (8:30 AM to 

10:30 AM and 5:30 PM to 

8:00 PM) Distance in km 

x 3 (If your destination is 

15 kilometres away, it’ll 

take you approximately 

45 minutes to reach there) 

Medium traffic (10:30 AM 

to 5:30 PM; 8:00 PM to 

9:30 PM) Distance in km x 

2 (30 minutes for 15 kilometres) Low traffic (9:30 PM to 

8:30 AM) Distance in km x 1 (If you aren’t one of those who zoom 

past at 120 kmph at 2:00 AM). 

Metro Station at 

Rajori garden 

EDUCATION 

With India gaining popularity 

globally, Delhi, the capital, stands 

to gain a lot and this fact is clearly 

reflected in terms of education. 

Delhi, today, is considered a 

desirable destination to pursue 

education and is a favoured 

educational destination among 

many nationalities. The 

schools and other educational 

institutions in Delhi are either 

run by the NCT government 

Noida 

or by private organizations. The 

medium of learning is usually 

English or Hindi and these 

schools are affiliated to either the 

Indian Certificate of Secondary 

Education (ICSE) or the Central 

Board for Secondary Education 

(CBSE). In 2001, the educational 

statistics of Delhi showed there 

were a total of 2,416 primary, 

715 middle and 1,576 secondary 

schools and 131 colleges 

including 5 medical colleges and 

8 engineering colleges. Delhi is 

also home to four universities, 

seven deemed universities and 

one Open University. 

PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES 

AND INSTITUTES 

Delhi holds an excellent 

reputation as far as many 

universities and colleges are 

concerned. The top 5 universities 

in Delhi are Delhi University, 

Jawaharlal Nehru University, 

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha 

University, Jamia Millia Islamia 

and Indira Gandhi National Open 

University. The All India Institute 

of Medical Sciences ranks among 

the best medical institutions in 

the world. Other educational 

and research institutes that 

are recognized worldwide as 

excellent institutions include 

Indian Institute of Technology 

Delhi, Delhi School of 

Economics, Shri Ram College 

of Commerce, Lady Shri Ram 

College for Women, Netaji 

Subhas Institute of Technology, 

Delhi College of Engineering and 

St Stephen’s College. 

Mentioned below are the 

various educational categories for 

Delhi that we have covered. 

SOME OF THE EMINENT DELHI SCHOOLS ARE: 

• Adarsh Shiksha Niketan 

• Air Force Bal Bharti School 

• American Embassy School 

• Amity International School 

• Bal Bharti School 

• Delhi Army Public School 

• Delhi Kendriya Vidyalay 

• Delhi Public Schools 

• Modern School 

• New Delhi Air Force School 

• Shamrock Preschools 

• St. Columba’s High School 

For pursuing higher studies, Delhi Colleges offer degree courses in 

various subjects in the field of art, science and commerce. Some of 

the eminent Delhi colleges are: 

• Delhi College of Arts & 

Commerce 

• Gargi College 

• Hansraj College 

• Hindu College 

• Kirori Mal College 

• Lady Shri Ram College 

for Women 

• Miranda House 

• Maulana AzadMedical College 

• Ramjas College 

• Shri Ram College of Commerce 

• St. Stephen’s College 

For further studies and research purposes, students go to Delhi 

Universities. The Universities in Delhi are: 

• Delhi University 

Open University 

• Indraprastha University • Jammia Millia Islamia 

• Indira Gandhi National • Jawaharlal Nehru University 

Apart from the general academics, Delhi houses some of the best 

educational institutions imparting quality education in the technical 

and other professional fields. They are: 

• Delhi FMS 

• Delhi IIT 

• Delhi School of Economics 

• Indian Institute of Mass 

Communication 

• IMI Delhi 

• Indian Institute of Medical 

Sciences 

• Institute of Chartered 

Accountants of India 

• Netaji Subhas Institute of 

Technology 

SOCIAL LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT 

All through its seven rebirths from the Pandavas’ Indraprastha to 

Edwin Lutyens’ New Delhi, the city was the nerve centre of political 

power, never a commercial hub. In its eighth rebirth currently 

underway, Delhi promises to emerge as just that. Indians are and have 

been invading Delhi at a pace unlike ever before, and unlike any other 

city in the country. Each immigrant, whether from a big city or a small 

town, is bursting with ambition. Each harbours a plan for a better life. 

“More by default than by design, Delhi is emerging as the Dream City 

of India. Delhi’s population has swelled by 43 per cent - faster than any 

other city in the country - and is now close to 14 million. That’s twice 

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the population of Switzerland, a 

country about 30 times the size 

of Delhi. Another million people 

come to Delhi every day from the 

satellite towns. A stark statistical 

evidence of the immigrant tide is 

that over 60 per cent of Delhiites 

are not Delhi-born. That has 

changed the beat, tenor and 

Gurgaon 

character of the city. 

From a stodgy government city 

of the past, the capital has turned 

into a thriving business centre 

with both startups and MNCs 

thronging in. The “overgrown 

village” of the ‘60s and ‘70s, 

is today the most “hep and 

happening” city in the country. 

As for the growth of arts, Delhi 

has reached a point in the last few 

years where only a transplanted 

Mumbaikar would remain 

unimpressed. The city has over 

100 art galleries, out of which 25 

are active throughout the year; its 

cinema halls attract over 90 lakh 

film buffs a year, and along with 

its suburbs, Delhi has nine golf 

courses, including the country’s 

first night golf course. One of the 

telling indicators of Delhi’s lead 

over other cities was the recent release of a book on Amitabh Bachchan 

in Delhi three days before its release in the Bollywood city of Mumbai. 

Though even the unabashed Delhi fans admit that “Mumbai eats better 

than Delhi”, they are quick to point out the mushrooming of tier-II (a 

level below 5-star) eating joints that have dotted Delhi’s landscape in the 

last decade. The city’s clubs and restaurants pull in about 50,000 people 

every Saturday. If slick super-clubs like Djinns in Hyatt do not appeal, 

the sheer variety in Delhi promises that something will - whether 32nd 

Milestone in Gurgaon or Daniells’ Tavern in Imperial Hotel. 

For classical dancers, Delhi’s draw 

now extends beyond government 

patronage to genuine appreciative 

audience. Bharatnatyam dancer Yamini 

Krishnamurthy has been performing in 

Delhi since 1975 though she lived in 

Chennai. By 1992 she was convinced 

that she had to move to the city for better 

prospects. Kuchipudi dancer Raja Reddy 

shifted to Delhi for the same reason. Says 

he: “Delhi is the base from which to get 

national and international fame.” Delhi’s 

social life has both followed and is being 

followed by its changing professional 

Lutyens’ New Delhi 

and business life. A lot that is good about life in Delhi is due to its 

cosmopolitan nature. It welcomes nobody, but accepts everybody. For 

newcomers there is no ethnic or cultural barrier. The predominance of 

Punjabi culture in the capital is under threat from the teeming national 

and international immigrants. Though no formal study has been done to 

the effect, individual estimates suggest that Punjabis account for only 

a fourth of Delhi now, down from one-third in the ‘60s. “Everybody is 

a minority in Delhi. The city is truly a melting pot of ethnic identities,” 

remarked notes prominent writer 

Khuswant Singh. 

COST OF LIVING 

How much does it cost to live 

in Delhi? Well this becomes an 

important question for all those 

people who are planning on 

shifting to Delhi for any reason. 

Delhi, being the capital, boasts of 

a good infrastructure as compared 

to the other cities in India. With 

the world class metro train 

running through Delhi, 

the Delhi Transport 

Corporation (DTC) 

adding new buses, 

New flyovers coming 

up everyday and wide 

roads, it is a good city to 

live in especially with 

the Common Wealth 

games coming up in 

2010. Except for the 

extreme temperature 

conditions (too hot in 

summer and too cold 

in winter) that plague 

the city throughout 

the year it’s still worthwhile. 

1. Renting an Apartment: 

Renting an apartment in Delhi is a 

difficult task in itself, but the costs 

for a 2 BHK can range between 

INR 5,000 to INR 50,000/- 

depending on the location. The 

NCR seems to be the hotspot 

with a lot of developments in 

these areas and a lot of expats 

living here. South Delhi has some 

very posh locations and a lot of 

companies have their offices in and 

around South Delhi and the cost 

of renting an apartment in South 

Delhi can range from 15,000 INR 

to 25,000 INR. Apart from the rent 

usually the landlords prefer to take 

a security deposit equivalent to 3 

months rent, which is returnable once you leave the apartment. 

2. Groceries: The cost of groceries per month can be between INR 

12,000 to INR 16,000 for a couple, with plenty of new retail stores 

opening up in Delhi every day, it’s very convenient and fruits and 

vegetables available in Delhi are usually quite fresh. 

3. Eating Out: For a couple on an average, the cost of eating out in a 

good restaurant can be between INR 1,500 to INR 2,000, and add another 

INR 1,000 if you include drinks. Generally a beer in a restaurant can 

cost between INR 150 to INR 250. Food is generally on every Delhiite’s 

mind being mainly Punjabi populated, There are plenty of good small 

restaurants available and street food is also generally very good. The cost 

of eating out in a small restaurant or street side is about INR 250 to INR 

500 for a couple. 

4. Petrol Prices: As 

is the case around the 

world petrol prices are 

very volatile and bound 

to change soon but at 

present the price of petrol 

is around INR 45 to 48 per 

litre. 

5. Renting a cab/taxi: 

There are plenty of call 

cabs/taxi services available 

and usually charge 

Karims 

anywhere between INR 15 

to INR 50 per kilometer of 

travel. You can also hire a 

cab on a “4 hours/80 km basis” whichever is first for INR 800 to INR 

1,500. With the Metro service available its getting very convenient to 

travel. 

6. Communications: Mobile calls maybe the cheapest in the world 

with local calls as low as INR 0.50. There are two kinds of services 

available GSM and CDMA with multiple operators for both kinds of 

services. Handsets can start from INR 500 and can go up to any amount. 

You have all kinds of value added services from mobile operators 

available like internet, GPS, text messaging, Multimedia Messaging 

etc. 

7. Cost of Education for Kids: Some top end private schools charge 

anywhere between INR 25,000 to INR 45,000 as a quarterly fees. Good 

private schools charge between INR 12,000 to INR 15,000 quarterly 

fees. For admission schools also charge some development charges 

which range from between INR 40,000 to INR 150,000. 

8. Shopping: Shopping in Delhi is not generally a very costly 

affair unless you have top designer brands in mind for which the cost 

would be the same as everywhere else. Clothes and shoes are generally 

available across all malls and shopping centres (Scores of them across 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

50 

Old Delhi sweet shop 

Delhi). Branded and unbranded 

stuff is available. The cost of 

unbranded jeans starts from INR 

900 and shoes start at INR 1,500. 

A branded suit can be anywhere 

between the range of INR 

5,000 to INR 10,000. You 

can also visit retailers 

websites with major stores 

in and around Delhi and all 

over India to get an idea of 

prices. 

HEALTH CARE 

The Delhi Health 

Care System contributes 

to the well being of the 

residents of the city. Both 

government and non 

government healthcare 

facilities are available. 

Health is a primary concern for all 

individuals and well developed 


health care systems of Delhi provide useful guidance for 

people of all ages. There are different kinds of health care 

facilities available in the city. Some of these health care 

amenities, for example, are diagnostics centers, nursing 

homes, hospitals, blood banks, health clubs, mobile health 

clinics, health centers, dispensaries and 24 hour chemists. 

Delhi Government’s Directorate of Health Services provides 

the above health care amenities at both secondary and 

primary levels. The health services are regulated by Delhi’s 

Directorate of Health Services that are offered by private 

nursing homes registered under the government. There are 

many hospitals in Delhi which provide comprehensive health 

care opportunities to all individuals residing far and wide. 

Some of these hospitals are listed below: 

• Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital - 5, Rajpur Road, Delhi 

• Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital- sector- VI, Rohini, 

Delhi-110085 

• Central Jail Hospital- Hari Nagar, New Delhi 

• Lok Nayak Hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, near Delhi 

Gate, ND-2 

• Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hosital- Jaffar pur Village, 

New Delhi 110073 

• Sanjay Gandhi Memorial hospital 

• Apollo hospital, Delhi 

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences 

Blood Banks in Delhi provide blood to every patient requiring 

immediate blood. The location of the blood banks of Delhi are: State 

Blood Transfusion Council, Government of NCT of Delhi, Inderprastha 

Sachivalya, 8th floor, I.P 

Estate, New Delhi. 

Dwarka Sector 4 

IMPORTANT WEBSITES 

• http://delhigovt.nic.in/ 

index. asp Delhi government 

• http://www.mcdonline.gov. 

in/ Delhi Municipality 

• http://www.delhilive.com/ 

Delhi Live 

http://www.delhi.oh.us/ 

Delhi Township site 

Archisman Dinda is a freelance writer based in Delhi & Calcutta 


DESH AUR DIASPORA 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

DESI vs 

INTERNATIONAL: 

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? 

It is fascinating to observe how countries with wide exposure to foreign cultures still 

develop ultra- national mindsets. But life is different in the Diaspora melting pot, some 

change is inevitable even for the most confined minds. 

by: Frank Raj 

As a desi who has lived abroad for nearly four decades in 

the US and the Middle East, I often reflect on how life 

overseas changes our thinking from the days when we 

lived in India. In what areas do NRIs adapt and become 

open to fresh thinking? What is the difference between 

the international vs the desi experience? With India now opening up 

like never before, is it just a matter of time before the onslaught of 

satellite TV and globalization turns Indian values upside down? In 

food, fashion, family, 

feudality, faith and 

fortune is change 

seriously happening 

in Indian society ? 

India has constantly 

experienced foreign 

influences throughout 

history so how do so 

many Indians become 

so hidebound and 

why does the notion 

of desi have mostly 

narrow implications? 

It is fascinating to observe how countries 

with wide exposure to foreign cultures still develop ultra- national 

mindsets. But life is different in the Diaspora melting pot, some change 

is inevitable even for the most confined minds. 

For someone born in Beirut, Lebanon and raised in the Netherlands, 

Malaysia and Kuwait, does Indian parentage make much of a difference 

Prakash Savarirayan with his wife Asha & son Shaan 

or does the lack of growing desi 

roots make a greater impact? 

Anne-Marie Vadassery is the 

youngest of three children who 

knew life abroad before they 

knew India. Her parents lived 

outside India for almost all their 

married life since her father 

worked in the airline industry. 

Aside from occasional holidays 

visiting relatives and friends 

in India, she only truly got to 

know India when she was sent to 

boarding school there at the age 

of 13. Her parents moved back to 

India a year later, when her Dad 

retired. Anne-Marie left India 

again when she got married 10 

years after that and her family has 

lived in Dubai ever since. 

Is Indian parentage and 

upbringing all pervasive? 

“I can’t honestly say I have a 

predominant culture operating in 

me, as my parents exposed us to 

a smorgasbord of cultures right 

from the very beginning,” admits 

Anne-Marie. “The three of us 

never did latch onto our Indian 

heritage even as our individual 

identities emerged. While our 

parents made sure we knew our 

roots, primarily through all those 

holidays to India, our home 

was never particularly oriented 

towards a single influence. Be it 

in the people we called friends, 

or the type of food we ate, or the 

different schools we 

went to, or our parents’ 

outlook on life, there 

truly was nothing 

ethnocentric about life 

in our family.” Does 

she feel that’s harmed 

her? “Not at all. I’m 

truly grateful to have 

had the parents I did 

for I much prefer 

the kaleidoscope to 

the monochrome, or 

even the duotone,” is 

Anne-Marie’s frank 

analysis. 

Indian parentage 

and upbringing is 

not all pervasive, the environment 

in which one is raised clearly 

has a significant impact, perhaps 

more than we realize. So what 

really gives us our identity if it’s 

not Bharat Mata for every Indian 

who leaves its crowded shores? 

Prakash Savarirayan who has 

lived in the US since 1985 gives 

us an important clue. “In the long 

run I realized, and I can speak 

for my wife Asha as well, that it 

is really what we believe in that 

defines us and gives us identity 

- starting with our faith. For the 

rest of it, the feeling of being 

‘global’ citizens, rather than only 

Indian and or American, prevails,” is how Prakash sees it. 

For Prakash the biggest difference when it comes to worldview 

is in the areas of spirituality and awareness of our cultural roots. He 

feels growing up in India people take their (good) circumstances 

for granted. Life in India meant the security and support of parents, 

with an extensive network of family and friends. It’s not quite the 

same overseas Prakash points out. “In spending (almost) the second 

half of our lives abroad (mostly in the US) and away from our roots, 

although relatively comfortable in our day to day living with family 

life, spiritual life, careers, and friends, we became more acutely aware 

of the need for God’s presence in our lives and His blessings. We 

also feel a greater appreciation for our Indian culture, although a 

lot of this is also driven 

by nostalgia. The only 

aspect of family life that 

constantly pulls hard at 

our emotions everyday is 

not having our parents in 

close proximity.” 

India: So near yet so far 

India however is very 

real for the Gulf NRI, 

much more than the 

faraway NRIs in America. 

Sushil Samtani has been 

in the Gulf almost twenty 

years and looking back he 

feels like he’s been in a 

time warp. “My UAE stay…I can almost call it a sojourn…19 years, 

on a fragile employment visa prevents any ‘I-am-growing-rootshere’ 

kind of notion! Hence India is all pervasive and looming in the 

Gulf NRI’s mind most of the time.” Sushil reflects the dilemma faced 

by many Indians in the Gulf, “UAE has been ‘home’ for almost half 

my life and the only home my two girls have known.” He thinks 

most if not all Indians will say they miss India a lot and want to go 

back - India being so near yet so far because going back is not an 

easy decision. “That for me is the essence of India for us international 

Indians,” Sushil observes. 

Sushil’s overseas experience has made him more discerning about 

how Indians overseas must learn to face the kind of discrimination that is 

quite common in India. “As an expatriate I have perceived the different 

partitions in society says Sushil. “In India it is caste and profession 

based, abroad, it takes on color. Back home considerations based on such 

divisions were almost de rigueur but they never set the mind thinking… 

out of India it hits hard and has a sobering effect. I for one, dread 

Anee-Marie with husband Ptrem and sons Jonathan & Joshua 

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situations with such connotations, 

for I am loath to steer away by my 

sense of right and wrong.” 

“As an Indian in India,” says 

Eslinda Ribeiro, “one generally 

lives within the confines of 

one’s community, in my case 

Goan Catholic, and 

the conditioning and 

programming that one is 

fed from birth. One goes 

around with blinkers, as 

it were, in a very insular 

world, staying with what is 

familiar, being very often 

critical and judgmental of 

those who do not fit our 

worldview.” 

She feels that moving 

away from one’s country to 

another and especially to a 

place like Dubai you get 

out of your comfort zone 

and interact with many 

different nationalities. 

“We experience change in 

every area of life - at work, 

through our children at 

school, church, recreational 

activities, etc. We also meet 

and interact more with other 

Indian communities: Malayalees, 

Sindhis, Gujaratis, etc. which 

would not necessarily have been 

the case when living in India. 

Gradually the realization dawns 

there are indeed many different 

ways of living and it is all good!” 

Perhaps in the end, as Anne- 

Marie also speculates, “Maybe 

these differences work to our 

advantage, as we watch our 

similarities separate into diversity 

of attitude, perception, thought 

and deed, and then blend together 

into a nation rich in those very 

same components.” 

Changes on a professional and personal level 

Sonali Bhattacharya, a senior magazine writer in the UAE admits 

with candor that, “I’ve seen a lot of changes in my personality ever 

since I became an NRI, both on a professional and personal level.” 

Sonali worked in senior positions as a journalist in New Delhi but finds 

the international exposure in Dubai, a big advantage. “Professionally 

I have learnt to deal with 

Maya Ribeiro with her brother Sam 

different nationalities, 

which is something that I 

was not exposed to in India. 

For instance when I am 

interviewing people from the 

Gulf region or from Europe 

whose native language is 

not English, I have to slow 

down while asking my 

questions and use really 

simple words in order to 

get my meaning across. 

Often I must pose the same 

question in different ways 

before they understand 

what I am saying,” she 

explains. 

“On the other hand, 

when I am dealing with 

native English speakers 

then they have to slow 

down a little bit for me as they have very pronounced accents which 

I sometimes find difficult to follow. It’s very interesting, thrilling and 

challenging to deal with different nationalities on a daily basis,” she 

says. 

Her style of dressing for work has also changed ever since she came 

here. Whereas in India she would wear casuals or traditional clothes to 

work, here she is inclined to more corporate western outfits. “I have 

also got used to easy access to better technology, amenities and plush 

offices, which is not something that can be said of the newspaper 

offices back home,” she points out. “I have also become more patriotic 

now, more independent as a woman and more money conscious,” she 

says in a quiet, introspective tone. 

Differences Between Resident And Non-Resident Indians 

We are all desis in one sense, but what are the differences between 

resident and non-resident Indians? Anne-Marie’s opinion is that while 

lifestyle, class, status and wealth would be the simplistic explanations 

of a couple of decades ago, these are no longer valid indicators of the 

contrast between those living within India and those living outside it. 

“Instead, resident Indians now show greater pride in actually choosing 

to remain in India to ‘make it big’, compared to the earlier yen for 

employment ‘abroad’. As for the non-resident, retiring in India just may 

be the salve for years spent 

being a fifth wheel in a country 

that you can never truly call 

home.” The other difference 

she has noticed is, “How 

children in India are streetsmart 

in coursing through the 

demands of life, while their 

non-resident counterparts are 

more naive about the same 

demands, often needing adult 

assistance to identify and 

handle any crisis. Resilience 

seems to be the forte of the 

resident Indian’s decisions, 

too,” is her assessment. The 

NRI’s decision-making is 

instead often governed by 

nostalgia and an overarching 

need for community. 

Sonali’s thoughts might 

seem to contradict Anne- 

Marie but both views are 

relevant in different contexts. 

“On a personal level,” says 

Sonali, “I have become more independent as I can’t afford the army 

of servants I used to have in India. Out here I do all the housework 

myself. Initially I found it very tough to strike the work-life balance, 

but now I have got used to it and have organized my schedule in such 

a manner that everything runs like clockwork in my house. So now if 

I were to move to London or New York I would be able to get on with 

my life there without a hitch. And the best part is, that my family also 

participates in the housework and we have divided chores so that each 

one does their bit. This is something that never used to happen in India. 

They would not even lift their own plates there,” she says with a laugh. 

Challenges on the homefront 

Sushil Samtani with his wife Karishma & daughters 

Himani (3) & Sonali (7) 

The biggest challenges to life overseas are probably on the 

homefront, especially with raising children. Today’s kids in India itself 

are very different from pre-satellite TV days when the impact of the 

western juggernaut was not as strong as it is today, so how do NRI 

parents cope with the challenges 

of raising children abroad? Sushil 

is quite concerned, “I have seen 

most of us generally unsuccessful 

in passing on cultural values to 

our children. Blame it 

on lack of time with a set 

of working parents and 

no grandparents around 

to do the ‘Amar Chitra 

Katha’ bit or lack of 

adequate pride in the face 

of aggressive and popular 

western mores and icons. 

This rankles and needs 

more expat community 

effort to tackle on a macro 

level,” he feels. 

Prakash emphasizes 

the need for, “A sense of 

identity, based on faith, 

family, and heritage. Our 

childhood memories are 

based on life in India, but 

our children are growing up 

overseas. In our son’s case, 

Shaan has had the privilege 

of experiencing much 

more than I ever did while 

growing up. He has first-hand 

experience of India, Dubai, most 

countries in Europe especially 

during our stay in Europe, and of 

course US and Mexico. He has 

the feel of being a global citizen 

at the age of 13!” 

Eslinda notes a shift in 

perception with expanding 

awareness as one absorbs 

different cultures, almost by 

osmosis when people begin to 

incorporate different food habits, 

leisure activities, even celebrating 

common festivals. “This then 

is reflected in the way we bring 

up our children teaching them a 

more tolerant, understanding and 

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Tom Matthew with his daughter Reya & son Jehaan 

compassionate way of interacting 

with the various races and social 

groups we meet. We become 

‘international/global’ easily able 

to set up home and work in any 

country after having experienced 

life overseas in a multi-cultural 

setting like Dubai.” 

Her daughter Maya believes 

being in Dubai has made a 

significant difference to her 

professional life, “It has given 

me opportunities for accelerated 

career growth that I probably 

would never have had in India 

and interacting with different 

nationalities in the work place 

has broadened my perspective.” 

She does not compartmentalize 

or judge people as much as she 

may have done if she was living 

in India. “However, no matter 

where in the world I live, I will 

always be Indian at the core...my 

Indianness is an integral part of 

who I am!” she declares. 

Tom Mathew is one person 

who experienced the Indiaoverseas 

change in two steps – 

coming to Dubai first and then 

moving to the US specifically to 

California. “ India three decades 

ago was a closed country in many ways and I felt the 

world opened up for me when I left. I have a Bachelors 

in Chemical Engineering with a Masters in Business, and 

in India people tend to get slotted into positions. I was in 

Engineering though I felt my strengths were in marketing 

and business. I made the switch in Dubai where I found the 

opportunities were much greater and I was able to advance 

my career significantly. Culturally there was not much of 

a shift between India and Dubai, but going to the US was 

a different experience. American society is very liberal 

compared to Dubai or India so that was a big adjustment. 

“I was fortunate to be based in San Jose in the Silicon 

Vally, which from a technology perspective is the nerve 

centre of the world. I was able to access information and 

meet people who spurred my thinking and developed my worldview 

and they were like a whetstone for my appetites,” he enthuses. Although 

in business all went well initially, and the opportunities and resources 

were there, things took a turn for the worse when a family and spiritual 

situation arose, which he had not anticipated, that subsequently led to his 

getting divorced. “Setting that aside,” says Tom, “I had a general sense 

that there was almost nothing I could not do in the United States, I had 

the feeling that the world was at my feet in a sense.” 

Tom was not comfortable raising his family in the US. “I had a purely 

Indian upbringing, and I left India when I was 30 years old - parents 

have much less control in the US because of the peer pressure faced by 

kids and the kind of society you live in. I would have preferred to have 

an Indian cultural setting in an American society, which is difficult 

to do. I would have wanted my children to be more Indian than they 

are now. However on the other hand they have also had opportunities 

which they might not have had in India – so it’s a delicate balance. I 

was on the fringes of the dilemma called ABCDs –American Born 

Confused Desis. I wish my children had closer ties with my family in 

India, they are less sensitive to Indian cultural issues. I consider myself 

an Indian, I don’t think my children necessarily consider themselves 

Indian, and they have both married Americans.” 

The Ugly Indian 

Indians overseas perhaps because of conditions back home, seem to 

mostly change for the better wherever they go. “Our work and conduct 

remains our calling card,” says Sushil. In the Diaspora we focus hard 

on our work and careers as we know we do not make a natural fit 

in the Arab or the Western world. “I have seen the ‘argumentative 

Indian’ shed his compulsive tendency and be more selective in how he 

communicates. One can’t help but develop a sense of humor to cope 

with life as an expat. The NRI gets more phlegmatic as he is generally 

the least aggressive of nationalities. Not a very good thing to become, 

I can assure you!” laments Sushil. 

What about the notorious Indian behavior associated with the phrase, 

‘We are like that only,’ the disgusting, overbearing, even corrupt Indian 

traits that seem to be ingrained in the national character? Things like 

delaying flights that might be missed by making hoax calls seem to 

be more common in India than in other countries, breaking queues, 

spitting on the roads etc., With large Indian expatriate populations 

Gulf countries have banned the import of Betel leaves due to the paan 

chewing and spitting habits of Indians but the demand is high and the 

product somehow finds its way in, it seems there are certain typical 

traits that some Indians insist on bringing overseas. 

“The typical lack of civic sense in the average Indian is thrown into 

stark relief out of the country,” says Sushil Samtani. Curiously, millions 

of NRIs haven’t made a dent on this issue back home! Do we lapse 

back to default mode after deplaning (witness the ‘paan’ stains on the 

aerobridge at Mumbai airport when disembarking) or is it the sheer 

scale of the chaos that thwarts any effort? Could it be compulsive in our 

genetic makeup? Recently, cameras caught a commuter checking left 

TII HALL OF FAME 

My father-in-law handed 

down the responsibility 

of conducting prayers 

at the Taj Mahal to me over 50 

years back. The country had 

been partitioned and he was 

leaving for Pakistan. Those 

days I was conducting prayers 

at Fatehpur Sikri and running 

a small marble business on the 

side. He received a monthly 

salary of Rs. 15 from the 

government, which started 

coming to me. Although so much 

time has gone by and everything 

has become more expensive 

including the entry fee to the 

Taj. I still get only Rs. 15. I have 

submitted numerous applications 

to the government for an increase 

in this meager amount but nothing 

has happened. 

and right before spitting his paan 

juice in the spanking new Dubai 

Metro. (No prizes for guessing 

where he was from.) Yet we 

appreciate and enjoy the systems 

and infrastructure, it’s just that 

unlearning our native conditioning 

takes a little more time.” 

Sushil is convinced there is 

life beyond the ‘paratha’ and the 

‘butter chicken’ as one savours the 

other side offering ‘paella’ and the 

‘sushi’ even as we make space on 

our table for the ‘hummous’ next 

to the chutney. 

Frank Raj is the 

Founder Editor of TII 

Even after 50 years my monthly salary is Rs. 15 

I have continued with the job 

nonetheless because of the prestige 

involved with conducting prayers at such 

a world famous monument. Now I have 

become old and haven’t been keeping well 

and for the last few years I have asked 

my son to conduct the Friday prayers on 

my behalf. I have two daughters, both 

are married and one of my sons has a 

job as an office peon. People revere me 

and have no hesitation in helping out in 

my time of need. It is only with the help 

of such well-wishers and above all, the 

Grace of God that I am managing with the little that I have. 

Maulana Sadiq Ali, Shahi Imam of Taj Mahal, 

Born Agra, Uttar Pradesh, c. 1919 

TII’s Hall of Fame features India’s elderly, great, interesting and 

unusual men and women. Excerpted from the book Ageless Mind 

and Spirit’ by Samar and Vijay Jodha 

www.agelessmindandspirit.com 

56 



58 

DIASPORA 

LONDON 

then and now 

When newly-arrived immigrants 

landed in the United Kingdom 

overfour decades ago, they were 

hit by a huge bout of nostalgia. 

Today cities like London are 

a home away from home. 

SHAMLAL PURI examines 

changes that have transformed 

the lives of Indians settled there. 

by: Shamlal Puri 

WHEN I first arrived in London some 35 years ago, life 

for Indians and Asians from the Indian sub-continent 

settled here was very different. 

When they walked the streets of London or went 

to their work places, everything to them was so 

British. Super stores stocked everything that was British and European. 

Indian goods were frowned upon by English shopkeepers. 

The earliest wave of Indians had arrived from the sub-continent 

during the British rule there. They were largely students who settled 

here. At that time migration was difficult and not many Indians could 

settle here. 

They struck a compromise – outside they lived life as the rest of 

Britons. The only Indian touch they enjoyed was at home. They ate 

Indian food cooked in their kitchen, and within their four walls, listened 

to Hindustani music with records and tapes bought while visiting India 

on holiday. The weekends were spent enjoying the best of Indian life 

in the privacy of their homes. 

Racism was rife in the UK in those years. The natives of England 

looked down upon Indian food and culture and considered Indians a 

species from another world. Winston Churchill’s famous uncharitable 

remarks describing Mahatma Gandhi, as the “naked fakir” added fuel to 


London is like home away from home now 

fire stocking racism to its zenith. 

Even when educated Indians 

wore English suits and bowler 

hats in the public, they were put 

down as foreigners who had no 

right to be in the UK. 

There were fewer cinema 

halls offering a fare of Indian 

movies. Those that catered for 

Hindustani films showed them 

on the weekends under special 

arrangements with cinema 

owners who normally screened 

Hollywood films. It was a rare 

treat for Indian film fans that 

flocked cinema halls not only 

to watch Bollywood films but 

also to socialise because they 

missed India. 

We all watched three channels 

on British television – BBC 1, 

BBC 2 and ITV, mostly on monochrome sets. Colour TV was a rarity. 

Indian television was non-existent except for some educational Hindi 

and Urdu programmes such as Nayi Zindagi Naya Jeewan shown by 

BBC Television with erstwhile presenters such as Mahendra Kaul, 

Salim Shaheed and Ashok Rampal, among the few household name 

Indian presenters. The programmes largely reflected issues confronting 

Indians and other Asians and their lives in their country of adoption. 

The only entertainment slot was a few minutes of Indian music 

and singers at the end of the programmes. The programmes, beamed 

from Birmingham, used to be a treat for Indian households on Sunday 

mornings who would watch these while leisurely tucking into paranthas 

and puris for breakfast. 

When I first arrived here in the 1970s, there were few Indian 

journalists around. I was among very few Indian journalists settled in 

London. Unless you were the London-based correspondent of Indian 

newspapers, it was very difficult to get into mainstream British journalism 

because the profession 

was a closed shop and 

jealously guarded by the 

White British elite. You 

had to be a member of 

the National Union of 

Journalists (NUJ). 

Indians were caught 

up in a catch 22 situation 

– you could not get a job 

unless you were a member 

of the NUJ and you could 

not join NUJ unless you 

worked as a professional 

journalist. It took a very 

broadminded white editor 

to welcome you on his staff. 

Africa’s loss was Britain’s gain. These Indians were well trained 

businessmen who took over corner shops from English owners. 

Photo credit: Nishi Sharma, Interserve & South Asian Concern. 

Those Indians who managed to get into main stream journalism 

were achievers. The British population landscape was changing. The 

trickle of Indians arriving in the UK was going to turn into a torrent. 

The first hint of things to come was in 1968 however when a new 

wave of Indians started arriving from Kenya following that country’s 

Africanisation policy. Indian businesses were refused trading licences 

forcing them to leave the country in big numbers. 

Plane-loads of Indians started arriving in a cold Britain. The exodus 

is still fresh in the minds of those who arrived here in 1968. 

Four years later, the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, was upset with 

Indians living in his country, He was livid that they had monopolised 

the economy and taken over the entire business sector. To add fuel to 

the fire one Sunday afternoon he saw Indians milling around in groups 

and walking leisurely in Kampala and he lashed out accusing them 

of treating his country’s main city as if it were a suburb of Bombay. 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

His mind was made up to expel 

all Asians from his country in 

August 1972. 

Thousands of British passport 

holders packed their bags and 

arrived in the UK as refugees. 

They started their life afresh. 

With some 150,000 Indian 

families from Kenya and Uganda 

settling in Britain, There were 

panic waves in neighbouring 

Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, 

Zimbabwe and South Africa, 

from where whoever could prove 

British citizenship connections, 

arrived to settle in this country. 

It had suddenly 

become fashionable 

to emigrate to the 

UK. With the settling 

of so many Indians, 

London suddenly 

lacked infrastructure 

to meet the needs 

of the new-arrivals, 

some of whom were 

not educated. 

Africa’s loss 

was Britain’s gain. 

These Indians 

were well-trained 

businessmen and 

started taking over 

corner shops from the English 

owners. They stocked groceries 

and newspapers, the daily needs 

of their local communities. They 

offered their customers a quality 

service which snooty British 

owners had not cared to give. Woe 

betide if you were to go and ask 

for a pint of milk at their closing 

time – they would say ‘we are 

closed! Come back tomorrow’. 

Not so with the Indians, even if 

they were about to put a padlock 

on their front door and somebody 

dropped in to buy bread, they 


DIASPORA 

Indians in UK are a common sight, many 

retain their customs and habits just like 

in India. Photo credit: Nishi Sharma, 

Interserve & South Asian Concern. 

would happily open their store and 

serve them with a smile. 

Indian-owned corner shops were 

an institution as they were open all 

hours and attracted mainly Indian 

customers and also some English. 

The major top name super-stores 

were watching them in awe as 

they attracted business. Even they 

decided to join in the competition 

by keeping theirs open all hours. 

Prince Charles, the Prince of 

Wales, paid a tribute to the Indianowned 

corner shops by saying 

they had revolutionised Britain’s 

shopping system. 

By using their clout for bulkbuying 

and lower prices to 

their customers the super stores 

succeeded in routing the small 

corner shops which have been 

closing in the current economic downturn. But history is a 

witness to how these small Indian shopkeepers taught the 

giants that quality service attracts customers. 

Today Indian shops stock virtually everything 

produced in India complete with labels in Hindi, Urdu, 

Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati and other Indian languages. 

While shopping in these stores sometimes one virtually 

forgets that they are shopping in a store on British soil 

and not in Mumbai. Every summer mangoes imported 

from India and Pakistan are in popular demand as are 

other fruits and vegetables flown from there. 

As the community settled, their social needs also 

grew. London lacked a radio station offering Indian 

music. 

It was a great day when London Broadcasting 

Corporation (LBC) teamed up with Indian broadcasters 

to launch Geetmala, a weekly entertainment 

programme. It was presented by Chaman Lal Chaman, 

a well known Indian broadcaster from Kenya and produced by Suresh 

Joshi. LBC’s Keith Belcher was credited with allowing Geetmala to 

come to fruition. That programme became a firm fixture with thousands 

of Indian listeners. 

Geetmala ended its run a few years later, but this proved there was 

a need for radio stations offering Indian programmes. Other radio 

stations followed. 

There were several pirate radio stations run by various ethnic 

communities, which were raided and closed down by the Home Office, 

the Government authority. They rose again until the authorities realised 

they had to cater for Britain’s 

ethnic minority communities and 

the best way to regulate them was 

to licence them. 

Sunrise Radio was born out of 

such a creation. It has prospered 

with the creation of several radio 

stations and a small slice of 

satellite broadcasting. 

It is now very easy to set 

up a commercial Asian radio 

station. All you need is money 

and a set of very sound reasons to 

convince the Home office to grant 

a broadcasting licence. 

Meanwhile, BBC TV’s 

erstwhile Nayi Zindagi Naya 

Jeevan was also on its last legs. 

It had served its purpose (and 

bored its audiences thoroughly). 

BBC TV in Birmingham started 

Indian customers are often attracted to the paan shop 

where they not only enjoy this favourite item but also 

congegrate socially and exchange gossip. 

revamping itself and its Asian 

Unit looked at different ways 

to develop programmes for the 

growing Indian, Pakistani and 

other Asian communities. ITV 

also jumped on the bandwagon 

with its own programmes for 

Asian and Black viewers. 

For Asian viewers, Eastern Eye 

was broadcast under the watch of 

Indian broadcaster Samir Shah 

and a team that once included the 

famous Karan Thapar, Narendra 

Morar, Ziauddin Sardar, Shyama 

Perera and Aziz Kurtha. I worked 

for Samir Shah on a series of 

programmes. 

For Afro-Caribbean viewers, 

there was Black on Black under 

the watchful eye of the highly 

respected broadcaster, Trevor 

Philips, who is today the chairman 

of Britain’s Commission for 

Racial Equality. 

These programmes ended 

their run after a few years. 

While BBC and ITV 

controlled the terrestrial airwaves 

for many years, there was ample 

market for cable and satellite TV. 

The arrival of Zee TV and 

Sony TV revolutionised the 

entire Indian media scene. 

Now, viewers in the UK enjoy 

whatever is being shown on these 

channels in India. With a wide 

array of programmes to choose 

from, these TV networks have 

actually brought India into the 

living rooms of British Asians. 

Apart from these two networks, 

Star TV, Star Plus, BFU, Zee 

Music and a wide array of other 

channels such as Vectrone, Alpha 

Punjabi, Zee Gujarati, have set 

the media scene ablaze in Britain. 

In many Asian households, 

terrestrial TV channels such as 

the BBC and ITV have long 

been ignored as there is great 

enthusiasm to watch Indian soaps 

and films every day. 

Added to this is the 

plethora cinema houses such 

as Cineworld, Himalaya and 

various other theatres offering 

latest Indian film releases. 

So, far away from home, 

people still feel at home in Britain 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

with a wide variety of choice. 

Alas, the same cannot be said of newspapers for the Asian 

community. 

The print media, which first started revolutionising coverage of 

Indian events has long been left behind. 

There have been household names, as India Weekly (where I worked 

as an assistant editor in the 1970s), Eastern Eye, Asian Voice, Garavi 

Gujarat, Gujarat Samachar, Asian Trader, Des Pardes, Navin Weekly 

and a variety of other language newspapers and magazines offering a 

regular diet of news from back home. 

The newspapers and magazines used to have a good readership 

base at one time but nowadays, apart from first generation Indians who 

enjoyed a good read, a lot of these have now crossed the floor to Indian 

TV and radio channels. 

The late Chottu Karadia, editor of the weekly current affairs 

magazine, Asian Post, once said sardonically: “Asians simply do not 

read! Why don’t our Asians read newspapers?” 

The magazine was losing sales and consequently, advertising 

revenue. Asian newspapers have depended very strongly on local 

government advertising 

and a band of loyal 

readers. Both of these 

have been dwindling 

in recent years, making 

enterprising Indian 

publishers live on 

precarious budgets. 

The future for the 

Indian owned print 

media is not very strong. 

Radio and TV have a 

future here, though, 

the Chief Executive 

of Sunrise Radio once 

lamented on air, that 

while Indian traders stocked Coca Cola in their shops and stores, the 

multinational did not see it fit to advertise its brands on his radio station. 

Ugandan Asians heading into force exile by Idi Amin 

That perhaps, says a lot about the business of publishing for the 

Indian community in the United Kingdom. 

Shamlal Puri is a veteran British journalist, broadcaster, author 

and press photographer. He has worked with the media in Europe, 

Africa, Asia and the Middle East. His latest novel ‘Salik or No 

Salik? Welcome to Dubai! Tales of Taxi Drivers’ will be released 

around the world, including Dubai, in 2010. 

He has travelled to more than 100 countries in an illustrious 

journalistic career spanning 30 years. His work has been published in 

more than 250 magazines, newspapers and journals around the world. 

60 



FOOD 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

The Flavors 

of Mumbai 

Food sold in the streets of the great metropolitan city of Mumbai 

has gained more popularity than some of the swanky restaurants 

dotting the city because the street food is not only irresistibly 

delicious but also affordable. 

that contain a wide variety of 

delicious fillings which include 

spicy mushrooms, fiery paneer, 

and cheese. They also sell grilled 

sandwiches which are a must 

have and are liked by one and all. 

jungle sandwich. This huge sandwich is a four layer stacked sandwich 

which consists of a mix of corn, cucumbers, pineapple cheese, 

capsicum, onions and it is topped with cheese and kairi. 

From here you can go down to Bade Miyan behind Taj Mahal hotel 

whose kebabs are famous throughout Mumbai. All the glitterati of 

Mumbai park their cars outside the stall and savor scrumptious kebabs 

by: Golden Reejsinghani 

The whole of Mumbai is dotted with people making food in 

the make-shift stalls dotting the streets. On reaching hill road 

bandra your olfactory senses take control of your legs and lead 

you inexorably towards the aromatic aromas coming from the 

Elko arcade - the famous shopping arcade of Bandra. 

Here you can taste the mind-blowing pani puri which is famous 

for its tangy taste which just 

explodes in your mouth 

with all its glory. Other eats 

available here are dahi wadas, 

ragda patties, samosas, pani 

puri with tikhi mithi chutneys 

and tikis which you can wash 

Golguppa Chaat 

down with cold and namkeen 

lassi, or spiced sugar cane juice 

iced to perfection. 

A little ahead is the dahi puri 

wala who sells out of this world 

Fish Koliwada 

dahi puri combined with sweet 

and sour chutneys and garnished 

with coriander leaves. There are 

also piping hot medu wadas, 

dosas and idlis sold here. 

These stalls not only get page 

3 people visiting the shopping 

arcades but people from all walks 

of life come to eat here. From 

lowly to the richest, from ordinary 

people to the businessmen to the 

film stars. For everyone this is a 

Mecca of fine eating. 

From here you can walk up 

to linking road Bandra, a road 

running close to M.M.K College, 

which is full of yummy street 

food. Jay Sandwich Stall here 

is famous for its sandwiches. It 

serves all kinds of sandwiches 

which consist right from the 

basic sandwiches of the ordinary 

fillings like cucumber, potato, 

onion and tomato, to sandwiches 

Green chili potato bhajiyas Spicy mutton kebabs Chivda 

Every college student is seen 

converging on the stalls either 

munching sandwiches or piping 

hot vada pavs served with fiery 

hot chutney which can bring 

tears to your eyes and fire to 

your mouth. 

Another famous street food 

stall for sandwiches is the 

Jungli Sandwich Wala located 

in Borivali they are famous for 

their variety of sandwiches, 

which are aptly titled jungli 

sandwiches because they have 

a filling which is bizarre to 

say the least, but in spite of 

the bizarre filling, people have 

found a taste in it, the sandwich 

filling consists of jam, ketchup, 

chutney, cheese and a veritable 

array of vegetables like onions, 

beetroots, cucumbers, tomatoes, 

cabbage and pineapple bits. 

You can also order a huge 

and baida roti. Bade Miyan is famous because of its sheikh kebabs 

roasted on slow fire and garnished with green chutney and onion slices, 

as we Mumbaikers like it. 

Like him, Noor Mohammadi in Bhendi Bazaar is famous for the ‘ 

Naali Nihari’. Naali Nihari is a thick spicy soup which is made from 

buffalo marrow cooked in a variety of spices and loads of ghee. It is 

served in the mornings with naan. People start their day in Bhendi 

Bazaar with Naali Nihari and naan. 

If you are a die-hard vegetarian then you should make a trip to 

Church Gate station, you can savor a vast variety of omelets which are 

served here piping hot with pav or bread. These will make your day 

once you have eaten them. 

Love ice creams? Then you should head to the Chow Patty Beach. 

Here you can get a variety of tasty ice creams available in many tasty 

concoctions like the berry, kachha kery, cream butter scotch etc. You 

ask for the flavor and you get it here. 

Like hearty food? Then head to Sion Koliwada which can be termed 

as mini Punjab. You get here delicious and enticingly flavored koliwada 

fish, prawn fry and tandoori chicken. Denizens from all over Mumbai 

flock here to get a taste of Punjab. 

Khau Gali is a unique road in Mumbai. The paradise of food lovers 

at Kalbadevi, which is lined with small stalls serving a variety of 

treats, from piping hot kachoris accompanied with sweet and spicy 

hot chutney to sizzling samosas chili hot pakodas to crunchy pattice, 

62 



FOOD 

th 

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ANNI V ERSARY 

delicious dosas with sambar to steaming soft 

idlis with coconut chutney. 

Spiced papads, tangy bhelpuris and many 

other chaats savories and sweets are available 

here prepared just in front of you and served 

to you with spicy chutneys and sauces and 

what is more, you get all these delicacies at 

affordable rates. You can wash these down 

with a number of flavored sherbets, juices, 

smoothies and ice creams. 

The munchies you can buy off the streets 

change from season to season. Corn on the cob 

roasted on a charcoal fire and flavored with 

salt, lime juice and chili pepper in the rains, 

groundnuts, and roasted green grams in the 

winter, fruit chaats and nimbu pani in summer. 

You can also buy vada pav, green chili, onion 

and potato bhajiyas, samosas, hot jalebis and 

sandwiches all year round. 

Ice Cream 

MUST HAVE STREET TREATS 

1. Golgappas filled with spicy water and out of the world tangy chutneys 

at Elcko Arcade in hill road at Bandra. 

2. Ice golas at kalakhatta cold drink house at CST. 

3. Chaats, pakodas, dahi wadas, masala papads, bhelpuri ragda pattice, 

hot and spicy kachoris at the Khau Gulli in kalbadevi. 

4. Chivda from the chivda gulli. From here you get farali chivda to 

poha chivda and the makai chivda. 

5. Vada pav with tangy red hot chutney from the street side vendors. 

6. Channa masala at Marine drive. The tangy and spicy channa – a lip 

smackingly delicious mixture of green grams, finely chopped onion, 

tomato, coriander, chaat masala and lime juice dried banana leaves. 

7. Dabeli at the stalls near the Vile Parle Railway Station. 

8. Multani diary at do tanki for their delicious mango, dry fruit and 

special lassi with mawa in it. 

Mumbai is chockfull of street food. Every locality has developed 

its own khau galli specific to the character of population living there. 

Street food is not only dirt cheap but also very hygienic. 

These days the owners of food stalls have become very hygiene 

conscious because they know if they play hanky panky with the people 

they will lose their business. Besides, unlike restaurants they serve the 

freshest and best food. 

They do not keep the food for the next day to serve in the buffet, 

which mostly consists of dishes made on the previous day. 

I can write reams about this 

food but because I wanted to keep 

this precise I have written about 

the best and outstanding buys. 

Chana chat, vada pav, dry bhel 

you can savor all these street food 

delicacies hopping in Mumbai. 

There is no other gastronomic 

experience like having these 

delightfully delicious foods on 

the streets of Mumbai. Now you 

can enjoy them at home too by 

making the recipes given below. 

Vada Pav 

Ingredients 

250 grams potatoes boiled, peeled 

and mashed. 

2 tablespoons chopped coriander 

leaves. 

6 curry leaves. 

1 green chilly mashed, 1 garlic 

mashed. 

¼ teaspoon mustard seeds.1 

teaspoon lime juice. 

100 grams flour, salt to suit the 

taste. 

Method 

Heat ½ teaspoon oil adds mustard seeds when they stop crackling add 

garlic and curry leaves mix well. Remove from fire add all the above 

ingredients with the exception of gram flour. Knead the potato mixture 

into smooth dough. Form into small balls and keep aside. Put enough 

water in gram flour to make a smooth batter mix in salt to suit the taste. 

Dip the potato balls one by one in the batter and deep fry to a light 

golden color. Drain the balls. Take a pav slit in the centre half way 

through. Spread on it green or dry red chutney put a piping hot Wada 

and enjoy. 

Dry Red 

Chili Chutney. 

Ingredients 

100 grams dry red chilies 

50 grams dry coconut grated, 4 flakes 

garlic 

Salt to suit the taste. 

Method 

Dry roast chilies, coconut and garlic on a 

slow fire till a nice aroma emanates from it. Grind to a coarse paste. 

You can keep this chutney for 15 days. 

Dry Bhel 

Ingredients 

Kurmura or puffed Rice. 

Handful of cornflakes. 

1 tomato, minced. 

1 small onion, minced. 

1 potato boiled and diced. 

1 cucumber, minced. 

Handful of chopped coriander leaves. 

1 tsp. chaat masala. 

Lime juice. 

Salt and chili powder to suit the taste. 

Method 

Put a little oil in a pan and fry the 

puffed rice for a few seconds. Mix 

together all the above ingredients 

and serve at once. 

Channa Chaat 

Ingredients 

1 cup boiled green channa. 

2 tbsp. minced onions. 

1 small cucumber diced. 

1 small tomato diced. 

1 beetroot boiled and diced. 

1 tsp. sugar. 

1 tsp. chaat masala. 

1 tbsp lime juice. 

2 green chilies minced. 

Handful of coriander leaves. 

Salt to suit the taste. 

Method 

Mix together all the above 

ingredients sprinkle lime juice, 

chaat masala and serve. 

Golden Reejsinghani is a freelance 

writer based in Mumbai 

64 



GUPTARA GARMAGARAM 

RICH OR POOR 

INDIANS: 

WHO CARES ABOUT DEMOCRACY? 

One of the most fundamental dividing lines between Indians does 

not depend upon whether one is an IC or an NRI, but on how much 

an Indian is engaged in the country itself. And one of the ways of 

engagement is in India’s democratic system. By exercising the right to 

vote, Indians show their concern for India. But this concern is shown 

mostly among the poor. 

by: Prabhu Gupatara 

If one ignores for the 

moment the scam known as 

‘Persons of Indian Origin’, 

India divides its people into 

‘Indian citizens’ (ICs) and 

‘Non-Resident Indians’ (NRIs). 

ICs are people who carry an 

It is not only in Mumbai that gangs bypass 

the law for dispute resolution. It is not only 

in Mumbai that the political class is focused 

on building its own wealth at the cost of the 

ordinary Indian. 

Indian passport, while NRIs are 

people of Indian origin who, for 

whatever reason, do not carry an 

Indian passport. 

However, the division of 

Indians into ICs and NRIs is 

altogether too superficial. 

I suggest that a more 

meaningful distinction needs to be 

made within both the IC category and the NRI category. Because there 

are NRIs who are still emotionally and practically engaged with India 

(let’s call them ‘India-Engaged NRIs’ or ‘IENRIs’) as distinct from 

NRIs who are not emotionally and practically engaged with India (who 

could be called ‘Non-India-Engaged NRIs’ or ‘NINRIs’). IENRIs may 

be involved with India in constructive ways (e.g. bringing technology 

or education into the country) or they may be involved in the country in 

non-constructive ways (e.g. in 

funding political or religious 

extremism). But the fact is that 

these IENRIs are emotionally 

and practically involved with 

the country and that can only 

be a good thing, at least in the 

long run. 

So if NRIs can be 

categorised into IENRIs and 

NINRIs, can the ICs be categorized similarly? Yes, indeed. While 

ICs cannot avoid some minimal involvement with the country, if only 

because they are bothered by the bureaucratic and structural hurdles 

common to every Indian’s survival and prosperity, there are ICs who 

are emotionally and practically concerned with improving the state 

of affairs in the country (they could be called ‘Concerned Indian 

Citizens’ or ‘CICs’) while other ICs are emotionally and practically 

unconcerned with improving the state of the country (we could think 

of worse names, but let us content ourselves with naming them ‘Non- 

[ 

Concerned ICs’ or ‘NICs’). 

As in the case of IENRIs, 

some CICs may be involved with 

activities that may be extremist 

or peculiar, but all the activities 

of CICs, as far as I can see, are 

beneficial to the country in the 

long run. 

NINRIs, being non-resident 

in India, may have at least some 

excuse for their noninvolvement: 

they 

may have been born 

and raised outside 

India so they may 

feel no bond with the 

country; they may be 

simply too busy trying 

to survive in a foreign 

culture; or they may be 

too busy trying to make 

their way up the ladder, 

especially if they are 

located in a country 

whose system gives 

winners everything but 

losers nothing. 

The most basic 

excuse could apply also 

to NICs: they live in the country 

where it is difficult simply to get 

the most basic things done. 

However, when one examines 

the situation on the ground, one 

finds a strange thing. ICs cannot 

be categorized into CICs and 

NICs on the basis of how much 

money they have or how much 

time they are personally forced to 

spend simply on survival. In fact, 

the reverse seems to be the case. 

For example, when one looks at 

the simple indicator of what sorts 

of people exercise their vote (an 

exercise that does not take that 

long!), one finds that the poor vote 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

in much larger numbers while those who are middle-class or rich vote 

proportionally much less. During the recent Maharashtra Assembly 

elections, for instance, the overall voting percentage was just around 

45 per cent. That was only slightly better than the city’s turnout of 43 

per cent for the Lok Sabha elections in the Spring. Mumbai is of course 

much richer than the state of Maharashtra in which it is located, so it is 

interesting that the average in the state as a whole (including Mumbai) 

was 60 per cent. Probably the poorest district, Gadchiroli, had one of 

the highest turnouts of voters: 63 per cent. 

Is this a peculiarity limited to the State of Maharashtra that the richer 

and better educated citizens 

display less interest in 

their democratic rights and 

responsibilities than the 

poorer and less educated 

citizens? 

Hardly. Exactly the 

same pattern is repeated 

right across the country. 

How is it that the 

richer and better educated 

folk in our country have 

become more selfish 

and irresponsible, while 

proclaiming loudly 

in every national and 

international forum how 

proud we all are of the 

democratic system in 

our country, while the reality is that it is the poorer and worse educated 

who are now the majority participants in our democracy? 

It is not only in Mumbai that gangs bypass the law for dispute 

resolution. It is not only in Mumbai that the political class is focused 

on building its own wealth at the cost of the ordinary Indian. 

Unemployment, crime, communalism and corruption are common to 

the country as a whole. 

So we don’t need the division between NRIs and ICs. We have 

a weak alliance of IENRIs and CICs - and that is what needs to be 

strengthened, for example by abolishing the Foreign Contributions 

Registration Act. 

Professor Prabhu Guptara has written the above in an 

entirely private capacity, and none of the above should be 

related in any way to any of the companies or organisations 

with which he is now, or has in the past been, connected. 

His personal website is: www.prabhu.guptara.net 

He blogs at: www.prabhuguptara.blogspot.com 

66 



SEX, LIES & TRUTH 

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The Love List 

Little Things That Make a Big Difference 

by: Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott 

Do you two need a tissue? a voice gently whispered from 

behind us. We were sitting in a quiet theater watching 

a somber play when — at the saddest moment — 

something struck us funny. Hysterically funny. 

At just that moment, Les found a withered old banana 

in his coat pocket. Who knows how long it had lived there, and he 

set this surprising discovery on my knee. Caught off guard by the 

incongruity of the banana and the play, I developed one of the worst 

case of the giggles I’ve ever had. Les quickly caught the same disease. 

We tried desperately to stifle our laughter, but, as we bowed our heads 

to hide our faces, we couldn’t keep our shoulders from shuddering. 

An older woman behind us, 

thinking we were moved by 

what was happening on stage, 

offered us a tissue for our tears, 

which made us want to laugh all 

the more. When Les accepted 

her kind offer, I really lost it and 

had to leave the theater. 

Just another day the marriage 

of Les and Leslie? Not quite, but 

we do laugh a lot together. The 

tiniest of things can sometimes 

set us off – a slight inflection or 

a knowing glance, for example. 

We can quote a funny line from 

a movie or sitcom for weeks. 

Better still, are the unplanned faux 

pas in front of others that bring 

embarrassment. We have the same funny bone and can’t keep from 

using it. No wonder we enjoy our marriage. 

Laughter does that. Any good friend will tell you that laugher is the 

shortest distance between two people – especially in marriage. That’s 

why each day we find something that makes us both laugh We don’t 

wait for funniness to find us, we’re on the look out. We’ve literally 

put this seemingly silly task on what we’ve come to call our Love List. 

Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott 

We’ve always liked lists. 

Shopping lists. Honor lists. Wish 

lists. Lists of goals and dreams. 

Our favorite is the common to-do 

list. We live by it. Maybe you 

do too. And if so, you know the 

wonderful feeling of checking an 

item off your list. With a simple 

check mark we know we’ve 

accomplished something we set 

out to do. We’ve made progress. 

That little check tells us 

we’ve taken another step 

– big or small – in the 

direction we want to go. 

Short and to the point. 

That’s the value of a 

good list. And that’s the 

primary value of our 

new book, too. We cut 

straight to what you can 

do – starting today – to 

make your marriage 

better. How do we do 

this? By giving you the 

ultimate to-do list for 

couples. It’s a proven 

list for pin-pointing 

specific behaviors, 

actions and eventual habits that 

are sure to keep your love life 

running at its peak performance. 

Research has shown that 

people who make a tangible list 

and keep it handy are far more 

likely to achieve their goals than 

others who have the very same 

desires. That’s why we came up 

with The Love List. As a husband 

and wife who write for, speak 

to, counsel and minister with 

countless couples each year, we 

wanted to know, in very practical 

terms, exactly what we, as “the 

experts,” should be doing to make 

our marriage the best it could be. 

How about you? Do you have 

some simple and intentional todos 

for your marriage? We hope 

so, but if you are like the majority 

of couples, you probably don’t. 

Sure, you’ve thought about 

things you’d like to incorporate 

into your relationship, but like a 

flare that quickly fades, the ideas 

pass through your mind for a 

moment only to be blown away 

by the next breeze of routine life. 

We’ve seen far too many wellintentioned 

couples – especially 

in ministry – yearning to enjoy 

their love life to the fullest but 

never considering a strategic plan 

for doing so. They are simply 

lulled into the mediocre marriage 

that never reaches its potential. 

So what’s the solution? 

The little to-dos we’ve put 

in this new book have become 

our answer. And after years of 

studying couples that live and 

love to the fullest we believe this 

roll-up-your-sleeves-and-getpractical 

approach is for every 

couple wanting the most from 

their marriage. 

The Love List – or the eight 

healthy habits, as we call them – 

is within reach of every couple. 

Let us allay some potential fears 

up front. The items on this list are 

not extravagant. They won’t cost 

you more money. They aren’t 

going to require inordinate amounts of time. And they are not just 

for the romantically gifted. The Love List is not for perfect people. 

It’s for busy couples who sometimes bicker, get stressed out, have 

communication meltdowns, struggle with money, are not always sure 

how to discipline their kids, and all the rest. In other words, the Love 

List is for real life. Here’s how it works. The Love List consists of 

eight small actions – practiced daily, weekly, monthly and yearly: 

Once a day… 

Take Time to Touch (If Only for a Minute) 

Find Something That Makes You Both Laugh 

Once a week… 

Do Something Active That Lifts Your Spirits 

Boost Your Partner’s Self-Esteem 

Once a Month… 

Rid Yourselves of Harmful Residue 

Fire Up Passion in the Bedroom 

Once a Year… 

Review Your Top-Ten Highlights 

Chart Your Course for the Coming Year 

For each of these actions, we show you what it will do for you and, 

most importantly, exactly how to do it, step-by-step. In fact, each item 

on The List comes complete with a self-test for a quick assessment of 

how well you are already cultivating each of these eight habits. 

A few small actions – practiced on a daily, a weekly, a monthly, and 

a yearly basis – can change everything for a couple. Little deliberate 

behaviors quietly lavish love on a marriage. And know this. The items 

on The Love List are within reach of every couple who is willing to 

try. They are not extravagant. They are not for the romantically gifted. 

They won’t cost you more money. And they aren’t going to require 

inordinate amounts of time. The List, short and to the point, is not 

for perfect people. It’s for busy couples who sometimes bicker, get 

stressed out, have communication meltdowns, struggle with money, are 

not always sure how to discipline their kids, and all the rest. In other 

words, The List is for real life. Plus, it’s fun. It focuses on proactive 

behavior you can do and you will see results almost immediately. 

We did. When we made laughter a daily habit, for example, we 

quickly learned that it is impossible to stay mad at someone who makes 

you laugh. Especially when they find a withered old banana in their 

coat pocket. 

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott are codirectors of the 

Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University 

and the authors of Your Time Starved Marriage, Love Talk and 

The Love List. Visit their website at www.RealRelationships.com 

to find their seminar schedule. 

68 



DIASPORA 

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE AN 

INDIAN IN 

SOUTH AFRICA TODAY? 

Indian wedding in South Africa: Can Indians ever be color 

blind when it comes to intermarriage with Black Africans? 

by: Jacqueline van Staden 

After 46 years of 

formal segregation, 

South Africa’s 

apartheid regime 

was ended in 1994. 

While the formal structures were 

dismantled, the past injustices 

continue to have an influence 

and affect different people in 

various ways. 

Each piece of writing about 

race that comes out of South 

Africa is part of a collective 

understanding of this challenging, 

and often traumatic, topic. It 

is valuable to create a space in 

“Various instruments of legislation have 

enabled South Africans of Indian origin to 

be considered as Black people and as African 

people, and this has effectively cemented the 

position of Indo-South Africans in South 

Africa through this mutual respect and 

shared identity. But there are still Indian 

enclaves and discrimination against other 

races and lower classes by the Indian people. 

We cannot hope for greater equality in 

business, professional sport or in higher 

education, as Indian people, if we practice a 

form of ethnicism in how we socially integrate 

in and among ourselves, as South Africans”. 

- Avishkar Govender, Political Science 

undergraduate at the University of KwaZulu. 

which people may share personal stories and thoughts. This article 

takes a look at the Indian community in South Africa, with specific 

reference to racism. 

Though this process insights into a complex and multi-dimensional 

issue are revealed, and provide an interesting look what it is like to be 

Indian in South Africa in 2009. It is important to discuss diversity and 

learn about other people’s experiences. It enriches us, and teaches us to 

appreciate that with our differences we are all human beings. 

Indian people were brought by the British from India to South Africa 

in the mid-19th century, after the abolishment of slavery. They worked 

as indentured labourers in the sugar cane fields of the eastern coastal 

area now known as KwaZulu Natal. Indian South Africans form the 

largest grouping of people of Indian descent born outside India. 

Under apartheid, South Africans were divided into ‘white’ and 

‘black’. The latter category included people of African descent, coloured 

people (which was people of mixed race) and Indian people. Indian 

people were subjected to discrimination on various levels. Someone 

like Ashwin Trikamjee remembers it well. Ashwin is an attorney and the 

Chairman of the 1860 Legacy Foundation. Born in Durban in 1944 he 

attended the Gandhi-Desai High School and later the University of 

South Africa. He remembers 

the incessant discrimination 

under apartheid. “This 

happened on a daily basis 

in every sphere of life – 

like not being allowed to 

take lifts in buildings, not 

being allowed to use public 

toilets, not being allowed in 

cinemas and other public 

places, treated badly by 

government employees , 

standing in different queues 

etc ,” lists Ashwin. 

People need to share and 

remember these experiences, 

to help us to acknowledge the 

past, and recognise in what 

ways it may still influence our 

present. This also deepens 

our respect for the difficulties 

and injustices people had to 

experience. We should take 

time to reflect; what would 

my life have been like if 

I was ‘categorised’ into a 

different race group in South 

Africa? How greatly would 

my life have been altered 

based on the one variable 

of race? Each individual 

interviewed for this article 

remembers their experience 

vividly, some like Sershan 

Avishkar Govender 

Ashwin Trikamjee 

Sershan Naidoo & 

Nita Lawton Misra 

Prof Naidoo Kovin 

Arushan Moodley 

Theeyaagaraj Naidoo Elizabeth Sithole 

reacted spontaneously to the situations they found themselves in, others 

were more careful, considering the potential consequences. 

Sershan is Divisional Manager: Beneficiary and Player Relations, 

and Media Liaison for the National Lotteries Board. Born in Durban 

in 1964, he studied at the Durban University of Technology (formerly 

ML Sultan Technikon). “My earliest memory [of racial discrimination] 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

would be trying to understand why 

I could not sit on a bench as we 

walked down the promenade on 

Durban’s beachfront. We lived in 

the then grey area of Durban, the 

Warwick Avenue triangle, before 

being moved to the Indian 

township of Chatsworth 

in 1970. More recently, I 

appeared invisible to a shop 

assistant who preferred to 

attend to a white shopper 

who had arrived after me. 

I gave them both a small 

lecture on customer service 

that caused them both great 

embarrassment in front of a 

full store.” 

Ashwin recalls being 

drawn into racially charged 

situations, often against 

his will, and the reaction 

was always militant and 

aggressive. “The Indian 

Community in South 

Africa has a proud record 

of having been involved 

in the fight against 

apartheid in SA. This is 

manifested in the Natal 

Indian Congress, the 

SA Indian Congress and 

the United Democratic 

Front with many others 

being involved in the Pan 

Africanist Congress and 

the Black Consciousness 

Movement,” he points out. 

Apartheid was not 

just about in your face, 

blatant put down of 

individuals, possibly the most 

effective means of ensuring 

its longevity was crushing 

talent and initiative, something 

Arushen Moodley can testify 

to. Arushen is a superbike 

70 



DIASPORA 

Arushen. In the face 

of discrimination, he 

was determined to 

succeed on his own. 

“With the financial backing 

of my parents we formed our 

own race team. I changed my 

beliefs: I could beat anyone and 

believed in myself. It was only 

then that the comments, the abuse 

did not affect me because I was 

so mentally strong that nothing 

could stop me from winning and 

champion who was born in the 

coastal city of Port Elizabeth in 

1978. His childhood memories 

include the restrictions apartheid 

policies placed on him. “Before 

the end of apartheid in 1994 we, 

as non-white South Africans, 

were not allowed to do many 

things,” he recalls. “For example 

all the best beaches were for 

whites only. When I was young 

I couldn’t understand why we 

were not allowed to swim or play 

on the beautiful sandy beaches. 

The beaches we were 

able to use were 

rocky and not very 

child-friendly”. 

In 1995 Arushen 

made history as the first 

non-white competitor 

to enter a national race 

at the young age of 17. 

He went on to become 

the world’s first nonwhite 

superbike 

champion. Racism is 

one challenge he faces 

while pursuing his 

dreams. “The racism 

I have experienced 

in South Africa may 

vary from person 

to person,” notes 

reaching my dreams”. 

“In 2007 I won the South African Superbike championships and 

became the first Indian in the World to win a National Superbike 

Championship. This made me very proud because many other Indians 

started to believe in themselves and realised that anything is possible 

with determination and self-belief. After winning I gained a lot of 

respect from the whites as they soon realised that we Indians are not to 

be taken for granted”. 

“However, I find that being an Indian, sponsorship for racing in 

South Africa is very difficult to obtain. Most of the big corporates are 

still sponsoring the so-called whites and us Indians are still left to beg 

for sponsorships even after proving to be the best.” 

Nita Lawton-Misra is the Deputy Registrar (Academic) for the 

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. A psychologist by 

profession, she 

read for her Degree 

at the university 

of Durban- 

Westville. “My 

experiences, prior 

to 1994, contribute 

to my feelings of 

bitterness and anger 

when I see how the 

white person has 

benefited over the 

years, and continues 

to benefit even 

today”, says Nita. “I 

remember, only too 

well, how I had to 

endure being called a 

‘coolie’ or not being 

able to ride the same 

bus as my white 

peer. I am proud of 

being vocal about the 

inequities, then and now; of being a part of the struggle which resulted 

in liberation. However, the more things change the more they remain 

the same,” is her concern. 

People are obviously at various points in South African society. Some 

people still see the world in ‘black and white’, some see differences 

and are tolerant of them, while others aim for deracialisation and to 

be freed of racial mentalities. There is n0 society in the world where 

inequalities do not exist, and learning to be assertive and cope skilfully 

is probably the only way to overcome the all too human tendency 

towards one-upmanship and tribal dominance. 

Certain public facilities like beaches were reserved only for whites 

[“I remember, only too well, how I had to endure being called 

a ‘coolie’ or not being able to ride the same bus as my white 

peers. I am proud of being vocal about the inequities, then and 

now; of being a part of the struggle which resulted in liberation. 

However, the more things change the more they remain the 

same.” - Nita Lawton Misra 

Some reactions of the Indian community to racism were informed 

by the structures of the society from which they had come. Avishkar 

Govender, a Political Science undergraduate at the University of 

KwaZulu, was born 

in Durban in 1979. 

He notes that 

“Various instruments 

of legislation 

have enabled 

South Africans of 

Indian origin to be 

considered as Black 

people and as African 

people, and this has 

effectively cemented 

the position of Indo- 

SAfricans in South 

Africa through this 

mutual respect and 

shared identity. But 

still we see there are 

Indian enclaves and the 

discrimination against 

South Africa’s challenge: Can black and brown and white truly 

come together? 

other races and lower classes by Indian people. We cannot hope for 

greater equality in business, professional sport or in higher education, 

as Indian people, if we practice a form of ethnicism in how we socially 

integrate in and among ourselves, as South Africans. 

“There is no special lesson which comes from South Africa that has 

not been seen from any other NRI community, the principles of self 

determination, hard work, self sacrifice and educational endeavours, 

have ensured that the Indian Diaspora is a global community and a 

very successful one at that. But in South Africa, we are South Africans 

first and foremost, and our South African-ness gives us the power to 

be able to liberate ourselves from the inherently discriminatory Indianness 

of our origin,” deduces Avishkar with keen insight. 

South Africans need to acknowledge that some people benefited at 

the expense of others, and that these affects may still be seen. We also 

need to make sure that while we respect the injustices of the past, we 

do not get stuck there. We need to use the lessons of the past as a way 

to move into a more positive future. 

South Africans of Indian descent cannot be seen as a homogenous 

group, and reactions to race and the apartheid structures varied from 

person to person. “In the main Indians have dealt with racism in a 

positive manner – rejecting it with contempt”, says Ashwin. “The Group 

Areas act, which put people in compartments, did influence some kind 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

of sectionalism but in the large 

this was rejected. Some so called 

leaders sold out the Community 

by participating in 

apartheid perpetuating 

structures like the SAIC 

and the TRI-Cameral 

Parliament.” 

Ashwin notes that 

many Indian Leaders 

were detained, jailed, 

and placed under house 

arrest during this time. 

The fight against 

apartheid demonstrated 

that Indians were 

opposed to any kind of 

racism. “The post 1994 

situation saw evidence 

of this contribution 

when former President 

Mandela appointed 

many Indian Cabinet 

Ministers as well as Deputy 

Ministers to serve South Africa’s 

first Democratic Government. 

Yes, there will be a few in the 

minority who will contend that 

they were more comfortable 

under the apartheid government.” 

“The issues about race in South 

Africa are less about power as was 

the case historically and more about 

Economics. The end of apartheid rid 

our country of much blatant racism. 

Now the tensions that exist in our 

society are about retaining privilege 

or competing for opportunities”, 

says Professor Naidoo Kovin, 

the Global Programs Director at 

the International Center for Eye 

Care Education. He was born in 

Durban in 1966 and studied at the 

University of Durban-Westville 

(now the University of Kwa-Zulu 

72 



DIASPORA 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

74 

On the 9th of August 1956, 

twenty thousand women of all 

races marched on the Union 

Buildings in Pretoria to protest 

the proposed ammendments to the 

Utban Areas Act, commonly known 

as the Pass Laws of 1950. the 

women stood together, arms raised 

Natal), Pennsylvania College 

of Optometry (U.S.A.), Temple 

University (U.S.A.) and University 

of New South Wales (Australia). 

There is an ongoing 

question about whether or not 

it is meaningful to still discuss 

matters centred on race. When 

do we let go of old, offensive 

classifications? The vestiges 

of apartheid still impinge upon 

aspects of South African politics 

and society. Our Constitution 

promises equality, but we have 

a long way to go before this is 

achieved. The lived-experiences 

of so many South Africans are still 

shaped by apartheid’s blueprint. 

Sershan notes that fifteen 

years is not enough to address 


the wrongs of the past. A few years ago he 

visited a project in an area of the Drakensberg 

that he had not travelled to for two decades. 

“I drove down that road and it seemed like 

I was in a time warp. Nothing had changed. 

Well there was one change, the people had the 

vote”. 

Professor Kovin observes that geography 

affects the role of race, as well as the perception 

of race. “It seems that in Durban and KZN because 

of competition for limited jobs between people 

of Indian origin and people of African origin 

relationships are more strained. In the rest of the 

country the issue of being Indian seems to be less 

of an issue. It does not help also that there is not 

much effort by all racial groups in KZN to integrate. 

“Even in political organizations many who join 

go there to be Indian and to benefit from contracts 

etc rather than to truly integrate and work for a 

better South Africa. I was deployed by the ANC 

in the African townships and hostels for six years 

while I served as a regional executive committee 

member. Throughout this period I did not 

experience any racial issues and soon forgot I was 

different-looking. This is the benefit of qualitative 

interaction,” he declares. 

The old structures of inequality cross class, 

as well as race lines. The affects, for example of 

different standards of schooling for different races, are still felt. Nita 

says “today, I still hear the insinuations in voices of the privileged when 

they speak disparagingly of ‘them’ – referring to Black people. More 

painfully though, I feel the piercing silent accusations of Black and 

Coloured people when yet another ‘Indian’ is appointed or promoted. I 

want to scream out – I, too, am Black!” 

Racial discrimination often means being categorised according to 

certain stereotypes. Stereotypes function as an easy way to categorise 

and respond to people, but because they generalise and over-simplify 

they tend to be useless misconceptions. “I am annoyed by people who 

judge you before they know you. There are bad people in all race 

groups and from all backgrounds,” insists Sershan. “I don’t have to 

prove anything to anyone. I do what is required of me to the best of 

my ability and I am always willing to learn from others, irrespective of 

their background or ‘level’ in society/workplace. We all can learn from 

the most unsuspecting person we might meet”. 

Nita explains, “I am African before I am Indian. I was born in 

South Africa, as were my parents and their parents. I have no familial 

connections in India. I do, however, live my life in accordance with Indian 

cultural beliefs and values. This is partly due to the apartheid regime 

in the air and in the clenched 

fist of the Congress salut and sang 

‘You strike a woman, You strike 

rock’. It is remembered as one of 

the major milestones in the struggle 

againts the apartheid regime and 

the date is now commemorated as 

Women’s Day. 

in South Africa which ‘classified’ 

me as ‘Indian’ and forced me to 

live a life of separateness. Living 

in a country which alienated me 

from other people forced me to 

experience racism most palpably. 

I was forced to believe that I 

was a ‘less-than’, a “non”-white 

– how anyone can accept being 

a “non anything” is beyond my 

comprehension!” 

The policies of apartheid 

place emphasis on the inferiority 

of people who were not white. 

“When I was younger I felt 

inferior to the white man and 

always thought they were better 

than we were,” says Arushen. 

“I started racing just after the 

apartheid ended. Although it 

‘ended’ the minds of many 

whites had still to change. They 

continued seeing Indians as 

inferior and so I was always 

given inferior equipment to race 

on. The teams used me for black 

empowerment to secure racing 

sponsorships in the new ‘black’ 

South Africa. But once they got 

the funding I was given the cold 

shoulder,” reveals Arushen. 

Nita recalls the feelings of 

belittlement, insignificance and 

insecurity she experienced after 

a racist incident. She was at a 

holiday resort in Rustenburg in 

late 1991. She notes that, booked 

under the name ‘Lawton’ her 

family may have been mistaken 

as white. “I took my six month 

old baby into the children’s pool 

and suddenly all the mommies 

rushed to the swimming pool to 

take their children out! While I 

pretended to flippantly laugh it 

off with an “at least we have to 

pool to ourselves” remark, the 

hurt that my innocent baby would 

‘infect’ those white children had penetrated deep within my psyche”. 

Nita responded to the callous discrimination with a determination 

to empower herself and prove that she, too, is God’s child with more 

depth, as much (or more) intellectual capacity and the same ability to 

feel pain and love. 

While Professor Kovin has been subjected to racism in the past, 

he has noticed things are changing. “I must admit I don’t have this 

happening to me. It may be a result of my socially integrated circle, 

which often sends out a signal that I am not in a particular racial box. It 

happens more to me outside South Africa”. Avishkar too confirms, “I 

personally have never been the victim of racism nor have I perpetrated 

racism, I was born with complete freedom, albeit during apartheid, in 

Durban which is an Indian city, in South Africa”. 

It remains important to not use race as a ‘scapegoat’ when other 

factors may be to blame. Race may be the reason, but we need to be 

self-reflective and assess 

other possibilities. In 

response to a question on 

being subjected to racism, 

Nita observes, “Before I 

respond to this question 

I’d like to qualify that it is 

very easy to construe (or 

misconstrue) unfavourable 

experiences as “racist”. 

I’d like to believe that I’ve 

been able to let go – that 

I don’t hold on to the past 

as an excuse for everything 

that doesn’t work in my 

favour. It is imperative that 

we (as Ramphele Mamphele 

advocates) “lay our ghosts 

to rest” as we move forward. 

Having said that my entire 

childhood and youth was 

experienced the way it was 

as a result of a racist SA. 

The lack of free will and free 

choice was determined by a 

racist regime,” Nita regrets. 

Dr Mamphela Ramphele 

was one of the founders of 

the Black Consciousness 

Movement (BCM), along 

with Steve Biko.Due to her 

political activities, she was 

internally banished by the 

Poster on the beach during Apartheid in South Africa 


DIASPORA 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

apartheid government to the town 

of Tzaneen from 1977 to 1984. 

Her book Laying Ghosts to Rest: 

Dilemmas of the Transformation 

in South Africa was published 

in 2008. Dr Ramphele offers a 

fearless and candid investigation 

of the issues with which South 

Africans struggle today in her 

characteristic forthright style. 

South Africa’s policy of black 

economic empowerment (BEE) 

is an initiative to redress the 

wrongs of the past. Under the 

apartheid government African, 

Indian and coloured people were 

systematically excluded from 

meaningful participation in the 

country’s economy. The strategy 

is broad-based and has been 

The fight against Apartheid in South Africa brought activists from 

different communities together. 

legislated in the Broad Based 

Black Economic Empowerment 

Act of 2003. BEE aims to broaden 

the economic base of the country, 

and to stimulate further economic 

growth and create employment. 

The focus is on empowering 

historically disadvantaged people, 

and particularly black people, 

women, youth, the disabled, and rural communities. 

It remains vital to discuss and debate issues centred on race in order 

to understand South Africa’s past and build a strong foundation for our 

future. Even those born after 1994 feel the effects of a legacy which 

placed great emphasis on discriminating against people based on a 

perception of their race. Nita points out that childhood influences may 

affect attitudes, and that adults can shape their offspring in accordance 

with their past experiences and values informed by a racial mindset. 

Sershan highlights the differences in perceptions of race in a post-1994 

environment. “I grew up as a Black South African of Indian origin. I am a 

Black South African first. Officially, Black equals African, Coloured and 

Indian. Black now also includes Chinese. The youth (I am 45) of today 

and many others in post-apartheid South Africa see Black as meaning 

only Black African. You will even hear public officials use the term Black 

incorrectly. I try to correct this whenever I can. Indian is not a colour. In SA 

we have Black and White and I certainly am not white”. 

Professor Kovin observes a paradox in attitudes to race among 

the South African youth. “The younger generation seems more open 

about race. However I must point out that when I look at students at 

my university the amount of interaction between students of different 

races is dismal. I feel apartheid opposition 

gave us much more commonness than the 

current students have. We fought alongside 

each other and built a common bond and 

friendship that has lasted the test of time. I 

am still surprised how little racial diversity 

exists at weddings and parties that I attend in 

South Africa”. 

Ashwin feels there is a generation gap in 

perceptions of race; “the children of today 

do not understand what we were subjected 

to in the past.” That said, Ashwin describes 

the future of race and race relations in 

South Africa as good and promising. 

“Barriers have broken down but existing 

conglomerates and their structures are 

taking longer to break down.” 

Changing the mindset of a nation takes 

time and commitment. It requires a great 

deal of reflection on the part of every South African, as all citizens 

were impacted in some way. Avishkar believes, “From a socio-cultural 

perspective, race has all but disappeared from schools and colleges - 

young people are no longer drawn into social groups on the basis of 

the colour of their skin, the texture of their hair or the nasal index - and 

so from the perspective of understanding culture - yes, sure, race has 

something to teach us, but not when it is about ‘us’ and ‘them’”. 

“I do believe that it would take at least another generation to treat 

people respectfully and unconditionally,” says Nita. “I cannot change 

how others think or behave. I live 

my life by Gandhi’s immortal 

words: “You must be the change 

you wish to see in the world”. The 

best I can do is to strive to ensure 

that my children are being raised 

‘colour-blind’ and respectful of 

all people – based on what they 

do, not on the colour of their 

skin”. 

In terms of future prospects, 

Arushen believes “it will get 

better with time and I’m sure soon 

we all will live in harmony with 

each other; as soon as we start 

respecting each other regardless 

of race, colour or religion”. 

When it comes to whether or 

not discussions on race remain 

meaningful, Ashwin responds “Yes 

and no – whites do not like to talk 

about it as it affects them directly 

and they would prefer to behave 

as if there was no such thing as 

Apartheid!” Sershan says “I count 

myself as part of a handful of Black 

South Africans that have benefited 

in the post-apartheid SA. Very 

little has changed for the majority 

of our people. We have to address 

this before we can even think about 

not bringing up the race issue. For 

younger people, it is important 

to know and acknowledge 

where we all have come from 

while appreciating the current 

advancements and achievements.” 

Professor Kovin is more 

outspoken and inclined to being 

proactive if significant change is 

to happen: “If we don’t address it 

head on and get the youth to interact 

in a qualitative manner we will 

continue to have racial tolerance 

rather than deracialisation. Private 

school interactions are not enough. 

We need working class kids to 

interact across racial lines. If not 

If our children are not exposed to positive race relations, fear rather than trust will 

be the ongoing outcome. Are we teaching them to trust people of other races? 

Photo credit: Balan Iyer 

we will always be stuck in our racial boxes. The Indian community in 

particular needs to take steps to deracialise socially. 

“Being excited about having a white person date your daughter but 

unhappy when a person of African origin does is nothing but racism. 

This is the reality of discussions that often do their rounds in the Indian 

community and does not bode well for relationships. We need to move 

this discourse to the grassroots. Not just in privileged circles and 

universities. The discourse must also be less and the interaction and 

joint activity more,” he states bluntly. 

Avishkar is optimistic, “We have as a society put the demon of 

Apartheid to rest - and have sought to define Afrikaners as African, to 

define all languages as equal, to define all South Africans as African 

and we have sought to ensure that socio-economic participation is 

afforded to people who were oppressed by the former racist regimes. 

When looking to the future, Sershan notes “We have to revive and 

maintain our unity as a people first. We are South Africans first and then 

judged by our colour and then by our ancestral background. As a nation, 

we have to address the imbalances of the past and we can achieve this 

only by properly-conducted Black Economic Empowerment (BEE)”. 

The challenges are there, but as a nation South Africans have to see 

the opportunities. All South Africans need to embrace diversity. Our 

differences are something to be celebrated. It is my hope that we will 

move into a time when the racial categories of the past are discarded. 

Then we may call ourselves a deracialised society, one that treats each 

person as an individual with their own culture and opinions. 

Jacqueline van Staden is a South African journalist. Her interests 

include questions of representation, and she enjoys being a part of 

the dynamic South African discourse. She read for her Bachelor of 

Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University. 

76 



HERITAGE 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

ROMANCE OF THE EAST: 

MIRZA GHALIB AND 

THE GENIUS OF URDU 

The enduring legacy of the Mughals in the Indian subcontinent 

is the gift of the Urdu language. Urdu is truly a 

romance language of the East. And during the time of the 

Mughals, Urdu poetry reached its zenith with the mystical pen 

of Mirza Assadullah Khan Ghalib. 

by: Roy Joseph 

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter; 

therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; not to the sensual ear 

but…to the spirit ditties of no tones. Hapless John Keats 

should not be faulted for cherishing the lyricism of the 

ineffable over the poetry of the senses. But that young 

reprobate should have been chastised for not letting his imagination 

drift eastward. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the poetry of Rumi, 

the whirling dervishes and the Sufi-inspired poetry of Persian-Mughal 

writers such as Mirza Ghalib occupy an imaginative space between the 

eloquence of spoken word and the ravishing silence of the sublime. 

Perhaps, Keats might have thought otherwise had he listened to the 

Ghalib is remembered for penning exquisite 

verse in the classical ghazal form lending 

both meter and music to his verse. 

hauntingly beautiful cadence of the classical ghazal. 

The heyday of the Mughal dynasty that preceded the British Raj 

is generally looked upon as a dark saga in Indian history by Indians 

who look at culture purely 

through the monochromatic 

lens of nationalism. If we are 

honest with ourselves, we must 

acknowledge that the tragicomic 

script of human history 

is for the most part a gory tale 

of blood-letting in which one 

form of tyranny is replaced by 

another. Yet, there is plenty of 

comic relief to be found in acts 

of compassion and also in the 

creative artifacts of culture. 

Despite the ambivalence or 

hatred modern nationalists might 

have towards the Mughals, 

Indian culture has at least been 

partially enriched by it. An 

analogy is in order. 

Picture a pious Protestant 

raging against the genius of 

the brush that painted the vault 

of the Sistine Chapel largely 

because indulgences were used to 

beautify the ornate Basilica. The 

man who miffs at Michelangelo 

for this reason is falling prey to 

the unfortunate tendencies of 

philistinism. Politics aside, great 

art is great art. 

The enduring legacy of the 

Mughals in the Indian subcontinent 

is the gift of the Urdu 

language. Urdu is truly a romance 

language of the East. Urdu 

poetry reached its zenith with the 

mystical pen of Mirza Assadullah 

Khan Ghalib, even though the 

author was well-versed in Persian 

as well. 

Just as the Mughal dynasty 

was being eclipsed into oblivion 

by the superior, technological 

prowess of the English, a poetic 

jewel was born almost as a 

testament to the abiding power 

of reflection against the mindless 

onslaught of both materialism 

and machinery. If the pen is 

indeed mightier than the sword, 

the ethereal glow from the poetic 

canons of Mirza Ghalib is far 

more effulgent than the firepower 

of destructive cannons. 

Ghalib is remembered for 

penning exquisite verse in the 

classical ghazal form lending 

both meter and music to his 

verse. His verse sublimates 

the pain and suffering of his 

turbulent period by turning 

heart-rending lamentations 

into achingly beautiful verse. 

Such a sentiment could easily 

turn into trivial nostalgia at the 

hands of inferior poets. The 

idealization of love in Ghalib’s 

verse is not unlike Dante’s idealization of love through the poetic 

persona of Beatrice in the latter’s Divine Comedy. Idealization, in 

this case, should not be mistaken for a meaningless abstraction but 

as a deliberate strategy to render the chasm between true love and its 

imperfect manifestation in human form painfully obvious. 

The enduring legacy of the Mughals in the Indian 

sub-continent is the gift of the Urdu language. 

Urdu is truly a romance language of the East. 

One could contend that the influence of Sufi mysticism in Ghalib’s 

lyricism emboldened him to simultaneously make bold statements 

of faith and embrace the mysteries of life as well. Paradoxically, the 

sensuality in his verse points to a realm beyond the senses. While 

the theological content of Christianity is widely divergent from Sufi 

Mysticism, the sacrament of the Eucharist is the closest analog in that 

it is both corporeal and a foreshadowing of the eternal. Similarly, 

Ghalib rejects the monastic impulse and embraces the beauty of both 

the sensual and the eternal. 

Consider one of his oft-quoted lines: 

Let the ascetics sing of the garden of Paradise— 

We who dwell in true ecstasy can forget 

their vase-tamed bouquet 

In our hall of mirrors, the map of the one Face 

Appears 

As the sun’s splendor would spangle a world 

made of dew 

When it comes to poetry in particular, critics warn us that we should 

be wary of overly-confident interpretations. Yet, one could gather at 

least the following – Ghalib celebrates echoes of the eternal in the 

‘here-and-now.’ Thus the ‘other-worldly’ monasticism that might 

usually lead the religious to reject this world gives way to a lifeaffirming 

principle that sees the goodness in creation as a reflection of 

the Eternal. 

If the city of Agra boasts of an architectural monument of astonishing 

beauty, it should also boast of a poetic monument of similar symmetry. 

It indeed gave birth to Mirza Ghalib. 

Roy Joseph was born in Pondicherry and now resides in Chicago. 

He is currently working on a literary play. 

78 



IDHAR UDHAR 

Fasting & Feasting 

The UAE is home to 1.2 million Indians. Fasting 

and feasting took on a special meaning during 

the holy month of Ramadan as Muslims as 

well as non-Muslims got together in a renewed 

bond of friendship and goodwill. There were 

Iftar and Suhoor parties galore. The Indian 

community in the UAE celebrated in style with 

a special Suhoor dinner at the India Club. An 

a la carte dinner with sumptuous food was laid 

out for the benefit of more than 350 members 

of the community. 

The Indian Consul General, Venu Rajamony 

graced the occasion. Sunil Singh, Chairman, 

India Club welcomed the Chief Guest and the members of the India Club and their 

guests. He also extended Ramadan greetings to all present for the Suhoor dinner. 

The special attractions included an Arabic tent with a lady henna designer where the female 

invitees adorned their hands with beautiful henna designs. An Arabic juice server served mint 

lime juice. The traditional Arabic Oudh musician played Arabic music adding melodious 

tunes to the celebratory mood of the evening. 

Lighting of the inaugural lamp at Navratri celebrations at India Club 

by: Debasree S. 

Navratri Dhamaka 

The UAE, is a melting pot of different religions and cultures, 

and after Ramadan, it was the turn of Indians to celebrate 

their most popular festival Navratri. Nav means Nine and 

Ratri means Night, the Navratri festival lasts for nine nights 

culminating in Dusshera that signals that triumph of good 

over evil. 

During this time, Indian expatriates made a beeline for Meena 

Bazaar (Bur Dubai’s very own Indian bazaar) to stock on ghagra 

cholis, bandhani dupattas and the rest of the traditional fare. The Al 

Aweer grounds came alive to the beat of colourful ‘Garba’ dances. 

The programme organized by 

the Indian Association Dubai 

got together more than 2,000 

expatriates whose gaiety and 

enthusiasm remained a highlight 

of this year’s celebrations. 

Onam 

For Keralites, Onam is the 

celebration of the return of 

Mahabali, their beloved king. To 

welcome king Mahabali to their home people 

decorate their front porch with a “Pookalam” 

or a floral carpet. This is similar to a rangoli 

except that this is made up of creatively 

arranged flower petals. Small mounds 

of earth are also placed in the courtyard 

representing Mahabali and Vishnu. A fair bit 

of rituals are performed and this is followed 

by a sumptuous feast called ‘Saddya’,which 

is served on a plantain leaf and accompanied 

with ‘Payasam’ the main sweet dish. 

In the UAE, there were a spate of 

celebrations marking Onam. Perhaps the 

most striking among them all was the 

one organized by the All Kerala Colleges 

Alumni Forum held at the Al Quoz 

Dulsco Auditorium. 

This was an Onam celebration that got 

together both under privileged labourers and the Indian Consul General, 

Venu Rajamony, all on the same platform. The Indian Consul General 

lighted the inaugural lamp and the function was attended by the Indian 

Committee Welfare Committee Chief K.Kumar, IITF Secretary K.M. 

Abbas, R.D. Group GM G. Vinod and families of AKCAF members. 

Musical and dance programmes regaled the audience, many of 

whom had taken a break from their daily hard regimen. Playback singer 

M. Jayachandran led the musical programme and he was supported by 

his troupe consisting of Sudip Kumar, Radhika and Anupama. Cultural 

programmes were presented by Faisal, Shafique and other artistes. 

Garba dance in full swing during the Navrati festival in Dubai 

Onam celebrations gets underway at Dubai’s Dulsco Auditorium 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

New Block for 

Sharjah Indian School 

The 30-year-old Sharjah 

Indian School owned and 

managed by the Indian 

Association Sharjah got a new 

facelift with the Indian Consul 

General, Venu Rajamony laying 

the foundation stone for a new 

block. Among those who were 

present on the occasion were 

IAS President V. Damodaran, 

IAS General Secretary, 

Abdullah Mallachery, Managing 

Committee Member Mohammed 

Theyyab, Acting General 

Secretary Chandraparakash 

Edamma and the Acting Vice 

Principal of the School, Mini 

Menon. The school is a nonprofit 

institution with a low 

fee structure meant to benefit 

the less affluent sections of the 

Indian community. 

Debasree S. is a freelance writer 

based in Dubai 

80 



THE GANDHI’S 

Stop, Vote & Go 

CARTOON 

82 

Here in 2009, I see the television savvy Priyanka standing beside her 

brother Rahul after the Congress victory in this year’s General elections. 

Cut to 1996 and my brush with the scarcely public Gandhi family. 

by: Gaurav S. Karrir 

I 

remember the day very clearly. I was waiting at the Nirman 

Bhavan polling station in New Delhi’s posh government office 

area in April 1996. It was eight thirty in the morning. Veteran 

super star Rajesh Khanna was talking to a seventy-year-old 

woman from a nearby slum who had come to vote in the general 

elections of India. I was stationed there on behalf of a television news 

channel to report on the VIPs coming to vote that day. 

Word leaked out that a very important personality was coming 

to the polling station. While others in the voting line were looking 

at Rajesh Khanna star 

struck, the star himself 

was waiting for his 

mentor in the Congress 

party, Sonia Gandhi, to 

arrive with her family 

to vote for him. Khanna 

had been blessed with a 

ticket for the Lok Sabha 

seat for the New Delhi 

constituency and he was 

grateful to the Gandhi 

family for supporting 

him. In the last general 

elections in 1991 

Khanna had given a close fight to the country’s leading opposition 

party leader. 

Suddenly we heard a screeching of tyres and a rush of boots 

as security personnel jumped out of three Ambassador cars. The 

occupants were all seated in the back. They were Sonia Gandhi and 

her children Rahul and Priyanka. Rajesh Khanna greeted them and in a 

most unlikely manner the VIPs stood at the end of a long queue to vote. 

But the security personnel requested them to break off and ushered 

them inside the polling station citing security threat. Now if that was 

a smart PR move or a genuine impulse one will never know but it was 

heartening to see the gesture. 

Inside the polling booth I had stationed my cameraman on top of a 


perch to get the best angle. It was 

all a rush rush affair as polling 

officers tallied their names on 

the voters’ list and thrust ballot 

papers in their hands. Within a 

few minutes the Gandhi’s had cast 

their votes. I was determined to 

have a word with the Gandhi’s on 

the voting experience. With Sonia 

and Rahul in front I missed 

my chance but seeing 

Priyanka lagging behind 

I shot off my questions 

to her, “Are you voting 

for the first time?” ‘‘No,’’ 

she replied, ‘‘This is the 

second time, I have voted 

before.” Then I asked her 

whom did she vote for? 

She had just time to show 

me her full hand thereby 

signaling she had voted 

for Congress whose 

election symbol is a full 

hand. After replying to my short 

volley of questions, Priyanka and 

family disappeared in the back of 

the waiting ambassadors and the 

cars screeched away. 

For someone who had stepped 

into the spotlight long before her 

brother came on the scene, one can 

just wait and watch for things to 

happen from the younger sibling. 

Gaurac S. Karir is a freelance 

writer based in Dubai 


SOLDIERS 

What makes 

nations great? 

Historically, India does not have a culture of valuing its military. That is the reason that 

every invader succeeded in defeating and enslaving the sub-continent. If India survives 

today despite inept political leadership and the self-serving bureaucracy, it is only due to 

the unquestioned loyalty of the military and enormous sacrifices made by the soldiers. 

TII introduces ‘Soldiers’ a new column by Major General Mrinal Suman 

by: Major General Mrinal Suman 

As India celebrates 62 years of Independence, one 

wonders as to what makes nations great. Why is the US 

an undisputed world power? Why has Britain remained 

undefeated for centuries? 

Why has India succumbed to foreign rule so often? 

Why is India still struggling with internal dissensions and fissiparous 

forces? What does India lack? 

A chance meeting with a British army veteran in a train from 

Edinburgh to London proved 

[ 

highly revealing. According 

to him the secret of British 

success lies in the public 

support and respect extended 

to the soldiers. 

“Soldiers’ loyalty to the 

nation and readiness for 

the supreme sacrifice are 

driven less by material considerations and more by an overwhelming 

urge to earn love and respect of their countrymen. A grateful nation’s 

recognition of their contribution to national security acts as the 

strongest motivator,” he declared. 

“Britain never forgets its war heroes. Every major landmark in 

London is named after distinguished soldiers and not politicians,” he 

declared with visible pride. 

To prove his point further, he recalled, “Before World War II, it was 

not uncommon to see placards hanging outside some restaurants in 

Paris which read ‘Dogs, lackeys and soldiers not allowed’. 

On the other hand, even pregnant women used to get up and offer 

seats to soldiers in London buses. When the war broke out, France 

capitulated in no time while Britain remained undefeated.” 

In an article written two 

days before the swearing-in of 

Barack Obama, his wife Michelle 

devoted 515 out of 863 words to 

the soldiers and their families. 

“So as I watch Barack 

take that oath, I’ll be thinking 

especially about those members 

“Britain never forgets its war heroes. Every 

major landmark in London is named after 

distinguished soldiers and not politicians,” 

he declared with visible pride. 

of our American family who 

stand guard across the world 

and the loved ones who await 

their safe return.…. My husband 

and I are deeply grateful for the 

sacrifices that these families make 

to protect all American families. 

And we join them - today and 

every day - in praying for their 

loved ones and their safety. They 

don’t ask a lot in return, just a 

Washington that understands the 

challenges they face as part of 

their extraordinary commitment 

to our country…My husband 

understands that commitment, 

and he will ensure America lives 

up to its end,” she wrote. 

“On Tuesday night, my 

husband and I will tuck in our 

daughters like we always do. 

Their bedrooms will be different, 

their home unfamiliar. But they 

will drift off to sleep protected 

by that same sacrifice that has 

kept all of our families safe and 

safeguarded our freedom for 

generations - the sacrifice of our 

men and women in uniform and 

their families….For that, we 

could not be more grateful - or 

more proud,” she added. 

Now let us compare the 

above with the state of affairs 

in India. Can anyone recall a 

similar expression of sentiments 

by a national figure? 

Except for perfunctory 

platitudes on Independence Day, 

the Government has singularly 

failed to show compassion for the 

soldiers or tried to redress their 

genuine grievances. 

Apathetic political leadership 

and bureaucracy have made 

no attempt to understand the 

intensity of the sense of hurt of the 

soldiers at their continued neglect 

and deliberate degradation. 

Despite 

repeated 

representations, India still does 

not have a war memorial in the 

capital to honour independent 

India’s martyrs. India wants to 

ape the West in all sundry aspects 

but not in matters that affect the 

well-being and morale of the 

armed forces. 

The Tomb of the Unknowns 

at Arlington in Washington, the 

Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

Cenotaph in London are admired by all Indian visitors. 

Yet, the absence of a suitable war memorial in New Delhi does not 

appear odd to them. Surprisingly, it does not even hurt the conscience 

of the nation. 

There is no other country that can be so apathetic to the memory of 

thousands of soldiers who have laid down their lives for its security. 

The Urban Development Ministry is more concerned with the 

vestiges of the British rule and opposes a war memorial near India 

Gate in the name of preserving heritage. 

India Gate was built in the memory of soldiers who died in World War 

I during the British rule. India has fought five wars since Independence 

and over 40,000 soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice. 

Opposition to a war memorial on frivolous grounds is an affront 

to the memory of martyrs and displays shameless insensitivity to the 

feelings of those who have lost their family members. 

But then, no political leader or bureaucrat can be faulted for their 

inability to appreciate these issues as they never send their progeny to 

But then, no political leader or bureaucrat can be 

faulted for their inability to appreciate these issues as 

they never send their progeny to the military. Look 

at the treatment meted out to India’s tallest military 

leader Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the architect 

of India’s greatest victory ever. 

the military. 

Look at the treatment meted out to India’s tallest military leader 

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the architect of India’s greatest 

victory ever. 

It took the government decades to determine and release his 

dues. India has not found him worthy of its highest national honour 

‘Bharat Ratna’.No political leader thought it necessary to attend his 

funeral. In Britain and the US, heads of the State with full national 

leadership would have made it a point to be present to pay a nation’s 

grateful respects. 

Nelson’s Column at Trafalgar Square occupies the pride of place 

in London. London boasts of numerous statues of military heroes. No 

statues of political leaders are seen in the developed countries. 

India, on the contrary, has not found it necessary to honour Field 

Marshal Manekshaw’s memory whereas statues of political leaders 

(even of suspect credentials) dot New Delhi. 

It will not be out of place here to recall the speech of President 

Obama at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention at the Phoenix 

Convention Center on 17 August 2009. 

He said, “You have fulfilled your responsibilities. And now a 

grateful nation must fulfill ours. Whether you’ve left the service in 

2009 or 1949, we will fulfill our responsibility to deliver the benefits 

[ 

84 



SOLDIERS 

and care that you earned.” He 

termed America’s commitment 

to its veterans as sacred bonds 

and a sacred trust Americans are 

honour bound to uphold. 

“You have done your duty - 

to your fallen comrades, to your 

communities, to your country. 

You have always fulfilled your 

responsibilities to America. And 

so long as I am President of the 

United States, America will 

always fulfill its responsibilities 

to you”, he declared. 

Contrast the above pledge 

and assurance with the treatment 

meted out to the ex-servicemen 

in India. It is apathetic to say the 

least. In the recent past, India was 

witness to the most unfortunate 

sight of numerous military 

veterans returning their medals 

[Examples of Pakistan and Bangladesh are quoted to 

implant fear of a military take over in the minds of a 

gullible and ignorant political leadership. A systematic 

and well planned strategy has been orchestrated to 

downgrade the military’s standing. The Sixth Central 

Pay Commission was the latest master stroke. 

to the President to register their 

protest against the government’s 

indifference to their pleas. 

Medals earned during 

active service are the proudest 

possession of soldiers and their 

being driven to surrender them 

should have made the government 

sit up and take note. 

But true to its wont, it 

remained totally unconcerned 

and unmoved. Not a single 

government leader or official has 

considered it necessary to talk to 

the protesting veterans to resolve 

the issues. 

This episode will certainly go 

down as a dark chapter in the history of independent India. 

India won the Kargil War of 1999 at a huge cost – 527 officers and 

soldiers sacrificed their lives while over 1,000 sustained battle injuries, 

many getting maimed for life. 

Yet a senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi had the impudence to state 

that the commemoration was not warranted as the war took place due 

to an intelligence failure of the BJP Government. 

Every Indian soldier, both serving and retired, was aghast at the 

brazenness of the logic. 

A notion has been deliberately perpetuated that the military must be kept 

under control through the bureaucracy lest it acquires political ambitions. 

Examples of Pakistan and Bangladesh are quoted to implant 

fear of a military take over in the minds of a gullible and ignorant 

political leadership. A systematic and well planned strategy has been 

orchestrated to downgrade the military’s standing. The Sixth Central 

Pay Commission was the latest master stroke. 

Although the public at large still holds the military in high esteem, 

a deliberate media campaign is being orchestrated by some elements 

with vested interests to show the military in a poor light. 

Instead of appreciating the military for initiating prompt 

disciplinary action against defaulters – handful acts of misdemeanor 

and indiscretion in a 1.3 million strong organisation – such cases are 

sensationalised to paint a negative 

picture of the services. 

Historically, India does not have 

a culture of valuing its military. 

That is the reason that every 

invader succeeded in defeating and 

enslaving the sub-continent. 

If India survives today despite 

inept political leadership and the 

self-serving bureaucracy, it is only 

due to the unquestioned loyalty of the military and enormous sacrifices 

made by the soldiers. 

Denigration of the military always proves fatal in the long run. Any 

country that discredits the status of its soldiers loses the moral right to 

expect them to die for its security. 

Great nations are distinguished by the esteem in which they hold 

their military. No nation that stubbornly declines to honour the martyrs, 

respect the soldiers and care for the veterans can ever aspire to be 

counted amongst the great nations, slogans like ‘Mera Bharat Mahan’ 

not withstanding. 

Major General Mrinal Suman, AVSM, VSM, PhD Head, Evoss Group 

Project Director, Defence Technical Assessment and Advisory 

Services Group (Confederation of Indian Industry) 

Director, Defence Acquisition Management Training 

(Confederation of Indian Industry) 

Editorial Consultant, Indian Defence Review 

MY CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER 

by: Peter Souri Raj 

I 

can still remember it as if 

it were yesterday. Madras 

Airport VIP lounge. H. E. 

Mahatir Mohamed, the then 

hon’ble Prime Minister of 

Malaysia was stopping over for 

some Masala Dosas. The great 

MGR, Chief Minister of Tamil 

Nadu at the time, was therefore 

his host. I was working at 

Welcomgroup Chola Sheraton 

and since CM saar used to 

entrust us with all his big do’s, 

my team & I were waiting, 

lavish buffet et al, ready and 

every last detail checked and 

rechecked. Munuswamy, 

Chola’s specialist Masala D 

maker was getting ready to strut 

his stuff - after all, it’s not every 

day that a PM stops off for your 

dosas! Also in attendance were 

a gaggle of CID types, cops, 

airport workers, etc. Like good 

Maddus they were not going 

to miss out on the action. And 

hopefully latch on to the odd dosa 

or two. 

The flight landed, hon’ble PM 

was escorted into VIP L, plates 

handed out, and loaded up. Soon 

there was PM with filled plate. 

Waiting. There was CM with filled 

plate. Waiting. There were assorted 

consulate, government bigwigs 

and flunkies with plates filled. 

Waiting. There was I, nothing in 

hand, waiting. Someone hissed 

th 

16 

Masala Dosas 

for Mahatir 

When H. E. Mahatir Mohamed, then hon’ble Prime Minister 

ANNI V ERSARY 

of Malaysia stopped in Chennai for Masala Dosas with MGR. 

“Masala Dosas” and suddenly it dawned on me that the Masala D’s hadn’t 

made an appearance. And since Masala D’s were what the hon’ble PM had 

specifically asked for, he wasn’t going to lift a prong till he got one. 

I tried to suggest that the dosas were being freshly prepared and that 

they would be out any minute but old MM would have none of it. CM 

saar gently suggested I go and speed them up and I took off like a flash. 

I charged out to the back to see what the hold up was and almost had a 

heart attack. There was Munuswamy, 

sweating from every pore, unable to 

coax a halfway decent dosa - they 

were all sticking fast to the pan. The 

interested crowd of onlookers - good 

Maddus to whom Masala D’s were 

like mother’s milk - all had opinions 

on what Munuswamy was doing 

wrong. “Use an onion” one shouted; 

“Don’t”, shouted another, the dosa 

kall is too hot. “It’s the batter that’s 

too thin,” said yet another. And on 

and on it went. Munuswamy, who 

had long since stopped preening, 

was now a nervous wreck and 

couldn’t have turned out a decent 

dosa even if his life depended on it. 

I charged back into the VIP 

Lounge. Made some feeble excuses, tried to coax them to eat, but no 

luck. Charged back out, charged back in. Still no dosas. And just when I 

had given up all hope, and was thinking up some even feebler excuses, 

they were suddenly there, (the dosas, stupid, not the excuses). That 

whole circus must have lasted about 15 minutes but it seemed like 

forever. But before you could say “Masala Dosa”, the hon’ble PM and 

CM were tucking in with gusto. In case you are wondering how and 

what or who saved the day - Bhoja, our super cool banquet captain had 

just toodled over to the adjacent airport canteen, picked up half a dozen 

dosas and saved everyone’s whatever. Masala Dosas anyone? 

Peter Souri Raj has frequently hobnobbed with celebrities during 

his long stint in the hotel industry. TII will feature some of his 

memorable encounters in this new series. 

86 



BUYING IT 

Honda Develops Revolutionary New Personal Mobility Device to 

Work in Harmony with People 

World’s first driving system capable of 360 degree movement 

Samsung Electronics Captures Most Market Share for 

A4 Monochrome Laser Multifunction Printers (MFPs) 

Maintains growth and dominance in MFP Middle East market despite recession 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

Pursuing the concept of “harmony with people” Honda 

has developed a new personal mobility technology 

and unveiled U3-X, a compact experimental device 

to provide free movement in all directions just like human 

walking – forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally. 

Honda will continue research and development of the 

device including experiments in the real-world environment 

to verify the practicality of the device. 

This new personal mobility device makes it possible 

to adjust speed, move, turn and stop in all directions when 

the rider leans their upper body to shift their body weight. This was 

achieved through application 

of advanced technologies 

including Honda’s balance 

control technology, which was 

developed through ASIMO 

(Honda’s bipedal humanoid 

robot) robotics research, and the 

world’s first* omni-directional 

driving wheel system (Honda 

Omni Traction Drive System, or 

HOT Drive System) 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading name in consumer 

electronics and information technology, 

continued to make strides in the global 

market for multifunction printers (MFPs) in the 

second quarter despite strong global economic 

headwinds. 

According to market research firm, IDC, 

Samsung Electronics captured 23.4% of the 

market for A4-sized machines in the second 

quarter of 2009, regaining the top position for the 

first time since the first quarter of 2006. 

In the Middle East and Africa, Samsung Electronics raised its market 

share for A4 monochrome laser 

MFPs from 25.7% in the first 

quarter to 37.3% in the second 

quarter of 2009. It has maintained 

its status as the top manufacturer in 

the segment for four years in a row 

from 2005 through 2008. 

Samsung had its best showing 

in Europe, where it took 35.1% of 

the market for A4 color laser MFPs 

and 26.9% for A4 monochrome 

laser MFPs in the second quarter. 

Jacky’s Middle East expands portfolio with 

new generation of “The Expert” electronic 

dictionaries best for businessmen and 

students DE 10000 electronic dictionary 

available for the first time in the UAE 

Jacky’s Middle East LLC, 

the distribution arm of the 

Jacky’s Group of Companies, 

has launched ‘the Expert’ DE 

10000 dictionary, manufactured 

by Innovations for Import and 

Commercial Agencies Ltd, for 

the first time in the UAE. 

Adding to Jacky’s Middle 

East’s wide product portfolio, 

Epson launches new range of user-friendly 

desktop mobile projectors in Middle East 

Epson’s EB-8 Series features enhanced connectivity, easeof-use, 

speed, brightness and resolution 

Epson, the global leader in the projector market, has announced 

the Middle East launch of the Epson EB-8 Series, which consists 

of four fast and easy-to-use desktop mobile projectors developed 

with simplicity in mind. The new Epson EB-8 Series, which succeeds 

the hugely successful EMP-83H and EMP-822H projectors, delivers 

pioneering technological innovations such as the introduction of wireless 

options in addition to enhanced connectivity, brightness and resolution. 

The EB-84, EB-85, EB-826W, and the high-end EB-825 feature 

expanded connectivity options, allowing a greater number and 

variety of devices to be connected to the EB-8 Series, including 

DE 10000 is the first electronic 

dictionary in the world with 11 

built-in languages including 

Arabic, English, Japanese, Chinese, 

Russian, Italian, Thai, Spanish, 

Malay, Korean, German and French. DE 10000 

features real human voices and has unexampled 

specifications with a colour screen, displayed on 

TV screen. 

“Jacky’s Middle East has been known in the 

market for distributing well-known brands and 

unique products that meet the requirements in the 

region. We currently market seven different models 

of ‘the Expert’ dictionary from entry models up to executives models 

such as the DE 10000. 

USB B, microphone inputs, two 

computer RGB inputs, wireless 

options and usability with 

Epson’s new document camera. 

Wireless connectivity has also 

been enhanced with the ‘Quick 

Wireless Connection’ feature, 

which enables users to gain a 

connection in seconds. 

PANASONIC UNVEILS NEW LOW COST 

PROFESSIONAL HANDHELD AVCCAM 

10. 6G Mega Pixel Camcorder is now even more Compact 

and Lighter than ever 

Panasonic, the global leader in consumer electronics products, 

has expanded its professional AVCCAM line with the 

introduction of a more compact, lighter handheld camcorder – 

the AG-HMC41E. 

The new camcorder weighs less than 

2.2 pounds and comes complete with an 

impressive range of professional features 

including full HD 3MOS imagers, highresolution 

10.6-mega pixel still photo 

capture, 12X optical zoom and high- 

Technogym VARIO: a revolution in the gym 

The new trend in fitness club: 

A revolutionary equipment to loose weight at your pace. 

The cardio revolution is landing in best gyms all over the 

world! Vario, the ultimate Technogym concept allowing you 

to loose weight by choosing your favourite movement. Forget 

exhausting running sessions and endless bike rides, VARIO is the first 

cardiovascular equipment following your stride and automatically 

adapting to the desired movement: from the classic vertical step to a 

simple walk as well as a long stride. 

Vario is a real revolution, because for the first time the user won’t 

be forced to follow the machine, but the machine will follow the user’s 

movement. VARIO will be available in the best clubs across Europe 

starting from June, and starting from September it will be available all 

over the world. 

quality, solid-state AVCHD 

recording on widely-available SD 

cards. To allow users of tape media 

to smoothly transition to AVCHD 

system, the AG-HMC45U will 

be bundled with ‘EDIUS NEO 2’ 

video editing software. 

According to Mr. Yuichiro 

Suzuki, Product Manager, 

Panasonic Marketing Middle East, 

the new AG-HMC41E will deliver 

improved video performance and 

greater efficiency: “The HMC41E 

is an AVCHD format based 

camcorder that uses MPEG-4 

AVC/H.264 high profile encoding. 

A real revolution since the 

machine dynamically adapts 

to the user. Legs movement 

automatically adjusts the 

equipment trajectory offering each 

user the most suitable stride: in 

this way VARIO reduces fatigue 

and at the same time guarantees 

the maximum caloric expenditure. 

88 



TII FASHION 

th 

16 

LINENS 

Durable, comfortable and eco-friendly 

Linen fabric has a long and illustrious past. In the present day, 

linens score high on their durability and comfort quotients. 

Environmentally friendly, linen remains steadfast in the Essentials 

due to its long shelf life, extended with each wash. 

ANNI V ERSARY 

BUSINESS CASUAL 

Stylish dressing with stress-free maintenance 

Daily business dressing is simplified through the right 

mix of Chinos, Khakis and wrinkle-free shirts. Khakis 

are one of the key Essentials for men and women. 

CREW NECK T-SHIRTS 

100 % cotton. As one of the Essentials, the Crew Neck T-Shirt 

serves remarkably well throughout the year and is a regular 

fixture during times of layering-up or layering-down. It is an 

extraordinarily versatile piece that can be topped up with blazers, 

jackets and sweaters or just stand alone for a classic casual look. 

es•sen•tials /I’sen∫lz/ noun [usually pl.] the triumph of form and function. 

Men and women stand united as they both tackle the daily dilemma of: What to Wear. After all, the fuller 

a wardrobe seems, the less there appears to wear. The complexities of dressing are greatly simplified by 

ensuring the wardrobe has its Essentials firmly in place. In times of dressing up, they play a pivotal role 

in anchoring fleeting fashion trends, through their ability to mix and match and remain timeless. Run your 

wardrobe through the Essentials Checklist and make sure it has everything you need. 

DENIMS 

Denim jeans are every wardrobe’s wonder garment. 

Arguably the planet’s most favored item of clothing 

The flexibility of denim can be adapted to suit any 

climatic condition, dressed up or down depending on 

the occasion. 

POLOS 

Total comfort from superior cotton; available in a wide range 

of colors The polo remains a firm favorite on the golf courses, 

vacations, family outings and has garnered approval on casual days 

at work. It is the first of many Essentials that help create different 

looks, easily fluctuating between classic or conservative and 

modern or sophisticated. 

MY TEES 

All season favorite made from pure cotton 

As temperatures drop, so do the sleeves. The My 

Tee is a long sleeved t-shirt that can be worn alone 

or function as a base for further layering up. The 

My Tee is made from pure cotton with a dash of 

stretch and is available for both men and women. 

ESSENTIALS PACKS 

The Six Pack - Socks & Briefs 

• The Three Pack - Under Tees 

Good quality and well-fitting undergarments are imperative 

for good dressing. Ill-fitting undergarments can cause 

discomfort and unease, creating unnecessary unpl. Soft cotton 

undergarments assure comfort by allowing the skin to breathe 

easily, ensuring a fresh feel that lasts through the day. 

TANK TOP 

No wardrobe for women can begin or end without the super 

handy Tank Top. Using the finest natural fibres and lycra, the 

Giordano Essentials Tank Top from its elementary use as a solo 

piece of upper body clothing, can be spontaneously dressed up or 

accessorized to create styles that vary from conservative to chic. 

90 



BUZZ WORD 

The Kenya Tourist Board 

(KTB) and Air Arabia, the 

Middle East and North 

Africa’s first leading low-cost 

carrier (LCC), are set to increase 

their marketing and promotional 

activities with the Middle East 

travel trade and local community 

over the September 2009 Eid 

holiday period, the objectives of 

which will be to highlight Kenya’s 

spectacular nature, luxury and 

family-orientated experiences. 

The promotions are also 

timed to coincide with the Great 

Samsonite 

Samsonite Group, the 

worldwide leader in travel 

solutions, today announced 

the launch of Cosmolite range. 

The new innovative Cosmolite – 

the lightest and strongest luggage 

solutions from Samsonite – is 

set to revolutionize the luggage 

market across the Middle East. 

The new Cosmolite offers 

a mix of durability, incredible 

lightness and absolute strength 

without compromising on a 

modern design for the discerning 

travellers across the Middle 

East. The latest range of luggage 

is a major step in reinforcing 

Kenya Tourist Board and Air Arabia 

to boost promotions in GCC 

Offer Gulf residents great deals over Eid break 

Wildebeest Migration in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, 

which has been internationally declared the 7th New Wonder of the 

World and will be in full swing at the time of the promotions. 

Heading the joint promotions between the Kenya Tourist Board 

and Air Arabia’s these Eid holidays will be an exciting promotion at 

the popular Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, which will present Kenya 

as a premier tourist destination and will give GCC residents visiting 

Dubai during their Eid breaks the chance to discover the African 

destination further. 

At the same time, the Air Arabia team will be on hand to showcase 

the great value and affordable holiday packages it offers to Kenya. 

Additionally, Kenya experts will be on hand to answer all questions at 

the Kenya stand located in the prime area next to the Zara store at the 

Galleria in the centre of the mall from September 23-26, 2009. 

In the first half of 2009, Kenya experienced a 35 per cent increase 

in tourist numbers from the Gulf region compared to the same January- 

June period in 2008, with visitors growing from 4,718 to 6,396. 

Said the Honorable Najib Balala, Kenyan Minister of Tourism: 

“Kenya is gaining popularity among GCC residents for its luxury 

weekend escapes, nature retreats and picturesque golfing holidays. 

Samsonite launches Cosmolite – its 

strongest yet lightest luggage ever 

Innovative product offers the perfect mix of latest technology and 

modern design for discerning travellers in the Middle East 

Samsonite’s commitment to maintain its market leadership in the region. 

A product of Samsonite’s proprietary and revolutionary ‘Curv® 

technology (a registered trademark of Propex Fabrics GmBH) – 

comprising an innovative and high-performance body, the Cosmolite 

offers advanced impact resistance and lasting durability. The new 

technology is designed to guarantee unparalleled strength and lightness 

and caters at the same time to every traveler’s needs and requirements. 

With a sturdy anti-scratch surface, the new luggage encompasses 

wide grooves and external rounded shapes, presenting a harmonious 

and ergonomic appearance. Samsonite’s new Cosmolite thus extends 

an optimal mix of innovation, functionality & elegance. 

The range comprises spinners available in four different sizes. 

The four wheels of a spinner enables 360 degree movement for 

ease of handling while an additional bag can be hooked using the 

monotube handle. 

The Cosmolite interiors are lined with blue fabric and have a 

practical zip divider, with practical and secure TSA locks, and an 

extensive color range including silver, black and cherry-red. 

State Bank of India Launches Corporate 

Banking Services from DIFC 

India’s No. 1 bank will provide a full range of banking services from DIFC 

Global Fortune 500-listed State Bank of India 

(SBI), has started providing a complete 

range of banking services from its base in 

the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), 

India’s top bank announced. 

SBI has received a full banking licence from the 

regulator, the Dubai Financial Services Authority 

(DFSA), which enables its DIFC branch to accept 

deposits and provide credit, subject to the regulations 

of the DFSA. 

India’s number one bank has also obtained a 

Retail Endorsement to its licence, which enables it 

to arrange investments for retail customers and offer 

credit to small and medium enterprises (SME). 

SBI‘s DIFC Branch will provide trade finance and 

short-term working capital loans including Letters of 

Credit (LC) and Bank Guarantees, term loans, project 

th 

16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

finance and as well as syndication 

of credit requirements at highly 

competitive rates. The branch 

has a special desk to handle LC 

Abdulla Al Awar, 

related activity. 

AJ Vidyasagar & 

HE Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman 

The branch can arrange and 

advise on the investment products of the State Bank 

Group and other reputed fund houses. It can also 

accept deposits from non-UAE-based Professional 

Clients/Corporates in US dollars, Euros and GBP. 

HE Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the 

DIFC and Vice-Chairman of the UAE Central Bank 

said: “The expansion of the SBI’s services out of 

DIFC is a clear testimony to the vast opportunities 

that the region’s financial services industry offers 

banking firms. SBI is not new to our region, as it has 

been serving a wide client base in the Gulf. 

TOP UAE BUSINESSWOMAN RECEIVES 

GLOBAL AWARD 

Mrs. Raja Al Gurg, 

managing director of 

the leading UAE-based 

trading company Easa 

Saleh Al Gurg Group. 

• Mrs. Raja Al Gurg recognised for her contribution to the economic empowerment of women 

• One of three women from the Middle East to receive TIAW World of Difference 100 Award 

One of the most influential female 

figures in the Arab business world has 

received a coveted international award 

for her dedication to promoting the economic 

advancement of women. 

Mrs. Raja Al Gurg, managing director of 

the leading UAE-based trading company Easa 

Saleh Al Gurg Group, was awarded the World 

of Difference 100 Award at a gala ceremony 

yesterday in Toronto. 

The award was presented by The International 

Alliance for Women (TIAW), an international 

umbrella organisation of women’s networks 

representing more than 50,000 women worldwide. 

Created in 2008, the World of Difference 100 Award honours 

annually up to 100 women who have contributed to the economic 

advancement of women. 

Mrs. Al Gurg was one of only three women from the Middle East to 

be recognised. She said: “It is important to highlight that women are just 

as capable of succeeding in the 

business world as men, and that 

Arab women are just as competent 

as their Western counterparts.” 

“The World of Difference 100 

Award provides an invaluable 

international platform for the 

achievements of women in the 

Middle East and will inspire 

others in the region to follow 

their own path.” 

This year, TIAW received 

nominations from more than 20 

countries across six continents, from 

as far afield as Iceland and Panama. 

Mrs. Al Gurg was recognised 

under the Entrepreneurial 

category as one of the leading 

business figures in the UAE. 

92 



FUTURE QUEST 

continued from page 96 

for about half of my life before 

I figured out that vertical direct 

access to the Maker is possible 

without the aid of middlemen. 

Looking back at my own 

experience and seeing how 

universally every religious system 

basically controls its members, 

I wonder if most people live in 

a world where unwittingly they 

have voluntarily given up their 

God given right to evaluate their 

spiritual life – most have been so 

thoroughly conditioned to “do,” 

not to think. 

But Truth is an ocean wide 

and deep and eternity is set in 

our hearts. We are all given 

a few precious drops of truth 

that can lead us to understand 

why eternal salvation cannot be 

earned by good works hoping to 

bribe God. True righteousness 

flows from a penitent heart that 

humbly receives salvation as an 

unmerited gift of divine grace. 

Fear, intolerance or custom 

should not hinder us in our 

individual pursuit of God. We 

are engineered to be free, we are 

not meant to be in awe of other 

There are many levels at which we connect with 

people but I find there is nothing deeper than a 

meeting of minds searching for the Truth. 

people no matter how wise or 

religious they appear. 

Today I am an ordinary 

follower of the One who promised 

that we shall know the truth and 

the truth shall set us free. I took 

him at his word and discovered 

the promise is real. Reflecting 

on my life as the days pass, I 

constantly review and examine 

the wonder of it all. It is quite 

fascinating – where I started and 

where I have ended up with no regrets about my spiritual journey into 

freedom and out of bondage. 

If you ask me whether what I have done is my life, what can I really 

say with confidence? Only that my spiritual quest has been invaluable 

– I’ve learned it is indeed possible to understand the character of this 

great Creator of the universe because he allows us to. It is compelling 

how he reveals himself – something he alone does uniquely and 

personally for everyone who calls upon his name. One thing I know 

for sure - he is not the exclusive property of any religion nor does any 

religion have the authority to guarantee that mere membership will 

take you into his presence. Still you might persist in asking - Is what 

I have done my life? Yes! In terms of work I found my labor of love. 

In terms of family I have met my obligations. In terms of health I’m 

in reasonably good shape. In surrendering my life to him not to any 

institution, I couldn’t “do” better! I finally learned not to be in awe of 

people with religious knowledge because it is possible to gain wisdom 

directly from the source of the Truth in the holy scriptures. There I 

found the knowledge and freedom I longed for hidden in plain view. It 

is visible only to the lowly in heart who can lay aside their pride, for he 

turns away the proud in heart. 

Observing the joy and meaning people find when they genuinely 

engage one another on matters of faith is very interesting. Why this 

particular awareness has developed for me I can’t say, except that I have 

always been intrigued by the mystery of human relationships. There are 

many levels at which we connect with people but I find there is nothing 

deeper than a meeting of minds searching for the Truth. At first this is 

difficult because each of us is unwilling to accept the other person’s views. 

We may hardly have examined our own beliefs so how can we interact 

meaningfully with someone else’s? A nugget of wisdom might have been 

gained, but in fear we refuse an opportunity to share life’s brief journey 

with a fellow human being of infinite worth. Or worse still we pretend we 

have something better when we do 

not. Perhaps we even go so far as to 

engage in an act of violence. 

For much of my life I too was 

intolerant of other beliefs. My mind 

would not consider even the tenets 

I believe in that require me to love my neighbor as myself without any 

exceptions. But for most of my life I preferred to choose my neighbors 

and as a result I have few friends. Now after six decades of my life 

there is a desire to understand more, to share more - including lessons 

learned from disappointments and failures as well as successes, and to 

love people more. I am at an age when such desires are less likely to be 

misunderstood! I keep knocking in the hope a few doors will open if 

only to commiserate with someone in the evening of his life who could 

have done better and been less judgmental of his fellow man. 

Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 

Futurequest is a search for the truth in our times. 

Frank Raj is theFounder Editor of TII 

TIIIndo-Arab 

Insurance 

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16 

ANNI V ERSARY 

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94 



FUTURE QUEST 

“ASK ME WHETHER 

WHAT I HAVE DONE 

IS MY LIFE” 

Some time when the river is ice ask me 

mistakes I have made. Ask me whether 

what I have done is my life. Others 

have come in their slow way into 

my thought, and some have tried to help 

or to hurt: ask me what difference 

their strongest love or hate has made. 

I will listen to what you say, 

You and I can turn and look 

at the silent river and wait. We know 

the current is there, hidden; and there 

are comings and goings from miles away 

that hold the stillness exactly before us. 

What the river says, that is what I say. 

-William Stafford, “ASK ME” 

by: Frank Raj 

I 

came across William 

Stafford’s poem only 

recently but the question he 

poses has long haunted me. 

Ask me whether what I have 

done is my life. It is a disquieting 

question with profound spiritual 

application if you grasp the main 

idea – what is my life and what 

have I done with it? Life does 

not consist in the abundance of 

material possessions so what is 

our focus and how do we know 

we are on the right track? Faith is 

one area of our lives most of us 

don’t think enough about. It was 

Emerson who noted: Most men 

lead unexamined lives. Few of 

us consider the difference between blindly following 

traditions, rituals, wise, “holy” or clever men versus 

truly seeking to know the Creator. The scriptures 

indicate that he longs to connect with his creation. The 

greatest pursuit an individual can undertake in his life 

is not taken seriously. 

Like most people I have lived a life largely 

separated from people of other faiths mainly because 

of something I will simply call ‘Religionism.’ It 

is basically religious pride – we all have it and it 

manipulates us into keeping a distance from one 

another. Approaching two decades now I have tried to 

bridge that gap by sharing my own journey of faith 

and discussing various spiritual topics in this column. 

Most of us will agree that our religions teach us 

to be quite rigid about our beliefs. The larger part of 

my life went by before I understood the impact such 

mind control had on me. Looking around it is obvious 

people hunger for a personal relationship with God but 

most of us are unaware we cannot connect until we 

figure out that ‘Religionism’ is a dead end. Genuine personal faith does 

not happen by mixing our traditions with some religious pot pourri 

and swelling our spiritual pride. Faith, the scriptures tell us comes by 

hearing from the Word of God. The adventure begins when we start 

investigating the fragments of truth we might have and use them to find 

the mother lode. The shortest pilgrimage anyone can make is from the 

mind to the heart. It is the only one we need. 

Millions of people are confused about God, I was no exception, 

traveling in the same boat. Early in life like most people I was inducted 

into an institutional belief system that I inherited, which hardly 

encouraged me to think. Subjected to a hierarchy of clergy and other 

well meaning practitioners, I was thoroughly infused with the common 

dogma of ‘Religionism.’ In their zeal to manage and grow their 

membership my mentors were quite unconcerned about my personal 

faith. Understanding I needed a lifesaving individual relationship with 

my Creator never occurred to me. The focus of all religions is to make 

us ‘Religionists’ - people who sign up and follow rules and rituals and 

remain in awe of human leadership. In my case they only succeeded 

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