india’s moment of glory - cgidubai.gov.in · nity in the uae, broadcasting mainly in hindi and...

PUBLICATION OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA IN DUBAI VOL. 2 ISSUE 10 | OCTOBER 2010

INDIA’SMOMENTOF GLORYIndian athletes put up their bestever performance even as thecountry hosted the biggest everCommonwealth Games

SEPTEMBER 2009SEPTEMBER 2009IndiaMatters|October 2010 October 2010 |IndiaMatters 32

FROM THE CONSUL GENERAL’S DESK

CONTEN

TSIndia’s moment of gloryIndian athletes put up their best ever performance even as the country hosted

the biggest ever Commonwealth Games

4

An Indian company has helped build a $100

million ice-themed water park in the emirate

of Ras Al Khaima

Are you a guilt-ridden unhappy reader? Read

Ratna Rajaiah’s ‘How the Banana Goes to

Heaven’ to discover the nutritional and

medicinal value of common foods...

BUSINESS

Penguins in the desert!

BOOKS

Eatables have a story to tell

18

12

India Matters is a monthly publication of the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai. All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be produced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the CGI Dubai.

Editorial correspondence and manuscripts can be addressed to [email protected]

Content and design by IANS (www.ianspublishing.com) on behalf of Consulate General of India in Dubai.

INTERVIEW | SUHAS GOPINATH

The World’s Youngest CEO

19

SUPERBRANDS

Anchor14

TRAVEL

Knotty Destinations... Plan your wedding hotspot

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INDIA MATTERS ON AIR

The Consulate General of India in Dubai has re-launched

its weekly radio programme, India Matters, with the

purpose of informing the public about various Consular

services, events relating to India and about what matters

to Indians in the UAE.

India Matters is aired every Saturday between 6 pm and

7 pm on FM 105.4 Radio Spice and repeated every Friday

between 5 pm and 6 pm.

FM 105.4 Radio Spice caters to the South Asian commu-

nity in the UAE, broadcasting mainly in Hindi and English.

The winner of the September 2010

monthly quiz contest isMr. Rakesh Bohra

He wins a gift hamper.

Congratulations!

Dear Reader,

Duty is in my right hand and the fruits ofvictory in my left…

– A mantra in the Atharva-Veda

The Commonwealth Games has been a stu-pendous success. It was the largest internation-al multi-sport event to be staged in India, sincethe Asian Games in 1982. The Games overcameconcerns about security and infrastructure andwe proved worthy hosts. Jawaharlal Nehru’sfamous words come to mind: “Success does notcome suddenly or without setbacks”.

It was also a matter of pride for us that wemanaged to secure 38 gold medals, putting usin the 2nd place in the overall rankings. Here’sto a new dawn for India in sports!

Thanks to Theatrewallas for putting up anexcellent show ‘Mahaprayan’ on the occasion ofGandhi Jayanti celebrations at the Consulate. Itwas a well-scripted play that depicted the lastday of Bapu’s life. Gandhiji’s favourite songsand the open house on Gandhiji’s relevancerounded up the celebrations.

US President Barack Obama’s historic visit toIndia is something to look forward to, in thecoming month. Also our President, HonorableSmt. Pratibha Patil, will be visiting UAE at theend of next month for the launch of the IndianWorkers Resource Centre amongst other events.

Our radio show will be back on air soon asthe station is undergoing a technical upgrade.Look forward to a new and improved format ofIndia Matters on air.

And last but not the least… India Mattershas undergone a makeover. From a brand newmasthead to a completely new design, with newfonts and colours, India Matters has sought ablend of the classic and the contemporary. Withthis issue, we bring you additional features thatI am sure will delight you and enrich you.

Happy Reading

Sanjay Verma


THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

With song and dance, colourand culture, a touch of tradi-tion and a dazzling display oftechnology, the rich tapestry

that is india unfurled before millions world-wide as the 19th Commonwealth Games weredeclared open in New Delhi on October 3 —celebrating the spirit of sport and thesportsperson.

the anticipation and anxiety of the monthspreceding the biggest sporting event indiahas hosted faded as the ceremony, deeplyemotive for millions of indians glued to tele-vision sets to witness their country’s momentof glory, proceeded for three hours to encap-sulate 5,000 years of indian history.

Amongst the 65,000 people packed intothe main venue of the Games, the JawaharlalNehru Stadium named after india’s first

Prime Minister, were indian PresidentPratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Britain’s PrinceCharles, and ruling United ProgressiveAlliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Fireworks lit the cool night sky and thestirring strains of the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” set the mood for what wasto come as india greeted 6,700 athletes from71 countries and Commonwealth territoriesto the 19th edition of the $6.8 billion Games— mostly limited to former British coloniesand the second biggest multi-disciplineextravaganza after the Olympics.

the 71 teams comprised 19 from Africa, sixfrom the Americas, eight from Asia, 15 fromthe Caribbean, 10 from Europe and 13 fromOceania.

“Welcome to india, welcome to the Games,

the people of india are delighted to host theCommonwealth Games in this historic city,”the Prime Minister told the teams and otherguests to thunderous cheers.

“We will see human endeavour at its best,”President Patil said while Prince Charles, whoread Queen Elizabeth’s message, was sure theGames would be “an experience of a lifetime”.

the spectacle unfolded with electrifyingenergy through a meticulously segmentedceremony that rejoiced in the ‘Rhythms ofindia’, sang out ‘Swagatam’ (Welcome),showcased its ‘tree of Knowledge’, displayedthe ancient wellness regime of ‘Yoga’, tracedthe ‘Great indian Journey’ and recreated thejoie de vivre of a village fair.

Puppets danced in the air to the beat ofthousands of drummers, schoolchildren gath-ered in the centre and, led by well-known

vocalist hariharan, sang out “Su Swagatam” in welcome.

the children formed a “namaste”, the age-old indian greeting with hands folded, in thevast field. A collective roar echoed as the par-ticipants, in a rapid fluid movement, heldaloft white sheets to splash red paint andshow up intricate henna designs.

All through the ceremony, the movinglights on the helium balloon continued tochange their hues, projecting life size revolv-ing images of the action on the ground.

From the guru-shishya tradition to classicaldances to folk, with the tenor changing fromthe serene to riotous joy and back again, theceremony had the crowds enthralled.Whether it was the azaan, the muezzin’s callto prayer, Buddhist chants or the joyousstrains of Bollywood number “Chaiya,Chaiya”, this was a celebration of all that isindia.

there was magic as the strains of MahatmaGandhi’s favourite hymn “Vaishnav Janato”filled the air and the familiar outline of thebent head and the horn rimmed glasses lit up.Music maestro Allah Rakha Rahman sang outthe anthem for the Games “Jiyo Utho BadhoJeeto” (Live, rise, grow, win) and moved onto his Oscar winning chant “Jai ho”.

But even as the cultural colours of indiaunveiled, the underlying theme was sport andthe sportsperson spirit — best illustrated inthe athletes parade.

Lines blurred and overlapped as the 71teams, led by indian girls showing 71 ways ofwearing a sari, filed past the appreciativecrowd. if England doffed a hat to india bywearing a Nehru style sleeveless jacket over awhite ensemble resembling a kurta pyjama,indians reserved the loudest cheers forPakistanis.

New Zealand journalist Joseph Ramonosadded emphatically: “i have covered theCommonwealth Games for 25 years, butthere is no doubt this was the best openingceremony ever.”

It raIned gold for IndIa

As the ceremony ended in a blaze of colourand sparkle, it paved the way for two weeks ofsporting action in 11 spanking new venues.indian athletes were geared up with a newspirit to perform their best at the home turf.they showed it and how! india won the high-

The grand opening ceremony of 19thCommonwealth Games held in New Delhi on October 3, 2010.

INDIA’S MOMENTOF GLORY

Indian athletes put up their best ever performance even as the country hosted the biggest ever Commonwealth Games

October 2010 |IndiaMatters 7IndiaMatters|October 20106

est number of gold at 38, took the secondspot in the medal table for the first time inthe Commonwealth Games history as themedal tally read an impressive 38 gold, 27 sil-ver and 36 bronze for a total of 101.

the Games will be remembered for thesplendid show by women shooters, wrestlers,paddlers, archers, weightlifters and bad-minton players. Krishna Poonia sent indiainto ecstasy with her gold winning discusthrow. harwant Kaur and Seema Antil fol-lowed her with a silver and bronze for a stun-ning 1-2-3 finish for the first time by indianwomen in the Games.

A.C. Ashwini, Manjeet Kaur, MandeepKaur and Sini Jose lifted the gold in the4x400 metre women’s relay. And then thehistoric firsts by indian women came in bad-minton — Saina Nehwal getting the gold inthe singles and Jwala Gutta and AshwiniPonnappa in the doubles.

Saina beat Malaysian Mew Choo Wong 19-21, 23-21, 21-13 in an edge-of-the-seat thrillerwhen india needed one gold to knock offEngland from the second spot. She scripted a sensational victory by clinching a befitting win.

Men played theIr part too

the indian men contributed by winninggold in shooting, archery, boxing, weightlift-ing, wrestling, table tennis and tennis.

Shooting included the familiar marksmenGagan Narang and Abhinav Bindra who wongold. Somdev Devvarman in tennis singles,Manoj Kumar, Paramajeet Samota andSuranjoy Mayengbam Singh in boxing,Sharath Kamal and Subhajit Saha in tabletennis doubles. Ravi Kumar Katulu inweightlifting, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sushil Kumar,Narsingh Panch Yadav, Anil Kumar,

Rajender Kumar, Sanjay, and RavinderSingh in wrestling.

a MeMorable close

As laser lights danced in the sky andthe best of Bollywood and indi-pop music

brought the crowds to their feet, bring-ing the Commonwealth Games to acolourful and electrifying close onOctober 14, india marked a triumphant

moment, pulling off one of the biggestsporting galas in the world with aplomb.

Fireworks in the night sky lent a magicalhalo to the over two-hour-long closing cere-mony at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, crownedby a giant helium aerostat, as close to 60,000spectators roared and cheered and even for-eign athletes and delegates were left

charmed. it was a photo finish to the October3-14 event that saw india showcasing itsorganisational might.

“Delhi, you have delivered a truly excep-tional Games and a wonderful experience forus all, thank you Delhi,” said Mike Fennel,chief of the CWG Federation.

it was a night of martial arts, Sufi rhythms,Bollywood and indi-pop music, powered byglitzy laser lights and booming music — asalso nearly 7,000 artistes. While tens of mil-lions across india and around the worldwatched the ceremony on television, thecrowded stadium had international andindian dignitaries in thrall.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksawas the guest of honour, flanked by Vice-President hamid Ansari and Prime MinisterDr. Manmohan Singh. Also present werePrince Edward, younger brother of Prince

Charles and vice-patron of theCommonwealth Games Federation, Congresspresident Sonia Gandhi and Delhi ChiefMinister Sheila Dikshit.

the spectacle began with over 500 martialartistes from the far corners of india.Carrying swords, sticks and other traditionalweapons, they leapt into the air or movedwith agility on the ground, they performed anact titled “Agni”, the glory of sports. therewas a burst of patriotic fervour as militarybands worked up a crescendo. Bagpipers anddrummers, clad in black, white and orangestirred up martial music.

the moment soon softened, when over2,000 schoolchildren, clad in white, came toperform “Vande Mataram”, the national song.With the Ashoka Chakra at the centre, theyspun around, and what soon materialised wasthe orange, white and green of the indian flag— on the ground and their faces!

taking over from them were the many vol-unteers who had toiled to make the Games asuccess. Waving and smiling, the volunteersin red and white track suits had theirmoment of glory.

the loudest cheer though was reserved forthe real heroes — the athletes and officials ofthe Games, especially the indian contingent.

there were smiles, waving of hands and flagsfrom the players, many of whom put up ban-ners thanking india for pulling off a spectacu-lar Games. And then in came Shera the tiger,the extremely popular mascot of the Games!

the CWG flag was then handed over toRobert Winter, Lord Provost of Glasgow,Scotland, which will host the 20th edition ofthe Games in 2014. Winter had a word ofthanks for the indian capital: “thanks Delhifor being such generous hosts.”

But the best was yet to come — a lasershow crisscrossing the length and breadth ofthe stadium. On the ground, 1,000 dancerswearing lighted costumes kept pace.

But could any show in india be completewithout its best export — Bollywood? FromKailash Kher and Zila Khan to Usha Uthup toila Arun to Sunidhi Chauhan and ShankarMahadevan, they were all there. Folk rhythmsstirred as did Sufi tunes.

Oscar winning composer A.R. Rahman’santhem for the Games, “Jiyo, Utho Badho,Jeeto” filled the air. the crowds went berserk,knowing fully well that is exactly what indiaand indians had done.

Living up to President Pratibha Patil’s hopeon the opening day, it was human endeavourat its best!�

INDIAN ATHLETES LED BY SHOOTER ABHINAV BINDRA, MARCH PAST DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 19TH COMMONWEALTH GAMES (LEFT) THE FORMATIONDISPLAYS THE BENEFITS OF INDIA’S ANCIENT HEALTH REGIME ‘YOGA’


GANDHI JAYANTI

The Making ofthe Mahatma

Hindi DivasObserved

THE Consulate General of Indiaon October 2 hosted a specialfunction to mark the 141st

Birth Anniversary of MahatmaGandhi, observed as the UNInternational Day of Non-Violenceacross the world.

Addressing the gathering, Consul-General Sanjay Verma said, “There isa lot that can be said about Gandhijiand a lot that should remain unsaid.The idea is to keep Gandhiji in focusand to distil his central message.Gandhiji is far easier to admire thanfollow, as his standards were veryhigh if you look at his life in variousdimensions, such as social, politicaland economic, and his relationshipwith people. Gandhiji was like a normal man like us, with a sense of humor et al, but at the point heevolved, he became ‘Maha-Aatma’.”

Referring to Gandhi’s life and

times, Verma spoke about his stay inSouth Africa, the political vision hebrought with him to India, and thehistoric struggle for freedom heeventually led. Encouraging theyoung to read more about Gandhi,Verma urged them to adopt anduphold his standards and views,especially those relating to sustainability and fraternity intoday’s world.

As Gandhiji strongly believed inprayers, the event started with bhajans sung by Abhirami AjayKumar, a Grade 8 student, followedby a classical performance by AjmalAli, a singer who belongs to thePatiala Gharana.

Next, Theatrewallas, a dramagroup based in the UAE, rendered aplay titled ‘Mahaprayan’ based onthe last journey of the Mahatma. Itwas woven around the events at BirlaBhavan, Gandhi’s headquarters inDelhi, on the historic day, January30, 1948. Set amidst the political turmoil of post-partition days, theplay, while capturing the ethos of thetragic event was also laced withhumour flowing from commonplaceevents of everyday life through conversations among well-known names of the Gandhi era.

At the end of the play, PrasannaKrishna, a student of SP JainInstitute of Management, DubaiCampus, made a power point presentation on the relevance ofMahatma Gandhi in the 21st century.

The floor was then thrown openfor discussion and those presentwere given a platform to expresstheir opinion on Gandhi, his life, and how people could inculcate his values and ideals in their lives.�

On the occasionof the 141st Birth

Anniversary of theFather of the

Nation, CGI paystribute to the

apostle of peaceand his vision

Consul-General Sanjay Verma speaking at the Consulate General on theoccasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Consulate staff participating in the quiz competition on the occasion of Hindi Divas at the Consulate General.

Consul-GeneralSanjay Verma givingaway a prize to ShriM.P. Singh, Consul(Labour & Welfare).

THE Consulate General ofIndia, in association with theIndian High School (IHS),

Dubai, observed September 14 as‘Hindi Divas’ to promote the use ofthe official language.

Members of the Consulate participated enthusiastically inHindi quizzes, a ‘guess the movie’contest and an impromptu storytelling competition. The topics forthe quiz ranged from literature tomusic, and science to culture.

Speaking on the occasion,Consul-General Sanjay Verma reiterated: “Language is a living heritage, it invokes the history ofour country. Linguistic culture isextremely rich in our country and as it is tangible, it has to be preserved,” he added.

A presentation by IHS teachershighlighted the importance of thelanguage. They also spoke abouthow Hindi and our mother-tonguescould be weaved into daily life inorder to keep these languages aliveand vibrant.

Later, prizes were also given tothe winners of each contests.�

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COMMUNITY / INTERVIEW

Ten years ago when 14-year-oldSuhas Gopinath started Globals Incfrom a cyber cafe in Bengaluru, littledid he know that he had become the

youngest CeO in the world. Today, Globals is a multi-million dollar

company with offices in the United States,India, Canada, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain,Australia, Singapore and the Middle east andhas 100 employees in India and 56 abroad.

Among the several honours that have beenbestowed upon this young man, the mostprestigious is the invitation to be a member ofthe Board of the ICT Advisory Council of theWorld Bank. He is helping the World Bank to

set policies on ICT in university education. In 2007, the european Parliament and

International Association for Human Valuesconferred the ‘Young Achiever Award’ on him.He was also invited to address the europeanParliament and other business dignitariesassembled in the eU Parliament. The presti-gious World economic Forum also namedhim as one of the ‘Young Global Leaders’ for2008-2009. Suhas is the youngest memberever in the World economic Forum’s history.Members include the Louisiana governorBobby Jindal, Hollywood star LeonardoDiCaprio, musician A R Rahman, Prince ofBrunei, and others.

Excerpts from an interview:

On his childhOOdI come from a middle class family. My

father worked as a scientist for the IndianArmy. I used to study in the Air Force schoolin Bengaluru. As a child, I was more interest-ed in animals and veterinary science. Butwhen I saw my friends who had home com-puters talk about it, I had this urge to learnand talk in their wavelength.

But we didn’t have a computer at homesince, in those days, computers were veryexpensive and we couldn’t afford one. So, Ilocated an Internet cafe near my house. Witha pocket money of Rs. 15, I couldn’t afford tosurf the net every day. I noticed that the shopwas closed in the afternoon from 1 pm to 4pm. So, I told the owner that I could keep hisshop open after school hours and take care ofhis customers and in return he could let mebrowse the net for free. He agreed and thatwas the first business deal of my life and itturned out to be a successful one!

On getting the first contract to build awebsite

Initially I joined a freelance marketplace onthe web to offer my website building services.I had to do the first website for free as I hadno references. It was for a company in newYork. My first income was $100 when I was13 for building another website. After that, Ibuilt my own portal and called itCoolhindustan.com. It was focused on nRIs.It was a portal where I wanted to showcasemy skills. After that, many companiesapproached me to be their web designer.

On rejecting a job offer from the UsWhen I was 14, network Solutions offered

me a part-time job in the US and they saidthey would sponsor my education in the US. I rejected the offer because that was the time I had read a story about Bill Gates and how hestarted Microsoft. I thought it was more fun tohave your own company.

On starting his own company at 14Soon after my 9th standard summer vaca-

tion, I started my own company, Globals Inc. I wanted the name Global or Global Solutionsbut both were not available, so I named itGlobals. I registered my company in the US,as in India, you will not be able to start a com-pany unless you are 18. I became the ownerand CeO of the company. My friend, anAmerican who was a university student,became a board member. From that day, I started dreaming of making my company as big as Microsoft.

On looking at Europe as a marketWe used to build websites and also offer

online shopping and e-commerce solutions.When I was 16, I saw that there were enor-mous business opportunities in europe as amajority of the Indian IT companies wereworking for American companies. When Icontacted a Spanish company, it rejected myoffer saying Indians do not know Spanish. Asan entrepreneur, you can’t accept rejection,especially when you are young. So, I hired fivestudent interns from some Spanish universi-ties and told them they would be paid basedon their successful sales. They were the peoplewho met the companies and bagged the proj-ects for us. By now, we decided to have ahome office in Spain. I replicated the samemodel in Italy by hiring some Italian universi-ty students.

On going to Germany to talk aboutentrepreneurship

The American newspapers were writing alot about me as the world’s youngest CeO at14 from India, from a middle class back-ground. It was a good story for the BBC aswell. On seeing these stories, a B-school inGermany invited me to talk to its students onentrepreneurship. I was 17 then. By now, I had completed my 12th standard and hadjoined engineering in Bengaluru. When I was18, we set up an office — the european HQ inBonn. Then, we moved to Switzerland. Sixmonths back, we started our operations inVienna as well. That is how we spread ouroperations from a small Internet cafe tobecome a multinational company with signifi-cant operations in europe, Middle east, theUS, Canada, the UK, Australia, etc.

On moving to creating productsWe wanted our company to go into product

development as well and so we developed asoftware that manages everything about achild while in school starting from admissiontill he/she leaves school and becomes analumnus. The software is now being used inmore than 100 schools all over India,Singapore and the Middle east. We are now inthe process of raising funds. Once we do it, wewill separate the company into two — serviceand product development. I want to concen-trate on products as I can’t sail on two boats.

On his dreams for his companyI have always believed that IT is not just

technology but a tool that can solve the prob-lems of people. That is what I want to do inmy company. I want my company to be amarket leader in software solutions concen-trating on education. What drives me is mypassion and it has been an amazing journey so far.�

(As told to Shobha Warrier on rediff.com)

Suhas withSelmaProdanovic, CEO,Brainswork andpresident,IncrediblEurope,Austria, at therecentIncrediblEuropeSummit 2010held in Vienna.

He began his journey in a cyber café. Today, he leads a company with offices acrosscontinents, works closely with the World Bank and is perhaps the youngest memberof the World Economic Forum…

The world’syoungest CEO


ECONOMY

Penguins in the desert!

Penguins frolicking in icywaters in the middle of thedesert? if that sounds like atall tale, just visit the ice

Land Water Park in the emirate ofRas Al Khaima to see the spectaclewith your own eyes.

The park built at a cost of $100million with the help of an indiancompany was opened to the publicon september 29, 2010 by

Crown Prince and Deputy Rulerof Ras Al Khaimah sheikh saudbin saqr Al Qasimi. The park ispart of a 125-acre resort projectinspired by the issue of globalwarming. “This is a reflection ofour tradition of hospitality, ouropenness and our willingnessto make friends with openarms and open minds. We are

after all a nation born to partner with others and trade with others,” sheikhsaud said at the inauguration.

The park, spread across 110,000sqm, packs an array of unique attractions, including the world’slargest manmade water fall and raindance pool along with over 50 exhila-rating water slides and rides.

Managed by Polo RAKAmusement, a joint venture betweenindia’s Polo Amusement group andRAK Properties PJsC and RAKinvestment Authority (RAKiA), thepark is equipped with a full set of in-house utilities, including fourmegawatt power generation, a waterdesalination plant capable of produc-ing 525,000 gallons a day and waterfiltration systems to maintain thefour million gallons of pool water.

Khater Massaad, CeO of RAKiA,said: “The park is a unique and won-derful project. i hope this will add tothe tourist attractions available inRas Al Khaimah.”

Balwant singh Chawla, MD, PoloRAK Amusement, said: “The iceLand Water Park qualifies among thetop five parks in the world. With theaddition of more facilities, it will beamong the top three water parks...”

H.e. M.K. Lokesh, indianAmbassador to the uAe, Mohammedsultan Al Qadi, CeO & MD, RAKProperties PJsC, and santokh singhChawla, JMD, Polo RAKAmusements LLC, also spoke at theinaugural function.�

An Indian company has

helped build a$100 million

ice-themed waterpark in the emirate of

Ras Al Khaima

A long view of Ice LandWater Park in Ras AlKhaima.

UAE posts $599 mn tradesurplus with India

uAe’s trade surplus withindia rose to 2.2 billiondirhams ($599 million) inthe first quarter of 2010

from a deficit of 7.3 billion dirhams($2 billion) in the correspondingperiod last year, the country’s foreigntrade ministry said in a reportreleased in september. The reportattributed this positive change to thebig increase of 273 percent in thevalue of uAe’s non-oil exports, upfrom 2.2 billion dirhams ($599 mil-lion) in the first quarter of 2009 to8.4 billion dirhams ($2.3 billion) inthe first quarter of 2010.

in addition, the value of india-bound re-exported commodities roseby 162 percent to 11.5 billion dirhams($3.13 billion), up from 4.4 billiondirhams ($1.2 billion) in the firstquarter of 2009.

The report revealed that there wasan 83 percent increase in the value ofnon-oil foreign trade between the twonations. The indicators reflected thestrength of the existing ties betweenuAe and india and strength of uAe’seconomy and development.

it also indicated that india is the

uAe’s largest trade destination, whilethe uAe is the number one trade des-tination for indian exports, and sec-ond largest source for indian imports,coming in second after China.investments by uAe firms in indiastand at 5.7 billion dirhams ($1.6 bil-lion). The report predicted that thevalue of uAe investments in indiawould reach 6.9 billion dirhams ($1.9billion) by the year 2011.

The report also indicated that uAeinvestments in india have witnesseda steady increase over the past 10years, from $1.6 million in 2000 to$257 million in 2008, reaching $629million in 2009. uAe investments inindia were concentrated in five mainsectors that took a 48.6 percent share($705 million) of the total value ofthese investments. The energy sectorreceived 19.1 percent share of uAeinvestments in india (worth $264million), followed by services at 9.3percent ($143 million), programmingand construction at 7.8 percent ($115million) and 6.8 percent ($99.2 mil-lion) respectively, while tourism andhotels came in at the 5th place at 5.6percent ($84 million). �

IndIa news

at a Glance

Us$ 20 billionThe amount net foreign institutional

investor (FII) inflows crossed on

October 5, 2010

Us$ 676.8 millionThe amount the Government has

agreed to spend during the 11th

Five Year Plan for setting up 13

new central universities and

converting three existing state

universities into central universities

9.7%India’s growth projection that has been

revised upwards for the third time by

the International Monetary Fund

Us$ 15.8 millionThe amount BMW, the luxury

carmaker, plans to infuse in its

Indian operations

Us$ 55 billion India’s expected investments by 2015

in the renewable energy sector which

is expected to produce 35 giga watts

of power

MarketThese are heady times. The countryis moving forward rapidly and itspeople fanning across the globelearning the secrets of modern lifeand living. Armed with deep pocketsand an innate desire to catch upwith the rest of the developedworld, the transformation has beentruly awesome. Cities are turninginto metropolises and sleepy townsinto pulsating cities. The changescan be seen on India’s chokedroads, in homes where style isreplacing simple need and in thespaces that house companies thatmake India’s world go around. Many palpable changes are evi-

dent; not least of all in the electricswitches and accessories segment. The market for this ubiquitous

product is divided into two: non-modular and modular. The former ismostly confined to rural and semi-

urban areas where more than 100manufacturers – almost all in theunorganised sector – battle forsupremacy. On the other hand, thelatter, now growing at some 20%annually, dominates the urban land-scape. In the combined Rs. 800crore (US$ 200 million) per yearmarket what is most evident is thecomplete change that has takenplace. From the dimness of all-white, a range of colours, sleekdesigns and distinct styles haveemerged. Leading this make over is the

Rs.1000 crore (US$ 250 million)Anchor Electricals. The brand com-mands a massive 50% of the organ-ised market. The other half is foughtover by nine other national andmultinational players.

AchievementsAnchor is almost generic to electri-cal switches and accessories inIndia. The company, turning out morethan 50 switches every sec-ond, has the distinction ofbeing the world’s number oneswitch manufacturer.

Keeping the momentumgoing is a small army ofachievements and supports:more than four decades ofexperience, a research anddevelopment unit that continu-ously innovates new productlines, an advanced tool-roomarmed with the latestCAD/CAM facilities, ISO:9002Certification for quality con-

trol, South Asia’s largest installa-tion of fourth-generation injection-and hydraulic-moulding machinesand a team of more than 7000employees. Seventeen factorieslocated in Mumbai, Daman, Gujarat,Haridwar, Chennai and Hyderabad –as well as one of the most modernwires and cables plant in the world– cover 1.5 million square feet ofspace and gives Anchor unmatchedmanufacturing capabilities.

The company manufactures morethan 1600 LT electrical productsand accessories catering to 70% ofthe market and enjoys an outstand-ing reputation for quality, reliabilityand safety. Anchor also happens tobe the only Indian company with CEand ISO: 9000 Certifications as wellas IEC conformity – a testimony toits world-class range of more than3000 products in 20 productgroups.

Anchor products are distributedacross the country through 10,000dealers and more than 300,000retail outlets. Over the years, Anchor has fed

India with state-of-the-art productsby simply sourcing cutting edgetechnologies and collaborating withworld-class organisations. This listreads like a who’s who of theworld’s greatest electrical switchcompanies.Italy’s AVE (Anonima Vestonese

Elettronica), the world’s foremostmanufacturer of intelligent low-volt-age electrical control and manage-ment systems and accessories;


UK’s British General (Woods), worldleader in contemporary technology-driven upper end switches andHeinrich-Kopp of Germany for itstechnologically advanced and aes-thetically designed range of switch-es. To add to these stunning

strengths, Anchor has acquiredRider, the electronic regulators anddimmers domestic brand. This hasgiven Anchor a potent presence inIndia across the entire spectrum –from top-end products to entry levelmerchandise.

Anchor also has a sizeable pres-ence in the Middle East. Apart fromprivate-label manufacturing for itsjoint venture partners, the companyhas a commanding presence inWest Asia and several parts ofAfrica.

It has set for itself the target ofgenerating 30% of its turnover fromglobal sales by 2011. This will pro-pel it to being one of India’s firsttruly Indian multinational brands.

In April 2007, in another signifi-cant move, Anchor entered into ajoint venture arrangement withMatsushita Electric Works Limited –owners of the world-famous Nationaland Panasonic brands. ThisJapanese electrical giant is helpingAnchor extend and consolidate itsleadership position in the Indianmarket. In the near future a rangeof innovative home automation sys-tems and futuristic products foreveryday categories will be intro-duced. These will include productsin the home appliances, lighting,interior design solutions and securi-ty systems categories.

For the year ended March 2007,Anchor Electricals had recorded netsales of Rs. 934 crore (US$ 233.50million) and net profit of Rs. 180crore (US$ 45 million).

HistoryFifty years ago India was still com-ing to terms with its new-found inde-pendence. The existing marketswere still dominated by the last ofthe British manufacturers and well-set indigenous industrial groups.Entrepreneurship was riskier thanever. In this environment, two brothers

Damji and Jadavji Shah saw anopportunity for the manufacture ofelectrical tumbler switches. A small-scale factory was commissioned insuburban Mumbai. Christened‘Anchor’ to connote solidity andsteadfastness, it was a pioneer inthe field of electrical engineering.The brothers would not have knownthen, that one day their fledglingcompany would go on to become aworld-leader. From its early days, the company

was determined to create qualitygoods – not just commodities. Intime to come this proclivity would

An India Matters-Superbrands Presentation

October 2010 |IndiaMatters 17IndiaMatters|October 201016

result in Anchor appropriating thehigh ground and becoming synony-mous across India with superiorproducts. Anchor introduced India to the

piano switch in 1976. Insignificantas it may sound in the biggerscheme of things, this was a water-shed event which forever changedthe parameters by which switcheswould be judged. From a mundaneproduct, the switch had been elevat-ed to an aesthetic object, some-thing to be displayed, proud of andtalked about. Offerings like Roma, the first modular range of switches

and accessories with 10 Amp AXrating which conformed to CE(Conformite Europeene) and CSA(Canadian Standards Association)Certifications as also to ISI and IECvalues, have earned for Anchor theabsolute trust of consumers. Morethan anything else these have beenresponsible for making Anchor thebrand it today is.The current millennium has seen

Anchor go from strength tostrength. In 2000, Anchor wasawarded the ISO:9002 Certificationfor quality control, design and devel-opment. A year later the AVE rangeof intelligent low-voltage electricalcontrol and management systemsand accessories was introduced.The range included such top-of-the-line products as anti-intrusion net-work; burglar- and fire- alarms,

home automation systems, circuitprotection and control, signalling,programming and measuring sys-tems, enclosure and switchgearequipment and remote controlwiring accessories. In 2003 AnchorWoods was launched. These rocker-style electrical switches and acces-sories were an integral part ofBritish interior design and soonbecame an integral part of thehomes of upper middle class Indiansand young professionals. The ascension into product and

marketing legend was recognisedand rewarded in April 2006 whenAnchor acquired the covetedSuperbrands status and joined theelite list of 91 Indian consumerbestsellers.These breathless years culminat-

ed in April 2007 with Anchorbecoming a consolidated subsidiaryof Matsushita Electric WorksLimited owners of the world-renowned National and Panasonicbrands.

ProductAnchor has always been quick toreact to change that is relevant toevolving consumer needs. This hashad the delightful affect of growingthe market and keeping it updatedwith the latest technology. Not sur-prisingly, Anchor can boast morethan 3000 products in 20 productgroups, including over 1600 LT elec-trical products and accessories.Collectively they cater to more than70% of the market.Anchor also happens to be the

only Indian company with CE andISO: 9000 Certifications as well as

IEC conformity – a testimony to itsworld-class status. Apart from elec-trical switches and accessories(sockets, voice and data outlets,regulators, dimmers, holders, powerswitches, plug tops, adaptors, etc.),Anchor also makes wires andcables, switchgears and protection

devices (MCB, ELCB, RCCB, DB),energy metres, lighting luminariesand fixtures, fans as well as com-pact fluorescent lamps.

Recent DevelopmentsThe market for sophisticated securi-ty equipment is a rapidly growingniche whose demand Anchor hasidentified and fulfilled. LED foot-lights, motion sensors and electron-ic key tags are now available forquality hotels and other institutions.The demand for aesthetically differ-

ent and appealing products has been

met by the introduction of the Woodsrange. The range is a departure fromthe traditional and offers a variety ofcover plates and an inclusive choiceof matching accessories. Given the evolution that is taking

shape, the company has concludedthat the time is right for intelligentlighting. Its collaboration with AVEis a reflection of this belief. WithAVE, Anchor has made anentry into lighting automa-tion and home automation –a step that may well be sug-gestive of foresight.

PromotionAnchor believes in brandbuilding. Its exposure inmedia is a judicious mix ofconsumer research and rele-vant messaging. As a result,the brand is very visible andrecall for its advertising high.Anchor was one of the firstcompanies in this segment tohave associated strongly withthe television medium. Local promotions are often

communicated over the ver-nacular press. Activities suchas in-shop displays, give-aways, sales-linked incen-tives and motivational giftsare used to keep momentumgoing. Below-the-line is seenas an important medium. Usingdirect marketing tools as arrowheads, the company has built strongrelationships with architects, elec-trical consultants, institution heads,

builders, dealers, contractors andelectricians. To reach influential decision-mak-

ers, Anchor publishes an exclusiveArchitect’s Diary featuring profilesof world-recognised architects suchas Le Corbusier, Ken Woolley andHafeez Contractor, amongst others.Channel partners – everyone vital

for business generation – are taken

on in-depth factory visits so that theirunderstanding of the company andthe products is strengthened.

The Team Dependable campaignlaunched three years ago made an

accurate analogy with the Mr. Dependable of Cricket India –Rahul Dravid – and his star perform-ers from the Karnataka StateCricket Association. The pointbeing driven home was that Anchorswitches, accessories and wires,like Rahul, were absolutely depend-able. The campaign was a resound-ing success.

Brand ValuesAnchor is synonymous withdependability, reliability, trust andsafety. It is the choice of everyarchitect, institution, builder, con-tractor and electrician. The brandstrives to be relevant, to meetconsumer expectations, fight com-

petitive challenges, continuouslyinnovate and remain the gold stan-dard of electrical switches andaccessories in India.www.anchor-world.com

n If a new city with a population of1.5 million were developed eachmonth, Anchor would be able tomeet its complete requirement

n Anchor has one of the largestplastic moulding facilities in the world

n If Anchor’s manufacturing facili-ties were housed in a single building it would be 200 feet long,100 feet wide and 75 storeys tall

n Anchor touches the life of everyIndian from Kashmir toKanyakumari

THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ANCHOR

Anchor

(Reproduced with the permission of Superbrands India Private Limited - copyright owners)


BOOKS CINEMA

Eatables have astory to tellF

ood was once a good word. Itsymbolised fulfilment, nutritionand well-being. But when did it

all change? When did we becomesuch guilt-ridden unhappy eaters?Food writer Ratna Rajaiah exploresmany such questions in her new bookHow the Banana Goes to Heaven.“As our cells are nourished and reju-venated, our noses should exult in theembrace of a hundred aromas. Ourtaste buds should laugh joyously atbeing tickled by all the six tastes,”Rajaiah says. Published byTranquebar, her book explores thehistory of “old buddy foods” to dis-cover the nutritional and medicinalvalue that common foods have.

Rice comes first. Rajaiah exploresthe unusual history of the country’sstaple grain — also known as thegrain of tranquillity. “The ancestor ofrice that we eat today was a wildgrass that possibly grew in the super-continent of Gondwana at least 130million years ago. From this ancient

grass, two mother species evolvedand they parented the approximately120,000 varieties of rice that grow allover the world today. “An astonishing20,000 of these varieties come fromIndia,” Rajaiah says.

Then come bananas, which Rajaiahdescribes as “happiness in a peel”.Many believe it originated around4,000 years ago in the junglesbetween Malaysia and India.

According to Rajaiah, the Bengalgram is the pulse of health — a com-plete food. It was baptised as theBengal gram by the British becausethey first discovered it there.

The mung was born in India atleast 5,000 years ago. The Sanskritname for the bright yellow lentil was“mudga”. In the Rig Veda, the three‘m’s of health that get repeated men-tion are ‘mudga’, ‘masha’ and‘masura’ — or mung (lentil), urad(black gram) and masura (lentils),Rajaiah writes in her book.

Read on for more such nuggets!� TheRe’S ongoing sense of serenity com-pounded by a feeling of sincerity andtransparency in the cinema of Ashutosh

Gowariker. This filmmaker never hides life’smost essential truth in cinematic subterfuge.Rather, Gowariker goes the other way.

he strips the emotional content of cinemaof its accessories and trappings and leaves thescreen with just that right amount of dramathat does complete justice to the characterswithout making them a casualty of excessivecreative freedom.

Celebrate the creative freedom of a fearlessand honest cinema. Khelein Hum Jee JaanSey (KhJJS) is an inherently dramatic storyabout a large group of young people whofought an unknown chapter in India’s free-dom movement.

Going to a world that is strongly redolent ofhistoric ramifications, Gowariker pulls thereal-life material out of the textbook andtransforms it into an eminently engagingstory about anti-colonialism. Who can forgetthe director’s neo-classic Lagaan where onevillager gathered a whole team of ragged vil-lagers to beat the Brits at their own game.

KhJJS is not as playful, lyrical andlush as Lagaan. This time Gowariker tellshis story with brutal straightforwardness.

The setting, Chittagong in Bengal in the1930s, is created with a fluency, virilityand scrupulousness that make us believein the characters and their mission fromthe word go. The narrative is an artlesscriss-cross of patriotic plotting.

A sense of calm camaraderie prevailseven during moments of unsettlingbloodshed. The patriotic zeal never feltmore tranquil before. This is historywithout hysteria. In KHJJS, each one of70-odd characters seems born into his orher respective parts.

Much of supporting cast does what it isexpected to. It supports the drama andthe tension with restraint and skill.Standing tall in the supporting cast isSikandar Kher expressing indignance andire without going over the top. DeepikaPadukone gets unexpected competitionfrom debutante Vishakha Singh whoseems to get under the skin of her char-acter.

But the film finally ‘belongs’ toAbhishek Bachchan in the way that films

become the property of actors who own char-acters not for a display of histrionic vanitybut because they grasp instinctively the worldwhich the character inhabits.

Abhishek’s empathy with his character iscomplete and unimpeachable. As Surjya Sen,he conveys a muffled but obstinate idealism.Abhishek’s eyes become his window on aworld where pain governs the journey to agreater glory.

On the technical front, Kiran Deohans’ cin-ematography and Nitin Desai’s art directionare subtle delicate but evocative. Sohail Sen’smusic fits in like a glove with the film’s themeand mood of restrained revolution.

The effectiveness of Gowariker’s drama isdrawn from the director’s determination tokeep his drama denuded of exhibitionism.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is the kind ofrare and precious cinema on the theme ofidealism, nobility and nationalism that isbeing progressively pushed out of our cinemaby crass boorish comedies. It must be seennot because it retrieves a forgotten chapterfrom our history, but simply because it’s astory so well told you forget it’s a true story.

The truth of the moment in the cinema ofGowariker is the only truth that matters forthe audience. The rest is history.�

Are you a guilt-rid-den unhappy reader? Read Ratna Rajaiah’s ‘How the Banana Goes to Heaven’ to discover nutritionaland medicinal valueof common foods...

“Makers of Modern India”Author: Ramachandra GuhaPublisher:Penguin/VikingPrice: Rs.799

“Decision Points”Author: George W. BushPublisher: Virgin PublishingPrice: Rs.999

“Obama’s Wars:The Inside Story”Author: BobWoodwardPublisher: Simon &SchusterPrice: Rs.972

“Tony Blair: A Journey”Author: Tony BlairPublisher:HutchinsonPrice: Rs.999

“Our Kind ofTraitor”Author: John Le CarrePublisher: Prakash BooksPrice: Rs.299

“The FinklerQuestion”Author: HowardJacobsonPublisher:BloomsburyPrice: Rs.499

“The Corrections”Author: JonathanFranzenPublisher: Fourth EstatePrice: Rs.446

“Arming WithoutAiming”Author: Stephen P. Cohen and Sunil DasguptaPublisher: Penguin BookPrice: Rs.499

“The Sunset Club”Author: Khushwant SinghPublisher: Penguin vikingPrice: Rs.399

“The Confession”Author: JohnGrishamPublisher: Arrow BooksPrice: Rs.299

Non-Fiction Fiction

TOP TEN

A rare, precious film on nationalism

Film:

Khelein Hum Jee

Jaan Se

Director:

Ashutosh

Gowariker

Cast: Abhishek

Bachchan, Deepika

Padukone, Sikandar

Kher, Vishakha

Singh

Courtesy: Bari Sons, New Delhi

Indo-Asian News Service


TRAVEL

From the palaces of rajasthan tothe beaches of Goa, the hill stationsof Uttarakhand to the backwaters ofKerala, India’s diverse cultures and

landscapes provide an array of picturesquesettings for the ideal dream wedding. Beachweddings, palace weddings, island wed-dings, hill station weddings, forest wed-dings, houseboat weddings, cruise wed-dings, farm house weddings, the list can goon and on. India’s rs. 500 billion weddingindustry continues to grow at 25 percentannually. Employing an army of planners,caterers, designers, stylists, DJs, and evenBollywood stars — who get paid to shaketheir booty at weddings. India’s diverselandscape makes sure that it remains amongthe world’s most preferred destinationswhen it comes to tying the knot...

India’s diversity has inspired a wide rangeof wedding themes, from hill station wed-dings in the snowy Himalayas to sandy ceremonies on beaches. royal weddings areamong the most popular themes. Held inpalatial hotels and old palaces, such affairstreat the bride andthe groom like queenand king. A march-ing band welcomesthe couple withhorsemen and torch-bearers escortingthem to the mandap.

Beaches in Indiahave also metamor-phosed into pictur-

esque backgrounds for a memorable affair.From islands in the Arabian Sea to thesandy tip of the subcontinent, India isgraced with hundreds of miles of pristinebeachfront property. Goa and Kerala are themost popular venues on the mainland withthe Andaman and Lakshadweep Islandssteadily turning into hot favourites.

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, perchingon a hilltop and crafted out of golden sand-stone, is an art deco marvel. Giving you afeel of the grand and the regal, the maharaniSuite features a bathtub carved from a singlepiece pink Italian marble, while themaharaja Suite sports murals of leopardsand tigers. The palace reinforced its wed-ding credentials earlier this year when ithosted the nuptials of actress ElizabethHurley and Indian businessman ArunNayar.

Goa

Goa is renowned the world over asan ideal venue for beach weddings. Its pristine beaches, vast stretches ofswaying palms and breathtakingcanopies, all combine to form a per-fect destination for a dream wed-ding. There are beach resorts, hotelswith their own private beaches,where one can arrange exotic andlavish weddings. Also, you can

choose from a host of secluded beaches ifyou want a private celebration.

Kerala

Fervent chanting of hymns against thebackdrop of a houseboat lapping against thesparkling green backwaters... Whether it’sthe backwaters, plantations, hills, house-boats, food, or the famous rejuvenationtherapies, Kerala ensures the experience of alifetime. Blessed with a unique geographicallocation, myriad tropical features and a net-work of tranquil backwaters, Kerala offersthe India of your imagination. Exotic localcuisine, traditional music, forest gardens,chapels and temples, boat rides and manymore, await to shape a dream wedding.

DeviGarh Palace, UDaiPUr

When Vikram Chatwal’s epic weddingcame to Udaipur, the Devigarh Palace host-

ed a huge party. Nestling in the Aravali hillsof rajasthan, the 18th century palace com-mands one of the three main passes into thevalley of Udaipur. It was recently re-styledwith sleek contemporary designs to suit thetastes of its high-profile visitors. Some of thesuites are gilded with semiprecious stones,rendering a royal ambience. A perfect placefor those who prefer things kingsize.

laKshaDweeP islanDs

In recent times, the Lakshadweep Islandshas become an ideal place for weddings.This breathtakingly beautiful island is situ-ated over 240 km from the malabar Coast inKerala. Coral reefs, palm fringes and whitesand make the coastline of the island. Thesparkling water of the sea, replete withmarine flora and fauna makes it an incom-parable venue for weddings. The place isalso home to a number of world-class hotelsand resorts.

DhanaUlti

Imagine a wedding venue that doubles upas your honeymoon destination. Dhanaulti,a hill station in Uttarakhand, is just the per-fect spot for love-lorn couples. Set amidstforests of oak and deodar, a pandal in theopen will make for a picture-perfect wed-ding. The bride and the groom can ride tothe venue on horses, a la Julia roberts andrichard Gere in The runaway Bride. Thelovely weather and the fabulous view ofsnow-covered mountains make it an idealretreat for a wedding.

ranthambore

Ever since British comedian russellBrand and American pop singer Kate Perrygot married at a resort near ranthamborenational park, forest wedding has becomethe latest fad. Get the thrill of tying the knotwith dense forests enveloping you from allsides. ranthambore is not only home totigers but also possesses exquisite resortsand luxury hotels. Situated in Sawaimadhopur district of rajasthan — about 130km from Jaipur, it offers a spectacular viewof untamed nature. migratory and localbirds, animals such as deer, hyenas, foxes,sloth bears, wild cats and, of course, the tiger.�

The Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur in its full glory.

From top: Experiencethe thrill of untamednature withRanthambore as yourwedding destination;Lakshadweep Islandsis emblematic toexclusivity — perfectfor a memorableevent; Get a taste ofthe grandeur of aregal marriage withthe Devigarh Palacein Udaipur; Left: The backwatersof Kerala, another popular nuptial destination.

KnottyDestinationsA regal wedding or a mountain-top nuptial, a beach wedding or an exotic forest wedding…India is the ultimate destination for it all to cater for every whim and fancy of those seekingnovelty and adventure, says KAMINI KUMARI


KALEIDOSCOPE

1Which race forms the basis of theIndus Valley Civilisation?

2What is the line that demarcatesthe boundary between India and

Pakistan called? When was it drawnand after whom has it been thusnamed?

3What and where is SabarmatiAshram?

4Who is regarded as the foundingfather of the Indian Constitution?

5What is Aadhaar?

6Mathematicians from which part ofIndia are now regarded as the origi-

nal developers of calculus several cen-turies before Isaac Newton?

7The mega-blockbuster Bollywoodmovie 3 Idiots is based on a book

by an Indian author. What is the nameof the author?

8The internationally acclaimedSlumdog Millionaire is based on a

novel written by an Indian diplomat.Name the book and the author.

9Name the architect who designedthe Rashtrapati Bhavan and what

is that school of architecture called.Also identify a nearby iconic structuredesigned by the same architect.

10Which Indian city was the first tohave a Metro Rail system?

This magazine will

accept contributions

from readers in the

form of Q&As, factoids,

quiz news and

announcements of

upcoming quiz events

and also photographs.

You can write in to

[email protected]

1.Colva | 2. State Bank of India | 3. The White Tiger by Arvind Adiga | 4. Natya Shastra by sage Bharata

5. Maheswari sarees | 6.Brahmaputra | 7. Ardeshar Irani | 8.Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award | 9. Tripura.

10.Justice M. Hidayatullah. |The Picture Question: Ranji Trophy cricket torunament.

ANSWERS TO LAST ISSUE:

THE PICTURE

QUESTION

The installationshown in the picture is locatedin which Indiancity and what isits name?

Monarch of mudra…Heroic, majestic and larger-than-life…That sums up Kathakali, one of India’smost spectacular dance-drama forms.Deeply rooted in Kerala’s ethos, Kathakaliis an art form often identified with magis-terial complexity and passionate intensity.

Though Kathakali is not more than 300years old, its roots can be traced to over1,500 years. It is regarded as a fusion ofthe Aryan and Dravidian cultures. Manyscholars attribute its evolution to the vari-ous ancient theatre traditions of Kerala,such as Krishnattam, Ramanattam,Koodiyattam, Mudiyyetu and Teyyam.

Mahakavi Vallathol, one of Kerala’sgreatest poets, has been a seminal force inthe history and evolution of Kathakali. Itwas he who set up the now iconic andworld famous Kalamandalam in 1930 thatimparts residential training in Kathakali.

Mostly based on mythology and themes

chosen from the Ramayana and theMahabharata, the performance lasts allnight. One unique feature of Kathakali wasthat till recently only men could enactfemale roles. Today, many women, includ-ing some consummate performers from theWest, have made a mark! The most popu-lar Kathakali stories, among a host of oth-ers, are Nalacharitam (a story from theMahabharata), Duryodhana Vadham(describing the killing of the Kaurava war-rior prince Duryodhana),Kalyanasougandhikam, (the poignant andtouching story of the great Pandava war-rior Bhima going to fetch flowers forPanchali), Keechakavadham (anotherstory from the life of Bhima and Panchaliduring the time they spent in exile),Kiratham (Arjuna and Shiva’s fight, fromthe Mahabharata) and Karnashapatham(on Karna).

Photo courtesy: Incredible India!

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An Indian woman helps her son light a lamp during Diwali. The ‘Festival of Lights’

marks the homecoming of Lord Rama after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and

symbolises the arrival of light and the victory of good over evil.

HAPPY DIWALI

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