Great Indian Journeys

You can find one in every nook and cranny of this wide, vast and fascinating world. And their stories are equally fascinating and filled with adventure, dreams and self-belief. The Indian diaspora is epic, you will find a singular resident Indian couple prancing in the icy, cold, remote Faroe Islands somewhere between Norway and Iceland, Gujarati shopkeepers in war torn Eritrea in East Africa or Sikh billionaires in the banana plantations of Woolgoolga in Australia’s New South Wales. The diaspora has done its country of origin very proud; wherever Indians travelled they struck success sooner or later; they may not have assimilated but were proud to keep Indian traditions alive. In the Platform section this month we showcase a tiny glimpse of the huge Indian diaspora and some of the truly inspiring success stories.

In fact, these Indians, better known as NRIs, are great consumers of all things Indian and one of the greatest movie minds of our times did not take long to discover its potential and tap into the market. He was none other than the brash and beautiful Karan Johar who made films not only based on NRIs but created a whole new genre catering to our desi brothers in distant lands. Our cover story, in fact, is a look at this amazing young man who wears the title of the Bollywood Showman not too lightly. Along with Bollywood’s coming of age and its global appeal, a quiet revolution has been going on in the country’s vineyards across Nashik in Maharashtra and the Nandi Hills in Karnataka. India is producing world class wines and making it to tables the world over. So go on savour the coming-of-age story of Indian wines.

An unusual and reassuring story from Kabul caught our eye about an all girls band braving it out and not allowing its music to be silenced. On international affairs, we analyse the results of the French elections, which could impact the whole European Union, at a time when the whole concept of a united Europe seems a little stretched.

And to refresh the body, mind, and soul, a sniff and a smell could work wonders as our article on aromatherapy will inform. And for more goodies and fun, read on.There’s something for everyone!