Death never comes by appointment. It’s cruel when someone’s life comes to an abrupt end. Take the case of Sachin Nehete — a 19-year-old engineering student in Mumbai. He met with an accident while riding a bike and was declared brain dead by doctors two days after the accident. Holding back their tears, Bharati and Purshottam Nehete, Sachin’s parents decided to give his organs for donation after he was put off the ventilator.
“We were reluctant at first but then decided that our son may not be in this world anymore; if someone else can get a life with his organs we should go ahead with it. It was like giving an opportunity to our son to live forever,” narrated the parents in a digital forum that advocates organ donation.
Donating one’s organ serves a valuable need. “A meaningful life can go beyond one’s death,” remarked actress Nandita Das sometime ago, while pledging her organs, adding, “when we are dead and gone, if our organs could save anyone’s life or be used for any medical research, then why wouldn’t we do it.”
The successful stories of transplants have given hope to many patients ailing with diseases associated with eyes, kidney and heart. In India, the medical infrastructure too has matured over the years to undertake such cases. In that case, what we need is more people pledging to donate their organs after life.
The number of people requiring transplant has grown because of two reasons — India’s aging population and rise in organ failure. But the barriers too are not insignificant. Although road traffic accidents are primary cause of death in India, only a small number of them are able to donate their organs.
As organs need to be transplanted as soon as possible following the donor’s death, they can only be donated by someone who has died in the hospital. Usually, organs come from people who are certified as dead while on a ventilator in a hospital’s intensive care unit, which can be as a result of a hemorrhage, major accident like a car crash or stroke.
Dr Avnish Seth, director FORT (Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant) stated in an interview to a leading paper, “Once the heart stops beating for five minutes, there is no possibility of a person coming back to life, but his organs such as kidneys, liver, pancreas, lungs and even heart can be retrieved and transplanted. Unfortunately, the concept is not very popular in India.”
Laws in India are unclear on organ donation after cardiac or circulatory death (DCD), unlike in the case of brain-dead people, when it is allowed. Experts estimate that the process of organ retrieval in 2014 could not be completed in several cases even after the families consented to donation, as organ donation after DCD is not allowed here. On the other hand, several countries have been doing it for the past two decades. Last year, doctors from Spain, the UK, Australia and India came together in India’s first DCD Summit at Fortis Gurgaon to take the issue forward in the country. Talking about the emergence of DCD in his country some two decades ago, Dr Marti Manyalich, president, TPM-DTI Foundation, Spain, stated how Spain started DCD in 1995 by making it mandatory for hospitals to have a designated team for organ donation.
In Western countries, mass media has been playing an important role for decades in educating people about organ donation. However, in India, media has picked it up recently. DCD will be possible if the government and private sector work together and there is more healthcare cooperation between India and countries that have been practicing it. Spain has the highest rate of organ donation totaling about 35.3 per million of its population.
The summit demystified laws that exist for DCD in India. Dr Kumud Dhital, who is credited with performing the first dead heart transplant in the world, said, “Laws in India don’t permit withdrawal of life support system. However, there is nothing in the law that doesn’t permit DCD in India. Lack of expertise and apprehension of doctors in performing DCD seems to be a major issue here. I think DCD needs to be considered in the country till there is more clarity on laws related to end of life care.”
Dhital had performed three transplants with donor hearts that had stopped beating for 20 minutes at St Vincent’s hospital health heart lung transplant unit in Sydney in 2014. The first patient to have the surgery was Michelle Gribilas. The 57-year-old was suffering from congenital heart failure and had surgery about two months ago. Gribilas acknowledged that the operation had transformed her life.
The donor hearts were placed in a portable console dubbed a “heart in a box” and submerged in a ground-breaking preservation solution jointly developed by the hospital and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. They were then connected to a sterile circuit where they were kept beating and warm.
Doctors said the result for organs If our organs could save someone’s life or used for research when we are dead, why wouldn’t we donate transplanted after cardiac death is almost similar to those for organs transplanted after someone who is brain dead (BD). “It has taken 20 years for us to make headway in organ donation after BD. It is time for the next logical step: DCD,” Dr Seth elaborated.
According to doctors, DCD can help bridge the large gap between demand and supply of organs, as it has the potential to save the lives of 30 per cent more heart transplant patients by increasing the supply of suitable donors.
In India, close to 5,000 kidney transplants are carried out annually against an estimated requirement of more than 1,75,000. Similarly, only 1,000 liver transplants are performed every year in a country where over 50,000 die due to endstage liver disease. The annual requirement of hearts is estimated at around 50,000 and lungs about 20,000. The rate of organ donation, on the other hand, is as low as 0.3 per million population.
Educating the people through creating awareness is vital. Many not-for-profit The annual requirement of hearts is estimated at around 50,000. The rate of organ donation is as low as 0.3 per million population organisations have crafted various events and information campaigns to reach the masses. The Internet and promotions by celebrities, especially movie stars, too have helped. Many Indians have pledged to donate their organs after their demise. The picture from the prism of activities undertaken and pledge forms filled appear to be rosy. The statistics look fabulous. But there’s a hitch in the rate of conversion— from filling a form to actual donation.
The reasons are obvious. “I will fill up a card. I will pledge my eyes. The pledge card shall go to the hospital, an NGO or the eye institute. And then it shall stay in that file in a dusty and rickety almirah for years. When I am dead, my dear ones would be in mourning. 90 per cent chance is that they wouldn’t remember my pledge. It’s going to be tough on them. Eventually I shall be turned to ashes and the donor pledge card shall only gather more dust in that rickety almirah,” explained C. Pallavi Rao Narvekar, Group Head, Radio Mirchi in one such event advocating donating organs.
Therefore, instead of pledging your eyes after your death ensure instead a donation while you are alive. Such an approach demands that we discuss the issue with everyone — from family, friends, colleagues to neighbours. Also, to spread the word around continuously to ensure no tragedy goes wasted.
But the next step is tedious. It requires the courage to translate a tragedy in one’s family, extended family or friends’ circle at that time of crisis and initiate the idea of organ donation in those crucial six hours that would benefit at least four to six people. It wouldn’t be easy. Experience tells that one should be ready to face the anger and wrath of the deceased’s family.
“I have personally mustered up courage to initiate the sensitive talk in two such tragedies over the last three years and was able to translate one such tragedy into a donation,” says Rao sharing her own experience — and an example for others to emulate. That’s the way to increase the rate of successful donation of organs in our country. It’s not impossible — a bit of will wrapped with empathy could do the trick.
You have in the past described the relation between your passion and profession odd but workable. How do you balance both?
Politics is my passion and fashion is my profession. I always wanted to join politics and work for the country; I know fashion and politics are strange bedfellows but who says it doesn’t work. I admire both pursuits and keep them separate. Fashion is my livelihood but working for the people gives me a purpose in life.
A peek into your family background…
I was born Shaina Nana Chudasma to a Gujarati Hindu father, Nana Chudasma, and Munira Chudasma, a Muslim, in Mumbai and am married to a Marwari Jain, Manish Munot. I have a Hindu, Muslim and Jain combination and am proud of my cosmopolitan upbringing. I am familiar with many cultures and am comfortable with several languages. This helps a lot in connecting with the people of vast diversities.
You have been labelled the ‘queen of drapes’. Does the title bring with it a responsibility towards promoting the sari?
I ventured into fashion designing at the age of 18. My designs were well appreciated by the fashion industry. I run one of the oldest boutiques in Mumbai – the Golden Thimble. Unlike most of the other designers, I was more interested in the sari and wanted to give it an international appeal. I can drape a sari in 54 different styles and hold the record for the fastest draping of a sari in the Guinness Book of World Records. There are no fixed rules for wearing a sari. In one of the 54 drapes, I wore a sari over trousers. I think it’s the most elegant costume in the world.
How do you juggle you passion for fashion and working for the nation?
I took the first step of transforming my passion into reality by joining the BJP in 2004. Being the daughter of the former Sheriff of Mumbai and a student of political science, I was familiar with politics; one can say that politics was in my veins. Since childhood my father exposed me to things political. Also, I was confident of public speaking and that was an added virtue.
You come from a cosmopolitan background, but did the fact of having a Hindu father and Muslim mother affect the selection of the political party?
Every political party has an ideology and it works on its ideological doctrines. People in my family and social circle thought I would join the Congress or Nationalist Congress Party. But I surprised everyone by my call; beyond the expectations of everyone, I opted to join the BJP as it portrayed the values I believed in.
Do you think politics in India is a level playing field for women?
Most political parties are still dominated by men at the helm. It’s still tough for women, but we also had a woman Prime Minister. My advice to women in the political field is that they should be in politics for the right reason, have professional knowledge and know their party ideology.
Who are your idols in the ruling party?
The source of my inspiration lies within BJP; I like the Prime Minister for his hard work and dedication to the country; Amit Shah for his political acumen; Arun Jaitely for his oratory; Manohar Parrikar for his simplicity; Nitin Gadkari for his intelligence and capability and Rajnath Singh for his humility.
Safety of women and minorities are the prime concern for this government.
A country’s development is judged by the safety standards vis-à-vis women. A woman is secure when she is educated and empowered. Women in public space should be in a position where they can be commanding. The Reservation Bill is as major step towards empowering women as it will put more women in the governing section. Take for instance the Haji Ali ruling - it’s a must. Why should there be inequality, everyone should have right to go to a place of worship.
Your views on the Kashmir unrest?
Kashmir is one of the most beautiful but the most disturbed part of India. Since Independence, the Kashmir issue has not been resolved by successive governments. The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by Kashmiriyat, jamhuriyat and insaniyat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kept up the effort in this direction.
Your dream for Mumbai…
Clean and green Mumbai is one of my biggest dreams. I have an NGO called ‘I Love Mumbai’ and every year we plant 2 lakh saplings in the metropolis. We have also built toilets for the Mumbai Police. Our NGO has joined Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in its ‘clean and green Mumbai’ mission.
What’s family time like?
Like all working people, I too like to spend my spare time with my daughter, son and husband. My family is the source of energy that keeps me going. My husband has seen me through thick and thin and has stood steadfast in my pursuits. Without my family’s support I could not have made it. I credit my husband for all the milestones I have achieved in life, especially in my political career. I believe that there should be a supportive husband for a woman to bloom in a political career.
It was at the annual photo fiesta at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, photographers of all hues gathered to discuss and showcase their ‘specialised’ area of work. Though there was no dearth of serious work of photography, some peddled their photos on baby bump, wedding nights and boudoir scenes.
Camera has indeed taken iconic leaps from its ancient box avatar. With the technical expertise of the lens eye, the creative eye has also taken formidable steps. From profile shots of national leaders and sports icons to the despair of famine and beauty of landscape; from photo essays of the disadvantaged to the privileged; from aged actors to pouting nymphets; from hotels and restaurants to motels and motor bikes; from food to fashion, wedding to wildlife; the scope of photography has further widened now to include the best and the bizarre. “Photography has come a long way in India,” observes Mukesh Parpiani, photojournalist and Head of Photography and Gallery at NCPA. “In fact, the other day, I heard of a commercial photo assignment that was to be shot like a documentary on the birth of a child.”
Director of Symbiosis School of Photography, Vishal Bhende expressed his concern over the usage of technology. “Sony has developed a contact lens fitted with a camera that zooms and auto focuses. It is yet to hit the market, but imagine the level of penetration in one’s private space.” Chirodeep Chaudhuri, former editor of photography, National Geographic Traveler (India) told DW that the quality of smart phones have become phenomenal. “I too have shots taken with my camera phone. The effects are breathtaking.”
CAMERA PHONE: THE PIED PIPER
Photography in the past was an art that one mastered through painstaking hours studying the subject. There was a time when news agencies, art magazines and the rich with a taste for good shots would patronise talented photographers. A rare photograph could command as much price or praise as a work of art. But with the advent of technology in a selfie-crazed world, subjects range from inane to breathtaking. “In fact you name it, and there is a picture for every occasion and for every reason. Shots taken by amateur photographers are interesting and some are really good, but one interested in photography should still learn the subject. Depending upon the time, money and energy, formal training always helps in the long run,” Parpiani opines.
With the explosion of social media there is no dearth of platforms where one can showcase photographs. Beside social media pages, there are blogs and vlogs which provide platforms for dissection and discussion on one’s art. Even national newspapers, tabloids and broadsheets today provide space to commoners with a passion for photography.
As Parpiani pointed out, earlier photography was an expensive proposition. “A camera with one megapixel would cost Rs 4-5 lakh in 2000. Today, at the same price, I can get a 24 megapixel camera with interchangeable lens. In fact, phones with camera which have made their presence felt in the last five years are also increasingly becoming effective tools for good photographs. Several camera phones have interchangeable lens and video facilities which ensures smoother and better photography. In fact, looking at the popularity of mobile phone photography, we have invited ace lensmen for tutorials at the NCPA gallery,” he adds. However, experts rue the
fading out of digital SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras in the next five years. The opinion is that the future belongs to mirror-less cameras (found in camera phones) which are eco friendly.
The NCPA has a huge thumbprint behind galloping strides in photography. The brainchild of JRD Tata and Dr Jamshed Bhabha, the NCPA was inaugurated in 1969 and was the first multi-venue, multi-genre cultural centre in South Asia. It is dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s rich cultural heritage in music, dance, theatre, film, literature and photography. The Piramal Art Gallery is part of NCPA. It came up in 1988 with the help of the Ford Foundation and is located within its sprawling campus at Nariman Point.
“The idea behind the Gallery was to promote photography as an art. For the first ten years it was run with the support of the Ford Foundation and later NCPA pitched in. Till twelve years ago, display was free at the gallery but today we charge a nominal amount to recover the maintenance cost,” observes Parpiani. True to its spirit, the gallery has been organising photography sessions for children and senior citizens besides holding its annual Photo Fiesta for the last four years. Stalwarts like Raghu Rai and Vikram Bawa participated in these sessions teaching the nuances of photography. In terms of video and installation art, the gallery remains true to its passion. Also, since the last two decades, the gallery has put up its small but enviable collection of books by legendary photographers for public consumption. Along with exhibitions, a small corner is reserved for display of books such as India 24 hrs by Henri Cartier Bresson, Dreams of India by Raghu Rai, Yosemite and the Range of Light by Ansel Adams and many others.
Since its year of inception, now touching almost three decades, the gallery has put up about three hundred exhibitions which include budding photographers as well as the pathbreaking ones. From Pamela Bordes to Israeli photographer Pierre Poulain and home spun politician Uddhav Thackeray – they are all there. To mark the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, an exhibition from the collection of Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust is in the pipeline.
66-years-old Parpiani himself have inspired generations of Mumbaikars. A work life spanning over four decades, Parpiani knows the pulse of the city like few does. From a series on the Mumbai serial blasts, the heart-rending story of Aruna Shanbaug, the nurse who was left comatose for decades after a sexual assault, to Amitabh Bachchan walking barefoot to Siddhivinayak temple, Parpiani has captured several exclusive shots as well as unusual ones of the megapolis. He says he’s the first to take a sneak peek of Haseena Parkar, the late sister of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, without her burqa.
EXPANDING MARKET
If we talk about commercial photography, the market is only growing. For instance, in the past a brand shoot would mean hiring one photographer. Now for one commercial, a horde of photographers are hired for that perfect look for different kind of media (print, audio, visual and social pages). The growth in business has also seen a spurt in gadgets and people buying them. It is difficult to point a specific value to a market when it is still growing and extreme competition persist among the companies as the demand for phone models vary from city to city. Also the prices change at online sales. The range of phones and its purposes serves a multitude of interests. A Rs 5,000 worth mobile phone will have a camera good enough for personal consumption of a family within a certain budget. But for those with a passion for photography there are high-end phones with camera available from Rs 25,000 onwards. It’s not only the tech savy person with a taste in the eclectic, but even those from small towns where interest have sprung up. Camera is as much a tool for pleasure as it is a tool to bring change. In fact, it is perhaps the only tool that can effectively mirror the present for posterity, bring in the sensitivity among the artist and the audience as well as nail the present for an effective future.
New Delhi and Moscow have finally agreed to a work share agreement for the co-production of a new Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). It fructified in the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa although there are media reports that in February 2016 the much delayed talks were revived at the behest of India’s Defence establishment. Seen as an enormous fillip to India’s relations with Russia, it would also add to Indian armed forces’ modernisation efforts whilst greatly supporting the Indian endeavour in “Make in India”.
But most importantly, the fifth generation combat aircraft, as conceptualised will make a strategic change in the use of air power as the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters could operate with impunity in the skies without being detected by the adversary’s air defence systems. It would lead to infusion of frontline technologies in stealth capabilities along with all other state of art sophistications developed over the years.
The plans to develop such an aircraft had first made news way back in 2001 during the Moscow Air Show presented at the Fifth International and Aviation Space Salon organised by Russian Rosoboronexport. It was during the show that Russian government’s programme to develop this aircraft for the Russian Air Force was made public. The prototype was to fly by 2006 and aircraft for delivery were to be ready by 2010. It was already showcased in an air show in China in 2006. The expenditures to develop the aircraft and the engine were assessed at $1.5 billion and $600 million respectively.
In October 2007 media had reported that the Indian Government’s cabinet committee on security has concurred with the proposal of India and Russia to jointly develop a 5th generation multi role combat aircraft. And that “India was encouraged by the Russian offer to involve itself right from the start of the project”. This assessment did not come true in its entirety. Evidently, India is joining midway in the Russian effort. Although, the extent of the progress is somewhat hazy.
In the past however, there have been rumblings within India’s defence establishment on Russia’s inadequacies in meeting India’s defence equipment procurement needs. The disenchantments had stemmed from several factors. Deficiencies in materials, staggering cost escalation and unbearably delayed delivery schedules, had caused anguish. There were matters of quality, costs and time; all quite material and relevant for operational needs of militaries.
THE RELATIONSHIP
Obviously, it will only be prudent therefore, to take a well considered view of the India-Russian military relationship through all its strands and discourses. In principle, it was an alliance of political empathy and shared mutual interests which had numerous linkages. We cannot but acknowledge that the Indo-Soviet strategic equation was the most potent segment of the overall relationship and continues to be one now with Russia having taken on the mantle. The 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship has duly been accepted by the Putin regime. Neither can one escape the truth, however grudgingly in certain quarters, that the relationship saw India through difficult times. But there was an often voiced contrary view that things need not be the same with truncated Russia as they used to be with Soviet Union. That India must do whatever is necessary in its own national interests in these changed circumstances. This issue merits a closer analysis albeit on an extremely narrow framework of military aviation.
The intense spirit of defence cooperation was the most influential ingredient of the relationship. It was between two nations and it was difficult to term it as a pure commercial venture. A broad illustrative survey would be very useful considering the fact that Soviet Russia has been India’s biggest supplier of defence equipment since the 1960s.The gift of the IL-14 aircraft to India in the year 1958 to transport Indian VIPs is seen as a milestone in the relationship.
With the Indian Air Force opting for the MiG-21 Interceptors aircraft in 1962, a new chapter in the defence procurement for the air force opened. In 1968, India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) factories started producing the airframes and engines along with the components at separate facilities under their aegis. This set into motion a supply chain from the Soviets and then with Russia with which the IAF went on to induct combat aircraft of MiG series 23, 25, 27 and 29 and of SU series 7 and the latest 30MKI. There were several up-gradations as well.
Similarly, transport aircraft ANs 12 and 32 and the ILs-76 augmented the Indian military transport aircraft fleet. The heavy lift IL-78, progressively took on the roles for mid air refueling and the IL-76 emerged as the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems) platform for Israel’s Phalcon Radar later. Numerous variants of the Mi series of military transport and attack helicopters were also inducted. There were a prolific chain of Air Defence systems consisting of low to high level radars and from shoulder fired Igla MANPADS (Manportable Air Defence Systems) to high firing Dvina and Pechora SAMS (Surface to Air Missiles). Outside the erstwhile Warsaw pact countries these were the biggest inductions and perhaps much higher than in these countries.
THE NEW OFFER
Under the new offer, India will have to pay about $3.7 billion, instead of $6 billion, for the technological know-how and three prototypes of the FGFA. About six years ago, India had agreed to pay $295 million towards the preliminary design of the fighter, then called in India Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF).
But even in arriving at this solution, New Delhi and Moscow had traversed through several discordant issues relating to basic clauses of joint development that had formed the edifice of the initial proposal. One suspects that at the heart of the matter were issues of moneys to be spent on “work and cost share, aircraft technology, as well as the number of aircraft to be ordered”. There are media reports of late 2015 that Russia had vastly reduced the number of aircraft they plan to procure emerging out of the joint developmental process. It is evident that they had continued to work on their prototype not wanting to wait for the Indian government to work out a plan. This was not tenable to the Indian side.
To overcome this deadlock therefore, in the ongoing discussions Russia had offered its prototype PAK FA T-50 along with technology transfers as an alternate for further development to satisfy Indian requirements. After evaluating the first prototype the IAF had wanted more than two score changes to overcome weaknesses identified by them in the plane’s engine along with the aircraft’s capabilities to achieve stealth and weapon carrying. In the ensuing developmental process, which also perhaps include India developing its own engine, Indian test pilots will monitor the evolution of the combat platform till its completion. It will be India’s own developed FGFA to meet its specific needs.
STRICTLY STRUCTURED REGIMES
Several lessons have been learnt by India during its relationship with the Russians. Whilst mutuality is the core of cooperative spirit at a government to government level, at a working level the programmes must be implemented under a strictly structured regime duly covered by protection of legal provisions and even exit policies. Historically, such business practices have stood the test of time even in the most telling circumstances and have shown the way. The relationship with Russia goes well beyond the supplier syndrome and soundly based contract would only be able to see through the passage.
The real test for a restaurant with North Indian cuisine is its dal makhani,and if that passes muster, you can give it a thumbs up. So when Made in India, the Indian restaurant at the Radisson Blu MBD at Noida invited us for a food review, we decided that one of the dishes we must order is the dal. The fine dining restaurant comes out tops with the dal makhani: the flavoring is subtle and not over the top, and the dalis not doused in cream. For me, it crosses the tape with a podium finish.
The menu at Made in India reflects the “flavours of longforgotten cuisine of India”. The chefs here have not strayed away too much from the tried and tested traditional dishes, but have come up with some originals that use modern flavours to capture the imagination of those looking for something beyond the ordinary. Take, for instance, the nimbu mahi tikka (INR 875), which are fish steaks in a citrus marinade cooked in a tandoor using a dash of thyme oil. It’s the ubiquitous fish tikka presented in a new avatar: the pieces are larger than tikka size but smaller than a steak size and the marinade has a tangy flavour of the lime marinade. A word of warning though — the dish has six large pieces and if it’s an order for two, you won’t have space for the main course!
In the vegetarian section, we tried the navratan kebab(INR 575), this was a basic vegetable kebab filled with assorted, nuts such as almonds, cashew and raisins. The kebab was soft and succulent, with rich flavouring from the dry-fruit filling.
The chefs have also tried some experimentation here: there’s a rajma and akroot ki shammi (INR 575), for instance. The dish is made of kidney beans and walnuts, an unusual combination. The kunna gosht(INR 1295) in the nonvegetarian section is another innovative dish of lamb shoulders slow cooked with onions and spices.
For the main course, we selected the vegetable of the day — Kashmiri dum aloo (INR 775), cooked in tomato gravy. It was a tad too sweet for my liking but then I’m the kind that can eat a Naga chilly (just one though) without batting an eyelid. The murg khurchan (INR 875) is another dish we ordered that is not available everywhere. The chicken juliennes were well-spiced and stir fired with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes.
The dal makhni (INR 495) went perfectly with both the dishes. We also tried the khameeri roti (INR 135), thick North-West Frontier-style rotis that complemented the three dishes. These rotis are heavy on the stomach, so go for it only if you are really famished, but they are so delicious that I can eat them on their own without any accompaniments!
The lal mirch ka parathas (INR 145) or kheema kulchas (INR 165) are good options too. We didn’t try the khurmi naan(INR 145),which are stuffed with cheese and topped with diced tomatoes, but it sounded like a good option from the usual tandoori or roomali rotis.
We topped off the meal with a traditional phirni(INR 325) that had the right amount of sweetness, making it a perfect way to end the meal
Made in India, with its billowy white curtains, has a Bollywood ambience and definitely gives you the star treatment as well. From the extensive menu, you can certainly find a dish that everyone on your table will enjoy. The chefs have made a sincere effort to create a menu that is different, yet retains the Indian-ness.
Experts are bullish about the tremendous growth of E-commerce or E-tailing sector in India in the years to come despite doubts pertaining to valuation. It is estimated that in India E-tailing has the potential to grow more than hundredfold to reach a value of $76 billion by 2021. Studies suggest that total retail (both offline and online) is expected to reach a turnover of over $1 trillion by 2020 against $600 billion in 2015. Studies also unveiled that among 2.9 billion Internet users worldwide, 348 million were present in India in 2015. And 50 million of the 100 million online shoppers in India shall belong to tier I and tier II cities in 2016.
A recent study by Morgan Stanley shows India’s number of Internet users doubled from 50 million in 2007 to 100 million in 2010, tripled to more than 300 million by 2014. This makes India the second largest Internet market in the world, after China, even though the user penetration rate is still only around 17 per cent, compared to 46 per cent in China and more than 80 per cent in developed markets such as Japan and the US. Another study projected that E-tailing has the potential to grow more than hundredfold in the next nine years to reach a value of $76 billion by 2021.
The study also predicts over the next five years, as smart phone adoption increases, Internet users could double again to more than 600 million, nearly half its population. Increasingly, mobile access also means that many new users are from smaller towns and rural areas – bypassing the desktop/PC altogether – a trend E-commerce companies are already leveraging in China.
However, the question that now arises is on the strength of logistics services to support the E-commerce boom in the country. Are the logistics companies well equipped to cater to the demand from the E-commerce sector? Are E-commerce companies and marketplaces confident to outsource the logistics services to the traditional 3PL companies in India?
REALITY CHECK
What is the ground reality – the most crucial element in determining the success of E-commerce? While cost-effective and hassle-free ‘same day delivery’ is the success story of E-tailing across the world, E-commerce marketplaces cannot afford dealing with a weak logistics chain. E-commerce experts pointed out the importance of inventory management and the companies’ decision to reduce the size of inventories. This was made possible by managing the warehouses and distribution efficiently. For example, leading E-commerce marketplace, Amazon, made careful decisions about which products to buy from where. Then the company decided to manage distributing channels. Amazon also tried to cut down its expenses by outsourcing some of its routine activities so that it could concentrate better on its core activities. It partnered with other companies for shipping the inventory and revamped the layout of its warehouses making it easier for the company to locate and sort customers. By doing this it managed to save all the expenses related to filling and shipping orders.
It is worth mentioning that Amazon has almost doubled its total storage capacity to over half million square feet. Customers in the respective states and nearby areas can expect broader selection across categories available for immediate shipment and eligible for Amazon’s ‘next-day’ and ‘sameday’ delivery services. Globally, Amazon has 34 fulfilment centres with more than 61 million cubic feet of storage capacity.
Other leading online market places such as Flipkart, Snapdeal and eBay are also maintaining their own fulfillment centres and distribution networks, despite the fact that it is not a viable model in respect of escalation of cost burden for running and maintaining own assets.
On the other hand, most of the logistics companies are trying to grab the opportunity with the traditional model. However, the requirements of E-commerce companies are changing rapidly. The marriage is yet to take place. “As a result, as of now most of the eCommerce companies manage their logistics on their own, which is not desirable from their growth point of view,” said Tamil Rajan, former Blue Dart official and Direcor, LexCare, a leading E-commerce consultancy. Rajan, however, made it clear that new logistics companies with a new mindset can attract both E-commerce companies and investors. The new companies will have to be proficient in quick delivery, IT and COD (cash on delivery) mechanism, which are the most essential elements to make the E-commerce venture a success.
According to Rajan, with the Goods & Services Tax (GST) to roll out next year, E-commerce players may create more stock points to reduce delivery time window. But it increases inventory and costs. Hence, the importance of 3PL service providers arises. Rajan also emphasised on the external infrastructure and rules and regulations including roads, airports, cargo terminals, check posts, traffic rules, including others which are beyond the control of either E-commerce or logistics companies. “The government has to ensure an industry-friendly approach in setting up adequate physical infrastructure and bringing in legislations conducive for fast cargo movement for the greater interest of the consumers and national economy,” he added.
Malcolm Monteiro, CEO, DHL eCommerce, observed that in Asia Pacific spending is more on E-commerce purchases than those in North America and the region is currently leading the growth rate for the sector globally. The rise has been attributed to Internet access, increased credit card penetration and the burgeoning middle class with a higher spending capacity.
Questioned about the logistics challenges Malcolm pointed out that E-commerce logistics is different from conventional logistics as all the action is outside the Web. The aim is to maintain zero inventories, ensure higher delivery speed, achieve maximum reach and create a great customer experience.
The important thing in E-commerce is that every growing urban, semi-urban or rural market has to be viewed differently, as every place has varying demands for goods and services and differing logistics infrastructure. This calls for regular scrutiny of the market and addressing it accordingly.
Inadequate infrastructure poses the biggest challenge to ecommerce logistics as the delivery time has been shrinking and has become a major service differentiator. In his opinion, with a population exceeding 1.2 billion, a large middle class population, better Internet access and penetration of smart phones, India’s e-commerce potential is huge. “Through our subsidiary, Blue Dart, we already have strong capabilities in value added last mile deliveries in India, our focus is now on creating a seamless bridge between E-commerce businesses, global and regional and their customers – wherever they may be - domestic or cross border,” he asserted.
Subhashish Chakraborty, CMD, DTDC, a leading domestic courier and express logistics company, maintained that thanks to the revolution of E-commerce the new game will be completely different. Acquisition of customers and B2B model will not be enough for the new eco system and challenge from the fast growing E-commerce sector. Hence, for express logistics companies, the smart move would be to read the writing on the wall in time.
Currently, logistics in the E-commerce sector comprises about 10 per cent of the entire logistics industry. “In an environment like ‘E-commerce is the only commerce’ we should not grow with the traditional model. Accordingly, we are changing our strategy. We are going to offer end-to-end services, to be the part of the entire value change of e-commerce business, which includes our pick up and dropping points,” said Chakraborty.
In 2016 the company will create 10,000 such pick up and dropping points. The company has just included 100 districts of the country which are hundred per cent serviceable. “To provide full support services to E-commerce companies express players have a big role to play,” he stressed.
“Infra challenges exist but post GST things will change for better for the companies that run their trucks across the country and point to point. This will be beneficial to us as well as E-commerce companies as they shall be able to easily transfer their products from one warehouse to another, one fulfillment centre to another centre in speed and better cost,” he said. “Every investor will ask for profit, no investor will be willing to see artificial valuation,” he pointed out.
In the days to come DTDC will be heavily focused on the surface network and its fleet services thanks to better road infrastructure and impending GST. According to him, air cargo is yet to tap the E-commerce market because of terminal issues and cost factor.
VITAL LINKS
Interestingly, postal departments in all major countries have scripted the success story of E-commerce.
Amazon’s tie up with the US Postal Service is a glaring example in this regard. Reports suggest, in cities such as San Francisco and New York, letter carriers have been showing up on people’s doorsteps as early as 3 a.m. bearing milk, eggs and other perishable items. The US Postal Service has been delivering groceries to customers of Amazon.com in selected areas since October 2014. In India, Amazon has a tie-up with the postal department for particular sectors.
E-commerce giant Alibaba tied up the state-owned China Post two years ago to strengthen its logistics arm, with an ambition of delivering online purchases to any place in the country within 24 hours. The two companies share warehouses, processing centres and delivery resources, aiming to build a smart logistics network providing easier and faster delivery services to online sellers. Alibaba is now eying a similar tie-up with the Postal Department of India. The government is also keen that the Chinese company harnesses the wide reach that the postal department provides across the length and breadth of the country.
“In view of the tremendous potential from the E-commerce market in terms of job opportunities and growth of the national economy, the government agencies and E-commerce marketplaces should have a strong tie-up. The E-commerce companies can utilise India Post’s huge infrastructure and manpower even in the far-flung areas across the country. In addition, the department’s recent endeavour on strengthening its IT infrastructure can be better utilised by the companies,” said John Samuel, former Board Member, Department of Post.
E-commerce is the main driver today of domestic air cargo. “We have witnessed a significant growth in E-commerce shipment this year compared to last year, when we did not have adequate infrastructure to handle the volume,” said Ramesh Mamidala, CEO, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India. According to him, currently most of the airport does not have the terminal capacity to handle current demand for domestic cargo and especially E-commerce shipments.
“We have recognised the opportunity and requirements and decided to strengthen the domestic cargo terminal infrastructure. Very soon we will be launching our dedicated domestic cargo terminal with a capacity to handle 550 tonne cargo a day. Accordingly more airlines can be accommodated for cargo handling. At the same time we are going for significant automation at this new terminal. Also, tracking and tracing procedures will be strengthened for better visibility of the shipments at the terminal,” Mamidala informed.
Like India Post, there are other avenues that can be the silver lining for the E-commerce revolution in respect to addressing issues pertaining to infrastructure capacity.
How remote is remote? If you are on an island in the middle of the ocean, with no one else around you, just a white beach, calm blue waters lapping gently on the shore, a hammock gently swaying in the breeze and a glass of iced mojito in your hand to sip occasionally, wouldn’t that be ideal? It’s possible if you plan your trip to Singapore a little carefully. Of course, you can always take a flight from Singapore to the much more happening city of Bali, with its night clubs and beach parties or even closer, to Bantam Islands, which have their own share of the Bali party culture
But there’s nothing more exciting than going to an island that has no one else but you!
Indonesia is an archipelago of over 14,000 islands, starting from close to Malaysia and stretching all the way to Australia. It has many uninhabited islands that host resorts. Several of these are close to Singapore and you can access them within three hours.
To steal a quiet weekend out of your hectic business/sightseeing trip, look at going to one of the small Indonesia islands within easy access from Singapore. After doing some research on the Net, I chanced upon Telunas, a small island resort about twoand-a-half hours by ferry and power boat from Singapore. We booked a four-night stay at the resort for Rs 5,500 a night (approx.) through online booking before we left from New Delhi.
After our mandatory tour of Singapore, we headed for this magical island. A fast ferry from Singapore to Sekupang in Indonesia costs about Singapore $48 and for a return ticket, took us there in under an hour. The swanky ferry terminal in Indonesia is well-maintained and hassle-free. Once you land, they offer you a visa on arrival ($35), which is processed quickly and smoothly, unlike the visa experience in India.
The resort takes over from hereon. A guest relations officer is assigned to you and is waiting at the ferry terminal to pick you up. Ours was a young girl, Amsalia, who was patient and never stopped smiling. For the next four days, Amsalia made sure we got whatever we need.
Once you leave the ferry terminal, a short walk along the coast takes you to the power boat terminal. Here the noisy scenes remind you so much of home: boat owners yelling out loud to attract customers (this is the main mode of transport to any of the Indonesian islands), just like any of our bus addas. But you don’t have to deal with them as the resort has its own speed boat. It takes close to one-and-a-half hours to crisscross through various islands and zip through the ocean to finally bring you to this secluded island.
The island itself is not large, but has a really thick jungle and mountains, just like the opening scene of Jurassic Park or even the mystical isle that Pi gets stranded on in the book Life Of Pi. The island is part of Sugi, which is part of the Riau Islands, the south-east part of Indonesia. The Riau Islands is a group of 2,000 small islands, covering 252 sq kms, of which Telunas is a part. The resort is run by three foreigners, who bought this island on a whim of setting up an ideal resort in 2000. They have another smaller but more expensive property across from this one, called the Telunas Private Island that has chalets built over the sea.
The speed boat from Sekupang will dock at the front deck, and as you alight you get the warm Indonesianstyle welcome, with a garland of flowers and fresh juice. The rooms are built on stilts, Malay style, with fantastic sunrise and sunset views. You have a choice of deluxe rooms or chalet. The chalets are slightly larger than the rooms with an additional private balcony with a sitting area and hammock.
The beach itself is a large cover of white sand and the water is serene. In fact, during low tide, the water is only waist-deep for at least 500 metres, so you can swim around, as if it’s your own gigantic personal swimming pool! The rooms are simple, with wooden floors, comfortable beds and thatched roofs. At night, when everything is silent, the gently slapping of the waters against the supporting structure is soothing. During the day, you get a glimpse of the sea under you through the gaps in the wooden floor slats. The resort has a ring-free policy: no Wi-Fi or phone service. So you can disconnect completely from the rest of the world.
The food is served in the dining hall and meal times are signed by the striking of a traditional gong, the kenthongan. For vegetarian Indians the food can be a bit problematic since they mostly serve international non-vegetarian cuisine. But if you let them know your food preferences when you book, they will make sure to keep vegetarian food for you. There is a mandatory charge of Singapore $50 a person for your meals.
In the resort itself, there isn’t too much to do other than laze on the beach, swim and then laze some more. But then isn’t that what you are there for? For the footloose, there are options such as a visit to the local village and a waterfall walk, but since the costs are high its best to club it with other guests to share the costs. For the period we were there, there were only two other guests for two days; for the rest of the two days, we were on our own. There are beach activities such as beach volleyball and a lowrope course. You can also do some deck jump during high tide, which is exciting.
Our four days went by in a blur of lazing on the beach, swimming all day and reading on the deck. It was like being marooned on an island, of course with all the comforts of a room and food. I’d trade a noisy beach holiday for this luxurious and quiet hideaway in the middle of the ocean any day. It’s what heavenly holidays are made of.
It’s that time of the year when the mind is still swirling in a festive fervour. Like every year, the celebrations kick-started with the beating of the dhak and blowing of conch shells welcoming Ma Durga followed by the towering flames of the burning Ravana effigy touching the skies, purging us of evil on Dussehra day. This was soon ensued by the whirlwind rush, twinkling lights and endless feasts on Diwali. But somehow this year, as we basked in the familiar sense of festive zeal, we also felt a faint sense of unease lurking right below the happy surface. What was purely tangible was a mood of seething anger alternating with moments of somber quietude and reflection on the lost lives of our brave soldiers and the families they left behind.
September 18, 2016 is a date not many of us would forget soon. The attack on Indian soil on this day was almost like the proverbial last straw and made us sit up and say – hey, enough is enough! Moreover, the day’s tragic outcome acted as a catalyst to more things to come, foremost of all a resolute stance from the Indian Prime Minister giving out clear signals that if our neighbour continued sponsorship of terrorists groups that carry out attacks in India we would no longer turn the other cheek.
The Uri attack and India’s response would go down in the history as turning points. Our cover story reflects on the three-sixty degree offensive defence by India comprising diplomatic carpet bombing delivered through the UN, BRICS and SAARC. If national anger against terrorism was visible in the form of Dussehra theme across the country, a global concern was raised against the menace, as reflected in the Goa Declaration of the 8th BRICS Summit.
India has a different standing altogether in the world today for which a large part of the credit goes to its economic clout with its GDP measuring over $ 2 trillion. No advanced or advancing country in the world can afford to neglect India that offers a 1.2 billion people market. Keeping this in mind, the State has taken a new approach towards dealing with terrorism with a stamp of assertion, making way for a confident India. After all, war is and should always be the last option in any conflict, because way to peace need not necessarily be through war.
Also in this issue is the RBI’s decision to ease interest rates that would provide succor to industry which has long been afflicted by weak order book conditions and create conditions for investment revival. The rate cut is expected to spur demand in rate sensitive sectors thereby helping firms to resume their investment plans.
We also bring to you rare glimpses of a people movement in Nepal which is slowly rebuilding the crumbled heritage of the country which witnessed devastating earthquakes last year.
These stories are reflections of that time of the year when human spirit triumphs over desolation, devastation and destruction. Hope you like them.
The Nobel Prize in Literature
Legendary American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature for “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”.
Following the announcement, Sara Danius, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, said “He can be read and should be read, and is a great poet in the English tradition. For 54 years he is constantly reinventing himself creating a new identity.”
Bob Dylan was born as Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. For the last five decades Dylan remains an influential figure in folk, rock and blues music. His writings and music highlights social issues like civil rights and anti-war movements. Since the 60s, his iconic songs such as “Blowin’ In The Wind”, “The Times They Are a-Changin”, “Tangled Up In Blue”, “Mr Tambourine Man”, “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and “Like A Rolling Stone” has remained popular with generation after generation. Dylan is one of the bestselling artists of all time with sales of more than 100 million records. He has also published six books of drawings and paintings. Previously Dylan has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Nashvile Songwriters Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has received numerous awards including an Academy Award (Oscar), a Golden Globe Award , 11 Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Wonder Woman appointed UN honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls
Iconic comic character and superhero Wonder Woman has been named an Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls by the United Nations.
“Wonder Woman has always been a trailblazer for women’s rights and we believe she can continue that legacy by expanding and deepening the dialogue around these critical issues,” said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment and of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “While we have achieved progress towards gender equality in many parts of the world, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence. Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world,” said Cristina Gallach, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information.
Wonder Woman’s strength and fight for justice and peace will help to focus the campaign’s attention in five key areas – speaking out against discrimination and limitations on women and girls; joining forces with others against gender-based violence and abuse; supporting full and effective participation and equal opportunity for women and girls in leadership in all spheres of life – including the workplace; ensuring all women and girls have access to quality learning, and sharing examples of real life women and girls who are making a difference every day.
Bird Flu returns
Avian influenza or bird flu has reemerged in New Delhi and in other parts of the country. Report of bird deaths led to the closure of Delhi Zoo and Deer Park. The Gwalior zoo has lost its entire population of Painted storks to bird flu.
Acting swiftly on the reports of mortality among the birds in National Zoological Park, Delhi NCR and other parts of the country due to avian influenza virus, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Anil Madhav Dave, has directed to constitute a monitoring committee for overseeing outbreak of H5 Avian Influenza in the country. The committee will oversee the daily incidences of H5 Avian Influenza in National Zoological Park and other Zoos of the country and submit a daily report to the Environment Minister.
Investigations have revealed that all bird deaths have been caused by the H5N8 virus. Officials are keeping a close watch as thousands of migrating birds fly into the country every day.
Joining hands at BRICS Goa
The 8th BRICS Summit took place in the Goa (15-16 October) under the Chairmanship of India. BRICS, grouping Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is a unique international mechanism which has been playing an important role in rebalancing global influence thereby having positive effects on world economy and politics.
In a joint declaration, the five head of states, leaders of Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, emphasised the importance of further strengthening BRICS solidarity and cooperation based on common interests and key priorities to further strengthen strategic partnership in the spirit of openness, solidarity, equality, mutual understanding, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation. The leaders agreed that emerging challenges to global peace and security and to sustainable development require further enhancing of collective efforts.
INS Viraat retires
Indian Navy bids farewell to world’s oldest aircraft carrier INS Viraat. Viraat is expected to be decommissioned by end of this year, after 55 years of service, including 27 years with the Royal Navy (British Navy). INS Viraat was accorded a grand send-off from the port city in Kochi. The final journey of the carrier began with Navy officials led by the Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Nadkarni bidding farewell to the carrier at Ernakulam Wharf of Cochin Port Trust.
Up in the air for Galaxy Note 7
After the drama unfolded in September, last month saw several countries banning Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphones from flights after reports of fire risk. Turkey’s flagship carrier Turkish Airlines was the latest to ban Note 7. Most airlines issued statements that the devices can no longer be transported on person, in carry-on baggage, in checked bags or as air cargo. Airline companies also put up warning note to passengers on their websites. The ban came after reports of exploding batteries and fires, which have led to numerous injuries. That prompted the South Korean electronics giant to recall all Note 7 phones, including replacements. Samsung has also stopped producing the flagship handset.
Faultlines in Samajwadi Party
Yadav versus Yadav battle has been raging for almost two months now. In September, UttarPradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had dropped uncle Shivpal from the cabinet. The sacking of Shivpal was seen as a retort to his father, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has been promoting Shivpal over his son in the run-up to the assembly elections in the state that will be held next year. The rift grew wider with Akhilesh and Mulayam meet the Samajwadi Party legislators separately. The family feud came all out in the open when Akhilesh sacked his uncle Shivpal from the ministry. SP party supremo Mulayam Singh says: “Our family is united and so is our party”, as we go to press.
At Lucknow’s Aishbagh Ram Leela, believed to be staged for over 600 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra, Lord Ram’s bow and arrow and Lord Hanuman’s Gada on Dussehra day. Within days of 19 Indian soldiers losing their lives in the attack on Uri Army camp by Pakistani terrorists on September 18, and India’s befitting reply through surgical strikes on the launch pads of Pakistani militants on September 29, an angry nation chose it fit to mark Dussehra celebrations with the broad theme of ‘Rising against Terrorism’.
Conventionally, prime ministers had chosen to stay in Delhi on Dussehra and been going to Ram Leela Maidan or Subhash Maidan for the celebrations. Modi broke away from this convention and choose to go to Lucknow’s ancient Ram Leela which, it is believed, was started in the 16th century by Goswami Tulsidas , the venerable author of Ramcharit Manas.
Generally, the internal summits which India hosts are organised in the national capital. As its Chair, India organised the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in Goa with Modi playing the perfect host with impeccable detailing and hospitality with a personal touch.
Strange it may sound; there was something common between Aishbagh’s Ram Leela and Goa’s BRICS Summit. If national anger against terrorism, specifically being sponsored by Pakistan, was visible in the form of Dussehra theme, a global concern was raised against the menace, as reflected in the Goa Declaration of the 8th BRICS Summit, endorsed by all heads of state and government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Goa Declaration may not have specifically named Pakistan, but it did talk about a “comprehensive approach” by all nations for “dismantling terrorist bases” and combating radicalisation, among other things. In fact, those who feel disappointed over the fact that Pakistan was not mentioned in the Goa Declaration in clear words, were expecting too much to happen just in one shot. The ground reality of China being a close ally of Pakistan has to be kept in mind, before raising expectations. It is only through sustained and calibrated efforts on all fronts that China can be made to realise its own interest by staying away from Islamabad.
But one of the key takeaways of the BRICS Summit was an encouraging outcome from the India-Russia bilateral summit, where President Putin seemed to be convinced by Prime Minister Modi’s gesture that traced the traditional mutual trust and confidence shared by the two strategic partners. “An old friend is better than two new friends”. One must read between the lines of this sentence which seeks to reassure Russia about India’s commitment to Moscow despite the evolving new strategic relationship with the US. On its part, the kind of defence and energy agreements worth several billions of dollars signed between India and Russia should also clear doubts over the recent joint military exercise by Russia with Pakistan.
However, senior military and diplomatic experts do feel that India must be watchful of the growing relationship between Russia and China and take advantage of the situation using Moscow’s goodwill towards New Delhi.
The all-encompassing India strategy to isolate Pakistan was clearly evident when almost all the South Asian nations stood by India and got the November SAARC Summit in Islamabad cancelled. And then, along with the BRICS Summit, came the declaration of the outcome document of the The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Outreach Summit clearly indicting Pakistan, without really naming it. The document endorsed by heads of Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand (represented by Special Envoy) was more forthcoming against those sheltering terrorists.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the recent barbaric terror attacks in the region. We strongly believe that our fight against terrorism should not only seek to disrupt and eliminate terrorists, terror organisations and networks, but should also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against States that encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues. There should be no glorification of terrorists as martyrs. We recognise the need for urgent measures to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation,” read the outcome document of the deliberations among the leaders of BIMSTEC.
As for the US, the White House and both Presidential candidates have been unsparing in targeting Pakistan as a haven of global terror.
The Uri attack and India’s response in the form surgical strike delivered with precision of surgeon, not armed with injectables but lethal armours, on September 29, 2016 would go down in the history as turning points. The turn-about was a three-sixty degree offensive defence comprising diplomatic carpet bombing delivered through the UN, BRICS, SAARC, big powers like the US, Russia and EU.
What about China? That is what matters and would be Modi’s principal challenge.
Enough analysis has been done on television debates and in the print media along with bombardment of social media posts and tweets on India’s response to attacks by terrorists trained and financed by the Pakistani establishment. That India’s response was a huge deviation from the past taking both Pakistani military and civilian government by surprise and making them at best a wounded lamb (they are nowhere tiger) has found nation-wide acclaim. Political skirmishes between the Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party in the run-up to Assembly elections in politically important states like Punjab, Goa and Uttar Pradesh, are part of a vibrant democracy that we celebrate as the largest in the world.
Having shown grit, PM Modi and his core team of ministers and aides are certainly not expected to sit pretty, counting the gains from a professional and impeccable action by the Armed forces across the Line of Control, which the present dispensation does not want to treat as an international border. As expected, Team Modi must be working on ‘what next’ in terms of dealing with the wounded lamb which is not to be taken lightly as it is finding a sympathiser and an empathiser in China whose designs are certainly to see its hegemony from Tibet Plateau to Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and not to forget the troublesome South China Sea.
Even as the Indian Army and internal security agencies gear up to thwart any fresh attack from terrorists or LoC violations, each and every covert and overt development between China and Pakistan has to be noticed, studied, analysed and dealt with in a professional and nononsense manner. Since Pakistan had remained in the thick of the geo-political theatre for several decades, used and befriended by major powers including the US, dealing with Islamabad has to be much more strategic and broad-based. The covert designs of the Pakistani Generals would go to any extent to stay relevant in a fast changing scenario where the new US President is expected to enhance pressure on them to shun their policy of terror as a state weapon in Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir and in other places in South Asia like Bangladesh. The Pakistani government is now pinning their hopes on the “allweather friend” China to help them in continuing to meddle in Kashmir while convincing Beijing how the two nations can corner India in a common strategic move.
As things stand today, the US is in the midst of a political transition, giving somewhat of an advantage to China which does not hide its ambitions to emerge as a counter to America on the world geo-political threatre. Besides, Russian strongman Putin would continue to remain one of the pre-dominant figures with his ambitions to see his country reemerge as one of the major powers in a bi-polar or tri-polar world.
While India finds itself quite close to the US in a new global strategic equation, New Delhi would be well advised to retain its old and time-tested ties with Russia which in turn seems to be getting closer to China as both of them see a common target in the form of the American allies. Thus, a fine and delicate balance has to be struck in India’s foreign policy initiative. The idea should be to find two of the three main powers – the US and Russia on our side. This would keep China on the alert and discourage Beijing to go too far in burning bridges with New Delhi.
PAK ISOLATION TO BE THEME
India’s foreign policy has surely been turned around to be more pro-active rather than reactive, especially with regard to dealing with Pakistan and China. Yet another interesting change in the policy is the tremendous emphasis being given on raising India’s economic standing, using different instruments including the contributions of a strong Indian diaspora who have struck a special chord with Modi. The workings of the Indian missions have understandably been re-aligned. Be it Group of 20 meeting , India-EU Summit, India-ASEAN Summit or any other big meeting, maximum milking is being done for accrual of advantage to India. This has enhanced India’s standing, which is now rightly being used to isolate Pakistan driving home the point how terrorism is the worst threat being faced by most of the nations and its epicentre lies in Pakistan which the Prime Minister described as the “mothership” of terrorism. Given the economic challenges being faced by China and its ambitions, Beijing would also not be able to always stick its neck out in favour of Pakistan at each of the international events where India must keep the pressure on.
FIRM HOLD ON HOME TURF
No nation could ever remain relevant on a global platform without first fixing its domestic issues. Even if Pakistan does not miss any opportunity to interfere in Kashmir, Prime Minister Modi is expected to reach out to the Kashmiri people making them realise where their interest lies. Initiatives like an IIM in Jammu and Kashmir would go a long way to restoring confidence of the Kashmiri people who would have also realised by now how PM Modi is not going to be soft on Pakistan. Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra is reflective of his resolve to crush the terror from the sub-continent while Lord Ram’s bow and arrow symbolise the power to strike right at the target, known as ‘surgical strikes’ in modern days. Hanuman’s Gada is symbol of the national mood to beat the evil designs of those whose obsession is to keep the region on a boil.
As the message is driven home that the government means business and once the funding channels of mischief inside the Kashmir valley with links with Pakistan’s ISI and establishment-funded terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad are snapped, things will fall in place in Kashmir. Now that the BJP has an alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party, her hands must be strengthened and she be made an active partner in winning over the people who must be made to realise how their interests can never be served by Pakistan which is crushing any dissent in Pak-Occupied Kashmir and Balochistan.
As part of the overall strategy to corner Pakistan, Modi’s gambit on Balochistan, throwing India’s sympathy for the Balochs, has brought another ugly face of Pakistan before the international community which was being fed the Kashmiri theme all this while.
It is a new approach towards dealing with Pakistan and reflects the Prime Minister’s stamp of assertion, backed by an anger of 1.25 billion people who want the old order to be replaced by a confident India.