Padma Shri Dr. Azad Moopen Ride of a Lifetime Indians In The Netherlands Anglo-Indians vs ...

100 Pages·2012·13.26 MB·English

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THE INTERNATIONAL
Indian
Est 1992: The Region’s Oldest, Authoritative
2012 • ISSUE 5 • VOL. 19.5
Magazine of Gulf Indian Society & History Jewellery
www.theinternationalindian.com Sep 1, 2012 - Oct 31, 2012
Padma Shri Dr. Azad Moopen
Health Care Success in India and the Gulf
Ride of a Lifetime
Adventure Travel with a Purpose
Indians In The Netherlands
A Second Wave of Immigrants
Anglo-Indians vs Goans
The Fairest of Them All
Going Back to India
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Editorial
‘Indian-ness’ & The Olympics:
The Great Indian Crab Race
Our shared humanity gets savagely challenged when the
manifold divisions in the world are unified into one allegedly
dominant system of classification – in terms of religion, or
community, or culture, or nation, or civilization.
– Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate
Have you ever considered such a gold medal in London; just think how many
thing as ‘Indian-ness,’ – what is potential Olympic stars in India never get
it? If you line up the traits that their chance, in a society where mass murder
could define it, what would you is routine. Has anyone considered how much
come up with? I have a hard time individual talent is annihilated consistently like
coming up with authentic attributes, especially so much unnecessary human fodder?
with author Pavan K. Varma’s hardhitting book Pavan Varma pulls no punches – he shows
The Great Indian Middle Class within reach in how the Indian middle class is motivated by
my study. The Mera Bharat Mahaan wallahs will self-interest and material well being alone,
readily tout Indian family values, and respect for which has subverted the goal of an egalitarian
elders, especially when comparing Indians with society. He warns it is dangerous to remain
Westerners. But in the West, do they murder the insensitive to the needs of a vast number of
girl child in horrific numbers as we do in India? Indians who live in extreme poverty. Such
And, what have our elders taught us about such thinking ignores the risk of considerable
things? Ours is a land where girls are slaughtered political instability, which militates against the
every day, with shocking statistics indicating that very prosperity that people desire.
one out of every six girls does not live to see her Indians don’t look at each other as Indians,
15th birthday, and 500,000 are forced into the like Americans see each other as Americans
flesh trade every year. or British as British etc. If you don’t agree,
Indian family values? Someone’s wife compare the involvement and commitment
is burned alive almost every hour in India. of people over national issues in India, versus
Dowry, although banned by law in 1961, is still North America and Europe – most Indians are
demanded, it is an ancient tradition prevalent spectators, gullible voters at best, frequently
amongst most Indian families. subject to political manipulation and mob rule.
Superstition, hypocrisy and communal hate In North America and Europe, people are more
more likely define ‘Indian-ness.’ likely to be a close knit community of citizens,
Forget about lack of infrastructure as deeply involved in running their countries with
the reason for India not winning a single passion and commitment despite the failings in
4
The International Indian
their system. time he was royally ignored.”
Indians seem unable to see the disparity I must admit to being in awe of Mr. Das
between what is considered good governance Gupta’s incisive prose. Three years after his
in India, versus the performance of governments tirade, perhaps this distinguished man of letters
‘‘
in many other countries, including some has done a rethink. After studying at Oxford
monarchies in the Middle East. Despite their etc., he has obviously denied himself a life
flaws, these societies are grounded in the rule of abroad. Perhaps he genuinely does not regret
law far more effectively than India ever will be. being stuck in an underhanded Indian political Multiple
Multiple prejudices operate in our country. and business environment. Still, it’s a pity his prejudices
The Great Indian Crab Race has conditioned Indian-ness was so characteristically on display
operate
most of us to look at one another through by such thoughtless, inaccurate commentary.
in our
the filters of wealth, status, caste, creed or Less benign is the example of Maya
language. We care less about understanding or Kodnani, gynaecologist and BJP politician, just country.
respecting another person’s rights or feelings - convicted in the 2002 Godhra riots, who was The Great
someone’s merit or talent matters little if they the Gujarat minister for women’s welfare, child Indian
do not belong to our community. development and higher education!
Crab Race
How can such attitudes discover, encourage How pathetic it is that we divide ourselves
has con-
or create opportunities for the talent that lies as NRIs and RIs, North Indians and South
hidden in a nation of one billion plus? Indians, Dalits and Brahmins, Hindus and ditioned
There seems to be an inherent inclination Muslims etc. Half the world’s poor live like most of
in Indians to put down one another, which animals in India, overwhelmed by the servility us to look
explains why the story of the ‘Indian crab,’ who they must practice to survive. The country’s
at one
puts down others to try and stay ahead, is so education system does not afford the same
another
well known. It is a tendency even among the educational opportunities to girls as it does
through
highly educated who should know better. boys. According to CRY (Child Rights & You)
Swapan Das Gupta is a familiar face on female mortality exceeds male mortality in the filters
Indian television, a senior Indian journalist 224 out of 402 districts in India. The death of‘ we‘alth,
who has worked at The Statesman, The Daily rate among girls below the age of four years is status,
Telegraph, The Times of India, The Indian Express higher than that of boys. Even if she escapes
caste,
and was the Managing Editor of India Today infanticide or foeticide, a girl child is less likely
creed or
till 2003. He was educated at the country’s to receive immunization, nutrition or medical
finest schools including La Martiniere College treatment compared to a male child and 53% language.
in Calcutta, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi of girls in the age group of five to nine years
University, and earned an MA and PhD at the are illiterate.
School of Oriental and African Studies, topped NRIs have the opportunity to observe
by a scholarship at Oxford. first hand how good governance works in
In 2009, Das Gupta wrote an article in many countries, perhaps more objectively
The Times of India, belittling NRIs, in which he than resident Indians who are consistently
concluded by saying: “To the NRI confronted manipulated by political and media hype.
with a precarious descent into obscurity, there Yet, though we enjoy the rights and privileges
is only a small solace: interventions on the net. India affords, especially a good return on our
Taking advantage of a more connected world, investments, quality education for our children
the professional NRI (who knows no other etc., most of us don’t feel obligated to give
identity) has stepped up his battles to cast India something back. Our retirement plans are
in his own confused image. No Indian website focused on personal comfort not making any
is free from the voluminous but pernicious real contribution.
comments of the know-all, ultra-nationalist NRI When the TV channels try to make it look
banging away on the computer in splendid like being proud to be an Indian is a widely
isolation. From being India’s would-be held conviction, we know it isn’t, except
benefactors, the meddlesome NRI has become perhaps on rare occasions – like the Cricket
an intellectual nuisance, derailing civil discourse World Cup or the Olympics. We all know that
with his paranoia and pseudo-superiority. It’s Mary Kom’s bronze medal will not open many
5
The International Indian
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Editorial
‘‘
doors for her outside Manipur. that Hindu society cannot dispense with it, that
Jesse Owens, the Black American track and it lives on because of the discipline of caste,’
field athlete won four gold medals at the 1936 he said in 1916. About reform he stated: ‘The
Many of Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, which caste system is a perfectly natural institution…I
was presided over by a resurgent Adolf Hitler am opposed to the movements which are
the con-
supremely confident of Aryan prowess. being carried on for the destruction of the
flicts and
In Indian society, how many impoverished system…We do not associate with members
barbari-
youth like Owens are given a break to succeed? of other communities for eating or enter into
ties in the It is absurd to imagine that India doesn’t have marriage relationships with them.’ (Collected
world are the human potential in sports. It is more likely Works of Mahatma Gandhi, 13 pg 301, before
sustained that deep rooted Indian attitudes blatantly October 1916)
discriminate against the country’s talent. There Amartya Sen points out that, “many of
through
are many examples of this, from Dalits not the conflicts and barbarities in the world are
‘the‘ illu-
allowed to enter temples to Muslims being sustained through the illusion of a unique and
sion of a denied housing in Mumbai etc. Two decades choiceless identity.” He terms the presumption
unique and of economic growth may have transformed that human beings
choiceless contemporary life in India in many ways, can be uniquely
but sadly this syndrome has a history of categorized
identity.
reinforcement that goes back even to the on the basis of
‘Father of the Nation.’ their religion or
For Gandhiji, respect for other cultures was culture as, “the Frank Raj
fine so far as the different cultures kept their miniaturization of Founder-Editor & Publisher
distance from one another. This was not unlike people.” [email protected]
his attitude to caste, when he made it clear, ‘I
The International Indian
have devoted much thought to the subject of @frankraj08
the caste system and come to the conclusion Frank Raj
Are you looking for your life partner?
Tired of looking in the wrong places?
Not happy with parental coercion?
Skeptical about what the stars foretell?
COMING SOON!
6
The International Indian
Eleganza-The Intl Indian FP 196x257.ai 1 8/9/12 4:57 PM
What’s Inside
Sep 01 - Oct 31
51
22
THE INTERNATIONAL
Indian
EST: 1992 The Region’s Oldest, Authoritative
Magazine of Gulf Indian Society & History
91
79
36
contents SCTeoIemI P Apphameogtatieott ie6ou6nr
buzzword
30 All For The Love Of India 48 Gulf Hotel Happenings
by: Rudy Otter
features
“When Kerala Connections made its
94 • Mr. Thumbay Moideen Listed In
debut in 1998, Co-directors Diana
“The Influentials” In Gulf News
and Trevor had to tell enquirers where
• Aaron Shum Jewellery’s Fauna And
Flora Collection From Gemtique – Kerala was. 22 Can One Indian-American
Flutter With Life! Stop Obama in 2012? by: Frank Raj
34 The Exumas, Bahamas Dinesh D’souza is determined to stop
95 • Liali Launches Interactive by: Kathy M. Newbern and President Obama from a second term
Facebook Store For Jewellery Lovers! J.S. Fletcher in office.
There are not enough words to
• Garage Summer 2012
properly describe every shade of blue in 44 Yes, You Can Stay On Top Of
96 • Giuseppe Zanotti Design Launches these perfect island waters. E-Mail by: Michael Hyatt
Its Autumn Winter Collection Awhile back, one of my friends asked,
“Praising Imperfections” 40 Who Says Seniors Don’t Want To “How do you get through all of your
• Giordano Features Artworks From Have Fun? by: Shyamola Khanna Email. It’s killing me. I just can’t seem to
Mawaheb’s Artists With Special Needs TII’s intrepid Shyamola Khanna and her get on top of it.” I know the feeling.
friends - a bunch of adventurous silvers
took off to Greece.
97 • Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Launched In the UAE
• Witness One Of Kenya’s Most on the cover...
Spectacular Annual Events
travel
12 Dr Azad Moopen: Big On CARE
by: Ruqya Khan
He started with a single doctor practice at his private clinic in Bur
24 Ride of a Lifetime Dubai 25 years ago, where he looked after a hundred patients
Adventure Travel With A Mission every day. Now, Dr. Azad Moopen, the founder of DM Healthcare,
by: Prem Souri Kishore has built the largest chain of healthcare conglomerates in West
The journey is about the unexpected. First, Asia, employing over 3,000 people in the GCC and caring for
a sharing of an expedition with a horse. 15,000 patients a day.
8
The International Indian
46 Relocating To Life In India 86 Sham Marriages A Passport For in every issue...
by: Frank Raj ‘Legal’ Entry To The UK by: Shamlal Puri
Bushra Alvi returned to India after a six Foreigners are openly flouting British
4 Editorial
year stint in the Gulf. TII interviewed her Immigration laws using marriage to
to learn more about her experiences. British passport holders as a means to 10 Letters
gain entry into the United Kingdom. 11 Editor’s Pick
54 Secret Daughter: By Shilpi Somaya
85 TII Hall of Fame
Gowda: Review by: Agnes Goretti 88 He Hunts For Heads by: Deepa Ballal
TII introduces a book review column to Mahananda Moy Banerji, founder
keep track of the latest bestselling novels and CEO of Youbook, is doing much columns
the same as Mark Zuckerberg of
56 Indians In The Netherlands Facebook, but with a difference.
by: Maarten van der Schaaf
50 GUPTARA GARMAGARAM
In ten year’s time, Indian expats
The State Of The Nation
have transformed the Dutch town of
by: Prabhu Guptara
Amstelveen into little India.
The general elections coming at the
latest in 2014 are likely, as far as can
62 COORG.... Wake Up And Smell The
be seen at present, to produce a hung
Coffee! by: Sarina Menezes
parliament.
Tucked away in the “highlands” of
Karnataka is Coorg – a little district
58 QUESTIONS
that stands apart due to its natural
Sunil Roy has been in Dubai for a
beauty, serene tranquility and most of
decade and a half. He shares his ideas
all – its people!
on change. by: A Staff Writer
72 Uday Bhan: India’s Jeep Guru 61
60 HUMOR
by: Anuradha Sharmal
India’s Most Successful Olympic
His love for restoring vintage jeeps
Games Ever? by: Melvin Durai
revived like an old itch and in 1980 UBS investment
India’s Sports Minister Ajay Maken
started a workshop at his Liluah home.
congratulated the Indian Olympic team
on their “super success” at the London
76 Learning To Give Back To Society: 68 Beware - Of Banking Fraud!
Olympics.
Expat Indian Kids’ Piggy Bank Club by: Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri
by: Amita Sarwal Today, most of us do our banking online
92 SOLDIERS
Compassionate Indian expat Moms in and its therefore made the process of
“Please God; I Hope it is Not Him:”
Hong Kong have started a ‘Piggy Bank scrutinizing one’s bank account simpler.
An Army Wife Shares Her Emotional
Club,’ to teach valuable lessons to their
Trauma - As Recounted To
kids, that is worth emulating by anyone, 70 Funding For Purchase
Major General Mrinal Suman,
anywhere. Of Property In India
AVSM, VSM, PhD
by: Prem Karra
It was the 8th of December 1971 and
78 Anglo-Indians And Goans: Who’s The TII introduces an investment Q&A
the war was at its worst. The night
Fairest Of Them All? by: Rudy Otter column for our readers.
brought the much-dreaded postman to
It was clear to me, as a “medium-
food... our door with a telegram.
brownie” born and brought up in India
in the mid-1900s, that having a fair
98 WINNING by: Frank Raj
complexion meant everything to Anglo-
In developing my new Winning column
Indians in those far-off days. 90 India’s Favorite Dishes my goal is not to engage in success
by: Golden Reejsinghani oriented punditry, for which there are
82 Dostana: Bharatbhai Shah and No other country in the world can plenty of gurus, but rather to use it as a
Dhirubhai Ambani by: Bandana Jain boast of such a great variety of vehicle to look at various topics that we
Dubai’s well-known entrepreneur delicious dishes as India.. need to understand better and come
Bharatbhai Shah, his close associate,
to helpful conclusions and “win” in a
pays tribute to an old friend.
broader, more meaningful sense.
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9
The International Indian
THE INTERNATIONAL
Indian
Letters to the Editor
EST: 1992 The Region’s Oldest, Authoritative
Magazine of Gulf Indian Society & History
ISSN 0964 8437
Surender Kandhari’s Legacy,
PUBLISHERS
The cover story of your July-August issue was truly inspiring. As
Prof. Prabhu Guptara
Santosh Shetty your rightly pointed out, the legacy of the work done by Surender
FOUNDER EDITOR Kandhari will last much beyond his lifetime.
Frank Raj But what I liked most about the interview was the humbleness
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS of his contribution in getting the Gurudwara built. From obtaining
Erik R. Hadden permissions and the legalities involved, to generating funds and
Prem Souri Kishore co-ordinating with various contractors to executing the project and
Benjamin H. Parker successfully operating a Guru Nanak Darbar is a humungous task, to
Vishal Mangalwadi say the least.
TRAVEL EDITOR Mr. Kandhari should be proud of the fact that he is amongst the
Shana Raj Parker very few individuals who has made his grandfather’s prophecy of
MANAGER PR building a shrine away from his homeland come true. Take a bow,
Christine DeSouza Mr. Surender Kandhari!!!
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Deepa Bharat
Balan Iyer
Dubai
GRAPHIC ARTIST
Delfina Tuazon
CORRIGENDUM
PHOTOGRAPHER
Benjamin H. Parker TII would like to clarify that in the previous issue (Vol 19.4)
INTERNATIONAL the Indian School of Business (ISB) was wrongly referred to as the
CORRESPONDENTS Indian Business School (IBS).
CANADA Rubina Jacob The error is sincerely regretted.
SINGAPORE Amita Sarwal
UK Anjali Guptara Khera Scintillating Work,
Rudy Otter I am a regular reader of TII and wanted to drop a few lines by
Shamlal Puri that are perhaps long overdue. Sometimes, with the abundance that
USA Prem Souri Kishore nature has gifted me with, a blessing that most expatriates living in
MIDDLE EAST Hemu Gorde the gulf are gifted with, I just missed doing this before.
Bandana Jain I really appreciate the rich content that you so skillfully put
Deepa Ballal together for TII. There is so much I get to see of our people which
SOUTH AFRICA Asma Ayob would not have been possible without TII. I enjoy reading them and
INDIA always look forward to the next issue. Well done and keep up the
DELHI Vishal Arora scintillating work.
CHENNAI Aruna Srinivasan Prakash Chugani
HYDERABAD Shyamola Khanna
Dubai
MUMBAI Sarina Menezes
BANGALORE Marianne de Nazareth
India: Love It Or Leave It
DIRECTOR
I have often reacted with anger to your editorials.
Raina Raj Hadden
For a long time I did not understand what you were trying to do.
HEAD, OPERATIONS
Now after reading many issues of TII, I am clear you are a patriot with
Arpit Waghmare
a mind of your own.
TII MIDDLE EAST & INDIA OFFICES: Keep up the good work!
BAHRAIN
Jaiprakash Gaekwad
Lloyd Rebello | [email protected]
Mob: [phone] Bahrain
OMAN
Martin Wilson | [email protected]
Mob: [phone]
QATAR The best letters to the editor
Merwyn Ferrao | [email protected]
Mob: [phone] will win exquisite gifts
UAE
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INDIA
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