Ist Issue of March 2016

Vol.14 Issue:04

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Lok Sabha clears RealEstate Bill as passed by

Rajya Sabha

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Jaipur Literary Festival2016: For the love of

Word

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PSLV-C32successfully

launches India'sSixth Navigation

Satellite IRNSS-1F

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Journey throughHyderabad's royal

palaces

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi attended theWorld Sufi Forum in New Delhi on 17 March 2016. TheForum was convened by the All India Ulama andMashaikh Board. The four-day event was attended by over200 delegates, including foreign delegates from 20countries including spiritual leaders, scholars,academicians and theologists from Egypt, Jordan, Turkey,UK, USA, Canada, Pakistan and from other countries.

Following is the text of Prime Minister’s address atWorld Sufi Forum:

Syed Mohammad Ashraf, Founder President, All IndiaUlama and Mashaik Board, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel KarimAllam, Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shaykh Hashimuddin AlGailani, from Baghdad, Syed Minhaj Ur Rehman fromBangladesh, Diwan Ahmed Masood Chisti from Pakistan,Syed Nizami from Nizamuddin Dargah and Syed Chistifrom Ajmer Sharif, My ministerial colleagues, Scholarsand Sufis from India, Our guests from our neighbours andfrom nations far beyond, Welcome to a land that is atimeless fountain of peace, and an ancient source oftraditions and faiths, which has received and nurturedreligions from the world. Welcome to a people with anabiding belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the World isone family.

A belief in harmony with the message of Holy Quranthat mankind were one community, then they differedamong themselves, A creed echoed in the words of thegreat Persian Sufi poet Saadi, written in the UnitedNations, that human beings come from the same source:We are one family. Welcome to the ancient city of Delhi -built by the genius of diverse peoples, cultures and faiths.Like our nation, the city’s heart has place for every faith,from those with few followers to those with billionbelievers. Its magnificent shrines include the dargahs ofgreat Sufi saints Mehboob-e-Ilahi and Hazrat BakhtiyarKaki, that draw people from all faiths and all corners of theworld. This is an extraordinary event of great importance

to the world, at a critical time for humanity. At a time whenthe dark shadow of violence is becoming longer, you arethe noor, or the light of hope. When young laughter issilenced by guns on the streets, you are the voice that heals.In a world that struggles to assemble for peace and justice,this is an assembly of those whose life itself is a messageof peace, tolerance and love. You have come from differentlands and cultures, but you are united by a common faith.You speak different languages, but they blend together in amessage of harmony. And, you represent the rich diversityof the Islamic civilization that stands on the solid bedrock

World Sufi Forum - 2016

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High Commissioner of India, H.E. Mr. Navtej Sarna presentedhis credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of theUnited Kingdom at the Buckingham Palace on 16 March 2016at 1200 hrs. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Avina Sarna,the Deputy High Commissioner and senior officers of the HighCommission.

High Commissioner Sarna is the 25th High Commissionerof India to the UK since 1947. He was earlier Secretary at theMinistry of External Affairs of India and took up hisassignment as the High Commissioner of India to the UK inJanuary 2016.

High Commissioner conveyed greetings from thePresident and Prime Minister of India to Her Majesty theQueen and reiterated the commitment of the Government ofIndia to work towards implementation of the roadmap agreedto during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to the UK inNovember 2015.

After the presentation of Credentials, the HighCommissioner and Dr. Sarna hosted a reception at theirresidence for dignitaries including Members of Parliament,senior officials from the UK Government, Heads ofDiplomatic Missions in the UK and representatives frombusiness groups and media.

Presentation of Credentials

by High Commissioner

The inaugural session of the RaisinaDialogue was held in Delhi on 1March 2016. This new initiativetaken jointly by the Ministry ofExternal Affairs and the ObserverResearch Foundation, seeks to createan international platform in India forpolicy makers and strategic thinkersto deliberate on the key issues of theday. Around 400 delegatesparticipated, including about 120foreign delegates from 40 countries,and nearly 90 speakers along withExternal Affairs Minister Smt.Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary SJaishankar, H.E. ChandrikaKumaratunga, Former President ofSri Lanka, H.E. Hamid Karzai,Former President of Afghanistan,H.E. Sir James Mancham, FormerPresident of Seychelles, H.E. AbulHassan Mahmood Ali, ForeignMinister of Bangladesh and Senior

functionaries of Observer ResearchFoundation.

The Raisina Dialogue isenvisioned as India’s flagshipconference of geopolitics and geo-economics. It is designed to exploreprospects and opportunities for Asianintegration as well as Asia’s integr -ation with the larger world. It ispredicated on India’s vital role in theIndian Ocean Region and how Indiaalong with its partners can build astable regional and world order. The2016 conclave focused on Asia’sphysical, economic, social anddigital connectivity and fosteringcommon global spaces. During her speech, External Affairs

Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj made the

following points:

n Since May 2014, we havebrought a new sense of purpose toour foreign policy. By finding

common ground and creatingpractical outcomes, we have earned areputation of a constructive player inthe global arena. There is awidespread impression that today, adecisive, energetic and actionoriented leadership is in charge inIndia. As a consequence, India hasbecome a natural participant in mostimportant global conversations. It isbut appropriate that this is alsoreflected now in a regular conclavein India that extends to think-tanksand analysts.n Connectivity today is central to theglobalisation process. It is, of course,particularly important for Asia'sgrowth and development. Indeed, thelast many decades have witnessedthe restoration and modernization ofconnectivity as an integral element

Raisina Dialogue – New Delhi

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri N. ChandrababuNaidu visited London from 11-12 March 2016 with an aim tobring global investors to Andhra Pradesh and attract

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri N.Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to London

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2 Ist Issue of March 2016

investments for the development of new capitalAmaravati. UK government agreed to help AndhraPradesh in preparing investment strategies for thegreen field capital city. London Stock Exchangehas agreed to help raise funds for Amaravatiproject. During his speech CM Naidu said that anew office will be opened in London within theprecincts of the legal firm Singhania & Co. withthe promise that investment proposals will beprocessed within 14-days. Chief Minister also paidtribute at Mahatma Gandhi statue in London’sParliament Square.During the visit Chief Minister had meetingswith: MR Nikhil Rathi, CEO and othersof London Stock Exchange (LSE) group,Representatives from Canary Wharf, majorbusiness district of the United Kingdom,Investors at "Presentation on UK Smart Citiesexperience' at RICS, Parliament Square, Rt HonOliver Letwin MP at 9 Downing Street andTelugu associations in London.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri N.Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to London

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Lok Sabha approved the Real Estate(Regulation and Development) Bill - on15 March 2016. The bill seeks to create aset of rights and obligations for both theconsumers and developers and encourageboth of them to live up to the expectationsof each other as per the agreement enteredinto by both of them.

Minister of Housing & Urban PovertyAlleviation Shri M. Venkaiah Naiduclarified the position on the issues such ashow the Bill will be applicable to existingprojects; the Rules on setting aside 70%of customer advances in an escrowaccount; compulsory approvals prior toproject launches, and payment of similarinterest rate to customers as charged fromthem for delays will impact launches andincrease compliance costs. The clarifi -cations by the Minister on different issuesare as below:

Requirement to deposit 70% ofcollections:

n The account to be maintained by thepromoter is a separate bank accountand not an escrow account.

n Also, the deposit of 70% is for bothconstruction cost and land cost, and ifthe land cost has already been incurredthe promoter can withdraw to thatextent

n Requirement to be met for suchwithdrawals is provided in the act.

n This provision has only been providedto ensure that project funds are notdiverted and projects are completed ontime.

Ongoing Projects:

n Upon passage of this Billexisting/ongoing projects would notcome to a standstill, as is being madeout by some respondents from theindustry.

n The Bill does not provide that theexisting projects should stop alloperations until complied with theprovisions of the Bill.

n The Bill only provides that upon theformation of the Regulatory Authoritiesall promoters of existing projects,

coming within the ambit of the Bill,would need to register and provide andupload all project details on the websiteof the Authority.

n A window of 3 months from the date ofcommencement of the saidclause/section has been given to thepromoters for registration.

n The developers need to to specify theproject details of such apartments sothat prospective buyers will makeinformed choices, project status isknown to all and to ensure that theprojects are completed on time.Imprisonment Provision:

n Regarding the provision ofimprisonment for any violations of theorders of the regulatory authorities orthe Appellate Tribunal, it is certainlynot a first option but only the lastoption.

n There are many regulatory laws in thecountry with imprisonment provisionsunder which 3 to 10 years ofimprisonment is provided for. UnderSecurities Act, Insurance Act andPension Fund Act, 10 years ofimprisonment is provided. Foodsecurity Act has 7 years provisionwhile it is 5 years under Electricity Actand Reserve Bank of India Act.

n There can't be a consumer without adeveloper and vice versa. Keeping inmind the importance of developers formobilization of land and resources forhousing projects, the last option of

imprisonment has been kept at 3 years.

Ensuring timely approvals forhousing projects

The act also provides under clause 32(b)for the Real Estate Regulatory Authority to takeup with appropriate government of competentauthority, the creation of a single windowsystem for ensuring time bound projectapprovals and clearances for timely completionof projects.

Shri Naidu has said that with a target isto ensure that all required approvals aregiven in about a month's time, he held 7high level meetings with the Ministers ofEnvironment, Forests and ClimateChange, Civil Aviation, Defence,Consumer Affairs, and Culture forstreamlining such approvals. All theseministries as a result have taken significantmeasures to ensure online and timelyapprovals. Single window approval systemis being developed to standardize andsettle timelines for approvals and use of IT& GIS for automation of such systems,setting up nodal agency & empoweredcommittees, Shri Naidu added.n M/o Civil Aviation - Coloured Coded

Zoning Maps (CCZMs) of 13 majorairports available online, 9 more byJune 2016, Automated NOC approvalsystem & height clearance operational(on 6.1.2016)

n M/o Culture - Online NOC processnotified,handheld APP, heritagebyelaws.

n M/o Defence - Review of AmmunitionStorage Policy, LMA's instructed toshare restricted zone details withmunicipal bodies. CCZM's for fourdefence airports by April, 2016.

n Model Building Bye Laws finalized byMinistry of UD in consultation withMoEF & CC.

n MoEF & CC has agreed to integrateenvironmental conditions and norms inbuilding approval process and nowincluded in the Model Building Byelaws by MOUD. Now it's up to theStates, to adopt this model building bylaws and there shall be no need separateclearance by MOEF up to 1.5 lakhSq.Mtrs .

n Revision of National Building CodeNational Building Code, 2015 finalizedafter incorporating MoUD's ModelBuilding Bye Laws (MBBL).The Minister assured the industry that

with the establishment of a regulatorymechanism there would be greater flow ofinvestment, both national and foreign, intothe sector, resulting in reduction in cost ofborrowing.

The Bill requires project promoters toregister their projects with the RegulatoryAuthorities disclosing project informationincluding details of promoter, projectincluding schedule of implementation, layout plan, land status, status of approvals,agreements along with details of real estateagents, contractors, architects, structuralengineers etc. this enables transparent,accountable and timely execution ofprojects.

The Minister further said that the RealEstate Bill, 2016 enables the people meettheir genuine aspirations of owning a houseincluding those of urban poor by giving afillip to affordable housing initiative underwhich the Government intends to enableconstruction of 2 crore by the year 2022under Prime Minister's Awas Yojana(Urban).

Shri Naidu has said that the RealEstate Bill is a gift to the nation by thePrime Minister. The passage of the bill isan example of Prime Minister'scommitment to total transformation.

Lok Sabha clears Real Estate Bill as passed by Rajya Sabha

Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC), a PPPbetween the Government of India and theConfederation of Indian Industry (CII), has partneredwith the Indian School of Business (ISB), a topranked global B School, to launch the ‘OIFC-ISBIndia Fellows Programme’, a programme designedfor the young Indian Diaspora business owners andprofessionals in decision making capacity, tofamiliarise them with doing business in India. OIFCis designing this programme with ISB to connectIndian diaspora entrepreneurs to opportunities arisingout if new initiatives of the Government of India likeMake in India, Digital India and Startup India."

Offered under the OIFC’s India ConnectInitiatives, the OIFC-ISB India Fellows Programmeaims to familiarise and encourage the young IndianDiaspora to view India as an economically attractivedestination. The programme offers a tailor madeopportunity to gain an understanding of aspects

critical to gaining market entry into India; practicalinsights about doing business in India, understandingthe legal and regulatory environment, engagementand networking opportunities with Indianbusinessmen and an insight into the innovative anddisruptive business models emerging in the world’sfastest growing economy.

The year-long programme led by ISB is offered asa blended model comprising technology aidedlearning and a specially designed 12-days residentialprogramme in India. The residency will be provide anexperiential mix including exposure to the touch andfeel of the Indian market, connect with seniorgovernment officials dealing with investmentpolicies, domain experts, captains of the Indianindustry and a curated networking opportunity withpotential business partners. The Fellows will spendtheir residential learning stint at ISB’s campuses inHyderabad and Mohali, and at Delhi.

Government’s New Initiative for IndianDiaspora Entrepreneurs and Professionals

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High Commissioner met Ms. Usha Ananthasubramanian, MD &

CEO, Punjab National Bank and Mr. Antanu Das, President,

PNB-UK at India House on 3 March 2016

High Commissioner visited Somerville College, Oxford, on 7 March 2016

High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Navtej Sarna visited the London School of

Economics and Political Science on March 9 March 2016

High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Navtej Sarna addressing the gathering at a dinner hosted by the Indian Journalists Association (IJA) on 17 March 2016

High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Navtej Sarna interacted with the editorial team of

the Financial Times on 15 March 2016

High Commissioner was invited as Guest of Honour on the occasion of the

Annual India lecture of the Oxford India Society being organized jointly by the

Society and Asian Studies Centre at St. Antony’s College, on 7 March 2016

High commissioner met with Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary General of International Maritime

Organisation (IMO) at India House on 3 March 2016

4 Ist Issue of March 2016

of a great religion. It is a civilization thatreached great heights by the 15th century inscience, medicine, literature, art, architectureand commerce. It drew on the immensetalents of its people and also Islam’sengagement with diverse civilizations –ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Africa; thePersian, Central Asian and Caucasian lands;the region of East Asia; and, with Buddhismand Indian philosophy and science. As itenriched itself, it also enriched the world. Itset, once again, an enduring lesson of humanhistory: it is through openness and enquiry,engagement and accommodation, andrespect for diversity that humanity advances,nations progress and the world prospers.And, this is the message of Sufism, one ofthe greatest contributions of Islam to thisworld. From its origins in Egypt and WestAsia, Sufism travelled to distant lands,holding aloft the banner of faith and the flagof human values, learning from spiritualthoughts of other civilisations, and attractingpeople with the life and message of its saints.In the different settings of Saharan Africa orin Southeast Asia, in Turkey or in CentralAsia, in Iran or India, Sufism reflected theuniversal human desire to go beyond thepractice and precepts of religion for a deeperunity with the Almighty. And, in thatspiritual and mystical enquiry, Sufisexperienced the universal message ofAlmighty: That perfection in human life isreflected in the qualities that are dear to God.That all are creations of God; and, that if welove God, we must also love all his creations.As Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya said,“Almighty holds dear those who love Himfor the sake of human beings, and those wholove human beings for the sake ofAlmighty.” This is the message of oneness ofhumanity, of all of Almighty’s creations. Forthe Sufis, therefore, service to God meantservice to humanity. In the words of KhwajaMoinuddin Chishti, of all the worships, theworship that pleases the Almighty God themost is the grant of relief to the humble andthe oppressed.

In a beautiful imagery of human values,he said, human beings must have theaffection of the Sun, the generosity of theriver and the hospitality of the earth, becausethey benefit us all, without discriminationand distinction among people. And, itshumanism also upheld the place and status ofwomen in society. Above all, Sufism is acelebration of diversity and pluralism,expressed in the words of HazratNizamuddin Auliya, that every people has itsown path of truth, beliefs and focus ofreverence. These words reflect the divinemessage to the Holy Prophet that there is nocompulsion in religion; And also that toevery people we have appointed ways ofworship which they observe. And, it is inharmony with the soul of the Bhakti saint’ssaying in the Hindu tradition, “Into thebosom of the one great sea, Flow streamsthat come from hills on every side.” And inthe wisdom of Bulleh Shah, “Lord is mixedin every heart.” These values are the need ofour times. This is the reality of Nature. Welearn this wisdom in the perfect balance andharmony that exists in the vast diversity of aforest. Its message is beyond the confines ofschools and sects. It’s a spiritual quest thattraces its origin from the Holy Prophet andthe fundamental values of Islam, whichliterally means peace. And, it reminds us that

when we think of the 99 names of Allah,none stand for force and violence, and thatthe first two names denote compassionateand merciful. Allah is Rahman and Raheem.Sufism is the voice of peace, co-existence,compassion and equality; a call to universalbrotherhood. And, just as India became aprincipal center of Islamic civilization, ournation also emerged as one of the mostvibrant hubs of Sufism. Sufism became theface of Islam in India, even as it remaineddeeply rooted in the Holy Quran, and Hadis.Sufism blossomed in India’s openness andpluralism. It engaged with her spiritualtradition, and evolved its own Indian ethos.And, it helped shape a distinct Islamicheritage of India. We see this heritage in thefields of art, architecture and culture that ispart of the fabric of our nation and ourcollective daily lives. We see it in thespiritual and intellectual tradition of India. Ithelped strengthen the inclusive culture that isour great nation’s immense contribution tothe cultural tapestry of this world. In BabaFarid’s poetry or Guru Granth Sahib, we feelthe same spiritual connection. We seecompassion in the langars of Sufi shrines andthe village tombs of local Pirs that attractedthe poor and hungry; The words of Hindaviwere spoken in the Sufi Khanqahs. Sufism’scontribution to poetry in India is huge. Itsimpact on the development of Indian musicis profound. None had a greater impact thanthe Sufi poet-musician Amir Khusrau. Eightcenturies later, his poetry and musicalinnovation continue to be part of the soul ofHindustani music. No one had spoken ofIndian music with such passion as he had.Who else could have expressed love forIndia so beautifully as he did: “But India,from head to toe, is a picture of heaven,Adam came from the palace of paradise, Hecould only be sent to an orchard of fruits thatis India. If India is not paradise, how could itbe made the abode of the peacock, the bird ofparadise?” It is this spirit of Sufism, the lovefor their country and the pride in their nationthat define the Muslims in India. They reflectthe timeless culture of peace, diversity andequality of faith of our land; They aresteeped in the democratic tradition of India,confident of their place in the country andinvested in the future of their nation; And,above all, they are shaped by the values ofthe Islamic heritage of India. It upholds thehighest ideals of Islam and has alwaysrejected the forces of terrorism andextremism. Now, as they travel to differentparts of the world, they are the ambassadorsof the values and traditions of our nation. Asa nation, we stood against colonialism and inour struggle for freedom. At the dawn ofindependence some chose to go away; and, Ibelieve, that it also had to do with thecolonial politics of that time. The tallest ofour leaders, such as Maulana Azad, andimportant spiritual leaders, such as MaulanaHussain Madani, and millions and millionsof ordinary citizens, rejected the idea ofdivision on the basis of religion. Now, Indiais moving forward on the strength of thestruggles, the sacrifices, the bravery, theknowledge, the skill, the art and the pride ofevery member of every faith in our diverseand yet united nation.

Like the strings of sitar that eachproduces a note, but come together to createa beautiful melody. This is the spirit of India.This is the strength of our nation.

All our people, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs,Christians, Jains, Buddhists, the micro-minority of Parsis, believers, non-believers,are an integral part of India.

Just as it once came to India, todaySufism from India has spread across theworld. But, this tradition that evolved inIndia belongs to the whole of South Asia.

That is why I urge others in the region tonurture and revive this glorious heritage ofours. When the spiritual love of Sufism, notthe violent force of terrorism, flows acrossthe border, this region will be the paradise onearth that Amir Khusrau spoke about. Let meparaphrase what I have said before:Terrorism divides and destroys us.

Indeed, when terrorism and extremismhave become the most destructive force ofour times, the message of Sufism has globalrelevance. In the centres of conflict in WestAsia to calm cities in distant countries, in theremote villages of Africa to the towns in ourown region, terrorism is a daily threat.

Each day brings us terrible news andhorrifying images:

• of schools turned into graveyards ofinnocence;

• of prayer gatherings turned into funeralprocessions,

• of call to prayer or Azaan drowned bythe sound of explosion;

• of blood on the beach, massacres inmalls and smouldering cars on streets;

• of thriving cities ruined and pricelessheritage destroyed;

• and, of parents bearing coffins, entirecommunities dislocated, millions displaced,and refugees caught between fire and stormyseas.

In this digital century of new promiseand opportunities, the reach of terror isgrowing and its toll is rising every year.Since the beginning of this century, tens ofthousands of families have lost their lovedones in thousands of terrorist incidentsglobally. Last year alone, I am talking about2015, over 90 countries experienced terroristattacks. Parents in 100 countries live withthe daily pain of their children lost to thebattlefields of Syria. And, in a globallymobile world, one incident can claimcitizens of many nations. Every year, wespend over 100 billion dollars on securingthe world from terrorism, money that shouldhave been spent on building lives of thepoor. The impact cannot be fully captured instatistics alone. It is changing the way welive. There are forces and groups that areinstruments of state policy and design. Thereare others recruited to the cause in misguidedbelief. There are some who are trained inorganized camps. There are those who findtheir inspiration in the borderless world ofcyber space. Terrorism uses diversemotivations and causes, none of which canbe justified. Terrorists distort a religionwhose cause they profess to support. Theykill and destroy more in their own land andamong their own people than they doelsewhere. And, they are putting entireregions to peril and making the world moreinsecure and violent. The fight againstterrorism is not a confrontation against anyreligion. It cannot be. It is a strugglebetween the values of humanism and theforces of inhumanity. It is not a conflict tobe fought only through military, intelligenceor diplomatic means. It is also a battle thatmust be won through the strength of ourvalues and the real message of religions. AsI have said before, we must reject any linkbetween terrorism and religion. Those whospread terror in the name of religion areanti-religious. And, we must advance the

message of Sufism that stands for theprinciples of Islam and the highest humanvalues. This is a task that states, societies,sages, scholars and families must pursue.However, to me, the message of Sufism isnot just confined to combating terrorism.The values of harmony, welfare,compassion and love for human beings arethe foundation of a just society. That is theprinciple behind my creed of “Sab Ka Saath,Sab Ka Vikaas”. And, these values areimportant to preserve and nurture diversityin our societies. Diversity is a basic realityof Nature and source of richness of asociety; and, it should not be a cause ofdiscord.

We need just not constitutionalprovisions or legal safeguards, but alsosocial values to build an inclusive andpeaceful society, in which everyonebelongs, secure about his rights andconfident of her future. This is also a time ofgreat flux and transition in the world. Themiddle of the last century was an importantturning point in history. A new world orderemerged. Many new nations were born. Atthe beginning of a new century, we are at yetanother point of transformation on a scalerarely seen in human history. In many partsof the world, there is uncertainty about thefuture, and how to deal with it as nations andsocieties. These are precisely the times thatthe world is most vulnerable to violence andconflicts. The global community must bemore vigilant than ever before and counterthe forces of darkness with the radiant lightof human values. So, let us remember theteaching of Holy Quran that if anyone slewone innocent person, it would be as if heslew a whole people; if anyone saved onelife, it would be as if he saved a wholepeople. Let us be inspired by the message ofHazrat Moinuddin Chishti, With yourspiritual light, dissolve the clouds of discordand war and spread goodwill, peace, andharmony among the people. Let usremember the infinite humanism in Sufipoet Jalaluddin Rumi's words, “Contain allhuman faces in your own, without anyjudgment of them.” Let us also live thesermon of Bible that calls us to do good,seek peace and pursue it. And, oneness inKabir’s observation that a river and itswaves are one. And, Guru Nanak Devji’sprayer that Lord, may everyone in the worldprosper and be in peace. Let us be inspiredby Swami Vivekananda’s appeal againstdivisions and for people of all religions tohold the banner of harmony, not of dispute.Let us also reaffirm the enduring message ofAhimsa of Lord Buddha and Mahavira.And, from this forum, in this land ofGandhi, And, of timeless prayers thatalways end with invocation of Om Shanti;Shanti; Shanti: Peace, Peace, Peace,; Peacewithin and in the world. Let us, therefore,send a message to the world:

• A melody of harmony and humanity• The embrace of diversity, the spirit of

oneness • Of service with compassion and

generosity,• A resolve against terrorism, a rejection

of extremism• And, a determination to advance peaceLet us challenge the forces of violence

with the kindness of our love and universalhuman values. and Lastly, Let us restore thelight of hope and turn this world into agarden of peace. Thank you for being here.Thank you for what you stand for. Thankyou for the role you are playing in buildinga better world. Thank you very much,Thanks a lot. n

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Ist Issue of March 2016 5

of the continent's revival. Where India itselfis concerned, whether it is domestic,external or regional, connectivity willdetermine how we meet our promise ofgrowth, employment and prosperity. Bothliterally and metaphorically, it is an enablerof 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'!n Even in South Asia, we have seen thatgood neighbourly ties can have a strongbeneficial effect on building road and railconnections, opening waterways orsupplying energy. The desire to cooperatehas spawned institutions, bodies andgroupings in different regions. SAARC, asyou all know, is our local example and onewhere we are still striving to realise its fullpotential. But no one can deny that ouropenness to each other is an importantconsequence of this intent. But there is alsothe other side to consider. Politicalinsecurity can block traffic even on roadsthat exist. It can prevent the exploitation ofnatural complementarities. As a result,demand and supply are often kept apart,mostly at the cost of the concernedpopulations. At times, we have creativelyworked on sub-regional combinations likeBBIN so that the momentum of cooperationdoes not slow down. But at the end of theday, it remains our conviction that the logicof larger regional cooperation will prevailover vested interests that block it.n Another aspect that you will surelydeliberate upon is the threat of disruption inconnectivity. In its most radical form, thisemanates from the spread of terrorism,which has mutated to keep pace with themarch of technology. Use or threat of use offorce by nations in territorial disputes isanother source of concern. Dissuasion anddiplomacy are part of the answers in suchsituations. Sometimes, nature itself can bethe source of problems, more than evenconflicts. The importance of providinghumanitarian assistance and disaster reliefis increasingly appreciated as a result. Wesaw that last year in both Yemen and Nepal,one man-made and the other natural. Thesecurity of connectivity in its various formsthus emerges as central to the maintenanceof global order.n In India, we are responding to theseopportunities and challenges in a variety of

ways. Key flagship developmentprogrammes are addressing the domesticside, among them the Make in India, DigitalIndia, Smart Cities, Skill India andNamame Gange initiatives. A unifiednational market is an important priority andwe are investing massively in rail and roadconnectivity. Special emphasis is beinggiven to connecting our frontier regions.Similarly, the development of ports is goodnot only for the Indian economy but to thelarger region as well. Transit agreementsthat take advantage of neighbouringconnectivity have become a regularoutcome in our diplomacy. Ourinternational outreach is aimed at attractingresources, technologies and best practicesto make these initiatives succeed. Theinvolvement of our State Governmentsthrough cooperative federalism has addednew dimensions to this effort. In terms ofthe cultural connect, the furtherstrengthening of links to the diaspora hasbeen accompanied by a larger endeavour toproject Indian heritage globally. TheInternational Day of Yoga is a goodexample. n Beyond our borders, a 'NeighbourhoodFirst' policy that began with the veryinauguration of our Government underlinesa strong commitment to connectivity,commerce and contacts with the largerregion. With many of our neighbours, thelast year and a half has seen visibleenhancement of cooperative ties. With

Bangladesh, a range of new initiatives inrail, road, border crossings, waterways,coastal shipping and energy have built onthe settlement of the land and maritime

boundary. With Bhutan, our longstandingenergy cooperation has reached muchhigher levels with the acceleration inongoing projects. Similarly, a new sense ofurgency pervades three major projects thatwould make our connection to South EastAsia a reality - the Trilateral Highway, theKaladan Multimodal project and the Rih-Tedim road. In Nepal, we are deeplyinvolved in the post-earthquakereconstruction efforts and the recent PrimeMinisterial visit saw a renewedcommitment to building the Terai roads asalso the inauguration of a new transmissionline. In Sri Lanka, our footprint extendsfrom the rebuilding of railway lines to theclearing of ports and construction of powerplants. As for Afghanistan, probablyPresident Karzai knows more than all of usthe significance of the Zeranj-Delaramroad, Pul-e-Khumri transmission line orSalma dam.n Looking beyond, our efforts to work withIran on the Chahbahar Port are gettingunderway. Perhaps less well known areother initiatives under discussion tocooperate with Iran as a transit corridor toCentral Asia and Russia. India'sconnectivity horizons, earlier limited fromSingapore to the Gulf, now expand wellbeyond as its economic capabilities andinterests grow.n The vast sea space to our south meansthat connectivity is as much maritime as it

is territorial. Our vision was articulated byPrime Minister as SAGAR-Security andGrowth for All in the Region. It is acommitment to safe, secure, stable andshared maritime space. We have focussedon capacity building bilaterally andstrengthening regional mechanisms to thatend. In Seychelles, for example, ourpartnership is today reflected in coastalsurveillance, offshore patrolling,improvement of logistics and expandedhydrography. Meeting traditional and non-traditional threats, contributing to a climateof trust and transparency, ensuring respectfor international maritime rules and norms,resolving maritime disputes without threator use of force - these are all differentaspects of promoting connectivity in thisdomain. India preaches what it practicesand the agreement with Bangladesh on ourmaritime boundary should stand out as anexample to others.n Cyber connectivity is of growingimportance in an increasingly digital world.It is connected to the question of how thecontemporary global order should begoverned and regulated so that it remains afree medium but yet allows Governments toprotect their citizens. India has supported amulti-stakeholder approach aimed atpreserving a free and integrated internet,but has also asked for a more democraticdistribution of critical internet infrastructureand for closer international cooperation oncyber security and cyber crime to build trustand stability among the variousstakeholders. n In essence, connectivity is not just keyto India's development ambitions but animportant and integral aspect of its visionfor international cooperation. It will driveour interests and relationships in Asia andbeyond. We bring to bear a cooperativerather than unilateral approach andbelieve that creating an environment oftrust and confidence is the pre-requisitefor a more inter-connected world. This isin our DNA; after all, we are the inheritorsof two powerful connectivity legacies -the message of Buddha and the SpiceRoute.For full speech, please visit:

h t t p : / / w w w. m e a . g o v . i n / S p e e c h e s

Statements.htm?dtl/26432/Speech_by_Ext

ernal_Affairs_Minister_at_the_inaugurati

on_of_Raisina_Dialogue_in_New_Delhi_

March_01_2016

Raisina Dialogue – New Delhicontiuned from page 5

In its thirty fourth flight, ISRO's Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle, PSLV-C32, successfully launched the 1,425 kgIRNSS-1F, the sixth satellite in the Indian RegionalNavigation Satellite System (IRNSS) on 10 March 2016from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR,Sriharikota. This is the thirty third consecutivelysuccessful mission of PSLV and the twelfth in its 'XL'configuration.

After PSLV-C32 lift-off on 10 March 2016 from theSecond Launch Pad with the ignition of the first stage,the subsequent important flight events, namely, strap-onignitions and separations, first stage separation, secondstage ignition, heat-shield separation, second stageseparation, third stage ignition and separation, fourthstage ignition and satellite injection, took place asplanned. After a flight of 19 minutes 34 seconds,IRNSS-1F Satellite was injected to an elliptical orbit of284 km X 20,719 km inclined at an angle of 17.866degree to the equator (very close to the intended orbit)and successfully separated from the PSLV fourth stage.After separation, the solar panels of IRNSS-1F weredeployed automatically. ISRO's Master Control Facility

(MCF) at Hassan, Karnataka took over the control of thesatellite.

In the coming days, four orbit manoeuvres will beconducted from MCF to position the satellite in theGeostationary Orbit at 32.5 deg East longitude.

IRNSS-1F is the sixth of the seven satellites constitutingthe space segment of the Indian Regional NavigationSatellite System. IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, ID and IE, the firstfive satellites of the constellation, were successfullylaunched by PSLV on 2 July 2013, 4 April 2014, 16 October2014, 28 March 2015 and 20 January 2016 respectively. Allthe five satellites are functioning satisfactorily from theirdesignated orbital positions.

IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellitesystem designed to provide position information in theIndian region and 1,500 km around the Indian mainland.IRNSS would provide two types of services, namely,Standard Positioning Services (SPS) - provided to all users- and Restricted Services (RS), provided to authorised users.

A number of ground stations responsible for thegeneration and transmission of navigation parameters,satellite ranging and monitoring have been establishedin eighteen locations across the country.

IRNSS-1G, the remaining satellite of thisconstellation, is scheduled to be launched by PSLV inApril 2016, thereby completing the IRNSSconstellation.

PSLV-C32 successfully launches India's Sixth Navigation Satellite IRNSS-1F

6 Ist Issue of March 2016

Jaipur Literary Festival 2016: For the love of WordJaipur Literary Festival witnessedenriching interactive sessions withrenowned scholars and authors. Thespectacular carnival celebrating freeexploration of expression andthought, Jaipur Literary Festival(JLF) has been an astoundingdiscovery of globally acclaimedliterature that offers a cerebralstimulation of creativity. The ninthedition of this five-day annual event,set in the pink city if Jaipur, a hub oflavish cultural heritage, covered awide spectrum of issues spanningcurrent-day upheavals in the MiddleEast to providing glimpses of ancientIndian knowledge systems.

Each successive edition of JLF isdifferent and more interesting thanthe previous ones. While last year,the festival had sessions on travel,comic books and fantasy writing, thefocus was more on world politics andthe art of writing conventional formsof fiction this year.

Man Booker prize winnerMargaret Atwood, the keynotespeaker of the festival, emphasisedon the significance of writing andstorytelling as a vital form ofexpression through which theunderbelly and the neglected can befathomed and cultures of the worldprotected. "The entire process ofwriting is gesture of optimism", sheremarked and marvelled at how the

numbers of authors and aspirantwriters have exploded over the pastfew years.

Atwood, along with Irish authorColm Toibin, Bosnia-born fictionwriter Aleksandar Hemon, Israelinovelist David Grossman, British-Sudanese-Eritrean novelist SulaimanAddonia and British-Indian novelistSanjeev Sahota discussed theinclusive spaces of the novel andpondered over whether or not theexistence of novels was threatenedby other less-imaginative mediumsof communication. Initially, Hemonwas of the opinion that novels werelosing their dominant foothold asdocumentation of humanexperiences but agreed later thatnovels, as a form of creativeexpression, had a longer shelf-lifethan visual images and timelessappeal which transcends boundaries.

Writer-actor Stephen Fryenlightened the audience with ideson writing and understanding one'sown creative methods. Herecollected his college days, his briefterm of imprisonment and sharedconcern over internet bullying andhow it was becoming a constantsource of distress. Fry also held asession on Oscar Wilde wherein hediscussed the issues of genderinequalities and the need to stay trueto one's identity.

News from the Nehru Centre1 March 2016: Sarod recital -Ameen Ali Khan & Shahbaz Hussain on Tabla

2 March

2016: Sarangi

and vocals -

Nicolas

Magriel &

Jhalib Millar

3 March2016:SarodrecitalSusmit Sil& SaleelTambe onTabla

9 March2016:Classicalvocal -GwaliorGharanaKhayaalUstadSajjadHussainKhan

11 March

2016:

Classical

vocal -

Ruhaniyat

Vidushi

Sanhita

Nandi

7 March 2015: Photo Exhibition and

Book Launch - Prodeepta Das

7 March 2015: Film Screening - For Here or To Go? 18th London Asian Film Festival by Tongues on Fire

8 March 2016: International Women's Day Panel discussion - Genderequality: Reflections and Projections Presented by UKTA

10 March 2016: Panel discussion - Millennial Women Pan AsianWomen's Association (PAWA)

4 March 2016: RoopKathak - Rujuta Soman

15 March 2016: Focus on North East India Culture, Craft & Music by Daniel Syiem

Ist Issue of March 2016 7

thou tks'khpkjksa vksj lqanj ou esa mnklh NkbZ gqbZ FkhA ou dks vKkr chekjh us

?ksj fy;k FkkA ou ds yxHkx lHkh tkuoj bl chekjh ds dkj.k vius ifjokjdk dksbZ u dksbZ lnL; xok¡ pqds FksA chekjh ls eqdkcyk djus ds fy,lqanj ou ds jktk 'ksj flag us ,d cSBd cqykbZA

cSBd dk usr`Ro [kqn 'ksj flag us fd;kA cSBd esa xTtw gkFkh] yacwftjkiQ] vdM+w lkai] fpaiw canj] fxyw fxygjh] dhuw [kjxks'k lfgr lHkhtaxyokfl;ksa us fgLlk fy;kA tc lHkh tkuoj bdB~Bs gks x,] rks 'ksj flag,d Å¡ps iRFkj ij cSB x;k vkSj taxyokfl;ksa dks lacksf/r djrs gq, dgusyxk] Hkkb;ks] ou esa chekjh iQSyus ds dkj.k ge vius dbZ lkfFk;ksa dks xok¡pqds gSaA blfy, gesa bl chekjh ls cpus ds fy, ou esa ,d vLirky[kksyuk pkfg,] rkfd taxy esa gh chekj tkuojksa dk bykt fd;k tk ldsA

bl ij taxyokfl;ksa us ,rjkt trkrs gq, iwNk fd vLirky ds fy,iSlk dgk¡ ls vk,xk vkSj vLirky esa dke djus ds fy, MkWDVjksa dh t:jrHkh rks iM+sxh\ bl ij 'ksj flag us dgk] ;g iSlk ge lHkh feydj bdB~BkdjsaxsA

;g lqudj dhuw [kjxks'k [kM+k gks x;k vkSj cksyk] egkjkt! esjs nks fe=kpaidou ds vLirky esa MkWDVj gSaA eSa mUgsa vius vLirky esa ys vkšxkA

bl iQSlys dk lHkh taxyokfl;ksa us leFkZu fd;kA vxys fnu ls ghxTtw gkFkh o yacw ftjkiQ us vLirky ds fy, iSlk bdB~Bk djuk 'kq: djfn;kA

taxyokfl;ksa dh esgur jax ykbZ vkSj tYnh gh ou esa vLirky cux;kA dhuw [kjxks'k us vius nksuksa MkWDVj fe=ksa ohuw [kjxks'k vkSj phuw [kjxks'kdks vius vLirky esa cqyk fy;kA

jktk 'ksj flag us r; fd;k fd vLirky dk vk/k [kpZ os Lo;a ogudjsaxs vkSj vk/k taxyokfl;ksa ls bdB~Bk fd;k tk,xkA

bl çdkj ou esa vLirky pyus yxkA /hjs&/hjs ou esa iQSyh chekjhij dkcw ik fy;k x;kA nksuksa MkWDVj vLirky esa vkus okys ejhtksa dh iwjh

lsok djrs vkSj ejht Hkh Bhd gks dj MkWDVjksa dks nqvk,¡ nsrs gq, tkrsAdqN le; rd lc dqN Bhd&Bkd pyrk jgkA ijarq dqN le; ds cknphuw [kjxks'k ds eu esa ykyp c<+us yxkA mlus ohuw [kjxks'k dks viusikl cqyk;k vkSj dgus yxk ;fn os nksuksa fey dj vLirky dh nokb;k¡nwljs ou esa cspsa rFkk jkr esa tkdj nwljs ou ds ejhtksa dks ns[ksa rks vPNhdekbZ dj ldrs gsa vkSj bl ckr dk fdlh dks irk Hkh ugha yxsxkA

ohuw [kjxks'k iwjh rjg ls bZekunkj Fkk] blfy, mls phuw dk çLrkoilan ugha vk;k vkSj mlus phuw dks Hkh ,slk u djus dk lq>ko fn;kAysfdu phuw dc ekuus okyk FkkA mlds Åij rks ykyp dk Hkwr lokj FkkAmlus ohuw ds lkeus rks bZekunkjh ls dke djus dk ukVd fd;kA ijarqpksjh&fNis csbekuh ij mrj vk;kA og taxyokfl;ksa dh esgur ls [kjhnhxbZ nokb;ksa dks nwljs taxy esa ys tkdj cspus yxk rFkk 'kke dks ogk¡ dsejhtksa dk bykt djds dekbZ djus yxkA

/hjs&/hjs mldk ykyp c<+rk x;kA vc og vLirky ds de] nwljsou ds ejhtksa dks T;knk ns[krkA blds foijhr] MkWDVj ohuw vf/d bZekunkjh

ls dke djrkA ejht Hkh phuw dh vis{kk MkWDVj ohuw ds ikl tkuk vf/dilan djrsA ,d fnu lHkh tkuoj feydj jktk 'ksj flag ds ikl phuw dhf'kdk;r ysdj igq¡psA mUgksaus phuw [kjxks'k dh dkjxqtkfj;ksa ls jktk dksvoxr djk;k vkSj mls naM nsus dh ek¡x dhA 'ksj flag us mudh ckr è;kuls lquh vkSj dgk fd lPpkbZ viuh vk¡[kksa ls ns[ks fcuk os dksbZ fu.kZ; ughaysaxsA blfy, os igys phuw MkWDVj dh tkap djk,¡xs] fiQj viuk fu.kZ; nsaxsAtkap dk dke pkykd ykseM+h dks lkSaik x;k] D;ksafd phuw [kjxks'k ykseM+hdks ugha tkurk FkkA

ykseM+h vxys gh fnu ls phuw ds Åij utj j[kus yxhA dqN fnu mlij utj j[kus ds ckn ykseM+h us mls jaxs gkFkksa idM+us dh ;kstuk cukbZAmlus bl ;kstuk dh lwpuk 'ksj flag dks Hkh nh] rkfd os le; ij igq¡pdj lPpkbZ viuh vk¡[kksa ls ns[k ldsaA ykseM+h MkWDVj phuw ds dejs esa xbZvkSj dgk fd og ikl ds taxy ls vkbZ gSA ogk¡ ds jktk dkQh chekj gSa];fn os rqEgkjh nokbZ ls Bhd gks x,] rks rqEgsa ekykeky dj nsaxsA ;g lqudjphuw dks ykyp vk x;kA mlus viuk lkjk lkeku lesVk vkSj ykseM+h dslkFk nwljs ou ds jktk dks ns[kus ds fy, py iM+kA 'ksj flag tks ikl ghfNidj lkjh ckrsa lqu jgk Fkk] nkSM+dj nwljs taxy esa ?kql x;k vkSj fu/kZfjrLFkku ij tkdj ysV x;kA

FkksM+h nsj ckn ykseM+h MkWDVj phuw dks ysdj ogk¡ igq¡ph] tgk¡ 'ksj flageq¡g <¡ddj lks jgk FkkA tSls gh phuw us jktk ds eq¡g ls gkFk gVk;k] og'ksj flag dks ogk¡ ikdj ldidk x;k vkSj Mj ls dk¡ius yxkA mlds gkFkls lkjk lkeku NwV x;k] D;ksafd mldh csbekuh dk lkjk Hksn [kqy pqdkFkkA rc rd lHkh tkuoj ogk¡ vk x, FksA phuw [kjxks'k gkFk tksM+dj viuhdkjxqtkfj;ksa dh ekiQh ek¡xus yxkA

jktk 'ksj flag us vkns'k fn;k fd phuw dh csbekuh ls dekbZ gqbZ lkjhlaifÙk vLirky esa feyk yh tk, vkSj mls /Dds ekjdj taxy ls ckgjfudky fn;k tk,A 'ksj flag ds vkns'kkuqlkj phuw [kjxks'k dks /Dds ekjdjtaxy ls ckgj fudky fn;k x;kA bl dkjZokbZ dks ns[kdj taxyokfl;ksa ustku fy;k fd bZekunkjh dh ges'kk thr gksrh gSA

bZekunkjh dh thr

xqM ÚkbMs ekpZ ;k vçSy ekl esa iM+rkgSA xqM ÚkbMs ds fnu bZlkbZ /eZ ds vuq;k;h

fxjtk?kj tkdj çHkq ;h'kq dks ;kn djrs gSaAxqM ÚkbMs dks bZlk elhg us /jrh ij c<+jgs iki ds fy, cfynku nsdj fu%LokFkZ çsedh ijkdk"Bk dk mnkgj.k çLrqr fd;kA blfnu bZlk elhg us mRihM+u vkSj ;kruk,a lgrsgq, ekuork ds fy, vius çk.k R;kx fn,AbZlkbZ /eZ xzaFkksa ds vuqlkj ftl fnu bZlk

elhg dks lwyh ij p<+k;k x;k o elhg usçk.k R;kxs Fks ml fnu 'kqØokj dk fnu FkkvkSj blh dh ;kn esa xqM ÚkbMs euk;k tkrkgSA viuh ekSr ds rhu fnu ckn bZlk elhgiqu% thfor gks mBs vkSj ml fnu jfookj FkkAbl fnu dks bZLVj l.Ms dgrs gSaA xqM ÚkbMsdks gksyh ÚkbMs] CySd ÚkbMs ;k xzsV ÚkbMsHkh dgk tkrk gSAbZlkbZ yksxksa ds fy, xqM ÚkbMs fo'ks"k

egRo j[krk gSA bl fnu bZlk us lyhc ijvius çk.k R;kxs FksA ;|fi os funksZ"k FksrFkkfi mUgsa naMLo:i lyhc ij yVdk fn;kx;kA mUgksaus ltk nsus okyksa ij nks"kkjksi.k ughafd;k cfYd ;g dh fd ^gs bZ'oj bUgsa {kekdj] D;ksafd ;s ugha tkurs fd ;s D;k djjgs gSaA

;h'kq ;qok gq, rks ?kwe&?kwedj yksxksa dksekuork vkSj 'kkafr dk lans'k nsus yxsA mUgksaus/eZ ds uke ij va/fo'okl iQSykus okysyksxksa dks ekuo tkfr dk 'k=kq crk;kA mudslans'kksa ls ijs'kku gksdj /eZiafMrksa us mUgsa /eZdh voekuuk dk vkjksi yxkdj mUgsae`R;q&naM ns fn;kA nks gtkj o"kZ iwoZ bZlkelhg dks blfy, e`R;qnaM fn;k x;k D;ksafdbZlk elhg vU;k; vkSj ?kksj foykflrk rFkkvKkurk dk va/dkj nwj djus ds fy, yksxksadks f'k{kk ns jgs FksAml le; ;gwfn;ksa ds dêjiUFkh jfCc;ksa

^/keZxq#vksa* us bZlk dk Hkkjh fojks/ fd;kAmUgsa bZlk esa elhgk tSlk dqN fo'ks"k ughayxkA mUgsa vius deZdk.Mksa ls çse FkkA Lo;adks bZ'ojiq=k crkuk muds fy;s Hkkjh iki FkkAblfy, mUgksaus ml le; ds jkseu xouZjfiykrql dks bldh f'kdk;r djA jkseuksa dksges'kk ;gwnh ØkfUr dk Mj jgrk Fkk] blfy,dêjifUFk;ksa dks çlUu djus ds fy;sfiykrql us bZlk dks Øwl ^lyhc* ije`R;qn.M Øwj naM fn;kA;h'kq dks dbZ rjg dh ;kruk,a nh xbZaA

;h'kq ds flj ij dkaVksa dk rkt j[kk x;kAblds ckn ;h'kq Øwl (lyhc) dks viusda/ks ij mBkdj xksy xksFkk uked txg ys

x,A tgka mUgsa lyhc ij p<+k fn;k x;kAftl fnu ;h'kq dks lwyh ij p<+k;k x;k] og'kqØokj dk fnu FkkA ;h'kq us Åaph vkoktesa ijes'oj dks iqdkjk& ^gs firk eSa viuhvkRek dks rsjs gkFkksa lkSairk gwaA* ,sls 'kCnksadgus ds i'pkr~ mUgksaus vius çk.k R;kx fn,A bZlk ifjorZu ds i{k/j FksA mUgksaus ekuo

çse dh lhek ugha cka/h oju vius cfynkuls mls vkRedsafær ,oa LokFkZ ls ijs crk;kAxqM ÚkbMs ds fnu bZlkbZ /eZ ds vuq;k;h

fxjtk?kj tkdj çHkq ;h'kq dks ;kn djrs gSaAJ¼kyq çHkq ;h'kq }kjk rhu ?kaVs rd ØkWl ij

Hkksxh xbZ ih<+k dks ;kn djrs gSaA jkr ds le;dgha&dgha dkys oL=k igudj J¼kyq ;h'kqdh Nfo ysdj ekre eukrs gq, in&;k=kkfudkyrs gSaAxqM ÚkbMs çk;f'pÙk vkSj çkFkZuk dk fnu

gS vr% bl fnu fxjtk?kjksa esa ?kafV;ka ughactkbZ tkrha cfYd mlds LFkku ij ydM+hds [kV[kVs ls vkokt dh tkrh gSA yksx bZlkelhg ds çrhd ØkWl dk pqacu dj Hkxokudks ;kn djrs gSaA xqM ÚkbMs ij fo'o Hkjds bZlkbZ ppZ esa lkekftd dk;ksZ dks c<+koknsus ds fy, paank o nku nsrs gSaA

;h'kq ds cfynku dk fnu xqM ÚkbMsbZLVj bZlkb;ksa dk lcls cM+k ioZ gSA egkçHkq

bZlk elhg e`R;q ds rhu fnuksa ckn blh fnu fiQjth mBs Fks] ftlls yksx g"kksZYykl ls >we mBsA blhdh Le`fr esa ;g ioZ laiw.kZ bZlkbZ&txRk esa çfro"kZ/we/ke ls euk;k tkrk gSA

;g ioZ ges'kk ,d gh rkjh[k dks ugha iM+rkA21 ekpZ ds ckn tc igyh ckj pk¡n iwjk gksrk gS]mlds ckn ds igys jfookj dks bZLVj dk R;ksgkjgksrk gSA ;g ioZ olar esa vkrk gS] tc çd`freqLdjk mBrh gSA

bZlk elhg ds thfor gks mBus dk o`Ùkkar gS fdmudh Hk;kud e`R;q ds ckn muds vuq;k;hfcydqy fujk'k gks mBs FksA os mnkl&grk'k cSBs Fksfd lglk fdlh us tksj ls njokts dks [kV[kVk;kAnjoktk [kksyus ij lkeus ,d vkSjr [kM+h FkhA mlusHkhrj vkdj yksxksa dks pfdr dj fn;k vkSj dgkfd& eSa nks vkSjrksa ds lkFk bZlk ds 'ko ij typ<+kus mudh lekf/ ds ikl xbZ FkhA

ns[kk fd lekf/ dk iRFkj f[kldk vkSj lekf/[kkyh gks xbZA mlds Hkhrj nks nsonwr fn[ks] tks fgeds leku mTToy oL=k /kkj.k fd, gq, Fks vkSjftudk eq[keaMy ned jgk FkkA mUgksaus crk;k fdrqe yksx uktjsFk ds bZlk dks <w¡<+ jgh gks\ os ;gk¡ugha gSA os vc th mBs gSaA e`rdksa ds chp thfordks D;ksa <w¡<rh gks\ tkdj ;g 'kqHk lekpkj mudsf'k";ksa dks lqukvksA eSa mlh lekpkj dks lqukus vkbZgw¡A bl lekpkj dks lqudj yksx pfdr jg x,]mUgsa fo'okl ugha gqvkA bl chp nwljh vkSjreXnysuk lekf/ ds fudV jksrh jgh FkhA mlus ns[kk

fd dksbZ pj.k mldh vksj c<+ jgk gSA mlus dgk&egk'k;] ;fn vkius bZlk elhg dk 'ko ;gk¡ lsfudky fy;k gS] rks d`i;k crkb, fd dgk¡ j[kkgS\ mÙkj feyk& esjh! ;g ifjfpr vkokt FkhAmlds vk'p;Z dk fBdkuk u jgkA

mlus gh lcls igys iqu% thfor bZlk dks ns[kkvkSj gki¡Qrs gq, Loj esa dgk& çHkq! egkçHkq us dgkfd rqe esjs vuq;kf;;ksa dks lans'k ns nks fd eSa mUgsa'kh?kz feyw¡xkA eXnysuk bl lans'k dks ysdj fonk gqbZvkSj egkçHkq ds lans'k dks muds f'k";ksa dks lquk;kAblhfy, bZlkbZ bZLVj ioZ dks eukrs gSaA ;g 'kCnteZu ds bZvksLVj 'kCn ls fy;k x;k] ftldk vFkZgS nsohA ;g nsoh olar dh nsoh ekuh tkrh FkhA

blds ckn egkçHkq pkyhl fnuksa rd viusf'k";ksa ds chp tkrs jgs vkSj mUgsa çksRlkfgr djrsjgs] mins'k nsrs jgs fd] rqEgsa 'kkafr feysA blls muesalkgl vkSj fo'okl txk vkSj fuHkZ; gksdj mUgksausbZlk ds iqu% thfor gksus dk lans'k fn;kA bZlkb;ksadk fo'okl gS fd egkçHkq bZlk thfor gSa vkSjefgek'kkyh gSa] os mUgsa vkuan] vk'kk vkSj lkglges'kk çnku dj jgs gSaA bls gh lacy cukdj bZlkbZlHkh d"Vksa dks lgu djus dks rS;kj jgrs gSa] lHkhvU;k;ksa dk lkeuk djus dks m|r jgrs gSaA

;g ioZ fØlel dh rjg /we/ke vkSj ckgjhrM+d&HkM+d ds lkFk ugha euk;k tkrk] fiQj Hkh;g bZlkbZ&ioksaZ esa egÙke gSA bZLVj ds jfookj dsigys tks 'kqØokj vkrk gS] ml fnu bZlkbZ xqM ÚkbMseukrs gSaA blh fnu çHkq bZlk dks iQk¡lh ij p<+k;kx;k FkkA

bZlkbZ;ksa dk lcls cM+k ioZ bZLVj

8 Ist Issue of March 2016

Journey tHrougH Hyderabad's royal PalacesHyderabad's true beauty lies in its historical core from where the modern city took shape

Hyderabad, home tomonuments like Charminarand Mecca Masjid, is knownfor the opulence of its

fascinating palaces and havelis. Anumber of these architectural wonderslay hidden in its narrow alleys whichfew, except locals, were aware of. Butthe most splendid ones, however, are theones built and occupied by the Nizamsthemselves.

Walking down

For over half - a century, thesepalaces remained a mystery. It was inthe late 1990s when they were thrownopen to public that these palaces madenews. The aura of romance and mysterysurrounding them is still stronglyembedded in peoples' imagination, be itFalaknuma, Chowmahalla or PuraniHaveli, the once official residence of theNizams. If you travel from anywhere inthe Old City in southwestern orsoutheastern direction with Charminaras the starting point, you can witnesssome of these magnificent palaces:Falaknuma in south, Chowmahalla inwest and Purani Haveli in east form OldCity's golden triangle.

Chowmahalla

One of the most important and firstof the palaces which last ceased tofunction as a royal official residence-cum-darbar hall after Indian independence, isChowmahalla, a huge complex of several buildingswith beautifully landscaped gardens and a largemarble cistern. The splendour of the palace was bestdescribed by a medieval visitor. "The mainquadrangle has a beautiful garden surrounding a largemarble cistern, the fountain and splashing waterswhich on moonlit nights can be compared to theenchanted gardens described in the Arabian Nights"

Chowmahalla is a vast conglomeration of fourpalaces, built in 1750 by the fourth Nizam, SalabatJung, where the Nizams held state reception and courtmeetings. Of all the four palaces in Chowmahalla

complex, the best preserved is Afzal Mahal,named after the fourth Nizam, Afzal-ud-Dowla.The highlight here is the sitting hall at theentrance which is lavishly furnished in Frenchregal style with huge Venetian chandeliers andextravagant gilded plaster work on the walls andall over the ceiling.

The palace has been converted into a centrefor arts and culture and a museum exhibitingfurniture, textiles, books, swords and a fleet ofvintage cars and motorbikes. A must-see here isthe collection of vintage photographs,costumes, jewellery and hairstyles of the bygoneera.

Falaknuma

From Purani Haveli, drive to the FalaknumaPalace, about 3 miles south of Charminar,situated on a hill. It was designed by an Italianarchitect and is regarded as one of the mostmagnificent palaces in the country. It was usedas the royal guest house which housed some ofthe world's best priceless collection of artobjects and paintings. This palace, as the otherones of the Nizam, has lavish furniture andplush interiors, imported from Europeancountries. Falaknuma or "mirror of the sky" is

spread over 200 acres. As you enter this palace, you see a marbled

foyer with a finely carved fountain at thecentre while on four sides are four marbledbenches.

The ceiling above is beautifully frescoed.The foyer leads into another marbled hallhaving a marbled staircase lined withpaintings of European guests. The balustradehas graceful marble statues holding uplamps in their hands. The first floor has severalhalls including a ballroom, a banquet hall, alibrary, a hookah (piped smoking) room and abilliards room, each aesthetically furnishedand having large Venetian. The banquet hall isperhaps one of the world's largest, with asmany as 102 wooden chairs, all beautifullycarved and upholstered.

Ramchander Pentuker – Reproduced

from India Perspectives 2016

Less than a mile away from Chowmahalla, on the eastern sideof Charminar, Purani Haveli is another architectural marvel.When the layout of the new city of Hyderabad was planned byMohammed Quli Qutb Shah(1580-1612), he earmarked a largeestate for the residence of his chief advisor Mir Momin whomhe widely venerated as a saint and statesman. Later, with thefall of Golconda, the second Asafia, Nizam Ali Khan acquiredthe property from the family of Mir Momin for his son,Sikander Jah. When the latter became the Nizam in 1803, hemoved his residence to Chowmahalla. The crown prince, Mir

Mahaboob Ali Khan, known for his extravagant lifestyle,especially his passion for clothes and footwear, installed a 240ft long wardrobe here that spanned the entire lenth of thebuilding on the first floor. It was equipped with a manualelevator for the prince to move up and down to select hisclothes. This building, which once used to accommodate hisvast collection of clothes and footwear, is perhaps the world'slargest even today.

The main building, with its long corridors, is reminiscent of18th century European architecture. The wardrobe, made ofBurma teak, is still intact and looks as new as if it was doneyesterday. On the ground floor stands a museum which housesthe golden throne of the Nizam.

Purani Haveli

The wardrobe at Purani Haveli;