India Newsletter: June 2009

Political

General Elections 2009
General elections in India, the largest democratic and election management exercise in the world were held from 16 April to 13 May 2009 in five phases. 714 million citizens were eligible to participate in the elections to elect 543 members of the 15th Lok Sabha (The House of the People, the lower house, of the bicameral Indian Parliament). The Election Commission of India, a permanent constitutional body, established in accordance with the Indian Constitution in 1950, controlled the entire process for conduct of elections. The people of India have consistently reaffirmed their faith in democracy, pluralism and tolerance in the past through general elections. The recently-held elections were no different.

Interesting Facts of General Elections 2009

• Total number of candidates who contested: 8070 (male: 7514 and female: 556).
• Highest number of candidates - 43 in '3-Chennai South' constituency. Lowest number of candidates - 3 in '1- Nagaland' constituency.
• Total number of electors enrolled: 713.77 million
• Total number of polling stations set up: 8,34,944.
• 1.37 million electronic voting machines were used.
• A total of 9,08,643 control units and 11,83,543 ballot units were utilized for the conduct of voting.
• Total number of polling personnel deployed: 46,90,575
• To monitor the poll 74,729 video-graphers were deployed in the polling stations.
• 2,046 Observers and 1,39,284 microobservers were deployed.
• 119 Special trains comprising 3,060 coaches were used to transport Central Police Forces whose services were enlisted for maintaining law and order.

15^th Lok Sabha

Dr. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister of India for a second consecutive term by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on 22 May 2009. He is the first Prime Minister after Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to get a second term after completion of a full 5 year tenure. The total strength of the Council of Ministers including the Prime Minister is 79 (33 Cabinet Ministers, 7 Ministers of State with independent charge and 38 Ministers of State). (Complete list of Council of Ministers with their portfolios can be viewed at: http://cabsec.nic.in/coumin.htm)

The first session of the 15th Lok Sabha was convened on 01 June 2009. The leader of the House, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the leader of opposition, Shri L K Advani led the newly-elected members of the 15th Lok Sabha in taking oath of affirmation. Shri Manikrao Gavit, the senior most Lok Sabha member, presided over the session as Protem Speaker.

On 03 June, Smt. Meira Kumar was unanimously elected as Lok Sabha Speaker. She is the first woman to hold the post of a Speaker. Accepting the honour, Smt. Meira Kumar said that good governance in a country like India was not possible without constructive cooperation of every member of the House. Assuring the members of her full cooperation, the Speaker urged them to get down to the task of nation-building together. She said that her unanimous election to the office of the Speaker would stand as a testimony of India's resolve to empower women and would pave the way for unanimity on all issues relating to women. She said it would be her principal duty to conduct the Lok Sabha in keeping with the Constitution, rules and traditions.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil addressed both Houses of Parliament on 4 June. In her address, the president outlined 10 broad areas of priority for the government for the next five years which included constructive and creative engagement with the world; internal security and preservation of communal harmony; stepping up of economic growth in agriculture, manufacturing and services; consolidation of the existing flagship programmes for employment, education, health, rural infrastructure and urban renewal; concerted action for the welfare of women, youth and children; and energy security and environment protection etc.

President Patil said that the government would initiate steps within the next hundred days for various measures including early passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament providing for one-third reservation to women in State legislatures and in Parliament; Constitutional amendment to provide 50% reservation for women in panchayats and urban local bodies. On the foreign policy front, she said that the Government's foreign policy would continue to pursue India's enlightened national interest, maintaining the strategic autonomy and independent decision-making that has been its hallmark.
(Full text of the President's address is available at www.presidentofindia.nic.in)

Visit of Vice-President to South Africa

Hon'ble Vice-President Shri M. Hamid Ansari visited South Africa from 8 to10 May 2009 to attend the formal inauguration of His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, the fourth elected President of South Africa.

India and South Africa have a history of close multi-faceted ties which can be seen from the large presence of people of Indian origin in South Africa currently estimated at 1.5 million, which is close to 2.5 per cent of the South African population.

India had been at the forefront of the international community's efforts in supporting the struggle against apartheid. India was the first foreign country to impose an embargo, complete embargo, in 1946 against the then regime in South Africa. The African National Congress set up a Representative Office in New Delhi as early as in the 1960s.

Soon after talks opened between ANC and the then Government of South Africa, in May 1993, an Indian Cultural Centre was set up at Johannesburg. In November 1993, full diplomatic and consular relations were restored between India and South Africa. In 1997, a strategic partnership was initiated between India and South Africa which covers a whole gamut of areas including trade and investments, culture, health, human resource development, tourism, science and technology and sports.

South Africa, along with India and Brazil, is a member of IBSA. The Third IBSA Summit was held in New Delhi in October last year when the then South African President had paid a visit. South Africa is one of our largest trading partners in the African continent. In the Financial Year 2007-08, trade between the two countries crossed 6.25 billion dollars and in 2008-09 it is estimated that it has gone up a further ten per cent, i.e. around seven billion dollars.

Both countries are constantly looking at opportunities of deepening ties in multi-faceted areas. The visit of the Vice-President at this important occasion underlines the historic bonds and abiding friendship between our two countries as well as a common determination to add more content and depth to our strategic partnership.

President Zuma thanked the Vice-President and said that his inauguration would not have been complete without the participation of India. Felicitating President Zuma on his assumption of office, Vice President Mr. Hamid Ansari invited him to visit India during an interaction at the formal luncheon hosted in honour of the visiting dignitaries.

Business & Finance

Cheers for auto sector as sales grow in April
Domestic car sales showed their upward trend for the third consecutive month with sales in April registering a 4.20% growth. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), domestic passenger car sales in April went up to 1,02,899 units from 98,752 units in the same month last year. Total two-wheeler sales in April also surged by 13.71% to 7,00,995 units compared with 6,16,468 units in the same period last year. Bike sales, during the same month, was up 12.11% at 5,62,357 units as against 5,01,592 units in the corresponding month a year ago. Continuing to benefit from the Government's stimulus packages announced in December 2008 and January this year, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motors, Honda Siel Cars, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hero Honda, TVS and India Yamaha Motor saw a robust rise in sales in April.

Robust growth seen in Indian aviation supplies market
India's civil aviation suppliers market, including components and maintenance, is seen growing annually at 16.1% over the next five years to top $3.89 billion, says a new research by the global consultancy Frost and Sullivan. "Low manufacturing and labour costs are expected to boost outsourcing to India. Labour costs in India are relatively lower compared to the western countries," says the study, listing the reasons for the projection. The three segments covered in the research, namely, component suppliers, design suppliers, and maintenance, repair and overhaul operations earned revenues to the tune of $1.36 billion in 2007, according to the study.

Apparel exports cross $10 billion despite slowdown
India's garment export stood at $10.13 billion in 2008-09, growing by a moderate 4.6% over the previous fiscal despite erosion in demand in the US and European economies, reeling under recession. Apparel exports had been $9.68 billion in 2007-08.

Q4 results of companies indicate economic recovery
Financial results of Indian companies during January-March show telltale signs of an economic recovery, with most firms posting better-than-expected revenues.
Aggregate results of 26 companies, part of the National Stock Exchange's (NSE) Nifty index, saw 2% higher sales during the period compared with the corresponding period of the previous year despite the high base effect, or the statistical impact of high growth rate recorded in the year-ago period.
When evaluated on a sequential basis, the companies fared much better during the quarter compared with their showing in the previous one that ended December 2008.
The March quarter saw these 26 firms posting a 3% rise in net sales and a marginal 1% drop in profits on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

South Indian tea exports to Egypt grow in FY09
Tea exports to Egypt from South India surged in 2008-09. With the renovation work in full swing at the Indian Tea Promotion Centre in Cairo, the United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI) is hoping to step up export of South Indian tea to Egypt in the coming months.
"We are planning to open the renovated promotion centre in June 2009 but will start operations earlier," UPASI secretary general Ullas Menon said.
He said that tea exports from India to Egypt grew manifold from 4.5 million kgs in 2007-08 to nearly 16 million kgs last year. "Nearly 80% to 90% tea exported to Egypt is from South India."
South India's tea exports rose by 14.59% last year compared to the previous year. Data compiled by the Tea Board showed that the region exported 86.14 million kgs tea in 2008-09 against 75.17 million kgs in the previous year.

Core sectors rebound to hit 6-month high growth of 2.9%
Core sector growth is back on track. The index for six core industries - crude oil, petroleum, refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished carbon steel - has turned in a growth of 2.9% in March 2009 over March 2008. This has been the highest growth rate in the last six months and higher than the average of 2.7% for 2008-09 as a whole.
The biggest surprise in the basket of core sectors was electricity generation, which touched a 13 month high. Coal production grew 5.2% in the year and showed a cumulative growth of 8.1% in the fiscal. Petroleum refinery production recovered to grow 3.3% - the highest in the last five months - while the drop in crude oil production recovered from a low of 8.1% in January to 2.3% in March.

Forex reserves up by $631 million
The country's foreign exchange reserves increased by $631 million to $253.09 billion during the week ended April 24. Foreign Institutional Investors have been net buyers in the Indian equity market as they see the global economic situation reviving and also, find stock valuations attractive. Overseas investors bought shares worth $216 million in the Indian bourses during the week ended April 24 and $433 million during the week before that. Gold and special drawings right remained unchanged in the reserves. India's reserve position at the International Monetary Fund went up by $7 million to $983 million during April 28-May 4, 2009.

Indicators show economy is set to regain
A number of leading indicators, project investment that refuses to flag, a pick-up in hiring, freight movement at the major ports and encouraging data from a number of key manufacturing segments indicate that the downturn has bottomed out and that the economy will regain its lost vigour shortly.
A leading indicator is a composite of a variety of indices that track activity in vital economic sectors. Nomura's Composite Leading Index (CLI), UBS's Lead Economic Indicator (LEI) and ABN Amro's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) indicate a pick up in growth soon. CMIE's capex database, which tracks investment by companies, shows no significant slowdown in investment activity.
Strong performance of sectors such as auto, cement, steel, capital goods and port traffic along with record high telecom subscriber increases corroborate the strong turnaround thesis suggested by these lead indicators.
Following three successive months of climb, the LEI index for India now stands at 2.1, after hitting a low of negative 2.08 in December 2008. The LEI is a composite indicator of many variables, including government bond yields, M1 money supply, currency risk premium, foreign exchange reserves and stock market gains.
UBS's economist Philip Wyatt expects the recovery to sustain because of the low levels of excess capacity, private sector indebtedness and non-performing loans in India. "With this significant rebound in LEI, we are more confident of a turning point in the industrial cycle by June 2009," adds Mr. Wyatt in a research report.

Indian Festivals

The Indian calendar is one long procession of festivals. Every season brings along new festivals, each a true celebration of the bounties of the rich traditions followed from time immemorial. Observed with enthusiasm and gaiety, festivals are like gems ornamenting the crown of Indian culture. They are round the year vibrant interludes in the mundane routine of life.

Festivals serve as an occasion to clean and decorate houses, to get together with friends and relatives and to exchange gifts. New attire, dance, music and rituals- all add to their joyful rhythm. It is a time for prayer, for pageantry and procession: a time to rejoice, in celebration of life. Some of the well known and widely celebrated festivals of India are:

Diwali

Deepawali or Diwali, the most pan-Indian of all Hindu festivals, is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The word 'Deepawali' literally means rows of diyas (clay lamps). A family festival, it is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13^th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asvin (October-November)

According to the most popular legend, this festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. Twinkling oil lamps or diyas light up every home and firework displays are common all across the country. The Goddess Lakshmi, who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day.

This festive occasion also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped in most Hindu homes on this day. The occasion of Deepawali sees the spring-cleaning and whitewashing of houses; decorative designs or rangolis are painted on floors and walls. New clothes are bought and family members and relatives gather together to offer prayers, distribute sweets and light up their homes.

Dussehra

Dussehra (tenth day) is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with much joy in the entire country. The occasion marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various facets of Rama's life are taken out. On the tenth day, the Vijayadasmi day, colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are placed in vast open spaces. Rama, accompanied by his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana, arrive and shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are stuffed with explosive material. The result is a deafening blast, enhanced by the shouts of merriment and triumph from the spectators.

In burning the effigies, people are asked to burn the evil within them, and thus follow the path of virtue and goodness, bearing in mind the instance of Ravana, who despite all his might and majesty was destroyed for his evil ways. It must be remembered that Ravana was a great scholar and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, but the very powers that were bestowed on him for his steadfast devotion proved to be his undoing, due to his gross misuse of the same.

Durga Puja

The festival of Durga Puja runs parallel to Dussehra and is celebrated with intense fervour and zest in West Bengal and by the Bengalis nationwide. The festivities commence on the first night in the month of Ashwin (October-November). The vibrant festivities last for ten days, of which nine nights are spent in worship, 'Navaratri'. The tenth day is devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga, who occupies a special position in the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. She is 'Shakti', the cosmic energy that animates all beings. Beautiful idols of the Mother Goddess are worshipped in elaborate pandals for nine days, and on the tenth day, these are carried out in procession for immersion (visarjan) in a river or pond.

According to a mythical legend attached to this day, the mighty demon Mahisasur vanquished the gods and their king, Indra, who subsequently fled, leaving behind their kingdoms. They then approached the Holy Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who decided to destroy the megalomaniac demon, and thus prayed to the divine mother Durga to do the needful. Equipped with lethal weapons, riding a ferocious lion, the Goddess in all her awesome majesty, vanquished the evil one without much ado.

Id

Besides Hinduism, India is also the home of innumerable other faiths and the religious and cultural diversity of this nation is manifested in the large number of non-Hindu festivals.

Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha and Id-i-Milad are the three festive occasions widely celebrated by Muslims in India.

Id is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country, and one can see Muslims of all age groups and from all stratas of society attired in new clothes, visiting mosques to offer namaaz.

Id-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id)
Coming with the new moon, this festival marks the end of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. It was during this month that the holy Koran was revealed. Muslims keep a fast every day during this month and on the completion of the period, which is decided by the appearance of the new moon, Id-ul-Fitr is celebrated with great eclat. Prayers are offered in mosques and Idgahs and elaborate festivities are held.

India being a land of many faiths, many more festivals such as Christmas, Guru Nanak Jayanthi, and Mahavir Jayanthi are also celebrated.

Culture and Tourism

The East European Development Institute (EEDI) organized an evening, 'Where the mind is without fear', dedicated to the 148^th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on 16 May, 2009 at the House of Actors, Kyiv. An EEDI project, Tagore Centre was launched to popularize the ideas of the poet. The function was attended by eminent poets like Les Taniuk, Lyudmila Skyrda and Sofia Maidanska, officials from Indian and Bangladeshi Embassies and local Indian and Bangladeshi communities. A documentary film, The story of Gitanjali, by the Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi was screened during the event. The programme also included Tagore songs by Ukrainian opera singer Mariya and Bangladeshi artist, Mehedi Hassan Mohan, and dances by Mykhailo Krychuk and Vijaylakshmi Nayek.

Tourism - India Calls
Mussoorie

Situated at an altitude of 2,500 meters above the sea level, Mussoorie is a fascinating hill station commanding a wonderful view of the extensive Himalayan range to the northeast and Doon Valley to the south. Mussoorie, called the "Queen of Hills", is one of the most popular summer destinations in the north India. The place derives its name from the Mansur shrub that is found in abundance in the hill resort.

Mussoorie was discovered in 1827 by Captain Young, an adventurous military officer. He was lured by the extraordinarily beautiful ridge and laid the foundation for it. The main artery of Mussoorie, the Mall road, is lined with curios and antique shops, a revolving restaurant, various eating joints, metalware and handicraft items etc. It runs right through the small town and is a delightful place for a late night stroll. There are a number of waterfalls, picnic spots, temples and tourist bungalows in and around the hill town, thereby making it a hub of tourists, both national and international.

Attractions
• Gun Hill: One can enjoy a ropeway ride to Gun Hill, the second highest peak in Mussoorie. Gun Hill offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges namely Bunderpunch, Srikantha, Pithwara and Gangotri group and a bird's eye view of the Mussoorie town and Doon Valley. During pre-independence days a gun mounted on this top used to be fired heralding mid-day to enable people to adjust their watches and hence this name.
• Kempty Falls: The 4,500-feet high falls has the distinction of being the biggest and the most magnificent waterfall located in a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains. A bath at the foot of the falls is refreshing and enjoyable.
• Mussoorie Lake: This newly developed picnic spot is situated on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road, six km from Mussoorie. Boating facility is available here.
• Van Chetna Kendra: At a distance of about three km on the Tehri bypass road, this picnic spot is surrounded by pine forests and flowering shrubs and is approachable on foot or by car. The main attraction is the wildlife of the park, including Ghurar, Kankar, Himalayan Peacock etc.
• Bhadraj Temple: Situated on the extreme western region of the Mussoorie town, this temple is dedicated to Lord Balbhadra, brother of Lord Krishna.
• Jwalaji Temple: Nine km to the west of Mussoorie and at an altitude of 2,104 meter is the Jwalaji Temple. It is situated on the top of the Benog Hill and has an idol of Goddess Durga in it.

How to get there
• By Air: The nearest Airport is Jolly Grant, 60 km from Mussoorie.
• By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Dehradun, 34 km from Mussoorie. Several superfast trains link this station to other parts of the country.
• By Road: Mussoorie is conveniently connected by road to Delhi (280 km) and other major cities in India. From Dehradun, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to Mussoorie.

For more on India tourism, visit:
www.uttaranchaltourism.gov.in
www.tourismofindia.com