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Ananth Kumar
Tourism and Culture Minister

'India's tourism is cultural tourism'

A chat with Ananth Kumar , Tourism and Culture Minister.
Chat conducted on Wednesday, August 2, 2000, between 1700 hours and 1800 hours IST.

Ananth Kumar: This year is the golden jubilee year of the Indian republic. And our beloved Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji, by creating a new Ministry of Tourism and Culture has definitely heralded that the best foot forward of India in the new millennium is our tourism and cultural heritage. Dear Friends, welcome to the India Today Net Chat.

Uttam Saha: I am an IT professional. That's why I am asking you, how are you planning to use the IT revolution in the tourism industry? Ananth Kumar: Dear Uttamji, the four cardinal requirements for the development of tourism are: swagat, soochna (information), suvidha (facilitation) and suraksha (security). This can be achieved not only by brick and mortar, but by creating a national networking through e-mail and e-commerce so that the tourist will have an affordable, comfortable journey, without hassles. And IT is the instrument. We are coming out with one-touch kiosks, information kiosks and interactive portals in this regard.

Vibha: Dear Minister, what cultural impact did you bring into the country as the Minister for Culture? What is your cultural contribution? Ananth Kumar: India is well known for its cultural heritage. Tourism in India is basically cultural. Our culture is unity in variety, full of vitality and creativity. Now the Culture Ministry is vibrant with plans and actions to preserve, conserve, promote architecture, sculpture, painting and heritage. Dance, drama and fine arts, both ancient and modern, is being given due encouragement so that the environment is full of cultural impulses.

B.N. PURI: Mr. Ananth Kumar, I feel that the BJP Government is interested in the demolition of old religious structures and reconstructing new ones on those sites to update even religious places. Do you think my contention is correct? Please comment. Ananth Kumar: The very fact Shri Atalji has created a Cabinet-grade Culture Ministry is to protect and promote both monuments as well as heritage.

Bharat Gogia: Please run a train from various cities for Indian tourists on the lines of the Palace on Wheels…
Ananth Kumar: Dear Bharatji, the Palace on Wheels in Rajasthan has been a great success. The next Palace on Wheels is planned in Maharashtra, connecting Ajanta and Ellora. The third in the pipeline that is in the concept stage is Karnataka, with a journey to Belur, Halebid, Mysore, Hampi, Bijapur, Badami and Pattadkal.

Vish Bhat: Mr Ananth Kumar, if you meet any artist across the country, their common refrain is that they are not getting enough scope from the Government. They think that without governmental patronage, culture will not survive. Do you think so?
Ananth Kumar: Government is only the facilitator, the promoter, not the regulator of culture. Culture should be steered by the people. The artists who approach me want promotion and encouragement; they don't want state-driven cultural activism.

Srikanth: Do you really like to allow disinvestments of PSU under your Ministry if at all you do? What are the steps you have taken in that regard?
Ananth Kumar: When I was Civil Aviation Minister, I initiated the disinvestment of Air India, Indian Airlines, Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd and Hotel Corporation of India. In the first ever budget of Vajpayee Government, the revolutionary decision to disinvest 51 per cent of Indian Airlines was taken. Hundred per cent disinvestment of HCI was mooted. In October 1998, under me, the corporatisation of five international airports of India was resolved and the Union Cabinet approved the move. ITDC is being disinvested. The Disinvestment Commission has recommended management lease of Delhi and Bangalore properties. It has also recommended de-merger of all other properties into independent entities and disinvesting 100 per cent. Already, the global advisor has been appointed and the process of charting out the road map is on. Though I have pioneered disinvestment process in aviation, some sections seem to think otherwise. The records and facts speak for themselves.

Pravin Kumar: Are you a Communist in tattered capitalist clothing? Ananth Kumar: Rather, I am a Nationalist in glowing patriotic clothing.

Krishna S: What is the present Government's plan to enhance tourism infrastructure and international tourism traffic in India? Do you have any specific targets?
Ananth Kumar: Our foreign tourist arrivals this year (1999-2000) is 2.48 million. Compared to last year, it's a 5.2 per cent increase. In foreign revenue earnings, tourism is number three after textiles and software/IT, accounting for Rs 12,248 crore. According to the External Affairs Ministry, we have 25 million NRIs and PIOs the world over. Their home land is India. We have initiated plans and packages targeting them so that the foreign tourist arrivals can be doubled in a year. Secondly, because of the buoyant economy, stable government and law and order, the arrivals are increasing. To increase further flow, we are contemplating having visas on arrival and such other facilitation.

Krishna S: By when will the Government disinvest its stake in ITDC? Ananth Kumar: If you want a political answer: As soon as possible. But a professional one; it should not take beyond 18 months.

Sanjeev A: Mr Ananth Kumar, you had been the Minister of Civil Aviation in the previous government and had a wonderful opportunity to okay the international airport for Bangalore, whose people have sent you to the Lok Sabha three times. Yet you did nothing and now, after Mr Krishna is doing wonderful work in Bangalore by attracting foreign investment, improving the civic conditions, you accuse him of being only a Congress CM and not a Karnataka CM. At least he is sincere in doing what he is doing, something which you lacked then and even now are lacking. Why this hypocrisy ?
Ananth Kumar: Dear Sanjeev, I never knew that public memory is so short. The MOU between the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka to build the international airport at Devanahalli near Bangalore was signed by me and JH Patel on May 3, 1999. The acquisition of land started, global bids called for, expression of interest received, green signal by the Union Government given. The present HAL airport was upgraded at a cost of Rs 42 crore with two aerobridges, new departure and arrival lounges and a car park in the record time span of one year, and inaugurated by the PM on January 1, 1999 as a gift to Bangaloreans and Kannadigas, including your kind self. The first ever state-of-the-art air cargo complex was built in a record six months and inaugurated, by which Bangalore is exporting 1,000 tones of flowers and earning foreign exchange of Rs 500 crore. There are now direct flights between Bangalore-London-New York, Bangalore-Kuala Lumpur, with code-share Bangalore-S/ingapore-San Francisco added. Mangalore airport got upgraded, with ILS installed. Hubli airport got night landing facilities. Do you want anything more, my dear friend? Criticism is welcome. Be generous -- at least for facts and achievements.

Preetiya Janarddana: Dear Ananthji, in the realm of globalisation, the cultural hegemony, do you think, of India inherited over the centuries is at stake?
Ananth Kumar: The mainstay of Indian culture is the first verse of the Rig Veda: ano bhadra krittavo yantu vishwataha -- let noble thoughts come to us from all corners of the Universe. Second, sarve janaha sukhino bhavantu -- happiness of everyone. Not the western concept of majority, but happiness of the majority people. Thirdly, -- not global village, but global family. Therefore, Indian culture is not threatened. We have stood the test of time from time immemorial. All the ancient civilisations like Egyptian, Hwang Ho, Mesopotamian, Roman, and Greek are vanquished. But Indus Valley is continuing with its full glory. The only concern is the unbridled cultural invasion of the West through electronic media, which is vitiating the atmosphere cutting across all ages, more so kids and the youth in our drawing rooms, living rooms and bedrooms across the country. According to the Culture Ministers Conference held in Paris under UNESCO in January 2000, this has been the global concern.

Ranjan Sharma: Sir, what is the role of your ministry vis-a-vis culture beyond organising some festivals, inviting performers from abroad and sending performers out? I mean, at the grassroots level, what is it that the Ministry does for 'culture'? While we are at it, could you please give a single sentence description of what 'culture' means?

Ranjan Sharma: Sir, what is the charter of your Ministry and the top three to-do things?
Ananth Kumar: Infrastructure is the hardware of a nation, whereas culture is the software. Through this software, the very face of national life and its manifestation as a civilisation is projected before the world. Therefore, the charter of my Ministry is to preserve, promote and project Indian culture, which is the culture of humanity.

Masreddy: Lack of safety and security of is the main hindrance for attracting more tourists to India. What are the steps the Government of India is taking to provide safety and security to the tourists, as it is not able to provide safety to local citizens ?
Ananth Kumar: Between Israel to Japan, we are the safest heaven.

Masreddy: People like Veerappan are protected by politicians -- how do you expect India to attract tourists, where there is no protection for great hero, Rajkumar?
Ananth Kumar: Accidents do happen. Now the concern is to see that Dr Rajkumar is released safely, quickly and the right signal gets across again.

MAMTA PURI: Mr.Kumar, Sir, your past history shows that you stand for negotiations. Are you feeling happy when editor Gopal is going with a begging bowl for negotiations with Veerappan? I ask you, Sir, why not to HIT rather than to SIT with Veerappan?
Ananth Kumar: Mamtaji, it's an old proverb that discretion is the better part of valour.

Neeraj Kumar Dubey: Paschatya sabhyata ki bhartiya sabhyata par havi hone ki sajish ko rokne ke liye aapki sarkar kya kadam utha rahi hai?
Ananth Kumar: Swadesh mein raho, swadeshi bano, swabhimaan se jiyo. Pokhran, Kargil vijay, Indian Resurgent Bond, IT, Neeraj Kumar-ji, agey baro.

Madhusudhan: Mr. Ananth Kumar, hi! I know this question is outside the purview of your portfolio, but I would appreciate it if you could reply. What is the state of the proposed international airport in Bangalore? Does our dream of seeing this come true some day? You were the Civil Aviation Minister in the past Cabinet, right?
Ananth Kumar: Hi, Madhusudan, The foundation stone for Bangalore International Airport will probably be laid on November 1, 2000, Karnataka Day. Howzzat!

Sudeep Sengupta: Respected Sir, I am an independent analyst in the aviation industry. As the previous Civil Aviation Minister, you had initiated a string of reforms by synergising the activities of Indian Airlines and Air India, Pawan Hans and Hotel Corporation -Centaur. You had initiated the disinvestment process for both, which has become a high point for your Government. Besides that, you had also initiated the process of fleet renewal and expansion policy for Indian Airlines. Why is it that the Indian media sees you in a different perspective and paints a wrong picture of the ground realities? Could please clarify? What is your opinion on the disinvestment processes? Ananth Kumar: Democratisation, rationalisation, upgradation, privatisation and disinvestment, integration with global communication, navigation and surveillance systems were my major initiatives as Civil Aviation Minister. Thank you for acknowledging that. The perception is not because the problem is in performance, but because of the coloured specs of unjustified criticism my friends are wearing. Dear friends, you don't require to look at everything with opinionated, prejudiced, jaundiced specs.

Jagdishbapat: What role should the Government play in the Rajkumar kidnapping episode?
Ananth Kumar: Establish a link, negotiate, release Dr Rajkumar at the earliest. That will be the greatest relief for the entire state. That is the primary concern of the Union Government, Government of Karnataka and Government of Tamil Nadu.

Rajdeep: The youth of India is very fast accepting western culture. Do you have any plan to stop that?
Ananth Kumar: The emerging party, both at national and Karnataka levels is the BJP. That is in itself fulfilling both regional and national aspirations under the visionary leadership of Vajpayeeji.

Ananth Kumar: Information is power. Today is tomorrow. Chat is dialogue. And dialogue is the basis of democracy. For healthier, transparent, vibrant democracy, chat is Net-chat, India Today chat. Thank you all very much.

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