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Handling
the fallout from the developing cricket row between England and India
could well be one of the first problems for Gopal Gandhi, expected to
take over as the Indian high commissioner in London in April. Gandhi,
the 14th and youngest grandchild of the Mahatma, was high commissioner
in South Africa. When he was last in Britain (1992-96) as the first director
of the Nehru Centre, he was persuaded by Vikram Seth to translate A Suitable
Boy into Hindustani. The result, Koi Achha Sa Ladka, published in Delhi,
is 200 pages longer than the original. Gandhi has told friends that the
one thing he is not interested in is cricket. "I know I should be
but I am not," he has commented, almost apologetically.
-Amit Roy
Portfolio Pique
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| DIFFERENT APPROACH: Jagmohan |
India is the safest destination," Indian Tourism Minister Jagmohan
attempted to convince the British tourist industry. In London recently
to attend the World Travel Mart and boost tourist traffic to India, Jagmohan
was able to convince most travel writers that India has had no security
problems nor were there any risks. When it was pointed out that agents
for national carrier Air-India are currently charging £460 which
with taxes goes over £500 for London-Delhi-Mumbai return as compared
to just £370 in total by several airlines like Swiss Air, the minister
was not able to say anything about this because civil aviation is separate
from tourism!
-Ishara Bhasi
Stain on Top
The Indian food industry with the curry as its bestseller has not only
crossed the £3 billion turnover mark but has spread its "stains",
giving a boost to the dry-cleaning industry as well. It has helped the
messy eaters in Britain become sophisticated.
In Britain, 10 years ago a housewife or professional stain-remover had
to deal with shirts stained with spilled ketchup, tea, coffee, beetroot
and occasionally grease from the mince-pie or fish and finger chips. Now
the common stains being tackled by dry-cleaners include spots from turmeric
or saffron-coloured chicken tikka curry or grease from dropped pulau rice.
Joining the "Indian stains" in the 2001 Top 10 list are red
wine, flower stamens, pesto and sun-dried tomato. Olive oil and teriyaki
sauce have also made it to the top list. It is being claimed that companies
have bought new kinds of stain removers to deal with the "Indian"
types. The good news for the Indian food industry is that although turmeric
stains are the commonest, there has been no fall in the intake of the
Indian food. The prediction that the Indian curry would take the industry
much beyond the £3 million annual take still stands.
-Ishara Bhasi
Power of the Populace
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| FOUNDING FATHER: Statue of Thomas Cook in Leicester |
The thriving Asian business community wants to have a say on the way
Leicester will shape over the next 10 years. And why not? After all, as
Abdul Osman, equal opportunities cabinet member, says: "There is
an estimate that in 2010, the ethnic population will be more than 50 per
cent in the city of Leicester." So the Leicestershire Asian Business
Association (LABA) has arranged a meeting
with the Leicester City Council to discuss the impact of its local draft
plan. Comments must be in by December 10 on the draft plan. Mahesh Chadha,
LABA secretary, says: "The replacement plan will have a major impact
on Asian communities-commercial, industrial and residential lives. The
plan has got to cater for the changing population."
-Prasun Sonwalkar
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CURRENT
ISSUE DEC 10, 2001
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