BACK TO ROOTS: Delegates enjoying a cultural show during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Hyderabad. - Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Last year, on her first visit to India, she fell in love with New Delhi. But in town this year for the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), Hyderabad seems to have floored Priyanka Patnaik, a delegate and a student of English and Communication born and bred in Ottawa, Canada.

Daughter of an aerospace scientist in Canada, Priyanka found New Delhi crowded yet clean last year, but Hyderabad is cleaner, she says. "I have been reading about the tourism initiatives and find it fascinating," she adds.

Adinarain Hutchamah or Atma as he is called, is Secretary, Mauritius Telugu Cultural Centre Trust, a Government organisation, and for generations spanning 200 years, his family has been in Mauritius. Still, Atma speaks good Telugu and was impressed by the tourism stall at PBD.

"We were told that while the erstwhile State Government concentrated on development in and around Hyderabad, the present Government is broadening the geographical scope for development. I will try and work on joint ventures and maybe Mauritius and Andhra Pradesh can team up", he said.

Anju Narain landed in the city on Sunday and went about networking with people who could help her bring in business for mutual benefit. Running a BPO in Mumbai, she is looking for new business in terms of back office operations, which she could handle.

Minor glitches

The initial goof-ups like a not-so-efficient registration process, poor arrangements at the dinner venue following Saturday's cultural programme at Sanjeevaiah Park and other problems apart, what was foremost on the minds of delegates was the feeling of being back in India. Many were surprised at the plush arrangements in the Hyderabad International Convention Centre and said they hardly expected such a posh set-up. It was like being in a foreign country, they said.

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