The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Enjoying the warmth of Indian sunshine to the hilt

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 09, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Enjoying the warmth of Indian sunshine to the hilt

Staff Reporter

Delegates of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas getting to know hitherto unknown facets of their homeland

INDIAN TOUCH: Maya Cesari of Reunion Island displaying the mehndi she had at Shilaparamam. - PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: They may have gone to distant lands generations back, but in some corner of their heart, still lives an Indian.

Meet the delegates from Pravasi Bharatiya Divas shopping for incense sticks, Kolhapuri chappals, gorging on `pani puris and samosas' at the All-India Crafts Mela at Shilparamam and you know them to be very familiar.

Even the pink salwar suit and the lavish application of mehndi does not reveal the Indian connection of Maya Cesari, who works as a youth affairs official in Reunion Island.

"My grandfather was an Indian, we are the third generation of Indians who had settled in the Reunion Island," Maya says.

Along with her two colleagues, Maya has come here as a representative of the local Government, as 30 per cent of the population of Reunion Island is of Indian origin.

A discovery

And coming here has been a discovery of sorts. "I met a person from China of Indian origin," adds Veloupoule Radjah, president of Culture and Sports Commission, a Government body at the Reunion Island.

He feels a sense of pride being of Indian origin, especially since a new India is emerging."

The Prime Minister's speech at the inauguration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas reflects the changing face of India.

I feel proud of India and am happy at the world power it is emerging as," he adds.

While these two speak a smattering of English, having had their education in French, their third colleague just knows French and though of Indian origin, it not able to express himself.

Rishi Rane, who left India 15 years ago, is enjoying every bit while his wife is seen completely absorbed in devouring pani puris, 10 for Rs. 15. "See the plate, it is made of leaf," she tells her daughter, who can see what it means to recycle local resources. "I am loving it, food is something we always miss in the US."

Apart from the vast variety of handicrafts and handlooms to take them to every corner of India, small time pastimes like ` get a mehndi on for Rs. 10', `Get a sketch of your face', `write your name on grain of rice' and `finally know what Parrot forecasts about your future' is something "that happens only in India." And the Pravasi Bharityas are simply enjoying it.

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