India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The sights, smells, sounds, tastes and mystifying feel of India pervaded over Manhattan, grabbing the senses of New Yorkers and thousands of visiting tourists to the Big Apple last week, in the biggest ever brand building effort as India celebrated its 60 years of Independence. The four-day Incredible India@60 extravaganza organized by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the Tourism Ministry and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs was the largest ever event ever undertaken by any Indian body in collaboration with eight ministries, eight overseas bodies, and seven cabinet ministers.

This unique collaborative effort of business and government comprised 41 events, 13 conferences and panel discussions, nine cultural performances, three VIP dinners and seven receptions by partners/sponsors in addition to several related events on the sidelines. The festive strains of the Nadaswaram that greeted the who’s who of New York’s Indian and American elite at the Lincoln Center on Sept 23, set the tone for the spectacular event inaugurated by Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee.

Young women in Indian attire stood on either side of the red carpet to greet the male guests with a ‘Namaste’ and the women with colorful glass bangles. The glittering event was graced by the presence of Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Minister for Commerce & Industry Kamal Nath, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, New York Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Joe Crowley, Councilwoman Christine Quinn, Chief Ministers of Assam and Sikkim, Pepsico Chairperson & CEO Indra Nooyi, actor Anil Kapoor, former US Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger and Brazilian Trade Minister Celso Amorin.

The event was lent panache by charismatic host Kabir Bedi who said the evening salutes India’s journey in the last 60 years towards becoming a self-reliant, self-confident nation. In his address to the glittering gathering in the Avery Fisher Hall, Pranab Mukherjee said, "India at 60 was a remarkable achievement. Pundits said we would disintegrate into several parts after Independence. But our strength was in our diversity." Winning hearts on the occasion was Senator Chuck Schumer who said, "I am proud that you have chosen New York to showcase yourself to the world."

As the fastest growing wealth creator, Schumer said, India today was the best place in the world to start a business. "Wish I could say that of New York," he adds tongue-in-cheek. Citing statistics that show 200,000 millionaires and 40,000 doctors among Indian Americans, Schumer said, "We ain’t seen nothing yet, your children will achieve greater heights." Schumer hoped that New York would get the opportunity to celebrate India’s 70th Independence anniversary too with similar pomp. Earlier, Sunil Mittal, President of CII said the India Diaspora and Americans present on the occasion represent what India is today – a modern mix of culture, a nation on the march.

The theme of Incredible India@60 events, he said, was democracy, diversity, demographics and development. On India, he said, with 630 million working age population, it is today the largest continent of consumers. "India represents complexity like no other nation. Within this are challenges of education, development, but they are being met with confidence." Soon to be a trillion dollar economy, India is fast emerging as the third largest economy in the world, he said.

"What you see are the aspirations of India as a nation and aspirations of a billion people seeking their place under the sun; and it is that search which will contribute immensely to the world." Spectacular show The highlight of the evening however, was a scintillating performance by dancers of the Sangeet Natak Akademi – a seamless fusion of five different genres of Indian dances including Bharata Natyam, Odissi, Kathak, Manipuri and Kathakali.

The riveting performance that had the audience spellbound was specially choreographed by Madhavi Mudgal. At the post performance reception, the guests were treated to tantalizing snacks specially created for the occasion by five super chefs from India Like the foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "It is truly an incredible way to celebrate the incredible achievement of Incredible India@60."