India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Coca-Cola India has come out with a unique way to salute India’s 60 years of Independence with the launch of a special edition of the Limca Book featuring 60 luminaries who have given India its face to the world over the last 6 decades.

The special edition "India Extraordinaire : 60 years, 60 luminaries’ as well as the 2007 edition of the Limca Book of Records was released at an impressive event at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, on the sidelines of the India@60 celebrations all over New York City, on Sept 25. Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath, and Muhtar Kent, President & COO of The Coca-Cola Company unveiled the limited edition coffee table book- an initiative launched in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Present on the occasion were 10 of the Lima Book record holders featured in the 2007 edition.

The special edition of the book incorporates achievements across 13 refreshing and informative chapters like Defense, Entertainment, Medical Sciences, Environment, etc. Also on the occasion, Sunil Mittal, President, CII & Chairman & Group MD Bharti Enterprises launched the new website of Limca Book of Records, www.limcabookofrecords.in Initiative designed to connect Indians globally Speaking on the occasion, Richard Holbrook, who is Chairman of International Advisory Board of Coca-Cola, Chairman of Asia Society and longtime friend of India, said Coca-Cola has always mirrored US-India relations in its own history in India.

"The ups and downs of US-India relations have been the ups and downs of Coca-Cola in India running parallel. Today we are definitely seeing an up period for Coca-Cola in India." The book ‘India Extraordinaire’, Holbrook said, shows the commitment of Coca-Cola in India.

"It isn’t just publishing the Limca book— it is Coca-Cola’s commitment to achieve a situation where they can replace every drop of water they use in India, their commitment to fight HIV/Aids and other terrible diseases in India, and it’s their entire approach to India, not just the drink or a book." Holbrook, whose association with India goes back to its early days after Independence, said the current situation of Indo-US relations, which have seen many ups and downs over the years, is very good; and that is because of the growing influence and visibility of Indian Americans.

In his comments, Minister Kamal Nath said, "India is a land where people dare to dream and have a story to tell. As the line between people, places and preferences begin to blur to include a new global reality; stereotypes about India and Indian culture are beginning to break to form a mosaic of intriguing patterns.