Love letters

“It is an expression of what we,and other people who love India,want to convey—that this country has moved us and what happens here also affects us.”

The immediate reason for publishing such a book,says Bhojwani,was the November 26 terror strike on Mumbai. The three friends got together for dinner and discussed what they could do to reach out to Mumbai and India. “We asked each other that question and this was the idea that emerged,” she says. The beautifully designed book is not a text-heavy tribute; it’s a collection of memories—essays,impressions and snapshots—from people around the globe,who are passionate about India. So while on one page filmmaker James Ivory writes about how India and her people made him the man he is today,on another page is a photograph of Elizabeth Hurley posing Dovima-like with an elephant and on yet other pages are personal pictures shared by Adrian Brody and Natalie Portman. “The scrapbook look was deliberate,” says Singer,“We wanted it to be quite erratic,a little disorderly and diverse. A bit like Mumbai and India.”

The list of contributors to the book is a who’s who of influential people from all walks of life. They range from Mukesh Ambani to Zubin Mehta,from Wes Anderson to Diane von Furstenberg. “Morty,Waris and I just contacted all the people we knew who had been to India and asked them if they would like to contribute,” says Bhojwani,“Barring a few,who were very busy and deeply regretful,everyone was enthusiastic.” The reason for this,Ahluwalia feels,is that India is unlike other places,a country that one develops a relationship with. “It’s not like when you go to Paris and say it’s so beautiful. This is not a place you just visit once and forget about—India endures in your memories,and people who visit once,feel compelled to come back.”

The book,which took about six months to collate and edit and which has been published by Assouline,will be widely available in the country and the proceeds from its sales will go to the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust (TPSWT),which provides financial,medical and educational support to those affected by 26/11.