When Big Apple meets Big Mango

Not the India of stereotypes but a country projected to be one of the three major economic powers in 2020,” Sanjay Kothari, Additional Director-General, told The Sunday Express.

The fact that the event is taking place against the UNGA backdrop is no coincidence. “The idea was also to catch the eye of the world with the General Assembly in session,” explained Kothari. But this gigantic branding exercise to coincide with 60 years of independence, was not without its share of uncertainties. For one, the organisers had hoped that the event would ride on the euphoria of a neatly concluded Indo-US nuclear deal. But with the Government going slow on that front, this was not to be. Then came the Ram Sethu controversy, which put the participation of Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni in doubt. The show had to go on of course, even if it meant organising US visas for over 130 people within a few days.

Earlier this week, the visa queues outside the US embassy in New Delhi turned into veritable mini-Indias, with Mohiniattam exponents jostling with Dandia Raas dancers, and Magh Bihu folk dancers keeping step with turbaned Bhangra performers. One of the women supervising the general chaos explained that her team had to despatch 34 groups of 273 men and women: artistes, chefs, fashion models and craftspeople, et al.

It is not going to be all song and dance though. A fair amount of ideas are expected to be exchanged, with some of America’s most prominent universities vying to play host. Today, at the Metropolitan Library, Tim Sebastian will moderate a panel discussion on Indian democracy for BBC World. On Monday, the Yale Club in association with CII will hold a panel discussion to examine the India of the future. ‘India 2050’ will have Infosys’ Nandan Nilekani in confabulation with historian Ramachandra Guha and former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, among others. Tuesday will see Margaret Warner, senior correspondent of PBS Television, play moderator at a discussion on ‘Women and Global Leadership’ with Shabana Azmi, HSBC India’s Naina Lal Kidwai, and PepsiCo Board Chairperson Indra Nooyi, expected to participate. The Harvard Club will take up the theme of ‘Brand India — Where Next?’ on Wednesday morning, which corporate honchos like Martin Sorrell, Nilekani and others will explore in the company of Jagdish Bhagwati, economist and University Professor, Columbia University. Later that day Columbia University is to organise a conference on India’s growing water crisis.

A sized-down Pravasi Divas is also on the cards. Interesting, too, is the showcasing of the Northeast, perhaps for the first time at such a large global forum. The Northeast Investment Conference on Wednesday will see the chief ministers of most of the states of the region in attendance. The idea is to project the Northeast, with its rich natural and mineral wealth and tourism potential, as an attractive investment destination.

The canvas is large. Adjectives like ‘extraordinary’, ‘exciting’ and ‘incredible’ swirl in the air as Big Apple meets Big Mango. How things pan out over the next three days will ultimately decide whether this celebration to project a 60-year-old, dressed up in garments old and new, achieves the objectives of its organisers.