India and the World

Modinama: One man, hundred days, 180 books

- by India Writes Network

The journey of a tea-seller from Vadnagar, a small village in Gujarat, to the most prized address in New Delhi – 7 Race Course Road – is the stuff of which contemporary myths and folklore is woven. Not surprisingly, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life story has launched a thousand tales about the man who evokes diverse emotions among Indians and the world at large. The publishing industry in India is on a roll, with over 180 books published on Modi within the first 100 days of his taking office.

Written mostly in Hindi and Gujarati, the books provide a melange of perspectives and insights into Modi the leader as well as Modi the person.

The authors who penned these stories include former journalists, lawyers, RSS workers and even his body guard. Presented in multifarious ways, these works range from political biographies to comics. Bookstores across the country display these books; some have even been translated in Mandarin and French.

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President Mukherjee’s visit to Vietnam: Buddha, energy and strategy on agenda

- by Manish Chand

Buddha, energy and strategy. They may sound like a fusion menu of sorts, but India’s President Pranab Mukherjee’s first state visit to Vietnam will deftly coalesce diverse strands that make the texture of the vibrant India-Vietnam relationship.

Mukherjee travels to Vietnam on a state visit from September 14 to September 17, which will telescope the trend of multi-alignment in India’s foreign policy. This essentially means aligning with different countries which may be at odds with each other to promote India’s national interests. Significantly, Mukherjee’s visit to Hanoi will be followed by the big-ticket visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India.

While China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, the two countries are not exactly on the best of terms as Vietnam resents what it sees as China’s assertive posturing in South China Sea. India, on the other hand, has shown a talent for juggling its relations with both China and Vietnam.

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Bollywood bonding: Hindi Chini filmi bhai

- by India Writes Network

Call it Bollywood bonding, if you like. India and China may have some festering differences, but the magic of cinema entwines these two Asian giants.

When Chinese President Xi Jinping comes to India on his maiden visit September 17-19, the two countries are expected to sign a pact on the joint co-production of films, a pioneering initiative that seeks to bring the people of the two countries closer culturally.

“Both have huge film industries and these industries will be linked soon following the pact,” said Zhang Hongsenon, Director-General of Film Bureau of China, on September 10.

This move follows recent attempts by the film industry in both countries to tap into the rich tapestry of culture in their respective countries and market in each other’s country. In recent years Indian movies like the Aamir Khan-starrer, Three Idiots, have been a huge success in China. Dubbed versions of the movie were screened throughout the country making the language barrier a mere formality.

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Xi Jinping’s visit: India hopes for ‘directional change’ in ties with China

- by India Writes Network

Ahead of the much-publicised visit by China’s President Xi Jinping to India, the two emerging Asian powers have struck an optimistic note that the forthcoming trip by the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong will positively transform relations between the two Asian giants.

The Chinese president is scheduled to begin his three-day visit to India September 17, which has coincided with the birthday of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The choice of Ahamedabad, the capital of Modi’s home state Gujarat, as the first leg of his India visit underlines the keen desire of the Chinese leader to forge close equations with the business-friendly Indian leader.

Sino-Indian relations will see a “directional change” with Xi Jinping’s visit to the country next week, said India’s Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on September 10.

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Stage set for Modi-Obama summit in White House

- by India Writes Network

It’s official. The defining partnership of the 21st century is set to get a fresh sparkle when the White House hosts India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his maiden summit with US President Obama in Washington September 30.

Prime Minister Modi will travel to Washington September 29, after a clutch of back-to-back meetings in New York, which includes his maiden address to the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

President Obama will host a private dinner for the Indian leader at the White House on September 29, to which only seniormost figures of his Cabinet will be invited. On September 30, the two leaders will hold full-spectrum talks to reinvigorate the India-US relationship and set fresh benchmarks for fructifying the full potential of this critical strategic partnership. This will be followed by a lunch hosted for Prime Minister Modi by US Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department on September 30.

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