Excelsior... Nation

Another disappointing year for Mumbai film industry

MUMBAI, Dec 22: The year 2004 ended on a disappointing note for the Mumbai film industry with big banner films like Sanjay Gupta’s Musafir and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s "swades" not meeting the expectations of the box office and the much-hyped Yash Chopra’s Veer Zaara getting a mixed response.

Marathi film "Shwaas" became the first film in 50 years of regional cinema here to bag the national award for the best feature film. At another level, there were signs of greater exchange of films between India and Pakistan and the prospect of legal screenings of Indian films in Pakistan seemed closer than never before.

Trade sources said that out of about 110 films released this year, only a handful like Murder , ‘Dhoom’, ‘Main Hoon Na’, ‘Hum Tum’ and, to an extent, ‘Veer Zaara’ turned out to be hits. Though Yash Chopra’s "Veer Zaara" evoked a mixed response at the box office, it was among the highest grossers of 2004. Further, the film did overwhelming business in the overseas market and also in pakistan where the pirated cassettes sold like hot cakes. Films like "Masti", "Hulchul", "Aitraaz" were average grossers.

While collections of Sanjay Gupta’s much hyped "Musafir" dropped after the initial rush, Ashutosh Gowarikar failed to recreate the magic of "Lagaan" with his "Swades", which witnessed a lacklustre opening at the box office. The poor initial opening to "Swades" is being seen as a setback for superstar Shah Rukh Khan who had tried to break away from the regular mould.

However, fans and critics of "king Khan", as Shah Rukh is often called, are unanimous in their view that "Swades" is the star’s career best performance.

"Swades" was Shah Rukh’s third release this year and it would have been interesting if he matched the big B’s record of delivering three hits in a single year. It was in 1978, that Amitabh Bachchan’s three films "Don", "Trishul" and "Muqaddar Ka Sikander" turned out to be the biggest grossers of the year.

Shah Rukh’s two earlier films released in 2004- ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Veer Zaara’ were the biggest grossers this year.

Most of the films this year were average grossers with distributors barely managing to recover the costs.

Trade Pundits say that it has been three years since the Mumbai film industry has churned out the kind of success that films like "Lagaan" and "Gadar" witnessed at the box office. Both Lagaan and Gadar , released in 2001 went on to become super hits, and film critics say that the Mumbai film industry has not seen a success of that category ever since.

Paucity of good scripts and stories did not bring audiences back to the theatres, says senior film critic Ajay Brahmatmaj.

However, others like filmmaker Karan Johar, who has taken charge of "Dharma productions" after the death of his father Yash Johar, are optimistic about the prospects of the film industry in 2005. According to Karan, 2004 was a good year. "Re-release of films like "Sholay", "Mughal-e-Azam" and their getting positive response at the box-office is a welcome sign. Similarly, films like Veer-Zaara gave a powerful and positive message for Indo-Pak friendship. I am confident that cinema will support the thaw in relationship between the two neighbours", he said.

Actor Anupam Kher feels flopping of films is a good sign for the industry. "People who know their business will remain in this field as the audience has become aware of what entertains them the best", he said.

According to Mr K D Shourey, vice president of the Film Federation of India(FFI), piracy continued to be cause of concern and little was done in 2004 despite best efforts. The multiplex boom and quantitative growth in the film production was a positive development. Even though the quality of films has not been high, distributors have not lost money. They have been able to cover up the losses, he said.

The year 2004 began on a very dismal note with films like the Bipasha Basu-Dino Morrea starrer "Ishq Hai Tumse", Manisha Koirala’s home production "Paisa Vasool", and Amitabh Bachchan starrer "Aitbaar" flopping miserably.

However, things began to look up with "Khakee", "Masti", "Murder" doing decent business till "Main Hoon Na" produced by Shah Rukh Khan and directed by leading choreographer Farah Khan turned out to be the years first big hit.

For superstar Amitabh Bachchan, the year was disappointing. The Big B had five releases this year out of which Raj Kumar Santoshi’s "Khakee", released in January this year, which saw the 63 year-old superstar delivering a knock-out performance as an ageing cop, was the only noteworthy film.

For beauty queen Aishwarya Rai too, this year was disappointing as, apart from Khakee’, which cast her in a negative role, all her films including Sameer Karnik’s ‘Kyun Ho Gaya Na’ and her first international production "Bride And Prejudice" were failure’s at the box office. Her much-hyped Bengali film "Choker Bali" also failed miserably at the box office,

However, for Aishwarya, 2004 also had its high points as she became the first Indian actress to be immortalised in wax at the Madam Tassaud’s Museum in London.

This was also an year when a host of leading ladies like Aishwarya Rai and Kareena Kapoor experimented with their image by doing characters with shades of "Grey" in ‘Khakee’ and ‘Fida’ respectively. Even though the films were not successes at the box-office, their performances were appreciated.

Towards the end of the year, Priyanka Chopra was also seen in a negative role in "Aitraaz". Another film "Dobara" saw Raveena Tandon also in a negative role.

Following "Jism" in 2003, this year too saw the release of a series of films with a preponderance of ‘Skin Show’. However, even though films like ‘Murder’, ‘Hawas’, ‘Girlfriend’ and ‘Julie’ did average to above average business, others lie ‘Tauba Tauba’, ‘Ab...Bas’ and ‘Kis Kis Ki Kismat’, the last one starring the new sex symbol Mallika Sherawat, met with a lukewarm response at the box office.

The year 2004 also had its share of controversies like Karan Razdaan’s "Girl Friend" on Lesbians evoking the ire of the Shiv Sena, allegations of rape against film director Madhur Bhandarkar, the arrest of filmmaker Kaizad Gustad in the train accident case of his assistant while shooting of his film "Mumbai central" and the latest being a newpaper publishing photographs of popular actress Kareena Kapoor and her actor-boyfriend Shahid Kapur in intimate poses.

This year, the Mumbai film industry lost yesteryear’s actress Suraiyya, actor-filmmaker Mehmood, filmmakers Yash Johar, Pramod Chakravarty, Gulshan Rai and noted Marathi-Hindi actor Laxmikant Berde.

It was also an year which saw Marathi film "Shwaas" become the first film in 50 years of the regional cinema here to bag the national award for the best feature film.

Trade pundits, film afficionados and the common man here alike are optimistic that "Shwaas", a heart rendering tale of human emotions which has won critical acclaim, will be able to at least bag a nomination in the best foreign film category of the prestigious Oscars as ‘Lagaan’ did three years ago.

The year also saw a forward movement towards greater exchange of films between India and Pakistan. Efforts are already underway both in India and Pakistan to ensure legal screenings of Indian films in the neighbouring country.

K D Shourey, vice president Film Federation of India (FFI), however, criticised the delay by Pakistan Government in allowing legal screenings of Indian films in that country.

"We were hopeful that exchange of films would be easier with the thaw in relations of both the countries but this has not happened even though the Pakistani film industry is willing", he said.

Mr shourey informed that the FFI will pursue the matter with the pakistani government to convince them that they will be gainers and not losers in allowing screening of Indian films in Pakistan. In this context, he pointed out that pirated copies of "Veer Zaara" were doing very well in Pakistan.

"It looks like the pirate lobby is very strong in that country like in India,"he said.

However, Mr Shyam shroff of Shringar films, who has opened multiplexes in joint venture with Pakistani exhibitors, says there are positive signs from the other side. "I have learnt that the Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has called a meeting to consider possibility to allow screening of ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ in cinemas in Pakistan. Let’s hope for the best", he said.

Actor Sohail Khan, who is directing a mega show for the Indo-Pak film achievement awards to be held in Dubai next year, says the film industry shows the way in maintaining peace and friendship. Film personalities from India and Pakistan would perform together for the first time together. Pakistani actress Meera who is making her debut in Soni Razdan’s "Nazar" says the dream of her film fraternity to welcome the indian film actors in their country would be fulfilled soon.

An encouraging sign in furthering Indo-Pak film links was the overwhelming response to Indian films screened at the recently-concluded Kara film festival at Karachi, which witnessed houseful screenings of Pooja Bhatt’s ‘Rog’ and Vinta Nanda’s ‘white noise’, among other films.

Among the regional films, Marathi films "Bapu Biru vategaonkar" starring Milind Gunaji and Sayaji Shinde was a success in the Sangli-Satara belt and "Kalubaichya Navane Chang Bhala" with Alka Athalye in the title role of Kalubai did well in rural Maharashtra.

Smita Talvalkar’s "Saatchya Aat Gharat" did average business in places like Pune. Mahesh Kothare’s "Pachadlela" also did well. "houseful" starring Bharat Jadhav who starred in last year’s hit Marathi film "Bholi Bayko Chalu Navra" flopped after a good opening.

Another film "Tarunachya Latewar" with the background of basketball and good cinematography failed to meet the expectations.

According to sources, Shwaas got overwhelming success in theatres after winning the national award and Marathi viewers are flocking to the theatres.

"The film would have done roaring business if it was marketed and distributed well at the time of its release. The film was released only with 20 prints initially", sources feel.

2005 looks promising for the Marathi film industry with films like Bipin Nadkarni’s "Uttarayan" ,Jatin Wagle’s "Chakwa", Shyam Joshi’s "Pailtir", Ramesh More’s "Salam", Gajendra Ahire’s "Sail" to be released during the year.

Among the eagerly-awaited Hindi films in 2005 are Subhash Ghai’s magnum opus "Kisna", Ketan Mehta’s Aamir Khan starrer "The Rising", Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Amitabh Bachchan-Rani Mukherjee starrer "Black", Sanjay Dutt-Ashwarya Rai’s "Shabd", Ajay Devgan starrer "Blackmail" and the Karan Johar-Shah Rukh production "Kaal".

Rituparno Ghosh’s Ajay Devgan-Aishwarya Rai starrer "Raincoat", Anil Sharma’s "Ab Tumhare Havale Watan Sathiyon", Dheeraj Kumar’s 3-D film "Abra Ka Dabra","Chehra" and "Dil Maange More" are scheduled to be released at the end of December and their fate at the box-office will be known only in the first week of January. (UNI)

Kids losing innocence due to parents’ neglect: Anupam Kher

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: Working with several spunky and naughty kids, with their numerous pranks, during the shooting of one’s film would seem to be an arduous job for any actor.

Not so for national award winner Anupam Kher, who, rather than considering children a source of irritation, thinks they are easy to work with since they represent the "true face of human beings".

"Children are the only source of reality for grown ups, especially in today’s world, given the fact that as one grows up, one tends to mature and consequently move away from reality. So, I always look forward with pleasure towards an opportunity of being in the company of children largely because they are natural and spontaneous unlike grown ups," Anupam Kher says.

Anupam, who recently had an opportunity to work with almost 40 children during the making of Dheeraj Kumar’s ‘Aabra Ka Dabra’, touted as India’s first film made on 3D plus technology, told UNI in an interview here that the element of spontaneity in the behaviour of children is something that needs to be preserved when children are fast losing their innocence.

"What is happening today is that parents are bribing children to compensate for more time spent at their workplaces. But this takes away the innocence from the kids’ lives," Anupam said.

Anupam should know. For, as the host of a talk show with children on Sab TV, he has had the opportunity to experience first-hand how lending a sympathetic or an attentive ear to children helps bring out their spontaneity.

The show has won for him a huge following among tiny tots, who lovingly refer to him as ‘Anupam uncle’.

Anupam feels it was important to make films like Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Makdi’ and Dheeraj Kumar’s ‘Aabra Ka Dabra’, being considered in media circles as India’s answer to ‘Harry Potter’ series of the west, which depict the "innocence of childhood".

Produced by Dheeraj Kumar’s creative eye limited, which has to its credit several children programmes on television, Aabra Ka Dabra, scheduled for release on December 24, is the story of a young boy Shanu whose search for his missing magician father, who disappeared while performing peforming a dangerous magical act, takes him to the Aabra Ka Dabra school of magic.

The film is being touted as the first film made on 3D plus technology - one which would allow the viewer to enjoy the 3D effect not only on the 70 mm screen but also on television screen just by viewing through 3D spectacles.

According to the national award winner, it is his liking for children, coupled with the fact that the film gave him an opportunity to do something different and exciting, that led him to take up the project.

"In the film, I play the role of a school teacher in the Aabra Ka Dabra school of magic whose frequent experiments keep on meeting with failure. He is friendly with children who approach him in case of any problem," Anupam said.

Although Anupam admitted that he did not feel comfortable working in a film "preponderating in special effects" as for him "acting is reacting to a particular actor rather than in isolation", he feels it is an ideal film for children.

"Aabra Ka Dabra has a sense of innocence so important for a children’s film. It is the genuineness and sincerity with which a film is made that determines whether a film will succeed at the box office and I can say that it has all these elements," Anupam said.

Asked as to what he felt explained the dearth of children’s films in India where a considerable proportion of the audience comprised children, Anupam said, "the first and foremost reason is that in the present time, children films do not have many takers in India. To make such a film acceptable in today’s scenario, when the audience is being treated to several different kinds of offerings, the need is to come up with something different.

"However, unlike in Hollywood where filmmakers can spend huge amount in making a harry potter film, Indian filmmakers, at present, do not have the requisite finances and infrastructure to make huge spendings on technology needed to make such films."

Under these circumstances Dheeraj Kumar has done an excellent job in making a "clean film about children", he said.

Asked the reason for his keeping a low profile in the last few years, Anupam said, "nowadays I am quite choosy about the kind of roles or films I take up. In fact, not many role in the last three years have been exciting enough for me to give my eye for.

"I feel it is very important for every actor to re-invent himself from time to time to aid his growth as an actor."

So, in the absence of many film roles, what is it that kept Anupam creatively satisfied?

"There have been role in foreign projects like that in the recently-released Gurinder Chaddha’s ‘Bride And Prejudice’. Apart from that there is a BBC series that I am doing. Then, there is theatre that helps to amply satisfy my creative urges," Anupam said.

Among his future projects in India is an English film by filmmaker Tanuja Chandra titled ‘Hope And A Little Singer’.

The actor, who has, through his variety of roles over the last decade-and-a-half, made a name for himself as a versatile actor, also plans to set up a school of acting as he feel that "today there is a greater need for such skills than ever before". (UNI)

Plenty of laughter in House

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: There was plenty of laughter in Lok Sabha today during question hour over metabolism and obesity.

Replying to a question by Chandra Mani Tripathi (BJP) on whether Government had taken precautionary measures regarding drug imports from the US which had side effects, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ambumani Ramdoss said certain drugs react to some types of metabolism.

"Some may be suited to the metabolism of Maran (IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran) and not to mine," he said.

This led Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to remark "why don’t you select me", evoking laughter in the House.

To another question by Tripathi that certain imported medicines to reduce obesity were causing cancer and mental disorder, Raghunath Jha (RJD) commented "you have the medicine to reduce obesity".

To this, Tripathi said "you have already lost your mental balance and if you have this medicine, you will lose whatever is left."

Speaker: You (Tripathi) must be saying so in a lighter vein.

Tripathi: Yes, we are old friends.

The House burst into laughter again. (PTI)

India to leave its mark on moon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Dec 22: India’s moon mission "Chandrayan-1" will leave its mark on the satellite, with mission planners recently deciding to incorporate a detachable "impactor", which will land on the lunar surface, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair has said.

Talking to mediapersons here last evening on the sidelines of the 15th annual conference of the Kerala Academy of Sciences, Mr Madhavan Nair said the impactor, weighing about 20 kg, would land on the moon and help map the terrain.

"Our mission still remains an unmanned scientific lunar orbiting mission. But, talks are going on about the payloads, which can ride piggy-back on Chandrayan and a detachable impactor is one of them," he said.

The impactor would detach from "Chandrayan-1" and land on the lunar surface. "It will throw up a lot of dust on landing. That too will help the equipment on board the spacecraft to better study the lunar surface," he added.

Stating that the mission, slated for 2007-08, was progressing well, Mr Nair said the impactor would cause "only a marginal" increase in the project cost of about Rs 380 crore.

Earlier, in his acceptance speech at being conferred an honorary fellowship of the Kerala Academy of Sciences by State Governor R L Bhatia, Mr Madhavan Nair said "Chandrayan-1" would study the moon from an orbit 100 km from the lunar surface.

It would be equipped with a variety of state-of-the-art instruments, including UV and X-ray detectors, to accomplish the mission’s stated objectives of studying the mineral composition of the moon, the search for helium and traces of water.

Saying that he was often asked when India would send a manned mission to the moon, Mr Madhavan Nair said the country needed to debate the need for manned missions, which would be ten times more expensive than robotic, unmanned missions.

The country’s space scientists, however, were deliberating on the technology and R D activities needed for a manned mission and to make a platform in space, so that India would be equipped to launch such projects in the years to come, he said. (UNI)

Rajyavardhan brings glory in eventful 2004 in Rajasthan

JAIPUR, Dec 22: Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore blazed his way to Olympic glory, a triumvirate of women occupied the top three positions of authority, while elections, scandals, tragedies and agitations made it an eventful 2004 in Rajasthan.

Delhi BJP veteran Madan Lal Khurana occupied the Raj Bhawan for nine dramatic months. Drought as well as rains ravaged vast parts of the state, the country’s largest in terms of area.

While Maj Rathore was feted for his silver winning effort at the Athens Olympics, another soldier, Major Surinder Singh, was cashiered and sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment by a military court in Jodhpur for faking encounters in Siachen.

Water issues continued to dominate public discourse in the desert state with the Punjab termination of agreements bill and the over two month-long farmer’s agitation for irrigation water in Indira Gandhi canal areas heating up local politics. Six people were killed during the agitation in north-west Rajasthan.

The cash-on-camera exposi against three former ministers and others, the death of 21 people in Hooch tragedies in Bhilwara and Alwar districts, allegations that nearly 50 people had died of malnutrition or disease in Baran district and police firing on agitators in Jhunjhunu and Udaipur districts also rocked politics during the year which witnessed elections to student unions, urban bodies and the Lok Sabha, besides by-elections to two Assembly seats.

Jailbreaks in Deeg and Nimbahera, communal tension in Sarada, the VHP’s Trishul Diksha programmes, withdrawal of cases against Sangh loyalists, discovery of oil and natural gas, alleged "honour killing" of a girl in Dausa district, fraud in admission to private medical and dental colleges, recovery of antique idols, water crisis in the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, recovery of over 1,400 unexploded or semi-exploded artillery shells from imported scrap and sati glorification case acquittals also made it into headlines.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje got a boost as the BJP under her leadership got spectacular victories in the Lok Sabha and civic polls. But her decision to organise prayers for rains and her style of functioning invited flak from the opposition. She was accused of being feudal and of promoting her "maharani aura".

Ms Pratibha Patil and Ms Sumitra Singh took oath as Governor and Assembly Speaker. Like Ms Raje, they were the first women to occupy the posts.

Former Rajya Sabha deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket. Four others — Jaswant Singh, Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi, Gyan Prakash Pilania (all BJP) and Santosh Bagrodiya (Cong) too were elected unopposed to the upper House from the state.

Congress veterans Balram Jakhar, Buta Singh and Nawal Kishore Sharma were appointed Governors of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. Former IPS officer B L Joshi was appointed Delhi Lt Governor Mr Sis Ram Ola, Mr Natwar Singh and Mr Namonarayan Meena were made Union Ministers.

Yet, it was an year of reverses for the Congress in the state. After last year’s Assembly poll debacle, the party was routed in the entire Marwar, Mewar, Hadauti, Merwara and western Rajasthan belts in the Lok Sabha polls of May. The BJP won 21 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Star sons — Ms Raje’s son Dushyant Singh, former Union Minister Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra and late Congressman Rajesh Pilot’s son Sachin — were among those elected to the Lok Sabha. Actor Dharmendra was elected from Bikaner.

The lake city of Udaipur was in spotlight when "mast-mast" girl Raveena Tandon tied the knot with fianci Anil Thadani and again when India-born British businessman Arun Nayar threw a party for his girlfriend actress Liz Hurley and others.

Habib Miyan of Jaipur became the oldest Haji at the age of 126.

Renowned folklorist Komal Kothari, politicians Abrar Ahmed and Ram Singh Vishnoi, besides prominent Yoga teacher Daya Vyas were among those who died in 2004. (UNI)

Mystic India: a journey into the mind and soul of a nation

MUMBAI, Dec 22: Majesty and mysticism of India’s art and architecture, music and dance, faces and festivals, customs and costumes of the 18th century will be brought to life on the giant Imax Screen, with the release of a unique film — ‘mystic India’.

The film is the world’s first large format epic on India that attempts to rediscover the nation, a land of many mysteries and fascinations which lie hidden in India’s silent spirituality, making her a mystic land of meditation, contemplation and enlightenment.

A period film set 200 years back in time, it retraces the incredible journey of an 11-year old child ‘Yogi’ — Neelkanth. In 1792 AD, he walked for 12,000 km continuously for seven years, barefoot and barebody, through the length and breadth of India, from the Himalayas to the southern sea-shores.

‘Mystic India’ attempts to rediscover India, the world’s largest and oldest democracy with its bounty of wisdom, culture and spirituality during the journey, seen through the innocent eyes of Neelkanth.

Internationally acclaimed flautist Pandit Ronu Majumdar has given music to the film, which has been produced by baps Swaminarayan Sanstha, the creator of ‘Akshardham’.

The film has a hollywood team led by Director Keith Menton, Reed Smoot is the director of photography and Mose Richards is the writer. The presenter is Pramukh Swami of Gujarat’s Akshardham temple.

Mr Majumdar told UNI here that the film was a "breathing journey" with several heroic tales which required an original Indian touch to its music. This has been composed by him in collaboration with Emmy winning composer Sam Cardon.

Pandit Majumdar extensively used Shubha Mudgal’s voice in the film with contributions by Sadhna Sargam and Bhavdeep Jaipurwale.

"Though I have naturally used the flute a lot, I have also made extensive use of the Pakhawaj, Saranji and Qanoon," he added.

The film is expected to have a world-wide premiere in February next year while it will be released only in India in March due to lack of large numbers of Imax theatres across the country, he informed.

Mr Majumdar said it was an amazing true story that had the power to inspire millions across generations.

"Throughout the journey, one can experience India’s intricate architecture, colourful festivals, traditional rituals, fascinating people and landscapes," he said.

"During the two shooting schedules in March-May 2003 and Jan-February 2004, the mystic India production team travelled to more than 100 different film locations in India, at times shooting in hostile conditions at a height of 13,000 feet, re-creating the adventures of Neelkanth. From the freezing Himalayas to the scorching deserts with a cast of 45,000," he said.

Capturing dazzling images and scenes on a scale never seen before in large format, this film will transport the audience to some of India’s most sacred and treasured destinations, he added.

Of all such journeys, none perhaps was greater than the true story of Neelkanth, who set off on an extra-ordinary journey. An adventure of hardships and survival, faith and fearlessness undertaken by a child.

From 1792 to 1799, Neelkanth walked alone. Carrying no maps, no food and no clothing, it remains a mystery still as to how he crossed the roaring rivers, faced ferocious animals and survived the freezing winter of the Himalayas. ‘Mystic India’ is the story of his struggle, kindness and courage.

The film takes you from the Icy peaks to the cool blue Mansarovar lake into the wild jungles of Sunderbans and the rain forests of Assam through the barren deserts and to the silent shores of south India.

The film explores unique elements of India, like its amazing and intricate art and architecture and fascinating festivals. (UNI)

Tourism sector witnesses boom

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: Tourism industry never had it so good!

After witnessing successive setbacks on various counts like SARS or adverse travel advisories issued by the us and a number of countries, the tourism sector is witnessing a boom both in domestic as well as inflows of foreign tourists.

With robust economic growth and ongoing peace talks between India and Pakistan, the foreign tourist arrivals almost touched the three million mark during the year which saw emergence of a healthy trend in the domestic sector as well.

"India is the natural destination for the world today", an upbeat Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhury says.

During the year, the country saw a record number of 29,83,453 foreign tourist arrivals in the country till November this year, registering a growth of 24 per cent over the previous year and the Government proposed several new initiatives to strengthen the "incredible India" overseas.

Brimming with new ideas, Chowdhury says several initiatives have been launched in the sphere of medical tourism in partnership with the private sector to make India emerge as a major global hub.

A joint task force comprising Tourism and Health Ministries along with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been set up to tap this market which has a huge potential, she says.

The Government is also contemplating offering a package to foreign tourists, keen on medical tourism, by dovetailing allopathic with alternative medicines.

Efforts to modernise Delhi and Mumbai Airports as also upgrade facilities at 22 non-metro airports in the next two years and upgrade infrastructure facilities at Buddhist circuit in six states is expected to attract more tourists.

With a view to increasing India’s share in the growing business of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) segment, it has been decided to support the setting up of large convention centres with exhibition facilities in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore and small convention facilities in Goa and Jaipur.

Laying emphasis on quality of tourism rather than the number of tourists visiting the country, Chowdhury says the visa on arrival, a long pending proposal, was only a facilitator and not a crucial factor to attract foreign tourists.

"My ministry has asked the Home Ministry to look into the issue. When Sri Lanka with its school of terrorism gives visa on arrival, why not India? At the same time, there is no visa on arrival in China but it witnesses a booming tourist inflow. Visa on arrival is not a crucial issue but only a facilitator," she says.

Strongly pitching for bringing tourism in the concurrent list of the constitution, Chowdhury says the issue is being examined in consultation with the State Governments in order to give a new impetus to the development of this sector.

The ministry is contemplating launching a strong campaign "Athithi Devo Bhava" (guest is like God) in order to boost domestic tourism which has a multiplier effect on the employment potential with the growth of various facets of tourism like travel components and infrastructure development.

The infrastructure upgradation of Buddhist circuit in six states has been started in a big way to attract more tourists.

The ministry has identified 31 tourism hotspots in various states to develop as rural tourism hubs so as to help rural poor to get employment through various tourism related projects.

During the year, the ministry has evolved a concept of "night bazaars" as an attempt to provide a unique shopping experience as well as to preserve and nourish the traditional art and cultural forms of the country. The hauz khas area in delhi has been selected for the first night bazaar project.

In a bid to beef up security arrangements for foreign tourists, the Government has asked the State Governments to deploy tourist police at all important tourist destinations to check crimes against tourists.

In a novel arrangement, the Tourism Ministry also plans to train taxi drivers operating at the airports and urged the airports authority of India to tie up with State Governments for operation of radio taxis to airports in order to ensure the safety of passengers. (PTI)

Truce, surrender bring peace to Meghalaya, crash saddens

SHILLONG, Dec 22: Ceasefire by a militant outfit and enbloc surrender by ultras of another group helped Meghalaya achieve peace to some extent in 2004 which also witnessed political cacophony over ministry downsizing exercise and the first ever helicopter crash taking 10 lives.

Heralding a new era, Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) inked a ceasefire agreement with the Centre and State Governments on July 23 in Delhi for six months initially.

The outfit, based in Garo hills areas and fighting for a ‘greater Garoland’ with three Garo hills districts, parts of Khasi hills of Meghalaya and adjoining areas of Assam since 1995, was outlawed in November 16, 2000. Under the truce ground rules, anvc agreed to put its cadres in designated camps abjuring violence as people heaved a sigh of relief.

Nearly 50 cadres of another major ultra group -Hynnqewtre National Liberation Council (HNLC), operating from Khasi hills areas, came overground and laid down their arms before the D D Lapang Government during the year - which prompted the administration to chart a rehabilitation package for them.

Abiding by the constitution, Lapang pruned his jumbo 39-strong two-tier ministry to 11 in July. When the discards made political noise, he pacified them by making then Parliamentary Secretaries and Chairmen.

A pall of gloom descended on Meghalaya on September 22 evening as the Pawan Hans helicopter crashed at Kyrdem Kulaija areas apparently because of bad weather killing 10 passengers including a cabinet minister and two MLAs on board.

A first of its kind in Meghalaya, the mishap, which kept the chopper service suspended since then till November 19, also set off a debate about the airworthiness of the Dauphine chopper run by Meghalay Transport Corporation.

Parliamentary elections in April brought some cheers for Congressmen as their leader P R Kyndiah not only won the Shillong seat for the third time in a row, but became the sole member from the region in the Manmohan Singh cabinet holding dual charge of doner and tribal affairs.

But fortune did not favour another veteran MP Purno Agitok Sangma. He lost his party symbol to Sharad Pawar-led faction of NCP on numerical strength in the run up to the polls and had to join Trinamool Congress to keep floating.

Although he won his home town Tura seat for the eighth time consecutively, Sangma dropped hints towards the year-end to rejoin NCP.

A review meeting of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry decided on June 15 to award an Indian Institute of Management in the north east. Meghalaya Government pursued the matter vigorously and was now poised to get it in its soil. The Centre also gave the state a cancer hospital to tackle the growing number of patients.

The year had its share of controversies. The debate on merits and demerits of uranium mining raged. A few social pressure groups opposed a move to allow Nuclear Corporation of India Ltd to extract the radioactive mineral even as the State Government said no formal decision has been taken.

The row hotted up when a team of experts led by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar and UCIL head Ramendr Gupta visited the uranium deposit at Domiasiat .

A 20-hour bandh was called on December 14 by the Khasi Students Union to oppose the mining move and other issues.

A Government decision to shift the Assembly building, now in temporary accommodations, to city outskirts also created another row with the authorities justifying it to do away with congestion in the heart of capital and utilise a hitherto unused land there.

Unhappy political parties, including some ruling coalition partners, threatened agitation. Lapang and other ministers’ names were dragged into the land purchase deal allegations.

A guberanatorial ordinance forming a State Commission for Women coinciding with the visit of the national body on October 29 sparked a showdown between the Government and prominent female activists alleging lack of transperancy and political appointments.

Shillong, considered as the ‘Mecca’ of western music, hosted two grand rock concerts by Grammy-award winning bands ‘petra’ and ‘firehouse’ to warm the December chill. (PTI)