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INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
Innovative prevention
                                                               The five alternative medicine
                                                                          systems from India
                                                                                I for India
                                                                How self-reliance is the fast-
                                                                  track to economic revival
                                                                            Eating right
           Volume 34 | Issue 03 | 2020                         Understanding the traditional
                                                            concepts behind seasonal cuisine

    India salutes
ITS Corona Warriors
Country pays tribute to those at the frontline of the war against COVID-19
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
potpourri

  Potpourri
        Events of the
           season

                                       30/31
                                                              july, 2020
                                                                eid al adha
                                                                One of the biggest festivals of the Islamic calender, Eid Al Adha
                                                                is celebrated by the Muslim community across the country.
                                                                The holy festival of sacrifice, that falls on the 10th day of the
                                                                Dhu al-Hijjah as per the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed by

                         15
                                                                offering prayers and distributing celebratory meals and delicious
                                                                sweets to friends, family and the needy as a mark of humility and
                                                                sacrifice as per God’s command.
                                                                Where: Across India
                                         August, 2020

                                                           3    august, 2020
                                                           Raksha Bandhan
                                                           Celebrated on a full moon day, the ancient Hindu festival of Raksha
                                                           Bandhan or Rakhi is observed to mark the special bond between a brother
                                                           and sister. The festival, celebrated across Indian and Nepal has vibrant,
                                                           regional variations but signifies a brother’s pledge to protect his sister(s),
                                                           which is solidified by latter tying a sacred and ceremonious thread on the
                                                           former’s wrist in exchange for gifts and sweets.
                                                           WHERE: Across India

 Independence day
 The culmination of India’s freedom struggle was
 achieved with Independence on August 15, 1947.
 Each year on this day, the entire country revels in
 the sacrifice of freedom fighters who laid down their
 lives in the effort to obtain liberation. The festival
 is marked by the Prime Minister’s address from the
 ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi, India’s capital.
 Where: Across India

INDIA PERSPECTIVES      | 2 |
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
17       august, 2020
   parsi new year
                                                           22         August, 2020
                                                           ganesh chaturthi
   Also called as Pateti, the Parsi or Zoroastrian New     Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the largest celebrations of
   Year is celebrated with pomp and fervour, especially    the birth Lord Ganesha, a revered deity across India. Clay
   in around Mumbai. To mark new beginnings,               idols, decorated with flowers are carried in vibrant and
   houses are beautifully decorated with flowers and       jovial stately processions before being ceremoniously
   paintings, delicacies are distributed and prayers are   immersed in rivers, sacred lakes or the sea. Thousands
   ceremoniously offered across fire temples.              flock to bid adieu to the elephant-faced god across all
   WHERE: Mumbai, Maharashtra                              major cities in India.
                                                           Where: Across North and South India

22
August - 2 September, 2020
 Onam
 The biggest harvest festival of the state of
 Kerela, Onam marks the celebratory return of
 the mythical king, Mahabali. Celebrated for
 10-days, the festival is known for flower carpets
 called Pookkalam, traditional snake boat races
 called Vallam Kali, and scrumptious feasts
 called Sadhya. Particular highlights include the
 iconic Nehru Trophy Boat Race ( Vallam Kali)
 and stately processions of elephants decorated
 with flowers and ornaments, in honour of King
 Mahabali’s annual return.

 WHERE: Across Kerela

                                                                                                                    | 3 |
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
66
Volume 34 | Issue 03 | 2020

Editor: Anurag Srivastava
Assistant Editor: Rajat Bhatnagar
Ministry of External Affairs
Room No. 152, ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhavan,
New Delhi - 110001, India
Tel.: +91.11.23388949, 23381719
Fax.: +91.11.23384663

For feedback: osdpd2@mea.gov.in
                                                                                                                    70
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                                                              contents
India Perspectives is published in Arabic,                    Partnership                Music
Bahasa Indonesia, English, French, German,                                                50 Playing through the
Hindi, Italian, Pashto, Persian, Portuguese,                   06 A brand new normal
Russian, Sinhala, Spanish, Tamil, Chinese                                                     pandemic
and Japanese.                                                  12 Welcome back!
The digital India Perspectives is published by Anurag
                                                              Economy                    Wellness
Srivastava, Joint Secretary (XP) and Official Spokesperson,
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Room No. 152, ‘A’ Wing,                               56 Mind over matter
Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi - 110001, India. It is published     18 Turning the tables
on behalf of the MEA by Maxposure Media Group India Pvt.                                 Personality
Ltd. (MMGIPL), #TheAddress, Plot No 62, Okhla Phase-3,
                                                              Progress
New Delhi-110020, India. The digital India Perspectives
is published six times a year. All rights reserved. The
                                                                                          62 The legacy of a trailblazer
writing, artwork and/or photography contained herein           24 Pause for effect        66 Larger than life
may be used or reproduced with an acknowledgement to
India Perspectives. MEA and MMGIPL does not assume
responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited products,
                                                              Culture and lifestyle      Snapshots
manuscripts, photographs, artwork, transparencies or
other materials. The views expressed in the magazine are       32 The natural doctrine    70 The battle for humanity
not necessarily those of the MEA or MMGIPL.
                                                              Yoga                       Success
Follow us on:                                                  38 A healthy resolution    80 The much needed check-in
    http://www.facebook.com/MEA
    http://www.twitter.com/MEA                                Cuisine                    Progress
    http://www.youtube.com/MEA
                                                               44 The Cool(ing) meal      86 Of, by and for the people
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
Foreword
As we deal with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our response to this situation has
been marked not only by our strong determination and resolve but also by looking for creative and innovative
ways of doing things.
With this Issue of the India Perspectives magazine, we bring to you the recent developments on the diplomatic
front that have enabled not just India, but countries across the world to adopt new ways of conducting
leaders’ meetings and global summits. We look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently concluded virtual
summit with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that bring out how India has embraced new methods
to continue the momentum of diplomatic engagements.
We then analyse how the Vande Bharat Mission has brought thousands of Indians safely back to their homeland
in a mammoth effort through air, land and sea routes. We also travel across the country to understand how
the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 allowed nature to heal and thrive with minimal
human interactions and significantly lower levels of pollution.
We further look at how PM Modi’s vision is being realised through pioneering reforms and policies aimed
towards reviving the economy post-COVID-19 and setting it on a higher growth trajectory. We then revisit
the traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Siddha etc to understand their approach
and their emergence as effective systems of alternative medicine to fight the Novel Coronavirus by boosting
immunity.
Indian cuisine has traditionally been centred around a balanced diet as per seasonal variations. We explore
the age-old recipes made up of everyday ingredients to beat the summer heat. We also present to you simple
and traditional ways to make healthier culinary choices in contemporary times.
We partake in several concerts and conventions that have embraced the digital approach in these times to
connect to a large audience and helping them overcoming boredom while spreading the message of peace
and hope through melodies.
For our photo feature section, we journey across the country in awe of the valiant efforts of Indian frontline
warriors and pay homage to their exemplary service to fight COVID-19. We also look at how the hospitality
industry has reinvented itself and joined the fight against pandemic by aiding government efforts to contain
the contagious disease.
Finally, we look at the changes made to the selection process of the Padma Awards in recent years through
a participative exercise to make it a more inclusive process which is bringing recognition and laurels to
unsung heroes who have, through their deeds, dedicated themselves towards the
betterment of society. We also pay our tribute to legendary personalities of Indian
cinema and their contributions that will continue to reverberate across the celluloid
for decades to come.
                                                                                                                                                                                      INNO
                                                                                                                                                                                             VA
                                                                                                                                                                                     The fiv TIVE PR

Happy reading!                                                                                                   Volum
                                                                                                                       e 34
                                                                                                                              | Issue
                                                                                                                                      03   | 2020
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Anurag Srivastava                                                                                                                                             t COV
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                                                                                                                                                                                       | 5 |
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
Partnership

                                                               a brand new

                                                     Normal
                    Following the global pandemic of Novel Coronavirus, India has been at the forefront
                    of digital conferences both within and outside the country. Under the leadership of
                   Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is leading and adapting to the new way of
                             reaching out to people, turning the adversity into an opportunity
                                                                                BY Akshat Jain

                               A
                                             s the world changes                              information is constant, regardless of
                                             rapidly around us, the                           time zones and lockdowns enforced
                                             diplomacy at the highest                         by countries to fight the Novel
                                             end and the way it is                            Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
                                             conducted is evolving as                         Ensuring swift, effective and
                               well. Events are unfolding around the                          sustained channels of communication
                               world every minute and the flow of                             becomes even more critical in the

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (C), External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar (far left) and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval (far right) at the India-Australia
Leaders’ Virtual Summit in New Delhi on June 04

INDIA PERSPECTIVES             | 6 |
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
The ambassadors and
                                                                                           high commissioners of
                                                                                           Democratic People’s
                                                                                           Republic of Korea,
                                                                                           Senegal, Trinidad and
                                                                                           Tobago, Mauritius,
                                                                                           Australia, Cote d’Ivoire
                                                                                           and Rwanda present
                                                                                           their credentials to the
                                                                                           President of India, Ram
                                                                                           Nath Kovind, through
                                                                                           video conference

world of global diplomacy, especially    diplomatic outreach becoming more
during times like these.                 important than ever at this point,
    As countries around the world        virtual meetings and online summits
continue being in lockdowns and          have emerged as the new tool for
social distancing becoming the new       communication.
norm, diplomatic visits too have come
to a halt. But diplomacy hasn’t. Under   Virtual diplomacy, real
the aegis of Prime Minister Narendra     results
Modi, India is turning this adversity    In the last two months, the Indian
into an opportunity, by conducting       government has led and been part
routine diplomatic engagements           of multiple virtual conferences and
online and reaching out to nations and   summits during these tough times.
leaders, particularly as the situation   India took the lead in getting South
demands better coordination among        Asian leaders to meet through a video
world leaders to work out an effective   conference to explore cooperation
global response to the unprecedented     in combating the corona crisis
spread of the pandemic. With positive    and galvanise SAARC (South Asian

India, with the right blend of the physical and the virtual
can emerge as the global nerve centre of complex modern
multinational supply chains in the post COVID-19 world. Let
us rise to that occasion and seize this opportunity.
                                                                       Narendra Modi
                                                                 Prime Minister of India

                                                                                                            | 7 |
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
Partnership

 Safe & secure                    Association for Regional Cooperation)   global pandemic of COVID-19.
  As a secure and safe            member nations into action. New Delhi        On June 04, PM Modi held
       option to various
   video conferencing             also pressed for a G20 video meeting    the first-ever bilateral ‘virtual
     apps, the National           which was convened on March 26.         summit’ when he met his Australian
    Informatics Centre            Since then the UNSC, EU and NATO        counterpart Scott Morrison through
    (NIC), Government             have all adapted and connected          video conference, making it their
            of India, has
                                  through video conferencing.             fourth meeting in the last eighteen
            launched an
    application named                 On May 4, PM Modi took part in      months.
       “Vidyo” where all          the Non-Aligned Movement’s (NAM)            India and Australia announced
        recorded videos           online summit, along with 30 other      that they shall be raising their
         of conferences           heads of states and governments,        diplomatic relations further by
            are saved on
                                  the President of the United Nations     elevating the bilateral Strategic
  government servers
  and can be accessed             and the Director-General of the         Partnership concluded in 2009,
    only by authorised            World Health Organisation (WHO).        to a Comprehensive Strategic
   personnel. Most of             In his first address to the grouping    Partnership (CSP) and promoting
  the Union ministries            since assuming office in 2014, PM       “2+2” engagements at the defence and
       are already using
     this app which has
                                  Modi reiterated the importance of       foreign ministry level. Apart from this,
        close to 80,000           reforms aimed towards inclusive         there were a host of other declarations
      downloads across            global engagements and the need         and MOUs being agreed upon for
       mobile platforms           for a united front against the          infrastructure, water management,
            and 140,000
     downloads for the
    desktop version as
           of June 2020.

                       PM Modi
                  participating
                     in the G20
                Virtual Summit
                 to discuss the
               global response
               to COVID-19 on
                      March 26

INDIA PERSPECTIVES      | 8 |
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
supply chain management, cyberspace      to ensure harmony and prosperity in        Prime Minister of India
                                                                                    Narendra Modi virtually
and agriculture. A new joint fund was    the region.                                addressing the 25th
also set up which would enable Indian        Not just the Prime Minister,           Foundation Day of the
                                                                                    Rajiv Gandhi University
and Australian researchers to develop    India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr      of Health Sciences at
an antiviral drug for COVID-19.          S Jaishankar also participated in a        Bengaluru

    Another important aspect of          virtual foreign ministers’ meeting for
the meeting was the arrangement          BRICS and a virtual meeting of SCO
for increased Maritime Security          (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)
coordination between the two             foreign ministers through a video
countries. PM Modi stressed on           conference.
the importance of the Indo-Pacific           The fourth edition of the India-
region’s security as a worldwide         Africa summit, which was to be held in
concern with PM Morrison                 India this September, is also now likely
acknowledging a growing role for India   to be held virtually.

Not only on the global platform, the use of video conferences
has been a tool that has been used extensively by the Indian
         government on the domestic front as well

                                                                                                              | 9 |
INDIA SALUTES ITS CORONA WARRIORS - EMBASSY OF INDIA, LISBON ...
Partnership

                       New Delhi is also planning to hold the                                              abroad as well as with other
                                                                                                           foreign ministers across the
                          first-ever bilateral virtual summit                                              globe. The EAM has held
                       between PM Modi and his Australian                                                  detailed virtual discussions with
                                 counterpart Scott Morrison                                                his counterparts from several
                                                                                                           countries. He recently held
                                                                                                           talks with his South Korean
                                                                                                           counterpart Kang Kyung-wha
                                            Apart from high-level diplomatic                        and with the foreign minister of the
                                        engagements, communication with                             United Kingdom, Dominic Raab.
                                        Indian missions across the world is
                                        also being conducted through digital                        The digital era
                                        means. The MEA has been regularly                           Of course with virtual conferences
                                        engaging with Indian ambassadors                            a new set of challenges will come in
                                        in various regions and sub-regions in                       place for the leaders around the world.
                                        recent days. On April 23, 2020, EAM Dr                      For example, face-to-face meetings,
                                        S Jaishankar tweeted “The changing                          gaining trust of the other side and
                                        world of corona era diplomacy. Strong                       reading between the lines are some
                                        friendships thrive even virtually”,                         of the key components of diplomacy
                                        referring to his regular virtual                            which will be replaced with video
                                        conversations with Indian ambassadors                       conferencing.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi with the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the India-Australia Leaders’ Virtual Summit, in New Delhi on June 04

INDIA PERSPECTIVES           | 10 |
Left to right: External       But despite this, the benefits of       The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
 Affairs Minister of India
      Dr S Jaishankar and    the virtual diplomacy far outweigh          has set out detailed instructions for
    Secretary (East) Vijay   its costs. As economies shrink and          citizens using various conferencing
Thakur Singh(right) hold
   a virtual meeting with    the world battles with recession and        apps and about the challenges of data
  the Minister of Foreign    austerity, virtual conferences and          security as well as standard operating
Affairs of the Republic of
Korea, Kang, Kyung-wha       summits are going to be not only            practices.
                             time efficient but also a cost efficient        In the current volatile situation,
  The Union Minister for
Health & Family Welfare,     way of diplomacy.                           international virtual summits and
  Science & Technology           In order to develop a                   conferences have successfully bridged
  and Earth Sciences, Dr
  Harsh Vardhan attends      comprehensive video conferencing            the communication gap between the
 a virtual meeting of the
Non-Aligned Movement
                             solution for India and to push the          countries.
 (NAM) Health Ministers      Digital India reforms, the government           For the foreseeable future, as
                             launched an innovation challenge            nations around the globe struggle
                             last month. According to the National       with the unprecedented challenge
                             Policy on Software Products, this           of the COVID-19 pandemic and
                             innovation is aimed at developing an        worldwide travel restrictions continue
                             Indian tool for video conferencing to       to be in place, it may be necessary for
                             enhance local expertise.                    diplomacy to be conducted largely
                                 Applications were received till April   through virtual means, and this may
                             30 and the winner firm will receive a       become the new way of diplomacy
                             contract for the product to be used by      going forward.
                             the Government of India for a period
                             of four years.
                                 As India takes to the virtual space
                             to conduct business, the government
                             is taking strong cyber security                              Akshat Jain is a writer, columnist, novelist,
                                                                                          blogger, and a research scholar at IIT Delhi.
                             measures not only when it comes to                           He has authored books, numerous articles and
                                                                                          white papers on different ideas and genres. His
                             official government and public sector       most recent book - My Illusion my Mistake has been dedicated
                             dealings but also for private citizens.     to the forty families of Pulwama attack.

                                                                                                                                            | 11 |
Partnership

        Welcome back!
              Even as the country battled to tackle the spread of COVID-19, the government of
            India was busy planning the Vande Bharat mission, one of the biggest repatriation
            exercises the world has ever seen, during the ongoing pandemic. On May 7, the first
              phase of the exercise was flagged off from Abu Dhabi. Former Ambassador Anil
              Wadhwa takes stock of the mission’s progress so far, by land, air and sea routes

             T
                         o contain the outbreak     and public utilities like trains and     A man gestures
                                                                                             to his father upon
                         and spread of the          buses as well as airline operations      his arrival at Netaji
                         COVID-19 pandemic,         were all severely disrupted. For a       Subhash Chandra
                                                                                             Bose International
                         the government of          country of 1.3 billion, this presented   Airport from
                         India was forced to        a crisis without precedent. India        Bangladesh under the
                                                                                             Vande Bharat mission
             declare a complete lockdown in India   also has a 30 million strong diaspora    repatriation initiative,
                                                                                             on May 18
             beginning March 24. The normal         who live, work and study abroad,
             functioning of the government,         in addition to the large number of
             industry, commercial establishments    Indians who are travelling abroad on

INDIA PERSPECTIVES   | 12 |
work or vacation. As airlines came      be efficient and smooth, keeping the    Members of the Indian
                                                                                   diaspora following social-
   to a grinding halt and countries,       requirements of safety and health at    distancing norms as they
   including India, shut their borders,    the forefront at all times.             complete pre-boarding
                                                                                   formalities for their
   many Indian nationals and members           Much of this responsibility         flight from Dushanbe,
   of the diaspora were stranded in        devolved on the MEA, which              Tajikistan, under the
                                                                                   Vande Bharat mission
   foreign lands. This posed a challenge   responded with alacrity, setting up
   for the Ministry of External Affairs    a COVID-19 cell manned by over
   (MEA), which was tasked with the        100 personnel and officers for this
   responsibility, along with other        mammoth effort. Officers at the
   ministries of the government such       level of Additional Secretaries were
   as Civil Aviation, and Home Affairs,    made in charge of liaising with
   to arrange safe passage for Indian      designated state governments with
   nationals back to the country. At the   a concentration of diaspora abroad
   same time, the government assistance    on quarantine and other repatriation
   was required for the evacuation of      efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
   60,000 foreigners from 70 countries     engaged with the Chief Ministers
   back to their homeland and the whole    of states on the modalities of the
   process, which involved coordination    repatriation, and External Affairs
   of gargantuan proportions, had to       Minister Dr S Jaishankar personally

  India is also facilitating the travel of foreign nationals on
outbound flights under the Vande Bharat mission to countries
                    like UK, US and Germany

                                                                                                                | 13 |
Partnership

       Right: Passengers before     reviewed arrangements to speed up          called VBM “the mission of hope,
        boarding the 14th flight
           from Doha under the      and streamline repatriation efforts.       help and happiness”. As of June 25,
       Vande Bharat mission to      Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan            over 513,047 Indian nationals in close
          Srinagar and Amritsar
       Bottom: Indian nationals
                                    Shringla held video conferences            to 100 countries across the world
       before boarding a special    with Chief Secretaries of a number         have already registered to get home
           bus service to Assam,
      India, marking the start of
                                    of states as part of efforts to ensure     to India. Most of them are students,
      the Bhutan chapter of the     proper coordination of the operation.      professionals, and short- term visa
           Vande Bharat mission
                                    Heads of Indian diplomatic Missions        holders such as tourists. Indian
                                    abroad had coordinated these efforts       nationals specially from the countries
                                    personally with local governments.         of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)
                                        Evacuations of some vulnerable         who benefitted from visa amnesties
                                    groups of stranded Indians from            have also registered. The government
                                    Wuhan in China, Iran and Japan were        has given priority to those with
                                    carried out in early February itself, at   compelling reasons to return, such
                                    the beginning of the pandemic, but         as job loss, short term visa expiry,
                                    it was with the start of the Vande         medical emergencies, death of a
                                    Bharat mission (VBM) on 7 March that       family member back home, students,
                                    a massive programme was launched           pregnant women, and senior citizens.
                                    to repatriate Indian nationals stranded        The first phase of the mission
                                    across the globe. Civil Aviation           started off with joint operations by
                                    Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has            Air India, Air India Express, Alliance

                The Indian Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates abroad
                 have set up multiple channels to communicate with stranded
                          Indian nationals in the countries they cover

INDIA PERSPECTIVES        | 14 |
Crunching
Air along with the Indian Air Force                       flights were operated from the CIS                                Numbers
and Indian Navy through operation                         (Commonwealth of Independent
Samudra Setu. Given the strict                            States) countries, Europe, Russia,                                • Over the three phases,
                                                                                                                              close to 364,209
restrictions in place, the limited                        Africa, Australia, New Zealand and
                                                                                                                              Indians have returned
facilities at the airports, and the social                Canada. The MEA has coordinated                                     with 875 flights
distancing norms, the first phase saw                     with Air India and many foreign                                     scheduled under the VBM
a modest 64 flights and sorties by                        airlines, to bring stranded Indians                               • Starting May 7, the first
naval ships that brought back over                        back via aviation hubs of Addis Ababa,                              phase of the Vande Bharat
16,000 Indians mainly from the GCC,                       Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, and                                   mission continued till May
                                                                                                                              16 with 64 flights from as
South East Asia, UK and USA. Many                         New York. Several flights from other
                                                                                                                              many as 12 countries across
flights landed at designated airports                     countries, flying in to evacuate their                              the world.
in the states given the landing                           nationals have also ferried some                                  • The second phase, that
restrictions. The MEA coordinated                         stranded Indians. Flights have brought                              began from May 16 was
not only with the Indian diplomatic                       back Indians from even far-flung                                    extended to June 13 to
missions abroad but also the state                        places in South America such as                                     cover upto 47 countries.
governments to ensure that the                            Argentina, Peru and Guatemala.                                    • The third phase of the
                                                                                                                              mission is currently
operation was conducted in a smooth                           During the course of the second
                                                                                                                              underway to bring back
manner.                                                   phase, India also allowed stranded and                              Indian nationals from
    The second phase of the                               distressed Indian nationals to travel                               various countries.
Vande Bharat mission began on                             to India by nonscheduled commercial                               • The fourth phase of the
May 16. During this phase, in                             flights and also private and chartered                              Vande Bharat mission is set
addition to earlier destinations,                         flights cleared by the Ministry of                                  to commence from 3rd July
                                                                                                                              and will target countries
                                                                                                                              with large number of
                                                                                                                              stranded Indians
                                                                                                                            • The operations of
                                                                                                                              chartered flights to bring
                                                                                                                              back seafarers and crew
                                                                                                                              members from ships have
                                                                                                                              steadily increased. As of
                                                                                                                              June 25, around 130,061
                                                                                                                              people have come back
                                                                                                                              using chartered flights.
                                                                                                                            • Another facet of the
                                                                                                                              repatriation exercise was
                                                                                                                              Operation Samudra Setu,
                                                                                                                              under which the Indian
                                                                                                                              Navy would be bringing
                                                                                                                              back Indian nationals from
                                                                                                                              Maldives, Sri Lanka and
                                                                                                                              Iran

Left to right: The INS Jalashwa ready to take 700 stranded Indians from Colombo, back to their homeland; The medical crew
await the arrival of Indian nationals to board INS Jalashwa under operation Samudra Setu at Colombo, Sri Lanka

                                                                                                                                                  | 15 |
Partnership

                                                                                                Since domestic flights
                 Heads of Indian diplomatic Missions
                                                                                            resumed on May 25,
               abroad have coordinated repatriation                                         passengers can also arrive at
           efforts personally with local governments                                        Delhi airport instead of their
                                                                                            final destination in India, and
                                                                                            after the 14-day quarantine
                              Civil Aviation, and ships permitted by              period, can travel to their hometowns.
                              the Ministry of Shipping. More than                     The third phase of the VBM also
                              84,000 Indian nationals have returned               began from June 12 and is currently
                              through land-border immigration                     underway. Under this phase, there
                              checkpoints from Nepal, Bangladesh                  has been a significant increase in
                              and Bhutan. The Indian Navy also                    the number of private airlines and
                              made more sorties to bring back                     flights. The numbers of repatriations
                              returnees from Iran, Sri Lanka, and the             being made has also gone up, with
                              Maldives. As part of the second phase,              India making a more efficient use of
                              India also facilitated the travel of                quarantine capacity.
                              foreign nationals on outbound flights                   The Indian Embassies, High
                              under VBM to countries like UK, US                  Commissions and Consulates abroad
                              and Germany. India has also allowed                 have had a very central role to play
                              certain categories of Overseas                      in mission Vande Bharat. They have
                              Citizens of India (OCI) card holders to             set up dedicated, multiple help lines,
                              avail of the repatriation flights.                  and have been active on social media

                                           Clockwise from left: Children from the Indian diaspora before their flight under the VBM from Doha, Qatar; Women
                                           pose before boarding the 19th flight from Qatar to India under the VBM; Members from the Indian embassy greeting
                                           children before their flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka

INDIA PERSPECTIVES   | 16 |
procedures devised by Ministry
                                                                         of Home Affairs and Ministry
                                                                         of Civil Aviation are adhered to
                                                                         and communicated to returning
                                                                         passengers. Many Indian nationals
                                                                         have reported and commended the
                                                                         presence of Indian Ambassadors,
                                                                         Consul Generals and senior officials
                                                                         at airports to see off departing flights
                                                                         and ensure smooth operations.
                                                                             India has conducted several
                                                                         large-scale evacuations in recent
                                                                         times. This includes the airlift from
                                                                         Kuwait, operation Rahat from Yemen
                                                                         as well as the repatriation missions
                                                                         from Iraq and Libya. However, once
                                                                         the VBM and operation Samudra
       Clockwise from top:      platforms in order to communicate        Setu are completed, India’s COVID-19
Indian volunteers assisting
       with the registration    with stranded Indian nationals in        evacuation would have been
    and screening of Indian     the countries they cover. The Indian     the biggest, the most extensive,
    nationals for the Vande
           Bharat mission in    embassies across the world have          and a very successful mission,
     Maldives; The Air India    contributed significantly to provide     in contemporary history.
  crew preparing to depart
   to India from USA under      accommodation and food to stranded
  the VBM; External Affairs     Indian nationals. Indian missions have
       Minister of India Dr S
       Jaishankar reviewing     also liaised with local governments
  preparations for the VBM
 through a virtual meeting
                                to help Indian nationals extend their                     Ambassador Anil Wadhwa has served as
  with the Heads of Indian      short duration visas to avoid illegal                     Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External
            Missions abroad                                                               Affairs, and as the Indian ambassador to
                                stay in the countries where they are     Poland, Oman, Thailand and Italy. He has also been posted
                                stranded. They have been responsible     to Indian missions in Hong Kong, China and Switzerland and
                                                                         worked for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
                                to ensure that the standard operation    Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.

                                                                                                                                         | 17 |
ECONOMY

        Turning
         the tables
         As the country tackles the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister
         Narendra Modi has advocated a push towards making India self-
         reliant through a series of measures and economic relief packages
         BY Vinayak Surya Swami

             W
                                  ith the advent          turn it into an opportunity.” He then      First launched in 2014,
                                                                                                     the ‘Make in India’
                                  of the Novel            called upon the nation for its support     initiative is now the
                                  Coronavirus             in this regard by making India “Aatma      foremost tool to revive
                                                                                                     the Indian economy
                                  pandemic, a new         Nirbhar” or Self Reliant. PM Modi also
                                  world economic          announced a relief package of INR 20
             order is emerging and nations are            Trillion (equivalent to 10 per cent of
             just coming to terms with it. Prime          India’s GDP) that will steer the country
             Minister of India Narendra Modi              onto the path of rapid development
             has been quick in this realisation           and growth, and create a robust local
             and has accordingly altered existing         supply chain.
             policies and introduced several                   India’s plan for self-reliance
             muti-sectoral initiatives to further         is intended to be a two pronged
             the vision of a thriving economy for         approach. The first step will be the
             India. Reaffirming his belief, in a recent   undertaking of interim measures such
             address, he said, “Howsoever big the         as liquidity infusion and direct cash
             crisis might be, India is determined to      transfers to migrant workers and daily-

INDIA PERSPECTIVES   | 18 |
wage earners. The second facet would         Starting right
be long-term reforms in growth-              PM Modi’s vision of a capable, efficient
critical sectors that will make them         and self-reliant nation, has quickly
globally competitive and attractive.         been realised and introduced as the
    According to the Prime Minister’s        Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India)
vision, a self-reliant India will stand on   initiative. Some immediate reforms
five pillars: ‘economy’, that introduces     are now being factored into policy
quantum jump; ‘infrastructure’ intune        making decisions to bolster domestic
with the new India, a ‘system’ based         capabilities and upscale production.              Prime Minister
on 21st century technology; India’s              The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan               Narendra Modi at
                                                                                               the launch of the
‘vibrant demography’; and ‘demand’,          (ANBA) is focussed towards building               Garib Kalyan Rojgar
                                                                                               Abhiyaan through
which will utilise our requirement and       entire value chains for domestic                  video-conferencing, in
supply chain to full capacity.               products that will enable local                   New Delhi on June 20

We need to concentrate on each sector individually, promote and
boost each and every product and service and work in a holistic
manner. It is important to make every sector self-reliant”
                                                                                                    Narendra Modi
                                                                                             Prime Minister of India
                                                                    (At the launch of the auction for 41 coal blocks)

                                                                                                                        | 19 |
ECONOMY

           Immediate                 manufacturers to thrive and reduce          cover for existing businesses allowing
                                     the need for imports. The Department        them to grow under the same canopy.
              effect                 of Promotion of Industry and Internal           Over 500 million entities will be
        To boost domestic            Trade has already identified key            empowered to restart operations
           production, the           sectors followed by measures to             and get back on their feet with
 government has imposed              boost competitiveness, simplify             momentous reforms for the
   an import ban on radial
                                     procedures and encourage direct             MSME sector. These include the
 and pneumatic tyres used
 in two and four wheelers.           investments.                                introduction of collateral free loans
Global tenders of upto INR
                                                                                 (total of INR 3,000 billion), INR
 2 billion will be restricted        holistic approach                           200 Billion in subordinate loans for
        to boost production          The ANBA has identified the                 reviving businesses and a significant
           through MSMEs.            MSME (Micro, Small and Medium               infusion of almost INR 500 billion in
        INR 20 billion for           Enterprises) sector, with its significant   the sector through several new funds
      fishermen through              contributions to the GDP, exports and       being set up.
  Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).              employment ratio as the core area for
                                     economic revival and competence.            Equal opportunities
   The Garib Kalyan Rojgar
  Yojana (PMGKRY), an INR                As a start, a more inclusive            With an aim to boost domestic
50 billion scheme to create          definition has been announced to            production and expand quality
  jobs for the thousands of          bring a larger group of small-scale         exports, the MEIS (Merchandise
 migrant workers affected
due to the COVID-19 crisis.
                                     industries under the purview of the         Exports from India) scheme is poised
                                     beneficial reforms and extend the           to be replaced by the Remission of
 Restrictions on import of
   incense sticks, bamboo
 products and odoriferous
             preparations.
         An import ban on
 specific lists of weapons/
  platforms to be notified
 on year-wise timelines to
 boost indigenisation and
    domestic production.
      The imposition of an
    anti-dumping duty on
    specific steel products
  to ensure cheap imports
  do not disrupt domestic
                production

             PM Modi delivering
                     the inaugural
             address at the 125th
               Annual Session of
                Confederation of
                Indian Industries
              (CII) through video
             conference, in New
                  Delhi on June 2

INDIA PERSPECTIVES          | 20 |
With reforms and new        Duties and Taxes on Exports scheme
   initiatives announced
     as part of the ANBA,     (RDTEP), to offset infrastructural
       farmers across the     inefficiencies and costs associated with
        country can enjoy
  direct benefits of their    exporting goods produced in India.
        hard labour while     The government aims to extend these          (Indian Space Research Organisation),
simultaneously securing
         their futures with   benefits to entities with a capability of    India’s state-run space agency. The
 modernisation through        generating employment in the country         move has come as an addition to
                technology
                              as well.                                     ISRO’s ‘technology transfer’ initiative
                                  The export sector and domestic           that provides new-age tech to private
                              production will also benefit from the        and state-run entities towards the
                              proposed reenvisioning of the existing       betterment of Indian industry.
                              costs associated with manufacturing.             The defense industry will also
                              The lowered taxes on exporting goods         benefit from the freeing-up of the space
                              across borders in addition to the            sector. When it comes to innovative
                              imposition of anti-dumping duties on         advances towards new-age technology,
                              imports will provide a level playing field   the pandemic, and the new reforms,
                              to domestic manufacturers. A reform          will act as a catalyst for development.
                              aimed towards increasing production          Moreover, this move will also allow
                              potential locally and to ease the process    for an opportunity for DSRO (Defence
                              of exports while simultaneously              Space Research Organisation), India’s
                              reducing the dependence on foreign           new defence oriented space agency, to
                              products.                                    become a nodal authority for positive
                                                                           outreach with space start-ups.
                              The new vision                                   The government has also drawn up
                              The start-up segment of the Indian           a new policy for privatisation of Public
                              space sector has been added as a direct      Sector Enterprise (PSEs) to boost public-
                              beneficiary for the use of facilities and    private partnerships, which will soon be
                              premier infrastructure of the ISRO           notified to the concerned sectors.

                                                                                                                       | 21 |
ECONOMY

I for India                    A stoic defence
                               In a major highlight, the ANBA has also
                                                                             significant contributor to the country’s
                                                                             GDP. In a first, the sector has been
   The five-I formula for      been extended to India’s defence sector.      considered at par with the industries
   making India self-          The FDI (foreign direct investment)           in India, and the government, under
   reliant                     cap has been raised to 74% from the           the ANBA has announced a stream of
   •   Intent                  existing 49%. This will enable domestic       pioneering reforms aimed towards
                               manufacturers to source and utilise           empowering farmers across India.
   •   Inclusion               critical technologies that will help in the       Going forward, there will be minimal
   •   Investment              much needed modernisation and revamp          hindrance arising from trade and
                               of the production process.                    licensing agreements, thereby allowing
   •   Infrastructure              The OFB (Ordinance Factory                farmers to easily accomplish business
   •   Innovation              Board), a 200-year-old organisation           transcending state lines.
                               will undergo corporatisation to make              Millions of farmers will directly
                               manufacturing autonomous, boost               benefit from the INR 300 billion
                               efficiency and increase accountability.       additional emergency working capital
                               In this reconstruction, one or multiple       to stabilise production in these testing
                               corporations will be added into the 41        times. With a INR 100 billion capital
                               factories currently falling under the OFB.    infusion, Mirco Food Enterprises will
                                                                             now be provided technological benefits
                               Back to basics                                in clusters (mango in UP, saffron in J&K,
                               Special attention has been paid to the        bamboo shoots in the Northeast, chilli
                               agriculture sector with its position as       in Andhra Pradesh etc.) to standardised
                               India’s largest livelihood provider and a     quality and production as per FASSAI

                                                                                                        The Prime Minister virtually
                                                                                                             launches CHAMPIONS,
                                                                                                           a technology platform to
                                                                                                          empower MSMEs, in New
                                                                                                                     Delhi on June 1

INDIA PERSPECTIVES    | 22 |
Schemes like Digital     norms. The products will then be      providing a subsidy for the transport to
   India have laid the
  groundwork due to       marketed to promote an increase       deficient markets will create a secure
which families across     in demand.                            supply/demand chain and protect
rural India are able to
 receive government           The list of reforms are also      the interest of Indian farmers.
   benefits under the     aimed towards utilising the surplus   PM Modi had very recently quoted
ANBA directly in their
        bank accounts     of agricultural commodities with      Swami Vivekananda and urged Indians to
                          amendments to the Essential           use indigenous products and to promote
                          Commodities Act, made to              Indian products in global markets,
                          ensure adequate supply in times       furthering his idea of ‘Vocal for Local’.
                          of scarcity. These amendments,            India needs to simultaneously boost
                          by utilising the surplus and by       authentic exports in order to carve
                                                                a niche out for itself in the emerging
                                                                world order. An effort which will not
                                                                only fast track our journey to become
                                                                a USD 5 trillion economy, but will
                                                                also ensure that Indian interests are
                                                                safeguarded in the years to come.

                                                                               Vinayak Surya Swami is a Delhi-based
                                                                               journalist. He holds a degree in mechanical
                                                                               engineering and has worked as an apprentice
                                                                Shipbuilder with the Indian Navy. A part-time writer since
                                                                his teenage years, he switched to journalism to pursue his
                                                                prurience for writing and travel.

                                                                                                                             | 23 |
Progress

        Pause for effect
                A resurgence of natural habitats has been noticed across India’s mountainous
             regions as pollution levels dropped significantly following a nationwide lockdown to
             prevent the spread of COVID-19. This small window of non-interference has shed new
               light on how our relationship with nature can be made more inclusive in future
                                        BY Vinayak surya swami

                                                                                       Wild animals, including elephants
                                                                                        at the Rajaji National Park, have
                                                                                           felt more comfortable in their
                                                                                           natural surroundings without
                                                                                           constant human intervention

INDIA PERSPECTIVES   | 24 |
W
                      ith the Coronavirus    these policy decisions were a necessary
                      spreading at an        measure for the well-being of
                      alarming rate across   humanity, there was one aspect that
                      the world, many        had not been focussed on as much –
                      countries adopted      the impact lockdowns would have on
systematic lockdowns to slow the rate        the environment.
of infection. Billions of people were            Human involvement has, over many
                                                                                       A picturesque sunset
confined to the safety of their homes        millennia, degraded our environment.      at Tirthan Valley.
and travel was severely curtailed to         During the pandemic, with lockdowns       Tirthan valley, a
                                                                                       conservation hotspot
check the virus’ transmission.               and restricted movement of man            at the Great Himalayan
    Industries, businesses and even          and machinery in most parts of the        National Park, saw
                                                                                       an unprecedented
small-scale construction units were          world, resulting in an unprecedented      growth in the naturally
halted as the world slowly came to           withdrawal of human interference,         occurring flora and
                                                                                       fauna during the
terms with the pandemic. Although            nature started healing itself.            lockdown

  On World Environment Day, we reiterate our pledge to preserve our
  planet’s rich biodiversity. Let us collectively do whatever possible
  to ensure the flora and fauna with whom we share the Earth thrive.
  May we leave an even better planet for the coming generations.
                                                                                                  Narendra Modi
                                                                                            Prime Minister of India

                                                                                                                 | 25 |
Progress

             Undeniable signs                           to the reduced vehicular and industrial
             In India, this impact has been most        emissions over two months.
             prominent in the Himalayan region.             Mother nature’s self healing
             Very recently, news feeds were flooded     properties were visible in some of the
             with photographs showing the massive       largest Indian rivers, which showed
             Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas          a dramatic, almost miraculous drop
             visible from Jalandhar, Punjab, situated   in toxicity. The Yamuna and Ganga
             over 200 km away. In a similar event,      rivers, known as lifelines of the fertile
                                                                                                    With nonexistent tourist
             residents of Saharanpur in Uttar           plains of northern India had nominal        traffic in India’s many
                                                                                                    national parks, wildlife
             Pradesh woke up to a clear view of         impurities and toxins after the initial     has thrived. Seen here
             snow-capped Himalayan mountains,           month-long lockdown. In a report            is a tiger roaming
                                                                                                    freely at the Tadoba-
             which many had never seen before.          published by Uttarakhand Pollution          Andhari Tiger Reserve,
             Experts say this was only possible due     Control Board recently, it was noted        Maharashtra

          The reduced levels of air and noise pollution during the fight
       against COVID-19 have allowed exotic and migratory birds to return
              to what was originally part of their natural habitats

INDIA PERSPECTIVES   | 26 |
Breathing
                                                                                                                                 easy
                                                                                                                                      Air Quality Index
                                                                                                                                      (AQI) readings
                                                                                                                                      across major cities
                                                                                                                                      in India (June 8)

Top: The Dhauladhar range of mountains visible from Jalandhar, Punjab, on April 3, 2020                                               •   New Delhi
Bottom: A shepherd’s hut is illuminated by the clear rays of the sun, on the meadows of Uttarakhand. Lowered                              81 (Satisfactory)
levels of pollution in the plains has proven to immensely beneficial to the sensitive ecosystems of the Himalayas                     •   Mumbai,
                                                                                                                                          Maharashtra
                                                                                                                                          48 (Good)
                                                                                                                                      •   Kolkata, West
                                                                                                                                          Bengal
                                                                                                                                          38 (Good)
                                                                                                                                      •   Jaipur, Rajasthan
                                                                                                                                          63 (Satisfactory)
                                                                                                                                      •   Chandigarh
                                                                                                                                          31 (Good)
                                                                                                                                      •   Chennai, Tamil
                                                                                                                                          Nadu
                                                                                                                                          54 (Satisfactory)
                                                                                                                                      •   Guwahati, Assam
                                                                                                                                          38 (Good)
                                                                                                                                      •   Bengaluru,
                                                                                                                                          Karnataka
                                                                                                                                          46 (Good)
                                                                                                                                      •   Hyderabad,
                                                                                                                                          Telangana
                                                                                                                                          45 (Good)
                                                                                                                                      •   Amritsar, Punjab
                                                                                                                                          50 (Satisfactory)

                                                                                                                                      AQI readings
                                                                                                                                      represent an average
                                                                                                                                      understanding of
                                                                                                                                      the Air Quality.
                                                                                                                                      0-50 represents
                                                                                                                    app.cpcbccr.com

                                                                                                                                      good quality while
                                                                                                                                      readings above 300
                                                                                                                                      signify hazardous air
                                                                                                                                      quality.

                                                                                                                                                    | 27 |
Progress

             Even as the adverse aspects of the Coronavirus have been felt
            by humans, the crisis has come as reminder for us to rethink our
                                relationship with nature

              The crystal clear    that the level of Coliform (a type       close to inhabited cities like Shimla and
            waters of the Tehri
         Lake in Uttarakhand.      of pathogen) in River Ganga in and       Manali in Himachal Pradesh. “Since the
                    Due to the     around Rishikesh had dropped from        relative absence of humans and related
         restrictions imposed
             on travel, Tehri, a   70/100ml (Apr 2019) to 40/100ml (Apr     activities, wild animals have started to
              popular summer       2020), whereas the dissolved oxygen      perceive larger areas as deserted and
          tourist destination,
           has seen negligible     levels had risen by almost 20% (Apr      therefore safe for them,” says Parag
           influx and very low
            levels of pollution
                                   2019-Apr 2020).                          Madhukar Dhakate, chief conservator
                                        There has also been significant     of forests (CCF) western circle Kumaon,
                                   reduction in man-animal conflicts        Uttarakhand.
                                   across the state of Uttarakhand              In one such instance, a pair of snow
                                   as traffic on roads was well below       leopards were spotted with camera
                                   average. Since lockdowns have also       traps at the Nanda Devi National Park
                                   significantly reduced noise pollution,   in Uttarakhand. The sighting of the pair
                                   wild animals have been seen venturing    together points towards the comfort

INDIA PERSPECTIVES       | 28 |
with which these endangered animals               Moreover, bird sightings have
are moving about the park.                    nearly doubled with many endangered
    Anil Thakur, the Director of the          and rare species of birds spotted easily
Great Himalayan National Park (also           across Himachal Pradesh. “The reduced
classified as a world heritage site by        levels of air and noise pollution have
UNESCO) explains that even when the           allowed these birds to return to what
almost 1100 sq km area saw around             was originally part of their natural
2000 visitors during the summer               habitats,” say ornithologists. Infact,
months (May-July), the decrease in            enthusiasts and bird watchers from
human footprints enabled wildlife to          Shimla, the capital of Himachal
venture into the open and access more         Pradesh, have been able to spot upto
area. “It was definitely beneficial for the
park’s flora and fauna. Human activity,
be it vehicular or otherwise, threatens
wildlife, however inadvertently. Once
the park opens again, we will follow
guidelines and try to educate our
visitors about the relationship we
share with nature. The pandemic has
reaffirmed that nature is and always
has been, supreme,” he said.

                                                                                         Left to right: Villagers
                                                                                         across the state of
                                                                                         Himachal Pradesh have
                                                                                         worked tirelessly with
                                                                                         local authorities to
                                                                                         restore their natural
                                                                                         surroundings; sightings
                                                                                         of birds have become a
                                                                                         common phenomenon
                                                                                         during the lockdown
                                                                                         across the country

                                                                                                                    | 29 |
Progress

                                      40 different species of birds from the
                                      safety of their rooftops!

                                      Change for the better
                                      Such has been the change in the
                                      environment and the scale of natural
                                      reclamation, that experts are now
                                      looking to it for policy decisions.
                                      The drastic reductions in AQI (Air
                                      Quality Index) levels has allowed many
                                      metropolitan cities like New Delhi,
                                      Mumbai and Kolkata in achieving their
                                      targets of yearly pollution reduction
                                      within just two months. “It’s not just
                                      humans who have benefited from the
                                      cleaner air, animals and plant life is also
                                      booming due to the same. It is now
                                      our biggest challenge to continue this
                                      healing process for mother nature,”
                                      says Dhakate.
                                          Even as the adverse aspects of the
                                      Coronavirus have been felt by humans,
                                      the crisis has come as reminder for
                                      us to rethink our relationship with

            Top: The lack of
       vehicular traffic and
      absence of industrial
        activity has helped
   rejuvenate water bodies
     across India. The clear
     water of the holy Guru
   Dongmar lake in Sikkim
        is a prime example
    Bottom: The ecosystem
       at the iconic Valley of
     Flowers in Uttarakhand
   is returning to its former
          glory following the
     decline in tourist influx
          and efforts of local
                   authorities

INDIA PERSPECTIVES           | 30 |
The iconic Taj Mahal     nature. Going forward, there is scope of   and fauna which would otherwise be
       reflected on the
surface of the Yamuna      improvement when it comes to making        impacted due to forest fires, vehicular
  river in Agra. Due to    more inclusive policy decisions that do    traffic and heavy tourist influx,”
     the restrictions in
    lockdowns, Indian      not threaten natural ecosystems at the     explains Patial.
     rivers have seen a    cost of widespread development.                Many environmentalists believe
      dramatic drop in
   external pollutants         An avid naturalist, Upasana Patial,    that the lockdown boosted the
                           the chief conservator of forests           sensitive ecosystems naturally and
                           and wildlife (CCF WL) in Himachal          that a 30-day period restricting human
                           Pradesh’s northern regions has noted       interactions, can be allowed each
                           a significant decline in the number of     year in order to reset the biological
                           forest fires this year which she says      impact in these areas. We should not
                           maybe attributed to limited human          resort to going back the way we were,
                           activity following the nationwide          but instead, should learn from this
                           lockdown. Coupled with good rainfall       experience and allow nature to thrive
                           and lower temperatures, the decrease       as we progress.
                           in fires is quite miraculous. “The
                           forest department in tandem with the
                           administration tries to keep human-
                           wildlife conflict to a minimum. With
                           the lockdown in effect, we were able                      Vinayak Surya Swami is a Delhi-based
                                                                                     journalist. He holds a degree in mechanical
                           to significantly reverse the negative                     engineering and has worked as an apprentice
                                                                      Shipbuilder with the Indian Navy. A part-time writer since
                           biological impact on the environment       his teenage years, he switched to journalism to pursue his
                           while simultaneously studying the flora    prurience for writing and travel.

                                                                                                                                   | 31 |
Culture and lifestyle

                                                                                Ayurvedic medicines are naturally prepared
                                                                                    through a carefully monitored process.
                                                                                        These traditional methods preserve
                                                                                 curative properties of the ingredients over
                                                                                                long periods of time as well

             The natural

            doctrine
              India is one the few countries where multiple recognised systems of traditional
              medicine are practiced. These alternative systems are strongly connected
              with nature-based remedies and thanks to government support, these ancient
              philosophies are thriving. Dr Sanjeev Rastogi explains how alternative and
              natural systems may be a viable solution for a healthier lifestyle

INDIA PERSPECTIVES   | 32 |
T
             he ongoing global          tested ‘prevention is better than
             pandemic has exposed       cure’ paradigm, which happens
             the world for all          to hold relevance even centuries
             its strengths and          after it was first incorporated. In
             weaknesses in a single     contagious diseases, prevention
stroke and has brought into focus       becomes of crucial importance. The
                                                                              The traditional Ayurvedic
the importance of enhancing the         measures we are currently following   practice of shirodhara,
body’s natural defence system. With     in the context of the ongoing         that involves a constant
                                                                              stream of warm essential
the support of the government, led      pandemic have their inspirations      oils applied to the
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,        from traditional Ayurvedic concepts   forehead is known
                                                                              to promote blood
traditional practices of medicine,      of contagious disease prevention      circulation, reduce stress,
                                                                              restore damaged nerves
especially Ayruveda, are seeing a new   mentioned in ancient Indian texts     and boost cognitive
growth in popularity and relevance.     like Sushruta Samhita.                functions
The government has announced
innovative clinical drug trials to
evaluate the safe and effective use
of selected Ayurvedic medicines in
the treatment of COVID-19, making
this one of the first examples when
modern and traditional medical
experts are working simultaneously
to find a cure. The Ministry of AYUSH
(Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy,
Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) has
also released a series of advisories
for the general public on the use
of several well-known Ayurvedic
formulations to improve the immune
system in the fight against COVID-19.
Thus, stressing on the tried and

   Experts today say the key to a healthier lifestyle does not solely
  lie in herbs, drugs or vaccines but, within our awareness towards
        our selves and our efforts in keeping ourselves healthy

                                                                                                            | 33 |
Culture and lifestyle

                                                                                           Top: Students of the
                                                                                           PNNM Ayurveda Medical
                                                                                           College in Palakkad
                                                                                           Kerala. The college offers
                                                                                           extensive six-year courses
                                                                                           in Ayurvedic medicine
                                                                                           Bottom: Students of
                                                                                           Ayurvedic medicine learn
                                                                                           the practical aspects of
                                                                                           making medicinal mixes

    Siddha sensibilities
       Practiced largely across
    Southern India, the Siddha
   system is one of the earliest
          traditional medicine
         systems in the world.
    According to the doctrines
     that have been preserved
              and passed down
      through the generations,
           practitioners (called
    siddhars) stress on holistic
         treatment of both the
     spiritual and physical self.
            Siddha medicine is      The Ayurvedic assist                microbes all around us, there
      claimed to revitalise and     Another ancient science,            is a continuous search by the
     rejuvenate dysfunctional
           organs that cause a
                                    Ayurveda, explores the concept      microbes for suitable hosts that
       disease. Kayakarpam (a       of disease prevention by            may allow the pathogens access
        special combination of      promoting a novel concept           and to flourish by providing
       medicine and lifestyle),     of ‘prakriti vighat’. This refers   them entry and substrates
   varmam therapy (based on
   activating pressure points,      to averting the environment         to feed upon. Ayurvedic
         vaasi (Pranayama) and      and lending it unfavorable          herbal recommendations
   muppu, a special salt (made      to the growth of microbes,          of mulethi (liquorice), giloy
      from three regional rock
                                    in reference to microbial           (Tinospora Cordifolia; often
    salts and minerals) are the
    specialities of this system     infections and infestations. Due    referred to as the eternal source
                   of medicine.     to the ubiquitous presence of       of life due to its immense

INDIA PERSPECTIVES      | 34 |
Understanding
                                                                                                                            Unani
                                                                                                                              One of the greatest
                                                                                                                              scholars of Unani
                                                                                                                              medicine, Ibn-e-
                                                                                                                              Sina, defines the
                                                                                                                              ancient avenue as
                                                                                                                              “A science in which
                                                                                                                              we learn various
                                                                                                                              states of body in
                                                                                                                              health and when
                                                                                                                              not in health and
Top: The ancient science of Siddha medicine is preserved through palm leaflets over the centuries. Siddha practitioner Dr     the means by which
Gueta Monan Achari making an inventory of the medicinal leaves and herbs                                                      health is likely to
Bottom: Hakim Sharfuddin Quadri (standing), a veteran Unani practitioner, at his pharmacy in Kolkata, West Bengal             be lost and when
                                                                                                                              lost, is likely to be
                                                                                                                              restored”
                                                                                                                              Traditionally
                                                                                                                              practiced in
                                                                                                                              Southern Asiatic
                                                                                                                              regions as well as
                                                                                                                              the Middle-East,
                                                                                                                              Unani stresses
                                                                                                                              greatly on the
                                                                                                                              temperament (mizaj)
                                                                                                                              of the patients and
                                                                                                                              therefore considers
                                                                                                                              them in relation to
                                                                                                                              the environment
                                                                                                                              and the stress it
                                                                                                                              exerts.
                                                                                                                              Unani physicians
                                                                                                                              hold the digestive
                                                                                                                              capabilities and diet
                                                                                                                              in utmost import.
                                                                                                                              The medication is
                                                                                                                              of varying potency
                                                                                                                              and in accordance
                                                                                                                              with temperament,
                                                                                                                              causative humour,
                                                                                                                              faculty of organ
                                                                                                                              involved, and
                                                                                                                              severity of the
                                                                                                                              disease.

                                                                                                                                            | 35 |
Culture and lifestyle

         Healing
      homeopathy
  One of the nationally
    recognised systems
  of medicine in India,
        Homeopathy, is
   largely based on the               medicinal and immunity-             levels to provide preventive        Homeopathic
                                                                                                              medicines are known
     principle of Similia             boosting properties), and           medicines, improve immunity         to improve immunity
     Similibus Curentur               ashwagandha (Indian ginseng         and provide other health            with regular use.
  (Latin), which means                                                                                        Nahar Singh, a hotelier
 let similar things take
                                      or winter cherry) set an apt        support.                            and Homeopathic
 care of similar things.              example in the case. These                                              practitioner from the
                                                                                                              Deogarh Mahal Palace
          Homeopathic                 herbs act optimally at multiple     Mental strength                     in rural Rajasthan,
     physicians follow                levels; preventing the entry        The COVID-19 pandemic has           distributing homeopathic
      this concept and                                                                                        medicines to the staff
                                      of the virus by blocking the        not just affected us physically     as well as people from
       the medications
   prescribed produce                 receptors and also by halting its   but has also led to high levels     nearby villages

         similar effects              proliferation by inhibiting the     of psychological distress
        that counteract               enzymes needed for it.              leading to depression, stress,
     the symptoms of
    a disease. It is also
                                          In an advisory released early   and severe anxiety. It is a well-
   commonly used for                  in 2020, the ministry of AYUSH      known fact that increased
 long-term afflictions                recommended some Ayurvedic          anxiety leads to decreased
       as homeopathic                 medicines as “prophylactic          immunity in our body, making
  medicines often use
    potent ingredients                measures/ immunomodulatory          it susceptible to various
 in minimal quantities                drugs as per the Ayurvedic          disease, including an increased
          for prolonged               practices” to treat COVID-19        risk of viral respiratory tract
   symptomatic relief.
                                      patients. While the ministry        infection, which is a symptom
   Its strength also lies
     in its effectiveness
                                      proposed consultations with         of COVID-19 as well. Yoga,
      on certain clinical             Ayurveda practitioners, the         especially the deep-breathing
  conditions for which                medicines, AYUSH said, can          exercises, are said to increase
there is less treatment               help to “strengthen the immune      lung capacity and thus keep
        in other medical
  systems and is often                system”. Gujarat and Kerala         respiratory ailments at bay.
          recognised as a             have administered alternative       Speaking during the sixth
 standalone treatment                 medicines to infected patients      International Day of Yoga
         for ailments like
                                      and have claimed encouraging        on June 21, 2020, PM Modi,
   hormonal disorders,
      pain and palliative             results. Kerala has also set up     said that as the coronavirus
                 diseases.            Ayur Raksha clinics at district     specifically attacks the

INDIA PERSPECTIVES           | 36 |
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