'India Calling' book to be released at NRIs meet

New Delhi, Jan 4 (UNI) Hailing late Dhirubhai Ambani as 'India's Crown Jewel' who gave corporate India one of its best calling cards to global businesses 'India Calling', an illustrated coffee-table book, will be released at the the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, beginning January 7.

Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, who is also the chairman of the Bismillah : The Beginning Foundation, is to hand over the inaugural copies of the book to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other delegates at the conference, to be organised at the grandiose Vigyan Bhawan here.

The 196-page pictorial book, compiled and published by Delhi-based couple Neena Jha and Shivnath Jha, commemmorates India's entering 60th year of Independence (1947-2007). The couple had earlier authored a monograph on Ustad Bismillah Khan, which was released by the Ustad himself on his 91st birthday in March last year.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which are organising the global Indian families' annual get together to renew their links with their motherland during January 7-9, have made special arrangements at Viyan Bhawan premises to make available both the books to the NRIs and PIOs, who will be attending the meet.

About 2000 delegates from over 70 countries are expected to attend the annual meet.

'India Calling' is dedicated to all freedom fighters, political leaders, armed forces personnel and policemen who sacrificed their today for the country's tomorrow. ''Indian Calling is perhaps the first book brought out in commemoration of India entering 60th year of Independence,'' says the couple, who has launched a nationwide movement through the books to protect musicians, academicians, artists, policemen and others who have brought laurels and pride to the nation.

''The principle of non-violence must become central to the ethics of human culture. A society as diverse in its mosaic as India must truly practise non-violence ad embrace brotherhood in our onward march as a nation. We must exult in India's unique racial and cultural diversity. Indian art and music symbolises this. We must save it from crude modernisation,'' Mr Sibal, in his chairman's note in the book, wrote.

Reliance Chief Mukesh Ambani, whose article finds a place in the book, says, ''The goal of removing poverty should force us to rethink the whole concept of business.'' Comprising rare pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Indira Gandhi, among others, the 'India Calling' also carries profiles of important Indian icons and the articles on globalisation, nuclear deals, economic prosperity, civil aviation, Indian polity, external relations, oil and natural gas, education and others besides eye-catching pictures of Indian heritage and monuments.

''The Indian Diaspora today constitutes a significant economic, social and cultural force in the world. Overseas Indians estimated at over 25 million are spread across 110 countries. Their industry, enterprise, education and professional skills are widely recognised.

Today, they are the brand ambassadors of Global India,'' Overseas Indian Affais Minister Vayalar Ravi said in the book.

The monograph on the shehnai maestro comprises the life of Bismillah Khan, his love and affection for the Ganga, Benaras and music.

UNI