LA duo come to Sudan to fulfill their dream

Tayeb Salih’s short stories have received universal acceptance. I saw a Philippine production of ‘Handful of Dates’ in Youtube. This was produced by students. The fact that they selected Tayeb Salih’s short story speaks volumes of its critical acclaim. So why should two Sudanese American young film graduates stay behind. Hashim Hassan the Director and Mamdooh Salih the Producer both residents of Los Angeles are here in Sudan, touching base with their roots. They have accepted this challenge of making a short film on Tayeb Salih’s story Hifnat Tamr –Handful of Dates. The British Council in association with Elguneid Cultural Center, along with Sudan Film Factory hosted an event Hifnat Tamr & Cultural Exchange. I met these two film aspirants at the event where they introduced us to the cast and the costumes. Now what they need is funding and I wish that a sponsor like DAL Food come forward to support this project. Hashim and Mamdooh believe that together they can take an active role in creative exchange and cultural relations to revive and motivate local Sudanese Cinema. The sponsors must believe in them.

Invigorating

Invigorating

Gundela it must be

There are few countries where you need an entry visa as well as an exit visa. Sudan is one. One can get an exit visa or an ‘exit and re-entry’ visa only after obtaining an Income Tax clearance certificate. I have been paying Income Tax at the Taxation Chamber of the Republic of Sudan since 2003. Whenever I have flown out of Khartoum International Airport, I have had and an interesting meeting with my Income Tax evaluator at the Taxation Chamber. In the early years there were hard negotiations to arrive at a notional amount of income tax. Later it became more systematic and less hard feelings while paying my tax. This time when I met the Taxman he knew I would be travelling to India and thus gifted me few pieces of local ‘Gundela’ dates. He insisted that I should buy these organic dry dates of Sudan from Omdurman market and take them for my family in Bangalore. “Gundela it must be” said the Taxman.

2nd Asian Festival in Khartoum

This was the second year that Asia, the world’s largest and most populous continent had a festival in Khartoum. The festival showcased cultural performances, handicrafts, food stalls and had ‘lucky draws’. It was co-hosted by the Embassies of the Asian countries in Khartoum namely China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Russia. The food and handicraft bazaar along with the cultural shows was held on Friday, 28^th November’15 from 5pm till 10pm at Lebdah Hall, Corinthia Hotel. More than 2000 visitors turned up from both Sudanese and Asian families. The festival was inaugurated by the Federal Minister of Culture Mr. Al-Tayeb Hassan Badawi who spoke of the friendly relations between Sudan and Asian countries. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Abd Elghani Elnaim Awad Elkarim said that the location of the festival was near the confluence of Blue and White Nile, symbolic of the Asian countries getting together at this festival and that too on a Friday being a holiday was very convenient for visitors. Ambassador Abd Elghani also mentioned about the significance of Bandung conference in Indonesia before the Independence of Sudan in 1955 where Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru wrote Sudan on his white handkerchief and offered it as a flag for the nation. Ambassador Abd Ghani also spoke about Sudan’s solidarity with Asian countries since the President of Sudan recently visited China and India. The dances, martial arts and musical performances of the Asian countries kept the audience entertained. Ambassador of Korea H.E. Park Won Sup is the present Dean of the Asian Diplomatic Corp in Sudan. Korea presented martial art Taekwondo performed skilfully by a Sudanese team. 

Bhangra comes to Sudan

Bhangra, the popular Indian folk dance of Punjab, was performed by an Indian troupe in Port Sudan and at National Theatre Omdurman. Indian Council of Cultural Relations, New Delhi and the Embassy of India in Khartoum with the cooperation from the Sudanese Ministry of Culture brought the International Bhangra group from India to Sudan. The 12 member troupe enthralled the Sudanese audience with various themes of Bhangra song, dance and orchestra. The Bhangra team comprising three women and nine men performed in Port Sudan on 12^th and at the National Theatre in Omdurman on 14^th November. They sported colourful traditional attire and performed with energy and skill while playing their traditional folk musical instruments. More than 1500 people both from the Sudanese and the Indian community, attended the show at the National Theatre in Omdurman. The Ambassador of India H.E. Amrit Lugun welcomed the Sudanese Minister of State for Youth and Sports Mr. El Yasa Al Sadig as the Chief Guest along with officials from Ministry of Culture, Council of International Peoples Friendship, Ambassadors of various countries and other dignitaries. Minister El Yasa Al Sadig who is an alumni from Pune University in India spoke highly of the Indian community in Sudan. The function at Omdurman began with a patriotic dance programme performed with grace and devotion by the Indian Ladies Club of Khartoum. The patron of the Indian Ladies Club is the First Lady of India Mrs.Asha Lugun.

‘Speaking in one voice’ - India Africa Forum Summit

India and Africa spoke in one voice to advocate reforms in global institutions like the United Nations. Africa’s voice represents more than a quarter of UN members and India the world’s largest democracy has one sixth of humanity. The Prime Minister of India Mr.Narendra Modi spoke in these words at the 3^rd India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi. This was the largest assembly having representation for all 54 African countries including over 40 heads of state/ government. PM Modi said that with the rapid progress India and Africa have mode in recent times, UN Security Council can’t leave them behind and must reform and expand the Security Council to include India and countries from Africa.

Foreign Minister of Sudan Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour spoke in the same voice and asked India to take the lead to change the world order. He referred to the issue of reform of the United Nations and its institutions, top of them being the Security Council.

 President of the Republic of Sudan Field Marshall Omar Al-Bashir said that United Nations is 70 years old but needs to strengthen without discrimination and needs to respect the laws of the countries. He added that India and Africa can coordinate and show the right direction to the United Nations.

President Omar Bashir emphasized that the presence of India and South Africa in the BRICS nations can further benefit the African nations in South-South dialogues for the economic and political independence and progress. He said that we can look into new horizons of monetary systems with our own currencies especially with Indian Rupees as a solution for debt repayments.

President Bashir mentioned that geographically Sudan is strategically located for entry into East Africa with vast fertile land for agriculture and promise for food security. India with its rich experience in the field of Agricultural research, food seeds and other agricultural products can benefit Sudan and Africa.

Sudan’s soldiers and the Indian army fought hand in hand in North Africa during Second World War. Later India played a significant role to recognize Sudan at the Bandung conference in Indonesia in 1955. Since then India and Sudan has had good relations with each other and India has invested in Sudan in several projects particularly in Petroleum, Minerals and Sugar. President Bashir expressed that both India and Sudan have diversity in its people and culture and Sudan has adopted the effective Indian Federal system of Government since 1994.

President Bashir is very hopeful that this 3^rd India Africa Forum Summit will further strengthen relations between Sudan and India and bring about a strategic alliance between the two nations.

The Prime Minister of India offered a concessional credit of $10 billion over the next five years to Africa. This is in addition to India’s ongoing credit programme of $7.4 billion in concessional credit and $1.2 billion in grant to Africa since the first India Africa summit in 2008. In addition a grant assistance of $600 million has been offered which includes an India-Africa Development Fund of $100 million and an India-Africa Health Fund of $10million. This will also include 50,000 scholarships in India through the next five years. It will also support the pan-Africa e-network and institutions of training and learning across Africa.

Sudanese people in general are very happy with the visit of their President to India. Many have appreciated the ornamental chair gifted to President Omar Bashir at New Delhi by the International Sikh Council.

The seeds for a rich harvest have been sown in this Summit; what remains to be seen is how much will transform into the fruits of reality for Sudan.

Gandhi and Tagore remembered by President of Sudan

At the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit, New Delhi , President of the Republic of Sudan Field Marshal Omar Hassan Al-Bashir concluded his speech by quoting excerpts of a poem by Sudanese poet Taj Elsir Al Hassan written one year after Bandung conference - " friendly hands were extended to us, the face of Gandhi and the deep echoes of India sent us the singing voice of Tagore, on two wings of poem in the garden of art". 

Medical Value Travel to India

12-year-old Mukhtar Ahmed Ali Gadkarim from Sudan was suffering from kidney failure due to a rare disorder known as Primary Hyperoxaluria. He was saved at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India, where he successfully underwent a combined Liver and Kidney Transplant. A multi-organ transplant team of surgeons took 16 hours to conduct the challenging surgery where a kidney of one sister and a part of the liver of other sister were transplanted to save the life of their younger brother. The boy was discharged 17 days after the combined transplant. 

60 year old Urzula Wada from Poland was confined to her bed because of back pain. She underwent spinal fusion surgery in Fortis Hospital in Bangalore, India and could walk 24 hours after surgery and the pain vanished.

A  US citizen underwent a total laparoscopic uterus removal at Mumbai. Another US national opted for weight loss surgery (Bariatric surgery) by Sleeve Gastrectomy (stomach reduction method) in India.

 A complex bone grafting procedure was done at Fortis Hospital in Bangalore to give a new lease of life to a young Yemeni patient, who could not walk because of a bullet injury.

  Lonija Krastina, 22 year old young lady, from Latvia of North Europe was affected with Auto immune disorder – RA +ve and HLA – B 27 +ve. She opted for Ayurvedic treatment in Cochin and after several months treatment she is perfectly healthy and leads a happy life.

These few success stories only goes to prove that India is a preferred healthcare destination for patients across the globe. Patients seek value when they choose to undertake travel beyond borders for healthcare. Thus the new term for medical tourism is Medical Value Travel. The value the patients get in India are world class treatment , state of the art hospitals, largest pool of highly qualified and skilled doctors, well trained and caring nurses and para medical staff, latest and highly advanced medical devises, absence of waiting time for patients, no language problem for foreign patients, ultramodern pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging facilities, 300 private hospitals accredited with National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH), 23 JCI accredited private hospitals and most importantly affordable treatment costs. The cost per surgery is very low in India and a patient saves about 50-70% when compared to many developed nations. Moreover India provides 5000 years old system of medicine Ayurveda and Yoga which are most effective ways of providing wellness for both mind and body.

Patients travel to India for heart transplants and other heart surgeries, for treatment of cancer and bone marrow transplants, for knee and hip replacement surgeries, minimally invasive spine surgery, brain surgery, liver transplants and difficult cases of infertility treatments.

Advantage Healthcare - India 2015, an International Summit on Medical Value Travel with the theme “Promoting Medical Services Export from India” was held from 5-7 October, 2015 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. It was organized by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC). The event was supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of AYUSH, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Tourism and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare providers (NABH). More than 500 foreign delegates attended the conference from 65 countries. The Sudanese delegation comprised of Prof. Zain Karar, President Sudan Medical Council; Prof. Eltayeb Abderahman, President Sudan Medical Specialisation Board; Dr.Anil Mithani, Urologist, Omdurman Teaching Hospital; Dr.Yassin Abbas Widaa, General Director, National Medical Commission; Abdelmoniem ElSoni Ahmed, Secretary General, Council for International People’s Friendship and Dr. Hany Gaafar Eltom Medical Travel Operator. The delegation returned to Sudan and one of them quoted Mahatma Gandhi and said “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”.

Moringa Mafi

‘Spearmint fi, Cinnamon fi, Hibiscus fi, Hargal fi, Fenugreek fi, Green tea fi, Anise fi, laakin Moringa mafi’. This is what I have been hearing since the last three months in all Hypermarkets and Supermarkets in Khartoum. All variants or ingredients of ‘tea bags’ are available except Moringa. My evening tea is Moringa and after reading about the health benefits of it, I am inclined to make it even my morning cuppa , but where is Moringa? I saw the customer service number on the pack of Moringa manufactured by Elnasr for Food Industries in Sudan. Much to my surprise someone did respond from Customer Service. His name was Mubarak. He spoke in English and apologized for the non-availability of Moringa. He went further to tell me that supplies of Moringa was not coming from India. He said most of the raw material were imported from India. Learning that I was from India, Mubarak spoke of friendly bilateral relations between the two countries. Moringa is derived from Murungai/muringa the Tamil/Malayalam word for drumsticks. Moringa is an antioxidant and helps to protect cells from damage and is useful in many health disorders.                       

 

Indians celebrate Independence Day in Khartoum

Rain did not dampen the spirit of the Indian community in Sudan. Despite the rains, more than 200 people from the Indian community gathered in the morning at India House the residence of the Indian Ambassador on 15^th August to celebrate 69^th Independence Day. Charge d’affaires Mr. Manoj Verma welcomed the community members and read out the message of the President of India. In the message Mr.Kailash Satyarthi was congratulated for winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Homage was paid to the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for gaining political freedom and Independence of India on 15^th August 1947. India is a complex country of 1.3 billion people, 122 languages, 1600 dialects and 7 religions. Its strength lies in its unique capacity to blend apparent contradictions into positive affirmations.

The Indian community in Sudan celebrated with ladies singing patriotic songs and children dancing and singing in pride of the great nation. We could hear people talk about Sunder Pichai the new CEO of Google who is of Indian origin. Jai Hind.

Changing Livers, Saving Lives

The Greek Mythology states that Prometheus stole fire from the Fire God Zeus to give it to mankind. He was punished for this and was chained and had an eagle sent to peck on his body and eat the liver. But it was found that the liver grew again and though the eagle came back every day it found the liver had regenerated. Dr. Ramdip Ray began his lecture with this mythological story at IBN Sina Hospital, Khartoum addressing medical doctors with professional interest in the field of Liver Transplant Surgery. Dr. Ray is a Senior Consultant of Liver Transplant & Hepato Pancreato Biliary Surgery at Artemis Hospitals, New Delhi, India.

Dr.Ray very lucidly presented the requirements for a liver transplant surgery. A Donor is the most important person in this surgery. A donor has to be from the family and only a part of his liver is transplanted to the patient. We met the patient Khalid Yousef, 28 who needed a liver transplant because of Cirrhosis due to Hepatitis B infection. In liver transplant surgery the whole liver from the patient is removed. Khalid received a part of his elder brother’s liver. His elder brother Ali Yousef is 42 and doing well as you can see in the picture. Both were operated upon by Dr.Ray in India. The cost of the surgery was US$ 38000 which is much more affordable as compared to any other country. In fact, in Artemis hospital the fees for a Sudanese national is same as the local fee structure and not considered a foreigner. Dr.Abdelmounem Eltayeib Abdo- Head of Gastrointestinal & Liver Disease-IBN Sina Hospital appreciated Dr.Ray’s visit, rounds with the patients and his talk on Liver Transplant Surgery. Dr.Abdelmounem is gearing up for establishing liver transplant surgery in Sudan. Dr.Abdelmounem noted the importance of Radiologists in Liver Transplant surgery, the way they make the images of the blood vessels in the liver transparent for the surgeons. Dr.Ray in a lighter vein had explained that the surgeon only does the plumbers work of rejoining the pipes which are veins and arteries in a liver transplant surgery.

Dr. Ray was invited by Abdelmouniem Alsuni Ahmed, Secretary General of Council for International People’s Friendship. Dr.Ray’s tour was organized by Sudanese Indian Friendship Association a body of alumni from Universities in India. Dr. Ray also met Dr.Isameldin Mohammed Abdalla-Undersecretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Dr. Yassin Abbas Widaa, General Director, National Medical Commission. Dr. Ramdip Ray’s visit has further strengthened the bilateral relations between India and Sudan.

We welcome the new Indian Ambassador to Sudan

Recently there was a high level delegation from Government of India who had visited Khartoum from New Delhi. Having had the opportunity to interact with them, I had mentioned that we were sad to bid farewell to such a popular and morally motivated Ambassador of India. In response I was told not to worry since India produces competent Government officials.

It was yesterday after the departure of our favourite Ambassador, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced the name of the new Ambassador of India to Sudan. Born in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Shri Amrit Lugun studied Political Science and Sociology in famous St. Xavier’s College of Kolkata. After completing his post- graduation in Management he started his career as a Personnel Officer in a reputed Petroleum Company for two years (1987-88). He then joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1989.

In Foreign Service his career began as Desk Officer for India Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme in New Delhi and thereafter he served the nation in several missions in Qatar, France and Algeria. In 2006 he successfully attended National Defence Course while serving as Director handling territories of Eurasia and Latin America in New Delhi. He was then posted in Manila, Philippines as the number two officer at the Embassy of India. After completion of his tenure there he was appointed as Director-India for Economic, Trade and Finance Division of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the Secretariat in Nepal. At SAARC he had a multilateral experience involving eight nations namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.

Before the announcement of his assignment as Ambassador of India to Sudan, Shri Amrit Lugun was Ambassador at Sana’a capital of Yemen since early 2013. His Excellency Amrit Lugun had handled one of the biggest evacuations of 4640 Indian citizens and around 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries from Yemen in coordination with Indian navy, Indian Air Force and Air India.

We wholeheartedly welcome him to Sudan.

Farewell to the Indian Ambassador

"We the people of Sudan regret your transfer back to India with deep sorrow and pain. No matter how best we try to give you what we owe you, we will fail, because your hands of co-operation, your honesty and sincerity augmented the Indo-Sudanese relationship in all fields. We wish you best of life and happiness in your new assignment and we sincerely hope that our long relationship will continue as long as we live.” These were the words cited by Sudanese Indian Friendship Association for H.E. Sanjay Kumar Verma on his completion of his tenure in Sudan as Ambassador of India. Sudanese Indian Friendship Association (SIFA) is the people’s body made up of Sudanese nationals who studied in Indian Universities. Hytham Balla Saeed, President and Abuobeida S.Abdalla Vice President of SIFA presented a memento to Ambassador Verma. More than 200 people gathered at Indian Club in Omdurman to bid a sad farewell to His Excellency and Dr.Anil Mithani President of the community presented a memento to Ambassador Verma and expressed their gratitude for guiding and supporting the community in various matters and organizing many cohesive activities. Indian community in Khartoum both from the public sector namely ONGC and BHEL and private sector like Star Contracting Oil & Gas Co. bid farewell to the Ambassador. H.E. Sanjay Kumar Verma has touched the hearts of almost every Indian in Sudan and many Sudanese, from every walk of life. The Ambassador has always been accessible to the public. There is not a soul who has not spoken highly of him. His popularity and active participation saw him in action at cultural events, musical nights, tennis, badminton and cricket tournaments in Khartoum. Ambassador’s wife Mrs. Gunjan Verma carried out many charitable activities along with the Indian ladies in Sudan. During the Ambassador’s tenure the bilateral trade between India and Sudan increased from $800 Million to $1.56 Billion. There has been an increase in number of Sudanese businessmen, students and patients wanting to go to India. Sudan wishes them well wherever His Excellency’s career takes them.

Poetry and Lamb Biryani

‘I have seen flowers come in stony places

And kind things done by men with ugly faces,

And the gold cup won by the worst horse at the races,

So I trust, too’. Well as you may have guessed this is An Epilogue by John Mansfield.

Where can you read this from the book Winning Words- Inspiring Poems for Everyday Life while enjoying delicious Lamb Biryani in an air conditioned restaurant in Khartoum?

It has to be Ozone. Books, magazines, continental food, soup, salads and ice cream.

IBM in Sudan

We have heard that Exxon, Citibank and some other American companies did have their offices and establishments in Sudan. Well that must have been before the US sanctions were imposed in Sudan since 1997. However we do have a few American products available in the market. I can vouch for the medicines and other healthcare products which are available from American multinational companies. There runs a joke in Sudan particularly among the Expatriate communities which says that IBM the American International Business Machines Corporation will never open shop in Sudan. This is because IBM also stands for InshAllah, Bukra and Malish (IBM) which are perhaps the reasons why business may take a back seat in Sudan. This is certainly a myth because if one notices the monitors at the cash counters in Afra Mall in Khartoum one will notice the IBM logo, as captured in this photo. Eid Mubarak.

International Day of Yoga in Sudan

During his first address to the UN General Assembly in September last year, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed the International Yoga Day. Later in December, United Nations declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga, with 177 countries voting in favour of the resolution.

21^st June was chosen being the longest day of the year when the Earth is nearest in distance from the Sun and is also considered Birthday of Yoga. International Day of Yoga was observed on 21^st June’15 in 192 countries where millions of Yoga enthusiasts performed the camel, cobra and other postures as part of the 35 minute collective exercise programme. In New Delhi, the event of International Day of Yoga was awarded two records by the Guinness Book of World Records. Firstly with the most number of individuals, 35985 people, performing yoga at a single venue and secondly with participants belonging to 84 nationalities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi a yoga practitioner, led from the front and demonstrated the postures to the students around him. He believes that 21st of June, the International Day of Yoga, is not just the beginning of a day but the beginning of a new age through which we will achieve greater heights of peace, goodwill and train the human spirit.

International Day of Yoga was also organized in Sudan by the Embassy of India. It was held at Omdurman Indian Club, Omdurman at 7:30 in the morning on 21^st June’15. The event started with the Prime Minister’s video message followed by Ambassador H.E. Sanjay Kumar Verma’s welcome remarks. All 21 postures as per the guidelines of the event were collectively practiced by the gathering of almost 200 people. A few Sudanese friends of India also participated in the event. All the local Indian Associations namely Omdurman Indian Community, Sudan-India Friendship Association, India-Sudan Friendship Society and Kerala Cultural Activity Centre were actively involved in the celebrations and extended their whole hearted support for the event. The participants included members of Indian Community, Indian Public Sector Units based in Khartoum and members of the Indian Embassy along with their families. It is also reported that BHEL, India’s Public Sector Unit at Kosti also participated in the Yoga day.
Ambassador Sanjay Kumar Verma expressed his thanks to all the participants and the friendly countries for their overwhelming support in making International Day for Yoga a global event. He wished that all countries may coexist and keep progressing with peace and harmony which was the purpose of the day. He also expressed his views about Yoga and stressed that four ‘beings’ are very important namely physical, mental, psychological and spiritual. Yoga attempts to unify these four and bring harmony and peace.

India invites Sudans president Omar al-Bashir for the India-Africa Summit

If you ask an Indian what is ICC the answer that you will get is International Cricket Council. Besides, India has always be objecting to the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC). Interestingly, even USA, Russia and China are not members of ICC. President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan is welcome to India Africa Summit in New Delhi on October 29.

Government invites Sudans president Omar al-Bashir for the India-Africa Summit

Indian Education Expo in Khartoum

Did you know that there are 2 Sudanese restaurants in Pune, a city in Western India? These restaurants which serve Sudanese food were set up because of the large number of Sudanese students studying in the Universities in Pune. Presently there are 7000 Sudanese students studying in various Universities in India mainly in Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Students have taken admission in these Universities primarily through word of mouth from the huge base of 32000 Sudanese who have graduated from Universities in India. Ambassador of India H.E. Sanjay Kumar Verma inaugurated the Indian Education Expo an exhibition of Indian universities organized by Chartered Exhibition & Media Private Limited (CEMPL) at the premise of the Old Embassy of India in Khartoum on 13^th June. Ambassador Verma said that this exhibition is a small step to create awareness about the high standards of education available in India. He advised the Universities to include an English Proficiency Course for the Sudanese students. Presently there are difficulties in transferring money from Sudan to India but both the Governments are engaged in finding a solution soon. The Ambassador of India said that professional courses particularly post graduate courses in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Pharmacy and Nursing would have good demand in Sudan but the Universities should be continuously engaged in such activities and have exhibitions even outside Khartoum in Port Sudan, Gadarif, Al Obeid and other cities.

The Universities who are participating at the Expo are Aditya Educational Institutions, Andhra; Krupanidhi Group of Institutions, Bangalore; Karnataka College Group of Institutions, Bangalore; SHIATS, Allahabad; University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and Jodhpur National University, Jodhpur. This exhibition is being attended by many Sudanese students who are aspiring to study their preferred academic stream in India. It was interesting to meet a Sudanese national Dr.Mohamed Saad Bayumi who seemed emotional having met his professors from his alma mater of Dharwad at the exhibition. Mr. Kapil Suri of Jodhpur National University shared that he has hired a Nigerian Chef because they have a large number of Nigerian students. He is open to this idea for students from Sudan. After all food is an important factor to make the students feel at home.Our Ambassador H.E.Shri Sanjay Kumar Verma added that about 500 inquiries were generated.200 of tem have possibility of enrollment in the participating universities from India. This is close to 8% of annual intake of Sudanese students in India. Did you know that according to a conservative estimate, Sudanese students contribute about $50 million annually to the education providers in India?

What’s in a name- Baskar, Bhaskar or Bhaskor?

 My dear friends in Sudan, I am posting this picture of your favourite actor Amitabh Bachchan. I know it is difficult to recognize him but he is into the skin of his character. This scene is from his recent film ‘Piku’ where he puts in effort to act his own age of 70. (He actually is 73). He plays the role of a retired father from my ‘tribe’ with the same name as you pronounce Baskar (although I always insist on the ‘h’ which you prefer to keep it silent since there is no ‘Bh’ in Arabic). But the director of the movie Piku further complicates the name with an ‘o’ as ‘Bhaskor’. But in the early years of his career Amitabh Bachchan played a character with the same name in ‘Anand’ circa 1971 but there it was Bhaskar not Bhaskor. Seems to be a popular name for Bengali film makers. P.S. I notice that of late because of the Piku effect some Indian friends are referring to me as Bhaskor to whom I would like to remind that I don’t suffer from ’Constipation’

Chewing Mastic Gum

Chewing gum is good for the gums. Another word for chewing is ‘masticate’ and chewing ‘mastic’ gum is the best. The Ancient Greeks chewed mastic gum made from the resin of the mastic tree. Because mastic contains compounds that are known to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium primarily responsible for gastritis and peptic ulcers (it’s also strongly implicated in stomach cancer). Although H. pylori does its dirty work primarily in the stomach and duodenum, it also frequently colonizes the mouth, hence it can re-infect a stomach from which it had been eradicated. That’s a good reason for attacking H. pylori in the mouth as well as in the gastrointestinal tract—and mastic gum can do that.

Some studies have suggested, by the way, that H. pylori may also be implicated in the development of coronary heart disease, possibly by modifying serum lipid concentrations. The medicinal use of mastic is diverse. The resin has been used in cancer, infection, surgical wound adhesion, and ulcers. Studies also document its use as an antioxidant and an insecticide, and for treatment of high cholesterol, Crohn disease, diabetes and hypertension. However, clinical trials to support these uses are limited.

Now to my surprise I was given ‘Mastic Gum’ in place of coins by the cashier in a super market. I was eager to chew mastic but struggled to open the pack. I want the company Batook to know that it is very difficult to open the pack. There is a possibility of the contents to eject out while opening the pack. The video in this blog will demonstrate the plight of a person who wanted to masticate mastic for its medicinal benefits.

Hot Tablet Touch

In this digital age - adaptation and application is the name of the game. iPads as a Visual Aid is an exciting idea. E-detailing is a form of marketing that uses the internet as the central method of communication. And of course custom designed apps for the brands with country specific message certainly supports customer engagement. Interactive graphs, mode of action videos, eye-catching animations and references on demand are just a few ways in which electronic detailing can allow you to increase the impact of your marketing messages and maximize each sales opportunity. A strategically developed e-detail aid can become a virtual briefcase for your medical representatives. But one word of caution. The iPad can stop working due to heat and give the above notice. It takes several minutes before you can cool it and restart. I think it damages the device in the long run. After all it’s a field job… Please let me know if anyone has had a similar experience. This has happened in Middle East and North African regions.

Chicken Americano in Sudan

Chicken restaurants are very popular in Khartoum. I had written earlier about Kak and then Chicano. The latest entrant amidst the chicken restaurants is Americano Fried Chicken. I googled and found a restaurant with the same name in Elizabethport, New Jersey. There is a big opportunity for KFC and McDonalds but only when the US sanctions are lifted from Sudan.

Nile waters bring you back to Sudan

‘If you have drunk of the Nile’s sweet waters, you will come back to Sudan’ goes the saying. I have seen it happening to many people I know. Perhaps it has to do with the attachment to the peaceful life style and the nice people of Sudan. Some would say it has to do with destiny. We recently heard that Mr. Michael Aron has been appointed as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Sudan. H.E. Aron is returning after 30 years. He taught English in Ed Damar Secondary school for two years between 1981 and 1983, before he joined Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Ed Damar is 270 kilometers North-East of Khartoum and is the capital of River Nile state. As he said he must have fond memories of the charm, hospitality and generosity of the Sudanese people he met and worked with in Ed Damar. People expect his past experience in Sudan to help him to overcome the challenges the UK faces with Sudan. The UK is part of the Troika and EU who have not found the environment conducive to the current Presidential elections being held in Sudan.

One Out of Many in Omdurman

I believe the best way to keep young is to keep learning. Henry Ford had said “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young”. It was just the other day that I learnt E Pluribus Unum was inscribed in every American coin when Monir a jewelry maker in Omdurman showed me the 1 oz SilverTowne  Buffalo Round of 2014. Monir Ali Alamin who makes gold, copper and silver jewelry was a graduate from Khartoum University 30 years ago. This one can tell from the proper English he speaks. He started his career as a banker but his interests brought him to the business of making jewelry. While discussing the purity of silver he showed be the 1 oz SilverTowne Buffalo. It was on this silver coin I read ‘E Pluribus Unum’ which in Latin means ‘Out of many, One’ or ‘One out of many’. E Pluribus Unum was considered a de facto motto of the United States until 1956 when the United States Congress passed an act (H. J. Resolution 396), adopting " In God we trust" as the official motto. However E Pluribus Unum appears on all coins currently being manufactured, including the Presidential dollars that started being produced in 2007, where it is inscribed on the edge along with "In God we trust”. SilverTowne is a renowned mint for collectible coins and precious metal bullion. Its headquarters are in Winchester, Indiana, USA and the mint has been a crucial part of the Winchester community since 1949.  The 2014 1 oz SilverTowne Buffalo Round is minted with 99.9% pure silver and weighs one troy ounce. Each round is minted with the well-known Indian Head stamp and features the inscriptions ‘Liberty’ and ‘2014.’ The reverse side of each round is stamped with the famous buffalo and the inscription ‘United States of America E Pluribus Unum.’ When asked, Monir told me that one of his customers got the coin from UAE for him to make her a bracelet. Monir admitted that copper plated with gold is more popular because it is affordable. We are waiting for USA to lift the sanctions. This will make imported goods more affordable in Sudan.

A Decade's Journey in Sudan

'I Know Two Sudans' is an anthology of beautifully written short stories, poems and articles about Sudan and South Sudan by authors from around the world.A few of the writers read out excerpts from their pieces at the TEDx Soba. Had the pleasure of reading out mine at the event.

Creative Writing from the Sudans | Creative Writing from the Sudans | TE...

Sole Indian at Al Obeid

Ten years back when I met Moneib Haider in Khartoum he was a graphic designer at a printing press. He was a young man who had travelled from Kerala to Khartoum. At the Onam festival in Khartoum he had performed the ‘Fire Dance’. That was when I knew he had fire in his belly. He wanted to be successful in life and start his own business and be his own boss. Four years back he called me to say that he has moved to a city called Al Obeid, 600 kms from Khartoum and opened his own shop for stationery items and gifts. Last week I happened to visit this city which is also known as ‘Bride of the Sands’. I was very happy and impressed to meet Moneib. He is the pride of the city because his reasonably big size shop in the heart of the city has become popular for the quality and uniqueness of stationery and gift items that he sells. Moneib Haider is the only Indian resident in Al Obeid living all by himself and running his own business. Moneib is an entrepreneur and I wish him all the very best.

Friendship Beyond Borders

We were at a press conference with the Ambassador of India H.E. Sanjay Kumar Verma. In the middle of the meeting the Ambassador received a call on his mobile and we all asked him to take the call. But he didn’t saying that the call was from the Pakistani Ambassador who was his great friend and would understand that he is busy. We raised our eyebrows especially the Sudanese journalists. He then shared an anecdote which happened on a flight to Port Sudan. Ambassador Verma was sitting next to the Pakistani Ambassador H.E. Mohammad Sarfraz A.Khanzada. They kept talking to each other in Urdu language, which is spoken in both the countries. This was noticed by an Ambassador of another Asian country in the same flight. He couldn’t control himself and asked both of them what the hell is happening. Later Ambassador Verma remarked that if you remove politics, people of India and Pakistan are the same lot. “We participate in marriages, Bollywood, food, language and everywhere. Unfortunately the divide is based only on religion. India has 170 million Muslims which is a large number and India is a secular country.” Ambassador Verma also added that the new Government of India looks like will improve the relations between the two countries.

Sales Promotion Often Confuses Consumers

As Philip Kotler says ‘Sales Promotion’ comprises a wide variety of tactical promotional tools of short-term incentive nature designed to stimulate earlier and / or stronger market response. These tools may be consumer promotion, trade promotion, and sales-force promotion. Sales promotion are of two distinctive qualities: a) Insistent presence – which are attention getting, sometimes urgent, quality that can break through habits of buyer inertia towards a particular product. b) Product demeaning – some tools suggest that the seller is anxious for the sale. If they are used to frequently or carelessly they may lead buyers to wonder whether the brand is desirable or reasonably priced.

Well, here is case study of edible oil. I switched over from corn oil to sunflower oil to take care of my heart and cholesterol. Thus started buying the larger pack (1 litres or 1.8 litres) of sunflower oil for the family. One fine morning I found the 2 lts pack of corn oil being sold with a free small pack of sunflower oil. This has kept me wondering  whether this Sales Promotion is intended to initiate the habit of sunflower oil or to get rid of its smaller pack or to attract consumers to switch over to corn oil after consuming the small pack of sunflower oil. Surprisingly the big pack of sunflower oil is also available stand alone. There certainly is no proper plan and communication on this Sales Promotion which leaves consumers confused.