Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
VISIT TO INDIA OCT. 6 to DEC. 22, 2008
My second visit to India was from Oct 6 to Dec 22, 2008. On this occasion I worked as a hydro-technical specialist with Indo Canadian Consultancy Services Ltd. (ICCS) a joint venture partner between Bhilwara Energy and RSW Inc. of Montreal. ICCS is located in Noida a suburb of Delhi and is a substantial company with a staff of about 80 engineers. The typical work day was from 9:30 am until 7:00 pm, alternating between 5 and 6 day work weeks. The work was challenging but I enjoyed working with ICCS’s talented young engineers. Much was expected of me as I was being paid a Canadian salary much above what my Indian colleagues were receiving. The high-lights of this visit were two weddings I attended while I was there.
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WEDDING OF RISHABH AND ESHU
This wedding was a spectacle to be remembered. It was between Rishabh Jhunjhunwala and Eshu Arya. Rishabh is the heir of a large family enterprise. The family fortune comes mainly from textile manufacturing - but in recent years they have expanded into the energy (notably hydropower), suit and fine clothes manufacturing and retail and high tech manufacturing of carbon electrodes. Their corporate name is Bhilwara Enterprises Ltd. ICCS where I worked is a joint venture engineering company between Bhilwara Energy and RSW Inc. of Montreal. The wedding was on a farm near Delhi where pavilions for dining, entertainment, a temple for the wedding ceremony, greeting stage and support facilities such as washrooms and kitchens had all been constructed for the occasion. In addition to family and friends managers responsible for Bhilwara divisions both in India and abroad had been invited including our small group from RSW Inc. It was quite an honour to be included. All of us foreigners were dressed up as Rajputs wearing turbans of the style one would see in Rajasthan the home country of the Jhunjhunwala clan. Unlike the other weddings I had attended before the religious ceremony was held at a convenient hour about 9:00 pm. The pandit (priest) spoke very clearly and the quality of the sound system was excellent and I was pleased to be able to understand a fair amount of the proceedings – the parts in Hindi that is, not the elements in Sanskrit! The evening temperature was quite cool around 9oC as we were well into the Delhi winter season. Enjoy the pictures. (The pictures were taken by Mohamed Badr of RSW Inc. as my own photos were lost when my computer crashed).
P
Photo tags:
Photo 1. Claudio Vissa and wife arriving
Photo 2. Folks from RSW Inc
Photo 3. Colleauges
Photo 4. Time for tea
Photo 5. Guests
Photo 6. Ceremony
Photo 7. Esha and Reshabh
Photo 8. Listening
Photo 9. Relaxing
Photo 10. Entertainment
Photo 11. Supper
Photo 12. Greeting
Photo 13. Fireworks at the end of the evening
oooooooooooooooooo
WEDDING OF RISHABH AND ESHU
This wedding was a spectacle to be remembered. It was between Rishabh Jhunjhunwala and Eshu Arya. Rishabh is the heir of a large family enterprise. The family fortune comes mainly from textile manufacturing - but in recent years they have expanded into the energy (notably hydropower), suit and fine clothes manufacturing and retail and high tech manufacturing of carbon electrodes. Their corporate name is Bhilwara Enterprises Ltd. ICCS where I worked is a joint venture engineering company between Bhilwara Energy and RSW Inc. of Montreal. The wedding was on a farm near Delhi where pavilions for dining, entertainment, a temple for the wedding ceremony, greeting stage and support facilities such as washrooms and kitchens had all been constructed for the occasion. In addition to family and friends managers responsible for Bhilwara divisions both in India and abroad had been invited including our small group from RSW Inc. It was quite an honour to be included. All of us foreigners were dressed up as Rajputs wearing turbans of the style one would see in Rajasthan the home country of the Jhunjhunwala clan. Unlike the other weddings I had attended before the religious ceremony was held at a convenient hour about 9:00 pm. The pandit (priest) spoke very clearly and the quality of the sound system was excellent and I was pleased to be able to understand a fair amount of the proceedings – the parts in Hindi that is, not the elements in Sanskrit! The evening temperature was quite cool around 9oC as we were well into the Delhi winter season. Enjoy the pictures. (The pictures were taken by Mohamed Badr of RSW Inc. as my own photos were lost when my computer crashed).
P
Photo tags:
Photo 1. Claudio Vissa and wife arriving
Photo 2. Folks from RSW Inc
Photo 3. Colleauges
Photo 4. Time for tea
Photo 5. Guests
Photo 6. Ceremony
Photo 7. Esha and Reshabh
Photo 8. Listening
Photo 9. Relaxing
Photo 10. Entertainment
Photo 11. Supper
Photo 12. Greeting
Photo 13. Fireworks at the end of the evening
WEDDING OF ANUKARAN AND NIVEDITA
This set of photos covers the engagement party, wedding and home coming for Anu and Nivedita. Anu is the son of Anil Deshwal and his wife Madhu. Anil is Naipal’s brother-in-law. I am considered an adopted uncle and was therefore treated as a member of the family.
I joined Naipal at the engagement party in Badhave, my third visit to the village. The engagement party recognise the commitment of the bride’s family to the marriage so it wasn’t necessary for the bride to attend! The party held on Nov 19, 2008 was an occasion for family, friends and village neighbours to join in the festivities.
The second occasion was at the wedding itself that was held in Delhi on Nov 25, 2008, if my memory serves me right. Anu arrived appropriately on a white horse. Guests included family and friends from both the bride and groom’s families. Guests came from many parts of India, U.K., U.S. and Canada. A lavish feast of snacks, main course and deserts was provided under the star lit sky. There was music and dancing as well. The wedding feast was mainly an occasion for the two families to meet together. The religious wedding was held later in the night at an hour determined by the pandits (priests). Generally, only close family attend. After eating too much and enjoying meeting the interesting family and friends I left at 11:00 pm to return to the Guest House in Noida.
Finally, around Dec 5, 2008 there was the home coming when the bride and groom came over to meet the groom’s family. The occasion was a home cooked supper at Surendrapal and Kalpana’s home in Noida. Kalpana is Anil’s sister and Anu’s auntie.
Anu and Nivedita are both accomplished young people. Anu works for Citi Bank’s real estate division while Nevedita works as an editor in a travel magazine. They were planning their honeymoon in Mauritius. My photos give an impression of the occasions.
I joined Naipal at the engagement party in Badhave, my third visit to the village. The engagement party recognise the commitment of the bride’s family to the marriage so it wasn’t necessary for the bride to attend! The party held on Nov 19, 2008 was an occasion for family, friends and village neighbours to join in the festivities.
The second occasion was at the wedding itself that was held in Delhi on Nov 25, 2008, if my memory serves me right. Anu arrived appropriately on a white horse. Guests included family and friends from both the bride and groom’s families. Guests came from many parts of India, U.K., U.S. and Canada. A lavish feast of snacks, main course and deserts was provided under the star lit sky. There was music and dancing as well. The wedding feast was mainly an occasion for the two families to meet together. The religious wedding was held later in the night at an hour determined by the pandits (priests). Generally, only close family attend. After eating too much and enjoying meeting the interesting family and friends I left at 11:00 pm to return to the Guest House in Noida.
Finally, around Dec 5, 2008 there was the home coming when the bride and groom came over to meet the groom’s family. The occasion was a home cooked supper at Surendrapal and Kalpana’s home in Noida. Kalpana is Anil’s sister and Anu’s auntie.
Anu and Nivedita are both accomplished young people. Anu works for Citi Bank’s real estate division while Nevedita works as an editor in a travel magazine. They were planning their honeymoon in Mauritius. My photos give an impression of the occasions.
Visit to Badhave and Gurana Villages
When I visited Badhave and Gurana Villages with Naipal Tomar on March 2, 2008 my camera was not working. I should have re-charged the batteries before I set out but I forgot. Unfortunately the batteries I bought in the bazaar were of poor quality had only enough charge for the five photos at Badhave that accompanied my earlier blog. Fortunately, Naipal took several photos both in Badhave and in Gurana - his home village. Recently he provided copies for me.
The highlight of my visit to Gurana Village was meeting Naipal’s mother who was approaching her 100th birthday. The actual date was somewhat in doubt as it was not the practice in those days to register births with civil authorities. When I was there in 2008 we estimated that her age was between 98 and 102. As she is still alive today (2010) there is no longer any doubt that she is truly 100 years old. The pictures give a good account of my visit.
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The highlight of my visit to Gurana Village was meeting Naipal’s mother who was approaching her 100th birthday. The actual date was somewhat in doubt as it was not the practice in those days to register births with civil authorities. When I was there in 2008 we estimated that her age was between 98 and 102. As she is still alive today (2010) there is no longer any doubt that she is truly 100 years old. The pictures give a good account of my visit.
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