Britain from Above

We are approaching anniversary of the Great Lockdown declared in India in March 2020. This unforeseen event brought many abrupt changes to life - like temporary closure of the roads, highways, villages, towns and cities. Many ‘stranded’ at home– without any work to do or others who were (un)lucky to have ‘work from home’. With ample time on hand, many took to tidying up of home, spending quality time with family, catching up with friends (online) and so on…. Everyone put his or her creativity at one’s best to make most of this forced free time. Facebook friends and groups started evening music sessions, classmates had Zoom or Google meet, Techies logged on for online training and certifications which they proudly uploaded on their social media accounts like FB and Linked-In. Of course, not all was well with the lockdown. It also brought anxiety and stress due to ever lingering shadow of the worst cursed virus. I was no exception to this either. 

But it gave me an opportunity to clear the dust from the books in my bookshelf.  The first and the lucky one (actually I was the lucky one rather than the book) was "Britain from Above" a unique publication based on a BBC television show.  It has been 11 years now that one of our best friends from UK– Ranjit Ballal gifted this wonderful book to us on our departure from UK. What else could be a better gift than such a book – which has the power to keep our sweet memories of our UK years alive! As I picked up the book, an obvious feeling of guilt took me over for not doing justice to this book - so far. It gripped me more as went I through it page after page! But as it is said - every incidence has its own moment. Corona brought such moment for this me and this book.

It is an exciting experience to go through the combo of descriptive and photographic journey of Britain - from Above. To put it in simple words - this book is amazing!

I always appreciate BBC for its meticulous, in depth study of any topic and balanced coverage – be it radio or TV or other media. This was my first encounter with a written publication based on a show on BBC …..and the coverage based on BBC’s program did not disappoint me at all. The book covers widest possible variety of Britain that we often miss when we are “grounded”.  The demi size of the book gives justice to the photos, and its pixel quality brings out its beauty. The interesting point which struck to me many times in the book was– comparing the current landscape (photos) vis-à-vis an old one (often couple of centuries old). The striking part is not how much Britain changed over the centuries – but how much it did not! Kudos to Brits for their zeal to preserve their– not only history but geography too.

 It must have been a Herculean task for the authors to shortlist the candidates to be covered in the book and I am sure many more those could not be covered. It takes off from Britain's history and lands in the modern-day Britain (read Heathrow).

During my school years, I was always fascinated by Geography– no..no…not by the mundane syllabus covering crops in the regions and lengths of the rivers….but different countries, their locations, capitals, places of interest – historically or geographically or otherwise…the variety of landscapes, rainfall, weather, mountains and oceans, lakes and deserts. I have been lucky to have travelled to many countries and continents for business and leisure. By now visited many of typical tourist attractions and others which may not be famous but worth visiting. ‘Britain from Above’ quenches this thirst of mine of seeing places– from an angle we seldom get an opportunity to view. It takes us through tracks and ancient paths, railway lines and roads, power lines and quirky sewage pipes and invisible but increasingly busy flight paths….

Typically, such books will cover places of interest like Tower Bridge, an iconic London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Lake District, Shores on the East, the Countryside and so on. The book does cover some of well known places. But what what I appreciate more are the atypical places that many would not be aware (of course the locals and many Brits would know them). Few of these, worth mentioning are – The Uffington White Horse made up of chalk blocks embedded deep in the ground. It can be seen in its entirety from above. Whoever created this (some 3000 years ago) could not have been able to judge the proportions by eye.

Another one is photo of runways of former RAF airfield at Alconbury – which is now transformed into an inland container port. The beauty is, only the runway and taxiway are used for container parking and the lush green patches in between are maintained as they were.

Two other places – Lydd Range and Hythe Range – fake villages built on the beaches of Kent. These are training grounds for real life combat experience in urban warfare. These are the places which are a beautiful sight though not visited as tourist attraction and adds to the beauty of the book.   

‘Britain from Above’ struck an additional chord due to my five years stint over there between 2004-2009 (not to forget short spell in 2003). As I embarked on this journey, I was actually re-living those five years.  This book took me down to my memory lane. How I wish I had read this book while staying there- I would have visited many of the places mentioned in the book– instead of conventional tourist attractions. Because - that is the real Britain.

The world is yet to revert to its pre-Covid normal. Some say it will be a new normal. Whatever it would be I have a made up my mind – to travel Britain to visit some of the places covered in ‘Britain from Above’. 

Being an Indian, often I wonder if we can come up with a similar book on India? Just by the comparison of the India’s geography, such a book for India will be of 20 or more such volumes. And if one adds the history of India, it will be a large book like a Thesaurus.....but it will itself be a landmark for India !

Suhas Pansare

February 7, 2021

(Post publishing the Blog, many of the readers asked for the photos. Here is the link of the BBC video which will give some idea as the book was based on this series. You can follow all the programs on YouTube.)

https://youtu.be/cVkhc3J7zNk

The Turnaround

Me and Jonathan were on the Board of Governors in a school in UK. It has been almost a decade since I returned to India, but we still remain in touch – initially in the context of the same UK school and later as both of us moved into the solar power domain. Recently I was on a conference call with Jonathan and catching up on our developments in India’s solar power sector. Our discussions ranged from the economics of solar power in India to state level policies in India and how they need major reforms. I was overwhelmed during our conversation by the fact that Jonathan knew almost everything about India’s solar power sector – the state-wise policies, challenges, power tariffs in India, even to the extent of the latest 5% safeguard duty imposed by India on import of solar cells and/or modules from certain countries and the list continues.

As I closed the conference call, I was taken down the memory lane some couple of decades back. I was in the Philippines managing export of distillery plants from India. I had made many good friends there. I was amazed with the plush malls, shiny Hondas and Toyotas and other cars. India looked years if not decades behind this South East Asian Tigers. When it was my turn to return, I thanked my customer friend for their hospitality and invited them to visit India sometime. I was dismayed with their response when they were reluctant to do so. They feared the snakes would bite them and they could not survive eating only chillies (that was their understanding of spicy Indian food). During my trips to Philippines in late nineties, I used to be the lone Indian on Singapore-Manila flight and often would go hungry as they did not carry veg food on board the flight. No wonder, Pilipino people had no clue about India. I guess this ignorance probably existed in most parts of the world those years.

But why blame the world ! Ignorance about India was in India itself. During my Engineering years, I remember, many of my classmates aspired to go overseas for post graduate studies. In the first year itself, most of them exactly knew top ten universities in the US and their locations there, their faculty and the courses offered. And in contrast they were oblivious of places like Beed, Solapur, Sawantwadi – though some of our classmates hailed from these towns. But if one reflects back, one realizes, what a sharp turnaround we find since the new millennium.

While my Engineering friends and many more likes of them who went aborad, steadily built the reputation of India and Indians over decades, the real boost came from the Indian IT revolution. This coupled with many other supporting developments (ranging from opening up of our economy, nuclear tests conducted by India, many Indians leading Microsoft and Google and Pepsi…..This gave India a new identity. The world outlook towards India changed dramatically. From an insignificant country in terms of economic and political clout, India has transformed itself into a country of great significance at the global level – be it politics, economy & trade, sports, industry (Nano car and Steel empire of Mittals), the Space programs. India is now the sixth largest economy surpassing France and also ranks sixth in installed capacity of solar power plants at globally.

In the late 70s, when the American Skylab plunged into the Indian ocean, nobody would have cared had its debris fallen in India. But today, imposition of safeguard duty on solar modules imported from China, reverberates not only in Chinese solar module manufacturing industry but my friend in the UK knows it too well as his investment banker is nervous about slowdown in Indian solar power industry. Fifty years ago, when the space race between the US and the USSR was at its peak, India struggled to have even basic level telecommunication services in its towns – leave aside the villages. In contrast, today, India has deep penetration of mobile phones and talking about high tech space program -  it successfully sent indigenously built lunar spaceship (Chandrayaan) and another to Mars (Mangalyaan). Not only this, but it launches satellites for developed countries – successfully and with better success rate at lower costs than their American and European counterparts.

This turnaround is neither sudden nor temporary. It of course satisfies my ego as an Indian. It could have been and should have been much earlier. But India, in spite of its diversity, has managed to come this far. I am sure, this is just the ignition phase and the coming years will see India propel into the next orbit and to the next.

Suhas Pansare

The Lost Heritage

Am I getting older ? Why would I feel nostalgic and sad when I read the news about Kapoors selling off the much coveted R.K. Studios ! Not only mine but generation of my parents was mesmerized by the biggest Showman of Bollywood – none other than Raj Kapoor. I was never a regular movie goer, leave aside to be the one who used to pride for ‘First Day First Show’ label. ‘Bobby’ was released just when I had first glimpse of moustaches on me and  ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ at the right time of my youth. Since then, Raj Kapoor struck a chord with me. Later, when I studied in Mumbai and used to travel to Pune frequently, often used to pass the famous R K Studio with its iconic ‘couple holding each other’ picture on its entrance. What was going on inside was always a matter of curiosity as it was about life of any popular Bollywood superstar.

The years passed by…..Raj Kapoor left for heavenly abode. But Kapoor khandaan continued to be on the sets of Bollywood and screens – from Shashi Kapoor right upto Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor. They were always a prime family of Bollywood as I remember. Indian and overseas fans (Russians for Awara Hoon) always showered their love and money for this family. May be we still owe for what this family contributed to our society in the form of shear entertainment. On this backdrop, the news of R.K. Studio which often created history through its popular movies and its shooting there, now becoming a part of history itself has still not sinking in well.

Agreed that it is entirely Kapoor’s prerogative as to what they want to do and they do of their property. Especially, when they say, it is beyond their capacity to bear high cost of maintaining the studio and returns from it not inline with expenses.

I may be biased due to my stint in the UK on ideas on what should happen to this studio. British (Europeans at large) are experts in preserving their history, if not at recreating it. Practically in every town and village, one finds place of historical significance. There is an excellent WW-II show, which not only brings out the memories of the war but give us almost first-hand experience of the same. I was lucky to have visited birthplace of Isaac Newton where the epic apple tree still stands (I cannot say it stands tall – literally). The tree was struck with lightening. It was grafted and bears the famous apples even today. It is in a sheepish village of Woolsthorpe. Of course, it is one of the Heritage sites of Britain. But apart from the tree and adjoining house where he was born, the place is converted into Science Museum. This museum brings out different phenomenon that we study in science, in a practical way. Brits have meticulously preserved this great heritage of over three centuries. Why could Kapoors (or Indians) not preserve their heritage of last three decades !

Kapoors say they cannot afford its maintenance. May be true – may be not and I respect the decision ! Infinite number of Indians thronged Kapoor movies when many of them could not afford two meals a day. I wonder if Kapoors really find it so tough to keep it going. From purely commercial point, it could be converted into Bollywood museum and I am sure all those Indians who visit Coca Cola museum and many such abroad will patronize ‘RK Museum’ too. It could actually be as profitable as  Raj Kapoor movies. But alas – it is not in our DNA to preserve our glorious past. We are happy naming streets and stadiums and airports with famous personalities but hardly preserve their legacy. Maharashtra has more than couple of hundred forts of Shivaji Maharaj era. We are content with giving his name to railway station and airport, but not keen on refurbishing any of these forts – where every stone and sidewalk has a story to narrate.

Eventually, R K Studio will give way to a sky scrapper rising from the ground. The best or the least could be it would bear the nameplate ‘R K Towers’. We are too focused to build out future at the cost of our history  - why blame Kapoors !

Suhas Pansare