2009 India Study Tour

India Itinerary

March 15 - March 29, 2009

(B, L, D represent breakfast, lunch, dinner included in program fees)

The following itinerary is flexible. Crooked Trails’ (CT) philosophy is to let the country guide the experiences and not to live by a strict itinerary.  If unexpected events arise, CT may change plans to take advantage of the situation or deal with an issue.  Participants should be flexible and allow the program to unfold.

 

Mar 15, Travel Day

Leave the USA at scheduled flight time.  Overnight flight to Mumbai.

 

Mar 16, Travel Day

Arrive to Mumbai late in the evening.  You will be met at the airport by a CT representative and transferred to your hotel.

 

MUMBAI: Alternative Models of Corporate Social Responsibility. Giving Leadership to Ideas: In the business sector’s view moving India toward a path of prosperity, equity, and social and environmental sustainability requires both real leadership and entrepreneurial spirit that neither the State nor political parties are able to provide. And while many civil society groups are dynamic, they are considered to be too weak and ephemeral to assume this challenge.  During our stay in Mumbai, we will be introduced to the business sector and the nonprofit sector; meeting with large and small industries and national and international nonprofits to compare and contrast different models of Corporate Social Responsibility. 

 

Mar 17, Introduction to Mumbai (B, L)  

The glittering and bustling city of Mumbai has the distinction of being the largest metropolis as well as the financial, commercial, industrial and celluloid capital of India. It is the most cosmopolitan of all Indian cities, and there is a place for everyone in this potpourri of cultures and city of glamour. Mumbai is also the capital of Maharashtra, and is the hub of cinema and film making in India; the Indian Hollywood, which is known as Bollywood is located here.

 

Today we will be introducing the students to this vibrant city.  After breakfast at the hotel, we will take a short morning tour of the most important sites in the city.  We will visit the Gateway of India, the heritage buildings of Kala Ghoda, Malabar Hill and the Hanging Gardens, Crawford Market, Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach.

 

The character of cuisine in India is essentially regional; the sheer size of the country has forced every area to develop a style of cooking of its own.  In times gone by transportation was a problem, and this meant that each area had to come up with a style of food which made do with the locally available materials.  As a result not only dishes, but flavors, colors, methods of cooking, down to even the style of cutting the vegetables changes as often as the landscape does.  What has helped along this diversity is the amazing number of religions and the sects and sub-sects within them.  Each sect often has strict dietary codes.  For example, Hindu Brahmins are vegetarian and some do not eat onions, ginger and garlic.  Students will be able to learn a great deal about food in Mumbai by joining local chef for private cooking class creating a variety of foods which they will eat for lunch.

 

Return to hotel to relax before dinner.  Early evening get together to talk about the program.

 

 

Mar 18, Mumbai: Comparing the CSR Practices of Mumbai’s largest industries

Morning meeting with Reliance Communications.  The Late Dhirubhai Ambani dreamt of a digital India — an India where the common man would have access to affordable means of information and communication.  Dhirubhai, who single-handedly built India’s largest private sector company virtually from scratch, had stated as early as 1999: “Make the tools of information and communication available to people at an affordable cost.  They will overcome the handicaps of illiteracy and lack of mobility.”

 

It was with this belief in mind that Reliance Communications (formerly Reliance Infocomm) started laying 60,000 route kilometres of a pan-India fibre optic backbone.  This backbone was commissioned on 28 December 2002, the auspicious occasion of Dhirubhai’s 70th birthday, though sadly after his unexpected demise on 6 July 2002.

 

Afternoon meeting with the Tata Group. The Tata Group is one of India’s oldest, largest and most respected business conglomerates. The Group’s businesses are spread over seven business sectors. It comprises 96 companies, operates on six continents and employs 350,000 people.

 

Known for its philanthropic activities, the country’s most respected business house, the Tata Group, spends $800,000 to $1,000,000 a year on corporate social responsibility (CSR).

 

In the evening we will have time to take in Mumbai by night.  No matter what time of night you venture out, you will find many people on streets and roads.  On a night tour we will walk to the traditional markets of Bhuleshwar where street food vendors are busy selling local delicacies to a hungry crowd. At a local favorite restaurant we will have dinner.  

 

 

Mar 19, Mumbai:  CSR practices among smaller industries in Mumbai (B)

Morning discussion on CSR

 

Morning meeting with Diatrends Jewelry Private Limited.   DJP is a young organization run by a benevolent & professional management team.  It started in 1994 with 9 people and now has over 260 Skilled Craftsmen & Professionals who were Once FRESH / YOUNG students & now trained by DJP. Giving preference to those affected with Polio, orphans and single mothers. 

 

DJP exports very Hi-Quality / Hi-Style Jewellery which needs Very precise hand skill & eye for quality.  They have several Welfare Schemes  and Motivational Programs to help workers / staff to give their best.

 

In the afternoon we will have an opportunity to visit Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, home to nearly a million people. In spite of the grime and the squalor, Dharavi is an area bustling with activity, with an economy estimated to be worth US $ 500 million, and many rags-to-riches stories.  Dharavi was not always a slum, and it is as old as Bombay.  The original inhabitants of Dharavi were kolis, the fisher folk, who lived at the edge of the creek that came in from the Arabian Sea.  A dam at Sion, adjacent to Dharavi, caused the creek to dry up.  Dharavi’s fisher folk were deprived of their traditional sustenance, and the newly emerged land from the marshes provided space for new communities to move in.  The first migrants were people from Maharashtra, and in particular from the Konkan coast, as well from Gujarat.  Potters from Saurashtra were allocated land in Dharavi to establish what is even today called Kumbharwada.  The other settlers were direct migrants to the city, many of them trained in a trade or a craft. Muslim tanners from Tamil Nadu migrated to Dharavi and set up the leather tanning industry. Other artisans, like the embroidery workers from Uttar Pradesh, started the ready-made garments trade. From Tamil Nadu, workers joined the flourishing business of making savouries and sweets.

 

Late afternoon: Entrepreneur Narayana Peesapaty has the solution to the problem of billions of pieces of disposable plastic cutlery being discarded in India: he makes them edible. So after people have eaten their soup, they can chew and swallow the spoon.  Part of the New Ventures Global initiative to encourage environmentally friendly business ideas in developing countries, New Ventures India (partnered by the Confederation of Indian Industries, or CII) received a range of products, including knives and chopsticks that can be chewed and digested instead of being reused or discarded.

 

 

Mar 20, Mumbai (B)

Bollywood Studios.  Students have the morning to visit the studios of Bollywood and see the live filming of a movie in action.  This will be a great introduction to the afternoon meeting with Bollywood studios management.

 

Afternoon meeting with Bollywood Studios.  Indian’s film industry, better known as “Bollywood,” produces 800 films per year, the largest number produced the world over.  PricewaterhouseCoopers predicted in 2006 that India’s film business would earn $1.12 billion by year end.  Much of this success driven by global popularity.  Bollywood has also gained a significant role in the social model of India, a new entertainment form dawned in India-the Cinema. The first exposure to motion pictures which India received was in 1896, when the Lumière Brothers’ Chinematographe unveiled six soundless short films at Watson Hotel, Esplanade Mansion, Bombay on July 7.  And the first exposing of celluloid in camera by an Indian and its consequent screening took place in 1899, when Harishchandra Bhatvadekar (Save Dada) shot two short films and exhibited them under Edison’s projecting kinetoscope.

 

Today the film industry produces films for all the sections of society some providing Entertainment to the masses and some imparting social values to the people of India and rest of the world.  The Indian film industry has come a long way and is growing in value year after year.

 

 

Mar 21, Travel and Introduction to Bangalore (B)

Bangalore was founded in 1537 by a Yelahanka Prabhu chieftain, Kempegowda.  Four watch towers were constructed as symbols of the city’s boundary lines, but Bangalore has grown far beyond the watch towers and is quickly becoming one of Asia’s fastest growing cities.  The city is spread over an area of 2190 square kilometers and is 920 meters above sea level.  The people of Bangalore enjoy a pleasant climate throughout the year and its lush, tree-lined streets have led to it being called the ‘Garden City’ of India.  Bangalore is India’s fifth-largest city and has become most famous for its recent industrial and commercial boom, visible in its eight huge industrial belts housing well over 10,000 industries, 250 of which are high-tech companies.  Consequently, Bangalore has been coined the ‘Silicon Valley’ of India.

 

After getting settled in to our hotel rooms, we will take a walk on the ‘wild side’ at Bannerghatta National Park.  This sprawling 25,000 acre park is in the southern outskirts of Bangalore city, where students will observe the avifauna of India, predators such as panthers, lions, and tigers, the park’s amazing reptile collection, and of course; elephants.  After observing the animals, students will have the opportunity to wander among the zoological garden under a canopy of shady trees and have a snack at the nearby pond.

 

Adventurous students will have the opportunity to do some trekking in the park.  There are three short hikes, including Uddigebande (3.5 kms.) a natural rock formation called Hajjamana Kallu (3 kms.) and Mirza Hill (1.5 kms.). 

 

 

Mar 22, Bangalore IT and Its Waste; A case study of IT (B)

Bangalore’s innumerable IT (information technology) and related companies produce 11,000 tons of e-waste every year.  But most of this finds its way to backyard recyclers in the by-lanes of Bangalore — and very little goes to the authorized e-waste managers who are competent to neutralize the waste.

 

Bangalore has three recyclers recognized by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.  But, sadly, IT companies are under no obligation to manage their waste because India does not have legislation for e-waste.  The Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) “Guidelines for environmentally sound management of e-waste” was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in March 2008, but as they are only guidelines, they do not bind companies to manage their waste.

 

Of the 1,350 IT, BPO (business process outsourcing), and KPO (knowledge process outsourcing) companies in Bangalore, only around 50 have come forward to manage their waste through E-Parisara.

 

Morning meeting with INTEL.  Intel is driven to create bold advancements in technology that enhance people’s lives and cultivate the spirit of innovation and promoting the concept of sustainability in their operations and in communities worldwide.

 

Whether it’s investing 100 million dollars annually to improve education in 50 countries or volunteering hundreds of thousands of hours in our communities, Intel is committed to investing in the next generation of innovators and supporting community needs at the local, national and global levels to create lasting impact.

 

They have a passion for innovation that we apply not only to developing new technologies, but also to managing their environmental impact.  From responsible product design to corporate recycling programs, Intel strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability.

 

Afternoon meeting with Google India.  Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.  As a first step to fulfilling that mission, Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed a new approach to online search that took root in a Stanford University dorm room and quickly spread to information seekers around the globe. Google is now widely recognized as the world’s largest search engine – an easy-to-use free service that usually returns relevant results in a fraction of a second.  Google chose Bangalore in 2004 as the site of its first R&D center outside the U.S. headquarters, in part because so many Googlers who are Indian wanted to move back to India and participate in India’s growth.

 

In the early evening we can arrange dinner with the local regional representative for the Ashoka Foundation, Ms. Nomito Kamdar.  Ashoka is “the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs—men and women with system changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems.  Since 1981, Ashoka has elected over 1,800 leading social entrepreneurs as Ashoka Fellows, providing them with living stipends, professional support, and access to a global network of peers in more than 60 countries.  Ashoka Fellows inspire others to adopt and spread their innovations—demonstrating to all citizens that they too have the potential to be powerful changemakers and make a positive difference in their communities.”

 

 

Mar 23, Bangalore (B)

Morning meeting with INFOSYS.  Seven members under the leadership of Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy started Infosys in 1981 with 250 dollars and it emerged as the IT giant in India.  Its strength rose from 7 to approx 80,000 people and 80 percent of the Infocians are from the non-IT background.  Their core values like credibility, commitment, and excellence drives their growth and services.

 

Afternoon meeting: Texas Instruments India.  India and Texas Instruments (TI) have had a close relationship for over 20 years.  In August 1985, TI set up a R&D facility in Bangalore and became the first global technology company to establish its presence in India.  Ever since, India has been a great resource for TI for great talent, great leadership and great innovation.  The TI India Foundation (TIIF) was born in 2003 as a way to coordinate community initiatives supported by the company and its employees, particularly in the areas of education and the environment.

 

OPTIONAL: After dinner we will head to the Indian Institute of World Culture to attend a public lecture and/or music and dance performance.  In the words of its founder, The India Institute of World Culture seeks to “make available those nuggets of knowledge which make a man more healthy in body, more wealthy in mind, more noble in heart, more self-sacrificing in spirit.”  These lectures and performances provide educational enrichment and cultural opportunities for people of all backgrounds and status.

 

 

Mar 24, Travel and Introduction to Delhi (B)

After checking into the hotel in New Delhi, we begin our exploration by bicycle rickshaw through Old Delhi’s narrow streets where we will visit the Red Fort, the most opulent Fort and Palace of the Mughals, and an interesting Sikh temple where we join in making morning chapattis and soup for the hungry.  Later we will visit the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in Delhi and climb the turret for wonderful view of Delhi.  

 

After a traditional Indian lunch near the spice market, we will meet with Urvashi Puri, rieki, meditation and yoga master.  At the Harmony center in New Delhi, Urvahi will lead us through an awareness session by sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for experiencing the deeper rhythm of harmony within.  Urvashi is an amazing, kind, and dynamic woman.

 

 

Mar 25, Delhi (B)

Morning meeting Bhari Foundation.  The Bharti Foundation was established in 2000 with a vision “to help underprivileged children and young people of India realize their potential” through support programs that bring about sustainable changes, predominantly in the field of education.  In 2006, the Bharti Foundation was awarded the coveted Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in the NGO category.  The award was instituted to encourage initiatives in CSR by the Centre for Social Responsibility supported by Institute of Directors (IOD), Centre for Corporate Governance (CFCG) and the World Council for Corporate Governance (WCFCG), UK.

 

In the afternoon, we will meet with Ashoka fellow, Ravi Agarwal.  Ravi is changing the urban waste management system in India by involving local communities and the informal sector of rag pickers in waste disposal, and by advocating for a cleaner materials policy in industry.

 

 

Mar 26, Delhi (B)

Morning meeting with Dr. A.K. Balyan, Director-HR, ONGC Ltd., New Delhi.  According to Mr. Balyan, business is run for society. It is the corporations’ responsibility to create value and wealth and share it with the community.

 

Afternoon meeting with Prof. Pulin B. Nayak, Director, Delhi School of Economics.  Prof. Pulin B. Nayak states that 60% of population still lives through agriculture, income inequalities are being accentuated.  The corporations are relying more on direct taxes therefore the revenue through corporate taxes has contributed more to the GDP.  Therefore corporations have the primary responsibility towards the benefit of the society.

 

 

Mar 27, Agra and Taj Mahal (B)

An early morning train will take us to Agra, the ancient capitol of India and the home of the Taj Mahal, an incredible monument built for love.  We will visit some amazing marble and gem artists and be guests at the home of a local friend, artist and activist for breakfast.  Upon our arrival we will be meet by our Agra friends at the train and transferred by rickshaw to their family home.  After breakfast we will make a visit to the Taj Mahal after learning from some marble artists the incredible work that went into this monument.  If time allows, we will also visit the Agra Fort before returning to Delhi in the late evening.

 

 

Mar 28, Travel Day 

Flight home.  Arrive home early morning of Mar 29.