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Collier made at least 50 trips to India over 10 years

Stepping into the soul of India is not easy for a foreign writer; the journey needs more than mere love for the country. The process requires identification with history, facts at fingertips and an uncanny nose for immediate socio-political context, show landmark books written over the years.

When Belgian corporate executive-cum historian Dirk Collier decided to walk into the mind of 16th century Muslim visionary, emperor Akbar, for instance, he nearly adopted an Indian identity for himself.

Collier, who made at least 50 trips to India over 10 years and took seven years to write the book, said he was inspired to write a book after seeing a painting commissioned by Akbar’s son Jahangir in which the latter was shown holding his father’s portrait.

Rabindranath Tagore, who began to paint at the late age of 67, was dismissed by peers and critics as a "bad and untrained" artist during his lifetime. "The first exhibition of Tagore's paintings in May 1930 in Paris that received an overwhelming response was later exhibited in Kolkata (in 1931 and 1932). But the audience there was strangely silent and I remember reading articles criticising his style and technique," senior artist Niren Sengupta said.

In 1931, Tagore displayed at the Kolkata Town Hall and in February 1932 at the Government School of Art with 265 art works.

"The critics did not like Tagore's childlike adaptation of global artistic practices. Especially those from the Far East and Europe, to create a unique Indian language," said Sengupta.

"The fact that no artist could copy Tagore's style and ideas fuelled the resentment further," said the former Delhi College of Art principal.

Shatabdi to carry social messages

Fast Indian train Shatabdi Express will be adorned with posters urging people to pay attention to an often neglected section of the society — the differently-abled children.

An initiative of city-based NGO Arushi, the posters carry lines penned by Bollywood lyricist and poet Gulzar.

Divisional Railway Manager Ashwini Lohani said: "The main reason for putting posters of Arushi children is to sensitise the society towards these kids. Passengers will see the posters from July 1."

"The motive behind these posters is to tell everyone that these differently-abled people are also part of society and they don't need sympathy, but love and smiles," Sapna, executive coordinator of Arushi, said.

Arushi is working since 1992 for the inclusion of disabled people of all age groups into the mainstream of society. Its Bhopal centre imparts education to around 150 disabled kids, many from below poverty line (BPL) families.

In India, five million new subscribers are signing up for mobile phone connections every month, as the wireless telecommunications market booms. And, one of the world's fastest growing mobile phone markets is now expanding into the countryside.

Five years ago, India had five million mobile phone users. That number has now exploded to 105 million, and the frantic growth shows no signs of slowing down.

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