Ahmedabad Discussions

[meetmus2fa]

Thanks GJ 10

As i Didnt get that much time to translate the news in English

[GJ10]

Ahmedabad no1 among 100 cities for Small Business

Ahmedabad has been rated as the most favourable destination for small businesses in India followed by Bangalore and Mumbai, according to a joint report by consultancy firm Ernst & Young (E&Y) and retail solutions provider, Franchise India. The report gave Gujarat's diamond and textile hub — Surat — the seventh rank, bringing double pleasure to Gujarati businessmen.

The report titled 'Top 100 cities for small business in India' identifies cities, big and small, that have the potential to start and galvanise the growth of small businesses. According to the report, states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have been relatively more proactive towards providing the fitting stratosphere for the prolific growth of small business.

The previous edition of state government's Vibrant Gujarat Global Investment Summit in 2009 had focused on small and medium enterprises. Over 8,000 MoUs were signed by SMEs then. The upcoming summit in 2011, promoted as Davos in Action, too will have a focus on small enterprises. Besides Ahmedabad, Surat has been riding the high wave of optimism, given the spurt in demand for diamonds and textiles, both nationally and the exports markets. "SMEs contribute about 9 per cent of India's GDP. The report highlights some essential pre-requisites while starting a business like demography, infrastructure, retail activity, entrepreneurship and ease of doing business," Franchise India's president, Gaurav Marya, said while launching the report on Thursday.

The essentials were dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit and paying taxes, he said.

[GJ10]

An Arts Columnists Views on Ahmedabad

Why isnt Ahmedabad the seat of Design?

Why aren’t more design firms headquartered in Ahmedabad? I am visiting this 600-year-old city that Sultan Ahmed Shah founded, for the first time, and I love it. I didn’t expect to.

Indians are funny that way. Each of us is intensely proud of the region we call home, and, truth be told, there is enough in each place to be proud of. Talk to Goans and they will act as if the good life or Sussegado originated in Goa. Talk some more and it becomes hard to argue otherwise. Talk to Tamilians and they will act as if culture begins and ends in Chennai. Visit Chennai in December and you will become convinced. Talk to Bengalis and they will make your head spin with their literary and intellectual allusions. All Bengalis think Kolkata is the centre of the universe and once you get into the “adda” mindset, you will feel the same way too.

This goes on and on, not just with larger cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, which can lay legitimate claim to a thriving arts scene, but even in smaller towns such as Dharwad (at the crossroads of Carnatic and Hindustani music), Patna (continuously inhabited since 490 BC), Gwalior (the oldest Khayal gharana), Kochi (synagogues, Syrian Christians and Moplah Muslims), Marwar (Rajputs, legends, Mayo), Varanasi (silk, samosas and the seat of Hinduism), and Guntur (gongura pickle and poet Gunturu Seshendra Sarma, the only Indian after Tagore to be nominated for the Nobel Prize). The list goes on. Each region in India has a dizzying array of quirks, cuisine and culture; and everyone thinks they are the best. And now, Gujarat. Deep breath.

I always thought of Gujarat as a mercantile state; and it is. But visit the MS University in Vadodara, or pretty much any museum in Ahmedabad and a different picture emerges: The city is a repository of the Indian craft tradition. There are the patrons: the Lalbhais, Sarabhais, Hutheesings and Mangaldas’. There are the design and architecture students graduating from the National Institute of Design (NID), Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) which won the Aga Khan Award for architecture, the equally beautiful Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI), where I stayed. You have Mudra Institute of Communications, and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

My question is: Given the rich influx of talent in the fields of design, architecture and management, why aren’t more design firms headquartered in Ahmedabad?

The answers I get from Amdavadis are all over the map.

“It’s too bloody hot here. You need cool climes for design. Hence Pune.”

“Arre, it’s happening, yaar. Why are you in such a hurry? Many NID students are turning down offers in Bangalore to start design firms here in Ahmedabad.”

“Until now, Narendra bhai (Modi) was focusing on power, energy and businesses. He will soon look into design. And then we will be the best Indian state in design also.”

The most elegant answer comes from Umang Hutheesing. I meet Hutheesing at his sprawling mansion in typical 21st century fashion. A mutual friend e-introduces us and when I land in Ahmedabad, Hutheesing invites me to dinner, along with several design students from NID and CEPT.

We drink....er, juice (Gujarat is a dry state); walk through his baroquean collection of Chola bronzes, antique framed shamianas, Meissen porcelain and Dutch pottery. His parents collect royal costumes, which were recently exhibited in Paris under the auspices of the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. After a vegetarian thali dinner on kansa plates made of five metals, I finally ask Hutheesing the question that’s been bugging me: Why isn’t Ahmedabad the seat of Indian design, given the talent that exists in its environs?

“Let me quote a couplet, written by historian James Douglas,” he replies without missing a beat. “The bud was here. The blossom and fruit to be in Agra? Everything has a beginning: Greece before Rome, Damascus before Cairo, Agra follows Ahmedabad.”

I smile. He smiles. Wah, wah! Apparently, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal stayed in Ahmedabad during their younger years, when he was governor of Gujarat for his father, Jehangir, who incidentally met Noor Jehan in Ahmedabad. According to Hutheesing, the then Prince Khurram wandered around Shahibaug (named after him) and drank in Ahmedabad’s architecture, already 200 years old. The flickering moonlight falling on marble and alabaster; the craft and workmanship of the local artisans; the rhythm and harmony of their creations; their deft touch and cunning cover-ups. Khurram studied it all. “It was here that the master builder imbibed his artistic excellence which was to blossom in Agra,” says Hutheesing.

Later, I break corn dhoklas with Abhay Mangaldas, who has converted his ancestral property into a heritage hotel called The House of MG. We lunch on patra and khichdi, and compare scuba-diving adventures. Mangaldas, like me, is an adrenalin junkie, although his office attire is a Linen Club kurta-pyjama. He has bought the neighbouring property from his cousins to add rooms and a spa. “Ahmedabad, like good wine, matures slowly,” he says. “It will come to its own in due course, probably in the next 10 years, and stake its claim as the foremost centre for design, architecture and crafts in the country.”

They think big, these Gujaratis. I’ll give them that. Quite a contrast to my own Tamilian ancestors who valued frugality and the notion of “porum”, or “enough”, as a virtue.

[bluesapphire]

Rs 50K membership fee at AMC's sports complex for common man



[QUOTE]AHMEDABAD: Just a fortnight ago, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) threw open a sports complex in a middle class locality of Memco area with sports facilities.

The sports complex was meant for people who could not afford costly club memberships to play a game or two. The other objective was to encourage more people to come forward and play sports.

But, if one takes a cursory glance at its membership fees, even major clubs in the city like Rajpath and Karnavati on SG Road may fight shy of such a price tag.

An annual membership at the Memco Veer Savarkar sports complex is being proposed at Rs 50,000 for a family, Rs 10,000 for an individual and Rs 5,000 for each extra member of the same family. To play indoor games like carrom and chess, a member has to shell out Rs 1,000.

To hire a party plot, the rates have been fixed at Rs 20,000 per night, while the amphitheatre will cost Rs 5,000 for a single event. Activities include swimming, gymnasium, squash, badminton table tennis and tennis. The annual fees for the activities range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 depending on the type of sport. If you hire a basketball court for practice, it will cost you Rs 750 for three hours, a volleyball court Rs 500, while hiring a cricket ground will cost Rs 12,500.

"Most of the people living in Memco are either daily wagers or working in small units and factories with meagre salaries. How can they afford such costly facilities? What worries us is the cost of party plots which has been scaled to Rs 20,000 per night. AMC party plots were the only respite for a poor man for functions like marriages and family gatherings," said Congress opposition leader in AMC, Surendra Baxi.

[aks_sky]

X post from Bangalore discussions thread:

A joint Ernst & Young (E&Y) and Franchise India survey stated that Ahmedabad is the best city for setting up a business.
http://business.rediff.com/slide-sho...htm#contentTop

1. Ahmedabad
2. Bengaluru
3. Mumbai
4. Hyderabad
5. New Delhi
6. Chennai
7. Surat
8. Faridabad
9. Jaipur
10. Gurgaon

[Kaushik Parmar]

[v=wt2PGa5aRL8[/URL]

[aks_sky]

Nice vid Kaushik bhai. Was waiting for one of your videos, where have you been? haha

[Kaushik Parmar]

[Kaushik Parmar]

Originally Posted by aks_sky

Nice vid Kaushik bhai. Was waiting for one of your videos, where have you been? haha

I am glad but which video you are referring!

[aks_sky]

haha thank you.

[dhim100]

They need to demolish the roundabout. It's taking up so much space and adds to chaos and congestion.

[aks_sky]

So who is taking part in this marathon?

‘Come, be a part of city’s first marathon’

It is amazing to learn that our city will host its very first marathon on December 26. We have built a reputation of an investor-friendly city/state with great infrastructure. By hosting an event of this magnitude, the city will complete its transformation into a full-blown metropolis.

Recently, Mehta (C) participated in a marathon in Greece. More than 12,000 people from over 60 countries took part in the event
A marathon is an international event and part of every major city’s event calendar – be it London, New York, Sydney or Mumbai. The route starting from the Sabarmati riverfront to Kankaria lakefront will be simply spectacular (especially with no traffic).

Apart from the 42-km race, there will be a 6-km Amdavad Dream Run, a half marathon, a 4.5-km run for senior citizens and events for the disabled and physically challenged.

The distance of 42 km may seem outrageously long. However, we do not have to look far for inspiration. Mahatma Gandhi covered a distance equivalent to that of nine full marathons to reach Dandi. He walked on dusty paths. We will be running on paved roads and will have food, water and first aid at our disposal.

The Sabarmati Marathon will be an important event for the city, and it would not be right if we do not participate and show our full support. I urge all residents of Ahmedabad and towns across Gujarat to make this event a memorable one.

It is not mandatory to run 42 km. You can walk 6 km, something my parents, aged 68 and 73, plan to do. You can even opt for the 21-km event, which my wife and her friends intend to do. If nothing else, come out and be part of the cheering brigade along the route and create an electrifying atmosphere that participants from across the country and the world will remember for years.

There’s a scene in Richard

Attenborough’s Gandhi which gives me goose bumps every time I watch it. In the scene, the Dandi March passes through villages as a sea of souls cheer on. Imagine how the real Dandi March led by Bapu must have been and how it would have united people.

I have taken part in a few marathons, and I guarantee that you will not regret participating in the Sabarmati run on a cool December morning.

Running or walking along with thousands of people and being cheered by an even larger group of people will be simply outstanding. I urge all schools to line up their musical bands along the route and create a fantastic atmosphere.

Participating in this event will be a tremendous step, so let us put on our jogging shoes and start practising.

[The Patel]

Hope people have safe marathon.

[AmdavadLoverIndian]

Out of our Amdavad and India for many years, I visit Amdavad at irregular intervals

And there is not a single day when I have not talked about our Amdavad

People keep asking me, what is so special about your Ahmedabad, and if we visit Amedabad, what should we see .....

The only short answer I always give is

There are many things and places in Amdavad worth visiting and seeing, but the most important, for me, is

AMDAVAD IS A CITY TO LIVE IN

Thanks to everybody who have made our Amdavad worth liveable, and thanks to all the contributers here to keep everybody updated about Amdavad in this forum

AmdavadLoverIndian

[bhupenparikh]

1. We are not poor in english , yes we are careless about it.
2. we never put much efforts to imporve english ,yes we make others to speak in gujarati.
3. All IT jobs comes from overseas are donkey jobs, that is why ots goes to south, we are more of independent businessmen.
4. we never dependent on central govt. aids always ,we always take initiatives and make others to follow us.
5. We always welcomed by others (national /internationaly) and adjust with all kind of people. Not like other narrow minded indians that they come out of there attitude , ( I have travelled all around the world , indians are most hatted people , that is less with the gujaratis.)

[jaadu]

Originally Posted by bhupenparikh

1. We are not poor in english , yes we are careless about it.
2. we never put much efforts to imporve english ,yes we make others to speak in gujarati.
3. All IT jobs comes from overseas are donkey jobs, that is why ots goes to south, we are more of independent businessmen.
4. we never dependent on central govt. aids always ,we always take initiatives and make others to follow us.
5. We always welcomed by others (national /internationaly) and adjust with all kind of people. Not like other narrow minded indians that they come out of there attitude , ( I have travelled all around the world , indians are most hatted people , that is less with the gujaratis.)

Dost .. WTF !!!

Your English is not good we don't care ... but I have a lot of gujarati friends and all of them are awesome and of course we love gujarati people's entrepreneurial spirits .. but still .. do you even realize what you have written ..

WTF !!!

[aks_sky]

Originally Posted by bhupenparikh

1. We are not poor in english , yes we are careless about it.
2. we never put much efforts to imporve english ,yes we make others to speak in gujarati.
3. All IT jobs comes from overseas are donkey jobs, that is why ots goes to south, we are more of independent businessmen.
4. we never dependent on central govt. aids always ,we always take initiatives and make others to follow us.
5. We always welcomed by others (national /internationaly) and adjust with all kind of people. Not like other narrow minded indians that they come out of there attitude , ( I have travelled all around the world , indians are most hatted people , that is less with the gujaratis.)

What makes you think this man?? This is not true but i guess its your opinion.. I guess you should add this on chaibar and you will get a lot of replies from the good fellas.

[aks_sky]

Corporate run at Sabarmati Marathon

The corporate houses in the city are beaming with joy, and why not, they have all the reason to celebrate. A separate category Corporate Marathon Relay Challenge has been incorporated into the Sabarmati Marathon 2010, Gujarat’s first ever international marathon which has been jointly organised by Ahmedabad Runners Club and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on December 26.

The categories open for the Corporate Marathon Relay Challenge are Half Marathon (21.095 km) and Marathon (42.195 km). Through the seven categories of international standards, the Sabarmati Marathon estimates participation of about 35,000 people from around the world. Participants from other states are also showing interest to be part of this historical event.

According to Vishwash Bhamburkar, committee member of marathon, “Training for the marathon will begin from Friday (November 26) from 6.30 am onwards. The half an hour training will begin from Prahladnagar Garden.”

Anyone can be a part of the training session which will be held four days in a week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Bhamburkar added. First three days in the week, problems related to training will be solved and a long run will be held on Sunday.

[SimplyGujju]

These pictures are of Raipur Darwaja AMTS bus stand.. Here they have laid very nice & wide road and put nice bus stop.. Still people have to stand on the road covering half the width...

Same is the scene at many other bus stops..

[aks_sky]

Lets hope they do what they say they will in the following article.