POPULARLYKNOWN AS KALI, personifies
the virtues of diversification. In an age
when travel agents are facing reduced commissions

and one setback after another, Kalicharran

has created a whole new revenue stream that

perfectly complements his New York City travel

agency, Kali Travel (www.kalitravel.com).

Kalicharran was born in Guyana in 1949

into a second-generation Indian family This

gave him a natural empathy for his fellow

Indians in search of their roots. In order to

reconnect people with their pasts, Kalicharran

created a second company that researches

Indian ancestries for his India-bound clients.

“First, for me to conduct a successful search,

my clients need to have an immigrant past, and

to also know what ship they came on,” he says.

“If my clients give me enough information to

get started, I can then reach out to my contacts

in the Caribbean and in India and begin to

reconnect them with their past.”

Kalicharran charges a fee for these services

in addition to the price for his scheduled Kali

Bharat Yatra Tours to India. Presently, Kali Travel

splits its business down the middle, with half

going to India and half to the Caribbean, where

Kalicharran sells more mainstream vacations

such as cruises and resort vacations.

Kalicharran first visited India in 1983, when

he was 34 years old. “I had an instant sense of

belonging when I arrived in India,” he says. “I

wasn’t alone in feeling this way-some people

in my group kissed the ground or hugged a

tree.” Kalicharran has been sending clients to

India ever since, helping them achieve that

same sense of belonging. “India is a window

onto the world,” he says. “The ethnic makeup is

like a bouquet of different flowers.”

Kalicharran is fond of using Taj Hotels and

hotels from The Ashok Group for his clients, as

well as Ramada Inn and Holiday Inn properties

throughout India. He warns against trying to

take in the whole country in one visit. “I suggest

first-time visitors concentrate on touring

northern India,” he says. “Here they’ll see New

Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai, the Bollywood

film capitaL” Kalicharran is well connected, and

often gets noted film stars and musicians such

as Padma Shri Ravi, Nirupa Roy and Mahendra

Kapoor to entertain and mingle with the tour

party during their farewell function.

As a young man, Kalicharran left Guyana

to study at the University o[ London. He then

made his way to New York City, where he

worked in the medical field at Bellevue Hospital.

He worked as a manager in a department

store, and opened Arcel, a driving school for

immigrants. He then created Kali Travel and

Kali Bharat Yatra Tours. As if all these activities

didn’t keep him busy enough, Kalicharran is

well known in his community as a leading philanthropist.

He has received numerous awards

from city agencies and community organizations

for his contributions, including the Ellis

Island Award for outstanding immigrants.

Kalicharran has some advice [or travel

agents who are considering selling India [or

the first time. “See it first before you sell it,”

he says. “You have to experience India [or

yourself.”

Article taken from Travel Agent Magazine September 1st 2008

is an extraordinary community leader, who leads by

example. In recognition of his tremendous contribution

to the Guyana diaspora, he has received several

citations (including plaques) from the Asian-Indian, the

Indo-Caribbean, and other Ethnic American

communities in New York.

Haimanti Banerjee

interviews him.

NGI: When did you come to USA? What made you

leave your country?

RK: I came to the United States on January 25,1970.

It was never my intention to leave Guyana but the

political climate stifled growth and freedom and led

almost to the country’s bankruptcy. While I survived,

having worked there as a school teacher, I realized

that the dark spell will not end soon, and that my

economic future was also cast in doubt. I, therefore,

with a heavy heart decided to part from my extended

family and migrated to the USA, like so many other

Guyanese before me.

Upon arrival here I worked as a technologist at a City

medical facility, and once I got a good grasp of the

operations of the wider economic system, I decided to

enter the private sector as a real estate broker.

Subsequently, I diversified my operations by

addition, Kali Travel

& Tours, with special attention

to Kali Bharat Yatra (infact earlier this year I

celebrated Kali Bharat Yatra Silver Jubilee in India),

Arcel Driving School.

NGI: When you came to America, how did the

average American viewed an Indian origin person

not coming from India? What difficulties, if any you

faced then?

RK: Indians from the Caribbean were viewed with

suspicion like other immigrant groups. But our

western method of schooling and fluency in the

English language allowed me to adapt without much

difficulty to live in the US. To some extent, Indians

from India did not view usfavorably.

Both Caribbean Indians and India Indians had

developed unfavorable stereotypes of one another.

But I was determined to work hard with as many

groups and individuals as possible to break down

these barriers. I have been identified as the Caribbean

Indian who has done more for the development of

relations between these groups than anyone else. I cofounded

GOPIO, and actively participated in the

annual India Day Parade.

Unlike many Indians of the Caribbean, I kept an open

mind. My prior exposure to people from various

backgrounds provided me with a broader perspective

of life. It was not easy at the beginning though. I

decided that racism would not frustrate my attempt

to realize the American dream. That’s why; I leftmy

job as a technician in the City and became an

entrepreneur, where I could utilize my vision and

passion to advance economically and otherwise.

NGI: You are very much involved both in Caribbean

Indian and regular Indian communities. When did

you first get involved in the community

activities? What was the first organization you

started or involved with? What are the memories

you carry on you mind till today?

RK: I started the first Indian radio program in New

York City. I saw a felt need for this type of servicefor

our expanding Caribbean Indian community. I

founded the Caribbean Indian annual Phagwah

Parade in 1990.That was patterned along the linesof

the India Day Parade, and idea given to me by Mr.

Yashpal Soi, President of FIA. In 1986,I founded the

USA Pandits’ Parishad. I’m the International

coordinator for the Indo-Caribbean Council (ICC) to

cater to the political and social needs of our

community.I became an advisor and graphic

consultantto the powerful Guyana Watch (GWI)

humanitarian organization under the leadership of

DrTaraSingh.

Currently,I am a director of the Phagwah Parade &

FestivalCommittee (PPFC) of New York, an NGO,

thatputs together a number of major Hindu

festivalsfor public consumption.

Atthe India Indian level, I was a co-founder of

GOPIO.I have established contacts with prominent

Bollywoodpersonalities, and contribute significantly

towardsvarious cultural and humanitarian projects. I

servedas Caribbean Coordinator/Director of the

IndiaFestival Committee (IFC) spearheaded by

DharmatmaSaran which showcases young women of

IndianOrigin through Beauty Pageant.

NGI:How it is different today to work in any

community organizations? What groups do you

workwith now?

RK: Work has become easier in the sense that the vast

expansionof media and the internet have become an

important ally.While Caribbean Indians do not have

agreat tradition of charity, our commitment to

charityhas been increasing gradually.

Correspondingly, the need for greater transparency

andaccountability has also increased. Difficulties

sometimesarise over strategies and tactics. There are

occasionsof overlap or duplication of activities

induced by competition.

NGI:There is a perception that the Indians from

Caribbean countries and from India suffer a degree

ofsegregation. You have been a champion of

bringing harmony in two communities. How much

truth is in there and what needs to be done to bring

them closer?

RK: Our community left a rough political and

economicclimate in the Caribbean. They came with

important cultural values of house ownership, family

responsibility,and economic security. We have been a

major entrepreneurial group in the Caribbean. We

were fired with motivation to succeed. The physical

separation is largely a cultural factor. In the

Caribbean, Indians live in certain areas. When they

migrated to the USA, they gravitate to where their

sponsors (usually relatives) live. This pattern has led

to geographic separation of the races. Politics will

bring all immigrant groups together. President elect

Obama has set thetone.

NGI: What is the current status of Caribbean

Indians in America culturally, socially, politically

and economically?

RK: Socially we have not been doing well. Our results

at schools and colleges are not encouraging. Some

social vices have crept into our daily living.

Politically, we are still weak. We lack the numeric

strength to influence the outcome of elections. This

will change in a decade’s time. Economically, we are

doing fairly well. But the global financial crisis has

hurt many of us in ways never imagined.

Nevertheless we have contributed to the

revitalization of several of the City’s neighborhoods.

NGI: What do you think that the Indian-Americans

in general can do for their land of origin both their

Caribbean homeland and their holy land India?

RK: India Indians can expand their humanitarian

efforts. Adopt small villages. Install artesian wells.

Conduct medical outreach. Help to educate them and

establish cottage industries.

NGI: You have been a great philanthropist when it

comes to your community. What are you doing to

help your brethren back home?

RK: We have recently donated a large sum to the

Hindu College at West Demerara, Guyana, as well as,

funded a Disaster Preparedness program there. We

donated a handsome amount to the New York

Jamaica project.

NGI: How is the younger generation Indian

Americans of Caribbean origin growing up in

America?

RK: The younger generation has little interest. That’s

why I joined with Dr. Tara Singh to take a group of

Caribbean Indian youth with us to India in 2000 to reconnect

with the land of their ancestors. It was a

fascinating journey. Our culture and history must be

taught in schools and colleges in USAso that young

Indians can have a better appreciation from where

they came. Seeking to instill ethnic pride, I support

the Miss India New York annual pageant and the

annual Diwali programs.

NGI: What is your message to the Global Indians?

RK: Keep strong. Be consistent and objective in your

message. Call for more volunteerism. Set up a Global

Indian Development Fund to help elevate

the disadvantaged sections of our community.

Embark upon a number of projects so that people can

see that you are matching words with action.

Article was taken from NEW GLOBAL.1NDIAN

migratefrdom Guyana to New York City in 1970. Now he runs

arealestate/travel agency/driving school in Jamaica, Queens.

But hehasn’t lost the compulsion to instruct.

“Somebodyfrom Trinidad or Guyana or Suriname who just

migrate to America, and they come to me to rent a room or

anapartment, I counsel them. My thing is not just to make

moneyIf. I get them an apartment I will tell them, ‘Don’t

comeback to me for an apartment. When you come back to

mecomeand buy a house.”’

We’resitting in the real estate section of his business, a long

narrowoffice with rows of maroon swivel chairs behind desks

covered in wood-grain contact paper.

Onelong wall has huge paintings with East Indian themes.

Oneofthem depicts the Taj Mahal viewed from across a shimmeringlake.

Kalicharran, a portly man with a full head and

abeardof salt-and-pepper hair, shows off pictures of himself

andagroupof about 60 people in front of the monument. The

photoswere taken last November, during one of the package

tourshe organises to India. He calls it Bharat Yatra, which
means India Journey. Two to four times a year, he or an assistant

leads West Indians on the pilgrimage.

Kalicharran is a community leader in Richmond Hill and

Jamaica, areas with high concentrations of Indian-descended

West Indians. He founded the USA Pandits’ Parishad (Council)

and another Hindu organisation called Gyan Bhakti Satsang

(Knowledge Devotion Society).

But his “pride and joy” is the annual Phagwah parade he

helped establish over 16 years ago. The colourful procession

of people and floats starts from Sybil’s Bakery and Restaurant

on Liberty Avenue and ends with a concert at Smokey Oval

Park. It has become a highly popular event, attracting tens of

thousands of people.

Kalicharran believes it’s important for immigrants and their

descendants to maintain the religious and cultural traditions

of their foreparents. “They say in Rome you have to do as the

Romans do, but 1 disagree with that,” he says. “If you forget

your language, you forget your culture, you get lost in corporate

America. New immigrants, they should be themselves and try

not to be anybody else.”

Article was taken from Caribbean Beat Magazine

Kali and His Yatris Celebrate Diwali and Everything Indian in India. Jai Bharat Mata!
MYSORE, INDIA: Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 was yet another usual day in New York. But not so for the over two dozen Indo-Caribbean group that had gathered in JFK airport to travel to India, the land of their ancestors, thanks to Kali Tours and Travel, the legendary travel company that is busy since 1983 facilitating ‘incredible India’ package tours to everyone who loves to visit India. So, it was the silver jubilee time perfectly matching the shine of the smiles of the touring party with the gleam of pure silver.
And there was Ramesh D. Kalicharran, CEO, Kali Tours and Travel, happily glancing over the smiling faces of the touring party with a deserving contentment spilling over his frame for having been able to do it for the 25th year without a break or an excuse for deferring – 25 continuous years of taking batches of visitors to India, Indo-Caribbean in particular. In the process, Ramesh Kalicharran has been simplified and recognized as just Kali by his friends, followers and admirers. The name Kali is now a symbol of Indian-ness, patronage and universal friendship. No other adjectives are necessary, just Kali is enough. Well, that’s the way the man has established himself without any conscious build-up. He is what he is – a true Indian by heart, mind and soul. Kali is simple and that is his strength. A strength that is accessible and not difficult to get at. Huddled by such a natural simplicity and austerity at the compact JFK lounge, the touring party was treated to a warm bon voyage by a team that had an executive from the Goverment of India Tourist Office, N.Y., a Pandit for spiritual motivation, and a beauty queen Neha Mutani, (Miss India New York) who provided the much needed sensual touch to the occasion. So, it was a great start to a great travel, and destination India was the ultimate motivation. The 15-hour non-stop flight to New Delhi went off like a cozy dream and nobody was tired when the smiling face of Dilip Sirwani, Kali’s India associate, greeted them at New Delhi.

It was a warm evening in Delhi but Dilip’s smiling handsome face was much warmer. Well, that’s how the touring party was treated by Bharatmata and everyone was at once giggling and eager to get on with the rest of it. When the team checked in at Hotel Clark Greens, New Delhi, the welcome was truly Indian with garlands, tilak and aarti, and suddenly everyone was relaxed. They were full of energy, especially after a hearty dinner and raring to go. The next day in Delhi began with prayers of all religions. Pandit Krishna Ramdeen, brother Tony Shafiek and Pastor Calvin Sergobin prayed and wished the team a safe and happy day and so it turned out to be. Times at Birla Mandir, Jamma Masjid and other places were ecstatic and everyone rejoiced. Tour guide Hitu Rajeev Gulati kept the team mesmerized with his scholarly and skillful account of history of Delhi. An evening with singer Veena was relaxingafter a cheerful session of entertaining music. She is a well known artist in the Caribbean too. After yet another sumptuous dinner everyone was ready for travel to Hardwar and Rishikesh the next day by the famous Shatabdi Express. During the travel in Shatabdi there were many onlookers who appreciated the spirit and energy of Kali’s team and expressed their pleasure at the enthusiasm of the team to visit India, the land of their forefathers. Co-passengers Archana Dawan and Bhupal Singh (Marine Engineer) appreciated the Indo-Caribbean community’s love and commitment to the Indian culture and saluted their commitment to the land of their ancestors. There were touching scenes of interaction with strangers and unknown. Pandit Krishna Ramadeen tied an expensive watch over the wrist of a worker of the pantry and the scene was touching. Kali moved round the carriage mingling with the co-passengers and explaining the emotional content of the travel. Strangers became friends and suddenly everyone felt at home. I watched, overwhelmed with the show of natural love and friendship.

Over to Hotel Ganga Kinara at Hardwar/Rishikesh. Nice Hotel, good food and exciting trip to Laxman Jhoola at Rishikesh. It was an interesting trip to Laxman Jhoola by the uniquely sounding three-wheelers. They were hilariously named as tuk-tuk. Walking down the narrow lanes of Rishikesh leading to Gangaaarti was unique. The Ganga-aarti was something that took the team out of this world with its serenity and devotion. Filed with divine music it moved the hearts and souls and left everyone simply
meditating, longing for peace and tranquility. It was followed by a visit to another place of tranquility, India Heritage Research Foundation of Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Effortlessly the scene
shifted toward spirituality, and there was a wonderful dialogue between the team and Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Muniji). Kali, other members of the team and I were discussing spiritual aspirations
of a human soul and Muniji spoke to us in very clear and simple terms explaining the significance of spirituality in human existence. We were led to the kitchen of the ashram for a wonderfully simple dinner a different state of mind that was busy with the purpose and meaning of existence. Whoever thinks spirituality is boring, should visit Rishikesh and have a dialogue with Muniji. Ganga-aarti with its divine music, serene spirituality and superb children will convince even an atheist, belief apart, that God and spirituality do make the world a better place for living. Back in Haridwar, there was the dip in the holy Ganga that made everyone forget the trivial and move over to the core of the existence. Homage was paid to the ancestors and the scene was charged with emotion. There was emotion that moved everyone to think about the source of our origin and ponder about the values of living, motivating us to live for a more meaningful sense of living. It was about a living that is beyond the individual fulfillments, a living that ultimately coincides with the ingredients of a wholesome community existence. Kali Bharat Yatra is special because it provides such introspective moments. Moments that can’t be perceived in a ‘usual package tour.’ It goes beyond a tour, it is a revelation indeed!

After the mellowing spiritual experience in Rishikesh, it was back to the romantic scene of Taj at Agra. At the Handicrafts Gallery in Agra there was that live music concert that threw everyone into a singing and dancing mood. Spontaneous dancing followed good live music and the whole scene was brimming with joy and uninhibited happiness. The next day was busy, with everyone becoming a part of that lovely structure, Taj Mahal. Local photographers were busy capturing everyone with Taj and what a day it was! Nobody was bothered about time and place, being immersed in the beauty of Taj and the adjoining Yamuna River. Nobody was speaking but quietly involved with the beauty of the seventh wonder of the world, the Taj. If every loving woman gets a Taj, it would be a crazy world indeed!

It was a long bus ride from Agra to Jaipur. On the way were Vrindavan and Mathura. These two places brought the memories of handsome Krishna, the Lord of everything, from romance to renunciation. At Mathura, the birth place of Krishna, tears were rolling at the sight of prison where he was destined to be
born. At Vrindavan where he grew up protecting everyone around him there were prayers to help them to overcome the troubles. The very name of Krishna is good enough to see us through, the scriptures claim. When you visit these places, you’ll realize it is no exaggeration. Krishna is Truth. Krishna is realization.
Krishna is the ultimate. That’s what you feel when you look at the temples of Mathura and Vrindavan. Hare Krishna.

It was fabulous Diwali time when the touring party touched Jaipur, the marvelous Pink City. This city stands unique with its magnificent forts, beautiful roads, mesmerizing museums and friendly Rajasthani folks. Dilip Sirwani, Kali’s able Indian counterpart, is a very charming and handsome person with a fine taste of everything that adds up to good living. He had fine tuned a lovely Diwali celebration perfectly. Blessed with a large family with an equally large heart he made those two Diwali days truly memorable. Day one was full of a neatly organized Jaipur city visit crowned with an excellent evening in a lovely temple. Simple devotional music session at the temple was refreshing. Subtle dances matching the ecstatic bhajans and kirtans gave a delightfully cultured touch to the entire gathering followed by a tasty and sumptuous dinner. There were fireworks and a very natural Diwali atmosphere. Day two was sheer fun and excitement. After the continued city visit the evening dinner exploded with music, dance, food and entertainment. Lovely Rajasthani women danced like peacocks and there was that pretty girl Sonia swinging delightfully to popular Bollywood numbers. Then there was a thirty-one year-old Lilliputian artist who danced with everyone. There was not a single soul that did not sing and dance. Dilip’s entire family with handsome men, beautiful women and cheerful youngsters mingled freely on both days and the whole gathering looked like a single lovely family. And there was Sunil Bharadwaj, our cheerful and helping tour guide, who was with us from day one at Delhi till departure from Jaipur. While getting ready to leave Jaipur and travel to Mumbai we realized suddenly we would be missing dear Sunil. In fact it was an emotional‘bye Sunil, we miss you’ scene when we inevitably left Jaipur.

The last leg of the Yatra was the ever busy Mumbai that greeted us with a vibrancy that makes it a very special city of India. We got the taste of modern India surging ahead gloriously to keep pace with the rest of the fast world. It was unbelievable we could have the company of so manycelebrities. Ace Bollywood music director Padmashri Ravi joined the gathering. Later in the banquet dinner there was his son ebullient Ajay along with his lovely star wife Varsha Usgaokar. Varsha, famous Bollywood and Marathi star, delighted the group with her glamour and melodious singing. Devendra Mohan, Senior Assistant Editor of the popular magazine Business India and Chairman of Mumbai Press Club joined the group. He introduced Gansham Vaswani, versatile singer and a renowned recording promoted by none other than Jagjit Singh, one of the top billed singers of Bollywood. Another well known music director and artist, Saxena, entertained the group along with Gansham. Then there was Jaipaul Nand, a celebrated artiste who delighted the gathering. We were rather unfortunate to miss Rohan Kapoor, son of legendary singer Mahendra Kapoor. Rohan could not make it as he was busy with the family that was still grieving the demise of Mahendra Kapoor. In fact, Kali’s cherished ambition of presenting a posthumous award for the great singer could not materialize due to the non-availability of Rohan. That was perhaps the lone unfinished item on the agenda of the tour. Ajay reserved the exciting climax of a visit to the fascinating film for the concluding day. He spared his precious time and resources to take quite a few of us to the film city and we got a glimpse of the famous Bollywood glamour. It was a nice outing as we were able to watch a few shootings. Many in the group were delighted to pose with Deepthi, a young and rising TV star. Pretty Deepthi was all smiles while posing with most of the group. She was about to get into the robes of Radha for a serial about Krishna. On the sets of the next shooting there was labor trouble and the artistes had lined up to listen to their union leader who was threatening the producers with a bunch of striking artistes. The problem was about demand in increase of the wages and understandably the artistes were an agitated lot. Ajay had spared his valuable time and resources to enable the group to have a glimpse at the tinsel world. The visit to the film city was an exciting affair for the group and they enjoyed the session thoroughly. Charming Ajay was a great hit and received bundles of thanks from every member of the group. Evening was closing in and suddenly it dawned upon everyone that they would have to start packing up for the journey back home. New York had started to beckon and that was the end of the exciting two weeks’ Mother India visit. Well, it was time to get back to the US.

Tony Shafiek, Pandit Krishna Ramadeen and Pastor Calvin Sergobin did an excellent job of maintaining the coherence and unity of the group and their daily prayers before every day began kept everyone in fine spirits. Added to that was Kali’s reassuring presence that kept the entire team confident and happy. Some of us fell sick sometime during the tour but overcame the unpleasantness with fine team spirit. It was a good show of solidarity and cooperation and the group was evidently thankful to Kali for organizing a fine tour. The sense of nostalgia that pervaded thegroup on visiting the land of their ancestors was there to see and feel. The call of roots and culture is a strong one and when it is satisfied it is a mixture of happiness and emotion. With persons like Kali around it is still possible to quench the thirst of roots and culture. That’s what every Kali Bharat Yatra does. It is not mere travel, it is an experience and a revelation indeed. All said and done Kali Bharat Yatra is the best available tool to experience India.

– BY BHASYAM G. IYENGAR The writer is a New York based freelance journalist exploring
the Arts, Culture, Religion, Sports and Current Affairs. He is a former Asst. Editor of Show Zone Plus. He has contributed to Veena, a monthly from London and is currently contributing to American, Indian and Caribbean newspapers/ magazines. He hails from Mysore, Karnataka State, India and is a published writer in Kannada a South Indian language. e-mail: biyengar333@yahoo.com

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), in cooperation with the Indian Consulate, hosted a major

In addition, he gave three reasons for the attacks. First, he said the attacks were “organized [by enemies of India] to whittle down India, and to hurt it”. Second, they are also “the enemies of the Western world.” So they went after Americans. The third reason for the attacks was “to hurt Jewish people.” In relation to that, he said: “Jews have a long history in India. In fact, the way they came to India was as the emissaries of King Solomon.” So the grief goes that much deeper. He went on to say that, The British Prime Minister, “Gordon Brown, has stated that ‘75% of terrorist activity is coming Out of Pakistan:’ “and that the “single surviving terrorist has admitted he is from Pakistan.” But yet, “Pakistan says ‘where is the evidence?’” “They are the enemies of open societies,” he emphasized, adding that, “various governments give aide to Pakistan to fight the Taliban, but there is duplicity going on.”

In relation to significant developments in travel and tourism, it was stated that, “travel advisories have already been withdrawn or softened by Canada, Great Britain, the U.S., and a number of other major countries. In relation to a question about support from main stream “Indian media,” the consul general said “the media has appreciated a number of measures that the government has done,” so far. He said that “much of the investigations and developments have also been covered and promptly reported by the international media outlet,” But that at the beginning, “the reports were somewhat slow, as the situation was still evolving.” He went on further to say that, “New York survived their 9/li, and India will survive their 26/ it. India is no longer a land of snake charmers,” concluded. Assistant Director, Sengupta, stated that “traffic to India will definitely increase soon. Some major establishments, such as the Taj and Oberoi, hotels, “have reopened with full restaurant service and solid bookings.”

In another major effort to get things back to normal, the audience was informed that various outlets are offering a series of incentives, including 1000 rooms at a 20- to-30 percent discount rate. Other speakers of note were: Reps from Air India, King Fit her Air lines, and Ms. Bassous, who welcomed all the agents present and stated “The tragedy in Mumbai will not be forgotten for a long trifle…” and gave a brief perspective on PATA’a support of India tourism. In relation to PATA she stated: “PATA is a not-for-profit organization founded in t9t.We have chapters worldwide, and our New York chapter has close to 300 members, she stated. “PATA’s mission is to promote and facilitate travel to and from the Asia Pacific region, and incoming travel to the US, is gaining prominence among members.”

Andy Bhatia, of King Fisher Air Lines, commended all the carriers on their Continuous dedication to the travel industry. They now have 79 aircraft, and have established direct flights from London to Mumbai and Bangalore, and it will soon be flying direct to an impressive number of other major destinations. He gave hearty congratulations to the travel agents for outstanding work in the promotion of travel to India. With a hearty clearance from Consul General’s Dayal, himself, the green light given by the other presenters, and an up to the minute film contributed by the ASTA travel association, it was a night of renewed good feelings and enthusiasm about India for all the agents that attended. Among the people there, was Mr. Ramesh Kalicharran, of Kati Travel & Tours. Asked about how soon he planned to restart his Bharat Yatra tours, he declared: “They were never off. In fact, our next tour will be in March, during this year’s Holi celebrations. By all means, take my number (1 -(718) 291- 9292) and call me if you’re interested iii going,” he said, in a highly spirited voice. One of the most impressive facts of the evening was that “One million Americans traveled to India in 2007.”
Well done, America…