The Hindu Business Line : Turkey "stuck in the Awaraa days?"

In an era of the `global Indian' when it is possible to find a strong Indian community presence almost anywhere in the world, it is surprising to find hardly any Indians in Turkey. Praveen Verma, the Indian Consul-General in Istanbul, who hosted a gala dinner at the swank Swisshotel Bosphorous to celebrate the Indian Republic Day on January 26, told Business Line that there are "hardly 100 Indian families comprising 250 people in the country. Most of them are professionals working in MNCs, but beyond that there is very little."

Even as far as business interest is concerned, the representation of Indian business houses in Istanbul is confined to Reliance Industries and Tata Motors, he says. "Reliance Industries has a representative office in Istanbul and Tata Motors is assembling buses in Turkey. Of course, they also sell Indica and it is quite a popular small car here," he added.

When told that the perception about India came through as very positive in conversations I had with a variety of people in Istanbul, Verma agrees that the "perception is indeed positive but the problem is lack of information on both sides about each other, and we are constantly striving to correct that."

He confirms that in recent times there has been a spurt in Indian tourists visiting Turkey and "we are going to have a road show in the first week of February on `Incredible India' to generate interest among Turkish people about the magic of India as a tourism destination."

At Istanbul's famous Egyptian bazaar also known as the Spice Market, something that is a `must see' on any visitor's list - particularly if you are a woman as the shopping possibilities here are really exciting - this Indian visitor is invited to different stores with the chanting of the latest and the not-so-new melodies from Bollywood. "Rag rag mei is tarah tu samaney laga", sings one with a surprisingly clean `Indian' accent; while another almost dances to the Aishwarya magic number kajrare-kajrare.

"Oh we just love Indian movies and Indian music," says Gihan, a young shopkeeper, reeling off the names of Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan and "Amitabh Bachchan's son who has a difficult name to remember."

Add to the colours and vibrancy of India, the dazzling costumes, lilting melodies and sizzling dance numbers, the escape into a surreal world that Bollywood provides, it is not surprising to find that Hindi films are a big hit here. Even though, as the Consul-General points out, "most Turks are still stuck in the Awaara days", the youngsters are charmed by Bollywood.

"Recently, one of the television channels has started telecasting Hindi movies every night with the dialogues dubbed in Turkish; so we have to watch the movies with the sub-titles!," says Verma.

Guliz Olken, the wife of a businessman, is a symbol of the young and modern Turkish woman who speaks good English, and dresses in the latest European designer garments.

She finds India, Bollywood films, and "above all Indian food, exciting. I love Indian food and had it in New York. Unfortunately, we do not get much Indian food in restaurants in Istanbul," says the woman who is waiting for a chance to travel to India.

Her husband Metin Olken, the Chairman of Zeytindostu — Olive and Olive Oil Association, exports olive oil to countries such as Canada. "Perhaps, he'll start exporting to India soon, and then I'll come with him," she says hopefully, adding, "But let me tell you that the feeling about India is very positive. Many people here admire India."

Deniz, General Manager of a leading table olive and olive oil Turkish company, "finds Indians to be very smart and intelligent. I have to travel a lot on work and have met many Indians in Dubai - they seem to be all over the place there - and am very impressed with them," says the woman, who formerly worked in the banking sector.

But, perhaps, the perception of Ziauddin, an excellent and well-informed tour guide, on why there are such few Indians in Turkey, is the right one.

"You see the few Indians in Istanbul are mostly doctors or computer engineers and we don't really need people in those categories as we have enough local talent in that area. So, perhaps, they are not able to find good jobs in that sector here."

(To be continued)

Response may be sent to rasheeda@thehindu.co.in

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Turkey "stuck in the Awaraa days?"