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July 2, 2009

Update: December Exploratory Trip.

Shannon and I will be taking an exploratory trip to India Dec. 6-15, 2009. We are joining the COO of the Society for Human Resource Management and a delegation of U.S. HR Executives who will meet with HR executive peers in India. This trip will serve three key purposes:
  1. Ministry: Meet with Christian Indian lawyers and other ministry contacts.
  2. Business: Make potentially significant business connections as we explore "tent-making" opportunities (I serve principally HR leaders for employers we counsel and defend).
  3. Culture: Experience numerous aspects of Indian culture for the first time.

Below is the proposed itinerary. We will receive a detailed itinerary in Oct. or Nov.

Sunday, Day 1: New York to Delhi
Depart NY to Delhi

Monday, Day 2: Delhi
Arrive in Delhi late this evening. The bustling metropolis of Delhi has been invaded, destroyed, and rebuilt countless times in its 5,000-year history. Today, it is a sprawling urban center divided into two parts: Old Delhi, the classic Indian experience of colorful crowded streets and historical monuments, and New Delhi, India’s capital, a city of wide avenues and government buildings that the British began erecting in the early 1900s.

Tuesday, Day 3: Delhi
HR Program briefing: Discuss the political and cultural diversity of India (further info on the delegation and program to follow). Explore Old and New Delhi. Contemplate the impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s life while at the Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to the legendary hero. Hop in a rickshaw for a view of the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, or Mosque of Friday. Discover the Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, before visiting Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal emperor. Continue on to the imposing India Gate, the Parliament buildings, and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the president’s residence.

Wednesday, Day 4: Delhi
Professional Overview: Status and delivery of HR management in India
Professional program focusing on:
  • How HR contributes to economic and social development
  • How HR is affected by globalization
  • Development and role of HR service and consulting in India

Guest program: Shannon and other guests will visit the Crafts Museum, boasting rare samples of arts and crafts from all over the country—everything from embroidery to wood carvings and papier-mâché to mud huts decorated with delightful folk art. Continue to the National Museum of New Delhi, which houses over two million works of art covering more than 5,000 years of Indian culture and history.

Thursday, Day 5: Delhi to Agra
Drive to Agra this morning. The highlight for delegates and guests today will be a visit to the Taj Mahal, a monument to love intricately designed and constructed in pristine white marble. A mausoleum built by Shah Jehan for his queen Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is said to have taken 22 years and 20,000 craftsmen to construct.

Friday, Day 6: Agra
Today we will drive to the beautiful walled city of Fatehpur Sikri, a spacious red sandstone city built in the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The architecture combines Hindu and Moghul styles, expressing Akbar’s vision of synthesizing the cultures. The onetime capital was deserted after only 12 years, but the audience halls, palaces and mosques are still perfectly preserved. We will continue to Bharatpur to explore Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a small but world-renowned bird sanctuary. We will walk or ride a rickshaw with a knowledgeable driver through the wetlands, catching sight of kingfishers, storks, water hens, and a wealth of raptors.

Saturday, Day 7: Agra to Mumbai (via Delhi)
Drive to Delhi this morning for your afternoon flight to Mumbai (formerly Bombay). Mumbai, situated on the country's western coast, is the gateway of India, the point of arrival for most of the visitors who travel on business or holiday. Today it is also India's commercial capital and the country's most cosmopolitan city.

Sunday, Day 8: Mumbai
Delegates and guests will visit the Gateway of India, Mumbai’s principal landmark, and explore the Hanging Gardens on the slopes of Malabar Hills. Enjoy a half-day excursion to the Elephanta Caves, rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Watch for the famous Trimurti sculpture, a depiction of Shiva as creator, preserver, and destroyer in trinity.

Monday, Day 9: Mumbai
Professional program focusing on:

  • How human resource management is viewed by business and government
  • How HR professionals maintain their skills and competencies
  • The body of knowledge for the HR profession
  • Role of government and legislation in influencing the workplace in India

Guest program: Shannon and guests will explore the Prince of Wales Museum, whose ornate facade melds Gothic and Moorish architecture. Inside, enjoy a comprehensive look at Indian culture and history, from massive Hindu deities to 2,000 miniature paintings. Also known as Mani Bhayan, the Gandhi Museum resides in the simple two-story building that served as Mahatma Gandhi's Bombay headquarters from 1917 to 1934. Explore the library of approximately 50,000 books and periodicals, Gandhi's preserved rooms on the second floor, and a picture gallery documenting important events in his life. A farewell dinner on the final evening will give delegates a chance to recap their experiences. Depart this evening for the U.S.

Tuesday, Day 10: Back in U.S.
Arrival in New York.

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