All Saints Church, Jaipur - a brief history

In 1875 the Ruler of Jaipur State Lieutenant General His Highness Maharaja Dhiraj Sir Sawai Madho Singh Bahadur GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, LLD donated a large piece of land for the construction of a church for the benefit of the Christian population of the city. He further donated Rupees 3,000/- towards the church building fund. The foundation stone of the church was laid during the Episcopate of Bishop Milman, Metropolitan of India.

The All Saints Church building is in the early English style with certain additions to make it suitable for the Indian climatic conditions. The building was opened for Divine Service and consecrated on 4^th of August 1878 by the Most Reverend Dr. E.R. Johnson, Bishop of Calcutta and named the “All Saints Church”. All Saints was an Anglican church designed and completed under the supervision of Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob KCIE, CVO who served as the Superintending Engineer of Jaipur State from 1867 to 1902. The cost of construction at that time was Rupees 21,000/- A Chaplin used to visit from Bandikui, a town which had a sizeable Christian population due to the presence of the British Indian Railways. Records relating to this period are still available. The Albert Hall museum in Jaipur has also been constructed under supervision of Sir Swinton Jacob.

The Nave (central area for worshippers) is 55 X 16 feet. The Chancel (space near the Alter) is 14 X 12 feet and the Apse (area where the clergy is seated) is 19 ½ X 8 feet. The vestry (where articles associated with worship are stored) is 12 X 8 feet and the organ room of similar dimensions which also has the bell chamber is on the opposite side. They are separated from the Chancel by open arches with brass rods and curtains. Entrance to the vestry and the organ room are through small marble arches with foliated mouldings. Green marble pillars offset these arches.

The pillars of the main building are of polished red marble with cut stone caps and bases. Foliated bands of polished white marble were subsequently added, thanks to the generosity of Sir Tatton Skyes a visitor to the church in 1908.  The Alter, the Font, the Lectern and the Pulpit are made of local marble.  The Apse windows are in stained glass, the subject being “the good shepherd” and the side windows are to the memory of Gen W.H. Beynon.

The church is owned and managed by the Diocese of Rajasthan, Church of North India which is one of the three non-catholic mainline denominations. The building is kept in good condition and open to visitors throughout the year. Regular Holy Communion worship in English language lasting one and a half hours takes place every Sunday morning at 8:30 am during summers and 9:00 am during winters. All are welcome to participate.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Relevance for Indian Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

A background note for the IPR seminar by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)and the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks  9-10 February 2017 Jaipur, India By Ajay Singha

Intellectual Property is the property which has been created by exercise of intellectual faculty and is the result of a person’s intellectual creation. Thus IP refers to creations of mind such as inventions, designs for industrial articles, literary, artistic work and symbols which are ultimately used in business and commerce. Intellectual Property rights allow the creators or owners to reap the benefits of their works when these are exploited commercially. These rights are governed in accordance with the provisions of corresponding legislation and reward creativity & human endeavor which fuel the progress of humankind. IP is the exclusive right given for a specific period of time to an individual or entity over a creation of the mind. The successful commercialization of an idea or invention is the true success for an entrepreneur. The IP owner therefore has the right to exclude others as far as commercialization aspect is concerned. IP can be classified into following:

·        Patent

·        Industrial Design

·        Trade Mark

·        Copyright

·        Geographical Indications

·        Lay out designs of integrated circuits

The Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) Index 2016 ranks India a poor 37th out of 38 economies in terms of Intellectual Property Rights IPR compliance. The Index is based on 30 criteria critical to innovation including patent, copyright and trademark protections, enforcement, and engagement in international treaties. India’s overall poor score reflects that the country’s IP requirements remain outside established international best practices. The Index found that countries with weak IP systems are less likely to attract investment, stimulate innovation, and foster the creation of knowledge-based economies. With the release of India’s draft national IPR policy, the stage has been set to embrace this solution.

Intellectual Property Rights and related issues are of core business value to start ups and new business across sectors in India.  IP rights are private in nature and to that extent it is the duty of IP owners to protect their rights and ensure implementation of related laws. Owners of small and medium sized business must gain a good understanding of IPR in order to protect their IP from replication, copying or infringement of any kind. On the other hand the same businessman needs to proactively defend any allegations of infringement by other claimants of an Intellectual Property. Industry bodies like FICCI serve trade and business by creating awareness of emerging concepts, terminologies, laws and trends relating to IP. Indian laws are not only compliant but go beyond expectations of TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) as governed by WTO. The Indian government’s increased commitment to IP is reflected in establishment of the Intellectual Property Right (IPR) Think Tank in November 2014, which helped put together the draft of a National IPR policy, and subsequently the announcement of India’s first National IPR Policy by the Government of India in May 2016.

There are provisions for the protection of quasi rights under TRIPS like:

·        Confidential information

·        Know how

·        Trade secrets

·        Reputation

·        Brand loyalty

·        Goodwill

·        Data exclusivity

·        Market intelligence

·        Test methods

·        Customer lists

·        Management practices

·        In-house standards and specifications

As far as Patents are concerned the mere discovery of a new property or new form of a substance is not sufficient. Similarly, just a rearrangement or admixture is not sufficient to claim patent and the product or procedure must be inventive. Registering a patent is a long drawn and complicated process, best handled by trained professionals.

Industrial designs relate to the aesthetic features of a product. The existence of a product is essential to creating an industrial design and it shapes the form of a new product to differentiate it from other products. Companies regularly launch new designs and new models of their products and industrial designs contribute to the branding of a company. Orchid Brooch of Tiffany was registered in 1889 and Bunny Bangle by Daniel Brush. A non-registered industrial design may be enforceable for three years and registration is given for very long periods of time depending on laws governing registration which can be licensed or sold by the owners.  

Under Trade Marks the signs, symbols, logos, word mark are included. The mark must be graphically represented and distinctive. It cannot be similar to other known and registered trade-marks.

Copyright is a right granted on the creation of a literary artistic work like novels, poems, plays, musical compositions, paintings, drawings and photographs. After the IT revolution related subjects have taken center stage for copyrights. Computer programs, Database, Recordings, Internet and Web content, Cable TV content require copyright. While using the above, one must take prior permission, acknowledge the source and quote the original creator.

Geographical Indications (GI) is a unique TRIPS compliant feature increasingly used in India. European countries have successfully used this for wines, cheese, alcoholic drinks and related food products. Now a product in India can be registered under the Geographical Indication of Goods Act if it conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness based on its origin. The product then commands a premium and bears a distinct character, taste, recall and other distinguishing features. Recent GI registrations include:

·        Sanganer hand block printing

·        Bikaner bhujiya

·        Kathputli puppets

·        Bagru hand block printing

·        Jaipur jooti

·        Malela clay arts

·        Agra Petha

·        Goa Feni

·        Tirupati Ladoo

These are examples of products successfully registered under the act as having a unique geographical indication (GI). Each registration is in favor of a group or association which then becomes a collective right of the people or units located and residing in that geographical area to manufacture freely only in the specified area.

Layout designs in integrated circuits have been getting copyright-like registrations by several countries for periods of 10 to 15 years. This is possible as sufficient flexibility is given under TRIPS for this purpose. Due to the functional nature of the chip the design cannot be effectively protected exclusively by patent or copyright laws. An emerging problem area is electronics, particularly telecom. Indian companies sometimes do not pay heed to license technologies, leading to legal disputes with patent holders. There is also a consistent failure by Indian firms to carry our research and development (R&D) that would create intellectual property. Trade, tariff and tax policies that discourage genuine domestic value addition and incentivise masquerading trade as manufacture, are to blame as well.

Compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement, relate to the use of a patent without the authorization of the right-holder. It sets out detailed conditions that must be respected in the granting of compulsory licences by Member states. Member governments are not obliged to apply certain of these conditions in circumstances where the compulsory licence is granted "to remedy a practice determined after judicial or administrative process to be anti-competitive." This has happened in India in the pharmaceuticals sector. The Indian company was able to show that they made efforts in vain to obtain voluntary authorization from the rights holder on reasonable terms. Authorization for use of a patent under a “compulsory licence” is predominantly for the supply of the domestic market where authorities consider the need to correct anti-competitive practices.

For Make in India to be successful manufacturing has to go beyond simple assembly of complex parts produced elsewhere. India must focus on domestic R&D and creation of intellectual property within the country. Nations which did not put in the hard slog required to create intellectual property end up doing to IP owners what Robin Hood did to the rich. This is neither legal nor sustainable in the long run even by third world standards.  Indian MSMEs are advised to understand and benefit from IP laws and protect their rights in future. The new Indian IPR policy provides exemptions from infringement for research on patents. This is as important as granting exclusive rights to inventors. While exclusivity may encourage innovation exemptions for research encourages improvement, testing and innovation in the use of patented inventions. This will be particularly helpful for MSMEs to develop targeted technologies in a competitive environment. Additionally procedures have been revamped, digitized and made transparent. Out of the box solutions are being implemented to expedite decision making. In order to conduct fair and global level search before granting IPR protection India has joined agencies like the International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority.

FICCI has been playing an active role in generating awareness on IP, besides building capacity of enforcement agencies, across the country. Besides, FICCI carries out extensive research and proposes customized solutions on IP issues which cater to the needs of Indian Industry and its growth. The overall objective is to promote innovation and IP culture for national development; sensitize industry, enforcement agencies, judiciary and other stakeholders about the significance of IP protection & its effective enforcement and in building their capacities.

The author is former Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in India, Member Transparency International (India) and Honorary Advisor to FICCI, Rajasthan. Views expressed are personal.  

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Relevance for India

FCPA and it's relevance for India

Ajay Singha

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act FCPA is a US legislation which concerns itself with US MNCs operating overseas. The principal objective of FCPA is to prohibit US corporations and their associates from bribing and influencing foreign government officials to further their business interests. The legislation is comprehensive and well thought through leaving little scope for misadventure by creative executives heading corrupt organisations. Private sector and best in league talent is actively engaged by enforcement agencies and NGOs engaged in prevention of corruption. US enforcement agencies and judiciary maintain an upward curve and a good track record of implementing this law, following up on prosecution and imposing penalties very often in the shape of amicable settlements. Heavy penalties wound corrupt organisations financially without destroying their ability to remain profitable, generate wealth and create employment.

There is increased co-ordination between US and Indian authorities to follow up on offenders covered under the US FCPA. The number of defaults by India based US MNCs is much lower as compared to other Asian nations.  China is way ahead of all other nations in the number of infringements and misdemeanours and clearly dominates the 2016 list of infringers. India has meanwhile tightened the screws on corruption and related practices. There was a general feeling of dejavu as the Indian government once again increased the stakes in this cat and mouse game of catching the corrupt.

In 2016 around 27 MNCs paid more than USD 2 Billion in fines. It was the biggest enforcement year both in terms of number of enforcements and the amount paid in reaching settlement. In addition to these 15 individuals settled FCPA charges brought about by SEC the US Securities and Exchange Commission.In 2015 around 11 companies had paid USD 133 Million to resolve FCPA cases.

Novartis paid USD 25 Million to resolve FCPA charges in a case where the company had bribed doctors in China and booked the expenses as travel, entertainment and conferences. Anhauser Busch paid USD 6 Million after impeding a whistle blower who reported the case. They paid bribes through third party representatives in India to make improper payments to government officials. In Indiathey entered into separation agreements to further deter employees from reporting the violations and avoid prosecution.

In 2016 China dominated FCPA violations and resultant prosecution. UNS MNCs GSK, PTC, JP Morgan, General Cables, SciClone, Novartis, Johnson Controls etc. were involved. Novartis paid 150,000 to a Chinese charity to influence a communist party official for favourablyinfluencing a business infringement investigation by Chine government officials. In individual cases John McClung and Richard Hirsch of Roland Berger were fined and sentenced to two years’ probation for bribing Indian officials and others for winning contracts in India. Harris Corp and Cisco went for voluntary disclosure and self-investigation resulting in non-prosecution agreements with DOJ US Department of Justice and SEC.

Increasingly foreign nationals who may not be US citizens are being prosecuted as long as a connection is apparent between their role and the activities of the US MNC. Ignacio Plaza a Chilean, Yuan a Chinese, Dimitri a Russian were successfully prosecuted by US enforcement authorities and paid heavy fines to settle their FCPA violations. Charges against a German CEO of Siemens Argentina were dropped as the connect between him and the US business of the company could not be established. In 2014 one Subramaniam Krishnan of Digi International Inc. USA agreed to pay a fine and settle FCPA charges related to unauthorised travel and entertainment expenses. In 2014 IBM was warned and directed to enhance their FCPA training and awareness programs within the company.

Some big names in global business who have faced prosecution in the last few years have been Eli Lily, Allianz, Marubeni, Oracle, Pfizer, Tyco etc. It is relevant to note that all these companies have significant investments in India and in spite of heavy odds have managed to keep their records clean. In 2016 Cognizant reported conducting internal investigations immediately on suspecting non-compliance in India. They offered full co-operation to US enforcement agencies and the matter is under scrutiny. In 2012 Qualcom paid USD 2 Million fine to the US Security Exchange Commission for settling charges for knowingly maintaining a slush fund in India to pay bribes to Indian officials for their business in India.

US and European MNCs operating in India ramped up their efforts in imparting education to key employees on various provisions of FCPA. The training elaborates on what kind of actions amount to infringement, care is taken to drive home the message that even personal contribution or gifts paid from salaries of an employee or corruption money routed through agents and service providers amounts to a serious infringement. Increasingly the Indian suppliers are sensitised on the subject and warned of immediate suspension of their business with the MNC if any misdemeanour is discovered. 

The world community is still far away from bringing corruption under control but the effort is reflected in the limited number of prosecutions and cases involving India reported under the FCPA laws. Several MNCs in China, other South Asian nations, Africa and Latin America continue to face prosecution under provisions of the FCPA.

If an Indian company gets involved in an FCPA misadventure it must disclose the key features of the investigation while bidding for any US governmental business. MNCs now ask for undertakings of FCPA compliance and a reasonable understanding of the relevant features of FCPA and related legislation. In case a prospective business partner has been subject to an investigation the details need to be fully disclosed before commencing regular business.

In 2008 Siemens paid a USD 800 Million and Halliburton paid USD 600 Million fine to settle their cases. There was little correlation between the huge fine paid and amount bribed thus making it immensely unprofitable for such companies to engage in future bribery and corruption.

Another impact is on senior executives who get embroiled in a FCPA investigation. As global job seekers these executives stand to lose a lot in terms of credibility. This has had a positive impact on top executive talent in India which is ambitious and would not like infringements to be associated with their names. In today’s age of transparency and information exchange the hiring MNCs will invariably come to know of the executive’s involvement in an alleged misdemeanour and refuse promotion or even employment. Voluntarily suppressing information of involvement in FCPA investigations will expose executives to prosecution, dismissal and bleak career perspectives. 

IT MNCs in India must deal with a plethora of challenges for securing Indian government business. Though financially not very profitable government business brings the foreign company in proximity of key decision makers. Land acquisition is crucial for large US MNC projects. This forces companies to interface with a multitude of government agencies with multiple jurisdictional issues. Import and export of IT leads to interaction with Customs and other taxation agencies. This is another area for bribery and corruption. US MNCs employ large number of people spread across locations and the complex employment guidelines and related compliance result in submission of papers at several levels in government agencies. Inspection of imported hardware and permission to import on time without penalties leads to demands and possible infringement of anti-corruption laws.

The US SEC has identified a framework and measures for evaluating cooperation by companies. Self-policing prior to the discovery of a misconduct, including establishing effective compliance procedures can be used to defend prosecution and projected as good intention on part of the defaulting company. Similarly, self-reporting of misconduct when it is discovered, including conducting a thorough review of the nature, extent, origins and consequences of the misconduct can be used to project good intention of the management. Promptly disclosing the misconduct to US regulatory agencies is also an acceptable action for good intention. Appropriately disciplining wrongdoers, improving internal controls to prevent recurrence of the misconduct and appropriately compensating those adversely affected by the investigation are some of the ongoing positive measures undertaken by companies. 

Cooperation with law enforcement authorities and providing all information relevant to the underlying violations can prevent the harshest provisions from being imposed on a defaulter.FCPA enforcement officials often examine what steps the corporation has undertaken in terms of educating their employees and business associates on various FCPA provisions and the implications of default. It is therefore imperative that Indian companies engaged in international business must sensitise senior and mid management on these issues and encourage them to follow sustainable business practices.The author is former Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in India and Honorary Advisor FICCI Rajasthan, India. Views expressed are personal. January 2017 

Dream With Your Eyes Open - Ronnie Screwvala. Book Review by Ajay Singha

This book goes well beyond strategies for wealth accumulation and talks of genuine value creation from a limited resource base. It is a personal account of a man who embraces and accepts failure as intrinsic to and an integral part of success. A remarkable story of a rank outsider who dares to enter the closed club of Bollywood, fights tremendous odds and emerges a winner. Ronnie encounters failure and disappointments on what he calls the “Journey of entrepreneurship” and narrates how he overcomes them all.

Ronnie’s own experiences are based on his experiences with the media and entertainment industry but the lessons learnt there from are perhaps relevant for all upcoming entrepreneurs anywhere in the world. Ronnie realised very early that the race for the top starts at the finishing line of mediocre success. He advises quick scaling up and rapid expansion of any new venture.

As a non-conformist he thoroughly downplays the idea of luck and advises focus and single minded determination to achieve success. “Stay the course – it is the holy grail of business!” he advises. All the ingredients that go to make great entrepreneurs look a lot like the recipe for luck. He has quite a different take on exiting a business and the common management concept of having a plan B. He never timed his exits from the various ventures he divested from and is convinced that a plan B is unlikely to guarantee great success. At best a plan B could ensure survival.

Upset with their arrogance, Ronnie had the courage to cut short a 100 million $ negotiation with Sony and told them “No need for another call at midnight, we will not be going forward.” He strongly believes in investing in talent and keeping a closely knit high performance team in play for 'high growth' in new ventures. Drawing lessons from theatre, Ronnie observes that no actor worth his salt will go on stage without knowing his lines. He therefore proposes relentless analysis and research in an environment where your business can become outdated any moment.

Challenges in India include the inability to face fear and uncertainty, a conservative mind set, a low appetite for risk, no gift of the gab and a general lack of confidence. Ronnie overcame them all and after successfully divesting his various businesses is now entering his second innings.

Handling failure, scaling up business and choosing the right team may not be new management phenomena but coming from an emotionally charged, successful individual they carry conviction and impact readers at a very personal level. The book is light reading and specially recommended for upcoming entrepreneurs.

Miniature Paintings Appreciation

Appreciating miniature paintings 1.

Indian miniature paintings or more commonly their prints are often displayed in hotels and public venues to give an Indian touch to the surroundings. Hurriedly completed and inexpensive replicas are offered to visitors in touristic cities thus reducing a great art to a mere caricature of its original place in Indian art. Unfortunately Indian miniature paintings today have a limited appeal for the Indian audience.

To appreciate a miniature painting one must stand quite close to it and spend time in appreciating its various characters, colours and features. Appreciating a miniature painting is an independent activity and not a casual time pass while doing something else.  Such paintings were made for the viewing pleasure of connoisseurs from a well to do community in a bygone era.

A few hundred years ago there was very little entertainment on a summer evening or a winter afternoon.  This was especially true for those who had arrived in life and were pursuing more evolved and engaging interests to enrich their lives. Typically a miniature was passed around in the room and viewed from a distance of 18 to 24 inches by the patron connoisseurs to entertain themselves and set their conversations going. The finer points were perhaps discussed and the patron or owner of each piece was criticised or praised for the fine artists employed by him in his atelier.

The patrons and collectors of miniatures never painted but directed the creation of a piece of art. To a great extent it was the patron’s vision and imagination which had to be translated by the artist in such a way that it was reflected in the art form. Contrast this to the contemporary artists who pretty much do their own thing and offer their creations to the world to view and appreciate. The great masters had perfected their own styles and used their own concoctions of paints and brushes. Some of them had developed a distinct style and were encouraged by their masters in pursuing their individualistic style and manner with their junior artists. While commissioning a painting or series there was tremendous discussion and exchange of views between the master artist and the patron before an order was finally placed. The selection of colours and contrast is very important in miniatures as they were viewed indoors without any extra lighting. Similarly the detailing and finish of each aspect in the painting was minutely examined by patrons and were the defining features of a good or upcoming artist.

Most often the subject of the painting was not directly associated with the patron unless it was his own portrait. Very often the subject was neutral and non-controversial and could be discussed publicly. If the paintings were erotic in nature one can imagine that the viewing would be done within the then socially acceptable norms.

Allegorical paintings reflected the public image which the patron wished to create. It was perhaps a public relations exercise in building an image or impression of the subject being depicted. In a Mughal miniature the emperor is seen giving precedence of audience to a holy man over the king of England who is seen waiting in the background. It is a different matter that no British monarch ever visited or waited on a Mughal emperor. Therein lies the allegorical significance, as the subject wishes to be seen as a pious and just ruler who gives precedence to spiritual matters over those of State.

Miniature paintings can be traced to the Ajant Ellora period where wall paintings with fine detailing and distinct style were created. The dreamy and inward looking eyes of the Apsaras may have also contributed to and perhaps inspired miniature artists in the centuries that followed.

Shooting Sports in India

Shooting Sports in India

Shooting sports have a strong tradition in India and competitions can be traced back to the ancient epics.  There is hardly a period in Indian history when this sport does not feature and tales are full of incidents depicting marksmanship and related skills. There are plenty of anecdotes across centuries to prove that this was a sport taken seriously by all sections of society. Gun powder arrived in India replacing the bow and arrow and there are interesting accounts of shooting competitions in the Mughal period. Shooting sports along with riding were almost a social obligation during the British rule in the country. For those who claimed to have arrived in life this was a sport they could not do without. It was an integral part of growing up in high society and has continued to be patronized by both the rural and to a great extent the urban populace of India.

In more recent times Dr. Karni Singh MP and former Maharaja of Bikaner and Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore MP from Jaipur brought Indian shooting sport on the Olympic map. Other shooters have done the nation proud by participating in several national and international events in air rifle, pistol and shotgun events.  For various reasons youngsters are taking up the sport very seriously as ambitious parents gradually realize the benefits of taking up this discipline for their wards.  Several air rifle air pistol ranges have come up in schools and colleges all over the country and no gun license is required for these events. Facilities exist for air rifle, air pistol, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, shotgun trap, skeet, double trap as well as archery at several locations. Perhaps rightly so, it is not easy to get a gun license for shotgun and rifle shooting unless one qualifies in the nationals with a minimum qualifying score (MQS). Once that is achieved it is possible to apply for a shotgun license for sport shooting. 

What are the basic requirements for newcomers and youngsters who wish to take up this hobby and do well in competitive shooting sports?  The answer lies in analyzing what is required to be a good marksman. There may be several factors essential for success but they can be generally summed up in three major factors which form the bedrock of air rifle, pistol, rifle, shotgun or archery sport shooting.

The first and foremost is the mind power of the sportsperson. This is perhaps true in all “contact” sports but assumes paramount importance in the shooting disciplines. A fickle and unfocussed mind can never lead to any level of success in this discipline. A cool temperament combined with a high level of focus is essential to be consistent and successful in this sport. The ability to completely disengage from your immediate surroundings especially in that final moment of alignment between the target, eye and the aiming apparatus can only be attributed to mind control. At the “point of no return”  the finger gently pulls the trigger releasing the projectile towards the target, be it an arrow, an air pellet, a bullet or a load of shotgun pellets. The target is the end, the gun or the bow is the means and the projectile is the means to the end. In the final moment of placing the shot, all these are merged under the control of the mind. All these actions must happen simultaneously and effortlessly and if the mind is in full control, the final moment will yield success for the marksman.

The second and equally important factor is technique. Most shooting disciplines have matured to a level where very little choice of style is left to the individual and he or she must master the techniques which are essential for the discipline. Most people will have some amount of individual style and technique which distinguishes them from others. If this was not the case, everybody would be equally good or equally bad in their target scores. For learning the right technique, the services of a coach must be utilized in conjunction with some amount of reading on the subject. This has to be done with a lot of patience and tremendous amount of practice over a sustained period of time. There is no common technique for all events and this makes the sport interesting as a variety of points need to be mastered if you take up more than one discipline.

The third factor is of course physical fitness.  This may not be a muscle sport but fitness of a reasonably good level is essential. An obese or an underweight person is unlikely to have any good result in this sport and all the physical faculties must be in balance and harmony with the mind. Stamina levels must be high otherwise there will be a marked deterioration in performance as fatigue would set in when the game progresses. The level of concentration, focus and ease of movement must be as good in the last shot of the last round as they were in the first shot of the first round. Energy levels, flexibility of body movements, breathing and blood pressure levels must remain constant from the beginning to the end of the game. This is possible only if reasonably good and healthy levels of physical fitness are maintained by the individual.

What are the several advantages for newcomers to take up this sport? Given the excellent facilities now available in most countries, it should not be too difficult to get started. As mentioned earlier, a reasonable level of fitness would suffice to get started. It is not necessary to have a group of people and a single person can get going. It will give the individual a good reason to keep fit and experience and learn a new set of skills. This will lead to improved mind control and help relax the mind from the complexities of daily life. Several shooters take up meditation to improve their skills but the sport itself is like a form of meditation as one would understand from the salient features of the discipline. The shooting or archery range is also a good place to meet like-minded people who can not only improve and help in your practice and shooting skills but also become life-long friends.

The sport definitely helps you grow in patience and temperament and is great for stress management. It is a lifetime sport and can be pursued till quite an advanced age. For young people this assists in mental and physical fitness and greatly impacts the ability to concentrate and focus on issues of importance, including studies. While developing a good social hobby, no matter what your age or gender, one can take up target shooting and potentially compete at all levels. Shooting is the safest sport for girls to take up and the controlled and quiet atmosphere of the range is ideally suited for young people. Unlike other professional sports it’s never too late to take up target shooting. So why not visit your local public shooting range at a school or a college and get started. This is open to all and just needs some effort on your part to take the initiative. All types of equipment are available on various websites or at stores across the world about which you can talk and discuss with your new found friends at the range.

The author is a hobby enthusiast in the shotgun (trap) discipline ajaypsingha@gmail.com