Vijay Kumar Singh
Are you looking for some allrounder, who knows India in his economical, cultural, political diversities and as well as understands the western industrial countries?
I will be one of the best in this field.
Languages: German, English, Hindi, Urdu, Swedish, Norwegian
Current activities
Nach meiner Pensionierung arbeite ich, wie mir die Zeit erlaubt, für verschiedene Medien. Ebenso beschäftige ich mich mit interessanten Institutionen wie UNO und beobachte die westliche Stellung zum indischen Subkontinent. Dazu unterrichte ich "Lachyoga" an verschiedenen Anlässen in unterschiedlichen Institutionen im In- und Ausland.
Ich reise regelmässig nach Indien, um die neuesten politischen, wirtschaftlichen und kulturellen Veränderungen wahr zu nehmen. Hier in Europa besuche ich verschiedene Veranstaltungen, die den indischen Subkontinent betreffen.
Dazu halte ich Vorträge über Indien, über Hinduismus und organisiere die Reise nach Indien/Bhutan.
Biography
Swiss–Indian Bridge Builder
I cane to Zürich to study at the same Swiss Institute of Technology called ETH, where the famous scientist Albert Einstein once studied. But my obvious problem was the German language, as all the lectures were at that time only in German, and I knew nothing about it. It was difficult, but with hard work and discipline I finished my studies successfully. Later, I was appointed as a lecture at ETH. I was also teaching Hindi at the Travelling University in Zurich.
I discovered that not only the Students but also the common Swiss was keen to know more about India from a true Indian person. In the followings years, I wrote articles in student Newspapers and delivered many lectures about India, like Hinduism, Mahatma Gandhi, freedom movement etc. More than anything, I enjoyed my lecture in the historical hall of Zürich University, where British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made his famous speech about the unification of Europe after the Second World War.
But I was not aspiring to an academic career; I joined the largest retail company and largest employer in Switzerland, called Migros. All these years, I found out that the Swiss were not well informed about life, politics and economy of India. Never had I encountered what is called racisms. I was made feeling welcome, wherever I went. To fill this information gap, I turned from Manager of Migros to Journalist. I began to report also about new developments in India as well as background stories in the German speaking countries Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Because of my journalistic activities, I got to know many interesting and important people from India, some of whom even became part of Indian history. For instance I met the Indian freedom fighter and patriot, Mr. A.C.N.Nambiar. He was the one, who introduced me into the political history of India. We often discussed the role of personalities like Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru and others, as he was very close to these figures. He was the driving force in Europe for India’s independence. After independence, Mr. Nambiar was Indian ambassador in several countries. Also I got first-hand information about Indian independence from a German aristocrat Johannes von Thurn und Taxis, who was a relative to Lord Mountbatten and who had stayed with Viceroy, when he visited India.
As a journalist and editor in Switzerland, I was able to interview several Prime Ministers, in particular Ms. Indira Gandhi, but also other Prime Ministers like Mr. Moraraji Desai, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. Also the meetings with the Dalai Lama and India’s related personalities like President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the socialist leader, late Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan, are unforgettable to me.
Mrs. Indira Gandhi, late Primeminister of India
I was reporting not only for Swiss media but also for Indian and English Newspapers. For many years, I was a correspondent of the Press Trust of India (PTI) in Switzerland. I wrote about the Indian community in Switzerland in the “India Weekly” published from London and was chief editor of World Farmer Times. My journalistic activities took me also to various historic places, such as Mohenjo-daro, Taxila, Kyber Pass in Pakistan, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, Ayer Rock in Australia, Acropolis of Athens and Capitol Hill in USA. I have dreamt of seeing them since my childhood.
With Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian Primeminister
Living in Switzerland I was often consulted by Swiss politicians and industrial leaders about political and economic matters. Many of these Swiss personalities like Kaspar Villiger, ex Federal Finance Minister; Sepp Blatter, President of International Football Association (FIFA); Markus Kaegi, Minister of Construction and Energy of Canton Zurich; Klaus Schwab , founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF); Painter Hans Erni; I knew most of them from my study time at the Swiss Institute of Technology and the University of Zurich. I was deeply engaged with several student organisations. Also I had been President of the Swiss–Indo Society and Indian Students Association in Zurich. Up to now I am a member of the Foreign- and Economic Policy Planning Committee of the liberal Democratic Party, which is strongly represented in the Government.
As a naturalised Swiss, I accompanied various Swiss Ministers on their visits to India, but one visit sticks out: the state visit of the Swiss President Pascal Couchepin. This visit gave me a more complex picture of India. I was impressed how the Indian administration was able to keep the protocol minute by minute and organised meetings with various political, economic, cultural and touristic personalities in different parts of the country.
With Swisspresident Mr pascal Couchepin (5. from left)
“Once a journalist, always a journalist”, this is valid for me also after the retirement. I am still writing for various institutions, but only on very specific subjects. Besides this, I am involved in a Swiss travel agency for India called Indira Reisen GmbH in Zurich and translating from German to Hindi and vice versa. Recently I started teaching Laughter Yoga, which is becoming very popular in Europe.
As an NRI, I always try to bring India and Switzerland closer together. I have learnt that the common Swiss is much interested in Indian culture, customs, languages, religions, tourism etc. While I speak the Swiss-German language fluently, I became an important Bridge Builder. That, I must say, gives me lot of satisfaction and happiness.
Professional Experience
After my studies at ETH Zürich, I have started my professional carrier at my alma mater, where I was lecturer for s short time. Afterwards worked for more than ten years as project coordinator at one of the leading Swiss company called Migros Genossenschaftsbund in Zürich. Later worked as advisor to UNCTAD/GATT in Geneva. Later I was working for various Swiss Newpapers, Radio, Swiss TVs as Journalist BR. During this period, I was consultant/economic advisor for verious companies about their engagement in Indian subcontinent. During last years I delivered lectures on various subjects in various institutions in Switzerland and teaching Hindi, the national language of India in Zurich. Today, I also enjoy as a trainer for "laughter yoga" in Switzerland and other countries.
India's growing economic power creates ever more interest in this country and consequently brings me to India very ofen, putting my expertise to work in various fields specially after signing the trade agrrement between India and Switzerland.
Links to my activities
Indien Reisen / Indira Reisen GmbH (www.indien-reisen.ch)
is a travel agency specializing on individual journeys to India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Lachyoga is spezial yoga technique to feel good.
Hinduismus ( www.hinduismus.ch)
Media References
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Doing Business in India
Das Land mit einer Mittelschicht über 400 Millionen kauffreudigen Indern ist in letzter Zeit für ausländische Investoren wichtig geworden. Für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU) ist es meistens kaum möglich, in dieser Region mit allen Belangen Fuss zu fassen. Hier können wir unsere Dienstleistung anbieten. Dazu beiten wir folgende Aktivitäten:
Übersetzungen: Dank unseren Kenntnissen von verschiedenen indischen Sprachen, wie zum Beispiel der Nationalsprache Indiens, Hindi, können wir für Sie auch als Dolmetscher tätig werden.
Vorträge: Wir bieten Vorträge zu vielfältigen Themen der Länder Indien, Nepal, Bhutan usw. an. Aspekte wie Religionen, Gesellschaftsstruktur, Sitten und Bräuche, Wirtschaftsstandort oder Reiseland können beleuchtet werden.
Helpline: Wir sind grundsätzlich bereit, falls irgend ein Problem mit diesen Ländern auftaucht, unser Wissen und unsere Dienstleistungen zur Verfügung zu stellen.
News01
KONTAKT
Vijay Kumar Singh
Schützenstr. 5
8702 Zollikon
Tel. 044/ 391 45 09
078/ 676 33 01
E-mail:
vk@singh.ch
Impressum
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