Paired with hands joined in prayer and a cursory bow of the head, the traditional Indian greeting, Namaste, conveys a warm welcome to all. “The light in me honours the light in you.” And so it is for our five families currently visiting Essar in India – truly honoured by the generous hospitality that has been bestowed upon them since their arrival.
February 2nd, 2010 - After a 28 hour journey from Sault Ste. Marie to Mumbai, they have settled in to the comfortable hustle and bustle that is India. The first two days of their Confluence ** adventure were spent in Mumbai. Formerly Bombay, this city of 18 million pulses with life and vitality 24 hours a day. From their base at the beautiful and modern Trident Hotel, the families explored the city, beginning with a tour of Essar House – corporate headquarters for the whole Essar Group. Here they met with fellow Essarites from the corporate affairs group and human resources along with the team at the publishing house for Time Out Mumbai. They lunched on authentic Indian cuisine in the corporate dining hall on the 22nd floor, surrounded by a panoramic view of Mumbai, and met with members of the leadership team, building relationships and exchanging ideas.
The group saw the city from the comfort of their chartered coach and then embarked on a private yacht for a refreshing harbour cruise. To top off their first day in Mumbai, the families were invited for cocktails with the Ruia family. The Promoter Directors Shashi and Ravi Ruia, along with Mrs. Madhu Ruia and Rewant Ruia hosted the group for cocktails and hors d’ourves at their home on the shores of the Arabian Sea - truly a tranquil end to an exhilarating day.
Reflecting back, the families were overwhelmed by the hospitality extended to them – bouquets of roses from Essar’s Agritech Company were presented to each and every member of the party; gift baskets of treats and Essar apparel for all awaited each family in their rooms – in one day, the host team packed a week’s worth of memories. Weary but excited, the families retired to rest up for a new day in Incredible India.
**Confluence is an Essar initiative promoting the appreciation of culture through structured exchange programs. The family trip to India is one of the first programs under the Confluence initiative.
