Tandoori time: UK clay ovens delight buyers in India

NO DESI STUFF

n The London-based Clay Oven Company claims it has sold its products across India, with Delhi being the main market.n According to the company, the ‘Shahi Tandoor’ and ‘Shahi Mosaic’ ovens are made of special British clay and unlike India-made ovens, they need not be re-lined every few months

Like selling the proverbial coal to Newcastle or Scotch whisky to Scotland, an English company is exporting UK-made tandoori clay ovens to India.

The Oberoi and Taj groups, as well as sundry buyers in Punjab and Haryana, are all delighted customers of the Clay Oven Company, which is based in London. The company claims it has seen an 80% increase in the number of ‘Shahi Tandoor’ and ‘Shahi Mosaic’ ovens sold to customers in India.

Company director Dr Levon Gulian, “We’ve sold our products across India, but the Capital, Delhi, is our main market. We’ve been selling for some years but now its really picking up. I’ve been out to India twice myself and it’s a massive emerging market.”

Levon (27), who qualified as a doctor from University College, London, says: “I do the odd locum to keep up and I’m registered as a Senior Practice Officer, but we’re so busy that business is increasingly taking priority.”

The business started more than 20 years ago when Levon’s Palestinian architect father, Shahi, was visiting an Indian restaurant in London. “It was in the early 70s”, says Levon. “My father was at the restaurant and they were all excited, waiting for the oven to arrive from India. When it did arrive, we saw it was smashed. But my father told the owner, “I can supply you with one”. And we built the first model in our garage,” he adds.

According to Levon, the secret of the company’s success is the quality of the British clay that is used in making the ovens. It comes from Stoke on Trent, home of the famous Wedgewood pottery brand. The clay, with its lack of impurities, has proven to be more durable and when it is combined with a special formula perfected over decades, it adds up to a perfect mix, explains Levon.

The Levon family could increase profits by moving their operation to China - where manufacturing costs are even lower - but have so far resisted that final indignity. The cost for a standard tandoori oven is £1,000 (around Rs 79,000), whereas a decorated, mosaic style product comes for £5,000 (around Rs 4 lakh).

Diwali - The Festival of Lights

Indians throughout the world celebrate Diwali on October 26. Diwali, the Indian festival of light, marks the homecoming of the God Lord Ram after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and symbolises taking people from darkness to light in the victory of good over evil.

A cheerful woman poses with sparklers during a press event ahead of Diwali in Mumbai on October 22, 2011.


An Indian newly-wed couple look at a cell phone as they pay their respects at the illuminated Golden Temple on the eve of the festival Diwali in Amritsar on October 25, 2011




Indian Sikh devotees pay their respects at the illuminated Golden Temple on the eve of the festival of Diwali in Amritsar on October 25, 2011.



Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (2nd R) plays the drums during a cultural performance before the start of celebrations ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Gatineau, Quebec October 20, 2011.



 

People light lamps on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh October 25, 2011. Earthen lamps were lit during a public ceremony for world peace, organisers said.



Gallery: The Diwali festival of lights

Gallery: The Diwali festival of lights

CITY DECKS UP FOR FESTIVITY

A view of the illuminated Sector 22 market in Chandigarh

NRI Sabha, Chandigarh extends best wishes to Indians living home and abroad. May the warmth and splendor, that are a part of this auspicious occasion, fill your life with happiness and bright cheer, and bring to you joy and prosperity, for the whole year.

Most NRIs duped of property, cash by their own near and dear ones

Jalandhar, October 24
Usurping of their valuable property, be it land or plush homes or misuse of money by none other but their own near and dear ones back home are the major sources of tension for the NRIs staying in different parts of the world.
More than 80 per cent of NRIs remain disturbed because their lands have been usurped as has the money sent by them for some good cause like building of a new house or purchase of a new piece of land. There is hardly any solution in sight for them because either they have to enter into a compromise with wily relatives for local pressures or they have to make rounds of courts for years together which, was hardly any viable option for most of them.
“Hundreds of NRIs are grappling with problems related to forcible occupation of their lands back home by their own relatives and near and dear ones. In most cases, the NRIs send money to their relatives for building of new homes with a hope that they might be able to come and enjoy a brief stay in the comfort of their own homes but this dream rarely turns into a reality for them. In most cases, the money sent by NRIs to their families back home is usurped by their own brothers or sisters. Discord within the family is the biggest factor that has been depriving NRIs of their sleep,” said  a former IAS officer.
“In fact, NRIs are not aware of whom to approach in case of a difficulty. They should contact the sabha via e-mail or telephonically. We keep following their complaints till they are disposed off,” he said.