A money manager and a doctor make a motley mix. The husband-wife duo of Umesh and Sunanda Gaur have a heady collective net worth and driving interest in art that has powered them to be among the top collectors of contemporary Indian art in the United States. The couple convinced the Zimmerli Art Museum in Rutgers University to host an exhibition on contemporary art from the repository of private collectors in North America. The museum complied and it plays host to what its director, Phillip Dennis Cate, describes as the "largest" exhibition of post-Independence art from India to be organised in the US. Enthused by the success, they now want to try and make it a permanent exhibit at the museum. "We want it to be a collective stamp for the growing Indian diaspora," say the duo.

A Pronounced Shift

Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand ... As Star's PR manager, Parool Patel tried pronouncing the names for quite some time but ultimately gave up. He has now joined the CIP Group-a public-private partnership with Hounslow Council-as media relation manager to cover corporate communications, a job the 30-something may find more suitable than promoting Hindi serials, the names of which he could hardly pronounce. "The CIP Group is the standard bearer in modelling the public, private-sector partnership and confederation, which the government wishes to roll out onto a national level. This role encompasses all the benefits of working for a dynamic, fast-paced commercial organisation," insists Patel.

Repeat Formula

The Jewish diaspora in the United States, like elsewhere, is well organised both in terms of lobbying skills in the US Legislature as well as in providing for the community. Now this model is being sought to be emulated by Anil Godhwani, a tech entrepreneur from Silicon Valley. Godhwani proposes to set up the largest India-focused community facility in North America under the aegis of the non-profit India Community Center which he helped found. The 20,000 sq ft-facility, to come up in Fremont, California, will provide for all age-groups of the Indian community and also have pickings for the mainstream like yoga and dance lessons. Says Godhwani, "This was one way of getting involved with the community on a full-time basis and not just by writing cheques."

Bhaskar (centre) in The Kumars at No. 42

Change of Scene

The ease with which Sanjeev Bhaskar changes roles would put a chameleon to shame. Not happy merely conquering the television audience with his comic act in the British sitcom Goodness Gracious Me, Bhaskar has now moved on to London's West End. In Art, a stage production dealing with interpretations of modern art, Bhaskar plays one of three lead characters. Knowing this actor, his fertile imagination will likely run amok if he sees a blank piece of paper as art.

—Bureau reports