‘Media is language, location indifferent’

Sir Antony has brought the 20-member international advisory board of the $3.4 billion company for its bi-annual meeting to the heart of New Delhi, including Sir Sean Connery, (“Having 007 on board helps,’’ says Sir Anthony), Brian Mulroney, former Canadian Prime Minister, David N Dinkins, the first and only African-American New York Mayor and the legendary Benjamin Bradlee, vice-president of the Washington Post.

Sir Anthony also hopes to publish the British edition of The Independent in India. The Independent Group had bought a 20 per cent stake in the Jagran Group of newspapers of Kanpur in 2005.

Sir Anthony is equally effusive about expanding global partnerships, “Today, the media is language and location indifferent,’’ he elaborates, “it is the globalisation of news. Even PM (Manmohan) Singh told us yesterday India would become the publishing hub of the world. With the magic of software and broadband, news can be repackaged, translated within moments. Do you know the South Morning China Post gets many of its sub-editing work in Delhi?’’ he adds.

Brian Mulroney, a fifth generation Irish Canadian (his family fled the Great Potato Famine of Ireland and arrived in Quebec in 1832), is also on a sentimental trip. He was PM when the late Rajiv Gandhi was in office. Says Mulroney, who meet Sonia Gandhi yesterday,

“Canada and India have a romantic association with its shared history with Britain. Rajiv was one of the prime movers against apartheid in South Africa, and we were all part of the same committee, including Robert Mugabe, Bob Hawke and Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher didn’t agree with sanctions, but Rajiv fought her fiercely, he was terrific.’’

Mulroney is chairman of the board. “The new global thrust is on harmonisation, from finance to law practices. The media too is a highly competent business, and I’m loving it,’’ he says

While poor 007 has been stricken with Delhi Belly and laid up in bed in his hotel room for two days, the board is having its meetings at a Raj nostalgia restaurant in the hotel.

Emerging from the restaurant, David Dinkins is ready for an afternoon nap. Dinkins, who had defeated Rudolph (Rudy) Giuliani to become Mayor from 1989-93, is credited for bringing the first inclusive people’s initiative to fight crime on the streets of New York.

Dinkins says he disagrees with Giuliani’s zero-tolerance policy on crime. “I believe in being tough and fair.’’