Relaunch of Findians Briefings

This is the front page of Findians Briefings that was launched in 1992 with 100 copies printed on the photocopy machine at the Technology Village behind Oulu University where the first office of Findians Oy was located.

Front page of the first issue of "Findians Briefings"  

released in 1992. ©Jacob Matthan

Soon, this 100 issue newsletter exploded. It could no longer be produced as a hard copy. We moved it to the internet. It grew far beyond the expectations. 

By 1996, before the advent of social media, it reached around 80000 readers around the world, including Indians interested in Finland and Finns interested in India, plus many people who wanted to read some of the topical articles we were publishing such as the exposure of the Nigerian scam in  the article "Missile of Black Gold - Greed". 

Guest writers, Sinikka Ikni and Ilari Sohlo, wrote regular columns,  which were also very controversial and popular. Sinikka wrote a column "Democracy?? = Oligarchy??", which certainly ruffled a few feathers in the Finnish hierarchy!

Sadly, Ilari Sohlo, who wrote the entertaining column "Going Sohlo" passed away earlier this year in a motorcycle accident in Laos. He was just 50 .

The  reissuing of this web magazine is dedicated to a great friend and writer Ilari. He was a classmate and friend of Annikki's and Jacob's daughter, Joanna, in Oulu University. Later he befriended their son, Jaakko, and then became a dear family friend and a dedicated Findian. 

Ilari travelled around India and worked in Rajasthan. He loved India and represents the true spirit of the Findians movement which began in 1967. 

It is intended to continue the old policy of Findians Briefings", where Indians with an interest in Finland and Finns with an interest in India are the main focus. The hope is that the articles that bare carried will attract a larger audience, as had happened previously. 

There is exciting absolutely new content that will only be seen on the new "Findians Briefings". The "Slovenian Scam" that you may be affected by, or how you could  be taken for a ride by buyers on Etsy.com.  Please register to be informed when anything new appears on the various pages that will make up part of this comprehensive set of blog pages. The regular pages will include “Editorial”, “Letters to the Editor", “Articles”, “Photographs" "Classified Advertisements", and many other special features. 

If you are interested to submit your ideas, please contact us at Findiansbriefings@gmail.com. 

There is no subscription fee. If you wish to support the movement, it can be by your contributions in kind. If you want to advertise, please contact our Advertising Manager. 

There are a few professional writers who are interested to contribute to the blog. We also have a few photographers who would like to contribute their photographs which capture the beauty of the two countries for the readers. 

Thanks to Pushpa Dhundwal for the photographs she has captured of the Finnish scenery. Her hudsband, Avinash, came to Oulu as an IT worker. He later rreturned with his wife, Pushpa, and she became a Nokia employee. Now with their family of two beautiful children, Mont and Rudrakshi, they live in a suburb of Oulu, well entrenched in life in Finland. A typical Findian family.

Her recent submission will be in carried in the page Photographs to appear shortly. If you have a collection of photographs that you would like to share, please send it to us at findiansbriefings@gmail.com.

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Pushpa Dhundunwal with her young family in Finland, Avinash, Mont and Rudrakshi.

©Pushpa Dhundwal

Finnish sun over the lake. ©Pushpa Dhundwal

The intention is also to keep track of Indian businesses who have an interest in Finland and also Finnish companies which have an interest in India. As a starting point is the book by Prof. Ajeet Mathur, one of the earliest to be in touch with Findians in 1994.

"Finland-India Business Opportunities" by Professor Ajeet Mathur 

of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. ©Jacob Matthan

In this the Finnish multinational Nokia comes to mind. 

On one trip to the hinterland of Rajasthan in 2009 to see the benefit of check dams to the dry rural environment, Annikki and Jacob met a group farmers. They heard from them that their mobile phone, which was their lifeline to weather information and the latest market prices for their products. that Nokia was a small town in Finland. They wanted us to make their village as famous as Nokia.

The photos are from one of the villages Annikki and Jacob  visited. The farmers brought their produce to give Annikki and Jacob as a the gratitude to our friend, Amla Ruia, who has been instrumental in setting up these check dams network in different locations around Rajasthan.

Photographs from a village in Rajasthan in 2009. ©Jacob Matthan

Photographs from a village in Rajasthan in 2009. ©Jacob Matthan

Annikki with one of the Rajasthani village women in 2009. ©Jacob Matthan

Amla Ruia, wife of Jacob's classmate, the late Ashok Ruia. ©Jacob MatthanPlease do send us any ideas you think we shoukld cover that will be of interest to the target audience.