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Gujarat\'s \'Hitler\' Clothing Store to Be Renamed
The owners of a men's clothing store in Ahmedabad named Hitler say they have decided to rename the shop after receiving hundreds of phone calls and  pressure from international groups.
“I receive almost a hundred calls daily,†a co-owner, Rajesh Shah, said by telephone on Tuesday. They included calls from “ordinary people and organizations all over the world,†nearly all of whom wanted him to change the store's name, he said. He said local news media had also been coming to the shop frequently. “It was becoming a headache,†Mr. Shah said.
The store's owners are getting help to decide their new name. “We have thinking of four or five names now, but we have also approached a con sultancy,†Mr. Shah said. “We want a name that is as powerful as the last one, but one that has a more positive association that negative.â€
The owners were widely criticized in local and international media, and appeals to change the store's name came from as far away as the New York-based Anti-Defamation League, as well as members of the local Jewish community in Ahmedabad.
The shop is one of a handful of businesses in India named after the Nazi dictator.
Mr. Shah had said earlier that the name was chosen because it had been the nickname of his business partner Manish Chandani's grandfather. Mr. Shah stressed Tuesday that the name was being changed to avoid offending the Jewish community. He had said earlier that if Jews did not like the store's name, they should not visit it.
Mr. Shah said the last straw was when two local officials told him his license would be revoked unless he renamed the shop. That happene d after Israel's consul general in Mumbai, Orna Sagiv, held meetings with Gujarat state government officials Monday. Ms. Sagiv said last week that she planned to tell Gujarat officials, including Chief Minister Narendra Modi, that the shop's name was  “unacceptable and insulting.â€
Esther David, a well-known Jewish Indian author who was part of a group that met with Mr. Shah, said she was happy that their protests had been heard and surprised that he had agreed to change the name so quickly. “We were very dejected after meeting Mr. Shah†last month, she said. “It was clear to us that he knew what Hitler stood for and was adamant on not changing the name when we met him.â€
Mr. Shah said he would cover the costs of rebranding his store, though he had said earlier that he should receive compensation to do so.  He said business had been good since the store opened. “All my customers, all of them said they liked the name. A man even called from Assam , to tell me the name was good and that I should not change it.â€
What new name should Mr. Shah and Mr. Chandani give to their clothing store? India Ink welcomes your suggestions in the comments below. Our nominee for the best name will receive a copy of Gandhi's “The Story of My Experiments With Truth,†and we will send the suggestion to Mr. Shah and Mr. Chandani.
A Tough, Rewarding Journey to India\'s Valley of Flowers
A grueling four-hour trek from the village of Ghangria in the Garhwal district of Uttaranchal brings visitors to one of India's most stunning national parks, the Valley of Flowers. These grassy pastures, at an altitude of 13,000 feet in the western Himalayas, are covered in snow most of the year. During July and August, though, many of the valley's more than 600 varieties of flora are in stunning bloom. The trek, which runs across streams and below shining, snow-covered peaks, eventually brings the traveler to a field of pink and white flowers.
Several Hindu legends are associated with this valley â€" it is said to be where Hanuman collected herbs to revive Lakshmana, younge r brother of Rama, after he was poisoned by a demon's arrow.
The English mountaineer, explorer and botanist Frank S. Smith camped in the valley for several weeks during the monsoon of 1937 and gave it its name. It was declared part of the Nanda Devi national park in 1982, and it is now a Unesco World Heritage site.
Getting there is a slog, even before you start hiking, and the summer months bring monsoon rains that make the trails a slippery mess. Travelers should budget about six days for the trip in order to acclimate to the altitude.
Several Web sites, including India Mike and TripAdvisor, offer advice from past visitors about the best routes to take. An entrance gate to the valley closes at 6 p.m. during the summer, which makes it necessary to get an early-morning start on the hiking portion of the journey. (**why, if it's a four-hour trek from the village?**)
Here are some travel tips:
By Road
Delhi-Rishikesh (140 miles)Take a bus from Kashmere Gate Inter State Bus Terminus in Delhi. The journey takes about six hours. You can book tickets with the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).
Alternatively, take one of the many trains to Haridwar, then take a bus to Rishikesh, about 16 miles away.  It's a good idea to spend the night at Rishikesh, which has a better selection of accommodations.
Rishikesh-Joshimath (155 miles)
The small town of Joshimath is situated at the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga valleys, at an altitude of 6,200 feet. Tourist taxis leave Rishikesh early in the morning and reach Joshimath in the evening. A shared taxi will cost about 500 Indian rupees, or about $9, per person, or a car can be hired for about 4,500 rupees.
Joshimath-Govindghat-Ghangria (25-mile drive and 9-mile trek)
Joshimath is about 14 miles below Govindghat, the first base camp before the trek to the Valley of Flowers begins. Taxis travel between Govindghat and Joshimath throughout the day. Govindghat is where the Alaknanda and Laxman Ganga rivers meet; it is a 9-mile trek from there to Ghangria (altitude 10,000 feet), the last base camp before the valley.
Ghangria is also a base camp for treks to Hemkund, a pilgrimage site for Sikhs; lodging and boarding are available there. From Ghangria , the Valley of Flowers is a rigorous trek of nearly four miles, past enchanting waterfalls and glaciers.
Where to stay
Rishikesh
Hotel Vasundhara Palace: located on the Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway, a single room is 3,540 rupees.
Hotel Ganga Kinare: Less than a mile away from the Rishikesh railway station, the cheapest deluxe room is 3,999 rupees.
Joshimath
GMVN guesthouse: An Uttarakhand State government guesthouse, located in the upper bazaar;Â Â basic, clean double rooms cost 630 rupees.
Ghangria
The GMVN guesthouse he re is the best option: Double rooms are 1,200 rupees for deluxe and 850 for economy. The guesthouse also has a dormitory that charges 180 rupees per bed.
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