Safir Anand launches U.S. release of Chrysalis at ambassador’s reception
04 May 2022
Safir Anand marked the United States release of his book Chrysalis at a reception held adjacent to the International Trademark Association’s Annual Meeting Live+ yesterday in Washington.
Hosted by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti, the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, the reception celebrated both the book’s release and the firm’s success in the practice of intellectual property law.
“Pravin Anand and Safir Anand need no introduction,” Tirumurti said, addressing the reception at Washington’s Historic Willard InterContinental Hotel. “They are the pillars of the IP community. Their contributions have been remarkable and unparalleled.”
Managing partner Pravin Anand was honoured last year with INTA’s President’s Award, Tirumurti noted. “I have had the privilege of knowing him for some time. He has been a pioneer.”
The book Chrysalis is Safir Anand’s compilation of brand stories, bringing out the role that IP has played in the journey of some of India’s most illustrious brands, including Hindustan Unilever, Godrej, Mahindra, Tata, Taj and others. The book was selected by the jury for launch at the Jaipur Literature Festival last year.
“When you read the book, you see not just the unfolding of the colours of the butterfly, but you’ll also see the unfolding of the passion of Safir Anand. Passion not just for IP, but passion for all things good in life,” Tirumurti said.
Safir Anand said that he was moved to write Chrysalis by the Covid-19 crisis. “The book is a showcase of the transformation of Indian brands,” he said, before presenting Tirumurti with the first copy of the book in the United States.
Pravin Anand told the audience that the coronavirus pandemic was a time of major contradictions in India, first on the health front – many people succumbed to Covid-19, while others “ate well and exercised and lost weight,” Anand said, drawing appreciative chuckles, with his own weight loss during the pandemic in evidence. and then on the business and legal fronts. “On the business front, too, there were contradictions. Should we have physical court, or virtual court, or hybrid court? Now we’ve kind of settled down on hybrid court for the moment. Some businesses were completely wiped out, and at the same time, other businesses flourished and did exceedingly well.”
The greatest joy, today, he said, was seeing “old friends, back here with us. It’s a real pleasure and a treat,” he said, echoing sentiments heard frequently during the Annual Meeting.
Gregory Glass
