2024-07-24
5 分钟The Economist Hello, Rosie Blore here,
co-host of The Intelligence, our daily news and current affairs podcast.
Welcome to Editor's Picks.
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When Beyonce performed at a pre-wedding party for Isha Ambani in 2018, India was a GOG.
Merely receiving an invitation conferred bragging rights on status-obsessed business leaders and politicians.
The cost of the nuptials, with countless ancillary events,
was said to be in excess of $100 million.
That is a staggering sum for almost anyone, but not the Ambani family,
which owns a controlling interest in Reliance Industries,
the country's most valuable company, dominating everything from telecoms to oil refining.
Despite some anti-rich finger-wagging, many Indians appear to have viewed the event,
which even the Maharajas of Yore would envy,
as evidence that India and Indian business could once again glitter.
You might therefore have expected the months-long,
knot-tying celebrations of Isha's brother,
Anant, which concluded on July 14th to provoke a similarly positive response.
It featured even more international stars – Katy Perry,
Justin Bieber and Rihanna – more bling, outfits embroidered in gold,