The labor laws are also changing. We don't have problems with the workers but we have problems with the union organizers, union leaders; but that's their profession. Even they have come round to realizing the importance of cooperation with the management rather than fighting.

You are talking about union leaders in your factories in India?

Yes. But they are beginning to realize what's good for them, good for the company. In different cities where we have our factories, the environment is different. I think things are improving. Everybody realizes that we depend on each other. Don't forget union organizers have to show some achievements. We often meet with the labor leaders. We go very well with some of them. With some others, we go very badly.

What is your total employee strength in India?

Our workforce in India would be around 8,000 people.

When did you first travel to India?

I traveled for the first time to India during the time of Hitler, maybe in 1942.

Do you still travel to India often?

Two or three times a year.

What strikes you most in the country now?

I would say the level of education is beginning to be much higher, even though there are still limitations on basic education. But, overall, the level of education is becoming very high. Then there's the mobility of people. People in India are now so much more mobile than they used to be earlier. I am referring to their mobility within the country.

I have to also say for religious reasons, some people still continue to be concerned about cowhide being used by us for manufacturing shoes. They take objection to the killing of cows. These are local religious sentiments and local policies that we, as business people, must respect. We use cheap leather and we have synthetic leather that we use in making the shoes.