Its a maze this entire setting of the WEF. You need to be a computerised googled veteran to be able to find your way about. But there were efficient aides to collect you and move you about.

In an ante room by the side of the main presentation area we - the 4 recipients were gathered together and briefed by the wife of the founder of the WEF on procedures and protocol for the event. Malika Sarabhai, the famous dancer of the Bharat Natyam and KuchiPudi dance forms and an activist, a renowned and great conductor of music from Venezuela, Jet Li, the famous actor from China and yours truly, sat around listening like little school children what and how we were supposed to behave and conduct ourselves on stage.

It was a modest crowd. But an eminent crowd. Heads of Corporates and Industry, Politicians, Media barons and accomplished entertainers from all over the world and a fairly large presence from India. Which was interesting and good. It ensured that when you entered there was a recognizable strength of applause in the auditorium.

Each one of us was called up on stage by name, a brief history of our accomplishments was read and the Award presented - a crystal, rare in nature, found among the mountains of Switzerland. All of us made short acceptance speeches, followed by photographs ; the Indian presence coming up for congratulations, and then the evening was taken over by Beethoven. A live philharmonic performance.

There was an invitation to the Morocco soiree later, which I believe went on till the wee hours of the morning, but I did not go. Too tired and an early morning flight to catch pressed me to bed.

Davos is a picturesque location. In winter particularly, because of its proximity to Klosters, the famous ski resort. The Economic Forum has enveloped it for the last 30 odd years and it has now become synonymous with world leadership in all walks of life, that come and spend a week in meeting and discussing how to make the world a better place.

It is a massive exercise in management and execution. But in true Swiss precision everything worked to clock work order. It is also I believe, the one town that could easily boast of the maximum amount of brain and thought power within that short period of time, in its precincts at any given time of year.

Everyone referred to the economic gloom and the possibilities of how to repair it. Speaker after speaker showed anxious concern and anxious solution and what came out quite clearly was that India and China were perhaps the two countries that had less to worry about - their economies obviously affected, but due to the strength of their policies a certain leveling had prevented it from the size and amount of damage that other developed countries were going through.

Most of the interviews that were conducted by local and foreign media asked me for my reactions. I felt terribly embarrassed to be put to such questioning, since finance and economics are an anathema to me. I put forward however that being in the movies was perhaps the best profession at the moment to be in because it was recession free ! After having lost your millions and billions, it would not be out of place to seek solace in taking your mind away from the depression, by watching a movie. It only cost a few dollars !!

But I took pride in the fact that an honor such as the Crystal Award was bestowed on me, an Indian from the world of escapist commercial cinema, a cinema which 50-60 years ago was not such a bright profession to be in. Children from good homes were not encouraged to go anywhere near it ; an activity that was considered infra dig. But look how this very escapist cinema had progressed through the years, where today in an International forum of some eminence, I was able to stand and represent my fraternity and my country in a most humbling recognition.

I have always believed cinema in India to be a great integrator. A facility that has brought people together. When we sit in the darkened arena of a cinema theatre, we never ask whether the person sitting next to us is a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian or Sikh, or that the color of his skin is black or white. We sit together and laugh at the same jokes, sing the same songs, cry at the same emotion. There are very few existing examples left in our torrid and uncertain world, that can boast thus. I am proud that I form a small part of the fraternity that delivers and encourages such an occurrence. And happy that the cynicism with which our cinema was looked upon not so very long ago is fast changing.

It has surprised me that nations and nationalities that are far removed from our culture are aware of our films and actors and our music and our presence. It has surprised me that approximately 3 billion people watch our films. Almost the same amount if not more of those that watch the cinema from Hollywood. Some research gave figures of 3.8 billion to 3.2 billion - Indian to Hollywood !! Thats half the population of the world in each entity. Thats a very long journey from the the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s.

Today cinema in India has almost become a parallel culture of the country. Whether that is good or bad for a nation is debatable, but its reference every time the country name is taken reflects its importance, not just in our society, but in the society of other countries as well.

Yes we are criticized and ridiculed on our content. On our quality. And in the monotonous cliched and formatted story telling of our scripts. On the ‘miserable’ acting talents of our actors. But when you are accosted by white Americans as you stand in a queue to board a plane at Zurich airport, for autographs and a photo opportunity and when you ask them how they know you and when they reply - “Who doesn’t know you ?”, you begin to recognize the truth behind whatever little presence Indian cinema has made in all these years.

These were some of my impressions as I spoke from the podium at the Awards.

Davos is over now. The flight from Zurich this morning came through with delay and some concern. At the point of take off, it began to snow rather heavily. Snow deposit on the wings of an airplane prevents take off because it forms an obstruction to the wind flow that lifts an aircraft up. But science and invention came wheeling in like giant grasshoppers, spraying orange and green fluids over the mentioned parts and all seemed well again. I remember a delayed take off in similar circumstances from Moscow during one winter. Except it was a lot more exciting. We would de ice and run the airstrip to the end, but get iced again in the bargain. We would turn back restart the procedure try the run and come back. This went on several times and the crew and passengers made light of it on every try. A mini on the spot betting, on whether particular attempt would result in a take off went into operation. There were a few smart winners on board that day…

More now from London tomorrow as I transit to New York…

My love as ever -

Amitabh Bachchan