India Branch Dedication

“The long-awaited day finally came on December 7, 2003,” writes the India branch. “It was the day for the dedication of our newly constructed branch at Bangalore, in the south-central part of India.”

Set on 43 acres [17 ha], the 320,000-square-foot [30,000 sq m] complex is like a small township. The first large branch in the world to be constructed by a commercial firm, it has a purification plant for drinking water, a wastewater treatment-recycling plant, and its own electric-power generation. The complex has 122 offices, including 80 for translators; an attractive Kingdom Hall; and a large printery. The residence buildings have comfortable rooms, a laundry, a dining room, and a well-equipped kitchen. The entire project, which made extensive use of local materials, was completed in two years.

The Kingdom work began in India in 1905. Now translation and printing are done in 26 Indian languages. At the dedication, missionaries who had served in India for decades related encouraging experiences, and Stephen Lett of the Governing Body gave the dedication discourse. The 2,933 in attendance included 150 visitors from 25 foreign countries.

[Picture on page 29]

Recently dedicated branch in Bangalore, India