Feelings April 2016 issue

www.feelingsmultimedia.com

GLOBAL EDITION

The complete April 2016

magazine Vol. 4 `50

INNOVATION storytelling with a twist Swadeshi is back!

Culinary adaptations diy Publishing

ASHA BHOSLE the inside story

Travel

Dubai’s Hidden Gems

Culture

The Parsi sari

Meet the queen Rukmini Devi

Exclusive INTERVIEW Sukhwinder Singh

regular Columns + Fashion + Shopping... and more!

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event report

Editor’s Note

Dear Readers, I read somewhere that the only true way of measuring intelligence is not by grades, IQ tests or even EQ tests, but by how creative and innovative someone can be. The world around us is changing rapidly, faster than we can imagine, perhaps. Be it technology, fashion, food, the medical field or music, ‘something new’ is what determines its value.

The only way to survive then is to adapt the old to the new. This issue features stories about just that.

Two women who are changing the rules of storytelling, a popular chef whose USP is adapting recipes to suit fussy children, Amazon, which is facilitating self-publishing and traditional Parsi sarees that are evolving to suit changing tastes, are just some examples of the same things being done differently.

A special feature on the evergreen Asha Bhosle and an interview with the versatile ‘Sukhiji’ add a musical touch to this issue.

‘Immigrant Diary’ is a new addition, which looks at the struggle and success of those who left to make another country their home, years ago.

We are also introducing ‘Made in India’, a feature that peeks into the world of corporates who are making India proud with their products.

This time it is Patanjali, the brand that is giving MNCs sleepless nights.

Here’s looking afresh at what we take for granted otherwise,

Atul Shah Editor and Publisher

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event report

the c o mplete April 2016

ma g a z i n e Vol. 4

Editor / Publisher Atul Shah

Director Khyati Shah

Executive Director Deepti Dedhia Senior Associate Editor Abid Mohammed

Associate Editor Vijay Rohit Editorial Co-ordinator Nandini Sanan Shankar

Contributors Abhilash Jayachandra, Kashmira Pattni, Adil Marawala

Columnists Ali Peter John, Sanjay Chhel, Jayesh Chitalia, Mehul Suthar, Bejan Daruwalla, Megha Chitaliya, Yash Bhatt, Jagruti Fadia, Sachira Bapat, Veathika Jain

Heritage Revivalist Jeetendrasingh G Gaekwad Special Music Columnist Sujata Majumdar Creative Consultants Guru Media Network

Photographer Harshad Jhatakia / Jayendra Jhatakia / Chetan Mistry

Marketing Consultant Arvind Purohit, Nitin Vasani

Legal Advisor M. A. Modi International Associates USA | UK | Canada | Australia | Kenya | Oman | U.A.E | Malaysia

India Associates Delhi | Kolkatta | Chennai | Mumbai | Surat | Vadodara | Ahmedabad | Rajkot | Bhuj Subscription Details In India: ` 700/- (Including courier charges & special issues) For abroad: 100 US $ (Air mail) Cheque / Draft should be made in favour of “FEELINGS MULTIMEDIA LTD.”

Magazine Type Monthly

Corporate Office: 102-3-104, Pacifi c Plaza, VIP Road, Karelibaug, Vadodara – 390 018. (Gujarat) India Phone: +91 (265) 2489477 Mobile: +91 97129 45133 / 98253 28488 Email: editorial@feelingsmultimedia.com, info@feelingsmultimedia.com Web: www.feelingsmultimedia.com Feelings Multimedia takes no responsibilty for unsolicited photographs or material.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ARE USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.

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Printed by Lippi Printing Press for and on behalf of Feelings Multimedia Limited.

Printer Address: Lippi House, Piramitar Road, Dandia Bazar, Vadodara - 390 001. Gujarat, India.

All rights reserved. Reproducing in any manner without prior written permission prohibited.

PUBLISHED FOR THE MONTH OF April, 2016.

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Contents April 2016 32 Exclusive Interview

With Sukhiji

64

features 12 F ashion Lakme Fashion Week was a visual treat, reports Mehul Suthar 64 Queen Rukmini Devi Feelings meets the former queen of Rajpipla, and gets an insight into the struggles that come with living a privileged life.

68 T he Immigration Diary Vallabhbhai’s story of struggle and success in a new country 84 t ravel Veathika Jain gives lets us in on the lesser known treats of Dubai.

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Special features 26 Asha Bhosle The Inside Story 38 Innovation in fashion Adil Marawala talks about the evolution of the Parsi sari 42 innovation: Made in India Patanjali’s ongoing success story and how Baba Ramdev’s brand is taking on MNCs, by Kaustubh Athavale.

46 innovation in Arts Nandini Sanan Shankar interviews two passionate storytellers 52 Innovation in Publishing Publishing a book has never been easier, discovers Abhilash Jayachandra

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54 I nnovation in the culinary world Amrita Raichand on how innovation is the key to her delicious recipes 60 I nnovation in medicine Dr Rege talks about how modern technology in the medical field is saving lives 70 i nnovation in heritage Mr Rajeev Ranadive tells Jeetendrasingh G Gaekwad all about his brainchild, Pixy Cars.

76 Legal Advice Megha Chitaliya explains the law when it comes to caring for senior citizens 78 S mart Money Jayesh Chitalia talks about the dangers of corporate investments and how to prevent them 80 G uru Mantra Dadi Janki the active head of the Brahmkumaris on her personal spiritual journey 82 Body and Soul Sachira Bapat on Angels and their positive influence on Relationships.

regulars

columns

18 A round town Happenings in town

73 Tech Talk Yash Bhatt, wonders if there are any advantages of buying the iPhone SE

19 B ollywood News News from Tinsel town

74 Humour Sanjay Chhel and his many thoughts on the travails of Car Parking

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20 S hopping This summer spoil yourself 88 Recipes Presenting quick and easy to make recipes just for you 92 Campus Talk A campus visit reveals how vacations have changed with the times 94 B ook Review Jhumpa Lahiri’s In Other Words, by Nandini Sanan Shankar 96 Fortune Teller Your monthly horoscope by Bejan Daruwala 98 t witter World #thetweettalk

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letters to the editor INDIA

Read On

I just registered for the English Feelings e-Magazine on the website. I opened the first issue and liked it a lot.

Congratulations. There is a lot of variety in the articles, so a lot of interesting reading. I look forward to receiving Feelings regularly on my computer!

Preety Sengupta, NYC

line: ww

w.

multim feelings

edia.co

+ USA

EDITION

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• W OM EN 2016 MARCH

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go by, then I am in for a treat. The new issue looks different. Alyona Kapoor’s interview is a refreshing change from the usual Bollywood fare. The interview shows how a woman can be the driving force in a man’s life and career, mostly without receiving any credit! Keep up the good work.

Mahendra Shah, Kenya

YL E LI FE ST `50 VOL. 3

N’S WOME SIVE EXCLU

DEVGAN KAJOL KHAN HELEN AL AGARW ANI LAXMI BHAVN A SAPN OMEN W LO SO LERS TRAVEL OMEN SFUL W SUCCES RENEURS EP ENTR IA OSTALG HOLI N OM THE PAST FR BLAST

KUDOS for your superb March ‘16 issue with the cover story ‘Alyona Kapoor – the driving force behind the country’s favourite chef NS COLUM REGULAR Sanjeev Kapoor.’ It clearly shows that the secret to Heritage promoting homestyle cooking lies in its presentation.

Feelings has helped me in everyday life. The views kilimanoor palace: An artist’s haven are balanced and I honest. It is a perfect family guide and has something for everyone. I’m pleased that Feelings takes a wholesome and mature view, and always delivers what’s Fashion best.

Vinod C. Dixit, Ahmedabad r final.indd

A ALYON R O O P A K e behind the

ng forc e chef The drivi s favourit countr y’

E! D MOR NG... AN SHOPPI ION + + FASH

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ings Cove

After a quick breakfast, we hit the road and soon devoured miles of smooth, asphalt roads. At the end, we were greeted by the sweet fragrance of flowering shrubs that led us to an east facing, arched stone gateway, with huge, wooden doors, wide enough to allow an elephant. We had arrived at Kilimanoor Palace, the abode of an artist extraordinaire - a prince among painters and a painter among princes.

Two gentlemen of noble bearing, clad in starched, white traditional Malayalee dhotis and kurtas were coming our way. They were the Carnatic singer, Prince Rama Varma Thampuran – a descendant of Raja Ravi Varma and his bosom friend, the director, Saju Kumar who had been waiting to receive us! The Prince, wearing a dark crimson kurta, beamed as he hugged me warmly and escorted us up the steps.

Himmat Bahadur Kr. Shrimant Jeetendrasingh G Gaekwad of Baroda is a Heritage Revivalist

woke up to a cool breeze, one February morning in Thiruvananthapuram – styled as Trivandrum – capital of the state of Kerala and originally known for centuries as the capital of the princely kingdom of Travancore.

Standing amidst lush green forests and evergreen plantations, in the surroundings of the majestic Kawdiar Palace Estates and Golf links, I filled my lungs with fresh air. Oh! To be in God’s own country!

It was a pleasant way to start the day in the company of my friend Shri Ashvin Kumar, a veritable encyclopedia on Kerala royalty.

Nestled between the azure Arabian Sea to the west and the lush Western

Ghats range in the East, the present day state of Kerala was carved out from the sprawling territories of the princely kingdoms of Travancore, Cochin, Calicut and the coastal Malabar Aristocracy. These kingdoms were ruled by royals of an enviable lineage, since times immemorial. Trivandrum boasts of large patches of pristine greenery, myriad ponds, lakes, tanks, reservoirs, and rivulets. The air is naturally moist and invigorating.

I have known the affable Prince Rama Varma Thampuran for a while now. He had visited Gujarat to grace the National Heritage Week in late November, 2015. It was his first visit to the kingdom of Baroda that had patronised his ancestor over 125 years ago! An important part of his visit to Vadodara was to inaugurate the Gautam Raje Art Gallery which has a collection of 12 large size replica paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. I am indebted to Prince Rama Varma, for the gallery is in memory of my father. But I digress.

Shri Ashvin Kumar had arranged our visit to the sublime haven of Kilimanoor Palace – situated 50 kms away from the state capital, and we were excited, after all, this was the birthplace of one of the greatest Indian artists – Raja Ravi Varma!

Coming back to the present, we were ushered into a huge courtyard within the palace. Here, in the sanctum sanctorum, the very heart of the palace where that great artist used

to live, I felt the weight of history pressing down on my shoulders.

Closely linked to the ruling family of Travancore Rajas, there lived in Kilimanoor an aristocracy with blood relations to the then king of Travancore – Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal. The maharaja was a great patron of art, music, sculpture and culture. He employed master craftsmen and diplomats of high repute in his court like Alagiri Naidu, Ramaswamy Naicker, Ranga Swamy and dewans of high caliber.

One Raja Raja Varma from Kilimanoor received rudimentary training on how to paint under maestro Alagiri Naidu. Raja Raja Varma happened to be Raja Ravi Varma’s real uncle. He initiated young Raja Ravi Varma into the royal court in 1862, primarily as a candidate for the princess’s Swayamwar. The princess rejected Ravi Varma, but her father, the king, saw a sparkle in the 14 year old boy’s eyes. He retained Ravi Varma for further grooming at Trivandrum

royal palace. He was subsequently married to the sister of Maharani Lakshmibai of Trivandrum in 1866 and was bestowed with the title of Rajah. Thus, the ambitious lad from Kilimanoor embarked upon his artistic journey from Trivandrum in 1868.

In less than 2 years, he had mastered his way up in the painting profession by following the sketching technique of the famous Dutch artist Theodore Jensen, who was working on a commission at the Travancore royal court. During 1890 Raja Ravi Varma successfully commissioned over 40 oil paintings for Travancore, out of which the twin oil masterpieces titled “Maharaja and Maharani” and coveted “Veera Sringhala” won him repute. His fame spread far and wide, and he was commissioned, in 1882, to paint a larger than life portrait of Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad, my great granduncle. The “Portrait of Investiture” became a smashing hit and remains a masterpiece for all times.

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I recently completed four and a half years with Feelings Gujarati, and I think I was one of the first subscribers to Feelings English. It is a wonderful magazine. I liked the page designs, and of course, the topics you covered. Looking forward to more such issues.

Rahul Vedi, CA

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I am an avid reader of heritage articles, but I have rarely read about South India. Your writeup on Raja Ravi Varma and his birthplace was an extremely informative piece. I would request you to try and put in more about the history and heritage of India, especially, about how the heritage scene in India is changing.

Jayesh Shah, Chicago Crisp, clear and colourful. These are the words I would use to describe your magazine. It is honest, youthful and enjoyable at the same time. Liked the Sujata Majumdar interview. Never knew that she is such a versatile singer!

Was also glad to read so many articles on empowered women.

The acid attack story brought tears to my eyes. Eagerly awaiting the next issue, Rizwan, Africa

Women’s Special | Inspiring Women

Lemonade Check out our fresh new look for this Spring as you sip on a refreshing cool drink

“I am selfish as an actor” Kajol talks to Jyothi Venkatesh about acting, movies, family and motherhood 40 | Feelings March 2016 40-43 Kajol Story.indd 40

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WRITE TO US

Copper gold formal blazer, Zara; Highneck golden blouse, Forever21; Alphabet finger rings, Blur Design; Body chain with detail ear studs and black flared pants with slits, both at Koovs.com; Black tie up footwear, Tramode. All prices on request.

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Loved the new issue! I am yet to go through it in detail, but if the Varun Dhawan issue was anything to

Do write in and tell us what you think, at editorial@feelingsmultimedia.com Letters should include the writer’s full name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space

19-03-2016 17:42:43

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Event LFw

Enthralling dresses, enchanting colours and experimental twists, Lakme Fashion Week was a delightful treat for the senses, describes Mehul Suthar

Sizzle on the Ramp:

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T

he latest installment of the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016 had quite interesting things to rave about, apart from the amazing garments. We have seen Carol Gracias rule the ramp before, but for Gaurang Shah’s show, she mesmerized the audience in a low-waist sari which showed off her baby bump; a super-cool way to celebrate motherhood. It also made her the first pregnant Indian woman to walk the ramp.

Anand Kabra used a parking lot as his stage.

Wendell Rodricks presented live mannequins.

Rohit Bal selected Mumbai’s popular St Xavier’s College as the ramp for his show Connecting Youth. The subtly lit campus looked straight out of a Victorian painting. These creative experiments made the LFS Summer/Resort 2016 all the more memorable.

Lakmé Fashion Week isn’t just a crowd pleaser because of the endless talent it displays especially for fashion enthusiasts. There’s also the anticipation of star power in the air towards the end of each show, when celebrities

walk the ramp wearing the most gorgeous attire from the collection.

This season, Lakmé Fashion Week’s shows were choca-block with faces from Bollywood, and no showstopper could be ignored. While Manish Malhotra’s opening show had Jacqueline Fernandez and Arjun Kapoor on the ramp, Sonakshi Sinha made quite the statement twirling her skirt at Anita Dongre’s show. Shraddha Kapoor showed off an edgy new avatar for Masaba Gupta and Lisa Haydon played the golden girl for Monisha Jaising.

Ileana D’Cruz for Rahul Mishra, Divya Kumar Khosla, Amy Jackson, Sunny Leone, Bharti Singh, Helen, and Laxmi Narayan Tripathi also made their presence felt through some seriously sizzling, hot show-stopping acts.

The highlight of the week, however, had to be Rohit Bal’s grand finale at Mumbai’s St Xavier’s College. All golden curls, flawless skin and kohl-ed eyes, Kareena Kapoor Khan, who had skipped the show for most of this season, turned up as the showstopper, captivating an awed audience, in an exquisitely embroidered masterpiece.

Elektrocouture presented an electrified presentation with glow-in-the-dark structured dresses, trousers, skirts, graphics suits and gowns. Sneha Arora’s collection titled

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Event LFw

‘Find your wild’ was a breezy trip into the grasslands. Feline whites, rugged peaches and printed animal line drawings made their way onto long shirts, open back dresses and summer jackets. Archana Rao’s collection was an exciting take on this effortless and carefree character’s coming of age inspired by the imaginary character Lolita.

Yogesh Chaudhary presented a collection with title ‘DOT’ inspired by galaxies and the life beyond. Military greens paired with camouflage inspired prints set the tone for Poco and Jacky’s collection which was a mix of waist cut dresses, suits, tank top dresses, utilitarian rompers, laid back separates and a sari.

The vast Emporium of India, the country’s legacy since ancient times, took centre stage in the contemporary India of 2016, with a riveting collection by Wendell Rodricks.

The designer spun every design rule on its creative head.

Ghagras became capes, pajamas turned into off shoulder blouses, dhotis morphed into saris, cholis hit the floor, capes skimmed over kurtas and saris were hand woven in bright colours.

Gaurang presented his signature style in his collection “Calico”, saris paired with puffed and ruffle-sleeved blouses and dramatic floor-grazing gowns. The sharp pleats and dramatic ruffles were a refreshing break from his previous collections. He used traditional Chikankari, Khadi

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combinations, and elements like floral motifs & painthini designs.

A resplendent collection of printed lehengas with front slit kurtas, cholis, and draped dupattas, along with menswear in ethnic suits and tailored patialas looked absolutely gorgeous. Bridesmaids and best men need look no further.

Nishka Lulla stayed true to fresh pastels and easy separates with a playful streak.

The collection comprised asymmetrical silhouettes, wrap skirts, crop tops, cold-shoulders, dungarees, palazzo pants and double-breasted jackets.

Payal Singhal took inspiration from the enigmatic elegance of iconic Indian Royal Women for her collection: Saris with boxy crop tops, lehengas with bandeau cholis, drop waist kurtas and Payal’s signature churidar-skirts.

The collection was rich in texture and in unusual colors, like pomegranate, slate grey, teal, rose quartz, iced azure and stone, embellished with delicate zardosi, mukaish and salma-sitara work.

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Ajay Kumar continued his print story from last season with ‘Paradox of Lotus sutra’. As the name suggests, the lotus pattern was the core motif. The totes and man purses that made regular appearances could not be missed.

Prints mixed with bright patterns, finely tailored blazers and wellstructured silhouettes emphasized the coolness of this collection.

Ajio.com urged one to throw out sartorial doubts and dress fearlessly. The wide collection ranged from super formals to casuals and brunch parties to cocktail parties, showcasing leather jackets with saris, long line coats, graphic skirts, palazzo pants, belted saris and much more in colours

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ranging from nudes to tangerines, the choice was endless.

Juxtaposing Indian and Western elements, Masaba’s latest collection included pencil – shaved frill prestitched sarees, voluminous garbage bag pants, angarkhas layered with the traditional kurtis and deconstructed blazers teamed with a draped dhoti skirt.

Inspired by cherry blossoms, Neeta Lulla took bridal wear a notch further with edgy silhouettes and androgyny that was softened with lace and drapes. From draped jackets teamed with anarkalis to polo shirts as crop tops and printed draped pants, this collection was all about unleashing your bold side. Karn Malhotra’s showcase was oh-so-chic from head to toe, starting with rompers, bodysuits, knee length cocktail and maxi

dresses to crop tops and jackets crafted in crepe, scuba lycra and poly blends. A base palette of black and white worked as an ideal canvas for other hues such as pink, green and purple.

While Rohit Bal’s show included a spectacular light show and theatrical atmosphere, the clothes had an understated glamour. Models twirled in Bal’s typical voluminous silhouettes in colours of ivory, gold, and jewels tones. Titled ‘Koroshini’, the collection and the show were truly dazzling.

Many other talented designers, both regulars as well as first-timers, showcased their amazing creativity and got a chance to see, show, and get inspired, at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016! n

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around town

Miss Kenya Tourism inaugurates Sangita Joshi’s Photography exhibition

M

iss Kenya Tourism, Stephanie Naserian Dikirr of Maasai Mara, launched the wild Life Photography exhibition of renowned Gujarati stage and TV actor Sangita Joshi. Sharing one of her experience during the shoot, Joshi said, “The kill was so sudden and swift that I forgot to click that unforgettable scene of the Cheetah chasing and killing an Impala. Of course, thereafter I clicked more than 500 pictures of that beast, which looks very attractive in photographs”.

“It was extremely difficult to select only 121 photographs out of 9000 clicked by me. It was like a mother choosing a single child out of many”, added Sangita.

Dikirr of Maasai Mara travelled Mumbai from Nairobi to inaugurate this exhibition. “I am too excited. More than Sangita was when she visited my country and saw the wildlife there. I have heard that Mumbai is too crowded but very beautiful just like my Nairobi.”

“By visiting Mumbai to inaugurate photography exhibition I am repaying my debt to Sangita. She had given me tips for Miss Kenya (Tourism) contest which helped me in winning.

After I was crowned Miss Kenya (Tourism) she specially came to Nairobi and to my surprise she really crowned me by putting a “Tiara” on my head” added Dikirr.

A pictorial color book of photographs was also launched.

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bollywood News

music RELEASE of Shortcut Safari: A GRAND AFFAIR

I

t was indeed a memorable day for the kids of Smile Foundation as popular singers Shaan and Sadhana Sargam launched the music of the adventure film Shortcut Safari. The team of this kiddie flick chose to launch the film in an unconventional manner, with special kids from Smile Foundation. The kids welcomed everyone with flowers at the entrance. A Shortcut Safari theme cake was cut by the stars. Music director Rohit Tiwari and Shikha Singhi, Head, Films Junglee Music were also present at event.

Shaan said, “Movies for children are rare these days, Shortcut Safari, a film about Mother Nature which will provide wholesome entertainment. The best part is that

the songs have been sung by some very talented kids.”

Shaan, who’s known for his down-to-earth persona, sang ‘Piggy Bank’ for the kids. Cricket was the favourite topic for discussion and Shaan surprised everyone by singing the title track of historic movie Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander.

Jimmy Shergill starrer Shortcut Safari is all set to release on 29th April. This adventure film traces the lives of a few school going kids who get lost in a dense forest during their outing. Directed by Amitabha Singh, Shortcut Safari has been screened at various film festivals and applauded a lot for the children’s performances. Amitabha Singh has been the DOP on the Oscar nominated The Good Road.

Juhi Chawla, Amole Gupte and Subhash Kapoor TO judge SHORT FILM COMPETITION Painter, author and water conversationalist Mr Aabid Surti, on behalf of his NGO Drop Dead Foundation, in association with Dainik Bhaskar Group, announced ‘One Drop Cinema’ Competition.

This is a one-minute-film competition to encourage people to create viral videos around the theme of water conservation.

The entry will be open for all where one can send in as many entries as possible.

The deadline is 22nd April. The winning entry will receive a prize of Rs 1 lakh while the second and third winners will get Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.

Details can be found at www.EventGuru.in

“I always believe that making a serious point through humour and entertainment brings it home. I hope there are many budding storytellers out there who can do the same for this very serious issue of water conservation,” said director Subhash Kapoor “The way India’s population is growing, water is going to become a bigger and bigger issue in the coming years,” said actress Juhi Chawla, “I hope that this small step can wake up many people to this reality.”

“Water conservation is close to my heart and I am delighted that Aabid Surti has taken up this noble cause. I am happy to be a part of it.” said director Amole Gupte.

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shopping

COLOURS OF ROYALTY This unique necklace from Yoube’s Amare Collection is set in 117gms of 24kt gold, features large polkis weighing 24.57 ct. surrounded by emerald green enameling.

What really sets this grand necklace apart is the amazing 17 ct. Australian opal it features at its heart. A first of its kind fusion using Australian opal in Jadau jewels.

POR, Available at www.youbejewellery.com

BLING BLING

SPRING COLLECTION Inspired by one of the most colourful birds, the peacock, the Orra Colours of Spring collection highlights an array of colours that are brought forth through the majestic presence of the peacock. This finely crafted bridal set includes a necklace, earrings, mangtika and a bracelet. With textured 22 kt. gold beads carefully strung together, kundan setting, gemstones and meenakari. POR, Available at www.orra.co.in

Necklaces to set your heart racing

Stunner Stunning diamond choker with a floral pattern which makes it a designer piece. POR, Available at all Kirtilals Stores.

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perfect blend Manubhai launched a unique range of light weight antique sets of necklaces and earrings that are a mould of ancient with blend of modernity. Intricately crafted with antique finish, textured gold in floral motifs this jadau masterpiece is set in 22K antique polish gold choker with garnets, white parabs and semi precious emerald. POR, www.manubhai.in

Ornati by Farah Khan Inspired by the fun-loving, fearless and feminine charm of every youthful heart, Ornati is a work of art by Farah Khan Ali. It is a selection of ornate and adventurous designs, with real connection to the women who inspire them.

Ornati is available exclusively at www.caratlane. com and at Carat Lane stores across Delhi, Thane, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Indore. The collection starts from Rs 8,000 available exclusively at www.caratlane.com

elegant classic Collection Lotus flower inspired neckpiece set in pearls with a side round brooch in Baguette diamonds and ruby, set in gold, by Pooja Juneja.

POR, www.poojajuneja.com

exquisite Collection Shreem Jewelers have just launched their spring summer Collection 2016. This elegant necklace is set in diamonds, pearls and a ruby. POR, www.shreemjeweler.com

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shopping

Dazzling Danglers A collection of earrings

summer glow IInspired by foliage all around us this silver piece captures the summer glow of sunlight lighting up trees. The soft gold of the metal show cases the flawless pear shaped Peridot stone pair. Rs 16,000

go places Make your travel hassle free with this exquisite Travel Jewellery by Jewelsify.com. The idea is to make the journey hassle free with this chic yet affordable Jewellery.

The designs are absolutely feminine, understated, yet highlighted with classic detail. POR, www.jewelsify.com Ornati by Farah Khan A selection of ornate and adventurous designs, with real connection to the women who inspire them. Rs 8,000 onwards available exclusively at www.

www.tarusaworld.com

Perfect Geometry The Fenced Axis earrings in 22 Kt Yellow Gold, POR, Available exclusively at www.bluestone.com

caratlane.com

Get inspired!

Pooja Juneja’s chandelier inspired earring is an exquisite jewel with detachable solitaire. Made in round and baguette diamonds and blue sapphire, the piece is set in gold. POR, www.poojajuneja.com

nature’s creation Zinia by ORRA is a collection inspired by the beautiful symmetry of nature, crafted to perfection, capturing the gorgeous filigree of nature’s creations. POR, Available at all Orra strores across India and www.orra.co.in

victorian classic!

Regal umbrella chandeliers inspired by the domes of Santorini. Set with EFVVS quality diamonds in 18 kt white gold featuring emeralds, white topaz and green onyx. POR, www.yoube.com

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feature

AN ODE TO INDIA’S OTHER

NIGHTINGALE 26 | Feelings april 2016

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Asha Bhosle needs no introduction. She has always lived by her own rules, lifting herself above sibling rivalry to carve her own place in millions of hearts around the world. An unparalleled singer and recipient of the Padmavibhushan, her one regret is being uneducated...

ALI PETER JOHN

I

first realized the magic of Asha Bhosle through my friend Gautam Rajadhyaksha, a renowned photographer and writer, who was a great admirer of ‘Asha Tai’, which is how she is popularly addressed, especially in Maharashtra. Gautam was an ardent fan of the singer and had openly expressed his views in various articles about how Asha tai was a much better singer than her sister, Lata Mangeshkar. We had several arguments on this subject but the last time it took an ugly turn. He started our conversation saying, “Arre, kya re Ali, abhi bhi Lata Mangeshkar ka chamcha bankar jeeta hai kya?”. I didn’t want to argue especially because we had met at a function to commemorate the memory of Asha’s father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, but Gautam continued teasing and taunting me. Known for annoying people with his own opinion, he was determined to carry on the conversation. I told him that his Asha tai was also a great singer but she was not a patch on Lata didi. His anger started getting the better of him though as he started on a rant about Lata Mangeshkar who is worshipped all over the world.

“Worshipped, my foot! She just has a shrill voice which she uses whether she was singing a bhajan, a love song or even the famous, ‘Aye mere watan ke logon”. He went on to say that it was idiots like me who had given

her so much importance. He then let out a volley of fresh abuses against Lata which I couldn’t take and I almost raised my hand when he left the auditorium, got into his car and left in a huff. We never met again after that, a pity because he died five years ago.

I saw Asha’s forthrightness at a political meeting called by a leader known as the Hindu Hriday Samrat where Asha was one of the guests to be honoured at the end of the function. Though she was late, she did not even care to look at the Samrat or any of the other leaders on the dais. She knew they were blind followers of her Lata didi and anyone who could see her closely could guess that she was not interested in listening to them. When it was her turn to speak she spoke bluntly in chaste Marathi saying that she knew she was invited to the meeting because they were not able to get Lata didi to attend. She also said that she hated politics and felt very sorry for all politicians. Looking straight at the Samrat, who was feared by everyone in Maharashtra and even the country, she said, “I feel very bad for all politicians who have to keep lying and making false promises to the poor to make themselves rich. I have seen ordinary and uneducated men becoming politicians and deciding the fate of some of the most educated people. I have seen them playing around with the future of little children. I would never like to be a politician and would hate any of my friends or relatives to get into politics. It is only when we have leaders who are genuinely interested in the welfare of the people that our country can be Mera Bharat Mahaan. I have said what I wanted to say and don’t mind if you don’t give me the award for which you have called me here.” At the end the Samrat apparently issued orders to not to invite Asha to any function in the future, as she could damage the party’s image.

Once, Ashaji got a little nostalgic and told me about her early days. She had lost her father when she was just eight and didn’t go to school because her mother, Mai could not afford to send her. She regrets the fact about her not being educated at all. “Apun toh bhai angootha chhaap hai, thodi si bhi padhi likhi hoti, toh badon badon ki chutti kar deti,” she says and laughs. She said her sister Lata studied only up to the second standard in a Marathi medium school. Asha came to Bombay when she was twelve. Her sister was already gaining fame

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then, as a playback singer. She said, “No one cared for me, not even my sister who knew that I could sing well.

I went from one music director to another and they all turned me down, asking me to learn singing from my sister and then come back to them. I decided then that I would do whatever I could all on my own, without asking for help. It was a very grim struggle, but I think it was important for me to keep fighting, otherwise I would not have been the Asha Bhosle I am today.

The struggle made me brave enough to overcome any problem that came my way. That is how I was then and am still.”

At eighteen Asha married her sister’s secretary, Ganpatrao Bhosle. She once told me about how she eloped with him, leaving the Mangeshkar’s house at Prabhu Kunj to live in a chawl a few kilometers away in Walkeshwar. She went against the family for this and Lata did not speak to her for years. I remember every word of what she said, “I married Mr. Bhosle who was a good for nothing. He was of no help to me and our three children. He died very young, leaving me alone to make a living and look after the children, Anand, Hemant and Varsha. I managed to succeed in my singing career and shifted back to Prabhu Kunj where my sister was kind enough to me give a room to myself.” There were times when she stood outside the gates of recording studios with a child in her arms but no one had the time or the inclination to look at her, forget listening to her sing.

Asha also talked about her ‘affair’ with music director, O.P Nayyar. “He discovered real talent in me, but he was a flamboyant Punjabi who wanted something in return. I managed to work with him and he gave me some of the best songs to sing when I was a newcomer, but I could only tolerate his ways for a while. When it became too much to bear, I ditched him, leaving him very bitter. He tried to discover other ‘Asha Bhosles’, but didn’t find anyone till the very end. He died a broken hearted man with no money or home and only an unknown, poor family to look after him.” Asha was so upset with Nayyar that she did not help him even during his bad times, when the industry had forgotten him. On the day he died, she vanished from Mumbai, not caring to attend his funeral. “Only I know what all I had to go through because of him and I don’t want to let the world know all about us and our relationship,” is all she said

She feels very happy when she is honored with a doctorate from any university (she has received many) and says, “Yeh achcha hai, padho likho kuch nahi, lekin yeh log bade bade padvi dete hain, achcha lagta hain.” to her detractors. She makes it a point to forget her past, including her marriages and affairs, “because they only make life more miserable and I like to forget what has already happened and move on”.

Her love for Pancham (R.D Burman), however, was different. “He was the only man who understood me.

We made a very good team and he gave up everything to marry me, even though I was his senior. He was my greatest support and ours was a love story unlike any other.” One of her favourite jokes is about their different languages, “I was madly in love with Pancham, but language was always our problem. If I knew Bengali better, I could have told him the feelings I had for him in a much better way.”

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His sudden death was the end of the world for her, but, “I just had to see his photograph to hear his voice in the recording room, shouting, ‘Come on baby, come on bubs, you can do it, you can do it like no one can’. That was enough to give me confidence and hope to carry on and sing better than before. He once appeared in a dream and asked me to stop wearing white sarees because I was not a widow as he was always there with me. I have not worn white sarees after that night.” Ask her if she misses anyone in life and she says, “Kisi ko miss karne ya na karne se kya faayda? Jo gaya woh gaya, hum bhi jaayenge ek din, haan unki yaadein hamesha zinda rehti hain aur humko bhi zinda rakhti hain. Aur agar ek insaan ko mai aaj bhi yaad rakhti hoon aur zindagi bhar rakhoongi, woh hain Pancham kyunki uske jaane ke baad zindagi ki har subah, dopahar aur shaam khaali khaali rehti hain. Sirf raat mein kabhi kabhi hum dono milte hain aur subah tak bahot saari baatein kartein hain aur agar kahin aur zindagi hain toh hum hamesha saath rahne ka vaada karte hain”.

Asha has always helped people in need, the povertystricken or those lying sick and dying in municipal hospitals. During one of our talks she said, “I know what poverty is. I have seen people dying because of lack of help from anywhere. God has given me all that I need and more, so I feel I must do my best for those in trouble.”

create controversies between her and Lata, “Aajkal yeh chhote chhote bachche patrakaar bankar aate hain.

Unko maloom kya hain? Woh jo sunte aa rahe hai, wahi sawaal baar baar poochhte hai. Dil karta hain ki unko pakad kar maaru, lekin hum jo bhi kare woh bura aur woh jo bhi kare woh achcha. Aaj kal T.V waalo aur patrkaaro ka raaj hain aur hum unke haath mein khilaune hote jaa rahe hain. Yeh bakwaas band karna padega.”

Surprisingly, Asha and Lata have a common guru in their younger brother. Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, who they both call ‘Hitler’, is very strict when it comes to their riyaaz, which starts at 4 am, lasting for two hours even at this age.

Asha lives life on her own terms and is full of zeal and zest, even at eighty- four. She feels great when people tell her that her birthday, September 8, coincides with the birthday of Mother Mary, “Arey woh toh bhagwaan ki maa hai, lekin uski mahaanta har maa mein hain, aur mujh mein zaroor hain,” she says. Ask her how she feels at eighty -four and she says, “Umar koi ungliyon pe ginne ki cheez nahi hain. Hum sab ka hisaab woh upar wala rakhta hai aur jiski zindagi mein jitna waqt likha hain usse naa kum na zyada jee sakte hain. Isliye mai kehti hoon ki yehi ek pal hai, isi mein saari zindagi ka mazaa le lo. Yeh kehna Pancham ka bhi tha, jo usne Gulzar sahab ki ek kavita se liya tha.”

The Mangeshkars used to live on one floor with each of them having their own rooms but they rarely met.

The only time they came together was to celebrate the birthdays of their parents. Asha is known as the rebel in the family and they talk to her only when there is need to. As one of them puts it, “She is very difficult to handle and can say anything to anyone. It is better to keep away from someone who specializes in creating problems out of nothing.” Asha never loses a chance to make fun of and mimic her sister, even in public meetings and celebrations. Her family is very angry with her about making fun of the head (Lataji) of the family, but Lata has learnt to take it in her stride. When she is present at such occasions, she laughs her heart out. No one though has been able to really guess what she feels about her younger sister pulling her leg all the time. Asha however, is very angry with a section of the press that keeps trying to

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I was once sent to her to invite her to a function.

She was celebrating the birthday of one of her grand children and was serving every guest, mostly children and domestic help from the building with the biryani which she had prepared herself. She said we could talk ‘business’ later but must first sit down to eat and served me her famed biryani!

MULTI-TALENTED, MILLIONAIRE AND A MUSICAL MIRACLE Asha was a born fighter and continued her battle against all odds till music directors like O.P Nayyar and Khayyam took notice of her and gave her the first major breaks of her singing career. It was her songs in B.R Chopra’s Naya Daur with music by O.P Nayyar that shot her to fame and with films like Teesri Manzil, Carvaan and Hare Ram Hare Krishna, she was among the leading singers in Hindi films.

She firmly believes that it was just one song, Dum Maaro Dum from Dev Anand’s Hare Ram Hare Krishna, that changed the course of her life. Later of course, she sang for many top composers like S.D Burman, Ravi, Khayyam, Shankar-Jaikishan and Illaiyaraja and A.R Rahman from the south.

Though Asha is illiterate, she picked up almost every major Indian language and sang some of the best songs in most of them. She also sang some of the best ghazals, shaayaris, sufi songs, qawwaalis, nazms, bhajans and lok geet. She had to only understand the emotion behind

Asha and Lata have a common guru in their younger brother. Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, who they both call ‘Hitler’, is very strict when it comes to their riyaaz, which starts at 4 am, lasting for two hours even at this age. the lyrics and then came up with songs that have become landmarks. The songs she sang in Umrao Jaan, under the supervision of Khayyam made every song from the film a masterpiece. It gave new lives to Rekha as a heroine, to Khayyam as a composer and Asha as a singer.

Asha took to doing musical concerts in different parts of the world and was a craze wherever she performed.

Today, at eighty- four, she is more in demand than any of new generation singers, including Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and even Sonu Nigam. She understands very little English, but has sung with some of the leading groups, bands (Boy George) and individual singers from the west, some of whose members are as young as her grand children.

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Still as active as ever, she can hold a packed hall spellbound for hours with even some dancing and mimicking on stage. There are days when she has two concerts in two different states in America. Once, some years ago she had such a hectic schedule that she fell seriously ill, but continued with the concert, which ended in a standing ovation for her. She is booked for many more concerts in places like Singapore, Sweden, Bahrain and Egypt, besides the prestigious shows she does in India.

The woman who was once left with nothing but hope (asha) is now a millionaire among artists in India.

She is apparently making more money than Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan. She owns a chain of hotels, seven in the Gulf countries alone, two in London, one in Singapore and many in the different states of America where she is very popular. All are either fivestar or seven- star hotels and all are named Asha’s. The hotel business and her concerts are taken care of by her youngest son, Anand Bhosle.

She has always encouraged young talent because she remembers herself as a new comer once. She sang for two young music directors who Dev Anand had discovered in his film, Charge Sheet and last sang for a film called Kambhakt Ishq, the music of which was also scored by a new music composer. When Dev went after her with a cheque, she said, “Aapne hum ko pachaas saal se itna sab kuch diya hain, ab hum aapse paise ki baat kare toh hum se paap ho jaayga.”

Ashaji’s professionalism is legendary. While performing at a concert in Singapore, news about her older son Hemant’s death (from cancer) reached her but she continued the concert and after attending his funeral and other religious rites, again went back to continue with her concert. In 2012, she was at a concert when she was told about her daughter, Varsha, committing suicide. She did not make a show of her emotions, performed the final rituals and went back on stage to sing like before…

Some years ago she made her debut as an actress in a film called Mai, in which she played a sixty-five year old victim of Alzheimer’s. The film flopped and Asha vowed to never make her presence felt on screen again.

Asha has now shifted from Prabhu Kunj into a super

ASHA’S AWARDS •

Asha has won seven Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards out of 18 nominations. She won her first two awards in 1967 and 1968, when Lata Mangeshkar still used to accept the award (Mangeshkar asked not to be considered for the award nominations after 1969 to promote new talent). After receiving the award in 1979, Bhosle emulated her elder sister and requested that her name not be considered for the nominations hereafter.

Despite this, Bhosle is the most frequent winner of this award to date. She was later given a Special Award for Rangeela in 1996, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.

•

She has won the National Award twice for Umrao Jaan and Ijaazat.

•

She has won the BFJA Awards several times.

Among the other awards she has received are the Maharashtra State Film Awards, the Lata Mangeshkar Award, the Grammy nomination, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, MTV Award and twenty other awards, besides the awards she has not accepted.

•

Asha has sung more than fifteen thousand songs in almost in all the languages in India and is in the Guinness Book of Records. The Government of India first presented her with the Padmashri, then the Padmabhushan and recently the Padmavibhushan.

deluxe apartment, in the posh area of Lower Parel. Her piece of advice to anyone who would like to take it is, “Zindagi sirf ek baar milti hai, uske baad na koi swarg hai ya nark. Swarg aur nark dono tumhaare haath mein hai, tum tumhaare khud ke bhagwaan ho, tum chaaho toh tumhari is zindagi ko swarg bhi banaa sakte ho aur nark bhi. Apna karm karo aur chalte raho jab tak zindagi hai. Uske baad hum aur tum sirf yaadein bankar reh jaayenge aur agar kuch achcha kaam kiya toh ek tasveer mein band rahoge ya ek putle ke roop mein khade rahoge, dhoop mein aur baarish mein aur kauve tumtumhaare sar par baithkar aaram karenge”. n

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exclusive interview

musical flights of fantasy Special music correspondent Sujata Majumdar meets the ever-smiling, highly religious, humorous and generous Sukhwinder Singh for an exclusive interview session, at his plush Juhu residence.

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exclusive interview

H

is versatile voice has mesmerised millions around the globe, be it the groovy Chhaiyaan chhaiyaan, the romantic Haule haule, the motivating Chak de India, the foot-tapping Dard e Disco, the mischievous Beedi jalai le, or the Oscar winning Jai ho. With an enviable repertoire of songs, Sukhwinder Singh excels each time. His dynamic singing has the power to charge audiences and make even the shyest forget their inhibitions. Fondly known as ‘Sukhiji’ in the industry, this uniquely talented playback singer and innovative music composer is also a creative lyricist. ‘Dariya-dil’ is how the humble artist describes himself. With a huge number of songs in various Indian languages and several prestigious awards to his credit, Sukhwinder has carved a niche for himself and acquired an unshakeable position in the music industry.

shows? What are your views about reality shows? Are they really beneficial for the newcomers?

The beauty of a garden is enhanced if it is full of different kinds of beautiful flowers. Similarly, the more the singers, the more the beauty of the music industry.

Reality shows are a very good platform for newcomers as they get a chance to perform before stalwart judges and win instant fame among a TV-watching audience of millions. However, it has become quite aggressive nowadays. The newcomers fail to understand that the TRPs will only come from talent and style. Tamasha can only give them a temporary name, not everlasting fame. If I ever judge a reality show, I shall definitely emphasize on promoting pure singing talent and style instead of drama.

What inspired you to take up music as your career?

Music is more than a career. Music is what inspires me to live life. So it can be said that my passion has become my profession.

Tell us something about your equation with A.R. Rahman, Vishal Bharadwaj and the iconic Gulzaar Saab.

A.R. Rahman is my godfather as he introduced me to the world of music, personally and professionally. The song Chhaiyyan chhaiyyan which created immense hype and boosted my career was written by the one and only Gulzaar Saab. So the Rahman-Gulzaar combination has been the benchmark for my career. Similarly, the Vishal Bharadwaj-Gulzar-Sukhwinder combination has also proved to be a superhit. We are musically and lyrically compatible with each other. I am lucky to have worked with such geniuses and have indeed learnt a lot from them. The best achievement in life is to earn happiness by working with geniuses and learning from them.

You are known for improvisation and innovation in your music. How do you consciously innovate?

“Ek Deewana hi doosron ko deewaana kar sakta hai”, so, a flair for innovation is inherent in a person who is really a deewana or passionate about anything.

Undoubtedly, innovation is my strength. It suggests changing something for the better and I believe in doing my best so my music is a result of conscious as well as subconscious improvisation.

You have been a soulful music composer and an eminent lyricist as well. Why don’t we hear much of your compositions now?

My foremost priority has always been singing. But I have been passionate about composing music and also writing lyrics. While I have done fantastic work as a composer and lyricist with legendary directors and producers, I now write only if an interesting project comes my way. Composing and creative writing works within my head even when I am singing.

What according to you is the future of new-generation singers driven by reality

You are known to be real ‘dariya-dil’ in the industry and are famous for always helping others. Tell us something about this trait of yours.

‘Dariya-dili’ is an inborn quality. If it is there in your inner system, it works well for your own betterment.

Whoever is a real ‘dariya dil’ will never show off or declare what favors he has done or is doing for others.

You are a highly religious person and a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. How does your connection with the almighty reflect in your singing?

I am a staunch believer in God and I feel that each

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“The best achievement in life is to earn happiness by working with geniuses and learning from them.�

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exclusive interview

“I must admit I am a flirt.�

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event report

and everything, living or non-living has a spiritual connection with the Almighty. My spiritual connection began with Maa Saraswati and the most successful achievement followed this. While growing up I easily connected to the magnificent Lord Shiva. In his company I have learnt the lesson of universal love. I am proud to be a Sikh, but have equal respect for all other religions as well.

You have toured the globe with your power-packed stage performances. Which place is your all-time favorite and why?

I am extremely fond of all the places I have travelled to.

However, my most favorite has to be Mumbai, where I reside. Wherever I travel, the moment I return home to Mumbai, I feel completely relaxed. Of course, I feel that wherever one maybe, it is never about the place. Only inner happiness matters.

Apart from music, what else fascinates you?

Only music can fascinate me apart from music.

You are one of the most eligible bachelors in the industry. What do you think about marrying and settling down?

Marriage is a pious institution and I completely respect it, but I don’t consider myself marriage material. One reason for this, I must admit, is that I am a flirt. A streak of flirtatiousness runs in me but I don’t play with people’s emotions. I know there aren’t always positive consequences of remaining a bachelor, yet I am sure that

if music remains my eternal partner then I shall not die alone.

You are fondly called Sukhiji in the industry. ‘Sukhi’ means happy and you are an ever-smiling person. So can it be said that your name personifies you?

My name Sukhwinder is a combination of two words – Sukh, which is happiness, and Inder, as in Lord Indra.

Interestingly, Lord Indra is the god of romance and the rains, and it so happens that at many places where I have performed, untimely rains have occurred, inspite of which my shows continued without any disturbance.

Of course, I always try to stay happy and smiling, so I guess you can say that my name personifies me.

Tell us something about your forthcoming projects.

I believe in quality instead of quantity and am now choosing my projects accordingly. My forthcoming projects include Rangoon, a dream project of Vishal Bharadwaj with Gulzar Saab. There is also the English stage adaptation of Monsoon Wedding which I’ve sung in English but composed in Raag Pahadi. Sultaan is yet another film I am looking forward to. There is another film named Pranam with a new music director and another where I have sung an item number for A.R. Rahman. I have also sung for a project of Salim Suleiman, which will be announced soon.

I have always believed in a slow and steady approach which is really working very well for me. n

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innovation in fashion

WHEN CULTURE BECOMES STYLE Pictures: Nilufer Amroliwala

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A nine yard Chinese fabric wrapped around an Indian with ancestral roots in Persia, the Parsi gaara and border sarees are truly a global garment. Adil Marawala finds out how it has evolved to its present day look

E

veryone knows the popular story of refugees from Pars in Persia who carried a lump of sugar which got them a deal with the local king of Gujarat. They were granted asylum in the state, after gauging their fair intentions and sharp wisdom. Centuries after, the Parsis or Zorastrians have delivered more than sweetness to the India they call ‘motherland’. And among many a socio-cultural and industrial contributions of the Parsis to the Indian fabric is the art of fine dressing in Parsi style embroidered sarees. The original Parsi gaara is a heritage jewel among the textiles of India. A UNESCO report recently reported the Parsi gaara saree-making as a dying art.

Here’s a look at what makes it so special: Sarees down the silk route Strict definition restricts a gaara to a saree made in China or Japan. The saree’s fabric (gaaj or paaj) is hand-woven, natural silk. In addition, the saree’s base fabric is embellished with hand-embroidery at the very least along the border. The entire gaara is therefore one integral piece. There are no such gaaras being made anymore, which leaves very few authentic gaaras.

The number of surviving gaaras is also diminishing continually. The original gaaras are most fragile and a single point of damage can render the entire saree unusable.

A separate border strip that can be sewn on to a base fabric is called a kor. The kor being more durable, can be removed and placed on another base sari if the original wears out. Since the principal embroidery work on many gaaras was the border and the borders often survived the deterioration of the sari’s base fabric, the concept of making separate, embroidered borders was developed.

The border could then be sewn on to the saree. This gave the traditional gaara a modern avatar, with two distinct types of sarees, one with an integral border and the other with an independent border strip called a kor.

Art knows no religion The quintessential Parsi gaara and border sarees find their makers spread across different communities and regions. While the original hand-woven art of gaara making is privy to select Parsi families, machineembroidered gaara and border sarees are in vogue with evergreen designs being recreated in short durations, over a variety of fabrics by saree designers across India.

Embroidered china-work on silk fabric is a speciality of gaara makers from Kolkata. In Mumbai, the Grant road area near the Parsi housing colony of Cama Baug is famous for gaara designers and merchants who have been in the business for generations now. Popular among them are Felinaz and Mota Faram at Grant Road, the Hindu artists of Pushpam Sarees (Grant road) and

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innovation in fashion

Mahaveer sarees at Matunga. In Surat, Gujarat, the machine-embroidered gaara of Ghanibhai Vora at Chowk Bazaar is a trusted name among Parsi families scouting for a traditional looking saree, to add to their collection.

Nilesh Darji at Valsad also makes machine-embroidered Parsi sarees.

Changing with the times The art of gaara making has undergone a sea change as fashion and style has evolved over the decades. Originally, the gaara was hand-woven using a single spindle of white thread on either a purple or a maroon Chinese fabric known as Ojhariu. This fabric, imported from China, came with a faint backdrop print of an oriental scene – pagodas, cranes, Chinese fisherfolk, ladies in kimonos, dragons and other motifs from the Far East. Skilled designers would be entrusted to embroider the whole pattern on the saree in a time frame ranging from six months to over two years, depending on the complexity of pattern.

As new generations of Parsi women donned the nine-yard legacy, they improvised in terms of colour, embroidery style and weight of the saree. A lightweight chamois or silk or net fabric is more prevalent now. The embroidery patterns are taking a flight from the Chinese landscape to generic florals, with embellishments like Swaroski crystals, mirror work, and American diamonds. The colour spectrum of the gaara has now broadened to include white, black, red, turquoise, mauve an even sunlight yellow. Thanks to machine embroidery, neo-look gaaras can be fabricated using multi-colour threadwork to animate the floral patterns.

This style though, appeals more to the non-Parsi

clientele who wear these at cocktail parties and marriage functions.

Old makes way for the new With the changing look of the gaara, the way and the need to adorn it is also undergoing a paradigm shift. Katy Farokh Anklesaria was happy to receive her family’s legacy of an age-old gaara from her mother, but was in two minds about whether to wear it at her marriage ceremony. “I remember I wanted to wear a designer label, but eventually bowed to parental pressure”, she says. She has no regrets though as the photographs captured the timeless elegance of the gaara draped on her, at the ceremony.

Now settled in Australia, Katy wastes no opportunity to wear it, staying close to her roots and even promoting the dying ‘gaara style’ Parsi saree among different cultures abroad.

Nilufer Amroliwala, a professional hair stylist to Bollywood stars wishes to tweak the traditional fabric and give it a new ’edge’ at her wedding. She says,

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“I am tinkering the idea of having a sharara or a ghaghra choli designed in gaara style. It will be bold, but the Parsis are known to play it risqué”.

At one time, a gaara was a regular part of a bride’s trousseau.

Gifting a gaara is considered very auspicious and a gaara saree forms an essential component of a gift from the husband to his wife, in Parsi tradition. Also, when a teenage, Parsi girl steps into adulthood, the gaara saree is the first saree she wears at a public function, indicating that she is ‘available’ for eligible bachelors.

Gulbanoo Gai from Vadodara says, “In the 60’s, I would argue with my husband and buy one less jewellery set or skip a family vacation, all in a hope of saving up for a decent gaara to pass on to my daughter”.

Gifting a gaara is considered very auspicious and a gaara saree forms an essential component of a gift from the husband to his wife, in Parsi tradition.

As weddings get expensive, particularly hosting a grand Parsi food feast for the guests, buying a gaara often takes a backseat, postponed instead for the first anniversary gift, maybe.

Arnoz Vandriwala, who plans to tie the knot next year, feels that the glaring expenses of booking a wedding venue, investing in a diamond or gold wedding jewellery set (Parsi style) and hiring a caterer with trusted expertise in Parsi cuisine leaves him undecided on purchasing a befitting gaara saree for his beloved.

“Right now it feels like a challenge”, says Arnoz, “But it’s never say never. I hope for the best and will try to squeeze a gaara through the band, bajaa and baarat budget”.

Fashion for philanthropy The Parsi community is known for its charity and come Navroz, the festival celebrating the spring equinox, an annual event gives a ramp walk twist to the ‘joy of giving’. Celebrated gaara and Parsi saree designer

Najoo Davar, known for her exclusive one-piece, hand woven gaara sarees, which take nearly 1.5 to 2 years to be hand crafted, holds an annual raffle at the Parsi community get together for Navroz. Many purchase raffle tickets for Rs 100 each, for a chance to win the grand prize, a hand-made Najoo Davar signature gaara, worth over 2 lakh rupees. The proceeds of this raffle sale go to support numerous charity organizations or other emergency and humanitarian funds. The Ratan Tata Institute at Hughes road, Mumbai, provides skill based training and employment to Parsi women from financially challenged backgrounds and teaches them the art of gaara and border making. The sarees prepared at this institute can match the best in business and are priced competitively. The cost plus profit is shared among the saree makers and also donated to charity institutions such as old age homes, the fire-temple upkeep and animal rescue homes. n

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innovation: Made in India

Patanjali’s meteoric rise:

700 and counting!

Getting back to nature is a growing trend around the world and Baba Ramdev has made the most of it. Not only has he contributed to the growing ‘health wave’ by bringing Yoga into our drawing rooms, but has also gained a fan-following by his ‘Swadeshi’ brand of homegrown products! He was also recently granted permission to start 500 educational institutions.

Kaustubh Athavale reports on the phenomenon

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Y

oga has been around for millennia and its importance is no secret. Its uses are known, respected and have been documented years ago. With the advent of globalization though, Indians themselves had lost touch with it. Until Baba Ramdev came along. His shows on TV and Yoga shivirs in various towns of India, became the rage. His glowing skin, jet-black hair and lean body, all apparently because of Yoga, inspired Indians everywhere to get back in touch with their heritage. His poses and pranayama cured many of their diseases and helped the overweight shed kilos.

Baba Ramdev, born in 1965 in Haryana, began the quest to master Yoga and spirituality, in his early years.

He left home, became a sanyasi, studied Sanskrit and Vedanta philosophies and Hindu scriptures. It took him years, but he finally became an Acharya and donned the white cloth that marked him as one.

where major companies don’t even have a partial presence.

Baba Ramdev began his ashram in 1993 with his fellow Acharya Balkrishna, a keen practioner of the Ayurveda.

They began making ayurvedic medicine at the ashram and formed a Trust for the research and development of their products.

Patanjali has a turnover of $300 million. No other company has made this much profit, in such a short time.

After that, he embarked upon a journey to spread his knowledge of yoga and Indian spirituality all over the country. The Patanjali institute founded in 2006 was dedicated to spreading the teachings of his masters to one and all. As his fame grew, he became known in public as Baba Ramdev. He turned Patanjali from a Yoga institute to a firm that is researching on Ayurvedic medicine and developing products based on it. The Yoga teachings continue through a hands-on approach, and also through the social media and YouTube. Today, Patanjali has a turnover of $300 million. No other company has made this kind of profit, in such a short time.

Initially, the products were mostly given free of cost, or for a small amount. However, during the early 2000s, in order to meet the financial requirements of the Trust, they started asking for funds, and also charging a bare minimum amount for the products.

People still bought the herbal medicines by the barrel.

His fame reached abroad as well, notably, to some Muslim countries where demand for Patanjali products reached a new high. In 2007, the Yoga-Ayurveda duo began production on a new batch of products, focusing on food and herbal cosmetics. Within 8 years, Patanjali Food and Herbal Products has reached to the top of the game. Acharya Balkrishna is Chairman and MD of the company while Baba Ramdev refuses to keep any rights to his name.

The secret to its success is simplicity. Through the ages, many sanyasis and yoga teachers have tried to make yoga popular but have failed due to their tendency to work only for the rich. Baba Ramdev has a simple formula. He used Yoga and Pranayam (breathing exercises in yoga) for the benefit of the common man, showing them how they could cure a variety of ailments like asthama, liver damage, tumors and high or low blood pressure. These natural methods, based on ancient knowledge were long-term fixes compared to drugs which he said contained chemicals and gave temporary relief. Today, his clinics and Patanjali outlets are all across the country, including in remote places

The Benefits of Patanjali Chyawanprash – Contains Amla (gooseberry) which increases longevity – Increases body’s natural ability to produce White Blood Cells – Helps with Digestion – It rejuvenates the liver, cleans the blood, and overall purifies the body by removing toxins – Nourishes the skin from within.

– Helps the internal organs to work efficiently – Helps with fertility [Sourced from Patanjali Stores]

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innovation: Made in India

Baba says that the increased sale of Patanjali products and Indian products in general, greatly boosts the economy of the country as well.

The Baba is not interested in the competition though marketing analysts have been worried over the possibility of major drop in revenue for Patanjali due to its extremely wide variety – nearly 700 unique products in total!

He claims that the products are taking Indians back to their roots. A vocal critic of westernization and western medicine, Baba Ramdev detests the use of foreign products and promotes Patanjali as a Swadeshi Company. Its products are made with the purest natural materials. While western products are made of chemicals and drugs, his products are natural and have proven to be beneficial. Some of the things that Patanjali uses as major ingredients is cow urine, dung, gooseberry juice, neem, Aloe Vera, pure ghee, etc.

The brand is giving stiff competition to the MNCs, because of the way the products are priced. While a tube of a popular toothpaste will cost Rs. 100 a Patanjali Dant-kanti toothpaste of the same size will cost Rs. 40, with the promise of being ‘all-natural’.

Though the Baba courts controversies with certain remarks and political activities, it has done nothing

to affect his brand. Production continues on Patanjali products non-stop to keep up with the demand in the market. Among the products made are 100 tons of Chavanprash, 10 tons of Badam Pak, and 50 tons each of aloe Vera, gooseberry and other fruit juices. Despite these staggering figures, the supply falls short against the demand.

Baba Ramdev wants to bring Indian Ayurveda medicine back full circle. Revered in the olden days, it was losing its importance with Indians relying heavily on foreign products. Baba says that the increased sale of Patanjali products and Indian products in general, greatly boosts the economy of the country as well. It ensures that Indian money stays in India.

Patanjali stands as a unique innovation of Baba Ramdev. The company has achieved astronomical success and has convinced not only Indians, but also the people of other countries about the wealth of traditional Indian medicine and its heritage. The brand stands as a major Made in India product, poised to achieve new heights. n Most Sold Patanjali Products 1. Patanjali Chyawanprash 2. Patanjali Multani Mitti Face Pack 3. Patanjali Coconut Hair Wash 4. Patanjali Dant-Kanti Toothpaste 5. Patanjali Moisturizer Cream 6. Patanjali Aloe Vera Gel 7. Patanjali Hair Conditioner 8. Patanjali Anti-Wrinkle Cream 9. Patanjali Sunscreen 10. Patanjali Aloe Vera Apricot Scrub [Sourced from Patanjali Stores]

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innovation in arts Arts

WEAVING STORIES,

BLAZING TRAILS Stories aren’t just for children, discovers Nandini Sanan Shankar, after talking to Pooja Sagar, the ‘Story aunty’ and Pooja Giri of Thangam Talkies.

The two women don’t just share a name but also a passion, one which they have made into their profession. Yes, they tell stories, to children, adults and even corporates. Read on to discover how the age-old tradition of storytelling, now with a modern twist is all today’s world needs to keep its sense of wonder alive!

What made you get into storytelling as a profession?

P Sagar: Though I had a bookshelf of my own as a child, listening to stories told by my parents remained my favourite activity. It has been 35 years, but I still remember the stories they narrated and also the way they modulated their voice. I, as a little girl, created valleys, birds, jungles, witches, princesses, kings and elves in my own imaginative corner of my mind. It was a truly magical experience. Years later when I started

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The characters came alive and it was fascinating to see how one person juggled multiple roles. This was something that I saw myself doing. So I enrolled myself for the beginners course at Kathalaya in Bangalore and Thangam Talkies was born in 2010. The same year I presented stories in many schools for the Prakriti Foundation, which has an annual program called Tree of Life for Children’s Day. What started as a passion fructified into a profession in 2014. I started conducting storytelling sessions and workshops in my studio at Chennai. Starmark bookstore was keen to encourage reading and the oral tradition and I performed at both their outlets in Chennai.

What was the most important thing you learnt about storytelling at Kathalaya?

P Sagar: At Kathalaya, the idea that attracted me the most was the ‘story plan’. I learnt the art of planning my story; which includes what story to tell (the objective behind choosing the story), the message I want to convey through the story, the target audience, the props and audio/visual aids I would use, the source of the story and also a follow-up activity (role play or art/craft project) for the story. The ‘story plan’ added a whole new dimension to my approach towards storytelling. I would call it the ‘professional touch’ to storytelling. It made me accountable and responsible for my story. teaching primary school kids, I found storytelling an effective teaching tool . For instance, if a child is lying, instead of lecturing the child on the virtues of truthfulness, it was much more effective to tell a story on the topic. This way, the child doesn’t feel secluded from the group and the story would reach the whole class.

Even a math or science concept can be taught in the form of a story. So, in order to fine tune my storytelling skills, I joined Kathalaya, a centre for storytelling, in Bangalore.

P Giri: My grandmother would tell me stories about Tenali Rama, Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox and I read a lot of Amar Chitra Katha. Movies fascinated me and I wanted to be a performer. But college and career put my passion on the backseat. Once I attended a couple of theatre workshops in Chennai and chanced upon a storytelling session by a certain Craig Jenkins. I was completely enthralled by his brilliant performance.

P Giri: The field of storytelling was novel to me when I went to Kathalaya. The founder Geeta Ramanujam asked each of us what we wanted from the course and integrated those aspects. Among the various sessions on voice and body, one exercise caught my attention. We had to choose a particular object, for example, a safety pin or a spoon and then become that object. We had no idea what was in store for us. I chose a disposable tea cup and the idea of actually becoming the object and letting go of inhibitions was mind-boggling. I had to act out various scenarios such as a person crushing the teacup or when hot tea is poured in it or the cup being blown away in the wind, the focus always being on the minute details.

Your favourite stories?

P Sagar: My favourite stories are from the evergreen Amar Chitra Kathas. Having said that, I also love Roald Dahl, Ruskin Bond, P.G. Wodehouse, Geronimo and

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innovation in arts

Thea Stilton (Scholastic), Panchatantra tales, folk tales and Dinakkondu kathe (by Kannada writer Anupama Niranjana) P Giri: I enjoy Akbar Birbal and Tenali Rama stories.

My favourites for performing are Why the rooster says cock a doodle do, The Chicken and the Crocodile (an African story), The four rivers (a Chinese folktale) and also Mazanendaba and the Magical Story Shell (an African folktale). I have also heard many by attending storytelling workshops by Dr. Eric Miller, Jeeva Raghunathan, and by international storytellers namely Roger Jenkins, Wajuppa Tossa, Antonio Rocha, Richard Martin.

Do you make up your own stories?

Are there some stories that are more suited to storytelling?

P Sagar: Yes, I generally make up my own stories to teach academic subjects. For instance, if I have to teach them about birds and their nests, I make up a story in which God organises a nest- building competition

“In the west, storytellers focus more on reading a story by showing pictures; whereas in our culture, stories are a part of oral tradition.” among birds. I tell them how the weaver bird and tailor bird took active part in the contest and built their nests honestly and sincerely. The crow which doesn’t show too much interest in nest building does a quick and dirty job. The lazy cuckoo doesn’t build one at all. Such a story not only focuses on scientific facts, but keeps their curiosity alive. Similarly, I make up stories to teach addition, multiplication, and other mathematical concepts.

P Giri: I wrote The Adventure of Jintax which is the story of how the parrot got its green colour. I have also written My Grandmother and I and The Lemon Juice Tales. When I read a story that captures my imagination

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I try to see myself performing it and depending on that immediately choose the story.

What are some of the innovative techniques you use?

P Sagar: I believe that each storyteller brings along with her a unique flavour of telling a tale. I just go with the flow and enjoy the narration even though I plan my story well in advance. Over the years, I have witnessed myself evolve as a storyteller, and still continue to do so. Every storytelling event is unique. I can never really replicate an experience ever. It also greatly depends on my mood and the setting of the place. There are days when I have felt I could have done much better and days when I really surprise myself. I don’t read to my audience from a book but love eye contact with them and also make lots of gestures with the hands, alter facial expressions and include appropriate movements.

It makes us connect and generates warmth and oneness.

P Giri: Over time I have developed my own innovative technique of infusing music into my stories. I write my own lyrics and then take an existing tune or make up a tune to make it part of the performance. All the stories in my repertoire have their own songs and actions which are unique to that story. In fact, some of the children who attend my sessions on a regular basis go home and immediately tell their parents the stories they have heard with all the actions and songs.

What are the differences in stories from

Corporates can learn a lot of management techniques from even a simple story such as the Hare and the Tortoise. The same story can be interpreted in different ways, whereby the hare challenges the tortoise only to bring out his best capabilities

other cultures?

P Sagar: Yes, the main essence of storytelling is to help children relate to other people and cultures. I believe that stories from all over the world stand on four pillars; love, hope, truth and faith. But, yes, there are differences in the way they are narrated and the tools and techniques used too. In the west, storytellers focus more on reading a story by showing pictures; whereas in our culture, stories are a part of oral tradition. Different cultures use different characters too. While in the east, there are Gods, Goddesses, sages, monks and animals form main characters in stories, Russian folktales have Czars, Czarinas, peasants, witches and animals (especially wolves) and African stories have tribal men and women and Anansi, the spider. In my stories, I introduce my audience to these special characters from across the globe. For instance, my children know a Russian witch as ‘Baba Yaga’ and a young Russian king as mostly ‘Czar Ivanowich’. This is how effortlessly and beautifully the connection with other cultures happen. As I mentioned before, there is MAGIC IN STORYTELLING !

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innovation in Arts

P Giri: I perform stories from China, Iran, Malaysia, Africa, Russia and India. I came across a Chinese tale called The Four Rivers. It is about how four dragons became the four famous rivers of China as they wanted to help the people who were suffering from drought.

People in China believe in it like we believe in the story of how the river Ganga came onto earth or how the rivers Sutlej and Beas got their names. Some stories are linked to the history of the land but each story from a particular country showcases the aspects of that culture.

How do you choose your stories?

P Sagar: For children aged 3 - 12, I mainly focus on stories that convey messages of hope, love, faith and truth. Children enjoy funny stories, so, I add lot of humour to my stories. For an audience of 12 and above, I choose biographies and motivational stories that boost self esteem, emphasize self reliance, empathy and goal setting. For elders, I choose Zen, Sufi and other inspirational, spiritual stories. Many times I also follow themes such as water, contentment, monsoon, Japanese folktales, brave women around the world and so on.

The methods also vary according to the audience. For ages 3 - 12, I use visual aids, such as glove puppets, still theatre boxes, shadow puppets, Japanese dividers, quilts and other creative stuff which I make myself. For above 12 years I use riddles, puzzles or quizzing to arouse interest, but the main emphasis is on voice modulation.

Occasionally, I also use picture printouts or still theatre boxes .

What are the children’s reactions after these storytelling sessions?

P Sagar: Oh, they just love listening to stories. They demand a story every time they see me. My son is too thrilled to have a ‘storyteller’ mom. He often receives comments from his friends, such as “How lucky you are! You can listen to so many stories all through the day”. Yes, I do feel like a celebrity when they come running to me, saying “Yay, ‘STORY AUNTY’ is here” ! (Yes, that’s what I am popularly called.)

Some would say storytelling is for kids, it is make-believe. Do you have to deal

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Adult storytelling is more an interactive and personal sharing experience rather than telling them stories. An interesting fact is that when adults are sharing their childhood stories there will be at least three or four common experiences of getting lost, going for summer holidays, being chased by dogs etc.

with cynicism?

P Giri: Yes, all the time. I have adults asking how can there be a storytelling session for adults. But, when they come to listen and share stories they realize that it is very much a personal and interactive session, that it creates a bond that one can relate to, outside of one’s usual comfort level.

Tell us more about your professional storytelling set up.

P Sagar: The idea of a reading room sprouted when i was working as a teacher in a school. Parents often came up to me and complained about their kids not reading. I realised that reading has to be role modelled to children.

We as adults need to read, for children to be inspired.

The reading room is similar to the ancient gurukul or the current montessori methodology where teacher and kids read and interact together. To make it fun, I thought

of ‘theme based learning’. For instance we take up the theme of ‘Insects’ and for a whole month, we share amazing facts about insects, quiz on insects and do art work where kids learn how to draw insects in easy steps, literary games and worksheets on insects,etc. I also plan an outdoor activity such as a butterfly walk, ant walk or visit to an insectarium,etc.

P Giri: After completing my course with Kathalaya the first thing my mother suggested was that I have a name for my performances. In Telugu and in Tamil we sometimes fondly call children Thangam and as storytelling is predominately for children, my mother came up with Thangam Talkies.Under the banner I have storytelling sessions and workshops for children and adults. I also perform in libraries, bookstores, storytelling festivals and birthday parties. I am currently a member of the Indian Storytelling Network and I performed at the Chennai Storytelling Festival in 2015. n

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Innovation in Publishing

Amazon and the Rise of

Self-Publishing

Self publishing is gaining ground, slowly but surely. With Amazon leading the way, now is the time to write that book, discovers Abhilash Jayachandra

T

here was a time when books sold like hot pancakes at a bookstore and people would line up to buy them. We need only think of Rowling’s Harry Potter to know this to be true.

Book launches and book tours were the only way things were done. The few authors who reached this pinnacle of success were very lucky, for those were the days an author went from one publisher to another, and only after his manuscript was deemed worthy of publishing, would he reach the second hurdle - that of ruthless editors who cut down and correct the authors’ work to its optimum efficiency.

With the advent of self-publishing, the rules of the game have changed drastically. No more is there time or need for book launches or tours. Sure, these things exist still, but one needs to be a celebrity author for

their publishers to consider this privilege. First time authors rarely, if ever, get to experience this tradition.

To top it all, the whole business of editing has reached various levels of exasperation for authors, with having to pay third-party editors to edit their work, while they arrange for the tours themselves and even pay for book launches.

Self-publishing is like a steroid shot in the arm, one that allows an author to jump over these hurdles faster and better than before. All that’s needed is the money and one can simply edit the book, typeset it, and print it oneself! It also allows the author to sell his/her books online, in all formats, to be read on a laptop, a tablet, a Kindle, and even on a Smartphone! Graphic designers can be hired to create different covers for the various formats.

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Traditional publishing is limited to fifteen percent of the total profit for the author, with first time authors earning even less; but it’s much more with selfpublishing. At the most basic rate of $2.99 per book, Kindle offers up to seventy percent of the total profits!

One only has to look at Amanda Hocking, a 26 year old young-adult fiction writer from the US, who in 2011 earned two million dollars via self-publishing on Amazon’s Kindle. Her average sales were 9,000 hits per day, an unheard of amount for a self-publisher.

In July, 2010, Amazon made news by declaring that its sale of eBooks was roughly twice that of hardcovers.

Clever trade pundits, however, were vindicated in their assumption that Amazon sells more paperbacks than hardcovers, and that paperback sales far outstrip Kindle sales any day of the week. Less than six months later, Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos declared that eBooks had overtaken paperbacks with 115 eBooks selling against 100 paperbacks.

Somehow, lower down on the scale is Andy Weir, the author of phenomenal The Martian, which was adapted into a classic movie by Ridley Scott, in 2015. Scott wrote and serialized The Martian on his website, one chapter at a time. At the request of his readers, he put up the entire book for 99 cents on Amazon, where it sold 35,000 copies in three months. Its publishing rights were eventually bought and it has enjoyed cult status ever since, culminating in the high-profile Hollywood movie.

When it was fairly new, self-publishing was considered “unethical” and a vanity project. It was considered a socialistic innovation, there to help any writer rejected by publishers, to become an author. To some extent, it is still thought of like that. There is a lack of goodwill associated with the idea of self-publishing which has led to people preferring eBooks by well-known authors and publishers as opposed to eBooks by new authors and self-publishers. The time is opportunistic though, for the ease that self-publishing offers is a first-time author’s dream come true.

Closer home, India has had a relatively late but promising start in the self-publishing field. New authors are coming up every day and although none of them

Tips for Self Publishing in India 1. Write a book.

2. Edit and proofread it yourself or hire a professional.

3. Get an eye-catching cover designed.

4. Decide on the format you want to publish it in: You can approach Amazon for their Kindle services, or hire a publisher who might also offer eBook services.

5. Another option is to format the book yourself and publish it on your own website.

6. Hire a distributor and a marketing professional. Your publisher might help, Amazon surely does. On the other hand, you can market it yourself on the social media.

seem to be making waves, they are getting noticed.

Rasana Atreya who published her book online finds herself going up and down the sales ladder, or Sri Vishwanath who found self-publishing an excellent opportunity to publish the 13 books he had written, are among the few who are making a change. Partridge publications published two books by Ranjana Kamo in both print and eBook format.

A success story like Hocking’s is still a rarity in the world of e-publishing. Having published nearly 20 bestsellers, she has left her Indian contemporaries far behind. Even she knows how unique her situation is.

According to her blog, “[and] just so we’re clear – eBooks make up at best 20% of the market, print books make up the other 80%. Traditional publishers still control the largest part of the market, and they will – for a long time, maybe forever. EBooks will continue to gain ground, but I would say that we have at least 5-10 years before eBooks make up the majority.”

In the long run, it stands to reason that her uniqueness will be considered ‘the’ example of the way the self-publishing industry is growing. With Kindle selling more and more devices each year and authors churning out books by the dozen, self-publishing is an innovation sure to evolve beyond the traditional world of publishing. n

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innovation in food

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What’s cooking?

Celebrity Chef Amrita Raichand of the popular Mummy Ka Magic, talks about how innovation keeps her going and the many uses of technology in the culinary world, in an exclusive interview with Abid Mohammed

Model, actress, socialite, mother and chef! How do you manage your time?

Yes, it is a lot of things to juggle, but I am not doing everything everyday. I do it at my convenience, when it suits me. In fact that was one of the biggest reasons I became into a chef, because being a chef was giving me a lot more time as compared to doing anything else. In this phase I realised that I owned my time. I didn’t have to depend on anybody for the space. I could do it at my own pace, in my own time and the way I wanted to do it.

When was it that you started getting known as a chef?

In the beginning it was just a hobby. I love cooking so it came to me easily but it was never something I thought that would become a focal point in my career as I was busy with my modelling, acting and various other things. Chef Sanjeev and Alyona Kapoor persuaded me to become one. They came home and told me “You can cook and connect with children and we should do this show.” Since I was already cooking at home I decided

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interview

to give it a try. The show did very well but still it was just a hobby for me.

The shift happened in the last couple of years when I started getting identified as a chef and not someone who had acted with so and so or for this or that brand.

People recognised me as a chef and wanted my advice on cooking tips. I could see that I had inspired a lot of people to take up cooking so I decided to consciously focus more on being a chef.

Where did you train to become a chef?

I feel whatever you do you should do it to the best of your ability. Even when I was learning to act I used to travel all the way from Colaba to Juhu to learn from Anupam Kher at his Actor Prepares school. I have never been to a culinary school. Whatever I have learnt was from my mom, my family, and recipe books but when I decided to take up cooking as a proper profession, I realised that I needed proper training. Sanjeev Kapoor recommended me to enrol in At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy in Singapore, as it was close and my brother stayed there. I did and when I returned I worked for a short time at Intercontinental, Mumbai.

How would you describe your style of cooking?

Very natural, homely, real and from the heart. I never try to be a perfect chef, I am clumsy at times and that’s natural.

Do you have a favourite ingredient?

Lately, I have become a fan of Thyme and Basil and use it a lot when I cook. When it comes to children I try to include at least one health ingredient, no matter how simple the dish. Even if I am making chocolate chip cookies I add oats to it for a healthy touch. And that’s my mantra for cooking: At least one healthy ingredient has to go in anything I make.

Do you have a ‘signature dish’ that you enjoy cooking?

There’s this Egg Pudding I learnt from my mom over the years that now I make in my own style. Recently I have mastered the art of making a classic roast chicken, French style, something that everyone wants to come over and eat at my house.

Do you try out dishes on your family?

Yes! They are my Guinea pigs and also my biggest critics. Earlier, when I got married, my husband didn’t even know if the salt was less or more. He has now become my biggest critic and rates my cooking on a scale of 5-10! And I never let him go below five. My child is very fussy and it’s good to have him taste all my cooking.

Which restaurant, in Mumbai, do you most enjoy eating at?

Our favourite restaurant is Wasabi by Morimoto at The Taj Mahal Palace, where we always go for special occasions. Apart from that Thai cuisine is our favourite so we go a lot to the Thai Pavilion at Vivanta By Taj President, Cuffe Parade. Among the casual places Indigo Delicatessen, Lower Parel, is a favourite of mine for brunches and I love their pizzas and burgers. Their coffee is to die for. Moshe is quite lovely and so is Pa Pa Ya.

“Earlier, when I got married, my husband didn’t even know if the salt was less or more. He has now become my biggest critic and rates my cooking on a scale of 5-10! And I never let him go below five.”

A chef who you most admire?

Sanjeev Kapoor is my all-time favourite. Also ExExecutive Chef of Intercontinental, Kaizad Sadri, who is also a very good friend and a sweet person. I take a lot of inputs from him. Abhijeet Saha, in Singapore, is another Chef that I admire a lot. I had worked in his kitchen when I studied in Singapore. There are so many.

Each one has their own individual style.

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innovation in food

The secret for becoming a successful chef?

I didn’t think there was one until my show became a success. I asked Sanjeev Kapoor the same question and he said that what had happened was that I was real with the audience. “You have a real connect and you are what you are, you never pretended to be anyone else,” he said. So I guess that’s the trick.

Tell us about your TV show, Mummy Ka Magic Mummy Ka Magic happened thanks to Sanjeev Kapoor.

When I started I was a complete novice at it and took three days to complete one episode. Cooking is one thing but I had to talk and I was trying to be perfect.

I even called Sanjeev Kapoor, crying that I can’t do it. He said that what you are doing wrong is trying to be somebody you are not. Just be yourself. Relax and enjoy what you are doing. I did just that and it worked.

Today it is so loved by everybody and for me it is my ‘Gehna’, my centrepiece. I do a lot of research to come up with something new every season. I try creative recipes yet keep them simple. I put my heart and soul into it and the results are there for everyone to see.

“Nowadays you can take pictures of what you are cooking and put it up immediately on Instagram for people to see.”

Is it a challenge to constantly innovate?

No. That’s what keeps you going. If you reach a point where you didn’t have to innovate then I think it would result in stagnation. I think innovating is what I enjoy most about my profession.

What’s the modern kitchen gadget you couldn’t live without?

My oven! I don’t think it’s a modern kitchen gadget but for the longest time in my house we had the traditional gas oven. When I got passionate about cooking the first

thing I bought myself was a nice oven. I do so much of my cooking with my oven that I don’t think I can live without it now. I am planning to buy a pasta maker so that could be the next gadget. But for now I am totally dependent on my oven!

How has the industry changed over the past few years?

The industry has become far more popular with chefs getting more recognition, a lot more work, more money and endorsements. They have an identity, from chefs they have become celebrity chefs. That’s a huge change.

I think it’s great how brands want to associate with chefs rather than just Bollywood actors.

What are the new innovations in the culinary world?

The focus now is more on fusion food, quick snacks and cheaper food. Big restaurants are now serving food that is not so expensive. I think there is a shift happening from fine dining to casual, yet, healthy food. Food combinations and menus are being experimented with.

It’s more fun to go out and eat. The other day I had seafood bhel and was really amazed!

Has technology helped you to cook better?

Yes, of course. Nowadays you can take pictures of what you are cooking and put it up immediately on Instagram for people to see. The awareness about what you are doing, your popularity, and knowledge is increasing through technology and it is helping in ways unimaginable.

Your advice to aspiring chefs?

The first thing they should do is to go to a culinary school. That’s the one thing I regret not doing. I was good in cooking but I wanted a glamorous lifestyle, not realising that chefs could be glamourous too! Today there are a lot of things a chef can do besides being in a kitchen. We didn’t have those options then. Culinary school lays a good foundation for sure.

And finally, what’s next?

Cooking, cooking and more cooking. Hopefully I will become a bigger and better chef than I am today. With a lot more shows on TV. n

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innovation in medicine

HOW CHILDCARE IS CHANGING Dr.Vivek M Rege talks about the amazing survival instinct of children, difficult parents, operating on newborns, the need for free vaccinations and the evolving medical technology 60 | Feelings april 2016

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How did you decide to become a Paediatric?

While doing my surgical posts for general surgery, I was in charge of taking care of the Paediatric surgical patients too. These tiny babies fascinated me not only for their fighting spirit but also their amazingly fast recovery from major surgeries. Even slightly older kids would undergo surgery and be back on their feet, ready for playing within a day or so, when most adults would be moaning and complaining about pain and not being able to stand or walk normally. That’s when I decided that I would love to work with children. And after doing my MS in General Surgery, I did my MCh in Paediatric Surgery. For the last 25 years, I have been treating and operating on children, starting from newborns to age 16.

What are the challenges involved in child care?

Child care involves treating the child as well as the parents. Parents have to really understand why a surgery is being done on their beloved child, what will happen if it is not done and the complications too. I explain by showing operative slides of that condition so that they know that theirs is not the first child to undergo this surgery.

Children are less complicated and they just want reassurance that there will be no pain. They want to know how soon they can go back to eating normal food and playing as before. If I can explain and convince the child, the parents are easy to convince too.

to entail, or what exactly was wrong with their child.

Gradually, thanks to internet, parents are more aware and want to know all the details about the condition with possible complications, long term results etc. Many literate patients also come with sheets of downloaded material on the condition their child is suffering and demand all answers, to the extent that I have also undergone an oral exam by some parents, where they would ask questions and check my answers on their printouts from the web. Mostly, I do not mind as they have every right to know but at times they become too demanding, or in some cases also come for “shopping” to get a price which they think is right.

How has the field of Paediatrics evolved?

Awareness has increased about the need and possibilities that newborns can be operated upon. Newborns with lesser weights are also being saved and some being operated on and surviving to go home like normal babies. The results have shown remarkable improvements in mortality and morbidity thanks to a lot of factors; better intensive care units, better postoperative care, availability of superior antibiotics, intravenous nutrition in children who need to be kept nil orally for long periods, a month at times, better surgical techniques, better suture materials etc.

“Many literate patients also come with sheets of downloaded material on the condition their child is suffering and demand all answers.”

What changes have you noticed in parenting, over the years?

When I first began practice I noticed that the parents believed what a doctor said implicitly, with no questions asked. They had total faith in the doctor and would accept surgery, if recommended by the doctor. At times, they did not even know what the surgery was going

What have been the medical advances so far?

Advances in medicine have been in terms of investigations, interventions and postoperative care. Radiological non invasive investigations like CT, MRI, Nuclear scans have been very useful for early diagnosis of those children who require surgery as compared to the past, their prognosis can be predicted, and their follow up to see the progress can also be properly monitored.

Advances have reached to the extent that now we have been regularly doing ultrasonography of the unborn

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foetus and have been able to diagnose surgical defects as early as 18 – 20 weeks, followed by counselling of the to-be- parents, during pregnancy, with advice on the type, time and place of delivery, and management soon after delivery. I have operated on many cases diagnosed before birth, as early as 3 hours after delivery, with excellent results.

How has innovation in technology helped?

Technology has advanced in terms of superior quality of machines in all diagnosis and treatments. Details that were not previously available are now easily retrieved since the CT or MRI machines have been refined, and images are clearer. More details like blood supply, arteries, and veins can be seen preoperatively, which makes looking for the vessels much easier during surgery. Using technology, we are able to intervene in the foetus and remove urine from the foetal bladder, fluid from the pleura or abdomen and send it for examination. MRI of foetus is being done in select cases to look for prognostic factors so we are able to inform the parents about what to expect in their child after birth.

Is technology in India as advanced as in US or UK?

“Technology has advanced in terms of superior quality of machines in all diagnosis and treatments. Details that were not previously available are now easily retrieved since the CT or MRI machines have been refined, and images are clearer.�

Technology is advanced in India but not as much as in UK. In India availability is not the same as accessibility.

MR and Angiograms are available but extremely costly, or available only in few hospitals in tier I cities, but what about those who are not in these cities? Also it is not only the machines but the people behind the machines who make the difference and who are able to use the results to the best of their abilities to help the children during a crisis.

Any challenging case where you used innovative methods to cure the problem?

There are many cases where we have been able to use technology to get excellent results. An example is of a girl, now 16 years, who was diagnosed before birth to have a double kidney and collective systems which were blocked (obstructed). The child was born looking perfectly normal, no anomaly visible, no complaints and passing urine normally, basically a normal child to the rest of the world. However, since I knew of the internal abnormality, I got a lot of tests done and we did three surgeries starting soon after birth and finishing by the time she was a year old. We were able to save both the kidneys and today the child is an adult with two well functioning kidneys on the left side and a single well functioning kidney on the

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right. This child would otherwise have been presented to us at about 4 – 5 years, with infection and destruction of the function of one of the 2 left kidneys and we would have been forced to remove the non-functioning kidney.

What are the most common problems for toddlers in India?

Common surgical conditions in toddlers that must be looked for are inguinal hernias, umbilical hernias, in boy’s case, undescended testis on one or both sides, hypospadias, tongue tie among many others.

Is there a difference between problems in children in India and Abroad?

No, the incidence of surgical conditions in India or UK is the same, the only difference is the awareness is much better in UK or USA and so the parents know what to look for. The doctors also have thorough knowledge about which condition needs surgery and more importantly what is the right age for doing this surgery, followed by guiding the parents to the right paediatric surgeon for the best results.

What are your thoughts on antibiotics and vaccinations?

Antibiotics are great, but must not be over-used, nor should the wrong one be given for a particular infection.

The best antibiotic available need not be prescribed for a non-severe infection. All irrational use of antibiotics can lead to resistance and ineffectiveness of antibiotics in the long run. Vaccines have definitely brought down the incidence of infectious diseases and, if taken regularly, are of great help in preventing these once dangerous infections. Some vaccines are costly and should be offered to all parents. Those who cannot afford them need not be forced to spend borrowed money just to vaccinate their child. n (About Dr Rege: He has an experience of over 20 yrs in the various super-specialities of Paediatric surgery like paediatric urology, neonatal surgery, intensive care, paediatric oncology & paediatric gastroenterology. He has trained at the KEM Hospital and the B J Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai with further intensive training in the specialties of the subject from USA.)

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Heritage Interview

A day in the life

of a Queen While her morning begins with music, former Queen Rukmini Devi’s days are far from free. Whether it’s following up on court cases, preserving history and culture, actively educating tribal women or being the perfect hostess, she takes it all in her stride.

An interview with her became an interesting chat about the former princely state, as well as an anecdotal history about her own life, as Abhilash Jayachandra and Tejaswini Solanki found when they met the former Queen of Rajpipla.

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D

riving to Rajpipla, especially to meet a former queen, is a much better feeling than driving away from the erstwhile princely state, that is nestled between fields and waters of the Narmada, overlooking the Satpura Mountain Range.

As we passed through the entrance of the grand Vijay Palace, we got a glimpse of the Summer Villa Palace, which is now the Maharaja Rajendrasinghji Arts and Science College, Rajpipla. After some quick refreshments, we were ushered into the presence of Rukmini Devi, who was standing by her desk in the office, skimming through a copy of our magazine.

The granddaughter-in-law of Maharaja Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla, who is well-known for winning the maximum English Derby Races, Rukmini Devi didn’t waste time and directed us towards a couch, with a smile on her face.

Despite what she claimed, the former Maharani’s memory was stronger than ever. She recalled with fine clarity the early days she spent at her father’s palace in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Telling us in detail about her years there, she also spoke about adapting to life in Rajpipla, after marriage and how she learnt to speak Gujarati fluently, almost like a native speaker. Hindi is still her first love though, and her preferred language of communication.

When we mention music, there is an excited glint in her eye. Her day begins with singing devotional songs to her favourite Lord Krishna. In her youth, she and her siblings would listen to popular hit songs on a ’78 Turntable. It was a fashionable instrument that was rare in those days and is even rarer today. “I still have the records and the turntable, although I haven’t played it in years,” she says wistfully.

Her mornings are usually spent in pooja and kirtan.

Vijay Palace Museum, her home, does not house too many religious idols and the pooja is a somber affair.

She has two idols of the Baby Krishna which she prays to. Once upon a time she used to light a lamp in front of the idol but was told not to. “Krishna is himself the Light. How do you light a lamp to the Light?” she claims. After that suggestion was offered to her, she stopped the lighting lamps for Krishna but continues the tradition of bathing the baby Krishna in milk every morning and offering him his favourite sweets.“The pooja itself ends with me singing to Krishna. Later on, I move to a room nearby where I practice my singing,” she explains.

Rukmini Devi trained in Hindustani Music under the guidance of Pandit Manikbua Thakurdas. At 7 PM sharp, every morning, after the pooja is done, she commences singing (mainly haveli kirtans and bhajans) with the harmonium. When asked if she plays other instruments, she says none, “But at some point, when

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Heritage Interview

you are learning Hindustani Sangeet, you automatically pick up the harmonium,” she chuckles. Once in a while she also sings seasonal songs but the days when she sang old filmi songs for an audience, “are long gone.” After the singing, she meets the cooks with instructions for the day and, as the morning progresses, settles in her office for work.

One wouldn’t associate work with a queen but she is quick to correct us. Running a palacecum-museum-cum-hotel is no mere feat. “This palace is 110 years old. It is fragile and in need of constant repairs. We are kings and queens just for the sake of it. We don’t own lands like we used to. We don’t get taxes from citizens. So investing in a palace and taking care of it is a difficult task.” Incidences of land-grabbing are fresh in her mind.

Most of her time is spent in dealing with old court cases, keeping accounts for the vast palace and ensuring the survival of the Rajpipla heritage.

Rukmini Devi’s father-in-law, Maharaja Rajendra Singhji, was an accomplished ruler and proved himself to be a worthwhile king till his demise in 1963. The Queen says, “My husband’s grandfather, Maharaja Vijaysinhji, was a capable ruler as well, but he lived in a time when he was still a king and could levy taxes.

He took care of his people like a king should do. That is why I admire Maharaja Rajendra Singhji all the more, because though he was a king with a salary, he took care of his people with money from his own pocket. It seemed that he was ready to do so forever.”

In 1949, all princely states were merged into a cohesive whole due to which the heads of states lost their ruling rights, though they still had a privy purse.

Once the accession of the princely states was done, the Government of India ensured total Central Government Authority over the princely states. Thus the princely order was abolished in 1971 and all titles and privileges

as well as the payment of the Privy Purse were taken away. This meant that the titular heads of state ceased to exist.

“We lost what little power we had left. We were hard pressed. People began to take over our lands and we didn’t have the manpower or the wealth necessary to fight these things in court.” says Rukmini Devi about the condition of her erstwhile state.

Some of the cases that were filed with the Indian judiciary then are still being fought, which is what occupies her time most of all.

Early on, Maharaja Raghubir Singh, together with the several other kings, founded the Benaras Hotels Ltd (BHL) in 1971. It was begun in Varanasi with the idea of safeguarding the palaces from natural deterioration and human neglect by turning them into hotels and resorts. Maharaja Raghubir Singh stayed on the board till 1988 when he stepped down in favour of Queen Rukmini Devi, who has been a part of it ever since.

The original Rajvant Palace in Rajpipla was split into Rajvant Palace Resort and Vijayraj Palace Hotel way back in the 70s. Vijayraj Palace was the first Heritage Hotel in Gujarat. In 1994, the Queen successfully lobbied the tourism industry to grant heritage status to Vijay Palace. Vijayraj has 6 Suites lent out to customers while Rajvant has 9 deluxe rooms. Business at the palace however, is bleak. Attracting tourists, especially to Rajpipla is not an easy task, “We used to lend the palace for film productions and TV serials. Famous actors like Ashok Kumar, Pran and Nutan have visited the palace. Smita Patil shot a few scenes for Waris here.

Puneet Issar shot a TV Serial here. Nowadays, it isn’t worth the hassle. Film crews cause the most damage and are very lax about payment. The problem is that if something is destroyed in the palace, it might prove to be irreplaceable,” she laments.

Rukmini Devi also serves as the Convener of the

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The original Rajvant Palace in Rajpipla was split into Rajvant Palace Resort and Vijayraj Palace Hotel way back in the 70s.

Rajpipla Chapter of INTACH’s (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) mission. She helps INTACH document important tribal traditions of Rajpipla and facilitated in documenting a video of the Gher Nritya, a tribal dance by women, on Holi, among other things.

Vijayraj Palace also acts as a museum that preserves the nearly 700 year history of the former kingdom.

Artefacts, royal trophies, priceless crystal, a variety of musical instruments, royal family photos, paintings, portraits, and actual royal clothes are displayed at the palace. “I have received many gifts from many people and institutions. Many tribals give me rare, handmade specimens of their culture which are unique examples of craftsmanship and the only way to keep them safe is to put them in the museum,” she says.

The former queen also has a keen interest in women’s education. The education and development of Rajpipla’s diverse group of tribal communities is what she has taken upon herself. Though they are no longer her subjects, in a manner of speaking, they still owe

allegiance to the former royals. Rukmini Devi, an active participant in women’s empowerment has allocated a building within the palace compounds to the Eklavya Girls Residential School. According to her, equality among men and women is a “very good thing, but men should not become lethargic. There should be balance, give and take. Men should and must help. Because they need it too.”

The ex-queen’s days are long, but she is still fighting the ‘good fight’. After the interview we were treated to a royal spread at the hotel. Thanking her for the meal, but, more importantly, for her time, we asked her what she did at the end of the day to relax. “I sit outside the palace and watch people. New faces of passersby and tourists fascinate me. I enjoy the evening sounds of nature,” she concludes.

As her day begins in music, so she seeks to end it in peace; listening to the birds chirping and the insects buzzing. After all, there is no greater music than the music that nature makes! n

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The Immigration Diary

Vallabhbhai: A Bhakta of

Literature There are many ways to stay close to one’s roots and for Vallabhbhai, who left India more than fifty years ago, Gujarati literature is what he turns to, finds Madhu Rye Thaker

V

allabh Bhakta, son of a diamond polisher, Late Chhotubhai and Gomiben of Ambheti, Bardoli district, answers the phone with a hearty “Ram Kabeeer!” His voice has a south Gujarati lilt which has charmed the likes of Paresh Raval, Gunvant Shah, Sitanshu Yashaschandra, Chandrakant Bakshi, Raghuvir, Labhshankar, Adil Mansuri, Chinu Modi, Rajnikumar Pandya, and a dozen other famous literary personalities who have enjoyed his hospitality.

Vallabhbhai’s homestead in Garden Grove is a modest motel, compared to the opulence of NRI motel moguls or billionaire doctors. What is special, however, about Vallabhbhai is his unabashed love of Gujarati language and literature. After more than 50 years of having left India, he still reads scores of Gujarati blogs every day, goes to all Gujarati plays or films he can find in his neighbourhood, attends Sahitya Sammelans on the other shore of the country, 5000 km away and throws open his motel to any Gujarati literary entity, and then by word of mouth to their friends and then to friends of their friends!

In 1961, he left Bombay to work in London. He was twenty six and awestruck by the civility and etiquette of

the British as well as their sense of social responsibility.

He scarcely heard an angry voice or even a high pitched intonation as opposed to the boisterous discourses he was accustomed to in India. In 1965, he married a Bhakta bride, chosen by his uncle. She was all of twenty and from Nansad Sumitra. They had a daughter, Deepti, and a son, Shaan. London was fine but the winter was atrocious, so in 1976, at the invitation of his best friend, Zaverbhai Patel from California, they moved to USA where the warm climate and dozens of fellow Bhakta families made them feel at home.

With Zaverbhai Patel’s help, Vallabhbhai bought a small motel in Inglewood, California.

He sold it a few years later and bought another one in the affluent Garden Grove, near Disneyland, an area it is a city which also had better schools. He and his wife worked round the clock to establish the business where he also nurtured a vegetable patch and grows the family’s favourite vegetables, like gwar and Indian chilies.

When asked about what he admires about his adopted country, Vallabhbhai narrates a story. One day, he spotted a helpless, jobless Korean man staring at his motel that had recently been damaged by a freak car accident. The man offered to repair it for a paltry sum

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and Vallabhbhai accepted the offer. The Korean did a fine job and quickly became popular with other moteliers. Soon he built his own practice, moved his family to a new house and prospered beyond his dreams. The two men have been fast friends ever since.

“America is the land of opportunity, brother!” says Vallabhbhai, “There is Law and order, Freedom of speech, Freedom to be who you are! Work hard and abide by the laws to have the life of your dreams.”

Does he feel homesick? Not really, as he has his extended family right here: Two children and five grandchildren and the vast Bhakta community, for which organized the “Longest Marathon Singing”, a 173 hour event of unbroken, continuous prayers, that entered the Guinness Book of Records.

He brims with pride about the memorable event where he worked tirelessly, shoulder to shoulder with his fellow Bhaktas. His friends organized his 80th birthday recently, with a smorgasbord of Surati dishes including glasses of vaghareli chhas with neem leaves and scorched garlic. The bash was attended by 300 friends and admirers. So no, he doesn’t really Miss India, the pollution, corruption or the red tape.

He and Sumitraben did try several times to get latrines built and water pumps dug in his native land but were met with red tape and left with nothing but frustration.

They now help libraries and needy children through individuals whose work and intentions he is sure about.

He last visited India in 2010, and has no desire to hurry back. The one thing he truly respects about Indian tradition is one’s duty to stand by one’s family. He has been taking dedicated care of his disabled brother for decades now.

In the early years he did crave for the gamgapata (shooting the breeze) with his friends but now the social media and the YouTube have slaked that craving. “Gujarati language is my primary connection to my Old Country, brother”, he muses, “and now I get it in abundance sitting here at the other end of the globe.”

All the literary giants mentioned earlier, and this little penpusher himself, have enjoyed Vallabhbhai’s hospitality which is occasionally packaged with motor trips to Las Vegas, San Francisco or Mexico. Vallabhbhai diligently greets these luminaries on New Year’s Day, every year.

And they reciprocate in their own styles. Flamboyant Bakshi (Sheriff of Bombay) rode his Sheriff’s motorcade with wailing sirens to visit Vallabhbhai across Bombay, to show his admiration for his Californian friend. Reclusive Labhshankar maintained a cordial phone friendship till the end.

Playful Adil wrote him handmade Diwali cards.

“I am totally content with my life, brother. I have done all I wanted to do”, says a man who has never smoked, touched alcohol or tasted tea. “My wife and I have travelled to all four corners of this world, more than 44 countries. At 81, he sprints across his courtyard like a colt. “I have no regrets, none. Now I wish to spend rest of my years in bliss,” he says.

Suddenly, Vallabhbhai goes off the line to attend to a customer. “Sorry, brother, I am soon leasing the business to someone else. My wife and I will move to a house where I have built a special bedroom for occasional guests, whoever they may be. I look forward to basking in their intellect and to meet my maker merrily when the time comes.” n

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innovation in heritage

Reviving Heritage through Modern Classics 70 | Feelings april 2016

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“T

he most important factor in reviving our heritage has nothing to do with maintenance but everything to do with tourism,” says Mr. Rajeev Ranadive, Chairman and CEO of Pixy Cars, a Pune-based automotive maker of heritage cars. “Heritage cars are an extremely unique concept in India, working as an excellent business opportunity but at the same time, tapping into the very rich vein of India’s tradition,” he surmises.

Vintage cars tend to attract even those who are not normally interested in cars. The old Ford or Fiat still holds a place of pride in the Indian society, untouched by the shine and glitz of modern cars. In the pre worldwar era, Indian kings used to import customized cars that were made and accessorized according to their specifications and interests. Old is gold holds true when it comes to these beauties, still in working condition, for they are valued at 10-25 million dollars each.

Maintaining them and running them is a tough job, though, according to Mr. Ranadive. “To run and manage those cars in today’s times is difficult. They work in a very different way from today’s cars and the owners say that the mileage on these cars is not measured in kilometres per litre, but rather litres per kilometre,” he chuckles. Yet, it was this that sparked his idea of manufacturing heritage cars.

Vintage cars get a new lease of life, with the help of a modern twist in their rich past.

Himmat Bahadur Kr. Shrimant Jeetendrasingh G Gaekwad of Baroda, Heritage Revivalist, talks to Mr. Rajeev Ranadive, the founder of Pixy Cars Pvt. Ltd.

Tourists, especially foreigners visiting India, expect the royal treatment when they visit forts and palaces and states like Rajasthan have built an excellent tourism industry based around their heritage palaces. According to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan currently experiences 1-1.5 million international tourists, and has plans to increase this number to 4-5 million in the coming years. Tourists coming to these places want to experience the luxurious lifestyles of the kings and they are willing to pay for it. Driving around in a vintage car is an essential part of reliving the royal experience but the cost is exorbitant. “The rent for using rare, vintage cars is roughly 3-5 lakhs per day,” says Mr. Ranadive.

“But it is still not worth the risk because driving these cars through the streets increases chances of damages.

And these vintage cars do not have replaceable parts anymore.”

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innovation in heritage

This contradiction became the germ of an idea for starting Pixy Cars Pvt. Ltd. The idea of packaging the old in the new, in other words, building replicas of heritage cars took form.

Vintage cars being an expensive albeit necessary part of the tourism offered to foreigners and countrymen alike, it was of logical to build replicas of the originals, but with better quality and with much more to offer than other cars. In comparison to a Mercedes worth fifty lakhs that is used by tourists sometimes, Mr. Ranadive’s heritage cars cost roughly twenty-five lakhs. “What is unique is the quality,” he says. “The cars are built with the same carbon fibre that is used in helicopters. This keeps them lightweight, but strong. It is also the first time this technology is being brought to Indian roads,” he adds, referring to a technique that is being used by the UK government to boost their own tourism to net a total turnover of nearly 3 billion pounds annually.

“In comparison to a Mercedes worth fifty lakhs that is used by tourists sometimes, Mr. Ranadive’s heritage cars cost roughly twenty-five lakhs. ”

Mr. Ranadive believes he can bring the same kind of tourism revenue in India.

When asked about whether the tourists will accept these faux cars willingly as replacements of the original, he smiles and says, “They are already waiting in line.”

A statement that is justified by his Facebook page, which has already received more than 5000 likes within a few weeks of the launch.

Pixy cars also has another advantage. Every car is built with a focus on Indian heritage and culture and not just the vintage of the car. Which means each car is accessorized by a variety of artisans, who integrate various aspects of Indian culture into the process.

Exquisite carpentry, stitch-work, intricate jewellery designs and brass finishing, all come together in a single car to fulfill Mr. Ranadive’s motto: “Inspired by classics and made in India!” n

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tech talk

Yash Bhatt is popular in the tech fraternity, especially for the famous show, “Tech Guru” on CNBC Awaaz.

iPhone SE, Really Apple?

The launch of the new iPhone is being eagerly awaited, especially in India, a country full of tech geeks. But do we really need a new version of the same model, wonders Yash Bhatt

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s we all know, Apple recently launched iPhone SE, a smaller iPhone. To be very specific, Apple just launched the cheaper iPhone. It may sound rude, but why?

Apple’s sales numbers have been negative recently, for the first time in many years.

Obviously that means that this phone’s launch is to cover up those abysmal sales. If this move is simply a chance to give a boost to the brand name and entice customers then the impact will probably last only this quarter.

We all know from the iPhone 5C, that the cheaper iPhone attempt was barely successful. It was a disaster, actually.

In India, Apple has been doing really well for the past few quarters. Especially with the 6S, when Apple made a huge dent in Samsung’s sales. The iPhone SE is also meant to tap into the Indian market, as people are really excited here for a less expensive iPhone. But surprisingly, India is not on the list of the first 12 countries that will get the iPhone. As we go to print, the news is that the India launch is scheduled for April 8th.

Apple has done something incredible with each new version of the iPhone, be it fingerprint sensors, live photos, slow motion videos or the new 3D touch. The iPhone SE however, comes with the same shades of color as the iPhone 5S. There is no change in terms

of design too. To distinguish the two, Apple introduced the rose gold color.

Apple did something that Steve Jobs would probably never agree to. They took a 3 year old phone, made some minor changes to it, re-branded it with the tag SE (which ironically stands for Special Edition) and sold it at the high price of $399, for 16 GB. Launching a smartphone which is neither unique in terms of design nor possessing any new features to attract customers doesn’t seem like a wise move. Is it possible that this can spell doom for Apple? Probably not. Though most Indians can only dream about such an expensive phone, many still buy it because it signifies status As per reports, each unit of the iPhone SE’s 16 GB version sells for around Rs. 39,000. Yes, one can pay in installments, but it still feels like an unnecessary buy. Do we really need to spend so much on a phone, which ultimately isn’t even unique?

While this iPhone may attract lots of Indian customers, it may become a big fiasco in the global market, because people love the iPhone for its innovation.

And there is none of that in the SE. Making it 3 times faster than a phone that was launched 3 years ago, is certainly nothing to be proud of. Suddenly, I’m wondering what all the excitement was about, aren’t you? n

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15-04-2016 22:36:41

eventtalk Tech moods report and masti

Sanjay Chhel is a well known Bollywood film writer and director

Car Parking –

A PHILOSOPHICAL PONT OF VIEW Sanjay Chhel on cultural parking, spiritual parking, permanent parking and of course, car parking!

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rishna, Mahaveer, Buddha, Chanakya… impressive names, aren’t they? Lucky are those intellectuals who write about such legendary characters . Well informed and well educated, these knowledgeable authors win accolades for their literary musings. A commonplace writer like me, however searches for salvation in trivial matters, car parking being one of them. It is almost as challenging perhaps, to seek the profound in a subject so mundane. It is nothing less than a revelation, in fact almost a life science, I would say, to master the art of parking a car. Let me put it this way: Parking a two wheeler is a mediocre act, just like my attempt at writing this, but parking a car…Whoa! That can be compared to writing an epic.

It’s a philosophical act, this parking of a car. Just like one has to twist and turn to ensure an adequately safe parking, so does one have to turn and look back at life to understand where one stands and when one should pause.

I will also take the liberty of comparing the menial act of parking to the strong emotion called love . In love, one completely trusts the other. Parking is very similar, for don’t we sacrifice our attachment to our car, blindly leaving it in an unknown place among other strangers’ cars? If that is not blind faith, then what is?

Travelling through life, one is not afraid of adversities,

until they befall us. What is daunting is to face adversity and move ahead anyway. Likewise, driving a car is hardly scary until one reaches the real and final act of stationing it in a small, cramped place, so that it is neither damaged, nor does it damage other cars around it. The intellectuals may not agree but parking a car is more or less a spiritual experience.

Just think about this: Sri Krishna, in the Geeta has invited believers to seek refuge with him: “Mamekam Sharanam Vraj”. Now, isn’t he saying, “Come, park yourself within me and I will look after you.” Though many are worshippers, only a lucky few attain moksha.

Similar to all the car parkings happening everywhere, only a few attain an ‘ideal’ parking space!

Apparently, we all are born with our individual destinies. Likewise, parking our car too would be a matter of destiny, wouldn’t it? Narsinh Mehta had stated five centuries ago that one gets only what is attributed to him, only when it is meant to be received.

Seems to me that these wise words could very well apply to our present day car parking phenomenon.

No matter how smart we try to be, how much we plot and plan, we are eligible to attain a parking only when and where it is meant for us, and sometimes not at all!

More or less, we all agree that God is one and his worshippers follow different routes in their quest to reach him. Likewise, all drivers have their own style of parking. Some park at a long distance from their

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destination, some are extremely possessive and will not spare their space at any cost, other courageous ones manage to park their cars in whatever place available. And there are the rebels, easily identified by their cars parked right under a ‘No Parking’ sign or shamelessly amidst a heavy traffic area. It would be noteworthy here that one can term Sri Krishna as a rebel parker. Imagine the Saarathi parking his vehicle right in the middle of a battleground, going on to elaborate the Bhagwad Geeta. The humble mortals that we are, can we dare attempt the same? Forget an entire monologue, even if we try saying hello to a fellow passenger amidst traffic, the havaldar will be ready with a ticket for us.

The parking charges prove to be much higher than the cost of fuel itself in places like London and New York.

Just like cost of getting married is much lesser than the lifelong cost that one incurs thereafter! Talking about marriage costs, in a normal arranged marriage scenario, the wife is supposed to be a superwoman, a highly qualified, expert cook and homemaker. It would be fair enough, then, to find out about her driving and car parking skills. With apologies to my expert lady driver readers, I must say that some women drivers are a wonder to watch.

They drive like there is no other car around, and no traffic rules, and park in a manner such that Lord Vishnu himself must be stopping his Garuda to watch the process! Isn’t it strange that the woman who can spy a lone hair on her husband’s shirt, completely misses out the wall behind while parking her car?

It suffices to state here that marriage vows should be amended. The lady needs to secure an oath from her husband to be that he will, come rain or shine, support her car parking endeavors. And that they will support each with regard to all parking woes, without being bitter or sarcastic about the same .

One can easily say that parking is a sublime act.

And that of attaining a permanent parking space is akin to getting a permanent place in space, like the Pole star. Not everyone is lucky enough or capable enough, but there is no need to panic. Thank god for the valet service. Those good samaritans who claim

our cars to park in some dark, unknown space and then bring them back to us on demand. Little do they know what a blessed position they are in, and that their service alleviates them to a position that can be likened to a great master, who has a solution for seemingly impossible problems. I am tempted to quote a bit, while on the subject: The road to success is lined with many tempting parking spaces. So, keep driving. Another one, The early bird gets the parking space . The next one gets a ticket.

Imagine a man who sights a pretty woman at a party. His face lights up as he tries to begin a polite conversation with her. No sooner than he begins, appears her paramour, boyfriend or husband. Similar is the case with parking. The good ones are always taken!

Some Indian politicians are also adept at parking successfully, albeit in the hearts of millions of Indians: A dynasty had parked itself in Delhi and communism in West Bengal. Lately, amidst severe criticism from secularists, certain leaders have achieved a similar feat. Poets , authors and spiritual leaders have parked their thoughts within the minds and hearts of many.

Our mother tongues need to be parked in the English medium schools, though. A superb example of cultural parking are the Gujaratis. One only has to witness their garba performances, at the drop of a hat!

To conclude, rarely does one achieve a proper parking. We envy others their parking and space. My dear readers, here’s wishing you a parking of your choice, in life. Nevertheless, as they say, it’s the journey that counts, not the destination.

The fun is in looking for a parking space. Each space in every moment is a parking. Let us park ourselves in the moment, in the Here and Now. That in effect, is the real space that we all must seek . n Traffic policeman: It’s a No Parking zone. Here’s your ticket. What’s your name?

Lady: Akhand Saoubhagyavati Kaamakshi Katyayayanandan Ksheersaagar!

Traffic policeman (irritated): Ok, ok, I’ll leave you this time, but don’t get caught by me the next time!

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Tech talk legal eagle

Megha Chitaliya is A.G.P., Gujarat High Court and a renowned social activist

CARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS What are the laws governing the maintenance of aged parents and who is responsible for their care? Megha Chitaliya explains

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ndian society has traditionally cared and respected for its elderly people as a part of its culture. Unfortunately, in today’s fast paced life, a large number of elderly people (widowed women in particular) are not being looked after by their children. The problems faced by senior citizens in a life of neglect are apparent - poverty, loneliness, abuse and abandonment. The problems faced by widows and childless parents are even more acute and they are even more vulnerable to being forced to live in ill-equipped, old age homes, especially when they find it difficult to mobilize resources for their most basic needs and their children are either unable or unwilling to maintain them.

aged relatives. Some definitions under the act may be taken note of: a) SENIOR CITIZEN: Any citizen of India, who is of the age 60 years or above. b) MAINTENANCE: Includes food, clothing, shelter, medical attendance and treatment. The maintenance amount is not to exceed ten thousand rupees per month. c) WHO MAY CLAIM MAINTENANCE: Parents/

And while the maintenance rights of parents are protected by the law in India, cases are rarely filed by parents against their children for many reasons – parental affection, a lack of knowledge and finance, fear of social stigma etc. Nevertheless, understanding the law providing for the maintenance of suffering parents is an important first step to sensitize the community.

Such law is principally contained in the Maintenance and the Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (Maintenance Act) which provides for the speedy protection of life and property and the provision of medical facilities and maintenance to aging parents. This obligation is cast on all children/ persons who are slated to inherit the property of their

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event report

Grand-parents and “Childless Senior Citizens” who are unable to maintain themselves from their own income or out of the property owned by them, can claim maintenance from their children including son, daughter, grand-son and grand-daughter, but not minors.

The mechanics of claiming maintenance are governed by Sec. 4 of the Maintenance Act under which senior citizens or parents who are unable to maintain themselves from their own income are to make an application to the designated authority constituted for such purpose – and such application may name the children or relatives who stand to inherit the property. Parents who qualify as senior citizens may also apply through an NGO or registered voluntary organization.

Indeed, the Tribunal is also empowered to take suo motu cognizance and proceed.

After hearing both sides, the tribunal may pass an order of maintenance – and, perhaps, may even pass interim orders for maintenance. As for enforcing the order, if the children or relatives fail to comply with the order passed by the tribunal, they may be fined or even imprisoned for up to a month or until payment is made.

Notably, under Sec. 24 of the Act, if anybody having the responsibility for the care or protection

of parents/senior citizen is found abandoning them, he/she shall be punishable under the Act with imprisonment for a term extending to three months or a fine which may extend upto Rs. 5,000/- or with both. Such offences are cognizable and bailable under the Act, to be tried by a magistrate.

Further, under Sec. 23, if after commencement of the act, a senior citizen has transferred his/ her property to the children or relatives with the view that they shall provide certain maintenance and amenities to them, but subsequently such maintenance is refused, then the transfer of property would be deemed fraudulent and the tribunal may declare such transfer of property as void.

For instance, in one case, a widowed mother was thrown out by her son from the property owned by her husband. An application was made under the act to the designated authority (district magistrate) which ordered the son to vacate the property and also restrained him from entering his mother’s house.

Thus, this Act provides for the protection of senior citizens and elderly parents giving them expeditious procedures to get an order of maintenance easily. n

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Smart money

Jayesh Chitalia is a renowned financial journalist

The inherent dangers of Corporate Fixed Deposits If you believe that investing in corporate FDs of big companies is a safe bet to multiply your earnings, think twice, warns Jayesh Chitalia

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aving retired from a co-operative bank, I had invested my savings in FDs and got some interest on all the deposits for a few months. For the last few months, however, the returns stopped coming. I decided to investigate and found that the companies I had invested in were in financial trouble themselves.

Some of them have not even been able to return the original amount I invested. I had deposited my money in 8 different companies, and leaving one or two exceptional companies, I am not getting any interest on my FDs. I am struggling to get my original investment back from them through a legal procedure and no government system can help me! Even those regulatory authorities who talk about investors’ safety, are unable to help me in recovering my money.

This is not an imaginary story but a reality being faced by a very loyal senior citizen, who had not invested his savings due to any lure. Not only that, when he had invested his funds in all these companies, he had studied their previous three years’ balance sheets! All these companies were paying good enough dividends to their members.

While this is only one example, the fact of the

matter is that many such investors are struggling to recover not only the promised interest, but even their basic investment amounts.

A big list of such investments companies can be published here. The crux of the matter though is that many well known names are also present in the list. Investing blindly without even studying their financial histories can lead to disaster.

Instead of wealth creation, they can become destructive wealth investments.

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The said investors had invested from 25,000 to 10 lakhs with these companies. In the hope of getting good returns they chose these companies instead of the banks. Now, even after the investors have won the case in their favor by the judgment of the court, the companies promise to pay the funds and further invest their funds into their other ventures. They don’t say that funds will not be returned but neither do they say when the funds will be returned. The investors’ calls to the company’s call centers make them feel as if they are ‘begging’ for their own money! Many companies don’t reply, while others shamelessly say, “Do whatever u can, we are not going to pay you immediately.”

When an investor doesn’t want the risk factors associated with the share market, he/she turns towards such FDs, from which they get very nominal interest rates as compared to the bank’s FDs. But, when these companies get into financial trouble the very first effect is on their FD holders.

There are many ways to complain against such companies, but all of them work like Govt. Post Offices. Complaints can also be registered in the Stock Exchange, SEBI, Ministry of company affairs and Company law board, but in the case of

FDs, the Stock Exchange or SEBI can’t help. Only the company law board has the powers, while Ministry of Company Affairs can just work out the correspondence for it. If the company is under liquidation, the Company Law Board also refuses any complaints for it and the investor can only file a suit against the liquidator. After this, by auction of the defaulting company’s assets (if anything is available), the government comes first to recover their funds, after which the investor’s (FD holders) funds are allocated, according to preference among them. In short, in case of the company’s insolvency, the funds invested are usually lost completely.

It’s surprising as well as scary for investors that after the Company Law Board’s and judicial authorities like the High-Court’s orders, the defaulting companies are not paying back any interest or even basic funds to the investors.

After big defaulters like Vijay Mallaya have come out in the open, it is better to be safe than sorry regarding corporate FDs. There are many companies with new names and identities, reaching out to investors to collect funds for FDs. Even though they get their ratings, there is reason enough for you to do your homework before any such investments! n

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Guru mantra

Born in 1916, Dadi Janki is the active Spiritual Head of Brahma Kumaris. She refuses to set limitations for herself and has been tirelessly engaged in the service of others, since 1937. Having spent 40 years in London, she has inspired individuals across cultures to strive for a higher sense of purpose, through her deep and insightful talks

All you Need is Faith Dadi Janki emphasizes on the importance of spirituality to help women regain faith and confidence in themselves

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he idea of women playing any role outside the home was strongly opposed in the community where I grew up. That was a long time ago, however, and things have changed. I didn’t wait for the change, though, to act on my strong desire to work for humanity.

My search for deeper meaning in life began early. After undergoing three years of formal schooling, I realised that it was Hindu scriptures that interested me the most. My father introduced me to many sages and saints and took me on pilgrimages all over India. But none of this really satisfied me. One day, when I was nineteen, when I was walking with my father in Hyderabad, Sindh, we came across Dada Lekhraj, a jeweler of high standing. I had known him from early childhood, but something had changed. As he approached and our gaze met, I felt transported to some timeless dimension, beyond the material world. I felt as if engulfed with light and pure love, as if at last I had found what I had been seeking.

for systematic abuse, resulting in miserable suppression of their life. Into this darkness, came a light that was to trigger a global revolution.

Just as I had felt, many others too were experiencing the same radiance in Dada Lekhraj. Like moths attracted to a flame, they followed in the wake of his vision. It had become clear to Dada Lekhraj that it was a time of transition. His understanding was that through him, God was initiating a renewal of consciousness for humanity. He appointed nine kumaris (unmarried women) as trustees of his estate and gave them administrative responsibility with the aim to help women develop self-respect. An estimated number of around 300 women joined Dada Lekhraj (Brahma baba) in his mission.

This was in the mid 1930’s, when the world was between the two terrible World Wars. There was global recession. Religions seemed to have deteriorated and there was suffering all around.

Women, in particular, were often at the mercy of inadequate and insecure men. In India, girls were subjected to strong traditions of social, religious as well as parental authority. They became a vehicle

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In the early, intense years, the founding community learned how to connect their hearts and minds with God, the One who remains an Ocean of Love and Truth and gives us a reason to live while removing all fear of dying. The biggest treasure we received was an accurate understanding of who we are and a clear knowledge of who God is, which helped us build and maintain a perfect relationship with him. It is this relationship that enables us to stay connected to the transcendent, consistently filled with love and power while performing any action or maintaining relationships with others. By knowing the self and the supreme power, we realised how to live and how to die.

I believe that mothers can be equated to God and therefore they should be put first. By ‘mother’ I don’t necessarily mean one who has given birth to a child, but any woman who nurtures and sets an example of how to behave.

The first and most vital step in the restoration of our

self-respect is to recognize God’s deep love for us.

Once you have experienced it, you can see God in front of you whenever you wish, and find the courage to drop the negative self-image that obscures your inner beauty. Every second should be a realization that God’s absolute love is coming towards you and removing that which is unreal within.

The more clear your thinking becomes, experience will follow. Awareness will shine with the beauty of reality. Focus on recognizing yourself in this way, with trust, patience and determination and everything will work out well.

If God is your companion, then even though you may be alone, you will never feel lonely. God’s love is capable of much magic. It enables us to interact with love and cooperation. It makes us into sources of inspiration. In short, the love for God enhances our ability to perform at all levels.

And the only way we can experience his love is by having faith in him and being truthful to him. n

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Body and Soul Sachira Bapat is an Energy Worker and Certified Angel Teacher from the Diana Cooper School, UK. She is also a Reiki Master, Space Clearing & Energizing Therapist and EFT teacher. Sachira conducts workshops on angel therapy, angel oracle card readings, and individual holistic healing sessions.

Angelic Assistance for beautiful relationships To forgive and let go is the best thing you can do for healthy relationships.

Sachira Bapat reveals how the angels can help

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id you know that there is an Angel assigned for your every relationship?

Being a Light Worker, I have studied relationships for many years. Even though there are many therapies in modern medicine which are working effectively in this area, I find that Angelic assistance in manifesting and healing relationships is phenomenal, comparatively. Whether it’s a romantic, parent-child, friendship or professional relationship that needs healing, you can always rely on Angels for a magical solution!

Angels are messengers not only of words but of sound, light, and vibration. They transmit a full spectrum of loving consciousness that is specifically designed to heal the human heart, mind, nervous system and the whole body.

Quite naturally, this also affects the quality of our relationships. The ways in which you can invoke an angel’s guidance is explained further:

Angelic Help for attracting a Loving Partner When I give a reading to my clients on love relations, I always call on the Angels of Romance. These cherubic angels bring joy, fun and youthfulness to relationships. You can say this prayer to Archangel Chamuel if you are seeking a soul mate “Thank you Archangel Chamuel for helping me find true love.

Help me remember that I am lovable and that I deserve true love. Thank you for guiding me to my ideal partner, who is loving, supportive, committed and cause our union to be of the greatest good for us. Help me have faith that all is happening in Divine Time”.

Realizing Resentment If you are tired of facing the same unhealthy relationship patterns, it is likely that you are having a tough time ‘forgiving the past’.

Forgiveness is synonymous to releasing toxins. One effective ways to do this is to call upon Archangel Michael and Jeremiel as you

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Smart money

“If you are tired of facing the same unhealthy relationship patterns, it is likely that you are having a tough time ‘forgiving the past’. Forgiveness is synonymous to releasing toxins.” fall asleep. Say this prayer aloud or in your mind. “I ask that you (name of the Archangel) clear away any old anger, pain, resentment, or unforgiveness from my mind, body and emotions. I am willing to choose peace. I now release to you anything that may be blocking me from experiencing peace within me.”

Repeat this a few days to experience miraculous healings.

Enhancing Family Ties Did you know that you chose each and every one of your family member before you took birth in this lifetime? There is a divine plan in the family dynamics you chose, as it was designed for your soul to grow and evolve. Take a moment and reflect. Are you feeling any stress, tension, or disharmony between yourself and any family members? If so, the angels encourage you

to surrender your relationships for healing to God and the angels. This prayer will help greatly. “Archangel Chamuel, Archangel Ariel, Archangel Haniel, thank you for healing my relationship with (name of person).

I now surrender this situation to you and ask for a peaceful resolution for all involved. Bless us with miracles of peace, harmony, love and cooperation.

I trust that you already know the resolution and all concerned are becoming one with its truth” Note: It’s important to let go and let God and the angels lead the way. Surrendering control to God and the angels ensures that your fears won’t interfere with the manifestation or healing of any relationship. The more you are centered in the faith that all is taken care of by Angels and God, the faster and better your manifestation will be. n

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14-04-2016 16:46:46

Travelogue

Dubai beyond the Glitz

There’s more to Dubai than the largest malls and the tallest skyscrapers. Veathika Jain shares an insider’s glimpse into the lesser known treats of the city.

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part from being close to home, Dubai is full of glitz and glamour. The umpteen number of malls, restaurants and seven-star style hotels will keep any tourist on his/her toes.

Most people have been to Dubai once or twice and done all the tourist attractions – Dubai Mall, Fountain, Burj Khalifa, Atlantis, The Palm. Here’s an attempt to go off the beaten path and experience some of the hidden gems.

For adventure junkies Head to Kite Beach near Burj Al Arab Hotel to experience some paddle boarding, beach yoga and kite surfing. There are lessons available to learn how to balance on the paddleboard or kite surfing, though some of them need prior booking. Great way to learn something new as well as keep fit during your holiday.

Another must-do is a one-hour session at Bounce – a trampoline park with free jumping area, dodge ball court, giant airbags, slam dunk and stunts space. 10 minutes of jumping is equivalent to 30 minutes at the treadmill, and at Bounce once you start the session, the smile doesn’t leave your face. It’s suitable for kids and adults. You can take a pass of five sessions depending on the number of people.

If you happen to visit from October to May, then XLine, which is a Zip Line over the Dubai Mall fountain overlooking the Burj Khalifa, is a great experience to do. Usually the invite is through their social media channels, so do take a look as to how you can book yourself in.

For the shopaholics As for shopping, Dragon Mart specializing in goods from China has an array of unique and different items that are affordable. Be ready to walk for hours as it offers furniture, clothes, and accessories to almost anything under the sun. It has some weird and wonderful stuff like authentic green tea, shoes with lights etc. Lamcy Plaza in the heart of the city is another place if you are looking for reasonably prices clothes and accessories.

If you go to Dubai Mall, definitely head to the Candylicious store and make your own 3D printed candy on an edible paper. You can choose your flavor and design to custom make your gluten-free and vegan gummy candies.

Take an Abra trip (a wooden boat) from Bur Dubai to Diera or to Gold Souk. Gold Souk is where all the gold traders sit. It’s definitely worth visiting whether you want to buy the metal or not.

For the Foodies There’s plenty on offer for all types of cuisines and budgets. Head to Karama where there are plenty of restaurants to choose from which are budget friendly.

Yalla Momos is great offering a variety of momos and wai wai chaat.In the same row is Raju Omlette and an amazing Ethiopian restaurant called Zagol. Delicious food is in store here with some good vegetarian options. Defintely try the Ethipian coffee, a bit strong but a very unique taste.

If you are in a splurge mode then Tresind is a beautiful restaurant on Sheikh Zayed Road offering Molecular Gastronomy. Dinner for two can set you back upto AED1000, but the food is to die for. So here’s a trick, try their business lunch from Sunday to Thursday, which offers a three-course meal for AED145 per person.

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Travelogue

As for Michelin star restaurants, Dubai is full of them – Toro Toro, Nobu, Indego by Vineet, Pots, pans and Boards, Rang Mahalare a few to name. Pick any and you won’t go wrong.

One must eat Middle Eastern cuisine while in Dubai, if you are in Jumeirah beach Residences (JBR), head to Seven Sands, a fancy Emirati cuisine restaurant with great food options.

For pocket friendly places that don’t compromise the taste are Al Mallah on 2nd December Street – order Hummus, Shawarma or Falafel, they are all good.

Arooj Damascus in Diera is the place for an authentic middle-eastern food experience. Be it salad, vine leaves, kababs - everything you order is delicious. This place is value for money.

There a few food tours as well, which take you to a few restaurants in a particular area of Dubai. Try Frying Pan Adventures to explore the food trail. There are lots of culinary classes that can be done in Dubai these days. Jamie’s Italian has a Saturday class for making pasta from scratch.

For the partygoers Dubai has an enthralling nightlife with the bars and night clubs shutting down only after 4-5 am. Barasti is a great chilled out place. The only draw back in the summer months is that its open air. A great place to hang out from early evening as it has various levels where one can sit and chill. There’s a beach area, a deck to an indoor area.

Another great lounge is Siddharta Lounge in Grosvenor House Hotel. A rooftop lounge offeringAsian food and great beverage mixes. The step-seating overlooking the pool has a certain serenity to it, overlooking the splendid Dubai Marina skyline.

For hard core dancing, salsa fans can head to Malacon for a great night with live band. A desi night is good at Pulse at the Movenpick Hotel where they have various DJs and RJs from Dubai playing Bollywood mix.

And for a taste of Ibiza, Madinat Jumeirah’s Pacha Ibiza is the place to be. Great vibe and music s guaranteed here.

Every few months Dubai gets something new and exciting, the hidden gems keep on increasing! n

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recipes

quick bites

Presenting quick and easy to make recipes just for you

Eggless Waffles ingredients

method

1½ cups refined flour ¾ cup powdered sugar 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda 1 cup yogurt Milk as required 1 tsp vanilla essence ½ cup chocolate chips Butter for greasing 3-4 large red grapes 1-2 plums 1 medium peach Icing sugar for dusting Maple syrup for drizzling

 Sift together flour, powdered sugar, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl.  Add yogurt and whisk well. Add milk and whisk into a smooth batter.  Add vanilla essence and mix well. Add chocolate chips and mix well.  Heat a waffle iron. Grease it with some butter, pour batter, cover and cook till golden from both the sides.  Halve grapes, slice plums and peach.  Place waffles on a serving platter alongwith the fruits.

Dust some icing sugar and drizzle maple syrup on top. Serve immediately.

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Dahi Bhalla Upside Down Ingredients

Method

Split black gram skinless (dhuli urad dal) ¾ cup Yogurt 4 to 5 cups Salt to taste Raisins 15-20 Ginger chopped 1inch piece Green chillies chopped 2 Gram flour (besan) 2 tbsp Oil to deep fry Rocksalt 1 tspn Sugar 1 tbspn Green chutney as required Sweet date and tamarind chutney as required Roasted cumin powder 2 tspn Fresh coriander leaves 2 tbspn

 Wash and soak dal in three cups of cold water overnight. Drain off the excess water the following day  Grind dal to a smooth paste. Add salt, raisins, ginger, green chillies and gram flour to the batter and whisk for ten minutes.  Heat sufficient oil in a kadai. Drop ladle full of batter in it and fry until light golden (1 at a time).  Whisk yogurt well with rock salt and sugar to taste  To serve, place bhallas on a plate and cave a hole in the center. Fill with yogurt. Drizzle mint chutney and sweet date and tamarind chutney. Sprinkle roasted cumin powder  Garnish with coriander leaves and serve immediately

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recipes

Peach Crumble ingredients 3-4 medium peaches, chopped 190 gms refined flour 1 tbsp sugar ½ tsp Keya Sri Lankan Cinnamon Powder 3 tbsps raw sugar 130 gms butter, chilled

method  Preheat oven at 180ºC.  Take peaches in a bowl. Add sugar and mix. Add ¼ tsp Keya Sri Lankan Cinnamon Powder and mix well.  Divide the peach mixture equally into 4 individual ramekin moulds.  To make crumble, combine flour, raw sugar, butter and remaining Keya Sri Lankan Cinnamon Powder in another bowl and mix till the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.  Divide the crumble equally over the peaches in the moulds.

Place the moulds on a baking tray, put the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.  Serve warm.

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Savoury Red Velvet cup cakes Ingredients

method

2 tsps fresh beetroot juice 1¼ cups refined flour 1 cup butter 1 cup yogurt ½ tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder A pinch salt Icing 1 cup feta cheese 1 cup fresh cream

 Preheat oven at 180ºC.  Cream butter with an electric blender till light. Add yogurt and beat again. Add beetroot juice and beat well.  Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into the butter mixture. Fold well into a smooth batter.  Fill a piping bag with the batter.  Place individual silicon moulds on a baking tray and line them with fancy

underliners. Pipe out the batter in the moulds filling 3/4th. Tap lightly.  Put the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.  To make icing, take feta cheese in a bowl. Add cream and whisk till well combined and smooth.  Fill another piping bag fitted with a star nozzle with the icing.  Demould muffins with the underliners. Pipe out icing on top and serve.

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14-04-2016 12:02:36

campus talk

n o i t o N g n i g n a h The C ll make the

dents sti tu s , e m a s e th re no longer a s n o ti a c a v l Mehta ja Though a K s r e v o c is em, d most out of th

W

hen I was a student, we dreamt about vacations. The word itself made us drool and as the days passed we actually used to count down to it. But times have changed and how!

I felt a sudden urge to check out whether vacations inspired the same feelings among students as before, so I walked towards one of the best colleges in Ahmedabad, HLIC, to interact with the youth there. Did they still get the ‘vacation blues’? That hankering for college days to be over, I wondered. My visit was turned out to be an eye-opener! The young generation has transformed in an overwhelming way. The exams were on and the students only wanted to discuss their papers when I walked in.

They were so warm in their welcome that I was thrown back to my college days, almost feeling like I was a part of them.

I told them my idea of a vacation was loads of fun, parties, outings, boredom too, and long hours spent with

friends. Then waited to hear what they had to say. The first girl to react to my musings was Amee Zota who said, “Vacation is not really a vacation for most of us.

We do get vacation blues, but that’s because the vacation is too long!” No doubt the college has lots of events and activities which are “of the students, by the students and for the students” letting them explore their interests and aptitude. But this generation is so focused on their future that they are willing to let go of their vacation for it. Most of them are enrolled in some tuition class or the other, preparing with vigour and intensity for their CAT, IIFT, IBSAT, SNAP, and CWA to name a few. Applying for P.G. degrees and the pressure to achieve also takes its toll on the vacation mood, really killing the fun and enjoyment.

On asking how vacations make them happy, I finally got smiles lighting up their faces. Kena Bhasara, whose home town is Kutch, said “I will be able to go back home, after a long time. We will have some happy family time together.”

“While the colleges are on we miss out on meeting

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n

s n o i t a c of Va cousins and on spending quality time with the family, so we will plan an outing with them,” Kena’s friends, Vipasha, Abhishek, Vasudha, and Nikki chime in with similar views.

The vibrant group was also excited about getting to sleep long hours again and not worry about getting up early in the morning to go to class. Lots of other students have plans to follow their favourite pastimes and hobbies during this long vacation. Swimming, dancing, working out, music, sports, chess, and running are the hot favorites on the list.

I was really surprised by this bunch of second and third years being so well planned and organized about how they want to spend their vacation. Another plan which they were looking forward to was trips with friends to Goa, Diu, Mt. Abu, Udaipur or other such nearby places. It was heartening to know that many of them are working or saving their regular pocket money for this vacation. And they were proud to say that their trip won’t create any extra financial burden on their parents.

They had been planning it since the year began.

Tapan Thakkar, who came across as a wonderful philosopher, said that “I am happy about the vacations as it will let me get close to my books.” He loves to read and I was fairly amused by the knowledge he has gathered about Mahabharata. His friends say that Tapan

“I was really surprised by this bunch of second and third years being so well planned and organized about how they want to spend their vacation.” loves mythological books, and interactions with him confirmed not only his liking for mythology but his unique take on things.

The K4 gang of Kevya, two Khushalis, and Kena remarked that the biggest advantage of the vacation is that “we will be saved from the scorching heat for next four months.”

All of them looked determined to work hard to achieve their best in their coaching, and crack exams, while not missing out on long hours of sleep, the opportunity to meet friends, grab some food, watch movies, go on dates, have night outs, trips, ice creams, baraf golas, food, and party non-stop. Though such a planned vacation doesn’t really compare to our carefree and aimless days, I am sure these youngsters are going to have the time of their lives. n

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book review

IN OTHER WORDS

By Jhumpa Lahiri A literary triumph by one of the most lucid and intense writers, In other words is about the journey of a seeker and also an autobiography. But most of all it is about the love for language Which according to you is more difficult, writing a book or learning a language? It’s probably difficult to decide between the two. What if you have to learn a new language and then write a book in it?

Sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?

Yet, Pulitzer prize winner, Jhumpa Lahiri has gone ahead and done just that!

Although this is her fifth book, it is a debut of sorts, for it is written in Italian and translated into English. Lahiri chose not to translate it herself, for she wanted an honest rendering of her Italian, ‘without smoothing out the edges’, as she puts it.

‘In other words’, has been drawn from the author’s journal, in which she recorded her emotions while learning Italian, a project she was totally consumed by.

So immersed was she in the process, that she finds an analogy for her struggle to learn the language wherever she goes: there are comparisons between learning Italian and lovers, mothers, the rise and fall of tides, the bridges of Venice and even the subject of a story she wrote in Italian, titled, “The Exchange”.

As in her previous books, this one too has many layers,

laced with her favourite themes of displacement and belonging.

The book started as a literary autobiography but is seeped in the many shades of the author’s own personality. By her own admission, Lahiri feels an intense desire to feel rooted, something she never felt as a child. Growing up in America, she says she felt as if in ‘linguistic exile’, away from her mother tongue, Bengali.

As a writer, she challenged herself by taking on this Herculean task and became a ‘literary pilgrim’, because from the ‘creative point of view there is nothing as dangerous as security’.

Lahiri actually shifted to Rome with her family and in preparation, she completely stopped reading in English. ‘Because in the end to learn a language, to feel connected to it, you have to have a dialogue, however childlike, however imperfect’.

The last few pages of ‘In other words’ is a review of the book in her own words. This is a book for anyone seeking to master a new language and for everyone who feels like he is neither here, nor there. I guess that includes most of us. n Review by Nandini Sanan Shankar.

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14-04-2016 12:04:36

fortune teller

Bejan Daruwalla is a well- known Astrologer and Author

Monthly predictions April-2016 for all the signs Know what the stars have in store for you from none other than Bejan Daruwalla, the most popular Indian astrologer who has also authored hundreds of books on the topic Aries (21st March to 20th April) YMercury and the Sun passing through your signs present an opportunity for monetary gains. You will need to be cautious during the subsequent union of Venus and Pisces. Do not indulge in frivolous shopping. It is not a good time to be single, but for couples the time is filled with happiness with renewed support from your spouse. Good time to deliberate on decisions and plan a trip to the doctor.

Taurus (21st April to 21st May) Under the strong influence of Saturn and Mars, it is not a good time to expand your business. You may get into conflicts with partners. Take time to socialize, handle family issues sensitively. Couples will

find themselves stressed but should not worry too much. Ignore and do not react to outbursts.

Concentrate on meaningful and useful diversions. Introspect on earlier mistakes and slip-ups and correct them.

Gemini (22nd May to 21st June) Planetary positions point to a comfortable financial position.

Singles may get into a relationship with a co-worker, which might become a distraction. Finances may suffer.

Couples may have a tough time.

Concentrate on family and finance for now. Stick to deadlines, even though work will be hard. The urge to leave your job is great but wait for the opportune moment.

Cancer (22nd June to 22nd July) Businessmen and professionals can feel lucky about their

ventures. Personal relations may suffer. Take advantage of favourable conditions. Understand what matters require your urgent attention. Confidence will be a little shaken as the month continues, and you could feel directionless and unsure. But you will recover. Spend wisely and when necessary. Keep an eye on your budgets now. No major threat to health is foreseen.

Leo (23rd July to 22nd Aug) Your intuitions will be good if you so wish it. The planets will help you find the right directions and methods to achieve desired results. Businessman will find profitable deals coming their way, but be careful as the month grows. Care and discretion are called for. Single people will meet old flames, and there is a chance

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for a renewed longer relationship.

Good time for love. Those with irregular blood pressure need to be cautious..

Virgo (23rd Aug to 22nd Sep) You might be concerned about your spiritual evolution this month rather than other crucial matters like finance or career. Finances will be relatively comfortable now. Married ones might be a little annoyed at the inconsiderate attitude of spouses. Those with jobs may want to change but try not to. Regarding health, slow digestion could worry.

Middle aged and above, suffering from irregular blood pressure, could have a tough time keeping things in control.

Libra (23rd Sept to 22nd Oct) Resentment and discontent may prevail at the beginning of the month. Introspect and take a philosophical approach to your issues. Job holders will get a salary-hike. Businessmen and professionals could now think of striking profitable deals. Singles may get into a happy, healthy relationship. Married couples may experience discord. Respiratory system related complaints could require aggressive treatment to be nipped in the bud.

Scorpio (23rd Oct to 22nd Nov) For the first two weeks, keep a

low profile and don’t be aggressive.

You might want to withdraw and turn inwards for inspiration. Pay heed to constructive suggestions.

You will be overwhelmed by the desire to visit a sacred place far away where you could relax and lighten up. Job holders could earn rewards with their diligence.

Desist from making your mind up on areas concerning personal life, domestic issues and career.

Sagittarius (23rd Nov to 21st Dec) Singles will find a good companion but married life may not bring harmony. Those who will benefit the most will be businessmen. If you work in a business partnership, you may have serious differences with your partner. Professionals may get frustrated for not getting an upgrade in designation, despite being qualified for the same.

Regarding health, diabetics or ones suffering from lifestyle diseases will need to be careful.

Your energy levels could be low.

Capricorn (22nd Dec to 20th Jan) Right exposure is necessary to showcase one’s inherent ability. You could face hindrance in finding the appropriate platform to prove your skills due to two major planets transiting through the twelfth House. You may also not get due recognition

for your work. Health could take a serious turn here. A minor tiff could escalate into major differences with your significant other. It will take a couple of days for the dispute to settle down. Personal expenses could increase now. Guard against viral infections.

Aquarius (21st Jan to 18th Feb)

As the month begins, focus on learning the art of building healthy, long-term relationships. Refrain from embarking on a fault-finding mission. In a relationship, a strong foundation can be built by concentrating on the positives.

Your ability to think decisively and act confidently could be reduced.

Job holders may get stressed here.

Businessmen need to be all ears.

Pay attention to quality and high delivery standards. With regards to health, try finding a permanent cure to a nagging issue Pisces (19th Feb to 20th March) Enjoy and immerse yourself in sensual pleasures, if you desire so, in the first few days of the month. You need to be careful about dealings and monetary transactions.

Businessmen will need to followup regularly to recover due payments. However, you will have to be prepared for some monetary stagnation. Later things may slow down pretty much. Hang on! Have patience. No major health issue is likely to bother you, if you take good care. n

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14-04-2016 12:06:02

bold words

shocking!

Twitterati express their thoughts on the sad news of #RIPPratyusha

SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA @TheShilpaShetty Opened the papers to Pratyushas suicide So young! Heartbreaking.

They say “Sometimes even to live is an act of courage”. #RIPPratyusha

Ajaz Khan @ AjazkhanActor

Anupam Kher @ AnupamPkher Deeply saddened by the news about #PratyushaBanerjee. May God give her family the strength to deal with this loss.

CBI can only help now Simi Garewal @Simi_Garewal #pratushabanerjee The only serial I’ve watched was Balika. For her! Very sad. Only 24.

It’s too tough here for girls without family support.

RichaChadha @ RichaChadha_ RIP #PratyushaBanerjee.

We all live on the edge of disturbia, some fall in the abyss. Sad for parents, friends. Showbiz needs TLC! #Gonetoosoon

Poonam Pandey @ iPoonampandey Such a shocking sad news this morning about Pratyusha Banerjee! unbelievable...

Scarlett Rose @ iScarlettMRose #RIPPratyusha I met #PratyushaBanerjee on the show #BadCompany, She was a sweet, Bubbly.

KUSHAL TANDON@ KushalT2803 Sad.... Life is difficult... But why do this... This is not the way to end ur life, rip Pratyusha strength to her family sad sad sad

Karan Johar @karanjohar This is just so sad...and a wake up call to families and friends who don’t consider depression a medical condition...RIP #PratyushaBanerjee

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RNI Reference No. 1272939

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