Feelings jun jul 2016

celeb talk • lifestyle • Fashion • women • wellness • travel `50

july 2016

Vol. 6

Sophie Choudry

“I am the

ultimate

pop diva” Going overboard The History of the CBFC

musical notes interview with shaan

Mann Ki Baat

Making Waves on Radio

Travel

Lazing around in Zanzibar

event report

Editor’s Note

Dear Readers, By the time this issue reaches you, we would hopefully have seen the first of the rains. It’s what we’ve been waiting for the past sweltering months!

Meanwhile, with the Modi government having approved hundred percent FDI in food and aviation, the Indian economy has opened up to present never-before opportunities! The PM’s fourth trip to US sent out a clear message about the strong ties he envisions between the two countries - a reason to rejoice for both India and America, for together they can achieve so much more.

Narendra Modi is certainly different from his predecessors by a mile, a trait which is also exemplified in the way he connects with the masses through his radio address to the nation, ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

Udta Punjab is finally free to fly, but not before it raised a big hue and cry, and brought to fore the outdated mindset of the people at the helm of CBFC. Yoga is getting the traction it deserves, all thanks to the International Yoga Day which saw people twisting and bending in thousands, from Noida to New York.

There is all this and lots more to keep you hooked onto this issue exciting interviews with unique individuals, insightful columns and travel being just the beginning. So take a break and treat yourself to some ‘me time’, as you turn the pages..

Atul Shah Editor and Publisher

4 | Feelings june - july 2016

june - july 2016 Vol. 6

Editor / Publisher Atul Shah

Director Khyati Shah

Executive Director Deepti Dedhia

Deputy Editor Nandini Sanan Shankar Senior Associate Editor Abid Mohammed

Associate Editor Vijay Rohit

Columnists Ali Peter John, Sanjay Chhel, Jayesh Chitalia, Bejan Daruwalla, Megha Chitaliya, Veathika Jain, Varun Shukla, Kalpana Patel, Disha Doshi

Heritage Revivalist Jeetendrasingh G Gaekwad Special Music Columnist Sujata Majumdar

Creative Consultants Photographer

Guru Media Network Harshad Jhatakia / Jayendra Jhatakia / Chetan Mistry

Marketing Consultant Arvind Purohit

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

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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 responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material.

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

PUBLISHED FOR THE MONTH OF June - July, 2016.

6 | Feelings june - july 2016

Contents June - July 2016 40 C ensor Board Udta Punjab has finally released after a loud and bitter battle with the CBFC. Ali Peter John traces the history of the Censor Board.

30 Cover story

Pop diva

52 S mart cities Varun Shukla on what it takes to make cities truly ‘smart’ and the ‘smart city’ scene in India.

Sophie Choudry is full of surprises in a free wheeling chat with Nandini Sanan Shankar

features 20 G oa Fashion Week Know the latest happenings on the fashion front, as Mehul Suthar brings us the highlights from the Goa Fashion Week.

26 M anoj Kumar Famous for his acting and direction of patriotic films, Manoj Kumar is a legend in Hindi cinema. Ali Peter John pays a tribute to the man who was recently bestowed with the Dada Saheb Phalke award.

34 T op 10 list Curl up with a book from our list or a movie, grab a hot cuppa tea and enjoy the rains with our Monsoon list, put together by Abhilash Jayachandra.

26 8 | Feelings June - july 2016

60 M ann Ki Baat PM Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat on radio has been creating waves ever since its first episode. Jagruti Pandya writes in detail on the show.

20

66 s tyle statement Celebs speak to Mehul Suthar on what is Style for them, and their secrets to looking forever young!

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84

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Interviews

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72 Glam food Abid Mohammed in conversation with Masterchef winner and celebrity chef, Shipra Khanna.

MUSICal Notes 48 S haan Shantanu Mukherjee who we all know as Shaan opens up in a one of its kind interview with Sujata Majumdar.

Immigrant Diary 55 Flying for the USA Madhu Rye Thaker speaks to Shivam Kashiwala, one of the few soldiers of Indian origin enlisted in the US army, about his passions and responsibilities.

82 S MART MONEY Jayesh Chitalia writes on the advantages of Systematic Investment Plans 90 D REAM HOMES Disha Doshi talks on her experience of doing up a show-flat, and how to cater to different tastes, all at the same time

columns

84 T ravelogue Veathika Jain roams the winding lanes and beaches of Zanzibar, on a family vacation

70 Kaajal’s Feelings Kaajal Oza Vaidya outlines the rules of the games people play.

88 R ECIPES Presenting Chef Shipra Khanna’s quick and easy to make recipes.

76 T ECH TALK Humans should watch out when it comes to Artificial Intelligence, warns Varun Shukla.

80 B ODY AND SOUL Yoga should be adopted as a part of life, especially by the youth, says Kalpana Patel as she wishes for more Youthful Yogis around the world.

12 S HOPPING Dress to Impress.

18 B OLLYWOOD NEWS The latest happenings in Tinsel Town.

24 H UMOUR Speaking about the ‘Math phobia’, Sanjay Chhel wishes he could do without it!.

78 LEGAL ADVICE New ideas and innovations are protected by the law, under the IPR. Megha Chitaliya gives us the details on the matter.

regulars

92 C AMPUS TALK Internships are the norm on campuses nowadays. Aman Chhabra catches up with a few students as they talk about their first ‘work’ experience.

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96 F ORTUNE TELLER Your monthly horoscope by Bejan Daruwala.

98 B OLD WORDS #thetweettalk

Feelings June - july 2016 | 9

letters to the editor

Hello Feelings, I am getting addicted to the magazine! The May edition was extremely interesting.

I mainly liked playback singer Abhijeet’s interview which included so many unknown facts about the Bollywood music industry. The article on Dharmendra was equally interesting. Keep it up, Ashita Mistry, Pune

true that there can be no one else like him - the original macho man! Bollywood is a major way for Indians abroad to stay connected with their country and so the articles on Abhijeet, Emraan Hashmi and Nargis Fakhri too, were fun to read!

Shivani Shetty, Houston

Absolutely loved the cover with Nargis Fakhri on it. Feelings seems to be getting better with every issue. Hats off for covering such a wide range of content. The story on the water crisis was a real eyeopener!

Garima Kapoor, Sydney

Feelings March 2016 | 1

MADE IN INDIA

THE IMMIGRATION DIARY

available were highly priced. This prompted the young Mr. Mafat Patel to start the maiden Patel Brothers store in 1974. Today they are a chain of as many as 55 stores across America.

Every item an Indian kitchen needs can be found on their shelves and it is the go to grocery store for any Indian who is missing her homeland. This extraordinary feat is a result of the passion and hard work of Mr. Mafat Patel and his family. It has been a long journey for the boy from Bhandu village in Mehsana who came to America with a dream to make it big, all those years ago. He still visits India every winter to meet friends and relatives and to do some social work, before going back rejuvenated. After all, who would know the value of staying connected with his country better than him?

Mr. Mafat Patel and his colleague, Director of Patel Brothers, Varshaben, met Atulbhai Shah, the Managing Editor, Feelings. Here are some excerpts from the conversation:

SPICING UP AMERICA

THE PATEL BROTHERS’ SUCCESS STORY From one store in Chicago in 1974 to a most well-known chain of 55 grocery stores across America, Patel Brothers has come a long way, as has its founder, Mafat Patel. Little did he know that his little venture would become the roaring success it has today, especially amidst the Indian immigrant community. Feelings talks to the man behind the business that is built up and bound together by family ties.

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ne’s own food is the closest connect that can be, with one’s own roots. Indians are no different, and food tempered with Indian spices is what they long for, when settled in a foreign land. Mr. Mafat Patel was one such Indian who moved to America in the

The column ‘Made in India’ (May) on the Tshirt hub of India was a pleasant surprise, as was Aabid Surti’s interview. Both are subjects I knew nothing about. I learn something new each time I read Feelings! Also liked Kamlesh Handa’s views on changing over to healthier lifestyles.

early 70’s for an MBA. He had studied to be an engineer but destiny had other plans for him. Craving for home food during his time there, he saw other Indians around him facing the same plight. Indian spices and ingredients were hard to come by in America and when

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU MADE IT TO AMERICA? I was born on 17th January, 1945 in Bhandu village of Mehsana. We were five siblings; two brothers and three sisters.

My schooling was in Mehsana and I completed my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering in Patan. But, my dream to go to America was realized in 1968 when I secured a student visa to study there. I completed my MBA from Indiana University.

HOW DID THE IDEA OF STARTING A GROCERY STORE COME ABOUT? After completing my MBA, I joined Jefferson Electrical Co.

50 | FEELINGS MAY 2016

WHAT POSITION DO THE PATEL BROTHERS ENJOY IN AMERICA TODAY? Patel Brothers is today the biggest Indian wholesaler among Indian provision/ grocery stores. The famous brand is now a chain of 55 stores in all, which itself is a record. We have also introduced various packaged foods under the brand name ‘SWAD’.

HOW YOU MANAGE SUCH A BIG BUSINESS, SPREAD OVER SO MANY STATES? I have engaged all my family members in this business. My two sons, Rakesh and Svetal look after day to day operations of the chain along with their bit of social service.

Besides this, my nephew, sonin-law and sons have established warehouses, where the material is stored. Rakesh and Svetal look after

FEELINGS MAY 2016 | 51

I live in America and reading about the history of the Patel Brothers was very interesting. We shop there regularly and never knew about the man behind this desi ‘institution’. Nargis Fakhri’s interview was a great read too, one never realizes how tough life is for actors, especially if they are outsiders.

Eagerly looking forward to your next issue…

Arun Rai, New Jersey FEATURE

Enjoyed reading the retrospective on Dharmendra. It brought back so many memories from the yesteryears. It’s

SON OF THE SOIL

FIGHTING FIT AT EIGHTY!

18 | FEELINGS MAY 2016

10 | Feelings june- july 2016

was no looking back after this first shipment was sent out. Orders from various European countries and USA followed. Initially, the orders were completed by giving work on a job basis to factories at Tiruppur.

in Chicago as a Quality Control Engineer. During this period, I observed that Indians staying there, particularly Gujaratis really miss home food. So I thought of starting a small grocery store. To start that however, I needed people. So I requested my Bhai and Bhabhi to come to America. We opened the first store in 1974 in Chicago, which stayed open from 9 am to 9 pm. This store was looked after by my bhai, Tulsibhai and bhabhi, Arunaben. There is a tremendous contribution of these two in the success of Patel Brothers. This is how the journey started. The prices of Indian products were kept very high in those days, since they were available at only very few places. So, we thought of starting such stores in other places too. For this again I needed people.

So, I brought my brother, nephew and almost all family members to America. After Chicago, we started stores in Houston, Atlanta, New York, Detroit, among other big cities.

In 1995, Noble House set up its first T-shirt factory with 40 machines. By 2008, they had expanded to 500 machines and were supplying T-Shirts to various brands across the globe such as Diesel, Cortefiel, Springfield, US Polo, Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Tailor, S. Olive, Robe-de-kappa, Women’s Secret, PDH, Gabban and Ripcurl, to name a few. The company also manufactured for Indian brands such as Lee, Wrangler and Pepe.

THE T-SHIRT TRAIL A detour on a summer holiday leads Ami M to Tiruppur, India’s textile hub. A factory visit to Noble House follows and she is amazed with the nitty gritty of T- shirt making.

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his summer we were travelling to Ooty with a few friends. Towards the end of our trip we had one day to spare and my friend suggested a short trip to Tiruppur - about 100 kms from Ooty, where his factories are situated. We jumped at this last minute change in plans; it would certainly be interesting to see how T-shirts for top brands were made from scratch, in Tiruppur, also known as ‘Knit City’.

On the way our friend Birju Mashru told us all about his family business that was started by his father, Mr.

Ramesh Mashru and his uncle Mr. Prakash Magdani.

Noble House originally started as a trading firm for plastic granules in 1986. One day, someone from among his several business contacts asked Mr. Mashru if he knew anyone who could export T-shirts to Spain. A risk-taker himself, he saw this as an opportunity to try out a new business and he soon packed his bags for a trip to Las Palmas. On this first trip, he bagged an order of 5000 pieces of basic T-Shirts. His next trip was to Tiruppur, where he was going to learn everything about T-shirt making, right from the beginning. There

We were super excited to visit a factory that manufactured garments for so many well-known brands!

On reaching Tiruppur we noticed that every vehicle on the road was carrying some kind of cloth - either taking it for dyeing, or stitching, or embroidery or any other process in between these. Tiruppur, known as the Textile city of India, contributes up to 90% of the total cotton knitwear exports from the country. The industry provides employment to over six lakh people and contributed to exports worth rupees 200 billion in the year 2014-15.

Most factories outsource certain processes of T-shirt making for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The first thing to do is to select the quality of yarn which is then knitted in a specific gauge machine to get the required fabric quality (i.e. weight in gram per square metergsm). This knitter grey fabric is now ready to dye - with appropriate chemicals and softeners. The European countries and USA have banned certain chemicals like A20 and the use of light chemicals is preferable. This finished fabric is now ready for cutting and stitching.

Each factory has a special trend quality control staff which checks garments for holes, oil stains, cross embroidery as print, measurement, loose threads and other reasons for which it may be rejected. Finally, the ‘good’ garments are sent for ironing and packing.

With the introduction of machines many processes are now easier, whether it is cutting the fabric to size with the help of laser cutters or embroidery machines that are much faster and uniform. Printing machines reduce variations or errors in garments. All these also reduce

the dependency on skilled labor, which is a constant problem in most factories across the city.

Noble House has received two presidential awards - for best quality conscious exporter and highest growth in a year.

Emphasis on timely deliveries and quality control helped Noble House expand until the European recession which hit all exporters in 2008. Competition from Bangladesh was another problem that needed to be addressed. Noble House took this as a challenge however, and diversified into 2 new companies - ‘Second Image’ and ‘Bason’.

Second Image manufactures readymade garments for both the international and domestic market, while Bason is an exclusive dealer of cement for ACC Cements Limited, pan India.

We had reached the end of our factory tour and having witnessed the T-shirt making process first hand, from the yarn to the final tags, we looked at the ubiquitous garment with new eyes.

An interesting learning experience had also become a meaningful end to our holiday! 

54 | FEELINGS MAY 2016

FEELINGS MAY 2016 | 55

Rakesh Soni, Gandhinagar I like ‘Campus Talk’ a lot. I’m a student myself and it’s a great way to know what is happening on other campuses across the country. Since I am studying Law, I also make sure I read your regular column, ‘Legal Eagle’ .

Ayush Patel, Mumbai

WRITE TO US

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

shopping

Dazzling Danglers A collection of earrings

18K earrings with Rubies, Diamonds, Emeralds and Pearls by Manubhai Jewellers, Price on Request Inspired by one of nature’s most beautiful yet simple creations i.e. the flower, The ‘Dahlia’ collection is adorned with diamonds akin to the early morning dew, fresh off each petal. Price on Request

www.manubhai.in

www.orra.co.in

Disco Ball earings with round fine cut diamonds and black round fine cut diamonds by Tanya Rastogi for Lala Jugal Kishore Jewellers Price on Request www.lalajugalkishore.com

12 | Feelings june- july 2016

Inspired by the mystic allure of monsoons, the Hue collection is aimed at the contemporary Indian woman.

Price on Request Jewelsify.com

Chand Bali (22 Karats) -New gold texture with brush polish, made with uncut diamonds, rubies and pearls Price on Request Available at Narayan Jewellers

Pure white gold earrings engraved with fine cut diamonds and tanzanites by Tanya Rastogi for Lala Jugal Kishore Jewellers Price on Request www.lalajugalkishore.com

Leaf inspired 18k rose gold pendant set studded with fine cut diamonds by WHP Jewellers Price on Request www.whp.net.in

18K yellow gold earrings with enamelling and marquise diamonds with pearl drops

by Manubhai Jewellers Price on Request www.manubhai.in

Feelings june- july 2016 | 13

shopping

BLING BLING

Necklaces to set your heart racing The stunning infinity shaped creations signify the karmic cycle and is thus an ideal work wear pick for the much evolved modern Indian woman.

18k rose and white gold beautiful pendant set studded with fine cut diamonds by WHP Jewellers Price on Request www.whp.net.in

Pure white gold necklace engraved with fine cut diamonds and tanzanites by Tanya Rastogi for Lala Jugal Kishore Jewellers Price on Request www.lalajugalkishore.com

Locket, by the name of Inherited wilderness inspired by stepped well, is a heritage piece studded with round diamonds and has changeable stones in red blue and green color. Black enamel in stepped borders adds to the style quotient. The piece is set in gold and is strung in pearls.

Price on Request www.poojajuneja.com

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Inverted briolette Zambian emerald set in a blend of white and yellow gold Price on Request Available at Narayan Jewellers

The collection is created exclusively by Kirtilals in house designers and is crafted in handmade Naga style, giving more clarity on the features of the motifs used.

Price on Request Available at all Kirtilals stores

Flaunt like the queen Cleopatra and flirt like a blooming nymph with SLG’s ‘Pristine’ jewellery collection for Monsoon.

A diamond necklace made in 14kt gold with green and yellow stones Price on Request Available at SLG Jewellers

White Gold Choker studded with fine cut diamonds and floral designed yellow sapphires by Tanya Rastogi for Lala Jugal Kishore Jewellers Price on Request www.lalajugalkishore.com

Feelings june- july 2016 | 15

shopping

Mixed Bag

What’s trending in accessories

Ivory Collection from​The House of​ Da Milan​o.​ Aligator print leather bag.

Rs 9499

Silver clutch from Tarusa POR www.tarusaworld.com

Party collection from Da Milano.

Gold Sling bag.

Rs 7999 www.carmaonlineshop.com

At all leading Da Milano showroom in India and www.damilano.com

Soft Pop from Lavie is intensive, playful and energetic. It has a fresh take on classic preppy looks.

POR www.lavieworld.com

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FIORE PEARL CLUTCH Hard shell evening clutch featuring pearls and rhinestone in an unique composition on front and a satin back.

Rs 4800 www.elettra.in

The Majestic Elephant Minaudiere Series Klick by RG POR www.carmaonlineshop.com

Grey and navy blue clutch from Tarusa Rs 1,200 www.tarusaworld.com

Ivory Collection from​The House of​ Da Milan​o​. White Glace Handbag.

Rs 10,999 At all leading Da Milano showroom in India and www.damilano.com

Party collection from Da Milano.

Printed Sling Bag Rs 9999 www.carmaonlineshop.com

Nakshatra collection from Klick by RG POR www.carmaonlineshop.com

SERPENTINE features a rich finished snake skin textured bag with gold metal hardware .

Rs 4000 www.elettra.in

Quirk it up this season with Soft Pop from Lavie.

POR www.lavieworld.com

Feelings june- july 2016 | 17

bollywood news

SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT quits platform TWITTER

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n our last sissue we told you about how Sushant Singh announced his break up on the public platform Twitter.

But now it has emerged that he has quit twitter.

There are many stories on his quitting but nothing has been confirmed by the star. The unofficial news is that after his outburst he was trolled on the site by fans and wellwishers of Ankita, which upset him to such an extent that he had no other option but to quit.

There has been no official staterment by either of them, but news are rife of Sushant romancing another pretty starlet.

What is the reality we will not know until he re-joins Twitter and announces. Till then we will wait!

Zareen Khan and Sonnalli Seygall endorse yoga

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oga is the union of the mind and body and transforms a person’s soul in totality. It is a holistic approach to health and well being. It’s is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. 175 nations co-sponsored this resolution. This official recognition by the UN should hopefully help spread the benefit of yoga to the entire world.

Celebrity Fitness Expert, Abbas Ali who has been training Zareen Khan and Sonnalli Seygall for a while now recently shot for a campaign, endorsing Yoga as a way to to improve flexibility, agility and mental endurance. On occasion of International yoga Day, find a glimpse of the actresses as they shot for the Yoga campaign.

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Dubai gets ready for World’s first Bollywood theme park

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ne would have thought that the first Bollywood Park would be in Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood, but surprisingly Dubai beat us to it. Bollywood Parks Dubai, part of Dubai parks and Resorts Group, is a 1.7 million square foot park themed entirely on Bollywood. It will have five themed zones based and inspired by Mumbai’s major film studios, each featuring attractions dedicated to their popular films.

Attractions like Dabbang Stunt Show, Krrish 4D flying ride, Rock-On restaurant are in the offering along with cinematic simulation rides and blockbuster attractions. The true spirit of Bollywood will be also be showcased in a grand-scale Broadway style musical. The park will also house a host of retail stores selling Bollywood souvenirs and memorabilia. The theme park opens in October this year and we are sure the opening will be a grand show, Bollywood style!

Feelings june - july 2016 | 19

fashion event

Fun and Fashion come together by the Sea The euphoric participation and turnout for this season is a testimonial to the stature of IBFW being Asia’s largest resort wear fashion week and arguably the only fashion week that collaborates fashion with stimulating conversations, finds Mehul Suthar 20 | Feelings June - july 2016

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his year’s India Beach Fashion Week (IBFW) saw a lot of excitement and panache with some of the most popular designers presenting their flamboyant resort wear collections. The stalwarts included Neeta Lulla, Asmita Marwa, Mayyur Girotra and Darshi Shah-Bhavin Trivedi, Falguni & Shane Peacock.

The Fashion Gala started on a high octave as Neeta Lulla opened the season with a charismatic line at the Museum of Goa, alongside dignitaries Francis D’Souza and Dilip Parulekar. This was followed by two days of an endless display of talent for the country’s fashion enthusiasts by a series of ace designers like Mayyur Girotra, Bani Pasricha, Niyati Monga and Riddhi and Siddhi, who presented their latest designs for destination wedding and resort wear.

Other interesting creations

included those of Kanchan Kulkarni, Gabbana, Neha Godara Harshita Chatterjee Deshpande to name a few. A highlight was ‘Sangria by the Sea’, a collaborative effort that brought together the designers and the fraternity to network and discuss about the changing dynamics of the industry. This light and suave session also showcased creative work by the students of Rachna Sansad School of Fashion and Textile Design.

The closing day charmed the audience with a series of other interesting collections being showcased on the ramp, which included creations from Gabbana, Surbhi Bansal and Mrunalini Rao, to name a few. Gabbana’s collection for this year – A Summer Affair – was all about bold colors, prints, stripes, bold checks, yarn dyed chambrays while Chinar Shinde’s collection, “Lasrin” exuded a solitary calmness and the feminine spirit with a boldness that defines the modern woman.

Surbhi Bansal’s collection ‘Urban Bagera’ consisted of luxurious fabrics, picturesque prints, abstract patterns and myriad shades. Mrunalini Rao

Feelings June - july 2016 | 21

fashion event

week, Tanisha Mukherjee and Zarine Khan also walked the ramp for Mayyur Girotra and Sanjukta Dutta.

Other key designers were the duo Isha and Garima, Kara

by Kanchan Kulkarni, Darshi Shah & Bhavin Trivedi and Harshitaa Chatterjee Deshpande who presented her artistic collection HCD which was an exploration of the duality between a conformist and a rebel. It demonstrated the modern Indian woman as well as a traveler.

presented her gorgeous collection created for romantic destination brides, ‘The Woodland Florette’, which was inspired by silhouettes of vine and blooming bunches in the woods in springtime. The designs are apt for a perfect beach wedding with blooming flora around.

The attractions of the evening were the stunning showstoppers Divya Khosla Kumar, Amyra Dastur and Sooraj Pancholi who graced the ramp with creations of Sukriti & Aakriti, Sangeeta Sharma and Anuj Madaan.

Shibani Dandekar walked the ramp for Deme by Gabriella which was presented by Audi. During the

22 | Feelings June - july 2016

IBFW’s Season 3 concluded with a high decibel, grand finale show crafted by Varun Bahl showcasing impressive creations inspired by the tropical forest.

Bahl’s collection was inspired by travel through time and geography and he used simple and classic cuts in his designs which allowed for layering and styling. The colour palette simulated tropical forests of Gauguin and vintage wallpaper patterns.

The intricate amalgamation of design and innovation in his designs was a fitting closure to the awe-inspiring fashion week. n

Feelings June - july 2016 | 23

moods and masti

Sanjay Chhel is a well known Bollywood film writer and director

Spare Me the Tyranny of Math!

Love it or hate it, Math will never leave your side, says Sanjay Chhel

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am certain that if it was not for the Math exam, children would surely not pray at school. In this transient but funny world, I am not as scared of terrorists, God or the Income Tax department as I am of Mathematics!

Even today, I sometimes see the monstrous math paper in my sleep. Come to think of it, at a tender age, when your stomach grumbles just before recess, how torturous it would be if a teacher explains a sum about how many apples would be left if 8 apples were taken away from 10? I would have instantly slip into the ‘to be or not to be’ mode, while speculating how many apples I wanted to eat.

As if this was not enough, there was a filmy coincidence in our school. The teacher who taught us Sanskrit also doubled as the Math teacher.

This meant that she who would tutor us on the intoxicating stanzas of Sanskrit would also help us crack algebra riddles. It was like the same actor was enacting the role of an honest cop as well as that of a dreadful don!

Math phobia is akin to the fear of death. Any other subject can be crammed and learnt by rote, but not Math. Math is an elusive angel, much like the black money stashed away in distant Swiss bank accounts - you know it’s there but it’s difficult to nab. After Kishore Kumar married Yogita Bali, he noticed the ethereal beauty go to toilet in the

24 | Feelings june - july 2016

morning and he wondered with his trademark humor - ‘Oh beautiful woman, even an exquisite beauty like you has to go to the toilet?’ The query implies the same astonishment that the numerically challenged feel when they encounter Math experts - what are these people are made of, those who can solve any mathematical problem?!

They say the Hindu scholar and sage Shankaracharya was proficient in the subject. He renounced the world but could not free himself from the shackles of Math.

Even Plato, Aristotle and Pythagoras were extremely passionate about Math. Probably those who were interested in Math in the past, were looked upon as ‘calculating’ or scheming, so they decided to write poems and philosophy in their free time. I find it a bit much for a Math expert to also want to write poetry, without any solid reason!

Math can also be likened to skin disease, as you can never completely cure yourself from it. Once out of college, Math begins to stare at you in the face, from every nook and corner. A poet has to deal with the 14 lines and 10 syllables per line in a sonnet. A professor needs Math while awarding marks and a businessman has to cope with issues like profit, loss and income tax. A film director has to keep count of how many scenes have been shot, how lengthy the film is and how much money

it finally makes. A writer must keep accounts of how many copies of his book were sold by which publisher and how much money a filmmaker or TV serial-maker owes him. While writing a column, I am apprehensive that my article should not overshoot the prescribed limit of words. Even a Bhakt gets entangled in thinking about the one lakh and eighty four thousand birth cycles!

(sins and good deeds) or the money that friends borrowed and never returned. Even Lord Ram would have been drawing figures on sand, thinking that the 14-year Vanvaas (stay in the forest) still had 1 year and 6 months to go. So, be it mathematically challenged lesser mortals like me, or God, is there any reprieve from Math for anyone? I think modern science needs to invent a drug that cures one from the fear of Math. The great poet This Math is like the ubiquitous traffic cop who is Rabindranath Tagore said something like this - we always lurking in some corner. The moment you need a society ‘where the mind is without fear and jump the light, he makes a whistling appearance. the head held high’. But this can be accomplished In good times and bad, Math is what stays by only if there are Instant Injections or ‘Calculation your side. If Saturn is creating capsules’ available for Math. obstacles in your path, you are If ‘Account Hormones’ are not advised to mutter prayers by “I think modern science made, countless people will die counting beads in the prayer of Math phobia. needs to invent a drug mala. There is Math involved that cures one from the when you count the knots in Think further, if there are no your beloved’s hair, or pay for calculations, there won’t be a fear of Math.” the fragrant gajara for your scoreboard. We would not have girlfriend. While waiting for her been defeated by Pakistani love letter, the counting of days cricketer Javed Miandad’s six, and nights is unavoidable. Even the size of a off the last ball. Neither would we be lamenting kaffan (shroud) and the size of obituary ads will over the politicians’ billions stashed away in Swiss warrant use of Math. Not even God could save banks. There would be no tab of who broke our himself from Math. His career involves 10 avatars heart and how many times. Urdu shayari (couplets) (births), 8 bhujas (arms), sahastranamavali (1000 would not have said - Do gaz zamin tale marna hai sacred names) and much more such accounting (Finally, one is destined to be buried a few meters data. under the soil). And last but not the least, there would be no poor and helpless boy praying, “O Agreed the world cannot do without Math. I am Lord, I am not scared of death, nor am I afraid of aware that if Math was not there, nothing could re-birth. If there is one fear, it is of having to study have been calculated, be it one’s Paap-Punya Math and to sit for it’s exams!” n

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feature

BHARAT JINKE DIL MEIN REHTA HAI A TRIBUTE TO DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD WINNER MANOJ KUMAR ALI PETER JOHN 26 | Feelings june - july 2016

H

e neither went to any acting school nor knew how films were made. However, he knew if he had to do anything in life, it would be in films. It was as if he was destined to be a part of Hindi films and nothing could stop him.

Hari Kishen Goswami’s only knowledge about acting came from Dilip Kumar - he watched every film of his and each time added strength to his own ambition to be an actor just like his idol (there have been many others who have been inspired by Dilip Kumar). Hari Kishen booked a third class train ticket and reached Bombay in quest of his goal. From then until now, his has been a very exciting and enlightening journey, during which he has seen all that he had dreamt of, worked with some of the greatest legends of Indian cinema, and made a distinct place for himself in it’s halls of fame as a living legend himself.

Just a few weeks ago, Hari Kishen Goswami travelled to Delhi in a train, in an air conditioned compartment.

He could have flown to Delhi but he had stopped travelling by air way back in the eighties when he was making ‘Purab Aur Paschim’. This time he travelled not as the ordinary, handsome Hari Kishen Goswami, but as Dr. Manoj Kumar, Padmabhushan and now also the winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. The journey had come back full circle for him, but his determination to contribute is as strong as ever, at seventy-eight. He might have been on a wheelchair when receiving his award from President Pranab Mukherjee but his mind is younger than the minds of men half or even less than half his age. He made the occasion even more special when he presented the President with a mini, marble statue of Gautam Buddha.

Let’s begin at the beginning, however.

Hari Kishen realized that his name was too long and solemn to be the name of an actor and changed his name to Manoj Kumar, the name of his idol Dilip Kumar in one of his most memorable films.

Manoj Kumar started his career with some small films which have been wiped out even from history, but he came into his own with films like ‘Hariyali Aur Raasta’, ‘Himalay Ki God mein’, ‘Woh Kaun Thi’ and ‘Gumnaam’. He was not gumnaam (unknown) any longer but was signing one big film after another,

including a film called ‘Aadmi’, in which he was thrilled to be teamed with Dilip Kumar, at the same time facing the biggest challenge of his career.

Manoj was blessed with a creative mind. Writing scenes and meaningful dialogue came easily to him and some of the best filmmakers and even writers sought his advice when they were stuck. Among those who looked up to him for advice were the doyen of the south, S.S Vasan, Raj Kapoor and Raj Khosla.

In the early sixties he worked as the leading man of a film based on the martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh, called ‘Shaheed’. There were others who were credited as the writers and the director of the film but all those who were witness to how the film was made knew and still talk about how Manoj Kumar was the man behind every action and move during the making of the film. The film also inspired him to write and direct his own film. It was during the celebrations of Shaheed’s success that Manoj met the then Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who asked him to make a feature film based on his own slogan, ‘Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan’.

Manoj was blessed with a creative mind. Writing scenes and meaningful dialogue came easily to him and some of the best filmmakers and even writers sought his advice when they were stuck..

Manoj went to work like a one-man battalion and succeeded in making a cult film called ‘Upkaar’, which was popular and successful not only in India but wherever Hindi films were seen... and still is!

He had become a filmmaker with a mission - to give Bharat the image it deserved to be remembered by, for generations to come. Once he started there was no stopping and he made one great patriotic film after

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feature

Manoj may not be physically active but his mind works overtime. another - films like ‘Purab Aur Paschim’, ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’ and the biggest film made on the theme of patriotism, ‘Kranti’. ‘Shor’ was another kind of masterpiece. ‘Clerk’, ‘Shirdi Ke Saibaba’ and ‘Jai Hindthe Pride’ were also on the list.

His films inspired several other filmmakers to make patriotic films and he can be called the pioneer of patriotic films. Many from different schools tried but none succeeded in awakening and arousing the feeling of being Indian like Manoj Kumar did.

Manoj also played the leading man who specialized in fighting against all evils in society in films like ‘Dus Numbri’, ‘Sanyaasi’ and ‘Pehchaan’, again in a class of their own.

My personal favourite is the film ‘Shor’, in which he played the father of a deaf and dumb son, a father who fights his own battle to bring back the voice of his son.

The music and performances by Nanda, Premnath and Master Satyajit were the highlights of the film which proved that silence was golden in a time when there was so much of noise (shor) all across the world, especially in Bharat.

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Manoj has not been very active these last few years, but his passion for cinema is still as strong as ever. He feels films are not being made the way they should be anymore, and that only progress in technology is not the solution to make good and meaningful films. According to him it is only a good story developed into a good screenplay and embellished with meaningful dialogue and melodious music that makes a good film. As long as filmmakers don’t follow this simple formula, films will continue to fall flat on their faces and the audience which is growing more savvy will keep rejecting films made by people who do not have their hearts or minds in the films they make...

Manoj may not be physically active but his mind works overtime. His sense of optimism encompasses not just himself, but the industry, every Indian in every field of life and most importantly, India, which he believes can grow into a great country, as long as it has the right kind of leaders that steer it into a future where Bharat becomes truly mahaan.

Here is a man who is genuinely known as Mr. Bharat, one who not only every Bharatiya but Bharat herself should be proud of. n

Exclusive Interview

30 | Feelings june - july 2016

Sophie Choudry

“I am the ultimate pop diva” T

he closest she has come to modeling is as a celebrity showstopper. A geek in school, she aced all her exams. Contrary to her glam image, she is a complete homebody and singing continues to be her first love. Meet the VJ, Actor and Singer, Sophie Choudry in an up, close and personal chat with Nandini Sanan Shankar.

What do you enjoy most - singing, acting, modeling or presenting?

The biggest misconception about me is that I’m a model. I have never modeled in my life, except as a celebrity showstopper. I feel blessed to be able to sing, act, host and dance. I’m one of the fortunate few to have enjoyed all three and so I don’t usually like to choose.

Nonetheless, singing is my first love.

Tell us something about yourself that no one knows I’m a graduate of European politics and French from London School of Economics and Sciences - Po Paris. I was a geek in school, loved by all the teachers and would get upset if I got less than an A+. Before my A levels (12th) my headmistress called my mother and told her to make sure I stop studying for a few days and chill!

(Laughs) How many kids can say that happened to them?

What do you think one needs the most to survive in the entertainment industry?

Some will say godfathers, but considering I’ve never

had one and am still around, I would say determination, self belief, talent and a strong support system to help you through the highs and more importantly the lows.

You were a gold medalist in school. How did you decide on Bollywood?

We don’t have gold medals in England but yes, I was always in the top 5 students no matter where I studied.

I was already singing when I was in school. I did the backing vocals on “Made in India” when I was around 12 years old! My mentor and music director, Biddu, said he would launch my career. Whilst in college my girl band Sansara got a record deal with Universal India.

We came here, shot the videos, split up and went back.

I finished my studies and decided to come to India for one year to see what happens. I never went back! MTV, Babu chail chabila, Ek Pardesi, Pyar ke side effects- all happened within a few years of being here.

How do you stay so fit?

Pilates with Yasmin Karachiwala. I swear by it. I also lead a really disciplined life. For all the glam image that people have of me, I’m actually a complete homebody, I very rarely drink, I eat healthy and I sleep early!

You were last seen on the silver screen in “Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara!”

(2013). What has been keeping you busy?

Post that it was Jhalak and then lots of live shows .

That’s what I love the most - Travelling the world and

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Exclusive Interview

“I don’t believe in the ideal life partner even though I’m a die hard romantic.”

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performing live. I have also been recording a lot of new music and as we speak I’m getting ready to shoot my new music video! It’s very exciting!

How was the experience on TV shows like Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and Bigg Boss?

I only went on Bigg Boss as a panelist with Salman khan and that was fun because I adore him. But I would never want to be a contestant. Jhalak was an incredible, difficult, exhausting, exhilarating journey! I gave it my heart and soul and thankfully it showed on screen!

Dancing in front of Madhuri ma’am, Karan and Remo, who directed my first solo video, was a real high and a privilege!

Tell us something about your albums I think my songs and videos have always been loved by people. Babu chail chabila is still spoken about. So is Ek pardesi and Hungama ho gaya. I’m happy that videos are making a huge comeback. I just hope that we start featuring the singers and not just Bollywood actors in videos to make them popular. I hope my new songs will remind people why I am the ultimate Pop Diva!

Which is your favorite role till date?

Tania aka baby girl volume 3 in Pyar ke side effects!!!

“I have also been recording a lot of new music and as we speak I’m getting ready to shoot my new music video! It’s very exciting! ” You recently attended Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover’s wedding. Who are you closer to?

Obviously closer to Bipasha.. The wedding was gorgeous and I’m really happy for these two monkeys. I wish them a lifetime of happiness and marital bliss.

Your ideal life partner would be?

I don’t believe in the ideal life partner even though I’m a die hard romantic. It’s about someone who loves and respects you for you. Someone you can go crazy with.

Yet be still with. Someone who pushes you to be the best version of yourself. When I find that person, maybe I will settle down too!

When will we see you next on screen?

Sooner than you can imagine! n

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Listicle

1 The Dirty Picture What better way to spend rainy afternoons than to catch up on some reading or movies? Abhilash Jayachandra compiles a top 10 list of books and movies. Staying indoors can be fun, after all, so take your pick, sit back and enjoy…..

The partially adapted true story of southern siren Silk Smitha, the film stars Vidya Balan as Reshma/silk, and shows the provocative side of a bold woman who doesn’t let society dictate her dreams.

Director: Milan Luthria Writer: Rajat Arora Stars: Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor

10

Bollywood Movies Every Woman Should Watch 3 Chak De! India 2 Mary Kom

The true story of Indian Boxer Mary Kom, a.k.a.

Magnificent Mary, and the hardships she faces to accomplish her ultimate dream.

A disgraced former hockey player becomes the coach for the new Indian hockey team. 16 women form the team and each of them fight not only the opposing teams but also years of sexist repression from their families to show that nothing is impossible for women.

Director: Shimit Amin Writer: Jaideep Sahni Stars: Shah Rukh Khan and others.

Director: Omung Kumar Writers: Karan Singh Rathore, Saiwyn Qadras Stars: Priyanka Chopra

4 Water The film offers insight into the life of a group of widows who have been forced into poverty in the holy city of Varanasi. The story concerns little chuyia who waits for her parents to take her away, kalyani, a spirited woman whose dreams of happiness are crushed and a follower of Gandhi.

5 Kahani

Director: Deepa Mehta Writers: Anurag Kashyap, Deepa Mehta Stars: Lisa Ray, John Abraham, Seema Biswas

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A mystery-thriller film made with unusual filming techniques to create an aura of suspense, Kahani is the story of pregnant Vidya Bagchi’s search for her husband. The trail leads her into the heart of Kolkata where she faces insurmountable odds to achieve her goals. The film is an exciting journey to discovering the strength of a woman.

Director: Sujoy Ghosh Writers: Sujoy Ghosh (screenplay), Sujoy Ghosh (story) Stars: Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee, Dhritiman Chatterjee

7 Queen Kanagana Ranaut stars as an unsure woman whose fiancee cancels their wedding because she doesn’t fit into his modern lifstyle. She embarks on her pre-decided honeymoon in Paris alone.

Here, she discovers her hidden confidence and lets go of her social trappings to come to terms with her own identity.

6. English Vinglish A simple housewife, who has been disrespected and let down by her husband and her daughter due to her inability to speak English is suddenly faced with an open world. Sridevi stars as the wife who uses a rare opportunity to show her family that, just because a woman doesn’t know something, it doesn’t mean that she is incapable of learning.

Director: Vikas Bahl Writers: Vikas Bahl, Chaitally Parmar, Anvita Dutt Guptan Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa Haydon.

Director: Gauri Shinde Writer: Gauri Shinde Stars: Sridevi, Adil Hussain and others

8. Zubeidaa Zubeidaa, an aspiring Muslim actress, is forbidden from acting and married off to a Hindu prince as his second wife.

While struggling to maintain her troubled relationship with her husband, she also battles societal pressure and her own inner turmoil leads her to a fatal decision. The film is loosely based on the writer Khalid Mohamed’s own mother.

Director: Shyam Benegal Writers: Khalid Mohamed Stars: Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpayee.

9. Lajja

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi Writers: Ranjit Kapoor, Ashok Rawat, Rajkumar Santoshi Stars: Rekha, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Madhuri Dixit, Mahima Chaudhary, Ajay Devgn

Lajja is the story of four women who become involved with each other due to their common problems. Vaidehi (Manisha Koirala) gets married to Raghu (Jackie Shroff), but decides to run away from the unhappy marriage only to realize that she is pregnant and that Raghu wants to take the child away from her. In her pursuit of freedom, she meets Maithali (Mahima Chaudhury) a bride-to-be, Janaki (Madhuri Dixit) a theatre artist and Ramdulari (Rekha) a village midwife - all of whom are victims of male chauvinism. Lajja tells the story of how they refuse to be put down and how they fight for their rights.

10. Aitraaz The story of a woman who wrongly accuses her employee of sexual harassment is certainly one to watch out for but the eye-opener is the faith that the employee’s wife has in him and the lengths to which she goes to prove her husband’s innocence.

Director: Abbas-Mustan Writer: Shiraz Ahmed, Shyam Goel Stars: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra

Feelings Feelings june - july May 2016 | 35

Listicle

10

1. Frida The true story of the trials and sufferings of Frida Kahlo, the Mexican artist, the film depicts the accident that took place at a very young age in her life and how it became a source of great discomfort and pain throughout her life.

Director: Julie Taymor Writer: Clancy Sigal, Diane Lake, Gregory Nava, Anna Thomas Stars: Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Ewan McGregor

Hollywood Movies Every Woman Should Watch

2. Princess Mononoke One of Hayao Miyazaki’s best known works, Princess Mononoke, like most of Miyazaki’s anime, contains a most impressionable and persistent heroine, San. She challenges the tropes and stereotypes that feminine characters are usually stuck with. The movie also works as a message against the cutting of trees and the destruction of natural resources.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki Writers: Hayao Miyazaki Stars: Various

36 | Feelings june - july 2016

3. Big Eyes Big Eyes is an autobiographical film about the artist Margaret Keane, who is routinely abused by her husband who took credit for her phenomenal paintings – notable for being portraits with big eyes. The film follows her declaration that the paintings are hers and the subsequent lawsuit that takes place between Margaret and her husband.

Director: Tim Burton Writer: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski Stars: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Krysten Ritter

4. Alien An alien is left loose on a spaceship and begins to rampage across it all the while killing crew members. Better than the men who fill the ship, Sigourney Weaver’s Ridley proves to be better at handling situations in deep space and it is up to her to defeat the extra-terrestrial monster alien.

Director: Ridley Scott Writer: Dan O’Bannon Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm

5. Orlando The bold adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s satirical text is colourful and vibrant in its setting. Tilda Swinton plays the eponymous character who is a man who suddenly undergoes a sex change without any rhyme or reason and lives for centuries – clearly, a role tailor made for the genius of Swinton.

Director: Sally Potter Writer: Sally Potter Stars: Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane

7. Carol The cinematic adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel is already garnering quite a lot of accolades including Oscar nominations. The love affair between two women, played by the marvelous Cate Blanchett and the equally enigmatic Rooney Mara, presents itself as a challenge during the 1950s and shows us how the raw power of love transcends all else.

Director: Todd Haynes Writers: Phyllis Nagy Stars: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara

8. Spy A roller-coaster of a comedy that shows that not only can women do anything that men can, but that they can do it even better. CIA analyst Susan Cooper is asked to become a field agent in order to stop the sale of a nuclear bomb, because all the male¬ agents have been compromised.

Director: Paul Feig Writer: Paul Feig Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham

9. Suffragette A fictional story of the women’s movement of the 1910s and the 1920s which led to rights given to women, the movie showcases the lives of several women who fought for the movement on the streets, often using original methods to garner attention to their cause.

Director: Sarah Gavron Writer: Abi Morgan Stars: Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep, Helena Bonham Carter

6. Sisters SNL Alumni Tina Fey and Amy Poehler star as two sisters who are polar opposites in behavior but still love each other and want to have a good time. When their parents decide to sell their old house, the two sisters come together to throw one last party in their old house.

Director: Jason Moore Writer: Paula Pell Stars: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey

10. Shakespeare in Love In Shakespeare’s time, the parts for women in plays were played by men. Shakespeare in Love is a twist on that particular rule when Viola, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, decides to fulfill her desire to be in plays by any means necessary, in this case, as a woman dressed as a man. Also to watch out for is Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I. Director: John Madden Writer: Tom Stoppard, Marc Norman Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench

Feelings june - july 2016 | 37

Listicle

10

1. Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale A deeply political, satire and critique on the modern world, The Handmaid’s Tale purports to be a conversation about the subjugation of women. Winner of the 1986 Booker Prize and the recipient of the first Arthur C. Clarke award, it is a speculative fiction set in a dystopian world where women do not have any rights.

Books Every Woman Should Read

2. Beloved – Toni Morrison The sins of the past come to haunt all.

But in this case, was it sin or kindness.

Beloved tells the story of Sethe, a black slave in the 19th century, who kills her eldest child rather than let it be captured and turned into a slave. The story takes a supernatural turn when a ghost, named Beloved, arrives and begins harassing Sethe and her family.

Sethe begins to think of the ghost as her own dead daughter and slowly, her health deteriorates. A perfect example of a mother-daughter story.

38 | Feelings june - july 2016

3. A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hossieni A heartbreaking story spanning two generations of war torn, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a deeply moving portrayal of two women’s struggles in the face of impossible odds and the solace they find in each other’s company that they use to keep hope alive.

4. Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie If you haven’t heard of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, then you should. The Nigerian author is clever with her use

of words and funny and sarcastic about being black in the 21st century.

It is a novel that spans a wide array of themes, most prominent among them is the idea of being immigrant – of being in an unknown country.

5. Room – Emma Donoghue A young woman abducted at the age of 19 spends the next seven years in a 12 x 12 room repeatedly raped and now has a 5 year old son Jack, the narrator of the story. It is a highly unusual mother-son story and is as much about what happens with them inside

the room as much as it is the story of what happens when they finally escape the room.

7. Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll Do I need to say this? Delve into your childhood, take a trip down the rabbit hole, talk to smoking caterpillars and mad Hares. This is the best children’s story, mad and evocative, held in awe by children and adults alike.

9. The Second Sex – Simone de Beauvoir Though a non-fiction book, The Second Sex argues for women’s equality, presenting a thoroughly compelling case about the attitude towards women throughout history.

The book has almost no critics and is presents a disturbing critique on our times as well that problems of gender still persist in the world even after 65 years which is how long the book has been in print!

8. White Teeth – Zadie Smith This is Smith’s debut novel. Critically acclaimed, it was loved everywhere upon release and has touched on themes far and wide concerning the lives of immigrants in London. Using the idea of teeth as the unique point of identification among several races, it explores relations between two lifelong friends, the importance of roots and the role of religion in challenging our beliefs.

6. Persepolis – Marjane Satrapi Although it is a graphic novel as opposed to a conventional novel, Persepolis is a necessary book for this list. It is autobiographical and vividly illustrated by the writer’s own hand and tells the true story of her youth when she was growing up in Iran and also tells the story of her family’s flight from Iran following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. It has also been made into an animated film.

10. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy A married woman, Anna Karenina, falls in love with a captain and begins an illicit affair that ostracizes her from society. Built on the themes of love, betrayal, faith, marriage, and hypocrisy, the novel is a sprawling look at the aristocratic life of Russian society.

Feelings june - july 2016 | 39

fEATURE

The CBFC’s moral policing became just too much to handle with the censoring of Udta Punjab.

Ali Peter John talks about what exactly happened and how the censor board has controlled what we view, over the years.

40 | Feelings June - July 2016

interview

T

here have been several controversies during the various terms of the Central Board for Film Certification, but never has the atmosphere been as full of fear and suspicion as since Mr. Pahlaj Nihalani, one of the film industry’s own producers has taken charge.

He first shot into fame or rather shame, when he issued his list of words which filmmakers had to avoid using in their films. It created a furore and sent the first anxious feelers to the film fraternity that Nihalani would be more a dictator than a chairman, someone who would crucify

films, not certify them. The fears were confirmed when he created hell for a Bond film (Spectre) cutting out the kissing scenes and the ‘gory scenes of violence’. But it is his decisions taken in the case of Udta Punjab that have made it clear that he will do what he pleases, even if it creates havoc for the filmmakers.

In the case of Udta Punjab, the flighty and supposedly mighty chairman seems to have crossed all limits and created the kind of stir that has literally made filmmakers shake in anger, forcing the entire industry to come together and cry foul against the chilling and almost killing decisions taken.

Feelings June - July 2016 | 41

FEATURE

He shocked the industry by asking the makers of the film to delete the name ‘Punjab’ from the title of the film. There have been films made earlier with the names of states in their titles, vis-a-vis Bombay to Goa and Bombay Velvet among others, but why did he choose to protect the sanctity of Punjab, where the assembly elections are due in the coming months? He also ordered eighty–nine cuts in the film and asked the makers to delete scenes of people being injected with drugs and every scene in which drugs are seen being used by people. All over Punjab drugs are a modern day reality which everyone is aware of, a fact established by several surveys conducted in the state over the years. In what seems to be the first time in the history of the censor board, he asked for all references to MLAs, MPs and elections to be

42 | Feelings June - July 2016

yanked out of the film and according to reliable sources, he had also asked the makers to instead send home a message of what the BJP government is doing to fight drug addiction, not only in Punjab but all over the country.

What would be left of Udta Punjab, if all the diktats of Mr. Nihalani had to be followed meekly? There would be nothing left of the film that highlights one of the major ills of Punjab and the country as a whole.

All this had to arouse the indignation of the film industry who have come together in support of the film. Even the superstar Amitabh Bachchan said that stifling creativity was ‘like killing the soul’, and there were several filmmakers led by Mukesh Bhatt, the chairman of the Film Producers Guild of India who openly asked for Mr. Nihalani’s dismissal.

What was more unbecoming of the Chairman was how he reacted to the voices raised against him. He made statements that strictly went against his distinguished post. He alleged that Anurag Kashyap, the co-producer

of the film was financed by the AAP Party to give a bad name to Punjab on the eve of a crucial election. In one of his interviews he said that he was given all the freedom by the Centre and in another he made the following statement, “Yes, I am a chamcha of Narendra Modi, I am not the chamcha of the Italian Prime Minister”. I leave the interpretations to you, dear readers.

As expected, the filmmakers moved the Bombay High Court to redress their grievances and as expected, the Court lashed out at the chairman and the CBFC. It said the Chairman and the CBFC had the duty of certifying films and not censoring them. Referring to the war of words between the chairman and the makers, the court called the whole shoddy affair ‘obnoxious’!

In what seemed like a tight slap on the face of the Chairman and the CBFC, the Bombay High Court in its judgment demanded drastic changes in the deletions made by the CBFC. It reduced the number of cuts from a staggering eighty-nine to just one (of the hero Shahid Kapur urinating in public) and allowed all the other scenes, however shocking and controversial and even

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FEATURE

all the expletives, the reference to Punjab, it’s towns and to elections, MPs and MLAs, to stay. It was a major triumph of the right to the freedom of expression and creativity. It was also a judgment the CBFC was forced to accept.

up to the Supreme Court to see that the film was released.

FILMS WHICH HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE CENSORS

In the nineties, there were two Hindi films made in the South, ‘Andhaa Kaanoon’ and ‘Meri Awaaz Suno’ that were banned outright mainly because of the excessive violence in them, but it was again the Court that made them see the light of day.

This tussle between filmmakers and the CBFC has been going on ever since the censor board was formed in 1951.

Here are some of the more glaring examples of films being mauled and massacred by the scissors of the censors.

If there was one filmmaker who had a regular battle with the censors, it was the great writer and filmmaker, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. The censors seemed to have made him a soft target. Almost every film he made had to face the vagaries of the men and women with the scissors. Two of his films, ‘Bambai Raat Ki Baahon Mein’ and ‘Shehar Aur Sapna’ and a documentary called ‘A Tale of Four Cities’ were heavily damaged by the cuts imposed by the censors.

Abbas however was a crusader and a leading journalist who refused to take things lying down. He went to Court each time he was made a victim and emerged victorious. The judgments of the High Court and even the Supreme Court in the case of his films became landmarks and reference points whenever there was a clash with the censors.

Another fiery filmmaker and actor who was a ‘favourite’ of the censors was I.S Johar. One of his films, ‘Nasbandi’ made as an attack on the Emergency invoked on the country

by Mrs. Indira Gandhi was banned outright, but Johar too went to Court and got his film released even though he had to agree to some minor cuts.

The one film which was also banned completely was Gulzar’s ‘Aandhi’, which was also a mirror to the happenings during the Emergency. But what actually went against the film was the striking resemblance of the character in ‘Aandhi’ played by the legendary Bengali actress, Suchitra Sen, to the living Indira Gandhi. The producer of the film, J.Om Prakash, father-in-law of filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, fought his way right

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Another film which was a satire on the Emergency titled Kissa Kursi Ka was also banned but the Court saved it with the minimum number of cuts.

At the same time there were two political films made in Hindi and shot in the south, ‘Inqilaab’ with Amitabh Bachchan and ‘Aaj Ka MLA Ram Avtaar’ with Rajesh Khanna. The films made strong attacks against politicians and especially about politicians changing parties for their own gains. Both the films faced heavy weather at the censor board and it is said Amitabh used his clout to get ‘Inqilaab’ passed but the film with Rajesh Khanna had to be released in its mutilated form which caused heavy damage to it at the box-office.

As for Anurag Kashyap, ‘Udta Punjab’ is not the first time the censor board has had a problem with his film.

Few filmmakers have consistently challenged the highhandedness of the censor board the way Anurag Kashyap has. He has fought the CBFC at every turn. ‘Paanch’, Kashyap’s directorial debut, was banned. This is something unheard of in the West, where films in their entirety are never banned. In US, a film might get an R (Restricted) or an NC-17 (Adults Only) rating, but is never prohibited from getting screened.

Kashyap’s second film, ‘Black Friday’, based on the 1993 Bombay blasts, also ran into trouble. The censor board stopped its release in India for its ‘sensitive content’ and the film, which was completed in 2004, was released in 2007 after the Supreme Court cleared it. Anurag Kashyap known for pushing the boundaries of commercial Hindi cinema, found a natural enemy in the censor board. They kept butting heads frequently over the course of his career.

Deepa Mehta’s ‘Water’, scripted

by Kashyap was released in 2007, following several controversies.

The film based on the life and plight of widows in Varanasi faced stiff opposition from fringe elements even as it was being shot in India. After the shooting was shifted to Sri Lanka due to violent protests from various groups alleging that the script is ‘antiHindu’, the film that was ready by 2005, was released two years later, with several cuts. Kashyap’s ‘Gulaal’, initially rejected by the board for its politically charged content, was finally released with an A-certificate in 2009.

All his films thereafter got released, after some quibbling with the censor board.

However, things went real ugly with Kashyap’s ‘Ugly’. The film that was meant for release in mid-2013, was released in December 2014, because Kashyap did not agree with the board’s mandate that every scene in ‘Ugly’ which featured a character smoking should have an anti-smoking scroll.

Kashyap fought the rule for a year, before he was compelled to release the film, following reports that it had been pirated online. However, Kashyap has promised to continue challenging the rule.

The only film of Kashyap which went through the cruel hands of the censors was the recently released ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ which was passed with an A certificate.

Kashyap had no complaints as the content of the film deserved the certificate.

There are many other films which have faced the wrath of the censors down the years. Some have succeeded in getting their films released and some still have their films rotting in the cans, all because of the sometimes wild and whimsical ways of the censor board.

Shekhar Kapur’s ‘Bandit Queen’ was straight up ‘offensive, vulgar, indecent’ and almost laughed at the cinematic conservatism of the Indian censor board. Based on the life of Phoolan Devi, the female dacoit, it was banned because of its explicit sexual content, nudity and abusive language,

in the country.

which the censor board strongly objected to.

Deepa Mehta’s ‘Fire’ garnered a lot of critical acclaim worldwide but failed to impress Hindu groups (like the Shiv Sena) in India due to its subject, which dealt with a lesbian relationship between two sisters-in-laws in a Hindu family. The controversy ended with the leading actors, Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das along with their director Deepa Mehta receiving death threats and the censor board finally banning the film

In a rather hypocritical move, Kama Sutra - A Tale Of Love too faced the wrath of censor board which termed it ‘explicit, unethical and immoral’. This for the audiences of the nation which came up with the concept of Kama Sutra!

The Mira Nair movie, which depicted the lives of four lovers in the 16th century in India, was a hit with the critics but a major flop with the censor board and ultimately got banned.

Another film to run into trouble with the censor board was Pankaj Advani’s Urf Professor starring Manoj Pahwa, Antara Mali and Sharman Joshi. The film traces the journey of the protagonist after a hit-man’s car and a winning lottery ticket goes missing and the chaos that follows. However, what irked the censor board were the ‘vulgar scenes’ and ‘bold language’ used in this black comedy, which ultimately led to a ban.

While experimental films became the norm, gender was still a touchy topic to explore. The Pink Mirror by Sridhar Raghavan is one such film which brought the concept of trans-sexuality to the forefront. The story dealt with the quest of two transsexuals and a gay teenager to seduce a straight man. The censor board got offended by the ‘vulgarity’ in the film and banned it even after the film garnered rave reviews at film festivals around the world.

‘Paanch’ with which Anurag Kashyap made his debut as a director, faced a lot of heat from the censor board. Said to be based on the Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders in Bombay in 1997, the film was a thriller with high octane violence, crass

Feelings June - July 2016 | 45

FEATURE

language and drug abuse. No wonder, the censor board decided to ban the film and people awaiting the release of the movie had to make-do with the pirated version of the film.

Loosely adapted from the book “Black Friday - The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts” by S Hussain Zaidi, Anurag Kashyap’s film on the subject was considered too dark to be released in India. It faced a stay order from The Bombay High Court and was not released until the 1993 blasts trial got over.

‘Parzania’, Rajat Dholakia’s first film slit open the wounds of Gujarat’s scarred past and received a backlash and appreciation in equal amounts. The film was based on a superb plot which revolved around a boy called Azhar who goes missing during the Gujarat riots in the year 2002.

Even though the film won a National Award, its cinematic excellence was not considered enough for political parties to let it be screened in Gujarat, where it was fiercely banned.

‘Sins’ was an erotic journey of a priest of Kerala who falls for the charms of a woman and gets sexually involved with her.

Filled with obsession, lust and his struggles with the norms of the society he lived in, ’Sins’ did not go down well with the Catholics. They thought the film projected Catholicism in a very immoral light. The censor board too had issues with the nude scenes in the film and the film was never released.

‘Water’ is another Deepa Mehta film which courted a lot of controversy because of its dark insights on the life of the Indian widow. Set in a certain ahram of Varanasi, the script was also written by Anurag Kashyap and took up controversial issues like ostracism and misogyny which were alien to the Indian censor board back then. The film was widely attacked by protesters and around 2000 fanatics even destroyed the sets of the film.

Another film to deal with the Gujarat riots, ‘Firaaq’ was reportedly based on true incidents which happened in the riottorn Gujarat. Nandita Das was widely criticised for hurting the sentiments of Hindus and Muslims and ultimately the film got banned. But what came as a major achievement was the fact that the film finally saw a release date and upon its release, received rave reviews from critics and

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audiences alike.

‘Gandu’, the Bengali film was a rap musical which created a lot of buzz for its oral sex scenes and nudity. Shot in black and white format, the film was banned because it ‘defied Indian sensibilities’.

‘Inshallah Football’ is a documentary about a Kashmiri boy who aspires to travel abroad and become a famous footballer someday.

However, the boy is denied travelling outside the country because his father is charged with militancy. This film was intended to bring out the problems civilians face due to the insurgencies and militancy in the Kashmir Valley, but the purpose was defeated as it was denied the necessary censor certificate because of its sensitive subject.

The famous Doon School had problems with the content of Ratna Pathak Shah’s coming-of-age film ‘Dazed in Doon’ which depicted the story of a boy who is studying at the prestigious Doon School and the life he leads there. The school did not find it amusing to say the least and believed that it spoilt the name and heritage of the school and got the film stalled.

The most recent film damned and doomed by the censors is ‘Unfreedom’, a modern-day thriller which talks about a lesbian love story entangled within an Islamic terrorismrelated angle. Bringing together two ‘taboos’ in one package, the Censor Board could not digest the nudity and the lovemaking scenes between the two protagonists.

Reports also suggest that the film was charged with “igniting unnatural passions” and hence was denied release in India, except for a few states.

In the meanwhile, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Arun Jaitley had to wait for this controversy to erupt to announce that some radical changes were expected to come in the functioning of the censor board. The committee appointed to revamp the working of the Censor Board headed by Shyam Benegal (he saw Udta Punjab in a private screening arranged for him and called it a very important film) submitted its report in April. But nothing has been heard about it yet. The anxious wait is on... n

musical Notes

Gaate hain Shaan Se...

A close look at the

Shaan: musical prodigy

by Sujata Majumdar

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Delightfully charming, ever-smiling, soft-spoken, humble and down to earth, Shantanu Mukherjee better known as Shaan started his career with western pop songs and eventually became the most sought after playback singer in mainstream Bollywood. His velvety voice transformed each song into a melodious hit. Musu Musu Hasi, Woh Pehli Baar, Dus bahaane, Chand Sifarish, Main hu Don, Om Shanti Om, Jab Se Tere Naina, Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh and many others bear testimony to that . His first single ‘Tum Ho Toh’ released recently and is already a superhit. Hailing from a musical family, he is a soulful composer as well. Special music columnist, Sujata Majumdar speaks to the versatile singer about family, work and of course, music!

Please share your experience about growing up with music.

Music has always been a way of life for me. It has been my companion, my consciousness. I grew up with music constantly around me. My father Manas Mukherjee was a talented music composer and singer. My mother has been a singer and my sister Sagarika is equally inclined toward music and constantly hummed melodies at home.

So, there was no escaping music for me! My parents are my first gurus who introduced me to music. Later, I had the opportunity to learn from Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan Sahab.

You made your mark as a pop singer before becoming a playback singer. How was the jump from pop to playback?

I never had a plan about my career as a singer.

Things happened... fell in place, you can say, and I just went with the flow. As a child I sang jingles for advertisements. Then graduated to singing remixes and cover versions. My first playback was in the movie Parinda when I was only 17; I sang a single line in the song, Kitni Hai Pyari Pyari Dosti Hamari. Since we had a strong western sensibility and Indian roots, pop singing came naturally to me. My sister Sagarika and I teamed up and signed up with Magnasound to record a few successful albums. Then I was offered Musu Musu and Woh Pehli Baar. The rest is history as they say!

You have entered the music direction field, just like your dad. Any specific reason for that?

My Father has always been my inspiration - as a singer, a composer, and as a human being. I see it as a natural progression to take up composing, but singing will always remain my first passion. I initially composed music for my own albums. Recently I forayed into music direction for movies.

What are your views regarding music reality shows? You have judged some of them, what was the experience like?

Reality Shows are the best thing that could happen to upcoming and talented singers. They get a crash course on music and get to know where they stand among all the competition today. Not all find success but they surely get a wonderful opportunity to learn and hone their skills further.

With the auto tune system being used in recordings nowadays anybody can claim to be a singer. What do you think?

With Auto tune and Pitch correction becoming the norm in dubbing vocals nowadays, it surely has become easier for singers. The downside is that many voices that lack sensibilities of music and rendition are being preferred because of their raw and untrained tonality. This is very discouraging for trained singers.

You are a great anchor and excellent mimic. You have also hosted a popular reality show on television. Will we see you doing something similar soon?

I enjoyed my stint as an anchor/host and learnt a lot from it. I gained confidence in public speaking. However, now I am not too keen to pursue anchoring further. It’s a case of been there done that. But as they say, never say never.

Mimicking is my forte and I get carried away. I often regret it as I feel I may have hurt sentiments, although unintentionally.

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musical Notes

What fascinates you apart from music?

Music is my primary passion and hobby and my passion has become my profession! Besides music I enjoy travelling, reading and gaining knowledge and information on miscellaneous topics. I have a growing interest in politics as well.

You have also acted in movies. Any upcoming films?

I had first acted in Kalpana Lajmi’s film Daman. Then I acted in Balwinder Singh’s Famous Ho Gaya. I enjoyed the experience and it was a lot of fun and thrilling too.

But I need to be vigilant and not take another acting assignment that will have disastrous consequences like my previous attempt!

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You are a family oriented person. Share something about your mom, sister, wife and kids. Are your sons musically inclined?

My dad passed away when I and my sister were very young. Since then my mother has brought us up single handedly and faced a lot of hardship . I am very close to her and have a great rapport with my sister Sagarika too. We are musically compatible and have done great work together. My wife Radhika is a huge support and a source of constant motivation for me. She is very caring, supportive and inspires me throughout. Both my boys are musically inclined and are showing early signs of musical genius. Time will tell if they take up music as a career.

“As a person I can be very entertaining sometimes and sometimes I can be an old sulking grouch. I think I’m predictably unpredictable.”

How far is the west influencing Indian music?

Bollywood music has always been influenced by the music from the west, in fact a lot more in the 50s and 60s than now. Though we hear an occasional Dub Step, EDM or House Music production in Hindi film songs, the melodies are largely original these days. Over the years the walls have broken and Bollywood music has been able to steer clear of any specific sound or structure.

Your fans know you as a terrific singer.

They would love to know you as a person.

How do you define yourself?

As a person I can be very entertaining sometimes and sometimes I can be an old sulking grouch. I think I’m predictably unpredictable.

We would love to know about your forthcoming projects as a singer as well as a music director.

Gulzar Saab’s ‘Conversation with Tagore’ composed by Shantanu Moitra and co-Sung by Shreya Ghoshal will release soon. My ‘Nazrul Geeti’ album is also about to release. I have a few film songs but haven’t kept track.

These days until the soundtrack is released you cannot tell if your song is there or not. As composers ‘Superbia’ ( Gourov Dasgupta, Roshin Balu and me) have quite a few releases this year. Great Grand Masti, Coffee with D, Baabaaa Black Sheep,Yaara, Bank Chor, Bombarriaa, Weekend, are some of the films we have scored the music for. I am very excited and hoping that as composers me and my team can make a mark and create a strong identity of our own. n

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smart cities

Smartening up

Indian cities The interconnected “Urbanopolis” of the future is no longer a distant dream. Why is it needed and how are we getting there?

Varun Shukla delves into the hullabaloo surrounding the ‘Smart City’ tag

I

ndia maybe known primarily as an agrarian economy but the figures are pointing away from the villages and towards the cities. The rate of migration to urban centers is astounding; every minute during the next 20 years, 30 Indians will leave rural India for urban areas and by 2030, cities are expected to house 40% of India’s population and contribute 75% of India’s GDP. This rapid urban growth is placing an incredible amount of stress on city infrastructure. Urban planners today need to develop an entire urban eco-system which can meet the demands of this burgeoning population.

Systems that can efficiently manage vital services such

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as transportation, healthcare, public safety, food and water. In other words, systems that are ‘smart’.

The Indian government has finally shortlisted the first twenty cities that will be be ‘smartened up’, after two stages of competition. There is no single definition for the smart city as the smart interventions will depend on upgrading already existing systems and initiating others, depending on what works for the city in question.

But basically it will include issues such as adequate water and electricity supply, sanitation, transportation, affordable housing, IT connectivity, e-governance,

safety and security, health and education and sustainable environment solutions. Over rupees 500 crore have been allocated for twenty cities and towns over a five-year period. ‘Redevelop’ and ‘Retrofit’ are the keywords for this mega initiative which is PM Modi’s pet project.

Sometime in the future, every state will have at least one smart city! The working model being used is ‘bottoms up’, meaning that citizens and local urban bodies will be more involved, with the government stepping in only when needed.

The concept of smart cities isn’t very new. In 2008, IBM began work on a ‘smarter cities’ concept as part of its Smarter Planet initiative. By the beginning of 2009, the concept had caught on in The United States, Europe, and South Korea. The idea is to infuse existing systems with new technology — to digitize the infrastructure so it can sense, analyze and integrate data, and respond intelligently to the needs of their jurisdictions.

In a smart city, your toilet could tell you how healthy you are by analyzing your poop. It would flag deficiencies, ‘talk’ to your fridge (which would be in touch with the local grocery) to stock items accordingly, even schedule an appointment with a nearby physician if necessary. Your car would detect if it was low on fuel, and map out the route with the most accessible station.

These examples aren’t too far out from how modern smart cities work. The first smart city in Spain — Barcelona, has been hailed for its use of smart parking spaces, where sensors detect if a parking spot or loading area is occupied. Drivers can get real-time information on their smartphone to best locate a free parking space using the ApparkB app. Not only do these street sensors help motorists find parking, but they also provide data about parking patterns, helping officials improve management of urban mobility — something which the government of New York has implemented to great effect. Based on the City’s Department of Transportation analysis of vehicular movement and pedestrian traffic, some of the

busiest roads were converted into public spaces and parks. Segregated bicycle lanes were introduced, and a new bike sharing program was launched. Soon, average travel times improved and injuries to pedestrians fell by as much as 35%.

Closer home, the Indian city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh also made great use of location based intelligence to solve its issues. The Greater Visakhapatnam municipality needed an efficient system for assessing and collecting property taxes which made up about 30% of its revenues. The city first created a database of properties using Geographic Information System (GIS) data. Based on that, it introduced the Annual Rental Value System to calculate property tax on the basis of a building’s type and tax zone. A new web based tax assessment form was also introduced. The number of registered properties with the new system rose 11% over the previous year. The municipality’s property tax collection efficiency rose drastically, with collected revenue doubling from 7,785 lakh rupees to 14,433 lakh in two years.

The residents of Hubli in Karnataka face erratic water supply, like many other cities in India. In many neighborhoods, water is not available for days. It was impossible to predict which neighborhood would receive water on which day. The city partnered with NextDrop, a Bangalore-based civic startup, to alert residents about the availability of water in their households. Valvemen — responsible for turning water on, notify an automated system when they are about to release water for a neighborhood. The system sends the information to NextDrop, which in turn sends a text message to residents that have subscribed to a 10-rupee service informing them of the availability 30 minutes in advance. Now, over 25,000 households in Hubli have signed up for the service. With access to timely information, users of the service find it easier to make necessary arrangements for storing water.

‘Redevelop’ and ‘Retrofit’ are the keywords for this mega initiative which is PM Modi’s pet project.

Sometime in the future, every state will have at least one smart city!

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smart cities

Another smart solution being applied currently is in the realm of grievance redressal. Barcelona, for example, makes use of the Bústia Ciutadana — an app where citizens can make complaints, file real time reports of city problems such as a broken street light (including photos and videos), or make suggestions. Data is sent to a central location, and officials respond to the user instantaneously.

Citizens in Hyderabad were reporting problems with street maintenance and service delivery, but the municipal corporation there was unable to respond on time. They introduced an online complaints and reviews system to improve services available to citizens.

The system includes 4,687 citizen service centres, a 48-hour response deadline and an additional crowd complaint option that allows multiple people to escalate a complaint by contacting local officials and lodging any grievances. The government also made 12 monitoring vehicles responsible for monitoring 2,000 kilometres of Hyderabad. These vehicles gather photographic and video evidence to help government identify and address local problems.

The nationwide success of the government’s Smart

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“The 19th century was a century of empires, the 20th century was a century of nation states. The 21st century will be a century of cities.” - Wellington E Webb, Former mayor of Denver, Colorado City Mission, however, is dependent on a variety of factors. There needs to be collaboration among the various administrative agencies, and efficient use of the allocated funds. A World Economic Forum-PwC joint report on the project underlines the areas of improvement, specifying institutional reforms, business reforms and sector specific reforms.

The possibilities of smart applications are endless. In an Indian context, however, what takes priority is the provision of basic civic services on time, and a feedback mechanism with adequate responsiveness. n

Immigrant Diary

Flying for the USA Most Indians fly to USA, but Second Lieutenant Shivam M. Kashiwala has dared to go far beyond. Madhu Rye Thaker talks to the high-achieving, unassuming, young man, for whom it is all about answering the call of duty

G

ujaratis are known to be enterprising but their bravura shines primarily in business battles and in political shenanigans. They prudently leave the physical fighting to others. True, the second generation of NRG’s has explored other fields of adventure. Still, flying an airplane, outwitting the terrorist, locking horns with cyber criminals, and being a member of team in control of nuclear weapons is rare for an NRG offspring.

Nuclear Operations team of the US Air Force, and shyly looks away when you talk about him.

Yet, into this rare category falls Second Lieutenant Shivam M. Kashiwala, Bachelor of Science in Global Security & Intelligence Studies from the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, class of 2015, who flies planes, runs a music company, speaks Arabic (besides English, Hindi and Gujarati), is a member of

Both as a student and a cadet in the Air Force ROTC program, Shivam was named a Boeing Scholar for his academic achievements. He also bagged a ProjectGO Scholarship to study Arabic in Morocco, over the summer. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a college-based program for training commissioned

Shivam Kashiwala was born in 1993 to Mukesh and Kalpana Kashiwala from Vadodara, Gujarat, now domiciled in New Jersey, USA. His father is a professional photographer and mother a bank-teller.

Sister, Krishna is a future legal eagle and has a Masters in Homeland Security.

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Immigrant Diary

officers of the United States Armed Forces.

In plain English, he will be a member of the team in control of the most powerful nuclear weapons on the planet. Shivam is currently a Nuclear and Missile Operations Officer in the United States Air Force.

Shivam also earned various military awards including the USAA Spirit Award for Air Force ROTC and held several leadership positions eg.

President of the Steven M. Scherp Chapter of Silver Wings - an organization dedicated to service and leadership, the Advertising Chair and the Cyber Eye Branding Team Lead at Embry-Riddle. And, on the field, this Gujarati lad tossed and spun swords to dazzle the crowd.

Oh no, it is not all work and no play: the diligent soldier loves dancing, DJ-ing, hiking, photography and traveling. In all this staggering heap of achievements, what catches our attention most is the words “Air Force.”

With his Bachelor’s in Global Security & Intelligence studies, Shivam will be knee deep in defense studies focusing on middle-eastern/Arabic studies. In plain English, he will be a member of the team in control of the most powerful nuclear weapons on the planet.

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Shivam is currently a Nuclear and Missile Operations Officer in the United States Air Force.

He is fine with his “second generation vernacular” Gujarati, but quickly switches over to English in serious conversation:

What prompted you to make such an unusual and brave career move?

Ever since I was a child, I fascinated by the subject of national security. As I started exploring it, I knew that was for me. Some people may say it’s unusual and brave, but everyday some 1.4 million people wake up and defend this country, and I am just one of them.

Your Dad is a public figure in the local politics and a big shot in the community.

Why not follow his footsteps?

But I have followed his footsteps, you see. My father has always been active in community service, and by joining the military I will be serving my country.

Was this move a rebellion against your father’s authority, a trend so popular among American teenagers?

Heck, no! (Laughter) They always left that choice up to me. I am grateful to my parents for never interfering in what I want to do with my life.

So you get along with you family fine?

How about your friends. Do you have all Indian friends or American friends, white friends, black friends, Asian?

Currently I am in California, 3000 miles apart from my family and friends. I try to be in touch with my folks several times a week. I have friends that are of all origins and all races. These past couple of years I have met people who are from all over the world.

Er, any lady friends, with whatyoumaycallit, romantic overtones?

I move and travel every couple of years. So my current lifestyle has no time for romance. May be once my life is a little settled I will think about that.

How do you see yourself five years from now?

Working for the U.S. Government or a top security firm, may be, while pursuing a master’s program in cyber/ corporate security. I hope to start my own Cyber Security firm some day. I am a Gujarati after all.

And the USA five years from now?

Whatever the outcome of the presidential election, I believe the United States will remain a hegemonic power in the world, through the next century.

Tell us some fascinating experience while in the Arabicspeaking country Morocco.

All of it, the entire stay in Morocco was fascinating.

Initially I was nervous, even scared, but that fear changed into exhilaration as soon as I set foot in Casablanca. Morocco reminded me heavily of India. The way people just walked and talked, the way everything was laid back and much less “modernized.” You marvel at the unhurried lifestyle of the locals. Mystifying yet all too familiar, and intriguing yet serene.

And a sweet, dewy-eyed family event that made your heart thump?

The moment I will never forget was when my parents and my sister pinned my Second Lieutenant ranks on my uniform at the commissioning ceremony into the Air Force (see image). I felt like that moment wasn’t just for me, but it was for my entire family that has always supported me unconditionally.

Do you still dance, DJ, travel and take fun pictures in California?

I danced for about 6 years before, but I don’t really get to do so anymore. As for Deejaying, I still watch over my music company Bliss Entertainment that is back home. Taking pictures is in my DNA and every weekend I am out with my camera trying to capture something incredible.

What is the percentage of persons of Indian origin in the US Armed Forces and how many of them may be Gujarati?

Only 0.4 % of the population of United States is Active Duty Military. Of those, I don’t suppose there are many of Indian origin. I admire my hero Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi. Major Kalsi attended medical school and served in military hospitals at West Point and Travis Air Force Base.

He has personally treated over 750 combat casualties and local nationals who suffered from IED blasts, gunshot wounds, and other emergent conditions during several deployment tours while commissioned into the U.S. Army.

It took us over six months to get you to talk about all this. Why so?

I didn’t want to make a big deal of it. I feel like I am just another citizen of this amazing country that has given me everything. I am simply trying to give a bit in return. I am doing what I do because I love doing it, I love wearing this uniform and going to work every day.

And lastly, ahem, is there good money to be made in the US Air Force?

The paycheck doesn’t seem to matter at all when you get to sign custody of 10 Nuclear Weapons every morning. n

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jagruti pandya

S

ome lives spread so much hope and inspiration that they are worthy of an applause. They motivate and energise other lives around them, spreading positivity . Mr. Sanjay Raval is a perfect example of just such a person Born on 7th December 1967 in Surat (Gujarat), he moved to England (London) at the tender age of 11 with his parents.

A normal boy like any other, there was nothing significant about his life then, but, unknowingly his passion for cricket was going to fuel his dreams at a much later stage.

He completed his basic education and got a degree from Tottenham College of Arts and Technology in 1985. That included a one year course in Motor Mechanics.

Following that, he left education and switched to his first passion - a career in cricket. He represented Haringey Cricket Collage (H. C. C.) which was established for youngsters in North London. In 1984 he had a trail with Gloucestershire county cricket club, Middlesex,Surrey and Warwickshire. The same year he joined Lord’s cricket indoor school at the Lord’s Cricket ground.

He spent 3 years training under the watchful eyes of professional coaches and England’s cricketers.

The following year in 1985 he joined Edmonton Cricket Club in Middlesex county cricket league and played for under 16. But then came the pause, for after the preliminary success that he achieved in cricket, he gave in to the urge to earn money for a better living and steady lifestyle. He realised that would not be possible and that he would not get lucrative opportunities in cricket and so he took up a full time job.

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advertorial

Initially he got a job at London’s Heathrow airport, where he worked as a security officer. His journey in an altogether different realm began here. From his first job as a security officer to him becoming aircraft (A/C) 777 engineer it was a great odyssey indeed. After working with British Airways for many years he finally struck gold in 2012 when he was offered a job with Olympic Airways as an engineer.

He had no idea of Aircraft Engineering, but grabbed the opportunity. He worked in shifts which helped him take up two jobs at a time. With the support of his family and friends and with an extremely grueling schedule of two years training and hard work he passed the licensing exam and achieved his goal. At one stage he could have continued the full time job at British Airways and at another he could have become a B1 licence A/C Engineer for 777 A/C, but this is not what he wanted his life to be like!

Though he spent 21 years of his life in the aviation industry his heart was still craving for cricket. His roots in India drove him back to his motherland.

He opted for taking holidays which meant taking less than half his salary with the airways, and began living in India. Since 2013 he has been in India and has started a business venture in an online sport store called “10’s Sports” and a nutrition health drink called “Headstart.”.

When asked about all this, Sanjay quotes a clichéd proverb, “ Where there is a will there is a way”. Dreamers never fail, they eventually find ways to fulfill their dreams. Pursuing cricket as a career was not possible for Sanjay but he has found his calling to be living for cricket as an entrepreneur in the sports business. n

Feature

e r v Maan o a g a K g i g B n a oi

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at

G

Using the radio to interact with people across the length and breadth of India is a part of the PM’s determination to reach out to the masses through effective and innovative means.

Jagruti Pandya brings us the gist from his many broadcasts since he came into power.

H

e begins with a lion like roar, “Mere pyare desh vasiyon…..”, as he addresses 1.33 billion Indians at a go in his “Mann ki baat” through National Radio. Since he has sworn in, the PM, Narendra Modi, has always encouraged the use of social media and stressed on the importance of the digital platform. Setting an example, he has been continuously tweeting and updating the world with the day to day activities being carried out by the Government. He has been using social media platforms to encourage the common man and develop a sense of serving the nation through campaigns like the Swachh Bharat Mission.

But for “Mann Ki Baat”, he chose National Radio to reach out to the farthest corners, where no other form of media may exist. ‘Mann ki Baat’, which literally means ‘From the heart’, is an Indian radio program hosted by the Prime Minister in which he addresses the people of the nation on radio, DD National and DD News. It is a unique initiative by him to reach the masses across the country through the Radio, a medium almost forgotten in the cities, except when one may be driving.

An estimated 90% of the total Indian population is reachable over the medium. Additionally, various private FM radio stations in the metropolitan cities of India are allowed to broadcast a recording of the show.

Doordarshan’s Direct to Home (DTH) service “Freedish” also relays feeds of the 20-minute long episodes, to television and radio channels.

The first Mann Ki Baat program was broadcast on the occasion of Vijayadashami on 3 October 2014. The Prime Minister is usually expected to address the nation every month on All India Radio. The show also provides the rare opportunity to connect, suggest and become part of participatory governance through the PM’s radio address.

In the 20 addresses (Episodes) of Mann ki Baat broadcast so far, approximately more than 61,000 ideas have been received on the website and 1.43 lakh audios have been received. Each month, some selected calls become a part of the broadcast.

The Prime Minister calls for inputs through MyGov,

which has emerged as a focal point for creative contribution to other Ministries and Government departments as well. It was through MyGov that the name and logo of the path breaking Jan Dhan Yojana was selected. In fact, the Prime Minister himself felicitated those whose entries were finally selected.

On 5th September, 2014 the PM interacted with students across India through technology and answered their questions directly. Often sharing thoughts on Facebook and Twitter, he is a firm believer in the power of social media.

Even the President of the United States was part of the January edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, which was aired on

Feelings June - July 2016 | 61

Feature

January 27, 2015. Obama was in India for the Republic Day Parade.

From discussing drugs to drops of water and addressing farmers to connecting with students, there are many definite issues that have been taken up in this program.

Through the whole process, the PM is seeking to ignite not only the thinker’s mind but also stirring the nonthinkers. Some chosen excerpts from his episodes stand testimony to his untiring efforts to include every citizen into the fold of participatory governance.

3 October 2014 He urged the listeners to purchase Khadi clothes and contribute to the prosperity of the poor. He also discussed the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the success of India’s Mars Mission, skill development, disabled children and the MyGov website.

2 November 2014 The PM discussed several Government initiatives, including a scholarship for disabled children and grants to educational institutions for developing infrastructure for such children. He also discussed the positive effects of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on health. He paid tributes to Indian soldiers whom he had visited during Diwali in Siachen area.

22 March 2015 Modi discussed issues concerning farmers, like soil health, right value for yield and land acquisition. He clarified many misunderstandings about the recent Land Act. Additionally, he addressed several concerns and questions voiced to him by the farmers of India.

26 April 2015 PM Modi promised that his government will find a solution to the ‘One rank One Pension’ issue soon. He spoke at length about the new initiatives taken up by his government to fight poverty in the country. He also congratulated students on their success in the board exams and urged them to choose a career that would help India.

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28 February 2016 PM Modi tipped the students in a master class as Sachin Tendulkar joined him and shared his views with the students. Modi talked on stress free education and exams and shared how health and discipline is important in life.

27 March 2016 Modi spoke about India hosting the under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017. He said that FIFA Under-17 World Cup is a big chance to present the brand of India on global level.

And that it’s important to take football to every village with FIFA U-17 being a great opportunity to do so. He congratulated the Indian cricket team for their wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He spoke about the World Health Day and the rising cases of diabetes. He congratulated Coal India Ltd for creating an eco-friendly mine tourism destination and advised young friends to not waste away their holidays and pick up at least one skill during the time they had.

He also spoke about water conservation and announced an app that was launched to assist farmers, hoping that it will be beneficial to them.

To connect with his millions of admirers, Shri Narendra Modi has now joined SoundCloud. It is an audio platform that lets you listen to what you love and share the sounds you create. He has started with sharing his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ through SoundCloud. Apart from this, the PM also uses Stumbleupon, Pinterest, Tumblr and Flickr. He has been sharing some of his experiences via LinkedIn and posting some photos on Instagram as well.

The Prime Minister has urged people to share their ideas for the program on the MyGov Open Forum. He is also inviting people to share their voice messages for the program on the toll-free number 18003000-7800. Selected voice messages may be included as part of the broadcast.

So what are you waiting for? Pick any of the above options and connect with the most media-savvy PM yet. n

fashion

Style Secrets of the Famous!

Jyotpriya Sood

S

tyle is not just about what you wear, it’s about how confident you are in whatever you wear. My style statement is to be confident about being myself. My favorite attire anything loose and airy, be it pajamas or a pair of loose jeans with a crop top. What you eat is what you reflect. I keep myself hydrated, eat lots of vegetables and fruits and avoid junk food.

To stay fit, eating right is the best way and a 45 minute workout is good enough for me.

Some believe in simplicity, while others keep up with the trends.

But staying hydrated and feeling comfortable in what they wear seems to be the overriding refrain of all those blessed with good looks.

Mohammed Iqbal

S

tyle is something in which an individual should live upto his own creation and be comfortable and confident in it, at the same time. I believe in simplicity - A basic blue jeans, white tshirt, sneakers and a pinch of attitude! Being happy is the greatest secret to being constantly charming. I am fitness freak and follow a strict diet, 5 days workout and 2 days cardio, drink lots of water, eat healthy and train hard to keep fit.

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Aakshi Khari

M

y style statement is about being comfortable and classy, I create my own style because I believe that “style is a way to tell who you are without having to speak”. My favourite attire is Indian wear.

Lokesh Kori

Parul Duggal

y style sense has evolved a lot since I started modelling. The flamboyant look has given way to a more sleek and sophisticated dress sense today. However, the casual-cool quotient has always stayed with me. A blue denim and a white shirt/tee paired with a jacket or a blazer with matching black or brown casual shoes is the most basic and all time favourite attire of mine. For a formal occasion a black suit with comfortable oxfords and a slick pair of shades should do the job. To maintain good looks and fitness – think positive, workout regularly - cardio, and use moisturiser/sunscreens.

tyle is a reflection of your personality. I dress myself, not to impress, but for comfort and style.

My personal style can be everything from girly and flirty to edgy and chic, as long as it is easy going. My favourite attire is a maxi dress as it is the most comfortable piece of clothing I own. My beauty secret is proper rest and sleep and listening to what my body and mind want.

For fitness one should walk a lot. Walk whenever you get a chance.

M

S

Sarita Patel

M Leena Panchal

y style has always been simple. I like my outfit to be comfortable and wearable. My everyday casual look is a light coloured top teamed with either denims or a palazzo. I don’t like accessorizing too much, so a simple watch or a nice pair of sunglasses is enough.

I love all kinds of Indian outfits but I think a sari is something that makes any Indian girl look the best.

M

y style statement is to first of all be comfortable. Only then can I enjoy the moment rather than be concerned about the attire. I prefer casual dresses, though of course it absolutely depends on the situation and function. My beauty secret is a lot of water consumption which is good for the body and skin. I start my day with yoga and end my day with peaceful meditation.

Feelings June - July 2016 | 00

fashion

Supriya Aiman

F

ashion is a commitment; it’s an ultimate language about what you wear and how you dress up. Your fashion choice is your ambassador which speaks for itself when you are silent. Fashion for me is the art of presenting yourself in a well orgainsed manner - with two purposes, comfort and love! Beauty comes where fashion succeeds. The secret of beauty lies in healthy skin and for that I drink a lot of water, consume vegetables and fruits, avoid junk and also avoid direct sun rays. A daily workout or yoga for 30-40 minutes keeps me fit.

Sujo Mathew

F

ashion is a journey and not a destination. I am open to new things and like keeping up with the trends.

Jackets are my all time favourite attire. Staying hydrated, eating healthy, worrying less, sleeping well and working out are essentials for charming looks and a perfect physique.

Shahnawaz Alam

T

he way you carry yourself shows your style and also your individuality. My favourite attire is a black suit. For my looks I thank my parents! It’s very simple to keep fit – eat healthy, sleep well and workout regularly.

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Farid MG

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tyle is not only about free fashion and an eco wardrobe clothing and accessories but it encompasses the fluid elegance that belongs to us alone. It touches everything from the way you dress to the way you talk to people. I love Indian traditional attire. Healthy skin is essential so I use products like Multani Mitti, rose water and Mom’s homemade face-peeling cream. I avoid chemical based products. Good health doesn’t come in a day. An organised lifestyle is what helps for a good physique.

- By Mehul Suthar

eventtalk Tech Kaajal’s report Feelings

Kaajal Oza Vaidya is a prolific writer and a popular youth icon, well-known for her honest and forthright views. She has a huge fan following, especially on the social media

The Polo of Popularity

and the Soccer of Success Kaajal Oza Vaidya outlines the rules of an age-old game, where the only constant is change and the only exit is death, unless one learns to say NO.

“L

earn to say NO, my child!”, Dilip Kumar said to Rajesh Khanna in 1971 as Rajesh Khanna received his first Filmfare award for the Best Actor. He was nominated for two films in the previous year but the award was given to Ashok Kumar. In 1971, Rajesh Khanna was nominated for his film ‘Sachcha Jhutha’ along with Sanjeev Kumar and Dilip Kumar. After accepting the award Rajesh Khanna bent to pay his respect to Dilip Kumar and the latter said, “Learn to say NO”.

can begin all alone. Carve a path for himself. But one needs people around to make the dream come true and then to celebrate and appreciate success. These people include colleagues, friends, family, fans and also foes. To discover jealousy in someone’s eyes adds a tangy taste to success. An important rule of the game however, is not to get carried away by that tangy taste.

This piece of advice is very important for everyone on the celebrity list. Actors, writers, politicians, cricketers, musicians or painters - when they start climbing the ladder of success, the first feeling they experience is that of insecurity. They want to eat the cake all by themselves and are not ready to share even a small piece of this cake called success. This is a very normal and human feeling.

We all want a lot of money, popularity, success and power and the hunger for more does not stop. But just as in any other game, we must understand the rules before we enter this race or fatal game of success and fame.

Rule 1: Do not assume. Wait till the final result is out. An initial win does not mean that this is the final result or the permanent state of the player.

The one who’s running ahead of all may get tired, injured or get carried away and left behind. The one who seems a weak player and looks as if he can never win, may just turn out to be the ultimate winner with flying colours.

Most people believe that whatever they are getting in terms of success or popularity is due to their sheer hard work, intelligence and luck. This is usually the first foul. No success in this world has been achieved single handedly. Yes, a person

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The rules of this game are very odd and almost impossible to follow, but if one can follow them, the game undoubtedly becomes very interesting.

Rule 2: Share the cake. One cannot digest the whole on one’s own. People who claim sole credit to their success are left alone. We need others to cheer and celebrate together. Congratulate and convey this success to others.

Rule 3: Insecurity and instability is a constant element of this game. A fear of being thrown out, cheated or losing is always present in the minds of all players, all the time. The fact that ‘This is

not sustainable’ or ‘This is not permanent’, is something all players know very well. Still, they make others feel that they are not scared. So this mask and mental frame are in a constant clash with each other.

Rule 4: Losses are large and constantly increasing. The fight is not just with competitors or other players, at one point this fight involves our own people, loved ones, friends and also spouse. The concentration required for the game is extremely high. Time required is 25hrs/day and challenges are never ending. Most people who have not entered the game and have been the fence sitters, pronounce their opinions easily, ‘Why can’t they quit?’ They might be right in their own way but…

Rule 5: This game has no exits. Once the player enters, death is the only door out. At this point, most people who mean a lot to you - the close and loved ones leave you alone to struggle, fight and bear the worst part of this game. Outsiders or nonplayers can only envy or adore, but sometimes no one is left to understand or share! ‘To each his own’.

Rule 6: Those who are around or moving close are mostly enemies or competitors. The loved ones are away and the player is lonely. Insecurity is high and instability is increasing. Distrust, discontent and disillusions begin. The player starts making fouls, wrong moves, wrong judgments, but most importantly is not ready to see the fallacy in his own judgments.

Rule 7: Pain is an inevitable part of this play that came packaged as a pleasure and perk.

When the actual time of celebration begins and the game of success starts giving you the score, when the applause is heard, autographs are signed and photographs are clicked, most faces around the player are unknown and ambiguous.

The names one wishes to say, the hand one wishes to hold or the person who deserves the largest share of this success is generally left far behind.

Rule 8: Feeling of fruitlessness and failure arises, when one is a winner already. When the player almost arrives at the finishing line, which itself is a largely elusive address, the first limp begins. The energy gets low, speed reduces and a feeling of futility is frequently felt. One has spent almost all of one’s life to arrive here but once the destination seems closer, the feeling of emptiness and an attitude of escapism takes over. The trophy that glittered from afar feels heavy and hard to hold once in hand.

Rule 9: The final score of success includes permanent scars, sometimes a lifetime limp.

The player has won. Success has been achieved, power is in the pocket and money is foremost on the mind - but is this what the player wanted, actually? Is this what the player started playing for? Can this be labeled as an achievement, an arrival? What one bartered in exchange cannot be ignored. The pain of losing loved ones, of travelling alone, of getting disillusioned and disappointed can never be made up for by bank accounts, investments and multiple addresses.

Rule 10: The winner has no right to select the next player. The winner may feel that the game is over. He may want not to play but now that one is on the playground, there is no option of retirement.

In a rare scenario, even if a player feels content and happy, then either one’s team members or the viewers do not allow him to quit the game.

The player does not wish to play anymore, but if he stops winning trophy is taken back. Those who were wooing are waiting to ‘boo’ the same person!

Rule 11: All are finalists and no one is actually the winner! However much the trophy glitters, and however much it was celebrated, the world forgets the winner in no time. There are other players, other competitors, other viewers. Only the game remains the same, with rules unchanged.

This game shall be the same for many more decades to come, even centuries, unless one learns to say NO! n

Feelings june - july 2016 | 71

interview

Glam Food!

M

arried at an early age of 19, Shipra Khanna had a bitter divorce that involved an abused marriage, dowry demands and two kids.

She participated in Master Chef and won the title along with a million hearts. Life changed for her, she got the break she deserved. Soon she began hosting her own shows, writing books and was a celebrity overnight. India Today even described her as “the Youngest and one of the most Glamorous chefs in the world”. Her book Spice Route talks about her

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journey and her cooking skills. Her show on FoodFood channel, Pure Sin is India’s first and the only dessert show. She has shows on Star Plus, SONY, Tata Sky, and on YouTube as well. She has also been roped in

by France, UK, Italy, Australia, Singapore, Spain and Switzerland as the Culinary Connoisseur for their tourism departments.

From a abused housewife to a celebrity Chef! How has her journey been? Let’s find out.

Winner of Masterchef season 2, Celebrity Chef, Consultant, Author, Anchor for T.V. shows and “the Youngest and one of the most Glamorous chefs in the world” according to India Today. Shipra Khanna in conversation with Abid Mohammed

How would you describe your MasterChef journey?

It was a tough one, but yes, a great learning experience at the same time for me and all who participated.

How has MasterChef helped you achieve your food dreams?

Masterchef has given me a great platform to take my passion ahead and make it my profession which of course is a dream turned into reality for any passionate person.

Are there any particular childhood food memories you’d like

to share with us?

I belong to a very big foodie Punjabi family so all that I had seen around was food and passionate members of my family cooking all the time. My grandmother and mother are great at their cooking and that’s where I get my passion from. They would get up even in the middle of the night and cook for me or anyone if they were hungry and that is real passion.

How do you balance business and family?

Balance is the key to a happy life and is very essential as well. It all falls in place if your family is supportive.

What’s your favourite food?

I love Italian, tandoori, grilled, Spanish and Oriental and French, especially the desserts.

What are your favourite dishes?

If I had to name one I would say my mother’s home cooked vegetarian meal.

How would you describe your style of cooking?

Fusion and innovative.

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interview

What are the new trends in food that you find exciting?

Modernist cuisine, fusion, Peruvian and Tapas.

The secret for becoming a successful chef?

Follow your heart and cook with passion.

Has technology helped you to cook better?

Technology has helped in reaching out to more people and made the world a smaller place, and yes, in creating and innovating cooking techniques, yes it has.

Tell us about your restaurant business.

I have consulted for many restaurants in India and outside India. Food industry is competitive as today there are a lot of options available for a customer once they step out to eat, right from different cuisines to ambience and service etc. It’s a people driven line too, so needs hands on attention.

Tell us about your new TV show.

‘Masterclass with Shipra Khanna’ on Tata Sky Actve Cooking is more of a culinary school where one learns from cooking basics to professional skills to cook. Right from how to garnishing, napkin folding and laying the table, it has all that one needs to know as far as food is concerned.

‘Good Food Guide’ on Starplus in UAE, is my new show in which I am teaching as well as talking about cuisines from all over the world. We have recipes from 20 different countries.

You are one of the prettiest MasterChef.

Tell us your Beauty secrets:- Positive Thinking ..!

Fashion statements:- I love to style myself. I don’t go by what’s in but what I am comfortable in.

Diet plans:- Fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables and lots of liquids along with exercise. Eat a little less than your appetite..!

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“Just follow your heart when you cook and never let your passion die no matter what.”

Chef you admire the most?

Nobu Matsuhisa , Heston Bluementhal.

Your upcoming plans Books are in pipeline, consulting for restaurants and TV shows in India and internationally, and my YouTube channel ‘Shipra’s kitchen’.

Any tips for upcoming chefs?

Just follow your heart when you cook and never let your passion die no matter what..! n

tech talk

A good listener and part time wordsmith, Varun Shukla prefers coffee over tea. Football and technology are his twin passions. Follow him on Twitter: @wengerarmy

THE RISE OF THE MACHINES AI is around the corner but how will it affect your job? Varun Shukla feels there is a more immediate threat to humanity than extinction by robots.

T

he human spirit of enquiry is a strange beast. We always want to know the why and the how of things. “What If”, we ask?

It’s why we fiddle with stuff we have no understanding of. This curiosity has led to some of our greatest triumphs, right from wireless internet to the wheel itself.

It hasn’t always worked out. The nuclear bomb was a horrific application of a potentially unlimited energy source. Cyber terrorism was an unintended consequence made possible by networked computers. And yet, we haven’t halted in our tracks. There hasn’t been a mass Luddite revolution to drag us back to the Stone Age. Technology has progressed unabated, almost inevitable.

And so it must be with Artificial Intelligence. There are justifiable fears that a sentient race of machines could – to be polite – have an unfavourable view of humans. Even now, when AI is only just beginning to learn how to

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talk crudely, or is able to beat one of us at a complicated board game, there are calls for it to be halted – or atleast sufficiently stunted for it not to become self aware.

Depending on which side of the scientific fence you lie, this is bad/good news. All the major tech players are in this for good, with money to boot. AI research will never stop. It could arrive in 2060 or 3060, but machine self-awareness is an inescapable.

Even in the short term, the rise of AI poses significant challenges to most of our jobs. Anything where the human contribution isn’t necessary will be under threat. Truth be told, machines have been replacing humans for decades – they are simply more efficient. Artificial Intelligence is different in that it is versatile and adaptable.

You wouldn’t need a pilot to fly an unmanned drone, but what of the driverless car?

AI is already very good at analyzing and processing information, and predicting patterns in it. That means the end of first-level jobs such as accountants, travel

agents, and trade analysts. Even the middle skilled work of a paralegal is under threat – predictive coding algorithms can easily review thousands of documents for relevant information. Bots that can write the news are being experimented with.

And although technology has always created new jobs for the ones it displaced – SEO experts and content creators wouldn’t have existed preinternet – artificial intelligence can improve at an exponential rate due to its self learning ability, and because the basic infrastructure it depends on (computers) has itself seen unprecedented advances since it was first thought of. We’ve gone from massive, room sized machines to wrist computers in only 60 years.

The jobs that are likely to be left alone (for now) are the ones that require creative thought, empathy, and knowledge. The notion of ‘labour’ as a driver of economy will disappear. Now, that’s a scary thought – there are likely to be a large number of high paying jobs that require original human contribution (music composers or counselors) and few, if any, extremely low paying jobs that the machines are better at anyway.

Wealth distribution would become a major issue.

The owners/creators of the relevant bots will claim the output, whereas the rest of society’s

purchasing power declines due to the paucity of money; it is possible that we would be living in a ‘welfare state’ system, dependent on handouts. It will be the end of the middle class.

Unless, of course, we change the way we educate.

The current ‘system’ was perfected during Victorian times, when the market necessitated a large number of factory workers to do menial, unimaginative tasks. You were put into a compartmentalized, disciplined, structured workplace. We are still training children to be a part of yesterday’s workforce – punishing them for trying to outsmart, out think and outmaneuver decades-old ideas.

What is the point of rote based, repetitive learning when all the information one could need is on easily accessible devices, with technology that can help you make sense of it? The majority of college graduates today are in jobs that can be automated in the next forty years. There needs to be a massive shift in worldwide education policy – aided by governments and institutions – focusing on more innate qualities that are as yet unattainable for machines. This would allow us to build a future where we are relevant.

Failing that, the machines would have already won the war. n

Feelings june - july 2016 | 77

Tech talk legal eagle

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

IPR - THE CATALYST FOR YOUR IDEAS AND CREATIONS How can you make sure your idea for a new entertainment channel or your invention of a new app are not stolen and that you get the credit you deserve?

Megha Chitaliya discusses the nuances of Patents, Copywrights and Trademarks

A

ny creation of the mind like symbols, names, designs used in commerce, artistic work, images and inventions are known as intellectual property. Common rights of intellectual property include copyright, trademark and patent. In India, intellectual property is a statutory right recognised and protected by certain laws such as Copyright Act, Trademark Act and Patent Act. These laws give an exclusive right to the creator over the use of his or her creation. It is because of intellectual property rights that an innovator can feel secure enough to reveal his idea or creation, which in turn can benefit society as a whole.

The violation of these rights is infringement and misappropriation with regard to trade secrets. In India, intellectual property is protected under the following acts: Patent Act: Patent is an exclusive right granted for 20 years to the inventors or his assignee by the government. An invention means a new product or process involving an ‘inventive step’ that is capable of ‘industrial application’ and is ‘useful’.

Only when these three criteria are fulfilled does an invention qualify for a patent.

Some products and processes are not patentable in India: a) Those which are not inventions, and, b) Invention relating to atomic energy

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An invention which could be contrary to public order or morality or which causes serious prejudice to human, animal or plant life or health or the environment is also not patentable.

The Patent law encourages scientific research, new technology and industrial progress. It provides motivation for the development and commercialization of inventions, encouraging disclosure of information and allowing for more efficient exploration of the prospective invention.

A patent can be granted only for manner of manufacture, for eg. Neem leaves cannot be patented as they exist already, but a new medicine manufactured by using neem leaves can be.

Trademark: A trademark is defined under the Trademark Act, 1999 as a mark capable of being represented graphically which distinguishes the goods or services of one person from those of others. It may include the shape of goods, their packaging and a combination of colours, a device, brand, heading, label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter or numeral. A trademark can be registered in India under Products or Services.

The former would be things like paints, powders, textile, machine tools, furniture etc. while the latter includes advertising, business management, office functions, insurance, building construction,

telecommunication, transport, education etc.

The trademark act has a procedure of registration, laws protecting the trademark and prevention of fraudulent trademarks.

Any person who knowingly infringes or abets the infringement of the copyright in any work commits criminal offence under Section 63 of the Copyright Act.

In the case of Satyam Infoway Limited Vs. Sifynet Solutions Pvt.Ltd, the Supreme Court considered the applicability of Internet domain names under the IPR laws. The appellant claimed to have invented the word ‘sify’. The respondent started a business of internal marketing under the domain names www.siffynet.net and www. siffynet.com. That a domain name may have all the characteristics of trademark was also observed by the Supreme Court, apart from the visual similarity between ‘Sify’ and ‘Siffy’, and the phonetic similarity between the two names.

The addition of ‘net’ to ‘Siffy’ does not detract from this similarity. The Court held that because of the dishonest adoption of the appellant’s trade name by the respondent, the appellant is entitled to the relief it claims.

Recently, in the case of Krishika Lulla VS. Shyam Vithal Rao Devkatta, the complainant claimed copyright for the synopsis of a story written by him titled ‘Desi Boys’, which was registered with the Film Writer Association. After the synopsis was e-mailed to one Asan Sagar for making of a comedy film, no reply was received by the complainant. Suddenly the complainant saw promos of a film bearing the title “Desi Boyz”. The complaint was filed under section 420 of Indian penal code for infringement of copyright.

Sometimes a product may fall into more than one category, for example, in Apple computers the software design is protected under Copyright, the Apple logo is protected under Trademark and the iphone is protected under the Patent act.

Copyright: When someone produces an original creative work - book, painting, music, film or computer software etc, he is entitled to protect his/her rights under the Copy Rights Act. The Act gives an exclusive right to the owner of copyright to reproduce the copyrighted work, distribute its copies, perform or display the work in public and also to any adaptation or translation of the work.

While the acquisition of copyright is automatic as soon as a work is created and does not require any formality, the certificate of registration of copyright serves as prima facie evidence in a court of law in case of any dispute relating to its ownership. The general rule is that a copyright lasts for 60 years.

The Supreme Court held that the combination of the two words ‘Desi’ and ‘Boys’ does not have anything original in it. These two words are extremely common in India and cannot be described as an orginal ‘literary work’. The criminal complaint was thus quashed by the Supreme Court.

Sometimes a product may fall into more than one category, for example, in Apple computers the software design is protected under Copyright, the Apple logo is protected under Trademark and the iphone is protected under the Patent act.

In one interesting legal battle regarding the mobile device patent of a smart phone, the jury in the Apple vs. Samsung trial, awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages after Samsung was found to have willfully infringed five of seven Apple patents, (Ref: The Wall Street Journal) n

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Body and Soul Kalpana Patel is a qualified Yoga teacher who organises and conducts special Yoga camps for college and school-going children

Yoga as a blissful intervention

in modern youths’ life

The flame of Yoga is burning bright across the world, especially on June 21st, the International Yoga Day. Kalpana Patel seizes the moment to talk about youthful yogis as brand ambassadors of peace.

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oga has become a phenomenon and does not need any primary introduction.

Originated and developed in India by learned saints, this ancient science works across an international spectrum for all ages. No wonder Maharshi Patanjali - the founder of Ashtang Yoga has defined it as a way of living life by encompassing all aspects that help to live a happy and blissful life.

Modern youth today is a power bank, bubbling with enthusiasm and aspiring towards new avenues.

They have taken the world two decades ahead of time by bringing forth and adapting to a new way of living that largely includes mind-boggling technological inventions. They want to work more and achieve more, are competitive and want to be nothing less than the winner! It would be fitting to consider them as a true asset for the bright future of any country.

However, these aspirations, hard work and competitive natures also come with some disadvantages which can restrict this future-ready generation from achieving their highest potential.

Stress, intolerance, sleeplessness, short temper, irritability, negative thinking and depression are

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some inevitable health problems that are afflicting the youth today.

In comes Yoga, as a holistic science that can be a great support to soothe these young minds and help them calm down. Instead of a cure, it acts as a preventive, a vaccine against these maladies. As Maharshi Patanjali has said, “Samtvam Yogam Uchyate�, balance in each field of life is very essential to lead a happy life.

Mental peace among youngsters these days is one of the biggest concerns, across the world and the small pearls of wisdom in the form of Yama and Niyama can definitely sow the seeds of peace and harmony in young minds Ahinsa (Non Violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Not Stealing), Brahmcharaya (Self control) and Aparigraha (Non Hoarding) are five Yamas while the five Niyamas (Rules) mentioned by Maharshi Patanjali are Shauch (Cleanliness), Santosh (Contentment), Tapa (Hard work), Swadhyay (Self study/Self Analysis) and Ishwar Pranidhan (Faith in God).

These are basic guidelines, practicing which

leads one towards becoming a good human being and leading a peaceful life. Physical fitness is an equally important part of life which is usually ignored because of hectic and ambitious work schedules of the modern youth.

To balance that, an average youth needs to practice some simple yoga asanas on regular basis. Practicing Surya Namaskar (Salutations to Sun) is a good option as its versatility helps to start a vigorous, active and cheerful day. Youngsters mostly prefer Surya Namaskar because of its dynamic nature wherein they perform 12 postures that complement each other, combined with Pranayam and meditation techniques. The series can be easily integrated in their daily routine by sparing just 10 to 15 minutes every day.

Pranayam (Breathing exercises) are considered the soul of Yoga while meditation, with its higher impact on one’s subconscious mind, can be immensely useful not only for stress relief but also for enhancing creative thinking. As a beginner, observing thoughts without tagging them as a positive or negative, helps to empty one’s mind during the meditation process. Many youngsters have described it as an extremely pleasant experience during my yoga sessions.

Yognidra is also one of the very important and useful relaxation techniques that includes progressive muscle relaxation and imbibing positive thinking

by auto suggestions. It is very helpful in relaxing the mind and body and in overcoming depressive thoughts. Regular practice of Yognidra can also help develop ‘witness awareness’ and ability to visualize which in turn can enhance creativity in young minds. Experiencing Yog Nidra has been described as a ‘Wow moment’ by many of my students after the session got over.

Thus, Ashtang yoga can help the modern youth to become aware about their strengths and weaknesses and also show them the path to overcome the side-effects of their passionate and ambitious lifestyles. They can develop qualities like being caring, tolerant and empathetic and can become more focused through different yoga practices.

Since ancient times, India is enriched with different paramedical sciences (Ayurveda, Naturopathy) which are also highly applicable in the context of modern times. Yoga being one of them, the modern youth can adopt it for living a stress-free life. They can also spread this wisdom worldwide, thus continuing this flame of health and wellness and enlightening many lives across the globe.

Having many such youthful yogis around the world who spread positivity and joyfulness will lead to genuine peace and harmony. They will then be called the true brand ambassadors of world peace, good health and happiness. n

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Smart money

Jayesh Chitalia is a renowned financial journalist

CREATING WEALTH OVER TIME Jayesh Chitalia on the advantages of investing in prepaid and flexible SIPs.

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he common belief is that investors stand to gain maximum benefit by purchasing from the market or making investments when the market is down. But what if the market is unstable with frequent ups and downs?

Investing in SIPs (Systematic Investment Plan) of Mutual Funds is the safest investment bet at such times. The same holds true for when the market is constantly falling due to saturation. Such investments are possible in prepaid and flexible plans.

In fact if you are considering making a two to three year investment, then you might as well stretch it over a longer term of over five or more years with when it comes to SIPs. The reason is that it may be possible that you may not get quick expected returns over such a short term. A long term SIP is the best source to invest your funds. Some investors who expect good returns from short term SIP investments, may get disappointed when they are not entertained by handsome returns, following which they form a wrong perception of SIPs. An SIP can actually be likened to a child. Have you seen any child starting to walk and running immediately after being born? The answer is obviously a ‘No’. SIPs are just like newborns until the age of five. Just like a baby takes time to adjust to the atmosphere and becomes ‘stable’ only after

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age five, similarly a SIP gives a satisfactory return or benefit only after it is given enough time to mature. It is only after it has weathered a few ups and downs of the market that it reaches a stable average. This the general principle.

When the market is down, the value of each unit of the SIP (Net Asset Value) goes down and number of units that you can buy increases. The mistake many investors make at such times is to either withdraw or close downs their transactions.

Instead they should choose to invest more!

Anyhow the traditional or regular SIPs are like fixed investments, meaning that every month on a fixed date, a fixed amount is automatically transferred for such investments, even when the market is at a high! The big benefit here is of getting an average benefit each time, but now SIPs are also available with several innovations, in which more than the average benefits are available.

The prepaid and flexible plans have been around regarding mutual funds for a long time now, but due to lack of proper knowledge, a large number of investors are still unaware about this.

Prepaid SIPs The specialty of prepaid SIPs is that those investors who are going to invest in these have to make

investments firstly in the defined schemes of such mutual funds. Only after the market has fallen by a fixed pre-decided ratio, these investments are transferred to equity plans. The investor has to give his mandate for this. When the market starts falling, by 1/2 or 1 or 2 percent, the investments are accordingly transferred to equity plans.

Edelwise Mutual fund has offered such SIPs, in which investors can start a minimum investment from 25,000 rupees.

Such investments start with a lump sum amount and when the NIFTY midcap index falls, a 5 to 10 percent lump sum or fixed amount from this gets transferred into equity plans. Thus, whenever the market falls, such purchases are automatically made for which an amount is already kept aside.

Such schemes are called prepaid SIPs. In fact, such schemes also have a fixed amount as returns. The biggest benefit is that of purchasing at the lowest price, giving a guaranteed long term benefit. The investor is free to fix the amount he wants to invest in advance. A point to be kept in mind is to choose the best from among four-five similar schemes. Making these investments in liquid funds is safer.

Flexible SIPs Some mutual funds have introduced the concept

of flexible plans, in which the level of the index is made the base for the plans. Under the flexi index plan of HDFC Mutual Fund, investments are made with liquid funds. At different levels of the index, a fixed amount gets transferred in equity funds.

Investors can choose the level at which they want to transfer the funds.

The time period for such plans is one year. Suppose you have invested one lac rupees in such a dated or liquid fund. The amount gets transferred in other equity schemes of HDFC TOP-200 in four installments. There are options given for a fixed amount getting transferred as a fixed investment or a fixed amount getting transferred as a flexible investment. The amount of flexis can be high or low according to the index level.

For e.g., purchasing at a time when the index is down is beneficial, so a bigger amount gets transferred and vice-versa when it is at the high level. The investors get the real benefit of the low level index rate purchase. If the market index doesn’t reach a fixed level after one year, the investor can withdraw or transfer his amount in six fixed installments in targeted schemes. Thus, there is variety and flexibility in mutual fund schemes, where the only motto is ‘better returns to the investors.’ n

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travel

We are going on a

Travelling solo is so very different from travelling with your partner and travelling with kids is a totally different ball game, says Veathika Jain who took a family vacation to Zanzibar where nature is in abundance, complete with exotic animals and great marine life

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henever we travel with our children, we make sure we decide on a base somewhere, then book a decent hotel that caters to children’s needs and most importantly, has a swimming pool! This time we zeroed in on a beach destination, as that would definitely have plenty of sand, sun and sea for the kids to be occupied.

We chose Zanzibar in Tanzania as our five-day holiday destination where the visa is on arrival for Indian nationals (another box ticked!). Though the Yellow Fever vaccination is required, they didn’t check ours at the airport. But it’s always a good idea to get the kids vaccinated, anyway.

We had booked our stay at the Breezes Beach Club & Spa, about an hour’s drive from the airport. The hotel is set in beautiful, tropical-landscaped gardens, on a pristine and peaceful beach on the East Coast of the island. We went in April, which was the start of the monsoon season. The weather was a bit humid but we only got rain on the last two days of our trip.

We had access to a variety of activities from the resort itself. Kayaking turned out to be a fun family activity for us to race each other. The Reef Walk during low tide was a unique experience to witness life underwater and was absolutely fascinating for my sons. In the beginning they were a little skeptical and we had to carry them through the water. But the coral reefs and the marine life that can be seen at low tide - star fish, sea urchins and a variety of shells made them forget their fear.

There are a number of snorkeling trips and scuba diving activities to follow through in Zanzibar with the Blue Safari being a day’s trip to other islands, with highlights like Dolphin spotting and snorkeling.

Another day trip is to Stone Town, also known as Mji Mkongwe in Swahili for ‘old town’, and this one is a must. The town’s architecture is from the 19th century a mix of Arab, Indian, European and Swahili influence, which is why Stone Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

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Travel

Famous singer Freddy Mercury of the band ‘Queen’ was born in Zanzibar. Born as Farrokh Bulsara of Parsi descent in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, he grew up here and his house is a major tourist attraction. A walk in the narrow alleys of Stone Town for some shopping beckons, where you can buy some local handicrafts, jewellery and a product unique to Zanzibar – doors! Special wooden doors that were used earlier in the city are now available in miniature replicas.

The beach in Stone Town is not as vast compared to the other beaches on the island. With the kids in tow, a day trip is more than enough unless otherwise you want to spend a night in Stone Town and go directly to the airport from there, since it is closer to Stone Town. It lacks any amenities though, so the later you reach the better it is.

Zanzibar folk are warm and hospitable,

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Zanzibar folk are warm and hospitable, most of them know English and are ever-ready to answer any question you may have about their country or culture. most of them know English and are ever-ready to answer any question you may have about their country or culture.

Tanzania is also known for it’s wildlife safaris, but Zanzibar being tropical doesn’t have many National Parks. There are one or two parks that you can visit however, to

look up some unique monkeys and deer.

Zanzibar is famous for its spices and if you have the time and inclination, then going on a spice tour can be a great outing. The island mainly produces cloves, nutmeg, black pepper and cinnamon.

ourselves to the in-resort activities. It was a wise decision, for we returned fresh and rejuvenated. Just like it ought to be after a vacation! n

As for the food, it is varied and has many vegetarian options as well. Zanzibari cuisine is multi-cultural having incorporated elements of Bantu, Arab, Portuguese, Indian, British Swahili cuisines. The kids alternated between chappatis and daal and then some pasta and pizza, while we tasted Swahili cuisine which is very similar to the Indian pakoras, daal, rotis etc.

The children enjoyed being on the beach, while we had an extremely relaxing holiday. Except a day-trip to Stone Town, we consciously limited

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recipes

Shipra Khanna's Healthy Drinks The Masterchef shares her favourite recipes

BADAM KESAR THANDAI Ingredients

1/4 cup almonds (soaked and peeled) 1/2 tsp cardamom powder 20 white peppercorns 2 cups milk 1/2 cup powdered sugar Saffron (kesar) strands

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Directions

 I n a deep pan, boil the milk and keep aside to cool completely.  In a blender, add almonds and peppercorns and make a fine paste by adding water.  Add milk, cardamom powder, sugar ,almond and pepper paste mix well and refrigerate the mixture for 3 to 4 hours. Strain the mixture through a sieve, add saffron and mix well. Serve chilled.

WATERMELON MINT JUICE Ingredients

100 gms water melon(de-seeded) ¼ "ginger 3-4 ice cubes

Directions

 I n a blender or a smoothie maker put everything together and blend until smooth.  Enjoy it chilled for breakfast or after gym.

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home decor

AN APARTMENT WHERE EARTHEN HUES AND PLAYFUL STYLE COME TOGETHER Designing a sample flat means designing a space to suit all tastes and attract hopefully everyone who walks in.

Disha Doshi talks about one such experience and gives us an insider’s look into the process

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esigning for one family is difficult, but designing keeping in mind many families that are going to walk through the doors and decide to make a place their home is even more challenging. Developers invest huge amounts on interiors of show or sample flats these days because competition is fierce in a city like Mumbai. Imaginations run wild and every square foot’s cost is that of a gold mine! For an Interior Stylist, the constant dilemma is space utility v/s spaciousness and open planning.

The brief given to us for Asheville was simple - clean cuts and straight lines, and we are happy we delivered!

People walking into the home absolutely love the open floor plan. The living and dining room open out on both sides allowing cross ventilation. The entire living room and dining area is oriented towards the outside view – A majestic balcony that envelopes the entire area. The large windows provide ample light and air and the floor to ceiling mirrors strategically placed only amplify the natural elements in this home.

To start with, we fell in love with this 1700 sq ft apartment in the heart of the Central Suburb of Mumbai - Chembur.

The process of filling this apartment has been an exciting learning experience, as is with any other new space. We

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it’s the 3D hexagonal wall paper, the pendant light and the quirky cushions that add just the right amount of zing !

swapped big box store items with unique finds to give character to this flat, making it fabulous and liveable in equal measure. The black sofa together with the animal print single-seater anchor the otherwise muted tones of the cream coloured marble flooring and wall treatments with their calm, heavy hue. The simple, white rug never goes out of fashion and by using it’s plain palette, it gave us a chance to play with louder colours in our accessorizing.

The otherwise simple 6 seater dining table with beige, contemporary chairs has a crystal and glass chandelier above it to add a layer of complexity.

The black and white painting in the foyer leading to the master bedroom lures you in. The master bedroom is designed keeping in mind the tastes of a world traveler and has artefacts from around the world. The peach and beige combination dominates every other room of this home but

The daughter’s bedroom is what fairytales are made of! A modern twist to the Victorian bed design is the backbone of shabby chic and wood is its most trusted companion.

The matching white side tables and the wardrobe finish is a fresh interpretation to soft modern and up the comfort in any white room. Some designers are a bit sniffy when it comes to decorating with wall papers, but we strongly believe that it’s an effective way to make a strong impact without overwhelming the space.Voila! The shimmering floral wallpaper is contemporary and feminine and will become radiant once the sun retires and the scented candles glow.

The guest bedroom although relatively the smallest space of the house, was not to be ignored. A simple bed and finish on the wardrobe with picture frames of loved people and places on the bedroom walls give it a personality. We stuck to a single colour code matching that of the frame of the bed (it can even be the wardrobe) to help give the gallery wall a cohesive feel and help tie the room together.

While this serene space is going to be loved and cared for as a home by an owner soon, until then our interpretation of the “Modern Indian Urban Family” remains within these walls. n

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campus talk

E R U S O P X E T E G D N A N R INTE !

N R U T E R N I lly prepare us a re ’t n o d s e g e ll schools and co qualified, learns r e v e It’s true that our w o h , e n o ry . Almost eve internships y h w is h ic h W for the real world . m n in the classroo a th , b jo e posure to college x th e n d o e d e e more -n h c u ead start and m what they h t t u c o e b rf a e p ts a n e e d id v tu s pro a speaks to a few r b a h h C n a m A . students ternships. in s u o ri a v m o fr learnt 92 | Feelings June - july 2016

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ore and more youngsters are opting to intern during vacations instead of ‘just chilling’. In fact those who don’t intern are the odd ones out! Internships too have had a facelift due to the growing competition and proficiency of young students. It’s no longer a oneway street as companies are also utilising students’ innovation and intellect, more than ever before.

Devna Chaturvedi, a masters’ student of the Mass Communication and Journalism programme (MSU Baroda) who just completed her internship with Cognito India says that the internship was a great learning experience. “It provides you a platform to showcase your skills and to know your strengths and weaknesses.

The people in the office were very amicable and did not subject me or other fellow interns to any kind of pressure. While working in the copy department I learnt few things about client servicing too. I learnt time management, how to deal with various people, how an ad agency works and all about sticking to deadlines,” she adds with confidence in her voice.

Sagar Kothari, who is pursuing his MBA from BIMTECH, Noida said, “It is a great experience interning with Akzonobel India. People in the office are encouraging and motivating. To be part of the one of the world’s leading chemical company feels great. Working in the sales team gives me a lot of practical exposure.

It is the first step in the corporate world and you get to know the framework and working of the actual company apart from the knowledge which is imparted in college.

I will receive Rs. 6000 as a stipend amount. Most of it would be like reimbursement for the travel expenses for the sales project. I haven’t decided what I will do with the remaining amount.”

Priya More, who will graduate with a Masters’ degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the M.S. University of Baroda next year, is doing an internship with Trizone Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. “All the people in the office are really friendly. They are very cool in their attitude and professional in their work. They trust the interns and handover the work which will be helpful in our specified field. They even shared some of their work for our better understanding. It feels great being a part of such an organization where people treat you as a

Who says the younger generation doesn’t know how to work hard?

Students nowadays believe in the age-old maxim, ‘The early bird catches the worm’, for they seem to be keenly aware about getting prior experience in their chosen fields.

Gone are the days when a vacation meant passing time at home. Now they would rather get a foothold in the industry and gain whatever practical knowledge they can by interning in the organisation. Kudos to them and luck for the challenges that lie ahead! professional and not as an intern or a student”, she said.

Komal Chetwani, who is pursuing her MBA from Nirma University and currently interning with Bharat Electronics Limited, has a similar outlook. “The work experience is great; it is a new feeling of responsibility thrust upon me. We put to practice what we learn in theory. The people in my office are really co-operative.

They guide me well and helped me adjust to the new place. My mentor too is very supportive and helps with my research work. I feel really proud and satisfied with my organisation as it is a PSU attached to the Ministry of Defence, and this would be a plus point on my CV as well.” she answers with a smile.

Twisha Merh who is pursuing her BBA from The M.S. University of Baroda says,” I and seven of my friends were interning with The Times of India. The people were really helpful and supportive. We were given marketing and sales tasks to get more subscriptions of TOI. We were given Rs. 150 for every annual subscription that we sold. I hope to work with more organisations like TOI, so I can groom myself and enhance my personality.” n

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EVENT (USA)

A new trend on the west coast

Unprecedented in scale and grandeur, the Gujarat Mahotsav was held recently Long Beach, CA. Nalini Raja reports…

Bhoomi Trivedi entertaining all

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Lamp lighting ceremony with Pravin Patel (L) and Kamlesh “Chaku” Bhuptani (R) with other dignitaries

n an effort to preserve Gujarati tradition and culture, on June 18-19, 2016, Kola Hotels Group & Classic Production held a mega event called Gujarat Dance performance Mahotsav 2016 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. This event was presented by Aapka Colors and supported by the Indo American Gujarat Cultural Association (IAGCA). It was attended by thousands of people from all over the country, as Actor Dilip Joshi well as India. Never before has addressing the crowd there been a mega Gujarati event on this scale held on the West coast and so this was a treat for all the attendees. A mini Gujarat was reconstructed at the entrance to showcase the Gujarati way of life, an eye opener for the Gujarati youth born and raised here in the USA. Over 30 vendors, ranging from jewelry, clothing, food items, tarot card readers, and many more participated in this mega event and a myriad of Gujarati artists, namely actor Dilip Joshi (aka Jethalal), music composer Jatin Lalit, Shri Atul Purohit and group, actor, rapper, singer Devang Patel, author, writer, speaker Kaajal Oza Vaidya, motivational speaker Jay Vasavada, famous singer Bhoomi Trivedi, Osman Mir and many more flew from India and elsewhere to entertain the attendees from morning to midnight. The agenda included spiritual discourses, talks on women empowerment,

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talent competitions, Gujarati folk dances, skits, rap music and much more. Volunteers from the South Gujarat Patel Pragati Mandal of New Jersey and Radha Krishna Temple of California worked tirelessly for many days to prepare the hall and take care of the registration process, security, food service and the guests and dignitaries.

Kamlesh “Chaku” Bhuptani, co-organizer of this event, and major Mumbai promoter of Bollywood events and celebrities, said “Events like this are needed all over USA to reconnect Gujaratis and teach our youth to keep Gujarati culture and traditions alive. We hope to continue doing more such events in the future.”

Other dignitaries at the event included Shri Himanshu Vyas from Gujarat (spokesperson of Indian Congress), Shri Hirubhai Patel, ex-president of Gujarati Samaj, New York, Shri Suresh Jani, ex- president of OFBJP, New Jersey, Jivabhai Patel, former Congress Member of Parliament, Mehsana district and Shri Maulin Vaishnav, VP Gujarat Congress Samiti. n

fortune teller

Bejan Daruwalla is a well- known Astrologer and Author

HOROSCOPE July - 2016

Bejan Daruwalla, India’s most popular astrologer, reveals what the stars have in store for you.

Aries (21st March to 20th April) Plan work such that you are able to get rid of most tedious tasks in the first fortnight, as by the latter half, your concentration may waver. Try and make some important changes in your work methods to enhance your efficiency. Any decision taken now should only be after proper calculation. Avoid lending money.

Businessmen working with foreign clients must be extremely careful in double-checking the credentials of new associates.

Taurus (21st April to 21st May) You may be feeling dissatisfied with a lot many things right now. Well, direct this restlessness into constructive directions.

This is the time for affirmative action – move, move, move.

Things get better at the fag end of the month – work to enhance your financial security. Ones in jobs may receive flak for performing

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at a lower than expected scale.

Businessmen too may have to redraw their strategy for growth.

Gemini (22nd May to 21st June) Sort out your routine matters, even if this seems pretty tough at the moment, as this will help you organise better in all other areas of your life. Effective management of finances is another thing that you need to focus on now.

Concentrate on saving! Too much assertion may cause troubles in your relationship domain. If starting a new relationship, be very careful. This could also be a business association, specifically if a person of opposite gender is primarily involved.

Cancer (22nd June to 22nd July) Go all out, and work to grow in whichever aspect of your life you wish or aspire to. Stay close to reality, as

you give flight to your dreams.

Financial management is called for. If traveling, be very careful.

Keep a humanitarian approach in all you do. In relationships, avoid possessiveness, but stay flexible. On 27th, be careful, as you may have a confrontation with someone close, and there may be no signs of reconciliation.

Leo (23rd July to 22nd Aug) You have it, and you don’t hesitate in showing and splurging it..great!

But stop where it is mandatory to, or you may land yourself in a deep financial mess. Or, you may simply suffer from regret. Any which way, you may be disappointed in yourself. So, catch yourself, when you can. Old health issues may re-surface, so be careful. An interesting looking opportunity or person may attract you – make thorough checks.

Virgo (23rd Aug to 22nd Sep) Health needs care. If you continue

to turn a blind eye to a nagging health issue, you may be caught unawares.

Investments need proper research and calculation – do that and then invest, only in the latter half of the month. You will wish to do some charity – great, but don’t go overboard. Be careful, if lending money. You may also be feeling low and dejected and may be on a self-fault-finding mission. Relax!

Spend time in activities that will rejuvenate you.

Libra (23rd Sept to 22nd Oct) Money matters need to handled very carefully.

Major expenses are foreseen, but don’t let this upset you, or you may lose your cool. Try your best to not appear cold and critical in your talks with your beloved. When a health issue requires you to stay at home, do that, instead of ignoring the doc’s advice. Even if a new relationship beckons, hang on, think over and then step ahead; wait, if you can, in fact. Keep a safe distance from friends, who seem to have no goals, no direction in life, warns Ganesha.

Scorpio (23rd Oct to 22nd Nov) You will be bounding with energy and determination, which should help you give your best.

Well, that’s great!

But, there is something known as

over-ambition – and in its pursuit, don’t become over-confident and ruthless. Stay away from all unethical or unscrupulous means. Business persons dealing with government controlled organizations should be able to make profits. But do keep your negotiating skills sharp.

Sagittarius (23rd Nov to 21st Dec) You may have noticed a change in your attitude, any way, in the past few months. Over the course of the rest of the year too, you shall see yourself gaining insights and lessons from life’s apparently tough experiences. Instead of searching for new avenues, first give your best in your current activity. Push yourself out of complacency as well as your dejected mood.

Remain open to constructive criticism and well-meaning suggestions from well wishers.

Patience is the key.

Capricorn (22nd Dec to 20th Jan) Health and relationships remain the theme for the whole year for your Sign, and this shall be quite pronounced this month. You may be feeling light and frothy, as the month begins, but the feeling may not last for long. Plan a date, if that’s what you want, in the first week. Later, stars turn against you, and love takes a back-seat.

Some serious misunderstanding

might develop and strain a special relationship. Refrain from being domineering and headstrong.

Aquarius (21st Jan to 18th Feb)

You will be active and passionate.

Make the most of this energy-laden phase; get done with the important tasks. You are likely to get the right exposure to manifest your inherent abilities. You should accept new challenges and handle them successfully is Ganesha’s suggestion. Towards the latter part of the month, stars may sabotage some of your financial plans. Be careful! Do not shy away from taking on more responsibility – without grudges.

Pisces (19th Feb to 20th March) There couldn’t be a better beginning to a month. Those in business shall happily explore new territory for expansion.

Job holders could be entrusted with additional responsibility.

Married folks may be keen to put their differences aside to enjoy cosy moments. Singles will be able to look forward to building a long term serious relationship. Routine suffers. It will be on you, and you only, to stay organised. In business, focus on quality and credentials. n

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bold WORDs

#thetweettalk Celebrities express their thoughts on twitter

Madhur Bhandarkar @imbhandarkar Landmark judgement by the honorable Bombay High Court on #UdtaPunjab. Great victory for the filmmakers.

Karan Johar @karanjohar And justice there is!!!!!!!!! #BombayHighCourt ....#UdtaPunjab ...as a filmmaker I feel empowered and relieved!!!!

Alia Bhatt @aliaa08 And FINALLY #UdtaPunjab will flyyyyy!!Here’s to freedom of expression, to our judiciary, to the industry, to the media and to YOU ALL!!

Shahid Kapoor @ shahidkapoor Landmark judgement#UdtaPunjab will fly and so will the voice of freedom and expression. Thank you all for the support. This is your victory Dia Mirza @deespeak The triumph of #UdtaPunjab is the victory of #Democracy. And a victory for the spirit that DOES NOT GIVE IN OR GIVE UP.

SOPHIE CHOUDRY @ Sophie_Choudry Every filmmaker & film lover will be grateful for the historic #HC verdict!

Let creativity live. Let audiences decide. Let #UdtaPunjab fly!

Chetan Bhagat @chetan_ bhagat Big congrats to team Udta Punjab for victory in high court. Big congrats to all Indians. We still live in a free country. #UdtaPunjabVerdict

Arshad Warsi @ ArshadWarsi #UdtaPunjab gives hope to honest film makers.

Creative freedom will give us good cinema and stop the world from laughing at our films

98 | Feelings june - july 2016

Azmi Shabana @ AzmiShabana Victory of #Udta Punjab is victory of d Hindi film industry when it speaks in 1 voice.Congratulations are in order to the team n supporters