WEEKLY MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 7, 2014 Free with your copy of Hindustan Times
Why getting married in Sawantwadi, just outside Goa, is such a breeze. And how it’s perfectly legal for young couples to marry the people they love
Nihit Bhave and Rachel Lopez posed as a couple to learn how quickly they could wed in Sawantwadi. Then they posed, literally, at the town’s Moti pond
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BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
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Brunch Opinion
by Nihit Bhave and Rachel Lopez
Behind The Scenes Our undercover writers (for this cover story), Rachel Lopez and Nihit Bhave, face the press in a fake interview Q: Apparently the HT Mumbai office had a few choice remarks...
RL: Brunch editor Poonam Saxena gave us her blessing. HT Mumbai resident editor Soumya Bhattacharya told us we’d better not come back married – or one of us would be fired under the HR policy... NB: That would be me. Ms Lopez said she’d hap-
NB: It was like being stuck between a rock (which I didn’t buy) and a hard place (Sawantwadi). Little did I know the person who interviewed me would soon be my “fiancée”!
The Step-by-Step Guide
pily throw me under the bus... RL: (Laughs) ...I asked Manoj Nair, our associate editor, if I should fake a conversion certificate to Hinduism, he missed the ‘fake’ bit: “Why don’t you just convert and see how it goes?” Chetan Meher, who booked our hotel, cheekily asked if we wanted the honeymoon suite! by Shaoli Rudra
How To Be Shah Rukh Khan
How To Dress Here’s what you need: n One skin-tight body-hugging Polo Sport tee. Everyone must be able to see your family pack. n A cool pendant. Mind you, get a pendant that says C-O-O-L and not K-E-W-L. With little things like these, SRK keeps it classy. n Cowbells. The ladies love them.
How To Suck At Sport, But Win Hearts Kabhi kabhi kuch jeetne ke liye kuch haarna bhi padta hai. And that’s why when you play a game, you don’t necessarily have to be
How To Dance Pick a great pose/movement/hand gesture and convert it into the single greatest dance step of all time! It’s that simple. Raise your hands dramatically. Pyramid ke saamne, Sarson ke khetton mein, Swizzerland ke pahadon par, New York ke bridge par… this step will look fabulous anywhere and all the girls will palat ke dekho. Just remember, when raising your arms in slow-mo, think Shah Rukh. Not scarecrow.
Cover design: PAYAL DIGHE KARKHANIS Cover image:
KALPAK PATHAK
good at it. Sports mein haaro taaki aap dil jeet sako. Just see Shah Rukh. Basketball, hockey, wrestling… Play with the right attitude and you will be a winner. Kyunki haar ke jeetne waale ko Baazigar kehte hain. How To Take Revenge Psycho killer bumping off daughter of enemy to take badla for baap ka khoon and maa ki barbaadi? Or maybe you would prefer being a super stalker who murders your object of affection’s spouse? Is killing your humshakal and taking his place to play, er, yourself, your style? Or is stammering and butchering a perfectly lovely name more your kind of revenge. So many Shah Rukh modes of badla. So little time. We wouldn’t even know where to begin.
How To Be A Successful Reincarnation Want to come back again and again? Listen carefully. If you get a shot at punar janam, grab it with both hands and don’t let go. So go avenge your premika, find that long lost brother, dance in a Kali temple and, by God, be the best Karan-Arjun you can be! EDITORIAL: Poonam Saxena (Editor), Aasheesh Sharma, Rachel Lopez, Aastha Atray Banan, Veenu Singh, Satarupa Paul, Saudamini Jain, Asad Ali, Nihit Bhave, Atisha Jain
DECEMBER 7, 2014
DESIGN: Ashutosh Sapru (National Editor, Design), Monica Gupta, Payal Dighe Karkhanis, Ajay Aggarwal
Q: Were there follow-ups from the mandaps you guys left behind? NB: Yeah, a couple of them kept calling when we were in Sawantwadi. I had to keep saying that Rachel had still not made up her mind! Photos: SHUTTERSTOCK
On The Brunch Radar
On The Web
Ahoy! Music Lovers This month is full of music festivals. The one you pick could describe who you are! If you read Nabokov for fun, go to Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios for The Journey next weekend. If you love selfies, head to Goa for Supersonic on Christmas. Read our carefully curated list, Which Music Festival Is The One For You? on hindustantimes.com/brunch
Stuff You Said Last Sunday
by Saudamini Jain
LOVE IT
How To Get A Bff Because pyaar dosti hai. Step 1: Find a potential best friend of the opposite sex. Step 2: Lead her on by telling him or her that, “pyaar dosti hai”. Step 3: Flaunt love for somebody else. Step 4: Years later, insist former BFF still loves you despite you not being around for like, FOREVER! At some point between all these steps: Buy friendship bands in many colours.
RL: Tears, and a dramatic storm-out! NB: Yeah, it has to be over when the girl who ran away with you, runs away from you, right?
by Aastha Atray Banan
You know what happened last month? @iamsrk’s twitter followers shot up to 10 million. Ab, iss maheene, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge will play for the 1,000th week at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir. So it got us thinking, aisa hai, sabko Shah Rukh Khan banna chahiye, so here’s a little do-it-yourself advice to get you started. With gyaan like this, you’ll be your ilaake ka King Khan in no time. So what are you waiting for? How To Woo Her Folks Never bhagao their beti – not until her bauji tells her to go jeeo her zindagi! You must actively prevent any such ideas of rebellion, kyunki dilwale dulhaniya anyway le jayenge. The moment it is all public, mummys, papas, Sheela buas, Ramu kakas, Tommys and anyone else who resides in your lady love’s house will be unable to resist your charm. Extra sasural brownie points if you can feed kabootars.
Q: What was your exit strategy if you came too close to getting hitched?
n Turnout at the J&K polls n Catching up on popular culture of the year – because only three weeks to read/watch/ listen to this, that and the other n Research that says HIV is getting milder over the years n Penguin’s #ABookADay on twitter. It’s super fun n Food Talk India
n Things we do to sound smart n Long reviews on Zomato. If you can’t write it in 75 words, don’t post it at all. n ScoopWhoop. You used to be hilarious, you guys! What happened? n If you’re not drinking enough water. Eight glasses, grr... n Frieda Pinto. Just because
SHOVE IT
Q: Nihit, three days into a new job and your first assignment is to ‘marry’ a colleague. Aapko kaisa lag raha hai?
i !! What an amazing Idea Sirj Good Cover story! – @M0hit_Agarwal y! I also Such a gripping cover stor in liked each and every column Breakfast of Champions – @Inspirashun
Whatta issue. Loved every bit of it. The cover story was super. Such ideas need to be implemented soon. – @TanviSamel
@HTBrunch My rea r material before I eve ding n bru my teeth on Sundays sh – @boogerworm Finally got the time to read er @HTBrunch! Loved the cov ter bet a for s idea on y stor around tomorrow. So much talent putting it on good use. @ anderlustGirl_ – @W
LOVED the arnie interview... inspirational guy! – @UnderdogMafia
Sunday mrng doesn’t start without @HTBrunch!! – @NidhiPatel_700
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COVER STORY
The Fast Track
To Forever Marriages are made in heaven, but in Sawantwadi, a few kilometres from Goa, they’re solemnised speedily. The little town is paradise for Indian couples who want to wed. Here’s what happened when Brunch went undercover...
W
E’RE 600 kilometres from home and our hearts are beating a little faster. As reactions go, it’s perfect. For a Mumbai couple looking to tie the knot quickly, with minimum fuss, here in Sawantwadi, nervousness is natural. Across the table from us, the proprietor of a mangal karyalay or marriage bureau (a man with 35 years in the business) is telling us not to worry. He’ll marry us this evening under the Hindu Marriage Act, in an Arya Samaj-type ceremony, and give us our certificates the next day. (For details of the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act, turn to the story overleaf). That’s exactly why we’re worried. We’re not a couple, but two journalists faking it. Nihit Bhave, posing as my husband-to-be, only joined the Brunch team last week. The man posing as our witness is HT photographer Kalpak Pathak. We’re in Sawantwadi to find out what makes this picturesque town at the tip of Maharashtra’s coast such a haven for shaadis. We walked in only 20 minutes ago. Now, it seems, we can walk out as man and wife. Well, that escalated quickly.
UNION SQUARE
Marriages are possibly the only thing that happen quickly in Sa-
by Rachel Lopez, photos by Kalpak Pathak wantwadi; everything else merely ambles along. Breezes blow gently across the picturesque lake in the centre of town, ducks wade quietly in its waters, no one fidgets at the bus stop, no one even scurries from a freak afternoon shower. Goa, only an hour by road, feels like a distant dream. To couples from Goa, however, Sawantwadi is not quite so distant. It’s the first village across state borders if you’re looking to legally step around Goa’s Civil Code, which applies to all Goans (irrespective of religion) and covers birth, death, property and, yes, marriage. Interfaith unions are complicated under the Code, and (as they involve joint ownership of property, inheritance and assets) quick marriages almost impossible if you’re in a hurry to get a visa, an overseas job or a loan. Over the decades, most couples have hopped over to Sawantwadi to avoid red tape, convert to Hinduism if need be, and just tie the knot in peace. It’s given the town a thriving cottage industry in the most literal sense – nearly every one of the town’s 14-odd karyalays operate from a frontyard, backyard, ante room or porch. Plastic chairs, a makeshift platform for bridal seats, dull festoons permanently hanging – the karyalays are no one’s idea of a dream wedding. But if you’re someone for whom a wedding was thus far an impossible dream, they seem like paradise. Proprietors solemnise the sapta-
DECEMBER 7, 2014
Several Goan couples have hopped over to Sawantwadi to avoid red tape, convert to Hinduism if need be, and just tie the knot in peace pati (the pheras) on the premises much like the Arya Samaj would, and get the unions registered from gram sevaks (who have powers of the registrar) in nearby villages. It’s what draws couples from Goa, and now from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
We landed in Sawantwadi armed with a plausible back story (interfaith graphic design colleagues, looking to marry quickly because there is family opposition back home) and not much else. There was no other way, really. The karyalays have no websites. They do not advertise their services in directories. (How would you Google a quickie wedding anyway?) We needn’t have worried. No one asks questions in Sawantwadi, but practically the whole town opens up to lovers in need. It starts right at the top. When we asked for help at the municipal office, they provided us a handwritten note bearing the name and number of a karyalay. Even without official aid, you’re not exactly lost. Most karyalays are scattered
in little streets on one side of the lake, their signboards clearly visible. Sawantwadi is small enough to find them all on foot and people readily offer directions. At one karyalay we went to, the owner didn’t bat an eyelid at our predicament. He said he wasn’t authorised to induct me into Hinduism (mandatory for anyone to wed under the Hindu Marriage Act). But he helpfully pointed out other enterprises that could help and assured us that we weren’t alone. “At least one such wedding happens every day in Sawantwadi”. Intercaste and inter-religious unions are common, he said, though mixed-race ones a growing trend; they recently did the reception for a Goan-German couple who got married there. Across town the story stays the same. “Just the other day,” karyalay owners will tell you, “a Muslim and Hindu came here and got married.” Once the conversion to Hinduism is done, the ceremony can take place immediately. The express service, though, often comes at a price: `7,000. But it’s a one-window route to matrimony, with paperwork ready the next day.
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“Let’s Get Married Now” “...Or Have Lunch First”
One couple’s tale of love, longing and legal union in Sawantwadi
KNOT ANYWHERE ELSE
Sawantwadi, just outside of Goa has found favour with couple , is where quick marriage paperwork s A typical karyalay (below) will from the state and beyond. always be ready for a shaadi
THE OTHER SIDE
Sawantwadi seems like the unlikeliest city to be likened to Las Vegas. There are no luxury hotels or cafés. No young couples on the streets (though Nihit spotted some getting cosy at, of all places, a temple). At dusk, the bazaar is buzzing. But by 10pm, ours are the only silhouettes against the lampposts dotting the lake. At Parvatidevi School and Junior College, which sits right in the middle of the lake, the staff claimed no knowledge of their town’s flourishing side business. “Is that what outsiders think we’re known for, then?” one teacher asked, incredulous. But it’s impossible to keep this big an industry a secret in a town this small. En route to Sawantwa-
di’s railway station we got chatting with our rickshaw driver and fed him our story. “Here to get married? Why didn’t you say so earlier?” he responded happily. Not only did he provide the number of a karyalay, he also volunteered advice. Over the 20-minute journey, he offered “the best way” to break down parental resistance (“Get a third party to sit down with them and convince them separately”) and how to invoke divine intervention (“There’s a local temple where your wishes will be granted”).
THE GREAT ESCAPE
Back at the karyalay though, it’s getting sticky – the owner is all business, aiming to marry us immediately; after all, isn’t that what we came here for? It will cost `15,000, he says, but readily whittles it down to `10,000. He’ll arrange for additional witnesses, get us married, provide 15 photographs of the ceremony
(“negatives too, in case anyone tears them”) and give us our registration papers that evening to at most, the following morning. “Just bring the necessary documents, a sari – even a `250 one from the bazaar will do – a mangalsutra and green bangles for the saptapadi,” we are told. We smile, relieved, not because happily ever after is that easy, but because two journalists have just found a way out of unintended wedlock! Our only documents are a voter card and a driver’s licence – we don’t have the sari and bangles and our wallets certainly don’t have that much cash. We have to go out and arrange for it all. We thank him and leave, with promises that we’ll be back, “in two hours, tops”. Our hearts are still beating faster than normal as we escape, but really, it’s hardly the fastest thing in Sawantwadi. With inputs by Nihit Bhave rachel.lopez@hindustantimes.com Follow @Greaterbombay on Twitter
DECEMBER 7, 2014
Sawantwadi is great if you want to marry but have little support from family. I met my husband 10 years ago in college. We were both 17; me, a broadminded non-vegetarian Punjabi and he, a conservative vegetarian Jain. But it was love at first sight. My parents were fine with him, but his folks… they were not thrilled. We waited a decade for them to come around – I gave up meat for seven years. They kept putting him off repeatedly. Last year we decided we’d waited long enough and eloped. To Goa. We thought it would be wonderful to be married in church. Only no priest would marry two non-Christians! But at a temple in Calangute, a pujari said he’d perform the ceremony if we got our marriage registered in Sawantwadi. Apparently a lot of Goan couples did that. Neither of us had been there before. You’d think a small place like this would be judgemental, conservative. But they were so supportive! The first karyalay turned us away for not enough documentation – I’d only carried my driver’s licence! At the second, the priest was out at another wedding. But then we found a karyalay that was willing to help us. For `5,500, the person there said he’d get us married. Immediately. Except, we’d driven that morning from Goa and were a bit hungry, so we told them we’d be back after lunch. A round of misal pao later, we were back, and an hour later, we were married – right in his front verandah. The man who owned the house stood in as the second witness with the friend travelling with us. Our certificates were ready right there. It’s not the wedding I would have wanted. Him, with a 30-day beard; me in no make-up but a suit from Amritsar I’d saved for my gurudwara wedding; photos shot on cameraphone; no parents. But we had no cold feet then and no regrets now. We married the people we wanted to.
-Name withheld, 27, Mumbai.
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COVER STORY
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The Battle For
LOVE
The Special Marriage Act, despite loopholes, is the best bet for couples facing social and religious barriers by Asad Ali
M
ANY COUPLES in India, struck by Cupid’s arrow but fearing the well-oiled stick (and more drastic weapons) of the moral brigade, may have Bjorn Borg to thank for a successful getaway. The Swedish tennis icon was one of the many people who helped fund Love Commandos, the Delhibased voluntary organisation that seeks to help “India’s lovebirds who want to marry for love,” with a donation in April 2014, says Sanjoy Sachdev, chairman of the organisation. Sachdev says that Love Commandos helps couples come together by providing necessary assistance and protection, legal or otherwise. However, even before such an organisation came into existence, couples across the country had consistently resorted to the one legal route to an inter-faith marriage – the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954. It is the only legally recognised provision in the country that allows two individuals, irrespective of their religion, to get married and register it officially. “Marrying under the SMA is simple,” says Rajeeva Shukla, the additional district magistrate (ADM) of South Delhi district. “Any two individuals who have attained legal age (18 years for girls and 21 years for boys) just have to give a notice to the marriage registrar of the district, declaring their
The Special Marriage Act (1954) allows two individuals, irrespective of their religion, to get married and register it officially
intent to marry,” he explains. But of course, as with any legal act, there are procedural challenges. At least one of the two applicants must be a resident within the jurisdiction of that particular marriage registrar’s district for a minimum of 30 days. If all other criteria such as mutual consent and soundness of mind are met and relevant affidavits to the effect submitted, then that notice of intent is put up at the registrar’s office premises in a publicly accessible spot. For one whole month. “This is only to ensure a window of natural justice,” says Shukla. He adds, “If either party concerned is already married and trying to suppress such information, then any third-party has that time to raise an objection to the marriage. If any objection at all is raised to the marriage within that period, the marriage officer will consider all aspects of the case before allowing the marriage to be solemnised.” This 30-day notice can lead to problems, says lawyer Vrinda Grover. “When people are marrying under SMA, clearly it’s a decision taken by two adults who are legally authorised to take decisions about their lives,” she says adding that, “the long notice period gives an opportunity to fundamentalist organisations on the ground to create trouble for the people concerned.” The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women discussed it with the Indian delegation in July 2014 at a UN convention, adds Grover. It is counterproductive, she says, to an Act that can be a free, fair platform. But despite these contentious aspects, Indian couples have managed, by and large, to get married under this Act.
DECEMBER 7, 2014
The Rules of ‘Courtship’
Two primary acts govern most Indian marriages: the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and Special Marriage Act, 1954. For any marriage between two Hindus, the Hindu Marriage Act applies. An Arya Samaj wedding is convenient and speedy, but applicable only to Hindus. A person from another religion must convert to Hinduism before being eligible for it (similar for example, in traditional Muslim weddings, where the maulvi can’t solemnise the marriage if one party is not Muslim). However, anyone can opt for the Special Marriage Act, irrespective of religion. For interfaith marriages, couples can get legally married under the Special Marriage Act.
QUICK LOOK AT THE SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT CRITERIA 1. The couple should have attained legal age: 18 years for girls, 21 years for boys. 2. The couple must be of sound mind and together by mutual consent. 3. Their relationship must not be ‘prohibited’ as defined under the Act. Which essentially means that the couple cannot be full blood relatives*. 4. At least one party should reside for 30 days in that particular marriage registrar’s district where the application is to be made. FOR OTHER NATIONALITIES An Indian national can get married to a foreigner under this Act, and two foreign nationals can also get married under the same – provided there is an official No Objection Certificate from the foreign embassy concerned, declaring that the foreginer is not barred in any way from marrying in another country. HOW TO APPLY The application form or ‘notice of the intended marriage’ must be filled up (available online or at the marriage office) and submitted along with necessary documents. A date for the solemnisation of marriage is then set for a month after. On that date, three witnesses are required plus basic identification documents to finally solemnise the marriage. After that, the couple may apply to have their marriage
registered and get an official certificate from the registrar. DOCUMENTS NEEDED Along with the ‘notice of the intended marriage’ you will need 1. Notarised affidavit declaring that you’ve met all the conditions (your age, that you do not already have a spouse etc) 2. Residence, DOB & ID proof 3. Passport size photographs 4. `150 processing fee THE DOWNSIDE 1. The time period between the intent to marry notice being put up and the marriage date is 30 days, which gives time enough for rogue elements to pressurise and harass the couple. And if one person is from a different city then the ‘exposure period’ is multiplied. For example, if X and Y are both in Delhi, then the notice is put up on the notice board of the relevant Delhi registrar office. But if X is from Delhi and Y is from another state, say MP, then a copy of the notice is also sent to the registrar office of the district in MP where Y is resident (there too, the notice is put up). 2. If a couple is actually on the run fearing a threat to their lives or property, and wish to get married quickly, it is not possible under this act. For example, if X & Y are from Delhi but want to go to Mumbai to marry at very short notice, it can’t be done. The 30day residence rule will still apply.
*For more details, read section 2 (b) under “Degrees of Prohibited Relationship as per the Special Marriage Act, 1954”
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COVER STORY
Love & Happy Endings Three couples who broke the shackles of convention by exercising their right to marry by Asad Ali
Deepshikha Dutta and Madhavan Kumar* When Deepshikha, who works in the publishing industry, got engaged to Madhavan, a graphic designer, she first wanted an unostentatious Arya Samaj wedding (governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955). But later the couple decided to register under the Special Marriage Act (SMA). “We didn’t want the jurisdiction of any future dispute to fall under religious law,” says Deepshikha. “Arya Samaj weddings fall under the Hindu Marriage Act, the guardianship,
inheritance and even social security of which is either something we found dubious or were averse to,” she says. When both parties are Hindus, choosing the Act can often come as a surprise to family. While her parents, says Deepshikha, were supportive, Madhavan’s parents weren’t initially. “Their notion about the Act was that it’s only for couples who have to elope, not for those who already have the families’ blessings!” she says.
Smita Mitra and Ijaaz Ahmed* In 2010, PR professional Smita Mitra decided to take the plunge and marry Ijaaz Ahmed, an engineer, after 11 years of courtship. Smita was well aware of the ramifications of such a decision – her grandparents had moved from Pakistan to India during the Partition and had witnessed postPartition bloodshed between the two communities first hand. “My family was shocked at my decision to marry a Muslim,” says Smita. But she had always anticipated their reaction: “My husband’s family agreed when they realised that their son wouldn’t have it any other way but they weren’t happy,” she says. “My family wasn’t informed about the marriage as we were very sure they wouldn’t agree. They might even have taken some drastic steps to disrupt the marriage,” she adds.
Smita and Ijaaz had a ‘court marriage’ too, solicited under the Special Marriage Act. Both applied a month in advance. “We were required to produce three witnesses. The marriage certificate was issued to us on the very same day,” says Smita, and adds after a pause, “This was also the time when I informed my family about the final decision.” On being asked if she regrets her decision, and about the Love Jihad theory that’s making news, Smita says, “I am happy with my decision and I don’t believe in this theory at all as I certainly didn’t convert to Islam.” She says that now even her in-laws have come around: “Post-marriage, my husband’s family showered a lot of love on me and continue to do so till date. Religion never came in our way.”
Anwar Mashud and Jyoti Jain* In 1998, marketing professional Anwar and banker Jyoti married under the SMA. Anwar’s parents knew about the wedding. Jyoti’s family did not. The marriage was solemnised without a hitch. Except, says Anwar, “I was the last to reach due to a flat tyre. There were no problems in the paperwork, though we had to marry again after one month since my signatures never match!” The marriage didn’t go down very well with Jyoti’s parents. “Her mother got hysterical and
seemed as though she’d pass out any moment in shock,” recalls Anwar. “Her father appeared composed, though visibly shaken by her daughter’s decision. We were politely asked to take our sorry a**es out of his house.” As far as societal reaction was concerned, Anwar says that he “couldn’t care less,” before adding that he was “too emotionally tipsy with the way things were going ahead and that helped me give most people who had an issue a clueless grin.” *
Names changed to protect identities
asad.ali@hindustantimes.com. Follow @AsadAli1989 on Twitter
DECEMBER 7, 2014
12
#BRUNCHBOOKCHALLENGE
A coming-of-age pageturner, a legal thriller and erotica – the books featured here are a mixed bag. Pick what you like Fantasy, thriller, David Mitchell... What’s not to like?
by Satarupa Paul
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell In 1984, 15-year-old Holly Sykes runs away from home – after fights with her ‘mam’ and a break-up. Regular teenage stuff you’re familiar with. What follows, you would assume, is a story of making it on your own. What really follows, over the 600 pages of this tome, is a twisted, mind-numbing metaphysical thriller. The six parts of the book, with their six intricate plots, take you through several countries (from Ireland to Switzerland to Iraq) and to the realm that exists between the living and the dead. Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize this year, The Bone Clocks demands undivided concentration. Mitchell takes you through Sykes’ life and the people who enter her life, with their own stories to tell – an unscrupulous Cambridge undergrad, a foreign war correspondent in Iraq, a former “wild child of British literature”. Throughout the book, several ‘others’ lurk in the margins of the pages – somewhere between reality, dreams, hallucinations and shadows.
Note: Try not to Gray Mountain by John Grisham buy a pirated Samantha Kofer is an associate at New York’s largest copy for once! law firm. When the recession hits, she is shown out of by Atisha Jain
the building. Her only consolation: a clause which says she could be re-hired if she volunteers with a nonprofit agency in the meantime. And so, Samantha finds herself at the Mountain Legal Aid Clinic in a small town in Virginia. She has many firsts here: her first lawsuit, first victory and first encounter with the world of coal mining. Barely 100 pages into the book, you will be drawn into the dangerous territory of the coal mafia through what seems like a collection of stories about families hoodwinked by big coal companies. Gray Mountain, ultimately, is about the choice Samantha must make: whether to go back to NYC or to fight for people who can’t fight for themselves. Sounds obvious? The book has unexpected twists and turns (though not too many). For three weeks, it remained at the top spot of the US bestseller list. It’s unlike most Grisham novels, but you’ll find that you like it anyway.
Another bad book of sex
Scandalous Housewives: Mumbai by Madhuri Banerjee
by Saudamini Jain
Loving Wives is a hot category in porn. And in this regard, this book – about four wives living in one of Mumbai’s high-rise buildings – is tolerably satisfying. Aarti’s loving husband can’t get it up, ever (things you need to figure before the wedding!) so she gets it on with her ex. Sarita and her husband have a Fifty Shades of Grey thing going on. Outrageous, because the entire Gujarati parivaar can hear their bedroom antics. Natasha, the perfect cougar, is sleeping with a friend’s barely legal son. Gita, a young, unloved wife, has an affair with her wonderful devar. Banerjee tries to give you some insight into marriages in India – Marriage, too, comes with conditions. No matter what your parents tell you. And an extramarital affair? That one has consequences – but she fails. This is a ridiculous book. The premise, too plain. The prose, tautological. But it is racy.
DECEMBER 7, 2014
indulge
The BesT Of 2014 I Six albums you must listen to. There's love, satire, nostalgia, songs that tell stories and songs that have a great backstory
SOUNDS OF THE YEAR
Photo: THOMAS NEUKUM
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Photo: RENATA RAKSHA
1. Annie Clark who records under the name St Vincent 2. Mark Kozelek, the frontman of Sun Kil Moon 3. Kolkata's Supersonics 4. Dan Snaith who plays under the pseudonym Caribou 5. Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer 6. Ty Segall
T’S ALMOST the middle of December Sanjoy and a good time to take a look back at the Narayan albums of 2014 that caught the ear – the ones that spun around on my playlist for longer than just a casual listen. Here are six. First up, Annie Clark’s fifth album, simply titled St. Vincent, which also is the name under which she records and plays. The artrock exponent’s latest has 11 tracks, several of them with the potential of becoming earworms. My favourite is Digital Witness, a satirical song about the young generation’s obsession with virtual connections and digital narcissism. But there are several other gems on the album: The opener, Rattlesnake, tells a disturbing story of an encounter with one such reptile; the nearly-danceable Psychopath with its electronica and a beat of urgency; or the deep, interpret-as-you-hum-it Birth in Reverse. Through all of it what stands out is Clark’s genius guitar – an instrument she plays like a god. Favourite track: Digital Witness. Math doctorate Dan Snaith plays under the pseudonym, Caribou (yes, sorry, the second album on my 2014 album is also by one of those who has an aka tag). He makes electronic music of a type that critics sometimes call IDM or ‘intelligent dance music’. I don’t know if I would like to have a view on the IQ of his music but what I can tell you is that his new album, Our Love, is full of tracks that are diverse but exception-
Photo: NAMAN SARAIYA
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ally catchy. If you like your electronica with lyrics that make sense – on this album they deal with heartbreak, fatherhood and, well, love – Caribou is your go-to… um… man. Favourite track: Can’t Do Without You. If you're the sort that likes songs that tell stories then Sun Kil Moon’s new album, Benji, is the album for you. And if you're the sort that likes stories where the ending is not always happy, then Benji is definitely for you. There’s a lot of death and sadness in Benji. But make no mistake, the Mark Kozelek-fronted Sun Kil Moon are not a gloomy band. Their songs on Benji, even when they’re about death, sound cheerful! These folk-rockers from California make music that is somewhere between folkie ballads and spoken word performances. Kozelek’s classical-influenced guitar work is a real bonus. Favourite track: Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes. Some bands don’t make a big deal about the influences that may have shaped their sound. Usually they are the kind of bands that are rather good at what they do so they don’t really have to worry about who or what influenced them. When I hear the Kolkata band, Supersonics, I hear the sound of classic rock and roll bands; more contemporary postpunk indie bands; and even blues-rockers from the 1970s. Their 2014 album, Heads Up, showcases the originality that stems from all of these influences. If you still haven’t heard the Supersonics, you’re missing something. Favourite track: Strawberry. Ty Segall is a prolific album-maker. In six years, he’s released seven albums, the latest being 2014’s Manipulator. Segall, a proponent of loud guitar-led rock, draws inspiration from across the spectrum of rock music: early classic rock and heavy metal but also grungy garage. On Manipulator, probably among his longest albums – it has 17 tracks, his guitar still has the familiar rasp and fuzz that you may have heard on his earlier albums but there’s a welcome new thing: a hint of the psychedelic, recalling the 1970s era rock sound. Favourite track: The Crawler. Wilco’s music has been labelled variously by people as alternative country, folk rock, alternative rock and so on. A characteristic of frontman Jeff Tweedy’s vocals is his tired yet pleasing style of singing and the laid-back yet thoughtful lyrics. This year, he collaborated with his son Spencer, a drummer, on their first joint project. The album is called Sukierae and is a set of 20 songs that are intimate and personal, making for a very moving experience 4 and, quite apparently, a great bonding between father and son. Then I read the backstory about 5 how Jeff ’s wife and Spencer’s mother was diagnosed with a serious illness earlier in the year. That made the music sound even more heartfelt. Favourite track: High As Hello. Download Central appears every fortnight
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MORE ON THE WEB To give feedback, stream or download the music mentioned in this column, go to blogs.hindustantimes.com/downloadcentral. Write to Sanjoy at sanjoy. narayan@hindustantimes.com. Follow @SanjoyNarayan on Twitter DECEMBER 7, 2014
Photo: PIPER FERGUSON
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Illustrations: SHUTTERSTOCK
New York, New York!
Vir Sanghvi
It may not be the capital of the world, but it’s where most food trends are launched. New York is, without doubt, the number one food city on the planet DECEMBER 7, 2014
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EW YORK likes to think of itself as the capital of the world. We can argue about that but what we can’t deny is that New York is certainly the capital of the food world. It is, without doubt, the number one food city on the planet, the city that launches food trends, redefines the restaurant experience, and allows the cuisines of the world to flourish. I’ve lost count of the number of trends that began in New York, or of the chefs who sprang to fame in this city. This is where Nobu (with a little help from his friends) launched the modern Japanese restaurant. This is where the cuisine of Hunan and Sichuan first came to global attention. The deluxe hamburger was invented here. Pizzaby-the-slice was popularised in the early 20th century by Italian immigrants in New York. The delicatessen culture began here as poor Jews tried to find ways of recreating the cuisines of their ancient homelands. And New York is where chefs find fame. Nobu, of course, but also Daniel Boulud, Jean-George, Éric Ripert, David Chang, and so many others. When successful restaurateurs and chefs from outside come to New York, they struggle. Joël Robuchon had to close his L’Atelier. Both of Alain Ducasse’s restaurants have failed. Gordon Ramsay was more or less run out of town. The Caprice branch folded. Hakkasan struggled. And let’s see how Zuma does when it opens later this year. Eating in New York is always a joy. It doesn’t matter whether you go to a food truck on the street, hit the many Michelin three-star restaurants or go to the trendy places. It is one of only two cities in the world where it is nearly impossible to eat badly. (The other is Bangkok, since you asked…) It is oddly enough, one of the few cities in the world where I’ll actually spend good money on a steak. My views on steakhouses are simple: why spend so much money on a dish that requires so little skill to cook? You can easily buy the steak from a good butcher and cook it at home for a fraction of the cost. (Which is what I do when I feel like a steak.) But there’s something about a steak in New York that feels strangely satisfying. It helps that Americans know how to cook a steak properly. I’ve offended many Italians by pointing out that hardly anybody in Italy knows how to cook steak. To get a good bistecca fiorentina, you need to go to New York, not Tuscany. The French suffer because their beef is not very good. (Jean-Francois Piege, Paris’s chef of the moment, told me he refuses to put it on the menu because it is so mediocre.) And the English pay way too much at fancy steakhouses (usually run by the likes of Wolfgang Puck and other celebrity chefs). But New Yorkers regard a good steak as their birthright and rarely pay more than they should for it. Peter Luger in Brooklyn is the legendary New York steakhouse but I’ve always found the mid-town location of Smith & Wollensky more convenient. I prefer the smaller, more informal Wollensky’s Grill on the ground floor (which serves the same menu) to the traditional steakhouse and sure enough, I ended up there for an outstanding fillet on this trip. One of the problems with the restaurant at the Park
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Hyatt where I was staying is that the menu is a little too limited. The good thing, however, is that it is steak-heavy. And so while I enjoyed their petit fillet (the same size as a normal steak anywhere else in the world, but Americans like Flintstones-sized portions), the real revelation was a slender Wagyu minute steak, perfectly seared so it caramelised on the outside and was melting on the inside. Newer and newer parts of New York keep things gentrified and trendified (the most notable recent example is Williamsburg in Brooklyn) and I love checking them out. This time I ended up in the Bowery, known for its bums during my youth but which is now hip and exciting. I chose the crowded Pearl & Ash, a small-plates restaurant with a cuisine that is hard to categorise. Not everything worked but some dishes were interesting, among them bread with chicken butter, trumpet mushrooms with egg and the best patatas bravas I’ve had in years (in the same league as Sergi Arola’s). Daniel Humm is now generally regarded as New York’s greatest chef, up there with Éric Ripert and Thomas Keller but as much as I love his Eleven Madison Park, I didn’t have the appetite for his long set menu. So I went to NoMad (from North of Madison) Hotel, which has a bustling restaurant that offers a relaxed bistro-style menu overseen by Humm. I went for the food but was overwhelmed by the hotel. The designer is Jacques Garcia so the overall feel is not unlike Paris’s Hôtel Costes, which Garcia also designed. But this is a less hurried, more elegant version of the Hôtel Costes with tables in the restaurant that are further apart, warm and friendly staff, excellent service and great, great food. Ah the food! A starter of a pear salad with daikon, hazelnuts and pecorino merged its flavours so expertly that you could tell that this was a kitchen at the top of its game. And the main course of a whole roasted chicken with foie gras, black truffle and lentils was probably designed to invite comparison with such Paris favourites as Le Coq Rico or L’Ami Louis but it was utterly delicious. Most critics rate it as New York’s finest chicken and I can see why. As I often do at interesting restaurants, I gave the sommelier a budget and asked her to choose the wine. She chose one I’d never heard of, a Pinot Noir from California’s Anderson Valley, and then came over to discuss the difference between Napa and Anderson, Burgundy and California and the philosophy behind the restaurant’s wine list. None of this was outrageously over-the-top expensive (I’d say $100 per head for dinner; much less for lunch) so if you want something a little different the next time you are in New York, then this is the place I recommend. Only in New York can you go from Daniel Humm’s three-Michelin-star cooking to a food truck without find-
ing the transition at all strange. When I tweeted that I was in New York, Shazmeen Kara tweeted that I should try the Halal Brothers’ food truck. Various others chimed in with their own recommendations including my son (Raaj Sanghvi) who said, “The cart parallel to the Hilton Hotel is the best. Many imposters around that block.” Intrigued by all this advice, I went there and found three trucks, all run by the same team called The Halal Guys (is this what you meant, Shazmeen?) who also put up large signs warning customers not to fall prey to imitators. But they had long lines in front of all three carts so clearly they were doing okay. The food was not Indian but vaguely Middle-Eastern. I had (as my Twitter pals had instructed) the lamb over rice with extra hot sauce. It was delicious and filling. Having learnt from the writings of such American journos as Thomas Friedman that taxi-drivers were the true repositories of wisdom, I listened to a Pakistani taxi driver, who assuming that I was missing the food of the sub-continent, insisted that I went to Handi in Little India: “Best Pakistani biryani in the world, sir!” It turned out to be the closest thing to a Punjabi dhaba that you could find in New York. All the customers were Punjabis (from both sides of the border) and the guy behind the counter spoke only Punjabi with a smattering of Hindi/Urdu. I tried the biryani. It was nice but – dare I say this – very Punjabi. Finally I also ended up (now that I was in Little India) at the New York branch of Bombay’s Kailash Parbat. The dahi-batata puri was fine but it was odd to be served by a Bangladeshi who had no great understanding of the cuisine. Even so, dahi-batata puri and bhelpuri are such world-beaters that they’ll triumph anywhere. And it is always nice to have a little touch of Bombay in New York.
EAT STREET
Only in New York can you go from Michelin-star cooking to a food truck without finding the transition at all strange
There’s something about a steak in New York that feels strangely satisfying
MORE ON THE WEB For more columns by Vir Sanghvi, log on to hindustantimes.com/ brunch The views expressed by the columnist are personal
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Death Comes to Us all W MORE ON THE WEB For more SPECTATOR columns by Seema Goswami, log on to hindustantimes.com/ brunch. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ seemagoswami. Write to her at seema_ht@ rediffmail.com The views expressed by the columnist are personal
A LEGACY LIVES ON
Photos: GETTY IMAGES
I am quite certain that PD James would ask for no more (or less) than to be remembered for her literary oeuvre
Seema Goswami
HEN I wrote about PD James a fortnight ago in my column, the last thing I expected was that she would be dead in a matter of weeks. There was something about her that seemed immortal and immutable as she produced murder mystery after murder mystery in a writing career spanning over half a century. But, in the end, death comes to us all, and it came to Phyllis Dorothy James as she reached the venerable age of 94. The moment I heard about her passing, I pulled out the first book she had ever written (and the first PD James I had ever read), Cover Her Face. And there on page two was the prescient phrase: “…there was wisdom in knowing when to die with the least inconvenience to others and distress to oneself…” I can only hope that that was the kind of death she had. But what I am quite sure of is that she will never really be dead to those of us who loved her books. And even a hundred years down the line, when someone picks up one of her titles – Shroud For A Nightingale, Murder Room, Devices and Desires are just some of my favourites – the justly chosen words, the sharp observations, the tautly worked plot, the nail-biting suspense will bring her back to life in yet another reader’s imagination. What better legacy could an author ask for than to live on in her books? I am quite certain that James would ask for no more (or less) than to be remembered for her literary oeuvre. After all, this was a woman who was such a fan of Jane Austen that she took off from where Pride and Prejudice left off to write a murder mystery, Death Comes to Pemberley, set a few years after Darcy and Elizabeth have settled down to domestic bliss in their sprawling estate. Maybe two centuries down the line, another author can pen a similar homage, in which Adam Dalgliesh finally finds marital happiness and settles down to cosy domesticity with Cordelia Gray. (Though why wait so long; maybe Elizabeth George can get cracking on this right now!) But as I read the many obituaries of James, and began re-reading Cover Her Face (the perfect start to reading all her books yet again, in chronological order), I began to think about the nature of death itself. In James’ books it is inevitably violent, sometimes brutal, and always shocking. There is no sugarcoating, no polite side-stepping, no euphemisms, and certainly no discreet aversion of the authorial
DECEMBER 7, 2014
CRUEL FATE
Everyone from cricket legends to ordinary folk paid tribute to Phil Hughes, the batsman who would forever remain 63 not out
gaze. James wants us to confront the horror of murder upfront and realise the violence – both physical and emotional – it brings in its wake. In her books, death strips away all dignity and privacy from those it visits, leaving their lives open to the vulgar, even voyeuristic, curiosity of others. In a sense, her murder victims lose more than their lives; they lose all control over how they are viewed in death and after. And in some ways, that is a more terrible loss. All of us, at some level, want to be remembered in the best possible way when we finally pass over. We want our loved ones to cherish our memory, we want our grandkids to remember us as more than a yellowing picture in a silver picture frame. We want our lives to have had some meaning. We want our legacy to live on after us. But the funny thing about legacy is that it can mean so many different things to different people. Some want to be remembered for the businesses they built; others for the kids they raised. Some want to live on by establishing charitable trusts in their own name; others seek absolution in leaving all their worldly belongings to the children they neglected while alive. Some want to be remembered for their kindness, others for their talent, and yet others for their power and prestige. But, at the end of the day, none of us has control over how it ends. So, while some like PD James are celebrated for having led a long and fulfilling life, others like Phil Hughes are mourned for having had their life cut short by cruel fate. Even as obituaries for James flooded the papers, Hughes, the Australian cricketer who died days after being hit on the head by a bouncer, was commemorated the world over with the hashtag #putoutyourbats. Everyone, from cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne to ordinary folk who loved the game, posted a picture of their bats with a cap on top to pay tribute to the batsman who would forever remain 63 not out. As I scrolled through all the tributes, my thoughts went back to a funeral I had attended only a few days before when my dear friend, Murli Deora, passed away suddenly after a brief illness. There was sadness in the air; how could it be otherwise? And yet everyone only had happy memories of Murli to share. There was the tearful old man who remembered the time the young Mayor of Bombay had helped get his son a school admission. There was a young woman, escorting her grandmother, who had had her cataract removed at one of the eye camps he organised. Everyone I spoke to had wonderful stories about how he had touched their lives. Maybe, when all is said and done, that is the best legacy any of us can ask for. To have touched even a single life – and left it better for your presence. And yes, to live on in the hearts that you have touched.
spectator
But a good measure of a person’s life is how they are remembered after they are gone
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The FacepuTers are coming! Virtual reality devices are now closer to reality and they’ve got their eyes on you
AS HUMAN AS IT CAN GET
As you strap on an Oculus Rift, the screen in front of your eyes shifts as you turn your face
MORE ON THE WEB For more Techilicious columns, log on to hindustantimes.com/ brunch. Follow Rajiv on Twitter at twitter. com/RajivMakhni The views expressed by the columnist are personal
EASY DOES IT
A few simple steps to make Google Cardboard on your own
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Rajiv Makhni
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F LATE, the phrase “The Next Big Thing” has started sounding like one of those terrible jokes your back-slapping uncle likes to crack. It’s old, it’s been repeated too many times and frankly, wasn’t even funny the first time around. The pipe that brings in really jawdropping new technology seems to have run dry. Until the Oculus rifted in!
THE OCULUS IS BORN
In a movie, you could be right in the middle of a spaghetti Western shootout and check the position of the sun and then look down at your gun before letting off the fatal shot. In a sports telecast, you could be in the middle of the field and run with the players while looking up into the stadium. It was fascinating and magical. The Next Big Thing was finally here.
THE ZUCKY EFFECT
Then Facebook went and bought Oculus Rift. To many, it was the death knell as Facebook would do its famous ‘Zucky’ twist to a good product and make it into one more way getting more personal data out of you. Here’s where I differ from most analysts. I think Facebook buying Oculus is a good thing. On its own, Oculus would have been a niche gaming product and thus wouldn’t have had the financial or marketing muscle to become a mainstream product used in daily life. Facebook and the Zuck have shown enough street smarts with their purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp and have let them run as independent products. Thus Oculus could well be doing that and becoming the de facto standard for lifelike video conferencing, a tourism alternative, a virtual reality tour device for things that need to be experienced first hand (a walk through a museum, a factory visit, browsing through a mall) and more. And while we wait for Facebook to take Oculus to that level – more fun stuff that wants to be attached to your face is being released. You can try them out right now to have your socks blown out of the water – and they don’t cost an arm or a leg, they just need small parts of your face!
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Virtual Reality (VR) devices, VR Headgear and all other kind of helmets that you strap onto your face have always been very exciting at announcement stage and truly terrible to use when finally out in the market. The level of technology at that time was really clunky, the screens were blocky and pixelated, the user interface was appallingly bad and the experience was far from immersive. Thus VR Headgear died its own natural death and not many mourned that loss. One company did and brought it back with a bang. Oculus Rift was born off a Kickstarter (a funding platform) campaign and thus already had the backing of those that would actually use it. The technology was brilliant and the execution flawless. A low-latency full-HD screen on a device that was light and fitted well, a screen that looked like a cinemascope movie hall right in front of your eyes, and software and content that was perfectly tuned to its capabilities. But it was the human interface that made everyone giddy with excitement. As you strapped on an Oculus Rift, the screen in front of your eyes shifted as you turned your face. It didn’t matter where you looked, the screen would naturally align and show you a lot more than a flat 2D fixed screen – thus giving you the exact experience you got when you looked right or left, up or down or even behind in real life. In a game you could look up and see a missile coming from the sky and immediately turn to your left, see a building and jump in.
GOOGLE CARDBOARD
While Facebook was working on acquiring Oculus for billions, Google was doing a DIY for pennies. And thus was born the Google Cardboard or as it’s more popularly known as – the Oculus Thrift! A piece of cardboard, some lenses, a magnet button, NFC tag and your smartphone – and boom, you’ve got a VR headset all set to wow your eyes and mind. It works surprisingly well, has its own app and costs nothing. That’s because Google doesn’t actually sell these but gives them away at a few conferences. But ‘make-it-yourself ’ Google Cardboard instructions are all over plus Cardboardlike kits are available in many places for as low as $9.99.
BOXIGHT KIT AND PRO
An Indian company figured that a DIY cardboard kit should not be more than about `500. And thus that’s what the Boxight Cardboard costs. Order a DIY kit and assemble it in minutes, slip in your phone and you are set! It’s built even better than Google Cardboard. If you don’t like DIYs, then buy the Pro version. This is a good-looking virtual headgear that is lightweight and well-built and comes with better lenses that can do 3D too. Once again all you need is your smartphone. This one costs about `2,599. Check eBay or Amazon or Snapdeal and you’ll see many other options and cardboard kits plus new apps, games and virtual tours are popping up in thousands every day. You owe it to yourself to experience what a faceputer can do to your mind. Strap one on and get lost! Rajiv Makhni is managing editor, Technology, NDTV, and the anchor of Gadget Guru, Cell Guru and Newsnet 3
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WELLNESS
MIND BODY SOUL SHIKHA SHARMA
THE MILK QUESTION Once almost universally lauded as a nutrition powerhouse, dairy is now a subject of controversy
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OST OF us grew up being pressurised by our mothers to drink our daily glass of milk because “it’s good for you.” But over the years, research has revealed that it may not be quite as healthy as we believe. Here is my list of the pros and cons of dairy.
WHY AVOID IT
n Milk is a natural source of calcium, magnesium, protein and energy. It is easily available and can also be consumed in several delicious forms, such as shakes, ice-creams, paneer, yoghurt, curd and cheese. n Low fat or skimmed milk, which retains its calcium, but contains reduced fat, effectively moderates blood pressure. Because milk is filling, patients with high blood pressure can use it as a substitute for unhealthy snacks like biscuits and fried foods. n Milk is a reliable source of calcium, which is good for bone health, especially among growing children and ageing elders. Calcium requirements also increase after menopause. n Milk from cows raised in a free state without hormones and other chemicals, and fed on natural grass is usually of a higher quality. It is rich in beta carotene, antioxidants and vitamin E.
n Many children and adults dislike its taste and complain of gas and bloating after drinking milk. This discomfort could be due to lactose intolerance. n Drinking milk can lead to an increase in phlegm and other sinus and respiratory problems, particularly among asthmatics. n Commercial dairy farms inject hormones into cows and buffaloes to increase their milk yield. The effect these hormones have on health, particularly cancer, is being debated all over the world. Synthetic hormones have been banned in many developed countries. n Most commercial dairy farms in India use antibiotics in their cattle feed. And by and large, they are cramped and unhygienic, with their livestock prone to diseases. This means the milk they sell is of low quality, and full of chemicals and hormones. Quality control in India tests only the fat content of milk, not other vital parameters. ask@drshikha.com
GLASS OF JOY
Milk is a healthy substitute for oily snacks and biscuits
MORE ON THE WEB For more columns by Dr Shikha Sharma and other wellness stories, log on to hindustantimes.com/brunch DECEMBER 7, 2014
Photos: SHUTTERSTOCK, THINKSTOCK
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PERSONAL AGENDA
Actor
twitter.com/HTBrunch
Irrfan Khan
BIRTHDAY SUN SIGN PLACE OF BIRTH HOMETOWN FIRST Capricorn Jaipur Mumbai BREAK The serial SCHOOL/COLLEGE HIGH POINT OF YOUR LIFE Chanakya January 7
St Paul’s English School and Getting admission into the Rajasthan College, Jaipur National School of Drama, Delhi
(1991) on Doordarshan
CURRENTLY I AM...
LOW POINT OF YOUR LIFE
Endorsing Indiamart, an online marketplace for businesses, and shooting for Piku
When my first relationship broke up. It actually became a turning point for me If you weren’t an actor, you would have been... A sportsman for sure. Or if these were different times, then I would have been happily faffing around. A classic film you would have loved to be a part of. I would have loved to play the main character in films like The Godfather, Once Upon A Time in America, Devdas, Pakeezah and Doctor Zhivago. Between theatre and films, which one is more rewarding for you? Both of them are equally rewarding as well as consuming. What hurts me is when it doesn’t give me something in return for my efforts. Are biopics a good way to highlight a good story or highlight a person? It should ideally work both ways. What we need to see is whether the story is glorifying a person or sending a strong message. Paan Singh Tomar (2012) started the trend and worked well as it wasn’t about glorifying a person. It highlighted the system through the story of that person. A movie you had the most fun shooting. It has to be Piku. It has been a great experience and I’m going to cherish that for a long time. What is the best thing about working
with Vishal Bhardwaj? I really feel fortunate to be a part of his ventures. His choice of subjects is very unique. Your favourite co-stars. I have enjoyed working with so many of them. Whether it is Nimrat [Kaur], Konkona [Sen Sharma] or Angelina [Jolie]. I’ve had great relationships with them all. Traditional Indian wear or smart casuals. Which do you prefer? Smart casuals. One thing about your appearance that you would want to change. Everything. Your favourite song. I enjoy songs in Spanish, Turkish and Punjabi, among others. One song that I really enjoy in Punjabi is Mera Ishq Bhi Tu, Meri Jaan Bhi Tu. Your favourite holiday destination. I enjoy going back to Uttrakhand again and again. The biggest surprise you gave your wife. Asking her to marry me. Clothes you are most comfortable in. I wish society allowed us to live without clothes, especially during summer. —Interviewed by Veenu Singh
my movies
A FILM YOU’VE SEEN MORE CHILDHOOD Ram Aur Shyam THAN FIVE TIMES
Blue Jasmine (2013)
THE MOST PAISA VASOOL FILM
Interstellar (2014)
A MOVIE THAT WAS PART OF YOUR
(1967) and Sholay (1975)
THE FIRST MOVIE YOU SAW ON THE BIG SCREEN
It was either Aan Milo Sajna (1970) or Do Raaste (1969) Photo: NATASHA HEMRAJANI
DECEMBER 7, 2014