FROM THE EDITOR
Editor-in-Chief CHANDAN MITRA EDITORIAL BOARD Chief Executive Officer Shobori Ganguli Chief Operating Officer Abhishek Saxena 09818600128 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Charge Rinku Ghosh Staff Writers Chahak Mittal & Ayushi Sharma Chief Designers Anand Singh Rawat & Satish Jakhmola Production Manager Syed Nawab Raza Staff Photographer Pankaj Kumar SALES & MARKETING Vice President Jetender Rawat 9810404096 General Managers Kumar Gurudutta Jha & Sweety Verma Senior Managers Madhukar Saxena & Divyesh Kothari Managers Bharat Singh Sajwan, Prabhakar Pathak & Barun Choudhary MUMBAI OFFICE General Manager Devendra Adhikari KOLKATA OFFICE Vice President Suzanna Roy HYDERABAD OFFICE V Sunil Kumar General Manager (Circulation) Rajeev Gautam Printed and published by Chandan Mitra for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd, printed at JK Offset Graphics (P) Ltd, B-278, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110020 and published at No. 6, Behind Gulab Bhawan, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002. Editor: Chandan Mitra. Entire Contents Copyright (C) 2006 CMYK Printech Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation in any language in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Requests for permission should be directed to CMYK Printech Ltd. Opinions carried in Exotica are the writers’ and not necessarily endorsed by CMYK Printech Ltd. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material or for material lost or damaged in transit. All correspondence should be addressed to CMYK Printech Ltd; F-31, Sector-6, NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh-201301 Phone: 0120-4879800 & 4879900 Email: exoticapioneer2016@gmail.com
A NEW TIGER CRISIS SUCH
was the crisis of tigers in 2006, when their numbers fell to a paltry 1,411, that any increase since then has been a cause for celebration. So when we had a healthy count of 2,967 in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took it upon himself to announce the census findings. The Environment Ministry’s latest report, Status of Tigers Co-predators and Prey in India, confirms this steady trend, showing a six per cent rise in India’s tiger population from 2006 to 2018. From just nine tiger reserves when Project Tiger started in 1973, the country has 50 today. However, the devil is in the detail. The uneven distribution pattern of the big cat is warning enough that there could be a future crisis. The report says that now one in every three tigers lives outside reserves compared to one in every four in 2014, or 35 per cent live outside reserve limits. This means that the big cat’s territoriality and roaming range is compromised because of shrinkage of habitat and if it is straying, it is exposing itself to conflict with humans as well as members of its own species. The second problem emerging is that of cramping and saturation at certain reserves that would need migratory conduits linking them to other habitats. Uttarakhand’s Corbett Tiger Reserve has reported the highest tiger density with 14 tigers per 100 sq km, followed by Kaziranga, Nagarhole and Orang parks. This means that even if forest limits cannot be extended or linked, some provision for open grasslands would have to be made around them so that they can support herbivores, which form the prey base of the tigers. Corbett now has the highest tiger numbers with 231 inside the reserve and 266 using it. It is followed by Nagarhole tiger reserve with 127 tigers, Bandipur with 126 tigers and Bandhavgarh and Kaziranga with 104 tigers each. At the same time, some tiger reserves like Buxa and Palamau have lost their felines simply because of human transit corridors, encroachment, proximity to development projects and insufficient prey base. Of course, tigers can be re-introduced to the empty reserves from parks that have them in excess but that takes time and immense patience. A new tiger also has to deal with resident smaller cats or in the total absence of its kind, reconcile to being a lone ranger and adjust with other relocated companions. Most worryingly, the report lists poaching at an all-time high, India recording the highest number of poaching cases in 15 years in the first quarter of 2016. Bones, claws, teeth and skin continue to be a draw in illegal markets. While tiger numbers have increased, its habitats have been dwindling due to human encroachment, fast-track infrastructure projects and truncated wildlife transit corridors that restrict it from moving freely to other forests and exploring new ranges. This would automatically reduce cramping and help it spread out in a healthy manner. The report says tigers have lost 90 per cent of their natural habitat and the mananimal conflict has never been worse. The Wildlife Trust of India’s conflict database for Uttar Pradesh records 63 cases of attacks on humans by tigers from 2014 to February 2019, an average of 10.8 cases per year. This is a dramatic increase from an average of 5.6 attacks on humans per year between 2000 and 2013. The tiger strays into human settlements when its food chain is affected and villagers cannot be expected to prioritise the conservation economy when their lives are at stake. So awareness of tigers should now also include equal awareness about its ecology and behaviour and the need to provide alternative ranges. Recent examples have shown how some railway underpasses to facilitate wildlife transit are working as both the elephant and tiger are adapting to changed migration routes. There are still viable tracts of pristine forests that were once contiguous and can be turned into reserves by relocating animals from overpopulated stretches. But forests are a state subject and an inter-state agreement on shared corridors needs to be worked out if translocation is to succeed. The tiger sits on top of the food chain in the forest and by saving it, we are saving our biosphere.
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The triple-layered, eco-friendly, organic cotton masks from The Woven Threads are embellished with intricate embroidery details. Choose from a range that will complement every outfit and mood
MASKEDFORSAFETY The new normal might have made masks essential but these are gradually evolving into a fashion accessory
Masks by Power, suited to all weather conditions, come with wider face coverage and three-layer formulation for maximum protection
The snug fit of Fastrack Super Shield masks keep the ergonomic needs of the user in mind. Super breathable fabric, soft elastic loops, washable up to 30 washes, these offer droplet and bacteria protection along with anti-microbial finish
Continued on page 7
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I N S I D E AUGUST 2020 VOLUME 14 NO 10
Photo gallery [p14] A secluded way of life Q&A [p22] Beyond the dark whims: Asim Abbasi Wild side [p26] How the virus hurt the tiger
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COVER: LONE FISHERMAN IN A CANOE
Blithe spirit [p32] The mix that matters Skin care [p36] Touchless beauty Lockdown diaries [p50] The OTT game is on
IN ASSAM BEFORE THE FLOOD PHOTO BY: PRABEER PURKAYSTHA
CONTRIBUTORS
Kushan Mitra [p40] HOT WHEELS: Can a case be made for diesel? Bharat Thakur [p44] FITNESS: Breathe out the stress Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [p46] GURUSPEAK: Breathe in health Sanjay Jumaani [p49] NUMBER GAME: Count your fate TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES 52 INCLUDING COVER
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@TheDailyPioneer
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OUR PARTNER HOTELS Send us your feedback at exoticapioneer2016@gmail.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exotica-394686670715776
Continued from page 5
Rimple and Harpreet’s Karawan collection is for the Indian fashion consumer in the post-Covid world. Drawing inspiration from folk arts and textile crafts, found in far-flung tribal belts, each ensemble comes with a matching mask Taneira’s creations range from hand-woven and extra weft designs to embroidered ones. These boast of weaves and crafts from across the country and can be worn with western work-wear and casual ethnic wear
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TRAVEL NEWS
LOCATION: ZONE BY THE PARK JAMMU o Staycation Package @ `3,500 (all included per room and per night) o Staycation Package @ `4,000 (all included per room and per night)
TAKE A STAYCATION ZONE BY THE PARK: The upscale social catalyst brand of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) has introduced staycation and daycation packages for its design-conscious price-conscious guests to enjoy without fear. These special stay packages are offered across all Zone hotels in the country. With ASPHL’s gold certified hygiene, cleanliness and sanitisation program, S.H.I.E.L.D, the hotels are all prepared to welcome back guests into an entirely ‘New Normal Experience’ with the same cordiality and more cautiousness. S.H.I.E.L.D. being an all-encompassing programme, brings the best of luxury, design, hygiene, safety and service excellence all under one roof. The packages have been designed for providing contactless hospitality services keeping in mind the health, security and well-being of both the guests and associates.
LOCATION: ZONE BY THE PARK RAIPUR PACKAGE 1: Avail staycation package with services like 20 per cent discount on room service orders, minibar items, and beverages, 30 per cent discount on laundry services, welcome drink on arrival, coffee and tea facilities in room, delicious buffet breakfast, early check-in and late check-out, free room upgrade, free secured parking, free stay for one child under six years old (sharing bedding with parents), free use of swimming pool and gym, free Wi-Fi, `500 credit voucher per stay for a buffet meal in Cross Avenue, `1,000 credit voucher per stay for a spa massage and set dinner menu at our coffee shop Bazaar @ `4,500 + tax. PACKAGE 2: Avail discounts up to 15 per cent on meals and spa voucher worth `1,000 for the in-house guests. o For bookings and more details, contact: 1800-123-ZONE, reservations@zonebythepark.com
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LOCATION: ZONE BY THE PARK JODHPUR PACKAGE 1: Avail staycation package ‘The Escape Zone’ with services like free immunity booster welcome drink (drink of the day) at check-in time, in-room check-in and checkout, free room upgradation (subject to availability), in-room breakfast for two (TDH menu breakfast), guaranteed late checkout till 4 pm, 24 hours in-room service, `500 food and beverage credit per night per room, 20 per cent discount on spa, free local snacks and non-alcoholic beverages stocked in Mini Bar (no refill) and a free voucher of `700 can be availed in next visit to zone (if booked directly from the brand website) @`3,999 (all included per room and per night). Valid on Saturday and Sunday. PACKAGE 2: Avail staycation package ‘Experience Zone’ with services like free immunity booster welcome drink (drink of the day) on arrival, free major meal (Lunch/Dinner) at Bazaar for two (TDH Menu), 02 times tea/coffee with cookies during the stay, 1 pint of beer per person served at the pool area (domestic beer as per availability) and swimming costume is mandatory @ `1,700 + GST (Per couple and complementary for one kid below 05 years). Valid on Saturday and Sunday. PACKAGE 3: Avail ‘Length of stay deal’ with discounts — Book for two days get 20 per cent off, Book for three days and get discount of 25 per cent or book for four days and more get discount of 30 per cent. LOCATION: ZONE PALACE BY THE PARK PACKAGE 1: Weekend promotion package with traditional Rajasthani thali,usage of pool, entry for kids to game zone and access to wi-fi @ `999 + tax. PACKAGE 2: Ladies afternoon package with live cooking demo by chef followed by high tea @ `500 + taxes. PACKAGE 3: Sunday brunch with multi cuisine food, DJ with dance floor, usage of swimming pool, pool table and kids zone @ `849 + taxes per person. PACKAGE 4: Day outing package with welcome drink, DJ with dance floor, high tea, lunch or dinner, swimming pool, kids zone and garden @ `999 + taxes. PACKAGE 5: Candle light dinner at poolside with flower decoration, two glasses of domestic wine/mocktail, five course menu and one pound cake @ `3,000 + taxes. PACKAGE 5: Daycation package with welcome drink, swimming pool and fitness centre usage, two pints of domestic beer and 20 per cent discount on F&B.
o Single/Double Occupancy Room Tariff @ `3,000 EPAI room for day use (for six hours only.) o Single/Double Occupancy Room Tariff @ `3,500 EPAI Room for day use (for nine hours only.) PACKAGE 6: Staycation package with welcome drink, breakfast at Bazaar Restaurant/ in room, 20 per cent discount on F&B, 2+1 happy hour from 1100 hours to 1800 hours, free accommodation for kids. o Room rate: Single Occupancy Room Tariff @ `3,000 CP + taxes inclusive of breakfast per room per night o Double Occupancy Room Tariff @ `3,500 CP + taxes inclusive of breakfast per room per night PACKAGE 7: Staycation package with welcome drink, breakfast at Bazaar Restaurant/ in room, 20 per cent discount on F&B, car transport to Ajmer or Pushkar. o Room rate: Double Occupancy Room Tariff @ `7,750 CP + taxes inclusive of breakfast. Extra person @ `1,500 CP + taxes per extra pax per night.
THE ROSEATE GANGES
RELAX
and rejuvenate your senses with staycation packages at The Roseate Ganges in Rishikesh. Nestled in the green foothills of Himalayas the luxury wellness retreat offers stunning views of the adjacent lush forest covered hills and crystal clean rushing water of Ganges. The Roseate Ganges in Rishikesh has reopened with heightened safety and hygiene practices in place. Make a quick escape from your city life to the resort, offering a getaway to soothe your body mind and soul. Opt from two offers: DRIVECATION PACKAGE: Experience direct transfer from your home to The Roseate Ganges in BMW with two nights stay in a deluxe villa inclusive of breakfast and lunch or dinner, WiFi and a rejuvenating yoga session with our compliments. o Valid for Delhi NCR only o One can avail this offer in just `44,444 AI UNFORGETTABLE GETAWAY PACKAGE: This seven days package has the perfect itinerary to celebrate togetherness in the lap of nature. Arrive at The Roseate Ganges and sip on a refreshing welcome drink from your dedicated
butler and receive a welcome kit. Rejuvenate your senses with a morning yoga session and a nature walk on the white sand beach, indulge in ‘Elements of Nature’ day rituals daily, followed by organic breakfast and a skillful cooking session with chef. Loosen up with a mindful virtual session by a Yogi from Parmarth ashram followed by a specially curated lunch. The Ganga ‘aarti’ experience at the private beach of the resort offers bliss while a relaxed evening with indoor games and pahadi snacks curated by our chefs complete your day. End the the day with a private dinner by the poolside. Other experiences during the staycation includes, a mindful session on the ‘three gunas’ of life and moksha, Vipasana meditation — India’s most ancient technique of meditation, an Ayurvedic and Podikizhi massage at Aheli spa and private dinner by the white sand beach hearing the sounds of the river Ganges. A souvenir awaits you during check-out as well as exclusive airport lounge services with the resort’s compliments One can avail this offer in just `99,000 + GST.
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WINE TRAILS OF PHILADELPHIA
THE
gentle rolling hills, deep well-drained soils and moderate climate combine to make Philadelphia countryside one of the premier grape growing regions of the East Coast. Several vintners have joined together to establish three wine trails in Philadelphia's Countryside BRANDYWINE VALLEY WINE TRAIL: The vineyards in Chester County, PA have tasting rooms and barrel-aging cellars filled with premium wines that showcase the unique terroir of the region. The six wineries of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail are within a 50 mile radius. Wine Trail wineries include Black Walnut Winery, Borderland Vineyard, Kreutz Creek Vineyards and Paradocx Vineyard. THE BUCKS COUNTY WINE TRAIL: The Bucks County Wine Trail was formed in 2003 comprises seven wineries: Bishop Estate Vineyard and Winery; Buckingham Valley Vineyards; Crossing Vineyards and Winery; Rose Bank Winery; Rushland Ridge Vineyards; Sand Castle Winery and Wycombe Vineyards. Every winery has its own unique tasting experiences, tasting fees and, in some cases, special events and on-site tours. Many of the wineries can assist in arranging a tour with a bus or travel company. See how wine is produced. Talk with the people who make it happen. Tour the cool
wine cellars. Experience history in the making. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY WINE TRAIL: With only four wineries, the Montgomery County Wine Trail is Pennsylvania's smallest wine trail and the region's newest. The trail features more than 30 varieties of wine, including Reserve Reds, French Hybrid Whites, 100 per cent Fruit Wines (no added flavors), Meads (Honey Wines), ciders, dessert wines and also amazing Port wines. The wine trail wineries are in farmers markets like Lansdale, Glenside and Ambler. At Cardinal Hollow Winery, you can learn about how grapes are grown, harvested, processed and handled on the way to becoming wine whereas at Stone & Key Cellars, you can appreciate fine wine and winemaking tradition.
OF A STERLING QUALITY
STERLING
Holiday Resorts has received top honours in the Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best, 2020 awards by TripAdvisor. Two resorts of Sterling received the recognition of being in the top 25 of the best in Hotels under the ‘Family Category’ across India and Asia. Sterling Ooty Elk Hill ranked 4th in India and 12th in Asia - which included the best from India, Japan, Thailand, China, Indonesia and Taiwan, while Sterling Nainital has been ranked 22nd in the India list. Through this list TripAdvisor recognises the top 1 per cent of all their business listings as “Traveller’s Choice Best of the Best.” This list of top 25 is a unification of reviews,
ratings (quality and quantity) and all the saves that travellers made and share from across the country, region and the world, calculated by the unique algorithm of TripAdvisor. The recognition represents the most exceptional, highest-rated properties around the world. These businesses are among the top 1 per cent of all listings on TripAdvisor. With over 8.7 million businesses listed on TripAdvisor, these awards are a testament to the service and quality that front runners consistently provide to their guests. Tripadvisor, as part of its ongoing efforts to support the recovery of the tourism and hospitality industry, announced the winners of its 18th annual Travelers’ Choice Awards.
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OUTDOOR ESCAPE TO VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA
was the original great frontier, where the English first settled in the New World. While you can’t travel quite yet, there’s pleasure in the planning. A stay in a Tree House at Primland Resort promises stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains with access to amenities, like golf on one of the nation’s top courses, not to mention room service direct to your door. The Forbes Five-Star Salamander Resort & Spa is located roughly one hour from Washington D.C. Nestled in the rolling green hills of Loudoun County, surrounded by vineyards and horse pastures, the resort offers luxurious amenities and outdoor activities like wine tasting, horseback riding, picnicking, hiking and biking. Go glamping in a tepee at Sandy River Outdoor Adventure Resort where you can relax by you personal fire pit, zip-line through the tree tops or paddle along on a paddleboard. Travel by an RV without leaving all the creature comforts behind. Rental companies will meet you at Washington Dulles International airport delivering your rented home-away-from-home. Numerous campgrounds across Virginia cater to RVs, including options along the Blue Ridge Parkway such as Peaks of Otter; Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort, located just outside Shenandoah National Park in Luray — home to the famous Luray Caverns; and Cherrystone Family Camp & RV Resort, on Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay. Cabins cottages, lodges and yurts in Virginia’s National and State Parks are a great way to
commune with nature while not totally roughing it. True tent camping can be done at any of the several campgrounds. Local outfitters will guide you to secret islands and sand bars in the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia also has more miles of the Appalachian Trail than any other American state and the weather makes camping comfortable for a good part of the year. Sample the southern end, where the Trail travels westerly through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Virginia offers a vast outdoor playground with more than 20 National Parks, 38 State Parks, 1.7 million acres of national forest, 63 National Area Reserves, more than 100 miles of Atlantic coastline and nearly 200 lakes and rivers.
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PHOTO GALLERY
A secluded way of
life Photographer PRABIR PURKAYASTHA captures ancient Assamese culture from his village as he strongly feels the need to record and preserve them for future generations to see. By UMA NAIR
MORE
than 20 years ago, photographer Prabir Purkayastha of Ladakh fame started capturing his village in Assam. Verdant virgin forests shimmered under the monsoon clouds, the sun rays sometimes glistening like an age-old green velvet lining in a
jewellery box — the forests in his village had vanishing sounds coupled with a simple lifestyle. Prabir reminisces, “In 2004, I visited my mother’s village Rampur, Assam, after almost 40 years. I was amazed by the unique tapestry of life that I witnessed and was a part of. As a child, I had heard my mother’s ‘fairy-tale’ stories of her village
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and of my ancestors who had founded Rampur almost 200 years ago. Sadly, I realised that this ancient and secluded way of life was slowly, but surely, ebbing from this world.� His photographs of an Assamese voyage seems eternal. During the past two decades, Prabir has journeyed endlessly through the landscape and
villages of Assam, which lies at the northeastern tip and captured powerful images of the rare bastions of ancient Assamese culture. The powerful images of the landscape, sometimes juxtaposed with people, are passionately crafted. They speak volumes of a magical way of life which has changed little through the centuries.
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DAGAUR PUKOOR: DEATH OF WATER It is this age-old tapestry that Prabir reverently reveals and calls Dagaur Pukoor. “Photographed over 12 years, Dagaur Pukoor is one such fairy-tale,” explains Prabir. “All the images were created within the expressive texture of natural elements like rain, sunshine, water and mist. Every step of this journey was brutally challenging — from the very beginning till the last frame. The challenge of how to accomplish the specific imagery I wanted left me numb, especially since I was creating these images with a great sense of intimacy and in a rather secretive way. The pleasure of discovery at
the start of my project and the euphoric feeling of depletion, at it’s completion, was just the same. Then it dawned upon me that Dagaur Pukoor was the answer to the prayers of the remote rural fishing community. And this outrageously spirited and generous mystical lake had for countless decades nourished and helped all those who sought sustenance within her. No pilgrim to her shores ever returned empty handed,” says Prabir. He adds, “I don’t know how privileged I was to tell the story of these sacred waters and the gift of grace, of life nourishing life. I just wish that someday, in some other world, I can tell my ancestors this story. It’s beautiful.”
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FISH AND BAMBOO A bamboo-woven roof thatch stands on the wayside while small fish are left to dry in the monsoon days. The image comments on the architecture that has been common in this region of seismic shifts. “The phuti maach’ (small fish) was meant for the personal meals of the fishermen and their families. It’s an ancient practice to dry the fish on a bamboo platform that has been used by generations of this fishing community,” explains Prabir.
ANOTHER REALM Prabir frames a meditative study of an Assam that he loves and continually tries to understand. “Assam connects me to my childhood and my people. It connects with me at a very emotional and spiritual level. I can spend a lifetime here,” says the photographer. In this collection, his photographs occupy the interstitial space between documentation and the more expressive and imaginative arts. The lone fisherman in his canoe seems to be from another world, who holds the tangible warmth of human presence. In another image, an old lady in the forest with a rimmed hat woven through straw is a testimony of beauty. It vividly shows how the people themselves seem inseparable from the shadows and topography that frames them. The silhouette of a lady with her baby swung on her back looks theatrical. The three harvesters are imbued with an air of grace, ancient wisdom and rootedness. It appears to hold a secret waiting to be discovered as one turns back and looks into the frame.
POSTERITY “I have always believed that a photographer captures something for posterity. We cannot be dumb witnesses to the vagaries of change. For me, my village holds a resonance that lives through its cultural fabric and its geological facets. For some inexplicable reason, I can’t see myself as just another mute spectator pretending that the little nooks and corners of life never existed,” he says. For him, change is the key to living. He adds, “While capturing these images, I knew I was helplessly watching communities slowly vanishing into the dusty corners of our nation’s history. But I felt strongly about the fact that something needs to be done to record and preserve what I see for the future generations.”
BEYOND THE DARK WHIMS
Q&A Pakistani filmmaker ASIM ABBASI talks to SAKSHI SHARMA about how his leading women have given a positive spin to the term ‘churail’ in his eponymous web series and the need to share stories about the under-represented
THE
term churail is used to refer to witches or to a woman who practises dark magic. You might have heard a variant of the term — dayan, bhootni, spellcaster — when talking about women whose actions are frowned upon. But how often have you heard churail being used to question the patriarchal status quo and represent strong-willed women? Pakistani filmmaker Asim Abbasi, who is now foraying into the web series space with Churails believes that the term rightly represents his lead protagonists as it has nothing to do with dark magic. Says he, “The term has historically been used to label women negatively for their courage, aggression, ambition — all the qualities that I associate with a strong woman, were deemed negative. She is the uncanny outsider who shakes up the patriarchy. And it is the fear that she elicits in the guardians of the status quo (often
men), that drives men to label them in a derogatory way. So our characters are taking this term, ripe with symbolic value, to give it a positive spin. Every woman, according to me, should aspire to be a churail.” Set in Karachi, it’s a story of four women from different walks of life who come together to open a covert detective agency to expose cheating husbands amongst the city’s elite. These selfproclaimed women run their operations under the guise of a fashion store named ‘Halal Designs’ that specialise in conservative women’s attire. As their operations expand, they become the saviours of abused, mistreated and harassed women, and their search for a missing girl brings them face to face with the exploitative world of talent agencies, escort services and cosmetic companies. It features Pakistani actors Sarwat Gilani, Nimra Bucha, Yasra Rizvi and Mehar Bano. Excerpts:
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The series stars four women reeling from personal miseries who open a detective agency under the pretext of a burqa shop. How did you conceptualise it? The themes of gender politics, particularly power dynamics, between a man and a woman, and the resultant misogyny are topics that I wanted to address in my writing for a while. But I did not want the starting point of the series to be heavy-handed. I wanted the darkness to slowly creep in. So my natural, perhaps humorous inclination, was to first make my characters colourful spies, who gradually turn vigilantes. I was interested in talking about the lack of autonomy that a woman has over her body. Often in patriarchal societies, women are dressed and undressed at the whims of the society, and are being told what is appropriate and what is not. Hence, the store specialises in modest-wear for women to showcase this irony. The poster of the project has a caption: ‘Hojayein tayaar, khwateen aur hazraat. Especially hazraat. Jald arahi hain kuch rangeen churailein, aapki deeprooted misogyny ki band bajaanay.’ Another scene showed a sign at a store: ‘Pets and men not allowed.’ How do such strong statements establish the idea of the series? The store titled ‘Halal Designs’ is a safe space that women have created for other women. The clients need to feel protected, hence, the idea of it not being open to men. The sign for the store is a replay of boards saying ‘women and dogs not allowed’ that actually existed in prestigious members clubs in the subcontinent before the Partition, under the British Raj. Your narratives have usually centred around strong female characters. Are there any personal instances that have shaped your choices? I have grown up in a household of a lot of women and have been surrounded by them all my life. So I tend to gravitate towards their experiences. As a filmmaker, it is my duty to tell stories about those who are under-represented or the ones I believe are not represented fairly in the mainstream media. Female-centric stories on Pakistani television usually regurgitate the same trope about a damsel in distress who needs rescuing by a prince. Those stories are
I HAVE GROWN UP IN A HOUSEHOLD OF A LOT OF WOMEN AND HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY THEM ALL MY LIFE. SO I TEND TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS THEIR EXPERIENCES. AS A FILMMAKER, IT IS MY DUTY TO TELL STORIES ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE UNDER-REPRESENTED OR THE ONES I BELIEVE ARE NOT REPRESENTED FAIRLY IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA not a representative of the women I know. And those are not the stories I believe our daughters should grow up with. In one of your interviews you mentioned, “It’s not message per se, I prefer to raise questions.” What do you aim to achieve through your work? Well, apart from entertaining audience by providing a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience, I hope that the show stays with them long after the 10 hours of viewing experience is over. They should be able to reflect on the questions the series raises. I wish them, particularly men, to become more open to working towards a more equitable society, where women are respected and treated fairly. There has been a surge of grey roles in online content
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now. Filmmakers and actors don’t like putting characters in a box. Do you think the same can be said about your four leads? Absolutely. I deliberately set out to tell a tale of four very flawed individuals. They are not always going to do the right thing. They are going to make mistakes and may not even apologise for them but these traits are all very human to have. All good content, which seeks to create empathetic characters that the audience can root for, should be moving away from the binaries of black and white. You had earlier said, “It’s very difficult to put Churails into a genre. It’s discussing serious issues, but the show itself doesn’t take itself too seriously.” What did you mean? In terms of genres, I would say the series has elements of drama and thriller but I tend to find the whimsy in the darkest of moments, and I feel my work reflects that. The themes that the series addresses are posed as questions rather than preachy messages. My characters find something to smile about even when everything around them is falling apart. On the artistic front, are we ready to nurture cross-boundary collaborations, irrespective of the political environment? Yes, because art has nothing to do with institutional politics. Its sole purpose is to provide a cathartic experience for the public by emphasising our shared humanity and it aims to do that by bridging the differences. Do you think the audience for the series might get affected from the Pak- India rivalries? I don’t think so. People on both sides of the border are well aware that they have similar life realities and are eager to have a dialogue and cultural exchange. Can we call this an opportunity for the country to attract other global platforms and entertain the idea of producing Pakistani content? Absolutely. We have not had web content come out of Pakistan that could compete in the global market before. This is a small but important step in getting our stories out to the world. I am hopeful that it will attract more investment into Pakistani talent and filmmakers.
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WILD SIDE
HOW THE VIRUS HURT THE TIGER
National Geographic explorers KRITHI KARANTH and MALAIKA VAZ speak to CHAHAK MITTAL about how the pandemic-induced lockdown increased tiger poaching activities in India and put conservation at risk
THE
lockdown has meant that “sighting tourism” at our tiger reserves is non-existent. But with the wildlife economy shut and the concurrent reduced vigilance at parks, poachers have become very active again. According to the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, TRAFFIC, which recently released a report, Indian wildlife amidst the COVID-19 crisis: An analysis of poaching and illegal wildlife trade revealed that more than 88 poaching incidents were reported from March 23 till May 3, almost double the number during the six weeks before the lockdown. Nat Geo explorers Krithi Karanth and Malaika Vaz are currently assessing conservation challenges in the post-pandemic era. Recalling the good old days of filmmaking in
various national parks, Vaz recalls an experience she had in Karnataka. She was walking towards her car at midnight without any guards around her and had a “distinct feeling of being watched.” However, she kept walking. She looked up to find a pair of glimmering eyes of a leopard through the bushes. “And I remember that moment viscerally — an enormous cat staring back at me in the middle of the night in a jungle. I had frozen. But surprisingly, for a moment, I stared back at him. And later, walked back silently. It was the most magical experience for me. I got up close with an incredible animal like a leopard,” says she. For Krithi Karanth, who has researched the mananimal conflict, the very “unpredictability” of being in the jungle is the ultimate challenge.
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How has the pandemic impacted tigers? KRITHI: I think the impact of this pandemic has clearly demonstrated that not just tigers but all wildlife species are inextricably connected to people. Tinkering with nature, particularly fragmenting and disturbing their habitats, hunting their prey base and consumption of wild meat have led to an emergence of zoonotic diseases. Once the zoonosis reaches the people, we can see its devastating impact. I think it’s really important that we create intact habitat spaces, which allow wildlife to live and move securely and reduce opportunities for disease transmission between people and wildlife as much as possible. MALAIKA: Tigers are huge drivers of the ecotourism in India. The tiger economy employs a large number of people from local communities. There has been a lot of discourse on how this pandemic has provided a respite to wildlife and wild places. This may be true in some places but as per field reports and studies over the past couple of months, we have come across a substantial increase in poaching and wildlife trafficking of tigers and other wildlife. What is the role of local communities in protecting tigers and other wildlife species? MALAIKA: When you have local communities as leaders of conservation and not just token stakeholders, that’s when conservation becomes truly effective. However, they need to be empowered to make decisions about the fate of tigers on an everyday basis because they know their land and necessities better than anyone else. They understand tiger behaviour. I would like to share the example of an organisation called Tigerwatch in the outskirts of Ranthambore, Rajasthan. It works with the Moghiya tribe (traditional tiger poachers, who claim to be loyal courtiers of the erstwhile kingdom of Udaipur). After the tigerpoaching ban, they lost their livelihood. The organisation provided them conservation education, training and work opportunities. It also stewards a network of Village Wildlife Volunteers (VWV) from the surrounding communities, who set up camera traps to monitor tiger movement and apprehend poaching activity. How do you think the pandemic affected local communities? MALAIKA: Multiple communities depend on the forest for
their livelihood. Over the last couple of months, as our economy has been hit badly by the pandemic, tourism in wildlife zones has come to a near standstill. This disproportionately affects the local communities that live alongside wildlife and receive an income from being employed as naturalists, nature guides, forest protectors and eco-tourism operators. I think the pandemic has taught us that tigers cannot survive without the full participation and support of local communities. So, as conservationists, we have to do everything that we can to empower these communities and provide for their needs — to ensure that they receive the benefits of living alongside tigers. This is imperative for tiger conservation. For people who are passionate about it, I would recommend doing some homework online and donating to small-scale organisations like Tigerwatch, the Last Wilderness Foundation or TRACT, which have been working to conserve wildlife and empower local communities. I think if we support these organisations on the frontline of
tiger conservation, we would also support the larger cause. What do you have to say about India’s potential to conserve tigers? KRITHI: My father, Dr K Ullas Karanth, is one of the pioneering tiger biologists in the world and his work has shown that India can accommodate up to 10,000 tigers as of today. So we shouldn’t be patting our backs on having around 3,000 tigers. Yes, tigers are doing much better in India today as compared to the situation in the 1970s or 80s. However, we still should aim higher and reach a number bigger than 3,000. MALAIKA: Tigers are such a charismatic species. They can captivate people of every generation — from the youngest toddler to the oldest grandparent. Given this fact, a lot of national parks have been set up and protected areas have been assigned to regions with large tiger population. For example, the Bandhavgarh Reserve is known for its big cats but is also home to lesserknown species like a rusty-spotted cat, which is protected inevitably when the land gets demarcated
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as a protected area. I think tigers act as an umbrella species and under the umbrella, smaller species also receive unprecedented attention. I would say that when you go to national parks and protected areas, once this pandemic ends, take some time to notice the little creations like the flowers, the birds, the trees, the water resources and the other animals around. Observing the complex forest ecosystem in its entirety can help you better understand the role of its apex predator. The vanishing forest cover has been a rising cause of concern... KRITHI: I think there is enough scientific evidence that has established that certain species are very adaptable and can live alongside humans. But there are others like tigers which require large swathes of forests and intact habitats that remain connected and not fragmented due to human activities. With an economy that’s booming and a country that’s growing at the rate we are, there’s a lot of infrastructural development coming in like railway lines, roads, highways, hydropower and so on. Rapid environmental clearances for such projects are being approved across many parts of India. And we may not be able to see it now, but these projects have the potential to cause huge disruptions to nature and wildlife habitats. They can have a devastating impact in the long run. I think that’s a major challenge we have. As a wildlife scientist and explorer, any anecdote that you would like to share... MALAIKA: I was on a shoot for National Geographic and I spent some time in the jungle getting up close with two male tigers. I had been observing them for four hours. And after that, they got into a fight for territory. I believe it was one of the most intense scenes that I had witnessed. What are the challenges that such travels offer on an everyday basis? KRITHI: I think unpredictability is a challenge because of the nature of the work in both conservation and research. You can only plan so much after that you have to go with the flow. On any given day, I have to interact with so many types of people like scientists, conservationists,
community leaders, donors, media, artists. It is both inspiring and invigorating. MALAIKA: One of the most challenging things out there could be the weather. For the last week, I’ve been filming a short video for the National Geographic in the Western ghats and throughout the shoot, we experienced torrential rains. And when you’re in the rainforest, filming with an enormous amount of digital equipment and cameras, weather can be a huge challenge, but it’s adventurous at the same time. What’s the fun part? KRITHI: The fact that it is not a nine to five job and the outdoors are never monotonous. It is life unscripted. Besides, how else would you get to see the real India? MALAIKA: As a wildlife presenter and filmmaker, every single day is different. One day, you are in the jungle, and the next day, you’re in the middle of the Thar Desert. You could be on the Himalayas or diving under water. This unpredictability keeps us going.
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BLITHE SPIRIT Mixologist PANKAJ BALACHANDRAN tells AYUSHI SHARMA that the secret of a good cocktail is in the art of balancing. Even if it’s just a whisky soda, the right dilution, the crisp bubbles of soda water and the ice are the details that elevate the experience
mix The
that
matters IT
isn’t a time of social meetings. It is a time to work remotely and stay indoors as much as we can. Maintaining this norm of the year, Airbnb India has launched ‘At Home With Airbnb,’ a unique set of online experiences that brings together celebrities, artistes and influencers. Each experience has been curated keeping in mind the diverse and engaging ways in which guests can connect with people across cultures and hone their skills through the platform. The experience allows
guests to visit the hosts’ personal space to learn their craft in small groups that allow for personal connections and conversations. We speak to Monkey Shoulder India’s brand ambassador, Pankaj Balachandran, one of the hosts, about how the audience can make the best of their time and come together for a fun and nurturing session where they not only engage with others but master the art of making cocktails at home. Excerpts:
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What fascinated you to host a web session? The profession I am in, I feel like I am always the happiest when I am behind the bar and interacting with guests. This session will help me reach out to people of a whole new demographic, who I probably would have never met in person otherwise. It will be interesting to meet new people in a different setting while being able to teach them. It’s a fantastic idea with an interactive platform that brings together people from across interests and geographies, and helps build a cocktail community. What has been your mantra of mixology? Learn the basics and rules so that you can break them. Mixing drinks is a science, too, as much as it is an art.
How important is the presentation of a drink? Presentation of a drink is as important as making the drink itself. A person’s first sip is with their eyes! In today’s day and age, where everything is put on social media, as barkeeps, making a goodlooking drink is a must. I am not a big fan of smoke and mirrors. I prefer my drinks to be clean. The focus is more on glassware, garnish or even something as simple as a block of ice. I feel the choice of the right glass makes a lot of difference. It has become important for all drinks to be presented well for them to be #InstaWorthy, essentially that is how you get conversation started around a drink on social media. It’s much easier to get inspired while travelling and meeting new people. Since that is not on the cards for
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now, where do you find inspiration for new cocktails? This is probably the longest that I have stayed at home in my adult life. Thanks to all the cooking that I have been up to, most of my current inspiration comes from the kitchen. Ingredients that I have never used before are slowly starting to find their way into my glass. It has opened a completely new outlook on what can be achieved in cocktails if you pushed the boundaries with simple ingredients that are always present around us. Will this lead to a new trend of house parties since people will be comfortable making their own cocktails and might avoid heading out amid the pandemic scare? As a bartender, I would surely want people to head out to bars eventually. House parties have always
been popular, especially in Delhi. I am sure that the time that everyone has on their hands at the moment will definitely motivate them to understand the simple ways of mixing drinks at home and host their guests to beautiful cocktails. It is indeed a great skill set to have and the safest way to have your favourite drinks during this pandemic. But once all this settles down, everyone should definitely hit the bars to enjoy perfectlycrafted cocktails by their favourite bartenders delivered with amazing hospitality and care. What are some of the ingredients that people can use? Since everybody is spending more time at home, how will you convince the audience that even usual, everyday ingredients can be used in different and innovative ways? My session focusses on using simple ingredients which you can find in your kitchen. Sugar, honey, coriander, mint leaves and lime, if mixed well and thoughtfully, can make some phenomenal drinks. Once you understand the principle of making drinks, balancing the sweetness and sourness or bitterness — the world (read: kitchen) is your playground! How do Indians like their cocktails? People in India are now well travelled and slowly they are looking out for quality drinks and cocktails. Things have changed over the last few years. Our consumer trends have moved quite far from drinking sweeter cocktails to wellconstructed spirit-forward drinks, which focus more on delicate flavours. The change is at a slower pace, but we are moving forward and in the right direction. Some tips and tricks to make a great drink... Making a good cocktail is in the art of balancing. Even if it is just a whisky soda, the right dilution, the crisp bubbles of soda water and the ice that go into the drink will elevate the experience. The complexity comes in when you are balancing sweet and sour ingredients or bitter and sweet ingredients. Playing with umami is opening another dimension. As long as you stay within these boundaries, you can experiment and make fantastic cocktails.
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SKIN CARE While beauticians are taking necessary steps to ensure safety at their parlours, many cosmetic companies are modifying their products to empower salons to be touch-free. EXOTICA finds out the new way to look good
beauty Touchless
PERHAPS
a visit to the salon for some self-grooming was the only thing one never felt lazy about in the pre-COVID era. However, over the past few months, with a pandemic at hand, the touch therapy involved was enough to scare many of us
into depending on household hacks. But they have not been salon-perfect. With salons getting back to business post an ease in lockdown restrictions, many have returned to salons. However, risk-averse as we are, there is certainly a great feeling of anxiety.
So salons too are responding to the changed mindset and bringing in a major transition in their set-ups and functioning to assure that their services are safe. New hygiene protocols have been developed to ensure safety of the customers as well as that of the technicians. New tools and accessories are being used for contact therapies. Here are a few ways how salons have gone for a makeover themselves before throwing the door open.
THE ZERO-TOUCH FACIAL
THE
don’t-touch-me policy has become the new normal in public spaces and is here to stay. Which brings many to the question — how will salons do their usual chores without touching the customer? For instance, while combing the hair or a facial clean-up. Experts suggest that a new safety protocol — zero-touch facial — can ensure that the beautician doesn’t touch your skin with bare hands. Rather, the beautician needs to be enabled to deliver the same kind of service with the same efficiency by using certain professional tools and techniques. Many brands are coming up with specially customised products like disposable applicators, gloves and a mask, which can ensure that skin problems are attended to in a hygienic manner. The sanitised tools also allow for advanced exfoliation and radiant skin. Vaijayanti Bhalchandra, co-founder, CTO Head HR YLG Salons, YLG @ Home, talks about the use of new zero-touch products. She says, “The past few months have been extremely tough for the business and we have missed work. The Cheryl’s cosmeceuticals have helped us adapt to the new normal with its zero-touch facial kit. Since gaining confidence of customers for facial treatments is a major necessity in these times, we also make sure the beautician maintains a certain distance from the customer while working and minimises talking at all times. It has been only a few weeks since we have re-opened and now, we are increasingly getting responses for clean-ups and exfoliation facials.”
NEW WAY FOR HAIR COLOUR
DP
Sharma, director, Professional Products Division at L’Oréal India, says, “Our network of salons is key to our business and we have always believed in them to offer only the best of services to consumers. As salons have slowly begun re-opening across the country, we have trained and upskilled our network with the strictest of hygiene and safety norms to be followed while interacting with the consumer. We have also introduced Express Hair Color Services, which not only support our salons to get back to business safely but also offer an innovative professional hair colour solution with sophisticated techniques to our consumers.” As per Sharma, the service only takes 60 minutes, which is as less time as it could take to colour the
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hair. It not only “minimises a customer’s time at salon” but also “erases all signs of the bad hair days you may have faced in the last few months.”
THE SAFE SALON INITIATIVE
BEAUTY
brands like Matrix have also introduced programmes to ensure the safety of consumers, anxious about returning to a salon. Its ‘Safe Salon’ initiative begins with an increased sanitisation and fumigation of salons arranged by it. All partner salons are equipped with a comprehensive hygiene practise guide that includes the prebooking of an appointment, temperature checks, sanitisation of surfaces, regular washing of hands by staff, contactless and digital payments, sterilisation of tools before and after a service, availability of sanitisers and clean masks and gloves worn by the staff.
VIRTUAL SKIN DIAGNOSES THE WAY OUT
TO
minimise contact, experts have recommended a virtual consultation session via smartphone with your beautician that should be mandated for every customer, prior to stepping in
the salon. Through this practice, if the service isn’t provided on the given day, an unnecessary visit could be avoided and in turn, crowding. Also, one can always get the technician to diagnose the issue through an online consultation. Niraj Killa, owner of Head Turner’s Hair Spa & Beauty Salon, Kolkata, says, “All our staff has taken part in the Salon Hygiene and Safety E-Learning module offered by the brand to ensure we can adapt to the newer requirements of the changing world. It’s better if we now move towards more digital practices while customers consult us.”
SAFETY TRAINING
MANY
salons have also used the lockdown period to upskill and train their network to be equipped with all the required protocols, to enable them to get back to business, following proper guidelines. Digital educational training has helped salon owners and their teams prepare a detailed hygiene checklist that they must adhere to while re-opening.The distribution of safety kits by many cosmetic brands include disposable masks, gloves, bed sheets, shower caps and bed gowns to make the facial service hygienic and safe.
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HOTWHEELS Kushan Mitra Auto & tech expert
With the recent price hikes of the heavy fuel, the difference between petrol and diesel is minimal. Indeed in Delhi, diesel is pricier. Does it make sense to buy a diesel car anymore?
CANACASEBEMADEFOR
DIESEL? HYUNDAI
launched their updated Tuscon Sports Utility Vehicle this week. We would have done a test drive of that but because the carmaker gets their cars registered in Chennai and that southern city has gone back into a complete lockdown, it might be a week or so before we get to experience the new eight-speed automatic gearbox on the Tucson. That eight-speed gearbox is mated to Hyundai India’s new introduction, the ‘Nu’ 2.0 litre diesel engine with 185 horsepower, and this made me wonder if it makes sense to buy a diesel car anymore? The reason I’m wondering is quite simple as diesel now costs more than petrol in Delhi. In most of the states, the price differential between petrol and diesel had come down under `5 per litre when prices shot up last month. This gap has increased once again, opening up to `8 per litre in Mumbai. Now,
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given that diesel vehicles are more efficient than petrol ones, but cost, on average across segments, at least `1,00,000 more ex-showroom price at a similar specification level. You could argue that diesel makes more sense. However, the problem is as we have learnt, prices of fuels are not steady, which means the calculations that you make today to justify a diesel purchase over a petrol car is complicated. If you bought a diesel car in Delhi last year because you assumed diesel prices would stay far below those of petrol, well, your maths have gone awry. All thanks to the Arvind Kejriwal government’s decision to hike excise duties on diesel. It would be dangerous to make the assumption that other states will not follow suit on diesel. One reason is that in many major cities, local public transport is almost entirely powered on CNG as is local goods transport. The argument that diesel is the fuel of transport is a bit harder to make now as even the Railways have electrified most of their major freight lines. For the purpose of my argument, let us look at
current prices. I am currently driving a Hyundai Elantra as my long term vehicle, and since December 2019, I have driven over 6,000 kilometers, maybe a bit less than I would have in normal times. But you don’t need me to tell you about the times we live in. This car, with Hyundai’s two-litre ‘Nu’ petrol engine has given me an average of 11.5 kilometers a litre. Hyundai has fitted the 1.5 litre U2 CRDi engine, the same as on the Creta and Verna and on this car as well. In city conditions, that engine delivers around 16 to 17 kilometers a litre (let us take 16.5 kilometers as an average). Once things return to normal and if you work and live in Delhi without crossing the borders, averaging around a 1,000 kilometers a month is normal. At current fuel prices, this would mean I spend around `7,000 a month on petrol and `5,000 on diesel. Over the 60-month lifespan of the car, this `2,000 per month saving would work out to `1.2 lakh which just covers the `1.1 lakh ex-showroom price difference between the engines. But on-road, it doesn’t cover the difference. Now, one could
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argue that the diesel vehicle would have slightly higher residual value. But keep in mind that the Supreme Court has mandated that diesel vehicles can only be run in the entire NCR for ten years, which kills residual values for diesels, whereas petrol cars have a 15-year lifespan. Now, the math changes dramatically if you live in Gurugram and work in Noida or vice versa. You might easily cover 500 kilometers a week for 2,000 kilometers. Diesel is still `5 per litre cheaper in Haryana and at that milage, always filling in Gurugram you would spend `9,000 a month on
diesel and `13,700 a month on petrol. A huge `4,700 difference, a massive `2.8 lakh differential over 60 months, which might even cover the lower residual value you would get for a diesel vehicle in the NCR when you sell it as Gurugram registered diesel cars also have a ten-year life span. But there is a catch there as well. The math has been done on the basis of today’s fuel prices. We have learnt the hard way that these prices are not static. They can shoot up whenever state or central governments need additional revenues. It is quite likely that a global economic recovery following the
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virus might see fuel prices increase again. And if air pollution increases in cities outside the NCR, the Supreme Court might extend their 10-year rule regarding diesels, even far cleaner BS6 diesels to other cities. During the Tucson launch, Hyundai India’s Tarun Garg revealed that on the second-generation Creta, over 56 per cent of orders and deliveries were for diesels. This might seem impressive, but my takeaway there was that 44 per cent of sales were for petrol. In the first few months of the firstgeneration Creta, six years ago, almost 85 per cent of sales were for diesels. However, now a bulk of the diesel vehicle demand is down in the southern states and Maharashtra. In fact, in Maharashtra, petrol and not diesel is taxed excessively, so even with the traffic jams and lower distances in a city like Mumbai, diesel makes sense. There is also an irony about diesel. From a purely carbon point of view, diesel-powered vehicles are cleaner than petrol, more bang for the buck. But diesel, even BS6 diesels, do emit more Sulphur, NOx and particulates than petrol. This will be mitigated by the forthcoming BS6b norms
in a couple of years, but those involve a SCR — Selective Catalytic Reduction system — much more expensive that the particulate filter systems used by some manufacturers today. An SCR based 1.5 litre diesel might cost `2.5 lakh more than an equivalent petrol. In addition, as 48 volt battery systems become the norm, I would expect more and more hybrids to make it to India. While these hybrids might have only a 10-kilometre pure electric range, they would make petrol engines far more efficient. The Swift hybrid sold in Japan has a claimed urban fuel economy of upwards of 30 kilometres a litre, and the additional power from the battery would make it more fun to drive as well. So it is not a simple answer. If you drive a lot, diesel still makes sense, albeit barely, if you live in the NCR. In Maharashtra, diesel is the king for the same reason it loses out in Delhi. Down in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, the cleaner air (for now) has led to fewer strictures against diesel, although the higher prices of BS6b diesels might kill that as well. And that is all on the basis of today’s prices, who knows about tomorrow.
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FITNESS
It is vital to learn ways to cope with life’s stresses and maintain good immunity especially as the pandemic conditions may be with us for some time Bharat Thakur is a yoga guru and founder of Artistic Yoga
BREATHEOUTTHESTRESS
WE
are living in uncertain times. Faced with Covid-19, lockdowns and all that these entail. It’s not surprising that levels of stress are high. What you may not realise though, is the impact stress and anxiety have on our health and immune system. The challenges in our daily lives cause us some stress and when our body sees these as threats, it defends itself. Our brain sets off signals that prompt our adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, the main stress hormone. After meeting the challenge, the hormone levels return to normal. When stress continues for a longer time, the body’s defence system stays activated. The high levels of stress hormones, particularly cortisol, disrupt the body’s normal functioning and depress our immune systems. High cortisol levels decrease white blood cells that help fight off infection and this increases our risk to infectious disease. We are also at risk of problems related to digestion, heart, sleep, memory and poor concentration. It is vital to learn ways to cope with stresses and maintain good immunity especially as the
pandemic conditions may be with us for some time. One of the best ways we can help ourselves is yoga. The ancient sicence has its own way of countering stress. Yoga recognises the vital role of our endocrine system in maintaining good health. All asanas (posture) press or affect particular glands. Holding postures, stimulatea and improves hormone production. Yogic bandhas (neuro-muscular locks) regulate and balance hormonal levels. Yoga stimulates the production of the “feel good” neurotransmitters that boost our moods and balance mind and body. Stress affects our peripheral nervous system. It contracts our muscles and our spines feel stiff. When stressed, our breathing becomes erratic. Our breath is directly linked to our nervous system. Yoga practiced regularly, repairs our bodies at cellular level. It strengthens the body and mind so that we handle potentially stressful situations better or no longer react to them. It can help us be calmer, healthier, happier through these challenging times and live more vibrant, fulfilling lives.
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BHUJANGASANA
TADASANA
o Stand with your feet slightly apart, arms by your side o Breathing in, interlock your hands and raise your arms above your head, stretch upwards and rise up on your toes, balancing your weight equally on both feet o Hold for 10-15 seconds, breathing normally. Gradually extend this to 30, then 60 secs o Breathe in, exhale as you come down to start position o Repeat three-five times BENEFITS: o Stretches the spine and eases tension o Stretches the nerves of the carpal, relaxing them
o Lie on stomach, chin on ground, palms beside shoulders, elbows close to body, feet together o Inhale as you stretch upper body upwards, straighten elbows, arch back to look up at the sky o Hold for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally o Exhale and gently come down to start position BENEFITS: o Removes stiffness from chest, shoulders, neck o Increases spine flexibility and strength o Strengthens back muscles and removes lower back pain o Increases blood circulation to spinal column nerves o Stimulates the thymus gland that matures white blood cells that fight infection
SARNAGAT MUDRA
o Sit back on heels, back straight, hands on knees o Breathing in, raise both arms above your head o Exhale slowly as you bend forward till forehead touches the ground. Breathe normally, relax the body o Hold 10-30 seconds breathing normally o Breathe in as you slowly come up, arms over head o Breathe out as you lower your arms to start position BENEFITS: o Stretches the back and upper body o Improves blood flow to the head and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to brain cells o Both energises and relaxes the upper body
BHRAMARI PRANAYAMA
o Sit in padmasana (lotus) or cross-legged, back straight o Close eyes and take a few deep breaths o Close ears with thumbs, fingers resting on top of head o Inhale deeply to a count of five o Exhale as you make a humming sound, focusing on the sound vibrations in the front of the head. o Repeat three to five times BENEFITS: o Eases constricted blood vessels and nerves and relaxes the brain and body o Develops focus and concentration o Relaxes the vocal chords
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GURUSPEAK
ONLY
a healthy bud can blossom. In the same way, only a healthy being can succeed. Health is (having) a diseasefree body, a quiver-free breath, a stress-free mind, an inhibition-free intellect, an obsession-free memory, an ego that includes all and a soul that is free from sorrow.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Spiritual Guru
Take one week off every year to align yourself with nature, wake up with the sunrise, practise yoga and breathing techniques with awareness, eat proper food and bear witness to creation
In Sanskrit, swaasthya means health. It also means being established in one’s Self. Our ancient people mention, that our body consists of five sheaths of existence. o The first is the environment, the atmosphere o The physical body o Prana, or the life force energy o Mind sheath — thoughts, emotions, ideas and memories o The intuitive body represented by your ‘gut feeling’. It is much more subtle in nature but precise
BREATHE IN HEALTH
There are three subtle causes for illness. It is either a violation of a natural law or it is a release of past impressions or karma. Karma means impressions in the consciousness. They get released through some illness. Another is you violate the laws of nature. Like you know what you should not eat and yet you eat that. And you know you should not overwork your system but you overwork it. Our senses have got limited capacity to experience its objects. When we overdo it, then we get sick. When there is an imbalance between the food intake, exercise and rest, then we get sick. There is a key component to health that we have often overlooked — the connection between breath, life force and health. Breath is synonymous
with life. The main purpose of meditation, pranayama and related practises, aare that they increase prana or the subtle life force energy. Prana is subtler than emotions. When you attend to the subtlest, the gross is taken care of too. You handle the breath and your life force, then your body gains strength too. Ninety per cent of the impurities in the body go out through the breath. However, we are using only 30 per cent of our lung capacity. Our breath holds many deeply transformative secrets to stay healthy. For example, for every emotion, there is a corresponding rhythm in the breath. And each rhythm affects certain parts of the body, physically. You only need to observe it to
know this. For instance, we feel a sense of expansion when we are happy and a sense of contraction when we are miserable. Though we feel that happiness or misery, we fail to notice the connection. So, when you cannot handle your mind directly, you can do it through mind. You mainly get energy from four sources — food, sleep, rest and breath. You can learn the last one through the exercises, techniques such as the Sudarshan Kriya which can energise every cell of the body. You can get a pleasant state of mind through meditation. All these are important for our overall well-being. Today there is research available on how the Sudarshan Kriya and pranayama affect the immune system. The immune system can be boosted by attending to the breath and mind.
Take one week off every year for yourself, like you take your car for servicing. During that time, align yourself with nature, wake up with the sunrise, practise yoga and breathing techniques with awareness, eat proper food — only as much as is necessary — chant and keep silence, bear witness to the creation. Doing this recharges our whole system and fills us with vibrance. You smile more, from within. Knowing a little about our mind, our consciousness, and the root of distortion helps. Every individual is bestowed with all the virtues. They simply get covered by stress and lack of proper understanding. All that is needed is to to uncover the virtues that are already there, just like a dark room can be lit in no time with a lamp.
NINETY PER CENT OF THE IMPURITIES IN THE BODY GO OUT THROUGH THE BREATH. HOWEVER, WE ARE USING ONLY 30 PER CENT OF OUR LUNG CAPACITY
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NUMBERGAME Sanjay Jumaani Numerologist
COUNT YOUR FATE
NUMBER 1 (Those born on the 1st, 10th, 19th and 28th of any month) Plans made towards achieving your goals might materialise or show signs of completion. You might maintain a balance between personal and professional life. Matters of the heart might be important in strengthening relationships. Don’t be impulsive when making career related decisions.
NUMBER 4 (Those born on the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st of any month) All’s well that ends well is a theory which you might start believing. Things started some time back might culminate appropriately. You might be content about your personal life. Family ties might be strengthened. Chances of receiving good news also seem high.
NUMBER 7 (Those born on the 7th, 16th and 25th of any month) Your optimism and enthusiasm might impress people and make you the centre of attention and earn their respect. Avoid taking things for granted and consider everything twice before forming an opinion. Finances might get better with time if you employ practical knowledge and invest judiciously.
NUMBER 2 (Those born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th and 29th of any month) Dreams about professional desires might get fulfilled. Communication with loved ones might improve with time, providing the much-needed zing in a relationship. Avoid undermining your capabilities and evaluate your opportunities. There might be some unique developments in your life.
NUMBER 5 (Those born on the 5th, 14th and 23rd of any month) You might have probably felt a bit restless as far as progress on the personal front is considered. However, do not become impatient and continue your efforts. You might get carried away by the tide of social events. You should probably enjoy this phase as you will become known for your talents.
NUMBER 8 (Those born on the 8th, 17th and 26th of any month) You could be under work pressure making you feel underconfident. Put your best foot forward and you might surprise everyone. People who might have misunderstood your intentions earlier might appreciate your dedication. Be open to new ideas and have a more realistic approach.
NUMBER 3 (Those born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th of any month) The month might start well but there are chances of roadblocks. Try to finish incomplete projects before starting new ones. You might be able to tackle tricky situations on the personal front and help resolve minor conflicts. People in a relationship can expect a good time with their partner.
NUMBER 6 (Those born on the 6th, 15th and 24th of any month) Success and applause might come your way professionally. Be aware that these might be fleeting and don’t become overconfident. Keep your cool and avoid antagonising your colleagues who might not be in the limelight right now. Play your flute well and let others decipher their own melodies.
NUMBER 9 (Those born on the 9th, 18th and 27th of any month) You’re probably getting itchy to take a chance. However, be cautious as your actions might affect not only you but people dependent on you as well. Weigh the negative consequences and have a contingency plan before proceeding. Financial scenario might improve.
EXOTICA [49] AUGUST 2020
LOCKDOWN DIARIES
For all those affected by the lockdown, VIDYA BALAN had this post, “Arithmetic progression of moods in 2020,” while announcing her film.
Actor BOBBY DEOL returns to films with one that is set in the 80s. “It’s not WHICH side you are fighting for ... It’s WHAT you are fighting against,” was all that he was willing to say.
THE OTT GAME IS ON With films being released digitally, the actors too have taken to social media to promote them. Here’s looking at some of the announcements
EXOTICA [50] AUGUST 2019
Actor ALIA BHATT announced the dropping of her new film with “Ishq Kamaal.. Jis tan lagya, Ishq kamaal” #Sadak2 Trailer out tomorrow. Stay tuned!”
Just before he tested positive for Corona, ABHISHEK BACHCHAN spoke about being a part of a new show, “The game has begun and the truth will be out of the shadows!”
RADHIKA APTE was always a netflix favourite even before all the films shifted to OTT. She announced the dropping of Raat Akeli Hai with this, “Verified Your secrets are not always yours to keep.”
Last date to apply: 15th July 2020 Online Exam dates: 30th July to 4th August.
Last date to apply: 15th July 2020 Online Exam dates: 30th July to 4th August.
th August.