FROM THE EDITOR
Editor-in-Chief CHANDAN MITRA EDITORIAL BOARD Chief Executive Officer Abhishek Saxena 09818600128 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Charge Rinku Ghosh Assistant Editor Saimi Sattar 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 DIFFERENT EXOTICA
THE
Universe and Mother Nature have reset the button for us, and how. The Coronavirus has gobbled up life as we knew it and flattened us into submission in no time, scything all our indulgences and pleasures that we had begun to take for granted and were costing the planet very very dear. Call it Nature’s culling of greedy humans, its reclamation of the Earth in a manner it thinks fit, punishment for our mortal sins or a cleansing of humanity, we are not going back to what we were. If anything, the post-Covid-19 world will forever be the “after” story — after the virus, after the pollution, after the global conflicts, after the politics of hatred, after the destruction, after the ruins, after materialism, after the hedonism, after the hugs, after the kisses, after the touch. These are gone from our lives. Only the power of the heart will remain, and genuine feelings will have to be felt deep within. Every kind of ritualism is out of our lives, only what matters will remain. Still, if we persist in continuing the way we were, we would be annihilated. No amount of disinfection would save us till we decide to become extraordinary in extraordinary times. The virus has also been the greatest lesson of our lifetime. It has showed us life can continue, that it actually neither has a beginning or an end, only reinvention. So what do we do at Exotica, which began as a travel and wellness magazine many years ago? Facts are cold and brutal. Every sector related to the travel and tourism industry has gone bankrupt. The aviation sector has nosedived, with only humanitarian and cargo flights operating now. With some time, there will be some flights to facilitate domestic movement of people and families. But the traveller is not returning this year, certainly not the foreign traveller. The hospitality sector cannot maintain overhead costs and is furloughing people. All community indulgences — cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, multiplexes, amusement parks, museums, gyms, get-togethers and picnics — are out of our lives. Social distancing means that we are deeply suspicious of any intrusion into our six-feet radius. Yet all is not doom and gloom. Exotica will have to be reinterpreted. Aren’t our skies blue again, aren’t the fish returning to clean rivers, aren’t flowers blooming and has not the twitter of birds detoxified the talking platform that we have created as a benchmark of our self-worth? Aren't we valuing life and family more? India has a civilisational repository of mindful living, of co-existing in balance with nature and curing itself with Mother Earth. So we return to the roots here, drawing valuable lessons from our ayurveda, Unani and yoga traditions. We will tell you how easy it is to internalise these disciplines in your everyday life. When the lockdown lifts and it is safe to venture out, try travelling in twos and fours and choose natural experiences within your driveable limits. Try exploring Bharat that actually has a surprise tucked away every 100 km, under a bough of a tree, by an abandoned lake that catches the silence of the twilight with the dulcet glow of sunset. Choose sustainable and responsible holidays, where your visit can give livelihoods to communities around you, where you do not indiscriminately plunder resources. Can we look at sustainable architecture and homes, so that we can cut down the use of air-conditioners? Can we eat local cereals and legumes, instead of fancy imports? Can we dress local to help our weavers? Most of all, we can connect on the digital plane for the arts and creativity, which over time can be sustainable with online pay subscriptions. Sit by the sea and bow to the Himalayas, there’s so much of both that even a lifetime isn’t enough. Rediscovery can be an equally exciting journey. Cut out the noise, listen to your heart. And soul. We are lucky to have realised what matters in the end.
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I N S I D E APRIL 2020 VOLUME 14 NO 6
Little black book [p8] Payal Jain: A quick peek into her style file Globe trotter [p16] Entry reserved: Bhutan Look ahead [p24] A more mindful traveller Culture czar [p28] The show must go on: Sanjoy K Roy
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COVER: BUDDHA DORDENMA STATUE, THIMPHU, BHUTAN PHOTO: VISSA VENKATA SUNDAR
CONTRIBUTORS
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [p42] GURUSPEAK: Alone, yet not lonely Sanjay Jumaani [p45] NUMBER GAME: Count your fate Kushan Mitra [p46] HOT WHEELS: Engine stalled Bharat Thakur [p48] FITNESS: Immunity boost TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES 52 INCLUDING COVER
Follow us on:
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@TheDailyPioneer
P A R T N E R
Style check [p34] Look up during lockdown Beauty care [p36] Get the glow Culture call [p39] The stage comes home
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H O T E L S
Send us your feedback at exoticapioneer2016@gmail.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exotica-394686670715776
FAVOURITE HAUNTS OF STYLISH PEOPLE
Chanel#5 as it’s timeless, classic, decadent and suits every mood and occasion. I am a huge fan of Azzedine Alaïa as it’s a brand which understands a woman’s body like no other.
I’ve read Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach more than 100 times. I adore it because it reinforces ‘Hope’, no matter what the circumstances.
A cup of hot cocoa, It’s warm and comforting and always tastes good, no matter what season or situation.
Bridges of Madison County makes you want to believe that true love exists.
Atelier PAYAL JAIN started her brand in 1993 which, over the years, has become synonymous with classic and timeless contemporary clothing
Scarves! I wear them in winter, summer and all year long, at home, at work, when I travel or when I attend a meeting. I believe they add a sense of individuality to any outfit.
The Maldives is top of my list, for its pristine and breathtaking beauty, distinct character of each island, incredible underwater world and proximity to nature and all its miracles.
SCALING THE ZENITH OF EXCELLENCE
Driven by its commitment to provide quality technical education, the AJAY KUMAR GARG ENGINEERING COLLEGE has become one of the best engineering institutions in Uttar Pradesh
THE
Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College (AKGEC), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh is approved by AICTE and affiliated to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow. The college was established in 1998 and offers BTech Courses in nine disciplines of engineering. It also offers postgraduate courses in Computer Application (MCA) and MTech in five engineering disciplines. The college is accredited by NAAC and five of its BTech programmes are accredited by NBA. AKGEC has excellent infrastructure with state-of-the-art laboratories, computing facilities, automated library with e-journals, modern well furnished hostels for 1,500 students and faculty residences on its wi-fi enabled 40 acres campus. The college also has highly qualified and experienced faculty lead by its Director General, Dr RK Agarwal, who is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, CIT, UK and IISc Bangalore with vast teaching, research and administrative experience. The college has been consistently maintaining excellent results and has 16 students in the 2018-19 top 10 AKTU merit lists with two gold and two silver medals. The college students have also received the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for best performance across all B Tech branches for three consecutive years, since its inception. The college also conducts a number of industrially relevant programmes to make its students globally competitive. During the year 2018-19 over 919 students have been placed in reputed companies like Infosys, Cognizant, Ashok Leyland, HCL, Robert Bosch, Adobe Systems, HSBC Software, TCS, Wipro, Samsung Research Institute, NIIT Technologies. The college has established a number of Centres of Excellence in collaboration with eminent multinational industries. These include Industrial Robotic Training Centre in collaboration with Kuka Robotics, Centre of Competence in Automation Technologies with Bosch Rexroth, LabVIEW Academy with National Instruments, Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) Centre with SIEMENS, Drives & Control
Lab with Mitsubishi Electric, Industrial Pneumatic Knowledge Centre with Janatics India and a Competency Development Centre in Integrated Automation with Automation Industries Association and industry partners like Pepperl & Fuchs, B&R, Festo and Siemens. The primary objective of these centres is to provide industrially relevant training in these inter-disciplinary state-of-art technologies to bridge the gap between academic curriculum and industry needs. These centres also promote research and industrial consultancies. To expand the outreach of this facility and to align its objective with “Skill India Mission”, AKGEC Skills Foundation has been established as a funded training partner of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Under this programme Advance Welding Technology and Advance Manufacturing Centre have been established. AKGEC Skills Foundation has also partnered with National Small Scale Industry Corporation (NSIC) to establish a Technology Incubation Centre. The college has the unique distinction of being the only college to receive the Academic Excellence Award for Best Engineering College in UPTU for two successive years from the Governor of UP. The college is also the recipient of ‘Best Industry Institute Interface’ from the Minister of Science & Technology, UP Government, as well as award from Royal Academy of Engineering, UK. The college has been honoured with the prestigious STEM awards for ‘Best Technology Infrastructure’ and ‘Best Vocational Robotics Education’ by All India Council for Robotics & Automation. AKGEC believes in setting audacious goals and infusing fresh ideas to achieve the same. The college plans to promote collaborative industry relevant projects, R&D and consultancy to raise the overall academic standard as well as to bridge the gap between academic curriculum and industry requirements to make its students globally competitive.
TRAVEL NEWS WITH THE WORLD HAVING SHUT DOWN ITS DOORS, IT IS THE VIRTUAL WINDOW WHICH IS TRYING TO MAKE COUNTRIES BORDERLESS YET AGAIN. TO GIVE IN TO THE TRAVEL LUST, MANY OF THE TOURISM BOARDS HAVE GONE ONLINE AND ARE GIVING VIRTUAL TOURS OF THE TREASURES THAT THEY HOLD
MARVEL AT VIENNA YOU
don’t have to leave home to experience the sparkling magnificence of Vienna’s museums and sights. Embark on a virtual voyage of discovery through the collections and rooms of Viennese institutions like the Albertina, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace and many other places. Do you want to get to know the oeuvre of Gustav Klimt from the comfort of your couch, or go on a tour through the vaults of the Capuchin Crypt (Imperial Crypt), where the Habsburgs lie buried? Nothing could be easier. Many museums and sights offer virtual tours and show you their collections online. Click through the top 100 objects of the Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna, browse through the paintings of Egon Schiele in the Leopold Museum and dive into the centuries-old collections of the Albertina.
The Belvedere takes you on a virtual live guided tour of the museum on Facebook, every day at 3.00 pm. The Kunst Haus Wien is also taking a particularly virtual approach. Under the hashtag #KunstdesZuhausebleibens (#Artofstayingathome), the museum is calling on everyone to take part in a photo challenge on its Instagram account. Users are asked to post everyday situations, whether still life or portrait, the curious or the funny. Have fun joining in! With the Corona Collection Project, the Wien Museum has also launched an extraordinary campaign. So that future generations know what the coronavirus crisis meant to Vienna, the museum is collecting photos that tell the story of private and professional everyday life during the crisis. All residents of Vienna are called upon to send photos to the Wien Museum.
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EXPLORE OLD TOWN OF FRANKFURT
NESTLED
between Frankfurt’s iconic locations- Emperors’ Cathedral and Römer City Hall, you’ll find the “new old town”, a time — honoured location steeped in history and tradition. Frankfurt’s New Old Town holds a special place in the history of the country. Few know that Frankfurt was once the home of Germany’s largest mediaeval timber-frame old town. Sadly, this magnificent historical site was destroyed during the World War II. Over the past several years, however, 15 faithful re constructions have been done to restore the town based on its original blueprints. The beautiful New Old Town now consists of three winding laneways, a number of hidden
courtyards and a picturesque plaza known as the Hühnermarkt, complete with an old fountain honouring Frankfurt’s famous dialect poet and one of Germany’s first democrats, Friedrich Stoltze and more. Explore this ‘newest quarter’ through a virtual tour and experience the highlights of the new Frankfurt Old Town from wherever you are. This tour will take you through history that has been brought back to life. The quarter also features, amongst other things, an archaeological site with remnants of Frankfurt’s very first settlements. One can undertake this journey by downloading the app from the Google Playstore or the Apple iOS store
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EXPLORE SAN FRANCISCO HOME
to some of the finest artistic and cultural institutions San Francisco is also where innovation and technology are as much a part of the landscape as Victorian houses and cable cars. When its museums and performing arts organisations were temporarily closed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, their drive to share and inspire kicked into high gear. The result is a spectrum of ways to experience the city while staying indoors. The de Young and Legion of Honour museums, SFMOMA, the Cantor Arts Centre at Stanford University and Alcatraz Island are featured on Google Arts & Culture. This interactive platform gives you a private tour of the world’s greatest museums. The other highlights of arts and cultural experiences available remotely from major San Francisco institutions are: SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AND MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS (MTT): In light of the COVID-19 closures, the San Francisco Symphony is making available nine one-hour documentary episodes of Keeping Score with Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT). The programme traces the lives of eight influential composers from around the world. MTT, now completing his 25th and final season as music director of the SFS, explores the motivations and influences behind major classical works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Copland, Stravinsky, Berlioz, Ives, Shostakovich, and Mahler. Each episode is accompanied by a one-hour concert programme by the San Francisco Symphony. Unlimited free streaming is available on the Symphony’s YouTube channel. Episodes are released Wednesdays and Saturdays. SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (SFMOMA): San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s (SFMOMA) Artist Interviews series offers nearly 300 interviews with some of the most forward-thinking artists in their own words, as they share their stories, creative processes and how they bring their visions to life in artist interview series. Artists interviewed
include Dawoud Bey, Judy Chicago, Olafur Eliasson, JR, Ellsworth Kelly and Kara Walker, among others. SFMOMA’s award-winning arts and culture Raw Material podcast features a different “podcaster-inresidence” each season to explore modern and contemporary art through a new lens. The series is currently in season six. Its digital publications document and provide context for exhibitions and the museum’s collection, showcase the scholarship of curators and aim to reach a wide range of readers. SFMOMA’s online and live interdisciplinary commissioning platform Open Space is anchored in the Bay Area but casts a wide net, commissioning and supporting critical, experimental, poetic ruminations by artists, writers and thinkers from all over the world. It also offers an array of educational resources for teachers, including discussion questions for artworks, lesson plans, graphic organisers and worksheets, artist interviews, animations and more.
CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM: The CJM’s exhibition, Levi Strauss: A History of American Style has a virtual tour as well. In 1873, at the end of the California Gold Rush, Levi Strauss & Co., named for a Bavarian Jewish dry goods merchant in San Francisco, obtained a U S patent with tailor Jacob Davis on the process of putting metal rivets in men’s denim work pants to increase their durability. It was the birth of the blue jean. Additionally, the CJM is providing a weekly schedule of online content and activities: MONDAYS: CJM HOMESCHOOL — Curated online educational resources from The CJM’s award-winning education team to provide support for at-home learners TUESDAYS: CREATIVITY PROMPTS — DIY projects, writing
prompts, and craft ideas to keep audiences engaged in creative activities at home WEDNESDAYS: #ZENDAY — #MuseumMomentofZen content designed to provide beauty and a moment to breathe for online audiences THURSDAYS: TODAHTHURSDAYS — Todah, the Hebrew word for thankfulness, anchors this content in good news about Jewish culture and/or food, mitzvah (good deed) projects audiences can contribute to, etc. FRIDAYS: ART FOR LUNCH — Mimicking the on-site Friday Gallery Chat series, this content will publish around lunchtime and offer audiences an opportunity to listen to archived gallery chats or watch artist interviews SUNDAYS: SUNDAY STORIES — Long-form content, including the Facebook Live chats, archived lectures, blog posts and so on. ALONZO KING LINES BALLET: It is offering weekly live online classes for teens and adults. From ballet to hip hop and contemporary to belly dance, LINES Dance Center offers an exciting selection of styles, faculty and levels for all movers. Dancers must register online athttps://linesballet.org/dance-center/classes/. Alonzo King LINES Ballet will be mounting a virtual Grace which premiered at Grace Cathedral in February. FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO: It offers exclusive content on the YouTube channel and blog for a behind the scenes look at exhibitions and collections. Visitors can browse the entire collection featuring American, African, European, Oceanic art and more, available at art.famsf.org. A new blogpost gives visitors a sneak peek at the must-see show Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving (at the de Young through July 26, 2020). Guest curator Circe Henestrosa shares the story of the
rediscovery of Kahlo’s personal items at the Blue House in Mexico City in 2003. Follow on Facebook and Instagram to tune in. ASIAN ART MUSEUM: Browse 13,205 objects and centuries of art from Asian world with the Asian Art Museum’s online collection. Download the museum app to enjoy collections tours and activities like a Meditative Art tour. Take a virtual walk through Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment. A short interview with Jean Shin, whose installation Pause assesses unplugging — literally, aesthetically, metaphysically — offering a serendipitous commentary on our current state of physical isolation. The museum has also queued up playlists of their best YouTube content, including in-gallery storytelling, peeks behind-thescenes, and short Asian art docs for those interested in diving deeper. Resources include art activities to enjoy at home, from creating a Mandala, to learning Arabic calligraphy, exploring Chinese ink painting and Balinese shadow puppets, and muchmore. There are even pages to print and color. Via their digital portals and social media channels, audiences can also speak directly to the museum on Facebook and Instagram about the kind of content they want to see during these uncertain times. EXPLORATORIUM: It has launched an online learning toolbox that helps make sense of timely topics and provides general science support for virtual classrooms or learning together at home. Science Snacks are bite-sized science activities to do with simple materials. The results can be shared with #ScienceSnacks. The Science of Food brings a pinch of science to the kitchen, from freeze-drying to pressure cooking. It will continue to create and share digital programming and content on www.exploratorium.edu.
WASHINGTON, DC
has a plethora of museums, including 17 Smithsonians. If you’re looking for creative ways to get out of your house and into a new environment without actually leaving your house, here is a list of virtual museum tours in DC. Take a voyage to space, see live animals, discover famous women in history or view the Hirshhorn’s Sculpture Garden from a whole new perspective. Reference link: https://washington.org/virtual-dc-museums SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK: Go wild with online resources from one of the nation’s most popular zoological parks. Explore more virtual exhibits at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Students and educators can Follow That Bird or do live cams on Giant Pandas, Lions and Elephants.
NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM: The Air and Space Museum takes visitors to the sky, showcasing the technological achievements that have progressed aviation and space exploration throughout the last century. Explore more virtual exhibits at the online like Apollo 11, Apollo 50 and Lockheed SR 71 Blackbird.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS: The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the only museum in the world solely dedicated to celebrating the diverse artistic achievements of women. During Women’s History Month, you can get involved in the #5WomenArtists 2020 Challenge and view virtual exhibits. FORD’S THEATRE: A working theatre, historical monument, museum and learning centre, Ford’s Theatre is a destination for exploring and celebrating the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln in Washington, DC. One can view their many online exhibits, including one that focuses on Lincoln’s assassination, or peruse online teaching resources.
HIRSHHORN SCULPTURE GARDENS: The Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden displays some of unique artworks in modern and contemporary art, including painting, sculpture and photography. Explore the Sculpture Garden through the museum’s virtual view 1 and virtual view 2.
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DC VIRTUALLY NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY: The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery captures America through the imagery of remarkable people who have shaped history.
SMITHSONIAN 3D: A small group of technologists working within the Smithsonian Institution Digitisation Programme Office have brought the Smithsonian museum collections to life with 3D digitisation.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE: The National Museum of African American History and Culture learning lab offers students and teachers digital resources including imagery, essential documents and engaging videos. These materials bring stories to life and inspire readers to become agents of change. UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM: Fortunately, you don’t have to venture to the Unites States Holocaust Memorial Museum to experience their latest exhibit, Americans and the Holocaust, which examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped the American response to Nazism, war and genocide. Browse through a curated list of frequently searched themes.
SPY MUSEUM: The SPY museum may not be open, but you can still get-a-look into the largest collection of international espionage artifacts online, some that have never been seen by the public...until now. If you’re an educator or a student, you can also access their free activities and lesson plans.
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: You might recognise the necklace pictured above from a little movie that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet called Titanic. The Smithsonian National Musuem of Natural History has this necklace on virtual exhibit for you to see and learn more about.
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GLOBE TROTTER
WHY
BHUTAN OFFERS HOPE
The imposing Buddha Dordenma statue atop a hill in Thimphu. (Inset): A Buddhist temple enroute from Thimphu to Paro
By upholding their culture and tradition, the Bhutanese have cultivated a sense of exotica, a perfect antidote to the fleeting post-modern culture we all live in. The country has perfected the science and art of “controlled contact� with the outside world for its own benefit, says VISSA VENKATA SUNDAR
YOU
feel enlightened and evolved through all the chaos and disintegration around us at the moment. The Himalayas do that to you, hold you still and protect you from every fear, anxiety, hopelessness and meaninglessness with their sagely brows of snow and the millennial furrows of wisdom. The mountains are considered sacred here. People do not scale higher mountains out of reverence and respect. The towns are dotted with temples and a multitude of fluttering vibrant coloured flags with scriptures imprinted on them. Bhutan is spiritual, mystical and old-fashioned at the same time. One should say, the “wisest� as well. It lagged behind when it came to adopting the modern and materialistic world. For instance, there was no television till 1999 as it became the last country in the world to legalise the audio-visual device. The eight lakh people of this land-locked tiny country have plenty of confidence and are unflinchingly committed to preserving their own culture. The small country may have been a backbencher in adopting modern technology but it punches well above its weight on the global stage when it comes to other standards of development. When it comes to its impeccable eco-credentials, it can put the world to shame. Over 70 per cent of the country is covered with forests. It is a carbon- neutral country and a fully organic nation by choosing nature above all. Bhutan places
(Clockwise from left): The 40th birth anniversary celebrations of Bhutanese King which saw the country’s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering saluting the procession; traditional Buddhist prayer flags to promote peace and compassion; spiritual dance performance at Buddha Dordenma temple; visitors flocking at Memorial Chorten, Thimphu to pay respects to the King on his birthday and a typical Buddhist prayer room attic
(Left to right): Thangka painting; Rinpung Dzong, a fortress where Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha was filmed and statues at Buddha Dordenma temple, Thimphu
“Gross National Happiness” above GDP. “Happiness” is the guiding principle of governance and everything is built around this. The government’s farsighted efforts are paying off. Till a few years ago, not many would have been able to point out Bhutan on a map. Fast forward to 2020 and it has become a must-see destination in southern Asia. Recently, Bhutan was crowned as “World’s Best Country to Visit in 2020” by a travel guide. It seems like the world acknowledges and concedes to what this country is doing right, after all. How did the country catapult to the cutting edge of high-end tourism and travel hotspot? The country has adopted “high-value and lowimpact” tourism philosophy. Letting in very few tourists into the country helps. If you keep something restricted, it automatically captures the imagination. People crave to see it more thus
preserving the “exclusivity” of the brand Bhutan. Celebrity visitors often make their trip to the country and rave about its charms. From lacking in good infrastructure a few years ago to developing into a tourist hotspot with several five-star resorts, Bhutan’s reputation as a destination where tourists are excited to go is firmly established. By upholding their culture and tradition, the Bhutanese have cultivated a sense of exotica, a perfect antidote to the fleeting post-modern culture we all live in. The country has perfected the science and art of “controlled contact” with the outside world for its own benefit. Seeing diminutive buildings, towering mountains is like an inversion of reality of sorts especially to people who are resigned to living in urban concrete jungles. The dense pine forests, crystalline river water and white flags fluttering on
EXOTICA [20] APRIL 2020
top of the mountains feel like you have entered a magical kingdom unbeknownst. Paro is an impressive and old-fashioned town surrounded by oak and rhododendron forests, iconic temples and monasteries some dating as far back as the 14th century. The Tigers Nest is one of the wellknown tourist spots. The elegant architecture in the valley, its customs and culture are an instant draw. The town has unvaryingly built traditional houses with multicoloured wooden frontages, small arched windows and sloping roofs adorned by wooden cornice or crowns. You also see brick and mortar houses in the town centre but they follow the strict royal decree to sport similar external facades. The buildings are tastefully decorated while the charm of stencilled walls with traditional motifs and hand-painted furniture is both inviting and embracing.
Gangtey Palace hotel in Paro, where I stayed, is a modest palace and is known to have hosted late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru during his visit to the country. The hotel is perched on top of the hill overlooking the town and the views of landmarks from its sprawling courtyard are spectacular. The National Museum of Bhutan is set in Paro Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower, which showcases a snapshot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. The other famous site is the Rinpung Dzong, a fortress, where Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha was filmed. It now accommodates administrative offices, residences and temples for monks. Most airports are usually places to get to a destination but the one at Paro is an exception for it is ranked among the top 10 most beautiful and stunning airports in the world. Catch its panoramic
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EXOTICA [22] APRIL 2020
(Clockwise from top left): Traditional wooden carved masks; hand-painted wooden doors; Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wanchuck’s photo; a man spends a sunny morning outdoors and a Bhutanese man in traditional attire
spread from Paro bird’s eye view point placed amidst the mountains. Slowly the realisation will sink in that the simple pleasures of life can often be tremendously satisfying. The capital, Thimphu, is 35 km away from Paro. There are several exceptions that make this city stand out. Hoardings are conspicuous by their absence as are traffic signals. The lack of modern trappings pays off rich dividends. My cough and wheezing cleared up within a day of landing in Bhutan. Delhi’s ominous pollution being miles away proved to be a welcome break for me. I realised the beauty of living in harmony with nature, grace and rhythm depend on simplicity. However, one place where the capital replicates other more modern cities is the construction frenzy that it is witnessing. There is an abundance of restaurants, nightclubs and shopping centres besides several tourist attractions in the city. The Clock Tower Square is the main area for shopping, including traditional handicrafts. Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic 51metre-tall Shakyamuni statue made of solid bronze, atop a hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and overlooks the Thimphu valley. Watching the illuminated statue at night from the windows of my hotel Ariya, was enough to fill me with peace and serenity. The day I arrived in the city, it was an auspicious day for the locals as it was the 40th birth anniversary of their much respected and beloved king. The entire city seemed to have congregated at the main stadium, which was decorated with festive buntings to celebrate the occasion. While driving en-route to attend the King’s birthday celebrations event, I was struck by how even pebbles and rocks on the sidewalks and roof tops were respectfully piled on top of one another and treated reverentially. Only a society that has empathy and compassion for both the living and inanimate objects can act like that, I thought to myself. In the stadium, I took a seat alongside the locals to hear the Bhutan’s Prime Minister address the jam-packed stadium, urging each citizen to adopt a stray dog (a big menace in the country) as a gift for the king’s birthday. Bhutan’s modernist frugality reaps a golden harvest for its people and there is much the world can emulate. Pack your bags and relish this last and hidden Shangri-la of the world.
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LOOK AHEAD
The pandemic has ensured that the world in general and travel in particular have changed for a long time to come, says MANDIP SINGH SOIN
A MORE MINDFUL TRAVELLER
‘The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom’ — ISSAC ISAMOV
IT’S
a foregone conclusion that as the amazing Covid-19 virus got the entire planet into a shutdown/ reset mode, humanity will reflect on the unthinkable moment. That this is inevitable is fine but will we, as humanity, come to some conclusions that are indeed wiser than just having collected knowledge about having systems to battle epidemics or wars or terrorism? In a sense, the message has never been clearer about being in an interconnected world which, to a
large extent, travel and tourism was able to communicate in the past. As we all huddle to see the new dawn, the inevitability of the elements of life getting back to normal would kick in. Surely, travel will be one of the faster rebound segments that will see a slow but steady success. This, of course, is borne not just because of work and business or family needs, but because of the more innate human desire to take a vacation to do what is part of everyone’s bucket list in life —
collecting wonderful experiences that this planet offers both in terms of amazing natural and built locations as well as the diverse cultures and experiences. However, in the next few months the recovery will be very slow indeed as different countries go through the cycles of restrictions on account of the Covid-19 virus. The message the travel industry is giving is ‘Don’t cancel your travel but postpone it’. This is because the industry is not only the greatest job provider and a great engine of economic progress, but also a part of the revenue goes towards caring for the environment, communities and wildlife. Although, globally and in India, we still have a long way to go to mitigate our carbon footprint, there will be alterations in the way we travel in the future. In India alone, one will see the decline of foreign tourists in the short term as every country will be cautious to let in travellers from the affected countries and only those will be allowed who do not display any symptoms of the virus. Domestically too, just like after the terrorist
attacks, when hotels installed barriers and a full vehicle check protocol, perhaps a physical fever check as well as a doctor’s certificate for an “all clear” may kick in. It’s also possible that large group travel will abate and smaller groups of eight-10 persons or indeed the twos and fours may gain currency to mitigate the risk of future contagion. Nature and adventure tourism could become a favorite as the areas which are not affected by the virus are inevitably assessed. At the same time, the industry members will have the responsibility of not taking in virus-carrying customers to remote areas inhabited by local tribes and communities, who if they are infected, will have greater problems in accessing medical help. This course, where there are sanitised hotels and other services, will go a long way in allaying people’s fears of travel. Airlines, of course, will need to up the game in terms of air quality. Although, I think, there will be a slowdown in the number of people travelling and the travel industry will also understand that year on year
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growth is not a sustainable way of going about using our finite resources. I hope, we will make choices as travellers to travel responsibly. If we were to choose the hotel, airline or tour company on the basis of their environment policy, it would go a long way in forcing the industry to up the game. The need of the hour is to look forward to a slow rise in tourism all over again but in a gentler and mindful way. Countries, like the US, UK, Germany, Spain and Italy, which send a large number of tourists, will not start doing so until four-six months in any substantial way or even longer. There may also be a shift in the number of days being spent as people may choose longer holidays than shorter and more frequent ones to reduce the carbon footprint. So, the first immediate lot will be our very own domestic travelers and then the incoming countries as things abate. — The author is the Founder, Ibex Expeditions P Ltd & Founder President, Responsible Travel Society of India
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C U LT U R E C Z A R
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The
show must
go on
IF
you ask even a non-reader to guess the name of a literary festival which takes place every year at the Diggi Palace at Jaipur, the prompt answer would be Jaipur Literary Festival. That is the kind of traction the JLF, with its celebrity writers, impressive background, cultural spread and large crowds invites. But then the last is certainly an anathema in current times of social distancing. So then Teamwork Arts, the group behind JLF, which is known to keep abreast with changing times, decided to evolve and announced a digital literature series. Called the Brave New World, it was perhaps the answer to testing times. But then literature also has the power to instill hope when the bleak world doesn’t seem to hold out any. The aim of the virtual initiative
Founder and director of Teamwork Arts SANJOY K ROY tells SAIMI SATTAR that in times of social distancing, it is imperative that entertainment and cultural events shift to the online space
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was to celebrate the power and positivity of books and rather than the backdrop of the Diggi Palace, it was powered by the borderless Internet. The sessions kicked off from April 4 and saw the likes of eminent author and advocate Abhinav Chandrachud and journalist Pragya Tiwari, in conversation on the devastating Bombay bubonic plague epidemic of 1896 and its repercussions today. However, it was not just this particular session but the others as well that were relevant to current times. When we are constantly hooked on to our phones all the time, another conversation where writer and broadcaster Bee Rowlatt explored the need to protect the “forum internum” — our private mental space — from the incursions of digital technology — at a session
titled Freedom of Thought with Baroness Helena Kennedy was well-received. Similarly, there were writer, politician and public intellectual Shashi Tharoor and President of Observer Research Foundation Samir Saran, co-authors of the recent The New World Disorder and the India Imperative, in conversation and shared their views on the current crisis that the world is going through. JLF is known to be a forum open to discussion, debate and dissent. Walls and Bridges was a session on dystopian fiction and its increasingly real and uncanny presence in our lives in which Prayaag Akbar, author of Leila (which was adapted into a Netflix series), and Amrita Tripathi, author of The Sibius Knot shared their views. One wonders if it was easy getting the authors on board for such an exercise where they conduct the session online. “The lucky thing is that nothing is happening these days as everything has been cancelled worldwide. JLF is not a new kid on the block and people know what we do. We have a fairly robust advantage to be able to reach out to a fairly large audience quickly and make these interactions fun, interactive and allow the authors to get out there,” says founder and director of Teamwork Arts Sanjoy K Roy. When we connect over a phone call to understand more of the move, he is his erudite self. He enquires how newspapers continue to publish in current times and goes on to quote examples from the world to elaborate upon his understanding of the situation. “A report that I read said
NO EVENT IS HAPPENING THESE DAYS AS EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CANCELLED WORLDWIDE. JLF IS NOT A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK AND PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE DO. WE HAVE A FAIRLY ROBUST ADVANTAGE TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO A FAIRLY LARGE AUDIENCE QUICKLY AND MAKE THESE INTERACTIONS FUN, INTERACTIVE AND ALLOW THE AUTHORS TO GET OUT THERE
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that the financial losses of this on sports, arts and more has been gauged at one trillion. And you are looking at events like Dubai Expo, Olympics and more. By the way, this calculation is just for May-June! So there is no way we would be able to compensate this through online business. But every crisis ensures that Man tries to paddle furiously to stay alive and afloat like newspapers are doing by going online and what we are also doing,” he says. The change naturally would bring about drastic transformation in the world the way we know it. “The consequences would be two or threefold in the Indian scenario where social distancing norms will be in place till October,” says Roy who is at pains to point out that, “We fail to see the pandemic outbreak as primarily a health crisis and focus on the economic aspect. So you need to address the former, first. We need isolation, aggressive testing like Japan and South Korea and try to control the spread by focussing on science and technology to find a vaccine or a medicine to control this. The virus or flu won’t disappear when the lockdown ends.” Coming to the economy, Roy says that in order to ensure a resurgence the need of the hour is ensuring safe places. “There has been a flight of labour which is not coming back in a hurry, so supply and production chains will be disrupted. Kickstarting the economy will take another three to six months after the situation has become normal. But by that time everyone would be so used to eating and buying local that any demand would be kicked out of the window.
These things certainly do not bode well for the recessionary economic situation that we were coming out of. This has further increased gloom and doom.” However, Roy besides being pragmatic and well-read also has a tendency to find a silver lining in the situation. He points out that, “The only good thing mentioned in the Boston Consultancy Report is that entertainment will be consumed at a greater level and will go online. And so will the media. In the recovery, entertainment would recover faster but media won’t as it is dependent on advertising , which is disappearing.” However, with social distancing and the fear of infection having been inbuilt into the sub conscience, entertainment will naturally not be on the lines of huge jamborees where success is measured in terms of the number of footfalls. “We are looking more at online products and those that are for online. It is certainly not a rehashing of what we had earlier. But really new stuff which is tailor made for this platform,” he says. Naturally there arises the question of financial viability. “Subscription, online payment and all that will have to be put into place. We cannot do the same old as it will not work,” says Roy and adds, “So much has gone online so quickly as there are a plethora of options including music, programme, talkshow and more. These have to be looked at differently and given a more of 360 degree look and feel.” He says that this has become essential since entertainment, as we know it, has changed for a long time to come. “An American survey of about a thousand people had 49 per
THERE HAS BEEN A FLIGHT OF LABOUR WHICH IS NOT COMING BACK IN A HURRY, SO SUPPLY AND PRODUCTION CHAINS WILL BE DISRUPTED. KICKSTARTING THE ECONOMY WILL TAKE ANOTHER THREE TO SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SITUATION HAS BECOME NORMAL. BUT BY THAT TIME EVERYONE WOULD BE SO USED TO EATING AND BUYING LOCAL THAT ANY DEMAND WOULD BE KICKED OUT OF THE WINDOW
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cent of the respondents saying that they would not go back to a film theatre again. We know that they are more careful but the reality is that we aren’t getting a situation anytime soon when people are rushing off to the Kumbh Melas of the world,” he says. Incidentally, Teamwork Arts has several other successful cultural festival including Ishaara Puppet Theatre, Mahindra Kabira Festival, The Sacred Pushkar and many other national and international ones under its ever-expanding belt. Not just entertainment, but even travel for business, entertainment and destination weddings will change. He says, “The information coming out of aviation ministry is that we would consider case by case basis where we can fly. We would not have into place a system that would allow business as usual even after the lockdown, or the peak of infection disappears.” However, since human beings are essentially social animals, the need to be in touch and connected with others remains. “Every evening there is either a Zoom party or Houseparty that I am attending. These video chats would be the need of the hour. Offline, people would come together but in much smaller numbers. When the virus began to spread two Teamwork colleagues were getting married and there was a grand celebration across cities but then they had a quick court wedding with a lunch where there were just the immediate family members,” says he. Yes, entertainment will remain but the platform are all set to change in this new world.
STYLE CHECK While staying at home could make one feel restless and demotivated, here’s how to stay chic and sane during quarantine — by giving fashion a chance
IS
the lockdown making you anxious and depressed? Is it getting tougher for you to stay put? Well, even though this time is taxing, it could be very rewarding, if you look at it positively. Here are some everyday fashion and lifestyle mantras to stay calm and chic this quarantine month. Believe it or not, the first step towards feeling better and being more productive is dressing up and changing out of those very comfy pyjamas, believes Nelson Jaffery, head of design, Liva, Birla Cellulose, Aditya Birla Group. He adds, “But yes, this doesn’t mean you have to wear uncomfortable clothes to feel motivated. Light and breathable fabrics are ideal for the warm weather. Viscose and modal are great options as not only do these fabrics offer a great drape, they are also nature-based and sustainable.”
PALAZZO AND CROP TOP: The
combination has been a favourite and why not? Palazzo is making a comeback in the top trends. While there are many ways for you to style it, pairing a palazzo with crop tops makes it look more attractive while making it ideal for your bedroom zone. In addition to that, wearing a crop top will also motivate you to control your false hunger pangs. SWEATPANTS WITH LIGHTLY TUCK IN T-SHIRT:
HERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BY JAFFREY: SHORTS AND SHIRTS: We all have
stocks of shorts that we barely wear while stepping out except during our workouts and yoga. Wearing shorts not only boosts you to jump and around freely but also gives you great comfort. To make your shorts look more fashionable, you can try and match them with black shirts rather than T-shirts. This will take less effort while at the same time it makes for a striking ensemble. If you wish to go little further, feel free to add accessories like long oxidised earrings.
LOOK UP DURING
Sweatpants were something that you wore not only in bed but while stepping out or to lounge around the house. Along the way they have become the ultimate street style fashion garment, also chosen by top celebrities. You can easily dress with sweatpants and make them look a lot more stylish just by tucking in your favourite T-shirt. TUNIC DRESS: If you wish to celebrate the pre-spring and merry vibes of being home, then you should definitely choose to wear the tunic dresses which are so cheerful. Actor Shiny
Doshi believes that since there is no reason to go out of the house frequently, the best thing to do is to “stay in casuals.” She says, “During the day time, I’m in my pyjamas and T-shirt because that’s the comfiest outfit that one can wear. Especially, when we are working, cooking or engaged in other household chores. Moreover, hosiery clothes make the heat bearable. I do feel like dressing up too sometimes. But all in all, I’ve spent the lockdown in four of my most comfortable pyjamas.” Designer Payal Jain suggests, “These are tough times and everyone needs comfort before anything else. Fashion during quarantine or #StayAtHome is all about joggers, hoodies, tracks, T-shirts, tunics and leggings, which can keep you warm, cosy and comfortable throughout the day.” With ‘work from home’ becoming the new norm, designers and fashion experts also suggest how one can get dressed for conference video calls. Deepak Bansal, director, Cantabil Retail India Ltd, says, “Looking at the current lockdown situation and work from home, the fashion statement has made a shift towards comfort yet professional wear. With summers around the corner, one could get into a pair of lounge pants and match them up with a light linen shirt which would give you a breezy yet appropriate professional look.” Arindam Chakravorty, brand head, Aurelia, also point out, “Work from home is the new trend which is changing the fashion around the world during this lockdown. For the perfect chic yet professional look, pair a shirt collar kurti or mandarian collar kurti along with cigarette pants or straight pants and look your fabulous best for the team video calls.” Nivida Kohli, design manager, Numero Uno, says, “It’s important to feel good the whole day for an optimal output. Don’t forget to step out of sleepwear to dress up for that video call frame. Wear a comfortable basic crew neck T-shirt with your favourite lounge denims pants, a must for a healthy working mind from home. Actor Karanvir Sharma lists his quarantine wardrobe specials, “Wear clothes that you would for work through the day. It makes you feel active. I’m now cooking often. So I wear bright casuals with an apron. The best casual wear for me through the day is a white T-shirt with blue denims. You can pull out a flowing casual shirt too. It never goes out of fashion. Saturday nights are for quarantine parties, where I connect with all my friends through Zoom. So I usually wear dark clothes for that.” A lockdown does not have to mean a shutdown of fashion.
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BEAUTY CARE EXOTICA has put together a few tips from experts on how to take care of your skin and hair amid the pandemic
KEEP THE GLOW
THE
fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic is a quarantine lifestyle which also means parlours that have downed shutters. Our skin and hair are bearing the brunt. Therefore, right from using cleanser, face masks to hair oil, it is very important to take charge of your skin and hair as less physical activity and extra sleep hours can result in dullness. Utilise the gift of time that this global crisis has bestowed on you to the fullest. Pamper your skin, experiment with hair colours and see what suits you the best. It’s the best time to indulge in self-care and beauty practices as we are all sitting at home. The plus point is that there is no stress of rushing
to work and no excess pollution. You could just sit in your pajamas with an oily and messy hairdo and a refreshing face mask, while working on your laptop. Imagine what rejuvenating effects it will have on your skin if you follow the regime daily. Dr Blossom Kochhar, founder of Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic and chairperson of Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies, suggests that people must use this little extra time to be productive, instead of lazing around. Bollywood celebrities like Anushka Sharma were recently seen giving her husband Virat Kohli a haircut while Taapsee Pannu experimented with her hair colour and haircut. You can do it too.
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HERE ARE A FEW EASY TIPS FROM EXPERTS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN AND HAIR AT HOME THAT PERFECT FACIAL GLOW: Eating healthy, working out, staying happy are some of the ways to achieve that perfect glow. “Climb stairs for 10 minutes. This is a good workout. If you like to dance, then dance to a song in the room. This will keep your hair and skin healthy. Be active for at least 20 minutes each in the morning, afternoon and evening. This also helps in the circulation of antioxidants in the body,” says Aashmeen Munjaal, beauty expert and owner of Star Salon n Academy. Amid this lockdown, it is very important to have a routine and divide time equally for exercise and other physical activities. “The key is to follow a routine of using cleanser, toner and moisturiser everyday. This will help the body follow a pattern,” says Vedika Sharma, founder of Mantra Herbal.
STAY HYDRATED AND BANISH PROCESSED FOOD: Processed food is not good for the skin. It affects both the body and skin negatively, especially when physical activities are reduced. The less processed the food, the better it is. Aashmeen says, “Unprocessed, fresh food will strengthen your immune system and also help in producing antioxidants, which are very important at this time. Drink fruit juice and coconut water. Eat fresh vegetables, fruits and salads.” Light food with fewer spices and a healthy soup are good for skin and body. Staying hydrated is the common solution for all the skin, hair or body problems. Vedika says, “It is extremely important to have clean and healthy eating habits during this time. We should keep ourselves hydrated at all times and drink about three litres of water every day. We should also hydrate our hands and moisturise them often as they get dry and dehydrated due to frequent washing and sanitising.”
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SWITCH TO NATURAL INGREDIENTS: It is always better to use natural products for skin care instead of readymade cosmetic products. This time is the time to find the skin and hair care ingredients in your kitchen best suited to your needs. Aashmeen says, “You can follow my tried and tested recipe. You will need a cucumber, tomato and a potato. Wash and grind all these. You can make its ice cubes and apply one cube daily. A tray will last for a week for the whole family. This will keep the skin glowing. At this time, when you are not able to go to the parlour, adopt this method to make your skin glow.” Dr Blossom too is on favour of digging into the kitchen for self care. “Personally, the reason why I feel it is the best time is because I can use things from my kitchen which are really fantastic and are filled with minerals and vitamins. Natural ingredients have no substitutes.” Even for hair care we should use natural things like curd. “Do not use detergent-based shampoos and regularly massage your scalp for naturally shining hair,” says Dr Blossom. KILL THAT DEAD SKIN: The season is changing and there are higher chances of dead cells accumulating on the surface of your skin leading to dull skin. Though we usually use an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells, here is a face pack by Aashmeen for different skin type. “For dead skin, add half teaspoon each of semolina and bran and mix with a teaspoon of gram flour to make the skin glow. If the skin is oily, then add rose water to this mixture. If the skin is normal, then mix with curd and if your skin remains very dry, make a pack with mustard oil. Vary the ingredients according to your skin type while keeping the gram flour, semolina and bran constant. Apply and leave for sometime. Remove the pack by moving your hands in circular motion. Keep moistening the pack by adding water in between. It helps in improving the blood circulation, makes the skin glow and also gets rid of dead skin.”
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C U LT U R E C A L L
THESTAGECOMESHOME
When art galleries, music concerts, literature festivals get cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic, the digital world makes everything accessible to all of us, says CHAHAK MITTAL
THESE
are testing, almost dystopian times. The kind which we had never foreseen or imagined. These are likely to become an object of wonder for the future generations as they will find it difficult to comprehend how people stayed in their homes for weeks and months because a deadly virus had taken over the entire world and forced us to distance ourselves physically from one another even as we began to value and understand the importance of the human connection. Of course, on account of its uniqueness, this time will be remembered for years to come, and well, what better way to recall it than through preserving its memory through arts.
Art galleries, literature festivals, music concerts, and other public displays of art or any other spaces, which see a large number of footfalls, are on the backburner amid the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Not surprisingly, one can see many of them cancelling or postponing these events. However, some of them have upped their game and decided to turn it to their advantage by taking to social media and digital platforms. While most of the players have not added a monetary cost to the views and streaming is free but they agree that if this has to be done in the long run, paywalls and online contributions are the way forward.
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JLF PRESENTS A BRAVE NEW WORLD: Described as the “greatest literary show on earth,” the Jaipur Literature Festival 2020 stands as the biggest example of this change. The literature series — ‘JLF presents Brave New World’ aims to keep alive a free-flowing exchange of ideas online in this time of de-globalisation. It comes as a virtual initiative to celebrate books, their power and positivity. Namita Gokhale, writer, publisher and co-director of the JLF, said, “Book lovers are never truly alone — not when we have books, and each other. JLF has always affirmed the spirit of community. We believe that these testing times are also the moments in which we need to interrogate and make sense of our world, through books and ideas, debate and dialogue, music and philosophy, science and the arts. The festival, which has always been a platform that celebrates the spirit of human connection, has now gone straight into hearts and minds and homes. Our timely new initiative provides an important new resource for our extended JLF family across the world.” YouTube channel: Jaipur Literature Festival
NCPA’S TOP EIGHT — JUST A CLICK AWAY: The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) has put the best events from its archives on YouTube. The special eight performances consist of exclusive videos specially curated from NCPA’s extensive library. Talking about theatre going digital in these time, KN Suntook, chairman and founder, NCPA, said in an interview, “The NCPA is a repository of great artistic treasures. Our genre heads and team have worked hard to put this together. As a cultural organisation, we felt this treasure must be shared in these difficult times in the safest way possible. The best of concerts, lecturedemonstrations and workshops presented at the NCPA can now be viewed online on our YouTube channel. We are grateful for the support that we have received from the artistes.” YouTube channel: NCPA Mumbai
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THE VIRTUAL GALLERY LATITUDE 28: Gallery Latitude 28, amid the lockdown, presents the works of artists Niyeti Chadha Kannal and Noor Ali Chagani in Art Dubai’s Online Catalogue 2020. Tapping on the expansive possibilities of this digital initiative, it has designed the catalogue in a way that it is able to connect to more art collectors, enthusiasts and galleries across the country. YouTube channel: ArtCultureFestival
TUNE IN TO THE BOLSHOI For those who haven’t been able to watch the famous Swan Lake ballet, this is just the time to catch the show as Bolshoi Theatre is going digital for the first time and presenting some of its most popular opera and ballet performances. Known as the “Golden Collection,” viewers from around the world can tune in to its official YouTube channel to see the shows. A total of six performances are scheduled. The performances have been pre-recorded but the audience will feel the excitement and get the feeling of an opening night by tuning in to watch each broadcast using YouTube’s ‘Premiere’ feature. For viewers, who are unable to watch in real time, each performance will be available on demand for 24 hours after its initial broadcast. Vladmire Urin, general director of the Bolshoi Theatre, recently told a daily, “Our country, like the rest of the world, is experiencing a very difficult time. We’ve never faced this type of situation before and since we had to close the theatre, we didn’t want to lose our connection with our audience. Theatre is deeply moving and is a rich experience, and although we cannot perform in front of live audiences, we’re excited to share our performances digitally. It’s been a lot of hard work on our part to make this happen, but we hope these performances will lift peoples spirits and support the well-being of all who tune into the Bolshoi.” YouTube channel: Bolshoi Theatre
TIME TO GO LIVE: The 93.5 RED FM and music label T-Series presented the new digital initiative The Care Concert. The initiative was aimed at raising funds to tackle the current COVID-19 pandemic and donate the amount to PM-CARES Fund. The concert is being streamed on YouTube and Facebook handles of both the organisations. There will be performances by more than 15 artistes. Viewers can contribute any amount they wish to, to the PM-CARES Fund through a link provided for the donations. YouTube channels: Red FM India and T-Series
SPOKEN WORD: BookMyShow began its online series, Live From HQ — Spoken Word Edition, which it calls a “happy respite” in the form of an online live spoken word and storytelling property featuring 30minute performances by various prominent poets and storytellers. The edition has artistes like Arunoday Singh, Kubbra Sait, Adil Hussain, Danish Sait and Harnidh Kaur, among others. Well, so much together, that too, in the comfort of your home? We bet you would have been unable to catch up on all these while being physically present there. Consider the quarantine time lucky then!
GURUSPEAK Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Spiritual Guru
Alone, YET NOT LONELY
The pandemic is the time to be isolated with your thoughts and focussing in the right direction
SOMEONE’S
company cannot fill your loneliness. Even if it does, it is very short-lived. You can still feel lonely in spite of being in company. In the real sense, loneliness can only be filled by being alone. If you could be comfortable being alone for some time, then you will not feel lonely. When you don’t feel isolated, you can spread joy for people around you. If you are lonely, then you bore others. And that will make you desolate. And just imagine, if your own company bores you, will someone else enjoy it? But if you love being with yourself, others too will like your company.
People run after parties and celebrations, but for the one who does not run after them, parties and celebrations follow wherever he or she goes. If you run after parties, loneliness comes to you and if you are in solitude of the self, parties surround you. Those who are always in company look for the comforts of solitude and those who are in solitude feel lonely and want to be in company. Everyone is looking for a perfect balance. That perfect balance is like a razor’s edge and can only be found in the self. If you take out some time, one week in a year, to be with yourself and observe your own thoughts
and emotions, then you will get a sense of what quietness means. From time to time, keep a little distance from everyone who is close to you and take some time off for your own space. From the moment you wake up in the morning, you are always surrounded by people and your mind is caught up in worldly thoughts. So during the day, sit for a few minutes and get into the cave of your heart. Then you will not feel lonely even when you are alone. Live your life well. If you are useful to people during your life, there will be hundreds and millions of people to take care of you. Mother Teresa and Acharya Vinoba Bhave, for example, were sick in bed for a long time. Do you think there was nobody to give them company? There were hundreds waiting to take
care of them as they had been useful to people around them. When you make service your sole purpose in life, it eliminates fear, focusses your mind, brings purposefulness to your actions and long-term joy. Every time you are unhappy, miserable or lonely, you are just coming in touch with your own boundaries. At that moment you can be grateful and pray for peace. This will make you smile irrespective of how hopeless the situation is and you will walk through it. If you think nobody loves you, know for sure that you are loved. The earth loves you; that’s why it is holding you upright. The love of the earth is its gravitational force. The air loves you; that’s why it moves through your lungs even when you are sleeping. The Divine loves you very dearly, deeply. Once you realise this, you will never feel lonely.
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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) The picture may not appear to be rosy, if you think on a shortterm basis. Try to broaden your vision and you’ll be able to narrow the distance. Thinking deeply on a personal quandary can help you understand and solve it efficiently. Prepare yourself for the worst to overcome any hurdle at one go.
NUMBER 4 (Those born on the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st of any month) You have the ability to motivate others with your daring spirit and bravado. However it would do you a world of good if you learn to master the art of conquering impatience. In matters of finance, if you do not go for get-rich-quick schemes, there should not be much to fear for.
NUMBER 7 (Those born on the 7th, 16th and 25th of any month) A feel-good approach will make you feel lighter and zippier, and this attitude can help in further improvement and development. You can expect others around you to follow suit, if you communicate your good intent clearly to them. You could also be demonstrative in a close relationship.
NUMBER 2 (Those born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th and 29th of any month) In making decisions, you could be energetic, swift, strong and assertive, which is good, if you have rehearsed and understood the plan well. Don’t turn back if detractors express ignorance when you are halfway; forgive them instead for not being as inventive as you. You don’t want more competition, anyway.
NUMBER 5 (Those born on the 5th, 14th and 23rd of any month) Others opinion does matter to you and one wrong move by a loved one can make you feel as though you have been rubbed the wrong way. But then that is a small price for the popularity that you’ve been getting. Without being too judgmental, try to keep a non-biased view and let the law of karma do the rest.
NUMBER 8 (Those born on the 8th, 17th and 26th of any month) Your unending ‘get-up-and-go’ attitude is no surprise but stop by at regular intervals to enjoy the serenity as well. Unexpected gains could accrue, even if you had not worked towards them. Your generous nature could come to the fore, which is a brilliant idea. The more you give, the more you get.
NUMBER 3 (Those born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th of any month) While fighting for your rights is a good thing but the manner in which you do it is equally important. A wrong chord can spoil the best music in the world. If you do feel low, down and out, then you must resort to confiding in your close friends for recharging your batteries.
NUMBER 6 (Those born on the 6th, 15th and 24th of any month) In being religious, you will be so to a fanatical level without bothering about what the world would say about you. You would feel rather carefree and determined about what you do. Meditation and alternate cures could give you a closer glimpse of your true self, beneath your thick exterior.
NUMBER 9 (Those born on the 9th, 18th and 27th of any month) A time to put your best foot forward and you should try to go all-out in your efforts. Your enthusiasm will be high. Being content, feeling grand about the good things in life and being able to cherish the splendours of Nature are qualities that you are naturally gifted with.
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HOTWHEELS
THE Kushan Mitra Auto & tech expert
The Indian automotive industry will take a long time to recover from the pandemic
sales figures for March are in, and the year-end usually used to see a lot of deals as manufacturers tried to clear their stocks. This year, the month has been a bloodbath though. With dealerships effectively closed from the middle of the month and footfalls having dried up even earlier, the best that can be said about the sales figures is that they’re not pretty. And where next for the industry? As long as the lockdown continues, and we should be aware that even if the shutdown is not a ‘total’ one, it might be several weeks before ‘business as usual’ resumes. One will to wait and watch to see how demand reacts. It’s likely that newer models will continue to do well. But after a global crisis, it’s human nature to hold onto resources particularly cash so discretionary spends will evaporate for a while. That said, the “great Coronavirus migration of 2020”, as the movement of migrant labourers can be described, will mean that there’ll be a shortage of auto and taxi drivers in many parts of the country, which might actually drive more people to own personal transportation. Conversely, as the very concept of working has changed, millions of office workers have realised that working from home is a viable option. This will lead not only to an interesting situation for commercial real estate but also for daily commuters. Maybe the types of four-wheelers people need and want will change, smaller hatchbacks might do fine as commuter cars.
ENGINESTALLED
That said, time and time again whenever there has been a sustained downturn, it has emerged that newer models always tend to do better than older ones. Expect cars like the Creta and possibly even the new Honda City to at least make a slight mark on sales. Older models always tend to do a bit worse but with changing demand, one expects models like the Ertiga and XL6 to continue to do well, or as well as one can do in the circumstances. But let’s be honest, sales will not recover for a while. Indeed it might take several months for the shocks to the supply chain to recover. The migration of workers from factories in the industrial heartland of the country might not impact the car manufacturers directly, as their line employees tend to be better paid. However, it will impact companies that make ancillaries and components. It’s almost certain that even after the lockdown is lifted, it might take weeks before internal travel restrictions are lifted. And that assumes that demand for products also goes back to normal quickly. Indeed, it is in the government’s interest, that is the central, state and local governments to get the economy back to normal as quickly as possible. That will involve getting consumer spending going. It is not of much help if interest rates go down, but consumers do not bite. Ergo, I feel that it would be in the government’s interest to reduce excise duties for cars, maybe not by much, but even a five per cent cut would reduce prices at least
by `10 to 20,000 for hatchbacks and compact sedans. And consumers will bite if they see a good deal. I know that reducing taxes on products like cars might be anathema to fiscal policy experts, but if coupled with the car companies offering deals, if prices go down `30,000 to 40,000 for cars, at least some consumers will go back into showrooms. Heck, offer a slight reduction on luxury cars as well, if demand picks up in the sector, the revenues earned from increased sales and more jobs will be much more than the revenues lost. The auto industry doesn’t only keep the stomachs of automotive journalists well-fed, a whole ecosystem that comprises almost a fifth of the entire economy depends on it, from petrol and diesel sales, showroom staff and transporters. It is in the government’s interest to revive it quickly and it does not need to pour money to do that. It needs to forego some potential money but if a rate cut can come with an end date, say the end of December, it could provide a spur that could save 2020 for the automotive industry. Alas, if only government officials and politicians thought like that, but if the economy has to pivot to job preservation, they’ll have to think in such ways. Till then stay safe, and if you have a car, do remember to start it up once every 10 days to ensure the battery and fuel systems stay running. Also think about releasing the handbrake and using stoppers (or bricks) for your tyres.
EXOTICA [47] APRIL 2020
FITNESS
THE
more advanced Sutra Neti, cleans the world has a throat. Following this, Kapalbhatti with pandemic on its its forcible exhalation and stomach hands. This time for pumping action, helps clear mucous self-isolation, social distancing and and strengthens the respiratory quarantine is perfect to immerse system. Pranayama (breathing ourselves in yoga. exercises) practices like Anuloma Viloma The virus enters through the throat (alternate nostril breathing) regulate and affects the respiratory system. A breathing and increase lung capacity. strong immune system comes through Bharat Thakur All yoga postures stimulate and COVID -19 easily. Yoga can help us is a yoga guru and founder of improve blood circulation to specific strengthen our immunity so that we Artistic Yoga organs, glands and enhance how our are less susceptible to catching this immune system and body functions. virus or, if we do, we can fight it better. Research shows that the immune A pandemic is a Yoga studios may be closed but online classes are available. Along with yoga, system weakens due to prolonged time when you get enough sleep, eat healthy, drink lots stress, ageing and illness. An increased Cortisol levels due to stress impairs can restructure of warm water, gargle and wash your hands frequently. immunity while affecting you both your life and This is a time to slow down and mentally and physically. The effects can look at it more learn the value of quality time. Learn be disturbed sleep, high BP and holistically how to stay strong and healthy in digestion problems. As our breath is today's environment. Learn to be by linked directly to our nervous system, yourself and know that you can be we can relax as well as re-balance happy with very little. Take stock of your life and hormonal levels through yogic breathing, gentle your own evolution. Care for the elderly and stretches and bandhas (neuro-muscular locks). vulnerable in ways that you can. A combination of cleansing practices, postures, breathing exercises and relaxation, three-four times a week, can boost immunity, strengthen respiratory system and keep you stronger and stress-free. Yogic cleansing practices like Jala Neti, clearing the nasal passages can be easily practiced by beginners. The
JALA NETI o You will need a neti pot or similar vessel. o Add one teaspoon salt to half a litre lukewarm water o Stand relaxed, legs apart, bend forward and tilt head to one side o Keep breathing through mouth o Place nozzle in nostril facing up and slowly pour water. It will flow out of the other nostril o Straighten, blow nose gently to remove any mucous o Repeat with head tilted the other side
KAPALBHATTI
o Straighten, close one nostril and rapidly exhale for 10-15 counts to dry nostrils. Repeat on other side BENEFITS: o Removes mucous and irritants and allows air to flow freely o Stimulates nerve endings in nose and improves brain function o Soothes the brain, helps depression, anxiety and anger o Helps respiratory tract problems, allergies, colds and hayfever o Relieves muscular tension in the face
PADAHASTASANA o Stand straight, feet together, palms together at chest level o Slowly inhale as you stretch both arms up over your head and bend back slightly o Exhale and bend forward from the hips o Place palms beside feet and bring head down to the knees o Hold, breathing normally 30-60 seconds o Inhale as you stretch up o Exhale as you resume start position o Repeat three times BENEFITS: o Improves overall blood circulation and especially to head and face o Reduces abdominal flab, stretches the back, tones spinal nerves o Gentle pressure stimulates the digestive organs and the kidneys
o Sit in padmasana (lotus position) or on your heels, back straight, eyes closed and palms on knees o Exhale forcefully through the nose, pulling stomach inward o Relax stomach and inhale (will happen automatically) o Practice 20 - 50 exhalation at a stretch BENEFITS: o The forceful exhalation cleanse and revitalise the face and whole system o Improves cardio-respiratory capacity and oxygen levels o Activates the peristaltic movement in the stomach, improves digestion and excretion o Strengthens the nervous system
MATSYASANA
o Sit with legs straight o Slowly lean back, place the elbows on the floor o Arch the back until head touches floor (head and shoulders lifted) o Hold the toes with the hands and breathe normally o Hold for 30-60 seconds or as long as possible o Relax the head, use your
elbows to return to start position o Breathe in and out slowly and relax the body BENEFITS: o Regulates the thyroid and thymus glands and improves the immune system o Strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles and respiratory system
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