Exotica Magazine February 2021

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor-in-Chief CHANDAN MITRA EDITORIAL BOARD Chief Executive Officer Shobori Ganguli Chief Operating Officer Abhishek Saxena 09818600128 EDITORIAL Consultant 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.

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FOLLOW YOUR HEART

BY

the time we are in February, most of us figure out which of the New Year Resolutions would become an integral part of our lives and the ones which were made under the influence of impulsive emotions spiked by copious quantities of liquor. With the previous year having proved, more than ever — that life can best be defined as unpredictable — a semblance of bringing about some order can be found in following a pre-decided path by way of bringing about small yet positive changes in your life. So, working on improving your health, eating clean, exercising regularly or even living in the moment can make for long-lasting transformations that would impact your existence profoundly.

The issue this time around is reflective of the evolution that we have witnessed in the past 12 months. The rise of the OTT platforms during the pandemic has coincided with the dominance of talent over star power. And if there is one name — that leads the pack under the onslaught of this trend — it has to be Pankaj Tripathi, our celebrity interview for this edition.

Whether it was playing a menacing mafia don or an encouraging father, Tripathi aced both roles with equal elan and brought to them an earthiness that personifies him in real life as well. Not for nothing is he being hailed as the entertainer of 2020.

Moving on to our other pieces, three travellers decided to explore the hill State of Uttarakhand and found that the more you wander, the more likely you are to find yourself. One cycled across scenic stretches and ended up bringing succour to stranded animals thus imbibing a valuable lesson — one is positioned at a particular place and a time for a reason. The other tested her endurance to go on a challenging high-altitude trek and realised that, even though preparation is of utmost importance, the concept of conquest or loss can change depending upon your frame of mind. The third alternated her workation with tapping into the wild side thus realising that, in times like this, every place can become whatever you want it to be. All of the travellers essentially ended up doing what the heart desired rather than following the oft-beaten path.

With Valentine’s Day being the highlight of this month (depending on which side of 20 or even 30 you are), the word February conjures up images of red roses, hearts, chocolates, wine and more. But this time around, do it a little differently...with the festival having become almost an indigenous celebration, say it with chocolates and drinks which are very much ‘Made in India’ and carry the flavours that are intrinsic to the country. This might just be your own small contribution to power the economy, lovingly.

But more than gifts for loved ones, let the coming months be a present for yourself. As a popular new-age wisdom goes, “and if I asked you to name all the things that you love, how long would it take for you to name yourself?” Take time off to do things that help you find your mojo. Catch up with friends, drink that mocha latte, take off on the trek that you had promised to embark upon before your turned 40 and now lies forgotten in the folds of a diary (or a word document) or just sit and soak in that splendid sunset. After all, the last year has taught us ... irrespective of the chaos around us, it is things and people that we love which will keep us sane. So, just do more of what makes you keep that balance...or lose it.

Até mais next time.

EXOTICA [4] FEBRUARY 2021

When your better-half wears masks, the focus naturally shifts away from the face.

So, go in for bangles and bracelets to light up her outfit this Valentine’s Day

L O V E A C T U A L LY

HAND SPARKLER KALYAN: (Left): Kuwait-inspired edit of the authentic Indian kada. (Right): Gold bracelet in floral design studded with diamonds and precious stones

RANIWALA 1881: (Above): The bangdi is handcrafted with uncut diamonds embedded in 18kt gold. (Below): The hathphul has uncut diamonds and embellished pearls which are embedded in 18kt gold

TANISHQ: (Left): Gold bangle with meenakari work in 22kt purity.

(Right): Bracelet in 18kt yellow gold with S12 diamond clarity in pave setting FOREVERMARK: (Top): Red-Carpet 2020 Bracelet crafted in Forevermark Diamonds and curated

by Fortofino.

(Above): Red-Carpet 2020-Bracelet crafted in Forevermark Diamonds and curated

by OM Jewellers

ENTICE BY KGK: (Above, left): White round cut diamond studded bangles crafted in white gold. (Above, right): The intertwined spiral bangles crafted in 18kt rose gold feature round cut white diamonds TRIBE AMRAPALI: (Left): Silver suryakamal handcuff. (Right): Silver ghungroo charms bangle

[p34]

[p28] [p16] [p8]

I N S I D E

[p40]

FEBRUARY 2021 VOLUME 15 NO 4

Little black book [p7] Parul Yadav: A quick peek into her style file Celeb talk [p8] Reel is real: Pankaj Tripathi Novel paths: Uttarakhand Lovely, dark and deep: Pauri Garhwal [p16] Call of the mountains: Nainital [p20] The bicycle diaries: Pithoragarh [p28] Cold mess: Uttarkashi [p34] TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES 64 INCLUDING COVER

COVER: VANVASA RESORT,

Love actually Hand sparkler [p5] Don’t say it with roses [p40] Chandni and the chocolate factory [p43] Raise a toast to local [p46]

LANSDOWNE DISTRICT, UTTARAKHAND PHOTO: JETENDER RAWAT

[p43]

CONTRIBUTORS Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [p54] GURUSPEAK: Time for forgiveness Bharat Thakur [p56] FITNESS: Hold that pose Sanjay Jumaani [p59] NUMBER GAME: Count your fate Kushan Mitra [p60] HOT WHEELS: When size matters Follow us on:

@TheDailyPioneer

facebook.com/dailypioneer

instagram.com/dailypioneer

OUR PARTNER HOTELS Send us your feedback at letters2exotica@gmail.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exotica-394686670715776

Chanel because it’s Chanel! And I am as classy and fabulous as Coco said all women should be!!

FAVOURITE HAUNTS OF STYLISH PEOPLE

Hats, watches and sunglasses. I love power dressing ... also hats are a practical requirement for our weather! Wonder why we see so few hats while knee-high boots, which make no sense, seem to be all the rage.

Dior J’adore because of its bouquet.

Actor PARUL YADAV has starred in Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam films.

She switched to television with Bhagyavidhaata on Colors and Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala on Star Plus

Interstellar because I’m very interested in black holes and quantum theory and relativity as well as everything in the time space continuum.

I prefer biographies as it is smarter to learn from other people’s mistakes!

Every inch of Interlaken — the lakes, the grass, the trees, the mountains even the clouds — looks as if it is custom-designed by God.

Indian food is my favourite as I love its hot and spicy quotient.

EXOTICA [7] FEBRUARY 2021

C E L E B TA L K

Actor PANKAJ TRIPATHI tells SAIMI SATTAR that his chequered career choices, before venturing into acting, are a major reason why his portrayals on screen are classified as natural

Reel real is

A

conversation with Pankaj Tripathi, even over the phone, gradually makes you slip into a time and place where you can almost visualise yourself sitting on a charpoy under a tree with the mellow winter sun streaming through. The discussion, without a trace of self-consciousness, is unhurried and leisurely yet, at the same time, to the point. I could almost imagine him shrugging at the other end of the line while answering questions that were political and had just the slightest connect with his films and professional life. Or more likely shaking his neck which, as per a viral meme, deserved an award for best acting.

The actor has had a deluge of films and series, in the past 12 months, on the OTT platforms starting with Angrezi Medium going on to Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Mirzapur 2, Ludo, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, Shakeela and Kaagaz. Not surprisingly, he is considered the ‘man of 2020’ in entertainment.

Tripathi himself concurs. “When I took a break

EARLYLIFE o Born in Belsand, a village in Gopalganj district in Bihar. o Father Pandit Banaras Tripathi was a farmer and priest. His mother was Hemwanti Devi. o The youngest of the four children, he also worked as a farmer until he was in the 11th standard. o Played the role of a girl in his village’s natak which made him realise that he loved acting.

recently, I realised that I had worked a lot just before the lockdown. It was just too much. I should have done it itminaan se (taken it easy). I don’t know how I was managing it,” he says in chaste Hindi laced with the matter-of-fact tone that he is known for. He’s befuddled at the sheer volume as, he now points out that, a series is equivalent to three films so Mirzapur and Criminal Justice would add up to six and, then, there were three films too. “It means nine films. How I was doing it, I am unaware. But the good thing is that — despite so much — I would still say, I am not overexposed and neither have my shortcomings, as an actor, become common knowledge. My honour remained intact,” he says, a sense of satisfaction palpable in his voice.

We move on to his last release, Kaagaz, which talks about the need for papers to prove the existence of a person and the parallel it has with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the agitation that followed its implementation. But Tripathi gets distracted by a persistent visitor and, when reminded of the topic, says, “Our film doesn’t talk of MILESTONES it as it is a period drama set between o He made his debut 1970- 93. The director, Satish Kaushik, in Run in 2004. had said that he was making an o He won critical and popular acclaim with apolitical film. It’s a fight between the Gangs of Wasseypur system and a person. In the film the in 2012. character says, ‘Whenever the system’s o In 2017 he had a mouth opens, it demands the sacrifice of phenomenal year with a common man’. As for the CAA-NRC Anaarkali of Aarah, agitation or even the government’s Newton, Gurgaon, Bareilly Ki Barfi and policy, I don’t have a view on either.”

Fukrey Returns In the media, it’s been touted as the releasing one after film where he plays the lead for the first the other. time but there is an obvious oversight. If you say Ludo or Mirzapur, the recall value that his name has is unparalleled by any other actor in the ensemble cast in both. Tripathi explains it in terms of his approach. “I also don’t get this discussion because I’ve considered characters that might have had a screen time of 10 minutes as leads. It’s like 10 minutes of the character’s life were seen in the film and not the remaining. In Kaagaz, it’s two hours of Lal Bihari’s life. Everything is a main role in real life and in cinema, everything is a role. Everyone is playing a lead

EXOTICA [10] FEBRUARY 2021

lists joining hotel management and, later, Geeta role in their life or want to play it and that’s why Press — both of which he didn’t enjoy — but these we create so many problems. A lead role means continue to add to the depth of the characters that the story should be mine or everyone should that he plays. “These help me 100 per cent. Jitne understand me,” he says sagely and goes on to add ghaat ka paani piyenge, wo experience hoga… My that, off late, he has started slipping into a life experiences are responsible for me being spiritual mode and dispensing gyan often. natural in front of the camera. Everyone talks However, he says that, he puts in equal amount of about my natural acting or uses words like gifted, sincerity irrespective of the role’s screen time. flawless to describe it. But this is practiced natural Since the character in Kaagaz is based on a real and the comfort in my acting comes from there,” person, who was declared dead, it naturally leads says Tripathi. to the question if Tripathi had He zeroed in on acting as met him for inspiration. “I a profession when, after met and spoke to him for 10 working in plays in his minutes and looked at him village, he realised that, “I for about half an hour. I liked doing it and overtime didn’t take any reference didn’t feel like a burden. points from his body Sometimes I worked for language, mannerisms or 15 hours at a stretch but it behaviour because the didn’t matter.” audience doesn’t know Lal So he made his way to the Bihari. I wanted to do justice National School of Drama to his inner struggle, conflict from where he graduated and mental strength. That in 2004 and landed an thought was already there in uncredited role in the film the script, which I followed,” Run. As an outsider, the going says the actor, whose was tough. “I did have portrayal of the menacing problems initially in getting and overpowering Kaleen work and wandered from one bhaiyya (Mirzapur Season 1 & 2) ‘EVERYTHING IS A MAIN studio to the other one. But it is far-removed from the ROLE IN REAL LIFE AND everyday ordinariness and IN CINEMA, EVERYTHING was an organic process. Why IS A ROLE. EVERYONE IS should they give me work was struggle of Lal Bihari.

PLAYING A LEAD ROLE IN always a question,” he says As for the approach to THEIR LIFE OR WANT TO and takes a nuanced view any role, Tripathi says he PLAY IT AND THAT’S WHY about classifying it as relies on, “A combination WE CREATE SO MANY nepotism. “The debate is of a method, a process, PROBLEMS’ more to do with who will play life experiences and the lead in a film. Nepotism is about who was imagination.” He does not interact with the launched by whom. Our audience is aware that if director and hardly talks to him before the someone doesn’t have the talent, irrespective of shooting, “Because, of late, there’s hardly any whose child it is, they reject him/her. Moreover, time,” he explains and adds, “I hear the director’s there’s no debate about nepotism in the role of say, vision and after that I don’t venture around the someone like, an inspector. And 80 per cent of the monitor. It is the director’s job to watch it. If s/he people come to Mumbai from different parts of the says, ‘retake’, I follow the instruction.” country to be actors are not aiming to be the While talking about drawing on experiences he

EXOTICA [11] FEBRUARY 2021

romantic leads. They come here after honing their craft in theatre and if they’re talented, they get good roles. I find the film industry to be a very democratic and unique place.” And one can evaluate how far he has travelled by the fact that when a director wanted to cast him recently, Tripathi could accommodate him only after March 2022!

It was with Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), the cult film, where he played Sultan Qureshi, that he came into the limelight. That he landed the role after eight hours of audition is something which has now passed into film folklore. “Mukesh Chhabra (casting director) made me do every scene in a variety of ways. Whenever he goes for acting workshops, whether it is at Film and Television

Institute of India (FTII) or at other places, where he interacts with aspiring actors, he shows this clip to demonstrate and analyse how an audition is done and what is the process,” he says without a trace of pride that would have been normal in any actor who is not as rooted as Tripathi is.

He became an integral part of slice-of-life films and series, especially during the lockdown last year, when OTT platforms made phenomenal inroads into our lives. Integral to this development was the the primacy of talent over star power.

“This should have happened earlier. Cinema never paid attention to people like us. The OTT platform picked me and placed me on a poster,” he says and explains, “Talent is appreciated because there’s no pressure of a Friday opening. I am not an expert

DIDYOUKNOW o His audition for Gangs of Wasseypur went on for eight hours. o He made his debut in Tamil cinema with Kaala, which was released in 2018. o O Betaji from the film Albela (1951) picturised on Bhagwan has become so popular after being featured in Ludo that youngsters have been sending him videos of themselves in a car with the song playing in the background.

am simple, kind and a brilliant human being,” he but, as per my understand, if the performance is says and one can immediately think of Anup good and the story is gripping, people get Saxena who is the wind beneath Gunjan Saxena: connected to it. If that’s not so, they stop watching The Kargil Girl’s wings and Bareilly ki Barfi’s after the first or second episode.”

Narottam Mishra who does not mind sharing a Another definite shift, which has been cigarette with his daughter, Bitti. witnessed, is the change in content. Tripathi feels Even when it comes to standing up for this is due to both the audience and the film women’s rights, Tripathi does not shy away. Post makers. “The exposure of both has increased. It’s Criminal Justice he starred in a video that spoke like the chicken and egg story. The audience about the importance of exposure has increased as, consent. “I made it because with the advent of internet, consent is very important people can see world cinema whether it is pre- or postand compare it. Earlier, we marriage. When I read the had been eating the same script, it moved me,” he says cuisine. When we but doesn’t want to comment experimented with food, we whether a law that doesn’t came to know that there are make marital rape punishable many kinds in the world. At is archaic or not. “I don’t have the same time, amazing any understanding about the storytellers like Imtiaz Ali, law. When you’ve half-baked Himanshu Dhulia, Anurag knowledge and have read Basu, Anurag Kashyap, Neeraj about it only on social media, Ghaywan and more — who you can’t form an opinion,” were outsiders — burst upon he asserts. the scene. Sharan Sharma, Another thing that he the director of Gunjan Saxena, refuses to be drawn into a is 25-26 years old. I was very controversy about is student impressed with the way he politics despite being active works,” he says.

‘FREEDOM ALSO MEANS in it during his college days.

With directors who call THE FREEDOM NOT TO EXPRESS. IF A STUDENT “Freedom also means the places — like Ujjain, IS INTERESTED THEN S/HE freedom not to express. If a Hazaribagh, Gorakhpur and SHOULD BE A PART OF student is interested then more — home, the stories too POLITICS, OTHERWISE s/he should be a part, talk about a world that they’ve NOT. IT DEPENDS UPON otherwise not. It depends seen and have shifted from THE INDIVIDUAL’ upon the individual,” says metros, says the actor.

Tripathi, who prefers to read, cook or eat out While these changes are external, the choice of rather than watching TV or operating the mobile. one particular kind of role is something that While he might not be keen on the visual Tripathi himself determined — the type of father medium but, in the coming months, Tripathi that he plays to young women in films — given would be appearing in 83, where he plays that he has a young daughter. “The father I portray PR Man Singh, the manager of the 1983 World in reel life, when it comes to daughters, is the kind Cup-winning Indian cricket team.

I want to be in real life... But in the case of sons, I Undoubtedly, he is transferring the real to am an absolutely different father. The one in reel effortlessly.

Mirzapur is cunning. When it comes to daughters, I

EXOTICA [13] FEBRUARY 2021

CHANGE YOUR ALTITUDE

Having been confined to zoom meetings, watching Instagram travel reels and keeping up with deadlines for almost a year, people are now raring to break free. Three travellers from the capital, with itchy feet, head to Uttarakhand to experience fousr unique activities.

One explores two ends of Corbett Tiger Reserve. At Juee in Pauri Garhwal, she witnesses wildlife and then goes on to work from Nainital and Ramnagar. The other embarks on a high-altitude trek to Kedarkantha in Uttarkashi and the third, cycles from Almora to Munsiyari in Pithoragarh. In the words of Edward Abbey, “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.� The experiences were all these... and more

KEDARKANTHA PEAK

UTTARKAS

JUEE

SHI

PITHORAGARH

MUNSIYARI

PAURI GARHWAL

BIRTHI FALLS

CHAUKORI

RAMNAGAR

NAINITAL NAINITAL

EXOTICA [15] FEBRUARY 2021

N O V E L PAT H S

LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP Sitting amidst the mountains, near a forest reserve, can open up the possibilities of close encounters with the wild kind, realises SAIMI SATTAR. PANKAJ KUMAR captures the ambience

A

faint, repeated tap called for my attention and I saw a brown bird hopping across the table unmindful of human presence. It was friendly without being intrusive. Since I am no ornithologist or even a bird watcher, I struggled to name it while the server, who had just walked in, was too shy to tell me the Garhwali equivalent. But this surprise was just an epilogue to the way incidents had been unfolding from the time we crossed Kotdwar. Even before we reached, what is called, the Vatanvasa gate which

demarcates the starting point of the jungle safari, we’d lost count of the number of times wild fowls had crossed our path, screeching and scrambling as the car came careening down the road. By the time we spied the gate, we’d seen so many of them that it had become an almost common, everyday appearance. On the way there were also scattered hutments enclosed by electric wires which, we figured, made sure that the wild animals did not gatecrash as uninvited guests at a family dinner.

THE

ON THE ROAD

four of us had started much before dusk from Delhi but, since we were more focussed on having a good time rather than reaching the destination at any fixed time, we finally arrived at the resort in the late afternoon.

But if you are the kind of traveller who does not much care to stop at scenic spots to soak in the views during a journey, it can take about seven and a half hours. The wooded roads meant that while driving it was fascinating to watch the sunlight make patches on the surface as it streamed in through the tree cover. It was akin to chasing clouds in the sky, which has been one of my favourite past times since childhood. But under the onslaught of the MUV, that we were riding, the

shadow images sped away fast only to be replaced by fresher ones. It smelled green due to the dense trees, whose tops from both the sides of the road met in the middle to create a cover, which was a sensorial delight and an immediate mood lifter.

At the Vatanvasa gate, we met Bhagwati Prasad Dhyani, a Van Daroga with the Uttarakhand Forest Department who has been working in these areas since 2003. He regaled us with stories of his frequent encounters of the wild kind which were very many and frequent. Gesturing to the remains of what had been a magnificent column, he said, “It was damaged by a tusker which had taken affront to a tiger having dared to cross his path.”

While the big cat got away, the gate which proclaimed the existence of the feline species — with a photograph — within the Kalaghar Tiger Reserve was not as lucky. He gestured to the building next to the gate and said, “I was standing on the roof top and crouching. It was a sight, both scary and magnificent at the same time, which surpassed much of of what I’ve seen.” Incidentally, Dhyani, while walking home one day, encountered a tiger which was less than three feet away. He just stood and waited. “The truth is just like any other (Left): Wake up early in the morning for a walk in the clouds.

(Below): The dense forests which surround the villages often lead to frequent animal sightings

animal which is a prey for the carnivores, humans too can’t react or even say a word when we are face to face with any of the big cats. We are stunned into silence,” he said. The tiger walked away and Dhyani lived to recount the tale. As we stood chatting with him we spotted a fox quickly making its way into the depths of the forest.

THE

WILD WORLD

301. 17 sq km of the Kalaghar Tiger Reserve lies in the Lansdowne division of the Pauri district of Uttarakhand and is a part of the 1,286 Corbett National Park. The interesting part is that while 70 per cent of Corbett lies in the Pauri Garhwal region, it is the remaining 30 per cent in Kumaon, where Jim Corbett — the legendary tiger conservationist — had his home that has got better coverage and share of tourist footfall, both the wildlife enthusiasts as well as those looking to relax and spend some quality time amidst nature.

With a mix of elevation and plains, varied temperatures and several water bodies as well as sparse human settlements, this side holds out promises of frequent spottings and keeps them — sometimes making people fearful.

(Above, right): A seasonal mountain stream runs parallel to the road; (below): the entrance to the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and abode in the forest beckons visitors

AT

LANDING GROUND

Vanvasa Resort in Juee village, the place that was to be our home for the next three nights, I met another visitor, Sudheer Gusain, who recalled that while driving, early in the morning, he happened to be practically placed in between two elephants. “In those five seconds, a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. Whether I should wake my three friends and run while leaving the vehicle behind or park quietly in one corner or speed off and more,” he said. He chose to step on the horn and the gas to make a quick getaway as he knew that elephants, when angry, could be extremely dangerous.

Vanvasa, which means abode in the forest, actually lives up to the idea that went in naming it.

It is an existence that is unhurried, almost a step back in time. Mobile connectivity is low and there are no TVs in the rooms to ensure that the world does not encroach upon the cocoon that you are lulled into — howsoever temporary. The chirping of birds rather than incessant honking of horns makes for a pleasant distraction. The faint rustling of trees creates an ambience which is so relaxed that it makes you sink deeper into its comfort even

The resort offers ample facilities for entertainment. (Clockwise from top): Catch a round of badminton; test your fitness levels at the outdoor activity area and magic shows as well as musical programmes hold the attention of visitors in the gazebo

though it is faintly unfamiliar or buried deep into a nostalgic past of a city slicker in her 40s.

One evening I decided to catch up with the hotelier, Satender Rawat, who much like me had spent much of his adult life in the capital, before deciding to step back and start something in the area where his ancestors hailed from. The result was this property spread over 30 acre. The older of the two resorts in the area, it is powered by Rawat’s vision who prefers to forego commercial gains in favour of ensuring that each of the cottages and one villa has unobstructed view of the mountains.

“Three more rooms are coming up and eventually I plan to have 40 ,” said Rawat for whom it is clearly a passion project. A clear indication of the same are the more than a 1,000 variety of trees which were carted from as far as Meerut, Kolkata and even Bengaluru. Rawat showed me around pointing out each of the trees by its common and botanical names. When I asked him about the number of gardeners he had on board to maintain these, he answered with an impish smile, “Just one. He’s

standing in front of you. The rest water the plants.

To transplant the full-grown trees is a process that takes a minimum of six months but it adds to the experience of the visitors.” He immediately got on to a video call to show me the painstaking exercise being undertaken in one of the areas from where a truckload would soon set off for his resort. The attention to such details extends to everything including the basic necessity of water, which is a scarcity in the these areas. This is being procured using pipelines from a source on a mountain which can be accessed after crossing a stream.

On the last day of our stay, we accompanied a steward, Soori — who though looks older than his 45-years, thanks to his grey hair, but is surprisingly agile on his feet — to see a huge water tank that is being constructed to supplement the existing water resource. A tiger pug mark near the tank, which is about three km away from the resort, was the real attraction. An amazing raconteur, Soori told us about the goings-on in the surrounding villages, pointed out local herbs growing wild and

EXOTICA [20] FEBRUARY 2021

Swimming in the lap of nature, weather permitting, is an unparalleled experience

imparted local wisdom. Once at the location, we did not take long to spot the distinct mark at two different places in the mud on the side of the road.

“It came deep in the night. If the forest authorities install cameras here, which has been done at several other places, we’ll certainly film animals by the hundreds in one night,” insisted Soori.

On our way back, we competed to test our physical fitness at the outdoor adventure sports area. It was here that Rawat, who by that time had come to check upon our well-being, told us that he calls Soori his ‘local reporter’ — clearly for a reason — and promised us that the journalist fraternity had more up its sleeves. He was hinting at Soori’s talent which is not limited to story-telling. At night, on a day when the resort which is usually full-up was deserted as it was the mid-week after a long weekend, Soori entertained us by singing Garhwali and Nepali songs which was accompanied by energetic dancing in the gazebo attached to the dining area. Equipped with a keyboard, a TT table and more, it doubles up as an

activity area where, in the evening, there is a magic tricks show for children and a musical one for adults. If you are one of those who loves to socialise, this is the place to head to but if human company is not much-sought after, there are ample options as the lay of the property is such that you can be on your own. It was in the gazebo that Rahul Mukherjee and Frank, the in-house singers, entertained us with a mix of slow, romantic and fast-paced songs every evening.

While we did enjoy the mix of Rafi-Kishore, Mohit Chauhan-Arijit Singh numbers, the warmth of the bonfire exercised a pull and beckoned us outside as it offered a welcome respite from the crisp weather.

The fourth morning, after a leisurely breakfast of Bichchu buti ka saag, a local delicacy, and potato spring onion gravy cooked in Garhwali style, we hit the road on our way to the capital. And while, I carried the fond memories of the place and the people, I also left a part of me behind. Till we take abode in the forest...again.

EXOTICA [21] FEBRUARY 2021

CALL OF THE

MOUNTAINS

A workation offers the perfect mix of being able to take in the resplendent views while operating from a remote location

EXOTICA [22] FEBRUARY 2021

N O V E L PAT H S Keeping an acrophile in the plains for too long is nothing short of torture.

SAIMI SATTAR hits the winding road while she works and frames how you can ace both

THIS

is the kind of traffic that I don’t mind being stuck in,�

I thought as some trouts gracefully swam past. I was far away, precisely a little over 270 km away from the dust, grime and crowds of Delhi and, in Ramnagar. Sitting on a boulder, my feet or rather my legs up to my knees dangling into the river, I debated on the life-altering decisions of what to eat for lunch.

Looking back at the morning, a sense of satisfaction spread over and expressed itself in a smile. I had a fruitful start to the day, where after an early breakfast, I sat down to complete some pending office work. I had a clear agenda in my mind which ensured that none of the distractions came in the way of accomplishing my task. I had to head to the river which was flowing past the resort where I was staying. A glance over the laptop, rather than making me day dream,

EXOTICA [23] FEBRUARY 2021

renewed my zeal to conclude work as the remainder of the party frolicking in the clear waters could be seen and heard clearly.

Going back in time, this was the fifth and second last day of my workation. Keeping a mountain lover (one who considers herself an honourary pahadi ), who often has the urge to just get up and go to the hills, confined at home had been close to selfinflicted fourth-degree torture during the days and months that followed the outbreak of the pandemic.

Needless to say, I was itching to step out of the capital to breathe in the crisp and clear mountain air.

TIPS FOR A WORKATION o Set aside a dedicated time for deadlines and ensure that the office team is aware of the same. o During that period, ignore social media and don’t chit chat (or get carried away by the view) to ensure that the task at hand is completed. o Sometimes, it might mean that the rest of the party will head out for activities while you finish your work. o Don’t force the others to adjust to your deadlines.

Try and work out a way which suits everyone. o It will involve a lot of balancing but ultimately you have to take the call about which activity/excursion you can miss. Tough ... but has to be done.

So when my cousin suggested that we could go on a holiday, and do so safely, I grabbed the opportunity.

Of course, there was the niggling issue of files to be edited and cleared ... but then, these could be accomplished from anywhere as long as there was internet. I smiled smugly.

That’s how I found myself on a tree-lined road to Nainital, soothing music wafting out of the car stereo, which added to the general feeling of finally being carefree. We had decided to drive down as opposed to using public transport, like a train till the railhead of Kathgodam, as this was naturally safer in

The star-studded Naini Lake. (Inset): A resort far away from the maddening crowd keeps you sane and safe during a pandemic

pandemic times. It was due to its proximity that Nainital was zeroed in on as the destination of choice despite all of us having frequented it n-number of times since childhood.

However, at the same time, we wanted to choose a resort which was not in an area with too many hotels (and people) and one which adhered to safety norms in totality. It naturally meant taking a road that was less-trod but then, as Frost said, it did make all the difference.

We reached Nainital post-lunch and were happy to note that the staff and servers were adhering to all safety norms possible at evening tea.

Heading out soon thereafter, we found ourselves close to the Naini Lake, the centrepiece of the hill

station. For those who haven’t been here, much of everything in this hill station revolves around this water body. Visitors go boating in it, stand around the area to click selfies as the mountains seem to be rising from the middle of the lake, shop at Mall Road or the Tibetan market (both of which skirt the lake), eat roasted peanuts, candyfloss and the like while taking in the sight of water reflecting the numerous lights giving it the appearance of a star-studded sky.

There was a sizeable presence of police personnel to ensure that people did not crowd around any one place and the visitors kept their masks on while in a public area. While strolling around the walkway, the place appeared to be so familiar — as I had been visiting it since I was a little shy of three years —

(From left to right): The glass barrier separates the two simians; cross the bridge at Garjiya for pristine locations and quiet flows the Kosi river

yet so overwhelmingly different with everyone donning masks.

Despite the changed times, we did manage to pick up some interesting knick-knacks primarily from the Tibetan Market, popularly referred to as “flats”. A marked change was the way shopkeepers welcomed the shoppers with the proverbial open arms. The lockdown and the subsequent reduction in the number of travellers, which had practically gone down to a trickle, meant that their business had hit rock bottom.

During the two days that we were in Nainital my days took the shape of working in the mornings post breakfast till lunch and heading out in late afternoon/early evening.

On the third day, we headed to Ramnagar which is dotted with sundry resorts in all price brackets.

Since all six of us have been certified as hydrophiles by friends and acquaintances, the choice of heading out to Garjiya — the place from where one can access the Kosi river — was not rocket science.

However, one side of the river coastline was dotted with plastics wrappers ranging from chips, gutka and more. There is something to be said about our

indifference to ensuring that we leave our natural habitat in the pristine state that we find it in.

Disgusted with the state of affairs, we walked across the suspension bridge to proceed to the other side which is a little less-frequented by humans and were rewarded. Cleaner waters and ample place to sit on the rocks without worrying about stepping onto something unsavoury were the premiums that we cherished. While we dangled our feet in the river — notwithstanding the cold — a small black and orange-coloured crab crawled out and darted across the boulders. It was too swift for us to capture it in our phones ... or maybe we were a little too excited and fearful that the crab would dig its infamous claws into our feet. Sooner than we could have wished, the nip in the air started turning a little more intense as, evening approached and we decided to call it a day.

But we hadn’t had enough of the river and so the next day we decided to shift into a property which has the unique USP of being located just above it. All that it takes is a short descent on an iron ladder to reach the pebbled beach and a less than two-minute walk to reach a place where you can dip

EXOTICA [26] FEBRUARY 2021

live music wafting through the your toes in the water. And that air and headed out. A singer is how I found myself on the belted out a mix of the latest and penultimate morning sitting golden oldies from Bollywood amidst fish shoals. while we sat in enclosures which However, we’d already had had adequate provisions for a some excitement that day. bonfire while ensuring social Earlier, in the morning, when we distancing. In the one next to us, checked into the place — which The river’s coastline from two sides — one an extended family of 22 with consists of several wooden offers a larger expanse while the other, less people from all age groups structures spread over a accessible side is pristine celebrated the anniversary of its sprawling area — we had chosen grandparents.

The bonhomie and the fun emanating the riverfront rooms. As had become my routine, I from the enclosure was infectious. decided to put my laptop to good use and sat outside We had one more memorable sighting before we in the small verandah in front of our room on the retired for the night. As we climbed the spiral first floor of the ground+1 place. I hadn’t worked for staircase we spotted a herd consisting of four neelgais very long when a cry of “monkey” emanated from the and a young calf, their eyes glinting in the youngsters sitting inside the room. The simian had moonlight, crossing the river. Certainly, this was been spotted thanks to the huge glass windows in turning out to be a more eventful trip than we had the room which had been incorporated in the design bargained for. for a better view of the river flowing below. I darted The next morning, as we piled our luggage into inside and shut the door but the monkey was the vehicle, I whispered softly, “This is the way I want friendly and decided to engage in a conversation to work,” hoping that the breeze would carry my from the other side of the glass. wish to heaven and make it come true.

As night approached, we could hear the strains of

EXOTICA [27] FEBRUARY 2021

N O V E L PAT H S INDRANIL ROY relies on his luck, stamina and two wheels to embark on a journey that makes him rethink the purpose of being at a place at a given time

ON

a chilly evening, sitting by the fireplace and sipping on my artisanal martini, I wondered if a bicycle ride covering some of the breathtaking landscapes of Kumaon would be too arduous. Although, I had a fair idea about the terrain and elevation, I had no clue of what awaited me in the next few days. I’d often heard that sometimes the worst brings out the best ... but I actually lived through it. After spending almost nine months locked up in Delhi, I had to get out of the city as, more than the pandemic it was the extreme emotional turmoil that threatened to throw me off keel. I decided to move to the hills and fortunately found a very serene and peaceful cottage on the outskirts of Almora, close to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, and decided to spend at least a month there.

Uttarakhand is divided into two main regions — Kumaon and Garhwal — and Almora, the heart of the latter, is of great cultural and historical value. My days there were quiet and extremely peaceful. While I worked, I also explored some villages and faraway temples where tourists had never set foot. In the midst of all this I started riding my bicycle for the first time in the hills, which is absolutely different from doing it in the plains. Initially, I was extremely sceptical of whether I would be able to ride even 10 km in a day, due to the extreme steep climbs and winding roads, but within less than a week I was covering 60+ km which made me confident.

With my improved stamina, I made up my mind to do a long cycling trip covering two pristine destinations — Chaukori and Munsiyari. I was eagerly looking forward to what seemed to be an ethereal experience as the locals, who I had got acquainted with, had raved about the routes. Next, came the logistics and I was lucky to find a bike shop in the local market which fitted a carrier rack on my vehicle. Since pannier bags, which are recommended for bike journeys, weren’t available I settled for a regular backpack.

THE

Day 1 [ALMORA TO CHAUKORI]

day I started my journey happened to be one of the coldest that I had experienced so far. I left my cottage at around 8 am after having a light breakfast. Pro tip: Eat light and easy to digest food during long distance cycling.

EXOTICA [28] FEBRUARY 2021

At Munsiyari, witness the Panchachuli peaks after crossing the Kalamuni top

bicycle THE

DIARIES

During the first leg of my journey, till Chaukori which is 110 km from Almora, I was sceptical whether I’d be able to cover it in a day given the terrain and high altitude. A mixed terrain of uphill and downhill for the first 10 km was followed by an uphill ride of 10-15 km, which left me extremely sweaty. After Dhaulchina, it was completely downhill till Seraghat for the next 25 km. But while cycling became easier, another problem cropped up. Till then, I’d been wearing a regular cycling jersey along with a windcheater but while going downhill I started shivering and had to slip into a heavy padded jacket.

By afternoon I reached Seraghat, a small hamlet by the river Saryu, and from hereon there was no mobile phone network. When I reached the second bridge on the Seraghat Berinag road, it was 4:30 pm and Chaukori was another 30 km uphill. By 6 pm it was pitch dark but I’d no option but to keep moving as I’d booked my stay in Chaukori. Fortunately, I was carrying a powerful headlight which showed the way but the unknown terrains and forests enroute made me slightly scared. I kept pushing myself and halted at a small dhaba close to Berinag

where everyone warned me that the last stretch till Chaukori passed through a dense jungle and leopards were known to venture out on the road at this hour. I was beginning to feel elated, as my GPS screen indicated that I’d covered 99.5 km and only nine more were to go when the headlight battery gave up. It’s often said that when you’re determined and passionate no force on earth can stop you. And sure enough, a good Samaritan showed up and guided me with the help of his SUV headlights for the next few kilometres till Udiyari bend. A group of locals gave me a lift till my resort four km away. I reached my destination for the day at 11 pm that night. The temperature was sub zero, around -5ºC.

THE

Day 2 [CHAUKORI]

next morning, to my delight, was bright and sunny and I decided to rest and explore the surroundings. Chaukori has a splendid view of the Panchachuli peaks which are mentioned in the epic, Mahabharata. After such a long ride it’s recommend that you do a small low pace one to help your muscles recover and I did the same.

I

(Below): Seraghat Berinag road; (inset): Saryu river crossing at Seraghat and the winding path

Day 3 [CHAUKORI TO QUITI]

begun my ride towards Munsiyari, 96 km away, which I thought of covering in a day’s time but destiny had something else in store. From Chaukori to Thal is a picturesque descent, till the the banks of the Ramganga river, where one can witness the peaks of Panchachuli. Since the day was going to be tough, I’d picked up bananas which are great for instant energy and endurance.

By late afternoon, I was close to Quiti, a fairly large village around 44 km from Munsiyari, when suddenly the chain of my bicycle broke. My simple itinerary was about to take an unexpected turn. Luckily, Quiti did have a bike repair shop where the chain was fixed. I’d covered no more than five-six km when the chain broke again. I realised it was best to call it a day and find a permanent solution. A pick up truck dropped me back to the same shop where, I learnt that, it could take up to three days for a new chain to be brought from Haldwani.

But thankfully the stars were still aligned in my favour and I found a very calm and serene resort run by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam beside the Birthi waterfall. Still there was no mobile network but I wasn’t panicking. I guess the city boy within me had vanished. With sub zero temperatures, it was just wise to have a hot shower, piping hot dinner and retire for the day.

I

Day 4 [BIRTHI WATERFALL]

had decided to go on a trek with a young guide, named Puran Rautela, who arrived right on time. After a sumptuous breakfast, of alu puri and an omelette, we left for Birthi falls. We had planned to reach the uppermost part of the waterfall where apparently tourists never venture. The pathway to the top was so steep and narrow that I could place only one foot at a time. It took us close to an hour to reach the spot which was absolutely worth it as every turn offered a brilliant view of the vast open valley.

I was surprised to find some cows and calves stuck there and learnt that it’s a common practice to drive away

commercially unviable cattle to die. Having made up my mind to save those gentle souls, I connected with a fairly influential woman running an animal shelter in Almora and we planned a rescue mission. I paid the villagers to drive the cattle towards the nearby village and from there the District Magistrate arranged for them being sent to a cow shelter in Pithoragarh.

Deep within a realisation took root that this must be the reason why my chain broke twice forcing me to stay in a place for two days where I had no plans to even halt. Meanwhile, Puran arranged the bicycle chain from Haldwani and invited me to a hearty meal at his house and we spent two joyful days together.

(Above): The abandoned cattle were sent to a shelter. (Below): The uppermost region of Birthi Falls

IT

Day 5 [QUITI TO MUNSIYARI]

was time to head towards my destination, Munsiyari, tucked away in the farthest corner of Pithoragarh district. I wanted to experience how difficult it was to cover this on my bike since the locals insisted that it is tough climb. They certainly weren’t wrong. There are 14 steep bends one has to climb to reach the Kalamuni top and the roads are extremely dilapidated. One has to have extreme mental strength to conquer these roads. I was absolutely exhausted by the time I reached the top where there’s a temple and two-three shops offering basic food and beverages to the passer-by.

From hereon it’s a descent till Munsiyari and the roads are in extreme bad condition. Pro tip: If you plan to go biking on these roads, wearing a

good pair of gloves is of utmost importance as, your hands can go numb while navigating through the numerous potholes and large craters. I reached the small hamlet of Munsiyari by early afternoon and checked into a homestay, recommended by a filmmaker friend from Nainital, run by an expert mountaineer. I realised that I had seen the best views of the peaks before reaching Munsiyari so make as many stops as you can to soak in the beauty and might of the Himalayas. There’s not much to do in Munsiyari but there are some nearby treks, the most famous one being Khaliya Top. I stayed there for another day before leaving for Almora from a different route. I was raring to go on another cycling trip soon.

Witness the beauty of the Himalayan peaks at Munsiyari

N O V E L PAT H S Fresh from the Kedarkantha trek, CHAHAK MITTAL believes that it is not the mountain you come to conquer, but yourself.

ARJUN AGARWAL captures the journey

LOST

in thoughts of nothingness, I lean on a fence, sipping my steaming hot tea, which warms me up, but, only a tad bit.

The temperature is -9ºC, precisely. I hardly feel my numb feet, which makes me anxious about the challenging expedition ahead. For the next five days, I’ll be treading the soaring, snow-covered trails of the Himalayas in pursuit of the Kedarkantha peak, situated at 12,500 ft. At the heart of it is the belief that nature will be the balm to soothe and heal me from the vagaries of the past few months. At Sankari village, the trek's starting point, I arm myself with energy bars, banana chips, walnuts and altitude sickness tablets.

I,

DIGGING THE MYSTERIES OF A FROZEN LAKE

along with six friends, leave from Sankari, armed with bamboo trekking poles. The adrenaline is pumping with excitement of doing something at which few of us are novices. My surroundings have an unusual calm and an appealing vibe, which I’ve been craving for since the lockdown. I finally feel like a free bird, traversing challenges and navigating my path in the clouds.

COLD MESS

(Above): Juda Ka Talab and (below): a board at Kedarkantha Base Camp exhorts trekkers to keep moving

“Sankari Base Camp. Altitude 6,455 ft. Let’s begin... If you never go, you never know!” reads a purple board. I know I’ll understand its true meaning on my way down. During the first few metres, we’re awestruck by the scenery. The soggy forest floor is thick with fallen leaves while the exposed tree roots tangle beneath my feet. There are rugged, snow-capped mountains which usually dot travellers’ profiles on Instagram.

Juda Ka Talab, a four-km trek from Sankari at 9,100 ft, our first camping destination — a partially frozen lake — is believed to have been formed by the water that trickled down from Lord Shiva’s loosened hair bun (juda). Well, I wonder how mythology squeezes into every journey I take, often, beautifully overlapping the scientific reasons of a phenomenon. Intriguing!

My fellow trekkers are still energetic while I trudge. I’ve taken off the first layer of my jacket and tied it around my waist. I’ve never sweated so much! Realisation dawns that you can’t take off on

a trek without training for at least a month. And thanks to 10 lazy lockdown months, my fitness is far from its peak.

As we near the campsite, thin layers of sposh make the ground slippery. My anxiety levels rise with the mountains’ unreachable heights. After trekking for five hours, we reach the Juda Ka Talab and I am awestruck by the beguiling beauty of the lake surrounded by pine trees. The shining, white snow is dotted with inverted cone-like neon greens, oranges and yellows of the tents. At the camp, the buffet of salad, chapatis, dal, chawal and subzi makes us feel spirited but it’s a task to eat in freezing temperatures. Careful not to fall prey to the plunging cold, I munch on walnuts and bundle myself in another pair of fleece, scarf, earmuffs and cap before crawling into my sleeping bag.

A PACK OF REALISATIONS

FIRST,

the morning tea feels heavenly in freezing temperatures. Second, answering nature’s

call can be an unpleasant task. Third, it’s hard to cherish your surroundings, however beautiful, when you are tired and numb. Fourth, the trails are quiet and in this solitude, there can be all kinds of voices in your head; it’s important to pay attention to the positive ones. Fifth, in a challenging geography, conveniences are hard to come by.

AFTER

(From top to bottom): The seven trekkers catch their breath; on the way to Juda Ka Talab and Kedarkantha Base Camp

A CHILLY ROUND OF ‘KBC’

a breakfast of eggs and porridge, we head to the Kedarkantha Base Camp (KBC), 2.5 km away. I always thought that mountains make for pleasant views. It now strikes me that Himalayas, with some of the world’s highest peaks, act as an acme of mountaineering, influencing the Indian subcontinent’s climatic conditions. I’ve never thought of mountains with such depth.

Face-to-face with the peaks, I feel thrilled and scared. I think of home. If only I could narrate the experiences to my mother. But how? We lost network 45 km before Sankari. But I soon feel at peace as my phone doesn’t buzz to alert me about the tally of COVID-19 cases, an EOS sale or another ex-classmate getting married. I’m actually ecstatic about the descending bar graph of my otherwise alarming screen usage. The plethora of questions running through my mind are diverse and the reason why I name this journey, ‘KBC,’ as a pun!

An hour into the second day’s trek, I lose my balance and slip on the begrimed snow due to the damp trails. My legs split in two directions while my hands seem to attempt a plank. But thankfully, I am as fit as a fiddle. I’m among the last few to reach KBC, where the view is breathtaking! The sky and the ground seem to come together as one endless whole. On my right is the Swargarohini and on my left, is the Kedarkantha peak with its head up in the clouds. Oh, what a sight! At 11,250 ft, you might hanker for comfort or whine about the inhospitable weather but your personal contentment touches an indescribable high.

It’s getting darker and colder but the sky makes me realise that far from human settlement, the stars shimmer with an incredible clarity. The city skies are virtually empty of the spectacular arch of the Milky Way one witnesses in the hills.

Our conversation now centres around the final goal — ‘the summit’. We’re allotted microspikes and trekking gaiters and advised to wear four to six layers to beat the cold. “Upar jaake sabki haalat kharab hojati hai (You lose all the strength up there),” warns our guide, Thapaji. I sink deeper in my blanket of anxiety. While everyone is thrilled, the thought, “Will I be able to do it?” consumes me.

IT’S

HEADACHE OF A LIFETIME

3 am. I’m bundled up in multiple layers of fleece and trudging on. Beneath the liquid black sky, the rocky-snowy route is faintly visible to the human eye under the torchlight. The first few minutes of hiking are arduous as the temperature is -12ºC. It’s a 1,000 metre-elevation to the Kedarkantha peak, which soars at 3,800 metres. I reassure myself, “Just a few miles and you’ll witness the most magical sunrise.” But each step is more gruelling than the previous one. Thapaji tries to encourage me but I pause frequently to inhale sharply as the high altitude leaves me breathless. I feel I’ll make it but my head starts to spin like a satellite. I’m awash in a wave of nausea and my tears have almost frozen due to the cold.

Guide Ganga Singhji tries to revive my flagging hope and encourages me to walk just a few more miles to the ‘Tea Point’. Once there, I cling on to the first bench. I hate to admit it but I’ve tickmarked all the symptoms of altitude sickness. My friend, Arjun, wants to wait for our fellow trekkers to return but I urge him to push on. “I can’t let you miss it. I’ll be fine,” I tell him. He leaves reluctantly and I clutch a cup of tea while drawing the bench closer to the angeethi (gas fire).

A smattering of snow during the initial leg of the trek

TREKKING ESSENTIALS o 2 high necks/fleece t-shirts o 2 pair of trek pants (waterrepellant) o 2 thermals o Fleece legging o plastic covers / polybags o Snow jacket (-10º to -15º temperature) o Poncho (can be rented) o Medicine kit o 2 pairs of gloves (fleece, waterproof) o Thermal flask o Water bottle o Tiffin o Tea mug (non-fragile) o Toilet Roll o 3 pair of woollen socks o Sun cap o 2 Woollen cap (including a Monkey cap) o Neck warmer o Sunglasses (UV protection safe) o Track suit o 2-3 Power banks o Torch (can be rented) o Trek shoes (recommended: woollen and waterproof)

(Top): The descent from Hargaon. (Above, left): A starry night sky at the Kedarkantha Base Camp and (right): torches light the way towards the summit, for the trekkers, at 3 am

AS

CONVERSATIONS FOR THE SOUL

I sit, Prabhat, a seven-time trekker, interrupts my thoughts. We talk about sundry issues and it’s only after an hour that we realise, to our amazement, that his four-year-old daughter and I share our name. Well, it’s not every day that you’re stuck at 12,000 ft in sub-zero temperatures at 4.30 am with no network or a known soul and find a connection worth recalling!

I sit there till sunrise, looking at the black, starry night sky and the white-leafed deodars from a window in the tapri as silence echoes across the sloped plateau. I smile in solitude, soaking up the serenity of the moment and memorise every detail.

The morning sun makes me realise that I’d been sitting at the feet of four of the most majestic Himalayan peaks — Jaonti, Swargarohini, Rupin Paas and the Kalanag. At this point, I remember

naturalist John Muir’s famous quote, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” I realised that these peaks did call me to tell me that you may take a pause but keep walking until you reach a point where you feel contended.

A FINAL NOTE

THANKING

the expanse of beauty for this morning, as I retrace my steps down the hill, I am grateful for those I did not take.

Certainly, up here in this wilderness, I can hear more sounds than one, but the best of them is my own. It screams to tell me, “It’s not the mountain you came to conquer, but yourself. You slipped, you missed but you lived every moment as it went by. Come back next time and find yourself waving at the world from that peak!” Well, will I come back here again? Call me a fool, but for that sunrise, definitely!

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L O V E A C T U A L LY Ditch flowers and buy gifts that express the three magical words more meaningfully

Don’ t sayitwith

roses

(Left to right): DA MILANO: Green croco laptop bag; pink satchel bag; brown laptop bag and pink sling bag

THE BODY SHOP: (Top to bottom): EDT Red Fixation is a woody, floral fragrance infused with notes of rose, saffron and musk; Pomegranate & Red Apple is an intensely fruity and potent essence oil with sweet and juicy notes of red apple, pomegranate, violet and sandalwood and Charm Me is a woody spritz infused with earthy notes of praline, sandalwood, orchid and vanilla

(Top to bottom): JEWEL BOX: The Flying Phoenix brooch; the Lion-King cufflinks and Lion Heart lapel pin

EXOTICA [41] FEBRUARY 2021

(Left top to bottom): FOSSIL: The Bronson for men, featuring a 50mm case, is an oversized casual timepiece with a layered bezel; EMPORIO ARMANI: The case material of AR11321, Gianni T Bar for women is made of stainless steel while the dial is white mother of pearl and DIESEL: The 44mm DZ1931, MS9 for men features an orange dial with gunmetal stick indexes, a date window, three-hand movement and logo-print gray nylon strap

VAHDAM INDIA GLOW GIFT: (Left): The Turmeric Tea Tales Gift Set encloses tisanes of spiced herbal, moringa, ashwagandha, ginger, saffron and fennel;. (below): Glow Gift Set contains six assorted flavours and Signature Private Reserve Gift Set contains blooming rose black tea

(Right top to bottom): SKAGEN: The 30mm round SKW2908, Anita for women in stainless steel with a thickness of 8 mm is water resistant till 30 M; ARMANI EXCHANGE: The AX2724, Cayde for men has a white dial placed in a round case and strapped by a multi colour band in leather and MICHAEL KORS: The MK6856, Runway Mercer for women featuring a 28mm stainless steel case with a pink dial, 14mm band width, scratch-resistant mineral crystal glass, quartz movement with 3-hand analog display and a bracelet with deployant closure

L O V E A C T U A L LY

CHANDANI AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

This Valentine’s Day gift your loved one a homegrown box of happiness, says AYANDRALI DUTTA

A

generic chocolate bar has upgraded itself to become an artisanal home-grown brand which could be classified under one or all of the following — organic, vegan, single-origin, infused with bhoot jolokia chilli or other unique flavours that are particular to the country. Let’s take a big bite into the domestic artisanal chocolate industry.

Chocolate is that happiness which you can eat. It offers comfort without words. And the Indian market is seeing a visible change when we talk about homegrown artisanal chocolate. These small batch chocolates are at par, in quality and flavour, with your favourite Belgian bar. While brands like Soklet, Mason & Co., Barcode, Pascati

and more have marked their presence in the market, there’s another one that has been quietly making waves. Rushk is the brainchild of Rushdah Humaira, a professional chef, who calls herself a chocolate activist and also Kolkata’s first woman to pioneer as the ‘bean to bar’ chocolate maker.

She says, “Everyone knows chocolate but only a few understand it. I have always wanted to educate people on how to eat and find the right kind of chocolates.

With cocoa directly sourced from South India, our chocolates have no artificial flavour or preservatives. Each ingredient is specified and we believe in keeping the list as small as possible.”

IT

SNEAK PEEK INTO INDIAN CACAO

MOST

times cocoa and cacao have been used interchangeably but it is the tree which bears the fruit with beans that is called Theobroma Cacao. The raw version of beans is referred to as cacao while the processed form is called cocoa. Not many know that the plant has three varieties — Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario — out of which Criollo, the most premium, is native to the America. In India, we tend to get a mix of Forastero and Trinitario. But one shouldn’t forget that the quality of chocolate depends on the method of preparation as well. An artisanal bean to bar can make the taste buds drool.

THE ARTISANAL MOVEMENT

won’t be wrong to say that our notions about chocolate are still somewhat nascent and it’s great to see how Indian bean-to-bar makers are challenging this by giving the market some of the best products. Sheetal Saxena and Nishant Kumar Sinha, who launched their artisanal chocolate brand and café, Colocal, in the capital, firmly believe that there’s a difference in making chocolate from cacao vis-a-vis creating the bars from cocoa powder. The duo wants to redefine the entire chocolate indulgence experience. “We researched a lot and even reached out to various roasters to understand the nuances of the product. I even made sure to experience all the finer details by staying with the locals in Kerala. I saw the entire process of making chocolate — how it’s grown, sourced and processed — from a scratch. I travelled to Milan, to learn chocolatemaking techniques, which proved to be an eye opener,” adds Sheetal, who personally supervises the operations to ensure that each bean is roasted to perfection.

MOST

TASTE OF LOCAL

of these handcrafted bars are fun and bold at the same time. These perfectly blend the sweetness of jaggery and the spiciness of ginger, pepper or even infusions of black cardamom and Dalle chillies. Anuttama and Barcode are two such brands which have represented India, in a chocolate, with a twist.

EXOTICA [44] FEBRUARY 2021

Swathi Kallegundi of Anuttama, who grew up in an agricultural family, says, “The cocoa that we use in making farm to bar chocolates are our own produce or from neighbouring farms in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada in the state of Karnataka. This allows us to keep the quality of beans and flavour notes in check. Offering quality and healthy chocolates is our aim. Therefore, we look for graded and good quality cocoa that is grown chemical-free and is as much organic as possible. Touching the new age taste buds we also infused some local flavours to lift the whole experience. Our Spicy Tang-62% Dark or the Cranberry Dark are an all-time hit.” The brand also uses organic jaggery, which lends a unique flavour to the chocolate bar.

The new age brands are not just crafting artisanal but also making sure that they go zero waste by keeping plastics at bay.

Brands like Rushk wrap their chocolates in plastic-free virgin foils and the box is made using paper-free hemp sheets.

Cacao is much complex than what we think. So when you dig into one this Valentine’s Day, just concentrate as you feel it melt as, “Anything is good if it’s made of chocolate.”

L O V E A C T U A L LY Consumers are increasingly turning towards ‘made in India’ brands as their preferred drink.

Nudge the trend further ahead this Valentine’s Day, says AYANDRALI DUTTA

toast Raise a

to local

INDIAN

-made liquor brands have seen a sudden surge in the native alcohol market as the cry for #vocalforlocal has become the mantra.

The presence of gin, whisky, beer or even home-grown wines is almost like a whiff of fresh air.

Home-brewed alcohol like local mahua, toddy, rice beer, feni or the Apo local alcohol had always thrived while royal families had potent drinks — Chandrahas, Kesar Kasturi — the recipes of which remain a secret. Balwant Pratap Singh from Keria Thikana, near Mewar, says, “Only men can make our local alcohol, Keria, which has been in our family for more than 100 years. Available in nine flavours, it is served as a welcome drink to special guests.”

The bar scene in India has experienced a facelift with the entry of many new brands. The new age

entrepreneurs are making sure that it is big and promising at all levels. Malay Rout, founder, Wine & Spirits Club of India, says, “As per a recent survey by Forbes, India is the highest whisky consuming country in the world and the volumes are three times more than USA, the second on the list. Other than Old Monk rum and Kingfisher beer, it’s only recently that our single malts got recognition in the international market despite the fact that these brands — Old Monk rum, Kingfisher beer, Rampur Single Malt, Amrut or Paul John single malt — are owned by big Indian alcohol houses. It’s a little sad that these brands struggle due to heavy label registration fee. Indian consumers started valuing premium domestic brands only after these were accepted in mature markets across the globe.”

THE

THE GIN CLUB

gin revolution has been powered by Hapusa, Greater Than, Stranger and Sons, Terai, Pumori bubbling onto the scene. All of these have a unique taste and texture, depending on the

manner in which these have been distilled or processed and are equally different in their strengths, tones and tastes. “When we decided to launch Greater Than and Hapusa there was the question if it would be accepted by the Indian consumer. I always knew there has to be a gin for the Indian market and focussed on making the best quality. Our gins proved themselves and there was significant sense of pride in the “local” which started to tip the scales in our favour. The Indian story has been a cliché and ‘local’ certainly doesn’t have negative connotations, any more, the way it did earlier,” affirms Anand Virmani, founder, CEO and distiller, Nao Spirits & Beverages Pvt Ltd. Be it the delicate floral notes and a spiced finish, or the quintessential gondhoraj (a lemon with a unique smell) and turmeric aroma, these gins are more about experimentation and giving Gen X a new taste and flavour. Conceived and created in Goa, the party capital of the country, Stranger & Sons Gin is the mastermind of Rahul Mehra, Sakshi Saigal and Vidur Gupta, three gin-lovers. The brand’s USP lies in its no plastic packaging. Everything is recyclable, can be reused and has been carefully crafted. The botanicals are used whole, with no part discarded as waste. Sakshi Saigal adds, “Our brand infuses nine botanicals and sources junipers from Macedonia. We’ve poured our hearts, souls and spirits into creating a ‘first class’ product. While expanding to new geographies, the brand stays true to its identity.”

Anand’s passion made him go on a juniper hunting spree. He found it in the Himalayas and this was used to make one of the finest gins, Hapusa. Yangdup Lama, renowned mixologist and bar-owner, who is also a consultant with Hapusa, says, “Gin is becoming the preferred drink. Despite its market share being less, it’s growing consistently in the market. The Indian gin is defining the country in a bottle with local flavours like black pepper, nutmeg, mace, coriander, liquorice, cassia bark. A flavour of Hapusa has gondhoraj, which is unique and attractive.”

WITH

THE WHISKY AFFAIR

rising aspirations and increase in the disposable incomes, the consumer wants to try something premium so that there’s a shift from molasses to grain and malt-based spirits as well as an upward movement towards more premium quality drinks. With concepts of #Vocalforlocal and #Supportlocal campaigns, the new breed of entrepreneurs launched homegrown and craft drinks. As the market gets a taste of slowly evolving pattern of alcohol consumption, Aman Thadani, director of business development at Fullarton Distilleries and founder of Woodburns whisky, says, “India’s distinct obsession with Scotch whisky stems from our colonial past. But simply by virtue of being Scotch doesn’t make it world-class and this long-standing opinion needs to change.

Although the whisky market is largely dominated by male consumers, there’s an increase in the number of women open to trying whisky. They are finally being represented as whisky drinkers and many of them are taking up spirits and tasting as a hobby. Woodburns aims to put India on the map of 100 per cent home-grown whisky.”

Paul John whisky introduced its most affordable world-class single malt, Nirvana, in the domestic market in 2019. Yangdup adds, “Indian Paul John whisky’s limited Christmas edition and more has an international presence.”

Market trends show that, at times, even the luxurious scotch and malts find it difficult to compete with the locally brewed whisky when it comes to volume.

THE

THE ‘BREWTASTIC’ FIZZ

rising consumption of Indian craft beer clearly indicates the love of the fizzy drink. Even among newbies — like Yavira, Kati Patang, Beor 360 or BeeYoung — the consumers have their own favourites. United Breweries Limited’s craft style beer, Kingfisher Ultra Witbier, brewed with authentic Belgian wheat beer recipe, has a refreshing and seasonal taste.

Gurpreet Singh, head marketing, adds, “As consumer needs are growing across various categories and there’s been a favourable response towards Kingfisher Ultra Witbier, we thought of entering the capital market with our craft-styled beer. Keeping

the trend and taste palate in mind, we are using natural extracts of orange, coriander, spices sourced from Belgium and new world aromatic hops from USA.” The tricky thing with beer in India is that it sees a seasonal consumption.

Despite this, when in July, in the middle of pandemic, Beor 360 entered the market it performed surprisingly higher numbers than was expected. It brought the freshness of pristine Himalayan spring water from Bhutan with two variants — wheat and lager. Rishabh Ranjan, co-Founder says, “Our beer has top quality ingredients and uses pristine Himalayan spring water. Our pricing is extremely competitive vis-a-vis other imported brands. We are promoting a value product with exceptional taste and notes aligned with the Indian palate.” Another unusual name Bad Monkey Beer has also tiptoed in the market and is making its mark. Young and enthusiastic Rohan Khare, the mastermind behind this brand, says, he is more inclined to give a pallet-friendly taste that enhances the drinking experience. With the maturing market, this one places itself in the bracket of premium, strong and tasteful. Rohan believes that social media platforms are best for advertising the product.

THE

FROM CORK TO CAN

recent wine revolution has seen cork being replaced by cans. With Fratelli and Sula both introducing canned wine — Tilt and Dia respectively — its consumption has got a new look and feel. Chaitanya Rathi, COO, Sula Vineyards is of the opinion “Dia is a much-loved brand. So when we thought of launching the country’s first wine in a can, it was the perfect choice. We wanted to create a wine sparkler that changes the way the country consumes the drink and makes for the perfect transitional drink from day to night in the most effortless and appeasing format of a can. No worrying about corkscrews or glasses, easy to carry, one can crack it open straight from the fridge. Dia epitomises the good life in a convenient way.” Unlike Tilt, Dia cans are only available in Maharashtra and Goa. So, usher in this Valentine’s Day by raising a toast to the “Made in India” spirit.

Heliodorus’ at Vidisha The over 2,000-years-old column documents an important chapter in the history of Takshashila, says KUSHAN MITRA

THE

town of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh is most famous for being ‘Mamaji’s Home’ — Mamaji being Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the Chief Minister of the State. Even in a relatively lower population density area, the alleys of Vidisha are narrow and once inside, one would not know whether one is in MP or a city in the Gangetic plains. Manoeuvering a car inside these crowded streets requires not just the immense skill, that a lifetime of driving on narrow Indian streets brings one, but also a yogic sense of patience and calm to stop worrying about handcarts, cyclists, scooters or even other cars bumping against one’s own. On this front, the all-new Hyundai i20 that we were driving was a fabulous vehicle.

I was on my way to visit the legendary ‘Khamba Baba’. As you cross the Betwa river, on a narrow but modern bridge, to leave the town of Vidisha, through its anaj mandi (grain market), you reach some small hutments, buildings rather than slums, but not a middle-income area if the ubiquitous cow-dung patties are any indication. There, in the

middle of all this, is a small park besides the river. A park with a pillar that does not seem extraordinary at first.

So what’s this pillar all about? It’s over 2,000-years-old and celebrates the conversion of Heliodorus, the Ambassador for the Kingdom of Takshashila, one of the many Indo-Greek kingdoms mainly centred around the region that we know as (undivided) Punjab today. These kingdoms came into being in the midst of Alexander, the Great’s final eastern conquests. Many of his generals, officers and men remained behind and divided up the territories.

I should know all this because, being called Kushan, I’m named after the ruler of the largest and most successful of the Indo-Greek kingdoms.

Takshashila’s king, Antialkidas, sent Heliodorus to the court of King Bhagabhadra of Vidisha and upon his arrival Heliodorus became a worshipper of Vishnu. Of course, one should remember that in times past, there was much more religious fluidity than today, since most polytheistic religions had more similarities than differences.

According to the translation of the Brahmi script on the pillar, it reads: This Garuda column of Vasudeva (Vishnu), the god of gods, was erected here by Heliodorus, a worshipper of Vishnu, the son of Dion and an inhabitant of Takshashila who came as Greek ambassador from the Great King Antialkidas to King Kasiputra Bhagabhadra, the Saviour, then reigning prosperously in the 14th year of his kingship. Three important precepts when practiced lead to heaven: self-restraint, charity, conscientiousness.

What’s truly amazing about this pillar is that it survived. There must’ve been hundreds of such pillars across India. Maybe in ancient times it was akin to foreign dignitaries planting trees nowadays. When it was ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists in the late 1800s, the pillar was first ignored. It was only as British archaeologists got more involved into Indic culture that they realised its importance. It had become a temple of sorts as a ‘Baba’ (holy man) and locals venerated it without knowing its historical importance. That respect ensured that the pillar was not destroyed. That and, possibly, the fact that Madhya Pradesh isn’t as densely populated as the plains. The pillar and the Baba, which is why locals call it the ‘Khamba Baba’ (Holy Man Pillar),

survived and the Baba performed an annual exorcism on a nearby tamarind tree by driving in a nail to predict about the coming year. The Baba agreed to shift from the site and the pillar was restored. The annual exorcism ritual still takes place.

What is fascinating is that the pillar is just so incongruous where it lies. There are other broken bits, maybe from other pillars or ancient monuments, scattered around the park. And as I walked in, the guard hired by Madhya Pradesh Tourism was about to lock up but he was friendly so he let me in and explained a bit about the pillar and the tree to us. He shared that the previous year, due to the pandemic, saw maybe 10-20 tourists on a regular day who halted enroute between Sanchi and the Udaygiri Caves or some other historical site in this region as central Madhya Pradesh is literally littered with tens of such amazing places.

This is also a reminder that there is history, sometimes, as interesting as this one. While we visit ancient sites across the world, we must make it a point to recognise our own history like this pillar. We could visit it, all thanks to Hyundai’s Great India Drive that lets us explore this great nation.

City

of museums

Bhopal might be known for its lakes, but even the way the city’s galleries document the history and culture of the country is exemplary, says KUSHAN MITRA

DRIVING

into Bhopal from the airport road, you enter the city along the northern shore of the Upper Lake. At night, with the beautifully-lit waterfront and the bright lights of the small but impressive Raja Bhoj Setu, the city looks wonderful. It also helps that the wide boulevard of VIP Road has relatively orderly traffic

by Indian standards. Across the Upper Lake, a neon sign

reads ‘Welcome to the City of Lakes’. The several large reservoirs which dot the city and the surrounding countryside make Bhopal one of the prettiest cities in India. And it’s taking advantage of these water bodies by training the next generation of Indian water sports’ athletes. Every evening, on the southern bank of the Upper Lake, thousands of locals gather to walk up and down the shore front with street food vendors, performers and horse-drawn buggies all competing for one’s attention (and money).

At the southern bank lies the lower entrance to the Rashtriya Manav Sanghralaya, translated as the ‘National Museum of Man’ although a more appropriate English name should be the National Anthropological Museum. The eye-popping place has the largest and most impressive collection of any Indian museum.

Painstakingly put-together replicas of houses from various regions and a wonderful collection of sculptures

depicting traditional tribal myths of myriad indigenous peoples make the several outdoor sites a must-visit. It’s particularly true when we worry about homogenisation of culture, food and language in the country.

It’s such a vast space that one returns for a second time to see the fabulous indoor collection. The display in the reserve collection room in the indoor museum can fill up entire galleries in other nations. You would happily spend tens of dollars or euros to visit such a place abroad, yet, in Bhopal one room in a museum outdoes entire collections. This room is fantastic and you can see aspects of life from across the country, from clothes, cookware, sickles, threshers to weapons. Though, there are separate individual rooms where specific collections are kept and often rotated, like the room of masks right now. This is where you can see the role masks have played in story-telling across different regions. You see how different, yet how similar, masks across this diverse nation of ours are.

Visiting this museum is a humbling experience and you would be happy if this was the only major museum in this city.

But no, after driving out in the all-new Hyundai i20 from the upper exit of the Manav Sanghralaya, one can quickly go to the twin state museums — The Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum and the Madhya Pradesh State Museum. The more modern Tribal Museum, in one of India’s larger states that historically had a huge number

of indigenous tribes, is a celebration of culture. What’s remarkable is that few pieces are ancient but most of the artifacts are newly-created by tribal artisans which doesn’t just bring these stories to life but it ensures the continuity of the knowledge, the legends and the skills required to sustain these traditions. Sure, the lights inside the museum are a bit funky and you might think that you could be at a fancy nightclub , but some pieces — such as the exaggerated ceremonial bangle and the amazing story of ancestors — could adorn any modern art museum in the world.

The Madhya Pradesh State Museum too is brilliant.

It isn’t modern and the entire place could use a lick of paint, better lighting and more information about the artifacts, but what a collection. It reminds us that history is all around us everywhere in India and we just have to scratch the surface. The vastness of the collection here means that you can’t see it in a single day but if you have any interest, whatsoever, in the history of our great country and landmass, this is one museum you must come and visit.

There are a lot of things to do in and around Bhopal.

Other than the museums, the city has some fantastic sites and in the Old City, there are some great places to eat as well as more contemporary historical sites to visit.

It isn’t the most ‘happening’ city, when it comes to nightlife, but it is one that every Indian should make a point to visit.

GURUSPEAK Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Spiritual Guru

When you take the responsibility for clearing up a past conflict, you bring harmony

EACH

TIME FOR FORGIVENES

year many cultures around the world celebrate a day of forgiveness, a time when you ask people around you — those you know and those you don’t — to forgive you. The Jewish community celebrates Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, while some communities in India celebrate kshamavani.

As individuals, we sometimes feel that we haven’t done anything wrong, yet the other person believes that some injustice has been done to him/her. If the others perceives us as the cause for their pain or suffering, it is wise for us to apologise. Even when we sneeze, without our knowledge, we’re killing many germs. Every action — when we walk, talk or do something else — has some flaws. Any action could have hurt someone.

Therefore, if without our knowledge our actions have hurt someone, we should not hesitate to ask for forgiveness. Knowingly or unknowingly,

intentionally or unintentionally, if you have hurt someone by your thought, word or deed, you should request them to pardon you.

Neither forgiving nor asking for forgiveness will make one’s social status dip. In fact, it shows one’s strength. You are taking responsibility for clearing up some conflict that has happened in the past and bringing harmony. The respect that you gain by your compassion and broad-mindedness cannot be lost.

Today, there is an excess of hatred, tension and violence in the world. There is domestic violence at home, atrocities between communities and conflicts between countries. In such a world, observing a day of forgiveness is of great significance. If everyone in the world could practise forgiveness — both asking and giving — many of the world’s conflicts could be solved.

Many of the conflicts in families and in relationships would be resolved.

EXOTICA [54] FEBRUARY 2021

We don’t plan our own mistakes. Most of them stem from a lack of awareness. If we do not plan our mistakes, what makes us think that the other person intends to make their mistakes? All faults are made out of either a lack of awareness or ignorance. When we don’t have compassion for someone when they make a mistake and forgive them, we’ll seek revenge. We then become bound to a cycle of negative feelings.

Forgiveness shields and protects our mind and spirit from being violent.

Have compassion for those who have hurt you.

When you think of forgiving, you normally think of someone as a culprit and you see an intention behind the culprit’s mistake. When you are

compassionate, you recognise the ignorance behind the person’s mistake.

Compassion is even better than pardoning. In forgiveness, you see an intention behind a mistake.

But, in compassion, you go a step further and look into the person’s heart, beyond their words, behaviour and see the wound in the person that caused them to make the mistake. When there’s a wound inside an individual, s/he will try to share it with other people. What else can s/he do?

Let’s celebrate a day of forgiveness, whether directly or through prayer. Let’s ask the whole universe to absolve us. Then there will be less hatred, jealousy and pain in the world and we can live together as one family.

EXOTICA [55] FEBRUARY 2021

FITNESS

Work from home has drastically reduced activity.

This can affect your health adversely in the long run

Bharat Thakur is a yoga guru and founder of Artistic Yoga

HOLDTHATPOSE WE

are living through unprecedented times when life and work have been thrown into total disarray. During this time of pandemic, many people are working from home.

The internet, computers, mobile phones and modern technology have made this possible and it’s a trend that may continue.

Work always carries some health risks and especially work at home as we may not have the right seating and set-up that we have at the workplace. This can result in bad posture that stresses our joints and muscles. Without the physical movement of commuting, meetings, interactions with work colleagues, working from home is likely to be much more sedentary. Sitting for long periods causes muscle fatigue. This reduces blood circulation to your muscles, tendons

and ligaments and can result in stiffness and pain.

Overuse of mobiles and keyboards, can lead to elbow, wrist or hand numbness and pain.

Yoga can help us to counter these negative effects. First of all, every single cell, of the 30 to 40 trillion cells, in our body needs good oxygen supply, nutrition and water. They get all of these through our blood. To get our circulation going, we need physical movement.

The ancient yogis formulated an entire system with asanas that stretch and contract the muscles by holding postures.

Stretching is instinctive and the body’s reflex response when it’s cramped. When we stretch, stiffness, tiredness and spasms disappear. Asanas (postures) like Tadasana, Vrikshasana (Tree), Bhujangasana (Cobra) stretch the spine and benefit

EXOTICA [56] FEBRUARY 2021

the body and mind in many other ways as well.

The other vital aspect of yoga is holding postures. This is known as an isostatic form of exercise and many people don’t realise its benefits. When you hold a particular posture, a group of muscles contract and stay contracted as long as you are in that position. The maximum force is produced by the muscle, the maximum muscle fibres are used and the muscles reach their peak performance. This induces a much greater level of blood circulation than if you were moving the muscles. The more the contraction, the greater the blood circulation. This boosts our fitness and health.

The yogis included stretches in asanas along with contractions and often applied a stretch on top of a contraction. When the muscles are engaged like this, the endocrine system releases hormones to cells throughout the body.

The glands, spine, bones, systems, skin and every single part is affected and benefits.

So, if you are working from home, build some time for yoga into your day. You don’t need a lot of space and only a yoga mat or a thick towel to practise it. Vrikshasana and Bhujangasana will stretch and relax your spine and body. Vayu Nishkasana and Ardha Matsyendrasana are both stretches and contractions.

If you are stiff, be gentle with yourself and do only as much as you can comfortably. When you practise asanas regularly, the body gradually opens up. It comes back into its natural alignment. All its systems resume their natural balance. This results in good sleep, good digestion and elimination. Your energy levels will be higher and you get that famous yoga glow. You actually start looking younger because the ageing process slows down at the cellular level. So much can happen if you can be still and hold a posture.

VAYU NISHKASANA

o Squat with feet two feet apart o Place fingers under the feet’s sides with thumbs above o Elbows are slightly bent, upper arm presses against inside of knees. Keep eyes open o Slowly inhale as you move the head back o Slowly exhale, as you gently straighten knees, raise buttocks, bring head towards knees o Inhale as you resume squat position and begin round two o Do three-five rounds BENEFITS: o Stretches and tones the entire spine and spinal nerves o Stretches the nerves and muscles of the thighs, knees, shoulders, arms and neck o Relieves flatulence in the body

EXOTICA [57] FEBRUARY 2021

ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA

o Sit with back straight, legs stretched out in front o Bend left knee and place under right leg, with foot close to right buttock o Bend right knee, place right leg across left knee o With left hand, lock right knee in place by holding on to right foot or ankle or place left hand on the left knee or simply hold right knee with your left palm or elbow o Place the right arm behind your back o Now twist the back and look behind you o Hold for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally o Reverse legs and repeat BENEFITS: o Stretches the back, increases flexibility and tones spinal nerves o Exerts gentle pressure on liver, strengthens and stimulates it o Massages all abdominal organs, helps digestion o Helps diabetics as it exerts gentle pressure on pancreas and stimulates insulin production

VRIKSHASANA

o Stand straight, feet together o Fold one leg, place it close to groin o Focus on a point in front of you to keep balance o First straighten arms horizontally to your side o Raise arms up and bring palms together o Hold for 30 seconds o Repeat with other leg BENEFITS: o Develops balance, helps to prevent falls o Straightens the spine o Strengthens the ankles, knees and legs o Strengthens the hip and pelvic bones

BHUJANGASANA

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 and 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

EXOTICA [58] FEBRUARY 2021

NUMBERGAME Sanjay Jumaani Numerologist

COUNT YOUR FATE

NUMBER 1 (Those born on the 1st, 10th, 19th and 28th of any month) An amiable work atmosphere might make you confident about your initiatives. This might aid you in fulfilling your desires and probably also improve your financial status. Loved ones might support your endeavours and motivate you to take up new challenges. Try not to make any associations or partnerships.

NUMBER 4 (Those born on the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st of any month) You might have a lot of desires trying to take concrete shape.

However, seek help from loved ones or friends to develop a more balanced approach. You might be able to do things that are beyond ordinary in the professional domain. Be tolerant with solutions and let things take their natural course.

NUMBER 7 (Those born on the 7th, 16th and 25th of any month) You have a favourable month in the personal domain. You might also get the opportunity to address your potential on the professional front and this might probably give you ample scope to showcase your talents. Your positive approach and organisational skills might earn the respect of your seniors.

NUMBER 2 (Those born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th and 29th of any month) People might take advantage of you if you don’t analyse the situation minutely and take necessary precautions. Look out for answers to questions that have troubled you and interfered with your mental peace.

Sometimes it might be better to take the less travelled road if one plans to progress steadily.

NUMBER 5 (Those born on the 5th, 14th and 23rd of any month) This, perhaps, isn’t the most appropriate time to wait for life to grant you the recognition that you deserve. Your results bear testimony to your hard work. Try and take things in your hand and do the needful. If planning to adopt a new approach then this is probably the right time.

Listen to your sixth sense.

NUMBER 8 (Those born on the 8th, 17th and 26th of any month) You might be close to winding up certain issues in your life. But it might be beneficial not to deviate from concentrating on the finishing line. Restructure your plans and you might see the advantages of the shift.

Misinterpretation by loved ones might complicate simple situations if not handled well.

NUMBER 3 (Those born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th of any month) There might be an urge to succeed and make a difference.

However, practice patience even if things don’t turn out the way you desire. There might also be some unexpected but pleasant circumstances related to matters of the heart. You might be able to get your share of attention towards month-end.

NUMBER 6 (Those born on the 6th, 15th and 24th of any month) There might be chances of minor problems with loved ones leading to stress. Try to say more with fewer words and you might be able to maintain emotional harmony. Be consistent and don’t over react.

Avoid holding grudges against people as it might harm you more than the person.

NUMBER 9 (Those born on the 9th, 18th and 27th of any month) You may have aimed too high for yourself and might need to face some disappointments. Try to stay within the practicalities of life if you plan to progress steadily. Pay close attention to minute details even if you are getting pretty close to the finishing line. Think carefully before taking any action.

EXOTICA [59] FEBRUARY 2021

HOTWHEELS

When Kushan Mitra Auto & tech expert

ELEVEN

matters

The luxury sedan segment is on an upswing with Audi, BMW and Volvo hitting the market

centimetres may not seem like much. Indeed, it is almost as long as your typical ballpoint pen. But sitting in the back seat of the new BMW 3-Series Gran Limousine, whose wheelbase is eleven centimetres longer than the traditional 3-series, you feel the additional space and realise that even small differences can make a big impact.

The 3-series Gran Limousine is the latest launch from BMW India and, even though January has not ended, this is the Bavarian carmaker’s second launch of the year after the petrol engines variant of the 2-series Gran Coupe. The company’s President for India, Vikram Pawah, told me that there will be

25 new vehicles launched by the company this year.

And despite 2020 being rough for the luxury segment, Pawah told me that sales have recovered to pre-COVID and beyond. “The year will see much improved numbers as the economy recovers because we are confident in the fact that there will not be another lockdown in India. Keep in mind that in 2020 we effectively lost an entire quarter.”

So the Gran Limousine is a comfortable car indeed. It is surprisingly comfortable, in fact. The ride quality feels superior to the regular sedan and even though I am not a fan of extended wheelbase cars, to drive, this one does not in any way feel compromised compared to the regular 3-series. Sure,

most people who will consider this vehicle would sit at the back and seeing the success of the extended wheelbase Mercedes-Benz E-Class in India, this should do very well. But if you do sit behind the wheel, it is quite good fun to drive.

I drive the 260PS 330Li Luxury Line petrol engine variant which, at `51.5 lakh, is a great combination of power and luxury and as it comes with all the toys, such as wireless smartphone connectivity, it possibly makes more sense to buy this over the standard 3-series. Although, if you’re always driving yourself and don’t have many rear seat passengers, stick to the regular car. But there is great value in this vehicle. It is longer and has a third more power if you choose the petrol and, unlike its competition, there are diesel options as well.

And the Gran Limousine, new as it is, creates a major problem for the other new players in the segment which include the refreshed ‘Made In India’ Audi A4 and the second-generation Volvo S60. I loved the Swedish car. Sure, the key fob is slightly esoteric and it lacked paddle-shifters and this was the first time I actually missed them on a car. It features a petrol engine with an output of 190PS. But the car is an esoteric choice. It looks nice and if you want a different choice from the Germans, it is a great car to have, especially if you have a young

family. I took mine out in the Volvo and the hard sell the company does on safety does stick inside your head. My seven-month old was safely tucked away in his seat and the overall light colour scheme and panoramic sunroof appealed to me and even the baby, I guess. It isn’t the most enthusiastic vehicle out there; yeah, you could make a case for it at around `46 lakh.

The refreshed Audi A4 is likewise a fun car to drive. Unlike its rivals, Audi has made its speed alarm audible but not deafening and, for that alone, it should be complimented. The new car looks good but could have done with nicer wheels. It does give a positive indication for the carmaker from Ingolsdadt. The new A4 lacks a diesel option much like all other products from the Skoda-Volkswagen group in India and features the same 190PS two-litre petrol that services the Q2 and the Tiguan. The top-end Technology version is `46.7 lakh. While `70,000 isn’t all that much, putting the S60 and A4 next to each other does make you wonder which is the better car to buy. Sure, the German car is better to drive but as a day to day commuter in an urban environment?

But honestly, I’d spend a bit for eleven centimetres. Size isn’t everything but it isn’t a bad thing either!

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I N S TA D I A R I E S

KIRTI KULHARI wants to know, “What does it mean to be HUMAN??? #HUMAN. Started shooting for my next — A series. And am super thrilled to collaborate with some super-talented people.”

BEHIND THE SCENES Celebrities give a peek into what goes on during a film shoot. And that is certainly an interesting story worthy of grabbing eyeballs

AKSHAY KUMAR is happy with, “New year, old associations...begun shooting for #BachchanPandey, my 10th film with #SajidNadiadwala, and hopefully many more.

Need your best wishes and do tell me your thoughts on the look.”

DHANUSH looks back and says, “#atrangire #delhi #finalschedule thank you for the pic @harjeetsphotography.”

AJAY DEVGN looks intensely and says, “It’s always immensely satisfying to be on set. One long schedule almost wrapped, next one is around the corner.”

PULKIT SAMRAT remembers the good times, “Goofy, fun & gorgeous! Can you guess who my co-star is in #SuswagatamKhushaamadeed? Wait for it ! Big reveal ;).”

EXOTICA [62] FEBRUARY 2021

KONKONA SEN SHARMA, the powerhouse performer recalls the shoot fondly and says, “Our film RAM PRASAD KI TEHRVI is releasing in theatres! Here are some of the wonderful people involved, including our Director Sahiba @seemabhargavapahwa who also found time to cook amrud ki sabzi for us in the midst of her directorial debut!”