Exotica July 2016

EXOTICA

RNI NO. DELENG/2006/18084 POSTAL REGN. NO. DL (C)-01/1151/2016-2018 Posted at NDPSO on 10th, 11th & 12th of same month Published on 30th of Advance Month

VOL 10 NO 9 JULY 2016

Editor-in-Chief CHANDAN MITRA EDITORIAL BOARD Vice-Chairman & Joint Managing Director Amit Goel Group President Aparna Sengupta 09958000128 Chief Executive Officer Abhishek Saxena EDITORIAL Editor-in-Charge Rinku Ghosh Feature Writers Priyanka Joshi & Devi Singh Chief Designer Anand Singh Rawat Senior Designer Santosh Kumar Yadav Pre-press Manager Syed Nawab Raza Staff Photographer Pankaj Kumar SALES & MARKETING General Manager Kumar Gurudutta Jha Deputy General Manager Ravi Khatri Manager Bharat Singh Sajwan, Prabhakar Pathak GOVERNMENT & PSU General Manager Tapan Ghosh Assistant Manager Neeta Rai Media Coordinator Neelu Sharma MUMBAI OFFICE General Manager Devendra Adhikari 09867575933 KOLKATA OFFICE Vice President Suzanna Roy 09830197332 General Manager (Circulation) Rajeev Gautam Printed and published by Chandan Mitra for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd, printed at Lustra Print Process Pvt Ltd, Killa No. 51/21, Village: Rohad, District: Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Haryana and published at 2nd floor, Patriot House, 3, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002.

Editor: Chandan Mitra. Entire Contents Copyright (C) 2006 CMYK Printech Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation in any language in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Requests for permission should be directed to CMYK Printech Ltd. Opinions carried in Exotica are the writers’ and not necessarily endorsed by CMYK Printech Ltd. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material or for material lost or damaged in transit. All correspondence should be addressed to CMYK Printech Ltd; 2nd Floor, Patriot House, 3, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002 Phone: 23718296/40754136 Fax: 23755275 Email: exoticapioneer2016@gmail.com

FROM THE EDITOR

MIDDLE INDIAN ASPIRATIONS

BABA

Ramdev’s products have expanded to a ` 5,000 crore empire and last heard Patanjali is planning a premium range of products and processing units across the country, giving MNCs a run for their money. Not that we haven’t had home-grown entrepreneurs of all things herbal and curative. Yet it is Baba who holds sway, riding the crest of India’s massive pravachan industry.

Unlike many of his compatriots, the muscular Haryanvi swami is not essentially a philosopher. He is a doer more than a thinker, delivering crisp messages on the applicability of religious texts to everyday life. Baba Ramdev’s appeal derives from his mastery over Yoga, which he popularises as a panacea for almost every illness. He claims he can cure cancer and AIDS too with his unique formula that entails practice of Yoga alongside a special diet whose ingredients too his Patanjali group has to provide. In less than a decade, the Patanjali Yogashram has built a huge network of outlets for its organic food products and beverages that are prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners stationed at these outlets. Now they are at big city departmental stores.

Meanwhile the Baba’s popularity has surged phenomenally, thanks to his early morning yoga expositions on TV. A talkative man, the Baba expounds on various domestic and international issues. He promotes restructuring of India’s educational and agricultural system with simplistic but appealing notions like technical courses being taught in the mother tongue or organic farming with drip irrigation. The semi-urban (small town) Indian middle class, left out of the zooming growth curve of the English-speaking, Westoriented metropolitan elite, eagerly laps up these “solutions.”

Here lies the fundamental difference between Baba Ramdev and the rest of his tribe. The others, many of them early movers in the TV race like Morari Bapu, Asaram Bapu, Sudhanshu Maharaj, Ma Anandamoyee, Mata Amritanandamayi, focus on the individual. They sermonise on morality, healthy lifestyle, relevance of religion in today’s material world, meditation and so on, aimed at providing salvation to the individual. Sri Sri Ravishankar branched out to build his own model, part-individual, part-collective, by organising yoga-cum-meditation camps of diverse sizes to promote what he named the Art of Living. An engaging speaker, Sri Sri’s appeal too grew rapidly and his command over the English language enabled him to spread his message globally.

It is difficult to say why and exactly when Baba Ramdev forayed out of conventional models of the yoga-pravachan industry to build his unique brand of socially relevant sermonising. His declared agenda has very little to do with yoga or spirituality except in the remote sense of using these instruments to build a healthier nation and purify human beings both internally and externally.

Probably, Ramdev himself has not yet figured out a clear-cut road map. But the way people have responded to his anti-corruption message must be giving him ideas on how to expand his influence beyond that of a yoga preacher. He launched a nationwide movement, calling it Bharat Swabhiman Yatra, to trudge across 100,000 km in a bid to rouse people out of their inertia on nation-building. The move invited scepticism and criticism. But it is not concrete accomplishment that will determine the Baba’s growth trajectory; it is faith and hope. It is the dream that Middle India would like to hang on to. It is the belief that a missionary crusader will ensure equal opportunities to Middle India’s children and help brighten their futures and lifestyles, and deliver them from the domination of the metropolitan elite that is propelling Baba’s campaign. May be the dream will get betrayed. On the other hand, may be some good will come out of it. But whatever happens, Middle India has served notice on the ruling elite: They can no longer be ignored or deprived of the opportunities their urban counterparts have grabbed for themselves over the last 64 years.

[CHANDAN MITRA] Editor-in-Chief

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I N S I D E JULY 2016 VOLUME 10 NO 9

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Foreign shores [p66] Can the new Canada: Adventurous experiences Little Black Book [p8] Fashion files [p70] Priya Sachdev: A quick peek Ink me blue: The magic of into her style file indigo COVER PHOTO: THE BOATMAN KEEPS Celeb Haunts [p72] Roadie Diary [p22] AN EYE OUT ON THE BRAHMAPUTRA A starry vacay: Celebrity The closing loop: Explore IN ASSAM, NEAR GAGALMARI peninsular India holiday destinations VILLAGE. AP/ANUPAM NATH Q&A [p38] Beat box [p84] Match Point: Vijay Amritraj RocknRolla: Parikrama on Magical Monsoon their silver jubilee Kushan Mitra [p82] [p46] Sports Gallery [p90] Hotwheels: Heartbreak on the racetrack India by road: Tim Chittock on When it pours: Magandeep Singh [p96] covering Golden Quadrilateral Offbeat Blithe spirit: The Devil’s cup monsoon Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [p100] destinations Guruspeak: Get out of the rut Food stops Bharat Thakur [p102] [p50] [p104] Fitness: Check that gland Eat, Pray, Love: Sanjay Jumaani [p104] Ramadan special in [p38] Number game: Count your fate the Nizami city

CONTRIBUTORS

TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES 108 INCLUDING COVER

OUR

PARTNER

HOTELS

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FAVOURITE HAUNTS OF STYLISH PEOPLE

I have a huge collection of Breguet watches.

I love to wear espadrilles in the day and pigalles at night. Sophia Webster and Chiara Ferragni are my favourites in shoes.

PRIYA SACHDEV is a businesswoman and a former model. She has also featured in music videos and Hindi films. Currently she looks after interpretation of luxury brands in India

I’m a huge fan of sunnies. I think Warby Parker makes some fabulous drool-worthy glasses.

Oscar De La Renta is my favourite brand. Although my prized possession would be the Chanel tweed dress and jacket that I have in my closet.

I have a thing for fiction and spiritual books. Right now I’m reading Freakonomics. It’s fun to flip through it.

I’m basically a beach person. I love sun, sand and clear blue skies.

I head to Mykonos in Greece and Ko Kut in Thailand when I need to chill.

I would love to go to Vietnam next.

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TRAVEL NEWS

TOP OF THE WORLD

and Madrid have made it to the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) ratings yet again. Barcelona came at third position and Madrid at fifth with 180 and 171 meetings in 2015 respectively. Spain was listed fourth overall as an excellent MICE destination. The high quality infrastructure of conference halls and hotels enables the country to hold events any time of the year, making it a prized hotspot of business tourism.

BARCELONA

WATER GAMES Pradesh has planned a host of adventure and water sport activities across the state, including parasailing, jeep parasailing, paramotoring, water skiing among others, at Bhavani islands in Vijayawada. In order to strengthen the tourism development in the state, Andhra Pradesh is also launching 33 hotels offering more than 2,766 rooms.

Encouraging heli tourism, the state is coming up with sea planes in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kakinada.

ANDHRA

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INNOVATING THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS Pursuing a friendly business interface and reaching out to consumers

Increased coal ‘quantity’ with assured ‘quality’

Quality — driving motto in business operations

Leveraging ICT in getting closer to customers

Coordinating with Railways for improved coal evacuation

Electronic Surveillance at weighbridges to bring efficiency in coal despatches

Transactions with company brought under electronic platform thereby eliminating delays

For quality assurance Third Party Sampling through CIMFR — a government body

COAL INDIA LIMITED (A Maharatna Company)

COACH HOLIDAYS, ANYONE?

THOMAS Cook, India, has launched a new range of domestic coach holidays, prepackaged services offering air-conditioned, Wi-Fi enabled travel modes.

Targeting families, senior citizens, young couples and ad hoc groups, coach holiday packages will include transportation and accommodation in lower to mid-scale hotels. Initial packages will cover destinations such as Kerala, the Golden Triangle, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh with departures from major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

BARRACKS TO RESORT has relaunched its Le Meridien brand in Singapore, following the conversion of a former military barrack on the resort island of Sentosa. Designed by DP Architects and Super Potato — Le Meridien Singapore Sentosa is set in a restored pair of barracks which housed Southeast Asia’s first Malay artillery back in 1940.

Set alongside a contemporary building, the hotel

STARWOOD

becomes the first Le Meridien in Singapore since a decade. The resort offers guests access to nearby attractions including Universal Studios, the SEA Aquarium and the newly-opened KidZania. The property features 191 rooms and suites, including units with outdoor Japanese onsen pools and a duplex penthouse with its own rooftop garden and pool, a functional space and a ballroom with floorto-ceiling windows.

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SAFARI TRAIL Railways has launched the Tiger Express, a semiluxury train that will allow passengers to explore the country’s tiger trail. Operated

by IRCTC, the train will take passengers to Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in Madhya Pradesh as well as the Dhuadhar waterfall in Bedhaghat near Jabalpur. The

INDIAN

five-day/six-night itinerary includes three tiger safaris, of three nights accommodation at Mogli Resorts in Bandhavgarh and Kanha, sightseeing trips, road transportation, buffet meals, inter-city transfers and travel insurance.

IRCTC is now planning to launch more tourist circuit trains, encompassing sectors such as elephant and desert tourism.

SHARK ADVENTURE great white shark conservation was pioneered in South Africa, the first country to declare this toothy predator a protected species. The United Nations observes July 14 as Shark Awareness Day. Of the 100-odd shark species swimming in South African waters, there is one that captures the imagination like no other — the great white. Its size alone has entered the realm of myth. The great whites were often killed as they were feared. But the tide started to turn in 1991 with South Africa becoming the first country in the world to introduce conservation. It was also in the early 1990s that the shark tourism industry took off to spread awareness about them.

THE

SUMMER FUN is that time of the year when you book a big summer holiday with your family and friends.

Book your stay with Atlantis The Palm and step into another world filled with adventure, fun, relaxation and an array of culinary delights where there is something for everyone. With the “Special Summer half board offer”, guests can enjoy an array of cuisines at the award-winning restaurants that include the recently launched Lebanese restaurant, Ayamna. The offer starts from `30,900 per night for all room occupants. Bookings are on until September 30.

IT

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SMALL WONDER Yashas Dassani, a spontaneous nine-year-old boy from Mumbai, recently stepped into the shoes of Lufthansa’s cabin crew and made the first live onboard “announcement by a kid” on flight LH 756 from Frankfurt to Mumbai in the presence of more than 350 passengers. Yashas had outclassed children from several other countries to top Lufthansa’s global “Your Announcement Contest”.

Before stepping aboard, Yashas visited Lufthansa’s crew premises at Frankfurt airport where he received his own flight attendant uniform. A Lufthansa pilot then explained to Yashas how the crew prepares a long-haul flight and invited him to have a closer look at a Boeing 747-400.

INDIA’S

DISNEY MANIA Walt Disney Company has opened its Disney Resort in Shanghai — a first in Mainland China and sixth worldwide.

A three-day grand opening celebration commemorated the culmination of one of the largest foreign investment projects in China’s history and Disney’s largest investment till date outside of the United States. The resort’s opening is the result of a long collaborative relationship with the Shanghai Municipal Government and joint venture partner Shanghai Shendi Group, offering a new world-class tourism destination for guests.

THE

THE DUNE TUNE have found a new hot destination in Ras Al Khaimah, which recently recorded a growth of 37 per cent arrivals in the first quarter of this year.

The figures indicate that India is the fourth largest international inbound market for Ras Al Khaimah.

In line with the current tourism development strategy, RAK TDA recently conducted road shows and one-on-one interactions with Indian

INDIANS

travel trade partners to educate them about the tourist offerings of the emirate. Located 45 minutes from Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah boasts of pristine beaches, mountains and a unique terracotta desert. The place offers natural assets, luxurious indulgence and authentic Arabic heritage and culture which continue to attract leisure and business travellers from India.

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EVENT CALENDAR

JULYFLY

Add some quirk to the month of July with these days 5TH JULY

8TH JULY

[WORLD UFO DAY]

2ND JULY

[BIKINI DAY]

[SCUD DAY]

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No – it’s an unidentified flying object.

Celebrate UFO Day by looking at the sky, visiting Roswell and watching sci-fi films.

The invention of the bikini took place in 1946 by a Parisian fashion designer, Louis Reard. The goal of this day is to get to the closest beach.

This day was created to put aside the drama in your life and living with humour and laughter in chillout zones. No need to put on the thinking cap now.

10TH JULY

23RD JULY

25TH JULY

[DON’T STEP ON A BEE DAY]

[GORGEOUS GRANDMA DAY]

[THREAD THE NEEDLE DAY]

Bee lies in the balance. With their numbers in some countries having halved in the last decade with no apparent cause, it’s vital that we take care to maintain bee populations.

Many people around the world say that we do not do enough to honour our elderly. No complaints anymore as we have Gorgeous Grandma Day.

It’s a chance to brush up your sewing skills, or to learn how — if you don’t know already. Come on, it’s not that tough.

27TH JULY

30TH JULY

31ST JULY

[HOUSEPLANT FOR A WALK DAY]

[FATHER-IN-LAW DAY]

[UNCOMMON INSTRUMENT AWARENESS DAY]

The idea behind this day is to celebrate plants and to acquaint yourself with their immediate environment.

It’s a wonderful occasion to strengthen your relationship and spend some quality time with your father-in-law and enjoy the new-found bond.

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Break out your bubble organ, laser harp, clackamore, fluba, dulcimer or double violin and go crazy.

Q

HILL TOP

uaint retreat

Satpura range is known for its undulating landscape and variety of flora and fauna. Amidst its lush green valley, dark ravines and maze of gorges sculpted in red sandstone lies a serene hill station — Pachmarhi — also known as the “Queen of Satpura”. It’s no less than a fairyland where azure pools, fascinating birds and animals fill you with thrill and awe. Some of the must-see wonders: Milky Waterfalls Pachmarhi is full of waterfalls like Priyadarshini, Jamuna Prapat and Rajat Prapat to name a few.

Priyadarshini fall was discovered by Captain Forsyth in 1857 and is also known as Forsyth Point as it serves as a vantage point for the hill.

Mesmerising Pools With its topography supporting a plethora of activities, Pachmarhi is an ideal place for a picnic amid natural beauty. Apsara Vihar and Irene Pool add to the sylvan appeal of the Satpuras. Sunder Kund, located in the Jambu Dweep stream, is good for swimmers. Sangam is apt for bathing as it’s the lowest spot on the Denwa. Vanshri Vihar is another beautiful spot bordered by ferns and semi-tropical vegetation.

Colonial Architecture The Catholic Church of 1892 was built with Belgian stained glass windows — a blend of French and

THE

Pachmarhi offers tranquility with scenic beauty and is the most picturesque tourist spot in Madhya Pradesh

Irish architecture. Christ Church boasts of stained glass panes adorning the walls with a rear of the altar imported from Europe.

Natural Wonders Sculpted by winds and natural occurrence, Pachmarhi has many natural Shiva shrines. One of them is the Chhota Mahadeo in Mahadeo hills. It is a narrow point in the valley with rocks overhanging the stream. Jata Shankar is a sacred cave under a mass of boulders with Jambu Dweep as its source.

An awesome rocky formation of the place resembles the matted locks of Shiva.

Awesome Satpura The high peaks of Dhoopgarh and Mahadeo — deep natural valleys, tall mountains, rivulets and waterfalls — combine to make Satpura National Park one of the best parks in the state.

GETTING THERE Air: Nearest airport is Bhopal Rail: Mumbai Howrah mainline via Allahabad Road: Buses and cabs are available from Pipariya which is 50 km away from Pachmarhi STAYING THERE MP Tourism has a chain of 14 hotels to suit all budget types with colonial cottages transformed into heritage hotels BEST TIME TO VISIT Monsoons (July to August)

ROADIE DIARY

ROADIE DIARY

Continuing their road Odyssey, CHANDAN MITRA and SHOBORI GANGULI resume their trip from Kochi, traversing the sylvan stretches of the Konkan coast through Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, visiting some splendid getaways off the coastline too, on their return journey to Delhi, covering nearly 10,000 km circumambulating Mother India. Presenting the last of the Bharat Parikrama series

THE CLOSING LOOP

START KOCHI 00

DURING

Parliament’s Budget Session, while I was chatting with friends in the Central Hall one late morning, my cellphone rang. I noticed it was Suju Krishnan from Malabar Gateway in Kochi. My immediate thought was that my car, parked in his hotel premises, had got damaged.

But Suju had called not to report damage but to request me to send the car keys by courier at the earliest. The reason was somewhat amusing but not to be trifled with. Apparently a family of mongooses had taken fancy to the car’s undercarriage and could be spotted playing there all the time. Suju said he feared that their innocent frolicking could result in wires being chewed up and the vehicle’s sophisticated computer system becoming dysfunctional. I had experienced something similar some years ago when a few puppies chewed up wires and the car became immobile.

I told Suju it was the driver’s mistake that he

EXOTICA [24] JULY 2016

brought the keys back to Delhi and I would immediately have them couriered. He said he wanted the car to be moved to a location outside the target of the playful mongooses, who seemed to have been greatly enamoured to find a stationary object that did not threaten them, unlike their usual enemy — the slithering snake. Suju later reported that the operation had been successfully conducted, the car had a new location and mongooses were back chasing their traditional combatants.

We reached Kochi on the evening of April 6, two weeks after Part I of the Budget Session ended and my duties as Chairman of the Standing Committee of Commerce also concluded when we cleared the Demand for Grants with some modifications. The Land Rover Discovery 4 had, meanwhile, had its battery recharged and minor repairs done in readiness for the next leg of my parikrama. On this leg we were keen to take it even easier, observing coastal destinations in a more leisurely way.

The drive from Kochi to Mangalore

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KOZHIKODE: FISHING FOR HISTORY KOZHIKODE 182.8 km

SO

our first halt was Kozhikode (Calicut of yore), where it is said Vasco da Gama first landed. It is not as bustling a port as it must have been in the Portuguese explorer’s time but the seafront was busy enough with hundreds of fishing boats lining up along the shore, disgorging their catch or in preparation for a perilous journey into the deep.

Significantly, the Taj Group seems to have consciously taken over plots or properties along the beach everywhere. In all our internet searches for good hotels on or near sea beaches, Taj Gateway invariably cropped up, be it Kochi, Kozhikode or Mangalore. We booked at Taj outlets with the assurance of their fine service, without spending time looking for other options.

I had initially thought of stopping at Mahe, yet another erstwhile French outpost but the small town passed by us even before we could

EXOTICA [26] JULY 2016

(Clockwise) The church at Mahe; a fisherman with his cart; a local eatery; snakeboats ploughing the still waters; solitary moment on the beach and the sweeping backwaters

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exclaim “Vive le Republique!�

Having travelled past several former French outposts, such as Yennam, Karaikal and the Dutch colony of Tranquebar, I felt saddened at the state of decay of the once-magnificent historic buildings and churches. Many of them may have been classified as heritage sites but the maintenance is negligible. Also little effort has been made to develop them as tourist attractions although many Europeans come visiting them annually. It is not uncommon to see elderly Europeans wandering through the streets to locate the town cemetery in search of the tombs of their ancestors. All these towns contain a great deal of history in their bosom which needs to be brought into the public domain lest succeeding generations forget this chapter of our colonial past and the battles European powers fought among themselves for control of coastal India in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Frankly, the drive along the Malabar (or Konkan) coast was not spectacular, contrary to expectations.

Most of the coastal road was at an elevation and one

could not feel the sea at close quarters. Also the road diverged into many towns big and small, veering away from the coast. After a night halt at Mangalore a bustling port city, the hub of iron ore exports earlier, we resumed a languid journey northwards.

Kozhikode onwards, the scenery was resplendent with palm trees swaying in the breeze and dense foliage as the undergrowth. I recall a journey I made to Manipal some years ago, remarking at the sheer greenery along the drive.

But no visit to the Konkan coast can be complete without dropping into the Udupi, the mother of all Udupi eateries in India and the world. I was particularly insistent on having an Udupi meal in Udupi, having tasted their surrogate stuff for decades from a restaurant on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg where our office in Delhi is located. We were not disappointed by the typical vegetarian fare served for lunch and it was an added pleasure to be recognised as a TV commentator so far from home. The owner of the eatery insisted on posing for a series of selfies, an urge I readily obliged.

Enjoying a meal at the iconic Udupi and (below) cruising by God’s country

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GOKARNA: PRISTINE SANDS GOKARNA 465.9 km

FRIENDS

had often extolled the natural charm of Gokarna, many calling it India’s Riviera. It took some effort to locate the scattered set of beaches that together comprise the entity called Gokarna, so named because from top of the Western Ghats the formation resembles the (karna) ear of a (gau or go) cow as the sea meanders in and out of a formation of low rocky cliffs. However, the Government has a firm policy to disallow construction close to the isolated clusters of beaches and one can admire the pristine beauty of unspoilt sands glistening in the sun from a distance. I decided that the climb down to the beach would be physically taxing, especially the ascent on the way back. So after taking some photos of the spectacular rock formations, frothing seas and placid sands, I just let myself and the water be.

Considering its awesome beauty and splendid isolation, I was disappointed that no worthwhile hotels have come up here. We had booked into the Santushti Resort on the Om Beach Road, which was passable but left many things to be desired.

Most importantly, most rooms, including the

Sea cliffs at Gokarna

rather pricey deluxe suite, had no view of the sea.

The resort consisted of a set of cottages built around a swimming pool; we could well have been staying inside a crowded city hotel. But maybe I did not scout around enough or seek suggestions from those who had been to Gokarna before. I am sure there are nice places to stay considering the number of Europeans we noticed heading for the beaches. I must make another trip to Gokarna, this time from Karwar, India’s submarine base. In fact, on our way up to Goa, we passed Karwar, which boasts a spectacular bay and a neat naval township hidden under an array of palm trees swaying in the Arabian Sea breeze.

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GOA: STILL HAS SECRETS GOA 143.8 km

POLITICAL

boundaries have no real meaning along the Konkan coast. Just as Kozhikode seamlessly merged into Mangalore, the state of Karnataka drifted into the erstwhile Portuguese colony of Goa. The only distinctive things noticeable were bands of motor-cycles zipping down Goa’s narrow tree-lined roads, signs in English and, of course, the ubiquitous church in the town square. Apart from that of course are liquor shops merrily selling a variety of feni, wines, beer and IMFL. Unlike the puritanical taboos in the rest of India, Goans have no qualms drinking openly in public. As we were travelling through South Goa around noon, we found people seated in clusters under palm trees, sipping beer or feni. The men were mostly bare-bodied and wore shorts, while most of the women could be spotted in frocks or kaftans, saris and salwar suits being a rarity.

I had been to Goa about a dozen times although my first attempt when I was a student was aborted as the train I was supposed to board steamed out of Churchgate Station before my eyes. My desperate run to get a foothold met with no success.

Over the years I have made up for that failed effort and visited this idyllic enclave many a time and stayed in hotels across the state, especially in South Goa. With Dilip Ray’s Mayfair having opened a property here a couple of years ago, that was my obvious choice this time.

Mayfair Hideaway Resort justifies its name fully. In fact, it is not east to locate unless you Mayfair Hideaway Resort in Goa are following GPS directions.

Tucked away near a village in South Goa, it’s far from the madding beaches for which Goa is rather too well-known. It is one of Mayfair’s smaller properties but is exquisitely built amid lush foliage and a huge swimming pool which opens into the sea. The beach is at a distance at the mouth of a river where it merges into the sea. The hotel has its own boats and residents are ferried to the sandy beach some 2 km in the distance. For those seeking a quiet holiday in the sun and the sea, no Russian tourists or desi hangers-on to bother them, Mayfair Hideaway is the perfect rejuvenation destination, complete with the chain’s fabled hospitality and culinary excellence.

After two days spent in complete relaxation, we set off for the last stop on our visitor’s itinerary. For, after the next halt at inland Chiplun, the remaining stopovers were only those necessary to spend the night while driving back to Delhi.

You know you are in Goa when you find a series of English signages

CHIPLUN: TWIN RIVERS CHIPLUN 331.9 km

READERS

may be surprised by my choice of Chiplun, not a well-known place outside Maharashtra. It entailed a detour on the route from Goa to Mumbai and cost us an extra day. But for years I had yearned to visit a hotel there, mesmerised by its apparent charm seen in Taj Hotel brochures of yore. Those brochures (of the 70s and 80s) advertised a Taj property called Chiplun Riverside Lodge and showed a man sitting in the verandah of his hotel room reading a book while two rivers flowed below, meeting up at some distance. I thought this was the closest one could come to paradise and made a mental note determined to visit it someday. Juggling with road maps while working out my route from Kochi to Delhi via Mumbai, I located Chiplun in Sindhudurg district. The internet confirmed that such a place still existed except it was no longer

run by the Taj Group. We contacted the Lodge telephonically, somewhat unsure if it was a proper hotel or had turned into a marriage garden and baraat-ghar. Unfortunately, heavy traffic en route and narrow roads took us a long time to reach Chiplun, a temple town in the Western Ghats, nestled close to the picturesque Sahyadri ranges.

It was past 11 at night when we finally located the Lodge, a typically 70s construction. We were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality, for the staff served a tasty meal without demur even at that hour. We learnt that a relative of the Tatas had purchased the structure from the Taj group when the hotel chain decided to exit the property. Apart from weddings, the Lodge catered to weekend holidaymakers from Mumbai and its fortunes had turned around. The Lodge is now quite a paying proposition.

We had to wait till daybreak to spot the confluence of the two local rivers and found the two

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(Left to right) View of Chiplun from the Lodge; enjoying a tea break at Rajapur and en route to Chiplun

river valleys draped in light mist, with birds chirping all over the Lodge’s resplendent gardens.

The picture I had seen in brochures more than 30 years ago were indeed true to reality. I felt vindicated that Chiplun turned out to be quite what the pictures had said. Unfortunately there was not much time to savour the sylvan surroundings, so

we hit the road to Mumbai after a quick breakfast served on the verandah of our room.

Although the road from Chiplun to Mumbai was wide and hassle-free, goods traffic kept on increasing as we inched closer to Navi Mumbai.

Soon we found ourselves encircled by industrial areas with the typical din and bustle of factories spewing smoke and workers. We stopped for lunch at a dhaba where the main subject of discussion was the mounting water shortage in interior Maharashtra. Indeed, we found washroom taps dry in the dhaba and people using water stored in buckets. After battling madding traffic all the way we entered India’s commercial capital. I had often stayed at Taj Land’s End in Bandra, so had no real difficulty locating it. For the next couple of hours we observed the magnificent view of the sun setting on the Arabian Sea.

VADODARA: MORE SURPRISES THAN THALIS VADODARA 647.4 km

NEXT

morning we left after an early breakfast on the penultimate leg of our journey to Vadodara (nee Baroda).

Gujarat roads are among the most exquisite in India, wide and, (to borrow Laloo Prasad Yadav’s expression) smooth as Hema Malini's cheeks! There are many food plazas on the way. I recall driving down the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor in 2005 and there were hardly proper stops on the way barring the much lamented A-1 outlets located in Reliance Petroleum complexes. But now there are many plazas with well-appointed rest rooms, children’s playing areas, nicely built walkways to exercise tired leg muscles and other amenities to help weary travellers. We found large family groups stopping over and boisterously consuming Gujarati meals all along the way.

Finally, we made it to Vadodara just after nightfall and checked into the Gateway (Taj) hotel there. Contrary to the general impression that Gujarat is a strictly vegetarian place, there are eateries that serve excellent non-vegetarian dishes.

The Rogan Josh at the Gateway Vadodara, for example, was delectable and so was the rest of the dinner we ordered in our room. Unfortunately, there was not much time left next day to explore the city but a wrong turn we took shortly after exiting the hotel, sent us on a wild goose chase and

Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway and Sahyadri on way to Gujarat

a detour of nearly 50 km before we could get back to the main highway, NH 8, heading for Udaipur and Jaipur. In the process, we saw quite a bit of Vadodara, although unintentionally.

In the process though we missed the entrance to the Vadodara-Ahmedabad Expressway, India’s first access-controlled highway, with double barriers on both sides to prevent infiltration of cattle and canines. We still made very good time and had successfully bypassed Ahmedabad city before 2 pm. Gradually, the landscape became treeless, then shrubless and finally turned an arid brown as we entered Rajasthan by late afternoon.

We had decided to stop over at the Lalit Fateh Sagar Palace in the lake city of Udaipur, a gigantic palace overlooking the other lake, namely Fateh Sagar, as opposed to the Pichola Lake on which stands the more famous Lake Palace. A few months back, I had spent a night at the majectic Circuit House in Udaipur, one of the grandest Government guest houses in the country. The Lalit is next door and even more impressive in structure than the Circuit House. As we got down from the car, an array of flowers and petals heaped down upon us from some point above. I was taken aback as we could not spot any human presence. But we soon realised this was the hotel’s patented way of welcoming guests — bombarding them with flowers thrown from hidden openings on the first floor. The Lalit has retained every bit of the regal

charm that must have existed at the time of the Ranas and it is really creditable that the huge, high-ceilinged rooms are not only air-conditioned but have every conceivable contemporary creature comfort.

After a restful night and sumptuous breakfast, we began our journey back home to Delhi after an Oddyssey spanning more than 30 days. Udaipur to Delhi (675 km) was in fact the longest drive we had attempted in one day, so naturally it took us a little over 12 hours to reach the National Capital. On the way we stopped at the Maharaja Dhaba in marble city Kishangarh for some delicious Marwari food.

Driving into our house on Feroze Shah Road in Central Delhi on April 30 night, I felt both a sense of achievement and submission. Achievement that I had finally circumambulated this vast land of ours and submission because it entailed a humble rededication of commitment to the Motherland, best expressed in Rabindranath Tagore’s words:

Hey mor chitto punya tirthe jago re dheere Ei Bharater mahamanaber sagar teere Hethay daraye du bahu badaye nomi nara debatare Udar chhande param anande bandan kori taaryey (O my mind awaken slowly to this sacred pilgrimage, On the shores of the Ocean of divine Humanity, I stand here arms outstretched in worship of the Human divine To pray to that God through lilting rhymes in ethereal happiness).

On way to Udaipur; (inset) the terrain changes as we enter Rajasthan

Q&A

Still very much suave and poised, the smooth operator that he is even at 62, VIJAY AMRITRAJ might be content with the moments passing by in his leisurely life but he hasn’t let those influence him. He’s still pushing the boundaries and serving volleys as he did in his heyday.

With the launch of his reserve collection of wines, the tennis legend proves yet again he’s still in the game. He talks to DEVI SINGH about his love for wine besides other passions

So what’s the story behind the eponymous wine label?

What took you so long to come out with it?

As a self-proclaimed enthusiast, I swear by wine being the only liquor I’ve ever been into. Wine is the only thing I’ve ever been drunk on. I never really could acquire a taste for any other spirit.

Having been friends with the Grover family for long, I couldn't say no to Kapil Grover when he made an offer of coming up with a premium label. See I had been approached by a lot of people before, including the Italians and the French, but I had a condition. I wanted that the label I associate with be Indian. And that’s how it finally took shape. The entire process of coming up with the collection, comprising both the red and white, wasn’t something easy. It took us nine months to just design the cork of the bottle. I wanted it to be of the highest quality with no compromise whatsoever and the end result in my opinion speaks for itself. At least it’s something I would enjoy drinking.

You chose to unveil the wines at a Wimbledon-themed party at Taj Buckingham Gate Hotel during Wimbledon in London two years ago. The setting and timing couldn’t have been better. Conscious attempt?

Indeed. I think when you fall in a certain league and

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people know who you are, it gets a little easy to get what you want and how you want it. I really appreciate all the people who came to the event and loved the wines. It’s not about throwing the hottest launches. Agreed there were the who’s who of the London party scene but that only helped me leverage my wine, an Indian wine to say the least. If a wine from India is getting enough recognition this way and being received well, then I don’t see what the fuss is all about? For me it was just a gettogether and for others it might have been a jazzed up tasting session.

The VA label of wines is a little on the milder side. Do you prefer your wine that way?

I totally agree. The wines, both the red and white, are really mild, not at all overwhelming on the palate and a little high on the sweeter side, but yes I wanted it that way. That’s very much my preference. My taste is indeed a lot lighter. And I have no qualms admitting that. You can judge me if you want but I never really liked hard liquor. And I believe I’m still man enough. (laughs) So are you a red or white person?

Considering I hail from Chennai and live in Los Angeles — both being hot cities, I tend to drink more white than red. There’s something about white wine, it’s like water, you can have it anytime, daily and as much as you like.

Your label is being touted as the first ever celebrity wine in the country. How do you feel now that you are in the league finally?

I think there have been attempts in the past of celebrities tying up with wine labels. I’m not too sure whether they have been succesful in India but in the West it’s a popular trend, especially with sports people. As far as my understanding goes, I have no respect for someone who does endorsement just for the sake of endorsing.

I always wanted a connection with things I invest my time and energy in. I want to have a brand relationship with products I feel for. Maybe

I know India’s WINE consumption is still very less compared to other countries but we have a huge potential and the kind of growth rate we have is pretty impressive. I’m not being super excited wihtout a reason. I have a strong belief that India will be one of those countries which will be known for its wine and consumption

that’s why it took me quite a long to jump on the bandwagon. And as far as celebrity tags are concerned, I never really thought about this label being seen in that light. I’ve anyway never done anything to appease people or their perceptions. I do things I want to do and feel for.

Especially after having achieved a lot in life, I think I’m at least allowed to make a few choices — be a little choosy here and picky there. It’s all a frame of mind and nothing else. I’m in a phase in life where I have everything I could ever ask for. A lovely wife, sons-together we make for an amazing family-and a lovely set of friends. I have no complaints, no desires left unfulfilled, I’m enjoying whatever the Divine has bestowed me with and I do love that unhurried pace of things. I really just love the idea of chilling at home without doing much. Having said that, I don’t mean that I’m not seeking challenges anymore or I don’t want to do anything exciting. But that something exciting has to be worth putting my heart and soul into.

Are you content venturing into a country which is known for its love for hard liquor? We are a nation of whisky and beer after all and still catching up on our consumption for wine.

I would say this is why it’s the perfect time to enter the wine industry in India. I agree our consumption is still very less compared to other countries but we have a huge potential and the kind of growth rate we have is pretty impressive. Don’t think I’m being super excited wihtout any reason. I have a strong belief that India will be one of those countries which will be known for its wine and consumption.

So what do you have to say on wine still being perceived as a woman’s drink?

You know I recently visited one of my close friends, actor Pierce Brosnan. I went to his home on a nice lazy Sunday afternoon with a few bottles of VA wines.

Believe you me he loved it. He just loved it. And this coming from an aficionado like Brosnan, I don’t think I need to say anything more. I’m pretty sure that like him there are other brawns around who enjoy their glass of wine. I think the whole idea that men should

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When you speak of Indian wines in the international circuit people go ‘wine from India?’ the same people go for blind tasting sessions and praise Indian wines — so it all boils down to the taste and quality. That’s where you win the game and make your name

only go for hard drinks, and only then they’ll be seen as macho, is rubbish. It’s funny how society has made it seem like the truth. I have many male friends who love to drink wine more than your regular whiskys or even beer. I don’t really believe that men should only go for Scotch to prove a point and gain acceptability. The idea is to enjoy by going with what you like, not follow the done thing.

Indian wines have definitely made inroads in the international market and won a number of awards as well. But is that enough? How do we make a name in the global wine industry?

I would like to analogise it with my own success story — I still remember how people in the West couldn’t believe a guy from India playing tennis, and exceptionally well at that. They thought I didn’t belong there but then I proved that I was

good enough by beating the best in the world. And yes it did take me some time and a lot of hard work but eventually I made a standing for myself. I made a brand. I created a name. Similarly, when I speak of Indian wines in the internationale circuit people go, “wine from India?” and are all skeptical.

The same people go for blind tasting sessions, praise Indian wines — so it all boils down to the taste and quality. That’s where you win the game. I believe that it will take some time for sure, no doubt there at all, but we have to impress the people with our taste and quality. This is the only way we can push our brand.

What’s in store for the VA label? What are your expansion plans like? Would you like to own a vineyard some day?

We’ll be hitting two years of excitement with 10 international awards already in our kitty, which is

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very unusual for a debut label and an extraordinary feat for us. I’m not saying it happened because of my name on it but for the taste which won people over. Today we’re in eight states in America and competing in San Francisco with northern California wines and in France with French wines. Even the price range has been kept the same across the board; it’s only `1,200 a bottle so more and more people can enjoy. My idea of wine is something I can have without being too picky or snooty. Something which comes easily, no fuss, no frills, and I can gulp down on a recliner watching the sun going down. And I want just that with my label. We want to be a decent weekender wine.

I’m a very simple guy with not so over-the-top desires. Like I said, I’m really content with whatever I have in life. Yes, I do know of celebrities claiming a share of vineyards or even buying them

altogether but that is something I won’t like to do.

I can never be satisfied doing such things. I don’t really fancy owning a vineyard. The only thing I would want is to take my wine to every country I’ve played in. That would be something. At least I believe so.

Can Indian wines ever be big globally?

Honestly if I tell you, I don’t think we ever can.

And the most basic reason for that is we are not mass producers of grapes which has happened because of licensing issues and lack of land. We’re always going to be a boutique wine. And if you come to think of it, it’s good in a way. Why would we want to become like one of those cost-cutting wines from Taiwan or Singapore? They have no quality and are being sold for really low prices.

People always fancy having wines from say, Italy, France, New Zealand or Chile. And if we want to be

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at par with these wines then we need a lot of time to build on that quality. We need to be constant at our game.

Also I think as a country we are being seen as a brand, especially with “Make in India” being the “in thing.” Everywhere I go, people talk about it.

We are not an offshoot to anything anymore. I see a lot of positive stories happening.

What do you make of the present tennis scene in India? Why are we not able to create stars of international stature?

No doubt there is a dearth of single players in India. This to me is a great disappointment. And unfortunately that is something which has been there always.

Even a Leander Paes, who is going to play his seventh Olympics, doesn’t impress me much as the very idea of being in Olympics is to show your

single magic. Your individual strengths make you the real sportsperson. Look at the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Why do we see them in awe?

Simply because of their game and individual talent. They are fantastic single players, and this is why people come to see them. It’s their craft.

I feel sad for India as we don’t have any player who is capable enough of handling or playing singles. As a country, India needs to put in more efforts there and stop thinking about the double whammy. It’s pointless to even discuss that.

Any hopes for the Olympics?

I’m being the devil’s advocate here but since India feels that its strength lies in mixed doubles, I think we might just pick a medal or two. I’m pretty positive about it. There is Sania, Paes and even Boppana, so there’s some hope. If you want to see a terrific partnership, I think you should see Sania

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I have some really good friends in Hollywood. Both me and Ashok enjoy that camaraderie.

But as far as acting is concerned, I would rather love to direct. I feel directing is anyday better than acting — gives you more control. Let’s see when that happens

and Hingis. Both know their strengths really well. Hingis is amazing at the net whereas Sania plays a powerful back-court.

How’s Hollywood treating you these days? Weirdly enough, many people have a perception that it’s because of your brother’s connections in the celebrity circuit that even you get to enjoy a slice of the celeb pie. Any projects coming up?

Really? That’s a revelation to me (laughs) but yes Ashok is quite a well known name in LA. And he’s done a commendable job at that. Even my show, Dimensions, that I used to host had a string of celebrities majorly from Hollywood. Ashok did play a major role in bringing those people on board. And if I had to tell you, even I get along well with many of them, I’m good friends with these people, even played tennis with a few of them. So we brothers do have that camaraderie.

There are no acting projects but I would love to direct though. I’m working on that. I feel directing is anyday better than acting — gives you more control. Let’s see when that happens.

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MAGICAL MONSOON

WHEN IT

POURS

Fancy a rainy getaway? Take your pick from these offbeat monsoon destinations and head for that pending shower break

RANIKHET [UTTARAKHAND] The place offers majestic views of the Himalayas and that isn’t the only attraction. It also has verdant greenery of the valleys and forests.

The high-altitude lakes are a sight to be enjoyed and though the roads may at times be difficult to navigate, the pleasant climate, the lulling balm of the surrounding hills and ease of access to the Valley of Flowers make this a wonderful monsoon destination.

BISHNUPUR [WEST BENGAL] Bishnupur gets its name from Lord Vishnu — the prominent deity of the rulers of the Malla dynasty that ruled the region during the 16th century. The town is famous for the innumerous terracotta structures. Every year the monsoon washes the brick-red buildings creating a stark contrast to the bright greenery all around. Best time to watch some temple reliefs.

SHOJA [HIMACHAL PRADESH] Located in the Seraj Valley, Shoja is a stunning village with green forests lining the mountainside.

Close to Kullu and Manali, it’s an ideal location if you wish to hide from the crowds. Given the high altitude of the place — the swollen rain clouds will almost be within your hand’s reach.

ORCHHA [MADHYA PRADESH] A small town of temples and forts built at the beginning of the 16th century by Raja Rudra Pratap, Orchha is also home to a wildlife sanctuary with a river flowing in its midst brimming with water during this season.

MALSHEJ GHAT [MAHARASHTRA] Situated about 700 metres above sea level, this hill station explodes with waterfalls during monsoons. The lakes swell with water, the hills are cloaked in fog, the cliffs gather moss and the roar of waterfalls will be music to your ears.

Home to flamingoes, it’s an ideal place for treks and hikes.

MAJULI [ASSAM] Despite being the world’s largest river island, it gets engulfed by a raging Brahmaputra in the monsoon. But it is during the rains that you can enjoy the interaction of locals with water as a way of life.

KAKKABE [KARNATAKA]

MAWSYNRAM [MEGHALAYA] The clouds that roll over Mawsynram are thick, dark and bursting with raindrops. Located on the slopes of the Khasi hills — this is one of the wettest places in India — the monsoon season here brings a sudden outburst of waterfalls all around.

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Kakkabe is a hilly paradise which will lure lovers of trekking and hiking.

Although the place is close to Coorg, it doesn’t have the crowds the latter brings. So you get to enjoy the crisp and clean mountain air while just being. Don’t forget to sample honey straight out of the honeycomb as the place is known to be a honey producer. The woodlands in and around Kakkabe are also filled with wildlife.

ZIRO [ARUNACHAL PRADESH] Located 5,500 feet above sea level, Ziro is famous for picturesque landscapes. With rice fields aplenty throughout the valley and the mountains looming over, the village almost seems like a bowl of vibrant green beauty.

ASHTAMUDI LAKE [KERALA] Eight channels come together to form the Ashtamudi Lake — one of the best experiences of backwaters in Kerala.

You can stay in quaint cottages overlooking the seemingly endless lake and watch the raindrops falling when the heavens open up to pour forth.

FOOD STOPS

Your search will take you to places far and beyond. And when you want to surprise your tastebuds, you will embark on a journey for new gastronomic addresses.

With the Ramadan hangover, escaping the culinary aesthetics of the Nizami city is not easy. DEVI SINGH samples how the erstwhile city of Nizams eats in this day and age

PHOTO: PTI

SHE

tries to put on another one slowly, dropping a convincing gaze at me but I know deep down she’s freakishly looking for my size, her face betraying the false bravado. This time to ease her desperation, I extend my left wrist and it finally fits me, wrapped nicely around with crystals dancing and shimmering on my skin. I look at her giving me a gleeful chuckle, her faith wins me over. I pay Fatima for nothing but the confidence to have been able to sell me her bangles. I, for one, am not a jewellery person or for that matter a hue and shade person but the place manages to electrify without throwing me into psychedelia. Maybe there’s something in the air.

Maybe I do know what it is.

As far as my eyes can see, the farthest of corners of the bazaar, I see beaming faces. Not because this is Laad Bazaar forked out from one of the lanes of the famed Charminar but this is Ramadan at Charminar — the happy season at one of the most happening places this time of the year.

They told me Laad Bazaar has a history of making ladies happy, laad meaning pet pampers. I wander around to see if it can humour me. It does make for a vivid picture with its crystal bangles in sundry shades stacked neatly adorning the rows of shops, a collection so varied that it matches every mood and fancy. But it doesn’t stop at just that.

One of the fascinating aspects about the old

city of Hyderabad is that it plays multiple roles at once — perfect food host, style assistant and, of course, the solace-seeker. As I continue to snake my way through these lanes, a man with a tray full of samosas walks by. The whiff stays even after he’s gone. I see a bunch of kids running to another similar looking middle-aged man selling lukhmi similar to keema samosas. The only difference, it comes in squares and crispier which reminds me it’s time for iftar. I see people lining up at food stalls and soon the eateries extend to the lanes with plastic chairs and tables being put up. It’s evident now why Hyderabad is synonymous with food and Ramadan or Ramadan food. The place starts to bustle with different smells and flavours of the ineluctable delicacies of the region with the crowds looking to slurp up their desires.

THE HALEEM MANIA

CALLING

for its origins in Saudi Arabia, the preparation boasts of spices — shahi jeera, kababchini, dalchini — with the main ingredient being pure ghee and fresh meat. In 2002, Majeed catered to a delegation of Saudi Arabia at a party thrown by the late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan and he liked the dish so much that he called for a tie-up

RAMCHANDER PENTUKER PHOTO: TAJ FALAKNUMA

Even I can’t seem to tamp down my hunger. As I decide to savour some of these, I notice how people are raving about haleem. My curiosity leads me to the workshop of one of the most renowned places for haleem in Hyderabad, for that matter in India — Pista House. Going by the craze for the dish, it occurs to me that locals here enjoy their haleem more than biryani. Maybe it’s short lived (available only during Ramadan) so people are making the most of it. I happen to stumble on two branches of the chain already on my way, clearly indicating the foothold they enjoy with their signature offering. I see delivery boys by the roadside in fluorescent green, ushering the cars passing by. One of them comes running to me frantically asking how much grams of haleem I need. I’m later told besides saving time by fetching haleem to the parked cars these young lads get jobs during the season. Happy faces for no reason. As I park my car, it is indeed a sea of people. I decide to sample some of it myself while talking to the owner Mohammed Abdul Majeed and his son Mohsi.

Initially into garment business, Majeed ventured into food in 1997 with his restaurant Pista House. Back then there was only one place in Hyderabad serving haleem — Madina hotel near Charminar — but it was Majeed and family who etched haleem in popular imagination. “We worked for three years on getting the perfect recipe by having various tasting sessions with people of all age groups,” Majeed tells me as I dig into my bowl, immersed in ghee topped with nuts and caramelised crushed onions.

(Clockwise) Haleem being prepared at Pista House’s workshop near Charminar; a portion of haleem from Pista House; haleem from Taj Falaknuma; bangles at display in Laad Bazaar

with the postal department which turned out to be the turning point for Pista House. “People were apprehensive as to how this would happen. But we made it possible,” adds he. They manage time very well. Their haleem, simmered overnight for almost ten hours, gets prepared by 2 pm, reaches the

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PHOTO: DEVI SINGH

People waiting their turn at Pista House

airport by 4 pm and gets flown to different parts of the country and the world.

Today they export haleem to Saudi Arabia which is their most remarkable feat.

Majeed continues, “I think the proudest achievement is exporting and serving our delicacy to the country it originated from. Adds son Mohsi, “We don’t serve haleem, we serve love.”

Agrees actor Akbar Bin Tabar, who joins us to share his love tales with Pista House’s haleem and how the place is his favourite haleem haunt in the city. “I would say you need to taste this divine dish once in life for that ultimate experience.”

Even I can vouch for it now that I’ve tasted their love but it’s way too overwhelming for me.

They even have Geographical Indication (GI) which is a tag conferred by the government to standardise a product as original based on the place of its origin. “This is our second biggest feat.

Pista House’s haleem is Hyderabad’s GI tag. People think Hyderabad as the home of biryani but they are surprised when they know its GI tag is haleem,” says Mohsi.

Haleem as we know it has evolved over time in this part of the country.

Owing to its popularity, the city has come up with new versions of it only to keep people hooked.

Some of the innovations are chicken and vegetarian. In my opinion, chicken haleem might sound like an aberration but it’s a clever take commercially speaking. It’s less timeconsuming as it’s easier to break down chicken than mutton. Needs less pounding. Maybe this is why chicken haleem seems to be budding. The vegetarian version, the lesser said the better.

Looking and tasting more like a salaan, it exists only to appease the non-meat eating strata of the society but I wonder how many of them exist in this city that has 95 per cent of carnivores. But is there any other place that serves equally good haleem as they do? There are a lot of places but not as good as theirs. I sample some from Shah Ghouse, another popular chain and the difference is palpable. It’s sweeter than the previous one. And haleem is never a sweetmeat, so off it goes from my list of absolutes.

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PHOTO: TAJ FALAKNUMA

Kacche gosht ki biryani from Taj Falaknuma; (Below) Mutton biryani from Shah Ghouse

BIRYANI TRAIL

ALRIGHT.

I understand the city loves its haleem like crazy especially during this time of the year but what’s the use of coming to Hyderabad if I don’t hunt down the best place for some good old biryani. I start from Shah Ghouse. Their biryani menu has the likes of mutton, chicken, even prawn I decide to go for the traditional, the mutton. What takes me by surprise is I have a bowl to myself in mere six minutes. Shows how much it’s in demand. The biryani is spicy, hot actually.

However, the heat will come out slowly, won’t attack you though.

Interestingly, the rice is longer than the average long rice. I talk to the manager, Rafiq, who tells me the biryanis, especially mutton, gets finished by 9 pm. How do you manage then, I ask him. “We have to make do with chicken, egg and now even prawn is getting popular,” he says. I look at my phone, it’s past midnight and the streets, though not losing out on the vibrancy, start to dull out a bit. It’s time for me to call it a day.

The next evening my gastronomic adventure takes me to the streets of old city yet again, this time to Shadab — an old haunt for biryani lovers.

The 2010 winners of best biryani in the town, the place is a name to reckon with old favourites. I order a portion of dum biryani for myself and it’s evident why it’s revered so much. They don’t have a lot of ghee running through and are pretty discerning when it comes to the usage of masala.

The spices don’t hit you like the usual biryanis do.

My next destination is Sarvi which has a long queue of people waiting their turns. Thank heavens they have a takeaway. I check out their menu, not so elaborate which doesn’t concern me as I’m here simply for their biryani. I again go for mutton although I wanted to try some other meat. Now, two things — their takeaway is served in a plastic tub which could have just bungled the taste a tad. But I have no option, the queue just seems to be growing and no way could I have thought of being served in a better way than this. I am also recommended Paradise, apparently the most commercially successful chains for biryani in the city with the young of Hyderabad preferring it over other eateries. I decide to give it a miss only for being too commercial. How much can I savour anyway?

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FROM STREETS TO THE PALACE

IT’S THE SWEET GOODIES

IF

I had my druthers, I would rather go for afters first but to douse the fire in my belly with the spices still pitter-pattering in my mouth, I start looking for those sweet-nothings. I try khubani ka meetha at Shah Ghouse which doesn’t come across as something exotic to me but I’m not complaining as I’ve had diabetic versions of the same before. This one at least is a little toned down on the sugar.

For better desserts, I hit the century-old Hameedi bakery. History has it that the shop was named after the nickname of one of the sons of Nizam after he loved their preparations. I sample their jousi halwa, claimed to be a Turkish delicacy made from the paste of wheat grains soaked in water overnight. Another speciality is a rose petal flavoured boondi ladoos, which remind me of raspberry delice. The shop may be in a dilapidated state but you have to give it to them for their sweets. No wonder the Nizam went gaga over them and wrote a letter of appreciation which is proudly exhibited on one of the walls. They soon plan to relocate to a better place but that would cut down on the historical relevance, I feel.

time for a more refined taste, away from the crowds in the serene environs of the luxe Taj Falaknuma Palace overlooking the city. To relive the royal past and to know more about the Nizami cuisine, there’s no better place than Falaknuma. My car gets parked outside from where I’m taken in a carriage to the heritage hotel. I take the steps to the impressive palace with rose petals being showered over me.

Splendid indeed. Not to digress I’m here to meet Executive Chef Sajesh Nair, who is busy with the ongoing Nizami food festival. As I soak in the incredible décor of the place, he joins me for a discourse on Nizami cuisine with me sampling some of it. I ask him about how he’s managed to revive the original recipes. He tells me, “The recipes are the inheritance of the palace, documented and kept in the library, which houses more than 5,000 books. Few of the dishes have been researched upon by our team of chefs. They have gone into bylanes and houses of people in search of the most authentic flavours.”

But is the fare we get really authentic. If yes, then how much? The chef explains it’s impossible to keep the recipes authentic as people won’t be able to digest the heavy food in this day and age.

“The fat content is really high. Hyderabadi food is anyway known to be very rich. By the time you reach the second course, you feel full already.”

He takes me through his intriguing shikar ka khana concept which works as an experiential for the guests where they get to savour Nizami barbeque. “Back in the day when the royals set out on hunting sprees, they used to cook and eat whatever they had killed. And that’s how patthar ka

(Clockwise) The dining table at Taj Fakanuma; patthar ka gosht from Taj Falaknuma; jousi ka halwa

gosht got invented which was game meat cooked on stone. The Deccan plateau used to get heated under a blazing sun making it easier for them to cook up a desi sizzler. So how are they interpreting the same in their kitchens?

“We keep a griddle on a range. On top of that, we place stones and control the temperature.

Then we place the mutton, which has been marinated 48 hours. Stone retains heat, so the moment the meat is slapped on it, it gets cooked within seconds,” says he. I get an urge to try some patthar ka gosht and prompt it comes. Succulent and juicy, I can’t seem to fathom how they used to eat meat cooked on stone. Anyway chef treats me to some more of his Nizami specialities like dahi ke kebab and badam ki jali.

For the Ramadan menu, they have curated a menu dedicated to veggie lovers. I couldn’t

imagine Jains coming over to sample Ramadan menu. Well, that’s the beauty of diversity. I ask him how has haleem evolved and he comments, “We don’t use wooden sticks to pound the mutton in our kitchens for hygiene and health issues.

The modern kitchens use pulveriser as it’s both hygienic and time-saving.” But when it comes to holding on the tradition and history, the chef is keen on offering his patrons an experience more than just a hearty meal. “I would say more than knowing the dishes in a cuisine, it’s important to know about its history and how a particular dish has evolved. Like we have simple dishes like hari mirch ka gosht — something which you won’t get at a lot of places. It has got its own unique essence, the subtle flavour of green chillies, which is what takes people back to the times of the Nizams.”

CYBERABAD — FULCRUM FOR BUSINESS TRAVELLERS

WHEN

I heard the term “bleisure,” the first thing that occurred to me was is this just a nonce word or is there something more to it? Is it going to enjoy a cushy place in our lexical as we know it or will it dissipate out of our memories soon? Nonetheless the connotation was appealing enough — great marriage of business and leisure, used typically for a traveller who’s busy handling business conferences seeking some leisure as well.

And to cater to this very new breed of hyper busy people, there’s a mushrooming of new properties and some old ones establishing their business hotels. But what’s exactly needed for such

Cyber towers in Hitech City

set-ups? A perfect location perhaps? Think corporate and IT hubs and one such example that comes to mind is Cyberabad in Hyderabad. The drastically changing town speaks of Hyderabad’s financial growth and thereby luring “bleisure” travellers to its number of hotel chains and serviced apartments. One such is the Holiday Inn Express, a modern chain of select-service hotels for on-the-go travellers with the reliability and consistency of an international hotel brand.

Holiday Inn Express hotels are located in centreof-the-action locations around the world, catering to the needs of its guests. With more than 2,400 outlets around the globe, this one is sure to keep you a good time “holidaying in” while your phone keeps on buzzing.

PHOTO: RAMCHANDER PENTUKER

PHOTOS: DEVI SINGH

The Street drive-in restaurant at Madhapur

DRIVE-INS DRIVING PEOPLE CRAZY

DRIVING

back to Cyberabad from the old city every night is a stark experience for me. It’s like being in a different world altogether. Cyberabad will remind you of any other IT hub in the country with its skyscrapers and on-going construction. The huge boulders on either side of the smooth road, which leads me in and out of this part of the city, make me realise how far these people have gone for urbanisation but still there is a past hidden somewhere when your sight catches the giant rocks. Driving on these very smooth roads, I happen to come across a glittering drive-in restaurant which I decide to check out. The neon throws too much of glare at night time but attracts people nonetheless. I see a line of cars parked in the courtyard and people — a mix of teens, young and middle aged adults — ordering for food and munching on it all the while sitting in the comfort of their cars. While some of them seem to enjoy the night breeze, the others enjoy a game of basketball in the

backside with a giant screen telecasting IPL matches. This is The Street, one of the many drive-in restaurants.

Home to several IT companies and multinational firms with its employees always on the move, Hyderabad is in a league of its own with the maximum number of drive-ins in the country, 30 at last count. The trend is very popular as you get multiple cuisine that you get in traditional restaurants and food courts in malls at a lesser price. The youth might just prefer these options as they get free parking, no need to search for parking vis-à-vis a mall or a crowded restaurant.

Or maybe people in this part of the city love putting their feet up with their food being fussfree. This is the only absolute here.

The city will excite you, surprise you and definitely satisfy you with its diverse aromas, be it its old narrow lanes serving the traditional cates or the new-age eat-out hubs which act as the smorgasbord of international derivatives. It’s called a foodie’s paradise for a reason and it’s worth risking your taste buds here.

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C O R P O R AT E M A N T R A PHOTOS: PANKAJ KUMAR

ASHWANI LOHANI is the proverbial miracle healer for every sick public service organisation and has been branded “Mr Turnaround” by the pink papers more than once.

But it is only when we meet him at the end of a busy weekday (most of the staff had left Airlines House and the cleaners were on the job) that we realise why he can make a behemoth of a difference. Visibly exhausted after unexpected rounds of deliberations with his team, he doesn’t reschedule the interview, saying he would go through it since he had promised so and it was important that Air India does not always make for a sad story. He takes pride in everything he has done so far, reminding himself of the lessons he has learnt along the way and the bars that he must vault over. Outside his office, the walls are lined with posters of his campaign for Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Mandu and the Shaan-e-Bhopal lighting up the dim corridors. He revived the ailing India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) when he was its CMD in 2001-2002 and later, the tourism industry in Madhya Pradesh by leading the famous ‘Hindustan Ka Dil Dekho’ campaign.

Now as CMD of Air India, his hands are full and he won’t rest till it is poster worthy. He even maintains a record of his experiences via his blog. In a recent post, he wrote, “Air India is now slowly getting back on track, yet it is still miles to go before one can relax and watch the planes fly, albeit without the need to constantly worrying and fretting. With almost everything in disarray, be it operations or engineering, public image or commercial, finance or even personnel, it was fairly obvious even to a novice like me that what this organisation indeed lacked was that one magical word, ‘leadership.’ I wonder why the powers that be never appreciate this basic realisation, here there and everywhere. And therefore the never-ending search for solutions that always failed to deliver. The market is there for the taking, yet procrastination that the company has of late come to specialise in has ensured that the failure to make hay while the sun shines is always delved after the time has passed. Our recent successes in all the new flights that we mounted has strengthened my belief in the power of the gut and risk-taking, an art in which all the successful industrialists of the nation have been excelling in since time immemorial. Yet we never learnt so far!” Excerpts from an interview with RINKU GHOSH

Air India has ambitiously launched the intraregional connectivity plan linking smaller hubs and cities at a frozen price. Considering the formula had already been experimented with Alliance Air in the pre-merger days, what makes you confident that price rationalisation can be done on short routes and full occupancy ensured?

The scenario now and the earlier part of the last decade are poles apart. There are reasons why this model comes at the right time. India is a bubbling economy, the number of air passengers is growing by 20 per cent every year and there’s a huge market. People who never thought of flying earlier are doing so and boosting the demand. There is a new energy around smart cities and growth clusters are fuelling traffic and the need for swifter connectivity. So there are ample reasons to believe that occupancy is not going to be an issue and the affordable price point is going to get many takers.

The new policy is very progressive and very well thought out with the ministry having put in a lot of effort. I think it will result in a huge boom in the aviation sector.

Just to give you an example, we started

around 10-12 direct flight connections between our hub at the airport here (Indira Gandhi International Airport) to Tier I and II cities. They are all doing well.

What about logistic management issues?

Normally, these routes will have 72 or 100-seater jets, lower on maintenance and easier on costs. So I do not foresee a problem.

What about the surcharge in trunk routes to subsidise the fare of Rs 2,500 the lesser ones?

It’s just a policy announcement and the scheme is still to be worked out. Am sure the ministry will work it out in such a manner that regular passengers are not inconvenienced.

How will opening up more overseas routes, particularly in the Gulf region, impact Air India’s competitive edge?

There will be increased competition but we have the advantage of being a big established brand with a proven track record. We are improving and upgrading our services and increasing the number

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of flights overseas. We now have an aggressive expansion policy. Everybody always talks of competition in the Gulf route. But the fact is we still have a plenty of routes and virgin markets to explore. We are going to start the Ahmedabad-London direct flight onward to Newark from August 15. In November, we will be going to Madrid and then we have got Africa, South America, Denmark and Israel on the cards. We will be adding San Francisco in December. Four new international flights in a year make for quite a growth trajectory.

These newer routes will help boost Indian travellers’ holiday plans. There is already a huge demand for Ahmedabad-London from all categories of passengers. Madrid is a wanted tourist destination.

How do you propose to make Air India the first choice of global travel for Indians?

By improving our services, increasing our reach and improving our branding. This includes staff discipline and efficiency, on-time performance, food experiences, aircraft improvement and an

EXOTICA [63] JULY 2016

enhanced passenger experience. Besides, we are looking at competitive pricing.

I think the image perception of Air India has already started changing. Our on-time arrivals are currently 80 per cent. There is not as much negativity now. But we cannot afford any laxity at this point; we have to continuously evolve and improve. We plan to induct 100 planes in the next four years.

Are you considering tying up with any private operator?

We are doing everything on our own and are not looking to tie up with any private operator. I believe each team has its capability. We just have to motivate it and sharpen its skill set.

Are you planning to add any in-flight devices?

Not immediately.

How are you going to rationalise your operational ratio?

There are a lot of factors. But my mantra is pretty simple. Just ensure better management and services.

The airline’s tie-up with the Railways (those who do not get a confirmed berth on Rajdhani can get a flight ticket subject to availability) has never been done before. How will this synergy change the transport scenario in India?

This is just a proposal and still has to happen though. Why run with empty plane seats instead of maximising their potential? It will be an everyday offer and from the perspective of the traveller, he gets more options.

Now that the government has given you a bailout package of `30,000 crore, some of it must have been spent already. How hopeful are you that Air India can turn around and will not be requiring a future bailout package?

I’m pretty confident that we should be able to turn

EXOTICA [64] JULY 2016

around on a year-to-year basis. The recovery has just begun with us making a bit of operating profit.

But we have to walk the mile. As of now, the revenue just about meets the operational costs. We are weighed down by a huge debt burden of almost `50,000 crore. Unless we close this gap, we really can’t claim to have turned around. During 2016-17, we expect to post an operating profit of `700 crore`800 crore, which will go in some way in reducing the debt per year. If fortune favours us and we get more aircraft, then the turnover will be quicker.

How about combating technical issues of the Dreamliner fleet?P I will admit that some problems are still there, particularly those relating to technical and design issues. These are being sorted but on fundamentals, it’s indeed a very good aircraft.

Many observers feel that Air India needs privatisation. But it has often been seen that heads of public corporations and PSUs have had remarkable turnaround stories. How would you fend off this perception?

I can say it with conviction that any public service utility, no matter how mammoth and overwhelmingly tremendous, can be turned around. It has been done in the past and can be done again. Having headed two public sector organisations in the past, I believe it’s possible. It is not really the technical expertise or worthiness, it is about simple management lessons. All you have to do is set a goal, commit yourself to it and work really hard to fulfill it without the cheat sheet.

Finances and funding are never the problem, leadership is. You must have a vision, draw the boundaries and take care of your staff. And apply all the rules of the game to yourself before you expect others to imbibe them.

We hear you are into yoga and quite fastidious about it.

I would not have made it without discipline. So no matter what the aberrations in my work schedule, I am particular about yoga at the right hour.

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FOREIGN SHORES

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An adventure awaits you filled with extraordinary experiences

ITS

neighbourhoods filled with diverse attractions like community bike tours, adventurous eco-parks inspiring thrill, and fresh beer tastings from its breweries will ensure Canada provides memories that last a lifetime.

The Art Gallery of Ontario invites visitors to lose themselves inside a unique installation of 100 vintage Chinese wardrobe doors which transforms

the exhibition space into a series of snake walkways and small rooms reminiscent of Beijing’s traditional communal living spaces.

The gallery is also partnering with the Hammer Museum to introduce Lawren Harris’s iconic landscapes. The core of the exhibition features more than 30 of Harris’ most significant and rare northern landscapes from the 1920s and 1930s.

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Go Tours Canada is launching two new walking tours and a history podcast. The “Old Town Toronto Booze, Politics and Guns” tour will start and end in the Distillery District and include a walk past some of Toronto’s most famous historic sites. In addition to this tour, the company is adding the “distillery deluxe tasting tour” where it will feature food and drink tastings from multiple distillery district vendors and a modified version of the company’s award-winning “Booze, Death and Cholera” tour content. The Real Canadian History Podcast will launch summer 2016 and feature 10 episodes on the history of Toronto from the earliest Haudenosaunee and Wendat settlements to current day.

Toronto Bicycle Tours is launching two new tours. Ride an electric bike beyond the concrete

and steel of downtown, up the Don Valley to the Toronto Botanical Garden, the Aga Khan Museum and CF Shops at Don Mills — where you will be treated to tastings, art and a different view of nature in Toronto. It’s a guided tour of the private gardens in The Kingsway. Pedal your way to over 19 unique and beautiful private gardens accompanied by your own “master gardener on wheels” and architectural expert. From styles varying from urban chic to English charm, stroll through each garden while your guides recount the rich history of the area.

Toronto Heli Tours with their red helicopter and leather seats to the fleet featuring a rare floorto-ceiling, all-window door for all seats will captivate you. The viewing and photo opportunities from these spectacular new doors provide an

amazing view of the city. Toronto Heli Tours has also acquired state-of-the-art photography equipment and now features photo services onsite. The professional photography service includes high-end printers for takehome prints, digital services and video onboard.

TreeTop Eco-Adventure Park is using the “Clic-IT and Safe Roller Smart Belay” systems. With these systems, TreeTop Eco-Adventure Park is now the safest aerial adventure park in the Greater Toronto Area and the only park in Ontario using both systems. The Clic-IT system works with a series of magnets and wires preventing clients from taking their life lines off the courses at once.

Mariposa Cruises is revamping the classic harbour tours of the city’s iconic waterfront with new GPStriggered guided narrations in four languages (English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin) — the first in Toronto to offer guided harbour tours beyond English and French. Mariposa Cruises has updated their scenic harbour tours to paint a picture of a modern day, distinctive global city. The new tours aim to engage tourists and Torontonians alike beyond the standard tour experience, featuring entertaining music, and nostalgic sound effects.

The Beer Lovers’ Tour Co. is launching a new beer tour, “The Toronto Rail & Ale Beer Tour”. This will explore Steam Whistle Brewery, Toronto Railway Museum, the CN Skywalk to Union Station, Mill Street Lounge, and an Art Walk to Henderson’s Brewery — Toronto’s latest addition to local craft beer. Almost every stop will include tastings.

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Blue is the new black or so it seems with the onset of monsoon. Add some splash of indigo in your wardrobe 15

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1. BHANE: Ikat cotton shirt in indigo.

Price: `3,000 2. H&M: Men’s jersey from the athleisure line, ‘For Every Victory’.

Price on request.

3. MADEWELL: Breezy open style top. Price on request.

4. TOMMY HILFIGER: Men’s indigo blue straw hat.

Price on request.

5. PAUL SMITH: Indigo acid jungle print two button blazer. Price: `61,200 6. POSTFOLD: Embossed lace tank top. Price: `1,599 7. SWAROVSKI: Indigo blue crystal screw back clip ear drops.

Price on request.

8. FENDI: The chameleon timepiece features Flamingo viola and white inserts in handcrafted calfskin leather on the rounded rectangular case.

Price on request.

9. ARMANI JEANS: Women’s wallet zip around eco leather soft with studs.

Price on request.

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10. VERSACE: Mystique sport blue dial chronograph men’s watch.

Price on request.

11. GUCCI: Women’s Miss Bamboo leather bucket bag.

Price on request.

12. BALENCIAGA: Open toe python pumps in blue.

Price on request.

13. KENZO: Men’s blue cactus bow tie. Price on request.

14. CORNELIANI: Palladium and lapis lazuli cufflinks.

Price on request.

15. DOLCE&GABBANA: Blue sunglasses for men. Price on request.

16. SHINGORA: Printed blue cotton silk wrap. Price: `3995 17. VALENTINO: Men’s butterflyprint nylon and leather backpack.

Price on request.

18. VINCE ALLISON: Mule leather in indigo straps. Price on request.

19. FABI: Oxford shoes.

Price: `26,100

CELEB HAUNTS

AMALFI COAST Celebrity spotted recently: BeyoncĂŠ and Jay Z. Stay at the Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa for `1,33,762 per night. Cruise along the Amalfi coast on a private boat, swim through gorgeous bays and lagoons of the Neapolitan Riviera.

Enjoy a glass of Prosecco onboard and pause along the way for a dip.

Cheap eats: Da Nino Pizzeria Take Away, Pulecenella Pizzeria and Freedom Bar Pizzeria di Giuseppe e Riccardo.

A STARRY VACAY

Always wished for a celebrity lifestyle? Well get rid of some travel envy by enjoying a time-out at the spots frequented by your favourite stars without breaking a bank

DUBAI Celebrity spotted recently: Rebel Wilson.

Stay at the Residence & Spa at One & Only Royal Mirage Dubai for `29,167 per night. Experience an overnight desert driving and camping adventure, surfing over sand dunes and finish up at a Bedouin-style camp for Arabic coffee and dates and a BBQ dinner.

Cheap eats: Olea and Dubai Fish Hut Restaurant.

FRENCH RIVIERA Celebrity spotted recently: Elle McPherson.

Stay at Hotel La Residence de la Pinede for `72,434 per night. Take an eight-hour wine tour of Cotes de Provence, tasting wine in three different wineries, driving through the vineyards of Provence and finishing up with a three course lunch in a countryside restaurant.

Sample up to 20 regional specialities and learn how to make an authentic Nicoise Salad.

Cheap eats: La Petite Loge, Severine and Sushi bar.

HAWAII

IBIZA Celebrity spotted recently: Sarah Jessica Parker.

Stay at the Hotel Mirador de Dalt Vila for `51,090 per night. Charter a luxury yacht and take in the sights and sounds of Ibiza in the distance with your very own personal skipper. Experience a five hour private sunset cruise.

Cheap eats: The Skinny Kitchen, Liberty’s American Diner and Kalissol.

Source: TripAdvisor EXOTICA [73] JULY 2016

Celebrity spotted recently: Katie Perry.

Stay at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai for `72,338 per night. Soak in the views of Maui with a private helicopter tour and land at a private location to enjoy a chef prepared dinner.

Cheap eats: Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice and Garden Gourmet Café.

HOMEGROWN

What step is your Ministry taking to ensure that khadi sales are doubled and available to all strata of society? has connected with the youth and helped in the reemergence of khadi as a fabric of freedom with its eco-friendly and breathable quality. We have taken measures to supply raw material to institutions at a minimum rate, increasing sectoral production to 21 per cent. Recently, we introduced Khadi mark to give khadi a distinct identity in the market, thereby controlling spurious fabrics. We have tied up with reputed organisations like Air India and Indian Railways for promoting the use of khadi.

We are also requesting schools to introduce khadi in their uniforms. Reputed designer Ritu Beri has been empanelled as an advisor for promotion. Khadi production in the country has fetched `1,510 crore during 2015-16, generating KALRAJ MISHRA employment for 11.07 lakh Union Minister, people.

MSME

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is aggressively promoting and marketing khadi and village industry products,generating employment in rural areas

THE

KVIC

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How has the solar charkha bettered the lives of artisans? solar charkha does not need human effort and cuts down drudgery. It helps in yielding greater volumes and consequently income.

The productivity of solar charkha is nearly double of a regular one.

The experiment conducted in Nawada district of Bihar has confirmed that women working with a solarpowered spinning wheel are earning `6,000 and above in a month. Apart from Nawada,100 solar charkhas are operational in seven places. An additional 125 are in the pipeline.

Altogether 234 solar charkha projects have been lined up for sanction under PMEGP. It is estimated that five crore women can be employed through them.

GIRIRAJ SINGH Minister of State, MSME

As Chairman of KVIC, what are your present goals and priorities? goal is to employ maximum people by next year. We have planned to renovate around 1,000 khadi sales outlets by giving them a unique identity. Distribution of around 10,000 charkhas around the country is also among our key goals. Under the scheme, “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, a charkha will be provided to an artisan’s family having girl children. This exercise will not only augment family income but ensure future livelihood.

A special project for making khadi napkins has been taken up in Jammu by roping in the kiths and kins of families affected by militancy. Around 287 women have got jobs under this project. Sixty muslim women have been trained at KVIC training centres at New Delhi and are now earning around `200/- per day by stitching napkins at Chand baugh, New Delhi.

In Kaziranga District of Assam, charkhas were distributed to around 200 tribals. KVIC has supplied 25 chrkhas, 51 looms and 10 stitching machines at Village Jayapur in Varanasi District and provided employment to 50 women. Jayapur is a adopted Village of Hon'ble Prime Minister. KVIC has also tied up with Income Tax Department at Mumbai for opening of Khadi Sales Outlets in their premises and very soon around 15 more tie up will be taken up to enhance sales of KVI products. We hope to increase sales of Khadi products to `2000 crore in current financial year as compared to `1510 Crores in 2015-16.

MY

VINAI KUMAR SAXENA Chairman, KVIC

How are the KVIC’s new schemes and policies geared towards bettering the life of artisans and increasing production and sales?

Prime Minister’s call in “Mann ki Baat” to buy khadi has had a tremendous impact on people everywhere. This has resulted in an increase in sales at our outlets across the country.

The resurgence has been spearheaded by the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, New Delhi.

KVIC has taken several initiatives to increase sectoral turnover and facilitate better earning for spinners and weavers. It is facilitating marketing of khadi and khadi products, providing MDA at the rate of 20 per cent of the value of total production. Khadi mark labels are helping in better marketing even as we are replacing old implements. We have already provided 8,127 new charkhas and 1,384 new improved looms to artisans.

Discussions are under way to mobilise orders for khadi and other village industries.

The fabric of the future is ready to capture a larger part of the market.

THE

ARUN KUMAR

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CEO, KVIC

M E TA L C O R E

Navratna NALCO

charts a new course The aluminium major is all set to beat the international downturn

‘

We cannot direct the wind blowing across the international aluminium market, but we can certainly adjust our sails.

While the world aluminium market is reeling under severe pressure, we have designed our allweather business model to beat these vagaries and attain global competitive edge through our project in Iran

‘

to the latest Wood Mackenzie Report, NALCO’s Alumina Refinery at Damanjodi, Odisha, has been ranked number one — being the lowest cost producer of alumina. After scouting for low-cost gas-based power, the company has identified Iran for conversion of alumina into aluminium. At present, this Navratna CPSE is navigating towards Iran to explore the possibility of toll-smelting for value addition, instead of exporting alumina as such.

In a significant development, during the recent

ACCORDING

Dr Tapan Kumar Chand CMD, NALCO

visit of PM Modi to Iran, Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO, signed an MoU with VC of Planning Board, goverment of Iran, to explore the possibility of setting up an aluminium smelter there. A taskforce has been constituted taking experts from NALCO and its Iranian counterpart IMIDRO. Among other things, the MoU envisages tolling arrangement with existing smelters in Iran — for producing aluminium from NALCO’s surplus alumina.

CMD, NALCO, Dr Tapan Kumar Chand says,“NALCO looks forward to using the low-cost

HIGHLIGHTS OF NALCO: 2015-16 Highest-ever production of 63,40,142 tonnes of

bauxite, 10.47 per cent higher than previous fiscal.

Highest-ever production of 19,53,000 tonnes of alumina, 5.51 per cent higher than previous fiscal.

Metal production of 3,72,183 tonnes up by 13.79 per cent in comparison to the previous fiscal.

Power generation of 5,841 million units up by 13.84 per cent in comparison to previous fiscal.

Gross turnover `7157 crore.

Net profit `731 crore.

Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO, signing the MoU in the presence of Prime Minister of India and President of Iran

NALCO REAFFIRMS THE TRUST OF ITS STAKEHOLDERS Recommends `515 crore Dividend for 2015-16 sluggishness in the market, NALCO has not only registered profit but also tried to satisfy stakeholders in terms of dividends. For 2015-16, the company recommended 40 per cent dividend on the paid-up equity share capital of `1,288.62 crore, i.e. `515.45 crore. Including dividend distribution tax (DDT), it works out to `620 crore.

NALCO, which started its commercial operations in 1987, has been earning profits consistently and has been declaring dividends since 1992. Since inception, the company has paid a total sum of `5,679 crore as dividend, including `4,860 crore as share of goverment of India.

DESPITE

Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, handing over the Interim Dividend Cheque, as Govt of India’s share, to Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Steel & Mines, in the presence of Balvender Kumar, Secretary Mines, Govt. of India, and other officials

gas-based energy available in Iran for conversion of its surplus alumina, presently exported to international markets, to bring in value addition and scale up value chain.” The aluminium products from the proposed JV are expected to be highly cost competitive, combining the advantages of low-cost NALCO alumina and low-cost Iranian energy.

The world aluminium market is reeling under severe slowdown and is in slump. While the nonferrous metal sector across the globe is suffering huge losses, NALCO’s financial parameters as well as physical performance are quite sound. At a time when 70 per cent aluminium companies world over have reported loss and the aluminium industry is under heavy pressure due to the sluggish international market, NALCO has remained profitable — by maximising bauxite mining and

alumina refining. The financial performance of the company is also quite encouraging despite the vagaries of international metal market.

“As an industry leader, we have our plans and preparations in place to take advantage of the industrial upsurge in a couple of years from now.

With concerted efforts, in 2016-17, we shall achieve the target of producing 68.25 lakh tonnes of bauxite, an increase of 7.1 per cent and 21.50 lakh tonnes of alumina, an increase of 9.2 per cent as compared to last fiscal,” says Dr Chand. While 2015-16 has been a seminal year for NALCO, there would be a major turnaround in the business plan of the company hereafter. Till now, it was regulating its production to tide over the crisis but now the company is braving it out by augmenting production to beat the margin erosion.

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NALCO’s NEW BUSINESS MODEL the tough going in the market, NALCO has developed a new corporate plan with a new business model that will withstand market onslaughts and keep the company afloat with profitability. The New Business Model (NBM) shall enable NALCO to strengthen the company’s business by leveraging its core competency in mining, metals and energy sectors, through modernisation, greenfield and brownfield expansions, upstream and downstream integration.

Besides, the model envisages diversification into green power, IPP, caustic soda, rare metals like titanium, recovery of iron from red mud waste and merchant mining that are immune to downturn in the metal market. This NBM will not only give a new dimension to NALCO’s growth plans but also redefine business sustainability.

GIVEN

Strengthened by the recent allocation of Utkal D&E Coal Blocks in Odisha by the Centre and clearance of Pottangi bauxite mines by the State government in favour of NALCO, the company is firming up its investment plans. In fact, the company has already launched a fifth stream of 1million tonne capacity in its existing alumina refinery at Damanjodi, Odisha, with an estimated cost of `5,600 crore. This will help to increase its alumina production, thereby offsetting company’s low returns from the metal sector.

Moreover, as a leader in the aluminium industry, NALCO has plans to strengthen the aluminium sector by setting up Angul Aluminium Park, in association with the goverment of Odisha, for value-added products. “Aluminium Valley, developed in Canada, can be our benchmark for emulation while developing this Aluminium Park.

The hand-holding provision to both upstream and

downstream industries will also be replicated at Angul,” added Dr Chand.

On the other hand N.R. Mohanty, Director (P&T) of NALCO says, “We have also formed a joint venture company with Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) and laid the foundationstone of a `1,800 crore caustic soda Plant at Dahej in Gujarat.”

While making continuous and concerted efforts towards enhancing its business effectiveness through productivity and profitability, NALCO is also working diligently in the areas of CSR. As a responsible corporate citizen, it has always given priority to fulfil the needs of its stakeholders. The company is working in all the thrust areas identified in the Companies Act, 2013.

Now, the company’s focus is on bringing its robust humane face to the fore, through empathetic welfare and CSR measures.

LEADERSHIP REDEFINED

Team Nalco Within eleven months of assuming the office of NALCO's CMD, Dr Tapan Kumar Chand has played a stellar role in the institution’s image makeover and has developed a strong team to take on business challenges.

EXOTICA [79] JULY 2016

HOTWHEELS Kushan Mitra Auto & tech expert

Heartbreak

racetrack on the

The 24 hours of Le Mans is rightly described the greatest race in the world.

But the 84th running of this amazing event threw up some last minute drama that no scriptwriter could dream up

AT

the Audi Sport Arena they had already started to pour out the champagne. The Indian press corps, guests of Audi, were on the balcony which overlooked the pit entrance at the infamous Circuit Du Sarthe awaiting the leading cars to come past. Your writer waited inside the huge temporary hall where he was watching the second-tolast lap on the giant screen when he noticed something did not look right. The leading Toyota TS50 hybrid racecar, #5 being driven by Kazuki Nakajima, had suddenly slowed down on the long Mulsanne straight.

Was there a reason for the slowdown? Was the leading Toyota waiting for the #6 Toyota which was running third for a photo-opportunity? After all, after a decade and a half of trying, Toyota was finally winning this, the most prestigious of races, the ultimate certification of reliability.

A race that in 24 hours covers more kilometres than a whole season of Formula 1 — the leading cars cover over 5000 km. Each car with three drivers even pushes these men and couple of women to the limit. Drivers, engineers, mechanics, managers and even fans and the media have barely slept over the past day and a half. Why was the Toyota slowing down after 1437 minutes of a race that takes 1440 minutes?

It was not for the other Toyota, which given the 13.6 km length of the circuit was way behind. The #2 Porsche, which barely 15 minutes ago was almost a minute behind the lead Toyota, was catching up fast. The Porsche, driven by Swiss driver Neel Jani, was blitzing the lap, knocking 30 seconds off Nakajima’s Toyota in the second sector alone. Something was wrong with Nakajima’s car.

By now, the rest of the media and the guests from the balcony had rushed in, our sleep-deprived minds scarcely able to comprehend what was going on. The commentators were confused, so were the fans but the fact was that the #2 Porsche swept past the #5 Toyota with two minutes of the race to go. And then the #5 Toyota lost power altogether, on the start-finish line

in full public view of over 150,000 people crowding the grandstands. There was insanity on the race radios, commentators were ballistic in French, Spanish, English, Japanese and several other languages.

This has been a crazy, long and often insane race over the years with unbearable tragedy and amazing competitive storylines but never like this.

Never has the leading car come to a stop so late in the race. Never has the lead car failed to be classified because of what can only be described as a last-minute mechanical failure as Nakajima spoke that he had no power. He managed to get the car going again but he couldn’t complete a lap in the stipulated six minutes.

Even at Audi, whose #8 car somehow managed to finish on the podium, another beneficiary of Toyota’s amazing collapse, the #2 Porsche driven by Jani, Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas took the top-step.

The #6 Toyota salvaged something for the Japanese team yet after years of trying and coming second, first to Peugeot for many years, then to Audi’s amazing run of wins through the past decade and now Porsche since last year. Toyota just can’t catch a break.

Audi Sport, whose much redeveloped R18 hybrid racecar has tasted some success at other endurance races this year (albeit other endurance races are only six hours long), managed to

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continue a run of podium finishes in the top Le Mans Prototype 1 class that goes back to 1999.

Jani, whose father is a Sindhi, originally from Mumbai won the race for the first time. However, his former colleague at the Red Bull racing academy Sebastien Buemi, Nakajima’s co-driver on the #5 Toyota, was left ruing his luck as was another ex-F1 driver Anthony Davidson. Even as the chequered flag fell down, Mark Webber, driver of the #1 Porsche as well as Audi Motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich, were rushing over to Toyota to commiserate. But there was not much to say.

Hughes de Chaunac, the Frenchman who runs Toyota’s motorsports team was visibly crying along with several of the mechanics.

The faces of the Japanese Toyota executives were stoic, the same stoicism one sees when a Japanese business executive apologises for a grave error. But this was no fault of theirs, this was heartbreaking for everyone who was watching. At the Audi Arena, the champagne glasses were put down, even though an 18th consecutive podium had been achieved. Other automotive writers had their heads shaking in disbelief. Two hours later, when four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel asked about the race result after finishing second at the F1 race in Baku, he was stunned enough to blurt out a cussword when he found out what happened. Even Formula 1 drivers

realise that the 24 hours of Le Mans is the greatest race.

But there are no prizes for second place, or forty-fifth where the #5 Toyota was finally classified. But there were prizes for America, as Ford won first place in the Grand Touring category with the Ford GT leading to an exhilarated Bill Ford who was jumping up and down. Ford’s famous GT40 had made its mark against the Porsches and Ferraris in the 1960s and now 50 years later, Ford had returned triumphantly albeit controversially, with several issues for both Ford and Ferrari.

But this race will always be known as the race Toyota did not win. While the trophy will have the name of a Sindhi boy who delivered Stuttgartbased Porsche their 18th overall win at Le Mans, this race will always be about the car that did not win.

The the 2016 Le Mans will be remembered as Toyota’s race. But as the shuttle driver mentioned as we headed back, “it is the 24 hours of Le Mans, not 23 hours 57 minutes, you have to be reliable for 24 hours and sadly the Toyota was not.” He is right on that, but thanks to last minute heartbreak, this race will always remain the greatest race ever.

EXOTICA [83] JULY 2016

B E AT B O X

would be amazed to know that Parikrama started out as a four-month project, according to Subir Malik. “Let alone 25 years, we did not even expect to last six months as a band. When I was 20, right after college, I had a brief four month period of respite from the world and later on I was expected to take hold of the family business of motor parts dealings. I had assumed that music would be a good way to take a break from the rut and just unwind.

But then in our first season itself we played over 40 gigs. That came as a major surprise to us. And, needless to say, we were hooked on to it,” is what Malik tells us after delivering a scintillating performance onstage.

Parikrama recently celebrated their silver As a group of music lovers, Parikrama has a jubilee. On the occasion, SUBIR MALIK, the reputation of not only doing away with the band manager cum organist, talks at leisure rulebook but also tearing out the pages. Unlike most bands today, Parikrama gives out its music with CHRISTY VARGHESE about the band for free on its official website. The band boasts of and his mistress for years — music millions of downloads and not having any

policies against their music being copied and distributed as such. the occasion of their anniversary, Parikrama would usually hold a concert for their fans, but this year Hard Rock Cafe requested their presence for the World Music Day celebrations, and they readily agreed. “They are like family to us, back in 2005 when the first HRC opened in Mumbai, we were the first to play there,” he discloses.

He names The Who, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd as notable groups which have inspired the band’s music. But then he asserts the fact that Indian bands ought not to be written off and are much worthy of our attention. “Some time back, I happened to witness a Delhi-based band, The Circus, live. And I was astounded at their electrifying performance, and it’s not just them. I am happy to know that there are thousands of bands which have surfaced in

the past decade, with their own distinct tunes,” he adds.

Though he happens to have a major thing for Rock ‘n’ Roll, Malik tells us that he doesn’t mind listening to some Bollywood music. “One of my friends made me listen to Udaan’s (2010 drama feature film) music and I was immediately captivated by it. I played it on loop for three weeks or so. You would be surprised to learn that while driving, I tune in to radio in the hope that I would get to listen to the enchanting voices of Rafi and Kishore Kumar,” he confesses. also divulges that he has purchased two tickets for the Desert Trip Music Festival in Los Angeles in October — a dream come true for the little kid in him. Ask him about the future of rock and roll in India, Malik passionately voices his opinion that it is anything but dull, in fact it seems to be burning brighter than ever before.

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CSR DRIVE

RUN

FOR

LIFE

AAI celebrated the International Day Against Drug Abuse with some innovative campaigns like a marathon and neighbourhood processions. Sharang Bhaskaran joined in EXOTICA [86] JULY 2016

was more than just another corporate marathon. This one had young people connecting with elders and families over a mass fitness session. Young Anish Mehra, a software professional, told us why he took up marathon as a break from his competitive but essentially repetitive couch job. “Marathons today are the best way of exercising mind control and developing focus and concentration. A run is the best form of mind exercise and teaches you not to be dependent on external factors but yourself. The good news is that you do not have to be born with mental toughness to run a race. Anybody can do it.

Mental toughness is an acquired trait. You don’t have to go through a life-threatening experience to gain it. You can learn to be mentally tough through your workouts every day. You will be challenged many times to keep moving forward and reach your goal. The more you learn, the more mental toughness you gain,” he told us. J B Singh, GM, PR revealed how practising the marathon had enhanced his endurance: “Just when you think you cannot reach your goal, a run tells you to focus on other things instead of succumbing to frustration and failure. Sometimes I look at the scenery along a stretch to remind myself of the nurturing impact of nature, other times I focus on the cheer and expectations of supporters along the way, at other times I visualise myself so near the finish

IT

On the eve of International Day Against Drug Abuse, the Airports Authority of India co-sponsored a short run

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AAI chairman Sudhir Raheja, member (HR) Anuj Aggarwal and other dignitaries, including Dr Sunita Godara, participated with around, 5000 people — both young and old line....When you are hurting, you just say, I must keep moving forward, just this step, one more step.

And you’ll likely get to the finish line when you are mentally tough.”

Fifty-year-old Tanmay Sinha has battled confidence issues in his lonesome life. “The runner learns to trust that the body will know what to do when it’s race time. You trust in your training and your plan. You trust in your coach. You believe in yourself, even when there is no one close by to boost your confidence. You go with what you know, even when your support system is not present at the race. You stay mentally tough and keep moving forward, even when the finish line seems far away. You say, ‘Every step brings me closer to my goal.’ In a word, you truly become independent and take charge instead of giving in to easy options and distractions.”

The marathon was organised by the Health Fitness Trust led by Dr Sunita Godara, Asian marathon champion since the last 14 years, in collaboration with three ministries on the International Day against Drug Abuse. The Airports Authority of India, which places a high premium on its CSR activities, co-sponsored the run for the second year in a row. It is because of AAI’s commitment to fighting the drug menace that its collaborators were able to notch up the number of participants by 1,000 this year. Participants even included its employees and their families. The organisation believes that engaging children and the youth in physical exercise and fitness activities helps in developing good mental health. Also, children get a sound social environment to grow in during the process so that they do not fall prey to stress and mental health issues and resort to drugs

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FIELD CAMPAIGNS Anti-drug drive was just one of the CSR activities of AAI. Some of the other initiatives are as follows: AAI supported more than 10,500 students of 23 schools across the country.

AAI in association with NIIT, has set up the Yuva Star Career Development Centre in Mumbai (over 1,000 students trained and nearly 800 got jobs).

AASHA Skill Training Programme for women at Sanganer, Jaipur has empowered 180 women in 16 batches by honing their tailoring skills.

AAI’s skill development programme helped 1,000 youth to get jobs in 2015-16. AAI also planned to train 2,000 more youth in 2016-17.

AAI has upgraded a 24X7 primary health care centre at Pakyong, Sikkim and provided a mobile medical unit in remote rural areas.

Rural drinking water project at Pakyong, Sikkim.

Community toilet at Birsi village, Gondia, Maharashtra.

Old-age home under construction at Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

AAI undertook 500 corrective surgeries to differently-abled people with loco-motor disability in 2013-14 at Udaipur, Rajasthan.

AAI distributed motorised tricycles to differently-abled people at Thiruvananthapuram during 2012-13 in coordination with district authority.

As part of the Swachh Vidyalaya initiative, AAI constructed 1,078 toilets across the country. It built 49 toilets at Lilabari, Assam, on behalf of PHHL at an expenditure of `76.90 lakh. It is working with government organisations of Nagaland and Manipur for construction of toilets in schools this year with a grant of `1crore.

to escape them. The theme of the event, “Let’s develop communities without drugs”, was aimed at educating the youth of the country on the benefits of leading a healthy life.

The Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr Thaawarchand Gehlot, flagged off the run at India Gate along with AAI chairman Sudhir Raheja, member (HR) Anuj Aggarwal and other dignitaries including Dr Sunita Godara.

Students, volunteers, NGO workers, defence and police personnel made the event vibrant and spontaneous. “It is our endeavour to say no to drug abuse. This is the second year in succession since we are supporting this event and we will continue to do so in the future as well. The youth has to be made aware about how society suffers because of this,” said AAI chairman S Raheja.

Young Salil Bhatt shared how marathons had

helped him manage time better. “One of the worst things about the long run is, simply, so much time passing by. One good trick is to dedicate each mile to a person or a movie or a food that motivates you. For that mile, think of your best friend or stack of pancakes. At the next mile, go on to the next person or thing and repeat for each mile. This exercise is great to pass the time and help motivate you to do things that mean something to you and the community at large.”

The AAI roped in 17,000 employees across the country for the cause through other promotional initiatives. For example, it held a prabhat pheri (morning procession) at the INA colony of AAI staffers. This was organised with the help of the RWA. AAI feels that drug abuse can only be contained if the awareness drives percolate to the grassroots in every neighbourhood.

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SPORTS GALLERY

While his initial dream was to ride the track from Chile to Alaska in the hopes of creating a world record, cyclist TIM CHITTOCK was asked to cover the Golden Quadrilateral instead. He shares his incredible journey

INDIA BY

IN

many ways, New Zealand based Tim Chittock is your regular 24-year-old guy — a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in law and economics, who likes the company of his friends and enjoys sports. But there is one thing that sets him apart — the fact that he has covered the Golden Quadrilateral (a total distance of 6,000 km spanning Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai) in less than 24 days, in an attempt to set a world record.

It’s not every day that a foreign national tries to set a world record in India. Turns out, Chittock actually wanted to ride the track from the bottom of Chile to the top of Alaska. So he got in touch with the Guinness World Record office six months ago and asked them that he might be able to set a record. “They sent an email asking me if I would like to try the Golden Quadrilateral instead. I guess it was just a test and I looked into it. It was the perfect time of the year. I saw the maps and the terrain looked flat. Also there was a good wind that would follow me around. So I decided to give it a go,” he smiled.

The first week, after he took off from the New Zealand High Commission on February 21, he rode to Kolkata. But things did not sail smoothly because he got really sick. “I could not eat and was living on noodles, so I lost weight very quickly,” said Chittock, who covered about 300 km on the first day and got past Agra.

By the time he reached Kolkata, the thought of giving up had already crept into his mind. “It was too hard,” he recalled. “I knew that if I continued like that, I would become real sick and that

ROAD

would be bad. But my mother encouraged me. She reminded me how I had told people that I would do it and that I should be more reliable. So I kept going,” he added.

According to the calculations, in order to set the record, Chittock had to ride 300 km a day. “That was the aim because that average would have helped us cover the distance in 20 days,” he explained and mentioned that since he did it in 23 days and 20 hours, the average was about 260 km per day.

AFTER

spending 24 days straight on the roads of India, he did have a lot of stories to share — how he had a close shave at least three times and how he was almost mowed down by a truck. But from his accounts, it seems his cherished, more vivid experiences were of the people. They were “the most interesting part” of the journey. “I have been to Japan and Vietnam but Indians are the kindest and the most helpful people. If I came across someone and asked for help, they would open their home to me. And that is something I am not used to at home. I mean Kiwis are supposed to be friendly, and we are, but I don’t think we go to that extent,” said the young rider.

Interestingly, Chittock’s cycling career started three months ago before he set out his trail in India as a method of getting into the practice of rowing. “We rowed and our backs would get really sore — we needed more strength in our legs.

A friend of mine suggested cycling,” he shared.

However, this was not Chittock’s first time riding long stretches. In the last two years, he has cycled the length of New Zealand and the width of Australia.

FOR

a journey such as this, one would require months of rigorous training but Chittock did not make it too hard on himself. He did not undertake any special training. He just cycled a lot — about 80 km everyday.

“And my university (University of Waikato) backed me up considerably. They took me to the World Cycling Championship and helped me meet people, especially Gary Anderson, a famous trek cyclist. In fact, he set my bike up for me, because if you sit up wrong, even a few milimeteres, your body will start to wear down fast,” shared the cyclist who now can sit up for 13 hours a day on his bike.

Chittok has bigger plans though. It doesn’t just stop here.

“A friend of mine wants to row across the Atlantic. So in 2018 we are going to try to start from Canary Islands and go up to South America. It should be fun. I know it will be.”

EXOTICA [91] JULY 2016

E AT R I G H T

THERE’S MORE TO

Your personality is a reflection of what you eat. Tweak your diet to change your life around

SOUL FOOD

FOOD

is a dynamic energy force which influences every aspect of your being, be it physical, emotional or spiritual. Ayurveda, the ancient healing system in India, had identified the positive and negative attributes of food, which today is being recognised by modern nutritional science. It realises how food and other lifestyle factors influence one’s physical appearance, thinking process, behaviour and hence actions.

According to Ayurveda, food can be categorised

according to its basic qualities as Sattva (purity), Rajas (activity, passion, the process of change) and Tamas (darkness, inertia).

SATTVIC FOOD is always freshly cooked, simple and can be “digested easily.” It can bring one’s mind to a state of balance. It helps build immunity and improves the healing response in those who are ill. It consists of foods that are closest to their natural forms like milk and milk products, fresh as well as dried fruits. Most fresh

THIS

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vegetables qualify except garlic, onions and chives. All unrefined whole grain cereals, most lentils (dals) sprouts, natural sweeteners like jaggery, honey and natural oils like home-made ghee, butter and cold-pressed oils are considered sattvic. Eating raw foods is not considered sattvic as they harbour a lot of parasites and microbes. Small amounts of raw foods can be eaten according to sattvic rules. This specific diet bestows knowledge and awareness in a seeker.

RAJASIK SPREAD food is fresh but “heavy” to digest. Those who indulge in heavy physical activity should eat this type of food. It includes non-vegetarian food like meat, fish, eggs and chicken. All whole pulses and dals (not sprouted) hot spices like chillies, pepper and all vegetables, including onions and garlic, come under this category. Rajasik cooking may contain a little more oil and spices. Fit for people who believe in action and aggression in a positive way.

THIS

THE RAJASIK PERSONALITY Rajasik diet makes a person long for sensual stimulation. He is usually aggressive in nature (in a positive way) and full of energy. He is interested in the four Ps — power, prestige, position and prosperity. But he is quite in control of his life. He is not obsessed by any of the above. He is a “go-getter” in life and knows how to enjoy life.

THE

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THE SATTVIC PERSONALITY person who follows the sattvic way of eating is known to be clear-minded, balanced, moderate in habits and is focussed.

He usually avoids using intoxicants as in alcohol, stimulants like tea, coffee, tobacco and non-vegetarian food. He is extremely balanced and spiritually aware.

A

TAMASIK HIGHS includes all foods that are not fresh, unnatural, overcooked, stale and processed. They include goodies made from refined flour (maida), pastries, pizzas, burgers, chocolates, soft drinks, rumali roti, naan, stimulants like tea, coffee, tobacco, intoxicants like alcohol, wines and so on. Most canned and preserved foods like jam, jelly, pickles and fermented foods come in this category. Fried foods, sweets made from sugar, ice creams, puddings and most modern day “fun foods” are included in this list.

THIS

THE TAMASIK PERSONALITY brings about stagnation in a person and degeneration in his health. Such individuals suffer intense mood swings, insecurity, desires, cravings and are unable to deal with others in a balanced way. They have little regard for the welfare of others and tend to be very self-centered. They

TAMAS

usually suffer from degenerative conditions like cancer, heart disease, chronic fatigue and so on.

They enjoy packaged and processed foods which are rich in calories.

Sattvic, Rajasik and Tamasik are more than just qualities in food. They are a way of life. How we choose to live and think, how we treat others and what we choose to eat corresponds perfectly with all that we receive in life, both in terms of health and awareness. If you find what you are receiving from life is intolerable, all you need to do is to change your attitude and make better choices.

— For further information, visit www.health-total.com

EXOTICA [94] JULY 2016

MONSOON CARE

WHAT TO

BUY

1

These products will come to your rescue in this muggy weather

2 3

1. Bobbi Brown: Long Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15.

Price: `2,815 2. Kiehl’s: Facial fuel moisterising gel for men.

Price: `2,633 3. Lakme: Illuminating eye shadow palette from Absolute range. Price: `995 4. Body Shop: Drops of Light Pure Clarifying Face Wash.

Price: `1,525 for 125ml.

5. Maskeratine: The highly concentrated Morpho-Kertaine enhanced with wheat protein and lipid formula smoothens unmanageable, unruly hair.

Price: `2,900 for 200ml.

6. MAC: Intense black dimension water proof mascara. Price: `1,483 7. Avène’s: Cleanance MAT to restore radiance with Cleanance Deep-cleansing Purifying Mask. Price: `1,320 for 50ml.

8. L'Oréal: Professionnel’s Pro Fiber range for Long Lasting Anti-Damage Haircare Masque at Price: `1,400

4

5 6

7

8 EXOTICA [95] JULY 2016

BLITHESPIRIT

THEY

Magandeep Singh Sommelier

say it got banned on account of it driving people mad, and not the same way that Justin Bieber drives 15-year olds mad. It is also claimed to be why Van Gogh sliced his ear lobe and sent it to the object of his affection just to prove his love for her. And that is but the tip of the iceberg of notorious instances that populate the absinthe myth.

Well, to clear up a few of those urban lore, it wasn’t absinthe but the liquor derived from wormwood that was banned. Absinthe is made from mostly anise today but the original recipe called for wormwood and many other botanicals. Trouble is that if used as a major ingredient, and consumed in large amounts, it can lead to convulsions and kidney-related disorders. Not quite how anyone would want a night out to end.

Absinthe — a drink of fairies — is considered evil, potent, nasty, and decidedly tempting. Is it just an over hyped drink laced with popular imagination or is there something more to it?

Later studies have shown that absinthe wasn’t as vile as it was made out to be back in the day when it acquired a tainted image that it had to be banned.

NOW

we all know that nothing popularises a product like banning it.

And this was precisely the case with absinthe. Even as it retreated into obscurity, mystical tales of its potent magic grew. Add to this, some of the most popular writers and thinkers of the 19th century (Hemingway to Wilde, Edgar Allen Poe to Byron and Proust) called it their favourite tipple and you can only imagine the effect it had on the crowds. Come to think of it, this was one of the earliest versions of (unpaid) brand endorsements.

Absinthe is bottled at stronger concentrations than is normally seen (i.e. much higher than 40 per cent v/v) so please don’t try shooting it, unless you want to burn away a part of your oesophagus. Instead, dilute it, add some sugar too.

The classic way involves a Samovar which drips water gently over a decorated (and perforated) spoon that has a sugar cube resting on it.

The gentle trickle absorbs just the right amount of sugar. But it does take a good 20 minutes before your drink is ready. The good absinthes are rarely bottled at strengths higher than 50 per cent so if you are looking at a bottle proudly display 80 per cent alcohol, avoid it.

Coming to the colour, absinthe mostly is naturally green, deriving its tone from the botanical extracts. Back in the day, pink and red ones were also not so uncommon. Some producers add colour but it doesn’t affect the taste. In India, the absinthe culture is just catching on. The important thing to remember — when in moderation nothing is harmful. But exceed that limit, whatever it may be, and you are putting everything on the line. And that way, absinthe is no different from say, gambling or breathing the air in our cities.

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BEAUTY TIPS

Grow these magical herbs at home for an organic beauty and health regime. By BLOSSOM KOCHHAR

ONE

great thing about growing herbs at home is that if preserved, they live longer even after the plants are gone. The reason herbs exude aroma is because they contain essential oil — substances found in flowers’ seeds, bark, grains, roots and leaves. These essential oils contain the vital energy of the plants and thus can have healing and powerful effect on your body, mind and emotions. Let’s concentrate on four amazing herbs namely — Carnation, Tuberose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang to understand how effectively they can work for hair and skin.

CARNATION: Known as the flower of gods (local name clove pink), carnation has its origin in Greece, being cultivated for at least 2,000 years now. The flower aids in reinstating and balancing natural hormones in women with nervous conditions. A perfect homeopathic remedy at home to treat fever, stomach aches and chest congestions. In oil form, it acts like a conditioner for skin.

HOT TIP: Simmer some carnation leaves in water and use this solution to wash your skin. Make your own cleansing creams and lotions from this herb as it cleanses and moisturises the skin.

YLANG YLANG: An aphrodisiac, Ylang Ylang can be used as bath oil and controls anxiety, tension and high blood pressure. It stimulates hair growth and can be used as a conditioner.

HOT TIP: You can use ylang ylang for hot oil treatment. Mix 3-4 drops of ylang ylang oil in 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, heat this mixture and apply to your hair. You can also massage by mixing it in any carrier oil of your choice, the concoction is a natural hair loss treatment.

FRANKINCENSE: Acknowledged for its antiseptic and deodorising nature, frankincense is used in perfumes and incensed sticks. Mix

frankincense oil in floral water and apply on skin for that smooth and soft feel. It helps in removing acne, stretch and surgery marks while rejuvenating the skin. For dandruff, it’s a perfect treatment if used regularly.

HOT TIP: To disinfect your home, add a couple of frankincense oil drops in baking soda and lemon essential oil and scrub your kitchen sink. See how smoothly it removes all the grease leaving it squeaky clean and incensed. You can try the same method for keeping your fridge odour-free by adding a few drops of oil in water.

TUBEROSE: Though not a very popular herb, Tuberose (also called Night Queen or Raat ki Rani) has beautiful aroma and only blooms at night.

You can use this flower as a deodorant, a stress buster and even apply on inflammation. It also stimulates and increases blood circulation, especially in winters. Tuberose is excellent for smoothening hair and keeps them frizz-free, giving a natural sheen.

HOT TIP: The oil extracted from this flower soothes frayed nerves stimulating blood circulation. Add 2-3 drops of tuberose oil in your bathing water and take a warm aromatic bath. Use tuberose essential oil as a massage blend to treat dry skin in winters.

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GURUSPEAK Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Spiritual Guru

GET RUT OUT OF THE All of us want to be happy. Whether it’s money, power or sex, we get into it for the sake of happiness. Some people even enjoy misery because it gives them happiness.

But is running after your happy goals worth the effort?

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TO

be happy, we seek something. But despite getting it, we are not happy.

All of one’s life is spent in chasing happiness. It’s like making a bed all night but having no time to sleep. How many minutes, hours and days have we spent in being happy from within? Those are the only moments you have really lived.

Life is 80 per cent joy and 20 per cent misery.

But we hold on to the 20 per cent and make it 200 per cent. It is not a conscious act — it just happens. In this world, everything cannot be perfect all the time. Even the best and greatest of actions, performed with noblest of intentions, will have some imperfections. It is but natural.

Unfortunately, the tendency of our mind is to grab the imperfection and hold on to it. And in the process, we end up making our moods.

Nobody can feel bad or good all the time — the

good and bad feelings come like waves. You can’t stop a wave that has already risen, nor can you make a wave rise on its own. Just as waves and clouds come and go, so do our emotions. The tendency to seek more is in us — we only need to give it a twist.

Instead of “What more can I have”, just start asking yourself “What more can I do?” You will start to see the joy that is there. The more responsibility you take, the more power will come to you. Usually we think we should have resource and then we will commit. Greater the commitment you make, greater the resources will come to you automatically. You don’t have to sit and worry how you will get resources. When you have the intention to do something — resources simply flow in.

A commitment can only be felt when it oversteps convenience. That which is convenient is not a commitment. If you just go with the convenience, your commitment falls apart, causing more inconvenience. If you keep dropping your commitment because it’s inconvenient, can you be comfortable? Often, what is convenient doesn’t bring comfort, but gives an illusion of comfort. Whatever you are committed to brings you strength.

Don’t judge or worry about what others think of you. Whatever they think is not permanent.

Your own opinion about things and people keeps changing all the time. So why worry about what others think of you? Worrying takes a lot of toll on the body, mind, intellect and alertness. It’s like an obstruction that takes us far from ourselves. It’s imperative to get out of these cycles and become strong and courageous from within.

EXOTICA [101] JULY 2016

FITNESS Bharat Thakur is a yoga guru and founder of Artistic Yoga

Thyroid problems are common these days and in India, affect 1 out of 10.

Women are more prone than men.

Timely diagnosis, lifestyle changes along with yoga can help sufferers

A

CHECK THAT GLAND

small butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your throat — thyroid secretes the hormones Thyroxin (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) directly into the bloodstream, regulating the body’s metabolic processes.

The most common thyroid problems occur when the gland is either over-active (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism).

In hyperthyroidism, too many hormones are produced, escalating your metabolism. There can be weight loss even if eating extra, feeling nervous, irritable, bouts of insomnia, sweating and redness of eyes. For women, fewer and lighter menstrual periods than normal and a higher risk of osteoporosis are some of the symptoms.

When the thyroid gland is underactive i.e. hypothyroidism, it doesn’t produce enough hormones.

This slows down the body’s metabolic processes. The result can be a slower heart rate, tiredness,

sluggishness, clammy cold, muscle weakness, putting on weight even when not eating much.

In the yogic system, the Vishuddhi Chakra located in the throat is believed to be responsible for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and an individual’s communication and power of expression, its function is to purify and detoxify.

When Vishuddhi is blocked, there can be an unnatural reddening of the face, frequent colds and digestive problems. There are also suppressed emotions that express themselves as catharsis — rage, tears, irritation or frustration at not being able to express oneself.

Yogic practices, done regularly, can unblock and strengthen the Vishuddhi Chakra and regulate the thyroid gland — helping sufferers regain hormonal balance, harmonise physical, mental and emotional levels and being able to live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives.

EXOTICA [102] JULY 2016

H

A

L

A

S

A

N

o Lie flat on your back, arms by your side. o Inhaling, raise your legs, keeping them straight. o Lift your back off the floor and take your legs towards your head. o Exhaling, gradually lower your legs, touch floor with toes and straighten legs. o Hold for 60 seconds or as long as comfortable. o Inhale, slowly raise both legs, exhale, bring them down slowly.

A BENEFITS:

o Regulates the functioning of the Thyroid and Thymus glands, improving the immune system. o Good for flexibility of the back. o Strengthens the back, shoulders and neck.

JALANDHAR BANDHA

o Sit in Padmasana, hands on knees, eyes closed. o Inhale slowly, lock your chin against your chest. o Unlock the chin, look up and exhale slowly.

BENEFITS:

o Regulates the functioning of the thyroid. o Helps relieve stress, anxiety and anger.

SARVANGASANA

o Lie flat on your back, arms by your side and feet together. o Inhaling, slowly raise both your legs to 90 degrees. o Gently push the chest forward so it presses against the chin. o Relax, breathe normally and hold for 2 minutes. o Lower the hips, place arms by your side and slowly lower the legs.

BENEFITS:

o Stimulates Vishuddhi Chakra and regulates the thyroid gland. o Improves blood circulation and revitalises cells.

MATSYASANA

o Sit either with legs straight or in Padmasana. o Slowly lean back, place the elbows on the floor. o Arch the back until head touches floor. o Hold the toes with the hands and breathe normally. o Relax the head, use your elbows to return to start position.

BENEFITS:

o Regulates the Thyroid and Thymus glands. o Strengthens the respiratory system.

NUMBERGAME Sanjay Jumaani Numerologist

COUNT YOUR FATE

NUMBER 1 (Ruled by Sun, people born on the 1st, 10th, 19th and 28th) Your uncalled-for energy is of no use unless well directed. The order is, if you love someone better show it. Beneath the tough exterior is a mellow soul that needs to be around close ones. This might be a good time for those interested in buying a vehicle. Word of caution — don’t rush into things.

NUMBER 4 (Ruled by Uranus, people born on the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st) Your intuitive ways could surprise one and all. Don’t share secrets with just anybody as people might not identify with you — which could even lead to you being ridiculed. Your restless mind can also do with a little more respite from the crazy world and the sand clock of time which is fast ticking by.

NUMBER 7 (Ruled by Neptune, people born on the 7th, 16th and 25th) Those who are single might find some good company at the least expected place. But to do this you must know the art of ‘advertising’ — without being too showy. Life may appear to be on a faster lane for the week in question at least. So instead of complaining, relax and enjoy what life has to offer.

NUMBER 2 (Ruled by Moon, people born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th and 29th) This is the right time to put your best foot forward. You should try to go all out in your efforts and your enthusiasm will be at high fervour. Being content with things around and being able to cherish the splendours of life is what you are naturally gifted with. So continue doing that and you will be happy.

NUMBER 5 (Ruled by Mercury, people born on the 5th, 14th and 23rd) Your unending ‘get-up-and-go’ attitude comes as no surprise.

However, stop by at regular intervals to enjoy the serenity as well. Unexpected gains could accrue even if you had not worked for the same. Your generous nature could come to the fore. Remember, the more you give, the more you get.

NUMBER 8 (Ruled by Saturn, people born on the 8th, 17th and 26th) A feel-good approach will make you feel lighter and zippier, which can help in further expansion in different spheres of life. You can expect others to follow suit, if you are loud enough about your good intent.

You could also try to be a bit more demonstrative in relationships for a change.

NUMBER 3 (Ruled by Jupiter, people born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th) You may pass through diminutive spells of loneliness.

Take it as a challenge and you will see that time flies and heals too. The most remarkable thing is that you can garner attention and companionship from thin air. In matters of finance — use providence to manage things rather smoothly.

NUMBER 6 (Ruled by Venus, people born on the 6th, 15th and 24th) Ingenious and creative — you may inspire others with your works — if only you could be a little more patient. A relaxed attitude in your planned schedule can help you gain momentum that can help you reach your intention. So if you want to take a holiday, go on, you probably deserve it.

NUMBER 9 (Ruled by Mars, people born on the 9th, 18th and 27th) You will not be bothered about what the world says about you — rather feel carefree and determined in your passageway.

Meditation and alternate cures could give you a closer glimpse of your truer self. Success is a blend of good fortune and hard work. So work hard till you find your path of success.

EXOTICA [104] JULY 2016

AT L E I S U R E C E L E B R A T E A T H O M E

THE

festival at Puri’s Jagannath Temple marks the annual journey of the deities Lord Jagannath (a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu and Krishna), along with and his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. On July 6.

INDIAN

summers are incomplete without mangoes and this festival is an opportunity to relish them to the fullest. Head to the Mango Festival, which celebrates everything about the ‘King of all tropical fruits’, for some juicy mango tasting. Organised by the Delhi Tourism, the Mango Festival exhibits hundreds of mouthwatering varieties. From July 9 to 10.

DREE

is one-of-a-kind agriculture based festival of the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. This annual fest is celebrated to seek the blessings of divine beings for good harvest and protection of the crops. From July 4 to 7.

THE

13th edition of the Himalayan Odyssey will see motorcycle riders travel across some of the most challenging trails — on an epic journey through some of the highest motorable roads in India.

This year, a special women’s edition of the festival is also debuting. From July 9 to 23.

THE

Splash monsoon carnival is back with its eighth year. A fabulous and fun opportunity to experience Wayanad during the rains and see its natural green beauty. The carnival consists of three action-packed days of both outdoor and indoor events, including river rafting, mountain biking, mud football, and crab-catching.

Starts mid-July.

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By RINKU GHOSH

D

MONKEY BUSINESS

id you know that no house or corporate establishment, including hotels, is allowed to be higher than a coconut tree in the island of Bali? Or that no building, residential or commercial, is allowed to tweak with the facade of a typical Balinese architecture, sloping pagoda roofs, cursive embellishments and impressive gateways? If one does so for the purpose of modernity and contemporary appeal, one has to pay 50 per cent more in taxes. And in keeping with the balance of life philosophy, every house and institution nurtures a green cover and pets. In the countryside, they keep roosters aplenty as a natural wake-up call. A coffee plantation even nurtures a colony of bats!!!!

An international tourist hotspot, Bali has not only worked out an effective tourism model but one that factors in future challenges. One that explains why it continues to top rankings. A tourism official of the Bali and Beyond Trade Fair (BBTF), to which we were invited, explained how they were looking at developing newer experiences, assuming the tourist saturation of the beaches, cliffs, islands and cruises in five years. They have learnt from the over-exposure of Thailand, do not want to be stereotyped and are, therefore, promoting “Bali and Beyond” before its time has come. As a senior official of the tourism committee told us, “We are looking at developing short hops from Bali as part of a widened tourist bouquet at the same package prices.” On the agenda are promoting the Komodo Islands, home of the dragon, particularly aimed at luring the traffic out of China, which has a great existential contiguity with a living dragon. Others are Toraja, home of the ceremonial tribes and adventure hubs.

Indians will get a Garuda link via Delhi and Mumbai.

How then will they manage the environmental challenges with the resort rush? “Who says we will go on a building spree? Instead we will look at extending our hospitality to the homestay format and we are training locals in the process. We already have art studio residencies and we can enhance various kinds of theme-

based experiential holidays.” Locals are major stakeholders in Bali's tourism. For example, in the rainforest sanctuary of Ubud, the authorities share 10 per cent of the revenue with the locals, who keep the forest floors and roads clean by removing all kinds of litter and trash, unwinding them from strangler epiphytes.

As somebody who has had communicative monkeys knocking on window panes for food at my office in central Delhi, I was surprised that regular behaviour and antics of our simian brethren — snatching food, climbing shoulders, running away with bags and pillaging them for goodies, snarling when challenged, holding hands in friendship — have been elevated to a tourist experience at the monkey forest of Ubud. Somehow the wild monkeys have also learnt the art of tourism, putting up a varied and entertaining show and not too troublesome. While the rainforest has been kept intact, a bit of the village around it has been cleared for a high end tourist enclave, chic boutiques jostling with various monkey-themed arthouses, installations, cafes, lounges and bars. Ubud’s ambassador is the trio of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” Ubud has four monkey kingdoms. Wonder why we never thought about it considering we have an empire. Neither have we ever thought of rice terrace restaurants, though we have them aplenty across our Himalayas and highlands, promoting village cuisine.

Being a Hindu majority island in an Islamic Indonesia, Bali has held out its culture proudly without being offensive or majoritarian, but rather by extracting its philosophical essence. The monkey dance, performed to beatboxing and combining modern fluid, martial moves, follows Hanuman’s battles in Lanka in the most youthful way possible. Batik and ikat feature from footwear, keychains to bowties and even ceramics in exquisite contemporary interpretations and design school originality. Small things but big lessons. Maybe we have a treasure mine but we need pertinent ideas to sell our tourism experience.

EXOTICA [106] JULY 2016

EXOTICA

RNI NO. DELENG/2006/18084 POSTAL REGN. NO. DL (C)-01/1151/2016-2018 Posted at NDPSO on 10th, 11th & 12th of same month Published on 30th of Advance Month

VOL 10 NO 9 JULY 2016