Indian Abroad May 1-15, 2021 Vol 1 Issue 6 by IndianAbroad

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

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India’s Covid deaths cross 2L-mark, record 3.6L cases in 24 hrs

Delhi HC comes down heavily on Gautam Gambhir - Page 9

AIBC applauds federal govt support to India for COVID 19 crisis management - Page 13

ovid infections continue to spread rapidly despite lockdowns in many parts of the country. More than 3 lakh corona cases have been reported in India for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday. India reported a record number of 3,60,960 cases and 3,293 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry’s data released on Wednesday morning.

According to the Union Health Ministry, a total of 1,79,97,267 persons have been infected with the virus since the beginning of the pandemic, out of which 1,48,17,371 people have fully recovered after defeating the virus. For the first time the number of

deaths crossed 2-lakh mark, with a total of 2,01,187 people losing their lives to the virus across the country, according to the health ministry data, Currently, there are 29,78,709 active cases in India.

At the same time,Delhi’s death toll has crossed 15 thousand mark. The national capital also recorded more than 24 thousand new corona infections in the last 24 hours, with 381 persons succumbing to the virus, a record high. The registration for the third phase of the vaccination drive for citizens above 18 years of age, which begins on May 1, will start on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Those eligible can book their slots on Co-Win portal or the Aarogya Setu app.

K’taka minister tells farmer ‘to World joins hands to die’, puts BJP in tight spot

rescue India from second wave of pandemic

A Varnam Cultural Society’s Chithirai Kalai Vizha - Page 14

purported audio clip of Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Umesh Katti, telling a farmer activist that it is a “good time for farmers to die”, went viral on Wednesday, creating a major controversy for the BJP government in the state. As soon the audio clip in Kannada went viral on social media, opposition parties and farmers leaders demanded Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa sack Katti. In the audio clip, an activist rings up Katti and demands why his department has chosen to reduce the quantity of 5 kg free rice announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently prior to surge of Covid cases in the country. Katti responds that the state

Tisca Chopra: Hope my book encourages conversations - Page 23

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government had not reduced the quantity, but will instead provide two kg rice and three kg ‘ragi’ (finger millet) in the southern region of Karnataka and ‘jowar’ (sorghum) will be given in north Karnataka.

As per official sources, the US, the UK, France, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, the UAE,

Vehemently criticising the article in question and the newspaper The Australian; the Deputy Commissioner, P.S. Karthigeyan, Indian High Commission in Canberra submit-

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The UK is sending 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators this week. Out of these, 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen concentrators have already arrived on Tuesday. Continued on Page 6

ongress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has penned an emotional note on Facebook on the Covid pandemic saying, “we shall overcome.” She alleged that the government has failed the people and abdicated its responsibility.

Continued on Page 17

ted a strong response calling the article a “malicious report”. The rebuttal also expresses consternation saying, “It is astonishing to see that your respected publication has chosen to reproduce a completely baseless, malicious and slanderous article without bothering to check the facts of the case with any authorities in the Government of India. It appears that the report has been writ-

Kuwait and Russia have assured medical aid to India with much of the support on its way.

We’ll emerge into light once again: Priyanka pens emotional note

Indian High Commission slams Australian newspaper criticizing Modi for Covid spike in India he Indian High Commission in Canberra has rendered a strong response to the article written by Philip Sherwell blaming Indian Prime Minister Modi for the recent spike in Covid cases, which was published in The Australian.

Dress fabulously for yourself: Designers Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla - Page 24

ations across the world have come forward to help India in its fight against the raging second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which is extremely virulent and has ravaged the country in the past few weeks.

She said that she is writing with a heavy heart as many of you have lost ur loved ones in past few weeks and many have family members who are struggling for life, and many are grappling with the disease at home, anxious and afraid of what is to come. Continued on Page 5

ten only with the sole objective of undermining the universally acclaimed approach taken by the Government of India to fight the

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deadly global pandemic, at this decisive moment.” Continued on Page 3

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Covid-19’s Rampage in India SC allows Vedanta to produce only Oxygen at Tuticorin plant

US supplies of AstraZeneca vaccine to India could take ‘weeks’

he Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Vedanta’s Sterlite plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu to produce oxygen, as it is a ‘national need’.

The court said that only the Oxygen plant will be allowed to operate and that the order was passed in view of the national need for oxygen and allowed Vedanta to operate its Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin to produce oxygen while specifying that only the Oxygen plant will be operational. Passing the order, the bench clarified, “allowing Vedanta to operate its Oxygen plant would not create any equity in favour of the company.” The apex court asked the Tamil Nadu government to form a panel to monitor activities at the Vedanta’s copper unit at Tuticorin, which is closed since May 2018. “Vedanta shall not be allowed to enter, operate copper smelting plant under the garb of this order. There should be no political bickering over generation of oxygen by Vedanta, it’s a national crisis,” the bench specified. The apex court heard the Vedanta’s plea which sought opening of its Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin on the ground that it will produce tonnes of oxygen and give it free of cost to treat patients. Vedanta had sought handing over

of the plant for three months saying it requires two months to start the unit and the company should be allowed to run it for four weeks to ascertain whether it’s polluting or not. In August 2020, Vedanta had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court order refusing to allow reopening of the Tuticorin plant. The Madras High court had upheld the orders of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) directing closure of the unit in May 2018. Vedanta had approached the concerned high court in February 2019, and sought permission to reopen Sterlite plant which was closed following a May 23, 2018 order. The order was issued by the TNPCB in the backdrop of violent protests against the unit which left 13 peo-

ple dead in police firing on May 21 and 22. Earlier on Monday, an all party meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami unanimously decided to allow operation of the oxygen plant at Vedanta’s copper smelter plant or Sterlite Copper in Tuticorin temporarily for four months. The supply of power to operate the oxygen plant and other related units will be by the state power utility and Vedanta cannot use its own power facilities, the meeting had decided. The all party meeting was called in the wake of Supreme Court asking the Tamil Nadu government on its views to permit operation of the oxygen plant at the shutdown Vedanta’s copper smelter unit in Tuticorin after a petition was filed by the company in this regard.

Indian High Commission slams Australian newspaper criticizing Modi for Covid spike in India

Continued from Page 1 Highlighting India’s efforts to combat the pandemic, and the renewed surge in positive cases recently; the rejoinder further stated, “Starting off with the longest and strictest lockdown in the world to the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive, the world’s largest and fastest to reach 140 million, Indian Government has taken a number of measures to control the pandemic. With regard to the recent surge in infections, all possible measures are being taken on a war footing by authorities in India and we are confident that the surge will be contained very soon. Welfare of every citizen in India remains the highest priority for the Government of India.”

In this recently published article in The Australian, the blame for the fatal second wave of Covid-19 in India has been laid at the door of the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The article was originally published in the British newspaper The Times with the title “Modi leads

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India out of lockdown and into a viral apocalypse” and was rehashed by The Australian under the title “Modi leads India into viral apocalypse”. The author of the article, Philip Sherwell has attributed the alarming rise in the new variant Covid-19 cases to the complacency of Modi. The short description beneath the article on the newspaper’s website reads as follows, “Arrogance, hyper-nationalism and bureaucratic incompetence have combined to create a crisis of epic proportions, critics say, as India’s crowd-loving PM basks while citizens literally suffocate.” The same words were also tweeted by The Australian on April 25, 2021. The article opens with Modi’s statement expressing his delight at the huge turnout of supporters during an election rally speech in Asansol in the Indian state of West Bengal. Highlighting PM’s

he US is “looking at options” to ship millions of AstraZeneca vaccines to India but that can happen only after it clears federal safety review, the White House said on Monday. This process could take a few “weeks”. Approximately 10 million doses “could be released if and when FDA gets gives us concurrence, which could happen in the coming weeks”, a senior Biden administration official told reporters at a

rone-as-a-Service company Garuda Aerospace starting from Wednesday will fly its drones spraying anti-coronavirus disinfectant to sanitise government hospitals and other public buildings in Bengaluru Central area as a social cause, said the top company official.

Affected severely by coronavirus infection, Karnataka has gone under 14-day Covid-19 lockdown starting April 27.

The Indian High Commission, Canberra has urged the newspaper to refrain from publishing such slanderous articles and also to publish a rejoinder to nullify the implications of the aforementioned article.

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As many as 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected to be available for export in the coming months. An estimated additional 50 million doses of this vaccine are in various stages of production in the US, the White House confirmed. The AstraZeneca vaccine has not yet been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Garuda drones to sanitise Bengaluru hospitals, public buildings

The company will also look at the possibility of flying Covid-19 vaccine vials using drones in Karnataka, he added.

statement, “I have never seen such huge crowds”, Sherwell wrote, “Narendra Modi could not hide his delight as he surveyed his cheering supporters. ‘I’ve never seen such huge crowds’, thereby striving to lay stress on Modi’s “indifference” or even “callousness” to the crisis in the nation.

briefing, where IANS was present.

“At the initiative of P.C.Mohan, Lok Sabha Member from Bengaluru Central constituency, we will be starting the Covid-19 sanitisation programme for three days- April 27-30- in Bengaluru as our social commitment without charging any service fee,” Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Managing Director of city-based Garuda Aerospace, told IANS on Monday. Jayaprakash said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagra Palike (BBMP) has given the company necessary permission for drone based sanitization of public buildings and

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various hospitals.

He said the Bengaluru police too have given permission to spray anti-coronavirus disinfectants in some other areas in the city. The Bengaluru Central Member of Parliament AMohan also wants to look at the feasibility of drone based delivery of Covid-19 vaccine and emergency medical supplies in government hospitals in Bengaluru. Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted a conditional exemption to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for testing the feasibility of drones delivering vaccines, Jayaprakash said. Last year when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in the country, the city based Garuda Aerospace bagged drone based sanitization orders from several municipal corporations and smart cities like Varanasi, Rourkela, Raipur, Chennai and Hyderabad. The company also had bagged contracts from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana governments for spraying anti-locust pesticide in the state when there was locust swarm attack last year.

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Covid-19’s Rampage in India ‘Heartbroken’ Nadella vouches to help Covid-ravaged India

Google announces Rs 135 cr grant for Covid-hit India

eartbroken at the grim Covid situation in India, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said on Monday that the company is mobilising its resources to help the Covid-ravaged nation that saw 352,991 fresh infections, taking the cumulative caseload to 17,313,163. In a tweet, Nadella said that he is grateful the US government is mobilising to help. “I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the U.S. government is mobilising to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices,” Nadella tweeted. In a break from the ‘America First’ policy, President Joe Biden’s administration is “working round the clock” to immediately send India raw material needed for making Covishield and other products

G needed in the fight against the COVID-19 surge overtaking the nation, according to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The US will also send India anti-COVID supplies like test kits, ventilators, medications and personal protective equipment used by

frontline workers. The US is also deploying an expert team of public health advisors from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and USAID to work with the embassy in Delhi, India’s Health Ministry, and India’s Epidemic Intelligence Service.

Amazon donating 10,000 oxygen concentrators to India

mazon on Sunday announced to donate 10,000 oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines to hospitals and public institutions to augment their capacity to help Covid-19 infected patients across multiple cities in India.

Additionally, Amazon India is also procuring over 1,500 oxygen concentrators and other critical medical equipment in partnership with non-profits including Swasth, Concern India and impact organisations like ACT Grants and Sattva Consulting.

The first of these consignments was set to land in Mumbai on Sunday and a majority of the shipping is expected to be completed by April 30.

The company said that the organisations are working closely with the Indian government to expedite the entry of these oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines into the country.

Amazon will bear the cost of airlifting these oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines, procured through multiple funders including ACT Grants and PPCR from Singapore to India through Air India and other international carriers.

“We stand firmly with the country, deploying our global logistics network to urgently airlift the needed oxygen concentrators to support the nation’s immediate need,” said Amit Agarwal, Global SVP and

Additionally, the company will also manage the movement of these oxygen concentrators and other donations from the local airport to identified hospitals and institutions.

Amazon has joined hands with ACT Grants, Temasek Foundation, Pune Platform for COVID-19 Response (PPCR) and other partners to urgently airlift over 8,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore.

Country Head, Amazon India.

Indian tech leaders come forward to help breathless India

ore than two weeks after oxygen shortages were reported across India, particularly in the national capital, many technology leaders have come forward to help the citizens.

Paytm said in a tweet on Sunday.

“We have sourced supplies for oxygen concentrators of different sizes while we place the order using our own money. We want you to join hands in solving #OxygenShortage,” Vijay Shekhar, Founder

Foodtech platform Zomato on Wednesday rolled out a priority delivery feature for Covid-19 emergencies, including oxygen, Chief Executive Officer Deepinder Goyal announced on Twitter.

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“Donate here https://paytm.com/ offer/donateoxygen and we will match your contribution and use it to source OCs. Also, do RT,” he added.

“Zomato Feeding India, our notfor-profit has kickstarted the “Help Save My Indiaa endeavour today in association with @delhivery to source oxygen concentrators and related supplies to help hospitals and families in need,” Goyal tweeted. He also called up start-ups and companies to contribute at this crucial hour. “We have already kickstarted the

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oogle on Monday announced Rs 135 crore ($18 million) to help get urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipments, for India that is currently going through a devastating Covid wave. The donation includes two grants from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, totalling Rs 20 crore. “The first is to GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with their everyday expenses. The second will go to UNICEF to help get urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipment, to where it’s needed most in India,” said Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and VP, India. It also includes donations from Google’s ongoing employee giving campaign e so far more than 900 Googlers have contributed Rs 3.7 crore for organizations supporting high-risk and marginalized communities. Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted: “Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing Rs 135 Crore in funding to @GiveIndia,@UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information”.

India is going through our most difficult moment in the pandemic thus far. Daily COVID-19 cases continue to set record highs, with hospitals filled to capacity and in need of urgent supplies to cope with the increasing number of patients. The Google funding also includes increased Ad Grant support for public health information campaigns. “We’re increasing our support today with an additional Rs 112 crore in Ad Grants to local health authorities and nonprofits for more language coverage options,” Gupta mentioned. The Covid features on Search are available in India, in English and eight Indian languages, and the company said it is continuing to improve localization and highlight authoritative information. “That includes information on where to get testing and vaccines; so far, Maps and Search surface thousands of vaccine sites, and we are working to add tens of thousands more. We’re also collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and with organisations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to support vaccine awareness initiatives,” Google elaborated.

effort, and now need your help to raise a,50 crores for @FeedingIndia in the next few days (hours?) to save hundreds of thousands of lives. If we raise more, we will get more oxygen. Domestic donors go here - http://zoma.to/oxygen,” he added. Under its “feed the daily wager” campaign, initiated last year, Zomato distributed 78 million meals for poor who lost access to livelihood, it said. The second wave of Covid has turned more deadly as more and more people this time are complaining of breathlessness and need oxygen support. However, the sudden spike in demand across cities has led to severe shortage. Several major hospitals in Delhi have repeatedly come close to

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running out of oxygen and have sent SOS messages. Besides Delhi, hospitals across Maharashtra,Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh are also facing an oxygen shortage.

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Covid-19’s Rampage in India Daughter We’ll emerge into light once again: cremates mother after son deserts Priyanka pens emotional note Continued from Page 1

“There is not a single one of us who has not been affected by this scourge. People across our country are gasping for air, struggling to access medical care or simply to get the next dose of life saving medicine,” she wrote. She said that the government has failed us all. “Even those of us who oppose and fight them could not have foreseen a complete abdication of leadership and governance at a time as devastating as this. In our hearts, we too are still hoping that they will rise up and take steps that are imperative to save lives.” But even though those given the sacred task of governing this nation have let our country down at this time of great crisis, we must not lose hope, she said. She said humanity has risen to the challenge of adversity time and again. India has seen great pain and suffering in the past as well. We have weathered cyclones

and droughts, massive earthquakes, famines and devastating floods,yet our spirit has not been broken. Every time we have faced a calamity, ordinary people, people like you and me, have come forward. Humanity has never failed us.

She praised the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers across the country who are working endless hours under tremendous pressure, risking their own lives to save those who are suffering. The business community is diverting resources towards helping hospitals gain access to oxygen and other supplies. “There are organisations and individuals in every village, district, town and city who are doing whatever they can to assist and comfort those who are in pain. This basic goodness exists within each one of us. By reaching into it at times of great anguish our spirit as a nation can rise into its true grace and power,” she said.

point in our lives in which we are being asked to push beyond all limits to find our own unlimited courage. We are being challenged to set aside feelings of helplessness and fear and stay brave. “We are together as one in this fight, regardless of our religion, our caste, our class or any other distinctions. The virus does not recognise them.

“Let us show each other and the world the compassion and resilience that makes us Indian. We will be each other’s strongest support at this crossroads in our lives. “By gathering up our strength amidst despair, by doing whatever we can to provide comfort to others, by refusing to tire and persisting with the will to carry on against all odds, we shall overcome. “Out of the darkness that surrounds us, we will emerge into the light once again,” she wrote at the end.

She added that this is a turning

Canada to provide Rs 60 cr to India to combat Covid

fter her son refused to cremate her when she died of Covid, it was the daughter who, with help from local people, finally performed the last rites of a mother in Uttar Pradesh. Sudama Devi, 61, lost her battle to Covid-19 on Monday but no one from her family turned up to take the body though she is survived by a son and a daughter. Her son Ajay, an alcoholic, refused to claim her body which lay in the mortuary for hours. Her daughter Manju lives in Powayan town but had no money to travel to Shahjahanpur where her mother lived. The body lay at the mortuary of Shahjahanpur medical college for three days since Friday when the old woman died. A local journalist, Mirazuddin Khan, who has been reporting from the hospital for his private news portal, came to know about the matter and with the help of an ambulance driver, he pooled in money

and arranged for Manju to reach the district hospital. Khan said, “When I contacted the woman’s son, he refused to come for the cremation because of the infection. His younger sister agreed, but she did not have the money. Then an ambulance driver, Veeru Kumar, and I collected money and ensured that the final rites of the woman were completed in the presence of her daughter.” Manju told reporters, “My brother did not come, but I have now got many brothers here. They ensured that the last rites of my mother were performed following the rituals.” Ajay had got his mother admitted to the district hospital and left her there after she tested Covid positive. Chief Medical Superintendent Dr U.P. Sinha said, “The woman’s son did not turn up after her death on April 23 fearing that he would get infected. On Tuesday, however, her daughter claimed the body.”

New Zealand provides support in response to Covid crisis in India: FM

ew Zealand is providing support to India in response to the devastating Covid-19 situation facing the country, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Wednesday.

he Canadian government has announced to provide help of 10 million Canadian dollars (About Rs 60 crore) to India to fight the situation that emerged following the outbreak of the worst Covid-19 wave. Canadian minister Karina Gould tweeted on Tuesday night: “Announced today: We are providing $10 million through the @redcross-

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canada to the @IndianRedCross to support people in India as they combat #COVID19.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday retweeted the tweet with the caption: “Right now, the people of India are facing a tragic situation. To help with everything from ambulance services to buying personal protective equipment, we’re contributing

$10 million to @IndianRedCross through @RedCrossCanada. We stand ready to donate extra medical supplies, too.” India on Wednesday reported over three lakh fresh Covid-19 cases for the seventh consecutive day. According to the health ministry data, a total of 3,60,960 new cases and 3,293 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.

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“We stand in solidarity with India at this difficult time, and commend the tireless efforts of India’s frontline medics and healthcare workers who are working hard to save lives,” Mahuta said in a statement. New Zealand will contribute 1 million NZ dollars ($719,000) to the International Federation of the Red Cross to assist India while they respond to the current surge in Covid-19 cases, the Xinhua news agency quoted her as saying. The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) is working directly

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with the local Indian Red Cross Society to provide oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, and other crucial medical supplies. The IFRC is also scaling up emergency operations across India by providing an intensified ambulance and blood service, and distributing personal protective equipment and hygiene kits to communities in need, Mahuta said.

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Support Pours In

Biden pledges US ‘steadfast support’ for World joins hands to rescue India India in fighting Covid from second wave of pandemic

aving lifted the ban on the supply of vaccine raw materials and Covid-fighting products for India, US President Joe Biden on Monday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the US will work closely with India to fight the pandemic.

Continued from Page 1 France is sending relief material in two phases. In the first phase, eight large oxygen generating units that can be installed quickly, liquid oxygen, 28 respirators and their consumables and 200 electric syringe pushers are arriving this week. In the second phase, five liquid oxygen containers will arrive next week.

“The President pledged America’s steadfast support for the people of India who have been impacted by the recent surge in Covid-19 cases,” the White House said in a readout of their conversation.

Similarly, Ireland is sending 700 oxygen concentrators this week. Sources said that Germany is sending a mobile oxygen production unit which will be made available for three months along with 120 ventilators and 80 million KN95 masks. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Tuesday that his government will send 500 ventilators, one million surgical masks, 500,000 P2 and N95 masks, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves and 20,000 face shields to India. Kuwait and Russia have also committed to send medical supplies. Some of the medical supplies

are also coming through private channels from various countries. For example, Singapore is sending 500 BiPAPs, 250 oxygen concentrators, four Cryogenic oxygen containers and other medical supplies. Saudi Arabia’s aid of 80 MT of liquid oxygen is enroute via the sea route, Hong Kong is sending 800 oxygen concentrators, while Thailand is sending four Cryogenic oxygen tanks. India will also get six Cryogenic oxygen containers from

the UAE. Also, India’s Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) is importing 23 mobile oxygen generation plants from Germany. After US President Joe Biden spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone on Monday, the US has committed to provide a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials and therapeutics.

China firmly supports India in fighting Covid-19: Chinese envoy

he Chinese government and people firmly support the Indian government and people in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy to India Counselor Wang Xiaojian said.

India is experiencing a shortage of medical supplies as the country is hit by a new wave of Covid-19 outbreak, the Xinhua news agency reported. India’s Covid-19 tally rose to

He added that Biden “also underscored the importance of smooth and efficient supply chains of vaccine raw materials and medicines. India-US healthcare partnership can address the global challenge of COVID-19”. “Modi expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation between both countries,” the White House said. It said that responding to the surge in Covid cases in India, “the United States is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics”.

The announcement was made after a conversation between National Security Advisers Jake Sullivan of the US and Ajit Doval of India.

17,636,307 on Tuesday with 323,144 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours, said the federal health ministry. This is the sixth consecutive day when over 300,000 cases were registered in a single day, though there was a fall of nearly 30,000

new cases in a day compared to those reported on Monday. According to the figures released by the federal health ministry, 2,771 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 197,894.

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In a tweet, Modi called their conversation “fruitful” and said: “We discussed the evolving COVID situation in both countries in detail. I thanked President Biden for the support being provided by the United States to India.”

Washington said on Saturday that it will send the vaccine raw materials immediately to India ending the ban on their exports as well as those of some products needed to combat Covid-19.

“We will encourage and guide Chinese companies to actively cooperate with India to facilitate acquiring medical supplies, and provide support and help according to India’s need,” Wang said on Monday in response to a media query on the Covid-19 situation in India. “The Covid-19 pandemic is an enemy of all mankind that necessitates international solidarity and mutual assistance,” Wang said. “China expresses sincere sympathies for the recent severe epidemic situation in India.”

“The two leaders resolved that the United States and India will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the effort to protect our citizens and the health of our communities,” it said.

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Sullivan told Doval that Washington “also is pursuing options to provide oxygen generation and related supplies on an urgent basis,” Sullivan’s spokesperson Emily Horne said. Sullivan assured Doval that “the United States is working around the clock to deploy available resources and supplies”, she said. The US will also send India anti-Covid supplies like test kits, ventilators, medications and personal protective equipment used by frontline workers, she said. The lifting of the ban is a turn around for the US, which had insisted last week that its priority was helping Americans get vaccinated. Responding to a question on the calls for permitting the exports of Covid-19 products under embargo, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday that the “first obligation” was to the American people and added: “It’s in the interests of the rest of the world to see Americans vaccinated.” The ban on the exports of Covid-fighting materials was ordered by then President Donald Trump under the Defence Production Act and had been continued by Biden.

Now, Goa goes under lockdown from Thursday to Monday

mid a rising Covid surge, Goa will undergo a lockdown from Thursday night to Monday morning, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said here on Wednesday. Essential services and industries will be open, Sawant also said.

The lockdown will be imposed from 10 p.m. on Thursday to 7 a.m. on Monday.

The step has been taken in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases in the state, Sawant said, while urging people not to panic-buy. “The lockdown will be lifted on Monday,” the Chief Minister said.

“Tourists should stay put where they are. They cannot travel during the lockdown. Tourism activity will stop for four days. Casinos will also be shut,” Sawant said.

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Sawant has also urged tourists not to travel within the state during the lockdown, saying tourism activities in the state, including casinos, will be shut down.

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Quick-Takes

Andhra imposes more curbs to Night curfew in 9 more Gujarat control Covid spread

cities from Wednesday

n order to curb rising Covid infections, the Gujarat government on Tuesday extended the night curfew to nine other major cities of the state from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m till May 5. This will come into force from Wednesday. Twenty major cities of Gujarat are already under night curfew for the last three weeks.

Gujarat, similar to the rest of the country, has been witnessing an unprecedented rise in Covid cases, losing lives due to the pandemic throughout the month of April. The central government came out with an order on Monday with regard to imposing lockdown-like measures in the states, if the positivity rate is more than 10 per cent. Monday saw the highest spike of cases at 14,340 with the total caseload climbing to over five lakhs, following which the Gujarat government on Tuesday decided to extend the night curfew to nine

W more cities. The night curfew will be effective from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and will come into force from Wednesday till May 5. The government has already banned political or social

gatherings till April 30 and reduced the number of guests at marriages to fifty from hundred, following a Gujarat High Court order. Other gatherings have also been limited to a maximum of fifty people.

Covid-hit Karnataka issues guidelines for 14-day lockdown

eeling under the pandemic’s second wave, the Karnataka government on Monday issued stringent guidelines for the 14-day lockdown from Tuesday night to May 12 morning.

The decision to impose the lockdown with exemptions for essential services, transport of goods and scheduled travel by train or plane was taken at a state cabinet meeting earlier in the day.

shops selling essential needs like milk, groceries, eggs, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits are allowed to function.

As announced by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, movement of people, and public transportation in buses, taxis, autos and metro rail will be banned daily except from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. when markets and

Home delivery of liquor or food parcels will be allowed to minimise movement of individuals outside their homes.

The petition was submitted to the district collectors and Chief Secretary of the state on Monday

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The state government has also decided to temporarily shut down stadia, swimming pools and gymnasiums. Singhal said that public transport and cinema halls will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capac-

The state government has set up a task force to monitor Remdesivir stocks. Similarly, the government is also monitoring oxygen requirements and its supply in the state, Singhal said. “The Centre has allocated 341 MT of oxygen to the state. But it is not sufficient. We are observing the usage patterns. In many places, oxygen is getting wasted. In many cases, people are using oxygen even though they do not require it,” Singhal said.

Liquor shops or outlets will also remain open from 6-10 a.m.

“Schools, colleges, cinema theatres, malls, gyms, hotels, restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs and non-essential shops will remain shut during the lockdown,” said the order. Students appearing for scheduled exams are, however, allowed to travel in their own or private vehicles with their hall ticket as pass to commute.

TN hairdressers body urge for permit of 5 hours daily

The state government has banned salons, barber shops, beauty parlours and spas.

The state’s principal health secretary, Anil Kumar Singhal, said on Monday that the government has decided to allow a maximum of 50 persons to attend any function.

ity. He also asked the people to maintain a distance of 50 yards from each other in all government offices.

Punjab tightens restrictions to contain Covid spread

“The guidelines, which are meant to break the chain of Covid transmission across the state, will come into effect from 9 p.m. on April 27 and will be in force till 6 a.m. on May 12,” Chief Secretary P. Ravi Kumar said in an order.

The Tamil Nadu hairdressers union has petitioned the state government to allow them to work for at least five hours a day.

ith the raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic gripping the state, the Andhra Pradesh government has come out with more measures to control the situation.

evening after the state government prevented beauty parlours and saloons from functioning. “Our business has come down by 80 per cent, we were done after the pandemic and had only recently slowly started looking up when this has come as a bolt from the blue,” M.R. Vijayakumar, Chennai unit secretary of the Tamil Nadu Hairdressers Union while

speaking to IANS said. “We were now getting hardly one to three persons a day and with the new order it’s all gone and I am staring at a future wherein my family and the families of lakhs of our people are to suffer. Government must allow a five hour time for us to open the salons so that at least the hunger pangs can be quenched.”

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he Punjab government Monday announced stricter restrictions on weekdays by advancing the evening curfew by two hours and a strict weekend lockdown to contain the pandemic. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh informed in a tweet that the government is enforcing lockdown from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and a weekend lockdown that would begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and last till 5 a.m. on Monday. These decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by him.

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“Due to continuous & rapid rise of #Covid19 cases in Punjab, Cabinet today has decided to impose daily lockdown from 6 PM to 5 AM and weekend lockdown from Friday 6 PM to Monday 5 AM. Urge you all to stay at home & step out only if absolutely necessary. Seek your full cooperation,” he tweeted. At present, the daily curfew was from from 8 p.m. till 5 a.m. “All shops will remain open till 5 p.m. from Monday till Friday,” state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar told the media after the cabinet meeting.

INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Sacrilege case: Punjab minister ‘resigns’, CM ‘rejects’

In rocky Covid times, Mumbai Police rocks with wit and grit!

acing criticism over his Congress government’s ‘failure’ in cases of sacrilege as well as the associated police firing in 2015, an upset Punjab Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who blamed the government for the delay in the case reaching its logical conclusion, resigned from his post in protest on Monday. Also, the party’s state unit chief, Sunil Jakhar, announced in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that he is sending his resignation to party President Sonia Gandhi over the issue, it is reliably learnt. At the meeting, the Chief Minister, who tried to pacify them, tore their resignations and assured them that the culprits would be brought to justice soon.

Two days ago, Randhawa had told the media that there has been a delay in delivering justice to the victims of police firing. “Someone’s responsibility has to be fixed for this inexplicable delay. Our own government is also responsible for it. Four years of our government gone, and we could not even submit challans in time,” he said. Even Amarinder Singh’s former Cabinet colleague and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu had

questioned him for ‘evading’ responsibility as the Home Minister in the 2015 sacrilege case. “Is sacrilege case not the top priority for the Home Minister,” Sidhu had asked the CM on Twitter. “Evading of responsibility and making only the Advocate General a scapegoat means the executive authority has no supervisory control. Who controls the AG? Legal team is just a pawn in this game of shifting responsibilities,” the cricketer-turned-politician added. For quite some time, Sidhu, who has been lying low in the political circles since he had resigned from his post as a Cabinet minister in July 2019 after differences with the

Chief Minister over portfolio allocation to him, has been blaming his government for ‘weak’ investigation into the cases related to the sacrilege issue. Two persons were killed and many others were injured after the police under the previous SAD-BJP government resorted to unprovoked firing on hundreds of people protesting against the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari village in Faridkot district in 2015. “It is not a failure of the government or the party, but one person who is hand in glove with the culprits,” Sidhu had said two days back.

Farmer’s son brings bride home in chopper to turn her dream into reality

groom in Rajasthan turned the dream of his bride into a reality by bringing her home in a helicopter post their wedding ceremony.

It started with an innocuous -- and some even suspect otherwise! -query from a man, asking which colour sticker to affix on his vehicle to step out and meet his girlfriend. “I miss her,” said the lonely chap. Without batting an eyelid, the Mumbai Police replied: “We understand its essential for you, Sir, but unfortunately it doesn’t fall under our essentials or emergency categories! Distance makes the heart grow fonder & currently, you healthier. PS: We wish you lifetime together. This is just a phase.”

Son of a farmer, Gurjar boarded the chopper with his brother Kartar Singh and brother-in-law Ramprasad. During the takeoff, administrative and police officials were seen at the spot to ensure that now Covid guideline was flouted as a big crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of the helicopter.

Rama also said that it was her dream to take a chopper ride to her in-laws place, which has now

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Coming up with unique ideas -- like red, green, yellow colour-coded stickers for certain specified categories of vehicles -- the Mumbai Police are going all out to make their onerous task as enjoyable as possible for all, with a dollop of wit designed to bring down the temperatures inside and outside. The Mumbai Police Twitter handle (@MumbaiPolice) has become the new hangout joint for the citizens/ netizens resigned to another spell of caged life as Covid-19 has an unbridled run outdoors.

The groom, Siyaram Gurjar, a resident of Raipur village in Vair subblock in Bharatpur district, hired a chopper and flew to his in-laws place on Monday, got his marriage solemnised, and brought his newly-wed wife back to his village in the same helicopter on Tuesday.

Gurjar said that his wife, Rama, had a dream of travelling with him in a helicopter to their “sweet home” and hence he hired a chopper, which cost him a whopping Rs 7 lakh.

isplaying a tough countenance and wielding the baton, the Mumbai Police has also shown its little-known humour quotient as it tightens belts to enforce a tougher lockdown phase from Thursday night in the country’s commercial capital.

been turned into a reality. Gurjar’s wedding was solemnised with Rama, the daughter of Hansraj Gurjar from village Karili in Nadbai. Initially, the district collector as well as the CMHO had rejected the application of the groom for hiring

a chopper for his ‘baraat’ in view of the rising Covid-19 cases in the region. However, permission was granted later with some set terms and conditions, which were duly followed by the groom. The unusual ‘vidai’ ceremony of the bride has become a talk of the town.

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When one netizen appreciated the reply and the police services to society, with a plea to “keep us engaged with witty responses”, pat came the reply, but with a mild warning: “You promise us that you stay at home and stay safe, and we promise to keep you engaged with our wit as well as grit to arrest the spread of Covid-19.” To an unabashed one gushing how Mumbai Police has heart,

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the unexpected and touching response was - “Not as big as our city’s.” The Mumbai Police Twitter posts managers have earned praise from not only the ordinary folks but also industrialists and actors like Anand Mahindra and R. Madhavan. “The human-and-humorous touch from our very own Mumbai Police,” said Mahindra in admiration, to which the reply posted was: “Two of the strongest weapons to help us ‘Rise’ above the current circumstances, Sir”. “Hahaha Very well put and I am sure equally well received,” guffawed Madhavan, and the Mumbai Police replied with a straight - “We hope so too - its no ‘Rocketry’ after all.” When a gent sought permission to commute by car from Bhandup to Kandivali over the weekend, came the genteel and gentle advice with a veiled fist: “A friend, who respects your taking precautions during Covid is a friend indeed. We are sure your friend will agree. Please stay home, we would not want to get ‘unfriendly’ with you.” “Keep scrolling. Better to be scrolling indoors than strolling outdoors,” said the Mumbai Police when some wondered whether it was necessary to reply to all tweets. Some other imaginative and catchy tweets -- which would give a run for their money to any veteran advertising copy-writer -- include two recent ones - “Food for Thought: Stay indoors, Order online.”, and “A mask not worn properly - the ‘Achilles’ Heel of your safety.” And the last but not the least: “What do moms and masks have in common?” The pix displays a Hindi-English word ‘Maa-sk”

INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Girl gang raped in Patna on pretext of Covid vax

“Accordingly, they took her to a deserted house in Jamunapur area and started misbehaving with her. When the victim showed resistance and attempted to flee, they threshed her and managed to tie her legs and hand. They also stuffed a handkerchief in mouth and raped her one by one,” said an investigating officer on condition of anonymity.

Andhra couple who allegedly murdered daughters get bail

Following the incident, the accused fled from the spot.

wo men in Patna allegedly gang raped a girl on the pretext of providing her coronavirus vaccine, an official said. The accused were identified as Rocky and Mantu.They have been

“The victim managed to free herself and reached home. She narrated her ordeal before her family members who approached local police. As the accused were known to her, we raided their respective houses on Wednesday morning and arrested them. The accused lived in Jamunapur locality,” the IO said. arrested and booked under 376D in the Malsalami police station. The police said that Rocky and Montu convinced the victim about the Corona vaccine at a health center on Tuesday evening.

“We have conducted medical examination of the victim which confirms rape. We are also verifying her age. If she is below 18 years old, we will add POCSO act as well,” the officer added.

Delhi HC comes down heavily on Gautam Gambhir

elhi High Court while hearing a petiion on Covid situation in Delhi came out with heavy observation on cricketer turned politician Gautam Gambhir and asked if he has license to deal in Covid-19 drugs. Delhi High Court division bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli asked, “Are these not prescription drugs? How is anybody able to procure large quantities? Is he holding a license to deal in these drugs?.” Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, told the court that it is “highly irresponsible” on the part of Gambhir, while when

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contacted Gautam Gambir’s office did not elicit any response on the Court remarks. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over black marketing of medical oxygen while hearing a petition on shortage of oxygen and treatment of Covid patients in the national capital. The Court said people were forced to buy oxygen cylinders in the black market for lakhs of rupees while their original cost is only a few hundred rupees. The court said those persons indulging in black marketing of oxygen should be taken into police custody.

he couple accused of the cold-blooded murder of their two daughters, apparently under the influence of superstition and tantric influences, were on Tuesday granted bail by a local court in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor. As 90 days had elapsed since the case was registered, the court granted them bail with conditions. Purushottam Naidu and his wife Padmaja, of Madanapalle town in Chittoor, had been arrested on charges of murdering their two daughters on January 24 this year. The horrific murders by the wellto-do parents who were well-educated, had caused ripples across the state and beyond. Naidu was a lecturer in a government women’s degree college and his wife Padmaja, a maths teacher in a reputed IIT coaching school, committed the cold-blooded murders, apparently in the belief that their daughters would be born

again. One of girls was found bludgeoned with a dumbbell and police found both of their bodies in a naked state, when they entered the house. Following their arrest, the accused parents who were found to be suffering from mental issues and delusions, were initially admitted for treatment in the Ruia Hospital at Tirupati. Later they were transferred to the Visakhapatnam Mental Hospital and provided treatment. They were shifted from Visakhpatnam back to the Madanapalle sub jail on March 29. The couple’s elder daughter Alekhya (27) had completed a diploma in forest studies from Bhopal, while younger Sai Divya (22) was a BBA. She was also a student at the A.R. Rahman Music School in Chennai.

During the hearing, the High Court said if the Delhi government is unable to manage oxygen cylinders then they should tell the court for procuring them. The court will ask the Central government to take over the charge of managing oxygen. The court issued contempt notices to the five oxygen refillers who were absent during the hearing on Tuesday. Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev informed the court that he has requested all oxygen refillers to furnish details of the tankers supplying oxygen in Delhi following which the quota of oxygen will be allocated for three days.

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LATA JI’S KITCHEN

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Indian Cooking with Lata Modi

his week has been a very auspicious with so many festivals being celebrated in different parts of India.

after anothe . Because when the oil is hot, you need to cook quickly.

Although we live in Australia but we have been very blessed to be able to celebrate each and every festival in a very traditional way.

Organic Kadha for Immunity

We celebrated Shri Durga Ashtami recently and cooked up a big feast of Poori Chhole and Halwa to offer to Ma Durga. I have my first grand daughter who will be turning one very soon. She is going to be my first “Kanjak”! As we all know Kanjak means little girls, who are a reflection of goddess Durga in many ways. So, on Ashtami day if you feed little girls, the feeling is that you are actually offering food to Ma Durga. So, let’s celebrate it with special feast.

HALWA (it is a sweet dish made with semolina) Halwa is always used as prashad, offerings to God in temples and Gurdwaras.

Ingredients: 6-8 people

ith the unexpected and rampant spike in COVID-19 cases across the world, if you fell by the wayside as far as your daily immunity boosting routine, it’s time to pull your socks up and get with the programme once again.

- 2 cup semolina - 1/2 cup whole meal flour - 1 cup ghee

BLACK CHANE (bengal gram): Ingredients: 6-8 people - Black chane 3 cups - 3 table spoon olive oil - 1 tea spoon ajwain seeds - 2 tea spoon each of coriander powder, cumin powder and amachur powder. - salt and chilli powder to taste Method:

POORI

- one and a half cup sugar

Today’s first recipe is making “Poori’s”.

- 6 cup water

Poori is whole meal deep fried bread, which puffs up as you cook it in hot oil.

- 10 almonds chopped for garnishing

Ingredients: (4 - 6 people) - 3 cup whole meal flour - Salt to taste - 1 tea spoon ajwain seeds (celery seeds or carom seeds)

- 1/2 tea spoon ilaichi powder

Method: - Make Sugar Syrup with water and sugar and once it’s boiled, just leave on the very low flame until your suji is done. To make Suji Halwa:

- Water to make dough

1 - first of all use a big frying pan.

- Oil for deep frying

2 - heat ghee.

Method:

3 - put semolina (suji) and aata (flour) and fry on medium heat until golden brown and starts to release ghee on the side.

- In a big mixing bowl, put flour. - Add salt and ajwain seeds. - Make a firm dough by using little water at a time. - Cover and Leave the dough aside for 15 minutes. - Now make small round balls, like golf ball and roll it round, as big as size of your palm. - The thickness of rolled poori should be 1/4 inch and should be even on each side. - It is a good idea to roll a few poooris at a time and fry them one

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4 - once it’s brown add your sugar syrup slowly into the pan, as it can splatter.

1- Soak chane overnight in 6-7 cup water. 2- Next morning using the same water cook chane in pressure cooker with salt until tender. (These chane are loaded with iron, if you are lacking iron, drink the liquid from chane after cooked) In this recipe we do not need the water, we will use only chane. 3- In a big wok or saucepan heat oil. 4- when oil is hot, add ajwain seeds, add chane and all the spices. 5- mix it well, cook further 2-3 minutes, so that the spices are covering the chane. 6- Turn the heat off. This is done.

Homemade kadhas with common kitchen spices and ingredients are a safe way to combat seasonal flus and infections like cold and cough. With the change in weather, a warm kadha may be a good option to build your body’s defence by improving your immunity. If you’ve been wondering how exactly to make an effective kadha, try this recipe. Kadha recipe by Mr. Anoop Varma, Founder, Everything Organik.

Ingredients - 2 Cups Water - 2 sticks Cinnamon (Dalchini) - 4-5 Cloves (Laung) - 4-5 Cardamom (Elaichi) - 5-6 Whole Black Pepper - 8-10 Tulsi Leaves - 1/2 tsp of Turmeric (Haldi)powder Method - In a bowl add the above ingredients into 2 cups of water. - Boil the water properly. - Add few drops of Everything organik ‘Desi Cow Ghee’. - Strain the Kadha into drinking cups. - Add 1/2 - 1 tsp of our ‘Organic Honey’. - Serve Hot.

Mango museum to come up in Lucknow

ango, the king of fruits, will soon have its own museum.

The Mango Museum is coming up at the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) office at Rehmankhera in the Kakori block of Lucknow.

fruiting season.

The museum will have over 800 varieties as models or photographs with interesting descriptions so that people can know more about them.

It is likely to be ready by the end of the mango season. The museum will help the visitors learn about the varieties, medicinal value, products, history and other little-known facts about the fruit. According to Shailendra Rajan, CISH Director, “The museum will have more than 800 varieties as a model or a photograph with interesting descriptions. Not only Indian, but also the varieties dominating the international market will be displayed at the museum.”

5 - very important to keep stirring it quickly, so there will be no lumps. 6 - it will start boiling, turn the heat off and still keep stirring until it turns into a little thick form. 7- Transfer in a serving bowl, garnish with chopped nuts and serve hot.

The institute has one of the largest live collections of mango varieties, but one cannot see them after the

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

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AUSTRALIA

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

AI Sydney-Delhi flight returns without passengers

n an awkward incident, Air India’s Sydney-Delhi flight landed back here without any passengers, as a crew member was found to be Covid positive in Australia, sources said.

New Zealand, Australia show divided stances toward China Payne in Wellington, according to the report released on April 22, the Xinhua news agency reported. While Payne said that “We also have to acknowledge that China’s outlook -- the nature of China’s external engagement both in our region and globally -- has changed in recent years.”

The crew members on the flight which landed back on Tuesday were subjected to RT-PCR tests in Australia. After a crew member was detected positive, the Australian authorities refused to allow passengers to board the aircraft. According to sources, the Covid-19 positive crew member was asked to quarantine in Sydney while the rest were allowed to leave. The flight only ferried back the rest

of the crew and cargo. Besides, Australia has banned

flights coming from India due to a massive surge in Covid-19 cases.

Top Aus cricket bodies to help players return from IPL

ricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) on Tuesday said they would coordinate with the Australian government which has decided to suspend direct flights from India till May 15 owing to a massive surge in Covid-19 cases in India.

Tye did a couple of days ago. There are still 14 Aussie players left in the IPL, besides members of the franchises’ coaching staff, like Ricky Ponting, David Hussey and Simon Katich, as well as commentators like Brett Lee and Michael Slater.

As many as 30 Australians are part of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) in India, and some of them want to return home.

CA and ACA said they are in regular touch with the Aussie players, coaches, match officials, and commentators who currently associated with the IPL.

Royal Challengers Bangalore duo Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson will fly out from Mumbai soon after April 28 midnight. They have decided to return home via Doha, like their Aussie teammate Andrew

The CA and ACA joint reaction came after the Australian government’s decision to suspend all direct flights from India, and Australian PM Scott Morrison saying that Australians who are appearing in

IPL would have to make their own arrangement to fly back home. There has been a massive surge of positive Corona cases in India, and IPL venues like Delhi, which is scheduled to host its first IPL match on Wednesday, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad are some of the worst affected cities. In a meeting of Australia’s National Security Committee of the Cabinet on Tuesday, it was decided that direct flights from India would be suspended. CA and ACA said they would continue to liaise with the Australian government. Both bodies said they were willing to assist the players and would coordinate with the

ew Zealand, one of the Five Eyes Alliance countries, has distanced itself from Australia, another partner of the group, to blacken China on its human-rights record, according to a recent report. “It’s not necessary, all the time on every issue, to invoke Five Eyes as your first port of call in terms of creating a coalition of support around particular issues in the human-rights space,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said at a news conference with her Australian counterpart Marise government. ”CA and the ACA are in regular dialogue with players, coaches, match officials and commentators on the ground in India regarding the current situation and we will assist where possible,” said the joint statement. “We will continue to liaise closely with the Australian Government following today’s announcement that direct flights from India to Australia will be paused until May 15, and monitor the situation be-

“New Zealand is adopting an extremely Beijing-friendly stance on these questions and breaking away from a much stronger position adopted by” the other Five Eyes partners, Clive Hamilton, a professor at the Charles Sturt University, said. Australia had barred Chinese enterprises from participating in its 5G network construction on trumped-up charges, frequently denied investment of Chinese companies in the country under the pretext of “national security,” and arbitrarily raided Chinese journalists based in the country. Australia had also blatantly torn up cooperation agreements with China and wantonly damaged normal exchanges and cooperation. tween now and the tournament’s scheduled conclusion on May 30,” it said. “We thank the BCCI and IPL for their efforts to keep everyone safe in the tournament’s bio-secure bubble. Once again, our thoughts are with the people of India during this challenging time,” the CA statement said. Prime Minister Morrison had earlier said that since the players are privately visiting India for the IPL they would have to ensure their return.

Through the eyes of an international student Brisbane-First impressions

ouching down on Brisbane, the first thing I noticed from the plane was, “Wow, how big is this city.’ The whole city was lit with sparkling lights and the area was so expansive, way more than the other cities I have been to. But also another thing caught my attention, ‘Where are all the big towers?’ The city seemed to have expanded horizontally but not vertically. I assume it is because there is so much space compared to the number of people that live here, the city expanded horizontally. After landing at the airport I was greeted by the friendly airport staff and the journey through immigration was smooth. The next day I went to visit my university and register with them. I was roaming

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around the city in the evening and I was wondering it’s Friday night, where are all the people? Sure the restaurants, bars and pubs were full of people having a good time, but there were not that many people on the streets. That is when I realized I am not in my home country, Bangladesh anymore, where I am used to busy crowded streets with lots of people, I am in Brisbane now. My first impression about Australians was that they are very friendly and polite people. They welcome and embrace diversity. I love how they greet the bus drivers once they are on the bus and how they thank them while leaving. It’s such a simple but wonderful gesture to appreciate someone

for the work they do. It goes on to show how Australians appreciate and value the work people do and the contribution they make to the society. Also where I come from people are not used to smiling at each other for no reason. But here it’s considered polite or simple courtesy to smile at people even if you meet someone on a lift or just passing by. Saturday morning I went to the Farmers Market at Kelvin Grove. I love the atmosphere at these markets. People come in with their families and pets, roam around the many stalls, buy fresh produce and eat and revel. It’s such an amazing vibe. I love how the farmers market caters to the tastes and preferences of a vast array of

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multicultural people who come to shop here. The quaint little shops selling breakfasts and local fares are great too as it enables us to have taste of the local cuisine. At night I went to South Bank for the first time and ‘my oh my’ it is beautiful. I loved the water. I loved the paved walk by the river. It’s so wonderful to see city lit at night and finally I got to see the tall buildings and a lot of them in the heart of the city. South Bank is a lovely place for a walk by the river. It is scattered with lots of cafes, restaurants and little places to eat. After a quick dinner and dessert at the famous Max Brenner, it was movie time at the Cineplex because the new Spiderman movie just released. After having a hoot

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at the cinema, it was time to call it a day and conclude my first two days in Brissy. Moving to a new city can be quite a big challenge and things can get confusing and overwhelming. I am so glad I got to meet Reena. She has been so supportive and helpful through this transition, helping me understand all the visa intricacies of Australia. Reena Augustine is a former international student herself and now a fully Registered Migration Agent working at Cornerstone Law Offices Migration. You can get in touch with Reena via email on migration@cornerstonelawoffices.com. au or by phone on 0414 109 654 for customized visa guidance.

AUSTRALIA

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

AIBC applauds federal govt Cutting emissions support to India for COVID 19 and creating jobs crisis management with international partnerships

Mr Jim Varghese AM – AIBC National Chair

ndia is going through an unprecedented Health crisis with the second wave of the COVID 19 virus affecting millions. As Indian Government and agencies are dealing with this crisis to provide immediate relief, at the same time many countries have commenced supporting such relief measures. Australia has begun process to provide a relief to India consisting of 500 non-invasive ventilators with the scope to go up to 3000, personal protective equipment, 1 million surgical masks 500,000 p-two and 95 masks, 100,000 surgical gowns, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves, 20,000 face shields, 100 oxygen concentrators with tanks and consumables. Australia is suspending flights from India as a temporary measure to prevent further spread of the virus. In Australia it is a different picture. Thanks to the measures taken by federal and state governments in Australia such as contact tracing, quarantine and medical support, Australia is on the road to recovery. Australia India Business Council (AIBC) organised a live webinar session on “Post pandemic recovery plans of Federal government and Insight of Home Affairs during Pandemic” with Hon Peter Dutton MP - Minister for Defence, on April 28th, 2020. This session was moderated by Mr Jim Varghese AM – AIBC National Chair. Hon Peter Dutton MP’s speech elaborated on the active measures Australia has been taking for the country, and to help India overcome this battle. Hon Peter Dutton MP stated Australia has been relying on a headstrong quarantine strategy within the country to reduce the number of cases. The country witnessed the defence personnel divide themselves amongst various departments and activities to

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Courtesy AIBC

monitor and control the spread of the virus over the past 15 months. Australia now seeks to extend their resources and help India meet the medical demands with the increase in the case graph.

“By January 2020, we saw about 1.3 million people having lost their jobs, or stood down to zero hours, and by April 2020, we saw 94% of those people back at work, and that is quite a remarkable outcome. We want to make sure that in the budget this year, we provide support to, again, small businesses, and the focus of the budget will very much be on jobs and on service delivery. And there is an incredibly significant stage of support, to continue support around aged care. And we have had a particular look at the way in which we can, we can show support to different models of aged care, particularly those that are delivering a service to a diasporic community and the different needs around different languages,” said Hon Peter Dutton MP while discussing the Federal Government strategy this year. When asked about the relief measures Australia seeks to extend to India, Hon Peter Dutton MP stated that Australia currently has begun process to provide a relief to India. Ongoing discussions and strategies are still taking place to help small business and Indian employees that have been affected within the Australian region. Mr Jim Varghese AM – AIBC National Chair acknowledging the Federal government programs and initiatives regarding the pandemic and thanking the Hon Peter Dutton MP for his support said “one of the things one of the initiatives AIBC is taking is working with our counterparts in India, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the Indian Australian Chamber of Commerce. What we would like to do from business-to-business relationships is during this incredibly challenging time, keep those business relationships going and trade and investment.” Mr Vasan Srinivasan - Patron of AIBC Victoria Chapter said: “I know as a friend, you are always available for the benefit of my Indian community in Australia. You never let me down so far, and you always protect Australia and Australians, for our safety and health. Thank you so much and looking forward to working with you in

and neighbours to play our part in the global effort to cut emissions through technology while driving economic growth, creating jobs and pushing down energy costs.” Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the world looked to Australia as a leader in new and emerging energy technologies.

Hon Peter Dutton MP - Minister for Defence relation to AIBC activities.” Mrs Ravneet Pawha - President of AIBC Victoria Chapter said: “I want to thank the Australian Government, personally and professionally for all the support that is being extended to India and people that are currently in this difficult situation. I wish to suggest collaboration for education and research in defence with India with educational institutions such as Deakin University.” Hon Peter Dutton MP welcomed this idea and said: “There’s an enormous amount of collaboration, as you would expect with research institutes, the science and technology aspect of defence is quite a remarkable undertaking. And that is done in collaboration with several institutions. And some of that work, obviously, is publicly acknowledged. But I think there is an enormous opportunity to form those collaborations through the quad with institutions in India and identifying the requisite skills or the capacity within.” There was a lively interactive Q&A session moderated by Mr Jim Varghese AM – AIBC National Chair addressing defence supply chain, visas for talented people and logistical support to India COVID 19 measures. Hon Peter Dutton MP concluded his speech on a positive note that hopes to foster and strengthen the relationship between Australia and India. Upon the settlement of the pandemic, the countries hope to work on further building their ties and strategizing for future challenges, in order to be better prepared and emerge stronger. The lively session with Hon Peter Dutton MP ended with a vote of thanks by Mr Jim Varghese AM – AIBC National Chair.

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series of new international technology partnerships are set to make low emissions technologies cheaper and drive investment in Australia-based projects that create jobs. A new $565.8 million commitment by the Morrison Government in the 2021-22 Budget will help create up to 2,500 jobs by backing low emissions international technology partnerships and initiatives by co-funding research and demonstration projects. The partnerships will leverage $3 to $5 of co-investment for every dollar invested and Australia is in discussion with potential partners that will build on our already strong relationships. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said technology partnerships were key to the world finding the solutions to the world’s climate challenges and creating new jobs and protecting jobs in heavy industries and regional areas. “These partnerships mean Australia will keep leading the way in low emissions technology that also means more jobs here at home,” the Prime Minister said. “The world is changing and we want to stay ahead of the curve by working with international partners to protect the jobs we have in energy-reliant businesses, and create new jobs in the low emissions technology sector. “As we look to take advantage of these new export opportunities, we won’t look to reduce our own emissions by shutting down our existing export industries like agriculture, aluminium, coal and gas “Cheaper energy from new technology that meets our emissions reduction commitments means lower costs to businesses so they can keep employing Australians and grow jobs for the future. “We’ll work closely with our friends

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“The five technologies prioritised under our Technology Investment Roadmap have the potential to substantially reduce or eliminate emissions from sectors that account for 90 per cent of global emissions,” Minister Taylor said. “Getting new energy technologies to parity will enable substantial reductions in global emissions – in both developing and developed countries – and ensure countries don’t have to choose between growth and decarbonisation. “But Australia won’t be able to make these technologies globally scalable and commercially viable all on our own. “Rapid progress and innovation can be achieved when the world works together towards a common goal. “We need to bring a laser-like focus and collaborative effort to accelerating the development of practical technology pathways.” Today’s announcement will advance and support the goals of the Technology Investment Roadmap and facilitate deployment and export of home-grown low emissions technologies and energy. Australia is already collaborating with our trading and strategic partners, including Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the UK and the US. This year, ahead of COP26, the Government will ramp up that collaboration. Australia’s Special Adviser on Low Emissions Technology, Dr Alan Finkel, will play a key role in brokering new international partnerships. Australia’s Technology Investment Roadmap is expected to guide $18 billion of Government investment over the next 10 years and drive at least $70 billion of total new investment in low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030. Our plan will support 130,000 jobs by 2030 and avoid in the order of 250 million tonnes of emissions by 2040.

QUEENSLAND

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Varnam Cultural Society’s Chithirai Kalai Vizha Multicultural Tamil and Indian New year Festival

ndian New Year falls between March and April with the dates changing every day. Across India, New Year is celebrated differently depending on every state’s regional culture. Indian New Year is celebrated as Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Vishu in Kerala, Bihu in Assam, Baisakhi in Punjab, Pana Sankranti in Orissa and Naba Barsha in West Bengal, Nav Waras in Gujrat and Losoong in Tripura. Varnam Cultural Society has been presenting Tamil and Indian New year Festival for the past few years in Queensland. Varnam, in fact has become tantamount to this festivity, especially in Springfield. The spectacular event provides a platform not only for all Indians from different cultures but also to the global communities of Queensland to showcase their talents. This year was no different. The extravaganza event was held on April 17th, 2021 at Robelle Domain Park, Springfield. The event was dignified by notable community leaders, prominent political leaders as well as the who’s who of the Indian community. Most prominent among the VIPs were: Senator Paul Scarr, Milton Dick MP, Federal Member for Oxley, Hon. Minister Leanne Linard MP, Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Charis Mullen MP, Member for Jordan, Assistant Minister for Treasury, John Paul Langbroek MP, Member for Surfers Paradise, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Hon. Shayne Neumann MP, Federal Member for Blair, Lance McCallum MP, Member for Bundamba, Cr. Nicole Jonic, Mrs. Archana Singh, Honorary Consulate of India, Umah Ranchigoda, Director-Commercial Development, Springfield City Group. The event started at 5.00 pm with the invocation of Lord Ganesha by melodious Bhajans from Sunadham School of Music followed by classical dance Pushpanjali

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seeking blessings from almighty. The distinguished guests started the ceremony officially by lighting the traditional “Kuthu Vilalkku” signifying the beginning of an auspicious event. The VIPs showed immense support to the festival through their encouraging speeches. President of Varnam, Mr. Rajarajan Thennavan thanked the Queensland Government, Ipswich Council, political leaders, admirable community heroes, the event sponsors and gifted participants for their ongoing encouragement and appreciation to support the festival. His speech also emphasized the inner significance of communal peace as well as the significance of Varnam and its role within the community. The proceedings were followed by various cultural presentations of dance and music by several talented teams around the city. It was welcoming to see a couple of international performers as well presenting their form of dance to mesmerize the audience. Traditional Bharatanatyam, peppy Bollywood presentations and south Indian musicals kept the audience entertained throughout the evening despite short spells of rain in between. Artistes of all ages, ranging from 5 to 50 showcased their talent, interest, and enthusiasm. As part of the festive culture, it is important to recognise some of the hard-working individuals of

the community. Three awards that were presented that evening are as below: Mr. Surendra Prasad, the Chairman- Australian of the Indian Heritage War Memorial Committee was the winner of Varnam Cultural Society’s Community Service Award for 2021. Varnam The Rising Star Award 2021 was conferred to Ms. Shreemmate Narayanan, for taking the responsibility of organising the annual tree planting through the Ipswich City Council for the past 2 years. The Long Service Awards were presented to Mrs. Swapna Rajarajan and Ayyappan Kalidos for being an integral part of the committee for past 9 years and having contributed towards putting 1000 plus young talents across the Queensland on stage. Varnam Cultural Society has been

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organising the Indian New Year festival in Springfield since 2013, promoting harmony and multiculturalism. Various music and dance presentations went on well into the evening entertaining the

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large crowd gathered at parklands. The gala affair ended with much-awaited fireworks, a vote of thanks by Treasurer, Senthil and finally audience kids dance. Article by Rekha N Swamy.

WORLD

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Bangladesh Islamists regroup India’s double mutant Covid variant found in following Sheikh Hasina’s 17 countries: WHO crackdown after Modi visit

he radical Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI), after dissolving the 249 member central committee on Sunday, announced setting up of a five-member convening team. Muhibullah Babunagri - uncle of Ameer Junayed Babunagri, who has been at the helm of the organisation - has been named the chief adviser of the convening committee. The reorganisation of the outfit’s top committee will pose fresh challenges to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been fighting the hydra-headed radical elements in the country.

The new five-member committee also comprises Junayed Babunagri, Secretary General Nurul Islam and Salauddin Nanupuri and Prof Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury. Nurul Islam has said that the full convening committee will be put in place soon.

rying out violence in the country.

What has come as a surprise to many is that Junayed, in a Facebook video message, on Sunday said that central committee of HeI was being dissolved keeping in mind the overall situation in the country.

The extremist outfit had also vehemently opposed the construction of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s statue saying it was anti-Islam. In fact, in a shocking incident a few miscreants had even vandalised an unfinished sculpture of the country’s founding father.

In the last few weeks, the Hasina government has come down heavily on the HeI leaders. About 19 of its important leaders including those in the top rung like Mamunul Haque, Rafiqul Islam Madani --known as “shishu bokta” -- and Junaid Al Habib have been arrested for their active role in car-

Besides, over 75 cases have been filed against the HeI leaders. The group has been accused of carrying large scale violence in the country last month, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka.

What is HeI? HeI, in 2019 demanded that the Bangladeshi government declare Ahmadi Muslims as non-Muslims. HeI members have also been putting pressure on Hasina for policy changes. Most notable among their demands was seeking a

change in the curriculum in the country’s educational curricula and “ensuring that religious minorities are edited out of Ministry of Education-approved textbooks,” United States Commission on International Religious said. The radical Islamist outfit, with Madrassa trained members, was formed just 10 years ago but it sprung into prominence in 2013 when it staged mass demonstrations demanding that Bangladesh adhere to a strict Islamic doctrine. “The Islamist organisation has a track record of training Imams, who are then funded to propagate their ideals in the Middle-east, the UK, US and other parts of the world,” a study by Grid91, an organisation dealing with security consultancy, providing solutions to businesses in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka noted.

As China challenge looms, Biden says US will keep strong Indo-Pacific military presence Biden said that he has told “President Xi (Jinping) that we will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific just as we do with NATO in Europe -- not to start conflict, but to prevent conflict.”

S President Joe Biden has said that as a deterrence to conflicts he would maintain a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific, an area where China is asserting itself aggressively. China loomed large in Biden’s address to the joint session of Congress on Wednesday as he made the fast-developing nation the economic and strategic threat to the US. “We’re in a competition with China and other countries to win the 21stCentury. We have to do more than just build back. We have to build back better,” he said.

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He added, “In my discussion with President Xi, I told him that we welcome the competition -- and that we are not looking for conflict. But I made absolutely clear that I will defend American interests across the board.” In his speech on his 99th day in office, Biden presented his report card on progress in achieving the targets he had set for the first 100 days and his multi-trillion-dollar plans for infrastructure, jobs, education, economy and families. He said, “America is on the move again” after the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and the worst attack on democracy -- a reference to the attack on Congress by supporters of

former President Donald Trump on January 6. The hour-long speech was crafted by his Indian American speechwriter Vinay Reddy, who holds the title of director of speechwriting. Since he has not been in office for a year, the speech took the place of the traditional State of the Union address. As he began his speech with Vice President Kamala Harris and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi behind him on the podium, he noted that he was the first president to have to address the holders of both offices as “Madame”. For the first time the speaker and the Senate president -- vice President Harris -- are both women. The COVID-19 epidemic hollowed out the House chamber where Biden delivered the annual address. Only about 200 people -- including the spouses of the

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he double mutant Covid variant -- identified as B1617 -- that was first detected in India, has spread to ‘at least 17 countries’, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. Up till April 27, B1617 variant had been detected in over 1,200 sequences uploaded on the open-access database GISAID (the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data) “from at least 17 countries”, the global health agency said in its weekly epidemiological update on the pandemic. Most sequences were uploaded from India, the UK, US and Singapore, it said on Tuesday. GISAID -- a German non-profit organisation -- was launched in 2016 as a database for sharing flu genomes. Globally, new Covid-19 cases increased for the ninth consecutive week, with nearly 5.7 million new cases reported in the last week -- surpassing previous peaks, the WHO update said. India accounts for “38 per cent of global cases reported in the past week,” the report noted. The B1617 variant has been deemed a ‘variant of interest’ instead of a ‘variant of concern’ by the WHO. However, the WHO has classified the British, South African and Brazilian variants of Covid-19 president and vice president a” were there socially distanced and masked. Absent were the guests who add colour to the speech and get called upon during the speech by presidents. Missing was also drama like that of Pelosi angrily ripping up a copy of former President Donald Trump’s speech at the podium. Biden brought up the spectre of China several times to spur his agenda. “China and other countries are closing in fast” in technology and “we’re falling behind in that competition”, he warned as he called for increasing allocations for

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as “variants of concern.” The B1617 variant was first detected in India on December 1, 2020. It contains mutations from two separate virus variants -- E484Q and L452R. The variant is partly held responsible for the second and massive resurgence of coronavirus in the country. More than 3 lakh corona cases have been reported in India for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday. India reported a record number of 3,60,960 cases and 3,293 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry’s data released on Wednesday morning. “Preliminary modelling by WHO based on sequences submitted to GISAID suggest that B1617 has a higher growth rate than other circulating variants in India, suggesting potential increased transmissibility, with other co-circulating variants also demonstrating increased transmissibility,” the WHO update said. “Other drivers may include challenges around the implementation and adherence to public health and social measures and social gatherings (including mass gatherings during cultural and religious celebrations, and elections),” it added. research and development. He said that the investments he proposed across a range of fields “also advance a foreign policy that benefits the middle class”. “That means making sure every nation plays by the same rules in the global economy, including China,” he explained. “America will stand up to unfair trade practices that undercut American workers and industries, like subsidies for state-owned enterprises and the theft of American technologies and intellectual property,” he added. Biden emphasised his vision of the US being the leader of the world.

BUSINESS & INVESTMENT

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

‘Post Covid world looks promising Most Indian corporates have protection against for India’s food processing industry’ weakening rupee: Moody’s

he post Covid-19 world looks promising for India’s food processing industry as it recalibrates itself to capitalize on increased opportunities in the industry and ears up to capture new markets, a KPMG report on Indian food processing industry said on Thursday.

According to the report, the optimism for the industry emanates from projection of exponential growth in demand for processed food in rural areas and countries Tier 2/3 cities. Moreover, a lot of untapped potential remains to enhance India’s export to the top 10 food importing countries of the world where the country at present has a limited presence. The report had recommended that government can support the exporters by negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), lowering Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and expeditious implementation of Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme. This will help in larger penetration of Indian value added food products in bigger global markets. According to the report, the food processing industry is one of the mainstays of the global economy with a value addition of $ 1.7 trillion. Also, thr Indian processed food market is expected to grow to $ 470 billion by 2025 from $ 263 billion (2019-20). The report titled “Indian food processing industry - growth opportunities post the Covid-19 pandemic”, further said that the pandemic had provided opportunity to the Indian industry to scale but the success would also depend on

M the development of high quality food testing and certification infrastructure in the country as hygiene needs grow in post Covid world. Innovative products focused on wellness, health and nutrition are likely to see a huge opportunity in the domestic market, the report said harping on the importance increasing cold storage capacity in the absence of which scalability of perishable products has been challenge. Moreover, Digitalised Supply chain, Smart warehousing and logistics using industry 4.0 technologies can help India reduce wastage during storage and transit, it said. According to KPMG, thr pandemic has given rise to a new normal with sustainable food chains, growing preference for healthy food and localized food supply with increased trade barriers.

likely to be a surge in non - tariff measures including stringent Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPSs) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) by major economies to ensure food safety against transmitted chemicals and diseases,” the report said. It also recommended government partnership with private players through appropriate PPP models to ensure a faster scale up of quality infrastructure in line with industry requirements. Adopting a focused approach with collaboration from diverse stakeholders is required for catalytic growth of the industry. An inter-ministerial committee led by MOFPI and consisting of various ministries may be constituted to bring various stakeholders together in a coordinated manner, the report said.

ost Indian companies have currency protections against a weakening rupee said Moody’s Investors Service.

ernment-owned or linked entities with good access to capital markets,” Moody’s Investors Service said in a new report.

“Most companies have protections to limit the effect of currency fluctuations,” said Annalisa Di Chiara, a Moody’s Senior Vice President.

According to the report, a sustained weakening of the Indian rupee against the dollar will be credit negative for rated Indian companies that generate revenue in rupees, but rely heavily on US-dollar debt to fund operations and thus have significant dollar-based costs.

“These include natural hedges, where companies generate revenue in US dollars or have contracts priced in US dollars; some US dollar revenue and financial hedges; or a combination of these factors to help limit the strain on cash flow and leverage, even under a more severe deprecation scenario.” As a result, weaker credit metrics under a scenario in which the rupee depreciates a further 15 per cent against the dollar can be accommodated within the companies’ current rating levels. “Refinancing risk associated with US-dollar debt over the next 18 months also appears manageable, as most companies are repeat issuers and others are gov-

On April 27, 2021, the Indian rupee closed around 74.66 against the US dollar, or about 3 per cent lower than levels in mid-March. Lately, India is reporting new record daily increases in coronavirus infections, prompting new lockdowns and restrictive measures to curb the spread of the pandemic. The exponential rise in new coronavirus cases in India is a humanitarian crisis. It also raises concerns about the country’s economic recovery and currency fluctuations.

‘Govt taking steps for Apartment sale on carpet area MSMEs to monetise creative inventions’ basis only in Haryana “In the post Covid-19 era, there is

he Centre has been taking all necessary measures to spread awareness on the significance of intellectual property rights in protecting and monetizing their creative inventions, a senior official said on Wednesday.

he Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority on Tuesday said it has issued regulations for the sale of an apartment or a building in any real estate project on carpet area basis regulations only. The Gurugram-based regulator warned that penal proceedings would be initiated against the promoter or the real estate agent violating the instructions. The sale on super area basis shall be treated as fraudulent and an unfair trade practice by the promoter, said a statement quoting Chairman K.K. Khandelwal.

The conveyance deed shall be executed only on carpet area basis. The sale of apartment or building is only on the carpet area basis. So the sale of super area or any other basis is illegal, it said.

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Khandelwal said the “definition of super area as provided in various builder-buyer agreements is vague and there are wide variations in the definitions”. “The property in real estate projects is not properly described by way of mentioning super area

without specifically giving details and breakup of the components included in the super area. The practice of sale of the real estate on super area basis is misleading, ambiguous, opaque, and gives rise to confusion and complexities and at times result into avoidable litigation,” he said.

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Addressing a webinar on ‘From Minds to Market: IP Exploitation by MSMEs’, organised by FICCI, Rajendra Ratnoo, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) stressed on the need for Indian SMEs to increasingly protect their innovative products. G.R. Raghavendra, Joint Secretary, Law and Justice, emphasised that India’s thriving creative industry must become increasingly aware of the copyright law provisions like economic and moral rights, ownership and royalty provisions, the legal remedies, enabling them

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to benefit by monetisation and distribution of their creative works. Narendra Sabharwal, Chairman, FICCI IPR Committee & Former Deputy Director General, WIPO, said that globally small and medium enterprises have been the driving force behind many innovations. Successful SMEs have been able to reinforce an idea to create a product that consumers wanted, utilised IP rights to protect it and created value for their business, he said. Underlining the inherent innovative abilities of India’s small and medium businesses, Sabharwal emphasised that MSMEs must be encouraged and supported to increasingly adapt IP in business operations, especially considering the emerging technological developments.

BUSINESS & INVESTMENT

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Covid-19 resurgence to dampen recovery of India Inc: ICRA

ating agency ICRA on Wednesday cautioned that the continuing resurgence in Covid-19 cases, along with proliferation of localised restrictions, could dampen the pace of recovery for the Indian corporate sector.

Restrictions on movement fine, but not total lockdown: TN MSME units

However, the percentage of the rated portfolio that would be severely impacted by the second wave would be much lower than in 2020, it said. At the same time, the agency expects contact-intensive sectors like travel and hospitality, and retail to face severe disruptions even in the second wave, and their recovery timelines to be further pushed back by these rising infections. “The pace of recovery would undoubtedly be arrested by the recent surge in Covid-19 infections and associated localised restrictions. The extent of the impact would take a cue from the timelines with which this spike plateaus, and then starts receding,” said Ramnath Krishnan, President, Ratings, ICRA.

entertainment-exhibitors; microfinance institutions; real estate-retail; and retail, to be at high risk from the second pandemic wave, but much lower than in 2020. Furthermore, it expects the percentage of ICRA-rated portfolios that would be severely impacted by the second wave to be limited to 4 per cent much lower than the 17 per cent seen last year.

“While the vaccination drive has commenced, the pace of the actual roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccines to the wider adult population, introduction of additional vaccines in the Indian market, their efficacy against different variants, and the duration for which the vaccines provide enhanced immunity will also impact sentiment and growth, going forward.”

The agency pointed out that risk aversion among lenders could pose a challenge to credit growth, which the ratings agency projects at 7.3-8.3 per cent and 7-9 per cent respectively, for banks and non-banks for FY2022.

Nevertheless, ICRA estimated that the impact of the second wave of the pandemic on many sectors to be lower than the first - an advantage from the less widespread and stringent lockdowns as of now visa-vis the prolonged nationwide lockdown last year.

On the other hand, it said that banking system’s solvency profile is better than the pre-Covid levels, affording it a buffer to absorb shocks.

“Other supportive factors include lower global disruptions, absence of pricing pressures on commodity producers, increased digitisation and availability of additional funding lines.” Besides, ICRA foresees six sectors, namely aviation; hotels, restaurants and tourism; media and

ICRA also expects asset quality pressures for lenders to rise and profitability normalisation to stretch beyond FY2022.

“ICRA highlighted that the NBFCs were maintaining liquidity to cover more than three-month debt repayments since the beginning of the last fiscal.” “Considering the emerging uncertainties because of Covid-19, which could affect their near-term collections and fresh debt raise, ICRA expects the liquidity profile to be maintained with adequate buffer to give comfort to various

stakeholders.” As per ICRA, heightened investor caution on the asset quality of retail loan pools, especially for microfinance and unsecured SME loan pools, is likely to reduce securitisation volumes in the near term for the NBFCs. “ICRA cautioned that the localised restrictions have started to impede the sequential momentum in certain sectors, such as domestic airlines’ passenger traffic, electricity demand, vehicle registrations and the generation of GST e-way bills, even though the year-on-year growth will be high in April 2021 because of the low base related to the lockdown in April 2020.”

According to reports, Khattar suffered a heart attack. He leaves behind a rich legacy, born in present day Pakistan, Khattar finished his education from Delhi University before joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). As an IAS he served at various high raking administrative posts in UP

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They also said the central government should waive off the bank interest so that the units which are recovering from last year’s lockdown can now stablise.

“All industry owners are taking care of their worker’s safety against coronavirus. It is only the daily wage migrant workers who are going back to their home state and not those employed by the industrial units,” Verchezhian said.

“With the learnings from last year’s lockdown, all industrial units are following the Covid-19 safety protocols. So one can say that corona spread is not from the industrial units,” Dr.V.S.V. Verchezhian, President, Chennai Chapter of Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) told IANS. He said the government can allow movement of people for a limited period of time in a day, say morning three hours and evening three hours so that workers/employees can reach their place of work in the morning and reach back home in the evening.

Nevertheless, it cited that an earlier availability of vaccine imports, enabling a faster coverage of the vaccination drive, may offer a back-ended upside to the GDP growth in FY2022, after the disruption that may emerge in the near term.

The industrialists also said lessons have been learnt in managing the migrant workers from last year’s lockdown.

and in PSUs as well as government backed boards.

Industrialists told IANS that another round of total lockdown will cripple them and also the economy.

“We are having regular dialogue with the migrant workers and assuring them that the situation will not be like last year. Further they are being assured that their basic needs will be taken care,” D.Srinivasan, Managing Director, Bascet Engineering India Pvt Ltd told IANS. The Coimbatore based Bascet Engineering caters to the construction sector with products like wooden window fittings, hardware parts for doors and others.

Besides, he served as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Steel before joining Maruti Udyog from 1993 as a director of marketing. He later rose to became MD of the company in 1999. Industry insiders contend that under his leadership the company solidified its market leadership despite the onslaught from new competitors.

Srinivasan said Karnataka model is better as the units that are not oxygen dependent are allowed to function. Similarly, the Karnataka government has allowed construction and infrastructure sectors to carry on their activities.

“ICRA expects the Indian GDP to grow by around 10-10.5 per cent in FY2022. The key downside risks to its forecast are a continuation of this wave of infections and an extension of the restrictions imposed so far, relatively severe restrictions being imposed in additional states, and the existing vaccines not being effective enough against the new variants of the virus.”

Former Maruti Suzuki MD Jagdish Khattar no more

ormer bureaucrat and Managing Director of automobile major Maruti Suzuki Jagdish Khattar passed away on Monday.

ven as the coronavirus infection rate is climbing rapidly in Tamil Nadu, the government can look at restricting movement of people for certain number hours without shutting down the industries and others, said industrialists.

ny launched hugely successful hatchback Alto and Swift amongst other models.

Under his leadership the compa-

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The focus on the hatchback and emerging segments paid rich dividends to the company as a booming fast time car buying

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Queried about banks’ attitude towards lending against credit guarantee, Verchezhian said it differs from bank to bank. Demanding delinking of medium units from micro, small and tiny units, TANSTIA past President V.S. Narasimhan told IANS: “Banks should be made to lend against credit guarantee rather than collaterals. The government should also infuse additional capital into the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation so that banks have the confidence to loan, based on the credit guarantee.” “Already 40 per cent of our member units are sick for want of working capital and raw material. Further the increase in raw material prices have hit the units hard,” Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA) President S. Anburajan told IANS. He said many units supply the products to public sector units (PSU) and government utilities and are penalised for delayed supplies. “We would like the PSUs not to penalise their small sized vendors for delay in supplies during the pandemic period. There should be a moratorium for loans and interest could be waived for the small units,” Anburajan added. public quickly lapped on the Maruti bandwagon. After retiring in 2007, he started his entrepreneurial journey by starting a pan India multi-brand automobile sales and services company ‘Carnation’.

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

OUR TEAM • Male and Female GPs • Psychiatrist and Psychologists • Diabetes Educator • Podiatrist and Dietician

We Bulk Bill Time Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 7am to 6pm

OUR SERVICES • Skin cancer Clinic • Well Woman Clinic • Health Checks • Antenatal and Postnatal care • New Baby checks • Travel immunizations • Diabetes Clinic • Chronic disease Management • Employment and Work cover Book online

Thursday 8am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday 8am – 3pm

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POLITICS

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Is Modi era the end of Congress? If Sidhu wants to

how Congress falsely spread the narrative of Hindu Terror and Saffron Terror. It includes spine-chilling details on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Overall, it aims to ask and answer the question: Will the Congress now be relegated to the history books?

The next three chapters analyse the 2019 elections in great detail, followed by one on how the Congress claim of being the enatural party of choice’ for voters is completely disproved by the results of the last seven Lok Sabha elections. Two chapters analyse Congress performance in each state since Sonia Gandhi became the party president, and how the Left Front fared since 1989.

timely and comprehensive political critique of India’s ‘grand old party’, the Indian National Congress, author Amit Bagaria’s new book “Congress-Mukt Bharat: Is the Modi Era the End of Congress?” is a compelling and multi-dimensional take on the political, ideological and structural downfall of this 135-year-old party and the ascent to power of the Narendra Modi-led BJP.

Taking a leaf from India’s history and crunching important data, the book, published by Garuda Prakashan, breaks down crucial themes like Congress helmsmanship, family-controlled party leadership, breaking away of senior Congress leaders, loss of vote share, and the Congress-led UPA’s defeat in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. “There is already talk of an anti-BJP alliance led by regional parties in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, similar to 1977, 1989, and 1996. Some regional leaders were quoted as saying that the Congress can no longer be the ebig brother’ of the opposition, and will have to play esecond fiddle’ to regional parties in an anti-BJP front. Are we truly headed towards a Congress-Mukt Bharat by 2024,” writes Bagaria in the book. The opening chapters speak of Congress party’s corruption. The fourth chapter quotes from former bureaucrat RVS Mani’s book on

contest against me, he’s free to do so: Amarinder

The next nine chapters are about Narendra Modi, his successes, his failures, and the work he has done in 80 months. The longest chapter, divided into 14 sections, details the successes and failures of India’s 14 Prime Ministers. The author has given points on a scale of 0 to 10 to each PM, and two Congress PM’s, PV Narasimha Rao and Lal Bahadur Shastri, are among the Top 4.

In his in-depth analysis of the Modi 2.0 ministry, the author gives only 6.56 out of 10. Next is an interesting chapter on revamp of the Central ministries and the author’s choice of ministers if he were to be the PM. “Is Congress Becoming Anti-India?” and “The End of Congress?” are concluding chapters. The Appendix lays out eAgenda 2024’ for India. “Amit has once again crafted a book, which is a testimony to his strenuous research, felicitous writing, and erudition. The book covers PM Modi’s innovative and

ambitious foreign policy, which is my subject matter. The author has carried out this task with admirable skill and efficiency,” says TP Sreenivasan, IFS, Former Ambassador of India to Austria and Slovenia and Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN.

Telangana BJP chief calls Covid deaths in state ‘murders’ by govt

JP’s Telangana unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday slammed the state government for its ‘poor’ handling of the Covid situation and termed the deaths caused by Covid as ‘murders’ by the government.

Addressing a news conference, he said the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government has completely failed in controlling the pandemic. He wondered why Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is holding no review meeting when people are dying like sitting ducks. Kumar wanted to know why the gP MP wanted to know if the Chief Minister has taken the Covid vaccine. “Why is he not appealing to people to take vaccine,” he asked. The BJP leader alleged that the government is under-reporting the number of Covid deaths and positive cases in state. He said because of the false figures being issued by the government, people

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became careless about coronavirus. He also alleged that there is no clarity about the state’s requirement of oxygen and vaccines.

Claiming that all the details have been made public about the PM-CARES Fund, he demanded that the state government must release a white paper on CM Cares Fund. Kumar said that during a calamity, saving lives becomes everyone’s responsibility. He also demanded that the Chief Minister should take

aking a tough stance, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh categorically said on Tuesday that if his former Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu “wants to contest against him, then he is free to do so but that would only lead to Sidhu meeting the fate of General J.J. Singh who had lost his security deposit”. In an interview to a private channel, the Chief Minister challenged Sidhu to clearly spell out whether he is a member of the Congress party. “If yes, then his continuing rant against his Chief Minister and the government amounts to gross indiscipline,” said Amarinder Singh, adding that the Congress dissident ought to choose the side he is on because “he is indulging in breaking the discipline of the party, and the BJP won’t take him back and as far as the SAD is concerned, they are also peeved with him”. Without mincing words, the Chief Minister lauded Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC)

President Sunil Jakhar and said that he “is doing a good job and discharging his responsibility well so there is no question of Sidhu being appointed in Sunil Jakhar’s place”. “It has been just four years since Sidhu joined the Congress and as such there are many people who have started their career with the Youth Congress who are much senior to him. So how can he be given the post of Deputy Chief Minister or PPCC President,” Amarinder Singh asked. On the issue of Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Jakhar tendering their resignations over the state government’s handling of the 2015 sacrilege cases, the Chief Minister said that he had rejected the same. Referring to the recent high court verdict quashing the Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the Kotkapura firing, the Chief Minister said that a new SIT has been approved which would take the case to its logical conclusion.

K’taka minister tells farmer ‘to die’, puts BJP in tight spot

BJP’s suggestions on handling the situation. He said that if the state government gives report to the Centre providing details of Covid deaths and positive cases in a transparent manner, the Centre will extend its help to the state.

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Continued from Page 1 As the caller asserted that the reduction will kill poor and farmers, the minister seeks to clarify that there was no reduction of quantity but it is only based on the demands of respective regions that Karnataka will supply food grains. Apparently unhappy over this response, the caller charges that the state government intends to kill poor by pushing them to starvation. At this, Katti, losing his temper, retorts that if a farmer or a poor

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person wants to die, “this is the good time to die”, before cutting the call.

As soon as this conversation went viral, Katti, on his part, tendered an apology. In a hurriedly-called press conference in Belagavi, Katti, dropping enough hints that Yediyurappa has insisted he seek an apology, said that Yediyurappa is their party leader and CM, and “if he has asked me to do something, I will do it without thinking of any consequences”.

SPORTS

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Asian Boxing Aussies in IPL will have to get back on their own: PM Morrison Championship shifted from Delhi to Dubai

ustralian players playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) will have to make their own arrangements to travel back to the country as they have travelled to India privately, said the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“They have travelled there privately,” Morrison is quoted as saying by The Guardian. “This wasn’t part of an Australian tour. They’re under their own resources and they’ll be using those resources too, I’m sure, to see them return to Australia in accordance with their own arrangements,” he further said. Earlier, Morrison had announced a ban on direct flights from India -- both commercial and the government’s repatriation services -- until May 15 and the use of connecting flights from the country.

Batsman Chris Lynn, who plays for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, had said that he asked Cricket Australia to arrange a chartered flight to bring Australians home at the conclusion of the tournament.

“I texted back that as Cricket Australia make 10 per cent of every IPL contract, was there a chance we could spend that money this year on a charter flight once the tournament is over?” Lynn told News Corp media.

It was a pleasure to see Jadeja perform: Kohli

oyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli said that they were beaten by Ravindra Jadeja’s individual performance in Sunday’s match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “One guy completely beat us. Today, his skill was there for everyone to see,” said Kohli in the postmatch presentation ceremony. “His ability has been there for everyone to see. I am very happy to see him perform with the bat, ball and on the field. After two months, he will be back playing for India, and it is always a pleasure to see your premier all-rounder do well with the bat. When he plays well and is confident, it lets out many opportunities,” he further said. Jadeja smashed 37 runs off the final over of the CSK innings off fast bowler Harshal Patel, who had conceded just 14 runs and taken three wickets prior to the over.

Kohli said that the team will continue to back Patel and this defeat has come at the right time for RCB, who had won all four matches they had played before Sunday. “You have to look at it the right way. I feel this is a positive feedback for our side. A performance like this, it is good to get this out

early on in the tournament. Our start was decent enough,” said Kohli. “He (Patel) bowled well and we will continue to back him. His two wickets, of the set batters, took momentum away from CSK before Jaddu took it away in the final over,” he said.

he 2021 Asian Boxing Championship, originally scheduled to be held in New Delhi in May, has been shifted to Dubai, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) said in a statement on Wednesday. The decision was made due to travel restrictions that several participating nations have announced to India due to the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in the country. “In the wake of international travel restrictions to India, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), in consultation with Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC), has decided to conduct the upcoming 2021 edition of the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Dubai. The event will now be organised by BFI in association with UAE Boxing Federation,” said the BFI. The BFI said that it has received a no objection certificate from the Sports Ministry to conduct the tournament at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi but

had to eventually make the decision of not hosting the tournament in the national capital due to the travel restrictions. “It’s unfortunate that we have to shift the venue out of India. We were very keen to host the championships in Delhi but we are left with no options. Boxers’ safety is the most important concern for us and hence we had to take this decision. We are grateful to UAE for accepting our request and agreeing to co-host on such a short notice. We are thankful to all member federations and ASBC for their cooperation,” BFI President Ajay Singh said. “We closely monitored the situation and after deliberation with ASBC as well as the Government of India, we decided to conduct the tournament in Dubai. I wish for everyone’s good health and safety and pray that India soon come out of this situation strongly,” he added.

This IPL has become more about what’s happening outside: Ponting

elhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting said that the 2021 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has become more about what is happening outside the tournament than the matches itself due to the Covid-19 pandemic in India. “This IPL, probably more than any other, has become more about what’s happening on the outside than what’s happening here. We right now are probably the safest people in the country being in the bubbles that we are in,” Ponting said in a video posted on Delhi

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Capitals’ Youtube page.

“Continuously, I’m asking the boys at breakfast every day how’s everything going on the outside, how’s family, is your family safe? Is family happy?” he further said. DC spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday announced that he is taking a break from the IPL as his family is fighting with the virus. “Yes, it is hard for the players to be away from their families. I can’t imagine, even if I put myself in this situation, guys that live in Chennai are actually home now, but can’t

see their families. It must be incredibly difficult,” said Ponting.

“So, the more we can share these experiences, the better off we are. The people that aren’t from India, we can be talking to the locals about what they are going through. We will just keep our fingers crossed. And hope people remain safe. That’s a big thing for me, the players are taking the best care of their families where they can from the outside. And we look after what we can do here,” Ponting added.

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

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ARTS-CULTURE

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Indian-origin artist Madhuri ‘Lokame Tharavadu’ art show set to take to display works in Milan Alappuzha tourism to new heights

adhuri Srikanth, an Indian-origin artist with roots in Telangana, has received a special invite to showcase her works at ‘Romantica’, an international art exhibition, to be held at Italy’s Milan between April 23 and May 2. Madhuri is the lone Indian artist to be invited to showcase her works at the exhibition organized by M.A.D.S., a contemporary art gallery, located in one of the main Milan districts. A resident of Cary town in North Carolina (USA), Madhuri has been invited to showcase three of her works at the exhibition. These include “Benevolent Buddha” (Acrylic painting on a clay board), “Golden Geisha” (Tanjore painting with .22 carat gold, semi-precious stones accompanying with poster colors on wooden panel) and “Shadow Sway” (Tanjore painting with .22 carat gold, semi-precious stones, and Swarovski crystals accompanying with poster colors on wooden panel). The three works have a sale price of $2,000 each. “I consider this has a great opportunity for me to showcase the traditions and culture of India on an international platform. This

festival opens doors to possibilities of showcasing art in a different light, with colours becoming the messengers of thought and memory. By setting an example, I would also like to encourage more girls of Indian origin born or living in the US to make painting their manner of expression,” said Madhuri on getting this invitation. Born in Nalgonda, Madhuri is a self-taught painter, and believes canvas is her medium to express her dreams. Inspired from her mother’s Rangoli as a kid, Madhuri started dealing with colors from

Paper tales

a young age. The innate talent in Madhuri was recognised during her days in school, when she received accolades at the national level, and ever since there has been no looking back. A mother of two, and Vice President, at the prestigious Truist Bank (USA), Madhuri has developed strong command over various forms of paintings, without any formal training. From color portraits, to murals, from sand art to Tanjore paintings, Madhuri has done some exceptionally great works in at least six forms of paintings.

Talking about his latest exhibition, which showcased drawings and sculptures made using paper and steel, the artist who showed last in 2015 (also at Vadehra) says that that was the year his first baby was born, and he started questioning the purpose -- of everything. “What is my purpose as an artist, human being, a parent, how do I balance life and work? Every year brings a set of new experiences, the focus keeps shifting and

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The show, curated by artist Bose Krishnamachari and organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation, which also organises the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, is also a celebration of the heritage of Alappuzha, where a string of museums have been planned by Alappuzha Heritage Projects under the guidance of Muziris Heritage and funded by Kerala Tourism. The event is being held at five different venues and from Saturday, will now open for the public, but under very strict Covid protocols.

e calls the art of cutting paper meditative. He smiles that whenever he starts doing that, it is tough to take him away.

For Bangalore-based artist Sachin George Sebastian, whose latest show, ‘Once, there was a seed’ at Vadehra Art Gallery in the capital concluded recently, the fascination for the medium started when he came across a pop-up book in a second-hand book store in Bangalore. “That was the first time that I was something like that, and it left me stunned. I kept wondering how can something three-dimensional come out of a book...”

“

Lokame Tharavadu”, a major contemporary art show featuring 267 artists and over 3,000 art works including assemblages and installations that began last week in Alappuzha, has the potential to transform the dynamics of cultural tourism, according to tourism stakeholders and planners.

Additional Chief Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Planning and Economic Affairs, V. Venu, said for a variety of reasons this project is a game changer as it extends the footprint of Alappuzha as a destination.

newer thoughts take priority. For the past five-six years, I have been drawing a lot.” In fact, Sebastian was supposed to hold an exhibition in April last year but that could not materialise owing to the pandemic. Being a hands-on person, the artist also has also employed his skill-set beyond art, says, “At one point of time, I also did a freelance project in Jaipur for a paper company wherein I made all the products collapsible, so they could be shipped in a large quantity together. Besides, I was applying this paper-engineering technique into other products and things.” Now settled in Bangalore, he wants

to tell stories using those techniques, outside the book format. While he keeps working with paper as an artist, he also explores other materials. Talk to him about his work in steel, and the artist says that while paper has become the material for him to consistently explore more, considering its tactility and texture, it becomes framed in a box. “Like, a wooden box -- you can’t feel the texture anymore. Fifty percent of the world’s steel is used for making buildings, in construction. So, when I make work out of steel, I can have it outside the frame. This time, I feel I was finally able to get the texture, frame and fluidity that I get out of paper into steel.”

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“For the tourism industry, it spotlights the destination in an entirely different perspective. For the tourists, Alappuzha was always a boarding point, a backwater destination, houseboat destination and most importantly, an excursion destination. This event makes a very compelling pitch to use Alappuzha as a destination not merely for a houseboat cruise, but to stay back to spend a night or two at the destination absorbing its culture and history,” said Venu. Alappuzha is often referred to as the Venice of the East. “The event also puts the spotlight on the built heritage of the city, on its by lanes and many bridges and the quaint precincts where the event is being held, revealing the many layers of Alappuzha’s history and its rich cultural interface. I believe that the event would become

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a catalyst through which we will see Alappuzha re-branding itself and re-positioning itself as a destination worth more than a cruise. From a cultural point of view, this is a great example of adaptive re-use. We are only starting to do this,” added Venu. Conservation architect Benny Kuriakose said that they embarked on the ambitious project to conserve the built heritage of Alappuzha for the future generations. “We also thought there is great educational value in these spaces which served as coir factories and warehouses. These are nothing but attempts to tell stories from our past and the linkages of the place with the maritime trade,” said Kuriakose. Tomy Pulickattil, Managing Director of Pulickattil Houseboats and a stakeholder in tourism industry, said that it is not just the tourism industry that is looking at the show with great hopes. “The people here have also great aspirations regarding the project. The benefits brought in by the Biennale in Kochi are known to everyone and I am certain that this would lift Alappuzha as a destination and provide it a new orientation,” said Pulickattil whose company owns a dozen houseboats. Venu also feels that from an art point of view, the event is a godsend for young artists. “To get this kind of exposure, to get this kind of platform for exhibiting their works and to be seen and commented and reviewed by the best in the art world, like a never-before, never-again kind of chance. This event plucks brilliant young people just out of wilderness and places them squarely before the world. That is an amazing effort because it is transformational in many ways and is going to change a lot of people’s lives,” added Venu. The event ends on June 30.

LITERATURE

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Tisca Chopra: Hope my book encourages conversations

isca Chopra’s latest book “What’s Up With Me?” delves into topics as puberty and menstruation. The actress hopes her effort will help prompts conversations around these topics, which might be uncomfortable but necessary. “’What’s Up With Me?’ is a book that talks about everything around puberty from a young girl’s perspective. It is her guide and friend in her journey through periods, pimples, acne, developing breasts, buying bras, sanitary napkins, her changing hormones, moods, relationship with her friends, boys, parents and the emotional and

physical changes that her body and psyche go through,” Tisca told IANS.

“It’s a friendly guide backed by science. Gynaecologist Dr Mala Arora and therapist Dr Malvika Verma have worked with me on the book,” she said about the book, which was launched last month. Is the taboo around topics such as menstruation gradually breaking, unlike even 10 years ago? “The taboo around menstruation might have changed or is still changing in big cities, but in small cities and towns it is nowhere close to change. Fathers are still not a part of the discussion, mothers,

cousins or sisters will talk to a young girl about her periods, it’s not something to be disclosed openly, chemists will still wrap sanitary pads in newspaper, don’t go into the kitchen, don’t touch pickles, don’t enter temples -- all these leave the girl feeling that it is something dirty or unclean,” she replied.

“A lot of young girls who are friends of my daughter, their fathers have said they have enjoyed the book and there are many things they didn’t know simply because no one told them! So I hope my book encourages conversations, which might be uncomfortable but nec-

essary,” said Tisca.

The actress has carved a niche with her acting skills, and has lately started taking interest in filmmaking, too. Quizzed which role she enjoys the most, she replied: “Can’t say which role I enjoy more -- actor, filmmaker or author. I have been shooting for a web series in Rajasthan and enjoying myself. (Being a) Filmmaker is a role that I enjoy tremendously, too, and am looking forward to directing a feature towards the end of this year. An author of course is an ongoing thing, I keep writing stuff, so it all goes hand in hand. I think I

enjoy my life doing multiple things, I would be easily bored if I did just one thing.”

Now, download 20 books over next 20 days at Re 1 per book

ead a fictionalised biography of Kasturba Gandhi, who was as strong and great as the Mahatma; theres a love saga between a widower and an estranged woman; a tale of a new woman at the turn of Independence; analyse the relevance of older values in present-day life and the need to change with the times; observe the generational change and conflict in a Tamil community.

Kumar Bhattacharyya (translated from Assamese) is the story of a young girl from a village in what is at that time East Pakistan as she journeys from dependence to self-reliance in the midst of the Bangladesh liberation struggle.

There’s this and much more as starting Saturday, over the next 20 days, Niyogi Books offers you from its Thornbird imprint a compelling melange of Indian language literature in translation -- one book a day at Re 1 each, in collaboration with the Indian Novels Collective and downloadable on Amazon.

April 28: Brink by S.L. Bhyrappa (translated from Kannada) is a love saga between Somashekhar, a widower, and Amrita, an estranged woman and deliberates on the moral, philosophical, and physical aspects of love between a man and a woman.

Here’s what’s on offer: April 24: The Heroine and Other Stories by D. Jayakanthan (translated from Tamil). Each story in this collection delves into the depths of the human psyche, revealing the hidden strengths ordinary people find within themselves when faced with extraordinary circumstances. April 25: Ballad of Kaziranga by Dileep Chandan (translated from Assamese). This is not a love story (although it does seep in), but rather, the story of love three friends share for the beautiful and majestic Kaziranga, in their own unique way. April 26: Blossoms in the Graveyard by Jnanpith Awardee Birendra

April 27: Elegy for the East by Dhrubajyoti Borah (translated from Assamese) explores the utter helplessness and travails of man in face of the relentless march of history.

April 29: Kasturba Gandhi: A Bio-fiction by Giriraj Kishore (translated from Hindi) ?is the fictionalised biography of Kasturba Gandhi, a woman as strong and great as Mahatma Gandhi, who earned a place in history because of her personal sacrifices and strength of conviction in what was right. April 30: A Plate of White Marble by Bani Basu (translated from Bengali). It is the tale of the enew woman’ of an era that has just witnessed the independence of a nation. May 1: A Day in the Life of Mangal Taram by Anita Agnihotri (translated from Bengali) is a selection of 14 stories out of over 200 short stories written by Anita Agnihotri,

whose works traverse a wide range of human emotions, spanning over three decades. May 2: Island of Lost Shadows by E. Santhosh Kumar (translated from Malayalam). Through the voices of a myriad and sharply sketched characters, the author brings to life the troubled times of the Seventies when sadistic excesses were the norm. May 3: Giligadu: The Lost Days by Sahitya Akademi winner Chitra Mudgal (translated from Hindi) is a multi-layered novelette, short in length yet deep in meaning and messages for urban India. May 4: Generations by Neela Padmanabhan (translated from Tamil) is an intricate tale, simply told by a master of fiction about a community of Tamil speakers who live on the borders of modern-day Kerala - a novel of generational change and conflict. May 5: A Fistful of Mustard Seeds by E. Santhosh Kumar (translated from Malayalam) explores moral dilemmas and personal traumas and delves into the dark recesses of the soul. May 6: Land Lust by Joginder Paul (translated from Urdu) offers poignant glimpses of the unequal multiracial relations in colonial Kenya, evoking insightful moments of compassion from within the harsh xenophobic environs. May 7: Laila Ke Khutoot: The Letters of Laila by Qazi Abdul Ghaffar (translated from Urdu) has been

hailed as the ‘first specimen of a truly psychoanalytical fiction in Urdu’. May 8: In the Glow of Your Being by Govind Mishra (translated from Hindi) examines the issues faced by the modern Indian woman and probes deep into the question of their freedom and its denial by society. May 9: The Elixir of Everlasting Youth by Lakshmi Nandan Bora (translated from Assamese) is the story of an internationally renowned scientist who apparently has everything - scientific breakthroughs, awards, fame, wealth and a fine family; the key to rejuvenation continues to elude him till he finally learns the secret, helped by a yogi’s treatment and modern science. May 10: The Story of a Timepiece: A Collection of Short Stories by Sankarankutty Pottekkat (translated from Malayalam) deals with complex characters and human relationships in realistic, everyday situations, often reflecting

the social consciousness of the pre-Independence period. May 11: The Musk and Other Stories by Arupa Patangia Kalita (translated from Assamese) is an eclectic mix of short stories and a novella that sheds light on some of the burning issues that reverberate through the Assam Valley. May 12: Jallianwala Bagh: Literary Responses in Prose & Poetry Edited by Rakhshanda Jalil (translated from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi) attempts to open a window into the world of possibilities that literature offers to reflect, interpret and analyse events of momentous historical import. May 13: Beasts of Burden by Imayam (translated from Tamil). Set in the early 1970s when ritual status and payment in kind were giving way to cash wages, this is an extraordinarily detailed picture of a lifestyle that has now passed. Here’s a chance to chance to build up an eclectic library at virtually zero cost. What are you waiting for?

‘Age of Anxiety’ a timely book in midst of pandemic

hat does it mean when someone says they have anxiety? “I’m stressed and nervous all the time, do I have anxiety”? “Will I ever get better?” Is this the “Age of Anxiety?” How can it not be the age of anxiety when so many millions of us feel that persistent combination of heart palpitations, impending doom, dread, even lack of control,

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as one of our contributors describes it. The question is, what can we do about it?

Through this book we will learn how to distinguish between anxiety as “an attack of the nerves” or something that will come and go, and Anxiety as a disorder, which will need treatment, including possibly therapy or medication. The conversations are even more

pertinent given the global Covid-19 pandemic, prolonged periods of social isolation and an increased focus on mental health and wellness. Co-authored by writer Amrita Tripathi and clinical psychologist Kamna Chhibber, “Age of Anxiety” (Simon & Schuster India) features a foreword by leading psychiatrist Dr Achal Bhagat, and stories and

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interviews centred around lived experiences.

Skip the pop psychology here as we learn from people coping with anxiety disorders, sharing from their journey to healing, explaining exactly what would have helped them along the way, as they seek to bust common myths and misconceptions. There is also advice and insight from mental health

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professionals in India, drawing on their own expertise to share information that can help us move the needle on conversations which make a difference. Amrita Tripathi is a writer and former news anchor, with 18 years of experience in journalism, spanning print, broadcast, and digital media.

FASHION

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Ritu Kumar launches Dress fabulously for Label Basics yourself: Designers Abu C Jani & Sandeep Khosla possible. Destination weddings mean travel for multiple guests and vendors, from multiple locations. Unless one Covid tests everyone and keeps attendees contained it is a huge and highly avoidable risk.

WFH fashion needs an update do you agree? Abu Sandeep: Home means comfort above all else. However the comfortable can be fabulously stylish too. When one feels good one looks good. When one looks good, you feel confident and joyous. We recommend our label Gulabo by Abu Sandeep for putting WFH on your personal style map. Separates that can be mixed and matched to put some serious style into your life.

esigners Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla recently treated customers in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh to their diffusion collection, ASAL, at Amiraah the city’s biggest multi-designer store. ASAL by Abu Sandeep carries forth the design philosophy of its parent brand, couture with meticulous embroideries, accented with handmade craftsmanship in a range of styles. Pooja Gupta, FICCI FLO Vice Chair, Kanpur Chapter and founder of Amiraah, hosted the duo at the store which is largely Indian in appeal with a beautiful swing and Ganpati idol stationed at the entrance. The store is divided into three sections: Indian wear, Indo-western and a bridal section. The space spread across 5,000 sq ft., curates haute selections of some of the biggest names in the fashion industry like Tarun Tahilani, AM-PM, Namrata Joshipura, Anushree Reddy, Kavita Bhartiya, Joy Mitra, and many more. On the sidelines of the event IANSlife caught up with the designer duo to find out the fashion forecast for Summer 2021. Revenge dressing, yay or nay and why? Abu Sandeep: Never give anyone that sort of importance. Dress fabulously for yourself. This is our personal philosophy. The best revenge is to live freely and fully with no regard for those who don’t matter. Especially those who have hurt you or let you down. But if it gives you a high to revenge dress… go for it with gusto. Everyone must

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Fashion trends you are just hating this season? choose their own form of revenge and dressing. The smaller the wedding the more opulence required do you agree and why? Abu Sandeep: We don’t care for the word opulence. We see weddings as a moment for joyous celebration, an occasion to treat yourselves and your loved ones, including family and friends to beauty. Clothes and events that are refined, rare and original with an acute devotion to detail. Go for the finest to create the most wonderful and unforgettable experience. And yes… small is an

opportunity to make it even more fabulous and custom. Destination weddings a boon or a curse in the times of Covid and why? Abu Sandeep: Covid has been a reality since March 2020. This current time sees a crisis of health and safety like never before. The pandemic is raging. Any wedding is best postponed or kept small and local if postponement isn’t

Abu Sandeep: Any trend which feels alien to your personal style should be ditched. You don’t need to feel and look like a victim just because magazines and designers tell you a garment/look is the flavour of the month. Nothing trendy is worth forgoing your own taste. The retail experience in smaller towns like Kanpur? Abu Sandeep: We just held our first event in Kanpur with a two-day exhibit of our labels Asal, Mard and Gulabo by Abu Sandeep at Amiraah. We were delighted to bring our creativity and new

collections to the city. We believe there is a huge interest and passion for style outside the metro cities. We routinely expand our reach to bring the world of Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla to aficionados across India including Raipur, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and now Kanpur. And we are blessed to always find savvy and enthusiastic audiences and clientele wherever we go.

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atering to an increasing trend of work-from-home, athleisure and an overall need for more relaxed casual wear, veteran designer Ritu Kumar has launched Label Basics under her fashion brand.

IANSlife speaks to Amrish Kumar, Managing Director of Ritu Kumar, to know more about the new collection and how it aims to cater to the ever changing consumer consumption patterns. The brand has always been known for the heritage prints and rich colors. Label Basics seems a change in direction and aesthetics, tell us more. Kumar: Over the past year and so, there has been a sharp shift in the way in which we dress. While comfort and function were attributes previously kept ensconced in our homes, they are now accepted in work and public, for often they occupy the same space. As a brand, we understood that business models need to be agile and willing to accommodate such transitions. Our introduction of Label Basics, explores the new way of dressing—comfortable and easy—with elements traditional to the Ritu Kumar label—high-quality fabrics, fascinating prints, patterns and seamless dressing. With a new more extensive product line, Basics will now enjoy greater visibility in our portfolio with dedicated sections in-stores. We’re certain that the Label Ritu Kumar patron will resonate with this collection as well that brings together timeless style and comfort. Elevated essentials and relaxed wear are the way in 2021. What does the new line have to offer? Kumar: Catering to an increasing trend of work-from-home, athleisure and an overall need for more relaxed casual wear, Label Basics are a perfect addition to any wardrobe. It is focused on versatile pieces that are stylish yet comfortable, this is the new must-have for the homebound generation. Think of fuss-free dresses, relaxed bottoms and easy co-ord sets—all pointing to a sense of minimalism with well-cut, comfortable shapes and quality materials. The apparel is crafted with premium-quality fabrics that are lightweight and perfect for the summer, such as cotton voile, poplin, modal, rayon moss, and chiffon. The placid and soft colour palette includes the summer classics ranging from blush pinks, tropical greens and sky blues, to deep hues such as monochrome blacks and browns. The line also offers a sharp price, making it more accessible to the average consumer and the consumer wrought by the pandemic.

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Fashion is consumed very differently now. In your opinion, what is the priority? Kumar: As our lives shifted in the pandemic, so did fashion. Given the spike in working from home and an affinity to dress in athleisure, we’ve witnessed an increasingly functional approach being adopted to fashion—dressing down stylishly has now become central to our work-from-home philosophy. While consumers enjoy innovation and new styles, purchases are being made very differently. There is an increased focus on durability, longevity, and sustainability as opposed to one-time-wear pieces. It is key to focus on these sensibilities—stylish comfort and durability—while providing the consumer with a friendly price point. The past year was difficult for all. What have been your takeaways as a brand. Kumar: High functionality will drive the future of fashion. Clothes that are easy to transition from workwear and daywear to evening or travel wear. However, we can speculate what the future will look like but, at the end of the day, only time will tell how fashion will evolve in the next year. WFH generation prefers comfortable yet chic clothing. What do you think is going to be some preferred looks? Kumar: Label Basics offer customers the best in quality and styles at sharp prices. Each product from this collection is fashioned from fabrics that are soft, lightweight and ideal for the summer, for working and lounging at home and dressed up for the evening with statement pieces and accessories. The summer-friendly maxi dresses synthese this philosophy with their innate comfort and style. How would you define Label Basics in one line? Kumar: Label BASICS are fashion essentials for a seamless transition of work-from-home to out with elevated everyday essentials for day to day work and so much more, with an element of yearround style.

FASHION

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Revenge (fashion) is never the answer Jewellery inspired by

he recently held Golden Globes awards showed that occasion dressing needs to be respectful, not revengeful.

rus is still a part of our daily reality. I have never liked using the term revenge as it has such negative connotations.

Amanda Seyfried in an Oscar de la Renta silk sorbet gown, Cynthia Erivo in neon green Valentino and Nicole Kidman in a custom made black and gold halter neck gown by Louis Vuitton—these were some of the dressed up at home looks that celebrities wore for the event. All of them commented on how good it felt to have an occasion to dress up for. While they choose beautiful and bold clothes---there was a sense of elegance to their selection. None of them pushed the boundaries too much, as that would not have been appropriate.

The one exception to this rule is Princess Diana’s revenge dressing moment, when the then estranged wife of Princess Charles wore a fitted black off the shoulder dress with a rather short asymmetrical hemline to a high profile summer party. It was the same night that the infamous Prince Charles interview was airing. He was about to confess to his extra marital relationship with Camila Parker Bowles. The story goes that Princess Diana wanted to look like “a million bucks” that night so she decided to wear a dress out of her comfort zone. It became the night Princess Diana’s status as a style icon was solidified. This was a moment when over dressing suited the occasion, it had a purpose.

Last April, when we thought the pandemic would be over by summer, many fashion pundits predicted that “Revenge buying” would bring in a new wave of people shopping just to make up for lost time during the lockdown. Of course, a year later, the Coronavi-

Think of past after World War One, the time of the fabulous flapper girls in the 1920s. A time

when women’s unapologetically glamourous fashion spoke of their newfound confidence. Decadence seemed in tune with the moment. With World War One a thing of the past, businesses were booming again, so the moto was why not celebrate. As they say there is a time and place for everything, and while many predict we will see a redux version of the Roaring 20s once this pandemic phase is over, let us not forget we are still in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis. Many countries are seeing their second and third waves, and we still do not know how successful the vaccination drive will be, there is no question that the economy is hurting.

Fashion is all about reflecting cultural shifts--- and it does seem many of us are tired of the whole sweatpants moment. Which means we now want to look forward and understand the need to embrace the new normal in our lives. While one might have missed dressing for occasions, it does seem a bit tone dead to be blinging it on right now. Yes, occasions are thankfully being held now, but just as they have to be respectful of COVID-19 norms, so should our dressing. I am all for having fun with fashion and using it as an escape but let’s not behave like modern day Marie Antionette’s, because revenge is never the answer.

Indian embroideries

n India, weddings, ritualistic traditions and jewellery are closely connected and go together. Jewellery brand Tanishq has recently launched its latest range and designs of jewellery - for summer wedding season for millennial brides-to-be under its wedding sub-brand- ‘Rivaah’. The pieces from Rivaah incorporate inspiration from Indian embroideries of various states of India like Phulkari, Gottapatti, Sujani, Kashida, Kantha etc with floral motifs, pine, chinar, creepers, geometric patterns. The new designs use karigari techniques like Spring wire, Chandak work, Filgree, Rawa work and more. Ranjani Krishnaswamy, GM – Marketing, Tanishq, Titan Company Ltd, says: “Weddings are undeniably one of the most memorable moments of our lives and wedding jewellery holds a special place in our hearts as it embodies priceless sentiments, symbolizes our diverse

ethnicities and the richness of our traditions. Rivaah by Tanishq celebrates this richness and diversity of Indian weddings from the lens of a National Local Jeweller. It has a wide range of stunning handcrafted bridal jewellery trousseau for today’s millennial bride. “With the proposition of ‘A Jewel for Every Tradition’ we speak to this new-age confident bride, who is modern in her outlook yet deeply rooted in traditional values, bringing alive the meaning and significance of every piece of jewellery in her bridal trousseau.” “Be it the Shakha Pola bangles or the Jadanagam, be it the Nath or the Maang Tikka - each has a significant role to play in a bride’s trousseau. As a marker of auspicious beginnings, each piece invokes divine blessings and celebrates the beautiful journey our brides are to take,” the spokesperson concludes.

Royal textile heritage reinterpreted in upcoming digital exhibition

he 2021 Asian Boxing Championship, originally scheduled to be held in New A series of installations and traditional textiles, presented by Karkhana Chronicles-II in collaboration with the royal families of Indore, Kathiwada, Bhavnagar and Mysore, will be launched on Saturday. Opening a conversation around India’s textile heritage, the project draws its inspiration from the artisanal workshop or ‘karkhana’ -- a timeless site of creativity and innovation that distinguishes India’s rich textile heritage. Supported by The ReFashion Hub -- a sustainability-focused initiative with a special emphasis on water stewardship -- and the royal families mentioned above, the exhibition will launch virtually exhibiting heritage textiles. The project builds on Karkhana Chronicles-1 which launched in late 2020 showcasing three installations in collaboration with Maharani Priyadarshini Raje Scindia of Gwalior, Maharawal Chaitanya Raj Singh of Jaisalmer and Akshita Bhanj Deo of Mayurbhanj.

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Among the four installations for the second edition, is a reinterpretation of the HH Maharani Sanyogitaraje Holkar’s resplendent yellow Maheshwari saree which will be paired with a ‘Nazneen’ Varanasi silk brocade blouse by Sanjay Garg that features all-over ‘jaal’ of floral motifs. Alongside this, Sanjay Garg will also present a cape, inspired by the Maharaja’s tuxedo and woven by WomenWeave.

Weaving Drapes, an installation supported by the Bhavnagar royal family, brings women weavers and beadmakers of Bhavnagar city, with brass and copper karigars of Sihor to create a vision that shows the range and versatility of traditional skills. Placed on a delicate silk textile the installation presents a fine embroidery Chaniyo produced in the ‘bharat kaam’ technique; a traditional choli or khadi blouse; a bandhani cotton saree draped in the local kathiyawadi style and adorned with bead work jewellery, a famous craft of Bhavnagar. Conceptualised by HH Yaduveer

Wadiyar and his sister, Jayathmika Lakshmi, an installation from Mysore will incorporate silks and Khadi, in a sculptural piece of a styled sari and jacket. The beauty and symbolism of Mysore’s textile heritage and sustainability will be highlighted by a third component -- the Navalgund Dhurrie, a style of weaving that dates back to the Vijaynagar empire and is woven

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exclusively by women. The Kathiwada family installation brings together indigenous communities and highlights their traditional craft practices through various indigenous weaves, prints and jewellery crafts. The legacy of Kathiwada will be demonstrated through the languishing craft of Kasota weaves, adapting it to

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make contemporary wearable pieces. Showcasing the versatility of bamboo, the installation will adorn a bamboo jacket stitched by the native communities. Sustained by the Khatri community at Bagh, the craft of hand-block fabrics, made with natural vegetable dyes, will also accompany the look, adorned with intricate bead jewellery.

HEALTH

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Caring for your liver during COVID-19 Health hacks for the

work-from-home life

iver disease is a serious concern in India with more than 10 lakh cases being reported every year. Late diagnosis often leads to detection of the condition when it is at end-stage or liver cirrhosis has occurred, during which time it is difficult to treat and it could lead to death, says Dr. Rajiv Lochan, Lead Consultant – HPB & Transplant Surgery, Aster RV Hospital.

The World Health Organisation has reported that liver disease is the tenth most common cause of death in India with liver cancer being the fourth common cause of cancer related deaths. “A pandemic like situation can be dangerous for people suffering from liver disease as they are at a higher risk of suffering from severe complications from a virus such as Covid-19. A case in point is the earlier SARS epidemic, during which liver damage was observed in more than half of the afflicted patients. During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it has been observed that a significant percentage of patients develop liver dysfunction, particularly those suffering from severe Covid-19,” says Dr Lochan. He adds, “while more research and observation is required to fully understand the link, possible reasons for this could be the impact of the virus on the liver, an undesirable immune response from the body which impacts the liver, sepsis, or medication related liver injury. During the second wave of the pandemic, more people are reporting with GI symptoms which indicate the potential of the virus to infiltrate and attack organs in the body apart from the lungs. Needless to say, patients with liver conditions need to take extra care of their body and health during this time. People who indulge in certain lifestyle habits that contribute to liver damage but who haven’t seen any outward symptoms of liver disease may also find that contracting the corona virus results in more liver-related symptoms,” Individuals with pre-existing liver disease appear to be at a significant risk of complications from the COVID-19 infection. Various studies are underway to ascertain the exact impact of this virus infection on such patients. According to Dr Lochan, these are some simple ways to care for your liver, with particular relevance to the current pandemic: Avoid binge-drinking alcohol at all costs With more time on hand people are turning to unhealthy habits such as regular drinking/binge

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drinking which is a major cause of liver damage. Excessive alcohol puts the system on overdrive to process the toxins in the system, the brunt of which is taken up by the liver. Smoking is equally bad for the liver and heavy drinkers often tend to smoke. Use this time to ease off of these addictions. Eat a liver-friendly diet The liver’s function is to detoxify. Consuming fruits and vegetables which help keep the liver healthy and functioning effectively are important to prevent liver damage. Some examples are antioxidant rich fruits such as berries, green tea, healthy fats such as olive oil, fatty fish, avocado, bananas, nuts, and green leafy vegetables like spinach, fibrous foods such as whole grains, garlic, etc are beneficial to the liver. Highly refined, processed, high sodium, loaded with artificial sugars such as most ready to eat food items, fried food, and excessive maida prepared items are unsuitable for liver health. Do not forget to exercise Please devote extra time to exercise. Medical studies increasingly show that exercise is most essential for liver health. Regular exercise which increases the heart rate to 80 percent of the target heart rate, at least 4 times a week helps in keeping the liver healthy. If you have any specific illnesses, do discuss this exercise regime with your doctor before taking it on. Obesity is a prime cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. If you are overweight, use this time to reduce and maintain a healthy weight for your body type. If you are at a healthy weight, avoid turning to healthy foods to deal with boredom, stress etc and continue practising a healthy diet and lifestyle. Genetics can also play a role if liver disease runs in the family; use this time to get liver function tests. Even seemingly skinny people can accumulate fat around the liver,

leading to fatty liver disease as demonstrated by various studies in India. We are on the verge of a fatty liver disease epidemic and this can be easily accentuated by the current pandemic. Practice safe behaviours and be responsible Unsanitary needles and unprotected sex can lead to Hepatitis B and C, which is part of a group of viruses that can attack the liver. Unhygienic tattoo parlours, injecting drugs, basically any needles that have come in contact with an infected individual’s blood and reintroduced into a healthy person can lead to liver disease. Taking a vaccination can help reduce the risk of contracting the disease. Wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing is still the most effective way to not contract the disease. Given the long drawn out nature of this pandemic, its economic consequences and social isolation it demands, a nihilistic attitude has set in with society (including administrators and regulators) as a whole having developed fatigue and has thrown these simple measures out of the window. This attitude is partly responsible for the current surge in infections. Being responsible to oneself and to one another is key. If eligible, take the COVID vaccine It is strongly recommended that you take these vaccines if suffering from any chronic liver ailment or are otherwise eligible. Please discuss this with your treating doctor. Identifying and arresting liver disease early is important to prevent the need for long-term management of the disease. In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, if you experience any of the following symptoms – jaundice, water retention and swelling in the legs and feet, unexplainable fatigue, strong odour from urine and dark yellow colour, severe and unbearable abdominal pain, vomiting, itchy skin, please visit a doctor for consultation.

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he work-from-home routine in 2020 brought many families closer as they found themselves under the same roof for an extended period of time. As curfews restrict movement and people have to home shelter, setting health goals can help you achieve wellness as a family while you stay safe. Madhuri Ruia, nutritionist and Pilates expert shares how you can become each other’s cheerleaders by encouraging a healthier, happier lifestyle: Invest in indoor fitness tools The lockdown has turned up the heat on indoor fitness, pushing everyone to strive for a healthier way of living. Investing together in online fitness classes or even props like resistance bands and dumbbells is the perfect way for you and your siblings to stay on top of your fitness routine. Motivate each other daily and take consistency to another level by following the habit-forming 21/90 rule. This will not only boost self-confidence, but will also leave you feeling rejuvenated and relaxed after a long day’s work. Take mini breaks The solution for WFH stress is to take work-free breaks during the day. The lockdown made us realise that there is more to life than deadlines and virtual calls. These

uncertain times have encouraged us to take a pause, be grateful and enjoy each moment as it comes. Small things like taking a 15-minute break with your family members every three hours for a cup of coffee, a game of catch or a quick comedy show will instantly liven up the mood, making the day feel lighter and less mundane. The little moments help clear the headspace, which improves productivity, helping you, work better. Embrace a nutty start to the day While we focus on staying fit and toning our bodies, one thing that we often forget is to provide it with the right nutrition. Starting your day with nuts like almonds will give your body the energy boost it needs during the day. Almonds are rich in Vitamin B2, Vitamin E, magnesium, and phosphorus; nutrients that are known to provide energy that help keep you active. A handful of almonds may have satiating properties that promote a feeling of fullness, which helps limit unhealthy snacking by keeping hunger at bay. Almonds contain immunity supporting nutrients like zinc, copper, and folate. Starting your day the nutty way will help you and your siblings reap nutritious benefits that not only add a natural glow but also help manage diabetes and improve heart health.

PETA India renews call to fast-food giants to include vegan options

eople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has fired off letters to McDonalds, KFC and Burger King India urging them to add vegan options to their menus, as they are increasingly doing abroad. The letters followed Beyond Meat’s global partnership agreement with KFC’s parent company, Yum! Brands, and McDonald’s Corporation to explore and roll out plantbased meat and egg alternatives for these fast-food chains as the global demand for vegan food continues to surge.

The popular plant-based meat company is also reportedly set to debut its products in India through

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UAE-based food manufacturer and distributor IFFCO, a subsidiary of India’s Allana.

In its letters, PETA India points to a study by market research company Ipsos that came out in 2019 – before the bird flu crisis and the pandemic – revealing that 63 per cent of Indians were willing to eat plant-based meat. And a whopping 61.68 per cent of nearly 3,500 Delhi-NCR residents polled recently said they refused to consume chickens or eggs because of the bird flu scare. “Much of the world – many Indians included – is turning away from meat, eggs, and dairy over animal welfare, environmental, or health

HEALTH

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Diet drinks & Sodas might be harming your fertility

concerns,” says PETA India Vegan Outreach Coordinator Dr Kiran Ahuja. “PETA India is calling on these fastfood companies to accept the way the wind is blowing and offer the vegan meals that their customers here want, just as they do abroad.” Bird flu, swine flu, Ebola, HIV, and numerous other zoonotic diseases are believed to have jumped the species barrier to humans at live-animal markets, on factory farms, at slaughterhouses, or via other places linked to raising or killing animals for meat. Like SARS, the novel coronavirus is overwhelmingly considered to have started or spread to humans at a Chinese meat market. And the

first outbreaks of H5N1 – which kills about 60 percent of humans who catch it – coincided with infections found in chickens on farms and at live-animal markets in Hong Kong. PETA India notes that in addition to helping to combat infectious

diseases, people who go vegan reduce their risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer and spare sensitive animals a terrifying death in filthy, blood-soaked slaughterhouses.

Army opening hospitals for people wherever possible, force chief tells PM

re you fond of fizzy drinks or diet cola breaks? Do you prefer sugar in your brew for a sweetener? If so, your ‘diet’ beverage could be messing with your pregnancy plans. Did you know, artificial sweeteners are chemical-based and all the soda’s and sugary drinks are made of artificial sweeteners? There are so many things to think about when you’re trying to increase your chances of conceiving. But did you know or ever think that maybe your daily intake of soft drinks can affect your chances of having a baby? Couples planning a pregnancy should consider limiting their consumption of these beverages, especially because they are related to other adverse health effects. Research has shown women undergoing fertility treatments found that frequent consumption of the artificial sweeteners commonly found in these beverages significantly decreased their chances of conceiving a child. To conceive, ‘consider cutting back on sodas’

ndian Army chief General M.M. Naravane said on Thursday that the force is opening hospitals for the local people wherever possible seeing the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country. After visiting the forward locations in Siachen and eastern Ladakh on Wednesday, Naravane met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to brief him on the various initiatives taken by the Army to help in Covid management. The Army chief informed the Prime Minister that medical staff of the force are being made available to various state governments. He also told Modi that the Army is setting up temporary hospitals in various parts of the country. Naravane also apprised the Prime Minister that the Army is opening

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its hospitals for civilians wherever possible and the citizens can approach their nearest Army hospitals. He informed the Prime Minister that the Army is helping with its manpower for imported oxygen tankers and vehicles where specialised skills are required to manage them. On April 27 in Ranchi, in response to the requisition for medical assistance sought by the state government, the Military Hospital in Namkum opened a 50-bed Covid care facility for the local people. The modalities of setting up the facility were discussed by a team of Army officers led by the GOC, Cockerel Division, with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

On April 29, the Indian Army established a dedicated Covid facility at the Old Command Hospital complex in Pune where substantial capacity has been created for treating the local people referred by the district medical officer. The facility has a dedicated team of Army doctors and paramedical staff to take care of Covid patients. This is in addition to the assistance provided by the Army for opening a 900-bed hospital in Ahmedabad, and a 100-bed isolation facility in Barmer, Rajasthan. The force is making similar efforts at multiple locations in Madhya Pradesh, under which a 150-bed facility in Bhopal and two 40-bed facilities in Gwalior and Saugor have been established.

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Sugared sodas, and diet sodas are among the most popular beverages consumed by reproductive aged men and women. Research has shown that drinking one soda per day is linked with a 20-25 percent reduction in the average monthly probability of conception for both men and women. These adverse effects are not only limited to natural conception but may also have implications if you are pursuing fertility treatments like IUI & IVF. Soda and infertility Studies have found that excessive consumption of soda is strongly linked to infertility in both men and women. Men who consume soda regularly are at four time’s the risk of lowering the sperm count, motility, and other parameters that affect fertility. Moreover, soda being an acidic beverage alters the pH of the body which further affects fertility. Aspartame is an artificial softener used in most soft drinks which can alter the functioning of the endocrine glands and lead to hormonal imbalances.

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Excess soda consumption can also lead to the generation of free radicals which can result in the death of many sperm and ovum. Besides, most soft drinks are rich in caffeine which reduces menstrual bleeding as it is a vasoconstrictor. Hence, it is clear that excessive consumption of soda can lead to infertility in both men as well as women. Other harmful effects Besides the above-mentioned direct effects of soda consumption on fertility, there are various other ways in which the consumption of soda affects fertility like: Soda is extremely high in sugar content which leads to excessive weight gain, obesity, poor digestion, etc. which is extremely bad for fertility. Soda intake could cause subfertility through increased risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, weight gain, impaired fasting glucose which can affect ovulation and risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Sodas and soft drinks are also rich in chemicals like additives, preservatives, colourants, etc. which are also bad for fertility. Soda intake leads to ovulatory infertility among females and lower sperm concentration and total sperm count among males. Excessive soda consumption increases blood sugar levels and can lead to type-2 diabetes which is not only bad for fertility but can also result in complications during pregnancy. Soda consumption disrupts the hormonal levels in the body, including estrogen, which can also contribute to infertility. Besides, soda is highly addictive and has other negative health effects on gut health, bone strength, and various organs of the body. All these factors combined do affect fertility in a very negative way. The takeaway, ditch the diet drinks. In order to boost your baby-making chances include more eggs, green leafy vegetables, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking, decreasing alcohol intake and most importantly the soda intake.

TRAVEL

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Seven inspiring sustainable stays in India

arth Day 2021 was celebrated yesterday and instead of reminiscing about the trips you have taken in the past twelve months, for many it is a time to reflect on how future travels can have a more positive impact, both on the environment and on local communities.

After a year, the pandemic has amped people’s desire to travel more sustainably in the future and travellers have been re-evaluating what steps to take to ensure they are playing their part in helping to protect the planet. As per a research from Booking.com, over 53 percent of global travellers admitted that because of Coronavirus they want to travel more sustainably, with travellers in India (70 percent), Brazil (71 percent) and Colombia (74 percent) being especially committed to this. This eco-conscious determination is impacting traveller behaviors even once they arrive at their destination, as they pledge to continue to act with sustainability in mind. The ravel platform’s research also shows that 98 percent of Indian travellers are vying to stay in an eco-accommodation at least once. It has curated a list of seven eco-friendly stays in India to help inspire travellers in making more sustainable travel choices, when it becomes safe to do so. The Kumaon (Binsar, Uttarakhand)

rainwater harvesting system and a drainage system that channels the water to a large holding tank at the bottom of the site.

it is safe to travel, one can book a stay at the peaceful property that has wooden floors and furnishing which gives it an earthy feel, be

Blackberry Hills (Munnar, Kerala)

closer to nature and also be a part of their efforts to maintain an ecological balance.

Located amid the lush valleys of Munnar, Blackberry Hills is one of the most aesthetically alluring resorts that has been built. Spread across 15 acres of land which comprises of 16 cottages, this eco-friendly resort promotes co-existence and responsible tourism amongst travellers. As a part of its sustainability initiatives, Blackberry Hills drives awareness amongst travellers with regards to the conservation of life to protect the native flora and fauna. The accommodation was also recognised by the International Vetiver Network for their efforts in soil conservation through the use of an indigenous Vetiver system. When

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that reflect local art and architecture. With a negative carbon footprint, this beautiful resort has a special focus on being sustainable, eco friendly and offering a helping

and firewood-fuelled hot water showers. These energy saving substitutes that have been placed in the property gives a great message to the travellers about sustainability and how one can go environmentally friendly without burning any holes in the pocket.

hand to the local economy. The art here has been procured from local artisans to help the local community and the resort also tries to encourage and preserve the local traditional art forms by organizing a local art form performance for the guest almost everyday. Heritage Resort also has four acres of organic plantation to grow their own vegetables and fruits. All the excess vegetables are used to create value added products such as pickles, jellies, juices and so on. Travellers can enjoy a feeling of space close to nature in this environment friendly-sustainable resort.

Anuraag Villa (Jaipur, Rajasthan) Nestled within a beautiful garden, Anuraag Villa in Jaipur offers a blend of traditional touch with a hint of contemporary vibe, while incorporating sustainable practices. The villa emphasizes on creating awareness through various initiatives such as energy management, water management and waste management and aims to signify the use of eco-friendly, recycled and environmental-friendly cleaning products which are increasingly efficient and sustainable. The staff at the villa is also devoted to reducing any harmful practices that will lead to an environmental imbalance in the long run. Elephant Valley, Eco Friendly Farm(Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu)

Surrounded by undulating hills and imbued with simple elegance, The Kumaon is spread across 10 luxurious suites, nestled in pairs across five structures with private overlapping terraces offering views to the Great Himalayan range. This eco-property is built on the principle of environmental consciousness by sourcing local materials such as pinewood for construction. This principle reflects on the design and the furniture as well, imbibing the local tradition of weaving woollen fabrics for beddings and furnishings. Travellers can enjoy organic seasonal vegetables that are harvested at property terraces and open spaces, making the property truly sustainable in its approach. Furthermore, the property incorporates an effective

Valley restaurant serves gourmet cuisine using organically farmed vegetables. The property consists of sustainable alternatives like solar lights, low consumption bulbs,

The Elephant Valley Eco Farm Hotel is a nature reserve, organic farm and plantation located across 100 acres in the Palni Hills, Kodaikanal. Once an abandoned coffee plantation farm, the property has now been revived not only to offer a beautiful retreat, but also to minimise the impact of the retreat on the environment. Offering 20 uniquely designed bungalows, the

Mela Kothi- The Chambal Safari Lodge (Agra, Uttar Pradesh) Mela Kothi in Agra is an eco-friendly, self-sustaining, family owned property where luxury meets the wild. Built on a 500year heritage, Mela Kothi is known for many reasons apart from its graceful interiors and beautiful gardens. The property promotes tree plantations to protect the rich wildlife in and around the area. This nature lovers paradise is home to around 198 species of birds, reptiles and small mammals. During 2006-2015, 6 acres of the property’s land was dedicated to develop a Forest nursery to supply reforestation drives. Travellers can add this property to their checklist to witness the coexistence of nature and luxury, and contribute to Mela Kothi’s sustainability efforts.

Heritage Resort (Hampi, Karnataka) Heritage Resort is a luxury resort close to the famed ruins of Hampi. The decor of the resort is rustic chic with walls painted with murals

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Bhakti Kutir (Goa) Designed by a couple with a vision for eco-friendly life, Bhakti Kutir is located amidst the coconut grooves of Palolem and Patnem. The resort has 22 back-to-nature cabanas that are crafted using local materials such as rice straw, coconut wood, and bamboo. The resort has incorporated several initiatives to reduce power consumption to preserve the environment. In a truly sustainable

approach, Bhakti Kutir has linked the toilets to a robust compost system where the wastewater is reused to maintain the surrounding gardens. The property is ideal for yoga retreats and hosts regular workshops for travellers’ wellbeing.

TRAVEL

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

A Vana Way, Connecting With People and Nature Equally

dynamic process of change and growth around body, mind and soul. Vana, a Wellness Retreat nestled inside Sal forest in Dehradun, Uttarakhand is one-of-a-kind place where you can rejuvenate from a lockdown stress adopting a completely different lifestyle - a Vana way disconnecting from outside world and soaking in connecting with people and nature equally.

rooms, 16 suites and 4 duplex style villas each crafted to perfection to evoke a sense of warmth and comfort.

The retreat welcomes you with an art piece of entangled Bodhi tree roots that reminds each vanavasis, “All Enter As Equals”. The moment you enter and meander through the pebbled pathways towards the residence, a transition into the experience of being on the retreat begins.

Kila Interior. (Photo: Vana Retreat/ Instagram)

The Kila is the heart of Vana, which has the quality of serenity, sincerity and confidence that one finds in spiritual places. Expressing the value of comfort, harmony and wellbeing every nook and corner of the Retreat are artfully demonstrated.

The visitors wake up to the views of a misty Sal forest or gardens and fruit orchards, all with balconies and terraces, and begin a day with meditation and yoga asanas. To achieve a holistic healing each vanavasis gets their itinerary

Ayurveda, Yoga and Sowa Rigpa and complemented by nourishing cuisine. Reminding to eat every meal mindfully, making almost all produce from scratch. The kitchen team practices not only make the food healthier and more nutritious, but also reduces carbon footprint. After a well-spent day involving self-love, Vanavasis tucked under a blanket for a peaceful night under contemporary shapes, natural and sustainable materials, thoughtful lighting and a neutral colour palette that merges gracefully. Founded by Veer Singh, Vana believes that only by aspiring to achieve best spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual self, we can live life wholesomely. Forest Suite Living Space. (Photo: Vana Retreat) You can now book via call or mail Vana’s latest offering - ‘Vana 3’. A three days of wellness journey that offers an introduction to Vana or allows a guest to return for a quick recharge. Talking about Vana 3, Jaspreet Singh, Executive Director at Vana Dehradun, said “Vana has always aimed to make Vanavasis experience wellbeing from all aspects. Starting from Ayurveda to Yoga to mindful eating; the team at Vana has always emphasized the relevance of leading a disciplined way of life. We ensure that the wellness quotient remains with the Vanavasis even after their retreat in the outer world. Not only this, but we also ensure that we work in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner”. RETREAT AT VANA INCLUDES: A Retreat Program with yoga, meditation, cuisine lessons, functional fitness, talks, music and more Arrival and departure wellness consultations

Established in 2014, achieving India’s first retreat LEED Platinum status in 2015 the area is spread over 21 acres. Vana comprises 66

curated carefully after a consultation with a wellness doctor. Later, they get to spend a day indulging in its wellness offerings based on

All cuisine including breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner Private treatments/specialist consultations/sessions based on 1 wellness weight per night per guest Attire to wear within and outside Vana, footwear, summer and winter accessories Airport transfers from Dehradun Airport No service charge or gratuities added. Our team does not expect tips as appreciation for their work

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This e-bike startup is changing Indian tourism, one tour at a time

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or the founders of popular e-bike tours startup BLive -who now host over a dozen cycling-based experiences in nine Indian states including various Goan locations and a Madikeri Nature Trail in Karnataka’s Coorg -- sightseeing-centered travel experiences in travel destinations were something lacking a local immersion and green tourism practices. A travel tech platform that offers immersive experiential tours powered by smart and savvy electric bikes, is how BLive defines itself. Co-founded by Samarth Kholkar and Sandeep Mukherjee, the brand is also an Airbnb Experiences host, and says that listing on Airbnb gives them the “much-needed visibility” to take their initiative to a wider audience, as a startup. Some of these Airbnb Experiences include Culture Trails of Panjim, Discovery of Divar Island, Village Vistas of Cansaulim, Nature Trail of Chorao and Food Trails of Panjim. They are bookable on the Airbnb platform, and are recommended. “Sustainable tourism is the need of the hour and it is not just a trend, but a more responsible and practical lifestyle, especially in a postCOVID world. We are slowly moving away from non-recyclables in our day-to-day life but there is a massive gap between the rising demand for ‘sustainable tourism’ and the lack of options,” Samarth Kholkar, CEO and co-founder of BLive explains to IANSlife. Kholkar also notes that tourist destinations in India are flooded with vehicles increasing our collective carbon footprint. Their solution? E-bike tours that merge local, authentic experiences with sustainability and eco-consciousness. “We wanted to offer offbeat and unique experiences but also be environmentally conscious through our platform. We have tried to inculcate the same in every way possible. (For instance) we provide string bags made of cloth so guests can dispose waste if any in it and carry water and other necessities too. Similarly, when we launched in Goa, we used

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upcycled shipping containers as our hubs. This was all an effort to reduce waste and make the guest also a much more conscious traveller. With electric vehicle (EV) as a category growing we wanted to ensure that people make that as a consideration even when travelling. In most cases, it is actually the first time that people actually try out EV when they take our tour.” BLive’s three-hour Madikeri Nature Trail, for instance, takes groups of cyclists on e-bikes -- that can be either a regular cycle or a battery-powered vehicle depending on how one flicks a given switch -- for tour of locations such as a dam, a scenic riverside spot, a local coffee plantation, and a high Coorg peak. All this while the cool Western Ghats breeze refreshes cyclists as they pass by picturesque spots. Asked about their process of curating tours, Kholkar further explains: “We look at locations which have a good amount of history, strong culture and some very unique offerings in arts, craft or food. It takes us about three months to curate an experience. We engage with the local community to ensure the best experience. Our local guides, whom we call, ‘captains’ besides being great story tellers are completely immersed in the local culture, history and heritage. Our experiences are hence always unique whether its is seeing the fresh Goan bread ‘poi’ coming out of the oven, or seeing hand made bangles being made in Jodhpur or seeing coffee brewing process in Coorg.” The 2018-established startup, which has conducted over 10,000 tours, says they are aiming for a pan-India footprint. “Through our e-bike tours, we want to grow our presence in 200 locations in India. By end of the year we would want to be in international locations like Sri Lanka and South East Asia to start with. We want to accelerate the progress towards switching to EV which is made possible via the experience given on our tours. Thus creating a larger social impact.”

FOOD & CUISINE

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Of food, travel and more...

er videos often pop up on our Facebook feeds and give major travel goals. Mother of one, Kamiya Jani quit her full-time job as an anchor to follow her passion for traveling and exploring the world.

married and a mother I still pursued my passion. This only gave me more motivation and drive to continue my journey, document it and publish it, and engage the community with my recommendations and their suggestions.

What started as a personal blog Curly Tales, is one of the most popular online platform that shares recommendations for food and travel.

The whole journey from content has taken a shift to commerce. We are not just recommending but also selling some of these experiences now. Recently, we experienced a staycation package for a five-star hotel, and over 500 people bought that experience through Curly Tales on Facebook after watching our video on it. In all, our journey started from a passion, moved to content creation, to curation and it is now in the stage of commerce, where the transactions are happening based on recommendations through Facebook.

In a conversation with IANSlife, Jani talks about her journey, her venture, apart from her views on the present scenario of the travel industry. Excerpts: When did you begin your journey as a content curator, and how has your journey been till now? Jani: Even though I started this journey by writing blogs and articles, I realised that not too many platforms were making videos around this. That is when I forayed into videos, which were very well received by everyone who watched them. The journey has been full of excitement, starting with just me and my passion for food and travel. I now have an amazing team of 25-30 people. What started as a food and travel platform where I would make 1-minute videos on topics of interest - from street food, unique servings in restaurants, we have surely come a long way. We are now well placed to host celebrity interviews, wherein I invite renowned personalities for a brunch. They then discuss their journey, their passion for travel, and their food experience, through a very candid and free-flowing conversation. This concept became pretty unique, and was well received by the audiences. What was your inspiration to start your journey in this field? Jani: I was working as a business news anchor at a renowned business news channel, and I had been a journalist for the past 10 years, before Curly Tales. Although I enjoyed that stint entirely, I used to feel pretty confined in the space. While on the job, I strongly felt that I wanted to enjoy myself exploring the world. When I switched, I was already a mom of a three-year-old daughter. I wanted to pursue my dreams with a simple thought - if not now, then when. I wanted to follow my passion for traveling on a personal level. Initially, I just started documenting my experiences and publishing on Facebook, where I found a community of like-minded people that could relate to my content. Additionally, a lot of women started looking up to me, by telling me that despite being

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Given that you are also a part of Facebook’s ongoing ‘More Together’ campaign which focuses on the power of connections, how do you relate to it? Jani: The power of connections is all about working together. The connection has been with my team who has helped me build the foundation of Curly Tales and the connection with the followers, who have been following us since we started with 300-400 followers. Moreover, some of those followers have now turned into our clients. I feel all this personifies the power of connections - something that has happened through Facebook. This has brought me even closer to the essence of Facebook’s More Together campaign. The pandemic-induced disruption in the travel space forced people and travelers to become homebound. How did you cope up with the situation?

during the last few months. Are you excited as travel opens up slowly?

Jani: We definitely saw a lull period which started from March-end and went out till September-October, up until domestic flights started. Even when flight operations started, it was not much for leisure, and rather about emergency travel, where people were looking to reunite with their family members. Once travel started, the market bounced back due to the pent-up demand of people wanting to travel. The demand was clearly at its peak and there was a ‘revenge travel’, that we saw, where people were wanting to get out of their homes and explore, even if it meant to get away on road trips.

Sunday cooking: Easy dessert recipes

ith the pandemic spiralling out of control, once again we find ourselves at home. For some of us this means we can get back to our favourite lockdown hobby -- cooking! Chef Devashree Muni, Founder, Cocoa Cellar shares some simple dessert recipes for you to try your hand at. Cocoa Cellar is a patisserie based out of Mumbai delivering alcohol-infused dessert.

I do think that domestic tourism is growing and has caught up already. This is also why we have started our new show “I love my India”, where we discover hidden gems in India and where Indians can actually find international experiences right here in the home country. What were some of the challenges that you faced, when you shifted to this from your job? How did you overcome them? Jani: I gave myself a time limit of one year, thinking that I will boomerang into my job. But as fate had it, there was no looking back. The biggest challenge for me in this journey has been to find people with whom I can share my passion. A shared vision fueled by mutual passion leads to the meaningful content of relevance and keeps the team motivated. I feel blessed to have an amazing team that meets these requisites, and have been instrumental in taking Curly Tales to where it is today.

Whipping cream - 1 cup Method: Blend together the mango pieces & sugar until smooth Whip the cream till soft peaks Fold the cream into mango pieces in 3 parts Set in glasses in refrigerator for 2 hours Apricot Amaretto Popsicle Amaretto Mix Coconut Milk - 1 can Sugar - 1/3rd cup Salt - a pinch

For the crust: Crushed Biscuits - 100g Melted butter - 55g

Amaretto - 2 tbsp

For the Filling:

Apricot Mix

Sugar - 80g

Apricot - 1 cup Sugar- 1 tbsp

Whipping Cream - 175g Cream Cheese - 225g Passionfruit pulp - 120g

Amaretto - 1 tbsp

For serving

Method:

Passionfruit pulp (with seeds)

Whisk coconut milk, sugar, salt and Amaretto & chill for 1 hour.

Method:

Combine Apricots, Sugar and Amaretto & heat for 10 mins until soft

Jani: The pandemic allowed me to relook at my business. Even though Curly Tales is in the travel space, travel can never be replaced with an online experience. We did some virtual tours but the joy of traveling outdoors can never be replaced by anything else. We were positive that we will be back. The pandemic also allowed us to relook at our content strategy and position ourselves the way we wanted to. During the pandemic, we got an opportunity to focus on written content, and use instant articles on Facebook as traveling guides for people who needed to be reunited with their families. Through this process, we became a catalyst and a mediator of informing people as to how they can travel during tough times.

No Bake Passionfruit Cheesecake

Pour into a food processor & let it cool to room temperature Fill popsicle moulds Freeze Overnight Mango Mousse Mangoes - 2 no. Sugar - 1 tbsp

Whipping Cream

Mix the biscuits and butter and press down in cup and chill Combine cream and sugar. Beat till soft peaks Add cream cheese and combine Add pulp and mix till smooth Pour filling in prepared cups Garnish with whipped cream and dollop of the Passionfruit pulp with seeds.

Share some insights into what went in the travel community

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ASTROLOGY

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Gemini

Numerology Number 2

By Astrologer Rita Ratnakar

Gemini represents the third astrological sign in zodiac. Gemini is represented by the twins, Castor and Pollux, known as the Dioscuri. Twins represents the dual nature both contradictory and adaptive. Under the sidereal zodiac, the sun transits this sign from June16 to July16.

Its symbol is twin, element is air, ruling planet is mercury, zodiac quality is mutable. Its zodiac element is air, detriment is Jupiter, exaltation is North Node and fall in south node. Personality: Intellectual, curious, variety of passions, hobbies, ca-

reers, and friend groups.

and nosy.

Compatibility: Aries, Libra, Leo, Aquarius and are less compatible with Virgo and Pisces.

Best careers: Politician, advocate, actors who play a side character, twitter personalities.

Strengths: Adaptive, outgoing, intelligent.

Famous Gemini are: Kanye West, Thomas Mann, Laurie Anderson, Allen Ginsberg.

Weaknesses: Impulsive, unreliable

Gem stones according to zodiac signs G emstones have a special significance in Vedic astrology. Since time immemorial they are considered helpful in liberating problems caused by the placement of our planets. A lot of people still practice the belief. Pankaj Khanna, MD and Founder Gems Selections, suggests which gemstone you should wear, depending on your zodiac sign. Aries People born in Aries are controlled by the fierce planet Mars. The gem of Mars is Coral so People with the zodiac sign Aries should wear Red Coral, i.e., Moonga in their right-hand ring finger in copper or gold ring. This also improves the muscular system of these people and replenishes the energy which they tend to overuse. Taurus Taurus is controlled by the magnificent planet, Venus. The gem of Venus is diamond so people with the zodiac sign Taurus should wear a diamond, white topaz or white quartz to strengthen the cosmic energy absorption of the Venus The cosmic energy of the planet gives people born in Taurus unique creativity and a desire for a luxurious life. Gemini Geminis’ are ruled by the intelligent planet, Mercury. The gem of Mercury is emerald so it would help to wear this precious gem, i.e., Panna in order to improve their nervous and intellectual abilities as they tend to overuse their intellectual ability which sometimes leads to nervous disorders. Cancer Cancerians are ruled by the wan-

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ing and waxing planet, the moon. The gem for the moon is pearl. Just like this planet their emotional life is also generally passes from phase to phase. To control the negative aspects of the moon, these people should wear pearl, i.e., moti, extracted from the sea which will help them improve their emotional stability.

Libra is the second zodiac sign controlled by Venus but are more creative in their aptitude, but at the same time always passing through a lot of emotional strain. The gemstone of Venus, i.e diamond (Heera) or white topaz needs to be worn by these people to improve their creativity and save them from emotional trauma.

Leo

Scorpio

The zodiac sign Leo is ruled by the sun and the gem for the sun is ruby. Those born under the sun sign of Leo have a strong tendency to be overpowering in all their relationships. Excessive ambitions take a heavy toll of their mental and hormonal energy. In order to fulfil the gap created, these people should wear a ruby, i.e., Manik stone in either gold or copper rings.

Scorpio is also controlled by Mars. Those ruled by Scorpio have a lot of physical energy as well as the ability to think to great depths. The overuse of mental and physical energy leads to early ageing and withering away of their physical and mental stamina. These people should wear red coral.

Virgo Virgo is the second zodiac sign controlled by Mercury. Those born under the sun sign of Virgo are helpful in nature but also great conspirators. These people automatically use a lot of their mental energy which needs to be replenished by the use of emerald, i.e., Panna stone. Libra

Sagittarius

By Astrologer Rita Ratnakar The persons who are born on 2nd, 11th, 20th, 29th, of any given month, are ruled by the Numerology number 2. Astrologically 2 represents the planet Moon. The Number 2 represents the intuition, inspiration, forgiveness, trust and faith. This is the auspicious number for Chinese as they believe that good things come in Pairs. Personality: They are peace lovers. They are emotional, sympathetic, reserved and conservative in nature. They are very sensitive, emotional and diplomatic. They know how to become energetic and motivate themselves and others also. They are good listeners also. They have a lot of patience. They know how to improve their inner strength. Compatibility: They are very loyal but afraid of being hurt so they make less friends. They do not want conflict in their lives, and want to live a happy and stressworld in one go as a result overuse their energies and abilities which also puts them in one problem after another, ultimately leading to strong depressions. Wearing a blue sapphire/ iolite, the gem of Saturn will help them understand their genuine needs and work accordingly. Aquarius Aquarius is also controlled by Saturn. The people born under this zodiac sign are great thinkers. They have very unique mental abilities and are generally found to be actors/models and other people in show business. But these people being very secretive and

free life. So, they make a little but lifetime friends. Because of their sensitivity, gentleness and loving spirit they make an excellent friend or lover. Career: They can make their career in art, film industry, drama, dance, music, medicines, textile, lawyer, orators, dairy products, beverages, sports material etc. Positive traits: Sensitive, empathetic, excellent listener, loyal, good listener, healer and a good teacher. Negative traits: Over-emotional, over sensitive, aggressive Lucky Colour: Green, yellow, gold, white with green, dark green are lucky colours Lucky Gemstones: Pearl is your most favourable Gem. You can also use Cat’s Eye. These two enhance your luck abundantly. You can also use Jade, Moon stone, and Tiger’s Eye.

not - communicators tend to develop certain negative traits and get emotionally disturbed very quickly. To give them emotional energy to face all these problems these people should wear blue sapphire/iolite. Pisces Pisces is controlled by Jupiter. People born under Pisces have very strong mental as well as spiritual desires. They tend to be active all the time to reach the horizon and are generally wise people. A good yellow sapphire, i.e., pukhraj supports their material and spiritual desires and gives them a feeling of self-actualisation.

Jupiter is the controlling planet of these people, which gives them ambition, ability to do hard work but an excess of these often create multiple problems for them. The gem of Jupiter is yellow sapphire i.e., pukhraj to improve their ability to achieve their ambitions. Capricorn Capricorn is the first zodiac sign ruled by Saturn and tends to create over-ambitious people who want to conquer the entire

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WHAT’S ON

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

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WHAT’S ON

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

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SCI-TECH

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

YouTube building its video-transcoding chip

WhatsApp testing 24-hour option for disappearing messages

oogle has developed a custom chip, Argos, for YouTube to process videos much more efficiently.

Google’s Jeff Calow said the Argos chip has brought “up to 20-33x improvements in computing efficiency compared to our previous optimised system, which was running software on traditional servers.”

The VCU package is a full-length PCI-E card and looks a lot like a graphics card. A board has two Argos ASIC chips buried under a gigantic, passively cooled aluminum heat sink. There’s even what looks like an 8-pin power connector on the end because PCI-E just isn’t enough power, reports Ars Technica. Google provided a chip diagram that lists 10 “encoder cores” on each chip, with Google’s white paper adding that “all other elements

are off-the-shelf IP blocks.” Google said that “each encoder core can encode 2160p in real time, up to 60 FPS (frames per second) using three reference frames,” the report said. The cards are specifically designed to slot into Google’s ware-

house-scale computing system, it added. Each compute cluster in YouTube’s system will house a section of dedicated “VCU machines” loaded with the new cards, saving Google from having to crack open every server and load it with a new card.

Apple ships record over 1 million iPhones in India in Q1 2021

ontinuing its dream run in India, Apple shipped over a million iPhones in the country in the otherwise dull first quarter of 2021, growing close to an impressive 90 per cent (on-year) during the three-month period.

“Apple has had yet another exceptional quarter in India, shipping over a million iPhones for the first time in, what is traditionally, a lull quarter,” Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, CMR, told IANS. Apple iPhone shipments gained in strength on the back of the enduring brand equity that Apple enjoys in the country and also, in part, “driven by evolving consumer understanding about tech not being a luxury, but a necessity”, Ram added. In the festive quarter (Q4) of 2020, Apple for the first time doubled its smartphone market share in India to nearly 4 per cent. Despite arriving in October, the iPhone 12 contributed significant-

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launched the much-awaited ‘Disappearing Messages’ on its platform for both Android and iOS users that automatically deletes new messages sent to a chat after seven days when turned on.

According to WABetaInfo, a website that tracks WhatsApp in Beta, revealed that the disappearing message feature will be available in a future update.

In a one-to-one chat, either person can turn disappearing messages on or off. In groups, admins will have the control on the new feature.

“WhatsApp won’t replace the 7 days option, but 24 hours will be an addition,” the report said on Sunday.

The Facebook-owned platform started with the seven-day limit “because we think it offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent, while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about”.

WhatsApp will soon include the 24-hour option in the section where people are used to enable/ disable disappearing messages for personal and group chats. When the user chooses “24 hours”, all messages sent/received after this change expire after 24 hours, so they will disappear from the chat. “The feature is under development and it will be available in a future update for iOS, Android and Web/ Desktop,” the report mentioned. In November last year, WhatsApp

As per early estimates from market intelligence firm CyberMedia Research (CMR), iPhone 11 and XR accounted for 67 per cent of Apple’s shipments during the January-March period. On the back of increased domestic assembly, Apple iPhone 11 shipments increased 176 per cent (on-year) in the first quarter.

fter the seven-day limit, WhatsApp is now testing and developing a Disappearing Message feature with the 24-hour option for personal and group chats.

ly towards the rise of Apple in Q4 (October-December) in the country. The tech giant had registered over 60 per cent growth (yea-on-year) in its India business in the full year 2020 while for the festive quarter, the growth was an impressive 100 per cent (YoY). “As we move ahead, Apple does face some pandemic-related supply and demand side challenges, but we expect it to maintain its growth trajectory in H2 2021 and beyond,” Ram noted. According to Anand Priya Singh, Analyst-Industry Intelligence Group, CMR, Apple’s continued success in India is on the back of increased shipments of its older generation models, including the iPhone 11 and the XR, and the good

Once enabled, new messages sent in the individual or group chat will disappear after seven day. The most recent selection controls all messages in the chat. WhatsApp said that people should only use disappearing messages with trusted individuals. For example, it’s possible for someone to forward or take a screenshot of a disappearing message and save it before it disappears.

reception that the new iPhone 12 has got. “Increased local assembly of iPhones, including iPhone 12, along with aggressive marketing, will continue to contribute to Apple’s success in India in the time ahead,” Singh emphasised. In yet another fillip to the Make in India and domestic manufacturing dream of the government, Apple will soon produce its flagship and environment-friendly iPhone 12 smartphone in India for the local customers. Apple started manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 with iPhone SE. Today, Apple manufactures some of its most advanced iPhones in India including XR, iPhone 11, and now iPhone 12.

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BEAUTY

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Ayurveda for modern day beauty Glow despite your busy schedule and stress!

he world’s oldest documented body of medical knowledge for physical, spiritual and psychological wellbeing, Ayurveda, expounds a way-of-life. Focusing on the balance between the governing forces of all Life, or the Doshas (mind, body and soul) this science is codified in the text, ‘Charaka Saṃhitā’.

Empowering us with a framework to understand the natural shifts in our bodies, with day-to-day guidance to maintain the balance of doshas, Ayurveda enables the maintenance of good health - the key to the highest state of beauty. As the world rediscovers the potency of natural healing today, the ancient science is emerging as a system of choice for many. Where true beauty comes from within, Ayurveda speaks highly of skincare rituals, using natural ingredients to maintain and improve health of the skin, hair and body. Using rich, natural ingredients, beauty brand Kama Ayurveda curates ranges of authentic Ayurvedic treatments, as modern skincare solutions. With the promise to provide unmatched purity, the brand researches each product, to give consumers the truest time-tested Ayurvedic formulations, containing unadulterated ingredients selected for their efficacy. Bringing Ayurvedic products suitable for different hair and skin types to the front, the brands Ayurvedic treatments are gentle,

yet highly effective. The quality and authenticity of ingredients such as handpicked Saffron from Kashmir, Bhringraj from Western Ghats, Roses from Kannauj and Jasmine from Madhurai, strengthen the efficacy of each formulation. Following the principles of Ayurveda, the brand believes that your skin and hair are a reflection of your overall health. To help consumers understand and better use their products, it has a wide network of ayurvedic doctors present at their stores and website. In a bid to quantify the efficacy of their Ayurvedic beauty solutions, the brand has been conducting clinical trials via an internationally recognised third party. Some of their findings include the Kumkumadi Serum proven to brighten by 2.5 times, reduce pigmentation by 20 percent in 4 weeks; the Rejuvenating and Brightening Night Cream brightening skin by 2.5 times, reduces dark spots & blemishes by 20 percent ; the Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face

Scrub proven to smoothen skin by 34% and reduce pores & firm skin by 24 percent. As a brand deep rooted in the learnings of Ayurvedic beauty, Kama Ayurveda continues to conduct trials on an increased portfolio of products, thereby strengthening and affirming the modern day beauty buyer of the power of natural beauty. Socialite Mira Rajput Kapoor, a patron, has chosen to share her experience stating, “A few months after delivering my second child, my skin started losing its luminosity. It looked dull and I started getting dark spots. This is a common concern as our bodies change. Around this time, I discovered and started using Kama Ayurveda’s Rejuvenating Night Cream. Every night after cleansing and toning, I started to apply this luxurious cream on my face and neck. After a few weeks, my skin was glowing, and dark spots had visibly reduced. My skin also felt super supple.”

Sara Ali Khan roped as beauty brand ambassador

ollywood actress Sara Ali Khan has been roped as the brand ambassador of personal care brand Mamaearth. She will be endorsing their hair care range. “Since I was a kid, my mother has been using onion oil, rice water, Amla juice, etc on my hair. These kitchen recipes have always done wonders for my hair. When Mamaearth approached me to endorse their hair care range and I got to know that their products are inspired by traditional recipes using natural ingredients, I knew I had to partner with this brand.”

She adds: “While they create great toxin-free products, what I love the most about the brand is their philosophy of Goodness Inside and their purpose of serving a greater good. I am excited to embark upon this journey and urge fellow millennials to choose the goodness of Mamaearth.”

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ith hectic schedules and change in lifestyles, not only our beauty regime goes for a toss but also our sleeping patterns and dietary habits. Experts from across the world suggest that this is when you need to take more care of your skin as the stress, lack of rest and irregular food habits quicken the process of ageing and skin degeneration. Sun exposure, persistent environmental onslaught, depletion of moisture and stress are factors that leave an indelible mark on our skin as we age, causing worries and concerns. Surely, you do not want to look 45 at 35. Today, we have many popular procedures and treatments that give you quick results and these modern time elixirs can do wonders. And, they are just apt for both men and women, who are always on run and don’t have enough time to have a proper skin and healthcare regime. Dr. Geeta Grewal, Chief Consultant & Cosmetic Surgeon, 9Muses Wellness Clinic explains more: Smile without those wrinkles You must have noticed that when you smile, there are a bunch of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes and that might be ruining your beautiful picture. And, trust us these fine lines around your eyes that have come because of irregular sleep and too much stress make you look older. In order to reduce the appearances of these fine lines and wrinkles, one can opt for dermal fillers like Juvederm. Even Botox is a good option. Say goodbye to acne scars We all know that acne scars or marks are the most stubborn marks that take ages to get rid of. Sometimes they don’t go either.

Ghazal Alagh, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Mamaearth, said: “We are a brand founded by millennials for millennials. As a purpose-driven brand, we intend to serve a greater goal along with creating great quality

products that are safe and effective. Sara is a voice that the youth resonate with and we strongly feel that she would be able to advocate the brand’s ideology and further our cause.”

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And you must be hiding them with concealer’s everyday but still you’re not getting a long-lasting result. In this case, a minimally invasive anti-scar procedure is perfect for you. The procedure just takes 2-3 sessions of half an hour and your scars will vanish. Bring back your youthful glow Similar to our body, our face is covered with dead skin cells, which die and get replaced when their purpose is served. So, if we don’t exfoliate our skin in a regular interval of time then the process of getting the dead cells replaced takes a back seat. Advanced non ablative ( not damaging skin ) treatments keep the top skin layer safe and building energy in deeper skin layers , effectively removing the sticky dead skin cells - treatments like laser carbon face treatment. Such treatments take maximum 30 minutes , carbon binds to dead cells dirt and grime, carbon seeps deep into pores and helps in deep pore cleanup and when zapped with laser helps to shrink the pore size, it not only gives glow but also stimulates collagen production and removes skin tan instantly . Get rid of hair thinning and hair loss Often when you’re on the go, the harmful effect of irregular sleeping and dieting patterns can be first observed in your scalp. You will have hair-loss or hair thinning issues. So, in order to say goodbye to these hair issues you can have Platelet Rich Plasma (PPP) hair treatment. The hair restoration treatment is suitable for both men and women. It’s a completely natural and non-invasive treatment, in which the patient’s own plasma is used.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Oscar-nominee Savan Kotecha hopes Patriarchy will continue more Indians enter American showbiz to exist if we don’t change: Achint Kaur

avan Kotecha, the Indian-American music producer whose song on the Will Ferrel comedy “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” has been nominated at the Oscars, hopes that it inspires more Indians to enter the music and movie business in America.

“I’m so honored to represent my Indian community at the Oscars! I hope my nomination inspires more Indians to enter the music and movie business in America! Also, working with Will Ferrel on this movie was such a fun experience. And I’m very proud that this particular song has connected in the way it has,” Texas-born Kotecha, who is of Indian descent, told IANSlife in an e-mail.

The 2020 film’s song ‘Húsavík’ has received a nomination for the Best Original Song at the 93rd Academy Awards. Kotecha is multi nominated artist with Grammy, Golden globe and this year the Oscars, held on Sunday. His songs have sold over 400 million units and have hit number

one all over the globe. His hits include career defining songs for artistes like Ariana Grande, One Direction, The Weeknd, Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Ellie Goulding and many more. Savan has also executive produced movie soundtracks for ‘Charlie’s Angels’.

Akshay, Twinkle donate 100 oxygen concentrators

uthor Twinkle Khanna on Tuesday announced on Instagram that she along with her husband, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, were donating 100 oxygen concentrators in an effort to contribute to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. “Wonderful news -- Dr Drashnika Patel & Dr Govind Bankani of London Elite Health through Daivik Foundation are donating 120 oxygen concentrators and as @ akshaykumar and I have managed to get our hands on 100 as

well, we have a total of 220.Thank you for the leads. Let’s all do our bit,” tweeted Twinkle.

In a separate tweet, Twinkle wrote: “I think for the last few weeks with members of my own family ill I have been in a bit of a hole. But I couldn’t stay there for long. I implore all of you in your own way to do whatever you can so we can look back at this bleak moment and at least say it took the worst but it brought out the best in all of us. #ILookForSilverLinings.”

Sara Khan visits hometown Bhopal after 10 years for Ramzan

ctress Sara Khan travelled to her hometown Bhopal recently after a decade, to be with her family during the month of Ramzan.

be tough when you have family around,” she says.

On the work front, Sara is currently seen in the TV series “Santoshi

“I came to Bhopal after almost 10 years to spend some quality time with my family. This Covid-19 pandemic is a very difficult time, but I took all the necessary precautions and made sure I take the blessings of my elders and my maternal grandmother during this holy month of Ramzan,” says Sara. As far as the festivities go, Sara has been experimenting in the kitchen with recipes for iftaar and sehri. The actress says it’s not tough to fast when you are surrounded by your family members. “Fasting and celebrating can never

elevision and film actress Achint Kaur, who plays a prominent role in a new teleplay ‘Hasmukh Sahab Ki Wasihat,’ says that the play about a patriarch addicted to control, is a microcosm of society. She adds, “Real change will come only from within even though certain obvious external issues must be addressed collectively by us. If we don’t change, patriarchal systems will continue to exist,” she told IANS. ‘Hasmukh Sahab Ki Wasihat’ by Zee Theatre is a riveting family drama full of intrigue, humour and irony. Written and directed by Mahesh Dattani, the teleplay revolves around a rich autocratic businessman who doesn’t relinquish control of his family even after his death. He tries to control them through his will; however, he is in for a surprise. “My character Kiran Jhaveri is not a prototype of a mistress. She is a business executive, a woman of substance and the surprise package that turns the tables on a man

who does not want to let go of his power even in death. Because of her, the women in the family, will eventually unite against the man who set out to rule them forever.” When the role was offered to her, Achint instantly agreed to take it on. She explains, “I trust Mahesh Dattani and his vision completely and that is why when he told me about this play and the cast, I came on board immediately.” She believes the audiences will enjoy the small, subtle moments of genuine human connection in the play and its interesting twists and turns. The 50-year-old actor also thinks digitisation of plays is a positive step and says, “It is beautiful to have plays digitised because they can be archived this way for the generations yet to come.” ‘Hasmukh Sahab Ki Wasihat’ also stars veterans Mohan Agashe and Seema Pahwa along with Mona Wasu and Gagan Sethi. It will be on Dish TV and D2H Rangmanch Active this week.

When Soha Ali Khan and daughter Inaaya were fashion twins!

ctress Soha Ali Khan posted a picture with her daughter Inaaya in matching outfits on Tuesday. The mother-daughter duo twinned in blue and white tiedye printed attire.

Maa: Sunayein Vrat Kathayein”. She is also hosting a cookery show titled “Annapurna Rasoi” on an OTT platform. Sara has also wrapped up her latest project “Cyanide Mohan” alongside Sharib Hashmi that will soon be released digitally.

“Stay home. Stay safe. Be grateful for what you have,” she wrote as caption. The actress and author often posts about her three-year-old daughter and husband Kunal Kemmu, and the time they have as a family.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Jacqueline Fernandez suggests Disha Patani shares her looks in ‘Seeti maar’ yoga to deal with lockdown

ctress Jacqueline Fernandez on Tuesday doled out toga and breathing exercise tips on Instagram, as an effective way to deal with lockdown “Breathwork (pranayams) are important especially now for our physical and mental well being praying for everyone during these difficult times,” wrote Jacqueline, along with a picture of herself doing yoga with her instructor virtually. Jacqueline has a busy schedule in the months ahead. She will be seen in the films “Bhoot Police”, “Bachchan Pandey”, and “Ram Setu”.

Salman Khan’s ‘Seeti maar’ garners 30mn views within 24 hours

alman Khan’s new song “Seeti maar”, which was launched on Monday, has garnered over 30 million views in 24 hours. The dance number is filmed on Salman and Disha Patani for the much-hyped action drama “Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai”.

The video has Disha sports two different looks. In the first, she sports fishnets, loose black cargo pants and a crop top. The second look has her sporting a cut-out white leotard with embellishments, paired with loose blue pants.

The song sung by Iulia Vantur and Kamaal Khan has been composed by Devi Sri Prasad and choreographed by Shaikh Jani Basha, also known as ‘Jani Master’. Unconfirmed reports said the track has become the most viewed video within 24 hours globally. “Seeti maar” is based on a song Devi Sri Prasad originally created for the 2017 Telugu hit “DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham”. The original

For the caption, she dropped a pink flower emoji and wrote “#SeetiMaar”. “Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai” number was filmed on Allu Arjun and Pooja Hegde. “Radhe” also features Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff in pivotal

roles. The Prabh Deva directorial set to release on the occasion of Eid on May 13, in theatres and the pay per view platform Zeeplex.

Kangana replies to netizens trending #Resign_PM_Modi

ctress Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday took a jibe at trolls using a hashtag demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has been trending on Twitter. “Modi ji does not know how to lead, Kangana does not know how to act, Sachin does not know how to bat, Lata ji does not know how to sing, magar these chindi trolls know everything, please #Resign_PM_Modi ji and make one of these Vishnu avatar trolls next Prime Minister of India,” Kangana tweeted. The hashtag #Resign_PM_Modi has been trending on Twitter since morning with a section of netizens blaming the Prime Minister for the second wave of the pandemic in India.

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isha Patani on Tuesday shared a video montage of her various looks in the song “Seeti maar” of the upcoming film “Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai” starring Salman Khan.

Commenting on the actress’ tweet, netizens expressed their mind. Some users feel PM Modi should not have permitted mass gatherings like Kumbh Mela and election rallies at a time when the second wave of Covid-19 was on.

is scheduled to open theatrically on May 13, on the occasion of Eid, across all Indian states where theatres are operational as per Covid protocols. The film simultaneously drop on the premium pay-perview service platform Zeeplex. The film co-stars Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff, and is directed by Prabhu Deva. “Radhe” is also scheduled to release in the Middle East, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Europe, and will be the first Bollywood film to release theatrically in the UK since lockdown last year.

Paris Hilton declares she is ‘Sliv Queen’

state govt has all rights to take decisions, why they have not taken,” wrote a user.

“Don’t get hyper for everything u also should realise this time he has made some mistakes like kumbh and elections rallies. It’s time for him to act as a countries PM and take the onus on him and assure everyone he will make it right,” commented a user.

ntrepreneur-socialite Paris Hilton on Tuesday declared herself the Sliv Queen. She also sought help in organising her closet along with a stunning picture she shared on Instagram.

There were many others who supported PM Modi and Kangana, too. “Why you people always blaming Modiji for every reason. We are responsible for this situation, we have not maintained social distancing, not wore mask etc.

The image captures Paris sitting in a walk-in wardrobe dressed in an icy-blue feather dress paired with

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elbow length gloves. “#SlivQueen cleaning out my closet Who wants to help me organize? #Sliving #Yassss,” she wrote alongside the image. Sliv is a term that Paris had coined during an interview with German singer Kim Petras. It means “killing it and slaying” in one word.

ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

Neha Marda: Dance is literally my life Kangana gives ‘warning’ to those crying about India to ‘foreign daddies’

n the occasion of International Dance Day on Thursday, actress Neha Marda opened up on her passion for dancing, saying it helped her get to where she is today in her career.

ctress Kangana Ranaut shared a video on Friday warning those who are trying to hurt the image of the nation internationally amid the Covid-19 second wave.

“Dance is not just a small part of my life, it is literally my life. I believe I wouldn’t have been where I am today if it weren’t for my passion and love for dance. There is a different level of happiness and power that I have achieved by pursuing dance,” says Neha.

Kangana shared the video message on Twitter and Instagram. In the clip, she expresses her concerns over how other countries are reacting to the second wave of Covid in India.

“I realised the true meaning of it when I started dancing at the age of three. I have trained myself for nine years in Bharatanatyam, seven years in Kathak and four years in Jazz and Salsa. As a kid, I participated in dance reality shows and even judged one of them, so my dance journey began from there and it is still going on,” she adds. As a child, she learnt to express her feelings because of dance. “Honestly, I believe dance has made me very expressive because as a kid, I was very shy and only

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Taking to Twitter, Kangana shared a video and wrote: “Please watch warning to all those who are going to their foreign daddies to cry about India... your time is up.”

after I started dancing, I learned how to express myself in a better way. One dance style that I look forward to learning next is Bachata because I think it needs a lot of

power and a lot of strength,” says Neha, who plays Shubhra in the Zee TV show “Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti”.

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In the video, Kangana speaks about how photos of corpses burning at cremations were featured in an international magazine. She expressed her discontentment and further why leaders of other nations were not called out when their countries were tackling the Covid-19 waves.

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

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Vol 1, Issue 6, May 1-15, 2021

OUR TEAM • Male and Female GPs • Psychiatrist and Psychologists • Diabetes Educator • Podiatrist and Dietician

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