1
2
2
Editor-in-Chief
Photographers
Anoop Shukla
Omkar Bariya Aditya Shetty Aritro Mukherjee
Chief Designer Pratik Shetty
Contributors Abhinav Gupta Vijay Vedula Allwyn Bale Ankita Gavale Shruti Rhode Reetesh Maurya
Cover Photo : Omkar Bariya
3
Editor's Note
3
Discussing Green
T
he sphere of discussion about the hipster culture & recreational use of cannabis in our country is very small, for its major prevalence amongst the lower class and the youth inclined towards the consumption of cannabis in all forms. People who have a prejudiced notion about cannabis are majorly the individuals who are influenced easily by what the crowd collectively thinks or the individuals with an afflicting experience relating to cannabis in the past. Cannabis is an organic substance that has seen its survival in the most underground of ways as possible today. From the day it was banned in India till today, it has been a silent protest for the people who have benefitted from it in various ways. In my opinion, this discussion can reach the House of Parliament only when the country has fetched ways to collect enough revenue for the country through other sources, rather than depending on what they generate through alcohol and tobacco; and when leaders in both houses are incorruptible patriots and broad minded opinion makers to discuss the subject of cannabis without personal propaganda. This ideal nation goal is way far ahead of us and may take an immensely extensive generation leap to finally come in action. This issue highlights 3 basic elements of cannabis: Need, Cause & effect. The need of cannabis, the causes & effects of consumption of cannabis and to reason with its ban in the country. Bringing to you the green edition of Life Monthly.
"Marlon Brando or Brandon Marlo. The confusion is plain #High" Anoop Shukla(@ShuklaJi_)
P.S.: We’re sorry if the content of this issue is explicit in matter. But isn’t everything in this country? Thank You
Anoop Shukla (Editor-in-Chief)
/LMonthly.com
@LMonthly
@LifeMonthly
www.lifemonthly.com
4
4
March, 2015
28
cover story
Cannabis:
A Culture in India The history and prevalence of cannabis in India. Studying the ban. Its merits and demerits.
11 LM Take Legalizing the
Herb Opinion post on the ‘Right to choice of cannabis’.
/LMonthly.com
@LMonthly
@LifeMonthly
www.lifemonthly.com
5
5
Food
Cannabites
22
Come! Peep and learn the way to keep a ‘cannabitic’ appetite.
Pick of the Month Assorted list of Movies, Books and other cool stuff that were a highlight in the previous month.
Picture Perfect A spiritual journey to Sitamarhi, The land where Mother Sita went inside the Earth.
Tete-a-tete
46
DopeadelicZ A Street/ghetto rap crew that call themselves as the lyrical convener of marijuana. Tete-a-Tete with Tony, RAC and BenZ from the DopeadelicZ
38
6
6
Hello Monthly
Aritro Mukherjee I don't think it would ever be legalized in india, beef got bann already and i don't expect much from this system, but if you look at it the way a frequent smoker or i look, am pretty sure you wont completely deny the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana .. Our government should definitely understand our needs and do what is right for the economy and people not for the SYSTEM !
Alok Badri We choose to ban weed when at the same time we continue selling cigarettes, tobacco, gutkha. What is more hazardous? or the government is more happy to get revenue off the tobacco products? cannabis has medicinal use also. the ban should be uplifted.
7
Hello Monthly
7
Abhinav Tiwari It should be legalized by the establishment as a sign to show that people are mature enough to make choices of their own. If not the entire country then at least make it legal in places like Malana, Himachal where its not only a source of their livelyhood but also largely a part of their economy.
Roshni Singh
Aamoye C.
Its less harmful dn both alcohol and tobaco. It shud b legalised! Also, government can generate unthinkable revenue and funds with its trade for the benefit for the people. We have to come out of our conservative zone and talk about 'the liberation' now !
In many countries its used as a stress reliever without any side effects, and if taken in small amount its good anyways . As it is said, overdose of anything is bad for health, but if a person is in control; because cannabis doesn't make the person go out of control. An individual can take it limitedly and live a happy stress free life
Kindly give your opinion and suggestions by posting it on our website : www.lifemonthly.com
8
8
LM Take
Abhinav Gupta @abhnv05
I
t was that time of the year again, February. More or less the only time when people tune in to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha channels on their Televisions. Just to go about the 2 major budgets of the upcoming year ahead, from the Railway Minister and the Finance Minister. There was a lot of speculation regarding the two budgets this time, primarily because the tag of “Acche Din” was attached to it, and why not? “Acche din” was the hope, NDA promised and won the with outstanding no. of seats. So let us see, will the “Acche din” really come or do we have to make do with the poor policies of the government, yet again. Let us have an overview over both the yearly budgets. THE RAIL BUDGET 2015 The Hon. Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu presented the Rail Budget in the Lok Sabha on 26th Feb 2015. A few very important points regarding the same are as follows. 1. The best part about this year's Railway Budget there is no increase in passenger rail fares. 2. Rs.8.5 lakh crore will be invested in Railways in next 5 years 3. Operation 5 mins', wherein passengers travelling unreserved can purchase a ticket in 5 minutes. 4. Surveillance cameras in select coaches and ladies compartments for women's safety without compromising on privacy. 5. Wi-Fi in more stations, mobile phone charging facilities in all train compartments. 6. Centrally managed Rail Display Network is
expected to be introduced in over 2K stations over the next 2 years. There were many more points apart from the above mentioned, however we shall focus on the key and the salient features of the Rail budget. For starters let us see how the Rail Ministry is going to invest Rs. 8.5 Lakh crore in the railways. The investment can be dealt by partnership with key stakeholders - States, PSUs, and partner with multilateral and bi-lateral organizations other governments to gain access to long-term financing. Also, get technology from overseas. The private sector could be roped in to improve last-mile connectivity, expand fleet of rolling stock and modernize station infrastructure. Apart from the money and the newly included facilities, the rail budget also included various features that increased the capacity augmentation of the Indian Railways i.e. to improve the already present condition of
the Indian Railways. Some of those are… 1. De-congesting networks with basket of trafficgenerating projects will be the priority 2. Priority to last-mile connectivity projects 3. Fast-track sanctioned works on 7,000 km of double/ third/fourth lines 4. Commissioning 1200 km in 2015-16 at an investment of Rs. 8,686 crore, 5. Commissioning 800 km of gauge conversion targeted in current fiscal. 6. 77 projects covering 9,400 km of doubling/tripling/ quadrupling works along with electrification, covering almost all States, at a cost of Rs. 96,182 crore, which is over 2700% higher in terms of amount sanctioned. The Take. Throughout times, Railways has been the backbone of the Indian economy. The Prime minister has reiterated in nearly all of his speeches that the time has come when India will focus on manufacturing, hence his program “Make in India”. Manufacturing sector requires a lot of infrastructure developments which currently India lacks in. However, with this budget, and with new money being thrust upon, there is hope of significant growth in this sector. Naturally with the development of railways, overall infrastructure of the country is likely to grow simultaneously. Before this, Rail budget was synonymous with new trains being announced, and the trains would start and end in the state from which the minister used to belong. This populist tradition was ended, and the Hon. Minister saw sense in
9
LM Take
9
decongesting the existing tracks before launching new trains and congesting them even more. Primarily the big idea of this budget is growth in infrastructure and repairs and to replace old stuff with the new. The budget has also proposed introduction of train sets in the next two years, which are similar to high speed trains in design and will run on existing tracks without an engine to haul them. These are expected to cut travel time by 20%. While the move is welcome and India’s archaic rail network will move towards high speed trains, we are of the view that current tracks as well as signaling system will need a major overhaul before train sets are launched. However with every government policy, this comes with a catch too, and correctly, the catch is Implementation. Rs 8.5 Lakh Crore is a massive amount, and clearly the greatest challenge the ministry faces is to generate and manage such massive funds. 8.5 Lakh crore is equivalent to $140 billion. That means the ministry has to generate a whopping $28 billion every year to meet the demand. Currently the Indian railways does not have the expertise and the man power to generate such kind of amount, even though the rail minister outlines the use of private banks and companies, a lot of painstaking efforts have to be put in before the investors can be coaxed. Today 90% of the revenue generated by the railways has gone to salaries and taxes and nothing is left for modernization. Till as long as 2007 this number was 75%, when 25% of the total revenue generated was used for modernization. Starting up high speed rail corridors, as mentioned above, and the
10
LM Take
10
biggest talking point of last year’s budget, The Bullet Train, could cost about Rs 60000 crore. Such kind of fund generation is next to impossible currently for the Indian railways. In conclusion, Hon. Minister of Railways broke the plebian and archaic ways of dealing with the budget, being a chartered accountant himself it was expected of him, but then the challenges the railways face today is far greater than what his one hour speech can solve. Modernization is the key, and the need of the hour is fast train corridors, which help in the growth of infrastructure. THE UNION BUDGET 2015 The Hon. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the union Budget in the Lok Sabha on 28th Feb 2015. A few very important points regarding the same are as follows. 1. Fiscal deficit seen at 3.9% of GDP in 201516, committed to meeting medium term fiscal deficit target of 3%. 2) GDP growth seen between 8% and 8.5% this year. 3) Consumer inflation to remain close to 5% by March, more room for monetary policy easing. 4) No change in individual income tax rates and slabs, overall deduction benefits to individual taxpayers hiked to Rs 4.44 lakh a year. 5) Service tax rate hiked to 14% from 12.36%. 6) To implement Goods and Services Tax by April 2016. 7) Wealth tax abolished. To be replaced by surcharge of 2% on income of Rs 1 crore and above. Move to fetch government Rs 9,000 crore against Rs 1,008 currently mobilized under wealth tax. 8) Corporate tax rate to be reduced from 30% to 25% over four years; deductions and exemptions to be
rationalized. THE TAKE 2. Before this budget i.e. considering the years before the Modi government came to power, Indian economy was on a downhill slope. Deficits were increasing and investments were at an all-time low. This changed with the introduction of this budget and India Inc, reacted very positively towards the current budget. The economy and GDP growth rates are forecasted. The corporate tax has been lowered. Wealth Tax abolished. Many were however disappointed with the lack of Big Bang reforms however the FM has started a cycle of investment and rationalized taxation. However, the other major push was to infrastructure. The Plan allocation for the ministries of road transport and
railways was dramatically increased. An additional Rs 70,000 crore is to pumped into infrastructure, said Jaitley. A lot of insurance cover has been given to nearly all sectors of the society. In terms of education, 2 new IIMS are to be opened in the states of J&K and Andhra Pradesh. ISM is to be upgraded to an IIT Every coin has two sides, and this budget has a negative aspect as well, which is, the increase in service tax, and excise duty. The service tax was increased to 14%. Also, the negative list of services has also been pruned by bringing more services under tax net. This will pave way for levying service tax on services being provided by amusement facility such as rides, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, water parks; services provided for admission to entertainment event of
concerts, non-recognized sporting events, pageants, music concerts and award functions, if the amount charged for admission is more than Rs 500; service for carrying out any processes as job work for production or manufacture of alcoholic liquor; all service provided by the government to business entities; exemption to transportation of food stuff by rail, or vessels or road will be limited to transportation of food grains including rice and pulses, flours, milk and salt only, among others. For the common man, like you and me, who has to sit down and read and do, research before they understand the budget, here is the list of things that will get costlier, and cheaper in the following months. Smoking and consumption of other tobacco items is set to become more expensive, while increase in service tax rate would make costlier a whole lot of other things including air travel, eating out and
paying bills. Those which will turn cheaper include leather footwear, locally made mobiles, computer tablets, microwave ovens, peanut butter, packaged fruits, ambulance service and incense sticks. eating out at restaurants, stay in hotels, air travel, cable and DTH services, visiting beauty parlors, courier service, credit and debit card related services, dry cleaning of clothes, will become expensive.
11
LM Take
11
Allwyn Bale
Allwyn Bale @AllwynLeo
I
f freedom is the agency of free choice arent we the slaves turning criminals. HIGH ! I am a marijuana democrat and I live in a country that has birthed great cultures and mesmerizing tales throughout in the pages of history. A nation that has a total number of 200 billion people living happily together helping each other under one secular system. Yet, being one of the largest democratic system in this whole world we lack something very important. 'Our Right to Choose' is being deliberately challenged by the system. Why would you term me a criminal if I simply won't abide to your orders and would do what makes me happy? Cannabis is my choice, my choice of plant, my choice of food, my choice as a stress buster and my choice of medical assistance. As long as I’m not being a hindrance in anybody’s way, I don’t
think anybody should object my fashion of living. Marijuana smoking doesn’t make you a bad person and in India, where its application is rooted back to 6th century BC, I don't think it would be a big deal to have this plant as our 'national herb'. Studies even suggest that it's good for cancer so why not legalize it for people who need it on immediate basis? More than 100,000 people die because of cancer every year in India, we can lives.. let's face the truth, facts say that the war on this plant never gave a great benefit to us in other well-known countries like Colorado and Amsterdam where it's trade and consumption is legal the people have started living a better life and not because they get high all the time but because the income generated with its trade is being highly used by their system for the betterment of their people. Why can't we do the same? Judging me won't take you anywhere but educating yourself about something you don't know might help. I still don't get it, how can you ban a plant & its precious gift from us. Northern parts of India has the largest production of cannabis and there are many occasions and festivals when the consumptions becomes legal for the people, Mahashivratri is one of them, ganja was said to have been the most favorite plant of an Indian god, ‘shiva' the destroyer of evil and one who is above time and space.
12
LM Take
12
People come from all over the world to worship and enjoy the vibe generated on this day. The most dangerous side effect of marijuana is only one, getting caught with it... According to section ... Getting caught with a large amount of marijuana would get you in jail for 20 years and the charges would almost be as high as you after a couple of bong hits. However, if you're caught smoking and your possession is in small amount you might have a Chance to get away paying a small but considerable bribe to the policemen, even they know that the law on cannabis has never effected its users and it probably won't ever. I remember getting caught once, I was asked to sit in the Gypsy but I denied and asked for what I had done? They didn't reply but one took his pace towards me and shoved me in the gypsy saying 'you shouldn’t talk in front of cops... are you serious??? I can't talk to a cop about my conviction in my country I was smoking some refer but back then I had no idea I would get into so much of trouble, I had to pay 2000 to save myself from the utter nonsense they said they will make me go through if I don't pay the amount. Pufffttt !! Freedom of choice was at stake, I had to do it but later realized it was complete stupidity. I paid a policemen who overpowered me using his rights because the law says medical marijuana is illegal and I couldn’t say a word. I had no idea about my rights regarding my choice for consumption there
are thousands of teens and adults who could have been veterans, doctors and other successful people but are in jail or has turned into thugs because of the first time they went to jail. In the end again it's the question of our choice, I don't choose alcohol or tobacco ... I choose marijuana, what's your choice? In the end again it's the question of our choice, I don't choose alcohol or tobacco ... I choose marijuana, what's your choice?
13
Doodle Art by Rashmil Vaidya
14
LM Chronicle
14
Vijay Vedula
“
So in closing I wish you all the best and welcome to your future”. A rousing applause greeted the closing words of the inauguration speech conducted by the dean. There was a sense of excitement tinged with relief for it had been a long day in the sun and the new entrants to Sulemani University were pumped up to get going with the new phase of their life. Caught in the melee was a young man, Amay Mehta. An introverted personality he could not handle the hustle and bustle for too long so he decided to take a break and explore the campus. He could not help but admire the vast and wellmanicured landscape. The campus sat on the edge of a nature reserve located in the heart of North India and Amay could not help but stare in wonder. He soon found himself near a river that cut across the fields and decide to rest in the shade of a nearby tree. As he approached the tree he heard the sound of conversation and a pungent odour in the air. It seemed familiar but he could not place it. As he walked to the rear of the tree he came into view of a group of three guys having a conversation passing what seemed like a cigarette at first glance. It took him a moment to register what he was seeing. A distant memory flashed into his head of a similar situation wherein he had stumbled upon his father and his friends on their family farm. He had been sent away with some stern words and the topic had never been broached again however this turn of events had reignited the curiosity in him. As he walked closer towards them one of the boys noticed him and he quickly alerted the others to the presence of the intruder. There was a flurry of activity as the three of them tried to hide the cigarette like object as they stood up. An awkward silence hung in the air. Amay realised he had to win their trust quickly before decisions were made. “Do not worry I have no idea what you are doing nor do I plan on complaining” he said “I approached out of curiosity to know what it is you are smoking.” he continued, trying to inject as much sincerity as he could muster. In return he received quizzical looks from the three boys as they tried to come to a decision. It seemed like an eternity before the tallest one of them said “How can we trust you?” “I am still standing here aren’t I “ came the retort. The reply seemed to allay his concerns and he stretched his hand out in a handshake saying “Very well I believe you, my name is Varun.” Grateful to have made headway Amay accepted the gesture and the tense atmosphere deflated. Following Varun’s lead the other two proceeded to introduce themselves. Varun came across as an intelligent person with a gaunt face and long hair which in combination with his tall and lanky physique accentuated his height. Of the other two Imtiaz was a portly fellow with a round face and a goatee while Aron was a fair chap with spiked hair and a funny look in his eye.
LM Chronicle
15
15
Having broken the ice the four of them proceeded to sit down once again. Aron took out the object of Amay’s curiosity as Varun explained to him what it was. Amay was surprised to hear that it was a joint of marijuana. He had heard it by its colloquial name bhang and had felt its effects when he had consumed some of the butter milk, which had been laced with it at the communal holi festival. When he was passed the now lit joint by Imtiaz he wondered what to do with it. Needless to say his inexperience was a source of great mirth to the group but eventually Imtiaz showed him how to take a puff. It was not a pleasurable experience as Amay gagged and had a coughing fit which took a while to subside. Unwilling to admit defeat he went ahead and tried again and as time passed by he got better at it. He never realised when it took hold except for a tingling sensation around his eyes and by then he was not alone. How time passed by from then on no one knew and by the time Aron suggested they should head back to the dormitories the four of them had laid the foundation of what would turn out to be a close friendship over the course of their academic career. Over the next few years the four friends would regularly sit down for what they had nicknamed the Session and would discuss random topics from their present worries to their illusion of the future and though they believed the weed gave them moments of clarity none of them could have truly imagined how things would change. Their college careers blew by under the work load and extra-curricular activities and the four boys had grown up to become fine young men with varied fields of expertise. Varun turned out to be a scholar and head of the college debate team while Imtiaz and Aron were now senior figures in the football team and Amay headed the college magazine team. If only everything in life could be perfect. A day before his graduation Amay got news that his father had passed away form a major heart attack and the shock had made his mother very ill. Out of the blue what had been a perfect bubble suddenly burst. Hurried formalities were fulfilled as Amay made his arrangements to go back to his native place. When he arrived a sombre atmosphere greeted him upon his arrival. In his mind he was still stuck in the memories he had when he had visited them over the winter break a few months ago before returning for his final semester. Unfortunately his mother did not make it and her loss was a final straw to his fragile psyche. He became a loner completely disconnected himself from the world. He moved to Delhi but could not keep a steady job and all the counselling he received from his family and friends could not bring him out of the depths of his sorrow. His relations with Imtiaz soured while Aron fell out of touch. The equation between himself and Varun was also strained. He increasingly relied on a potent combination of marijuana and alcohol to keep him going through the day and put him to bed at night. Slowly but surely his health began taking a toll yet the addiction persisted. As a last ditch attempt Varun pulled some strings and got him a low end job at the firm he worked at and things seemed to be on the up but the light did not shine for too long. One evening Amay and Varun got into a severe argument, the culmination of which saw Amay pack his bags and leave. By the time Varun had calmed down it was too late. Amay who perpetually carried a joint on him at all times had smoked it and gotten drunk in a random bar. In his intoxicated state he made the choice to leave Delhi immediately
16
LM Chronicle
16
and proceeded to draw his meagre savings and taken the first train out of there. ****
Ten years later
The sun was just rising on a cold Friday in December. It was a week before Christmas. Part of the health conscious crowd that got up to exercise regularly in Bandra along Hill Road was Varun. A top executive in an engineering firm he was a regular at the laughter therapy club that operated out of the local garden. Done with the day’s exercise he headed down to meet Imtiaz who had gone on to become a reputed studio musician in Mumbai as well for a cup of coffee at the local lunch home. They discussed current affairs and spoke about prospective schools for their young kids. Varun mentioned receiving a mail from Aron who was situated in Boston saying he would be in Mumbai for Christmas which brought about a suggestion that they should plan something fun as it would be nice to get together. They pitched a few ideas and each one said he would deliberate over the other’s view and get back to him. Soon their morning ritual was over and having reached an agreement to meet in the evening with their families they proceeded to go to work. Varun had a good feeling about him and as he walked back he passed by a heavily bearded figure. Why he gave the man a second look he could not say but he did and what he saw stunned him. The bearded figure was none other than Amay. He was dressed in dirty brown shorts and a plain white shirt. He was thin as a skeleton and had a slight hunch about him and though the beard was unkempt and thick there was no mistaking his identity. Varun stopped the man to confirm his identity. Angry to be stopped so suddenly the man looked up. Before he could retort however he stopped short. In his glazed eyes a flicker of recognition showed. Both men were silent for a while. It was not dissimilar to how they had met in what seemed like a different time. “Is it really you?” said Varun breaking the silence. “The last time I checked I was still me” came the retort. A wave of emotion swept over Varun as he hugged Amay who reciprocated albeit a bit awkwardly. “You cannot imagine my joy and relief man” Varun said after they separated “I thought you were
LM Chronicle
17
17
dead and I felt partly responsible”. “Well that is one thing you can absolve yourself of immediately.” “Where are you of too now” “Was planning to get breakfast” “Let me join you we can catch up” “Sure” They walked back to the same lunch home Varun had just left and over the span of the next hour Amay spoke briefly of his journey of over ten years He had woken up to find himself at Haridwar railway station broke and hungry. It seemed lady luck favoured him because there turned out to be a Gurudwara nearby where he was given some sustenance. After that he walked towards the banks of the Ganga where he cleaned himself up as best as he could. However by nightfall the problem of hunger and shelter had begun to plague him. Just as he gave up hope he stumbled across an Aghori baba who took him under his wing. That was to be the first night he slept in a cemetery. Over the next few years he would spent his days working in the cemetery while at night he would spend the time smoking charas given to him by the Aghoris that would come there. Somehow his time in the close proximity of the dead as well as his exposure to the Aghori tales combined with the marijuana habit helped him come out of his depression until one day about five years later during one of his nightly escapades he realised his calling. Over the next few years he saved some money and contacted a mortician in Mumbai who accepted him as his apprentice. After nearly five years from that fateful day he once again got onto a train. Since then he had completed his apprenticeship and spent his time carrying out funeral requirements for the impoverished who had nowhere to go. Varun could not believe the fantastical tale he had just heard. “Where do you live?” he asked. Amay smiled, as though humoured by the innocence of the question, before replying “I have no home. I continue to sleep in cemeteries and before you ask I still smoke weed.” Now it was Varun’s turn to laugh. Having finished breakfast they got up paid the bill and stepped out. The hustle and bustle of the awakening city was slowly beginning as the sun continued to climb gently towards its zenith. “Well old friend I should make a move” said Amay “Me too” replied Varun “See you around sometime” “Definitely” On that note Amay turned away and began walking down the road. Varun watched him walk away for a while longer still trying to make sense of what he had just seen and heard. A few moments later he heaved a sigh and as he turned to walk back home he could not help but mutter to himself “What a pity”.
18
Tech
18
Abhik Chatterjee "Where Art Thou?" abbreviated as WAT, is an FREE Android application that : 1. Allows you to set-up a meeting with a desired contact. You can pick the time, date and destination for your meeting in 4 simple steps. 2. Allows you to see each other live on Google Maps while you are on your way to the meeting. You ll know exactly where the other person is at any point of time. 3. Tells you how much time will it take for the both of you to meet-up, which is the most important question on your mind. 4. Lets you manage all your meetings so that you are always on top of your official meet-ups, dates and get-togethers. 5. Allows you to share your location with a desired contact (friend/colleague/loved one) for a specific duration of time. 6. Lets you manage all your Location Sharing needs. 7. Will be absolutely FREE. There will be no charges for using it. No charges will be needed to unlock it's features. It will also be completely AD-FREE. Every idea for a product is born out of what we feel, is a personal need. We all encounter situations in everyday life, wherein, we feel that "It would have been great, if we would have had______. " The world's greatest products are born out of ideas that address a wider range of needs than most. We at "Where Art Thou? (WAT) " have made a humble beginning. According to us the most common types of problems faced by people when are about to meet someone are :
1.
Having to make repeated calls to know where someone is which leads to lowering of mobile balance and irritation.
2.
Having to wait for someone for extended periods of time which can lead to frustration.
3. Having to put up with wrong information fed to you by the other person who often does not know where he/she is or lies to you because he/she is running late or is entangled in an unavoidable situation.
19 Step 2 Step 1 Enter Phone Number or Add Contact of your new associate/friend to your contact list on the App. This is to initiate the meeting process and for the continued use of the App for further formal/ casual inclinations
Here, The date and time of the meeting is assigned, along with the optional tab to track time prior the meeting, which would be helpful in determining the current locations of the participants of a meet.
Step 3 The location of the meeting is decided and locked on here. To avoid confusion between two places with the same name, it’s in sync with Google Maps, which not only helps in finalizing the place of meeting, but also to track the whereabouts of the participants of the meet.
Tech
19
20
Tech
20
We feel that we can help you save time and money by organising, planning and setting up your meetings. We also feel that it would be great if you could know where your friends/family/loved ones are at any given point of time. I am Abhik Chatterjee, Founder of Where Art Thou? (WAT) and it is my pleasure to take you through our story. The idea visited me as a result of a personal experience that befell me while I was about to fly from Mumbai to Delhi. I was supposed to be travelling with a friend of mine who knew little about Mumbai's mazy roads. We both left our houses at around the same time and decided to meet mid-way so that we could travel to the Airport together. It turned out to be one of the most frustrating and irritating hours of my life. My friend took a wrong turn and ended up in an unknown place that was chock-a-block with traffic. I, on the other hand, was constantly calling him to know where he was. I checked later and found out that there were fourteen calls made between us before we ended up meeting. After getting screamed at by a fish-monger for stepping on her wares in a crowded marketplace, being literally pushed out of a crowded local train and hanging on to a gentleman's trousers for dear life, generating sweat that was approximately 5 times more than what Usain Bolt dishes out after a 200 metres burst, waiting on the pavement beside a lady who sneezed all over me due to the lack of a handkerchief and losing my mental sanity after knowing that my friend was in a parallel by-lane all this time...I started to think if there was an easier way for people to meet-up without all the irritated calls, without the long waits and the ignorance regarding your own whereabouts. The concept was generated during the flight after we were allowed to board it having pleaded like a bunch of school-boys before the airport authorities as we were ten minutes late. Since I am a big Shakespeare buff, I scribbled "Where Art Thou?" (Victorian English) which means "Where are you?" on a napkin. The name stuck. We will be making the Beta version of the app available for download in March. Users can test/evaluate/ judge the app and get back to us with feedback that will help us make it even better. Post the Beta phase, we will be launching the Alpha version of the app in the Google Play Store. We are currently rolling out the Android version of the app as India is one of the largest Android market places in the world. Based on consumer response and demand, we plan to introduce the iOS version of the app subsequently. We have been chosen by Google Startup Launch Program, which, will provide us with mentor-ship and access to Google based platforms as we progress along the product development path. This means a lot to us as it a validation from a company that exists at the pinnacle of the Innovation ladder. So now : Here’s more time, to be on time‌
21
22
Food
22
Some Cannabis recipes that take you on a tipsy detour alongside being YUM!!!
Indian Bhang Recipe Bhang is a preparation from the leaves and flowers (buds) of the female cannabis plant, smoked or consumed as a beverage in the Indian subcontinent.
Ingredients
• 3 grams (1/8 ounce) butter • 2 cups milk • 1-2 grams of hash or cannabis • pinch of spice (cinnamon or nutmeg, depending on your tastes)
Directions
Melt butter in pan, add ground cannabis and simmer for one minute, then add milk. After gently warming, add any additional spices you’d like. We suggest cinnamon, nutmeg, or honey. For an added punch, toss in some vodka.
Marbled Marijuana Brownie This marbled marijuana brownie bars recipe comes courtesy of reader Sir Stickybuds. The recipe serves twelve and cooking time is about 35 minutes. Enjoy!
Ingredients
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened • 2 eggs • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 (21-ounce) package brownie mix, batter prepared according to package directions (except substitute cannabis oil or cannabis butter)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. 2. In a medium bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, combine the cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy. 3. Spread half the brownie batter into prepared baking dish. Spoon cream cheese mixture over batter then top with remaining half of the batter. Using a table knife, cut through the batter, swirling to create a marbled effect. 4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool then cut into bars and serve, or cover and chill until ready to serve.
23
Food
23
Baked Marijuana French Toast Marijuana French toast? Yep, you read that right, and there’s no tastier way to completely ruin your earlymorning motivation.
Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •
1 French baguette 1 ½ tbsp. butter 3 tbsp. cannabutter 4 eggs 1 cup milk ¼ cup sugar 3 tbsp. maple syrup 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. salt powdered sugar
Directions
Lightly butter a 13 by 9-inch (32.5 by 23-cm) baking dish. Cut the baguette crosswise at an angle into 8 slices. Each should be about ¾ inch (2 cm) thick. Using a small bowl, cream the pair of butters together until thoroughly combined. Now spread the butter onto a single side of each of your 8 slices and then arrange them butter side up in your prepared baking dish. Next, whisk together the eggs, sugar, milk, syrup, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread and press the slices down into it before covering the dish and allowing it to refrigerate for 8 hours. When ready to cook, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Once heated, place the uncovered baking dish in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Dust them with powdered sugar and serve.
Cannabutter Recipe Every cannabis cook should start with Cannabutter. Besides, you can use it with everything! Cannabutter and jelly sandwiches anyone?
Ingredients
• 450 grams (about 1 pound) butter • 25 grams (about 1 ounce) quality buds or hash OR 50 grams (about 2 ounces) ground leaves
Directions
Slowly melt the butter in a pan. Grind your bud into a fine powder, being careful to sift out any stems. Gently stir the powdered cannabis into the melted butter. The mixture should become a remarkably dark emerald green. If using hash, warm it in a small pan or spoon over low heat (microwaving for 5-10 seconds on half-power also works) until it can be gently crumbled into the melted butter. Without allowing it to burn (this means no smoke breaks), leave the Cannabutter on low heat for up to a half-our, stirring diligently. Once done, pour the Cannabutter through a fine strainer and into a large jug. Keep in mind, the strained bits can be saved and used to make a drink or other edibles. The best method for storing the Cannabutter is to place it in several glass jars and to then refrigerate. Once the Cannabutter has hardened, add a touch of water to the jars. This will help it to keep a bit longer.
24
24
Torque
Ankita Gavali The latest swine flu outbreak started in India from December 2014 and it is the deadliest occurrence since 2010. About 17,000 people have got infected with swine flu caused by the H1N1 virus. Around 1,000 people have already lost their lives to the infection and the death toll is constantly rising. Most of the infected people show mild illness and can be recovered in less than two weeks, if treated properly and at an early stage. However, in case of medical complications, people should not delay seeking proper medication. Prompt treatment results in faster recovery. People who are more at risk of developing serious complications include those above 60 years of age, children below five years of age, pregnant women and people with certain chronic conditions. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to most influenza infections which include high fever (100 F or greater), cough, nasal secretions, fatigue, and headache, with fatigue being reported in most infected individuals. Some patients may also get a sore throat, rash, body aches, headaches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The virus is mainly spread due to contact with contaminated surfaces (including hands) and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes or due to respiratory droplets from an infected person's coughs or sneezes (these droplets generally travel less than one meter) when they are in close proximity. As swine flu continues to spread, experts from the World Health Organization to neighborhood doctors are echoing the call for everyone to practice smart flu
25
Torque
25
prevention techniques. Individual initiatives on taking preventive measures is the single most effective way to slow the spread of diseases like swine flu. One of these measures include, wearing facemasks to reduce the risk of catching the virus from patients already affected. However, news coverage of swine flu outbreaks show many people wearing face masks, but do we really need them to protect against H1N1 swine flu? It is not recommended that healthy people wear facemasks to go about their everyday business .If you’re wearing a mask to prevent yourself from catching the virus, they’re not so effective as the surgical masks are not designed to prevent inhalation of airborne particles .The surgical masks are designed to trap respiratory secretions (including bacteria and viruses) expelled by the wearer and prevent disease transmission to others. So if you’re sick with the flu and coughing and sputtering, those masks do prevent you from spraying those bugs everywhere. Precisely, facemask is effective in protecting people from catching the virus when it is worn by flu affected individuals. Everybody is not required to do so as the flimsy masks do little to protect the wearer from contracting the flu virus however, a surgical mask can, however, potentially limit the spread of influenza if the sick person is wearing it. When it comes to preventing the spread of flu in the home, families may benefit if the sick family member wears the mask to prevent further contamination of surfaces and to reduce the risk of a cough or sneeze spraying droplets on others. Therefore, people suffering from flu or having any symptoms of flu should definitely wear a mask to prevent the spread of germs and disease. The spread of the H1N1 in households and in the communities can be prevented by maintaining clean vicinity and personal hygiene, avoiding close contact from others (at least 1 meter apart) if you or they are ill, and covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, boosting your immune system will play a vital role in prevention against such infections. Consuming Indian Gooseberry (amla) regularly will boost Vitamin C levels in your system and will help prevent even the deadliest of infections. It is therefore not a surprise that Chawanprash has been so popular!.Almonds, peanuts are also rich in micronutrients that can keep one healthy. Garlic should be consumed in the raw form in order to get its full benefit. Turmeric or haldi is a wellestablished immunity enhancer. Use turmeric liberally in your food preparations. Thus, methods to rev up the body's immunity system will keep you safe. Also, when infected with any viral infection, wearing a mask to prevent spreading the disease and avoiding crowded places will definitely help in preventing the spread of swine flu. Individual initiatives in taking preventive measures will help in curbing the spread of this deadly disease. In the case of swine flu, it takes a lot of time to recover if although contracting swine flu is easy but it is actually easier to prevent it!
26
26
StyleUp
Shruti Rhode For quiet sometime, there has been a preconceived notion about fashion and its people. We’re often labelled as frivolous, vain, jaded and cold-hearted. I couldn’t help but wonder why? People have constantly been cribbing about the amount of black I own and wear for almost every occasion. I know I could never go an entire week without wearing black, so it got me thinking of ways to really make the most of what I own. A few extremely simple and pocket friendly tips to go glam even in the heat that’s making its run towards us.
For Girls Please indulge in accessories! Please! The perfect time to go all out with the bling. The heavy to the ultra-light to the chokers for the neck! The mid-rings and chunky hand jewellery is all you’re going to need. To add that little extra oomph, chandelier earrings or westernized jhumkas and voila! Bling and Denim – Over the past one year one trend that’s picked up and pretty much been everywhere are the bling and metallic shades and sequins right from the streets to the stores. My favourite monotony breaker being a black jumpsuit with a gold sequins jacket, stilettos and subtle jewellery. A perfect look for day and night. Layering (even in the summer) is a simple trick. Just remember to keep everything else black and thus giving importance to the layer. To keep the look casual and simple, you can team up the maxi skirts/high waist pants/shorts/palazzos with an interesting scarf and funky footwear. Metallic kicks, colourshaded bags and crazy dirty diva hair to take you from runway to ramp. Must have blacks for this season: leather joggers
/LMonthly.com
@LMonthly
@LifeMonthly
www.lifemonthly.com
27
StyleUp
For Guys We all know how much Howard Wolowitz of The Big Bang Theory loved his belt accessories. Likewise, it’s time for you guys to invest in good monotony breaking belts. They have known to be the classiest accessory for a man to don. A must have this season are the braided belts. With the heat and humidity kicking in, to add that spunk, you can sport scarves and chinos. For a more casual look, ganjis and baggy jeans/khakis are in. A gentleman way to replace those round necks are cotton and linen shirts. You can wear them all through the year. Available in various cuts, patterns and sizes, they’re the best and safest for a man to opt for. A white and a black shirt are a must-have! You can either tuck it in or leave it out. Either way, it’s they can make you look fabulous in no time.
P.S. Please don’t wear an un ironed garment. It’s a major turnoff.
And don’t forget “Be a Trend Setter not a Trend Follower”
27
28
Cover Story
28
Cannabis is older than gods in this country. We never gave up on gods, why give up on the herb? Its time we reason with our beliefs and with the ban of cannabis in our country.
Anoop Shukla
Cover Story
29
29
"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change ." - Buddha
C
annabis is not a drug. It’s a mild psychedelic organic substance that acts as a catalyst to relieve stress; a patience inhibitor to deal with monotony; an aid to both western and veterinary medicine and myriads of other uses. Cannabis has been entitled as a ‘hard drug’, and is compared with heroin, cocaine, smack and other hard drugs for quite some time now. And when I say quite some time, it means the entire evolutionary phase that could’ve lifted the blind sightedness of upper classes, who viewed cannabis as an intoxicant for the poor. Cannabis has been a part of our civilization since 6th century BC, and it’s a matter of argument that a nation that has seen and witnessed the origin of Cannabis, is the one that prohibits its production, consumption and legalization. There was once a time in this country when all derivatives of cannabis (bhang or ganja) were celebrated for millennia. Most of the state governments facilitated the selling of cannabis in their own retail shops. This was a time when cannabis was legally sold in India. When the recreational use of cannabis was a basic activity, by the people who willingly chose to do it for whatsoever purposes that maybe euphoria, relaxation, hunger, sleep or in some cases pain. This ‘cannabitic age’ saw its doom when NDPS Act of 1985 came into immediate effect. Cannabis is a substance produced from the cannabis sativa (commonly known as hemp) or cannabis indica and ruderalis. Common names bhang, hashish, hash, marijuana, charas, ganja. Also referred to as pot, grass, weed, hash. It has nearly 200 other names, marijuana is one among the many. Plants with stinging nettles, hemps and hops, are believed to have originated in India (Central & South Asia). Key ingredient involved in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabino (THC). cannabidiol, which is another active component of THC that determines the drug's strength. The trip of cannabis affects certain regions of the brain causing mental and physical relaxation at first, preceding to solace of thinking, causing lack of tension and worry. It then kicks in your hunger and then finally sleep. The trippy effect of cannabis lasts not more than 2-3 hours if smoked and if consumed by ingestion (bhang), it lasts for about 24 hours. It is commonly believed that bhang drinking is relatively less harmful than the practice of smoking ganja and charas. There appears to be a good deal of truth in this popular belief. Although the use of bhang as a cooling beverage is common in many parts of India, cases of excessive indulgence are not frequent and instances of frank abuse and harmful effects following therefrom are as a rule uncommon. Cannabis is seen as an herb in
30
Cover Story
30
both Ayurvedic and Mohammedan medicine, for its various recreational uses. It also acts as an antibiotic and is best to perform yogic exercises. Uses of Cannabis in India:• Western Medicine – The profound understanding of the use of cannabis in Western Medicine came to light when Napoleon’s expeditionary army occupied Egypt. The forces were highly impressed by the local importance and reputation for cannabis, for its pain relieving and sedative effects. Soon, the French Army started using it
extensively for their purposes. In India, O'Shaughnessy (1839) tried cannabis as a sedative for the central nervous system in such diseases as tetanus, hydrophobia, rheumatism, chorea and convulsions in children. Clinical trials carried out by physicians on Indian patients at that time showed it to be a "useful anodyne, hypnotic and antispasmodic next only in value to opium". During the period that followed the report of these early observers, cannabis was used for its analgesic and hypnotic effects in such affections as asthma, neuralgia, tinnitus, dysmenorrhea, muscular and joint pains, etc. It was also used to relieve the lightning pains of tabes, formication,
numbness, paresthesia, convulsions, etc. Cannabis euphoria as a means of combating mental conditions of a depressive character proved successful in some cases • Veterinary Medicine - For diseases of cattle, cannabis leaves are frequently used mixed with such ingredients as spices, salt or sugar candy. A decoction is made by boiling cannabis leaves, and a certain amount of sugar is added to make a slightly sweetened drink readily acceptable to the cattle. Sometimes the animals are exposed to the fumes of burning leaves in the hope that the smoke will be absorbed through the lungs and produce its effects. The smoke produced by burning cannabis plants is used as a disinfectant for sheepfolds. Ganja is considered to be a good remedy against intestinal worms and ‘foot sore’ disease. It is
studies have led me to the belief that in Hemp the profession has gained an anti-convulsive remedy of the greatest value. (O'Shaughnessy 1839a).
Cover Story
often administered to bullocks as a tonic, to relieve fatigue and to impart additional staying power. Bhang is sometimes used to increase the flow of milk in cows and also to keep them under control if they are troublesome at milking-time. On account of its supposed aphrodisiac properties bhang or ganja is occasionally given to mares shortly before they are mated. Bhang mixed with salt is often administered to cattle as a household remedy, as a preventive against diarrhea which is a common occurrence in India among cattle during the monsoon months • Household Remedy Cannabis preparations are popularly used as household remedies in the treatment of many minor ailments. A mild beverage made from bhang leaves is believed to sharpen the appetite and help the digestion. Religious mendicants who roam throughout India often carry bhang with them and use it for all sorts of gastrointestinal and rheumatic troubles from which they frequently suffer on account of exposure to inclement weather. Bhang beverages form one of the popular household remedies for gonorrhea and dysuria. On account of their mild diuretic and sedative properties these drinks probably give a certain amount of symptomatic relief. Likewise, the use of bhang in dysmenorrhea, asthma and other spasmodic conditions is quite common among the ignorant
31
31
masses in rural areas. A poultice made from the powdered leaves is applied to sores and open wounds to stimulate healing. A poultice made from fresh leaves is a common household remedy for painful affections of the eyes, conjunctivitis, swollen joints, orchitis and other acute inflammatory conditions. A fragment of charas is often placed in the cavity of a carried tooth to relieve toothache. • Connection with Social and Religious Customs The cannabis plant is Denise says marijuana has improved Miles’ quality of life since regarded by the Hindus the dog developed terminal cancer. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen) as holy, and the origin of its origin have naturally given bhang this conception can be traced to the a unique position amongst credulous Vedic period. In the Atharva Veda, Indian folk, and often cannabis the plant is described as a sacred is mentioned with reverence and grass, and the guardian angel of included among objects which are mankind is supposed to reside in its believed to bring luck. Indeed, such leaves. According to one legend, the was the popularity of this plant that cannabis plant is believed to have been to meet a man carrying bhang was brought out from the ocean by the regarded as an omen of success. God Shiva, when all the gods churned Similarly, cannabis plant in a dream it in order to extract "nectar" from it. was regarded as being lucky. Much According to another account, the of the sanctity attached to bhang is "nectar" dropped on the earth from put down to its supposed properties heaven and the cannabis plant sprang of "clearing the head and stimulating up from it. These accounts regarding the brain to think". . On Shivratri or
32
Cover Story
32
the Shiva's Night, drinks containing bhang are poured on the "Shivalinga" all night. Classes such as Banias and Bhatias offer richly spiced bhang to Baldev, elder brother of Lord Krishna, and all the devotees present during the ceremony partake of it. The orthodox high-class Hindus, who are forbidden the use of alcohol, are allowed to drink bhang sherbet after a fast. Some of the old records from Rajasthan show that "sidhi" or bhang was often drunk in order to propitiate Shiva in time of war. It is stated that the Rajputs used to drink bhang as a stimulant to courage at the time of battle when courageous deeds had to be performed against
their enemies. To certain sects of Mohammedans, the plant is an embodiment of the spirit of the prophet Khizer Elijah, the patron saint of water (" Khizer " means "green colour of the drink made from bhang "). Many Hindustani poets, especially Nasir, have immortalized bhang by eulogizing it in their poems. The drug is mentioned by some Mohammedan poets as "warak-al-khiyal" or "fancy's leaf ". In Persian literature it is known by various names such as "joy-giver ", "sky flier", "heavenly guide", "poor man's heaven ", "soother of grief ", etc. The Mohammedan fakirs revere bhang as the "giver of long life" and they consider that it frees them from worldly bonds, and induces communion with the divine spirit. • Euphoria & Pleasure Cannabis drugs are reputed to alleviate fatigue and also to increase staying power in severe physical stress. In India, fishermen, boatmen, laundrymen and farmers, who daily have to spend long hours in rivers, tanks and waterlogged fields, often resort to cannabis in some form, in the belief that it will give them a certain amount of protection against catching cold. Mendicants who roam about aimlessly in different parts of India and pilgrims who have to do long marches often use cannabis either occasionally or habitually. Sadhus and fakirs visiting
religious shrines usually carry some bhang or ganja with them and often take it. It is not an uncommon sight to see them sitting in a circle and enjoying a smoke of ganja in the vicinity of a temple or a mosque. Labourers who have to do hard physical work use cannabis in small quantities to alleviate the sense of fatigue, depression and sometimes hunger. A common practice amongst labourers engaged on building or excavation work is to have a few pulls at a ganja pipe or to drink a glass of bhang towards the evening. This produces a sense of well-being, relieves fatigue, stimulates the appetite, and induces, a feeling of mild stimulation, which enables the worker to bear more cheerfully the strain and perhaps the monotony of the daily routine of life. The low cost and easy availability of these drugs are important factors in their use by the working classes, whose economic condition is low in this country. Cannabis drugs are perhaps the only narcotic drugs which fall comfortably within their meagre means, and they make use of them as
Cover Story
33
occasion arises. Legalizing cannabis is a step forward towards an introspected enlightened direction. Not to mention, a mature decision - because this country has legalized alcohol, gutkha, tobacco despite its demerits that are way more adverse than cannabis. It has been medically proven now, that cannabis does a lot less harmful to your body than alcohol. And as we’ve seen the good cannabis has medicinal uses too. The only important factor to keep going ahead with consuming cannabis, is that it should be taken in moderate counts. Just like excessive consumption of alcohol can cause severe liver damage leading to death, excessive use of cannabis or marijuana can damage sensory abilities. If taken in moderate amounts, cannabis is a serene, mood-enlightening relaxant. Now that all our facts our established, why can’t we at least talk about putting up a rational law or policy with respect to consumption of cannabis? The people know what’s best for them and they are doing it either way it’s banned or not. We have been doing it this this way since
1985. The resilience can go as far as it has to, but do we even know why was the ban put on Cannabis sale and consumption in the NDPS Act of September, 1985? The reason for this infamous abolition was the same nation that today is globally sought as the forerunner of every new step towards development with a broad minded spectacle; i.e. United States of America. Since the early 1960’s, US has been campaigning to put on a global law against all sorts of drugs, be it hard or soft. Indians did not fall for this peer pressure for about 25 years. Then, in 1980’s the hippie culture spread like an epidemic in USA. It was a time when Pablo Escobar had his roots down in United Stated with his smuggled amount of drugs that reached almost everybody through organized channeling. The whole world witnessed that and did not want to fall prey to a similar situation. In 1985, the Rajiv Gandhi government buckled under the pressure and enacted a law called the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
33
Was our scenario a similar one? A country where the consumption of Cannabis was a way of living, a way of celebration, a way of a man cave against everything that was wrong in an individual’s life. Should we have fallen like the rest? In my opinion, the ban gave rise to the present situation at hand that involves a major chunk of folks grappled by the drug reign. Drugs like smack, heroin, cocaine, meth and others among them. The imperfect law that clubbed marijuana, hashish and bhang with hard drugs like smack, heroin, cocaine and crack, and banned them all. The minimum punishment for violation of the NDPS Act was 10 years of jail (it has since been relaxed and the crackdown on marijuana has eased somewhat). What happened as a result of this law was that almost overnight the entire trade shifted from peddling grass or charas to smack or worse. This was because while the risk was the same, profits from the hard-killer drugs were ten times higher. The people here who were consumers of Cannabis at first, were now smack
34 34
Cover Story
34
addicts. And suddenly, in no time, there was a major drug problem in the country. One that is now a difficult task to get rid of. People were caught selling off all household goods to get money for a fix. What is significant is that instances of deviant behaviour were rare when marijuana, hashish and bhang were legal. The poorly thought-out NDPS Act had actually created a drugs problem where there was none. But now that The USA has permitted the medicinal uses of Cannabis in 19 US States and legalized recreational use of Cannabis in Colorado and Washington, why can’t we put it up for discussion in both houses of parliament? It’s our origin. It’s been legal in our country even before the term ‘legal’ was coined in English Dictionary. For centuries, we have seen it as a fashion of living, it should be up for an aggressive discussion and a healthy argument, beyond political gimmicks. Unless, the government thinks that people are going to choose an alternate intoxicant, killing the amount of revenue they can fetch from alcohol.
35
Trivia
35
Statistically speaking, you or someone you know has probably used Marijuana as a recreational drug atleast once. Did you know there's more to the pot plant than a mellow high? The Plant has actually been used in India since its founding...but not to get high. Read on to find more about this special weed.
1. Why do you get the munchies when HIGH? The Active Ingredients THC inhibits a cannabinoid receptor known as CB1. This Receptor is also involved in signalling the apetite-suppressing hormone, Leptine. When CB1 is blocked leptin doesn't get activated .
2. It's nearly impossible to overdose on pot. It takes more than 800 joints to kill a person and they would die of CARBON MONOXIDE poisoning not THC.
Annual Number of deaths by drugs :
Alcohol 85,000
Caffeine 5,800
Prescription Drugs 18,675
Cocaine 2,390
Heroin 2,147
Marijuana 0
3. Paraguay is the largest producer of Marijuana in the world.
4. Marijuana was first used as medical treatment in CHINA in 1737.
It was used to ease the pain of rheumatism and gout.
36
Trivia
36
5. Where is marijuana legal? Decriminalized
Australia Czech Republic Macedonia Venezuela
Canada(for medical use) Finland Germany Ecuador Netherlands Portugal Mexico Columbia Chile
LEGAL
Argentina(for personal use in small amounts) Belgium India(goverment regulated) Iran(legal to grow but illegal to consume as a drug. This is unregulated) Pakistan
6. Cigerettes vs. Marijuana vs. Coffee Cigerettes
~50 Carcinogenic Chemicals
Marijuana
~50 Carcinogenic Chemicals*+
Coffee
16 Carcinogenic Chemicals
*Studies show that smoking Marijuana, even heavily, does not
increase your risk for lung cancer.
+Cigerettes have a 90% addiction rate, while marijuana is even
less addictive than COFFEE.
7.
You can only get HIGH on the dried leaves of the female plant. Male plants are only used for fertilizing a female plant.
8.
Weed was used as a truth serum by the US government during the WWII. It was spiked in cigerettes and given to detainees to have them release intelligence.
37 9.
Trivia
37
You should vaporize weed instead of smoking it. A vaporizer heats up weed near to boiling, releasing THC but not burning the weed, so you can get HIGH without inhaling harmful smoke.
10. The word "Marijuana" is of unknown Mexican Spanish etymology.
It replaced "CANNABIS" and "HEMP" in the 1930s.
11. The record for the world's largest joint had 100 grams of weed in it.
/LMonthly.com
@LMonthly
@LifeMonthly
www.lifemonthly.com
38
Tête-à-tête
38
Anoop Shukla In conversation with DopeadalicZ: Tony Sebastian (Psyko) Rajesh Radhakrishnan (Dope Daddy) Avinash Benson (BenZ) Jhonny Fernando (Big Smoke)
T
hey have come out of their ‘underground’ closet to be a symbol to what they call a ‘herb’ and the world calls a ‘drug’. DopeadalicZ are the new boys on the block, from the ghettos of Dharavi, looking out for a todaygen scope on their art form, i.e. street rap. Following the footsteps of Tupac, Snoop Dogg and Bob Marley. DopeadalicZ have their tracks structures for their target audience. Their main USP is that they communicate along the lines of a common man, by discussing the subtleties that arise in a general living life, by highlighting the need of the organic herb and by
discussing the merits of marijuana and its differentiation with other hard drugs. In India, Hip Hop is not loved by the masses, although there have been occasionally loved rap songs by some mainstream rappersWho-Must-Not-Be-Named. These rappers have a short life in India. In a scenario like this, how long does DopeadalicZ estimate its time of reign? DopeadalicZ is backed by Qyuki, a digital media label owned by Shekhar Kapur, A R Rahman and Sameer Bangera. They see potential in the crew and want to be an effective medium to deliver them with the kinds of platforms that can send their message across in the form of their music. In a bright afternoon, I’m sitting with Tony, Rajesh and Avinash, whose alter egos are Psyko, Dope Daddy and BenZ. They looked exhilarated and content even when they were at ease, their body language seemed
liberated and they spoke their mind. Here’s how it went.. 1.Hello Everybody, Pleasant afternoon? BenZHahaha! Coulnt get better.. 2.When did you have your inclination towards this outwardly form of hip hop culture? Who were you influenced by? Tony - When I was in school, I was a big fan of 50 CENTS. I loved all his songs. And it started off with imitation, I would sing to sound as remotely close I could to him. So that’s how it all began. Then when I was in junior college, I made an underground crew at my place, at ‘Matunga Labour Camp’ on the outskirt of Dharavi. There were already a lot of people at Dharavi who were producing music, and were indulged in Hip Hop. So even they were a factor towards my
Tête-à-tête
39
encouraged of hip hop culture and mainly towards rap. 3.How did you experiment with it then? Tony - I experimented with all the elements of Hip Hop. Gradually, I stepped foot in for rap. I gave it my solid 2 years. It was like meditation. Gathering street knowledge, knowing what’s around, getting your head straight and then channeling everything altogether. 4.What was your very youngest memory of infected infatuation towards street rap culture? Tony - When we were little kids, we were widely fascinated by this ghetto rap named ‘Pettai Rap’ from Prabhudeva’s film ‘Kadhalan’ from 1994. It was composed by A R Rahman. We never knew that it was street/ ghetto rap, when we highly fancied it so much back in the day. I loved the flow of the song,
I by hearted it back then, I would sing it all day and was highly struck by it. One of the initial scratches on my career board and a subliminal inclination towards ghetto/street rap culture. Dope daddy - For me Rap is gaana party. What I mean is singing poetry. I made my concepts clear about street rap. It wasn’t just about assorting rhymes, it was about conveying what’s on the street and in the back of the mind. All that blends and makes a good lyrical beauty of all sorts. The first clues that I picked was when I would see myself singing Tamil rap songs as a kid, or just singing commercial Tamil songs in my own melody. Gradually when I realized that music is in all of us, we just got to dig it more, to get it out of the estranged lifestyle that we’ve adapted ourselves too
39
BenZ – I basically used to just sing a lot, as a kid, as a fine wandering citizen on the road, as a singer in disguise. I’m very carefree, when I sing. People appreciated how I naturally sang, and encouraged me to pursue singing as my career. Then I met Tony, who nailed my trajectory. Dope Daddy – Tony comes to me one day and says “RAC, its ‘high’ time, let’s get down to
“RAC, its ‘high’ time, let’s get down to business or our failures will be condemned on ganja. Let’s make our own underground crew” – Tony sEbastian
40
Tête-à-tête
40
business or our failures will be condemned on ganja. Let’s make our own underground crew”. Since then, we’ve made our stand in support of the herb. That was one remarkable statement that bought us a step further on the line, a step closer to the unexpected. A true homie, Tony Sebastian. 5.In how many languages do you rap in? BenZ - 5. Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Malyalam 6.Your multilingual weapons of lyrical crime… Tony- *laughs*. We never merge multiple languages in one song. To convey what you want to, you gotta have a sublime approach at your song and the lyrics, they have to be easily understandable, easily relatable and it’s got to address the most basic subtleties of ghetto life. Even when we do that we keep in mind that we have to target the heterogeneous crowd of the country by individually targeting each state with their respective language. For instance, we composed a track in Marathi named ‘Aai
Shappat Saheb”, it was jovial, comical and terse. Highlighting the grey side of Mumbai that was afflicted with lawlessness and chaos. 7.Could you illustrate that with any of your upcoming tracks? BenZ - We have a track coming up named as ‘Tamil Nadu Charaka’. It’s a small dedication to the beauties of Tamil Nadu. The lyrics of the song is a street narrative of the Tamil Nadu heritage alongside the girls of the state. The track gives you a quenchable peep of Tamil Nadu and parallely (to complete) 8.What about the tracks that needs collective recognition by all? Don’t you think it’s important, as you’re not an underground crew anymore? Dope Daddy - Yes it is. It’s important. We came up with 2 tracks that were in English, one of which was recently released, named as ‘Stay Dope, Stay High’ and ‘D Rise’. The song, ‘Stay Dope, Stay High’ is an attempt to
“We support the recreational use of marijuana and we’re vocal about it” – Tony Sebastian (Psyko)
explain the ill effects of drugs and to differentiate it from the herb. Marijuana is a plant, it’s not human made. Its god given. Marijuana is a choice. An option that should be best preferred over every other substance that a middle man consumes today. From Gutkha to Coffee. So if you done want to legalize it, at least don’t criticize it. 9.So are you promoting the consumption of Cannabis? Tony - All we’re saying is give weed a chance. 10.Don’t you think you
Tête-à-tête
41 could be influencing people in the completely different direction? Tony - I believe you pick what you see. We support the recreational use of marijuana and we’re vocal about it. We were 19 years old, when we formed this crew together, but we never released our music on any platforms, manually or virtually. Gradually, when we were acknowledged for our content and material in the coming years, we gave it a go. When we talk about the legalization of marijuana in my tracks. I want my people to be informed at the recreational use of cannabis. The pros and cons of it. Informing them of how ganja is different from any other addictive substances. I believe one must be fully aware of what the society deals with today, and should figure if they can be a part of it or if they can rule it out. Besides, there are a
coupla tracks that only talk about marijuana & there are tracks that don’t talk about marijuana at all. 11.Do you think you’re songs will ever be aired on National Television? Considering the delicacy of the subject in a politically volatile country like India… Tony - Why not? If the censor board saw no problems before giving gateway to songs like ‘BabaJi ki Booti’ and ‘Manali Trance’, where the major part of lyrics comprises of ways to smoke up. Then, I don’t see an issue our songs too. 12.You’re coming up with a track with Shraddha Sharma of YouTube fame. Is that right? Dope Daddy – Yes, this track is even approved by the censor board and may have the chances of being aired on TV. The name of the track is ‘Dum Podu Dum’. We’re really excited about it. This one is yet another Tanglish song, a Tamil and an English mixture. It was an overwhelming experience working with Shraddha. 13.You’re
41
experience at GiMA Awards and YouTube Fan Fest? BenZ – It was full of exuberance and a great experience performing before the great musicians and artists if all sorts. Also to perform in front of so the lovely. We had a glimpse of a future that w/as ahead of us.
“We have a track coming up named as ‘Tamil Nadu Charaka’. It’s a small dedication to the beauties of Tamil Nadu. The lyrics of the song is a street narrative of the Tamil Nadu heritage alongside the girls of the state” – Avinash Benson (BenZ)
42
To-Do List
42
Recycling month :ENGage charitable trust Contact :+919167573354 About : Recycling papers ,metal and all sorts of scrap will be used to raise the fund for underprivilged kids by Engage charitable trust also representing world earth day on 17th april,For any kind of donation contact above.
MTV BLOC PARTY Date: 11 April 2015 Venue : Mumbai Juhu Hotel
Bigger, crazier and in your bloc. World class DJs and massive sundowners, this year's Bloc Party will bring you 2 TIME: Sun Apr 05 2015 at 05:00 pm to Sun Apr 05 2015 at days of unadulterated dance music across 10:00 pm all sub-genres that spreads out VENUE :Central Park Kharghar, Mumbai, India ticket details: (Seating):-Rs.1250 through the Juhu Bloc. Prep for (Standing):-Rs.7500 more bass, more boom and The concert is taking place at the colossal Central Park, and it is the first of its definitely a whole lot of kind because never before Grand Orchestra has played for the singer in India! The partying through the 21st Century City of Navi Mumbai, has the honor of hosting Arijit Singh along with the ultimate weekend. prestigious Symphony Grand Orchestra!
Arijit singh live
If your ears are yearning for music of epic proportions, mark the date on your calendars April 5, 2015!
To-Do List
43
43
Smirnoff Experience Date & time: Friday April 17 at 5.00pm to Saturday April 18 at 12.00am VENUE : NSCI Mumbai near mahalaxmi race course Smirnoff Experience is back with a power packed line-up of artistes. Give a shout-out to Knife Party, The Bloody Beetroots, Dualist Inquiry, Sound Avatar, Sandunes and Kris Correya. Along with some great music, we are ready to celebrate flip-flops, hula hoops, frizzy hair, klutzy beard, two left feet, chilled out ways to greet, girls saying no to bling, boys using the karaoke to sing, all things real, all things fun. Block your dates now.
Showcase India Food Exhibition 2015 Date & time: 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 11, 2015 VENUE :GHATKOPAR EAST,
Ticket Details : Free Entry for visitors Showcase India Food Exhibition 2015 aims to Provide a platform to all manufacturers of Food Industry of India to showcase their Business and Products to the entire market under one common roof. This 2 day exhibition will be visited by over 2500 visitors and both B2B and B2C Trade will take place.
Broken Horses Director:
Vidhu Vinod Chopra Release Date : April 10, 2015.
The Age of Adaline Dharam Mein
Sankat
Director:Lee
Toland Krieger
Director: Fuwad Date : Khan April 24, 2015. Release Date : Release
April 10, 2015.
/LMonthly.com
@LMonthly
Monkey Kingdom Director:
Mark Linfield, Alastair Fothergill Release Date : April 17, 2015.
@LifeMonthly
Detective Byomkesh Bakshi Director: Banerjee
Dibakar
Release Date : April 3,
2015.
www.lifemonthly.com
44
Picture Perfect
44
Photographed By : Anoop Shukla
The Transpo rter...
The path towards the holy
Picture Perfect
45
The Gods must be Crazy !!!
Art Narratives
The Mother
45
46
Pick of the Month
46
Roadtrip turns ghastly. Unpredictably terrifying
Flawed, Misplaced Characters, Stretched.
Naughty, Funny, Witty & Relatable
Pick of the Month
47
Dead Wake
47
An edgy thriller about the sinking of Lusithaia Rad American Woman A-Z A guest list of American heroes
TOP 5 Tracks of the Month • W&W - Rave After Rave (Original Mix) • Daffy Jacks - your body scream (Alex Botcher Mashup) • HELENA vs. Mike Candys - Boss (DJ Nilov Edit) • Mashur - Storm (Remix) • Falco & KoKoStyle - Da Violin
India’s Daughter A video televised by BBC on International Woman’s Day, made quite a whir amongst the Indian audiences because apparently it showcases a bad image about the nation’s mindset. Did putting a ban on it, made the nation look any more mature?
/LMonthly.com
@LMonthly
@LifeMonthly
www.lifemonthly.com
48
Now you can subscribe on : www.lifemonthly.com
We would love to hear from you, Send in your comments & feedback on mail@lifemonthly.com
Help us get better
/LMonthly.com
@LMonthly
@LifeMonthly