THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
Volume IX | Issue VIII | August 2015
Celebrating
www.spiceroutemag.com
68 years of
Independence
32 60 72
VISIT AHMEDABAD Revel in the heritage, culture and essence of the city
POETRY ON PLATE Visual appeal of a dish gains immense importance
TRENDING KHADI The humble fabric is now uber chic
Bringing
Freedom to the Skies! Making the dream of air travel come true for everyone
On Cover: Manisha Bisht, Kashika Narang, Sudhanshu Malik, Rajni Yadav, Rakesh Sharda, Ajay Srivastava, Tanu Sharma, Vagisha Jain, Sanju Kumar, Manoj Pandey, Neha Sharma, Hitesh Sharma, FO Karan Oberoi, Capt Kriti Mata, Ankit Ahuja, Amit Sharma, Kartik Chopra, Ritika Batra, Atul Mohan, Anchal Choudhary and Liju Jose On Gatefold : Neha Sharma, Anchal Choudhary, Manisha Bisht, Ritika Batra, Kashika Narang, Sudhanshu Malik, Rakesh Sharda, Atul Mohan, Ankit Ahuja, Kartik Chopra, Amit Sharma, Liju Jose, Sanju Kumar, Manoj Pandey and Hitesh Sharma
FROM THE COO’S DESK
Dear SpiceJet customer, The Spice is Back! We are Hot again! Not just in our new brand slogan Red. Hot. Spicy. but also in our financial performance. On July 28 we declared our quarterly results for Q1 Fiscal 2016 (April-June 2015). And what a quarter it was: we achieved the highest ever Q1 profit in our history! On the heels of a profit also in Q42015, this is a visible evidence that our turnaround is well underway. It has not been easy and we still have a lot to do, but to go from our highest ever losses in FY2014, through a transition year in FY2015 where we reduced losses year-on-year each quarter and eventually made it back to profitability in Q4FY14 under new ownership, to our best ever Q1 in Fiscal 2016, has been quite remarkable. This kind of recovery and turnaround is unprecedented in the Indian aviation industry especially given the absence of US-style Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection laws, but we did it! In the process, we have fundamentally changed Indian aviation through innovation and demand stimulation that was an integral part of our
turnaround strategy, thereby driving the highest growth rates in aviation in the world, and I am proud to have been a part of it. And what a journey it has been! Through our ups and downs, one thing did not change: the spirit and passion of SpiceJet, and the commitment of our 4,000 employees. They never lost faith, they never gave up hope, even during our most challenging times. Our staff are our biggest asset, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their faith and confidence in us, in their belief that we would turn the airline around. And I want to thank you, dear passenger, for YOUR faith and loyalty that has allowed us to bounce back so strongly, that has allowed us to regrow our wings and fly the fullest planes in India. We will never forget the confidence and belief you had in us. In your hands is a very special issue of Spiceroute: This issue celebrates 68 years of India’s independence. On August 15, 1947, India gained independence from Britain, an event that re-shaped the course of world history as it
marked the beginning of the end of colonialism in the world. In this issue, some of our staff share what independence means to them. As for me, I yearn for an India that is modern, progressive, egalitarian, inclusive, poverty-free, and also garbage free. The Prime Minister last year launched Swacch Bharat or ‘Clean India’, a call to action to rid India of filth and garbage that is sadly strewn all over our landscape. It has been estimated by the World Bank that the direct and indirect cost of garbage and poor sanitation equates to over 6% of our GDP! This is something that simply cannot be taken lightly any longer. I also yearn for an India where those driving on the roads follow the same kind of discipline as our pilots who fly our aircraft, so that we no longer have to suffer from the unfortunate distinction of having the highest road accident fatality count and rate in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 231,000 people were killed on Indian roads in 2013, more than any other country. With only 1% of the world’s vehicles, we have 13% of the road fatalities. We, as caring and responsible Indians, cannot just accept this as normal, we must demand better! And we must take it upon ourselves to lead by example. Thank you for flying SpiceJet and supporting us through the years. I wish you a wonderful flight.
Sanjiv Kapoor Chief Operating Officer
1
SpiceJet reports `71.8 crore net profit in Q1FY2016 Highest ever Q1 profit in SpiceJet’s history Gurgaon, July 28, 2015: SpiceJet today reported a net profit of `71.8 cr for Q1FY16, an improvement of `195.9 cr relative to the net loss of `124.1 cr for the same quarter last year. On a revenue base of `1,106.3 cr for the quarter, this translates to a net margin of 6.5%. On an EBITDA basis, SpiceJet reported positive `126.7cr at 11.5% EBIDTA margin, against negative `43.1 cr the previous year. On an EBITDAR basis, SpiceJet reported positive `287.5cr at 26.0% EBITDAR margin, against positive `231.2cr at 13.8% EBITDAR margin last year. This is the second consecutive profitable quarter for SpiceJet, on the heels of a profitable Q4FY15. The airline’s profit for the quarter was slightly suppressed due to its wet-lease operations which are by nature more expensive than conventional leases, and by a weaker rupee relative to previous year. The wet lease aircraft were taken up to address the short-term capacity shortage arising out of aircraft unavailability and the desire to rebuild the network as quickly as possible, and it is expected that these will be replaced by traditional dry-lease aircraft in the coming months. The airline recorded a load factor of 89.8% for the quarter, the highest in the industry. This load factor reflects an increase of 14.8% over the same period last year. In line with year-on-year capacity reduction of 33% that was driven by fleet reductions in late 2014, the airline’s revenue for the quarter was down 34% relative to same period last year. Costs for the quarter were down 42% relative to same period last year. On a unit basis, revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) was flat year-on-year, while cost per available seat kilometer (CASK) was down 13%. “We are working hard to build a world-class airline again. These results show that we are on the right path,” said Ajay Singh, Chairman, SpiceJet Ltd. “This is the second consecutive profitable quarter and I am proud of what we have achieved. But there is still a long way to go. I am confident that the best is still ahead of us. We will continue to focus on growth and on getting operational reliability and on-time performance back to world-class standards. We need to strengthen SpiceJet so that it is able to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that will come its way in the coming years,” he added. “The return to profitability in Q4FY15, and the achievement of the best ever Q1 results in our history in Q1FY16, are achievements that even our most hardened naysayers will acknowledge as remarkable,” said Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Operating Officer, SpiceJet Ltd. “With the return of SpiceJet’s co-founder Ajay Singh as our Chairman and Managing Director, we have been able to gain market confidence and address many of the seemingly intractable issues that were holding us back earlier across several dimensions, including very importantly on the costs and funding side. I am proud and gratified to have been part of what will be looked upon as a historical turnaround in Indian aviation,” he added. “We have made significant improvements in our cash flows and liquidity position, and have been discharging our obligations on time. We are emphatically no longer under financial stress. During this quarter, we have re-inducted an aircraft that had previously been returned and are in discussions to re-induct few more, which reflects renewed lessor confidence in SpiceJet,” said Kiran Koteshwar, Chief Financial Officer, SpiceJet Ltd. “As our performance continues to improve, we will be in a position to gradually pay off historical liabilities as well on terms agreed to with various suppliers, while investing in all of the areas required to secure our future and regain our earlier position in the market,” he added.
MAXPOSURE TEAM COO & Publisher: Vikas Johari CEO & Managing Director: Prakash Johari Information: info@maxposure.in Submissions: editor@maxposure.in Advertising: rahuls@maxposure.in Accounts: accounts@maxposure.in Careers: hr@maxposure.in E-mail: spiceroute@maxposure.in
AWARDS & ACCOLADES i Gold award, Best Feature (English), 54th Associated Business Communicators of India (ABCI) Awards, 2014 i Gold award, Best Photography, 54th ABCI Awards, 2014 i Bronze award, Best Special Column (English), 54th ABCI Awards, 2014 i Silver for the best External Magazine, 53rd ABCI Awards, 2013 i Bronze for the Best Feature (English), 52nd ABCI Awards, 2012 i Gold for the Best Feature (English), 50th ABCI Awards, 2010 For Advertising | 91.9810192708
SPICEROUTE MAGAZINE. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY VIKAS JOHARI ON BEHALF OF MAXPOSURE MEDIA GROUP (INDIA) PVT. LTD. (MMGIPL) FOR SPICEJET LTD. AND PUBLISHED AT MMGIPL, UNIT NO. G-0-A (GROUND FLOOR), MIRA CORPORATE SUITES, PLOT NO 1 & 2, ISHWAR NAGAR, MATHURA ROAD, NEW DELHI-110065, INDIA. SPICEROUTE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE WRITING, ARTWORK AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE USED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MMGIPL. MMGIPL / SPICEJET DOES NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF UNSOLICITED PRODUCTS, MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTWORK, TRANSPARENCIES OR OTHER MATERIALS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE MAGAZINE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER OR SPICEJET. ALL EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE WHILE COMPILING THE CONTENT OF THIS MAGAZINE, BUT WE ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EFFECTS ARISING THERE FROM. MMGIPL / SPICEJET DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS ADVERTISED HEREIN. FOR INQUIRIES | MMGIPL TEL: +91.11.43011111, WWW.SPICEJET.COM, WWW. MAXPOSURE.IN CIN: U22229DL2006PTC152087
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3
UPDATE 16 20
Hot dates Travel buzz
48 hours in Ahmedabad
40
A miraculous escape
46
CONTENTS
20
The inflighT magazine
Volume IX | Issue VIII | August 2015
32 60 72
Anil Kapoor
52
94
32
52
VIsIt ahmedabad Revel in the heritage, culture and essence of the city
Poetry on Plate Visual appeal of a dish gains immense importance
trendIng KhadI The humble fabric is now uber chic
www.spiceroutemag.com
88
Celebrating
68 years of
Independence
SpiceJet team celebrating the spirit of independence Cover & Gatefold Photographs: Vinod Aggarwal Hair & Makeup: Monsoon Salon
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
32
Crafting the deity Historical landmarks
6
TETE-A-TETE
EXPLORE
94
An intelligent and precise massage system based on the human body contours, combined with a strategically-positioned system of airbags, kneading discs and automatic body detection. Enjoy all the basic needs of a full-body massage with the OSIM uDivive S
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the Code Mention
Delhi/NCR-South Extension Ph: (011) 41648266, 9560591050/60/, Okhla - ((011) 46436638, Kirti Nagar - (011) 42280444, 09871573454 Noida- 9560591068, Gurgaon-Ph: (0124) 4052666, 9560591066/67, 95605 Ahmedabad Ph: (079) 40082552, 9724048821 9724328821 09560591067 9724048821 Bangalore Ph:(080) 41710192, 9980075555, 9945355377, 9724048821, 9724328821, Baroda Ph: 09560591067, Chandigarh Ph: (172) 4613109, 08288000201, Chennai Ph: (044) 32406677, 9560591059 Hyderabad Ph: (040) 66663360, 40110154, 8099106929, 9560591059, Jaipur Ph: (141) 5119599, 9928888833, 8769661000, Udayapur Ph: 9928888833, Lucknow Ph (0522) 4109378, 8756699901, Mumbai Ghatkopar 09930182364, 9619857872, 8879330996 Linking Road Ph: (022)26049086, 9619857875/76, Worli Ph: (022) 67363324, 9167301112, Pune Ph: (020) 41280152, 8600018620, 8600018624
CONCERN
INDULGE Celery 56 Food presentation
Take heart, little one
POTPOURRI 102
Prediction
Orchids 66
Spotlight
Khadi 72
Launch Pad
Hot air ballooning
88
High on yoga
90
126
102
106
60
8
COVER STORY SpiceJet celebrates the spirit of freedom
INSIDE SPICEJET 24
Socia media Spice products Behind the scenes I love SpiceJet Music Mobile app News SME traveller Group booking Stars of SpiceJet SpiceJet fleet
24 August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
104 116 122 126
Festivals
60
10 12 30 108 118 120 130 132 134 140 142
INSIDE SPICEJET
Just landed. Awesome journey. Gorgeous crew and on time performance. All in all, a spicy experience! @aseemhattangadi
Flew from Bengaluru-Pune today. Mighty impressed by the service. Faith restored. Continue the great work.
@flyspicejet here's a shot of your wet leased A319 to @kempegowda_air from @Delhi_Airport @karthikbarad
#TheDoors playing in @flyspicejet. Highly impressive. @rajat_arora25
@kailashwrites
10
Thanks to the crew members Esther and Priyanka for a memorable flight!
SpiceJet, you make the ride spicy! Indeed, I loved my ride. :) @terril_thomas
@iabhilashj Yesterday, I flew three different flights and my third one was with SpiceJet, which was awesome. Thanks for a fabulous ride.
Love when your crew says 'Jai Hind' with so much passion. Cheers SpiceJet. You made my day. @Officeofg
@Ramanathanvicky
The best seat in the sky! Really worth the price, with a free meal too! Thanks a lot SpiceJet. @thejagjitfan I had the best flying experience with SpiceJet... no doubt you guys are way more ahead than others :-) @iamabhisekdutta
Had a comfortable early morning flight to Bengaluru with a SpiceMAX seat. Cheers! @aniruddh90 Touchdown at Belgaum with SpiceJet. On time departure and before time arrival. Had a great flight and nice crew. Keep it up. @sanketbag
One of my best flights! All my best wishes to the crew who made it special on the flight from Mangalore to Bengaluru. @binaiks Nice flight experience with SpiceJet on the Kochi-Muscat sector. Nice service & food. @Suvin_
@flyspicejet August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Pleasant flying experience with SpiceJet. Travelled by 'Saffron' from Kolkata to Mumbai. @prittss Experienced one of the finest landings with SpiceJet. Thanks! @RaviDalmia
INSIDE SPICEJET
EXPERIENCE THE BEST
WITH SPICEJET
Keeping the needs of customers as priority, SpiceJet offers innovative products to make every journey a memorable one.
M
aking air travel convenient for its customers, SpiceJet launched ‘Carry More Onboard!’, an optional service for travellers with heavier cabin baggage. Passengers who carry cabin baggage heavier than 7 kg, and do not want to check-in, can opt for this service.
12
SAVE TIME
With this new product, passengers can carry bags weighing up to 5 kg extra, a maximum of 12 kg on board, while paying a nominal fee for each kg above 7 kg. This helps passengers to save time and avoid waiting at the baggage carousal on arrival. As the current maximum size dimensions still apply, bags can be heavier, but not larger. The standard free baggage allowances remain as before.
EASY ACCESS
Customers can opt for this product during airport check-in and at the airport ticket counters, against a receipt. Customers can also pre-book and purchase it online. The scheme applies to all domestic flights, as well
as international flights originating in India. The product is nonrefundable unless the entire booking is cancelled. It can be purchased with any type of fare such as the – SpiceSaver, Hand Baggage Only, SpiceFlex, etc.
HAND BAGGAGE ONLY
SpiceJet is now offering a discount for those passengers who carry hand-baggage only. Applicable on most direct domestic flights (including via flights), the 'Hand Baggage Only' fare has a minimum 15 days advance purchase period. International and connecting flights are not included. Under the new fare, passengers with hand baggage only and who book at least 15 days in advance, will pay `200 less than the normal SpiceSaver fare per one-way flight, while for round trip the discount can be as high as `500. Those who select the normal fares that currently exist will not be charged. Those who book these fares but later check-in luggage, a fee of `500 for up to 10 kg, and `750 for up to 15 kg, will be payable at the airport during check-in.
EASY BOOKING
Bookings for this can be made on www.spicejet.com, at Airport Ticket offices, and through most travel agents. Soon, customers can book through major online travel portals. These fares will not initially be live through the call centre or mobile app. Passengers should keep in mind that hand-baggage allowance does not change. Those who book these fares, but later decide to check-in luggage, will have to pay more.
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Images are for representation purpose only
P
assengers travelling on SpiceJet can now enjoy an allnew menu that offers Indian and Continental cuisines. Keeping the needs of customers in focus, the menu not only appeals to tastebuds across the country, but also keeps affordability and convenience in mind.
13
NEW MENU
Served hot and with a warm smile, the new menu comprises an exquisite range of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. The entire menu has recently been divided into two sections, Breakfast and All day menu. Passengers can opt for meals accordingly. Those who crave for Continental flavours can opt for Grilled Chicken Breast with Mushroom Sauce, among other equally delightful options. The Indian menu includes Paneer/ Chicken Makhanwala among others. Those wanting to grab a quick bite, the airline also offers a choice of sumptuous club sandwiches, Kathi Rolls and delicious sub-sandwiches. Passengers with a sweet-tooth can savour brownie and choco banana pie
that form a part of the dessert menu. In addition, combos are also being introduced. Passengers can relish nachos or sandwich with a cold beverage. By choosing these combos, customers will save money in comparison to standalone F&B.
the meal at the time of booking your flight ticket, or anytime thereafter using the ‘Manage My Booking’ option on the website, www.spicejet.com. By pre-booking, you will not only get the meal of your choice, you will also get a discount relative to onboard prices.
PRE-BOOKING MEALS
Note: Passengers with pre-booked meals will also be served first, ahead of others.
SpiceJet is introducing more prebooking options. You can pre-book
INSIDE SPICEJET
14
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
SIT BACK & RELAX
Passengers can now stretch and relax with SpiceJet’s innovative product, SpiceMAX, offering more convenience with extra legroom and greater personal space to work or unwind. The airline has reconfigured most of its Boeing 737 fleet such that the first five rows provide best-in-class seat pitch. By paying a modest sum, fliers can completely change their travel experience with SpiceMAX, an industry-leading product. This game-changing offering now includes a complimentary meal, beverage and priority baggage handling along with the most legroom economy class seats in India.
EASY BOOKING ONLINE
Selecting a SpiceMAX seat is easy as it can be done at the time of booking on www.spicejet.com. After the tickets have been booked, one can select a SpiceMAX seat by using the ‘Manage my booking’ option (applicable for booking even through travel agents); during online check-in and during check-in at the airport.
SPICEMAX ○ Priority Check-in ○ Priority Boarding ○ Significantly more leg room ○ Complimentary meals & beverages ○ Priority baggage handling
PRICING Q400: Flat fee - `500 per sector Boeing: 0-75 mins (Flight timings) - `750 per sector 75 mins above (Flight timings) - `1,000 per sector
AT YOUR SERVICE
Offering a warm environment to its passengers, SpiceJet introduced Spice Assist. This unique service provides assistance to fliers, supported by the airline’s well trained staff at various airports. Pegged at a special introductory fee per passenger per sector, the airport staff of the airline will aid the customers throughout their journey, right from the check-in counter to the boarding gate and arrival at the next destination.
When booking a connecting flight with a stop-over, passengers will have to purchase SpiceMax seats separately for the two flights. Charges as per flight leg will apply.
15
UPGRADE TO MORE FLEXIBILITY
The next time you book a flight on SpiceJet, opt for SpiceFlex, a uniquely crafted bundled fare that offers passengers immense benefits such as complimentary meal, seat selection, priority check-in, change fee waiver and more. All at a marginal premium only. Considered an ideal option for frequent travellers and business executives, these fares are valid on all direct, via and onward flights on SpiceJet’s vast network. Customers can book SpiceFlex only through the website, www. spicejet. com and travel agents.
UPDATE
COVER STORY
EXPLORE
TÊTE-À-TÊTE
INDULGE
CONCERN
POTPOURRI
HOT DATES events
exhibitions
food
dance
BIG MOTOR SALE 2015 This biggest automotive trade fair in Asia focusses purely on car sales, unlike other leading motor shows that encourage carmakers to highlight concept cars as well. When: From August 1-9, 2015 Where: BITEC Bang Na, Bangkok
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KANTO MATSURI Enjoy one of the biggest summer festivals of Japan known as Lantern Festival in Delhi with some exciting, cutting-edge Japanese cuisine. The event coincides with 15 years celebration of The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa. When: From August 1-31, 2015 Where: Sakura, The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa, New Delhi
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
FRAGMENTS A duo art show by Gopika Nath & Kathryn Mayers will showcase a new form of art which has been experimented in various ways, may it be fabric work or mix medium entirely. The current body of works by Gopika Nath is based on stains and fabrics, whereas Kathryn works with gouache on paper and work with textiles. When: From August 7-September 6, 2015 Where: Art and Aesthetic, Lado Sarai, New Delhi
UPDATE
COVER STORY
EXPLORE
TÊTE-À-TÊTE
INDULGE
CONCERN
POTPOURRI
INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA Come and enjoy Europe's largest ballooning event, where more than 150 balloons take off from Ashton Court Estate at dawn, and linger in the air until evening, when they illuminate the skies. When: From August 6-9, 2015 Where: Ashton Court Estate, Bristol
NOUVEAU ART SHOW
18
Exhibiting Simran KS Lamba’s current body of work, the collection has mixed media artwork on canvas, metal, wood and allied media. The artist used coal tar, treating it in various forms and layering it with diverse media through his vision. When: From August 12-17, 2015 Where: Visual Arts Gallery, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi
SAARE JAHAN SE ACCHA, 2015 Utsav Educational & Cultural Society will organise a two-day festival of Indian classical dance, focussing on ‘Svatanya- The Ultimate Freedom’, which is an integral aspect of Indian philosophy. It will be depicted through various dance forms that will highlight the epitome of love and freedom. When: From August 2526, 2015 Where: Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
ONE ON ONE PART 2 Starring Rajit Kapur, Shernaz Patel, Anu Menon, Neil Bhoopalam, Hussain Dalal, Sumeet Vyas, ShikhaTalsania, Zafar Karachiwala & Gopal Datt, the play includes themes ranging from the music industry, the bureaucracy, marriage, the futility of war to immigration, real estate scams and Bollywood. When: August-September 2015 Where: Across 11 cities in India
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
UPDATE
COVER STORY
EXPLORE
TÊTE-À-TÊTE
INDULGE
CONCERN
POTPOURRI
WHAT’S NEW APP FOR LAST-MINUTE HOTEL NEEDS
DOMESTIC TOURISM INCREASES 20
According to the Ministry of Tourism’s statistics, around 1.28 billion domestic trips to other Indian states or Union Territories (UTs) were taken during 2014, 11.9 per cent more than the previous year. Tamil Nadu was the most popular destination, registering 327.6 mn domestic visits in 2014, followed by Uttar Pradesh (182.8m), Karnataka (118.3m), Maharashtra (94.1m), Andhra Pradesh (93.3m), Telengana (72.4m), Madhya Pradesh (63.6m), West Bengal (49.0m), Jharkhand (33.4m) and Rajasthan (33.1m). Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were also the most visited states in 2013. For international travellers, Goa and Kerala remained on top.
If you are a frequent corporate traveller whose travel plans get confirmed only at the last minute or if you are a person who love to go on a holiday without planning in advance, then RoomsTonite is a must-have app on your phone. Uniquely designed to enable customers to grab the lowest rates on mobile when they book a hotel room, it offers hotels under three categories -- Luxury, Premium and Comfort. With more than 2,000 hotels available on its platform, located in over 275 locations across the country, it offers huge discounts on lastminute bookings. Its direct connectivity with hotels' reservation system ensures a guaranteed room booking even at the last-minute.
NEPAL GEARS UP FOR TOURISM SEASON The Nepal Tourism Board has declared the three months of June, July and August as ‘Readiness Months Period’ to give a proactive boost to the tourism season that normally starts from September and lasts up to March. Keeping soft adventure attractions in focus this season, efforts are also being made to give a boost to untapped parts of Nepal. The religious circuit will also be an area in focus, especially the Buddhist Circuit, which is of importance to a large section of international travellers especially from India and China.
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GOA - A BIRD WATCHER’S PARADISE Goa has an amazing bird diversity boasting of almost 423 bird species available in the State. This has encouraged the state to promote Goa as a leading destination for ornithologists and bird lovers from all over the world. Goa Tourism, in association with the Bird Society of Goa based in Panjim, will develop the bird trails in the State, and provide information to bird lovers on the GTDC website. Avi-tourism is expected to attract high-end tourists and bird lovers from all over the world to it’s bird hot spots scattered across the State.
A GASTRONOMICAL DELIGHT
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Food connoisseurs bored with all that Delhi has to offer, fear not; Gastronomica, a cozy restaurant in the midst of GK 1 market, serves a stunning array of cuisines to befuddle your brain and tempt your taste. Launched in April this year and with a seating capacity of 48, the menu has been curated to ensure a variety. Says Sumit Goyal, owner, “The plan was to cater to a larger audience with basic and honest flavours. Fusion cuisine was made for a group who has different choices and would really like to go for a change.” Working with fusion food is immensely difficult, however, Gastronomica has hit the nail on the head. Fusion dishes like Quinoa Bhel mimics the tangy flavours of a traditional Indian bhel. Do try the Bruschetta served with ricotta and walnut cream, artichoke and olives, and feta and orange. The Ricotta cheese and porcini stuffed beet ravioli, is a divine offering, and wrap up the meal with a molten cake. Price for two: `1,200 Address: M-55, 2nd Floor, M Block Market, GK I, Delhi
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Freedom. What does this word mean? With Indian Independence Day celebrations this month, does it only pertain to remembering the sacrifice, patriotism and heroism of our forefathers? Or has this word changed colour and meaning in today’s world? This issue, we ask a few members of SpiceJet to recount the significance of freedom and independence in their lives. 25
SPICEJET
Celebrates
THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM
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erving the nation is not restricted to only a few professions, but everyone who contributes to the holistic development and growth of the nation in their own way. As SpiceJet caters to its large customer base, ensuring quality, safety and on-time performance, it is the people behind the brand that impart true essence to the airline. Read on what SpiceJet team members have to share on this 68th year of independence.
ESSENCE OF FREEDOM
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In today’s world, the significance of terms like freedom, independence, etc., have drastically changed. What once would stir the spirit and blood of patriots and activists, continues to encourage people today. According to Ravi Kadian, Crew Scheduler - Rostering (Cockpit Crew), independence means having the freedom to make one’s own decisions, to take responsibility for one’s own actions, and being mature enough to do both. He further adds, “Independence is freedom, power, opportunity, responsibility and being able to take a decision that is acceptable in all dimensions of nature.” Many perceive this day as just another day off from work, exclaims Ashima Arora, DGM, Finance & Accounts. “This declaration of independence tells us that we are ‘created equal’.” Indians have more leverage & opportunity to learn, work, grow, taking their own decisions and
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becoming more responsible. But there is much left to do, she adds. “We need to understand that education and opportunity should be accessible to all segments of society. We should take steps to ensure that discrimination is tackled in every form. So, as years pass by, the importance of Independence Day should not wane, rather it should mean more to us.” For Prashant Aggarwal, Dy General Manager - Finance, Independence day means a day of emancipation. “We celebrate Independence Day because we became free from British rule and remember our great heroes, but we still have to free ourselves from our backward thinking. Everyone should be equal and free to live with respect and dignity, so that every day becomes an independence day.”
Independence is freedom, power, opportunity and responsibility
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Sandeep Santoshi, Network Planning, heartily agrees. “I am proud to be an Indian. I now understand how lucky I am to be free in mind and spirit, without any restrictions being imposed on my choices.” Mohammad Yasir Kidwai, Sr Cabin Scheduler (Cabin Crew Rostering), says, “The day we received our rights to share our thoughts and express our feelings freely, is the day we achieved our independence. In SpiceJet, we celebrate this independence daily. It's a great honour to be able to share my thoughts with the management for the betterment of the company." To Manish Kumar, Sr. Manager - Human Resources, it is not a sudden realisation of being an Indian on 15th August. “Independence, from a common man's point of view, is not only a sense of belonging, but a sense of contribution and existence in every step that our nation takes. It is not just about rights, but our duties towards the nation, our contribution to the nation, such as participating in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and so on.” He further adds. “I'm proud to be an Indian. I am grateful for being able to live freely in independent
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India. We have a great workplace at SpiceJet and as a part of the HR department, we endeavour to encourage our co-workers to be independent in every respect.”
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Mahantesh M Pyati, Manager, Human Resources, says, “Being an HR personnel, it’s very important to create a healthy work environment where employees feel free to express their ideas and opinions, and involve themselves in the decisionmaking of the organisation. Also, with the help of each employee, we try to create a wonderful corporate culture in SpiceJet, and aid employees to grow individually, professionally and personally." Jitender Sharma, Manager - Network Planning, shares how on this day people remember the relentless
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struggle of our forefathers. He appreciates the role of social media in making the youth aware about the contribution of our great heroes and creating a common platform for celebration.
SERVING THE NATION
As a part of the large family of SpiceJet, each member contributes daily in serving the nation with utmost dedication, responsibility and honesty. Ashima describes SpiceJet as an airline that promotes flying for everyone. “It gives me immense pleasure to be a part of this airline that provides comfort, ease & personal touch at an affordable price. SpiceJet has changed the definition of flying by air. Being a part of SpiceJet, I am able to link myself in fulfilling dreams of millions of people. We have made travel by air as a customary part of one’s life.” Prashant feels proud to be attached with SpiceJet. “It makes me happy to see that SpiceJet has become a medium to spread smiles on millions of faces, as it is the only airline that has made air travel possible for a common man.”
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Jitender echoes a similar sentiment. Mahantesh shares with pride, “We are one of the largest LCCs in India serving the people of the nation. The concept of an LCC has come to life again with the evolution of the Red. Hot. Spicy. airline, i.e, SpiceJet, that offers not just competitive lowest airfares, but with their On Time Performance, offers a friendly environment for travel.” SpiceJet is a significant contributor to the growth of Indian aviation sector by connecting over 30 cities across India, and being a part of this airline gives Manish immense pleasure. “We serve the nation with the motive to increase air travel accompanied with low cost and boosting the growth of the nation as well,” he adds. Yasir enjoys the work atmosphere the airline inculcates, as he shares, “SpiceJet has given me an opportunity to meet so many different people from different cultures across India, reminding me that we are connected to them through this airline.” Ravi Kadian recalls a quote from a popular film - ‘With great power comes great responsibility’. Though it gives him immense pride to be a part of SpiceJet and serving India, this empowers him with equally great responsibility. Sandeep concludes, “SpiceJet has always endeavoured to fulfill the needs of the industry, keeping the desires of the common man in mind.”
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A daunting task, the cover image was taken from a 30-ft high position to achieve the perfect 'top shot'.
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COVER UNPLUGGED
A glimpse behind the scenes of our cover shoot that features SpiceJet team getting into the mood of Independence Day celebration. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
At SpiceJet's Gurgaon office, the team gears up for the shoot ahead
SpiceJet members are keen to know more about the cover concept
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It's tough to be the centre of attention as the staff brave the sun during the shoot
Amidst the heat, a much needed water break
Getting into the groove for the final shot
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HOURS IN 48 AHMEDABAD
A city that has rapidly gone through many infrastructural changes, what remain unchanged are the ever-welcoming and food-loving people of Ahmedabad. WO RDS | C H E TAS I KANE PH OTO G RA PH S | DINES H S HUKLA
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hmedabad was known as the Manchester of the East because of its textile mills that produced large amounts of cotton cloth. Ahmedabad was further recognised when Mahatma Gandhi decided to make the city home for some years and build an Ashram on the banks of Sabarmati river. He also started the Dandi March from this city.
Two days in Ahmedabad can be spent reveling in its heritage, relishing delicious food and getting to know the warmhearted Gujaritis closely DAY
Enjoy a glimpse of the Old City
9:30 AM | ADALAJ STEP-WELL Being close to the desert, most water in Ahmedabad was and is still found deep, under the ground. Kings built ornate step-wells to provide access to water. The Adalaj vav (step-well in Gujarati) was built by King Mohammed Begada in 1499, for the wife of a local chieftain, Rani Roopba. It has some stunning stone carving. As one approaches the stepwell, there are a number of food stalls worthy of a good breakfast. Do try Methi na Gota, or Methi pakore/ fritters, accompanied with sweet masala tea. 11.00 AM: VISITING THE
GLORIOUS PAST
SpiceJet offers direct flights to Ahmedabad from Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Muscat and Port Blair, and convenient connections from other cities across India. Log on to www.spicejet.com for details.
Located near the University of Gujarat, Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum showcases Indian art including sculptures, woodworks, paintings, beadworks and coins. The museum has a collection of 45,000 printed books and 75,000 manuscripts and a rare collection of
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coins like the finest punch-marked coins ‘bentbar’, apart from having the historic statues of the Chola and Tibetian dynasty, largest head of Buddha in stucco from Gandhara, and the cult image of Lord Rama (early 6th century) of Gupta period from Devagadh, to name a few. 1:30 PM: LUNCH@ATITHI Gujaratis are known to present a lavish choice of grub for vegetarians and Atithi is the place to visit. Gujarati cuisine offers a variety and a thali here provides an unlimited experience. A thali includes 30-40 itemsappetisers, desserts, breads, etc.
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3:00 PM: THE OLD CITY Like most Indian cities, the heart of Ahmedabad lies in its Old City. Split by the Sabarmati river, Ahmedabad is divided into East (Old Ahmedabad) and West (New Ahmedabad). Old Ahmedabad is known for its heritage monuments that are at a short walk from each other. Sites not to miss here are Badshah no Hajiro, Rani no Hajiro, Jama Masjid Teen Darwaza Market, Bhadra Fort and Sidi Syed Jali, a site that is the inspiration for the symbol of Ahmedabad. 8:00 PM: THE HOUSE OF MG The House of MG is a 200-year-old restored wooden haveli located
across the Sidi Syed Jali. Built in 1924, the House of MG has a café that serves some of the most authentic Gujarati snacks. You must try Patra, Handvo, Mixed Dhokla, Dalvada, Muthiya. Stroll through their gift shop to pick up some authentic, hand-crafted souvenirs from Gujarati artisans. 10 PM: NIGHT HERITAGE WALK The guided night walk of the historic old-Ahmedabad city starts at 10 pm from the House of MG. The traditional living quarters in Ahmedabad are called pols. Communities belonging to the same caste used to live together, forming many pols. The heritage walk takes you through narrow lanes, old havelis and monuments, explaining the architecture and ends with a Naubat. Naubat (a
Sidi Syed Jali is the site that inspired the symbol of Ahmedabad kind of a drum) is played at 11 pm every night to signal the closing of the gates as an ode to the King. 11 PM: NIGHT FOOD MARKET The night walk ends in a unique night food market, Manek Chowk. During the day, it is a wholesale jewellery market and by 9 pm, it turns into a food market that is open till 5 am. The jewellery shop owners found this unique method to keep their shops guarded all night and avoid the square getting deserted. Even today, the electricity for running the food stalls is provided by the shop-owners as fees for guarding the area. Grab a table and the waiters will bring you food from the stalls. Try Gwalia Butter Dosa, Chocolate-Pineapple Sandwich, Laxmi Ganthiya and end it with Asarfi Kulfi.
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Extreme left: Sabarmati Ashram, Left: Sarkhej Roza; Below: A stall at Law Garden shopping market
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2
DAY
Gear up for a day of intense sightseeing
8:00 AM: SARKHEJ ROZA A long-forgotten monument that has been restored in the recent past, this mosque complex helps one understand the Mughal influence on the local architecture. The most appropriate season to visit the mosque (no entry during prayer time) is monsoon or winter, so that you can witness the beauty of the lake within the complex. 9:30 AM: BREAKFAST AT
LAXMI GANTHIYA RATH
No visit to Ahmedabad is complete without devouring a breakfast of Ganthiya, Fafda, Jalebi and Chai - a traditional Gujarati breakfast that consists of something sweet and savoury. Enjoy the Fafda, accompanied by a raw August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
papaya salad and a sweetsavoury chutney. Yellow Khaman is also a popular accompaniment. 10:30 AM: SABARMATI GANDHI ASHRAM
One of the most peaceful, tranquil places in the city, the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram is a trip down memory lane about India’s independence struggle. The museum showcases the role this Ashram played in the freedom struggle. While at the Ashram, do try a hand on the spinning wheel and spin
some cotton yarn. If you get done early, visit the khadi emporium (across the road) for khadi clothes and also visit a hand-made paper factory, Kalamkush. 1:00 PM: LUNCH AT TORAL
DINING HALL
Having Gujarati thali once is not enough. Opposite Gandhi Ashram is Toral (a Gujarat Tourism restaurant) that serves traditional Gujarati food at an affordable price. 2:00 PM: MUSEUM DELIGHTS Depending on your interests, you can choose to visit these unique
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FACTS Ahmedabad originally had 21 stone-made, ornate gates that surrounded the city. Sadly, only 14 exist today others were demolished for expansion & development. These gates can be seen when visiting the Old City. Localities in Old Ahmedabad have ornate, stonecarved bird-feeders called chabutras. With almost no trees in these localitiesthese bird feeders are filled by local residents with water and feed for the birds.
Left: An interior view of the Kite Museum, Below: Scenic view of the riverfront
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museums in Ahmedabad. Calico Museum is a textile museum and the Kite Museum showcases a unique collection of kites from all over the world. Both these museums are an interesting peek into the history and culture of Ahmedabad. Do visit their websites or call them before visiting to reconfirm their timings and weekly offs as they change often. 5:30 PM: VISIT THE SCENIC
CITY RIVERFRONT
To witness the changing landscape of Ahmedabad, visit the Ahmedabad August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Riverfront. There are several parks located on either side as well as long walkways. Take your pick and if lucky, you can also witness the sunset in the picturesque setting. 7:00 PM: LAW GARDEN NIGHT
SHOPPING MARKET
Shopping comes a close second after food for Amdavadis. This evening shopping market has stalls that sell traditional Gujarati clothes and handicrafts. Be it Lehenga cholis, wall hangings or tops and kurtis - the stalls have it all. Make sure you bargain!
8:30 PM: RAJWADU VILLAGE
RESTAURANT
Another interesting experience in Ahmedabad is visiting the village themed restaurants. Relax your tiring heels and lay back on the khatlas (charpoys), while enjoying traditional dance and music. If you are visiting with children, there are puppet shows, pottery making, etc., to keep everyone entertained. The food is unlimited and delicious! Round up a two-day tryst in the city of Ahmedabad with a few lipsmacking delicacies, and you’ll find yourself coming back for more.
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CRAFTING THE DEITY Pen, a town near Mumbai-Pune Expressway, is synonymous with the crafting of Ganesha idols. Catch a glimpse of the making of these idols... W O R D S | B RINDA G ILL P H OTO GR A PH S | SATYA JIT G ILL
D
riving from Pune, as one leaves the sleek Mumbai-Pune Expressway after Khopoli, a lovely meandering road offers the flavour of rural India. In half an hour, milestones mention Pen.
And once in Pen, workshops along the undulating main road and side lanes catch the eye with craftspersons immersed in their art and informal displays of scores of Ganesha idols August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Ganesha Chaturthi, celebrated in different parts of India and one of the most popular festivals in Maharashtra, marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. The joyous festival lends an air of activity to Pen as lakhs of images are crafted in workshops here. Some workshops are seasonal, and some are busy through the year to ensure an array of icons, from small to large, simple to elaborate, are ready, well in time, to be dispatched to destinations - in Maharashtra, India and even overseas.
PEN AND THE ICON
The tradition of crafting Ganesha statues in Pen goes back over a
hundred years, when they were crafted by family members for their personal rituals and celebrations. In course of time, some families slowly started crafting idols for which they received a tribute in kind which later led the establishment of family workshops. “Crafting Ganesha statues is the pride of Pen. The credit of initiating a cottage industry of Ganesha idols goes to the Deodhar family. The family’s descendant Shrikant Vaman Deodhar, a renowned sculptor and alumni of JJ School of Arts, has helped to develop the industry in Pen and spread its name to foreign shores,” says master craftsman Sunil Shinde, whose workshop Supriya
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Kala Kendra operates through the year. He adds that there are between 350-400 workshops in Pen, each producing an average of 5,0006,000 statues a year that vary in size from six inches to ten feet or more, and span varied expressions. Of these, about 25 workshops operate through the year, the rest are seasonal.
MAKING AN IDOL
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Step into a workshop and you are privy to seeing shelves lined with Ganesha statues in different stages of production. Each statue is individually and painstakingly hand-crafted. The process is time and labourintensive as it starts right from the hand kneading of clay to crafting a masterpiece (for obtaining a mould for batch of statues), creating a perfect mould from the masterpiece Above: Statues at Baliram Pawar's workshop Trimurti Kala Kendra; Left: Statues in making at Sunil Shinde's workshop Supriya Kala Kendra
(to crafting the batch of statues), hand painting and finishing each statue. Once the mould is ready, the process of crafting batches of Ganesha statues commences. “The clay is kneaded by hand till it achieves the correct consistency. Then a small lump of clay is rolled out like a chapati and neatly layered within the different parts of the mould to be used for obtaining the image. Then the parts of the mould are taken up and filled with clay. These parts of the mould are put together and additional clay is pressed in from the base,” explains
Shinde. After the clay is well packed in, the mould is removed carefully and the moist figure is then removed. Different body parts of the statue are then joined to the main body, and the icon is left to dry completely. During the summer months, statues dry in about 10-15 days. However, once the rain sets in, the process could take as long as three months. After the statue has dried, it is polished and then dipped in China clay slip and cavities on the surface are filled in. The body is coloured by dipping the entire statue in a tub of pigment.
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Left & Below: Statues in their raw form at Trimurti Kala Kendra's workshop
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Each statue is individually rubbed with a cotton cloth to bring about a particular shine. Using a brush and a reddish colour, the craftsperson adds a tinge of colour to transform the eventoned body into one that appears of flesh and blood. Details of attire, jewellery, headgear, the pedestal or furniture the deity is seated on are painted in different colours, and then varnish is applied on the jewellery for shine. The idol is now complete except for the eyes. A special artist comes to the workshop to paint the eyes and in that transformative moment, the statue comes alive.
THE CLAY ART
The Ganesha statues are crafted of both shadu clay, a type of clay sourced from Gujarat, that dissolves in water in fifteen minutes as well as Plaster of Paris, that takes longer August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
POPULAR STYLES
A variety of styles of Ganesha are crafted ranging from traditional styles to more different stances and on more decorative seating. The demand for new styles has resulted in colourful compositions like Ganesha seated on a fancy chair, a throne, on a lotus, on a paan leaf, on a crab, on a hibiscus flower, with traditional Maharashtrian headgear and more.
GIVING BACK TO THE EARTH
A special artist comes to the workshop to paint the eyes to dissolve. However, the shadu clay statues take longer to dry, are heavier and break more easily, than the Plaster of Paris statues that are easier to transport and are much in demand.
After ten days of festivities, Ganesha idols are immersed into a lake, river or the sea. The act of immersion returns clay images to the fabric of the Earth, and signifies the cycle of creation and dissolution, intrinsic to faith. And, in Pen it is a day of performing a small ritual and the breaking of coconut to mark the commencement of another cycle of crafting the deity from the very next day.
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A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE A desire to catch the glimpses of a tiger in the Corbett National Park gave the author one of the most chilling experiences. Read more... WO RDS & PH OTOGRAP HS| NAVI N M RAHEJA
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orbett has a charm that attracts me quite often. In January 2015, I, with my brother and nephew, reached the quaint little town of Ramnagar around 1.30 pm. After having lunch at Ramnagar, we proceeded for the Dhangari gate of the park.
While the formalities were being taken care of at the entry gate, I met Jai Kishan, a forest guard who was posted at Gairal range of the park during monsoon, where he had a miraculous escape from a tiger attack. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
He recalled, it was a rainy day of August, while he was patrolling with three other forest guards near the Gairal tiraha on the bank of Ramganga River. Suddenly a tiger attacked him from the back. Jai Kishan fell with his face down. Before the tiger could have choked him, his companions bravely waved their sticks and shooed the tiger away. Jai Kishan was badly injured by the deep claws and was bleeding heavily. He was rushed to the hospital at Ramnagar immediately and was attended to. However, he has not recovered completely from the pain and wounds. Having completed the formalities, we started in our open gypsy with cameras ready. It was a very familiar terrain connecting me with every patch of Sal trees, grasslands and wildlife encounters
I had over last 40 years. I remember how we brothers had come to visit Corbett for the first time on a scooter during our college days.
THE SEARCH
We turned right towards Gairal from the familiar trijunction. It was already 3 pm and we decided to have a good look at Gairal Chaur where several stories about a new male tiger were being circulated recently. Though we could locate its pugmark on the dirt track leading to Machan, he was nowhere to be seen. Our recce from Machan was of no help either. It was a cold winter afternoon; sky was overcast with clouds and occasional drizzling was reducing the visibility. A few yards ahead, I instructed my driver Danny (Danish Mohammad) to take a right turn on
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Champion Road, for this is an area where I have sighted numerous tigers. Though, I missed the tiger here, I was gifted with the sight of 3 ghariyals who were at a safe distance on the river bank. I photographed them along with a crocodile. As we came out of Champion Road on to the main road and had hardly gone ahead by approx 300 metres, a langur call caught my attention. It was followed by a spurt of frantic monkey alarm calls another 100 meters away. This was enough to tell me about the presence of a tiger. The car came to a halt and while I was trying to guess the direction of movement of the tiger, three more gypsies, full of tourists, joined within 10 minutes. They rushed toward Ramganga River. Danny also wanted to follow them but I stopped him. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Before Danny could turn the ignition key, the tigress charged, with no time to react THE FOURTH CHARGE
My decades of experience with tigers and their behaviour, particularly in Corbett, gave me a strong conviction that the tiger was moving parallel to the road and in every likelihood, would have come out once it was convinced that there was no vehicle lying in wait. Accordingly, I instructed Danny to move ahead to a higher elevation point on the road. We had hardly moved 50 yards when three tigers simultaneously emerged in the middle of the road. On looking at an approaching car, one of them bolted to the right, while the other two
went to the left. I instantly asked to stop the vehicle, as the tigers would cross again to be together. By the time the gypsy stopped, another tiger bolted from left to right. The equation though changed… still had same opportunity of photography for us. And then the tigress appeared just 15 metres away. While the other two, purportedly fully grown cubs, were nowhere visible, the tigress expressed objection to our presence by baring her teeth to us. I asked Danny to give her space, otherwise she could attack the open gypsy. Before Danny could turn the ignition key, the tigress charged. There was no time to react as the attacking tigress reached the gypsy within a fraction of seconds. We were all frozen with the repeated thundering roars and the cameras fell out of our hands. My HD handy-cam could only record the initial shot
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CORBETT LEGACY
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At Corbett there is a rock, with a note on it ‘Shoot nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints’. I wonder whether the same is relevant even today. For the footprints have changed into gypsy and canters tyre track and the pictures are morphed with digital and electronic devices. Nevertheless, this rock has become synonymous with a Corbett legacy for many.
and the thundering sounds of the charging tigress. She stopped short within one meter and turned back. The entire encounter was over within a few seconds; we were left stilled, enthralled and spellbound with our eyes wide open. By the time we regained ourselves, the tigress had gone. We saw it crossed the road 50 yards from behind the gypsy to join her two adult cubs. Luckily the inexperienced cubs did not join in the attack.
ANOTHER CHANCE TO LIVE
What stopped her from ripping us apart after having come within a metre, that too with full rage and force? Was it a mock attack? This was the fourth time that a tiger charged at me in Corbett, of my over 300 tiger encounters.The first charge happened in early 1980s at Thandi August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Sarak in Corbett, when I was with my wife and my little son. As I took the left turn from grass chaur to Thandi Sarak, a tiger jumped in front of my car hardly 2 metres away. The second one was in May 1994 on the stretch of the High Bank road. The third one was on June 13, 2002 at Rohini Padau. I would say this attack was much more real and dangerous.
While I am writing this story, I attribute my survival to the large heartedness of the tigress. It also reiterates my warnings that human beings must keep a safe distance when a tiger is mating, is over a kill or it is accompanied with cubs. Many thanks to her, many thanks to the Almighty… there is still time left for more jungle adventures and more stories for my readers.
The writer is the CMD of Raheja Developers. For already published stories and films on wildlife which have run on National Geographic channel, Doordarshan National channel and Doordarshan (India), please log on to www.rahejagroup.org
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Seasons MAN FOR ALL
Thirty seven years into his film career, Anil Kapoor seems to be drinking from the fountain of youth itself. W O R D S|A A RTI K A PUR SING H
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nil Kapoor has worked in the Hindi film industry since 1979 and though his fame and fortune have been earned largely in rupees, a low-budget British movie called Slumdog Millionaire changed his life in 2009, when it brought home an astonishing eight Academy Awards, including Best Direction and Best Picture.
For his role as a dubious quiz show host, Kapoor shared a Screen Actors Guild Award with his co-stars, for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Now, Kapoor is one of India's most recognised actors. He is an industry lynchpin between Hollywood and Bollywood, a successful producer of four Hindi films since Anil Kapoor Film Company launched in 2007. The only actor who made no bones about wanting to work in Hollywood, and was persistent enough to chase opportunities is easily one of the most recognisable faces abroad. And we don't just
53 mean Hollywood. At the recently concluded IIFA Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the loudest cheers echoed "ANEEEEEEL"! He has already set hearts racing with Dil Dhadakne Do and is set for Welcome Back, that releases in September this year. More recently, his company is set to bring Modern Family to India. Will you act in Modern Family? I hope they cast me. I can play both roles — the older guy or the younger husband. Both are fantastic roles. I can play the gay guy as well. I hope my daughter Rhea, who is taking the decisions, will read this! (laughs) How do you manage to look the way you do? I have never done anything extra. But I have refrained from letting go of myself. So it is all attributed to discipline. When I was younger, my co-stars would tease me for not having enough fun after shooting. But I don’t think it’s important to party till the wee hours to be happy in life. I was very happy shooting and spending time with my family, I still am. I guess that inner peace shows on my face. I never compromise on my work. Yes, I do set aside times when I let my hair down. But there have been parties, sometimes even at home,
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WHEN NOBODY PRAISES ME, I LOOK INTO THE MIRROR AND PRAISE MYSELF
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where I am absent because I have an early morning shoot. The other person responsible for this is my wife Sunita. She has really taken extremely good care of me. Your work entails a lot of travel. Does it not take a toll on your health and looks? When you’re as passionate about work as I am, you manage yourself both physically and mentally to stay fit and focussed on your work in spite of the travel. Jet lag also depends on how physically fit you are. The fitter you are, lesser the jet lag. Then obviously I keep walking in-flight, I shower on the flight. Despite all this, jet lag is inescapable. But if you want to do good work and don’t want the tiredness to show, you will find ways around it. So is there a fitness regime too? I am not obsessed with it, but yes, yoga has helped me immensely and I do feel lost if a day goes by without it. I was never into muscle-building. Only fitness. If you’re fit, you feel good about yourself. But it is also attributed to my gene pool. My dad and my grandfather were not actors and yet, they looked after themselves and lived a full life. Also, it is important to maintain a positivity in your mindset. Never get into a negative line of thinking and be motivated always. The only regime one must follow is to control one's mind. I do wake up with parts of my body aching some days and then I feel, 'Chuck it, let me be lazy today'. But then that only
The only regime one must follow is to control one's mind. Remain motivated. Never fall prey to negative thinking August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
to do something to make me feel that I was on that level as well, so I became my own cheerleader. If someone would ask me, ‘How are you?’ I would say: I am handsome. So yes, when nobody praises me, I look into the mirror and praise myself. Were you always interested in becoming an international actor? Who isn’t? On the face of it they may say they are not. But that isn't true. Everybody who told me back when 'Slumdog' happened, that they’re not interested, are all into it now. All of them who said, 'our Hindi film industry is good enough' or 'we don't have the time'. But now 'sab kar rahey hai' (now they’re all doing it). I am happy that I am getting to contribute to our industry and theirs in my own little way.
lasts a few seconds and I signal my brain to wake up. So I go for a workout immediately. Once the blood circulation starts because of the workout and endorphins are being pumped into the brain, you’re completely rejuvenated and positive thoughts return. But some of your family members have battled weight issues too? That was because they didn’t look after themselves! Prevention is better than cure. Boney is the most casual about his health. Arjun and Sonam have gladly realised now the importance of giving attention to the body and health. I always believe that actors must look their best because audiences pay money to watch their movies. I’ve heard that before you go for a shot, you look into the mirror and tell yourself 'Kya dikhta hai! You are too good'... Everybody has some quirks; a little bit of madness and things you do to charge yourself. In my time, my contemporaries were much better looking and had better personas and got better breaks. I had
FAST FACTS Anil Kapoor also dons the producer hat, and has produced films like Badhaai Ho Badhaai, My Wife’s Murder, Gandhi - My father, etc. His debut in the Hindi film industry was with Umesh Mehra's Hamare Tumhare in 1979 He won his first Filmfare Best Actor award for the film Tezaab in 1988, and Best Supporting Actor for Mashaal (1984). He acted alongside Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
What is your Hollywood ambition? Actors are nomads. We move a lot and can adapt anywhere -- to food, weather, environments -- so long as we’re acting. The only thing we cannot replace is family. My vision is that after 15-20 years, I would do roles of the kind Morgan Freeman is now doing in Hollywood. Even after 15 years, there will be certain roles I will be able to do there because things are different there. Twitter doesn’t go mad there because Brad Pitt did one scene in 12 Years A Slave. My inspirations are performers like Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood. American Sniper has become the highest grossing war film ever. People like them really inspire me – you know, people who have been huge stars, who have not wasted their stardom away by not looking after themselves or by not reinventing themselves. Sonam is doing well and Harshvardhan is starting his acting career soon. Also, Rhea's production house is going great guns, too. Where are you headed? The year 2014 was hectic and 2015 is one of the most exciting years of my life. I’ve great plans for 2016 and 2017. Yes, I’ve already planned many things for the coming years.
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CELERY GOODNESS UNLIMITED
A wonderful medicinal herb with endless list of health benefits, Celery is better known for adding a refreshing taste to a variety of dishes. WO RDS | NEELAM S I NGH
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igh in roughage and low in calories, Celery is used around the world as a vegetable and salad food. Its high water content makes it a specially good food to eat. The greener stalks of celery are a good source of vitamin A, B1, K and G. It is rich in chlorine, sodium, potassium and magnesium.
Its leaves are strongly flavoured and are used less often, either as a flavouring in soups and stews or as a dried herb HISTORICAL REFERENCE
Derived from the Latin word sedano, celery has been used by the Greeks historically as a medicine and as a sign of victory. The Romans were
the first to value it as a flavouring agent, and later it became a delicacy for Italians and French. A native of Mediterranean, the ancient Chinese also used it as a medicine.
“I'M AFRAID OF LOSING MY OBSCURITY. GENUINENESS ONLY THRIVES IN THE DARK. LIKE CELERY.” ALDOUS HUXLEY
EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE, WE TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF CELERY. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Turn on your taste buds. SERVING HotMeals SINCE 2009
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For exciting offers download the official SpiceJet App from Google Play Store & the App Store. For T&C: www.spicejet.com *New menu will go into effect mid-August
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The seeds of the celery are also commonly used in medicine to help relieve pain
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USAGE
During the nineteenth century the North Americans began to use celery seed, mainly in pickles. Nowadays, Europeans commonly use the leaves for soups and sauces and as a garnish, and the stalks and roots as vegetables or salads. While the Chinese and Southeast Asians use a the celery leaf to flavour many of their dishes. Celery seeds are tiny globular seeds that are used as whole, slightly crushed, or ground. The leaves, which are light green, are used whole (fresh or dried), flaked, or ground. The green leaves, stem and the bulbous root of celery are all extremely rich & makes it a very important medicinal plant. It is extensively used in soup and as a seasoning in almost all cooked food. In addition, the seeds of the plant are also commonly used in medicine to help relieve pain.
BENEFITS OF CELERY
○ It is particularly good for stomach disorders. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
○ Celery juice gives a cooling effect and helps to normalise body temperature during hot dry weather. ○ It neutralises acids and is a good blood cleanser. Did you know? In ancient Rome, celery was worn around the neck to ward off a hangover from a night of partying. Perhaps this is where the practice of putting a stalk of celery in a Bloody Mary comes from!
○ It has protective properties that are beneficial to both the brain and the nervous system. ○ Celery is an excellent food for people suffering from arthritis, neuritis and rheumatism. It can help to clear up high blood pressure. ○ It prevents calcium deposits.
QUICK SERVING IDEAS
○ Add chopped celery to tuna fish or chicken salad recipe ○ Add a celery root in mashed potatoes for an interesting flavour ○ Give a unique taste to carrot juice by adding some celery to it ○ Root celery can be served as a major plate vegetable on its own, and leaf celery can be substituted for parsley in almost any recipe.
STORAGE
Buy celery that has firm tight bunches with healthy leaves. Pack them into zip lock bag and store them in the refrigerator. It will keep them fresh for at least two weeks.
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PRESENTATION MATTERS Poetry on plate is how food is often described nowadays. Visual appeal of a dish has assumed importance as never before and chefs are going all out. WORDS | MINI RI BEIRO
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icture this: Pan-seared, tender scallops, with caramelised leeks, sweet roasted red peppers, mint and pickled lentil medley, drizzled with a fava bean puree and organic pea shoots served on a pristine white porcelain dish.
Attractive and appetising instantly for the diner. Isn’t it? August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Chefs are beginning to realise that the appearance of food has an untold impact on how guests perceive its flavours. Thus, for most chefs today, the process of creating a culinary masterpiece does not end when the food comes out of the oven or off the grill. They believe the way a dish is presented to the guest is as important as the techniques or ingredients used to prepare it. Kedar Bobde, Executive Chef, Hyatt Regency, Mumbai, opines quality ingredients may give a quality product, but one has to present it well to ensure that the dish is appealing. After all, sight is the initial sense which plays a major role in forming one’s opinion. Plating at any restaurant is no longer merely a matter of placing a side dish next to an entree, but about combining zest and sensory stimulation to wow a guest. Gone are the days when guests were concerned merely with the taste of a dish and would settle for a staid appearance. Well travelled and familiar with global food trends, diners today expect only the best. As the amount spent on dining out has
Did you know?
Most chefs tend to use the acronym BUFF when it comes to food presentation. It stands for balance, unity, focal point and flow. gone up substantially, guests want a ‘picture perfect’ dish.
EYE-CATCHING DISHES
Cooking techniques apart, chefs are labouring tirelessly to embellish their dishes, as they are under constant scrutiny. They are often judged on the basis of the appearance of their dishes. What adds to the pressure is the advent of social media, where images of dishes go viral in seconds. Naturally then, chefs are careful about what goes on the guests’ table. Presentation has clearly become every chef’s business. Each chef has his own personal preference and style when it comes to plating a dish, although techniques of food presentation are many.
Garnishes, strategically placed sauces, specialty cuts of meat, carved vegetables et al. And yes, even the use of the right tableware. The options are endless. Rohit Tokhi, Executive Chef, Kempinski Ambience Hotel,
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Left: Nehari gosht at Dilli 32; Bottom: An elaborate spread at Sakura
62 Delhi, says, “We play a lot with garnishes and textures when plating the signature dish at our Indian restaurant Dilli 32. The dish is not only cooked with authentic spices and flavours, but also presented in a way that catches the diner's eye.” Edible flowers, sauces, dressings, vegetable purees are typical and oft-used tools for enhancing a dish. But chefs realise that aesthetics and flavours must
marry well. Mere design and style cannot save a bad dish. Jaydeep Mukherjee, Executive Chef, Indigo Delis, for instance, does not subscribe to the unnecessary usage of any of the above. “At the Indigo Delis, we do not add anything to the plate that is not part of the immediate recipe. For desserts, we use a messy smear of chocolate, a sprig of basil, a dollop of fresh cream and powdered sugar
and flour to enhance the plate. For the rest of our food, we load the dish with ingredients, because that's the look we have always maintained,” he informs. Many chefs like Kedar Bobde enjoy plating a dish, but prefer to keep it simple using natural ingredients. A few sorrel leaves or red spinach in a salad to add colour, are his favourites. “Sauces and reductions are fairly common. A few drops of flavoured oils add a lot of colour. A simple combination of nice fresh pink tuna and avocado with lavash, is not just refreshing to look at but a simplistic approach to blend ingredients,” he quips.
TABLEWARE
Ingredients and garnishes help chefs to make their creations look pretty, but tableware too aids presentation. The right tableware underlines the style of food and intensifies the look and feel of a dish. It plays a crucial role in bringing a restaurant and its concept to a diner’s plate. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
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A FEW TIPS ○ Avoid cluttering the plate, keep it simple ○ Visualise what your dish should look like before you begin plating it
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Right: Desi Roots' Chipotle Chicken Tikka with Avocado Raita; Below: Wild Mushroom Cappuccino at Gastronomica; Inset: Banoffee Cronut at Social
○ Try and use those ingredients for garnish that complement the dish ○ Balance colours and textures well, when presenting a dish
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Tableware has become the canvas of art for a chef today. They have an eclectic range of stylish tableware to choose from. Different colours, shapes, sizes and effects, are being used to add a unique touch. As rules are becoming relaxed, chefs are opting for less traditional tableware and experimenting with different shapes and materials to show off their food. The rustic look is fashionable and chefs are often seen plating dishes on wooden/faux wooden boards.
Chef Rohit Tokhi believes that imagination and innovation are critical when using tableware to plate a dish. He adds, “The tableware used should complement the food in texture, contrast and should break the monotony of the dish. Care has to be taken to ensure that imagination is practical and should be acceptable to the guest. Mueslis, custards and puddings, are served in jars which look good in a buffet, while juices are served August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Edible flowers, sauces & purees are oft used for dressing a dish in individual juice bottles. However, an untossed Caesar salad in a jar, is impractical, no matter how nice it may look.” Taste can never be secondary in a culinary experience. But bright, flavourful ingredients, artistically combined on a plate, makes the diner appreciate a dish when served. Clearly, presentation makes an impact.
Nature’s Awesome Extravaganza Millions of Years Old
Araku, Visakhapatnam
Haritha Valley Resort, Araku Borra Caves
Visakhapatnam
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orra Caves, 15km form Tyda, at 2182 ft above sea level, is an exhilarating experience for the adventure lover. The limestone stone caves, 2 km in length, have been known to exist since Lord Rama’s time, and were first discovered by William King the British geologist in the year 1807. However it is Andhra Pradesh Tourism that has excellently illuminated the caves with sodium lights at strategic places giving the caves an ethereal glow. All around the huge caves the stalactites and stalagmites have been sculpted by nature into fantastic forms. There are over 20 natural rock formations that look as though someone has chiseled them. The star attraction in the caves is a cluster of Shivalings known as ‘Kotilingalu’. One can also recognize rock formations which look like Hindu deities and figures from mythology. We can almost visualize Lord Shiva with his consort Parvathi and Sage Narada. And to your utter amazement, a likeness of Hanuman with folded hands, a pouncing tiger, a maize cob and more…. Such is the mesmerizing magic of Borra Caves.
See it to believe it !
www.aptourism.gov.in Spice Route H: 240mm x W: 183mm
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EXOTIC In the 19th century, exotic orchids from tropical forests were valued like jewels in the West! One can now enjoy their beauty everywhere. W O R D S
| B RINDA G ILL
P H OTO G R A PH S
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| A DE SH SH IV K AR
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S
ay orchid and images of exotic ornament of unusual beauty and variety, casting captivating splashes of colour instantly come to the mind’s eye! From flamboyant single flower plants to stalks dense with small blooms; from flowers with soft colours to those with vividly speckled petals; from orchids that appear typical though gorgeous, to those that simulate the form of an insect, a laughing bumblebee, a monkey face, a swaddled baby, a dancing ballerina... the variety is amazing and enthralling.
Though most orchids are fascinating for their flowers, some are sought for their marbled, variegated veined leaves Botanists, taxonomists, horticulturists, hybridists, florists, flower lovers, mesmerised by their exotic and exceptional appearance, and sheer diversity of size, form and colour, have spared no effort in cultivating orchids in defined conditions as well as creating exotic species through hybridisation.
A FASCINATING FAMILY
Orchids belong to the youngest family and one of the largest and most interesting families of flowering plants, classified as Orchidaceae that is estimated to include over 25,000 species across the world, of which a significant number grow naturally in the warm, humid tropics. There are an estimated 1,331 species of orchids in India, which make up about five per cent of the world’s orchids. These are indigenous to Indian forests, and many of them find mention in ancient Indian texts, and have been used in traditional folk medicine.
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Left: Dendrobium speciesHybrid; Inset: Lady’s Slipper species
Orchids stand apart from other flowering plants primarily because of their unique flower structure. The orchid flower is normally composed of three sepals and three petals; one of the petals, usually the lower one, is modified and appears of a strikingly different shape or colour. This petal, referred to as the lip, gives each orchid a distinctive appearance, and in fact, has led to the naming of many orchids. One of the most extraordinary orchid species is the Lady’s Slipper species, so called because of its curious shoe-shaped pouch; the flower’s colour and
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Extreme Left: Rhynchostylis species; Left: Phalaenopsis speciesHybrid; Below: Dendrobium barbatulum; Inset: Blue vanda or Vanda coerulea
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fragrance attracts bees, who slip in and in the process of scrambling to exit, carry pollen and help in pollination!
There are over 800 species of orchids in the north-east alone
ORCHIDS IN INDIA
Starting from Sikkim, running along north west Bengal and continuing towards the seven states of the north-east, the region is rich in orchids owing to its mountainous topography, moist atmosphere, and pristine forests. There are over 800 species of orchids in the north-east.
In India, orchids grow naturally at varying altitudes ranging from sea-level to high mountains, where conditions are conducive to their growth. These include parts of the northwestern Himalayas, sections of the Western and Eastern Ghats, and the northeastern region of India. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
HISTORICAL ANECDOTES
In 1848, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, one of the greatest British botanists and explorers, arrived in India and
made the first detailed botanical and geological explorations of the Sikkim Himalayas and the Khasi Hills. He was the first European to collect plants in the Himalayas. He collected many orchids, including the stunning blue Vanda coerulea. During the 19th century when the orchid trade was burgeoning in Europe, thousands of plants were procured from tropical forests and dispatched to European ports. One story narrates the adventures of Fostermann, an orchid hunter for Frederick Sander, who owned nurseries in Belgium and England, and supplied orchids to many royal homes of Europe. He
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Did you know? Given the vast number of orchids, some have unusual names like Aa, Dracula and Vrydagzynea; others like India, Odisha, Papuaea are named after places; and some are named after famous people like Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana, Sir Elton John, Amitabh Bachchan & Shahrukh Khan among others.
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spent months in Assam searching for the elusive orchid, Cypripedium spicerianum, which had flowered in a personal collection at Wimbledon and generated much interest. He waded through icy streams, trekked through jungles, and ultimately located the species atop a precipitous craggy outcrop. Needless to add, the orchids were swiftly sold when they reached their destination. Of the fantastic variety of orchids that flower in the northeast, the blue vanda caused quite a sensation in the orchid world for its rare delicate light blue flowers touched with darker tessellations, when discovered in 1837, in the Khasi Hills, by William Griffith. Dendrobium gibsonii was another species discovered in the Khasi Hills in 1836, by the Duke of Devonshire’s collector, Gibson, and was named after him. Gibson spent much time in the jungles of the north-east searching for orchids, and he collected dozens of different species. Among the popular orchids is Rhynchostylis retusa, characterised with its long dense cluster drooping. It is sentimentally
Top left: Cymbidium species; Inset: Papillionanthe teres; Left: Coelogyne species
called Sita Pushpa as Goddess Sita, wife of Lord Rama, is believed to have adorned herself with it while they were in exile.
NURTURING ORCHIDS
While a variety of orchids grow naturally in India’s forests, orchids are being cultivated in outdoor and controlled conditions. Hybridists
For a whiff of vanilla! Vanilla, one of the most popular food flavours, is extracted from the vanilla bean that is the seedpod of orchids of the Vanilla genus. Native to Mexico, vanilla orchids now grow in different tropical countries. Processing the seedpods to make them ready for extracting vanilla is labour intensive; the curing, drying & resting process takes months. Due to this, pure vanilla extract is expensive.
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
are researching and creating new hybrid species with biotechnological methods. With advances in tissueculture, there is great scope in creating hundreds of hybrids and tapping the commercial possibilities. Among the different species, dendrobiums, paphiopedilum, cymbidiums, cattleyas and vandas have been used to create many sought after hybrids. The Orchid Research Centre at Tipi, Arunachal Pradesh; National Research Centre for Orchids at Pakyong. Sikkim; and Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; are the main centres engaged in conservation and protection of endangered taxa and the hybridisation of commercially important species.
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KHADI
THE FABRIC OF INDIA
Khadi is not just about a spindle and a loom. It is about a way of life, a symbol of patriotism, a Gandhian principle. W O R D S
| S H RUTI KOTH A RI TO MAR
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F
rom being a simple yarn spun at home to signifying emotions such as freedom, khadi, in pre- as well as postIndependence was and still is the fabric of India.
Khadi has held the nation’s interest for very long and of recent, the imagination of designers world over This hand-spun, hand-woven textile went from being a poor man’s fabric to the luxurious connotation it has today. Khadi has come a long way from being centred in the village to becoming an ancillary business that had led to generating a self-sustained economy. Ergo, khadi meant independence in
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
itself. Taking it into the fold meant abandoning imported textiles; one might recall all those impromptu bonfires in which folks tossed their opulent laces and silks from England, and encouraged all things Indian.
THE HISTORICAL FABRIC
Gandhi believed that the process of creating khadi brought about discipline and dedication. It also became a symbol of patriotism in India. The Indian freedom struggle had khadi at the epicentre with increased use of the fabric. It took the Swadeshi movement from the high-browed social elite and the educated bourgeois to the general masses. The famous image of Gandhi sitting in front of the charkha became one of the most popular symbols of self-reliance. Echoing this sentiment, designer
par excellence Ritu Kumar says, “Khadi, as we all are aware of, is a traditional fabric from India. It holds a sense of patriotism as it was popularised by Mahatma Gandhi before Independence.” Designer Deepika Govind says, “To me, khadi is the fabric of freedom and hence its evolution and history is closely interlinked with India’s destiny.”
Did you know?
The Indian flag has to be made only with this fabric.
THE EVOLUTION OF KHADI
Ritu Kumar puts it eloquently when she says, “Khadi has undoubtedly evolved over the years. With India’s freedom fabric growing out of its jholawalla image to become fine Indian luxury,
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Extreme Right: Nehru jacket; Below: Khadi stole by rainlily.com
74 contemporary khadi has a new story to tell. Its climb up the value chain is not a passing trend but an evolving idea. Recognised primarily as the most visible symbol of the Swadeshi movement, it now stands for Swadeshi fashion—a marketing line no other fabric in the world can stake a claim to.” A wonder fabric of sorts, it has the unique ability to keep the wearer cool in summers and warm in winters. Possessing a coarse texture, khadi does not get easily worn out. While spinning, the threads are woven in a manner that offers easy air circulation within the fabric. She adds, “Early forms of khadi had coarse textures, but recently, khadi has been made with cotton, silk and wool, making it more comfortable, and hence, more popular.” Earlier, fabric was primarily used to create traditional garments with earthy tones but
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
If we have the khadi spirit in us, we should surround ourselves with simplicity in every walk of life. The khadi spirit means illimitable patience. Mahatma Gandhi
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worthy addition to one’s wardrobe. From the ubiquitous Nehru jackets, Gandhi topis and politico kurtas to trousers, skirts, halter tops, tunics, dresses, etc., are now created out of khadi. No more the poor man’s fabric, it has been perched on the pedestal of being a fabric that the elite enjoy wearing. Shilpa Sharma, co-founder, Jaypore.com, states, “This evolution is linked to its application. Based on how experimental one can be with this otherwise simple fabric, the silhouettes can make it both luxurious and contemporary.” Owing to its texture and fall, it has now come to be recognised as a symbol of luxurious dressing. “Thanks to initiatives from designers and the experimental efforts of weavers to make the coarse hand-spun yarn, hand-woven fabric a smoother, suppler, more appealing textile, khadi has come a long way,” says Govind. “Today, it’s turned out to be haute couture, the preferred fabric for designer bridal wear, a fabric for chic resort wear, etc. And no, khadi is not coarse or sack-like nor is it oh-so-yesterday. Khadi is being reinterpreted in the ways that it’s being woven and designed. The khadi wearer gets a royal and distinguishable look due to its fall and style. It symbolises luxury and uniqueness,” explains Kumar. As Gandhi put it, “It sits well on the shoulders of the poor, and it can be made, as it was made in the days of yore, to adorn the bodies of the richest and most artistic men and women.”
THE CONTEMPORARY KHADI designers have now taken this fabric to the rainbow realms of greens, violets, turquoise blues, pinks and more. Kumar nails it when she says that today it is regarded as a
Post-Independence, the Indian government established the khadi industry by setting up the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) generating employment via the production and sale of a variety
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of products, thereby giving rise to self-reliance in rural communities. The KVIC provides raw material and infrastructure to the manufacturers encouraging research, controlling quality of the products and promotion of khadi items. Govind asserts, “Promotion of khadi is an ongoing endeavour on my part. You could call it a mission, to zero in on various exotic textiles that are fading into oblivion because of lack of research,development and innovation, and to give them a new lease of life. Innovation could be about making the fabric more lightweight and easy to drape/wear, hence enhancing its appeal and usage, or by creating graphic prints or woven patterns and giving it a more contemporary edge.” Designers are using khadi increasingly in their collections that are showcased at fashion weeks across the country. “I have been a khadi fan for decades. One of the inspirations for me to use khadi in
Left: Neeta Bhargava's collection Unmaze the Haze
Khadi is a reflection of the beauty of handcrafted fabrics my collections was that apart from its quality, it provides employment opportunities to thousands as well as boosts the economy and sustains indigenous artisans. It is also a way of encouraging the talented artisans to live in their ancestral village, rather than give up in despair and flock to an urban slum for an alternative employment,” says Kumar. The range of khadi is wide and varied. From printed, woven, dyed and textured qualities to the natural coarse unadorned variety, this heritage textile has managed to hold its own gracefully. Govind explains the rise of khadi as a revered fabric
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
by saying, “I think it is important to keep the best part of one’s heritage alive, reinventing it to suit modern circumstances.” Designers like Govind and Kumar as well as collections on Jaypore source their khadi from the length and breadth of India. Sharma sums it up well when she says that, “Khadi is a reflection of the beauty of handcrafted fabrics and how they can be styled in ways that define a global design aesthetic.” Khadi is no longer bound to the charkha and Gandhi, but the latter has surely spun an aesthetic that’s here to stay. Despite its heavyweight association with political representation, khadi has changed with time, absorbing all things contemporary.
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BE SAFE WHEN IT POURS
Monsoon not only brings rejuvenation for every living thing on earth but also brings a host of diseases. Be safe this season with our experts’ advice. WO RDS | NEELAM S INGH
H
ealth problems are always on the rise during the rainy season, be it eye infection, cold and flu, viral fever, etc. Sipping hot ginger tea or ensuring that you wear dry clothes is not enough.
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With changing weather conditions, it is important to take good care of your health as well as diet during monsoon EYE CARE IN MONSOON
“Monsoon is perhaps the best time of the year when there is no dust, no dirt. However, it comes with a host of problems for the eyes,” states Padmashree Dr Keiki Mehta, Director and Head Surgery, Mehta International Eye Institute and Colaba Eye hospital, Mumbai. He explains that the water which falls as rain is reasonably clean but when one walks below a building or the water filtering through the trees carries a large number of germs and microbes. Dr Mehta suggests:
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
When it rains: Try not to look up when walking below buildings to prevent water dripping in the eyes. In case it does, dry your eyes or immediately wash them with clean water. The same applies to water being splashed from the street. It carries not only muck but often garbage which is sprayed wide. If the water from the street goes in the eyes, stand at a corner, and wash your eyes thoroughly. Use preventing antibiotic drops for your eyes. Ask your eye doctor for the same. More importantly, if your eyes have been operated or have had Lasik done, be a little more careful as these tend to get affected earlier. From dust storm: Monsoon is also associated with a great deal of wind which blows up dust and dirt. Use a good pair of light colour sunglasses when you go out in the day time. If you are wearing contact lenses, please be careful that the lenses do not get blown off, or dust go below them.
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KEEP MONSOON AILMENTS AT BAY
Dr Prasanna S Shah, MD, DNB, Consultant Gastroenterologist Breach Candy and Jaslok Hospital, cautions people against common water-related diseases that prevail during monsoon. Diarrheal Disease, Typhoid and Paratyphoid Infection, Hepatitis A and E are caused by bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms, most of which can be spread by contaminated water. Poor personal hygiene and unhygienic food handlers are another source of infection, he informs. Points to note: ○ Stress on sanitation ○ Use of boiled drinking water ○ Personal hygiene and clean food handling ○ Washing, peeling and cooking all raw vegetables and fruits August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
To prevent dehydration: Humidity can cause you to sweat more. Drink plenty of simple fluids like water, coconut-water, lemonade, lassi, etc., and avoid aerated drinks, coffee and alcohol.
Avoid outside food to prevent common water-related diseases GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
Dr Sushila Kataria, Associate Director, Medanta Division of Internal Medicine, Gurgaon, advises to follow some common practices during rains.
To prevent water-borne diseases: ○ Avoid street food and consume only home-cooked food. If you must eat out, make sure it is hygienically prepared and freshly cooked/microwaved/ boiled or fried in front of you. ○ Avoid cut fruits, chutneys, cut-salads from the street-side. Fruits like bananas that are peeled are better alternatives. ○ Avoid fruit juices from streetside shops as the water they use may be unclean. This will reduce likelihood of episodes of diarrhoea, hepatitis, typhoid, etc.
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To avoid mosquitoes: Mosquitoes can cause a host of diseases such as Dengue, Malaria and Chikungunya. ○ Wear full-sleeved clothes. ○ Block windows and doors with insect-screens or use mosquito nets. ○ Use mosquito repellent creams frequently, preferably herbal ones, and avoid using them around the eyes and face. ○ Avoid stagnant water or pour a table-spoonful of kerosene oil to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
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Diarrhoeal illnesses: ○ Hydrate at home with ORS, Electrol, etc., to avoid dehydration. Not passing urine every four hours means the person is dehydrated. ○ Use paracetamol in case of fever.
EAT RIGHT
With monsoon comes the unwanted cravings. Consuming salty and spicy foods can lead to water retention and unhealthy body fat percentages. Therefore, it is imperative to follow the optimal level plan of fitness. Focus on eating a balanced meal that consists of complex carbohydrates, lean protein and omega 3 fatty acids. Nutritionist Karishma Chawla of Eat Rite 24x7 suggests some tips for this monsoon. 1. Add immune boosting foods (vit A,C E , zinc & omega 3) to be less prone to infections. 2. Add parsley, asparagus, dandelion/green tea, calcium rich foods in diet and avoid table salt. 3. Add garlic and turmeric in daily food to enhance immunity. 4. Add a probiotic like August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
yoghurt in the diet. 5. Prefer protein – lean meats (egg whites and chicken) and fibre fruits and vegetables - to keep the body warm. 6. Indulge in seasonal fruits. 7. Avoid raw food.
8. Wash vegetables well before cooking. 9. Make sure to have your multivitamin and antioxidant supplements everyday. 10. Make sure you have omega 3 supplement everyday.
Spice up your diet! No Indian meal is considered complete without the tangy and delectable flavour of freshly ground spices. Locally known as ‘masala’, there are quite a few Indian spices which are known to possess high medicinal properties too. Delving deep into the exotic world of spices, PRAVIN Masalewale, from the past 50 years, has been unlocking and revealing various authentic blends that make the popular Indian dishes so distinctive in taste, flavour and aroma. The company follows the highest possible quality standards across its operations through a regular and rigorous process of Quality Certification and Management Systems. Quality Certifications (by TUV Nord Cert GmbH) - ISO 9001:2008 & ISO 22000:2005 & HACCP approved. We are now HALAL certified company.
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MONSOON WELLNESS
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Located along picturesque backwaters in Bekal in North Kerala, Vivanta by Taj offers a relaxing ambiance. Rooted in the ancient wellness traditions of India, Jiva from Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is the only Indian spa brand in the world with unique Indian signature spa experiences. Carefully designed, each experience initiates physical, mental and spiritual equilibrium. Guests looking for wellness and detox packages, can opt for Panchkarma, a unique treatment in Ayurveda with five purificatory procedures that initiates cleansing and removal of toxins from the body.
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
HAIR CARE
It is hard to take good care of your hair during monsoon due to the humidity, keeping it moist for a long time. Dermatologist and Cosmetologist Dr. Sadhana Deshmukh shares some useful tips. ○ Use an effective anti-dandruff shampoo with an active ingredient like zinc pyrithione, regularly. ○ No switching between a cosmetic formulation and an anti-dandruff product! This reduces the effectiveness of anti-fungal actives and could leave you with flakes and bad odour. ○ Cut down on styling and styling products as they may also attract dirt and grime during monsoon. Brush and comb gently so as not to cause scalp damage. ○ Keep the scalp dry. In case your hair gets wet in the rain, wash it thoroughly with a mild
cleanser and use a conditioner thereafter. ○ Regular washes keep fungus in check and reduce sebum on your scalp. ○ Conditioning becomes important in monsoon. If you have sticky hair, opt for a light conditioner suited for oily hair. This should be applied to hair ends and not scalp. ○ To avoid frizziness, use a good serum to give a smoother finish to your hair.
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ENT CARE 86
Monsoon brings with it two types of weather - wet and cold alternating with dry and humid. These conditions are ideal for the growth of dust mites and bacteria that cause fungal infections and seasonal allergies. Dr Dillon Dsouza, Consultant ENT and Head and Neck surgeon, attached to Jaslok hospital, Breach Candy hospital and Desa’s hospital, Mumbai, informs that these infections can be reduced by:
Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before eating Maintaining hygiene ○ Periodically wiping all surfaces which pick up dust and dirt ○ Vacuuming all carpets, upholstery, soft toys, etc. ○ Regular cleaning of fans and air conditioner filters ○ Keeping shoes and wet items outside or near a window to dry ○ Avoid wearing damp clothes ○ Wet walls and spots in the house should be treated to avoid mold and fungal growth. ○ Avoid contact with people infected with colds or sore throats ○ Keep the ears dry especially when
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
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bathing. Fungi and bacteria trapped in the hair may enter the ear and cause infections. ○ Avoid using ear buds during the monsoon as this may introduce bacteria and fungi into the ear. ○ Do not put oils or other organic liquids into the ear as it forms a breeding ground for infection. ○ Swim carefully keeping the ears dry or drying them thoroughly. Maintaining lighting & ventilation ○ Ensure adequate light, preferably sunlight, enters the home ○ Use air conditioners on dry mode to dehumidify the air or use dehumidifiers ○ Keep washing machines and dryers open to allow them to dry after use Treat infections promptly People with reduced immunity like diabetics or those on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, children and transplant patients should get any infections examined as soon as possible. Sinusitis, ear discharge and sore throats should be attended to promptly as they are easy to cure with minimal medications during the early stage.
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HOT AIR BALLOONING A FLIGHT OF A LIFETIME
With mysterious underground cities and rock-cut churches, chimney formations in hues ranging from clays to pinks and unique landscapes, Cappadocia showcases nature's artistic splendour at its best. Read more...
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August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Turkey has many extraordinary and truly unique natural wonders NATURAL BEAUTY
The landscapes of Cappadocia are world-famous and enjoyed best on hot air balloon flights over its fairy chimneys. Cappadocia presents a beautiful dreamy slice of central Turkey that is lined with rock formations formed by volcanic
eruptions that led to sculpted sinuous valleys and pointy chimneys. Local Cappadocians have chiseled beautiful homes into the soft rocks and this makes a perfect vacation spot for experiential travellers. Cappadocia also houses exclusive boutique fairy-chimney hotels.
A MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE
To fully explore the region on foot would take months. There are many valleys as well as separate towns
A hot air balloon is a great platform for viewing the volcanic formations off the landscape and outdoor attractions such as the Goreme Open air museum. Indeed, the best way to see Cappadocia is from the air. A hot air balloon is a great platform for viewing the volcanic formations off the landscape.
HISTORICAL FACT
Courtesy: Turkey Tourism
T
urkey is Home of Natural Wonders. The honeyed tones of the landscape and the distinctive shapes of its fairy chimneys and rock-cut dwellings make Turkey’s Cappadocia a magical land.
This method of travel was invented in 1776 and the hot air balloons found a home in Cappadocia because the wind streams flowing through the valley are the perfect conditions in which to fly. Every morning before sunrise, hundreds of hot air balloons are fired up across Cappadocia, each taking off with about a dozen passengers for an hour or so of dawn-time hot air balloon travel, floating above and around the rock formations. In fact, Cappadocia is one of the world's most popular destinations for hot air balloon riding. Going to Cappadocia, one should try not to miss a hot air balloon trip. The experience will certainly give you memories for a lifetime.
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HIGH ON YOGA @ 35,000 FT
IGNITING YOURSELF FOR ACTION
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A pioneering initiative by SpiceJet and Isha Foundation, 'High on Yoga' offers a series of simple yet potent yoga practices on select long-distance flights. This month SADHGURU talks about upayoga...
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arge segments of the world – even those who are involved in yoga – are not aware of the fact that there is a possibility of doing what is called upayoga.
This is something that gives you physical and psychological benefits but doesn’t touch the spiritual dimension. Yoga itself is not an exercise form. It is a much subtler dimension. It is a technology through which a dimension beyond the physical becomes a living reality within
THEME OF THE
MONTH
UPAYOGA
you. If something has the power to transform, it has the power to cause damage, if mishandled. So yoga needs to be handled in an extremely committed atmosphere. But upayoga does not demand that level of commitment nor does it cause any problem if done improperly because you can’t do it improperly – it’s very simple! In Indian vernacular languages, the word upayoga has come to mean something useful, but actually it means sub-yoga. This can be learnt in five minutes. You can practice it anywhere and the benefits are quite immense – you will be physically better and
mentally limbered up. Plus, you don’t need any equipment.
BENEFITS OF ISHA UPAYOGA
○ Exercises muscles and lubricates joints, stimulating the system for action ○ Improves neuronal regeneration, memory and sharpness ○ Activates the spine ○ Brings a deep sense of peacefulness, infusing a new sense of energy and wellbeing.
Learn these practices at isha.sadhguru.org/5min-practices/ or download the app at http:// isha.sadhguru.org/mobile-apps/
SIT UP STRAIGHT WHILE TRAVELLING
TRAVEL TIP August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
There is something called skeletal comfort, muscular comfort and organ comfort. When you recline, your muscles are comfortable, but your skeletal system and organs are
stressed because the body’s organs are not fixed with clamps. They are loose, hanging in connective tissue. When you recline, their ability to function drops dramatically.
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THROUGH THE
Mystic Eye
An internationally-renowned speaker, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic and visionary. In this series, he clears several misconceptions about yoga, and offers refreshing perspectives on this ancient science. 92 Juhi Chawla: What’s the difference between yoga and meditation? Sadhguru: The English word 'meditation' doesn’t mean anything because if you sit with closed eyes, you are ‘meditating’. But with eyes closed, you could do many things – japa, tapa, dharana, dhyana, samadhi, shoonya. Or you might have mastered the art of sleeping in vertical postures! If you mean meditation as dhyana, it is one aspect of yoga. Right now your mind is the boss and you are the slave. As you become meditative, you become the boss and your mind becomes the slave – and that is how it should always be. If you allow the mind to rule, it is a terrible master. It will put you through all kinds of endless suffering. But as a slave, the mind is wonderful – it is a miraculous slave. Most people who have tried meditation found it difficult or impossible. The reason is that meditation is not something that you can do, but you can become meditative. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Meditation is a certain quality, not a certain act. If you cultivate your body, mind, energies and emotions to a certain level of maturity, meditation naturally happens. It is just like if you keep the soil fertile with the necessary
manure, water and the right kind of seed, it will grow and bloom into flowers and fruits. You just create a conducive atmosphere. Similarly, if you develop such atmosphere within yourself, meditation naturally flowers. It is a fragrance that one can enjoy within oneself.
SpiceJet passengers can ask Sadhguru questions on yoga, health, wellbeing and other topics of general interest. Select questions will be answered in forthcoming issues. Please email your question to mediarelations@ishafoundation.org For more of Sadhguru’s wisdom, visit http://isha.sadhguru.org
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LANDMARKS OF INDIA'S FREEDOM STRUGGLE During India’s freedom movement, national leaders, revolutionaries and patriotic organisations fought against the British rule. Let’s revisit some places associated with the freedom struggle. P H OTO GR A PH S
| DINE SH SH UK L A
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Cellular Jail: Constructed between 1896 and 1906, the Britishers used the remote islands of Andaman & Nicobar to incarcerate political prisoners and freedom fighters in utter isolation and prevent exchange of nationalist ideas. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
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From 1857 to 1947 August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
1857
1908
A revolt by the 'sepoys' which began from Meerut on May 10, 1857 and ended in Gwalior on June 20, 1858
Khudiram Bose, the proponent of an era, characterised by young people fighting against the British, was executed on April 30.
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1. Fort Jhansi: Built in 1613,
3 It was the residence of Rani
Lakshmi Bai, who fought the British East India Company during the 1857 Indian mutiny and attained martyrdom. 2. Mani Bhawan: Better known as Gandhi Museum, this two storied-building was Mahatma Gandhi's abode whenever he was in Mumbai, between 1917-1934. It is now a museum and research centre. 3. Tilak Museum: Freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak's ancestral home in Ratnagiri is now a museum. He had launched the Home Rule League in 1916, with the slogan ‘Swarajya is my birthright and I will have it’.
1919
1921
1930
Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place where hundreds were killed and thousands were injured.
Non-cooperation Movement was launched by Gandhiji against the oppressive British rule in India
The Dandi Salt March set into motion the process of non-violent civil disobedience movement that laid the foundation of Satyagraha
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Dandi Salt Satyagraha Memorial: This memorial marks the historic Dandi March led by Gandhiji in 1930, and is built at the site where he and his fellow marchers picked up salt from the sea beach to break the salt law of then British India.
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1. Sabarmati Ashram: Mahatma Gandhi stayed at the Ashram in Ahmedabad from 1915 to 1933. The Ashram displays some of the items which Gandhiji used such as a writing desk, a khadi kurta, a yarn spun by him and some of his letters. 2. Jallianwala Bagh: On April 13, 1919, thousands of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims gathered in Amritsar's Jallianwala Bagh. Bound on all sides by houses and buildings, the Bagh had few narrow entrances, most of which were kept permanently locked. The main entrance was guarded by the armed troop led by British General Reginald Dyer. Apart from the many deaths directly from the shooting, a number of people died in stampedes at the narrow gates or by jumping into a solitary well in the compound to escape the shooting.
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1931
1942
August 1947
Great Indian freedom fighters, Chandrashekhar Azad and Shaheed Bhagat Singh attained martyrdom. Their fierce patriotism and courage inspired others to enter the freedom struggle.
Quit India movement begins on August 11
India achieved its freedom from British rule.
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TAKE HEART, LITTLE ONE
For a child born with Congenital Heart Defects, the future may often seem bleak, but the ‘Little Hearts Program’, launched by Being Human Foundation, in collaboration with Fortis Foundation, is proving to be the light at the end of the tunnel.
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A
ctor, producer and television personality, Salman Khan is one of the most commercially successful actors of his time. His benevolent character and generosity are widely known, and slipping into the role of a philanthropist came as no surprise. In 2007, Being Human, The Salman Khan Foundation was registered, and it delved into the areas of Education and Healthcare for the under privileged. This initiative has been further strengthened by the support of The Hans Foundation, established in 2009 to provide a source of endowment to not for profit organisations in India.
The Little Hearts Program treats underprivileged children who are born with heart defects but cannot afford surgery. These defects are of various kinds, such as obstruction of blood flow or abnormal rhythm of the heart, etc., and are known to be the leading causes of birth-defect related deaths. Launched in January 2013, the Little Hearts Program works with August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
doctors from government hospitals, social workers and primary health care workers, to extend guidance, help and treatment to those in need. The Salman Khan Foundation took up this cause with the help of Fortis Hospitals at their three centres, Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur. The Hans Foundation extended further help by sharing 50 per cent of the cost of surgery. This provided a massive boost to the programme which saw the number
of cases rising up to 18-20, in the subsequent months.
REACHING OUT
As a part of the programme, the volunteers and campaign managers play an equally important role in its functioning. They are responsible for establishing a contact with the concerned families and ensure a timely intervention for children aged between 1 to 18 years. Pediatric cardiologists and surgeons from
Fortis Hospitals work under this programme and attend heart camps held in selected areas across India. At these camps, the children are checked by specialists to decide on further course of action. The diagnosis is based on the readings of the ECG. Accordingly, doctors and care workers counsel the parents on the medical status of the child, and the recommended surgical course of action. As this programme caters to the underprivileged, the income background of the family is checked. Once the candidates have been selected, they are sent to Fortis Hospital for further check-ups. About 150 to 200 children attend each camp accompanied with their families. Though there is no annual schedule for camps in place, once a camp has been conducted in a particular region, the local doctors contact the foundation accordingly. Gradually, this link is strengthened and a path cleared for future patients to gain access to quality treatment. The foundation focusses on those regions that do not have adequate facilities for pediatric cardiac surgery. Such camps have been held in places such as Bhagalpur in Bihar, Alwar in Rajasthan, Leh, Kargil and Srinagar, to name a few.
HELPING HAND
The patient has to come to Fortis Hospital for evaluation before further discussion takes place regarding surgery. Once the surgery is done, there are two to three free follow-up sessions conducted. The vision of the Program is to reach out to as many underprivileged children as possible, offering them the opportunity to undergo heart surgery. In India, over 2 lakh children every year are born with Congenital Heart Defects. This initiative endeavours to decrease this count and extend help to those who cannot afford costs
Heart camps are held in those regions that do not have adequate facilities for pediatric cardiac surgery
of hospitalisation, fees for specialists, etc.
FORGING AHEAD
Kashif, an eight-year-old boy who lives in Aligarh, has been deaf & dumb since birth. But, his biggest challenge to live a normal life was his heart defect that prevented him from doing routine activities of his age. He would often get tired easily and would become blue. Through the programme, Kashif successfully underwent surgery, and his condition dramatically improved. The 12-year-old son of a labourer, Amar Singh was diagnosed with congenital heart defect. Once the Program brought the issue to notice, his mother single-handed got all the formalities done, and even persuaded Amar’s father to take the child to Gurgaon for treatment. Post operation, a marked improvement has been seen in his working capacity. Previously, the child had marked limitations and now, he goes to school and lives like other regular children.
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FESTIVE FLAVOURS
A number of colourful, religious, fun-filled and adventurous festivals take place all over the world in August. Explore... INDEPENDENCE DAY
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After more than two hundred years of British rule, India won its freedom on August 15, 1947. Since then every year, the day is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the world's biggest democracy. It is a moment of celebration, a day to pay tribute to the martyrs who relentlessly toiled, struggled and sacrificed a lot, that we are free today, not bound in servitude. When: August 15, 2015 Where: India
THE ELEPHANT GATHERING Around the months of August and September every year, the receding banks of the Minneriya Lake are covered by about 300 Asian elephants in search of food and water. This spectacular phenomenon provides an ideal setting to observe and understand the social dynamics of elephants, especially how the matriarchs tenderly guard their young. Many safaris are organised to the Minneriya National Park during this season. When: August-September 2015 Where: Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
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NEHRU TROPHY SNAKE BOAT RACE Held in memory of India's late Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, it is the most exciting boat race in Kerala. The celebrations include folk dance
performances along with loud drum beats and songs. When: August 8, 2015 Where: Punnamda Lake, Alleppey, Kerala
LA TOMATINA In what is considered as the 'World's Biggest Food Fight', around more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. The tomato fight takes place between 11 am and 1 pm at a small town in eastern Spain. After the fight ends, the cleaning process starts which involves the use of fire trucks to spray down the streets, with water provided from a Roman aqueduct. Where: Buñol, Valencia, Spain When: Last Wednesday in August
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ONAM A traditional 10-day harvest festival, Onam marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali. People wear new clothes, decorate their houses and put flower carpet called 'Pookalam' in front of their houses, to welcome the King. It's a festival rich in culture and heritage. Spectacular carnivals of elephants, fireworks, boat races, music and the famous Kathakali dance are traditionally associated with this festival. When: August 28, 2015 Where: Kerala
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
I
SPICEJET
THE UPBEAT SPICEJETTER
Nicknamed the ‘Captain’, Suresh Rajani is a SpiceJet frequent flyer who loves to dress differently and is always brimming with happiness. Read more about him...
Kochi, Goa, Karwar, Chennai, Port Blair, etc., regularly. The flight timings provided by SpiceJet have been very convenient for us. I believe in enjoying every moment of my life. The airline’s in-flight crew and ground staff have always been very accommodating and attentive towards frequent fliers like my employees and me, that make the flights even more memorable.
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What is the USP of the airline? Every SpiceJet employee has a positive attitude, is well-mannered and exceptionally trained. The airline is bold and loves to experiment constantly. There are many factors that make this airline unique, such as the colourful weekend uniform of the cabin crew, cheerful images of the airline's own crew on the airplane, promotional Know campaigns and buses, him etc. Also, the crew and iving life to ground staff sometimes From: Mumbai the fullest, upgrade frequent fliers, Likes: Singing, Suresh Rajani like me, from the regular participating in deems himself seat to the SpiceMAX marathons and an eccentric yet cyclothon, dancing, daily seat. This shows their intellectual ‘captain’. concern towards their walks and travelling. Having completed customers. Above his graduation in Mechanical all, the costing and timing of the Engineering from Mumbai flights suit my financial & business University, he is the Chairman of requirements perfectly. the HH Group that works with the Indian Navy. He has also started an Your go-to in-flight activities? NGO, HH - Girl Power Equality. I love striking up conversations with the crew, practice singing What made you become a SpiceJet semi-classical songs and sometimes, frequent flier? catch up with immediate business I have been travelling with SpiceJet commitments. My other in-flight since a long time. My job requires activities include a power nap of 10me to travel to naval dockyards and 15 minutes, accompanied with easy naval bases, such as Visakhapatnam, stretching exercises.
L I wear those colourful badges because it makes me happy. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
M I R A C L E S
O F
NUMEROLOGY ‘Glory of India’ award winner,
Sandhiya Mehhta Numerologist and Vastu consultant
by the hands of Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.
Sandhiya Mehhta is a Ace Numerologist, vast expert and now a worldwide brand who represents success and growth, for herself and for people she counsels. She has expanded the numerological field with her research and knowledge, and with advanced experiences has helped her to help every human soul in return, to guide them to their enchanting dreams, gain power over their fortunes and to come alive. With an aura of bright lights and her charismatic personality, she has achieved of what many dream. She is in the field for more than thirty years, and in this journey has helped and exchanged energies and ideas, guided people to lead better lives, has received dozens of honours and recognitions, like ‘The Nari Ratna award, Indira Gandhi Priyadarshani Award, Rastriya Ratan award, Mahila Shiromani award, 4p Brand recognitions, ‘The Global Indian Leaders excellence award and many more such appreciations. ————Numerology is the most accurate predictive science, and has evolved from the ages of people counting stars as numerical references to today where we add up all the calculations and we have an outcome that guides you to the events in your life, and stay prepared for them. It just does not give you knowledge, it empowers you to plan, sketch your future, grow as a person, rise and shine. “To a person who seeks success, my system will bring success, happiness and prosperity. And to those who are already successful it will bring sustainability, positive reinforcements, further success and an introduce to a new and higher perspective and lifestyle.” The Journey to my methods “I am someone who has evolved, and with every step of my life have just tried to be better in what I love, I don't just predict your future, I communicate, consult and help you empower your energies.” Every person is having an energy, a combination and each combination is different, hence they have only certain types of energy and lack other ones. This is what makes us human, that we can’t be perfect but we have to strive to be. My exclusive research and study of missing numbers in your birth graph helps me to determine what are the strong energies that I can see in you and uplift the missing energies to suit to your dreams and ambitions. With my years or research and extremely positive results, I help these missing energies in your graph. Its like providing nutrition to a body, by way of simple remedies and self improvement tools that I have developed by myself. The curious case of 4 & 8 “In my research, nearly 70% people are connected to these numbers. And once you enter the circle, these numbers will keep you in their loop for generations.” One usually guards themselves because we have all heard a lot about disappointments and delays, sorrows and hardships of 4 & 8 and even 7. But I see them powerful steroids, to be handled carefully. Then I will channelize it to positive planning and maximise your fortune’s profits. Feel blessed if you belong to them, we will empower your life and, learn through 4 & 8 and reap more fruits of your hard work than you would have previously did. Handle your energies well, because only in the right hands they will empower with 4 & 8.
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Is life simpler without 4 & 8: The other side of the story Individually every number has its massive merits but if it doesn’t get the support of your fadic/destiny number it cannot do much for you. 1, 9, 5 & 3 are very powerful numbers and should get magnanimous success as per individual calculations, but if you are still struggling and have faced certain problems you should try and understand your state of energies and detangle the web, to create a free path for your future.
Follow us for daily predictions:
Sandhiya.Mehhta @SandhiyaMehta
‘Titled Indian Nostradamus’ for her precise political predictions, since 2001 for our Prime leaders.
“A bright star has its own energy, but lighting a lamp in the dark is much more meaningful.” We all are a mix of many numbers, their combinations play us differently and affects us differently. 1, 9, 5 & 3 are very powerful numbers and should get magnanimous success as per individual calculations but we are in the race of ordinary if we just sit back and give up. We have to empower these combinations in our fortune, to achieve what is extraordinary, which makes us exemplary individuals, that help themselves and in addition help their families, society, help someone in need who looks unto you. “We have seen the sunrise, but to feel the warmth of it we have to wake up every day.” And every one of us should strive to be more than what we can be, I do so, so should you. And let My Numerology help you and prepare you for this serene but extraordinary life. My advice “Knowledge empowers you, and there is nothing more powerful than to understand yourself, your potentials, what holds you back, what drives you forward.” I provide you this knowledge about yourself, though numerology. Knowledge about finances, career, turnaround years, lucky dates, months, years, things that help you have a strong backup plan for everything in life. “No mantra, fasting, name changes singularly guarantees you anything. Ultimately its you who has to foresee the future, and I help you to do so.” Follow a simplistic solution that I call Sandhiya Mehhta’s remedy system, and we will work on your energies and align them in the right direction The Success road ahead There is a Buddhist saying, “You yourself must strive; the Buddha’s just point the way.” There are no criteria to evaluate what the results of the remedies are; I just believe in helping who believe in the power of universe. If you believe in yourself and the universe let me just show you a direction, you yourself will lead on the right path and achieve the results within no desired time. I have received tremendous positive feedbacks to have faith in the universe myself.
“I am not god; I just understand my field of work and use it to help people, guide them and provide them with some efficient ways to be happy, peaceful, ever-glorious and a good part of our society & I continue to achieve results with all my clients." -Sandhiya Mehhta. For any further personalised details about yourself or your family, children, guidelines to positive living, numerological analysis of yourself feel free to write in or call up on the following: Sandhiya Mehhta / Yellow soul +91 – 9819921673, +91 9769071673 HO: Mumbai: 022-26371670, 71 Delhi: +91-9654483695 Email: contact.yellowsoul@gmail.com Website: www.yellowsoul.in
NOTE: We really appreciate your interest in this article and look further to hear from you. Please let someone else read this article after you and kindly do not tear of the page. You can take a note of the contact details and feel free to communicate. Rise and shine.
SPOTLIGHT
INDIA IN THE
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Bengaluru has emerged as a global healthcare destination in India not only by offering quality medical care, but also by providing excellent professional medical education.
T
he practice of medical tourism is not a new concept: from ancient Sumerians and Greeks travelling vast distances to seek out healing mineral spas to European travellers of the 18th and 19th centuries visiting North America to take advantage of local health practitioners, there have always been those who have been willing to travel abroad to improve their health and to gain knowledge.
PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
Bengaluru’s Sagar Hospitals-DSI recognises that international patients require special attention, and have made it a part of their healthcare mission to help patients minimise their problems. It offers services such as visa assistance, translators, and hotel accommodations in order to alleviate the stress and frustration that occur while trying to navigate unfamiliar locales and healthcare procedures. Sagar Hospitals-DSI recognises that international patients August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
require special attention, and have made it a part of their healthcare mission to help patients minimise their problems. MS. ISHIQA MULTANI, Executive Vice President, As more Sagar Hospitals Group and more nations enter into the competitive meditourism industry, it can become increasingly difficult for patients to choose the right hospital/nation which is where organisations such as the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA) can be especially helpful. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the MTQUA is a third-party accreditation body with a mandate to protect international patients by ensuring that they receive the highest level of patient care in accordance with professional standards and practices. MTQUA recognises that ‘undertaking medical treatment in another country has a complexity in and of itself that
is significantly different from having the same treatment at home’, and thus, uses its certification procedure to assist patients in choosing the best healthcare facilities. Recently, the MTQUA bestowed certification upon Bengaluru’s Sagar Hospitals—DSI in recognition of its exceptional quality of care for foreign patients. Sagar-DSI is the second hospital in Bengaluru and the third in India to receive MTQUA certification. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Tourism, recently announced the creation of a meditourism board to oversee the industry’s ongoing growth. As private hospitals like Bengaluru’s Sagar Hospitals—DSI, a super-speciality hospital providing high-end medical and surgical care continue to provide international patients with the best possible care before, during, and after their procedures, India will definitely make its mark on the global meditourism map.
SPOTLIGHT
JOINT REPLACEMENT
In last few decades, joint replacement, especially hip and knee replacements, have become quite a regular phenomena. According to the National Institute of Health, 9 out of 10 patients who undergo the procedure report improved pain relief, joint function and overall health-related quality of life. With the new techniques, the patient can recover faster, get back on his/her feet and can enjoy daily activities.
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KEEP IN MIND: If you experience the following symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor1. Pain in knee which persists or reoccurs for a long time 2. Pain worsening after exercise and other weight bearing activities 3. A decrease in knee motion or degree to which you can bend your knees 4. Knees are stiff or swollen 5. Having difficulty in climbing stairs Joint replacement is an option when non-surgical interventions such as medication, physical therapy, and the use of other aids no longer help alleviate the pain. Other possible signs include aching in the joint, followed by periods of relative relief; pain after extensive use; loss of mobility; joint stiffness after periods of inactivity or rest; and/ or pain that seems to increase in humid weather. Manipal Institute of Joint Replacement has pioneered in joint replacements for more than 2 decades. From pioneering in surgeries like the world’s first Bilateral Knee and Hip Replacement surgery in single sitting to India’s first Day Care Knee Replacement surgery. FACILITIES AT THE INSTITUTE ○ Dedicated Joint Replacement Operation theatre ○ Latest technology to cater all types
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
In India, steps are being taken to ensure the protection of international patients of Joint Replacement, from Total Joint Replacements to Custom Fit Robotic Joint Replacements ○ State of Art Ortho Navigation System ○ Comfortable luxurious stay in dedicated joint replacements wards Manipal Institute of Joint Replacements has been the preferred destination from ages for national as well as international patients. It runs an academic programme and has trained various doctors nationally as well as internationally.
SPOTLIGHT
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION – AN EDUCATIONAL ABYSS
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Today, India boasts of a huge pool of human resource which is its tremendous advantage but, unfortunately, ACS ARUN KUMAR, when it comes Vice-Chairman of to figuring RajaRajeswari Group of Institutions out how to educate these young people, a big vacuum persists. Government data suggests that only one out of every seven children born in India goes to college. What’s more, the nation suffers from both a crippling quantity, as well as a quality, challenge when it comes to higher education. For instance, the QS World University Rankings, an annual listing of the world’s top universities, India has one of the poorest Gross Enrollment Ratios (GER) for higher education in the world which was a meager 13.8 per cent, compared with the global average of around 26 per cent. The total population between the ages of 15 and 24 in India is 234 million. If India is to meet its 30 per cent GER target by 2020, about 40 million students would be enrolled in the higher education system in
To encourage global universities to set up institutions, we need to provide a more conducive and enticing environment 2020. Currently, around 18.5 million students are enrolled in the higher education sector. The problem is that as increasing numbers come out of the high school system, we just don’t have the infrastructural resources to absorb them into the college system. There is a massive mismatch in the supplydemand of such proportions that have never been seen anywhere or anytime in the world before.
CURRENT SCENARIO
To bridge this humongous gulf, we require an additional 10,510 technical institutions; 15,530 colleges and 521 universities! A herculean task indeed!
Recognising this challenge, lots of private players have stepped into the educational arena but due to the draconian policies, and regulatory environment of Government bodies towards private institutions, the entrepreneurs interested in providing ‘Global Quality Education’ are getting deterred. At the same time, due to the rise in job opportunities connected with IT and ITES sectors, and also other service industries, there has been a mushrooming of numerous private institutions who have produced graduates but have not thought of improving the quality. This can happen if we are updated with the curriculum but unfortunately the Government as well as the private institutions do not have the flexibility or the autonomy to innovate and rationalise their academic structure. These issues need to be looked at. A massive overhaul and reform is required in the crucial education sector. Separate Private University Act has to be formed and policy makers should be enablers rather than obstructionists.
Centers of Excellence
" Continuous Global Exposure For Students " The interns and PG students
1100 Bedded Hospital
are sent for student observership
100 Bedded ICUs MOUs & Student Exchange Programs with various Foreign Universities Wi-Fi Enabled, Well stocked Library
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prestigious hospitals in UK, Singapore etc.
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Tel : +91- 80 - 29292929 #202, Kambipura, Mysore Road, Bengaluru - 560 074. www.rrmch.org Fax : +91 - 80- 2843 7393, Email : info@rrmch.org, enquiry@rrmch.org
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FORECAST FOR AUGUST 2015 BY D R . PRE M KUM A R SH A RMA
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ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
You are likely to get floored by someone’s charm on the romantic front, so enjoy every moment of it! An official trip will turn into a leisure trip as you mix business with pleasure. A career move made by you will prove most favourable. Your social sphere is likely to give you immense mental satisfaction.
If vacationing is on your mind, set out now to enjoy it the most. Do something about a situation before it puts you in the dock. This is not the time to invest money on sheer guess work. You can face difficulties in raising capital for a project. With good networking, a prized posting can be yours. Academic front remains satisfactory.
Your demand on the social front will increase. Those undertaking a journey will find travel most interesting. Someone’s suggestion for investing money needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Improvement in an ailment you are suffering from is indicated. Peace will persist on the home front.
You may need to come to a compromise over something for smooth functioning. A loss making venture may put your financial front in doldrums. Your personal example will encourage subordinates to emulate you. Don’t eye what is not rightfully yours, as you may get caught in a legal hassle.
Good Luck Tip: Place bamboo in your office right next to the computer, to enhance peaceful energy and reduce negativity.
Good Luck Tip: Fire and water fight each other, so the stove and sink should not next to each other.
Good Luck Tip: The stove should not be in the North West area, where heaven energy pours into the kitchen.
Good Luck Tip: Place lamps in east & south east of bathrooms, to suppress bad wood energy.
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
Those looking for a job may not get good response from the desired companies. A rethink may be needed by those going in for investing in real estate. Recovering a loaned amount can pose difficulties, but you will be able to recover it eventually. A relaxed atmosphere on the home front will help you let your hair down.
You will manage to convince a friend or a family member about your ideas. It will be important to keep a watchful eye on business partner or rival. Playing one against the other at work can get you shortterm gains, but may not prove favourable in the long run.
Someone close to you may become your pillar of strength, so seek the right direction. An inner fear regarding performance may not allow you to put your best foot forward at work. Your partner seems all out to pamper you by catering to your moods!
You may have to take some crucial decisions regarding an important issue. A challenge awaits you on the professional front. Some positive steps taken by you will bolster your finances. Curbing wasteful expenditure may remain at the top of your mind.
Good Luck Tip: Green plants in the bathroom in the north suppress the bad water energy.
Good Luck Tip: Do not place wind chimes in the bathroom with Chinese symbols -you want to suppress the bad earth energy there and not energise it.
Good Luck Tip: Water pictures, aquariums, or sounds of water that can be heard from the bedroom can create an unhealthy environment.
Good Luck Tip: Display the world map or a free-standing globe in the North, Northeast or West Feng Shui areas of your child's room. This will encourage expanded thinking.
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Count only on those who you know are capable to save time. A promising start to a new venture is likely to keep you in an upbeat mood especially in the second half. Meeting someone on the family front may ring in happy memories. A raise or increment cannot be ruled out. You will manage to avoid an official trip clashing with your personal.
On the work front, you may take up a project in haste without understanding the intricacies involved. There is a likelihood of your ending up paying more for something that could have been got for less. Those on regular medicines will do well not to skip any dose. Vacation to someplace exotic is in the pipeline and promises to be fun.
Someone you have called to your place may turn down the invitation, because of prior commitments. Lover may need personal space, so respect that. Take your call, if someone is compelling you to undertake a journey. You may get provoked at work. Below par performance may find you lagging behind on the academic front.
Good Luck Tip: People at the dining table should not face a bathroom door as it affects health & welfare.
Good Luck Tip: Never use cracked or chipped plates or glasses. It brings trouble into the house.
Take adequate rest to avoid fatigue. Your financial acumen will help you rake in the moolah. Expect your professional reputation to rise and add more clients to your list. Some honour or recognition is likely to be bestowed on you on the social front. Taking the lead in resurrecting your love life will help you in enjoying it better. A tourist destination may beckon some.
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Good Luck Tip: Add a Feng shui mirror in the dining room. It amplifies natural light.
Good Luck Tip: West Feng Shui area is best to create a child's play area. It increases the child's energy and creativity.
INSIDE SPICEJET
MUSIC ON BOARD
SpiceJet plays soft rock music on its Boeing flights for boarding and landing. Here is this month’s playlist... LOUIS ARMSTRONG What A Wonderful World
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This 1967 song was intended as an antidote for the increasingly racially and politically charged climate of everyday life in the US. The song also has a hopeful tone with regard to the future. This is the most iconic Louis Armstrong song. ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION So Into You A lilting and haunting classic from the American band from Georgia, this song typifies the gentle 'southern rock' sound of the 1970s. THIN LIZZY Still in Love With You
A song originally recorded by Thin Lizzy, an Irish rock band, it was released as a part of their 1974 album, Nightlife. Many considered the song to be their most romantic ballad. Much later, Sade, a British R&B/Soul band covered the song in their compilation album The Ultimate Collection in 2011. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
JOSE FELICIANO Rain Performed by José Feliciano, a Puerto Rican virtuoso guitarist, singer and songwriter, blind since birth, this 1969 song is included among his greatest. For those of a certain age who were used to listening to All India Radio on weekends, this track will instantly bring back nostalgic memories of lazy rainy days. FOREIGNER I Want To Know What Love Is
A 1984 power ballad, it is said to be the band's biggest hit till date. It has been re-sung by Tina Arena in 1998, Wynonna Judd in 2004 and Mariah Carey in 2009. THE EAGLES Witchy Woman While the inspiration for the title and lyrics was based on various women The Eagles had met, Don Henley had Zelda Fitzgerald particularly in mind when writing this song. PINK FLOYD It’s What We Do Reflecting the band’s progressive feel since the 70s, this instrumental piece is from the latest album, The Endless River, released in 2014.
STEELY DAN Do It Again This 1972 track was the breakout hit from Steely Dan’s first album. The lyrics are sung to a man who is addicted to nightlife and gambling. JACKSON BROWNE Somebody’s Baby This track, part of the soundtrack for the 1982 teenage classic movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High, is Jackson Browne’s sole #1 hit. It speaks of a typical teenagers insecurities of asking the class heart-throb for a date because “she must be somebody’s base, cause she’s so fine.” While the girl in question is lonely and unattached. ROD STEWART Passion The single appears on the album Foolish Behaviour released in
1980 and again on the live album, Absolutely Live, released in 1982. The song ranked fifth on the singles chart in the US. ALI FARKA TOURE Ai Du An internationally renowned musician, Ali Farka Toure hailed from Mali and was a multi-istrumentalist. The song was released in 1994 in the album Talking Timbuktu, along with the artist, Ry Cooder.
THE TOURÉ-RAICHEL COLLECTIVE Le Niger
The group is led by Malian singer and guitarist Vieux Farka Touré and Israeli singer and pianist Idan Raichel. RODNEY JONES Ain’t No Sunshine This is an instrumental version of the 1971 hit by Bill Withers, who incidentally was working on the assembly line of the Boeing 747 aircraft when he wrote this song! PINK FLOYD Anisina One of the haunting instrumental tracks from Pink Floyd’s latest album, The Endless River. Classic Floyd came back with this album! BEE GEES More Than A Woman This 1978 ballad from the peak of the disco era is from the soundtrack of the movie Saturday Night Fever, capturing the New York City feel of the decade.
KRAFTWERK The Model Originally recorded in German in 1978 by the Dusseldorf-origin band Kraftwerk, the English version released in 1981 reached #1 in the UK, and was a disco-era staple. BEE GEES Night Fever Another classic discoera hit from the movie Saturday Night Fever, this song remains timeless in its appeal even today. TANJA THOMAS One Way Ticket Originally recorded by Neil Sedaka back in 1959, this disco-era remake is another track that brings back a flood of memories from that era. THE BEATLES While My Guitar Gently Weeps Considered George Harrison’s masterpiece for The Beatles, the inspiration for the song came to Harrison when reading the I Ching, which, as Harrison put it, "seemed to me to be based on the Eastern concept that everything is relative to everything else... opposed to the Western view that things are merely coincidental." THE BEATLES Here Comes The Sun Another George Harrison classic, Harrison had said that “it seems as if winter in England goes on forever, by the time spring comes you really deserve it. So one day in Eric Clapton's house, I walked around the garden with one of Eric's acoustic guitars and wrote Here Comes the Sun.”
INSIDE SPICEJET
FLIGHT BOOKINGS AT
YOUR FINGERTIPS
SpiceJet launched their mobile app that offers never before convenience and speed for customers on-the-go.
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ith SpiceJet’s new mobile app, customers will find it more convenient than ever before to make and manage bookings, check flight status, and receive exclusive offers on their mobile devices. The interface is so simple that even the origin of journey helpfully gets auto-filled thanks to inbuilt geo-tagging. The app also allows customers to book or add exciting SpiceJet add-on products such as choosing premium SpiceMAX, seats, in-flight meals and Priority Check-in. Customers can also pre-book excess baggage at discounted rates through this app. The payment gateway of the app offers a variety of options like Quick pay, credit card, debit card and Internet banking. The Quick pay option ensures instant booking with just a single click. You can download the official SpiceJet app from Google Playstore and App Store.
STEP: 1 The main menu screen offers four options. To book a flight, select Flight Booking.
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
STEP: 2 Choose the required field. Fill in the details and click on the Search Flights option.
STEP: 3
STEP: 4
Flight options according to date of travel are displayed. The fare details are at the bottom.
On selecting the button, the detailed fare summary is displayed.
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STEP: 5 Once the required flight option has been selected, fill in your contact details.
STEP: 6
STEP: 7
Fliers can choose numerous add-on options that will make the journey hassle-free.
Customers can pay via Credit or Debit Card. QuickPay option saves transaction time.
#WINWITHSPICEJETAPP
A big hit with customers, SpiceJet organised a social media contest, from June 15-July 3, wherein participants were required to download the official mobile application from Google Playstore to post their reviews about the App on the page. Winners had a chance to grab free one-way tickets, return couple tickets, discounted air fares and much more. A team of SpiceJet officials chose the lucky ones.
SPOTLIGHT
A FOODIE'S PARADISE
K
nown to integrate the tastes of delectable global cuisines, The Café at Hyatt Regency Pune is an allday-dining restaurant that offers a popular market-style dining experience. Eating out of the pan, off the grill and out of the tandoor best describes the restaurant's culinary philosophy. A vibrant and colourful ambiance encourages guests to order their choice of kebabs and curries, grills, roasts, salads and desserts from several live counters serving varied cuisines or order a la carte if you wish. Its popular sunday brunch is a treat for all those who want to experience a multi-cuisine fiesta which serves Indian, Mexican, Japanese and Asian food to indulge your senses.
PORCELAIN TILES BY SIMPOLO 122
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impolo has introduced Outdoor Porcelain Tiles with 16mm thickness for the first time in India. This collection is available in 2 sizes viz. 600x600 mm known as Rockdeck series & 1200x800 mm known as Riverstone & Cemento series. Now transform your outdoor living space with Rockdeck / Riverstone/ Cemento Outdoor Porcelain Tiles. These tiles are extremely tough (Flexural breaking strength >7500N), are non-porous and require no maintenance. Slip resistant, stain resistant, scratch resistant, fireproof, fade proof, these tiles are also resistant to frost expansion, and are easy to clean. Since these are full body homogenous tiles, they withstand wear & tear of high traffic. This advanced technology enables these tiles to acquire more intricate textures that so closely mimic those of stone tiles, that they are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
A STYLE STATEMENT
A
La Mode which literally means ‘in the current style or fashion’ is an established Indian brand and is already creating a stir in the fashion circuit in India and abroad. Made from pure European linen, the world’s strongest natural fibre, it is remarkably durable, comfortable and extremely skin friendly. The best thing about it is that it gets softer with each wear without looking jaded. In keeping with the latest trends in men’s linen abroad, it has introduced digital printing to men’s linen wherein it is possible to incorporate even the most challenging of designs, patterns or shades onto the fabric to give it that fascinating and fresh look. A La Mode possesses a virtually inexhaustible range of women’s wear, as varied as women themselves. There’s a choice of kurtis and tunics, a variety enough to spoil even the most discerning of the fairer sex and making shopping a fulfilling experience.
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Download the SpiceJet Mobile App from:
For terms & conditions : www.spicejet.com
 +91 9871803333
SPOTLIGHT
COMFORT ACROSS THE GLOBE
C
BREATHE WITH LINEN SHIRTS
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et an enigmatic feeling settle on your skin that comes to you from an age lost in time and space. Unravel the mystery of weightlessness that surrounds you as you don a breeze such as this. Offer up a silent prayer from the deepest recesses of your heart to the curator of this sensation. The shirts are available in classic cream, white, black, vibrant aqua, canary yellow, fuchsia and gold, Cadbury, coffee and ecru colours.
hoice Hotels International is one of the largest and most successful lodging companies in the world. It currently has over 500,000 rooms in more than 35 countries and territories. The brand represents affordability, comfort, and service efficiency. Ranging from limited to full service hotels in the economy, mid-scale and upscale segments, Choice branded properties provide business and leisure traveller with a range of high-quality, high-value lodging options. Headquartered at Rockville, MD, USA, it is one of the oldest hotel chains in the world. With 11 brands in America, Choice Hotels India represents five brands of Comfort, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion and Cambria Suites in the country.
UPDATE
COVER STORY
EXPLORE
TÊTE-À-TÊTE
INDULGE
CONCERN
POTPOURRI
TECH-O-LOVE In today’s time and life, every action and thought is interlinked with an electronic device; be it an expression, entertainment, comfort or professional work. Celebrate this friendship day by gifting cool gadgets to your friends. Choose from a variety of character inspired covers, pen drives, power banks, etc., and surprise your best friends. Price: `550 onwards Available at: Macmerise.com and all leading e-commerce websites
A TRYST WITH ROYALTY
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Inspired from the ceremonial elephants of Mysore that line up on every special occasion at the royal palace, the Mysore Table by Frazer and Haws is a dramatic centre piece celebrating luxury combined with art. The stunning table in teak wood has elephant heads as its legs, rich floral carving all over and is clad in silver. Price: `2,70,000 Available at: Frazer and Haws Showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi
HOT
PICKS Splurge on these lifestyle essentials
DAZZLING CRYSTAL WARE Homesake.in launches timeless crystal pieces for a classy home. With growing urban lifestyle and changing decor needs, something glittery adds life to the living space. Also, the glow and reflection properties of these crystal items make them an interesting and trendy add ons to any kind of decor. Price: `200 onwards Available at: www.homesake.in August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
QUIRKY CUSHIONS Give your home a quirky makeover by adding a new range of cushion collection from designer Anuradha Ramam. Made of Ikat and Cotton using bright hues to give a trendy look to your home decor, these pop-up colors will add a dash of style and quirkiness to your elegant furnishings. Price: `1,500 each Available at: Anurahdha Ramam Store, Meherchand Market, New Delhi
TRI-COLOUR WATCHES Celebrate Independence Day with Seven Friday’s P series watches to salute India’s zeal and pride. Designed with a splash of tri-colour, these watches are the perfect blend of style and technology. Its sporty yet urban look is perfect for those who seek to explore new horizons. Price: `93,850 Available at: Select outlets in Mumbai
PERFECT ARM CANDY Step out into the glorious Indian sun, flaunting beautiful leather bags and Holii silk scarves. These authentic limited edition bags balance fashion and practicality with the colourful style that Holii is known for. The Maple range of scarf bags come in vibrant blues and pinks, hand coloured onto Jasmine embossed leather, teamed up with pristine white and midnight blue. The collection has two shoulder bags and one crossbody. Price: `3,990 onwards Available at: www.holii.in
EFFORTLESS FASHION UBER CHIC STYLE Formal jewellery for men are designed on gold plated brass & engraved with laser. Corneliani adds a flare to the formal ensemble with its master crafts palladium cufflinks in pale yellow finish and palladium cufflinks in lasered logo. The cufflinks are available in various designs like round, square, knot, spiral available in special gold finish and enamel metal work to give that royal look. Price: `15,000 onwards Available at: Corneliani boutiques in India
FOR THAT DAPPER LOOK 16 Stitches- an online custom clothier for men, launches their latest Paisley collection. The collection is brought in with comfortable fits and fabrics in the form of Paisley shirts, bowties and pocket squares. The prints are intricate, elaborate, geometric and abstract patterns, using lots of complimentary colours. Price: `1000 onwards Available at: www.16stitches.com
Scarves are an elegant fashion statement as they add a dash of colour around the neck. Wrap Studio unveils its ‘Indigo’ collection that articulates the stylish blend of wool-silk and delicate chiffon. Be it any season, a statement scarf is one fashion trend that adds pop to any look. A scarf is without a doubt one of the simplest yet chicest of accessories. Price: `2,500 onwards Available at: Wrap Studio, Shahpur Jat, Delhi
BUCKLE UP Heel & Buckle partnered with luxury brand Church’s from the house of Prada to retail their products in India. The Church’s brand of luxury footwear is characterised by classical style and sophisticated English elegance. The Chetwynd is a full brogue Oxford with a slightly less rounded shape with subtle detailing, giving it a contemporary feel while maintaining its classic roots. The style features padding in the uppers and a leather lining, providing additional warmth and comfort. Price: `43,500 Available at: Select stores in Delhi NCR and Mumbai
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INDULGE
CONCERN
POTPOURRI
FUNK IS IN Spunk from Future Lifestyle Fashion is a footwear, apparel & accessories brand. It’s conception, Wacko, is the perfect mishmash of fun and seriousness for the self-encouraged men. It is made of canvas and suede leather which gives a hip, fashionable and enhanced look to the wearer. It is available in two colours; navy/ red and black, and has a dirty sole which gives a rough and tough look. The product comes with cushion+ technology which makes it extra comfortable. It has a vulcanised natural rubber sole for better grip and comfort. Price: `1,699 onwards Available at: Select multi brand fashion outlets across India
FOR A GLOWING SKIN Active Regenerating Day Cream by Epique is packed with PhytoConcentrates, concentrated plant molecular extracts, that has radiance renewal and fortifying formula. This will leave your skin looking and feeling smooth, energised and hydrated. The day cream contains antioxidants that protect the skin from harmful effects of pollution, stress and environmental damage. Price: `2,600 for 15 ml Available at: www.myepique.com
UNLEASH YOUR DARK SIDE Vanesa Care, a manufacturer of deodorants and perfumes in the country, has launched Ultra range of perfume body spray namely Envy ‘After Dark’ series. There are four main variants - Hip-Hop, The Techno, The Trance and The Rock. HipHop opens with fresh citrus & marine notes enriched with jasmine and spices. Price: `250 Available at: www.vanesa.co.in
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SpiceJet customers can now carry more than the standard 7 kg by opting for this innovative product. They can carry 5 kg extra hand baggage, a maximum of 12 kg, onboard by paying a nominal fee per kg.
BOOK NOW, PAY LATER WITH SPICEJET
With SpiceJet’s new ‘Book Now, Pay Later’, a convenient Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) scheme, passengers can save significantly (up to 70% interest cost reduction) on deferred/delayed payment interest costs relative to traditional credit card fees. For now, this is valid on India-issued credit cards of Axis Bank, HSBC Bank, Kotak Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank.
2ND AIRBUS HAND ON WET BAGGAGE LEASE ONLY DELIVERED The second Airbus A319 on wet lease was delivered to SpiceJet, and is expected to operate on Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati flights. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
SpiceJet now offers a discount for passengers who carry hand baggage only. Applicable on most direct domestic flights, it has a minimum 15 days advance purchase period. Those who select the normal fares that currently exist will not be charged.
LOAD FACTOR HITS 93.2% IN JUNE In June 2015, SpiceJet registered the highest Passenger Load Factor at 93.2%, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data.
SPICEJET CONNECTS KOCHI & VIZAG Recently, SpiceJet connected Visakhapatnam to more cities, operating from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Bengaluru and Chennai. For the first time, a direct flight was operated from Kochi to Visakhapatnam via Bengaluru.
INSIDE SPICEJET
BOOKING NOW EASY
FOR SME TRAVELLERS SpiceJet offers innovative travel solutions for the 'SME Traveller’. Read on for a step-by-step insight into the process.
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO BOOKING SME TOOL: STEP 1
STEP 3 You are ready to book on SME Traveller. Login with your account information with the Login ID and password, and take advantage of the benefits under this programme.
SMEs who wish to register with SpiceJet must first log on to spiceJet.com, click on SME Traveller and register.
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STEP 2 On completing the registration formalities, an email with login ID and password will be sent to the registered email id. With these, registered SMEs can start booking tickets through SME Traveller. SMEs can either nominate and pre-register employees by uploading employee profiles or get them registered as a part of the booking process.
PROGRAMME BENEFITS • • • •
Up to 10% discount for SMEs Complimentary web check-in Flexibility in rescheduling and cancellations The points to be redeemed will get converted into usable cash post travel. These points can then be used for the next travel for the same pax and be adjusted against the base fare only.
SpiceJet offers its new 'SME Traveller' solution to firms with up-to 50 travelling passenger strength
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
V ol 1 • I s s ue 4 • J ul y- S e p t e m be r 2 0 1 4
Volume 1 | Issue 3
Alter Ego
SUFI VOICE Kailash Kher Achiever
FOOTBALL CAPTAIN Sunil Chettri
Live life to the fullest
Mexican way A MaXposure Media Group Publication
A MaXposure Media Group Publication
October-December 2014 October-December 2014
Complimentry copy not for sale
credai.org
DEALS galore HYDERABAD AIRPORT DUTY FREE MAGAZINE
Inaugural Issue
VOL 01 I ISSUE 01 | APR-JUN 2015
A MaXposure Media Group Publication
2 FRAGRANT NOTES
Pick your perfume as per your zodiac sign
8 BOTTLE GENIE 12 SWEET TOOTH Single malt: Savour the flavour
Benefits of chocolate
INSIDE SPICEJET
NEW 360O
GROUP BOOKING TOOL Experience the joy of travelling in a group with SpiceJet’s new group booking tool that offers end-to-end solutions.
S
piceJet is the first airline in India to introduce an online tool that provides an automated end-to-end solution for group travellers. Individuals and corporates who wish to travel in groups, and even travel agents who deal in group bookings, can register with SpiceJet’s Group Traveller. From requesting for quotes to managing dashboards, it is a DIY (do-ityourself) tool from SpiceJet. The experience of travelling in a group is one-of-a-kind, and it is true when they say - the more, the merrier.
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FOR EASY BOOKING, FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Registration process: Once you enter your agency details, submit the form. An email is sent to the registered email id for validation. Once this is done, the airline staff will get in touch regarding further verification. Post this, the email logins will be provided. 2. Adhoc group request: Enter the various details of your trip, such as one-way, round trip or multi-city, details of departure, baggage and meal preference, and select your flight. Mention the number of passengers. The airline will revert regarding various flight possibilities, and you can click on them for more details. 3. Update names: Once you reach the payment confirmation page, click on the ‘submit passenger’ button. Select the request for which you would like to make the payment. Once you have reviewed your option, upload passenger information, or add them manually. 4. Print e-ticket: Click on ‘Get Booking’ menu and choose the specific request for which you want an e-ticket. Click on print. You can even resize the group by clicking on the ‘Request’ button and ‘Request Group Resize’ submenu. Once all the details are added, the airline will get in touch.
August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
BENEFITS:
Get prompt response to all your group queries.
End to End automation: From requesting for quotes to entering passengers' names, you can now do everything by yourself. Dashboard: View and manage all your group bookings. Easy usage (Short & Crisp booking flow) Accepts all forms of payment – CC/DC/IB.
From requesting for quotes to managing dashboards, it is a do-ityourself tool giving you the freedom to book according to your convenience.
How was your flight today? We hope you had a good flight. If you have any feedback or suggestions on any aspect of our service, please send us an e-mail at custrelations@spicejet.com. You may also send your feedback to the following:
Nodal Officer:
Ms. Suman Kaul nodalofficer@spicejet.com
Appellate Authority:
Mr. Kamal Hingorani appellateauthority@spicejet.com
www.spicejet.com
+91987 180 3333, +91965 400 3333
INSIDE SPICEJET
ST
RS OF
SARANG BANSAL
LALITA DEV
SHASHI BHUSHAN
Internal appreciation: Sarang is a dedicated team player who is ready to handle each situation with an attitude to overcome all hurdles. He knows how to excel in any kind of situation.
Internal appreciation: We are pleased to have Lalita as a key player of the team and are appreciative of her patience, sense of responsibility and perfection at work. It is always a pleasure to work with her. We express our gratitude for her significant contributions.
Internal appreciation: Shashi joined in 2011 as an Airworthiness Engineer, and has grown due to his hard work and passion as a wellgroomed professional. He is a good team player and sociable person.
Delhi Base
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Delhi Base
Experience with SpiceJet: It's been four and a half years with SpiceJet. I am grateful to my seniors and managers who moulded me into what I am today. I am lucky to be a part of SpiceJet and the FSC team.
Experience with SpiceJet: It's been three years with SpiceJet now. Every day is a new challenge which provides fresh scope for learning and gaining experience.
MEENAKSHI RAJPUT Delhi Base
Internal appreciation: Meenakshi maintains strict planning and skillful execution in all areas. We require solutions to complex problems and thank Meenakshi for her fruitful suggestions. Experience with SpiceJet: It’s been almost nine years with SpiceJet, and the journey has been fun, insightful and inspiring. I am grateful to my colleagues, seniors and head of department, for their unwavering support & guidance. They motivate me to give my best during challenging situations. August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
Delhi Base
Experience with SpiceJet: I’m proud to be a part of this airline. The professional and growth-oriented environment here has helped me develop my skills. This is the best organisation to work with, especially in the aviation industry.
SANTOSH KUMAR CHOUDHARY Delhi Base
Internal appreciation: Santosh is a very hard working staff member and good team player. We are happy to have him with us. Experience with SpiceJet: I’ve been associated with SpiceJet since 2012, and my tenure here has been amazing! I am thankful to the organisation for having provided me with a platform to grow my technical as well as professional skills. Thank you SpiceJet, with all my heart.
RAJIV KUMAR Delhi Base
Internal appreciation: Rajiv Kumar has been recognised by Boeing, for working with the team in devising a troubleshooting procedure for a critical system, that would help all operators of B737 aircraft in fault diagnosis, enhance airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. Experience with SpiceJet: I have completed a decade with the airline and it has been a great experience working here. I have learnt a lot from everyone. Every candidate is groomed to present his very best and I am proud to be a SpiceJetter.
SPICEJET SYED SABAHAT M. QADRI Hyderabad Base
Internal appreciation: Syed has been a sincere and dedicated individual. He ensures that all scheduled base maintenance events are completed in line with operational expectations of SpiceJet. His contribution has been very valuable. Experience with SpiceJet: I have been working with SpiceJet over 8 years and the journey has been quite rewarding in terms of professional and personal growth. I feel privileged to be a part of this esteemed organisation.
SHRIYA SRIVASTAVA
CAPT. PRAMOD MALIK
Delhi Base
Delhi Base
Internal feedback: Cheerful, bubbly and enthusiastic, First Officer Shriya can be relied upon to bring positive energy to any environment.
Internal feedback: An ex-Indian Air Force Pilot, Capt Malik can always be counted upon to help his colleagues when things get tough, whether its working long hours or assisting them with whatever work they're doing.
Experience with SpiceJet: My journey at SpiceJet has been a long, exciting, and a constant subliminal quest for excellence. Flying with the most skillful pilots rubs off on you; and working with cheerful flight attendants can turn the most arduous flights into a merry ride. Add to this, abundant love and appreciation from the passengers and colleagues, there is no greater satisfaction in the world.
CAPT UTKARSH KUMAR Delhi Base
Customer appreciation: Flew SpiceJet for the first time. One word to describe the experience: Exceptional. I’m a fan now. Internal feedback: Friendly, empathetic and cheerful - these qualities make Capt Utkarsh Kumar stand out. Passengers are always appreciative of his conduct on every flight. Experience with SpiceJet: It's been four years here and what a journey! I have a lovely time working with amazing colleagues, and cherish the guidance and support from my mentors. I look forward to many more years here.
Experience with SpiceJet: Ever since I joined SpiceJet, everyday has been a learning for me. The work environment here is extremely positive, and I am grateful to the management and my colleagues who have been ever supportive. I’ll always be a SpiceJetter!
FIRST OFFICER P DIWAKARAN Delhi Base
Internal feedback: Meticulous, reliable and steady - these qualities are appreciated by the captains that First Officer Diwakaran supports during his flight duties. Experience with SpiceJet: I have always believed in the saying, ‘make your hobby your career so that every working day is not just a working day’. So I did. Working in SpiceJet has till date been pleasurable and the cockpit environment is so good, that I see myself transforming into a better pilot every single day.
FLIGHT SUPPORT CENTER (FSC) ENGINEERING PILOTS
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70,987/79,015kg 70,987/79,015kg
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02 7
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August 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com
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