Woman era april 2017 first by mimimi945

SUMMER & TRAVEL SPECIAL

APRIL (FIRST) 2017 ` 40

Founder: Vishwa Nath (1917-2002)

APRIL (FIRST) 2017 Vol 44, Issue No. 1040

BUILDS HAPPY HOMES

Articles

womansera.com

HAVE A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP

12 30

TRAVEL DIARY 2017

Padmini Singh

Tanya Malik

34 BREAKING THE STEREOTYPE IS THE BUZZWORD

DRAZZLING SINGAPORE Sripriya Satish

Sudha Hariharan

72 VISITING DANDELI Brinda Ganesan

D.B.N. Murthy

79 VACATION TO WORK Sripriya Satish

AN UNFAITHFUL RIDE Arun Kumar Bharati

A WORD WITH A VIEW Sunanda Satwah

VISITING BHUTAN Rohit Bansal

“LOOKING GOOD UNDERNEATH IS IMPORTANT TOO” Sudha Hariharan

MEMORIES OF VISIT TO THE LINE OF CONTROL Kuhelee Chandel

118 BEAUTY AND BEAUTY ON THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED Mala Ashok

16 SUNBURN

120 AL-AIN

Dr J. L. Agarwal

Pushpa Bhatia

18 SUMMER ESSENTIALS

126 BOSTON DELIGHTS

Medha Chawla

23 PERFECT AMALGAMATION OF LUXUARY AND FASHION Renu Singh

VISITING MOROCCO

Lesley D. Biswas

Veena Adige

127 THE FACTS OF CHIA SEEDS Girija Sathya Babu

Subhashini Vishwanathan

Cookery

VISITING NAGASAKI JAPAN

74 HOW TO DRESS FOR YOUR INDIAN BEACH VACATION

NAVEL COOKING

Dahi Bhallas with Fresh Fruit Chutneys Fresh Fruit Cheese Cake Paneer Idli with Olives and Raisins Cauliflower with Coconut, Cashews and Poppy Seeds Pineapple Jalebis Papaya and Zuchchini in Coconut Gravy Coconut Milk and Lemon Flavoured Dessert with Prunes Saffron Orange Sweet Rice and many more...

22 TSUNAMI IN A TEA CUP Dr Kalpana Sarkar

54 LOVE GAME Amit Khan

58 A NEW START – COINCIDENT

76 THE TRIANGLE Arshpreet Kaur

THE STORYTELLER Arjun Mukherjee

122 SALT Sudha Arora

Suman Bajpai

Editor, Publisher & Printer

75 I RISE BECAUSE (Poem)

11 BEAUTY QUERIES

A MESSAGE FOR THE 32 WOMEN’S DAY (Poem) BEGINNER (Poem) THE SWEETNESS IN 55 NEW LAUNCHES SEARCHING FOR YOU 63 I AM PREGNANT (Poem) 66 YOUR BODY 115 KITCHEN QUERIES 24 TEENACHE

67 MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS AND ME... 70 LET THE FUN BEGIN

121 CHILD CHALLENGE 124 MUMBAI FILMDOM 128 CLASSIFIEDS

61 ALL ABOUT GEMSTONE

129 AS YOU SAYS

Fashion

NEWS IN PICTURES

Readers’ Contests

Features

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EDITORIAL BJP POWER GAME

hat BJP is a power-hungry party is once again proved in Goa and Manipur. In both these states, BJP finished as the second largest party after Congress in recently concluded assembly elections. Technically, BJP’s success was confined to just two states Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. But in its eagerness to capture power, it shelved all constitutional norms and was mysteriously invited by the governors of these states to form the government, which BJP did and with amazing alacrity, proved its majority on the floor. Formation of BJP government in Manipur was particularly dubious. The state had been reeling under economic blockade called by United Naga Council (UNC) since November last and all requests of state government to the Central Government to intervene fell on deaf ears. Then there was Congress government in the state under chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. The Central Government did nothing or little to provide relief to the people who were suffering because of this blockade. As the assembly election was due shortly, the Central Government perhaps thought it wise to remain a mute spectator and let the people suffer, for people’s suffering means brewing public anger against the government and the party in power. Then assembly elections were held and BJP was expecting to make a clean sweep in the state. But contrary to its expectations, Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats. Still, undeterred by its defeat, BJP manipulated numbers and made claim to form the government and the Governor – Najma Heptulla, an ex-Congress leader – too did not lose any time to invite BJP to form the government. Strangely, immediately after formation of BJP government in the state, UNC lifted its economic blockade. All these apart, BJP-led Central government had signed a pact with UNC on long-pending Naga problem but did not make it public, except saying that it does not contain anything against Naga interests. Such actions raise questions about the motive of BJP, which is dreaming to paint entire India in its saffron colour.

CHARISMA IN UP

f all the state assembly elections, UP was the most critical and crucial for BJP. It needed to win UP by all means to ensure majority in Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament for which elections are due from next year. Victory in UP with comfortable majority, would provide the required numbers for the ruling party at the Centre. And BJP did win in UP not only with comfortable but thumping majority bagging almost two-third seats in a house of 403. Now, it has no worry about gaining majority in Rajya Sabha also. However, patry’s choice of chief minister came as a surprise for the laymen as well as for the political pundits. Everyone was expecting that BJP would project some new face and choose from its elected MLAs as there were several suitable contestants too who were eyeing the chief ministerial chair. Contrary to all speculations, BJP selected Yogi Adityanath as the new chief minister of UP. With him BJP has imposed two sitting Lok Sabha MPs as chief ministers – Manohar Parrikar is another man, who is now chief minister of Goa. Technically, both these MPs should have resigned their membership from Parliament, but they will retain it till the Presidential election due in July this year. BJP’s move in UP has irked its long-time partner Shiv Sena, which is criticising BJP for its double talk. It is particularly anguished about appointment of two deputy chief ministers in UP and alleges that it has been done to free Yogi from administrative duties and let him focus on promoting his own Hindutva agenda in the state. Interestingly, BJP had turned down Shiv Sena’s demand to appoint its leader as deputy chief minister in Maharashtra, stating that it was against BJP’s policies. Moreover, the same BJP had no qulam to coddle its partner PDP in Jammu & Kashmir to appoint its leader as deputy chief minister. Why this double standard? Shiv Sena also questions Yogi’s ability to manage a state as big as UP and says to rule such a mammoth state is not as easy as running a Matha – pointing out Yogi’s almost nil experience as an administrator. So, it is wait and watch like situation for all to see how the Yogi Government works in UP. Already, emboldened by Yogi’s coronation some fanatic elements have started taking administration’s job in their hands in some parts of the state. Volunteers of Hindu Yuva Vahini – an organisation floated by Yogi himself – are raiding and sealing meat shops allegely running illegally. And an overzealous Yogi supporter posted abusive and threatening comments on Facebook account of a young woman TV journalist when she refused to recite ‘Jai-Jai Yogi’ in her FB comment. Now, the journalist has dragged the fanatic in court. Hope such incidents will remain a trailer only and not become the full picture.

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

write to: editor@womansera.com We

Have a A

meaningful relationship For a smooth and happy married life. By Padmini Singh

wife’s happiness is the key to a happy marriage. The more contented a wife is, the happier the husband is with his life no matter how he feels about their nuptials. When a wife is satisfied with the marriage she tends to do a lot more for her husband, which as a positive effect on their life. Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is. Our happiness lies within ourselves and in the happiness of other people. Give happiness to your spouse and you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of human life. A husband’s positivity had a big effect on the relationship. The husbands with high levels of positivity reported less conflict in their relationship. It’s not difficult to make a woman happy. A wife only needs her husband to be a friend, a companion, a lover, a good attentive listener, a warm sympathetic, understanding, tolerant and forgiving person, ignoring minor mistakes.

Relationship Stay involved with each other – talk about deeper things, hopes, dreams, life decisions rather than news of the world. Learn to get through conflicts and do not sweep them under the mat, otherwise they will surface again. Maintain a physical relationship that is not just sex but also touching, rubbing, scratching, massaging, pinching. Use body language by winking, eye movements, hand movements, flying kisses, affectionate gestures. Laugh together.

Know each other

Acceptance

Open up your feelings

A wife knows the face of her husband as a sailor knows the sea. This quality helps her knowing his moods, worries and spoken lies. A husband says, “I wish I could understand my wife. I want to know how she feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing wrong, and how I can make her truly happy.”

Marriages fall apart because the couples cannot learn to accept one another for who they are and who they are not. Acceptance is a key indicator of lasting marriage and it’s acceptance on both sides. One should have these besides other things like similar values nd aligned perceptions. How one person feels about the relationship may be completely different from the other person’s feelings. You know you’re in a good and healthy relationship when there’s a capacity for change – in the sense of both people being willing to change beliefs and behaviours that are nonproductive/ineffective and having room and flexibility to accommodate how we grow and change as individuals over time. Start mending your unhealthy relationship before it’s too late.

Every couple faces challenges, but if you don’t talk about your problems, marital tension and the distance between you will only grow. People who grew up in families that communicated well about problems speak the language of cooperation naturally. But many people didn’t learn those skills when they were younger and need tools for talking about sensitive issues in a safe way.

Sex For the sexually unsatisfied man and woman it becomes a long-time, one-sided affair where both would face the agony. It is really a complex situation when a woman or man loathes their partner subconsciously and there is no happiness around in the family. Both want intimacy. Both want fun and sex. But, for women, desire originates much more between the ears than between the legs. It is more about the anticipation, how you get there. It is the longing that is the fuel for desire. What can couples do to rekindle the sex and passion in their marriage? Try something new. Desire is numbed by repetition; eroticism thrives on the mysterious, the novel, and the unexpected. So flirt with your partner. Teasing and flirting to create anticipation is seductive. Women are moody on a few days when they are less likely to put up with men’s nonsense. Be considerate.

Compromise 10 percent of conflicts are due to differences in opinions. 90 per cent are due to wrong done of voice. Compromise does not mean that you are wrong and your spouse is right. It only means that happiness is much more important than your ego. The happiest people don’t have everything. Whether spouses appreciated each other, argued with each other, understood each other’s feelings or got on their nerves. How well they carried out their shopping, household chores, and react to TV watching and so on smoothening out their differences.

FOR THE SEXUALLY UNSATISFIED MAN AND WOMAN IT BECOMES A LONG-TIME, ONE SIDED AFFAIR WHERE BOTH WOULD FACE THE AGONY. IT IS REALLY A COMPLEX SITUATION WHEN A WOMAN OR MAN LOATHES THEIR PARTNER SUBCONSCIOUSLY AND THERE IS NO HAPPINESS AROUND IN THE FAMILY.

Secrets of a happy marriage Long-lasting, happy marriages have more than great communication. Focus on “active listening”, which involves paraphrasing,validating, affirming your spouse’s feedback. That may help getting through some conflicts in a less destructive way. Be nice to your partner. Make small gestures, but make them often. The little things matter. A happy marriage is based on deep friendship, knowing each other well and showing and having respect for each other.

Be nice, don’t nitpick Dirty socks, toothpaste caps, shoes, clothes lying all over and so many other things irritate women. Our little habits make our spouses crazy. But no two people re ever truly compatible, so quit nitpicking each other. Learn how to identify issues that must be resolved, that can be fruitfully discussed. Learn to live with the rest. Just put up with it. Do not waste your breath and get angry over these things that cannot be changed. It is better not to try to change them. Work around them.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

MR. ROHIT SHELATKAR, VICE PRESIDENT/ DIRECTOR, VITABIOTICS UK

Q A

Tell us about Vitabiotics and its core products. Vitabiotics is UK’s no 1 and fastest growing vitamin company, having a unique portfolio of products at the forefront of scientific developments in key sectors, including nutrition and women’s health, based on clinical research. For the past 46 years, Vitabiotics has been providing the market innovative and effective products based on sophisticated nutrient technology. Vitabiotics partners with various leading universities around the world for its nutritional research and also actively works with many worldwide charities. Vitabiotics is also the only vitamin company in the world that has won the prestigious Queen’s Award three times, one of which was for innovation in vitamin research for our successful Pregnacare clinical research, a product that covers around 85% of the UK’s pregnancy market. Vitabiotics is also the only vitamin company with formulations supported by solid clinical trials. Vitabiotics is also a pioneer of nutrition research as we have always brought new concepts to the market. For example, we were the first company to introduce Magnesium alongside vitamin D3 for calcium absorption, with our launch of Calcimax range. A second example is that we were the first company to introduce the right level of folic acid for pregnancy, 400ug, much before the Department of Health, of the UK, made the official recommendation for pregnant women. Over the course of the 46 year history, the development of new products at Vitabiotics has been fueled by a fundamental desire to deliver natural healthcare solutions that are safe, effective and relevant to our customer needs.

Vitabiotics recently launched the product into OTC market, what was the reason? Although our products are supported by serious scientific research and clinical trials, they are also meant to form a part of your lifestyle. These products can be taken as long as you wish, on a long term basis, without any side effects. With increasing spread of knowledge about health via the internet, more and more people are having access to nutritional products over the counter. We also expect normal healthy individuals to buy the products to support a healthy lifestyle without just depending on a medical recommendation when unwell. This is why we decided to launch the product in the OTC market as well.

You have core product Wellwoman, tell us more about that.

Wellwoman is the original multivitamin supplement designed especially for women for the demands of modern life and to support specific areas of women’s health such as hormonal balance, helping formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin and with the right level of folic acid which contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy if you are planning to get pregnant. It also helps boost the immune system to its optimum levels and provides an accurate combination of antioxidants and B vitamins.

Q A

And what about Perfectil?

Perfectil contains essential nutrients that deliver nourishment at the very deepest level. Perfectil’s vitamins and minerals along with natural extracts can help your skin, hair and nails all year round. Perfectil is also the only beauty supplement whose effectiveness is proven in clinical trials conducted by the Department of Dermatology, St Jacques University Hospital, Besançon, France, Europe’s oldest school of medicine.

How can Wellwoman support a very busy woman to stay healthy and energetic? Wellwoman can help regulate hormonal activity, plus the iron and B vitamins can help maintain normal function of the red blood cells and haemoglobin, which contribute to a healthy monthly cycle. Also folic acid as I mentioned before for planning a pregnancy and antioxidants like selenium and zinc can be very useful to protect the immune system and prevent regular illnesses. Vitamin C is another antioxidant which can not only help the immune system but can help promote collagen production in the skin. Vitamins like biotin, B3 and riboflavin (B2) all contribute to the maintenance of healthy skin. Ingredients like biotin and zinc are also particularly important for health of the nails and hair. Thus, Wellwoman can not only influence general health and vitality but it can also make you look good as well as feel well, fresh and radiant.

Q A

What are the main vitamins need by women? ll the vitamins, both water and fat soluble, as well as the minerals are important for various functions. The key is taking them in the right proportion. However probably the most important micronutrients are folic acid, B12, zinc, vitamin D, magnesium, B6 and B2.

Q A

Will vitamins or supplement be enough to support us to stay healthy and fit? Vitamins, minerals and other supplements should be taken alongside a healthy balanced diet and a good lifestyle which includes at least 3-4 times a week of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, drinking a good amount of water a day, getting at least 6-7 hours of sleep, eating at least 5-7 portions of fruit and vegetables in your daily diet and avoiding smoking and drinking.

Now, let’s talk about you. Tell us briefly your career path until landed in Vitabiotics? I have a 1st degree in pharmacy, then studied masters in pharmacology and drug design, with majors in natural research against chronic diseases such as cancer. Soon after completing my research work I joined Vitabiotics in the year 2004 and have been a Board member since 2009 until now. Apart from travelling around for business development, I also am a speaker/spokesperson for Vitabiotics speaking on different aspects of health and nutrition in areas such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, obesity, CNS, female health, fertility and sports nutrition.

Q A

What makes you enjoy working in this field? Working in this field, particularly with the type of work I do, I have the privilege of changing lives through advising many people about diet and lifestyle changes. These are big, positive changes which may not only be physical but mental too. I’m very happy that I work for Vitabiotics, which is probably the only nutraceutical company with products supported by clinical trials.

Q A

I heard that you practice a very healthy lifestyle. Tell us about that. My hectic lifestyle which includes a lot of overseas travel puts a big demand on my body and brain, for which I rely on optimum nutrition. This includes good food and a daily dose of Wellman. I make sure that I never miss my Wellman tablet even when I travel.

Q A

What are your health rules?

I personally follow 6 health rules. These are no smoking, no drinking, regular exercising, having at least 5-7 fruits and vegetables daily, getting at least 6 hours of sleep (although I would like to have more) and above all taking my daily multivitamin supplement, Wellman.

The question of all women may be is: How to be super productive and still fit in the stuff you really want to do. Could you give us advice on how to reach that goal? If you can keep your energy levels the same throughout the day, then believe me you can fit in much more than you can plan in a day. You can achieve that through a healthy diet and lifestyle and by taking your daily multivitamin Wellwoman or Perfectil.

Stop having the same arguments and fights If the couple have repeated fights on a past issue, break the habit and have a much happier marriage. Almost every couple has that seemingly trivial fight that just keeps cropping up, day after day, month after month. The issues that trigger bickering can seem insignificant, but when fights keep on resurfacing, your otherwise happy marriage can become a source of resentment and hurt feelings. Even arguments about kids and homework would invariably end in the same dead-end battle, with the wife saying, “You never help me with the kids”. One person’s winning a fight means the other person loses but, in a marriage, the two people involved are in the same team. No matter who wins, both lose. So winning a war of words in marriage has to mean something entirely different. It is finding a solution to cool off the issue and resolving the fight. Remember that many kinds of issues simply aren’t solvable.

High levels of positivity of both partners result in less conflict The stressed-out person tends to be a difficult person to live with, and wives my bear the brunt of that more than husbands who are extroverts find it difficult to tame them. If a husband is more positive, the wife is likely to feel her marriage is much better. Men may simply be better at

shrugging off perceived slights and criticisms. Traditionally women are far more responsive to the feelings and the behaviour of others. Listen and tune in to your partner: Give your loved one your full attention. This builds respect and makes your partner feel significant and cherished. It’s so easy to text your sister or browse a favourite shopping site while your partner is talking about a work challenge or troubling conversation with a friend. Drop everything and make eye contact. Give a thoughtful response. Try something new together: Take a road trip. Try a new recipe. Try one another’s hobbies. Plan a dinner in a restaurant and stick to it. Look forward to that time and cherish it. Do not watch TV or work on the laptop or use mobile phones at such a time which one gives to his or her spouse. Hug, kiss and cuddle every day: The benefits of these are very beneficial

GIVE YOUR LOVED ONE YOUR FULL ATTENTION. THIS BUILDS RESPECT AND MAKES YOUR PARTNER FEEL SIGNIFICANT AND CHERISHED. IT’S SO EASY TO TEXT YOUR SISTER OR BROWSE A FAVOURITE SHOPPING SITE WHILE YOUR PARTNER IS TALKING ABOUT A WORK CHALLENGE OR TROUBLING CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND.

as these action are believed to release oxytocin, the bonding hormone, which increases hormones that make you give a happy feeling and calms the nerves.

Do we expect too much of marriage? Women want security and financial support, a best friend and trusted confidant, and lover. Sometimes our relationships crumble under the weight of our expectations. The principal idea behind marriage is “continuation of the human race”. Now, to accomplish that, the spouses have to become “soul mates” of each other. Marriage is the human desire to satisfy and comfort oneself. One must create that soul mate feeling, creating good bonding with the spouse. The desire, wish and actions to that effect for doing things for your partner, recognising your support role, and acting as a true friend crete deep bonding. For a happy marriage, a husband’s personality is the key factor. We’ve all heard the saying “happy wife, happy life”. Husbands play a more crucial role in the health of a relationship. He does what she wants and she does what he wants. A long-lasting, happy marriage is about knowing your partner, being supportive, and being nice. This commitment to being nice is no small matter. Do nice things often. But it’s harder to be nice when angry, or when something has happened for the 15th time. For every one negative things one does, there must be five positive things one must do to balance it. When you see a happy couple, you just know it. How do these couples stay in love, in good times and in bad? It is not through luck or chance but as a result of hard work and commitment. Marriage with a good relationship is more important to happiness than salary or owning a home. Being in a compatible marriage is the most important factor related We to happiness and well-being.

The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching.

I have heard a lot about using orange peel as a beauty agent. Please tell me about it, and how to make and use it. Yes, this is a great way of nourishing and healing your skin. You can get orange peel powder in commercial packs in beauty shops and follow the instructions given therein, or you can make the orange peel powder at home. Collect orange peels and dry in sun. Powder and store in clean container. To use as face pack, mix 1tbsp of this powder with 2tbsp of yoghurt, mix thoroughly and apply on face. Keep on till dry and wash off with warm water. This will give an instant glow to your face. Instead of yoghurt, you can use honey and turmeric, or walnut powder and sandal paste too. If your skin is very oily, mix the orange peel powder with multani mitti and rose water. Oranges are chock full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals; it lightens skin, helps to remove oiliness, grease, and tan. It bestows a lovely glow to the face. I love using henna on my hair, but I find that my hair is becoming dry and brittle nowadays. Is this because of the henna? Please advise. Using henna is a great way of colouring grey hair and giving it a lovely reddish, burgundy tinge. But, yes, henna can dry hair as well, especially if you basically have dry hair. With greasy, oily hair, henna can be used without any additions, but for dry hair, mix a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil in the henna paste. You can crack an egg into the henna paste or two tablespoons of yoghurt and mix well to help counteract the drying effect very nicely. After shampooing it off, dry hair and rub in a good hair serum sparingly into your scalp. This restores gloss and shine. I am a 19-year-old college girl living in Chennai. I have a few pimple marks on my cheeks which I want to hide with a concealer. Please let me know if I should use the concealer first, and then the foundation or the other way round. I like to use a little bit of foundation when I go out. Please advise. Firstly, if you have a naturally greasy, acne-prone skin, avoid using make-up or foundation as far as possible, for it tends to clog pores and acerbate your condition. If you need must use it, do so very sparingly and with a light touch, without rubbing it in. Also, use an oil-free foundation, specially formulated for greasy complexions. Coming to your query, always use the foundation first, and then dab on the concealer on specific spots. Otherwise, the concealer will tend to smear and spread. I have long, shoulder, length hair which is limp and lacks bounce. I have been advised to blow-dry hair by flipping it upside down so that it becomes more voluminous. The problem is that my long hair becomes horribly tangled and messy when I do this. Any tips to help me? Yes, flicking hair upside down and directing the blower at

the roots does make limp hair fluff up considerably. It helps the hair perk up when it is dried against its natural growth direction. You can also use alternative methods: brush your hair from side to side, or even back to front, gently without tangling it, and then aim the hot air at the roots. Or, with your free hand, keep lifting your hair strand by strand, and dry it. These methods should be helpful for you. I got darkish pigmentation patches on my face recently. Please tell me how to remove these. I feel awful. I am a 45year-old woman living in Mumbai. Considering your age, it is likely you are having a condition called melasma which is primarily due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body in the menopausal years. Called “butterfly patches” as these tend to look like butterfly wings, these increase with exposure to the sun. So, first of all, start using sun block lotion or cream with at least 30SPF when going out. Use a special pigment-lightening and brightening cream daily, and even at night. Exfoliate your face with a good mask or facial at least once a fortnight to remove dead cells from skin. You can also apply vitamin E on your face regularly. Break open a capsule and

Beauty Queries

A Q &

spread the contents gently over your face. Massage lightly, keep on for at least a hour and wash off. Make a mixture of one cup of milk with 3 tablespoonsful honey. Massage on face. Keep on for an hour. Wash off with chilled water. Do this once a week.

My lips become dry very quickly. Please tell me how to have soft, luscious lips which are smooth and plump. Do remember that a lipstick should not only colour but nourish your lips. So, choose a lipstick which contains Vitamin E which will hydrate your lips well. Always use a lip balm,especially in the night. Apply lip balm before wearing lipstick too as this will keep the colour on even as it lubricates your lips. Put on two layers of lipstick which will provide extra protection for the lips as well. Avoid soap and water to remove lipstick but use make-up remover or even baby oil or coconut oil very gently. Try to get lipsticks which have extra fat or lanolin content to help your dry lips. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to hydrate your whole body.

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Travel

y r a i D

Offbeat things to do in Kerala.

Kerala and beauty are synonymous. God’s Own Country, Kerala, is By Tanya Malik every bit beautiful and each and every corner of the state has something that makes you nature wonder at. 2017 has just begun and you all must have started planning your travel for the year. India’s travel treasure is never ending. Travel to any state and you will find it oozing something that satiates your travel hunger. 2016, for me, ended on a very sweet note as I celebrated my New Years in the lap of Kerala. I am short of words while writing about this ethereal destination. I feel that mere words alone can’t describe the beauty that Kerala possesses. Anyhow, I manage to bring to you six things that you must try on your visit to Kerala.

Sing to yourself on a Shikara ride

Where: Allappuzha backwaters Allappuzha is a piece of heaven! When in Kerala, you really can’t miss the backwaters. Birds, coconut trees, fresh breeze, everything at Allappuzha awakens the traveller in you. Go for a shikara ride and enjoy the beauty of the place. On your way through the backwaters, you will pass through remote villages and may get to see people caught up in daily chores. Make it a memorable journey by singing some songs. If travelling along with family or friends, why not make it musical with some Antakshari? Music makes you connect with every place. Have you ever tried?

Pose in a lungi

Where: Padmanabhaswamy Temple Yes, Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the richest temples in the world. It is the temple with the greatest treasure. All these thoughts will run through your mind as you step inside the temple. But wait! There are some rules that all the visitors need to follow. Males can step in only in a lungi, females wearing saris or skirts can easily enter the temple. However, those who are not carrying saris or skirts need to wear a lungi. Lungis can be purchased outside the temple. Phones, bags, cameras, nothing is allowed inside the temple and there are stalls where you can safely keep your belongings. Now, once you step inside the temple, get ready for security checks, Many of them! As you enter the main sanctum, you will get to see a threeand-a-half foot tall statue of pure gold idol of Mahavishnu. This lying statue of Mahavishnu and beauty of the temple will leave you spellbound, for it possesses an air of positive vibes. After darshan, when you come out of the temple, don’t forget to pose in a lungi in front of the temple.

Sing to yourself.

Play kabaddi with the waves

Take a deep breathe

Where: Kovalam Beach Kovalam is one of the most beautiful beaches in Kerala. It has an altogether different vibe to it. It is happening and unruffled at the same time. The lighthouse at the beach is the star attraction and you surely can’t miss looking at the view it offers from the top. I recommend to you to spend the entire day at this beach. Take a stroll through the beach with your favourite songs plugged in. The waves will call you for more as you walk by. It reminded me of the movie Dear Zindagi. Do you remember the

Where: Varkala Beach Known for having medicinal water springs, Varkala Beach will captivate you at the first glance. When the fresh breeze from the sea caresses your hair, you will instantly get a big smile on your face. Enjoy the tranquillity with some meditation at the beach or just sit back and listen to your favourite song. Take a deep breath and take back home the refreshing vibes of the place. It is a beautiful experience to see the sunset at the Varkala Beach. It is the only place where you will get to see the cliffs at Have cucember chat

Play kabaddi

scene where Shahrukh Khan teaches Alia to play kabaddi with the waves? Being a die-hard SRK fan I tried it and it gave me a lifetime experience. Now that was like a typical Bollywood sequence for me! Also, if you are at Kovalam Beach in the morning, you will find some fishermen pulling fishing nets from the sea, they always welcome you with a smile. You can join them too!

the end of the beach. Go up the cliff and enjoy the scenic view. The Tibetan market at the cliff has loads to offer to the shoppers.

Cucumber and kaccha aam chaat Where: Poovar Golden Sand Beach Poovar is another place that will leave you with no words. We took a boat from the Neyyar River and then travelled through the mangroves to Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

finally reach the Golden Sands Beach. As the bright shining Sun’s rays fall on the water of the river, you can feel a slight breeze caressing your hair. Don’t miss sipping some coconut water from the floating ‘coconut walas’. It is an unusual experience as you see the women washing off clothes by the river. When you finally reach the Golden Sands Beach, see how the Neyyar River is separated by the Arabian Sea. While taking a stroll at the beach, have some cucumber and kaccha aam.

Shop for lungis and bindis Where: Chalai Market One of the busiest street markets of Kerala, Chalai makes you shop for anything, right from guavas to gold jhumkas. Away from the picturesque scenes of Kerala, it is a destination that will make you taste another flavour of the state. As you try to avoid the noise of the honking cars, you will get to see women bargaining for fruits on one side and men selling off bangles and jhumkas on the other side. Don’t forget to buy a lungi and a sari, for they will be the best souvenirs ever. After drifting from one shop to another, you may forget noticing the bindi every woman in the state wears. Bindi is considered to be auspicious and you may not find a single woman not wearing it. Take back that authentic Kerala feel with We some bindis.

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. 13

CLASSIFICATION OF SKIN TYPES

Sunburn Beating the tan.

Remedies

By Dr J. L. Agarwal

Definition When a few hours after sun exposure the skin becomes red painful and hot it is knows as sunburn. It may take several days to heal. Intense sun exposure increases the risk of dry wrinkled skin, liver spots, actinic keratoses and skin cancer including melanoma. One can prevent sunburn and complications. If you are likely to suffer from sunburn some simple home remedies and other treatments can relieve pain and speed up the healing of the damaged skin.

Symptoms of sunburn ✿

Pinkness or redness Skin feels warm or hot to the touch ✿ Pain or tenderness ✿ Swelling ✿ Small fluid-filled blisters which may break ✿ Itching ✿ If skin burn covers a large area, the headache, fever fatigue may also occur Sunburn can occur in any of the exposed parts like ear lobes, face, eyes, forearms, legs, neck, etc. Within a few days healing starts by peeling the top layer of the sunburned skin. After peeling skin may become of irregular colour and pattern, later on slowly the skin may regain normal colour and texture. ✿

Skin type Type I

Skin colour pale white skin

Reaction to sun exposure Always burns never tans

Type II

white skin

Burns easily, tans minimally

Type III

white skin

Burns minimally, tans easily

Type IV

light brown or olive skin

Burns minimally, tans easily

Type V

brown skin

Rarely burns, tans easily and darkly

Type VI

dark brown or black skin

Rarely burns, always tans, always deeply pigmented

cause sunburn in a genetically susceptible person or in persons sensitive due to some chemicals drugs or diseases. One can get the sunburn even in hazy or cloude days. Ultraviolet rays can reflect from sand snow, ice, water and reflected ultraviolet rays can also cause sunburn too. At high altitudes, the risk of sunburn increases as the sun’s rays contain more ultraviolet B rays.

✿ ✿

✿

Who are at greater risk People with fair skin are more likely to get sunburn than people with dark skin as dark people have more melanin pigment in the skin which provides protection from sunburn, but not from ultravioletinduced skin damage. According to dermatologists the skin is of six types, I to VI, and sunburn is more likely to occur in types I, II, III, type skin but, regardless of the type of the skin, the sun’s energy penetrates deep into the skin and can damage the skin if exposed for a long time.

Causes The sun’s rays contain visible rays (400-800 Hz), ultraviolet rays B (290320Hz), ultra violet A (320-400 HZ), infrared rays (800-1700 Hz). Ultra violet B rays can damage the skin of any normal person and can cause sunburn while ultraviolet. A ray can

If suffering from sunburns, the following treatment should be taken: ✿ Consume anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen. ✿ Apply cold compresses to the affected skin. After some time take a cool bath or shower.

Complications Intense prolonged sun exposure which results in sunburn increases the risk of certain skin diseases like premature ageing of skin, actinic keratoses, infections, skin cancer and cataract. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

✿ ✿

Apply alovera or sunburn lotion to the skin. Can apply tropical cortico steroid which helps to relieve itching and other symptoms and speed up the healing. Avoid sun exposure between 10th and 4th because the sun’s rays are intense in these hours. Try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day. Seek shade whenever possible. If it is unavoidable to go out, limit the time of the outdoor activities. Wear cloth which covers arms legs and head or use on umbrella. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion on exposed parts before going out in the sun.

When to consult the doctor ✿

If blistering occurs and covers large areas of the body. ✿ Sunburn is associated with high fever, extreme pain, headache, confusion, nausea or chills. ✿ If sunburn doesn’t respond to home remedies. ✿ If sunburn as accompanied by signs and symptoms of infections like increasing pain and tenderness, increasing swelling, yellow (plus) leaking from a blister or red streaks coming from any burst blister. Doctors will advise appropriate treatment according to the problems.We

SUMMER ESSENTIALS Ultimate guide to nail the scorching season. By Medha Chawla

he chilly winters have retired and it is time to welcome the sweaty yet happy season i.e. summer. Though every season has its own share of joys and pains, summers are a bit balanced in this case, for they provide equal reasons for us to be happy and distressed. The blazing sun leaves no stone unturned to make us sweat profusely in this season. Hot winds worsen the situation. Leaving this apart, everything else during this season is absolutely delightful with mangoes being on the top delight. While kids get excited for their 2-months-long summer school break, fashionistas have the best time to reveal and experiment with their uber chic style. But one also needs to be a bit careful and prepped up while welcoming weather change. So, here we bring to you an ultimate guide for you to enjoy summers to the core while being healthy and trendy at the same time.

Clothing Summer is the favourite time of the year for every fashion enthusiast. Even though this season irritates us with the grilling hot winds, it rejoices with the fashion it brings along. Here are a few trends that you must try during this summer to look your stylish best. ✿ The much-hyped palazzos are a passé now. To keep the fashion quotient up, ditch the usual salwars and skin fitted leggings and rather team your long kurtis with stylish and elegant cigarette pants. This trend is apt for both homemakers and officegoing women. ✿ Wearing pastels is the new cool!

Soft shades are very much in vogue, so girls can opt for wearing pastel shaded dresses, tops and even trousers. Since it is summer time, do not keep yourself away from the brightest and pop colour-wear. Splash off the best of yellows, orange, blues and greens you have. ✿ Be friends with floral prints, for they are the must-have for young girls this season. ✿ Indulge in some revealing game with off-the-shoulder and cold shoulder tops. ✿ Make Bandanas your best friend this season. You can take help of Internet to learn wearing a bandana in several different ways. Wearing it in day time will shred some cool vibes and protect you from heat stroke as well. ✿ Raise the pop quotient with pompoms! Pom-pom dupattas instantly glams-up the ethnic wear. Varied designs of pom-pom tops are easily available in street markets and online fashion stores.

Make-up Essentials With warm season almost on the door, it is also important to update your make-up kit. Following are a few pocket-friendly make-up essentials for these summers!

Nude lip shades Considering the fact that you already own a variety of basic shades of reds and pinks, this is the latest trend you must update your make-up kit with. Almost every brand is out with a nude shaded lipsticks collection. These notso-bright coloured lipsticks accentuate one’s look with elegance and perfectly go with nude or no make-up look. Moreover, the rich dip colours are important but are too heavy for this season. ✿ One cannot simply miss BB cream in this season. They can be used every day for office, college or even parties which require minimal make-up. Apart from making your face look brighter and blemish free, they also nourish

your skin with moisturising and sunscreen properties. ✿ Summers make you precipitate profusely, so chances are with sweat, your make-up will also drip off. So ensure to buy waterproof make-up products. ✿ Do not use cream foundations or any product that makes you look too luminous, for humidity will make you look over sweaty and shiny. We are sure, you don’t want that to happen!

Skincare Summers are a bit harsh on skin. Heat boils, tanning and sunburns are just a few problems that summer brings along for skin. But worry not, following tips are exactly what you need to rejoice your skin in this scorching season. ✿ When in doubt, apply and re-apply sunscreen! Never ever go out in the day time without applying adequate amount of sunscreen on your skin that will be exposed to sun, or else be ready to welcome heavy damage on your skin. Sunscreen also prevents tanning. However, choose the right kind of sunscreen according to your skin type. ✿ Include exfoliation in your summer skin regimen. Exfoliation removes dead cells and dulling skin debris and makes your skin healthier. It also helps skin to remain hydrated and moisturised. ✿ Eat an anti-oxidant rich diet during summers for glowing fresh skin. ✿ To treat prickling skin, which is a very common and prominent issue during summers, take cold showers, wear lose clothes and ensure to apply talcum powder after taking bath. Calamine lotion works wonders to get you rid off from it.

✿ Try to avoid direct sunlight from 11am to 4pm. However, to reduce the tanning, smoothly rub your skin against a homemade paste of gramflour (besan), curd and a pinch of turmeric. Keep it for 15-20 minutes and remove with rubbing it off in circular motion. Rinse off the excess with water. ✿ Visit parlour at least once in a month and give your skin a much needed breathing session with cleaning or an appropriate type of facial.

Activities Make most of this super season by involving yourself into some fun-filled activities. ✿ Summers are absolutely incomplete without a visit to waterpark. You can take your kids or friends along to drench yourself into the thrilling adventure water-rides. It is always good to break the monotony, right? ✿ Take a short break from office or your daily chores and take a short break from the heat. Visit a nearby hill station to beat the heat and let yourself feel fresh away from your daily routine life. ✿ Mangoes are the best offering of this blazing season. Relish this sheer fruit of joy in quirky offbeat ways. Try on some unique mango recipes like raw mango rasam, mango cheesecake, mango shreekhand, aampanna and mango mousse at home. ✿ Become a green-finger and indulge yourself in gardening. Apart from being good for your health, gardening also proves beneficial for brain and relieves stress!

WHEN IN DOUBT, APPLY AND RE-APPLY SUNSCREEN! NEVER EVER GO OUT IN THE DAY TIME WITHOUT APPLYING ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF SUNSCREEN ON YOUR SKIN THAT WILL BE EXPOSED TO SUN, OR ELSE BE READY TO WELCOME HEAVY DAMAGE ON YOUR SKIN.

Health The first and the foremost thing you need to take care of is your health. With the season change, your body requirements also change. Follow the below-mentioned tips to save yourself from getting ill this summer. ✿ “Staying hydrated is the ultimate key to beat the heat. In summers, your body demands almost double of the water intake than in winters. Drinking 8-10 glasses is a must. Water not only keeps your body cooler but is also the best agent to maintain a good health. Relish water in form of a home-made lemonade once or twice in a day. It will also keep you away from heat strokes.”

✿ Summer brings along a plethora of mouth-watering fruits with it. Have a berry blast this season and treat yourself with mulberries, strawberries and blueberries. These berries are extremely antioxidant rich and help to rejuvenate your skin and keep the age-related illness at bay. ✿ Indulge into a high fibre diet and do not hesitate from making most of green leafy vegetables. Also, try to avoid deep-fried food items and minimise the alcohol consumption, for they heat up your body from within. ✿ Make sure to spend some time with nature and its greenery. Love summers or hate summers! But you can’t ignore summers! We

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

NATURE’S ELIXIR TO COMBAT

HEALTH WOES

The humble Indian gooseberry or Amla truly deserves its superfood status.

n morning you wake up a little late, sip tea, take bath in a hurry, and realize that it is already late for office. There is a lot of pressure to deliver at work, lunch not having enough time to eat. With so much to do and little time to rest, body starts falling prey to various diseases in the hustle and bustle of life. One of the basic reasons for body’s vulnerability towards diseases is its weak immune system. Vitamin C that is responsible to strengthen body’s immune system cannot be prepared by body and is not stored in the body as well. So, it becomes imperative to ingest vitamin C, vitamin C food to maintain necessary supplies. While there are many supplements of vitamin C available in market not all are effective in completely replenishing body’s vitamin C requirement. Studies suggest that pharmaceutical health supplements offer little or nothing in the way of health benefits. Furthermore, high doses of certain supplements might cause harm as well. Herbal supplements on the other hand are composed naturally and are nearly always safer and effective. Ayurveda over the centuries has been very effective in curing body ailments. The great advantage of Ayurveda is it identifies body imbalances before they actually manifest as a disease. Emblica officinalis, commonly known as Indian gooseberry or amla, is arguably the most important medicinal plant in the Indian traditional system of medicine, the Ayurveda. Amla is the richest source

of vitamin C and antioxidants. Various parts of the plant are used to treat a range of diseases, but the most important is the fruit, Amla. Consumption of Amla in natural form or as herbal supplement has following health benefits: ✿ Protects cells against free radical damage and provides antioxidant protection ✿ Used to treat skin disorders, respiratory infections, and premature ageing ✿ Useful in haemorrhage, diarrhoea, dysentery, and has therapeutic value in treating diabetes ✿ It has antibacterial and astringent properties that help prevent infection and help in the healing of ulcers ✿ Sometimes it is used as a laxative to relieve constipation caused by piles Immunity booster: One reason for Amla's reputation as a general energypromoting, disease-preventing tonic may be its effect on the immune system. Multiple studies have shown significant increases in white blood cell counts and other measures of strengthened immunity in rodents when given Amla. Respiratory disorders: Indian gooseberry is beneficial in the treatment of respiratory disorders. It is especially valuable in tuberculosis of the lungs asthma and bronchitis. Diabetes: This herb, due to its high vitamin C content, is effective in controlling diabetes. A tablespoon of Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

its juice mixed with a cup of bitter gourd juice, taken daily for two months will stimulate the pancreas and enable it to secrete insulin, thus reducing the blood sugar in the diabetes. Diet restrictions should be strictly observed while taking this medicine. It will also prevent eye complication in diabetes. Eye disorder: The juice of Indian Gooseberry with honey is useful in preserving eyesight. It is beneficial in the treatment of conjunctivitis and glaucoma. It reduces intraocular tension in a remarkable manner. Juice mixed with honey can be taken twice daily for this condition. Scurvy: As an extremely rich source of vitamin C, Indian gooseberry is one of the best remedy for scurvy. Powder of the dry herb, mixed with an equal quantity of sugar, can be taken in doses of 1 teaspoon, thrice daily with milk. Ageing: Indian gooseberry has revitalizing effects, as it contains an element which is very valuable in preventing ageing and in maintaining strength in old age. It improves body resistance and protects the body against infection. It strengthens the heart, hair and different gland in the body. It is always advisable to take vitamin C supplement having Emblica officinalis as key or only ingredient. The more active ingredient a supplement has, less effective, individually, its ingredients will be. We

ur o m u H

Tsunami In A Tea Cup I

Sweety and Happy are my two kids, the apples of my eyes and I would do anything for them. But surely my wife did not have to use them as leverage. This was sheer blackmail!

On a holiday at home. By Dr Kalpana Sarkar groups on the street waiting for their school bus. All was right with my world as I waited for my better half to bring me my morning cuppa and newspaper. I was woken from my reverie by a low rumbling noise which seemed to be gathering momentum. Last year, Nepal had witnessed a massive earthquake. Could it be that we in Delhi were going to have a similar one? The vibrations were getting stronger; maybe the epicentre was right under the spot where I was sitting. I looked around wildly, expecting to see cracks in the walls, roads splitting apart and buildings tumbling down. The rumbling “Look

t was a weekday, 7 am, the time of day I liked best. Sitting on the balcony with my feet stretched out in front of me, I could feel the cool morning breeze caressing my unshaven cheeks. I gazed with pride at my well-tended plants like a mother who looks lovingly at her children. A flowering creeper grew on one side of the wall. No runof-the-mill money plants, curry leaves or drab spiky aloe vera. My exotic and unusual collections of plants were all growing well, in neatly arranged flower pots. A few bees lazily buzzed around, a lone bird twittered and the children stood in

here!” she said again, pointing with her podgy finger, her double chin quivering with indignation. The ‘here’ was the picture in the newspaper of a Bollywood actor with an arm around the waist of his slim actress wife.

stopped suddenly. Aha! Maybe, it was one of those aftershocks, a false alarm, so nothing to get worried about or that is what I thought.

y wife was standing next to me like an apparition appearing out of nowhere, she of the strong and sturdy stride who had been responsible for the rumblings. She slammed the tea cup in front of me on the small table. I watched in fascinated horror as a minitsunami rose from the tea, travelled over the edge of the cup and sloshed into the saucer. I hate to drink tea this way. I am a very neat person and everything has to be just so. Even a cup of tea should be presented with finesse and with a longstemmed newly-opened rosebud if possible. “Look!” she said. “Look!” “Where?” I replied frantically my neck swivelling a full 180 degrees, hoping to see something that I had missed. “Look here!” she said again, pointing with her podgy finger, her double chin quivering with indignation. The ‘here’ was the picture in the newspaper of a Bollywood actor with an arm around the waist of his slim actress wife. “Do you know what it says?” my wife asked. “No, dear,” I replied humbly. Clearly she was in one of her

moods, wanting to pick a fight, whereas all I wanted to do was have my tea and read the paper before I left for office. “Well, listen, this actor is taking his wife and kids to Europe for the holidays. I know you cannot even think of doing this in your wildest dreams...”

uch! That was putting it mildly. It was a bitter blow to my manly pride, but I strove to keep a stiff upper lip. After all, with my meagre pay cheque, I could not afford to keep up with the Joneses, let along actors. Bracing for the worst, I retreated behind a wall of silence. Under such circumstances it is best for us husbands to keep quiet. “When school closes for vacation you can take us to Mussorie or Nainital. Sweety and Happy will be overjoyed. They are supposed to write

an essay on ‘How I spent my summer holidays’ and they will be the laughing stock of their class if the other kids come to know that they never ventured out of the house except to play with their friends.”

weety and Happy are my two kids, the apples of my eyes and I would do anything for them. But surely my wife did not have to use them as leverage. This was sheer blackmail! “Hmm...” I said. “Hmm...” “What does your ‘hmm...’ mean? Are you tongue-tied or what? Why can’t you give me a direct answer?” “Hmm..., ”I said again, when all I wanted to tell her was ‘Buzz off, woman, and leave me in peace,” or something to that effect, but I could not pluck up the courage to do so. While she droned on, I suddenly came to the

conclusion that burying one’s nose in the newspaper was the best thing in the world. That way you can shut off the deafening decibels. Suddenly the government’s policies became crystal clear to me, and I agreed with every one of them. Murder, rape, arson, theft, burglary, robbery, suicide, shooting and scandal – I read with ghoulish interest. Black money stashed in overseas accounts, views of film stars on how patriotic they were, head honchos and politicians sweeping the roads, grabbed my eyeballs. I looked longingly at the pretty young things on page 3, pouting and taking selfies. And I sighed when I saw the pictures of the dearly departed in obituary page, now happy in their own world, away from the turmoils of life. “Why don’t you put an arm around my waist, like

you used to?” she asked. Would there be no end to requests on such a beautiful day? I wanted to tell her that the actor’s wife had retained her figure, whereas she (my wife) had not. I wanted to tell her that her once 24” waist had been like the slogan for the TV ad, ‘Neighbours’ envy, owner’s pride. And I also wanted to tell her that her waist had gone westward ho, but like the wise guy that I was, I refrained from speaking and kept quiet. “Be a dear,” I told her, “pack up my breakfast and lunch, I will have them at the office.” I suddenly remembered some work that needs my urgent attention.” “You won’t forget what I told you, will you?’ “Never! I shall give your ideas the utmost consideration they deserve.” “Oh and could you...?” We

Perfect Amalgamation of Luxury and Fashion

urie Designer studio launched recently and exclusively in Delhi is the one stop shop for all your fashion needs. Zurie, a multibrand luxury studio has created a buzz ever since its launch on February 26, 2017. The collection of Zurie not just comprises its own handcrafted designer jewellery but also of leading International brands like Duet Luxury, Loupe, Mirakin, Asghar Ali,

Aseem Gioielli, Tanvi Garg, The Purple Sack and Nakhre Waali. The collection a hit amid Delhiites includes hand-crafted ethnic designer cufflinks, standout neck pieces, haute perfumes, studded clutches, beautiful earrings, etc. Zurie’s co-founder Sonam Gupta while talking about the exquisite collection shared, “We are trying to get all kinds of fashion available at one roof, whether you want to wear something to your office, Woman’s Era ● March (First) 2017

evening party or at any occasion. We are making fashion functional in every sense.” Zurie’s collection is set for all seasons and occasions. It breaks the cliché of saving your designer possessions for the special occasions only. Zurie envisions to create an acceptance to inculcate carrying beautiful designer pieces everydayfrom workplace to a family brunch. – Renu Singh 23

I am a 16-year-old girl and want to wear tampons during my periods, but my mother does not agree. She feels it will make it look that I have lost my virginity. My friends use this, so why can’t I? Your mother may be worried that tampon use will stretch or tear the hymen. This is possible but no one cares about this nowadays. It is not as if you have to prove your virginity to anyone. You can ask your friends to convince her, if you wish. Tampons are definitely more convenient and comfortable but care should be taken when inserting these. Leaving one inside inadvertently can lead to infection and complications.

face rejection in most good schools due to your poor grades. Do some serious thinking too. Are you confident of managing the highly stressful medical studies if you are not good in the related subjects?. You can fulfil your dream of doing medical studies by getting entry into many other tertiary courses which are connected to Medicine, like physiotherapy, special-needs treatment, music therapy, etc, which are very satisfying too. I am a 15-year-old girl, my parents’ only child, born after many years of longing and treatment. Due to these circumstances , my parents though very loving are very overprotective. I am not allowed to travel in the school bus but am chauffeur-driven every day. I am not allowed to go for out-station class trips or even attend school events which run a little late into the night. I find their attitude suffocating. Please tell me how to make them loosen up and allow me to enjoy a bit more freedom. Why should I suffer like this? It is unfortunate that your parents feel so fearful about your safety. Try to convince them gently that it is better you are thrown into the hurly burly of life as it will give you self confidence and independence. Too much dependence on them will be contra-productive. Ask your close relatives, like grandparents, aunts or uncles, to advise them to give you more freedom.

I am an 18-year-old girl studying medicine in a good college in Karnataka. I have fallen deeply in love with my classmate’s brother . We want to get engaged so that we can get married in a few years’ time, but my parents are vigorously opposing this. The problem is that my boyfriend is occupied with writing a novel. He works on this for hours every day. So, after marriage, I will be the breadwinner. I have no problem with this, but my parents are furious. They say I am unrealistic and do not know what I am letting myself in for. Please advise. This is clearly not a suitable scenario.Consider this: You will not be able to earn a living for at least the next 6 years, after your internship etc. Then, you will have to establish your practice and reputation before bringing in some good money. In all this struggle, if you even have to fend for a jobless husband, home and perhaps, children, however will you find time for your profession? Do take time to think a little practically. There is no hurry for commitment at this stage. Just remain friends and let matters unwind at their own pace. Life without a proper inflow of money can be very difficult and your marriage can flounder and break up when harsh reality strikes. For the present, concentrate on your studies. A medical course demands a lot of work and study. Don’t mess up your career with these diversions.

Even a sympathetic teacher can reassure them about the safety of school trips and how it is unfair to deprive you of these enjoyments. Once they realise that their over-care is having adverse effects on you, they will surely change their attitude.

I am studying in class 10, and want to study medicine after my 12th. But my teachers are refusing the Science stream for me. They want me to take up Arts or Commerce because my grades are not up to the mark in Science. What can I do? Ask my parents to change my school? I feel very depressed because my greatest dream is to become a doctor.Please advise. Unless you are extremely “weak” in science, it does seem unfair to deny this stream to you. Why not ask your parents to have a talk with your teachers? they can request them to grant you a seat with the condition that they will take it back if you do not fare better in it. Assuring them that you will be provided with extra tuition (from your own class teachers if possible) may make them change their minds. Changing schools is an option of course, but you may

There is a girl in my class who I have seen stealing from others’ bags on two occasions. Once, she stole a pen, and at another time, I saw her opening a girl’s purse and pinching a hundredrupee note from it. These girls and some others too have reported their loss to the teacher, but nothing has come out of it. I am in a dilemma about whether to speak out or not. The girl in question comes from a poor background and all things considered, is a nice kid. I hate to get her into trouble. Please advise.I study in class eleven. You report to the teacher what you have seen, or confront the girl privately and let her know that you have seen her stealing, and get an explanation from her. She must return the articles she has pilfered without anyone being the wiser for it

QA &

Teenache

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

JAPAN Sapporo

Visiting

Niseka

NAGASAKI JAPAN How it has recovered from an atom bomb blast. By D.B.N. Murthy

Hokkaido

Hiroshima

Aomori

Akita

Niigate

Sendai Fukushima

Nagano Kyoto

Tokyo Chiba Nagoya Yokohama Osaka

Nagasaki

Tokushima

fter an interesting visit to Hiroshima, I decided to go to Nagasaki, where the second atom bomb fell just three days after Hiroshima. It was an interesting train ride, changing trains to arrive at Nagasaki by the afternoon. We passed through coastal places with a view of small ports and ships anchored far away. I was surprised to see a huge youth concert that was going on with some youths singing and dancing at the entrance to the station. I watched in silence at the disciplined crowd which applauded the performers after each act. I had coffee and cake at the railway station cafe. My hotel was just across the station reached by an overbridge. It was too late to go out and so I decided to take it easy that evening. The next morning after coffee, I bought the day pass on the street car (tram) which enabled me to travel over the five lines (different colour coded) any number of times. The first place to visit was the attractive

harbour against the backdrop of mountains where a number of boats and a big luxury cruise vessel were anchored. It presented a lovely picture on that clear morning. Just opposite was a public garden. Nagasaki has retained some oldworld places as heritage sites. It was the “The street along Oura River” named Sagan Matsue I visited near a streetcar terminus. The small stream was clear with houses and shops that have come up, though some of the old charms still persisted. From that heritage site, I went by another street car to the attractive Sofukuji Temple, with an ornamental entrance gate built in 1690. A small donation is collected as an entry fee. It was a quiet and peaceful place with altars outside and monks busy with their prayers. I looked around for a while before exiting. Near the entrance to the museum was a nice colourful flower garden in which is located a tall statue. It is the “Vision of Peace”, rising out of the smoke from sacred pipes held by five Native Americans. This statue was

donated by Saint Paul Rotary Club, Minnesota, USA, and Nagasaki Rotary Club. It took some efforts to locate the Atomic Bomb Museum but it was well worth the effort. It is an impressive tall red building. It showcased the horrors of the day when everything was destroyed around the hypocentre and caused havoc with buildings collapsing, people with burns and serious injuries running helter skelter to find medical help. Pictures of the devastation caused by the blast were horrifying and one could imagine the surprise and anxiety of those caught in the direct blast and radiation. The actual hypocentre of the bomb is a little away from the museum, within easy walking distance. It was a peaceful scene at the Peace Park with flowering trees, and monuments. At the edge of the hill, before one walks down the steps, are located several monuments – about peace, a rock found at the hypocentre and a young boy on a pedestal holding aloft a peace dove. Colourful clothes and ribbons were tied to a tree next to the

pedestal as offerings. An amazing sight greeted me as I came down the steps. That was once the bomb hypocentre totally devastated. What I saw was a field with young children playing joyfully, chasing each other and playing skip and jump. Each of them had a jacket with a number for easy identification. That was the difference between life and destruction! A memorial is erected at the hypocentre with a grieving woman holding her dead child, a poignant reminder of the dark day when everything at that site was obliterated. The inscription “1945 8.9.11:02” gives the exact date and time of the atom bomb blast over the site.

FATEFUL DAY Hypocentre of the atomic bomb explosion: A plaque at the site gives details of the traumatic events of that fateful day. “At 11:02 am on August 9, 1945, an atomic bomb exploded 500 metres above this spot. The black stone monolith to the right of this plaque marks the hypocentre. “The fierce blast wind, the heat rays reaching several thousands of degrees and deadly radiation generated by the explosion reduced the city centre to ruins. About onethird of Nagasaki was destroyed and 150,000 people killed or injured and it

was said that this area would be devoid of vegetation for 75 years. Now, the hypocentre remains as an international peace park and a symbol of the aspiration for world harmony. This photo was taken on October 1945 and shows the black monolith that was the first structure built after the

A MEMORIAL IS ERECTED AT THE HYPOCENTRE WITH A GRIEVING WOMAN HOLDING HER DEAD CHILD, A POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE DARK DAY WHEN EVERYTHING AT THAT SITE WAS OBLITERATED.

bombing to mark the hypo-centre of the atomic bomb explosion.” With a heavy heart I took leave of the hypocentre to head for my hotel. Nagasaki offers a history tour visiting an old Dutch settlement and a historical museum. Another tour is to visit the Chinese culture and shopping areas, each of which would take about three-four hours. These are on the streetcar routes. There are temples en route like the Confucian shrine, Kofukuji, and Sofukuji.

Tips

Nagasaki is easily accessible from other cities by air, road and high-speed rail. There are budget as well as starred hotels and a choice of restaurants including Indian food. One could buy the day streetcar pass for unlimited We travel on all the five routes.

Tips for the first-time travellers. By Sripriya Satish If Singapore is in your list of travel destinations and that too if you are a firsttime visitor to this wonderland, then I am sure this article will take you on a quick ride through the best of this land of the Merlion. As a first-time traveller myself, here I give a first-hand account of what I had experienced in this land of dreams. To start with, let me give the highlights of the Changi airport, a superb gateway to the word-class tourist destination, Singapore. Rated as one of the best airports in the world and the 15th of the busiest airports, it serves about 51 million passengers a year. What makes the airport stand apart is that it houses a butterfly garden, a cactus and flower garden, 24-hour open cinema halls, a sprawling swimming pool etc. This airport is a destination by itself and is a haven for transit passengers.

Star attractions which your ltinerary must include: Gardens by the Bay: We discovered this world of wonders the night we landed at Singapore. If you want to have an enriched experience, then do visit this place in the late evenings. I am sure the key attractions of this place being the flower dome, cloud forest, the Supertree Grove, heritage gardens, world of plants, dragonfly lake, etc. will awaken the inquisitiveness and the exploring nature in you. The cloud forest and the flower dome being two giant greenhouses will leave you spellbound as you can marvel at all kinds of tropical plants, 2,000 metres above the sea level in the former and all kinds of impressive 30,000 flowering plants categorised into nine gardens in the latter. Another interesting feature of the cloud forest is that it houses the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls which will indeed dazzle your senses. Please do not miss the light and sound show at 7.45pm and 8.45pm daily when the artificial trees light up and dance to the musical tunes. If you want to view an over whelming display of music, lights and water laser show – and I am sure you do – then do not miss this free, yet fantabulous display at Marina Bay Sands, the timings of the show being 7.30 pm and 9.30pm. With the backdrop of the city’s amazing sky scrapers this show is really a feast for the eyes.

Merlion park Created in 1964, the half-fish and half-lion statue stands majestically overlooking the glittering Marina Bay, welcoming the tourists. The structure of the statue has its own reasons for being, the head symbolises Singapore’s original name and the body symbolises Singapore’s history as a fishing village. This icon of Singapore being 8.6m high and spouting water from its mouth with the backdrop of tall buildings can be a memorable sight for any tourist.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATUE HAS ITS OWN REASONS FOR BEING, THE HEAD SYMBOLISES SINGAPORE’S ORIGINAL NAME AND THE BODY SYMBOLISES SINGAPORE’S HISTORY AS A FISHING VILLAGE. River safari The inquisitiveness in anyone can get easily aroused upon embarking this Safari where one can find over 6,000 amazing aquatic animals, belonging to various rivers of the world. Being Asia’s first ever riverthemed wildlife park, the whole area is split into two zones namely the Rivers of the World and Wild Amazonia. You can have a quick tour across the amazing aquatic species of Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

various world-famous rivers like the Ganges, Mississippi, Yangtze, Amazon etc.

Night safari If you want to have the thrill of seeing amazing animals during the night time then don’t miss the night Safari. Rated as the best tourist attraction in the whole of Asia, with more than 1000 creatures, this night time park will keep you enthralled with various walking trails like the Fishing Cat Trail, Leopard Trail, Wallaby Trail etc. We took the Wallaby trail which took about 20 minutes and could see several adorable wallabies munching away food at really close quarters. It was a real delight to watch. We also boarded the night tram and could easily spot several creatures of the Indian subcontinent roaming about freely in the wilderness. An amazing experience indeed! Beside the River Safari is the Jurong Bird Park and Singapore Zoo, 31

has lots to offer to everyone, regardless of age. The attractions of in this place are huge and one should be there in person to discover the joys offered by this island.

The Singapore flyer If you want to soar into the sky and have the whole of glittering Singapore below you, then one must get aboard this giant observation wheel. I bet the breathtaking, panoramic views from this Singapore flyer will create an everlasting impression on your mind. From having a private capsule to having a sky dining experience, you have the option to choose to make your 45- minute round aboard the Flyer memorable.

each unique in its own way. Be sure to get the combo tickets for all the four or pick any two and save big on dollars.

Shopping belts

Sentosa Island: If you are on a mood to enjoy yourself thoroughly, then do see this island. Starting from the Madame Tussauds Museum, the S.E.A. Aquarium, Sentosa Merlion to Universal Studios and Adventure Cove Waterpark, to name a few, this island

Well, if you are a shopaholic then Singapore will not disappoint you what with the sophisticated shopping hubs like Orchard Road, the Vivo City, the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands etc. If you are a little cultural oriented then you can head straight to the shops of Little India and China Town and if you want to save some dollars while shopping, then the Mustafa Shopping Centre will be up to your expectations. Well, all said and done, Singapore city’s beauty cannot be imagined but has to be experienced. Our family’s top pick were the Sentosa Island and the Night Safari and of course the rest of the attractions do not lag far behind. Three cheers for the dazzling Singapore! We

There’s something I’ve always wanted Not just for myself, of course, I’ll share The stereotypical girl I am, I never asked for it But today is Women’s Day And I shall raise my voice, as the slogans say. I went to my neighbourhood shop And asked for a bottle, just a teeny tiny bottle Of equality Today is, after all, Women’s Day, however, “Too expensive for you, Madam,” is all the shopkeeper can say, The next store told the same story The newspapers told their own stories Of gruesome violence and unfair discrimination. Today, maybe Women’s Day, But Equality is nowhere to be seen. As I sat on the last bus home I remarked to a fellow passenger, “A woman was assaulted on a similar bus.” “Today is Women’s Day,” he said. “Must you make such a feminist fuss?” Women are killed and made to hang from a tree But I must be content with my Women’s Day lunch that’ll be free It seems like I’ll have to buy equality at full price. But while today may be Women’s Day Full price for equality might just mean my own life. – Angelina Dash. 32

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Breaking the Stereotype is the Buzzword Mumbai hosts first ever India intimate fashion week.

hat was a germ of an idea has snowballed into becoming one of the most talked about glamour fashion and lifestyle extravaganza. India Intimate Fashion Week brought together national and global followers and manufacturers- the finest in intimate wear,e-commerce,stylists and experts at a 2-day show to be hosted at The Leela, Mumbai (March 18-19). Niraj Jawanjal, founder and chief ideator (India Intimate Fashion Week) talks about his vision and hopes . “Dare to think bold. The journey began way back in 2010 when we entered the media business with our fashion magazine L’Affaire India in Pune. From a newcomer to the market leader that’s how L’Affaire India created a rich clientele, amazing content and an extremely good PR. We diversified into the production business, which was a turning point in my career”.

A mechanical engineer, an MBA and Professor, Niraj has shot more than 400 commercial projects, covering almost every category of business. “The idea of IIFW was born from the experiences we had during this enriching travel of shooting for intimate wear clientele. We have realised that the talent supply in both designing and modelling is extremely poor and is rather dominated by international models. And that’s how, after spending months of preparation we came up with the promising concept of India Intimate Fashion Week.”

NO EASY JOURNEY The journey till here wasn’t easy at all he says. “When we shared the IIFW concept in the market, people laughed at us. Many said the subject was taboo in India and we would face criticism. Education in terms of

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

By Sudha Hariharan

intimate wear and lingerie is very less. There is no single institute in India which offers any graduaiton or postgraduation course in lingerie or intimate wear design. My team members, though, backed me all the way “. "The industry is still in its nascent stage in India , in fact, it's a taboo here. People don't like to talk about it. Our major aim is to increase the development of the sector and encourage people to consider this as a serious career option. Intimate wear is a huge sector, rather world's largest sector, deeply rooted in every person's life across the globe. Yet it is unexplored in India though we are now opening up to all kinds of evolutions, revolutions, entrepreneurships and experiments in fashion," It was not just to be a fashion show but an intellectual property with high commercial value for intimate fashion business in India in which designers (Indian and international), Brands, ECommerce can showcase their designs and simultaneously boost the new talent pool for the future. Niraj is ardent to boo the taboo which he says was a major hurdle. We decided to speak about this through right messages , catchy and hard-hitting campaigns like #BooTheTaboo and #TheRightCup. On 18-19th of March – the world geared up to goggle at India’s finest Intimate Fashion designers and brands, new face of Indian talent in this field, which was never discovered We before.

Dahi bhallas with fresh fruit chutneys

With fresh fruits and dry fruits. By Roma Ghosh

DAHI BHALLAS WITH FRESH FRUIT CHUTNEYS INGREDIENTS:

3-4 pinches cinnamon powder 2 pinches red chilli powder 2 tsp sugar syrup 2 tbsp salad or olive oil 1/ cup green chutney 2 1 tsp chaat masala 1 tsp red chilli powder salt to taste

For bhallas: 1 cup white urad dal soaked overnight 1/ cup mung dal soaked overnight 2 2 tbsp raisins 12-14 whole pepper cones oil for deep frying 300-500 ml thick sweetened curd salt to taste

For green chutney: 1 cup chopped coriander leaves 1/ cup mint leaves 2 2 green chillies 3 tbsp amla (cut into quarters and the inside portion removed) 2 pods garlic 1/ cup pomegranate seeds 2 salt to taste

For chutneys: 1/ cup spicy strawberry and chilli 2 chutney (recipe in the following recipes )

METHOD Wet-grind the dals and keep in a mixing bowl. Add salt, pepper cones and raisins. Blend well with your fingers so that the mixture turns fluffy. Heat oil for deep frying. Drop small portions of the batter into the hot oil and fry the bhallas a few at a time. Once

For golden berry/rashbari chutney: 300 gm rasbhari golden berries cut into halves 2 tbsp honey

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golden brown and crispy on both sides transfer into a bowl of lukewarm water and allow the bhallas to remain in the lukewarm water for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the water from the bhalla by pressing between your palms. Then place in the serving tray. Pour the sweetened curd over the bhallas. Sprinkle the chaat masala and red chilli powder. Lace with the chutneys. To prepare the rasbhari chutney: Grind all the ingredients together except the oil. Add the oil once the chutney is wet ground and place in a serving bowl. Add the oil and serve. Pour over the dhai bhallas and taste the difference To prepare the green chutney: Wet-grind all the ingredients together. Adjust the consistency by adding more water if required. The consistency depends on your requirement. The dahi bhallas laced with differently flavoured chutney from rasbhari, to that prepared with strawberries and red chillies to the green chutney with amla and coriander add the extra taste to ordinary dahi bhalla. 35

FRESH FRUIT CHEESE CAKE INGREDIENTS: For cheese cake: 1 cup grated fresh paneer 1 cup thick hung curd 2 tbsp powdered sugar 2 tsp gelatin mixed in 1 tbsp of lukewarm water For bottom layer: 11/2 cups crushed sweet flavoured biscuits 1 cup melted butter 4 cups fruits – seasonal fruits – grapes, oranges, apple pieces, pomegranate or any other seasonal fruit METHOD To prepare the bottom layer – add the crushed biscuits to the butter and rub with your fingertips. Place this mixture in the

bottom of the container you are using for preparing the dessert. Place in the bottom of the dessert bowl and press down slightly. Place in the fridge for the biscuit layer to set. Keep in the fridge for 20 minutes. Now, place a layer of one kind of fruits over the biscuit layer and keep aside. In the meantime prepare the ingredients for assembling the cheese cake. Prepare the cheese cake layer by mixing the grated paneer, hung curd, powdered sugar. Place the grated paneer, hung curd, powdered sugar and the gelatin mixed in lukewarm water. Mix all this in a mixer and blend well to obtain a smooth mixture. Pour this mixture over the fruit layer and then keep the bowl in the fridge for the cheese cake to set. Layer with another variety of fruit. You could mix and match the fruit and the cheese cake layer so that the dessert is a combination

Fresh fruit cheese cake

of fresh fruit and cheese cake. Allow the cheese cake to set and serve chilled.

PANEER IDLI WITH OLIVES AND RAISINS Simple idlis can be made tastier when you add a portion of grated paneer, some olives and raisins. INGREDIENTS: 3 cups fermented idli batter 1 cup grated paneer 8-10 olives cut into quarters 100 gm raisins oil for brushing on the idli moulds salt to taste METHOD Place the idli batter, salt, oils, paneer and the raisins in a mixing bowl and mix well. Oil the idli moulds and then place portion of idli batter in the moulds. Steam the ildis in a idli maker for 12-15 minutes. Unmould and serve with chutney or gun powder. Paneer idli with olives and raisins

CAULIFLOWER WITH COCONUT, CASHEWS AND POPPY SEEDS INGREDIENTS: 1 medium cauliflower, broken into florets 1 cup oil 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp haldi powder 1 tbsp coriander powder 1 tsp red chilli powder For white paste: 1 cup broken cashew pieces 1 cup grated coconut 1 tsp white sesame seeds 2 green chillies METHOD Wet-grind all the ingredients for the white paste and keep aside. Heat the oil and fry the cauliflower pieces on medium heat covering with a lid. After the florets begin to change colour add the salt and the other spices and the gingergarlic paste and stir gently. Lower the heat and cook the cauliflower till just tender. Mix in the white

paste and stir gently. Cover with a lid and continue to cook on low fire for 2-3 minutes more. Serve with puris or parathas.

PINEAPPLE JALEBIS INGREDIENTS: 4 circles freshly cut pineapple For batter: 4 tbsp cornflour 3 tbsp rice flour 1 tbsp maida 4 tsp powdered sugar 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1/ tsp elaichi powder 2 oil for deep frying optional for sprinkling over the pineapple slices: 2 tsp powdered sugar 1 tsp grounded cinnamon powdered

METHOD To prepare the batter: Sift together the cornflour, rice flour and maida and powdered sugar, elaichi and then mix enough water to form a smooth, flowing dough which is neither too thick nor too thin in consistency either. Heat oil for deep frying. Dip one circle of the pineapple piece in the batter and drop into the hot oil. Allow it to turn golden brown and then gently turn over. Fry the pineapple circles in this way and place on a kitchen towel to drain out all the excess oil. Optional: You may mix the powdered sugar and cinnamon powder and sprinkle over the fried pineapple circles through a very fine strainer to coat the pineapple jalebis.

Pineapple jalebis

Cauliflower with coconut, cashews and poppy seeds

PAPAYA AND ZUCHCHINI IN COCONUT GRAVY INGREDIENTS: 300 gm raw green papaya 1 medium zuchchini cut into thin circles without peeling 2 onions cut into thin strips 1 tsp garlic paste 1 tsp green chilli paste 1 tsp haldi powder 1 tsp roasted jeera powder 1/ cup mustard oil 2 salt to taste For white paste: 1 cup freshly grated coconut 100 gm almonds – skin removed 1 green chilli To prepare the white paste – wetgrind to a fine paste to obtain a smooth paste salt to taste METHOD Peel the papaya, remove the seeds and cut into thin strips about 2 inches long. Wash the papaya and zuchchini circles and keep aside. Heat the oil and fry the onions till translucent. Add the papaya and salt to taste. Cover with a lid and cook on very low fire Papaya and zuchchini in coconut gravy

till the papaya pieces are half tender. Mix in the zuchchini pieces and continue to cook on low heat. When

COCONUT MILK AND LEMON FLAVOURED DESSERT WITH PRUNES INGREDIENTS: 1 cup coconut milk 11/2 cups condensed milk

Coconut milk and lemon flavoured dessert with prunes 1/

2 tsp lemon zest 3 tsps lemon juice

For topping: prunes or chocolate, biscuits or fresh fruits METHOD Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Place in a container which can be covered with a lid. Place the mixture in the container and freeze in the fridge till the ‘ice cream’ is set. Serve topped with prunes chocolate wafers, chocolate chips or fresh seasonal fruits.

SPRING ONION, GREEN CHILLIES AND ORANGE ZEST ‘DHOKLA’

Saffron orange sweet rice

SAFFRON ORANGE SWEET RICE This preparation can serve as a dessert or a starter INGREDIENTS: 1 cup long-grained rice 2 cups sugar syrup (2 cups water mixed in 4 tbsp sugar) 2 tsp honey 1/ tsp cinnamon powder 2 4-5 strands saffron soaked in 1 tbsp of lukewarm milk 2 tbsp ghee 1/ inch-piece cinnamon stick 2 almond flakes for decorations orange peel shells for serving METHOD Soak the rice in water for 10 minutes. Drain and keep aside. Heat the ghee and add the cinnamon stick and allow to splutter. Mix in the rice and fry for 2-3 minutes, Lower the heat and mix in the sugar syrup, cinnamon powder and cook on low fire stirring once or twice.

Cover with a lid and continue to cook and stir once or twice. When the rice is almost tender, mix in the saffron and continue to cook on low fire. When all the sugar syrup is soaked in and the rice is also tender, put off the heat and cool to room temperature. Remove the orange segments from the halved oranges and use only the orange shells. Fill the orange shells with the prepared sweet rice and garnish with the almond flakes and serve as a starter or a dessert.

INGREDIENTS: 3 cups fermented idli batter 2 tsp orange zest cut into thin strips 2 chopped green chillies 2 tbsp chopped spring onions – only the green portion salt to taste METHOD Mix all the ingredients into the fermented idli batter. Oil a rimmed borosil plate and pour the contents into the rimmed plate and place in a steamer and steam the idli batter in the form of a ‘dhokla’. Steam till the batter is puffed up and is cooked . Cool and serve cut into wedges which look like ‘dhoklas’. This version of ‘dhokla’ prepared out of idli batter and a mixture of zest and spring onions give it a unique taste and also a colourful look. Spring onion, green chillies and orange zest ‘dhokla’

FISH FLAVOURED WITH ORANGES AND SPRING ONIONS INGREDIENTS: 6 pieces rohu fish 1 tsp turmeric powder 5 tbsp mustard oil 1 cup chopped spring onions (only green portion) 1 tsp roasted jeera powder 1/ tsp or more red chilli powder 2 1 cup orange juice salt to taste For garnishing: orange segments (optional) METHOD Sprinkle salt and turmeric on fish pieces and keep aside for 10 minutes. Heat the oil and place the fish pieces. Lower the heat, cover with a lid and cook the fish pieces till golden in colour. Turn over and cook the other side. Mix in the spice and the orange juice and continue to cook till the orange juice is soaked in. Add the chopped green onion pieces . Stir gently and serve with steamed rice. Fish flavoured with oranges and spring onions

Amla chutney

AMLA CHUTNEY INGREDIENTS: 300 gm Indian gooseberries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; amla 4 tbsp mustard oil 1 inch cinnamon stick 2 cardamoms 3 cloves 2 dried red chillies 1 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp saunf powder

2 tsp haldi powder 1 cup sugar 60 gm melted jaggery salt to taste

METHOD Cut the amla into four pieces each and remove the centre portion and discard it. Wash the amlas and then boil in salted water for 2-3 minutes. Drain out all the water. Heat the oil and add the whole spices and allow to splutter. Lower the heat and add the slightly cooked amla. Add one cup of water and the spice powders. Cover with a lid and bring to boil. Now, mix in the sugar and the melted jaggery and continue to stir and cook on low fire so that the sugar melts. The consistency can vary as per your needs. The chutney can be a little wet or dry as you like it. Serve with parathas or puris. This chutney is a huge source of vitamin C.

Peas and pineapple jamboree

STRAWBERRIES AND RED CHILLI CHUTNEY

INGREDIENTS: 300 gm strawberries 8-10 dried red chillies which have been soaked in 1 cup of vinegar 2 tbsp sugar - optional 1 cup mustard oil 1 tsp elaichi powder 1 tsp cloves powder 2 tsp garlic paste

Strawberries and red chilli chutney

PEAS AND PINEAPPLE JAMBOREE INGREDIENTS: 2 cups shelled peas 1 cup fresh pineapple cut into strips 3 tbsp mustard oil 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp saunf 1 tsp haldi powder 1 tsp roasted jeera powder 44

1 tsp red chilli powder 2 chopped tomatoes salt to taste METHOD Head the mustard oil and add the paste and then mix in the shelled peas. Stir-fry for 2 minutes and then mix in the spices and the tomatoes. Continue to stir and fry for 2 minutes more. Mix in the pineapple strips and cook for one minute more. Serve this dry preparation with parathas or puris. Woman’s Era

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METHOD Cut the strawberries into 4 pieces each and blend in a mixer to obtain a pulp. Do not add any water. Drain out the red chillies from whatever vinegar that is left and grind the soaked chillies together with the strawberry. Keep this mixture aside. Heat the oil and add blended strawberries and the red chillies paste. Lower the heat and mix in the spice powders. Continue to stir and cook over low heat stirring from time to time. Mix in the sugar , if you are using. Continue to stir and cook and allow the chutney to thicken. This thickened chutney can be eaten with parathas. If you wish to use it to lace dahi bhallas – you may add a few tbsps of water or leave it slightly thinner in consistency if you are using it for lacing different kind of chats.

MUTTON WITH POMEGRANATE JUICE INGREDIENTS: 11/2 kg mutton 2 cups browned onions 3 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 3 tsp red chilli paste 2 cups pomegranate juice 1 tsp haldi powder 2 tbsp coriander powder 2 tsp roasted jeera powder 1 tsp garam masala powder 3 cups oil METHOD Heat half the quantity of the oil and add the mutton and cook the mutton till all the water is soaked in. Add the salt and also add the pastes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the onion, ginger, garlic and chilli paste. Continue to stir and cook over medium heat. Continue to cook till a fine aroma begins to rise. Add the spices and the pomegranate juice. Continue to cook on low heat till all the pomegranate juice is soaked in. Add the remaining oil a little at a time from time to time during the cooking process. Once the mutton preparation looks brown and well mixed, cooked and stirred add 2

cups of water and place in a pressure cooker and cook till the mutton is tender. The gravy can be adjusted as per your choice. When serving garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve with rotis.

3 tsp lemon juice 3 tsp oregano powder 1 cup fresh pineapple strips or pieces 1 cup rashbhari or grapes or pomegrate or any seasonal fruit except banana salt to taste

FRESH RADDISH AND PINEAPPLE SALAD

METHOD Place the grated radish, chopped green leaves and the spices and lemon juice and toss gently. Garnish with the remaining fruits and serve at once as a fresh salad. This is very refreshing.

INGREDIENTS: 2 large raddish grated finely 2 cups radish fresh leaves cut into tiny pieces

Fresh Raddish and pineapple salad

Mutton with pomegranate juice

Paalak paneer bhurji with almonds and black currants

and mix in the grated paneer. Stir and cook on low fire. Mix in the spinach and stir well. Mix in the spices and the salt and stir and mix well. Cook on low fire till a fine aroma rises. Put off the heat and garnish with almonds and rasins. Serve with puris or parathas.

PAALAK PANEER BHURJI WITH ALMONDS AND BLACK CURRANTS INGREDIENTS: 1 cup spinach chopped finely 1 tsp chopped garlic 11/2 cups grated paneer 4 tbsp mustard oil 1 tsp ajwain seeds 2 dried red chillies 1 tsp haldi powder 2 tsp roasted jeera powder 1 tbsp coriander powder 60 gm almond flakes 100 gm raisins salt to taste METHOD Heat the oil and add the chopped garlic and the dried red chillies and the ajwain seeds and allow to splutter. Lower the heat

JAMUN AND PINEAPPLE DRINK INGREDIENTS: 400 ml ready to drink jamun juice 1 cup fresh pineapple pieces cut into bits 1 tsp chaat masal 1/ tsp chilli flakes 2 1 tsp lemon juice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; optional 4 tsps sugar syrup Jamun and pineapple drink

METHOD Mix all ingredients together. Chill and serve as a refreshing drink.

Representing the 21st century women in a very different way. The inspiration of this shoot comes from the ongoing metallic trend and the movie huntsman: winter war. The story of two queens and sisters who are different from each other, both of them powerful, courageous and know how to rule. But there are some of the qualities which make them different from each other. Like taking the metallic trend and showing both of their personalities through the colour of gold and silver. Gold representing the evil queen as it reflects the blowing lava, the rage, hot. Silver representing the good and pure side, clear as sky and white as snow.

Silver sequin side offshoulder gown and Golden Indo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; western shimmer sari dress designed by Rubal Vohra, paired with silver strappy heels by oceedee.com compliments each other and looks very elegant.

Grey and Golden Chinese collar pant suit designed by Puneet Gupta, studio de royal , paired up with beautifully laced grey and beige lingerie by Da Intimo and very trendy metallic bags and shoes by Risa.

Golden sequin silver dress by Bride and Beautiful couture and sequin dress by Nasty Little Room, paired up with beautiful golden sandals by Risa and silver sandals by Oceedee.com.

Grey side off-shoulder gown with ruffles by Nasty Little Room paired with silver jewellery, choker, bracelet, rings and earrings makes the best party statement.

Golden sharara pants with golden blouse studded with colourful stones and golden embellished butterfly net cape by Rubal Vohra, paired up with sandals by oceedee.com, gives very elegant feel.

Styled by: Sushmita Dey and Madhuri Singh Make-up artist: Ravisherr by Yojna Attri and Team

Sthoorryt S

Love Game The life-companion is indispensable. By Amit Khan

I She was right. There were surely many people in her life whom she adored. The speed with which she wrote proved that. She hardly paused to think.

once read an incident on social media. Where exactly, I don’t remember but the memory of it has stuck in my mind faintly. I have put bits of that memory together in a story. So, this is how it goes… A party was organised at ‘Country Club’. Members of the club, young couples who were married for maximum five years, were invited for the party. Approximately fifty couples attended that party. They were all beautiful couples and showed up in impressive attires. All of them had children, but kids were not allowed by the party organisers. So, everyone had left their

younger ones at home. Many of the couples knew each other well. So, as soon they arrived they mingled freely with each other. The atmosphere of the party turned jovial. Starters were served, followed by cocktails, mocktails, wines and soft drinks as per everyone’s choice. The rounds of drinks Sheena was asked to sit on a chair. There was also a big white board arranged on that stage. Anchor said, “Sheena, can you write down 40 names on this white board, names of 40 persons whom you love the most.”

continued for some time. The dinner followed. It was a delicious treat. Then it was time for ‘Games for the couples’. In the hall where party was in progress, a stage was raised for the games. The fun continued as different games entertained the couples. There was one special game that was saved for the last.

nchor invited a beautiful lady on the stage. She was married for four years and had a two-year-old son. She was ‘Sheena’. Sheena was asked to sit on a chair. There was also a big white board arranged on that stage. Anchor said, “Sheena, can

you write down 40 names on this white board, names of 40 persons whom you love the most.” Couple curiously watched what game was about. Their eyes were glued on the anchor and Sheena. Nobody had a clue what was to follow. Even Sheena had no idea what weird game she was to play. She had arrived on stage expecting nothing but fun. The anchor’s words had made her uneasy. “Forty persons…,” Sheena replied nervously. “Names of forty persons…whom I love the most…?” “Yes,” the anchor was smiling mischievously. “Is it too difficult? Don’t you have 40 persons in your life whom you love very much?” “No…No…I mean…” Sheena fumbled while trying to answer. “I didn’t mean that. Of course, there are 40 people. In fact, more than that…whom I love very much and all of them love me.” “Good!’ the anchor sounded excited. “You don’t have to write all those names. Whoever are on top of your list, just write their names. This game is called ‘Love Game’.” “Love Game!” couples gathered around the stage enchance. Smiles was all around. “Interesting!” They waited for Sheena to start writing. Sheena stood up. She picked up marker pen confidently, walked up to the white board and started writing names very fast. She was right. There were surely many people in her life whom she adored. The speed with which she wrote proved that. She hardly paused to think.

In few minutes Sheena wrote 40 names. The list included her relatives, friends, siblings, parents, husband and her two-yearold son. She turned to the anchor with a victorious smile on her face. “You see. I have done it. I have written 40 names.” Sheena said in a tone as if she had won this game. “Yes!” the anchor smiled. “But the game is not over, ma’am. In fact, we are just getting started.” “What do you mean?” “I mean, now you will cut 20 names from this list; 20 persons whom you relatively love less. Imagine yourself in the middle of sea, in a boat and the boat is sinking. It cannot hold weight of 40 people any more. Maybe, if 20 out of 40 persons are thrown off the boat, then the boat could be safe. Now, in that case, you choose 20 persons and throw them off the boat so that remaining 20 can survive.” Now, Sheena looked confused. Yet she walked up to white board and erased 20 names out of 40. The 20 people in her life who would drown so that other twenty survive!

he names that remained on white board now included very close relatives, siblings, parents, husband and her son. “Good!” the anchor smiled. “Now, cut 10 more names.” “W…what?” Sheena’s confusion doubled. “It is simple!” the anchor explained. “Now, choose 10 people out of this list whom you love the most and save their lives by throwing other 10 off into the sea.

There was no fun left in that game now. It had suddenly taken a serious turn. And the emotional load was too much to bear for Sheena. Remember, it’s a matter of life and death. You are riding a sinking boat.” Sheena approached the board again and with shivering hands she

cancelled 10 more names. This time it was more difficult. She had to think hard before cancelling names.

he crowd around podium had been nervously observing Sheena. They watched curiously which names Sheena had decided to cut. The remaining 10 names on the white board were Sheena’s very close relatives, brother-sister, parents, husband and her son. “Hmmm!” the anchor sighed. Sheena had not even

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Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

turned around after erasing the names from the board when the anchor said, “Cut six more names, Sheena. Bad news! The boat now can’t hold weight of so many. Six people must be thrown off the boat.” Sheena read remaining names again. She looked emotional now. She erased six more names. The white board had only Sheena’s husband, twoyear-old son’s and parents names now. It was not easy for Sheena to cut her brother’s and sister’s name from the list. One could hear a pin drop in that hall.

Everyone looked emotional. “If you have to cancel two more names,” the anchor said softly, “which names would those be. Which two people you will save out of these four?” Sheena looked distraught now. There was no fun left in that game now. It had suddenly taken a serious turn. And the emotional load was too much to bear for Sheena. This time Sheena looked lost in deep thought. Couples all around the podium were restless to find out what Sheena would do now? Which names would be

A WONDER KID!

t an age of 8, Deepaanshi Tak is the holder of dan black belt a highest rank in martial arts (Karate). Having started taking the classes in martial arts at three, the wonder kid won gold medal in State Championship Karate becoming the youngest achiever. A student of std 3rd in Delhi Public School, Jaipur her achievements doesn’t end here. The multitalented girl actively participates in school’s cocurricular activities like dance, drama and sports and amid all this she never let her studies suffer. She has scored A+ grade in all academic subjects. An inspiration to her peers, she is also the class monitor, mastering the managerial skill from an early age! This martial art sensation has also represented her school DPS Jaipur as a 56

poster girl that has her photos published in leading journals. Deepaanshi was praised much for her impressive spiritual dance performance while enacting goddess Durga in one of school dance competitions. Until now Deepanshi has visited more than 7 countries like UAE, Thailand, Macau, Hongkong, Malaysia, Singapore and Srilanka but most importantly she enjoys participating in Woman’s era car rally along with her father Dr Deepak Tak.

erased? Whom would Sheena let live? Her parents? Or her husband and son? Silence in hall was deafening. Tears in Sheena’s eyes were telling story of her dilemma.

now. Which name would she cut? Husband or son? Sheena’s wavering hand moved and Sheena erased her son’s name. Everyone looked utterly shocked.

veryone expected that Sheena will cut her husband’s name because we love our kids more than anyone else in this world. “Why?” the anchor could not hide her distress. “Why did you choose your husband?” “I remember,” Sheena spoke emotionally, “the day I got married. My parents held my hand and placed it in the hands of my husband. They had said, “This is the man who will be with you till his final breath. So, you always be there for him. The way he will be with you in happiness and grief, you should stand by his side in smiles and in tears. I have followed their advice today. I have sacrificed my mother and father for my husband. Even when the time came to choose between husband and son, I chose my husband. I love my son very much. With my husband in my life I can look forward to have another son, but I cannot think of another husband. Everyone had tears in their eyes. Sheena’s husband was extremely emotional. The evening had suddenly become very special. ‘Love Game’ had made the relationships of all husbands-wives stronger! We

heena’s husband was standing near podium. He was staring at her. Even he had no idea about which names Sheena would cut now. Sheena’s trembling hand moved towards the white board. The next moment, names of mother and father were erased. Everyone was stunned. Nobody had expected Sheena to do that. Parents give us life. How could Sheena give them death? Now only two names were shining brightly on that board. Sheena’s husband and son. “Please!” Sheena started sobbing. “Don’t make me erase any more names.” “This game will be over soon,” the anchor said. “Here’s the last move. If you are asked which one of these two you love more, whom would you choose? Who will be that person to save then the one whom you will throw off the boat? Husband or son?” “I will throw myself off into that sea,” Sheena screamed in pain. “I can never part with either of them never.” “No, no, not you!” the anchor interrupted. “You have to cut one of those two names.” Sheena looked completely devastated. All eyes were on her. Everyone wanted to know what Sheena would decide

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Take your mind off the problems for a moment, and focus on the positive possibilities. Consider how much you are able to do.

e c n e d i Coinc

A New Start After curt rejection. By Suman Bajpai

xcuse me,” Varun was totally engrossed in reading the newspaper when he heard a musical voice. That voice was so sweet that it directly touched his heart. He lifted his eyes and found that an extremely beautiful lady was standing in front of him. She must be around 30-32 years old. “This is ladies seat, if you do not mind, can I sit here?” she asked. “Sure,” He immediately got up, little embarrassed. He always avoided sitting on ladies seats in the metro. Varun looked at her again. Her figure was like a chiselled statue; her whole personality was reflecting a dignified look. There was an announcement of next station and Varun thought

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

that she must have boarded the metro from Khan Market station. She was wearing a purple colour sari and pearl necklace. Matching purple lipstick, was giving her an attractive look. It had become difficult for him to take off his eyes from her. He was well-settled and a smart guy, but at the age of 35 he was still single. Somehow he was unable to find a perfect life partner for himself. His family had lost the hope and had stopped searching bride for him. She got down at Nehru Place metro station. Varun’s eyes followed her till the metro gates closed. A strange feeling which was very pleasant had engulfed his mind and heart. Suddenly he felt like a hero of ‘Mills & Boons’ novels who had fallen in love and he had started enjoying that feeling. In the office, he tried to concentrate but he felt her presence everywhere. He himself was in a fix. ‘Why was he thinking about her? Why he wants to meet her again?’

Next day he wished that she boards the same metro. A strong desire to meet her was disturbing him. ‘What is this? Is it love at first sight?’ She had overpowered Varun so badly that he had started searching her everywhere. A few days after he went to Khan Market to buy something for his sister. To have a cup of coffee he was sitting in a restaurant. Suddenly his heart missed a beat, she was entering. Seeing all the tables occupied, she sat on his table.

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

“I hope you have no problem if I sit here?” “It’s my pleasure.” “Oh really.” Sarcasm was reflecting in her tone. “But I think you don’t like any kind of disturbance in your life. You like taking decisions as per your convenience.” Don’t be so amazed, Varun Verma. I recognised you the day we met in the metro. Our meeting is mere coincidence. I am sure you didn’t recognise me or you don’t care. I hope you must have found out the perfect life partner for you. Otherwise without any reason you would not keep rejecting girls.” 60

Varun was shocked to hear this. “Did we meet before?” “We never met before but our family met. Yes, my photo had been sent and your parents and grandmother came to our place to fix a marriage date after seeing my photo. They said that I am a perfect wife for their son. I don’t know how much you are aware about all this. They fixed a meeting for us also. “Then my papa was trapped in a false case by his colleague. He was in finance ministry and holding a big post. My papa pleaded that he is innocent but your grandmother had insulted him. He was proved innocent, but he died because of the insult. My marriage was his biggest dream. In our society it is a very common thing to reject a girl, but nobody realises what she has to go through. If somebody rejects you how would you feel?” “Believe me…” “I am Abha.” He had heard this name so many times at home. His mother often said that ‘Abha was the best for Varun. Now, what a bad luck that after rejecting her, we could not find a suitable match for him. She was a nice girl.’ “I am really sorry, Abha , but I was not aware, nobody had ever told me about this.” “I don’t need your sorry. I hope we never meet again. “ “Can’t you give me one more chance to correct my mistake? This is my card. I will send you friend request on Facebook. Do accept it. A new start gives new hopes and this time I want to make things possible.” Abha picked up her shopping bags and turned back. There was a smile on her face and Varun felt that as if her beautiful eyes were saying that this time it’s your turn to accept. We

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

All About

Gemstones Selected entries will be published in the forthcoming issue of Woman’s era. Look out for 1 May 2017 issue. Attach a photograph of your friend for a better chance of featuring in Woman’s era. Last date for sending entries: 15 April, 2017

1 Q 2 Q

For a Rock to be considered a Gemstone, it Must I have great what? a. Clarity b. Colour c. Beauty d. Abundance The birthstone for which month is considered a Kaleidoscope? a. April b. June c. September d. October

MCJ 1st Floor, Shop No. F-2, 4, 6 & 8, Shopperʼs Point, Hem Barua Road, Fancy Bazar, Guwahati-781001 (Assam)

Scoring Terms and Conditions: Don’t you hate those artificial quizzes that only have one obvious right answer? Jewellery and its lineage is fluid. So answer according to what you feel is best.

Name

3 Q 4 Q 5 Q

Hardness in Gemstones referes to what? a. It resistance to scratching b. Its durability c. Its position on the Mohʼs scale d. Its ability to break along planar surfaces Transparenty Beryl is whst Gemstone? a. White Sapphire b. Aquamarine c. Cubic Zirconia d. Watermelon Tourmaline Are Synthetic Gemstones considered a mineral? a. Yes b. No

Age

Address Phone: Occupation

PIN E-mail

Don’t forget to attach a photograph 1. Mark the answers and send us the cutting of this quiz along with this coupon. The last date is 15 April 2017. So hurry up and post it now. 2. The decision of the editor will be final. 3. Depict your true self only. 4. Send a photograph of your own. It may be printed in Woman’s Era, along with the results. Send to: Woman’s Era, Delhi Press, E-3, Jhandewala, New Delhi-110 055.

Answer the questions &

win

a grand prize

119

Winners of Jewellery Quiz Contest Philomena Rozario, C/o Peter Pernandes, Kesley 2A/9, Ram Nagar, Borivli (W) Mumbai-400092.

Please tell me what are Kegel’s excercises? How they are done and what are the benefits of doing them? Kegel’s exercises strengthen the "pelvic floor muscles" – the muscles that support the various pelvic organs from below. They also encircle the urinary and rectal sphincters and help control the act of urination and defecation. The weight of the growing uterus on the bladder could lead to incontinence – the leakage of urine, especially during straining – coughing, sneezing, etc. Kegels exercises help in preventing this embarrassing situation and also improve the muscle tone and elasticity which comes handy at the time of delivery. You can do them anywhere, sitting in your car, chatting with your friends on the phone, standing in a queue for they are not externally visible. To find the correct muscles try stopping the flow of urine midstream by squeezing these muscles for a few seconds and relaxing them. Once you have got the hang of it do it when you do not have to hold your urine for doing them. In fact, the retention of urine can lead to urinary tract infection. Alternatively, place a finger inside your vagina and feel it tighten when you squeeze. If you are still unsure ask your doctor to help identify the correct muscles. Do not tighten other muscles, like those of the stomach, buttocks or legs with it and do not hold your breath. I have barely missed my periods for two weeks and the doctor has already asked for an ultrasound? Why is it necessary to get one done so early? Will it not harm the pregnancy? An ultrasound at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy gives a lot of useful information that is difficult to obtain later on. This includes confirmation of the pregnancy, viability - whether heartbeat is present or not, number – single or multiple, location inside the uterus or at abnormal sites like the tube and the presence of associated abnormalities like fibroids and cysts. Rest assured that this is not a dangerous procedure and you can go ahead without fear. I am three-month pregnant and had slight spotting a few days ago. An ultrasound revealed a low-lying placenta with a small blood clot, though the baby is alive and growing. Please tell me what is a placenta? What does ‘low lying mean and what are the implications? The placenta is an organ vital for the baby. It is attached to the inner wall of the uterus on one side and with the help of the cord to the baby's navel on the other. It carries food and oxygen from the mother to the baby and carries carbon dioxide and waste products from the baby to the mother. Usually, it is situated in the upper part of the uterus. An occasional placenta may be situated lower down. During painless uterine contractions that occur throughout pregnancy, internal examination or intercourse, a low lying placenta can become detached from the uterine wall, leading to internal or external bleeding. If the separation and haematoma (collection of blood) is small, the baby survives and grows. The haematoma will get absorbed by and by as the

pregnancy progresses normally. It is important to bear in mind that a low-lying placenta does not always remain low. With the passage of time the growing uterus carries the placenta upwards with it so that by the time the baby is ready to deliver the placenta is usually situated in a normal position high up. If the bleeding up heavy and prolonged or if the placenta remains low down even term complications may arise. What sort of food should I avoid during pregnancy? Foods to be avoided in pregnancy include soft unpasteurised cheese, unpasteurised milk, raw eggs, raw or undercooked fish (sushi), shellfish and processed meats. These foods can cause infections like listerosis, toxoplasmosis and salmonella which in turn can lead to birth defects in the fetus or miscarriage. Certain fish like tuna, king mackerel may have high mercury levels that may affect the nervous system of the baby and are best avoided. Also, it goes without saying that unhygienic street food should be avoided as you may contract diarrhoea. Besides the disease process itself, medication can also be a problem. Mild medicines do not cure the disease and strong ones are harmful to the pregnancy. So, be cautious.

I am

Pregnant

QA &

I am one-and-half-month pregnant. I am passionate about gardening. In fact, it is a stress buster and has a calming effect on my nerves. Even the nausea of pregnancy decreases when I sit in my garden and breathe in the fresh, clean air. Please tell me if I can continue gardening during pregnancy. The first trimester of pregnancy is not a good time to indulge in your passion for gardening. Studies have shown that weed killers may cause developmental problems. If you are really keen to continue wear rubber gloves while gardening in areas where pesticides have been used. As for sitting in the garden for relaxation you can continue doing so as long as an insecticide spray has not been used recently. I am two-and-a-half month pregnant and the elders in my family insist that I eat for two. It is difficult to eat for one on account of the heart burn and nausea, how can I eat for two? Will it affect my pregnancy if I don’t do as they advise? One needs only 300 calories extra per day during pregnancy (equivalent to two and half cups of toned milk). So, the question of eating for two does not arise, especially if the second ‘person’ is microscopic to begin with and grows to a maximum size of 3-4 kilograms. In fact, the quality of food you eat is more important than the quantity. – Dr Amrinder Kaur Bajaj, MD.

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Mardi Gras parade People participate in the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Sydney on 4 March. Thousands of revellers took part in iconic festival, which celebrates sexual equality in the heart of Australia's biggest city. People gather next to the Emerson Fittipaldi EF7 on the first press day of the the Geneva International Motor Show on 7 March in Geneva. Europe's biggest annual car show kicked off in Geneva with luxury and crossover vehicles under the limelight, but with the emissions scandal still hanging over the industry.

A creation A model presents a creation by Y/Project during the Women's Fall-Winter 2017-2018 fashion week in Paris on 28 February, 2017.

Motor show

Charming cheerleaders

Switch games console

Stanford Cardinal cheerleaders pose before the team's first-round game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Arizona State Sun Devils at T-Mobile Arena on 8 March in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 98-88 in overtime.

A Japanese video game giant Nintendo unveils the company's new portable video game console the DSi at the annunal Nintendo conference in Tokyo.Nintendo launched its next-generation Switch games console on 3 March as the company behind Pokemon and Super Mario tries to score big in the 21st century.

This statue symbolises the so-called "comfort women" in a park in Shanghai. Who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II. Calls to preserve such sites, have until recently been muzzled by China's desire to play down one of the most sensitive issues in its stormy relationship with Japan. Heather Hardy punches Edina Kiss during their Super Bantamweight bout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on 4 March in New York City.

Super bout

Sensitive issue

I am a 50-year-old working woman. One year back I suffered from corneal ulcer, despite best treatment. I developed corneal opacity. Doctor advised corneal grafting. What is your opinion? Corneal opacity develops when ulcer involves the deep layer of cornea. Only treatment of corneal ulcer is corneal grafting. Corneal grafting can be done for two reasons, one is when corneal opacity involves the central part of cornea and causes visual disturbances and other reason is cosmetic. For corneal grafting, cornea is required. Corna can be donated by a person only after death. One person's cornea can give sight to two or more persons. Sometimes whole cornea is grafted but nowadays with latest techniques and as per recent advances sometimes only part of cornea is required and one cornea can give sight to more than one person. My son is about 10-year-old school-going child. Recently he developed mumps. I want to know the symptoms, causes, treatment and complications of mumps. Mumps is caused by a vims which spreads by droplet infection and affects mainly children of school age and young adults. The infection rate is not high and incubation period is about 18 days. Symptoms of the disease are malaise, fever, pain near the angle of jaw. It is soon followed by tender swelling on one or both parotid glands (on both sides upper part of neck). Indeed parotid swelling alone is often the first feature. The submandibular salivary glands may also be involved. The swollen glands subside in a few days and may be followed by swelling of previously unaffected gland. Orchitis (testicular swelling) occurs in about one in four males, who develop mumps after puberty. It is usually on one side only, but if it is bilateral, sterility may be a sequel. Obscure abdominal pain may be due to pancreatitis or oophritis. Acute lymphocytic meningitis is another mode of presentation. Encephalitis is rare. Most cases of mumps can be diagnosed on clinical grounds alone, but the diagnosis can be confirmed in doubtful cases by the demonstration of specific antibodies or the virus from the saliva. Oral hygiene is important when the mouth is very dry due to lack of saliva. Apart from the relief of symptoms as they appear, no other treatment is necessary. Orchitis can be relieved by steroids, but treatment should be taken with consultation from a doctor. Cases of mumps should be isolated until the gland last affected has subsided. I am 28-year-old working woman. Since last one year I am suffering from recurrent haemoptysis, which is blood stained sputum on coughing. I have consulted a physician for this problem. After investigation he diagnosed me a case of bronchial adenoma and referred to a surgeon for some procedure. I want to know about the disease and your opinion also. Bronchial adenoma is an uncommon tumour occurring in a younger age group than carcinoma and affecting females as often as males. Although classified as benign tumour it 66

possesses some of the properties of a malignant growth (cancerous) and may eventually give rise to metastases (spread to other organs). Bronchial adenoma often arises at the tracheal bifurcation. The local clinical features which may have a duration of several years are recurrent haemoptysis (blood-stained sputum on coughing) due to the vascularity of the tumour, recurrent pulmonary infection resulting from bronchial obstruction. The physical signs most frequently found are those of collapse. The diagnosis from bronchial carcinoma can be made only by bronchoscopy and histological examination of portion of the tumour. Treatment consists of resection of the pulmonary lobe or segment containing the tumour along with the bronchus from which it arises. I am a 50-year-old woman suffering from diabetes since last five years. Since last one year I have a complaint of white curd-like discharge from vagina, which is not malodorus and itching over vagina. I have consulted a lady doctor. She diagnosed me as a case of vulvovaginal candidiasis. What is your opinion? Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a type of fungal infection, which is more common during pregnancy, diabetes and use of broad spectrum antibiotics or corticosteroids predisposed to candida infections. Heat, moisture and occlusive clothing also contribute to the risk. Pruritis, vulvovaginal erythema (redness over vulva and vagina) and a white curd-like discharge which it not malodorous are found. Microscopic examination and culture are helpful in making the

Your Body

QA &

diagnosis. A variety of regimens are available to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis. Women with uncomplicated vulvovaginal candidiasis will usually respond to a 1-3 day regimen of a topical antifungal cream. Women with complicated infection (including four or more episodes in one year), signs and symptoms, showing uncontrolled diabetes, corticosteroid treatment or pregnancy should receive 7-14 days of a topical regimen or two doses antifungal drug 3 days apart. Pregnant women should use only topical antifungal ointment. Any drug should only be taken with consultation from a doctor. – Dr Sanjay Teotia Readers are invited to send in any health and medical queries they would like to be answered. Woman’s Era will provide answers to your questions and offer solutions to your problems. Individual replies cannot be sent. Address your letters (neatly written on white paper) to:

WOMAN'S ERA, E-3, Jhandewala Estate, New Delhi-110055. Womansera.com

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

I am a 25-year-old woman. I had an arranged marriage six months ago and now live with my husband, my in-laws and my younger brother-in-law. My husband is a very loving and good man and I am very happy with him. My younger brother-in-law too is very nice, but it is my mother-in-law who is the best person in our family. She is loving, always smiling and is very generous and hard-working. She hardly lets me do any work at all and is always telling me to go out with my husband and enjoy myself. I would be very happy except for the fact that my father-inlaw is a very unpleasant man. He is coarse, rough in his speech and bad-tempered. I am not made the target of his ire, but both my husband and his brother are to some extent. And the person who suffers the most is my poor mother-inlaw. My father-in-law constantly scolds her and pulls her down. Though she is a very good cook, keeps the house spotlessly clean and works indefatigably to make everyone comfortable and happy, she is, according to him, a totally useless woman who knows nothing. He says this because my mother-in-law is not very educated. She can read and write, but has only studied till class five. My blood boils whenever my father-in-law taunts my mother-in-law and I feel like snapping at him and telling him to stop his uncouth behaviour. I spoke to my husband and told him that he should not allow his mother to be constantly insulted by his father. But he said that if he did that, his father would give his mother an even tougher time. He also said that he had often talked to his mother about this but that she had always told not to anger his father or to interfere in this matter. But I cannot take my father-in-law’s constant criticism of my mother-in-law. What can I do? You have just been married six months and so it is better that you don’t interfere in this matter. Besides your own husband has been told by his mother not to antagonise his father and that advice should apply to you too. But there is something else that that you ¬can do. Your father-in-law seems to look down on his wife because she is not educated. So, why don’t you suggest to your mother-in-law that she and you study together? If she demurs tell her that it would make your father-in-law happy and that she could surprise him with her reading ability, her knowledge of current affairs, etc after studying with you. Don’t take no for an answer and surprise your father-inlaw. He will definitely understand why you have got your mother-in-law interested in reading and hopefully will take the hint and change his behaviour. I am a forty-year-old married woman. My husband is three years older than I am and we have two daughters in their early teens. My husband had a good job in an export-import company but two years ago insisted on quitting his job in order to go

into the same export-import business independently on a small scale with two colleagues of his. For this they planned to use their savings and all three of them were sure that the contacts they already had in their business would stand them in good stead and that they would earn much more than they were making at their jobs. I was against this because my own uncle had had a bad experience when he tried to start a business. Besides I am a homemaker and so we were totally dependent on my husband’s earnings. But my husband did not listen to me. Ultimately it took just three months for the three men to start their business and for it to totally fail. All of them lost every penny of their savings and our three families are now left in a very bad situation. Now, all three men are desperate to get their old jobs back and they have been told that they can return but at a lower salaries and losing their seniority. I am furious with my husband and heart broken because he has jeopardised the future of our children. But in spite of being contrite, he is furious with me for I don’t know what! How can I convince him that he is being totally unfair in being angry with me? Is it all that important now to convince your husband that he has no right to be angry with you? Isn’t it

My family,

My friends and me...

QA &

more important now that you try to put yourselves on a stronger financial footing? Besides is it so difficult to understand why your husband is angry? He is probably angry because you didn’t support him more in his venture and perhaps did not show any sympathy but only showed anger as the venture began to unravel. Now the most important is to sit down with him and take some difficult decisions about your future. Has he got any option to going back to his old job at a lower salary and losing his seniority? Is there any other company he can try to get a job with? Discuss these things with him and also have meetings with his partners and their wives. You are all in the same boat, after all. It is important that you stand by your husband in the coming months. He will be in a fragile frame of mind till he settles down in his old firm of a new job and he needs your understanding. You say that you are not working, but since your children are now teenagers, you could think about taking up a job of some kind and adding to the family kitty.

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

“

Looking good underneath is important too

Booing the taboo. By Sudha Hariharan

”

ong Kong-based designer Mona Shroff launched her jewellery brand in 2011. With 18 years of experience as a designer creating in-house labels for Selfridges (London), Gallerie Lafayette (Paris) and 28 department stores across the UAE, her aim is to enhance every woman’s inherent beauty by designing and creating accessories that are stylish, trendy and affordable. Mona Shroff, who opened India’s most awaited fashion and glamour extravaganza, IIFW, shares her thoughts in an exclusive interview: What prompted you to associate with IIFW? What prompted my participation is the subject of lingerie. It is a unique, edgy and taboo topic for a fashion show. But on the other hand it is a multimillion dollar industry where customers spend lavishly and don’t talk about it. It is time that India has a fashion show and brings awareness to the mass market of the different kinds of styling, designing and creativity of lingerie brands . In a hush-hush-society which is still reticent about intimate wear, how do you propose to boo the taboo? The only way to “Boo” is to have fashion shows which become topics of conversation, boldness , sexiness and that will help ease out the shyness of this subject.Every woman wants to look sexy and beautiful. We can match accessories with lingerie and make it more stylish, glamorous and elegant even though it is behind closed doors. As what is worn in the bedroom is also a major part of a girl's personal life.

Your showing at the Gionee Fashion Week in 2015 was appreciated very much. Could you tell us what your 2017 line will be about? Thank you for your appreciation. My pieces for 2017 will be based on trendy but sexy look again as it is the subject of the show. All my pieces are hand-made with semiprecious stones specially for the show. My pieces were made in Philippines for this event. How does the intimate wear in India compare with its counterparts in the West? What are the areas we need to work on? India cannot be compared with the West at all as India is far behind in this category and will take years to even reach even 10 per cent of the West. Women don't give much importance to feeling and looking good underneath. Girls can't discuss this even with their mothers or get guidance if required. What everyone appreciates is the external looks and the clothing which is so wrong.

Monaʼs collection at Gionee Beach Fashion Week 2015

What are your views about the resort/swimwear fashion sector since you have participated in many shows? Resort wear is the most trendy, colourful and creative fashion as ‘Less is More’ in that category. One can mix and match to make the outfit look trendy, comfortable and sexy. While accessorising for beachwear, "less was more", what will be the key word, trends and challenges while doing the IIFW? My mantra is - Less is more! Different is me! That is why my pieces are always very different, colourful, edgy and create a statement when worn. It fills the missing glam to the outfit and completes the look, with an effortless work. Tell us a little about how you started off designing jewellery. I am a Textile Designer, and passed in scholorship from Sophia College Mumbai. I worked as a designer at Garden Silk for a few years until I came to Hongkong and started designing for Selfridges (London),

IIFW IS BREAKING ALL BARRIERS AND SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE, BREAK THIS HYPOCRISY STEP FORWARD. I AM HAPPY THAT IIFW IS TAKING THIS BOLD STEP, AND THAT IS WHY I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR FASHION SHOW. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Gallerie LaFayette (Paris) and 28 department stores for 18 years until I launched my label in 2011. in 2012, I did Lakme-fashion Show, and was the accessory partner for Miss India pageant, followed by many shows all over India and internationally. In 2016, celebrities wore my pieces at the Oscar Red Carpet and at The Grammys 2017. I have Hollywood and Bollywood celebrites and actresses wearing my pieces. Do you feel that IIFW will be the harbinger of wider exposure of Indian intimate wear on the global stage? IIFW is breaking all barriers and someone has to take the initiative, break this hypocrisy and step forward. I am happy that IIFW is taking this bold step, and that is why I am supportive of their fashion show. We

Your smile will give you a positive countenance that will make people feel comfortable around you. 69

Designed to perfection cool denim paired with blue ash lenis skirt.

White tee teamed with striped short for your little munchkin.

Let the

Fun begin Check out the designer collection for kids that brings a fun and playful touch to each piece.

Light washed denim short paired with striped T-shirt. Smart and trendy tee worn with chequered shirt and trouser.

Visiting

Dandeli

A birderʼs paradise. By Brinda Ganesan

t was pitch dark and I had come out in the open and followed the eerie glow of the lights from the other side of the River Kali, to get to the river. The water gleamed under the spell of the full moon. There was a sound of rustling leaves as if something was lurking behind the trees in the dark. My mind started making wild guesses – a civet, crocodile, some nocturnal bird or Malabar flying squirrel. I was in Kali adventure camp of Jungle lodges and resorts, next to the Kali River in Dandeli and such moments were warranted. Even arriving at the camp, covering a tiring journey of hours through the forests, from Yellapur, had its own picks – deer and a pair of civets had been a tick and some unrecognisable jungle sound had been captured. Though located in the Dandeli town, which hosts the largest paper mill in Karnataka, wildlife is never too far

Darter bird kali river dandeli.

from this resort and my first intimation has been “there are crocodiles in the river”. Ah! so the safari starts with coracle rides, quite a humble way for wildlife spotting. You must have understood, it was difficult holding me. And being allowed as an invader to enjoy the sounds of the jungle in the gathering of the night was both soothing and inspiring.

A SPLENDID PLACE The next morning we set off for our bird watching session near the Dandeli Timber Depot. A little quaint to know, but a splendid place to spot some rare and beautiful birds, including three species of Hornbill – Malabar greater hornbill, Indian grey hornbill and Malabar grey hornbill. My guide Vinayak told me that the Common Indian and Malabar hornbills differ in the shape of their beaks. Vinayak identified birds just by listening to their calls. And I was soon caught in the play as I lurked around mysteriously, trying to avoid noise, chasing the golden-breasted woodpecker for one nice shot. The Hornbills proved better hosts and the plum-faced parakeets, as playful as expected. Wood peckers proved too nimble for me. As I looked around to catch this beautiful panorama, adroitly painted, my ears picking a familiar,

teetering sound. I knew it, having met years ago; it was time for our second meeting. My limbs followed my ears. It was shekharu – the giant Malabar squirrel, high on the canopy, just the ears and the bushy tail visible, turning for miliseconds to give a fleeting glance. I was told by Vinayak that the presence of hornbills indicate a healthy forests. Considering they are so huge and choosy pickers, they need a lot of food, which is only possible in healthy forests. The next morning, on a coracle ride in the Kali River, I saw the Malabar Pied Hornbills, fly from one end to the other, their loud thud, silencing all other sounds of the jungle. Seeing hornbills ambling by the river, rummaging the fruits, flying from one side to the other, is a piece of memory you could keep for yourself. The crocodiles gaping at you, with their mouths wide open, no movement other than a lazy blink of an eye, unafraid of your presence and then the graceful brahmani kite, hovering

roated White th

blue bell

ied flyca

tcher

over you, in the company of wily cormorants, drying their wings, the egrets busy in rummaging molluscs, storks, ibis in sharing the same space – it was a pure wondrous magic! The evening plan to Ganeshgudi further pepped the birder in me. Ganeshgudi is a famous spot for birders. As we crossed the Kali River dam and took a turn to get into Ganeshgudi, a couple of Malabar parakeets made loud noises. The grey metallic road, looking alien in the green territory, snaked through the woods before culminating in a muddy, rusty patch leading us to Ganeshgudi. The Jungle lodge has a dormitory there, a boundary is set for birders and enthusiasts can be seen ready with their telescope-sized lens to smaller zoom and binoculars. This spot, they say, is a birders’ paradise, with species spot-count going as high as 70 in a single day. I wasn’t that lucky in terms of number of species spotted, but surely these were action packed hours spent there.

BIRDS SAY HELLO There isn’t a need to wander about, birds drop in to say ‘hello’ to onlookers here. Jungle lodges have water pots on the other side, which attract birds for some play. The list is crocodile still long - from the lovely blue-tailed green bee-eater, munias, fulvettas, blue robin, magpie robin, yellow browed bulbuls to white throated blue flycatcher, blythes starling, jungle babbler, and rackettailed droncos to many I don’t remember and was too engaged to take notes on. And this doesn’t get over with photography, expect some great stories from the friendly staff over tea and biscuits and do catch up with some birding enthusiasts to share knowledge. We headed back to the Kali resort as evening set in with the sky exploding into different colours, turning into painter’s canvas. I heard the birds twitter as we drove past the dark forests, now wearing an apparition look. From a distance warning calls of chital congregated, probably emanating from a water

White breasted

kingfisher White throated

blue bellied fly

catcher

Fast facts: The nearest major railway station is Hubbali (some 65 kms) and nearest airport is Goa airport (some 110 kms).

Little corm

orant ka

li river.

THERE ISN’T A NEED TO WANDER ABOUT, BIRDS DROP IN TO SAY ‘HELLO’ TO ONLOOKERS HERE. JUNGLE LODGES HAVE WATER POTS ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH ATTRACT BIRDS FOR SOME PLAY. body from a deep corner in the forest. There’s a sheer feeling of serendipity in the wild, you grasp the enormity of forest as you reach closer to it. With a medley of thoughts, emanating and evaporating in my mind, we drove back our way to the resort. Probably some good chat with other travellers was waiting for us. I was eager to hear from the group, which had gone for a wildlife safari in Kali Tiger Reserve. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Kali adventure camp by Jungle Lodges resorts is all about organic rush for untamed terrains – gorges, wild rivers, deep, dense jungles, frothing wild waters and tranquil evenings. Situated on the banks of Kali River, this JLR property inspires you to form a connection with raw nature. The camp is a perfect spot for white water rafting on Kali River. Other activities include kayaking, coracle ride, bird watching, nature walk, wild safari, sightseeing, activities etc. Tariff ranges from INR 4,000 to 5,500 for twin sharing. Old Magazine House is a favourite among birders, a place to be, to catch one’s breath and evade the urbane madness to be among the winged denizens. Apart from birding, trekking, rafting and kayaking are on the to-do list here. Being on one solitary detour from the main road, deep in a jungle, Old Magazine House lends you the ‘never had before’ experience. Tariff is nominal at INR 2,120 We (inclusive of the package).

Your perfect style and comfort combo. By Lesley D. Biswas

etting your beachwear together for a beach vacation in India so that you look stylish yet don’t get ogled at or invite the moral police brigade, is a very tricky proposition. While the world over, the bikini and the swimsuit are the staple clothing keeping in mind the seaside weather and the fact that you’d want to take a dip in the water, it doesn’t get too many thumbs-ups on Indian beaches. That doesn’t mean you cannot look stylish on your Indian beach vacation. Here are some beachwear options that surely don’t compromise on style nor on comfort. Beach dress: The one-piece we are talking about, ladies, isn’t swimwear. However, if there is one beachwear which has always been the perfect choice anywhere in the world it’s the beach dress. Versatile and super glam the beach dress is sure to make heads turn for all the right reasons. And what’s more, this no-fuss piece of

clothing flatters every body type. Choose from a full-length maxi dress, short crochet or lace dress or a offshoulder strappy number. Variety abounds, there is a chic beach dress for every liking. Kaftan: The beach kaftan, most Indian ladies, you would agree that is one garment which combines style and comfort like no other. Even for those who aren’t prepared to go bold, it covers you up with just the right amount of clothing but at the same time will not make you look regressive. And if you belong to those who would like to go bold, a light pastel or white flimsy kaftan over a bright printed bikini does just that. Choose from chiffons to cotton in tiedye prints or plain soft hues. Up your style quotient with fringed edges and plunging lacy necklines. Playsuits and sarongs: Still haven’t made up your mind? Then here are two more options on offer. The wrap dress sarong and the playsuit. Wear the sarong in multiple ways like a flirty one-shoulder knot dress, wear it with a side slit or even as a halter dress. Another way to rock that beach look is with a beach playsuit. Fun, youthful and very comfortable, playsuits in block colours or prints are a rage the world over. Team them with a broad floppy beach hat and flat strappy sandals for the ultimate stylish ensemble. Terrific tops: For a moment forget the bikini. The next best piece of clothing which will give you as much freedom and comfort like the bikini is the tank top. They are loose and airy and have a variety of designs that will suit every taste. For those looking to cover up a little more but still want to flaunt their sexy midriff, look no further than crop tops. Especially in white, crop tops can be paired with any possible lower garment – be it a short wrap skirt or denim shorts. Sleeveless crop-tops with a tie-up add to the mystery and fun factor. And if the midriff is your problem area then a crop-top with long tassels or the spaghetti top is a sure saviour.

Versatile lowers: Come to think of it, there to an array of options in this category too that can be teamed with most tops. Beach shorts come first. There is no option for these little shorts that can be carried off by any body type. Only the length will vary. Short denim skirts especially frayed, are always a good bet with a white or offshoulder top. Boy shorts are another option and so are wrap skirts in all lengths. For a lazy stroll on the beach to feel the sand between your toes or to enjoy the sunset from a beach shack, opt for palazzo, gypsy, harem or boho pants. These breezy numbers in tribal or floral prints, tiedye and aztec designs are sure to match your style. Luckily there are no restrictions on accessories, so make sure you have the staples; a broad-rimmed floppy beach hat, oversize sunglasses, strappy sandals and flip-flops plus a large tote or jhola – and style will be your second name. Having said that, there are still other things to keep in mind when on a beach vacation in India. ✿ Dress keeping in mind your comfort level as well as your body shape. ✿ Respect the cultural sensibilities

of the locals, so if you desire to wear a bikini go to those beaches where you will fit in rather than stand out. ✿ Dressing is just one aspect of your vacation, so don’t let that overwhelm you. ✿ Also keep in mind that you are out there to have fun and would prefer to concentrate on enjoying your holiday than having to ward off unwanted stares or deal with lewd comments. We

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I Rise Because I rise because I know how to fight all odds; Neither do I believe in fate, Nor in miracles and Gods! I rise because I know that every wound is an experience; Light shall enter from that hurt, And in the milieu, spread fragrance! I rise because I know to believe in my essence, To struggle and survive is my motto, Hope is the source of my affluence! – Neelam Saxena Chandra. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Sthoorryt S

The Triangle It had a missing angle.

Vishesh had begun to get bored with his life, that same old routine and everyday story, office to home and from home to office. He was planning to move to Delhi from Noida so that he could save himself some more time.

he sun was shining bright even at half past eight in the morning. Vishesh hated summers for that reason. Stifling heat, bright sun, smell of sweat, loo and above all travelling in overcrowded metros made life difficult for people, especially the ones who had to run from one place to another on public transport for work purposes. Vishesh wiped the sweat off his forehead as he boarded the metro from Noida City Centre towards Pragati Maidan. The only thing he liked about boarding the metro from that station was

By Arshpreet Kaur that he usually managed to get a seat. It was a common sight in Metros of Delhi to find people busy on their mobile phones. Half of the people had their earphones plugged in while half of the other half was often busy playing candy crush on their mobile phones and rest of the other half left were either the ones who didn’t catch enough sleep the previous night or the ones who had little interest in their phones and preferred to notice people around Vishesh smiled back at him and asked, “How are you?” “I am fine,” the vendor said. “Where have you been? You didn’t come yesterday. I saved a newspaper for you.” He picked up a newspaper from a pile and handed it over to Vishesh along with the day’s newspaper.

them. Occasionally, there were also people who were talking loudly right in the morning. Vishesh always wondered how come they had such stamina right in the early hours of the day. That day, he saw a girl sitting opposite him reading a newspaper. Now, that was not a very common sight as usually metros were so overcrowded that it was always difficult to read newspapers while commuting plus it was a girl reading a newspaper. Vishesh had always thought that females preferred magazines to newspapers. He observed the headline of the paper which had something to do with LGBT rights.

he metro came to a halt at Pragati Maidan. Vishesh quickly moved out and rushed towards his office. He collected a newspaper from the newspaper vendor outside the Metro station which was a part of his daily routine and rushed to his office. The vendor, Ajay Kumar, smiled at him. He was a smart chap who sold newspapers until 11 in the morning and then went off to his daily job. Vishesh had always liked him for the fact that he was doing something to make some extra money while

there are people who only complain about lack of jobs in our country. Vishesh smiled back at him and asked, “How are you?” “I am fine,” the vendor said. “Where have you been? You didn’t come yesterday. I saved a newspaper for you.” He picked up a newspaper from a pile and handed it over to Vishesh along with the day’s newspaper. “I wasn’t well,” Vishesh replied as he paid the vendor. “So, I took a day off.” “Oh, are you all right now?” the vendor asked.

ishesh nodded and muttered a word of thanks and made his way to his office. He was late by a quarter but he was relieved to find that his boss wasn’t there. He took his seat next to his friend and colleague Arun and tossed the newspapers on his table. “It’s so hot outside,” Vishesh exhaled as he took his seat and reduced the temperature of the air conditioner. “Do you want some water?” Arun asked as he got up from the seat to fetch some water for Vishesh but Vishesh held up his hand and Arun took his seat. “I’d go and get some on my own.” “Where were you yesterday?” Arun asked Vishesh during the lunch hour. “I didn’t get my newspaper.” Vishesh looked up at Arun who was smiling in a weird way. Vishesh laughed out. “I wasn’t doing well. So, took a day off,” Vishesh replied. “Why don’t you buy your own paper?”

“Because there is no vendor at the time I come from the Metro station,” Arun replied as he took a bite of his sandwich, “and also, because I like it when you bring me the paper.” And Arun winked. Vishesh laughed out loud. So did Arun.

run always had his own kinds of jokes. Initially, Vishesh found them weird but lately, he had begun to know what was expected of Arun. He was a fun-loving guy who cared a lot for Vishesh. In a moribund life, there is always lack of good friends. Vishesh had begun to get bored with his life, that same old routine and everyday story, office to home and from home to office. He was planning to move to Delhi from Noida so that he could save himself some more time. He called up his girlfriend Reema who lived in Australia and talked to her for quite a while after dinner. Even she recommended the move to Delhi. He was bored with living alone and he indeed needed the company of good people. Next day when he got off from the Metro and ran down the stairs of the Metro station, he looked around to find if he could spot any posters or pamphlets giving him contact details of some property dealers but he found none. He bought the newspaper from the vendor outside the metro station who gave him a warm smile. Vishesh noticed that the vendor had written ‘Dear Sir’ on the newspaper that he gave him. He had a strange but warm feeling about it and he smiled at the

vendor and paid him for the day. When he was about to move on he complimented the vendor on his handwriting as he put the newspaper in his laptop bag, “Do you know, you have beautiful handwriting? Men usually don’t have such good writing.” The vendor flushed with blood in his cheeks. Vishesh laughed and asked him, “I want to move to Delhi from Noida. Can you help me in finding a 1BHK?” The vendor gave Vishesh a broad smile and nodded.

Something dropped on the floor from within the newspaper. Vishesh picked it up and noticed that it was an envelope. Vishesh turned it over and opened it and took out a piece of paper that lay within it. Vishesh muttered a few words of gratitude and made his way towards his office where Arun was already working on his laptop. Vishesh handed over the newspaper to him and got started with his own work. During lunch, Vishesh told Arun about his plans to move to Delhi and asked him to help in finding a suitable flat. Arun who lived in Delhi himself was more than happy to help. He spent quite a while searching on internet for details of various property dealers. Next day when Vishesh

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

reached the office after buying the usual newspaper he asked Arun about recent updates on the flat that Vishesh wanted to buy. Arun seemed a little stressed and did not reply. Later he told Vishesh that he was worried because of a project that he was handling but didn’t receive a good response from the client. Vishesh did not pester him over it. That day Arun did not speak much even during lunch and left office hurriedly before time in order to meet his client.

ishesh sat silently in the office working on his laptop. He was tired of doing the same stuff every day. He was bored and with Arun not being there, he had little to talk to anyone. His work was almost done, yet he had another half hour left for punching. He picked up the unopened newspaper from Arun’s desk that he had forgotten to take home as he usually did every day and opened it. Something dropped on the floor from within the newspaper. Vishesh picked it up and noticed that it was an envelope. Vishesh turned it over and opened it and took out a piece of paper that lay within it. Vishesh thought it was a new way of advertising and promotion. Feeling amused he read what was written on the piece of paper in a slanted handwriting. My dear, Yesterday you told me about moving to Delhi. I thought of a few places but then came up with an idea. I live only 4 stations away from Pragati Maidan in a 1BHK, on rent, of course. So, if you don’t mind you can 77

move in with me. I would be more than happy to help. A.K. Vishesh felt overwhelmed by Arun’s response. He thought that the only why that Arun had not replied to him in the morning was that he had other things on his mind and he already had a back-up plan made for Vishesh. Vishesh had always thought that it was impossible to find a true friend in a city like Delhi but he was happy that he was proved wrong. The only thing that bothered him was why Arun had not told him about his plan himself and why he had left a note instead.

Vishesh took out the envelope from Arun from his pocket, waved it and smiled at the vendor, “I got the flat. Thanks.” The vendor smiled politely and began attending to his next customer.

ishesh reached the office and saw Arun working on his laptop. He walked towards him and patted him on the back. Arun was startled and quickly got up from his seat. Vishesh hugged him tight. “Thank you, Arun,” he mumbled. “When can I move in?” Arun was perplexed, “What happened?” Vishesh showed him the envelope and Arun’s eyes widened as he quickly took it from Vishesh and looked around to make sure that nobody was watching. “Hey no, not here in office.” Vishesh was bemused but ignored what Arun was

ext day Vishesh was in a happy mood. He even had made certain plans regarding things he would need to buy and when it would be convenient to move in with Arun. Reema had helped him prepare a list of things he would need, the previous night. Vishesh got off the “Got metro, climbed down the to know what?” stairs and went to the Vishesh asked. newspaper vendor to buy “That I am a gay,” Arun that day’s paper. replied in a whisper. “I didn’t The vendor handed know that you were a gay over that day’s paper to too.” Visesh as he gave him a “What?” Vishesh spoke out `five coin. loudly, feeling offended. “So, the flat…” the “I am not a gay. I am vendor spoke but straight.” Vishesh cut him and said, “Oh yes, the flat. I got it.”

Vishesh was bemused but ignored what Arun was saying and asked him, “Why did you leave a note? I mean why didn’t you tell me personally that you wouldn’t mind me moving with you? We will obviously share the rent.” saying and asked him, “Why did you leave a note? I mean why didn’t you tell me personally that you wouldn’t mind me moving with you? We will obviously share the rent.” “What are you talking about?” Arun said. “I didn’t leave any note for you. In fact, you write to me every day.” Vishesh was startled by what Arun was saying. “In fact, I was wondering how you got to know about me,” Arun spoke in a hushed

voice, hardly louder than a whisper. “Got to know what?” Vishesh asked. “That I am a gay,” Arun replied in a whisper. “I didn’t know that you were a gay too.” “What?” Vishesh spoke out loudly, feeling offended. “I am not a gay. I am straight.”

run laughed a wicked laugh, “Don’t worry, we can discuss this when we are alone. I know it’s difficult to discuss it like this. We can write.” “What’s wrong with you?” Vishesh said, feeling vague and confused and wondering if Arun was playing some trick to fool around. “Have you gone mad?” “Hey, easy, Vishesh,” Arun spoke. “You can write to me, okay?” “Why should I write to you?” Vishesh asked as his voice cracked a little. “Why have you been writing to me this long?” Arun asked with irritation. “I have never written to you anything!” Vishesh exclaimed. A pained expression formed on Arun’s face as he irritabely opened his laptop bag and took out a stack of envelopes similar to the one that Vishesh had found yesterday and threw them all towards Vishesh, “What did these letters that you put in the newspaper every day, mean then?” Vishesh was shocked beyond measured as he realised who had put those letters in the newspapers every day. We

A lifetime of happiness? No man alive could bear it; it would be hell on earth.

Vacation toWork 10 tips for a stress-free bounce back. By Sripriya Satish

o, wasn’t that a relaxing vacation? Now, its time to get back to the working mode, isn’t it? A child in anyone can start crying, throwing temper tantrums for the vacations to last forever. The images in your head of that grinding work, routine schedule, work pressure etc, can pull you down altogether and make you feel sullen. We have to come back to reality and, after all, life is not a bed of roses. Cheer up! Maybe returning to work is not that bad after all. Hope these tips will keep you motivated and help you get back to work in a good frame of mind.

hours can do wonders on your work front. This time can be utilised in checking missed mails and tidying up your work space. It can also help you to condition your mind before your strenuous work at office/home begins.

Tip #4 : Plan ahead While you are still on your current vacation, you can plan ahead for your next vacation. This will help you to look forward to something pleasurable and also help you to keep motivated.

Tip #5: Keep moving fast Tip #1: Cushion day helps See to it that you return from your vacation at least two days before you go back to work. These days can serve as a buffer to steer you back to the normal routine and can put your mental tensions about taking care of all the undone household chores to rest.

Tip #2 : Stick to normal routine Try not to overlook those workouts and avoid staying up late even during vacations. Sticking to your normal schedule can help to tune your mind and body and you can have a much easier bounce back from vacations going back to work.

Tip #3 : Set your morning alarm Those earlier-than-usual morning

Planning a checklist of the chores to be done when you get back, while you are still on vacation would be really helpful. By doing so, the importance of each job to be done and its size can be easily assessed.

and post vacation. You will find yourself highly spirited before the vacation as there is something pleasurable to look forward to.

Tip #8 : Set realistic goals No doubt, you were absent from work for a while and it would have created a lot of backlog. It will certainly be a hard task mentally and physically to face the demanding situations all of a sudden. It would be wise to set realistic goals and be patient in handling the situations. Breathing exercises could really help.

Tip #9 : Get your co-worker’s/friend’s help It would be great if your co-worker or friend could do some of your work while you are away. In return you could offer to take his or her work while he or she is away.

Tip #6: Keep your vacation mood

Tip #10 : Handle your blues

Having a delightful talk with your co-workers and friends about the vacation can really keep you ticking. It will help you to relive those wonderful memories and keep you motivated.

Last but not least, try to be in a cheerful mindset when you get back to work, spreading positive vibrations around. Let your getaway be a booster to your work. Looking at the vacation pictures taken can make you relish every moment of it. We Happy homecoming!

Tip #7 : Pre-vacation tasks Complete all your pending work as much as possible during pre-vacation so that, when you return, there will not be much burden on you. There is a huge difference between completing the work during the pre-vacation time Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

“You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing.” 79

VISITING

MOROCCO The Hollywood movie capital.

By Subhashini Viswanathan

emember the movie Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman? This classic movie of all times was based on World War II and set to take place in the city of Casablanca. Humphrey Bogart was known as Rick in the movie and he had a restaurant in Casablanca known as Rick’s Cafe where all the action took place. For a long time, I thought Casablanca was an imaginary city and existed only in Hollywood. Only recently I was told that Casablanca is a real city in the country of Morocco. I know Morocco exists in Africa and during our recent visit to Spain we were told that Morocco is only a 45 minutes’ ferry ride from the port city of Tarifa in Spain. Having come this far, we decided to go to Morocco. We boarded a ferry in Tarifa and within 45 minutes we reached Tangier a port city in Morocco. The sea between Tarifa and Tangier is known as the Mediterranean Sea. As we were crossing, we saw the magnificent Gibraltar Rock. Tangier is a blend of Europe and Arabia, and is a very modern city. We

MARRAKECH MEDINA OR THE CENTRAL MARKET IS WORLD FAMOUS FOR ITS MILLION LANEWAYS WITH PEOPLE IN THEIR JELLABAS WHICH ARE FLOWING LONG CLOAKS WITH A HOOD WALKING ALONE WITH DONKEYS CARRYING VARIOUS MERCHANDISE.

boarded our tour bus along with a local Moroccan guide and the first question I asked the guide was will we be visiting Casablanca and he said, “Yes”. That made me very happy. Further, he said that, In the movie Bourne Ultimatum, the chase sequences were shot in Tangier. This was my first introduction to Morocco as a movie capital. Previously I had seen this movie but I could not relate the chase sequences in the movie to be Tangier. The next stop was Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Morocco is ruled by a king. The king is loved by one and all and that affection and loyalty is visible everywhere. The king’s photo is everywhere and also in every house without exception. The following day, we travelled a couple of hundred kilometres and entered Casablanca. Casablanca is a major city situated on the Atlantic coast with beautiful building, palaces and grand mosques. Casablanca is usually called Casa with a population of about one million. It’s a blend of Arabic, African, European and Jewish

cultures. It has wide roads with a mad and racing traffic. Here, the Hassan II mosque rising above the Atlantic Ocean is the third largest mosque in the world. The entire city looks like a massive movie set. No wonder many movies were shot here and in particular the movie Casablanca. After a brief tour of the city our tour bus stopped in front of the famous Rick’s Cafe. In the movie, the owner of the cafe is Rick and the role is played by Humphrey Bogart. Most of the action in the movie centres around this cafe. After our heart pumping viewing of Rick’s Cafe, the bus moved on. At this point our tour guide surprised us by saying that the movie Casablanca was never shot in the city of

Casablanca but instead it was shot in Hollywood. The city of Casablanca was nothing to do with the movie! The Rick’s looks exactly the same as in the movie. This was a major shock for me and I expressed my disappointment to the tour guide. He consoled me by saying that the recently released movie Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation starring Tom Cruise was shot in Casablanca. He further mentioned that the famous motor-cycle chase by Tom Cruise was entirely filmed in Casablanca. At that time I had not seen the movie and I wanted to watch this movie as soon as we got back home. But then, I asked the guide, “What about the Rick’s Cafe we just saw?” He replied that the present Rick’s Cafe is a fake one and an exact replica of the cafe in

the movie. The present cafe was established by an American lady to cash in on the popularity of the movie cafe and she is doing well moneywise!

MARRAKECH Our next destination was Marrakech. Marrakech Medina or the central market is world famous for its million laneways with people in their jellabas which are flowing long cloaks with a hood walking alone with donkeys carrying various merchandise. This scenario must have inspired Alfred Hitchcock for a scene in his movie The Man who Knew too Much, produced in the mid-50s. In this movie, I remember very well where one of the victims wearing a jellaba running along the laneways in the Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Medina was being chased by one of the bad guys and who finally stabs him. It is an unforgettable scene. As we walked alone the laneways, I could just imagine the victim running desperately in the movie. Marrakech is also famous for medicinal herbs. One entire section of Medina is set aside for shops selling herbs. Our tour guide took us to one of the big shops selling herbs. The shop looked very respectable. A young lady welcomed us and said that there are herbs for a variety of ailments. There are herbs for migraine, diabetes, arthritis, constipation etc, etc and finally she said that they have a special herb known as Moroccan Viagra. While saying this, she had a mischievous smile on her face. She said that all one needs is a tablet. “If you take the tablet wait for 10 minutes,” and then she just paused. At this moment everyone in the group especially women were finding it uncomfortable and were looking at each other. The lady continued, “You take one tablet and wait for 10 minutes and then …she paused again and then said “wait for 10 minutes and then… Whoopie!” She screamed. At this point everyone simply laughed. I am not sure if anyone bought this tablet. 81

Marrakech central market area just looks like a massive movie set. There are snake charmers, jugglers, and millions of shops selling everything under the sun. As we walked along the central area we became instant celebrities with people shouting almost hysterically, “Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachan, Hema Malini” etc. After some time I got sick of this screaming. It’s a proof that our movies and our stars have well and truly conquered the world. Next stop was the city of Fes, Fes is not a big city. It has a population of about one million and what makes Fez special is that it’s a blend of old and new. By old I mean its really ancient markets with intricate alleyways and mosques, dated back several centuries. The new are multi-lane

MARRAKECH CENTRAL MARKET AREA JUST LOOKS LIKE A MASSIVE MOVIE SET. THERE ARE SNAKE CHARMERS, JUGGLERS, AND MILLIONS OF SHOPS SELLING EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN. AS WE WALKED ALONG THE CENTRAL AREA WE BECAME INSTANT CELEBRITIES WITH PEOPLE SHOUTING ALMOST HYSTERICALLY “SHAH RUKH KHAN.”

freeways, spatial and stunning palaces. Several chase sequences in Bond movies were shot here. Looking at the skyline of Fes city, it seemed ideal for the chase sequences. Fes is also knows for belly dancing. For the first time I realised that belly dancing is not just moving one’s belly but intricate movements like bending and twisting. Some of the movements these dancers go through are simply stunning. After returning home, I watched the movie Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation. The backdrop of the stunning chase sequences shot in Casablanca add to the overall effect of the fast action. Watching the movie added a new dimension to several locations in Casablanca. Morocco is not only a movie capital but also a dream capital. It is unique because of an intoxicating blend of ancient culture with ultra-modern roads and buildings. Moroccan people are very special. Where else in the world can one see Jews and Arabs living side by side in complete harmony for centuries? Morocco is indeed a special country with special people. No wonder movie-makers flock to Morocco for We their movie locations!

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

Let your

Husband be Happy And be glad about it. By Rungeen Singh

ring up the topic of marriage and people snigger that husbands can never be happy after marriage. The next statement generally puts the blame on the wife that she does not let the husband be happy. If this topic comes up for you and your husband, then look at your husband’s face. If he is in denial sincerely or is laughing it off normally, then he is really happy with you. But if he has a serious martyred look, then deep down somewhere he feels that the speakers are right. But then don’t pounce on him in front of others or right after the party asking, “Why did you look like a martyr? Why didn’t you deny it?” Such questions make it appear as if you are accusing him and the husband would become on the defensive, go into a shell and not like it at all. Instead, tell him what you feel and give him time to explain and then believe him. You can give the negative feedback privately and in polite words, clearly letting him know what hurt you. Don’t expect him to understand on his own, because his male wiring

Injury Prevention In

Athletes

umerous reports indicate that females who participate in athletics experience particular injuries at a disproportionate rate versus males . Such injuries include traumatic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures to overuse injuries such as patellofemoral pain syndrome, iliotibial band friction syndrome, and femoral, pubic, tibial, and metatarsal stress fracture. Young female players in our country are now taking sports as a full time profession, this trend has not only opened a new career option but also generated jobs for thousands of people involved. The level of competition and expertise in different sports has been also raised manifolds. Hence more and more players are working hard to raise level of skill in their particular fields. This means rigorous training, exposure of our body to the same activity thousands of time every week and hence repeated injuries. The injuries in athlete are of two types: 1. An acute (traumatic) injury: An injury due to fall or collision of players. Common examples include wrist fractures, ankle sprains, shoulder dislocations, and hamstring muscle strain. 2. Chronic (Overuse) Injury: They are the result of repetitive microtrauma to the tendons, bones, and joints. Common examples include

tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, youth pitching elbow, etc.

How to prevent chronic (Overuse)injury to athletes: When sports person perform the same action every day, certain group of muscle are over used and opposite group of muscles are underused. This leads to muscle imbalance and changes in the body. The altered biomechanics put undue stress on different parts of the body making them prone to injury. eg. In a tennis player the pectoral (Chest) muscle becomes very strong but the muscles in the upper back which control the Scapula become week. This leads to shoulder pain. Our responsibility is to identify the muscle imbalance in different parts of the body and we take that player out of the competition. We work on stretching the tight muscles and strengthening the weak ones. Apparently it looks like wasting a few weeks of a good player in a peak season, but if the same player gets injured he or she might land up in surgery and it can waste the whole season and we all know how difficult it is to reach the same level of performance after a surgical procedure. We follow certain screening protocol for different teams before the start of season and instruct the coaches to send injury-prone players for a systematic rehabilitation before

Dr Ashwani Maichand MS, MCh (Ortho) Fellowship Joint Replacement (USA & Germany)

including them in the team. Our protocol includes overhead squat test, single-leg balance, single-leg anterior reach test, ranges of movement assessment of hip and shoulder and various endurance tests. Moreover, most overuse injuries can be prevented with proper training and common sense.

At our centre we create separate groups for different types of players and treat them in groups. Initially they are treated by standard physiotherapy and later on we enhance their sport specific skills along with endurance training. So, the take-home massage is 'A Stitch in Time Saves Nineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Learn from otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mistakes.

8/29, West Patel Nagar, Near Metro Pillar No. 198, New Delhi-110008 For appointment: 99990-74745 www.minomaxortho.com

is different to your female sensitivity. Instead, think if you have really given him cause to feel unhappy in marriage. Before I proceed further, I would like to make it clear that I am writing about husbands who treat their wives with respect. I am not writing about those husbands who treat their wives like dirt. Marriage should be an equal relationship with both the partners together on the same side and not like master-slave or adversaries. So, if it hurt you that your husband just made a woebegone face when his friends taunted about you, then answer some questions yourself beginning with the first question, ‘Do I want him to be happy with me?’ If

MOREOVER, DO YOU USE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM? MEN ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS. THEY ARE HAPPIER WITH LOGIC AND PRACTICALITY.

‘No’, then everything is immaterial. If ‘yes’, then read on. Ask other questions as follows. Do I give him reason to feel sad and bad that he married me? To get to the answer for this you need to confront yourself honestly and frankly. Do you always expect your husband to obey you? If you are honest with yourself, you will realise that you always want your way and when you don’t get it, you react by sulking, jibing or feeling a martyr yourself. Don’t expect him to obey you always because he is not a child, neither is he your student. He is an equal partner and if you want your identity to be maintained and entity to be respected, then so does he. It would not be fair to submerge his dignity, just to be holier than thou. Marriage is not a one-up-man-ship contest. Let him hold his views and opinions even if they are different to yours. Our country has a democracy! Moreover it must be hurting a man’s ego when he is called a henpecked husband! Now for the next question. Do you always show him genuine warmth, respect and caring? If you do, you would never hurt him, but if you

don’t, you will hurt him just to prove yourself right. It does happen that a wife gets so affected by her own sensitivity, that she attacks the husband and hurts him. She does not realise that probably he is not even aware that he has created a problem. Actually you should think if you are an understanding wife!

CREATE A SENSE OF TRUST Moreover, do you help create a sense of trust and acceptance and believe what he says to you or the excuse he gives you? It is so normal to answer, “I don’t believe you,” but just in case he is being honest, then he would be miffed with such an observation. Moreover, consider if you have always been a model of honesty, dependability and fairness with regard to him or you just expect it from him? If you give him support, then you will get support from him. Moreover, do you use a logical explanation when you talk to him? Men are uncomfortable with feelings and emotions. They are happier with logic and practicality. So if substantive reasons are given and pragmatically explained, he would be more receptive and understanding.

Conversations thus should not be about blaming each other but about how to solve problems. You should demonstrate communication skills and discuss feelings openly. So you should value gender differences between the two of you as well as individual differences between both, because it is not possible that he is a carbon copy of you. He will have his own thoughts, attitudes and viewpoints, and it is very relative that you are right or he is right, so the question of who is right should not be discussed emotionally. It is better to talk rationally about what is right according to the circumstances. One of the ploys some wives use is by saying the opposite and wanting the opposite. This is beyond most men. Husbands are confused when wives show how contrary they can be. If they say something and mean something else, they are often beyond the understanding of the husband. So a wife should be clear and consistent in her way and subject matter of talking.

without interrupting and try to understand him, specially topics that are close to his heart. So you should give individual attention to him, even if you are busy with housework or the children. If he feels that he comes first with you, he will be more prone to giving you priority. So it goes without saying that when he is right, then you should give him appreciation freely. Specially if he has done something special for you, or understood your psyche, then you should acknowledge it and then tell him that it is commendable.

RIGHT EXPECTATIONS For that it is essential to have reasonable expectations from him. If you have high expectations, then disappointments can be caused, so the expectations should be nil and then you will be pleasantly surprised when he does something for you. You should also celebrate his successes instead of being feline and taunting him about something just to get back at him for some (what you think) so-

YOU SHOULD ALSO OFTEN PROVIDE HIM WITH CHOICES TO BE HIS OWN PERSON. HE SHOULD HAVE HIS SPACE. DON’T DEMAND EVERY SECOND OF HIS TIME. HE IS ENTITLED TO SOME TIME OF HIS OWN. You should also be approachable, so that he can talk anything and everything with you like a friend, where you also accept healthy criticism instead of being thin skinned. If you are a friend, the relationship will be stronger and without rancour. So the best way would be to be honest and tell him what you don’t like, but without belittling and humiliating him. You should also listen carefully 88

called crime he has done to you. The best is to display a sense of humour. This would get the two closer and also diffuse any volatile situation. Humour is appreciated by all but it should not be of the piercing and hurtful variety. If you both enjoy being with each other, then a personal rapport would permanently be there between the two of you instead of your slanging matches that the world will ridicule. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

It is also necessary for you to believe in his worth and respect his dignity and ability, especially in front of others. If a wife does not show respect to her husband in front of others, then others don’t respect him either. If he has done something that you think is a mistake, point it out to him and hear his side of the story. Even if you find that it was his mistake, understand that mistakes happen and try and forget and forgive, though this is very difficult as it comes to women very naturally to remember past grievances and throw them at their husband, much to his discomfiture. But then be ready when he tells you about your mistakes. Take them without feeling bad.

LET HIM CHOOSE You should also often provide him with choices to be his own person. He should have his space. Don’t demand every second of his time. He is entitled to some time of his own. Let him do for some time what he likes best, whether it is talking to his friends, watching cricket or talking to his mother. It is also helpful if you establish a positive relationship with his parents and if he has a friendly relationship with your parents. The harmony of a family often is intruded upon by disagreements because of the extended family. What would be the best is to create a peaceful environment at home where he can let his hair down and be himself instead of being on his guard always. If he has suspense regarding when you will blame him or accuse him, then he will run away from you. The fact is that you need to just accept him as he is and not try to change him. Find glory in the differences between the two of you and just love him for what he is and let him be. Then both of you can enjoy life and your husband will give a fitting retort to snides and taunts by We others about you.

Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you.

Sthoorryt S

Ways Of Destiny Strange are the ways of life. By Radha Murthi

What Vinod told her when she met him was quite devastating for Nalini. Vinod was recalled from his leave to join the Kargil war and he had to move forth immediately.

n a Sunday morning Mala’s phone rang continuously and she was forced to answer the call, although she wanted to relax for some time. She was a practising gynaecologist and a busy doctor. The caller was one of her friends, Saroj. Saroj sounded very tense and worried, when she said, “I am fed up with this girl, Nalini. Please, come and knock some sense into her, Mala. She has become moody and absent-minded, always goes about with a long face. Please be on the lookout for a nurse in case this girl ditches me.” With these words Saroj ended her call. Nalini was a nurse from Helpline, an organisation in Kerala providing well-trained nurses who would stay with the patients 24 hours and look after them. Saroj was lucky enough to have everything tailor-made for her like a very good, wellplaced husband, a palatial house, two beautiful daughters, both married and staying at Hyderabad, and her one and only son working in the USA. Her only problem was her mother-in-law who had a paralytic attack two years back. Though partially recovered, because of old age she needed constant attention. Saroj tried to look after her mother-in-law, with the help of maids but found it

quite tiring. Last year her son who had come down from the USA noticed his mother’s struggle and arranged for a nurse from the Helpline. The nurse from Helpline stayed with the family of the patient at a stretch of three months and looked after all the needs of the patient. After three months another nurse would replace the first one. Nalini had also come in the same way but stayed on for eight months as she was liked by everybody in Saroj’s house. She was a cheerful, sincere, well-mannered, duty-conscious, and a goodlooking girl. She was a great favourite with Saroj.

fter discussing with her husband who was also a doctor in a corporate hospital, about arranging a nurse for Saroj, Mala went to Saroj’s house. Nalini came and opened the door. Mala could find a marked change in Nalini’s behaviour and tried to find out the reason for the change. Initially Nalini started crying but after much

cajoling and persuading came out with her problem. It was like this: Nalini was given one day off in a week by Saroj to go and meet her relatives in the old city or do whatever she wanted. During one of her outings she met Captain Vinod who happened to be a friend of her cousin. Nalini and Vinod started meeting frequently as they liked each other. The liking blossomed into love and they had decided to get married after obtaining permission from their parents. Those were the days of the Kargil war and one day the inevitable happened. Nalini received a phone call from Vinod asking her to come and meet him immediately. Since Nalini had already confided in Saroj about her feelings for Vinod it was not difficult for her to get Saroj’s permission to go and meet Vinod. On a Sunday morning Mala’s phone rang continuously and she was forced to answer the call, although she wanted to relax for some time.

What Vinod told her when she met him was quite devastating for Nalini. Vinod was recalled from his leave to join the Kargil war and he had to move forth immediately. He promised that he would keep writing to her, and would come back the day he gets leave and proceed with their marriage plans. As Nalini had no exposure to Army life she was so scared that she started crying and said goodbye to Vinod sorrowfully. She had been crying from that day. Mala, being an Army medical officer’s sister and with her cousins in high ranks in Air Force, found Nalini’s reaction a bit odd. Nalini wouldn’t stop crying in spite of Mala’s assurances. Thinking that crying might relieve Nalini, Mala took leave of Saroj and left her house.

fter a few days Mala and Saroj met at a dinner party. On being asked by Mala about Nalini, Saroj started wailing “Oh Mala! Where is Nalini? She has already left our services. In fact, I couldn’t see her crying, and fearing that she might do some harm to herself, with my husband’s help I sent her to her home town with some of our Kerala friends who were leaving for down south. Me and my husband saw her off at the railway station after informing about her departure to her parents and also the Helpline people. I need your help now to find a nurse for me.’ Mala said, “Saroj, don’t worry, I would get you a nurse but on a temporary basis, but tell me one thing, wasn’t Nalini’s behaviour a little odd? If all girlfriends,

lovers and wives of Army personnel are so emotional I am sure no one would join defence services.” Saroj said, “No Mala, there is something more to it, some traumatic experience in her life which drove her to the brink of a nervous breakdown. It is a long story which she disclosed to me, after you left our house that day.” The moment the ladies heard the word “story”, many of them became curious to know what it is all about and gathered round Saroj to get more details.

aroj started narrating Nalini’s story. Nalini was from a small village in Kerala. After completing her 10th class she received a nurse’s training and joined Helpline services. She had a cousin named Madhavan who was the hard working, moderately educated man who had a decent salary and was very fond of Nalini. When her parents broached the subject of marriage to Nalini, she confessed to them that though she liked Madhavan, she had never thought of marrying him. In fact, she had already chosen another young man whom she would like to marry. Everyone was disappointed but ultimately it was Madhavan who took the final decision and persuaded everyone to get Nalini married to the young man whom she liked. He made all the arrangements for the marriage and Nalini got married to the man of her choice. She, her husband and in-laws proceeded to the famous Guruvayur temple to have a darshan of the lord and also to fulfil a vow they had taken earlier. As they

were returning from Guruvayur unfortunately they met with an accident, and all except Nalini died on the way to a hospital. The news of the accident reached Madhavan through some witnesses who were kind enough to rush all the four injured to the nearest hospital and informed him. Madhavan rushed to the hospital and completed ll the formalities and nursed a dazed Nalini back to normalcy. It took months for Nalini to recover physically as well as mentally and come to terms with reality. Madhavan was with her all the time giving her moral support.

He made all the arrangements for the marriage and Nalini got married to the man of her choice. She, her husband and in-laws proceeded to the famous Guruvayur temple to have a darshan of the lord and also to fulfil a vow they had taken earlier. Though she had accepted her fate, her parents and other well-wishers could not remain passive spectators. They all tried to convince Nalini and Madhavan once again to get married to each other; arguing that now no one would come forward to marry Nalini as people feel that she is inauspicious. Madhavan agreed but Nalini wanted some more time before getting married. She agreed to the engagement ceremony. As

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

soon as the engagement was over, Madhavan received a letter from a company based in Dubai asking him to report to them forthwith. After Nalini refused to marry him, Madhavan in a fit of depression, had applied for this job through a friend from Dubai just to get out of the country and forget the whole episode. Now, he had to reconsider the offer. Still he wanted to give it a try as he felt that the job was paying well as the company is reliable, and in addition his friend in Dubai also had advised him to take up the job. He also thought, though Nalini had agreed to marry him, she wanted some time before marriage. Hoping his absence might make her fond of him, he decided to accept the job offer. Planning to come back at the earliest and get married to Nalini and take her along with him, Madhavan left for Dubai. Initially he used to write to her regularly promising that he would come home as soon as he gets leave. A year passed by and the frequency of his letters reduced. Another year passed and even his letters stopped coming. There was no information about him. In fact, rumours about Madhavan getting married to his friend’s sister and settling down in Dubai started floating in the village. Some people said he might not be alive.

alini felt that she has become a puppet in the hands of destiny. She rejoined Helpline and requested them to send her out of Kerala. That is how she landed at our house in Secunderabad. Fate had some other plans for her.

This time it brought Vinod in her life and sent him to the war front. That is why poor Nalini was terror-stricken when Vinod was sent to Kargil. The ladies listening to Saroj’s narration sympathised with Nalini. Subsequently Mala sent a nurse on a temporary basis to Saroj. After a few days, Saroj rang up Mala to inform her that the Helpline people have sent a replacement, so she is relieving the temporary nurse. With this Mala assumed that Nalini’s chapter was over. But that wasn’t the case. A few months later Saroj rang up Mala and asked her excitedly to come over to their house, as she had some interesting news to share.

ala went to Saroj’s house the next day. The new nurse opened the door and Saroj welcomed Mala warmly. She said, “Mala! You should believe this. You know that last week we went to Kerala on our annual holiday trip and who do you think we met there? Nalini! We were at Guruvayur temple and I spotted her among the devotees dressed like a typical Keralite bride. Next to her was a handsome young man and behind them stood both sets of parents. She was surprised, but happy to see us and introduced the young man as her husband, Captain Vinod. “I was curious to know how and when did she meet Vinod and asked her for all the details. She smiled and invited us to her place next evening when she promised to tell us everything about her life after she left our house in Secunderabad. She was staying in a nearby hotel with all her relatives who had

gathered to attend her wedding. Though Vinod is not a Keralite, he or his family didn’t have any problem with Nalini’s family and their customs. They all looked like a happy family. “Next day my husband and I met Nalini at a hotel where she received us warmly. After the initial formalities Nalini narrated what happened to her after she left us. It was like this; neither did she receive any letters from Vinod, nor was there any information with regard to his whereabouts for a long time. Deciding to keep herself busy with work instead of worrying, Nalini with the help of Helpline did a crash course in taking care of the physically handicapped people and also accident victims. Thereafter she was sent to Pune to look after a rich man’s teenage son who had lost his leg in an accident. “The boy’s parents got permission to get their son’s amputated leg an artificial limb in Pune’s Artificial Limb Centre which was also a rehabilitation centre, meant for Army personnel. At that centre, patients were fitted with artificial limbs suited to their needs and given proper training to use them. Nalini used to take the boy every day to the centre and bring him back after the physiotherapy exercises. One day as she was bringing the boy to the centre she bumped into a young man who turned out to be none other than Vinod. Both of them stood staring at each other for a few seconds, surprised at the turn of events. “It was Vinod who regained his composure, and asked Nalini all about her, Nalini lost her cool and

started crying and shouting at the same time. She demanded to know how he could keep silent for so long knowing fully well what traumatic experience she had earlier in her life. Vinod pacified her and asked her to come and meet him in the nearby garden after finishing her duty. Nalini met Vinod and heard his story which was a shocker for a simple girl like her. “As soon as Vinod reached Kargil he found himself in the thick of the war and was caught in a crossfire between the enemies. He was severely wounded by a piece of shrapnel. Immediately he was brought to the base hospital where the doctors had to amputate his right leg to save his life. Though Vinod felt sad he took everything in his stride and like a typical brave soldier felt proud that he had done his bit for the motherland. The Army provided him with an artificial leg and promised to rehabilitate him in every way.

inod requested his seniors to relieve him from the Army as he felt that his chances of promotion might not be so bright due to his disability. He did not want her (Nalini) to know about his plight. Vinod knew that Nalini would not change her mind, but would definitely marry him. But he could not be so selfish as to burden her with his disability for the rest of her life. So, he had altogether stopped writing letters to her. Luckily she found him when he had just finished his rehabilitation programme and was about to go to his parents’ place. At the end of his narration

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Vinod said he told all her to dispel her misunderstanding and not gain her sympathy. In fact, she was in no way bound to marry him. Though Nalini became emotional and cried after listening to Vinod, she categorically told him that now that she had found him she was not going to let him out of her sight and she was firm on getting married to him at the earliest. Initially Vinod resisted a lot but seeing Nalini’s determination he agreed. Parents from both the sides were informed and with their blessings the marriage was solemnised at Guruvayur amidst friends and relatives. “What luck! I asked Nalini about her future plans. I was so happy for her and told her the same. Nalini said, ‘Madam, since Vinod is from Bangalore and has some landed property on the outskirts of the city we have decided to start a rehabilitation centre with facilities for treatment, food and accommodation. We will have our own artificial limb manufacturing unit also. I know it is a very ambitious plan and would cost a lot of money. Initially we will start with our own resources in a modest way, but later on we will request individuals as well as charitable organisations for donations. Mala too felt happy for Nalini and wished them a bright future. Though Destiny took Nalini on a roller coaster ride, in the blessed her with happiness All’s well that ends We well.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. 93

SYDNEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

ICONIC MONUMENT It boggles the mind. By Brinda Bala

ydney - what's the first image that comes to your mind when you hear this name? Of course, the Opera House - one of the most unique, innovative and grand structures in the world. The Opera House, a multivenue performing arts centre in Sydney declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2007. Today, the Sydney Opera House is one of the busiest performing arts centres in the world, each year staging up to 2500 performances and events, and attracting an estimated four million visitors. The Sydney Opera House which took 16 years (19571973) to construct, is an icon of Australia's creative and technical achievements. A masterpiece of modern architectural design, engineering and construction technology, is the outcome of its designer, the Pritzker Prize winner Danish architect JĂ¸rn Utzon, the successful engineering by the Danish firm Ove Arup and Partners, and the Australian building contractors M R Hornibrook and the later architects Hall, Todd and Littlemore. During our group tour, we were privileged to have a guided tour inside Opera House. We drove to the place in

the morning. We were enthralled to see the unique shape of this world wonder at close quarters. When we looked to the left, there was this superb sight of skyscrapers of Sydney and a little ahead was the Harbour Bridge. Then there were those majestic steps leading to the Opera House. We were informed that these monumental steps are utilised for seating arrangements for events at the Outdoor Forecourt. We managed to spend more than an hour touring inside the monument appreciating its minute and intricate details. As we walked up the steps and entered, we were welcomed by our guide for the day. She gave a walkietalkie to each of us and took us around the building, briefing us about the highlights. There were glass walls providing spectacular views from the main foyers out across Sydney Harbour. Through the huge windows, we could get a good view of the

outside domes with varied patterns. Actually, these are glazed ceramic tiles. There were directions for the numerous halls as well as cafes. We got to see the audio-visual of the history of the Opera House projected on the walls of one of the foyers - we got to know about Danish Architect Jorn Utzon who won the design competition for the Opera House in 1957, about the progress in the project under Utzon. His resignation in 1966 due to political interference and clash due to complex engineering problems and escalating costs, the completion under government supervision, inauguration by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973 for which Utzon was not invited

nor even mentioned. The silver lining is there was a reconciliation with Utzon in 1999 and he was appointed as design consultant for future changes to the Opera House. It is indeed heart-wrenching that he died in November 2008 without setting his eyes on the completed dream project he had conceived and given birth to.

SENSORY EXPERIENCE On entering the performance halls we had an indescribable sensory experience of space, sound and colour – maroon to red to orange to cream, well-arranged seats. We could walk into a couple of halls which had not been booked for events that day. We could seat ourselves and take pictures of us attending a show! Only the tell-tale vacant seats would give the game away! There was one hall

where a pianist was tuning his piano for a show later in the day. We were hushed by our guide and allowed to quietly sit and listen with a strict warning not to use our phones/ cameras which would be distracting. So we could also enjoy the awesome experience of listening to some great music (any musician playing there is a great musician) sans microphone in a hall with great acoustics. Though we were at the other end of the hall, we could hear the melody as if the musician was playing next to us. The wooden panels as well as carpeted

was indeed a memorable experience. The same night we got to feast on a fabulously different spectacle of Sydney Opera House from the showboat Dinner Cruise. We had seen signs of Vivid Live everywhere. We were told about the superb LED show projected on the Opera House at night. As we were relishing dinner, the cruise was moving slowly under Sydney Harbour Bridge and past the Opera House and we could enjoy the dazzling skyline of Sydney through the cathedral windows of the cruise. And then began the the highlight of the day – the spectacular, vivid, live LED show as the Opera House dazzled with multifarious patterns projected on it. Many of us walked along the deck to take strategic points to get a good view/picture /video of the magnificent show even as our boat cruised close to it. Mesmerised by the glittering LED show with the most unimaginable shapes and colours gliding all over the Opera House – feathered/finned friends/creepy reptiles/geometric/abstract patterns / even world-renowned personalities. We feasted on it to our hearts’ content for almost an hour. Did we have our fill? No - yeh dil maange more ... and more!

THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE WHICH TOOK 16 YEARS (1957-1973) TO CONSTRUCT, IS AN ICON OF AUSTRALIA'S CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENTS. A MASTERPIECE OF MODERN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN.

A FOCAL POINT

walls and floors coupled with the physical shape of the hall contribute to the perfect acoustic effects. These huge halls have 10-14 doors. Particularly impressive was the spacious Joan Sutherland Theatre. The guided tour of the Opera House Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Strategically positioned at the end of Bennelong Point, this internationally acclaimed building, with its soaring white roof shellshaped sails atop a massive red granite platform lashed by azure waves, is the focal point of Sydney Harbour providing a spectacular vision viewed from the air, a ferry or from various vantage points of Sydney. The Opera House makes a pretty picture with the adjacent Harbour Bridge and skyscrapers. Throughout our sightseeing in Sydney, the strategically positioned Opera House was the cynosure of all eyes – it has dominated our memory cards, not to mention our memory! We

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” 95

Visiting Bhutan The land of fabled dragons. By Rohit Bansal

CHINA GASA

BHUTAN

Punakha Thimphu Ha

Trongsa

Paro

Trashigag

Chhukha

INDIA

THERE IS A GOLDEN STATUE OF A SITTING BUDDHA, ARGUABLY THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD, ATOP A HILL FACING THIMPHU VALLEY. 96

hutan is rich in culture and has high spiritual values. It has the world's highest gross national happiness index and is a visual feast for nature lovers. It has unchallenged peace and serenity. Ruled by the Wangchuck dynasty, Bhutenese people love their royal king and queen. A direct Druk Airways flight from Delhi takes you to the international airport at Paro. Snow-capped mountainous peaks emerge like spikes from the vast endless carpet of clouds. If it’s lucky enough to get sunny conditions, one can witness the breathtaking view of Mount Everest, which the pilot gladly announces during the flight. It gives the feeling of actually conquering the highest peak in the world. The airport is situated in a valley surrounded by hills on all sides and the landing itself is a great spectacle. Takshang, popularly known as Tiger Nest, is their famous shrine. Stories say that Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava meditated here on his return from Tibet on a tigress. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Situated amongst high cliffs, it is a must for trekking lovers. Dzongs are the most revered and picturesque places in Bhutan. Each city has its strategically located dzong. It is a fortress and is the seat of temporal and spiritual administration. The capital city of Thimphu houses all the ministries in it. In the rest there are government offices, court and a huge lakhang (temple). People elegantly dressed in their traditional embroided attire – kira for ladies and baku for gents, gather here during festivals. Tsechu, in the month of October is a season of sales and discounts. People perform folk dances, wearing very colourful masks.

The dzong of Punakha The dzong of Punakha sits in all its splendour at the confluence of Phochhu (male) and Mochhu (female) – the two main rivers of Bhutan – surrounded by vast green paddy fields. It is connected via a wooden bridge. The roofs are majestic with artistic use of golden colour and a

dragon mouth at each corner. It was seat of government until 1955. The Chime Lakhang at Paro is said to be very auspicious, especially for childless couples. Buddhist flags of red, green, blue, yellow and white with holy mantras written on them are seen all over the place. These, when fluttering in wind, it is believed release tashi delek – good luck and blessings – for the Bhutenese people. I encountered several child monks dressed in red robes practising a long musical instrument, a variant of the alphorn and also the very melodious tunes from a slender flute made of a bamboo stick. I also tried my hand at it, but failed miserably. There is a golden statue of a sitting Buddha, arguably the highest in the world, atop a hill facing Thimphu valley. It is seen from all over Thimphu. The clock tower in the central market reminds one of the Lal Chowk at Srinagar. The currency is the ngultrum and is equal to an Indian rupee. Indian currency is easily accepted at shops. Bargaining is not so much.

Takin, their national animal, can be spotted in Thimphu zoo. Blue poppy, the national flower, is not so easily seen. I saw a raven, their national bird, sitting on grass in Dochula, a mountain pass comprising 108 chortens or stupas built in honour of King Victory. It has a good cafeteria and is a must-do stopover during the journey from Thimphu to Punakha. Bhutenese are simple people and are famous for red chillis. They love spicy food. Before the setting of winter, they dry a lot of chillis on their sloping rooftops. They even gift each other chillis, like we take sweets on special occasions.

The Sweetness in Searching For You The gentle waft, Of the evening wind, Carried with it, your fragrance. I knew, That you were somewhere near. My feet moved frantically, And I searched for you, So numb to the fact, That the stony paths, Were hurting my feet. A bout of rain, Had just gone by, And every leaf had a water drop, Suspended on it, And full of life, About to head for the ground. Every flower had a dressing of drops too, And every wet tree bark gleamed. It brought back memories, Of seeing you dance, In the rain, While the green forest, And all its tiny creations, 98

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

The mushrooms are delicious. Butter tea and red rice are a treat to the palate. The leaves of the plant doma, growing as creepers in Bhutan when chewed as such, give an intense taste of Indian paan with betel nut. The legendary Jakata tales of 'Four Harmonious Friends' – elephant, monkey, rabbit and bird – enjoying the fruits of an overhead tree, gives the moral of each one working to its strength coherently for a prosperous society. We

The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done. Stood witness, To the happiness that flooded you. You moved so lithely, And merged with the nature around, While the rain danced with you, And the birds sang for you. And when the rain stopped, Those beautiful rain drops, Remained on you, Like little glassy pearls, Gleaming in the sunlight. They never wanted to leave you, As you, are so special a creation, Of pristine nature. My search for you, Continues to this day, And nature gives me hope, That I will spot you soon. This search for you, Is in itself so sweet, As I experience, The serenity of nature through it. I hope nature, Will take me to you, Very soon. – Roy Cherian Cherukarayil

All you need to know

About T K R

otal Knee Replacement is one of the commonest Orthopaedic surgeries done worldwide. It is commonly being done for Osteoarthritis of the knees which is essentially a degenerative age-related problem. Occasionally, it is performed in much younger patients with inflammatory arthritis like Rheumatoid arthritis. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify certain ideas and misconceptions regarding Osteoarthritis and total knee replacement. Osteoarthritis is a disease which affects the cartilage, the surface covering on which the joints moves. With usage, age or occasional injury the cartilage gets damaged. The TKR as a procedure aims to remove this damaged cartilage along with a very small amount of bone to obtain a desired shape of the bone to be able to implant the knee. What is being replaced is not the whole joint but rather only the damaged cartilage. So, the procedure actually is resurfacing. A common question that I face is how long the replaced joint is going to last. There is a significant biomechanical jargan to explain that but to cut a long story short, most modern TKRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s can last for 15-20 years if done properly. With improvements in design specially the poly life of TKR might yet significantly enhance. Another common question that I face is regarding the different designs specially high flex knee. The role of thumb is the range of motion in a case of replaced knee reaches only to the level that it was before the surgery but is painless. A patient who has a good pre-op

range should opt for a high flex knees and those with restricted range should opt for a regular design. In TKR like all other things in life costly always doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean better. The cost of the implant depends on many different aspects which might or might not be required for all patients. The different aspects which determine the cost of the knee include the level of constraint where the higher levels are meant for revision surgeries, the design of the knee high flex or regular. The metallic surface coating of the implant with new surfaces being better and finally the plastic quality on which the joint moves.

The implant to be used for a particular patient should be chosen in consultation with the patient not merely on economic parameters but rather on the overall requirement of the patient, both surgical and social. Whether to go for one knee at a

Dr Palash Gupta Director Orthopaedics at MAX Super Speciality, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. Mob: 9810143845

time or both is a question which should be decided on the basis of medical condition of the patient to undergo two surgeries simultaneously and ability of the patient to undergo a more prolonged rehabilitation. Another pertinent question that is commonly asked is how soon my patient will become independent after the surgery. The answer to this question is again different for different patients. A patient who has been walking and has been quite active and specially those who undergo surgeries only on one side are obviously going to recover quite early than those who have not walked for years. There is a rule of the averages where most patients can be free of any support within 3 weeks and they feel well satisfied with their surgeries by 3 months post op. There is, off course, a group of patients who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do well with surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee and these are patients who have spinal problems to the extent that they have significant neurological involvement. Any surgery restricted to the knee is going to leave the patient dissatisfied. In conclusion I will say that Total Knee replacement is one of the most successful orthopaedic surgeries and is being done on a large number of patients worldwide. A patient who is suffering from osteoarthritis should not consider surgery in early stages of the disease but delaying the surgery to the stage where large deformities have appeared contributes to less than optimal surgical results and patient satisfaction.

Dr Palash Gupta Director & Co-ordinator, Department of Joint Replacement & Orthopaedics MAX Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. E-mail: guptapalash@yahoo.com, www.kneejointsreplacement.com, www.drpalashgupta.com Clinic: D-14/190, Sec-7, Opp. Metro Pillar No. 415, Rohini, Delhi. 9899624859

Sthoorryt S

The Storyteller Rishab won hearts with his word-magic. By Arjun Mukherjee

R Cupid struck and, before long, love blossomed between them. Why wouldn’t it? Ira had that instant charm whereas Ashu was way too handsome for his age. Soon, they decided to get married. A second marriage is always fascinating.

ishab was pretty nervous as he walked up to his boss’s chamber quite late in the night. There was reason to be since he had messed up a critical P&L adjustment during the quarterly closing. It had impacted on the bottom-line and Rishab very well knew that he will be heckled for this. All Rajit was waiting for was the closing to get over. BDCL was a renowned company and the pay package was also good; Rishab could ill afford to lose this job. Rajit was straight forward in his approach. His mistake was too grave to be overlooked. He had three months in his hand to get a job and move out. Rishab tried his best to explain but Rajit was not in a reconciling mood. It was time for his killer move only if Rajit walked into his trap. Everybody in the office knew Rajit was a story buff Rishab had to capitalise on it. “Actually, sir, I was lost in a story at that time, thus became unmindful. I promise it won’t be repeated,” mumbled Rishab.

and he dug thrillers. Rishab had to capitalise on it. “Actually, sir, I was lost in a story at that time, thus became unmindful. I promise it won’t be repeated,” mumbled Rishab. “Story?” Rajit was perplexed. “Are you a writer?” This was Rishab’s only chance, “Amateurish, I kind of specialise in flash fiction. A nationwide online flash fiction competition was going on and it was the last date for submission; I got carried away.” Rajit kept quiet as Rishab continued, “I was so happy when I won the first prize for it; didn’t realise it was at the cost of my job.” “Where is it published?” Rajit enquired. Rishab shared the link, “You can read it if you want to.” “Well, I don’t have time,” Rajit avoided him. “Come on, sir, what harm will a story do!” Rishab went away.

Flash fictions are too tempting to resist. Hesitantly, Rajit opened the link. He was pleasantly surprised to find the subject was a thriller. The jury was impressive as well. If Rishab has cracked this one, he had to be good. His story was titled Fear. Rajit clicked on the hyperlink and started reading it. Fear It was pretty late in the night and Ira was about to hit the sack when Ashu called. “You know, Ira, something strange happened as I was returning from office today,” Ashu’s voice quivered over the phone. “What?” Ira was concerned. “It seemed like Jyotika breezed past me.” Just then Aryan entered the room and Ashu abruptly disconnected the phone.

ryan was Ashu’s only son. After his wife’s sudden demise in a tragic car crash, Ashu’s world revolved around Aryan. It would have remained that way if he had not met Ira at one of Aryan’s school functions. Ira was Aryan’s classmate Jia’s mother. She lost her husband in a train accident about two years back. After that she moved to Kolkata with her 13year-old daughter to escape the solitude. Cupid

struck and, before long, love blossomed between them. Why wouldn’t it? Ira had that instant charm whereas Ashu was way too handsome for his age. Soon, they decided to get married. A second marriage is always fascinating. Ashu was all excitement but along with that he was also sceptical. The reason – well, his strange unexplained fear of the dead. In his childhood, though Ashu never really believed in ghosts, after Jyotika’s demise he started believing in them. Could it be because that night’s accident was due to his callous driving? What if Jyotika’s spirit returns from the dead for vengeance? In the middle of the night in pitch darkness with a strange creepy sound of an unknown insect for company, his fear was taking an even more dreadful shape.

he next day Ira comforted Ashu that it was nothing but nervousness. Ashu felt much better in her presence. However, his conviction was shaken as she soon got a taste of the same medicine. It was about a week later. Ashu rushed into Ira’s office after receiving her call. Ira’s face was pale. She handed over a letter to him, which she received that morning. A post in today’s day and age is so ancient, Ashu wondered as he opened the crumpled, faded yellowish paper. The letter was addressed to Ira and written by none other than her dead husband Nikhil. The letter was all emotional, reminding about their happy memories together but it ended with a caution.

102

“How the hell do you know if it’s from him? He is dead for goodness’ sake,” Ashu was visibly frustrated. “Since all the facts stated in the letter are personal and the handwriting is surely Nikhil’s,” Ira said after a long pause. It didn’t stop at that. A few days later Ira received a call from an unknown number but it was distinctively Nikhil’s voice. He mumbled, “Ira, how could you?” the chuffing sound of a train could be heard from behind.

he last incident took place quite a while later just as they thought the predicament was over. Ashu’s garage was a fiveminute walk from his flat. It was pretty late in the night as Ashu parked his car and made his way back. Considering the harsh winter chill the road up to his flat was deserted. It was then that she spotted a lady walking down the opposite lane. She was in a red sari with a flower bun and colourful bangles dangling in her hand. She was the mirror image of Jyotika. Ashu was trembling with fear. As she approached near, Ashu fainted. Next day, returning from school, Aryan safely avoided everybody to have that special moment with Jia. “Dad has finally decided not to get married,” he whispered in her ear. Jia grinned. “But of course, you scared the hell out of him.” “I am a genius,” bragged Aryan. “Don’t forger my inputs,” Jia quipped. “My dad’s handwriting and voice also did the trick.” “Well, kudos to you for

tracking the most apt words for the situation – that too from an old video, but must give me credit for copying your dad’s handwriting to perfection. She only smiled in return. “Okay, but you can’t ignore the master stroke was yesterday’s trick.“ Jia admitted at last, ”You indeed are a genius. The way you capitalised on your dad’s fear by just overhearing a conversation was truly remarkable.” “You can’t afford to be scared in love,” Aryan said and all of a sudden kissed Jia’s cheeks. Jia turned as red as the setting sun in the backdrop.

He nodded, “Must say you write really well.” Rajit could see the tinge of sadness in his eyes. “There is one more thing I wanted to tell you,” he continued. Rishab was clearly nervous. Rajit finished reading the story. Man, this guy sure can write, he wondered as he shut down his laptop. Three days had past when Rajit called Rishab to his chamber. He seemed to be in a good mood. After discussing work he brought the topic round to his story. “Did you like it, sir?” he asked. He nodded, “Must say you write really well.” Rajit could see the tinge of sadness in his eyes. “There is one more thing I wanted to tell you,” he continued. Rishab was clearly nervous.

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

“Yesterday, I had a long discussion with Mr Singh and somehow was able to convince him,” he went on. “Now don’t look worried, your job is safe,” Rajit smiled and patted his back. “Thanks so much, sir. I promise I won’t give you a chance to complain again,” Rishab was relieved. “You are welcome, writer,” winked Rajit. As Rishab walked out of the chamber he beamed in confidence. This was not the first time that his stories had taken him out of a tricky situation. After all, he was the storyteller. The first time he realised this was when he was about 12 years old. His dad was recently transferred from Bangalore to Kolkata and his parents were desperate to get him into a good school. Getting admitted to a reputed school – that too in the middle of the session – was not an easy task. After much effort he was called for an interview in one of the most prestigious schools of Kolkata. The written test went off well but he messed it up in the viva.

he stern middle-aged Mrs Sen was not impressed at all. “Since you can’t answer my questions, can you recite a poem at least?” she said acidly. “Okay, please recite a few verses of The Brook by Alfred Tennyson.” Rishab didn’t know it. “Can I narrate a story instead?” he asked in a faint voice. “You think this is a joke?” Mrs Sen couldn’t believe her ears. “Please, madam, what harm will a story do?” pleaded Rishab. “Okay, since you are so

confident, go for it but remember this is your last chance.” Nervously, Rishab started telling a story which he had written a few days ago. Childhood It is said that childhood is the most exciting phase of your life. I am not in a position to judge it myself as I have not experienced the other phases but, I must say my childhood has been really enjoyable. The best part of growing up is that every day is a whole new experience. Simple things of life appear to be so very wonderful.

sunrise, the entire day was beautiful in its own unique way. The early morning breeze, the glittering afternoon, the majestic sunset and the silent night. Then one fine day, all of a sudden, the clear summer sky was overcast. The wind was so strong that I could barely keep the window open and in no time it started to rain. Oh, what a feeling it was getting drenched in the rain for the very first time. Incomparable to anything and everything else. On the one hand, I was gushing at the beauty of nature, on the other, the interesting stories that my grandmother told me were captivating my imagination. It was a time of random thoughts; of giving wings to dreams. More than the stories, it was the way she narrated them that made them even real. My curious eyes would follow her wrinkled hands as she gestured to describe a scene. Soon, my little world was filled with fictitious characters. I dreamt of being in Sherwood forest along with Robin Hood or join Jim in his sea adventure for

still remember the day my dad woke me up early to see the sunrise for the first time. It was not any special day, nor that the view from our terrace was something exceptional. Just that my dad wanted me to have the experience first-hand. We waited patiently as the very first rays of the sun pierced the darkness and, before I could realise it, the entire sky was filled with a strange shade of red and orange. There will be many a sunrise in my life but the “Can most special will be this I narrate a story one, I am sure about instead?” he asked it. Not only the in a faint voice. “You think this is a joke?” Mrs Sen couldn’t believe her ears.

the hunt of the Treasure Island. They existed for me as gods and demons exist in the grown-up world.

n the course of growing up, my mom happened to be my best friend. She had an answer to all my questions, a solution to all my problems. It was only because of her that I was drawn into another enthralling world. The world of the animals. My mom was an avid animal lover. She would advise me to be quiet when we were in the garden so that we could catch the chirping of the birds early in the morning. She would show me how the birds make their nests, how they used to nestle their babies and in the evening make the long flight homewards. Apart from birds, there was Bagha the pet dog of our gardener who used to protect our house with his life. Then there was Meeoow the smartest cat in the locality. Meeoow, as I named him, used to spend most of his time in our house walking from one room to another with careless ease and dozing off at the slightest opportunity. Apart from being really cute what I liked about him was that he could cry in more than 10 different tones signifying his mood. That’s why I

appropriately named him Meeoow. That’s how life went – cuddling Meeoow in the morning, feeding biscuits to Bagha on the way back from school, listening to the wonderful stories of my grandmother in the afternoon, witnessing the sunset as the birds made their way home and finally surrendering in the bed to a sound sleep for another thrilling day tomorrow.

hen all of a sudden the metamorphosis happened. My grandma’s stories started sounding repetitive. I was too lazy to wake up early and go for a walk in the garden, leave aside catching the sunrise. Even playing with Meeoow seemed childish. There were other things that were grabbing my attention. Nervously, I confessed everything to my mom. She smiled and assured me that it was but normal. My childhood was leaving me and adolescence was taking over. It was time to let go and move onto the next level. Further surprises were awaiting me as life will unfold itself. However, the fact remains I will always miss my childhood. The entire hall was quiet as Rishab finished his story. Finally, Mrs Sen told him, “Mark my words, young boy, your stories will take you a long way.” From then till now, stories have indeed been his best resort. He had a story to tell for every situation of life. Little did he know his next challenge will be his toughest one. Unnati was Rishab’s beloved sister. She was smart, good-looking and intelligent. She was far more gifted than Rishab

could ever be and had passed all her exams with flying colours. Like Rishab she too wanted to be a chartered accountant. She ranked in the inters, cleared the final group I at one shot but somehow got stuck in group II. So much so she couldn’t crack it in three attempts. She was pretty sure that she would clear it this time but couldn’t. Rishab consoled her and told her not to give up. She smiled and went back to her room. To check everything was fine Rishab went to her room before going to sleep only to find that she had taken a whole lot of sleeping pills and was collapsing. For the next two days her battle with life went on. Eventually, the doctor gave the good news that she was out of danger. Unnati was staring blankly at the wall when Rishab entered her cabin. “So you are going to tell me a story now,” she asked without looking back. ”What harm will a story do?” he said in return. “Come on, dada, please don’t try your tricks on me, I know you too well,” Unnati snapped. “Well, you can reject it if you don’t like it,” he said and started telling his story. Rishab knew very well he could not go wrong with this one. Hope Tochon Kumar was an ordinary guy. Extraordinarily ordinary. He led a run-of-the-mill life, had a low profile, underpaid job and could barely make his ends meet. The only feel-good factor in his otherwise mundane life was his wife Sneha and sevenyear-old son Chanchal. It was only because of them 106

that he shelved his dreams and compromised with life. Though hard to apprehend now, Tochon used to be a dreamer. He dreamt of being a rock-star. Tochon closed his eyes and visualised the man he used to be some 15 years back.

ong hair, well-toned body, bottle-green shirt, yellow trousers – Tochon had flamboyance written all over him. Back then, Tochon used to perform in a mushroom band. He was a pretty good singer and danced equally well. His forte was copying the dance moves of Michael Jackson, which were really appreciated by the onlookers. The band became quite popular in a short time. However, due to internal differences it didn’t last long. “Tochon, where is the damn file?” Tochon’s reveries were cut short by his boss’ admonishment and he had to quickly shuffle from a 25-year-old rock-star to a 40-year-old-clerk with a seven-year-old kid and an absolutely adoring wife. The day, however, went off well for Tochon as he was able to leave office in time. Today, being a Saturday, the local train was less crowded and the hourlong journey was somewhat bearable. As a result, when he cycled back from the station for his home he was not drained out as usual. The perfect opportunity to surprise Sneha. Every Saturday night, a movie was shown in the big field opposite their house. It was like a mela with a horde of people gathering together wearing colourful dresses and a host of fast food stalls set up all around the field. Sneha was crazy about

movies, but he returned so late that they could never make it. Today was his golden chance. It was after a long time, Tochon had seen Sneha so very glad. All Tochon wanted was to make her happy but with a 7000 salary per month, dreams have to be compromised. He couldn’t even afford to buy the silk sari for her which she fancied so much. Tochon wanted to make this day special for her and made it a point to treat her with rolls, golgappas and everything else she fancied once the movie was over. In one such

Today was his golden chance. It was after a long time, Tochon had seen Sneha so very glad. All Tochon wanted was to make her happy but with a 7000 salary per month, dreams have to be compromised. stall while having ice-cream, someone called him from behind. To his surprise it was Palash. Palash was the organiser of the mushroom band and took care of the music arrangement. He was really passionate about the band and desperately wanted to keep everyone together but in vain. They were out of touch for a very long time. Palash was also there to watch the movie along with his wife and inlaws who stayed near by. They had a lot to catch up on, so decided to stay back as everyone else went home.

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

In their conversation, most obviously music came up. “Hey, do you perform nowadays?” Palash enquired. “Are you nuts?” “Those days are gone forever,” replied Tochon. “Would you like to?” Palash said all of a sudden. “I had got an offer to perform in a function a few days back but refused it since I didn’t have a lead singer. If you are interested I can approach them again.” “You must be joking. Who would like to see a 40-yearold singing ’80s and ’90s songs?” “Plenty. It is a tribute to the 80s and you are just perfect for it.” Tochon kept mum. “Now, don’t refuse it, you always wanted a solo and this is your lifetime chance,” Palash pressed. That night, Tochon asked Sneha, “Do you still have my guitar?” “Just like new,” she replied in her sleep. “But will it play?” he asked again. “It should, I dust it every other day,” she confirmed, “but what are you up to?” Tochon told her the entire incident, “I told him, I’m finished, but he won’t yield.” Sneha held his hand, “Talent never dies, you should go for it.” “But, I have aged, people will make fun of me.” “Forget about others, do it for yourself.”

t took Tochon a while to agree but he finally did. His remuneration was `20,000 and he received `10,000 in advance. It was a lot of money for him and the first thing he did was to buy the sari Sneha had fancied

for so long. Sneha had a surprise for him as well. From the meagre savings that she made every month for over five years now, she had bought a bottle-green shirt and a pair of yellow trouses similar to the one Tochon used to have. On top of it a colourful shade.

ll was set but as he got ready and was about to perform in front of the mirror, reality hit him. Wrinkles have started appearing on his chiselled face, his long sideburns have started greying and worse still, his Rahul Royish hair has started receding. “I really want to but I can’t do this,” he confessed at last. “It’s no more about want to, it’s about have to and believe, in you’ll do fine,” Sneha reassured Tochon. Tochon had never taken annual leave, as he had nowhere to go. Naturally, he had ample leaves in his kitty which he encashed now. What followed was intense practising for two weeks till the D-Day arrived. So long he was confident but, as he

walked up to the stage and saw thousands of heads, he got nervous. However, it was too late to back out. Palash and his band had started playing the music; it’s the Mithun hit Disco Dancer number. “Say D,” he was hardly audible. “Say I,” still shaky he wondered. “Say S,” finally some melody in the voice. ‘Say C,’ he noticed people all around clapping. “Say O,” his eyes finally fell on what he was frantically searching for – Sneha and wasn’t she looking lovely in the satin silk sari which she really craved! Finally, he could fulfil her wish and nothing else mattered. While everyone started shouting “Disco, Disco,“ Tochon Kumar gave his famous Michael Jacksonish pelvic thrusts and broke into “I am a Disco Dancer.” Unnati was quiet. “Everybody in this world has a dream,” Rishab went on, like your dream is being a CA. I want my stories to touch everyone. You know Rishab handed him the newspaper and pointed at the snap of a girl in the matrimony section. Unnati ran down to check her out.

what is ma-baba’s dream? They want to see us happy. They are least bothered about CA, Unnati. All they want is a smile on your face.” “I am sorry, dada,” Unnati, burst out finally and held him tightly in her arms. “Some dreams come true, some don’t, but never stop dreaming.”

appiness and peace returned to the Roy family once again. About a month passed. That Sunday morning, Sujit was sipping the morning tea and Unnati, as usual, was with her indirect tax books when Rishab barged into the room. He had a serious complaint. “Look, baba, Unnati will not get married until she becomes a CA. I can’t wait any longer.” Unnati said with controlled smile,” “Go ahead, dada, I don’t plan to get married in the next five years.” Sujit was perplexed, “But who do you want to get married to?” “Her,” Rishab handed him the newspaper and pointed at the snap of a girl in the matrimony section. Unnati ran down to check her out. “Wow, dada’s, she is so damn sexy,” “Isn’t she?” Rishab said proudly.” “Call immediately,” demanded Unnati. “And sell me well, CA, BDCL, own house, own car,” reminded Rishab. The call was made. Her name was Ruchika and her dad was really impressed by Rishab. So much so he invited them over the very next week.

The week simply refused to end but, before long, Rishab was seated in front of her. She looked stunning in a red sari with smouldering eyes and open hair. After half an hour of general talk finally he was all alone with her in her room. “Even if you reject me, I’ll cherish this moment for ever,” Rishab was out of control. “My, my and I thought CAs were unromantic.” Ruchika smiled. Rishab looked around. Ruchika was a romance freak. The famous poster of Titanic was tuck behind the door. A host of romantic DVDs were piled up in the rack and Notebook lay lazily on the bed. Little did he know Ruchika was about to break his heart. “I am sorry, Rishab, I can’t marry you,” she said all of a sudden. “Taken already?” was his response. “Hey, you speak like a writer,” pat came the response. “No, not taken yet but doesn’t mean I’ll settle down with someone after five minutes of Q&A.” “You are just like Purnima,” Rishab said casually. “Purnima who?” she enquired. “A fictitious character of one of my stories.” “So, you are indeed a writer,” she smiled. “Wanna read one?” Rishab asked. “Cool, mail me,” she said. “But this marriage is not happening,” she reconfirmed. “Of course not,” reassured Rishab. That night was the time for Love, Rishab’s brand new story.

Love Marrying Kaustav was the worst mistake of Purnima’s life. Purnima never believed in the institution of arranged marriage. How can you spend your entire life with a stranger just because you share certain commonalities? She strongly believed that you really need to love someone to be with him forever. However, she was left with little choice. Kaustav had a descent job, hailed from a good family and, most importantly, Purnima’s parents were ageing and desperately wanted to get her married.

hings were good to start with. Even after the proverbial honeymoon period, Kaustav was caring, understanding and, above all, a nice guy. Alas, he was not so romantic and, for Purnima, that is what mattered most. Initially she dropped hints to make Kaustav understand, but he was too naïve to react. With time, Purnima compromised with love and accepted life as it was. However, life had further hurdles ahead of them. Even after three years of marriage, Purnima didn’t conceive though they were trying for quite some time. The enquiring relatives were making life miserable for them and finally they decided to get their tests done. She awaited the results with great expectations as the week passed. Kaustav went for the results. That something was terribly wrong she realised the very moment he opened the door. Kaustav looked heartbroken. “What happened?”

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Purnima asked nervously. “Well, you are absolutely fine, the problem lies with me,” Kaustav replied with his head down. “Every problem is curable nowadays,” she comforted him. “Mine isn’t, I have checked with the doctors and they have confirmed there is absolutely no chance of me being a father,” Kaustav broke down. Purnima took him in her arms. “Don’t worry, baby, I will be there for you always. We have us, don’t need anything else.” Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. With time, their relationship worsened. It seemed that the entire world was concerned about the fact that they were childless. Everywhere, everybody asked the same question, gave their invaluable suggestions, and made them realise how unfortunate they were. Kaustav was always there for her and openly admitted that it was his fault, but she could easily make out it was more out of guilt than love.

urnima realised with time that the only thing that bonds a marriage after five years is a child. Soon, life became unbearable for her. She was not interested in anything. Nothing excited her and Kaustav’s fake counselling didn’t help much. The only getaway for her was watching the love stories of Shah Rukh Khan. Purnima yearned for love. Had Kaustav done away with his good Samaritan self and loved her with his life, things would have been very different. Purnima left home in a

rainy, stormy evening, never to return again. Finally, it was time for 13B. Purnima had to get back with her life and it could not be with Kaustav. The divorce papers could have been sent through a courier, but Purnima wanted to call it quits with dignity, thus decided to take it herself. It was pretty late in night when Purnima visited Kaustav with a prior appointment. Kaustav was sloshed. “I am sorry, never realised you will turn up this late,” he said. “I want something from you for the very first and last time, will you give it to me?”

Marrying Kaustav was the worst mistake of Purnima’s life. Purnima never believed in the institution of arranged marriage. How can you spend your entire life with a stranger just because you share certain commonalities? Purnima’s voice choked as she handed him the divorce papers. Kaustav touched her cheek the way he had touched it a thousand times before, for the very last time. “Given, where is my pen?” he went up and hastily opened the drawer of the bedside cupboard. He was not in his senses and pulled the drawer so hard that it crashed on the ground and its contents got scattered all over. He could barely walk properly. “Relax, I’ll take care of them,” Purnima started

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

gathering the documents as Kaustav made his way back. It was then that their medical reports came in her hand. She had never checked it before as it would further increase the pain. On the top was Kaustav’s report. As she turned the pages she was shocked. His reports suggested that he was perfectly normal. Nervously, she opened her reports which clearly stated that her Fallopian tubes were blocked and she could never conceive. Purnima broke down, into an uncontrollable sob as she turned her back to Kaustav. Here lay unconscious a man who took all her guilt, all her shame, all her pain and loved her unconditionally! All her life, Purnima was desperate for that thing called love for at least one special moment. As she closed her eyes and turned back time, she could recollect countless ones. Tears rolled down her face as she took Kaustav to bed. Tonight had got to be special, very special.

ishab didn’t waste time; he mailed it to Ruchika. Ruchika was busy chatting with her best fried as the cursor blinked. She opened her mail. “Hey, Rishab has sent his story and guess what? it’s titled “I Love,” she messaged Avanti. “Hey, you are not into him, so why go for this?” she wrote back. “Come on, yaar, what harm will a story do?” she said as she started reading We it.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

A Word with a View Colourful reminders of distant places. By Sunanda Satwah

hen was the last time you received a postcard? Today I found one waiting for me in the letter box. It was from a friend I met last week. We live in the same city; same housing society, in fact. And, I know why she sent me the postcard. A few days ago, over coffee Sangeeta told me about this friend of hers who recently sent her a picture postcard from France. She rattled off about how she loves collecting postcards and has requested all her globe-trotting friends to send her a picture postcard souvenir. Her enthusiasm was contagious. We

talked about the exclusive joy of receiving a handwritten letter, and how it is becoming a dying culture, worthy of reviving. We expressed distress that neither of us had ever received a telegram, and now never would, since the telegraph service 112

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was discontinued in 2013. We discussed some more on how the digital connectedness by e-mails, WhatsApp, Facebook and the likes have sidelined the once common way of life. Whereas handwritten expressions were the norm once, now they are an alien practice for today’s youngsters. I went to bed that night with the warm memory of our conversation and a niggling reminder of the neglected stack of postcards tucked at the bottom of my bookshelf. Three days ago, I received a strange text message from Sangeeta.

“How many e-mails did you receive today?” “I don’t know. 80. May be 100.” I texted back. “Hmm... I have sent you something. It will reach you in a day or two,” she reverted. I looked at the yellow postal card

in my hand and shook my head with amusement. Stubborn girl! It was time to revisit my collection of 500-odd postcards and tell their story. I received my first postcard at the age of seven, when I was leaving Kenya to return to India. My class teacher, Mrs Kabiru, gave me a picture postcard of an African bazaar scene in Lamu as a souvenir, to remember her and my early years in Kenya. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that continues to blossom even after 30 years; and a hobby that continues to nourish me even today.

UNHEARD OF At the time, in 1986, Internet was unheard of and developing photographs from camera rolls was both time-consuming and expensive. Not to mention that after a week’s wait, most of the 36 developed photographs that fell out of the envelope would be disappointingly blurred and out of focus. Collecting picture postcards at the time seemed like a lucrative hobby

that was both educational and fun. For most part, my father funded this hobby, courtesy his extensive work-related travel. He would often return from his tours with a briefcase brimming with postcards for his little girls – offering a small glimpse of the city he had just visited. I have never been to Kanyakumari, Sanchi, Vishakhapatnam, or seen the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Sanchi

Stupa, Thotla Konda, but I am not unfamiliar with their culture or architecture, thanks to the picture postcards. They served as a wonderful gift and keepsake. In the meanwhile, my sister, who must have inherited our father’s travel genes, moved to the US and generously contributed to my collection in the ensuing years. Her postcards offered me a virtual slice of the magical tour of the Niagra Falls from the Maid of the Mist, a peek preview into NASA’s processes and X-technology, an overview of America’s National Parks – the Grand Canyon, the Bryce Canyon, the Arches, the Rocky Mountains and Yellowstone. It was her way of letting me know that whenever she visited some place new or interesting, she thought of me and wished I were there. I confess to being a desktop traveller. I haven’t travelled to all the places I would like to, but I have visited them through postcards and, well, now the Internet. I know it is a beautiful and diverse world out there,

because I have a big stack of picture postcards that tells me so. A wooden postcard from Texas, holds the place of pride in my humble collection, as does the 12-card collection from the NASA Space Collection. However, my favourite postcard remains the one I received from my 1st grade teacher congratulating me on acquiring admission in an architecture college 11 years later. This year, I think I shall give the e-mails and the WhatsApp digital Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

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The study and collection of postcards is called Deltiology. A person who collects postcards is called a deltiologist. It is the third largest collecting hobby in the world after stamp collecting (philately) and currency coin and banknote collecting (numismatics). Some countries have postcard clubs and frequently host postcard shows. Most postcards are made of thick paper, but wood postcards are also available. Copper postcards can be bought in Michigan, USA. Aside from the popular rectangular format, postcards can be in any shape. Postcard require a stamp to be attached and are usually printed by a private company; ‘postal cards’ on the other hand, have the postage pre-printed on them and these are printed by the relevant postal authority.

greetings a rest, and instead send hand-written postcards to my loved ones. After all, it doesn’t cost much to send a postcard, but to receive one We feels priceless.

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. 113

n incident I witnessed. I boarded a crowded train ferrying me to the station closest to home. I smile at a young man seated on a seat reserved for ladies and he gets up, disappointed at being denied a comfortable ride so soon. He smiles back, in a resigned way. I can see that he is tired and I feel slightly guilty for a moment at having to cause discomfort. The very next moment is a flashback of repeated instances of molestation and discomfort caused by men, the guilt is gone and I settle to enjoy a privilege that has been long overdue to the women of the country. Before the train stops at the next station, I doze off. I am jolted out of my snooze when the train stops at the overcrowded station and a substantial amount of the crowd spills into the already overcrowded compartment. A middle-aged man seated next to me has not left. He is occupying the other reserved seat for women in the compartment and two young women now stand before him to take the seat. One of the two women is visibly hassled. She snaps her fingers in front of the dozing man’s face and nearly yells. “This is a ladies’ seat, leave it!” The man rushes to get up, apologetic. The woman then turns to the row of seated men and gestures to them to move and make space. The two take a seat of what was a single reserved seat. By now, I am visibly annoyed by the event. One of the women then turns to me, questioningly, “What?” I respond by saying that she does not have to be so rude. “I had to talk like that,” she responds. When I disagree, she turns to yell at me. “Why should men sit on woman’s seat? This is reserved for women. He is a man. He should not sit here...” I take a look at the men staring at her, aggression growing in their eyes, and mine. In what became a monotonous and extremely irritating rant, she explains that she has had a bad day and has, on several occasions, given her seat to elderly men and so on. The men continued to glare at them, and me. I turn away from them hoping she will stop, she didn’t. The ride through the next four stations 114

are a pain as the two women continue their rant against men adding, all too frequently, that women like me are the “real problem” for supporting men and being unkind to the cause of my own kind. I pretend not to hear them, but I feel hurt. There is a vacant expression in the eyes of the man who had dozed off and he, quite suddenly, decides to disembark at the next station.

GUILT FEELING The women are still at it when the train arrives at the next station. As I get up to leave, I see an elderly man standing by the door. But the women

have picked up their bags and placed them on the seats “guarding them from the touch of men” to continue their tirade. I am too tired to rally for the rights of the old man to a seat. I step off the train and am filled with guilt again. This time, it doesn’t go away. The following week, I create a scene on my way back from home to my workplace to accommodate two pregnant women who were unable to board three successive trains because of the rush in the women’s compartment. As I stood my ground at the entrance to make way for them, a confident executive said, “Pregnancy is a natural thing. Why do we have to

AN UNFAITHFUL RIDE When we are only concerned about self. By Arun Kumar Bharati I TAKE A LOOK AT THE MEN STARING AT HER, AGGRESSION GROWING IN THEIR EYES, AND MINE. IN WHAT BECAME A MONOTONOUS AND EXTREMELY IRRITATING RANT, SHE EXPLAINS THAT SHE HAS HAD A BAD DAY AND HAS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, GIVEN HER SEAT TO ELDERLY MEN AND SO ON. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

accommodate their problem?” A female officer from the train police arrived on the scene to our aid, “Shouldn’t it come naturally to you to understand that she needs to get home before you do?” I had to miss that train ride and waited on the platform for the next train. It was not my favourite ride. We

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Why not Indulge in a at home? Good, clean fun. By Sukritee Soopal

or Japanese people, bathing is not only about cleaning the body but it is a whole ritual of cleansing the body, mind, heart and soul. It is a favourite pastime to relax and rejuvenate and a cultural asset. In modern houses, the bath tub is nowhere to be seen. While some people do invest in a Jacuzzi now they still often complain of a lack of time to enjoy a lengthy bathing ritual due to a busy lifestyle. Having lately seen a lot of people going to the spa to indulge in some relaxing pool time, I thought why not do this in the comfort of your own bathroom and do it more often than to wait to get an appointment to enjoy at the spa?

How to prepare your own Japanese tub â&#x153;ż

The first thing I would definitely recommend is to clean up your bathing space. So many of us go in the bathroom to clean the body but looking at the bathroom, it seems the bathroom itself is longing for a bath. To create the spa and Zen atmosphere, it is important to have a clean and organised space.

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Next, look for your Japanese tub. It needs to be big and deep enough for you to get in and soak till the neck. You could have somebody make it for you at your woodworking corner, or look for a readymade Japanese soaking tub online or if available at some markets, or simply use an inflated pool (make sure you can fill it with hot water though). To create the ambience, it is definitely worth the effort to invest in some candles and sweetsmelling ones are the best. You could also buy a scent diffuser to give the place a soft fragrant background or make your own oil reed diffusers. Choose scents that

petals. Light your candles or diffusers. Switch on your music and get ready for a unique experience.

somebody to slip into your tub with mud.

A homemade body scrub

How to prepare yourself for the Japanese bath

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It is not a good idea to enter your Japanese tub dirty. Before you enter your tub, it is advised that you have a quick shower to remove sweat and grime. Then slowly slip into your tub and soak for a while. Enjoy the water on your skin. Close your eyes. Enjoy the aromatherapy session and listen to the soft notes in the background. Then use your homemade scrub

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are relaxing and stress-busters. This aromatherapy session is one you won’t forget soon so you would want to invest in fragrances that really last long in your memory and after your session. You could also choose to have soft background music while you indulge in your Japanese bath. Make sure to keep your electrical appliances away from water and keep safe. Ensure all materials you will need like your bath towel, preferably white to create the mood, and your body scrub and oils are within your reach. Fill your tub with hot water but make sure to test the temperature. It should be hot enough to last for a good session but not burn your skin. Put in a few drops of your favourite oil in the water. You could also use your favourite baby oil. Throw in some fresh rose

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and scrub it on your skin. Enjoy the whole process and don’t rush. Use your hands. Enjoy the water more and then, as you feel the water cooling down, get under the shower again to feel clean. Pat dry your skin and then generously apply some body oil and massage gently. Put on some light fabric and have a good rest. Avoid the sun or some alerting activities for a while. You could enjoy this Japanese ritual in the afternoon after a tiring day or before you go to sleep but make sure you have had your meals well before the ritual. To make it romantic, you could also enjoy this bath with your partner. You could also make it a family affair and involve your children. Make sure then to invest in the proper tub and to follow the etiquette. You would not want Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

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What you will need: 5 cups oatmeal which soothes the skin. 1 cup dried thyme to revitalise and refresh. 1 cup scented dried red rosebuds for fragrance. Grated orange peel from two oranges for fragrance. Preparing the mixture: Grind each ingredient separately in a grinder. Mix everything. Pour into an airtight container. Display ideas: Fill a glass container to store your scrub. Decorate with ribbon or tassels. Embellish with some shells and include a clam shell to use as a spoon. A homemade oil reed diffuser Buy your diffuser bottle and some rattan reeds. These are available as a combo or else you could find a small vase with an opening and some rattan reeds separately. In a measuring cup, add about ¼ cup of oil like safflower oil. Add 2 tbsp of alcohol to thin out the oils and help them travel up the reeds. You can use any cheap vodka. Add 15 to 20 drops of essential oil or a blend. Lavender and sage is a good relaxing combination. Mix the oils well. Pour the mixture into your small bottle or vase. Insert the reeds at the neck and fan them out. It might take a few days for the reeds to absorb the oil, you can then replace them. Once the mixture is evaporated, prepare We another mixture.

A lifetime of happiness! No man alive could bear it: it would be hell on earth.

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All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become. – Buddha

t’s more than eight years now but the memories of that eventful evening are still vivid in my heart and mind. I had been married to my ifantryman for a mere four months then. Ever since our courtship days my husband was flooded with loads of my queries regarding his profession, the kind of life he led on the field, the places he stayed in, the kinds of people around and lots of similar things. I always tried to imagine what it must be to guard the nation’s borders in such hostile terrains. But my imagination had never done justice. I realised this when I got an opportunity to visit my husband’s unit’s location at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. It was April 2008; accompanied by my in-laws we started our journey which turned out to be a memorable whirlwind affair. We took a train from Delhi to Jammu and then drove down in a car to Rajouri. As I mentioned earlier, it was the month of April and during that time it is very unlikely to rain. But as destiny planned it, it had been raining cats and dogs for almost 48 hours. The drive, though a little bumpy, was beautiful. When we

Memories of visit to the

reached closer to the unit location, the car had to cross a nala using a causeway. Due to heavy rains, the nala was flooded and to our bewilderment the causeway was nowhere to be seen. The driver of the car, who was a civilian, had no idea where the causeway actually ran and where the nala was. Though my husband tried guiding the driver, in the best possible way the man got really nervous and absolutely freaked out. He said, “No way, I am not driving any further.” It was still raining heavily and we had no option but to wait for a while. Our tryst with the first-hand experience of an infantryman’s life was about to begin. The base (of our unit location) where we were supposed to go was just a five-minute drive from our location; in fact, it was on the other side of the ferociously flowing nala. I was amazed at my better half, kept calling it nala, as for me it was more than a river. It was already five in the evening and my husband, who obviously knew the place well, suggested that we park the car there itself and we all walk up to the base using an alternate route. He said it would take us around 20 minutes to reach the base through

Line of Control Inspiring patriotism.

By Kuhelee Chandel

this route. It was already getting dark and was still raining heavily. We realised that I and my mother-in-law were dressed in saris and wrong footwear to walk through a hilly terrain.

DISOLATE AREA It was a very desolate area; I could literally count the number of people seen around. But to our respite, there was one shop with a public telephone. My husband decided to call up his unit and intimate them about our whereabouts. We were requested to wait there so that a ‘protection party’ could be sent to us to guide us

warmth and hospitality of our hosts spoke volumes of the respect the locals had for the Army. They were also happy that instead of visiting the popular tourist destinations of the state we decided to visit the frontiers of the country and see for ourselves what the Army does in these isolated places. We took this opportunity to change into some comfortable clothes and running shoes. The protection party of nine boys arrived with some torches, raincoats and umbrellas. We were all geared up and excited to walk up to the base. And – dear lord – did we ever imagine what lay ahead of us? Six of us, including my in-laws, our driver and my husband

through that alternate route. This made my grey cells go into overdrive, why is a protection party needed to walk a distance which can be covered in 20 mins? Meanwhile, the owner of the telephone shop was very kind to invite us to his home (which was in the basement of the shop) for a cup of tea. This was very refreshing, the

started our walk. A couple of men from the protection party were leading us. The terrain had become really slippery due to the heavy and continuous rains. We really had no idea it was going to be so difficult to walk through.

I ALWAYS TRIED TO IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE TO GUARD THE NATION’S BORDERS IN SUCH HOSTILE TERRAINS. BUT MY IMAGINATION HAD NEVER DONE JUSTICE. I REALISED THIS WHEN I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT MY HUSBAND’S UNIT’S LOCATION AT THE LINE OF CONTROL.

Fifteen minutes and we were already drenched. Time and again I would turn and ask my husband, “How much distance more? How much time will it take?” And pat came came the standard reply, “It’s just five minutes… we are almost there.” Knowing my husband well, I decided to ask one of the daais (brother in Gorkhali), about the distance and time left, he said, “Mem-sahaab, bus paunch gaye”. (We have reached). I realised it later on that had they not motivated us, we would have not have trudged along. At a particular spot we literally had to jump down around four feet on an extremely steep slope. It was

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almost pitch dark now and we had never in our lifetime till that day had walked on such treacherous countryside, drenched from head to toe. I was getting concerned for my in-laws, but then my mother-in-law turned towards me and said she was feeling very proud to be the mother of a son who has been braving such odds all the time. That was such an inspiration. Pride filled me up too. Probably, for the first time I was getting a feel of what it meant to be an Army wife, specially an infantry officer’s wife. I was thankful that my first exposure to the Army life showed me the difficult situation that our men undergo on a daily basis. My eyes moistened and there was a prayer in my heart to all the men who brave all the difficulties in their lives and safeguard our frontiers. We braved the difficult terrain with that inspiration and prayers. It took us complete two hours to reach the guest rooms at the base safely. By then we were drenched badly, our bodies ached, but our spirits were high and we could have gone on and on. The well-known hospitality of the Army overwhelmed us. Heaters, warm water and hot food were awaiting us. We were tired and the night went off wrapped in warm blankets and blissful sleep. I woke up to the most beautiful morning of my life. The place was absolutely serene. And the rains had added to the beauty. Last evening, in the darkness, I had not realised how beautiful the place was. The sun was shining bright and it looked like last evening was nature’s way of testing our resolve and nerve and now welcomed us to the Army. After a

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sumptuous breakfast, it was time for us to start our journey towards the forward post at the LC. We were all super excited for this. It was a 15kilometre drive though valleys with pine trees all around. It was the most jerky and bumpy drive of my life. I don’t know how the drivers could drive though such roads. Most of it, I wouldn’t even call a road. The turns and slopes were so steep and scary. All through the journey I held my husband’s hand. Memories of last evening and the ride that morning, I fell in love with him all over again. Those 15 kilometres made me realise what it means to be a soldier. On our way I noticed a few shepherd kids, saluting our army vehicles. My husband told me that they did that because Army officers travelling through often gave them chocolates. Imagine the kind of emotions attached. We reached the forward post after an hour’s drive. Our unit’s NCOs there were too eager to show us around. And my excitement knew no bounds

too. I felt there is a difference in the entire environment. It was unique, patriotic in an unimaginable sense. Words cannot explain the feelings, it is an experience to be undergone by all those who have married to the soldiers adorning the olive green. The enemy’s posts were just 100 metres away, and it was then that I realised what exactly is meant by ‘eyeball to eyeball contact’. Using binoculars we could actually see movement of the enemy soldiers in those posts. I just can’t express how it felt, within a distance of a few metres you were in a different country, a different world.

I glanced around, looked at our brave soldiers and my husband realised what it took to guard our nation’s borders. Those were the moments when I understood how important it was for the so-called better half of a soldier to experience at least a fraction of the kind of life her husband leads when on the field. I was so very proud to be married to one such soldier. I felt what it means, “Life is not measured by the breaths that you take but by the moments that take your breath away.” On the way back I was for being me, an Army wife and praying for the health and well being of all our brave soldiers. I believe if, given an opportunity, we, the Army wives should try to experience and understand the nature of life our man in olive green leads and what it takes to be what he is. Trust me, you would also fall in love with your man all over again. We

It is best to rise from life as from a banquet, neither thirsty nor drunken.

Work is not a postgraduate degree, Which one gets by toiling gladly; Studying and studying for the exams Forgetting the pizzas and the hams! A degree is a necessity and a good asset, But a job requires much more than that! Sincerity and earnestness it does demand, Honesty and authenticity it does command! Intelligence always helps one reach the top, A good perception makes one shine like a dewdrop; Judicious decision-making is a great plus, Sagacity and prudence gleefully paint the canvas! Mind is the most powerful, everyone knows that, Human relations is also what you have to be good at; Understanding people is a different art Which requires a thoughtful and comprehending heart!

r o f e g a s s e A M the Beginners

An attitude of 'Never Say Die' always aids, Determination and fortitude makes one shine like jades; Keeping abreast of the latest is an essential need, One has to keep gathering knowledge bead by bead! Mistakes do happen, take them in your stride, They shall make your spectrum vivid and wide; With a positive attitude one shall always glimmer, With these precious gems, one shall always have a shimmer! – Neelam Saxena Chandra.

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KURNOOL

ESCAPADE My ʻearthlyʼ experience.

t was more like an urge – to take the open road, the uncharted ways, to no itinerary and make head off to somewhere, halt at the first stop and explore, either ride into the sunset or melt with it. These were my first thoughts when I started my journey in the Eastern Ghats – starting with Kurnool, often referred to as the Gateway to Rayalseema, a province with a rich and varied history, a place of hot passions, of violent factionist loyalties, a land that was once the stronghold of Krishna Deva Raya and was once a cultural pot of the Vijayanagar empire. I started my day with the Belum caves. I have to say I liked the place almost instantly. Surrounded by hillocks (which I mistakenly took for caves), impossibly calm and serene surroundings, the desolate roads, fragmented habitation, an unusual chill in the morning breeze and an imposing Buddha statue before the caves, my brain kept registering the unusual charms of the place. The caves were explored some 130 years back and came to AP Tourism’s

By Brinda Ganesan

notice in the 1980s. This is an underground cave, some 3.5 km long with an underground river. Well, the caves are well maintained and illuminated, timings are maintained, no food item is allowed inside and guide service is mandatory to look after the naughty types. The entrance is a circular pit and right away, one descends and then moves into a spacious chamber with a circular opening overhead. I craned my neck to see a deep blue sky at the rim of the crater! That was our last glimpse of the sky for a while. And, in case you are still wondering about what’s down there in the cave, there is history, some mythology and of course, nature’s old and long processes which have given birth to typical cave formations stalactites and stalagmites (hope it reminds you of physical geography classes in school). These are limestone formations – stalactites are ‘roof hanging’ downward growing formations and stalagmites grow from the base towards the roof. I remember, in school I remembered them as

‘stalactite hold tight to the roof and stalagmite might reach the roof’. These formations resemble so many things, some get close to a Shivlinga and there is a freshwater spring called Patalganga deep inside where you need to go climbing the iron stairs and then to a narrow gauge, some meditation halls used by Buddhist monks and a feeling of walking through an underground river channel. The walk is arduous and the heat literally takes every ounce of water from the body but the natural formations, the intricately-cut limestone walls as water took its turns, the play of lights as they fell on different surfaces, the hanging formations giving it some Disney touch and then the entire feeling of stepping into such an unknown world – lights up your soul and you instantly feel a connection between yourself and this other world. One look back at what I had been to and a shot of the imposing Buddha

statue and then back on the road to Yaganti temple, passing through the desolate roads with the famous Kurnool black tiles and a few tractors splashing sand on one side and velvet green paddy fields on the other, before everything changed to an untouched, unmeddled-with landscape – flat, arid and sad.

HISTORY AND SCIENCE The Yaganti Uma Maheshwara temple has some history and dusts off some science too. This temple was constructed by King Harihara Bukka Rayalu of the Sangama Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. It was built according to Vaishnaviate traditions. It is said that Sage Agastya wanted to develop a temple of Lord Venketeshwara at this site, but the statue couldn’t be installed. Hence he performed a penance for Lord Shiva and urged him to settle here with Goddess Parvati in a single stone, which the lord obliged. Now the science part – it is believed that the Nandi idol (bullock of Lord Shiva) is continuously growing. Scientific estimates by the Archaeological Survey of India put it at a growth rate of one inch every 20 years. The temple staff had to remove one of the pillars as the Nandi size increased. Something is in the stone material, but it does invite much religious interest. Well, the temple itself looks like a scene taken from a fantasy movie, surrounded by towering hillocks,

deep caves on the hillocks, amidst a deep forest. There are cave temples which require some hard seasoned climbing, but a view from the top justifies all the pains taken. The place is desolate with no habitation around to speak of and being in such an off-the- road place calls for some enthusiasm and then the look of the lofty cliffs, the hanging trees, arid landscape for miles and, in the middle of it, this devasthan, with history, mythology and science all co-existing, sends some adrenaline rush down the spine. Though only around 15 kms from the town of Banaganapalle, the drive is through desolate lands wearing a rustic hue. On your way to Yaganti, do halt at a summer palace of the rulers of Kurnool. Though it may be crumbling from inside, the exteriors of this imposing structure,

WELL, THE TEMPLE ITSELF LOOKS LIKE A SCENE TAKEN FROM A FANTASY MOVIE, SURROUNDED WITH TOWERING HILLOCKS, DEEP CAVES ON THE HILLOCKS, AMIDST A DEEP FOREST.

constructed with the locallyavailable stone, has withstood the ravages of time and is still in impressive shape. We drove again to Nandyal, and then a turn to the Mahanandi temple, where we were scheduled to have our night stay at APTDC, just opposite the temple. At night the temple looked grand and mesmerising. Its charm was greeted well with the silence of the night. The next morning, we were on our way to darshan. Being a thirtha centre, the temple isn’t devoid of stories. There are enough stories of it to keep you engaged. One such story is of the Lord Prameshwara, coming in the dreams of the erstwhile ruler and summoning him to build a temple. The Lord assured of Ganga emerging from that spot and the king built a pond there opposite the inner sanctum, the garbha griha, and within a short time it became an endless flow of with clear water. He named it Rudra Gunda. The temple displays a quintessential Hindu architecture, its open, symmetry-driven structure on a square grid of padas, deploying perfect geometric shapes such as circles and squares, is a fine imprint of the Hindu style of temple architecture. The richly carved entrance and the shrines convey its South Indian descent. Fast facts: Kurnool is about 200 kms from Hyderabad and has good connectivity with Hyderabad. It is connected to all major cities via rail network. The APTDC hotel chain of Haritha hotels is a good place to stay. Apart from Kurnool, they have a dormitory in Belum caves and a hotel in Gandikota too stay. We

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

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A GONAKAL HOMESTAY A home away from home.

By Swetha Sundar

ll good things come in small packages and this adage was aptly proved by our sudden and whimsical trip to Chikmagaluru from Bengaluru by road. We were used to taking road trips to many places near Bengaluru in our Tata Safari but having traded that for a smaller vehicle recently with the added problem of accommodating seven adults and three kids ranging from 80 years to five years was proving to be major issue in our vacation planning. One more hurdle was the sweltering heat and unavailable and steeply- priced hotels and lodges anywhere in the vicinity. As they say, where there is a will, there is a way – and we arranged a Tempo Traveller with a reliable driver and booked a homestay in Chikmagalur, on a friend’s recommendation. Gonakal homestay run by Anudeep Gowda 126

boasted of a unique Malnad experience in a 300-year-old heritage home. Obviously we couldn’t pass off this experience and took off on a memorable journey ….My daughters, both avid Enid Blyton fans, started imagining this to be a caravan-like journey and looked very excited. Chikmagaluru is a fine confluence of natural beauty, vibrant history and rich culture and is situated in southwestern Karnataka. The salubrious climate enjoyed in Chikmagaluru, and especially the city is due to its location in the Western Ghats. In fact, the city is situated in the foothills of the Mullayangiri range – the highest range located between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. It consists of Mullayangiri, the highest peak in Karnataka located at a height of 1930 metres. Due to its location in the Western Ghats, Chikmagaluru is a beautiful display of verdant valleys crisscrossed by sparkling rivers, beautiful mountains and gushing waterfalls. It is also a treasurehouse of a great variety of plants, birds and animals and is considered to be an ecological hotspot. In fact, a great part of the district falls under the Malnad region characterised by heavy rainfall and dense forest area. So nature lovers, Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

get your trekking shoes, binoculars and cameras and get going. It’s Chikmagaluru calling! We didn’t get to see a lot of these waterfalls as they had dried up in the summer heat. However, we trekked to Kammanagundi Sunset Point. It gave us a thrilling escape into verdant and untouched nature. The trail itself is about 10 kms plus and quite untouched and wildly adventurous to say the least. Chikmagaluru in Kannada means “younger daughter’s town” and history notes that the city got its name because the chief of Sakrepatna (a village located in Kadur taluk of Chikmagaluru district), Rukmangada Raya, gave the place as dowry to his younger daughter. The name of Chikmagaluru has been given as late as 1947 before which the district was known as Kadur. If you are a history enthusiast and take pleasure in digging up details from the past there is more on offer for you. And especially if you are looking for a brush with royalty then look no further. Chikmagaluru is the place of origin of the powerful Hoysala rulers who were the dynasty to rule over united Karnataka. They were patrons of the arts and architecture and remnants of their

well spent flies and a few days spent in Gonekal will leave you craving for more. For a small place like Chikmagaluru legends and folklores abound. It is true, Chikmagaluru cannot be discovered in a day and it cannot be found in a hurry. You need to leave the city in you behind to truly savour the wealth of experience Gonekal has We to offer.

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. creations are still standing in Belur, Halebid and Tarikere. While on this, we stopped at the Belur Hoysala temple en route to Chikmagaluru. The scorching heat and the blazing ground made it difficult to walk straight but, once inside the temple, we were mesmerised by the sculpture and detailing. The temple itself is shaped as a hexagon and the motifs of the temple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; be it horses, elephants or figures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are so intricate. The amazing thing is that no two figures are the same. After a whirlwind tour of the temple we made it to the relative comfort of our Tempo Traveller to continue our journey towards Coffeeland, Chikmagaluru.

THE FIRST PLACE For coffee lovers, Chikmagaluru is a must visit. In fact, Chikmagaluru was the first place in India where coffee was grown. Legend has it that Baba Budan, a 17th century Sufi saint first introduced coffee in the mountains of Chikmagaluru which came to be christened as Baba Budan hills. It is said that on a holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Baba Budan came across coffee in the port of Mocha in Yemen. He then brought seven coffee beans wrapped around his stomach back to India and planted them in Chikmagaluru. It is almost a cardinal sin if you do not drink coffee in Chikmagaluru even if you are not a coffee enthusiast. Known as kaapi, it is a local drink of the region and five/six cups a day is a staple in most homes. Our homestay in Chikmagaluru gave us unlimited

refills of pure local coffee and tea. Homestays in Chikmagaluru provide a unique opportunity to experience the way of life of local people of an area along with indigenous and traditional cultures. Homestays in Chikmagaluru are bungalow accommodation usually located in coffee/tea estates. Homestays also provide an opportunity for visitors to experience a place in an authentic, comfortable and homely setting. Homestays, as the term suggests, means staying in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. By definition a home is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a dwelling place together with a family unit that occupies it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a householdâ&#x20AC;?. Living in a homestay means that you are thrown headfirst into a new cultural and linguistic contextâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a â&#x20AC;&#x153;sink or swimâ&#x20AC;? scenario. You need to adjust to the homestay family and other guests and mould your routine to suit the routine there. You also learn to dabble in the local language and make friends with other families . Kids also open up and make new friends. It seems a lot to do when you are vacationing in Gonekal homestay in Chikmagaluru, but as the saying goes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; time that is Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Era â&#x2014;? April (First) 2017

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SILVASSA A weekend in the woods.

BEFORE REACHING THE HIGH ARCHED ENTRANCES WELCOMING YOU TO DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI, WE COULDN’T HELP BUT NOTICE THE LIFE-SIZE STATUE OF A TRIBAL BLOWING A NATIVE BUGLE. THE ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF THIS UNION TERRITORY WERE KOLI CHIEFTAINS.

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t was a long weekend in January and we decided to take off to Silvassa, 180 km. from Mumbai. We could easily reach our destination in two and a half hours. If we started soon after breakfast we could reach Silvassa before lunch. It would be a comfortable and convenient road trip. So we packed our bags and started on our journey to this sylvan land of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. We had been to Silvassa more than 20 years ago. We were captured by its open spaces and green zones. How different would it be after all these years, we wondered! We drove on the Western Express highway, through Bandra, Santa Cruz, Malad, Borivali and beyond Dahisar with concrete structures on both sides of the road wading through traffic and avoiding dust. Once we crossed the grime and dust of Mumbai and entered Palghar district, the landscape turned from brown to green-brown. The road was fairly good and the traffic normal, so we could drive on without much difficulty. As we neared the union Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

By Kalpana Rangan

territory, trees of all varieties from the broad banyan to tall tapering ones appeared on both sides of the road and provided us shade. No wonder, Silvassa is derived from the Portuguese word ‘silva’ which means “wood”. Before reaching the high arched entrances welcoming you to Dadra and Nagar Haveli, we couldn’t help but notice the life-size statue of a tribal blowing a native bugle. The ancient inhabitants of this union territory were Koli chieftains. The Rajputs, the Marathas and then the Portuguese took over the territory in successive years. In 1954 it was acceded to the Indian Union and in 1964 it was declared a Union Territory by the Indian Government. However, after all these years and political upheavals, it still has tribal people as its major population. Apart from Marathi and Gujarati, Bhili and Bhilori are the local spoken languages. Tribal handicrafts and paintings are displayed in public places in the Union Territory reflecting the culture of the locals.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli are sandwiched between Gujarat and Mumbai and located in the western fringe of India. A small green haven in 500 sq. km with 72 villages in them, it is a haven for nature-fringe lovers and wild-life enthusiasts. In their southern stretch it has hilly terrain especially towards the northeast and east being surrounded by the Sahayadri mountains. Its central alluvial region is plain and its soil fertile with the tributaries of the river Daman Ganga flowing into it. It has a rich forest cover of 43 per cent having two types of forests – tropical moist deciduous forest and tropical dry deciduous forest. Thus its rich bio-diversity makes it a habitat for a variety of birds and animals. No wonder Silvassa, its capital city, has numerous gardens and parks that are treasure houses of exotic trees, flowers and birds.

VANGANGA LAKE Vanganga Lake with its island garden is a popular picnic spot for locals as well as outsiders. Just five km from city centre, the island garden in between and around the lake is breathtakingly scenic with a variety of shady trees, flowered bushes in all hues, manicured lawns and fountains highlighting it. Well-laid footpaths make it pleasurable to walk around the lake and observe its green foliage and flowers. One can also sit comfortably on the seats and watch boats go by with white and black ducks swimming along with them. Ornamental wooden bridges welcome one to step onto them and cross over to the island garden. Here one can sit peacefully on the cool grass and look admiringly at the white duck family walking gracefully, the bamboo shoot rising over the surrounding plants, the swaying palm trees, thatched sit-ins and the glowing bougainvillaea. In the evening the garden lights up with fountains and soothing lights. No wonder, many a Bollywood film is shot here! Hirwa Garden, with its rustic charm, is another green zone worth a stroll. Stone archways, trickling falls from rocky hills, smooth-stone

Boating on Va

nganga Lake

HIRWA GARDEN, WITH ITS RUSTIC CHARM, IS ANOTHER GREEN ZONE WORTH A STROLL. STONE ARCHWAYS, TRICKLING FALLS FROM ROCKY HILLS, SMOOTH-STONE PATHWAYS, TRIMMED LAWNS, PALM TREES LINING THE PATHS AND STREAMS IN BETWEEN MAKE THIS GARDEN BEAUTIFUL. pathways, trimmed lawns, palm trees lining the paths and streams in between make this garden beautiful and a heavenly place to relax and rewind. In the evening artistic white lamps light up the garden. Here too like Vanganga Island garden, ducks can be seen walking leisurely and delighting the onlookers. From Silvassa the wild life parks of Dadra and Nagar Haveli can be reached easily. Vasona Lion Park, 10 km away from the city is wellmaintained with a shaded sitting area, information boards and bus services to the Lion Safari. Lions have been brought here from the forests of Gir in Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

Scenic Hirwa Garden.

Gujarat and given a wild haven to live in and roam about. We could spot a restless lioness walking up and down and a lazy lion snoring beneath a shaded tree. The bus ride takes five to 10 minutes. More than the lions the abundant growth of trees like timber and teak as well as wild bushes with flowers sprouting out will charm any environmentalist. The Deer Park is nearer the city and holds more attractions. Attractive from outside with embossed deer stuck on the heavy entrance gate and warli paintings on the sides, the park allows groups of visitors to enter and board the bus for a safari ride of 15 minutes. One can spot sambars crossing the road and walking to the other side of the wild-life park. Under the shade of trees families of spotted deer and four-horned antelopes relaxing in blissful abandon will attract tourists to take pictures of 129

down the main street of Silvassa. The Tribal Museum right in the centre of the city with an exhibition of Warli paintings in the hall adjacent to it and the Roman Catholic Church across are the places to visit to imbibe the local essence. The Roman Catholic Church known as the church of Our Lady of Piety is an ancient church remnant of the Portuguese era in its architectural style. The grey and white structure with its beautiful arches is as impressive from outside as it is in its interiors.

THE TRIBAL MUSEUM Sambars and spotted deer.

Entrance to Tr

Fact File Location: 180 km from Mumbai. To reach: Drive through Mumbai-Ahmedabad NH 8 highway on the road to Vapi. Buses are also available to Vapi from Mumbai. It takes around two-and-a-half hours to reach Silvassa from Mumbai. Best time to visit: Due to its proximity to the sea, all through the year it is pleasant in the evenings and night. However, from November to March it has ideal temperature through the day.

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ibal Museum

THE TRIBAL MUSEUM, JUST ACROSS THE ROAD AND ADJACENT TO THE STADIUM, WELCOMES WITH TORANS, STONE PATHWAYS, WARLI MURALS AND TRIBAL STATUES.

them. Farther down can be spotted a running deer towards a water pool. On the way back to the city, one can drive down to Madhuban dam to view the calm waters of the Daman Ganga from a comfortable view point. Spending the evening watching the sunset can soothe one’s senses for a restful sleep. For those who have more time at their disposal and desire to be in the midst of wilderness, driving down to Khanvel, 20 km from the city, is a good option. One can soak in nature’s beauty with hills, dales and birds all around. For water sports enthusiasts, Dudhni, the water sports complex, is an ideal retreat. Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing or speed boating to feel your adrenaline rush! To understand the history and culture of the union territory, walk Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

The Tribal Museum, just across the road and adjacent to the stadium, welcomes with torans, stone pathways, Warli murals and tribal statues. Walk into the halls of the museum to enter the world of the tribal community. Models of tribal homes, people, customs, implements, vessels, musical instruments and ornaments with write-ups will make you observe them with awe. Outer passages too have displays on the life of the tribal people. Before you exit the museum, do buy local handicraft like bamboo showpieces and masks and Warli paintings. To appreciate and admire the variety of symbolic Warli paintings step next door to the huge gallery of displays. Paintings in paper, canvas and pottery will enthrall art enthusiasts and inspire them to create such intricate work. One can also buy these paintings created by locals and students of art. Silvassa has nature’s abundance and tribal art to lure visitors. A weekend in its woods and wilderness will serve as a soothing balm to the tired nerves of busy Mumbaikars used to the dust and grime of the city. So the next time you get a long weekend, do drive down to this woodland not far from amchi Mumbai. We

You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it. - Albert Einstein.

Does chilling the cookie dough before baking give different results than using unchilled dough? Yes, chilling the cookie dough before baking does give us different and better results. Chilling the dough controls spread, the cookies have concentrated flavour and are sweeter in addition to being chewy and crisp. Chilling cookie dough before baking solidifies the fat in the cookie. As the cookie bakes the fat in the chilled cookie dough takes longer to melt, than the room temperature one and hence the cookie spreads less. The sugar in the dough gradually absorbs liquid. If you bake the dough immediately, that liquid remains “free’ in the dough and promotes spread. As the dough chills, it gradually dries out, concentrating the flavours of all the ingredients. Also, the flour breaks down into its component parts including sugar. Thus, the cookies taste sweeter. The drier the dough, the more concentrated the sugar, this results in chewy/ crisp cookies (rather than soft/ doughy ones). Most of us have a cup of tea to relax and take a break. Does tea with milk kill the benefits? Next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. More than 2 billion people approximately drink tea. It is full of antioxidants, vitamins and other compounds. In many parts of the world the custom is to serve tea with milk, but lately research has shown that adding milk may strip tea of some of its beneficial effects. Compared with water, black tea “significantly improved” arterial functions, whereas addition of milk completely blunted the effects of tea. This is the result of proteins in milk neutralizing the antioxidants. Because of the protein soy milk also had the same effect as regular milk on antioxidants in tea. It is a matter of taste but even a drop of milk can completely negate all the benefits tea can have on our health. Actually it is absolutely healthy to drink milk tea, only problem is you will not absorb the antioxidants from tea when adding milk.

Latest research tells us, “an adult is always a growing child and never too old for milk”, what should we do? Yes, this is true, cow’s milk has long been associated with good health, making it one of the most consumed beverages throughout the world. In fact, it has more health benefits than even your mother knew. Milk is one of the most nutrientdense food sources available. It delivers a combination of four nutrients- calcium, phosphate, vitamin D and protein. It is the best source of calcium you can eat or drink or swallow. A glass of warm milk relaxes tense muscles, soothes frayed nerves and induces sleep. Milk contains a good quantity of water molecules and is thus a great fluid for rehydration. A glass of milk helps coat the stomach lining to prevent acidity, heartburn and gastric dismay. Lastly it’s healthy, a fulfilling appetiser and a perfect breakfast drink. “Cubeb” also called sacred spice, resembles our black peppercorns. Is it a substitute for the same in various recipes? The cubeb berries appear wrinkled and furrowed, but are slightly larger than black peppercorns. Cubeb is a plant cultivated for its fruit and oil. It is a native of Java and Sumatra, hence sometimes also called Java pepper. Cubeb berries grow on plants, unlike black peppers which grow on creepers. Cubebs are usually hollow but sometimes there is a single white seed inside. The berries or

Kitchen

Queries

There is an old saying “as cool as a cucumber”, exactly how cool is, it please tell us. It is true, few foods are as cool as a cucumber. These low calorie veggies contain many nutritional benefits including hydrating properties and valuable nutrients. Most people think of cucumber as a vegetable but it is actually a fruit. There are hundreds of varieties of cucumbers and come in dozen of colours. Edible types are for slicing or pickling. Slicing cucumbes are usually larger and thicker skinned and are eaten fresh. Pickling cucumbers are intended for the brine jar. Cucumbers contain seeds and grow from the ovaries of flowering plants. The peel and seeds are the most nutrient –dense parts of the cucumber. Cucumbers are naturally low in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, fat and cholesterol. They also provide small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, manganese and vitamin A. Cucumbers are 95 per cent water. A cup of cucumber slices is nearly as thirst-quenching as a glass of water. In short the humble “kheera” is a “heera” (diamond).

A Q &

fruit are picked before they are ripe and then dried. The stalk remains attached even after harvestinghence they get the name ‘tailed peppers’. Cubebs have a pleasant aroma that is pungent and lightly peppery. It is an ideal substitute for pepper in biscuits, gingerbreads and sausages. Like pepper , the volatile oil loses its aroma when ground. Cubeb works well in combination with bay, cardamom, cinnamon, rosemary, sage, thyme and turmeric. Cubeb berries also have a medicinal value- mostly used for oral and dental diseases.

It is said vegetables should be served with a small amount of fat. Please tell us why? Yes, “serving vegetables with a small amount of fat makes it easier for the body to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K, plus some phytochemicals like betacarotene”. “Unsaturated fats like olive or rapeseed oil are best, so try stir-frying vegetables or or serving salad with a dressing using one of these oils. Some studies show your body will absorb three times as much betacarotene from a salad that includes oil. – Savita Bhargava.

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Magical and mesmerizing can be the right words with which one can describe the much sought-after tourist destination, Kuala Lumpur. This majestic capital of Malaysia has all the necessary attractions which can make any visitor feel enthralled and longing to visit the place a multiple times. Being a first-time visitor here, I would like to relate to the reader the major attractions here, which my family found fascinating.

KUALA LUMPUR The magical getaway of Malaysia.

By Sripriya Satish KL bird park

Being the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest free-flight walk-in aviary, and situated a midst the beautiful scenery of the lake gardens, this bird park can be rated as the most interactive one. As one steps into the park, he would have a feeling as if he is entering a huge cage, filled with colourful birds, moving about freely. You simply cannot miss enjoying the daily activities here like the parrot, eagle and ostrich feeding and bird photography in the photo booth. The bird show here, at timings 12.30pm and 3.30pm, can be the most attractive one with various colourful birds showing their cute little antics. My dear daughter had an opportunity to act as a volunteer in this bird act and she enjoyed herself thoroughly doing so. Housing about 3000 birds, consisting of about 200 species, this free-flight aviary is an attraction surely not to be missed.

Petronas Twin Towers Being called the pride of Malaysia, the Petronas Twin Towers stands tall at 170 metres above the street level and offers an amazing view of the surrounding city, dotted with several sky scrapers, form the observation deck which is at the 86th level and the sky bridge at the 41st level. One will be allowed to go up and tour the fascinating towers at the sky bridge and observation deck by purchasing a ticket either at the entrance to the towers or online. These tickets are time-slotted. We toured the Petronas in the late evening and it was a delight to watch the whole Malaysian city dotted with colourful lights which resembled stars. Watching the Petronas from both below and atop the towers was a magnificent sight and it appeared as though they were decorated illuminated candles. It was truly the best experience we had.

Batu caves This is a major attraction situated just 13 kilometres to the north of the capital city. The three major caves here can leave an everlasting impression on anyone. The Ramayana cave has stunning paintings and sculptures of the Ramayana epic. The entrance to the second cave, which houses the shrine is greeted by a statue of a very impressive 42.7-metres-tall Hindu god to whom the cave shrine is dedicated. To reach this cave, a flight of 272 steps have to be climbed. At step 204, there is a diversion leading to the dark caves which house over a million of bats and other crawly creatures. But a word of caution! One should be very careful of the monkeys scampering around the area. An interesting point to note is that these caves are made of lime stone which are about 400 million years old.

Central market If you want to experience the richness of Malaysian art, culture and heritage, then one should head straight to the central market. This place is Kuala Lumpur’s awardwinning market place which showcases everything Malaysian ranging from handicrafts and textiles to local food.

Merdeka square Being the best known landmark of Kuala Lumpur, Merdeka Square is a huge carefully manicured lawn, with the world’s tallest flagpole proudly displaying the Malaysian flag. This has been the venue for the annual national day parade since 31 August 1957. Surrounded by

KL Library, KL City Gallery, and the Sultan Abdul Samad building, this place is visually appealing at night when illuminated.

KLCC park Well! Imagine this placid view…a 50-acre lush green garden surrounding the Petronas, a 10,000sqm serene man-made lake which has dancing water fountains that can shoot up to 42m and different species of trees scattered all over the area. Wonderful isn’t it! All the descriptions constitute the KLCC Park. Having different kinds of facilities like Children’s Park, Children’s swimming pool, long jogging tracks, shelters and benches, etc. This is a park which you cannot simply miss. A nice park to relax in and rejuvenate after visiting the Petronas. Each and every attraction in Kuala Lumpur is truly magical and I believe that I have given a quick gist of what we saw and experienced there. Well then! What stops you from adding this fabulous place in your list of destinations to be explored? Wishing you a joyous trip to Kuala We Lumpur…

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

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on the road less travelled Natural wonders of Muir Woods. By Mala Ashok

xit tourism from India is big news as more and more tourists leave India for sights abroad. Disposable income has increased making it feasible for Indians to travel to foreign countries. Despite Bollywood’s portrayal of the beauty of Europe, America remains the favourite destination for Indians particularly those with children for whom the lure of Disneyland is irresistible. Yes, manmade wonders don’t cease to thrill and impress us; but it is the beauty and bounty of nature in America that should be on your mustsee list. You are going to be in San Francisco in any case to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, experience the cable car ride and so on. While you are there for these old favourites and some newer ones in Silicon Valley where you are probably visiting relatives, I urge you to explore the stark beauty of the Redwood Forests – in particular Muir Woods in Marin County and Big Basin State Park. Muir Woods lies only about 20 km North of San Francisco. It consists of paved and boardwalk trails through thousands of old-growth Redwoods. This is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is so popular that it welcomes over a million visitors each year. If you are going to visit the park you’d be well advised to avoid weekends or reach the park when it opens at 8 am. So what is so impressive about this park? The ancient groves shelter entire communities of birds and insects. When I visited the park and stood by a giant tree I felt strangely humbled. We pride ourselves on our abilities and creations but here we see Nature’s handiwork. We started out on the Main Trail and saw the trunk of a 700-year-old giant tree. This tree is home to green fern fronds and banana slugs. There are several trails along the park of varying lengths and the Park’s Board has kindly indicated the distance of each trail and also the difficulty level of hiking across them. As you travel along either the Main Trail or one of the other trails the

buzz of visitors is replaced by the call of birds like jays or a waterfall or spring in the background. You can even feel the water drops or is that condensing fog! I just could not bring myself to talk in this quiet wonder. There are footbridges over little creeks and crossing them takes you over different Trails like the Hillside Trail which we took and which was just over three kms looping back to the Main Trail. It provides a modest elevation which gives one a different perspective of the forest. By now you have been gazing in wonder at the magnificence of these tall trees so much that you are thankful for this neck-saving reprieve.

REDWOOD TREES These Redwood trees covered much of the Northern Hemisphere about 150 million years ago. However, the Redwoods shrank as a result of climate changes. It is to be hoped that they will not shrink further. Muir Woods is a National Monument. It consists of a canyon of Redwoods which was never logged. What is particularly thrilling is that this is a forest of mixed-age and dead trees which support a biologically rich community of plants and animals. The Automobile Association of America held a poll to determine what their readers thought of the wonders of the West Coast. The vote tally indicated that the Redwoods garnered 71 per cent of the votes

THESE REDWOOD TREES COVERED MUCH OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ABOUT 150 MILLION YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, THE REDWOODS SHRANK AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGES. IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THEY WILL NOT SHRINK FURTHER. while the closest were only 16.5 per cent! For me as a visitor, the bonding with nature was a unique experience. Something else that impressed me was that as we left the park and headed towards the car and we saw an area which had been set aside for people to express their “First Amendment Right”. So what is this right? This right gives Americans the constitutional freedom to express their rights as individuals or in groups. What a wonderful idea! Imagine not having to be held up in traffic by protestors staging a procession by people chanting slogans and holding flags. Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

I could go on about the beauty of these trees or head to another park the Big Basin Redwoods. Alas! This Park is just magnificent and I would wax eloquent about it in much the same way. So let me instead stay on the topic of the Muir Woods area. If you think the Muir Woods Monument (the park is the monument) cannot be topped, you may be wrong. The Stinson Beach not far from here – just about 15 kms) is beautiful and if all that walking has made you hungry there is a simple cantina which offers very good food (yes, including vegetarian) and you can eat watching the ocean and beach. There is nothing like taking the road less travelled particularly when it leads you to a treasure trove which is nature’s beauty and bounty. We

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. 135

irth place of Sheikh Jayad bin Sultan Al Nahyan – first president of the UAE – Al-Ain is one of the oldest permanently inhabited settlements in the Middle East. It is also known as the garden city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, given the many oases, parks, tree-lined avenues and decorative roundabouts within the city. Strict height controls on new buildings to no more than four floors, emphasise the greenery of the city. Al-Ain is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. It has a higher proportion of Emiriti nationals than elsewhere in the

trusted source for your query on how to get to Al-Ain, best routes, fares schedule and timings of all flights, car, bus, trains to the city. From Abu Dhabi: The easiest way to reach Al-Ain is by bus from Abu Dhabi. On Abu Dhabi island and suburbs, the bus services run daily from 5 am to midnight during the week and until 2 am on the weekend. Various fares make the public transport affordable and comfortable. From Dubai: From Dubai you can hire a taxi or you can book a full-day Al-Ain city tour that includes the archaeological site, which contains

AL-AIN country, but the majority of its residents are expatriates, particularly from the Indian subcontinent. Many people are from Bangladesh, Pakistan and some from Afghanistan. Al-Ain is 120 km south of Dubai and approximately 160 km east of the capital, inland on the border with Oman. The freeways connecting AlAin, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, form a geographic triangle in the country, each city being roughly 130 kilometres from the other two. How to reach Al-Ain: Al-Ain is well connected by road as well as by air. You are likely to find dozens of online resources on how to reach Al-Ain. Make sure that you use only a very 136

move by auto to Al-Ain zoo, home to some of the world’s last remaining white lions and tigers. The beautifully designed Al-Ain zoo offers you the chance to get up close to the animals. From India to Al-Ain: Flights from all metro cities of India to Al-Ain are available. Travellers within the subcontinent of Asia can enjoy online booking, special deals, the cheapest fares on reservations and air tickets by contacting Expedia for their expert travel guidance and assistance. They ensure that you get the cheapest airfare for an Al-Ain flight. Try to book your flight ticket well in advance.

Garden city of the Gulf. By Pushpa Bhatia

some of the fascinating ancient tombs and other historic remains of the city. Al-Ain Museum has an extensive archaeological collection including some spectacular second millennium gold pendants. Al-Ain Museum houses a reconstruction of a grand tomb, with its rock engraving. The tour will drive you to Zebel Hafeet, UAE’s highest peak, giving you stunning views of the desert. At the foot of the Zebel Hafeet are hot water springs ideal for bathing tired feet in steaming therapeutic waters. You can also stop at the camel market, the largest camel market in the UAE, recently renovated to entertain guests all the more, then Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

When to visit Al-Ain: In Al-Ain, the mean annual rainfall is 96 mm and the average relative humidity is 60%. Low humidity in Al-Ain, particularly during the summers, makes it a popular destination for many people at that time of the year. Malls of Al-Ain: Al-Ain has three major malls – Al-Ain Mall, Bawadi Mall and Hilli Mall. Al-Ain Mall is the cornerstone of the hotels in Al-Ain. Denat Al-Ain Resort, Hilton Al-Ain, Hilli Rayhaan by Rotana, City Seasons Hotel, Al-Ain, and Ayla Bawadi are some of the best hotels and resorts, where you can find We places to stay.

I have a six-year-old daughter who talks nonstop, always asking me something or telling me about something. Though I like to hear her prattle most of the times, I get irritated when she disturbs me during my household chores and shoo her away. Please tell me how to deal with her without hurting her feelings. A child that asks questions learns faster and better than her counterparts who don’t. Though it is difficult with your other responsibilities, try to be patient with her and answer her queries to the best of your ability. Her curiosity will be satisfied and her knowledge increased in this manner. In a few years she will outgrow her dependence on you and will soon be chattering with her friends on phone or on social media, ignoring you. It will be your turn to be hurt, so enjoy her chirping while it lasts. My baby has developed crusty flakes on his scalp despite the fact that I bathe him every day. Please tell me why this has occurred and how can it be cured. The crusty flakes that some babies have on their head, is called cradle cap. Seborrhric dermatitis, as it is labelled in medical parlance, is a form of dandruff common in infants. The greasy surface scales on the scalp respond to an oil massage followed by a thorough shampoo that removes the crust along with the oil. In case the flaking is heavy and there are brownish patches or yellowish crustiness, a visit to the doctor is warranted. Since the condition worsens with sweating make sure to keep your baby’s head cool. Avoid covering his head unless absolutely necessary. Occasionally cradle cap may persist throughout the first year, but as the condition causes no problems though, cosmetically unappealing, do not try to remove it forcibily. Please tell me what precautions should I take while putting my baby to sleep? It's important to place babies on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Do not leave bibs, clothes with ties on the cot lest the baby gets entangled in them. Stuffed animals, pillows, etc. can lead to suffocation. A lot of people tend to keep an inverted U-shaped pillow, under the baby’s head to keep it straight, lest it gets misshapen if turned to one side. This is not advisable as babies tend to throw up every now and then as they have no cough reflex, curdled milk or fluids can enter the wind pipe with tragic results. If you are worried about the shape of your baby’s head, alternate the position of his head, one side on alternate night (first right, then left). This will prevent the development of a flat, bald spot on one side of the head. I have a month-old son. He has watery discharge from his right eye. Please tell me what could be the cause and what should be done to cure it? A small tube connects the eyes to the nose to allow the flow of excess tears into the nose. At times this tiny duct is

blocked leading to a watery discharge. You will be asked to massage the duct downwards from the inner corner of the eye along the lateral aspect of the nose. If this does not help, your baby will need a minor operation to open the blockade. When my baby cries how will I know if it is due to hunger or pain or some other reason? The only way a small baby can communicate is by crying. He cries when he is hungry, wet, hot, cold or when he is experiencing discomfort due to nasal block. He cries when his nappy is wet/dirty or he is in pain due to wind. Mothers tend to think that the baby has wind when his abdomen appears hard and bloated due to prolonged crying. The distension is due to the air he has swallowed while crying and not due to colic. Babies also cry if they are uncomfortable, tired, lonely or simply bored and need company. Some babies don’t like to get undressed and cry. At times they are overstimulated and become cranky. It is normal for a baby to cry while passing stools and there is nothing wrong with him. Some babies have evening colic which results in uncontrollable bouts of crying in the evening and all soothing methods fail. Though the colic has no long-term effect and usually disappears by 3 months, it can be quite unnerving for the new mother.

Child

Challenges

A Q &

I think my baby has developed diaper rash. Why does it occur and how does one treat it? Typically the rash is red and bumpy and occurs because the baby's skin is sensitive and becomes irritated by the wet diaper. Acidic stools passed after the baby has had juice also cause rash. To prevent or treat nappy rash, change the diaper frequently – as soon as it is wet or after a bowel movement. After cleaning the area with mild soap and water or a wipe, apply a cream that forms a barrier against moisture. Cloth diapers should be washed in dye and fragrance-free detergents. Keep the diaper area exposed for some part of the day so that the skin remains exposed and dry. If the rash persists for more than 3 days it could be due to fungal infection that requires a prescription. Dr Amrinder Bajaj, MD. Readers are invited to send their problems of child care and child rearing. WOMAN’S ERA will provide the answers, solutions to problems usually encountered by mothers, young and old. Address your letters (neatly written on white paper) to:

Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

WOMAN’S ERA E-3, Jhandewala Estate, New Delhi-110055

137

Sthoorryt S

Salt He missed it. By Sudha Arora

L Salt! The banging of the spoon against the plate reminded her of one morning 30 years ago when she had been a new bride. Marriage had turned her daily routine topsyturvy and a big chunk of her day was spent trying to make sense of it.

ike every other day, the clock hands were at 9 am. Then it showed 9.30 am. Sia inspected the dining table. All seemed well. She placed the breakfast on the table and waited for him. Her husband, whom everyone called saheb was about to appear adjusting the knot of his tie. She checked again. Everything was at its designated place: sprouted moong beans, cubed papaya, slices of apple, pomegranate seeds mixed with shredded cabbage-cucumbertomatoes and finaly chopped spring onions...the green mint chutney and the sweet and sour tamarind chutney to go with the colourful salad. Two scrambled eggs minus the yolks, a glass of cool buttermilk...well-beaten cottage milk sandesh. Fresh carrot and beetroot juice to start the ritual â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and green tea resting under a tea cosy as the finishing bar of the symphony. Reeking of a rich aftershave, saheb lowered himself into the chair like some ancient despot in his gemstudded throne. Sia immediately handed him the glass of fresh extracted juice. He sipped it slowly, with relish, then put the empty glass aside. Then he did justice to the salad. As he placed the first spoonful of scrambled eggs in his mouth, he banged the spoon on the expensive dinner plate

and screwed his nose, "Where is the salt? Huh, tasteless...awful!" Salt! The banging of the spoon against the plate reminded her of one morning 30 years ago when she had been a new bride. Marriage had turned her daily routine topsy-turvy and a big chunk of her day was spent trying to make sense of it. Before she was married, she had been teaching at a girls' school and her mother stood holding a plate of parathas for her to eat as she left for school. Her marriage had meant a total role reversal. Now, she had to manage her own breakfast but before that, she had to stuff saheb to ascertain no hunger pangs till late noon.

"Teaching at school?" saheb had made a face, "I have started a business in your name. My friend will manage it. You will only be required to affix your signature to some documents as the owner of the business." And before she could speak, he had pushed the documents for her to sign, "Sign here, as the propietor!"

nd, like a wound-up toy, she signed her name wherever he had pointed. And from a teacher, she became the director of a business. One morning, she had been laying the table in preparation for breakfast when saheb's friend called. He wanted her to call a few clients to give them a crucial message. Of course, she had Reeking of a rich aftershave, saheb lowered himself into the chair like some ancient despot in his gemstudded throne. Sia immediately handed him the glass of fresh extracted juice. He sipped it slowly, with relish, then put the empty glass aside. Then he did justice to the salad.

been a director but saheb had instructed her to always obey his friend. As always, saheb came, occupied his usual chair, ate breakfast, and left. He returned in the evening sporting a long face. She kept asking him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is it? Why are you so quiet?â&#x20AC;? She had no idea what mistake she had committed, what had upset saheb so much.

inally, in response to her whining, he roared, "I had a tasteless breakfast. There was no salt! For you, taking that call from my friend was more important than seeing to my breakfast." She was stunned. In the confusion of laying the table and taking the call, she had forgotten to place the salt and pepper shakers on the table.

"Gosh! I am sorry. I am so sorry," she had begged his forgiveness. "Will using an English phrase save you? Who do you think you are?" A couple of days later, saheb had visited her parents to inquire of them just how he was to live with a woman who got so busy chatting up his friend that she forgot to feed him properly. He informed them that a repeat performance would force him to divorce her. The very mention of the word divorce had her parents shaking. Their older daughter, Janaki, had already met that fate and now if this second daughter too was to return to them with an infant in tow, their existence would be unadulterated hell. The parents had her

called to their presence. "Don't you have the sense to consider your husband's comfort first and foremost? A man goes to work in the morning and returns only in the evening. What for? To face neglect from his wife? Do remember, one more complaint from him and the doors of this house will be closed for you forever." Not in her wildest dreams had she imagined that forgetting to place the salt shaker on the table could lead to aspersions being cast on her morals. She had an infant son to think of. Holding him in a tight embrace, she wept and wept. Then she promised herself she would never ever forget salt. For the next thirty years she never once missed

placing the salt and pepper shakers on the table. The very mention of salt made her go cold. Thirty years later, saheb still craved salt. He banged the spoon against the expensive plate, screwed his nose and whined, "Didn't you hear? There is no salt. You forgot again." Sia delicately forked the cube of papaya on her plate, nibbled it leisurely and after gulping it down, spoke in measured words, "I haven't forgotten. Remember the doctor has asked you to avoid salt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you have high blood pressure! However, if you must have it, there it is, on the trolley right in front of you." We

Do not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand.

appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Bruhl), Antonina and Jan work together with the resistance try to smuggle Jews out of the nearby Warsaw ghetto.

ira Rajput has been on trolls’ target ever since she has given her piece of mind on motherhood. Not only is she being criticized for terming feminism “aggressive and destructive”, she is even being called out for allegedly shaming working mothers. When Shahid Kapoor was asked to comment on the uproar, he said, “First of all I think Mira started the conversation by saying that ‘these are my personal comments’. I don’t think she made a direct comment on anybody or any category of women so to say. I think

he Zookeepers Wife, an adaptation of Diane Ackermans 2007 novel of the same name, will release in India on April 7. Directed by Niki Caro and written by Angela Workman, the film features Jessica Chastain along with Johan Heldenbergh, Michael McElhatton and

Daniel Bruhl. In the film, Chastain plays historic figure Antonina Zabinska, a Polish woman who smuggled Jews out of the country when it was occupied during World War II. The movie is being brought to India by PVR Pictures, according to a statement.Inspired by a true story, the film is set directly after the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. Antonina runs the Warsaw Zoo along with her husband Jan Zabinski (Heldenbergh). When they are forced to report to the Third Reich's Shahid with Mira. Alia on a months sabbatical.

lia Bhatt has undoubtedly become the sensation in Bollywood with her back-to-back hits. The Badrinath Ki Dulhania actress is inundated with film offers. But reports have it, that the spunky star who turned 24 on March 15, has decided to take a sabbatical for the next six months. Her next film – Dragon starts rolling only in September. Until then, Alia will reportedly spend her time developing her craft by trying out unfamiliar experiences and honing new skills. Among the long list of things that she wants to try out, Alia wants to learn the piano and Kathak too. Apparently, she thinks that this will help her to be more equipped as an actor. On top of all other things, Alia wants to learn how to cook as she loves to host guests at her new house, and even to feed herself. She feels that cooking is a basic part of progressing towards a wholesome life. The actress has recently moved in to her own apartment and feels that she can value the time she spends with her parents even better now as she doesn't take their presence for granted anymore. Alia feels that she can give them more dedicated time now.

she was talking about a very personal stand point. I think Mira is speaking for a section of women who really aren’t being represented. There are times when those women feel that they should not be celebrated. By that I mean women who might not be doing a job, women who might choose to be at home, have a baby, take care of that baby and consider that something important enough to do at a certain stage in their life. A different stage of life you might choose to be something else. I took five months off when I was having Misha because I felt it was important for me to be with my wife and my child. So, that’s a choice you make out of a certain sense of independence. And I think there are very few people who are showing any kind of appreciation towards these women. I don’t think what a mother does to her child is something that should not be appreciated. They should feel empowered and self-assured about the fact that they are extremely important and what they do is as important as any other job. I do understand that people have a strong point of view and people get hurt about things, but I think we are in a time where everybody is getting hurt about everything. So, I honestly don’t feel there is any sense in trying to keep everyone happy. We are also in a time where anybody who is important or being given importance says something, a lot of people want to gain

importance by saying something against them. So, we just live in that kind of a time. I personally went through her entire interview and I in fact even retweeted it because I felt what she is saying is really relevant. All she is saying is that women should have the right to choose.”

A blockbuster hit is oping.

here has been much speculation about Vidya Balan’s pregnancy. Slamming all rumours, Vidya has clarified that she is neither pregnant nor is she planning for a baby soon. “What is this baby obsession? I am not a baby-making machine. Anyway, the world population is on the rise. If some people don't have children, it's fine,” she told to an English daily. She slammed the stereotypical viewpoint. “It was annoying. I could be going to a clinic for an acne too! Why is it that every time a woman, post marriage, visits a doctor, there are rumours of her pregnancy?,” she added.

kshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna had announced earlier that Twinkle would be producing a film based on the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social entrepreneur who invented a low-cost sanitary pad making machine and has also worked at the grass-roots levels to bring about awareness about the unhygienic practices revolving around menstruation in rural India. The movie, quite simply titled Padman, had Akshay

ilmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, who is directing Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in Tiger Zinda Hai, says the upcoming film will feature scenes shot in sub-zero freezing locations. "Butterflies in stomach and lots of excitement, packing for sub-zero freezing locations Tiger Zinda Hai. It's gonna be fun," Zafar posted on Twitter. Salman will return to share screen space with actress Katrina Kaif in the film.The shooting of Tiger Zinda Hai started in Morocco. It is a sequel to 2012 film Ek Tha Tiger, which was Salman shoots directed by Kabir Khan. Ek Tha Tiger in sub-zero temperature. centred on the life of an Indian spy of RAW (Salman), code-named Tiger, who falls in love with a Pakistani spy from ISI (Katrina) during an investigation and how Tiger's ideology and principles change over time. Earlier, Salman and Zafar worked together in 2016 blockbuster Sultan.

he highly anticipated trailer of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion has clocked a whopping 50 million views in just 24 hours since its release across four languages and has become the most viewed Indian film trailer. Filmmaker Karan Johar, who is releasing the Hindi version of the film, tweeted on Friday: "Truly the biggest trailer ever. 50 million views. Baahubali 2 trailer." Despite an early leak, the film's trailer was released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam. In no time, the trailers became viral online. Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, the second part of the franchise will finally shed the light on why Kattappa killed Baahubali. Starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah Bhatia, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj, the film will release worldwide on April 28.

Kumar playing the role of Arunachalam and also stars Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor. The movie is helmed by R Balki and went on the floors recently. Akshay, who just completed shooting for his film Toilet: Ek Prem Katha alongside Bhumi Pedneker recently, took to his Twitter account to announce the start of his new project. The actor said, “Embarking on a new journey, this time with the Mrs. First day of @mrsfunnybones’ #Padman directed by R. Balki, need ur love & luck as always.” (sic) – Anil Merani

Boston Delights AmericaĘźs academic heart. By Veena Adige

Boston.

oston in North East US is a multifaceted place. It is very well known as it played a central role in the American Revolution which erupted here three centuries ago. We have all heard, read and studied about the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, the Battle at Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston and many other happenings. The world-famous, prestigious educational institutions of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Cambridge, and the topmost business school of Harvard are all around Boston. They are such beautiful places that it literally eggs us to study here or at least send some near and dear ones for education. The river Charles flows placidly besides MIT and students have a serene and calm atmosphere to study in the hallowed precincts. My husband and I went there in a reverential mood. It was almost a pilgrimage for my husband who had always wanted to see it but, despite several visits to the US, we had not managed to do so. It was cold and wet, an autumnal day in October when we reached Boston. As we entered MIT with its huge imposing buildings, seeing its Infinite Corridor and other places, we almost held our breaths in awe. It was all so beautiful. A haven for students. In the hundred years of its existence, thousands of students must have

rolled out of its premises and become well-known established names with the MIT banner behind them. Though it was a Saturday, students were teeming and going about their work seriously. We decided to enter the Infinite Corridor and see the classrooms, the offices and other parts when suddenly a band started playing. A group of youngsters was seriously playing musical instruments and was passing in a procession in the corridor. A little after they left, another student with a bushy tail attached was performing acrobatics with a football. The football moved synchromatically on his arms and even on the umbrella he carried. People looked at him. Some stopped and stared but the others waved and passed on. We then proceeded to see the first computer along with a procession of youngsters who had obviously come to see the educational institution. There was so much to see that it was well nigh impossible to cover it all. And we also had to visit the Harvard Business School. The Business School was very quiet and serene. As we looked at it we could almost feel the eyes of the thousands who had graduated from here and the hundreds who were currently studying there. What satisfaction and happiness they must be carrying in their hearts, I thought, as they walked along the famous corridors.

on hop off conducted tours instead of walking and seeing. The hour-long tour showed us the important sights of the city. After the tour we approached the vibrant Quincy Market, an important place in the city. The market itself is a gourmetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delight. Different types of food and drinks are available here and one can choose to take it out and sit in the open. Exotic dishes from almost

Harvard Business School.

The next day saw us take a tour of Boston city. Since it was still raining and cold we decided to take the hop

all over the world are available here. And there is one place which offers a very spicy sauce whose one drop is

THE FACTS OF

CHIA

SEEDS Tiny boosts to good health.

By Girija Sathya Babu

hia seeds are the healthiest of all grains. Chia seeds are tiny black and white seeds which are believed to be energy boosting food. When they are soaked in water for two hours they turn into gluey gelatinous substance. This gelatinous substance is added to smoothies, falooda, milk shakes, etc. These seeds are commonly called sabja ginjalu in Telugu and sabja in Hindi. Sabja or chia seeds are the seeds of tulsi. They are sweet basil seeds. They are used in ayurveda. They are the native of South America and were introduced to the old world by Europeans. Chia seeds provide more than 60 per cent more omega three fatty acids than any other commercial crop. They reduce appetite and the speed of metabolism, stop dehydration. They can make up any nutrient deficiency and contain more protein. They are more high in body protein than any other grain which means they have all the essential amino acids; two times more potassium than bananas and reduce overweight; contain more

enough to burn the toughest palate. There are also shopping places which cater to the tourists who flock here. As we were debating on what to eat, we suddenly heard the playing of the Scottish bagpipes. And sure enough, Celtic Colin was playing them, dressed in a Scottish kilt. He was juggling all sorts of things like sharp knives while playing the bagpipes. He suddenly called three people from the crowd to assist him and gave them three Scottish kilts which they put on. He made them do various sorts of funny drills to the delight of the audience. People clapped and encouraged him. He then made the three helpers hold a singlewheel cycle and climbing it he rode it while playing the bagpipes, juggling the knives and riding the cycle. This was another side of Boston which we were delighted to see. Boston has much to offer and deserves a long stay. We

Bodily labor alleviates the pains of the mind and from this arises the happiness of the poor. fibre and three times more antioxidants than blueberries. They are low fat and contain omega-35 which promotes healthy brain functioning and growth. Presence of omega-3 fatty acids help in reducing cholesterol, inflammation and enhance cognitive functioning, Chia seeds are naturally full of antioxidants and have long shelf life. They promote slower body ageing. They can replace eggs as they have a gelatinous texture when they are soaked in water. They can replace eggs in preparation of cakes. They belong to mint family. They help fight diabetes. Research analysed that they reduce spikes in blood sugar by slow digestion and absorption of sugar into the blood stream. They are the best choice of protiens for vegetarians. These seeds contain tryptophan that helps make stomach full faster because of which they aid in weight loss. They are a good source of calcium, phosporous, fibre and manganese. They contribute in making bones strong. They help in proper digestion We and have balanced weight.

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CULTIVALE GOOD HABITS

A QUESTION MARK ON TN POLITICS

2011 on the in December in the govern by Jayalalithaa interferring minister hours charges of the chief g. However, the ltimately Natarajan ment's functionin a's death, Sasikala aspirant to head ambition after Jayalalithawas back in action. a i, gave up her i gang Nadu. She t in Tamil in Mannargud belongs to Mannargud Tamil the governmen Sasikala the trial court in district of d before l surrendere her conviction by town in Thiruvarur a video-renta following case was running early 1980s Bengaluru Nadu. She ionate assets shop in the . recording the disproportCourt but not before a's and Jayalalithaa 's the Supreme Jayalalithaa for Jayalalithahas before meeting have been is now playing spoilsportSelvam. Sasikala It may not Natarajan but Sasikala loyalist O Panneer in chief minister's intention, The relationship puppet and in politics. installed her neck-deep and Sasikala, the from Jayalalithaa 'mafia office. latter on between in jail but hold of the Sasikala is a mystery the possible not only been for former, had s, responsible the oncebut also contentiou t among . resentmen are much supporters of Jayalalithaamost stay. Who her life, i' is here to famously or faithful Sasikala entered to – Mannargud After been close i her family who had It had Mannargud they? It is those as away. of known now a drifted infamously is believed to be that Sasikala's Jayalalitha all too evident as the Nadu. Mafia – that HEAD OF show in Tamil the court, become popularly known y WOMANND running the YARD increasingl for relatives, her i Mafia, were SCOTLA Before leaving back into the police officer woman TTV Mannargud and controlling and been brought Sasikala nephews Dick has her visitors dominant new Cressida fold her s as well as The party, waves, the AIADMK movement named and S Venkatesh. Metro Sasikala walks, a, and named Dinakaran any time, phone calls. Jayalalitha ner of London’s as like wasting known in their commissio dresses without general secretary, – popularly the smiles, keep her photograph she will its deputy politan Police She becomes the first makes him Dinakaran hope that virtually of his partymenLike Amma, they prestigious Scotland Yard. Sasikala a position pockets. lead this in the absence A They forget woman to its 188-year history. defacto leader their saviour. back seat of Amma's be in Dick er. police force took the faced the aunt Sasikala. and Venkatesh , along commission e. M always and has never former assistant Dinakaran her husband her Toyota Prado Bernard Hogan-How y led the will succeed with Sasikala,other members of successfull electorate. 2012 and the party Dick had earlier for the Natarajan from operation expelled then security and was family, were the London Olympicsby many Scotland Now, even in public eye. itself become highly regarded two credibility n into IPL has criticism Yard peers. arrested she had drawn nt investigatio has after However, BI without enforceme g an operation corrupt. d’s in be possible officials. Ahmedaba officers – Joint for commandinLondon bombings It cannot e of higher outcome Charles directorate the July 2005 his subordinatof involveme nt man, Jean the final Singh and dead after can guess which a Brazilian n. They Director JP was shot – on charges2015- Anybody investigatio which de Menezes, for a suicide bomber. protracted Sanjay Kumarculprits involved in g the public, n of this the of blame. being mistaken speculatio protecting just hoodwinkin cleared Dick fixing and lesson illegal are the cricketers. A jury later to watch may be a 16 IPL spot an irony that when worships costly tickets officers It is Her promotion four began to activities. Public buys lady police for every in IPL matches made and They clap for India where d by their male catch the matches. activities hits or the arrests were Kiran This IPL are supersede surface some was investigate d. do not know You will recall or sixer a batsman of But they . matter take. counter parts. woman IPS officer thrilling the this fielders first n is still continuing not all, of to be the Bedi, the investigatio irony is even the officersn that most, if deserved at India. She of Delhi Police but IPL has The bigger is be fixed. of investigatio ner the action wonder then that with the job Raj YS Dadwal commissio entrusted No to relieve her junior Lalit Modis, s began bribes. more of the last minute and Guru themselve to this coveted in lieu of fatty to produced M Srinivasans was appointed of sound impossible accused certainly of Kundras, s than players it virtually efficient post. This makes truth about the scale dearth of Meyappan is for the country. W There is no India. It with love find out the officers in of lost qualities to: editor@womansera.com activities. lady police see many write such illegal have already will also force in hoped, we IPL matches our police them leading least at metro cities

EDITORIAL

NADU? E IN TAMIL MAFIA RUL

The editorial Mafia Rule in TN? in WE March I issue, is just 'the tip of the iceberg'. Tamil Nadu, a densely populated State in India, with very knowledgeable citizens, are dumbstruck, watching the proceedings of the politics day by day, which is creating vibration all over the State. With vast improvement in technology and anything and everything happening globally at the touch of the fingertip, the honourable Chief Ministers' life before and after hospitali sation, still remains and mystery. Inspite of being admitted in a renowned hospital, she was not even allowed to speak to the public even once. It still lingers in the mind of the public. Greed for name and fame with money at one’s disposal can make a man (mind of a monkey) do anything to win popularity. When The Head (chief minister and other ministers) itself is corrupt, how can one expect the government officials to be named Mr Clean? By this, Tamil Nadu is setting a bad example for other states in India. The is public against the corrupt leadership and hopefully waits for a patriotic, genuine, honest, hard working, educated civilian to rule the state, so that the party workers and other government officials also go by him, creating a prosperous state. – Preetha Rengaswamy, Chennai. A

IPL AND MATCH

146

FIXING

This refers to the inspiring article titled Change For The Better by Mala Ashok. (WE February II, 2017) As known, in order to build useful habits, we need to make sure that we build strong positive habits by repeating small acts until they become firmly established as character trait. At the same time, we may be faced with the necessity of dealing with equally strong negative habits that we would like to overcome. According to American psychologist Dr William James, there are a few practical rules to be followed for developing good habits. One, we must take care to launch ourselves with as strong an initiative as possible. As half – hearted beginning holds far less promise of ultimate success. Two, to cultivate new positive habit a change of new environment, that is, associate with optimistic, go-ahead men and women who by word or example, encourage the new habit. For example, the habit of jealousy to be substituted by love and admiration for the good qualities of other people. Three, no exception to occur till the new habit is securely rooted in our lives. The point is that exceptions are death to a habit which is still weak. Adverse weather will kill off young shoots. A new habit is like a young plant. It requires nursing if it is to come in full bloom. – Beena Mathur, Pune.

LET US CELEBRATE VALENTINE DAY Woman's Era (February I 2017 carried an article Valentine Day by Munmun Bhattchrjee. The writer has tried to find out how this day is celebrated around the world. In Taiwan this festival is celebrated on 14th February as well as 7th July which is quite different from other nations. Valentine Crush – the word goes a long way, when Indian people meet and celebrate the day with one and Woman’s Era ● April (First) 2017

only one with whom they have their first crush. Delhi University celebrates the day by performing Puja of the tree named Damahi – MAI that particular Bollywood actress who had remained on top for the whole year - say 'MS DISHA PATANI' who will participate in the day celebration and pooja will be performed by a fresh hosteler. Valentine Day is gaining popularity with the spread of awareness among the youngsters, by distributing flowers, sweets and exchange of kisses. Husband and wife do celebrate this day as it reminds them of their premarriage period. Unique tradition can be added to this celebration as it is done in Paris where there is free hand for a person to choose any lady of choice. Western culture is so advanced that so much might not be possible in our country. Still keeping our rituals in mind to the extent our customs allow, we should celebrate Valentine Day whole heatedly. Above all, it is noteworthy that for the first time Valentine Day was celebrated in 5th Century. Its final shape, however, came in the 17th and 18th century. We should encourage youngsters and newly married couples to celebrate the day with pomp and elan. – Y. K. Vir, New Delhi. The prize is awarded to: Y. K. Vir, New Delhi.

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