August 2016 (1)

Vol 5 Issue No.58 Aug - Sept 2016

SAGA OF

A PHILANTHROPIST GLOBAL LEADER Dr Naresh Aggarwal

The 99th annual convention of Lions Clubs at Fukuoka, Japan Shri V.P.Nandakumar MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd.

The miracle of collective leadership

The Datsun

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Printed by: Ajit Ravi Published by: Ajit Ravi Owned by: Ajit Ravi Printed at: S T Reddiar P.B. No: 3627, Veekshanam Road, Cochin Published at: Pegasus, L5-106 Changampuzha Nagar Kalamassery Ernakulam-682 033 e-mail: editor@uniquetimes.org uniquetimesindia@gmail.com Ph:0484 3242220, 6555533, 4025666 Mob:+91 98460 50283, 94470 50283 Editor Ajit Ravi Sub-Editor Vignesh Associate Editor Ravi Saini Editor-In-charge Jebitha Ajit Legal Advisor Adv. Sreelatha Parameswaran Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile Bejoy George Amrutha V Kumar Marketing BAHRAIN PRESTIGE MARKETING Tel: +971 55 2000933 Email: gopal@prestigemarketing.in UAE Tamquest Entertainments LLC P.O. Box 232886, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Mr.Safi Mulankaad Clap PR and Events:++971 508414706 Email: riju@tamquestevents.com Tamil Nadu Andhrapradesh & Karnataka PEGASUS Ph: 09288800999 Kerala Sunilkumar NN Your wing Photographer Ashique Hassan Creative Design PEGASUS Cover Photograph Dr Naresh Aggarwal 4

Aug-Sept 2016

Editorial

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hen did the last time you help someone without expecting any reward in return? Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The best way to find you is to lose yourself in the service of others”. In this issue we would like to introduce a surprise new icon of charity.

Dr Naresh Aggarwal is a business man from Punjab who runs steel and agro-product business and is now the International Vice-President of the International Lions Club. At a younger age of 21, he found that the service is life itself. He says service is not just charity, but to serve as a friend, leader, mentor, student, and, of course, as a philanthropist. His exclusive interview with Unique Times is just insightful and you will definitely feel the revealing moments while going through it.

Article on real estate is an eyeopener for those who own property on bank loans. Shri. V.P. Nandakumar, the Chairman and Managing Director of Manppuram Finance, was lately chosen as Lions ambassador of good will. At this occasion, he shares about an unforgettable experience at Japan as part of a Lions Club convention.

Actually, as you know we are not limited to these articles. Writings on auto, stock market, travel, gadgets, movie review, book review and several other articles are waiting for your response. And we can’t wait for your reviews

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CONTENTS

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The 99th annual convention of Lions clubs at Fukuoka, Japan

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The miracle of collective leadership

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Saga of a philanthropist Global Leader

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Few myths about Stock Market proves wrong

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Gadgets

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Recipes

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Monsoon in your lagoon: Lifestyle tips to adapt

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Albania a splendid world of ancient castles

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UNIQUE DIARY

India to encourage start-ups with new liberal policy

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n what could be termed as an intelligent move to save the Indian start-ups from the clutches of the complicated inter-ministerial procedure, the Union Commerce and Industry minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has announced that the new start-ups may only need a recognition certificate to avail Intellectual Property Right benefits. Earlier, the whole process was a complicated procedure, because the entrepreneurs had to overcome several constraints, including complex intergovernmental procedures. Moreover, the start-ups will also get nearly three-year tax holiday under the start-up India scheme. While speaking to the reporters, the minister assured the government is committed to encouraging young entrepreneurs. The NDA-government is also expected to establish TBIs, research parks, start-up centres for the same.

Centre advice states to quash local taxes of essential food products

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.

Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Helen Keller

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n an effort to ensure uninterrupted supply of the essential food products in the rural market, the centre government has advised the state authorities to quash local taxes imposed on those items. It is said that the government’s move would ensure the reasonable price for the consumers and good profit for the farmers. It is learned that a feasible action plan had been adopted by the centre for this purpose, and the state governments were informed about the same and were asked to follow the directives. Moreover, the states have also been instructed to take strict action against the black marketers and hoarders. The centre claims that installation of the information management system may make astonishing differences in the whole market scenario.

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Country’s agriculture sector is underdeveloped: Union Finance Minister

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he Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, opined country’s agricultural sector is underdeveloped and is only contributing nearly sixteen per cent to the national GDP. In his view, the agricultural sector cannot give a proper livelihood for the vast rural population who entirely depend on this sector. According to a report, nearly fifty-five per cent of the country’s population depends on this sector, which only provides a little more than sixteen per cent to the total GDP. The minister asserted that the nation aims to strengthen the manufacturing sector. It is evident from the statement that the country is targeting at an abrupt economic growth. The minister was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Symbiosis International University at Kothur in Andhra Pradesh.

Cyanogen strikes down nearly 20 percent of total workforce

"There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality."

Anthony Robbins

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he tech company, Cyanogen, has allegedly dismissed nearly twenty percent of the total workforce. The company had earlier accumulated huge capital to develop an alternative to the Google’s android. It is learned that the new OS has completely failed to attract customers. A source close to the organisation reportedly informed medias that several employees working with the system and QA team were asked to resign. Reports added that some top executive officers also resigned from the organisation.

With the guidance of the new COO Lior Tal, the conglomerate aims at a major strategical shift in its operations. The company is planning to utilise their complete workforce on developing Apps.

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UNIQUE DIARY

HP to digitalise future with their ‘Back to College’ campaign

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n order to digitally empower the student community, the digital conglomerate, HP, has launched an ambitious campaigning program, ‘Back to College’.

With the campaign, it is planning to help those students, who wish to buy a digital notebook for their next academic session. HP offers huge discounts for the students who purchase selected HP products.

The company assures that the products like HP Pavilion x360 and HP All-in-Ones were designed to meet the growing demands of the students. It added that it has also incorporated some special features, like language feature, into the student’s version.

Zopo to install a new manufacturing unit in India

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

Albert Schweitzer

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he Chinese mobile company, Zopo, is set to install a new manufacturing unit at Noida in Indian before December. It may invest a huge capital of around one hundred crores rupee to the process. It is learned that they are expected to make over two lakh phones per month from their proposed manufacturing unit. Notably, the conglomerate had launched a smartphone Speed 8 on last week. Their new product has gained positive response from across Asia. In India, it is aiming to sell at least one lakh products each month, claims a senior executive. In the Asian market, it is mostly focused on their budget smartphones rather than their luxury phones.

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A PAGEANT TO DISCOVER THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND TALENT FOR THE WOMEN OF ASIA & EURASIA

www.missasiaglobal.org

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BUSINESS

Shri V.P.Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

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I see Lionism as a wonderful way to network and meet people from a crosssection of society.

THE 99TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF LIONS CLUBS

AT FUKUOKA, JAPAN

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etween June 20 to 29, I was away at Fukuoka in Japan with my wife, Sushama, to take part in the Centennial Convention of the Lions Clubs International. I had gone there to take the oath of office as District Governor (DG) of Lions District 318D (consisting of Lions Clubs in Thrissur, Malappuram and Palakkad Districts of Kerala) and to attend the DG schooling — a rigorous training programme that all incoming DGs are required to attend.

The one week we spent in Japan was an unforgettable experience. I have many compelling memories of the Japan... the country, its people and culture, and of the Lions Convention itself. However, before talk about it, let me first address a question frequently asked of me: “Why, as a businessman with so many other things to take care of, have I involved myself so deeply and passionately with the Lions movement?”

First, I see Lionism as a wonderful way to network and meet people from a cross-section of society. As a leader of a large business, I am necessarily involved with many trade and industry bodies such FICCI and Assocham, where I sit on the national executive committee, and CII, where I currently head the Kerala State Council. I find my association with these bodies very useful. However, by definition these bodies bring together only people in business and industry, who are then given the opportunity to interact with bureaucrats, politicians, policy makers etc.

There is no scope to interact with common people. On the other hand, in the Lions movement I meet and interact with people from all walks of life. It is a great way to be in touch with ground realities, to get to know the concerns of ordinary people.

Second, as anyone who has tried his hand at community service on a large scale would

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know, there is a substantial cost and effort involved in setting up the infrastructure for service projects.

For instance, much of the CSR budget of the company that I manage (Manappuram Finance Ltd.) is routed through the Manappuram Foundation whose Managing Trustee I am. I know for a fact how much planning, effort and spending on quality human resources and infrastructure is required simply to be able to put those funds to good use. By associating with Lions Club, we have been able to tap into their resources, beginning with a pool of competent and committed people who dedicate a part of their working life to the cause of service. In this way, we ensure that the money we spend is utilised more effectively, with more benefits getting through to the target group.

Third, Lionism is as much about personal development as it is about service. Melvin Jones, who founded Lions Club in 1917 famously said, “You can’t get very far until you start doing something for somebody else.” Yes, we are doing something for the community and for society because, in doing so, we too can go far. We make ourselves better human beings even as we help others.

Lionism’s inherent strength That an organisation with 1.4

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million members is now heading into its 100th year of fruitful existence is something of a miracle.

It proves that the Association of Lions Clubs International is fundamentally very strong, and this has ensured its survival all these years while going from strength to strength. The inherent strength of Lionism is derived from its superb structure of management which guarantees that those who rise to the top actually work their way up over many years, if not decades.

There is no short-cut to the top here. Someone who becomes the President of a local Lions Clubs must then serve his way through Zone Chairperson followed by Region or District Chairperson before he or she can become 2nd Vice District Governor. After that you become 1st Vice District Governor, and then District Governor. This systematic approach ensures that only such people rise up in the hierarchy who are seriously committed to the movement. Equally noteworthy is that at each level, office bearers are given intensive training by accomplished faculty to equip them with skills to discharge their responsibilities effectively. For example, at the Fukuoka convention, I and all District Governors were put through many classroom training sessions to hone our leadership skills and to widen our

knowledge about the club and its projects. The other strength of the Lions movement is that the large membership base gives it access to a range of talent from within its members. Moreover, by giving its members worthwhile opportunities for leadership development, theoretical as well as practical, the Lions movement nurtures and develops in-house talent, which it puts to good use subsequently.

The Japanese way Coming back to that memorable one week we spent in Japan (my first visit to the country), let me start off with a simple point. I have been travelling abroad fairly often in the last few years. In all the developed countries I have gone to, I have been seeing how impressive their cities and buildings are, and how neatly they maintain their roads, public places and civic infrastructure. Also, the scenic beauty and, occasionally, stately historic monuments.

Japan was different. It was a “total experience” where the natural beauty of the country, its prosperous cities with elegant buildings, advanced public transport and the well maintained civic infrastructure actually take second place to the people of the country and their culture. Had I had not experienced it for myself, I would not have believed that people can be so uniformly courteous and helpful to strangers. In my professional life, I head a company that offers financial services, and where we spend a lot of time and effort to train our front line staff to be cour-

Japan was different. It was a “total experience” where the natural beauty of the country, its prosperous cities with elegant buildings, advanced public transport and the well maintained civic infrastructure actually take second place to the people of the country and their culture.

teous and helpful to our customers.

But here, I was face to face with people whose culture trains them to be naturally polite and courteous to everyone. Ordinary people on the streets went out of their way to help us with directions; very often they would walk a part of the way with us to show us the way and to make sure we would get to where we wanted to. Everywhere, we found people who were disciplined and considerate of others. At the Lions Convention one day, after a

quick lunch of burgers and soda, we had the leftovers bundled into a paper bag to dispose off. I looked around for a trash can or litter bin but I did not see any and so I approached a volunteer at the venue.

But then, rather than direct me to the nearest bin, which is what I had in mind, he promptly took the bag from me and assured me he would drop it into the bin himself.

We have all heard of how Japan is prone to natural disasters,

especially earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. It was therefore very impressive to see how they have used science and technology to overcome the challenges thrown their way by the forces of nature.

Earthquakes are frequent, but because their buildings are built to exacting standards of resistance to earthquakes, casualties are few and far between and life goes on with ease. Japan is a tribute to man’s capacity to overcome the hazards of nature by putting science and

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technology to constructive use.

About the Lions Convention Every year, the International Association of Lions Clubs holds its convention in different cities around the world. I had attended the convention last year at Honolulu in Hawaii, USA, where the mood was celebratory with the organisation approaching its centennial year.

The Fukuoka convention this year — where an unprecedented 30,000 plus Lion members had registered — was billed as the Centennial year convention because Lion Clubs International will complete a hundred years of service on June 7, 2017. The focus of this year’s proceedings was on the new century challenges the movement faces beginning with the question, how do we attract more new members. With the advent of technology and the 24X7 connected world, the young generation everywhere is showing a tendency to withdraw from the real world.

It seems they would rather live in the virtual world. Of course, many would still like to help others and serve their communities but they are less inclined to come out and meet with people. It appears as if they prefer to interact online rather

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than in person. However, good intentions alone can be of no use.

Community level improvements can come about only by forming real networks with real people, not by hitting the “like” button on social media platforms.

Beyond all the serious business, the Convention also had its share of fun and gaiety. The parade on the opening day was a colourful, festive affair, with Lions from across the world dressed in their finest national attire. The delegates were all out on the streets of Fukuoka with a crowd of cheering onlookers. At the convention too, there a lot of music and dance to keep delegates in good cheer. In fact, one memorable performance was by Joe Preston, President of LCI Foundation (and Past International President), who sang his own composition, “We share, we care, we serve, LCIF” to hearty applause from the audience. The keynote speaker at the plenary session of the convention was Shri Kailash Satyarthi, India’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, who spoke passionately about his work with children and the eradication of child labour.

I and other District Governors had the opportunity to personally interact with Chancellor Bob

Corlew, the new International President, Dr. Jitsuhiro Yamada, the outgoing President and Joe Preston, the outgoing President of LCIF. Particularly heart-warming for delegates from India was the sight of Ln. Dr. Naresh Aggarwal rising to the cheer of the audience upon his election as First Vice President. Next year, when the Lions community gathers at Chicago, Ln. Naresh Aggarwal will become the President of Lions Clubs International. That, I am sure, will be another landmark in the glorious history of the club. He will become only the third Indian to ascend to this exalted office.

But for now, as the Lions movement steps into the Centennial year of existence, it is time to renew our passion for service.

It is time to think bigger and to work with purpose and energy, so that Lionism gathers acquires new momentum in its historic Centennial year

V.P. Nandakumar is MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd., Chairman of Kerala State Council of CII and District Governor of Lions Clubs International District 318D

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BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair, Director, Ernst & Young LLP Rajesh is also the President of the Kerala Chapter of TiE Global

When we wear our thinking hats, we realise that leaders are not a thing but a process. It is something that helps systems to function; coordinating and directing effort. The success is in several leaders emerging from an organisation and it is paramount for the success of any venture.

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The miracle of collective

leadership

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rom time immemorial, leadership has always been treated as a singular attribute. The word ‘leader’ always prods us to think of great men and women. We look hard and pry into their life and actions, on the adversities they faced, and how they always came out successful and with flying colours. We are fascinated by these stories. Whether in a boardroom, a classroom or even during the bantering in clusters near the water coolers and the coffee dispensers, we are completely in awe of these stories. A good percentage of books and publications which come out of the management literature

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publishing anvil each day, a significant number are the ‘inspiring’ stories of leaders, which we gobble up as Aesop’s Fables. We are also driven by the ‘narrative fallacy’ as the experts say, of presuming that the leader had the tenacity and prescience to make great decisions and take calculated risks. In these encouraging and enervating tales, we miss out a vital ingredient of leadership – The collective ecosystem and the presence of other leaders around him or her.

When one pictures a flock of birds simultaneously taking to the air or when a herd of cattle veer and turns as one, it is a

miracle of coordination.

The fundamental question we are conditioned to ask is - Who is leading? This is a very human reaction and presumption. Sit in a packed stadium and watch the crowd rather than the sport and you will see waves of emotion and expression, uncoordinated except by the spontaneous urges of people infecting each other with thought and feeling.

At times, leadership itself is also as infectious as a viral strain; it just spreads.

Distributed leadership is the flavour of organisations and situations alike.

While the centre of motion is around a CXO in an organisation– when you

look closer, you will see that teams lacking a recognisable leader, do not lack leadership. David Zweig , calls them the ‘invisibles’ in his seminal book of the same title in 2015. It is present, no less than in the flock or herd. When we wear our thinking hats, we realise that leaders are not a thing but a process.

It is something that helps systems to function; coordinating and directing effort.

The success is in several leaders emerging from an organisation and it is paramount for the success of any venture. What comes out of this view is what I call the ‘Leadership Formula’. To be effective, these leaders have to be the right person, at the right time and place, doing the right thing. This has some simple

implications and some interesting undertones. The simple ones are that there are many ways of being a leader, and there are many leadership situations. The beauty of the undertone is that every contributor is a leader and has to emerge as the fulcrum in some initiative of the other.

We have a leadership capacity problem in every walk of life. It is also the nature of the animal – in today’s world and there is no one who can potentially be an expert in everything.

Distributed skills and competencies necessitate the emergence of a pride or caucus of leaders. And there is nothing wrong with that.

My experience as a

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professional leads me to doubt that one person can definitively “figure things out”. All kinds of things get in the way: we see patterns, but don’t recognise; we listen to the tunes, but don’t comprehend; insights are garbled in transmission; or there is simply too much noise in the environment. May be the best we can aspire for is an approximation of true understanding, like the curve that asymptotically approaches but never touches the ray. In this

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context, the best bet is to learn collectively as an organisation.

What matters, therefore, is the process of questioning by which one tries to figure things out.

What is needed is not just a strong team and the ability to delegate but ‘Critical Leader Relationships’ - a handful of trusted confidants who can be eyes and ears, helpers and advisers, and sources of support and honest feedback for various initiatives. There is the need for

professionals not just to respond to the forces around them but to shape them. This can only be achieved through collective leadership in today’s world.

George Bernard Shaw said “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable men”. This is easier said than done. It is only when he or she is part of the flock or the herd, does this become

George Bernard Shaw said “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable men”.

increasing practical.

In Ori Barfman’s seminal book in 2006 - The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations, the author takes the anomaly of the starfish and the spider to explain the dynamics of collective leadership.

The fascinating exposition mentions that to kill a spider, a blow to the head will suffice. But the starfish has a replication of organs in each of its arms, making it less vulnerable. The thesis extends into

the organisation like the Wikipedia etc which run on collective gusto and enthusiasm. Centralised intelligence is not often required. The various spokes can actively become the hubs in itself.

There is a latent leader in all of us. What we seek is a ‘high touch’ issue – something we feel close to and warms our heart , a ‘high tone’ topic which engages our mind and a ‘high octane’ movement which brings out a transformational experience in us that is energising

and collaborative. There is also a lot of power in anonymous work in today’s time of relentless selfpromotion.

With this also comes the power to make a difference. Power is not just an opportunity but a duty to make elements of your action follow your vision. The essence of collective leadership is also about taking charge individually with an eye on the collective good. And this goes beyond accountability

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Saga of a philanthropist

Global Leader

Here, the magazine is trying to include some valuable information shared by Dr Naresh.

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ions Clubs International is a global charitable organization, founded

by Melvin Jones on June 7, 1917. It has around 46,000 local Clubs and over 1.4 million members.

It's motto is ‘We Serve’.

to promote the principle of good leadership, to take an interest in social and cultural welfare of the community, to unite clubs, to provide an active forum for discussion, to encourage philanthropic people.

The success stories of the Lions Clubs from the last century are filled with millions of life changing and life preserving services.

In its 99th International Convention held in Japan this year, Dr. Naresh Aggarwal, from the Indian state of Punjab, was elected as the 1st International Vice President, and Centennial President Elect of the global non-political service organization.

The declared purposes of the Lions Clubs are: to organize service clubs around the world, to coordinate its philanthropic activities, to create a spirit of understanding,

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Dr. Naresh joined the Club in 1974 and is a Life

member of the Lions Club Batala Smile. He served in various prestigious positions in his home club, including as Club President. Subsequently, he served as District Governor and as Chairman of the Council of Governors.

Later, he earned great appreciation for serving on the Global Membership Team as Area Leader.

He was an International Director of the Club.

He worked as International Board Appointee thrice. He also served as the Global Leadership Team’s Constitutional Area Leader. He has 23 Presidential medals including the Ambassador of Goodwill, the highest

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award for a Lion.

We have converted millions of leaders in society into Lions.

We have led a global cultural revolution towards harmony and humanity.

The 1st VP of the Lions Club is the Chief Patron of the Dainik Prarthana Sabha, which is operating several charity projects. He is also the Vice President of Age-Care India, a charitable trust for the care and welfare of old people.

Outside of LCI,Dr. Naresh is a businessman running steel and agri-product businesses. It is a rare coincidence that he was born on 13th January, which is the birth date of Melvin Jones, the founder of LCI. Dr. Naresh and his wife, Navita, a Melvin Jones Fellow, have two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.

Since assuming the office of Vice President, he

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has been working hard to strengthen the organization globally. He was instrumental in getting the partnership with some International organizations to implement some mega projects.

Some of the key major collaborations inked during his tenure include MoUs with the State Bank of India Foundation, Manappuram Finance, World Vision India and the Akshay Patra Foundation.

Under these collaborations, the organization under the leadership of Dr. Naresh has constituted several programmes ranging from mid-day meals to health care services.

Here, the magazine tries to include some valuable information shared by Dr. Naresh.

Describe Lions Clubs International?

The best way to describe us is- ‘We Serve’. We have around 1.4 million members in 210 countries.

We have nearly 48,000 local clubs to enable a laser-like focus on the needs of each community. We serve at least 30 million people each year.

We mainly focus on hunger, children, eyesight and environment.

In addition, diabetes and refugee rehabilitation will be the additional focus areas in the next few years.

What made you a Lion?

At the age of 21, I was excited to start my life. I was about to join my family business and get married.

This made me realise that the key to success is service. As a businessman, I serve my employee and customers. Meanwhile, as a

husband, I serve my family. Meanwhile, I began to aspire to a greater level of service –to serve the entire world.

However, to achieve this, I would need mentors and a structured organisation. This is when I realise the power of the Lions Clubs.

We have converted millions of leaders in society into Lions. We have led a global cultural revolution towards harmony and humanity. In the last 2 years, we have served at least 97 million people.

At our International Convention next year in Chicago, I will take over as the International President.

We will launch a new platform of unified service aimed at serving over 200 million people each year.

However, we can still see many needs in the world. And as long

as there are needs, there will be Lions.

You have been elected as the International Vice President of Lions Clubs International. Can you give us some information about your new position?

For the next 12 months, I will be the First Vice President of Lions Clubs International. This position is second only to the International President.

I have two responsibilities this yearFirstly, I will work closely with International President Bob Corlew and our leaders based around the world to help LCI climb new heights of public service.

Secondly, I will make final preparation for my term as International President, which begins from July 2017.

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next 12 months?

We currently serve around 50 million people per year. My goal is to significantly increase this number.

At the Chicago Convention, we launch our LCI Forward programmes a comprehensive upgrading to reach a new level of service in the new century.

In the next twelve months, we will add diabetes as a major focus area, in addition to hunger, eyesight, youth, and environment.

Most cases of the diabetes are easily curable through exercise or insulin injection. We believe that if science has the cure, then there is no excuse to not deliver this cure to everyone in need.

Under my Presidency, we will maximise the service from every member, dollar and hour this year.

What is the secret of your success?

I believe that the ability to take may be the strength, but the ability to give is power. If I serve someone, I know I have the greatest wealth in the world- the affection of my fellow people. I believe in the inherent goodness of human nature.

I will travel the world to closely understand how our clubs can make the maximum possible impact next year. I will also work on plans to increase our membership and market our capability to partner organisations.

What is your message to our 1.4 million Lions?

My message is simple- “Discover the power within you.”

This power is the power to serve. Service is not just charity. It is serving as a friend, leader, mentor, student, and, of course, as a philanthropist.

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Being a Lion will teach you how to serve everyone around you.

The organisation has completed nearly 100 years. What do you see 100 years from now?

The world has enough to give everyone a good life. The only shortage we have is of kind hearts who serve today.

In the last 100 years, we have moulded around 1.4 million kind hearts. In the next 100 years, I expect this number to not just expand, but to equal the global population.

What are your goals for the

Can you tell us about your background?

I was born in Batala, Punjab.

After graduation, I joined my family business and started a family of my own. However, I always carved a higher, more meaningful contribution to the world.

I joined Lions Clubs International around 42 years ago. Since then, I have helped the Association grow exponentially in India. In 1998, I expanded my focus to the entire world, when I was elected as International Director. Now, as President Elect for the next year, I am ready to change the lives of hundreds of millions around the world 

V.P. Nandakumar gets Lions Ambassador of Good Will Award The Ambassador of Good Will Award is the highest award presented by Lions International.

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hri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd., and Governor of Lions Clubs International District 318D, was presented with the Lions Ambassador of Good Will Award by Shri Naresh Aggarwal, the International First Vice President of Lions Clubs.

The award was presented at a glittering function held at the Lulu Convention Centre on Sunday, July 24, with nearly 2,000 Lion members in attendance. The Ambassador of Good Will Award is the highest, most prestigious award

presented by Lions International to members who have distinguished themselves by particularly noteworthy service. Only a limited number of these awards are annually given world wide by the International President of Lions Clubs.

As MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd. and Managing Trustee of the Manappuram Foundation, Shri V.P. Nandakumar has initiated an extensive partnership with Lions Clubs to jointly implement charitable programmes of the Club all over India, including a project to set Children’s corners in

100 public parks across India and a partnership with the Akshaya Patra Foundation to support the extension of the mid-day meal scheme to school children. An advanced palliative care centre is coming up in Thrissur in collaboration with the NGO, Alpha Palliative Care.

Besides the presentation of the award, the function also saw the installation of the District Cabinet of the Lions Club by Shri Naresh Aggarwal who is scheduled to take over as the International President of Lions Clubs International next year ď Ź

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The data shows, since 1991 till date the Indian markets (Sensex) has provided a CAGR of 16 percent. This clearly indicates that expecting extraordinary returns from the equity markets will make it a gambler’s den.

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Few myths about Stock Market proves wrong

W

hen it comes to equity investments, there are many wild expectations and fear creeps in. These are basically due to lack of understanding the concept of investing in stock market. The basic idea of investing is to provide long term wealth creation at par with any other asset class.

When it comes to equity investments, especially stock market; there are many myths which stand in way between expectations and reality. Here we are trying to break 2 myths which commonly attract investors.

(By Praveen Pathiyil and Prasanna Bidkar)

Myth # 1.Equity doubles money in no time: The truth is, only expect reasonable returns from stock market.

First and the biggest misconception about the markets is equity doubles money in no time. Many people tend to get attracted to stock markets due to this factor.

Many try to get into markets with this principle only to burn their fingers. And when this happens, the probability of these people coming back to market only fades away.

The truth is “Equity can only give reasonable returns� or rather we can say

Aug-Sept 2016

31

sensible returns. To put up our case properly, we have compiled data for the U.S. market, which is a leading indicator for the global markets and is also a matured market. We have collected the data for U.S. markets for the last 18 decades. The data shows, that out of the last 18 decades (It is 180 years) in 10 decades it has given returns of less than 10 per cent (CAGR) means most of the times the returns have been as low as single digits. The highest was at 18.2% CAGR in a decade starting from 1950. In simple sense Rs.1000 invested in 1950 would have become Rs.6292 within a decade and this is the highest return. So this clearly shows even a matured market like U.S has not been able to provide magical returns.

Now let’s take the case of our Indian markets. The data shows, since 1991 till date the Indian markets (Sensex) has provided a CAGR of 16 per cent. This clearly indicates that expecting extraordinary returns from the equity markets will make it a gambler’s den. One can get only reasonable and sensible returns. The only incentive about investing in equity

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markets is, it generates higher returns than what we get from other asset classes.

So those who want to double their money (in a short span) can try their luck in casino or horse race, the equity market is not the right place for them. Actually, it is not their fault. Equity markets are full of stories which float around only talking about gains one has made, but hardly anyone talks about the losses they have incurred.

The truth is, only expect reasonable returns from the stock market.

Myth # 2.Low priced stock is always better for trading.

The truth is, actually it is not so As it is stated in myth # 1 that, people are lured towards the stock market as they feel, it can double money in no time. And the simple way they take is to invest in low-priced stocks which are also termed as penny stocks. By penny stock, we mean the counter, which is quoting below Rs.10. The idea

behind investing in penny stock is very simple, where they feel that as the counter is trading at a very low price, one can buy in heavy quantity with minimum capital.

For eg. If a share is trading at Rs.5 per share, to buy 10,000 shares, it requires just Rs.50000. Now as soon as there is any movement in the counter (Let’s say even if it reaches Rs.6 per share), one can earn Rs.10000 in the transaction.

So here the volume play helps to earn hefty amount. But I would like to ask, what happens if the stock price declines to Rs.4? Even here the decline is of only rupee one per share, but the loss is on the higher side.

We also have certain reservations about the quality of these scrips in terms of valuation. We always keep on saying that, no company is good or bad. But it is the valuation of the company that makes it good or bad. A low price counter does not necessarily mean the scrip is trading at better valuations. If this has been the case, the counters like Nestle (trading at Rs.6600), Bosch (Rs.24500), TTK Prestige (Rs.4800), MRF (Rs.35255) and Eicher Motors

Here we are trying to break 2 stock market myths which stand in way between expectations and reality which commonly attract investors.

(Rs.19800) are trading at higher levels and hence are not considered to be better investment options?

By valuations, we mean, at what price-earning it is trading?

What is the EV/EBITDA it is trading at? This may seem a bit difficult to some but it is quite easy and the information now a day is freely

available. These basic two factors also help us in avoiding taking wrong decisions. To keep these things simple, one can avoid the counters having an EV/EBITDA of more than 6x for mid-cap companies. For the A Group of large cap companies, this may Extend to 8-10x. Always remember, the scrip which is valued rightly can give you returns better than the overall

market irrespective of its absolute value.

It is our humble request to everyone that before investing please have a look at the valuations and then invest. It is a myth that low priced stocks are better for investments. The truth is the valuation of the company that matters while investingď Ź

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Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen is a practising lawyer at High Court of Kerala who specialises in tax and Corporate Laws. Presently he heads the tax practice of Nash Capital Partners. Prior to Nash, he single-handedly led the entire Tax vertical of KPMG in Kerala.

Apart from being a qualified lawyer, he is also a chartered accountant, cost accountant and a company secretary. He is available at sherryoommen@nashcp.com

The Supreme Court of India in the case of Standard Chartered Bank vs State of Maharashtra held that a Managing Director, Whole-time Director and Executive Director who were in charge of the day to day affairs of the company would be liable for prosecution in a cheque bounce case.

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Introduction The position of a director in a company has over many years been redefined. Briefly, a director acts in a fiduciary capacity. They are appointed to manage the business of the company and are often described as agents or officers of the company as also for being in the position of trustees. The liability of a director stems on account of this special relationship that he holds, which confers on his a responsibility to manage the affairs of the company in a manner beneficial to the interest of the company and its stakeholders. The concerns of liability of a director have also increased thanks to the various promoter driven fraud – Satyam, Liliput, Kingfisher

to name a few, coupled with the arrests of certain high profile individuals, for instance, the arrest of William Scott Pinckney, the Managing Director and CEO of Amway or Stefan David Schlipf, the Managing Director of BMW India Financial Services.

The kinds of appointment of a director are varied. These include Whole-time Directors, Managing Directors, Executive Directors and Independent Directors who are appointed on account of their specialized skill or knowledge that they possess. In this article, I wish to deliberate on the recent developments effecting the liability of directors who are in-charge of the day to day affairs of a company,

Liability of Directors of a company Recent developments

ie, the whole-time Directors, Chairman and Executive Directors, etc.

Typically, directors liability can be classified as liability arising under the Companies Act and liability arising under other laws.

For instance, under Indian Corporate Law, an Independent Director can be held liable only for across of omission or commission by a company that occurred with the directors knowledge or consent or connivance or where he or she has failed to act diligently.

In the case of others, the question of imposing such vicarious liability is not subject to any express limitation or restriction.

Apart from liability under Indian corporate laws, a liability may also face liability under various other laws, such as liability for dishonour of cheques under the Negotiable Instruments Act, offences under various tax laws, violation of exchange control regulations, breach

of the SEBI Act and the regulations framed there under, non-payment of social security contributions like provident fund, Employee State Insurance, violation of local laws, etc.

Liability arising from these violations may not necessarily be limited to Executive Directors. They could also extend to Independent Directors, as well.

Recent developments In corporate law jurisprudence, Courts have held that to quash a complaint against a Director, the latter MUST furnish some sterling incontrovertible material or acceptable circumstance to substantiate his contention. Further, the said director should make out a case that making him stand trial would be an abuse of process of law.

Thus, unless it is shown through impeachable evidence that no offence is made out against the Director, the latter would need to stand trial since quashing of a

complaint is a serious matter.

Quite recently, applying the above-mentioned criteria, the Supreme Court of India in the case of Standard Chartered Bank vs State of Maharashtra (135 SCL 194) held that a Managing Director, Whole-time Director and Executive director who were in charge of the day to day affairs of the company would be liable for prosecution in a cheque bounce case.

Conclusion In view of the above, with the myriad and growing opportunities available for individuals, it is also imperative that directors have welldrafted agreements put in place covering indemnification. Further, it would also be noteworthy to consider Directors and officers liability insurance as a tool. Such insurance and indemnification should sufficiently cover the director even after resignation/ retirement ď Ź

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BANKING

Understanding

MCLR

before availing home loans V Jiz Paul Special General Manager Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd

As most of the NRIs are looking at house property as an investment option and Cochin has always been a favourite market for them.

Every year from my NRI friends seeking information about the real estate prices

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acation season at Middle East is the time when most of the NRIs visit India. A lot of their investment decisions like purchasing of plot or house or flat are taken during these visits. As most of the NRIs are looking at house property as an investment option Cochin has always been a favourite market for them. Every year during these times I get calls from my NRI friends seeking information about the real estate prices, availability, development activities happening in and around Cochin,the progress of Cochin metro etc. Few who are closer even ask me to accompany them during site visits and initial talks with the builder.

This year also a few weeks back one of my classmates was on the lookout for a flat in Cochin and he wanted me to accompany him. We were quite happy with the property we saw. The price seemed to be a little out of the market. More importantly, it was overshooting his budget. After tough negotiations, the builder agreed to reduce the price and for managing the liquidity even offered to arrange housing loan from a bank for him. The deal

was almost done and my friend was very happy.

A few days later I received a call from him at early 6 in the morning.

He started mentioning about the flat property and then said: “Boss I want an expert advice”. I replied; “I am a banker and not a real estate agent who can provide you expert advice on property deals”. He replied “I know you are a banker and that is why I am calling you. I want your expert opinion on how interest rates will move”. Wow!! What a great topic to discuss while you are still half asleep and lying on bed!! I hang up the phone saying I will call back later.

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To know how the interest rates of a home loan moves, you should understand the MCLR. MCLR would serve as the new tenor linked benchmark lending rate at which banks will now lend to new borrowers.

As promised I called him later during the day to find out why he was keen on knowing about how interest rates will move. He said that the builder had introduced him to few banks and housing finance companies. Bankers have been canvassing him saying that as banks have now moved to MCLR regime it would be beneficial for him to avail the housing loan from banks. The housing finance companies, on the other hand, had mentioned to him that interest rates have already reached the lowest ebb, real interest rates are negative even now and thus reversal in trend could happen anytime. They cautioned him that if reversal of interest rate happens then MCLR regime would be disadvantageous to him and thus it is better to avail loan from HFC. Confused and perplexed he had called me basically to help him make a choice.

I mentioned that these are really complicated topics which cannot be explained over the phone. So we agreed to meet during the weekend and following is the gist of what we discussed.

Why MCLR For ensuring quicker and better transmission of monetary policy with special reference to interest rate cuts to ultimate borrowers RBI had in December 2015 instructed banks to follow a new and uniform methodology termed as Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate

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(MCLR) with effect from 01st April 2016. It replaced the base rate system which was introduced

by RBI in July2010. Over a period from July 2010, RBI noticed that though RBI has been very proactive and vibrant in reducing Repo rates the banks were reluctant to reduce base lending rates and there was always a time lag and also there were some “transmission losses�.

For e.g. if RBI reduces Repo rates by 50 basis points in January banks would reduce base rates by 10 to15 basis points by July or even later. To overcome this MCLR was introduced.

Demystifying MCLR MCLR would serve as the new tenor linked benchmark lending rate at which banks will now lend to new borrowers. Unlike under the base rate regime where the average cost of fund was the most important component in determining the base rate, under MCLR it is the marginal cost of fund that is considered. This change in approach will reduce the impact of historical interest rates and help in realigning the lending rates depending on deposit interest rate movements more seamlessly. The other components for arriving at MCLR are Negative Carry on account of CRR, Operating Costs and tenor premium. However, the impact of these elements would be less when compared to the cost of funds. The weightage of marginal cost of funds

in MCLR could be in the range of 70 to 80%, while all other components put together could be in the range of 20 to 30%. As marginal cost of funds are used and deposits being the major source of funds for banks there will be a better correlation between interest rate movement on deposits and advances in the MCLR regime.

MCLR and lending rates It should be noted that MCLR is just a tenor linked benchmark lending rate and the actual lending rate by banks will be different.

The actual lending rate by banks will be determined by adding the components of spread to MCLR. For the sake of uniformity RBI has specified that all banks shall adopt Business strategy ( component arrived at taking into consideration the business strategy, market competition, embedded options on the loan product, market liquidity of the loan etc.) and Credit risk premium (premium charged to the customer representing the default risk arising from loan sanctioned arrived at based on an appropriate credit risk rating/scoring model and after taking into consideration customer relationship, expected losses, collaterals, etc.) as the broad components of spread.

As MCLR is a tenor linked rate all banks have been asked to publish the internal benchmark for 5 tenors Viz overnight, onemonth,

threemonths, six months andone year. In addition to the above, the banks have been given the freedom to publish MCLR of any other longer maturity. Few banks have published upto 7 tenors based MCLR, including 2 years and 3 years MCLR. All loans granted by banks after 01st April 2016 would be linked to MCLR except Loans covered by schemes specially formulated by Government of India wherein banks have to charge interest rates as per the scheme, Working Capital Term Loan (WCTL), Funded Interest Term Loan (FITL), etc. granted as part of the rectification/restructuring package and loans granted under various refinance schemes formulated by Government of India.

Further banks have been given the discretion to price advances against banks own deposits andadvances to banks’ own employees including retired employees.Loans linked to a market determined by external benchmark also can be priced without being linked to MCLR as the benchmark for determining the interest rate. For ensuring that the interest rate movements are reflected in banks MCLR rates within the shortest time possible RBI has insisted that Banks shall review and publish their Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)of different maturities every month on a pre-announced date. For enabling banks to put adequate systems to carry out the review of MCLR on a monthly basis RBI has permitted that for the first year of operation (ie 31st March 2017) banks may review their rates once a quarter on a pre-announced date.

Resetting interest rates The interest rates based on MCLR will be reset. The reset dates can either be based on the date of sanction of the loan/ credit limits or linked to the date of review of MCLR. However, the MCLR prevailing on the day the loan is sanctioned will be applicable till the next reset date, irrespective of the changes in the benchmark during the interim. The periodicity of reset shall be one year or lower,

depending upon the MCLR tenor opted by the customer. Existing loans linked to the Base Rate will continue as such till repayment or renewal, as the case may be.

Thus banks will continue to review and publish Base Rate as earlier.

However, existing borrowers will have the option to move to MCLR linked loan based on mutually acceptable terms. However to protect the interest of customers RBI has specified that such change over should not be treated as a foreclosure of existing facility and thus foreclosure charges shall not be applied.

How MCLR will affect borrowers?

Adoption of marginal cost of funds as against average cost of funds and the mandate that banks should declare MCLR on a monthly will ensure that interest rate changes are transmitted to borrowers in a more fast and effective manner. But the provision for reset period contravenes with the RBI’s objective of quick transmission of monetary policy. However the RBI has capped reset period at one year.

For e.g. if you are availing a housing loan on 01st July 2016 from a bank with once year MCLR as 9.70% and 30 basis points spread the interest rate will be 10.00%. If as per the agreement with the bank the reset period for the housing loan is one year, even though the MCLR is reviewed monthly, and one year MCLR declared on 01st October 2016 is 9.50% you will not enjoy any benefit. Your home loan will be reset only on 01st July 2017. If on 01st July 2017 the one year MCLR declared by the bank is 9.40% and the spread remains the same the rate on your housing loan for the next one year will be 9.70%. Accordingly, your installment or loan tenor may change. On the contrary if on 01st July 2017 the one year MCLR declared by the bank is 9.90% and the spread remains the same the rate on your housing loan for the next one year will be 10.20%. Thus a borrower stands to benefit in a falling interest rate sce-

nario and lose in a raising interest rate scenario.The frequent change in interest rate and the tenure of the loans will make managing long duration loans like home loan rates anvolatile tasks. To avoid lot of complexities most of the banks have specified a standard reset period varying from 6 months to one year MCLR for retail products.

SME and corporate customers have the option to negotiate across the multiple sets of resets starting from overnight MCLR. Though the MCLR of most banks are lower than the base rates there is an element called Spreadwhich will be added to MCLR to determine the actual interest rate for a customer. Thus borrowers should not be carried away only by the MCLR rates quoted by banks.

MCLR being applicable only on floating rate loans, there is a possibility that banks soon could shift to long fixed rate loans. However all loans upto 3 years should be only under MCLR. It may be noted that MCLR is applicable only for banks and not for NBFCs and housing finance companies. So, in case you are not willing to take the risk interest rate volatilities HFCs could be a good option for housing loans. Though interest rates charged by them would be higher there is higher flexibility regarding the quantum of finance also.

Only new loans and loans renewed with effect from 01st April 2017 would be covered under MCLR. Existing customer has an option to switch to MCLR system by specific request. However there will be a cost associated with such switch and the decision to switch should be based on the total cost including MCLR, spread and conversion cost. Once you switch to MCLR regime you will not be able to go back to base rate regime. So it would be better for the existing borrowers to wait for the new system of calculation to settle before deciding to switch loans 

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GADGETS

Motorola Moto G4 (Moto G 4th Gen)

MRP: `12,999 (approximately)

       

Android v6.0 –Marshmallow 13 MP primary camera 8 MP secondary camera 5 inch LCD display 2 GB RAM 16 GB internal memory 32 GB external memory 64- bit Octa Core processor

Panasonic Eluga Note

MRP: 13,290 (approximately)

       

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Android 6.0 OS 16 MP primary camera 5 MP secondary camera 5.5 inch touchscreen 3 GB RAM 32 GB external memory 1.3 GHZ processor 3000 mAh battery capacity

Karbonn A91 Storm

MRP: ` 2,899 (approximately)

       

Android 5.1 OS 2 MP primary camera 0.3 MP secondary camera 4 inch display 512 MB RAM 4 GB external memory 1.2 GHz processor 2200 mAh battery capacity

Panasonic T44 Lite

MRP: ` 3,199 (approximately)        

Android Marshmallow OS 2 MP primary camera 0.3 MP secondary camera 4-inch display 512 MB RAM 8 GB internal memory 1.3 GHz processor 2400 mAh battery capacity

Aug-Sept 2016

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COOKERY

Toshma Biju

CHOCOLATE PASTRY

Ingredients

• • • • • •

Maida........................................250 gm Cocoa powder............................120 gm Vanilla essence..........................3 teaspoons Salt............................................1/2 teaspoon Sugar.........................................130 gm Butter........................................150gm

Method Blend butter, sugar, salt and vanilla for 30 seconds until creamy. Add the cocoa powder and blended for about 1 minute. Put all the flour and mix well for 15 minute. Scrape the pastry out on to a sheet of clingfilm and shape into a flat circle. Wrap and refrigerate. Soften the pastry for 10-15 minutes at room temperature. Unwrap and sandwich between two large pieces of clingfilm. Roll out to about 1/2 cm (1/4 inch) thick. Peel off the top sheet and invert into a greased flan tin. Ease on to the bottom and sides of the tin, then remove the bottom layer of clingfilm. Press the pastry around the pan, then roll the rolling pin over the top of the tin to cut off any excess pastry. Prick the base of the pastry with a fork and refrigerate 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) gas mark 6. Bake blind for 10 minutes. Remove the paper or foil and beans and continue baking for 5 more minutes until just set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

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PINEAPPLE PASTRY Ingredients

• • • • •

Cake sheets............ 2 Cream..................... 2 tablespoons Pineapple essence.. 1 tablespoon Pineapple pieces..... 1 cup Sugar...................... as required

Method Take cream and sugar in a blender and blend well. In a bowl take sugar water and add pineapple essence mix well and keep it aside. Now, take the cake sheets, sprinkle sugar water, spread the blended cream evenly add some fresh pineapple pieces and then another layer of cake sprinkle sugar water and spread the cream over the cake.

STRAWBERRY PASTRY

Method

Ingredients

• • • • • • • •

Frozen puff pastry.......................1 package Fresh strawberries.......................5 cups (sliced) White chocolate..........................170 gm (chopped) Cheese.........................................1 cup Vanilla extract..............................1 teaspoon Sugar...........................................1 cup Milk powder.................................1/3 cup Cream..........................................2 cups

Thaw one puff pastry sheet. Unfold pastry; cut lengthwise into three-in-wide strips. Cut each strip into thirds, making nine squares. Place 1 in a part on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 400° for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Place 21/2 cups strawberries in a blender; cover and puree; set it aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Add cream cheese and vanilla; beat until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar and malted milk powder until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Split pastry squares in half horizontally.

Line an ungreased 13-inch X 9inch dish with bottom pastry halves, cut side up; spread with 31/2 cups strawberry cream. Top with 1 cup of sliced berries. Cover with pastry tops, cut side down. Spread with remaining strawberry.

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APPLE PASTRY

Ingredients

Method

• • • • • • • •

Combine the lemon and water in a bowl. Place the sliced apples in the water to keep them from browning.

Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Drain water from apples, and place them into the hot pan. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Add brown sugar, and cinnamon, and cook, stirring, for 2 more minutes. Stir together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Pour into the pan, and mix well. Cook for another minute, or until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat to cool slightly.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F Unfold puff pastry sheets, and repair any cracks by pressing them back together. Trim each sheet into a square. Then cut each larger square into 4 smaller squares. Spoon apples onto the centre of each squares. Fold over from corner to corner into a triangle shape, and press edges together to seal. Place turnovers on a baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until turnovers are puffed and lightly browned. Cool completely before glazing. To make the glaze, mix together the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Adjust the thickness by adding more sugar or milk if necessary. Drizzle glaze over the cooled turnovers.

• • •

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Apples.............................. 5 (peeled, cored and sliced) Lemon juice.................... 2 1/2 tablespoons Water............................... 4 cups Butter.............................. 2 tablespoons Sugar............................... 1 cup Cinnamon....................... 1 teaspoon Cornstarch...................... 1 ½ tablespoon Frozen puff pastry sheets.................... 1 package Sugar............................... 1 cup Milk................................. 11/2 tablespoon Vanilla extract.................. 1 teaspoon

Aug-Sept 2016

Imported and Marketed by

CLASSIC ASSOCIATES O.S. 58, G.C.D.A. Shopping Complex 4th floor Marine Drive, Kochi- 682031, Kerala, India Call us: 0484 - 3043133 Email: nishijith.john@gmail.com

Aug-Sept 2016

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BEAUTY

M

onsoon is a challenging period for every person in many ways.

While it plays the role as an obstacle for our day to day activities in the form of a major role playing in the disruption of electricity and traffic, the moist environment and occurrence of the heavy shower may pose a threat to the steadfastness of one’s appearance and most importantly, health! The last thing one needs is to show up at the office completely drenched, therefore a bigger challenge for women. As we live in god’s own country, women here have adapted to this climate through their lifestyle and it is necessary to be the perfect disciples of Charles Darwin when it comes to maintaining one’s looks

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Monsoon in your lagoon:

Lifestyle tips to adapt during each season and learn to adapt. So here are some lifestyle tips through which you could adapt your physical appearance and health during the heavy monsoon:

Attires and Jewels

Based on one’s working conditions, men and women tend to wear the specific dress. Completely avoid silky clothes during monsoon as most of them are not supposed to be drenched and will ruin the material. Avoid wearing the kind of materials that takes a lot of time to dry, it will shoot up the budget as well as the time consumption.

Make sure that you carry your umbrella/raincoat. Protect the upper portion of your body during heavy rain. Whatever jewellery your wear make sure you avoid silver and other metals that tend to fade or rust. Exposure to moistness will lead rustiness and you may have to buy another one. When you go outdoors, keep your watches inside. Make sure that you stay alerted while wearing bracelets and anklets.

Food

Our BMR increases during monsoon season because of which we feel more hungry than usual during monsoon. At the same time make sure you eat accordingly.

Have an egg every morning as it

will help with your BMR and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. One may feel tempted to have snacks occasionally but it will distort the usual calorie levels so replace fruits with snacks during those intervals and having badam or cashew nuts will also help in both hunger management and health process.

Do not go to bed with an empty stomach. Reduce the amount of ghee and oil in your food but it is a good time to experiment and cook the best hot food items. Make sure that the meat items are consumed the day of purchase and avoid storage as it may lead to the growth of clostridium botilinum which is hazardous to health. Drink water from aqua guard or after boiling/cooling.

Avoid juice items from open shops.

Chances of getting gastroenteritis/ dysentery/jaundice are high during monsoon.

Health The immunity levels will come down during the monsoon along with the accumulation of more flu virus/bacteria strains in water and air. Along with that, the chances of getting skin rashes, pimples and dry skin are much more. An occasional oil bath is very good for the skin. Wash your face at regular intervals, dry skin does not guarantee health. Keep a face tissue pack with you. Dip them in

water occasionally and apply it on your skin. Make sure that the top of your head is dry all the time.

Cover that area in case you are out during rain, as the chances of getting cough or cold is high if you head is wet. Avoid bathing at night during monsoon season as the body temperature might go down.

Skin and Hair

Just do the three important things to maintain your skin. Avoid heavy makeup as the rainwater will distort it, at the same time it will lead to accumulation of foreign bodies leading to most diseases, notably fever. Limit it to talcum powder, lip gloss, lip moisture and eye makeup. Wear moisturising cream before going out. Have an oil bath occasionally for better maintenance of your skin and the smoothness.

And lastly, don’t bath in hot water or freezing cold water especially if you have allergic rhinitis. Just warm it to tolerable levels as it is better in terms of adapting.Give your hair oil bath thrice a week and shampoo whenever you have been to any heavily polluted areas. Dry hair requires moisturising.

Hopefully, these tips will ease your days during the showers that might come out of the blue. Have a great monsoon!

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Compared with other European tourist trips, an Albanian trip is less expensive. The least-populated beaches, unspoilt tourist locations and stranded Mediterranean villages will give you a homely feeling.

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Albania a splendid world of ancient castles Aug-Sept 2016

49

Apollonia showcase the rich history of Albanians. It will take us to the glorious past.

We can see libraries, temples, theatres and many more unexpected things among these historical ruins.

T

he small Balkan nation located in the South-eastern Europe is the leastexplored region in the continent. It shares the border with Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Montenegro. The magnificent coastlines, ancient castles, ottoman architecture, and ancient historical ruins gift it an additional beauty.

Compared with other European tourist trips, an Albanian trip will be less expensive.

Most of the tourist locations in the country are unspoilt.

The least-populated beaches and stranded Mediterranean villages will give you a homely feeling. The land of Albania

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has had an eventful past. Several times it witnessed foreign invasions. It has even experienced communist revolution.

However, the post-communist era was the period of stability and growth. The country has quickly embraced the western economic system and successfully transformed into a capitalist nation. Today, Albania is the member of NATO, WTO, Union of Mediterranean, and several other capitalist organisations.

When we think about this fabulous nation, Berat will be the first location that crawls into our memory. This ancient city is popularly known as the

city of thousand windows.

Kalaja, the oldest castle, is the prime tourist attraction in the region. Interestingly, thousands of people are still residing in this old castle.

Apart from the Ottoman architecture and historical buildings, the church of St. Mary of Blacherane is the other popular tourist location.

In 2008, the UNESCO had marked this city into the list of the World Heritage sites.

Albanian Riviera situated in the south-west region of the country is popular for its music and fun. It has hosted some International music concerts, like Soundwave Albania

and Turtle Fest. Notably, we could categorise this coastline as one of the peaceful beaches of Europe.

Apart from swimming, sunbath, and music, the night clubs are the other attractions of the region. In order to celebrate their weekends, the European youths from across the continent frequent to this destination. Folie Marine and Havana Beach Club are some of the finest clubs where you can enjoy a mesmerising weekend.

Apollonia was an important city in the ancient world. It is named after the God Apollon. This ancient city is exactly located in the heart of the county. The ruins of the Apollonia showcase the rich history of Albanians. It will take us to the glorious past. We can see libraries, temples, theatres and many more unexpected things among these historical ruins. It will give us a brief insight over the depth of Albanian civilisation.

Durries is the cultural capital of the Albania. Throughout the year, several cultural programs are held here. This harbour city is one of the oldest cities in the Balkan

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Tirana is the capital of Albania. Unlike the other European capitals, Tirana serves low-cost food and drinks. So, the cost of living is comparatively very low.

country. The Durries Archaeological Museum, the Aleksander Moisiu Theatre and the Royal Villa are the main attractions of this region. The biggest amphi theatre of the Balkan land in situated in this city. The mesmerising festivals, frequently organised by the city administrators and local groups, are gradually turning this city into a land of happiness.

Tirana is the capital of Albania.

Once, it was the least developed region of the Europe. But now, it has abruptly changed into a met-

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ropolitan city. It has become the epicentre of economy and politics.

The city is filled with government buildings and offices. There are certainly, very few, must-see tourist locations in the city. Et’hem Beymosque and Skanderbeg Square could be included in that list. They are worth visiting. Skanderbeg Square is named after the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg. In the heart of the square, we could found a giant statue of the Albanian hero.

Unlike the other European capitals, Tirana serves low-cost food and drinks. So, the cost of living is

comparatively very low.

The Albanians are friendly people. The Balkan country offers some unspoilt locations. The peculiarity of this land is its less crowded beaches and mesmerising castles. An Albanian trip may not be as expensive as a standard European journey. The Mediterranean villages, historic castles and the old towns will take you to the ancient Europe.

Plan a trip to Albania! It’s worth visiting! 

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AUTO REVIEW

VIVEK VENUGOPAL

The Redi-Go uses the same 799cc three cylinder DOHC engine as in the Kwid, producing 53bhp and 72Nm torque. This being a light car, has the best power to weight ratio in its segment.

The engine has good drivability around town.

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The Datsun REDI-GO

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AUTO REVIEW

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he Datsun Redi-Go is the third offering from Nissan’s sub brand in India. It is an entry-level car that will sit alongside the Renault Kwid from the same group and take on the Alto and Eon. The idea of having a sub brand to an already budget brand like Nissan or Renault is something we don’t quite get, especially since Nissan itself is yet to properly establish here. The Indian car buyers haven’t quite taken well to the Datsun brand yet and things were only made worse last year when the Go performed poorly in the global NCAP crash

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tests. Well, it is time to claw it all back and the Redi-Go is their best shot yet.

The Redi-Go is based on the same low cost CMFA architecture as the Kwid and shares a lot of mechanical bits with it including its engine. While the Kwid is designed to look like a mini SUV, the Redi-Go is styled very differently to be a city car. It is about 25cms shorter, a tad narrower and a bit taller than the Kwid.

That makes it rather easier to park, get through gaps in traffic and easy to get in and out of. The styling is quite radical with big family grill at the front flanked

on either side by elongated wrap around head lamps.

Fake skid plates at the front and rear in contrasting silver, LED day time running lamps and multiple curves on the front bumper make for a dramatic front end. There is a character line that starts at the front bumper and forms a shoulder line around the car. Another crease starts lower down on the doors and rises sharply to meet the tail lamps. These, along with the beefed up wheel arches are quite bold design elements for what is really an economy car. That said, the design isn’t for everyone, but it definitely helps

While the Kwid is designed to look like a mini SUV, the Redi-Go is styled very differently to be a city car. It is about 25cms shorter, a tad narrower and a bit taller than the Kwid.

the car stand out in a crowd.

Step inside and you’d appreciate that the Redi-Go has kept cost cutting behind the curtains. The dashboard and plastics don’t feel that cheap, although they are not in the league of the Hyundai Eon. There is a dedicated vent on the centre console for rear passengers like in the old Ford Ikon. Equipment levels are good with the driver getting an analogue speedo and a digital tachometer with full

MID, front power windows, driver airbag and an audio system. The car is tall enough for you to walk into it. The front seats offer good view ahead and the rear seats offer good headroom although the backrest angle is a bit upright. The 222 litre boot, though, nowhere near as large as the Kwid’s (300L), is still larger than an Alto’s (177L). Irritating bits on the interior include rear seat belts that don’t retract on their own and lack of proper sound deadening in the cabin to keep road

and engine noise out.

The Redi-Go uses the same 799cc three cylinder DOHC engine as in the Kwid, producing 53bhp and 72Nm torque. This being a light car, has the best power to weight ratio in its segment. The engine isn’t the most free revving unit of the lot, but it has good drivability around town. You can upshift early and effortlessly keep up with the traffic around you. It takes a little over 15 second to get to 100kmph,

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but you are best left sticking to 80 kmph with this motor. The clutch is light and gear shifts are positive, if a bit rubbery to slot in. The only area where the engine department leaves you complaining is the NVH. The engine sounds coarse and noisy from the outside, and there is too much vibration at idle.

Things get better once you are on the move and have your windows rolled up.

The Redi-Go offers 185mm ground clearance, which coupled with the short wheelbase and tiny

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overhangs gives it an advantage on bad roads. The ride quality is a bit stiffer than what you get in an Alto and the car never feels settled at high speeds. That said, it absorbs bumps rather well and secondary vibrations are well contained. The car maintains good composure in corners, despite the tall suspension setup leading to massive body roll.

The thin tyres eventually give up the plot with manageable understeer settling in. The steering feels overtly light while the brakes need a bit more effort although they stop

the car rather well.

If you are after a basic city car with good styling and tall seating position, the Datsun Redi-Go is worth the shot. It comes with enough room inside, decent equipments list, an engine that has ample power and fuel efficiency, a decent sized boot and is backed by a 5 year, unlimited kilometer warranty. Datsun also claims the RediGo will have the cheapest running costs in its class and will be highly reliable in the long runď Ź

AN APPEAL TO SUPPORT “MISSION COMPASSION”

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NEW VEHICLES

Chevrolet Adra

Price range: above `8 Lakh Launching on: August, 2016

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n order to meet the growing demand of bigger family cars, the General Motors are now looking forward to launching Chevrolet Adra. The car has been developed over Gamma 2 platform. It will be a perfect budget SUV for an ordinary Indian family. It will be available in both diesel and petrol variants.

Hyundai i30 Price: above `18 lakh Launching on: December, 2016

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t’s a perfect five-seater car with an elegant classy look. It stays odd with its predecessors for their sporty design. It is totally focused on the middle-class family sector. It will be a perfect pick for an ordinary family. This car is popularly known as Elantra.

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Renault Kaptur

Price: above `10 lakh Launching on: 2017

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t’s the new product for the middle class market from the French automobile manufacturer, Renault. The Renault Kaptur is a small SUV. The new stylish car shares engine with the popular Renault’s SUV, Duster. Entering of bigger players has slightly faded Renault’s shine. With its new product, it is likely to regain its lost glory with in no time.

Volkswagen Ameo 1.5 TDI

Price: : above `6 lakh Launching on: August, 2016

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he car is the German conglomerate’s first offering to the Indian compact sedan market. The car comes with attractive price package is expected to jolt the Indian market. It will be available both in petrol and diesel variants.

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MOVIE REVIEW

Madaari

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ith a different narrative style the director, Nishikant Kamat, tries to catch our attention towards the complicated subjects, like corruption and public responsibility, in his latest film, Madaari.

The single line description of the movie went viral in the social medias. It reads: a man seeks accountability after losing everything in a disaster. Irfan Khan, appearing in the lead role as Nirmal Kumar, conveys thousands of emotions through his expressive eyes.

Basically, the film is an emotional, kidnap drama. Along with Jimmy Sherqill, Tushar Dalvi, and Nitish Pandey, the child actor, Vishesh Bansal, appear in the key roles.

The crime drama is receiving positive response from across the globe.

Kabali

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his action drama is a typical ‘Super Star’ film. It has creatively incorporated all those stylish sequences that a Rajini fan expects from his superhero. It is the third film of the rising director, Pa Ranjith, who has carved a unique space in the Tamil movie industry with his extraordinary direction skills. The film revolves around an old gangster, who tries to protect his family members from his rivals. Along with the superstar, Rajinikanth, Bollywood actress Radhika Apte, Attakathi Dinesh and Winiston Chao is appearing in the prominent roles. It is said that the film is likely to break all collection records of the Indian film history.

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Ghostbusters

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he film is a comic drama. It revolves around a paranormal researcher, physicist, engineer and a New Yorker. The four funny ladies are trying to prove that ghosts exist in the modern societies.

Though the storyline is not so impressive, the film is taking us to a different world of disposable comedies. You might not find it hard to digest, even if you are not a comic fan. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones appear in the lead roles. This comic action drama is directed by renowned director Paul Feig.

Free State of Jones

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t is a kind of late revelation of a littleknown story of the American civil war. The fascinating story revolves around a Mississippi farmer, Newton Knight, who had led a rebellion against the confederacy with the help of renegade slaves. The director, Gary Ross, has carefully narrated the unintended career of a, so called, betrayer’s leader.

It is evident from the storyline that Knight was incidentally fallen prey to the circumstances. Matthew McConaughey shows complete justice to his challenging character. Keri Russell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Mahershala Ali are the other prominent stars acting in the film. It is a perfect action drama with an impressive story of blood-soaked civil war.

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BOOK REVIEW

Ace against Odds Author : Sania Mirza, Imran Mirza, Shivani Guptha Price : `499 (approximately)

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t is an unexaggerated story about a real tennis legend, Sania Mirza.

She herself wrote this book with the help of two of her co-authorities. Sania’s life was always controversial. She has gone through several ups and downs. Even her marriage triggered unnecessary scoops.

In her book, she has consciously aggregated all those disturbing issues to showcase how she emerged as a top tennis player fighting all these odds. The inspirational book will be a worthy pick for those who needs a little motivation. Even if you possess some prejudiced opinion about Sania, once you finish with this book the six-time Grand slam champion will definitely become your start icon.

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable Author : Amitav Ghosh Price : `399 (approximately)

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hrough his non-fiction book, the writer points out that not even our cultural community has paid any serious enthusiasm in defending the climate change. He reminds his audience that we have reached an extreme edge where we cannot simply blame our predecessors for being inefficient and least bothered. It also discusses how the climate crisis is making substantial changes in the writing style of contemporary writers. The book shoots thousands of disturbing questions at the contemporary writers, particularly fiction writers. It questions the incapability of the modern writers in adopting sensitive subjects, like global warming, climate change and environmental issues.

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BOOK REVIEW

Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America Author : Donald J Trump Price : `1006 (approximately)

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he book written by the Republican US president candidate is not less than a well-written rightist manifesto. It discusses several complicated issues related to the right-wing politics. It gives suggestion on how we can bring back the past glory of US. In some sections, unfortunately, the non-fiction work merely reduced to a campaigning tool. Anyway, it suggests several options to regain the past glory of the US. Through his book, Trump assures that he may not be an inactive supremo. Moreover, he assures that he will reinstate the sovereign status of the country by protecting its indigenous population. He writes about the need to making a quick political revamp. The writer helps us to acquire a brief insight about the present global political scenario, particularly from the rightist point of view.

The Secret Language of Stones Author : M J Rose Price : `1,678 (approximately)

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t is a fabulous, historic tale of love and loss. It takes us to the disturbing era of World War One. The fictional novel clearly articulates the devastation of the fatal war upon the hearts of those people who remain as living victims. The novel revolves around a young jewel maker residing in the most beautiful city in Europe, Paris. It clearly depicts several historical situations. In addition, it provides us with a deep insight into the emotional reactions of the helpless peoples living in the war distorted countries. Basically, it’s an irking fictional work. But, in several sections, it has creatively broken all boundaries of a typical fiction and intruded into the nonfictional territory harmlessly.

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Printed On 01/ 08/ 2016

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RNI Reg No. KERENG/2011/42633

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