August

Vol 7 Issue No.82 Aug. - Sept. 2018

THE SAGA OF SAJ Mini Sajan Varghese CEO, SAJ Resorts

Dr. Manmohan Singh The architect of India’s Rebirth Shri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

IVORY COAST: the Gem of West Africa

"L'architettura Italiana del Bagno"

Italian luxury designer sanitaryware

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Printed by: Ajit Ravi Published by: Ajit Ravi Owned by: Ajit Ravi Printed at: St. Reddiar & Sons 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 2532040, 2532080 Mob:+91 98460 50283, 94470 50283 Editor Ajit Ravi Sub-Editor Vignesh S.G Associate Editor Ravi Saini Editor-In-charge Jebitha Ajit Legal Advisor Latha Anand B.S.Krishnan Associates bskrishnanassociates@gmail.com Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile Amrutha V Kumar Karthika S Nair Marketing UAE Phygicart.com P.O. Box: 92546, Al Karama Dubai Mr. Anish K Joy Mob: +971528946999 info@phygicart.com Tamil Nadu Vice president Uma Riyas Khan chennai, Mob: 9841072955 Unique Times, No.6/31, Arunachalam main road, Saligramam, Chennai – 600093 Andhrapradesh & Karnataka PEGASUS Ph: 09288800999 Sunilkumar NN, Saneesh Ashok Your wing Dr. Susan S Sunny Director Shwetha Menon Photographer Ashique Hassan Creative Design PEGASUS Cover Photograph Mini Sajan Varghese CEO, SAJ Resorts

Editorial A

ristotle Onassis was a Greek shipping magnate who amassed the world's largest privately owned shipping fleet and was one of the world's richest and famous men. While defining success, he said: “The secret to success is to know something nobody else knows."

Mini Sajan Varghese is a business entrepreneur follows the very same path of success by trying to create a unique signature in whatever she does. Her journey was slow, but steady. Though she started her career as an accountant, soon she took hold of the situation and became one of the most superior decision makers in the SAJ's hotel business sector.

Mini Sajan Varghese, wife of one of the directors of SAJ Holdings Pvt Ltd, Kanjirakattu Sajan Varghese, is now the Chief Executive Officer of the SAJ Resorts. Saj hotel is currently having fours ventures viz. SAJ Earth Resort (Cochin), SAJ Hideout (Vagamon), SAJ Resort (Thekkady) and SAJ Luciya (Trivandrum). Upcoming projects in line are SAJ Kumarakom, Marari and Alleppey. Don’t miss our cover story which unravels Mini Sajan Varghese’s life and philosophy.

Sharing India’s former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s great economic vision which transformed India, Chairman and Managing Director of Manappuram Finance V.P. Nandakumar explains reasons to choose Dr. Manmohan Singh for the first V.C. Padmanabhan Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award. In travel, our team explores a rare tourist-friendly nation of West Africa, the Ivory Coast. Our expert on Auto introduces the newly revamped version of Hyundai’s Creta.

Other regular staples on gadgets, banking, movie and books are there.

Hope, you relish it forever.

Dr. Ajit Ravi

The celebrations of variety come to a full circle when hearts get together.

We are with you offering a satisfying range of apparels. Celebrate the togetherness of Onam indulged in colours; with The Chennai Silks

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CONTENTS

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38

Dr. Manmohan Singh: The architect of India’s rebirth

12

Doing Business with an inclusive mindset

16

The saga of saj

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Goods and Services Taxkey decisions of the GST council

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Cambodia, a Kerala beyond the seas

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44

46

50

52

58

44

Gadgets

46

Recipes

50

Simple modest yet punchy: how to dress in an elegant way

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Ivory Coast: the Gem of West Africa

58

Hyundai Creta

UNIQUE DIARY

Bayer and IFC to join hands with Big Basket to help Indian small holder farmers

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erman based agro-chemical conglomerate Bayer and International Finance Cooperation are set to join hands with e-commerce company Big Basket to help the Indian small holder farmers to gain more profit from the agricultural products they produce in the small portion of land they have. The conglomerates are expected to help the farmers to gain technical assistance and to access profitable markets in a timely manner. There are reports that some local financial organisations and insurance companies would also join the alliance led by the German conglomerate in the near future. In the preliminary stage, the program will be implemented in the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Centre directs states to contain ‘Fertiliser Black-Marketing’

''In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later''.

Harold S. Geneen

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n an attempt to weed out those elements which disturb the smooth functioning of the Indian agricultural sector, the central government, which is extremely committed to improve the agricultural sector of the country, has directed all state government, particularly the governments of those states which are the best performers in the sector, to initiate necessary measures to contain the black-marketing of ‘subsidised fertilisers’.On this regard, the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Rao Inderjit Singh, has released an official statement in the parliament. While speaking in the house, he has admitted that in the past several cases of fertiliser black-marketing were reported from the states.

Trade Unions boycott centre’s consultation on proposed labour code on social security

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lmost all trade unions, except those trade unions which support the central government and its policies unconditionally such as BMS, has boycotted the consultation, arranged by the Union Labour Ministry, on the proposed labour code on social security, which is likely to scrap nearly fifteen social security labour laws if it is implemented. In a letter sent to Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, the labour unions have tried to justify their act by saying that the central government had taken no effort to consider the suggestions made by the trade unions in the previous meetings convened for the same purpose.

The labour unions have even called the boycotted consultation a sham consultation.

NITI Aayog advises CPSEs to channelize their CSR funds towards ‘Aspirational Districts’

''I think a simple rule of business is, if you do the things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress''.

Mark Zuckerberg

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he National Institution for Transforming India has advised the Central Public Sector Enterprises to channelize their Corporate Social Responsibility funds to meet the health, education and nutritional requirements of those regions which come under the Aspirational Districts Programme. The suggestion has been made by the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, while addressing a meeting organised for the CPSEs. It is believed that if the CPSEs utilise the funds in accordance with the suggestions made by the NITI Aayog, the regions which come under the ADP would witness a tremendous growth in the near future. There are reports that the NITI Aayog is presently working closely with the ADP regions to formulate development plans.

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UNIQUE DIARY

India’s export to BRICS increases by 7.5 per cent in ‘Q1 2018’

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howcasing clearly that the world’s largest democracy is following a healthy growth track, the total export of India to BRICS countries has marked a promising increase of nearly 7.5 per cent in terms of the total volume in the Quarter One of the Financial Year 2018, compared to the same period last year.

The healthy Import-Export relation between the member countries of BRICS is vital for the overall growth of the member countries of the Economic Union, which comprises of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and India. Notably, the total import of India from BRICS has reduced considerably by over 3.5 per cent in this aforesaid Quarter.

TN sugar mill owners request state’s interference to tackle ‘business crises’

''The business of art is to reveal the relation between man and his environment''.

D. H. Lawrence

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he sugar mill owners of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu has requested their state government to help tackle the crises that engulfed the sugar business sector due to the issue of the years of less-than-satisfactory rainfall. For the last five years, the state has been experiencing the issue of less-than-desired rainfall.

It has badly affected the production of the raw materials required to run the sugar factories. The sugar mill owners, while meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, have requested financial assistance from the state government. They have also sought adequate measures to revoke certain tough regulations applied on the sector.

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LIMITED EDITION

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FOR TRADE ENQUIRIES

9846050283

BUSINESS

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

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n August 4, 2018, at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Former Prime Minister of India, will receive the first V.C. Padmanabhan Memorial Lifetime Achievement

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The economic reforms of 1991 provided a strong foundation for the economy to grow at a faster pace than ever before. In recent years, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing leading economies of the world.

It has become possible only because of those far reaching reforms helmed by Dr. Singh while holding the position of Finance Minister.

Award. The award will be presented to Dr. Singh by none other than Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble Former President of India.

We all know Dr Manmohan Singh as the architect of India’s landmark economic reforms of

1991. He is an economist of international repute who came into politics and went on to scale the highest positions in government.

He took charge as Finance Minister in 1991 under Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narashimha Rao, at a time

Dr. Manmohan Singh: THE Architect of India’s Rebirth when the Indian economy was on the brink of collapse. The country was heading towards bankruptcy when Dr. Singh pressed ahead with radical reforms that would go on to reshape India’s destiny. Industrial output took off, jobs were created, and millions were pulled out of poverty. When we look back at what has been achieved since then, there is no doubt that the moment when Dr. Singh rose to deliver an impassioned speech to present the budget of 1991 is the moment that marks India’s rebirth.

History will record India’s year of birth as 1947 but for millions of Indians, the true meaning of freedom could be realised only after 1991 when our masses could be freed from poverty and disease in greater measure than ever before.

Many more could now look forward with hope for a better life for themselves and for their children.

The bold reforms of 1991 were conceived by Dr Singh who went

to the Prime Minister with the message that India needed difficult reforms to move forward. To the credit of the then Prime Minister, he supported Dr. Singh to the hilt.

Thus began a difficult restructuring of the Indian economy when it was opened up to competition with a larger role for the private sector, and a diminished role for the government.

The new industrial policy ended public sector monopoly in many sectors and opened the doors for foreign direct investment. The overvalued rupee was depreciated in two phases which gave a nudge to exports. Trade policy was liberalised by replacing quantitative restrictions with tariffs which were gradually lowered to open up the economy to competition. In 1990-91, the weighted average import tariff was 125 percent which was brought down to 71 percent within two years. With the support from International Monetary Fund

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BUSINESS

(IMF), Dr Singh implemented major macroeconomic adjustments, a mix of monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies meant to reduce internal and external imbalances. The government’s finances were brought under control and the unlimited monetisation of the fiscal deficit was ended. Economic conditions became conducive for entrepreneurship to flourish even as the government increased corporate tax from 40 to 45 percent to ensure funds to fulfil its social commitments.

The results became apparent within a few years. Trade registered significant growth over pre-liberal-

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isation period. The ratio of exports of goods and services to GDP doubled to 14 percent in 2000 from 7.3 in 1990. In the same period, the ratio of total goods and services trade to GDP increased from 17.2 percent to 30.6 percent.

The economic reforms of 1991 provided a strong foundation for the economy to grow at a faster pace than ever before. In recent years, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing leading economies of the world. It has become possible only because of those far reaching reforms helmed by Dr. Singh while holding the position of Finance Minister.

Today, I believe India owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Singh which can never be truly redeemed. And this award to Dr. Manmohan Singh is only a humble gesture of recognition of a man who has made a lasting difference to our lives. And we consider ourselves truly fortunate that the recipient of the first V.C. Padmanabhan Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement is also one of India’s tallest sons

V.P. Nandakumar is MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd. Views are personal.

BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair Asociate partner-markets, Ernst & Young LLP Rajesh is also the President of the Kerala Chapter of TiE Global

For a country which houses the largest population of ‘poor’ people, we don’t even understand the meaning of the word ‘poor’. The lexicon defines poor ‘the state of having little or no money, goods, or other means of support’. The focus of this article is on the necessity to indulge more and how this aspect of the economy needs to capture each Indian professional’s mind space-at least a small niche.

Doing Business with an inclusive mindset

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decade ago ‘Social Business’ had been considered an oxymoron, indicating that they are seemingly divergent economic paths. Several leading social entrepreneurs have proved over the years that it is not true and social businesses thrive when they are looked at as businesses and not philanthropy. Prof Mohammad Yunus , the Nobel laureate 2006 for peace, has been widely recognised as the father of the ‘microcredit’ business ecosystem he originally developed in Bangladesh under the aegis of the Grameen Bank and spread it across the world. His fundamental tenet in the microcredit movement has been to ‘use business principles to solve social issues’. The compelling thought also is ‘social problems’ are not for ‘others’ to solve, but for every individual to roll up their sleeves and do their bit.

Prof Yunus spoke at the recent social business lecture series hosted by ESAF Bank, and came out several thought provoking ideas.

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An interesting sociological shift we see around us is the ever growing divide between the ‘haves and the have nots’. While it seems so outside our remit to even think of anything beyond ourselves and the immediate circle of family of friends, it serves well to remind ourselves that we are all elements in the large societal ecosystem we live in and are positively and negatively affected by the changes that are in motion around us. There are, yet, consolatory voices which say that ‘but we are more connected to everyone right now’, and social media has brought us close than ever before. Well, the jury is fairly clear on this one –we are con-

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organizations which have been nected and perhaps more so than around for ages like the Rotary, ever in the past but each of these Lions and many more affiliated connections remain the vestige of International, national and regional faceless calls and language texts on association. All of them have solid your smart phone. There are mobylaws and structure which are ments when we feel that we need here to garner time and support to indulge more and do more and, of likeminded people and gather then, we just move on the next forces to do social good. The polio fire and into another moment of eradication thoughts. with the supSo this portend port of the to a selfish society?

Rotary InternaOr a world which tional is a clasdoes not care for An interesting idea is sic case of how each other and to involve students in anonymous are too inward focused. It is defisocial entrepreneurship people around nitely not that pesprojects in schools and the world battled a disease simistic! Intuitivecolleges. Humans are with gumption ly, all of us know wired to become and dedication that it is important entrepreneurs. and killed it to to help others, or extinction. The to service someone charters of all who requires help. these societies or clubs or forums The gaps are in the lack of avenues are with the best intentions and and opportunities for us to step out with the verve to provide a platform of our personal cocoons –or at least for all likeminded people who can that is what the consensus point to. contribute to a large common good.

So, how does one go about it? The What eventually happens, at times, beginning is to focus not just on is that these groups become more selfishness, but also selflessness! an extended business or career For starters, there are enough

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networking platform and the basic ethos of the very idea of formation dissipates with time. Another cardinal mistake some of them make is to seek new members ‘who are like them’ –similar profiles, similar younger people– brining in a diversity gap, which becomes a deficient component to generate the best of good ideas.

An interesting idea is to involve students in social entrepreneurship projects in schools and colleges.

Humans are wired to become entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is not just starting a venture but a way of thinking and a way of life. It is the constant quest to do better, to doggedly follow improvements and to develop the keenness to make a difference. He regularly sees jobs being the end of creativity and people become just a ‘pair of hands’ doing things without thinking and without the zest to make a difference. One gets worried when educated creative young people say that they can’t find employment, when just opening your eyes can open you to a panorama of problems for you to solve and create a business out of. Prof Yunus says

with a chuckle that we are fortunate that our forefathers did not wait to be given jobs but went about foraging, hunting and feeding themselves and their families.

Another very interesting concept proposed by his is the phases of life according to Prof Yunus, we should meter our lives into two phases. The first phase is to create wealth and happiness for us and our dear ones and then to create wealth and happiness for others.

He says making money will make you happy but helping someone to make money will make you super happy. We are biologically engineered to be selfish but we also need to be consciously selfless.

That psyche will take us to a world of three zeros –Zero poverty, Zero unemployment, Zero carbon Emission!

For a country which houses the largest population of ‘poor’ people, we don’t even understand the meaning of the word ‘poor’. The lexicon defines poor ‘the state of having little or no money, goods, or other means of support’. The focus of this article is on the necessity to indulge more and how this aspect of the economy needs to capture each Indian professional’s mind space –at least a small niche.

Corporations have created a proxy to rid themselves of this ‘guilt’ –CSR (Corporate Social

Responsibility). The broad activities entail short term measures of charity and some clearly lack the vision to create models of sustainable support. To mull further, we just need to remember the biblical parable of ‘transitioning from giving fish to teaching fishing’. The action oriented implementation steps needed to eradicate poverty is in itself presents ‘rich economics’ –wealth distribution channels, the psychology of savings, the need for civil society to indulge more in building activities and similar initiatives, brick by brick.

While a normative four point plan is too ambitious a mandate, such a list tends to help us organize our thoughts and action

1.Observe around you Observing our neighborhood and surroundings is a start.

It helps us shift focus from big picture questions to narrow down to our own realities. When we look around and identify the ‘poor’ and their activities, we get more ideas on what they require and what will make a difference. It is often our mental makeup of ‘what they want’ that completely throws us off direction. A good walk around your home with an inquisitive perusal and a perceptive mind can throw more inputs that intellectualizing at the policy drawing boards for years.

2.Analysing what we observe Analysis entails asking several questions on we have observed: what do they do; what do they buy; what do they do about their health and the health of their children; what are the choices they make; do they think about tomorrow; are they organized; do they take decisions; what are the government organizations doing; what is the real help they require –livelihoods, healthcare and education; what will sustain on a long term basis; and many more. The intention is not to get everything correct and build a blue print or a road map.

The success of each action is much more short term. A few actions and the commitment to follow through is the only thing which is needed.

There are NGOs and government initiatives which are searching for volunteers, helpful hands and kind minded people who are ready to spare a small fraction of their time.

3.Associating with organized sectors like Microcredit It is ultimately about knowing the lives and choices of the poor that tell us how to fight poverty globally and locally. One of the sectors which work hands-on in this area is Microfinance. It may not be the miracle or the magic bullet to the various issues, but the sector has hands-on experience on the various issues we need answers for. It has revealed that the small financial loans to self help groups (SHG) are more effective than the token subsidies. There is established evidence of improvement in hygiene, education, trade and self employment in the communities where SHGs are in action. There is ample opportunity to make money by doing well.

Success in these initiatives isn’t always far away as it seems and beyond the horizon. It is there waiting for your first step

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THE SAGA OF SAJ

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ntrepreneurship is what the new generation Keralite women are fond of.

Lately, many young Keralite women have shown courage to venture into the risky terrain of entrepreneurship. If the things progress with this pace, the number of successful woman entrepreneurs outnumbers the number of successful male entrepreneurs in the state in near future. At present, there are several extremely successful woman entrepreneurs. In this edition, we love to introduce you one such exceptional woman entrepreneur.

Mini Sajan Varghese is the Chief Executive Officer of the SAJ Resorts, one of the units of SAJ Holdings PVT Ltd. She is the wife of Kanjirakattu Sajan Varghese, who is one of the directors of the SAJ Holdings PVT Ltd. She started her career as an accountant, and, later, became one of the most superior decision-makers in the SAJ’s hotel business sector. Her journey was slow, but steady.

Her life story will defiantly inspire all women, who wish to mark their unique signature in the world, to see the field of entrepreneurship as a brilliant option.

Let’s speak to her.

Why and how did you enter the challenging business of hospitality?

It was my husband’s suggestion. I entered into the business sector, nearly one year after our marriage. Initially, I joined as an accountant in the finance department of our flight catering company ‘SAJ Flight Services’ as I had immense experience in the field of finance. Then, I slowly climbed the corporate ladder towards the top of that company, thoroughly learning each and every segment of the business the company does.

How was that journey towards the helm of the company?

It took more than six years. In those days, the SAJ Group was more into the flight catering business. There were several aspects in that business. I had to invest a considerable amount of time to learn each and every aspect. The food

safety was the most important aspect.

I even attended a course in London to learn that aspect thoroughly. Though my husband was there to support me, it was not like spoon-feeding. I was made to learn and take decisions by my own.

What was the motive behind your company’s move to try the strategy of diversification by investing in the hotel business?

During the year 2006-2007, our total turnover from the catering business came down due to the introduction of the lowcost carriers, with considerable reduction in catering supplies. Also, bankruptcy of few private carriers, together with crores of dues from national carriers, led the company to take a strategic decision to diversify into asset based hospitality segment.

We learnt that it is easy to construct a hotel, but is hard to maintain the quality

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and to meet the high expectations of guests. Fortunately, our hotels have a huge pool of dedicated staffs, mostly women. Our hotels cater to all kinds of customers, including tourists and businessmen.

Why should one prefer SAJ?

There is a credibility factor attached with the brand name ‘SAJ’.

Since our catering business days, we have been enjoying a global recognition and reputation. We assure quality food and services. Many celebrities and bureaucrats prefer and, even, recommend our hotels.

Say few words about the SAJ’s single lady travelling scheme.

Most of International flights land in Kochi at odd hours, so the female travellers who travel in

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those flights are forced to check into hotels at those hours. When such female travellers reach our hotels, they find here secure and safe as they are often received by female staffs here.

Nearly fifty per cent of our staffs are female. Whether it is women. We impart skills to women, our customer or staff, we assure mostly local women, and help them safety to each and earn a decent every woman in living. our hotels. Our hotels even have The SAJ lady security hotels are faofficials. Most of We have a mous for its our female staffs, special sea food quality and even locals, find delicious restaurant, it convenient and food. Say few safe to work durwhere our customers words about ing night hours in are offered our hotels. it. special The SAJ The SAJ is regional dishes.

Group also aims very keen to to empower provide safe food to our customers. I am a trainer of food safety. Since our catering business days, we have been sincerely following the policy of offering quality and safe food. We give immense care in the quality of the raw materials we procure, the personal hygiene of the staffs who prepare the food items, the way the raw materials are stored and many other elements necessary to ensure the quality, safety and taste of the food we cater.

Though we have all kinds of cuisines, we primarily promote regional cuisine. We have a special sea food restaurant, where our customers are offered special regional dishes.

What is your goal?

I want to make the brand ‘SAJ’ a more popular and globally recognised brand.

What is the peculiarity of the SAJ’s spa?

Actually, SAJ Earth Resort is a one step solution for all needs of all type of travellers. Tourists and businessmen utilise it to get relaxed and rejuvenated. It is convenient for the guests who stay to attend marriage functions, as it has a beauty salon attached, with experienced beauticians and hair

dressers.

Say few words about your husband.

He is a man with great vision and foresight. In fact, he is my mentor. Before he takes a decision about anything, he puts sincere effort to learn about it thoroughly; it is the quality that I have tried to copy from him. He is a unique person, and always stands apart in a crowd whether it be the way he talks or be the way he behaves. So, I also try to create a unique signature in whatever I do.

We know you are a writer.

How that journey began?

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Yes, I do write. Until the year we exited from the catering business sector, I had been regularly writing a column for the Europe-based official publication of onboard catering association. I was approached to write that column, after our company secured the Mercury (Silver) award for SAJ flight services. I was the first Indian to be approached to represent our country in that magazine. It was a great honour.

Say few words about your new projects.

At present, we have four ventures in the hotel business segment: SAJ Earth Resort (Cochin), SAJ Vagamon Hideout (Vagamon),

SAJ Jungle Village (Thekkady), and Saj Luciya (Trivandrum). We have upcoming projects in Kumarakom, Marari and Alleppey. We are going to launch a tour operations division under the banner ‘Incredible Kerala Tours’. The division will offer both inbound and outbound tourism services.

“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It is as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow.

Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer” - Nolan Bushnell.

Ravi Saini

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he stress level amongst the young students and their parents is ever increasing, and childhood is getting lost too quick and too early due to the, so called, modern society demands and, somewhat, faulty syllabus, which needs to be revisited.

India aims to transform the country into an emerging economy by the year 2025. This strategy will require considerable financial resources, in particular to enable the country to use of renewable energy in the schools and government buildings, sporting infrastructure in the schools to attract younger talents and IT or communications infrastructure. The business climate needs to be improved so as to attract private investment in the manufacturing sector for world class sporting goods and fitness equipment’s. In this context, the government has to believe that the tax system will play a central role in the mobilization of public funds.

We need to arrange public debate on effectively handling fiscal as well as current account deficit issues where captains of the industry and all stakeholders are needed to contribute their inputs for bringing about necessary changes and amendments to speed up reforms to achieve its goals. The schools can play a pivotal role to build a better and empowered society that

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We have to encourage more and more schools’s managements to use the younger talents that are available in abundance to be provided with all the resources that could instil in them a sense of urgency to be able to come up as New Age Leaders instead of managers.

can go on to contribute towards making India a better sporting nation to win more and more medals in Olympics and all the global events.

An appeal has been made to the Government of India to kindly put in place a panel of non-government officials to locate all the public places and schools, where sporting infrastructure is available but not fully developed, with Assam Girl Hima Das showing the glimpses of hope for all the Indians that potential is their in them in abundance but lack of sporting infrastructure at the early school level has deprived India to reach its deserving heights. Ideal age groups to pick the talent at an early age is 5-12 years.

I had the privilege of a tête-àtête with Ms. Rashmi Mehta, the Principal of Mata Jai Kaur Public School located in Ashok Vihar, Delhi. Our conversation began with a discussion on the Marshmallow Test –the thought-provoking psychological test that helps decide the success factor of a person while he or she is still in school.

“You have two options. Either you get to eat one marshmallow right now, or, if you agree to wait for two hours you earn two”. A majority of students who would opt for instant gratification and “short-cut methods” would choose one, while only those few who would agree to

Way forward to Reforms through Education and Sports

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exercise control, and take the right decision would wait for two marshmallows. Experts the world over look at this as a success paradigm which can actually be developed while a child is still in his formative years. Needless to say, it’s a combined curriculum of academics and sports that can help a school to achieve this.

Ms. Rashmi Mehta moved on to talk about sports as not just a synonym for games, but a systemic approach to holistic well-being. The term “sports” encompasses not just field activities, but also yoga, meditation, training in mindfulness and conscious decisions on personal nutrition. There are positives associated with sports. Be it the development of true sportsmanship and team spirit, or the ability to sacrifice self for the higher team goals, sports conditions our mind-sets with as much vigour and vitality as our physical selves.

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Aug-Sept-2018

Taking inspiration from great sports achievers affect many a lives. Such stories must be shared with students. Glenn Cummingham walked the fastest mile in spite of suffering 100 per cent burns in his lower body. There are so many examples.

An often-ignored advantage of indulging in sports is the simultaneous development of life skills.

Ability to concentrate, setting targets, managing time, inculcating team spirit, and pushing one’s boundaries are all achieved without requiring a separate framework.

Students learn to face defeat and stand up after a fall –be it physical or metaphoric. It’s heartening to see friends as field opponents in one period and eating out of the same tiffin in the next. Such is the beauty of sports that no academics or life skills classes can individually achieve.

Ms.Mehta felt that the energy of the students needs to be

channelized so they learn how to effectively spend their free time and not get addicted to cell phones, social networking and substance abuse. Inculcating a passion, in sports or in any activity –whether indoor or outdoor- engages the mind productively and is a target worth its cause.

Sometimes, tie-ups with local clubs and stadiums come as a boon. Playing with the champions, watching their rehearsals, interacting with the real players can give a great momentum to the efforts of any sportsperson-in-the-making.

Inculcation of sports as a program can never be complete unless it’s regular, progressive and chartered. Sports training must begin early, with training in developing skills needed for games as agility, balance and co- ordination rather than the sport itself directly.

Students should play a variety of games before narrowing their choices.

Our edifying conversation ended with a mutual agreement to take the task of developing a passion for sports among students forward and making recommendations for a changed education policy that has the equal emphasis on sports alongside education.

We have to encourage more and more schools’s managements to use the younger talents that are available in abundance to be provided with all the resources that could instil in them a sense of urgency to be able to come up as New Age Leaders instead of managers.

Education and Sports has to go hand in hand and senior management together with the major stakeholders i.e. parents must fully cooperate and contribute towards building better infrastructure for the students and making them better human beings that are more and more sensitive towards other’s needs and desires

Rajeev Kumar

Mr Rajeev Kumar with his innovative marketing skills is a well-known person in Kerala in Sales and Marketing.

Awarded by Times of India Group as the best marketing professional in Kerala, his name also reflect in the Guinness World Record with innovative marketing ideas.

Adviser and strategist of Unique Times, creative director of BrandEquity, a leading marketing consultancy firm, recently did an advertisement film for a leading brand with the Member of Parliament Suresh Gopi as the Brand Ambassador.

Also COO of the Namboothiris group. Specialised in re-structuring & reviving sick unit

W

hen people talk about 4p’s the marketing theory & techniques were based on the market conditions prevalent in those times.

Now we are living in a world where WhatsApp is the fastest, most efficient and DIRECT communication tool. I would say that it is the best available too for communication directly to the masses and to exchange ideas.

We are also in a world of Facebook, Internet & Online marketing - which is widely accepted by the masses and proven to be a very effective marketing tool.

The online taxi service , online food delivery apps & all other online companies are doing huge turnovers which exceeds our imagination.

So, according to me - there are two major changes to make in the marketing strategies for now 1.Less & less time is available to all of us these days - because of hectic lives we lead in this demanding world.

2.In fact the World is too fast for our pace to catch up.

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Aug-Sept-2018

DO YOU STILL THINK THERE ARE ONLY 4 P’s IN MARKETING WORLD ?

Well, I think No. We all know for a fact that in marketing there are 4p’s.

1. Product, 2. Price, 3.Place, 4.Promotion

Entire marketing mix was based on this 4 p’s. Even now.

• What is most expensive thing’s in

this world?

• We pay more money for what?

• Who are all the most expensive persons?

• 3g or 4g which is expensive and fast?

According to me The most expensive thing in this world is PACE – I would say the “SPEED” with which we do things or the speed in which we make the right decisions Example: • The fastest travel = Flight is the most expensive thing in the travel.

• The fastest bowler in cricket is rewarded most.

• The fastest F1 car driver Michael Schumacher was the richest

person

• The fastest hundred in a 20/20

match makes a team to win the match.

• The most effective and costly way to communicate is fastest (the infrastructure Expense).

• 3G or 4G which is Expensive / Fast.

So, to sum up - the world is dominated & controlled by people who makes the correct decisions fastest.

So to me the FIRST ‘P’ in marketing is “PACE”. The speed with which decision makers need to act.

Then – How did pace become Fifth ‘P’?

It’s a Fact that all leading brands and companies were faster in implementing the marketing mix faster than the competition that makes them leading.

Any product or services which is launched or serviced in an industry, should consider the execution time as fifth ‘P’ - PACE. How fast you implement the marketing mix is what makes you a true leader.

In the old days the marketing ‘mantra’ was “DO OR DIE” The world has changed – so has the marketing “mantra” The new marketing “mantra” is “DO BEFORE YOU DIE”

In the past it was said “SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE” Its S - T - U - D - Y – study of the market forces that gives us the EDGE over our competitors.

Now I would say it’s the “FAST and STUDY that wins the race.!!!!!

Lot of changes has happened in the marketing world because of the changes in technology.

I feel the Fifth ‘P’ which is PACE – stands for speed which means how fast & effectively you use your marketing mix.

The first & fastest to do that – WILL CAPTURE THE MARKET!!!

So to me the FIVE ‘P’s of marketing are

1.Product 2.Price 3.Place 4.Promotion 5. Pace

The important of FIFTH ‘P’ is how fast you handle or do first the 4 P’s.

• How fast you produce your product (product).

• How fast you change or fix pricing according to market trends (price).

• How fast you place the product.

(Channel of distribution) • How fast you promote the product to sell-how fast you implements your marketing plan (promotion) So PACE is the first P which is very important in marketing mix because the world is too fast.

FAST PRODUCTION = P - product ANALYS AND FIX THE PRICE FAST = P - price CREATE / REACH MARKET FAST = P - place FAST & EFFECTIVE PROMOTION=P – promotion

brandequitycochin@gmail.com

Aug-Sept-2018

31

FINANCE

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 and corporate law practice of Nash Capital Partners. Apart from being a qualified lawyer, he is also a chartered accountant, cost accountant and a company secretary. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate Degree and is reachable at sherryoommen@nashcp.com.

G

oods and Services Tax (GST) is undoubtedly the most dramatic taxation reform in the indirect tax system in the country. Ever since its introduction in July 2017, various changes have been brought about to the law based on the decisions of thepowerful GST Council.

In the recently concluded meeting on 21 July 2018, the Council has proposed certain welcome changes.

Apart from the reduction in rates for various items (for instance, the GST rates on various consumer durable items such as washing machines, refrigerators and television have been reduced from 28 percent to 18 percent), the Council has recommended various structural changes which are, indeed, transformational. We have in this article captured some of the key changes/ amendments proposed by the Council in this regard.

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Aug-Sept-2018

The GST Council in the said meeting has provided a major relief to hotel industry by providing that the rate of tax on accommodation services shall be based on transaction value instead of declared tariff. This proposal is, indeed, welcome as it is in accordance with the basic principles of taxing a transaction based on the transaction value.

1. Tax payers availing the benefit under the Composition Scheme Notably, the turnover limit for opting for the composition scheme has been increased from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 1.5 crore. Under the present regime, the registered persons engaged in the supply of services (other than restaurant services) were not eligible for the composition scheme. Thus, the manufacturers or traders, who were engaged in the supply of services, were not eligible to opt for the scheme. The ineligibility could kick in even where the services supplied by such manufacturer or trader were allied in nature (for instance, post warranty related services).

In view of the aforementioned anomalous situation, the Council has recommended that the benefits under the composition scheme would continue to be allowed if the proportion of 'Service' is up to 10 per cent of the total turnover in

the preceding financial year or INR 500,000, whatever is higher.

2. Return filing related From a return filing standpoint, a key structural change has been approved by the Council.

One would recall that in earlier meeting held in May 2018, the Council had approved the basic principles of GST return design and directed the law committee to finalize the return formats and changes in the law. The said formats and business process were approved in the meeting. A major change approved by the council is the option of filing quarterly return with monthly payment of tax in a simplified return format by the small tax payers.

All taxpayers, excluding small taxpayers and a few exceptions, shall now file one monthly return.

The return is simple with two main tables. One for reporting outward supplies and one for availing input tax credit based on invoices upload-

Goods and Services Tax-

Key Decisions of the GST Council

ed by the supplier. Invoices can be uploaded continuously by the seller and can be continuously viewed and locked by the buyer for availing input tax credit. This process would ensure that very large part of the return is automatically filled based on the invoices uploaded by the buyer and the seller. In view of such change, it does become imperative for businesses to ensure that their vendors file the related returns of time. A failure to file the related returns or a filing of incorrect or inaccurate details could impact the procurers or purchasers ability to claim input tax credit. To assuage such eventualities, the new return filing design has provided

the facility for amendment to invoices and also other details filed in the return. The amendment shall be carried out by filing an Amendment Return.

The Council has noted that nearly 93 per cent of the taxpayers have turnover of less than INR 5 crores. To benefit such taxpayers, the Council has approved quarterly filing of return for the small taxpayers having turnover below of less than Rs. 5 Cr as an optional facility.

For such taxpayers, simplified returns have been designed called ‘Sahaj’ and ‘Sugam’. In these returns, details of information required to be filled is far lesser than that in the regular return.

Another feature of the new return filing system is the benefit offered to nil return filers (that is, those tax payers having no purchase and no sale). Such taxpayers have been given the facility of filing their returns via SMS.

3. Benefit to the textile industry Under the current dispensation, fabrics attract GST at the rate of 5 per cent subject to the condition that refund of accumulated input tax credit because of an inverted duty structure will not be allowed. An inverted duty structure arises when the tax on the inputs is greater than the output tax liability

Aug-Sept-2018

33

resulting in accumulation of tax.

In view of the aforesaid, considering the difficulty faced by the fabric sector on account of this condition, the GST Council has recommended for allowing refund to fabrics on account of inverted duty structure. The refund of accumulated ITC shall be allowed prospectively.

4. Benefits to the hotel industry Currently, the tax rate applicable to the hotel industry is based on the “declared tariff ”. For instance, if the declared tariff of a room was higher than INR 7,500, the rate of GST would be 28 per cent irrespective of whether or not the hotel invoices the customer a value higher than INR 7,500 or not.

Consequently, if the declared tariff of a room was INR 8,000 attracting the higher rate of 28 per cent, the said rate (ie, 28 percent) would apply even if the hotel invoiced a customer INR 6,000. As one would note, tax was levied on the basis of the declared tariff and not on the basis of the actual amount charged from the customer (also referred to as “transaction value”).

The GST Council in the said meeting has provided a major relief to hotel industry by providing that the rate of tax on accommodation services shall be based on transaction value instead of declared tariff.

This proposal is, indeed, welcome as it is in accordance with the basic

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Aug-Sept-2018

principles of taxing a transaction based on the transaction value.

5. Input tax related The Council has recommended that input tax credit should be allowed for the taxes paid on following, which was hitherto ineligible as credit: • Supply of goods and services provided to employees if it is obligatory for the employer. In view of the said changes, input tax credit would now be available in respect of facilities or benefits provided by an employer arising from an obligation. For instance, the factories having canteen facilities would be eligible to claim input tax credit on the canteen related expenses.

• Purchase of the motor vehicles for transportation of persons having seating capacity of more than 13 persons (including driver), vessels and aircraft.

• Services of general insurance, repair and maintenance in respect of motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft on which credit is available.

With respect to input tax credit, it has also been proposed that where the recipient fails to pay the due amount to the supplier within 180 days from the date of issue of invoice, the input tax credit availed by the recipient will be reversed.

However, the liability to pay interest is being done away with.

6. Other miscellaneous changes Some of the other key welcome

miscellaneous changes are: • At present, a credit or debit note can be issued only against its underlying invoice, which is quite cumbersome to correlate. Thus, the Council has recommended that parties can issue consolidated credit or debit notes in respect of multiple invoices issued in a financial year to reduce the compliance burden for taxpayers.

• The levy of GST on supplies from an unregistered supplier would be applicable only to only specified goods in case of certain notified classes of registered persons, on the recommendations of the GST Council.

• The threshold exemption limit for registration in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Uttarakhand to be increased to Rs. 20 Lakhs from Rs. 10 Lakhs.

• It has also been provided that registration would be temporarily suspended when the cancellation of registration is under process so that the taxpayer is relieved from continued compliance burden under the law.

With respect to input tax credit, it has also been proposed that where the recipient fails to pay the due amount to the supplier within 180 days from the date of issue of invoice, the input tax credit availed by the recipient will be reversed. However, the liability to pay interest is being done away with

Johnson Thankachan the Chief Operating Officer of EB5 Advisors is a licensed realtor based in Virginia, an experienced residential and commercial realtor with more than ten years of experience in international real estate.

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Aug-Sept-2018

“THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM” Here is your chance!!!

E

B5 is the most sought after immigrant investor program in the world today, created by the congress in the year 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. The EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program enables foreign investors to gain a Green Card and permanent residency for themselves and immediate family members; spouse and children (below 21 years of age).

EB-5 visas are issued to approved participants who invest in commercial enterprises associated with regional centers approved

by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) based on proposals for promoting economic growth. USCIS requires that the investment amount must be US $500,000 in a Targeted Employment Area. The investor is free to find a job or start business after reaching the US. The complete investment amount is refunded at the end of 5 Year project period with an interest of 1% p.a. With the

EB5 Advisors offers free evaluation and consulting services for the EB5 US Immigrant Investor Program and their current EB5 project is “TradePoint Atlantic”.

Trump administration ringing in further restrictions on H1B visas, the applications for EB5 visa has seen a sudden surge, many Indians are now turning to the EB5 immigrant investor visa program route to secure a coveted US Green Card ahead of possible changes.

EB5 Advisors offers free evaluation and consulting services for the EB5 US Immigrant Investor Program and their current EB5 project is “TradePoint Atlantic”. TradePoint Atlantic; a multi-modal center for Global Trade is a 3100 Acre Logistics and Maritime Development Project located on the Chesapeake Bay in south western Baltimore County in Maryland, 25% of the

whole project is assigned for foreign investment under EB-5 and is scheduled to become the largest intermodal redevelopment in the country and a new emblem of American reinvention and resilience. The project houses names like Amazon, Fed Ex and Under Armour and multitude of developments like Rail & Road Infrastructure Development, Marine Berth Development & Warehouse Development.

Johnson Thankachan the Chief Operating Officer of EB5 Advisors is a licensed realtor based in Virginia, an experienced residential and commercial realtor with more than ten years of experience in international real estate. His love for farming has helped him turn his family owned farm in India to a collection of the most exotic tropical fruit trees from around the world.

He is also a movie enthusiast and manages DreamWest Global India Pvt Ltd, a film production company.

EB5Advisors.com

Aug-Sept-2018

37

M. P. Joseph IAS (R) is a former Indian and UN Civil Servant, having worked as District Collector Ernakulam, Mayor of Kochi City, Labour Commissioner Kerala, Cashew Special Officer, Kerala etc.

He spent 7 years in the UN in Cambodia and has also written a book on the fascinating and fast modernizing Cambodia called, ‘My Driver Tulong and Other Tall Tales from a Post Pol Pot Contemporary Cambodia’.

The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart etc.

N

ot many know about Cambodia. And, even less that it is much like Kerala.

We may have heard about Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, the biggest Hindu Temple in the world, built a 1000 years ago. We may also have heard about the Khmer Rouge -the extreme version of communism that destroyed Cambodia in the late 1970s and killed off about 3½ of its 8 million people (the genocide that reduced the country’s population by 40 per cent). We may even know that Cambodia is the Kamboj-desa of our Puranas, but, perhaps, not much more.

I did not know much about Cambodia myself, until my bosses in the UN posted me to Phnom Penh, its capital. I landed in Cambodia to take up my assignment on 14 February, Valentine’s Day. And, it has, ever since then, been a love affair for me with the land, and its people.

What fascinated me most was how much like Kerala Cambodia was. The Cambodian landscape is much like Palakkad with extensive rice fields and occasional palm

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Aug-Sept-2018

The Cambodian landscape is much like Palakkad with extensive rice fields and occasional palm trees. Its language Khmer has a Sanskrit base with alphabets that are very similar to the Malayalam alphabets, such as ‘Ka’, ‘Kka’, ‘Ki’, ‘Kiii’, etc.

CAMBODIA,

A Kerala Beyond the Seas

Aug-Sept-2018

39

trees. Its language Khmer has a Sanskrit base with alphabets that are very similar to the Malayalam alphabets, such as ‘Ka’, ‘Kka’, ‘Ki’, ‘Kiii’, etc.

Many Khmer words are eerily similar to Malayalam. A woman is called a ‘Strey’, a variation of ‘Stree’, a girl is a ‘Kanya’, which of course means a virgin or a girl, a road is ‘Veethi’, an office is ‘Karyalay’, a school is ‘Vishyalay’, a college is ‘Mahavishyalay’, and a teacher is a ‘kru’, or ‘Guru’.

The commonly used word for ‘I’ is ‘Kjnom’, which is so like ‘Jnom’ –the honorific ‘I’ that Kings and nobles in Kerala used instead of ‘Jaan’ while referring to themselves.

The word Angkor of Angkor Wat is itself of Indian origin. Angkor is a variation of ‘Nagor’ or ‘Nagaror’‘Nagaram’ means town. And, Wat means a temple. Thus, Angkor Wat means a temple town or a temple as big as a town.

The Angkor Wat is huge and built to extreme precision and symmetry. On its four long walls are etched stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. As you walk along the verandas that run along the sides of its four walls, these stories unfold before you, just as stories in a comic book would unfold as you turn its pages.

Sadly, that strong Indian foundation that Cambodia has had is now being rapidly overlaid with anomnipresent Chinese superstructure. The Chinese are now visible everywhere, while the Indian presence is fast fading.

Cambodia has yet another similarity with Kerala -Communism.

The communists in Cambodia were known as the Khmer Rouge.

Khmer Rouge is a French word that literally means Red Cambodia or Red Cambodians. But, the extreme form of communism of the Khmer Rouge and the extremist communist dogma of its hated leader Pol Pot, devastated Cambodia economically and socially during the period of their short rule from April 1975 to January 1979.

As soon as they took over power

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Aug-Sept-2018

Phnom Penh sits at the junction of the mighty Mekong river that arises in the Himalayas and flows northwards into China one of the few rivers rising from the Himalayas to do so.

through a bloody war, the Khmer Rouge banned everything that we know in modern societies.

They banned schools, colleges, universities, education, books, newspapers, radio and TV. Markets were banned, and so were shops, trade and commerce. Currency was banned, and so were coins. Banks were done away with. Even barter was banned.

The Khmer Rouge would provide everything that a person ever needed. What then was the need for markets, money, currency,

banks or even barter?

Families and relationships were also banned. The Party was your family and the only relationship you could have was with the

party.

Emotions and feelings were banned. And so, in all its forms, was love. The Party would decide who you would marry and when and how the marriage was to be consummated. There would be supervisors to ensure that the marriage was consummated when the Khmer Rouge so ordered. They

would decide when you could have sex and how many children you would have. Marriages had only one purpose. To procreate and have children who would be future members for the Party.

There could be no family. There could be no love even between children and parents. Neither a mother could love her child, nor could a child love his/her mother.

That could invite instant death for both -mother and child.

Thankfully, the dissimilarities between communism in Kerala and Cambodia are more pronounced, than the similarities.

So, lets go back to the similarities.

I had always thought that boat races were Kerala’s own special-

ity, something that was exclusively to the state. But, less than four months after I had been in Cambodia, I realised that Cambodia has boat races just as we do. And, they have snake boats, the ‘ChundanVallams’ as we do, and a vast variety of boats that we have in Kerala the ‘Iruttukuthy’, ‘Odi’, ‘Veppu’ (VaipuVallam), ‘Vadakkanody’, ‘KochuVallam’ etc. And, actually, they even have many more boats that Kerala does not have.

The most important Cambodian boat race is held every year in Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh sits at the junction of the mighty Mekong river that arises in the Himalayas and flows northwards into China one of the few rivers rising from the Himalayas to do so. The rest of

the rivers flows towards south into India.

At Phnom Penh, the Mekong river splits into four; Its mighty northern and southern branches constitut two of them, and its two smaller distributaries -the Tonle Sap flowing north and the Tonle Bassac flowing south- constitut the other two. This junction of the four branches of the Mekong is called Chakto-mukor, the one with four faces or four directions. The Water Festival is held at the Chakto-muk, the confluence of the Northern and Southern sections of the Mekong and of the Tonle Bassac and the Tonle Sap. Phnom Penh’s annual boat race, called the Water Festival, is a three-day extravaganza. The big difference between our boat races and the boat races in Cambodia is the precision, and thoroughness with which they hold them.

In Kerala, boat races are often an unruly, haphazard, event. They are never known to start on time.

Often, as the boats begin racing, someone would try to swim across the river, or some small boat would come cantering in between the racing boats. Our prize-giving ceremonies are usually a frenetic

Aug-Sept-2018

41

affair, with frenzied supporters of the winners and losers and all else crowding onto the VIP podium.

None of this ever happens in Cambodia, where everything is well managed. The waterways are always clear. The referee never fails to start the races on time and end on time. Everything happens as per the times shown on the printed schedules. You could set your watch by it.

In the juxtaposition of India and China in Cambodia -that was where Indian culture ends and Chinese overlay began, the Chinese order, discipline and, above all, their obedience to authority and to systems would be visible throughout the races.

Vishu is celebrated in Cambodia. Not as Vishu, but as the Khmer New Year. Remember that until we adopted the Kollam Era in 825 AD, and made Chingam the first month of the year, 1stMedam or the beginning of the vernal equinox or Vishu was also for us the Malayalam New Year.

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On Khmer New Year’s Day, the games the young people of Cambodia play is uncannily similar to the games that our young play during Onam and Vishu, including tug of war, and the breaking of a pot tied up high on a rope.

My greatest surprise was yet to come. A few months into my stay in Cambodia, I realised that my secretary would never use the Cambodian names of the Calendar months in her conversations with me. She would only refer to months by numbers. Thus, January would always be referred to as the first month, February would be the second month, July the 7th month, December the 12th month and so on.

At first, I thought that in the Khmer language, there were no names for months. But, soon I realised that they had names as well. Except that my Secretary thought that they would be very difficult for anyone to pronounce; and so, would not use them with foreigners like me.

But, after some prodding and persuasion, my secretary agreed to tell me the Khmer names of months.

It was January and she told me that the Khmer name for January was ‘Makara’. I was surprised. It was just a variation of our Malayalam month ‘Makaram’. February turned out to be ‘Khumba’. our ‘Khumbam’. And the next month? Mesa, or our ‘Meena’. June was ‘Mithuna’ or the Malayalam ‘Mithunam’. July was ‘Kakkada’ or ‘Karkidakam’.

November was ‘Vichika’ our ‘Vrichikam’. December was ‘Dhnu’ or our ‘Dhanu’.

I have travelled to most states in India and to about 70 countries but had never heard the Malayalam months being used anywhere else. But of all the places in the world, here in Cambodia, our own very Malayalam months were in use!

If God had another country that he claimed was his own, it would be Cambodia

WATCHES

GADGETS

Nokia 6.1 Plus

MRP: `20,090 (approximately)

Android v8.1 (Oreo) OS

5.8 inches Display

16 MP + 5 MP Dual Primary Cameras

16 MP Secondary Camera

4 GB RAM

64 GB Internal Memory

400 GB Expandable Memory

3060 mAh Battery Capacity

Lenovo Z5

MRP: `13,990 (approximately) Android v8.1 (Oreo) OS 5.99 inches Display 16 MP + 8 MP Dual Primary Cameras 8 MP Secondary Camera 6 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Memory 256 GB Expandable Memory 3300 mAh Battery Capacity

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Aug-Sept-2018

Xiaomi Mi 8 SE

MRP: `18,990 (approximately) Android v8.1 (Oreo) OS 5.88 inches Display 12 MP + 5 MP Dual Primary Cameras 20 MP Secondary Camera 4 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Memory 3120 mAh Battery Capacity

Apple iPhone SE 2

MRP: 26,990 (approximately) iOS v10 4.5 inches Display 12 MP Primary Camera 1.2 MP Secondary Camera 2 GB RAM 32 GB Internal Memory 1750 mAh Battery Capacity

Aug-Sept-2018

45

COOKERY

Toshma Biju

Peechinga Thoran Ingredients

• • • • • • • •

Method Peel the hard outer ridges and skin off the ridge gourd. Slice it into two halves and remove the seeds if possible. (If the ridge gourd is really tender, you only need to scrape the ridges and outer skin. You don’t need to peel it off completely and you can keep the seeds.)

Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds. Throw in the diced onions and curry leaves. Stir fry until translucent. Add the minced garlic and green chillies. Saute for a minute. Add the diced ridge gourd to the pan and also add some salt to taste.

Cover and cook for around 3 to 4 minutes.

Open the pan and add the grated coconut along with 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder.

Cover and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

The vegetable would have let out water by now. Stir fry for around 5 to 7 minutes on high heat so that the water evaporates completely.

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Aug-Sept-2018

Tender Ridge Gourd.................4 large Onions................................ 1 medium Coconut.......................1 cup (Grated) Garlic......................3 cloves (Minced) Turmeric Powder............ 1/4 teaspoon Green Chillies.............................4 nos Salt..........................................to taste Curry Leaves............................a sprig

Mambazha Pradhaman Ingredients

• • • • • • • • • • •

Sweet Ripe Mangoes.............................................................3 nos Mango pulp.........................................................................2 cups Jaggery...............................................3 or 4 big cubes (Powdered) Chukku podi..............................................................1/4 teaspoon Cardamom powder (Elakka Podi)......................3/4 to 1 teaspoon Thin Coconut milk..............................................................2 cups Thick Coconut milk........................................................... 1/2 cup Cashews..............................................................................15 nos Raisins.................................................................................15 nos Ghee.........................................................................4 tablespoons Water.................................................................................... 1 cup

Method Peel the mangoes and dice it into small pieces.

Boil the jaggery in 1 cup of water to make thick syrup.

Heat 2 tablespoons ghee in a heavy bottomed pan and saute the mango pieces until it changes colour. Mash the mango pieces as it gets cooked. Keep on stirring so that it doesn’t stick to the pan. Slowly add the mango pulp to the pan and continue sauteing for over 5 to 7 minutes. Add the jaggery syrup to the pan and keep on stirring until it thickens. This will take some time until it reaches a thick consistency (Varattiya Paruvam). So,

please be patient at this stage. Reduce heat and add thin coconut milk to the pan, stirring continuously. Now, add the Chukku podi and cardamom powder, and mix well.

Simmer for at least 5 to 7 minutes, and, then, add thick coconut milk. Simmer for a few more minutes and remove it from stove top. Do not allow it to boil. Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a pan and fry the raisins and cashews for a few minutes. Pour it over the pradhaman. Serve this yummy mango pradhaman warm or chilled. This payasam tends to thicken over time.

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47

COOKERY

Ethapazham Pulisseri

Ingredients

• • • • • •

Etha Pazham............. 1 big (chopped) Turmeric........................ 1/4 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder........... 1/2 teaspoon Yogurt.......................................2 cups..

(I used plain, non fatty, yogurt) Salt..........................................to taste Water................................ as required

• • • • •

Coconut.....................................1 Cup Green Chillies.............................3 nos Turmeric Powder.................... a pinch Cumin (Jeera)................ 1/4 teaspoon Water...................................... 1/2 cup

• • • • • • •

Oil................................... 1 tablespoon Mustard.......................... 1/2 teaspoon Finely sliced shallots...................6 nos Dry Red Chillies..................3 or 4 nos Curry Leaves.............................. a few Fenugreek....................... 1/4 teaspoon Red chilli powder............ 1/4 teaspoon

For Grinding

Method

For Seasoning

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Grind coconut, green chillies, cumin and turmeric, along with 1/2 cup water, to form a fine paste, and keep it aside. Blend yogurt, along with 1/2 cup water and salt, until smooth. Keep it aside. Cook the plantain pieces in little water along with salt, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder until soft. Add the coconut paste to the cooked plantain, and mix gently. Allow it to cook for over 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce flame to low and add beaten curd. Heat it for a few minutes and remove it from stove top. Be careful not to boil the curry after adding curd. Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds. Saute shallots, dry red chillies and curry leaves for a few minutes. Add 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder and 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek powder, and saute for a minute. Pour the seasoning over the curry and mix gently.

Aviyal Ingredients

• • • • • • •

Mixed Vegetables........................................................................... ....................(cut into 1 or 2 inch long sized pieces)– 4 or 5 Cups Turmeric powder.......................................................1/4 teaspoon Curd........................................................ 2 tablespoons (optional) Curry Leaves.......................................................................a sprig Coconut Oil............................................................... 1 tablespoon Water............................................................................. as needed Salt.....................................................................................to taste

• • • • • • •

Coconut................................................................................ 1 cup Cumin.......................................................................1/4 teaspoon Green Chillies........................................................................4 nos Shallots or Pearl Onions (diced)...........................................2 nos Garlic Cloves.........................................................................3 nos Curry Leaves.........................................................................a few Turmeric Powder.......................................................1/4 teaspoon

For Grinding

Method Cover and cook the vegetables in very little water along with salt and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder until half done. Add the vegetables according to their cooking time and be careful not to fully cook the vegetables.

Open the lid and allow any excess water to evaporate from the vegetables. Meanwhile, grind coconut and other ingredients with little water to form a coarse paste.

Add the coconut paste to the cooked vegetables and mix gently. Add more salt if needed. Continue to simmer for another 5 to 7 minutes until thick. If you like your ‘aviyal’ to have a slight sour taste, remove from stove top and add 2 tablespoons of curd. Mix gently. Finally, add fresh coconut oil and another sprig of curry leaves for garnishing.

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BEAUTY

SIMPLE, MODEST, YET PUNCHY: HOW TO DRESS IN AN ELEGANT WAY

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Tie your hair in simple hairstyle; if you are planning to leave your hair open, shampoo it properly and, then, apply conditioner.

You can choose hairstyles from single braid or French tail or half pony tail based on your attire. Tie your hair in a single bun if you wearing saree.

You may apply foundation cream as per your interests. Apply it at least one hour before you go out for it to become set.

Hair

Eye makeup

Jewellery

Eye makeup will make your eyes look big and elegant. During rainy or sunny days, the eye makeup might spread if it is not applied properly. So, make sure that the whole thing is set before going out. Best option is to apply kajal before taking bath or sleeping. Afterwards, it will blend in and look good. Just wipe away the extra kajal

Wear those jewels that match with the dress you are wearing.

However, if you are wearing plain coloured dress or saree wear contrasting jewels. For example if you are wearing yellow coloured kurti or saree, wear red coloured ear rings or

It is always better to wash your hair every morning before going out. You may dry or leave it drenched as per your wish. However, if you have the tendency to attain headache after going out in the sun with drenched hair, then it is better to avoid washing your hair in the morning. Instead, you may do it before you sleep at night.

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana's International

Mob: 9388618112

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with a moist piece of cloth. Better not to apply eye shades unless you have perfect shades as per the dress.

hen you have to go out for work or a party, it is imperative to look nice. But, we are far from the vintage style of the '70s and '90s. The latest trend is to look simple, but nice. Dressing up should be a matter of few minutes.

Here are some things you could do for the same.

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Foundation

necklace. Also avoid heavy necklaces if you are choosing heavy earrings, especially if the earrings reaches till the neck.

Footwear You can wear your choice of footwear. Wear slippers or high heels with saree or kurti. Wear matching colours.

Bags If you have a black or brown leathered bag, then it is flexible enough for all kinds of dress.

Otherwise, choose a similar coloured bag. It will be more catchy, if the bag and footwear have the same colour.

So go through these simple routines

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TRAVELOGUE

Ivory Coast:

the Gem of West Africa

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frica is still an alien continent for travellers. The prevalence of civil war, deadly viruses and diseases, high crime rate and much more dangers discourage those who plan to visit Africa from moving forward with their plan. In a sense, it is right. Most of the destinations in this continent are not friendly to the modern business of tourism due to various factors. But, it is unfair to generalise. The least known fact is that there are many locations in the continent which are extremely friendly to the

highly profitable business of tourism. In this edition, such a tourist friendly nation in Africa is explored. It is none other than Ivory Coast, the Gem of West Africa.

This country is best known for its beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, impressive architecture, amazing music, admirable art, enviable culture and tasty cuisine. Thus, it is equally suitable for adventure tourists and others.

Ivory Coast is one among the very few African countries which possess a sound precolonial history.

A major portion of the country is covered by the tropical rainforest. The rainforest of this country is located between the rivers Cavalry and Sassandra.

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Before the arrival of French breathed its freedom in the year colonials, the land was sepa1960. Under the leadership of its rately ruled by several kingdoms beloved leader, Félix Houphouëtincluding the Kong Empire and Boigny, it formed a government Gyaaman. Some of those kingdoms in the same year itself. Gaining continued to strength from remain in its its people’s identity even confidence, during the colonial period and The people of this country are after the colonial very religious. Christian and era.

Muslim are the two In the mid prominent religious in the nineteenth country, though some century, the traditional religions and Judacountry became ism are practiced by a small the protectorsection of the ate of France. In country’s population. the late nineteenth century, it was completely placed under the clutches of the colonial power by making it a colony in all sense.

It took nearly one hundred years for France, the, so called, the protector and propagator of the rights, to realise that they were denying the right to freedom to a section of people by subjecting the countries like Ivory Coast to the highly oppressive colonial rule.

The West African nation

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it achieved some impressive successes in the economic, health, infrastructural development and education fronts.

Unfortunately, its happiness did not last long. Soon after the death of the beloved leader of the country, the things went out of control.

Post the powerful leader’s demise, the country witnessed economic crisis, civil wars, coups and many more.

Till the year 2011, the country was under severe political and economical turbulence. Post that year, the things started coming back to the normal state.

Now, Ivory Coast is in the path of progress and stability. It has a powerful farming sector. It is the member of several international organisations such as the African Union and Economic Cooperation of West African States. It has a powerful military compared to other countries located in this part of the world. Unlike its part, it maintains good relation with its neighbours and foreign powers such as the US, France and Russia.

The country has a population of little more than two crores. Its total Gross Domestic Product in terms of its Purchase Power Parity is more

than ninety-six thousand US dollars. It aims to gain huge progress in its sanitation, education, health and infrastructural fronts.

The country identifies that the new age business of tourism is the only way through which it can achieve the anticipated growth.

Though the country’s tourism infrastructure is still week, the country always strives to make its attractions look like heavenly despite the limitations posed by the infrastructure and other facilities.

It is the reason why the tourist locations in Ivory Coast stand out from those located in other countries in this part of the world.

Abidjan, Basilica of Old Lady of Peace, La Cascade Waterfall, Tai National Park, San Pedro are the prime attractions of Ivory Coast.

Vibrant life, music, art, night life, happiness, energy, beaches, museum, colourfulness and carefree world are the few thoughts

that usually come into our mind when we think about a city. The aforementioned elements are exactly what Abidjan –The Paris of West Africa- offers. There are art museums, shopping malls, cultural houses, cafes, coffee shops, music clubs, night clubs, beaches, cathedrals and many more in this city. The National Art Museum and St Paul’s Cathedral are the most popular tourist attractions in this city.

The people of this country are very religious. Christian and Muslim are the two prominent religious in the country, though some traditional religions and Judaism are practiced by a small section of the country’s population.

There are almost equals number of Muslims and Christians in the country; the total population of these two communities makes up to over seventy per cent of the total population of the country. It is to be

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noted that the country is the home to the world’s largest cathedral, the Basilica of Old Lady of Peace. The famous church is located in the city of Yamoussoukro. No traveller misses the chance to get the glimpses of this amazing church, when he/she visits this country.

There is no one in the world who hates waterfalls. If the La Cascade Waterfall of Ivory Coast attracts visitors, the aforesaid is the reason. This waterfall is located in the interior of a coffee plantation and is surrounded by bamboo forest. Actually, it is not only famous for its scenery, but for its experience.

No land is better known for forest, than Africa. This continent is blessed with the abundance of forest and wildlife. In fact, in the majority of the African countries, the human beings maintain a good relation with their environment, unlike those living in other parts of the world. The people in Ivory Coast is not different. A major portion of the country is covered by the tropical rainforest.

The rainforest of this country is located between the rivers Cavalry and Sassandra. Most travellers, particularly adventure tourists, animal lovers and nature lovers, love this place, as it is the home to a large variety of plants and animals.

Finally, it is the time to talk about beaches. There is no happiness in exploring a land which has no beaches. In this terms also, this West African country is blessed. There are several spectacular beaches in this country.

The city of San Pedro is known for its beaches. Most of these beaches offer adventure sports. Enjoy these sports or simply sit near the shore of any sea. Both are rejuvenating.

It is to be noted that those from outside Africa may not find this country’s cuisine interesting, so thoroughly go through

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the menu before ordering a dish.

Another important thing is that the crime rate of this country is very high, though it is far less than the crime rate of other countries in this part of the world, so it is not safe to travel in this country without an experienced guide or a security personal. The most

important thing is that it is one of the countries where the deadly disease Ebola originated and still its viruses live, so take all necessary medical precautions before going to this country.

Africa is an adorable continent.

Don’t miss any chance to explore it. Book your ticket now itself!

AUTO REVIEW

VIVEK VENUGOPAL

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t goes without saying that the Creta is one of Hyundai’s best selling and most profitable cars on sale in India. Right from the day one, it has been a stellar success and there is no slowing down in demand. To keep the momentum going, Hyundai has refreshed its looks and added some features.

The face-lifted Creta looks even more aggressive than the one it replaces. The new grille meets the revised headlamps, and extends much lower into the bumper almost like that of an Audi Q3. The bumper is more flared and, now, houses a C-shaped DRL around the fog lamps. It looks more expensive from the front, much in line

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with character of the bigger Tuscon and Santa Fe. The rear gets revised tail lamps, which look quite ordinary without any details or LEDs inside them. The black insert at the lower part of the rear bumper extends all the way up to the tail gate and the fake skid plate is now much larger. The side profile is unchanged, except for new 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails that now sit flush with the roof.

Inside, the changes aren’t that visible, but you do get some extra facilities. The driver seat, though not ventilated like in the Verna, is now six-way electrically adjustable. There is a sunroof, but it is a size too small. You also get cruise control and a revised MID for the

instrument console. There is, now, an auto-dimming mirror and wireless charging for your mobile phone in the centre console. The Creta gets the Verna’s updated software for the infotainment system, but Hyundai hasn’t addressed the low brightness levels and the sunlight readability issues. There is also a waterproof fitness band available with the car that lets you lock or unlock it instead of using the keys.

The seats are unchanged and remain comfy. There is adequate space for rear passengers though

you are seated low with respect to the tall shoulder-line. The Tangerine Orange and white Creta come with optional black roof and get black dashboard in place of the normal dual tone ones.

The Creta comes with three engine options – a 1.6 litre petrol and two diesels in 1.4 and 1.6 litre capacities; all of which are offered on the Verna as well. The 1.6 petrol isn’t known for its fuel efficiency but is smooth and drivable. The 1.4 litre diesel has 90 bhp and 22.4kgm toque, but if you want

The Creta continues with the same suspension setup as before. On the face of it, it handles well and rides plush.

The dynamics are decent for an SUV.

Hyundai Creta

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effortless performance you have to look at the 1.6 litre diesel with its 126bhp and 26.5kg-m torque. The engine has been tweaked to widen the peak torque band from 15003000rpm instead of the earlier 1900-2750rpm. This engine feels refined and has good performance once on the move. Turbo lag is minimal and there is a surge of power thereafter. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual box that feels light enough to slot between gears and has a light clutch to ease city driving. It also gets a 6-speed automatic, which is quite popular.

Thanks to the torque converter, the Creta feels energetic when moving off the line. This gearbox feels well calibrated and shifts up smoothly for everyday driving. It’s only when you are driving enthusiastically that the gearbox feels slow. And no, the manual override doesn’t help deliver the gears any faster.

The Creta continues with the same suspension setup as before.

On the face of it, it handles well and rides plush. The dynamics are decent for an SUV. Where it bothers is when you have a full complement of rear passengers and their luggage and you hit a patch of undulating road. The car has too much vertical movement and almost never settles down unless you reduce the speed. Wish, Hyundai had given it better damping at the rear to compensate for the weight of rear passengers it can take. The

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steering is a bit light for the city and most end users will appreciate that. For the performance on tap, the brakes aren’t great either and especially in the automatic, where you don’t get much engine braking and have to rely even more on them.

My biggest gripe with Hyundai is the poor variant planning. For example, the Diesel Automatic isn’t available in top end SX(O).

That means you can’t get 6 airbags

or ESP. You also don’t get electrically adjustable driver seat, or leather or full MID etc either. But, you do get 60:40 split seats and isofix seat mounts, which even the top spec manual doesn’t! There is no rear disc brakes, no auto-folding mirrors, no auto headlamps, no auto wipers, no reach adjustable steering, and no illumination around the vanity mirror in the vehicle. Ventilated seats, like in the Verna, and automatic boot opening would have been nice at this price point.

Hyundai has always placed the Creta at a premium and with the facelift, the top end variant is almost half a lakh rupees more expensive than before. But, it is better value now that you get more equipments-sunroof, electrically adjustable driver seat, wireless charging, cruise control, electric dimming mirror etc. So, if you had your eyes set on one, it is a better time than ever to buy one

MOVIE REVIEW

Vishwaroopam 2

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t is an action thriller directed by veteran actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan.

It is both a prequel and sequel to Vishwaroopam, which released around five years ago. The promoters of the movie assure that several times more action, romance and thrill than what they saw in the part one could be expected from the part two. Apart from Kamal Haasan, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Rahul Bose and Shekhar Kapur appear in the lead roles. Like the part one, in the part two also, RAW agent Wisam Ahmad Kashmiri is the central character. Can Kashmiri defeat dangerous terrorists Omar and Saleem to save the democratic world?

Fanney Khan

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t is a musical drama directed by talented filmmaker Atul Manjrekar.

The music direction of the movie in which the element of music plays a very important role is handled by two renowned music directors Amit Trivedi and Tanishk Bagchi. Actually, the movie is based on a Dutch film ‘Everybody is Famous with a Dream in his Eyes and a Tune in his Heart’. Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Anaitha Nair and Divya Dutta appear in the lead roles. Most of the movie’s songs have already received appreciation. The film beautifully portrays a heart-touching story of a father, who loves his daughter more than anything else in the world, and a daughter, who has music in her heart.

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Christopher Robin

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t is a fantasy thriller directed by acclaimed filmmaker Marc Forster. The screenplay of this amazing film is written by Alex Ross Perry, Allison Schroeder and Tom McCarthy. Noteworthy, the film has received several positive reviews. In the film, Ewan McGregor acts as Christopher Robin, to whom Winnie-the-pooh, the childhood friend of Mr Robin, comes to seek help to find his friends. The film portrays how Robin and his friend find success in their journey and how Robin’s pal repays his friend’s contribution. Apart from Mr McGregor, Jim Cummings, Hayley Atwell, Brad Garrett and Peter Capaldi appear in the lead roles. The film is capable to attract both adult and child audience alike.

The Darkest Mind

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t is a fantasy thriller directed by popular filmmaker Jennifer Yuh Nelson. It is based on the book ‘The Darkest Mind’, which is written by young American writer Alexandra Bracken. It is to be noted that the screenplay of the movie is also written by the book’s author itself. The film is about a teenager Ruby, who escapes from a detainment camp, where she has been placed due to her supernatural abilities along with similar teenagers, and tries to fight the adults, who fear such teens, and to create a safe-haven for the supernatural teenagers like her.

Amandla Stenberg, Harris Dickinson, Mandy Moore, Gwendoline Christie and Golden Brooks act in the lead roles.

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BOOK REVIEW

Daredreamers: A Start-up of Superheroes Author Price

: Kartik Sharma, Ravi Nirmal Sharma : Rs 100 (Paperback)

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his amazing book tells the readers the story of a unusual businessman who starts an extra-ordinary start-up to carry out challenging rescue operations ‘Daredreamers’ with the help of an inhumanly strongman, a champion shooter, a fearless stunt man and a brilliant doctor.

Can the start-up overcome the challenges it faces during its journey towards becoming a successful start-ups? What are those challenges?

How the group behaves when it faces challenges? The aforesaid questions are those prime questions the book attempts to answer. It is defiantly a fantastic book. The best part of this book is that it is neither a fiction nor a non-fiction.

When Coal Turned Gold: The Making of a Maharatna Company Author Price

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: Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya : Rs 539 (Hardcover)

t is a success saga. Have you ever imagined how difficult it would have been if the Coal India Limited –one of the most successful companies our country have- were not that successful? Actually, there is the hard work of many dedicated persons behind the enviable success of this company. In the list of those dedicated persons, former CIL Chairman and Managing Director Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya deserves the top slot. In this book, Mr Bhattacharyya narrates how the company he once led have emerged into a powerful conglomerate capable enough to even contribute more than 82 per cent of the country’s total coal production overcoming the challenges it have faced during its journey towards the top.

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The premium facilities and attractions of the hotel, make way for a comfortable and elegant stay in Kochi.

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BOOK REVIEW

Between the Great Divide: A Journey into Pakistan-administered Kashmir Author Price

: Anam Zakaria : Rs 499 (Hardcover)

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his is a very special book, given the fact that each attempt aimed at hearing the voice of unheard people deserves to be treated as special. The book attempts to convey to all those who show extraordinary enthusiasm to decide how the ordinary people of Pakistan-administered Kashmir should live and, even, think that those living in this region are not robots so they have independent thoughts and lives. The writer tries to include the voice of all genuine stockholders of the region. It is left for the readers who read this book to decide whether it is biased or not.

Cutting the Gordian Knot: India’s Quest for Prosperity Author Price

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: T N Hari, Hari Menon : Rs 374 (Paperback)

ndia has several strengths in terms of its huge educated youth population, political environment, geographical position, climatic condition and many more factors. There is still doubt: has the country’s economy tapped the complete potential of its strengths. This book extensively discusses about the challenges the world’s largest democracy is facing while marching towards its goal of becoming an economically prosperous nation. Though the book does not suggest any tactical steps to overcome these challenges, it does a deep insight about the challenges and, thereby, makes the reader who read this book capable enough to articulate necessary methods to overcome these challenges.

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Printed On 01/ 08/ 2018

RNI Reg No. KERENG/2011/42633