Feb 2017 100 mb

Vol 6 Issue No.64 Feb - March 2017

Reviewing gold price movements in 2016 and outlook for 2017 Shri V.P. Nandakumar MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd.

The promise of a Rising Kerala!

Tale of designing a prodigious empire Mr. Sugathan Janardhanan

Striding through a reviving nation

Summer Fun

India’s Consumption Story Feb - March17 1

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

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Editorial A

merican poet Maya Angelou writes: “If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.” It's February-the month of love and happiness to celebrate the spirit of togetherness with your loved ones.

Wealth and entrepreneurship also distinguish Malayalis on the global map.

This time I would like to share another success story of a Keralite, Mr. Sugathan Janardhanan, a prominent NRI Industrialist, and businessman based in U.A.E. With more than 4,000 employees and many success stories to his credit, his Royal Group of Companies is wide-spread into three industrial segments now: Furniture & Furnishing, Hospitality, and Real Estate.

In the regular column, V.P. Nandakumar, the Chairman and Managing Director of Manappuram Finance, predicts a brilliant outlook for our precious yellow metal, Gold, in 2017.

“Trump, Brexit and whatever, uncertainties in any form will benefit gold in its role as a hedging instrument”-he says.

In Auto, our expert test drives Ignis, the third Maruti to join its NEXA line up after the S-Cross and the Baleno. It is also the only hatchback to offer a diesel automatic in the country right now. The crooked hand of misery never shows any mercy on Poland.

But go to this country to find out greenery, museums, historic sites and wonderful nightlife experiences.

Regular staples on cinema, technology, health, beauty, the stock market, gadgets, banking, movie review, and book review are also there.

Enjoy reading.

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CONTENTS

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6

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Reviewing gold price movements in 2016 and outlook for 2017

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The promise of a Rising Kerala!

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Tale of designing a prodigious empire

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Manappuram Miss South India 2017: New queen inducted

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54

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62

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Gadgets

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Recipes

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Summer Fun

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Striding through a reviving nation

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Ignis

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UNIQUE DIARY

India views Trump’s induction positively

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ven though the Indian economic experts and foreign policy specialists are sceptical about the newly inducted US President Donald Trump’s foreign and economic policies, they are, it seems, very optimistic regarding the future of Indo-US bilateral relation- the relation witnessed a tremendous improvement during the former US President Barak Obama’s regime.

The syndromes of the protectionism policies, largely evident throughout Trump’s inaugural speech, indicate that India has to worry a lot as we are one of the prime beneficiaries of the H-1B visa. As there is no indication about the foreign economic relations and ties in the US President’s speech, it is hard to draw a conclusion about the future of the global economy, which heavily relies on the capitalistic countries like US, UK, Russia and Germany.

Finance Minister gifts a pro-poor budget

'' Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.''

Richard Branson

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his time, the financial budget of our country has given adequate attention to the rural sector. It concentrates reasonably on rural infrastructure, rural job, poverty alleviation, social welfare, agriculture, and much more. Moreover, it gives provision to encourage scientific farming. Importantly, it allows farm insurance to cover nearly forty per cent of net sown. More importantly, it earmarks reasonable sum to the rural job guarantee program, which has been giving livelihood to a large rural population. Yet, the budget fails to propose any revolutionary programs. Rather, it sticks on to the traditional policies. Anyway, during the budget presentation, the Finance Minister Arun Jaitely assures that the ill-effects of demonetisation would not be carried to the next year.

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FAIFA demands tax reduction on cigarette industry

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he Federation of All India Farmers Association, an organisation of the farmers working in the commercial crops sector, has demanded the reduction of the tax on the cigarette manufacturing industry. It is said that the farmers cultivating tobacco are not getting proper price due to the improper regulations and taxation procedure. As per the report, there are nearly four crore farmers, farm labours, bidi workers, retailers and their families depending up on the tobacco crop sector. The organisation has claimed that nearly twenty-two farmers have lost their life because of the instability in the sector. As per the report, the tobacco products earn the country nearly six thousand crore rupee in terms of foreign exchange. Our country is the second largest producer and third largest exporter of tobacco products.

Rural Indian home loans’ demand to see a sudden surge

'' Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.''

Coco Chanel

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s the central government has proposed low-interest schemes and interest subversion schemes aiming to benefit the rural population who plans to build low budget homes costing below twelve lakh rupee, the demand for the home loans in the rural regions of our country is likely to witness a sudden surge.

The vital observations regarding the rural home loans have been made by Harshil Mehta, the CEO of DHFL- the housing finance company.

The pro-poor and pro-rural tax subversion policy had been announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a peoplefriendly policy during his historic address on the New Year eve.

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UNIQUE DIARY

Curbs on outsourcing likely to hurt US economy, to hit its global competency

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ny curbs on the outsourcing, as per the National Association of Software and Service Companies’ observation, are likely to hurt the US economy badly. The NASSCOM claim that the US companies heavily rely on the foreign skilled workers as they suffer the scarcity of skilled workers in their country. It is said that the representative of the organisation is scheduled to convene a meeting with the new US administrative delegates in coming February.

The matter led to this NASSCOM’s statement was a provocative statement made by the US President Donald Trump during his oath taking ceremony at Capitol: ‘Buy American and Hire American’.

Ola appoints former PepsiCo executive as its new COO

'' Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.''

Bill Gates

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n line with the latest trend- appointing experienced and talented professions from the corporate talent pool into the main operation wing of the company- seen in the corporate world, the Ola director board has appointed the former PepsiCo executive, Vishal Kaul, as the Chief Operating Officer of the India’s top cab aggregator. It is said that this strategy is widely adopted among the top Indian conglomerates, like Flipkart and Snapdeal, as their investors always demand a good return from their investment.

Earlier, Snapdeal, a retail website conglomerate, had appointed the former Chief Executive Officer of Housing.com- a real estate website conglomerate- as their Chief Strategy Officer.

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BUSINESS

REVIEWING GOLD PRICE MOVEMENTS

Shri V.P.Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd. Chairman, CII’s Kerala State Council

Given the uncertainty in the global economy, and the divide between the US Federal Reserve and other central banks with regard to interest rate policy, gold and other precious metals will continue to attract demand as a safe haven.

IN 2016 AND OUTLOOK FOR 2017

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s we enter the new year, the time is right to take a look at something close to all our hearts. Yes, it is gold, more precisely the price of gold and how it is likely to move in the new year. In order to get a sense of where gold is headed over the next year, it is best to begin with a review of how gold prices moved in the past, particularly the last one year. Therefore, let us start with a summary of gold price movements in the international markets over the last five years

Gold price movement over last 5 years (US$ per troy ounce) Calendar Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Starting 1,531 1,693.75 1,225 1,172 1,082.25

Closing High Low 1,657.5 1,791.80 1,531 1,204.5 1,693.75 1,192 1,206 1,385 1,142 1,060 1,295.75 1,049.4 1,163.6 1,366.25 1,077

The international price of gold experienced a steady and continuous upward trend from US $271.04 per troy ounce in 2001 to its all-time high price of around USD $1,900 per troy ounce September 2011. Thereafter, gold price remained range bound for some

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months and subsequently started declining steadily from 2013 to reach USD $1,060 by the end of calendar year 2015.

Trends in 2016

Calendar year 2016 started with pessimism about gold price due to indications given by US Federal Reserve Bank (US Fed hereafter) about more interest rate hikes to follow after its surprise hike BY 25 bps in December 2015.

Following the Fed rate hike of December 2015 (the first hike in seven years), and expectations of further rate hikes to follow during 2016, gold price was anticipated to remain sluggish throughout the year. In fact, it was believed that the price of all precious metals (including gold) would register a depreciating trend, since investors would move away from noninterest bearing commodities and metals.

First quarter 2016: The global economy was slowly recovering from the fear of recession, and central banks across the developed world were using stimulus to boost consumption and avoid recession. The Negative Interest Rate Policies (NIRP) implemented by central banks in Japan and Europe represent a shift to ‘unconventional policies’ which create great uncertainty. In addition, the economic transition of the Chinese economy from investment oriented to consumption oriented dampened hopes of global recovery

powered by the Chinese economy.

The uncertainty created by this mix of factors undermined confidence in traditional asset classes.

The impact of NIRP in particular significantly reduced the demand of sovereign bonds as a stable, low-risk asset. This enabled inflow into gold backed exchange traded funds (ETFs). The central banks also started adding gold into their reserves to protect itself from global uncertainty.

Gold price during the first quarter of 2016 (Jan-March), reported an increase of 16.6 per cent, making it one of the best performing investment avenues for investors. According to the World Gold Council, the renewed appetite of investors in gold ETFs during the first quarter of 2016 was palpable.

This was the best performance by gold in almost three decades and it ranked as one of the best performing assets globally during the quarter.

Brexit: The subsequent boost for the gold price was registered in mid of June when the British defied market expectations to vote for exit from the European Union causing panicky investors to flock towards traditional "safe haven" assets. Gold prices reached a three-year high amidst all the Brexit worries. It was reported that gold prices surged to

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US $ 1,327 per troy ounce from US $1,257 per troy ounce in one day on June 23 (after the results of the referendum came in).

Gold again emerged as the best asset class for investors as Sterling fell to a 31-year low against the dollar and world stock markets fell sharply. There was fear that UK’s decision could trigger demands for referendums in other European Union countries and it added to the uncertainty. Once again, there was increased demand for gold as a “safe haven” investment.

Trump effect: In the run-up to

the US elections, the overwhelming consensus among analysts was that Hillary Clinton would emerge victorious. Almost all analysts believed that gold would rise sharply if Donald Trump were to cause an upset. It so happened that on November 9, 2016, Donald Trump emerged as the shock winner. Gold price jumped to US $1,300 per troy ounce from US $1,275 per troy ounce before the results. Central banks bought gold to prepare for the uncertainty of the Trump policy changes. However the gold price rally was short lived and it fell back to its pre-election prices within a couple of days.

The reason for the reversal was that as the market absorbed the outcome of the election, analysts began to weigh the economic implications of Trump’s proposed policy measures. Trump’s oft stated intention is to significantly increase government spending in infrastructure development (which has suffered decline in recent years) while wanting to deliver sizable cuts in corporate and personal income taxes. Also, he would like a less heavy hand of regulation on the banking sector and a more relaxed approach to exploration and drilling of oil.

From the perspective of business, these are clearly favourable measures and so the markets readjusted. Market started to go up led by banking, energy and infrastructure stocks (that stand to

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benefit from the Trump agenda), anticipating that any increase in infrastructure spending funded by deficits will boost Treasury bond yields which will attract currency inflows and strengthen dollar.

Gold has an inverse relationship with dollar. As the dollar strengthened—the anticipated higher fiscal spending leading to higher deficits, inflation and greater prospect of US Fed increasing interest rates in response—gold weakened. At the same time, as explained above, stock markets started moving up with the expectation of pick-up in economic growth based on likelihood of increased spending by US government. The prospect of higher interest rates and appreciating US dollar has shifted investors’ appetite away from non-interest bearing yellow metal to stock market.

Post US election and early 2017

Despite the unexpected outcome of the US elections, gold has not maintained its gains as was expected. After reaching an overnight high of US $1,340 soon after the election, it tumbled to US $1,120 per troy ounce by mid-December.

The US Federal Monetary Policy also contributed to the decline in gold price by raising the key policy rate by 25 bps on 14 December 2016.

By mid-December 2016, gold found some support when the US Dollar retreated from a 14-year

peak. Also, demand from the Chinese New year (January 28, 2017) and from India’s wedding season (October to December) helped.

Further support for gold price can come from the upcoming elections in Europe where major economies are headed for elections like Netherlands (mid-March), France (April) and Germany (October) that will bring uncertainty back again into the markets.

In fact, at the time of this writing (January 31), gold is trading at levels of around US$ 1,200 with a mild recovery seen in recent days after a weaker dollar and as uncertainty over US policy under President Donald Trump stoked safe-haven demand.

What analysts expect for 2017

Uncertainty in any form benefits gold in its role as a hedging instrument. Given the uncertainty in the global economy, and the divide between the US Federal Reserve and other central banks with regard to interest rate policy, gold and other precious metals will continue to attract demand as a safe haven.

In predicting the future price of gold, analysts are a divided lot.

Some have revised downward their earlier forecast while others are scaling it up higher. Various commodities experts predict gold price to range bound between US $1250 an ounce to US $1300 an ounce

sharply against the dollar causing instability in the global markets (so called taper-tantrum).

Therefore, having followed unconventional monetary policies for so long, the US Fed appears to have grasped a tiger by the tail. Exiting from these unconventional policies may be easier said than done. The Fed will now have to factor in the effects of its decisions on the global economy too because any measure that induces turmoil in the international markets will eventually pull down the domestic US markets too given the inter-linkages.

level by 2017. Some of the prominent forecasts are given below: 1. Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BoAML) is expecting gold to trade around US $1,200 an ounce by mid-2017, implying limited upside near-term.

2. Goldman Sachs raised its average gold price forecasts to $1,260, $1,261 and $1,250 per ounce, from $1,202, $1,150 and $1,150 for 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

2. Analysts at the Canadian bank RBC said that they are increasing their 2017 and 2018 gold forecasts, expecting prices to US $1,500, up from the bank’s previous forecast of US $1,300 an ounce. However, the bank sees prices declining to US $1,300 an ounce by 2020.

4. Swiss bank UBS forecasts gold prices to average US $1350 an ounce in 2017, characterising the metal as “down but not out” after significant declines.

5. BMI Research has revised its forecast gold price for 2017 downwards to US $1 300 an ounce, from the previously anticipated US $1 400 an ounce. This, after Republican candidate Donald Trump was elected the next President of the US, and the later decline in gold prices.

Our view

If the outlook for gold had dimmed at the beginning of the new year, it had to do largely with the comments emerging from the US Federal Reserve hinting at 3 more likely rate hikes in 2017. Also, President-elect Trump’s plans to open up the fiscal tap to fund huge investments in infrastructure while also talking of cuts to corporate and personal income taxes. The resultant deficit will be inflationary and compel the US Fed to raise interest rates, attracting inflows and strengthening US dollar (and weakening gold).

However, our recent experience with the US Fed that they have been unable to deliver on the promised pace of normalisation of interest rates. In the beginning of 2016, indications were of four rate hikes while the reality turned out to be only one. In the early years of quantitative easing (QE), the US Fed would cite weakness in the domestic economy, especially high unemployment, to delay normalising rates. But in 2013, when the Fed announced that they would taper off their programme of QE, there was panic and heavy selling in bond markets. There was significant outflow of hot money from emerging markets including India and their currencies depreciated

Further, while Trump’s plans to ramp up spending on infrastructure and cutting corporate taxes has enthused markets, the increase in fiscal deficit will be inflationary.

Our long term experience with inflation is that inflation invariably pulls down growth. Besides, currencies subject to inflation lose their “store of value” function and this can spark a revival of interest in gold as inflation-hedge. Therefore, while gold prices may fall further in the next three to four months, the fundamentals for gold still hold good with so many central banks across the world engaged in depreciating their currencies by monetary easing.

Lastly, if Trump follows through on his protectionist rhetoric and sparks a trade war with, say, China or Mexico, the resulting uncertainty will likely make it difficult for the US Fed to raise interest rates. And, any pause in normalising interest rates, will once again provide support to gold.

Summing up, the bearish outlook on gold price at the beginning of the year was premature. In our view, gold is more than likely to hold its own over the next year 

(V.P. Nandakumar is MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd. and the Chairman of CII’s Kerala State Council. Views are personal.)

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BUSINESS

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

Innovation is part of the DNA of the entrepreneur.

One needs to innovate every day and every time you face a problem. That's how thriving minds solve problems.

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erala steps into an unique period in its business history. One just needs to see things not from rose tinted glass but through the lens of optimism and see the bright side of the opportunities that await the state and have been knocking at its doors for a while now. The difference is the energy which is currently rampant in state and also a cumulative feeling that, this is one of the best times, in the state when things seem to be coming together. It is also a time, where the state machinery, bureaucracy and the current law makers in the state take a favourable view to entrepreneurship and development. But in all fairness to the government and the lawmakers– some of the ecosystems have to be built by the businessmen in the state. It is the time, innovation and bright ideas need to step up.

Innovation is part of the DNA of the entrepreneur. One needs to innovate every day and every time you face a problem.

That's how thriving minds solve problems. The key, therefore, is not to expect freebies and handouts; that's not the way an entrepreneur thinks, and acts. Every problem is an opportunity to innovate.

Every good, inspiring, entrepreneurial story is about using local resources to build a world class organisation. It needs more than just hard work, a good team, and a good strategy. It needs above all a ‘VISION’ to build a world-class company.

It all begins in the mind. We know many

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The promise of a

Rising Kerala!

people think that first you focus on making some money, paying off creditors and loans, then growing, and finally talking about ‘Vision’ and ‘Mission’ and so on. Nothing can be farther from truth! World class does not happen by accident. Quality does not happen by accident. It can happen only by deep and thoughtful design. Time flows from the present into the future. Set your goal high, and work back to what you need to do today to reach that goal. It will involve tough and difficult and unpalatable choices to be made all the time, of walking away from a sure deal because it does not fit in with the Vision, from incurring a financial loss to remain faithful to that vision, etc.

Technical expertise and experience count a great deal: AMAT VICTORIA CURRAM – A Latin phrase which means Victory loves preparation. Inspiration and passion, while necessary, are not sufficient conditions for innovation and entrepreneurial success.

You need expertise, experience, and skills and must mobilise them effectively from where they are available. Of course, it helps if you possess a core skill like finance, technology, marketing, etc. But this is not necessary. If you have

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the right idea, and back it with the passion and commitment needed, you will find the resources needed to accomplish what you have to do.

The significant impetus to the start-up ecosystem across sectors gives wings to the ideas of the young and the old alike, now in the state. Today, while the world sees the boom in the young start up scenario, we, in Kerala, also see an increasingly interesting ecosystem of the forty and fifty-year-old start up entrepreneur. This aspect becomes increasingly important because Kerala is not exactly on the verge of the economic dividend like the rest of India.

There is a significant number of senior citizens and as a percentage of population, it will increase at least in the next five years as well. It also remains paramount that an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem takes shape in the state where we have ventures by old and young businessmen alike.

The next aspect of the ecosystem is the certain impasse which has come to the traditional sectors of Kerala like the Coir Industry, agriculture, handicrafts, furniture et.al.

These were all large employers

in the state and their laggardness will create negative ripples in the state. While we ride the boom in IT, ITES,Services, BFSI– inclusive growth will come only when we build plans to revive not just the operationalization of these sectors but leverage technology to find them global markets, institutional funding and a consistent constant fillip.

An event like Rising Kerala which was showcased in Kozhikode in December 2016, demonstrated how there is much to be excited in several ‘old school’ sectors in North Kerala. The Footwear cluster is a classic example where some of the largest mass market footwear is now being made in India creating immense value for the ecosystems. Paragon, Lunar and VKC group are classical examples.

The future of work is changing and digitization will completely change the workplace landscape. As popular Silicon Valley Venture Capital investor Mar Andreesen says,“In the future there will be two kinds of jobs:people who tell the computers what to do and people who are told by the computers what to do.”

The future of work is changing and digitization will completely change the workplace landscape.

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Digitization will also no longer fill in some hard gap in efficiency and speed much like the calculators.

Humans will now fill the hard gaps in purely digitized computer workflows much like the factory control centres and UBER drivers!

Traditional agriculture needs a facelift. It is necessary to create not only new opportunities for existing players but also new avenues for potential agriculture entrepreneurs. This demand will need the birth of the ‘Agripreneur’ in Kerala.

The ‘Agripreneur’ is a newly coined management noun referring to a new breed of young entrepreneurs combining their love of ‘Farming’ and ‘Agriculture’ with an acquired professional Business Approach.

While the business reasons range and seem similar to every other sector, agriculture has increased significance because of the target category. The ‘Agripreneurs’ are essential to bring. Entrepreneurship and self-employment to rural areas Inclusiveness and focus on women

Entrepreneurship and self-employment to rural areas

Due to the rising literacy levels and the urban influence, the youth in Kerala are increasingly shying away from agriculture. This has led underuse of land resources and the low labour productivity due to the limited and slow adoption of technology and the inadequate support infrastructure in terms of transportation, warehousing and credit facilities, which impact the production levels and the extent of wastages in production.

Inclusiveness and focus on women

With the increasing focus on the kitchen gardens and intelligent use of space, agriculture is a high potential sector to bring women into the folds of entrepreneurship.

With their active participation, agriculture can emerge with the

The role of the entrepreneur in agriculture is to create linkages which are critical in bringing the producer, processor and consumer together are supply chain linkages which is at a nascent stage In Kerala.

success footprint similar to the IT industry in India, where industry experts comment that the ability to engage so many educated women who were otherwise confined to child and elder care could actively contribute to the economy. The popularity of the entire concept of the kitchen garden will soon have housewives’ venture into cultivation of vegetables in their terrace and backyard.

The role of the entrepreneur in agriculture is to create linkages which are critical in bringing the producer, processor and consumer together are supply chain linkages which is at a nascent stage In Kerala. Increase in the ‘agripreneurs’ can encourage 1. Transparency and information exchange- Schemes must ensure the growth of trust within the farmer group by providing complete information on the clauses prevailing in the agreement, along with knowledge of the prevailing prices for the farm produce.

2. Farmer support mechanism- To secure the quality and quantity of

product obtained under contract, companies would need to provide farmers with assistance in terms of key inputs, such as seeds and information on farm practices.

Also, since farming in Kerala is a credit deficient, financial institutions would have to evaluate a mechanism to provide adequate credit line facilities to the farmer/ producer.

3. Profit sharing- Schemes need to innovate and come up with a sourcing model that incorporates some means of sharing profits with the producer. This could be through either individual payment to farmers for their produce or community investments in the sourcing regions/villages.

The current impetus stays, Kerala will field a land of dreams, which will be more inclusive than anywhere in the world, leverage the impetus of start-ups, reorganise and restructure the traditional sectors. As we begin our newyear, 2017, we look around us with positive caution and bet on the smile of the optimist within us!

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COVERSTORY

Tale of designing

a prodigious empire Sugathan was born as a third son to a reputed agricultural family at Kallara.

He went on to become one of the top 100 Indian business leaders in UAE as picked by Forbes Middle East.

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ith more than 2 decades of flourishing existence in UAE, the Royal Group of Companies is wide-spread into three industrial segments now: Furniture & Furnishing, Hospitality and Real Estate. The powerful and compelling personality behind the very triumphant Royal Group of Companies is, Mr. Sugathan Janardhanan. He hails from Trivandrum, Kerala. With more than 4,000 employees and many success stories to his credit, he is a prominent N.R.I

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Industrialist and businessman based in U.A.E. and his multifarious business interests spans across the Middle East, CHINA and INDIA. The Companies belonging to Mr. Sugathan Janardhanan, in India are commonly called IndRoyal Group of Companies.

The furniture and furnishing division under the Royal group of companies, owns land and buildings for factories and warehouses; and do trading in all kinds of furniture & furniture related products. The brand

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was to help the customers design their own living space and convert it the best available option within their budget. It is a leading market player in the furniture industry employing more than 1000 personnel in UAE. Being manufacturers of sofas, foam, mattresses, comforters, elastic webbing, Dacron, packing materials etc., they own 3 manufacturing facilities for furniture, Foam & Mattresses and packing materials. With the brand name ‘Royal Rest’, Royal Foam is one of the largest manufacturing and trading companies of ‘sleep products’ in the Middle East. The Furniture division prospers with thirteen retail outlets spreading across Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. Mr. J Sugathan had always commended the leaders of the UAE, for enabling entrepreneurs to realise their dreams by making available world-class infrastructure and stable governance. In India,

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Successful entrepreneurs always share this fundamental to provide their customers excellent quality at affordable prices.

the division known as Indroyal Group of Companies’ head office is located at Trivandrum and has a state-of-the-art factory located in 100 acres at Tenkasi, TamilNadu and an export oriented furniture factory at the KINFRA industrial park in Trivandrum. The company has 16 direct outlets spread throughout South India.

The hospitality division is successfully operating apartment

hotels since 2005 at Dubai and Ajman, and has 1000+ rooms at its disposal in UAE. In India, Indroyal Hotels Pvt Ltd owns Holiday Inn, Cochin a deluxe five star property in the heart of Cohin.

The Real estate division, Indroyal Property Developers (P) Ltd has acquired premium locations for development. The first project is a Luxury apartment complex at Trivandrum having 213 units,

ny was set up. He had to face a lot of financial crisis and administrational challenges in the course of his journey. Determination was his sole capital. It was, by no means, an easy journey. He faced uphill tasks, and every task that turned up before him was converted to an opportunity to improve himself.

Every single lesson, like the exposure he had to Italian furniture in Italy during his employment or the negative experiences during his initial phase of entrepreneurship, he converted them all as stepping stones to success.

Successful entrepreneurs always share this fundamental to

providing amenities and living standards of International level.

With this project Mr. Sugathan is setting a new bench mark in the luxury residential living in the state of Kerala. A residential complex at Trivandrum, a Five Star Hotel Project near Techno Park, Kazhakuttam and a residential cum commercial project at Alappuzha are the ones planned to be announced in the immediate future. The group is also working on making a major investment in healthcare. A Super Specialty Hospital project is all ready to be announced, marking the next chapter in the illustrious career graph of Sugathan.

The very prosperous business relationship with China commenced from 2000 onwards. Mr. J. Sugathan has established a large furniture manufacturing unit “TAISHOU FEILONG Furniture Co. LLC at an investment of US$ 5.00 Million at Zhazhain near Shanghai along with a Chinese JV partner in the year 2001. An independent furniture manufacturing unit “J & S” was set up in the year 2006. Trading House “LINGOES International “is operational since

2005 for facilitating exports of goods from China.

Sugathan was born as a third son to a reputed agricultural family at Kallara. He went on to become one of the top 100 Indian business leaders in UAE as picked by Forbes Middle East. In his 1840-essay titled The Philosophy of Furniture, Edgar Allan Poe said that the design of the room is like that of a picture – “both amenable to those undeviating principles which regulate all varieties of art”. It was this correlation marked out the remarkable career of Sugathan.

Like most ambitious youth aspiring for a good career and willing to leave the comfort of their homes, Sugathan left his native place Trivandrum, in Kerala, and went to Mumbai in the early ‘70’s, in search of a career. After a stint at the evident Mumbai, he worked in a Furniture Company in Dubai for a decade. Trying his luck on entrepreneurship, he started a modest upholstery-making unit in Ajman in 1991. By 1995 the company began trading by importing fabric and furniture. It was also the year that the first retail outlet of the compa-

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His father was a farmer and his mother was a homemaker. He made his connections with reality stronger after every successful move. provide their customers excellent quality at affordable prices. Mr. J Sugathan vouches his commitment and dedication to take care of his customers which has helped his empire emerge as a reputed enterprise. The envious growth Royal and IndRoyal group of companies has claimed in the last two decades shouts loud on the excellence they have mastered in their industry. In a way, he had taken the game out of reach of his competitors with the sheer value he was able to provide and the attitude of care and service that he ensured was given to customers at all the company outlets.

For someone who has been this immensely successful, Sugathan remains firmly rooted in his reality. The origins of agricultural family at Kallara, Pangode in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His father was a farmer and his mother was a homemaker. He made his connections with reality stronger after every successful move. Having seen the hardships of life he is not carried away by the luxury of wealth and feels that goodwill and respect are more valuable than all the riches in the world. So, he built his family too along those lines. His wife Suni Sugathan is a homemaker. His daughter Suji Sugathan who is a MBA graduate and her husband Dr Rajeev are playing active roles in the management of the Group activities from Dubai. Sugathan’s son Sulin, an Engineering graduate has joined the Royal group as director and is actively involved in its management. For those who want to emulate his success story, Sugathan has just this to say as a word of advice: “Sincerity is the key word to success. Besides, one should have a goal so that there could be an urge inside him to achieve it.” 

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n the colourfully designed occasion of the 15th Edition of Miss South India, a much awaited selection happened: the selection of its new queen. As the audience and fashion enthusiasts were eagerly waiting to hear the final decision after the completion of all the three rounds of Miss South India 2017 Presented

by Manappuram Finance Limited, finally that announcement came: ‘Ms Bavithra B from Tamil Nadu has been selected as the Miss South India’. Accompanied by the huge round of applause, the winner was crowned byMs.MeeraMitun, the winner of the Miss South India 2016.

In the prestigious event, directed by Ajit Ravi, happened at Camelot Convention Centre,nearly 18 beauties from 5 south Indian states participated.

Of this eighteen participants, Ms.Reshma R K Nambiar from Calicut and Ms. Varna Sampath from Karnataka were selected as the first and second runner up

respectively.MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd Mr. V P Nandakumar and Mrs.SushamaNandakumar crowned the first and second runners up.

Apart from the first three titles, the regional winners and subtitle winners under the categories Miss Queen Andhra, Miss Queen Karnataka, Miss Queen Kerala, Miss Queen Telangana, Miss Tamil Nadu, Miss Beautiful Hair, Miss Beautiful Smile, Miss Beautiful Skin, Miss Beautiful Face, Miss Beautiful Eyes, Miss Congeniality, Miss Personality, Miss Catwalk, Miss Perfect Ten, Miss Talent, Miss Photogenic, Miss Viewer’s Choice, Miss Social Media have been chosen.

When SunainaAllamraju, Carol Menezes, Reshma R K Nambiar, SllokaSaincherr, Abhirami V Iyer grabbed the Miss Queen Andhra, Miss Queen Karnataka, Miss Queen Kerala, Miss Queen Telangana, Miss Tamil Nadu respectively, Akila Narayan, Carol Menezes, Varna Sampath, Samantha Jose,

ReshmaNambiar, Bavithra B, Reshma R K Nambiar, Madhuri Jain, SllokaSaincherr, NishithaShrinath, and AnuTressa received Miss Beautiful Hair, Miss Beautiful Smile, Miss Beautiful Skin, Miss Beautiful Eyes, Miss Congeniality, Miss Personality, Miss Catwalk, Miss Perfect Ten, Miss Photogenic, Miss Viewer’s Choice, Miss Social Media titles respectively. Noteworthy, Carol got two sub-titles: Miss Beautiful Smile and Miss Beautiful Face and Varna Sampath with Miss Beautiful Skin and Miss Talent.

The experienced judging panel consisted of Model and Actor Sanjay Kumar Asrani, Model, Actress and Writer Vanisree Bhatt, Model and Actor Rajeev Pillai, Managing Editor of KanyakaToshmaBiju, Model and Actor KaushalManda ranked the contestants.

Unlike other fashion contests, the subtitle winners were also picked by the judging panel of expertise itself.

The competition which was

In the prestigious event, directed by Ajit Ravi, happened at Camelot Convention Centre,nearly 18 beauties from 5 south Indian states participated.

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conducted by Pegasus Event Production Company took place in 3 rounds: designer saree, red cocktail and black gown.

Notably, the contestants walked the ramp in the grand finale for the music of Pegasus, composed by DJ Harvey Steve.

The title winner won one lakh rupees, while the second runner up was felicitated with 40,000 rupees gifted by Manappuram Finance Ltd. Meanwhile, thefirst runner up was congratulated with 60,000 rupee gifted by Wow Factor.

The crowns worn by the winners were gifted by Parakkat Jewellers.

The grooming session of the competition commenced from January 21st in Beaumonde the Fern, Cochin. The girls were groomed by an expert panel of fashion choreographers and trainers– Valentina Ravi (Mrs India-Asia International), ArunRatna (International Fashion Choreographer), SudhakshinaThampi (Yoga Trainer), Dr. Asha Biju (Skin Expert), Ganga Mohan (Personality Trainer), Jithesh (Personality Trainer), Dr.EldhoKoshi (Dentist), Dr.Karthik Ram (Chief

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Plastic Surgeon).

Unique Times, Zstone Smartphones, Medimix, Beaumonde The Fern, D QUE Watches, Kanyaka, Kalpana’sInternational, ManappuramRitiJewelry, Parakkat Resorts, Aiswarya Advertisements, Wow Factor, Lakeshore Global Lifecare, Your Wing, Nandilath Gmart, VeeKayVees, Galatta, UTTV. in, Shafeenaz Beauty Hair and Makeup Studio and Fitness Forever were the other major event partners of the Miss South India 2017.

ReshmaNambiar (Kochi), Samantha Jose (Trichur), AnuTressa (Kottayam), Reshma R K Nambiar (Calicut) Abhirami V Iyer (Tamil Nadu), Akila Narayan (Tamil Nadu), Bavithra B (Tamil Nadu), Carol Menezes (Karnataka), Demina Rao (Karnataka), MadhuriJain (Tamil Nadu), NishithaShrinath (Karnataka), Pratheeksha Ravi ( Tamil Nadu), Shabnam Ali (Karnataka), SllokaSaincherr (Telangana), SujaSuriyaNila (Tamil Nadu), SunainaAllamraju(Andhra Pradesh), Sushmitha (Karnataka), VarnaSampath (Karnataka) were the 18 contestants who were qualified to compete for the title 

Notably, the contestants walked the ramp in the grand finale of the 15th Edition of Miss South India,Presented

by Manappuram Finance Limited, for the music of Pegasus, composed by DJ Harvey Steve.

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FEATURE

The horrific CCTV visuals brought condemnation to the way these young men behaved on the New Year's eve, in Bangalore. Bengaluru city took a beating on its image.

Vinod Kumar

T

he Closed Circuit Television has become an integral part of lives.

Yes, inside elevators, in corridors and on roads. The roads and play grounds, parking lots and restaurants are all equipped with the CCTV surveillance cameras.

You are monitored and captured inside the camera. These visuals have become precious.

December 31, a date that is familiar to all people. Yes, last date of the year 2016. This date is called the eve of the New Year. And Bengaluru city had a very lively and active night of the new year's eve. Over forty thousand people are reported to have assembled near the MG road and the Brigade road.

Mostly between the ages of twenty and thirty years, these young people assembled for celebration of the mid night. The count down to the new year began and all shared their festivities, to welcome the 2017.

But next morning, the newspaper and television channels had another story to report. Few young men were alleged to have misbehaved with nearly four women. Yes, there was a big crowd. In the darkness, these unpardonable behaviors of eve teasing or even inappropriate touching is reported to have happened.The television channels aired the visuals that were retrieved from the CCTV. Two male miscreants had actually alighted

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Safety and Security

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from a motorbike and man-handled a woman. These horrific visuals brought condemnation to the way these young men behaved on the New Year's eve, in Bangalore.

Bengaluru city took a beating on its image.

This concert of French DJ Pierre David Guetta, is cancelled.

In Bengaluru, the police department denied permission to the organizer of this show. The organizers are called the Sunburn. Even their concerts scheduled in Pune and Noida, are under the scrutiny and scanner. Much conditions from the police department has disrupted the pace and preparation of the organizers. Fans of DJ David Guetta are also perturbed as over twenty thousand tickets to the show, has to be either reimbursed or re issued. In all, just like the case of new year's eve, tranquility is the ultimate victim.

The Bengaluru police has claimed that the police force is too occupied with Agriculture Produce marketing and Committee(APMC) elections. So, law and order situations cannot be guaranteed. In the Noida concert too, the elections in Uttar Pradesh was the reason for denial of permission.

But let us read between the lines. Are the police in Bengaluru becoming excessively cautious? Did the public, put the blame on the police for not doing their job? The police may feel defamed by severe accusation by people. So, does the responsibility for civic behavior of citizens of Bengaluru, lie solely in the law and order enforcement department? Does the civilians, citizens and society, have any

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accountability for the way these young men and women, behave with each other? Who will give a good conduct certificate to all citizens of Bengaluru?

Is the fear of CCTV and the police force, the only deterrent to criminal and rowdy behaviors?

The police department may not be in a play of Tit for Tat. May be the Guetta Concert could have happened with minimum number of policemen. After all, it is a music concert and the fans and music listeners come there to seek only entertainment. But it seemed to have been normal to expect disorderly and unruly behaviour, in New Year's eve celebration and western music concert conducted outdoors.

Revelers and voyeurism cannot be ruled out, under the influence of alcoholic drinks.

Even large assembly of people during political rally has much police personnel to maintain law and order. Religious festivals also bring hundreds of thousands of people together. Most of them have police protection to avoid outward incidents and riots.

Many meditation programmes are becoming trendy worldwide.

Yoga programmes in India and spiritual meditations conducted outdoors have very few police.

Even CCTV visuals show, harmony in these large gathering of people.

Tranquility is maintained. A sense of serenity, prevails in programmes of breathing techniques because the minds are trained. The minds and brains are trained to experience a sense of sanctity and sacredness in the assembly and its activities.Under this cover of

a sentiment of holiness, the large gathering of people are evidently well behaved. And CCTV and policing is limited to a minimum.

Our communities can learn from these lessons, of expression of bullies, rogues and rowdies. If the larger number of people are calm and pious in their transactions and interactions, then we have a rich civilization.

How can we get a camera into

Our communities can learn from lessons, of expression of bullies, rogues and rowdies. If the larger number of people are calm and pious in their transactions and interactions, then we have a rich civilization.

our minds? There may be education by which we may be taught to introspect. An incisive view into our minds, something deeper than a psycho education. An education that makes visible, our innate tendencies. If we can identify our weaknesses then may be these can be corrected. If not, then the young minds are vulnerable to volatile tendencies.

The case of student suicides cannot be wished away. In Kerala

state, the suicide of an engineering student called Jishnu in Nehru Kendra college, has sparked much violence. The education system and society must introduce learnings of Human Values. Then the civic sense and a good mind will prevail. An expert investigation will reveal many lapses on social education. Mental agonies and other imbalances in young minds, need counseling from experts.

Safety and security will become the

normal method. And policing and CCTV can be resigned to the side lines.

My best wishes for a harmonious, safe and secure 2017 to all.

May we be able to construct an uplifting society. May the Indian cities be progressive and be able to host good musical concerts. Let us help our police department and other institutions ď Ź

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The E-form INC-32 has certain inherent limitations. The maximum number of subscribers allowed through the form is SEVEN. Therefore, if the proposed company has more than seven subscribers it should follow the normal incorporation procedure and cannot adopt the integrated incorporation procedure.

The new rules governing incorporation of companies:

A step towards

further simplification

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.

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The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) with a view of simplifying the procedure of Incorporation of Company has come up with Companies (Incorporation) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2016.

The important step in this regard is the introduction of E-Form INC-32 under Simplified Performa for Incorporating Company Electronically (SPICE) scheme. Through this scheme, MCA has simplified the integrated process for incorporating a company by the introduction of electronic filing of Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA).

Salient Features of eform INC-32

To start with, the form is a step ahead of the existing integrated form INC 29 as it allows incorporation of all types of companies including the incorporation of Non- Profit Company (section 8 company) which was not permitted in

INC-29.

Secondly, the existing form INC 29 does not provide an option for entering the name already approved by Registrar of Companies. This has been a matter of concern as companies which have gotten name approval by INC-1 were unable to use the integrated form for incorporation. This ensures that the form is not rejected due to name unavailability.

The new form has also enabled the subscribers and the witness of MOA and AOA to affix their digital signature on the E-forms instead of physical signatures and date of signing the MOA and AOA will be the date of affixing digital signature.

The E-Memorandum of Association and E-Articles of Association facility along with E-form INC 32 can help incorporate a company within 1-2 days.

Procedure

The form INC 32 should be supported by documents including directors’ affidavits, declarations, identity proof, address proof, E-MOA and AOA etc. A declaration by a practicing professional (Chartered Accountant/ Company Secretary/ Cost Accountant/ Advocate) is necessary to file the form and such professional should validate that all the information presented in the e-form is correct by affixing his digital signature.

The e-form once filed is reviewed at the Central Processing Centre of MCA and not by regional Registrar of Companies. If it was found complete in all aspects, the company would be registered and Corporate Identification Number (CIN) would be allotted.

In addition, a maximum of

three directors can also apply for Director Identification Number (DIN) while incorporating the company using the e-form. Further, the newly incorporated company can also apply for PAN, TAN and ESIC registration in a single step through the form. The amended rules also prescribe that the Certificate of Incorporation shall mention the PAN of the company where it is issued by the Income-tax Department.

Drawback

The E-form INC-32 has certain inherent limitations. The maximum number of subscribers allowed through the form is SEVEN. Therefore, if the proposed company has more than seven subscribers it should follow the normal incorporation procedure

and cannot adopt the integrated incorporation procedure. The number of re-submissions in the case of rejection of form is limited to three times which results in difficulty to the stakeholders. Further, only one name could be applied using the e-form which might result in rejection and resubmission of the form.

Conclusion

The introduction of the SPICE scheme by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs is a welcome step in easing the complex and timeconsuming process for company incorporation. The integration of incorporation process of MCA with the other Government bodies like the Income Department has been received well by all the stakeholders and is indeed a step in right direction ď Ź

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I

ndia’s economy is at top of the growth chart with 7.6% growth in 2015-16, overtaking China as the fastest-growing economy. No wonder, the $2 trillion Indian economy is time and again been addressed as the “bright spot” in a background of murky global economic scenario. India’s economy has displayed resilience, not just against global headwinds but also against drought years.

This is particularly noteworthy as 50% of India’s population thrives on agriculture, which contributes about 17% to its gross domestic product and roughly 10% to its exports. India has managed well against all odds, although it cannot be denied that it got a helping hand from the falling international crude oil prices.

Looking at the quarterly results of various retail driven ‘consumption’ companies; one thing is evident i.e. demonetization hasn’t impacted consumption drive in India.

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The Indian economy is estimated to grow at 7.9% in 2016-17 if there isn’t any severe turn of events (discounting demonetization). Among the various contributing factors to India’s growth story, “consumption” is considered the prime. There are multiple reports that talk about India’s rising consumerism; a report by Goldman Sachs points out that “the sheer size of India’s youth combined with improved education pave the way for sustained growth in purchasing power and make India’s consumer story one of the world’s most compelling for the next 20 years.”

While a study by ASSOCHAM and Yes Bank stated that, “the consumer spending in India is expected to quadruple to $4.2 trillion by 2017.”

A report by McKinsey Global Institute suggests, “Demand for goods and services beyond necessities is now soaring because many millions of people are attaining income thresholds at which their consumption takes off rapidly. In India, such spending accounted for 35% of average household consumption; by 2025, MGI expects this share to have increased to 70%. In the

case of urban India, household consumption of education and entertainment accounts for more than one-tenth of total household consumption.”

India’s consumption story will be led by its urban mass consumer population, along other cohorts like the urban middle class and consumers from rural India. Here’s a look at factors fueling India’s consumption and how investors can benefit from it?

Factors Boosting Consumption

India’s rural demand has become a prominent influence on the country’s consumption over the years. It is a major factor of the private final consumption expenditure, which contributes more than 50% to the demand side gross domestic product of India. According to the latest figures available from Central Statistics Office, “India’s Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) at current prices was estimated at Rs.81.12 lakh crore in 2015-16 as against Rs.71.93 lakh crore in 2014-15 while when seen at constant (2011-12) prices, the PFCE was estimated at Rs.63.11 lakh crore in 2015-16 as against Rs.58.64 lakh crore in 2014-15. In terms of GDP, the rates of PFCE at current and constant (2011-12) prices during 2015-16 are estimated at 59.8% and 55.6%, respectively, as against the corresponding rates of 57.6% and 55.6%, respectively in 201415.” The importance of the rural sector is further underlined by data that shows that household consumption in rural areas is growing at a faster rate. Data from IMRB shows that the household consumption of fast-moving consumer goods during 2015 by the urban household grew by 2.9%, while the same in rural areas grew by 5.4%.

The agricultural sector in India

India’s

Consumption Story

is highly dependent on monsoon, with 55% of its arable land still rain-fed. This makes the income of farmers in India highly unstable and monsoon-dependent; this indirectly links their spending to monsoon. India has faced drought in the past two consecutive years and that has severely dented the income of farmers (especially the small farmers) and thus curtailed their spending ability. A poor monsoon threatens the crop yield and shrinks the farm income, which is a rising contributor towards the demand for multiple products such as the fast-moving consumer goods, consumer staples, tobacco, prescription drugs and consumer discretionary spends, food and

beverages, as well as consumer durables. With good monsoon so far, the rural sector will get energized and there should be a revival in consumer demand.

To minimize the dependence on monsoon and boost India’s languishing agricultural sector, the government presented a budget with a special focus on the rural sector. The budget has shown commitment towards raising the farm income and pull rural India out of its slow growth trajectory. The proposed spending on rural sector through crop insurance, health insurance schemes for farmers, and farm loan interest subsidies, as well as the encouragement to diversify

other allied segments, such as dairy and horticulture, should provide a boost to farm and framer’s earnings over time.

As India’s Finance Minister said in his budget speech (2016), “We need to think beyond ‘food security’ and give back to our farmers a sense of ‘income security’. The government will, therefore, reorient its interventions in the farm and non-farm sectors to double the income of the farmers by 2022.”

The various measures announced the budget, if well-implemented, will go a long way in contributing towards India’s sustained economic growth. Overall, the rural demand should get a stimulus, thereby

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making the rural population a significant contributor and beneficiary of India’s growth.

Robust consumption is possible when people are employed and earning. To provide a major impetus to employment and job creation in the country, the government announced radical changes in the foreign direct investment regime of India. Our country has historically been selective (and cautious) towards foreign direct investment.

Moving with the objective of “selfreliance” in sight, the initial FDI policies were dual toned; while FDI was encouraged in areas requiring superior technology and know-how, it was restricted in many sectors to provide immunity to domestic industries.

The year 1991 was the first major milestone, as the process of economic liberalization and reforms kicked in and restrictions on business and investments gradually reduced. The changes resulted in providing for greater allowance towards foreign funding and technology via FDI; so the country embarked on the road to economic development.

Fast forward to the present times; the Modi-led government has taken bold steps towards opening up of the Indian economy and improving the conditions of conducting business. Although there are counter-arguments that there would be loss of jobs with foreign investment and bigger companies coming to India; the positives will outweigh negatives. FDI will enhance India’s employment generation and hence, consumption.

Further, tamed inflation in the backdrop of falling oil prices has helped reduce interest rates, which has provided some impetus to borrowing and spending on consumer durables. The roll-out of onerank-one-pension and the seventh pay commission will increase the purchasing power for millions of salaried and pensioners, spurring discretionary spending as well as savings. An estimated Rs.1.02 lakh

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crore will be spent annually by the government to cater to increased salaries and pension payouts. It is anticipated that the pay commission recommendations would have an impact on the headline inflation; the upshot should be temporary; going by earlier trends.

While the impact of changes in foreign direct investment regime and budget stimulus to the rural sector will be reflected with time, the immediate to medium-term boost would come be propelled by pay commission disbursement and better farm produce (and incomes) due to better monsoon. Besides these, the factors such as increasing literacy, awareness and aspiration levels along with available of products, brand consciousness, and changing attitude towards ‘spending and saving’, are playing a vital role in boosting consumption.

What Are Consumers Buying?

As the per capita spending and income continue to grow in India, people are spending more on clothes, footwear, packaged food, beverages, tobacco, household appliances, automobiles, mobiles; eating out, vacations, hotels, air transport, entertainment, media, healthcare, insurance and education, among other products. A significant proportion of demand for two-wheelers, entry level cars, tractors, FMCG and consumer durables flows in from the rural sector and urban middle class, and

as this segment of demand should remain strong going forward, top line growth of companies engaged in these sectors should get a push.

Broadly, sectors such as chemicals and paints, consumer discretionary and retail and fast moving consumer goods or simply FMCG stand to benefit.

Demonetization and Consumption story

. After the demonetization things are finally starting to settle down. Looking at the quarterly results of various retail driven ‘consumption’ companies; one thing is evident i.e. demonetization hasn’t impacted consumption drive in India We believe that going forward the effect of demonetization would impact positively towards consumer spending adding further momentum towards the consumption drive.

Final Word

The consumer sector in India has clocked an annual rate of 5.7% between FY2005 to FY2015. Going ahead, the annual growth in the Indian consumption market is estimated to be 6.7% during FY201520 and 7.1% during FY2021-25, which presents a neat case for Indian consumer stocks. On the GDP front, while India’s consumption story looks great, there is a need to provide some incentives to capital expenditure in a bid to ensure balanced, non-inflationary and holistic economic growth in the longer term

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DR BINOY JOHN Director & Head: Dept of cardiology, interventional cardiology, advanced heart sciences & cardiac transplant medicine MIOT International, Chennai

In my practice of cardiology, I have seen many lives, and many so young, lost, merely from the ignorant delay in reaching a hospital, for the want of a crucial timely diagnosis of a heart-attack, purely from the patient’s own failure and or delay in understanding the symptoms of a heart-attack.

“TIME IS…..LIFE”

“Ignorance is certainly bliss, but often this bliss can be at the cost of a life.”

M

ost deaths associated with a heart attack occur in the first one hour of its onset. The prime hurdles associated with a timely intervention in saving lives during a heart-attack are the timely diagnosis of it and then its timely treatment.

Probably when William Heberden in 1772, described angina-pectoris or cardiac chest-pain as “a sense of strangling…with a painful sensation in the chest... often more to the left than to the right side of the center of the chest....very frequently extending from the chest to the middle of the left arm”, it was so vivid a description that all the other variations of pain in a heart-attack eluded the layman’s understanding, sadly leading to the costly

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misconception of it, delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment and otherwise preventable fatalities!

In my practice of cardiology, I have seen many lives, and many so young, lost, merely from the ignorant delay in reaching a hospital, for the want of a crucial timely diagnosis of a heart-attack, purely from the patient’s own failure and or delay in understanding the symptoms of a heart-attack. In despair, I have always felt a conscientious urge of educating the masses on how very different the pain in a heart-attack can be from Heberden’s classic description of it and that no time should be lost in getting expert medical attention.

Though the classic pain in a heart-attack is described

as a constricting heaviness on the left side of the chest, where the heart is located, up to 35 to 45% patients can experience a heart-attack without any form of chestpain. A heart-attack can present deceptively as just breathing difficulty, or less alarmingly as mere tiredness or giddiness especially in the older and diabetic patients or more commonly as belching or ejection of air or gas from the stomach through the mouth or as a burning sensation in the upper middle area of the abdomen or the center of the chest. It can at times present only as pain in the jaw or throat and sometimes as back pain. Though often a heart-attack can be accompanied with sweating, nausea or vomiting, it is not always the rule. Thus it is important that it be driven to the comprehension of every

individual that a heart-attack can present differently and even without any chest-pain, especially being of utmost concern if the person has risk-factors as diabetes, smoking, a sedentary life-style, obesity, a strong family history of heart attack or is a post-menopausal woman.

The actual culprit in a heartattack is a blood-clot. The heart has three blood-vessels called coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle with blood, oxygen and energy to aid the heart to pump blood to all the organ systems of the body.

When a clot suddenly causes a 100% obstruction to flow of blood in one of the three coronary arteries, a heart-attack ensues. When the heart is suddenly deprived of its crucial blood supply, it suddenly fails to pump effectively, causing a cardiac arrest or very fast heart rates called ventricular arrhythmias, which can cause sudden death. Removal of this culprit clot as quickly as possible, is therefore the key to survival. This can be achieved with clot-dissolving medications or by actual mechanical removal of the clot by a procedure

called “primary”-angioplasty using clot-suction tubes or catheters, balloons to open the underlying blocks and placement of scaffolds called stents across the blocks to prevent re-block. The time interval recommended for either therapy is earliest at best and preferably within 120 minutes from the onset of pain, referred in medical jargon as the “door to needle” and the “door to balloon” time in their appropriate contexts. The “door to needle” time refers to the time to administration of the clot-dissolving medication and the “door to balloon” time refers to the emergency shifting of the patient to the cardiac catheterization laboratory and the performance of the primary angioplasty.

Road - traffic and reaching the hospital can be a challenge too and self-transportation is emphatically discouraged. Primary angioplasty is the best treatment option in the ideal scenario as it immediately removes the clot and deals with any underlying blocks effectively and completely. The procedure involves performing an angiogram to identify the totally blocked artery, passing a wire across the

total obstruction and suction of the clot with a specialized catheter.

Suction and removal of the culprit clot re-establishes the blood flow in the artery immediately and this is followed by a balloon dilatation and stent placement across the residual block. Deployment of the stent provides a complete scaffolding of the block with normal and complete blood flow in the artery and completion of the procedure.

With a successful angioplasty and a good result, the patient is clearly saved in minutes, from the jaws of an otherwise lurking death.

Thus it is obvious that one of the major set-backs in receiving prompt therapy during a heart-attack is often the delay from the side of the patient himself or herself in recognizing the symptoms. A quick diagnosis and an even quicker initiation of therapy provide the key to survival during a heart-attack, never undermining the fact that time and nothing but time, ticks as the decisive factor between the paths of life and impending death and with no second thought, this crucial time is…Life! 

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MOTIVATION

Dolly Neena Dolly Neena is founder of Your Wing, a training company born out of a noble cause and spirit.

She holds a decade long experience being a passionate mentor and entrepreneur.

Have you ever wondered how people like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Roger Federer and others made it to the top?

W

e have heard this cliché of ‘the ladder’ very frequently. It’s been not less than two decades we have been obsessive about this kind of corporate success we crave to relish in. At the bottom of the ladder, we all excitedly read the sign: ‘climb this ladder and all your wishes will come true”. At work, have you ever felt like you are one of the many who always go unnoticed? Haven’t you ever desired to be like that manager you always admired about? To achieve his success and be in his place? Almost everyone alive wishes to be successful, to make a mark or to be known. What are the criteria to climb the corporate ladder successfully?

The most damaging phrase in the language is: “It’s always been done that way.” – Grace Hopper.

Have you ever wondered how people like Bill Gates, Mark Zucker-

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berg, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Roger Federer and others made it to the top? Researches show that people, who have reached the top in the line, have seen their commitment to work seriously as careers, not just as jobs. If you look closely at their lives and hearts, you will be astonished to see they all keep some ethics and values close to their hearts, like integrity, maintaining a good perspective, philanthropy, kindness, humility, practicality, consistency, burning desire achievement etc. Most of them love what they do, are happy with their choices and manage a happier family life. During this technologically fast career growth, we have studied that it requires more than hard work and expertise to progress in career and reach a personal satisfaction. In this chapter, we will look into some practical strategies which will

help us understand how well to “climb that ladder”.

Sometimes focusing on the ladder and struggling to climb it doesn’t come cheap. Sometimes, the time and life you invest in it can bring about devastating returns. But like most of us, we rabid climbers, are more than willing to move up with vigour it impossible? Do you know, for thousands of years, until 1953, scaling Mount Everest was considered impossible, but now people are climbing it- even without oxygen. Time has changed and people have started breaking records defying odds. The human race has underway expeditions to Mars. We are on the verge of making a live contact with an alien. However, when it comes to succeeding in our day-to-day life inside those small cubicles, we still have doubts. I agree that for those who have a hereditary background in business make it easier to learn things and stride

CLIMBING THAT LADDER RIGHT! smoother ahead. However, this had been an era which proved otherwise too. People from different sectors of life proved that they can achieve goals independently, against the societal grain despite any entrepreneurial genes or family support. The successful CEOs that you see today had not been endowed with powers beyond those of ordinary mortals. As we know, most of them started from the scratch, from garages. No one can hypothesize the effect of a single element in the correlation between career advancement and success. However, two of the most important things that let them climb this ladder of success are their attitude and belief.

Sometimes, we tend to doubt ourselves. Sometimes we are like those monkeys from Kohler’s experiment. If you haven’t heard about it, read on: A group of scientists placed five monkeys in a cage, and in the middle, a ladder with bananas on top. Every time a monkey went up the ladder, the scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with cold water. After a while, every time a monkey would start up the ladder, the others would pull it down and beat it up. After a time, no monkey would dare try climbing the ladder, no matter how great the temptation. The scientists then decided to replace one of the monkeys. The first thing this new monkey did was start to climb the ladder. Immediately, the others pulled him down and beat him up.

After several beatings, the new monkey learned never to go up the ladder, even though there was no evident reason not to, aside from the beatings. The

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second monkey was substituted and the same occurred. The first monkey participated in the beating of the second monkey. A third monkey was changed and the same was repeated. The fourth monkey was changed, resulting in the same, before the fifth was finally replaced as well. What was left was a group of five monkeys that– without ever having received a cold shower– continued to beat up any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder.

If it was possible to ask the monkeys why they beat up on all those who attempted to climb the ladder, their most likely answer would be “I don’t know. It’s just how things are done around here.”

Does that sound any familiar?

Even though the above story

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attributes much to the blind beliefs we cling onto unnecessarily, however for most of us, building up a positive attitude also is as obnoxious as the cold water to the monkeys.

Sometimes lack of self-esteem, lack of confidence, lack of encouragement and so on can be barriers to one’s career growth. For you to climb up the next rung on the ladder, it takes you to build those extra muscles you have not worked on yet. Researches should be done extensively on self to understand self and see what weighs you down at one of those rungs. Is it societal, personal, official, or psychological? Encountering resistances on official advances are common– it depends on gender to gender. The best strategy when a problem arises is to seek help, consult a mentor, at

work or outside. Keep the areas of conflict and differences minimal.

Learn to draw a fine line between your official life and personal life.

Tough circumstances are all around us. This is also an era which has shed some bright light into the need of spiritual awakening in order to feed our human consciousness. Some focused meditation can do wonders in your concentration level and perspective towards life and situations. Try not to lie low at the end of the consciousness spectrum. Let’s at least try not to mimic those monkeys and start using the human ability of analysis. Climbing the ladder would become easier when we focus on positives and consistently build up gradually on it 

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GADGETS

Micromax Vdeo 3

MRP: `5,749 (approximately)

        

Android v6.0(Marshmallow) OS 5 MP Primary Camera 2 MP Secondary Camera 5-inches Display 1 GB RAM 8 GB Internal Memory 32 GB External Memory 2000 mAh Battery Capacity 1.3 GHz Quad Core Processor

LG X300

MRP: `14,799 (approximately)

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Android v7.0(Nougat) OS 13 MP Primary Camera 5 MP Secondary Camera 5-inches Display 2 GB RAM 16 GB Internal Memory 32 GB External Memory 2500 mAh Battery Capacity 1.4 GHz Quad Core Processor

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Huawei P8lite

MRP: `17,499 (approximately)

        

Android v7.0(Nougat) OS 12 MP Primary Camera 8 MP Secondary Camera 5.2-inches Display 3 GB RAM 32 GB Internal Memory 128 GB External Memory 3000 mAh Battery Capacity 2.1 GHz Octa Core Processor

HTC U Play

MRP: `26,999 (approximately)

        

Android v6.0(Marshmallow) OS 16 MP Primary Camera 16 MP Secondary Camera 5.2-inches Display 3 GB RAM 32 GB Internal Memory 256 GB Expandable Memory 2500 mAh Battery Capacity 2 GHz Octa Core Processor

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COOKERY

Toshma Biju

MANGO PICKLE Ingredients

• • • • • • • •

Mangoes....................... 2 cups (cut into small pieces) salt................................ as required oil.................................. 1/4 cup Mustard seed................ 1/4 teaspoon Fenugreek..................... 1/2 teaspoon Curry leaves................. 2 Red chilli powder.......... 3 teaspoons Vinegar......................... 2 teaspoon

Method Add salt to the cut mango pieces and set aside for 30 mins. Take mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds and powder it together.

Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds, and add the powdered mixture of mustard and Fenugreek.

Add the chilli powder and curry leaves and stir vigorously for 5 seconds.Tip in the salted mangoes and mix well, adding salt and vinegar.

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RAW MANGO CHUTNY

Ingredients

• • • • •

Raw mango.......................... 1 (chopped in to cubes) Shallots......................... 5 (remove the skin) Red chilly...................... 8 nos Shredded Coconut....... 1 cup Salt............................... as required

Method Take a jar, add all the ingredients. Grind in to smooth paste.

Do not add water. Serve it with a hot plain rice.

SALTED MANGO MANGA UPPILITTATHU

Ingredients

• • •

Raw Mango or kanni mango.................. 2 kg (sliced the mangoes into half) Salt............................... as required Water............................ 4 to 8 cups or as needed

Method Clean and wash the mangoes.

Put the sliced mangoes into a big, clean and dry, jar.

Boil salt and water together, cool it completely and pour it over the mangoes. cover tightly with a lid and keep it for a week.

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MANGO RICE

Ingredients

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Basmati rice................. 2 cups, cooked Grated Mango............... 1 cup Sliced Green Chillies.... 2 Red Chilli..................... 1 Cashew nuts................. 2 tablespoons Turmeric...................... 1/4 teaspoon Fenugreek seeds........... 1/4 teaspoon Mustard seeds.............. 1 teaspoon Urad Dal....................... 2 teaspoon Ghee............................. 1 teaspoon Grated Coconut............ 1/2 cup Salt to taste

Method Peel the mangoes. Grate it to make the required amount. In a hot pan, add 1 tsp Ghee. Then, add mustard seeds along with red chilli. Now, add the Urad dal along with fenugreek seeds. Add the cashew nuts. Roast them for 1-2 minutes in medium heat. Then, add the salt and turmeric. At last, add the Grated Mango along with turmeric. Mix until well combined. Add the cooked rice. And gently mix until combined.

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BEAUTY

Summer Fun How to make this season exciting for you...

Photography

Summer is all bummer for those who hate to wake up every morning covered in sweat, those who get a "hothead" while walking towards the office every afternoon and summer is a nightmare for school going kids. But, the season is lot more fun than you think it is, all you need is a routine fixed. Here are those activities you could do for a thrilling summer season.

Do you like to take photos?

During summer, most of the animals and creature come out of the hiding and you get to take a perfect click, butterflies near the flowers, meadows, squirrels etc. Takings pics are lot more fun than you think. Put yourself in a suitable background and take the click. This could a picture that you could keep in the memory of good and beautiful summer.

Outdoor fun

Be a tourist

It is a perfect time to have all the outdoor activities as you don't have to worry about the formation of clouds over your head. Go for cycling, fishing, skateboarding and games that take up your leisure time. Exercise helps in maintaining your body and state of mind.You could also plan a summer vacation or a picnic and take all the goodies to a suitable location.

Has it ever occurred to you that you are yet to visit all the major landmarks in your city? This is the perfect opportunity to find out. Be a tourist in your city. Go to the museums, malls, art centers, old infrastructure etc. Perfect time for a selfie as well. Nothing looks cuter than yourself in the background of a good looking monument.

Juice time

Try different varieties of fruit juice. Fruits help you a lot during hot and sunny days. It gives you a cooling effect and you could also enjoy the taste. Fresh and juicy. I recommend mango juice, apple juice, mosambi, and other forms of mocktails. Fruits play a significant role in your facial beauty as it enhances the complexion and skin smoothness.

Makeup routines

It is time to be that "make-up" monster with all the facial masque on resulting in better appeal.

Put on turmeric-milk masque or cucumber. Lie down with eyes covered with cucumber as it is effective.

Clean shave days

November is celebrated as "no-shave" then try a different look during summer. A clean shave will help in avoiding excess sweat on your face during summer followed by the cooling effect. And, you get the opportunity to surprise your relatives with the new look.

Change the hairstyle

Women with long hairs may trim their hair to shoulder level.

Long hair could be disturbing as it contributes to the heartening process. Try a different style altogether, you will be needing that change after a while.

Try these methods and make your summer a memorable rideď Ź

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An important city of this mesmerising European nation is Warsaw. This city is all about greenery, museums and historic sites. Here we may get to enjoy some spellbound nightlife experiences.

W

e all painfully remember the World War Two atrocities whenever we hear some words such as ‘Poland’ or ‘Jews’, with a feeling that we should not allow such things to happen again. It is a depressing fact that more than six million Polish citizens mostly Jews had been killed during the bloody war. Most historians and political observers agree to a conclusion that the Nazi Germany’s move to invade Poland and to imprison Jews is an intentional strategy to eliminate the Jewish community from the earth or at least from Germany or from the European region. The crooked hand of

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Striding through a reviving nation

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misery never shows any mercy on Poland. Whenever it approaches this country, it never hesitates to give heavy blows on them. Only optimistic citizens can fight such setbacks. The Poles are.

The Kingdom of Poland was established in 1025. In its initial days, the country had cemented a deal with Lithuania. It was a powerful political epicentre until it was eventually dismantled in the 1770s.

The territories under the country were unevenly distributed among Austria, Prussia and the Russian Empire. Subsequently, towards the end of the World War One,

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the country regained its independence. Unfortunately, it did not last for long period. In 1939, the Nazi army invaded Poland. Thereafter, it witnessed several terrible events.

Even though, it was liberated by the Soviet Russia from the cruel hands of Nazi Germany. Things did not change much. The country and its people were fallen under the clutches of a communist puppet government installed by the communist Russia. It was only after the 1989 revolution that the country finally attained complete freedom.

Followed by that, the country stepped into the path of democracy and capitalism.

Now, this Central European nation, which shares borders with Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania, has achieved a very high ranking on the Human Development Index. This eighth most populous country in Europe is visited by nearly sixteen million tourists every year. Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Rzeszow, Poznan, Bialystok, Zakopane, Bydgoszcz and Sopot are the popular cities where the tourists love to spend their travel days mostly. This country is all about beautiful country sides, magnificent parks, ancient historical ruins and architecture, splendid mountain ranges, impressive market squares, peaceful beaches, and admirable culture, music and art. Auschwitz, Bialowieza National Park, Zamosc, Torun, Tatrzanski National Park, Wielkopolski National Park, BoryTucholskie, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Malbork, Karkonoski National Park, Piasts Route, Slowinski National Park, and Wieliczka Salt Mine are the popular tourist locations situated in this reviving nation.

This country’s prime tourist offerings include agro-tourism, mountain hiking, sight-seeing, sailing and skiing. Of these exceptional

outdoor activities, the agro-tourism attracts more tourists each year.

When we speak about the cities of Poland, it is better to start with Krakow as it is one of the most politically as well as culturally significant cities in the country.

Though the Jewish city is now filled with beautiful shops, restaurants, pubs, clubs and music, we can still feel the fearful memories of Nazi atrocities here and there if we get a chance to visit the historic sites such as the Plaszow Concentration Camp and Oskar Schindler Factory.

We must not avoid the Main Market Square, Church of the Virgin Mary and Polish Aviation Museum from our ‘to-visit’ list.

Another important city of this mesmerising European nation is Warsaw. This city is all about greenery, museums and historic sites.

Here we may get to enjoy some spellbound nightlife experiences.

But, the disappointing fact is that the journey though Poland is a very expensive thing, so it is advised to stay out from these luxury stuffs if we aim to watch our expenditure closely. Even if the wage standard of Poland is not that good as that of Germany, their cost of living is in line with their old rival.

In terms of historic importance and beauty, Gdansk is the most prominent city. History reads that it was the beginning point of the disastrous World War Two in Poland in 1936 as well as the emerging point of the anti-imperialistic movement against the puppet government established by the Soviet Russia in the 1980s. It is to be noted that

This eighth most populous country in Europe is visited by nearly sixteen million tourists every year. Auschwitz, Bialowieza National Park, Zamosc, Torun, Tatrzanski National Park, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Malbork, and Wieliczka Salt Mine are the popular tourist locations situated in this reviving nation. even after the city was mercilessly demolished during the World War Two, the city gained its past glory through the persistent reconstruction efforts implemented by the vigilant administration of the country. We must not forget to visit Oliwa Cathedral, Dluga Street and Westerplatte during our trip to this land.

In order to get a close glimpse of an ancient city built across several islands, we can visit Wroclaw.

It is the city of bridges and ancient buildings. It is preferred to spend as much time as we can in this city as there are numerous beautiful spots here. The city is named in the list of most popular tourist spots in Europe. OstrowTumski,

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Now, Poland is a peaceful nation. An average person can only think of the factories and the residuals of unsystematic industrialisation when they hear about the modern Poland.

that comes inside our mind is its amazing countryside scenery and astounding underground passages.

This city is filled with surprises. So, be ready to get surprised.

Now, Poland is a peaceful nation. An average person can only think of the factories and the residuals of unsystematic industrialisation when they hear about the modern Poland. Actually, the old picture of smoky streets and milk bar queues has vanished. We can see the happiness of liberated soul in every nook and corner, and even in the eyes of poles. It is also evident in this country’s art, music, architecture, and food.

Celebrate your next holiday here 

Market Square and Panorama of Raclawice Battle are some of the important spots, which grab top spots in the long list of the ‘to-visit’ list.

If we closely analyse the common characteristics of these cities of Poland, we can find that giant market squares and milk bars are seen in every city. The milk bars, where we get cheap and healthy meals, are the contribution of the former communist regime.

We may not find it difficult to adjust with the Polish cuisine. Their cuisine is rich in vegetables, meats and sauces. It is a remarkable thing that Poles keep an eye on quality as well as nutrition.

Rzeszow is an ancient city. It is not much harmed by the war so it still possesses numerous mesmerising ancient architectures.

When we hear about this land, the first thing

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AUTO REVIEW

VIVEK VENUGOPAL

The Ignis has a lot going for it- the funky looks, automatic transmission options, the practical size, the tall seating position, loads of equipment etc.

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Ignis

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W

ith it’s puffed up wheel arches and subtle body cladding, the Ignis is a compact hatchback wearing crossover clothing. The name goes back to a Suzuki small car that was a sold in Europe in the early 2000s and although they won’t say it, this is the replacement for the ageing Ritz in India. The Ignis is the third Maruti to join the NEXA line up after the S-Cross and the Baleno.

The styling is undeniably cool, but a bit on the adventurous side.

There is a retro touch towards the rear where it slopes down sharply, leaving you to wonder what’s with the ‘Adidas slashes’ on the C-pillar.

These are design touches that harks back to old Suzuki SC100 or Whizzkid as it was called, which had air vents for the rear mounted engine. The front has great presence, thanks to a wide grille and big LED equipped projector headlamps with bright DRLs in them.

The 15-inch wheels look nice with their squared spokes and glossy black finish. Viewed from the front, there is almost a cool Mini CooperVibe about it; at least before it becomes common place.

It is the ultimate urban hatchback in terms of size, giving you tall SUV-like seating while being significantly shorter and narrower than the Baleno. This might make you think it has compromised on cabin space, but it is quite the opposite.

Suzuki has made clever use of the available real estate by building it upwards, which means you sit upright and have ample legroom both front and rear. Tall people won’t complain about headroom and the cabin is sufficiently wide. The only grouse with the rear seat is that it is a bit too flat.

The cabin is a nice place to be, with modern looking dash and a

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tablet-like touch screen infotainment unit sticking out, like in a Mercedes A class. The car comes with Android Auto in addition to Apple Car Play making it very intelligent when connected to your phone. The automatic climate control unit is shaped like a cylinder and has nice toggle type switches that look great. The steering wheel is all new and overall material quality of plastics throughout the cabin is decent. Visibility is good, although that thick rear pillar can cause some blind spot while reversing out.

Powering the Ignis are the familiar 1.2L petrol and 1.3L diesel engines from the Swift and the Baleno. The petrol engine makes 83bhp and 113Nm torque and is a smooth performer. It is a willing performer and coupled to the 820kg weight, makes the car so sprightly. It comes with the option of an AMT (Automated Manual) gearbox too. The presence of the

fourth cylinder in the 1.2 block makes the power delivery much more balanced than, say in a Celerio. This makes the AMT shift up and down lesser, giving you a smoother driving experience than what we have seen in those 3 cylinder applications. On top of that, Maruti engineers have been busy perfecting the AMT technology and their hard work shows. Their latest boxes work much better in terms of clutch engagement, shifting algorithm and holding you on a slope.

The 75bhp Fiat-derived 1.3litre diesel comes with an AMT option too, combining the convenience of an automatic with the economy of a diesel. It develops 190Nm torque along with great midrange

power and is great on the highway.

The slight delay in gear changes of an AMT, coupled with the inherent turbo lag of that diesel engine means you might resort to shifting gears manually for quick overtaking moves. Other than that, there is nothing to complain about the diesel automatic version –the only hatchback to offer this combo.

The Ignis feels light and nimble around town. The steering is light and placing the car exactly where you want it, is easy. High-speed stability is good too. The relatively thin tyres however, limit cornering speeds; but it doesn’t feel top heavy as its looks might suggest.

It is not as composed in a corner as a Swift, but feels much nimbler in the twisties, thanks to a weight saving of over 100 kilos. The ride is soft for most part, but the suspension thuds over speed bumps and potholes. Braking is adequate, but wider tyres would have reduced stopping distances massively and made the steering feel nicer overall.

The Ignis has a lot going for it- the funky looks, automatic transmission options, the practical size, the tall seating position, loads of equipment etc. It is also the only hatchback to offer a diesel automatic in the country right now.

But there is a catch when buying an automatic variant. As of now, you can’t get it in top spec Alpha version which means you will have to give up the LED headlamps, the touch screen audio system, the automatic climate control, the seat height adjust etc. So it is either the AMT or all these, which is a stupid move from Maruti really.

Then there is the pricing which is too close to the Baleno. Choosing between the two might be harder than you thought 

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MOVIE REVIEW

Raees

I

t is the latest film of the ‘King Khan’, Shah Rukh Khan. The film tells the story of a businessman-cum-gangster who possesses a kind heart. The peculiarity of this person is that he uses some exceptional business tactics to achieve his goals. Like an angry aggressor, he never tolerates any obstruction. The main story of the film revolves around this man’s battle with an adamant policeman whose only aim is to crush crime. As per this policemen’s view, this hero’s popularity and acceptance among people and philanthropic heart never erase his crime record. There are several interesting elements in the film that make this film odd among the other gangster films of Bollywood industry.

Apart from Shah Rukh, Mahira Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Farhan Khan appear in the lead roles.

Kaabil

I

t is suspense thriller directed by Sanjay Gupta. The film narrates an interesting story of an ordinary man who is forced to turn into an extra ordinary man. The title character, presented by Hrithik Roshan, is a blind man. The actor has shown complete sincerity in his job; and it is evident from the theatre as he has received several huge rounds of applause in each and every scene.

The suspense factor is the incident that turned him extra ordinary and how he avenges the unexpected incident. Apart from the Bollywood super dancer, Yami Gautam, Ronit Roy, Rohit Roy, and Narendra Jha have been acted in the film, which is produced by Rakesh Roshan.

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Fifty Shades Darker

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t is a romantic film directed by James Foley. It is the second film in the Fifty Shade series after ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. The series is the cinematic adaptation of the world renowned romantic novel of the same name written by E L James, which acquired appreciation as well as criticism alike. Like its first part, the film revolves around Christian Grey and Ana Steele and their complicated relationship. In the film, these lovers try to reconcile their broken relation, but Grey’s past hunts them badly blocking them from doing so. Jamie Dorman and Dakota Johnson act in the lead roles. This film’s songs like ‘I don’t wanna live forever’ and ‘crazy in love’, which are directed by Danny Elfman, have already banged hit chart.

The Bye Bye Man

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t is a horror thriller directed by Stacy Title. The film takes us to a fantasy world. The story written by Jonathan Penner is definitely an extra ordinary work of fiction. The story revolves around three college students who accidently stumble on the horrific origin of the Bye Bye Man. They discover that only way to get rid of these fearful thoughts is bystrictly observing two simple steps: ‘don’t say it’ and ‘don’t think it’. But, the fact is that following these two simple steps is the most difficult thing once these thoughts enter your head. The suspense lies in how these three students get rid of this curse.

Douglas Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lucien Laviscount, Doug Jones and Faye Dunaway appear in prominent roles.

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BOOK REVIEW

Difficult Women Author : Roxane Gay Price : `399(approximately)

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t is one of the finest short-story collections written by an acclaimed feminist writer. The prime quality of this work is that ‘it is beautifully written’. The writer is a professor of English at Purdue University. She often takes up all kinds of subjects having social as well as political relevance as her subject. In this novel also, there are many instances, which reflects the current socio-political situations of the society she lives in. The women in this fiction represent different society, lifestyle and culture, live in different situations, and experience different lives.

It is definitely a mesmerising piece of art. As a writer and as a social thinker, she speaks extensively through her work. It is worthy to read.

Human Acts Author : Han Kang Price : `449

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t is the latest novel from the winner of the ‘2016 Man Booker International Prize for fiction’. This novel focuses on the 1980 Korean Gwangju Uprising- a local uprising in retaliation of the massacre of students. The book takes us to a complicated period of suppression.

The subject and the way by which it is described make it a timeless novel. Interestingly, even before its release, it makes headlines in several international dailies. The fictional work helps us to know ‘how it feels to leave in a traumatic society or an oppressed society’. The author, the writer of ‘The Vegetarian’, has carved an unmatchable space in the list of talented modern writers.

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Regd. Office : HORNBILL CHRONOTECHNOLOGY PVT. LTD. 914, Corporate Annexe, Sonawala road, Opp. Udyog Bhavan, Goregaon, Mumbai East 400063 Overseas Marketing Office : AL AFNAN TRADING LLC Shop #5V, Bldg G-4, Hamdan Street, Al Karama Dubai, UAE PO Box- 121845 Tel : +971 43705538, Fax : +971 43570760 Corporate Office : O.S 58, 4th Floor, G.C.D.A Shopping Complex, Marine Drive , Kochi, Kerala - 682031 Tel : 0484 4026511

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BOOK REVIEW

When Crime Pays: Money and Muscles in Indian Politics Author : Milan Vaishnav Price : `599

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his is a research document written by one of the most acclaimed political scientists. It examines the correlation between politics and crime. It asks few complicated questions we often ask when we see candidate lists published by political parties: why do we elect criminals as our leaders and why do political parties prefer criminals as their candidates. The writer tries to answer these questions from an analyst’s point of view, citing factual data, graphs and interviews. It is evident that he has done an in-depth study and research in the subject.

It can be categorised as one of the most relevant political dossier related to the modern Indian politics.

A Man for All Markets:From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market Author : Edward O Thorp Price : `1295.62

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t is an inspiring story of an exceptional mathematician. The writer is an American mathematics professor. He is popularly known as the father of the wearable computer. In this book, he narrates his own life lessons. The book teaches us there is nothing more important than understanding how to think clearly. It helps us to get a glimpse into the life of the man who never loves to grab fame.

It explains how the curiosity prompts the man to resolve several complicated questions. The book is worthy to read.

Even if you are not a maths enthusiast, the same curiosity that helps this man to become an extraordinary human being will prompt you to read this book, at least to find why he was once feared by the US casinos.

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Printed On 01/ 02/ 2017

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RNI Reg No. KERENG/2011/42633

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