August 2012 by Youth Incorporated Magazine

Enough of Moral Policing Lets talk about STDs Deal with a breakup

EDUCATE + ENTERTAIN

AUGUST 2012 || ` 50

www.youthincmag.com

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S R E E R A C L O O 12 C reers a c m a e mainstr n i h t i w enues v a l a n o i onvent c n u r e v Disco

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contents AUGUST 2012

ON THE COVER 57 DEAL WITH IT

Suffering from a broken heart? We give you the ultimate breakup survival guide

60 A QUESTION OF MORALS

With a number of archaic laws being implemented in our country, has moral policing deprived us of our freedom?

64 INDIA’S OPRAH WINFREY A look at the impact of Aamir Khan’s monumental show ‘Satyamev Jayate’

76 LET’S TALK ABOUT STDS

Find out about sexually transmitted diseases to understand the importance of safe sex

PAGE

BRANCH OUT FROM MAINSTREAM COURSES

Cover Story

Conventional streams like law, medicine, science, engineering, teaching, etc have always been among the most popular career choices for students. However, adjectives like old-school, boring and traditional can no longer be used to describe these streams. Students who choose mainstream courses, do not find themselves bound to conventional career options. In fact, numerous cool avenues have sprouted in recent times, giving students the chance to explore new and exciting careers. So don’t limit your options, and discover the cool in conventional.

www.youthincmag.com O N L I N E E XC L U S I V E S WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT COOL CAREERS? If our super cool careers have you interested and you want to find more institutes where you can study these fields, log on to our website.

WHO IS MARATHON BABA? Learn more about Girish Kohli, the man behind the bestseller, Marathon Baba, which has taken the country by storm.

(Educate) FOREIGN SHORES 12 SUITCASE OF DREAMS

A vital checklist for students leaving to study abroad

WALK OF LIFE 14 APPLYING FOR A JOB: K.I.T

Haven’t heard back after applying for your dream job? Learn the art of keeping it together

EVENT DIARY 15 AN EDUCATIONAL RENDEZVOUS

An overview of the World Education Congress 2012

Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2012

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IN CONVERSATION 46 THE LIBERAL EDUCATOR

Meet Professor Indira Parikh, founder president of FLAME

FASHION 66 ALL TIED UP

The stylish accessory brand started by two friends

PRODIGY 48 A MAN OF MANY ROLES

Inspiring words from Hollywood actor and motivational speaker Tom Malloy

STUDENT SPEAK 50 DRIVING DREAMS

An engineering student who decided to make a difference

67 BACK TO SCHOOL

Enter your campus in style with these funky products

(Entertain)

EDITOR’S NOTE…6

Find out about ‘De Paix Yatra’, an inspiring journey undertaken by two enterprising individuals

EDITORIAL CONNECT…8 AROUND THE WORLD…10

56 WHAT HISTORY TEXT BOOKS DON’T

ECOWATCH 63 SHARE THE RIDE

74 HONK KONG – AUTHENTICITY RELOADED Explore the many treats of this fantastical city

STAPLEdiet

ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE 54 PEACE ON WHEELS

TELL YOU Interesting and unknown facts about Indian Independence

OFF THE MAP

COUNSELLOR Q&A…44 68 RAINY DAY RESCUERS Don’t let the rains torment you with bad hair days. Protect your hair from damage with the right products

Start carpooling and save yourself from traffic woes

WORD ZONE…52 DR GOOD SKIN…70 MODEL WATCH…71 REFRESH…72 DROOL OF THE MONTH…78 GAME OR LAME…80 IMHO…82 RESTOMETER…84 CELEB TADKA…85 HANGOVER…86 RISING STARS…87 STAR STRUCK…88 GRAFFITI…90

CORRIGENDUM: An error occurred in Youth Incorporated (July 2012). The author of the article titled ‘An Olympian Task?’ was wrongly printed. The actual author is Nirva Vira.

COVER ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: IBNE SADIQUE

JULY 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated

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Volume 2 Issue 2 Aug 2012

Editor's

note

Having returned from a fullfulling holiday, I must admit, that it was rather difficult to get back to work. During my trip, I observed an interesting fact, that due to the low population in Scandinavia, the locals there had a rather easy-going life. Work wrapped up by 5 pm and then everyone was out to have a good time. This struck me as a stark contrast to our crazy chaotic lives in India, where one works long hours and battles the pressure of competition. I feel the secret to staying one step ahead of the rest is working smart and identifying the 'right' or unique career that works for you. How would one describe mainstream careers like Law, Medicine, Architecture, or even Engineering? Some people, especially the youth, might use adjectives such as old-school, conventional, traditional and even boring. While these courses have retained their popularity with the young, the paths they can lead to have changed drastically in recent times. In fact, these mainstream careers have given birth to some cool, unconventional, lucrative and highly exciting avenues. In this issue, we explore twelve cool careers for those willing to look beyond the obvious. We give you a glimpse of such worlds, coupled with firsthand accounts of individuals who ventured into these professions and met with success. While someone’s nurturing spirit led to a career in early childhood care, another’s interrogative mind found comfort as a cyber lawyer. From the stylish world of a fashion buyer, to the explorative nature of a photojournalist, there is something for everyone. As India celebrates 65 years of independence, we are indeed privileged to be living in a time, when we can witness and be a part of India’s journey towards being a superpower. On this occasion, we bring you some little known facts about Indian Independence, which you certainly won’t find in your History textbooks. We wonder if the youth of the country are being allowed to celebrate their freedom. With a sudden rise in the levels and methods of moral policing, we look into the restrictions imposed by the recent ‘Dhobleisation’ and Internet laws. We do hope that in due course, our law-makers wake up to the reality of our times. I wish our readers a very Happy Independence Day!

Nitish Shah

Editorial Editor-in-Chief NITISH SHAH Head Correspondent BEVERLY PEREIRA Senior Correspondent VATSALA CHHIBBER Contributors ALARIC MORAS ABISHA FERNANDES DISHA SETH ALISHA SHETH SIDDHARTH GUPTA

Art & Design

BIPIN BALAKRISHNAN MOULVI ABBAS HASAN

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ZAINAB MAIMOON For Advertising, Subscriptions and Circulation mail@youthincmag.com +91-22-2351-6622 / 6609 Printed and Published by Nitish Shah on behalf of Splash Publication Pvt Ltd Published at: 9 Forjett Hill, British Express Bldg, 2nd floor, Mumbai 400036. Editor: Nitish Shah

Admin office: F9&10, Commerce Centre, 6th Floor, 78 Tardeo Road, Mumbai 400034.

Printed at: Repro India Ltd Plot No 50/2, TTC MIDC Industrial Area, Mahape Navi Mumbai 400 710. District Thane All content in print and online is owned by Splash Publication Pvt Ltd under international copyright laws. No part of the content can be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publishers. Publishers will not be held responsible for the content of the magazine including accuracy and effects. All disputes subject to the jurisdiction of competant courts in Mumbai only.

Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2012

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editorial connect Write to us at mail@youthincmag.com

RINGING TRUE

I absolutely loved your article on the second-class treatment given to commerce and arts students. I personally wanted to pursue law via arts but was shot down immediately by my parents with a snide “Arts toh ladkiyan karti hain”. I fully agree that commerce and arts require equivalent, if not more skills than the science stream. I was also enthralled by the article on the death of comic books. I’m not an ardent fan, but it’s still sad to see comics that inspired our childhood being sidelined. People should understand that like books, movie adaptations of comic books are not always better than the original work. To me, Spiderman will always be the Peter Parker from the comic book, not Toby Maguire from the movie. Nothing will ever replace the feeling one gets from a freshly printed comic book!

Karan Divecha, freelance writer Mumbai

FELICITATIONS FROM A FAN For the Youth Incorporated July 2012 issue, we received a fantastic and well-made video created by one of our fans Sagar R Agarwal. The video features digital avatars of Sagar and his family wishing the Youth Incorporated team a happy 1-year anniversary.

THE REGULAR READER

I've been a Youth Inc reader since the first Dhoni issue that was 12 issues ago! I must say that the magazine has come a long way. I want to wish the Youth Incorporated team hearty congratulations for keeping the magazine as interesting as ever. I am a final year BCom student and I remember the first time I read this magazine. It was because I love cricket so much that the cover that was graced by Dhoni attracted me instantly. Ever since, I have been a regular reader who is able to take away helpful advice with regards to education as well as entertainment. I loved the July 2012 issue, which really stood apart from the 12 issues that I had read so far. It covered many touching stories of real people. Plus, this issue was put together by a young board of writers! I will recommend my younger friends to be a part of the next Junior Editorial Board.

Jignesh Malhotra, student Kolkata

POOJA MISRRA: THE 'SPARE ME' GAL'S MESSAGE FOR THE YOUTH

VOL 2 ISSUE 1

EDUCATE + ENTERTAIN

JULY 2012 || ` 50

www.youthincmag.com

I AM

WHO

I AM

6 inspiring life stories

ANNI VERS ARY

+ Comics vs Movies + Career

in Journalism + Deal with your

ISSUE

crush + Working while studyin g

THE COMICAL OUTCOME

‘That’s Comical’ simply grabs your attention. I am not an avid reader of comic books, but this article was pure delight. The point where the writer mentioned about ‘technology taking over books’ is something I relate to. The graphics in comics can never match up to the movies. Similarly when he talks about online books I completely agree. My brother is a Marvel enthusiast and he has a wide collection of all the Spiderman series, but now he’s been sucked into the movie mania. I would prefer a book over a movie any day. Thanks for bringing this point to public notice. Save books from extinction!

Aishwarya Kadam, NIFT student Delhi

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Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2012

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educate Do you have a nose for news and for stringing together words? Explore a career in journalism Get PageSet 59

Go! The ultimate checklist for students going to study abroad...Page 12

K E E PI N S I D E яГо

Pg14 Pg15 Pg48 Pg50 AN EDUCATIONAL RENDEZVOUS AN OVERVIEW OF THE WORLD EDUCATION CONGRESS 2012

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APPLYING FOR A JOB: K.I.T LEARN HOW TO KEEP IT TOGETHER WHEN YOU DON'T HEAR BACK FROM YOUR DREAM JOB

A MAN OF MANY ROLES MEET HOLLYWOOD ACTOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER TOM MALLOY

DRIVING DREAMS FIND OUT ABOUT THE ENGINEERING STUDENT WHO DECIDED TO FOLLOW HIS HEART

21-07-2012 16:10:21

NewsNewsNews New News _EDU NEWS

Around the World Italian University goes English, opens doors to foreign students

olitecnico di Milano University will be adopting English as their official language of instruction and assessment from the academic year 2014 onwards. The management of PoliMi is of the opinion that the Italian language becomes an entry barrier for overseas students. Furthermore, changes in the dialect will open doors to Asian aspirants and simultaneously contribute to the growth of the country. The Milan-based university believes that teaching in Italian might isolate them and result in non-existence as an international institution. The university's rector Giovanni Azzone said, “We strongly believe our classes should be international classes - and the only way to have international classes is to use the English language.” The change of language signifies a major shift in Italy’s higher education sector. Being one of the oldest universities in Milan and a flagship institution for science, engineering and architecture, it lays claim to a Nobel Prize winner. This valiant move of the Italian-based university has assured the world that the waters of globalisation are raising around higher education. The globally acclaimed varsity has given a contemporary outlook to all other Italian universities and created a ‘cultural earthquake’ attracting much criticism in the country. The higher education minister, Francesco Profumo said that he hoped the other leading universities in the country would follow suit.

NAPIER UNIVERSITY INAUGURATES TAGORE CENTRE



centre honouring the life and works of Rabindranath Tagore has been opened at Napier University’s Institute of Creative Industries. The Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies centre (ScoTs), which will promote Indian culture through the work of the Nobel Laureate is dedicated to the writer to mark his 150th birth anniversary. The centre will promote cultural connections between Scotland and India. The creation of the centre follows an agreement with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), which will bring Indra Nath Choudhuri, academic director of the Indira Gandhi Institute, to the university as Scotland`s first chair in Tagore Studies. The ICCR will fund two PhD fellowships dedicated to researching Tagore's works. Incidentally, Tagore`s grandfather, Prince Dwarkanath, was honoured with the Freedom of the City award by the Edinburgh administration in 1845.

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VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS FOR MADRAS STUDENTS

tudents studying at the University of Madras can now ‘like’ and ‘comment’ on lectures and subjects they are studying. Students can record lectures using cell phones and video recorders and then upload them on their Facebook pages where other students can discuss and share ideas with their professors. The Facebook page also includes a detailed course module and semester syllabus. An online forum for students showcases notes, podcasts and debates conducted on campus. This concept is especially useful for students who have missed a lecture or whose social background and English accent prevents them from participating in classroom discussions. The idea began as an informal concept before leading institutes and universities began using online forums as a means of communication with students. It has garnered a huge response from students.

Doctor, Y U NO Come to North India? “Almost 80% of India's medical and nursing colleges are located in the south and the remaining in the remaining two-third portions of the country.”- Azad. his accusation was made by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while addressing the students of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research's 32nd convocation. He expressed concern over the dearth of medical professionals in north, central and northeast India while blaming concentration of medical colleges in the country's southern and western regions for its dismal state. He describes this inequitable distribution of medical professionals across north and south India as a “lopsided human resource situation.” The government is planning to tackle this situation by developing new medical colleges in 2012. “Forty-six medical colleges have been established in last two years, raising the number to 335,” he said. He terms this as “an encouraging growth trajectory” while saying the number of MBBS seats have been raised from 32,882 to 41,569. Azad urged fresh medical graduates at the institute who majorly came from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, to practice in North India, while asking those from Nepal and northeast India to practise in their respective regions.

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NewsNews

News NewsNews

DU LAUNCHES 4-YEAR UNDERGRAD COURSES

elhi University has announced its plans to add another year to the existing three year undergraduate courses- BA, BCom and BSc. The courses are restructured to offer an exit option, allowing students to leave the course midway, rejoin later and then complete the course. However, the exit option will only be available to students at the end of the second and third years. If a student decides to opt out of the course after the second year, he will receive an associate degree. If he plans to leave after the third year, he will be provided with a bachelor’s degree. Students will also have an option to earn credits through sports or extracurricular activities to complete their chosen courses. At the end of the four years, students will be awarded an honours degree. The Delhi University is expected to launch these four-year courses from the 2013-2014 session onwards and is expected to benefit many students.

News

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Malhar 2012

Malhar 2012- the annual festival of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai is back with a bang. The college festival is packed with fun events, innovative workshops, contests, special nights and a conclave of interesting speakers. The theme of Malhar 2012 is 'Malhar Local' and epitomises the city of Mumbai and all that it has to offer, right from the crowded local trains and scenic seafront views to the glamour of Bollywood. The festival’s mascot is Puddles the Frog, who like every year around, has received a makeover this time too. As always, the festival will be well organised by the college’s students and led by a 5-tiered workforce. The festival will take place from July 17-19, 2012. Must-attend workshops include a cycle spray painting and T-shirt designing event; the final T-shirts and cycles will then be gifted to underprivileged kids. A cleanup drive and an open-mic night for aspiring musicians are also expected to be the highlights of the festival. Don’t give a miss to the Conclave that hosts speakers who will talk about social issues as well as interactive sessions. Other must-visit events include those covering music, art, theatre, graphic novel designing, photography and treasure hunts.

8 university tie-ups selected for Obama-Singh awards

he United States and India have selected eight institutional partnership projects for the first Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative Awards. This initiative aims to strengthen collaborations between the two nations. Each project will receive an award of $250,000 that can be used over a 3-year grant period. Dr Manmohan Singh and Barack Obama announced this initiative in November 2009. Among the India-led partnerships is the Rutgers University-Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) tie-up for the establishment of a national vocational school. Other partnerships include University of Montana and Bangalore University; Cornell University with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut for implementing reforms in emerging areas of food security and agriculture, and University of Michigan and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences for the development of a masters degree for health professionals in the US and India. Other partnerships include Mahatma Gandhi University and Brown University, and Duke University and Plymouth State University. Banaras Hindu University will partner with University of Pittsburgh to research the energy scenario toward renewable energy sources required for India and the US. While IIT-Kanpur joins hands with Virginia Tech for a sustainable infrastructure development programme, its Delhi counterpart will work on resource building for ecosystem and human health assessment with Drexel University.

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UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIGH ACHIEVERS

tudents from India are invited to apply for the University of Liverpool’s ViceChancellor’s International Attainment Scholarship worth over £7000. Meant for high-achieving students studying nonclinical undergraduate programmes at the University of Liverpool in September 2012, the successful candidates will be awarded £2,500 for each year of their studies (deducted from tuition fees). Students must attain 85 per cent or above in class 12 to be elegible. If these students are able to maintain a 70 per cent or more grade score in each year at the University of Liverpool, they will continue to receive the award for each year of their degree. Although the deadline to apply to study at the University of Liverpool was June 30, 2012, those applications that are sent in after this date will be processed through the university’s International Clearing Lines that close on August 31, 2012. AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 11

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_FOREIGN SHORES

SUITCASE OF

DREAMS ALL SET TO STUDY ABROAD? HERE’S YOUR TICK-OFF LIST OF THE ALL-IMPORTANT THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO GET DONE BEFORE YOU EMBARK ON YOUR JOURNEY Your luggage allowance includes two suitcases each weighing up to 23kgs, one carry-on cabin bag weighing up to 8kgs and one personal item could be a purse or laptop. Some airlines are nice enough to offer students three suitcases instead of the normal two, only if they are travelling to the US. Keep in mind the following list of things when packing:

f you are going abroad to study, packing your suitcase can be a very daunting task. When your cousin went abroad you saw your aunt maniacally packing in all of the things she could lay her hands on for her son’s comfortable and easy stay. And of course, packing can be pretty crazy given the airline luggage weight limits.

Also, we don’t happen to be professional vagabonds who can pack their entire luggage in one backpack and move. When we move away abroad for our studies we have our folks, emotions and years and years of memories we are leaving behind. But one needs to realise the necessity of leaving back stuff, purely for convenience purposes.

CLOTHES Carry a bare minimum set of clothes to last you the first week. A couple of dorm clothes, 3-4 pairs of clothes, and one formal suit will be enough. Once you settle in your new home, you can go shopping. Most countries abroad offer affordable and cheap clothes, which will look trendy and apt in your campus. It isn’t necessary to carry winter wear either because one generally needs different ones for the European or North American winters. One pair of sneakers, flip-flops and formal wear each should suffice. Carry a week’s worth of undergarments because laundry will happen only once a week or so. Carry a couple of belts and pairs of socks as well.

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MEDICINES Pack in a couple of strips of your general cold and cough tablets since it will take time for you to get used to the foreign weather. If you consume prescription medicines regularly, carry a good stock of them along with a proof letter of legitimacy signed by your doctor. Carry an extra pair of eyeglasses since they are expensive abroad. If you wear lenses you should carry them as well unless you are planning to wear disposables. FOOD Carry home cooked food, which will last for long. It will be of great help to cure your home sicknesses. Carry some homemade masalas. Now a lot of Indian food is available anywhere in the world. TOILETRIES Take only necessary toiletries, contraceptives and hygiene products. Most of the toiletries are of better quality and are cheaper abroad; unless you are the picky sort, you need not carry them with you. ELECTRONICS If you are planning on carrying electronic items with you, make sure you carry a power adapter and converter. Take a camera if possible, to share pictures with your friends and family back home. STATIONARY AND BOOKS Carry only those books which you will not get in your college library. You can purchase stationary when you reach your destination itself. It's not too expensive. DOCUMENTS Carry your passport, visa and plane tickets in your hand luggage. Make sure you carry your insurance documents, PAN card, international driving license and other such formal documents with you. Bon voyage! yi

CHECKLIST AFTER OBTAINING YOUR STUDENT VISA 1 Email the university

and inform them that you are attending their institution and advise them that you have procured your student visa. 2 Make sure you have taken all the vaccinations required by your university. In general, most universities require the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) and the Mantoux Skin Test (for Tuberculosis). Hepatitis B, although not required, is strongly recommended. Please take one shot immediately, one after one month and the last shot at the university health center itself (six months after the 2nd shot). You can also take vaccinations such as Meningitis, Tetanus and so on. These vaccinations are generally optional, but if your university asks, be sure to take them. 3 Buy student health insurance either at the university you are studying in or from an external insurance provider. UK students get automatic insurance cover after living in the UK for a period of six months. 4 Book your ticket as soon as possible. Seats in peak season (August and December) fill up very quickly. 5 You can take about $4500 in traveler’s checks and about $500 in cash. The balance of the university fees can be obtained in the form of a demand draft and taken with you. You can even wire transfer the funds to the university. In most cases, you do not need to mail the fees to the university earlier. 6 Contact the Indian Student Association or the International Student Office at your university (address available from the university website) and request them to pick you up from the airport. Remember, not all universities or associations have this service. 7 If your parents or guardian will not be handling your financial affairs in your absence, arrange for an appropriate 'power of attorney' for the person who will be taking care of your affairs. You do not need an Income Tax Clearance certificate before you leave India. Similarly, you do not need ECNR to travel to developed countries. 8 Visit your doctor and dentist before you leave. Remember, dental treatment is very expensive overseas and so you must have a dental check-up before you leave. Also, arrange for an eye examination, so you can carry an up-to-date prescription in case you need to replace your glasses or contact lenses. 9 Prepare a shopping list and buy all the things you may need and can carry. Check with your airline for the exact bag and weight specifications. AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 13

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_WALK OF LIFE

Applying for a job: K.I.T. TANU VAN DE BUNTE TELLS YOU TO KEEP IT TOGETHER WHEN YOU DON’T HEAR BACK FROM YOUR DREAM JOB

aiting to hear back from a job application can be painful, to say the least. For most, it’s a nail-biting, nerve-jangling experience. In this economic climate, you have to jostle with many other CVs just for an interview. At the very least, you’ll need to find some way to make yours stick out, while your cover needs to narrate the events and accomplishments laid out in your CV. That story should explain how your past experiences have been leading up to this moment, to this job. That’s no easy task. Remember Eddie Murphy’s mantra in Bowfinger: K.I.T. (Keep It Together). Should you find the job of your dreams, always call with questions before applying. At this stage in the game, there are no silly questions; the main purpose is to get a good idea of the job and of the skills you’ll need to do it successfully. Even if you only get a repetition of the job description, you may get a better understanding of the main skills required. You can then adapt your cover letter such that you are positioned as proficient in the highlighted skills. If you hear back

and do get invited for an interview, then great! What, though, if you are politely thanked for your interest and sent on your way? After spending a respectable period of mourning (certainly no more than a day in bed), compose yourself and call the company’s HR. Not to tell them off, of course, but to ask why you were rejected and where they found your application lacking. This might help

Think of your chat with the HR manager or company representative as a fishing trip for future vacancies. It might be a way to make a situation more palatable.

you to apply for jobs that are a better match for your CV in the future. If you were seriously considered and ultimately outshined by another candidate, request that the company keep your CV in mind for future vacancies. After all, people remember a voice much better than a typed, A4 sheet (even if it is typographically creative). Think of your chat with the HR manager or company representative as a fishing trip for future vacancies. It might be a way to make a situation more palatable. Do remember to mask the smell of your disappointment. Was it your letter that was found wanting? Or your work experience? With online education booming, there is always the didactic method for the committed. Unless you start rambling on about the weather, then you have everything to gain. Never tell them what a mistake they made, but rather say that you would appreciate another chance. Good luck and K.I.T.! yi

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An educational

_EVENT DIARY

rendezvous

The World Education Congress 2012 brought together representatives from the world of education to discuss different aspects of academics. Youth Inc tells you more about this highly informative event.

hen great minds come together, the outcome is almost always brilliant. With the World Education Congress too, the result was without a doubt highly outstanding. Participants from all over the world attended the two-day conference that was hosted at hotel Taj Lands End, Mumbai in June 2012. The World Education Congress, an initiative of Dr Bhatia, aims to bring together global leaders in education and academics to discuss evolving trends in education. The congress also examines modern as well as traditional knowledge systems adopted by different countries of the world. Other than this, the conference offered unique and in-depth

approaches to understanding vital academic issues that affect an institution’s viability in today’s fastpaced business environment. The theme of the conference this year was ‘Learning in the 21st Century: Right and Access to Education’. Those in attendance included education ministers, scholars, vice chancellors, academicians, professors, corporate leaders and other representatives from 88 countries. A good number of distinguished personalities from across the world were invited to speak about a host of education-related issues over the course of the two days. Dr David Richard Namwandi, (Ministry of Education, Republic of Namibia), Nurul Islam Nahid, (Minister of Education, Bangladesh) Pornchai AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 15

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_EVENT DIARY

Lyonpo Thakur S Powdyel, Education Minister of Bhutan

Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, President Siam University

An enlightening session for the atendees of WE 2012

Jayanti Ghosh, renowned education counsellor

Mongkhonvanit, (President SIAM University) and Dr Ranjan Saxena (Vice Chancellor, NMIMS University) were among the many prominent speakers who enlightened the audience with their insights on various education-related topics. Lyonpo Thakur S Powdyel, the wellspoken education minister of Bhutan, who has himself been an educator for nearly three decades, explained the philosophy behind Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) and the importance of education, keeping in mind the development of Bhutan through the state’s unique mode of economic measure. He went on to inform those in attendance that the ‘Educating for Gross national Happiness’ programme was initiated in 2009. He is of the opinion that GNH is a more genuine measure over Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

according to her, is for students to understand that there can be more than one right decision. She believes that Indian schools do not impart a ‘career education’ as due emphasis is not given to the development of skills, knowledge and attitude. Her suggestion was for educational institutes to help students understand themselves instead of blindly matching students to an occupation. Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, (President SIAM University), made a relevant point about how the shelflife of knowledge has shortened considerably in present times. He revealed how the knowledge that a student obtains in the first year of his education, is obsolete by the time he graduates in the third year. Therefore, the aim of education, challenging as it might be, is to not only provide students with one particular job, or

The theme of the conference this year was ‘Learning in the 21st Century: Right and Access to Education’. Those in attendance included education ministers, scholars, academicians and other representatives from 88 countries He said that he strongly feels that education will go a long way in engaging Bhutan as a whole. Thus, as a team, Bhutan will be able to take education to a higher level and keep up with the visions of leaders and the aspirations of the people. An interesting point that was brought to light by the education minister, was Bhutan’s goal to nurture green schools. According to him, with so many environmental changes, humanity needs to find a way out of this mess. Jayanti Ghose, an education counsellor with more than two decades of experience in the field, shared her observations and fears about the changing trends in educational choices. She said that with a wide range of study and career options, students are often confused and stressed about making the right decision. The need of the hour,

the ability to get a job, but to equip them for the entire duration of their careers. In addition to the sessions by educational leaders, networking opportunities were abound during the two days at the lunch and tea breaks and at a specially hosted cocktails and dinner session organised for the attendees. The educational dignitaries, academicians and scholars were also presented with awards at special celebratory functions over the course of the two days. The World Education Congress Global Awards, recognised the best representatives in the field of education with the aim of benchmarking educational practices. Teeming with insights, ideas and information, the World Education Congress is a significant step towards the development of education. yi

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AWARDS

AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT Shri Madan Mitra, Minister in Charge, Department of Sports and Transport LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Qasim Ibrahim, Founder, Villa College Prof R K Mishra, Director, Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad Mohan Lal Grero, Lyceum International Schools, Member of Parliament Sri Lanka, Monitoring member for Education in the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka EXEMPLARY LEADER AWARD Dr Indira Parikh, President, Foundation for Liberal and Management Education INNOVATIVE LEADER AWARD Prof Chetan Wakalkar, Group Director, Indira Group of Institutes ACHIEVERS AND LEADERS AWARD Dr Ranjan Saxena, Vice Chancellor, NMIMS University VISIONARY LEADER AWARD Professor Y.K. Bhushan, Sr. Advisor, IBS Mumbai WOMEN SUPER ACHIEVER AWARD Professor Jan Thomas, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Southern Queensland NURTURER OF TALENT AWARD Dr R.P. Banerjee, Director, Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management Dr H.P. Mathur, Faculty of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University

Lyonpo Thakur s Powdyel receiving the 'Outstanding Contribution to Education Award'

EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AWARD Sripatum International College Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD Shehan Adikari, Achiever Lanka Business School H.P. Samanthika Gallage, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr Shriram Nerlekar, Indira Global Business School BEST DIRECTOR AWARD Dr K Maran, Sai Ram Institute of Management Studies Dr Renu Bhargava, Indira School of Business Studies

Dr RP Banerjee receiving the 'Nurterer of Talent Award'

BEST DEAN AWARD Dr R S Gaud, SPP School of Pharmacy and Technology Management INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD Harpreet Singh, President – Higher Education, Educomp Solution Ltd Youngest B-School with Innovation and Global Connect BEST VALUE FOR MONEY B-SCHOOL Youngest B-School with Best Residential Campus Institute for Future Education, Entrepreneurship and Leadership BEST MANAGEMENT STUDENT AWARD Anshu Sharma, IBS Mumbai Ketan Kirad, Indira School of Business Studies

The visionary leader award being presented to professor YK Bhushan

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18 Cover Story.indd 18

PLASTIC SURGERY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE

MEDICINE

TEACHING

GAME AND APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

SPORTS EVENT MANAGEMENT

PHOTOJOURNALISM

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Looking to reap the benefits of a mainstream career but also want to keep with the times? Youth Inc brings you some cool avenues of conventional careers

GRAPHIC DESIGN

EVENT MANAGEMENT

MASS COMMUNICATION

FASHION BUYER

BIOTECH ENGINEERING

ETHICAL HACKING

CYBER LAW

LAW

COMPUTER SCIENCE

INVESTMENT BANKING

3D ARCHITECTURE

FINANCE

ARCHITECTURE

FASHION

ENGINEERING

MARKETING

FINDING THE COOL IN CONVENTIONAL

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_COVER STORY

ver met a person who said that they worked as an underwater archaeologist or perhaps as an image consultant? Yes, these are real careers that require highly educated professionals. Once upon a time, engineers and doctors garnered a lot of respect and admiration. These professions were not only deemed as highly respected careers to embark upon but also happened to be the only ones that raked in a good salary. This is not to say that this trend has changed in recent times. Traditional careers, like that of choosing to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer are still in demand, bringing home an equally coveted salary. But times are changing and they are changing for the better. Tremendous developments at the workplace and with regards to the economy and technology have resulted in new and emerging job profiles that are highly sought after by the new generation. Conventional careers within the fields of law, engineering and medicine are being sidelined by those who dare to look beyond. That’s because within each mainstream career, one can now find a host of avenues that are not only unconventional but also hugely lucrative and cutting edge in keeping with today’s advancements. Today, within mainstream careers, there are a plethora of offshoots that are fast emerging. For instance, when one talks of law as a lucrative career, one tends to think of offshoots such as intellectual property, civil law and international law. However, cyber law is one of the offshoots that has garnered much attention in recent years. Not only is it a well paying profession with ample scope to grow but it is also becoming one that is a necessity, especially with the multitudes of cyber criminal activities that are not only rampant abroad but also in India. If computers and programming happens to be your thing, choose to get into the field of network security research. Yes, you will be that much

sought-after ‘ethical’ hacker that every company can’t do without. The demand for biotechnologists is growing by the day and still requires aspiring candidates to go through the rigours of engineering and medicine. Perhaps you are interested in doing something interesting after putting all your energy into securing an MBA. Opt for social media marketing, a field that requires you to have your marketing skills well in place, to boost the popularity of brands and individuals in the online space. Why not get into the field of fashion management as a fashion buyer, where you will hold the grand position of sourcing and putting together apparel for a clothing brand. If you happen to know the ins and outs of multimedia design and animation then game and application design is one of the most popular and

world be without the all-important photojournalist who brings the world closer with visual representations of happenings across the world. Education is yet another traditional career that has abundant opportunities in India. Shattering most people’s assumptions of it being a low paying career, is the field of early childhood education that seems to be picking up in recent years. Independent preschools and nurseries that offer quality education to young ones as well as international franchises are becoming all the rage in India these days. Another field that seems to be picking up in India is that of cosmetic surgery. If you have completed your studies in medicine, opting to become a cosmetic surgeon can offer you a satisfying and well paying career. And if numbers and stocks are your thing, then investment banking could

Conventional careers within the fields of law, engineering and medicine, etc are being sidelined by those who dare to look beyond. Within each mainstream career, one can now find a host of avenues that are unconventional and also hugely lucrative lucrative careers to embark on. Judging on the number of iPhone games that are released by the day, you can see for yourself the potential that such a career holds. Or maybe you have always wanted to get into the field of event management. Opt for a career in sports event management to enjoy the perks of this field. Those who have studied mass communication might want to opt for the lesser chosen profession of a photojournalist. Although many people think of it as a high-risk career, what would the

offer you that perfect career that you have been vying for. Yes, this career does require you to be smartly suited at all times, just like you imagined it to be! You will be advising individuals and companies on where and how to invest all of their money! To get into emerging fields within traditional careers, it is imperative to have a notch above the rest when it comes to education and real-world strategies. So gear up, dare to go beyond the conventional and embark on a lucrative and unique career stream. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 19

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L A I C O S G N GETTI _COVER STORY

B E W E H ON T

our Enjoy updatinggeyand tweeting Facebook paonsider an regularly? C nal career in unconventio marketing social media

raise s on this tool to brand today relie their product, pitch awareness about hout indulging it their products w er keting and gath ar m e iv in intrus al er feedback. Soci valuable custom by s have increased media job listing to 2010 (according 75 per cent from ,000 ith more than 10 Monster.com), w each month. jobs being posted nsider a career in If you want to co keting , make social media mar in-depth sure you have an different of g understandin s because media platform uipped eq you need to be tools and et to handle Intern y o, since a majorit technology. A ls sed, ication is text ba of the commun ills are sk ng ti and wri good vocabulary on, you need to diti important. In ad ng , ledge of marketi ow kn have a good ng well as networki organisational as tanding of numbers ders skills and an un . and fig ures of social media u yo s w To enter the field a course in lo al It . ds ho et m can do marketing with marketing , you ia ate and interact ic un m m 2 specialise in med co d 01 g to y2 an in on vertising ck, allow ad ba ed A fe B r emember the K ei M th an t can do people to ge plastered an planning or you edia video, which was book e better deals th id ov pr marketing or m to in u e yo ce lis ot Fa ia s sh ec y’ re sp od su d e yb an on er The field can on ev the A career in this ur competitors. by t. yo d ng en te ti ee em ke tw ag ar re m an d r m 000 to n othe wall an here from `1,25, ithin fference betwee w di yw l is ra an vi u ng t ti yo en ke rn w ar o ea m edia e scale of minute? The vide , ols and social m of `12,35,000 depending on th ch to d un or la w s h it ug er ro aft th u are pe the first six days and the brand yo at it generates hy both ny th on pa s m ew co vi n ur io yo ill reaching 100 m to mouth. ople to marketing. imeo, all thanks edia empowers pe ences m al YouTube and V ci So keting! d experi S social media mar keting refers to the share their opinions an COURSE CAisNInVstAitute of Unlike other ar d. m an ia br ed ar m ul al ic ci rt So c -Symbios about a pa ting website traffi rect interaction • SIMC ion process of genera mpany through stries, it enjoys di and Communicat du s ia in er ed M um ns co l ia co a nt r (SMC) by pote or attention fo ith current and al Media Course ch as w ci su So es of sit ce • ia an ed ch m r eate ified by blogs and social d hence has a gr Consult and cert etc. an AT e, W ub lly uT ua rt Yo vi r, , te ay . Tod Facebook, Twit social impacting them IAMAI ze of a business, si e ected to at least th r nn ve co te is y ha ra Institute of od W yb gh er ou ev r en • MICA (Mud ugh thei is a large ro ng th ti e ke sit ar ia m ed ia m med d one social Communication) ote products an ile phones, ob om m pr s, to et bl rm ta , fo rs plat Social Media h compute social media • Certified s one to establis of le ab nt en aining ou It . am e es ic th serv c. With a large keting (SMM) Tr et to ar t y M lit ou bi h ac da re or s, aff and et and Mobile new connection rtise a networking sites sing , the ogram at Intern ve Pr ad d an s er us IMRI) crea community of of computers in search Institute( raphic ng Re og ti m ke de ar t m en ia er ed ff al m business to di d demand for soci quicker results an ds el yi A lmost ever y . It s. ng le ti ke ofi pr is skyroc ional it ad tr an th re larger exposu

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THE

A I D E M L A SOCI

NINJA

JOB A BOUT TH E BEST THING The b. jo y m neity of I love the sponta that I have the love madness. I also eam the ability to dr an opportunity d up ideas. PER K S A DDITION A L u are great perks if yo There are a lot of media marketing. cial in the field of so ts lot of free produc a t ge We tend to to d te vi in s ay are alw from clients and great events!

ategist at tr s e n li n o f ie h c Harshil Karia, s you the skinny on what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FoxyMoron, givefield of social media marketing like to be in the

ief derstand new br ith clients to un w rt pa ge hu S rms a irements also fo PORTU NITIE P qu O re of t H se T r W he O ot R G ly, an rtunities are y day. And final po m op of on th ch ar ow se gr re e e Th m e tes followed by so ds the day for field. In fact, th da is th up in se en m im ands en sp of technology my category of br field is at the cu a s ay w al 's And that me. and advertising. succeed ho w le op pe e good thing. Th e to D QUA LITIES IL L SETS A N are the ones I lik ia SK ed m al ci so in al ' media, d een creativity an e e this field is 'soci tw nc Si be s ge id br ll ca t. The ability to valu le skills are a mus eds, wants field as well, its a op s pe A . gy lo no ch I te So, umer ne is always rising. understand cons tal. You have to in clients' minds t. ea vi gr so is al e the scop and desires is strongly feel that so to speak and th or be a Wordsw ve a flair for so great if you ha TION al s A it' R E works. N U M E R edia how technology m g al in ci nd so ta of rs ld de fie un Those in the een rn anything betw UND marketing can ea 0 a month. A L BACKGRO N IO T A C 00 U 0, ,5 D E ia. `15,000 to `1 elor of mass med I pursued a bach creatively about ENGES helped me think It T H E CH A L L to se also gave me ld always seems oblems. The cour rsue relevant pr People in this fie d e to pu e of creativity an enough free tim arnt face the challeng are the most rt from that, I le s pa A s. ip s sh ea rn id te st in riou time. The be hetics through va a very st s ae it t se ou au ab ec t B lo s. a cludes creative idea attended. This in often don't I u at yo , th s on se si as es cl of film dynamic pr ideation otion film, static m on in d cs en ti sp he to st e ae m get much ti This is gn. st idea possible. and graphic desi and crack the be e. ng challe perhaps the only DIA SCOPE IN IN in K R + new agencies O 0 W 40 e T AY A There wer ding en Sp . ar d ye A T Y PICA L D an in the last priorities g ia in ed tt m se al ci by y so da creased I start the e progression on digital and social media in th k ec ch to on last two then move 0 per cent in the so update al 10 I a . ly ds ar an ne br by of t growing on my se with preowing. And it's es gr ti s er It s. op ar pr ye d an my br ng and later quick. decided messagi ng ideas for ki ac cr e m ti d spen H E WOULD and months ON E THING the days, weeks a UT TH E JOB work on CH A NGE A BO ctic as it is (but that follow. I also py writers he co I wish it wasn't as se daily basis with ne tu e an what it is - el th fin ss to le s ly er ht slig ly on and design da ha date my n). I also wish i yi my concepts. I up uple it wouldn't be fu ea k about id s. in co th a to es e ti m er ti e op brand pr little mor ncing of times a day. Sy

AUGUST 2012 â&#x2022;&#x2018; Youth Incorporated 21

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_COVER STORY

LOOKING TO PUT YOUR ENGINEERING OR SCIENCE BACKGROUND TO GOOD USE BUT DON’T WANT TO GET LOST IN THE HERD? OPT FOR A CAREER IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

THE CELLULAR SCIENCE S o you are pursuing your studies in the science stream or perhaps in the field of engineering and want to learn more about your career options. Biotechnology is one of the most exciting sciences of the century. Revolutionary, beneficial, progressive. These are some words that come to mind when one thinks of biotechnology, a branch of science that is advancing by the day. Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary science that not only covers biology but also physics, chemistry, engineering and mathematics. A biotechnologist is one who manipulates living organisms, such as plants, animals, microbes and singular cells, for the production and processing of goods for beneficial purposes. You might recognise the application of biotechnology in a wide spectrum of life from medical biotechnology (vaccine, antibiotics and hormone production) and agricultural

biotechnology (genetically modified plants and hybrid seeds) to industrial biotechnology (fermentation, manufacturing of polymers and bioplastics). Simply put, a career in this field will see you manipulating living cells and/or bacteria for the development of new medicines, improving energy conservation and increasing agricultural output. Many people in this field also get into genome-based biotechnology that researches the composition of diseases to find preventive measures that may eventually eliminate these disorders from the history of mankind. Those who have completed class 12 with a science background can enrol themselves for a BTech course in biotechnology and then later complete their postgraduate studies by opting for an MTech in the same field. While pursuing your graduate studies, undertaking an internship at specialised universities or research institute labs will help you to jumpstart your career. Not only will

COURSE CANVAS 

• Amity Institute Of Biotechnology, New Delhi • Bharti Vidyapeeth, Pune • Indian Institute of Technology (across India) • Bose University, Kolkata • Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala • Centre of Biotechnology, Delhi

you get on-the-job training but you will also get recommendation letters for future jobs. Biotechnologists need to have a high level of intelligence, the ability to concentrate for hours on end, patience and attention to minor details. The job prospects are excellent in this field and can range from working as a researcher, scientist, and quality control officer to a production in-charge and a professor. Openings exist in government institutes, agricultural institutes, horticultural institutes, universities and pharmaceutical companies. A career in this field is very lucrative as it is one of the fastest growing fields today.

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BIOINVESTIGATOR DR SANDEEP KALE, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BIOPROCESS TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDES AN INFORMATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD OF BIOTECHNOLOGY BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB I have the freedom to do research work on what I want, to innovate, to commercialize findings for the benefit of society and of course to teach new ideas and advances in biotechnology and bioengineering. ADDITIONAL PERKS I have the opportunity to discover new avenues in biotechnology and bioengineering. I also have the satisfaction of creating skilled manpower for industrial development and for the benefit of our country. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES In India, the Biotech sector is still a small one, and that’s why in India, opportunities are many. We can initiate many things in this field such as bioenergy from lignocellulosic agricultural wastes, biopesticides, new tools to detect serious diseases like cancer, etc. People can make a career in biotechnology pertaining to environment, agriculture, healthcare, nutraceuticals, diagnostics, renewable energy, marine, etc. REMUNERATION A person with doctorate/post doctoral fellowship in India can expect between `6 to 15 lakhs per annum; a person with master’s degree can expect `4 to 7 lakhs per annum, where as a bachelor’s degree holder can expect from `2 to 4 lakhs per annum. The institute/college has significant role in determining the scale of your salary. A person from IIT, IISc, NIT, IISER, ICT, IMTECH, CCMB, TIFR, NIPER, and universities like Pune University,

Anna university, Delhi University, Osmania, etc. are paid relatively higher than other government and private institutes. CHALLENGES Research requires a thorough knowledge of the subject, creativity, the ability to think out of the box and bring innovative ideas to innovate a product and/or a process. On the other hand, teaching requires detailed understanding of the subject matter and ability to express is in an effective manner. In both cases, one challenge is common, and that is to improve the quality of life and society. A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK For me, a day starts with discussion with my research scholars about the previous day’s outcome and planning the next steps. My day also involves interactions/meetings with personnel from an industry (if any) and teaching the post graduate students. The evening generally goes in scientific writings like patents, journal articles, reports, application notes, etc. The day might look busy, but new things happen almost every day, which provide both joy and satisfaction. QUALITIES/SKILL SET One needs to have the ability to understand, innovate, and apply logic and thinking to make something useful through smart work. Also it is important to possess the ability to understand the impact of even the smallest thing. Another important set of qualities is analytical ability, passion, ambition as well as self discipline.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I have a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, a Master’s degree in Technology (Bioprocess Technology) and a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Institute of Chemical Technology (Formerly UDCT). My diverse background, which includes pharmacy, bioprocess and chemical engineering, really helped me in making better progress both in research and teaching. With this, I am able to do better innovations in biotechnology and allied fields with more than 16 patents (for products, processes and apparatus) and several scientific articles, awards, conference publications and commercialized technologies. SCOPE IN INDIA In India, the biotechnology sector is growing, and our country requires skilled manpower to improve the industrial sector. There is big scope in bioenergy (bioalcohols, bio-CNG, biohydrocarbons, etc), secondary agriculture (exploring primary agriculture like grains, oil seeds, fruits, etc for designing various products), getting biorefineries to produce various biochemicals/commodity chemicals (green chemicals) using microbiomes, and of course healthcare biotechnology. We have not yet understood the biological life completely and hence there is scope in both basic biological sciences and its application for development. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 23

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The Busines

Always up-to-date with the latest trends? Become a fashion buyer and turn your passion for fashion into a stylish career option

he Indian fashion industry is booming. In recent years, international designers have identified India as a potential market and Indian designers have found recognition worldwide. As a result, there has been a rapid increase in the number and quality of fashion labels in the country. Most people interested in entering this industry, usually flock towards a fashion design course. However, if you have an eye for fashion without the skill for design, there are many other exciting ways of entering the fashion business, one of which is by becoming a fashion buyer. A fashion buyer is responsible for selecting and purchasing the merchandise that their brand will sell. They make these choices keeping in mind the current trends and the preferences of potential customers. Buyers usually work with a retail brand or, in some cases, they work at a boutique or in an independent fashion venture. Buyers can also specialise in a particular style, such as women’s wear, men’s wear, children’s clothing, footwear, etc. Apart from spotting upcoming trends, buyers also need to know which trends should be retained and which clothes need to be taken off their hangers. A buyer’s job involves a fair amount of travel, as they need to attend fashion weeks, trade shows, exhibitions and other fashion events to keep up with the ever-changing trends. As glamorous as the job may sound,

Shopping

being a fashion buyer is not just about shopping for trends and attending fashion weeks. The most challenging part of a fashion buyer’s job is to ensure that the merchandise they select is quick to sell and doesn’t gather dust on the shelves. Therefore, while keeping up with international trends is essential, a fashion buyer needs to understand the store’s customers, their choices and preferences. The wisdom of a buyer’s choices is reflected in the company’s sales figures. Therefore, buyers face a lot of pressure as they are accountable for any significant dip in the company’s sales. A fashion buyer needs to have the foresight to differentiate between trends that will gather a following and those that have the lifespan of a mayfly. In this profession, your people skills need to be well tuned as you will be interacting and negotiating with suppliers on a regular basis. Buyers also act as the liaison between different departments within a retail store such as merchandising, marketing and retail sales personnel. They also need to possess analytical skills to avail maximum cost and quality benefits.

COURSE CANVAS

National Institute of Fashion Technology (across India) Mod’Art International (Mumbai and Delhi) Domus Academy, Milan London School of Fashion

You must also be enthusiastic about fashion, willing to travel and have good judgement as well as the ability to take quick and informed decisions. If you are interested in becoming a fashion buyer, you can pursue a course in fashion management after class 12 or graduation, depending on the course you select. The size and designations of the buying team in a company may vary but generally one starts as a trainee buyer and then moves on to become an assistant buyer, senior buyer, buying manager and buying director. Freshers usually earn between `10,000 to `12,000 per month as a trainee buyer. As a senior buyer, one can expect to earn around 4-5 lakhs per annum. However, these figures vary depending on the scale and profile of the company. So if you are looking for a career in fashion that allows you to dictate the latest trends, put your knowledge into use and strut stylishly into the world of a fashion buyer.

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The

Trend Setter Assistant Buyer, Divisha Khera, gives us a glimpse into the exciting and challenging life of a fashion buyer

JOB PROFILE AND RESPONSIBILITIES I am an Assistant Buyer for the men’s wear brand Nuon, at Westside-Trent Ltd. BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB Fashion buying is a very creative field. It involves tracking trends, colours and fabrics. I wanted to explore the retail field and fashion buying was the best way to achieve that. As a fashion buyer, I gain new knowledge every day, track trends and happenings from across the world and perceive what our customers would like to wear on the basis of that. Every week, we monitor the sales reports which tell us which products have sold well and which have performed poorly. It is exciting to find out whether a trend you planned has sold or not. ADDITIONAL PERKS Senior buyers travel to cities like London and Dubai to track the latest trends. Also, as part of our job, we are sent to shop floors once in two weeks, where we have the opportunity to interact directly with our customers. This process helps us understand the needs of customers, introduce them to new fabrics and trends and gain valuable feedback. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES There are a lot of growth opportunities in this field. However, your growth, like in any profession, depends on your

passion and dedication to your job. Currently, there is a lot of potential in retail buying, especially in men’s wear, which is an untapped market. Since it a growing category, there is a lot of scope of personal growth in men's wear.

REMUNERATION The amount you can earn as a fashion buyer varies from company to company. However, on an average, an assistant buyer can earn around `3-4 lakhs per annum. At a senior level, as a buying manager you can earn around `20 lakhs per annum or more. However, the amount you earn may vary, depending on your talent and dedication. CHALLENGES The most challenging part of a fashion buyer’s job is making sure customers like your product. Sometimes, what you think your customers will like, might not work well with them at all. Depending on your choices, your products will either fly off the shelves or remain there for weeks. Therefore, when your merchandise hits the floor, there is always a risk involved as you can never be sure about what will work and what won’t. Therefore, it is important to believe in your product and understand your customers. Also, developing your product from scratch can be challening as you have to ensure that your thoughts are first effectively translated to paper and then executed effectively as well. A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK A typical day at work usually involves regular co-ordination with vendors, suppliers and sourcing officers. Right now, I am simultaneously working on the spring-summer as well as the autumn-winter collections. Therefore, it is essential to be on top of things to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

QUALITIES/SKILL SET The most important quality one needs to possess in this profession is creativity. You must have the ability to think out of the box and not play safe. Those who dare to take risks, excel in this career. Also, you need to be confident while presenting your ideas so that others can share your belief. Another very important quality one must have is good communication skills, as you have to interact with vendors, suppliers and internal teams on a regular basis. EDUCATION BACKGROUND After completing my bachelor’s degree in management studies, I obtained a diploma in fashion retail management, while working with a designer. After that, I pursued a master’s degree in fashion management from NIFT. These courses helped me understand more about the various career prospects within fashion. When most people think of a career in fashion, they mainly think about design. My education widened my horizon and exposed me to other avenues like buying and merchandising. SCOPE IN INDIA The retail industry is booming in India. After the FDI approval, international brands will be able to enter the country directly, unlike before. Therefore, there will be a demand for people with relevant knowledge to help international brands understand local markets. Hence, fashion buying is definitely a booming career option, which will not reach saturation anytime soon. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 25

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GAME ON WANT TO GO BEYOND SIMPLY PLAYING GAMES? WHY NOT GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF MAKING THEM IF GRAPHIC DESIGNING AND ANIMATION IS YOUR THING?

echnology is constantly changing the way we communicate and access news and entertainment. No longer is gaming limited to the Xbox or PlayStation but has extended to different platforms like mobile phones and tablets, offering users an on-the-go experience. With an increasing demand for new and innovative games and apps, the need for skilled game developers is increasing. A video game and app developer is a software developer who creates interesting games that includes designing the content and rules of the game. There are also many operating systems, which you can choose to learn and design games for. The Android platform is now widely used in the business industry. Android is a platform that comes with a unique set of features like rich development environment with a rich application framework and a virtual machine customised for mobile phones. From an app that allows you to read Microsoft Word documents on

the go to one that regularly updates you on the latest weather forecasts, the Android app market is flourishing with a regular influx of new, practical and innovative Android applications. The iOS platform: According to recent research, Apple-based iOs products are selling rapidly as compared to other handsets. All of the

COURSE CANVAS

• Institute of Computer Animation & Design, Mumbai • International College of Animation Arts and Technology (all over India) • University of Mumbai • University of Southern California, Los Angeles • University of Bedfordshire, UK

products and apps are user friendly, which further boosts customer satisfaction and increases sales. The Apple app store continues to expand with more than a 100,000 active publishers in the US App store. Besides mobile phone applications, video game developing is a lucrative career with many PC games like Counterstrike and Age of Empires becoming popular among teenagers and adults alike. Popular game designing companies in India are Synapse, Syna-G, CSharks, etc. One needs to have have a decent level of creativity to develop apps or games that are unique and captivating. With so many new games being released, it is imperative that anything you create stands out in a crowd. Further, a game designer must be knowledgeable about computer programming, various programming languages like C++ and writing software. One should know the inner workings of the console you are creating the game for. To present an idea for a game or an app to different people, like marketing executives, producers and programmers, it is necessary for a designer to have good presentation skills- both verbal and written. A game and app designer does not work alone; there are many other people involved in the long process. Therefore, the ability to work as a part of a team should be present. The remuneration in this field depends on your years of experience and your level of skill. A yearly salary of a game or app developer may fall in the bracket of `1,20,000 to `19,00,000 depending on the company and the level to which you advance.

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_COVER STORY

GAME ON WANT TO GO BEYOND SIMPLY PLAYING GAMES? WHY NOT GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF MAKING THEM IF GRAPHIC DESIGNING AND ANIMATION IS YOUR THING?

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COURSE CANVAS

Master of the

GAME

ROHIT GUPTA, FOUNDER AND CEO OF ROLECULE GAMES, REVEALS HOW THE ‘WORK HARD, PLAY HARDER’ PHILOSOPHY MAKES GAME DEVELOPMENT A HIGHLY SATISFYING PROFESSION

BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB The thing that I love the most, is the entire process of creating something incredible. I feel a sense of satisfaction when I see people jump on their seats while playing our games. Game development is like creating a virtual world and then making that world intelligent - almost acting like a God. When you combine technology and art, the product is pure magic; the product is a video game. ADDITIONAL PERKS Playing lots and lots of games for a 'living' is what makes this an incredibly fun profession. Secondly, there is a feel good factor after you create something magical out of nothing. Thirdly, when you see people having fun playing your games, it increases your hunger to make awesome games. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES Since game development is still at the nascent stage in India, it provides an opportunity for anyone to make a significant impact, thus giving the first movers advantage. There is a huge opportunity to learn groundbreaking technologies and techniques, and stand out from the usual IT crowd. Also, since digital entertainment is the present and the future, this field is hugely rewarding. REMUNERATION: For engineers/programmers, a fresher can expect a starting package of around `2.5-3 lakhs per annum.

Artists/designers can expect a starting package of around `2-2.5 lakhs per annum. These figures vary depending upon the expertise, talent as well as background of the candidate. CHALLENGES: The most effective weapon in this field is 'innovation'. The problem is, you don't know how to use this weapon every time. There is no fixed formula and that's the biggest challenge. You always have to come up with new ideas, but you don't always have answers. TYPICAL DAY AT WORK A typical day primarily consists of programming, followed by playing lots of games, followed by reviewing the art and source code, followed by some of the CEO responsibilities and meetings, followed by some design brain-storming. During crunch time, I prefer working alone. I usually go to office either late at night or early morning and communicate with my team through letters! QUALITIES/SKILL SET For artists, the most important quality is to have an eye for detail. Secondly, the artists should have good understanding of softwares and tools like Autodesk Maya, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Motion Builder etc. A good understanding of colours is very critical for artists who deal with texturing, painting, lighting etc. For programmers, the most important quality is problem

solving. In addition to that, a good knowledge of computer graphics, artificial intelligence, networking, etc is preferred. Understanding of any one of the programming languages like C, C++, Java etc is a must have. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I hold Master of Science in Computer Science with a specialization in Computer Graphics and Vision from Columbia University. While at Columbia University, I made sure to pick courses like computer graphics, artificial intelligence, game design, etc, which helped me understand game development thoroughly. In addition to that, I also worked briefly at Electronic Arts (EA), one of the leading game development companies in the world, which further helped me understand the business of video games. SCOPE IN INDIA Earlier, Indian parents considered video games as a waste of time. This mindset is changing as game development companies are surfacing in India and providing good career opportunities. Moreover, India has a huge young workforce that loves entertainment. Traditionally, Indians have also been technically strong. Also, everybody in the video game industry is either young or young at heart. With so many positives, game development in India will grow by leaps and bounds with today's youth leading from the front. Digital entertainment is the future. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 27

21-07-2012 13:25:22

ANIMATED BY HAIDER & GAJENDRA

_COVER STORY

tudy period s g n lo e th If ? and architecture rs o ri D architecture te 3 in in in r e e li re t a s c re a r te fo Does your in you off then opt g in tt u p e b to seems

rchitecture is no more subject to drafting plans and sections. If inking isn’t your thing then 3D architecture is a fair option to consider. 3D architecture comprises considerably fewer aspects in comparison to a full-blown degree in BArch. The shortcut to designing is easy to achieve if you are a commerce or science student. A keen interest in technology and various rendering software will be a beneficial aspect to pursue a career in this field. To see this through, all you need to do is opt for a diploma ranging from 6 months to a year in 3D animation. These diplomas can be attained from animation institutes all over India or abroad. The alternative option is obtaining a certification in appropriate software like Auto Cad, Maya, Vectorworks, Artlantis, Luminous, Sketch Up and 3D studio max among a few others. Architecture has two aspects to it: drafting and visualisation. Visualisation refers to the one that 3D architects deal with; the final product must be eye catching and

should convey the idea of the space precisely. When a certain design is taken to the client, it’s not the plans that are comprehended by him but the visualisation. These visualisation images were once drawn up by hand or through the art of model making, but now it’s all about conveying designs through software. Architects sketch up the technical drawings and send it through to 3D architects. Their job then is to draw these plans on design software and transform them into 3D models. The space is then enhanced by adding furniture or by adding the

COURSE CANVAS • Frameboxx (All over India) • Dimensionz studio, Mumbai • CG School, Florida • Animation and Multimedia, Delhi

required theme decided by the client and architect. 3D architects design a journey through the space, making the client feel as if they are walking through the actual corridor or room. Many may stop to consider if this is an appropriate option in India? If this is the only thing stopping you, then brush off that thought because this is a promising and upcoming field. It has a good scope and is expanding by the day. In fact, many of the animation institutes offer the opportunity of placement right after the conclusion of a year’s diploma. The various opportunities range from working in a 3D architecture practice or starting your own. The salary easily exceeds a 4-digit figure per month. This may be a career option frowned upon by parents due to the myth related to new designing fields, but if this is where your interest lies, then go ahead. The knack for animation and designing combined with reading plans and interior designing is basically all the fun aspects of architecture put together as an independent course.

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e 3D takes yp it h rc A f o r to e ri p Rahul Rohira, pro rough the ins and outs of a you on a walk th 3D architecture career in JOB PROFILE AND RESPONSIBILITIES My responsibilities comprise keeping in constant touch with our clients from India and all over the world. I am also in charge of supervising so that our clients are delivered Photo Real 3D images and walkthroughs of the highest standards possible. BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB I love the fact that I can be creative in my profession. I even get the chance to experiment with new ideas when it comes to visualisation. It is really satisfying to see how different projects come to life in 3D when they were initially just a set of 2D plans and drawings. ADDITIONAL PERKS One gets to use new techniques as well as technology to make 3D seem as close to the real thing as possible. Thus, access and exposure to new technology is one of the additional perks in the field of 3D architecture. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES I feel that there are really good opportunities in the field of 3D architecture these days. Besides, there is a lot of scope for developing and growing into a 3D artist and making your ideas come to life either for print

or for walkthroughs. It's a good time to be in this field. REMUNERATION A person working in the field of 3D architecture can earn anything from `10,000 to `50,000 per month or sometimes, even more. It all depends on your quality of work, and of course, your position. THE CHALLENGES One of the biggest challenges that we tend to face in this field is to deliver a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s project in keeping with the stringent deadlines and yet without compromising on the quality of our work. A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK My days usually consist of coordinating with developers, architects and interior designers. On a daily basis, I also ensure that my company Architype3D delivers quality 3D views and walkthroughs, which are as per international standards. It's important to be consistent in quality when delivering to clients. SKILLS SETS AND QUALITIES With regards to skill sets, people who plan to enter the field of 3D architecture, must have an in-depth

knowledge and application of 3D Studio Max or similar 3D software. Additionally, one should have a good amount of knowledge of Autocad, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Photoshop. As for qualities, those entering the field of 3D architecture should have the ability to innovate and use their creativity to the max. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I am a commerce graduate and I also have a diploma in 3D animation that has helped me in my current profession. SCOPE IN INDIA Since India is one of the fastest growing economies in terms of real estate, the scope of 3D architecture is immense. It is, without a doubt, a good time to be in this field. Not only is it lucrative at the moment but it is also creatively satisfying. yi AUGUST 2012 â&#x2022;&#x2018; Youth Incorporated 29

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21-07-2012 15:18:50

_COVER STORY

If you are one of the many who eat, sleep and breathe sports, why not work in the same field? A career in sports event management allows you to be part of the action!

he only thing more exciting than watching a live sporting event, is actually organising it. From handling logistics to dealing with sponsors, sticking to deadlines and smoothening glitches, a career in sports event management will certainly keep you on your toes. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of sporting events in India, such as the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Cricket World Cup in 2011 and the annual IPL extravaganza, which increases in scale every year. While these developments satiate the appetites of hungry sports fans, it also means the scope of sports event management as a career is growing at a rapid rate. In fact, some Indian institutes now offer a special degree in sports event management. While cricket enjoys the support of viewers, corporates and sponsors, other sports are also finding their

place in the limelight. Football, hockey, golf, tennis, etc are gradually turning into organised sports as well. As corporate funding in sports events increases, so does the scale of these events, which means sports enthusiasts have some exciting times ahead of them. A sports event, like most others, relies on the efficiency of various departments. Therefore, to run a successful event, you need to be a team player to ensure all the spokes of the wheel are perfectly in tune. Your soft skills will especially come in handy in this profession and might play an important part in determining your career growth. You need to have good

COURSE CANVAS d • College of Events an Media, Pune • Indian Institute of Social Welfare and t, Business Managemen Kolkata n • University of Michiga • New York University

organisational and communication skills, as well as the ability to think on your feet. Leadership qualities are also essential as you will be handling a large number of volunteers and other members in your team. You also need to be outgoing and confident so that your superiors feel comfortable entrusting you with big responsibilities. Before you talk the talk, make sure you can walk the walk as well and upgrade your skill sets. And most importantly, if things go haywire at the last moment, as they usually do, you should be able to take charge of the situation without losing your cool. After all, the game must go on. When you enter the event management field, you might compromise on time with friends and family and even with your own bed as the timings in this field can be erratic. You might be working on weekends as well, especially when you inch closer to the day of the event. On the brighter side, the thrill of watching an event come together and end in a success can make up for the drawbacks of this profession. Couple this with the opportunity to be in the midst of all the sporting action and the possibility of travel, and you find that there is enough bait to lure sports lovers into this profession. Earlier, you could pursue a general event management degree to enter this field. While that is still possible, there is also the option of applying for a bachelor’s or post-graduate degree in sports event management. If you would like to keep your options open, you can opt for a general event management course and do a certificate course in sports event management or choose to learn the rest on the job. The amount you can earn in this career depends on the scale of the event and the company you are associated with. Generally, entry level payment ranges between ` 10,000 to `15,000 per month. As you gather more experience, you can earn around ` 40,000 per month at a manager's level.

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N I G K P E I N H T Event production consultant Rohit Sequeira lets us in on what it’s like to work in the field of sports event management

challenges, whatever they may be, can be tackled.

JOB PROFILE AND RESPONSIBILITIES As an event production consultant, my main responsibility is getting the venue ready within the time frame available. Other responsibilities include choosing the right vendors for specific events, choosing venues, pre-event venue inspection, working production budget, creating a working schedule, etc. Responsibilities change according to different kinds and scales of events. Sometimes coordinating with police, security and emergency services are also responsibilities of the production team.

ADDITIONAL PERKS I basically became a consultant after working for various event management companies. So the time off between events is what I enjoy. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES There are growth opportunities in sales (sponsorship), team or player management, tournament operations, design (look and feel) to name a few. In fact, there is a bigger growth opportunity in sport events than in the event management industry as a whole. REMUNERATION Salaries are directly linked to efficiency and experience of the individual. I believe, a sports event manager can earn as much as any other profession. THE CHALLENGES After ten years in this profession most

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ROHAN FERNANDES

BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB Travelling and meeting new people is what I like the most about my job. Not having to sit in an office from nine to five comes next.

A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK There is no such thing as a typical day in this field of work. From meetings to planning to on-site visits and execution, it could be anything. No formulae as such.

There are growth opportunities in sales (sponsorship), team or player management, tournament operations, design (look and feel). In fact, there is a bigger growth opportunity in sport events than in the event management industry as a whole.

SKILL SETS AND QUALITIES Good planning and foresight goes a long way. Quick decision-making for last minute problems. Damage control when things are not working out. People skills are very important. Good communication is also very important. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I joined the industry after graduating in commerce (economics). I would say that it hasn’t helped me much besides getting my first job! SCOPE IN INDIA There are a whole lot of opportunities in sports event management. Big, annual sports events are directly related to the economic growth of a country. India is now one of the fastest growing countries. IPL has the highest viewership when it comes to televised events. Formula 1 is now an annual event in the Indian sport calendar. So is the World Series Hockey and Chennai Open (tennis). In the future, there will be more sporting events in India. So there is a big scope for sports event management in India. ONE THING HE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT THE JOB Beside a hike in salary, absolutely nothing else! yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 31

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21-07-2012 13:29:19

_COVER STORY

Chalk

Talk

Do you love children and have a passion for inspiring and touching lives? Explore the prospects of a career in early childhood education

e always remember that one teacher who managed to turn every chapter into a fairy tale and every sum into apples and chocolates with her winning smile and easy charm. We also try to forget the 'other' teacher, always strict and frowning, who told us we were naughty when we didn’t have answers because ‘the dog ate our homework’. Teachers always leave a mark on their students and shape their future in the process. What is it that makes a teacher score, not just with curriculum but also with hearts? Youth Inc goes one step further in understanding early childhood education as a profession. Teaching is a blend of learning, entertainment and child management, and if done well, it can provide the right setting for children to study and enjoy themselves too. Teachers educate children and even function as parttime parents. They mould lives and shape insights and beliefs that stick for years. The positive punch of teaching lies in seeing a student learn lessons that are successfully taught. A lot of emotional

satisfaction comes from passing on knowledge to children because of the personal nature and intimacy involved. These days, a teacher’s role has extended beyond the syllabus; now they are mentors, friends, guides and counsellors. Some of the challenging aspects in pre-school teaching are that since pupils

COURSE CANVAS • American TESOL Institute (Pan-India) • New Zealand Tertiary College, Mumbai •KJ Somaiya Comprehensive College of Education, Training and Research, Mumbai •Bombay Teacher’s Training College, Mumbai •Lady Irwin College, Delhi •Andhra University, Visakhapatanam • SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai • University of Bombay, Mumbai

are between the ages of four to eight years, they need to be taught discipline and social skills in addition to the curriculum. Also, grading test papers, lesson planning and parent-teacher meetings are very time-consuming responsibilities. It is also difficult to mentally regress to reach pupils effectively. The pay isn’t very high; this profession is more about personal gain rather than earning high remuneration. In India, after graduating in science (BSc), commerce (BCom) or arts (BA), one must attain a bachelor of education (BEd) degree. Students with a BA teach social studies and languages, while students with a BSc degree can teach math and science. After BEd, students can pursue a masters in education (MEd) in an Indian university. There is also a diploma in education (DEd) for teaching in nurseries in India, offered after class 12 in most teaching institutes across the country. Since 2011, qualifying in a Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is mandatory for all school teachers. Apart from degrees, the main qualities that you need to have comprise patience, confidence, an affinity for children and the ability to understand children. At the nursery level, children struggle to grasp concepts quickly. Thus, patience is needed to repeat yourself and to creatively develop new ways to hold students’ attention. Energy and zest are important to motivate students and push them towards performing their best. A teacher must always remember that apart from educating, they possess the power to shape a child’s character and life. That in itself is a big responsibility. With the growing literacy rate in India today, the education field is presently at its best. In early childhood education, the pay is anywhere between `5,000 to `20,000 per month depending on the school and position. It is a very challenging profession, but it ensures that you will always be remembered fondly as a guide and mentor. You can expect many surprise knocks at your door in the future from grown-up students who never forgot how much you gave them.

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Nurturer of the

Shreena Doshi, Director, The Big Umbrella preschool and apple seeds India, reveals why early childhood care is one of the most rewarding professions. BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB As the Director of the Doshi Group of Companies, my role with The Big Umbrella and apple seeds is that of governing, mentoring, and relationship building. I love the fact that we at The Big Umbrella and apple seeds are bringing a child focused, safe, hygienic, stimulating and fun environment. ADDITIONAL PERKS Children are stress busters and say the craziest things. The joy that their smiles bring cannot be matched with any materialistic perks. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES There has been a remarkable change in the process of education at an international level, and the world of education is constantly evolving to meet the needs of today’s children. Early childcare and education is globally considered an integral component of basic education. With alternative schools, IB schools, activity centres sprouting everywhere, the scope for young people is not only vast but ever growing. In addition, young people are becoming the heart of such institutions. REMUNERATION Teaching world over is not given the due that it deserves. Early childhood educators in metro cities tend to earn more than their counterparts in smaller cities. The remuneration is based on qualifications, experience and the ability to perform in a classroom

Young

and varies greatly with stand alone preschools, preschools in schools, activity centres, etc.

CHALLENGES The biggest challenge I face is sustaining and maintaining the standard of quality. Additional challenges are ensuring the magic is created for each child as well as keeping staff members intrigued, stimulated and satisfied so that they are completely committed to their roles. A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK A typical day at work is madness but also exciting at the same time. Working with preschoolers and parents can be both physically and emotionally draining. My day is filled with making sure daily routines are met, parents are happy and children are happier. QUALITIES AND SKILL SET As an early childhood educator, one needs to have a passion for teaching and compassion towards children. Having sensitivity is important in handling every situation with a child and a parent. Patience must be every teacher’s middle name. Also, organisational skills are of great importance. An unorganized teacher’s environment rubs off on children, who can sense a rushed and scattered feeling. Another critical quality one must possess in this field is the ability to multitask, as a teacher sometimes needs to pick up an upset child, listen to another’s story and help a third with something else.

Punctuality is a quality that teachers impart to their children and children pick up on minutely. Creativity also helps to keep the spark in a classroom alive. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I was born and raised in Antwerp, Belgium where I finished my elementary education at the Antwerp International School. A global citizen, I attended University of Warwick, UK, University of California, Berkeley and University of Mumbai. I believe my background has equipped me with a deep passion for children’s education and an innovative style of management. SCOPE IN INDIA There has been a remarkable change in the process of education at an international level, and India is fast moving in this direction as well. This is evident with the number of new schools that have opened in Mumbai itself. The infiltration of IB schools, activity centres, and alternative method schools have created a plethora of teaching and administrative opportunities. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 33

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21-07-2012 13:33:26

_COVER STORY

The Art of

Enhancement The standard of beauty has increased drastically in recent times, making plastic surgery a lucrative career option for medical students

n the 21st century, beauty has travelled from the eyes of the beholder into the hands of the plastic surgeon. While plastic surgery seems like a recent phenomenon, its origin can be traced back to 800 BC. In fact, the first reconstructing techniques have been documented to have taken place in India by Sushruta, who is also called ‘the father or surgery’. With drastic advancements in science and medicine, plastic surgery procedures have seen an increase in demand as well as sophistication in technique. Contrary to popular belief, people in the entertainment industry are not the only ones opting for plastic surgery. There has been an increase in the number of students, working professionals and middle-aged people who are willing to go under the knife. The scope of plastic surgery in the country is said to increase drastically in upcoming years. Medical tourism brings a lot of foreign patients to India as the procedures are much cheaper here than in their country of origin. The taboo associated with plastic surgery is slowly dying as well since some celebrities are willing to come out and accept the fact that they have gotten cosmetic procedures done. Plastic surgery can be sub-divided into two categories: aesthetic and reconstructive. Plastic surgery performed for aesthetic reasons is

commonly referred to as cosmetic surgery and includes procedures like rhinoplasty (nose job) and liposuction (fat reduction). The second use of plastic surgery is when it is used for reconstructive purposes in situations where the patient is suffering from injuries, burns, birth defects, etc. A plastic surgeon needs to have excellent technical knowledge, be detail-oriented and have good communication skills. As a plastic surgeon, you will spend a lot of time with patients, explaining to them

COURSE CANVAS • Grant Medical College, Mumbai • Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad • Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh • Royal College of Surgeons of England, London

what the end result of the surgery will look like. Patient satisfaction is critical in this field. Therefore you must understand the requirements of each patient before you begin the surgery. Also, since patients undergo cosmetic surgery by choice, cosmetic surgeons carry the moral responsibility of ensuring that their patients are of sound mind and health when they make these decisions. In this field, the learning doesn’t end with your education. You constantly need to keep up with new developments and modify your techniques. To become a plastic surgeon, you have to undergo many years of study and training. The first step is to complete your MBBS degree after class 12 (science). After that, you need to pursue a master’s degree in surgery (MS), which is a threeyear long course. After that, you can choose a super-specialisation in plastic and reconstructive surgery, which is another three years of study. At the end of this you can train under a senior plastic surgeon and gain further practical knowledge. Plastic surgeons can earn anywhere between `12 lakhs to `30 lakhs per anum or more. If you start a private practice as well, your income would increase even more. Though the road to becoming a plastic surgeon is a long one, the end result can be a very satisfying and well paying profession.

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The Skilled

Beautifier Dr. Charu Sharma, a super specialist plastic and cosmetic surgeon, shares her knowledge of the profession

BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB The thing that I love the most about being a plastic and cosmetic surgeon is that fact that I have the ability to correct post-burn and post-accident deformities. I also love the fact that I can change even the artistic touches to God's creation-the human body. The thing that motivated me to become a cosmetic surgeon was the fact that I have the ability to modify or correct the deformities that people suffer from. In addition, it also gives me the chance to help people who wish to and improve or modify one's looks. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES There is a lot of potential for people to grow within this industry. As people of all ages are growing more conscious

about their looks, the demand for cosmetic surgeons is sure to rise. REMUNERATION In this profession, one can expect to earn around `1 lakh per month in the initial stages. As you gain more experience, you can earn approximately `8-10 lakhs per month, when you have close to ten years of experience. CHALLENGES People who come in for cosmetic treatments, sometimes have dreamy expectations. They come with the intention of looking like their role model, who is usually an actor or a model. Meeting the expectations of such people can be really challenging for a cosmetic surgeon.

The thing that motivated me to become a cosmetic surgeon was the fact that I have the ability to modify or correct the deformities that people suffer from

TYPICAL DAY AT WORK In the morning I have both major and minor surgeries lined up. You need to be tactful and have great presence of mind to perform these surgeries. Towards the evening I perform procedures such as filler and Botox, in addition to my consultation services. QUALITIES/SKILL SET In my opinion, the most important thing you need to become a successful plastic or cosmetic surgeon is a high IQ level. This is necessary in order to perform the skilful surgeries that this job demands. Another quality that is essential for enjoying a rewarding career as a plastic/cosmetic surgeon, is being sincere towards your work. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND To become a plastic surgeon, one has to pursue a M.B.B.S degree, followed by a master’s degree in surgery (MS) and then a Master of Chirurgical degree (Mch) in plastic and cosmetic surgery. My education has helped me greatly because today I am a properly trained superspecialist. SCOPE IN INDIA The scope of cosmetic surgery in India is ever-increasing. The opportunities in this field are bound to increase progressively as people are a lot more conscious of the way they look in today’s world. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 35

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21-07-2012 13:35:39

_COVER STORY

ARMED TO

SHOOT

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a career in photojournalism allows you tell some powerful stories

n 1984, Steve McCurry’s picture of the Afghan girl with the piercing green eyes made the world take notice of the refugee issue in Afghanistan and the rest of the world. Arko Datta’s iconic picture of a man pleading for his life during the Gujarat riots, shocked the nation. The image of his bandaged hands joined together, his terror-filled eyes appealing for mercy, depicted the helplessness of innocent victims of communalism. Though the advent of digital cameras has simplified the techniques in photography, it has not compromised the skill of a photographer. A photojournalist is, in essence, a journalist who replaces the pen with a camera. When a photojournalist sets out to cover a story, he/she must be equipped not only with a camera but also a vision and a voice. Some photojournalists work alongside a reporter and through their lens, capture moments that best enhance the value of the story. A photojournalist is also required to develop and edit the pictures to ensure they are of the best possible quality. Apart from the usual requirements of a good photographer, such as being able to take clear and striking images and possessing technical skill, a photojournalist’s job demands added abilities. The integral qualities that a photojournalist must possess are an in-depth knowledge of current affairs, adaptability, quick thinking and the

ability to meet deadlines. You have to be prepared to travel on short notice as you need to be present wherever there is a newsworthy story. You might also be sent to locations where you can face challenges such as extreme climatic conditions, lack of facilities, hostile groups of people, security issues, etc, which can also be dangerous in some cases. Importantly, photojournalists also carry the moral responsibility of delivering pictures that tell an honest story. As a photojournalist you can choose to freelance for various publications

COURSE CANVAS • Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi • Asian College of Journalism, Chennai • JJ School of Applied Arts, Mumbai • Boston University

and agencies or work full time with one organisation. Sometimes people prefer to cover the stories particular to a location, such as the Middle East, while others choose a particular issue, such as wars, natural disasters or wildlife. At an entry level, photojournalists earn around `12,000 - 15,000 per month. With more experience, you can earn `30, 000 or more depending on the organisation you work for. There are many routes you can take to enter this field. Since not many Indian Universities offer a specific degree in photojournalism, one option is to pursue a mass communication degree that includes photography in its syllabus. Another route you can take is study an area of interest such as anthropology, political science, history, etc, which you think will add to your knowledge as a photojournalist and then pursue aphotography course. And the third is to pursue a journalism degree and then a diploma course in photography. Whatever route you decide to take, photojournalism is one career when your talent, passion and determination will fuel your success.

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THE VISUAL

STORYTELLER

BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB What I love the most is that I meet new people. I also get to travel a lot, which allows me to explore different issues and circumstances, many good and many bad. It gives me more of an appreciation for life. ADDITIONAL PERKS The perks for me are travel and meeting great people. I have forged lifelong friendships with my colleagues and other people after meeting them at an event or when I was covering some stories. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES Financial growth is not that great in this profession. I feel the biggest kind of growth is personal. To be good at your craft you have to always push yourself during assignments and try to find a special moment that captures the mood or the essence of what you want to convey. REMUNERATION Some freelance photojournalists get paid per picture; some give them

away for free to gain exposure, which hurts others in the industry. Other photographers, who work for agencies or freelance can make a decent living. However, I feel like being a photojournalist is not about making money. The passion and drive to report or document should be the main reason for getting into the industry. Anyone who is interested in making money should work in a different field. THE CHALLENGES The challenge that I face is in becoming not only a better photographer, but a better journalist. Deadlines are also a challenge. When covering a story or an event, doing it to the best of one’s ability is not the only concern, getting the photographs out in a time is also extremely important. A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK I really don't have a typical day. I usually try to focus on the stories I have planned to shoot and work on the logistics of organising travel and shoots. There is a lot of research that

Daniel Berehulak, a staff news photographer for Getty Images, shows you the big picture with his insight on the world of photojournalism is involved, so reading and scouring the internet is very important as it helps in touching base with the right contacts and sources. Then there are the logistics, such as getting visas, permissions, accreditations and making sure equipment is serviced and working. SKILL SETS AND QUALITIES Integrity, persistence, a good dose of curiosity and a sense of humour are key. Integrity is the most important quality one needs to have to be a good photojournalist. As our photographs get published in different media all over the world, we have a social responsibility to our audience to make sure that what we present is correct and true. Persistence is also very important. It is a competitive industry and there are many ups and downs. It will be the hardest working photojournalists who will excel in their careers. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I studied history at university back in Australia. I feel it has helped me a lot as it has given me an insight into different cultures. By evaluating a country's history, one gets a greater understanding and appreciation for its people. I feel like that has helped me in terms of understanding the people I photograph. ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE JOB I would like to retain copyright over my images. But that is a trade off for working for an agency since my cameras and equipment are provided for, salary paid and travel expenses met. All of these are great, but I believe authorship of one’s own material is important. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 37

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_COVER STORY

THE REAL

‘DEAL’ Does the financial industry interest you? Enter the field of investment banking for a smart and lucrative career

o you are an MBA aspirant or perhaps you are already armed with the coveted MBA. Your options thereafter are plenty. But, if you are really looking out for a career that offers you challenges and a good pay, then try entering the field of investment banking. And if you are heavily inspired by the high energy and hard work that the bankers on Wall Street are known for, then this field is definitely the one for you. Investment banking is a field in finance, particularly in the banking sector that helps companies or individuals buy funds. Investment bankers offer advice on the engagement of deals and offer their services that may include raising capital through equity or debt securities, facilitating mergers and underwriting. Basically, you can expect to do a lot of consulting with your clients and act as a mediator between the investor and issuer while you assist the company is raising capital. There are a number of areas within the field of investment banking. Corporate finance is one of the most popular areas in recent times that have many people vying for the job. Investment bankers also exist in international sales, retail banking, private and public investment banking systems, analysis banking and commercial investments. To get into this field, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree in

business administration or in any other finance-related field. Opting for an MBA degree in marketing and finance is your best bet. It’s important to remember that there is a lot of competition for investment banking jobs in India and around the world. So, while education is important, try and also get yourself an internship at an investment bank to get you into this field. You will also get a chance to hone your analytical skills, really taking with you a lot of on-the-job experience. Networking with industry

COURSE CANVAS • Indian Institute of Management, Amhedabad (IIM-A) • Symbiosis Institute of Management, Pune • SP Jain Institute fo Management Studies, Mumbai • Indian School of Business, Hyderabad

honchos at such as early stage will also help you secure a job in the future. As for qualities, those who wish to get into the field of investment banking need to have a strong mental and emotional prowess. A good amount of stamina of the mental and physical kind is also desirable. Investment bankers get into the field because they enjoy the field of finance. Furthermore, the pay package is great! However, since this is such a competitive field, those who are experienced professionals are more likely to earn themselves a better pay package. While the benefits are indeed bountiful, the job does come at a price. Investment bankers are required to put in a lot of hard work and work over and above their usual job timings, often in the wee hours of the night. After all, the job of an investment banker is to offer sound financial advice to his or her clients. A fair bit of travelling is also quite common in this field that can be a boon for some but a bane for many, especially those who have a family. So if you are headstrong about entering the finance sector, a good career option would be investment banking.

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THE SMART

BANKER

Vinay Kameswaran gives you the scoop on what it’s like to be an investment banker in Citibank’s investment banking division JOB PROFILE AND RESPONSIBILITIES I am a 2nd year associate with Citi’s investment banking division in New York City, focusing on financial institutions. I work with senior bankers to advise clients in the sphere of asset management and financial technology. BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB That no day is like any other. I have no idea what to expect and cannot really plan for how the day will unfold. I could be 'in the weeds' with a solution for a client on one day and tackle myriad smaller problems for a multitude of clients the next. And, thus far, no problem or situation has been like any other. When you add a frenetic work pace and almost impossibly high standards of accuracy to the mix, the concoction can be mesmerisingly exciting. ADDITIONAL PERKS Banking, like the rest of the financial industry, tends to be extremely meritocratic. Your pay cheque entirely depends on how well you perform. While I may not be able to enumerate the explicit 'perks', working in a highly competitive environment has untold implicit rewards. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES? Banking guarantees a steep learning curve. Any young banker will be an industry expert in a few years and

will know the ins and outs of the companies she/he covers. A plethora of career options can then open up. Many choose to stick with banking as a long-term career option, while others switch to private equity firms and yet others decide to join erstwhile clients as part of finance/corporate development teams. The skills an experienced banker brings to the table guarantees that doors will open should the banker want to make the switch out. REMUNERATION Analysts, typically in their early 20s, can expect to earn anywhere between $120K and $180K annually, depending on the level of deal activity during a given year. Managing directors, who typically have more than 10 years of banking experience, can take home mid 6-figures to low 7-figures, again depending on the level of deal activity and individual performance. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I have a bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MBA in accounting and finance. Needless to say, my experience with the quantitative aspects of problems – be it in engineering or accounting – are my primary assets. THE CHALLENGES Long hours, to the detriment of

life outside work. A 100-hour work week is de rigueur and 120+ hour work weeks are not uncommon. The environment at work can be challenging, with bankers required to be both fast and accurate all the time. A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK Like I said earlier, there is no 'typical' day at work, at least not in the lower echelons of banking. QUALITIES AND SKILL SET Quantitative skills and a comfort with numbers is much needed. A background in finance and accounting usually helps. Successful bankers are incredibly patient, extremely bloodyminded and posses an almost obsessive attention to detail. SCOPE IN INDIA Clients tend to seek investment banking advice primarily in concern with capital deployment/capital raising. The deeper the capital markets in a country, the more sophisticated the products on offer are and the greater the demand for investment banking advice. With the caveat that I have little experience with investment banking in India, I would say that the market is nascent and will grow. Getting into the game now will help reap rich rewards down the line. ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE JOB? The hours, for sure! yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 39

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_COVER STORY

WANT TO EXERCISE YOUR INVESTIGATING SKILLS IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD? EXPLORE A CAREER IN THE FIELD OF CYBER LAW

E N I L N O E M I R C G N I T H G I F COURSE CANVAS

awyers today have broken past the ‘Black Cloak’ image and have brought forth a new generation of corporate, human rights and environmental lawyers. But, an upcoming field in the profession of law is cyber law. In an era marred by hacking, illegal insider trading and compromising of secure data, cyber law is an interesting career for tech savvy people with a passion for justice. India is relatively new to the outlook of the online world as a crime playground. Despite being main stream, the trivial Internet messaging services of electronic mail or email is not 'legal' in India. This clearly highlights the immense scope offered by this interesting career. Achieving success in this profession requires knowledge of the law as well as the information technology world. So, the recommended courses are a dual degree BA.LLB course after class 12 followed by an LLM degree in cyber

• Asian School of Cyber Law • Indian Law Institute • Indira Gandhi National Open University • National University of Juridical Sciences law (even a diploma in cyber law adds up to the same). But, even an LLB degree after a computer science-based course would suffice. Also a basic understanding of international law and Internet protocols is a must. On the greener side of the grass, a cyber lawyer basically works on resolving cases relating to any criminal activity done on, with or using a computer. For example, your client A's data was hacked by a rival company B. Now, it would be your job to press charges and initiate legal proceedings (assessing potential damages, possible financial compensations, etc.) An unprecedented rise in the usage of cloud computing, online databases and tablet computing has also exposed the corporate world to a melee of online crime. Thus, as a cyber law specialist, you can be assured that a lack of work is one factor which you can wipe out. In India, the spectrum of your work would broadly fit under the IT Act of 2000, which lays down

the framework and structure of cyber law. Despite being amended twice (2006 and 2008), a gaping hole clearly exists, which can be plugged solely by the emergence of smart cyber lawyers. With regard to the career scope, cyber law is booming. In a nation that has an acute shortage of law professionals, cyber lawyers are a rarity. This gives you an opportunity to capitalise, experiment and have a near exponential professional growth. IT is one field in law where consultancy pays far better than individual practices or litigation. Depending on your skills, academic performance and the law firm you’re working for, a starting salary of `20,000 - `95, 000 per month is assured. Also, your pay always has a positive growth, rising multi-fold if the lawyer becomes a partner in the law firm. Cyber law is the place to be if you have an infernal desire for justice and a deep connect with the Internet too.

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THE CYBER PATROLLER CYBER LAWYER DEBASIS NAYAK, COFOUNDER OF THE ASIAN SCHOOL OF CYBER LAWS THROWS LIGHT ON HIS PROFESSION BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB It allows me to make a career out of things I love doing, i.e. studying and researching both computers and law. I find the exercise of creatively interpreting the English language in a manner where it can be applied to satisfy seemingly impossible legal requirements for a given set of facts fascinating. ADDITIONAL PERKS I get invited to speak on cyber crime, cyber crime investigation and cyber law, addressing diverse sets of audiences that range from students, businessmen, law enforcement personnel, the judiciary, government officials to defence establishments! I've been invited to the Bar and Bench in Mauritius and Ghana to speak on cyber law. Teaching is a natural outcome, which I love doing. It is a good feeling to be able to provide insights about a field which affects all of us today but about which most of us hardly have any idea. On a lighter vein, nothing beats the incredible expression on a techie's or an IT engineer's face during a workshop or lecture when I tell him that I am a lawyer and have had no formal training in information technology! GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES This is the field to be in. Competition is almost non-existent and growth opportunities are limitless. Whether you are an in-house counsel, working in a law firm, working as a consultant or as an independent legal practitioner, if you can improve your skills and be patient, there is no proverbial glass ceiling as far as growth is concerned.

REMUNERATION I remember someone asking me in 2001 if it was true that cyber lawyers starved! We have come really far since then. On a more serious note, it is difficult to put a finger on the exact amount because it depends on which sector one is in. I can say with conviction that cyber lawyers make enough to afford a very comfortable living! This is only going to go upwards in the years come. If you are not aware of cyber law, you will become obsolete. THE CHALLENGES Technology changes fast. Law does not. We have to keep abreast of all technological developments in the IT field to understand complex matters and advise clients appropriately. This can be quite challenging. Secondly, the development of IT law principles by Indian courts is at a fairly nascent stage. Therefore, it is often difficult to find precedents to cite before a court. This means that considerable time and effort is required to be spent researching judgments of foreign courts (in common law jurisdictions) and trying to find the ones applicable to the case in hand for persuading a court to accept your point of view. A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK Counselling clients or if there is a matter for litigation, preparing for it. I like to argue cases which I myself have drafted, so that takes a lot of time. In between, I try to catch up on what's happening in the IT world from mailing lists, search engines, social media, relevant forums and online magazines. On quite a few occasions,

there may be speaking assignments. I also spend a substantial amount of time reading up on developments in the US and other countries on IT law. SKILLS SETS AND QUALITIES Sound legal fundamentals, love for computers and a nose for technology. I believe aspirants should enrol themselves into a good cyber law course to grasp the fundamentals and then build on it. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I am professionally qualified as a lawyer. My forays into computing and Internet technology have been purely out of my own interest. I have done a bit of programming and dabbled with operating systems. I learnt on the job as there was no one to guide us in this field back then. There were no certifications or courses. Whatever we did was on our own. It was a case of making your own road. Looking back, I think, along with my educational background, a certain amount of scientific temper really helped. SCOPE IN INDIA Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tremendous with everything moving online and our progression towards an eventually paperless world. See how fast the Internet and mobile penetration is growing! The steady increase in cyber crimes and the growth of electronic media means it is a good time for cyber lawyers! ONE THING HE WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE JOB Convincing people about the fact that cyber law in India has been in force since the last 12 years! yi AUGUST 2012 â&#x2022;&#x2018; Youth Incorporated 41

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_COVER STORY

COURSE CANVAS • Appin Technology Lab, Mumbai • GIT IT Academy, Bangalore • Eikon Technologies, Bangalore • EC-Council University, USA

Licensed to

HACK

SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ETHICAL HACKER? YOUTH INC GIVES YOU THE LOWDOWN ON THIS EMERGING AND HIGHLY LUCRATIVE CAREER

he suave but unkempt hair with headphones dangling around the neck and the furious typing into a rather futuristic looking computer; this is the look that most of us imagine a hacker to don. The word itself brings to a mind a cyber criminal who uses all sorts of never-seen-before gizmos for good or for evil. But did you know about ethical hacking? Contrary to popular belief and cultural portrayal, network security researchers, commonly known as ethical hackers are actually the good guys. Now ingrained with the sophistication of a corporate worker (As Barney Stinson says, "SUIT UP"), the profession stands strong for itself. 'Ethical' hackers are smart techies who instead of destroying the vast cyber world,

protect you and huge organisations by finding and covering up loopholes in network security systems. If you’re one of the people described above, this is the field to be in. A typical network security specialist requires an affinity for numbers and an interest in logic and reasoning. He or she especially needs to have the ability to be patient as ethical hackers are required to run a number of tests to find something which may or may not even exist. Academically, a degree in computer science or information technology, combined with a wide skill set consisting of working with multiple programming languages (C, C++, PHP, JavaScript, etc.) and knowledge of operating systems such as Windows, UNIX, LINUX and Mac OS is what you need. Diplomas or extra courses

directly related to computers always act as a boost for your resume. An average day of work would be sipping on some (or lots of) coffee and testing the entire digital infrastructure of your company or firm for possible breaches and plugging them up. On the surface, this appears to be a menial task, but it gets daunting exponentially as the network expands and the digital connect of your company rises. A career in penetration testing (another term for ethical hacking) has an immense scope with a lot of potential owing to the simple lack of quality ethical hackers have in India. According to reports, India produces just 19 per cent of the actual required number of hackers. Thus, multiple job opportunities do exist for an ethical hacker. With the growth of the Internet, a freelance ethical hacker or a network security consultancy is a million dollar idea for a chance to earn a lot of moolah. An ethical hacker can earn a starting pay package of about `2.5 lakhs per annum, which sees a positive rise with an increase in your work experience. After about five years of experience, a minimum salary of `10-12 lakhs per annum is a simple given. So, if you were one of those awesome gadget gurus at school or college who could ruin the school’s computer lab with a click of the mouse or if you simply love everything about the IT world, stop looking and start using your special skills and talents, because an ethical hacker is what you should be.

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THE ‘ETHICAL’ HACKER NETWORK SECURITY RESEARCHER HIMANSHU SHARMA ON EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT A CAREER AS AN ETHICAL HACKER

JOB PROFILE AND RESPONSIBILITIES I work as a security manager at FileIce LLC to secure the company’s web server from any attack by a hacker. I need to be an honest person because I know about all the confidential codes and files on the servers and it’s my responsibility to never use any information for destructive purposes. I can be considered just like a code tester or like a developer who checks the code standards and develops the software, but my job is to check the security of the servers, find vulnerabilities and then suggest how to patch them.

ethical hacking was estimated to be a US$ 3.8 billion industry in the US alone. According to Nasscom, India will require at least 77,000 ethical hackers every year whereas we produce only 15,000 a year. Ethical hacking is growing at a tremendous pace and offers a plethora of lucrative job opportunities.

THE BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB I get to learn new things everyday. We come across a lot of errors. At times, we have to sit and work for hours trying to figure out a rectification. I like that!

THE CHALLENGES I have to be alert all the time since hackers can attack anytime. I need to be prepared with all the backups, intrusion detection and prevention systems. Publically posted exploits are not major concerns, but private 0 day bugs are always a major concern for us. In case an attack happens and unknown vulnerability gets exploited, applying patches becomes more difficult for us as we have to find the bug first.

ADDITIONAL PERKS I often get to meet new people. Recently, I had two cases where I recovered the fan page of a wellknown singer from Pakistan Zaain Ul Abideen and the email account of Harbhajan Singh. I am still in contact with them and I feel really lucky to have spoken to them. Also, I get to see many Indian cities as I attend various ethical hacking conferences held across the country. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES Referring to the article in the Times of India posted a while ago , last year

REMUNERATION The remuneration per project varies with specifications of the client’s environment. On an average, payment can be around $4,000 to $ 45,000 per project as we tend to work for a lot of companies abroad.

A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK I work at home as I have my studies going on side by side. So my day at work usually comprises sitting on computers going through hundreds of lines of codes and huge log files checking for suspicious activity. I also scan the server for vulnerabilities and apply patches if necessary.

QUALITIES AND SKILL SET As a network security researcher, one needs to have really good knowledge of various operating systems, networking, programming languages and also knowledge relating to setting up and configuring servers. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I am pursuing a bachelor of technology and am currently in the 3rd semester. To be honest, I am not too good in academics. Math and physics are just not my kind of subjects. When I was in class 11 and was trying to learn more about ethical hacking and other security-related courses, although I was quite good with computers, I was rejected from various institutions as they required me to clear class 12 first. I was told that only after I complete class 12, I can be eligible for the ethical hacking courses. Since then, I have been learning and improving my skills. SCOPE IN INDIA Indian companies like Google India and PayPal India have started bug bounty programs where security researchers are paid to report a bug. I think companies have now started to realise the importance of security and the need for security researchers. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 43

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_COUNSELLOR CONNECT

JAYANTI GHOSE

Jayanti Ghose is a career and education consultant. She holds an honours degree in economics and a degree in education. Her research in career counselling and guidance spans more than 25 years. She pioneered the concept of career counselling and career writing in the print media. She is actively involved in personal and group counselling.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Q: Is it necessary to opt for BSc with environmental science as a subject if I wish to study MSc environmental science? Meghna Shroff ANSWER ANSWER

It is not. BSc degree in chemistry, botany, zoology, microbiology, life science, biochemistry, geology, geography, nautical science, agricultural science or equivalent would enable you to apply for admission to MSc Environmental Science. There is likely to be an entrance exam for admission in most universities (University of Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru University, etc).

ANSWER ANSWER

Success in getting a well-paid job directly from campus is linked to your studying in a prominent college or institute. Securing admission in such a college depends upon your ability to do really well in the relevant entrance test. You must therefore assess whether you have better chances in competing for admission to the MTech entrance test (usually GATE) or MBA (through CAT/ XAT/CMAT/ equivalent exam). A consistent and unblemished academic record from class 10 onwards is always important. LLB in any law college or the LLB with specialisation in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) at the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law would offer strong employment prospects. After BTech, qualifying the patent agent exam by the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks (www.ipindia.nic.in/ipr/patent/patents.htm) can lead to well-paid jobs in technical/scientific firms/ business or law firms.

FOOD ANALYST Q: What qualifications would be required to apply for the work of a food analyst? Is there a certification exam for it? Roma Haider A master’s degree in chemistry/biochemistry/ microbiology, dairy chemistry, food technology, food and nutrition, a BTech in dairy technology, a degree in veterinary sciences, an associate of the Institution of Chemists (India) by examination in the section of Food Analysts conducted by the Institution of Chemists (India) or any other equivalent qualification would lead to working as a food analyst preferably after three years’ experience. The Examination of Food Analyst by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (www.fssai.gov.in) comprises two theory exams and a practical exam. Find the recent notification at www.fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/REVISED_ SYLLABUS(30-12-2011).pdf

WORLD BANK Q: Please tell me about the Young Professionals Program (YPP) of the World Bank. When are applications invited? Leena Rao YPP is a two-year, structured training programme to familiarise young professionals with the operations of the World Bank so that they can integrate into their work teams smoothly and efficiently. Candidates 32 years of age or younger with a Master’s degree or equivalent, fluent in English with specialisation in a field relevant to the World Bank’s operations (economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, and natural resource management) and with at least 3 years of relevant experience at the policy level or continued academic study at the doctoral level may apply from May 1 to June 30 every year. More on www.worldbank.org/ypp

ANSWER ANSWER

OPTIONS AHEAD Q: I have done my BTech, Biotech from Amity University, Noida. Should I do an MBA or MTech or any other course? My aim is to get a respectable job with a good salary. Please suggest. Vaishnavi Agrawal

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PERVIN MALHOTRA & ZUBIN MALHOTRA

Pervin Malhotra has helped students for over 15 years to make educational and career choices by providing them with information and guidance on the options available. Zubin Malhotra is a management graduate and journalist by training. He is an alumnus of IIM Kozhikode where he majored in marketing and finance.

A master's program in finance is the equivalent of an MBA-Finance, focusing purely on finance subjects, without papers and subjects in marketing, general management, human resources, strategy. A master's in finance program is usually a one year program in the UK, while in the US it could vary between 1-2 years. The title of the course may also differ. In the UK, it will usually be a 'MSc in Finance' (all courses with a significant maths component get classified as science subjects), while in the US it will be a 'Masters in Finance' or a 'MS in Finance'. You can choose to specialise in areas such as investment analysis, computational finance, financial modelling, financial economics, financial risk management, etc. In order to apply for such programs, you will need to give the GRE exam, regardless of whether you’re applying to a US or UK university. Along with this, you will also have to submit certain documents such as your Statement of Purpose, academic transcripts and letters of recommendation, if they are asked for by the university. From your query it appears you are pursuing a 3-year undergraduate program. This may prove to be a hindrance when applying to the US because they follow a 4-year undergraduate study system. In addition, most of the better courses also ask for relevant work experience. There are no such issues while applying to study in the UK.

Post your queries in our Counsellor Forum at youthincmag.com Queries sent by email will not be responded to.

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TOO MANY TESTS Q: I have just entered class 11 and would like to go to the US for my undergraduate studies. However, I’m clueless as to how I should go about it. When I searched online, I was faced with a bunch of test names – SAT, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT. To me, this sounds like an alphabet soup! Can you please help me understand what these tests are and which ones I should prepare for? Gunjan Alphabet soup indeed! Understanding the various tests and exams required for studying abroad can be difficult. Rest assured, it’s not that complicated. The GRE and GMAT are tests that are not applicable for you; they are meant for students applying for post graduate programs. SAT or Scholastic Aptitude Test is mainly used by American universities, along with a few Canadian and Singapore universities, for assessing high school students’ applications to undergraduate courses. The SAT I or reasoning test, tests your abilities in maths, English reading and writing while SAT-II tests your academic knowledge in specific subject areas. Some universities may ask you to additionally submit SAT II scores in a subject related to your intended course of study. SAT-II falls into five general subject areas: English, history and social studies, mathematics, science and languages. The SATs can be taken 6 times in a year, in the months of January, March, May, June, October and November. Ideally, you should look to take the SAT-I in May of the year you enter Class 12, and the SAT-IIs, if required, in October. This allows you the opportunity to re-take the tests in case you don't perform well the first time round. TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is a test given by foreign students to demonstrate they possess the requisite proficiency in reading, writing, understanding English. Universities generally specify a minimum score you must achieve. However, several universities will give you a waiver if you can show adequate proof of your education in English-medium schools. IELTS or International English Language Testing System is similar to the TOEFL, except that it is used for applying to UK and other Commonwealth countries.

ANSWER ANSWER

MASTERS IN FINANCE Q: What is the difference between doing MS in finance in the US and the UK? Which are the exams that I have to give for doing my master's in either of these countries? I want to clear all the exams this year itself when I am in my second year, because in the third year I want to focus on my studies. Saloni Ajmera

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_IN CONVERSATION

THE LIBERAL

EDUCATOR

A firm believer in liberal education, Prof Indira Parikh, founder president, FLAME, shares how this belief has its roots in her own life and career YI: You believe in ‘ liberal education’. Tell us more. IP: I not only believe but also live liberal education. I've either been a student or a teacher all my life. It took me eight years after marriage to complete my first degree. But I did many things in between. I went to the University of Chicago, University of Copenhagen and a design school, then had a baby and later went back to school. I do believe life has so much to offer and experience that it's good to explore the ocean full of choices. This concept offers one time, space, moments and a world full of possibilities wherein an individual can actually relish the moments of choices available and then make a choice, which the heart and soul dictates. Liberal education reflects one’s identity, role, aspirations and hopes. To do this, an individual makes realistic appraisals and transforms dreams into reality. YI: Do you feel that most Indian institutions don't emphasise the development of soft skills? IP: FLAME supports a philosophy of holistic development that is only possible through the integration of the body, mind and soul. However, over time, many educational institutions become more and more specialised, which is believed to be focused. But the world and life is rarely sequential and incremental. Life confronts. YI: FLAME is committed to the revival of the GuruShishya Parampara. Why do you think it's necessary? IP: Guru-Shishya Parampara is prevalent even today across schools and colleges. As times change, language, practices and forms of the concept also change. Today, the Guru-Shishya Parampara can be reviewed in terms of counselling, coaching and mentoring that refer to creating an environment where an individual reaches out to a more experienced person who can share his/her experiences of life. At FLAME, the mentor-mentee is a formalised structure with time, space and a person to whom students can go to. We also have an Exploration and Dialogue Space (EDS) where any student can go to explore and deal with the emotions and/or concerns of the present.

YI: With close to 40 years of experience in the education industry, how have students changed in recent years? IP: Today’s students are born in a prosperous and techno-savvy India. They are aspiring, restless and creative. We need to provide space, time, opportunities and challenges for these intelligent minds. YI: What challenges did you face when you were appointed as dean of IIM Ahmedabad in 2002, as the first woman dean in any IIM? IP: When I was asked by Professor Dholakia to accept the role of the dean, I did not realise that I was the first woman dean in an IIM. Accepting this role was like any other chair of activity where I was also the first woman to be the chair of many activities. Any such role meant more responsibilities. The challenges were many since in these years IIM-A confronted and dealt with many crisis specially with the government. The institute was struggling for autonomy on many fronts, becoming financially viable, international collaborations and going beyond the student exchange programs. As a woman, there were no issues. I had been in the institute for more than 25 years and the faculty knew me. I thought some were amused while some others waited and watched as to how I would cope, while others were supportive. Looking back, it was one of the most enriching and educative experiences of my life. YI: A piece of advice for students pressurised into pursuing ‘conventional courses’? IP: Some students prefer a structured environment. However, they can open their minds, respond to explorations and learn to accept a world that is as is rather than with limited frames. There are obviously no short cuts to success. Most importantly, today is a world which is given and tomorrow is theirs to create. The landscape of tomorrow’s world is theirs and they can make a difference. They need to listen to their heart, soul and spirit, and they will make a right choice. yi

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_PRODIGY

ACTOR, DIRECTOR, FILMMAKER, AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER TOM MALLOY TALKS TO NITISH SHAH ABOUT HIS EFFORTS IN HELPING STUDENTS COPE WITH VARIOUS ISSUES

A Man of Many R

or as long as he can remember, Tom Malloy wanted to be an actor. This dream turned into reality when Tom starred in films such as Gravesend, The Alphabet Killer and The Attic and received critical acclaim. Tom has also been a part of popular television shows such as Law and Order, Third Watch and Kidnapped. Tom then decided to learn about the business of filmmaking and founded his own production company, ‘Trick Candle Productions’, in 2005. He has also authored a book called Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films, which provides valuable information on film financing. In addition to this, Tom is also a renowned motivational speaker for kids and adults and has spoken to more than 100,000 people over the years. By addressing issues such as drug addiction and bullying, Tom has helped numerous students across the United States. Tom recently visited India to look for potential

collaborations with the Indian film industry. Nitish Shah took this opportunity to find out more about this multi-talented actor’s many roles. You have inspired thousands of people with your speeches. What inspired you to become a motivational speaker? I knew I had something to say and share. I had produced a documentary about a guy who was the greatest bowler of all time but had ruined his life because of drugs and alcohol; and he spoke about this issue at the film screening. Someone from the ‘Speakers Bureau’ was present there and realised that he was not an effective speaker. So I told him that I could so this; I love kids and I love helping people. He asked me to prepare an hour long speech and then I had to do a private speech for him and his assistant. At the end of the speech he said, "let’s start booking you". That was nine years ago, and now I have spoken to over 100,000 kids in

the United States; at one point I did 18 speeches in just 12 days! What can people expect from a motivational session with Tom Malloy? No matter what topic I am speaking about, whether it is film financing, anti-drugs or anti-bullying, the effect is always the same. At the end of the session you feel uplifted, motivated and very positive. When I was a kid, I used to hear anti-drugs speakers, most of whom were former drug users, and they would say ‘Don’t do what I did’. I don't believe that was a good approach because some people might look at him and think he didn’t end up that bad despite doing drugs. On the other hand, I didn’t do drugs and I attained success in my field; therefore my antidrugs speech was an example of how I didn’t need drugs to get where I am today and it became the first ‘Do what I did’ approach to the issue. Nowadays anti-bullying has become a hot-button topic and a lot of schools

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are focusing on this problem. What I try to do is equip students with a clear-cut plan that they can walk away with so that they feel empowered to take action. Did you ever experience bullying when you were in school? If so, how did you cope with it? Yes, I was a victim of bullying when I was young because I was skinny. However, I was sharp with my tongue, and because I was fast and funny, people usually wouldn’t mess with me. If anyone tried to pick on me, I would retaliate by making fun of them. I realised early on that I was powerful and people listened to me, and by fifth grade, I felt powerful enough to not

y Roles only take care of myself but also help others. In fact, I would always jump in if anyone was being bullied and verbally defend that person.

Tell us more about your innovative approach to the antibullying message. When I talk to kids, the main thing I emphasise is personal power and by that I don’t mean physical power. The way people feel about themselves is very important and so I try to provide steps to becoming a powerful person. Because such a person can never be bullied as they believe in themselves and have self-worth. Also, a powerful person would never bully somebody else and if they saw somebody being bullied, they would jump in and help that person instead of looking away and saying I don’t want to get involved. So I provide kids with the right steps to becoming that person since I really believe in personal power. Our readers would love to know more about your motivational

The way people feel about themselves is very important and so I try to provide steps to becoming a powerful person. Because such a person can never be bullied as they believe in themselves and have self-worth. speeches on ‘Making Positive Choices’. ‘Making Positive Choices’ was a part of the anti-drugs speeches that I used to do. Peer pressure exists in every society; sometimes it can be positive as well. The key in tackling peer pressure is to make positive choices. For example, if your three best friends are doing something negative, like drugs, and you have to make a positive choice by saying no, it is definitely not easy. You have to have a great amount of personal power to say no because most people generally have a follower mindset. When you make positive choices, you make your own decisions and don’t base these decisions on what somebody else is doing. When I do my speeches, I tell kids how to say no and why to say no. When I tell kids the steps to become a powerful person, they do not need drugs anymore. One of the most important ways to becoming a powerful person is to set a goal, put it down on paper and do something. Whatever your goal might be, you have to set a time limit for it as well. Because if you say I’m going to be happy someday, that will never happen. So you need to set a goal and a deadline for yourself and say, for example, "I’m going to be

happy by the end of this month". If kids have something to live for, then it takes away the need to escape that are coupled with the dangers of drugs. Hopefully this causes the balance to shift in favour of living a drug-free life. You have written a book ‘Bankroll’ and released a 6-set CD called ‘Get the Gold’. We would love to know more about this. ‘Bankroll’ is a book about film financing, which in reality it applies to a writer, actor, producer or anybody in the film business. Earlier, most books about film financing were like dissertations and very difficult to read. So, I decided to write a book on the same subject that’s actually exciting and fun to read. Last year, during the Sundance Film Festival, 12 people came up to me and told me they were fans of my book. In fact, one woman approached me and said that her film was being screened at the festival because of my book. My seminars usually last for about five hours. ‘Get the Gold’ CD set has about five and a half hours of focused material, which is the same as my seminar speech. The benefit is that you can listen to it over and over again. Is there anyone in particular who has inspired you in your life? Dr. Wayne Dyer has written a book titled ‘You’ll See It When You Believe It’, which is a philosophy I follow. I have been inspired by many spiritual people in my life, but he was the first one that I connected with. He has also written a book titled ‘The Power of Intention’, and I personally use the philosophy from that book in my life. Do you have any advice for our young readers? I love the phrase ‘people who succeed believe that they will’. There is also a quote by Henry Ford which says, ‘whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right’. So you have to believe in yourself. Whatever it is that you want, you can achieve it, if you believe you can make it happen. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 49

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to becoming a technically sound engineering graduate. NOT. Once college commenced, I was buried deep in the rubble of failures in the facade of re-examinations (ATKT). I was never a quitter and thus went through with the herculean task of mugging up mighty derivations and theorems. I was aware from the start that it was going to be a rat race, exactly like that portrayed in 3 Idiots. But this was not the big screen. It was as real as could be. However, as 'lady luck' would have it, this treacherous

DRIVING DREAMS

JASMEET THIND SHARES THE INSPIRING STORY BEHIND HIS LEAP FROM THE ENGINEERING RAT RACE TO THE HEART OF MAKING A CHANGE

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chool, college, job. That’s the rationale behind the perfect stable life fed into us by the shackles of ideologies encompassing our society. I’m just another victim in this vicious cycle that drained out every drop of passion and zeal. I was one of those robots programmed to follow this similar pattern of monotonous living. Endorsing the age-old principle of ‘herd mentality’, I was on the path

existence shredded the remnants of any spark and hope within me. One day, a casual visit to an orphanage shook my beliefs and transformed my entire perspective towards life and people. I was embraced with love and affection from innocent unknowns who are burdened with despair every second, every day. Their angel-like, shiny eyes and thirteen-teeth smile in spite of the pain behind those swollen small fingers deeply touched me. I realised that I was living in my own bubble. After that day, I became conscious of not treating my life in its abstract form. After all, there is so much more to it. My life had a new direction and change was the new motto. My first step to uphold this fiery spark in me was to join MAD (Make a Difference), a non-governmental organisation that changes the lives of

21-07-2012 16:27:27

_STUDENT SPEAK

young orphans through the means of education. I started teaching underprivileged kids with a thought that my life is connected to them in some way or the other. I felt a bond amalgamating over time. They began to mould me and strengthen me for the change I believed in. Along with pursuing engineering, there I was educating India's next generation. Soon, I became the vice president of the Mumbai chapter. I am now proud that the whole movement was taken to the apex level by spreading the word to those people for whom these small things ceased to existed. But my friends started judging my actions as good, bad and stupid. To my surprise, most of them thought I was crazy to waste my time; they deemed it as a non-lucrative and non-constructive activity. They told me that I was missing out on all the fun. But I knew I had to be the voice and if not me, then who? I feel that results lose their mettle when one has to put up a face to be socially uptight and answerable to society. I realised that engineering was never my field. On the contrary, I was engineered to study concepts of life to make changes and to bring about a difference in society. People have stopped looking around and

many have lost the concept of being selfless. In all modesty, I wanted happiness rather than a pocket of cash. Inevitably, the big question of ‘Where am I really going with all this?’ struck me. All my friends were getting hot jobs with top IT companies during college recruitments. To add to it all, the act of telling my parents that I wanted to be a force of social change didn’t really help. Pretty soon, realisation dawned upon me and I was steadfast in believing that life is too short to hold back on dreams. It’s too petty an act to choke our urge to express our passion. It was this realisation that found me as an intern at Godrej India Culture Lab. I had been to the Godrej campus once before through MAD, where I got a chance to interact with Mr Parmesh Shahani who heads the Godrej India Culture Lab. The culture lab is a think-tank, which aims to study the textured nature of modernity in contemporary India by brokering innovative and meaningful interactions between academia, the creative class, the business world and civil society. It’s a platform that brings the world to India. The idea inspired me. Soon, I was travelling to Godrej more often than I used to go to college!

I have learnt so much from the new experiences that I continue to encounter every day. For instance, we recently hosted Tadao Ando for a lecture. I had no clue about him till I read about him. I was left gobsmacked. He turned out to be the Sachin Tendulkar of architecture; a living legend. It was great to have him talk about his work and the changes that could bring about in our city. It inspired many people to put on their thinking caps. It felt great to facilitate such motivation to people around. This incident certainly added fuel to my engine and strengthened my beliefs. Right things happened at the right time for me. And I know for a fact that I will continue to explore the non-clichéd facets of life. The most interesting observation and realisation here was how a single and seemingly small act of passion gave birth to a bigger opportunity and that is what I will always strive for. When you do good things, they come back to you. I've seen and experienced it. Today, the youth has immense power to change the world and take India to a path of global illumination. For the world, we might have a lame imagination only till it becomes an innovation. But to watch inspiring movies with hard dialogues, liking Facebook posts or tweeting about things isn’t going to help us get anywhere. We need that fire to ignite a renaissance; to bring about that revolution to change the world around to make it a better place. I might be too young to comment on such things, but I know one day in my lifetime, the change I'm helping with will contribute to a change in the world. It’s because I aspire to reshape our present into a better tomorrow. Drive your dreams through success and that is what will eventually make you happy. This is a lesson in life that I will preach to my companions. With every disappointment comes struggle, with every struggle comes opportunity, with every opportunity comes hard work and it’s said, hard work pays off. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 51

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_WISE UP

- By Niloufer Gandhi Choose the option that is closest in meaning to the highlighted word and complete the sentence.

1. jingoism (jing-goh-iz-uhm)

The news presenter’s brazen comments on the prevailing issues of his country revealed his _____. (a. pacifism b. despotism c. nationalism)

2. sovereign (sov-er-in)

After defeating the powerful Mughals, Shivaji, the fearless leader, declared himself an _____ ruler. (a. independent b. subservient c. hapless)

3. egalitarian (ih-gal-i-tair-ee-uhn)

The new sports club was formed on ____ principles so as to ensure no racial discrimination. (a. equal b. evanescent c. biased)

4. confederate (kuhn-fed-er-it )

Despite the rough weather, the ____ army fought bravely and victoriously captured the fort. (a. estranged b. allied c. disenchanted)

5. suffrage (suhf-rij)

In England, the women's ____ movement gained momentum during the early 19th century as women became increasingly politically active. (a. cavalry b. pagan c. vote)

6. emancipation (ih-man-suh-pey-shuhn)

Frederick Douglass, an American social reformer was famous for his efforts towards the ____of slaves. (a. manumission b. seduction c. manipulation)

Countless sacrifices and love for the motherland, defined the nature of the true sons of the land, freeing the nation from the hands of authoritarians. Come, let us salute those brave Indians. Well, let’s start with a few basic words that you can use in your day-today conversation.

7. plenipotentiary (plen-uh-puh-ten-shee-er-ee)

The ________ charmed the audience at the summit with his confidence and diplomacy. (a. emissary b. misanthrope c. tyro)

8. allegiance(uh-lee-juhns)

After the conquest, only those farmers who pledged their ____ to the new king were allowed to retain their land. (a. assent b. perfidy c. loyalty)

9. filibuster (fil-uh-buhs-ter)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

The members of the opposition party threatened to _____ a bill promoting reservation of jobs for underrepresented communities. (a. expedite b. compose c. delay)

10. martinet (mahr-tn-et)

Joan’s father was considered a _____ because he chastised his children for the slightest violation of his rules. (a. pioneer b. disciplinarian c. democrat)

Answers: 1. C 2. A 3. A 4. B 5. C 6. A 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. B

52 Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2012

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entertain Everthing you want to know about (safe) SEX...Pg 76

K E E PI N S I D E яГо

Pg57 Pg63 Pg64 DEAL WITH IT GET OVER YOUR BREAK-UP WITH THIS SEVEN STEP PLAN TO HEAL A BROKEN HEART

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SHARE THE RIDE AN ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTION TO REDUCE THE TRAFFIC ON OUR STREETS

INDIA'S OPRAH WINFREY? A LOOK AT AAMIR KHAN'S ENDEAVOUR TOWARDS SOCIAL CHANGE

Pg104 BACK TO SCHOOL RETURN TO YOUR CAMPUS IN STYLE WITH THESE TRENDY PRODUCTS

21-07-2012 16:14:08

_ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

Peace on

Wheels

Two enterprising individuals are all set to spread the message of peace on their Royal Enfields, finds Vatsala Chhibber

n the 12th of August 2012, two spirited individuals will embark on the journey of a lifetime. While this might sound like the tagline of a movie, it is actually the most accurate description of an initiative conceived by Nitesh Square and Parth Vasavada. Covering approximately 13,000 kilometres on their Royal Enfields, this duo will travel through 8 nations, visiting more than 50 cities in 65 days. Though these dreamy figures comprise the fantasies of most travel enthusiasts, for Nitesh and Parth this is not a mere journey, it is a mission. These two visionary change-makers will promote youth empowerment, Indian wisdom and peace by connecting with more than 50 million youth during their travels. This mission, titled ‘De Paix Yatra’ has received the support of the United Nation Volunteers, the Ministry of External Affairs, PETA India, TedX and many such organisations. A number of celebrities have also shown their support for this endeavour by sporting 'Ride for Peace' t-shirts.

Parth Vasavada

Nauheed Cyrusi

Nikhil Chinappa Salim-Sulaiman

MESSENGERS OF PEACE

Nitesh Square, who was supposed to attend the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 as a freelance photographer, came up with an ingenuous plan to add meaning to this journey. Being a

Nitesh Square

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former journalist with an itch to write, Nitesh decided to reach Paris and travel to the festival on a motorbike, interviewing people along the way to gather material for a coffee table book. His friend, Parth Vasavada, expressed the desire to join Nitesh on this journey. “I have known Parth for the past seven years, and we represent the new face of Indian youth when it comes to change and welfare work. I didn't have to think twice before saying yes to him. He came up with the name 'De Paix Yatra', since 'de paix' means peace in French,” says Nitesh. Both Parth and Nitesh have been active in their social endeavours. Parth has founded and given shape to numerous social movements, while Nitesh has volunteered with several International and Indian NGOs.

MUMBAI TO LONDON IN 65 DAYS

De Paix Yatra will officially start from Mumbai on the 12th of August 2012. There are a couple of reasons why Nitesh and Parth have decided on this date to mark the beginning of their journey. The 12th of August not only marks the end of the London Olympics, which is a symbol of countries coming together in peace, but is also International Youth Day. Starting from Mumbai, these enterprising friends will travel to seven other nations-Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. Explaining the reason behind selecting these countries, Parth says, “There are several reasons why we decided on this route. We wanted to travel developing,

under developing and super developed countries and this is the only route which is connected via road. This route also allows us to understand the diverse cultures of these nations”. During the course of this journey, the team of De Paix Yatra will promote youth activism in implementing change by going to colleges, schools, universities and conferences. “We will connect with everyone from change makers to trend setters who promote peace, the common youth who are seeking reformation and civil society who can support us in building this revolution. We will travel to more than 50 cities and organize peace talks, kindness shows, free hugs campaigns, music shows and youth exhibitions in schools, colleges and universities of the respective cities, states and nation,” says Parth Vasavada.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES While De Paix Yatra’s technically ends in London on the 15th of October 2012, Nitesh and Parth’s efforts at promoting peace will continue. Once they return, the team will travel across 100 villages in India and share their experiences with the youth, in order to motivate them to work towards change. They will also publish a book, which will compile the stories they collect during De Paix Yatra. In addition, their journey and experiences will be documented in the form of a short film. Having undertaken this monumental project, Nitesh and Parth have even bigger plans for De Paix Yatra. In fact, they intend to make this journey again next year and at a larger scale. "De Paix Yatra will be an annual journey, which will be carried out in different parts of the world. By looking at the response of this year, we are sure that it will reach new heights in coming years,” says Parth. When asked if they would like to give out any message to the youth of the country, a unique response follows,

“We are no one to send out a message; our journey and this motorbike project itself will be our message to the youth of this nation. This nation has been the land of philosophers from the beginning, now is the time that we rise up as nation of doers; De Paix Yatra is all about action.” "Youth is wasted on the young", said George Bernard Shaw. However, De Paix Yatra is an effort to equip the youth with the right knowledge to support their ability. Armed with a vision, Nitesh and Parth have taken significant steps to ensure that 'youth is not wasted on the young'. yi

DE PAIX YATRA AT A GLANCE On 12th August 2012, Nitesh Square and Parth Vasavada will commence their journey from Mumbai The duo will travel to 8 nations and more than 50 cities in a period of 65 days and promote youth activism by going to schools, colleges, universities and conferences. They will also honour revolutionists and peacemakers in these countries Their journey will end in London on 15th October 2012. Once the team returns to India, they will publish a book and release a mini-series, documenting the highlights of their journey De Paix Yatra has received the support of eminent personalities such as, Shashi Tharoor, Gul Panag, Omar Abdullah, Imran Khan, etc. AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 55

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_FOCUS FEATURE

WHAT HISTORY TEXT BOOKS DON’T TELL YOU

Think you know everything about Indian Independence? Here are some interesting facts about Indian Independence you probably didn’t study in school

THE MAN WHO INSPIRED BHAGAT SINGH You’ve heard of Mangal Pandey, Bhagat Singh and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. But did you know that one of the first acts of revolution in the 20th century Independence movement was carried out by a man named Madan Lal Dhingra? While studying in England, Dhingra murdered Sir Cuzron Wyllie, a prominent British Member of Parliament. Dhingra was immediately arrested and sentenced to death. Before heading for the gallows, Dhingra spoke these memorable words: "I believe that a nation held down by foreign bayonets is in a perpetual state of war. Since open battle is rendered impossible to a disarmed race, I attacked by surprise. Since guns were denied to me I drew forth my pistol and fired. Poor in health and intellect, a son like myself has nothing else to offer to the mother but his own blood. And so I have sacrificed the same on her altar. The only lesson required in India at present is to learn how to die, and the only way to teach it is by dying ourselves. My only prayer to God is that I may be re-born of the same mother and I may re-die in the same sacred cause till the cause is successful. Hail Bande Matram! Hail Bande Matram !" GANDHIJI’S MIZARU, KIKAZARU AND IWAZARU We have all seen images of Gandhiji’s three monkeys who hear, speak and see no evil. Though these monkeys were popularised in India by Gandhiji, their origin actually lies in Japan where they are called Mizaru, Kikazaru, Iwazaru and can be seen at the Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

INDIAN CURRENCY IN PAKISTAN? Soon after the India-Pakistan partition, Indian currency with ‘Pakistan’ stamped on it, was used as currency in Pakistan. After a few months, when there was sufficient circulation of Pakistani currency, the use of Inidan currency was discontinued.

MOUNTBATTEN’S DILEMMA After India and Pakistan were divided into two separate nations, Lord Mountbatten was asked to attend two ‘Transfer of Power’ ceremonies, one in Delhi and the other in Karachi. Since he could not attend both ceremonies on the same date, Pakistan’s Independence Day was decided as the 14th of August while India’s became the 15th.

THE LINE THAT DISPLACED MILLIONS The India-Pakistan border was drawn by a lawyer named Sir Cyril Radcliffe. The international border, therefore, is named after him and called the 'Radcliffe line'. Sir Cyril Radcliffe had, until he was called to divide the two nations, never been to India and had no experience is making borders. What followed was a hasty division which resulted in the border dividing villages and even living rooms in some instances! Horrified by the riots that followed, which killed more than a million people and displaced thousands of families, Radcliffe burned his papers and left the country, refusing to accept payment for his work. yi 56 Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2012

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_RELATIONSHIPS

hen you think of relationships, you think of the love, the happy times and all the smiles in between. But one aspect which we ignore, one that is not so pleasing, is the possibility of a breakup. Face it, sometime or the other, you have got to deal with it. Ironically, love prepares us for everything in life but not for breakups. You maybe the dumper, the dumpee or you might even be harbouring the illusion of a breakup by ‘mutual consent’. Whatever the case maybe, it’s going to hurt. The only way to get through a breakup is to deal with it. Here’s how you can:

ACCEPT THAT IT’S OVER This is the obvious part that will pinch you the most. Understand and accept the fact that your relationship and your ex are both history. It’s tempting to assume that all may not be over and that some ray of hope may still be lingering in your relationship. These assumptions are at best mistaken fallacies that will end up hurting you even more. Do yourself a favour. Accept the end and look ahead. That way, you give yourself a true chance.

RAZI SHAIKH GIVES YOU THE 7 STEPS TO POST-BREAKUP HEAVEN

CLEAN-UP! This doesn’t pertain only to the negative feelings that maybe brewing in your head. Every time you open your closet or pass through your room, chances are high you will bump into stuff that will remind you of your ex. You don’t want to sit down and start brooding all over again so it’s best that you clear out the stuff. Burn it, trash it or donate it. If you still want to preserve your memorabilia, fill it in a box and stash it in a corner. Either way, get it out of your sight.

DEAL WITH IT! 3

DISCONNECT! Technology in our everyday life makes avoiding your ex a big challenge, but it’s not exactly AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 57

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_RELATIONSHIPS

an impossible thing to do. Log into Facebook, Twitter and every place that functions as your abode on the internet and disconnect from your ex. You don’t want to see updates from your ex and go reeling back into the past because it is just not worth it. Says Abhishek Shah, an MSc student, “I would delete her pictures and messages from my phone and trash all the things that remind me of her as well. All in all, I’ll make sure I don’t hurt myself anymore.” Resist the urge to text your ex. Give yourself time and your mind some peace.

INTROSPECT. WRITE. Relationship Gurus swear by this technique. Write what you feel. Pour out your heart on paper. Don’t mince words, but don’t abuse your ex either. Frame it as a letter, write till your heart feels light and then find an envelope and seal the letter. Trash it or keep it. Either way, you will feel better. While you are at it, use this time to do some serious introspection. Carry along the positives of your relationship and learn from the negatives. Understand if you were at fault and try not to repeat the mistakes.

A NEW RELATIONSHIP? WAIT! If you have been at the receiving end of the dumping equilibrium, you may still be smarting at the behaviour dealt out to you. But jumping on a new relationship when you haven’t recovered from the blows of the previous one is definitely a big NO. It may salvage your ego and boost your self-esteem, but the timing is just not right. Give yourself a break, and enjoy some ‘Me’ time. When you are back to your normal self and ready to start anew, only then go for the new guy or chick that’s been catching your eye.

Gaurav Naik and Shiuli Dutaa share th

e used to meet every day, share laughs and loved being with each other. I was in a relationship for almost one and a half years, but in the last six months, things weren’t going well, and before I could prepare myself for it, we broke up. Post our break up, the next few weeks were the most painful days of my life. I was entirely broken from inside, unable to speak out and petrified. After sometime, I realised I had to do something to overcome this dilemma. Alcohol and drugs came to my mind. But I felt that would be stupid, seeking help from liquor. I tried talking about this to my friends but

I couldn’t. Being an introvert, it is tough for me to discuss my personal problems with others. So I started writing. Writing about myself, my relationship, about her, the pros and cons of our relationship. Music was the other thing that helped me tide through this phase. All these things do help you, but the habit of being with someone, being in a relationship and breaking that habit is the biggest challenge. I was used to having a female companion who supported me in my hard times and suddenly I was left alone. To overcome this loneliness was tough. I wanted someone to fill that space left by her absence. Then comes the rebound stage when you like a girl and feel like asking her out too. And I was about to make that stupid mistake. Luckily I didn’t. I bought myself a pet; a hamster named Hamster and shared things with him. It was Hamster who taught me to stay calm and love everyone selflessly. In time, the way you look at things in your life changes. You may become soft and caring or stone-hearted. That really depends on how you handle yourself. I am proud of the way I handled myself. The breakup helped me introspect. More importantly, it taught me to express my feelings. The only way to overcome your break up is to share your feelings and speak out. Keeping yourself involved with work also helps. Instead of being sad about your breakup, be happy about the time you spent with your partner; the special moments you shared. Because everyone is not lucky enough to have a partner. Letting go is what really helps us in coping with a breakup.

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BACK TO LIFE! Says Sanjana Bhadsavle, 18, “A breakup isn’t the end of the world! Head over to your best friend’s place. Enjoy the day, make memories, party hard and move on with life!” Regardless of whether you remember it or not, before the relationship, you did have a life. You had friends, a jolly group of them. Head to a gathering of your friends, socialise and get your mood right. Join some classes, volunteer for some work. Indulge in activities that help you de-stress. Hit the gym or go for a jog because exercise really lifts your spirits. It’s

normal to feel low after a breakup so indulge in your favourite activities. Treat yourself. There’s no reason for you to stay unhappy.

LET GO Preposterous as it may sound, forgiving your ex is probably the best and most mature thing you could ever do in such a situation. Ask yourself. What good does it even do to resent or hate your ex? Hating someone never liberates you from your pain. But forgiving does. Remember it was not so long you used to care for that person. Invoke that

caring bit of you and forgive your ex and forgive yourself. You know you have truly moved on when you let go of the anger and resentment. Says Kasturi Wagh, an interior designing student, “Remind yourself that even if it ends, it’s important to cherish the good times you shared and not cry about it.” Keep the good memories, the smiles you shared and move ahead. A breakup and how you deal with it can definitely make you a better person. Learn from it and deal with it. As they say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. yi

re their individual breakup stories

could say that dealing with a breakup is easy and that time makes you forget and heals your scars, but that would be a lie. Time may certainly heal the scars, but the memory of it will always be etched in your mind. I know from experience that girls get over heartbreaks faster than guys do. Reason? We have no qualms in crying over it and talking about it. I got over a messy breakup by simply transferring all the hurt onto paper. Writing helped me to deal with my pent up emotions directly. Although, retail

therapy and Adele’s brilliant vocals work just as well. There is no harm in brooding and crying when that’s exactly what you feel like doing. I think shedding a few tears is what helped me lessen all that pain. At that moment, heartbreak surely felt like the end of the world, but I realised later that it’s really not. If things didn’t work out with one person, then that only means that life has some better plans for me. It took me time, a couple of buckets of ice cream and the support of my best friends to realise that the breakup has in fact, had a positive impact on my life. Heartbreak tests your ability to deal with difficult situations and also makes you a stronger person. My breakup was life’s way of acquainting me with a hidden side of me, which I did not even know existed. I’ve come to believe that if love is about becoming a better person, then heartbreak is about being a stronger one. To move on though, forgiveness is what is really necessary. To not forgive is to hold on. How can you move on when you are still holding onto all the pain? Forgive, for it costs you nothing. And whatever you do, don’t ever let heartbreaks dim your faith in love. For without faith in love, your life has no definition. Love is out there. Your heartbreaks are guiding you towards it. AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 59

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_YOUTH ISSUES

A question of

morals? Nisarg Kamdar puts forth his views about the ‘anti-Dhoble’ hype and how India’s Internet freedom has been called into question

here has been a lot of stink raised over the past month on what is seen as a concerted attempt by the government to impinge upon the constitutional freedoms accorded to every citizen and resident of this country. The two prominent incidents that have gained a lot of traction, especially in the media are ‘Internet censorship’ and the ‘Mumbai Police Social Service branch’ headed by the rather infamous Vasant Dhoble. While both have seen the spurt of spontaneous protests, more pronounced in the virtual world, Dhoble’s actions seem to have fomented the more vitriolic of reactions. And while the amount of claptrap circulating on various media forums is certainly amusing, I’m going to attempt to pare off at the media smokescreen and make a case on some basic facts. Though I must swiftly introduce a clarification: The idea of this piece is not to pick sides nor attempt a black-or-white classification. Like every aspect of human life, this area too retains shades of gray.

ANTI-DHOBLE HYPE?

Vasant Dhoble, assistant commissioner of Mumbai police, head of the Mumbai Police Social Service branch, is a hockey stick wielding cop who claims to be waging a war with the nefarious elements of society. His detractors, though, choose to paint

him as a megalomaniac who seems to be hell bent, enforcing his parochial moral compass on jolly members of the society. While the lacunae are Dhoble’s mode of functioning has certainly been highlighted, the positive offshoots of his drive have been unceremoniously ignored. For instance, a team of the Social Service branch, led by Dhoble, on the June 25th, 2012, raided a massage parlour ‘Shy Lee’ in Powai and rescued seven girls who had been allegedly forced into the flesh trade. People who live in Mumbai are aware of the underground sex trade and child labour industry that flourishes under the nose of the authorities. In such light, Dhoble’s actions functioning under whatever motive certainly deserve appreciation. Another instance bandied around while tearing into Dhoble, is an incident involving a popular suburban roadside eatery, Amar Juice Centre, near Cooper Hospital in Juhu. Living and studying in the vicinity of this social menace, I’ll recount a firsthand account of the brash and disgraceful functioning of this establishment. An illegal installation, it’s the talk of the town for breaking laws with impunity and subsequently the blatant bribing of officials. Encroaching upon

the footpath, setting up tables and chairs on the roadside, functioning late into the night with nonexistent hygiene standards, local bodies describe it as nothing but an absolute nuisance. Serpentine queues of cars align themselves along this very street, as waiters prance around the streets serving patrons in their cars, unmindful of the major traffic snarls it causes and the sound pollution that occurs right outside one of the city’s integral civic hospitals. So it comes as no surprise then, when local residents and social activity groups from around the city have expressed their unequivocal support for the Social Service Department’s latest drive. Dhoble’s credentials and previous service record hardly inspires

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respond with adequate supervision. Ambiguities of the law need to be clarified to ensure the executive branch that the police do not function like unchecked mafias.

INTERNET CLAMPDOWN

confidence, but his drive to check such anti-social elements should be appreciated. Licensing laws are in place based on sound reason and breaking them is unacceptable and contrary to the tenets of the law. The results of unlicensed activity on our streets can find the form of underage drinkers acting unsociably close to where we live and degenerate elements mushrooming across the city, fuelling alcoholism and drug addiction, two of the major concerns for modern India. So when a posh pub is hauled up for certain violations, it’s part of the larger design. Stipulations are put in to avoid overcrowding to ensure the greater safety of the patrons as they party into the night. In case of a fire or any other accident, such limitations aid in ensuring rescue operations as well as help in minimising the damage. Too often, the local disco is crammed with people, leaving hardly any space to swing around freely. As far as the implementation of archaic laws go, some dating back to nearly a century, it’s for the legislators to take notice of the constantly evolving social parameters and

On a very distinct note from the above actions, no reasonable justifications can be offered for the actions of the Department of Telecom led by the virtual world’s favourite clown, Kapil Sibal and the band of ISPs (Internet Service Providers). What began with the bulging number of yearly requests to Google (www.google.com/ transparencyreport/removals/ government/IN/) to pull down content from its various sites and search results, has now degraded to the blocking of file and video sharing websites.

have shown some fight and refused to cave in to the irrational demands made. But what irks me the most is the Madras High Court ‘John Doe’ order, which was misinterpreted by the ISPs to pull down legitimate file sharing websites like Vimeo and certain torrent websites, which had been offering their co-operation in tackling piracy. While piracy is certainly a legitimate and apodictic problem, it needs to be dealt with regard and respect for the legal file sharing operations that the website facilitates, ensuring that the interests of the other users are taken into account. Such arbitrary blocking is counterproductive; it contrives against the basic principles of the Internet and calls into question the authorities intentions. India’s Internet freedom has now been called into question and unless

It's pertinent to note that India holds the ‘numero uno’ spot when it comes to government-made content removal requests to Google. The unsettling part is that out of the 101 requests made, only six were backed by court orders. It is pertinent to note that India holds the ‘numero uno’ spot when it comes to government-made content removal requests to Google. The rather unsettling part of this statistic is that out of the 101 requests made, only six were backed by court orders. The rest were made at the behest of the police and government. This seems to be an extension of the government’s plans to put in place a regulation under the pretext of checking blasphemous content, a move that is widely perceived as an attempt to curtail our freedom of speech and muffle the voices of discontent that have found a safe haven on the Internet. Luckily for us, Google and Twitter

we citizens wake up to check this insidious activity, we’ll be regressing to darker times. It’s depressing to see how many of us have become blasé to the idea of Internet censorship. Recently, an anonymously organised protest was held in Mumbai, where a measly crowd of twenty attended the event. The government’s surreptitious actions, coupled with the amendments to the IT Act 2000, have been looked upon with deep suspicion by the virtual community. The need of the hour is to educate the common public about these fairly oppressive notifications. The scrutiny and the eagle-eyed surveillance of the public at large is the only leash that can keep the government in check. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 61

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_YOUTH ISSUES

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON MORAL POLICING?

Nisarg Modi

3rd year D.J.Sanghvi College of Engineering 'Swatantrata' has been advocated in Indian culture from ancient times. ‘Swa’ means self; ‘Tantra’ means method, discipline, or rules. So Swatantrata means acting according to our own methods or rules, which is the ideal type of 'freedom'. Personally, I believe that the Internet should not be censored. Freedom of speech was given to us by the Constitution. The rights have been ours for centuries and should not be taken away today, in modern society. Eventually there must be a solution to regulate who should be able to view, what should be censored, and an effective way of enforcing it. Otherwise our constitution will hold a lesser value that it has for decades, and when the rules have been broken once, it most likely will happen again. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and is allowed to voice it.

Dhruv Shah

YOUR

VOICE

ACP Vasant Dhoble gives an impression of an angry man, barging out on the streets kicking asses of those breaking the law. Not even the gender is spared when it comes to upholding the law. The youngsters are entitled to have some amount of fun and Dhoble is infringing on their right to enjoyment. Many people have taken to the streets for showing their dislike against his methods. For a change it feels great to know that we live in a society which regards its children above the archaic laws. What’s amusing is not that people regard him as a threat to their nightlife, but the fact that they actually think that what he is doing is killing their fun, inconveniencing their nightlife when there are a legion of people who are being involved in sex rackets, drug trafficking and other illicit activities. Vru

shali Ambedk ar

2ndyear chemical engineering

Shreyas Deshmukh

The situation in which ACP Dhoble finds himself in is a classic case of an individual with misconstrued perceptions of morality using archaic laws to enforce his will upon the common people. The Indian legal system suffers due to reliance on laws that do not reflect the times we live in. It will not be surprising to find these very laws being used as a precedent to promote internet censorship.

Co-Founder & COO, techenthu.com MBA in Strategy

The generations are changing and we cannot keep the exposure to our youth shut on all fronts. It is best if we change or rather accept the changes. But yes, to what extent and to what limits, because by the end of it, we are responsible for our worried parents back home and moreover to preserve our Indian culture. Moral Policing is required as the pace of change is stupendous, but somewhere we need to draw a line. We cannot have people monitoring the freedom on all doors, and if that is done (for the good) violent and humiliating actions should not be carried out to curb them. The authorities too have to set a benchmark for their actions and accept that change is inevitable. Regardless, it’s important that change too is monitored. 62 Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2012

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_ECOWATCH

Share the Ride

Do you find yourself constantly grumbling about the ever-increasing traffic problems in your city? Well it’s time to stop complaining and start carpooling!

ost city dwellers describe their daily commute as time consuming, exhausting, frustrating and stressful. However, Manish Chawla, also a city dweller, describes his daily commute as ‘refreshing, stress-free and enjoyable’. This is not because Manish has access to a parallel universe or follows the path of positivity. The reason is actually quite simple: Karan has discovered the benefits of carpooling. HOW DOES IT WORK? The gloomy commute to school, college or work is made gloomier thanks to the traffic, overcrowded trains and buses as well as the frequent auto and taxi strikes that torment most Indian cities. Carpooling provides much-needed relief from these commuting woes

while preserving the environment. With a variety of affordable cars in the market, the rate of four-wheeler additions to our roads is faster than ever. The idea behind carpooling is to share a ride with fellow commuters in order to reduce the amount of traffic on the streets. Carpooling is originally an international concept, which is now gaining popularity in India. In fact, Abhishek Agawane came up with the idea of starting a carpooling website during a twohour long drive to work. The website, mumbaicarpooling.com, enables users to find carpooling options that match their needs. Abhishek says, “People in Mumbai are realising the need for carpooling and we provide a simple search and schedule process. The user has to register with a valid email address and then he or she can search, communicate and schedule a carpool. We have kept the process very simple.” THE BENEFITS Company: Carpooling allows you to make new friends, listen to new music and also provides a space to freely complain about your teacher, boss, boyfriend or girlfriend. If you are uncomfortable travelling with

someone, you always have the option of refusing a rider or passengers. Many carpooling websites use the help of social networking sites to choose your travel buddies as per your liking, giving you the option of travelling with friends or their friends, in case your routes match. Cost effective: Fuel price hikes are becoming drastic and frequent. While carpooling, the travellers share all the expenditure, including fuel, toll and other costs which can considerably reduce your financial burden. Environmentally friendly: Carpooling reduces the number of cars on the streets, which results in lesser fuel emissions and cleaner air for the city's residents. Lesser traffic might actually allow you to hear your music while driving instead of the constant honking. Start carpooling to create a healthier environment for yourself. Immune to auto/taxi strikes: Public transport can be a real menace. Autos and taxi drivers are frequently on strikes and at other times, they are unwilling to head to your destination. Carpooling saves you from bickering sessions and allows you to enjoy a peaceful ride. Faster commute: Carpooling reduces both traffic and commuting time. With lesser traffic, you can rush home from work or college and spend quality time with family and friends. Flexibility: While cars are being filled to their capacity, bikes don't have to go to waste either; that extra seat behind you can save the city from additional traffic. To prevent the underutilisation of transportation options in the city, you can also try bikepooling, cabpooling and even autopooling! Multitasking : The daily commute to college or work can take hours. Carpooling gives you the opportunity to use this time constructively if you decide to take turns driving. You can finish your assignments or add last minute changes to your presentation in the comfort of a car. So jump into the carpooling bandwagon and enjoy its many benefits. yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 63

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_AWARENESS

India’s

A thought to which, a huge majority agrees to. Coupled with the overthe-top reactions displayed by Aamir on the show (The dramatic oh! The watery eyes even before the tragic story begins), SMJ has slowly turned into a redundant Sunday morning show, which Indian families just watch for the sake of entertainment during breakfast. Such factors might have been ignored if the show had yielded some actual results. But apart from the twoday long twitter hash tag trends, SMJ is yet to show a substantial impact. The key word is substantial because the truth of the matter is that certain influences have taken place, but not of the level which was expected by the magnitude of Aamir’s brainchild. Despite such fallacies, Satyamave Jayte has actually been a vital aspect

Oprah Winfrey?

AAMIR KHAN’S SATYAMEV JAYATE HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN MANY RECENT CONVERSATIONS. WHILE OPINIONS VARY, SO DO THE SHOW’S PROS AND CONS. SIDDHARTH GUPTA LOOKS AT THE SHOW’S IMPACT

ay 6, 2012, was a day unlike any other. It was a feverishly awaited Sunday as it was the launch date of Aamir Khan’s television debut, Satyamav Jayate. Touted to have been the next big revolution after Anna Hazare in India, Satyamav Jayate or SMJ as it’s called, has done both, soared to the high skies and crashed miserably as well. SMJ demonstrated an absolute genius marketing coup by heavily promoting the show, highlighting its key unique factors:- the 11 am timeslot and most importantly, Aamir Khan himself. The first episode about female foeticide was moving and so was the

second one where Aamir broke out the vile nature of child sexual abuse in India. Hailed by people worldwide for its exceptional research, presentation and style, Aamir earned the title of India’s Oprah Winfrey. But soon the dream broke. The monotony of the show has slowly crept up and is now clawing into the viewership. A snippet from the Virar-Churchgate local floated through my ears, giving me a fairly accurate summary of the monotonous nature of the show: “Aamir comes, Aamir speaks, Aamir cries, Aamir talks to an NGO, Aamir announces Reliance is the philanthropy partner, a song is sung and BAM! That’s it.”

in rejuvenating awareness in the traditional, ultra-sexist parts of India. The unique strategy of being broadcasted simultaneously on over 10 channels as well as the national channel, Doordarshan, has resulted in an exponential increase in the sensibilities of a vastly ignorant populace in places where a girl is nothing but a burden for her family and a child bearer for her husband. SMJ has dispelled the myth that boys are never sexually abused. The specially able were highlighted as their difficulties were projected for the first time in India. Dowry was satirically mocked with the “Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupiya?” song while Aamir subtly

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mocked the government for its dismal policy with regard to errant doctors and the use of poisonous pesticides under the guise of the ‘green revolution’. The mere fact that it was Aamir Khan preaching the lessons has resulted in the content rising to national prominence, similar to the flocking of the Indian population to Polio immunisation booths because “Bachan sahib ne kaha tha.” But, one of the unfortunate things that have come out of the apparent success achieved by SMJ is that people have further lost their faith and touch in a government whose national policy making capabilities were always doubted in the first place itself. Aamir’s tears and the flowery theoretically simple solutions,

despite being of a benevolent nature, have inspired multiple rounds of government bashing banter over tea breaks. To be completely fair, it is almost foolish of us to expect the government to function like Aamir does on SMJ. The government of India cannot simply take up an issue one fine Sunday and forget about it before the weekend. National policies are delicately crafted guidelines that are perfected over years, and sometimes decades, to ensure that the egos of billions of Indians hailing from multiple backgrounds are soothed. It was gallant and extremely caring of Aamir to plead for the sale of generic drugs or for the usage of organic vegetables. These pleas were hailed by the populace but such

simple and flawed statements cannot be a government’s official stance. Even if eventually becomes a government policy, it cannot take place overnight, as expected by a vast majority, due to the simple reason that the government has to debate, discuss and deliberate upon sub-issues, which are never considered by us. For example, “If generic drugs are sold, is there any way to ensure top-notch quality and non-adulteration of these drugs?” The issue is not with Mr Khan’s ideas but the way society has perceived them. Aamir’s suggestions are basically suggestions. But, the moment we start demanding them as a national policy, we border on the lines of absurdity, exposing how people with democratic powers are nothing but glorified fools. So, the verdict is of somewhat mixed results. On one hand, Satyamave Jayte has brought to India’s notice the seedy underbelly of the society that is the problems which all of us love to talk about, the topics we know about but have never actually done anything for. We got our own desi Oprah who could cry on stimulus and win our hearts with passionate true love for a nation that deserves nothing less from its citizens. On the other hand, SMJ has put forward weak solutions to hardcore issues and inspired satirical mocking from a sceptical crowd on both Aamir’s intentions and the state of Indian governance. By suggesting idealistic thoughts such as allocation of billions of rupees for organic farming in the form of subsidies, Aamir has unknowingly raised unwarranted and over-expecting demands in India’s hearts, minds and souls with respect to our government. Financial decisions involving such huge amounts are in no way a cake walk. Staying true with our nation’s aspirations, it is imperative for us to be sensible and realistic changers. Nothing else to the contrary can work in our nation. Hat’s off to Mr Khan for taking the steps, which should have been taken years ago. Still, it’s not too late as eventually at the end of the day, सतयम ् व े जयत .े yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 65

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_FASHION

All tied up! SHRUTI SAVLA AND SHRUTI KUMAR TALK ABOUT THEIR ACCESSORY BRAND 'THE RIBBON FACTORY'

How and when did the brand come out? We were always interested in designing jewellery but decided to take it a step further by designing jewellery for the hair, considering the fact that we were highly inspired by Blair Waldorf from the hit TV series Gossip Girl. Thus TRF came to being in late 2009. Did you both go to design school? We graduated with a degree in Applied Art specialising in advertising and graphic design this May. Do you design all the accessories by yourself? We design and execute all the accessories ourselves. We have been thinking of outsourcing the work

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but we love it too much to be letting anyone else do it. Did you face any difficulties in the start-up phase? The main difficulty was letting people know that a brand like ours exists and never having done something on a large scale before we were both quite lost initially but social media websites like Facebook and twitter were of great help in building contacts. What was the first product of The Ribbon Factory? It was a satin elastic headband with a bow in a variety of colours. Which accessories are the most fun to work on? We started off with hair accessories but now we’re into designing wedding corsages and other ribbon jewellery too and our favourites include crafting embellished flowers and bows. What's the business model like? We cater to the student crowd and know what it’s like to want pretty things without burning a hole through your pocket. So every time we price a product we think if we ourselves would want to spend so much money on it and that pretty much gives us a reality check. What’s the next step? We plan to set up a website where people can purchase our products online. We also plan to exhibit a lot more in cities across India. yi

25-07-2012 13:36:11

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NECESSITY _FASHION

For curly hair: To block out humidity and keep away the frizz

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Gommino Suede Driving Mocassins With Front Tie

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LOAFING AROUND! Men’s fashion can be very tricky, especially where shoes are concerned. This is why we’ve decided to pay staunch attention to loafers, the new must haves in every man’s shoe drawer. If you are not too sure whether loafers are your thing, then this might change your opinion. They are classy, semi formal yet comfortable and laidback. Always confused when it comes to finalising the perfect pair of shoes to match your shirt for the next brunch? Then pick one and head out in style.

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Wella Brilliance Conditioner for coloured hair `750

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DR MALAVIKA KOHLI

A renowned dermatologist, she has made her mark in aesthetic dermatology in India for over 15 years. Post your queries in our Forums at www.youthincmag.com

I frequently swim and I am not used to wearing a swimming cap. How can I minimise the damage caused by the chlorine in the water? Jenny D’sa, Mumbai A swimming cap is the best protection you can have to protect your hair from the damage caused by chlorine. Or, you should wash your hair immediately after the swim with a mild, detergent-free shampoo. Use a rinse-off detergentfree conditioner or a leave-in serum for moisturising and nourishing the damaged hair and undo the damage caused by chlorine. My son feels itchy on his hands and legs. After itching for a while, he develops a slight rash. What could be the cure for this? Reena Parikh, Bangalore Itching on arms and legs can be due to various reasons such as dryness, eczema, parasitic infestations or psychogenic, aggravated by dryness. Start with a good moisturising routine that involves a gentle soap or body wash to bathe him with, followed by the application of paraffin-based bath oil in the shower and a moisturising body lotion containing aloe vera, Shea butter, cocoa butter, etc. For the excoriations, you can use a mild steroid cream for 15-20 days followed by a lightening cream containing kojic acid, arbutin, etc for the marks. I am a 25-year-old girl with thyroid. My hair falls a lot. Could it be due to the medicines? Please suggest a remedy as my hair looks very scanty. Alissa D’Abreo, Pune Hair fall can be due to the thyroid imbalance. Thyroid medicines actually decrease hair fall. It can also be because of deficiency of vitamins B12, D3 or ferritin. I advise you to check your vitamins and supplement them, if required. You can use some hair nourishing and revitalising lotions containing bio-mimetic peptides for hair growth. My hair gets frizzy in the rains. Is there anything that can help me control it? Kanika Dalal, Kolkata Use a mild detergent-free shampoo and conditioner during the monsoons. Leave-on serums containing Moroccan Argan oil or avocado oil are advisable after a hair wash. Repeat whenever necessary to reduce the hair frizz. You can do some keratin-based treatments to smoothen hair. I wear sandals these days and the skin on my feet is becoming very dry. How can I protect my feet and keep the skin soft? Sarita Shah, Mumbai Dryness occurs due to sun damage or hormonal changes. Use good moisturising creams containing Shea butter, paraffin, lactic acid or cocoa butter to moisturise your feet daily in the night. Use soft-soled shoes to prevent further damage to dry feet.

Dr Good Skin MEN’s SKIN CARE

lthough men traditionally spend less time caring for their skin than women do, they spend more time damaging their skin through outdoor activities and hazardous work conditions. So, they may see more damage, such as dark spots on the face and body, discolouration, broken blood vessels, and lines and wrinkles. Thus, men’s skin care is as important as a women’s is. Here are few tips for them. A normal skincare routine would comprise cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection. •• CLEANSING AND EXFOLIATING: This removes impurities, sebum, dead skin cells and dirt. Use a gentle soap-free cleanser for normal to dry skin. For an oily/ combination skin type, one may need to use a salicylic acidbased cleanser once a day in the morning and a mild, gentle cleanser at night or if needed, then once during the day to get the dead skin and dirt off from the skin. Men find they get closer shaves and fewer ingrown hairs when they cleanse and exfoliate daily. •• MOISTURISING: Outdoor activities, dust and sun exposure can cause a dehydrating effect on dry skin and oily skin may look oilier. Moisturiser supplies all the nutrients to the skin. It protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays and free radicals.Use a cream-based moisturiser or a rich lotion for normal to dry skin, and a light, water-based moisturising lotion for oily/combination skin. Besides moisturisers, men should also use post-shave fluids to alleviate irritation and favour the healing of micro cuts.Shaving masks can be used prior to shaving to help soften the skin. •• USE SUNSCREENS: As long as it is daytime, your skin needs protection from its UV rays. For normal to dry skin type sse a waterproof sunscreen of minimum SPF-30. For oily/ combination skin, it is suggestible to use a non-sticky, non greasy, gel-based water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or more. The sunscreen has to be reapplied every 3-4 hours. To keep your skin looking healthy and radiant, eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, get a good night's sleep and avoid smoking and unprotected sun exposure. Your skin will not only appear smoother and clearer—you'll look younger too. yi

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Model

ey guys! This is a platform for models and actors and for those who have always wanted a break in the glam world. Send your portfolio pictures to us and if you are selected by our team, we will send your images to leading production houses in the country.

watch

Anwar Khan administration of business

chelor basis Pursuing a ba odelling on a professional (BBA) and m

Interests: avelling Ca rs a nd tr

Aparna Kanan

3rd year BCom student, model, Carnatic classical vocalist and dancer

[

Interests: Dancing, singing and to ignite Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young minds

Send your images to mail@youthincmag.com No phone calls will be entertained. Disclaimer: Youth Inc is only a platform to share your pictures. Youth Inc will not be responsible for any decisions made by you or any sort of contract signed between you and the production house. Send your pictures at your own risk.

AUGUST 2011 â&#x2022;&#x2018; Youth Incorporated 71

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refresh}

Prachi Jhadav gets a vibrant new look after Lekha Shah, senior stylist at The Cut Collective, works her makeover magic!

After a quick wash, Prachi was given a heavy-layered cut to give her hair more volume. The layers are cut in a way that compliments the shape of her face. She is also given a short, side fringe, which adds a feminine touch.

3 Senior make-up artist, Bhavna Kanchandani, steps in to accentuate the makeover with the right make up. Prachi’s make up is done in a way that brightens her face and doesn’t look cakey. To do this, Bhavna ensures she uses colours that blend with Prachi’s natural complexion.

A combination of red and magenta creative colour is first applied to Prachi’s hair. The colour pattern is minimalistic and limited to Prachi’s fringe and the lower ends of her hair. While this look is not in-yourface, the colour certainly has a vibrant appeal.

Before

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROHAN FERNANDES

Finally, Prachi’s hair was curled and blow dried to enhance her soft curls. Once the makeover was done, a visibly brighter and more confident Prachi emerged. After

LEKHA SHAH“I have given Prachi a look that is not only fresh and young but also easy to maintain. Her hair colour looks vibrant and funky as darker tones suit her hair.” “I think my new look is absolutely amazing! I love the colour; it is a drastic change, but I love the fact that it is different from my old look. The layers have also added more volume to my hair, which looks great. I’m really glad I decided to experiment and try something different.”

STYLIST TIP When selecting a hair colour, make sure the colour compliments your skin tone. You might have a colour preference, but if it doesn’t suit your skin tone, it could look disastrous! So ensure that you consult with a stylist to help you select the right colour.

Send your photos to Youth Inc to get a makeover and transform your look! Contact mail@youthincmag.com 72 Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2012

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_OFF THE MAP

HONG KONG

AUTHENTICITY RELOADED! Apoorva S Nanjangud takes you on a journey to the fantastical city of Hong Kong

fter eight-odd flying hours, when you first enter Hong Kong, you feel as if you are landing in a quaint fishing town, absolutely gifted by nature with a natural harbour. This stands true only if you happen to reach Hong Kong in the day time. In the night, you can see a sea of lights below, reflecting the city's urban character. The road leading to the city is flanked by sea and mountains, and soon I learnt that Hong Kong is an island city-state flanked by a delta and the South China Sea. The carefree adventure lover in me had landed in seventh heaven, but the shopper in me shrieked in grief. But the smile on my face returned when I noticed a pair of Prada's on every stylish foot. Hong Kong is a place for everything and everyone. The beauty of its expensive skyline takes over the natural bounty at the onset of dusk. Every part of the skyline glistens to polished perfection and every shoulder rocks a Gucci. We were told by our guide that it's an expensive deal to stay in Hong Kong as the rumoured real estate prices cost a bomb. But when in Honk Kong, you can expect many surprises to unfold. The cultural diversity, the colonial influence, the modern architectural marvels, the theme parks, the cuisine

TIAN TIAN BUDDHA, LANTAU ISLAND

REPULSE BAY, THE TROPICAL BEACH

and the extensive shopping options will keep you happily awed during your stay. Whatever be your mode of shopping, you will find it here. Visit the lively night markets for funky buys in the form of independent designer wear and other fun knick-knacks. It's a good idea to spend your days at

the many shopping malls and then continue your shopping spree through midnight at Temple Street Night Market and Stanley Market, where you can soothe your aching feet with blissful foot massages. The city is well maintained and boasts of globalisation to the core as well as a faint influence

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OFFBEAT THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG •• Walk up 159 steps to see Lovers’s Rock for a fantastic view of Hong Kong. Word has it that if you visit, you will be blessed with an amazing love life! JUMBO KINGDOM, THE FLOATING CHINESE RESTAURANT

beautiful green hills. It's a treat for the eyes and a gift for the senses! THE MADAME TUSSAUDS MUSEUMThis miniature version of the legendary museum is situated on the peak. It ensures you have your 'star-struck' moment amidst 100-odd prominent celebrities. Experience 'Scream', a horror attraction not for the faint at heart! TOURISTS ENJOYING THE VIEW FROM THE PEAK

of the British colonial times. Eating out in Hong Kong is yet another activity you should not give a miss. Authentic Chinese food like the street-side Dim Sum is a good pick for the adventurous at dedicated food districts in Kowloon City, while more upscale restaurants near the scenic Victoria harbour will cater to those with a taste for Western fare. Visit these places in Hong Kong: THE PEAK- Looking down from The Peak you'll be awestruck at the breathtaking view of the surrounding city skyline, the world-famous Victoria Harbor and the nearby island Kowloon, towering skyscrapers and

THE REPULSE BAY- This tropical beach houses the most expensive residential property. There is a mythical story behind the architecture of every building . A visit is a must to experience the sun and to get drenched in its clean waters. THE JUMBO KINGDOM- If you are a foodie and an adventurous one at that, this is a place that you cannot afford to miss. This floating Chinese restaurant is one of the landmarks of Hong Kong that has been floating steady since 1976. Sample traditional Chinese food along with fusion gourmet food. DISNEYLAND- Missing Disneyland in any country of the world is like missing the boat to your favourite

•• Explore Lantau Island and take a 30-minute cable car ride to Po Lin Monastery. Don’t miss the long-but-worth it climb to see the giant 34-meter-high Buddha statue. •• Get your fortune read at the lively Temple Street at night. destination! Experience the magic here! The cobbled roads, child-friendly staff, quaint stores, the aroma of freshly baked apple pie, the whole dance and drama happening at every corner of Disneyland, fun eateries, exciting rides, forever smiling staff and the enchanting locales make Hong Kong's Disneyland a place to visit that almost seems straight out of a storybook. Don't miss Mickey’s Philar Magic 4D show and the Tarzan tree house tour! The Disney parade is a must watch followed by the fireworks show after dusk, which is more than worth waiting for! Hong Kong is a very well-rounded city-state in terms of technology, culture, arts and retail. It is very well connected to the globe in every sphere, making it a city on every traveler’s must-visit list! So, the next winter break you get, you know where to head to! Bon Voyage! yi AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 75

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_HEALTH

Let’s talk about

STDs! DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SYMPTOMS OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES ARE NOT VERY RECOGNISABLE? SUCHITA PARIKH LETS YOU IN ON EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STDS

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et’s talk about sex baby. Let’s talk about STDs. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Alright, so Salt-N-Pepa didn’t quite rap about STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). But we can! So here’s the lowdown on all you need to know to be a safe and responsible sexually active adult. Advisory: It isn’t all bouquets and balloons. LY TRU

Latex condoms aren’t enough protection. STDs can be transmitted through intercourse as well as oral and anal sex and skin contact (kissing). So, while the free hug is welcome, the free kiss is not! LY TRU

We often don’t recognise the symptoms of STDs. It is possible to be carrying an STD and not know that you’re ‘sleeping with the enemy’ (pun intended). LY TRU

LY TRU

Not all STDs are curable. Some are fatal.

UG UG

The discomfiture of purchasing condoms is still better than the discomfiture of a burning sensation while peeing. That adds yet another dimension to ‘burn for me, baby’...are you feelin’ it?!

“If you’re sexually active, an STD test is a good idea,” advises Rhea Mehta, 24. “I went because I’d noticed something wrong with my ‘plumbing’, so to speak. I wasn’t comfortable going to my family doctor, so I just went to a friend’s doctor instead. I was pretty shaken when the test confirmed my fear of an STD. Luckily I just needed to take a dose of medication for it. I confronted the guy I had been with and he had no idea he’d given it to me! After that experience, I insist on using condoms. Better safe than sorry!” Unfortunately, there is a social stigma attached to STDs or Venereal Diseases (VD). It’s why Joey in ‘FRIENDS’ wasn’t thrilled to be the

GET IN unwitting poster boy for VD. And See where your sexual THE yes, you might go ‘OMG’ if you KNOW choices lead you with find you’ve contracted an STD. Or, virtual situations on : like Charlotte in ‘Sex and the City’ www.sexualityandu.ca/ – who got crabs (pubic lice) – you games-and-apps might try to ‘fumigate’ yourself, your • Chlamydia on your corner bedsheets, your mattress...! But STDs An educative, situation-based need not be shrouded in the nebulous app for girls to learn more fear of the unknown. STDs are here, about STDs they make us feel queer and we can deal with most of them. • War of the Condoms So what are STDs? There are several kinds. Those caused by bacteria An educative, yet fun situation-based app for guys on or parasites can be treated with making the right choices medication. Those caused by viruses are trickier. Symptoms such as a burning sensation while urinating, an unusual discharge from the vagina or can come to the rescue. penis, bleeding between periods and Genital herpes is a virus that enters unusual sores are all indicators of the the body through sexual contact. It presence of an STD. A downer for the leads to sores or ‘outbreaks’ in the ladies is that STDs can affect them area of the genitals, anus, thighs or more severely by causing infertility, buttocks. These sores turn to blisters, especially if undetected and untreated. and get itchy and painful before they Chlamydia, for instance, is caused subside. Since genital herpes is caused by bacteria through vaginal, anal or by a virus, it cannot be completely oral sex. It can also be passed from cured, but the outbreaks do reduce in mother to child during childbirth. frequency and intensity over time. It is recommended that sexually There are numerous strains of the active women 25 years and under STD known as human papillomavirus get an annual Chlamydia test, since or HPV. The not-so-harmful strains the cervix, which is the opening of cause genital warts, while the high-risk the uterus, is still developing and ones lead to cancer. Another deadly is therefore more susceptible to STD is human immunodeficiency infections. virus or HIV, an infection that doesn’t Gonorrhoea, also known as ‘the really need an introduction. It is clap’, occurs most commonly in caused by either unprotected sex with young adults and affects the genital an infected partner, shared needles or tract, anus or mouth. It is also caused infected blood. The last stage of the by bacteria and can be treated with disease is termed AIDS or acquired antibiotics. Syphilis, another bacterial immunodeficiency syndrome. It infection, affects the genital area, anus, attacks the immune system of the lips or mouth. A symptom of the early infected individual. There is no cure stage is a single, painless sore. This for HIV/AIDS at present and it sore makes the body more susceptible ultimately leads to death. The initial signs of HIV are flu-like symptoms to HIV, so syphilis could end up and swollen glands, while other being a fatal disease. Trichomoniasis symptoms occur months or even years is a parasitic infection. Its symptoms later. are often more apparent in women A sobering overview indeed! It is than men. A yellow or green vaginal discharge, itching or urinary issues are amply apparent that unprotected or multiple-partner sex offers a landmine indicators of the infection. Men may situation. The fail-safe is clear enough: experience irritation within the penis be good when you’re being bad. Play but generally are symptomless. Since safe and always use a condom! yi this is a parasitic infection, antibiotics AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 77

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o Dr ol FOR TECH LOVERS 

of the MONTH

 SAMSUNG GALAXY SIII (`38,000)

Stand back, because the boss is here. Yes, touted to be the 'world’s most powerful mobile phone', Samsung Galaxy SIII is here. Powered by a Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 processor, this 4.8 inches Super AMOLED HD screen sized phone weighs just 133 grams. This powerhouse of a device is powered by Android 4.0 Ice-Cream Sandwich and brings in interesting features like S-Voice (a voice recognising software),Smart Stay (the front camera tracks your eyes and manages the screen brightness), Pop up play (plays HD videos while you text someone), etc. In the camera department, the phone carries a 8 megapixel camera, which after some amazing tweaks, takes zero shutter lag photos and is capable of recognising your best expression. Another nifty utility is the Direct Call feature (if you are texting someone and wish to call him/her, all you have to do is put up the phone to your ear; your SIII will do the rest). Despite its power draining features, the battery life lasts an astounding 11 hours and 40 minutes! Coupled with NFC support, an exquisite design and an added bonus of a 50 GB Dropbox cloud storage, the price tag seems reasonable especially if you have always wanted to buy a phone that measures up to the iPhone.

 NIKON COOLPIX S1000PJ (`19,950) Most people would wonder what makes the Nikon’s Coolpix S1000pj so different from the vast number of digital cameras on the scene today. Along with a 4 GB SD card and sharper pictures with five image-stabilising features, the Coolpix is the first compact digital camera in the world to feature a built-in projector. With the simple touch of a button, the camera projects your favourite photos or movie clips on a screen, allowing you to view them on any flat surface possible. But here’s the catch; the camera’s battery won’t last long when projecting for long durations.

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 FLOATING DRY CASE (`2,208) Its monsoon season! What does that mean? Rain, all day, everyday. UGH! That really isn’t looking too good for your cell phones or cool portable gadgets. Behold the solution to your problem! Floating dry case is especially made for your mobile phones and gadgets. It is primarily used for underwater protection for your phone and can also be even used during the monsoons. In order to use this case, you simply pump out the air with the included hand pump and then the bag will seal its contents. To make it even more interesting, the floating dry case also has a stereo and microphone jack. It also has a convenient armband which prevents it from ever sinking to the bottom of an ocean, river, lake, or pool. Another user-friendly feature, is that it can still be used as normal phone, turning any smartphone camera into an underwater camera.

 ANDROID JELLY BEAN 4.1 (SOFTWARE)

The latest iteration of Android, announced with Google’s flagship tablet Nexus, is a hoot! The centre of attraction is the Google Now, rival to iPhone’s quirky personal assistant Siri. Google Now uses your internet usage across Google products and tailors the best content. So you no longer need to plan your schedule or search for your favourite team’s schedule every morning. 'Now' will do it for you automatically! Also, improved changes and patches to small aspects such as Android Beam, widget sizes, wireless syncing and screen animations, vastly make 4.1 an interesting and eagerly awaited operating system update. Although, the sad part of the story is that only Android 4.0 Ice-Cream Sandwich devices shall get the update (depending upon the manufacturer). Set for a first week of August release, Jelly Bean with its improved accessibility, support for more international languages along with a completely new user interface, is already legend-wait for it-dary.

APP

of the

MONTH

NIKE+RUNNING APP (FREE)

Think you can beat the timer? 'Nike+Running' is the perfect app to test just that. This app tracks distance, pace, time and calories burned. It stimulates the senses, gets you moving, and boosts your motivation from mediocre to soaring. This app features a GPS, pace tracker, timer, calorie-counter, pedometer, music player, and is compatible with social networking sites such as twitter, facebook and pinterest. One of the best ways to feel motivated is to be cheered on by your friends! You can easily post the start of your run to Facebook and hear realtime cheers for each like or comment you receive! Or you can activate a 'Powersong' to help you smash your way to a new record. You can easily view your goal progress, track every mile you log in your shoes and receive automatic weather tagging, which informs you of the local weather after your run. Think you can beat the timer? Get the app. now! AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 79

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GaMe:

_GAME REVIEW

Lame?

TONY HAWK : SHRED

Rating:  Trivial things matter in videogames today. Case in point: crank up the engine while indulging in a car racing game and you’d like to see the exhaust grease up the screen. Special effects, which barely matter to an average gamer, are massive PLATFORMS: plus points in the eyes of a gaming PS3, aficionado. In the modern gaming era, XBOX-360, quality comes first. Tony Hawk Shred NINTENDO WII is a peripheral-based, motion controlled skateboarding game, designed and developed on the same engine as its predecessor, Tony Hawk Ride (2009). Shred introduces a ‘snowboarding’ mode, arguably comparable to SSX. The focus has shifted to mid-air tricks rather than the usual grind tricks, lip tricks or manuals. Like most Tony Hawk games, this is taught to you by Tony Hawk himself, but unlike before, there are actual video clips of him speaking to you making the game a lot more interactive. Shred, unlike Ride, creates an arcade sort of feel to the game. There are a series of characters to choose from. A downside: you can’t create your own character, and gamers frequently enjoy personalising their games. The game has no intriguing plot, just several play levels, which you unlock as you advance. The biggest shortcoming of this game is that the inadequate graphics simply don’t match the contemporary standards of recent games. Yet, a number of users enjoy the new, interactive feel of this game. I would christen it the ‘Guitar Hero’ of skateboarding that introduces the fun and excitement of virtual skateboarding with no risk and no necessity of getting out of your house to actually skateboard. On the whole, it’s a great game that definitely needs to be played as it successfully revolutionises skateboarding video games.

SKY GAMBLERS: AIR SUPREMACY Rating:  This game exemplifies realism and this is its most attractive feature. With surprisingly responsive controls, the aircrafts react to even the slightest maneuvers and this is sure to intrigue you. There are three different modes: Campaign Mode, Missions and Online Multiplayer. Campaign mode is disappointingly bland, taking up about thirty minutes of your time. However you may enjoy specific missions or indulge in the multiplayer mode with friends or simply play online challenges. Namco has excelled with stunning visuals and graphics. A favorite is the city option, flying through a maze of buildings, dodging them. Air Supremacy is fun, the Campaign Mode notwithstanding. Treat this game purely as entertainment on the go. It's a highly recommended purchase that you will not regret.

PLATFORM:

IOS

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iMHO {

SO MANY FUN THINGS, SO LITTLE TIME! HERE'S THE SCOOP

M Y

H O N ES T

O P I N I O N

KYA SUPER KOOL HAI HUM

Starring: Ritesh Deshmukh, Neha

Sharma, Tusshar Kapoor

The much-awaited sequel to the slammed-by-critics but loved-bythe-audience Kya Kool Hain Hum, this movie promises to be a raunchy laughter riot. The support cast of Neha Sharma and Sarah Jane Dias will definitely make for a curious ensemble. The same goes for the mixed star cast. The story follows the life of two young guys who happen to be vacationing in Goa. Interestingly, this movie has many scenes, movies which have been deemed to be a tad bold. Right from Deshmukh’s portrayal of a gigolo or the dialogues that sound wrong when muttered in a loop, this movie has most definitely stretched the Censor Board to its tolerance limits.

SONS OF RAM Starring: Sunidhi Chauhan, Aditya

Kapadia, Ettienne Couthino Sons of Ram is an animated movie that centres around the greatest warrior king of Ayodhya, Ram, and his twin sons. The movie details the life of Ram since he was forced to send his wife Sita into exile, to how Sita raised their twin sons Luv and Kush in Valmiki’s hermitage, right up to how the twins accompanied by a gang of of affectionate friends, they enjoy a journey in enchanted forests with mythical creatures to the land of Ayodhya. This movie is a must watch for people of all ages as it really throws light on Indian mythology in a fun way! A good watch with your friends or family!

EK THA TIGER

Starring: Salman Khan and

Katrina Kaif

Kabir Khan’s third venture with Yash Raj Films stars two of the biggest stars of the Bollywood industry. Throw in the storyline of the legendary India-Pakistan rivalry, exciting new shoot locations and we have a winner. Ek Tha Tiger follows the story of a RAW secret agent (Khan) whose mission is to stop the illegal sale of nuclear weapons to Pakistan’s ISI. Kaif on the other hand, plays his love interest and is ironically also the caretaker of the nuclear deal handler. Do stay tuned for this one! It's a must watch considering it has Bollywood's controversial pair in it.

Movies / Music / Books

SWARATHMA- TOPIWALLEH

This album by the colourful, folk rock band Swarathma has all the components of being a hit. Folk rock not your thing? Don’t worry since the band will make you fall in love with this genre. Whether you are in a bus or train, the cover song 'Topiwalleh' will surely get your feet moving to the beat. If you are not a morning person, it’s the perfect song to get you in a good spirit. 'Rishton ka Rishta' is my favorite song of the lot with lyrics that are very inspiring and a beat that is extremely soothing. Another song that music definitely needs to be heard is 'Khul Ja Re', which is in a similar league as 'Rishton ka Rishta'. It’s a song for the monsoon. It’s one of those songs you want to hear on repeat while you gaze out the window. 'Ghum' is very different from the others and displays the band’s versatility. All in all, it’s an album that you must have. Get your copy now. -Disha Seth

UNDER THE INFLUENCE - EP Trip-hop, jazz, blues, funk, pop and electronica, all come together to make this EP by 'Under the Influence'. This two-member band, defines their music as a 'melting pot'. The EP consists of five songs, beginning with 'Distraction ', a mellifluous song about a helpless lover. The laid-back drawl in the music and vocals of 'No Clue', exhibits the bewitching quality of a Winehouse track. 'Doormat' best reflects the versatility of vocalist Abhijit Lahiri. Serenading the listener with a blusey-jazz beginning and then seamlessly sneaking in the bass guitar, this track is definitely the highlight of the EP. 'A live' proves to be a bit of a dampener, suffering from the dangers of too many influences. Nevertheless, successfully breaking free from the constraints of a genre, this band certainly merits a listen. - Vatsala Chhibber

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

RAINY DAY

PICKS

WATCH

I N

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Three filmmaking students mysteriously disappear in the woods of Maryland while filming a documentary based on the legend of the Blair Witch. Watch this on a stormy night and you are guaranteed a spine-tingling experience. This one is definitely not for the weak hearted!

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QUICK FIRE INTERVIEW WITH GIRISH KOHLI Girish Kohli graduated in software engineering but quit it to work in a garage. He later tried his hand at becoming a fitness trainer but quit that to work in his father's business. He finally quit everything to write full time. Girish Kohli is no quitter. In fact, he is the author of ‘Marathon Baba’, a fictional novel which saw the light of the day early this year. Marathon Baba is the journey of a man who is propelled from being Human to God and his struggle to become human again. Born and brought up in Mumbai, Girish Kohli, 29 years, does not consider himself as a writer. He believes that a writer is someone who survives only on writing. He is a maverick traveller who loves to embark on a journey without much care about the destination. Why should one read your book this weekend? Marathon Baba is a story about a man who runs away from home and goes on to open an Ashram for all those who have run away from home. You should read it because it is radical. It won’t bore you and it won’t take you more than a weekend to read. It is quite breezy. How did you come up with the title? I must admit, I thought hard about this. I have a knack for coming up with whacky titles; I think we can credit it to the enormous amount of reading I have done in my teens.

books

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? I am greatly influenced by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Marquez's writing taught me that it is okay to blur the lines between general fiction and fantasy. I learnt that that there are no limits when it comes to imagination. I also learnt that it’s okay to confuse the reader as long as the writer is clear about the story. Would you like to see your book being made into a film and who would you like to see playing the main protagonist in the film? I don't think anybody in India has the sensibility to adapt Marathon Baba. I am not interested in who portrays Marathon Baba. I am interested in who directs the movie. I guess the late Vijay Anand would have done a great job. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? Ernest Hemmingway simply because I love the way he writes. What do you feel about the impact of English fiction on the youth of today? The impact is twofold. Current English fiction is dry. It doesn't impart any values and doesn't give the youth any worthwhile heroes. Thus the youth is looking up to ordinary characters. But the good thing is that the youth will stand up and change the trend and break the herd mentality and come up with something radical. Read the entire interview on www.youthincmag.com -Babita Balan

`15

This novel tells the story of a British traveller named Richard who during one of his travels, chances upon a map that supposedly leads to a secluded, idyllic beach. Constantly on the lookout for adventure, Richard embarks on a journey to find this hidden paradise. But is he prepared to deal with what lies ahead? This book is the perfect way to escape the monsoon gloom!

THE DREAMER BY THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH LISTEN

READ

THE BEACH BY ALEX GARLAND

As you pause to appreciate the weather this monsoon, allow Swedish singer Kristian Matsson to provide a beautiful soundtrack for your daydreams. Singing heart warming lyrics in a voice that mirrors the charm of Bob Dylan, this artist is a great companion on a rainy day!

AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 83

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_RESTAURANT REVIEW

Resto/Meter

THE BEST NEW FOOD SPOTS IN T O W N ////////

BURGS, MUMBAI

Located on Waterfield road, gourmet burger chain, Burgs caters to all the burger enthusiasts with a menu offering not only chicken but pork, beef, fish, lamb and veggie burgers. Once on Waterfield Road, the place is hard to miss with its big cave like entrance and structure. The owners of the restaurant have gone for a pristine white ambience which looks cool but a little weird for a burger joint. I tried the ‘Birdy Num Num’ – a chicken burger and the ’The Burg’. The Birdy Num Num (` 215) was pleasant but I didn’t taste the promised ‘gooey cheese’ centre in the middle of the chicken patty. The burger was strictly average and ultimately disappointing. I personally recommend the ‘The Burg’ (` 190) with its juicy beef patty, a béarnaise sauce and caramelized onions. The burger was absolutely delicious and a great follow up to the unsatisfactory ‘Birdy Num Num’. Food fanatics who feel one burger just isn’t enough can go in for ‘The Big Burg’ (` 275) with two tenderloin patties. The bread used at ‘Burgs’ disappoints with its crumbly texture and stale taste-I much prefer the McDonalds burger bun. Also available on the menu are onion rings (` 99) which were really good accompanied by a tangy dip. ‘Burgs’ also offers some unusual ice cream milkshakes like the Vanilla and Lavender with marshmallows shake and the Chocolate with Zesty Orange shake (` 139). Unfortunately, there isn’t a variety for all the health freaks with only one salad available on the menu and one tofu burger. ‘Burgs’ is a great alternative to the usual burger joints with a wider variety and some interesting beverages but be prepared to shell out a lot more than you are used to paying at your regular fast food restaurants. 4&5, Plot No. 248, New Kamal Building, Waterfield Road, Bandra West , Mumbai -Abisha Fernandes

`400

n per perso

OUT OF THE BOX, DELHI ‘Out of the box’ the name suggests it all. This place is set to give you all Delhi has to offer. It’s an architectural vision, the interiors are done up in wood, set to compliment the outdoors. A perfect diner date for two, at a reasonable price of `1500. An air conditioned traditional setting may not be a part of your evening plan, in that case enjoy the outdoor setting, dine surrounded by luscious tress with great food to compliment. A selection of North Indian, Asian as well as European dishes are served within a questionable service time. If it’s a horribly boring meal then this restaurant provides you with an escape route, wifi! If you can’t think of new ways to excuse yourself from questioning guests to take a drag, then take a seat in the smoking area and save yourself some excuses. Catch up with friends over a beer during the Happy Hours, 12 am to 7pm, kick back and relax. Live music played occasionally gives a tribal theme to the evening. Spend your afternoon overlooking the Hauz Khas lake while eating a portion of papaya salad, grab a drink and take your favourite read along. 9A, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi -Disha Seth

1000

` n per perso

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_CELEB TADKA

In a

Jiffy Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, who hosts the popular show Turban Tadka on the Food Food channel, has worked at Vintage – an Indian specialty restaurant in Luxembourg and other five-star restaurants in India. An Indian food specialist, he harbours the dream of popularising Indian cuisine across the globe.

CHIWDA CUTLETS INGREDIENTS

1 cup pressed rice (poha) 3 medium potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed 2 teaspoons oil + to shallow fry ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ½ teaspoon mustard seeds 2 medium onions, finely chopped 2 tablespoons refined flour (maida) ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder Salt to taste ½ cup cottage cheese (paneer), grated ½ tablespoon lemon juice

PREPARATION • S oak the poha in two cups of water for five minutes and drain completely. • Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and once they crackle, add mustard seeds, chopped onion and refined flour. Roast for two to three minutes. • Add turmeric powder, stir and mix well. Take off from heat and transfer the mixture into a bowl. • Add soaked poha, mashed potatoes, salt, paneer and lemon juice. Mix well. • Divide the mixture into eight equal portions and shape each into a cutlet. • Heat a little oil in a nonstick pan and shallow fry the cutlets till golden. Drain and place them on an absorbent paper. Serve hot.

DIDu

W KNO • The potato, a name derived from the American Indian word ‘batata’, was introduced to Europeans by Spanish conquerors during the late 16th century. • A potato is about 80 per cent water and 20 per cent solid. • A physician in Ireland says potatoes are powerful aphrodisiacs. • The potato is the fourth most important crop in the world after wheat, rice and corn. • In terms of nutrition, the potato is best known for its carbohydrate content. • Potato contains vitamins and minerals as well as an assortment of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and natural phenols. • The fibre content of a potato with skin is equivalent to that of many whole grain breads, pastas and cereals. AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 85

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_AFTER DARK

hangover

 

OVER THE WEEKEND HANGOUTS

F LOUNGE.DINER.BAR, MUMBAI

For an enthralling experience, dynamic food and a refined ambience, the F Lounge.Diner.Bar is the ideal place to go on a night out with friends. F Lounge.Diner.Bar is an inimitable and distinctive space comprising of an inspired 'Champagne Lounge' and a private dining area. The food offerings are widespread and are often inspired by global influences. Memorable dishes include Patiala chicken with a whiskey flambé and Tava Ravas with Tequilla Lime Glaze. These innovative dishes create an exceptional pairing to the variety of cocktails served. The ambience of the space is also something that doesn’t go unnoticed. The main attraction at the venue is the impeccably designed staircase lit up from within that seemingly merges into the ceiling, creating a stunning impact. The music isn’t so bad either, with a pleasant mix of nu jazz, chic lounge and classics, it’s sure to create an intimate yet comforting atmosphere. F. Lounge. Diner.Bar pays tribute to a growing world of innovation and glamour. With innovative dishes, a stunning ambience, and an admirable bar menu, one is sure to have a memorable and glamorous dining and lounge experience. One India Bulls

200

`1 n per perso

Centre, 3rd Floor, Senapati Bapat Marg, Elphinstone Road. For Reservations, Contact: 022 66505820 -Alisha Sheth

HIGH SPIRITS, PUNE It’s the time of the year when maximum buses to Pune are filled with youngsters headed for various degree colleges and institutes in Pune. Mumbai-ites if you tend to miss home staying in Pune, we have a solution to get Mumbai’s nightlife to your doorstep. High Spirits is one of the most student-friendly clubs in Pune. If you feel like a casual night out with your hostel buddies, then head over to Koregaon Park and get ready to get a taste of High Spirits. Couple entry is `800 and stag entry for girls is about `600, but sorry guys no stag entry for you! If you are looking for events, then this club is full of them. My personal favorite is 'bladder burst' Thursdays; drink all you want till you reach your capacity all for `300 and exit with a sense of pride and an uneasy feeling of wanting to use the washroom. If clubbing isn’t your thing, then they also have a number of live performances over the week. One of the highlights of this place is the music, they have different themes every night ranging from Rock to R&B as well as House and Trance. So no matter what your style is, you are sure to have a good time with a decent student crowd. What are you waiting for? Get your dancing shoes on and head over to High Spirits. 35-A/1, Ghorpadi, North Main Road, After Kalyani

Nagar Bridge, Koregaon Park, Pune, 411001

0 `50rs on

-Disha Seth

per pe

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Rising STAR

Saahil Prem is going places with his new film. Youth Inc gets to know him inside out!

e’s an actor with looks that could kill. Yes, Saahil Prem is all set to make his mark in the Bollywood industry with his upcoming self-directed film called Someday. The film happens to be India’s first international dance film and is all set to scorch the screen soon. Interestingly, his mentor and wellwisher Shah Rukh Khan was so impressed with the film that he immediately lent his support for the post-production of the film. Being the son of famed journalist Nishi Prem has helped, but Saahil has certainly paved the way for himself. The handsome hunk also stars in the film, so stay tuned if you wouldn’t want to miss out on this whopper of a movie!

FUN Fragrance of the moment: Hugo Boss PICKS Actor you’d like to share screen space with: Aamir Khan Director you’d like to work with: Vishal Bharadwaj Top 3 movies of all time: A Separation, The Pianist and The Pursuit of Happyness Your source of inspiration: I am highly inspired by music. Latest obsession: Pioneer Ergo DJ Controller. I love it! Favourite cuisine: Lebanese Ideal holiday spot: Morocco Drool worthy bike: Yamaha YZF-R1 Favourite clothing brand: Adidas A sport you love: I like cricket as well as snooker and pool on a professional level. Passions: DJing, music, riding bikes and watching films Must-hear album: Serious House Mafia Perfect date: It would be a really cosy and chilled out date. It definitely won’t be over hyped! If it weren’t for acting, you would definitely be a DJ! AUGUST 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 87

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_HOROSCOPE

STAR

AQUARIUS/JAN 21 - FEB 20 Your clear inner vision will motivate you to approach everything with a can-do attitude, and embrace new beginnings. Don’t allow your pride to take over when others present contrary opinions. Delegate some important tasks so that you can maintain your efficiency. Your ambition will take on humanitarian role now as you will strive to help others. Lucky Numbers: 5, 9 Lucky Colour: Grey Love Dates: 20th, 31st

PISCES/ FEB 19- MAR 20

AJAI RAI MADAN Astrologer, Numerologer & Aura reader

STRUCK

CANCER/ JUN 22 - JUL 22

Assertive energy will fill the month as your intuitive side is in full working order. Your goals will be put to the test. Confidence will nudge you to take calculated risks. You will have a grasp over issues and communicate well with others. Some interesting work offers will also come your way. Do not neglect your spiritual side as this will benefit to you. Lucky Numbers: 4, 8 Lucky Colour: Indigo Love Dates: 19th, 25th

You will gain the support of colleagues which will give your ideas get the consideration they merit. You may want to take a break and spend time on things that make you happy. This will make you feel energized to deal with all problems. Differences in your love life could come to the fore. Empty promises with little action will increase tension. Lucky nos: 3, 6 Lucky color: Red Love Dates: 11th, 17th

ARIES/ MAR 21 - APR 20

LEO/ JUL 23 - AUG 23

A popular Bollywood vedic astrologer takes you through your starry forecast this month SCORPIO/OCT 24 - NOV 22

Deep rooted fears may come to the surface. You may have to relinquish old attachments for your growth. Your ability to work with abstracts will help you to make breakthroughs. There could be new growth in both your personal and professional life. Ready wit and insights will be your chief allies and nothing will hold you back now. Lucky Numbers: 1, 4 Lucky Colour: White Love Dates: 14th, 26th

There may be a broad sweep of interest in cultural and intellectual pursuits. Past conditions connected with work or health may come back. Fulfilling expectations of loved ones will strengthen bonds. Socializing will be on the agenda. Selfconfidence and positive thinking will inspire faith in your capabilities. Lucky Numbers: 4, 8 Lucky Colour: Black Love Dates: 17th, 29th

TAURUS/ APR 21 - MAY 21

VIRGO/AUG 24 - SEP 22

SAGITTARIUS/NOV 23 - DEC 23

In your enthusiasm to take on projects, ensure that you don’t make promises which are difficult to live up to. You will have a chance to build alliances with like-minded people. Turn to close associates for advice if you are unable to make up your mind about certain important issues. There may also be lucrative opportunities for new investments. Lucky Numbers: 5, 8 Lucky Colour: Yellow Love Dates: 12th, 24th

You may be momentarily overwhelmed by someone’s behavior. Keep things in perspective and don’t let your confidence be undermined. Showing appreciation for those who have helped you will be reciprocated in no small measure, much to your delight. An increased desire to learn about business trends will bring great satisfaction and fulfillment. Lucky Numbers: 6, 9 Lucky Colour: Magenta Love Dates: 15th, 25th

You may feel a sense of restlessness because of the monotony of your routine. Taking up a hobby or learning a new skill will help you broaden your horizons and meet new people. Business folks will introduce smart plans that will be lucrative. Problems that you have been facing at work will be resolved due to quick thinking on your part. Lucky Numbers: 3, 7 Lucky Colour: Violet Love Dates: 18th, 28th

GEMINI/MAY 22 - JUN 21

LIBRA/ SEP23 - OCT 23

You will be effective in neutralizing any problems that may crop up. Your ideas might be successful if you find the right associations. You will be more effective at meetings if you focus on actual facts and figures. Romantic relationship might make you contemplative. Think practically and you may be able to gain perspective. Lucky Numbers: 2 , 9 Lucky Colour: Orange Love Dates: 10th, 22nd

You may want to act on opportunities, but it is better to weigh all the pros and cons. Overconfidence could prove disappointing, so exercise caution. Be discreet in your actions with superiors as your enthusiasm could well be mistaken for efforts to gain unfair advantage. Keep an open mind on different issues for valuable insights. Lucky Numbers: 4, 7 Lucky Colour: Green Love Dates: 13th, 20th

Building a consensus with like-minded people will result in concrete plans. Plan a flexible schedule, as delays are likely. Certain close ties and bonds may be going through changes, make your position clear to avoid confusion. Social engagements are likely to keep you busy. Be diplomatic in your interactions with new people. Lucky Numbers: 2, 5 Lucky Colour: Crimson Love Dates: 16th, 27th

CAPRICORN/DEC 24 - JAN 20 There won’t be much change during this month, but don’t be afraid to try something new. This will help you gain lots of useful information. Your generosity with others will bring great rewards. But remain alert as you need to pay attention to details. Go all out to encourage teamwork. Great inspiration will help you to tap into the power of integrity. Lucky Numbers: 1, 6 Lucky Colour: Blue Love Dates: 23rd, 30th

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POOJA MISRRA: THE 'SPARE ME' GAL'S MESSAGE FOR THE YOUTH EDUCATE + ENTERTAIN

JULY 2012 || ` 50

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6 inspiring life stories

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_GRAFFITI

DEMON-SOON

Showers needn't be boring ever again! Here are a few creative, funny, evil ways to enjoy the monsoons. Try them at your own risk - we do NOT endorse them. Wait for it to rain and the streets to flood. Ride the boat into the BUILD A HUGE path of stuck traffic. Shout out PAPER BOAT. to everyone who can hear that the floods are coming. It's the end of the world and they need to head for the hills. BUILD A HUGE PAPER BOAT. Wait for it to rain and the streets to flood. Ride the boat into the path of stuck traffic. Shout out to everyone who can hear that the floods are coming. It's the end of the world and they need to head for the hills. GO TO A ROADSIDE CHAIWALA'S WHILE IT'S RAINING. Since it's raining, there will be 20-30 people there enjoying the best thing in the world: hot tea in the rain. Order a tea and finish it quickly. Suddenly, clutch your throat and stomach and stagger away in the rain. No one can see what ultimately happens to you because of the rain. Also, they'll be too busy eyeing the chaiwala suspiciously.

SET YOUR DAILY FB STATUS to the opposite of what the Met department predicts for the next 24 hours. This means you will always be right. Bask in the attention that you receive for being the modern Nostradamus. ORGANISE A FLASH MOB. Get a 100 people together in the rain. Take 5 minutes to decide which of the 100 rain-related songs they will sing. When they've finished, insist on a retake because the mobile camera you were using to upload it to YouTube failed. Since many of them are doing it for publicity they will agree. After the second retake, say it was a joke and run away. Fast.

NOTE DOWN LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS OF CARS THAT SPLASH. Start a blog where you can rant about the owners of the cars. Since everyone will want to do this, the site will become superpopular, and people will secretly check it every day to see if their car is up.

WHEN IT REALLY RAINS HEAVILY, GO OLD SCHOOL. Get a line and pretend to fish.

This column is brought to you by Laugh Out Loud - The Indian Humour Brand

Doobie & Mary Jane

By Gokul Gopalkrishnan

90 Youth Incorporated â&#x2022;&#x2018; AUGUST 2012

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Creative. • World’s top 100 creative university • 107 years as part of world renowned University of London • Academic excellence – ranked 9th in the UK for world-leading research (RAE 2008) • Internationally renowned for its creative and innovative approach • “Goldsmiths has its own distinctive ﬂavour. Reputed as a creative and cognitive university, being a student at Goldsmiths has broadened my horizons and enabled me to think beyond what I considered to be my limits.” Mahima, MSc Occupational Psychology • Anthropology

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