August 2011

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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 AUGUST 2011 > ` 50

LIAR LIAR:

COUPLE FIB FILES

PROSPECTUS

PUZZLE:

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE WHAT DO COLLEGE FESTS TEACH YOU?

N A H K N A M L SA Man with a heart

AT ER !

E R G THE AL WORK SOCI

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Volume 1 Issue 2 August 2011

you t h incorporated www.youthincmag.com

Editorial Editor-in-Chief NITISH SHAH Executive Editor SHRADDHA KAMDAR

Editor's

note

Managing Editor MINAL PATODIA

Correspondents TASNEEM POCKETWALA

Design Art Consultant DONUT DESIGN Graphic Designers NIKITA MONISH RAO BIPIN P B

Marketing NAHIDA COELHO NIKHAT ALI RESHMA POOJARI NIHAL ADVANI

Circulation SARFARAJ SHAIKH SAMEER LONDHE

Fashion Contributors SONU BOHRA JASLEEN KAUR 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 Printed at: Repro India Ltd Plot No 50/2, TTC MIDC Industrial Area, Mahape Navi Mumbai 400 710. District Thane

For Advertising, Subscriptions and Circulations contact mail@youthincmag.com call (91 22) 23516622/6609 All content in print and online is owned by Splash Publication Pvt Ltd under international copywright 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.

First things first. Thank you for the overwhelming response to our inaugural issue; the mails just keep pouring in. Along with the pitter-patter of the raindrops that hit my office window pane while I write this note, I love the tiny ping sound that announces the arrival of yet another response.

One of our readers quoted Swami Vivekananda in his letter to us - “Nothing can be achieved without some kind of sacrifice.” I just want to say that all the sacrifices, the late night mayhems at the office and the squinting due to computer eye strain was all worth it - the love and affection you have shown to Youth Inc made it worthwhile. On this note, I’d like to promise my readers that we will always strive to bring to your door step, a magazine that can equal your expectations, and even exceed them.

To kick start this issue, we have one of Bollywood’s favourite stars – Salman Khan. Well, he’s got a knack to stay in the media, even when the press is at loggerheads with him. Whether he has delivered the greatest grossers of all times (Maine Pyaar Kiya, Karan Arjun, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Dabangg) or allegedly indulged in activities that do not suit an icon, he has always received a raw deal from the media. In Salman’s case, very often, the facts would be few and the insinuations far too many. Not anymore. There is one thing that the super star got right, not only for himself, but also for the paparazzi - his softer side - Being Human. Whether he was neck-deep in controversies (and there were many) or busy with shooting schedules, he always found time to give unto others. I do hope you enjoy the side of the actor that Youth Inc brings to you in this issue, and that it inspires some of you to actually take up social work as a career. For the more innovative ones, there’s always the option of marrying social causes to a business model and giving birth to a social entrepreneurship venture.

With that, also take a look at ‘becoming a chartered accountant’ – it is a profession that will never go out of fashion – not unless the government stops taxing us. And if you want to run away as far as possible from numbers, consider a career in graphic design.

I now turn back to the computer and wish for the familiar sounds – the pitter-patter and the tiny pings. Bring it on!

Nitish Shah

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_SPECIAL FEATURE

measure the impact their initiative has and communicate it with their investors and customers. Incubators and accelerators can also assist in making connections, fundraising, and giving valuable advice.

SOME POPULAR INCUBATORS ARE LISTED AS UNDER:

Echoing Green: This international institute offers a two-year fellowship for social entrepreneur start-ups with a grant of $60,000 for individuals and $90,000 for two-person partnerships. It also offers stipends for health insurance and gaining professional skills. In 2009, Dhruv Larka from Mirakle Couriers was chosen for the Echoing Green fellowship.

Unreasonable Institute: This summer fellowship brings together 25 entrepreneurs from all over the world to the US to work with 60 mentors who offer advice and train entrepreneurs in essential skills to develop their programme to the next level. After completing the programme, fellows can pitch their ideas to investors. Cycle Chalao is one of 27 initiatives chosen in 2011 by the Unreasonable Institute.

Rainer Arnhold Fellowship: This fellowship is for two years and caters to entrepreneurs who are working in the third world to solve major problems in health, poverty, and conservation. Along with networking opportunities and mentoring, it also provides a $10,000 annual stipend.

UnLtd India: This is a one-year programme based in Mumbai that offers funding and training at three different levels, ranging from those who are working on a project part-time to those who are looking at it as a full-time business.

It offers a wide range of funding to support all three levels, starting from `80,000 and going up to `20 lakh.

A bag by Conserve India made from waste material

3

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS CHANGING OUR WORLD

Dhruv Larka – Mirakle Couriers Mr Larka has created a miracle with his company that employs only deaf adults as couriers. Even more importantly, he has created an inclusive and sustainable business with the handicapped, who are so often marginalised and not given jobs in India. Larka is not only academically brilliant and a humanitarian, but also down-to-earth. He studied at the SAID School of Business at Oxford University on a full scholarship from the Skoll foundation, taking electives in social entrepreneurship. After returning to India, he wanted to start a social entrepreneurship project. The idea for Mirakle Couriers occurred to him one day when he was sitting in a bus with a deaf man next to him.

He thought that deaf adults could deliver parcels just as capably as any other person, as long as they could communicate via texts, signals, and images, and find addresses.

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BY FLICKR USER AMIOASCENSION

Anita Ahuja - Conserve India Anita Ahuja is working with ragpickers in Delhi, those who sort out the waste trash, to create beautiful handbags for export.

She is transforming waste matter into wealth with a profitable and sustainable business.

Today, her company employs over 300 people, and sells her bags across the world.

Conserve India started as a waste collection project for the locality, and eventually reached out to other colonies on a non-profit basis.

Even though it received grants from national and international organisations, it had to sustain itself by creating its own income. This is around the time that Ahuja realised that most ragpickers lived in almost inhuman and

In December 2008, Larka started Mirakle Couriers on a capital of `17,000, money left over from the Skoll foundation. According to Larka, deaf adults are more than capable of making deliveries; all they have to do is find a way to communicate. Google Maps and other new technologies help in finding addresses. Mirakle also includes a sign language sheet with every delivery so customers can

A courier boy at Mirakle Couriers

unhygienic conditions with their families, and were terribly bullied by contractors.

Ahuja started experimenting with the waste products and eventually began to layer the plastic waste to create bags.

Her husband, Shalabh, helped scale up her idea with a machine that could produce plastic sheets from the waste material on a mass scale.

Together, they began to create handbags and other accessories. Over time, Conserve India has grown to become a factory where each worker draws at least `4,000 a month. What’s more, their revenues have touched the 5-crore mark! Together, they have created a fantastic business that helps over 300 families, one handbag at a time.

communicate with their couriers.

In 2009, Larka was chosen for the Echoing Green fellowship that funds 15 social entrepreneurs worldwide each year. The fellowship gave him enough capital to invest in systems and infrastructure, and take the business to the next level. Mirakle is currently delivering 60,000 shipments each month and hopes to increase this to 100,000 by the end of the year.

LARKA HAS CREATED A MIRACLE WITH HIS COMPANY THAT EMPLOYS ONLY DEAF ADULTS AS COURIERS. EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE HAS CREATED AN INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS WITH THE HANDICAPPED

DR MUHAMMAD YUNNUS WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 2006 FOR HIS WORK IN SETTING UP THE GRAMEEN BANK Dr Muhammad Yunnus – Grameen Bank Dr Muhammad Yunnus is one of the most distinguished names in the social entrepreneurship field worldwide.

This pioneering Bangladeshi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in setting up the Grameen Bank – a microfinance bank that provides loans to the poor, those who can offer almost no collateral in return. Instead, the bank gives low-interest loans based on ‘trust, accountability, participation, and creativity,’ according to their website. The Grameen Bank has made a sizeable impact in the socioeconomic development of the poor and shown that one can give credit to those without collateral and create a sustainable business. Their loan recovery rate is over 97 per cent, and today, even big banks like Citi are piling into the same market.

As of May 2011, the bank reaches out to 8.36 million borrowers, 97 per cent of whom are women, in almost each and every village in Bangadesh.

Small loans make a tremendous improvement to lives in these women who have taken up these loans and to their children. Moreover, the bank is owned by the poor: borrowers currently hold 95 per cent of the total equity of the bank, while the government owns 5 per cent.

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_SPECIAL FEATURE

HOW TO BECOME A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR Here are some tried and tested tips to get you started.

Find your cause It’s great that you want to save the world, but then reality strikes, that you can’t. Instead, tackle the issue you feel most strongly about. Once you find the cause you are passionate about, identify the primary issues that are there in that field. For example, if you are passionate about solar energy, think of ways to bring cheaper and affordable solar panels to rural areas. If undecided, join a non-profit organisation until you do find your passion, but do not make the mistake of entering a social entrepreneurship project with one step in and the other out of the door.

Create a business Do not think of your project as a charity. You have to adopt the best practices, strategies, and management methods followed by businesses across the world while keeping your humanitarian cause firmly at the core of your business. Invest in the skills of

your managers – for any enterprise to be successful, it needs to have smooth operations, a good marketing and sales team, and targeted consumers.

Hire motivated, smart, and ambitious employees who are more experienced than you in their specialised fields.

Differentiate yourself from charities and non-profits. Market yourself aggressively to create a brand in the mind of consumers. These same principles hold true for any business.

Communicate For any social entrepreneurship project to succeed, it must be transparent and ethical. Make your financial information open to attract donors and investors. Keep annual reports available for your investors and count the number of people your cause has helped.

Develop an emotional connection with your consumers by projecting the right image through carefully controlled PR activities. With the Internet, there are a variety of new media platforms available; build videos, use social networking sites, and write a blog about your activities to garner support.

Courses in Social Entrepreneurship Although some say that entrepreneurship arises from the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of the individual and without certain innate qualities, one cannot proceed far. Entrepreneurship development courses have developed tests to calculate the potential of their candidates to reason, develop new ideas, and learn.

JGI Ventures, for instance, has started a two-year iDEA (Incubating & Developing Entrepreneurial Ability) programme in Bangalore that believes in motivating students to excel through sports, international exposure, rigorous training, and mentoring. However, prior to entering the `500-crore incubation and training postgraduate programme, students are tested rigorously through

Partner with the right people Think about getting corporate sponsorship for your brand by developing a partnership with an organisation with similar interests.

Target the chosen organisation carefully and build a proposal that will win them over. Remember, you can’t do it alone. Other than the major corporate sponsors, also look at smaller companies that can help you reach your end goal, from transportation to marketing. Keep these in mind and you are sure to succeed!

Investment firms that work with high-impact social entrepreneur companies: • Agora Partnerships

www.agorapartnerships.org • Acumen Fund

www.acumenfund.org • First Light Ventures

http://firstlightventures.com • Good Capital

www.goodcap.net

psychometric skills and the ability to think on their feet.

There are few places where the business models and development skills required for social entrepreneurship can be learnt. Some Indian institutes that offer courses in social entrepreneurship are:

Social Entrepreneurship and a threeyear, part-time MBA programme. It is one of the very few institutes in India with a dedicated MBA programme for social entrepreneurs. There are loans and need-based scholarships available for this programme. www.nmims.edu

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) is one of the first institutes in India that started a course in social entrepreneurship.

It offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Management – Development Sector and Social Entrepreneurship. www.ediindia.org

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has a two-year, full-time MA degree in Social Entrepreneurship. The course has a good balance of pedagogical learning and practical fieldwork. Students have moved on to become social entrepreneurs and take up jobs in both profit and non-profit sectors.

TISS has a range of merit and need-based scholarships available. www.tiss.edu yi

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) has a 1-year diploma programme in

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_FOCUS FEATURE

Prospectus

Puzzle

7 SMART STEPS TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE

> By Veena Gomes-Patwardhan

W

ill your days in high school or junior college soon be drawing to a close? Then, before you know it, it’ll be time to say “Bye bye school, hello college.” Maybe you've already decided which course to pursue and you’re eagerly looking forward to college life. The question is, do you know which college will be the right one for you?

Finding the right college or university is no picnic. Often, even the brightest students find themselves in ‘Wrong Choice College’ because they didn’t do their homework. So, all you aspiring chartered accountants, engineers, fashion gurus, doctors, secretaries, media moguls, astronauts, and the rest - here are a few tips to help you negotiate the complex college selection process and improve your chances of making a final smart choice.

1

DON'T GO FOR GLAMOUR; FOCUS ON THE FACTS You might have heard of some of your friends foolishly choosing a mobile based on its cool design. Well, judging a college by its looks is far worse. When it comes to making one of the most important decisions in your life, you shouldn’t be focusing on something as superficial as an attractive campus or college building.

Instead, gather as much accurate AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 13

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_FOCUS FEATURE

A campus visit is a sort of reality check to see if the college actually is your kind of place. You could verify the information you've gathered, besides checking the lecture rooms, library, labs, recreational facilities, and yes, the cafeteria

information about the colleges you’re considering. Don’t research the surface level stuff, but the things that matter, such as the academic credentials, the faculty, and the infrastructure.

2

TALK TO TEACHERS, PARENTS, EX-STUDENTS, AND FRIENDS Ronil Mokashi had selected a less popular college in Mumbai as his first choice for the BE degree only because it offered the Electronics and Telecommunications programme, a much sought after stream of engineering at that time. He says, “Fortunately, a relative informed me that students could review their subject and college choices based on available vacancies in subsequent admissions rounds. That’s how I got admission for Computer Engineering at the more reputed Fr Conceicao Rogrigues College of Engineering.”

Referring to the valuable tip-off from his relative, Mokashi says, “That was the best advice I got. And I don’t regret the switch.”

Vinayak Khot, now pursuing postgraduate studies in the US, says, “Considering reviews and suggestions from close friends and others on the same career path has helped me make the right career decision.”

So don’t hesitate to seek friendly advice from people close to you or those who can give you an informed opinion. These people could be teachers, college professors, exstudents and current students, as well as professionals in the field you’re interested in. Education-related publications are another useful resource for information about suitable colleges.

3

DON'T MAKE COLLEGE RANKING THE SOLE DECIDING FACTOR Agreed, there’s nothing wrong in wanting to join a highly ranked college. As Ashish Bagate who completed his BE from College of Engineering, Pune, says, “ For my bachelor’s degree, the brand and rank of the college was important.

Good rank and brand meant quality 14 Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2011

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education and good job prospects.”

This does make sense, for some colleges are highly reputed in specific fields of study. Even so, it would be unwise to make the ranking of a college the only deciding factor and have just big-name institutions in your final list. Don’t forget, the best ranked college might not be the best one for you.

So don’t be obsessed with rankings. Jon Reider, Director of College Counseling at San Francisco University High School in San Francisco, CA, says a common mistake is being hooked on a particular prestigious college and points out, “Students should keep their minds open to a variety of options.”

4

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR COLLEGE Explaining why he chose a college in the US for a PhD in Computer Science, Moussa Ehsan, an Iranian student, says, “Back home, we have excellent professors for teaching theory. But unlike in the US, the stuff you study in computer science in Iran is not that much related to what is being used in the industry.”

Prachi Soman, currently studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst degree programme administered by the renowned CFA Institute, USA, defends her choice saying, “It is very important to have a good quality education in your chosen field.

This way even your peers are highly talented and you can learn a lot from them.”

So set your priorities. Think of what aspects of a college would be important for you. If you’re interested in going beyond academics and developing other skills, check if a particular college will be able to support these aspirations.

5

DECIDE ON THE LOCATION Some of you might be looking to spread your wings and study at a college as far away from home as possible, or even overseas. Others might be more comfortable joining

one that is closer to home and does not involve a long commute. However, some parents don’t want their children to wander off too far from the nest. So do include location as an important selection factor. Those who are thinking of studying abroad should also take into consideration the climate and cost of living in different parts of that country while short-listing colleges to apply to.

6

CHECK OPPURTUNITIES FOR EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Ideally, a college should help you grow intellectually, and also as a person. So see that your short-listed colleges offer extra-curricular activities that match your interests. Getting involved in the right activities will enrich your college experience. A good mix of study and play is essential!

Sunila Navalkar, a recently retired maths and science teacher from St Xavier’s High School, Mumbai, says, “When the syllabus is mundane, like in the case of Mumbai University, extra-curricular activities can enhance a college student's life. Activities help students to be better groomed, discover their hidden potential, and equip themselves to face the currents outside the world of academics.”

7

IF POSSIBLE, VISIT YOUR TOP THREE COLLEGES A campus visit is a sort of reality check to see if the college actually is your kind of place. You could verify the information you've gathered, besides checking the lecture rooms, library, labs, recreational facilities, and yes, the cafeteria. You could even talk to a few students on campus and get valuable feedback.

Madhura Phadnis who recently completed her BFA degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune, says, “For the BFA course, the drawing hall, computer lab and an appropriate atmosphere for promoting one’s creativity have a special significance.

A campus visit helped me verify these crucial factors.”

It is certain, especially when parents are spending huge sums of money on graduate education, that students need do their homework before jumping to any decisions.

Finding a college that’s a good fit requires sufficient time and careful research. So start early; don’t wait till the eleventh hour. Make the right choice, and then, when it’s time to make the transition to college, you can look forward to some of the best years of your life. yi AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 15

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_WALK OF LIFE

Think

before you

SP > By Minal Patodia

Y

es, you may have heard it before. Communication at work is all-important, you need to think before you talk, blah de blah. There are a few things though that self-help books and career manuals don’t tell you which will help you at work.

Know When to Keep Mum Getting involved in office politics or bitching about your arrogant colleague may be a good stress-buster and tension reliever. But don’t spend countless hours chatting about things that you have no control over.

Focus on your work, and socialise all you want after work hours. An advertising media professional Shweta Pariat, recollects, “I had a boss who was egotistical and never listened to our inputs. It resulted in the team discussing the issue at length, as proposals were falling through. I really found it hard to focus on the work when there was so much ranting going on, but I plugged in my iPod and just went at it.” She continued to give inputs to the management, and eventually, her opinions came to be valued – where 16 Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2011

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IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT ARE OFTEN NOT COVERED IN WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION WORKSHOPS

PEAK they mattered most. It helps to be ‘Switzerland’ and keep your nose clear of gossip or politics in the workplace forum.

Be clear, simple, direct, and honest Don’t try to show off that vocab you learnt late at night pouring over The Economist with a dictionary. Don’t try to obfuscate your meaning with high-handed words; they only sound more intelligent to your own ears and often deter others from asking important questions. Try to state complex issues in the simplest common linguistic denominator so you get through to everyone. Try to be as direct as possible while covering all the facts. Remember that people have their work to complete, and time is a very valuable commodity at the workplace.

There are never good enough reasons to be dishonest about the time you overslept or forgot to do something – in the long run, it makes more sense to own up to your mistakes and ensure that they do not occur again. If you do happen to lie and get caught, even a small issue can lead to grounds for dismissal. Honesty is the best policy, honestly!

The client is always right Your clients are often nincompoops who will usually lead you on such a merry dance that you will want to

thwack them on their heads or send some equally rude emails. But no matter what, you have to be unfailingly polite and pleasant, whether writing emails, speaking on the phone, or discussing your work in person. They are allowed to rant, rave, and even curse, while you have to smile affably with the composure of a British butler.

Even if your client is behaving in a manner that is inappropriate, keep in mind that your work requires you to be on their good side. Consider that they may be pushing your buttons as a means to expedite their work. At the end of the day, it’s only the results that matter.

Don’t tackle an issue with another issue If a colleague or manager is raising a problematic issue with you, it is often tempting to retort with other problems that the management needs to tackle. Don’t defend yourself by going on the offensive – it may work in sports, but at work this can lead

to your worst nightmare. It is really important to keep issues separate when you are in a heated scenario.

Otherwise, stacking up issue upon issue will have a snowball effect and soon become an avalanche that you cannot emerge from. Instead, confront and resolve a particular situation before tackling others.

Air problems in a professional manner The best workplace communication takes place when people have space to air their issues, from the petty to the more grievous. Speaking about your problems makes them easier for everyone to handle and to think of a common solution that works.

Communication like this creates a flat organisation instead of a hierarchical one. At Big Picture, an advertisement fi lmmaking company, all the employees sit together at the end of each month and discuss each others strengths and weaknesses. Members can defend themselves if they feel a particular point is not accurate, and suggest points of improvement for others. This allows for individual members of the company to develop both professionally and personally.

Take the time to speak to your colleagues and confront them if there is some issue on your mind instead of beating around the bush.

Follow these pointers and you will find that your work will flow a lot more smoothly than ever before.

Whether you suffer from foot-inmouth disease or verbal diarrhoea, just remember to take a pause, count to five, and think before your speak, and your workplace communication will improve by leaps and bounds. yi

Don’t defend yourself by ggoingg on thee offensive - it w in n sports, p , but mayy work n a corp corporate office not in AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 17

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BiG ‘BUSINESS’ _EXAM FEVER

Want to give your best shot to that coveted business management degree? Youth Inc provides you with a skeleton of important MBA entrance exams

CAT What is CAT? Common Admission Test is an entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) for its various management programmes. It is usually considered one of the most competitive exams in the world, with a supposed success rate of about one in two hundred. This exam is crucial for aspiring students wanting to pursue their degrees in the reputed IIMs. As of 2011, there are a total of 13 established and operational IIMs. Many other prominent MBA colleges also consider the CAT scores for admission. Log on to www.catiim.in

How to apply?

The student needs to buy a CAT voucher for `1,400 in his or her name.

Who can apply?

Anyone with a graduation degree from a recognised university can apply for the test.

When?

It is held annually on the third Sunday of November.

XAT What is XAT? Xavier Admission Test (XAT) is an all-India entrance exam for students wanting to pursue their management programme at the Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur. Log on to www.xlri.net.in

When?

The XAT is held in January every year. The results are expected around the end of the month, posted on the website.

Who can apply?

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university is eligible.

Students with less than 50 per cent at the graduation level can also apply.

How to apply?

There is an online form that can be filled out on the website. The student needs to provide the XAT Bulletin number, date, AXIS Bank branch name and personal details. After the online submission, a print-out of XAT Payment Advice and Photo Form (XAT PP Form) is required.

Where does the exam take place?

There are 33 centres at which this exam will be conducted. Usually, in large cities and in metros, there are multiple test centres.

ATMA What is ATMA? AIMS Test for Management Admission (ATMA) is an entrance test to get into various post graduation management programmes in different institutes in India. Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), a national network of management

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schools, organises this test. Log on to www.atmaonline.in

How to apply?

Applicants must collect an online application bulletin from one of the following: the ATMA office at Panaji, Goa; AIMS office, Hyderabad; AIMS member institutes; Axis Bank branches; IMS Learning Centres; Career Forum; Career Launcher; and Cerebral Heights.

When?

Generally the test in conducted in the month of February. This year the test was conducted on February 20.

Who can apply?

Applicants must have a graduation degree from a recognised university.

Students who are in their final year of graduation can also apply.

FMS Admission Test What is the FMS test?

The FMS Admission Test is an MBA entrance exam conducted by the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi. There are two entrance tests depending upon the programme the student wishes to apply for the entrance test for MBA (full-time) and PhD and entrance test for MBA (parttime) and MBA (part-time in Health Care Administration). Log on to www.fms.edu for more information.

When?

The FMS entrance test for MBA (fulltime) and PhD is held in December every year and the test for admission to MBA (part-time) and MBA (part-time in Health Care Administration) is held in Jan 2011.

Who can apply?

For the full-time programme, applicants must have at least completed a graduation course with 50 per cent in arts, commerce, or social

sciences; 55 per cent in sciences, and 60 per cent in maths/ stats, medicine, engineering, or a postgraduate degree with at least 60 per cent.

How to apply?

Since applications are received only through an online registration process, students must visit the website and apply online.

NMAT What is NMAT? NMAT is the MBA entrance exam for students wanting admissions to Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai. Log on to www.nmims.edu

Who can apply?

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree with minimum 50 per cent from a known university is eligible for the test.

How to apply?

You can apply online for the exam.

When?

The entrance exam is usually held in December each year.

MAH-CET What is MAH-CET? Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test (MAH-CET) is conducted by the Government of Maharashtra for admissions for a regular postgraduation in MBA across institutions in Maharashtra. Log on to www.dte.org.in

Who can apply?

Anyone with a graduation degree with at least 45 per cent can apply. Final year students can also apply.

When?

Usually the exam takes place in February. Applications for the exam start by the end of January.

How to apply?

There are application kits available

in designated post offices across Maharashtra. After buying the kits students can apply online.

JMET What is JMET? Joint Management Entrance Test is a qualifying exam for aspirants seeking admission to management programmes at IISc Bangalore and the various Indian Institutes of Technology - IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Mumbai, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee. Log on to www.iitd.ac.in/jmet Who can apply?

The general eligibility to appear for the test is a qualifying graduation degree with minimum marks.

How to apply?

Students need to apply online on to any of the IIT or IISc websites.

When?

The exam is conducted annually in December.

SNAP What is SNAP? Symbiosis National Aptitude Test is an entrance exam for admission in Symbiosis postgraduate institutes which are affiliated SIEC Deemed University or approved by AICTE. Log on to www.snaptest.org

When?

It is generally held annually in the month of December.

How to apply?

Students must register online. There are different modes of payment for which ‘Payment Advice’ formats are created and from which a payment mode is to be chosen.

Who can apply?

One should be a graduate with at least 50 per cent from a recognised university. yi AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 19

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contents AUGUST 2011

YOGEN SHAH

Cover Story

Salman Khan Man with a Heart

Delivering a mega hit with his first movie; check.

Stealing the hearts of millions; check. Being dotted with legal troubles; check.

Yet maintaining a megastar status for over 20 years; check. Being Human; check.

That is what Salman Khan is all about. Youth Inc finds out what makes the Bollywood’s poster boy the person he is.

Also check out the career options in social work.

(Educate) SPECIAL FEATURE

8

The Other Entrepreneurs Youth Inc looks at social entrepreneurs who are combining business with social development

WALK OF LIFE Think Before you Speak

16

Important factors that are often not covered in workplace communication workshops

EXAM FEVER Big Business

18

A skeleton of some important management entrance exams

Also on the

COVER 13

PAGE

30

PROSPECTUS PUZZLE Tips on choosing the right college

23

OUT OF THE BOX A Brush with a Mouse

38

A detailed overview of careers in graphic design

CAREER WATCH The Number Game

42

Have you ever considered becoming a chartered accountant? Read on.

THE INSIDE DOPE St Xavier’s College

46

A campus review of one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges in Mumbai

PLANNED PROGRESS An eight-week guide to two English exams –TOEFL and IELTS

26

FEST FEVER: A LADDER TO SUCCESS How college festivals teach students essential work skills

54

THE JOY LUCK CLUB Online social clubs go offline to plan fun activities

58

LIAR LIAR Why do couples lie in relationships?

COVER PHOTO

GULSHAN KUMAR presents

FOREIGN SHORES

20 2

Tech Talk A look at some of the best universities to pursue computer science internationally

A T-SERIES fi lm an SCIL SOHAIL KHAN production An ANEES BAZMEE fi lm Produced by BHUSHAN KUMAR, SOHAIL KHAN, KRISHAN KUMAR Produced by NITIN MANMOHAN, RAJAT RAWAIL Associate producer AJAY KAPOOR Script consultant SALIM KHAN

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_FOREIGN SHORES

techtalk!

COMPUTER SCIENCE IS WHAT MOST STUDENTS OPT FOR WHEN STUDYING ABROAD. YOUTH INC SNEAKS A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST UNIVERSITIES TO PURSUE THIS DEGREE

N

ow that you’ve got the information technology (IT) degree (even if you’re in the last year, you’ll still have the degree next year) what next? Well, it is a classic situation, where some opt for a job through campus recruitment and some for an MBA straight away! Yet, there is a steady group of fresh engineers who want to look at foreign shores for further studies.

And that’s where the popularity of a Master’s in Computer Science emerges as a clear winner among all fields.

“When I started at the School of Engineering at Columbia University, I was taken aback by the sheer number of Indians in the programme. Not only among the students, but also among the faculty members,” says Swati Kumar who is now working with Barclays Bank in New York.

What she means is that Indians are really looking at this field when they opt to study abroad – and that to for two reasons: the starting pay packet is quite decent, much better compared to other fields of study, and second, it is relatively easy to obtain a job (most students are placed during campus recruitments itself) again, compared to

other fields of study. This is because there is a huge demand for computer science majors in the US, making this field a great return on investment.

Another advantage, especially for brighter students would be the vast availability of assistantships that are available in the computer science department of most colleges. “Since almost all colleges have a huge undergraduate and graduate population in this field, most professors look for teaching assistants, which is a very lucrative campus job,” says Monesh Punjabi who pursued his master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Well then, let’s not delay any further, here’s the help we promised. However, a fair waring - the best universities to pursue this degree are in the US. We really can’t help that.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that any programme pursued in the US will cost you a mini-fortune. But, as we have said before, your funds can be recovered in little time.

For now, we skip the boring details that you can find on the university websites and cut straight to the chase - what students think. Here goes.

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Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE ENROLLMENT: 48 % Of course, every college and campus has its own personality, but if you study computer science at Carnegie Mellon, you will be studying at the best in the United States. We don’t say so, US News does! It is the number one ranked school on their website. So, even if a student has only rose-tinted vision while selecting a school, it’ll work if you get selected here.

“I chose Carnegie Mellon University because it has taught students with the finest mindset and remained one of the best engineering schools throughout the world.

Also, I believe that learning science related subjects is a stepping stone for any learning,” says Rahul Shivdasani, who is going to attend CMU this month for his Master’s programme.

2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE ENROLLMENT: 37.1 % If you are a student at MIT, your first step into Computer Science would be via a course which integrates programming, basic electrical engineering, robotics, and control system theory - all in one paper! And just like that, you will be studying at the Mecca of technology.

“What was great about MIT were the incredible opportunities, the academic infrastructure, and going to school with people who were cooler and more intelligent than I was. You’ll learn an amazing amount in your time there, and there is a good chance you’ll have a blast doing it.

Believe me, Boston is a great place to be a student,” says MIT

student Nivedita Chandrasekaran. Adds a friend of hers, “MIT grads get top jobs in the government and industry.

Great NASA pilots and astronauts have graduated from here. Who wouldn’t want to study here!”

Many students are of the opinion that the depth of work is very challenging and a degree in CS from MIT is definitely more respected than any other university.

When recruiters look at a resume and see MIT on it, the company knows that it is hiring someone with great problem-solving skills and a mindset that will contribute to the company.

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_FOREIGN SHORES

3

Stanford University School of Engineering INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE ENROLLMENT: 33 % “It’s simple,” says Stanford student Arun Josh, “the faculty is excellent, the innovation is mind blowing, and there are interdisciplinary and industry-relevant solutions.” He says it in a manner that leads one to believe that there is no other college worth going to. He goes on to talk about the synergy and support that students thrive on. Whatever the case, there are those who swear by the location, and they prefer to live on the West Coast for the much lovelier

climate as opposed to the East Coast. Most Stanford students get jobs immediately, both in the Silicon Valley and elsewhere in the US. Others choose to pursue doctoral studies specialising in such diverse areas as artificial intelligence, hardware design, numerical analysis, or graphics. Since the CS curriculum gives students a strong foundation to build depth in the field, graduates are usually prepared to pursue any subfield in their programme.

4 INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE ENROLLMENT: 45.2% Cornell has one of the top programmes in computer science in the United States, and moreover, the university carries a lot of prestige than most other universities over the globe. It is an academically strong school, Ivy League, no less, and can boast of some of the best faculty members for the programme.

Many students from the programme also participate

Cornell University College of Engineering

in cooperative, on-site work assignments in the industry.

During working semesters these assignments can happen in any location throughout the country. They give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and, teach them about pressures involved.

Apart from that, students swear by the living environment, the campus providing all that students need.

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Planned

_FOREIGN SHORES

PROGRESS Youth Inc cuts to the English tests chase and gives you a weekly study guide for both the TOEFL and the IELTS

T

he decision is made. You are going abroad to study. For that, whichever country you choose in the western world, you need to prove that you are fairly comfortable with written and spoken English. And the best way to prove this is to take the standardised exams. And how do you prepare to get a great score? Just follow the sequence given below.

IELTS Week 1 Go through the IELTS tests provided by the British Council and ascertain the format of the exam. You can visit www.britishcouncil.com for more information on the IELTS exam.

Week 2 Most students who have studied at an English medium school or college will not have problems with the IELTS. But if you want to prepare, go through the Macmillan IELTS Testbuilder.

Week 3 For the listening section, prepare with CDs from the Macmillan Testbuilder.

Week 6

Week 8

Week 4

Dedicate this entire week to writing essays.

Practice the reading comprehension section this week.

Week 7

Now you can practice full-length tests this week and you are ready to take the exam.

Week 5 For the essay and an analysis of a chart/ graph preparation, look at sample essay topics from the Macmillan Testbuilder.

The IELTS has a special speaking module for 11 to 14 minutes consisting of a personal interview and a two-way discussion on a general topic. Check out the samples in the Macmillan Testbuilder.

BOOKS

to

BUY Macmillan Testbuilder AUGUST 2011 â•‘ Youth Incorporated 23

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_FOREIGN SHORES

TOEFL IBT Week 1 Go through the ETS ‘TOEFL Practice Tests’, to understand specifically what the format of the TOEFL is.

Week 2 You can start practicing TOEFL questions online.

Week 3 The TOEFL has a listening section where you have to listen to conversations, lectures, classroom discussions and then answer questions.

You can use the 'TOEFL Barrons' book to practice this section.

opinion or speaking on tasks based on the reading and listening sections.

Week 7 You are now prepared - take a mock test and gauge your performance.

Week 8 Finally, take a full-length Internet based TOEFL test. Powerprep soft ware has two full-length tests and can be downloaded free from www.toefl.org. You can take these tests and practice more online. yi

Week 4 The reading comprehension section of the TOEFL can be practiced again from the Barron’s TOEFL. Refer to the TOEFL website www.toefl.org

Week 5 The writing section has two components. An independent essay and an integrated essay - refer to the same book for more details and essay topics.

Week 6 The speaking section comprises of six tasks that include expressing your

BOOKS

to

BUY Barron’s TOEFL iBT –Internet Based Test Kaplan TOEFL iBT

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_AWARENESS

LEADERS in the

MAKING > By Sahil Dewan, President, AISEC India

A

usual lecture, a college event, a choice of clubs and societies to pick from, and be a part of, an apprehension to sit for placements, all become a part of our journey while in college. The one guiding feeling while all this is happening is the willingness to do what you really want. You could be inspired either by your peers or by yourself, it doesn’t matter. All in all, it is a discovery of your own or someone else’s leadership that gives you the calling to stand up for something you believe in.

I prefer to choose the important guiding words in youth leadership ‘YOU LEAD.’ It is subtly becoming the most buzzing set of words used these days by politicians, principals, and leaders. Since a major chunk of India’s population is in the youth

bracket, leadership is becoming synonymous with the future of the country. We see it seeding in young people through all the activities in college, when the choices they make completely depend on their beliefs, their ideologies, whether it is contesting for the Class Representative elections, or leading a college club, all of these contribute to their leadership journeys. Ambition is one thing that gets today’s youth closer to leadership.

If it is coupled with a passion to get what they desire, it makes them stand stronger.

It is interesting how youth leaders equip themselves to handle the ever so varying relationships with different categories of people. It is one of the most challenging and exciting roles one has to play. We are living in an age where being an ordinary leader is not

an option. One has to be part of the generation which is fast, strong, smart, aware, and more importantly, has a mind - a person whom people can look up to and get inspired.

As for AIESEC, a global youth organisation with a focus on empowering youth to develop their leadership potential, it is crucial to float these ideas. This is because we believe that for leadership, being young does play a role. Today’s youth is dynamic, aware, intellectual, competitive, and passionate; and it’s important to capitalise on these qualities rather than to leave it uo to experience and maturity. yi

you t h incorporated EDUCATE + ENTERTAIN

www.youthincmag.com y g

h t n o this m ► List of organisations providing scholarships ► Check your aptitude by taking our verbal and quantitative tests

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Fest Fever: a ladder _AWARENESS

to success ?

COLLEGE FESTIVALS ARE INCREASINGLY BECOMING A PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH THE ‘REAL WORLD’ AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS

Students at Kaleidoscope

S

ome people spend their college years buried with their noses in books in the rush to get good grades. On the other hand, there are those who enjoy all other aspects of college life to the detriment of their studies. Striking the balance is what today’s young achievers are all about. After all, in today’s competitive recruitment landscape, first-class grades may not stand for much alone; whereas, if you can display your talent and management skills, you can show recruiters that you are an all-rounder.

For this reason, extracurricular activities are given greater importance by most colleges across India in their bid to let students develop their talents and passions and explore their hobbies. To foster the creative spirit amongst the youth, college festivals gained popularity in the 70s in India.

Today, these pioneering festivals exemplify the real-world skills one can learn through extracurricular activities.

Leadership, coordination, and teamwork are the essential requirements of organising any college

festival. Niharika, a second-year BMM student at Sophia College, Mumbai, is working with the Fine Arts event team at popular inter-collegiate festival, Kaleidoscope, this year. Her team consists of nine coordinators who select and organise events in line with the theme of the year. The team works together to locate gift sponsors and category sponsors who give away prizes at the event and assist with resources for execution.

The Fine Arts team also organises the final exhibition where people see the artwork done over the festival. She

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says, “The most important things that I have learnt from this experience have been responsibility, communication, and organisation. My confidence levels have taken a huge push and I know that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.”

Students like Niharika are the driving force behind some of the largest festivals in the world. Mood Indigo, the annual college festival organised by IIT Mumbai, has over time become the largest of its kind in Asia! Indian and international stars have graced the stage of this campus. It attracts major sponsors and extensive media coverage each year.

teamed up with Sony Entertainment and got celebrities such as Pradeep Sarkar (director) and Cyrus Dastur (Founder, Shamiana). Students who won the filmmaking competitions had the opportunity to screen their films nationally through Shamiana.

Ria says, “In the beginning, it was really hard to publicise the festival.

There was some challenge from the college faculty as people thought that it would distract students from their studies. We had to organise everything ourselves. We didn’t have a team in the beginning, so without active support it was difficult. In the first year, one of our own team had to

ORGANISING FESTIVALS TEACHES YOU SOME KEY WORK SKILLS: Communication Students need to have meetings with a lot of people to coordinate the entire event. They have to communicate with sponsors, draw up contracts, and then deliver on their promises. This gives them a great platform for learning key communication skills that are more formal than they might have experienced on campus or at home.

Discipline Discipline and order at the event itself is paramount. There is sometimes chaos and confusion at college festivals due to the sheer number of participants and events. Organisers have to do their best to ensure that the rules are in place, that everyone is aware of them, and that they are followed to the T. Responsibility Often, the college festival starts from scratch. Even with the well-known festivals such as Malhar, Kaleidoscope, and Mood Indigo, students have to think of a name, ideate for the theme, and collect contacts for sponsorship.

Thus they gain hands-on experience in project management and execution.

Participants at Highlight Reel festival

Today everyone wants to be a part of a known brand like Mood Indigo or Malhar, but creating awareness for a new festival is a little more difficult.

Ria Sen is a third-year student in Banking at Jai Hind College. Along with Rahul Raj Singh, she came up with and helped to organise the Highlight Reel – an intercollegiate filmmaking festival – which encouraged students to make short films and present them. Initially in 2009, it started in a small auditorium with only 30 to 40 students present.

Last year, however, the organisers

make a film to fill in the gaps, whereas the last time we got 25-26 entries!”

She continues, “The main thing I have learnt here is management. People today are taking MBA degrees, but when you start something from scratch, you really learn the steps of management: from where you should begin to visualising where you should end up.”

And don’t forget that any college festival itself will be a lot of fun and a major part of your college experience.

Be proactive and learn these key skills while still on campus! yi

Decision Making There are some unforeseen problems that take place at festivals. Students need to take quick decisions to mitigate or resolve these. There is a lot of coordination and adjustment that needs to take place; students need to learn to think on their feet.

Teamwork Organising the festival is a huge lesson in team building. One needs to delegate work appropriately and rely on that person to carry out that task. The team as a whole needs to be process-oriented, detailed, and prompt. Students need to shoulder responsibility and learn how to be leaders to make sure that everyone is happy to function as a whole.

Networking Organising a college festival can really help students to build a lot of contacts while still on campus with key people at corporate companies, news agencies, and media houses. These will then become the first point of contact for students after they graduate.

Self-Belief Confidence levels of college festival organisers get a huge boost. They have the self-belief to carry out any task that is given to them. This is a key trait that will help them immensely in the workplace.

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M A L H A R

The Giver of Rain

I

n 1979, three students started a college festival that would showcase their talents. Errol D’souza, probably tired of hearing his friends from other colleges brag about how cool their colleges were, thought of Malhar, St Xavier’s own festival. Life at Xavier’s College was never the same again.

The first Malhar had a workforce of only 30 students. There were 21 participating colleges, and the budget was `10,000. The organisers chose August because it didn’t clash with any other festivals. Contests varied from rangoli making to cartoon drawing.

Malhar also held water games in the canteen, becoming the first college to do so! Today, it holds more than 60 cultural contests and attracts about 20,000 participants.

Cut to Malhar 2011. Puddles the frog, has geared up for this year’s theme –The Labyrinth. “A labyrinth means a maze. So this year’s theme is going to be magic and the maze,”says Tanvi Saxena, Organiser in Charge of the PR department.

Departments and events There are 20 departments, taking care of a particular aspect. The

Tasneem Pocketwala investigates why Malhar at St Xavier’s College is India’s coolest college fest

Quartet, consisting of the chairperson and three vice-chairpersons are in charge of the whole event. Contests like JAM (Just A Minute), creative writing, and sundry word games are organised by the Literary Arts department. The Entertainment Theatricals and Contests organises fun contests like stand-up comedy. The Indian Performing Arts department is in charge of performance-based competitions that reflect Indian culture. The World Performing Arts organises competitions like ballroom dancing and street dancing.

But if you thought Malhar was only fun, you are simply wrong.

Conclave, the youngest addition, holds intellectually stimulating discussions about current youth issues that matter.

What makes Malhar ‘the’ fest Malhar wasn’t the first college cultural fest. It is no longer the only fest in the month of August. But, it is the most eagerly awaited college fest, not only in Mumbai but all throughout the country. So what makes it a college fest unlike any other?

The workforce The people working behind the scenes

are a dedicated lot. “The Organising Committee,” says Saxena, “starts work in May. Then it is gruelling work for four months straight. We stay back after lectures until nine on the days drawing close to Malhar.” Even on the days of the fest, students have a good grip on things with 20,000 people including popular film stars as guests.

There is no real ruckus; only a little over-crowding, and unlucky students bumping against each other instead of the celebrities.

Popular events Mr and Ms Malhar: This is the core entertainment event and it draws eager student participants in its search for the ultimate all-rounder.

AmNight: Amateur Night is a latenight event exclusive to the Malhar workforce. It provides a platform for all amateur bands to pump up a beat.

UV light event: Visually appealing and truly awe-inspiring, this event is an eagerly awaited one. Participants put up a dance wearing neon lights and use their creativity and make shapes such as a flower, a box, or the popular game character Mario. yi

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PRODIGY The Fashionista

48

66

Men in Focus A quick list of men’s must-have accessories

The Budget Shop

Look stylish under `3,000 DESIGNER RINA SHAH SHARES HER OFF-THE-RAMP EXPERIENCES

STUDENT SPEAK The Right Move

50

Nina Mehta’s journey from journalism to ISB

(Entertain) ECO WATCH Green Academic Zone

60

A heavenly journey to the Lahaul and Spiti district

FASHION In the Jeans

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68

India’s first Green Business School is launched in Karjat, Maharashtra

OFF THE MAP The Road to Inner Peace

62

SKIN SUTRA Express Eyes

The dos and don’ts of buying jeans for your body shape

Make your eyes look big and sexy with these beauty products

FITNESS Weighty Matters atters

76

Shed the excess kilos that you gained over the summer

Dr Good Skin Take better care of your feet this monsoon

YOUTH ISSUES Slutwalk: Beginning of a Revolution

70

Women across the world are protesting against labels

MAKEOVER Refresh

71

A reader gets a makeover and goes from drab to fab

SPORTS Adrenaline Junkie

72

Three exciting water sports to enjoy the monsoons to the max!

STAPLEdiet EDITOR’S NOTE… 1 EDITORIAL CONNECT… 4 AROUND THE WORLD… 6 AWARENESS… 25 COUNSELLOR Q&A… 36 WORD ZONE…. 52 MODEL WATCH… 69 GAME OR LAME… 77 DROOL OF THE MONTH… 78 IMHO… 80 RESTOMETER… 82 CELEB TADKA… 83 HANGOVER… 84

65

Shoe it Right!

Five shoe essentials that will keep you ready for any occasion

HEALTH The Nature Doctor

74

A look at the holistic treatment method of naturopathy

KISS & TELL… 85 STAR STRUCK... 86 GRAFFITI… 88 AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 3

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DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

_COVER STORY

MADRAS, INDIA: Indian cinema actor Salman Khan addresses an unseen audience during a fashion show to showcase the collection of designer Erum Ali in Madras, 14 November 2004.

The show was organised to raise funds for Banyan, a charitable organisation to help underprivileged women and children. In addition to Khan, actors Abhishek Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty also attended the show.

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Man

_FUN FEATURE

heart with a

Delivering a mega hit with his first movie; check. Stealing the hearts of millions; check. Being dotted with legal troubles; check. Yet maintaining a mega-star status for over 20 years; check. Being Human; check. That is what Salman Khan is all about. Youth Inc finds out what makes the Bollywood’s poster boy the person he is

W

hen it comes to Bollywood, he has done it all. Well, when it comes to society, he has done it all. Whether it is helping out a wellknown filmmaker by starring in his movie recently and of course, delivering a hit, or providing pointers to and training the younger generation in the industry, he’s been there. He’s been there to support his sister’s new venture and to act in his brothers’ movies. He’s been there to help society, even in the darkest times of his life. Of course, it has not come without the negatives. The cases and fatwas against him, the allegations of beating up girlfriends, and picking fights with other stars. And to add to that he’s always got a raw deal from the media. He hates the media; the media hates him. In this faceoff, many times, truth is the first casualty.

Even then, Salman Khan has learnt to live with it. And how. King size, might we add.

Take for instance, the recent success of his movies – three in a row. Wanted, Dabangg, and Ready. It can’t get cheesier than Wanted. It’s possibly just an astonishing display of plywood machismo. But even that couldn’t stop it from becoming a huge blockbuster simply because ‘superbrat’ Salman swaggered through the film with his trademark cheekiness, doing nothing, just being himself. That made the movie.

Every strut of his was greeted with wolf whistles and cat calls. Every line of cheeky dialogue is loudly chanted by his fans and some of them, who are watching the film for the umpteenth time, anticipate his lines by screaming them out a split second before they are spoken on screen. This is clearly one star whose fans don’t care what he does, as long as he is on screen. They want him to beat up guys beefier than him.

And, yes oh yes, they reserve the maximum applause for that one moment in a film when he takes his shirt off, either for the mother of a fight or an item number. >>

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INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES Indian Bollywood actor Salman Khan (C) rides a bicycle before the start of the inaugural Tour de Mumbai cyclothon in Mumbai on February 21, 2010. Argentina’s Jose Juan Haedo won the inaugural Tour de Mumbai, India’s first professional cycling race sanctioned by the sport’s governing body

Showbiz, like any profession lived out in the glare of the arc lights, is a tough, difficult, stressful environment where you are only as good as your last success. It generates extreme tension and, often, fear and disappointment.

No one enjoys being an ape in an open cage, where passers-by are always making rude remarks. Plus, you have all the anxieties. The extortionists are after you. The cops keep a constant eye on you. The underworld wants you to dance to their tune. This actor however, manages just fine.

It’s not just in the movies. In his personal life too, Salman is on top. He is well respected with family who adore their Salman bhai. They term is as the model son, the fun uncle and the real ‘big brother’. ’Tis no wonder then that he picked up the feeling of giving back very early on from his father, noted script writer Salim Khan. So how did Being Human actually start? “It started a very long time ago, actually.

I have been doing this for a while, but quietly. Then I thought of taking it to a whole new level,” says the superstar, adding that his dad had been helping people out all his life, which led to many people conning the family. “We had to give a proper route to the cause,” he says. And who is it that Being

Human is targeting to help? Is it the children, the destitute or the disabled?

“See, if money can save a life, I will try to save it. Unfortunately, since is it my foundation, it has gotten tremendous publicity, but not enough funds.

Within our limited resources, we have helped children with heart problems,” is his answer.

Salman further goes on to say that when a person establishes a charitable trust, he needs to make sure that he has adequate funds to start with. But after, no matter who you are or how much money you make, you cannot sustain it by yourself. It cannot be a one-man show. Yet, Salman does not ask anyone to contribute toward the organisation since he had a unique experience with a renowned industrialist. “I went to him with the thought and asked him for help.

‘I don’t do charity’ was his reply. I was taken aback, and asked him why such a ‘big man,’ an industrialist like himself, would not believe in charity.

He said that ‘Salman, when you have 10 lakh people working under you, come to me then. There cannot be a better charity than employment. Each of my employees receives a decent salary.’ After that, I have stopped asking for donations,” he elaborates.

That, however, has not stopped Salman to look for better avenues of funding. He has started the Being Human line of clothing, although he is quite livid with those who are ripping of the designs and selling fake copies. “Are we allowed to hurt someone who makes fakes?” he asks visibly agitated. “Can we at least slap the guy around because that’s going to happen soon?” He goes on to insist that only Cotton World sells the originals, and all fans who want one should go there. But that is only until October; after that, he is launching the Being Human line of clothing for the public, first in India and then globally.

Meanwhile, to promote the brand, he’s been wearing his brand’s tees to events.

He organised a charitable fashion show with a line of men who had never done it before. Sunny Deol walked the ramp, Aamir Khan, who had never done it before, Ajay Devgan, who is extremely media and fashion shy, were there. Add to that the boys of the industry – the stylish Akshay Kumar, the deadly Sanjay Dutt, and the charming Saif Ali Khan. They all joined hands to support the cause so dear to Salman’s heart. A year later, he had all the sexy sirens of the industry on the ramp for the Being Human

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_COVER STORY

Show. Whether it be Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Rani Mukherjee, Bipasha Basu, sisters Karisma and Kareena Kapoor, Priety Zinta or Sushmita Sen each walked for a cause that night. “I didn’t want to disturb the guys again!” he laughs.

The handsome hunk didn’t stop there. Little did his fans know that he is also a great painter, and has sold paintings to channel the flow of funds in to Being Human. He associated the organisation to a unique sport – cycling, and organised a cyclathon for the cause. The proceeds went to the Being Human Foundation. “It was a good thing to do! You are in Mumbai, there is so much pollution and traffic and everyone is so unhealthy, this could be a great solution,” says the actor, who has been spotted taking the cycle from Bandra, where he lives in Mumbai to Filmcity Studios in Goregaon.

So what actually makes Salman the man he is? Who are the people who contributed to his life? What makes him distinguish right from

“

YOGEN SHAH

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”

If you want to do your two bits for society, turn to page 35 to see how you can pursue a career in social work.► Indian Bollywood actor Salman Khan hosts the Indian Boradcast Network (IBN) 7’s Super Idols of the Nation Award ceremony in Mumbai on November 29, 2010.

STRDEL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

IF MONEY CAN N SAVE A LIFE, I WILL TRY TO DO R, IT. HOWEVER, SINCE THE N BEING HUMAN FOUNDATION IS E,, MY INITIATIVE, N IT HAS GOTTEN S TREMENDOUS UT PUBLICITY BUT H NOT ENOUGH FUNDS

wrong? “First and foremost, parents.

Your parents give you life, and your character comes from them. Then the guys you grow up with - your friends and your heroes. Basically, just them,” says the star. But then he adds, “And then, you know, things still teach you a lot – so if you are ready to keep your eyes open and listen, you’ll do fine.

It’s not rocket science. Every religion teaches you how to tell the good from the bad; just follow that!”

And what according to him is being human? “If you are doing something and are very busy, but still take a moment to help someone, or even if you aren’t doing anything and take out time to help someone, nothing can be better than that. That according to me is Being Human.” What a perfect summation of a beautiful thought from a person who takes the avatar of his charitable self time and again.

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_ COVER STORY

THE SOCIAL NET‛WORTH’ You don’t need to be Salman Khan to give back to society. Hell, you don’t even need to be anyone quite famous. All you need to do is to consider a career in social work

T

hey say it is a very satisfying feeling to give something.

And if it is to those who are underprivileged, the satisfaction knows no bounds. John Abraham sets aside time between films to do it. Kajol was honoured by iCONGO, a confederation of NGOs and the Khemka Foundation, with a Karamveer Puruskar award for her work in the field. And of course, you just read about our dear Sallu’s Being Human. Well, if that is the case, why not make a profession out of it?

If you’re looking for a career with meaning, action, diversity, satisfaction, and an abundance of options, consider social work. The field is always in need of people who care about others, who want to make things better, who want to relieve suffering, who want their work to make a difference.

“Social work is a profession devoted to helping people function the best they can in their environment,” says Dr Mary Alphonse, Principal, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai. This can mean providing direct services or therapy directly to

people. It also can mean working for change to improve social conditions.

The phrase ‘in their environment’ points to a distinctive quality of this profession - one that sets it apart from other helping professions. Social workers help people deal not only with how they feel about a situation but also with what they can do about it.

Many social workers work for social change as well.

WHAT IT TAKES The profession has its own body of knowledge, code of ethics, practice standards, credentials, licensing (for those who want to start something), and a system of education programmes. These equip the professional social worker to combine the desire to help others with the knowledge, skill, and ethics needed to provide that help.

For sheer variety, few occupations can match social work, which offers the broadest range of opportunities and settings. Social workers are found in public agencies, hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, private

practices, police departments, courts, and countless other workplaces. Social workers serve individuals, families, and communities. In the modern times of social entrepreneurship, they can be managers, supervisors, and administrators.

EDUCATION The social work courses in India are designed to produce highly trained professionals for specialised fields of work. To get a qualification in social work, there are many options.

There are certificate, diploma, and degree courses. There is scope for work in health related, psychiatric, or anthropological fields. With institutes like TISS offering career oriented courses the scope of building a successful career in this field looks promising.

SCOPE IN INDIA Job opportunities in social work vary with the kind of specialisation that a person has opted for. The jobs available in the Indian market are: • Specialists in medical aid

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• •

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Bandra Chapel road old age home

Art workshop with low-income municipal school children

and psychiatric social work find jobs in hospitals, clinics, counselling centres, mental hospitals, and old age homes.

Specialists in criminology find jobs in prisons and correction cells.

Labour welfare specialists work as labour welfare officials in multinational companies and in HR department of industries.

Community welfare specialists generally find employment in NGOs working for the improvement of rural health, sanitation and lifestyle.

After gaining some experience, those with a master’s degree can be appointed as consultants with various organisations.

Teaching is another option for social workers.

THE ROLE YOU PLAY You need to be a dynamic communicator with a manifold role.

You could be actively working on a variety of communication channels to raise awareness of your organisation apart from actually engaging in the activities of the organisation. This would involve lots of responsibilities, communication with funding agencies and sponsors, and thinking of innovative promotion activities to name but a few. Additionally, you could be proactively involved in supporting your organisation’s fundraising efforts.

SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED • A deep rooted desire to work in the sector, knowing full well how unglamorous it is • Understanding of the development sector in India, particularly relating to the underprivileged • Strong communication skills across the media - eg websites, reports, project proposals, press releases • Ability to grasp and communicate complex social issues effectively to various audiences • Ability to juggle many different tasks simultaneously • Enthusiasm and perseverance.

INSTITUTES

• College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan • Tata Institute of Social Sciences, TISS • Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University • University of Delhi, Delhi • Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi • Madras School of Social Work, Egmore, Chennai • Karve Institute of Social Science, Poona University, Pune • Madurai Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai • Madras School of Social Work, Chennai

• A desire to get involved in the work of the organisation INCOME It is difficult to assign a definitive range to social work salaries; however, one thing is certain: demand for social workers is on the rise. Those just starting out with a bachelor’s can expect an annual salary ranging up to `10,000 depending on type of work, experience, and geographic factors. A social worker with a master’s degree can expect an income ranging to about `25,000.

SCOPE ABROAD The master’s degree holds good for the international market as well.

Premier international organisations like the World Health Organisation, UNESCO, and UNICEF employ social workers in awareness campaigns and projects meant for developing countries. Internationally recognised NGOs that employ Indian social workers also pay well. yi AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 35

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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.

For queries email studyindia@youthincmag.com

Hotelier’s choice I am in class 11, studying commerce. I want to pursue a career in hotel management after 10+2. I would like to know of colleges, courses and career opportunities, and minimum scores for admission in the best institutes of hotel management.

-Pinky Desai A minimum of 50 per cent marks in class 12 is the eligibility requirement for a degree in hotel management.

A written test and group discussion/ interview/ personal presentation is part of the selection process. Institutes of hotel management under the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (www.nchmct. org), Institute of Hotel Management Aurangabad (www. ihma.ac.in), FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management, Noida (www.fhraiinstitute.com), Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration Manipal University (www.manipal.edu), and STEP of Oberoi (www. oberoigroup.com) are among the reputed institutions/ colleges. Prominent cities have locally reputed hotel management colleges. Graduates are employed in hotels, resorts, convention centres, and restaurants, as also in retail, marketing, and other service sectors. Indicative examples.

Q

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One with nature I am in class 12 in science. I want to become a naturopath. What are the qualifications required?

-Parmanand B The Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) is the formal training for becoming a naturopath.

The duration is five and a half years. Admission is open to students completing class 12 with physics, chemistry and biology with at least 50 per cent marks. Refer to the website of the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, New Delhi (www.ccryn.org) for the list of institutions offering formal education.

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Civil engineering Is there any scope in civil engineering in the current scenario?

-Ananth M Civil engineers design and supervise the construction

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of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems. Civil engineering offers excellent prospects for any developing country like India.

Further specialisations in environmental engineering, transport and structural engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical, construction management, town and country planning etc also offer good prospects.

Anthropology aspirations Q What are the career prospects in anthropology?

-Gunika Sharma Postgraduation in anthropology could lead to career opportunities in research, teaching, writing, in social and community organisations, in the government, in international organisations, and in non-governmental organisations. Media and journalism, film making, and tourism are other options. Anthropologists may also work as consultants applying anthropological knowledge and methods to problems ranging from economic development issues to forensics.

A

Commercial gains What are the options for further studies after class 12 with commerce?

-Moksh Guha You could pursue cost accountancy, chartered accountancy or the company secretary’s course with BCom. Alternatives are regular BCom or specialised self-financing BCom courses like BAF (Finance and Accounts), BBI (Banking and Insurance), BCom Financial Markets (BFM), or allied choices by different universities or BBA/ BMS/ equivalent, or five-year integrated law degree, or a foreign language degree programme, hotel management degree, fine arts/ design/ allied degree (for the artistically inclined), Bachelor of Physical Education or BA, or a mass media degree. Aim for a Bachelor of Financial and Investment Analysis, BCA/ BSc-IT courses if you passed class 12 with maths.

Examples are indicative of the possibilities. Once you are aware of the possibilities, assess the demands of the different courses, and choose one which is most closely aligned to your abilities and personality.

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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.

For queries email studyabroad@youthincmag.com

Computer science colleges I scored a 1450 in my GRE and my BTech CGPA is 7/10. I have been working with an MNC for the past two years. I want to study computer science in the US. Which are the good colleges?

-Ashish Saraf Ashish, the first thing to understand about US college admissions is that every college or university looks for a particular profile in applicants. And thus, for the same programme, admission requirements can differ greatly between universities. Some may not even consider your GRE score, while others may want you to submit specific GRE subject test scores; some may waive the TOEFL requirement altogether for those who have completed their undergraduate programme in English; others may place very high academic GPA requirements, while some may overlook lower grades in cases where the work experience and extra-curricular records are stellar.

As for narrowing down your options of where to apply, you should look at both university and subject-specific rankings of US universities (or graduate schools as they call it). Consult ranking sources such as US News & World Report, Petersons, Princeton Review and Collegeboard.

On the Princeton Review website (www. princetonreview.com) navigate to the graduate studies section where you’ll find a fantastic tool to help short-list Grad schools by subject area. You enter information like your undergraduate area of study, your grades, subject preference at graduate study level, work experience details, and the site will generate a list of institutions.

Here is a list of some of the top universities. Carnegie Mellon University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Stanford University; University of California – Berkeley; Cornell University; University of Illinois – UrbanaChampaign; University of Washington; Princeton University; University of Texas – Austin; Georgia Institute of Technology; California Institute of Technology; University of Wisconsin – Madison; University of Michigan – Ann Arbour; University of California – Los Angeles; University of California – San Diego; Columbia University; Harvard University; Brown University.

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Once you have arrived at a broad list, then starts the real research! You must visit each website, specifically the department. You’ll find information that will help determine whether to apply or not – minimum requirements (grades, GRE, etc), application and selection process, fee, deadlines, and so forth. Specifically look at the past and current student profi les and median GRE scores.

In your application, you may want to highlight aspects that are given higher weightage by different colleges – be it academics, extra-curricular, or work experience.

US visa problems We are a family of traders. Although I am not highly educated, my son wishes to study in the US. He has got admission to an American university. He says he answered all the questions in the visa interview, but his request for visa was turned down. Does this mean that he will never be able to study in the US? -Tushar Singhal Certainly not. Your son must have received a letter stating the reasons for rejection. Perhaps he was unable to convince them of financial capability or they may have viewed him as a potential immigrant.

If they have issued him a 221(g) refusal letter, it means the visa was not issued because further proof was required regarding financial capacity, or for verifying his academic records, or the necessary documents were not in order.

This is a procedural delay and your son can go back to them without having to pay a new fee or fill a new form.

Post 9/11, the visa issuing norms for students have been generally tightened. The visa officer wants to make sure you are returning to India after studies and not immigrating to the US. And to this effect the visa section has been categorically instructed by US authorities to carefully scrutinise a visa applicant to check whether s/he could be a possible an immigrant.

This means he has to convince them about his honest intentions of going there only for studying. Be prepared to answer questions on what you plan to do after you finish or why you specifically picked that particular field. If he does his homework well enough, he has every chance of sailing through the next time. Best of luck! yi

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_OUT OF THE BOX

bru b us u s h with a

A mouse Technologies advance and with that our visual expectations. Youth Inc gives you a low down on what it takes to make a career in this colourful, creative, and dynamic field

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what’s happening in the world of arts and design. In short, brush up your knowledge of current affairs. You have to breathe life into the dull pages with your creativity.

H

ave you ever bought a book or a CD, impressed just by the cool cover? Or are you intrigued by the gooey, slimy aliens that threatened the very existence of mankind in Independence Day, or the disastrous cyclone in Twister, and the mind boggling effects in Avatar? Then, the credit goes to the graphic artists.

And you thought artists only dabbled with paint and brush. Well, not any more. With the advent of the World Wide Web, graphic artists have now armed themselves with a computer. And a mouse now has replaced the brush. Unbelievable?

Read on.

OCCUPATION OVERVIEW Graphic design is a substantial part of the visual arts, encompassing illustration, design, printing, displays and signs, advertising, and photography. It is one the largest branches of commercial art. It includes the occupation of art director, layout artist, production manager, paste-up technician, and computer artist.

Graphic designers are concerned with ideas and problem solving

to effectively meet the visual communication needs of clients. The graphic designer creates a plan for the printed page (layout and aesthetic value), organises the elements for an effective design, and selects the font, illustrations, and photographs to be used in the printed piece.

For a web page design, the job would entail knowing how to present the design content of a site, to optimise the use of graphics so as to minimise download time. You have to structure links in such a way so as to give maximum ease of navigation to the visitor on the site. In short, you have to integrate creativity with technology. Your work doesn’t end at luring surfers to your site by means of attractive designs and concepts.

You have to constantly work at retaining the number of surfers and stopping them from leaving the site by introducing new designs, concepts, and ideas. This is not half as easy as it sounds.

You will have to constantly come up with new design ideas and concepts for the users. For this, you will need to arm yourself with loads of imagination and you also have to have a fair idea of

SKILL SET Graphic designers must possess artistic ability and creative thinking for designing eye-catching and effective graphics. These professionals need to be able to come up with strategies for layouts and artistic concepts, and they must be able to create visual images that engage, attract, and sell. Additionally, they need to be responsive to customer needs; be able to create new and original ideas; open to change and adjust to shifting priorities; be meticulous, thorough, and detailed, meet deadlines, and juggle multiple priorities.

You have to work under extreme time pressures and will have very defined financial and design limits to produce quality work. This profession takes a person who can listen to comments, has a good eye for aesthetic design, has a flair for colour, a good understanding of the needs of the corporate world, and an aesthetic sense.

A graphic designer in the publishing industry is expected to know packages such as PageMaker, CorelDraw, Photoshop, Director, and Adobe Premier. For a web site, the requirements are Photoshop, Flash, and other animation packages including knowledge of IBM and Mac platforms as well as knowledge of HTML. OPPORTUNITY OPTIONS A graphic designer is almost an indispensable part of any media or web organisation. With websites vying with each other to offer enchanting e-greetings, wallpapers, screensavers, and animated pictures to surfers, apart from addictive games on several platforms, the dotcom companies have come to rely heavily on graphic designers.

In print and television media, and advertising agencies too, a graphic AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 39

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editorial connect CHOOSE THE RIGHT COURSE: TIPS

EDITOR’S PICK

INTO THE BLUE

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Youth Incorporated’s inaugural issue in July 2011, is certainly welcome. The information that you have is really very useful for youth today, as it covers varied topics of youth interest.

Swami Vivekananda once said, “Nothing can be achieved without some kind of sacrifice.” It is usually the young who have the strength of mind and will to be able to make sacrifices to achieve their goals. It is known that hard work and dedication give the best results. Really, our young generation is doing exceptionally well in all fields.

It is a fact that they are doing better than old people. This is because they are daring in their thinking in their field-have latest and international knowledge of the subject in which they are dealing.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are often ignored as a tourist destination despite their natural, serene beauty. It is sad that tourists want to go to ‘shopping destinations’ over the more serene and beautiful lcoations. There are many who prefer a foreign location over any place in India. I’ve heard people say that they have travelled the whole of our vast country but I wonder if some even think of these islands as part of our country. I was delighted to see the article as I am planning to visit there very soon, and I found the travel information to be well described. Keep up the good work!

Your article ‘Selecting the Right Course’ was very insightful. The article encouraged me to pursue a career that I want one wants to do in my life rather than do what may be socially and financially ‘correct’.

Since I’m on the brink of yet another crossroads in my education, the article helped me decide for myself whether to follow what I’m really passionate about or whether it is just a passing fad. Now, I’m much surer of what I want to graduate in. Thanks!

Niharika Jalan Student, Mumbai

MAP YOUR MIND Dear Editor, In theory, Tony Bunzan’s Mind Mapping concept seems simple enough and easy to use without guidance. However, trying to apply the concept to real life is a lot more complicated than it looks. The idea is great, and I’m sure it works really well for someone who is used to it and knows how to organise their ‘mind map’ correctly, but what about the amateur? I tried to use the mind map tool with the help of online resources, but I am not sure how effective I was.

It would be great to read more about this fascinating topic.

Sameer Ahluwalia Student, Delhi 4

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Mahesh Kapasi Chartered Accountant, Delhi

Jaya Bhattacharya Social Worker, Kolkata

MS DHONI: THE INDIAN SUPERMAN

PLANNED PROGRESS

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor, After reading ‘Planned Progress’ I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I was really nervous about the GRE format change, but after reading your article and your tips, I can go into the test with a clear and calm mind. In fact, I would have liked to see a few more details for weeks 5 and 7, but overall it was really helpful.

Since MS Dhoni is one of my favourite cricketers, I enjoyed your cover story on him very much. The facts about him were amusing. The idea of fishing out 30 mantras from his life was unique. The article following it, titled ‘Sporty Affairs’ was quite apt to the main story. Not all of us can expect to become cricket legends.

But that does not necessitate that we should let go of our passion for cricket!

Akhil Rajani Student, Pune

Abhijit Gokhwande IT Professional, Pune

Write to us at mail@youthincmag.com

16/07/11 11:59 AM

_OUT OF THE BOX

GRAPHIC DESIGN

INSTITUTES

designer is required to draw cartoons, visuals, illustrations, charts, and so on.

One may also land a job at garment manufacturing firms, publishing houses, and film and documentary companies. At a publishing house you will be known as an illustrator and your job will involve providing visual relief to articles where pictures don’t help.

TRAINING TIERS Although formal training is not strictly necessary, it is very difficult to become skilled enough to make a living without some training.

Academic training leading to a bachelor’s degree in art or design has almost become a necessity. There are several options for training.

After class ten a five-year integrated course in fine arts or visual arts leads directly into a job, or further specialisation in multimedia and other postgraduate programmes.

Alternatively, you could opt for a bachelor’s programme in design after completing 10+2 (in any steam).

All is however not lost for those who have graduated in subjects other than design. After graduation, they can opt for multimedia

training or for postgraduate design programmes open for all.

CAREER COURSE Progression from junior designer is normally within one to two years with the first few jobs acting as steppingstones. You should use this time to network and make contacts in your field. Some junior designers report that their first year is at times tedious as the work is more basic than their degree work and they feel they are not fully utilising all their skills. Others report that their employers have involved them in interesting projects from day one. In large design partnerships, it may be possible to get promoted from designer to management positions such as studio manager or creative director.

In general, career development depends on frequent job movements to widen your experience and develop your portfolio. In smaller companies it is rare to have any kind of career structure and for the ambitious, the only way to gain a promotion is to strike out alone or form a partnership. Many designers become self-employed within five to ten years of their first job.

• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad • Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay, Mumbai • Srishti School of Design, Bangalore • Department of Design, Guwahati • MAEER's MIT Institute of Design, Pune • Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur • Symbiosis Centre of Design, Pune • Wigan & Leigh College, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Indore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Chennai • Apeejay Institute of Design, Delhi • Raffles Design International, Mumbai • Creative-i College of Creative Arts, Pune • DJ Academy of Design, Coimbatore • IILM School of Design, Gurgaon • Pearl Academy, Delhi, Jaipur • Department of Printing and Media Engineering, MIT, Manipal

MONEY MATTERS According to the industry movers, graphic design is not a highly profitable profession if you are looking to make a fast buck. The benefits flow in for those who are patient. Freshers out of college can expect `12,000-14,000 a month, which goes up to `15,000-18,000 after a year. A seasoned professional with two to three years of experience can command a salary of `22,00025,000.

There are many instances of graphic designers earning more than half a lakh rupees per month, depending on experience and creativity.

What’s more, there is vast scope for freelance in this profession. Everyone wants to have a presence on the web these days and that makes for a lot of work for web designers.

Initially, the going might be a little tough when you have to depend on friends and acquaintances to get you work, but once you make a name for yourself, the sky is the limit. yi

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Game

_CAREER WATCH

The Number

IT’S LIKE BEING A DOCTOR, BUT FOR THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF YOUR CLIENTS. YOUTH INC TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

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t may sound as one of the world’s oldest professions. Ever since taxes were invented, chartered accountants (CAs) have helped the public save smartly. In today’s rapidly growing economy, with pay scales going higher every year, this career has gained tremendous popularity. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is both an examining and a licensing body for this profession. It is the responsibility of the institute to conduct the CA course. The course involves a blend of theoretical education and practical training which run concurrently for a period of three years and equips a student with knowledge, ability, skills and other qualities required of a professional accountant.

Everyone knows who a CA is (and yes, also quick to point out – chartered accountant) and knows that he specialises in accounting, but not many know exactly what it is that a CA does. He doesn’t only specialise in accounting, but is also responsible for auditing and taxation.

TRAINING The CA programme is divided into three sections, Competency Professional Test (CPT), Professional Competency Examination (PCE) and Final Examination. The registration for CPT and PCE is open throughout the year. However, as the examinations are held twice a year in May and November, it is necessary that a student must register at least ten months before the examinations. After passing the PCE, candidates are eligible for registration as articled clerks/ audit clerks for practical training. A Computer Training Programme, ie 100 hours of information technology (IT) is compulsory for the candidates who wish to register themselves as auditor clerks. Students can undergo this programme while pursuing CPT or PCE.

10 exam can register for the CPT, but they can write the examination only after passing their class 12 or equivalent exam, or while waiting for the results. There are no restrictions with regard to the age of the candidate or marks secured.

Graduates with 50 per cent or more are exempted from the CPT and are permitted to register for Professional Competency Course (PCC). This requirement differs for graduates from different streams.

WORK PROSPECTS “The services of a CA are required for financial matters in any kind of organisation – be it a large company, a partnership or even a small orgranisation. In fact, even individuals like you and me need a CA to do their taxes. So unless the government stops taxing the citizens and businesses, this profession is here to stay!” says Ketan Ashar, who is a Manager with Pricewaterhouse Coopers, India.

Moreover, he adds, all the companies registered under the Companies Act are required to get their accounts audited only by practicing CAs. “The

responsibility of a CA is to ensure that the financial transactions of an organisation are maintained according to the law, they also keep track of cost of management of the company and manage tax matters,” he elaborates. The accounting department prepares, analyses financial reports and documents of an organisation. Auditing involves checking the accuracy of the financial statements, ensuring that the accounts presented are drawn up on correct accounting principles.

JOB OPENINGS There are several options available for those who have cleared their CA final exams: Companies - “Many multinational companies have come forward in this field. In fact most listed companies need a financial division headed and run by chartered accountants,” informs Ashar. All chartered accountancy companies come under the Chartered Accountancy Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) which is established to regulate, promote, and

• Chartered Accountants work as: Finance Managers Financial Controllers Financial Advisors or Directors (Finance) • Their main areas of work include: Accountancy Auditing Cost accountancy Taxation Investigation Consultancy • They are also engaged in activities like: Markets research Budget planning Working capital management Inventory control Policy planning Securities consultancy

ELIGIBILITY Students who have passed the class AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 43

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_CAREER WATCH

CA G RAMASWAMY

PRESIDENT, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

In his address after taking over as the new President of the ICAI, Ramaswamy says: “It is true that our profession is at an enviable height. In the background of these developments, I personally would like to concentrate our efforts to creating a unique ICAI brand that would be recognised and treated with respect all over the world, not just in our nation. Entrusted by the Council and committed to the maintenance of integrity and autonomy of my profession, I assure all our stakeholders-members, students and employees of the Institute on

one hand, and society on the other- that we will accomplish all the goals together.

I have made public an elaborate Action Plan for the Institute to be implemented during 2011-2012 in the best interests of our profession at large and of the members and students in particular. I would like to start national study circles at major places and educational services for students in rural centres. As part of our international initiatives, I would like to have strategic collaborations with more international accounting bodies so that we could provide a global outlook to our members.”

PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTES “Playing with numbers, interest in finance and accounting, logical reasoning, willingness to take decisions, analytical mind, and good judgmental qualities are true attributes of a CA,” says Shah. Corroborates Teena, “A CA should possess a sound numerical ability, an analytical mind, a logical and methodical approach to interpret facts and figures correctly.”

CHALLENGES “Apart from having good business acumen and numerical intelligence a CA should have good communication skills, and should be able to work under the pressure of deadlines,” says Suparas Jain. Moreover, during what they call the tax season (the time when the deadline for filing taxes in fast approaching), almost all CAs work about 16-18 hours a day.

One of the major issues of an audit accountant is that the audit sites are spread across the city (and sometimes country) and so you don’t work in one place. The commute could be quite taxing, according to Shah.

Ashar adds an important factor, “A CAis the custodian of financial statements, and thus has to maintain a great deal of confidentiality.”

REMUNERATION ensure orderly growth of the chartered accountancy industry in India.

CA firms – These are very popular in the field and each year offer articleships (CA internships) to those students who have cleared the CPT and are going to take up the further exams. “These articleships are basically for receiving on-the-job training to become a CA in future,” says CA Aditi Shah. Thus when the student takes exams, he or she is well equipped with practical knowledge as well. “In most CA firms, article clerks stay on as full time employees once they clear their final exams,” she is quick to mention.

Own practice – Many CAs

(especially those who have extensive experience), branch out and open up their own practice, where they may specialise in any field – taxation or auditing. “It takes time to pay as well as a job would pay, but if you start at the right time, the prospects are great,” says Teena Jain, who started her own firm with her husband Suparas about four years ago. He handles the taxation part and she the audit part.

PROSPECTS ABROAD Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is well recognised by the Institute of England, Wales, Canada and Australia. The members of ICAI can practice in these countries. Of course, visa regulations apply.

Chartered Accountancy is a well-paid profession, be it government service, private firms or own consultancy.

Most multi-national firms provide numerous perks besides the salary such as medical benefits, house rent allowance and so on.

In fact at the start itself, the stipend that an article clerk earns ranges from `8,000 to `20,000 depending on the orgranisation and work. This, while you are still studying. A recent advertisement from the Tata’s for hiring a young CA showed the annual pay packet at over `6 lakh. So, there is a whole range, depending on several factors, but it definitely is not a low paying job. For starting your career, log on to www.icai.org yi

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St Xavier’s

_CAMPUS REVIEW

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CONCHITA FERNANDES

I A B M U M , E COLLEG

TASNEEM POCKETWALA TAKES YOU ON A TOUR OF HER GOTHIC CAMPUS

J

ust as you reach college, you head straight to the canteen to meet your friends. Or you wait near the Social Service League (SSL) office to meet them, under the arches, or some other hangout spot.

Your friends greet you with, “Let’s bunk?” to which you reply, “Nahi yaar, attendance problem!” College gets over sooner than usual, so you sit back with your gang in the canteen and eat soupy Maggi noodles, or make a prompt movie plan, or go to McDonalds.

Despite an off lecture or two, you end up reaching home later than usual. You curse the college and its strict rules for that. The next day, you’re happy to be

in college again. It is just an ordinary day at St Xavier’s College.

The Gothic structure of St ith Xavier’s college — complete with lovely gargoyles — arrests you with tself. wonderment at the first sight itself. ges Known as one of the best colleges in India, especially for arts, it iss ts. a haven for all kinds of students.

There are strict rules in place too ion maintain standards for education — a gold medal of sorts for thee studious kids, sundry activitiess for students who’d rather be outside class, and even a chapell for the pious. The college has been recently declared

autonomous by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and has been awarded the A+ grade by the National

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Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Malhar, the popular intercollegiate cultural fest, is organised by the students annually.

The Indian Music Group (IMG) of the college also organises ‘Janfest’ – a festival dedicated to classical music.

The college campus is quite huge; it has is a basketball court, a volleyball court, and a large canteen area. It includes renowned departments such as Psychology and English and reputed institutes like the Xavier’s Institute of Communication (XIC) and the Xavier’s Institute of Management and Research (XIMR).

The college has its own Counselling Centre, where you can find help for anything — whether you need a pair of scissors or advice on serious stuff, Father Terry is always there. The campus, however, is not without its defects; and yes, I call having very weak cellular phone network a defect.

Students are often seen risking their lives sitting on open windows of classrooms in brave, death-defying attempts of catching a signal. As annoyed students complain, it seems that with one step you get a proper signal but if you happen to just step aside, you lose it completely.

LOCATION St Xavier’s College would hardly be called a good college had it not been for its happy location (No, I’m kidding, it still would). But the location of the college does help a great deal. Both the Western and Central line stations are close to the college.

There are theatres like Metro, Sterling, and Eros which aren’t far, and eating joints like McDonalds and Pizza Hut are close by too.

Even though Xavier’s College is known as one of the best colleges in terms of campus, extracurricular activities and education, the best thing about it does not really lie in its campus or canteen. It lies in its spirit – of allowing you to be the person that you are. You don’t need to change yourself to ‘fit in’ – there is always something in the college for you. yi

CANTEEN Definition: Canteen (noun): A place where all kinds of behaviour are permissible and where, out of sheer boredom and only sometimes hunger, people flock from time to time. The canteen area is generously large and divided into parts – the foyer, the main canteen area where the food is available and the Green Shed, which is adjacent to the main canteen. The food is tolerably delicious and the crowd rules.

FACULTY Xavier’s is known as one of the best colleges in terms of campus, extracurricular activities, and education. But the best thing about it does not really lie in its campus or canteen. It lies in its spirit – of allowing you to be the person that you are. You don’t need to change yourself to ‘fit in’ – there is always something in the college for you in your unique self. It truly is not just a college, but a way of life.

The faculty of St Xavier’s College is not short of excellent. Most of the professors even know most of the students by their names – whether the students are prodigies, clowns, or somewhere in between.

The professors are so different, it’s actually fascinating; there is the fun and intriguing Shefali Ma’am who teaches English literature, and then the terrifying Pereira Sir, the physics professor. There is Pearl Ma’am who is also interested in the students’ lives outside the college, and then there is Rashmi Ma’am who couldn’t care less!

How to spot a Xavierite: The word ‘attendance’ is used more than twice in casual conversation, with a rather nauseous look on the face. Full-length jeans are worn even when it’s muddy outside during the rains. Weird hairstyle, weird dress sense, weirder talk – mostly like a Xavierite.

Words most used by a Xavierite: “Dude! That’s killer man!” “Chuck It.” “Come on let’s ‘take his case’!” “SCREW YOU AUTONOMY!!”

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FASHIONISTA

_PRODIGY

the

Her majors were finance and computers, but her heart was set on design. She followed her heart to FIT, New York, to study design, and carved a special place for herself. Accessories and footwear designer Rina Shah shares her experiences

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I

f you are looking for exclusive shoes for any occasion, she is your go-to person. Be it weddings, social events or just plain everyday use. Top-notch footwear and accessories designer, Rina Shah, strives hard to combine her passion with her profession and come up with unique designer lines. No wonder she has won several prestigious awards for being India's premier designer for shoes, bags and belts. A successful woman entrepreneur from a very young age, it has always been Rina’s endeavour to come up with inimitable designs and out-of-the-usual products for her clients. There is one thing she does compromise on, however. Whatever the style and look, her footwear will always be comfortable. She chats with Youth Inc about her early days, and the passion that drives her to new creations every day.

Yi What prompted you to look at a career in design? How old were you when you made the decision?

RS I finished my finance degree from Sydenham College and went to summer school at Harvard. I studied computers there, but always wanted to do something in design.

Even in design, I wanted to do something different as everyone around then was doing clothing. I found a niche in footwear design and went to Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York, to study accessory design. I was 21 then.

No one at that time was exclusively designing footwear, I was the first one to introduce high-end designer footwear in the Indian market.

Yi How long was your programme at FIT? Do you think that training is enough or a large part of the job is ‘yourself’ and your own vision?

RS I pursued a one-and-a-halfyear degree in accessory design in FIT, New York. That training was important and went a long way in shaping me as a designer. Without that training, it would have been impossible to understand the technical part of manufacturing.

That said, training is not the only thing that can make you successful.

Yi Apart from training, what qualities should a person have to reach your kind of success level at a young age?

RS You have to have a vision, good business sense, and willingness to work hard. You also need to have leadership qualities to manage 50 skilled but possibly uneducated workers in the factory. Being the first woman in a male dominated business, I had to learn how to do this the hard way.

Yi What are the hardships you went through to reach where you are? How did you overcome them?

RS The toughest thing was to start the factory and get it running. I was very young and new to the industry and no workers in the shoe industry had ever worked for a woman leader.

It was very tough for them to take me seriously, and even tougher for me to get them to listen. However, it was not impossible, although very challenging. I think they just needed to know that I was serious. They learnt the new techniques and after a while, started to enjoy working with me. Everyone who joined me then is still with me after 12 years.

Yi You bowled everyone over with your stylish designs at Lakme Fashion Week. How did it strike you to you marry both your passions – polo and design?

RS After 10 years of designing, I felt passionate about a new theme and wanted to take this passion into my work. Again, this segment for equestrian fashion was a huge niche.

It was untouched and I saw that this was my chance to make the most of it. I love horses, and enjoy training to play polo. Hopefully, I can take this line all over the world. I am taking my first show to London on July 17 to the Gold Cup finals.

Yi Otherwise, where do you draw the inspiration for your designs from?

What’s the funkiest design you have made? What inspired you to make it?

RS All the inspiration does not come from only one source. It can happen anytime and anywhere; it just depends on your mind-frame at

that point of time. It also depends on how you look at things. There are many funky designs that I have created, but this one lantern-shaped kundan jewelled bag came to be my favourite. The other was the new wooden platform carved sandal.

The upper portion I took from the necklace, and the wooden heel was from the equestrian carving.

Yi It’s been widely said that your signature style is embellishments.

Is that by choice or chance? I mean was it your conscious decision to make it your style or did it just happen because you liked embellishments?

RS When I started, I never did embellishments. However, in due time, I started seeing the demand for bridal wear and then it became the rage. Being in India, embellishments were easy to use and gaining popularity. In fact, even today, I do a lot of work without embellishments.

Yi You are a strong PETA supporter and have a collection that features shoes for every occasion and don’t use leather! That is commendable. Is it difficult to design without something as basic as that?

RS It was difficult at the beginning, but I was so decided about not using leather, that I had to innovate to find alternatives. I must say that the saying ‘where there is a will there is always a way’ has been proven right for me, time and again for me.

Yi How did Natalie Portman react to the pair of shoes you gifted her on her birthday?

RS I think she really liked them, and I am always happy to gift a pair of my shoes to animal lovers as they will always appreciate them.

Yi What’s your advice to youngsters aspiring to become designers? How important is it for them to test their creativity before going ahead?

RS More than the creativity, it is important to know the business aspect and have clear ideas on how to take your creativity forward. There are many who are creative, but only few have the ability to make it big. yi AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 49

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yi

educate Take a nostalgic walk around one of Mumbai's most charming campuses

K E E PI N S I D E яГо

Pg08 Pg20 Pg42 Pg50 THE OTHER ENTREPRENEURS YOUTH INC TAKES A LOOK AT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A VIABLE CAREER OPTION

TECH TALK CHECK OUT SOME OF THE BEST INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES TO PURSUE COMPUTER SCIENCE

THE NUMBER GAME HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED BECOMING A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT? TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IT REQUIRES

THE RIGHT MOVE IN THIS MONTH'S STUDENT SPEAK, NINA MEHTA CHARTS HER JOURNEY FROM JOURNALISM TO ISB

_STUDENT SPEAK

The

Right

It’s not easy to be a media person, be associated with names like CNBC TV 18 and The Economic Times, and then jump to one of the best business schools in India.

Well, it ain’t impossible either, says Nina Mehta who made the shift

Move PHOTO COURTESY ISB HYDERABAD

M

ost of us don’t really know what it is we want to do with our lives. Our undergrad education is usually a combination of what we studied in junior college, what our parents think is a good degree, and what the latest trend is. This is mostly followed by the standard engineering-, commerce-, finance-related jobs that ‘fit’ with what we studied to justify spending three or four years of our life learning. It’s the rare person who knows exactly what he wants to do for the rest of his life while still in junior college and sets out achieving it. Even this rare person can have a change of heart down the line, or learn different things about himself and decide to make a shift. I wouldn’t say I fit the mould of the latter, but I most certainly wouldn’t classify myself as being part of the former.

After dabbling in animation for a

while, I quickly realised my potential for writing. I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism with the aim of honing my skills as a journalist. While in college I started freelancing for a number of publications in Mumbai and Chennai.

Following my undergraduate degree, I decided to opt for further studies and joined the Asian College of Journalism, Asia’s leading J-school for a Postgraduate Diploma in Print Journalism.

During campus placements, I consciously applied to The Economic Times for a posting in Mumbai.

Despite having no background in healthcare or life sciences, upon joining I was assigned the task of tracking the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

As a reporter for a beat that ebbs and flows in terms of news, I learnt a lot from industry leaders, colleagues, and people across various levels of the sector’s value chain. From a bystander

with little or no knowledge, I became an insider with the skills to understand how science and business affect the economics of the world around us.

The time spent at The Economic Times opened my eyes to the opportunities around me and got me interested in various aspects of business. I decided that I wanted to be part of change happening in the industry rather than just standing on the sidelines, reporting it. This was however not a decision I took lightly; no career switch ever is. I decided that it was something I wanted to do and went for it with gusto.

Cramming for the GMAT while working a six-day job with irregular hours is no mean feat, as some of you know. But, with the aim of getting into one of the best schools in the world in mind, anything is doable. Initially, I applied only to universities in the US. However, insightful discussions with colleagues as well as witnessing

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the upheaval that the West was going through, I decided studying in India was the best option for me.

Realisation, however, came a little too late as deadlines for the only school I was considering in India – Indian School of Business – was already over. Since the die was already cast for that year, I decided to make the most of the time I had to improve my experience and resume in areas that I was lacking. Journalism, as wonderful a profession as it is, didn’t allow me to delve too much into any particular sector. I decided my research skills needed improvement and joined RR Donnelley, a publishing firm (and a Fortune 500 company, no less!) as a research analyst. Through the year I worked on my MBA application and when the time came, sent it in to only one university. My logic was and still is – if you are not studying in the best university, there is no point in studying at all.

At this point I think it’s important to mention a few things that I feel will help those of you looking to (i) join a leading B-school and (ii) switch careers. As far as the first point is concerned, I cannot stress enough on the importance one must pay to the essays. Essays are a way for universities to judge the kind of person you are. It gives you a chance to showcase yourself in the manner you want. It’s all in your hands. The key to a good essay, apart from being honest and not fabricating claims, is to have people who know you well and whose opinion you value to read your essays and critique them.

Getting an agency to screen your essays is not a bad idea; but they won’t know you as well as your friends, family, or co-workers.

With regard to switching careers, there are two types of people – those who know what they want to do post an MBA and those who only have a vague idea. My two cents is that it’s

fine if you don’t know exactly what you want to do as long as you are open to self-discovery and learning during the course of your study.

As far as places to study management go, personally I can’t see myself in any other B-school other than ISB. The faculty, the class mix, and the immense diversity people bring in terms of background, work experience, and ideas is truly first class.

Life on campus is a perfect mix of work (assignments that drive us crazy at 2 am) and play (parties that end with the sunrise). If it’s the opportunity to learn from some of the most dynamic faculty from leading B-schools across the globe or the chance to interact with topnotch industry leaders, ISB is the place to be. And for all of you out there who don’t have a technical background, fret not. If a girl who last did any form in math in junior college can make it here and survive, so can you! yi AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 51

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__WISE UP

- By Niloufer Gandhi Select the word closest in meaning to the word in italics to complete the sentence

1. Exacerbate (ig-zas-er-beyt) The president’s comments (a. expedited/ b. worsened/ c. deterred) the communal tension.

2. Reprehensible (rep-ri-hen-suh-buh l) On learning about her son’s (a. shameful/ b. shameless/ c. praiseworthy) behaviour, she punished him.

3. Incessant (in-ses-uh nt) The (a. irregular/ b. without stopping/ c. useless) rain paralysed most of the city’s commuting services.

4. Deride (dih-rahyd) His colleagues (a. ridiculed/ a. blamed/ c. disproved) him for his old fashioned behaviour.

5. Pragmatic (prag-mat-ik) (a. Stubborn/ b. Practical/ c. Diligent) decisions lead to success.

6. Innate (ih-neyt) Shyness is an (a. inborn/ b. irrelevant/ c. indifferent) trait shared by many of us.

Ever faced a time when you were tongue tied ’cause you didn’t know which word to use or felt like flaunting a powerful vocabulary just to impress some friends or colleagues?

Well, let’s start with a few basic words that you can use in your day to day conversation.

7. Prudent (prood-nt) Postponing our holiday was a (a. foolish/ b. gullible/ c. wise) decision.

8. Ephemeral (ih-fem-er-uh l) Tom was aware that his mother’s bitter moods were (a. eternal/ b. transitory/ c. impulsive) and that soon she would be her usual cheerful self.

9. Preclude (pri-klood) Her stinging words (a. approved/ b. prevented/ c. accredited) any possible friendship between her and her friend.

The (a. brave/ b. coward/ c. gallant) soldiers fought with the terrorists for over two hours.

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

10. Intrepid (in-trep-id)

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yi

entertain Take off for the majestic mountains of the Lahaul and Spiti district

K E E PI N S I D E яГо

Pg60 Pg62 Pg65 Pg72 SLUTWALK The Beginning of a Revolution SLUTWALKS ARE BECOMING POPULAR ACROSS THE WORLD AS WOMEN PROTEST AGAINST BEING LABELED FOR THEIR CLOTHES

ROAD TO INNER PEACE JOURNEY TO THE LAHAUL AND SPITI DISTRICT TO EXPERIENCE TRUE INNER PEACE

SHOE IT RIGHT FIVE SHOE STYLES THAT ARE MUSTHAVE ESSENTIALS IN ANY FASHIONISTA'S WARDROBE

ADRENALINE JUNKIE CHECK OUT THESE EXCITING WATER SPORTS TO ENJOY THE MONSOONS TO THE MAX

The

_FUN FEATURE

joy

luck

t

They found it difficult to find like-minded people within their social circle to be interested enough in what they liked. And even if they managed to find people, they could not sustain the interest for what they liked.

And no, it was not something as easy or frivolous as going to the movies or liking a film star. It is more concrete and action oriented, like photography, drawing comic strips, playing board games (not as time-pass, but hardcore, to win), writing short stories, and dabbling into entrepreneurship. It required passion and perseverance. That’s when they decided to use the online social networking media to look for people with similar interests. And it paid off.

This is pretty much the story of every social youth club that you can find online. Strangers get in touch with each other, constantly comment on activities online and go back and forth with feedback.

And finally, decide to put a face to the name, and meet for coffee and a chat, may be throw in some

club

activity related to the group.

And once similar passions are discovered, the interaction changes the entire equation.

“When we met for the first time, none of us knew each other,” says Mihir Vora, member of Board Games Bash, a group which meets every month to play different board games. Well that was then.

Between then and now, picnics have been organised, family-like gatherings have happened, and couples have hooked up too! “I always tell new comers that you don’t need to know anyone to play a board game,” says Vora, adding, “At the café where we usually meet up, I once convinced a stranger to try joining a game. He was hesitant at first, but joined all the same. He’s not even from India, but still writes in once in a while remembering that night as one of the most fun nights he ever had!”

The questions is, how to get the strangers from the online mode to the offline mode? “You have to be patient and persistent,” says Rishabh Chaturvedi who started

a short story writer’s club back in 2008. Initially, he used to drag his friends to the meet ups, as a back up, in case no one else came. And that was exactly the case. It took a few months, but things got better.

Now, the club meets every two weeks without fail, and also has a blog to post their stories, called Litizen.

There have also been cases where the founder members are no longer active, due to a shift in location, but at the same time, there are instances where groups have members from all across, even as far as New Zealand. “Since our format is such that members can at least comment on the stories that we post online, we have members from all over, like New Delhi and New Zealand,” says Sonesh Prakash, a member of Litizen. In fact the Hackers and Founders Group has members from as far as the United States.

“Our group basically meets to discuss entrepreneurial ventures, no matter what the idea,” says member Nirav Shah. The group

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_FUN FEATURE

VISHAL TOMAR / MUMBAI WEEKEND SHOOT

THEY FOUND, THEY MET, THEY CONQUERED! SHRADDHA KAMDAR DISCOVERS MANY YOUTH-ORIENTED CLUBS THAT WERE CREATED ONLINE AND NOW ARE PROVIDING A FORUM FOR TRANSLATING LATENT PASSIONS INTO REAL OUTPUT

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_FUN FEATURE

has a strong online presence critiquing ideas and collecting information, and many ventures have seen light of day, like Shah’s own soft ware solutions company he set up a few months ago in Mumbai. “Geographically, the US may seem far away, but people there are extremely interested in investing here. That’s how I have several soft ware engineers from the US who provide not only important insights about the global market, but also a bit of seed money,” he informs.

There are other groups which do not believe is profit, but just passion.

The Mumbai Weekend Shoot club is for amateur photographers who meet every Sunday to do a photo shoot at a location in Mumbai every Sunday. “The idea is to learn, hold workshops, and indulge in the kind of photography we like,” says active member and coordinator Mulchand Dedhia. He advises those who want to start a group about having a focussed idea. “You need to have a great idea, even selfish if you please, to do something reliable and sturdy. The power of the internet is very strong, if you’re looking for 10 people, you might probably get a hundred. But then, you want that number to grow, not decline,” he avers.

Whether for profit or not, and even whether regular in meeting or not, it is these online platforms, that have enabled sales professionals and chartered accountants to turn into writers, marketers to turn in photographers and businessmen to hardcore board gamers. It is certain that the youngsters are certainly ready to explore avenues unheard of to pursue something close to their heart.

Litizen The group used to meet once every two weeks to critique each other’s work, for the exclusive purpose of bettering the writing. Now, they have a blog, where once every two weeks, stories have to be posted (yes it is a deadline) and read to discuss at the next meeting. “It is a great platform for closet writers, since the turnaround

is pretty quick. It helps the passive be more active, since something really eggs you to write,” says Prakash. So you have finance professionals and engineers showing off their literary skills in all earnestness every other Saturday. “It started out of necessity to get a feedback on my writing,” says Chaturvedi, “which is now become an addiction.”

and Strategy Board Game Night – where only those who are interested in strategy show up. “It’s almost no fun, and all fight!” laughs Vora, who now owns over 70 board games and provides his own collection at the meet ups. The most loved games are 30 Seconds, Quelf, Uno Attack, Uno Tippo, Articulate and Man Bites Dog. The group also circulates internally, detailed reviews of new board games right from opening the pack to how the game plays out the first three times. yi

Board Games Bash The group tries to meet up once every three weeks to play. From a small group of about 40 people, has now reached the strength of 850 people. In fact, now they even have a day associated with the group. So if it’s Wednesday, it’s game night! The meetings have now moved on to a whole new level with a more competitive streak into Under the Stars - a single game played by about 40 to 45 members moderated by Vora;

Mumbai Weekend Shoot oot Amateur photographers who meet up for a shoot every Sunday, sometimes in crowded locations like Chor Bazaar! “Now even the locals know us,” say Dedhia. He adds that shooting in a group, a member feels much more confident that shooting alone. People are worried about the safety of their equipment and have a hundred other questions in their heads, which automatically ease out once they are in a group. The group has ns taken several photography sojourns to nearby weekend locations like Matheran, Punchgaani and Sula Vineyards. A major break for the group came in the form of an exhibition that they did with the Dhobi Ghat team, at the launch of the film, where over 100 photographers’ work was exhibited.

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_RELATIONSHIP

I

LIAR Liar!

SUCHITA PARIKH ASKS WHY LYING IS A NECESSARY PART OF ANY RELATIONSHIP

s there anyone on the face of this planet who has never told a fib? Not a chance! The only humans who haven’t are those who are still getting the hang of speech. It’s a part of evolution - you learn to talk, therefore you learn to talk bull (pardon the French). It’s commonplace. It’s done. It’s natural.

In fact, it’s so natural that ‘thou shalt not lie’ doesn’t even figure in the ten commandments. The Good Lord probably thought it beyond our capacity. “They’re only human, after all,” he must’ve thought. “They wouldn’t be able to resist spinning a yarn or two.”

And this penchant for tale-spinning follows into every aspect of our lives, including our romantic liaisons. But every action has an equal and opposite reaction, oui? And the whopping tall tales we tell will eventually come crashing down around us and our relationships, yes? Case in point: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Clinton, Anthony Weiner, and the mother of all crashes – Tiger Woods. Oh the tangled webs we weave when we try to deceive. Look at poor Ranbir Kapoor, whose tangled web was very publicly unravelled on a primetime talk show by his celebrity ex-girlfriend. Tsk tsk tsk.

Navigating out of a sticky situation, such as being caught cheating, would be wholly impossible without lying — but these are the really massive no-no’s, the kinds of deceit you probably really shouldn’t indulge in.

Harmless little white lies are, some say, a necessary part of a relationship. The ethics of it can largely be determined by the intent. “Lying is a bit of a necessary evil when considering the other person's feelings,” feels Apoorva Khanna. However, this is a murky grey area where one can cross the line quite easily. Sonia Ghosh clarifies, “If the lie is making the other person get the wrong impression of you, then I am against it.”

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es!

Fib files: common dating li FIRST-DATE

SOCIAL OUTINGS

►

►

This situation is a breeding ground for fibs, which are mostly used to impress a date. “I might lie about likes and dislikes to get a foot in the door with a girl,” confesses Khanna. “I’ve spiced up stories and events to make myself come across cooler, smarter, or better. But over time this could become rather obvious and the ‘relationship’ will fade out,” he concedes.

Lying about being at work while actually partying with friends is a problem that points to underlying relationship issues. Mehul Khanna elaborates, “Lying about hitting a bar instead of the strip club you actually went to for a bachelor party might be ok when the girlfriend is not comfortable with your entering that type of establishment.

But you and your posse need to get the story straight. If you get caught, you’ll be in even more trouble!”

COMMUNICATION

►

With smart phones, 3G, social networks, and chat, couples have the ability to stay connected 24/7; a boon for some, a bane for others. “I’ve used several excuses to either avoid unpleasant conversations or just get some space,” says Sonia. “Like: the phone battery died on me, I accidentally saved the message to my drafts instead of pressing send, or I had poor signal reception!”

APPEARANCE

►

How many of us have been on one or the other end of the question ‘Do I look fat in this’ and its variants? “It’s ok to lie to a person about their appearance if they’re generally insecure about it,” says Gautam Shah. “However,” he continues, “it is equally important to be tactful and honest as the situation merits. If I don’t like what the girl is wearing, I’ll say so, but very tactfully.”

PSYCH-SPEAK

►

All of this begs a question – why is it that we lie so much?

Relationship expert Dr Reena Sarin explains: “People often lie if they don’t feel safe about telling the truth. It doesn’t condone the behavior but does throw light on the fact that the person is so afraid of disapproval that s/he would rather tell a lie. And if that’s the case with you, chances are that your partner shares the same fear. Even little lies can destroy a relationship if told frequently enough, so what you really need to do is have a truthful discussion about it.”

DEVIL-SPEAK

►

If that discussion seems foreboding to you, you might want to follow Rule Number One of the Liar’s Manual – if you’re going to lie, DON’T get caught! yi

FIBfacts Fascinatingly, guys and gals lie the same amount in relationships and, well, in general! The difference is, guys lie to make themselves look better. The ladies lie to make the other person feel better.

That’s one for las chicas!

Introverts tend to lie lesser than extroverts. Hmm. So Diana King’s lyrics “I don’t want no fly guy, I just want a shy guy” have added meaning now.

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News sNewsNe News N sNe _EDU NEWS

Around the World

Parents to have easy access to colleges

U

nion HRD Minister Kapil Sibal announced last month that the Central government is working on a three dimensional technology which will enable parents to have online access to any educational institution for the purpose of admissions. Sibal added that a combination of several technologies like geospatial, videography, and aerial photography would be used to design the new one.

“The mapping exercise is on,” Sibal said. He was of the opinion that with the new technology, parents would be able to have access to all institutions on a particular website and would be able to check specifics like facilities, infrastructure, and so on, before choosing the best option for their children.

The pilot project for this has been carried out in Karnataka, and Sibal mentioned that this technology had not been introduced anywhere in the world. However, it could take three to four years to put education-friendly technology in use.

IIM INDORE INTRODUCES UNDERGRAD COURSE AFTER CLASS 12

O



ne of the country’s premier institues, Indian Institute of Management-Indore has launched a five-year programme in management for those who have completed class 12. This is will be a combination of a three-year bachelor’s programme followed by a master’s. The five-year integrated residential programme will have 120 students in its first batch. There is also an option for students to opt out after the degree course, after three years. For this programme, IIM-I has a component on international exposure and an internship at a social organisation, in addition to classroom lectures.

The selection will be based on an aptitude test and interview. The eligibility is 60 per cent in class 12.

The tuition fee will be `3 lakh per year for the first three years and `5 lakh a year for the subsequent two.

6



IGNOU COURSES FOR SAILORS

T

he Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has signed an MoU with the Indian Navy. They launched the ‘Sagardeep’ programme to help sailors opt for associate and bachelor’s degrees.

The degree for the programmes will be conferred by IGNOU, but not without giving due credit to the Naval training. Each and every sailor of the Indian Navy will benefit from Sagardeep, irrespective of entry-level qualification, branch, or trade.

India-NZ join hands

I

ndia and New Zealand have entered into a treaty for The New ZealandIndia Prime Ministers’ Education Cooperation Initiative. This is a programme co-funded by both countries to improve bilateral cooperation in higher education, and research and development. This initiative will also facilitate student and academic mobility. This education cooperation was looked into and agreed upon by the respective education ministers last year.

Both countries have agreed to establish an Education Cooperation Council to progress the Prime Ministers’ Education Cooperation Initiative. Th is council can be a mechanism for India to bring together a variety of Indian education and skills development funding agencies and other education sector bodies.

Following a model similar to one that was recently established between Australia and India, higher-level education and other sector bodies from both countries may be invited to join the initiative.



NO MONEY, NO EDUCATION: UN REPORT

T

he United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), has stated that as many as 67 million children are still denied the right to education worldwide. This may be due to financial, social, or other problems like health or strife.

One of the most recent issues that came up in the ECOSOC survey is the lowering of educational budgets by many governments, as a result of the financial crisis being faced by them. A survey conducted on 18 lowincome countries shows that seven of them cut their education spending, raising concerns that many more children would drop out of school in these countries. The other key hindrance to overall education is armed conflict, which occurred in 35 countries over the last decade.

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_ECO WATCH

N E E R G ACADEMIC ZONE

With environmental causes having a huge impact on all sectors, it is no wonder that ‘green’ has crept in to everything. But ever heard of a ‘green school’?

Youth Inc presents India’s first Green Business School

N

estled in the valley in Karjat, with the magnificent mountains as a backdrop, the 40acre campus of Universal Business School (UBS) looks more like a green sojourn than a business school.

The idea is to be as green as possible, even in thinking. In fact, that is the primary goal of the promoters, to inculcate a green approach to business and in a larger sense, to life. “In fact, that is one of the key areas where we aim to be different,” says Tarun Anand, Co-founder, UBS, adding, “A sustainable campus can be created anywhere. What we want is to create sustainable thought processes. What I mean is encouraging students to think ecologically even during classes, within the scope and purview of their subject matter.”

In-keeping with this thought, every student at UBS will engage in a project based on the ‘green parts of business’. There will be considerable focus on sustainability, employing the latest available ecological technologies towards influencing students to become model environmental citizens of the world. “UBS students will be sensitised about environmental concerns and why each manager must

contribute towards the corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals of his/ her orgranisation. This foundation will be laid in this project they take up,” says Principal Foudner Gurdip Anand.

With the idea of ‘green’ becoming all pervasive, soon there will be a breed of management professionals following their duties not only as leaders but also as responsible citizens. yi

GREENfacts • Double heighted ceilings to allow for wind tunnel effect to flow through, allowing for reduction of cooling needs and reduction of energy • Wall cladding to prevent heat penetration from outside, reducing electricity costs • Double glazed glass to ensure external heat is not transmitted internally, thereby

reducing the cooling requirements • Rain water harvesting with the help of retaining walls and mini-dams • Effective garbage disposal system • Green thinking will be an essential part of the curriculum, no matter what the subject – finance, marketing or production

• Green specific electives like Green Financing, Green Manufacturing and Sustainability Management taught by professors from Harvard • Procured construction material like bricks and stones from the local villages, thus reducing transportation costs • 40 per cent of the campus space devoted to organic farming

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_OFF THE MAP

the high road to inner peace EISHA SARKAR GOES ON THE ALMOST HEAVENLY JOURNEY TO THE LAHAUL AND SPITI DISTRICT AND COMES AWAY REJUVENATED!

“Y

ou will find people everywhere from all over the world. This is peak season,” taxi driver M Javed tells us, as we look at the train of cars behind us - a traffic jam in the middle of Manali.

Now, how’s that for a vacation?

Tired after an eight-hour ride from Chandigarh, we stagger into the Apple Country Hotel’s lobby. Since all the deluxe rooms are occupied by tourists from Punjab and Delhi, we’re offered the honeymoon suite at `5,500 a night which provides a cosy bed and a fantastic view of deodar and pine forests on the Himalayan slopes.

With a mild summer and an altitude of 2050 metres, Manali is Himachal Pradesh’s adventure sports’ capital and sees throngs of tourists come here for paragliding, rock-climbing, rapelling, trekking, white-water rafting on the rapids of the River Beas, and even skiing. These sports are expensive and we have to bargain hard to pay `1,800 per head for a 20-minute paragliding trip down the Solang Nullah and `3,500 a couple for the rafting.

To get away from the hustle-bustle of Manali, we plan a two-day trip to Keylong in the Lahaul and Spiti district about 120 km from the Indo-Tibet border. The hotel receptionist suggests we leave early. “Since the Rohtang pass is closed every Tuesday, all tourists will be going there on Wednesday morning to enjoy the snow. The earlier you leave, the better will be your chance to avoid the traffic-jam,” he says. We stumble to the car at 4 am, groggy, both because of the lack of sleep and oxygen. To our dismay, we aren’t the only ones up early. Convoys of jeeps, Toyotas, four-wheel drives, Scorpios, private cars, and motorbikes race against each other on the Manali-Leh National Highway 21. Some stop at roadside shacks to hire snow-gear and skis.

We wind our way up the Pir Panjal Mountains to find ourselves at the rear of a 3 km-traffic jam all the way up to the Rohtang La, which in Tibetan means ‘a pile of corpses’.

It is 6 am and the temperature outside is 10°C. We leave our bags in the taxi and start to walk past the gleaming mica schist and snow walls. Glacial melt has turned the mud-track into sludge, making it difficult for cars to pass

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WHAT YOU MUST KNOW  The Rohtang pass opens only from June to November and is closed on Tuesdays. So plan your travels to Leh and Keylong accordingly.  Taxis are available from Chandigarh, Delhi and Manali. Bargain hard - for around

1,500 km, taxis charge `28,000  Most restaurants, adventure sports’ clubs, guides, and taxis take only cash. ATMs, like public toilets, are scarce once you’re out of Manali.  Carry enough water. Bottled water rates vary from `20-25 for a litre.

WHAT YOU MUST CARRY CARRY: • Sunscreen (SPF 50 and above) • Woollens, raingear, and trekking clothes • Hand-sanitisers • Sunglasses

• Toilet paper • Dry fruits for snacks • Proof of identity (since these areas are very close to the border)

through. Some trucks have been waiting here for eight hours. Were it not for the breathtaking views of the snowcapped peaks, waterfalls, and the coniferous forests below, this would have been an ordeal. It takes us three hours to cover 5 km, after which the 64 km winding road from Rohtang to Keylong is bumpy but free of traffic. Lahaul and Spiti lie on the leeward slopes of the mountains, their tundra meadows broken only by waterfalls.

We take a break at Koksar for some mutton momos and chai. Our next stop is Tandi where we refuel, for the next petrol pump is 365 km away. About 8 km from Keylong, Tandi is also the point where the rivers Chandra and Bhaga meet to form the Chandrabhaga and later, the Chenab. From there, we make our way to Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s (HPTDC) The Chandrabhaga Hotel, which overlooks Keylong town.

At `1,800 a night, it offers basic accomodation and a restaurant with a limited range of North Indian cuisine and is a stopover for tourists on their way to Leh (359 km), Suraj tal and Deepak tal lakes (approximately 65 km) and Udaipur-Triloknath Temple (about 43 km).

The administrative centre of the district, Keylong has a Hanuman Temple, a post office, a State Bank of India ATM, a German Bakery that sells croissants and yak cheese, and shops which stock biscuits, dry fruits and bottled water.

There is also a mechanic who keeps bikes for hire – Bajaj Pulsar for `1,500 a day, and a Royal Enfield for `2,500 upwards. There is also the Cafe Nordaling, which overlooks the mountains and where you can have a delicious steaming veg and chicken momos for `100 a plate.

There are three Buddhist monasteries near Keylong.

The largest is Shasur Monastery, just 4 km away. Then there is Kardang Monastery of the Drukpa sect of Tibetan th Buddhism on a slope across the Bhaga River and the remote Bu Thayul monastery, which is a 3 km hike up the mountain from the helipad at Stingiri, 3 km away. fro After a two-hour hike up the steep slope from Stingiri village, our sunburned faces light up at the sight of the vil beautiful Thayul Gompa that houses a huge statue of be Guru Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born, who introduced Gu Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet in the eighth Va century; and behgan the library of Kangyur (the actual ce words of the Buddha) with literature in the local Boti wo language. Few locals come here. Caretaker Chomo Anglan moh says, “Our Rinpoche from Bhutan came here only mo once, a few years ago. Lamas from Dharamsala have not yet on come here since there is no road.” co Sitting there on the Gompa’s steps amidst snow-capped mountains, basking in the sun, we find an opportunity to mo introspect, to meditate, and to be one with nature. Here, we in find peace. yi finally n AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated 63

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_FASHION SHOP

In the

HOW TO GET THE RIGHT PAIR OF JEANS? YOUTH INC HELPS YOU FIND YOUR FAVOURITE PAIR OF DENIMS

body shapes

BASIC FIRST Stock your wardrobe with at leastt two pairs of basic jeans. Avoid stone-washed, washed, ripped, or baggy styles if you don’tt have a basic pair first. Try different tops with the jeans you plan to buy. This givess you an idea of whether your jeans are really ally versatile. Light blue, dark blue, white, e, black, dark wash are some basic colours urs to have.

(HOURGLASS/PEAR)

GUESS

GUESS

The first rule of fashion is don’t follow trends blindly; if bright, coloured pants aren’t your style, then don't buy them. Having said that, after you are settled with a pair of comfortable basic pair jeans, it's time you invest in a funky pair. Currently, candy-coloured, cropped, and embellished jeans are in trend. Pick your style today!

(APPLE) Narrow hips, thick waist. Upper body is bigger than the lower body

GAS

SIZEABLE ISSUE

` Cover the tummy fat with high-waisted jeans that rest just above the navel. An extrawide waistband helps control the tummy fat. ` Low-rise jeans define and narrow your hips but make sure your love handles are not popping out! Pleated, baggy, and boyfriend jeans are perfect for you. ` Embellished pockets can also give the appearance of a wider waist if you want to stick to high waist styles. ` The t-shirt and jeans combination is not for you. Wear blouses and tunic-style -style tops. tops p.

(BANANA) Overall skinny body with no real definition for the waist ` Tie styles on the waist and belted jeans are great for you. ` Harem styles, drop crotch styles, or Jodhpuris; you can experiment with them all. ` Use voluminous materials on the top: sequins, tops with a shine, crepes, silks and satins. ` Flowing long tunics with a thin belt on the waist, wrap blouses, and shirts are great for your body type.

GAS

GUESS

Size and fit is the first thing you look at while shopping for jeans. Don't buy jeans that are one size loose because jeans tend to loosen and take the shape of your body over time. Buy the right fit, not too tight.

Check the fit on the crotch; a camel toe or odd fit on the crotch can ruin the look.

Ankle length styles are very fashionable but are not for short women. They make legs appear stubby and short and the hips wider.

Never fold your jeans in; alter them at the store or a local tailor to your length.

GAS

TRENDY UPDATE DATE

Big hips, narrow waist, upper body is very small, lower body is large ` Flared bottoms make your hips look narrow and balances your body. ` Avoid baggy, drop crotch, or pleated denims that add weight around the hip areas ` Bling or any sort of embellishment on the front and back pockets will only draw attention to problem areas. ` Don't wear tank tops, spaghettis, or tight t-shirts. This will only make your lower bodyy look hugely disproportionate. Wear short sleeved shirts and one-shoulder or ruffled blouses blousees and tops instead.

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Shoe it right!

With the plethora of shoe options available in the market, narrowing down to a selected few can be a daunting task. Youth Inc attempts the Herculean task!

NUDE PUMPS

GLADIATORS

Flattering nude pumps are fast replacing the black classics. They blend with the skin tone making your legs look endlessly long.

Team with a 'busy' dress or colored pants without overpowering your outfit.

Gladiators are highlyy versatile and can be teamed with several rent outfits to create different looks. Try teaming them with maxi and irts mini dresses. Even skirts can be reinterpreted by innovative mix andd match.

WILLS

LS GOLD STILETTO HEE d of glamour is what da A dash a pai pair of gold stiletto heels will add to your collection. pa essential, grab A party them in strapped, peep toe or gladiator varieties. toe, Be it matte or glossy, these beauties will add a divalike appeal to any outfit.

Try them with chunky jewellery!

OXFORDS Oxfords spell chic and stylish. With their uber fashionable cut and phenomenal designs, fords will lend your outfit oxfords an air of sophistication.

PAVER'S ENGLAND

BALLERINAS

PAX

Superlative comfort and extreme style is what ballerinas promise. They look great with almost everything. Choose from the bright colored or printed variety. If you wish to add a personal element to your ballerinas, unleash yyour creativity by embellishing them with studs, pearls, rrhinestones, and tassels.

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_FASHION TIPS

in MENlimelight

THE FASHION FOCUS IS INCREASINGLY SHIFTING TOWARDS MEN SO IT’S TIME TO PULL UP YOUR SOCKS AND TAKE NOTICE

CUFFLINKS

2

Match your personality to your cufflinks and pick from a wide range of stones, designs and colours. Wear them with a crisp French cuff y shirt and you’re ready to ggo anywhere.

WILLS LIFESTYLE

1

BAGS

FOSSIL

LEATHER WALLETS

4

How you keep your money says a lot about you so invest in a good leather wallet in brown or black and remember not to overstuff it. Keep those visiting cards in a card holder.

In Invest in an expensive w watch that will last you fo for years to come. After th the basic silver metal w watch, the leatherst strap watch is a must bu buy. Play with fun dial co colours if it suits your ppersonality.

VACHERON CONSTANTIN

3

TOD'S

6

PAVER'S ENGLAND

5

WATCHES

TIES

WILLS LIFESTYLE

Today, bags have many stylish, masculine options.

Pick one in a neutral shade to go with your casual and semi-formal attires. Messenger bags in suede and leather make great accompaniments to work.

BELTS A good quality belt in blac black and brown is a must! Remember to match your belt to your shoes. Big symbols and embellishments don’t look good on anyone.

Solids in different tones are a must in your wardrobe. If you are the quirky kind, then wear shocking yellows and electric blues to pep things up. As long as you can carry it off, it works!

TheBudget Shop!

Looking stylish doesn't mean you need to burn a hole in your pocket.Youth Inc shows off two readers who shop within `3,000

MEHDI MUSLEMI AAYUSHI BANGUR

`290

Wrangler

`40 each Colaba Causeway

0 `60azaar

Bi g

Style Quotient: Casual and confident. Simple jeans and t-shirt combination, brightened with a touch of vintage, and oodles of attitude to carry it off.

Style Quotient: Comfortable and chic with a pop of colour. An ideal outfit to run your errands in style.

`150

Co l a b a

`290 Zara

`300 Aldo

`299 `60f0ted Westside

Thr

i

B

`1500 Zara Sale

`150

Hill Road

`699

`499 66 Youth Incorporated ║ AUGUST 2011

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Colaba

Only

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express

1

MAKE YOUR EYES BIGGER, SEXIER, AND GLAMOROUS IN A JIFFY

Color Bar eye glide pencil, `325

This self-sharpening, smooth pencil comes in a range of colours and works well as an eyeliner and kohl pencil.

4 Colour Bar Black Tie Eyeshadow, `225

2

eyes

3

Lancome Colour Design eyeshadow in mint green, Rs.1050

This season's mint greens and aqua colours look great and can lift your face instantly. Wear alone or smudge with other neutral colours.

Lancome Le Crayon Kohl, `1050

This long-lasting, waterproof formula gives you raven black eyes without smudging. Certainly worth investing in!

5

L'Oreal Paris Super Liner, `570

7

Sweep your lids in this colour and use a flat brush to line the lower lid for intense eyes. The eyeshadow has great pigment and long-lasting power.

Revlon eyeshadow quartet, `625

Your favourite colours packaged in one portable package makes this product great for your make-up kit.

The palette is planned according to colour themes.

6

This super liner doesn’t crack under heat, sweat or hard-core partying. Love it!

Maybelline Colossal Mascara, `260

This big baby never disappoints.

It curls, it creates volume, is smudgeproof and looks good too. Great value for money!

Youth Inc speaks to the vivacious RJ and host Teejay Siddhu about her skin secrets and her beauty must-haves

Beauty Secrets Beauty regime:

My beauty regime is very basic - wash, tone, moisturise.

Magic make-up trick:

All Indian women all have such beautiful eyes so make them even prettier - use mascaras. I’ve discovered a beautiful one called Maybelline Lash Discovery Mini Brush Mascara. Honestly, every girl should have this!

Beauty/mak-up tips:

Drink lots of water and eat lots of fruits and veggies! Your skin will absolutely glow.

Crush together a few fresh rose leaves with raw milk. Add a little honey and apply it to your cheeks for five minutes for a naturally fresh rosy glow.

5 Things in your beauty travel kit:

3Victoria’s Secret Pure Seduction body spray/ hand lotion 3MAC Smoulder Eye Kohl 3L’Oreal High Intensity Pigments Mascara 3Lakme Fig Aquashine Lipcolour 3MAC Sweet William Blushcreme

Favourite fragrance:

I love the fresh, fruity fragrances from the Escada line - they’re great for the daytime.

My current discovery is Versace Bright Crystal; it makes me feel beautiful.

Beauty faux pas:

Never overdo the make-up. Great make-up subtly accentuates your best features, so go easy. Also, don't overdo each feature of your face. If you're highlighting your eyes, wear a light colour on your lips. If you're using a darker lip shade, then keep the eyes more natural. Blusher is almost always best when kept to a minimum.

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_RELATIONSHIP

I have slightly curly, shoulder length hair. I use a straightening iron almost every morning. Can I go for permanent straightening?

Leena D, Mumbai Daily use of a straightening iron is harmful, and leads to breakage and thinning of the hair strand.

Permanent straightening/ relaxing done by a good stylist would be relatively safe. However, it is advisable to consult with your stylist who will determine the quality of your hair and recommend the necessary treatment.

Do it only once a year to avoid over treatment.

I am a wheat-skinned guy, and I have several dark spots on my cheeks and they make my face look funny and unattractive. Can I go for a chemical peel? How safe is it?

Kunal P, Delhi Dark spots usually occur due to pigmentation in superficial or deep skin. The procedure that can be done depends on the depth of pigment. You need to consult your dermatologist, who will be able to diagnose correctly and do the required procedure.

I have a lot of dandruff, and the problem persists all year through. It may seem to be a common problem, but nothing seems to help. Apart from regular anti-dandruff shampoos, I have tried using Selsun. I have also tried home remedies like tomato pulp and curd, but there is no permanent solution. Please help!

Sarita G, Noida For persistent dandruff, make sure your hair is completely dry before tying it up. After a workout, you should dry out your hair. Use a medicated anti-dandruff shampoo containing ketoconazole, zinc pyrithone, and salicylic acid twice

Dr Good SKIN DR MALAVIKA KOHLI A renowned dermatologist, she has made her mark in aesthetic dermatology in India for over 15 years. Send your query to skin@youthincmag.com

a week on your scalp. If still not effective, it could be a condition called sebbhorhic dermatitis or psoriasis and you need to consult a dermatologist.

The skin on my feet is dry and flaky. I feel self-conscious wearing skirts. I have tried applying glycerine at night before going to bed but I still get cracked skin. Is there a permanent solution?

Shweta L, Mumbai Dry and flaky feet need good moisturising. Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes. Then pat dry and apply a good foot moisturising cream containing urea and shea butter.

If moisturising does not help, you may have eczema or psoriasis, which needs medical treatment.

Lovina D, Banglore I am a 19-year-old professional swimmer. I want to go for fullbody laser treatment to get rid of unwanted hair. I have heard that this treatment is not always effective. Please advise.

Sonia P, Pune Full-body laser hair reduction is effective and safe. Expect 80 per cent reduction of hair on face and more than 90 per cent reduction in underarm and bikini area provided hair is thick, dark and dense. If done under a trained dermatologist, using a laser effective for Indian skin, like long pulsed Nd:YAG laser, this procedure is very safe.

HAPPYfeet Feet are a vulnerable part of the body, and taking care of them is very essential, especially in the monsoon.

Fungal infections can set in easily between toes as feet get wet and shoes and socks absorb water.

Utmost care should be taken to clean the area between toes with a dry towel after washing them with soap and water. Use cotton socks and change your socks twice a day. This is a simple way to care for your feet and avoid foot infections. Feet sweat more during the monsoon, so avoid wearing closed footwear. Opt for slippers, waterproof clogs and sandals instead.

Diabetic people can get fungal infections easily, they should dust their feet with an antifungal powder before wearing shoes.

Shoes and sandals should not be kept under the bed or inside the shoe rack when they are wet. This promotes bacterial growth. Sundrying is an effective way to kill the bacteria settled on footwear. Keep your shoes in a sunny corner of the house and let them air-dry naturally to prevent bacterial and fungal overgrowth.

After your bath, wipe your feet dry, and use a gentle hair dryer to air-dry the toe webs before you wear your shoes and socks.

To get rid of the accumulated dirt and mud, exfoliate your feet regularly with a foot scrubber or a pumice stone to remove the dead skin. These dead skin cells have a tendency to harden the foot and lead to cracks.

You can even get a pedicure done once a month.

Dry feet can be moisturised, but only at night and with a less greasy moisturiser containing urea and salicylic acid.

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watch PHOTOGRA

PHS BY AM

ey guys! This is a new 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.

A

H

IT KHANN

Model Interes t s: L modell ikes i ng spendi g yming, a nd, ng t i m his girl e with friend.

es Interests: Lik d reading an dancing. Has done a show s ca lled RoomieV on Channel r and a characteet role in Rock t Singh. Is par ai of Soka Gak kal. n io at rn Inte

Owns h Kapeesh Sun da is own t r runs a wavel business an ebsite d

Nidhi Oza ress n act Currently is a

s : L i ke s Interestng, watching travelli , shopping, movies ling. She is a nd c yc ly a law yer. current a nd bra ins!

Beaut y

Inte Listening to rests: travelling an music, d goin for long drive g s.

Bel a ni Rohiny g as a lawyer in workin Currently London

69model.indd 69

Sourav Si Currently workingngh in theatre

[

Send your images to modelwatch@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 decision 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•‘ Youth Incorporated 69

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News N sNNews

News New ews sNews

SCHOOLS ASKED TO BAN LEATHER SHOES IN PUNJAB

I

News



n an initiative to stop atrocities to animals, the Punjab government has urged all government schools to ban the use of leather shoes. The directive was issued by Punjab’s Director of Public Instruction (DPI)-Schools. This was after the state government received an appeal from animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). “Leather shoes should be replaced by canvas shoes that are more comfortable, economical, and ecofriendly,” said a spokesperson of the government.

The neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh has also banned leather shoes as part of the uniform in government schools.

Global scholars team to assist Presidency University

N

obel laureate economist Amartya Sen will lead a team of eight scholars, from both India and abroad to make the newly formed Presidency University a centre of excellence. The university is part of the Presidency College in Kolkata. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s great grandson, Sugato Bose, who is a historian and a professor at Harvard University, will be the chairman of the group. In addition to Sen and Bose, the group will have eight scholars.

The group includes economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia, chairperson of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, and physicist-cum-biologist Himadri Pakrasi, director, International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability, Washington.

Others in the group are Abhijit Banerjee, Ford Foundation International professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Swapan Chakraborty, director, National Library, Kolkata; Sukanta Chaudhuri, professor emeritus of English at Jadavpur University; and Ashoke Sen, professor of physics at the Harish Chandra Research Institute of Allahabad University.

Mini MBA, now in India

F

or the first time in India, a ‘MiniMBA’ in Business Essentials is being offered by Rutgers Business School, USA. Rutgers is currently ranked amongst the Top 25 Best Business Schools by The Wall Street Journal and Business Week.

HR College of Commerce & Economics and ‘Think Education’ have worked closely with Rutgers Business School to bring four leading professors to Mumbai to deliver 10 modules over five days which will comprise of  Economics  International Business and Trade  Business Strategy  Managing Human Capital  Leadership  Marketing  Supply Chain Management  Analysing a Financial Statement  Financial Strategies  Global Financial Markets and Investing The programme is open to executives and professionals. Participants will be awarded a fully recognised qualification from Rutgers Business School. There will also be a Business Networking Reception on one of the evenings.

Venue: The Trident, Nariman Point Date: August 29 to September 2, 2011 Cost: ` 1 lakh per participant For further information send an email to info@thinkeducation.in.



CA CPT NOW OPEN TO WIDER RANGE

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ow, all students who have completed 12 years of basic education can aspire to become chartered accountants.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is planning to allow all students who have done vocational courses or completed 12 years of basic education to appear for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) entrance exam. At present, only those who have passed class 12 with regular academic programmes are eligible.

The ICAI also plans to exempt graduates from the commerce stream who have cleared all exams with 55 per cent aggregate and have studied any three full papers such as accounting, auditing, and business laws from appearing in the CPT. The institute’s aim is to introduce international rules and make professionals from India at par with the rest of the world.

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_YOUTH ISSUES

Slutwalk the beginning of a revolution

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Protestors at Slutwalk Toronto

n January 24th this year, when police officer Michael Sanguinetti addressed the subject of crime prevention to a group of students at York University in Toronto, he had little idea of the notoriety that was to follow him. When he commented informally that “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” he had no inkling that his words would trigger a global feminist movement.

The implication of his words was that women are responsible for sexual crimes and are victimized because of the way they are dressed. This has given rise to an impassioned and angry protest that has spread like wildfire through Facebook and Twitter. The same language used

by Sanguinetti was picked up and SlutWalk was born as a grassroots initiative to fight against damaging ideas surrounding sexual violence in Toronto. The ‘SlutWalk, Toronto’ took place on April 3 2011 with over 3000 people on the streets. The movement today has gained unfathomable momentum across nations, including Argentina, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, the UK, the US, and across the Middle East.

The movement is now uniting millions of people across incredible diversity. It is not just women or survivors who are joining but anyone who is impacted by sexual violence and has a stake in this fight. SlutWalks are now happening in different languages, cultures, political climates, and communities. Here in India, the movement has garnered quite a response as well. Slutwalk Delhi, also called Beshrami Morcha, is an initiative by 19-year-old Umang

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTON BIELOUSOV

> By Priyanka Mehra Heather Jarvis, the cofounder of Slutwalk Toronto, says emphatically: “Studies, research, and statistics indicate no correlation between a target of sexual assault and what someone wears. Most rapists never remember what their victims were wearing. Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known and previously trusted by the victims – a family member, a friend, a partner, or an acquaintance – and not some "mentally deranged psychopath" stranger in a dark alleyway or park. Most sexual assaults happen to women and men before the age of 18 so a lot of this blaming and shaming is directed towards children & youth.

The idea that there is a type of outfit that makes one more likely to be assaulted and therefore, also a type of outfit that can protect someone from being assaulted, is dangerous & unfounded.”

Sabarwal, a student of Kamla Nehru College, Delhi, has been the topic of much debate and discussion.

In case you are speculating if a country like India is ready for a movement like this, you couldn’t be further away from the truth. Fresh in our memory is the news of Gul Panag being molested while running for the marathon in Delhi.

The item made it to the news because she is a well-known celebrity; one shudders to think of the predicament of ordinary women who deal with unreported, sexual crime in various forms on a daily basis.

As Delhi-based photographer Meeta Ahlawat puts it, “Delhi, as we know, is the rape capital of India. Women are not safe in Delhi. They are not free to wear anything they like without being stared at or getting obscene comments.

The attitude has to change. Till when will we say, oh, Delhi is not ready? Bullshit! This city is more than ready for a makeover – not just for Commonwealth Games – but for people alike.”

Anjali Kirpalani, a writer from Mumbai, wholeheartedly agrees: “I think the SlutWalk is a great initiative. Being an Indian woman, I've always thought that India is still a very male-oriented society. If men and women are equal, surely we can wear shorts like they do and not expect to be thought of as slutty or 'asking for it'?” The question remains: will the SlutWalk be successful in changing a mindset that has been prevalent over centuries? It has successfully sparked off a debate about a subject often pushed under the carpet across the country, which is the first step towards progress! yi

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refresh} ( HAIR )

eover from Valley Shilpi Dey gets a makl Doshi at Raih Salon, Rodrigues and Kinjaom drab to fab!

Mumbai and goes fr

Shilpi’s dry, long hair does not go with her oval face and slim built. Add to that an oily scalp and you get flat and unruly hair. Youth Inc decided to change her look!

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The first step was, of course, to cut her hair several inches.

Her hair was cut in a layered style so as to give volume, especially on the top.

3

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROHAN FERNANDES

2 She needed a livelier look, and colouring her hair in flashes of magenta did just that. The colour gave her a bubblier look and added spunk.

To give more texture, her hair was styled using a hair product. Then with a blow dryer, it was swept to one side to give a look of chic sophistication.

4

Valley styled her hair to frame it around her face.

Blow drying gave the appearance of more volume, while colour flashes succeeded in giving a funky look.

5

( MAKE-UP )

w t used to my ne “I have yet to gea complete shock look! It will be ve it!” lo to ever yone! I

 Shilpi has a dusky complexion so bright colours were avoided.  Make-up began with basic gel cleaning and moisturisation. To even out her skin tone, basic foundation and compact powder was used.  Next, pink and purple eye shadow and eyeliner was applied for a more natural look.  Eyelashes were curled and mascara applied so that her eyes looked fuller.  The finishing touch was a little bit of blush and pink lipstick. The make-up was kept natural to compliment her skin.

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_SPORTS

(

(

YOUTH INC PICKS THREE PLAYFUL WATER SPORTS THAT SPEAK TO THE ADVENTURE LOVER IN YOU!

SCUBA DIVING Scuba diving is a must-do for adventure enthusiasts, and others can explore the magical mysteries under the sea with snorkelling gear. Diving is a great non-competitive sport that requires you to know how to swim, get out to the ocean once in a year, and maintain your calm in the water. Marine life is under grave threat of extinction due to pollution, overfishing, and global warming. Find out what is at stake with the marine life in the ocean. Swim with schools of colourful fish over gorgeous coral reefs for the experience of a lifetime. Experience the adrenaline rush while rafting on the rapids.

You will need an international certificate to qualify for diving in certain areas or to rent scuba diving equipment. Some popular certifications available in India are from NAUI, PADI, and SSI, and certification levels start from Open Water, the beginner’s level, till Dive Instructor, the most advanced level. The beginner’s level takes up to a week to complete, starting with dives in a swimming pool and then progressing to dives with an instructor in the sea.

To scuba dive, one can take a course in Mumbai or in Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar, Goa, and

Bangalore. If you think diving in the ocean is a little too adventurous for you, try snorkelling instead to test the waters. Look for more info on: Dive India www.diveindia.com Barracuda Diving India www.barracudadiving.com Barefoot Scuba www.diveandamans.com Lacadives www.lacadives.com Dive Goa www.divegoa.com Orca Dive Club www.orcadiveclub.in

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WHITE WATER RAFTING & KAYAKING The Himalayas and other mountain ranges allow for some great white water rafting across rapids as rivers course and tumble down on their way to the ocean. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, some light swimming, and actionpacked eddies and swirls as you row on an inflated raft with a navigator.

The more adventurous can also kayak their way through these mountain streams. There are six levels of white

water rafting, with one to three for beginners, four to five for more experienced enthusiasts, and six for the death-defying sportspeople out there.

There are a variety of places along the Himalayas where one can enjoy speeding down rivers. Some good places to enjoy the rapids are Rishikesh, Ladaakh, Dandeli, Coorg, and Kundalika though it is also available at other areas. These rivers

are best enjoyed in the monsoon with an experienced guide! Ride the waves with these companies: Aquaterra Adventures www.aquaterra.in Mercury Himalayan Adventures www.himalayanadventure.com Thunderbow Expeditions www.thunderbowexpeditions.com Snow Leopard Adventures www.snowleopardadventures.com

Chennai, Kerala, Hyderabad, and Bhopal. Check out these websites for more information: Yachting Association of India www.yai.org.in Aquasail www.aquasailindia.com So what are you waiting for? Put on your swimsuit and jump in the water for an adventure sport that you can enjoy for a lifetime.

DISHANK GANDHI, a 17-yr-old, has an advanced certification in NAUI from the Dive India in Havelock Island in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. He recounts,“I’ve gone diving in Australia in the Great Barrier Reef and in Wasini Island off the east coast of Africa. But I loved Havelock because one can get lost in time there. I didn’t use a mobile phone or a watch. I woke up with the sunrise and slept at night.

The beaches are gorgeous and the waters are crystal clear. The amenities are not up to the mark, but the natural beauty of the place is untouched. The coral and fish life is amazing in Havelock, as it has been secluded for a long time, with a lot of variety. Temperature is ambient compared to other places.

Now I can dive on my own anywhere in the world up to 30 meters. The license is for life but one should take frequent refresher classes.

Pigeon Island at Netrani near Goa is another diving site in India that is good for beginners.”

SAILING Sailing as a sport began in the 17th century in Holland and since then has become popular around the world. Ocean racing or solo trips are dangerous and arduous but have become more and more popular amongst young people. In May 2010, a 16-year old Jessica Watson, became the youngest person to sail unassisted around the world. However this is one sport where you will really learn the importance of teamwork as you must rely on your teammates to work together as a unit.

Sailing is not a new sport in India and one can learn how to sail at a club.

You can learn the basics within a week and sail a set course on your own.

Sail clubs are also great places to meet people, and most have a youth division that organises special events. Regional and national championships test your abilities and endurance in this sport.

Sail clubs tend to be at places near the ocean, and there are several available at Mumbai, Goa, Pune,

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_HEALTH

The Nature Doctor

Allopathic treatments have helped many over the years, but the side effects are giving way to alternative methods. Priyanka Mehra looks at the holistic treatment method of natural therapy

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isits to the hospitals are often accompanied by numerous unfriendly looking machines, enough to deter most patients. If the thought of this scares you, then don’t worry!

There are an increasing number of people who say that your health is directly hard wired to a control room in your mind.

The mental state and physiological state are more intertwined than we think. Psychological treatment is often sought to achieve biological balance in humans. After all, we are a single unit and not compartmentalised by different disciplines. Physiological problems or sickness can also cause depression,

while stress can aggravate our medical problems.

Prof Guy Bourgeault of the University of Montreal elaborates in his book, On Being Human: “In psychogenic syndromes, influences reciprocate; that is to say the body influences the spirit, and the psychological state affects the physical condition. A two-way movement is implied in the recognition of psychosomatic nature of many complaints and illnesses.”

There are many practices that call for a holistic treatment of any individual, from hypnotherapy to naturophathy. Naturotherapist Sejal Vora has been practising natural therapy since 2006. She says, “I

believe in natural medicine and understanding your natural self without popping pills and chemicals.

They may have side effects in the long term. Natural therapy is self empowering because you are healing yourself from within.” Vora has done a course in natural medicine from the Institute of Alternate Medicine and Theta Healing, University of Theta Healing, USA. Naturopathy propagates that we are nothing but a sum total of our experiences. For example, someone who has grown up watching an abusive relationship between his/ her parents is bound to grow up and manifest violence in some form; whether bullying other children in

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school or keeping these feelings bottled subconsciously for longer. Eventually these bottled emotions snowball into something much bigger, often leading to an abusive relationship during adulthood. So any ailment that you are going through in the present, more often than not, has its roots in something that has been experienced through your formative years and has left an indelible mark on your psyche.

This connection between the mind and body is pervasive in ancient religious texts. A Buddhist scripture says, “Hope nurtures the body and prolongs life.” Austrian psychoanalyst Dr Viktor E Frankl shares this theory.

He wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning that he survived a Nazi concentration camp because he consistently kept hoping and believing in the future, while those who abandoned hope soon collapsed inwardly and died. Namita Jain, a global fitness expert, concurs: “There is definitely a body and mind connection that aids healing. Diet too is vital.”

Moreover, several studies have been carried out to study the effects of placebos, where the patient’s belief that he is taking in something curative actually helps speed up the process of recovery. Dr Mohammad, a skin specialist, says: “There is a definite connection between the body and the mind; in fact a lot of skin diseases are the result of stress.

While we do prescribe medicine to the patients we also talk to them to understand their issues and state of mind and more often than not suggest lifestyle changes.”

Vora believes in uprooting the disease from both the body and mind, as opposed to sending someone to the hospital for the physical ailment where the root cause which is also psychological remains unaddressed.

“I myself am the biggest case study in weight loss,” she says. Looking at her slender frame, it is nearly impossible to believe that she was once fat till one sees a picture of a podgy version of her.

In her pursuit of success and fame, as part of the high flying corporate life in

New York, she became a victim of that lifestyle.

While she was making lots of money, she had no real relationships and poor health. As a result, she put on almost 25 kilos. Most of us subconsciously eat to fill a void and a sense of emptiness in our life, we often substitute the feeling of fullness after stuffing ourselves to the feeling of being secure, content, and wanted.

Vora tried everything from the gym to diets, starving herself and then binging uncontrollably. However, nothing seemed to be working. She took a detached and honest view of her life and realised the person she was becoming was materialistic, indifferent, and superficial. It was renowned clinical Hypnotherapist Dr Vikram Reddy that helped her immensely. Gradual changes on a daily basis in food intake, reading, understanding the body, mind, and nutrition synergy, brought about changes eventually. She lost weight (30 kilos) in a healthy way with toned skin, no stretch marks or any other side effects, and with peace of mind.

“This is why it is extremely important for me to go into my client’s natural environment and observe their behaviour and intrapersonal relationships which are the core,” she says.

The most common problems that naturopaths treat are related to skin diseases, relationship issues, weight concerns, and sexual problems. The younger the patient, the easier and faster is the healing. Younger patients are also able to make lifestyle and attitude changes and at the same time, accept their emotions for what they are, and work on themselves. It

34-YEAR OLD ART PROFESSIONAL RIVKA SADRANGANI, SAYS "I WAS FACING NUMEROUS HEALTH ISSUES ON MANY LEVELS. NATURAL THERAPY HAS LITERALLY BROUGHT ME BACK. FROM THE NUTRITION ASPECT, I HAVE UNDERSTOOD HOW TO NOURISH MYSELF. NATURAL THERAPY HAS BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME." is all about taking charge of your life and starting afresh. In short, taking responsibility of your own life and action and getting over the feeling of helplessness and being victimised.

Dr Mohammed comments, “I do think Naturotherapy does have its limitations, as sometimes patients are not willing to make the change or understand that their physical ailment has its root in their mind and the speed of their recovery will depend on a drastic shift in attitude. I feel if someone is determined to overcome a disease they will do so no matter what, whereas it is extremely difficult to help someone who is defeated in spirit.”

The important point is to seek help and not live your life with unnecessary burden, just take that step and make the change now, seek therapy Naturally! yi

A career in alternate therapies is extremely lucrative in today’s times.

Alternate therapy makes you independent and you can help others after experiencing its benefits yourself. An alternate therapist can make anywhere between ` 50,000 to `2 lakh per month. There are several options open from one-on-one sessions, to teaching, to corporate workshops; it all depends on how far you want to go - the sky is the limit. Ten years down the line alternate therapy is slated to be one of the biggest careers.

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_FITNESS

WEmatters GHTY

Global fitness expert Namita Jain gives some quick exercise tips for collegians Suck in those ab muscles Remember to keep your abs tucked in at all times. This will help strengthen the muscles and maintain better posture.

Include strength exercises to shape and sculpt your body AB CRUNCH

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your hands behind your head. Lift your shoulders off the floor and lower.

BUTT BRIDGE

Shedding holiday weight has always been an issue with those who have been vacationing and binging on fried food in the monsoon! Worry not, Priyanka Mehra gives you easy ways of getting back to shape

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he rain, the invigorating fragrance of wet earth and the greenery are quite picturesque, right?

The perfect weather for hot bhajiyas and sweetened chai. However, the ugly stomach bulge, the tightness of your tee, and the fact that you now have to take a deep breath to fit into your favourite pair of jeans is literally weighing you down.

It is natural to find yourself with a little extra holiday weight with all that you’ve sampled on your vacation, the juicy mangoes you devoured, and the steaming hot snacks you enjoyed with fragrant cups of tea in the ongoing monsoon?

Vacations and weight gain are synonymous with each other especially during the monsoons, since exams are over and stress levels are low. Vacations bring a sense of well being, guards are let down and we feel we derserve

a break. Change in environment, low activity levels and food choices play a pivotal role in weight gain.

Realisation dawns and the most natural reactions to weight gain are panic and a sense of impending doom trailed by a drastic dip in self-esteem.

Instead of a frenzy of crash diets, spending hours at the gym, and curbing yourself from over-indulging, try a few basic changes in eating habits and lifestyle will help lose weight, not overnight, but gradually for sure.

Stay active and be smart  Climb stairs at college and home and watch your calories melt away.  Take up a sport that requires physical activity. If you are not a sports person, learn a new form of dance.  Drink a lot of water; not only does it do wonders for your skin and system, but also keeps you from overeating.  Don’t overdo the workout.

• Lie on your back with your feet on a step or on the floor. Raise your hips off the floor until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your chest. Squeeze your hips as you lift up. Slowly return to starting position.

PUSH-UPS

• Place your hands directly under your shoulders and keep your fingers pointing forwards and your back straight. Slowly lower your body bringing your chest close to the floor, and then return to starting position.

(Do two sets of 16 counts each)

 Don’t skip meals and go on crash diets.  Make smart eating choices, you don’t have to run away from the college canteen; choose healthier food which is not fried, eat idli instead of the yummy Chinese food, which is dripping with oil.  Eat your favourite monsoon snack, bhutta, without butter, it really can’t be that bad. When at home, you have the option of eating grilled food or even a delicious soup.

Most importantly, remember you completely deserved the vacation and love yourself irrespective of the weight you have gained. It makes shedding the kilos easier and enjoyable! yi

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PORTAL 2

Portal was a sleeper hit hidden amongst a collection of games that include Half-Life episodes. With Portal 2, the series gets the spotlight all to itself, and it sure deserves it! While at its core, Portal 2 is a unique puzzle game that lets you travel via portals to solve puzzles, it’s really a lot more than that. There’s a gripping story that unfolds as you progress through it, there’s brilliant writing that will have you laughing out loud, and there are several new gameplay elements that are constantly being introduced to keep you on your toes. Apart from the single player campaign, there’s also a separate, and equally fun, two-player mode with puzzles designed for co-operative gameplay. It’s easily one of the best games of the year so far.

OR

Lame?

GaMe:

_GAME REVIEW

PLATFORMS:

XBOX 360, PS3 Release Date: OUT NOW

SHADOWS OF THE DAMNED

PLATFORMS:

PS3 Release Date: OUT NOW

Shadows of the Damned is the epitome of eccentric Japanese game design. A product of the combined creative genius of Shinji Mikami and Suda51, it is a glorious mix of clichéd characters, cheesy dialogue, and totally random and over-thetop story progression, all presented with a very unique art style. It’s a third-person shooter with an over-the-shoulder perspective similar to the Dead Space games. The controls are far from smooth and combined with some average graphics.

The game comes across as unpolished, but it doesn’t really hurt the overall experience because this definitely is unlike any other shooter out there. Feed crying babies to open doors and a gun with a British accent named Johnson; these are just a couple of the bizarre elements that make up this one-of-a-kind game.

THE WITCHER 2: ASSASSINS OF KINGS The Witcher remains one of the best PC RPGs of recent times, and its sequel raises the bar even further. The game takes place a short while after the first game, with Geralt of Rivia implicated in the murder of the King of Temeria, thus sending him on a journey that will help him prove his innocence and find the real culprits. The developers have adopted a more action-oriented approach to the combat, which is closer to the instinctive swordplay of hack-n-slash games than the strategic variety seen in the first game. The game is shorter and linear as well but that is justified in its more cinematic and story-driven approach. If you love RPGs, you cannot miss The Witcher 2. Just make sure you have a PC capable of handling it.

PLATFORMS:

XBOX 360, PS3, PC Release Date: OUT NOW

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o Dr ol FOR TECH LOVERS 

of the MONTH

 ASTRO MixAmp 5.8

This little gadget can convert your expensive wired earphones/ headphones to wireless ones. Relying on a 5.8GHz signal so as not to interfere with your Wi-Fi signal, it very faithfully reproduces music, with almost no distortion for upto 25 feet. It also includes a Bass Expander mode as well as Dolby Headphone surround sound, so it’s a perfect setup for games, movies, and songs. It is expensive though, compared to a regular set of headphones.

`5850

 NUDOLPHIN Touch MP3 Player10.1  SONY E363 Walkman ` 4,500 This MP3 player promises to deliver stellar audio clarity in a very compact form. es Sony’s soft ware ensures there are no sudden volume changes when going from one track too the next, while contentt can be transferred easily from iTunes or r.

Windows Media Player.

It also has an alarm, an FM tuner, and a voice recorder; and it weighs just 55gm. Get the 4GB model at a Sony Centre near you.

`4,990

A MP3 player set apart from the rest of the crowd by An o simple feauture: it is waterproof. Attach it to your one g goggles, or use an armband to listen to your favourite b band while you break records at a swimming club c close to you. It comes equipped with a small screen, a four touch-equipped buttons as well as an FM and ra radio.

It has a decent capacity of 4GB and is available fo around $100 on amazon.com. for

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_TECHNOLOGY

 BARNES & NOBLE Nook WiFi, Black &White

`6,250

This is the best competitor to Amazon’s Kindle, featuring an even more minimilastic design as compared to the Kindle. It has a much smaller size, thanks to the exclusion of the qwerty keyboard. It comes equipped with an infrared-based touchscreen and has a snappy interface.

Unlike the Kindle, it also includes a micro-SD card allowing you to upgrade your memory upto 34GB [32+2GB]. The flipside however is you don’t get any 3G support, but with extensive free Wi-Fi hotspots available, it seems to be more than adequate for most people. It is priced the same as a Wi-Fi Kindle.

YI

PICKS `8,100

 NOKIA X3-02 The Nokia X3 Touch and Type features a small touch screen along with a standard keypad. It happens to look gorgeous with a slim profile and metallic finish.

It also comes with Wi-fi and supports high-speed 3.5G connections. The 5MP camera takes excellent photos, and you can also plug in your headphones into the 3.5mm jack. The phone gives you a vibrating effect when using the touchscreen. Nokia has done a great job in putting all these most-desired features into one little package. A great buy at this price!

 ION ICADE Arcade Cabinet  CANON EOS1100D One look at it and the hours you spentt at the local gamingg arcade come flooding back. It n even has a faux coin slot! It comes with a joystick and eightt buttons, pairs with your iPad [1&2] over Bluetooth, and is completely wireless. If you want to though, you can hook it up to an AC adapter, and chargee your iPad, while blasting through games from Atari’s Greatest Hits App.

`4,500 `29,990

This an entry level dSLR launched by Canon, aimed at budding photographers. Having beginner friendly controls as well as a full suite of manual controls, this camera can convert an ametuer to a pro with use, over time. The camera delivers consistent performance and offers 720p video shooting as well. This model has been launched in four colours, something unusual for dSLRs as they are usually sold in black only. It is available with a 18-55mm Image Stabilised Lens.

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_SPECIAL FEATURE

the

other entrepre SOCIAL CAPITALISTS ARE USING LEARNINGS FROM B-SCHOOLS TO CREATE SCALABLE AND PROFITABLE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OF IMMENSE BENEFIT TO THE MOST DISADVANTAGED IN SOCIETY

C

apitalism – in the way it works today – helps the ‘haves’ make profits and accumulate more wealth while the ‘have nots’ sink more into economic disempowerment. This is apparent in India where our rapid development is quickly creating

8

huge imbalances in society and exacerbating social inequalities and disadvantages. There are, however, a few crazy, unreasonable, and idealistic individuals who are addressing these large scale issues with their innovative business ideas – social entrepreneurs.

Social entrepreneurs are

commonplace people with uncommon, and sometimes unpopular, ideas. They create ‘forprofit,’ socially beneficial initiatives that have the structure, discipline, and vigour of any profitable business rather than the lax social initiatives that sometimes have little to no effect

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iMHO {

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

I N

M Y

H O N E S T

O P I N I O N

BODYGUARD Starring: Salman

Khan, Kareena Kapoor Salman’s third release on Eid in as many years, this movie, a remake of a Malayalam fi lm, has him cast as a bodyguard to movies Kareena Kapoor, a rich industrialist’s daughter. It follows their love story and the complications that arise because of it. For fans of nasal singing, this fi lm marks the return of Himesh Reshammiya as a music composer/singer too.

AARAKSHAN Starring: Amitabh

Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone Another Prakash Jha movie based on North Indian politics, it stars Amitabh as an idealistic principal of a famous college' where the spectre of caste reservation in education raises its ugly head and engulfs everyone’s lives. The movie had run into needless controversy regarding the casting choice of Saif as a dalit student.

{

Movies / Music / Books

FLEET FOXES – HELPLESSNESS BLUES

You won’t find a better album to warm yourself during these rain-washed cold evenings! You may add together the warmth of all the crooning lullabies of this world and yet the sum total won’t exceed the warmth this album music exudes. Helplessness Blues envelops you in a dreamy hypnotic daze with its inviting harmonies, glinting acoustic riffs, and folk tunes. The beauty of this album will settle like the morning dew onto your head!

Every song in this album has plenty of hooks. But the key tracks are Montezuma, Helplessness Blues, and Blue Spotted.

- BY PRAJAKTA MORE

ICEAGE – NEW BRIGADE Danish Quartet Iceage is the odd one out among the crop of bands buzzing the new wave music scene. In their latest album New Brigade, they give you punk numbers that pack the meaty whoosh of hardcore, coupled with wailed neuroses and the racket of post-punk.

It may strike you as strange that their average age is not more than 17. New Brigade’s Elias R f l is i reminiscent i i Rønnenfelt of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. From the very first song, this album doesn’t take its feet off full throttle, while at the same time nursing a ragged fever to it. If you like punk, this album is yours to treasure!

- BY PRAJAKTA MORE

RISE OF THE PLANET OF APES Starring: James Franco,

Frieda Pinto A prequel to Planet of The Apes,the cult Charlton Heston classic,this movie has James Franco as a scientist who designs a cure for alzheimhers which has some unforeseen results(which movie based on genetic engineering ever hasn’t ?)and the apes being used as lab rats develop superior intelligence leading to a full fledged revolt.

AAMIR KHAN, AT ONLY 17, SHAVED HIS HEAD FOR A ROLE IN A MOVIE CALLED HOLI. HE WAS SO CLEAR THAT HE WANTED TO BECOME AN ACTOR THAT HE DIDN’T EVEN COMPLETE HIS STUDIES. NO WONDER HE HAS EARNED THE TITLE OF MR PERFECTIONIST!

J JEETA WOHI JO SIKANDAR S

yi

PICKS

S Starring: Aamir Khan, A Ayesha Jhulka, Pooja Bedi The best and exciting cycle rrace ever on Hindi celluloid, tthis movie has it all — ccompetition, rivalry, fun, aand romance. If you haven’t watched it yet, please grab a w DVD copy now.

D

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CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: INDIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Indian College Students

yi

Editors: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen,

Arti Jain & Rajat Poddar

The Chicken Soup has long been a series that plumps and stirs your emotions into an experience of life seems just a little bit fuller. College years are an exuberant period where one can explore the experiences of adulthood and this book captures many of the different emotions that this transformation entails. From finding real friends in this new and confounding world to adjusting to hostel life, these stories are so diverse that there will be at least one story which might make you jump 5 Inspiring and up in excitement proclaim, “But this is the story of MY college life!” `19 Humorous Storie About College Stories like ‘But I’m a Girl!’, ‘Music and Lyrics’ and ‘Monkey See, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen Monkey Do’ are inspirational as well as immediately relatable. Others Arti Jain & Rajat Poddar like ‘Just a Good Sort?’ and ‘Please Mr Postman’ take you back to your hostel days, while ‘College Reunion’ and ‘College Coursework’ would surely make you achingly nostalgic about your own college life.

Although the stories are relatable, the enthusiasm may drown a little because, unlike other books from the Chicken Soup series, this one does not have stories by celebrity writers. Moreover, there are some stories without any inspiring or books humorous elements. This, at times, can put you off. Thankfully there are more than enough stories that emerge like jewels between the pages.

- BY TASNEEM POCKETWALA

SHADOWLAND Author: Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni The author is better known for her fiction dealing with romance, relationships, and strong heroines as in The Mistress of Spices, Arranged Marriage, The Vine of Desire, Palace of Illusions (which was a fascinating retelling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi’s perspective), and recently, One Amazing Thing. This is her only young adult fantasy series, Brotherhood of the Conch, and it is set entirely in India. It consists of the Conch Bearer, the Mirror of Fire and Dreaming and Shadowland. She wrote these books for her two sons who had been clamouring for some time that she write for them as well. Other motivating factors for venturing into young adult fiction were the post-9/11 events in America, especially the increased hostility towards immigrants. These incidents threw up questions about identity, the problems of valid documentation, and cultural differences. To discuss 5 these issues and create heroic role models for the readers, Divakarurni `19 uses a combination of mythology and fantasy in the Conch series.

Shadowland, the third book in the trilogy, deals with the problems of being an illegal immigrant or a person without paper or rights. Anand and Nisha, who are fi fteen, are off on their third adventure to restore the Conch to its rightful place. In order to do to so, they have to leave their beautiful Silver Valley and venture into the forbidding Shadowland, where they stumble across a curious society. A place where the magicians are locked up and the scientists are supreme, but there are also a bunch of youngsters who are kept imprisoned, to be used as labour, as and when required.

Armies and police maintain order in this dreary land. It is a disturbing book because of the issues that it raises, but the author maintains her reputation as a good storyteller.

- BY JAYA B. ROSE

FINAL DESTINATION (3D) ( ) S Starring: Random good-looking youngsters The final destination fi lms have always been a ‘‘leave your brains at home, enjoy the different ways we show people getting killed’ kind of flick. w SSo now we have a new, gory installment in 3D, sshowing us how death chases the survivors of a ssuspension- bridge collapse and kills them one by oone in new, inventive ways.

READING LIST

SHEBA KARIM’S Skunk Girl explores the growing up pangs of a sixteenyear-old at high school living in the shadow of a brighter, older sister.

PALLAVI AIYAR’S Chinese Whiskers is a coming-ofage tale about the friendship of two cats, Soyabean and Tofu, who live in the "New China". Set in Beijing around the time of the Olympics, it subtly comments on the new consumerist economic order.

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_RESTAURANT REVIEW

Resto/Meter T H E B E S T N E W F O O D S P OT S I N T O W N ////////

KOSHY’S, BANGALOREE

FUSION 9, CHENNAI 400 `200 -ers n per p o

Koshy’s, Bangalore’s literary salon, is a popular hangout located in the heart of the city for lawyers, journalists, artists, theatre-persons, and students. The high ceiling, wooden pillars, and photos of olden-day Bangalore clubbed with the friendly wait-staff take you back to the old Bangalore, that everyone cherished. Koshy’s is the perfect place for a weekend breakfast, but be prepared to wait for a table. Order something that comes with bread because you will want to have as much of it as possible — it just melts in your mouth. Omelets, sandwiches, and even simple toasted bread are delicacies here. Non-vegetarians have to try the mutton cutlets. The Koshy’s bar is open at all hours of service, so you can kick off the day with a beer with your breakfast instead of their very ‘special Koshy’s coffee’. Koshy’s is an experience you simply cannot miss!

-ARPAN DHANDHANIA

500 `400p-ers on per

F9 or Fusion9 is really a fine fusion of food and décor. When you enter the place with its yellow-and-pink-fused lighting and plush interiors in shades of beige, you may wonder why it works. But that’s what the place is about – the surprisingly different. With an island bar in the centre, a private dining area at one end, and a raised wooden platform at the other, the place always has something to hold your attention. Through the evening, you may be surprised with the unexpected. The food is great and so is the service and hospitality on offer. There’s a wide variety of cuisines for everyone, from Thai, Swiss, and Chinese to several varieties from South India. The portions are large, so one dish per person is more than enough. Ladies can have a blast on Fluid Wednesdays, when all white-based drinks, such as vodka, gin, and rum cocktails, are on the house between 8pm and 10pm at the bar.

-SHWETA JALAN

`100 - 300 per person

BRU CAFÉ, MUMBAI BAI This new café on Juhu Tara road is a great spot to have a quiet dinner, catch up with friends, or even sit with your favourite book. It’s got a cosy ambiance, pleasant interiors, and jazz music that speak highly of the brand. However, the clincher is that the coffees are good and the pastries are even better. Thanks to the prime location, it’s usually quite busy on weekends and the best seats (read: couches!) are quickly occupied. Nonetheless, one can still perch on a bar stool with a biscotti and enjoy the people stream past to the beach. However, being new perhaps, they seem a little overeager to clear up and usher you out so the next lot can come in. We will certainly be back for another visit!

-MAYA DAS

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_CELEB TADKA

In a

Jiffy WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MUSHROOMS

There are two kinds of people - those who like mushrooms and those who love mushrooms.

People who happen to be indifferent to these delicious fungi, well, they don’t matter much.

Mushrooms make salads and soups and various other delicacies much more scrumptious.

These fungi not only appeal to our taste buds but also are quite nutritious.

FACTS Mushrooms contain about 80 to 90 per cent water and are very low in calories.

They are an excellent source of potassium.  Mushrooms are a rich source of riboflavin, niacin, and selenium.  The latest findings show that white button mushrooms can reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer.  

You might have seen him on TV on one of his many gourmet shows, or sampled one of his mouth-watering recipes at the upscale Aurus.

Here, Chef Vicky Ratnani whips up something easy for our young readers to cook and enjoy

VARIETIES

MUSHROOM CHEESE PAV

There are over 38,000 mushroom varieties today, both edible and toxic. In India, the most commonly available mushrooms are Button, but here’s a small sample of the most popular edible mushrooms you’ll see in the global market: • White or Button • Chanterelles or Girolle • Crimini or Italian Brown • Enoki or Enokitake • Shiitake

INGREDIENTS Mushrooms, chopped Green chilli, chopped Coriander leaves (fresh) Onions, chopped Garlic Pav Sliced cheese

150 gms 1 5 gms 1 medium 1 clove 2 2 slices

PREPARATION  Saute the onion, green chilli, garlic, and

sliced button mushrooms in a hot pan.  Cut the pav into halves and toast them on

one side.  On the other side of the pav, apply the

mushroom mixture and sliced cheddar cheese, and toast it till golden brown and crisp.  Serve hot.

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_AFTER DARK

  OVER THE WEEKEND HANGOUTS

THE TAVERN, BANGALORE

-ARPAN DHANDHANIA

Now, this is more like it. If you’re looking for a night out with some friends, good food, drinks, and possibly some sheesha, then Chill’m is the place you’re looking for. With a seating capacity of 110, they have Chinese and Mexican cuisines too.

They boast of some flavors like frappuccino, cranberry, black currant, and mojito. The food is well priced and a meal for two costs around `400. They have some of the best Mojitos around. They feature lounge-style seating, with an open-air environment to enjoy those cool summer breezes. It’s quite the celeb hotspot as well (I mean why not? Just because you have money doesn’t mean you should spend it all). Check this place out if you get the chance!

-MAYA ROY

PRIVE (MUMBAI) PHOTOGRAPH BY FLICKR USER DOGFROMSPACE

“There is nothing which has been yet contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn,” says Dr Johnson (18th century English author). After visiting the Tavern at the Museum Inn, I can certainly vouch for that. This has fast become my favourite pub in the city. In the low-ceilinged hall with golden, dim lighting, the first thing that you notice is the long bar counter. I strongly recommend sitting at the bar counter and picking up a few interesting stories from the friendly bartenders. However, if you can make it between 5 pm and 8 pm, you can get a 30 per cent Happy Hour discount. The starters are the cherry on the cake at Tavern, and my favourite is the American Corn Chilly Pepper. A pitcher of beer or a cocktail costs about `400. An evening at Tavern should set you back by about `600 to `800.

CHILL’M (DELHI)

This elitist nightclub does live up to its hype. The owners want to give partygoers the vibe that they are the trendiest club in the game, and succeed in doing so.

The location is cool (right by the Gateway of India), and the ambiance is nice (if you don’t mind the bunch of teens puffing away). However, we went to the nightclub to dance, drink, and have a good time; not to spend 20 minutes trying to get a drink and being pushed to the side by 17-year-old boys who are way too excited to be there. The bar is well stocked with Grey Goose, Patron, and the like, but way too overpriced; `400 for a pint of beer and over `750 for cocktails! If you are looking for a good time with your friends and money is no object, then this is the right place for you.

-NIHAL ADVANI

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kiss&tell

_GOSSIP

Why Fox got the BOOT

W

e all heard a wide array of rumours about why actress Megan Fox was kicked off the set of the Hollywood Blockbuster Transformers: Dark of the Moon, but now the rumours have been confirmed. Apparently, the Hollywood diva compared director Michael Bay to Hitler. “He’s like Napoleon and he wants to create this insane, infamous madman reputation,” said Fox. Evidently, there was a ton of drama on the set of the movie, but Fox didn’t officially lose her job until she made that statement to Wonderland Magazine. Oh Megan, why couldn’t you keep your mouth shut, take the fat pay check, and get a chance to work with Steven Spielberg?

OOH BABY! PHOTOGRAPHS BY YOGEN SHAH

C

ongratulations to the cold, but very beautiful, Ais Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The good news about baby Ba Bachchan was revealed to the wo by none other than Big world B We hope that Ash did not B. ge upset at papa-in-law for get re revealing her big news to the w world.

We do know that Ash tr very hard to get pregnant tried an sources reveal that the final and b blessing was a trip to Vaishno D and Tirupati.

Devi

SINGLE: NTED! GIRL WA

N

eil Nitin Mukesh is a frustrated, unshaven little boy. Everyone seems to only be interested in whom he is dating and who the mystery lady in his life is. In fact, the baby-faced boy was so fed up of being linked to actress Asin Thottumkal, he finally admitted that he was single. He is known to have said that if there was someone special in his life he would have spoken about her. Good news for all his female fans – this cute boy is still on the market!

The Butt is Back

J

Lo was named 27th out of the best artists of the decade in the 2000s, has appeared in a number of Hollywood films, and is now a judge for the hit show American Idol. However, it has been almost four years since Lopez’s last album. Earlier this summer, the pop star dropped a new single with hip-hop sensation Lil’ Wayne called ‘I’m into you’, which raced to the top of the charts. Her new album ‘Love’? came out immediately following the single and is already set to be one of this year’s bestsellers!

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_HOROSCOPE

CANCER/ JUN 22 - JUL 22

STAR

Even as the pace of daily life continues to be demanding, you are likely to be at peace with yourself. You will be more charitably inclined. Don’t try to rush or hurry things.

Your sense of inner equilibrium will enable you to make sure that everything falls into place. Differences at work could lead you into making wrong moves.

Lucky numbers: 2, 5 Lucky colour: Smoke grey Love Dates: 14th, 28th

AJAI RAI MADAN Astrologer, Numerologer & Aura reader

LEO/ JUL 23 - AUG 23

SAGITTARIUS/NOV 23 - DEC 23

Your home, surroundings, family, and lifestyle will become important and you may acquire things that make life easier. Your creative instincts are in overdrive and right now home is truly where your heart is. With important engagements round the corner, be adequately prepared with viable alternatives when the need arises.

Lucky numbers: 4, 7 Lucky colour: Crimson Love Dates: 5th, 18th

Despite having luck, don’t be rash and push it in speculation. Positive circumstances will ensure that you have what you need for the future. You will get co-operation and help from unexpected sources and will spend quality time with loved ones. With finances on the upswing the temptation to splurge will arise.

Lucky Numbers: 5, 9 Lucky colour: Orange Love Dates: 22nd, 29th

VIRGO/AUG 24 - SEP 22

CAPRICON/DEC 24 - JAN 20

ARIES/ MAR 21 - APR 20

There will be optimism all around. You will be full of vitality. Maintain your individuality and diplomatically handle unreasonable people. A gust of change is likely to put you in a productive mood.

You could be involved in planning outdoor activities. Objective family discussions ensure things move in the right direction.

Lucky numbers: 2, 9 Lucky colour: Sky blue Love Dates: 7th, 12th

You could be in for lots of passion and pleasure. The timing is extremely favourable for making long-term investments. You will get the reward for conducting yourself with courage and decorum. You will be passionate in your dealings with the opposite sex, but don’t play with others’ emotions.

Lucky Numbers: 3, 7 Lucky colour: Black Love Dates: 14th, 21st

Sudden insights will prove valuable. A bonus would be that colleagues and loved ones will be willing to help, so get past distractions, avoid being overcome with emotions, and get to the task. Prioritise your romantic relationship and spend some quality time.

Choose the middle path and don’t disappear into a shell.

Lucky numbers: 3, 6 Lucky colour: Purple Love Dates: 12th, 24th

LIBRA/ SEP23 - OCT 23

AQUARIUS/JAN 21 - FEB 20

TAURUS/ APR 21 - MAY 21

Gains all the way, in both, energy levels and attainments, are coming your way and indications are that work pressures will ease and your relationships with colleagues and loved ones will improve. Your focus should be on consulting with associates to avoid unpleasant feelings. You will need to take a stand and clearly state your position.

Lucky numbers: 1, 6 Lucky colour: Violet Love Dates: 9th, 23d

It would suit you to be cautious when making decisions, and get a second opinion as you may not be objective about a certain situation.

Some exciting happenings are afoot and the fall out will be rather amusing. Beware of negative energy as it has enormous potential to mess up your romantic life. You will need to put your creative talents to good use.

Lucky Numbers: 6, 9 Lucky colour: Red Love Dates: 15th, 27th

You will be indulging in a lot of re-thinking and your initiative will go a long way to create a positive impact. It is possible that you may find it difficult to make smart progress on important assignments. It would be prudent to go through all the relevant information again as some essential details may have been missed out.

Lucky numbers: 1, 7 Lucky colour: White Love Dates: 15th, 31st

SCORPIO/OCT 24 - NOV 22

PIECES/FEB 19- MAR 20

GEMINI/MAY 22 - JUN 21

Being open to advice from close colleagues will benefit you. Tense moments can be avoided if collective decision making is resorted to. There will be a marked gain in money matters and it will give you the necessary leverage to resolve personal issues.

Compromises will have to be made both in your love life and your professional sphere to ensure all round harmony.

Lucky numbers: 4, 8 Lucky colour: Golden yellow Love Dates: 11th, 23rd

Doing your utmost for those you love is going to be your way this month. It’s almost as if you knew no other. You may try to find satisfaction in dealing with family affairs, trying to make them as secure as possible.

It will serve you well to make the most of your positive energy and negotiating skills.

Be clear and precise about your expectations from new business ventures or new job offers.

Lucky Numbers: 2, 5 Lucky colour: Indigo Love Dates: 17th, 27th

A busy phase lies ahead with distant connections figuring prominently in your plans. Some investment is also favoured, but do verify credentials of new associates before you make long-term commitments. Be wise to entertain sound ideas, letting investments grow, and yield fantastic results. You will lift the spirits of people you meet and also exchange bright ideas with them.

Lucky numbers: 7, 9 Lucky colour: Olive green Love Dates: 3rd, 14th

STRUCK

A popular Bollywood Vedic astrologer takes you through your starry forecast this month

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T TRIVIA

Your

thumb

is the same length as your nose.

It is impossible to SNEEZE withh your eyes open

Women

blink twice as often as men

ONIONS

have no flavour, only a

SMELL

{ The first TV commercial showed a Bulova watch ticking onscreen for exactly

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or making money, but to alleviate the living and working conditions of over four billion people. A good example of such a person is Wangari Maathai who got the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. She has planted 30 million trees across the desert belt in Africa. She is a good example of a person who has done something that others consider impossible.

JOHN ELKINGTON, Founder and CEO, SustainAbility, points out the key traits that social entrepreneurs should have.They are the following:

Unreasonable Social entrepreneurs are unreasonable. The idea for this comes from a quote by playwright George Bernard Shaw who said, “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world as he finds it.” The unreasonable person tries to make it different. Social entrepreneurs do not take the world as it is as a given, they are game changers. They are wildly ambitious.

For most social entrepreneurs, they define profit in very different ways. It is not just a financial quantity. They are working in areas of substantial market failure. Some explain their idea of profit at blended value – so you look at the social and in some cases the environmental value that is created at the same time.

Crazy

Ambitious

Some, if not most, have been called ‘crazy’ at times. Muhammad Yunnus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, for his work as a social entrepreneur, describes people in this field as 70 per cent crazy.

Social entrepreneurs are not humble as you might expect social workers to be. They are impatient and some won’t take no for an answer. But it is not themselves they are ambitious for. They are trying to help other people, passionately. They feed and support each other, reinforce each other’s work. Maybe we should all be that ambitious!

Emotional Effective social entrepreneurs are emotional. They put their drive and passion not into competition

neurs thanks to poor planning, lack of knowledge of the services required, or inadequate funding. Abandoning the charity mindset, they create detailed business plans, chalk up estimated revenues, and give investors a sizeable dividend that compares favourably to any other entrepreneurial venture.

Today, social entrepreneurs are addressing some of the major problems in the world, from poverty to climate

Seek profit in unprofitable pursuits

change, with profitable, and hence sustainable, business models which are of direct benefit to people at the bottom of the pyramid. They are coming up with solutions that can be replicated, scaled up, and absorbed by the mainstream business community.

As with most start-ups, the main barrier to market entry for social entrepreneurs is funding. In

Source: Harvard Business Review

> By Minal Patodia

developing countries, venture capital is not usually in place and banks are unwilling to support untested services or products. Those who are trying to create high-impact change for marginalised communities can attract investors and funders with adequate communication. Investors generally want to know if the business is creating social and environmental change. The entrepreneur has to AUGUST 2011 ║ Youth Incorporated

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