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Volume 1 Issue 12 June 2012
Editorial
Editor's
note
Editor-in-Chief NITISH SHAH Executive Editor SHRADDHA KAMDAR Managing Editor MINAL PATODIA Sr Correspondent BEVERLY PEREIRA Contributor ANUSHI MANDELECHA Fashion Contributor ANU CHOWDHARY
Art & Design
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Design. One word evokes so many thoughts in the human mind. It could be good, bad, ugly, fabulous, unique, what have you. Andrew Lewis, internationally recognised Canadian art director and graphic designer once said, “I love the comment, ‘You must love designing for a living.’ At that point I usually start to laugh or break into uncontrollable tears.” No wonder he felt that. Not very long ago, if a person said “I am a designer” the next question asked would be “That’s alright, but what do you do for a living?!” Not anymore. No longer are our clothes stitched by the friendly neighbourhood tailor our parents introduced us to. They come from designer and fashion houses or are custom made to our taste. Why just clothes? Our shoes, bags and wallets can be custom made too! The ease of accessibility to information has made the difference. Today, people know not only about the usual interior and fashion design but also product, automobile, landscape and transportation design. We have come to terms with the fact that everything in life needs design. And for some of these things, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Naturally, to hire professionals, there need to exist centres to train them. And that’s what we are talking about. The evolution of design as a field to reckon with; one which can make careers and open opportunities for thousands. A walk around the Ahmedabad campus of the National Institute of Design (NID) makes a layman wonder about the design of everyday things, and how every day things are viewed through a designer’s microscope. In his book The Design of Everyday Things, writer Donald Norman discusses the various errors people make in using general every day things and talks about how designers can plan well to avoid these errors. Whatever the situation, the need for designers is evidently clear. Correction, the need for trained designers. Various study options are available to those who are interested and have the talent, and for those who are not afraid, the sky is the limit. So read on, meet the rebels and the conformists, those who wagered their lives for the love of design, and won. Read their stories and take that step to design your own!
Nitish Shah
JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated
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contents JUNE 2012
Also on the
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COVER
CVS ON SCREEN
A handy guide to creating the perfect video resume for that oh-so-perfect job
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DEGREE IN BIZARRE
Our round-up of some of the strangest degrees offered by colleges in the US
38
THE ART OF SPINNING
Love music? Check out our career focus on the coolest profession of them all and become a DJ
52
A LA CART
Our love relationship with street food is a hallmark of Indian culture
PAGE
26 Cover Story
CAREERS IN DESIGN
Design is one of the hottest careers considered by youngsters today. It's fun, flexible and faboosh. If you have always wanted to be an 'artist' and bring home the moolah too, consider one of the various careers in this field. After we introduce the diverse streams you can get into this profession, meet four designers from different paths who talk to us about their passions, inspirations and motivations for creating work that makes us go wow.
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THE AGE FACTOR
(Educate) SPECIAL FEATURE What is cheating?
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Do the revised cheating rules prevent students from indulging in bad behavior?
FOCUS FEATURE Making ties
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How vital is building a good student-teacher relationship in this day and age?
Cradle snatcher or father figure? The trials and joys of dating someone older or younger
IN CONVERSATION Make the best of what you have
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Dipak Jain, Dean of INSEAD, on the importance of learning new things and his journey so far
INSIDE DOPE Where work and play never ends
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College dilemmas: The right choice A new online college encyclopedia helps class 10 students to choose the right college
AWARENESS Leaders of tomorrow
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The AIESEC India National Stakeholders’ Summit showcased the importance of leadership
A day in the life of a student at the diverse Mahindra United World College
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STUDENT SPEAK The antique dealer
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PRODIGY CEO with a difference
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The story of the bag maker sisters who have gone places with their colourful totes
A student talks about how he turned his passion into a trade
Meet one of India's youngest CEO and most successful entrepreneurs
See page no 87
Tips to survive the monsoons in style
SPORTS Riding the rapids!
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Experience the thrill of white water rafting if an adrenaline rush is your thing
HEALTH Heal the heel
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OFF THE MAP Destination Kalimpong: A journey to West Bengal’s beautiful Himalayan town where the Scottish colonial legacy lives on
GIFT HAMPER
Splash around in style
(Entertain) 58
GET FREE EXCLUSIVE GATSBY
Of craft, cloth and colour
66
Hint of mint
Cool off with the season’s refreshing mint-hued accessories and clothes
The importance of wearing the right shoes for your health
STAPLEdiet EDITOR’S NOTE…1
EDITORIAL CONNECT…6 AROUND THE WORLD…8 EVENT DIARY…24 COUNSELLOR Q&A…36 WORD ZONE…50
FASHION Couture naturally!
60
MODEL WATCH…68
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Nail that look Jazz up your look with these funky nail art products
DR GOOD SKIN…69 REFRESH…70 GURU SPEAK…76 GAME OR LAME…77 DROOL OF THE MONTH…78 IMHO…80
Highlights at the annual fashion show by BD Somani’s graduating students
RESTOMETER…82 CELEB TADKA…83 HANGOVER…84 RISING STARS…85 STAR STRUCK…86
ECOWATCH Be greentastic
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Grade 8 student Harnoor Gill inspires his peers to care for the environment
GRAFFITI…88 COVER PHOTO CREDIT: COLOUR ILLUSTRATION 'INNER SPACE' FROM 3/69 GRAPHIC NOVEL BY RANDOLPH CORREIA
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editorial connect DATING YOUR BEST FRIEND!
ACTION INTERNATIONAL
The article on whether one should get into a relationship with his or her best friend was really interesting. In fact, this question has always been the topic of discussion in my group, and we normally pair up our friends and urge them to get together. After reading this article we definitely have started to see things in a new light. The rule should now be: Date only if you are attracted to each other and not because you are lonely! Also, can you please start publishing an Agony Aunt section for the ‘complicated lot of us’? It will be really helpful for the young people of today. Thanks a lot! Ananya Mehta Student
I am a student of mass communication at Mumbai University, and I am planning to opt for a master in filmmaking. I was really impressed by the prospects that are offered at the international level. All of the schools that the writer mentioned in the article seem really amazing and I loved researching them. But, it would really help if you could talk about Indian schools that offer such prospects too. Besides, it would be of great help if you could inform your readers about any production houses that offer part-time internships or courses that will help one enter this field. Thank you! Arnav Gupta Student
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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 11 may 2012 > ` 50
MMAKING
6 FILSUMMER ScHOOLS cAREERS IN PSYcHOLOGY
in di e ba nd s ma ki ng wave s
Write to us at mail@youthincmag.com
MIND MATTERS I am a student of FYJC in the stream of arts. I have actually been thinking of exploring the wider prospects in the field of psychology. My friends and I were totally unaware of industrial psychology, evolutionary psychology and the other fields that the writer mentioned in the article. They sound really fascinating. I think I might even pursue a major in psychology when I enter my third year. Thank you so much for sorting out the confusion in my head! Regarding the entertainment section, I quite enjoyed the cover story about indie bands making waves in India. It's quite inspirational especially since I am learning the guitar and training my voice too. I hope to be able to start a band one day! Purvi Koradia Student
educate + entertai
HANDY GUIDE I am a regular reader of your magazine. I liked the health article in the February Valentine’s Day issue. It was an eye opener because we always considered the pill a safer bet. ‘Friends with Benefits’ and ‘To Go an Extra Mile with Friends’ were awesome reads too. Can you please come up with a section on life issues too? ‘Student Speak’ is one section that makes me realise that there’s so much more to do. My personal favourite is ‘In a Jiffy’ since I love to cook and it gives me ideas on ways to treat my friends. Youth Inc has become a handy guide for me. Thank you so much and keep coming up with such great stuff! It's very valuable for students like me. Kanchi Shah Student
AND ALL THAT JAzz
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BANKED IT! Only recently, a couple of friends and I were thinking of a business model. The only obstacle would be the investment part of it! The article on the importance of having an 'elevator pitch' ready at all times really caught our attention. It's true; one can never tell when opportunity will strike! I do hope that you can come up with more of such articles that will benefit us all! But on the whole, Youth Incorporated is a superb magazine for young and driven people like us. After coming across the story, I feel really hopeful! Rohan Ganguly Freelance Writer
SOCIALLY YOURS:
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19-05-2012 11:11:04
yi
educate Can design save the world? If you are keen to create thought-provoking design turn to Page 26
K E E PI N S I D E яГо
Pg10 Pg12 Pg16 Pg44 WHAT IS CHEATING? WILL THE REVISED RULES PREVENT KIDS FROM INDULGING IN CHEATING IN THEIR EXAMS?
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MAKING TIES THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A GOOD STUDENTTEACHER RELATIONSHIP
CVS ON SCREEN MAKE A VIDEO RESUME AND STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
WHERE WORK AND PLAY NEVER ENDS LIFE AT THE MAHINDRA UNITED WORLD COLLEGE
19-05-2012 11:11:52
NewsNewsNews New News _EDU NEWS
Around the World TED launches learning channel on YouTube
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ED, the non-profit group behind the thought-provoking TED conferences has launched an educational channel called TED-Ed on YouTube to make learning more interesting to anyone on the Internet. TED is known for its conferences that centre around concepts as weighty as climate change and the devastation of sea life as well we lighter topics like dance and music. The tie-up between YouTube and TED is indeed a huge step for the educational arena. The videos that are now available on the YouTube channel have been designed to be really captivating and short, lasting no longer than 10 minutes. This allows teachers to show these videos to students in real-world classrooms with ease. As of now, there are around 12 different videos on the TED-Ed channel, with more videos scheduled to be released in the future. The Ted-Ed videos are available at: www.youtube.com/tededucation
AICTE RAIDS COLLEGES TO VERIFY ONLINE CLAIMS
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he All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has started carrying out surprise raids at colleges that had applied for an increase in the number of seats in engineering, pharmacy, MCA, MBA and other such technical courses. In fact, earlier in April this year, raids were carried out at two colleges in Surat. Officials have also said that many more such raids will be carried out at the 100-odd campuses across Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. This happens to be the first time that the AICTE has implemented such surprise checks in only those colleges that apply for an increase in seats on its web portal as against those that apply for a hike in the intake of seats on the web portal of AICTE. In the latter case, the applications are scrutinised online, after which, permission may or may not be granted for additional seats.
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ISEET, NEET MAY GIVE 40 PER CENT WEIGHTAGE TO HSC MARKS
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n eight-member committee that comprises the state higher education department, will soon discuss the possibility of giving weightage to class 12 marks as part of the admissions to engineering courses in Maharashtra. As of now, students are admitted to engineering courses based on the state Common Entrance Test (MH-CET), wherein they only require 45 per cent in class 12 to be eligible for the MH-CET. However, from the academic year of 2013-14, the MH-CET will be replaced by the Indian Science Engineering Eligibility Test (ISEET). Even though the ISEET has been recommended by the centre, the centre itself has left it up to the states to decide the ratio of weightage that will be given to the ISEET scores and class 12 exams.
Harvard and MIT offer free online courses
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he prestigious Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have launched free, online courses to students that will be accessible from just about anywhere. This collaboration, known as ‘EdX’ will be headed by Professor Anant Agarwal, who is the Director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Harvard and MIT have committed 3 million dollars each in the form of support, grants and philanthropy toward this non-profit initiative. In December 2011, MIT had launched an open online learning project called MITx, the first course of which began in March this year and enrolled around 1,20,000 students. The first set of courses will be offered in the latter half of 2012. All those students who sign up free of charge will be able to watch video lesson segments, take embedded quizzes and participate in online laboratories. EdX students will be awarded a certificate but not academic credit in any form. However, they might be expected to pay a fee for the certificate. It seems that many universities in the elite league are going this path. In May, Stanford, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan tied up with Coursera to offer free online courses. MIT and Harvard officials said that they would use the new online platform not just to build a global community of online learners but also to research teaching methods and technologies.
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NewsNews
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ST PETER’S COLLEGE HIRES A 12-YEAROLD YOGA TEACHER!
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am Das 'Brahmachari', who is all of 12 years old, is all set to join Agra’s St Peter’s College as part of the faculty beginning in July this year. He is said to practice meditation for more than six hours daily. He also happens to be much younger than a majority of his students. Ram Das dropped out of school after class 2. He says he lost belief in the Indian education system when he saw his teacher chewing tobacco in class, disrespecting education and breaking rules. Ram Das believes discipline is key if one wants to actually master yoga. He credits his father for all his achievements till date. “Students would be more at ease learning yoga asanas from somebody of their own age," said yoga enthusiast and principal of St Peter's College, Father John Ferreira. Besides 300 asanas, Ram Das has also memorised many religious scriptures. This certainly proves that age is no bar!
News
Imperial College London announces two Indiaspecific fellowships
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mperial College London, one of the most renowned institutions in the UK, plans to offer fellowships in the field of business and engineering. Known as the Imperial College India Foundation PhD Scholarships (ICIFS), this initiative will be jointly funded by Imperial College and its Indian alumni. The program will last three years at £ 40, 000 per year. Cyrus Mistry, the chairmandesignate for the Tata Group, is one of the 650 Indian alumni of the college. Plans to increase the number of fellowships are also underway. The Imperial College Business School also established the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 2007, and more recently, announced the Rajiv Gandhi scholarships (postgraduate level) for Indian citizens to pursue the Imperial MBA, scheduled to begin from October 2012.
VODAFONE FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE EDUCATION IN INDIAN SCHOOLS
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he Vodafone Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the telecom giant, has announced that it plans to provide learning solutions in 1,000 schools across India. This project is expected to benefit approximately 50,000 underprivileged students over the next three years. Known as ‘Learning with Vodafone Solution’, this initiative uses innovative software that has been
developed by the Vodafone Solutions Team. This software enables teachers to offer graphical and multimedia content, combined with new and innovative methods of teaching. Students will also get a chance to learn via the Internet, a move that will keep them engaged. The programme is a cloud-based solution that offers digital educational content created in coordination with the prescribed curriculum. A school management system will also track attendance, grades and other administrative needs.
TISS to establish vocational education school
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he Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) will start a school for vocational education and will be set up on the Deonar campus of TISS. The school will offer two-year-long certificate courses, after which students will qualify as technicians. TISS and the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the promoter of vocational education at top Indian institutes, signed a memorandum earlier this year. The AICTE will provide financial assistance of `10 crore for three years. Besides training students, the new school will focus on research, conduct studies on skill requirements, build content for various sectors, develop teaching methodologies and pedagogy as well as prepare the trainers and systems for measuring skill assessment. JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 9
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_SPECIAL FEATURE
What is cheating
THE MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD REVISED ITS CHEATING RULES TO ENCOMPASS MANY MORE ACTIONS, BUT DOES THIS PREVENT STUDENTS FROM ENGAGING IN BAD BEHAVIOUR? YOUTH INC FINDS OUT
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here there are students and where there are exams for them to take under stressful and monitored conditions, there will be cheating. The two go hand in hand. 6"For one, there is the thrill of pulling it off. Second, I tell you, there is no point in cramming all the information that is available at a click of a button! What they should
be testing is the ability to apply this information in different scenarios and solve problems. But no, that is not possible since the paper setters themselves do not want to put any thought into it. All they do is rehash the previous years' papers," says FYBCom student Nehal Kothari, who is unrepentant about carrying chits to all her exams.
THE REVISION OF RULES
In this light, the recent revision of rules in dealing with cases of cheating by the Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Examination does not matter much, many seem to think. Some of these revisions include a penalty for purchasing or holding a copy of an exam question that has leaked. "Can you imagine this was not looked upon as an offence and was not punishable either?" asks incredulous class 12 Hindi teacher Anjana Naval. And yet, students caught with as little as a blank piece of paper in the exam room were banned from taking the board exam for a year. "Just a plain piece of paper. What, are they writing and reading with invisible ink?" Naval asks.
WHEN STUDENTS GO WILD
The changes address certain common problems in the board examinations of class 10 and 12. Taking an answer booklet from another student, for instance, while threatening anyone in the class can land a student behind bars. But what if the examiner himself has allowed cheating? "I remember in my economics exam, many were struggling and had morose faces. The examiner was young, and during the last 15 minutes he latched the door of the room and allowed us to 'go wild,' of course quietly, and make the most of the time, whether asking others or looking up the text book. I am sure that night he got many blessings and he must have helped many people cross over from the red line of failure to the happy line of pass, just through that gesture," says third-year LLB student Tasneem Muchhala.
Many, like Muchhala, have the outlook that no harm was done, but then there are those who deem it primarily a disciplinary issue. "Many of the existing rules were not updated to address new ways of cheating that students use," says Naval; an understatement given that the existing rules were drawn up in 1994. Even then the rules were ambiguous, particularly about the proper punishments to be dispensed for different offences.
THE NEW RULES
The new 2012 regulations have expanded in scope to include various new forms of cheating. "The newer ways of cheating make the most of technology at hand,” says Naval. “There are entire books stored in the portable document format (PDF) on the phone. Every student today has a smart phone that is connected to the Internet. You make the permutations and combinations for the various ways one can cheat!" And then there is a whole host of higher level cheaters of perpetrating offences that cannot be so easily regulated. Ravi Gupta (name changed), 21, takes the class 10 or 12 exams for a different student each year. He charges a flat fee of `30,000 for sitting for all the papers. The hall ticket and other documents are taken care of by a certain 'agent'. "You won't believe it, how many students want the easy way out since they are only looking for the qualification, not for the degree. I get at least 15 to 20 inquiries every year, and I use my own screening process. If the class 10 and 12 exams are not overlapping, I take up one student in each, otherwise I go for one, charging a little extra," Gupta says. There is one guarantee: the student will pass; Gupta has never let a student down. Though some are flabbergasted by the success of these schemes, others, like Naval, see it as a reflection of larger socio-cultural issues. "In a country where corruption has reached such dizzying heights, why should one wonder? It is only food for thought.” yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 11
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_FOCUS FEATURE
Making ties
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t is said that history, and even time itself, is cyclical. We see it in fashion and film, with the looks and sounds of previous eras returning to prominence. And now, we're seeing it in education too. Eons ago, our country promoted the famous guru-shishya parampara,
where every student developed a unique relationship with his or her teacher. Then came industrialisation and the population boom, with as many as a hundred students shoved into a single classroom, and the teacher with little choice but to lecture and leave. He or she was able to help
those who specifically asked for it, but it was virtually impossible to develop any strong ties with the teacher. But, with the rise of specialisation and mentoring, the time for interpersonal relationships between teachers and students has returned. "I encourage students to open up
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HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BUILD A GOOD STUDENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIP IN THIS JET AGE, WHERE EVERYTHING HAS MONETARY VALUE? YOUTH INC FINDS OUT
and facilitate interactions even outside the classroom so that they become less nervous and more open," says Prof V B Joshi, a visiting faculty for many institutes and specialist in human resources. According to him, teachers need to be more open and 'loose'. "I know that we have a tradition to
respect our teachers, but that has to stem from genuine feelings, not from forced behaviour. And this feeling can be aroused by being 'normal' with the youngsters and treating them with respect, as adults. It cannot be achieved by being a tyrant!" he says. Student-teacher interaction, both in and out of the classroom, is influenced strongly by the teaching perspective embraced by the teacher. Teachers often communicate with their students in order to persuade them. Communication in the classroom - and often outside it, as well - centres around the teacher, with students reduced to silent listeners. "To make any sort of impression on their students, teachers focus on talking at the average student’s level, keeping the material age-appropriate and time-relevant, and finally, being assertive, yet approachable," says communication expert Zarina Poonawala. Personal connections with teachers can help students to grow differently. "I remember that I had this communications teacher who would always talked to us at our level. She gave us examples that we understood. She was also open to sharing knowledge and resources, as opposed to some of our other teachers who did not even want to share class notes with us," says advertising student Aditi Malkani. "I liked how she thought and how she subconsciously influenced my thinking. I started going to her for advice or generally 'talking it out'! I felt that she was the best thing that happened to me in that semester," Malkani adds. She continued drawing
"I encourage students to open up and facilitate interactions even outside the classroom so that they become less nervous and more open" Prof V B Joshi
on her teacher for help and support and evidently noticed how happy and pleased her teacher was to offer guidance without any reciprocation. "When the semester came to an end, the students could not believe it was her last class! They did not want to let her go. Finally, in my thank you note I wrote to her - 'The last 10 classes with you were amazing. Thank you so much. You have taught me a lot, apart from the communication bit of it as well. It's been awesome," Malkani remembers. It is equally important, though, for students to understand the appropriate limits for such relationships as well as certain social and legal norms that must be observed at all costs, for the sake of the student and teacher alike. "It should be just right," says advocate and solicitor Purvi Shah, who lends her time for law lectures," especially in such fields as law. Students tend to get close to teachers only to land internships or articleships, and this is quite evident. Those who genuinely want to build a rapport have a different body language that is quite distinct," she says. In fact, she agrees that students should network with professional teachers to learn about opportunities available, but there is a code of decorum for that. And she is very clear that expensive gifts and sycophancy are not included on that list. Discretion is even more important for teachers than for students. "They are the ones who should be realising not to get too-close-forcomfort to students," says counselling psychologist Shital Ravi. She advises teachers to use their discretion and draw a distinction between being a helpful friend and a casual friend. "It is not unheard of that many teachers get close to unsuspecting students to exchange favours, which could be of any nature, from financial to sexual," she elaborates. A genuine bond, though, is beyond reproach, and a sure way for students and teachers to learn from one another. yi JUNE 2012 â•‘ Youth Incorporated 13
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_FOCUS FEATURE
College Dilemmas
–The right choice A COLLEGE ENCYCLOPEDIA THAT HELPS YOU CHOOSE YOUR COLLEGE RIGHT AFTER CLASS 10... DIPTI RANGLANI GIVES YOU THE LOWDOWN ON PASSOUT.CO.IN
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ow that the class ten examinations are done, the next stage is upon students. It's hardly been a while since students are done stressing over their examinations and their expectant grades. But the new-found pressure of having to decide what to pursue next is already beginning to mount. A phase often thought of as a time to enjoy without a care in the world, for many students, this remains as stressful a time as the exams itself. It is the time to make that all important decision as to what future you want to secure for yourself. An uninformed decision now could cause a lot of problems in the future. If you are done with class 10 and are confused about which college to go to and how to apply, the online ‘college encyclopedia’ at passout.co.in
can help you keep your cool. Here, you can choose between science, arts or commerce streams, find out if the college of your choice accepts IB, A-level, ISC and CBSE scores and if you scored enough to make the grade. You also get an insight into the student body and faculty on campus. Utsav Agarwal, co-founder of Passout.co.in, came up with this idea a couple of years ago. An MBA graduate and part-time guest lecturer at many renowned colleges in Mumbai, Utsav has a one-point agenda – making the lives of tenth-standard graduates a little easier. Utsav, driven by the idea of guiding the youth of India, shared the basic idea of Passout with his younger brother Manav Agarwal, a second-year computer engineering student from DJ Sanghvi College of Engineering.
Having faced similar problems and uncertainty about the future despite his excellent score in class 10, Manav was naturally attracted to this project. After a year of thorough research, impeccable listing and several site editions, the final product is now a swanky website, easily accessible to students. It guides them not only in choosing a course that is apt for their futuristic goals, but also helps students with admission procedures, cut offs, college reviews and campus news. Utsav has targeted this website to class 10 students because he thinks that, contrary to popular belief, planning of your future starts when you graduate from class 10. He says, “Most people believe that the major junction for students’ career paths is class 12. However, students should know all the options they have right
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after the tenth. They should make informed decisions rather than waiting for two more years. Take the example of a student who has a knack for accounting, but whose parents feel science is a better and safer option. So they push him towards it, even though he has no interest in it. He’s ends up getting average marks and his selfconfidence takes a serious blow. He eventually ends up taking accounting after his twelfth standard and as a result, he's behind his entire class who probably took up the commerce stream right after the tenth. Thus, two years are completely wasted.” The dream that the co-founders have is to provide students with most accurate information about what their future could be when choosing a particular stream. Students can avoid common pitfalls, which could end up saving them precious time and help them hone their skills in areas related to their field of study. At the moment, Passout.co.in offers an extensive and exhaustive list of all the colleges and schools in Mumbai. The website will soon venture into Pune as well. This list also includes honest and informative college reviews given by the students studying in those colleges itself. Pratik Tolani, an ICSE student from Maneckji Cooper School, Mumbai says, “I always had heard about St Xavier’s College but had no idea what is the college all about. The college review section helped me know the college in and out, from the canteen, crowd, infrastructure and faculty – all that one needs to know.” Not only does the website tell you what the teachers and facilities are like, but they also tell you about things that matter the most — like the crowd there and where you can get the best food around the college! Sasha Shrimankar from St Joseph School, Mumbai says, “Passout is truly a remarkable platform. One gets to know the cutoffs of various colleges in one go rather than running from post to pillar.” The website also offers you a tool
Brothers Manav (left) and Utsav (right) Agarwal
“Don’t drop your stream because of bad scoring. There are over 400 colleges that take in students with lower grades in science. So if you definitely want to become a doctor, pursue your dream and switch later in your studies” that shows you what the cut-offs were last year and what you can expect this time around. This is important not only for those 60th percentile students but also for those confused 90th percentile students. Utsav advises students, “Don’t drop your stream because of bad scoring. There are over 400 colleges that take in students with lower grades in science. So if you definitely want to become a doctor, pursue your dream and switch later in your studies.” With many new emerging boards like IB, A-Levels and ISC, the options for students have opened up in the last five to six years. Many people have little or no information about these boards due to their nascent nature. Hence, passout.co.in offers a look at all the information you need to know. While a counsellor could offer you all this information, not everyone can
afford it. Passout.co.in offers all this to you completely free. Passout offers access to all the information one needs to know to choose the right path, achieve success and ensure smooth transition from school to college. The website has received an overwhelming response. Not only has it generated a footfall of thousands, Utsav also finds that his phone is constantly ringing with anxious parents calling him up. While some call up to know more about the colleges and courses, some ask for help to the confusing admission procedure and some just call to tell him how great the website is. He even hosts counselling sessions for students on the days when he is free. All this leads to quite a hectic schedule. But he doesn’t mind; because after all it’s all about the students who are the future of the country. yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 15
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CVs on
_WALK OF LIFE
ANUSHI MANDELECHA GIVES YOU THE LOW DOWN ON HOW TO MAKE A VIDEO RESUME AND STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD!
screen WHAT IS A VIDEO RESUME?
An audio-visual resume brings an applicant’s personality to the fore, showcasing the job seeker in away totally impossible on paper. You may have chanced upon the episode of popular American sitcom How I Met Your Mother in which
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Barney Stinson shows his video resume to his friends. It is, of course, a satire of the video resume, but it is still, at least in some ways, exemplary. A resume is a form of personal branding. In our world, dominated by marketing, it matters less what a brand does (or even how well it does it), than how well that brand promotes itself. And a video CV will give you a little extra edge in the realm self-branding. Imagine for a moment that you are an average recruiting officer, sitting at your desk day in and day out, reading resumes and conducting interviews. After a few of these, it’s easy to imagine your eyes glazing over, becoming blind to yet another solid, traditional resume on the table in front of you. A video resume may be just the thing to shock you out of your stupor. This applicant, you’ll see, is willing to go further and show more of him or herself than others. You may just move that resume straight to the top of the pile. In the corporate world particularly, boldness of execution and out-of-the-
HOW DO I MAKE ONE?
HERE ARE TWO WAYS FOR YOU TO MAKE A VIDEO RESUME:
•• Use PowerPoint to produce your resume and edit it with suitable software. Convert it into the video format using a video converter- recommendations are Camtasia (converts into AVI file) and Acoolsoft PPT2Video Converter.
•• Get it made professionally. With all the high quality audio system, the HD video filming and studio lighting they use, your video is sure to come off great. VisualCV, GetHired.com, ResumeBook.TV are websites where you can make your video resumes will the aid of the online tools they offer. Once the video resume is ready, you can upload it to sites like CareerBuilder, MyWorkster, and Jobster.
box thinking are key ingredients for success. A video resume will make you seem clever, individual and marketand tech-savvy, all important qualities for recruiting by the head honchos of India’s major corporations. For skill-based job profiles, particularly in the visual and performing arts, a video resume is an ideal opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their skills, rather than brag about awards or recognition. Applications for jobs in the arts as well as in design, photography, music, advertising, social media marketing and event management could all benefit from a video resume.
WHY HAVE VIDEO RESUMES BECOME THE BUTTS OF JOKES FOR MANY PROFESSIONALS?
Mastering the art of a video resume is no simple task. Though with creativity (and, of course, a certain degree of visual aptitude) a video resume can put your entire resume in a positive light, done inexpertly, a video resume can actually serve
to highlight your worst attributes, particularly if cost concerns keep you from using top-notch equipment. Poorly executed video resumes, done without finesse or quality design, have often been responsible for tarnishing the technique’s reputation. Some recruiters, meanwhile, are averse to the idea of a required amount of time to be committed to the video, while others are concerned about possible discrimination based on race and appearance.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
When preparing a video resume, be extremely careful about the way you present yourself. Dress up as if you are going for an interview, but don’t look stuffy or like you’re working to hard to impress. As in any good interview, you’ll do best if you can exude effortless charm while communicating your aptitude and qualifications for the position in question. Be natural and professional. Talk about why you’re right for the job and what you specifically, as opposed to anyone else, can bring to the workplace. While doing all this – and here’s the tough part– try to be humble and honest as well. Keep the video short and sweet (under three minutes is best) and take several takes to ensure you have the best possible video to show for all your hard work. yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 17
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_WALK OF LIFE
VIDEO RESUMES: SHOWING YOUR FACE IN TODAY’S JOB SEARCH
SUKI SHAH, THE CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF GETHIRED.COM, TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING A VIDEO RESUME TO REALLY STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
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ere’s a riddle for you: What fits onto an 8.5” x 11” piece of paper, is predictably formatted and provides almost no detail about the person it represents? It’s your resume, and it is the most discriminatory part of the hiring process today. Hopefully, at this point in your job search, you know that you are much more than the list of qualifications that you’ve included on your resume. So you are probably wondering why this piece of paper is the only thing that potential employers are asking for when you apply to open positions – and why you may not be getting a call back despite being qualified for a particular job. The reality is that hiring managers receive hundreds of paper resumes in response to each job they post online. To sort through the “noise,” they need to make some split-second decisions to help them filter out the sheer number of candidates. These decisions are usually based on: • Educational Experience: Did you attend a fancy private college or state university? Often the more prestigious school will win, regardless of your awesome GPA or relevant extracurricular activities; • Dates: Millenials and older workers suffer the most from age discrimination, so if you include a date of graduation with your resume it may turn off potential employers; • Name: A recent study suggests that if you have a “white-sounding” name, you may be more likely to be called in for an interview (Are Emily and Greg more employable than Lakisha and Jamal?); and
• Gaps in Employment: If you took a year off to travel, or have other gaps in your resume, a hiring manager may pass you over for someone who has remained consistently in the workforce. However unintended, hiring managers are discriminating against you before they even let you through the door; and yet, some hiring managers are so concerned about the issue of discrimination that they won’t even allow you to attach a photo to your LinkedIn account for fear of filtering you out of the process based on your looks. The fact is that discrimination exists everywhere, especially when hiring managers rely on a job seeker’s paper resume to speak for you. The only way to get around this is to introduce multimedia into the application process. Allowing job seekers to speak for themselves in a video introduction to be attached to
their resume, for example, may help to curb prejudice against job seekers like “Lashika.” Lashika may be the best candidate for an open position when a hiring manager speaks with her in person, but she may not be called in for that initial interview because of her ethnic sounding name. Discrimination, plain and simple. Multimedia applications are still a relatively new concept and the level of education and understanding from both hiring managers and job seekers is still pretty low. Let’s face it, you probably have no idea what you would say in a video introduction to be attached to your resume; and honestly, employers don’t really have a clear idea how to review a multimedia resume to find the best candidate for a job. But, we need to learn together; because, as technology progresses and hiring managers continue to be bombarded with paper resumes, the burden will increasingly fall on job seekers to differentiate themselves by incorporating dynamic content into their applications. By finding ways to do this now, when the technology and adoption are still in early stages, you are helping hiring managers to judge you on your own merit – and not some arbitrary filters like where you went to school or how long it took you to backpack through Europe. Integrating video and audio into a job application provides all of us with an equal opportunity to be seen and heard by an employer. It is the only way that we can make a dynamic and lasting first impression in the job search – making the hiring process faster, more equitable and less discriminatory. yi
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e e r g i n e D
_FOREIGN SHORES
Bizarre?! WITH THE IMMENSE VARIETY OF EXPERIMENTAL COURSES STUPIDITY Taking a course on stupidity seems counter intuitive – after all, we all come OFFERED AT AMERICAN across it daily in our lives. This course, offered by the Occidental College, analyses the writing of philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Gilles UNIVERSITIES, THERE ARE Deleuze as well as cartoon characters Beavis and Butthead. We are not sure SOME THAT STAND OUT. what the juxtaposition will yield… After all, the course “examines stupidity”. CHECK OUT YOUTH INC’S The course description reads, “Stupidity is neither ignorance nor organicity, but rather, a corollary of knowing and an element of normalcy, the double of ROUNDUP OF THE MOST intelligence rather than its opposite.” We hope the teachers of the course are BIZARRE COURSES! well versed in the subject in theory rather than practice!
LEARNING FROM YOUTUBE
Videos uploaded on YouTube can teach you almost anything: from how to make a lip-smacking dinner for your guests to effectively harvesting your field. Pitzer College offers this course based on the belief that the media of learning today has changed. The course studies effects of YouTube videos on culture. Classroom tutorials and assignments have to be uploaded on YouTube and are open to the public. The course is an educational experiment to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of digital media studies.
CYBER PORN AND SOCIETY
No more sneaking around to watch skin flicks or hiding your X-rated magazines from your Mom! A course offered at State University of New York is dedicated to watching and studying porn, obscenity and society’s perception of porn. It helps students aesthetically analyse porn. Parents have apprehensions before enrolling their kids into this course, but most will agree that the course is not at all fluff. The porn curriculum delves into cultural as well as psychological issues related to nudity. Students learn about censorship and the extent to which smut is acceptable. It explains the nature of porn and why it excites humans and enables students to have a better and critical viewpoint about it. Porn is ubiquitous among the youth. Watching it in the classroom instead of watching under the covers at home does offer broader perspectives.
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_FOREIGN SHORES
LADY GAGA AND THE SOCIOLOGY OF FAME
THE SCIENCE OF HARRY POTTER
Fiction books have made their way to ivory tower studies. At Frostburg State University, physics professor George Plitnik came up with this course after reading a book with the same name. The course applies physics, chemistry, biology and engineering to understand magical happenings in the Potter series. Perhaps anti-gravity research, genetic engineering could explain phenomena such as a flying broomstick and the threeheaded dog, Fluffy. So if Pottermania has infected you, sign up for this course and learn all the scientific anecdotes behind witchcraft and wizardry. Professor Plitnik at times even dresses up as Dumbledore for the lectures. Repello Muggletum, wassay Potter fans?!
Intrigued by Lady Gaga’s eerie style? Learn about Gaga’s rise to fame at this unique course offered at University of South Carolina. The course professor, Mathieu Deflem, came up with this course partly because he was smitten by Lady Gaga. The course focuses on the sociological dimensions to Gaga’s life, work and stardom. All of 24 years, this dynamic woman has won over 10 million fans on Facebook and a series of music awards within just two years of being in the limelight. This fact called upon Deflam to introduce the Sociology of Fame course on Lady Gaga, earlier known as Stefani Germanotta.
THE SCIENCE OF SUPERHEROES
University of California, Irvine is offering this course to arouse interest in science using superheroes as bait. It stands as an exciting benchmark to provoke young minds to think scientifically. Studying the metamorphosis of Bruce Banner into the Incredible Hulk, or how Spiderman swings, or Magneto’s magnet-manipulating power, or how Superman can fly faster than light generate more appeal over anabolic steroids and DNA, or fluid dynamics, or Electromagnetism, or Einstein’s theory of relativity. Professor Michael Dennin is extremely passionate about influencing the youth to understand science as a way of life. This is why he is using the popularity of superheroes to catch in on the attention. 20 Youth Incorporated ║ JUNE 2012
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DAYTIME SERIALS: FAMILY AND SOCIAL ROLES
A course offered at Wisconsin University, Madison requires students to watch television soaps, analyse them, study their impact and parse their effects on audiences. Offered under the Family and Consumer Communications programme, it examines relationships on TV closely and how personal lives of viewers are affected. An apt course for our moms to enroll into?!
THE VAMPIRE IN LITERATURE AND CINEMA
Vampires are mythical creatures, believed to have existed since centuries in various cultures all around the world. Over time, they have morphed from beings of terror to figures of paranormal fantasy; thanks to the changing faces of fiction stories. Tomislav Longinovic, professor at University of WisconsinMadison, studies vampire legends in film, folk tales and literature and how culture has evolved around them. The students will trace origins of the vampire and understand in what circumstances this bloodthirsty creature found place in different cultures. Calling all Twilight fans!
ZOMBIES IN POPULAR MEDIA
Zombies hold a significant place in horror fiction. The course deals with cultural and psychological issues revolving around this mythical creature. Why humans liked to watch movies in which one person eats another, or read books of corpses escaping their coffins, is a matter of interest among plenty. Such are the questions Columbia College, Chicago looks to find answers to with this course. It covers video games such as Resident Evil, and zombie movie of all kinds.
THE ART OF WALKING
The Art of Walking is the brainchild of Ken Keffer. Keffer, a philosophy professor at Centre College, Danville has always been mesmerized by Immaneul Kant’s philosophies. The course inspects Kant’s work ‘Critique of Judgement’ and tests his philosophies by taking the students on long walks. He introduced this course as part of the ingenious and unusual courses the University offered in the January term. Walking can be extremely liberating and thought provoking. Keffer takes his students meandering through battlefields, strolling through preserves, feeling moss, hugging trees, walking through cemeteries and swinging from vines to ease them off. It lets go of one’s demeanour and helps unfurl the adventurous and inquisitive side of the person; thereby inspiring philosophical thinking. Closer to nature, graver to thought.
THE JOY OF GARBAGE
This course is somewhere on the lines of waste management but it also discusses what humans devour and discard. Students trail garbage from its origin to its disposal and treatment. All cultural, financial, governmental, industrial, social, political and sanitary variables are taken into consideration when studying garbage and its decomposition. Sustainable measures to recycle and reuse waste are developed. The exorbitant amounts of waste produced sure need notice and this course does exactly that. All those of you fascinated by the environmental sciences, sign up for a reeking semester.
WORDPLAY: A WRY PLOD FROM BABEL TO SCRABBLE
Joshua Katz’s constrained writing course has had word nerds flocking this course at Princeton University. Constrained writing is a literary form, examples of which are palindromes, lipograms, alliterations, anagrams, onomatopoeias and, more commonly, rhyme and meter. Wry plod, itself, is an anagram for wordplay. The course aims to enrich word power at another level altogether. Boggle and Scrabble fans, this one is for you! JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 21
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_AWARENESS
Leaders of tomorrow
Attendees at the AIESEC India National Stakeholders' Summit
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n May 4, 2012, the AIESEC India National Stakeholders’ Summit took place in Mumbai to celebrate the organisation’s growth and contribution to society and for activating leadership amongst the youth and aiding the creation of leaders across the world. The year 2012 also marks 31 years since AIESEC began its journey in India. Today, they have 18 chapters with over 5000 members. Present were over 200 attendees that included CEOs, directors and chairmen of top business houses as well as the AIESEC National Board of Advisors, the AIESEC India National team and presidents of the local chapters of AIESEC India. Notable among the invitees was
Shivinder Singh, managing director of Fortis Healthcare, Ronnie Screwvala, CEO of UTV and financial whiz Deepak Parekh, chairman of HDFC Bank. The summit was opened by Sahil Dewan, president, AIESEC India who rightly pointed out that half a billion of India’s population comprises the youth, with around 50 per cent of them below the age of 25 years. This certainly speaks of the amazing potential that India has to offer. The keynote speakers at the summit had interesting things and valuable insights to share with the audience. Shivinder Singh started off on a realistic note, saying that the opportunities for the youth in India are countless. While this is an encouraging situation, it is challenging as well. He
AIESEC INDIA'S NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS’ SUMMIT BROUGHT TOGETHER A MIX OF INTERESTING & NOTABLE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE YOUTH AS THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW highlighted the attributes that a leader should possess such as vision, the ability to inspire, the need to have a strong value system and to lead others by actually taking an initiative. He went on to raise his concern about India being a morally challenged country, adding that if we must develop as a nation, we need to don the suits that are woven with moral fabrics. The second challenge, he felt, is the underutilisation of the educated youth. He believes that our country needs people who have a strong sense of self
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belief and who can take the path less trodden, overcoming the challenges they might face along the way. Offering inspiration to the audience, he said that many successful Indians are those who started organisations on their own and who embodied entrepreneurial qualities. He said that the mantra of jugaad is essentially what makes us entrepreneurs; the Chinese can copy and produce the exact same thing, whereas an Indian will always improvise and think of how he could do it better. He concluded his keynote by sharing that the best thing about AIESEC is that it is fully voluntary, where people don’t get paid for their work, but learn a lot that helps them build their personality and leadership qualities as well.
been successfully marketing India and hundreds of its institutes abroad. Yogesh Thakur, resource manager at Tata Consultancy Services, shared his experiences with AIESEC saying that the energy, capability, possibilities and leadership provided are the lessons that are taught here. He also spoke about the programme called ‘ACE’ that was started in 2004, adding that it has reached a point that it can offer experiential leadership and learning to interns all over the world. He stressed on the fact that the experience remains long after the internship period has ended. For instance, this very programme has resulted in a number of different development projects for people from various countries and fields. The audience was enthralled
to be popular. He felt that some of the biggest challenges in his life were faced while he was in AIESEC. One of the most important lessons in entrepreneurship that he learnt here was the need to get used to people asking questions. In conclusion, he said that an entrepreneur needs to build a platform without worrying about the salary, underinvestment or lack of resources. He offered his suggestions on a few things that an entrepreneur should keep in mind: Entrepreneurs are positive people and they should not complain; they should focus on people and build an emphatic approach in doing business; and lastly, they should give back to the society in some way. Ramita Vig, the young and dynamic newly elected President of AIESEC
Left to right: Neelam Deo, Anirban Das Blah, Yogesh Thakur and Shivinder Singh
Ambassador Neelam Deo, the Former Consul General of India in New York, spoke about the importance of the creation of brand India in the local market place. Interestingly, she asked the audience what product would India be if it so happened to be a product. She compared it to an iPad, saying that the country, just like the now ubiquitous and multifaceted gadget, is an aggregation of various things. She elaborated on this, saying that India is an aggregation of ideas and aspires to be a secular, democratic country regardless of gender, caste and religion with so many multi-hued features. She also asked who the people who market India are; to which she said that it was the young people themselves. For instance, she said, AIESEC has
with the funny stories and moments that he had experienced during his AIESEC tenure. Next up was Anirban Das Blah, managing director, KWAN, the largest entertainment, fashion, celebrity and sports management company in India. He shared his experiences of growing up in Shillong with a middle-class background and not having the chance to study business. For him, AIESEC was like a school of thought. He retraced his journey from being a popular guy to being labelled a loser within a span just 90 days in AIESEC, emphasising the fact that it is an organisation where one is surrounded by people and has to prove that they have the right of leadership and even win respect instead of trying
India concluded by saying that AIESEC India aims to become the pioneering youth organisation in India by 2015. She expressed her wishes that every young Indian citizen should experience the power of AIESEC. At the end of the talks, there was a global exhibition by international AIESEC students who are currently interning in Mumbai. The students displayed stalls of their respective countries, such as Russia, Bolivia, Brazil and Ghana and so on. Dressed in their national costumes and showcasing some local cuisine, they spoke about the advantages and business possibilities in their countries. It was a chance to meet and understand the youth in these upcoming countries up close and personal. yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 23
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e
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THE CAMPUS RUN 2012
iary DEXTRIX '2012
AT APIIT, PANIPAT
AT NORTH CAMPUS, DELHI
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he Alumni Fraternity in collaboration with DUSU organised The Campus Run 2012. It is a special concept where people run for a cause close to their hearts. It was a 7 km run, which took place on March 26, 2012 at North Campus, which is a part of Delhi University. The event was powered by UTV Bindass. The Campus Run provided an opportunity to the citizens of Delhi to raise funds for the cause. TAF Genie, the CSR wing of The Alumni Fraternity has been spreading smiles since its inception with Project Smiling Souls, which is a drive that aims to collect 20,000 pairs of shoes, clothes and toys for the underprivileged. The event was an opportunity for individuals, corporate and social groups to promote any cause that is close to their heart. It was a platform for the citizens of Delhi to run and support their ‘own’ cause, and contribute to change in their own little way. “The mini run was titled The Campus Run because we feel that the youth of this city are the actual change bearers and in this run, each one of us are running for a cause close to our own hearts. It was apt for DUSU to support it as we also mirror freshness and freedom,” says Ajay Chhikara, President DUSU and chief patron of the campus run.
he behemothic multifarious carnival Dextrix 2012 of Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology SD India, Panipat took place on April 4, 2012. It relayed a sense of scintillating cultural diversity and a healthy, but ferocious spirit of competition. The chief guest for this event was M R K Baweja who emphasised that the intent of this event is the communal sharing of knowledge. Mr Vijay Aggarwal, Chairman, and Prof (Dr) R K Choudhary, Director, APIIT SD INDIA inaugurated the programme with the coruscation of lamp. The gala event witnessed extensive participation of many corporate giants who expressly concurred with the institute for the event with their sponsorship. Dextrix’12 comprised a technical symposium, book festival and cultural night. The mega fest hosted various events, competitions and presentations. The technical events included Robo Race, Code Wars, Algorithm, 3D Architecture, website design and network design competitions. Apart from these, there were events like Puzzle Hunt, art exhibitions, gaming competitions (like Counter Strike; Need for Speed and FIFA), photography competition, face painting and debates. People got a chance to meet leading authors, book publishers and buy books at the book festival. Cultural Night saw an inter-college rock band competition and a live show by a well-known band. Punjabi playback singer Mika Singh also added to the excitement and enthralled the audience with a live performance. The event concluded amidst an environment electric with anticipation after distributing the prizes of `25,000 to the winners of the event. This certainly added to the excitement!
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REFLEXIONZ 2012
AT K C COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
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ecently, the K C College of Engineering a festival that celebrated the silent power that resides in every individual; the power to belong, the power to break free, to overcome and to make a difference! Reflexionz '12, the college’s annual inter-college cultural festival, brought out much passion and enthusiasm from students representing various colleges. The students relentlessly worked to showcase their creative skills in dance, music, art, oratory, literary and technical events to win the much coveted Reflexionz Shield for their colleges. During this extravaganza that lasted six days, a plethora of events took place like Treasure Hunts, Brain Teasers, Junkyard Warz, Rubiks Cube, talent hunts like singing, dancing, fashion shows and technical robotics competitions such as Robo Race, Robo Warz, Robo Soccer, Robo 8 and Robo Strike. Events like Laser Tag, Accelerometer (Motion Sensor), Illuminated Race, Wall-E, Virtual Treasure Hunt, and Tech-Expo also took place, generating much excitement amongst the students who participated. Meanwhile, events like Duet Dance, Minute to Win It, street dances and plays, tattoo art, graffiti and photography made the event fun and entertaining for everyone. The Rock Show was one of the best events this year. It was held in collaboration with SPARSH. Students got a chance to understand the quintessential machinations of the stock market with the Virtual Stock Market. Events like Celeb-In-Trouble, Journalism, Short Movie, Music Video and even Writer’s Lounge were organised to showcase the students' talents. With Aman Verma and international designer Sai Suman Khanna, the fashion show also turned out to be a great watch for the audience and a success for the festival on the whole. All in all, Reflexionz '12 was a huge success! We can only look forward to next year's edition! All this was possible only by the combined efforts of all the students who worked selflessly for the committees.
FUSION 2012
AT VASANTDADA PATIL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, SION
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n March 19 and 20, 2012, the techno cultural festival of the Vasantdada Patil College took place and was attended by students who took a lot of time out to organise this festival as well as students from other colleges. The festival comprised a fantastic blend of technical as well as cultural events. The technical events included those related to robotics as well as some fun events like photography competitions, technical quizzes and code jumbling. The cultural activities on the other hand, consisted of a light bunch of events such as singing and dance competitions. The second day saw the final rounds of the technical and fun events. The concerts that were organised by the students themselves also proved to be a treat for the attendees of this festival. This day was also memorable for those who attended the bridal-make up event that saw the faculty dressed up as brides of various regions. Finally, the fashion show that culminated with the buzzing DJ night turned out to be a crowd puller. The second day also saw a charity event that was held for a social cause. As part of this event, students of the AASRA Foundation visited the festival and were given refreshments and toys. A certain amount of money was also donated by the college to this foundation. Both the days saw a lot of people taking part in the fun games such as darts and adventure sports like rappelling and valley crossing. Other sports such as box cricket, beach volleyball, ring football and basketball were enjoyed by both the participants and spectators. Gamers really enjoyed the LAN gaming events with famous games such as Counter Strike, FIFA and Need for Speed. Other innovative activities included the thrilling ultra violet light cricket and Junkyard Wars that fun things being made out of waste materials. JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 25
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_COVER STORY
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Minimal
Design _COVER STORY
in
GRAPHIC ARTIST DIVYA THAKUR ON VIEWING DESIGN FROM A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE AND FOUNDING DESIGN TEMPLE
Areca leaf plates
Divya Thakur
Design Temple store
Inside the Design Temple store
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walk through the Design Temple store in Colaba transports you to an alternate universe where objects as mundane as a matchbox or toilet paper roll reflect utility with an urban Indian and. This store is a sensorial treat with its part gallery-part store approach, and is the brainchild
of Divya Thakur, a Sir J J School of Art graduate whose design career spans over two decades. Starting off in the advertising space, she moved on to create design solutions for select clientele through her design houseDesign Temple and extended the design house’s offerings with the launch of a retail brand under the same banner.
THE BEGINNING
It’s interesting because my journey began in the field of advertising, which was brilliant in the sense that it has a clear idea of who the audience is. It really honed my skills at understanding how to speak to an audience since no matter what you do, you must know who you are
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talking to otherwise you might just be talking to yourself! It disciplined my thought process to understand what the job is, what the client is all about and what the product is. While in design, it is difficult to quantify whether something has done well, in advertising when an ad film comes out, the sales are an indicator whether the campaign has been successful. Feedback is crucial because we are not sitting as artists for ourselves. Our purpose is communication design.
THE JOURNEY INTO DESIGN
I started Design Temple with the intention of it being a place that didn’t have to choose between design and advertising, and product and space. We didn’t want to be bound by boundaries of any kind– geographical or conceptual. So anything that was interesting, we wanted to do it. Or anything that we could make interesting, we wanted to take up. Since nothing arrives at your door as a diamond, but as coal, you have to be able to see potential. It was in response to the excessive commercialisation in advertising that I was responding to. We did that for seven years till 2006 and then we started the product side of Design Temple.
THE CHALLENGES
We faced challenges when we started Design Temple and we continue to face challenges to date. I don’t think it’s easy at all because it’s a different kind of business. It’s not a nuts and bolts business; or an established system like advertising. There’s no particular way of doing it. However, we are the pioneers of what we are doing. So our problems will be those of any company that is a pioneer. But as difficult as it is, it is equally rewarding, if not more. The challenges and rewards go hand in hand.
ON FURTHER LEARNING
In 2000, I took a sabbatical to do a short course in information design at the Pratt School of Design. I think it’s important and interesting to keep on
The A – Z of Indian Cool poster A poster from the Animania exhibition series Graphic art seen in the Parrot Diary and on other formats
learning. The learning process never stops and should never ever stop! You can learn from anywhere at any point, provided you remain open and humble. It refreshes you in an amazing way and keeps you alive and up to date with what’s going on.
SKILL SETS
A good mix of education, awareness, sensitivity and an idea of your strengths and weaknesses is needed since it’s important to understand who you are, what your surroundings are and what exactly you are creating. Some people are born gifted like many designers, singers, film makers or musicians. And then there are many people who acquire skills. I believe that I am one of the people who wasn’t born gifted like some. Anyone can acquire the necessary skill sets to become a successful designer provided that they are aware. In this profession, it is important to be able to train yourself. In addition to that, you also need to remain open to learning at all points. Studying design
LED lights inspired by temple bells
at the National Institute of Design, J J School of Arts, Shristi School of Art, Design and Technology and Sophia College are really good. NID is better if you are interested in a more holistic approach to design.
LUCRATIVE OR NOT?
To me, what's lucrative is the satisfaction of creating something that someone else hasn't. If lucrative means making money, then there are other ways to enjoy this. I'm not even sure if graphic design is the most lucrative way to make money today. I went through 12 years of getting paid and sometime not! What I do know for sure though, is that if you follow your passion, all will fall into place. It's most lucrative if you can wake up and do the things you want to do! yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 29
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_COVER STORY
FOOTWEAR DESIGNER KARAN BERRY TALKS TO SHRADDHA KAMDAR ABOUT CREATING BESPOKE DESIGNS AND SETTING UP A LABEL
Playingfootsie
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hen he started creating designs for his own joy, he was a commerce student preparing to take the Common Entrance Test for admission into an MBA programme. Little did he know that a decade later, he’d be working on building his design brand, a.k.a. bespoke, set up with close friends and fellow designers Ateev Anand and Aimen Jarwala. Karan Berry, designer, consultant and educator, happily went along with being the middle initial in the name, between the two As (their names’ first letters). The shift to design happened when friends suggested he should give it a shot. He read about design careers in the
education supplement of a national daily, which helped him zero-in on the college he wanted to study at. The three years at college opened his eyes to new avenues and transformed him from an introvert to an extrovert. “Students cannot enter a programme with a notion, any notion of doing something or not doing something. They have to have their minds open to absorb whatever comes their way, and that is the true way to learn,” says Berry about the importance of having a larger perspective instead of compartmentalising. This, he adds, would enable them to experience, learn and go through the process in an effortless manner. Berry was always inclined towards shoes, even as a young student when he hadn’t started designing or sketching. He used to be meticulous with the shoes of the entire family – keeping them clean, taking stains off and storing them well. “I was intrigued with footwear. I still am. I just combined that with design, and I knew this is what I wanted to do eventually.” He came back to Mumbai to start work on his own. Berry thinks that’s one of the best things that happened to him: “The work experience is priceless, and after four years, I found my inclination. I knew where my future lay.” So he went to the London College of Fashion affiliated to University of Arts, London, to study the science of footwear design. “I felt privileged to study there, and to find myself more experienced than the others. I knew that I wanted to bring myself notches above where I was, and that’s what kept feeding my hunger to learn more,” remembers Berry. Even there, he created for himself, and felt elated that the creations were appreciated by the right people. After that, he came back to the market he was most comfortable with, and where he had created a name and a reputation for himself within a small but loyal group of customers. “My principle of creation still remains the same; to design for my own happiness and satisfaction. No matter if it does not see an end of actually being manufactured,” says Berry. A person who can never study enough, Berry enrolled for a course on Indian Aesthetics at the Mumbai University. Here’s what the passionate designer has to say
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HOW TO ENTER THE FIELD
Since I went through the education route, I wouldn’t call it rocket science. You have to take the exams, go for the interviews and be selected. Otherwise, I feel that a designer should get into the field for the sole purpose of creation. The money will come. Also, there may be colleges that have a great reputation, but don’t lose heart if you do not get into one of them. Every engineer cannot be a product of one of the IITs. So, whichever college you go to, get your basics right. If you have to, falter, but learn from it and move on.
CHALLENGES
There are a few at every step; it depends on how you view them. I could have been bogged down when my admission to a short-term course went awry in London. But I took it in my stride and moved on. Even when we set up our own name, a.k.a. bespoke, all three of us were faced with a double responsibility – to build our brand, but in turn, to create awareness about bespoke designs – shoes made to order. Our survival still depends on this awareness. All three of us entered the venture with passion, and for the first year-and-a-half, we were slapped down by whomever we approached. The easiest thing would be to shut shop, but the thought never crossed our minds. In a nutshell – • Creating your own market is challenging. • Prepare to be battered and bashed in the beginning, but learn how to get up after each fall. • Take up every hurdle with confidence. • Finance challenges exist in every field; this is no exception. • Learn to rectify a situation when needed. • Understand the strengths and weaknesses of your brand. • Being original is a challenge; take it up and overcome it. Draw inspiration to create, not to rip off.
SKILL SET
To be a designer, you have be sure you have that inherent quality inside to pursue it. For instance, Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory would have all the technical knowledge required but will not be able to create designs. Apart from that, a few things that come to my mind are: • Presence of mind – It is required to move ahead, to take your ideas one step forward and to create to the satisfaction of the client as well. • Acute observation skills – This goes not only for the field,
but the entire environment, which would enable you to draw inspiration from a variety of places and things. You shouldn’t allow anything to just pass you by! • Critical evaluation – Not only should you be able to observe, you should also be able to critically analyse the observation you make. Even if it may sound like an incorrect analysis, at least you made your point one way or the other. • Precision in skill – Shoe making involves precision, and is difficult. Unlike a piece of clothing, it cannot be altered for size! Once it is wrong, it is wrong. • A capability to make it look good – It is also about karigari. • An ability to struggle - a.k.a. started in small flat (my parents lent it to me), but soon moved to a commercial space within the city. We are still struggling and still learning, but it is a happy struggle. • No discrimination in work – We create for anyone who comes along. We’ve made shoes for those with foot deformities as well, there are no restrictions. • Have your design ethic in place – and never compromise on it. In addition, you need to upgrade your skills and ethics over time. You can’t just create for the heck of it, there has to be a purpose. • Own up to your work – You have to stand up for every piece you create, and respect it. Even if things go wrong, and you are ashamed of the result, just take it as a mistake and respect the effort behind it. Do not abandon anything.
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD
One can judge the opportunities available not only from the number of new designers and labels but also from the number of new design schools. A few years ago, hardly anyone had heard of customised shoes for fashion, and yet today, I make them! This thought could go to any length you want to take it to – whatever niches you want to create. From customised clothing, accessories, bags, whatever! Further avenues are created when experimenting with new material. Like for myself, I could now go a step further to set up my own tannery or weaving centre, the possibilities are limitless. Once you are more open to experimenting, a new market opens up. For instance, I do international bespoke footwear in Indian forms. Like we made bespoke kolhapuris once! The channel is vast, and you can take it as far as you want. yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 31
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_COVER STORY
Weaving patterns, TEXTILE DESIGNER KRITTIKA SHARMA TALKS ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT HER ART FROM LOCAL ARTISANS
telling sto r "Design is like music: the more you practice, the better you get at it."
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y formal training in design came from a four-and-a-halfyear course at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. What helped me grow beyond an institute were the various people I worked under and my family of artisans. The birth of my first line came from the idea that I had so many wonderful and talented artisans around me. I wanted to collaborate with them, marry their traditional skills to a contemporary design and colour palette and project it anyone who was interested. We work as a team of equals, and this achievement makes me very proud. It breaks barriers of religion, sex, region and colour. I also believe in fair trade, that my artisans must get their due. My goal is to expand my team of artisans and work to find markets for artisans who are less fortunate than their peers.
Textile designer Krittika Sharma
What are the skills you need to have to be a textile designer? In order to be a textile designer, you need to have a deep understanding of your line of interest. If it is industrial textiles, then you must know the technical workings of a power loom to understand the design possibilities. It also helps if you love your work – my inspiration comes from handcrafted
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,
PHOTO CREDITS: BIKRAMJIT BOSE
o ries
textiles found in India. It is very old world, deep and meaningful. I had always been interested in handmade fabrics and motifs. I found that my way to gain knowledge was to travel and explore my options. I worked at Khamir, an NGO at Kutch; interned with Abraham & Thakore and worked at a small boutique in Bangalore, Iksenya. During these periods, I had the good fortune to be able to travel and meet artisans all over India. It helped me network and continue studying textiles. With textiles, you can only study so much; it is all about being hands on. Whether it is assisting your artisan with a clamp-dyeing technique, taking notes while he shows you ancient borders and patterns, or listening to the wisdom that a mentor brings; this route continues to be an eye-opener. It helps when designing patterns to revisit your inspirations – be it a paper, notes from a course or even a film. During my time in design school, I experimented with everything from law, creative writing, weaving, and graphic designing to film appreciation! It gave me a broader canvas and all these subsets of design have become my brand tools today. What are the challenges faced by textile designers in India? The traditional textiles that we have in this country are simply breathtaking. One of the challenges we face in India is that we sometimes take this variety and skill for granted. On a global level, Indian textiles are looked at with such amazement and regard. Textile designers come
MODEL: SHONALI ROSARIO
Carbon and ash silk Indian shibori teardrop stole
MODEL: ARIJIT DUTTA
Salmon and Mulberry woven silk Ikat Stole
here and study under our artisans to unearth centuries of wisdom. We should be greedy for this knowledge as it lies right in front of us! It is important to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and work on them. My strengths were in colour theory, weaving and writing; I was terrible at drawing so I opted for graphic design courses in layout and composition, which helped me visualise my fabrics. Copyright doesn’t exist in design so if your design gets copied, be flattered. Plus, as a lawyer once told me – if someone copies your design, there are high chances of you churning out another 100 good designs that the person cannot replicate! Use that to your advantage. Setting up your own practice is not easy – whichever field you are in. Be patient. It helps to step out, make contacts and inspire yourself. When design becomes a part of you, it becomes a way of life. You see colour combinations in your chai and biscuit. You hear someone use an interesting word and it triggers a design concept. The list is endless! yi
MODEL: KUNAL LODHIA
Emerald woven silk sequins dupatta
MODEL: SHONALI ROSARIO
Carbon and cream matka, tussar and Bangalore silk Ikatinspired stole
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Urban KARTHIKEYAN RAMACHANDRAN, THE CREATIVE HEAD BEHIND THE DESIGN AGENCY, XTRATHIN, TALKS ABOUT URBAN COMMUNICATION
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p narrow wooden steps in a cosy yellow bungalow in Mumbai’s trendy district Bandra, Karthik has his second home. The design agency he started four years ago is nestled within an art gallery, False Ceiling. From here, the team at Xtrathin comes up with cuttingedge designs for diverse campaigns, ranging from environmental awareness and electronic music festivals to corporate branding and communication. We asked this out-of-the-box thinker to share his inspiration and journey with us. How did you get into a career in design? My father is an artist, while my brother runs an ad agency as does my sister. Initially, I was in science but I decided to take up fine art at an art college. In my third year I specialised in commercial design. I found that commercial design came easily to me – it’s basically just about communication. I did better than the others and took half the time others took so I thought I would try my hand at working. I started working part-time in my third year at an ad agency in Bangalore on campaigns such as Levis. What was the journey like till you set up Xtrathin? After graduating, I spent one year with an ad agency in Mumbai and then joined MTV. I handled their print media for five years. I thrived in that environment, coming up with bad jokes and fun designs. After that, I started a design and animation cell for Pixion called Zebra Works that I ran for a year and a half. Then, I decided I was done answering to people and wanted to see what my deal with the outside world was like. When I started off, I was working as an animation director for two years. In my second year, UTV called after seeing my work. They wanted me to try out one campaign, which resulted in a retainer. It has been about four and a half years now. Apart from that, Incredible India came to us around two years ago for the Cannes film festival and Goa film bazaar. Mostly, we have been working with the entertainment industry in the urban entertainment design specialists.
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_COVER STORY
UTV Bindass campaign
Ad for Times of India
Your Mother Will Die campaign
What’s the process to creating your designs? Xtrathin in a nutshell does super conceptual graphic design and other young, urban kind of work – for example, we have recently started a series of graphic novels that is a collaboration of different designers, 69. Xtrathin is a space for intense, mindblowing ideas. That’s why we have opened an art gallery adjoining the design agency; to aesthetically inspire the team to create as well as give people something new to see. Most my work is just funny. When designing, you just have to trigger off one emotional reaction from people – not all ads can be funny. You have to find your zone and become good at it. One serious work of mine for example is ‘My Mother’s Funeral’ – this was a funeral I organised for Mother Earth dying. I was fighting with my sister who was saying that there were no serious effects of global warming. So the idea sparked on the spot. We got a tree, splashed a paint of blood on it, and mummified it. Then we hired these two actresses who were crying, “My whole life has gone… I could have changed my light bulb and you would not have died ma…” The event was a huge success and 2,500 people came for half an hour outside the Gateway of India. Communication is the most important part of advertising. It’s about catching the person at the right point. For example, people got angry when they first read the ‘Your mother will die,’ sentence; but then they read
Design for event invite
Page from graphic novel 1/69
Mother Nature in small print. That’s the thing – we are instigating some new emotion in people. What are some common challenges faced by you? Sometimes egos come into play, but if you are good talker, you can get out of it. I like my job but I also make my job look very easy. It’s only rocket science if you make it so. A lot of designers talk so much, but they are only talking about the process. Also, keep in mind that design is a very subjective thing. People will not like your designs based on very individual, subjective reasons. What’s your advice to people starting off in this field? My advice to young people is just to do good work– good work gets noticed. The problem is that some people are just counting money now. They want to know how much before knowing about the project or the company. It’s great to be with people who are passionate about their work, who don’t even mind putting their own money into it.
Also, don’t waste time hanging out at lift-sides and thinking of the best idea for hours, posing as an ‘artist’. The best ideas just come to you. If you roughly know what you want to get, it is much easier to design. The concept, the one-line-brief from the client is also important. Your style follows the concept and helps build the concept. You can’t, of course, go grungy on P&G. So you have to know what you are working for. You have to crack your base formula; like contrast work, or by showing a contradictory picture. If you are listening to the right music, then you are dancing away. yi JUNE 2012 ║ 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
SOCIAL WORK Q: I am interested in social service and serving my country. Which undergraduate level courses would be useful? Aakash Aggarwal ANSWER ANSWER
Working for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) or a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of a business would be social service. Working for the government by qualifying the UPSC Civil Services exam or the equivalent exam by the State Public Service Commission, would be public service. Joining the defence services means serving the nation. Any bachelor’s degree could lead to a government or defence job. Post graduation in social work or the equivalent would be important for professional social service engagement. A science degree could lead to a forest-service job. Teaching and research through further education would also be social/public service.
Interior design is concerned with creating functional and beautiful interior spaces in houses, public buildings and commercial properties, such as shops, restaurants, leisure venues and offices. Interior decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. While interior designers may decorate interiors, interior decorators cannot function as designers of functional spaces. CEPT University, Ahmedabad offers a professional course in interior design lasting five years, like the BArch degree. Otherwise it is offered as a three- and four-year-long duration degree course in a few universities. The most common option is a two- or three-year diploma after class 10 or class 12. Architecture colleges may offer interior design as a specialisation in BArch or at the MArch level. Interior decoration may be a specialisation in a fine art degree.
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It may be possible for you to apply for an MBBS in many colleges with physics, chemistry, mathematics, English and biotechnology but not necessarily in all medical colleges. Track the MBBS admission notifications for 2012 to check which colleges would accept the above combination in place of the more widely acceptable physics, chemistry and biology. In any case, the medical entrance test would focus on physics, chemistry and biology.
ARCHITECTURE/INTERIOR DESIGN Q: I have appeared for my class 12 exams. I am interested in interior design. Can I get a break in the field after an architecture degree? What is the difference between interior design and interior decoration? Paromita Gupta
GREEN-COLLAR JOBS Q: What are green-collar jobs? Samantha Fernandes Any organisation that seeks to improve the environment is considered ‘green’, and if it employs individuals to that effect, then it has created 'green-collar jobs.' Green-collar jobs involve the design, manufacture, installation, operation and/ or maintenance of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. They involve products and services that are environment-friendly. Jobs protecting wildlife or ecosystems, reducing pollution and waste or reducing energy usage and lowering carbon emissions are all green-collar jobs.
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DOCTOR Q: After my class 10 ICSE, I will take up science in class 11 ISC for studying medicine after class 12. There is no option to study both maths and biology in my school, but I could take biotechnology with English, physics, chemistry and mathematics. Would this be a good idea? Srijan Iyer
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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
The IGCSE is an international curriculum and qualification for secondary school students. The IGCSE was developed by the University of Cambridge International Examinations. This is distinct from the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme offered in several international schools. The IGCSE is the equivalent of class 10 in India, or ‘O-levels' in the UK. Upon completing the IGCSE, you can either continue with the next level in the Cambridge International curriculum (A-levels) or switch to the IB diploma programme. As with other international study programmes, the IGCSE offers flexibility in choosing subjects according to interest and ability. Core subjects include a first language, second language, math and the sciences. IGCSE candidates have the option of choosing a number of additional courses ranging from the social sciences to the creative arts. You can also take up the IGCSE curriculum as a private candidate. The syllabus and exam pattern is available on www.cie.org.uk and exams can be taken at the British Council and Edexcel centres across India. An international curriculum like IGCSE (followed by A-Levels) is especially helpful if you are certain you will be going abroad, particularly to the UK, for undergraduate studies. A good score will not only help in getting admission, it will also earn you credits that will exempt you from entry-level courses, saving you time and money. If, however, you intend to do your bachelor's in India itself, then the grading system may prove to be disadvantageous as college admissions often hinge on differences of as little as a quarter of a percentage. Also, this curriculum will not be in tune with the syllabus of entrance exams for engineering and medicine.
BECOMING A PROFESSOR IN THE US Q: I am in the final year of my BTech (Electronics). I have a good command over mathematics. I want to be a professor in a foreign country (preferably, the US). How do I go about higher studies for it? Please advise. Mandeep Singh Teaching in a foreign university is not so easy. Most of the universities abroad hire students who have completed their PhD from a reputed university, who have a good number of published papers and teaching experience showing in their CVs. However, if you score really well on the GRE (1500+) and are highly recommended by your professors, you may be on your way to a good research programme in the US at universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, Stanford University or University of California, Berkeley, after your BTech. These universities have a great international standing for their quality of education. At the time of joining your programme in the US, make sure you take a shot at the competitive test for assistantship that will be offered by your university. Highly coveted assistantships are often very competetive. If you are lucky enough to bag an assistantship, it will significantly subsidise your tuition costs in the US, which can be astronomical. Moreover, it will give you a taste of teaching in an American university. They normally fall under the following categories: • Teaching Assistantships: You will be expected to interact with undergraduate students and assist the professor in teaching. • Research Assistantship: You will work under a professor assisting him/her with research. • Grader Position: You won’t have any student interaction. You only have to grade their work – assignments and answer sheets. • Fellowship: This requires no work from your side, but is difficult to get. It is only awarded to exceptional students.
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IGCSE ABROAD Q: Is the IGCSE programme helpful for studying abroad? Can a student do this programme after CBSE? Please guide me about the prospect of IGCSE from international schools. Rajanish Dubey
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_OUT OF THE BOX
THE ART OF SPINNING LOVE TO MAKE PEOPLE LITERALLY ‘DANCE’ TO YOUR TUNES? THEN OPTING TO BECOME A DJ IS A GREAT IDEA. BEVERLY PEREIRA FINDS OUT MORE
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veryone knows the popular dance floor track ‘Last Night a DJ Saved my Life’. While losing oneself to dancing may not exactly be a life saver, it can be very therapeutic. The person behind the console is responsible for this life enhancement. If you eat, breathe and live music, a career as a disc jockey could be the one for you. There is nothing more satisfying than opting for a career that allows one to follow their passions and dreams. Disc jockeys, or DJs as they are more commonly known, entertain others using music created by other artists, composers and often, music that they have produced themselves. DJs mostly work on a contract basis at radio stations, event management
companies and nightclubs, but the greater part of people in this profession work as independent DJs or on a freelance basis.
THE ART OF DJING
DJs are adept in the art of entertaining a crowd of people using music as a medium. Such performing artists are specialists in what they do. It doesn’t come naturally for anyone and everyone. To get paid to spin the tunes you love, you must obviously have a true passion and commitment to the job. But, before you even reach this stage, you will need to learn and practice as much as you can. Aspiring DJs need to get familiar with certain techniques that are widely used to manipulate music. And the learning
doesn’t stop there. DJ styles are continuously changing with the times. Be a sponge and soak up as much information as you can. This will help you apply it to your own style and to develop your skills.
GETTING STARTED
DJ E V of Vancouver-based electro fusion group A-SLAM feels that a successful DJ should have a basic understanding of music, including key and tempo. “Taking music theory classes or learning it on your own will be helpful. The ability to play the drums, piano or other instruments also helps to a great extent. Once you have this understanding, you can then focus on your DJ skills that include mixing, track selection and
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DJ Jargon
• Beat matching: The art of synchronising beats in two songs • Turntablism: The art of manipulating sounds and creating music using phonograph turntables and a DJ mixer
DJ Academies
• Azaredo Acoustics, Mumbai • Beat Station DJ School, Mumbai • Spin Gurus, Delhi • ILM Academy, Bangalore
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scratching. You can also further your skills and really turn your decks into an instrument in itself by studying and practising battle DJing,” he says. Pursuing a career in DJing is all about patience. You have to keep going, no matter what the situation is like. Practice is important when you start off and should essentially continue right through your career. Hard work always pays off and with time, somebody is bound to recognise you and give you the big break that you have been long awaiting. As a DJ, you’ll need to have an allround knowledge of music. Listen to as much music as you can, whenever you can. Explore different genres of music and within each genre, note down those songs that you feel would work in different environments. An eclectic taste in music is the prerequisite here as well as the ability to gauge the moods of people. You can’t turn up at a 16-year-old’s party and dish out Elvis Presley!
It helps to be a people’s person. You are the person in charge of entertaining the crowd after all! Expect people to come up to you and request for their favourites. The ability to be an easygoing person is yet another desirable quality in this profession. You are the medium between the music and the people. Networking is an important aspect that helps to get booked. Since we are in the digital age, music as well as equipment has gone the same route. Keep abreast with the latest music software used in the industry.
THE BIG BREAK
Aspiring DJs usually start out at parties of friends. Making contacts at this point of time is crucial if you wish to perform on the big stage someday. Joining an event management company or a local radio station also helps and gives you the benefits of temporary job security and exposure.
“As with other music-related professions, you have to do it for the love and passion of music. If you become one of the top DJs, then yes, it can become a full-time career. However, in Mumbai both the wedding and Bollywood industry is huge, so there might be more opportunities for aspiring DJs,” explains DJ E V.
THE REAL THING
There will always be issues that plague even the most talented of DJs. Working hours are never stable as a DJ. You'll have to work late nights frequently. The pay can range from nothing to the price that you demand, provided you have reached a stage in your career that allows you to command your own fee. The average pay can range from anywhere between `10,000 to `50,000 or more per gig. So what are you waiting for? It's time to hit the decks and spin some tunes! yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 39
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BEAUTY AND THE BASS _OUT OF THE BOX
When did you decide that you wanted to become a DJ? Did you face any challenges along the way? When I was living in Australia from 2005 – 2008, my flatmate had a pair of decks that he let me mess around with. I was terrible when I first started. It was much harder than it looked, but it kept me interested, so much so that I quit my job as a banker and moved back to India to pursue my new career interest. As for the challenges, it’s like any other job; it’s a constant learning experience. There’s a huge difference between practicing in your bedroom and playing in a packed nightclub. But, you get used to it and you try and build on that experience.
KINI RAO HAS BEEN MAKING WAVES IN THE HOUSE MUSIC SCENE. YOUTH INC GETS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS YOUNG DJ
Are you a full-time musician and DJ? Do you have a day job? DJing and music production are my only jobs. Music production takes a long time to put together, and you need to work on it every day. But, you really can't have a DJ career without making music as well these days. You have crossed boundaries and played sets around the world. Tell us more. I’ve been fortunate enough to play in some of my favourite cities and clubs over the last few years; from Bar 25 in Berlin to Public Life in London and some places in Copenhagen. Playing overseas is a lot of fun and a challenge too as the crowds in each city can be different. I try to visit Europe every summer! Do you also produce your own tracks? Yes, I have been producing for about a year, and I have four releases currently. Besides, I have four more tracks almost ready to go. I’ll soon be selling them to labels over the next few months. Production is a critical part of the game these days, and this is only the beginning for me. Your thoughts on the explosive dance music culture that has taken India by storm? Dance music has emerged in India in a big way and its only going to get bigger. It’s a growing market and I’m glad to be involved. I’m doing my part to push the scene forward. What’s the best thing about being a DJ? It is the single most fun thing to do provided you have the right spirit for it. Plus, you get to travel and meet new people! A piece of advice for budding DJs out there? Being a DJ is a lot of fun and a lot of work at the same time. In any creative field, the amount you put into it determines the amount you get out of it. Be yourself and become a DJ because you love music and not for any other reason.
ONE PIECE OF GEAR I CAN’T DO WITHOUT IS My Sennheiser HD-25s headphones! INFLUENCES: I’m a big fan of the Maceo Plex sound, Okain and Robert Dietz. What's it like to be a DJ in a scene where there aren't too many girls doing this? Some of the biggest DJs in the world are women at the moment and that's really encouraging! What music do you get drawn to? I like a lot of different forms of music. I’m an 80s child and I love disco. Anything funky and soulful gets me grooving.
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BEAT FEATS ANKIT KOCHER, AKA DJ ANKYTRIXX, SPEAKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC
I believed that I had to chase my dreams no matter what! In this time of conflict, torn between my free will and attractive career options, music kept me calm. I was pushed to go in for a ‘prestigious’ career like that of a ‘doctor’ or ‘engineer,’ which, to the disappointment of my family, was simply not working for me. I knew I had a creative streak in me that needed to be satisfied. So, while playing music as a hobby, I took up fashion designing, which didn’t work. Through all of this, the one thing that stood strong was the presence of music. Over time, as the markets opened up and money poured into the entertainment industry, it became possible for one to sustain a life as a DJ or musician. Everyone has the opportunity to try their hands at doing what they love rather than walking the safe path. You have crossed boundaries and played sets around the world. Tell us more. Yes! I regularly play in Nepal for events and festivals. In 2011, I played in Amsterdam at the prestigious Amsterdam Dance Event. I’ve played in Singapore, Bangkok, Brussels and Berlin, and this summer, I will be playing in clubs and festivals in Lebanon, Turkey and Western Europe.
A PIECE OF GEAR YOU CAN’T DO WITHOUT IS My headphones! INFLUENCES: John Digweed, 16Bit Lolitas, Josh Wink, Liquid Soul, Ace Ventura, Nick Warren and Satoshie Tomie. What’s the best thing about being a DJ? I’ve been an avid dreamer since I was 3 years old. I daydreamed about being a cosmonaut, a rock star, a battle knight and a scientist. I started spending a lot of time listening to anything that had an electronic beat to it. Clubbing at the right places made me listen to some great DJs. I finally took up DJing professionally after trying out medical school and fashion designing! The 90s saw the most euphoric days of clubbing and the tunes produced were epics. Oakenfold, Joshwink, Prodigy and Digweed shaped my early education! The rest just followed. Did you face any challenges along the way? I was brought up in a regular, middle-class family that preferred to stick to the safer path when it came to work. So, I grew up fighting the odds of a degree-driven family.
Are you a full-time musician and DJ? Do you have a day job? I am a DJ on a full-time basis. I have no job apart from this and other music-related work. When people go to office, I sit in a studio and work on productions and making music! You shall soon be privy to some new sounds from Ankytrixx! On the weekends, I DJ and try to give people a great time. What’s the best thing about being a DJ? The travel, the crazy, passionate and creative people you meet, and the amazing feeling of standing behind the console and being able to see hundreds of smiling faces looking up at you after a long night of dancing and fun— that for me is the best part of being a DJ. Your take on the dance music culture in India? It’s great and allows artists like me to make a living doing what we love! Indian electronic dance music has taken off. Everyone who is connected to music, be it DJs, producers, promoters or clubbers, is going that extra mile to create a wholesome experience! The quality of gigs, artists and production is supreme and can match every other major global music destination. A piece of advice for young and budding DJs out there? Believe in yourself and keep your feet grounded. Everyone has the opportunity to realise his or her dreams. It's possible to make a life doing what you love! JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 41
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_IN CONVERSATION
“MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT YOU HAVE” DEAN OF INSEAD, DR DIPAK JAIN, TELLS STUDENTS TO KEEP TRYING AND LEARN DIFFERENT THINGS
F
or an educator, it is always a great occasion to share experiences with aspiring students. I feel that if they inspire even a few to keep trying and never give up, the exercise will have been worthwhile! I began my journey in a small town in Assam called Tezpur and never imagined, given my modest means, that I would ever go beyond its boundaries. But Indians have something going for them that cannot be matched elsewhere in the world: their parents’ commitment to their children’s education. Indian parents are willing to give up anything within their means for a great college education. I come from a family of teachers, so no one had to sit my parents down to explain to them the importance of schooling. Still, we grew up under some tough conditions since we weren’t economically that well placed. My first trip outside Tezpur was by bus to Guwahati, where I went for university education since there was no university in my town at that time. It is said that when you have a lack of resources, the best thing you can study is mathematics. All it requires is a pen and a notebook. Excellent teachers compensated for my lack of means, not only offering their knowledge, but also generously their materials and time. Upon completion of my master’s, my university offered me a job under the condition that I complete my PhD
within five years. I was 22 years old. My first class was teaching business statistics to an MCom class! Clearly I was nervous, so I went to the Chair of the department to ask for his advice. He said, “Remember one thing – when your shadow becomes longer than your height, the sun is about to set. After that, you will be on your own. So, be yourself.” This is one lesson that I have never forgotten. Wherever I go, whoever I meet, whatever I do, I am always myself. I speak the way I have always spoken. People respect you for who you are, not for what you want to be. When I was teaching at the university way back in 1982, I wrote to a professor at the University of California, Berkeley about some research he had conducted and published. I am really appreciative of the efficiency of the United States Postal Service, since the letter was forwarded to him after so many years even though he had left UC Berkeley in 1976! He wrote back saying that he had switched his research area but had forwarded my letter and query to another professor at his new university. The new professor wrote to me offering me a doctoral candidacy at the University of Texas at Dallas. In those days of snail mail, by the time I received the offer, the fall intake was over and I had no idea about the exams – GRE or TOEFL. I informed the professor that I had no facilities in Assam to take these tests, so he returned the offer with full financial aid. That’s how I pursued my PhD. I must tell students here at this point that it’s great if you get into one of the best-known colleges, but do not be hung-up on one. It does not matter which college you get, since there are many good colleges in the US. All you should bother about is working towards your goal, the rest will follow. Never give up! My education led to a variety of opportunities for me, the most recent being the Dean of J L Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. I took over at Kellogg on September 11, 2001. Hardly a few sentences into my inaugural speech, I got the disturbing news. I stopped the ceremony short, and thought to myself, what a time to be Dean! That year, I spent more time up in the air flying across the country than at the university to meet with prospective recruiters. I had to ensure great placements for my students despite the after effects of the incident, and I am glad to say I was successful. After my engagement with Kellogg, I was all set to take some time off to visit Harvard, something that I had wanted to do for years. I then received a call from INSEAD, informing me that I was among the short-listed candidates for becoming Dean. So here I am. Work hard and trust that life will bring you opportunities in return. I conclude with the thought that the best decisions are always made by those who have their feet firmly on the ground. To the parents, I say, if you can afford it, expose your children to different cultures and environments. Students, do try and get an assignment in another country – it broadens your horizons. And above all, make the best of wherever you go. yi
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organized in collaboration with
I.I.M.U.N.
A CHANGE HAS ARRIVED Barack Obama rightly said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” And following his principle, The Indian International Model United Nations has arrived in India and is the change we seek. An initiative by the youth, for the youth and of the youth, I.I.M.U.N. is India’s chance to show to the world what they’ve been missing. Organized in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre, the project is a brainchild of Aufklaren Event Management L.L.P. I.I.M.U.N. is focused on Empowerment of the Youth as we are the future; we are going to set the stepping stones for a better world. It is only when you get onboard something larger than yourself, that you realise your true potential. So what better place to start than Asia’s Largest Youth Conference? As put rightly by the Founder and President of IIMUN, Rishabh Shah 'As a student I'd always wondered as to why always we had to go to USA or Europe to be a part of world class student conferences, so I am trying to create the same platform in India'. And created he surely has, this conference boasts of being the largest Model United Nations in Asia and the first and only where student voices are heard by those who matter. Students shall be discussing issues such as Kashmir to the crisis in Somalia and trying to bring about peaceful solutions to these long standing conflicts. Open to all students between the ages of 14-22, this is an exclusive opportunity for all readers to participate. This is Our Moment. This is Our time. Don’t miss out as this is YOUR chance to make a difference. We at Youth Incorporated are proud to be youth magazine partners for the event and shall bring to you exclusive coverage of this event.
Rishabh Shah, President of IIMUN, Managing Partner, Aufklaren Event Management L.L.P.
"For the first time, a Model United Nations Conference will have 30 committees, the largest number a conference of this type has ever had. In its first year of operation, they have already reached out to 32 cities within India and 17 countries all around the world which is no small feat." For any queries on Registration, Accommodation, Country Allotment, Committee, Delegation, etc write to: info@iimun.in
Product of Aufklaren Event Management L.L.P
Follow IIMUN on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/IIMUN2012
Magazine Partner
Log on to www.iimun.in to be a part of the change. IIMUN.indd 13
19-04-2012 17:24:17
_INSIDE DOPE
SWATI GARG TAKES YOU THROUGH A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A STUDENT AT THE MAHINDRA UNITED WORLD COLLEGE
PHOTO CREDIT: OSCAR ÁVILA ÅKERBERG
WHERE WORK AND PLAY NEVER ENDS
O
n a lone hill somewhere in the Western Ghats, you enter Mahadwaar; it pulls you into the magic and mystery of a United World College. A Nelson Mandela sculpture awaits your arrival in the academic quadrangle, watching you arrive. Hemmed in walls of stones, blazing winds, fields of emeralds and amidst the chirpy crowd, you find yourself following the music. Welcome to the Mahindra United World College of India. Where dreamers arise each morning to make it more than just any ‘day’; where life is not measured in minutes and hours but in chill-out sessions and exuberant laughs that fill each second; where we live by the notion that there’s no tomorrow; where people really care. Here’s your guide to knowing what this small community, much like a caravan of diverse races, nationalities and languages does.
THE BEGINNING First term into the International Baccalaureate (IB) feels like a utopian reverie that is spent in tranquility for a good four terms. To learn those 200 names of students from 58 nations is both a thrill and a gargantuan task. You’ll come across a beautifully structured pagoda with a labyrinth garden, four tree houses facing the Mulshi Valley, residential wadas, a centre for performing arts, a biodiversity reserve and the academic quarters. But, this is term II; it’s April and a crazy time for MUWCI-ites as the sun bakes the earth. The airconditioned academic area is almost always crowded with students trying to find their own place to study. Theatre season sees some grand productions every year and is aided by the student team comprising light and sound technicians, actors, directors and make-up artists. The MUWCI Fest, Sunday Spotlight and Wada
PHOTO CREDIT: KARANJIT SINGH
Concerts take place throughout the year, showcasing sensational talent. Fridays are highly awaited as the frustration of the week finds a vent in the college’s Paud Dance Nights. Sundays see a relaxed brunch and later, sessions over Skype with friends and family back home. Sleep deprivation, lack of self maintenance and procrastination might be conventionally negative terms, but here, there’s a joy attached to it all. Working on your essay at 3 am you might find yourself buzzing a buddy due to the high probability of him working at that very moment! WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT? Well, experience would be the best
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PHOTO CREDIT: KARANJIT SINGH
PHOTO CREDIT: OSCAR ÁVILA ÅKERBERG
HOW WE CHILL Music, jamming and cooking sessions are what we love. Just the sight of the Mulshi Lake from the tree house or a run to the village on dull evenings can lift one up. Beautiful landscapes, the pattering rain on the rooftops on an idle evening and hanging out at guitar sessions is great! We also have UWC Week twice a year, where several students put up workshops and sessions introducing their country of origin to the rest of the community. CREATIVITY, ACTION AND SERVICE This programme is just one component of the IB Diploma. Both action and creation play vital roles in students' lives here. It’s great that we get exposed
You know you’re in
MUWCI when
teacher, but to spell it out for you- it has to be the numerous interactions you’ll find yourself exposed to during your time here. We recently had Jessie Seiler, a development worker from Senegal who spoke to us about Kony 2012! A full-fledged experimental film and photography workshop was conducted by famed cinematographer Glauco Bermudez. Having received guests from as far as Palestine, Holland, Singapore and Mexico, we’ve only succeeded in broadening our windows to the world! The experiences here are special and all the incidents that I have mentioned are just a tiny chip of life at this college.
issues with locals at Mulshipedia. Here, students go far beyond this requirement and spend at least three to four afternoons a week engrossed in the Triveni Programme (extracurricular activities). Dances such as salsa, bounce, Bollywood, ballet and other activities like fitness, cooking, film appreciation and photography are popular with students. MUWCI is a delight of sorts and the joys of life are indescribable here. A student is no less than a prince, with a heart that is free as a bird. One is full of the wine of life. One is proud. One is canny and adventurous. There is no pressure of slogging it out, no threat of caning, no dreading teachers (they’re just like family!).
• You've taught yourself to take naps while walking to your next class. • You clean up your room and find a bed. • Everything you notice everywhere seems to be 'ironic' or 'symbolic' of some deeper meaning or other. • You no longer speak English. You speak a combination of English, Hindi, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Chinese, Norwegian, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, and Polish. • You spend more time trying to decide when you'll do your homework than actually doing it. • You persuade your history teacher that everything you have said in that half hour presentation makes sense and has a point, even though you don't know what that point is. • You say the same thing over and over again, not realising you've said it before.
to community engagement activities. On a Wednesday afternoon, you may find yourself spending some quality time mingling with autistic kids and adults at Sanskar. Saturdays are spent working with slum kids in Pune or going down to the village to spend some quality time listening to cultural music nights or just discussing
You'll never remember the stressful SATs, but you'll always remember the times you squandered hanging out with your friends. That’s why we live for the moment and sometimes go out on a Friday when we have a paper due on Saturday, dancing till sunrise! All because work and studying never ends, but this life does. yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 45
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ANTIQUE D
_STUDENT SPEAK
M
y name is Manish Golecha; I am currently in my third year of my BCom programme at R A Podar College of Commerce and Economics. I have an online shop on eBay India where I trade old coins and currencies under the name Adiman Antiques as a numismatist. After my ICSE exams, I was going through some financial instability. This urged me to make use of whatever knowledge and potential I had and support my family. I was waiting for an opportunity for quite long, and I have tried making the best of it and never really looked back. I started around five years ago, selling mp3 players and later on accelerated spectacles. Most of my products were shipped abroad. There were obviously a lot of sacrifices I had to make on my way. There were situations where I had to choose between my classes and trading. My trading gradually increased and then I finally wanted to do something more
substantial. So, I thought of trading on eBay. It was just after junior college when I completely shifted to coins and currency. I’ve been trading in old coins and antiques for the past four years now. Today, I am a silver-level power seller, making around one lakh per month. I remember an incident which proved to be a stepping stone. When I started coins and currency I only had three thousand rupees with me. I went to a place guided by my friend at CST and purchased a few currency notes and immediately signed up for a contract. To my shock, on delivery, I was charged with supplying fake notes. I received a call from the Nasik police station and was charged for false reasons. I decided to thoroughly study about coins and currency. I learnt how to recognise rarities and misprints and I excelled in the subject. This is the main reason why my business has been a success. The field is so vast that study never ends. It has already turned me crazy! Once, on a vacation with friends in Goa, I dragged them along to the markets to see if could lay my hands on something I could sell. We made a journey of 40km, all in vain. That day, I realised that this was really a passion for me. Twice a year, I hold exhibitions at The World Trade Centre, Mumbai. These occur normally in the month of April and later on in September. Most of my customers are collectors who love collecting old coins and a few dealers. They are both Indian and foreign collectors. I also import currencies from Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal, Belarus, and Burundi and sell it in India. There’s also a market for coins. Certain coins have values, which may fluctuate like shares. For instance, a coin may cost `500 at one time and sometimes also `150 at another. The rarity is the essence of the coin. It does not depend on the age but how rare the coin is and the quantity minted. Duplication of the coins is also very easy, so one needs to be careful. Today, I am really glad that this hobby has now turned into a part-time business. This gives me complete freedom and makes me financially independent. I can cater to all my expenses like shopping, fees and outings. I have also learnt other invaluable lessons that a classroom cannot teach, such as understanding value for money, honesty, punctuality and people you deal with; this makes my parents proud. Once you enter into any business you tend to become more responsible, practical and logical. You are mature enough to
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E DEALER
A 20-year-old student talks about how his passion turned into a trade
take your own decisions. Earlier, I was just doing it to earn money and support my family; as my scope widened, I was more interested to learn more about the process of trading rare coins and notes rather than earning from it. I enjoyed doing it more also because a thirst to learn developed in me. This learning inspires me to strive higher towards my goals and achieve my dreams. These dreams just cannot be achieved easily; you need to constantly strive to make them happen. When I entered as a fresher, I didn't know that this market had a wide scope. There is so much to learn in this field, it takes years to make a concrete impact. Knowledge, logical ability, practicability and sharpness are the qualities that you require to become better. So I can say that I learn and earn at the same time. To sum it up, opportunities are many, grab the right one and make it worth the effort. For the future, I'm planning to pursue an MA in Numismatist offered by University on Mumbai, Kalina, and continue my learning in this field. yi
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1. BANGLADESHI 5-TAKA BUNDLE 2. 10-RUPEE GEORGE VI PAKISTAN OVERPRINT NOTE, PRINTED DURING PARTITION 3. BRITISH INDIA GEORGE VI 2-RUPEE NOTE 4. COMMEMORATIVE 100-RUPEE COIN 5. SHAH ALAM II MUGHAL COIN 5
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_PRODIGY
A CEO WITH A
DIFFERENCE
YOUTH INC IN CONVERSATION WITH SAMYAK CHAKRABARTY ON HOW HE BECAME ONE OF INDIA’S YOUNGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS
H
e chose to live life differently and had a deep yearning to do something constructive. At the age of 18 years, Samyak Chakraborty, who was studying at Jai Hind at the time, decided to set up Electronic Youth Media, a social networking portal with a seed fund of `20 crore. A one-stop-shop for the youth, this portal offers concepts and ideas to companies for promoting
their products and services. Five years down the line, and the portal already receives over 1.5 million hits per week. This young CEO believes that one needs to think differently in order to succeed. YI: You established your company, Electronic Youth Media (EYM) at the young age of 16, what motivated you to start a business during ‘the carefree years’ of college?
SC: Well, to be honest, there wasn't any one factor or individual that motivated me other than the desire to follow my entrepreneurial instincts. But apart from that I was very clear from the beginning that I'd never be doing a job for anyone. Hence, starting my own thing was the only option. Having said that, it’s not that I had to sacrifice a good college life or anything like that. There was a good balance. YI: EYM is a one-of-a-kind concept. Can you tell us a little more about the company and its services? SC: EYM was started with the aim of using new media to engage young people for social change. We further then decided to use our knowledge of and connect with India's diverse young population to launch Concrea, a Youth Marketing and Research Agency which is now a part of the DDB Mudra Group. We consult brands on how to sustainably engage the youth. EYM comprises 104 students as employees. Its services include a youth-related portal and a concept creation agency called Thinking Box. What sets it apart from other social networking portals is that it will be more user-friendly and productive for users. The stock-talk link on the website enables one to get familiar with online trading. Besides this, there is lighter information such as the Go Clubbing link where one can get acquainted with the night clubs across the city. YI: You say you've never been a ‘topper’ in school or college. How much has your education contributed to your success? SC: Well, the fact that my formal education was boring, out dated and the school teachers made it worse encouraged me to explore other ways of practical learning! So in a way you could say that stagnation in school did play a fundamental role in my "learning". Although I must mention that my three years at Jai Hind
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College's Bachelor of Mass Media were quite enriching. YI: What has the journey from the owner of a ‘garage company’ to becoming one of the youngest CEO's in the country been like? SC: Fun! Exciting! And Scary! Scary, because I've build my USP as a youth marketer. In that process, I haven't been able to figure out what I'll do once I actually cross 28 years of age. YI: What are some of the challenges you faced as a young entrepreneur? SC: The main challenges that I faced were gaining investor confidence; managing employees older than me; maintaining the balance between ensuring financial stability and growth, and also learning at the same time. In such a situation there would be little scope for mistakes. YI: Apart from that, what are some of the other challenges young entrepreneurs are likely to face in this country? SC: These days, there are too many ‘young entrepreneurs’. When I started off, I could manage to arouse interest from those in power since there was a novelty value in a young kid starting up something. So the pressure to innovate will be on. Secondly, if you are not an IIT, IIM or B-school guy, angel investments will be tough to get. I am not professional at this
My formal education was boring, outdated and the school teachers made it worse. This encouraged me to explore other ways of practical learning! So in a way you could say that stagnation in school did play a fundamental role in my 'learning' phenomena but it has become an unfortunate reality. Apparently a strong GPA has become a benchmark to predict profitability (at least on the excel sheet) - another bubble that will soon burst. YI: Your success has inspired youngsters throughout the country. Is there anyone who inspired you when you were starting out? SC: Not really. YI: You saw an untapped opportunity in the electronic media, which gave birth to EYM. In which area do you see maximum opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs? SC: Education and Digital Space. YI: You founded the Young Changemakers Conclave, which
recently celebrated its second year with a highly successful event. What was the idea behind the Conclave? SC: The idea was to create a platform where youngsters can engage with current day leaders from diverse fields to learn and be inspired. YI: With a long string of achievements attached to your name, what are the next milestones you would like to achieve? SC: I never plan. I do hope to join politics though. It’s a great way to make a difference rather than just cribbing about the problems that our society faces. YI: What advice or tips would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs and the youth of India? SC: Just believe, perform, fail and learn. yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 49
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_WISE UP
- By Niloufer Gandhi Choose the option that is closest in meaning to the highlighted word and complete the sentence.
Even though the artist tried to incorporate all the elements of Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ in his rendition, it lacked _____ (a. inaccuracy b. credibility c. decadence )
2. surreal (suh-ree-uhl) –
Watching the brightly lit skyline of Manhattan was a _____ experience for five-year-old John, visiting the city for the first time. (a. hypnagogic b. conventional c. salubrious)
3. accentuate (ak-sen-choo-yet)
The colourful fountains, which are in sync with the inspiring music, _____ the beauty of the waterfront. (a. highlight b. avert c. excogitate)
4. cornice (kawr-nis)
The tourists were enamored when they saw the ornate _____ on the Qutab Minar and wondered how such intricate work was ever possible with rudimentary tools. (a. moulding b. entrance c. tower)
5. vignette (vin-yet)
The walls of the Aztec temples are adorned with colorful _____ that pay tribute to their Gods. (a. baubles b. tines c. sketches)
6. armature (ahr-muh-cher)
The amateur sculptor was in a dilemma as to how to build a strong _____ for his sculpture. (a. framework b. room c. dimension)
7. montage (mon-tahzh)
As part of the school’s centenary celebrations, the students created a ____ , showcasing the school’s achievements. (a. plaque b. melange c. rebus)
8. easel (ee-zuhl)
With a bag filled with his meagre possessions and his ____ , the artist wandered around the town looking for a place to spend the night. (a. buckler b. stand c. musket)
9. motley (mot-lee)
The art gallery attracted a ____ clientele; people from all walks of life stopped to browse its collection. (a. dispassionate b. heterogenous c. nonplussed)
10. despondent (dih-spon-duhnt)
John was ____ over his failure to secure admission to the business school of his choice. (a. dejected sb. rapturous c. outraged)
Art is imagination, art is creativity. Art is not just concerned with aesthetic pleasure, but it has had a profound influence on society since time immemorial. Art does not only involve paintings or sculptures, but also connects our subconscious and conscious worlds. It is a form of expressing our feelings. Art effects everything we do, from decorating our homes, to choosing the clothes we wear, and even the food we eat. Well, let’s start with a few basic words that you can use in your day-today conversation. Answers: 1. B 2. A 3. A 4. B 5. C 6. A 7. B 8. B 9. B 10. A
1. verisimilitude (ver-uh-si-mil-i-tood)
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yi
entertain
A look at the defining moments of BD Somani's annual fashion show– Silhouettes Page 60
Pg58 Pg72 DESTINATION KALIMPONG GO ON A JOURNEY TO THE LUSH HIMALAYAN JEWEL OF WEST BENGAL
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RIDING THE RAPIDS! DOES ADVENTURE RUN THROUGH YOUR VEINS? EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF WHITE-WATER RAFTING
Pg74 Pg76 HEAL THE HEEL! THE SKINNY ON THE MOST EFFECTIVE 'BAREFOOT' SHOES OUT THERE!
LIFE DECODED NEED SOME ADVICE? OUR NEW COLUMNIST ANAND CHULANI ANSWERS ALL YOUR LIFE QUERIES
19-05-2012 11:39:38
_ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
SHRADDHA KAMDAR MEDITATES ON HER INDIAN STREET-FOOD JOURNEY AND TRIES TO DIVINE WHAT EXACTLY MAKES THESE ROAD-SIDE SNACKS SO EXTRAORDINARY
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t was a cold, snowy winter morning in New York, a city where cold means temperatures well below freezing. All I could think about (short of creative expletives directed at the six inches of snow I was walking through) was vada pav and a good, hot cutting chai. This is the charm of street food in India, after all. We have lipsmacking fare available at every corner – hot, fresh and made to order. Despite questionable – nay, nonexistent – standards of hygiene, few of us can resist a just-off-the-kadhai samosa, with its thick, crisp, salty crust, its sweet, sour and spicy chutneys, and its savoury blend of peas and potatoes inside. And all for under `10! Few countries can offer such a variety of street foods. From Delhi’s chaats, to Mumbai’s pav bhaji, to Goa’s seafood and Kolkata’s jhal muri, every city, town and village has its own specialty, a unique dish that just doesn’t taste the same anywhere else. For your average Indian, no day is complete without at least one morsel of street food. More than just cheap, quick and tasty, food carts around India are also innovative, constantly giving birth to the new staple dishes. These innovations have given birth to some of our bestloved dishes. Chinese bhel, chop suey dosa, samosa sandwich and Chinese vada pav are all inventions of street vendors looking to please
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_ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
a crowd. In fact, it is quite likely that your neighbourhood tapri will offer you lemon tea without milk or sugar, green tea, masala tea, mint tea, milktea along with the humble cutting poured out into the special cutting glass out of a battered aluminium kettle. But it’s about more than just variety. It’s also about technique. From full meals, to simple snacks, to fast refreshers, street vendors have it all at a go. Without managers, street food vendors can make substitutions in their food at will, can hand over two extra bhajiyas in lieu of two bucks change, or give an extra helping of onions, pickle or other condiments to the customer. Decisions are fast and revolve around keeping customers happy. One wonders what difference there is between the skills learned by these cooks-cum-entrepreneurs on the streets and those learned by their compatriots at B-schools. Do B-schools teach their students to deal with haftas for the local goons? Acclaimed photographer Sephi Bergson puts it best in her book, Street Food of India, “From the teeming lanes of Old Delhi, to the hot, dusty streets in the remote countryside, it is painfully hard to resist the smells and sights and tastes of this roadside food, prepared in front of customers’ eyes with the freshest ingredients and good helping of panache and showmanship.”
The Famous and Infamous ••Mumbai
Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Dosas, Rolls, Frankies, Chinese, Baida Roti, The Bombay Sandwich, Bun Maska, Falooda, Kulfi
••Ahmedabad
Dal Vada, Fafdas with Kadhi, Dabeli
••Kolkata
Jhal Muri, Mishti Doi, Phuchkas, Chanachur
••Delhi
Papri Chat, Gol Gappas, Kebaba, Nihari, Samosa, Aloo Tikki
••Pune
Batata Vada, Misal, Khichadi Kakadi, Pav Patties, Shira, Aam Panna
••Chennai
Idlis and Dosas (the original ones!), Pongal, Bhajiyas, Paratha Kurma, Madras Bhelpuri
••Bengaluru
Obattu, Akki Roti, Holige, Fried Bonda, Ragi Dosa
A lot of ink has been spilled on street food and its cooks. Special cook books have been devoted to the subject, and every home cook has tried to replicate the tastes in a clean home kitchen. Much to the despair of those who sample the food, even the most able cook will fail to produce anything that measures up. Maybe the distinctive flavour of street food comes from the sheer effort these roadside cooks put in to feed an army each day. Maybe it comes from the necessity to beat out local competition. Maybe it’s
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The Mumbai street food experience •• Elco Arcade, Bandra
Panipuri, Aloo Tikki Chaat
•• Amar Juice Centre, Vile Parle Pav Bhaji
•• Mohammed Ali Road
Kebabs, Phirni & Falooda
•• Ashok Vada Pav, Dadar Vada Pav
•• Mamajis, Tardeo
Chocolate Cheese Grill Toast & Samosa Kurkure Sandwich
•• Khau Galli, Bhuleshwar
Dosas, Chilras & Dabeli
the ingenuity required to stay clear of the local ‘dons’ and hawaldars. Or maybe it’s the sultry weather. Whatever it is, the variety of Indian street food, and the strength of its vendors, means that even in sweltering heat, an untimely downpour or an unexpected dust storm, our insatiable stomachs will be satisfied. There is so much passion for roadside food in India, that families and friends make special plans to go out and eat at the favourite cart. “Nothing can beat the sizzling sounds
of that fried tikki or bhature with the irresistible fragrance of stunningly garnished chholas and pickles spiced up with green chillies and onions,” says blogger Nitin Pahuja of Delhi’s street food. It’s sabotage for any diet, but foodies will bend over backwards for these spicy treats. “There was a time when we used to drive all the way from Mumbai to Khopoli for just that one vada pav from a special vendor out there. At that time, there were not as many road side eateries as we have now,”
reminisces food-lover Ruchir Sheth. Back then, he and his friends would obtain permission from their parents to borrow cars for long car-rides, tamper with speedometers to keep the kilometers from adding up and speed off to sample just a single juicy bite of spicy potato coated in chickpea batter, garlicky chutney and humble pav. He regrets that his admittedly spoiled children will never experience that particular high. “If you take the foods of the world on one side and the foods of India on another, our pile would easily tilt the scales,” said Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma in their chronicle of a tour through the highway dhabas scattered across India. Sampling some 2,000 dishes from more than 600 dhabas Singh and Sharma offer a unique perspective on their native cuisine. Ubiquitous dhabas are open invitations for weary travellers to enjoy a piping hot curry, crisp rotis, brittle papads and raw onions, all washed down with a lassi. Dining in the open air by the road alongside customers sitting on charpoys and washing their hands with (again, questionable) water from an open jug is an experience only to be had in India. Compare that to the dull, boxed meal or fast food you’ll have on an American highway and you’ll understand the extraordinary gastronomic bliss possible in India. yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 55
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_RELATIONSHIPS
A YOUTH INC CORRESPONDENT TALKS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN BRIDGING THE AGE DIVIDE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP
The A g
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A ge Factor I
’ve always thought age is irrelevant when two people meet and connect on a deep, visceral level. If you have chemistry, compatibility and a foundation of mutual respect, then you can make it work. But, that doesn’t mean an age gap isn’t at times an uphill battle. I have dated people both older and younger than me, and I can say from personal experience that there are both pros and cons to the age gap.
DATING SOMEONE OLDER
PROS: THE EXPERIENCED GUIDE When you are in your heady twenties, out exploring the world, then having an older and more experienced partner can teach you a lot about how to have a satisfying and fulfilling relationship, perhaps more so than dating someone your own age. Adolescent boys dream of dating older women because of their sexual experience, while girls look for the emotional maturity and stability that some older men have. Danielle D'Souza, a 27-year-old freelance writer, says, “I've been dating an older guy (eight years my senior) for quite a while now. It's like a breath of fresh air after dating men who were almost always my age or sometimes, even a year older. I think this level of maturity is so refreshing! Besides, we never run out of things to talk about or do. I think it's great that he is so understanding; that's probably because he has gone through his share of ups and downs in life. We also learn a lot from each other!” Though you may not see eye to eye on everything, that may in fact be a good thing. Differences of opinion,
discussed in a healthy manner, can stimulate each partner to respect the other’s point of view.
CONS: THE PARENT TRAP The parent trap is a scary zone, and once entered it is difficult to escape. An older partner will often feel compelled to help you avoid making mistakes that they themselves made in the past. This, in turn, leads to possessive and overprotective behaviour. It’s also nigh on impossible not to think about Freud’s Oedipus and Electra complexes, and question if perhaps you aren’t looking for a father/ mother figure in your relationship. This could boil down to feelings of neglect you felt as a child. Social differences also crop up with an older partner. At times, an older partner will not mix well with your friends or peers. This can lead to your alienation from friends and peers. In some ways, you age faster and lose out on a vital part of your youth. Your partner may not have the same excitement or fervour as you to try things as you go. Your partner may dwell on age the age difference to prove a point (the “I’m older and wiser than you” move), while you may find yourself constantly working to prove your maturity.
DATING SOMEONE YOUNGER
PROS: THE TIME MACHINE Dating someone younger can give back lost years. It’s a proven fact that those who marry partners a decade or so younger than them tend to live longer, presumably because they are happier, healthier and more vital.
With a younger partner, you’ll likely have to take greater care with your appearance in social settings. You’ll look and feel better as the hands on that biological clock go spinning back. Himanshu Shah, a 31-year-old who is dating a 20-year-old girl, says, “Dating a younger girl has its own unique charm. Our preferences do vary drastically. And at many times, it is hard to figure out who is the child in the relationship!” CONS: ROCKING THE CRADLE If you decide to date someone younger, you’ll need to be careful not to taint youthful innocence with world-weary cynicism. This can crop up particularly during fights, when you simply won’t be able to put up with behaviour that is, as you see it, juvenile or infantile. This is also one instance in which, rightly or wrongly, gender makes a difference. Despite the fact that young men and older women are often very sexually compatible, socially and emotionally it can be particularly difficult. Muskan Ali says, “If the guy is 15 years older, then it’s still ok, but if the girl is 15 years older, then it becomes more of a problem as women age much faster than men. If they are thinking of starting a family, then the health of the woman also comes into play.” Whatever hesitations you may have, it’s always worth giving something new a shot, so try it out for sure. Differences make any relationship more interesting. Time will tell if you can bridge the age gap or not. yi Names have been changed.
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_TRAVEL
DESTINATION K
OES G Y R U H D U A H C BORNAV RAY WHERE SCOTTISH COLO S I H T O T Y E N R U ON A JO AYAN L A his beautiful town of north Bengal is one M I H L U F I T U BEA of the most popular hill stations of north L A eastern India. Located in the Darjeeling G EN B T S E W N I N district, adjoining Sikkim, Kalimpong is a W TO melting pot of various Himalayan cultures. Located
T
at a comparatively lower altitude, it experiences a pleasant season throughout the year. Kalimpong is quite a popular destination for its scenic landscape, orchids and Scottish colonial heritage. Historically, Kalimpong was a frontier town of the Bhutanese kingdom and was later ceded to the British. This town was the main centre for activities of Scottish missionaries during the colonial period and was the most important market for trade with Tibet in the later part of British colonial rule.
SCOTTISH HERITAGE
Although the Bhutanese royal family still has a royal residence in Kalimpong, this town practically came into existence due to the efforts of Scottish Missionary Rev MacFarlane. The MacFarlane Cathedral overlooks the town, similar to most colonial hill stations of British India and is the heart of the town. The main landmark of this hill station is Dr Graham’s Homes, an orphanage built by Scottish missionary Dr J A Graham in 1900, that continues to flourish as one of the largest schools of the region. Located amidst tranquil hills, tourists frequently flock here to admire the Scottish architecture of Catherine Memorial Chapel, Jarvie Hall, the school building and numerous colonial cottages for the children scattered all over the hill. Adjoining the Dr Graham’s Homes on the narrow hilly lanes of Tirpai is the Sutherland’s School of Scottish University Mission, which was the first missionary establishment for the welfare of native inhabitants. Besides these, there are numerous other colonial buildings scattered around the town, such as the Summer Palace of the Maharaja of Dinajpur, the residence of David MacDonald who accompanied the first British exploration of Tibet and mansions of other British aristocrats, which today serve as luxurious resorts.
TIBETAN CULTURE Stupas at Durpin
Apart from the colonial Scottish culture, Kalimpong also has two large Buddhist monasteries of the Tibetan Karma Kagyu sect, which of course have been established in the recent years due to the
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N
N KALIMPONG
O NIAL LEGACY LIVES ON increasing number of Tibetans flocking to India. Durpin Monastery is the main Buddhist shrine of Kalimpong. It’s referred to as Durpin as one can view a telescopic view of the town and the adjoining hills. The monastery has a three-storied shrine with colourful motifs of Tibetan mythology and folklore and a large collection of religious scripts. The other important shrine is the 11th Mile Monastery, which is a training center not only for young Tibetan monks but also a spiritual centre for many followers of Tibetan Buddhism who spend months in austerity and meditation.
Dr Graham's Homes
Thangkha, a Tibetan silk painting
SUB-HIMALAYAN PARADISE
The journey to Kalimpong along the Teesta River itself is a joyful drive, and the drive through Mahananda Wildlife Park makes it further memorable. Kalimpong also has scenic viewpoints like every other hill station of India. The Deolo Hill top, above Dr Graham’s Homes is the main scenic spot of Kalimpong. One can experience the beautiful view of the town and the majestic snow-capped Himalayas. It is a regularly visited spot and is well-maintained . The nearby scenic Nepalese villages of Lava and Lolleygaon amidst the coniferous forests provide excellent trekking experiences. For those who are interested in rafting, move downhill to Melli on the road to Sikkim; whereas the other young folk, who are keen on angling and fishing, can try their baits on the Rangit River adjoining Sikkim. Culturally, Kalimpong has numerous ethnic communities, which include the predominant Nepalese, Sikkimese, Tibetans and a significantly large number of Scottish descendants along with Bengalis. Though Nepali is the most spoken language, English is well understood by the hill folk due to a high level of education imparted by the Scottish missionaries. One must not forget to purchase a few exotic species of Himalayan orchids from the numerous nurseries. Tibetan souvenirs and handicrafts are widely available in the market area for shopping. The Kalimpong Lollipops are something not to be missed out, which are sold at most old confectionaries. The fiery pungent round chilly pickle can be seen at almost every eatery, try it at your own risk. Being a hill station with a large number of Tibetan food stalls, Momos continue to be the most popular snack, but there are other dishes, such as the Tibetan Thukpa noodles, large Tingpo momos and Nepalese Aloo-Phaley (potato rolls) which are to be relished! Bengali curries and continental meals for foreign tourists are also available at most restaurants. Being a major tourist destination, there are numerous accommodation options ranging from luxurious colonial resorts, such
Easter Flowers
MacFarlane Chapel Tower
Avalokitesvara, Goddess of Compassion, Durpin Gompa
Catherine Memorial Chapel
as Silver Oaks, Hotel Himalayan, Deolo Resort, Park Kalimpong and Morgan House, along with middle and budget range for regular domestic travellers.
GETTING THERE
Siliguri is the base camp for all journeys to North Bengal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. The journey from Siliguri to Kalimpong lasts about two hours through the subHimalayan landscape and the view of river Teesta along the way. Silliguri is well connected by trains at New Jalpaiguri Junction and is also served by flights at Bagdogra airport with several Indian cities. It is advisable to visit during April-May or October-November in order to avoid the possible landslides during monsoons or cold winters. yi photography by Bornav Raychaudhury JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 59
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Coralina
Model: Ashka Goradia show stopper & guest of honour
Graduating students of the BD Somani Institute of Fashion Technology set the ramp on fire as they showcased their eclectic creations, celebrating couture’s best on the 6th of May this year. Here's looking at the show's defining moments! The Cub Club Collection designers
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_FASHION
he Annual Graduation Fashion Show, Silhouettes, at the BD Somani Institute of Art and Fashion Technology was a grand affair with 126 designs by students, ex-students and partners. The 2012 edition was dedicated to the natural wonders that fascinate us with their myriad, natural artistry. This was a high couture way to contribute to the global eco-consciousness and awareness of the fast disappearing gems of the natural environment. The show was directed by designer Anu Ahuja Kapoor and conceptualised by the institute’s fashion head, Ms Raju Bhatia. With design innovation and experimental styling, the students left fashion stalwarts like
Bee Mine Model: Shonal
Meher Castellino, Vikram Phadnis, Archana Kochhar, Babita Malkani, Amy Billimoria and Riyaz Gangji impressed. The show began with model Dayana sporting an avant garde rose gown designed by Sania Sheikh. Television star Aashka Goradia opened the show in a high-end coral couture gown. Most awards were swept by all-girl group Palm Mystery’s digitally printed draped jumpsuit in monotone handprints and with neon accents and tribal details. Menswear Cub Club, inspired by tiger motif hounds tooth in ecofriendly linen and viscose cotton, and Nautical Nuances, luxury holiday wear, bagged a number of awards. The Flower Child collection featured nightwear for kids, with summer time naps made in soft satins and handmade flower laces. The adorable girls just stole our hearts!
Cub Club
Model: Pradeep
Flower Child
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Caviar Carat
Model: Alesia
_FASHION
UTOPIAN Model: Aakshi
Palm Mystry
Model: Sheela
AWARDS Student of the year Basic — Shilpa Chaurasia Advanced — Shraddha Sardana Third year — Shilpa Punjabi Lingerie designer of the year — Meagan Pinto Most commercially viable collection Basic — Cub Club Advance — Nautical Nuances 3rd year — Utopian Uniforms Most innovative collection Basic — Mystical Mirage Best colour co-ordination Basic — Cub Club Advance — Palm Mystry Chic
With colourful thread-work and sequins, the Be Mine collection of lehengas and sarees were just the thing for a romantic destination wedding. The sweet, soft collection, Rafia Raphsody, in pastel shades featured corset panels with ruffles and fine embroidery with layered lehengas. The Cosmogene was trendy and smart, reminding us of cosmic travellers in futuristic ripped pants, floating vests and asymmetrical
patterns with fur, metal studs and leather. We dove into the aquatic world with Coralina as corals came alive for an oceanic opera in textured, highoctane gowns with jaw dropping, form fitted fabric manipulation. These clothes will be on sale at the college premises on the first and second of June. So what are you waiting for? Dive into the natural world with Silhouettes! yi
Most elegant collection Basic — Lava Advance — Palm Mystry Chic Best designer kids wear Basic — Flower Child Most creative collection Advance — Nautical Nuances Most creative collection (3rd year) — Cosmogene Most outstanding collection — Cub Club Star designer of the year award — Saachi Harlalka Best accessory design — Palm Mystry Chic Best head accessory design — Coralina Versatality of Fabric in Fashion - Mystical Mirage Special Jury Award - Cub Club
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_FASHION FEATURE
Of Craft, Cloth and Colour
S
isters Hiral Bhogi and Nidhi Mehta started Limited Edition, a collection of cloth bags, in 2008 and have recently taken their designs to Lakme Fashion Week. Hiral is a commerce graduate with extensive experience in handling operations in the banking industry over the last decade. Nidhi has studied graphic design and was the head of design at Freedom Tree Design (Trend and Color Consultancy) for the last three years. While Nidhi designs, Hiral handles operations, and together, they’ve built a brand that only promises to grow bigger in the future. When they started, Hiral had just had a baby and was taking a break from her professional life. The sisters had always thought that Indian women have a very distinctive sense of dress, which marries Indian aesthetics with contemporary styling. They saw a huge disconnect in the accessories market, where it was practically impossible to find the right bag to compliment the Indian woman’s unique style. Pooling in their savings, the sisters decided to take the plunge to start their own design company- a range of funky, colourful and unique bags that were conceptualised, manufactured and designed in India under the brand Limited Edition.
Thanks to a steady growth in business and having had no dead stock in three years, Nidhi recently decided to quit her job and devote all her time to the brand. She is very clear about the business logic behind their decision to make bags. “It is an untouched market with a lot of scope. Name an Indian label that comes to mind when you think of bags? Maybe one or even two! But if you think of garments, there is a long list.” Nidhi and Hiral were last seen at Lakme Fashion Week. “For us, fashion week has been a platform to build brand recognition. It is a resource for young entrepreneurs like us to get exposure to alternative channels for business. Today, India is a confluence of
artists and we are a generation that is redefining the context for Indian design.” Fashion Week is dictated by trends but Nidhi disagrees. “We do not follow Spring/Summer, Autumn/Winter. That is something we have learned in India. The Indian customer follows festivals! And we respect that. One has to understand their customer and present them with better choices. That is the key!” The designers are inspired by their environment and local culture. “The vibrant colors of Holi, a traditional Bharatnatiyam dancer’s make-up, the arrangement of fruits on a fruit cart and almost everything around us inspires us. For instance, even in a crowded train, one would never find two women wearing the same print. Through our efforts, we want to bring a little bit of this experience of India to people's day-to-day lives. Today the mass production of items has brought us to value products that are unique, handcrafted and have their own identity. Our design philosophy stands for the same value. That is why you will find that every piece is individual, handcrafted and uniquely interpreted.” yi
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With the wet season just days away, we thought we’d bring you some suggestions on how to look good while still managing to stay dry. It’s time to lock away your fancy clothes and shoes, and bring out some sturdy rain-proof gear. We snooped around a bit to find you fun and colourful outerwear, shoes, bags and umbrellas so you can survive this Monsoon in style! Candy Colored Plastic Bags from Furla Price on request Available online Furla.com
Coghlans Weatherproof Wallet `150 Available online at wildcraft.in
Designer Raincoats by Sonya Vajifdar `4000 and above Available at Fuel, Opera House
Adidas Rain Jacket `2,699 Available at Myntra.com
Yellow Raincoat for Men `900 Available on Hill Road, Bandra
Fashion Umbrellas in various shapes and patterns `350 onwards Available at Lokhandwala Market
Red Rubber Boots `2,999 Available online at Bestylish.com
National Geographic Camera Cover `774 Available online at Photosystemsindia.com Offers waterproof protection to your expensive cameras JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 65
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_TREND UPDATE
Hint of
Mint
A
s the temperatures soar, we thought this refreshing icy cool trend would help you bear the heat a bit better. Pastel shades are generally a big trend this season, but mint seems to be everybody's favourite hue. This frosty shade is a lovely mix between blue and green and gives off a light airy vibe. We're seeing it on everything from clothes, shoes and accessories to handbags as well! You're sure to spot this colour everywhere you look, from the 2012 runway collections to the Oscars’ red carpet. We’ve seen everyone from Lady Gaga and Beyonce to Bérénice Bejo in mint this season. Designers have used mint on the runway extensively this spring. Check out Elie Saab, Calvin Klein, Paige, Zara and Topshop. Mint button-up silky blouses, cute ballet flats, vests, bangles and even skinny jeans are hot favourites. Colourful sunglasses are always unexpected and fun. Nail colour in minty shades is a great option for those who fear to wear too much of the colour. Mint pairs well with many colours, but we love how it looks with yellow, pink and teal. And if that's too much colour for you then wear it with white for an effortlessly chic look. The colour also works great with neutrals like black and beige. And in its lightest shade it works as a neutral itself! Mint adds a fresh pop to any outfit and we love the monochromatic mint-on-mint look, which isn't too overpowering in the soft pastel hues.
Jenny Packham Cocktail Dress
py S Hap
ocks
Mint Clutch Bag Modcloth Scarf
Edith & Elle Suede Mint Bow Sandals Topshop Flats
Topshop Girls Shorts
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Nail that Look!
Nail art designs can range from subtle to funky to just plain outrageous! Choose to paint flowers on your nails or spell out the name of your favourite pop icon! Here are some products that will help you achieve the coolest nail art designs right in your living room. Nail Art Pens `519
Street Wear Nail Color `90 Lakme Color Crush True Wear `125
Celeb
am ss
Secrets
Elle18 Nail Pops `50
Gaelyn Mendonca MTV VJ Skin care regime
LA Colors Nail Polish Remover Pads Strawberry `200
I always make sure that I use good quality products. Once I’m done for the day, I take off the make up with a simple cleansing-toning-moisturising ritual. On days when I’m free, I make a homemade pack of curd, sandalwood, honey, rose water and multani mitti. When I’m shooting in the sun, I use the Vichy SPF 50 sunscreen, which protects me from getting tanned. I eat fresh home-made food and stay hydrated, which helps big time.
Konad Sponge Nail Art Set `850
Magic make-up trick
Use cream-based blushes instead of powdered blushes. They stay longer, are easier to apply and they look natural!
3D Nail Art Stickers `160
Konad Clay 3D Nail Sticker `110
Faces Nail Favourites `299
5 beauty products in your travel kit Sunscreen, eye liner, bright lip colour, cream-based blush and concealer
Favourite fragrance Calvin Klein IN2U
Beauty faux pas
Less is always more when it comes to make up! Even if you're wearing a glamorous outfit it doesn't mean that your face should be as glittery as your outfit. JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 67
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Model watch
H
BY A RRAJAN
I
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.
PHOTOGRAPH
Interests: Dancing is her ultimate passion and sole interest!
Chandni Sandhu
Model and actress Sai Gundewar actor film Model, T V and Interests Sports, da nce, yoga:
ng , s: Singi hy, t s e r e t n I r ap photog riting w d n a fashion
[
Send your images to mail@youthincmag.com. No phone calls will be entertained. Disclaimer: Youth Inc is only a platform to share your pictures. Youth Inc will not be responsible for any decisions made by you or any sort of contract signed between you and the production house. Send your pictures at your own risk.
Megha Modelling for T V com Bajaj mercials and print ads
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_FOCUS FEATURE
DR MALAVIKA KOHLI
A renowned dermatologist, she has made her mark in aesthetic dermatology in India for over 15 years. Send your query to mail@youthincmag.com
My skin looks dull. I have been told to use natural face packs. Which ingredients should I use? Sruti Jhala, Bangalore Creams and face packs used for skin brightening contain ascorbic acid, niacinamide, kojic acid, glabridin and arbutin. Use humectants and moisturisers with ingredients such as aloe vera and glycerine. I am a 21-year-old girl. My hair falls a lot and looks dry. Which vitamins are good for hair, skin and nails? Leena Kini, Mumbai Hair fall can be due to a deficiency of iron, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3 in the body. Dry hair could be because of lack of conditioning or a protein-deficient diet. For general health of skin, hair and nails, you can take supplements consisiting of Biotin, grape-seed extract, green tea extract, brewer’s yeast and other anti-oxidants like lycopene, selenium and zinc. My feet are dry near my heels. I use night creams, but it doesn’t seem to help. What should I do? Natalie D’sa, Kolkata Dry soles and cracked fissures of the soles could be due to insufficient skin hydration and wearing open sandals, which strip the skin of its natural oils. Use a good moisturiser 2- 3 times daily. At night soak your feet in lukewarm water for 10 minutes followed by a gentle exfoliation of dead skin with a pumice stone and then
Dr Good Skin application of cream containing urea, lactic acid and glycolic acid once at night to soften the area. Wear pure cotton socks and keep the feet covered as much possible. Avoid walking barefoot and wearing open sandals. I am a 19-year-old boy. The summer months have caused facial blackheads, which I never had before. They develop into huge pimples. Karan D’souza, Mumbai In summer, the humid weather and pollution cause skin pores to get clogged, which aggravate blackhead formation leading to acne. Wash your face 2-3 times a day with a face wash that suits your skin type followed by a noncomedogenic moisturiser. Avoid friction while washing your face as well as junk food. Use an antibacterial cream containing clindamycin on breakouts twice daily for existing pimples. If it recurs, see a dermatologist. I have white patches on my back that are small, dry and itchy. What should I do? Lamia Khosla, Delhi White dry and itchy patches can be due to a superficial fungal skin infection. It can develop if long, wet hair is kept open on back after a hair wash or if one doesn't shower after a bout of sweating. An antifungal cream and antifungal dusting powder application after showerswill keep the area dry. But you'll need to see a dermatologist to rule out other causes of white patches and to treat it accordingly.
Rainproof your skin this monsoon season
The rainy season is finally here after the sweltering heat. It's time to bring out all those colorful umbrellas and raincoats. Everyone awaits this season so that they can enjoy the rains. But along with this, you may notice your skin going through some unexpected changes. The reason behind this is the high humidity levels in the air. But don’t let this dampen your spirits. Below are some tips that might help you to beat the monsoon blues and enjoy it to the fullest with skin as fresh as the weather! For starters, it's important to always rigidly follow your cleansing, toning and moisturising routine. This will help you to keep your skin youthful and bright. Due to the high moisture levels in the air, the skin is most likely to get oily. Oily skin only leads to pimples and infections. To beat this, try to wash your face with normal water at least 3-4 times a day. A face wash containing alpha hydroxyl acid helps to freshen the skin. But make sure that you do not use it more than once a day. Moisturising your face is equally important. Use a light lotion-based moisturiser or serum, which will help to gently rehydrate your skin. With the arrival of the monsoons and the accompanying cloudy weather, it's easy to ignore the humble and reliable sunscreen. You might feel that sunscreen is not needed in the monsoons because of the cloud cover. But it is a must to apply sunscreen lotion every day, even in the monsoon. Avoid cream-based, heavy make up, as it will clog your pores and cause pimples and rashes in this weather. Use water-based or mineralised cosmetic products. At night, make sure you remove your make up with a gentle cleanser. This helps the skin to breathe. You can also do some treatment with your dermatologist to freshen up and brighten dull skin. The other biggest and most common skin complaint during the monsoon has to be fungal infections. Warm moisture can accumulate easily in those areas where fungus grows easily like in armpits, between your toes and groin. Anti-fungal powder and anti-fungal soap can be applied to prevent them. Last but not the least, a good diet is must. Drink plenty of water and have a nutritional diet that will bring out flawless and glowing complexion. A colorful umbrella in your bag will surely protect you from rain and the sun along with these essential skin tips. Have a healthy monsoon! yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 69
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refresh} _MAKEOVER
Merlyn Bothello goes glam after she gets an all-new look by Agnes Chen of Pappion Salon & Wellness
(MAKEOVER)
A student gets an exciting new look that transforms her girl-next-door look to a glamorous one! With already gorgeous curls, she didn’t need much done, except for a fantastic new haircut and color.
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROHAN FERNANDES
Merlyn’s hair was curled and blow dried. When her pin curls were opened, they tumbled down and fell well, standing out in contrast to her solid fringe.
Merlyn’s hair was cut in layers to enhance her curls. Agnes kept the length of Merlyn’s hair. Merlyn was also given a solid fringe that made her pretty features stand out.
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Pale gold blond streaks were applied along with walnut and iced chestnut highlights. This happened to be a first for Merlyn, who had never experimented with color before!
“I’ve never had the guts to use color before! I also adore the way my new haircut and color is defining my curls. The fringe also suits my face a lot. All in all, I absolutely love it!”
AGNES CHEN, SENIOR STYLIST, PAPPION SALON
Send your photos to Youth Inc to get a makeover and transform your look! Email us at mail@youthincmag.com
I have gone ahead and given Merlyn a new look for her hair, which will be great as she will go back to college with a fun and funky look. It has totally transformed her look from that of a school girl to a diva! We made sure to keep her makeup very natural too. On the whole, she looks very glamorous with a hint of rock chic!
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_ECOWATCH
Be Greentastic! A PASSIONATE ENVIRONMENTALIST, THIS 14-YEAR-OLD HAS VOLUNTEERED OVER 1,000 HOURS IN CANADA. HARNOOR GILL ENCOURAGES THE YOUTH TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
C
anadians are famous for volunteering. Many of us have decided to dedicate our time to volunteer work, including projects that help people to ‘greenify’ our environment. I joined my school’s recycling club in kindergarten, the beginning of my future career as an environmentalist at my middle school. I started caring more about the environment after I learned about the horrendous side effects of not caring. One moment in life that really made me think twice about changing the world was a trip to India when I saw a three-legged monkey staring at a banana peel by the side of the road. This made me sad that some countries are so
undeveloped that they can’t dispose of their garbage properly. So, after I came back, I started a charity drive that I like to call the ‘Jean Green Drive’. I gather old, used jeans, and sometimes even new ones, to donate to the impoverished people in India to raise awareness about global poverty and the importance of recycling clothes. The Jean Green Drive gives to the unfortunate, and it is green because it reuses clothing for others. As I grew up, I joined local environmental organisations in my town to get hands-on experience in helping the environment. The first organisation I joined was Willow
Park Ecology Centre, located in Norval, Ontario, which really helped me to love nature. This is a park where the community of Norval and others can explore healthy gardens and ponds to see what they look like without their archenemies: the invasive species. The second organisation I decided to join was POWER (Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources), a not-for-profit organisation that encourages youth to raise international awareness through organisations like UNICEF and UNESCO. POWER promotes biodiversity worldwide with conferences that raise awareness about the side effects of not caring for the planet. I am proud to be a Canadian environmentalist. I firmly beleive in the phrase, 'try to become the change you want to see in this world!' Get out into nature and make your very own environmental discoveries! yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 71
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_SPORTS
I
magine swirling along a turbulent river with a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains with splashes of chilly water dousing you every now and then. The roar of the rapids and the breathtaking scenery is enough to make the wimpiest or laziest of people get out into the great, wide outdoors to feed the lurking daredevil within themselves. This is white-water rafting for you, an adventure sport that’s not only recreational but also quite extreme. Even though this sport still tends to be thought of as an activity reserved for the more adventurous type of people, over the last few years, it has gained a wide following. Curious beginners and children too are beginning to explore this outdoor activity.
Riding the
rapids
IF ADVENTURE SPORTS SET YOUR PULSE RACING, TRY OUT WHITE-WATER RAFTING, A THRILLING, BUT HIGHLY CHALLENGING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW White-water rafting is a challenging outdoor activity that uses an inflatable raft-like boat to navigate the white waters of a river using oars. Each raft can typically hold four to twelve persons (including the guide who is familiar with the river), who propel the raft forward using specific techniques to manoeuvre white-water obstacles. It is practiced mainly in the upper reaches where the water is wild and white as it froths and foams, crashing against narrow gorges, rocky outcrops and falls at deep gradients. The suitable period for white-water rafting depends on the adequacy of water volume. Thus, September to November and March, April and May are appropriate months to indulge in this adventure sport. There are several companies across India that offer the white-water rafting experience to groups of people. You will be briefed with the necessary instructions before embarking on this exciting sport. The average cost of a white-water rafting package is `1,500- `2,500 per person. RAPID CLASSIFICATIONS Rapids are broken up into different classes according to the difficulty and danger involved. They range from
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one to six, with each class requiring a certain level of skill that could vary from basic paddling skills to the advanced white-water experience. Class 1, for instance, is ideal for beginners and involves rafting through small waves and obstacles, while Class 5 and Class 6 are extremely difficult and traverse violent rapids. The latter two levels should only be undertaken by those who have had previous experience in white-water rafting. ESSENTIALS FOR RIVER RAFTING If you are a healthy person with no fear of water, then you can be sure of really enjoying the white-water rafting experience to the fullest. Even nonswimmers find it to be an enjoyable experience. It’s important to wear the provided life jacket and water-proof pouch that should be well secured to your body if you wish to carry any medication that you might require such as inhalers or insulin. Slap on a good amount of sunscreen too. Carrying your keys, wallet or mobile
phone must obviously be avoided. Lastly, if you really wish to click photographs, your best bet would be to carry a disposable waterproof camera. RAFT-WORTHY RAPIDS India has a wide range of river rafting regions, which suit amateurs and professionals alike. The rivers in the Himalayas are among the best in the world for rafting with rapids that satiate the adventurous streak in any adrenaline junkie. The snowfed mountain rivers wind down the Himalayas making it a perfect vantage point to ride the rapids. But that's not to say that one cannot experience this thrilling sport elsewhere in the country. Coorg: Misty mountains aside, Coorg in South India is known to offer an exhilarating white-water rafting experience. The Kali River in the Dandeli National Park in particular is a perfect for a rush of adventure. Ladakh: The surreal landscape
complete with tiny villages, monasteries and snow-capped peaks teamed with the gushing river water of the Zanskar River offers exciting rafting options. Be prepared for a challenging experience! Rishikesh: One of the main hubs in North India for white-water rafting enthusiasts, the rapids here are graded from one to six, perfect for beginners and professional rafters alike. They've been given interesting names such as Three Blind Mice, Sweet Sixteen and Marine Drive! Maharashtra: Drive a short distance from Mumbai to Kolad where the River Kundalika provides eager adventurists the chance to go rafting in a beautiful locale. The best time to visit and experience this adventure sport is from June to March. Arunachal Pradesh: This northeastern state is home to the mighty Brahmaputra, making it one of the most sought-after rafting destinations. A rafting trip will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. yi JUNE 2012 â•‘ Youth Incorporated 73
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_HEALTH
Heal the
HEEL Ill-fitting, high-heeled, badly designed shoes can cause major problems to your feet in the long run. Minal Patodia brings you the skinny on the best 'barefoot' shoes out there!
F
rom 20-inch chopines worn by women in Europe from the 15th century, where high heels signified greater social standing, to men in France who would wear heels of three to four inches in the 17th century, the fashion-conscious decades have left the modern era with torturous Molono Blahniks towering up over five inches. Courtesans of Europe had at least a person to help them balance while walking, and a long walking stick! Different kinds of shoes put pressure on different parts of your foot, from the balls, heels and arches. The higher the heels, the greater stress
is placed on the toes and ankle joints. These can cause a number of longlasting health issues. The “chronic” part about wearing heels for a long time – it can affect your muscles, your balance and cause deformities. The number one problem is generic joint disease, osteoarthritis. As women get older, deterioration in bone and muscle causes arches of the feel to become lax. Our feel need support. There are a number of muscles and tendons in the feet. Especially for those who exercise at any age, you need to make sure that you have a good fitting shoe that is designed for the sport you are taking part in. The wrong footwear can cause shin splints and joint problems that lead to a lifetime of pain. On the other hand, there are kinds of shoes that manufacturers claim can give you slimmer legs, help reduce cellulite, tone your hips and help you lose weight. For example, FitFlops have become popular in India too as these fashionable flip flops not only reduce joint stress but also increase muscle activation - a shoe with a gym built in!
Acupressure and reflexology are fast becoming popular as healing forms of therapy. These kind of shoes provide gentle and effective stimulation to the feet. They can help immensely in improving circulation and helping one to relax. Some shoes also come with therapeutic magnets that stimulate the traditional reflexology points in your feet. Stimulation of these points, it is claimed, relieves foot discomfort and rejuvenates the entire foot. Acupressure insoles are also available in different sizes for those who want to add them to their existing shoes. Vibram FiveFingers
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MBTs have quite thick rolling heels to replicate the uneven terrain that we were meant to walk on. Vibram FiveFingers and Vivo Barefoot on the other hand have a thin sole, mimicking the feel of walking as close to the ground as possible. These initially hurt when users first wear them, as we are unaccustomed to walking without a think sole. However, once one gets accustomed to them, then they grow to be extremely comfortable. FiveFingers are designed to “stimulate the muscles in your feet and lower legs to build strength and improve range of motion”. These have thin rubber soles and individual compartments for each toe, just like The barefoot movement advocates not wearing shoes at all under growing evidence that shoes do more harm to us that good. In the barefoot movement, people take part in outdoor activities without wearing any shoes. The barefoot movement believes that walking on hard concrete surfaces in the modern world has resulted in a number of health problems. Now, by using specially designed shoes, we need to learn how to walk the way our feet were designed to and to use long forgotten muscles in our soles. Several companies cater to the barefoot movement, such as Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT), Vivo Barefoot and Vibram FiveFingers.
Masai Barefoot Technology shoes
FitFlop Technology
HIGH DENSITY
heel section absorbs up to 22% more shock to help relieve joint stress
LOW DENSITY
midsection creates instability, which increases leg muscle activation up to 16%
MID DENSITY
toe cap helps maintain speed, pace, and variation
gloves. These spread your toes further apart, strengthening muscles and improving circulation. People who wear them for a long time report that they feel more connected with their surroundings, including awareness of the surfaces that they walk on as well as better balance, posture and agility. These barefoot shoes help to embrace the health options of going without shoes without any worries of injuries, dirt or germs getting attached to your feet. So feel the pleasure of going barefoot from the bottom up! yi JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 75
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_GURU SPEAK
LIFE DECODED LAUGHTER AND LEADERSHIP MENTOR ANAND CHULANI OFFERS LIFE TIPS
CAREER DECISIONS
I have always been guided by other people around me, especially by my parents. Now is a peak time for me to take decisions regarding my career. And I have no idea what would be good for me or what directions I should head. Now is your time to get absolute clarity on what you want because if you don't, you will always be living on everyone else's agendas. I hate the question "what do you want to be?" because it makes it sound like success is far away, so I have 3 steps for you: Step 1: What do you want in a career? Don't think about what the career is or the job or position, but only about the experiences you want from a job or career. Do you want to travel a lot? Meet new people all the time? Do you want to make a lot of money? Do you want to make a difference? If so, in what way? Now look at what careers or jobs are out there that will give you those things and target them. Step 2: How will getting this job make you feel emotionally? Everything we do is to feel something. Even if you want lots of money, what you really want is the feeling associated with lots of money – Significance? Comfort? Pride? Be clear on why you want what you want; will give you the emotional fuel, the drive to go after the career you want. Step 3: Take action! Stop worrying
about making the perfect choice. Just do it! Take action! The average person changes career (not jobs) four times! It’s OK if you change directions, just commit to one direction now and move forward. So step up, know that all the answers you need are in you and take action. Get up from your computer right now, get clear on what you want, why you want it and take action NOW! And then send me a picture from your first day on the job.
PERFECTIONIST
I want to be perfect in everything. Be it academics, sports, as an entertainer and socially around people. What should I do? You are setting yourself up to lose. But don’t worry, you are not alone! Most people “try to be perfect”, only to realize that’s not possible. Don’t believe me? Right now try and pick up a bottle. Go on try and pick it up. You can’t do it. You either pick it up or you don’t pick it up. There is no trying. The brain doesn’t hear trying. It either hears “do” or “do not”. Think of it like a command you are giving to a computer. You don’t press “try to delete”. You either delete something or you don’t. And perfection is the lowest standard because it is not possible. There will always be a “gap” in your life whether it be work, health, relationships, socially – and that “gap” isn’t bad. It gives us something to focus on, something to improve. Happiness in life is not about trying to be perfect – the perfect friend, the perfect son/daughter, the perfect Facebook friend! It’s about knowing you are giving 100% every day and giving the best of yourself – whether that be academically, with your
family, friends or in sports. I’ve had the honor of coaching winning sports teams and the ones that win it all aren’t worried about being perfect. They give their best and know that if they make small improvements every day, the results will take care of themselves.
OF INTENT AND TRUST
I love my boyfriend and I know he loves me. At times, I wonder why he won’t listen to me. When I call him, he takes a while to call me back. And when confronted he says sorry, but makes the same mistake again. I know he loves me, but I’m still confused. Don’t worry, this is typical in relationships. Remember the golden rule in every relationship: “Never question someone’s intent.” You can question their behavior, but never their intent. Know at his core, your boyfriend loves you and wants to make you happy. When you question someone’s intent, you damage the relationship and weaken the trust. The key is to separate the person from his behavior. Everything that we do in life is to either gain pleasure or avoid pain. So when your boyfriend is late in calling you, and you respond by screaming at him, you are linking pain to the act of calling you. When he wants to call you, his brain will remember the pain and will do anything to avoid it. This means he will take even longer to call you the next time! The solution is to link pleasure to calling you, to reward him for the behavior you want and not blame him for the behavior you don’t want. If you can reinforce that feeling in him you will have him hooked for life. And if that doesn't work, send him to me! yi
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PROTOTYPE 2
OR
Lame?
GaMe:
_GAME REVIEW
When Prototype first came out in 2009, it was received well by gamers who enjoyed the bloodshed and open-world experience that a sequel to this popular action-adventure game was highly awaited. Now, here is something you must know: the more you play Prototype 2, you will realise that it is a part of a larger story and can thus be a tad dull at times. But Prototype fans are sure to love it. While Alex Mercer was much PLATFORMS: like an anti-hero in the original game, in the PS3, sequel, this changes. The game in general and his XBOX 360, motives in a world that had suffered under the PC plague of the Blacklight Virus now come in focus here and relate to arch-nemesis Sgt James Heller. The latter is a man who happened to lose everything because of the virus and swore to finish of Mercer. The characters now have a vibrant feel. The automatic targeting system might seem a bit hard to use at first, but after you play the game a lot, this becomes easier. The usual boss battles also find a place in this game, but you’ll encounter new enemies here. The graphics and animation are great, with a good deal of detail. Expect to scale up buildings, jump across blocks, combat enemies and glide across rooftops. Choose to play in difficult modes that range from normal to hard. All in all, this game is perfect if you like your video game experience to be violent and bloody.
TEMPLE RUN
PLATFORMS:
IOS AND ANDROID DEVICES
Who doesn’t love a game that involves a treasure hunt? Test your reflexes as you scale down the walls of ancient temples and cliffs in the exhilarating Temple Run game. The gameplay is fantastic, as are the graphics, which are quite detailed, making the game more interesting to play. Swipe to turn; jump and slide to avoid obstacles, collect coins and buy power ups. This game will test how far you can run! However, we must warn you that Temple Run is a very addictive game and it’s free too! You will also be able to unlock a number of characters along the way.
CUT THE ROPE A mysterious package has arrived and there’s a little green monster inside with just one request- as much candy as it takes to fill its hungry tummy! The monster named Om Nom is a hungry one, and you will have to really strategise to make sure that the pieces of candy end up in its mouth. To do so, you’ll have to swipe your finger across the ropes to release the candy. Don’t forget to collect stars along the way, and in later stages, you’ll have to burst bubbles too. Be prepared for plenty of obstacles! This award-winning game is one that should not be given a miss considering that it's just `54.
PLATFORMS:
IOS AND ANDROID DEVICES JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 77
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o Dr ol FOR TECH LOVERS
of the MONTH
DARTH VADER FLASH DRIVE (`1,899)
MIMOBOT, the makers of the coolest USB drives have given us one more reason to love them. Star Wars geeks will go gaga over this USB drive, modelled in the likeness of Darth Vader. The force is certain to be with you when you remove the lord of the Sith’s helmet, revealing his face and opening up 4GB of storage. If you are lucky, you might even find yourself with the limited edition version that features the Return of the Jediera pale, scarred countenance! Besides lusting over the super-sleek design, you'll find this drive useful to save a large chunk of your photos, documents, movies and music. Collectors of Star Wars memorabilia will love the blend of storage with style!
INTEL STUDYBOOK (`10,000) Get ready (and tech-savvy!) for the new academic year with this tablet specifically meant for students. A part of the Intel Learning Series family, the highly affordable Studybook is built for e-learning and features that will aid you while studying. It sports a 7-inch 1024x600 pixel display with a highly responsive touch input system. One of the best features is that while this tablet is powered by the Intel Atom Z650 processor, it can be configured to run on either Windows 7 or Android. Built from a single piece of plastic with shock-absorbers around the screen, it offers a good deal of protection against wear and tear. In-built 1GB RAM, extendable storage from 4GB to 128GB, front and rear cameras, a microphone and a light sensor for a good video chat experience complete the features of the Intel Studybook. Wondering what makes this tablet stand apart from the other tablets? It's the education software that has been preloaded on to it. The useful software includes an application called LabCam that support scientific experiments and an optimised e-reader that allows you to read course material with ease.
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_TECHNOLOGY
ANGRY BIRD SPEAKER BY HITPLAY (`6,140)
UP BY JAWBONE (`5,200)
It looks like a wristband, but it’s much more. Jawbone’s Up wrist band is perfect for health and fitness freaks who will be inspired to exercise more, sleep well and eat right just by wearing this band! To effectively put it to use, you’ll need to wear it 24 hours a day, daily. It embeds an accelerometer that tracks your movement, giving you an estimate of calories burnt. It also offers a sleep measurement mode that measures your sleep cycle to sleep better. What’s more, this band vibrates at the right moment so that you wake up, ready to take on the day. The device helps you to keep a food journal and puts forth eating challenges so that you eat healthier. The only catch is that you need to download an app on your iPhone that works in coordination with the band. It is easy to wear, embeds sophisticated technology and doesn’t look too bad either considering that it helps you better yourself!
Still haven’t got enough of the terribly cute but disgruntled angry birds? Then extend your Angry Birds experience with this officially licensed Red Bird Speaker that is compatible with just about any device that has a 3.5mm jack. This means that you can plug in your music player, mobile phone, tablet, gaming system or headphones into this speaker and enjoy sounds other than what the grumpy birds are known to generally make! The sound is decently loud and clear. The fact that the speaker features a volume control along with a bass control, speaks loud enough for this adorably cute speaker. Packaged with this speaker is a stand to hold your devices. This speaker makes for a great gift for fans of the famous feathered, but bad-tempered birds.
APP
of the
MONTH
KHOYA
It has been described as an interactive gateway to another world and not just any old app. Meant for youngsters and adults alike, Khoya will take you on a journey of discovery through beautiful worlds. Simply ‘open’ the book to begin your adventure guiding two children, Maya and Talisma, to find objects and complete realworld quests through breathtaking illustrations, animations and text. Khoya truly blends magic, nature and technology together to offer an experience of a lifetime. Engross yourself in the beauty of nature and the thrill of discovering new things with this app. Khoya is a combination of lavishly illustrated pages by Shilo Shiv Suleman and Avijit Michael's well-crafted narratives. JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 79
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iMHO {
SO MANY FUN THINGS, SO LITTLE TIME! HERE'S THE SCOOP
I N
M Y
H O N ES T
O P I N I O N
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN
Starring: Charlize Theron,
Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth
In this adaptation of the classic fairytale, the huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) is recruited by the Queen (Charlize Theron) to kill Snow White (Kirsten Stewart). Snow White is still the fairest of them all. Unable to find himself murdering her, he decides to help and protect her. He teaches Snow White the art of war. With the seven movies dwarfs on her side, Snow White rebels against the Evil Queen to defeat her for good.
PROMETHEUS Starring: Noomi Rapace,
Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Charlize Theron A sci-fi flick, Prometheus is the spaceship whose crew is sent to explore the origins of mankind with the aid of a recently discovered map. They journey through the dark, terrifying corners of the earth where they are faced with a threat to their own existence. IMAX theatres will also be releasing the movie in 3D! So stay tuned.
ROWDY RATHORE
Starring: Akshay Kumar,
Sonakshi Sinha
Rowdy Rathore marks Akshay Kumar’s return to the action genre. This film is the first action film produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Kumar plays Shiva– a con that is constantly being attacked by lethal criminals for an unknown reason. Sonakshi Sinha plays his love interest while Kareena Kapoor makes a cameo appearance.
Movies / Music / Books
{
SRIDHAR/ THAYIL- STD
The album opener ‘Here in the Morning’ sees Shridhar’s jazz-hued vocals come alive, generously layered with guitar grunge. A favourite is ‘Bring me Rain’ with its easygoing groove, backed by the ghatam and Sridhar’s dreamy tone. ‘Punk Bhajan’ resonates each time you hear it with refreshing elements of quirky funk. Novelist/ poet Thayil sets the mood for all the songs with his blues guitarwork and at times, with his spoken word artistry heard in ‘The Drowning Song’ and music ‘Time is a Bomb’. ‘Single & Preying’ lingers long after you give it a listen, while ‘This be the Beat’ puts the duo’s versatile vocal abilities and their as-frank-as-can-get thoughts on a mantle for anyone who wants to take a sip of their intensity. Experimentation with textures, smooth mood transitions, deep bass and raw guitar elements instantly propel this album into the much-needed, speakyour-mind space that the Indian music industry terribly lacks.
NORAH JONES- LITTLE BROKEN HEARTS
Norah Jones' fifth album has a raw vinyl feel, soaked in sepia tones, neatly produced by Danger Mouse. Experimentation with a different style of singing and the almost off-time beat to the song makes ‘Good Morning’ a great start to the album. ‘Say Good Bye’ has an interesting guitar tone with a touch of oriental thrown in. ‘She’s 22’ is backed by interesting wafts of guitar and piano. ‘Take it Back’ smoothly transitions across a spectrum of moods. If you like your songs to have that raw touch, sample ‘After the Fall’, that has a Zero7 feel. ‘Broken Heart’ could well be the soundtrack of a Western film or perhaps, even a Taranatino or Scorcese film! ‘On the Road’ is one of those tracks that are perfect for a long drive with its interesting vocals and key changes. It has Norah Jones venturing into another zone of singing altogether, making great use of her tone. ‘Travelling on’ has cleaner vocals compared to any of the songs on this album.
SHANGHAI
Starring: Abhay Deol, Emraan
Hashmi, Kalki Koelchin
A Dibakar Banerjee-directed political thriller, Shanghai is the story about the real-life killing of an eminent politician and the three people who help uncover the facts hidden behind the secret government project called Shanghai. The movie highlights the predatory nature of the political world.
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yi
THE DIARY OF AMOS LEE: I’M TWELVE, I’M TOUGH, I TWEET
Author: Adeline Foo Set in Singapore, The Diary of Amos Lee mainly targets 9-14 year olds; however, Adeline Foo’s narration is a light read for older teens too. I’m Twelve, I’m Tough, I Tweet is the third part in the series. A children’s-fiction writer, Adeline envisioned Amos when her publisher came up with the ingenious idea of a toilet diary. Amos, the quintessential preteen kid, faces popularity concerns, hormonal breakouts and competition from his arch enemy as well as his best friend for the Tween Idol contest, with the backdrop of an active blogger mother, an irritating younger sister and a little brother whom Amos has to babysit. Amidst all this chaos, Amos is chosen to write for the school magazine, Poop Fiction. Once you begin reading, the initial revulsion about poop culminates into a hilarious read as Amos talks about invention of toilets, toilet paper history and farts. Amos’ tweets are quirky and identifiable. We say, let’s follow him!
5
`19
books
READING LIST
DRACULA by Bram Stoker All you twihards, listen up! Before fangs were cute, they were terrifying. Delve deep in the original horror of the undead Count.
EM AND THE BIG HOOM Author: Jerry Pinto Jerry Pinto’s impressive debut novel is the story of a two-parent-two-kid Goan Catholic family told in the words of the son, Roger Mendes. Em of the title is his mentally ill mother, the Big Hoom is his father, and his sister is Susan. He seeks to relate the story of his parents, so he must rely on his parents’ memories and the information they are willing to share with him. For much of the novel, the three Mendeses are patient and tolerant as their mother subjects them to the most horrific tribulations. We learn of Roger’s ambivalence towards his mother right at the start as he delves into this love-hate relationship. And he shows how this extends, in varying hues, to the entire family. Like most good novels, Pinto examines some of humanity’s great concerns. He is especially interested in the nature of love, both romantic and familial. Em and the Big Hoom is a marvellous debut, sensitive, livened by crystal-cut prose and Pinto’s trademark mordant humour. This is the best Indian novel in years.
WAKE UP SID
yi
PICKS
Wake up Sid is the story of a regular, but spoilt collegegoing boy (Ranbir Kapoor) who goes through an indecisive phase before he finally decides what career stream to opt for. It's a perfect movie for those who like rom-coms and who really want to get nostalgic about their college days.
5
`49
LAUGHABLE LOVES by Milan Kundera A series of short stories that tear apart our loves and losses with savage humour. A masterpeice!
WITH HONORS
A Harvard student, on the brink of graduation awaits the approval of his senior thesis, except that he loses the thesis after a hard drive crash. He must fulfil tasks for a homeless man in return for one page of this thesis.
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_RESTAURANT REVIEW
Resto/Meter
THE BEST NEW FOOD SPOTS IN T O W N ////////
MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY, DELHI When in Noida, make it a point to eat at this new restobar that makes up for the dearth of good restaurants here. The food is scrumptious to the core, and mainly comprises continental, European, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Italian and North-West Frontier cuisine. You are certain to relish every single bite of the food right from the famous tandoori platter, spinach and cottage cheese dim sums, and the stir fried mix of prawns, chilly and garlic. If your taste buds are hankering for Italian cuisine, we recommend that you try it out! All the seafood dishes here are prepared using the freshest catch of the day! The ambience is cosy because of the couch-seating arrangement that overlooks wall-size windows. Visit on a date and enjoy the candle-lit setting or simply for a satisfying lunch or dinner. The best part is that you will also get a discount during happy hours to enjoy bites at a discounted price! And, if you are visiting for a drink or two with friends, you will love the fantastic and lively music that the DJ belts out. Must-try cocktails include the all-time favourite caprioshka, margarita and mojito, perfect to quench your thirst and inject a bit of fun into the night! All you girls should try and make it on Wednesday nights to enjoy the exclusive Ladies Night specials with free cocktails. This restobar also serves hookah. All in all, My Way or the Highway is a great place to eat and enjoy a few drinks.
0
`100 n per perso
4th Floor, Centrestage Mall, Sector 18, Noida, New Delhi - AANCHAL TRIPATHI
SILVER BEACH CAFÉ, MUMBAI Mumbai now has a petite French café which is perfect for a table for two. Silver Beach is on a quiet leafy street in Juhu, away from the hustle bustle of the city. The elegant and simple wooden interiors, huge glass wall facing the street and classic rock playing in the background made for a cosy ambiance. After tasting delicacies like the Spanish leek soup and a Caesar Salad for starters, your appetite will surely be whetted for more. For the main course, the adventurous ones should definitely try out the Chocolate Pizza and Rattatouie Rissotto. If you love barbeque, BBQ Lamb Chops is the perfect dish for you. Here, they serve a good variety of wine cocktails and champagne to go along with your food. If you are planning to head there for a relaxing Sunday breakfast, French toast and bacon are the best served.
0
`60 n per perso
Jaldarshan Building, Near Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Mumbai - SHRADDHA SHAH
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_CELEB TADKA
In a
Jiffy C
hef Pranav Joshi is passionate about cooking. He became a household name after his popular Rasoi Show on ETV Gujarati, on which he was known to use his international recipes for vegetarian fare. This driven chef also runs a cooking school known as Pranav Joshi’s Cooking Academy that teaches budding chefs the tricks of the trade!
CHERMOULA SKEWERS INGREDIENTS Chermoula Paste 5 gms cumin seeds 5 gms coriander seeds 5 gms chopped and deseeded chillies 15 gms chopped garlic 10 gms chopped ginger 5 gms chilli powder 10 gms lemon juice 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
10 gms basil leaves Salt, pepper to taste Skewers 2 Bamboo skewers soaked in water 4 pieces paneer 4 pieces bell peppers 4 tomatoes deseeded 4 onions 2 button mushrooms
METHOD Chermoula Paste •• Roast the cumin and coriander seeds in a pan. Crush them in a mortar and pestle •• Add all the ingredients in a mixer jar and grind to a fine paste Skewers •• In a mixing bowl add all the ingredients for the skewers and the chermoula paste and mix well •• Thread the vegetables alternatively on the skewers as required •• Heat the grill pan and grill the skewers for 2-3 minutes •• Serve hot along with some salad or bread JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 83
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_AFTER DARK
hangover
IUS C I P A
OVER THE WEEKEND HANGOUTS
T
500
`1 n per perso
he suburbs of Mumbai have become a trendier place to hang out, what with the arrival of the fantastic, new rooftop restobar– Apicius. A great place to catch up with friends for a post-work drink or even better to dine on some sumptuous food, Apicius is a must visit. This much-needed space in the midst of the crazy urban backdrop is the brainchild of 25-year-old Atirek Garg, who in all probability sensed that such a place was what the city needs to beat the hustle and bustle of daily life. Located on the eight floor, this is the city’s answer to living it up under the stars! The interiors are minimal with touches of contemporary and elegance. Wood panels and stone lend this place an interesting feel. The sky bar and alfresco seating space is complemented by an indoor dining area and bar complete with beautiful chandeliers, perfect for a fantastic meal or an intimate dinner and drinks session. In fact, if you visit Apicius, gorging on the food is a must. After all, it wasn’t named Apicius for nothing! In case you didn’t know, Apicius borrows its name from the collection of Roman cookery recipes that was thought to have been compiled in the early 5th century AD. Philip Gomes, the former chef at Villa 39, now runs the kitchen here. You can expect to scarf down tasty delights from Italy, Lebanon, Greece, Spain and Morocco. A starter that you shouldn’t give a miss is the Mezze Platter that is served with hummus, sour cream, moutabel, tabbouleh, falafel and pita bread. The Caesar Salad is just right, with an eggless anchovy dressing served with shavings of parmesan, pesto wafers and crispy bacon bits. There are many main course dishes to choose from; even vegetarians will be satisfied! Or, if you’re here to enjoy your drinks, then try out the famous bar bites like fried rice balls stuffed with cheese; jalapeno cheese poppers and stuffed mushrooms that is served with a fingerlicking gherkin mayonnaise. The bar menu comprises a wide range of beer, wines and liquors. The cocktails or mocktails (teetotallers will have an equally great time with these yummy concoctions) are perfect for the hot months ahead too. A cocktail worth sampling is the Shirley Temple. But, ask for the restobar’s signature cocktails such as Apicius Blush, Apicius Green and Apicius Melone if you really want to get a feel of this place and what it has to offer. A visit on the weekend is perfect for a fun night out on the town or even on a weekday to enjoy some fantastic food in a pleasant ambience along with friends. Expect to shell out approximately `2000 for drinks and delicious nibbles.
Apicius, 8th Floor, Blue Wave Building, Andheri (W), off Link road, Opp Hometown Cafe, Mumbai 400053 84 Youth Incorporated ║ JUNE 2012
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_WATCH OUT FOR
Rising STAR
Model and anchor Pavleen Gujral lets Youth Inc in on a few of her obsessions, favourite movies, perfect dates, her weaknesses and more!
QUICK PICKS
S
he is a girl of many talents. Besides modeling for the biggest names in the fashion industry on the ramp and in print, Pavleen Gujral also happens to be the beautiful face behind many commercials. A true beauty with brains to match Gujral says, “I am actually an LLB from Delhi University and have worked as a lawyer too in the High Court for six months. Prior to that, I completed my graduation in computer science from Delhi University.” On quitting law in 2008, she joined Elite Model Management. Things were not the same thereafter. After dabbling in ramp modelling and designer catalogue shoots, Gujral started doing a lot of work onscreen. She started off with corporate films of brands as famous as Yamaha, Heineken and Bosch and also did a couple of television commercials along the way. “Theatre and acting was always a true calling since I had been working on and off stage as well as during my college days,” she says. Things got even better when she was selected to anchor her first travel show called ‘Bazaars’ and ‘Joggers Park’ on a yet-tobe-released Indian channel.
Fragrance of the moment: Only the brave by Diesel Must-have items in your bag: Hand sanitizer, hand cream, my wallet and chewing gum You can’t seem to get enough of good food because it never fails to cheer me up! Favourite cuisine: Thai, specifically Bangkok street food Top 3 movies: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Coco before Chanel and Rockstar Your source of inspiration: People Latest obsession: Fashion.able.food (my fashion page on Facebook) Perfect date: Candlelit dinner on the beach, barefeet! Ideal holiday spot: Thailand Drool-worthy gadget: It may be a shocker but I can do without my phone at times, because I have better things to drool over! Favourite clothing brand: I love the stuff at Sisley; internationally, I’m an All Saints fan A sport you love: Tennis Passions: Travelling, good food and quirky edgy fashion Favourite music: LMFAO really get me going but when I’m alone, it’s got to be old Hindi film songs Your weakness: Dark chocolate with almonds Shoe or bag fetish? Bags for sure! I love heels but since I’m already 5'10" I don’t really need them JUNE 2012 ║ Youth Incorporated 85
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_HOROSCOPE
AQUARIUS/JAN 21 - FEB 20 You might be enthusiastic about certain unexpected developments but don’t make impulsive decisions. Be on guard against getting into arguments with those around you. Be careful when making financial commitments when dealing with new people. You may be in the limelight at social events. Put your networking skills to use now. Lucky Numbers: 6, 9 Lucky Colour: Pink Love Dates: 20th, 26th
PISCES/ FEB 19- MAR 20
AJAI RAI MADAN Astrologer, Numerologer & Aura reader
STAR
STRUCK
CANCER/ JUN 22 - JUL 22
Figure out where the action is by carefully observing what you have been doing. Identify strategies that need to be discarded. Beware of being overemotional as you could inadvertently say something which could add to the tensions. Legal issues could be resolved soon. New work proposals will need to be studied carefully to gauge their potential. Lucky Numbers: 1, 4 Lucky Colour: Silver Love Dates: 22nd, 27th
You'll want to make an effort to go in a productive direction. There will be an understanding that life includes pain that doesn't last forever. Rethink, but do not give in to any compulsion. There will be an emphasis on money. Be careful as money will flow in and flow out fast. Make sure that money flowing out is put to productive use. Lucky Numbers: 3, 8 Lucky Colour: Fawn Love Dates: 16th, 30th
ARIES/ MAR 21 - APR 20
LEO/ JUL 23 - AUG 23
A popular Bollywood vedic astrologer takes you through your starry forecast this month SCORPIO/OCT 24 - NOV 22
You may want some quiet time instead of focusing on mundane tasks. It's a good time to take up a self-improvement project. Pay attention to your health. Deals may need to be reworked for viability. Some might need to be scrapped. There may be disagreement with views or suggestions about money or worth. Deal impersonally in an emphatic manner. Lucky Numbers: 6, 9 Lucky Colour: Ivory Love Dates: 18th, 28th
What you see and what you think may differ. You need to plan what to say as you could go off on a tangent. Loved ones will have a hard time understanding your concerns. You won't find it easy to get your ideas across. Be content with the status quo on projects. This is a good time to create a lot of space for others and lower your defenses. Lucky Numbers: 4, 6 Lucky Colour: Red Love Dates: 13th, 29th
TAURUS/ APR 21 - MAY 21
VIRGO/AUG 24 - SEP 22
SAGITTARIUS/NOV 23 - DEC 23
Emotional bearings will be at a low ebb, but things will settle down soon. Clarity will return and efforts turn into positive results. Your psychic gifts will blend with your intellect, allowing you to come up with solutions to problems at home and work. You'll need to boost your stamina to take care of professional responsibilities. Lucky Numbers: 5, 7 Lucky Colour: Yellow Love Dates: 12th, 22nd
Busy times lie ahead, but be careful before taking on new commitments. Those with interests abroad may hear of some positive developments. Romantic relationships will be good and lively, but you'll need to give others the benefit of doubt and trust in yourself. Stick to one thing. Take the path that leads to happiness and prosperity. Lucky Numbers: 2, 7 Lucky Colour: Blue Love Dates: 19th, 23rd
You are sensitive to the needs of others. Don't let others influence the way you think. You'll feel better by getting done with unfinished work before you embark on ambitious plans. Facing challenges with a positive attitude will help to enhance your reputation. Emotions may run high. Keep a low profile and tone down potential problems. Lucky Numbers: 1, 5 Lucky Colour: Black Love Dates: 15th, 20th
GEMINI/MAY 22 - JUN 21
LIBRA/ SEP23 - OCT 23
Your reputation as a reliable person puts you in an enviable position. You are passionate about your beliefs, but try harder to be more considerate. Old resentments may re-surface, but exercise control. Be frank with your partner if you want support in all your endeavors, which also includes long-term financial stability. Lucky Numbers: 2 , 9 Lucky Colour: White Love Dates: 10th, 24th
The highlight of the month will be creative inspiration, which reinforces your purpose in life to educate, motivate and inspire. The way you handle people is praiseworthy. Your opinions on a controversial subject may cause embarrassment. Find the patience to deal with unreasonable attitudes. Steer clear of gossip try to remain focused. Lucky Numbers: 4, 6 Lucky Colour: Orange Love Dates: 14th, 27th
You may find yourself keeping a track of performances to focus on delivering to meet deadlines. Many choices and decisions create unnecessary dilemmas. The crux of the matter is that you can help others by being non-judgmental. Give more importance to facts than what is on paper. Be optimistic. You will find it easy to express your views. Lucky Numbers: 3, 5 Lucky Colour: Green Love Dates: 11th, 25th
CAPRICORN/DEC 24 - JAN 20 Revitalise your mind by trying to learn more. Maintain a balance between implementing your initiatives and listening to other people’s views. You are in a good position to communicate vital information. Resolve problems. Move on quickly to avoid wasting time. Try and be present during tender moments to fully appreciate happiness. Lucky Numbers: 5, 8 Lucky Colour: Magenta Love Dates: 17th, 21st
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JUNE 2012 â•‘ Youth Incorporated 87
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_GRAFFITI
WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID THIS SUMMER! ATTENTION, TEMPERATURE: GETTING THIS HIGH IS ILLEGAL
Have you realised just how hot this summer really was? Here are a few comparisons so that you can really get a grasp of the heat that once was and enjoy a few good laughs now that it's no more!
THE REAL REASON DINOSAURS WENT EXTINCT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT INVENTED ICE-CREAM, AND THEN SUMMER CAME ALONG. Kony 2012 was not shot with Ugandan actors for safety reasons. They were all white actors who came to India for a few days this summer for the tan that they aquired quite easily. NIMBU-PAANI SELLERS ARE STUPID. IN SUMMER, THEY CAN PRICE THEIR PRECIOUS NECTAR AT `10,000 A DROP AND GO SKIING IN SWITZERLAND IN WINTER.
OPTIMISTS THE MLAS OF GUJARAT AND OFTEN ASK: KARNATAKA HAVE TURNED OVER WHAT'S THE A NEW LEAF. THE WEATHER IS WORST THAT SO HOT; THEY DON'T NEED CAN HAPPEN? THEIR 'SPECIAL' VIDEOS THEY SHUT UP WHEN TO GET HOT ANY MORE. I TELL THEM - SUMMER NIGHTS + POWER CUTS + MOSQUITOES. VAMPIRES ARE BURNT The next big reality show will be called Bigg UP BY SUNLIGHT. THIS SUMMER WAS SO HOT Hots. 16 minor celebs will be locked in a IT EVEN BURNT UP house in summer and fight for the key TWILIGHT DVDS. to the only AC room.
Rajnikanth caught fever in March. That's why this summer was much hotter than the others.
SUMMER 2012 WAS SO HOT; KASAB WOKE UP ONE DAY AND THOUGHT HE HAD ALREADY REACHED HELL.
SUMMER 2012 WAS SO HOT KAPIL SIBAL'S HEART MELTED.
Summer 2012 was so hot; people wished that the end of the world would come quickly, even those who were sure of going to hell.
THIS COLUMN IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LAUGH OUT LOUD.
Doobie & Mary Jane
By Gokul Gopalkrishnan
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RNI Number: MAHENG/2011/38909 Postal Regd. No: MH/MR/WEST/293/2012-2014 Posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office GPO, Mumbai 400001 on 2nd of every month Date of Publication: 1st of every month
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