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W
hat is life but the constant search for happiness, whether through work
www.indiatoday.in or play? Buddhists say find your own bliss. Some find it through pub-
lic service, others by self-indulgence. Many just go through the daily
Editor-in-Chief: Aroon Purie
Group Chief Executive Officer: Ashish Bagga grind of life without much chance of joy. Life does not deal an even hand to all.
Group Editorial Director: Raj Chengappa If you look around, we are awash with bad news. Terror attacks, rapes, child
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hardships suffered because of demonetisation. The list is endless.
Deputy Editors: Prachi Bhuchar, Uday Mahurkar, Manisha Saroop Every day, I open the newspaper or switch on TV news with a sense of
Mumbai: MG Arun Hyderabad: Amarnath K. Menon Chandigarh: Asit Jolly
Senior Editors: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, Jaipur: Rohit Parihar dread. What new tragedy or misery will engulf my mind? I yearn for those sto-
Senior Associate Editors: Kaushik Deka
Mumbai: Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; patna: Amitabh Srivastava
ries where the good in us triumphs and compassion rules the day. There are
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Kolkata: Romita Sengupta; Bhopal: Rahul Noronha;
Thiruvananthapuram: Jeemon Jacob; BeiJing: Ananth Krishnan Sadly, such stories are few and far between.
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So, to rectify that balance, india today brings you a celebration of the human
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Kumar (Photographer); Mumbai: Mandar Suresh Deodhar viduals who in spite of everything have achieved personal excellence, as well as
(Chief Photographer), Danesh Adil Jassawala (Photographer);
ahmedabad: Shailesh B Raval (Principal Photographer);
people who have gone beyond their brief to create value for others. Altruism,
Kolkata: Subir Halder (Principal Photographer); empathy and kindness are considered old-fashioned words, but they embody
Chennai: N G Jaison (Senior Photographer)
Photo Researchers: Prabhakar Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher), the finest in human nature. In this issue, our correspondents
Shubhrojit Brahma (Assistant Photo Researcher)
Chief of Graphics: Tanmoy Chakraborty
fan out across the nation in search of stories that inspire.
Art Department: Sanjay Piplani (Senior Art Director); The tea-seller in the Dooars who funds and coaches a wom-
Jyoti K Singh, Anirban Ghosh (Art Director),
Vikas Verma, Rahul Sharma, Vipin Gupta (Associate Art Director); ens football team; a young woman braving stone-pelters
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every day to revive the traditional art of namda weaving in
Production Department: Harish Agarwal (Chief of Production),
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sidised meals to migrant labourers; and a former software
Publishing Director: Manoj Sharma
Associate Publisher: Anil Fernandes (Impact) professional who has started a low-cost funeral service to
IMPACT TEAM provide dignity to the dead. Theres also a group of young-
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General Managers: Mayur Rastogi (North), sters who fought state apathy and searing conflict to win big
OUR JANUARY 11,
Upendra Singh (Bangalore), Velu Subramaniam (Chennai)
Kaushiky Chakraborty (East) at a martial arts contest in Bhutan; an heir to a healthcare 2016 COVER
Group Chief Marketing Officer: Vivek Malhotra empire who wants to be a catalyst in re-learning ancient
Assistant General Manager: Garima Prashar (Marketing)
Sales and Operations: D.V.S. Rama Rao, Chief General Manager
Indian wisdom; and a young single man who fought the system to be able to
Deepak Bhatt, General Manager (National Sales) give an orphaned child a home, among other enriching narratives.
Vipin Bagga, Deputy General Manager (Operations)
Manish Kumar Srivastava, Regional Sales Manager (North) All these stories reaffirm our faith in humanity, in the power of positivity.
Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager (West)
Arokia Raj L., Regional Sales Manager (South) They document acts of personal courage and incidents of public selflessness.
They offer hope in a world that seems beset by disappointment. I had much
the same epiphany during the first india today Conclave South in Chennai
on January 9 and 10, listening to a galaxy of can-do chief ministers with
unswerving belief in their ideas, powerful women who have carved a niche
Volume XLII Number 5; For the week
January 24-30, 2017, published on every Friday for themselves in politics and culture, scholars who deliberated on the kind of
l Editorial Office Living Media India Ltd., India Today Group Mediaplex, leadership India needs, legends of cinema and young millennials with fire in
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states. As one of our speakers put it, the south doesnt wear its wealth on its
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Thats a double dose of good news difficult to resist.
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JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 10

 The Good News Issue
A few men and women who have battled all odds to make a difference to their own and others lives

I N S I D E
Illustration by NILANJAN DAS

8
5
Chennai Express
GLASS HOUSE

36 The India Today South Conclave was a gala event, with

lively political debate and rich cultural interaction
56

58
GLOSSARY

EYECATCHERS

Cover by NILANJAN DAS

02 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 MAIL
NET FLUX by LAKSHMI KUMARASWAMI

Living Dangerously
ONLINE
23% 32 %
JANUAR Y 16, 2017
Instagram FOOTPRINT Instagram
The challenges India faces with the world in turmoil

15% 67 % 69%No one can predict

38 %
Pinterest future, but one
the
Pinterest Facebook Facebook
thing is certain: there wont twitter
be a tattle
dull
What percentage ofday in 2017. From politics to the economy
Joshin Joshi
men and women to the environment to global relations...
Looks like Bigg Boss fans are
use these social
we are in for very interesting times
confusing TV actor Rohan
28% 21 % networks? %
21 %
23 Mehra with comedian Rohan
LinkedIn Twitter Twitter KALRA , via
HARSH LinkedIn
e-mail
Joshi. Sick of being Tweeted at,
Joshi at first asked people to
rectify their error. When that
Graphic by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY Source: Pew Report 2016
Master and didnt work, Joshi decided to
Technology will play a key
Commander The Right Way Up embrace his newfound fame
role. India needs to make
Theweb wow with the
interview as a reality TV star, and started
It is difficult to believe Kishore its armed forces techno-
new army chief Bipin asking people to vote for him.
Mahbubanis contention that logically robust to counter
New Lyrics,
Rawat (We will Samego acrossPolicy any and all threats. A mod-
Donald Trump, a Republican,
A.R. Rahmans
again) was recent
quite performance
exhaus- ernised army is the best
will never love India as well
of his old
tive. However, Urvasi
Tamil hit,the , was just a
sooner viralBeing
defence. videoself-reliant
as Barack Obama did (The
bit different. Over 6
the new chief impresses million have seen in weapons production
New CIA... China, India and
his performance
upon on MTV Unplugged,
the government the will also help India along
America). Republican pres-
with crowdsourced
immediate needlyrics If the
like re-
for the the road to becoming a
idents have been more help-
500 rupee
vival of thenote gets demonetised
Mountain Corps . As superpower.
ful to India than Democratic
always,
and thethemodernisation
lyrics were followed of by the presidents. It was George Bush SHWETA CHAUDHARY, New Delhi
familiar refrain: ...take it easylong
weaponryespecially policy.
who ended Indias nuclear
internet star ofapartheid
the week Salt Seller
range artillery guns and by signing the civilian nuclear deal with Indias former prime Battle Royale
TheManmohan
webs latest sensation knows A video making Donald Trumps
battle tanksthe better. It minister Singh. Obama, whohis meat. Turkish
radiated bonhomie Ashish Misras story on
butcher and hand gestures look like hes playing
is unfortunate that despite towards India in thechef Nusret Gke
beginning, became charmed the globe
disillusioned afterwhen Akhilesh Yadav (The Cub
a video of himthe
delicately an accordion made 30 million laugh
having a wide range of he failed to secure nuclear but
anddeftly
fightersprinkling salt on a
aircraft contracts. Earns his Stripes) was very
manufacturing and R&D Trumpsteak
has thetrended
sameonline.
agendaHeasisModi
nowonreferred to asand
terrorism Salt Bae.
believes informative. The detail dis-
facilities, India is the larg- Bet everyone wants a pinch of that.
that the only country that can check Pakistani terrorism is pels some of the mystery
est buyer of weapons and India. Trump can be helpful in brokering peace between India surrounding the battle
equipment from the inter- and Pakistan. K.R. NARASIMHAN, Chennai royale being played out in
national market. smart sheet Uttar Pradesh. Much de-
LT COL. RANJIT SINHA, Kolkata To Misses Obama pends on the outcome of
this family feud. Almost
web win that General A letter from the daughters of
Considering weapons technology. It prefers to resolve bilateral every
Over single
a millionparent
watched prays
these three
former US president George
Mums the Word
Rawats appointment as bodes well for the nation
W. Bush to the daughters of
differences through nego- fornewscasters
and rejoices in theabout
fighting suc-their
COAS raked up a con-
Lesbian couple Dominique and Crissy, that he seems to respect tiations. With Gen. Rawat cess and glory of their
wardrobeson liveoff-
TV
outgoing president Barack
troversy, he seems to be
with a million-plus YouTube subscribers,the modernisation prior- being fortunate enough to spring. Indeed, we do
Obama is being widely shared
well aware of the added
announced they were expecting. Trolls ities of his predecessor, have a three-year tenure, everything possible to see
online. Explore your passions.
responsibility and expecta-
swiftly appeared, saying Dominique was Gen. Dalbir Singh, and is hopes naturally arise that that our children do better
Learn who you are. Make mis-
tions. What is noteworthy
too masculine to carry a baby; but theinclined to continue with the nation will benefit. in life than we have.
takesyou are allowed to,
is that he seems sympa-
ladies shot back, saying they were both that vision. What comes NALINI VIJAYRAGHAVAN, Mulayam Singh Yadav
wrote Jenna and Barbara Bush
thetic to the plight of the
women and the choice was theirs. as a relief is that even if he Thiruvananthapuram seems to be the rare ex-
to Sasha and Malia Obama.
infantrymen deployed in is keen on honing Indias ception. This is an obvious
inhospitable terrain and offensive capabilities and Army chief Rawat has case of the old man not
weather conditions along replacing Indias age-old rightly pointed out that James Cordens
wanting to let go.spoof soap opera,
Akhilesh
whatsand wants
the border, AlarmMon
to makes sureof dissuasion withDuobook
policy lets you
given theswitch
reality of nuclear haswith Kanye West
acquitted lyrics in
himself place of
cred-
improve newtheir lot byyoure up. It only
equip- goes off deterrence, he betweenweapons,
credible an e-book and its wars
future dialogue,
itably as thewowedchiefover 500,000
minister
pingAppthemAlert after you play aessentially
with modern game seeks peace and audio version seamlessly
will be short and intense. of Indias most populous
Follow the writer on Twitter @lkummi

08 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017 JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 3
 FROM THE
MAIL ARCHIVES
state. He has initiated come the antiincumbency Carrying Hope
and completedmany de sentiment. To blame Amar Call us whatever you like. A
velopment projects and Singh for creating a rift foetus, another child yet to
endeared himself to both between father and son is be born or an ungainly bulge.
voters and MLAs. It is time ridiculoussurely, an as We are other things too. We
for the father to celebrate tute and seasoned politi are tiny ships waiting in har-
the sons success and help cian like Mulayam cannot bours of blood. We are
him go furtherperhaps be swayed by an outsider naughty spirits pushing at
even to the national main to act against his own son. our mothers hearts, making
stream. Age is on PRAMOD SRIVASTAVA, Delhi their legs swell and their
Akhileshs side, and with backs ache. We are lifes little
support from the wily old Luck by Chance Akhilesh has come into his ambassadors, helpless but
man, he can aspire for big There is no gainsaying the fact own. It seems he had an determined. Eyes closed but
ger things. that these elections are ex- ticipated just such a devel fists clenched.
KRISHAN KALRA, via e-mail tremely crucial for all the par- opment. He has now Across the country this
ties in the fray (The Lucknow broken free of the old month, thousands of us will
What is happening in the Gambit). For the SP, a favour- guard and has positioned stick our necks out and set
Samajwadi Party is able result would further bol- himself as the tallest sail across thousands of dif-
shameful. It is amazing ster Akhileshs leadership leader in the state of UP. ferent seas. Our anchors
that a political party is credentials while hastening His development projects, snipped off, still blind and
being treated as family the decline of Mayawatis BSP, welfare schemes and his helpless, we will float first
for who the situation appears from our mothers wombs to
property. Politicians want aversion to tainted politi
to be now or never. For BJP, their arms. For a few weeks,
to represent people to cians have endeared him
the result would be a referen- we will rule our homes; we will
solve their problemshow dum on Modis policies, espe- to the masses. His only
ironic then that they can fear should be the division yell and help will come. And
cially on the effects of
not even solve their own. of the Yadav votes in the then with time, we will drift
demonetisation.
Name or caste consider case of a split in the party, away to be carried around by
VIPUL PANDE, Nainital
ations while voting are of and the fallout among one wave after another.
The election in UP has become We will learn to crawl, to
no use anymore. Only the all the more intense because Muslim voters.
merit of the candidate sho VIJAI PANT, Hempur
walk; to smile, to suspect, to
of the ongoing war between
uld be considered. I hope be afraid, and from thereon to
the Yadav family members. If
UP voters seriously con Akhilesh Yadav is not able to Counterpoint grapple with the more ardu-
sider this. They should Your article The Great ous tasks of adulthood. Some
rally his votebank, it seems
of us will weigh our families
teach politicians that likely that Muslims would then Survivor (December 26,
throw their weight behind down and, therefore, will have
wielding power is not a 2016) is a speculative story
Mayawati, making it a direct to learn other things. Like run-
right, it is a privilege. about the stability of my
contest between the BSP and ning across the road, weaving
V.S. GANESAN, Bengaluru government. To say that
the BJP. Hopefully, UP voters through the traffic and press-
our party president is said
will not vote on caste and com- ing our noses against the car
As the family feud in the to be gunning for me is
munity lines this time around, window.
SP continues, it becomes preposterous. The fact is
and prove that they have in- However, all that is then;
ever more difficult to fig deed evolved. It will be unfor- that the Honble Prime
this is now.
ure out if there is any sub tunate if they continue to do Minister and our party
We are still anchored to
stance in the power tussle, so, because voting patterns chief have been very sup
our mothers walls; every
or if it is merely a family have changed significantly in portive of our government. move we make is felt,
drama orchestrated by other parts of the country. DEVENDRA FADNAVIS,
watched and heard. Coiled
Mulayam Singh to over BAL GOVIND, Noida Chief Minister of Maharashtra
inside, safe and warm, many
of us have grown so big that
we fill up entire houses, take
over their dreams, swallow
Readers are recommended to make appropriate enquiries before sending E-MAIL YOUR LETTERS TO: whole conversations.
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any advertisement appearing in this publication. The India Today Group letters.editor@intoday.com You will listen to these
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Today Group publications shall not be held liable for any consequences in
low. You will find out how our
the event of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers. families have become the epi-
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Januar y 1995

4 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 GLASS HOUSE by SANDEEP UNNITHAN
NET FLUX by LAKSHMI KUMARASWAMI

ONLINE 32%
23 %
FAMILY CIRCUS
Instagram FOOTPRINT Instagram

GENERAL
15% DILEMMA
D
espite Pime Minister Narendra Modis
remonstrations, the stampede for
67 % %
69
family tickets in the coming state polls con-
%
38
Pinterest Facebook Facebook
tinues. In Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath Singhs Pinterest
General J.J. Singhs
decision to contest son Pankaj Singh is back in Noida, Kalyan
twitter tattle
against Capt. Amarinder Singhs grandson Sandeep Singh got a tick-
What percentage
et from of
Atrauli. Leaders like Swami Prasad Joshin Joshi
Singh in Patiala has
men
Mauryaand women
have threatened to quit if their kin

Illustration by ANUP RAY

dismayed the veterans Looks like Bigg Boss fans are
community use
dontthese
get social
tickets while BJP veterans Kalraj
% since it confusing TV actor Rohan
28
pits former comrades- 21
% Mishranetworks?
and Lalji Tandon %want21tickets for
%
23 Mehra with comedian Rohan
LinkedIn
in-arms against each Twitter their sons. Its the same in Uttarakhand,
Twitter LinkedIn Joshi. Sick of being Tweeted at,
other. Indeed, the ex- with B.C. Khanduris daughter and Vijay Joshi at first asked people to
army chiefs military Bahugunas son leading the show. rectify their error. When that
Graphic by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY Source: Pew Report 2016
advisor, Lt General didnt work, Joshi decided to
Chetinder Singh, is now embrace his newfound fame
part wow
web of Amarinders as a reality TV star, and started
war room. asking people to vote for him.
New Lyrics, Same Policy LOOSEN CUT AND
A.R. Rahmans recent performance THE SWEEP
of his old Tamil hit, Urvasi, was just a Radical Sikh leader
viral video
bit different. Over 6 million have seenSTRINGS Simranjit Singh
his performance on MTV Unplugged, Mann could well
with crowdsourced lyrics like If the T he consensus
among govern-
500 rupee note gets demonetised. Asment sources is that
make things more
difficult for Arvind
always, the lyrics were followed by thethe Union budget, due Kejriwal and his
TIPPLER
familiar PATROL
refrain: ...take it easy policy. on February 1, will Aam Aadmi Party.
internet star of the week Salt Seller In a popular social
MPs new excise policy provide the cushion for
The webs latestofsensation knows his meat. Turkish Amedia
video making Donald Trumps
video, Mann
asks liquor shop own- the economic fallout
butcher and chef Nusretplans
Gketo charmed the globeacross
when hand gestures look like hes playing
ers to keep a record demonetisation. The Centre hike spending
a video of him delicately an accordion made 30 million laugh
of habitual buyers. the board to compensate for abut deftly sprinkling
cautious privatesalt on a
sector.
The Shivraj Chouhan Increasedsteak
taxtrended online.and
collections He isproceeds
now referred
fromto as Salt Bae.
demoneti-
government plans to Betprovide
sation will everyonethewants a pinch offiscal
necessary that. room for this.
counsel such addicts. Increased tax collections in the times of falling output has
But will the shop owner left economists baffled but sources again explain that one
divulge such details, good that has smart
come sheet
out of notebandi is that it has forced
hurt his own business? corporatesTo Misses Obama
to come clean on actual revenues.

web win A letter from the daughters of

Over a million watched these three
former US president George is seen asking Sikhs
Mums the Word W. Bush to the daughters of
newscasters fighting about their
to choose between
WANDERING
Lesbian couple DominiqueMINSTREL
and Crissy, outgoing president Barack
wardrobeson
a sword and the
live TV
with a million-plus YouTube subscribers, Obama is being widely shared broom, the AAP
If voters are
announced theywondering why
were expecting. the cam-
Trolls online. Explore your passions. symbol. Citing Guru
paign songs of all the three
swiftly appeared, saying Dominique was major
Learn who you are. Make mis- Hargobind Singh,
political parties
too masculine in athe
to carry fray
baby; in Uttar
but the takesyou are allowed to, the sixth guru who
Pradesh
ladies shotsound the same,
back, saying itsboth
they were because
wrote Jenna and Barbara Bush led the first armed
singer
women andKailash Khers
the choice voice is behind
was theirs. to Sasha and Malia Obama. rebellion against the
all the ditties.
Mughals, he says
BJPUP KE MANN KI BAAT Kejriwal
James Cordensis trying
spoof soapto opera,
whats
SPCHAL AlarmMon
DHADAK makes sure
DHADAK Duobook lets you switch replace
with Kanyethe Westguru-
lyrics in place of
new youre up. It only goes off between an e-book and its given kirpan
dialogue, wowedwith over a 500,000
BSPVOTE
App Alert DENE CHAL
after you play aBHAI
game audio version seamlessly jharoo. Will it work?
jharoo
Follow the writer on Twitter @lkummi

VIKRAM SHARMA
JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 5
 GLASS HOUSE

TOO
BIG A
WALL LOSING
R ahul Gandhi, who
was to go on a China
tour from January 15 (the
ONES CHAIR
In an embarrassment
for the RSS, its informal
Communist Partys interna
nominee J.P. Singhal
tional liaison department
was forced to quit as
had invited him), decided
University of Rajasthan
to drop out at the last min
V-C on January 8 after
ute. The MEA, unusually,
the high court observed
was not aware of the trip.
that he did not have the
Rahuls camp cites the

CHANDRADEEP KUMAR
minimum qualifications
upcoming polls as the rea
for the office.
son, but insiders say public
flak over his overseas New
Year holiday had some
thing to do with it as well.

THE ACTOR CARRY

METHOD ON WARNING
A
ctor and
MP Tapas
Paul, when pre
Maharash
tra
SIGNS
Kerala CM Pinarayi
forest min Vijayan is now using
sented in the CBI ister Sudhir Facebook to issue his
special court in Mungantiwars diktats. On January
Bhubaneswar, tried to impress upon the initiative to 13, he asked the Mal-
judge that he was ailing and suffering from set up a vulture breeding centre near ayalam Film Exhibitors
neurological problems. To bolster his case, Nashik, keeping in mind their dwin Federation to call off a
he shook his head, kept mumbling to him dling population, is already a suc proposed strike, saying
self and even acted out in the witness box cess. The centres efforts have seen he would not negotiate.
how he had tripped and fallen recently. the great scavenger birds thrive, with It worked. The strike
The judge was quite taken in by the histri numbers already up by 150. Now we call was withdrawn in
onics, that is until the CBI lawyer reminded hear Rajasthan has sent a request for two hours, much to the
him that Paul was a big actor in Bengali 15 vultures from the centre to boost relief of film producers.
cinema. He was sent to three days custody. the birds numbers in the desert state.

NDA NATIONAL DIVIDED ALLIANCE? Rumblings within the NDA

over recent moves

IN BIHAR IN JHARKHAND
Jitan Ram Manjhis BJP ally AJSU declared on January 11
Hindustani Awam that the Raghubar Das government
Morcha-Secular is not was a total failure. The party, which has
with the BJP, which is join- four MLAs (including a minister), is in a
ing the JD(U)s January 21 sulk because Das has been less atten-
human chain against liquor rally. Ram Vilas Paswans tive to it ever since he gained the sup-
LJP and Upendra Kushwahas RLSP are also silent. port of six MLAs from rival JVM

with ANSHUMAN TIWARI, SHWETA PUNJ, RAHUL NORONHA, ASIT JOLLY, ROMITA DATTA, ANANTH KRISHNAN, JEEMON JACOB, KIRAN D. TARE, ROHIT PARIHAR, AMITABH SRIVASTAVA

6 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 NEWSFLICKS SPARK

THE BSF HAS BIGGER

PROBLEMS
THAN FOOD
A video of a jawan complaining about poor
quality food recently made headlines, but
the BSFs struggles go beyond the plate

WHERE ARE UNSPENT EARLY

THE MEN? MONEY WARNING
The BSF is short-staffed
Yearly budget vs expenditure (in ` crore) The lack of basic amenities for
BSF jawans was noted in a 2012
252,059 Budget Expenditure
Police Bureau report*
Sanctioned numbers

9,313.8

77% 54%
2012-13
245,779 7,675.8
complained of abusive
Actual numbers dont get enough sleep language by seniors

Sanctioned and actual numbers of 10,424.8

gazetted and non-gazetted positions* 2013-14
8,713.9 54% 50%
complained of poor didnt get leave
Sanctioned Actual communication with seniors when required

5,108
Gazetted
4,567
2014-15
12,540.3
50%
complained of the lack
246,951 9,883.1
Non-gazetted of basic amenities like
241,212
water and sanitation
*As of January 1, 2015 *Out of 161 BSF men surveyed

LIVES CUT OTHER LEAVING IN

SHORT... FATALITIES A HUFF?
192
Attrition in the BSF is the highest

774
among Indias paramilitary forces
deaths took place due

117
to road/ rail accidents
BSF personnel died between

2,583
January 2015 and September 2016

suffered fatal

25 cardiac arrests

38
of these were
battle casualties personnel quit the
force in 2014

18
died of cancer

316 died of
lost their lives due to
HIV/AIDS
disease
5 due to malaria Sources: Police Bureau Report, 2015, news reports

VISUAL NEWS ON YOUR PHONE DOWNLOAD FROM OR SMS NF TO 52424

 DOING GOOD IN
A WORLD GONE BAD
I By Kaveree Bamzai I

Do-gooders, self-starters, game-changers. Twenty-one Then there are others, who go beyond their brief, to
men and women who have broken the rules to make a provide opportunities for others. These are not just the

A
difference to their own lives and those of others. Bill Gates and the Azim Premjis. It could be the young
single man who fought the system to be allowed to give
an orphaned, mentally challenged child a home. It could
group of youngsters who combated state be an IAS officer who offers subsidised meals to starving
apathy and searing conflict to win big at migrant labourers. They are the dispellers of darkness,
a martial arts contest in Bhutan. A young the harbingers of hope, the counters to cynicism.
woman who gave up a career in Yet in a post-truth world, their importance is not mere-
software to provide a low-cost funeral ser- ly that their existence makes us feel good. As the world
vice for dignity in death. An heir to a health- moves towards increasingly responsive leadership, the
care empire who wants to be a catalyst in re-learning kind that can harness disruptive technologies and recal-
ancient Indian wisdom. A young tea-seller in the Dooars citrant humans, it is clear that new skills will be called
who funds and coaches a football team because few things foramong them creativity and people management. The
generate as much confidence as brilliance at a sport. 21 do-gooders and self-starters did not wait for the gun to
In a world beset with darkness, the few sources go off to race towards their goal. They often created their
of light need to nurtured. The special issue of india today, own. In a culture that tells them who they are, they are
filled with stories of those who have their own story.
combated the odds, is a tribute to the In doing so, they have set a new
human spirit of endurance, excel- benchmark for individual experi-
lence and endeavour. It celebrates mentation and civic evangelism.
altruism, the art of giving away. It Torchbearers in the Their causes, says Veer Singh, one
marks empathy, the ability to feel the of the young men quoted in the fol-
pain of others. It honours kindness, Age of Anxiety, they lowing pages, are not one-night
the quality of mercy that is increas- stands, but long-term relation-
ingly lost in us. embody individual ships. Their work doesnt find itself
Think of the men and women
in the next few pages as partici- excellence and in the spotlight or in neon on the
marquee, but it does make our
pants in The Happiness Project. It
is the perfect antidote to the Age of collective generosity. democracy richer and our universe
more soulful. Complete engage-
Anxiety we live in now, full of self-
help manuals and better-life coach- They are the light ment in democracy needs us to be
fully involved in the lives we and
es. These men and women have
sometimes triumphed in challeng-
that gets in through our fellow citizens lead. Because as
the late great Leonard Cohen wrote
ing circumstances, to achieve seem-
ingly impossible goals. Their story
the cracks. in the iconic Anthem: There is a
crack in everything, thats how the
can be compelling and inspiring. light gets in.

Illustration by NILANJAN DAS JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 9

 MY PARENTS INSPIRED ME
TO MAKE A NAME FOR KASHMIR
MEHROOSH MANZOOR, 13, FAZIL AZIZ DAR, 10,
ARSALAN AQIB WANI, 15, AQIB MUZAFFAR DAR, 16,
ZEESHAN DAR, 16, and ADIL BASHIR DAR, 21
Tong-Il-Moo-Do gold medallists, NARKARA, KASHMIR

Their parents, mostly farmers, might struggle to make
ends meet, but that hasnt stopped them from encourag-
ing their children to follow their dreams, even in the trou-
ble-torn state of Kashmir. Trained by their 29-year-old
coach Bilal Ahmad Dar in Tong-Il-Moo-Do, a mixed mar-
tial art, six of the 20 young students from the Narkara
hamlet in Kashmirs Budgam district clinched gold med-
als in the 2016 South Asian championships held recently
in Thimphu, Bhutan. Amir Ramzan, 15, won a silver. The
accomplishment comes on the heels of an astounding
win by Tajamul Islam, an eight-year-old Kashmiri girl
from north Kashmirs Bandipora district, at the World
Kickboxing championship in Italy.
pictures with stonethrowing youths to score a political
point, says the 21yearold. If my individual perfor
mance in sports is mixed with Kashmirs political prob
lem, Id rather leave sports than risk being dubbed as a
collaborator or traitor by my friends in Kashmir.
Zeeshan Dar, who won gold in the junior boys cat
egory (above 70 kg), says that if you have the support of
your parents, there is nothing that you cannot achieve in
life.With my performance in Bhutan I have given my par
ents something to feel proud about, he says. But I want
to go to the Olympics and achieve more in other sports.
by Gowhar Geelani

M
ehroosh Manzoor says winning gold in an
international competition gave her imm
ense joy and confidence. Her achievement
came in the subjunior girls category (45
48 kg) after winning four matches against
Bhutan, Nepal, Maharashtra and Sri Lanka. My parents
are poor, says the teenager. They have struggled a lot
for me. They always support and inspire me to make
a name for my Kashmir at the global stage. And I have
finally made them proud.
Abdul Aziz Dar, 43, is feeling equally proud of his two
sons, Umair, 14, and Fazil, 10. Fazil won gold in the sub
junior category (2528 kg) after beating rival athletes
from Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. In my first game,
he says, I initially felt very nervous, but after winning a
couple of key points, there was no looking back.
Father Abdul says, It is not about the money or gold
(medal), it is all about izzat (esteem). Even during the
uprising in the Valley last summer, both Fazil and Umair
would wake up at 5.30 in the morning for free coaching
at their school, Spring Buds, and then go for their TongIl
MooDo practice in the afternoon.
Adil Bashir Dar, who won gold in the senior boys cat
egory (6467 kg), insists that sports and politics should
not be mixed. For Gods sake, please dont juxtapose our NARKARA YOUNGSTERS
AT A PRACTICE SESSION

10 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 JIGNESH MISTRY ADITYA TIWARI WITH SON AVNISH

Even during the

uprising last summer, I WAS TOLD TO STAY
my sons would wake
up at 5.30 am for WITHIN MY LIMITS
coaching in school. ADITYA TIWARI, 29
Single father who adopted a child with Downs syndome, PUNE
ABDUL AZIZ DAR
Father of Umair and Fazil

After setting a shining example himself, Aditya Tiwari now runs a sup-
port group for parents with mentally challenged children

A
ll I wanted was to adopt a mentally challenged child, what I got
for 18 months was mental, emotional and financial trauma. I
first saw Avnish, now my son, during a visit to an orphanage
in Indore in 2014. The authorities told me he wasnt adopted
because he was mental. It is unfortunate people still describe
disorders such as Downs Syndrome like this. I instantly decided I wanted
to give the child a home. But adoption was far from easy, I was a single
man and 27 years old. I was told the fivemonthold child was being given
up for international adoption. I later realised it was a racket; they hadnt
registered the child in government records, which is mandatory. I decided
to fight this. In the next one year, I made over 30 trips from Pune to Bhopal,
wrote numerous letters to everyone, from the prime minister and the
women and child welfare minister to the Madhya Pradesh government.
People laughed at me, saying I was either impotent or that this was my
biological child outside marriage. Things changed when Maneka Gandhi
visited the orphanage. After that, they reviewed my case and I was allowed
to adopt the boy. I later found out he had been abandoned by his affluent
Bhopalbased parents. It is a pity people see children with challenges as a
liability; the mindset needs to change. This experience has sensitised me
further. When I got married last July, instead of inviting family and friends,
I organised a feast and gifts for 10,000 underprivileged people, food for
animals from shelters, strays and the zoo. As told to Aditi Pai

SYED SHAHRIYAR
JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 11
 THE MEDAL ALLOWED
ME TO BE HEARD
DEEPA MALIK, 46
First Indian woman to win a medal at the 2016 Rio
Paralympics, a silver in shot put F53 category
NEW DELHI

Feeling sorry for those who could not see beyond her dis-
ability, Deepa Malik has made it her lifes mission to prove
them wrong. She has four Limca World Records (three for
motorbiking, one for swimming) to her credit, she is an
award-winning restaurateur, a motivational speaker and
I decided to give society much-needed shock treatment,
to tell them that disability doesnt mean having to spend
the rest of your life in a room, waiting to die. The second
phase of my life started with a small delivery service in the
army cantonment area in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, with

A
mother of two daughters.
t seven, my first tumour was diagnosed in
the spinal column and operated upon. For
the next two and a half years, I was bedrid-
den, scared to go to school in a wheelchair.
But my parents transformed these days into
a time of learning, giving me a strong dose of
self-belief and self-esteem. Soon the shy Deepa became a
bold, outdoorsy kid, playing basketball in the college team,
representing Rajasthan in cricket, borrowing bikes from
boys and coming to be known as Biker Deepa.
The turning point in my life also came at a very trying
time. My husband was fighting in Kargil in 1999 when I
was diagnosed with the spinal tumour again. The doctor
told me I could either live with the tumour and walk, or
get rid of it, live longer but lose all sensation in my body,
trunk downward. As a mother of two girls, I wasnt ready
to give up just yet. It was hard to adapt
to the new body, the wheelchair and
the physical disability. In the next 14
years, I would get 183 stitches between
the shoulder blades and three spinal The Paralympic
tumour surgeries. But facing the pity
of society, their queries of how I would silver isnt just a
manage to be a mother with my dis-
ability made me realise that people
medal, it is a
could not see beyond sympathy and movement. It has
look at the courage I showed in the face
of adversity. One day, a school teacher helped people see
checked the tiffins of my daughters to
see if their mother could provide them
disability sports
with a decent lunch. That was when differently.
the help of retired army cooks. The venture soon turned
into an award-winning restaurant and successful cater-
ing serviceDees Place. But to me, this wasnt enough. I
decided to take up biking yet again. It wasnt an impossible
task, all I had to do was gain strength in my upper body. I
undertook a rigorous six-week hydrotherapy rehabilita-
tion programme at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in
Delhi, learning the practical way to handle my disability.
From floating in water to swimming laps, it was only a
matter of time before the paralympic committee came to
me, offering me a chance to represent India in swimming.
At 36, I became a national sportsperson. From swim-
ming to becoming a javelin thrower to finally winning
silver for the country in shot put at the Paralympics, the
combination of a hunger to win and habit of giving it my
all worked in my favour every time. As for the bike, I
finally bought it, struggled to get a drivers licence (a fight
that took 19 months) and then set a record of being the
first disabled woman to cross nine high altitude passes in
nine days on the highest motorable
pass in the world.
To the naysayers, I want to say,
Deepa is still rocking and happy. I am
elated to be the first Indian woman
to win a medal at the Paralympics,
but the fact that it took 70 years and
a 46-year-old woman to do so tells us
a lot about the lack of infrastructure
for disabled sports in our country. We
need to move on from the stereotypi-
cal way disability and disability sports
are viewed to investing in the poten-
tial disabled people have.
As told to Ursila Ali

12 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

M. ZHAZO

JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 13

 WE DONT JUST WRITE
CHEQUES, WE BRING EXPERTISE
RAVI VENKATESAN, 54
Co-Founder and Chairman, Social Venture Partners India, BENGALURU

NILOTPAL BARUAH
Ravi Venkatesan found many like-minded
people in his city who wanted to make a
difference but did not know how to. Ergo,
his venture philanthropy initiative in 2013.

C
oncerned about how dysfunc-
tional our society was becom-
ing, I decided that we get the
society we deserve. Influenced
by Dipankar Guptas book,
Democracy: The Revolution from Above, I
realised the way forward is for an enlight-
ened elite to mobilise, put societal inter-
est above self-interest and work towards
creating institutions in partnership with
government, business and civil society.
The Social Venture Partners (SVP) model
demanded a change in the way we Indians
have approached philanthropy. It is not
just about giving money to a charity or a
temple but about deciding which causes to
support, to make a difference. Our objec-
tive is to scale excellencefind good
organisations in the livelihood sector and
help them scale. We took a model of ven-
ture philanthropy developed in Seattle and
brought it to India. We select local NGOs or
social enterprises creating jobs or improv-
ing incomes and then use the expertise,
networks and our partners generosity to
help these organisations scale their impact.
Our Pune chapter started working with the
Jagruti Sanstha which mobilises women
from poor communities, trains them as
nursing aides and places them in hospitals.
Jagruti had been placing 25 nursing aides
each year; in the first year, we helped them
double the number. This year, theyll place
500 and the next, 1,000. The process of
engaging with such organisations changes
us, we become more engaged citizens. Its a
win-win. As told to M.G. Arun
 PARAS LOOMBA (IN BLUE
JACKET) WITH VILLAGERS
IN LADAKH

A SINGLE BULB CAN SPREAD

A MILLION POSSIBILITIES
PARAS LOOMBA, 31
Founder, Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE), GURUGRAM

Paras Loomba and his core team comprising energy access
leader Jaideep Bansal, 28; homestays leader Gaganpreet
Singh, 30; project manager Tsering Dorjey, 35; and pro-
gramme coordinator Stanzin, 26, conduct leadership
expeditions to provide energy access to remote Himalayan
communities. So far, they have managed to electrify 25 vil-
lages in the area.
six months because of heavy snowfall.
To identify the right villages and survey them meant
travelling to these areas. It was exhausting, physically as
well as mentally. It was also imperative to maintain and
monitor these remote grid infrastructures. To overcome
these difficulties, our team put together a local team of
electricians, surveyors and programme managers. This

W
not only generated local employment but also infused in
the people a sense of a mission to serve their commu-
hen I first landed in Ladakh in 2013, I nity. We liaise with local village councillors who facilitate
knew no one. All I had was a dream to do village mobilisation as it is very important that commu-
something in the Himalayas. Initially, Ven. nities be acquainted with how they can suitably benefit
(Venerable) Sangahsena, founder of the from technology.
Mahabodhi Meditation Centre near Leh After two or three villages in Ladakh got electrified,
gave me permission to set up a digital education base for word of our initiative spread. We have now electrified
his school. But my focus soon shifted to providing remote, 25 villages in the Leh and Kargil areas with the support
off-the-grid villages access to of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill
energy. We started with sur- Development Council. We have also
veying such villages and set- set up solar micro grids in remote
ting up solar-powered micro
grids there. Most of these vil-
All unreasonable dreams villages which have no cellular con-
nectivity. Our organisation, Global
lages are hard to reach, locat- are accomplished with Himalayan Expedition, has also
ed at a trek distance of about designed quality custom LED lights
five to seven days from the courage and an and appliances for these villages
nearest motorable road. The
region also gets cut off from
unflinching commitment to help them even in winters and
harsh climates.
the outside world for almost towards your passion. As told to Sukant Deepak

JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 15

 AS A YOUNG
WOMAN, PEOPLE
DONT TAKE YOU
SERIOUSLY AT
FIRST
PRIYA PRAKASH, 25
Founder and CEO, HealthSetGo, NEW DELHI
Priya Prakash founded HealthSetGo, an NGO, to help
schools achieve global standards of health monitoring of
their students.
I
head Indias largest health organisation for schools
that aims to create the countrys largest network of
healthy schools and inculcate lifelong healthy behav-
iour in children. Despite the fact that the country is on
its way to becoming the diabetes capital of the world,
we still shy away from talking about health in classrooms.
I want to bring Indian schools at par with the growth
monitoring of students that is done at the school level in
other countries. Through HealthSetGos flagship prod-
uct, CARE, weve been able to standardise and automate
annual health assessments at member schools by bringing
in doctors to comprehensively assess the childs health and
deliver online, easy-to-understand reports to parents. In
fact, our organisation even follows up after the assessment
to ensure that the parent has taken corrective measures.
16 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017
Thanks to our innovative student-teacher-driven health
activities every month, based on the World Health
Organisation Health Days, we create a lively ecosystem in
which the conversation about health stays alive. We have
tie-ups with 16 hospitals, 90 doctors and 35 clinics across
the country. We have already impacted the lives of more
than 20,000 children across India.
Being a young entrepreneur, more so when you are a
woman, can sometimes be tough as people seldom take
you seriously. You have to put in an extra effort to convince
them that you can deliver and are capable of handling
things responsibly. One has to prove herself constantly,
almost every day.
Determination and persistent hard work have been my
companions ever since I established HealthSetGo two years
ago. Believing that a sizeable number of people are open
to new ideas and novel methods of implementation, I have
found a niche which is willing to listen toand work on
my ideas.
As told to Sukant Deepak
 AJAYKUMAR MUNOT (IN BLACK, BEHIND THE BRIDE) AT HIS DAUGHTERS WEDDING

I WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING FOR THE
LESS FORTUNATE
AJAYKUMAR MUNOT, 51
Businessman
SANDEEP SAHDEV

AURANGABAD
PRIYA PRAKASH WITH
STUDENTS FROM
SATLUJ PUBLIC SCHOOL,
PANCHKULA
On the occasion of his daughter Shreyas wedding in December last
year, he built 90 homes at an approximate Rs 80 lakh for the homeless
in Aurangabads Lasur town and donated them.

I

n September last year, while planning my daughters wedding, I sud-

Its sad that denly felt I should do something for the less privileged. We had made
all the bookings for the wedding, but somewhere I felt I wanted the
despite India on less fortunate to be a part of this special celebration. My brother
Prashant Bamb, the local MLA, suggested that I donate homes to
its way to the shelterless since thats a cause few people take up. I wondered how
I would be able to accomplish this within two-and-a-half months as the
becoming the wedding was planned for December 12. Bamb assured all help. So we

worlds diabetes procured land and laid the foundation stone on October 2. The next day,
we started work and finished 90 homes within the stipulated period. I had
capital, we ignore seen so many peopledaily wagers, labourers, domestic workerswho
had spent a lifetime toiling but failed to secure a roof over their heads. I
talking about surveyed and selected 90 such families. I had only two conditionssince I

health in
am a Jain, I only wanted beneficiaries who do not eat meat; secondly, they
should not drink alcohol. The homes we built are 12 feet by 20 feet and

classrooms. have a room and a kitchen. After the wedding, I got my daughter Shreya
to hand over the house keys to these people and take their blessings.
As told to Aditi Pai

JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 17

 MOST PEOPLE HAD
WRITTEN ME OFF
DIPA KARMAKAR, 23
Gymnast
AGARTALA

DIPA KARMAKAR DOING HER MORNING

EXERCISES AT HOME, IN KOLKATA
The first Indian gymnast in the last 52 years to qualify
for the Olympics, Dipa Karmakar made it to the finals
of Rio 2016 and finished fourth, missing a medal by a
whisker. She might be treated like a film star today, but
it has been a long struggle for her to get where she is.
I
was flat-footed as a child. Many had written me off as
a gymnast. But two years of rigorous practice helped
me get the curves of my feet. After school, every day,
I would go to my gymnastics class without fail. On the
days that I was not able to go, I would feel miserable
and guilty. I would feel as though I had missed out on a
fundamental activity, something basic in my life. I felt the
SUBIR HALDER
same on days I could not perfect a particular exercise.
So, I would push myself harder, and practise extra hours.
I would feel very disappointedbang my head, punish
myself and push myself until I thought I had managed to
perfect the exercise and satisfy my coach.
On one occasionit was my cousins weddingI
remember the whole house was full of relatives. All girls
my age were dressed, going here and there, getting
involved with the preparations. I, on the other hand, was
in my track suit, all set to hit the gym.
The gym I used to go to, where I practised, did not have
proper equipment. It did not even have a vaulting table. I
remember trying out the vaults using the seat of a scooter
for take-off. In case of a hard landing, there is a huge risk
Every little girl in Tripura
wants to be a Dipa, but I would
like to tell them this: if you
want to achieve something in
life, you have to take risks.
of injury. A gymnast can at best practise four to five
vaults like that, I was practising 75-80. It was even
worse in the monsoon monthsthe gym would get
flooded, and there would be rats and cockroaches;
but there would be no pause in our practice.
When Bishweswar (Nandi) sir first asked me to
try the Produnova, our gymnasium did not have a
foam pit. Instead, wed pile up mattresses and prac-
tise on them. Without a foam pit, I was on the verge
of breaking my spine. Three months before the
Olympics, Union sports and youth affairs minister,
Sarbanand Sonowal, visited Tripura. I walked up
to him at the Agartala airport and burst into tears
when he asked me how I was doing. He immediately
arranged for practice sessions in Delhi.
I had to make other sacrifices as well: cut down
on my favourite foods, like ice creams and sweets.
Before the Olympics, I had done 1,000 somersaults
over 90 days; the crucial three months in which I
prepared myself for the Olympics. Now, people treat
me like a Bollywood star. They want a picture with
me, take my autograph.
As told to Romita Datta
JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 19
 EVEN MEN
NEED TO BE
LIBERATED
HARISH SADANI, 50
Gender rights activist, co-founder,
Men Against Violence and Abuse
MUMBAI
Harish Sadani has reached out to 80,000 young men and
20,000 young women through his landmark initiative, get-
ting them to re-examine masculinity and question patriar-
chy through workshops, plays, camps and poetry sessions.
I
was volunteering at a womens rights organisa-
tion as a young man when I realised how small
a part men seemed to play in the discourse on
gender equality. Men would be ostracised, their
faces blackened. Was this the way ahead, I won-
dered. Doesnt a person belonging to the oppres-
sor class/caste/gender have a role in the class/caste/
gender struggle? Changing a mans perspective is just
as important as the empowerment of women, and they
need not be mutually exclusive agendas. If we want
to reach a truly gender equitable stage, the important
thing would be to engage with young boys and men on
20 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017
DANESH JASSAWALA
issues of gender-based violence and discrimination and
to deconstruct and redefine masculinity. Talk of a need
for a change in the male mindset was, and continues to
be, rampant; but how would you do that without engage-
ment with the male community?
Born and raised in a chawl (community housing) in
Mumbai, I often observed abuse and oppression against
the women in the neighbourhood. I lived in a large joint
family, which included an extremely sensitive father and
three paternal aunts, who played a huge role in shaping
my perspective on women. Doing the household chores
would earn me nicknamessissy, girlishbut I never
took it personally. Instead, I remember thinking they were
teasing me because they believed what women did at
home was not respectable and had no value.
In 1993, I co-founded Men Against Violence and
Abuse. I found that in both urban and rural areas, ado-
lescent boys and young men are desperately in need of a
safe platform to express themselves regarding problems
 HARISH SADANI (SEATED) WITH
STUDENTS FROM THE SIES
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCE &
COMMERCE, MUMBAI

The modern
man is facing
a constant
tussle. Caught
in a web of
emotions,
insecurities are
suffocating
him. He does
not know how
to respond.

that give rise to violent behaviour, including those related
to sexuality. There is no institutional mechanism that
deals with sex or sexuality education. The Maharashtra
governments outright rejection of the NCERTs sex edu-
cation guidelines and the legislators vote to ban the sub-
ject in 2007 ensured this. While sex education talks about
anatomy and reproduction, sexuality is a wider term that
includes peer pressure, consent, dissent, healthy, respect-
ful relationships. We must engage with young boys and
men to bring these out in discussions.
In 2006, the Health and Population Innovation
Fellowship from Population Council, India, enabled my
pilot project, allowing me to work intensively with 33
boys across six colleges in Pune. Over the years, I have
taken the initiative to nine newer districts of Maharashtra
through collaborations and partnerships with colleges,
universities, youth bodies and grassroots voluntary
organisations. The aim is to dissect the existing model of
masculinity, followed by a gradual process of redefining
it. Of course, not all young men are as perceptive, but
the goal is to show them the larger picture. We introduce
ideas of gender sensitivity through various waysour
online blog, street plays, film festivals, radio plays, wall
newspapers, residential camps, poetry sessions. Around
700 youth mentors of mine have, in the past decade,
reached out to lakhs of adolescent boys and young men
across Maharashtra, spreading messages on upholding
womens right to safety and dignity.
There have been many challengesinadequate
funds to continue programmes for boys, periodic threats
by so-called custodians of culture and mens rights
groups and so on. I have also been battling male ste-
reotypes at a personal level. Sometimes, the challenges
come from female feminists who think the fight for gen-
der equality is a domain reserved for women. But what
of the men who need to be liberated from the shackles
of patriarchy?
As told to Moeena Halim

JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 21

 SUBIR HALDER

HANGING AROUND MORGUES

IS A WAY OF LIFE NOW
SHRUTHI REDDY, 31
Founder, Anthyesti Funeral Services, KOLKATA

A former software professional, Shruthi Reddy is the

owner and founder of the five-member start-up Anthyesti
When you decide to dedicate
Funeral Services, and its allied non-profit organisation,
Anthyesti Foundation. Anthyesti is a one-stop service that
your life to a bigger cause,
takes care of all the formalities of a funeral, from crema-
tion to shraadh, for a subsidised amount, ensuring much-
the small things take care
needed dignity to the dead. of themselves.

T
he challenges we faced started right from the
recce stage. I was asked why I was hanging
around a crematorium while gathering informa-
tion. Many felt threatened that we were going
to be a digital medium and that we would be in
competition with them.
Another challenge was reaching out to many close-
knit business communities who felt that we would intrude
during a private time. You want to outsource our shraadh
ceremonies? theyd ask us. My parents dont understand
it. Why would I quit working from home in the software
industry earning a hefty sum to hang around in morgues
and crematoriums?
While many hearse, AC van operators and freezer
box providers were initially apprehensive, telling them
that their business would still be theirs and that we
would function only as the Uber of funeral services
helped. Our helpline is available 24x7 and, being a
bootstrap organisation, there is no one to field calls at
night but me. Death, after all, isnt known to come at
reasonable hours.
As told to Malini Banerjee

22 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 A heritage architect who helps cultural organisations
become accessible to the differently abled, Siddhant
Shah made the countrys first museum braille book
for City Palace Museum, Jaipur. These books dont just
give written information, but also explain everything
with tactile images.

T
he journey of making things accessible for

THE STIGMA others has got me into many inaccessible

situationsfrom museums not being ready
to meet, to blind schools not wanting to par-

IS UNBELIEVABLE ticipate. Two years ago, post returning from

Greece after my MA in Heritage Management, I won the
Ethos-Saint Gobain Scholarship to do research and cre-
ate disabled-friendly prototypes for museums. I wrote
SIDDHANT SHAH, 26 to various organisations, but most e-mails went unan-
Heritage architect and access consultant swered. There were times I faced outright rejection
MUMBAI like being told, Hamare yahaan andhe lule log nahin
aate hain (Blind and handicapped people do not come
to our museums). This was especially hurtful, because
my mother is partially sighted. For six months, I strug-
gled to find a host museum. This is despite the fact that
I had the financial aid
SANDEEP SAHDEV and it was the museum
that would benefit. Most
didnt feel the need for
any research or proto-
We need to typing to be done.

fight our own After much effort, I

got support from organ-
disability, isations like the National
Museum and DAG
which stops us Modern in New Delhi

thinking about and MSMS II museum

in City Palace in Jaipur.
those with But there were also trust
issues and resistance
special needs. from blind schools and
other NGOs. Reality
hit me when one of the
blind school teachers
bluntly said that they
were not going to send their children: Youll call them
there, give them something to eat, shoot pictures and
then send them back.
I have learned that with persistence you can make
a difference. Along with my team, I have been able to
make the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa accessible to
the visually impaired, created tactile miniature paint-
ings and photographs at the MSMS II museum and
have started Disability Access outreach programmes at
Delhi Art Gallery. I guess the biggest achievement is that
educational institutes like Amity University and Pearl
Design Academy have asked me to train their students.
SIDDHANT SHAH (RIGHT) AT A FESTIVAL IN GOA As told to Sukant Deepak

JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 23

 M. ZHAZO

WE ARE MERE FACILITATORS

VEER SINGH, 33
Vidyaloke, DELHI

For becoming a catalyst who disperses ancient Indian Tibetan Buddhists, who are the fount of Indian wisdom,
wisdom to those who most want to receive it through a are regarded as refugees by us? he asks. Singh is begin-
series of private teachings and public lectures. ning an initiative where one can learn from the masters,

A
student of physics at Imperial College, London;
a farmer who spent a year working on a
30-acre spread in Majorca, Spain; the owner
of Vana, a 21-acre retreat near Dehradun
which helps guests attain equilibrium with
themselves, society and nature;
the son of Analjit Singh, founder
of Max Healthcare and Max Bupa
Insurance. Veer Singh is all of
this and more. With Vidyaloke, This is our legacy,
starting with the Dalai Lama. Three hundred and thirty-
three people between 16 and 40 will be selected to listen
to the Dalai Lamas talks over three days in February
in Delhi, in what he hopes will eventually be a monthly
event. There will also be other public lectures. It will
not be a VVIP affair. No one will have bragging rights.
The texts will be sent to the potential students two weeks
before the event. Its a journey, not
a one-night stand, insists Singh,
who is himself now reading the
Patanjali Yoga Sutra. He says he
was prompted by the considerable

but we dont need

an initiative that connects teach-
ers of ancient Indian wisdom with
prospective students, he has his
feet planted firmly in the coun-
trys intellectual tradition. He is
most impressed with the wisdom
of Buddha. Isnt it amazing that
unhappiness and dissatisfaction
around him, even in the Age of
bricks and mortar Netflix and Infinite Choice. We do
not want to become an organisa-
to preserve it. tion, or a spiritual movement. We
are mere facilitators, he adds.
by Kaveree Bamzai

24 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 ABID BHAT

ARIFA JAN (R) WITH

WORKERS AT HER UNIT IN
NAWA KADAL, SRINAGAR

THERE WAS STONE-PELTING AND

I KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS, BUT
WORK HAD TO GO ON
ARIFA JAN, 31
Craft expert working to revive Namda weaving
SRINAGAR

The rebellious Arifa Jan tirelessly fights disdain from Hamari betiyon se koi shaadi nahin karta; kehte hain
society and resistance from family to pursue her passion hum Wagoo wale hain (Nobody marries our daughters.
in one of Srinagars most violent areas, Nawa Kadal. Not They say we are Wagoo artisans). The wages have not
only is she reviving a failing craft, namda weaving, but changed in the past 50 years. I spent a year roaming the

I
also providing much-needed employment. secretariat in Srinagar to get space to set up my unit,
without success. I listened to everyone. I would cry. Stop.
Then get back to work. Inshallah, I know the path Ive
secretly got myself a form for the craft manage- chosen comes with a lot of obstacles. We started with five
ment and entrepreneurship course at the Craft artisans. Today, we have 25.
Development Institute. This is because no one here The conflict in Kashmir has never been as bad as
allows you to get into the field of crafts. Yes, the it was last year. Day and night, I would accompany my
crafts of Kashmir are famous, but if you are edu- father. There was stone-pelting and I knew it was dan-
cated in the field, you are gerous, but work had to go on.
looked upon as a thief. I went into depression last year,
When I completed my course, but sailed through eventually.
I was given the project to revive My family thought no one would
Namda. There is a hierarchy asso-
ciated with crafts in Kashmir. I am fighting for the marry me because of this. I would
listen to them. It would upset
Namda falls in the lowest category.
But I decided to do the project
dignity and honour of me for an hour or two, and then
I would get back to work. In
as a challenge. Its a dying craft.
During my research, the Namda
artisans. People keep Kashmir, no one supports arti-
sans. I will.
and Wagoo artisans would tell me, trying to stop me. As told to Asmita Bakshi

26 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 I HAVE NEVER
BOUGHT VOTES
ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL, 62
Union minister of state for finance and corporate affairs
BIKANER
Married at 13, this son of an illiterate Dalit weaver
defied all odds to become a successful civil servant. He
then entered politics with the BJP, won elections with
minimal money power, and is now Union MoS for finance
and corporate affairs.
W
hen I first decided to take the plunge into
electoral politics in 2009, nobody even
remotely thought I would win. Candidates
from the ruling party of the state always
won the seat and the Congress was in
power in Rajasthan then. They even coined a slogan:
Pehle actor, ab collector (actor Dharmendra was the BJP
candidate in Bikaner before me). Voters were told a suit-
wearing civil servant working in an air-conditioned office
would not understand their problems. I started wearing the
Rajasthani dhoti-kurta, avoided travelling in AC cars and
always talked in the local dialect. I did not have the money
28 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017
to fight polls; the party offered help but I made a conscious
decisionI would not distribute money or liquor. I was a
popular administrator and people also knew me through
my Bhavna Meghwal trust, which offered scholarships to
poor students and organised community marriages. I did
not make tall promises. When the results were declared, I
was among the four winning candidates from the 25 fielded
by my party, the BJP, in Rajasthan. But winning was just
the beginning. I wanted to create a permanent institutional
structure through which I could serve the people of my
constituency. I began a Sansad Sewa Kendra where any-
one in my constituency could file a complaintwhich is
digitisedand track its status online. I dont think we need
a lot of money to be in politics. I spent Rs 5 lakh from my
savings in the 2009 elections and Rs 8 lakh in 2014. I dont
take bribes nor do I splurge on buying votes or favours. Yes,
I was born to an illiterate Dalit weaver, but my caste iden-
tity never created obstacles in anything I wanted to do.
As told to Kaushik Deka
 THEY TRIED TO
OSTRACISE ME
NAJMA PHUNDREIMAYUM, 46
Social Worker
IMPHAL

A grassroots social worker, Najma has overcome family pressures

to advance the cause of the women in her community.

I

belong to the Meitei Pangal community of Manipur, a minority
group where women are at a great disadvantage. By the time I
was in Class 6, I was the only girl in class. I faced sexually offen-
sive taunts and had to shift to an all-girls school. Even after that,
my mother was convinced my marital prospects would be ruined
if I studied beyond Class 10. Due to pressure from my family and
neighbours, I got married but it lasted less than a year. After I came
back home to my parents, I started a marup (thrift fund) for women
in our locality. They would contribute a handful of rice every day, and
PURUSOTTAM DIWAKAR

twice a month we would draw lots to decide who would get the rice,
which would then be sold and the money used to invest in livestock.
Very soon, pressure piled on me to remarry. But I did so only on the
condition that I could continue my work. I formed 10 self-help groups
(SHGs) with 12 women in each group, contributing money on a weekly
basis to get a consolidated amount to invest in a small business sell-
ing vegetables and fish. The group also met to discuss other issues,
like domestic violence. As our SHGs grew in strength, the maulvis in
my area tried to have me ostracised. But the women, the Jamiat-ul-
ulema, Manipur, and the All Manipur Muslim Students Organisation,
all came out in my support. I am now contesting the assembly elections
in Manipur. As told to Chitra Ahanthem

I wanted a
permanent
institutional
structure
through which I
could serve my
constituency.

NAJMA (LEFT) AT A WOMENS GROUP MEETING

 EVERY RUPEE
I EARN GOES TO MY
FOOTBALL TEAM
BHABANI MUNDA, 27
Coach, Dooars XI, KALCHINI, JALPAIGURI

A tribal from Kalchini in West Bengal inspires girls from her community to
play football, funding the process with proceeds from her tea shack.

B
habani Munda, a tribal from the village of Kalchini, founded and
coaches a football team of 11 tribal teenage girls, Dooars XI,
financed by her small shack that sells tea and snacks. Dooars

MANDAR DEODHAR
XI has played at the state level, and apart from winning priz-
es, also functions as a platform to save tribal girls who suffer repres-
sion at various levels. Bhabanis battle against the oddsand her love
for the sportbegan the day she picked up her elder brothers football
instead of her clay doll, at the age of seven. Quite often, she didnt have
either a football or boots for her practice sessions, which would begin at
dawn. A melon would take the place of the ball; and if her limbs swelled
up because she played barefoot, she would massage them with hot oil
through the night. Driven out of her home for wearing shorts and tak-
ing part in a marathon, Bhabani travelled extensively in the tea gardens,
finding and coaching girls who wanted to play. She would sometimes
train them in the gardens themselves, the idea being that dodging the
small tree trunks would help the girls learn dribble better. On August 15,
2010, she unfurled the flag of Dooars XI at her dream clubJubilee Club.

SPORTS
Offers of a coaching position have come her way from both Australia
and Italy, but she doesnt want to leave her girls. Leaving them, she says,
would mean the end of their aspirations to become socially liberated and

GOT THEM
economically independent.
by Romita Datta
BHABANI MUNDA (CENTRE) WITH HER STUDENTS

OFF THE
STREETS
SHRUNGAR RAUL, 27
PERVEZ SHAIKH, 29
Founders, Anstrengung United
MUMBAI
SUBIR HALDER

Along with a college friend, Amol Sawant, 30, Shrungar
Raul and Pervez Shaikh began teaching football to
street children from Matunga, in Mumbai, later starting
Anstrengung United, an NGO that today trains as many as
200 street children.
W
hen we were in college, there were four street
children who would beg for money outside
our campus. Over time, we became friends
with them. None of these children had been to
school, and over time we realised they were getting addict-
ed to drugs. Living on the streets, there were also the usual
street fights and lack of nutrition and hygiene. After we
finished college and got jobs, we decided to do something
for them. Sports is a great unifying factor and also helps in
self-development. It teaches discipline, team work, health
and hygiene. So, we started Anstrengung United, which
comes from a German word for effortwe added United ees, funding remains a problemsponsors are not very
because we are all football fans and it symbolises team
spirit. We found a no-mans-land kind of space under the
Matunga flyover, and started gathering these four chil-
dren there every evening to play football. We also taught
them other sports, like boxing, kabaddi and athletics.
They started bringing their friends and the numbers grew.
SHRUNGAR RAUL (CENTRE) WITH
SOME OF THE CHILDREN HE TRAINS
Try to talk not with money
but with words; share
happiness, make it
memorable for yourself.
Our next mission was to get them into school. Convincing
their parents was tough; begging was their livelihood. But
we persisted, and they agreed to join the Mahatma Phule
Education Trust school. We then began a sports training
programme in that school, where we teach these four dif-
ferent sports. We have accomplished sportspersons train-
ing the children, like Dhananjay Mahadik, former captain
of the hockey team and Helen Mary, a hockey coach.
Although we now have a team of volunteers and trust-
forthcoming. Last year, we organised a 10 km marathon
and when the children went around seeking funds, it was
tough. We usually chip in with contributions. Since Raul,
who is known as Nanu to the children, works with Mumbai
City FC, we also donated jerseys to the children.
As told to Aditi Pai
JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 31
WE NEED TO
REVIVE THE
FINE ARTS
GANESH NATARAJAN, 59
Chairman, 5F World Consortium
PUNE
An IT evangelist, he made a small but definitive start
towards transforming the lives of women copper arti-
sans by encouraging them to adopt new designs and
identifying new markets for them.
T
he idea of doing something for the artisan com-
munity came to my wife Uma and me when
we were engaged in a year-long intervention
in Srinagar on the Talent Valley project of our
company Global Talent Track. To our horror,
we discovered that most children of Kashmiri carpet-
makers were choosing other vocations and the fine art
or taleem of carpet-making could
possibly not survive two generations.
Further research showed that this was
true of many artistic endeavours in
India. After supporting a few individ-
ual artisans for a couple of years, we
got an opportunity to invest in Studio
A thousand
Coppre and help four highly energetic
and passionate young women grow
mile journey has
their enterprise and not only keep the to begin with
work of copper artisans alive but also
substantially enhance the quality of one step. We are
their work and increase their earnings.
The initial challenges were many
proud the first
how to get the artisans to accept new, few steps have
been taken.
and in some cases, non-traditional
designs that would have appeal for
JIGNESH MISTRY
a larger audience, how to get them to automate part of
their work to ensure consistency, and most importantly,
how to respond to an agency that promised to help them
sell more but would impose certain design and manufac-
turing standards on them.
Investment in a truly high quality team for design,
operations and marketing ensured that the confidence in
the artisan community was slowly built. By working with
them in a spirit of collaboration and true partnership of
equals, the artisans started to rally around the enterprise
and even participated enthusiastically in design thinking
and looking at innovative new ideas for the use of copper,
both for decorative and utility purposes. The 5F World
Consortium consists of us and some
friends and we have invested Rs 50
lakh in this venture.
The road ahead will be difficult as
we attempt to widen the artisan com-
munity base, deepen their understand-
ing of process standardisation and
design quality, embrace automation
where possible and keep the core enter-
prise profitable so that it can grow. The
plan is to continue to add designs, intro-
duce low cost automation and spread
the copper community across and
beyond Maharashtra. We will then start
looking at other metals and other home
improvement products as well.
As told to M.G. Arun
 I WOULD RATHER TEACH
FISHING THAN GIVE FISH
SUHASINI MANI RATNAM, 55
Founder, Naam Foundation
CHENNAI
BANDEEP SINGH
We cannot find solutions to
their problems if we think
about them only from our
own contexts.
Suhasini Mani Ratnam founded the Naam Foundation
in 2010 to empower single women from underprivileged
backgrounds. It works with women volunteers, who are
called Naam Thozhigal, and has its own anthem.
P
eople below poverty line here in Tamil Nadu
are used to freebies. Every time we call them
for a meeting, they think we are calling them
to give them gifts. It took me a long time to get
them out of the habit of thinking like that. The
problem is that while we keep trying to make them self-
sufficient, the state keeps giving them freebies.
We have also faced a lot of resistance from the people
who live in the neighbourhoods that these single women
come fromthey resist our efforts to help these women
to become self-sufficient. There are other social problems
as wellchildren dont respect mothers in the absence
of fathers. Often, their children only see their mothers as
disciplinarians who just want them to study all the time. It
can get even more difficult with children who have learn-
ing disabilities. Some women are smart enough to under-
stand that their children are different from others, but
most cannot. Other social problems that we deal with are
more troubling. There are several cases of sexual harass-
ment that we have dealt with. What makes it complicated
is that the women who have suffered this often blame
themselves for what has happened. Worse, the harasser
is almost always someone in the familyand the women
believe that it is something they did that brought the
harassment upon them. We have found it very difficult to
explain to them that they havent done anything wrong.
These problems can be solved only with a lot of counsel-
lingfor the women, their children and their families. The
truth is also that we cannot find solutions for their prob-
lems if we think about them only from our own contexts.
As told to Prachi Sibal
JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 33
 WE MUST MAINTAIN THE
DIGNITY OF WORKERS
AJIT JOSHI, 37
Deputy Commissioner, CHANDIGARH
SANDEEP SAHDEV
The 2003-batch Haryana cadre IAS officers scheme for
subsidised pre-cooked hot meals feeds 1,500 migrant
labourers in Chandigarh every evening.
S
ome months back, we wondered what we
could do to improve the lot of the nearly 20,000
labourers in Chandigarh. Most are from the
villages of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and they
work as rickshaw pullers or industrial labour.
They live in the citys slums and clearly had trouble getting
access to cheap, clean, nutritious food. We drew up a busi-
ness plan for a subsidised tiffin service, tapping into CSR
funds from corporates and government oil firms. Setting
up the infrastructurebuilding the kitchen in Sector 11 of
Karuna Sadan, the headquarters of the Red Cross Society
in Chandigarh, buying the chapati machines and atta-
kneading machinesand arranging for rolling funds to
pay the 20 workers who run the kitchen took some time. A
34 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017
trial run of 200 food packets that we distributed in slums
instilled confidence. The Annapurna Akshaypatra Yojana
was inaugurated by Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore
on January 2. Every day, five trucks drive into the migrant
labour colonies or industrial areas between 6 and 9 pm and
sell 1,500 food packets. The food is foil-wrapped and each
meal comprises six chapatis, 120 grams of vegetables and
a slice of pickle for Rs 10. Theres a reason the food is not
free. We want to maintain the dignity of the workers by not
giving out free food and also ensure that the scheme is self-
sustaining. Its early days yet, but the schemes success has
given us confidence to dream big. We have the capacity for
10,000 meals a day and will scale up to that gradually over
the next six months. We are especially proud the scheme
didnt take a break even when rains lashed the cityour
clientele waited for our food. We have laid the groundwork
for this scheme to outlast my tenure. It will be administered
by the DC under the district Red Cross, which he runs.
As told to Sandeep Unnithan
 SOLID PLANS ARE
RECEIVED WELL
AJIT JOSHI AT THE ANNAPURNA SANJANA GOYAL, 51
AKSHAYPATRA YOJANA President, Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy, SOLAN
KITCHEN IN CHANDIGARH

SANDEEP SAHDEV
SANJANA GOYAL (RIGHT) AT THE MANAV MANDIR HOSPITAL IN SOLAN

A patient of muscular dystrophy, she set up Asias largest facility for

others like her in Solan in 2016.

S
anjana Goyal, a fashion designer who runs a boutique on
Solans Hospital Road, needs help to even get up from her
wheelchair. She suffers from muscular dystrophy, a disorder
that worsens with time. Putting her limitations behind her,
Goyal got together with her brothers (who suffer from the
same condition) and friends in 1992 to plan an outreach for muscular
dystrophy patients. The Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy that
she established the same year started by holding camps for patients in
We wondered Solan. So far, 25 camps have been held across the country. Last year,

what we could Goyal set up Manav Mandir, Asias largest muscular dystrophy hospi-
tal, in Solan. The 70-bed centre provides diagnostic, rehabilitation and
do to improve research facilities. In 2004, she was honoured with the National Award
for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities by the President. I have
the lot of the always believed that unless one is vocal about things, nothing moves,
she says about her struggle. Dont approach people for charity. Show
nearly 20,000 them a solid plan and you will be surprised how receptive they will be.

labourers in Goyal aims to provide muscular dystrophy patients the best therapy so
that they can manage their lives better. But encouraging their families
Chandigarh. to pursue the therapy itself is a tall task. They dont realise that regu-
lar physiotherapy helps arrest the wasting of muscles.
by Sukant Deepak
 SOUTHERN SUNRISE

ALL ABOARD THE C

THERES NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN THE SOUTH AS INDIA TODAYS FIRST SOUTH CON
Photographs by VIKRAM SHARMA, RAJWANT RAWAT & JAISON G
HENNAI EXPRESS
CLAVE PROVED, WITH V.K. SASIKALA AND FOUR CHIEF MINISTERS IN ATTENDANCE

FROM LEFT: INDIA TODAY

GROUP EDITORIAL
DIRECTOR (PUBLISHING)
RAJ CHENGAPPA, TAMIL
NADU CHIEF MINISTER
O. PANNEERSELVAM AND
INDIA TODAY GROUP
CHAIRMAN AND EDITOR-IN-
CHIEF AROON PURIE WATCH
AS AIADMK GENERAL
SECRETARY V.K. SASIKALA
INAUGURATES THE INDIA
TODAY SOUTH CONCLAVE
IN CHENNAI
SOUTHERN SUNRISE

Amma had a lot of love for india today and its work. If Amma had been alive today,
she would have definitely attended the conclave.
V.K. SASIKALA, AIADMK general secretary

T
he stage was the first

india today Conclave
South, and the biggest
player of all was set to
Tamil Nadu is a rare make her debut in the
exception among souths most gripping
the states. Our political drama yet. V.K.
government has a Sasikala, days after
business-friendly taking over the reins
of Tamil Nadus ruling AIADMK fol-
agenda as well as lowing the passing of J. Jayalalithaa,
adequate funding chose the india today Conclave South in
for welfare. Chennais ITC Grand Chola to make her
first public appearance in front of the
O. PANNEERSELVAM national media. Adding to the drama,
Tamil Nadu chief minister the anointed successor of Amma,
 M. VENKAIAH NAIDU, Union minister
We talk of alliance during elections. Now
we talk about reliance, not the company,
but reliance on peoples support.
N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU,
Andhra Pradesh chief minister
Im a reformist. I have never created
problems for the Centre on policy issues.

KERALA CM PINARAYI VIJAYAN LIGHTS THE LAMP AS RAJ CHENGAPPA, UNION MINISTER
VENKAIAH NAIDU, ANDHRA PRADESH CM CHANDRABABU NAIDU, DMKS M.K. STALIN AND AROON PURIE LOOK ON

Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam,
was to deliver his first major speech
after assuming his post following
Jayalalithaas untimely passing.
As india today Group Chairman
and Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie
put it, Good, bad or unfortunate,
theres never a dull moment when
youre in the south. The January 9
and 10 conclave certainly lived up
to that billing, leading the headlines
in Chennai and other southern capi-
tals. Sasikala launched the two-day
conclave by unveiling a special photo
exhibition of Amma, her late leader
and close friend. The leader now
called Chinnamma was visibly emo-
tional, at one point wiping away her
tears with a handkerchief.
Panneerselvam, for his part, quite
pointedly mentioned that his govern-
ment was following the path set by
Amma. As india today Group Editorial
Director (Publishing) Raj Chengappa
put it while introducing Sasikala,
Jayalalithaa certainly remains a
woman whose absence is as over-
whelming as was her presence.
There were other political talk-
ing points besides the Sasikala
drama: four southern chief minis-
ters in attendance and sharing the
stage for the first time; the BJPs
M. Venkaiah Naidu announcing
the partys ambitious plans for the
south; and Sasikalas other rival,
M.K. Stalin, making his debut as
the DMKs new working president
as his father, veteran leader M.
Karunanidhi, battles illness.
There were heated debates, with
Tamil Nadus greatest actor, Kamal
Haasan, igniting a national storm
by speaking out in defence of the
controversial bull-taming sport, jal-
likattu. There were captains of indus-
try explaining the souths success
story and what the rest of India could

JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 39

SOUTHERN SUNRISE

Demonetisation is
a disaster. It has
wrought havoc,
particularly on the
weakest sections.
M.K. STALIN
DMK working president
BANDEEP SINGH

VIKRAM KIRLOSKAR,
Vice-chairman, Toyota
Kirloskar Motors
Despite the claims of
states in the north, there
are several areas where
they are zero while Tamil
Nadu and other southern
states are leaders.
KRISHNA ELLA,
CMD, Bharat Biotech
Donald Trump will be good
for India. We do well when
there are barriers. If he goes
for protectionism and stops
outsourcing, it will generate
innovation here.
K. PANDIARAJAN,
Tamil Nadu education minister
South India is all
about IT, beauty and
diversity. The strength
of Tamil Nadu is its
human resources.
ASADUDDIN OWAISI, M.V. RAJEEV GOWDA, P. THIAGARAJAN,
AIMIM chief Congress MP Madurai MLA, DMK
Radicalisation of any The Tamil Dravida move- Tamil cultural identity
community is a cause ment sought to create a is 6,000 years old
for concern. The evil larger Tamil identity...the while the concept of the
ideology of ISIS is a need is to create a larger nation is just 60 years
threat to mankind, Indian identity and not just old. They both have
not just to India. a southern identity. to coexist.
learn from it. And there was glamour,
with the souths leading ladies, includ-
ing Tamannaah Bhatia and Shriya Saran Competition today is not
sharing the stage and holding forth on just within India, it is with
Bollywood versus Kollywood.
Only an actor of Kamal Haasans
the world. We could do more
stature could have upstaged the political as a bloc, coordinate on
drama of the conclaves opening act. If some counts while retain-
you want a ban on jallikattu, lets also ing individual strengths.
ban biryani, Haasan thundered, saying
that as a proud Tamilian, the sport, K.T. RAMA RAO,
which was banned by the Supreme IT and industries minister, Telangana
Court in 2014, was about taming the
bull and not doing physical harm. Days
before the January 15 Pongal holiday
when the sport is traditionally played in
parts of Tamil Nadu, Haasan ignited a
storm. The Tamil Nadu government was
pressed into saying it would reopen the
issue, but the apex court held firm.
Union minister and BJP leader
Venkaiah Naidu made the political
headlines on day two, when he spoke of
the partys plans to go big in the south
with a vacuum emerging following
Jayalalithaas passing. The practice of
those who do not like the DMK chasing
the AIADMK and vice-versa is chang-
ing, he said. Ever the astute politician,
JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 41
 SOUTHERN SUNRISE

PRIYANK M. KHARGE, KADAKAMPALLY SURENDRAN, B. VENKATESHAM, S. NAGULAPALLI, Secretary,

Tourism minister, Karnataka
Special packages like
we have done, catering to
women and the disabled,
are essential initiatives to
ensure tourists safety.
Tourism minister, Kerala
Consistent efforts over a
considerable period of time
have led to our Gods Own
Country success story
in tourism.
Secretary, tourism, Telangana tourism, Andhra Pradesh
We need to move beyond We should focus on develop-
competing in individual ing particular tourism circuits
state tourism, and promote as high-value special tourism
India globally as an integra zones, promote it to a premium
ted tourism product. market of big spenders.

The elites of South India
have seceded from the
rest of India. They have
become global citizens.
The elites of North
India are still rooted
in the land.
JAIRAM RAMESH,
Congress leader and economist
he evaded any talk of an alliance,
saying he was more concerned
about reliance...not the company,
but on peoples support!
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
N. Chandrababu Naidu, who opened
day two along with Kerala Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the
Tamil Nadu Opposition leader
Stalin, came out strongly in support
of demonetisation, saying he was
also in favour of 100 per cent digi
tal transactions in funding of politi
cal parties. Stalin took an opposing
view, slamming demonetisation as a
slow disaster. There were political
fireworks when DMK MP Kanimozhi
and the PMKs Anbumani Ramadoss
traded barbs, accusing each others
parties of spending thousands of
crores on elections. Tamil Nadu
Congress Committee president S.
Thirunavukkarasar took it a step fur
ther, revealing candidly that
Rs 30 crore could buy you an elec
tion, leaving some of the audience in
splits, and others in stunned silence.
It wasnt all politics. On The
Southern Success Story: The Talent
Hunt, speakers explained how this
part of the country came to account
for over 63 per cent of Indias IT
exports, 40 per cent of the biotech
industry, making it figure among
the worlds top 30 economies. Tamil
Nadus strength is its human resour
ces, said K. Pandiarajan, minister
for school education, sports and
youth welfare, responding to the
claim that Gujarat was a more enter
prising state. Vikram Kirloskar, vice
chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motors,
argued that intellectual infrastruc
ture was behind the growth, point
ing to the presence of top educational
institutions while also expressing
concern that engineering colleges
today were not teaching enough of
the basic sciences.
Then there was glamour.
Two of the souths leading ladies,
Tamannaah Bhatia and Shriya Saran,
spoke of how they had made the
successful transition from Mumbai
to southern cinema and what they
had learned down south. The actor
Amyra Dastur, who is in the forth
coming Kung Fu Yoga with Jackie
Chan, gave a surprisingly frank
response on what her takeaways
were from the south: The first thing
I learnt in the south was that there

Even a Chaplin could
not break out of the
mould...that is the fear
which drives me to
change my face. It is
the need of the
filmmaker in me.
KAMAL HAASAN,
Actor

BANDEEP SINGH
 KIRAN BEDI, Lieutenant
Governor, Puducherry
Girls are still not being
SOUTHERN SUNRISE
taught to take on and
question the system. They
still are not empowered.
KHUSHBOO SUNDAR, Actor
and Congress spokesperson
There is a word for widow in
Tamil, but not for widower.
He is still called puthu
mapillai (new groom)!
SUHASINI MANI RATNAM,
Actor and director
People in Chennai are
simple. We dont wear our
wealth on our sleeves or
our intellect on our hats.

THE BAAHUBALI TEAM,

FROM LEFT, SABU CYRIL,
S.S. RAJAMOULI, K.K. SENTHIL
AND SHOBU YARLAGADDA

The end of ideology
is a good thing as
it means the end of
ideologues and the
end of posturing.
GOPALKRISHNA GANDHI
Former West Bengal governor

BANDEEP SINGH

44 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 LEELA SAMSON, Former
director, Kalakshetra
You say ustad or panditji,
but for female teachers,
there is no name. It is a
male-dominated world.
was padding everywhere! Even in
your thighs!
Tamannaahs acclaimed direc-
tor in Baahubali, S.S. Rajamouli,
revealed with just weeks to
go before the second parts
much-anticipated release that
his long-term dream is to do a
Baahubali-scale epic cinematic
version of the Mahabharata, an
announcement that drew cheers.
The conclave ended on a
thoughtful note, with leading
women public figures, includ-
ing Kiran Bedi, Leela Samson,
Khushboo Sundar and Suhasini
Mani Ratnam reflecting on the
nature of bias in public life.
Most had good words for how
the south fared on this count. I
think there is a liberation of the
mind here. A person might be
conservative in some ways but
theres a liberated mind, said
the acclaimed classical dancer
Samson. Bedi, now the lieuten-
ant governor of Puducherry,
said she doesnt see women in
Puducherry as being as unsafe
as they are in Delhi, my city. I see
greater respect, I see them safer
and walking in the late evenings,
DHANYA RAJENDRAN,
Editor, The News Minute
The biggest favour we can
do is to talk to our children,
and tell them to respect
people as human beings.
RJ BALAJI,
Radio jockey/ Actor
Drinking every day at a
different pub isnt being
cosmopolitan. Being
knowledgeable is.
Demonetisation is a thought
in the right direction, but
can India do it at one go?
Where is the infrastructure
for a less cash economy? We
have 2.14 lakh ATMs for
1.3 billion people.
V. NARAYANASAMY,
Puducherry chief minister
and much more at peace.
Not everyone concurred. Jairam
Ramesh, Rajya Sabha MP and former
Union minister, struck a different
note the previous day when he said
he would choose to live in north India
and that people were more tolerant
and more cosmopolitan in Bihar, UP
and Jharkhand. The Chennai-based
radio jockey, RJ Balaji, had a fitting
response for him: We would be most
happy to find Mr Ramesh a house in
Bihar. Who said they lacked humour
south of the Vindhyas?
by Ananth Krishnan and
Amarnath K. Menon
JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 45
 SOUTHERN SUNRISE THE HIGH TABLE

GANESH, KUMARESH & FRIENDS

INDIA TODAYS
FIRST SOUTH
CONCLAVE HAD
POLITICAL
LEADERS OF
EVERY HUE IN
ATTENDANCE,
INCLUDING THE
ENTIRE TAMIL
V.K. SASIKALA AND THE AIADMK NADU CABINET
KALLI PURIE MINISTERS

N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU PINARAYI VIJAYAN, M. VENKAIAH

AND AROON PURIE NAIDU AND M.K. STALIN

46 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 Photographs by BANDEEP SINGH, VIKRAM SHARMA, RAJWANT RAWAT & JAISON G

KAMAL HAASAN AND P. THIAGARAJAN AND M.C. SAMPATH, R.V. DESHPANDE

AROON PURIE JAIRAM RAMESH AND K.T. RAMA RAO

AMYRA DASTUR, SHRIYA SARAN, MANJU WARRIER AND TAMANNAAH BHATIA.

RAKSHIT SHETTY AND BENNY DAYAL

VISHNU MANCHU AND CHINMAYI SRIPADA RADHIKA VAZ

JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 47

 HEALTH & WELLNESS
SOUTHERN SUNRISE
1 1O
Diabetes is an ancient dis-
ease. The earliest known
written record can be
traced back to 1500 BC
in the Atharva Veda as
well as in Egyptian Ebers
Papyrus. Both refer to the
signature symptom:
frequent urination
2
Diabetes is fast becom-
ing the biggest global
epidemic, affecting
about 415 mn people.
While hereditary fac-
tors play a role, rapid
changes in lifestyle and
diet (from nutritious
homemade foods to
junk foods) are the trig-
gers, leading to obesity
and Type 2 Diabetes
3 THE CONVERSATION
One-third of all patients
dont know they have
the disease, as Type 2
diabetes often doesnt
have any symptoms
(only about 5 per cent of
all people with diabetes
have Type 1)
4 from diabetes in India,
Type 2 diabetes
accounts for around 90
per cent of all diabe-
tes worldwide. Type 1
diabetes is character-
ised by lack of insulin
production, while Type
2 results from the
bodys ineffective use
of insulin
TAMANNAAH WITH KALLI PURIE
48 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017
MANASI AND GEETANJALI KIRLOSKAR
Deaths from diabetes
are projected to rise by
over 50 per cent in the
next 10 years. And 80
per cent occur in low-
and middle-income
countries. Diabetes
deaths are slated to
double between 2016
and 2030
9
Today, the treating phy-
sician has a wide variety
of drugs to choose from.
Insulin injections have
become better and
VIKRAM KIRLOSKAR, AROON PURIE, with less side-effects.
RAJEEV GOWDA AND ASADUDDIN OWAISI Apart from these, moni-
AMYRA DASTUR
toring of diabetes is also
much more easy
THE NORTH-SOUTH
DIVIDE HAD BEEN
BRIDGED, AND IT
THINGS YOU WAS TIME TO TAKE 8
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
People with diabetes are
twice as likely to develop
MAY NOT
heart disease than
THERE WERE
those without diabetes.
PROPOSALS Diabetes is the leading
APLENTY TO LIVEN cause of blindness in
KNOW ABOUT
UP PROCEEDINGS. working-age adults
SOME IN JEST, TOO.
SHRIYA SARAN WITH CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: DIA BHUPAL, SETHU VAIDYANATHAN,
RAJ CHENGAPPA SERAH JOHN, UPASANA KAMINENI AND MANASI KIRLOSKAR
DIABETES
7
Some 69.1 mn suffer
projected to go up to
87 mn by 2030. India is
considered the diabetes
hub of the world. Two
5 6 per cent Indian adults in
cities and 1 per cent in
Forty per cent Indians The third type is gestational villages had diabetes in
around the age of diabetes, characterised by the 1970s. Today, in big
55 have diabetes, hyperglycaemia, or raised cities like Chennai and
while 35 per cent have blood sugar, first recognised Delhi, the prevalence rate
prediabetes during pregnancy is almost 25 per cent
SUHASINI MANI RATNAM AND
VISHNU MANCHU WITH A GUEST KHUSHBOO SUNDAR
TANMOY
Graphic byJANUARY CHAKRABORTY
30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 61
 NET FLUX by LAKSHMI KUMARASWAMI
SOUTHERN SUNRISE

ONLINE 32
23 % %
Instagram FOOTPRINT Instagram

15% 67 % 69% 38 %
Pinterest
Pinterest Facebook Facebook
twitter tattle
KAMAL HAASAN WITH T.R. PACHAMUTHU
What percentage of Joshin Joshi
men and women
Looks like Bigg Boss fans are
use these social confusing TV actor Rohan
28% 21 % networks? 21% 23% Mehra with comedian Rohan
LinkedIn Twitter Twitter LinkedIn Joshi. Sick of being Tweeted at,
Joshi at first asked people to
rectify their error. When that
Graphic by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY Source: Pew Report 2016
didnt work, Joshi decided to
embrace his newfound fame
web wow as a reality TV star, and started
THE KALYAN FAMILY: R. KARTHIK, RAMESH, T.S. KALYANARAMAN AND RAJESH asking people to vote for him.
V. NARAYANASAMY
New Lyrics, Same Policy
CHANDRABABU NAIDU AND VENKAIAH NAIDU
A.R. Rahmans recent performance
of his old Tamil hit, Urvasi, was just a
AS ALWAYS IN viral video
bit different. Over 6 million have seen THE SOUTH, THE
his performance on MTV Unplugged, DEBATES WERE
with crowdsourced lyrics like If the GOLD STANDARD.
500 rupee note gets demonetised. As
always, the lyrics were followed by the AND THEN IT
familiar refrain: ...take it easy policy. WAS TIME TO
internet star of the week Salt Seller
CATCH UP WITH
The webs OLD
latest sensation knows his meat. Turkish A video making Donald Trumps
FRIENDS hand gestures look like hes playing
ANBUMANI RAMADOSS AND KANIMOZHI butcher and chef Nusret Gke charmed the globe when
a video of him delicately but deftly sprinkling salt on a an accordion made 30 million laugh
steak trended online. He is now referred to as Salt Bae.
Bet everyone wants a pinch of that.

web win
Mums the Word
Lesbian couple Dominique and Crissy,
with a million-plus YouTube subscribers,
announced they were expecting. Trolls
swiftly appeared, saying Dominique was
too masculine to carry a baby; but the
ladies shot back, saying they were both
women and the choice was theirs.
smart sheet
To Misses Obama
A letter from the daughters of
Over a million watched these three
former US president George
W. Bush to the daughters AT
of THE IMAGES GALLERY
newscasters fighting about their
M.K. NARAYANANwardrobeson liveAND
GREETS PINARAYI TV NAIDU
outgoing president Barack
Obama is being widely shared
online. Explore your passions.
Learn who you are. Make mis-
takesyou are allowed to,
wrote Jenna and Barbara Bush
to Sasha and Malia Obama.

James Cordens spoof soap opera,

whats AlarmMon makes sure Duobook lets you switch with Kanye West lyrics in place of
new youre up. It only goes off between an e-book and its dialogue, wowed over 500,000
App Alert after you play a game audio version seamlessly
Follow the writer on Twitter @lkummi
VISHNU MANCHU, UPASANA AND DIA VIDHYA RAGHAVAN MARIAZEENA JOHNSON AND KIRAN BEDI

62 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017 JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 49
 HEALTH & WELLNESS
1 1O
Diabetes is an ancient dis-
ease. The earliest known
written record can be
traced back to 1500 BC
in the Atharva Veda as
well as in Egyptian Ebers
Papyrus. Both refer to the
signature symptom:
frequent urination
2
Diabetes is fast becom-
ing the biggest global
epidemic, affecting
about 415 mn people.
While hereditary fac-
tors play a role, rapid
changes in lifestyle and
diet (from nutritious
homemade foods to
junk foods) are the trig-
gers, leading to obesity
and Type 2 Diabetes
3 People with diabetes are
One-third of all patients
dont know they have
the disease, as Type 2
diabetes often doesnt
have any symptoms
(only about 5 per cent of
all people with diabetes
have Type 1)
4 from diabetes in India,
Type 2 diabetes
accounts for around 90
per cent of all diabe-
tes worldwide. Type 1
diabetes is character-
ised by lack of insulin
production, while Type
2 results from the
bodys ineffective use
of insulin
50 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017
Deaths from diabetes
are projected to rise by
over 50 per cent in the
next 10 years. And 80
per cent occur in low-
and middle-income
countries. Diabetes
deaths are slated to
double between 2016
and 2030
9
Today, the treating phy-
sician has a wide variety
of drugs to choose from.
Insulin injections have
become better and
with less side-effects.
Apart from these, moni-
toring of diabetes is also
much more easy
THINGS YOU
8
twice as likely to develop
MAY NOT
heart disease than
those without diabetes.
Diabetes is the leading
cause of blindness in
KNOW ABOUT
working-age adults
DIABETES
7
Some 69.1 mn suffer
projected to go up to
87 mn by 2030. India is
considered the diabetes
hub of the world. Two
5 6 per cent Indian adults in
cities and 1 per cent in
Forty per cent Indians The third type is gestational villages had diabetes in
around the age of diabetes, characterised by the 1970s. Today, in big
55 have diabetes, hyperglycaemia, or raised cities like Chennai and
while 35 per cent have blood sugar, first recognised Delhi, the prevalence rate
prediabetes during pregnancy is almost 25 per cent
Graphic by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY
 LEISURE BOOKS

HOW TO TRAIN
YOUR DRAGON
A timely pointer to how Indias foreign policy falls short of the
challenges posed by Chinas growing potency

By Ananth Krishnan

L
et alone China, India cannot even win a
war against Pakistan is the stark warn-
ing delivered in the very first few pages of
Dragon on Our Doorstep. It sets the tone
of what is to follow in the subsequent 400-odd
pages: an exhaustive overview of the growing mil-
itary challenge India confronts from its two trou-
blesome neighbours, and a clear prescription of
what needs to be done.
There is certainly no shortage of books on
Indias China threat (or, alas, of those determined
to unimaginatively insert dragon or elephant
into their titles, seemingly at all costs). The title not-
withstanding, this new book by Pravin Sawhney
and Ghazala Wahab is a welcome intervention in
this genre, eschewing trite comparisons between
the neighbours to provide a hard-nosed reality
check on the challenge India faces from across the
Himalayas. Sawhney, who retired early from the
Indian Army, is an accomplished defence journal-
ist and author of books on Indias defence reforms
and Operation Parakram. His co-author Wahab
is a journalist who edits, along with Sawhney, a
magazine on national security and defence issues. Illustration by ANIRBAN GHOSH
The authors argue that Indias China policy is
fundamentally flawed because it has consistently
ignored the military dimension. India is per-
haps the only country in the world, they write, sole custodian of Indias China policy. While there
where foreign policy with nations having disput- is certainly little argument against enabling great-
ed bordersChina and Pakistanis made with er military inputs in Indias foreign policy deci-
disregard to military advice. A lack of appre- sion-making, they are perhaps unnecessarily
ciation of military power, they argue, has been derisive of Indias diplomats. They suggest that
a major shortcoming in Indias decision-making, every border pact with China, starting with the
which the authors highlight via a detailed review Dragon on Our 1993 Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement
of Indias military history with Pakistan and China. Doorstep: Managing which they describe as ill-considered, has been
Their prescription is for the military leadership China Through detrimental to Indias military interests.
to become an integral part of diplomacy through Military Power Former National Security Advisor Shivshankar
by Pravin Sawhney
far-reaching reforms, including bringing in the Menon, who discusses the 1993 pact in detail in his
and Ghazala Wahab
chiefs of the three services into decision-making Aleph new book Choices, perhaps makes a more com-
constitutionally and giving them a greater say in Pages: 458 pelling case for how the agreements have helped,
foreign policy as, say, in the United States. Price: Rs 799 rather than hurt, national interest. The books
Somewhat provocatively, the authors call for strongest section is the review of Chinas military
an end to the external affairs ministry being the reforms and its grand strategy. That it takes more

52 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017

 LEISURE BOOKS

NET FLUX by LAKSHMI KUMARASWAMI

Xi-Fi

SINOFUTURISM: THE NEXT BIG

32 THING
ONLINE
23 % %
Instagram Instagram FOOTPRINT
M
odern China is so crazy it needs a new society are at the heart of Hao Jingfangs
literary genre. The Chinese writer Folding Beijing, which won the prestigious
15 %
earlier
Ning Ken, in an essay published
this year, calls it
67
ultra-unreal
69
% online %
fiction , a King
38
Hugo Award this
in the
%year (she beat out Stephen
Pinterestcategory). In Haos web-
same
Pinterest Facebook Facebook
heady mix of sci-fi, speculative future-gazing novel, first published in a Chinese online sci-fi
and downright surreal narratives that attempt message board, Chinas capital twitter tattle
city becomes
to somehow capture the absurdities What percentage
and con- of a folded metropolis, with three separate,
Joshin Joshi par-
tradictions of Chinese society today. men and Now, women
fi- The Three-Body allel social classes occupying the same space,
Problem Looks like Bigg Boss fans are
nally, the rest of the world can get usea these
taste ofsocial
it.
by Cixin Liu
but never interacting or acknowledging the
confusing TV actor Rohan
28
Indian
Liu% Cixins The Three-Body
21 % Problemnetworks? hits
21 %
23 presence%of the other.
Mehra with comedian Rohan
Both Hao and Liu feature in a new compi-
LinkedInbookshelves this month, in a transla-
Twitter Twitter LinkedIn Joshi. Sick of being Tweeted at,
tion by Ken Liu. A sensation in China, the lation of Chinese sci-fi stories, Invisible Pla-
Joshi at first asked people to
Hugo-award winning novel is being adapted nets, released a few months ago by Tor Books.
rectify their error. When that
into
Graphic a big-budget
by TANMOY CHAKRABORTYepic due for release in 2017. The diversity
Source: Pew Report of2016
styles and settings are auda-
didnt work, Joshi decided to
The Three-Body Problem is a novel of cious: from Ma Boyongs City of Silence,
embrace his newfound fame
first-contact, of encountering an alien species. which updates Orwells 1984 to contend with
web wow as a reality TV star, and started
But it takes this well-worn formula to bold, diz-
asking people to vote for him.
Newzying new places. Starting from Chinas Cul-
Lyrics, Same Policy
tural Revolution in the 1960s, it spans galaxies
A.R. Rahmans recent performance
and virtual
of hissecret
old Tamil
realities,
hit, Urvasi, was
covering everything from
just a to Chinas rau-
A SENSATION IN CHINA, viral video
LIU
government projects
bit different. Over 6 million
cous, murky deephave webseen. In sweep and grand-
CIXINS BOOK IS BEING
his performance on MTV Unplugged,
ness of idea, it recalls the best of Isaac Asimov Invisible Planets ADAPTED INTO A BIG-BUDEGT
with crowdsourced
and Arthur C. lyrics like IfYet
Clarke. theit is unmistakably Tor Books EPIC DUE FOR A 2017 RELEASE
500 rupee
Chinese.noteThegets demonetised
novel manages . As to capture the
always, the lyrics
curious were followedat
contradiction by the
the heart of 21st cen-
familiar refrain: ...take it easy
tury China, of a radical modernismpolicy. coexisting
internet star of the week Salt Seller
with radical traditionalism. One of the novels always-on social networks and restless neti-
A video making Donald Trumps
protagonists witnesses the death ofThe herwebs
physi-latest sensation knows his meat. zens,Turkish
to Chen Qiufans Year of the Rat, which
butcher and chef Nusret Gke charmed the aglobe when hand gestures look like hes playing
cist father at the hands of ideological fanatics, takes jab at Chinas degree mills and throws
a video of him delicately but deftly sprinkling salt on a an accordion made 30 million laugh
and carries that wariness of the state with her in some genetically-engineered super rats.
even as she becomes a scientist herself, steak trended
work- online. He is now referred toAnd as Salt
itsBae.
not just books that are reflecting
ing on secret government projects. Bet Likeeveryone wants a pinch of that. the ultra-unreal. ClvbZvkvnft, a new album by
Clarke and Asimov, Liu is more interested in a Shanghais influential indie band Duck Fight
science show-and-tell than with deep charac- Goose has an entire cyber-punk narrative on
ters, but enough social commentary filters smart sheet a futuristic Chinese nightclub and is presen-
Folding Beijing
through to make The Three-Body Problem To Misses Obama
a A novelette by Hao ted live with CGIs of surreal cityscapes. One
compelling work of 21st century contempo- Jingfang reviewer called it a work of Sinofuturism. In
web A letter from the daughters of
rarywinfiction, rather than a novel of sci-fi ideas. Tr. by Ken Liu China, many of these futures Over aare already
million watchedhere.these three
former US president George
MumsThese the Word contradictory layers of Chinese
W. Bush to the daughters of
newscasters fighting
Krish Raghavabout their
Lesbian couple Dominique and Crissy, wardrobeson live TV
outgoing president Barack
with a million-plus YouTube subscribers, Obama is being widely shared
announced they were expecting. Trolls online. Explore your passions.
swiftly appeared, saying Dominique was Learn who you are. Make mis-
than a hundred
too masculine pages
to carry forbut
a baby; thethe authors to get to the China in the debate of how to confront Indias biggest foreign
takesyou are allowed to,
question is a pity. (At 418
ladies shot back, saying they were both pages, the book could have done policy challenge. It delivers a sharp reality check and
wrote Jenna and Barbara Bush
with tighter editing
women and the choice was theirs. that would have better presented its stark warnings at a time the government has begun
to Sasha and Malia Obama.
well-argued thesis, as well as with simpler organisation, speaking of Indias ambitions to take on a more prom-
rather than the leaps in chapters from China to Pakistan to inent global role as a leading power. The world lis-
Indias options, before returning to Kashmir and Tibet and tens to President Xi Jinping notJames because Cordens
of hisspoof
skillsoap opera,
as an
another discussionAlarmMon
whats on Indiasmakes militarysure reforms.) Duobookorator, lets you switch
the authors remind Delhi, withbut
Kanyebecause
West lyrics in place of
Chinas
As newIndia grapples youre up. Itthe
with onlychallenge
goes off of a deepening between an e-book and
national its is extraordinarilydialogue,
power potent. wowed
Which,over in
500,000
the
App Alert nexus,
China-Pakistan after you
theplaybook a game
is a welcome intervention audio version finalseamlessly
analysis, is all that matters.
Follow the writer on Twitter @lkummi

70 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017 JANUARY 30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 53
 HEALTH & WELLNESS
NET FLUX by LAKSHMI KUMARASWAMI

1 1O
ONLINE 32
23
Diabetes is an ancient dis-% % Deaths from diabetes
ease. The earliestInstagram
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written record can be
FOOTPRINT Instagram are projected to rise by
over 50 per cent in the
traced back to 1500 BC next 10 years. And 80
in the
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15
well as in Egyptian Ebers 67 % 69% 38 %
Pinterest
and middle-income
Pinterest
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signature symptom: deaths are
twitter slated to
tattle
frequent urination double between 2016
What percentage of Joshin Joshi
and 2030
men and women
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use these social confusing TV actor Rohan
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ing thebybiggest global rectifyToday,
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Graphic TANMOY CHAKRABORTY Source: Pew Report 2016
epidemic, affecting didnt sician
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has adecided to
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people tobetter
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andhim.
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changes Same
in lifestyle and Policy with less side-effects.
A.R. (from
diet Rahmans recent performance
nutritious Apart from these, moni-
of his old Tamil
homemade foods Urvasi, was just a
hit,to viral video
toring of diabetes is also
bit different. Over 6 million have seen
junk foods) are the trig- much more easy
his performance
gers, on MTV Unplugged,
leading to obesity
withType
and 2 Diabeteslyrics like If the
crowdsourced
500 rupee note gets demonetised. As

THINGS YOU
always, the lyrics were followed by the
familiar refrain: ...take it easy policy. 8
internet star of the week Salt Seller
3 The webs latest sensation knows his meat. Turkish
People
A video
twice
with Donald
making
as
diabetesTrumps
likely to
are
develop
hand gestures look like hes playing

MAY NOT
butcher and chef Nusret Gke charmed the globe when
One-third of all patients heart disease
an accordion made 30 than
million laugh
a video of him delicately but deftly sprinkling salt on a
dont know they have those without diabetes.
steak trended online. He is now referred to as Salt Bae.
the disease, as Type 2 Diabetes is the leading
Bet everyone wants a pinch of that.
diabetes often doesnt cause of blindness in

KNOW ABOUT
have any symptoms working-age adults
(only about 5 per cent of smart sheet
all people with diabetes
have Type 1)
To Misses Obama

DIABETES
web win A letter from the daughters of
former US president George
7
Over a million watched these three
Mums the Word W. Bush to the daughters of
newscasters fighting about their
Lesbian couple Dominique and Crissy, Some 69.1 mn suffer
wardrobeson live TV
4
with a million-plus YouTube subscribers,
outgoing president Barack
Obama is being widely shared
from diabetes in India,
projected to go up to
announced they were expecting. Trolls online. Explore your passions.
Type 2 diabetes 87 mn by 2030. India is
swiftly appeared, saying Dominique was Learn who you are. Make mis-
accounts for around 90 considered the diabetes
too masculine to carry a baby; but the takesyou are allowed to,
per cent of all diabe- hub of the world. Two
ladies shot back, saying they were both
tes worldwide. Type 1
women and the choice was theirs.
diabetes is character-
wrote Jenna and Barbara Bush
5
to Sasha and Malia Obama. 6 per cent Indian adults in
cities and 1 per cent in
ised by lack of insulin Forty per cent Indians The third type is gestational villages had diabetes in
production, while Type around the age of diabetes, characterised by Jamesthe Cordens spoof soap
1970s. Today, in bigopera,
whats
2 results from the AlarmMon makes 55 sure
have diabetes, Duobook lets you switch
hyperglycaemia, or raised with Kanye West
cities like lyrics inand
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e-book and first
sugar, its recognised dialogue,
Delhi,wowed over 500,000
the prevalence rate
App Alert
of insulin after you play a game
prediabetes audio version seamlessly
during pregnancy is almost 25 per cent
Follow the writer on Twitter @lkummi

54 INDIA TODAY u JANUARY 30, 2017 TANMOY

Graphic byJANUARY CHAKRABORTY
30, 2017 u INDIA TODAY 71
 GLOSSARY by DAMAYANTI DATTA

VANISHING
TIGER
India, Bangladesh,
Turkey to Russia,
Caspian Sea, Java, south
of China and Bali

ANIMALS
The planet has lost half its animals
WHALES
Southern Chile,
Arctic, The
Galpagos, Coral
in the past 40 years, almost entirely Triangle, Gulf of
California, Coastal
due to human activity. A map of the East Africa
BELUGA
WHALES
extinction crisis that threatens us Arctic Ocean

INDUS
RIVER
ELEPHANT DOLPHINS
Africa, Asia Indus river
RHINO
Namibia, Coastal
East Africa, Borneo,
Sumatra VAQUITA
PORPOISE ENDANGERED
Gulf of California

ORANGUTAN
Borneo and
Sumatra

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SNOW

SEA LIONS LEOPARD N
Volcanic islands of China, Pakistan, THRE
the Galpagos India, Nepal

SAOLA OR CHEETAH
ASIAN UNICORN sub-Saharan Africa, BONOBO JAGUAR
China, Myanmar, Lao southern Algeria, Congo Basin America (Arizona, Texas,
PDR, Thailand, Cambodia northern Niger,
Southern California and New
and Vietnam Iran, Pakistan
Mexico), Amazon rainforest,
(Balochistan)
Uruguay and Iceland

5 690 52%
FACING
EXTINCTION 13
birds
%

Number of mass
extinctions the planet has
seen in the 4.5 billion years
of its history
26
mammals
%
41 %
extinctions take place amphibians of the worlds biodiversity
every week, meaning mass has disappeared in the
extinction could be complete past 40 years, when
in the next 200 years humans nearly doubled
 Countries with highest
number of species at
risk of extinction
USA
Malaysia
1,229
1,226
Mexico Indonesia
1,074 1,206
AFRICAN Ecuador
ELEPHANT
Congo Basin, 2,301 Brazil, Tanzania, India, China, Australia
Coastal East Africa 900

GREAT WHITE
SHARK
US, South Africa,
Japan, Oceania, Chile, GIANT
SLOTH
Mediterranean, Global TORTOISE
Central
and South
GORILLA America
Central Africa
VULNERABLE

THREATENED
EAR SEA TURTLES
ATENED Mesoamerican Reef, HIPPOPOTAMUS PENGUIN
Coastal East Africa, sub-Saharan Africa Antarctic HEDGEHOG
Coral Triangle, The Peninsula Britain
Galpagos, Gulf of
California GIANT
PANDA Graphic by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY

China Source: Scientific American Conservation Predictions for 2017; International Union for
Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species; World Wildlife Living Planet Report;
Conservation International; UN Food and Agriculture Organization; The Eco Experts, 2015
 EYECATCHERS

TOGETHER
AGAIN
Ayushmann
Khurrana and
BATTLE OF THE EXES
On December 22, 2017,
Bhumi Pednekar, the Ranbir Kapoor-starring
last seen together in biopic of Sanjay Dutt will take
the heart-warming on Salman Khan and Katrina
Dum Laga Ke Kaifs Tiger Zinda Hai at the
box office.
Haisha, team up
again, this time for a
sex comedy.
Produced by Aanand
L. Rai, Shubh
Mangal Saavdhan is
a remake of Tamil
hit Kalyana
Samayal Saadham.

Oppa is Bwood ONE FOR THE BOOKS

MILIND SHELTE

Style Aziz Ansari becomes the first-

ever Saturday Night Live host
Trumps inau-
of South Asian descent.
guration will
have Bolly-
wood-style Ghost Who Walks
dancing, Making a (Wool)mark Remember Imran Khan?
courtesy India has two contenders for The actorwhose Katti Batti
Suresh Mukund. the International Woolmark was a dud despite starring
The ABCD2 choreographer Prize. While Nachiket Barve Kangana Ranautwill be
is in Washington DC to make competes in the womens- returning to the big screen,
Americans dance to songs wear category, Kashmir-born in a project by Phantom films.
like Jai Ho, Kaala Chashma husband-wife duo Zubair
and Top Lesi Poddi for the and Renni Kirmani will hope n Compiled by Suhani Singh
eventwhich is low on stars. to bag the title for menswear.
Follow the writer on Twitter @suhani84

58 Volume XLII Number 5; For the week January 24-30, 2017, published on every Friday Total number of pages 76 (including cover pages)
 DIGITAL EDITION

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JANUARY 2017

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 Editor-in-Chief
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Vol. 11 Number 1; January 2017

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Printed and published by Manoj Sharma
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Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, 18-35
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JANUARY, 2017 INDIA TODAY WOMAN 1

 How important is camaraderie at workplace for women?

IMAGESBAZAAR
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
READERS WRITE IN
Familiarity helps people to bond. Women who work in an
environment characterised by friendship and laughter are
more creative and less stressed. This translates to better
productivity and increased innovation. Monthly lunches and
office parties help one discover like-minded people. At times
one must make deliberate efforts to understand their peers as
these are the people you interact with on a day-to-day basis.
Sreshti Verma, Delhi

Most women face specific obstacles when attempting to climb

the corporate ladder. While it is not necessary to hang out
with your co-workers round the clock, it wouldnt hurt to have
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 COVER STORY

FOR ME,
WRITING IS
CATHARTIC
AUTHOR AND FILMMAKER AISHWARYAA RAJINIKANTH DHANUSH ON CREATING
HER OWN PATH WHILE GROWING UP IN A CELEBRITY HOUSEHOLD
By CHUMKI BHARADWAJ

H
ow far can the apple fall from the
tree? No, this wasnt a metaphysical
question or an existential one; only
the first thought that crossed the
mind when I saw Aishwaryaa
Rajinikanth Dhanush. With an elfin frame and
enormous eyes that simply consume her delicate
face, she is gentle, soft-spoken to a fault and
almost nervous, tripping over her own trappings
in a shoebox of a room at a suburban hotel. In
Delhi to promote her debut book, Standing on an
Apple Box, she bears no resemblance, physical or
otherwise to her supernova father, movie icon
Rajinikanth, 66, whose megastar status in Tamil
cinema (over 150 films) has remained unshaken
since the 70s. His larger than life persona has
made him a post-modern phenomenon in South
Indian cinema, earning him the moniker
Thalaiva or leader, and inspiring among many
firsts, a new genre for jokes as well.
Born to fame and married to popular Tamil
actor, director, producer, playback singer and
lyricist Dhanush, she is cine royalty like few others.
So it falls to reason that hers would be a story
worth telling. The book threads together vignettes
of her extraordinary life, in a very ordinary

PHOTOGRAPH BY M ZHAZO; STYLED BY SRISHTI JHA; DRESS AND JACKET BY EKA; JEWELLERY BY AMRAPALI JEWELS;
LOCATION COURTESY LE MERIDIEN NEW DELHI

4 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017

Aishwaryaa R Dhanush,
author and producer

At close quarters
Comfort food
Curd rice
Favourite cuisine
Chinese
Favourite holiday destination
London
Most memorable hotel
Waldorf Astoria, Chicago, US
Travel hotspot on your bucket list
Finland
Favourite Rajinikanth movie
Too many
Favourite role that
Dhanush has played
Kokki Kumar in Pudhupettai
Most prized possession
My children
All-time favourite film
Sound of Music
Favourite restaurant
Southern Spice in Chennai
A book thats on my night stand
Sai Satcharitra by N V Gunaji
A book worth re-reading
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
household, she insists. Her mother,
Latha Rajinikanth, was very particular
about shielding her children from the
pomposity of public persona and took
extreme measures to give them as
normal a life as possible, she says.
The book, much like her, is earthy,
simple and sincere, a heartfelt attempt
to deconstruct the life of a celebrity
child, woven together like a diary of
memory sequences, much like you
would expect in a movie that plays out
through a series of flashbacks.
Books, she admits have always been
a refuge. A self-confessed introvert, she
insists, Its just so much easier to
gather my thoughts on paper; later, I
may even tear up what I have written,
but at least for the moment I have
managed to express it and its found a
way out of my head. Thats the thing
about writing; its cathartic.
Writing may provide solace, but the
multi-talented author wears many hats
admirably. The 36-year-old is also a
filmmaker, who has just announced her
third film, a bilingual biopic titled
Mariyappan, on the life of 21-year-old
Tamil paralympic high jumper
Mariyappan Thangavelu, a talented
Bharatnatyam dancer, playback singer
COVER STORY
and more recently, the UN advocate for
womens rights and empowerment. If
asked to choose her favourite, its being
a mother to her boys, Yatra, 10, and
Linga, 6, that she enjoys the most.
But growing up in a strict
household, she has imbibed a lot of her
mothers parenting style. When we
were young, I had a lot of complaints,
as anyone that age does, especially
when you see your friends doing
certain things, which you were simply
not allowed to do. My sister, Soundarya,
and I have never had a sleepover at a
friends place. Our curfew was 6 pm,
and even if we did step out, we always
had an escort, either a relative or a staff
member, coming along.
But today, she says she understands
the things her mother did and does the
same or maybe more with her children.
Theyll probably call me Hitler, if you
ask them, she adds. But things are
much more challenging as a parent
these days, so its important to make
them understand why its necessary to
strike a balance between being as
normal as possible and yet be
responsible for their station in life.
While children are clearly her
priority, she says dance is what comes to

Advice to all celebrity parents

Draw a line between too strict
and very lenient BORN AND MARRIED INTO THE INDUSTRY, AISHWARYAA
FEELS IT IS DAUNTING TO CONSTANTLY BE MEASURED
Road trips or plane rides
Plane rides
AGAINST HER FATHER AND HUSBANDS ACHIEVEMENTS

Museums or malls, the preferred

leisure destination
Museums

Strict parent or friendly

companion to your kids
Friendly companion

Favourite fashion
brand/designer
Chanel

Classic make-up tip

Less is more

Top of the shopping list

Sportswear

If you could remake

one iconic film
Roman Holiday
Aishwaryaa with husband Dhanush

6 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017

 COVER STORY
her most naturally. It is very
empowering, its an art form that lends
itself to self-expression through
perspective that allows you a bit of
leverage, without straying from the
boundaries of tradition. Thats why,
my mother insisted that I learn
classical dance.
Of course, filmmaking seemed like a
logical option because I was born in
the industry and then married into it as
well, but whereas her father and
husband chose to be in front of the
camera, she opted to exhibit her talent
behind the camera. That needed a bit
of practice, of being around and
learning and observing, she admits.
Aishwaryaa with her
father Rajinikanth
While husband Dhanush is a multi-
faceted Tamil film luminary, who has
acted in over 25 films and is due to start
work in a Hollywood production early
this year, Aishwaryaa is all of two films
old. Her first film, a psychological
thriller, 3, in which she directed her
husband, Dhanush, was a rather serious
film that spoke about bipolar disorder
and a love story revolving around that
predicament. Apart from the unusual
plot line, Dhanush sang the infinitely
hummable Why This Kolaveri Di, which
instantly went viral and became an
anthem of sorts. Her second venture
was more of an adventure that focussed
on deja vu and premonitions. I am
very intrigued by the mind and my
films tend to explore some aspect of
psychology. Whatever the plot, I like to
work in different genres; when I sit
down to write, I want to do something
new, present something unique.
Of course, coming from the industry
made cinema a familiar forte, but she
insists it isnt as easy as people make it
out to be. People think we have
everything laid out for us on a silver
platter. But that isnt true. For instance,
if I have a good script and I approach
an actor, his first response is, why
havent you asked the two in your own
house. But thats not how it works.
So, what is it like to be Thalaivas
daughter? He is really just Appa to us,
she explains simply. But, its all about
finding the right perspective; its a
package deal. There are some things
you get and some you dont. Privacy is a
huge problem as is expectation.
Mistakes and slip-ups are human
EARTHY,
SIMPLE AND
SINCERE LIKE
HER, THE BOOK
IS WOVEN
TOGETHER
LIKE A DIARY
OF MEMORY
SEQUENCES
frailties that are a luxury we can scarcely
afford. If we go wrong, there is a
disproportionate amount of backlash
and criticism. Of course, theres always
the thought of being overshadowed by
such looming personalities; everything
you ever do is, and always will be,
measured against their stupendous
achievements, which is a daunting task.
Then there are those who cant
understand why she wants to work at all
instead of relaxing at home and taking
care of the children and shopping. Its
so difficult to explain that its about
individuality, about doing something for
yourself; finding your niche in the
world, however big or small. I cant
match up to what my father has
achieved or even my husband for that
matter, but the very fact that I am out
there writing books, making films,
dancing, representing reputed
organisations such as the UN, is in itself
a show of strength and support from
my family, including my sons. The men
in my life are true feminists, and thats
how I am raising my sons too, she says.
Feminism is not the same as it was
two decades ago; it has to relate to
the changing circumstances. We are
already equals; the minute you admit
that you are not on a level-playing
field, you paint your self as the victim.
Its not about battling for equality;
its about spreading awareness that
we are equals.
Clearly, despite her sheltered
upbringing, the multi-talented and
multi-layered, Aishwaryaa has
discovered her spot in the sun. Truly,
the apple has fallen far from the tree.
 INTERVIEW
The Lionesses
OF PUNJAB
AUTHOR ANITA ANAND THROUGH HER BOOKS, SOPHIA AND THE LATEST
KOHINOOR: THE WORLD'S MOST INFAMOUS DIAMOND, OFFERS INSIGHTS ABOUT
THE INIMITABLE WOMEN OF THE DULEEP SINGH FAMILY
By MOEENA HALIM
S
eated right at the
centre of the stage
at a literary festival
in Mumbai, Anita
Anand seems a bit shifty,
shuffling through her cue
cards. She cricks her neck to
face the podium in the far
corner, listening to William
Dalrymple, with whom she
is sharing the stage as well
as the authorship for their
latest Kohinoor: The Worlds
Most Infamous Diamond. The
much-admired Dalrymple
the first of the Laurel and
Hardy duo (in Anands
words) to regale the packed
audience with the history of
the cursed Kohinoor
diamondwould seem a
tough act to follow for most.
But Anand, a broadcast
and radio journalist with
BBC who turned author
with her 2015 book Sophia:
Princess, Sufragette,
Revolutionary, seems to have
lost all hesitation by the time
she takes the microphone.
Pacing the length of the
stage, she holds the
audience in rapt attention,
her eyes gleaming with
excitement as she narrates
gruesome tales of the
torture that the cursed
Kohinoor inspired. Theres
something quite compelling
8 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017
about people behaving in
the most extraordinarily
appalling ways; doing things
you would never dream
possible. I mean, theres
nobody I can think of, who
would pour molten lead on
someones head for
committing any sort of
crime, she exclaims, when
we meet for a chat in the
authors lounge later.
It was at another literary
festival, the Jaipur-on-
Thames in London two
years ago, that the duo first
thought of writing a book
on the diamond. With
Dalrymples expertise on
Shah Shuja, thanks to his
book Return of a King, and
Anands obsession with the
Duleep Singh family, the
duo realised that they
SUKI DHANDA
Author and broadcast
journalist Anita Anand
already had a wealth of
trivia waiting to be penned
together in one book. We
wondered why no one had
done a book on this before
and decided to do a from-
ground-to-crown story,
she says. The Indian
governments annou-
ncement, that the Kohinoor
was neither forcibly taken
nor stolen by British
colonialists, gave their
project a sense of urgency.
The announcement was
wildly inaccurate. And as
journalists would say, now
we had a peg; a whopping
peg to hang our diamond
on, exclaims Anand.
Her fascination with
Duleep Singhs family,
particularly his daughter
Sophia, began when Anand
came across a photograph
of the suffragette in a local
newspaper in the UK. I
was on maternity leave after
the birth of my eldest son.
With a lot of free time, I
read everything I could.
When I found this black
and white picture of a
brown-skinned woman
selling copies of a suffragette
newspaper outside
Hampton Court Palace in
this local rag, which would
under normal circumstances
have gone straight to
recycling, I was quite
 intrigued. We Punjabis have
a radar for members of the
community; I call it a
Punjar. Sophia looked like
one of my aunts and I knew
instinctively that she was a
Punjabi, recalls Anand.
Born to Punjabi parents who
moved to the UK after the
Partition, and married to
popular science author
Simon Singh, Anand was
embarrassed that she hadnt
heard of this Punjabi
princess before.
The British government
had made a concerted effort
to bury her name. As the
goddaughter of Queen
Victoria, campaigning
PAGES 264 against the government of
PRICE `499 HARDBACK the time made her a problem
JUGGERNAUT BOOKS and an embarrassment to
His Majesty King George V.
It was at another
Unearthing her story was the
best journalistic assignment
literary festival, the you can ever get, says
Jaipur-on-Thames in Anand. The result is a
London two years ago, remarkable, meticulously
that the duo first researched, and deeply
engaging tale of a princess
thought of writing a
who turns revolutionary,
book on the diamond. taking on the fight for
With Dalrymples womens suffrage as well as
expertise on Shah Indias independence.
Unlike the biography on
Shuja, thanks to his
Sophia Duleep Singh, the
book Return of a King,
process of uncovering the
and Anands obsession diamonds story was much
with the Duleep Singh like the first discovery of the
family, the duo diamond itself. People
assume that the diamond was
realised that they
hacked out of rock, but as
already had a wealth William found out, it came
of trivia waiting to out of the riverbed. It was
be penned together kind of alluvial, it just rose
in one book.
out of the earth. It was the
same with the story, we just
had to do a bit of brushing to
reveal the facts, she says.
Although Sophia doesnt
have a role in Kohinoor, her
paternal grandmother the
fierce Rani Jindan most
certainly does. Anands stroked the hair on Duleeps
readers meet Ranjit Singhs head that she let out the
last wife and Duleep Singhs howl of grief and rage she
mother briefly in Sophia, had suppressed for so long,
where she describes Jindans writes Anand, describing
escape from her Chunar Fort their reunion at the Spence
prison cell. Dressed in Hotel in Calcutta in 1861.
beggars rags, she (Jindan) She never parted from her
fled under cover of darkness, son again, following him to
taunting her captors as she London, where she spent the
went. Scattering money on rest of her life attempting to
the floor of her cell, Jindan influence Duleep against the
scrawled a note for the royal court and reminding
guards to find: You put me him of all that had been
in a cage and locked me up. taken away from him.
For all your locks and your Although Duleep Singh
UNLIKE THE BIOGRAPHY
ON SOPHIA DULEEP SINGH,
THE PROCESS OF UNCOVERING
KOHINOOR'S STORY WAS LIKE
THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF
THE DIAMOND ITSELF
sentries, I got out by magic... never managed to regain
I had told you plainly not to what he had lost to the
push me too hardbut dont British, and died penniless
think I ran away. Understand and alone in a shabby
well, that I escape by myself Parisian hotel in 1893, he is
unaided...dont imagine I got still revered among the
out like a thief, Anand Sikh community. Sikhs often
writes in Sophia. visit his grave at Elveden
Jindan had been Estate in Suffolk, where he
drowning in her grief and lived with his wife Maharani
fear while her 11-year-old Bamba, Sophia and her
son, the last ruler of the Sikh siblings, to pay their respects.
Empire, was forced to sign Anand, who heads to
over his kingdom, the Punjab after her trip to
Kohinoor and his fortune Mumbai, plans to rummage
to the British. Fleeing to through some more boxes
Nepal, it is years before and attics for her next
Jindan is reunited with her novel while shes in the
beloved son, who has by then land of her forefathers.
given up his Sikh faith to I wont tell you what
become a devout Christian the next ones about yet
greatly pleasing the other because its still a bit early.
maternal figure in his life But this one is dripping in
Queen Victoria. even more blood than the
It was only when Jindan last one!
JANUARY, 2017 INDIA TODAY WOMAN 9
 REAL STORY
WINDS OF CHANGE
TRYING TO GET SKILL-TRAINED, WOMEN AT RAYMONDS
FACTORIES IN BANGALORE, ARE DEFYING ALL STEREOTYPES
By SHELLY ANAND
W
hen Geetha, 33, a
mother of two,
started working as
trainee operator at Silver
Spark Apparel, a state-of-the-
art factory of Raymond, in
village Majara Hosahalli,
37 km from Bangalore city,
where fabrics get shaped into
suits, jackets, and trousers for
international export markets,
she was scared to see auto-
mated machines around her,
and had no clue about their
functioning. Now, some eight
years later, employed as an
assistant supervisor and
heading an all-women team
of 12, she is guiding them to
shed their inhibitions,
acquire skills, and become
financially independent.
Coming from an
economically weaker family
10 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017
of five, always struggling with
finances, and having studied
only till class 10, this has been
a matter of pride for Geetha.
Regular counselling by the
human resource department
and other initiatives taken by
the organisation have
instilled confidence in me to
take on higher responsibility.
My thinking has changed; I
now believe that all problems
can be solved through better
thoughts and process, she
tells us sitting in the factory
canteen. Trying to rewrite
her destiny through sheer
hard work and steely
willpower, Geetha is just one
example of several others
working there trying to
break walls and emerge as
social leaders.
During our visit to second
Silver Spark Apparel plant,
in Gauribidanur, the
Workers at Silver Spark
Apparel factory, Bangalore
historical town in Kolar
district, on Andhra Pradesh-
Karnataka border, we came
across yet another inspiring
story. 38-year-old
Renukamma, who comes
from a family of seven,
dependent on daily wages,
started working at the facility,
also as trainee operator, in
2008, after having lived a life
of drudgery and slavery.
Assigned to work in the
finishing department, she
managed to pick up work
within six months of joining,
with constant help from her
head of department, also a
woman. She has even
undergone training to be a
team leader; thats the level
of her enthusiasm and
passion. We used to live in a
house with leaking roof and
didnt have the money to fix
that. But, our financial
NILOTPAL BARUA
situation changed after I
started working at Silver
Spark. I could afford to build
a new house for us. I even
got my daughter married
and am now saving for my
sons education, she says.
This is what empow-
erment is in its simplest, but
effective form. From being
taught how to control the
pedal of the machine to
learning how to draft, cut,
sew, stitch and pack, these
women get to know all that
after two to three months of
on-the-job training. As
Venkatesh S, Head, HR &
Administration, Silver Spark
Apparel Ltd says, We have
referral programme of each
one bring one and offer
incentives to women who
recommend other women.
It is heartening to see
these women do dexterous
jobs with such ease; working
on relay table, checking upon
the jacket shell panel and
jacket lining numbering
before giving the suit
their seal of approval to be
packed and shipped to its
port of destination.
 REAL STORY

GIFT OF EMPOWERMENT
NIMA DOMA LEPCHA, STAR OF THE WINNING BASKETBALL TEAM FROM GANGYAP, SIKKIM,
ON OVERCOMING HURDLES AND CLINCHING SUCCESS

A
seven-hour bumpy
(from left) Tshering Ongmu,
drive from Gangtok
Tshogyal Dolma, Chunkula
takes you to Lepcha, and Norzom Bhutia
Gangyap, a remote village
in Sikkim and home to
Eklavya Model Residential
School (EMRS). Built in
2007 by the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs, it is a higher
education institute for
scheduled tribes children. A
team of girls, who had no
idea what basketball was
went on to win the CBSE
National Basketball
Championship in 2011;
Nima Doma Lepcha, three
times Nationals most
valuable player tells

their story.
I decided to join EMRS
because I thought of it as an
escape route and was
contemplating dropping
out of the government
school I was in. EMRS was a
makeshift one-storey
building with a few
scattered desks and
benches, a couple of
blackboards, a box of chalk
and 52 confused children.
The Principal, Siddharth
Yonzone, assured us that
the school would eventually
be a better place. At EMRS,
we slowly evolved and
learned to value our lives;
Basketball was one of the
greatest lessons.
One day, after school,
Yonzone sir introduced us
to the game; he brought an
orange-coloured ball and
asked us to dribble it. We
fell in love with the game
and started exercising on a
mud court with no real
game kit. We were so
IN 2010, OUR TEAM BECAME THE
CBSE NORTH-EAST REGIONAL
CHAMPIONS IN GUWAHATI
engrossed in learning the
nuances that not once did
we feel deprived. After a few
months, we played our first
game in borrowed kits
against a private school and
surprisingly ended up
winning it. With back to
back wins at state level,
we realised we were ready
for a bigger stage.
In 2010, we became the
CBSE north-east regional
champions in Guwahati and
headed to Chhattisgarh for
the Nationals. Two easy
games were followed by a
critical reality check. We
were pitted against
Haryanas tall, robust and
tough girls. During the
game, I was pushed by one
of the players and cracked
my scapula. We lost the next
game to Chhattisgarh and
returned home empty-
handed and disappointed.
This experience was an
eye-opener. From then on,
winning the Nationals was
our only goal. After 12
months of intense practice,
the now mentally strong
team headed to Chennai in
2011. Once again, we were
put in the same pool as
Haryana and Chhattisgarh.
With a significant margin of
YAWAN RAI
about 30 points and
truckloads of sincerity, we
won our first Nationals.
From 2010 to 2013, we
won two Nationals but were
still practicing on a make-do
court. Our achievements
got noticed and we received
some donation. From
chipping stones with
hammers to carrying
construction material, we
built ourselves a conve-
ntional basketball court.
If destiny hadnt brought
us to EMRS, most of us
would have become daily
wage labourers or probably
would have married early.
With the world finally
looking at women
empowerment from a fresh
perspective, we hope our
story inspires girls to take
up sports in order to
liberate themselves.
As told to Mridu Rai
 BEAUTY

THE HEALING HERBS

DITCH CHEMICAL-LACED PRODUCTS THAT DO MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD.
OPT FOR NATURAL INGREDIENTS TO RETAIN SKIN TEXTURE.

LICORICE FOR DEPIGMENTATION

Commonly known as mulethi, licorice has a mild
smoothening and brightening action that helps in
reducing hyper pigmentation and sun damage.
Licochalcone A, an active ingredient in licorice acts as
a shield and protects the skin from ultraviolet rays
and blocks melanin production. The root extracts
are potent for red, acne-prone skin and for dull
and dehydrated skin.
How to use 1tbsp licorice powder and 1 tsp
oats powder; make a paste with milk for oily skin
JYOTSNA MAKKER and with rosewater for dry skin. SHUTTERSTOCK

In-house doctor,
Kama Ayurveda, Delhi
SAFFRON FOR RADIANT SKIN ALMOND TO REMOVE DEAD SKIN CELLS

W
Saffron, or kesar, is an excellent Almonds are really good for skin as they contain
ho says
skin toning agent. It helps in a good amount of vitamin E, an antioxidant,
herbs can
eliminating blackheads and which helps in preventing cell damage and in
only be
unclogging pores. Saffron also checking the damage caused by suns rays.
used to add flavour to
scavenges the free radicals and Almond milk especially is rich in proteins and
food? If used
promotes blood circulation to the vitamins and helps in keeping the skin hydrated.
judiciously, they are
face, thereby ensuring that the Almond oil, on the other hand, is a brilliant
a good source of
skin looks toned and firm. Its moisturiser as it contains olein, glyceride and
vitamin for the skin.
anti-inflammatory nature, due to linoleic acid. It works to prevent acne,
According to
the presence of antioxidants, blackheads, as well as very dry and prickly skin.
Ayurveda, natural
enables it to be used in fighting It helps to bring a glow to your skin and acts as a
glowing skin is a
fine lines, and patchy skin. mild disinfectant for wounds.
reflection of the
How to use Soak a few How to use Soak a few crushed almonds in
overall health of a
filaments in milk. Apply this milk and use it as a scrub.
person. Herbs used
milk for five to ten minutes.
in Ayurveda are
basically used to
eliminate the vitiated CINNAMON TO TREAT ACNE
tri-dosha from the Cinnamon is said to improve fine lines by plumping
body and purify the and firming the skin. This means that using
skin. Here are 10 cinnamon can stimulate blood vessels and bring blood
herbs which can be to the surface of the skin. Being antiseptic in nature,
used to get a it also helps in the treatment of acne and pimples.
naturally healthy How to use Use a mixture of three drops of
complexion. cinnamon essential oil and 2 tbsp almond oil. Apply
this mixture to fine lines on the skin, avoiding eyes.
The skin soon plumps out and fine lines become less
visible. You can also mix 1 tbsp cinnamon powder
and 3 tbsp honey and apply the paste on pimples.
SHUTTERSTOCK

12 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017


SANDALWOOD FOR OILY SKIN
The toning effects of sandalwood help
in shrinking skin pores, thus giving
the skin an even texture besides
preventing sagging and ageing. Its
antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and
disinfectant properties help in
reducing pimples and acne.
How to use Mix fullers earth with
sandalwood powder and rosewater;
the pack is good for oily skin.
WHEATGRASS FOR
YOUTHFUL SKIN
Anti-bacterial in nature, wheatgrass
detoxifies the body and helps to
normalise red blood cell counts. It
helps to rejuvenate the body, fights
deleterious effects of age, and is
referred to as the plasma of youth.
Loaded with vitamins A, C, B
complex and E, super oxide
dismutase (SOD), chlorophyll, multi
minerals, amino acids, and enzymes,
it acts as a natural skin ointment
against acne and eczema.
How to use Helps soothing
sunburnt skin. Take 1 tbsp
wheatgrass powder, 3 tbsp water and
cotton balls. Mix it, apply on the
affected area with cotton ball.

SHUTTERSTOCK

TOMATO TO REDUCE OPEN PORES
There are several benefits of tomato juice
for the skin; it helps in balancing pH,
tightening pores, treating sunburn,
reducing irritation and curing acne.
Tomato has lycopene which acts as a
skin safeguard against sun damage.
How to use Use tomato juice alone or
along with other beneficial
ingredients to maintain healthy
skin, as well as to treat
common skin problems.
NUTMEG FOR PUFFINESS
Macelignan present in nutmeg
eliminates fine lines, wrinkles and
sagging skin by replenishing
adipose tissue beneath the skin.
The stimulating properties of this
spice restore and rejuvenate the
skin by getting rid of dead cells.
Its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral
and anti-microbial properties
help eliminate pimples and spots.
How to use Mix nutmeg
powder and milk and apply it
as a face pack.
NEEM TO GET RID
OF BLACKHEADS
Also known as Indian Lilac, neem
proves to be a miracle for
problematic skin, due to its anti-
fungal and anti-bacterial
properties. It is a boon for those
with sensitive or oily skin. Neem
contains Vitamin C, which helps
in getting rid of skin problems
like blackheads and pigmentation.
How to use Boil a few neem
leaves. Strain the liquid and let it
cool. Apply to skin as a toner.

ASHWAGANDHA TO
FIGHT DRY SKIN
Ashwagandha contains high levels
of antioxidants that savage the free
radicals to fight wrinkles, dark
spots, fine lines and blemishes. It
also protects from skin cancer and
is good for healing wounds. It is
also useful for treating keratosis, a
condition that leads to rough and
dry skin. Consume three grams of
ashwagandha with water twice a
day to treat it.
How to use Take 1 tsp
ashwagandha powder and 1tsp
sandalwood powder. Mix it with
fresh aloe vera pulp to make a
paste and apply it as face mask.

SHUTTERSTOCK

JANUARY, 2017 INDIA TODAY WOMAN 13

 TRAVEL

Packing Like a Pro

WE OFTEN TEND TO OVERPACK AND CARRY FAR MORE THAN WE NEED.
FREQUENT TRAVELLERS ON MASTERING THE ART OF MINIMALISM.

Stick to basics
GAURI GARODIA
Perfume artist, CEO and Founder,
Code Deco, India and Singapore
u Wardrobe essentials
A comfortable T-shirt, sweater and
leggings or jeans. Slip on shoes that
double up as sturdy walking shoes. Stick
to basics and a neutral colour palette.
Few polished outfits for evening parties.
u In-flight reading
Go for Scandinavian thrillers,
lifestyle and fashion magazines.
u Five must-haves
A shoulder bag with mints in it,
moisturiser, miniature fragrance,
socks, and earphones at all times.
u Accessories to keep
Pack a statement ring and earrings
in your handbag.
u How to pack
Travel light. Swimwear and kaftans for
the beach. A standby pair of leggings
and jeans for transit. Cashmere sweaters,
scarves and a jacket/coat for cold places.
Comfortable walking shoes and a dressy
yet neutral pair of shoes for evenings.
u Choice of luggage
Tumi carry on for check-in, a Canvas
duffel/tote if travelling without children
and backpack if taking children along.
u App suggestions
Apps suggesting best dining and
museum options in every city.
u Must-carry gadgets
iPhone, iPad, laptop and camera.

warm and help you cover up if youre

Stay hydrated
u Always carry
A light jacket for the flight, comfortable
shoes, a swimsuit and a comfortable pair of
jeans that can be styled for different looks.
u Counter in-flight boredom
Download and save all the reading
material on your phone.
u Five essentials
A dress that takes you from day to evening,
a high SPF sunscreen, a spacious bag,
dry shampoo, and pepper spray if
youre travelling solo.
u Choose luggage wisely
Tumi and Delsey make some great,
long-lasting luggage. Make sure to add
a smart name tag to identify your bag
and avoid mix-ups.
travelling to a conservative destination. A
big shoulder bag for your documents.
u Pack smart
Do a quick weather check and read a
little bit on the culture of the place
before you head there.
u Best apps to have
TripAdvisor, for everything; Yelp, if youre
travelling abroad for restaurant reviews
and recommendations; Skyscanner, for the
cheapest flight tickets, i-escape, for booking
boutique hotels or secret hideaways,
Priceline or Hotwire (mostly works
internationally), for last minute secret deals
on hotels and Citymapper, for local
transport or a local metro map app for
the place youre travelling to.
RIMZIM DADU
u Gadget reccomendations Fashion designer, Delhi
Noise cancelling headphones.

u Must-have accessories u Pro tip

Scarves are a life-saver. They keep you Keep yourself hydrated always.

14 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017

 TRAVEL

Pack enough jewellery

POOJA ROY YADAV
Jewellery designer, Creative
Director, NIMAI, Delhi
u What to wear
Check weather forecast before packing. Solid coloured
vests, open jackets and black leggings. You can repeat
them more often and they can be accessorised easily with
statement jewellery and scarves. Besides that, a good
sunblock, night cream, a fedora and sunglasses. Keep
some room for holiday shopping.

u Have fun on the flight

Go for back-to-back movies or read.
Im currently reading The Fifty Rules
Instagram your trip of Love by Elif Shafak.

PRIYANKA BOSE u Dont leave without

Actor, Mumbai A high SPF sunblock, a handy
sleeveless bomber jacket, a
u Clothes to keep nautical striped top as it can
Lots of underwear. Moisturiser and layers if you be paired with anything, a
are travelling to a cold place. Summer dresses, pashmina shawl to battle
shorts and T-shirts for other destinations. in-flight chills and sudden
change of weather. A
u What to do on the flight hydrating moisturiser.
Save articles and e-books on your phone.
In-flight movies are your best bet. u Sturdy luggage
Hard top suitcases for
u Five things you cant travel without international trips. A
Melatonin to balance sleeping patterns, backpack or a duffle bag
organic coconut oil to deal with dryness, is a lifesaver.
shampoo, kajal, and neck pillow.
u Keep all these
u Must-have accessories accessories handy
Earrings, a watch, a choker or a gold chain Always carry enough jewellery
of any length. big and small earrings, a
few statement rings, one or
u Lifesaving packing tips two bold neckpieces as well
Roll all your clothes to save space. as scarves, mufflers,
Always carry a portable iron. and shawls.
u Bags to carry u Pack wisely
One big and sturdy check-in bag Create and carry
and one hand luggage. pre-decided looks to
avoid overpacking and
u Apps to download go for wrinkle-free
Instagram to document your trip; Cleartrip garments. Limited
for bookings and an app that helps you footwear. Stuff them
meditate and unwind. with socks and
breakable items.
u Unavoidable electronics
Laptop, phone, headphones and chargers. u Apps to explore
AirBnb. Its the best
u Expert tip way of discovering a
If you travel abroad, visit thrift stores. I find new destination.
them very exciting and full of stories. I have found
the most eclectic sunglasses from all the thrift
stores I have visited.
As told to Srishti Jha
 RECIPES

EAT YOUR WAY

REVATI LAUL
INTO 2017
Journalist and FEELING DOWN IN THE DUMPS? REVAMP YOUR DIET,
filmmaker, Gujarat ELEVATE YOUR MOOD AND TEST YOUR CULINARY SKILLS
WITH THESE EASY, DELECTABLE GOURMET RECIPES

T
heres a special kind of hell that
comes around the New Year. In
these times, cities are amplifiers,
or even loudspeakers for loneliness.
Add demonetisation to the mix and the
fact that you may be far away from
family, are single and stuck in one of the
few places where alcohol is banned, and
the picture completes itself. Lazy and
dejected, in a dark corner in my flat in
Ahmedabad and dying slowly of food
and TV coma, I sat up and decided to
cook my way into the new year. My
shortlist, my friend and barrister
Charles Marquands chicken recipe,
famous chef Jamie Olivers vegetarian
delight and my own version of a fruit
layered dessert.

CHARLES ALSASIAN CHICKEN

Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
1.5 kg chicken in 4 to 6 pieces
125 g butter
4 shallots or small onions, sliced
200 g mushrooms, sliced
350 ml lager beer
1 small glass marc dalsace or gin
300 ml cream
2 tbsp Guinness (dark beer), optional
Fresh parsley, finely chopped

Method
Saute the chicken in about 50 g butter
and a little oil. Add sliced onions and
continue to cook until onions are soft
and brown. Add the beer and marc

16 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017

dalsace/gin. Season with salt and pepper. Add mushrooms,
so they are on top of the chicken. Simmer for about an hour
or till chicken is tender. Remove chicken and heat the
remaining liquid to reduce it to half. Add cream and the
remaining butter. Pour some Guinness if youre using it.
Pour this sauce over the chicken pieces and serve with
pasta or mashed potatoes.

JAMIE OLIVERS CAULIFLOWER

AND BROCCOLI CHEESE
(with a crunchy almond breadcrumb topping)
Serves 8 as a side
Ingredients
2 cloves of garlic
50 g unsalted butter
50 g plain flour
600 ml semi-skimmed milk
500 g fresh or frozen broccoli
75 g mature cheddar cheese
1 kg fresh or frozen cauliflower
2 slices of ciabatta or stale bread
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
25 g flaked almonds olive oil
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas 4. Peel and slice the
garlic. Add butter to a pan and throw in the garlic. When
the butter has melted, stir in the flour for a minute to make
a paste; slowly add milk and keep whisking. Add broccoli
(cut up first, if using fresh) and simmer for around 20
minutes, or until the broccoli is cooked and starts to break
down; mash or blitz with a stick blender (adding milk to
loosen, if using fresh broccoli).
Grate in half the Cheddar at this stage. Arrange the
cauliflower in an appropriately-sized baking dish (cut into
florets first, if using fresh), pour over the broccoli white
sauce and add remaining Cheddar. Blitz the bread into
breadcrumbs in a food processor, then pulse in thyme leaves
and almonds. Toss with a lug of oil and a pinch of salt and
pepper; scatter evenly over the cauliflower cheese. Bake for
an hour, or until golden brown
Experiment with different kinds of cheese for this dish.
Each variety has a different taste and will bring a new
texture to your dish. You can also try different vegetables
instead of cauliflower. For instance, 2 to 3 cm chunks of
celeriac, squash, potatoes or leeks would all work a treat.
Discover the best way to enjoy this recipe by using seasonal
vegetables. Some vegetables might take longer to cook than
others, so always test with a knife before serving.
REVATIS ICE-CREAM AND
FRUIT LAYERED DESSERT
Ingredients
Vanilla ice cream
Seasonal fruits (apples, kiwis, strawberries)
2 packets digestive biscuits
4 tbsp cocoa powder
4 tbsp sugar
30 ml butter
3 tbsp baking flour
1 cup water
Method
Crush the biscuits and set aside. For the chocolate
sauce, heat butter in a saucepan. Add flour and a
little bit of water to form a fine paste. Then add
cocoa, sugar and remaining water and allow it to
simmer on low heat till the sauce thickens.
Line the bottom of a dessert bowl with one
third of the crushed biscuits. Pour some chocolate
sauce over the crumbs and then add a layer of
melted ice cream. Top it with a seasonal fruit like
apples. Add another layer of ice cream and fruit.
Cover that in a layer of the chocolate sauce and
add another layer of ice cream. Pour over the last
of the sauce and biscuits and garnish it with
chopped strawberries. Set in the freezer for a
couple of hours.

JANUARY, 2015 INDIA TODAY WOMAN 17

 FOOD
Eat your
Spinach
BEAT COLD WEATHER BLUES. STOCK UP ON THESE
BRIGHT STARS THAT COME LOADED WITH NUTRIENTS
AND HELP WARD OFF INFECTIONS.
SHIVANAND KAIN
Executive chef, Jaypee
Greens Golf & Spa
Resort, Greater Noida
W
hen the
temperature
outside drops,
our appetite soars. The
metabolism tends to slow
down and hence we need
extra calories to boost our
immunity levels. It is
important to nourish and
augment the natural defence
mechanism during winter to
fight against common
infections. The season boasts
some healthy, wholesome
foods you should include
in your diet and should
definitely be eating.
1 Carrots Known to
have the
maximum amount of
carotene amongst all
fruits and
vegetables, carrots
are an excellent
source for vitamin
B, C, D, E, and K;
they are rich in
fibre and can be
eaten in both raw and
cooked form. This root
vegetable contains anti-
oxidants and can be included
in a salad, as an ingredient in
a soup, or as a side dish,
grilled, boiled or steamed.
Good for Beautiful skin and
prevention of cancer
2 Turnips Only found in
the winter season,
turnip is a root vegetable rich
in fibre, folic acid, vitamins,
calcium, and minerals.
Turnips are loaded with
calcium and potassium.
Good for Healthy bone
growth and maintenance
3 Oranges Oranges are
perhaps the quickest
source of energy; this low-in
calories fruit is full of soluble
fibre and contains vitamin C.
Good for Lowering
cholesterol
levels
4 Apples Huge amounts
of phytonutrients,
antioxidants and flavonoids
make apples a miracle food.
Good for Reducing the risk
of developing cancer,
hypertension, diabetes, and
heart diseases
5
Mustard leaves
Low in calories,
mustard leaves contain
several vital antioxidants,
carotenes, vitamins and
minerals which are needed
during the winter.
Good for Prevention of
osteoporosis and anaemia
6 Spinach An excellent
source of iron, spinach
contains flavonoids and
carotenoids which are
antioxidants. Spinach leaves
are low in fat and rich in
vitamin A, C, K, and
omega-3 fatty acids.
Good for
Restoring
energy
7 Peas These tiny green
balls are a storehouse of
vitamin K and dietary fibre
and contain essential
B-complex vitamins.
Good for The vegetables
anti-inflammatory properties
prevent wrinkles, alzheimers
and arthritis
8 Radishes Slightly
pungent in taste, this
winter crop is a powerful
detoxifier. Radishes are a
great source of potassium,
folic acid and ascorbic acid.
Good for Weight loss and in
reducing blood pressure
9 Fenugreek leaves
Commonly known as
methi, fenugreek leaves have
a strong balancing effect on
blood lipid levels. Like most
other spices, it is often added
to potatoes, chicken and
cottage cheese.
Good for Lowering
cholesterol and blood
sugar levels
10 Beets Although
beets have the
highest sugar content of
all vegetables, one can
not only savour their
sweet taste but also
enjoy the goodness
of nutrients.
Good for Preventing
heart and liver diseases
 HEALTH
LISTEN TO YOUR GUT
FOOD IS MEDICINE. SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES
TO INTRODUCE IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.
KULREET
CHAUDHARY
Integrative
neurologist, US
O
ne of the biggest
scientific surprises
of the 21st century
has been the role that the
gut plays in optimising total
health. Despite being a
trained physician, this was
an eye-opener for me. Had
it not been for the fact that I
developed debilitating
migraine headaches in my
early adulthood (which I
couldnt control even as a
neurologist), I would have
not believed the value of gut
health on overall health. To
begin your journey to a
healthier gut, start with
simple tips to eat clean.
Add turmeric to
your food
Turmeric is becoming
somewhat of a superhero
these days even though the
bright orange spice has
been a staple in Indian
cooking for thousands of
years. Now, the peppery
root is under the
microscope and has been
making news headlines. It
shows up as a beauty mask,
a must-have heart herb, and
turmeric milk is even touted
as the new green juice.
Turmerics main compound,
curcumin, helps in lowering
cholesterol in heart patients
and blood sugar in people
with diabetes. Its antiseptic,
anti-inflammatory and
anti-cancer in nature.
Use the ginger gut flush
The ginger gut flush is a
combination of three key
ingredients that work
together to break down
toxins in your gut. These
ingredients increase the
digestive fire, or agni, in
your gut. The increased
digestive heat helps to break
down toxins. This improves
digestion, a critical starting
point for improving your
health. All you need is fresh
lemon juice, fresh ginger
and sea salt.
u Squeeze 1/2 a lemon into
a cup
u Cut a knob of ginger into
thin one-inch strips
u Add teaspoon of
sea salt, stir
Eat one to two pieces of
the soaked fresh ginger
before each meal. You can
make enough at the
beginning of the week to
last you seven days. Keep
the gut flush refrigerated.
The best way to detox your
gut is to do this before each
meal. But if you want to
simplify it even more, take it
before dinner.
Eat according to
your body type
Ayurveda offers one of the
fastest paths to being
healthy. Instead of having to
guess which foods,
supplements, and
behaviours are appropriate
for you; there is a simple,
direct prescriptive path that
is developed for your
unique body type, or dosha.
This takes all the guesswork
out of getting healthy. Once
you know your dosha, you
SHUTTERSTOCK
can choose the specific
foods that benefit your
constitution.
Dump your microwave
If you have a microwave,
you are more likely to eat
processed food, which is
filled with preservatives and
SHUTTERSTOCK
colourings. If you eat
frozen, microwaveable food,
getting rid of your
microwave will make you
more likely to get into the
kitchen and cook the fresh
stuff. That alone is reason
enough to stop the
microwave madness.
No raw foods
This advice may sound
strange to those who
consider themselves fit; yes I
dont want you to eat raw
vegetables. You can eat raw
fruit (except for apples,
which should be cooked),
but other than that, the solid
food you eat should
definitely be cooked. This
may seem counterintuitive.
Isnt a raw diet the way to
lose weight? And dont we
need more salads on a diet?
Actually, no. Cooking food is
about two things. Warming
it to increase blood flow to
your gut and improve
digestion; making it easier
to digest by breaking down
the cellular matrices so
that nutrients are more
bio-available.
 FITNESS
SWITCH UP
YOUR ROUTINE
KNOW HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT, STAY FIT, AND LOOK GOOD
KINITA KADAKIA PATEL
Sports nutritionist,
Mumbai
S
ustain, dont diet
weight loss should be
sustainable and not
radical. Make lifestyle
changes by sorting out your
schedule to allow yourself
to get in a routine that
doesnt break too often.
Always start when you feel
ready and compliant. If
you allow yourself to
gradually get on a nutritious
diet plan, you will achieve
irreversible changes.
Move your body more
Take control of your body.
You can aim to have toned
thighs and a slim waist, but
20 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017
dont overtrain. Doing 50
squats or 100 lunges in one
go will only leave you sore.
My advice is to develop a
workout that suits your
body type and then
gradually ease into it. Take
expert help and build your
stamina gradually.
Watch the calories
It is always safer to choose
the low calorie option. This
way, you curb your cravings
without ruining your diet.
For example, when the
ice-cream cravings creep in,
opt for a glass of skim milk
so you end up consuming
only 90 calories and not
200. It might seem like a
difficult choice initially, but
it is the right one.
Moderation is key
Dont give up on sweets,
desserts and chocolates.
Dont cut out your favourite
food completely. Rather,
follow the principle of
moderationif youre
SHUTTERSTOCK
craving chocolate, have a
piece, but dont have the
entire bar at once.
Drink more water
We all know the benefits of
drinking water. Increasing
the intake of water needs a
conscious effort. Dont drink
only when you feel thirsty,
but keep your body
hydrated throughout the
day. Keep water within your
reach at all times.
you want to fit into, keep it
Eat frequently, and
on time
Eating multiple times a day
is the key to the success of
any nutritional plan. Keep
your metabolism going by
eating every four hours.
Grab a fruit or pick on some
nuts but dont skip a meal.
Cook more often
Home cooked food is always
better. Fresh ingredients
SHUTTERSTOCK
that are free of chemicals,
and controlled use of oil
ensure consumption of
fewer calories. This is one of
the best ways to manage
your diet and get in shape.
If you plan to go out, eat
a part of your dinner at
home at a reasonable time
before leaving.
Find a way to
stay motivated
If theres a particular dress
where you can see it. You
will be surprised how much
motivation that gives you to
stick to your plans.
Follow the 80:20 rule
Eat healthy 80 per cent of
the time and eat what you
want for the remaining 20
per cent. While it might
not help you lose weight, it
can definitely help you
maintain it.
 DRINKS
Rise of the Spirit
WARM, FULL OF FLAVOUR AND COMFORTING,
FOUR PICK-ME-UP WINTER COCKTAILS
Eggnog
INGREDIENTS
Five eggs
250 g sugar
100 ml milk
Nutmeg as per the palate
Rum and brandy as per taste
METHOD
Boil milk along with nutmeg
powder until the raw flavour of the
milk goes away. Beat eggs and
sugar together, ensure that sugar
gets dissolved fully to pale white
colour. Pour milk into beaten eggs
and cook gently till the mixture
coats the sides of the spatula.
Transfer the mixture into a clean
bowl after adding rum and brandy.
Once the mixture gets cold, pour
it into glasses and refrigerate it
before serving.
Handy hint When you add egg
yolk, nutmeg and vanilla to dark
rum, it gives an appetising aroma
and structure to the cocktail
SATHISH
RAJASEKARAN
Executive chef,
Le Dupleix and The
Promenade, Puducherry
COURTYARD CLASSIC
INGREDIENTS METHOD
30 ml vodka Blend all ingredients with crushed
30 ml Baileys or coconut rum ice. Pour the drink into melon shell
45 ml melon juice and garnish with melon balls.
Handy hint Mix of coconut liqueur and Baileys with muskmelon
fruit gives the drink a refreshing taste
Mulled Wine
INGREDIENTS
1 (750 ml) bottle of dry red wine
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1/4 cup brandy (optional)
1/4 cup honey or sugar
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
Optional garnishescitrus slices
(orange, lemon or lime), extra
cinnamon sticks, extra star anise
METHOD
Combine all ingredients in a non-
aluminium saucepan, and bring to a
simmer over medium-high heat.
Reduce heat to medium-low, and
let the wine simmer for at least 15
minutes or up to three hours. Strain,
and serve warm with your desired
DUPLEIX PINE COLADA garnishes. You can also place the
oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and star
Ingredients Method
anise in cheesecloth. Strain and pull
60 ml white rum Pour all ingredients in a
out the bundle when ready to serve.
60 ml coconut milk or coconut rum blender with ice until smooth.
120 ml pineapple juice Pur into pineapple shell. Handy hint Spices enhance the
Dash of simple syrup flavour of the wine and
give it a better taste
Handy hint Blending pineapple chunks gives the cocktail a pulpy taste
 STYLE

Winter
Calling
TOP FIVE PICKS FROM COVER STORY
TO KEEP YOUR STYLE QUOTIENT ON POINT

DENIM DELIGHT
The fabric continues to remain
evergreen. Pick garments with quirky
motifs and rugged feel. Go for some
suede layering and keep it easy.

Patch denim shirt `2,290

Denim with button detail `2,290
Waterfall faux suede jacket `2,490
Blue sneakers `1,890
 STYLE

STRUCTURAL
DRAPES
Mix and match silhouettes, textures and
sizes with regulars that go unnoticed in
the wardrobe. Experiment with the colour
tones or stick to the basic palette.
Front-tie knot poplin shirt `1,790
Colour block mini skirt `1,990
Textured duster jacket `5,290
Black high block heels `2,290
 MILITARY
VIBES
Uniform dressing never goes out of style.
A significant trend from the 60s
continues to change the game in formal
and casual looks. Pair a military shirt with
sheer skirts and a ceremonial jacket.

Military shirt `1,990

Blazer with sleeve detail `4,290
Sheer pleated skirt `2,290
Nude leather tie-ups `2,990

MINIMALLY
YOURS
Ditch the fitted layering and go for
anti-fit and comfortable pullovers as
a dress. Accessorise with leather
boots or gladiators.

Wool blend sweater dress `2,490

Flat leather boots `3,490
 HIDE AND SEEK
Who says you cannot do light during
winter? Go for clever layering and
dark tones and you can wear
delicate lace with leather.

Tiered lace mini dress `3,290

PU jacket `3,990

Text and styled by

Srishti Jha
Photographs by
Rajwant Rawat
Model Thamires from
Purple Thoughts
Hair and make-up Iram Kazmi
Location Art Motif Gallery,
Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi
 JEWELLERY
SANGEETA DEWAN
Creative Head,
Zoya, Delhi
F
rom unusual and
unique forms to
vibrant colour palettes,
nature has a lot to offer if one
has an eye for intrinsic
things. Several things found
in and around our
surroundings have the
power to frame our
perceptions and ideas. Take
for instance, mythology and
the classic legends, that have
inspired fashion, jewellery,
and even our interiors.
A cut above the rest
Nature and jewellery are two
forces that can together
create incredible pieces of
wearable art. For designers
and artists, the biggest thing
to be inspired from is the art
of sustainability. Jewellery
especially has been inspired
by nature since time
immemorial. From
designs and forms to the
precious material used,
some of the most rare
elements have often been
used to create the most
extraordinary pieces.
Depending on face cuts and
ADORN
NATURE
UPDATE YOUR COLLECTION WITH
THESE TIMELESS CLASSICS
body types, distinct styles and
silhouettes suit different
people. It is therefore
important to accentuate
features which deserve to be
enhanced. While trends in
costume jewellery and
fashion are related, they do
not always change together.
The jewellery trend cycle is
longer and different from
fashion. This season, we will
see a lot of organic, fluid and
nature-inspired themes fused
with fashion. With nature
being a timeless theme,
these are some of the key
trends well witness this
time around.
Reviving heritage
Heritage themes are being
used to reinvent looks. A
fusion of heritage and
modern look is going to
dominate the market.
Unusual combinations such
as diamonds with polkis,
traditional craftsmanship like
partaj and enamelling are
already being used in a
contemporary form.
Combining technique
and technology
Figurative design is in vogue.
The Krsna collection at Zoya,
for example, is an
amalgamation of the latest
trends in heritage jewels and
showcases the story of Lord
Krishna. Techniques of
French enamelling like
champlev and painting
enamel which came to India
during the Mughal period
have been used in this
collection. The series is a
unique combination of both
technique and technology.
Playing with western
classics
In fashionable diamond
jewellery, a long string of
diamonds with elements and
charms will transform
western fashion.
Asymmetric makeover
Asymmetric earrings,
unusual finger rings
and contemporary
bracelets will become a
must-have for every
woman who likes to keep
it stylish.
JANUARY, 2017 INDIA TODAY WOMAN 27
 ASK THE EXPERT
How to deal with high-risk pregnancies?
Im 35 and planning to conceive. How can
I be screened for a high-risk pregnancy?
arundhati ramanan, bangalore
Maternal risk is assessed at the first meeting with the doctor.
All high-risk factors such as obesity and older age are noted,
and diseases like anaemia, heart disease, epilepsy, asthma,
diabetes, thyroid, kidney disease or high blood pressure are
ruled out. Family history for genetic disorders are also
identified. All pregnant women are advised blood tests to
rule out infections like Hepatitis B, HIV and Syphilis and
tests to ensure immunity to Rubella. To rule out fetal
abnormality, two ultrasound examinations should be done.
One at 11 to 14 weeks to see the thickness of the nuchal fold
(neck) and a detailed one at 18 to 22 weeks to see detailed
fetal structures. A blood test, double or triple marker at
11 to 14 weeks and 16 to 18 weeks is done in all cases to
rule out chromosomal abnormalities.
What steps can one take to stay healthy
and calm during a high-risk pregnancy?
binjal shah, mumbai
The label of high-risk should not be used as an emotional
pressure to undergo expensive tests and treatments, or
used to justify the current rate of Caesarean sections which
have reached epidemic proportions. All counselling should
be non-alarmist and reassuring to ensure a happy healthy
28 INDIA TODAY WOMAN JANUARY, 2017
SHUTTERSTOCK
pregnancy. A balanced diet with vitamins, minerals and
animal proteins, which come from fruits, vegetables, nuts
and white meat at the time of conception and throughout
pregnancy, is essential. This determines not only the
fetal health but the long term health of the baby.
Vitamin D3 and folic acid is also prescribed to women
planning a pregnancy.
I am two months pregnant and so far my pregnancy has
been going good. Can I skip getting tests done in the future?
ridhi mehta, delhi
Tests and treatments advised these days cost a lot and lead
to undue anxiety, but are essential. While only 10 per cent
pregnancies require close medical supervision, it is
important to visit the doctor regularly to rule out any risks.
During the course of pregnancy, the fetus may be at risk
because of infections, exposure to smoking, alcohol, and
drugs, therefore it is vital to get regular check-ups done.
Dr Puneet Bedi,
Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, Apollo Hospitals, Delhi
 DIGITAL EDITION

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IN THE REGION
HYATT REGENCY
AHMEDABAD HOME IMPROVEMENT
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 TOP TRENDS,
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 HOME
contents

Editor-in-ChiEf: Aroon Purie

Group ChiEf ExECutivE offiCEr: Ashish Bagga
Group Editorial dirECtor: Raj Chengappa
Editor-at-larGE: Kaveree Bamzai
Group CrEativE Editor: Nilanjan Das
Group photo Editor: Bandeep Singh
dEputy Editor: Prachi Bhuchar
assistant Editor: Ridhi Kale
photo rEsEarChErs: Prabhakar Tiwari
and Satish Kaushik
art dirECtor: Rajeev Bhargava
assistant art dirECtor: Vipin Gupta
produCtion: Harish Aggarwal
(Chief of Production), Naveen Gupta,
Vijay Sharma, Prashant Verma

publishinG dirECtor:
Manoj Sharma
assoCiatE publishEr (impaCt):
Anil Fernandes
sEnior GEnEral manaGEr (impaCt):
Jitendra Lad (West)
GEnEral manaGErs:
Upendra Singh (Bangalore)
Velu Balasubramaniam (Chennai)
Kaushiky Chakraborty (East)

Group ChiEf markEtinG offiCEr

Vivek Malhotra

VOL. 12 NUMBER 1; JANUARY 2017

Copyright Living Media India Ltd. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited.
Printed and published by Manoj Sharma on behalf of Living
Media India Limited. Printed at Thomson Press India Lim-
ited, 18-35 Milestone, Delhi Mathura Road, Faridabad-121007,
(Haryana); A-9, Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, District Photograph by RAJWANT RAWAT; Styling by SRISHTI JHA
Kancheepuram-603209, (Tamil Nadu). Published at K-9, Connaught
Circus, New Delhi-110001. Editor: Kaveree Bamzai.
l India Today does not take responsibility for returning unsolicited
KITCHEN SPECIAL
publication material.
18 HEARTH & SOUL
COVER PHOTOGRAPH GETTYIMAGES Bespoke and beautiful, much like her food, executive chef ITC Maurya,
Manisha Bahsin's kitchen is both a gastronomic and visual experience

January 2017, IndiaToday HOME 1

 HOME
contents

STYLE
21 NEW LOOKS
Three very different living room
settings highlight design, colour
and decor trends for the year

Photograph by NILOTPAL BARUAH

TRENDS
24 STAY AHEAD
The Pure Concept's Chanya Kaur
lists down soft furnishings trends
to watch out for in 2017 DECOR
26 OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Natasha Jain's Bent Chair is an
online portal for products that turn
wacky into something wonderful

Photograph courtesy BENT CHAIR

Photograph courtesy THE PURE CONCEPT

Photograph courtesy USHA

GADGETS
14 TECH TOYS
If you don't want cooking to be a
chore, then ensure that your kitchen
is equipped with these 10 gizmos

PLUS
4 LAUNCHES
30 LAST LOOK

2 India Today HOME, January 2017

I Spy
Out &
About
Asian Paints' exte-
rior paints were
launched at The
Korner House in
Your guide to the hottest Bandra. The Earth
new stores and products Series from Ultima
Text by RIDHI KALE Wall Art is all set to
change the exteriors
surfaces of your
home. It has four
different concepts
Liquid Asset titled Flow, Tree of
Zero B has recently introduces Zero B Auto Life, Prayer for the
Soft Automatic Water Conditioner range. Features Earth and Walk in
include proprietary purple soft food grade resin, the Woods. The
unique digital display, automatic multiport valve, beauty of these
corrosion proof salt tank, child lock, option for designs is its ability
manual regeneration, feather touch keys and to be adapted on
display of service flow rate, remaining capacity of various surfaces
water that will be softened till next regeneration PRICE on request
and preset regeneration time. AT Colourpro@
PRICE on request asianpaints.com
AT www.zerobonline.com
 HOME
launches

New Store
Tulips Ambbience is a leading
home furnishings brand since
1990 by founder and creative
head Raajkumarri Mutha. The
brand has opened its first store
in Delhi in Defence Colony in
an architecturally modified
standalone 5,000sq ft space,
spread over two levels.
PRICE `3,000 onwards
AT E-2 Defence Colony,
Ring Road, New Delhi

Hide and Chic

Da Milano is known accross the country for its bespoke leather goods,
especially bags and wallets. What most don't know is that it also has a
decor section of trays, photo frames,
coasters, occasional
tables, dustbins, bottle
cases and napkin cases.
Featured here is a black
ostrich leather tray, com-
plete with a buckle on the side.
PRICE `4,999 each; AT www.damilano.com

Kitchen Craft
H&R Johnson now offers high class German Kitchens equipped with German hard-
ware and European storage units, at Indian prices. The modular kitchen collection
combines personal choice with high standards in quality, comfort, functionality
and design. One can choose from straight kitchens, parallel kitchens, L-shaped
kitchens or it can be customised. Their current special offer includes such kitchens
with a four-burner hob, plastic cutlery trays, chimney, mixer faucet, single bowl
sink and a built-in waste collector. Available in several colours and finishes.
PRICE `1.79 lakh onwards; AT www.johnsonstore.in/kitchens
 Ace Automatic Toilet from the French Collection;
Abhishek Somany, MD Somany Ceramics (below)
HOME
bathroom
SMART
BATH
Somany Ceramics' French Collection will
change the way you view the bathroom
A
fter breaking the mould, quite literally, in the
tile segment, Somany Ceramics entered the
sanitary ware division a little over three-in-a-
half years ago, with a collection titled Somany.
With time, they added Somany Signature, a more pre-
mium category. Last month they launched the French
Collection. The range is manufactured in Europe, says
Abhishek Somany, MD, Somany Ceramics.
SPOILT FOR CHOICE
The new collection has over 28 products, ranging from
water closets, urinals to wash basins, which fall under
11 different series. The star of the collection is the Ace
series, the first high IQ toilet by Somany Ceramics, de-
signed to ensure there are minimum pressure points.
LOO AND BEHOLD
We are currently manufacturing sanitary ware, in
various sizes and shapes. If something comes up as
6 India Today HOME, January 2017
an extension, it would be in the fittings division. This
is currently only in the Somany and Signature range,
French Collection will soon also have this extension,
adds Somany. In fact, the reason why he manufactured
all these products in Europe is because Indian clay has
limitations, for instance, if your want a rimless WC, it
cannot be manufactured in certain shapes and sizes.
WHAT MAKES THE BRAND STAND OUT
"My products are definitely the whitest (in colour) in the
segment," says Somany adding, "We also have fantas-
tic flushing systems and long lasting, detachable seat
covers." Further, for the price they offer, the brand has
higher specifications than others in the category. At
present they are working on a few designer ranges.
PRICE `7,990 (for the Quest Art Basin) to `1.65 lakh
(for the Ace Automatic Toilet)
AT www.somanyceramics.com
 Kitchen
Confidential
Cooking can be a chore or an amazing experince. What makes a difference is
the space you cook in. From decoding why one should go for a modular unit
and how to plan the layout to understanding storage solutions and picking the
perfect counter, here's everything you need to know about renovating it.
By RIDHI KALE

Kitchen concept by
Three Sixty Degree with
appliances from Viking

8 India Today HOME, January 2017

 HOME
kitchen special | cover story
WHY OPT
M
ade of modules of cabinets, a FOR A
modular kitchen with state of
the art appliances continues MODULAR
to rule the cooking space. Here's why it UNIT?
makes a lot of sense to go in for one that
suits your needs.
THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES
Modular kitchens comes in a variety of designs, and
they can be dismantled and reinstalled with great ease,
as and when needed. These features are well comple-
mented by their durability, and their accessories last for
a long time, says Rajat Mathur, Head Retail Market-
ing, Godrej Interio, adding, Such kitchens are easy to
install. Even their accessories and fittings come in a wide
range of designs. Other features include stylish hard-
ware, such as vibrant coloured doors and stainless steel
doorknobs. The biggest aspect is there is no carpentry
involved. A modular kitchen set up is done in a matter
of hours. In case of damage it's easier to repair and one
A modular kitchen
with inbuilt appliances
from Homestudio.com
can upgrade the kitchen as and when
one wants a new look, by just replacing
the fronts or doors, explains Alok Dug-
gal, Founder and COO, Homestudio.com.
DECONSTRUCTING A MODULAR
MARVEL
Cabinets, innovative pull-out drawers, shelves and
shutters, are essential parts to place all kitchen and
cooking essentials. Customised space is made to install
cooker hoods, cooking range, and other gizmos, says
Mathur. The best part, they come in a variety of custom-
isable shapes to suit individual kitchen needs.
DOES SIZE MATTER?
Since these are cabinets in huge range of dimensions
and types, any size/layout can be done. It purely de-
pends on the layout of the room, says Duggal.
PRICE `1 lakh onwards
January 2017, IndiaToday HOME 9
 HOME
kitchen special | cover story
PLAN THE
W
hen designing the layout of KITCHEN
the kitchen remember the
phrase work triangle. This is LAYOUT
the triangle is formed between the cook-
ing range, sink and the refrigerator. No
leg of the triangle should be more than
9ft and less than 4ft. The total sum of the three legs
should not exceed 26ft. Over
the years, kitchens have moved up the ladder in prior-
ity more than any other room in the house. Therefore,
layouts very important, says Duggal. Kitchens are
divided into four main areas or zone, cooking, wash-
ing, preparation and storage. Remember, a well bal-
anced kitchen keeps all these parameters in mind.
FOLLOW THE BLUEPRINT
According to Duggal, if you entertain often, an island
kitchen is preferable, whereas if the space is smaller go
for an L-shaped kitchen. However, for large kitchens
with work top going around the kitchen, a rectangular
space is the best option. But creating the right space
with adequate storage is the key ingredient in a kitch-
en, he adds. The galley, or corridor style kitchen has
two straight runs on either side. Typically the sink is
on one side and the cooking range is on the other. Only
drawback is traffic flow. The L-shaped layout offers
10 India Today HOME, January 2017
An L-shaped open kitchen from Homestudio.com
more privacy, add an island if you want
to interact with people while cooking.
U-shaped offers maximum storage and
counter space. Experts at Pepperfrys
Mangiamo Kitchens say that straight,
U-shaped, parallel and L-shaped are
very popular and in demand these days.
INTERACTIVE KITCHEN DESIGNS
Like Europe, the Indian kitchen is becoming the centre
of home life and entertainment. Therefore, concepts
like open and island kitchens with a small coffee table or
dining set-up are gaining tremendous popularity, says
Juergen Wolf, Managing Director, Hafele India.
BUILD IT IN
Integration of built-in appliances in an existing kitchen
requires some amount of back-work (especially if the
kitchen is not modular). It follows the same design-
ing principles of modular kitchens where the cabinet
heights and depths are standard while the width can
vary as per customer requirements, says Wolf. Most
of the built-in appliances available in the market are in
standard sizes as per the cabinet modules.
PRICE `20,000 onwards (appliances)
 HOME
kitchen special | cover story
W
ho doesn't want a clutter free and well
organised kitchen? The number one reason
why people end up with disorganised and
messy cooking spaces is because they missed an
essential aspect, the storage. Gone are the days when
placing as many cupboards on the walls and drawers
below the counter was the best storage solution. Now
there are pull outs and pull downs, prefabricated wire
baskets, organiser trays and corner carousels to name
a few. In fact, built around the concept of modularity
coupled with contemporary designs, the Cargo series
wire baskets from kitchens fittings
giant, Hettich can come to your rescue
and transform any piece of furniture HOW TO
into an efficient storage solution.
STACK,
THINK ERGONOMICALLY
With home spaces getting smaller,
STASH &
efficient utilisation of space becomes STORE
imperative. Ergonomics help in
ensuring that no part of the kitchen
is left unused. This is where the Science of Comfort
Design comes into play. According to Hettichs
intelligent kitchens concept, there are few important
points to bear in mind when planning your kitchen.
For instance, the platform height in the kitchen
should to be according to height of the person using
the kitchen. Another way to turn your cook room
into a an efficient workspace is with clever storage.
Hettich has on offer larder units, bottle pull-outs
that are accessible from both sides, Dispenser Duo
CargoMan, corner solution; drawer organiser (right),
both from Hettich
(a compact storage system), corner solutions like a
carousel and blind corner options like Magic Corners
and CargoMan, which are easy to use and perfect for
storing anything from utensils to food.
MAKE IT FUNCTIONAL
As per Hettich, wall units should be planned such
that it is easy to reach items, thus full extension draw-
ers like pull out kitchen shelves in wire ensure that
you can see and access the backmost corner. Further
the brand believes that an organiser system inside
the drawers is a must. It is best to keep
your provisions somewhere out of the
way and yet within easy reach. Also,
why waste space. Hettich says that
there is a lot of space under and beside
the sink for storing cleaning products
and separating waste; they have under
sink solution and Dish Drainers, to
utlise this space.
THE ADD ONS
Hettich even has an efficient damping system that
minimises noise and stress levels in kitchen fittings.
The silent system brakes the closing movement.
Further, multiple options in bottle/spice pull outs
all you to use every inch of the kitchen. Dish Drainers
also offer the options of shifting the water collecting
tray to any level.
PRICE on request
 HOME
slug
Kitchen concept titled Aliant by
Stosa Cucine at Mirius Interni
LET THE
O
ne of the most neglected area
(which also happens to be the COUNTER
most used), in the kitchen is
the countertop. From bearing witness
DEFINE
to chopping and blending, mixing and THE LOOK
grinding, a countertop is used for just
about everything. Here are a few trends
to follow to spruce it up.
ON TREND, QUARTZ
"From the initial and age-old preferences of marble
and granite, homeowners are now looking at innova-
tive materials like quartz surfaces for kitchen counter-
tops. Unlike marble or granite, quartz is an engineered
stone that can be rendered in many colours and
textures while giving the same amount of tenacity
and endurance of conventional marble or granite,"
says Wolf. The material is very durable with low main-
tenance. The best part? It is nonporous, meaning its
highly stain resistant, making it safe from oils, liquid,
and most home cleaning products
THE THICKER, THE BETTER
Globally, countertops are getting thicker. From 1.25
inches to now 2.25 inches thick. What this does is
emphasise your countertop and make it the focal point
12 India Today HOME, January 2017
of your kitchen. Of course, do bear in
mind the thicker the countertop the
more expensive it is. Also, remember
not to over do it, else the kitchen can
end up looking ghastly.
STILL STEELING
THE SPOTLIGHT
Though stainless steel countertops have been in the
market for quite some time now, they have slowly and
steadily become a popular choice. "A stainless kitchen
looks futuristic as is completely in sync with modern
day houses. The new trend is to combine it with other
materials such as wood or marble," says Deepikka
Jindal, Creative Director and MD JSL Lifestyle.
USE COLOUR TO HIGHLIGHT IT
Stylish, sleek and sophisticated, grey colour schemes
are scoring high on kitchen countertop popularity
charts. They are neutral and go with just about any-
thing. The scheme is a breath of fresh air in sunny and
humid cites. But where it gets very cold and cloudy,
grey tones can appear clinical. In such a scenario,
team it with colourful accents to perk it up.
PRICE `2,000 onwards
 HOME
kitchen special | gadgets

What's Cooking
A look at 10 must-have gizmos, no self
respecting kitchen should do without
By RIDHI KALE

food processor

The Multitasker
Krafts 8 in 1 Food factory enables you to fulfil eight different types of food pro-
cessing needs. It has a 500W copper motor and is capable of whipping, kneading,
chopping, slicing, grating, juice extracting, coarse grinding and fine grinding. Its
liquidizing jar and citrus juicer transform it from a mixer to juicer, and back.
PRICE `6,390; AT KraftAppliances (facebook)
microwave

Micro Management
Haiers HIL2001 CSPH microwave is available in four colours. Six power
levels give it precise control over the heating function. Further, you can
cook 123 dishes with auto cook menus, including regional recipes. The
microwave not only comes with a grill, convection and steam function
but also keeps the food warm for up to 1.5 hours in the oven.
PRICE `8,790; AT www.haier.com/in

chopper

All in One
With Tupperwares Extra Chef
mixing, blending, emulsifying
and chopping becomes easy.
The best part it doesnt use
electricity. Made up of high
quality fine plastic with a total
capacity of 1.35L, it has an
anti-skid bottom.
PRICE `5,500
AT www.tupperware.co.in

halogen oven

Smart Tool
The Usha InfinitiCook
Halogen Oven 360R per-
forms nine major cooking
tasks, baking, roasting, grill-
ing, thawing, slow cooking,
barbequing, braising, toast-
ing, air-drying and air-fry-
ing. The dual-heat mecha-
nism and high velocity
forced air with 360 convec-
tion enables even browning
and cooking, making it a
kitchen marvel.
PRICE `17,999
AT www.usha.com
 HOME
kitchen special | gadgets

juicer mixer grinder

In the Grind
Consider the Easy Lock DLX Juicer Mixer Grinder from
Maharaja Whiteline as your one stop solution for juic-
ing, mixing and grinding. Its USP is that one can lock
and unlock the juicing assembly with just one hand.
Other features include a 550W heavy duty motor, full
apple feeding tube and three versatile jars.
PRICE `5,199
AT www.maharajawhiteline.com

stand mixer

Mix and Match

KitchenAids Standmixers (brought to India by
Whirlpool) are available in seven hues. They feature a
1.3HP motor that can handle more than eight pounds
of dough. This versatile hub works with more than 12
available attachments to help you make anything and
everything imaginable. They come with 10 speeds.
PRICE `39,999 onwards
AT www.kitchenaid.com

steamer cooker

Steamy Scene
Panasonics Momo cum
Steamer Cooker,
SR-WA18H (SS) comes
with an automatic
cooking option. It also
keeps food warm up to chimney
five hours, has a double
deck unbreakable In the Hood
polycarbonate steaming Siemens Downdraft hoods can be installed only in an
basket, cooking island kitchen, but unlike other hoods these are out of
plate and a anodized sight when not in use. When in use, it rises 310 mm
aluminium pan. above the work surface. Benefits include touch con-
PRICE `2,715 trol, higher level of suction power even during heavy
AT www.panasonic. frying, LED softLight with dimmer function, better
com/in suction power compared to other designer hoods and
low noise level even during during intensive cooking.
PRICE `2.75 lakh; AT www.siemens.co.in

16 India Today HOME, January 2017

 Chef Manisha
Bhasin in
her kitchen

Photographs by RAJWANT RAWAT

INSIDE A
CHEFS SPACE
Manisha Bhasin, executive chef ITC Maurya takes us through her favourite
room, the kitchen, in her weekend home in Palam Vihar, Gurgaon
Text By RIDHI KALE
Styling By SRISHTI JHA

18 India Today HOME, January 2017

 HOME
kitchen special | design

W
henever Chef Manisha Bhasin wants to relax she MANISHA'S QUICK TIPS
cooks. And not just anywhere, in her specially de-
Arrange spices, oils, herbs according to
signed, fully customised kitchen. Though a stones
the cuisine. Segregation as per cuisine not
throw away from the airport, it lies well hidden only keeps the flavours intact but
from traffic and the city rush. Walk into the house in Palam also allows ease in cooking.
Vihar, Gurgaon, and you see carefully curated furniture pieces,
Store pots and pans in the cabinets
but it is the heavenly mix of aromas of the foccacia, winter nearest to the cooking area so that you do
vegetable lasagna, roasted chicken and salad tossed with home not struggle last minute.
grown greens coming from the kitchen that really leaves an Keep fancy dishes and serving bowls
impact. My husband Ajay and I built this house in 2013. We on the top shelves and everyday
planned every last detail, however, there was one room, where plates on the bottom shelves.
we had a tussle on the sizethe kitchen. Infact, our architect Store daily use serving dishes in
was surprised and so are the guests when they see it. I knew I cabinets near the washing area for
was going to spend most of my time here and so it had to fit all ease of stacking once washed
my needs with everything at hand. Today Ajay is happy with Keep reusable ready to go food
our decision, says the 50-year-old Bhasin. containers, cling wraps, silver foils,
paper napkins separately at one spot
NEEDS DICTATE LAYOUT Use the door interiors for pinning
"I have a peninsula kitchen or a G-shaped kitchen for maxi- up of recipes, which you like or
mum storage, separate meal prep, cooking and clean up areas. baking conversion cheat sheet.
It's important to group all tall appliances together and short
appliances separately, keep refrigerator and sink together, and Photograph by M ZHAZO
stove on the opposite side," says Bhasin. The 25ft x 12ft long
kitchen, even has a dining table. My dream in future is to cook
for my grand children and involve them in handling of food
from young age so that they grow up appreciating good food
and respect for ingredients in these modern times. As of now
we use the table for family brunches, lunches and dinners,
she says. While the formal entertaining happens in the dining
room just outside the kitchen. As for the facility planning, all
the equipment has been placed in one line so that it is easily
accessible. I had an option of getting into an island kitchen but
an island kitchen does not augur very well in an Indian cooking
scenario. Our vessels are very different, we use degchi, lagan,
patilas, they dont go well with an island kitchen, she says.
Further, she purposely did not opt for a show kitchen,
though everyone was recommending it. When you are cook-
ing Indian food, masala flavours will waft into your dining room,
so I insisted on a family table in the kitchen itself. This way I can
cook and chat with friends and family at the same time, she
adds. Bhasin believes is arranging spices, oils, herbs according
to the cuisine. "I have a Asian pantry, Western and my good
old Indian spices cabinet, this segregation as per the cuisine not
only keeps the flavours intact but also allows ease in cooking,"
she says. Bhasin also believes in storing pots and pans in the
cabinets nearest to the cooking area so that you do not struggle
last minute. One should keep fancy dishes and serving bowls
on the top shelves and everyday plates on the bottom shelves. Storage drawers
"Store daily use serving dishes in cabinets near the washing around the fridge

January 2017, IndiaToday HOME 19


area for ease of stacking once washed; keep the reus-
able ready to go food containers, cling wraps, silver
foils, paper napkins separately at one spot; and use the
door interiors for pinning up of recipes, which you like
or baking conversion cheat sheet." says Bhasin.
POT AND PLAN
This is a planned kitchen where all the equipments
are easily accessible and it meets all your needs. The
gadgets are not very fancy they are basic hardcore
conventional ovens that work well in a home scenario.
Of course, I had an option of going for combi-ovens
and induction hobs, but I stayed away from it because I
know these things may not survive long, adds Bhasin,
who does Indian and western cooking at home. The
next phase of her plan involves creating a small exten-
sion of the kitchen with all artisan Indian kitchen
equipment. She has already started collecting.
A COOKS TOOLS
Bhasin is most proud of her knives, which she collected
over the years on her travels. From equipment point
of view, I wanted a practical kitchen that is gadget
friendly, she says. Topping her list is the food processor
and the conventional oven followed by the Weber grill
and ice cream machine. Besides this she has invested
20 India Today HOME, January 2017
Informal dining table next
to the opaque glass with
cooking terminology
in good quality gas range with efficient brass burners
that have 5,000 plus BTU (British Thermal Unit) and
a stainless steel effective chimney equipped with baffle
filters with a capacity of 800m/hour.
CLEVER DESIGN
The entire kitchen is modular, says Bhasin, adding,
The space is divided into two, one side is only for my
husbands glassware and bar accessories and one side
are my utensils and pull outs for knives, forks, spoons,
crockery and linen. In fact, to pick out the right col-
our for the cabinets, flooring and walls, Bhasin waited
for three months . Grey is a practical colour, which
I used for the lower cabinets and the cleverly hidden
pantry, white has been used for the cabinets above,
she says. To add a spark of brightness, burgundy
has been used for the backsplash on the walls. The
large opaque glass window which overlooks the rows
of trees has been designed by her son with print of
cooking terminology, thus adding fun element to the
kitchen table section.
Her last piece of advice is to avoid non-stick or
aluminium pans, use traditional heavy bottom pans
instead, grow your greens, think practically and stay
away from the microwave. "Your kitchen, must reflect
what you believe in." Rest, let loose your creative juices.
 HOME
style

MAXIMUM
IMPACT
Wood and Fabric, Royal Seat Sofa, `35,50; Manhattan Floor Lamp, `8,250 to `29,000; T-light Holder, `425; Royal Bench, `12,700; Darkwood
Table cum Tray, `19,500; Cast Hanging Lamp, `3,600; Branchlet Wall Lamp, `5,500; cushion, `1,600. All products from The Purple Turtles.

THREE LIVING ROOM SETTINGS

SHOWCASE TRENDS FOR 2017
Text by RIDHI KALE

BRING OUT THE RAW APPEAL

This set up highlights two trends, concrete rawness and green accents. "The living room has
a green, unfinished look with the Wabi Sabi collection made of feather cement. Wabi Sabi
represents a Japanese world view that accepts simplicity, imperfection and transience," says
Radeesh Shetty, Proprietor, Bangalore-based, The Purple Turtles. Combining accent seating
and pendant lamps along with a lot of greens brings the space to life.

Photograph by NILOTPAL BARUAH

 HOME
style
New Joy Coffee Table with a Walnut Base nd Carved Backlit Makrana marble; Retro Sofa; Floral lace Pattern Metal Background
Screem; Drops Wall Art; Cushions from Shades of India. All products except cushions from Exhibit D; All prices are on request

Photograph by VIKRAM SHARMA

LET THE WALLS TALK
"A big trend in the coming year is bespoke wall
art in mixed media, like this wall with metal and
back lit marble," says Gautam Dhawan, designer,
Delhi-based Exhibit D, adding, "Blue will dominate
interior spaces with is neutral flow." As per Dhawan
screens (like the backdrop here) in various finishes
used as a decorative medium to separate spaces
is another trend. As is adding details with a collage
of cushions while using a neutral base fabric.

22 India Today HOME, January 2017

 HOME
style
Sofa, `1 lakh; Table, `45,000; Pouf, `8,500, Lamp shade, `19,500. All products are from Magari.

Photograph by NILOTPAL BARUAH

JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE

"Monochrome will dominate interior spaces this year. Keeping the lines simple and
using different tones of a muted or desaturated colour, with a lot of texture, comple-
mented with gold or any other metallic finish will be in vogue," says Amitha Madan,
partner Banglore-based decor and design store Magari. Like in this setting were muted
tones and straight lines are off set by pops of gold and the raw texture of the brick wall.
 HOME
trends

Yugantar collection
`1,595 to `8,395

Photographs courtesy THE PURE CONCEPT

24 India Today HOME, January 2017

 Looking for a Fresh Start?
Green accents chairs, stone washed linen and whimsy sheers with fluid lines, this
year, though interior decoration is going back to basics, it serves it with a twist

T
rend forecasting, isnt just about staying ahead
of the design curve, it helps you plan in advance
with the right colours, motifs, patterns, textures
and materials. With our frenzied lifestyles and
busy schedules, 2017 will be all about calming and
soothing interior spaces. New technologies and innova-
tions are changing our world so fast that we need a space
CHANYA KAUR that helps us unwind but at the same time is functional
Cofounder, and modular. Expect a bit of a shake up. Copper and rose
The Pure Concept
gold are out, instead, terracotta and deep greens are in.
This year is all about using soft furnishings creatively, like
a framed kilim or jute accessories. Heres a look at trends for 2017.

CREATE A HUE HAVEN

Saturated greens are on trend for 2017. The best way to use this colour is
on accent pieces, statement armchairs, or cushions. Besides bringing in Bantu collection `1,500
colours from the outdoors, it also adds depth to the room. Unlike, last year to `2,500 per metre
which was all about cool white tones, warmer hues like terracotta will be
in vogue in 2017. The colour is ideal for walls and flooring. Heavy stone
washed linen in this shade can work beautifully on a couch, as well. Navy
is the new black; it adds freshness to a space without making it feel small.

ITS A MATERIAL WORLD

Jute, linen and flax will be popular in the soft furnishings segment.
These fibres not only give the room a rustic and natural appeal, they
also add textures and layers, which makes the space stand out. From
cushions to throws and couch upholstery, they can be used in a variety
of ways. Geometric patterns on fabrics continue to be the hot favourite,
water-like patterns and textures (free flowing and deconstructed) have
been added to the list. This time we will also see a rise in transparent
and wispy sheer fabrics across the sector.

PICK A MOTIF
Get ready to see a lot of mixed patterns in home decor, especially on state-
ment pieces. Kilims continue to make their presence felt. Except this time,
they wont just be restricted on rugs, the tribal motifs will now also be found Butikku collection, `2,000
on sofas, cushions and ottomans. This adds a bit of traditional essence to a (onwards) per metre
room, but in a contemporary context. Another trend to watch out for is over-
sized patterns. Be it large showy florals or fluid strips, the bigger the better.
Remember, no one expects you to follow these trends to the tee, they
are more like guidelines. Feel free to be creative, bend the trend and follow
your gut. Remember, at the end of the day, you have to live with it.

January 2017, IndiaToday HOME 25

 Yellow Ceramic Pug Dog with sunglasses
HOME (left); Instagram 3D cushions (above)
decor

WHEN QUIRK WORKS

Equal parts of
creativity and
colour, whim
and skill make
the products
on online portal
Bent Chair
showstoppers

By RIDHI KALE

Jet Set Go Tables that looks like men ready to sprint across the room

T
he Japanese had it right. For them a tea
ceremony is not about drinking tea, but
about the aesthetics and preparing a bowl
of tea from one's heart. In fact, those who
love green, Darjeeling, mint or rosemary
teas will tell you that the right teapot has the ability
to turn a daily ritual into a sublime interlude. No
one knows this better than 28-year-old Natasha Jain
who along with her father Neeraj Jain started Bent
Chair, an online marketplace for out-of-the-box home
dcor, furnishings and furniture. Her favourite items
(hazard a guess) on the website happen to be the
baby pink, bright blue and mellow yellow scooters,
typewriters, toasters and dog teapots. Launched in
December 2015, teapots are not the only fantastic
finds on this site. Keep a eye out for consoles that look
like men ready to sprint across the room, a coffee
table where a hippo appears to be holding the glass
top, pug-shaped bookends and sculptures, dancing
elephant paperweights, lazy bear platters, plane wine
holders and cushions that look less like pillows and
more like cameras. Theres even a botanics section
with faux floral sticks and faux potted plants.
According to Natasha, the name Bent Chair refers

26 India Today HOME, January 2017


Photographs by RAJWANT RAWAT
to something that has been altered from its original
form to a rather unusual figure. When I started
doing up my Delhi-home I realised that there arent
many affordable yet beautiful things for your house.
The options were very limited. So, through Bent
Chair, we decided to create and curate some amaz-
ing, reasonably priced, good quality products for the
home, says Natasha, whose website went global last
month. This means that people from the US, Canada,
South East Asia and Western Europe can now pur-
chase Bent Chair products.
The process involves bringing artisans, designers
and engineers, together to create something unique
and beautiful. They even have a 40,000 sq ft design
Clockwise from Left: Natasha
Jain holding a Scooter Teapot;
Horse Carriage Wine Holder; Wild
Cat Pair book end; Multicolour
Dancing Elephants
and manufacturing facility in rural Haryana that
empowers local artisans through a co-operative
business ownership model.
We tested the market through several pop-up
shops in Delhi (seven to eight were held last year in
October, itself). The products (especially the teapots)
went off the shelves almost as soon as we opened,
says Natasha. With more than 500 items across
categories in furniture, home dcor and accessories
Bent Chair has something that will brighten up
every corner of your home.
PRICE `6,000 to `70,000 (furniture), `3,000
onwards (teapots), `1,000 to `1,600 (cushions)
AT www.bentchair.com
 HOME
what's hot

DESIGN DIGEST
A monthly round up of the latest news and views from the world of interiors
By RIDHI KALE

TIME'S UP
Grandfather clocks are mak-
ing a comeback. Tapping this
trend, watch company Seiko has
ventured beyond the wrist. The
collection of GrandFather Clocks,
sports a pendulum encased in a
wooden cabinet. It is equipped
with classical music, dual chimes,
a quarter hour chime and hourly
strikes that follow hourly chime.
PRICE `29,500
AT www.seiko.in

FASHIONABLE INTERIORS
'Tis the season of collaborations. FCML has launched The Incidental Collec-
tion, a collaboration with fashion designers, Abraham & Thakore, pero by
Aneeth Arora and JJ Valaya. So, while Valaya has done traditional design
patterns on tiles, Abraham & Thakore have used earthy and geometrical
designs and pero has opted fir delicate, floral and bright patterns.
PRICE on request; AT www.makemycasa.com

GIVING TRADITION A NEW TWIST

This year is all about celebrating all things Indian. When it comes to textiles,
phulkari is ruling everyone's minds, tables and beds. presenting this trend
with a twist is 1469, a lifestyle store that sells Punjab-inspired wares. They
have come out with a collection of multi panelled umbrellas (showpieces)
made from various coloured fabrics including hand embroidered phulkari.
PRICE on request AT www.1469workshop.com

28 India Today HOME, January 2017


GET BOOKED
Celebrating Kelly Hoppen
MBEs 40 years in busi-
ness as a leading interior
designer, the book House
of Hoppen is definitely
worth a buy. The tome,
written by Hoppen, takes
a look back over her
stellar career and her
favourite projects, includ-
ing previously unseen
images of her most recent
work as well as her own
homes, past and present.
This stunning, fully
illustrated, retrospective
is a fascinating overview
of the author's design
approach and how it
has evolved over the
past four decades.
PRICE 50 (`4,156)
AT www.kellyhoppenin-
teriors.com
AT www.seiko.in
"CARPETS HAVE AN APPEAL OF LUXURY"
I n an attempt to take India to the world,
bespoke carpet company, Obeetee
has tied up with fashion designers
and I paint over it. This resulted in India
Modern pieces, where there is layering,
abstract forms and flowers.
Tarun Tahiliani, Raghavendra Rathore
and Abraham & Thakore. The first, THE USP
'Proud to be Indian' collection is by Tahil- Each piece is hand finished and a
iani. We caught up with the designer for limited edition. We have used Indian me-
a tte--tte. tallic red, kasab, a bit of Swarovski, silk
and wool. In fact, when we acid washed
WHY DESIGN CARPETS? them, the wool got eaten away giving
Traditional rugs look beautiful; they a beautiful aged patina and stunning
have the patina of age. I always end up
picking old carpets that have aged over
time. Even their reverse side with duller
colours is something I have always been
drawn to. I dislike this fast food genera-
tion, where everything has to be rushed
and quality gets compromised. Carpets
bring with them a certain feel and ap-
peal of luxury that cannot be hurried.
ON COLLABORATING
WITH OBEETEE...
Obeetee is the best and the oldest
carpet company that is high on creating
and working in a sustainable environ-
ment. The fact ABC Carpets in New York
is showcasing these carpets (made by
Tahiliani), says a lot about the company
and the quality it is known to offer. I
started working on the collection in
2013; the brand was very patient with
me and the collaborative results have colours. The carpets are unique, they
been fantastic. (Featured here is one straddle the new with the old; and are
titled Brocade Garden) meant to be passed on from generation
to the next generation.
INSPIRATION BEHIND
THE DESIGNS WHATS NEXT?
There were three inspirations, at that Depending on the response I would
time. I love using chikankari techniques love to do a chikankari carpet in black.
in my couture line and that also became I already have so many colour waves
the basis/inspiration for the carpet mapped out in my mind, that I would
designs. The second inspiration came like to introduce in the next round.
out of borders of miniature paintings; I
cut and chopped them and took motifs PRICE `6,25,000 (Brocade Garden,
from there to create a line of classical 9x6 rug)
carpets. The third inspiration was born
out of my paintings. The technique I AT Taj Khazana, The Taj Mahal Hotel,
use lets colour drip over the canvas 1 Man Singh Road, New Delhi
January 2017, IndiaToday HOME 29
 HOME
last look

EAT TREAT

With a legacy dating back to 1925, Le Creuset,

the iconic French cookware brand can always
be found trying to enhance the cooking experi-
ence. This time around they have introduced a
new range of signature cast iron cookware. Hand
crafted from premium cast iron at their foundry
in northern France, it blends tradition with mod-
ern style. Featured here is the Evo Signature Cast
Iron Rectangular Roaster. It comes equipped
with easy helper handles for full grip and it can
be used for roasting, baking, serving or cooking
directly on flame. The roaster is available
in flame and cherry red.
PRICE `14,750 (33cm), `18,000 (37 cm)
AT www.le-creuset.in
 DIGITAL EDITION

THANK YOU FOR READING

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TEN HERBS TO
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OPEN
BOOK CHEF NOAH BARNES
OF ARRIBA
Supplement to India Today issue dated January 30, 2017
Mumbai, Delhi & NCR, Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
Not for sale. To be circulated free with India Today in
DCP No.: F. 2. (I - 20) Press / 2007

High
COOK WITH Life
POOJA DHOLAKIA
OF THUMRI

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producer, dancer and now author ELAN RNI No. DELENG / 2006 / 20557. Not
for sale. To be circulated free with
India Today in Mumbai, Delhi & NCR,
Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
Supplement to India Today issue
dated January 30, 2017
BEST LUXURY
EXPERIENCES
IN THE REGION
HYATT REGENCY
AHMEDABAD HOME IMPROVEMENT
NEW IDEAS FOR A FRESH START
SIMPLY DELHI Inside Photograph by RAJWANT RAWAT

COVER STORY

The Dine-out
Editor-in-Chief Guide s-4
Aroon Purie Our pick of the top
Group Chief Executive Officer twenty go-to restau-
Ashish Bagga
rants in the city
Group Editorial Director
Raj Chengappa
CITY BUZZ
Editor-at-Large
Kaveree Bamzai Into the City s-12
Group Creative Editor 10 Things to look
Nilanjan Das
forward to
Group Photo Editor
Bandeep Singh

n
Cover photo by
Editorial Team RAJWANT RAWAT
Mohini Mehrotra, Ursila Ali
Photo Department
Vikram Sharma, Chandradeep Kumar,
M Zhazo, Rajwant Rawat
Photo Researchers
Prabhakar Tiwari, Satish Kaushik
Art Director
Jyoti Singh
OUR PICK of the month
Design Through Chugtais Lens
Vikas Verma,
Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma
January 29
Production Relive the magic of Ismat Chugtai, the
Harish Aggarwal (Chief of Production), trailblazing, progressive Urdu writer
Naveen Gupta, Vijay Sharma, through captivating performances by
Prashant Verma Poornima Shettygar, Nikhil Sharma,
Layout Execution Abhishek Rihal and Shradha Sharma
Ramesh Kumar Gusain, in the play Laajo, based on Gharwali,
Pradeep Singh Bhandari
a short story by Chugtai. The play will
n
question social constructs and humour
Publishing Director you through its critique of marriage
Manoj Sharma and patriarchy. A sprinkle of satire
Associate Publisher (Impact) mixed with a heavy dose of
Anil Fernandes introspection is promised.
n Tickets bookmyshow.com
IMPACT TEAM At Alliance Francaise: Delhi, 72,
Senior General Manager: Lodhi Estate, Lodhi Road
Jitendra Lad (West) Time 6.30 p.m.
General Managers:
Upendra Singh (Bangalore);
Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things?
Velu Balasubramaniam (Chennai)
Kaushiky Chakraborty (East) Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplydelhi@intoday.com

s-2 SIMPLY DELHI u JANUARY 2017

 THE
DINE-OUT
GUIDE OUR PICK OF TOP TWENTY GO-TO
RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY
By TEAM SIMPLY DELHI

P
rogressive, modern, experimental, molecular and uniquethese have
become the buzzwords for Delhi's restaurant scene. With Delhiites look-
ing for experiences rather than meals, restaurateurs are on a constant
reinvention mode. From a mushroom cappuccino to a blueberry beer;
a tuna and Tabasco sushi to a burrata and beetroot salad; there's a lot to excite
the palate. The competition isn't just about feeding your appetite but your social
feeds as well. Restaurateurs are thinking big and getting creative with not just
the plates but also the ambience. Here's a curated list of the city's most popular
eateries divided in four categoriesbreakfast, lunch, dinner and after-hours.

BREAKFAST
WESTIN SUPERFOODS
A BREAKFAST fit for champions is usually all about
greasy fried sausages and meats, unhealthy carbs and
extra sweet milkshakes. But things are different at The
Westin Gurgaon. Here you can still be a champ sans all
the unhealthy food. What you get is an exciting blend of
superfoodsfoods that are scientifically proven to boost
your immunity, stamina and keep you feeling refreshed.
The Westin SuperFoodsRX is a vibrant start to the day
and includes blueberry, salmon, soy, oats and nuts.
HIGHLIGHT Blueberry banana protein smoothie
MEAL FOR TWO On request
AT Number 1, MG Road, Sector 29, Gurgaon
BIG FAT SANDWICH
A TRIP here is for when you want to start your day on
Cover Story SIMPLY DELHI
an I-dont-care-about-calories note. The sandwiches
here will be totally worth that decision, we assure you.
The name is clearly not deceiving as this is where you
get everything big and fat. The Big Fat Sandwich is a
perfect example of how something completely simple
and no fuss can be turned into gourmet meal. We love
them for their juicy sandwiches with fresh ingredients
like bacon, pesto, pork et all. Our absolute favourite
from the list is the Old School with bacon wrapped lamb
and pickle.
HIGHLIGHT The forbidden bellyAsian style, slow cooked
pork belly as a side
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 800 for two
AT Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj
THE PASTA BOWL
EVERY INCH of the place at this restaurant is
Instagrammablethe sun shining in through large
glass windows on the exposed brick walls and casting
shadows across the rustic wood furniture transports
you instantly to the streets of southern Italy, where such
eateries can be found on any street. The Pasta Bowl

SuperFoodsRx
ingredients
(left), The Westin
Gurgaon; Banofee
pie (above) and
breakfast spread
(right) at The
Pasta Bowl
Company

JANUARY 2017 u SIMPLY DELHI s-5

 SIMPLY DELHI Cover Story
Company strives to give you a bona fide Italian experi-
ence sitting right here in the city. For a breakfast with
a difference, skip the regular omelette and go for the
smoked salmon frittata along with ciabatta bread, and
fresh watermelon juice which is simply sublime.
HIGHLIGHT The flourless quiche and the
foccacia and cornetto breads
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,500
AT GL-201, 2nd Floor, Cross Point Mall, DLF Phase 4,
Gurgaon
INDIGO DELI
IF CHICKEN soup is for the soul, then Indigo Deli's
potato and leek soup is the stairway to enlightenment for
ours. With just the right amount of flavours and consis-
tency, this humble dish is a warm snuggle, especially on
a winter day.
HIGHLIGHT Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,700 onwards
AT UGF/B/2C, Building 10B, DLF Cyber Hub, Gurgaon,
DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon
BLUE TOKAI
BREWING SOMEWHERE in a nondescript back lane in
Saidulajab is one of Delhi's best morning elixirs. This is
a haven for genuine coffee lovers. Here you get freshly
roasted coffee beans, a luxury we city folk can hardly
afford, and many an interesting lesson for the wannabe
coffee connoisseur on how to brew, grind and roast.
s-6 SIMPLY DELHI u JANUARY 2017
HIGHLIGHT The winter blend espresso with a sweet taste of
marzipan and plum cake
MEALF FOR TWO Rs 350
AT Khasra 258, Lane 3, Saidulajab
LUNCH
DEL
DEL AT Roseate House is an all-day bistro with a name
inspired by the Delhi aero code. Here, the menu changes
with every meal time. While their extensive menu cel-
ebrates a number of exciting fusion creations, there are
some stand-out dishes that one must try when at the
restaurant. Start with the beetroot and buratta salad
buttery mozzarella cheese served on a bed of beetroot
puree and arugula pesto drizzleeven a hardcore non-
vegetarian is bound to enjoy this surprisingly wonderful
dish. For the main course, go for their quinoa biryani
a healthy but delicious take on the popular rice prepara-
tion served with blueberry raita. From the desserts
section, a do-not-miss item is the apple tart tartin.
HIGHLIGHT Enjoy a relaxed meal with magnificent views
of the runway on one side and tranquil water bodies on
the other.
Photograph by RAJWANT RAWAT
DEL at Roseate House
 SIMPLY DELHI Cover Story
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,400 plus taxes
AT Roseate House, Aerocity, Indira Gandhi International
Airport
BELLA CUCINA
A NEW restaurant serving Italian cuisine hardly seems
to be a novelty in a city which has almost every nonde-
script cafe boasting of this fare. However, Amit Kumar,
the 29-year-old chef behind the restaurant makes sure
that there are more takeaways than you expect. For
instance, we would go back just for the mushroom
cappuccino soup. Our favourites were the braised
pork belly, scallop and tiger prawns and the ricotta
ravioli. Head here for a leisurely lunch, when you
have the luxury to sip a glass of your favourite wine
and indulge in the finest Italian cuisine.
HIGHLIGHT Petit antoinea chocolate and
cherry sphere
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 4,000
AT Le Meridien Gurgaon,
MG Road
Photograph by RAJWANT RAWAT
Chef Amit Kumar of Bella Cucina, Le Meridien, Gurgaon
PERCH WINE & COFFEE BAR
THIS IS where you go when you want a place sans
the usual thumping music and the predictable food.
Perch Wine and Coffee Bar has become the discern-
ing Delhiites go-to place where delicious sangrias hold
hands with great coffee. Do try their delicious
salads, pesto arancini balls and mustard grilled chicken.
But we keep going back to sip their amazing drinks
amidst jazz wafting from the minimalistic ambience.
HIGHLIGHT Their newest outlet at Basant Lok market
has livened up an otherwise dead market
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,500
AT Basant Lok Market,
Vasant Vihar
GREENR STORE
WHEN CALIFORNIANS adopted Veganism, we
were quite sure the fitness lifestyle would soon
catch up with an enthusiastic Indian audience. But alas,
it wasn't so. The GREENR Store & Cafe, nestled in the
centre of ShahpurJat Village is one of the few places in
 SIMPLY DELHI Cover Story
India that promises all vegetarian and even
vegan meals, but at the heart of their venture is
holistic living. Try their vegan seitan chicken or their
vegan meatball and sausage pizza and tell us if they
amaze you as well. Also, if you are looking out for
quirky little things, their store is a treasure chest
filled with these.
HIGHLIGHT Kaffir lime mini pie
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,100
AT 416, Shahpur Jat, Siri Fort
NOSHI
NOSHI, Yum Yum Chas Pan Asian delivery service
is slowly reinventing the takeout scene in Delhi.
Imagine over fifteen kinds of sushi, more than ten
varieties of beautifully wrapped dim sums (the crystal
duck and spicy Jade are a must-try) and an assortment
of lovely oriental flavours on your dining table, sans
the effort of going to the restaurant. Because Noshi
even delivers the Yum Yum Cha classic, the rocky
road and mango mochi and the most refreshingly
delightful orange juice and kafir lime cooler, we have
had a hard time stopping ourselves from ordering in
every week.
HIGHLIGHT The New Delhi with tuna and
tabasco sushi MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,000
AT noshi.in
Chef Tejas Sovani (centre) of
Amaranta, The Oberoi, Gurgaon
s-12 SIMPLY HYDERABAD u AUGUST 2014
DINNER
AMARANTA
THE FOOD at Amaranta, The Oberoi, Gurgaon, is art-
fully deceptive; delicious of course, but enticing, like an
illusionists trick that will keep you hooked till the very
last bite. How else can you explain the wild tamarind,
potato and feta ciabatta or the coconut, french onion and
chilli stuffed pita served with a mixture of salts and olive
oil? You cant help but marvel at how something as rou-
tine as a bread basket has been turned into a fine-dining
experience. It is modern Indian cuisine re-imagined. For
example, the bao dhabeli is an interesting creation. It
looks like a Chinese bao but with the potato, coriander
and cumin filling of a traditional Gujarati kacchi dhabeli.
HIGHLIGHT Champagne kala khatta and the pt-style
pickle dips
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 6,000
AT Plot No.443, The Oberoi, Udyog Vihar Phase V,
Gurgaon
MATAMAAL
FOR MANY of us, Kashmiri cuisine is limited to tabak
maz and gushtaba. Matamaal in Sikandarpur is a
revelation for those who have hardly tried anything
other than the mainstreamthe Kashmiri Pandit and
AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD s-12
 SIMPLY DELHI Cover Story
Photograph by
Chef Noah Barnes of Arriba
Dogri cuisines. The nadur yakhni (lotus stems cooked
in yoghurt gravy) and alle roghanjosh (pumpkin in
Roghanjosh style) are two dishes with distinct flavours
that are not to be missed.
HIGHLIGHT Modur Pulao (sweetened rice cooked with
coconut)
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,200
AT 203, DLF City Court, Sikandarpur, Gurgaon
ARRIBA
CINCO DE MAYO is still half a year around, but let
this not deter your festive spirit. Arriba at Khel Gaon
is our gateway to be instantly transported to Mexico.
A playful ambience, the right Latin beats and tequila
to keep us company, an outing here is no less than
revelling in a carnival. Expect the usual Mexican fare
from tacos, sopas, nachos and guacamole (no less
than five kinds) but packed with flavours and textures
and emphasis on freshness and quality ingredients.
Chef Noah Barnes excels at understanding our
palates and tweaking each dish to satiate not just
our appetite through the taste, but also our visual
senses through a riot of colour in each presentation.
HIGHLIGHT The churros with a warm and spicy
chocolate dip
RAJWANT RAWAT
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,500
AT Tabula Rd, Siri Institutional Area, Siri Fort
Institutional Area, Siri Fort
PING'S CAF ORIENT
IF THERE is anything more fulfilling than street food,
it is healthy street food. While we can't afford to book a
ticket to Bangkok, Singapore or Hanoi every week, we
can definitely go for the next best alternative in town
Pings Cafe Orient, the quaint little restaurant in Lodhi
colony that has been giving some of the biggest Asian
dining spaces a run for their money. On any given eve-
ning, the place is packed to the rafters, with people flow-
ing in to try their Korean bbq wings and the sumptuous
chicken bao. But the Guilt Free section of the menu is
what you should definitely order fromThe Vietnamese
khao suey, the Korean bibimbap and Japanese teriyaki
grilled chicken are a few dishes famous that fill you up
but still leave you feeling lite as a feather.
HIGHLIGHT Philadelphia cream cheese dumplings
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,100
AT 13, Main Market, Lodhi Colony
PA PA YA
PA PA YA's innovative Asian cuisine takes you by
surprise, just like the restaurants 70-feet high
dome, which dominates the circular layout of the
restaurant. The popular Mumbai eatery opens shop
in Delhi with an adjoining wine bar where you can
spend a leisurely evening enjoying Pa Pa Yas extensive
wine collection. The menu remains relatively unchanged
from the one in Mumbai, with a few exclusive additions
like the tuna enchilada. The roasted aubergine parcels
and steamed asparagus and corn farce are delicious
and flavourful, as is the Philadelphia cream cheese
roll. The sushi rolls are fresh and come with a handy
little guide on eating them. Chef Sahil Singh puts his
signature twist on traditional Asianand non-Asian
Judith Sciocrone, wine sommelier at Sevilla, The Claridges
Photograph by VIKRAM SHARMA
 SIMPLY DELHI Cover Story

dishes, like the scallop carpaccio.

HIGHLIGHT The Chocolate Ball of Firea decadent concoc-
tion of chocolate and matcha crme anglaise
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,900 plus taxes
AT Dome, Level 4, Select Citywalk, A-3, District Centre

AFTER
HOURS

THE PIANO MAN JAZZ CLUB

Jazz clubs of New York are synonymous with marry-
ing great musical performances with food and that is
exactly what you will find at The Piano Man Jazz Club in
Safdarjung. The club, which is a little over a year old, has
become one of the most sought-after entertainment ven-
ues with its incredible line-up of performers, a relaxed
ambience and a potpourri of Eurasian delicacies. The
place has been divided into four sections, with the ground
floor reserved for the Jazz Clubwhich focuses on music
and drinks; the first floor has a delightful little bakery
and the top two floors are part of a fine-dining space
called the Dirty Apron. The menu here presents a lot of
familiar-looking European dishes but with a Pan-Asian
twist. The laksa-sambal prawn spaghetti, for example,
which is a mix of Malaysian and Italian cuisines, presents
a burst of flavour for the palate.
HIGHLIGHT The hummustry it with the Sofrito rice
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,000
AT B-6 Commercial Complex,Safdarjung Enclave

Beer from the tap at Molecule, Gurgaon (above); A performance at The Piano Man Jazz Club
 SIMPLY DELHI Cover Story
MOLECULE AIR BAR
Molecule Air Bar is where you can start your journey
of becoming a beer geek. The interiors here are based
on a World War II concept and intrigue and excite at
the same time. Molecule offers its patrons molecular
gastronomy cuisine that blends physics and chemistry
transform the tastes and textures of not just food but
drinks as well. While here, you can enjoy their home-
infused liquor and an exciting list of cocktails such as
Molecular Mojitos, Alien Brain Hemorrhage, Cotton
Candy and White Sangria in Suspension.
HIGHLIGHT Freshly brewed beer such as the dark roasted,
Molecule Brew and blueberry beer.
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,500 for two
AT Main market, sector 29, Gurgaon
THE SKY HIGH
While many metropolitan cities around the world boast
of sky high bars, the concept took a while to come to
Delhi merely because the city has no skyscrapers. The
Sky High at the revamped Ansal Plaza mall works not
because it can give us a bird's eye view of the city but
rather a 360 degree view of the green environs of South
Delhi that this largest open rooftop dining space has to
offer. The menu here is typical bar fare with continental,
Italian and Mughlai delicacies, but with a view that good,
the food does take a back seat.
HIGHLIGHT Jelly Fish Hookah
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,000
AT C-306 A & 307, T-101 & 102, 3rd Floor, Ansal Plaza
Mall, Khel Gaon Marg
Go all starry eyed at The Sky High
SEVILLA
It isnt like you need more reasons to visit Sevilla at The
Claridges, but this truly is one of the latest reasons to be
booking a table here. Were talking about a collection of
organic wines that has been recently added to the menu.
While the wines taste absolutely lovely, the Sevilla ambi-
ence adds to the beauty of it all. The resident sommelier
Judith Sciarone takes pains to explain the region where
every wine comes from. Of the four new wines, our
favourite is the Haute Ct(e) de Fruit. This pure Malbec
is an explosion of black fruits, cinnamon and incense
the perfect wine to pair your food with.
HIGHLIGHT Were told the organic wines dont give you a
hangover
COST Rs 1,105 for a glass /Rs 5,495 for a bottle
AT 12, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road
THE PEOPLE & CO.
Laughter, music and food are three of the most fail safe
ways to have fun through the night and The People & Co.
knows this formula well. The Cyber Hub eatery is divid-
ed into three elementsCanvas (has a stage that hosts
open mic nights, fashion shows, theatre and comedy
acts), Plate (a fine-dine space with a sweet surprise, here
the chefs cook what they want to) and Public (an all day
wine and coffee bar for a quick post-office drink).
HIGHLIGHT On Mondays and Tuesdays each week, People &
Co. won't charge you a dime for the food, but the amount
of time you spend at the restaurant. 1 minute = Rs 15.
AT Premises No. 5, Building 8, Tower B, Cyber City
TEL 01244141000
SIMPLY DELHI Buzz
10
RESTAURANTREVIEW / CHOR BIZARRE
Old World Charm
B
ut for catching some
Rajasthan-bound buses,
chances are you might not
THINGS have explored Bikaner House
at India Gate. If so, its time you
TO LOOK
made this little trip. This understated
space is now home to one of the citys
most favourite restaurantsDarya
FOWARD
Ganjs Chor Bizarre. Retaining the
original restaurants warm vibe, the
brand new Chor Bizarre has almost
TO
all the classicsfrom a four-poster
bed themed table to a table made out
of an old sewing machine. The
vintage decor comes alive with clas-
sic old Hindi Bollywood songs waft-
ing from the place. The food and
service complements the overall feel,
s-12 SIMPLY DELHI u JANUARY 2017
as youre served generous portions
of delicious north Indian or Kashmiri
food. Our absolute favourite from the
spread was Dal Chor Bzar with ulte
tawe ka parantha but you must try
the Kashmiri spread. We highly rec-
ommend the Aloo Bukhara Mirchi
Korma with the sweet Bakarkhani or
the Goshtaba. And if youd rather go
for some Mughlai fare, wed suggest
you try the Nihari gosht and Rara
gosht. But we feel you definitely need
more than one visit to get a real feel
of the place, to soak in the nostalgia
and enjoy the delicious food.
Meal for two Rs 1,600
At Bikaner House, Pandara Road
n By Rewati Rau
2
RESTAURANTREVIEW / TOURIST JANPATH

A Bite of the World

W
anderlust will make
you take memorable
journeys across the
world and if you are
craving for those vacations
sitting at the desk of your
mundane 9 to 5 job, then
Tourist Janpath is where you
need to head to ASAP. We cant
promise sun-kissed sands and
snow covered mountains, but
what we can guarantee is a
bite from the worlds favourite
tourist destinations. The newly-
launched restaurant offers not
just sumptuous world cuisine,
but an eclectic atmosphere that
will leave you coming back for
more. With interiors that reflect
everything to do with travel
from vibrant bunk beds for seats,
postcards on the walls, personal
picture collages, straight out of
a hostel in Amsterdam to a
vibrant bazaar from Marrakesh,
globe shaped hanging lights, a
fantastic rooftop with swing
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
1. EU and UK Insalata Burrata
pan of fresh cream filled
mozzarella and baby tomatoes,
pesto and balsamic drizzle
2. Far West Brown Sugar Chicken
Stripscaramelised chicken
strips with crushed peanuts and
dark rum
3. Far East Laksa A Traditional
curry and coconut based thick
stew with crispy tofu, bean sprouts,
rice noodles and egg
4. South Asia Chocolate Paan
Shotspaan flavoured kulfi in
chocolate pooris with sweet
dried cherries
5. Drinks LPGan explosion of
tequila with candy blast, orange
liqueur, in-house sweet and
sour and cranberry juice

seating and an airport informa-

tion board with signature menu
offerings on itit has everything
to excite the wanderer in you.
The three-floor restaurant has
a huge, well-stocked bar so take
along as many friends as you can
with you. Coming to the food,
the menu is exciting to look at,
quite literally, for it comes in the
form of four passports divided
basis regionso theres EU &
UK, Far West, Far East and
South Asia. On each menu you
will find carefully selected dishes
that define that part of the world.

Meal for two Rs 2,000

At 1 Scindia House, Janpath
Road, CP
Tel 30806531
n By Mohini Mehrotra
SIMPLY DELHI Buzz

Jewels of Splendour
The Village Jewel Museum and Eco Lodge, Haryana

I
f you crave for a dose of history on the ground floor of the lodge is
amidst rustic environs, head for dedicated to the preservation of the
a weekend with your family to tribal jewellery of India and its rich
The Village Jewel Museum and heritage. The pieces reflect local
Eco Lodge situated in Manger, on traditions and customs, which are
the outskirts of New Delhi. The disappearing with development.
village is four kilometres from the Besides enjoying tribal jelwellery
Gurgaon-Faridabad highway and collected over a period of 35 years,
just a 45-minute drive away from here, you can participate in a vari-
Delhi. The rocky hills surrounding ety of workshops such as puppet
it are covered with trees unique making, folk dance, rock climbing,
to The Aravalli Rangethe old- acrobatics and much more. Its the
est plateau mountains in India. At the kind of place you could head to
the lodge, there are six rooms with this winter without worrying about
traditional twin beds, each with the distance.
en-suite bathrooms and it is 80 Tariff Rs 1,800 per person for a
percent powered by solar energy, night stay
keeping up with its eco tag. The At Village Jewel Eco Lodge, Mangar,
Village Jewel Museum, which is Haryana Tel 26651312

s-14 SIMPLY DELHI u JANUARY 2017

SIMPLY DELHI Buzz

4
FESTIVAL PREVIEW / UDAIPUR MUSIC FESTIVAL

A Musical Fiesta
February 10 to 12

C
onceptualised and produced by SEHER
and presented by Hindustan Zinc in
association with Wonder Cement and
supported by Rajasthan Tourism, The
Udaipur World Music Festival will have 150
artists from over 16 countries participating in it.
The line-up is an interesting mix of celebrated
and rare artistssome performing in India for
the first time like London Community Gospel
Choir, Niyaz featuring Nizam Ali, and more.
The UWMF 2017 will have its grand opening at
the Gandhi Ground on February 10. The first
day will showcase Kocani Orkestar, a Balkanic
gypsy band from Macedonia, electro sufi music
by Niyaz featuring Nizam Ali, African songs by
Monoswezi and sufi qawwali by Nooran Sisters-
Jyoti Nooran and Sultana Nooran. On the second
day of the fest, Fateh Sagar Pal (lake) of Udaipur
will echo with the magical poetic renditions of
Ablaye Cissoko from Senegal, who will collabo-
rate with the Constantinople Ensemble from
Canada, performing for the first time in India.
The festival will close at Gandhi Ground with
three formidable performancesItalian band
Officina Zoe will take us to the world of trance
with the Trance Therapy Music of Taranta;
Entry Open to public Details seher.in
Tel 41688811
5 Art Extravaganza
O
ne of the countrys biggest art events comes
back to Delhi this February with more exhibi-
tors and art projects. India Art Fair 2017
will see the return of Platform, a section at the fair
designed to provide an opportunity for emerging
South Asian galleries, artists and
art collectives. This year, Platform
participants include Britto Arts
Trust (Dhaka, Bangladesh),
Nepal Art Council (Kathmandu,
Nepal), Theertha International
Artists Collective (Colombo, Sri
Lanka) and Blueprint 12 (New Delhi, India). Another
interesting feature would be the Film Programme
curated by Godrej India Culture Lab with Avijit Mukul
Kishore and Rohan Shivkumar. At NSIC grounds,
Okhla Industrial Area Details indiaartfair.in
SIMPLY DELHI Buzz

6
VIBRANT CANVASES
Jan 28 to Feb 17

Art Alive Gallery is showcasing

40 years of veteran artist Paresh
Maitys journey of watercolours
with a show titled Paresh Maity:
World of Watercolours.
AT Lalit Kala Akademi,
Rabindra Bhavan
TIMINGS 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
TEL 41639000

7 8
HIGH ON LIFE WINTER FEAST
February 4 to 11 Ongoing

Booze lovers across the city
have reasons to rejoice with
the start-off of the second
edition of the Delhi Cocktail
Week. The week will have an
exciting line-up of more than
30 bars from across Delhi and
Gurgaon serving their
signature cocktails.
DETAILS facebook.com/delhi-
cocktailweek PRICE Rs 300 plus
taxes for one cocktail
This winter, enjoy delectable grills at Fio
Country Kitchen. Specially curated by
the chefs, the a la carte menu has grills
to appeal to every palate with a wine
pairing counter too. This festival prom-
ises the most delectable combination
of homegrown vegetables along with
the freshest and juiciest produce for a
delightful dining experience.
AT Fio Country Kitchen,
Garden of Five Senses
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,000

s-12 SIMPLY HYDERABAD u AUGUST 2014 AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD s-12
SIMPLY DELHI Buzz

9
NEW IN TOWN/ SAFFRONART

Fine Works
A
rt aficionados have a new sauve space in Delhi to
enjoy art soirees. Saffronart, Indias leading
auction house has opened its flagship property at
The Claridges hotel in Delhi. The, 3,000 square foot
gallery space will be home to auctions and exhibition view-
ings, previews, talks, panel discussions, book launches and
master classes for collectors, among other exciting events.
The new space, headed by Amit Kumar Jain, AVP Client
Relations, was inaugurated with an exhibition showcas-
ing 31 recent black and white works by Krishen Khanna.
A global company originating in India, Saffronart was
founded in 2000 to provide a platform for fine art and col-
lectibles. With live and online auctions, a strong global 10
presence in Mumbai, New York, London and New Delhi,
Saffronart provides easy access and detailed information
INTROSPECTIVE DESIGNS
Ongoing till February 7
on art, jewellery, collectibles and real estate.
At The Claridges, Abdul Kalam Road
Artist Kiyomi Talaulicars latest works convey a search
for home within. Titled Unlocking Stillness, her lines mark
fissures on the walls, signifying human surrender to
a wall. AT Gallery Art Motif, A-1-178, Safdarjung Enclave
TEL 42664343
SIMPLY DELHI Buzz

All that JAZZ

Legendary american Jazz artiste,
Stanley Jordan who will be performing
in Delhi in February talks about the
similarities between Jazz and
Indian classical music
n By MOHINI MEHROTRA

Q. Tell us a bit about your musical journey

A. As a child I was very influenced by the likes
of Sergei Prokofiev, Mozart, Beethoven and
Richard Wagner, and I used to enjoy playing the
piano and the guitar. I loved listening to jazz
Miles Davis, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine
and Herbie Hancockso when I was 12 years
old, I tried my hand at it. The thing I liked about
jazz most was that it had the complex struc-
ture, like classical music combined with the vis-
ceral power and feeling of rock and blues.

Q. Who are your favourite jazz artists in the world?

A. On the piano its Art Tatum and Keith Jarrett.
On the guitar its Joe Pass. My favorite living
jazz guitarist in George Benson. Anything from
his Blue Benson album would be a great place
to start. And of course, Miles Davis album,
Kind of Blue.

Q. Whats your take on jazz music scene in India?

A. I dont know a lot about it, so Im taking out
extra time during my trip to Delhi to meet and
Sound Check hopefully play with musicians from different
STANLEY JORDAN genres. I feel Indian musicians would be
especially good at jazz because the Indian clas-
sical tradition has similar elements. Some of
my favourite jazz musicians have collaborated
with Indian musicians. When I was a teenager,
in the 1970s I saw John Handy and Ali Akbar
Khan perform together and it really blew my
mind. It was remarkable how compatible the
two styles were in terms of improvisation and
a musical conversation between the artistes.

Q. How do you feel about performing in Delhi?

A. Im really looking forward to playing at the
Jazz Yatra. I know that there is a huge buzz
around this festival. I hope to bring something
memorable to the audience and I look
forward to hearing the other artistes.

Jordan will be in India for Jazz Yatra by

Teamwork Arts in association with Capital
Jazz, to be held on February 19, 2017 at One
Golden Mile, Delhi. Info at jazzindiacircuit.com
AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD s-12
SIMPLY DELHI Feature

The Nawabi
LEGACY
A PEEK INTO KAKORI, A SMALL
TOWN NEAR LUCKNOW
n By SRISHTI JHA

T
he city of Lucknow comes across like
a Djinn now, coming out of folklores
and history, awaiting your wishes to
be fulfilled and surprise you. A den of
Nawabs and kebabs and overwhelm-
ing warmth running through its veins, the
liveliness doesnt end in the city itself.
Kakori, a small town on the periphery of
Lucknow in the mango belt of Malihabad
about 25 kilometers from the cityshares the
same spirit. The Renaissance Group of Hotels
took the guests of Renaissance Lucknow for
a day trip to Kakori to experience the insight-
ful history, heritage and local traditions of the
town, mainly famous for the Kakori train rob-
bery that happened in 1925, one of the
significant events during Indias freedom
movement. Home to some of the greatest
poets like Mohsin Kakorvi and Ghulam Ahmed
Alavi, Kakori remains a dwelling to all things
beautiful like the old havelis and the fading art
of Zardozi. To live up to the local flavour, the
mango orchards are a must visit, famous for
their Dasheri mangoes. The orchard was deco-
rated with beautiful baithaks and the locals
welcomed the guests with fresh aam pannas,
roses and freshly cut mangoes. Few Zardozi
karigars put their work on display along with
Chikankari and Kamdani embroideries and
narrated stories of how once the embroidery
form was used to decorate the wardrobe of the
royals in India. The guests were entertained by
recitals of famous sayings about Lucknow and
Kakori. A beautiful qawwali performance was
organised by the local qawwals at the orchard.
An ideal weekend getaway, Kakori still
remains rooted and cultural and houses
many narratives that are waiting
to be discovered and lanes to be
walked into.

(Above) Visitors enjoying anecdotes about Kakori; A snakecharmer

performing at the mango orchard in Kakori
SIMPLY DELHI Feature
Vocalist Devashish Dey brings a local flavour to the festival
FINDING THE POET AND HIS CITY
As the sun sets, the
GOD IN
Dashashwamedh Ghat gears up
for the evening aartia sight
that brings hundreds of tour-
ists and pilgrims to Banaras. The
KABIRS Ganga aarti is an ode to the river
Ganga, that lights up each night
with flickering diyas on the ghats.
CITY Against the gentle calmness of the
river is a strong juxtaposition of
a city that is forever bustling with
pilgrims searching for the gods
THE FIRST ANNUAL that are said to have occupied its
MAHINDRA KABIRA FESTIVAL banks many moons ago. Benaras
or Varanasi was made from the
GAVE A GLIMPSE OF KABIR grand union of rivers Varuna and
DAS KASHI THROUGH A Assi and is considered to be one
THREE-DAY CULTURAL of the oldest living cities in the
world, as well as the centre of
SOJOURN. Hinduism. But there is a Benaras
that exists apart from the temples,
n By URSILA ALI
the heavy commercialisation in
the name of religion, the famed
handloom textiles or even the
delectable Benarasi paanthe
Benaras we talk about belongs to
s-20 SIMPLY DELHI u JANUARY 2017
the mystic Kabir Das, who trans-
formed the city into the focal point
of Indian spiritualism.
MAINSTREAMING KABIR
For many of us, Kabir merely
resides in our school textbooks,
where his dohas made an inte-
gral part of our Hindi syllabus.
But there are a few, like film-
maker Shabnam Virmani, who
has pulled out Kabir from social
amnesia and made the saints
socio-cultural relevance stand out
to the world through the Kabir
Project, an artist-in-residency
project at the Srishti Institute
of Art, Design and Technology,
Bangalore. This journey with
Kabir started in 2002 when I was
living in Ahmedabad, in the after-
math of the Gujarat riots which
was a time to introspect and
understand the prejudices around
caste and religion, says Virmani.
The project that started in 2003
has manifested through 4 films, 6
SIMPLY DELHI Feature
books and multiple events, all with
the aim to bring Kabir to the main-
stream. And what could be better
than celebrating the poet through a
full-fledged festival dedicated to the
life and teachings of Kabir and his
beloved city, Benaras?
SOULFUL REVERIE
Though on the outset the Mahindra
Kabira festival sounded much like a
music fest with luminaries of Indian
Classical music such as Prahlad
Tipanya, Pt. Rajan and Sajan
Mishra, Mir Mukhtiyar Ali and oth-
ers taking the stage to honour the
15th-century philosopher, but what
it brought to our plate was a unique
soul curryliterature sessions,
heritage walks and early morn-
ing meditation sessions, perhaps
to awaken an inner consciousness.
Seven years ago, corporate giant
Mahindra had sponsored an event
hosted by the Kabir Project and
fell in love with the idea of Kabir.
Kabirs ideology of being agnostic
to any religion is at the core of the
companys philosophy, says Jay
Shah, head, Cultural Outreach,
Mahindra & Mahindra, revealing
not many know that the company
used to be Mahindra & Mohammed
before partition. Ghulam
Mohammed shifted to Pakistan and
went on to become the countrys
Finance Minister, but remained a
close friend of the Mahindras until
the end.
s-22 SIMPLY DELHI u JANUARY 2017
Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani performing at MKF (above); Festival revellers
ENCOUNTERS WITH THE SAINT
On the Darbhanga ghat, where
the morning sessions of the three-
day festival took place, apart from
the festival participants, the locals
looked quite confused. Anil Narayan
Sharma, a resident of Varanasi and
a music photographer was drawn to
the festival by the names of the par-
ticipating musicians. I dont know
anything about Kabir except that he
believed in brotherhood, in that way
I am not separate from his beliefs,
says Sharma. For Mario Corello, a
yoga instructor from Mexico, the
festival wasnt his first introduction
to Kabir Das. An American friend
encountered Parvathy Baul in Italy
who told her about Das. My friends
research led her to watch Shabnam
Virmanis films on Kabir and in turn
5 THINGS TO DO
WHEN IN VARANASI
l Stay at the 200 year old Brij
Rama Palace, a Maratha wonder,
now a heritage hotel
l Visit sari weavers at Pathani Tola
l Brave a crowd of devotees to
see the Golden Temple covered
in 900 tonnes of gold
l Try delectable French and
German desserts at bakeries
owned by expats
l Indulge in benarasi paan at
Keshav Paan Bhandar at
Ravidas Gate
educating me about the mystic and
his ideas of universal truth, he said.
WHY KABIR?
Writer and Carnatic music exponent,
Vidya Shahwho performed at the
famous Assi ghat put things into per-
spective when asked about the rele-
vance of Kabir today. In a polarised
world, Kabirs idea of Hindu-Muslim
unity seems almost prophetic. He is
a symbol of communal harmony,
says Shah. Vipul Rikhi, poet and
singer reveals, Kabir became popu-
lar through his satsangs which had a
radical questioning spirit yet a place
where one found solace. Through
his satsangs, Kabir was disrupting
power structures around religion.
A power we wish more people had
in todays world.
 DIGITAL EDITION

THANK YOU FOR READING

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JANUARY 2017 AND CLEVER
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DESIGN HACKS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE A MONTHLY CITY MAGAZINE

FIVE WINTER LOOKS

FROM BRAND,
COVER STORY

TEN HERBS TO
HEAL YOUR SKIN A MONTHLY CITY MAGAZINE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE

KITCHEN SPECIAL
TOP
TABLES
AN 20 BEST EATERIES
IN THE CITY

OPEN
BOOK CHEF NOAH BARNES
OF ARRIBA
Supplement to India Today issue dated January 30, 2017
Mumbai, Delhi & NCR, Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
Not for sale. To be circulated free with India Today in
DCP No.: F. 2. (I - 20) Press / 2007

High
COOK WITH Life
POOJA DHOLAKIA
OF THUMRI

Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush,

producer, dancer and now author ELAN RNI No. DELENG / 2006 / 20557. Not
for sale. To be circulated free with
India Today in Mumbai, Delhi & NCR,
Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
Supplement to India Today issue
dated January 30, 2017
BEST LUXURY
EXPERIENCES
IN THE REGION
HYATT REGENCY
AHMEDABAD HOME IMPROVEMENT
NEW IDEAS FOR A FRESH START
SIMPLY MUMBAI Inside
Photograph by MANDAR DEODHAR

COVER STORY

Dcor Revamp s-3

New beginnings demand
a new look. Start the
year with a makeover for
your home.
Editor-in-Chief
Aroon Purie ESSAY
Group Chief Executive Officer
Ashish Bagga The A-Z of 2016 s-8
Group Editorial Director Columnist and
Raj Chengappa playwright, Rahul Da
Editor-at-large Cunha writes about the
Kaveree Bamzai
year gone by.
Group Creative Editor
Nilanjan Das
CITY BUZZ
Group Photo Editor
Bandeep Singh Into the City s-10
n Four cultural events to
Associate Editor look forward to.
Moeena Halim
Editorial Team
Mohini Mehrotra, Ursila Ali Cover photograph by
Photo Department DANESH JASSAWALA
Mandar Deodhar, Danesh Jassawala,
Vikram Sharma

OUR PICK of the month

Photo Researchers
Prabhakar Tiwari, Shubhrojit Brahma
Art Director
Jyoti Singh
Design
Sam Ved Society for Performing
Cultural Soiree
Vikas Verma,
Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma Arts annual Pt Durgalal Festival
Production January 27 celebrates its 27th year with
Harish Aggarwal (Chief of Production), performances from leading Kathak
Naveen Gupta, Vijay Sharma, exponent Uma Dogra and her
Prashant Verma
disciples, as well as Surupa Sen,
Layout Execution Bijayini Satpathy and Pavithra
Ramesh Kumar Gusain
Pradeep Singh Bhandari
Reddy of the Odissi dance ensemble,
Nrityagram, who will present
n
Sriyah. The Pt Durgalal Festival
Publishing Director pays homage to Dogras guru and
Manoj Sharma
mentor Durgalal, doyen of the
Associate Publisher (Impact) Jaipur gharana. At Tata Theatre,
Anil Fernandes
National Centre for the Performing
n Arts, Nariman Point
IMPACT TEAM Time 7 p.m. Tickets bookmyshow.
Senior General Manager: com and at the NCPA box office
Jitendra Lad (West)
General Managers:
Upendra Singh (Bangalore); Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things?
Velu Balasubramaniam (Chennai) Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplymumbai@intoday.com
Kaushiky Chakraborty (East)

s-2 SIMPLY MUMBAI u JANUARY 2017

SIMPLY MUMBAI Cover Story JUTE ART Pooja Dholakia
of Thumri

dcor
Photograph by DANESH JASSAWALA

A
MAKEOVER DOESNT
necessarily entail a complete
overhaul. Often a tiny detail, an
addition of an accessory or a
touch of colour can change the
look of a room. So if the thought
of renovations and rejigging your apartment

REVAMP
NEW BEGINNINGS DEMAND A NEW
LOOK. START THE YEAR WITH A
MAKEOVER FOR YOUR HOME.
n By MOEENA HALIM
seems overwhelming, start with making small
changes like adding utilitarian art to your
dcor. Remember, green spaces, gallery wall
art, handmade, artisanal products, geometrics
and tropical prints are likely to be big trends in
the coming year. Here are recommendations
for both undiscovered and well-known design-
ers you can turn to in the city of Mumbai.
z AU NATUREL
Jute dominates Pooja Dholakias designs,
binding Thumris spiral coasters, vases, name
plates and dreamcatchers. In search of inspi-
ration for her final project at the MIT Institute
of Design in Pune, Dholakia decided to take a
trip to South Mumbais busiest markets includ-
ing Crawford Market, Princess Street, Third
SIMPLY MUMBAI Cover Story
Photograph by DANESH JASSAWALA
Boiwada and Mohammed Ali Road.
The innumerable things to look at,
the endless permutations and com-
binations that my brain was churn-
ing out as potential business ideas
were making my mind go numb. In
this mind-numbing cocktail, the only
product that caught my attention
was the modest jute rope, recalls
Dholakia. Returning home with
bundles of rope, she began decorat-
ing waste bottles with them. That
was the beginning of Thumri, and
although jute is a recurring element,
her designs also include burlap,
beads and buttons, wooden decora-
tives, coconut shells, feathers, cro-
chet, gunghroos and laces. Her plan
for the future is to employ women
from marginalised communities
and tie up with rural artisans, some
of whom make the most beautiful
carved bottle gourd lamps.
Tel 9833694886
s-4 SIMPLY MUMBAI u JANUARY 2017
Email poojadholakia@thumri.in
Website facebook.com/thumritales
z GOING GREEN
Terrariums and kokedamas are a
great way to bring in some green
to your space-crunched apartment.
Dentist Abhijit Varpe, who did up
coffee shop Blue Tokai with this
green decor, believes they also make
for a hassle-free, stunning piece of
art. Terrariums for the most part, he
says, are maintenance-free if kept in
the right spot (indirect sunlight and
in a cool spot, preferably air condi-
tioned) they might need watering at
times once in six months. Kokedamas
on the other hand require watering
like any other regular potted plant.
They can be soaked in water for a
couple of minutes and placed back
in their spots again, suggests Varpe,
who set up his green venture Copper
Brains in 2013 to retail terrariums
GOING GREEN Abhijit Varpe of
Copper Brains
and later, the Japanese art form of
kokedamas too.
Tel 9773702648
Website copperbrains.in/
z OFFBEAT, BUT ON TREND
Bring the wilderness into your liv-
ing room with Freedom Trees lat-
est designs. According to founder
and design director Latika Khosla,
their designs are all about easy liv-
ing, trendy colour mixes and fuss-
free products that are offbeat and
inspiring for a new generation to
discover the delight of doing up their
homes. Their Keora collection, which
includes a slipper chair, a sofa, a
slope side table and facet side table
made from sheesham wood, depicts
sinuous, curving tree branches bear-
ing lush blossoms and fruits. The
print climbs the tapestry like curling
branches laden with blooming flow-
ers and abundant fruit. Vivid green
SIMPLY MUMBAI Cover Story
Photograph by MANDAR DEODHAR
fronds and aquamarine leaves
pull us deep into a magical forest
set against the deepest teal back-
ground, describes Khosla. The
design is ideal for giving the idea of
escape, which can be accentuated
by using deep teals and blues as a
GLASSY ACT Rhea Kanuga and
Mikhail Solanki of Glassbotl
backdrop, whether on walls or on
the main sofas, she suggests.
Website freedomtree.in/
z TAKE TO THE BOTTLE
It was as a tribute to his pet squir-
rel that industrial designer Mikhail
Solanki designed his squirrel
lamp, made from an old cham-
pagne bottle. Its a very unique
looking lamp with a scape of a
squirrel in a park, he reveals. This
frosted glass design is just one of
several Solanki creates from waste
glass bottles. Life had hit a dead
end. Ironically, I found my answer
at the bottom of my last whiskey
bottle that I just didn't want to
throw away, says Solanki, who
set up Botl in early 2015. Tying
up with Rhea Kanuga, Botl now
has a range of scented candles,
garden accessories such as plant-
ers for small indoor and outdoor
plants, and lighting which includes
TRENDS
FOR 2017
Mumbai-based interior designer
Shabnam Gupta, who launched her
flagship outlet of Peacock Life in Bandra,
has to her credit a list homes of actors
Parineeti Chopra, Aditya Chopra, Rani
Mukherjee, Irrfan Khan and many more.
She tells us what to look out for in 2017.
1 Go Green Named the 2017 Pantone Colour
of the Year, "Greenery" is meant to
represent refreshment and revitalisation
something we all could use in a complex
social and political environment. Thus,
2017 will be about this cheery shade of
green in home decor, fashion and
commercial design.
2 Tech Savvy Redefining the user's lifestyle
with state-of-the-art technology, products
and materials, making the home not only
liveable but also luxurious. Technology
has also massively enhanced the process
of design by enabling creative ideas to
become tangible in ever speedier time
frames.
3 Upcycling/Recycling People are looking
for more sustainable furniture and interior
ideas. Reusing, repurposing and upcycling
will remain a key element. We live in a world
immersed in technology and disposable
items so people are looking for a balance.
4 Minimalistic Bathrooms The trend is
going in the direction of smaller and more
private spaces. The shape and the size of
toilet sinks and bathtubs are considerably
reduced, not only to fit better in the
smaller urban apartments but also to
introduce a sense of restrained elegance
and intimacy.
5 Modular Furniture Modular furniture
allows us to personalise interior design in
no time without spending lots of money.
Multipurpose furniture design give us the
freedom to save the space-saving ideas for
decorating, reflecting the interior trends.
6 Art-inspired Wall Art/Wallpaper The
truth is wallpaper or wall art can make or
break a room, rendering it timelessly chic
or permanently tragic. A focal point is able
to attract the eyes into the space and give
the viewers a sense of what to expect. In
this case, a piece of wall art can be posi-
tioned as a focal point for your room.
AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD s-12
SIMPLY MUMBAI Cover Story

everything from hanging pendant

lights to table top lamps. Were at
the dawn of the eco revolution and
theres no greater way to contribute
than to go green in your business or
lifestyle, says Solanki.
Tel 8689800046
Email botl@glassbotl.com
Website facebook.com/pg/glassbotl

z HANDMADE WITH LOVE

Distressed and decoupagethe
two oft-heard Ds of design form the
very bedrock of Yes I Made This.
Celebrating the handmade, they
make quilts, trays, letter holders,
cushion covers, coasters, candles
and more. Pretty Victorian florals
meet lovely ethnic peacock and pais-
ley designs that could help you turn
your room into a Shakespeare and
Company Cafe inspired wonderland.
Tel 8879222743
Website yesimadethis.co.in/

z A TOUCH OF THE RUGGED

Military green helmets, a vintage
camera on a tripod or a vintage
model airplaneKaran and wife
Maithili Marathe Bangera offer
some of the quirkiest designs. The
Bangeras, who also set up The
Gentleman's Community, are pas-
sionate about vintage designs and
gather items from collectors and
artisans from all over the world. At
Rav Lifestyles in Santacruz, they
retail some of the most interesting
dcor items from manly leather
chairs to quirky ladder shelves and
wine bottles holders.
Tel 022-26056472
Website facebook.com/pg/thegent-
lemanscommunity or facebook.com/
ravlifestyle
z SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Decorative plates with kitschy, quirky,
on-trend designs share space with a
Van Gogh-inspired range. At Mora
Taara, theres something for every
taste. The stores owner Anuradha
Kumar envisioned the markets of
South East Asia while she designed
the look of the Peddar Road store.
Youll find brass lanterns, hand
embroidered cushions and quirky
movie posters. Primary colours
uses wood, fabric and ceramics time-
COOL IDEA Designer Mikhail
Solanki's squirrel lamp made
from an old champagne bottle
are paired with vibrant ethnic
designs.
Tel 022-65754822, 022-23523116
Website morataara.com
z NATURE CALLS
Flora and fauna is one of the biggest
inspirations for Sarita Handa and her
team of designers. Elephant motifs
to patterns of birds on a branch,
Handas designs are a lovely way to
add a touch of the wild into the com-
fort of your home.
Tel 022-40052686
Website saritahanda.com/
z TIMELESS STYLES
Handcrafted products can never go
out of style, and the Nagpur-based
Kalika which has recently opened an
outlet in the suburb of Khar,
lessly. Although the newly opened
store has a lovely range of products,
its their lamps that are the most
interesting. Tel 022-26006562
Website kalika.net.in/
z EXPERIMENTAL ONE
At Avni Sejpals studio, youll find the
most creative innovations including
bespoke lighting, textiles, statement
furniture, installation environments
and objet d'art. Apart from cork and
metals, Sejpal is also known for
upcycling sarees for seating.
Tel 022 65618520
Website studioavni.com/
z SHABBY CHIC
Vinanti Kothari has a knack of giving

s-6 SIMPLY MUMBAI u JANUARY 2017

SIMPLY MUMBAI Cover Story
CARPETS OF
CONVERSATIONS
People collect paintings, I collect tribal
carpets, says Danny Mehra, who has been
doing this for the past 25 years. Last year,
the Bangalore-based retiree began
exhibiting his collection across the country,
with the carpets up for sale to the interest-
ed, because he realised he had enough to
cover a football field. Here's what he
recommends for first-time buyers:
How do you recommend a carpet or rug
be used to change the look of a room?
When you think of a carpet, you think of
the floor. But really you can also use them
on walls, on top of furniture and tables or
even on beds as blankets. In Mumbai, since
the spaces are smaller, tribal carpets are
ideal because they are not very large. Use
two or three smaller 4x6 or 5x7 rugs for a
floor. They become interesting conversa-
tion pieceseveryone will stop and look
at them, talk about the iconography and
the rich art that theyre trying to represent.
Depending upon the rest of the dcor, the
carpets can either dominate or blend in. If
its a centrepiece, then use colour otherwise
opt for those from southwest Iran made
from undyed wool.
What advice would you give to a first-
time buyer?
Buy whatever makes you happy. Dont buy
something that the dealer is telling you is
important. The knots per square inch and
the stories are all meaningless if you dont
really like the carpet. Youre going to be
living with it for a long time and so it must
have timeless appeal. Tribal carpets are so
spontaneous and rich in iconography that
you keep discovering new things. Of course
you also need to consider budget. So if
youre spending north of Rs 50,000, then
you can get something truly interesting.
Anything less than that and you wont get
an original. Or it probably wont be knotted.
Are you partial to a certain tribal group?
Im partial to five regionsPersia (Iran),
Anatolia (Turkey), the Caucasus (Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Dagestan), Central Asia
(Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan)
and various Kurdish enclaves. These were
the cradles of carpet weaving in ancient
times.
Do you suggest sticking to the style of
just one region?
I would probably mix them up. They have a
lot of symbols relating to peoples daily life
and having different ones would mean more
conversations.
What should one consider when it comes
to colour or design?
Whats great about tribal carpets is that
they work very well with modern dcor
even though theyre 19th century pieces.
Kashmiri designs tend to be very floral,
but these are abstract, geometric designs.
Although they have an individual soul, they
blend in very nicely with modern decor.
How does one acquire a tribal carpet?
Well, you cant just go to a store and buy
them. You could hunt them down through
auctions. I havent been able to find any
other collectors in India. Ive started to sell
my collection, because I have too many.
Is maintaining a tribal rug in Mumbai
likely to be a challenge?
Probably yes. Youve got to guard them
against the elements, but most homes are
now climate controlled so thats less of an
issue. Once a month put it out in the sun,
dont roll it and put it away in a corner where
it is dark and humid.
Contact dannymehra@yahoo.com
Photograph by MANDAR DEODHAR
CUSTOM DESIGNS Vinanti
Kothari (right) of Not So Shabby
reclaimed wood a chic new ava-
tar. Apart from being pretty, her
products are extremely utilitarian.
Especially her line of Ikea-inspired
lap desksvibrant fabrics cover
the cushions on one side, while the
wooden desk on the other is colour-
fully painted as a desk or as a chalk
board. I thought people would
really appreciate this product as
some are more comfortable doing
their homework or working on the
laptop from their bed or sofa. Also
not everybody has a study table
with such tight spaces in the room,
says Kothari. The designer took
up the saw to test her limits and
fuel her curiosity after returning
from the UK armed with a degree
in architecture. I converted my
balcony into my small workshop
and started collecting the few sets
of necessary machinery and using
them watching YouTube tutorials,
reveals Kothari. Not So Shabby also
undertakes custom orders. A few
of their other interesting products
include a chalkboard with mail
storage and hooks, lamps made out
of GI pipe and Edison bulbs and a
design gallery wall with custom
layouts of frames.
Tel 7767919809
Website facebook.com/
notsoshabbyshop
SIMPLY MUMBAI Essay
THE A TO Z OF 2016What a year its been, 2016. Heres my take, dear reader.
l AIADMK has a new boss.
Aamirs intolerance
comment, nation goes
ballistic. Acche Din awaited.
Aleppo destroyed. Alan
Rickman leaves us. Akshay
Kumar rules Bollywood.
Alia Bhatt rules Bollywood.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil kills the
box office. Airlift soars.
Aishwaryas purple lips at
Cannes. ATMs under
pressure. ATM lines. ATMs
empty. Aadhar card on.
Aadhar card off. Arnab
Goswami goes (nation wants
to know where). Arnab back.
Arnabs Republic. Ashwin
rules.
l Barack goes to Cuba.
Barack leaves the White
House. Bollywood babes
in Hollywood. Boozebandi
in Bihar. Beefbandi in
Bombay. BHIM. Biopics in
Bollywood. Brangelina call
it quits.Bhakts go ballistic.
Battle against black money.
Benami properties. BRICS.
BCCI cut down to size.
Brexit. Britain is going crazy.
Boris resigns.
l Cameron resigns.
Cauvery problems. Cash
crunch. Cashless society.
Castro adios. Chennai Super
Kings banned. Clooneys
divorcing: Clooneys having
twins? Cohen leaves us.
l Dalits. Dangal destroys
the box office. David Bowie
gone. Debbie Reynolds
follows Carrie Fischer.
Deepika and Vin Diesel.
s-12 SIMPLY HYDERABAD u AUGUST 2014
Digital age. Demonisation,
sorry, Doomonetisation,
sorry, Demonetisation. Dipa
Karmakars Produnova.
Dylan awarded Nobel Prize.
Dylan disappears. Dylan
reappears and accepts
Nobel.
l Farmer suicides. Feku
speaks and speaks. Fawad
GUEST COLUMN
RAHUL DA CUNHA
Columnist and
playwright
Khan hungama. Five crore to
army fund.
l George Michael go-
goes. Goods & Sales Tax
passed. Gurgaon re-named
Gurugram.
l Hashtags before
everything. Hillary flatters to
deceive. Hillary flattened.
l Immigrant influx. Indrani
and Peter continuing saga.
ISIS brutality.
l Jayalalithaa gone. Jana
Dhan Yojana. Jio 4D. Jungle
Book regales.
l Kangana vs Hrithik spat.
Kapoor & Sons. Kohli Kohli
and more Kohlimania. Kohli
RCB. Kohli Anushka. Kohli
captains. Kohli on TV. Kohli
is India. Karun Nairs 300.
Kanhaiya Kumar takes the
stage. Kejriwal falters.
l Lodha Commission
dictates. Lone gunmen
massacres. Leonardo
diCaprio finally wins his
Oscar.
l Make in India. Mann
ki Baat. Mallya splits.
Manchester City triumphs.
Mitron. Muhammad Ali RIP.
l Nawaz not so sharif.
NaMo dominates. NaMos
boring New Year day speech.
Neerja soars. Notebandi
in India. Nakabandis in
Mumbai.
l OBC issues. Odd-Even
number plates. OROP
resistance. Owaisi
aggression.
l Patankhot tragedy.
Prince gone. Pakistans
sneaky behaviour. Pakistan
baiting India. Pakistani
actors banned in Bollywood.
Pakistan cross border
terrorism. Pakistan
sidelined. Pahlaj Nihalani
and his Censor board. Paytm
prospers. Parliament
sessions washed out
again and again and again.
Patanjali products. Panama
papers. Pink - the movie.
Pink - the Rs 2,000 note.
Pokemon obsession.
Pottermania obsession
continues.
l Queues outside banks.
AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD
Aap quatar mein rehenge.
l Ratan Tata returns.
Raghuraman Rajan rocks.
Raghuraman Rajan resists.
Raghuraman Rajan returns
to Harvard. Reserve Bank of
India, Reverse Bank of India.
Rollback Bank of India.
RSS short pants become
long. Ripped jeans banned
in college. Rio Olympics.
l Sehwags tweets.
Sharapova tests positive.
Surgical Strikes on Pakistan.
Surgical strikes on black
money. Swachh Bharat. Suit
Boot ki sarkar. Smart cities.
Smart phones. Start ups.
Standing up for the national
anthem becomes a Supreme
Court diktat. Sakshi Malik
wrestling bronze. Sindhu
badminton silver medal.
Sania Mirza splits with Swiss
Miss Hingis. Saina Nehwal
iffy year. Sherry Paaji flip
flops. Shivaji statues in
the sea.
l Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi.
Trolls ballistic. Tata sons.
Tata-Mistry tension. Trump
towers above all. Trump for
Prezzie.
l Udta Punjab. Ladta
Punjab with censor board.
Uri attacks. Uber Ola surge
pricing. Usain Bolt bolts
to 9 golds. Vadra cant zip
through airport security.
Vardah destroys Chennai.
l Yadav vs Yadav. Yuvraj
married.
l Zakir Naik. Zika epidemic.
Zzzzzz in Parliament.
s-12
SIMPLY MUMBAI Feature
Photograph by REBECCA CONWAY
B Sounds
orn in the USA,
educated in Pune and now based
in London, jazz composer,
percussionist and producer
Sarathy Korwar has been visiting
the country to introduce his debut
album Day to Day. The jazz album
has the unmistakable elements of
folk and sufi as well as the mystic
sounds from the Sidi community in
Gujarat. Returning to the country
to play at the GOAT Festival in Goa
(January 27-29), Korwar speaks to
Simply Mumbai about his music
and the inspiration behind it.
Q. What was the kind of music
you grew up listening to?
A. I grew up listening to Hindustani
music at home because of my par-
ents, who are both passionate about
it. I also listened to a lot of rock n roll
and jazz, which is what I loved the
most, and my sound has been shaped
by all three musics (and more!).
Q. Much of your music is inspired by
Sidi music. How did your interest in
the sect begin?
A. I came across the Sidis when I
from the
Sidis
JAZZ COMPOSER,
PERCUSSIONIST AND
PRODUCER
SARATHY KORWAR
TALKS ABOUT HIS MUSIC
n By MOEENA HALIM
met an ethnomusicologist called
Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy who told me
about the community. I got
fascinated by their history and
music as soon as I dug deeper and
got in touch with one particular
performing troupe of Sidi musicians
in Ratanpur and Bharuch (Gujarat)
and spent some time recording
them in their homes and outdoors.
It was an incredible experience.
Q. What specific aspects of their
Sarathy Korwar during a performance
culture and music have made it to
your music?
A. I was particularly interested in
the Sidi instrument the malunga
(which is a single stringed gourd
resonated bow) and their drum/
vocal ensembles. Both these musi-
cal elements display the connec-
tion they have to Africa alongside
their sufi and Indian heritage. I
recorded the Sidi musicians play-
ing their songs on the malunga and
drums/voice, with plenty of these
field recordings making it on to the
album.
Q. Is it challenging to recreate your
sound live on stage?
A. I love performing live. Recreating
the songs live was a challenge ini-
tially, especially trying to incorpo-
rate the Sidi music samples but I
think I have found a good balance
between pre-recorded and live
sounds while performing. I also
work with some amazing musicians
who make the entire process very
enjoyable, inspiring and stress free.
Q. Do you think your sound defines
the future of music?
A. I hope it helps define the contem-
porary because thats what it is.
Listen to Sarathy Korwars music on
sarathykorwar.com/music
SIMPLY MUMBAI Buzz

4 1
CULTURAL FESTIVALS
TO LOOK OUT FOR
FUSION FEST
February 3 to 5

In its 10th edition, SulaFest, hosted by

Nashiks Sula Vineyards is upping its
game by bringing London indie rock
band Bloc Party as a headliner as well
as Israels electronic duo Infected
Mushroom. Nucleya, The Raghu Dixit
Project and Indian Ocean lead the
homegrown talent. Apart from
delicious wine and food, theres also
the SulaFest Bazaar, yoga classes,
foot massages and so on.
Time 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tickets bookmyshow.com
Tel 8268126660
Website sulafest.com/

2 BY THE SEA
January 21 and 22

Alibaugs Morapada beach

will host a two-day festival
Nariyal Paanifeaturing a
medley of Indian and
international independent
3 OPERA SEASON artists such as Donn Bhat
+ Passenger Revelator,
January 30 to February 11
Fiddlers Green and
The NCPA welcomes spring with another season Bellatrix.
of the Symphony Orchestra of India. Conductor At Morapada, Rewas Road,
Carlo Rizzi will open the season with Beethovens 6 km from Mandwa Jetty
5th Symphony and works by Wagner and Strauss. Tickets insider.in
At Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Website Nariyal-Paani.com
Point Tickets bookmyshow.com and at the NCPA
box office Website ncpamumbai.com

4 CELEBRATING THE BLUES

February 11 and 12

The Mahindra Blues Festival this year includes three-time Grammy nominee
Shemekia Copeland, blues prodigy Quinn Sullivan, Americana soul singer
Janiva Magness, Mumbai-bred Warren Mendonsas Blackstratblues, vocal-
powerhouse Grainne Duffy, and the Supersonic Blues Machine featuring Billy
Gibbons of ZZ Top fame, and blues-rock guitarist Eric Gales. At Mehboob
Studios, Bandra (W) Tickets bookmyshow Website mahindraBlues.com
SIMPLY GUJARATI Inside

Photograph by MANDAR DEODHAR

Editor-in-Chief
Aroon Purie
Group Chief Executive Officer
Ashish Bagga
Group Editorial Director
Raj Chengappa
Editor-at-large
Kaveree Bamzai
Group Creative Editor
Nilanjan Das COVER STORY BUZZ
Group Photo Editor
Bandeep Singh
Luxe Living s-4 Into the City s-11
n
Find the best bespoke experiences in Three things to look forward to this
Editorial Team
the region. month.
Mohini Mehrotra, Ursila Ali
Photo Department Cover photograph by MANDAR DEODHAR; Model PARUL KASHYAP; Ensemble by DIPALI SHAH HAUTE COUTURE
Shailesh Raval, Vikram Sharma Hair and Make-Up HAKIMS AALIM AHMEDABAD; Location HYATT REGENCY AHMEDABAD
Photo Researchers

OUR PICK of the month

Prabhakar Tiwari, Shubhrojit Brahma
Art Director
Jyoti Singh
Design
Vikas Verma,
Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma Glass Art
Production January 28
Harish Aggarwal (Chief of Production),
Naveen Gupta, Vijay Sharma,
Prashant Verma Have empty glass bottles ly-
Layout Execution ing around? Upcycle them into
Ramesh Kumar Gusain pretty lights to jazz up your home.
Pradeep Singh Bhandari Ahmedabad-based studio pH
n Designs has a workshop on how
Publishing Director to turn bottles into lamps that can
Manoj Sharma used in the house, as garden light-
Associate Publisher (Impact) ing or even as DIY gifts.
Anil Fernandes Fees Rs 700 with materials in-
n
cluded Time 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
At pH Designs Studio, 1st Floor,
IMPACT TEAM
Senior General Manager: Pratharna Flats, C.G. Road,
Jitendra Lad (West) Ahmedabad
General Managers:
Upendra Singh (Bangalore);
Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things?
Velu Balasubramaniam (Chennai)
Kaushiky Chakraborty (East) Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplygujarati @intoday.com

s-2 SIMPLY GUJARATI u JANUARY 2017

SIMPLY GUJARATI Cover Story

LUXE
LIVING
FROM BESPOKE DINNERS ON A PRIVATE ISLAND TO MEET-AND-GREET
SESSIONS WITH ROYALS, GUJARAT OFFERS MULTIPLE LUXURY EXPERIENCES.
n By ADITI PAI

s-12 SIMPLY HYDERABAD u AUGUST 2014

OPULENCE ON WHEELS
Deccan Odyssey
T
RAIN JOURNEYS ALWAYS EVOKE A
sense of nostalgia and stories of faraway
sojourns. When you get on board the
Deccan Odyssey, an uber luxury tourist train,
enjoy the royal repasts in the blue cabins that
house plush rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant,
a spa and attentive butlers on-call who make
you feel like royalty. On its Gujarat leg, the train
winds through heritage cities like Vadodara,
takes you to the home of the lion in Gir, the
mesmerising desert of Kutch, the historical town
of Somnath and the city of Patan, known for its
exquisite patola saree and the UNESCO heritage
site of the Rani ki Vav stepwells. Get off at the
various sites and explore the cities in comfort-
able coaches, watch the countryside speed by,
dine at the multi-cuisine restaurant or take a
massage at the on-board spa.
PRICE Rs 3,95,000 onwards for seven days
DETAILS deccan-odyssey-india.com
A grand welcome at the
Deccan Odyssey
AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD s-12
SIMPLY GUJARATI Cover Story

BESPOKE
EXPERIENCES
Radhika Bhuptani

F
ROM AN ELEGANT SIT-
down pop-up dinner in the
middle of a golf course to hav-
ing the Maserati roll in for a close
look, Radhika Bhuptanis Concept
Inc, curates events that spell luxury.
Gujarat is recently waking up to
the concept of brand consulting.
Everyone aspires for luxury but
you need to create an experience to
build loyalty for a brand, says the
29-year-old marketing professional
who creates an experience for
people to take back at every event.
When a fashion store launched in
the city, Bhuptani arranged a show
where leading designers showcased
their creations against art works
and installations. At a pop-up res-

MANDAR DEODHAR
taurant, she took the party right
into the middle of a golf course and
served food on handcrafted server
plates made from logs of wood. Last
year, she roped in a Mumbai-based

cheese connoisseur for a workshop
and brought in celebrated chef
Dipali Shah, fashion designer
Vicky Ratnani for a cook-out. I
want to build brand loyalty through
the excitement of such experiences
and proper packaging, she says.
Inspired by her years in Mumbai
where people exchanged music,
Bhuptani now wants to create
properties that focus on music and
food events and wellness experi-
ences. Luxury is about the good
life, she says.
TEL 7874867090
MADE TO MEASURE
Dipali Shah
MANDAR DEODHAR
Photograph by
Radhika Bhuptani, founder, Concept Inc
from luncheons to farmhouse
parties and weddings. Dressing
in Ahmedabads social circles is
very formal. Gowns are feminine,
elegant and also convenient,
says the self-taught designer who
was among the first to introduce
gowns to Ahmedabad four years
ago with her label, Dipali Shah
Haute Couture. Some of the popular
trends according to Shah are fish-
tails, straight cuts for work, mini-
mal flair dresses for daytime and
dhoti drapes but she can also cus-
tomise according to your needs. She
predicts that the year ahead will see

a lot of feminine colours like bub-

A
S THE 'RED CARPET
gown' gets on to every fash-
ionista's wishlist, Dipali
Shah, 39, makes sure that the wish
Photograph by
blegum pink and mauve in gowns.
For the current season, shes bring-
ing in crepe silk, satin, Swarovski
work and lace for those looking for

gets fulfilled through her gowns a touch of luxury. The 80s look is
and dresses for occasions ranging back with frills, bell sleeves and
SIMPLY GUJARATI Cover Story

varied food optionsTinello serves

home-style Italian; the Chai Shop is
a casual caf for quick bites while
the Juniper Lounge is an informal
space to meet friends.
DETAILS ahmedabad.regency.
hyatt.com

DRAMA ON
YOUR PLATE
Nautanki Gastronomical Drama

A
T NAUTANKI-GASTRON
omical Drama, restaurateur
Parvez Mohammed,
33, brought in a generous dose
of molecular gastronomy in an
informal setting with a live chaat
trolley that serves bhel with
a sorbet of the chutney or the
tangy chaat masala turned into
a gel. Gujarat likes to stick to its
roots when it comes to food. At
the most, Indian food is synony-
mous with Punjabi but we got the
MANDAR DEODHAR
best from India here, he says.
Mohammed brought together deli-
cacies from around India on the
menu and created a special selec-
tion of molecular gastronomy fare.
Photograph by

A highlight here is the nine course

meal, a 75 minute-long dining expe-
Lavish interiors of the Hyatt Regency, Ahmedabad rience that starts with dishes from
the North and travels down to the
one-side shoulder gowns, she says. facial, foot massage and a vitality kitchens of the South.
AT 41, Spring Field, Judges pool experience. If youre looking The numerous cook-outs and
Bungalow Road, Premchand Nagar for their signature therapies, go for workshops by experts such as
Society, Bodakdev the Signature Thaishi, a 90 minute celebrity chef Vicky Ratnani, TV
treatment that includes hot stone, food presenters Rocky and Mayur
IN THE LAP Balinese and aroma massages. The
restaurant spaces are inviting with
and Rashmi Uday Singh also helped
bring in the well travelled food
OF LUXURY
Hyatt Regency Parvez Mohammed, owner, Nautanki-Gastronomical Drama

W
ITH A CHINA HOUSE
serving customised Jain
dishes, a relaxing spa,
a lavish presidential suite and
the largest banquet facility in
Ahmedabad, the Hyatt Regency,
one of the best hotels in the city,
is all about luxury, with a dash of
the inimitable Gujarati hospitality.
MANDAR DEODHAR

The four hour-long Indulgence at

the Aadi Spa is a must if you want
to unwind in the lap of luxury with
a body scrub, massage, age repair
Photograph by
SIMPLY GUJARATI Cover Story
lovers. Luxurious dining is about
enjoying your meal over conversa-
tions. The experience starts with
the welcome greeting and extends
to the food, ambience and music,
says Mohammed. The dcor
of Nautanki is in line with their
mottoof creating drama. The
interiors are inspired by the
colours of the peacock, a bird
known for its theatrical dance.
MEAL FOR TWO Rs 1,500
AT Old IIM Road, Opp Atira,
Ahmedabad
Dipaali Bhatt, owner, Holidays and More
s-8 SIMPLY GUJARATI u JANUARY 2017
THE GLOBE
TROTTER
Dipaali Bhatt
I
F A BACHELORS BASH ON
A yacht in Croatia or a romantic
anniversary dinner on a private
island off Fiji is your idea of travel,
Dipaali Bhatt, 42, promises to make
your dreams come true with her
luxury travel consultancy, Holidays
And More. Gujarat has been a
market for group tours for a while
MANDAR DEODHAR
Photograph by
now but the luxury travel market
is fast growing, says Bhatt who
curates customised luxury travel
experiences around the world.
Shes organised an all-vegetarian
culinary tour of Morocco, arranged
a session in Italian cooking for a
couple in a villa in Tuscany and
is now set to take a group of men
for the Cherry Blossom Festival in
Japan early next year. Gujaratis
are avid travellers who usually take
at least two holidays a year and
are always looking for something
new, says Bhatt. The something
new is evident in the holidays shes
planneda young couple took off
on a safari in Botswana for their
honeymoon; a group of women are
going to see the Northern Lights in
February and shes organised
a self-drive tour for a family. On her
travel planning list are also foreign
tourists who she takes on-board
the Deccan Odyssey and other
luxury experiences. The hot des-
tinations are east Europe, Japan,
Croatia, Bora Bora and Fiji, she
says. Bhatt, who spent nine years
planning luxury travel, is predict-
ably an avid traveller who takes
off on a holiday all by herself once
a year. It helps me explore new
experiences which I can then plan
for my clients, she says.
PRICE Customised holidays start at
Rs 1.75 lakh
AT 805 Parwanath Business Park,
Pralhadnagar
TEL 40035222
DOWN
MEMORY LANE
Laxmi Vilas Palace
E
XPLORE THE LIFE OF THE
erstwhile rulers of Baroda
as you stroll through the
precincts of the royal Laxmi Vilas
Palace in Vadodara known to be
the largest private dwelling of any
royal family. The Gaekwad fam-
ily has opened up a section of the
magnificent palace, built in Indo-
Sarcenic architectural style, to
visitors. The 700 acre property
houses the Motibaug Palace and
 Folk artistes bring the Kutch desert alive with their tunes

the Maharaja Fatehsingh Museum

which has an enviable collection
of original Raja Ravi Varma paint-
ings that were specially commis-
sioned by the royal family. Walk
through the corridors, plug in the
audio guide and relive the glorious
life of the kings and queens. Stop
at the Durbar Hall, done up with
a Venetian mosaic floor, Belgium
stained glass windows and walls
with intricate decorations or step
out to admire the Italian-styled
courtyard with fountains. If youre
lucky, you might even be able to
watch a concert in the Durbar Hall.
AT Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara
DEAILS gaekwadsofbaroda.com

CULTURAL FIESTA crafts. If you want a slice of luxury in a perfect throwback to the yes-
Rannutsav at the desert festival, stay in the teryears. Take off on camel rides,
Darbari Suite, a 1,600 square feet visit the wildass sanctuary, watch

E
NJOY THE CULTURAL
heritage of Gujarat at the
Rannutsav, the annual fes-
tival in Kutch that showcases the
states folk dances, music, food and
room that spells imperial indul-
gence with elegant furnishings,
luxurious amenities, two spacious
master bedrooms, a dining room
and a sit out area for a camp fire,
the cultural shows or explore the
heritage in Bhuj and return to the
campsite for an experience in
luxury. PRICE On request
DETAILS rannutsav.com

AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD s-12

SIMPLY GUJARATI Cover Story
KEEPING TIME
House of Marigold
D
RESS UP YOUR LOOK
with the ornate watches
by the House of Marigold,
Ahmedabads very own luxury
watch brand where flowers, buds
and leaves are the mainstay of the
dials in these all-gold and diamonds
watches. The designs are innovative
with the watches doubling up as
bracelets or a dial hidden within a
bejeweled cover that could look like
a dressy wrist band.
PRICE Rs 1 lakh upwards
AT 22, New Alkapuri Society,
Gulbaitekra, Ahmedabad
DETAILS houseofmarigold.com
ROYAL FABLES
Eat with the royals at the
Garden Palace in Balasinor
E
AT LIKE A KING, LITER-
ally at the Garden Palace
where you can share a meal
of murg-e-khusru, mahabatkhani
pasande and the biryani-e-Bala-
sinor from the royal kitchen with
Aaliya Farhat Babi, the princess
of Balasinor at their heritage din-
ing table. The former rulers of
Balasinor have converted their
s-10 SIMPLY GUJARATI u JANUARY 2017
Shilpa Marigold, owner, House of Marigold wearing a gemstone encrusted watch
mansion, built in 1883 into a home
stay where you can meet and dine
with the family. Begum Saheba
Farhat Sultana, a noted food expert
who has curated food festivals and
television shows, uses recipes from
the royal kitchens in the meals
and gladly engages in conversa-
tions on food, history and heritage
with guests. The area is famous for
the Dinosaur Fossil Park, which is
home to dinosaur eggs and fossils
A meditation class underway
at the 136.1 Yoga Studio
DANESH JASSAWALA
Photograph by
and is a protected sanctuary which
you can explore with Babi, a self
confessed amateur paleontologist.
AT Gujarat State Highway 141,
Brahmani Society, Balasinor.
TEL 9825315382
STAYING FIT
136.1 Yoga Studio
J
UST WHEN YOU WONDER
that the name stands for, the
yoga instructors remind you
that 136.1 is the decibel frequency
of the sound of Om, hailed as a very
powerful and soothing sound.
At the plush yoga studio, the
focus is as much on the varied
asanas as on the power of yoga
in strengthening the mind. With
branches in Chennai, Kathmandu
and Dubai, the teachers here blend
traditional yoga teachings and prac-
tices with modern living so you can
join the group or opt for person-
alised sessions to suit your require-
ments or health ailments. They
have sessions for children, to-be
mothers and recently conducted
a fun glow-in-the-dark class
where people came dressed in
glowing tees or wrist bands and
performed asanas.
DETAILS136point1.com
SIMPLY GUJARATI Buzz

THINGS TO LOOK
3 FORWARD TO
2 The Right Bite
I
f youre among those who grab a sandwich and cof-
fee at the nearest caf for lunch, theres a new food
service in AhmedabadVelvety Foodthat can help
you start eating healthy. For now, they have nutritional
fruit and salad boxes that can be delivered to your door-
step. If you stick to the basic watermelon, apple and
papaya, they have the Basic Fruit Box; add a few more
like kiwi and black current and you get the Exotic Fruit
Box. The chana, corn and sprout bowl is a good choice
for those looking for a nutritious meal with protein and
fibre. They also have an option of
customising your fruit box.
Price Rs 99 onwards
At velvetyfood.com

Photograph by SHAILESH RAVAL

1
PREVIEW / 5B COLAB

OFFICE ON-DEMAND

H
ave you started a new venture and dont have a work
place? Head to 5B Colab, a new co-working space

High Notes
in Ahmedabad which serves as an office on-demand
where you can work, conduct meetings and connect 3
with other like-minded people. City entrepreneurs Kalgi and
Hirak Patel decided to set up the 5B Colab to offer profession- January 25
als who work on freelance assignments, start-ups and small
teams a set-up that comes with WiFi, a conference room Flautists Ravichandra Kulur and Jean Luc Thomas,
for meetings, a cafeteria that serves beverages and efficient who met in Germany in 2013, have now collaborated
housekeeping services. For those looking for after-hours min- on a music album and will bring alive the Sabarmati
gling, they even have a terrace garden which hosts events like Waterfront with their scintillating tunes this month.
movie screenings and food marathons. Prepare to be serenaded with their music.
Youre likely to meet interesting people here. As of now, At Sabarmati Waterfront, Ahmedabad
the current client list includes a city-based food blogger, a Time 7.30 p.m. Entry Rs 150
photographer from Philippines and a professional working
with a Germany-based corporate firm. There are monthly
packages that include access to recreational activities and
free-flowing coffee and hot chocolate when you need that
sugar high.
Contact facebook.com/5bColab
SIMPLY GUJARATI Buzz
COLLECTORS PRIDE
W
hen you see Naresh Dudani sitting in his
courtyard with magazines around him,
you might think hes an avid reader por-
ing over his favourite picks. But a walk
through the cozy home of this retired journalist in
Ahmedabad reveals a collection of almost 30,000
magazines, including IndIa Today magazine copies in
English and Hindi, that hes collected over the past
four decades. My father introduced us to reading
when we were children way back in 1963; he would
buy Indrajal Comics and Chandamama for us and then
urge us to preserve everything we read, says the for-
mer news editor of the Indian Express in Ahmedabad,
who retired in July 2014 after a 35 year-long career in
journalism. By 1970, Dudani was already hooked on to
reading and started going to newspaper stalls to buy
all the magazines that were available. I spent all my
s-12 SIMPLY GUJARATI u JANUARY 2017
Photograph by SHAILESH RAVAL
MY FATHER
INTRODUCED
US TO READING
WAY BACK IN
1963; HE WOULD
BUY INDRAJAL
COMICS AND
CHANDAMAMA
AND THEN URGE
US TO PRESERVE
EVERYTHING WE
READ.
pocket money on them, he says.
Even now, Dudani buys 25 magazines every month
and scours the internet looking for old issues of vari-
ous magazines that hes missed. His 30,000 plus
magazines are neatly arranged in chronological
order and piled around the housein the library, liv-
ing room and the bedroom. From childrens books
to sports magazines, I have almost everything thats
available, he says. While luxury and fashion maga-
zines dont interest him much, Dudanis collection
has a wide range of titles from across the country in
English and Hindi. He has now started creating photo
albums of cover pages of various magazines in his
collection and among the first to be uploaded on his
Facebook page were the covers of IndIa Today from the
seventies and the eighties.
Contact facebook.com/naresh.dudani